Crimson Lit: Scarlet Letter Setlist

 ABOUT THE PRODUCTION TEAM

Krista Knight (book and lyrics) (she/her) is a Juilliard fellow, a Page 73 Playwriting fellow, a MacDowell fellow, a Shank Playwriting fellow at the Vineyard Theatre, a Vanderbilt writer-in-residence, a Chance Theater resident playwright and the winner of the Heideman Award at Actors Theatre of Louisville, Samuel French Off Off Broadway Short Play Festival and Broadway on Demand Film Festival. Her plays include Sloppy Bonnie (Nashville Scene Critics Pick); Crush (NYTimes Recommended, TimeOut Best Theater to Stream Online, featured in American Theatre Magazine, upcoming premiere on the Emmy app); Lipstick Lobotomy (Kilroys List, Trap Door Theatre); Don’t Stop Me (musical with Dave Malloy); Kirk at the SF Airport Hyatt (NYTW’s residency, Vineyard reading); Primal Play (New Georges); and Selkie (Williamstown Workshop, Dutch Kills). She earned her BA from Brown University, an MA in Performance Studies from NYU and her MFA in Playwriting from UCSD. Learn more about Knight at KristaKnight.com.

Jill Sobule (music and lyrics) (she/her)

Rose Freeman (director) (zie/zir) is a staging director, book writer, dramaturg and professor who specializes in new work and music theater. Zie has directed many operas, musicals, plays, hip-hop concerts and many other types of theatrical endeavors in a variety of venues. Freeman’s previous endeavors include production managing monster truck rallies, running a sailing company, coaching burlesque, officiating zir friends’ weddings and not believing in a bad time. Freeman is represented by Marvel Arts. Learn more about Freeman at rosefreeman.org.

Robyn Honabach (assistant director)

Max Segarnick (assistant director) is a junior at UArts and is pleased to be back at Polyphone. His credits include The Blazing World (Polyphone), Pippin and La Vida Luka, both at UArts. His regional credits include Honk!, Assassins, Last Days of Judas … , I and You, and more. You can hunt him down anywhere where bagels are sold in Philly or at maxsegarnick.com.

elle.morris (music director) is a vocalist, a vocal producer/arranger and a member of ILL DOOTS. Before joining this production, morris gave voice to the songs used in Theatre Horizon’s The Agitators. It was her last theater project before the pandemic. morris has sat in the music director chair in the past five years for productions such as Jamaica and The Wiz. At the top of 2021, she was tapped to be the music director for Dreamgirls, which was produced on the audio-only Clubhouse app. Loads of gratitude for innovation, creativity and expansion. Love!

Leah Herman (assistant music director) (she/they) is a junior Musical Theater major. She is so excited to have been able to assistant music direct her second UArts production! Much thanks to the wonderful cast and team that made being able to present this beautiful work possible! 

Angel Fisher (choreographer) (they/them, she/her) is a sophomore Musical Theater major. They have performed in UArts productions of Pippin (Manson Trio Dancer) and La Vida Luka (Ensemble). Their regional credits include Rent  (Angel) and West Side Story (Ensemble). Their local credits include Little Shop of Horrors (The Plant), Urinetown (Cladwell) and The Drowsy Chaperone (Drowsy). She would like to thank Rose, the production team and the whole cast for this awesome experience!

Mia Fabi (stage manager) (she/her) is a senior Directing, Playwriting and Production major. Her previous UArts stage management credits include Equinox’s Look Up, Canyon, Polyphone’s Lilith and Her Demons and Pippin. Thank you to the Brind School, this wonderful cast and the creative team on Polyphone this year for making the last show I do at UArts a great one!

Finn Powers (assistant stage manager) (they/he) is a first-year Directing, Playwriting and Production major. Their past UArts credits include Ballyturk. Their regional credits include Metamorphoses (NS), Bakkhai (Edinburgh Fringe), A Midsummer Night's Dream (NS) and You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown (Artistree).

Hallie Malina (dramaturg) (they/she) is a senior Directing, Playwriting and Production major. Their previous UArts credits include Buried (book, lyrics, co-composer) and A Little Death (playwright, co-composer). Big thanks to Mom and Dad, 3A, Petunia, Z and the cast/crew of Crimson Lit. Enjoy the show :)

Sara Mascelli (assistant dramaturg) (she/her) is a first-year Directing, Playwriting and Production major. Her past UArts credits include La Vida Luka (stage manager) and Nonmonogamy (dramaturg). She is incredibly grateful to be a part of this year’s Polyphone festival, in support of new work and developing musical theater! 

Maura McLaughlin (costume designer) (they/them) is a senior Theater Design and Technology major. Their previous UArts credits include We’re Gonna Die and POP! A Musical Exhibition. All the love and thanks in the world to the cast, production team, Meatball & Mayor McCheese.

