Razor Creek: a folk-rock, sci-fi musical – Meet the Creative Team

RAZOR CREEK: A FOLK-ROCK, SCI-FI MUSICAL BOOK & LYRICS BY K.T. PETERSON MUSIC BY K.T. PETERSON AND PAIGE SCOTT DIRECTED BY MICHAEL C. FLORES Meet the creative team
Playwright \| K.T. PETERSON
Director/Choreographer \| MICHAEL C. FLORES Michael Christopher Flores is a director/choreographer & current MFA Directing Candidate near the end of his first year at UIowa. Michael holds a B.A in Theatre Arts with an Emphasis in Musical Theatre Performance from San Diego State University. A few director/choreographer credits include Head Over Heels, Heathers: The Musical, 35MM: A Musical Exhibition, A Gentleman's Guide to Love & Murder, The Rocky Horror Show & CABARET. Part of Michael’s directorial focus is central to his experience with Dance-Theatre; he has written, directed & choreographed two dance-theatre pieces titled LITTLE BOY BLUE (2018) & MEMORY (2022). In 2023,  Michael adapted LITTLE BOY BLUE into a play which received a reading in Selma, CA as part of their new works series. While at UIowa thus far, Michael directed In this Sepulcher, We are Fed in the fall as well as served as Assistant Director & Choreographer for Into the Woods early this semester.  Visit  www.michaelcflores.com for more info.
Music Director/Conductor/Sound Designer/Arranger/Keyboardist \| MARK BRUCKNER Mark Bruckner is a New York Innovative Theater, Audelco Award-winning composer, and Henry Hewes American Theatre Wing design nominee. Recent work: Original Music and Sound Design for Men on Boats (Thayer Theatre, Fall 2023) and Ugly Lies the Bone (Mabie Theatre, Spr 2023) both directed by Mary Beth Easley; Music Direction, Conductor, and Arranger for Into the Woods (directed by Stephen Thorne, Mabie Theatre, Spr 2024); Original music and music director for The Bacchae (directed by Sarah Gazdowicz, Thayer Theatre, Fall 2022); Original music and sound design for The Marriage of Alice B. Toklas by Gertrude Stein by Edward Einhorn (Jermyn Street Theatre, West End London, UK, March 2022); Original music and ambisonic sound design for Body Concert by Kevin Augustine of Lone Wolf Tribe which recently received the Grand Prize for Best production at the 17^th International Lalka Też Człowiek festival in Warsaw, Poland. Visit www.markbruckner.net
Dramaturg \| ALICE WEBSTER* Alice Webster is a fourth-year English and Creative Writing and Theatre double-major and the dramaturg for Razor Creek. She is the co-president of the UI English Society and a drama editor for earthwords: the undergraduate literary review. This is her first time working as a dramaturg and she couldn’t be more excited! She’d like to thank the cast, crew, and the rest of the creative team.
Stage Manager \| CHLOE ANCELL* Chloe Ancell is a 3^rd year undergrad Theatre major with a focus in stage management with an additional interest in scenic design at the University of Iowa. Chloe has been a part of the stage management team for many shows in the past semesters, a few are, Fathers and Sons, Global Express, Brother Brother, Dance Nation and now Razor Creek! Chloe is very excited to work on a musical for the first time as a stage manager! She is grateful to be a part of this production and many more to come. Thank you to everyone who made this show possible!
Scenic and Lighting Designer \| NICOLE BLODIG* Nicole Blodig is a 4^th year undergraduate lighting designer and electrician. She finds herself at home between abstract and narrative storytelling, amplifying our learned and conditioned responses to light, primarily through color-emotion association. After graduation in May, she will be working at the Utah Festival of Opera and Music as the Assistant Head Electrician, and in August, will begin at Bucknell University as the Theatre & Dance Technical Assistant.
Costume Consultant/Props Master \| KAELEN NOVAK Specializing in theatrical, experimental, and virtual design for live entertainment, Kaelen Novak is a recent MFA graduate from the University of Iowa concentrating in Costume and Scenic Design.  They recently have been designer for a large array of projects including creative director of ARatorio for the Mis-Remembered at the University of Iowa, scenic and projection designer for Bronte: The World Without at Riverside Theatre, costume designer for Cedar Rapids Opera's Tosca and Charlie and the Wolf, and motion capture costume consultant for for the dance thesis Route Movements. They continue to explore the intersection of theatre, art and emerging technology, and their research can be found in Iowa Magazine and USITT Theatre Design and Technology. Kaelen looks forward to working on the New Play Festival once again, particularly this unique musical that blends the new and old in the area they grew up around.
Viola/Fiddle \| LAURA GODDARD Laura Goddard works in the UI College of Nursing as a clinical coordinator. She trained as a pianist and violist and has been involved with UI Theatre productions since 2018. She was slated to work on Razor Creek in 2020, so is glad to be a part of bringing it to the stage now.
Guitar \| DAN PADLEY Dan Padley is a guitarist/composer based out of Iowa City, IA. Since studying music at the University of Iowa, Dan has performed with many artists including Deb Talan, Wayne Newton, Elizabeth Moen, River Glen, Dana T, Blake Shaw, comedian Jimmy Pardo, and many more. Dan has released several albums and EPs, including his most recent full length 'The Walking Hills'.
Drums \| BEN STONE Ben Stone is percussionist originally from Des Moines, Iowa, now living in Iowa City after earning a Bachelor of Music in Percussion Performance and Bachelor of Science in Computer Science at the University of Iowa. Ben can be found performing with various groups in the eastern Iowa area, including the University of Iowa Symphony Orchestra, University of Iowa Steel Bands, and Grinnell College Concert Band. Ben also consistently plays around Iowa City in the Pandelirium steel band and his blues and Americana band Blame Papa. Razor Creek is Ben’s first production with the UI Theatre Department and he has enjoyed coming up with parts for a brand new musical.
Assistant Stage Manager \| SAMMI LEWIS* Sammi Lewis is a 1st year undergraduate stage manager. She has been involved in theater for years and started assistant stage managing this year. This is her second production at the University of Iowa, her first being Home is Where the TV Is. She is super excited to be working on her first musical and can’t wait for everyone to see it! She wants to thank the cast, crew, and everyone who told her she would like stage management.
Assistant Stage Manager \| HANNAH SIEFKEN* Hannah Siefken is a first-year Theatre Arts student at the University of Iowa. They previously worked as the assistant stage manager for Reflections and West Illinois Glass House. Before starting college, Hannah was active in the theatre community in Des Moines, with acting, co-writing, technical, and assistant directing credits to their name. They are grateful for the opportunity to work on Razor Creek, and they hope you enjoy the show!
Assistant Lighting Designer \| AUDREY MICHAELS* Audrey Michaels is a 4^th year undergrad studying Theatre, Dance, and ASL. Since she was young, she’s had an eye for creating things and has always wanted to be a choreographer. However, since attending college she’s learned that she has a large interest in designing works and assisting performers behind-the-scenes and the theatre world is where this passion blossomed. She has experience with sound, scenic, and lighting design as well as some carpentry, and is interested in learning even more about these areas while continuing to develop her choreographic abilities.

