THE CAST
PRODUCTION TEAM
SPECIAL THANKS
CAST BIOS
PRODUCTION BIOS
THE CAST
CAST
Elizabeth Sawyer Debra Najor*
Scratch Nico Graves*
Cuddy Banks Carson Mehlbauer*
Frank Thorney Nikolas Gray*
Sir Arthur Banks Samuel Stricklen†
Winnifred Staylie Grace*
Understudies Victor Brame*, Katie Reeser*
*CCM Student
†The Actor appears through the courtesy of Actors’ Equity Association, the Union of Professional Actors and Stage Managers in the United States.
PRODUCTION TEAM
CREATIVE TEAM
Director Lindsey Augusta Mercer
Scenic Designer Doug Stock†
Costume Designer Maria Fernanda Ortiz Lopez†
Lighting Designer Ashton Karp*
Sound Designer Kaitlin Barnett Proctor*
Production Stage Manager Anika Shirvaikar*
Technical Director Doug Stock†
Producer Tyler Gabbard
PRODUCTION STAFF
Assistant Director Hannah Toronto*
Fight Director Gina Cerimele-Mechley
Intimacy Coordinator Torie Wiggins†
Assistant Stage Manager Ali Fishbain*
Wardrobe Manager Maura Kesterson*
Lighting Technician Michael Hamburg*
Sound Engineer Reagan Warvel*
Spotlight Operator Julia Koch*
Scenic Carpenters Ethan Kuchta, Jack Murphy,
Nathan Neorr, Patrick Earl Phillips
Scenic Artist Rae Kuhn
Production Photographer Mikki Schaffner
THE CARNEGIE
Executive Director Matt Distel
Producing Director of Theatre Tyler Gabbard
Education Director Alissa Paasch
Curator Sso-Rha Kang
Development Coordinator Angelina Caliguri-Schrand
Marketing Manager Maria Marotta
Technical Director Doug Stock†
Education Associates Torie Pate Perdue, Kyle Taylor
Box Office Manager Brenda Berger
Events Manager Abby Sauer†
*CCM Student †CCM Alumni
SPECIAL THANKS
Students, Faculty, Staff and Administration of the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music
Michele Kay, CCM Stage Management Advisor
Jen Lampson, CCM Production Manager, TAPAA
Rebecca Bromels, CCM Division Head, TAPAA
Brant Russell, CCM Acting Chair
CAST BIOS
Staylie Grace (they/she) Winnifred
Staylie Grace is a senior acting student at the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music. At CCM, she has performed in LYSISTRATA + TROJAN WOMEN as Athenian Chorus Leader 2/Trojan Ensemble and EVERYBODY as Love. They also originated the role of Robin/Comms in the world premiere of THE LIGHT CHASERS at Know Theatre of Cincinnati. Ohio born and Northern Kentucky raised, Staylie Grace loves all things food and cooking, bartending, bouldering, and loving on her sweet kitties Saigon and Kahlúa. She is ecstatic to be back at the Carnegie as they spent plenty of time here as a child in summer and after-school programs.
Victor Brame (They/he) Understudy
WINTER’S TALE at University of Cincinnati CCM (Lord Rogero/Bohemian Dancer) 5 HOT NEW WAYS TO GET VENGEANCE Transmigration 2024 at University of Cincinnati CCM (Fletcher) ROSENCRANTZ AND GUILDENSTERN ARE DEAD Directing One Acts University of Cincinnati CCM (Rosencrantz)
Nico Graves (they/he/it) Scratch
Nico Graves (Scratch) is so excited to make their Carnegie debut in WITCH. Other Cincinnati credits include Charlie in THE LIGHT CHASERS (Know Theater of Cincinnati), Dylan in LOVE AND WAR (CCM Lab), Geezer/Chorus in CINCINNATI DIONYSIA (CCM Mainstage), and #7 in THE WOLVES (CCM Lab). Some of their favorite credits include Camilla/Josè in IN THE HEIGHTS (The Performance Project), Alex/John in TWO MAN SHOW (American Heritage), and Mike in A CHORUS LINE (The Performance Project). Short film credits include Jax in THE BOOK OF THE DEAD (Best Ensemble Award, San Francisco Arthouse Short Festival). They would like to thank Max and Eli Camara, Peggie Dona, Jhonny Mendoza, and anyone who has ever driven them to a rehearsal.
Samuel Stricklen (He/Him) Sir Arthur Banks
Samuel Stricklen is thrilled to be making his Carnegie debut! Samuel is an actor, director, and educator. Some of his past theater credits include: SUPERIOR DONUTS (Broadway Music Box Theater), CREATION: A CLOWN SHOW (Off-Broadway), SIX DEGREES OF SEPARATION (The Old Globe), CLYBOURNE PARK (Premiere Stages) and CURRENT NOBODY (La Jolla Playhouse). He is an Emeritus Artist of SITI Company.
