ROCKY MOUNTAIN HIGH

MARC ACITO (Director) New York, NY. Marc wrote the first novel about theater kids, How I Paid for College: A Novel of Sex, Theft, Friendship and Musical Theater, a NY Times Editors’ Choice. As a librettist, his musicals include Allegiance (Broadway, Tokyo, West End); The Secret and Sound of the Silk Road (China); A Room with a View (Old Globe, 5th Avenue Theatre) Chasing Rainbows (Goodspeed Musicals, Papermill Playhouse) and Bastard Jones (The Cell, NY), which he directed and is developing as a feature film. His short film musical MAD/WOMAN has won numerous film festival awards. MarcAcito.nyc

AUDREY ALLEN (Izzy) Highland, MI; Junior, Interdisciplinary Humanities, minors in Musical Theater and Education. This is Audrey’s second production with MSU, her first being Bright Star (understudy) this past spring. She is so thrilled to be a part of this amazing program and grateful for everyone she has met in the process. She would like to thank her professors for the constant knowledge and guidance, and her family and friends for always loving her and supporting her journey here and beyond MSU. Enjoy the show!

OLIVER ANGEL (Ensemble) Dearborn, MI; Sophomore, BS Advertising Management, minor in musical theatre. Oliver is excited to be in his second musical at Michigan State. He was in last semester’s DOT production of Brightstar. Outside of theatre, Oliver is a member of the MSU Accafellas (@msuaccafellas) and sings Baritone. He would like to thank Brad Willcuts and Dave Wendelberger for the opportunity to be in such a new and exciting show!

MATT ANTALEK (Ensemble) Adrian, MI; Sophomore, BFA Acting. Matt is thrilled to be a part of this incredible process as this show is being put on stage for the first time! Matt has previously worked in MSU Unscripted. Outside of theatre Matt is involved in the MSU Accafellas and his rock band The Day Shift! Matt would like to thank the creative team for this incredible opportunity!

BENNETT BARBER (Zacharias) Knoxville, TN; Senior, BA in Games & Interactive Media, BFA in Acting with a minor in Game Design. He is proud to start his (hopefully) final year at MSU. Some of his recent work includes Hit the Wall (Cliff), Corktown (Clarke), Charlotte’s Web (Gander), and What If Wilhelmina (Ensemble). Bennett also cherishes the work he is able to do with OpenSpot Theatre. And to all his friends, family, and really cool cat, Tennessee, he would like to give his thanks for all the love and support they send him everyday!

ZACHARY BARKER (Ensemble) East Lansing, MI; High School Senior. Zach is very grateful to be a part of New Musical Lab for Rocky Mountain High. This is his second MSU Theatre production having previously done In Emily’s Words in the fall of 2022. He gives praise to Ben English who helped him find out about this amazing program. Zach also gives his full heartfelt thanks to his family whose love he will always know and appreciate.

MACEON BETTS (Ensemble) Holt, MI; High School Junior. Mace is thrilled to be a part of this amazing show with this incredible company! Mace has previously appeared in Holt High School’s productions of Puffs (Wayne) and Spelling Bee (Leaf) and will soon be in Holt’s production of Sweeney Todd (Tobias Ragg)! They thank you for coming to the show and hope you enjoy!

MICHAEL BOLANOS (Understudy for Dr. Jon Taylor) Holland, MI; Junior, BA Theatre, Musical Theatre minor, Spanish minor. Michael is absolutely thrilled to be involved with everyone in putting together this new musical. Coming off the heels of Sweat (Oscar), What If Wilhelmina (Papa), and In Emily’s Words (Ensemble), Michael is excited to learn about the art of understudying and supporting everyone else performing in the show.

MEL DYK (Dahla/Hoopty/Russ/God) Grand Rapids, MI; Senior, BFA Acting, Musical Theatre minor. Mel’s last performance on MSU’s stage was In Emily’s Words (Emily Brontë), which has been their favorite performance yet. They’ve loved every chance they’ve gotten to perform in the New Musical Laboratory, and this year is no exception. They were also recently seen in Head Over Heels (Pythio) and Particle (Shotgirl). They’d like to offer thanks to their partner for dealing with their constant ramblings about ‘the weed musical’.

URAL GRANT (Bork) Memphis, TN; Third-year MFA Acting Candidate. Previously seen at Detroit Rep in Transfers (Clarence). Summer Circle 2022 in Distracted (Son) and The Play That Goes Wrong (Johnathan). Past productions at MSU DOT include Corktown (Reverend Johnson/Assistant Director), Hit the Wall (Carson), A Contemporary American’s Guide to a Successful Marriage (Jeremy).

