Director: Alexander Gelman
Assistant Director: Elizabeth Karth
Lighting Designer: Kev Kollmann
Technical Director: Bridget Kearbey
Intimacy Choreographer: Bethany Mangum-Oles
Voice Coach: Stanton Davis
Stage Manager: Autumn R. Dancy

This show is approximately two hours and 10 minutes with a 10 minute intermission.
Warning: Haze effects are used in this performance.

Adding Clerk/Husband/Man behind Bar/Judge/Barber 1 – Sebastián Vega-Barrios
Filing Clerk/Boy/Doctor/Man/Court Reporter – Skylar Thompson
Stenographer/Woman/Nurse/Reporter #2 – Richmond Fredrickson
Telephone Girl/Wife/Defense Lawyer – Chloe Konieczki
George H. Jones/Priest – Avery Flores
Young Woman – Audrey Yang
Mother/Matron – Sonya Dunn
Garbage Man/Bell Boy /Bailiff/First Guard – B. Leni
Young Man/Second Man/Prosecution Lawyer/Barber 2 – Antonio Horn
Girl/Man at Bar/Clerk/Reporter #3 – Lauren Roth
Woman/Woman at Bar/First Reporter – Haley Johnson
Man/Second Reporter/Second Guard – Matthew Chagoya
Singer/Third Reporter/Jailer – Natalie Shank
First Man/Man/Reporter #1 – King Johnson

Audrey Yang (Young Woman)

Audrey Yang (she/they) is a third-year M.F.A. acting candidate from Grand Rapids, Michigan. They received their B.F.A. in acting from Western Michigan University. Go Broncos! Some of Audrey’s most memorable theater credits include, Puck/Hermia in A Midsummer’s Night Dream, #8 in The Wolves, Helen in The Women of Troy, William Dunn in Men on Boats, and Martha in The Children’s Hour. You may also see them in some Zoom commercials and ads, with Rhino Productions. “Thank you to my family, friends, and this beautifully diverse creative team. My gratitude is overwhelming.”  Instagram: @audaudiee 

Avery Flores (George H. Jones/Priest)

Avery Flores is a fourth-year B.F.A. acting candidate, psychology minor at Northern Illinois University. His recent acting credits at NIU include Steve in She Kills Monsters, Oed in Big Love and Philostrate in A Midsummer Night’s Dream, and Noodle, Terrie, and O’Hallahan in Booked, Blessed, or…BUST! This past year, Avery spent the summer becoming an ACE Certified Personal Trainer. He is honored and privileged to be able to share his artistry along with his cast and wants to thank everyone who has worked on this production. Avery would also like to dedicate his performance to his family, friends, and professors for helping him along this journey. He hopes you enjoy this amazing performance!

King Johnson (First Man/Man/Reporter #1)

King Johnson is a B.F.A. acting major in his fourth year from Chicago and Tampa, Florida. I’m excited to be here and doing my last show at NIU. I’m honored to be amongst my cast mates and directors and take the stage in my second contemporary production at NIU. I have also starred in two short films called Penance and We Live Together during my time at NIU. I also helped produce and direct other projects in my free time. I want to thank my friends and family for always supporting me through my artistic ventures, and my whole Machinal cast and crew for making my final show a thrilling journey and pushing me to give my best.

Sonya Dunn (Mother/Matron)

Sonya Dunn is a fourth-year B.F.A. actor at Northern Illinois University. She was previously in Much Ado About Nothing (Antonia/The Watch) directed by Kay Martinovich, The Children’s Hour (Mrs. Mortar) directed by Andrea Dymond, Rage Play (Ay) directed by Hannah Hammel, and Anxious People (O/U) directed by Alys Dickerson. Sonya wants to thank all the cast and crew she met throughout all productions thus far. Family, friends and supporters, hope you enjoy the show!

Chloe Konieczki (Telephone Girl/Wife/Defense Lawyer)

Chole Konieczki is a fourth-year B.F.A. acting candidate. Her most recent performances were Spot Conlon in Newsies and Guys and Dolls at Starlight Theatre. Some other notable works include the world premiere of Booked and Blessed.. or BUST! along with the world premiere of Rage Play (Cece) here at NIU.  Other credits include the short film Witchfinder and TV series The Deadersons. She thanks her mom for always supporting her in her many adventures!

Antonio Horn (Young Man/Second Man/Prosecution Lawyer/Barber 2)

Antonio Horn (he/him) is a third-year B.F.A. acting candidate. This is his third play overall, and third production with NIU. His previous highlights come from playing Francis Flute in A Midsummer Night’s Dream and playing various roles in Anxious People! by Carol Lee.

