Inside Asolo Rep
Thursday, June 9 | 10:30am

OUT@ASOLO REP
Wednesday, June 15

The Scoop
This popular program is going digital! Ticket holders will be sent a video link via email prior to their performance to get the inside scoop on the ideas that inspired the production.

Tuesday Talkbacks 
June 14 and 21 | Enhance your experience with this post-show discussion following select Tuesday performances.

*All activities are subject to change or modification based on CDC recommendations.

 

HOOD Sizzle

 

The Scoop on HOOD

 

HOOD Sitzprobe Sizzle

 

• Asolo Rep’s musical ‘Hood’ gives a modern twist to Robin Hood legend (Sarasota Herald-Tribune)

• Leaning in to Joy: A Merry Band Debuts Hood at Asolo Rep (Scene Magazine)

• Creative team behind 'Hood' dishes on labor and love (The Observer)

• Asolo Rep Breaks Out Two Timely Shows to Close Its Season (Sarasota Magazine)

• A funny thing happened on the way to Sherwood Forest (The Observer)

• A lively musical ‘Hood’ brings Robin Hood tales into modern times at Asolo Repertory Theatre (Sarasota Herald-Tribune)

• 'Hood' is not what you might think (Venice Gondolier Sun)

BILLIE AKEN-TYERS*, she/her

FIRST SEASON (Crank, Much) has worked as an actor, director, and playwright, appearing on numerous stages internationally. Selected credits: Fairycakes (off-Broadway, Greenwich House Theatre), Ragtag Theatre's Cinderella (Soho Playhouse, Redhouse Arts, Barrington Stage Company). Regional: Hood (Dallas Theater Center); Mamma Mia! (Mill Mountain Theater); How to Succeed, Footloose, Much Ado, Pirates of Penzance (Scranton Shakes). Directing: Your Alice (BAM, Edinburgh Fringe, Arcola Theatre, London), Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat (SSF), and Lysistrata Jones (Nominated for Outstanding Production, NYIT Awards). Writing: Your Alice (BAM, Edinburgh Fringe, Ophelia Theatre), Next Round (Underbelly Cowgate 2023), We Carry On - A series of radio plays. For Beckett and Josiah billieakentyers.com

 

ANTHONY CHATMON II*, he/him

FIRST SEASON (Robert of Loxley, Robin) Broadway: Hadestown, Be More Chill. National Tours: Fiasco’s Into the Woods, The Book of Mormon. Regional: West Side Story (Hollywood Bowl), Bernstein’s Mass (Disney Concert Hall), Freedom Riders (NYMF), Hairspray (Dallas Theater Center), Lempicka (NYC Lab). TV/Film: Kenny in A Jenkins Family Christmas (BET), Reasonable Doubt (Hulu), Invasion (Apple TV) Law & Order (NBC), Blue Bloods (CBS), The Other Two (Comedy Central), and Bull (CBS). @anthonychatmonjr

 

CAITLIN HUMPHREYS*, she/her

FIRST SEASON (Clapper-Dudgeon, Voice of Bishop, Lady Anne) is beyond grateful to be making a return to live theatre and her Asolo Rep debut. Some of her favorite credits include the National Tour of Beauty and the Beast, The Hunchback of Notre Dame (Ogunquit Playhouse), Lucille in Parade and Kate/Lucy in Avenue Q (3-D Theatricals). Endless love and gratitude for my Hood family, Asolo Rep, Firestarter Entertainment, and, of course, the unwavering support of my family. IG: @caitlin707

 

SAVY JACKSON*, she/her

FIRST SEASON (Marian) is so excited to be making her Asolo Rep debut! Savy recently earned her BFA in Musical Theatre at Pace University after being on the road with the First National Tour of Once on This Island (Storyteller, u/s Ti Moune). So much love and gratitude for the creative team, Tara Rubin Casting, and the endless support from friends, family, and her team at Buchwald.  ~GGs IG: @savy.jackson savyjackson.com

 

ERIN KEI*, she/her

FIRST SEASON (Duchess of Warwick, Lady Jane) is thrilled to make her Asolo Rep debut with Hood! Off-Broadway/NY Theater credits include BAM, MMAC, and NYMF. Erin spent three years on tour with Elf The Musical. Her TV/Film/Commercial credits include Hulu's The Path, BroadwayHD's Sc7enario, and Olay Whips. Select Regional Theater credits include Dallas Theater Center, Syracuse Stage, Casa Manana, Phoenix Theatre, and Mill Mountain Theater. Erin also serves as the Associate Artistic Director for NY-based dance company Thistle Dance. A huge thank you to the Hood team and cast, Asolo Rep, as well as her friends and family for their continued support. Please Say Gay. @erinnish @thistle_dance

 

AURY KREBS*, she/her

FIRST SEASON (Meg, Cooper’s Wife) is a Queer, Brooklyn-based artist who is committed to the exploration and elevation of dynamic, intersectional storytelling. Aury has appeared off-Broadway in Darling Grenadine (Roundabout Theatre Company) and A Letter to Harvey Milk (Theatre Row). Film and TV credits include Leverage: Redemption and Way Down: A Queer Webseries. Love as always to John and Soonduk, who made it all happen. Please say Gay.

