LISA KRON (Book & Lyrics) has been writing and performing theater since arriving in New York from Michigan in 1984. Her plays include: the musical Fun Home, The Ver**zon Play, In The Wake, Well, 2.5 Minute Ride and 101 Humiliating Stories. Kron is a founding member of the legendary OBIE and Bessie Award-winning collaborative theater company The Five Lesbian Brothers, whose plays--including Oedipus at Palm Springs, Brave Smiles, Brides of the Moon and The Secretaries--have all been produced widely throughout the country both by the Brothers and by other companies. She has received playwriting fellowships from the Lortel and Guggenheim Foundations, Sundance Theater Lab, the Lark Play Development Center, and the MacDowell Colony. Kron is a recipient of the Cal Arts/Alpert Award, a Helen Merrill Award, and grants from the Creative Capital Foundation and New York Foundation for the Arts. She was a resident playwright at the American Voices New Play Initiative at Arena Stage.

JEANINE TESORI (Music) won the Tony Award for Best Original Score with Lisa Kron for the musical Fun Home. She has also written Tony-nominated scores for Twelfth Night at Lincoln Center; Thoroughly Modern Millie (lyrics, Dick Scanlan); Caroline, or Change (lyrics, Tony Kushner); and Shrek The Musical (lyrics, David Lindsay-Abaire). The production of Caroline, or Change at the National Theatre in London received the Olivier Award for Best New Musical. Other works include: the operas A Blizzard on Marblehead Neck and The Lion, The Unicorn, and Me; music for the plays Mother Courage, A Free Man of Color, and Romeo and Juliet; and film scores for Nights in Rodanthe, Every Day, and You're Not You. Tesori is a member of the Dramatists Guild and was cited by the ASCAP as the first female composer to have two new musicals running concurrently on Broadway. She is the founding artistic director of Encores! Off-Center at New York City Center, and is a lecturer in music at Yale University.

CRAIG WILLIS (Director; Producing Artistic Director) joined OCT in 2003. He has an MFA in Directing and a PhD in Dramatic Literature/Theory from the University of Oregon. In 2008, Craig received an Oregon Arts Commission fellowship to train with Anne Bogart and SITI Company. His directing credits include: David Ives’ Venus in Fur, Steve Yockey's Blackberry Winter, Jason Robert Brown's The Last Five Years, Aaron Posner's Stupid Fucking Bird, Nathan Alan Davis' Dontrell, Who Kissed the Sea, Edward Albee's Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?, Bruce Norris’ Clybourne Park, Nina Raine’s Tribes, Adam Gwon's Ordinary Days, Brian Yorkey and Tom Kitt’s Next To Normal, Robert Lopez, Jeff Marx, and Jeff Whitty’s Avenue Q, Geoffrey Nauffts’ Next Fall, Itamar Moses’ The Four of Us, Henrik Ibsen’s Hedda Gabler, Joe Calarco’s Shakespeare’s R & J, Martin McDonagh’s The Pillowman, Bertolt Brecht’s Mother Courage, Anton Chekhov’s The Seagull, Stephen Sondheim and John Weidman’s Assassins, Edward Albee’s The Goat, or Who is Sylvia?, David Auburn’s Proof and Thornton Wilder’s The Skin of Our Teeth. Craig’s scenic designs for OCT include: Hand To God, Becky’s New Car, Ordinary Days, The Seagull and I Am My Own Wife.

NATHAN ALEF (Musical Director) began his musical career long before he can remember, starting formal training on the piano at three years old. Many of his formative professional experiences came from musical theater, from playing second keyboard in pit bands, to rehearsal accompanist, to music director--over 26 shows to date. Nathan has served as Music Director for several shows at Oregon Contemporary Theatre, including The Last Five Years (2016), Ordinary Days (2014), Next To Normal (2013) and Avenue Q (2013). He graduated from the University of Oregon with a BA in Jazz Studies (performance), and in 2016 moved to Los Angeles where he continues to work full time as a performer, session player, audio engineer and video producer.

