Thank you for joining us in our production of Homecoming Voices, a collection of new one-act plays, written for the department in Fall 2020 by four Washington University PAD alumni: Nastaran Ahmadi AB '00, Marisa Wegrzyn AB '03, Chauncy Thomas AB '06 and Liza Birkenmeier AB '08. The plays were filmed and originally aired in March and April 2021.
All rehearsals and filming followed strict safety protocols established by WashU’s COVID Monitoring Team.
Click the show title to begin viewing!
Amateurs
Written by Nastaran Ahmadi
Directed by Andrea Urice
Fear is a Gift
Written by Liza Birkenmeier
Directed by Jacqueline Thompson
Solastalgia
Written by Marisa Wegrzyn
Directed by Andrea Urice
The Nicest White People That America Has Ever Produced
Written by Chauncy Thomas
Directed by Jacqueline Thompson
Homecoming Voices Artistic Staff
Jacqueline Thompson and Andrea Urice: Directors
Margery and Peter Spack: Scenic and Projection Design
Sean Savoie: Lighting Design, Video Editor
Benjamin Lewis: Sound Design, Video Editor
Dominique Green: Costume Design
Emily Frei: Props Designer
Kyle Himsworth: Videography
Marisa Daddazio and Josh Sarris: Stage Managers
Simran Wadhwa: Assistant Stage Manager
Production Staff
Sean Savoie: Production Manager/Lighting
Mike Loui: Scene Shop Foreman
Emily Frei: Scenic Charge Artist
Frieda Curtis: Costume Shop Manager
Amy Soll: Stage Management Supervisor
Benjamin Lewis: Assistant Production Manager/Master Electrician
Jack Maleczka: Sound Board Operator
Myles Hesse: Production Assistant
Payne Banister: Production Assistant and Camera Operator, Solastalgia
Sydnie Dillon, Sabrina Spence, Emma Thorpe: Scenic Artists and Props Artisans
Rickeia Coleman, Ethan Copeland, Maya Dubno, Holly Gabelmann, Sasha Kostenko, Marek Rodriguez, Bo Schmit: Scene Shop Crew
Lydia Urice: Graphics Digital Design
Design/Production Staff Bios
Payne Banister (Production Assistant) is a first-year M.A. graduate student in Theater and Performance Studies from Bloomington, IN.
Frieda Curtis (Costume Shop Manager) is a recent 2019 graduate of Washington University and has worked in the costume shop since 2016. She has designed for Washington University Dance Theater and student theater productions.
Emily Frei (Props Designer/Charge Artist) is a scenic artist and prop master for many of the theaters in and around St. Louis, including the Muny and Opera Theatre of St. Louis.
Dominique Rhea Green (Costume Designer) This is Dominique (Nikki)’s third year as part of the PAD faculty at WashU, teaching courses in costume design and technology. Nikki’s costume design work has appeared at Metro Theatre (StL), The Black Rep (StL), American Players Theatre (Chicago), Baylor University (faculty, 2 years), Truman State University (faculty, 4 years), Cincinnati Opera, Colorado Shakespeare Festival, Harlaxton Manor Theatre (UK), Hope Repertory Theatre (Holland, MI), and Walt Disney World.
J. Myles Hesse (Production Assistant) is a second-year graduate student in theatre and performance studies from Madison, IN.
Kyle Himsworth (Videographer/Master Electrician) is a graduate of the University of Dayton where he studied theatre production and has been privileged to work at numerous theatre companies around the country. Kyle is also a graduate of Cirque du Soleil's "Elite Training Program" and is a former winner of the Kennedy Center's "Design Storm" competition.
Benjamin Lewis (Assistant Production Manager/Video Editor/Master Electrician) is currently active in the St Louis theatre community as a designer, director, and stage manager. His recent work has been seen on the stages of Equally Represented Arts, Slightly Askew Theatre Ensemble, Opera Theatre of Saint Louis, and Tragically Employable.
Michael Loui (Scene Shop Foreman) builds sets for the Performing Arts Department. He is also a set designer and holds an MFA from Yale. He is a United Scenic Arts 829 union set designer and scenic artist.
Jack Maleczka (Sound Board Operator) is a junior double majoring in operations & supply chain management and systems engineering from Glen Ellyn, IL.
Sean M. Savoie (Production Manager/Lighting/Video Editor) is a member of the design/tech faculty and the resident lighting designer, production manager and design coordinator. Sean is also an active freelance designer in the St. Louis theater community. He is the recipient of the 2009 USITT Rising Star Award, and proud member USA 829.
Amy Soll (Stage Management Supervisor) is a St. Louis native and 2005 graduate of Washington University. She continues to stage manage locally for Saint Louis Ballet, while farthest flung productions include a season with Anchorage Opera, and productions at the Teatro Signorelli in Cortona, Italy and the Royal Opera House in Muscat, Oman.
Margery & Peter Spack (Scenic and Projections Design) have designed scenery and projections for Home at The Black Rep. The Play that Goes Wrong at The Repertory Theatre of St. Louis. Life Sucks, and Intimate Apparel (2018 Theatre Circle Award Winner) at The New Jewish Theatre. Such Sweet Thunder (2021 St. Louis Arts Award Winner) and Dress the Part for Shakespeare Festival St. Louis. The Caper on Aisle Six at Circus Flora. As Studio Spack Environment Design, Margery and Peter also design corporate theater, product reveals, broadcast news, trade show environments, galas and private events. They both have BFAs from Webster University and reside in their hometown of St. Louis.
Performing Arts Department Staff
Pannill Camp, Department Chair
Philip Durkee, Office Manager
Serena Carvajal, Administrative Coordinator
Mary K. Clemens, Marketing Coordinator
Jay Buchanan, Graduate Assistant
Payne Banister, Graduate Assistant
Edison Theatre Staff
Bill Larson, Operations Manager
Kyle Himsworth, Technical Director/Master Electrician
Robert Babcock, Assistant Technical Director
We in the Performing Arts Department met the challenges of last year in part by doing something we would have previously thought impossible: producing a full season of dance and drama safely amidst a pandemic. This season included Homecoming Voices. Thank you for your support while we worked to make the past season a great one. Your generosity enabled us to live up to the mantra, ‘the show must go on!’ and we hope we can continue to count on your support for future seasons!