Digital Playbill: Peter and the Starcatcher


all photos by Ryan Reynolds

 

Peter and the Starcatcher

Run Time: two hours plus a fifteen-minute intermission 

Book by Rick Elice

Music By Wayne Barker

Based on the Novel by Dave Barry and Ridley Pearson

Originally produced on Broadway by Nancy Nagel Gibbs, Greg Schaffert, Eva Price, Tom Smedes, and Disney Theatrical Productions. 

 

Artistic Team

Director: Andy Christensen 

Assistant Director: Anna Rajala 

Stage Manager: Jenelle Josias 

Scenic & Costume Design: Gregory Pulver 

Assistant Costume Designer: Taylor Andreas 

Lighting Design: Larry Larsen 

Musical Direction: David De Lyser 

Movement: Courtney Fero 

Intimacy Direction: Andy Christensen & Anna Rajala

Cultural Consultant: Emily Hogan

 

Cast

Connor Alexander: Ensemble, Alf 

Fin Bagshaw: Ensemble, Ted 

Amber Beeks: Ensemble, Lord Leonard Astor 

Makenzie Binsacca: Ensemble, Narrator 

Am Blank: Ensemble, Prentiss 

Morgan Couture: Ensemble, Narrator 

Jewel DeVyldere: Ensemble, Narrator 

Sydney Gannon: Ensemble, Sanchez 

Mollie Goldberg: Ensemble, Narrator 

Nick Hailer: Ensemble, Smee 

Aria Hroma: Ensemble, Hawking Clam 

Casey James: Ensemble, Stache 

Christopher Karo: Ensemble, Teacher 

Chase Keelin: Ensemble, Narrator 

Josh Mager: Ensemble, Bill Slank 

Riya Mathew: Ensemble, Boy/Peter 

Lily Pounders: Ensemble, Narrator 

Leah Reed: Ensemble, Grempkin 

Zora Richardson: Ensemble, Fighting Prawn 

Aly Romero: Ensemble, Mack 

Charlotte Smith: Ensemble, Mrs. Bumbrake 

Luke Smith: Ensemble, Captain Robert Falcon Scott 

Branna Sundy : Ensemble, Molly 

 

Production Crew

Assistant Stage Manager: Rowan Lowery 

Light Board Operator: Hilario Corral Flores 

Wardrobe Manager: Joe Koppy 

Dressers: Xanzelle Montez, Taylor Andreas

Stage Crew: Kailey Kelly, Judah Juarez

 

Theater Program Production Staff

Company Manager: Andy Christensen 

Production Manager & Scene Shop Supervisor: Eric Adams 

Costume Shop Supervisor: Sue Bonde 

Primary Electrician: Lili Gudgel 

Scene Shop Technicians and Electricians: Anthony Albelo, Fin Bagshaw, Hilario Corral Flores, Casey James, Judah Juarez, Rowan Lowery, Julia Moran, Sofia Olin, Kai Sapp 

Costume Construction: Amber Beeks, Alaina Cruson, Claire Hadley, Nick Hailer, Aria Hroma, Jenelle Josias, Zora Richardson, Lilly Grey Rudge 

Costume Shop Volunteer: Janet Bemis 

Marketing Director: Lezlie Cross 

Marketing Assistant: Ashwini Chandrakanth 

Box Office Manager: Yoshimi Lin 

Front of House Manager: Mindi Logan 

Ushers: Sarai Bunting, Fiona Haselton, Ysabelle Pobre 

 

Peter and the Starcatcher is presented through special arrangement with Music Theatre International (MTI). All authorized performance materials are also supplied by MTI. www.mtishows.com 

 

If you have enjoyed the show, we invite you to support our program by making a donation to the Theater Patrons Fund. You can donate online at giving.up.edu/pfa (select Theater Patrons Fund) or by contacting the University’s Development Office (503.943.8003) 

 

 

From the Director

This play is an ode to collaboration and artistic imagination. In a world that can feel full of darkness, we hope that this performance will reawaken your belief in the magic of storytelling and inspire you to build a more luminous world. Here’s to the dreamers and to those who believe that to have faith is to have wings.

