STEVIE AND THE REAL WORLD

LEXA BUSCH (Understudy Athena/Shelby) Big Rapids, MI; Sophomore, BFA Acting & Digital Storytelling Double Major with a Minor in Creative Writing. This is Lexa’s third show here at MSU, previously appearing in Clue (Unexpected Cop) and Second Stage’s production of The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee (Schwartzy). Along with studying theater at MSU, she has spent summers with the Powerhouse Theatre at Vassar College and Interlochen Arts Camp. Lexa is excited to be working on this new production, and thanks her family, friends, and cat for all their support! 

JULIE CLAMPITT (Assistant Props Artisan) Charlotte, MI; Senior, BFA Apparel & Textile Design and BA Theatre. Past productions include B-Team (props designer and co-scenic designer) and MSU UnScripted 2022 (t-shirt designer). She is excited to be a presenter at NCUR 2024 (multimedia sculpture). She would like to thank Erin for being so awesome, and Anthony for his wit and wisdom.

KATHERINE CLEMONS (Athena) Greenville, SC; 3rd Year, MFA Acting Candidate, Katherine is a 2015 graduate of Ball State University. She was last seen on the MSU Stage as Linda Porter in Love, Linda: The Life of Mrs. Cole Porter. Some of her more notable roles include Tracey in Sweat (Michigan State University – 2023 Wilde Award Winner, Best Leading Actress in a Play, Drama), Diane in The Birds (Huron Playhouse), Baker’s Wife in Into the Woods (Nettle Creek Players), and Rhetta Cupp in Pump Boys and Dinettes (Myers Dinner Theatre). Thank you to Jacob, Avery, family, and CoHort for their love and support!

JACKSON COSME-BROOKS (Assistant Stage Manager) Holt, MI; 2nd Year, BFA Stage Management, Minor in Arts & Cultural Management; He/Him/His. Recent credits include Much Ado About Nothing (Assistant Stage Manager), Solace (Assistant Stage Manager), and Uncensored (Lighting Designer/Board Operator). Jackson is infinitely grateful for his partner, his cat Dipper, and the theatre world as a whole, for giving him the life and career he’s always dreamed of.

CHRISTOPHER EASTLAND (Peter) Whitney, TX: Third-year MFA Acting Candidate. MSU Theatre: An Iliad (The Poet), Clue (Wadsworth), Precious Winners All (ensemble), In Emily’s Words (Mr. Cormany), Hit the Wall (Cop), The Whirligig (Mr. Cormany), and A Contemporary…Marriage ©1959 (Narrator). SCT: A Midsummer Night’s Dream (Theseus/Oberon), Schoolhouse Rock Live! (Tom), The One-Act Play that Goes Wrong (Robert), Distracted (Dad), Pippin (Charles). Other credits include Our Town (Sam Craig), The Drunken City (Eddie), The Madness of Lady Bright (Boy), A Christmas Carol (Fred), and WASP (Son). Love and thanks to Wendy, the pups, his mentors, and the cohort!

MONA ELDAHSHOURY (Francesca) Cairo, Egypt, Graduating MFA Acting. Mona was last seen on the stage of Summer Circle Theatre as Puck in A Midsummer Night’s Dream. Mona has also performed in MSU’s academic season as Charlotte in Charlotte’s Web, Andrea in For the Love of (or the Roller Derby Play), Madeline in Hit The Wall, Julie in Whirligig and Penelope in The Penelopiad. Shout out to Mona’s partner in crime, her cat Fish, her fam, friends, students, faculty and fellow funky Graduate Students!

STEFON FUNDERBURKE (Promise) Hermitage, Pennsylvania, Graduating MFA Acting. He created, directed and performed in the drag show Stefon’s Monsters and Other Strange Fantasies.They were seen as d’Eon in Monsieur d’Eon is a Woman, Brucie in Sweat and Mason in A Contemporary Guide to a Successful Marriage. Regional credits include The Magnolia Ballet (Z) Thunderbay Theater’s production of Macbeth (Macduff), Midnight Syndicate’s Conspiracy of Shadows at CedarPoint, and Tecumseh Outdoor Drama!(Thin Warrior)  See more of their work at stefonfunderburke.com

URAL GRANT (Andre) 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 Rocky Mountain High (Bork), Corktown (Reverend Johnson/Assistant Director), Hit the Wall (Carson), A Contemporary American’s Guide to a Successful Marriage (Jeremy).

KESSLER JONES (Scenic and Puppetry Designer) St. Petersburg, FL; Second-year MFA Design candidate in costumes and scenic. Recent credits include costume designs for Clue, Sweat, School House Rock Live! and A Midsummer Night’s Dream at MSU, and Ada and the Engine at Aquinas College. Recent scenic credits include asst. scenic design for Sense & Sensibility at LCC. See more of their work at KesslerJones.com.

KIM SEABRIGHT MARTIN (Shelby) Cleveland, OH; Third-year MFA Acting candidate. Past productions at MSU DOT include Much Ado About Nothing (Leonata), Charlotte’s Web (Old Sheep), Corktown (Ellen), The Impracticality of Modern-Day Mastodons (Delores), The Whirligig (Trish), and Wendy and the Neckbeards (Mama, KBQ). Previously seen at Summer Circle 2022 in Pippin (Berthe), Distracted (Mama), and The Play That Goes Wrong (Chris). Evermore thanks to her family, friends, mentors, and the MFA cohort.

