Production Staff and Profiles

PRODUCTION STAFF
 

PRODUCTION STAFF PROFILES

Jeremiah Barr (Scenic & Properties Designer/Technical Director), a jack of all trades carpenter, designer and artist, Jeremiah is very excited to be working on Company with the DU team. Some of his past design credits include Ms. Holmes and Ms. Watson Apt 2B (scenic/props), The SpongeBob Musical (scenic/props), and The Wolves (scenic) all with Dominican University. Sherlock Holmes and the Christmas Clowns (scenic), RUR (scenic design), Glassheart (scenic design), Night of the Hunter (scenic design) with City Lit Theatre; Strange Cargo (props/puppet design), A Shadow Bright and Burning (scenic/props design) with Black Button Eyes; Book of Will (props design), A Town Called Progress (scenic/props design) with Promethean Theatre Ensemble; Betrayal (scenic/props design), The Language Archive (scenic/props design) and The Pillowman (scenic/props design) with AstonRep Theatre Company. You might have also seen his TD handy work with Blue in the Right Way, Idle Muse, Promethean Theatre Ensemble, City Lit and Eclectic Full Contact Theatre as well as many other fine theatres in the Chicagoland area. Shout out to the great cast and fantastic crew. A big shout out to Samantha for all her love and knowledge of cats that keeps him on his toes.

Samantha K. Barr (Special Effects Designer/Production Manager) is the Interim Director of the Performing Arts Center and Production Manager for the Theatre Arts Lab Series. Sam has been working in various roles at DU for a while now.  Sam also freelances around the Chicago area as a production manager and light designer.  Most recently Sam got to mess around with hanging practicals in Every Brilliant Thing.  Sam would like to thank all who love her and everyone who helps color her world.

Dyanna Daniels (Choreographer) received her MFA in Choreography from Jacksonville University in 2018. She is currently the Education Manager at Paramount School of the Arts and an adjunct professor at Dominican University. Dyanna has choreographed numerous musicals and plays at both Dominican University and Aurora University, including Mamma Mia!, The Prom, and The SpongeBob Musical. Her recent work was featured in The Beautiful City Project’s Designer Run. This production marks her sixth collaboration with Dominican University, and she is thrilled to be part of the creative team! 

David Fiorello (Music Director) is an Equity Jeff Award-winning music director, director, playwright, composer and orchestrator whose work has been seen and heard across the globe. He is fortunate to have partnered with Krista and DU on productions of Songs For a New World, Mamma Mia!, The Prom, and The SpongeBob Musical. David has worked across Chicagoland with The Goodman, Chicago Shakes, Drury Lane, Porchlight and more. He is Founder & Artistic Director of The Beautiful City Project.

Veronica Flores (Technical Assistant/Stage Crew) is a junior studying English Writing and Political Science. She is excited to have added Theatre Arts as a minor and to be a part of the Company tech crew. Past Shows include: Every Brilliant Thing (Costume Shop Assistant), Ms. Holmes and Ms. Watson – Apt 2B (Costume Shop Assistant), and Blithe Spirit (Costume Shop Assistant). She would like to thank all those involved with the show for their incredible dedication, work, and all the shared laughter!

Mateo Gutierrez (Production Stage Manager) is a senior at Dominican University studying Theatre Arts and is excited to be working on his final production as a student. Past credits include Every Brilliant Thing (APM/ ALD), Ms. Holmes and Ms. Watson - APT 2B (PSM), The SpongeBob Musical (PSM), Carousel with Music Theatre Works (Assistant Stage Manager), and No Man’s Sky with Steppenwolf (Electrics Intern). He’s so glad to have worked with such an amazing cast and production team!

