Meet the Creative Team

A Plant. By Jarek Pastor. Grey photo of theatre building.

Creative Team of A Plant
Playwright \| JAREK PASTOR Jarek Pastor is a multi-lingual/ethnic/national person who primarily writes works for performance. Wrote this one, too. They are a second-year MFA candidate at the University of Iowa's Playwrights Workshop.
Director \| ANN KREITMAN Ann Kreitman is a first-year MFA candidate in directing. Ann has presented work in Chicago, New York City, and Philadelphia, and specializes in original theatrical events with a focus on audience interaction, clown, and queer storytelling. She is an associate member of the Stage Directors and Choreographer's Society and formerly served as the Co-Artistic Director of (re)discover theatre and on the Steering Committee of DirectorsLabChicago.
Dramaturg \| ROB ASCHER Rob Ascher is a first-year dramaturgy MFA candidate hailing from New York. His work as a dramaturg includes Lucas Hnath’s The Christians at Bennington College and Tony Kushner’s Homebody at Ancram Opera House. Thanks go to Art, the dramaturgy cohort, and Jarek and Ann for bringing him on board this incredible project. Extra special thanks to Mom, Dad, Bea, and Lenny.
Scenic and Media Designer \| TOBIN GRIFFIN Tobin Griffin is a second-year MFA scenic and media designer. He has designed Merrily and Palanquin for the University of Iowa. He has worked professionally freelance designing at several theatres in North Texas, along with internships at the Glimmerglass Festival and Stageworks Event Design. He would also like to say that Black Lives Matter and it is an act of compassion and civic duty to wear your mask.
Costume Designer \| ABIGAIL MANSFIELD-COLEMAN Abigail Mansfield-Coleman is a first year MFA costume design student. Her undergraduate degree is a BFA in Musical Theatre, but she has been designing for over 12 years. Originally from North Carolina, Abigail has worked across the Carolinas and Southeast. She has designed over 45 productions including Into the Woods (3 times!), Tuck Everlasting (2018 KCATCF Costume Design Nomination); Exit the King (2017 KCATCF Nomination). This is her first production at University of Iowa.
Lighting Designer \| ALASTAIR SIGALA RAMIREZ Alastair Sigala Ramirez received his associates in theatre from Amarillo College and his BA from Texas Wesleyan University. He is a first-year design graduate focusing in costumes and lighting. Previous work includes puppet design for Avenue Q at Texas Wesleyan University and costume design for Mirette and Abyssina with Lyric Stage. He is a USITT member and wants to say Black Lives Matter and wear a mask.
Sound Designer \| KEEGAN KONSOR Keegan Konsor is a communications studies major from Council Bluffs, Iowa. Outside of school, Keegan is a musician who writes and produces his own music. His musical endeavors have brought him into the world of sound design.
Stage Manager \| BRILLIAN QI-BELL Brillian Qi-Bell is a fourth-year theatre arts major focusing in stage management and arts entrepreneurship. Previous UI theatre SM/ASM work includes: Global Express, Twilight Bowl, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, A Cat Found God, Pastoral Play, The Wolves, Laterality, Polaris, Monument, AirSpace, Perils of the Flowerbed, Hit the Wall, and Colic. Thank you Jacob (her partner in crime), Ann, Jarek, Rob, the cast, and artistic team for doing weird theatre in these COVID times. Enjoy the show!
Assistant Stage Manager \| JACOB SMITHBURG Jacob Smithburg is a third-year undergrad studying journalism and theatre arts from Fairfield, Iowa. He’s worked in a vast set of roles associated with live performance as lighting director, sound technician, and sometimes even performing, before arriving as an assistant stage manager. What’s cool is that he wanted to thank all the cast and creative designers here for keeping things fun and groovy.
Video Editor \| MICHAEL FRANCIS Michael Francis (BFA) is a graduate acting candidate at the University of Iowa. Regional Credits include: Edward Bloom/Big Fish, Dan/Next to Normal, Chauvelin/The Scarlet Pimpernel, J. Pierpont Finch/How To Succeed In Business…, Tarzan/Tarzan: The Musical, The Duke/Big River, Virgil/Bus Stop, John Utterson/Jekyll & Hyde, Chebutykin/The Three Sisters, and The Snail with the Mail from A Year with Frog and Toad.

