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UAlbany Theatre

Department of Music & Theatre

College of Arts and Sciences presents

Our Town

Thornton Wilder

Directed by

Jean-Remy Monnay

Scenic Design Beck Clark

Lighting Design Evan Anderson

Stage Manager Dasha Hegemann

Costume Design Anne Croteau

Sound Design Esther Levine

Technical Direction John Knapp

This production is made possible with the generous support of The John Orser ’55 Theatrical Endowment.

“Our Town” is presented by arrangement with Concord Theatricals on behalf of Samuel French, Inc. www.concordtheatricals.com

THE VIDEOTAPING OR MAKING OF ELECTRONIC OR OTHER AUDIO AND/OR VISUAL RECORDINGS OF THIS PRODUCTION AND DISTRIBUTING RECORDINGS OR STREAMS IN ANY MEDIUM, INCLUDING THE INTERNET, IS STRICTLY PROHIBITED, A VIOLATION OF THE AUTHOR’S RIGHTS AND ACTIONABLE UNDER UNITED STATES COPYRIGHT LAW.

The Company

Stage Manager DAVID ESPINAL

Doc Gibbs MALACHI REDD

Joe Crowell / Si Crowell / BRYAN ANTINORE

Wally Webb

Howie Newsome / MARTIN DOHERTY

Joe Stoddard

Mrs. Gibbs GABRIELLE VILLANUEVA

Mrs. Webb HAZEL CHAUDOIR

George Gibbs XAVIER LAKE

Sam Craig / Rebecca Gibbs SK KOUASSI

Emily Webb GABRIELLE VERCHEREAU-GRECO

Professor Willard / BENEDETH UDUBA

Constable Warren

Mr. Webb HUDSON VILLANUEVE

Woman In Audience / Box NATALIA ZEHNER

Simon Stimson DAVID PASTUSZKA

Mrs. Louella Soames DAVANI MELENDEZ

Mr. Morgan / Clergyman ZOEY CAHILL

Production Team

Production Manager……………………………………. EVAN ANDERSON

Props Supervisor………………………………………………….. BECK CLARK

Costume Shop Manager ………………………………… ANNE CROTEAU

Scene Shop Supervisor ..……………………………………… JOHN KNAPP

Assistant Costume Designer……….…………….. ETHAN KAVALUNAS

Assistant Scenic Designer………………………………………. CAT BRADY

Assistant Stage Managers…………………… HEAVENLEE GONZALES, STACY HYSON

Marketing …………………………………………………. SHERLYN JOAQUIN

Department Photographer………………………………………..LONG LIN

Light Board Operator………….……………..…....… HAYLEY WHITSETT

Sound Board Operator…………………………………..MARQUEZ JONES

Wardrobe Crew.……………………….…….. ETHAN KAVALUNAS, SARA BARTELS, BIA BOUABBOUNE

Run Crew .…….……………………………… ALEX BAR, ANYLAH BARRETT, JAYDON VINEYARD

Props Crew………………………………………..………. SK KOUASSI, LAUREL IZZO, LOREL ROSS

Costume

Who’s Who

BRYAN ANTINORE (Joe Crowell Jr/Si Crowell/Wally Webb) is a senior from Ballston Spa. This is Bryan’s 5th show at UAlbany with other credits including The Rocky Horror Show, Mary Shelley Meets Frankenstein, and The Taming of The Shrew, as well as a featured role in FRESH ACTS new play festival. Bryan has also directed two plays featured in FRESH ACTS, in last year’s festival.

ZOEY CAHILL (Mr. Morgan/Clergyman) is beyond delighted to be a part of the Our Town cast. She is a senior at UAlbany, studying Theatre. This is her fifth production with the department, most recently seen as a phantom in The Rocky Horror Show. She has performed in over 50 productions in her lifetime, most notably working with Berkshire Theatre Group, Berkshire Children’s Theater, and BCC Players. She is eternally grateful to her friends and family for their constant support and love.