 

DANIEL LOPEZ*, he/him

FIRST SEASON (Alan A’Dale) is thrilled to be making his Asolo Rep debut alongside his trusty guitar and this sensational group of artists! Theatre credits include Into the Woods at The Hollywood Bowl (Steward), West Side Story (Tony), Andrew Lippa’s The Wild Party (Burrs). TV credits include FBI (CBS), Blue Bloods (CBS), Ways & Means (CBS), and Shattered (IDTV). Love and thanks to family, friends, Jen, Kathy, Ted, Mike, Aki, and Elvis. daniellopezactor.com Instagram: @realdaniellopez

 

JAMEN NANTHAKUMAR*, he/him

FIRST SEASON (Earl of Loxley, Voice of Lord Geoffrey, Abraham-Man, Tuck) is thrilled to be making his Asolo Rep debut with this stellar company. He was most recently seen starring in the world premiere of Other World, a new musical by [title of show] creators Hunter Bell, Jeff Bowen, and Ann McNamee (Delaware Theatre Company). Other recent credits include the off-Broadway premiere of Douglas Carter Beane’s Fairycakes (Greenwich House Theater), The KILL ONE Race (The FEATH3R Theory/Playwrights Horizons), Half the Sky (Radio Play/5th Avenue), Diana (World Premiere/La Jolla Playhouse), Mary Stuart (Pioneer Theatre Co.), and A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum (Pittsburgh Public). IG: @jamen_nanthakumar 

 

LUKE ANTONY NEVILLE*, he/him

FIRST SEASON (Smote, Lady & Lord Boxington, Scarlet) couldn’t be more thrilled to be participating in this wonderful production after two years of postponement. Luke is a British actor based in New York City, where he graduated from The American Academy of Dramatic Arts. He has since worked on professional theatre productions across both the US and the UK. His recent TV credits include starring opposite Ryan Eggold on Season 4 of NBC’s hit series New Amsterdam and being on the winning team of Harry Potter: Hogwarts Tournament of Houses, hosted by Dame Helen Mirren on HBOMax and TBS. This one's for you, Mum. lukeantonyneville.com. Please Say Gay.

 

NICK REHBERGER*, he/him

FIRST SEASON (Sheriff, Cooper) couldn’t be happier to be here. He recently appeared as Robert Martin in The Drowsy Chaperone (FPAC), Darcy in Pride and Prejudice (St. Louis Rep), and Will Shakespeare in Shakespeare in Love (Chicago Shakespeare Theater). Nick was seen as Fyedka in Bartlett Sher’s revival of Fiddler on the Roof and stood by in John Tiffany’s production of The Glass Menagerie. Screen credits include The Equalizer and Elementary on CBS, Girls and The Deuce on HBO, Gotham on FOX, and the films I Am Michael and Thirdy. He is a proud graduate of the Carnegie Mellon School of Drama. Follow @nickrehberger

 

JORDAN SAM RICH, he/him

FIRST YEAR STUDENT, FIRST SEASON (u/s Little John, Scarlet) hails from Atlanta, Georgia. Jordan graduated from The University of Michigan’s BFA Acting program. Professionally, Jordan appeared in the Pete the Cat National Tour and No Villain by Arthur Miller at the Public Theatre starring Judith Light. Regionally, Jordan appeared in three shows at Santa Rosa Repertory Theatre and has worked in many capacities at The Eugene O’Neill Theatre Center. For Mom, Dad, Z, Bub, Nan.

 

MIKHAIL ROBERTS, he/him

FIRST YEAR STUDENT, FIRST SEASON (u/s Tuck) understudied Grand Horizons and Our Town at Asolo Rep, and made his FSU/Asolo Conservatory debut in The Learned Ladies. Professional credits include the Equity tours of Stuart Little, By the Great Horn Spoon, and the opening cast of The Wizarding World of Harry Potter at Universal Studios in Osaka, Japan. On film, he has starred in The Monster's Mind, Saki the Killer, and the upcoming feature film And I Feel Fine. 