 

 

Biographies

Headshot of Connor Alexander

Connor Alexander - Alf

Connor Alexander, (he/him), is a first-year communications major from Portland, OR. Connor is very excited to be in his first college theatrical production. His recent roles include Mr. Green in Clue and Chuck from She Kills Monsters. He wants to thank his family and friends for always supporting him. He has loved every moment of this process, and he cannot wait to be a part of another production.
Headshot of Fin Bagshaw

Fin Bagshaw - Ted

Fin Bagshaw, (they/them), is a first-year theater major with a design and technology emphasis from Scottsdale, AZ. Theatre has been a crucial part of Fin's life for over twelve years, and they are so excited to continue this journey with UP's Theater Company! Recently, they have been seen in productions of The Addams Family (Morticia), A Monster Calls (Jessie), and Urinetown (Hot Blades Harry). Fin is thrilled to be able to share their passion for theatre through this production. Fin would like to thank the incredible directors, cast, and technical team for the incredible work and collaboration that made this show possible. 
Headshot of Amber Beeks

Amber Beeks - Lord Leonard Aster

Amber Beeks, (she/her)is a junior theater and sociology double major with a minor in communications from Issaquah, WA. She is very excited to be a part of this program. Both How Can I Keep From Singing and The Wolves were highlights of her college experience so far, and she cannot wait for you to experience the wonder of our world! 
Headshot of Makenzie Binsacca

Makenzie Binsacca - Narrator

Makenzie Binsacca, (she/her), is a senior theater major from Sammamish, WA. Makenzie is excited to introduce you to the wonderful, magical world that is Peter and the Starcatcher. She has been involved in many UP productions, both on and offstage, most recently stage managing TBA this fall. She hopes you enjoy the show! 
Headshot of Am Blank

Am Blank - Prentiss

Am Blank, (any/all pronouns), is a junior theater major and computer science minor from Bellevue, WA. You may (or may not) recognize 'em as Jamie in last fall's reading of How Can I Keep From Singing, or Valentine in last spring's Twelfth Night. Am is beyond excited to take part in their first-ever devised work and is immensely grateful to the cast and crew for making it such a delight to be a part of. In their free time, she's hard at work producing/writing/designing a web series called Camp Sevens, which is set to release this coming June, (and the reason she's so tired all the time). Thank you for coming and enjoy the show! <3 
Headshot of Morgan Couture

Morgan Couture - Narrator

Morgan Couture, (she/her), is a junior psychology major and fine arts minor from Jim Falls, WI. Morgan is very excited to make her acting debut at the University of Portland. Previously, she has played the role of Shprintze in Fiddler on the Roof and Belle in A Christmas Carol. In addition to these roles, she has also been a part of technical and set design teams in multiple other plays. 
Headshot of Jewel DeVyldere

Jewel DeVyldere - Narrator

Jewel DeVyldere, (she/her), is a first-year psychology major from Tangent, OR. Jewel has a strong passion for the theater. Some of her recent roles include Ariel in The Little Mermaid, Anne Frank in And Then They Came For Me; Remembering the World of Anne Frank, and Adam in The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (Abridged).  
Headshot of Rick Elice

Rick Elice - Playwright

Rick Elice - Broadway: The Cher Show, Peter and the Starcatcher, Jersey Boys (with Marshall Brickman, Bob Gaudio, Bob Crewe; directed by Des McAnuff: Tony Award, Best Musical); The Addams Family (with Marshall Brickman, Andrew Lippa; directed by Jerry Zaks). Regional: Turn of the Century (with Marshall Brickman; directed by Tommy Tune); Double Double (directed by Roger Rees); Dog and Pony (with Michael Patrick Walker); Studio 54 (with Stephen Trask, Peter Yanowitz; directed by Christopher Ashley). His book Finding Roger, An Improbably Theatrical Love Story is published by Kingswell.  
Headshot of Courtney Fero

Courtney Fero - Movement Director

Courtney Fero, (she/her), is grateful to be working with University of Portland! She graduated from UC Irvine with her BFA in Musical Theatre and is active in the Portland theatre scene. Most recently, she was Cinderella at Broadway Rose Theatre and in Cabaret and The Full Monty with Stumptown Stages! Favorite past credits include Hairspray (Merry Go Round - NY), Anything Goes (Moonlight - San Diego), Cats (SDMT- San Diego), and A Little Night Music (Cygnet Theatre - San Diego). She loves being a North Portland local. She co-owns Blue House Fitness in St Johns with her husband and stays on her toes with her two elementary-aged daughters! 
Headshot of Sydney Gannon

