ORCHESTRATIONS AND BAND ARRANGEMENTS BY Mike
Brun
Originally commissioned and produced by The Public Theater
Oskar Eustis, Artistic Director; Patrick Willingham, Executive Director
DIRECTOR
C. Ryanne Domingues
MUSIC DIRECTOR Mike Bond
CHOREOGRAPHER Jōvan Dansberry
Friday, October 24 at 7:30 p.m.
Saturday, October 25 at 2 p.m. & 7:30 p.m.
Sunday, October 26 at 2 p.m.
Bart Luedeke Center Theater
Rider University
2083 Lawrenceville Road, Lawrenceville, N.J.
TWELFTH NIGHT is presented by arrangement with Concord Theatricals. www.concordtheatricals.com
Rider University gratefully acknowledges the generous support of:
The Herbert B. Mayo Performance Endowment
The Martinson Family Foundation for its support of theater technology equipment. Michael T. '89 and Susana Santaguida '89 Gummel for their support of our Rider Friend of the Arts patron program.
~ WARNING ~
The videotaping or making of electronic or other audio and/or visual recordings of this production or distributing recordings on any medium, including the internet, is strictly prohibited, a violation of the author's rights and actionable under united states copyright law.
NOTE: This production utilizes haze effects.
Director’s Note
“Genuine humor is replete with wisdom.” - Mark Twain Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night, or What You Will, was first performed on February 2, 1602. A long-beloved comedy, I wondered what it had to teach me in 2025. Laughter often comes when we least expect it, but possibly when we need it most. It can rise through joy or spill out through tears. We can choke on it, or revel in it. But no matter how the laughter comes, I find that we can always learn from it.
The play explores the relationship between disguise and identity, the nature of true love, and the madness that can be brought on by social ambition. This musical adaptation was commissioned and produced by The Public Theater, and premiered at the Delacorte Theater in Central Park, New York, on September 2, 2016. As a project of their Public Works initiative, the production aimed to restore and build community, creating a space where “we can not only reflect on the world as it is, but [also] propose new possibilities for what our society might be.”
Conceived by Kwame Kwei-Armah and Shaina Taub, with music and lyrics by Taub, the themes of the show now take on a new meaning. In today’s world, mistakes and uncertainty often lead to division among communities. My hope is that this production can serve as a reminder that, no matter who we are,
the human experience is filled with moments of confusion, self-exploration, and discovery. We can allow these moments to pull us apart, or we can choose to celebrate them, and even find joy in the shared, but deeply flawed, adventure of being alive.
To me, Twelfth Night is a celebration of identity, in all of its forms, and a loving acknowledgement of the journey we all take to discover our truth. As we watch these characters clumsily discover new versions of themselves, perhaps we can laugh in solidarity, remembering our own moments of drama, hubris, grief, hesitation, and absolute absurdity. As we navigate our own unknown island in a world that is constantly changing, I hope we can all find the strength to blossom into our full selves, ready to love, ready to accept, ready to laugh, and ready to play on.
Musical Numbers
Twelfth Night will be performed without an intermission.
Play On
Feste, Viola, Orsino, Illyrians
Word on the Street Illyrians
Tell Her Orsino, Viola
If You Were My Beloved Viola, Olivia, Orsino
If You Were My Beloved (Reprise) Antonio
Viola’s Soliloquy Viola
You’re the Worst
Feste, Andrew, Fabian, Toby, Maria, Malvolio, Illyrians
Is This Not Love? Feste
Count Malvolio (Part I) Malvolio
Count Malvolio (Part II) Malvolio, Illyrians
I Am She Olivia, Viola
Word on the Street II Illyrians
Count Malvolio (Reprise) Malvolio
What Kind of Man R U Gonna Be?
