Playwright: Conor Eifler
Director: Andy Christensen
Dramaturg: Lilly Grey Rudge
Stage Manager: Lexie Rudolph
Lighting Design: Hannah Kelly
Sound Engineer: Hal Logan
Costume Coordinators: Sue Bonde, Lexie Rudolph
Stage Directions – Jessica Sommerville
The Students of Adams High School
Lane (they/them) - Hannah Harrison
Robin (she/her) - Mackenzie Binsacca
Ronan (he/him) - Joe Koppy
Brian (he/him) - Christopher Karo
Michelle (she/her) - Shae McCarty
Amethyst (she/her) - Katie Course
Austin (he/him) - Bennett Buchholz
Sequoia (they/them) - Alexa Bayliff
Shawn (she/her) - Savanah Baird
The Students of Lafayette High School
Henry (he/him) - Kai Kimball
Blake (they/them) - Nick Hailer
Taylor (she/her) - Mia Lindsay
Harper (she/her) - Joanna Rehwald
Drew (he/him) - Aidan Broderick
Andy (they/them) – Madeline Botsford
Kelsey (she/her) - Renee Kaldor
Assistant Stage Manager: Taylor Andreas
Master Electrician: Anders Vogele
Electricians: Olivia Sloss, Maddie Southard, Sebastian Olney, Madison Bible, Hannah Harrison
Light Board Operator: Aidan Brown
Sound Board Operator: Olivia Sloss
Wardrobe/ Dresser: Taylor Andreas
Scene Shop Supervisor: Eric Lyness
Costume Shop Supervisor: Sue Bonde
Props Supervisors: Madison Bible, Aria Hroma
Scene Shop Technicians and Electricians: Cameron Creitz, Sean Hovland, Julia Moran, Brendan Rath, Talin Rivers, Audrey Stineman, Maddie Southard, Anders Vogel
Costume Construction: Alexa Bayliff, Alaina Cruson, Katja La Flamme, Lilli Grey Rudge, Lexi Rudolph, Isaiah Saluta
We are pleased to share this reading of Conor Eifler’s award-winning You Cannot Undo This Action with you. The play sounds the depths of adolescent vulnerability in a hyper-connected world and asks audiences to consider: who are you in a world where more than one of you exists? And what do you stand for in that world?
Research shows that 97% of Generation Z use social media platforms as their main tool to keep in touch with their peers and stay informed. As an ensemble of young adults in this rising era of technology, we found particular resonance with these characters and the struggles they are facing. From the outset, our ensemble has been committed to engaging with the content of this piece with compassion and care. Throughout the rehearsal process, we participated in research and open dialogues about mental health, incel culture, the influence of technology and more. It has been an honor to collaborate so closely with playwright-in-residence, Conor Eifler, as he prepares this play for publishing and future production. We hope that this reading encourages everyone to ask questions about our current technological landscape and to consider more deeply our place within it.
For access to some of our research and exploration, please visit: https://lillygreyr.wixsite.com/ycuta/resources
I relish plays that provoke meaningful questions, but I don’t typically start with a clear question in mind. When I’ve tried to start writing from a clear question I wind up with a didactic mess if I wind up with anything at all. Instead I begin by jumping right in with getting words down and trust that if I stay curious (“What kind of character would say all this stuff about streetlights that I’ve just free-written?” “Why did that character totally shut down and close out that other character just now?” “What if I switch up this character’s gender? What does that do for the story?”) and rigorous (“I can’t let this character off the hook that easily,” “This scene is twelve pages too long. Time to bust out the cleaver…” “This is deeply embarrassing for me to write, but without that personal honesty the outcome of the interaction between these two characters is utterly unearned.”) the central questions of the play will emerge on their own.
I began the writing process for this script with a conversation with high school students on the role of social media and technology in their lives. The students showed up with such vulnerability, candor and humor. I wanted to write a play worthy of them. I wanted to serve them a play that honored their depth and the complicated nature of their experiences. I also wanted to give them juicy material to sink their teeth into as actors. The students were talented (yawn), but more importantly they were fierce, curious and hungry. I wanted to write roles that would meet them at their level of experience and craft but that would also challenge them. I knew from experience that they would sink to my expectations. They performed admirably.
It has been a joy to be back in Mago Hunt with a whole new batch of students bringing their curiosity, insight and craft to the rehearsal room. The process has given me the opportunity to listen to the play with an ear made more objective by the detachment of time and to hear fresh articulations about the characters and the substance of the play from the students.
Alexa Bayliff - she/they (Sequoia) is junior Theatre major from Alhambra, CA. Alexa is so excited to be doing her third show here at UP! She has played Ginny in 5 Lesbians Eating a Quiche, Enrique The Director in The Public and now she is playing Sequoia! She is so happy to be back performing theatre in person. She would like to thank Andy and Connor for the wonderful opportunity to be a part of this process. She would also like to thank her friends, her bestie roomies, and her partner for all their support.