Sydney Gannon - Sanchez

Sydney Gannon, (they/them), is a senior communication studies major and theater minor from Santa Cruz, CA. Sydney is beyond excited to be a part of this ensemble cast. Their previous roles with UP Theater include Bends (Ensemble), The Last Train (Lana), Company (Ensemble), Black Comedy (Miss Furnival), House of Desires (Hernando), and The Public (Second Man). Sydney is also a student filmmaker and is in the process of editing their capstone film. They are very grateful for this opportunity to retell a classic story with new twists. They invite you to enjoy the magic! 
Headshot of Mollie Goldberg

Mollie Goldberg - Narrator

Mollie Goldberg, (she/her), is a junior theater major from Kalaheo, HI. As an actor, Mollie strives to express her creativity and energy into the theater. Her most recent shows include Heathers the Musical last summer with Hawaii Children’s Theatre, and Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night at UP last spring. Mollie is excited to be involved in this production of Peter and the Starcatcher. 
Headshot of Nick Hailer

Nick Hailer - Smee

Nick Hailer, (any pronouns), is a senior theater major from Kailua, HI. Nick is stoked to be a part of the cast of Peter and the Starcatcher! You may have recently seen them as Sebastian in Twelfth Night, Ensemble in Bends, or Casey in The Last Train. They would like to thank their grandparents for always supporting them.  
Headshot of Casey James

Casey James - Stache

Casey James, (he/they), is a sophomore music and theater double major from Bend, OR. Some of their past roles include Malvolio in Twelfth Night, Leroy in The Last Train, and Arpad in She Loves Me. Casey is also a part of the University Singers and the Chamber Choir. Thank you for supporting our work and enjoy!  
Headshot of Jenelle Josias

Jenelle Josias - Stage Manager

Jenelle Josias, (she/her)is a sophomore theater and communications double major from Las Vegas, NV. Jenelle worked sound on Everybody and was the Assistant Stage Manager on Twelfth Night. 
Headshot of Christopher Karo

Christopher Karo - Narrator

Christopher Karo, (he/him), is a senior environmental ethics and policy major from Las Vegas, NV. Christopher was not born to act, nor born to sing, yet the Mago Hunt Theater has allowed him to hang out and do both from time to time. And do both he has, and in this show will yet again. It will be up to you to decide if that was brilliance from the director or a mere act of kindness. He hopes when you watch the show that you think to yourself, "wow." 
Headshot of Chase Keelin

Chase Keelin - Narrator

Chase Keelin, (he/him), is a junior theater major from Santa Fe, NM. Chase is always seeking the next adventure. During his time here at UP, that adventure has been developing a fruitful understanding of theatre. Recently he was cast in TBA and enjoyed the challenge of working on two shows at once. 
Headshot of Rowan Lowery

Rowan Lowery - Assistant Stage Manager

Rowan Lowery, (he/him), is a first-year theater and music double major from Newberg, OR. Rowan is excited for this opportunity. He is currently a first year UP student studying music and technical theater. He hopes to own his own recording studio one day. Some of Rowan’s hobbies include playing viola and rock climbing. Rowan has recently been a part of SpongeBob the Musical as a Sound Engineer, and Little Women as the Stage Manager. He is looking forward to sound designing for our spring musical The Prom later this year. 
Headshot of Josh Mager

Josh Mager - Slank

Josh Mager, (he/him), is a junior mechanical engineering major from Portland, OR. Josh is a dedicated and courageous actor always ready to dig deep and go big. You may know them from House of Desires as Don Rodrigo. Born in Portland, Joshua has been performing for most of his life and is always excited to make the world brighter through the stage.  
Headshot of Riya Mathew

Riya Mathew - Boy/Peter

Riya Mathew, (she/her), is a first-year biochemistry major from Beaverton, OR. Riya's recent roles include Mary Poppins in Mary Poppins, Maria in Twelfth Night, and Ensemble/Andrina in The Little Mermaid. 
Headshot of Lily Pounders