Viola, Toby, Andrew, Illyrians
Viola’s Soliloquy (Reprise) Viola
Greatness Malvolio
Sebastian’s Soliloquy Sebastian, Olivia
Word on the Street III Illyrians
Viola’s Soliloquy (2nd Reprise)
Viola, Sebastian
Tell Her (Reprise) Orsino, Viola
I Am She (Reprise) Olivia, Viola
Malvolio’s Exit Malvolio
Is This Not Love? (Reprise) Illyrian Officiant, Company
Eyes of Another
The Cast
Viola, Orsino, Olivia, Sebastian, Feste, Malvolio, Antonio, Company
Viola Abigail Westers
Olivia Emily Hutchings
Orsino Cole Russell
Feste Nia Chavis
Malvolio Libby Phillips
Sir Toby Finn Alexander
Maria Grace Wolf
Sir Andrew Blaine Stabe
Sebastian Will Braxton Coffey
Antonio Jonathan Banks
Fabian Jessie Doty
Illyrian Officiant Julia Almendra
First Officer Ryan Torres
Second Officer Nicholas Ammon
Olivia’s Attendants Simon Clissold, Maddie Quigley, Joaquin Cota Levin
Illyrians Madeline Burroughs, Avery Delguidice, Annabel Jones, Deryn C. Kraner, Avery Nurzia, Cassidy Sweetland
Understudies
Viola Maddie Quigley
Olivia Avery Nurzia
Orsino Ryan Torres
Feste Julia Almendra
Malvolio Simon Clissold
Sir Toby Ryan Torres
Maria Deryn C. Kraner
Sir Andrew Joaquin Cota Levin
Sebastian Nicholas Ammon
Antonio Eric Payton
Fabian Annabel Jones
Swings Arick Brooks, Jessica Dawn, Maddie McKenna, Eric Payton
Dance Captain Arick Brooks
Artistic Staff and Crew
Director C. Ryanne Domingues
Assistant Directors Cale Bianchino, Garrett Currier, Joei Vita
Music Director Mike Bond
Assistant Music Director Cameron Krauss
Orchestra Supervisor Suki Scott
Choreographer Jōvan Dansberry
Assistant Choreographers Jadyn Kelly, Maddie McKenna
Fight Choreographer Anthony Domingues
Intimacy Coordinator Dr. Sean McCarther
Stage Management Mentor Brandy Lee Hatcher
Production Stage Manager Ella Rybczynski
Stage Manager Nalani Arboleda
Assistant Stage Managers Matt Cirola, Jenifer Hernandez, Morgan Murphy
Technical Director Brandon Rush
Scenic Designer Melena Scott
Lighting Designer Todd Loyd
Assistant Lighting Designer Eamonn McLoughlin
Light Board Operator ZuZu Long
Follow Spot Operators Jaden Foreman, Abbey McBee
Costume Designer Robin I. Shane
Assistant Costume Designers Peyton Divirgilio, Kari Belle King
Wardrobe Supervisor Regan Wright
Wardrobe Runners Kiyomi Okazaki, Micki Pangburn
Hair and Makeup Designer/Supervisor Lilli Doll
Hair and Makeup Supervisor Regan Wright
Hair and Makeup Runners Mila Gagliano, Sarah Vergara
Sound Engineer Craig Pincus
Sound Mixer Alyssa Gil-Pujols
Sound Runners Naomi Goldman, Phillip Schneller
Props Designer Clare Hanrahan
Props Supervisor Jayden Lopez
Props Runners Natalie Beasley, Olivia Conti
Production Documentarian Julia Almendra
Orchestra
Conductor/Keyboard 1 Mike Bond
Keyboard 2 Cameron Krauss
Trumpet Liam Sutcliffe
Tenor Saxophone Ariana Sowa
Trombone Caleb Eckstein
Bass Paul Cuffari
Drums Liam McGeary
Guitar Matt Lequang
Administrative Staff
Senior Associate Dean, College of Arts and Sciences Jason Vodicka
Director of Production Management Buck Linton
Artistic Producer C. Ryanne Domingues
Director of Performance Management Kristen Rodgers
Associate Director of Performance Management Leandra Acosta
Performing Arts Coordinator Zach Kent
Stage Management Mentor Brandy Lee Hatcher
Costume Shop Supervisor Jim Parks
Props Director Clare Hanrahan
Scene Shop Supervisor Chris Schimpf
About the Cast
FINN ALEXANDER, SIR TOBY (he/him), is a sophomore Musical Theatre major. Select credits include Mary Poppins (George Banks; Summer Stock Austin), The Guy Who Didn't Like Musicals (Professor Hidgens; Rider Student Theatre Company), Jesus Christ Superstar (Simon Zealotes; Summer Stock Austin), and Please, I'm A Star (Teacher; Rider Student Theatre Company). Upcoming credits include 9 to 5 (Franklin Hart, Jr.; Rider Main Stage).
