American Rusałki – Meet the Creative Team

AMERICAN RUSAŁKI: A PLAY WITH MUSIC BY CHRISTOPHER LYSIK DIRECTED BY KAYLA ADAMS Meet the creative team
Playwright/Composer \| CHRISTOPHER LYSIK Christopher Lysik is a New England boy who writes plays, music, and plays with music. His solo performance, Pierogi Play, which premiered at the University of Iowa in 2023, recently received the Jean Kennedy Smith Award from the Kennedy Center. Additionally, his work has been supported by Fresh Ground Pepper, Wildacres, Powerhouse Theater, Williamstown Theatre Festival, and RI Youth Theatre, among others. He’s a proud member of the Dramatists Guild, and an even prouder cancer survivor. www.christopherlysik.com
Director \| KAYLA ADAMS Kayla Adams is a director, actor, and teaching artist. She is currently an MFA Directing candidate and Teaching Assistant at the University of Iowa. Kayla has been an ensemble member at The Artistic Home for 7 years, where she also served as Associate Artistic Director 2017 - 2021. She holds a degree in Theatre Arts from Western Washington University.
Music Director/Conductor \| OLIVIA GOULD Olivia Gould is thrilled to be music-directing American Rusałki! She worked as an actor and music director in the Boston area before receiving her Master's of Social Work from Simmons University. Olivia currently works as a therapist in Cedar Rapids, and recently performed at UIowa as Flavie in In This Sepulcher, We Are Fed, and as Inez in West Illinois Glass House. She loved music-directing the staged reading of American Rusałki this past fall, and is honored to work with this brilliant cast and creative team. All my love to Chris, a partner in every way.
Movement Coach \| BRADY VAN PATTEN
Fight Director \| PAUL KALINA
Dramaturg \| REBECCA WEAVER Rebecca Weaver is in their second year as an MFA candidate in the dramaturgy program here at the University of Iowa. Previously, Rebecca obtained two bachelor’s degrees in English and Drama (2020) at Jacksonville State University where they then received their master’s degree in English (2022). Among their theatre experience, Rebecca has presented their dramaturgical work at several theatre conferences (SETC, PCA/ACA, MATC) and spent time at the Kennedy Center in D.C. as a dramaturgy fellow through KCACTF. Their most recent theatre credits include dramaturging In the Red and Brown Water (UIowa), Macbeth (UIowa), You’re Still Here (NPF, UIowa), Ugly Lies the Bone (UIowa), The Children’s Hour (UIowa), Emilie: du Châtelet Defends Her Life Tonight (JSU), co-dramaturging A Midsummer Night's Dream (The Shakespeare Project), and directing The Diary of Anne Frank by Wendy Kesselman. They are very honored to have worked with the cast and creative team of American Rusałki.
Stage Manager \| SOPHIE YOUNG* Sophie Young is a third-year undergraduate student studying Theatre, Cinema, and Public Digital Arts with a focus on Stage Management. This is Sophie’s second time working on New Play Festival as a Stage Manager, and she could not be more excited to be a part of such a unique and exciting process. Her thanks and congratulations go out to the wonderful cast and creative team on this show—especially her two ASMs, Addy and Ella, whom she could not have done this without.
Scenic Designer \| CJ JOHNSON
Costume Designer \| EMILY BUSHÁ
Sound Designer \| MOLLY COSTELLO* Molly is a third-year Theatre Arts student with focuses in Sound and Digital Media Design, who is also pursuing a certificate in Public Digital Arts. Previous University of Iowa credits include You’re Still Here, Reflections, and Dance Nation. She is eternally grateful to the wonderful production team for their unending support. Listen with care, and enjoy the show!
Lighting Designer \| JEFFREY OAKLEY
Vocal Coach \| MARY MAYO
Intimacy Director \| OWEN BRIGHTMAN
Pianist \| ANNA MARINE
Acoustic Guitarist \| CARLIE MALLICOAT
Cellist \| RAELEIGH TRIPP
Percussionist \| CONNOR LAPAGE
Assistant Stage Manager \| ADDY TAYLOR*
Assistant Stage Manager \| ELLA CROSBY*