RAZOR CREEK: A FOLK-ROCK, SCI-FI MUSICAL
BOOK & LYRICS BY K.T. PETERSON
MUSIC BY K.T. PETERSON AND PAIGE SCOTT
DIRECTED BY MICHAEL C. FLORES
Meet the creative team

Playwright | K.T. PETERSON

Director/Choreographer | MICHAEL C. FLORES

Michael Christopher Flores is a director/choreographer & current MFA Directing Candidate near the end of his first year at UIowa. Michael holds a B.A in Theatre Arts with an Emphasis in Musical Theatre Performance from San Diego State University. A few director/choreographer credits include Head Over Heels, Heathers: The Musical, 35MM: A Musical Exhibition, A Gentleman's Guide to Love & Murder, The Rocky Horror Show & CABARET. Part of Michael’s directorial focus is central to his experience with Dance-Theatre; he has written, directed & choreographed two dance-theatre pieces titled LITTLE BOY BLUE (2018) & MEMORY (2022). In 2023,  Michael adapted LITTLE BOY BLUE into a play which received a reading in Selma, CA as part of their new works series. While at UIowa thus far, Michael directed In this Sepulcher, We are Fed in the fall as well as served as Assistant Director & Choreographer for Into the Woods early this semester. 

Visit  www.michaelcflores.com for more info.

Music Director/Conductor/Sound Designer/Arranger/Keyboardist | MARK BRUCKNER

Mark Bruckner is a New York Innovative Theater, Audelco Award-winning composer, and Henry Hewes American Theatre Wing design nominee. Recent work: Original Music and Sound Design for Men on Boats (Thayer Theatre, Fall 2023) and Ugly Lies the Bone (Mabie Theatre, Spr 2023) both directed by Mary Beth Easley; Music Direction, Conductor, and Arranger for Into the Woods (directed by Stephen Thorne, Mabie Theatre, Spr 2024); Original music and music director for The Bacchae (directed by Sarah Gazdowicz, Thayer Theatre, Fall 2022); Original music and sound design for The Marriage of Alice B. Toklas by Gertrude Stein by Edward Einhorn (Jermyn Street Theatre, West End London, UK, March 2022); Original music and ambisonic sound design for Body Concert by Kevin Augustine of Lone Wolf Tribe which recently received the Grand Prize for Best production at the 17^th International Lalka Też Człowiek festival in Warsaw, Poland. Visit www.markbruckner.net

Dramaturg | ALICE WEBSTER*

Alice Webster is a fourth-year English and Creative Writing and Theatre double-major and the dramaturg for Razor Creek. She is the co-president of the UI English Society and a drama editor for earthwords: the undergraduate literary review. This is her first time working as a dramaturg and she couldn’t be more excited! She’d like to thank the cast, crew, and the rest of the creative team.