Makenzie Binsacca - she/her (Robin) is a sophomore Theatre major from Sammamish, WA. Makenzie Binsacca is so excited to be performing in person theatre again! Her most recent roles at the University of Portland include The Motorist/Singing Telegram Girl in Clue and Laura in The Guest. She is thrilled to be sharing the experience of live theatre with you again. She would love to thank the awesome cast and creative team for a wonderful reintroduction into live theatre.
Madeline Botsford - she/her (Andy) is a senior Theatre major from Moraga, CA. Madeline is very excited to be a part of this production because it will be her first time performing on the UP stage! She has gotten to know all her theater peers online and is so grateful to finally be performing alongside them in person. Madeline recently appeared as the Centurion, Third Lady, and Harlequin in the online production of The Public. She also was in the ensemble cast for many musicals in high school including Beauty and the Beast, The Addams Family, and Les Misérables, where her love for performing began. Madeline would like to thank her family and friends for supporting her dreams, no matter how rocky the road may be.
Aidan Broderick - he/him (Drew) is an undeclared sophomore from San Mateo, CA. His recent roles include Mr. Boddy in Clue, Kenneth in Interlude, Jack in Lord of the Flies, and Ren in Footloose. Aidan is very grateful to be able to take part in the theatre program here at UP, despite the difficulties caused by COVID-19. Aidan wouldn't be where he is today without those close to him, who encourage him everyday to keep going, and he would like to give a shoutout to all those on and offstage who helped make this production possible.
Bennett Buchholz - he/him (Austin) is a junior English and Theatre major from Seattle, WA. Bennett is excited to be in this awesome production. You may have seen him in Clue as the Narrator, in Where is Home, or in The Guest as Roy. He hopes you enjoy the show!
Andy Christensen - he/him (Director) is a fiercely curious theatremaker specializing in emergent forms of immersive and site-informed theatre that explore the intersection place and time. In his practice, he builds egalitarian ensembles that create interdisciplinary, research-driven, and process-shaped performances that put audiences at the center of artistic experiences and contextualize performance within community. Andy received his MFA in Theatre Directing from The Lir Academy of Trinity College Dublin/RADA. He is a founder of Cascadia Theatre Company, a past associate director with ANU Productions, and a member of the Stage Directors and Choreographers Society. Recent credits include: Constellations (2021), Angel’s in America: Part One (2021), A Walk in the Woods (2021), Hindsight (2020), A Midsummer Night’s Dream (2019), and The Coming World (2016). See more at andersoncarr.net
Katie Course - she/they (Amethyst) is a Music major with a Theatre minor from Ewa Beach, Hawaii. Katie Course is a Junior at the University of Portland. She is the former president of Thespian Troupe #1993 and has been involved in theatre since her Sophomore year of high school. Some of her most notable roles include Wednesday in the Addam’s Family Jr. , Alice in Alice in Wonderland Jr., and Antigone in Antigone Now. She is very excited to be able to act on a stage again after almost 2 years! Katie would like to thank every single person in the theatre department who made this play possible, as well as the extremely talented playwright, Conor Eifler.
Conor Eifler - he/him (Playwright) is a playwright currently based in Portland. His plays include Vanessa Goodwin: The Adventures of a Thoroughly Modern Argonaut, Corrugatopia, Red and Purple, and It Happened At Mickey's. His work has been staged at the Samuel French OOB Festival, Ars Nova's ANT Fest, Actors Theatre of Louisville Apprentice/Intern Company, Portland Centerstage's JAW Playwright Festival, Action/Adventure Theater, and TeenWest Project and the Rubin Museum. With the devising group MONTANA he created Agatha Christie's Lost and Drowned, and MONTANA Pitches Their Animated Film, The Man Who Owned the Stars, to a Major Motion Picture Production Studio. He was an artist-in-residence with the Make America Project and currently teaches for Writopia Lab. His play You Cannot Undo This Action, commissioned by TeenWest Project and SouthWest StageWorks won the Oregon Book Award for Drama in 2021. He apprenticed at Actors Theater of Louisville, and earned a B.A. in Drama from the University of Portland in 2011.
Nick Hailer - any pronouns (Blake) is a sophomore Computer Science Major from Kailua, HI. Nick Hailer is very excited to be in his first in-person show at UP! You may have seen (or heard) them in online UP productions as Mr. Green in Clue, Alfred in The Guest, and Bellhop in Interlude. Off stage, Nick enjoys watching movies or playing games with friends.