Krista Hansen (Director/Intimacy & Violence Choreographer/Sound Designer) is finishing up her 23rd year with Dominican University Theatre Arts, serving as Artistic Director, Professor and department Chair. Krista holds a BA in Music and Theatre from Indiana University and an MFA in Acting and Directing from the University of Arizona. She has directed dozens of Dominican productions, including: The SpongeBob Musical, The Wolves, The Prom, Mamma Mia!, The Addams Family, The Drowsy Chaperone, Macbeth, Legally Blonde, The Laramie Project, RENT, Noises Off and more. Krista has also appeared on the DU stage alongside her students in The Prom, Retrospective Revue, playing the title role in Mother Courage and Her Children, and most recently as the featured performer in Every Brilliant Thing. As a director, actor, intimacy choreographer, and voice/movement/dialect coach, Krista has worked with many theatres throughout Chicagoland, including AstonRep, Metropolis Performing Arts Centre, Erasing the Distance, and more. She is a recipient of the Davlin Diversity Award and the Singing Hoosiers Distinguished Alumni Award, serves on the Advisory Board of The Beautiful City Project, and is a proud member of the Stage Directors and Choreographers Society. Krista sends love to Charlotte and the boys; and much gratitude to the entire company of COMPANY: “Life beats down and crushes the soul, and art reminds you that you have one.” — Stella Adler

Bill Jenkins (Lighting Designer) has served on the faculty of Dominican University since 2003 and currently holds the rank of Professor, teaching a variety of courses in Theatre Arts as well as in the First Year Experience and Critical Reading, Writing, and Speaking programs. He has worked professionally as a scenic and lighting designer, technical director, and theatre consultant for nearly four decades and remains active in community projects and shows. He has designed and created hundreds of productions including dance, opera, concerts, and theatre, and has received local theatre critics’ awards for his work on several occasions. He received a Master of Fine Arts degree from Virginia Commonwealth University while working in Richmond, Virginia where he taught for ten years at Virginia Union University. In the Chicago area, he taught and designed for the theatre program at Roosevelt University before coming to Dominican where the school’s strong focus on diversity and human rights resonates deeply with his own commitment to gun violence prevention, social justice, and supporting victims of crime and traumatic loss, among others.

Meghan Kessel (Assistant Music Director) is thrilled to be a part of Company! A New Orleans native, she holds a degree of Music Education from Loyola University N.O. Her favorite music directing credits include Joseph…Dreamcoat (Big Noise), Beetlejuice Jr. (BrightSide), and Madagascar Jr. (BAMTheatre). When not onstage or in the pit, Meghan teaches at Old Town School of Folk Music. She’d like to thank her friends, family, and fiancé Kyle for all their love and support.

Xochitl Montanez (Assistant Stage Manager/Sound Board Operator) is a current freshmen at Dominican and this is her very first time working on a musical. Xochitl has doing theatre for years and loves watching it and being part of the process!

Bailey O’Neil (Assistant Director) is so excited for her first show at Dominican! Most recently, she was Associate Director/Dramaturg on White Christmas at Paramount Theatre, where she often also works as Young Performer Supervisor and directs for the School of the Arts. Directing Credits: Paramount School (Matilda Jr, Mean Girls Jr, The Lightning Thief), Limelight Theatre (Little Mermaid Jr, Addams Family). YPS Credits: Paramount (Frozen, Billy Elliot, School of Rock), Drury Lane (Evita), Marriott (Finding Nemo TYA).

Eliza Santiago (Assistant Stage Manager/Flies & Stage Crew) is a junior at Dominican University majoring in Theatre Arts. Past shows include, Ms. Holmes and Ms. Watson - Apt 2B (Assistant Director), The SpongeBob Musical (Ensemble), The Wolves (#14), Blithe Spirit (US Ruth & US Edith), and The Prom (Ensemble). She is very excited to be working on the backstage crew for the first time and would like to thank all her friends and family!!!

Rae Watkins (Make Up Artist) – please see Cast Profiles

Andrea White (Costume Designer/Costume Shop Manager) This is the fourth production Andrea has costumed at DU. Past credits include Ms. Holmes and Ms. Watson- Apt 2B, The Wolves, and Blithe Spirit. She is also costume shop manager and has a fabulous team of students whom she has enjoyed getting to know over the past few years. Outside of DU, Andrea also makes custom shoes and feet for mascots. She was very excited to see her work at the Super Bowl this year! 

Gabirelle White (Assistant Stage Manager/Stage Crew) is a freshman at Dominican University majoring in English and minoring in Theatre Arts. This is her first theatre production, and she is excited to be a part of the theatre community.  She has enjoyed learning from the Theatre Arts production team and has had a great semester, gaining hands-on experience!