Diana | MADELINE RODRIGUEZ* Madeline Rodriguez (she/her) is a fourth-year undergraduate majoring in theatre arts and ethics & public policy with a certificate in social justice in the performing arts at the University of Iowa. Her previous works at the university include Argonautika (Andromeda, Eros), salt tongue (Niamh), Far Away (Joan), Marie Antoinette (Polignac), Anti-Hero: Revenge of the Swifties (Cora), Dance Nation (Zuzu), Men on Boats (Seneca), Braided Sorrow (Yadria), and Mother:Knife (Maria). She is deeply honored to close this chapter of her life at Iowa with such a meaningful piece. She wants to thank Meredith, the cast, and the creative team for their invaluable support, laughter, and fearless dedication to this play. |
Mojdeh | IMAAN SHAH* Imaan Shah (she/her) is a first-year undergraduate majoring in theatre arts and neuroscience. This is her first show here at the University of Iowa. She has been incredibly honored and grateful to be a part of such a wonderful cast and a wonderful show. She hopes you enjoy! |
Brandi | DALE LEONHEART** Dale is a second-year MFA candidate in Acting. She is extremely thankful to the wonderful creative team, cast, and crew for all of their devotion and support. Dale is thrilled and honored to tell this important story alongside such talented and thoughtful artists. |
Kara | KAYLA LEACOCK** Kayla Leacock is beyond thrilled to be in How to Defend Yourself! Select credits include: National Tour: PAW Patrol Live! (Rocky), Rosie Revere Engineer & Friends (Ada Twist) Regional: The Color Purple (Nettie), Hurricane Diane (Renee), Bad World: A New Musical (Linnea), Polkadots: The Cool Kids Musical (Lily Polkadot), Hairspray (Dynamite) University of Iowa: Earthus Terminus (Madame President), Adaku (Mma), Far Away (Harper). Special thanks to my family and friends! |
Nikki | ISABELLE VALLINA* Isabelle Vallina (she/her) is a first-year undergraduate student double majoring in theatre arts and communication studies, and she is very excited to tell this wonderful story with an amazing group of people. She hopes people will recognize aspects of themselves and people they know within the show and enjoy the experience. |
Andy | CHARLIE DUFFY* Charlie Duffy is a super-senior here at the University of Iowa, double majoring in theatre arts and psychology. This is his fifth show through the university, previously performing in Fathers and Sons (Arkady), In This Sepulcher, We Are Fed (Sacha), Into the Woods (Narrator), and American Rusałki (Jack). He is grateful to work with such a wonderful cast and creative team. Enjoy the show! |
Eggo | PRESTON COLEMAN** Preston Coleman is a second-year MFA Actor in the UI Theatre Department. At Iowa, he’s played Clay in Dutchman by Amiri Baraka for the Iowa Director's Festival and Duru in Adaku by Sixtus Chetachi Igbokwe during the New Play Festival in Spring 2025; IDMON/GHOST in the Mainstage production Argonautika in Fall 2025—all three wonderful productions from graduating MFA Director Josh Turner. He has now had the pleasure of working on this production of How to Defend Yourself with graduating MFA director Meredith G. Healy as the character Eggo. He thanks Meredith for the wonderful space she created for the cast to help create and tell this story, bring it to life and close to home for our audiences. |
*Undergraduate student.
**Graduate student.
UI Theatre is dedicated to providing hands-on theatre experience for both undergraduate and graduate students.