Lily Pounders - Narrator

Lily Pounders, (she/her), is a first-year music major from Hillsboro, OR. Lily is excited to make her UP debut in this production. She has been heavily involved in theatre from a young age and is thrilled to continue her passion for theatre in college. Lily was involved in her thespian troupe at Westview High School where she was involved in many theatrical productions, her most recent roles at Westview include Elsa in Frozen, Acrobat in Matilda, Hattie in The Women of Lockerbie, and Mrs. Quigley in Oh! What a Tangled Web. Lily is a music major with the hope of one day teaching others the joy of music. She has competed and placed in many voice competitions, and she is glad to be in this production where she can bring her love for theatre and music together in a beautifully creative way. Lily has enjoyed reigniting her childlike creativity during this experience and she hopes that this production can do the same for you. 
Headshot of Anna Rajala

Anna Rajala - Assistant Director

Anna Rajala, (she/her)is a theatre maker who specializes in facilitating consent-based, collaborative, and inclusive creative spaces. She has a background in intimacy choreography, dance, and devised storytelling. As an educator, she is dedicated to fostering an environment where student artists learn how to advocate for themselves and their boundaries while establishing a personal artistic identity forged from their life experiences, intersecting identities, and values. Recent directing credits include The Wolves (2023) at the University of Portland, Angels in America: Part One (2021), and Out There: A New Musical (2021). Her work as an intimacy choreographer was featured most recently in Whitworth University’s productions of The Sound of Music (2022) and Gruesome Playground Injuries (2022). 
Headshot of Leah Reed

Leah Reed - Grempkin

Leah Reed, (she/her), is a junior elementary education major and theater minor from Twin Falls, ID. Leah is so excited to be back performing with UP Theater this year! You may have seen her onstage last year at UP as #2 in The Wolves and Mary Margaret in How Can I Keep From Singing. Some of her additional theatre credits include Bette Brennan in The Marriage of Bette and Boo and Oberon in A Midsummer Night’s Dream. Leah would like to thank everyone involved in making this wonderful production come to life and to everyone in the audience for coming to the show today! She hopes you enjoy the show! 
Headshot of Zora Richardson

Zora Richardson - Fighting Prawn

Zora Richardson, (she/they), is a sophomore Theater and Arts Administration double major from The Dalles, OR. Zora is thrilled to be returning to the UP stage to indulge her love of pirates, mermaids, and playing dress-up. You may have seen her in last year's productions of Everybody, Bends, and Twelfth Night, or galivanting about the Portland parks with Original Practice Shakespeare Festival. Zora is also a violinist in the UP Orchestra and sings with the University Singers. When not performing, Zora enjoys sewing, re-reading her favorite books, and sipping a hot vanilla latte. She hopes you enjoy the show! 
Headshot of Aly Romero

Aly Romero - Mack

Aly Romero, (she/her) is a first year Elementary Education and Theater major from Anchorage, Alaska. Aly has been performing since she was three and has been a part of theatre since elementary school. Her recent roles include: Molly in Agatha Christie’s The Mouse Trap, Polly in The Magician’s Nephew, and Lady Marian in The Somewhat True Tale of Robin Hood. She hopes y’all thoroughly enjoy the show and have a silly-goofy time!!
Headshot of Charlotte Smith

Charlotte Smith - Mrs. Bumbrake

Charlotte Smith, (she/her), is a first-year elementary education major from San Jose, CA. This is Charlotte’s first acting position at University of Portland. She was a lighting board operator for TBA and has been in many productions in high school, including The Prom, 9 Girls, and Urinetown. She knows you will have as much fun watching the show as she did work on it. 
Headshot of Luke Smith

Luke Smith - Captain Scott

Luke Smith, (he/him), is a first-year marketing major from Redmond, OR. This is Luke's first production in college, and he has loved the new experience! He has had so much fun making this story come to life and hopes you enjoy the show. 
Headshot of Branna Sundy

Branna Sundy - Molly

Branna Sundy, (she/her), is a sophomore theater and English double major from the Bay Area, CA. Branna is floating in starstuff to be part of one of her favorite plays in two of her favorite roles. She recently played Viola/Cesario in Twelfth Night, #11 in The Wolves, and Stage Directions in How Can I Keep from Singing, as well as Assistant Stage Manager for Everybody. She adores Peter and the Starcatcher and is beyond excited to be doing theatre with this wondrous group of people. She hopes this story helps you to value the magic of the everyday and to bring your childhood wonder with you wherever you go. Now lean in, open up your mind, and let your imagination soar with us! 