HAZEL CHAUDOIR (Mrs. Webb) is a student at the University at Albany majoring in Business with a focus on Marketing and minoring in Theater because she loves drama. She has appeared in several campus and community productions, including the Theatre Program’s productions of Mary Shelley Meets Frankenstein, The Rocky Horror Show, and FRESH ACTS. Originally from Wisconsin, Hazel’s hobbies include memorizing lines, forgetting them, and then dramatically remembering

them at the last second; and enjoys exploring character development through movement and improvisation.

MARTIN DOHERTY (Howie Newsome/ Joe Stoddard) is a junior at the University at Albany. He is a History major with minors in both Pre-Education and Theatre. This is his first ever show in the Theatre Program.

DAVID ESPINAL (Stage Manager) is a senior with a Theatre major and Acting minor. Recent acting credits include Count Dracula (Dracula) and Lord Byron, in the Theatre Program’s production last year of Mary Shelley Meets Frankenstein. He also was the playwright of A Whimsical Tale of DJs and Ostriches last spring in FRESH ACTS. He would like to thank his friends and family for their continued support.

SK KOUASSI (Sam Craig / Rebecca Gibbs) is a senior at UAlbany. You may know SK from their performances in last year’s Theatre Program productions of Machinal and FRESH ACTS, and their roles in the upcoming film The Way We Feel. SK is very excited to perform in this play and hopes that if the audience retains anything from the play, it is to be more intentional in their lives and appreciate all moments, even the small ones.

XAVIER LAKE (George Gibbs) is originally from Staten Island. He is a sophomore at the University at Albany majoring in Finance with a minor in Political Science. He recently appeared as Finneas in the FRESH ACTS Festival last spring. This marks his

first full production with the Theatre Program, and he is thrilled to be bringing Our Town to life alongside such a talented cast and crew.

DAVANI MELENDEZ (Mrs. Louella Soames) is a senior majoring in Communications with a minor in Theatre. Her past roles include Magenta in The Rocky Horror Show, Bianca in The Taming of the Shrew, and Mimi in Rent. Originally from Queens, New York, Davani is thrilled to perform in her final UAlbany production before spending her last semester abroad in Europe.

DAVID PASTUSZKA (Simon Stimson) is a sophomore Linguistics major and Theatre minor who is honored to be a part of University at Albany’s fall 2025 production of Our Town. This is his third production with the UAlbany Theatre, his first two being The Rocky Horror Show and the most recent FRESH ACTS festival. He would like to congratulate and wish luck to his fellow castmates, creative team, and crew members, and give a special thanks to his family and friends for their endless support.

MALACHI REDD (Doc Gibbs) is a junior at the University at Albany, from Long Island, New York. He is a Theatre major, with a minor in Communications. Previous productions he has worked on include Law and Order: Fairytale, and UAlbany Theatre Program’s FRESH ACTS, The Rocky Horror Show, and In the Blood.

BENEDETH UDUBA (Professor Willard/Constable Warren) is in her third year at the University at Albany. She is a Theatre major with minors in Acting and Korean. Previous Theatre credits include The Rocky Horror Show (Phantom), Authors Theatre reading of The Rover (Angelica Bianca), and FRESH ACTS (Vince in Fortunate). She is grateful for support from friends and family and would like to thank the UAlbany Theatre Program for giving her another opportunity to act and explore the craft.

GABRIELLE VERCHERAU-GRECO (Emily Webb) is thrilled to make her UAlbany Theatre debut! A sophomore Music major, this marks her first production here. Favorite past roles include Portia (Something Rotten), Elle Woods (Legally Blonde), Alyssa Greene (The Prom), Sophie Sheridan (Mamma Mia!), and Dorothy (The Wizard of Oz). In addition to her work in theater, Gabby is a classically trained singer whose notable credits include performances at NYSSMA All-State and Carnegie Hall. She has also studied piano for 16 years. Gabby thanks her family, friends, and the cast and crew for their endless support.