BRANDON MCDUFF (Sound Design/Composer) Lansing, MI; First-year MFA Design candidate in sound and lighting. His most recent works include Much Ado About Nothing (Composer), A Doll’s House (Composer/Sound), The Wolves (Composer/Sound), and An Actor’s Carol (Composer). He is extremely excited to present his first design at Michigan State University and would like to thank his wife for her unwavering support.

ABBY MULLEN (Production Stage Manager) Dearborn, MI; Senior, BFA Stage Management. When not backstage you can find her working with MSU Football, She misses the ChopShop dearly. Recent Credits include The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee (Production Stage Manager), Bright Star (Assistant Stage Manager), and A Hatful of Rain (Stage Manager). Abby would like to thank Jackson and Kate for tackling this show alongside her. Her friends, roommates, and family for all their support. And finally, Tina, for always encouraging her to take a deep breath and not be so hard on herself… although we know *that* will never happen… @abby.mullen

Katherin “KAT” Poon (Costume Designer) Sacramento, CA, Junior, BFA Theatre Design, BA Psychology. Second Stage Productions President. Previous credits: Clue (Weapons SFX Design), The Rocky Horror Show (Co-Costume Design), Alabaster (Scar SFX Design), Bright Star (Asst. Costume Design). She is excited for her costume design debut on the MSU Mainstage! Many thank yous to Angie and the Costume Shop for making weird clothes, the OG KKP for her infinite wisdom, and the wonderful design team! 

OSCAR QUIROZ (Fred) Tegucigalpa, Honduras. Graduating MFA acting candidate. He has appeared in different MSU productions such as Much Ado About Nothing, A Hatful of Rain (Don Pedro), Hit the Wall (Tano),The Penelopiad (Odysseus); He has also collaborated with Summer Circle Theatre in A Midsummer Night’s Dream (Lysander),Pippin (Lewis), The Play that Goes Wrong (Dennis), Distracted (Zavala), and White Rabbit, Red Rabbit. Oscar recently directed the world premiere production of Love is the Greater Labyrinth by Sor Juana Inés de la Cruz for MSU´s Storefront Theatre. This production marks the end of my journey at MSU. I am grateful for the unconditional support and devotion of the acting faculty in our department and for my amazing cohort. IG: oscarquirozhn

ERIN RILEY (Props Artisan) Owosso, MI, Senior, BA Theatre, Arts & Cultural Management Minor. Past credits include Mina Loy (Props Artisan) at the Broad Museum, Corktown (Media Design) and  Hit the Wall (Assistant Director). They would like to thank the MSU Scene Shop for the opportunity for hands-on education in the nuts and bolts of scenic construction in a supportive and kind environment and Julie for her incredible work as assistant props artisan on this production. It would not have gotten done without her.

MELINA RODRIGUEZ (Assistant Scenic Design) Northville, MI; Junior, BFA Design/Tech with a focus in sound. Past productions include Clue (Sound Designer) and Brightstar (Assistant Sound Designer) at MSU, and The Rocky Horror Show (Sound Designer) at Second Stage Productions. They would like to thank Pietro for their endless support.

KATE SHAFFER (Assistant Stage Manager) Bloomfield Hills, MI; Sophomore, BFA Stage Management, BA Marketing. Some of her recent credits include Much Ado About Nothing (Assistant Stage Manager) at MSU, Live Nation (Production Assistant), and Young Playwright Festival (Stage Manager). She wants to thank her stage management team for always working together and helping each other out.

JACOB THEO SQUIRE (Sebastian) West Valley City, UT; Third year MFA Acting Candidate. Past MSU productions include Bright Star, Much Ado About Nothing, Monsieur d’Eon is a Woman, and Particle. He directed MSU’s production of A Hatful of Rain and The 39 Steps. He has done fight direction for various MSU shows as well as theatres in Utah, Montana, and Michigan. Jacob would like to send his gratitude to the directing team, designers, and the cohort. A very special shoutout to his wife and son for their constant love and support throughout this 3 year journey.

HOPE X. STILL (Charge Artist) Birmingham, MI; Junior. BFA Stage Management, Arts & Cultural Management Minor, and secondary focus in Scenic Painting. Some of Hope’s recent productions include Temporary (Production Stage Manager) at Hope Repertory Theatre, Clue (Assistant Stage Manager) and Bright Star (Scenic Artist) here at MSU. She would like to thank her parents and best friends for all their love and support. Website: Hopexstill.com’’

CASSIDY WILLIAMS (Primary Puppeteer) Eaton Rapids, MI; Junior, BFA Acting. This is Cassidy’s third performance here at MSU, having previously appeared in Much Ado About Nothing (DG understudy) and MSU professor Rob Roznowski’s debut of The STEAM Plays (Elliot, additional characters). Cassidy is honored and excited to participate in the debut performances of two original works this year. Many thanks to all of the people who have supported this production throughout this process.