Production Biographies

Sonoko Kawahara (Director), originally from Japan, is a New York–based theater director. Her works have been presented in notable performance spaces such as New York Theater Workshop, Dance Theater Workshop, HERE Arts Center, P.S.122, Women’s Project, Music Theatre Group, La MaMa E.T.C., Japan Society, etc. Her work has been supported by Rockefeller’s MAP, NEA, Japan Foundation, the Jim Henson Foundation, Asian Cultural Council, the Lower Manhattan Cultural Council, and others. She is a Drama League directing fellow and a member of “Usual Suspects” at NYTW, Lincoln Center Theater Directors Lab. She is also a guest artist/teacher at Fordham University, NYU, Boston University, and Princeton University and was a resident artist of Mabou Mines. She holds an MFA in Directing from Columbia University School of Arts. Kawahara is the cofounder and artistic director of Crossing Jamaica Avenue.

Joe Jung (Music Director/Composer), when he is not building instruments from spare parts, playing in his jug band, building dominos with his son, or listening to podcasts about World War I, acts, teaches, composes, and explores new ways for actors to integrate music into their training. He designed and performed live-sound effects for Steven King and John Mellencamp’s Ghost Brothers of Darkland County (The Alliance/National Tours) and was awarded a New York Innovative Theatre Award for his live sound design in Project: Theater’s Unity (1918). He has utilized his actor-musician skills in many shows, including Bloody, Bloody Andrew Jackson (Broadway/The Public), and most recently understudying Steve Earle in Coal Country (Cherry Lane/The Public). Jung is a founding member of Project: Theater and teaches Suzuki Method of Actor Training to the junior BFA Acting students at MSU. He has led movement workshops designed to awaken the actor’s body in schools and theater programs around the country and is proud to be collaborating on this production with his students and colleagues.

Michael Brinskele (Scenic Designer) is a junior BFA Theatre Design, Technology, and Management major. He is excited to be co-designing his first show. Previous credits include assistant scenic design and prop head for Into the Woods, assistant scenic design for The Last Days of Judas Iscariot, and assistant costume design for Pippin.

Frank Scarnaty Jr (Scenic Designer) is a junior in MSU’s Theatre BFA: Design, Technology, and Management program with a concentration in scenic design and properties. Past credentials include props head in As You Like It (2021), assistant scenic designer in Pippin (2022), and assistant scenic painter at 13th Hour Haunted House (2022).

Lillian Schweikert (Costume Designer) is a senior at MSU studying Theatre Production and Design, focusing in costume design and stage management. She is excited to be ending her academic designing with Elephant’s Graveyard. Previous design credits at MSU include Jump, Jive, & Wail (2022), Into the Woods (2022), and A Measure of Quarantine (2020).

Samuel Bloch (Lighting Designer) is a senior in the lighting department at MSU excited to be designing his final show. His previous credits include The Last Days of Judas Iscariot and select dance pieces as well as assisting on shows such as Pippin and Head Over Heels.

Kimberly S. O’Loughlin (Sound Designer) is a Queer Transfeminine New York City–based sound designer and composer. Selected Off-Broadway/NYC credits include Two by Synge (Irish Rep), While You Were Partying (SoHo Rep), Leaving Eden and Overture (NYMF’19), Drama League Director Fest 2022 (A.R.T./NY), Ogygia (The Tank), What’s Your Wish (NYMF’18), and Caroline, or Change (Astoria PAC) Selected Regional credits include I Am My Own Wife (Long Wharf), The October Storm (Hudson Stage), Till (ATG), Into the Woods, Lucky Stiff, and Popcorn Falls (The Barnstormers Theatre) IG:kimomakessounds

Rachel Sandbeck (Hair/Makeup Designer) is an aspiring SFX makeup artist for the film and TV industry. She is currently a student at MSU majoring in Theatre with a concentration in production and design and a focus in hair and makeup design. She has worked on previous productions at Montclair State including hair and makeup design for Rent, Into the Woods, and Pippin.

Rick Sordelet (Fight/Intimacy Director) has served as this country’s most prolific fight director for over 28 years. He and his son, Christian, created Sordelet Inc., an action-based company providing stunt coordination, fight direction, and intimacy consulting for film, television, and theater. He has worked on over 80 shows on Broadway, from Beauty and the Beast and Lion King all the way to Tina. Sordelet recently returned from the UK, where he revived the fight direction on Disney’s Beauty and the Beast, coming to Broadway next season. The Sordelets are the resident fight directors for the Santa Fe Opera, where they staged the fights for As You Like It and Eugene Onegin. They are also stunt coordinators for television and film: 12 years with Guiding Light, four years with One Life to Live, both seasons with Kevin Can Wait and The Crew, both starring Kevin James. Their most recent film is Ben Is Back starring Julia Roberts. Sordelet taught at Yale School of Drama for 22 years as well as at Kean University, Montclair State, and the William Esper Studio. From fight direction and teaching, Sordelet developed into a writer as well, selling several screenplays and a television series. He and his partner, David Blixt, run an E-publishing company called Sordelet INK.

