Meet the Creative Team

All machines of loving grace A Collectively Created Production Directed by Søren Olsen MEET THE CREATIVE TEAM
Director, Co-Lighting/Scenic, Media + Sound Designer \| SØREN OLSEN Søren Olsen is a multi-disciplinary artist working towards his MFA in Directing + Design in the University of Iowa Theatre Department. He specializes in collectively created performance work and processes.
Fight Choreographer \| JOSH TURNER
Dramaturg \| MARGARET SMITH BA (hons) English Literature & Theatre Studies from The University of Sheffield  MA Theatre Criticism & Dramaturgy from Royal Central School of Speech & Drama, University of London. Margaret (She/Her) is a first-year MFA candidate in Dramaturgy. Her most recent credits include Fahrenheit 451 (CDT, Complicité), A Bright Room Called Day (Collaborazione), Scenes from an Execution (Dear Hunter Theatre), and the premiere of W.E.T. (CSSD). She hopes you enjoy the show.
Stage Manager \| NAT PAYAN* Natanael (Nat) Octavio Payán (he/they) is a fourth-year Theatre Arts major at the University of Iowa. He has previously worked in a variety of different roles in shows within the department. Some of which include 2024 10 Minute Play Festival (Stage Manager), Home is Where the TV is (Makeup Designer), The Space Between Coke Bottles and Orange Slices (Playwright/Director), and Estamos Aquí: An All-Latin Celebration (Stage Manager). Nat has loved every single second of this process and he feels so grateful to be a part of it. He’d also like to thank his cast and crew for everything they've done to make this show happen. Nat would also like to give a special thanks to Søren Olsen for exposing him to the amazing world of devised theatre!
Co- Scenic Designer/Props \| CJ JOHNSON Cj Johnson (they/them) is a first-year graduate student pursuing an MFA in Scenic and Costume Design at The University of Iowa. Most recently, they have designed sets and props for In This Sepulcher, We Are Fed (2023), Brother, Brother (2023), and West Illinois Glass House (2024). They are excited to get to be a part of the new work development at UIowa!
Costume Designer \| ABBY GARRATY Abby Garraty is a costume designer and world-builder. She is a second-year MFA candidate at the University of Iowa studying costume design with a secondary focus on community engagement. Her passion for meaningful, accessible collaboration and curiosity for new ideas, cultures, and perspectives drives her artistry. Her previous work includes costume design for Macbeth and Dance Nation and assistant costume design for Something Rotten! and The Children’s Hour. You can also check out her work in the upcoming New Play Festival this spring. She hopes you enjoy this new creation!
Costume Support \| I.M FORTUNATO
Co-Lighting Designer \| NICOLE BLODIG*
Movement Coach \| MIKEY RIOUX Mikey Rioux (They/Them) has had the pleasure (since 1996) of dancing for many companies, including River North Dance Chicago, Luna Negra Dance Theater, Lucky Plush Productions, Scott/Powell Performance, Lingo, Salt Horse, and Kate Corby & Dancers. In 2001 Mikey formed Impetus Dance Theater and served as Artistic Director and Resident Choreographer until 2005. In 2006 Mikey attended Cornish College of the Arts and graduated Magna Cum Laude with a BFA in Studio Art. Mikey's visual art has been presented in 30 solo and group shows over the past 15 years. Their work is in numerous private collections and also included in The Mary Alice Cooley Print Collection. Mikey's choreography has been presented by PICA’s TBA Festival, Ten Tiny Dances, Northwest Film Forum, Chop Shop Dance Festival, Links Hall, Dance Chicago, Giordano Jazz Dance, and Dance On Camera among others. Mikey is currently working towards their MFA in choreography at the University of Iowa.
Sound + Media Technician \| TYLER SALOW Tyler Salow is a recent graduate of the University of Iowa's Theatre Department and currently serves as the Digital Media Assistant for the Division of Performing Arts at the University. He’s no stranger to the stage, recently stage managing Riverside Theatre’s production of “The Mountaintop,” and next week will be presenting his sound design for “Fairview” with Theatre Cedar Rapids. Other recent media works include Theater Cedar Rapid’s production of “The Wizard of Oz," the University’s “Braided Sorrow,” and “Back of My Mind,” an installation piece alongside Molly Costello.