Lauren Roth (Girl/Man at Bar/First Reporter)

Lauren Roth is a fourth-year B.F.A. acting candidate from Kansas City, Missouri, who is thrilled to share her final production on the NIU stage. Her NIU credits include Bea in Rage Play, Mary Tilford in The Children’s Hour, Queen/Knowledge in Anxious People!, and Kalliope in She Kills Monsters. Roth wants to thank her cast for their hard work and love towards this production, and the director, Alexander Gelman, for creating a show that presents this story in such a unique way. To her cohort, who have shown so much kindness and love, she says thank you for being you. Roth sends her love to everyone watching. She hopes you enjoy the show and see the heart that lives inside it. And lastly, let’s go Chiefs!

Richmond Fredrickson (Stenographer/Woman/Nurse/Reporter #2)

Richmond Fredrickson (she/her) is a second-year B.F.A. acting major at NIU. Previous credits include Peter Pan (Peter/Wendy), Olive Ostrovsky (The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee), Miss Scarlett (Clue), and Charity Barnum (Barnum) at MCHS, and Princess Jasmine (Aladdin) with SWATA. She is incredibly thankful to be in this show and would like to give a big thanks to her cast mates and team for giving her such a great experience for her first show at NIU. She is looking forward to many more performances and is excited to continue her growth as an artist and actor. She would also like to thank her friends and family for having her back and showing her love and support <3 Love you!!(she/her) is a second-year B.F.A. acting major at NIU. Previous credits include Peter Pan (Peter/Wendy), Olive Ostrovsky (The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee), Miss Scarlett (Clue), and Charity Barnum (Barnum) at MCHS, and Princess Jasmine (Aladdin) with SWATA. She is incredibly thankful to be in this show and would like to give a big thanks to her cast mates and team for giving her such a great experience for her first show at NIU. She is looking forward to many more performances and is excited to continue her growth as an artist and actor. She would also like to thank her friends and family for having her back and showing her love and support <3 Love you!!

Matthew Chagoya (Man/Second Reporter/Second Guard)

Matthew Chagoya is a senior B.A. theatre studies major with a passion for storytelling through performance. He has appeared in productions such as Guys and Dolls and Twelfth Night and has participated in a theater festival in New York. Matthew is excited to be part of Machinal and would like to thank his friends, family, and mentors for their support on this journey.

Natalie Shank (Singer/Third Reporter/Jailer)

Natalie Shank is a second-year B.F.A. major and English minor. Natalie has played Audrey in Little Shop of Horrors, Glenda in The Wizard of Oz, and has performed in New York City at Carnegie Hall. With her associate of the arts degree already completed, she can focus completely on her craft and grow further. Natalie thanks everyone for seeing the show and cannot wait to perform in others.

Haley Johnson (Woman/Woman at Bar/First Reporter)

Haley Johnson (she/her) is a second-year B.F.A. acting student at Northern Illinois University. This is her first show at NIU. Other credits include A Christmas Story as ensemble, Love/Sick as Abbie, Shrek The Musical as ensemble, and the independently produced musical TV series Act Of Faith as Morgan Sorensen, which is now streaming on Roku, Tubi, and Amazon Prime Video. She is incredibly grateful to be in this show and working with such an amazing cast/crew. She would also like to thank her friends and family for their support.

B. Leni (Garbage Man/Bell Boy/Bailiff/First Guard)

B. Leni is a second-year B.F.A. Leni is excited and honored to be performing and working in this show alongside other talented actors and technicians. I hope you enjoy the show!

Skylar Thompson (Filing Clerk/Boy/Doctor/Man/Court Reporter)

Skylar Thompson (he/him) is a sophomore acting major. He is happy to be making his NIU stage debut in Machinal. He would like to send his thanks to his family and friends for supporting him through this new and challenging journey, as well as his partner for always helping him land on his feet.

Sebastián Vega Barrios (Adding Clerk/Husband/Man Behind Bar/Judge/Barber #1)

Sebastián Vega Barrios (he/him) is a second-year B.F.A. actor at Northern Illinois University. This is his first play at NIU. Previous roles include Usnavi in In the Heights and Héctor in COCO with CROEM High School. He was the assistant director for the short film Elijah (2023) and director and actor for Otro Yo (2022), Resilencia (2021), Solo un Juego (2020), Basta (2019), and El deseo de Sebastian (2018) with El Festival Ponte los Cortos. He is incredibly grateful for having the opportunity to be part of a great cast. He would like to thank every person who has helped him get to where he is now with this thrilling experience. Special thanks to his parents, family, and friends for their unwavering support.

Autumn R. Dancy, Stage Manager is a returning NIU alumni. She has previously stage managed Much Ado About Nothing, Big Love, and Booked and Blessed… or BUST! here at NIU and has worked professionally in various positions for the past seven years including Coeur d’Alene Summer Theatre in Idaho. She would like to thank her family and friends for being a constant support system and always encouraging her to go above and beyond.

“Thank you for coming out tonight, I hope you enjoy the show!”