GABRIELLE VILLANUEVA (Mrs. Webb) is a senior Theatre major with a minor in Acting at the University at Albany. Her previous Theatre Program credits include Machinal (Adding Clerk and others) and The Taming of the Shrew (Hostess/Widow), as well as a few staged readings and university showcases. Gabby is honored to be part of this timeless story and grateful to bring it to life with such a talented cast and creative team. She believes Our Town reminds us to slow down and cherish the beauty in

everyday moments, a message that feels especially meaningful today.

HUDSON VILLENUEVE (Mr. Webb) is thrilled to be a part of the Our Town cast. He is a junior majoring in Theater and minoring in Communications. This will be his sixth production at UAlbany, having understudied in Clyde’s, and acted in Machinal, FRESH ACTS, and the Authors Theater staged reading of The Rover. He is grateful for his supportive friends and family and can’t wait to help put this show on!

NATALIA ZEHNER (Audience Member/Woman Among the Dead) is in her senior year at UAlbany, majoring in Criminal Justice and double minoring in Theatre and Legal Studies. This is her first show at UAlbany, but she has previously worked on several shows with Highlight Acting Troupe in Brunswick, NY, including A Christmas Carol, Once Upon A Pandora’s Box, and The Jungle Book.

ESTHER LEVINE (Sound Designer) is a junior who is so excited to make her debut as a Sound Designer. She started sound mixing with the Theatre Program’s production of The Rocky Horror Show, and was the sound engineer for In the Blood. In addition to sound, Esther has greatly enjoyed being a Technical Assistant and working on every aspect of the productions since freshman year. Theatre means the world to Esther, and she would like to thank everyone for helping her create these incredible productions and opportunities.

CAT BRADY (Assistant Scenic Designer) is a current junior at UAlbany and a Technical Assistant in the Scene Shop. She is a Theater major with a Theatrical Design and Technology minor. She has worked behind the scenes on many Theatre Program productions including Mary Shelly Meets Frankenstein, In the Blood, Machinal and FRESH ACTS 2024 and 2025 . This is her first time venturing into Scenic Design and she is extremely excited.

DASHA HEGEMAN (Stage Manager) is a senior double-majoring in Theatre and Music, and is pursuing the UAlbany Graduate program in English. In the Theatre Program she began with a production of The Piano Lesson as the soundboard operator and has continued working behind the scenes in costumes for The Taming of the Shrew and assistant stage managing for The Rocky Horror Show. She’s mostly passionate about music and has performed in various pit ensembles, including Once Upon A Mattress and Into the Woods at Lansingburgh High School as a freelance trumpet player. She’s very excited for her first opportunity working as the Production Stage Manager for Our Town and is thrilled to be working with Remy once more.

HEAVENLEE GONZALEZ (Assistant Stage Manager) is a fourthyear student at UAlbany with a Theatre major and a Theatrical Design & Technology minor. Previous work in the Theatre Program includes The Rocky Horror Show (Assistant Stage Manager), Machinal (Assistant Stage Manager), The Taming of the Shrew (Prop Assistant and Sound Board Operator). They are

very excited to be working as one of the assistant stage managers on this production!

STACY HYSON (Assistant Stage Manager) is a senior majoring in Theater with a Theatrical Design and Technology minor. Previously at UAlbany she was a spotlight operator for The Rocky Horror Show and was on run crew for Mary Shelley Meets Frankenstein. Locally she has worked with the Sand Lake Center for the Arts on their production of Puffs as the light and sound board operator, and was the light board operator for Home Made Theater's production of 1776. She is very excited to serve as one of the assistant stage managers on this production of Our Town.

LOREL ROSS (Dramaturg) is a senior at the University at Albany. She is a Theatre major and a Psychology minor. She started out with performing, but found her calling with the behind-thescenes work of theatre. Recently she has worked with a studentrun theatre group as Assistant Stage Management, and has performed in other shows including Into the Woods and She Loves Me.