JULIA ALMENDRA, ILLYRIAN OFFICIANT/FESTE UNDERSTUDY/PRODUCTION
DOCUMENTARIAN (They/Them) is a junior Musical Theatre major. Select credits include: Nell Gwynn (Arlington Understudy & Ensemble Understudy, Rider Main Stage), MOSAIC: A BIPOC Cabaret (Rider Student Theatre Company), The Six Degrees of
Sierra Boggess (Rider Student Theatre Company), CATS (Mr. Mistoffelees UNDERSTUDY, Georgetown Palace), and Chicago (Velma Kelly, Cedar Ridge Visual and Performing Arts).
NICHOLAS AMMON, SECOND OFFICER/SEBASTIAN UNDERSTUDY (he/him), is a sophomore Musical Theatre Major. Select Credits include: 9 to 5 (Josh Newstead; Fulton Theatre), Grease (Teen Ensemble; Fulton Theatre), and Pulling Heartstrings Cabaret (Featured Performer; 54 Below). Select Tech Credits include: Rent (Assistant Stage Manager) and Nice Work If You Can Get It (Stage Manager).
JONATHAN BANKS, ANTONIO, is a senior Musical Theatre Major. Previous credits include: Music Theatre Wichita – Ragtime (Harlem Ensemble), Twelfth Night (Illyrian Ensemble), Rider University - RENT (Steve), Into the Woods, Nice Work If You Can Get It. 1 Cor 16:14
ARICK BROOKS, SWING/DANCE CAPTAIN (he/him) is a sophomore Musical Theatre Major. Select Credits include: Newsies (Elmer; Music Theatre Wichita), The Addams Family (Lucas; Clinton Area Showboat Theatre), Issachar (Joseph; Clinton Area Showboat Theatre). Upcoming credits include: 9 to 5 (Tim/Josh Newstead Understudy; Rider Main Stage).
MADELINE BURROUGHS, ILLYRIAN TOWNSFOLK, is a Junior Musical theatre major and is making her Rider Main Stage debut. Madeline previously directed Mosaic A BIPOC Cabaret with the Rider Student Theater Company.
JOAQUIN COTA LEVIN, OLIVIA’S ATTENDANT, U/S ANDREW is a sophomore Musical Theatre Major. This is his Rider Mainstage debut.
AVERY DELGUIDICE, ILLYRIAN ATTENDANT, (she/her) is a senior musical theatre major. Rider MainStage credits include: Into The Woods (Sleeping Beauty/Lucinda & Florinda Understudy)
JESSIE DOTY, FABIAN, is a junior Musical Theatre major and is excited to be a part of this production. Rider credits include: Into the Woods (Jack Understudy), Curtain Up: Arrival (Soloist). Rider Student Theatre Company Credits include: Ride the Cyclone (Mischa), The Guy Who Didn’t Like Musicals (Swing)
NIA CHAVIS, FESTE (she/they), is a junior Musical Theatre major. Select Professional Credits Include: Rock of Ages (Justice), Saturday Night Fever (Candy), and Frozen (Bulda/Ensemble) at Timber Lake Playhouse. Rider Main Stage credits include: Rent (Joanne). Rider Student Theatre Company credits include: Ride the Cyclone (Constance). Website: niachavis.squarespace.com
SIMON CLISSOLD, OLIVIA’S ATTENDANT/MALVOLIO UNDERSTUDY (He/Him), is a Senior Musical Theater major with a Minor in Technical Theater and Design. Rider Main Stage credits include: Nice Work If You Can Get It (Ensemble), Rent (The Man/Ensemble) Natasha Pierre and the Great Comet of 1812 (Ensemble U.S Balaga) and Anything Goes (Offstage Swing) Rider Student Theatre Company credits include: The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee (Leaf Coneybear) and Please I'm A Star! (Student 15)
WILL BRAXTON COFFEY, SEBASTIAN, is a senior Musical Theatre Major. Professional Credits include Clear Space Theater Company: Rent (Roger), Rock of Ages (Stacee Jaxx), Jersey Boys (Nick Massi), The Prom (Nick/Ensemble), Hairspray (Sketch),
and Beautiful: The Carole King Musical (Righteous Brother/Nick). Rider Mainstage Credits include Rent (Roger), Into the Woods (Wolf), Anything Goes (Ensemble), Natasha, Pierre, and the Great Comet of 1812 (Ensemble), and The Prom (Swing).
JESSICA DAWN, SWING (she/her), is a Junior Musical Theatre major. Rider Main Stage credits include: The Medium (Mrs. Nolan Cover). Professional credits include: The Prom (Dance Ensemble; Lyric Theatre of Oklahoma). Rider Student Theatre Company credits include: Ride the Cyclone (Dance Ensemble).