THOMAS EVANSKY (Ensemble) Morristown, NJ; Sophomore, BFA Acting, Digital Storytelling. Some of his past roles include Little Women (Laurie), Solace (William), Something Rotten! (Brother Jeremiah), Harvey (Dr. Chumley). Thomas is thrilled to be a part of his first MSU “New Musical Lab” production! In his spare time, he enjoys discovering movies, exploring record shops, and cooking and (inevitably) eating Italian food. Thomas isn’t sure how he got here, but would like to thank the brave souls who took a chance on him. Insta: @thomas.evansky

SHELBY GINSBURG (Ensemble) Commerce, MI; Junior, BFA Acting Major, Creative Advertising Major, Musical Theater Minor. This is Shelby’s first time being involved in the New Musical Laboratory program. She is thrilled to have the opportunity to be a part of this zany show. Recent performances include Sweat (Jesse) and For the Love of (Squeaky Mouse). Additionally, she is a proud member of SSMT and After School Special. To all those who have loved and supported me throughout this wild journey, thanks for all you do! Finally, she loves football and nothing but football.

RAYNA GOLD (Stage Manager) Huntington Woods, MI; Senior, BFA Stage Management, Arts & Cultural Management and Public Relations Minors. Rayna was an ASM for In Emily’s Words last year as part of the former “Imagen” program where she found a love of seeing new works come to fruition. She has loved being a part of the “New Musical Lab” process again & getting to work with the genius RMH team. She gives a giant thanks to her support system and is so grateful to spend her last show at MSU with this team!

ABBY GRANTHAM (Assistant Director) Lake Orion, MI; Senior, BA Theatre and Arts and Humanities. This is Abby’s fourth show with the DOT and her first show in the New Musical Laboratory program. She is so excited to be a part of such an amazing team of artists! She is also currently directing a production of The Vagina Monologues and They’re So Dramatic’s Seasons of Love concert. She would like to thank her family for always supporting her through every show!

MARK HOLLMANN (Composer) New York, NY. Mark won the Tony Award®, the Obie Award, and the National Broadway Theatre Award for his music and lyrics to Urinetown the Musical. His other shows as composer/lyricist include The Sting (Paper Mill Playhouse), ZM (Village Theatre Beta Series), Yeast Nation (FringeNYC), Bigfoot and Other Lost Souls (Perseverance Theatre), and The Girl, the Grouch, and the Goat (University of Kansas Theatre and Chance Theatre). For TV, he has written songs for the Disney Channel’s Johnny and the Sprites. He received his A.B. in music from the University of Chicago and has taught musical-theater songwriting at Princeton University and music composition at Columbia College Chicago.

JORDAN IVEZAJ (Ensemble) Rochester Hills, MI; Junior, BA Communication, Minor in Musical Theatre. This is Jordan’s third production affiliated with MSU. Her recent credits include Second Stage Production’s Rocky Horror (Phantom) and MSU Department of Theatre’s Bright Star (Ensemble). Jordan is completely honored to be involved in her first production with the New Musical Laboratory Program. She is incredibly grateful to continue working with her amazing and talented peers alongside such a brilliant creative team. She would like to thank her friends and family for their overwhelming and ongoing support. Enjoy the show!

NICOLE JENOSKY (Ensemble) South Lyon, MI; Sophomore, BFA Acting, Dance Minor, Musical Theatre Minor. Nicole is thrilled to be a part of the New Musical Laboratory! She is so grateful for the opportunity to work with such a wonderful cast and production team. Previous performances include MSU Unscripted (Improvisor), MSU Dance Showcase (Musical Theatre Dancer), and Second Stage Musical Theatre Cabaret (Singer). She would like to thank her family for giving her the support to pursue a theatre education!

RENEE KINSLER (Assistant Stage Manager) Holland, MI; Junior, BFA Stage Management , BS Mechanical Engineering. Renee worked this summer as a stage management intern for Hope Repertory Theater on a variety of shows, including Three Little Birds (ASM) and Boeing Boeing (ASM). Her most recent work at MSU was Bright Star (ASM and Automations Operator). Renee is very excited to be part of the devising process for this show. She would like to thank her family and friends for their constant support.

CHLOE KIRCHMEIER (Ensemble) Jackson, MI; Senior, BS Anthropology, minors in Musical Theater and LGBTQ+ and Sexuality Studies. This is Chloe’s fourth production affiliated with MSU, and her second show in the New Musical Laboratory program. She is ecstatic to have the opportunity to be a part of this hilarious musical, working alongside her insanely talented peers and professors! Chloe would like to thank her sister for always pushing her to follow her dreams 🙂 Enjoy the show!!