 

ZACHARY FRANCIS STEWART*, he/him

FIRST SEASON (Earl of Huntington, Voice of Prince John, Little John) was expecting to make his Asolo Rep debut a long two years ago. He is incredibly grateful to have finally made it to the Mertz. Born and raised in Kentucky, he now resides in Brooklyn, NY, where he’s had the opportunity to work on creating new and inventive theatre. Favorites include The Bad Years, Legendale, Solana, Twiggy Fartdust and Her Nemesis from Mars, Mars 2076, We Are Pilgrims. He offers deep thanks to his family and teachers who honored his sense of self, loved him, and allowed him to thrive. Please Say Gay! IG: @zacharyxfrancis

 

MICHELLE TSAI, she/her

FIRST SEASON (u/s Marian, Lady Jane) is an NYC-based performer and educator. She earned her Bachelor's in vocal performance and math from NYU, and just graduated with her Master's in math education from Columbia (Spring 2022!). Recent credits: Comfort Women (off-Broadway, Playwrights Horizons), The Wolves (#00, Philadelphia Theatre Company), and competing on Harry Potter: Hogwarts Tournament of Houses, hosted by Dame Helen Mirren. Extra love to Mom for rescheduling her trip to support me coming here <3 IG: @michellelikesbirds. michelle-tsai.com

 

DARIUS VINES, he/him

FIRST SEASON (u/s Scarlet, Robin) is thrilled to be making his debut at Asolo Rep!  Some of his favorite credits include the National Tour of A Bronx Tale (Jesse, u/s Tyrone), In the Heights, Songs for a New World, and The Mile Long Opera. He would like to thank Asolo Rep, the production team, Tara Rubin Casting and his agents at Firestarter Entertainment for the opportunity! BFA from Howard University. @mrdvines2u

 

DANIELLE VIVCHARENKO, she/her

FIRST YEAR STUDENT, FIRST SEASON (u/s Lady Anne and Much) is ecstatic to be with Asolo Repertory Theatre while training at the FSU/Asolo Conservatory. Previously in the season, Danielle understudied Joe Crowell in Our Town. She was born and raised in Cleveland, OH, and a recent graduate of Kent State University. She’d like to thank her professors and her family for supporting her through this new chapter in her life. daniellevivcharenko.com

 

TAYLOR ERIN WADE, she/her

FIRST SEASON (u/s Meg, Gamble) is thrilled to be making her Asolo Rep debut! Off-Broadway: The Baker’s Wife (Inez). Regional: Beehive (Gina), Hairspray (Dynamite 2), Seussical (Bird Girl 2), and Gypsy (Dolores). Thank you to Joey for always believing in me and being the best voice teacher a girl could ask for. Thanks, Mom, for everything. You are my biggest supporter and the best reader ever. Love you Dad, Poppy, Iris, and Mads.

 

NICK YÁÑEZ-ATKINS, he/him

FIRST SEASON (u/s Alan A’Dale, Sheriff) is thrilled to be making his debut at Asolo Rep! Born and raised in Waco, TX, Nick received his BM in Music Theater from Oklahoma City University. He is currently enjoying his first year living in NYC following graduation. He would like to thank his parents and Lena for being his cheering section through this all. Enjoy the show!

 

IMANI YOUNGBLOOD*, she/her

FIRST SEASON (Gamble, A mother) is grateful to make her Asolo Rep debut! She graduated from the AADA and was a member of the Academy Company 2017-2018. Academy credits include To Wong Foo (Miss Rachel Tensions, World Premiere); Stupid F*cking Bird (Nina); Hamlet (Horatio); and Kentucky (Hiro). Other stage credits include Romeo & Juliet (Juliet, Lady Shakes Theatre Company); Little Shop of Horrors (Chiffon, EPIC Players); Shakespeare in Love (Viola, Opera House Arts); Desdemona, a play about a handkerchief (Bianca, Opera House Arts); Step Show: The Musical (Meghan, Bickford Theatre) and Lysistrata Jones (Myhrrine, Ophelia Theatre Group).

 

*Members of Actors’ Equity Association, the Union of Professional Actors and Stage Managers in the United States.

