Cast

Laura Crouch (Dodo)

A midwest transplant, Laura is definitely not in Kansas anymore and is so happy to be a part of the Seattle theatre community. Laura has had the great privilege of working with the Seattle Shakespeare Co., ACT, Bathhouse Theatre, Market Theatre, Driftwood Players, Phoenix Theatre, and others. Shows have included everything from a rock-n-roll version of A Midsummer Night’s Dream, to The Diary of Anne Frank, Steel Magnolias, and a one-woman USO show at the Museum of Flight. Her greatest privilege, however, has been working with Arouet and Roy in The Hen Night Epiphany and becoming an Arouet company member. Working with such talented people on such striking material is a dream come true. Thank you for the opportunity to grow and learn.

Kelly Johnson (Meryl)

Kelly is very excited to be returning as a cast member to Arouet. Her most recent projects include: Ghostlight Theatricals’ Life is A Dream, KTO’s Seamarks, Arouet/TIP’s The Hen Night Epiphany, and STAGEright’s I Gelosi. Kelly studied theatre and music at Pacific Lutheran University. When she’s not in rehearsal, Kelly can be found trying to ‘Beat the Blerch’ in and around Seattle or getting out of town for a weekend with Vandyman.

Evan Louis Thomas (Kyle)

Evan is a graduate of Western Washington University who has been acting in the greater Seattle area for the past five years. He has been seen in such shows as The Tempest (Ferdinand), A Chorus Line (Mike Costa), The Mystery of Edwin Drood (Neville Landless), Richard III (Buckingham), and Wonderland: Alice Adventures (Gryphon) just to name a few. Many thanks to family and friends for their constant support of the addiction that is the stage.

Lisa Viertel (Kate)

Lisa is excited to be making her debut with Arouet. Recent roles include Samantha in Attack of The Killer Murder of Death at Theater Schmeater, Mattie Fae in August: Osage County with Balagan Theatre (Gregory Award for Outstanding Production), Ensemble in Dogg’s Hamlet/Cahoot’s Macbeth with Sound Theater Company and The One Minute Play Festival. She has also worked with 14/48: The World’s Quickest Theater Festival (Mazen Award Winner), Book-It Repertory, ArtsWest, Annex Theater, The Endangered Species Project and many more.

Mark Waldstein (Neil)

Mark is pleased to be making his debut with Arouet. He has performed in Undo at Annex Theatre, Picnic at ReAct, The Foreigner with Sound Theatre Company, Spring Awakening at Balagan Theatre, and The Salesman is Dead and Gone with the Splinter Group. Mark has also turned up in such happenings as the 14/48 Festival, the One-Minute Play Festival, and most recently, in Witness for the Prosecution with Theatre Anonymous.

Creative and Production Team

Doug DeVita (Playwright)

His play Just A Rumor (co-written with Gary Lyons) was a semi-finalist at the Eugene O’Neil Playwright’s Conference and had developmental readings at New York’s Abingdon Theatre Company and London’s Menier Chocolate Factory. Other work includes Gold Diggers of the 1, 2, & 3 and Something To Dance About (also written with Mr. Lyons); Confessions of a Serial Egg Donor; Goddess of the Hunt; and The Phillie Trilogy. The third play in that trilogy, BBQ, was read at Benaroya Hall in June 2012, and the first play, Checking The Basement for Leaks, was part of the The Driftwood Players Short Play Festival in 2013.

Roy Arauz (Director)

Roy is thrilled to work with Doug in the world premiere of his play. Who would’ve thunk that what started as an acquaintance on an online theatre bulletin board ten years ago would become not just a great friendship but an artistic collaboration. With a background dance, choreography, and stage management, he has worked in various capacities at ArtsWest, Balagan Theatre, The Driftwood Players, Latino Theatre Projects, and SecondStory Repertory among others. This summer he makes his directorial debut with Book•It Repertory with their bilingual touring production of La Mariposa and as a virgin director with 14/48: Outdoors. He is Arouet’s Artistic Director and this past June was named Artistic Director of Seattle Musical Theatre.

Renee Cyr Johnson, (Assistant Director)

Renee is thrilled to be working with such a talented cast and crew. She is also excited to be returning to her first love, directing. She most recently staged managed HONK! and Annie with Kitsap Forest Theater. Other recent stage managing credits include Clara, The Brick and the Rose, Little Women, The Broadway Musical, The Hen Night Epiphany, The Music Man, Murder on the Nile, and Harvey. Up next she will be doing dramaturgy for Arouet’s U.S. premiere production of The Long Road. Renee is a proud company member of Arouet. She would like to thank you for supporting local theatre.

Zach Sanders (Stage Manager)

Zach is very excited to be working with Arouet again after appearing as Leporello in Don Juan in Chicago. After getting degrees in Biology and Psychology from the University of Washington, he decided two fields of study wasn’t enough and started working in education as an assistant teacher while simultaneously returning to his roots in theater as an actor, director, and playwright. Most recently he finally got to mix all his interests together interning with Seattle Children’s Theater’s Drama School, and can’t wait to start working as a teaching artist. Enjoy the show!

Zach Brink (Lighting Design)

This is Zach’s second show with Arouet, having designed lights for David Ives’ Don Juan in Chicago. Under the guidance of Nancy Lee-Painter and Suzie DuVal, Zach has developed a taste for simple designs that support the action, but never distract. For three years, Zach worked as an electrician and lighting designer for Idaho Repertory Theatre and Moscow Art Theatre (Too) in Moscow, Idaho. His past designs include Neil Labute’s The Shape of Things; William Shakespeare’s The Tempest, Timon of Athens, and Hamlet; Caitlin Gilman’s adaptation of Pedro Calderón de la Barca’s Life is a Dream; David Harlan’s King of Fires; and many more. To become Zach’s friend, talk to him about comics.

John Epperson (Sound Design)

John is a composer and producer whose work has appeared on dozens of albums and compilations as well as television, film and video games. In addition to writing and producing original music, John designs sound for theatre. He has worked with Arouet, ArtsWest, Driftwood Players, Latino Theatre Projects, Playwright’s Theatre, Play Factory, Redwood Theatre and Theatre 9/12. Live long, and prosper.

Nicholas Giacalone (Costume Design)

This is Nick’s second production with Arouet and he is so please and thrilled to be back. His first production with Arouet was assistant directing Don Juan in Chicago. “I could not have asked for a better first show here in Seattle.” He recently moved to Seattle after receiving his BS in Theatre Arts from the University of Idaho where he dabbled in a little bit of everything. Acting, directing, stage management, and costume design. Favorite past productions include, but are not limited to, Don Juan in Chicago (assistant director), Let’s Misbehave: The Music and Lyrics of Cole Porter (stage managed, IRT Summer Theatre) and Welcome Home, Jenny Sutter (costume designed and received a KCACTF Costume Design Meritorious Achievement award). A special thank you must go out to Joshua Jon for getting him involved with Arouet.

Brandon Tyler Fields (Graphic Design)

Kim Rosin (Set Design)

This is Kim’s fourth exciting season working with Arouet, having previously designed their sets for The House of Bernarda Alba, The Temperamentals and Don Juan in Chicago. This is her fourteenth production in total, working in Seattle and Vancouver BC. Kim is passionate about theatre and design and especially enjoys her work in the fields of theatrical, textile and industrial design. She is grateful for her continued collaboration with Arouet which she finds extremely inspiring and rewarding.