MARIE ANTOINETTE BY DAVID ADJMI DIRECTED BY MARY BETH EASLEY Meet the creative team |
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Director | MARY BETH EASLEY Mary Beth Easley is head of directing in the Department of Theatre Arts. From 2006–2018, she was Artistic Director of the CUNY-Brooklyn College Department of Theater. Focusing on new play development, intercultural theatre expression, and outreach to under-represented urban and rural communities, Ms. Easley has been directing plays, coaching, and teaching acting for many years. She has directed Off-Broadway and in regional theatres throughout the United States. In NYC, her work has been featured at The Bushwick Starr, Ensemble Studio Theatre, Circle Rep, The Women’s Project, The New Federal Theater, and LaMama ETC, among others. |
Dramaturg / Assistant Director | MEREDITH G. HEALY Meredith is a second-year directing candidate at the University of Iowa. Originally from Lexington, KY, Meredith made her way to Iowa by way of Wellesley, MA; Providence, RI; and Portland, ME. During her first year at Iowa, she was lucky to direct Brother-Brother by Sixtus Chetachi Igbokwe for the Gallery Series (2023) and Anti-Hero: Revenge of the Swifties by Derick Edgren Otero for the Iowa New Play Festival (2024). Thanks to Mary Beth for the opportunity to work on this show and to her parents for their unwavering support! |
Fight Director | JOSH TURNER Josh Turner, an Atlanta native, earned his BFA in acting from the Gainesville Theatre Alliance. His passion for storytelling began early, inspired by his grandfather, Ural Smith Jr., leading him to believe that great stories can change lives and touch hearts. Josh has performed in award-winning productions such as The New Black Fest's Hands Up: 7 Playwrights/7 Testaments, which was staged at the Tony Award-winning Alliance Theatre and received a Suzi Bass Award for Outstanding Social Justice Production. As a director, his credits include new works such as The Just Us League (Gainesville Theatre Alliance), West Illinois Glass House (University of Iowa), and Spells For Going Forth by Daylight (University of Iowa, Iowa New Play Festival), as well as classics like It's a Wonderful Life: A Live Radio Play (AD Players Theatre). Josh is currently pursuing his MFA in directing at the University of Iowa. He would like to thank his wife, Zafyre, for her love and support! |
Intimacy Director | CRISTINA GOYENECHE
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Stage Manager | MELISSA L.F. TURNER§
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Scenic Designer | CHLOE COBB Chloe Cobb is a third-year MFA candidate in theatre arts with a focus in scenic design. Originally from Phoenix, Arizona, Chloe attended Arizona State University for their undergraduate degree. Previous scenic design credits at the University of Iowa include Anti-Hero: Revenge of the Swifities (2024), Into the Woods (2024), Men on Boats (2023), and Ugly Lies the Bone (2023). Their full portfolio can be found at www.chloecobbdesign.com. |
Costume Designer | ABBY GARRATY
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Lighting Designer / Media Designer | SØREN OLSEN Søren Olsen is a second-year directing and design MFA candidate at Iowa. He is a multidisciplinary artist whose research and creative work is focused on collectively created performances, installations, and non-violent communication. His work can be seen at www.sorenolsen.com. He is grateful for this opportunity and feels deeply warmed by the support of the entire cast and crew. He would especially love to thank the lighting and media teams at the university for their flexibility, professionalism, and sunny attitudes. |
Composer / Sound Designer | MARK BRUCKNER Mark Bruckner (Composer, Arranger, Music Coach, Sound Designer) is a New York Innovative Theater, Audelco Award-winning composer, and Henry Hewes American Theatre Wing design nominee. Some recent projects include: Original Music and Sound Design for Men on Boats (Thayer Theatre, Fall 2023) and Ugly Lies the Bone (Mabie Theatre, Spring 2023) both directed by Mary Beth Easley; Music Direction, Conductor, and Arranger for Into the Woods (directed by Stephen Thorne, Spring 2024, Mabie Theatre); 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 received the Grand Prize for Best Music at the 17th International Lalka Też Człowiek festival in Warsaw, Poland. Visit www.markbruckner.net |
Vocal Coach | CAROLINE CLAY
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Dance Director | MICHAEL C. FLORES
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Assistant Stage Manager | REED DAVIS§ Reed is first-year stage management candidate from Bangor, Maine. After receiving his BA in theatre from the University of Maine, he has worked with Opera House Arts, First Stage Milwaukee, Opera Maine, and was the resident Production Stage Manager at Penobscot Theatre Company for three seasons. He would like to thank his friends and family for their support. Enjoy the show! |
Assistant Costume Designer | CHELSEA PRESTIEN Chelsea Prestien is a graduate candidate concentrating in costume design at Iowa. She is delighted for the opportunity to assist with this incredible story and wants to thank her lead designer, the talented team at the costume shop, and the production team for their tutelage, patience, and encouragement through this process. |
*Undergraduate student. UI Theatre is dedicated to providing hands-on theatre experience for both undergraduate and graduate students.
§Member of Actors’ Equity Association, The Union of Professional Actors and Stage Managers in the United States.