HUNTER ARNOLD, he/him

FIRST SEASON (Enhancing Producer) Select Broadway: Hadestown (Tony Award); The Inheritance (Tony Award); Mr. Saturday Night (Tony Nomination); A Strange Loop (Tony Nomination); Funny Girl; For Colored Girls … (Tony Nomination); The Little Prince; Plaza Suite; Company (Tony Nomination); Mrs. Doubtfire; Caroline, or Change (Tony Nomination); Tina: The Musical (Tony Nomination); Moulin Rouge! (Tony Award); Betrayal (Tony Nomination); Once on This Island (Tony Award); Dear Evan Hansen (Tony Award); Kinky Boots (Tony Award); Frankie and Johnny ... (Tony Nomination); Anastasia; Deaf West Theatre’s Spring Awakening (Tony Nomination); and Godspell. Select West End and London: Cabaret (Olivier Award), Back to the Future (Olivier Award), 2:22 (Olivier Nomination), Constellations (Olivier Award), Dear Evan Hansen (Olivier Award), and The Inheritance (Olivier Award). Select off-Broadway: Little Shop of Horrors. @huntercarnold

 

DOUGLAS CARTER BEANE, he/him

FIRST SEASON (Book) Musicals: Cinderella (Tony Nomination), Lysistrata Jones (Tony Nomination), Sister Act (Tony Nomination), Xanadu (Tony Nomination). Plays: The Little Dog Laughed (Tony Nomination), The Nance, As Bees in Honey Drown, Music From A Sparkling Planet, Fairycakes, Shows for Days, The Closet, Mr. & Mrs. Fitch, Advice from a Caterpillar, The Country Club. Met Opera: Die Fledermaus. Revues: White Lies, Mondo Drama. Film: To Wong Foo, Thanks For Everything! Julie Newmar; Advice from a Caterpillar. TV: Tracey Ullman’s Show.

 

MARK BROKAW, he/him

FIRST SEASON (Director) Credits include the New York off-Broadway premieres of Heisenberg, The Long Christmas Ride Home, How I Learned to Drive, As Bees In Honey Drown, Lobby Hero, This Is Our Youth. His Broadway revival of How I Learned to Drive opened in April. Regional credits include the Guthrie, Center Theatre Group, Steppenwolf, Seattle Rep, Hartford Stage, La Jolla Playhouse, Yale Rep, Berkeley Rep, Williamstown, Sundance Theatre Lab. His work has also been seen at London’s Donmar Warehouse and Menier Chocolate Factory, Dublin’s Gate Theatre, and the Sydney Opera House. Mark is a current SDC Executive Board member and President of the SDC Foundation.

 

KRIS DANFORD, she/her 

FIFTH SEASON (Dialect Coach) is delighted to be back at Asolo Rep as dialect coach, after having previously spent four seasons in the acting company. Asolo Rep credits include The Last Five Years, Searching for Eden, The Winter’s Tale, The Imaginary Invalid, Smash, The Plexiglass Slipper, Pride and Prejudice, and Expecting Isabel. As a voice/dialect coach or actor, other credits include the Oregon Shakespeare Festival, Jewel Theatre Company, American Stage, Oregon Cabaret Theatre, and Ashland New Plays Festival. Kris is currently Associate Professor of Voice and Speech at Penn State University. She has a BFA in Musical Theatre from SUNY Fredonia, MFA in Acting from FSU/Asolo Conservatory for Actor Training, and is an Associate Teacher of Fitzmaurice Voicework.

 

AMANDA J. DAVIS*, she/her

FIRST SEASON (Assistant Stage Manager) is making her Asolo Rep debut. Her previous regional credits include Earth to Kenzie, Rhoda and the Fossil Hunt, The Scorpions’ Sting (Lyric Opera of Chicago); Roz and Ray, A Wonder in My Soul, Where Did We Sit on the Bus? (Victory Gardens); Murder for Two, A Q Brothers’ Christmas Carol (Chicago Shakespeare); and The Humans (American Theater Company).

 

LEWIS FLINN, he/him

FIRST SEASON (Music/Lyrics/Arrangements/Orchestration) has written musicals for Broadway and off-Broadway and scored over 50 plays on Broadway, off-Broadway, and at regional theatres across the country. He’s scored films and national commercials and written songs for many recording artists. His favorite, and frequent, collaborator is husband Douglas Carter Beane. When not composing, he loves being a father to their teenage children, Cooper and Gaby. Thanks to the American Academy of Performing Arts and Dallas Theater Center for their support of Hood and all the actors, musicians, and designers who have put their hearts into the show through the years. 