EMILY HUTCHINGS, OLIVIA, (she/her), is a senior Musical Theatre major and is thrilled to be part of this production Recent Rider credits include: Nice Work If You Can Get It (Millicent Understudy), Entr’acte: Come Together, Curtain up: Momentum. Select credits include: Strike/Out (Katchadorian) (Act Out, Diva! Festival) The Way You Made Me (Mother) (Act Out, Diva! Festival) Hedy LaRue (Stepinac Theatre)
ANNABEL JONES, ILLYRIAN TOWNSFOLK/FABIAN UNDERSTUDY, is a Senior B.F.A. Musical Theatre major and Theatre Design and Technology minor. Rider performance credits include Momentum and Entr’acte: Come Together. Rider Student Theater Company credits include The Guy Who Didn't Like Musicals (Alice/As Cast). Professional credits include Strike/Out (Drew; Act Out Diva Festival) and Board of Ed (Jess/As Cast; Act Out Diva Festival). Rider technical credits include Kiss Me Kate (sound & projection operator), Natasha, Pierre, the Great Comet of 1812 (assistant stage manager & stage carpenter), Die Fledermaus (assistant stage manager) and The Fire (assistant stage manager).
DERYN C. KRANER, ILLYRIAN TOWNSFOLK/MARIA UNDERSTUDY, is a Senior BFA Musical Theatre Major with a Minor in Dance. Upcoming Rider Credits: Romeo and Juliet (Choreographer), From Up Here (Costume Designer). Professional Credits include: Flashdance the Musical (Destiny, Ensemble), Seven Brides for Seven Brothers (Swing for Brides, Ensemble), and A Christmas Story the Musical (Child/Adult Ensemble). Rider Credits include: Nell Gwynn (Choreographer), Asking Strangers the Meaning of Life (Choreographer), Entr’Acte: Femininomenon (Choreographer), Rider Dances 2024 (Dancer and Costume & Makeup Designer), Natasha, Pierre, & the Great Comet of 1812 (Assistant Costume Designer), Entre’Acte: Come Together (Soloist, Featured Dancer), Momentum (Soloist, Featured Dancer).
MADDIE MCKENNA, SWING/ASSISTANT CHOREOGRAPHER (she/her), is a junior Musical Theatre major. Select Credits include: Nice Work if You Can Get It (Assistant Choreographer; Rider University), Escape to Margaritaville (Ensemble/Internal Swing; Candlelight Theatre), and Ride the Cyclone (Ensemble; Rider Student Theatre Company).
AVERY NURZIA, ILLYRIAN TOWNSFOLK/OLIVIA UNDERSTUDY, is a senior musical theatre major. Recent performance credits include The Fire (Emma) at Rider University and she was a part of the devising team for Bent, Not Broken which premiered at Teatro Della Pergola in Florence, Italy. Upcoming credits: Myths and Hymns (vocal soloist).
ERIC PAYTON, SWING/ANTONIO UNDERSTUDY, is making his Rider Mainstage debut in this production. He is a sophomore musical theatre major.
LIBBY PHILLIPS, MALVOLIO, (he/him) is a sophomore Musical Theatre Major who is thrilled to be making his Rider Mainstage debut! Rider Student Theatre Company Credits include: The Guy Who Didn’t Like Musicals (Sam). Other recent credits include:
The Spongebob Musical (Spongebob; Decorah Theatre) and Carrie (Tommy Ross; New Minowa Players Theatre Company).
COLE RUSSELL, ORSINO, is a senior Musical Theatre major. Some of Cole’s regional credits include Newsies (Davey; The REV), Saturday Night Fever (Monty; Timberlake Playhouse), and Rock Of Ages (Ja’keith/Mayor/Dance Captain; Timberlake Playhouse). Cole’s Rider Mainstage credits include RENT (Angel), (Nice Work If You Can Get It Vice Squad), Natasha, Pierre, and the Great Comet Of 1812 (Ensemble/Dolokhov US), and The Prom (Ensemble).
BLAINE STABE, ANDREW (He/She/They), is a junior Musical Theatre Major and Technical Theatre Minor. Rider Main Stage credits include: Into the Woods (Steward), Nice Work If You Can Get It (Vice Squad). Professional Credits include: NJ Renaissance Faire (Jean Bonadvís).