Alexander Gelman, Director is a Russian-born and American-trained director, who received his training at Boston University. Gelman has worked as a director and translator of plays from Russian to English. His many productions include Eugene Onegin, L’Incoronazione di Poppea, Turn of the Screw, L’Italiana in Algeri, Camelot, Twelfth Night, Side by Side by Sondheim, As You Like It, Romeo and Juliet, Die Fledermaus, The Threepenny Opera, The Taming of the Shrew, Stage Struck, Barber of Seville, La Traviata, Carmen, School for Wives, Waiting for Godot, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Journey of the Fifth Horse, Tartuffe, Tango, The Lion in Winter, and The Burning Fiery Furnace.

He has worked at such theatres as American Repertory Theatre, Arena Stage Company, Canterbury Opera (Christchurch, New Zealand), Chicago Lyric Opera, Utah Opera, Ashlawn-Highland Music Festival, Chattanooga Opera Association, Hartford Stage Company, The Acting Company, New York Shakespeare Festival, Minneapolis Children’s Theatre Company, Emmy Gifford Theatre, and The Juilliard School of Drama.

Professor Gelman served as director of the School of Theatre and Dance (2001-2021). Prior to joining NIU, he taught at University of Utah and University of Nebraska-Lincoln, where he headed M.F.A. directing programs. Gelman has also assisted such notable East European directors as Andrei Serban, Yuri Lyubimov, Lucian Pintilie, and Yuri Yeremin.

Elizabeth Karth (she/her) Assistant Director is a senior B.A. theatre studies major and has been involved with theater for 16 years. Since coming to Northern Illinois University, she has changed focus from being on stage as an actor to working backstage with recent credits from Fall Dance Concerts (2021/2022), and Witch (2024). She hopes you all enjoy the show as much as she has!

Kev Kollmann, Lighting Designer is in his second year as an M.F.A. student in lighting design. Kev received his B.A. in theater from the University of Wisconsin Oshkosh focusing on directing and stage management. Kev’s most previous works have been: An Act of God at the Paramount Theater as an assistant lighting designer and most recently the lighting designer for the NATEAC (North American Theatre Engineering and Architecture Conference) Conference in New York City and Spring Dance Concert at NIU. For more information about Kev please visit their website at kevkollmanndesigns.com. 

Scenery

Scenic Coordinator – Sahin Sahingolu
Scene Shop Supervisor – Adam Rager
Scene Shop Graduate Employees – Emery Foster and Bridget Kearbey
Scene Shop Undergraduate Employees – David Mortenson, Mike Kozel, Sasha Norman, Jade Doherty
Student Technicians – THEA 295, 395 Students
Run Crew – Lee Wolownik

Costumes

Costume Design Advisor – Jeremy W. Floyd
Costume Director – Lori Hartenhoff
Costume Shop Supervisor – Elizabeth Galba
Costume Shop Graduate Employees – Ski Sciaraffa, Kylee Galarneau
Costume Shop Employees – B. Leni, Alyssa Altadonna, Natalie Shank, Lexi Foelker, Emily Christianson
Costume Shop 395 Students
Student Technicians – THEA 210, 235, and 295 Students
Costume Crew – THEA 210 Students

Lighting

Lighting Design Advisor – Brandon Wardell
Resident Head Electrician – Chris Kurszewski
Lighting Shop Graduate Assistants – Ross Wheeler, Bridget Kearbey
Lighting Shop Employees – Logan Bryant, Conall Doherty, Kateri Pfeiffer
Student Electricians – THEA 210, 241, 295, and 395 Students
Light Board Operator – Gunner Wright
Sound Board Operator – Skylee Pierce

Properties

Properties Director – Dave Doherty
Properties Graduate Assistants – Alicia Margerum, Ski Sciaraffa
Properties Shop Employees – Elizabeth Nowak, Sasha Norman, David Mortenson
Properties Shop 295/395 Students – Danisha Gilmore, Blake Jablonski, Sonya Dunn, Nina Kasman

Production Management

Technical Direction Advisor – Tracy Nunnally
Production Assistants – Kev Kollmann, Paul Lang
House Management Supervisor – Cornelia Hayes

Richard Arnold (Emeritus)
S. Alan Chelser (Emeritus)
Judith Chitwood (Emerita)
Gibson Cima
Roxanna Conner
Stanton Davis
David Doherty
Lila H. Dole (Emerita)
Jasmine Eleazar
Jeremy W. Floyd
Paula Frasz (Emerita)
Elizabeth Galba
Kent Gallagher (Emeritus)
Kathryn Gately (Emerita)
Alexander Gelman
Richard Grund
Hannah Hammel
Lori Hartenhoff
Jennifer Ingle-Grund
Paul Kassel
Chris Kurszewski
Paige Larkowski
Marc Macaranas
Bethany Mangum-Oles
Kay Martinovich
Terrence McClellan (Emeritus)
Angela A. Miller
Randall Newsom (Emeritus)
Tracy Nunnally
Richard Poole (Emeritus)
Adam Rager
Patricia Ridge (Emerita)
Deborah Robertson (Emerita)
Michel Rodriguez Cintra
Sahin Sahinoglu
Stephanie Sailer
Robert Schneider (Emeritus)
Sarita Smith Childs
Brandon Wardell