Pestilence:WOW!

Pestilence: W O W !

The 2022-2023 Young Professionals Company Season is sponsored by Hugh Mackworth & Josie Mendoza.

By Savannah Reich

Content Advisory: This show uses historically-relevant language, including derogatory phrases and antisemitic comments, that some may find hurtful.

The Young Professionals Company at OCT presents:

Cast (in alphabetical order)

Oliver Chally Raoul

Emma Fonseca Halverson Simone

Alli Jaffe Agnes

Jason Nuesa Craig

Aiden Shafiuzzaman Alphonse

Ruth Siviglia Goddethia

David Stephens Understudy

Ryder Thompson Georgette

Max Young Hosty

Artistic & ProduCtiOn Team

Dani Baldwin Director

Alex Meyer Scenic Designer

Allison Blaine Lighting Designer

Sydney Dufka Costume Designer

Chris O’Toole Sound Designer

Arturo Martinini Video Projections Designer

Erin MacGillivray Production Stage Manager

Celia Wood

YP Stage Manager

Marion Hazelwood Costume Design Assistant

Ava Anderson YP Directing Apprentice

Jaymi Robinson

YP Costume Apprentice

Aria Root YP House Manager

Production Support provided by OCT Scene Shop

OLIVER CHALLY is a second year YP and a junior at Catlin Gabel School. Previously, he has apprenticed in lighting design and worked as an understudy on the YP’s production of Twelfth Night. Outside of OCT, in an attempt to do even more theater, Oliver has acted in every show at Catlin Gabel over the last three years, performs impromptu Shakespeare readings in the living room, and engages his sister in stage combat sessions in the backyard. In his free time, he enjoys more theater, curling, and beating his friends at board games. Oliver is incredibly excited to work with the amazing cast and crew of Pestilence:Wow!

ALLI JAFFE is thrilled to be playing Agnes in Pestilence:Wow! with the YPs at OCT! She is a third year YP and a senior at Lakeridge High School. Some of her credits include: The Lakewood Theatre’s The Best Christmas Pageant Ever as Beth, Spotlight Travel Troupe’s 13: The Musical as Lucy, Stumptown Stages’ Mamma Mia as Ensemble, the YP’s WROL as Maureen, and assistant directing the YP’s production of Alex Getting Better. She would love to thank Dani Baldwin and the rest of the cast and crew of Pestilence:Wow! for this incredible experience!

EMMA FONSECA HALVERSON is absolutely thrilled to be working with this *sick* cast. They’re a third year YP, and a senior at Beaverton High School! Most recently, you may have seen Emma in OCT’s The Very Hungry Caterpillar Show, or in collaboration with Joaquin Lopez in Pentimento. They’d like to send a huge thank you to Dani and OCT, and they really hope you leave here without any boils or buboes!

JASON NUESA is thrilled to be a part of Pestilence:Wow! Some favorite past credits include Newsies at Broadway Rose Theatre Company (Davey), The Rosetta Project at Bridgetown Conservatory (Ensemble/Soldier u/s), The Jungle Book at Northwest Children’s Theater (Vik) and Mamma Mia! at Southridge Highschool (Sky), where he’s a junior. A second-year Young Professional, he’d like to send massive thanks to Dani Baldwin, Erin MacGillivray, and Karen Hill for their support throughout this opportunity. And lastly, there will be soup and rolls, we swear it. Enjoy the show!

AIDEN SHAFIUZZAMAN cannot wait for you to see a realistic look into the dark horrors of the Black Plague as it ravaged the lives of millions in 14th century Europe. Aiden is a second year YP and a Senior at Camas High school. He was last seen running and screaming in The Young professional Company’s Impulse XV. He would like to thank his family, friends, and Dani Baldwin. I love you and I hope you enjoy the show!

RUTH SIVIGLIA is a first year YP and a sophomore at Oregon Episcopal School, and is thrilled to be partaking in the hilarious oddity that is Pestilence:Wow!, especially alongside such a wonderful cast + crew. When not acting, Ruth can be found sewing, singing and playing guitar. Her past performances include school shows Curse of the Castle Specter, Aliens in Suburbia, and A Midsummer Night’s Dream (the Musical). She’s so grateful to everyone at Oregon Children’s Theatre for this opportunity!

RYDER THOMPSON

is thrilled to be making his YP stage debut! A senior at Tigard High School, Ryder was previously seen in the YP Breaking Character Series as a cabaret performer. Favorite performances include Theory of Relativity (Oliver) at Bridgetown Conservatory of Musical Theatre, and Matilda (Escapologist), Mary Poppins (Valentine), Peter Pan (Peter Pan), & The Wizard of Oz (Ensemble) at Northwest Children’s Theater. He is a fourth year Young Professional, who in his free time enjoys Joni Mitchell’s Blue album and running his school’s book club. Ryder would like to thank his family, friends, Dani, Erin, and his cast & crew for their endless love and support.