With SITI Company, under the direction of Anne Bogart, Samuel has performed in productions such as: THE BACCAHE (The Getty Villa/Brooklyn Academy of Music), BOBRAUSCHENBERGAMERICA (The Dublin Theater Festival/New York Live Arts), UNDER CONSTRUCTION (Actor Theatre of Louisville), THE THEATRE IS A BLANK PAGE (Wexner Center for the Arts), RADIO MACBETH (Tbilisi International Theatre Festival), and LOST IN THE STARS (CAP UCLA).
His television and film credits include: MARLON, SIX DEGREES, THE MYSTERIES OF LAURA, LAW AND ORDER, AS THE WORLD TURNS, THE GOOD WIFE, BOSCH, MOZART IN THE JUNGLE, HIGH MAINTENANCE, ASTRONOMY CLUB: THE SKETCH SHOW, and THE VISIT.
Samuel holds an MFA in Acting from the University of California, San Diego, and is an Assistant Professor of Acting at the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music (CCM).
Carson Mehlbauer (he/him) Cuddy Banks
Carson is grateful to be back at The Carnegie! A junior Acting student from Louisville, KY, his credits include THE LIGHT CHASERS (Know Theatre Cincinnati/CCM) and HELLO, DOLLY! (The Carnegie).
Debra Najor (she/her) Elizabeth Sawyer
Debra Najor is thrilled to make her Cargenie debut alongside so many wonderful souls. A senior Acting Major at CCM, her past roles include “Yvette” in CLUE and “Swing” in A DREAM PLAY. At the Cincinnati Shakespeare Company, she understudied “Titania” in A MIDSUMMER NIGHT’S DREAM. She also Minors in Media Production and her work as a filmmaker has been awarded by the Ohio Valley Emmys. Debra is so grateful for the support of her Michiganders at home and Mom, Dad, and brother Zack.
PRODUCTION BIOS
Lindsey Augusta Mercer (They/Them) Director
Lindsey Augusta Mercer is a multi-hyphenate theater artist passionate about queer, interdisciplinary, and reimagined works. Based out of New York and Cincinnati, They are a proud member of AEA & SDCF. Most recently Lindsey wrote the book, music, and lyrics for a new musical adaptation of Virginia Woolf’s MRS. DALLOWAY which will premiere at Cincinnati Shakespeare Company this spring. Some favorite credits include; Directing: EVERYBODY, TICK…TICK…BOOM!, KINKY BOOTS, HEAD OVER HEELS, SAINT JOAN, GIRLFRIEND; Performing: The Bengson’s HUNDRED DAYS (La Jolla Playhouse/US Tour, Know Theatre), DARKEST NIGHT AT GNARLY STUMP, THE SEAGULL, and [TITLE OF SHOW]. Co-founder Queen City Queer Theatre Collective, Lincoln Center Directors Lab ‘17, Baldwin Wallace University ’13. Lindseyaugustamercer.com
Hannah Toronto (She/her) Assistant Director
Hannah is a fourth year Acting major at CCM with a minor in French. WITCH is Hannah’s second time assistant directing for a CCM Mainstage production and first time working with The Carnegie. She is honored to be working with Lindsey Mercer and the talented acting students at CCM. She is currently working on producing a 48-hour Red Eye One-Act festival that will take place at CCM November 22nd-24th. In addition to acting in many short films, her past theater credits are as follows: Beatrice (Understudy) in MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING for Cincinnati Shakespeare Company (dir Jeremy Dubin), Somebody in EVERYBODY at CCM (dir Bridget Leak), CLUE (Assistant Director) at CCM (dir Brant Russell), Gretel/Servant in FRANKENSTEIN at CCM (dir Susan Felder), A DREAM PLAY (Swing #3) at CCM (dir Vince DeGeorge)
Anika Shirvaikar (She/Her/Hers) Production Stage Manager
At CCM: Production Stage Manager for STUDENT CHOREOGRAPHERS’ SHOWCASE 2024, ST. MATTHEW PASSION and LOVE AND WAR (Lab Play), Assistant Stage Manager for SHE LOVES ME, FELLOW TRAVELERS and UC CCM PRESENTS ALUMNUS STEPHEN FLAHERTY (@ Stern Auditorium, Carnegie Hall), Production Assistant for JULIUS CAESAR and PIPPIN, Wig and Make Up Crew Head for SWEET CHARITY, Wardrobe Crew Head for CLUE and ONCE ON THIS ISLAND
Elsewhere: Stage Management Intern AT AUSTIN CITY LIMITS 2024 (Amex Stage), Assistant Stage Manager for SUPER FLUTE! At Queen City Opera, Remote ASM at LOLLAPALOOZA MUSIC FESTIVAL 2024 (Tito’s Stage), Stage Management Intern at LOLLAPALOOZA MUSIC FESTIVAL 2023 (Tito’s Stage), Assistant Stage Manager for SHIPWRECKED: AN ENTERTAINMENT at Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey, Production Assistant/Assistant Stage Manager for THIRTEEN JR., SEUSSICAL KIDS, and SOMETHING ROTTEN JR. at Pixie Dust Players.