CASH CREECH (John) is excited to appear at Oregon Contemporary Theatre for his professional theater debut. He was last seen wearing a coonskin cap as Meriwether Lewis in his school production, Hoedown, and with Rose Children’s Theatre in Superheroes Rock! Cash is a member of the Oregon Children’s Choir Junior Academy Boys Singers. Special thanks to this wonderful cast and crew as well as his auntie, uncle, and grandparents who helped mom and dad get him to rehearsals. Extra special thanks to Mrs. Rowan, his first music teacher, who encouraged him to branch out into acting—it sure is FUN!

LINDSEY ESCH (Medium Alison) is excited to be part of her first production at Oregon Contemporary Theatre. Lindsey lives in Corvallis and is pursuing her undergraduate degree at Oregon State University. Some of her most memorable roles there have been Arlecchino in For the Love of Lies, Rachel Brown in Inherit the Wind and Syme in 1984. Lindsey would like to thank the lovely cast and crew for their dedication and kindness, and Nathan Alef for helping her successfully change her major. Special thanks to her mentor, Elizabeth Helman, whose passion and guidance inspire Lindsey every day.

BRIAN HAIMBACH (Bruce) is always excited to work at Oregon Contemporary Theatre. He was last seen as Dan in Next to Normal and has directed numerous OCT productions, including last season’s Hand to God. He is the proud head of Theatre at Lane Community College where he will direct a (new and improved) rock-n-roll adaptation of The Oresteia in February 2019. Last summer, Brian performed his one-man show, How to be a Sissy, in the Edinburgh Festival Fringe thanks to a grant from the Oregon Arts Commission; the show continues to find its way around the globe. He has a PhD in Directing and New Play Development, and his work has been featured in American Theatre Magazine.

JO MEYER (Christian) is excited to premiere in an Oregon Contemporary Theatre production. A member of Upstart Crow Children’s Theater performance troupe, Stage Door, Jo can be found performing throughout Eugene in community productions. Jo’s favorite roles include Scuttle in The Little Mermaid, Jr., Chip in Beauty and Beast, Jr. and Ripper in High School Musical, Jr. (Upstart Crow). Thanks to Jo’s friends and family for continuous love and support; to Mom, for endless love, nudging, and reminders to never stop believing; and to the Stage Door family for the confidence to reach for the stars!

ALLISON MICKELSON (Big Alison) is honored to debut with Oregon Contemporary Theatre in this important and revolutionary show. Favorite roles include Alison in Fun Home (Portland Center Stage and Colorado Springs Fine Arts Center), Mother in Ragtime (Surflight Theater, NJ), Lola in Damn Yankees (Allenberry Playhouse, PA), Emily in Elf The Musical (National Tour) and Mame in Mame (Allenberry Playhouse and Riverside Center for the Performing Arts, VA). She also recently performed Lisa Kron’s one-woman show 2.5 Minute Ride with Profile Theatre in Portland. Allison has written and performed numerous solo cabarets in New York City and Provincetown, MA. She teaches music and yoga, conducts choirs, and is a social justice activist who was born in South Dakota and now lives in Harlem. Deep gratitude to the womyn who wrote, scored, adapted, and live this piece. Special thanks to cast, crew and creative team. May we continue to honor the stories that haven’t been told and need to be heard.

TRACY NYGARD (Helen) is beyond excited to be returning to Oregon Contemporary Theatre, especially for this incredible piece. She was last seen here as Joan in Melancholy Play. Other favorites include: Susan in Treehouse, Lucy in Jekyll & Hyde, Gertrude in Hamlet, Fantine in Les Miserables, Sara Jane Moore in Assassins, Paulette in Legally Blonde, Lady of the Lake in Spamalot, Beatrice in Much Ado About Nothing, Willy Wonka in Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory (Cottage Theatre); Desiree in A Little Night Music, Florence in Chess, Aldonza in Man of LaMancha and Truvy in Steel Magnolias (Boston area). Tracy has a BFA in Musical Theater from The Boston Conservatory.

HANNAH ORISTANO (Small Alison) is delighted to be making her Oregon Contemporary Theatre debut. She was last seen as Willy Wonka in Corridor Elementary’s production of Five Golden Tickets at the Hult Center. Previous roles include Molly in Annie (ACE) and Tiny Tim/Others in A Christmas Carol (Roving Park Players). She wants to thank her family for being super supportive, and her little brother, Thomas, for always having her back. Also special thanks to the cast and crew for making this beautiful production possible.