Stage Manager | CHLOE ANCELL*

Chloe Ancell is a 3^rd year undergrad Theatre major with a focus in stage management with an additional interest in scenic design at the University of Iowa. Chloe has been a part of the stage management team for many shows in the past semesters, a few are, Fathers and Sons, Global Express, Brother Brother, Dance Nation and now Razor Creek! Chloe is very excited to work on a musical for the first time as a stage manager! She is grateful to be a part of this production and many more to come. Thank you to everyone who made this show possible!

Scenic and Lighting Designer | NICOLE BLODIG*

Nicole Blodig is a 4^th year undergraduate lighting designer and electrician. She finds herself at home between abstract and narrative storytelling, amplifying our learned and conditioned responses to light, primarily through color-emotion association. After graduation in May, she will be working at the Utah Festival of Opera and Music as the Assistant Head Electrician, and in August, will begin at Bucknell University as the Theatre & Dance Technical Assistant.

Costume Consultant/Props Master | KAELEN NOVAK

Specializing in theatrical, experimental, and virtual design for live entertainment, Kaelen Novak is a recent MFA graduate from the University of Iowa concentrating in Costume and Scenic Design.  They recently have been designer for a large array of projects including creative director of ARatorio for the Mis-Remembered at the University of Iowa, scenic and projection designer for Bronte: The World Without at Riverside Theatre, costume designer for Cedar Rapids Opera's Tosca and Charlie and the Wolf, and motion capture costume consultant for for the dance thesis Route Movements. They continue to explore the intersection of theatre, art and emerging technology, and their research can be found in Iowa Magazine and USITT Theatre Design and Technology. Kaelen looks forward to working on the New Play Festival once again, particularly this unique musical that blends the new and old in the area they grew up around.

Viola/Fiddle | LAURA GODDARD

Laura Goddard works in the UI College of Nursing as a clinical coordinator. She trained as a pianist and violist and has been involved with UI Theatre productions since 2018. She was slated to work on Razor Creek in 2020, so is glad to be a part of bringing it to the stage now.

Guitar | DAN PADLEY

Dan Padley is a guitarist/composer based out of Iowa City, IA. Since studying music at the University of Iowa, Dan has performed with many artists including Deb Talan, Wayne Newton, Elizabeth Moen, River Glen, Dana T, Blake Shaw, comedian Jimmy Pardo, and many more. Dan has released several albums and EPs, including his most recent full length 'The Walking Hills'.

Drums | BEN STONE

Ben Stone is percussionist originally from Des Moines, Iowa, now living in Iowa City after earning a Bachelor of Music in Percussion Performance and Bachelor of Science in Computer Science at the University of Iowa. Ben can be found performing with various groups in the eastern Iowa area, including the University of Iowa Symphony Orchestra, University of Iowa Steel Bands, and Grinnell College Concert Band. Ben also consistently plays around Iowa City in the Pandelirium steel band and his blues and Americana band Blame Papa. Razor Creek is Ben’s first production with the UI Theatre Department and he has enjoyed coming up with parts for a brand new musical.

Assistant Stage Manager | SAMMI LEWIS*

Sammi Lewis is a 1st year undergraduate stage manager. She has been involved in theater for years and started assistant stage managing this year. This is her second production at the University of Iowa, her first being Home is Where the TV Is. She is super excited to be working on her first musical and can’t wait for everyone to see it! She wants to thank the cast, crew, and everyone who told her she would like stage management.  

Assistant Stage Manager | HANNAH SIEFKEN*

Hannah Siefken is a first-year Theatre Arts student at the University of Iowa. They previously worked as the assistant stage manager for Reflections and West Illinois Glass House. Before starting college, Hannah was active in the theatre community in Des Moines, with acting, co-writing, technical, and assistant directing credits to their name. They are grateful for the opportunity to work on Razor Creek, and they hope you enjoy the show!

Assistant Lighting Designer | AUDREY MICHAELS*

Audrey Michaels is a 4^th year undergrad studying Theatre, Dance, and ASL. Since she was young, she’s had an eye for creating things and has always wanted to be a choreographer. However, since attending college she’s learned that she has a large interest in designing works and assisting performers behind-the-scenes and the theatre world is where this passion blossomed. She has experience with sound, scenic, and lighting design as well as some carpentry, and is interested in learning even more about these areas while continuing to develop her choreographic abilities.

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