 

JUSTIN GOLDNER, he/him

FIRST SEASON (Orchestration) is a music producer, orchestrator, and session musician who has been fortunate to make music with Sting, Ricky Martin, Macy Gray, Donald Glover, Ledisi, Jordin Sparks, Tori Kelly, Lin-Manuel Miranda, Stephen Sondheim, Ben Platt, Steve Martin, Jane Monheit, Max Martin, Alan Menken, Jason Robert Brown, Kelli O’Hara, Audra McDonald, and a host of others. He’s contributed to Grammy, Tony, and Golden Globe-winning projects, including Dear Evan Hansen (Broadway, film) and The Greatest Showman, and performed onstage at such storied venues as Carnegie Hall, Radio City Music Hall (Ben Platt Netflix special), the Apollo Theater, Madison Square Garden (60th annual Grammy Awards), and Turkmenistan’s Mukamlar Palace. funkybutter.com

 

JACOB GRIGOLIA-ROSENBAUM, he/him

FIRST SEASON (Fight Director) has worked on Peter and the Starcatcher (Broadway, NYTW, New World Stages, Tour), Peter Pan Live! (NBC/Universal), Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson (Broadway, The Public, Williamstown), Cyrano de Bergerac (Broadway), Here Lies Love (The Public), The Robber Bridegroom (Roundabout), Sailor Man (co-creator; NY Fringe; winner Best Play) and Robin Hood (Williamstown). Some of his work with the Old Globe includes Romeo and Juliet, The Last Goodbye, Othello, Ken Ludwig’s Robin Hood!, and Hamlet. He’s also designed fights for Disney Cruise Line, Ogunquit Playhouse, Prospect Theater Company, Connecticut Free Shakespeare, and the Robin Hood Foundation. He was stunt coordinator and creature performer for Dark Was the Night (Caliber/Image) and a D1 varsity fencer for Yale. He is honored to be making his Asolo Rep debut with Hood!

 

JEFFREY GUGLIOTTI, he/him

FIRST SEASON (Associate Choreographer) is a choreographer and teacher based in New York City. He received his dance degree from the University of Massachusetts Amherst while also performing and teaching throughout New England with Quicksilver Dance, Vacanti Ballet, and Urbanity Dance. Jeffrey is currently the Co-Artistic Director of ELSCO Dance, a NYC-based contemporary fusion dance company. His choreography has been performed along the East Coast at StylePointe NYC, the Boston Contemporary Dance Festival, and the University of South Carolina. His work was also featured on The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon and The View. Jeffrey is most recently the associate choreographer for the off-Broadway revival of Little Shop of Horrors, Mr. Saturday Night at Barrington Stage, and the Broadway revival of Funny Girl. IG: @jeffgugliotti

 

MICHELLE HART, she/her

TWENTIETH SEASON (Resident Hair/Wig & Make-up Designer) designs for Asolo Repertory Theatre and FSU/Asolo Conservatory. Other credits: Sarasota Ballet, Palm Beach Drama Works, freeFall Theatre, Urbanite Theatre, Florida Studio Theatre, Westcoast Black Theatre Troupe, Banyan Theatre, Ruth Eckerd Hall, Venice Theatre, Dorset Theatre, Barrington Stage, and Open Stage Theatre. She has also done hair and/or make-up for Joan Rivers, Doris Roberts, Martin Short, Jane Russell, Arlene Dahl, Soledad Villamil, Jane Pauley, Richard Dreyfuss, Castille Langdon, Christopher Higgins, Mary Mara, Heather Robb, Lauren Sweetser, Justin Long, Paul Downs, Douglas Sills, and Nia Hills. Music videos: “Second Chance” by Shinedown, “Reverse Cowgirl” by T-Pain. Film and television: Lady of the Manor; Paradise, FL; and The Real Stephen Blatt.

 

TOM KIRDAHY, he/him

FIRST SEASON (Enhancing Producer) is a Tony and Olivier Award winner and a proud resident of Longboat Key. His projects have spanned Broadway, off-Broadway, West End, national and international tours. Select NY/London Credits: upcoming Broadway revival of August Wilson’s The Piano Lesson starring Samuel L. Jackson. Current: Hadestown (8 Tonys, Best Musical), Little Shop of Horrors (Drama Desk, Best Revival). Past: The Inheritance (4 Tonys, Best Play); Terrence McNally’s Frankie & Johnny in the Clair de Lune (2 Tony noms., Best Revival); Anastasia; It’s Only a Play; The Jungle; The Goat, or Who is Sylvia?; White Rabbit Red Rabbit. Additional Tony nominations: The Visit, Mothers and Sons, Ragtime, Master Class. Recipient, 2019 Robert Whitehead Award for Outstanding Achievement in Theater Producing. Board member, Broadway League and Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS. For Terrence.