CASSIDY SWEETLAND, ILLYRIAN TOWNSFOLK, (she/her) is a junior Musical Theatre Major. Rider credits include The Fire (LA Jones), Nell Gwynn (Assistant Director), The Prom (Assistant Stage Manager), and Anything Goes (Assistant Stage Manager). Recent professional credits include Props Artisan at Pacific Conservatory Theatre.
MADDIE QUIGLEY, OLIVIA’S ATTENDANT/VIOLA UNDERSTUDY, is a Junior BFA Musical Theatre student! This past summer, she performed in Legally Blonde (Ensemble) and Kiss Me, Kate (Dancer/Singer) at the Madison Theater. Other credits include A Chorus Line (Val), Urinetown (Little Becky Two-Shoes), and Rent (Maureen).
ABIGAIL WESTERS, VIOLA, is a senior B.F.A. musical theatre major. Rider Main Stage credits include Nice Work If You Can Get It (Alice/Chorus Girl) and Natasha, Pierre, and the Great Comet of 1812 (Ensemble). Additional select credits include: Romeo and Juliet (Tybalt), Coffee Hour, and Please! I’m A Star! (Co-director/Cast Member) with Rider Student Theatre Company. @abigailwesters
GRACE WOLF, MARIA (she/they), is a senior Musical Theatre Major. Select Credits include: The Prom (Brittaney; Axelrod Performing Arts Center), Twelfth Night/Principal Company (Viola/Madge; The New Jersey Renaissance Faire), Hamlet (Ophelia; Rider Student Theatre Company), Grease (Jan; Midland Center for the Arts).
About the Artistic & Administrative Staff and Crew
LEANDRA ACOSTA, ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR OF PERFORMANCE MANAGEMENT (she/her), is a graduate of Rider University with undergraduate degrees in dance performance and arts administration and a master’s degree in organizational leadership. She currently serves as the Associate Director of Performance Management and adjunct faculty in the Department of Performing Arts. She has worked with a variety of choreographers including Kate Ladenheim, Randy James of 10 Hairy Legs, Angela Cusumano, Merli Guerra of Luminarium Dance Company, Jennifer Gladney, Robson Alves, Lynn Neuman of Artichoke Dance, and Ryan Davis. Leandra has participated in a number of freelance performances and choreographic opportunities but is mostly engrossed in her arts administrative endeavors. In her role as Associate Director, Leandra oversees and manages various aspects of marketing and
promotions for the Department of Performing Arts and Westminster Choir College. This semester, she is also a featured choreographer in the Fall Dance Concert premiering a new work titled i am // we are.
NALANI ARBOLEDA, STAGE MANAGER (she/her) is a sophomore Theatre Technology and Design Major pursuing a career in stage managing. Select credits include Hamlet (Stage Manager, Rider Student Theatre Company) and How We Fall (Assistant Stage Manager, Self Produced)
CALE BIANCHINO, ASSISTANT DIRECTOR (he/him), is a junior BFA Acting major with a minor in Filmmaking. Select Rider Credits include Die Fledermaus (Props Supervisor) and The Prom (Fly Operator).
MIKE BOND, MUSIC DIRECTOR, began his musical journey first taking piano lessons at 4 years old. By the time he was six, he was winning high honors competitions and performing at Carnegie Hall in NYC. Bond, a Rutgers University cum-laude graduate, and top of his class, received the prestigious Excellence in Jazz Performance Award and the Arthur G. Humphrey award for his Bachelor’s dual major in Music Education and Jazz Piano Performance in 2012. As a music director, Bond has played and music directed for a variety of community theater companies while in school, and shortly after graduating. He won a statewide Perry award for outstanding music direction in 2016. Bond then began music directing for professional regional theaters. This includes music directing & accompanying Tony award winning tap dancer Savion Glover at the New Jersey Performing Arts Center (2020 & 2022), and music directing, and arranging for Broadway lead, Andrew Polec’s solo cabaret at Bucks County Playhouse in 2021. He most recently music directed alongside Broadway choreographer, and director, and performer T. Oliver Reid, in Natasha Pierre and the Great Comet of 1812 and Into the Woods at Rider University. He was also a pianist for Alphonso Horne’s Off-Broadway workshop the “Oscar Micheaux Project” in the summer of 2025 working with Prospect Musicals at the Baruch Performing Arts Center in NYC. Mike Bond is a freelance pianist who has worked with world class musicians and Grammy-nominated artists at venues such as Smalls, Mezzrow, Chris' Jazz Cafe, the Side Door, NYC winter Jazz Festival, the Deer Head Inn, Rudy's Jazz Room, the NBPAC, and the Orlando Performing Arts Center. In 2023, he was asked by Elle Magazine to improvise with artists Babyface and Offset for their "Burn Ballad" series. Bond is currently a voting member of the Recording Academy.
