Cast - Dance Nation

DANCE NATION BY CLARE BARRON DIRECTED BY SARAH GAZDOWICZ Meet the cast
Amina \| OLIVIA FOSTER Olivia Foster is a third-year MFA actor at the University of Iowa. She attended Kennesaw State University and received a BA in Theater and Performance Studies with a Concentration in Acting. Some of her recent productions include Twelfth Night and Fefu and Her Friends at Riverside Theatre, as well as Our Lady of 121st St., The Children's Hour, BLKS and Macbeth here at the university. Olivia would like to thank her parents for all of their love and support through the years!
Zuzu \| MADDIE RODRIGUEZ* Maddie is over the moon excited to bring this terrifying, empowering, hormonal show to life. Some of her previous works at Iowa include Men on Boats, Braided Sorrow, and Mother:Knife. Her heart is incredibly full from working with such incredible people on a project that means so much to her. She wants to express her deepest gratitude to her friends, family, professors and mentors who have helped her reach this milestone. And with that… Zuzu bolts!
Connie \| NIYATI DESHPANDE* Niyati Deshpande is a third-year undergraduate student double-majoring in Theatre Arts on the Musical Theatre track and Educational Studies & Human Relations as well as minoring in Psychology. She is so excited to be part of such an awesome show! Favorite credits include Natasha in Natasha, Pierre & the Great Comet of 1812 (Riverside Theatre), Love in Everybody (Riverside Theatre), and Marie in Reflections (University of Iowa Theatre). Niyati would like to thank her loved ones and mentors for their support, as well as the creative team for their dedication. ZALMSAC forever!
Luke \| JASON VERNON* Jason Vernon is in his second-year at the University of Iowa with a major in Theatre Arts, pursuing a certificate in Social Justice and the Performing Arts. This is Jason’s fifth production with the University of Iowa Theatre Department; previous credits include: Macbeth, Lil G: A Gatsby Remix, Braided Sorrow, and The Bacchae: A Tragedy in One Act (from Kneehigh Theatre). Jason is thrilled to be a part of Dance Nation, the process has been worlds of fun, and he hopes you enjoy! (Instagram: @jasonv_)
Maeve \| JORDAN KINNEY* Jordan Kinney has been in numerous productions starting from middle school. She could not be more thrilled to be a part of Dance Nation. Her most recent work was doing her second workshop at the University of Iowa this fall and New Play Festival last spring.
Sofia \| ELLA SIRNA* I’m Ella Sirna and I’m a first year theatre arts major on the musical theatre track. I’m from Story City, Iowa and I’ve been doing theatre since I was 8. My first show was actually with Jason Vernon (Luke)! Some other favorites include Matilda, Newsies, and Mary Poppins. Thank you to my patient friends and family who have kept me somewhat sane this year. Enjoy the show and don’t forget to dance from your PICA!
Ashlee \| KAT GUERRERO Kathleen M. Guerrero is a third-year MFA Acting Candidate from Crystal City, Texas. She is a proud Mexican-American first-generation graduate from The University of Texas at Austin’s Theatre and Dance Department. Her recent credits include Men on Boats directed by Mary Beth Easley, Braided Sorrow directed by Natalie Villamonte Zito, The Bacchae directed by Sarah Gazdowicz, England’s Splendid Daughters by Ann Kreitman, La Ruta by Issac Gomez, Three to Five Days by Olivia Clement, and much more. She would like to thank her friends, family, and faculty for helping her get to where she is now. Gracias por todo!  Follow her on instagram @kats_k15 !!!
Crumpled Sailor AKA Vanessa, The Moms \| ZOE MAE NOLTE* Zoe is ecstatic to be in her first mainstage show with the University of Iowa. She is a sophomore theatre major and hopes to do what she loves professionally after she graduates from the program. Huge thanks to Sarah, her castmates, and the team for making this show possible, she hopes you enjoy the show!
Dance Teacher Pat \| ORLANDO LOPEZ Orlando Lopez (He/Him/His) is a graduate acting student at the University of Iowa. Hailing from Hialeah, a suburb of Miami, Orlando completed his BFA in Acting from the University of Central Florida. Some of his favorite credits: Macbeth (Macbeth), Braided Sorrow (Carlos), Our Lady of 121st Street (Edwin) at the University of Iowa. Everybody (Everybody/Somebody), Twelfth Night (Sebastian), Henry V (Duke of Orleans) at Riverside Theatre, among many more. He thanks his parents and his friends for their endless support.
*Undergraduate student. UI Theatre is dedicated to providing hands-on theatre experience for both undergraduate and graduate students.