 

DAVE KLODOWSKI, he/him

FIRST SEASON (Associate Music Director) is excited to be working on Hood. He is a music director, arranger, and vocal coach based in New York City. His Broadway national tour credits include Kinky Boots, Elf the Musical, Escape to Margaritaville, and A Charlie Brown Christmas (where he played Schroeder). In New York, he played for off-Broadway’s Fiddler on the Roof in Yiddish directed by Joel Grey and is a staff pianist at various schools and universities, most recently music directing Matilda at The Hewitt School. After graduating from Ithaca College, he toured the world performing on cruise ships for 2 years and has sung in various a cappella groups. Additionally, he writes original children’s pop music as “Davey K.”

 

NICK LEHANE, he/him

FIRST SEASON (Puppet Designer, Puppetry Coach, and Shadow Puppetry Staging) is a Brooklyn-based theatre maker and puppet artist. Original Work: Chimpanzee (HERE Arts Center), Fly Away (co-creation with Derek Fordjour, Petzel Gallery, among “The 10 Best Theater moments of 2020” - New York Magazine). Select Puppet Design: Three Sisters (Two River Theater, dir. Sara Holdren), The Tale of Despereaux (PigPen Theater Company, The Old Globe, Berkeley Rep), The Phantom Folktales (PigPen, Virgin Voyages). Select puppet performance credits: Madama Butterfly (The Metropolitan Opera), Robin Frohardt’s The Plastic Bag Store and The Pigeoning (HERE, international tour), Petrushka (Giants Are Small, New York Philharmonic, Barbican Centre), Doug Fitch’s El Retablo de Maese Pedro (American Symphony Orchestra, Bard SummerScape), James Ortiz’s The Little Mermaid, That Life (Unknown Mortal Orchestra), and Lore (Amazon).

 

JOSHUA PILOTE*

FIRST SEASON (Stage Manager) Touring: The Lion King, Miss Saigon, The Bridges of Madison County, Jersey Boys, Mamma Mia!, Dirty Dancing, RENT, Disney’s The Little Mermaid. Other: Blue Man Group, Dallas Theater Center, La Jolla Playhouse, LA Philharmonic, The Old Globe, Public Theater, Roundabout, T.U.T.S. Proud AEA Member. BA: The College of Idaho. Thank you to Nia, Devon, Amanda, Alexa, Sarah, and Gabby. Follow his adventures on Instagram @co_pilote.

 

ADAM RIGG, they/them

FIRST SEASON (Scenic and Costume Designer) is New York based and has designed more than 50 world premiere plays, musicals, and operas. Broadway: The Skin of Our Teeth (Lincoln Center Theater; Outer Critics Circle Award, Tony nomination). Off-Broadway: On Sugarland (NYTW; Lucille Lortel Award), Cullud Wattah (Public Theater; Drama Desk Special Award), Fefu and Her Friends (Theatre for a New Audience; Special Citation, Henry Hews Design Award), Is God Is (Soho Rep), Fabulation (Signature Theatre), Continuity (MTC), Blue Ridge (Atlantic Theater Company), and The House That Will Not Stand (NYTW). Opera: The Lord of Cries (Santa Fe Opera), Breaking the Waves (Opera Philadelphia), and Prism (LA Opera), among others. Upcoming projects: The Listeners (Norwegian National Opera), Soft (MCC). adamriggdesign.com

 

CELINE ROSENTHAL, she/they

SIXTH SEASON (Associate Artistic Director) is a Tony-nominated producer and "Key" member of The Ring Of Keys. Celine has developed new work with Musical Theatre Factory, NYMF, Kidoons, Tamasha, and National Queer Theatre, as well as creating Asolo Rep’s premiere new work series, Asolo Rep: Ground Floor. At Asolo Rep, Celine directed Grand Horizons, Camelot, We Need A Little Christmas, The Lifespan of a Fact, Midsummer Night's Dream, and The Tempest. Other Recent Projects: Trayf (New Rep); Drowning in Cairo (N.Q.T); A Doll’s House (Studio Theatre); Motherf***er with the Hat (FSU/Asolo Conservatory); the award-winning indie short film Wildflower. Celine is a New Georges affiliated artist, member of the 2018/19 MTC Directing Fellowship class, and was awarded an SDC Observership and Asolo Rep Directing Fellowship. Alumnus of CTI, BMI Lehman Engel Workshop, NYU Tisch (BFA), and The New School for Drama (MFA). celinerosenthal.nyc  

 

NIA SCIARRETTA*, she/her

TENTH SEASON (Production Stage Manager) Favorite Asolo Rep credits include stage manager for Knoxville, The Sound of Music, Into the Breeches, The Music Man, Sweeney Todd, Sweat, Shakespeare in Love, Roe, and assistant stage manager for Rhinoceros, Guys and Dolls, All the Way, South Pacific, and Hero: The Musical. Previous off-Broadway credits include work on Jesus Hopped the ‘A’ Train, In the Blood, and The Wayside Motor Inn at the Signature Theatre. Nia has also worked with Creede Repertory Theatre, the Hangar Theatre, the Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey, the Flea Theatre, and Penguin Rep.