Hannah Harrison - she/her (Lane) is a senior Communication and Theatre from Torrance, CA. Hannah is thrilled to finally be back on the Mago Hunt stage! You may have previously seen her in Silent Sky, Pippin, The Penelopiad, Where is Home, and Clue. She was also the stage manager for last year’s radio production of Interlude. She would like to thank everyone in the audience for coming to support in-person theatre again, and if it was COVID safe, she would give you all a big group hug. She would also like to thank the cast and creative team for their hard work and support, and is grateful to her friends and family for their encouragement.
Renee Kaldor - she/her (Kelsey) is a senior English and secondary Education major from Missoula, Montana. Renee is super excited to be in the production You Cannot Undo This Action. She hasn't performed on a stage at UP since her sophomore year. Her recent roles included Jacques de Boys and Charles in the production of As You Like It. Renee is so proud that this will be her last production at the University of Portland. She wants to thank everyone who supported her in her education at UP. Thank you to the playwright, the director, and her fellow cast & crew. Lastly, she wants to thank her friends and loved ones for making her experience at UP influential and meaningful.
Christopher Karo - he/him (Brian) is sophomore Environmental Ethics and Policy major from Las Vegas, Nevada. Christopher Karo is new to the University of Portland's theater department (so go easy on him) and is very excited to be in this production. He understands that there are 200 words to use in this, but does not have much to say. Really he just wants to say ‘hi’ to the audience and hopes they like the show.
Hannah Kelly - she/her (Lighting Designer) is a junior Theatre major with an Innovation Minor from Tacoma, WA. This is Hannah's first time lighting a show. She is extremely excited to break into the more technical side of theater. She has been in many shows at UP previously onstage and is now transitioning to backstage. She is happy to be here and explore more sides of her creativity!
Kai Kimball - he/they (Henry) is a junior Theatre and English major from Bellevue, Washington. Previous shows they've been in at the University include Elk Page in Wolves Eat Elk, Frank Watanabe and Harv Harvey in Where is Home?, Parker in The Guest, and Wadsworth in Clue. He's grateful for his family and friends for supporting him and is elated to finally be performing in person.
Joe Koppy - he/him (Ronan) is a sophomore English and Secondary Education major from Portland, Oregon. This is Joe’s first theater production since the start of COVID. His recent roles include Cogsworth in Beauty and the Beast, Clifford Anderson in Deathtrap, and Tony Kirby in You Can’t Take it With You. He is very excited to experience live theater again and is excited to share this story with an audience!
Mia Lindsay - she/her (Taylor) is a junior Biology and Psychology major from Eugene, OR. Mia is thrilled to be a part of the cast of You Cannot Undo This Action. She has previously served as an Assistant Stage Manager at UP on Inventing Van Gogh, and is excited to be making her acting debut! Mia would like to thank Andy and Conor for taking a chance on her, and for their time, commitment, and trust given with this work. She would also like to thank Lexie, the Stage Manager extraordinaire, and Lily Grey for everything that they do behind the scenes.This show would not be possible with their hard-work. Finally, she would like to thank her friends (especially Maisie) for their constant support and encouragement, and hopes you enjoy the show!
Shae McCarty - she/they (Michelle) is a senior Music major with a Theatre minor from Corvallis, OR. Shae is absolutely stoked to be a part of You Cannot Undo This Action! She has been involved in multiple shows at UP, working both on and off stage. A few of their favorite roles at UP include Penelope's Naiad Mother in The Penelopiad, and a member of the Ensemble in Pippin. She is looking forward to next summer, where they will be attending Music in the Marche, an opera study program in Mondavio, Italy. In her free time, Shae enjoys hiking, playing Dungeons & Dragons, baking, and making Spotify playlists!
Joanna Rehwald - she/her (Harper) is a senior Elementary Education major from El Dorado Hills, CA. Joanna is excited to get back into theater and used to do plays/musicals as a kid and throughout high school. She likes to spend her free time listening to music, watching Bachelor in Paradise with her friends, and getting a sandwich for lunch at the commons. She is so excited that live theater performances are able to happen again and hopes you enjoy the show!
Lilly Grey Rudge - she/her (Dramaturg) is a sophomore English and Theatre major from Seattle, WA. She is so excited to be working on her first production in an official dramaturgical capacity. She would like to thank everyone involved in this process for their eagerness to ask the big questions and continue their journey of learning through the text!
Lexie Rudolph - she/her (Stage Manager) is a junior Operations and Technology Management major with minors in Music and Political Science from Anacortes, CA. She is excited to be stepping into a new role as a Stage Manager. Lexie has been involved with the Department of Performing and Fine Arts since 2018, working in the costume shop and helping backstage. As a musician, she has performed in orchestras for Avenue Q and Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat. While at UP, Lexie has worked on costumes for The Dragon (2020), Pippin (2019), Dog Sees God (2019), The Christians (2018), Boeing, Boeing (2018), Silent Sky (2018), and Doctor Faustus (2018).