AMERICAN RUSAŁKI: A PLAY WITH MUSIC
BY CHRISTOPHER LYSIK
DIRECTED BY KAYLA ADAMS
Meet the creative team

Playwright/Composer | CHRISTOPHER LYSIK

Christopher Lysik is a New England boy who writes plays, music, and plays with music. His solo performance, Pierogi Play, which premiered at the University of Iowa in 2023, recently received the Jean Kennedy Smith Award from the Kennedy Center. Additionally, his work has been supported by Fresh Ground Pepper, Wildacres, Powerhouse Theater, Williamstown Theatre Festival, and RI Youth Theatre, among others. He’s a proud member of the Dramatists Guild, and an even prouder cancer survivor. www.christopherlysik.com

Director | KAYLA ADAMS

Kayla Adams is a director, actor, and teaching artist. She is currently an MFA Directing candidate and Teaching Assistant at the University of Iowa. Kayla has been an ensemble member at The Artistic Home for 7 years, where she also served as Associate Artistic Director 2017 - 2021. She holds a degree in Theatre Arts from Western Washington University. 

Music Director/Conductor | OLIVIA GOULD

Olivia Gould is thrilled to be music-directing American Rusałki! She worked as an actor and music director in the Boston area before receiving her Master's of Social Work from Simmons University. Olivia currently works as a therapist in Cedar Rapids, and recently performed at UIowa as Flavie in In This Sepulcher, We Are Fed, and as Inez in West Illinois Glass House. She loved music-directing the staged reading of American Rusałki this past fall, and is honored to work with this brilliant cast and creative team. All my love to Chris, a partner in every way.

Movement Coach | BRADY VAN PATTEN

Fight Director | PAUL KALINA

Dramaturg | REBECCA WEAVER

Rebecca Weaver is in their second year as an MFA candidate in the dramaturgy program here at the University of Iowa. Previously, Rebecca obtained two bachelor’s degrees in English and Drama (2020) at Jacksonville State University where they then received their master’s degree in English (2022). Among their theatre experience, Rebecca has presented their dramaturgical work at several theatre conferences (SETC, PCA/ACA, MATC) and spent time at the Kennedy Center in D.C. as a dramaturgy fellow through KCACTF. Their most recent theatre credits include dramaturging In the Red and Brown Water (UIowa), Macbeth (UIowa), You’re Still Here (NPF, UIowa), Ugly Lies the Bone (UIowa), The Children’s Hour (UIowa), Emilie: du Châtelet Defends Her Life Tonight (JSU), co-dramaturging A Midsummer Night's Dream (The Shakespeare Project), and directing The Diary of Anne Frank by Wendy Kesselman. They are very honored to have worked with the cast and creative team of American Rusałki.

Stage Manager | SOPHIE YOUNG*

Sophie Young is a third-year undergraduate student studying Theatre, Cinema, and Public Digital Arts with a focus on Stage Management. This is Sophie’s second time working on New Play Festival as a Stage Manager, and she could not be more excited to be a part of such a unique and exciting process. Her thanks and congratulations go out to the wonderful cast and creative team on this show—especially her two ASMs, Addy and Ella, whom she could not have done this without.

Scenic Designer | CJ JOHNSON

Costume Designer | EMILY BUSHÁ

Sound Designer | MOLLY COSTELLO*

Molly is a third-year Theatre Arts student with focuses in Sound and Digital Media Design, who is also pursuing a certificate in Public Digital Arts. Previous University of Iowa credits include You’re Still Here, Reflections, and Dance Nation. She is eternally grateful to the wonderful production team for their unending support. Listen with care, and enjoy the show!

Lighting Designer | JEFFREY OAKLEY

Vocal Coach | MARY MAYO

Intimacy Director | OWEN BRIGHTMAN

Pianist | ANNA MARINE

Acoustic Guitarist | CARLIE MALLICOAT

Cellist | RAELEIGH TRIPP

Percussionist | CONNOR LAPAGE

Assistant Stage Manager | ADDY TAYLOR*

Assistant Stage Manager | ELLA CROSBY*

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