MATTHEW CIROLA, ASSISTANT STAGE MANAGER (he/him) is a Junior Theatre Design and Technology major. Rider Mainstage credits include: Natasha, Pierre & the Great Comet of 1812, Into the Woods, and Die Fledermaus
GARRETT CURRIER, ASSISTANT DIRECTOR (He/They), is in his final year at Rider University, and is incredibly grateful to be a part of his first Assistant Director experience with this incredible team. Special thanks to Ryanne Domingues for all of her support and dedication to her craft as an artist, director, and as a teacher.
JŌVAN DANSBERRY, CHOREOHRAPHER is a director and choreographer whose work spans the worlds of theatre, television, opera, and live performance. Originally from St. Louis, Missouri, he earned his Bachelor of Arts from Loyola Marymount University in Los Angeles. Now based in New York City, Jōvan is renowned for his ability to craft compelling stories through movement, driven by a passion for innovative production design and a deep understanding of the performing arts.
Jōvan has worked as a choreographer and movement director on several high-profile productions. His recent collaborations include Porgy and Bess (The Metropolitan Opera), The Little Mermaid (Paper Mill Playhouse), Let the Good Times Roll (Phoenix Theater Company), Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil (Goodman Theatre), and The Preacher’s Wife (The Alliance Theatre). As an educator, he is committed to nurturing the next generation of artists, serving as a professor in the Department of Performing Arts at Rider University as well a guest teaching artist at Marymount Manhattan College and the Penn State Musical Theatre Department. He also holds a leadership role as Vice-Chair of the Associate Board at Classic Stage Company in New York City.
Jōvan Dansberry’s career reflects his dedication to storytelling, his artistry in movement, and his commitment to pushing the boundaries of performance and design.
ANTHONY
DOMINGUES,
FIGHT CHOREOGRAPHER/RIDER TRANSFER
ADMISSIONS COUNSELOR, has been creating on-stage violence for the past twentytwo years. Select credits include: West Side Story (San Luis Obispo Little Theatre), Jesus Christ Superstar (Footlights Productions), The Outsiders (Footlights Productions), Mother Courage and Her Children (University of California, Irvine), Morrir Soñando (Passage Theatre), Topdog/Underdog (Passage Theatre). This marks Anthony's first Rider University production, and he is grateful for the opportunity to work with such a talented cast and crew.
C. RYANNE DOMINGUES, DIRECTOR & ARTISTIC PRODUCER, teaches acting, directing, and devising as an Assistant Professor at Rider University. From 2017-2024, she was the Artistic Director of Passage Theatre, a professional, regional theatre found in the heart of Trenton, NJ. Prior to her time at Passage, she worked at a variety of theatres on both coasts, with most of her work being for Simpatico Theatre (which she co-founded in 2004) and the Wilma Theatre in Philadelphia. She received her MFA in Directing from the University of California, Irvine and was a participant in the 2008 Lincoln Center Director's Lab. Next up, Ryanne will continue working with Passage Theatre and Princeton University on a new, devised piece that focuses on issues within the U.S. education system.
CLARE HANRAHAN, PROPS DESIGNER & PROPS DIRECTOR, graduated from Rider University in 2021 with a degree in Technical Theater and a concentration in Props. She has been working in the props field for 10 years now, and her favorite props include the following: Yorik’s skull in Hamlet, floral designs for Kiss Me Kate, a faux marble bust for Nell Gwynn, fake vegetables for Cinderella, and a library full of fake books for Into The Woods. She also loves when she gets to incorporate her love of photography into her prop work. Clare would like to thank Louise Grafton for sharing her wisdom about the dangers of hot glue guns and for always being her inspiration.
BRANDY LEE HATCHER, STAGE MANAGEMENT MENTOR (she/her), is the Faculty Stage Manager, mentoring and advising students focusing on Stage Management within the Design & Technology program. Brandy Lee joined Rider University after 12 years at The Walt Disney Company in California, most recently as a Senior Entertainment Stage Manager. She received her MFA in Stage Management from the University of California, Irvine and her BFA in Stage Management from Stephens College in Columbia, MO.