BENJAMIN SANDERS (Roy/Pete/Bobby Jeremy; Carpenter) grew up performing and building sets for shows at California’s Palo Alto Children’s Theatre and earned his BA in Theatre Arts with an emphasis in Design and Technology from SDSU. Local roles include: Brad in The Rocky Horror Show, Jesus in Jesus Christ Superstar (ACE); Lancelot/Tim the Enchanter in Spamalot (VLT); Man #2 in Putting It Together (NRRP); Alex in Dirty Dishes (NW10); and backstage here as a carpenter for Oregon Contemporary Theatre! He is grateful to be part of such a talented cast, crew and production team for Fun Home. Thank you for being here and supporting live theatre--please enjoy the show!

BRIANNA J. SOUMOKIL (Joan) recently appeared as Rona Lisa Peretti in the UO's Summer Soup staged reading of The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee. Before that, she hadn't been on stage since high school and deeply missed acting. Brianna is thrilled to make her Oregon Contemporary Theatre as a fellow LGBTQ+ character. She thanks her parents, sister and significant other for their continued love and support of her pursuits both on and off the stage.

GABE CARLIN (Sound Designer; Sound Engineer) joined the Oregon Contemporary Theatre staff in 2015 after receiving a BS in Theatre Arts from the University of Oregon. Gabe is the Executive Director of Brave Umbrella Productions, a new theatre company. Select OCT credits include: sound design for Successful Strategies, Marjorie Prime, Venus in Fur, Melancholy Play, The 39 Steps, Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike, Blackberry Winter and The Last Five Years; lighting design for Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?; and properties for The Flick, Melancholy Play, The Revolutionists, A Christmas Carol and Silent Sky.

JERRY S. HOOKER (Scenic Designer) has previously designed for Intiman Theatre and ACT in Seattle, Stages Rep in Houston, and Actor’s Theatre of Phoenix. Locally, he has designed Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike and Middletown here at Oregon Contemporary Theatre, as well as musicals for OFAM and the Shedd, including White Christmas, The King and I and Kiss Me, Kate. Jerry teaches Scenic Design, Scenic Painting and Property Design at the University of Oregon, as well as designing many of the University Theatre productions.

CHRISTLE O'NEILL (Production Stage Manager) is excited to be joining Oregon Contemporary Theater this season. She has been highly involved in theatre since high school. Christle is a recent Theatre Arts graduate of the University of Oregon where she worked on many shows, including stage managing Picnic, The Left Hand of Darkness and Emperor of the Moon.

JANET ROSE (Lighting Designer) has been faculty lighting designer for the UO Theatre Arts Department for over thirty years. She teaches Stage Management and History of Stage Design and serves as Production Manager for University Theatre. Locally, she has designed lighting for Eugene Opera, OFAM, Lane Summer Musical Theatre, Ballet Fantastique, and Oregon Contemporary Theatre. Her most recent design at OCT was for Dontrell, Who Kissed the Sea.

ADAM WHITTREDGE (Properties Designer) is happy to be working on his first show at Oregon Contemporary Theatre. He is a Scenic Design MFA student in the University of Oregon’s Theatre department. Adam earned a BS in Theatre Education from Emporia State University in Kansas in 2007. Previously, he taught high school theatre in Andover, Kansas, for 6 years, working as director and designer for multiple productions a year. At UO, Adam designed props for Mother Courage and Her Children and was the scenic designer for Tricks to Inherit.

ERIN WILLS (Costume Designer) graduated from the University of Oregon and also attended the North Carolina School of the Arts, where she studied costume technology. Her costume designs for Oregon Contemporary Theatre include: The 39 Steps, Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike, Lucky Me, Clybourne Park, A Bright New Boise, Tribes, Next to Normal and Fahrenheit 451. She has previously worked at the Old Globe Theatre, Georgia Shakespeare Festival, North Carolina Shakespeare Festival, New York City Center and Broadway productions.