JEAN-REMY MONNAY (Director) is the Founder and Producing Artistic Director of the Black Theatre Troupe of Upstate New York (BTTUNY). He grew up in Haiti and has been acting since he was about eight years old, in French and Creole. He moved to New York in the 1980s and continued performing in his native language with a Haitian troupe until 1997. He moved to the

Capital Region and has been performing since in various theatres in the community. His directing credits include UAlbany Theatre Program productions of Clyde’s by Lynn Nottage and The Piano Lesson by August Wilson; as well as Valley Song, Sweat, Hoodoo Love, Topdog/Underdog, The Niceties, Fences, Flyin’ West, The Light, Dead and Breathing, Yours for the Oppressed , Eclipsed, Intimate Apparel, The Mountaintop, Slow Dance on The Killing Ground, I Just Stopped By To See The Man, A Lesson Before Dying, Reunion In Bartersville, Wedding Band, and Camp Logan. Film credits include NETFLIX Grand Army (2020), Follow Her (Thriller 2021), The History Channel’s The Revolution, Rachael’s Ward (2007 Edwood Film Festival), among others.

BECK CLARK (Scenic Consultant/Props Supervisor) is a scenic designer, scenic artisan and the Visiting Assistant Professor of Scenic Design here at UAlbany. Professional design and assistant design credits include work at Cortland Repertory Theatre, Underscore Theatre Company, Colorado College, Hangar Theatre Wedge and KidSTUFF series, Arkansas Shakespeare Company, and more. Before joining the UAlbany Theatre Program, Beck was an Assistant Professor of Theatre Design and Technology at Angelo State University in Texas. They hold an MFA in Scenic Design and Production from the University of Arizona, and a BA in Theatre from the University of Wisconsin Stevens Point.

ANNE CROTEAU (Costume Shop Manager) is the Theatre Program’s Costumer, designing costumes and supervising student designers for the production season. She teaches courses in theatrical design and costume construction, and runs the costume shop. Previous costume design credits at UAlbany include The Rocky Horror Show, Mary Shelley Meets Frankenstein, The Taming of the Shrew, RENT, The Piano Lesson, Eurydice, Spring Awakening, Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson, and others. Professional theatre credits include the American Repertory Theatre, Huntington Theatre Company, Utah Shakespeare Festival, Costume Works Inc., Krannert Center for the Performing Arts, Saratoga Children’s Theatre and many others. Anne is the owner of Dress You Up, a custom bridal and formal gown design studio in Ballston Lake, NY and a member of the Board of Directors for Not So Common Players of Clifton Park, NY. She holds an MFA in Costume Construction and Design from the University of Illinois, Champaign-Urbana; and a BA in Theatre from UAlbany.

EVAN ANDERSON (Lighting Designer/Production Manager) is a lighting designer and composer for theatre, dance, and film, as well as the Visiting Assistant Professor of Production here at UAlbany. His lighting work has been seen across the United States and internationally in Europe and Asia. Frequent collaborators include zoe | juniper and Paul Budraitis. Recent work: Jekyll & Hyde, The Winter’s Tale, It’s a Wonderful Life (Hartford Stage); The Plot (Yale Repertory Theatre); Pipe Dream (Berkshire Theatre Group); Symphony of Rats (The Wooster

Group); Blue is the light that doesn’t reach us, I Love That For You (Acker Statd Palast); Where The Mountain Meets The Sea, Constellations (Ancram Opera House). He is a Burry Fredrik Design Fellow and a graduate of Yale School of Drama.

JOHN KNAPP (Scene Shop Supervisor/Technical Director) John holds a BA in Theatre from UAlbany. He has been part of the team of students and artistic colleagues for approximately twenty-seven years, helping to build roughly 100 productions at UAlbany. John’s designs include The School for Scandal, Cloud 9, My Children! My Africa!, Miss Reardon Drinks a Little, The Importance of Being Earnest, and In the Next Room. John doubles as the Theatre Program’s Archivist. In 2006 John started collecting documents (photos, programs, posters, etc.) to create a digital archive of Theatre at the University. We now have over 110 years of known Theatre history at UAlbany. If you have memorabilia that relates to theatre here, please contact John at: jknapp@albany.edu.