BUCK LINTON, DIRECTOR OF PRODUCTION MANAGEMENT. Buck Linton is the Director of Production Management for all academic stage productions within the
College of Arts and Sciences. He is an adjunct faculty member within the Design and Technology Department where he teaches Stagecraft and oversees all production tech credits. Since 2002, he has worked on over 150 productions with Rider University and Westminster Choir College. In that time, he worked as a scenic designer, technical director, projection designer, and/or production manager in all of the performing arts disciplines that Rider has to offer.
Prior to joining Rider University, Buck was the assistant technical director at McCarter Theatre for more than 50 productions. During his time at McCarter, he had the opportunity to work on numerous co-productions with nationally recognized theaters including La Jolla Playhouse, The Kennedy Center, Steppenwolf, Manhattan Theater Club, and Seattle Repertory to name a few. While at McCarter, he also served as a scenic designer and technical director for their education department. Buck has had the pleasure of working as a scenic designer, technical director and production manager with many other regional companies such as Opera New Jersey, Theater Virginia, Theater IV, Ashlawn Opera, Peach State Summer Theater and Jekyll Island Musical Theater Festival.
Buck earned his Master of Fine Arts degree from Virginia Tech in Scenography and Technical Design. A native of South Carolina, he earned his Bachelor of Arts from Francis Marion University, double majoring in Theater Design and Technology and Fine Arts with a focus in painting and ceramics. He lives in Lawrenceville with his wife and their three children and frequently assistant coaches their various sports.
TODD LOYD, LIGHTING DESIGNER, is the lighting director for Rider University’s Department of Performing Arts. He supervises the lighting for every performance that the department produces in addition to mentoring several students that assist in designing, hanging, focusing, and programming the lighting for each show. At Rider he has designed over 30 productions including plays, musicals, dance recitals, cabarets, and operas. Some of the highlights include RENT, Nell Gwynn, The Prom, Clean Slate: A World Premiere Musical, Urinetown, Cabaret, Polaroid Stories, Rider Dances: Moving in Our Community, Pippin, Bright Star, Hair, Heathers The Musical, Once On This Island, She Kills Monsters, , A Chorus Line and Metamorphoses. Other selected professional projects include Rock of Ages and Baskerville: A Sherlock Holmes Mystery at Forestburgh Playhouse, Clean Slate: A World Premiere Musical and The Gun Show at Passage Theatre, and Journey to Oz with the Children’s Theatre of Charlotte and Experiential Theater Company.
SEAN McCARTHER, INTAMACY COORDINATOR, serves as Professor of Musical Theater Voice and Chair of the Department of Performing Arts at Rider University, where he teaches applied voice to classical, musical theater, and music production majors, and movement for the actor. He is an advanced actor combatant with the Society of American Fight Directors and the Academy of Fight Directors Canada and has trained with both Intimacy Directors and Coordinators and Theatrical Intimacy Education. Dr. McCarther’s research interests span the fields of psychology, motor learning, voice pedagogy, and theatre. He focuses on topics such as the intersection of choral and vocal pedagogy, peak performance, the acquisition of expertise, theatrical emotion, and consent-based rehearsal processes. His research appears in several peerreviewed publications, and he is a frequent lecturer and workshop presenter nationally and internationally. Previous Rider violence/intimacy choreography credits include Nell Gwynn, The Children’s Hour, The One-Act Play That Goes Wrong, Cabaret, Polaroid Stories, These Seven Sicknesses, Oklahoma, Heathers, She Kills Monsters, and Spring Awakening
EAMONN McLOUGHLIN, ASSISTANT LIGHTING DESIGNER (He/him) is a junior Theatre: Design and Technology and BFA Acting major. Credits include: The Guy Who Doesn't Like Musicals (Lighting Designer; Rider Student Theatre Company), Pop, Rock, and Hip Hop Ensemble Concert (Lighting Designer), Nice Work If You Can Get It (Master Electrician), 13 The Musical (Lighting Designer, Rider Student Theatre Company).
MORGAN MURPHY, ASSISTANT STAGE MANAGER (she/her), is a junior Musical Theatre Major. Rider Main Stage credits include: Curtain Up: Arrival and Entr'Acte Femininomenon. Upcoming Rider Main Stage credits include: Myths and Hymns.
