Playwright | XIAOYAN KANG

Born and raised in China, Xiaoyan was drawn to playwriting by a desire to tell stories marginalized by grand narratives. Her plays include Bound, The Obituary, and The Words of Ants. She has been an O’Neil Semifinalist, BBC International Radio Playwriting Competition Regional Winner, and KCACTF Region 5 Paul Stephen Lim Playwriting Award Recipient. Some of her short plays have been developed at 24 Hour Plays: Nationals and KCACTF(Region 5). Xiaoyan is currently an MFA candidate at the Iowa Playwrights Workshop. 

Director | KAYLA ADAMS

Kayla is an MFA Directing candidate at the University of Iowa. She holds a B.A. in Theatre Arts from Western Washington University. She is currently an ensemble member at The Artistic Home Theatre in Chicago, IL where she also teaches in their renowned Meisner studio. 

Dramaturg | LIN BO-HUA

Stage Manager | COLIN KIERNAN*

Scenic Designer | SØREN OLSEN

Costume Designer | I.M FORTUNATO

Lighting Designer | MEREDITH ONIONS*

Meredith Onions is a sophomore at the University who is currently earning a major in informatics and a minor in computer science. She is very passionate about visual storytelling, and she often participates in theatrical activities outside of class. Her freshman year, she ran the light board for multiple community theater projects in Iowa City, such as Willow Creek Theater Company’s production of The Fantasticks and Run of the Mill’s One Act Showcase. She got involved in the University of Iowa Theatre Department last semester, when she designed the lights for the workshop production The Space Between Coke Bottles and Orange Slices. Now, she is very excited to be the lighting designer for The Obituary. Meredith has had an absolutely amazing time working on this show, and she hopes that you enjoy it!