All machines of loving grace
A Collectively Created Production
Directed by Søren Olsen
MEET THE CREATIVE TEAM

Director, Co-Lighting/Scenic, Media + Sound Designer | SØREN OLSEN

Søren Olsen is a multi-disciplinary artist working towards his MFA in Directing + Design in the University of Iowa Theatre Department. He specializes in collectively created performance work and processes.

Fight Choreographer | JOSH TURNER

Dramaturg | MARGARET SMITH

BA (hons) English Literature & Theatre Studies from The University of Sheffield  MA Theatre Criticism & Dramaturgy from Royal Central School of Speech & Drama, University of London. Margaret (She/Her) is a first-year MFA candidate in Dramaturgy. Her most recent credits include Fahrenheit 451 (CDT, Complicité), A Bright Room Called Day (Collaborazione), Scenes from an Execution (Dear Hunter Theatre), and the premiere of W.E.T. (CSSD). She hopes you enjoy the show. 

Stage Manager | NAT PAYAN*

Natanael (Nat) Octavio Payán (he/they) is a fourth-year Theatre Arts major at the University of Iowa. He has previously worked in a variety of different roles in shows within the department. Some of which include 2024 10 Minute Play Festival (Stage Manager), Home is Where the TV is (Makeup Designer), The Space Between Coke Bottles and Orange Slices (Playwright/Director), and Estamos Aquí: An All-Latin Celebration (Stage Manager). Nat has loved every single second of this process and he feels so grateful to be a part of it. He’d also like to thank his cast and crew for everything they've done to make this show happen. Nat would also like to give a special thanks to Søren Olsen for exposing him to the amazing world of devised theatre!

Co- Scenic Designer/Props | CJ JOHNSON

Cj Johnson (they/them) is a first-year graduate student pursuing an MFA in Scenic and Costume Design at The University of Iowa. Most recently, they have designed sets and props for In This Sepulcher, We Are Fed (2023), Brother, Brother (2023), and West Illinois Glass House (2024). They are excited to get to be a part of the new work development at UIowa!

Costume Designer | ABBY GARRATY

Abby Garraty is a costume designer and world-builder. She is a second-year MFA candidate at the University of Iowa studying costume design with a secondary focus on community engagement. Her passion for meaningful, accessible collaboration and curiosity for new ideas, cultures, and perspectives drives her artistry. Her previous work includes costume design for Macbeth and Dance Nation and assistant costume design for Something Rotten! and The Children’s Hour. You can also check out her work in the upcoming New Play Festival this spring. She hopes you enjoy this new creation!

Costume Support | I.M FORTUNATO

Co-Lighting Designer | NICOLE BLODIG*

Movement Coach | MIKEY RIOUX

Mikey Rioux (They/Them) has had the pleasure (since 1996) of dancing for many companies, including River North Dance Chicago, Luna Negra Dance Theater, Lucky Plush Productions, Scott/Powell Performance, Lingo, Salt Horse, and Kate Corby & Dancers. In 2001 Mikey formed Impetus Dance Theater and served as Artistic Director and Resident Choreographer until 2005. In 2006 Mikey attended Cornish College of the Arts and graduated Magna Cum Laude with a BFA in Studio Art. Mikey's visual art has been presented in 30 solo and group shows over the past 15 years. Their work is in numerous private collections and also included in The Mary Alice Cooley Print Collection. Mikey's choreography has been presented by PICA’s TBA Festival, Ten Tiny Dances, Northwest Film Forum, Chop Shop Dance Festival, Links Hall, Dance Chicago, Giordano Jazz Dance, and Dance On Camera among others. Mikey is currently working towards their MFA in choreography at the University of Iowa.

Sound + Media Technician | TYLER SALOW

Tyler Salow is a recent graduate of the University of Iowa's Theatre Department and currently serves as the Digital Media Assistant for the Division of Performing Arts at the University. He’s no stranger to the stage, recently stage managing Riverside Theatre’s production of “The Mountaintop,” and next week will be presenting his sound design for “Fairview” with Theatre Cedar Rapids. Other recent media works include Theater Cedar Rapid’s production of “The Wizard of Oz," the University’s “Braided Sorrow,” and “Back of My Mind,” an installation piece alongside Molly Costello.

*Undergraduate student. UI Theatre is dedicated to providing hands-on theatre experience for both undergraduate and graduate students.