Ali Fishbain (she/her) Assistant Stage Manager
Ali is a sophomore Stage Management BFA student at the University of Cincinnati – CCM. She is super excited to be working on her first production with The Carnegie! Her recent works include working as the PSM on HANSEL AND GRETEL (CCM)*, the SM on the CLIFTON HEIGHTS MUSIC FESTIVAL (Rohs Cafe)*, the SM on A JAZZ MUSICAL THEATRE SHOWCASE (Rohs Cafe & CCM collaboration), the Tech PA on A CUNNING LITTLE VIXEN (CCM), the ASM on LE NOZZE DE FIGARO (CCM), the PA on THE RAPE OF LUCRETIA (CCM), and an ASM on SISTER ACT (Edgewood College). She would like to thank her teachers and family for supporting her through her dreams!
Ashton Karp (He/Him) Lighting Designer
Ashton Karp is new and eager lighting designer in the greater Cincinnati area. He is currently finishing his BFA in lighting design and technology at the College-Conservatory of Music at UC. You may have seen his work at The Carnegie in HELLO, DOLLY or LADY DAY AT EMERSON’S BAR AND GRILL. He is ecstatic to be working with The Carnegie again in his senior year and hopes you enjoy the show as much as he did working on it!
Kaitlin Barnett Proctor (she/her) Sound Designer
Kaitlin Barnett Proctor is a sound designer and audio engineer, currently pursuing an MFA in Sound Design at the University of Cincinnati’s College-Conservatory of Music. She graduated with a B.S. in Audio Engineering Technology from Belmont University. Kaitlin has designed and engineered for companies such as Studio Tenn, Nashville Repertory Theatre, Nashville Children’s Theatre, Street Theatre Company, Chaffin’s Barn Theatre, and Belmont University. Her recent credits include IN THE GREEN, THE 25TH ANNUAL PUTNAM COUNTY SPELLING BEE, FELLOW TRAVELERS, UC-CCM; WHAT THE CONSTITUTION MEANS TO ME (Assistant), Ensemble Theatre Company. Kaitlin has been nominated for a KCACTF Region IV Festival Sound Design award, two First Night Awards for Outstanding Sound Design, and a Broadway World Nomination for Best Sound Design for a Play or Musical.
Maria Fernanda Ortiz Lopez (She/ Her/ Ella) Costume Designer
A native of Mexico City, She studied Fashion Design in Mexico and earned her MFA in Costume Design & Technology at the University of Cincinnati, where she designed and built garments for period and musical productions. After graduation, Maria worked as a production assistant on the second season of Apple TV’s THE AFTERPARTY and designed the costumes for ON EARTH AS IT IS IN HEAVEN, an 1800s western short film. Her latest design jobs have been: FIONA: THE MUSICAN , and THE MATCH GAME at Ensemble Theatre Cincinnati, PEERLESS at The Human Race Theatre, FORBIDDEN BROADWAY at the Forestburgh Playhouse, LEGALLY BLONDE at Short North Stage, TICK TICK BOOM at The Carnegie Theatre ,THE VOTE at The Studio Theatre, FL, and ALICE BY HEART at Sinclair College.
Check more of her work in the sites below
IG: @costume_designs_by_maria | https://ferorlop.wixsite.com/portfolio
Maura Kesterson (They/she) Wardrobe Manager
Maura is a second year grad student at CCM studying Costume Design and Technology. They worked at the Carnegie this summer as wardrobe manager and assistant designer for TICK, TICK…BOOM! and wardrobe manager for BEAUTIFUL. At CCM, they served as assistant designer for CLUE and will be the costume designer for the spring production of HAIR.
Any video and/or audio recording of this performance is strictly prohibited.
WITCH was commissioned by Writers Theatre through the Literary Development Initiative, with the generous support of David and Mary Winton Green, and the World Premiere was presented at Writers Theatre in Glencoe, IL; Michael Halberstam, Artistic Director, Kathryn M. Lipuma, Executive Director.
WITCH is presented by arrangement with Concord Theatricals on behalf of Samuel French, Inc. www.concordtheatricals.com
