IN PIECES

AUDREY ALLEN (Alex) Highland, MI; Senior, Interdisciplinary Humanities, Musical Theatre Minor. She was most recently seen in last year’s New Musical Laboratory, Rocky Mountain High (Izzy), and MSU’s mainstage musical, Bright Star (Understudy). Outside of theater, she is PR manager and proud member of MSU Capital Green A Cappella. She thanks her parents and her dog, Hank, for always loving her and supporting her dreams.

ANNA ANDERSON (Cindy / Jael / Paparazzi 1/ New Girl) Lansing, MI; Second Year, Clinical Master of Social Work. Her favorite credits include the Lebowsky Center’s production of Next to Normal (Natalie), A2iC’s presentation of Spring Awakening (Thea/Dance Soloist/Wendla Cover), and Interlochen Center for the Art’s regional premiere of Tuck Everlasting (Winnie Foster). She is so grateful to have this incredible musical opportunity during her final year at MSU!

OLIVER ANGEL (Mike / Understudy Grey) Dearborn, MI; Junior, BS Advertising Management, Minor in Musical Theatre. Oliver is honored to be in his third musical at Michigan State! Outside of theatre Oliver is a member of the MSU Accafellas (IG @msuaccafellas) and sings Baritone. Additionally, Oliver is the Social Media Marketing intern here at Wharton Center.  He would like to thank Adam Yankowy and Dave Wendelberger for the opportunity to be in such a new and exciting show!

MATT ANTALEK (Tinder Jacob / Dash / Austyn / Understudy Peter) Adrian, MI; Senior, BFA Acting. Matt is so excited to be a part of the NML for a second year! You may have seen him in Spring Awakening (Melchior Gabor) or the NML last year Rocky Mountain High (Ensemble). He would like to thank his friends and family who have supported him unconditionally. Enjoy the show!

MICHAEL BOLAÑOS (Ohio Boy / Fan / Understudy Charlie) Holland, MI; Senior, BFA Acting, Musical Theatre minor. This is Michael’s fifth consecutive musical at MSU after past credits like [title of show] (Jeff) and Spring Awakening (Otto). He is elated to be working on an up and coming musical with equally phenomenal cast and music. He would like to thank his friends, mother, sister, and anyone else who has helped him reach where he is today in life.

ANASTASIA BREEN (River) Bay City, MI; Sophomore, BFA Acting, BA JMC International Relations, Musical Theatre Minor. Anastasia is ecstatic to be working on this incredible project, with an amazing cast, crew, and creative team! Anastasia’s MSU credits include What If Wilhelmina (Mouse) and MSU UnScripted, and she most recently appeared in Midland Center for the Arts’ summer production of Rock of Ages (Regina) while doing a public policy internship. Anastasia is grateful for this opportunity and for her friends and family who have always supported her ambitions!

JOEY CONTRERAS (Book, Music, and Lyrics) is a Mexican American musical theatre and pop songwriter whose various studio releases have amassed over 10 million streams. He is a Fred Ebb Award finalist, Jonathan Larson Grant finalist, NAMT finalist, O’Neill NMTC finalist and an alum of the Johnny Mercer Project. His musicals have been produced all around the world. Additionally, he has written and developed work for Disney, Prospect Theatre Company, 5th Avenue Theatre as well as music for various short films. Follow on all socials: @joeycontreras.

JULIAN DIAZ-GRANADOS (Peter) is thrilled to join this incredible team of artists here at MSU. Broadway: Jared/Connor in “Dear Evan Hansen”, Himself in “The Ruben and Clay Christmas Show”. Off-Broadway: Timmy in “I Love My Family, But…”. Regional: Jack Kelly in Newsies, Nick Bottom in “Something Rotten”, Jason in “Ordinary Days”. @juliandiazgranados // JulianDiazGranados.com

ANGELINA FRANZESE (Assistant Stage Manager) Ann Arbor, MI; Junior, BFA Stage Management, BA Arts & Humanities, Spanish Minor. Angelina cannot wait to work on the New Musical Laboratory alongside this phenomenal team! Previous MSU work includes What If Wilhemina (ASM). Other works include SSP’s The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee (ASM), ROIAL’s Romeo & Juliet (SM) & Trail to Oregon (SM).

JORDAN IVEZAJ (U/S All Female Identifying Roles) Rochester Hills, MI; Senior, Mediated Communication, Musical Theatre Minor. Jordan is so incredibly grateful to be in her second and final New Musical Laboratory at MSU. Previous credits include Spring Awakening (Martha), Rocky Mountain High (Ensemble) and Bright Star (Ensemble). She would love to thank Adam Yankowy and Dave Wendelberger for this amazing opportunity and guidance. Jordan would not be able to do this without the constant support from her friends and family who she is so thankful for! @JordanIvezaj

RENEE KINSLER (Assistant Stage Manager) Holland, MI; Senior, BFA Stage Management & BS Mechanical Engineering. Renee is excited to be part of the New Musical Laboratory team for another year! Previous work at MSU includes What If Wilhelmina (PSM), Clue (Deck Crew Head), and Rocky Mountain High (ASM). She would like to thank her family and friends for all of their support.