Theater Faculty and Staff

Eric Adams, Scene Shop Manager

Eric Adams (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.

 

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 La Cenerentola. She is the recipient of two Willamette Week Excellence in Theater Awards and two Portland Drammy Awards. Mock’s Crest Opera costume design credits include Iolanthe, Ruddigore, The Pirates of Penzance, Light in the Piazza, and Yeoman of the Guard. Past designs for UP include Tartuffe, Pippin,The Moors, and Twelfth Night

 

Andy Christensen, Instructor, Directing and Acting

Andy Christensen is a fiercely curious artist-educator who specializes in emergent forms of immersive and site-informed theatre that explore the intersection of 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. After receiving his M.F.A. in theatre directing from the Lir Academy of Trinity College in Dublin and the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art, Andy returned to the United States to invest in emerging artists in the Pacific Northwest. He is a founder of Cascadia Art Project and a member of the Stage Directors and Choreographers Society. He has mentored artists in many regional high schools, George Fox University, Pacific University, and most recently at Whitworth University where he was recognized for outstanding integration of vocation in the classroom.

 

Lezlie C. Cross, PhD, Associate Professor, Theatre History and Dramaturgy

Dr. Cross’s directing credits at UP include Twelfth Night, House of DesiresWhere 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, Cincinnati Shakespeare, Classic Stage Company, Actor’s Theatre of Louisville, Oregon Shakespeare Festival where she was the Literary Assistant for five years, and Nevada Conservatory Theatre where she was the Associate Artistic Director. 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, Lighting and Scenic Design

This is Larry’s 30th year of teaching at the University.  He has been involved with theater since 5th grade when he played Schroder in You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown. He teaches courses in Scenic and Lighting Design, Scenic Painting, Film Studies and Visual Art.  He has served the department as theater program director and chair, and just completed 6 years of service as an Academic Associate Dean for the College of Arts and Sciences.  Recent shows he has designed at the University include last year’s productions of Everybody, The Wolves and Twelfth Night. He has designed over 100 shows in his time at UP.  Larry also works as a professional designer for many local theaters.  Recent shows include Arsenic and Old Lace and Blithe Spirit for Lakewood Theatre Company, Snapshots and Don’t Hug Me for Broadway Rose Theatre Company.  He is the resident scenic designer for the Portland Revels a post he has held since 2001.  He has also designed shows for Artists Repertory Theatre, Oregon Children’s Theatre, Northwest Children’s Theatre, Third Rail Repertory Theatre, Portland State’s Opera Program, and Summer Repertory Theatre in Santa Rosa CA.  He served as the producer for Mock’s Crest Productions which presented a summer operetta on campus every June until 2020. Prior to his work at the University he was the design associate for the Oregon Shakespeare Festival – Portland.  He has an MFA in Theater Design from University of Washington, and  when not at UP he is hanging with his wife Caren, his son Mac and his puppy Milo in lovely Northeast Portland.

 

Mindi Logan, M.F.A., Associate Professor, Acting Instructor

Mindi is beginning her 24th 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.   

 

Gregory Pulver, M.F.A., Associate Professor, Costume and Makeup Design

Professor Gregory Pulver, Theater Program Director, teaches courses in The Creative Process in Visual Arts, Intro to the Art of Theater, Beginning Costume Development and Analysis, Advanced Costume Design and Research, Theater Makeup Techniques. He is also a director and choreographer for plays and musicals for the UP Theater season annually. Gregory holds an MFA in costume design and choreography from Humboldt State University, CA. He is the 1993 Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival (KCACTF) National Costume Design Winner for his work on Three Penny Opera at Humboldt State. Gregory is currently a Resident Artist at Artist Repertory Theater in Portland where his favorite of many designs include: The Hombres, Broomstick, Cuba Libre, and Foxfinder. He has been a member of the international board of advisors for The Valdez Theatre Conference in Valdez, AK for 15 years and participates as a featured artist mentoring new American playwrights by participating on response panels, providing workshops in design and writing, and by individual mentorship during each festival. In Portland, Gregory has designed both sets and costumes for Bag and Baggage Theatre in Hillsboro, and costumes for Broadway Rose Theatre in Portland.