CRAIG PINCUS, SOUND ENGINEER, has worked in professional audio and system design for the past twenty-nine years. He has engineered and produced audio for musical theater performances, national television broadcasts, and live concerts.
Craig holds a bachelor’s degree in communication from Rutgers University and teaches digital audio production at Brookdale Community College in Lincroft, NJ.
Craig also performs and records music, owns a sound and event production service, and directs TheatreCraft Musical Program, a children’s theater company, created with his wife Renee, producing theatrical performances in the central NJ area.
BRANDON RUSH, TECHNICAL DIRECTOR, is a graduate of Rider University and has kept a consistent relationship with Rider’s Theatre Department, where he is returning for his second year as their Technical Director. Some of his celebrated works at Rider include, but are not limited to, Nice Work If You Can Get It, The Fire, Into The Woods, RENT, Anything Goes, Enemies: A Love Story, A Doll’s House, and Radium Girls
ELLA RYBCZYNSKI, PRODUCTION STAGE MANAGER (she/they), is a Junior Theatre Design and Technology Major. Rider Main Stage credits include: The Prom (Spot Op.), Natasha, Pierre and the Great Comet of 1812 (Sound Op.), Rider Dances (Stage Manager), Anything Goes (Light Board Op.), RENT (Stage Manager), Nell Gwynn (Assistant Lighting Designer), The Fire (Stage Manager), and Rider’s Senior Dance Capstone Showcase (Lighting Designer).
MELENA SCOTT, SCENIC DESIGNER, is a senior Theater Design and Technology major. Rider technical credits include: Into The Woods (Scenic Designer), Rent (Co Scenic Designer), A Doll's House (Production Stage Manager), Natasha, Pierre, and the Great Comet of 1812 (Stage Manager), The Prom (Assistant Stage Manager), Clean Slate: A World Premiere Musical (Assistant Stage Manager), Urinetown (Assistant Stage Manager). Recent Professional credits include: Shenandoah Summer Music Theatre 2025 Season (Scenic Artist), Detox: The Art of Expression (Production Stage Manager) at Passage Theatre Company.
ROBIN I. SHANE, COSTUME DESIGNER, is an Associate Professor of Theatre and serves in both the Theatre-Making and Design and Technology Programs. Some favorite designs at Rider include The Fire, Nell Gwynn, A Doll’s House, Enemies: A Love Story, Last Words, Cabaret, Polaroid Stories, Pippin, Kiss Me, Kate, and many Rider Dance concerts. Robin has been a professional costume designer for over 30 years; recent professional credits include The Outsider (Act II Productions,) Children of the Sun (PAC), The Pillowman and In The Next Room, or, The Vibrator Play (Hedgerow Theatre) and OK Trenton (Passage Theatre). Regionally and nationally she has designed at The New Victory Theatre, Berkeley Rep, The Yale Rep, The Hedgerow, Theatre Exile, Philadelphia Artist’s Collective, EgoPo, Passage Theater, Shakespeare Theater of NJ, The National Constitution Center, The Revision Theater, the Jean Cocteau Repertory
Theater, Soho Rep and The Harrisburg Opera, as well as for film and television. Robin holds a MFA from the Tisch School of the Arts at NYU and a BA in Theater and Psychology from Wesleyan University.
JIM PARKS, COSTUME SHOP SUPERVISOR, is Rider University’s Costume Shop Supervisor. Jim has been a costume designer for the better part of 30 years and has worked on a variety of productions for plays, musicals, operas, festivals, film and television. His most recent work was for both RENT and Grease for Middlesex counties Plays in the Park summer season
YOSHINORI TANOKURA, SCENIC DESIGN MENTOR, originally from Tokyo, is an educator and freelance set designer. Yoshi has been teaching scenic design at Rider University. Outside the school, his design credits include A Christmas Story (Bristol Riverside Theatre), O.K. Trenton (Passage Theatre), The Goat, or Who is Sylvia? (Berkshire Theatre Group), Moon Over Buffalo (People’s Light & Theatre), Clever Little Lies by Joe DiPietro (Westside Theatre, N.Y.C.), Exonerated (Delaware Theatre Company), and Peter and the Starcatcher (Adrienne Arsht Center). Yoshi assisted John Lee Beatty on a number of Broadway productions, such as Doubt and The Color Purple. Yoshi holds an M.F.A. in Set Design from the University of Connecticut and is a member of the United Scenic Artists, Local 829.