 

ELLENORE SCOTT, she/her

FIRST SEASON (Choreographer, Intimacy Coordinator) Broadway: Funny Girl, Mr. Saturday Night. Off-Broadway: Little Shop of Horrors. Associate choreographer: Head Over Heels (Broadway), King Kong (Broadway). Assistant choreographer: Cats (Broadway/Tour) and Falsettos (Broadway/Tour). Other choreography credits: Single All the Way (Netflix), Ratatouille: The TikTok Musical. Artistic director of ELSCO Dance Company. Finalist on So You Think You Can Dance? @ellenoreshoto/@ellenorescott. Love is love is love.

 

BRAD SIMMONS, he/him

FIRST SEASON (Music Director) Remembered from the films Camp and The Last Five Years, Brad has shared the stage with Broadway luminaries Tonya Pinkins, Alice Ripley, Beth Leavel, Donna McKechnie, and recording artists Sandi Patty and The B-52s’ Kate Pierson. He music directed Lysistrata Jones, Mr. & Mrs. Fitch with John Lithgow, Me and the Girls with Alan Cumming, and the musical film Hello Again with Audra McDonald and Martha Plimpton. Brad composed the musicals A Kiss from Alexander, A Woman Onstage, and A Dickens of a Carol with librettist Stephan DeGhelder. Find Brad’s recordings, including Dreamworld, Mundane Existence, The Simon & Garfunkel Collection, and his upcoming Troubadour album, on all music platforms. thebradsimmons.com

 

JAPHY WEIDEMAN, he/him

FIRST SEASON (Lighting Designer) is a five-time Tony-nominated lighting designer. His notable Broadway credits include Dear Evan Hansen, The Visit, The Nance, Of Mice and Men, Airline Highway, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Sylvia, The Snow Geese, Old Times, Macbeth, Cyrano de Bergerac, Significant Other, and Marvin’s Room. His work off-Broadway has been seen at Lincoln Center Theater, The Public-NYSF, NYTW, Second Stage, Playwrights Horizons, MTC, MCC, LAByrinth, The Vineyard, Ma-Yi, and others. On the West End he designed lighting for Dear Evan Hansen (Noel Coward), A Nice Fish (Harold Pinter Theatre), and Blackbird (Albery Theatre).

 

ELISABETH WEIDNER, she/her

FIRST SEASON (Sound Designer) is thrilled to be making her Asolo Rep debut. She has served as Associate Sound Designer for Funny Girl on Broadway and Assistant Sound Designer for Trevor off-Broadway. She has designed at many regional theatres, including PCPA-Pacific Conservatory Theatre, SLO Rep, The Oregon Cabaret, First Stage Milwaukee, and Bike City Theatre. Elisabeth is the Vice Co-Chair of the TSDCA, a contributing blogger for SoundGirls.org, and a proud member of Local USA 829 IATSE. elisabethanneweidner.com

 

MIKE CASTEEL MUSIC SERVICE

FIRST SEASON (Supervising Music Copyist) Mike (he/him) and Lori (she/her) Casteel have been copyists for over 30 years and have enjoyed working with Sting, Renée Elise Goldsberry, Leslie Odom Jr., Train, Panic! At the Disco, Aretha Franklin, and countless others. Broadway credits include Sting’s The Last Ship; Natasha, Pierre & the Great Comet of 1812; Gettin’ the Band Back Together, and the off-Broadway revival of Smokey Joe’s Cafe. Feature film credits include The Greatest Showman, The Astronaut Farmer, In the Heights, and tick, tick…BOOM! They are thrilled to be joining Asolo Repertory Theatre’s production of Hood. 

 

CSA TARA RUBIN/CLAIRE BURKE, CSA 

(Casting) Asolo Rep: Evita, Guys and Dolls, Beatsville, Living on Love (New York Casting), Luck Be A Lady, HERO: The Musical. Selected Broadway: King Kong, Ain't Too Proud, The Band’s Visit, Miss Saigon, A Bronx Tale, Dear Evan Hansen, Cats, Prince of Broadway, Bandstand, Falsettos, Sunset Boulevard, Disaster!, School of Rock, It Shoulda Been You, Bullets Over Broadway, Aladdin, Les Misérables, Mothers and Sons, Big Fish, The Heiress, How to Succeed.., A Little Night Music, Billy Elliot, Shrek, Guys and Dolls, Young Frankenstein, The Little Mermaid, Mary Poppins, Spamalot, …Spelling Bee, The Producers, Mamma Mia!, Jersey Boys, The Phantom of the Opera. Off-Broadway: Here Lies Love; Love, Loss, and What I Wore. Regional: Yale Repertory Theatre, Paper Mill Playhouse, La Jolla Playhouse, Bucks County Playhouse, Westport Country Playhouse, The Old Globe.