Becca Landis McLarty (Vocal Coach) is a Miller Voice Method–certified teacher and a graduate of MFA Acting at Brooklyn College. She has been teaching voice and speech for the past 11 years at various institutions in New York City and New Jersey and has been working with the amazing students at Montclair State since 2017. Breath, collaboration, curiosity, and a sense of humor are central to McLarty’s practice as both an instructor and a performer. She has performed as an actor, singer, and improviser at theaters across the country and now lives in New Jersey with her husband, two kids, and scruffy rescue dog. McLarty is thrilled to be able to work with the talented cast and crew of Elephant’s Graveyard.

Lana Kurimoto (Dramaturg) is a graduate student at Montclair State University. Elephant’s Graveyard will be her third and final production as a dramaturg at MSU. She has previously worked on Top Girls (spring 2021) and Into the Woods (spring 2022). She is grateful to be a part of the team and wishes all the best for the cast and crew.

Karly Amato (Production Stage Manager) is a first-semester senior in MSU’s Design, Technology, and Management program with a concentration in stage management. Recent credits include SM of In the Mix, written and directed by Mikaela Koran in the New York Winterfest. Previous MSU credits include Head Over Heels (PSM) and Pippin, The Last Days of Judas Iscariot, Brooklyn’s Bridge, and The Ultimate Cahoots (ASM).

Cast Biographies

Heather Alzapiedi (Ballet Girl) is thrilled to be appearing in her fourth and final production at MSU. This is her first time taking the Alexander Kasser stage, and she could not ask for a better show to be her sendoff into the professional world. She has previously appeared as Amina in Dance Nation, Hymen in As You Like It, and Petra in An Enemy of the People.

Joey Anderson (Mary) is in his sophomore year in the BFA Acting program and is excited to be playing Mary in this production.

Louis Bose (Ringmaster) is a senior BFA actor. He has been a part of multiple productions at MSU including department shows such as As You Like It and We Are Proud… as well as F.A.S.T. productions including Paradise Lost and The Atriedie.

Julia Ciesielski (Young Townsperson) is a junior BFA Acting major and is excited to perform in her first mainstage production at MSU.

Cassee Commoreto (Mary/Understudy) is a sophomore BFA Acting major and is excited to be in their first MSU mainstage production. Past roles include George Young Bradley in Men on Boats, Olive Ostrovsky in The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, and Chrissy in Hair.

Noga Danai (Mary) is a freshman in the BFA Acting program. Elephant’s Graveyard is her first mainstage production at MSU. You might have seen her in the F.A.S.T. production of Dr. Rides American Beach House.

Elijah Davis (Mary/Understudy) is a current sophomore in the BFA Acting program. You may have previously seen him in MSU’s As You Like It, The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time, and Black Snow.

Jake Declan (Drummer) is a senior at MSU and ecstatic to be in his sixth and final MSU production. You may have seen him previously in The Last Days of Judas Iscariot, Black Snow, The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time, and We Are Proud to Present….

Ja’Vonni Gibson (Mary) is a freshman in the BFA Acting program and thrilled to be in their first mainstage production. A previous credit of theirs at MSU includes The Thin Place directed by Trent Greenwell.

Trent Greenwell (Trainer) is a senior BFA Acting major at MSU. This is his third mainstage production; others include Strizh in Black Snow and Touchstone in As You Like It. He also recently directed his first full-length play, The Thin Place, for F.A.S.T. last semester.

Desmond Jackson (Hungry Townsperson) is a senior BFA Acting major. This is his third and final show at MSU following his performances as Bondarevsky in Black Snow and Jesus in The Last Days of Judas Iscariot. Some of his most notable previous roles include Monsieur Jordan in The Bourgeoisie Gentleman and Cliff from Cabaret.

Joe Jung (Guitarist) is a founding member of Project: Theater and teaches Suzuki Method of Actor Training to the junior BFA Acting students at MSU. He has led movement workshops designed to awaken the actor’s body in schools and theater programs around the country and is proud to be collaborating on this production with his students and colleagues.

Donovan Lee (Marshal) is a junior in MSU’s Theatre program and is excited to be in his third performance with the school.

Khalil Louigene (Preacher) is a junior in the BFA Theatre program and is excited and blessed to be able to perform this semester.

Diana Maldonado (Clown) is a senior BFA Acting major. Previous credits at MSU include Black Snow, Top Girls, and Paradise Lost (F.A.S.T.).

Samantha Morales (Mary) is a freshman in the Acting program. She is a transfer student from Broward College in Florida, and Elephant’s Graveyard is her first production at MSU.

Sofia Pastena (Steam Shovel Operator) is a junior BFA Acting major and excited to be making her debut performance in a mainstage production. She has been involved with MILF, MSU’s improv group, and was a part of Skylar LeRose’s original play Feminazi as Joanne.

Jace Pastras (Engineer) is a sophomore BFA Acting major, and Elephant’s Graveyard is his third mainstage show as an actor. This fall he was the assistant director of Dance Nation. He was also director of F.A.S.T.’s production of Eurydice.

@jaceeepastras

Anthony Piccininni (Strongman) is thrilled to be in his fourth production at MSU. Past productions include Brooklyn’s Bridge (Tweed/Low); Shakespeare’s As You Like It (Charles/ Corin), and The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time (Reverend Peters/Man #4/Man on phone/Drunk man).