Creative Team of A Plant

Playwright | JAREK PASTOR

Jarek Pastor is a multi-lingual/ethnic/national person who primarily writes works for performance. Wrote this one, too. They are a second-year MFA candidate at the University of Iowa's Playwrights Workshop.

Director | ANN KREITMAN

Ann Kreitman is a first-year MFA candidate in directing. Ann has presented work in Chicago, New York City, and Philadelphia, and specializes in original theatrical events with a focus on audience interaction, clown, and queer storytelling. She is an associate member of the Stage Directors and Choreographer's Society and formerly served as the Co-Artistic Director of (re)discover theatre and on the Steering Committee of DirectorsLabChicago.

Dramaturg | ROB ASCHER

Rob Ascher is a first-year dramaturgy MFA candidate hailing from New York. His work as a dramaturg includes Lucas Hnath’s The Christians at Bennington College and Tony Kushner’s Homebody at Ancram Opera House. Thanks go to Art, the dramaturgy cohort, and Jarek and Ann for bringing him on board this incredible project. Extra special thanks to Mom, Dad, Bea, and Lenny.

Scenic and Media Designer | TOBIN GRIFFIN

Tobin Griffin is a second-year MFA scenic and media designer. He has designed Merrily and Palanquin for the University of Iowa. He has worked professionally freelance designing at several theatres in North Texas, along with internships at the Glimmerglass Festival and Stageworks Event Design. He would also like to say that Black Lives Matter and it is an act of compassion and civic duty to wear your mask.

Costume Designer | ABIGAIL MANSFIELD-COLEMAN

Abigail Mansfield-Coleman is a first year MFA costume design student. Her undergraduate degree is a BFA in Musical Theatre, but she has been designing for over 12 years. Originally from North Carolina, Abigail has worked across the Carolinas and Southeast. She has designed over 45 productions including Into the Woods (3 times!), Tuck Everlasting (2018 KCATCF Costume Design Nomination); Exit the King (2017 KCATCF Nomination). This is her first production at University of Iowa.

Lighting Designer | ALASTAIR SIGALA RAMIREZ

Alastair Sigala Ramirez received his associates in theatre from Amarillo College and his BA from Texas Wesleyan University. He is a first-year design graduate focusing in costumes and lighting. Previous work includes puppet design for Avenue Q at Texas Wesleyan University and costume design for Mirette and Abyssina with Lyric Stage. He is a USITT member and wants to say Black Lives Matter and wear a mask.

Sound Designer | KEEGAN KONSOR

Keegan Konsor is a communications studies major from Council Bluffs, Iowa. Outside of school, Keegan is a musician who writes and produces his own music. His musical endeavors have brought him into the world of sound design.

Stage Manager | BRILLIAN QI-BELL

Brillian Qi-Bell is a fourth-year theatre arts major focusing in stage management and arts entrepreneurship. Previous UI theatre SM/ASM work includes: Global Express, Twilight Bowl, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, A Cat Found God, Pastoral Play, The Wolves, Laterality, Polaris, Monument, AirSpace, Perils of the Flowerbed, Hit the Wall, and Colic. Thank you Jacob (her partner in crime), Ann, Jarek, Rob, the cast, and artistic team for doing weird theatre in these COVID times. Enjoy the show!

Assistant Stage Manager | JACOB SMITHBURG

Jacob Smithburg is a third-year undergrad studying journalism and theatre arts from Fairfield, Iowa. He’s worked in a vast set of roles associated with live performance as lighting director, sound technician, and sometimes even performing, before arriving as an assistant stage manager. What’s cool is that he wanted to thank all the cast and creative designers here for keeping things fun and groovy.

Video Editor | MICHAEL FRANCIS

Michael Francis (BFA) is a graduate acting candidate at the University of Iowa. Regional Credits include: Edward Bloom/Big Fish, Dan/Next to Normal, Chauvelin/The Scarlet Pimpernel, J. Pierpont Finch/How To Succeed In Business…, Tarzan/Tarzan: The Musical, The Duke/Big River, Virgil/Bus Stop, John Utterson/Jekyll & Hyde, Chebutykin/The Three Sisters, and The Snail with the Mail from A Year with Frog and Toad.