DANCE NATION
BY CLARE BARRON
DIRECTED BY SARAH GAZDOWICZ
Meet the cast

Amina | OLIVIA FOSTER

Olivia Foster is a third-year MFA actor at the University of Iowa. She attended Kennesaw State University and received a BA in Theater and Performance Studies with a Concentration in Acting. Some of her recent productions include Twelfth Night and Fefu and Her Friends at Riverside Theatre, as well as Our Lady of 121st St., The Children's Hour, BLKS and Macbeth here at the university. Olivia would like to thank her parents for all of their love and support through the years!

Zuzu | MADDIE RODRIGUEZ*

Maddie is over the moon excited to bring this terrifying, empowering, hormonal show to life. Some of her previous works at Iowa include Men on Boats, Braided Sorrow, and Mother:Knife. Her heart is incredibly full from working with such incredible people on a project that means so much to her. She wants to express her deepest gratitude to her friends, family, professors and mentors who have helped her reach this milestone. And with that… Zuzu bolts!

Connie | NIYATI DESHPANDE*

Niyati Deshpande is a third-year undergraduate student double-majoring in Theatre Arts on the Musical Theatre track and Educational Studies & Human Relations as well as minoring in Psychology. She is so excited to be part of such an awesome show! Favorite credits include Natasha in Natasha, Pierre & the Great Comet of 1812 (Riverside Theatre), Love in Everybody (Riverside Theatre), and Marie in Reflections (University of Iowa Theatre). Niyati would like to thank her loved ones and mentors for their support, as well as the creative team for their dedication. ZALMSAC forever!

Luke | JASON VERNON*

Jason Vernon is in his second-year at the University of Iowa with a major in Theatre Arts, pursuing a certificate in Social Justice and the Performing Arts. This is Jason’s fifth production with the University of Iowa Theatre Department; previous credits include: Macbeth, Lil G: A Gatsby Remix, Braided Sorrow, and The Bacchae: A Tragedy in One Act (from Kneehigh Theatre). Jason is thrilled to be a part of Dance Nation, the process has been worlds of fun, and he hopes you enjoy! (Instagram: @jasonv_) 

Maeve | JORDAN KINNEY*

Jordan Kinney has been in numerous productions starting from middle school. She could not be more thrilled to be a part of Dance Nation. Her most recent work was doing her second workshop at the University of Iowa this fall and New Play Festival last spring.

Sofia | ELLA SIRNA*

I’m Ella Sirna and I’m a first year theatre arts major on the musical theatre track. I’m from Story City, Iowa and I’ve been doing theatre since I was 8. My first show was actually with Jason Vernon (Luke)! Some other favorites include Matilda, Newsies, and Mary Poppins. Thank you to my patient friends and family who have kept me somewhat sane this year. Enjoy the show and don’t forget to dance from your PICA!

Ashlee | KAT GUERRERO

Kathleen M. Guerrero is a third-year MFA Acting Candidate from Crystal City, Texas. She is a proud Mexican-American first-generation graduate from The University of Texas at Austin’s Theatre and Dance Department. Her recent credits include Men on Boats directed by Mary Beth Easley, Braided Sorrow directed by Natalie Villamonte Zito, The Bacchae directed by Sarah Gazdowicz, England’s Splendid Daughters by Ann Kreitman, La Ruta by Issac Gomez, Three to Five Days by Olivia Clement, and much more. She would like to thank her friends, family, and faculty for helping her get to where she is now. Gracias por todo!  Follow her on instagram @kats_k15 !!!

Crumpled Sailor AKA Vanessa, The Moms | ZOE MAE NOLTE*

Zoe is ecstatic to be in her first mainstage show with the University of Iowa. She is a sophomore theatre major and hopes to do what she loves professionally after she graduates from the program. Huge thanks to Sarah, her castmates, and the team for making this show possible, she hopes you enjoy the show!

Dance Teacher Pat | ORLANDO LOPEZ

Orlando Lopez (He/Him/His) is a graduate acting student at the University of Iowa. Hailing from Hialeah, a suburb of Miami, Orlando completed his BFA in Acting from the University of Central Florida. Some of his favorite credits: Macbeth (Macbeth), Braided Sorrow (Carlos), Our Lady of 121st Street (Edwin) at the University of Iowa. Everybody (Everybody/Somebody), Twelfth Night (Sebastian), Henry V (Duke of Orleans) at Riverside Theatre, among many more. He thanks his parents and his friends for their endless support.

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