COOPER KOFRON (Book & Lyrics) Denver, CO; Cooper is a Senior at Princeton University, with a Mathematics major, Theatre minor, and membership in the Princeton Triangle Club. His first two short plays, Tradition and Over My Dead Body, were produced at Curious Theatre in Denver in 2019 and 2020 respectively. With gratitude to the creative team and MSU.

KIA BETH KOFRON (Book & Lyrics) Denver, CO; Kia is a musical theatre nerd with a passable shower singing voice. After graduate school, and a successful brand building career, she literally dreamt the plot of Rocky Mountain High and of writing it with her son. She is wholeheartedly grateful for the “joint” effort of Brad Willcuts, the creative team, and the fantastic faculty, staff, cast, and crew at MSU, all of whom she holds in the “highest” regard.

CORA LARGE (Assistant Stage Manager) Novi, MI; Senior, BFA Stage Management, minors in Arts & Cultural Management and Japanese, focus in acting. Cora was most recently the stage manager for last Spring’s Storefront production Precious Winners All, and for the SSP productions of Abandon All Hope… and The Glass Menagerie. Cora has loved all the different types of shows she has been able to work on over the past few years, and is very grateful to her professors, family, and boyfriend for helping guide her professional growth.

REESE MARTIN (MJ) Manhattan Beach, MI; Junior BFA Acting with a minor in musical theatre. Reese was most recently on stage in Schoolhouse Rock Live! and A Midsummer Night’s Dream. She is so excited for you to see this crazy show. She’d like to thank the creative team for the incredible opportunity and all the work they’ve put in, her fantastic cast mates, and her mom, for making the 5 hour flight from CA to see the show! Hope you enjoy the show 🙂

NATHANIEL MYERS (Ensemble) East Lansing MI; Sophomore, BS Arts and Humanities, minors in Musical Theatre and Playwriting. Nathaniel is thrilled to be a part of his first show with MSU’s New Musical Laboratory after previously having been in Second Stage Production’s Rocky Horror Show (Narrator). He’d like to thank the creative team for allowing him to be a part of their exciting new show, the talented company for making each rehearsal together a joy, and all of his family and friends for all their overwhelming support. Enjoy the show!

SIMON PEARL (Dr. Jon Taylor) New York, NY; Born in Kentucky to British parents, Simon hasn’t needed to marry anyone for Green Cards. Growing up in England, Greece and Singapore, this international man of conspicuousness has performed all around the world, but happily calls himself a New Yorker. Selected theatre credits include Les Miserables (Gavroche), and Billy Elliott (George). Selected TV credits include Billions and Nurse Jackie.

LUCY PRUSH (Ensemble) Holt, MI; High School Sophomore. Lucy is thrilled to be a part of this incredible program for the second year in a row! After performing in In Emily’s Words last year she appeared in Holt High School’s Puffs (Leanne), Spelling Bee (Olive), and All Of Us Express’s The Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe (Assistant Director). This November, Lucy will be in Holt High School’s Sweeney Todd (Johanna). Lucy would like to thank her incredible parents for their endless love and support!

CAITLYN SANDERS (Ensemble); Owosso, MI; Sophomore, BS Animal Science, minors in Theatre and Musical Theatre. Caitlyn is thrilled to be working on this budding new musical (get it?). She was part of In Emily’s Words last fall, and is so excited to be working on her second show in the New Musical Laboratory Program. Caitlyn would like to thank her friends and family for their continuous support. Additionally, she would like to thank the entire company for making this such an amazing experience. Enjoy the show!

ROSE SHER (Wanda Jo): Birmingham, MI; Junior, Acting BFA with a double major in Criminal Justice and minor in Musical Theatre. This is Rose’s first production at Michigan State University and she is beyond excited that Rocky Mountain High gets to be her first. Rose would like to thank her family and friends for their nonstop support and love. This production has been an incredible experience and she is so excited for her future in Michigan State’s Theatre Program! Enjoy the show and have fun!

CLAIRE SWAYZE (Ensemble) Bloomfield Hills, MI; Senior, BS Human Biology. Though they’ve bled white and green for a long time, Claire is ecstatic to be in their very first New Musical Lab production! Most recently, they were in the ensemble for MSU Department of Theater’s production of Bright Star, but other favorite performances of theirs include Actor 4 in Abandon All Hope, Ye Who Enter Here, and Lana Sherwood in It’s A Wonderful Life: A Radio Play. Claire would love to thank their friends and family for the support they’ve gotten, as well as the department of theater for giving them the opportunity to explore the world beyond Lyman Briggs College!