ABOUT THE CAST 

Courtney Bird (Winnie) (she/her) is a senior Musical Theater major and a Songwriting minor. Her previous credits include Berthe in Pippin (UArts), Ghost IV in Ghost Town (Philly Fringe) and Ahab in Kill The Whale (Polyphone). She is grateful that her last performance at UArts is with this talented group of humans. Endless thanks to the very special people in her life for the constant love and support, especially her best friend, SJ. 

Alison Sahler (Fran)  is a Senior Musical Theater major and Business/Screenwriting double minor. Past UArts credits include Hamlet, Men on Boats, and Getting By With a Little Help From My Friends. They are so thrilled and thankful to be able to live out their dream of originating a role in a musical, and a nonbinary one at that! Thank you thank you thank you all.

Kayla Fitzgerlad (Courtney) is a junior Musical Theater major who is thrilled to be performing in her first show at UArts! Her past roles include Belle in Beauty and the Beast, Cosette in Les Misérables and Amber in Hairspray. Full of love and gratitude for family and friends—couldn’t do this without them!

Katie Gilhooley (Chad)  is a senior musical theater major. She is so excited to be a part of her first show here at UArts. Regional: Jesus Christ Superstar, Buddy: A Buddy Holly Story, The Perfect Dog (NCC). Special thanks to the cast, crew, and creative team of the show.

Christine DiJoseph (Ms. Carpenter) (she/her) is a senior Theater Design and Technology major. Her past performance credits include Getting By With a Little Help from My Friends (UArts), Mannequin (Philadelphia Fringe Festival 2021), and Red & Black (Polyphone 2020—RIP). Special thanks to Rose, Krista, Jill, Elle, Maura and all my castmates. <3

Sarah Bastian or Bash (Ensemble) (they/she) is a senior Musical Theater major. Their past UArts credits include Ballyturk, Men on Boats, Mother Courage and her Children, and Rhinoceros. Big ol’ thank you to all the friends and professors who have made the past four years so special. 

Clara Charles (Ensemble) (she/her) is a senior Musical Theater major. Her previous UArts credits include Overgrown; You, On a Date; and House with the Giant Pink Polar Bear. Special thanks to the entire cast, crew and creative team of Crimson Lit!

Angel Fisher (Ensemble) (they/them, she/her) is a sophomore Musical Theater major. They have performed in UArts productions of Pippin (Manson Trio Dancer) and La Vida Luka (Ensemble). Their regional credits include Rent  (Angel) and West Side Story (Ensemble). Their local credits include Little Shop of Horrors (The Plant), Urinetown (Cladwell) and The Drowsy Chaperone (Drowsy). She would like to thank Rose, the production team and the whole cast for this awesome experience!

Didi Varon (Ensemble) is a senior Musical Theater major. She is so excited to be making her debut at University of the Arts as a transfer student  from American University. Some of her past credits include The Dybbuk (AU), Raining Seasons (AU), Man of La Mancha (BTCT) and Pippin (BTCT). Thank you so much to this beautiful cast and crew for welcoming me with open arms and making this the most fun and creative experience possible! A huge thank you to the amazing Rose, Krista and Jill for making this beautiful show come to life and for showing us what workshopping a new work is like! So much love to everyone who is part of this amazing journey. Thank you to all my  family and friends for being so supportive during my Musical Theater journey and supporting me the whole way!  I love you all  <3

Maddy Wendell (Ensemble) is a transfer Musical Theater major and is thrilled to be making her UArts debut in Crimson Lit. Next, Wendell will be joining the summer resident company at Priscilla Beach Theatre in Plymouth, Massachusetts. This performance is dedicated to my besties, Peter, Emma, Jo, Basil, Beans and Beaux.

Gabrielle McCarren (Ensemble) (she/her) is a Musical Theater major. Her past UArts credits include Don’t Stop Me. Her other credits include Heathers (NJTW), Little Women and Carrie (VTC). Endless thanks to this incredible cast;  the incredible friends and family who get me through every process; and my biggest cheerleaders, Jordyn and Phoebe. 

ABOUT THE BAND

Nero Catalano (bass) (he/him) has performed in regional productions Love Story (Walnut Street); Once, Ragtime, Tulipomania, Flea and the Professor (Arden); Bridges of Madison County (PTC); Personality, A Christmas Carol (People’s Light); Minors (Lantern); and Because of Winn-Dixie, Something Wicked This Way Comes, Sign of the Times (DTC). Catalano is on the faculty at Settlement Music School and was music director of the School of Rock during its formative years. He also plays bass for Work Drugs and is releasing a new album, Doors Open, this spring.

Mollie Schechter (drums)

Sam Sun (piano)

Frank Vasile (guitar)