DAVID STEPHENS

is thrilled to be joining the cast of Pestilence:Wow! as the understudy. A first year YP, he is very excited to join his fellow artists. His past roles include Mamma Mia! with Opening Act Theatre Company (Harry), Beauty and the Beast with the Young Peoples Theatre Project (ensemble), and Inspiration Theatre’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream: A Musical Adaptation (Demetrius). He sends a huge thank you to Dani for all her work both in this show and beyond, and all the other YP for their dedication and hard work.

MAX YOUNG is thrilled to be a part of this absurd experience. They’re a junior at Milwaukie Academy of the Arts and a fourth year Young Professional. Credits include Scurvy Dog in How I Became A Pirate and The Wizard of Oz (NWCT), Little Match Girl in The Little Match Girl Passion (Portland Opera), Nigel in Matilda the Musical (Lakewood Theater) and many more. Max would like to thank Dani Baldwin, this incredible cast and crew, their teachers, friends, and especially their family for their support.

TEAM

DANI BALDWIN

is the Artistic Director of the Young Professionals Company at OCT. She frequently acts, directs, and designs for OCT. Most recently, Dani directed and choreographed Jasper in Deadland (YP Co.) and directed the Drammy Award-Winning A Year With Frog and Toad (OCT mainstage). Outside of OCT, she has performed with Love Street Playhouse, Sojourn Theatre, Chianti Club Presents, Tapestry Theater, and Miracle Theatre; plus, she’s a regular improv actor with Kaiser Permanente. Dani wants to thank the exceptional cast and crew for diving in to this crazy show with enthusiasm, commitment, and so much laughter!

ALEX MEYER

is pleased to be working again with the Young Professionals at OCT! Recent scenic design credits include The Music Man at Third Rail Rep., The Winter’s Tale at Portland Shakespeare Project, Holy Name at Salt and Sage Productions, and The Birds at Imago Theatre. Alex has also designed for Broadway Rose, The Theatre Co., CoHo Productions, Enlightened Theatrics, Experience Theatre Project, Portland Playhouse, and Elsinore Theatre. She holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Art and Theatre from Augustana University (SD), and is an oil painter when not working on a show. More at www.designbyalexmeyer.com.

SYDNEY DUFKA

is a visual storyteller and costume designer. She is interested in exploring the motivation of characters through the details in the clothing. Her work is rooted in research, and finding the silhouettes and shapes through sketching. Sydney believes art is a universal form of communication that is vital to humanity. Sydney is also an accomplished craftsman and spends much of her spare time behind the sewing machine building her clothing designs. Educated in Chicago and based in Portland, Oregon and New York City. Sydney holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Costume Design from The Theatre School at DePaul University where she studied under Nan Cibula-Jenkins.

CHRIS O’TOOLE

is a composer and sound designer with a deep love for absurdity and dark whimsy. She combines non-tonal sounds, found object percussion, and western classical instrumentation to make aural textures meant to heighten or highlight particular moments in performances through saturation or removal. She has written and designed for various companies including those by Jewish Theatre Collaborative, Defunkt Theater, Teatro Milagro, and Fuse Theatre Ensemble, frequently provides live underscoring with groups like Spectravagasm, or for experimental horror group, The Reformers. Wear a mask, and be compassionate towards each other. Thanks!

CReaTIVE

ERIN MACGILLIVRAY

is a Portland area stage manager and costume designer. Her previous work with Oregon Children’s Theatre includes production stage management for WROL and Twelfth Night, and being the Production Coordinator for DNA. She has also stage managed for Original Practice Shakespeare and Milagro, as well as been a production assistant at Artists Repertory Theatre. As a former YP, Erin is thrilled to be able to mentor young stage managers!

CELIA WOOD

is a second year Young Professional and a sophomore at Rex Putnam High School. This is the first YP show she has worked on, and she is thrilled to be stage managing. Celia was most recently seen as Clara in The Nutcracker, and as a zombie in 10 Ways to Survive the Zombie Apocalypse at Rex Putnam High School. She would like to thank Dani Baldwin for being a kind and helpful mentor, Erin MacGillivray for being a caring support through this process, and the cast and crew of this show for being a joy to work with.

AVA ANDERSON

is a second year Young Professional and a junior at Franklin High School. She is thrilled to have the opportunity to be involved in this spectacular play and is very happy to continue to be involved in the theatre, which she has always loved. Most recently, she was the Stage Manager for the YP’s Twelfth Night. In addition to theatre, she enjoys painting, writing, playing music, and trying new things. Ava would also like to thank Dani Baldwin for this wonderful opportunity, as well as the extraordinary cast and crew of Pestilence:Wow! for creating this amazing production.

ARIA ROOT

is delighted to be House Manager in her first production with Young Professionals. She has been acting in school plays since she was eight, and taking acting classes from Oregon Children’s Theatre since she was nine. Aria is currently a Junior at Milwaukie Arts Academy where she has been in several of their shows.

Oregon Children’s Theatre is the region’s largest nonprofit performing arts company for young audiences. In addition to top notch theatrical productions, OCT offers year-round classes in multiple Portland locations and is home to its award-winning Young Professionals Company. OCT is your home away from home for all things youth, theatre and community!