 

THE AMERICAN ACADEMY OF DRAMATIC ARTS (AADA) is a performing arts conservatory in New York and California. The oldest acting school in the English-speaking world, the Academy was founded in 1884 by Franklin Haven Sargent. AADA is the only professional actor-training school in both major centers of American entertainment. Notable alumni include Robert Redford, Danny DeVito, Anne Hathaway, Jessica Chastain, and Paul Rudd. In the school’s 137-year history, past students reflect a distinguished level of actor, as well as countless prominent and influential names from all disciplines within the entertainment industry. Academy alumni hold a total of 110 Oscar, 340 Emmy, and 95 Tony nominations.

 

*Members of Actors’ Equity Association, the Union of Professional Actors and Stage Managers in the United States.

HENLEY CONNOR

FIRST SEASON (Drums) is from Sarasota, FL, and returns to Asolo Rep after playing in the band for Hair. He has many accomplishments in the local music scene, regularly gigging with jazz professionals and performing at many festivals/shows throughout the area. He won the FCSAA Solo Jazz Student Artist competition last year against all respective instruments and has run his own music recording studio for 6 years. He will further his studies this year at a university, majoring in Music Business and Studio Engineering.

 

SANGEUN EANET

FIRST SEASON (Violin) is very excited to join the Asolo Rep family for Hood. Sangeun received her Bachelor’s from The Juilliard School and her Master’s from Yale University.  Sangeun was an associate musician with the Metropolitan Opera Orchestra in New York and was a violinist in the Broadway production of West Side Story. Since moving to Sarasota in 2017, Sangeun has played regularly with the Sarasota Orchestra.

 

NIC GIORDANO

FIRST SEASON (Electric Bass) is delighted to be making his Asolo Rep debut. Since picking up the bass at the age of 12, Nic has shown tremendous passion in every project he has been a part of. He is most known for his role in UNRB, a 7-piece ska fusion band, which he played with from 2010-2018. Currently, Nic performs at Busch Gardens in various shows and in the folk group Benjamin Road.  

 

COLE HAZLITT

FIRST SEASON (Percussion) is excited to be making his Asolo Rep debut. Born and raised in Clearwater, Cole is a well-known jazz musician and percussionist in the Tampa Bay area. He completed his bachelor's and Master's degrees in jazz at Manhattan School of Music, studying under John Riley and Joe Locke. Also a composer, his compositions have been performed at Dizzy’s Jazz Club at Jazz at Lincoln Center, and Aaron Davis Hall in Harlem. While In New York, Cole played in the Grammy-nominated Manhattan School of Music Afro-Cuban Jazz Orchestra under direction of master drummer and historian Bobby Sanabria. 

 

ROCIO MENDOZA-SILVA

FIRST SEASON (Cello) currently performs with The Florida Orchestra and the Naples Philharmonic Orchestra, among other ensembles. She recently played with My Fair Lady (2022) in Florida. She has performed with IBEX Productions and Bella Música as assistant principal cellist for tenor Andrea Bocelli. She performed in New York City with The Lion King and West Side Story. Other shows she’s played with include Miss Saigon, Anastasia, Aladdin, and Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.

 

AARON NIX

FIRST SEASON (Percussion) is a professional percussionist based out of Sarasota, FL, and was most recently the drummer/percussionist for the First National Tour of the Broadway revival of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s iconic musical Cats. Other credits include the tours of Webber’s Love Never Dies (First National), and the international tour of Leonard Bernstein’s beloved classic West Side Story. Aaron can also be heard in regular engagements with the Sarasota Orchestra, and the Sarasota Opera.

 

CHUCK STEVENS

FIRST SEASON (Guitar) has toured the world as a jazz guitarist, as a reader in orchestras for various Broadway shows, and performed throughout Asia as a guitarist and singer. After graduating from Rutgers University in 2001 with a bachelor’s in music performance, he moved to New York City where he performed extensively in jazz clubs such as Blue Note, Smoke, and Smalls. Recently, he has moved back to the USA after performing extensively throughout Asia, and began performing in the greater Tampa area with well-known musicians including James Suggs, Chiara Izzi, and Mark Moultrup.

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