JENNIFER LOWE (Production Stage Manager) (She/her) DeWitt, MI: Graduated from Michigan State University with a BFA in Stage Management. Professional stage management experience includes, Three Little Birds and Natural Shocks at Hope Repertory Theatre, The Little Match Girl, and several shows with The Possibility Project, a non-profit organization located in New York City. Upcoming stage manager at Purple Rose Theatre for Office Christmas Party Grinch in Fight with Rudolph Police Called.

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.

EMILY MALTBY (Director) is a NYC-based theater director, choreographer, and writer.  Recent credits include Evita (A.R.T and S.T.C), The King and I (TOHO – Tokyo), The Music Man (TOHO – Tokyo), Sunset Boulevard (The Kennedy Center), A Christmas Carol  (McCarter Theatre Center), For Your Paige (TikTok), Evita (New York City Center), Penelope (York Theatre Company), Allegory (La Jolla Playhouse WOW Festival), Lolita, My Love (York Theatre Company), and Fiddler on the Roof (Singapore). Upcoming projects include a commission to adapt and direct a new play. Associate credits include First Daughter Suite (The Public Theater), The Lion (Manhattan Theater Club). She has also served as a dramaturg for NYMF, as well as the script supervisor for Anastasia. In addition to her creative work, Emily has guest taught at Princeton University, Emerson College, New Rochelle High School, Musical Creators Institute, and the Institute for American Musical Theater. Emily holds a Bachelor’s degree from Northwestern University.  www.emilymaltby.com.   @emilymaltby

MOHAMAD MOHAMMAD (Grey) Dearborn Heights, MI; Senior, BA English. Mohamad (Momo) is so excited to be in his first musical laboratory at MSU! Previous credits at MSU include Leaf Coneybear in Second Stage’s The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, and Ernst Röbel in the Main Stage’s Spring Awakening. He wants to thank his friends and family for their endless support, and his loving and supportive cast mates that have made theatre a magical and unforgettable experience! @mohamadmohamma.d

NATHANIEL MYERS (Assistant to the Dramaturg) Traverse City, MI; Junior, BA Theatre, Arts and Humanities, Musical Theatre Minor. Although Nathaniel partook in last year’s New Musical Laboratory of Rocky Mountain High as an actor but now is serving as an assistant dramaturg for the first time alongside doing so for Inherit the Wind. He is stoked to be working with a wonderful team that has come together this year and would like to thank his family for their endless support on his ever changing theatre journey.

ANDREW PATINO (Producer) is a New York-based Theatre Producer and founder of Ursa Creatives. He has worked extensively in commercial theatre as a producer and marketer: The Secret Garden [The Ahmanson], I’m Gonna Marry You Tobey Maguire [Southwark Playhouse], Reefer Madness The Musical [The Whitley], The Creeps [Playhouse 46],  In Pieces The Musical [In Development] and King of Pangea [In Development]. For more information: www.ursacreatives.com

TYLER PINTEA (Charlie) Pittsburgh, PA; Senior, BS Advertising Management, Business Minor. Tyler is super excited to finally be back on the musical stage for his first musical in nearly four years. Tyler has been doing theater since he was 7 years old at a Pittsburgh local theater school, The Center For Theater Arts. Tyler would go on to attend Lincoln Park Performing Arts Charter School where he would spend grades 7-12 studying Musical Theater. Previous roles include: The Lion King Jr.(Pumbaa), Lucky Guy! (Big Al), in James and the Giant Peach(Earthworm), and more. Additionally, Tyler is a member of MSU’s premier a capella group Capital Green. Tyler would like to thank all his friends and family for coming to see this wonderful production, and he hopes you enjoy every second.

KATE SHAFFER (Assistant Stage Manager) Bloomfield Hills, MI; Junior, BFA Stage Management & BA Marketing. Kate is super excited to be working on the New Musical Laboratory with this team! She has previously worked on Young Playwright Festival (SM), Arsenic and Old Lace (PSM), Stevie and The Real World (ASM), and Much Ado About Nothing (ASM). She wants to thank her family and friends for their continued support!

STEPHANIE TORNS (Sam): Broadway: OBC Waitress the Musical (ensemble/Jenna Hunterson replacement), Wicked (Elphaba standby). Regional: Les Misérables (Eponine), and 9 to 5 (Judy Bernly). Stephanie has also performed her very own solo cabaret show at 54 Below and Chelsea Table and Stage in New York City. She is a proud board member of Epic Players which gives performance opportunities to the neuro-diverse community.

SAMUEL YATES (Guest Dramaturg): Selected artistic/access dramaturgy: La Casa de la Laguna (Gala Hispanic Theatre), Care: The Musical (3Arts/Art Institute of Chicago), Teenage Dick (Woolly Mammoth), Titus Andronicus (The Public). They’ve worked in the literary offices of The Abbey Theatre (Ireland) and the Eugene O’Neill Theater Center. Sam is currently the dramaturg for Great Plains Theatre Commons and Assistant Professor of Theatre at Pennsylvania State University.