received his MFA in Directing Shakespeare and Renaissance Literature in Performance from Mary Baldwin College in partnership with the American Shakespeare Center. While in Staunton, he performed with ASC’s professional resident company and directed productions at the Blackfriars Playhouse. He has directed plays in several states and founded theatre companies in Maine, Florida, Virginia, and North Carolina. Mark studied acting with Tina Packer of Shakespeare & Company, Richard Iglewski of the Guthrie Theatre, and Phoebe Brand, a member of the legendary Group Theatre. Locally, he has directed Deathtrap, Barrymore, Wait Until Dark, and Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner for the Forum Theatre. Also a playwright, Mark has written over thirty plays that have been produced in several states. Newman University hired him as the Director of Theatre in 2011 where he started the theatre program that began offering a major in theatre in 2013. History is one of his passions and he is thrilled to bring this story to life.

graduated from Newman University with a BA in Theatre and is now the Technical Director of Theatre at Newman. This project has been such hard work to put together but, as always, it’s been very rewarding and wouldn’t have happened without everyone who’s put in so much time and effort. He would like to thank those who have helped him along the way (you know who you are). He also would like to thank you, the audience, for coming out to support this amazing cast.

is in her 19th year of costuming productions at Newman, most recently the musical Big Fish. She teaches Costume Design and Makeup Design at Newman, and has worked at WSU, Collegiate, and USD 259. Christy costumes for several local theatres, and received a Mary Jane Teall design award last fall for The Importance of Being Earnest at Kechi Playhouse. In 2021, Christy co-designed costumes for the PBS documentary The Contested Plains, due to air late in 2022. Christy enjoys working local wardrobe for touring companies, favorites being The Lion King and Pink's Beautiful Trauma.

is excited to House Manager her fourth show at Newman. She loves being able to see the Newman students shine on stage. Rachel went to Emporia State University, where she majored in Theatre, so the fine arts are near and dear to her heart.