Jessica Sommerville - she/her (Stage Directions) is a junior Biology major with Chemistry and Theatre minors from Seattle, WA. She is ecstatic to return to the UP stage in this production. Favorite UP roles include Elk Grandmother in Wolves Eat Elk. Jessica was a member of her high school thespian troupe which is where she first fell in love with theatre. She would like to thank everyone involved in the making of this production for an amazing and unique experience!
Susan Bonde, Costume Shop Manager
Sue Bonde is the costume shop manager for the University of Portland. She worked in Chicago as a freelance costume designer and technician for the Goodman Theater and Light Opera Works prior to moving to Portland. She has designed for A.R.T., New Rose Theatre, and Portland Repertory Theatre, and the Wee Sing children’s videos before joining Michael Curry Design and working on The Lion King on Broadway. Bonde has designed costumes for Portland Opera’s The Return of Ulysses, Albert Herring, La Calisto, Il Ballo delle Ingrate/Il Combattimento di Tancredi e Clorinda/Trouble in Tahiti , Galileo, Postcards from Morocco, L’heure Espanogle / L’enfant et les Sortileges and most recently, La Cenerentola. She is the recipient of two Willamette Week Excellence in Theater Awards and two Portland Drammy Awards. Past designs for UP include Tartuffe and Pippin. Mock’s Crest Opera costume design credits include Iolanthe, Ruddigore, The Pirates of Penzance, Light in the Piazza and Yeoman of the Guard.
Lezlie C. Cross, PhD, Assistant Professor, Theatre History and Dramaturgy
Dr. Cross’s directing credits at UP include House of Desires, Where is Home: a Digital Living Newspaper, and As You Like It. At UP, she teaches courses in theatre history, dramaturgy, and playwriting. She is also a professional dramaturg who has worked at regional theatres across America including the Utah Shakespeare Festival, Nevada Conservatory Theatre, Cincinnati Shakespeare, Classic Stage Company, Actor’s Theatre of Louisville, and Oregon Shakespeare Festival where she was the literary assistant for five years. She received her Ph.D. from the University of Washington, her M.A. from the Shakespeare Institute, University of Birmingham, and her B.A. from Whitman College. See more at lezliecross.com
Larry Larsen, M.F.A., Professor, Academic Associate Dean, College of Arts and Sciences
Professor Larsen has been involved in theater since the fifth grade when he played Schroder in You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown and has had a life long association with the theater ever since that time. He is in his 28th year at the University, and besides teaching the scenic and lighting design coursework for the Theater Program, he is an Academic Associate Dean for the College of Arts and Sciences. His most recent design work at UP, which includes over a hundred productions, includes The Dragon, Dr. Faustus, Eurydice, Jesus Christ Superstar, and Mad Forest. Larry has worked as a professional designer in Portland for the last 32 years and his most recent work includes Nunsense and Company at Broadway Rose Theatre, Haddon Hall Revels for Portland Revels where he is the resident set designer, All My Sons and This Random World for Portland Actors Conservatory, and Mr. Kolpert for Third Rail Repertory Theater. Other theaters designed for include Artists Repertory Theatre, Oregon Children’s Theatre, Northwest Children’s Theater, Portland Repertory Theatre, Tygres Heart Shakespeare Co., Portland Civic Theatre and Summer Repertory Theatre in Santa Rosa. Prior to his employment at the University, Larry worked as the Design Associate for the Oregon Shakespeare Festival, both in Ashland and Portland. He has his MFA in Theatre Design from the University of Washington.
Mindi is beginning her 22nd year teaching for the University of Portland. Her artistic work at the University includes acting and dialect coaching for productions. Mindi received her MFA from the Professional Actors Training Program at Rutgers University and then worked professionally as an actor in New York and Los Angeles, appearing off-Broadway, in soap operas, sitcoms, and film. Continuing her professional acting career, Mindi has appeared locally with Artists Repertory Theatre, Theater Vertigo, Willamette Shakespeare, Quintessence Theater, Stark Raving Theatre, in commercials, industrials, and voiceovers. Mindi was awarded the Kennedy Center Gold Medallion for her service as the Regional Chair of the Kennedy Center/American College Theatre Festival. Mindi’s husband Hal is a professional musician and composer who also works locally and teaches at the University of Portland.
Eric Lyness, Scene Shop Manager
Eric Lyness (class of '12) has had the pleasure of working here at his alma mater since 2015. Favorite UP credits include crafting sound designs for Good Kids and A Midsummer Night's Dream, and scenic designs for 1959 Pink Thunderbird. He has worked as a director, designer, and technician at various theatres across Portland including Third Rail Repertory, Portland Opera, Northwest Theatre Workshop, and Artists Rep.
University of Portland
5000 N. Willamette Blvd.,
Portland, Oregon 97203-5798
503.943.8000
