Amy Sander (Director) is honored to be making her OCTA debut with her dream show! Amy has been directing for 27 years and is the full-time GM & Producer at The Culture House, as well as tap teacher and regular youth theatre director. She also directs the award-winning Summer Broadway productions at TCH: Seussical, Once on this Island, Big Fish, Big River (all at Kauffman Center), Jekyll & Hyde (TCH Stage & Studio), Hunchback of Notre Dame (Yardley Hall), Jesus Christ Superstar (Polsky Theatre), Into the Woods (Yardley) and Les Miserables (Yardley). Amy wants to thank this incredible cast and team who brought so much love into this very important passion project! She dedicates this show to her beautiful daughter, Austyn, and her 23-year old son, Andrew, who lost his heartbreaking 7-month battle with cancer in May. #NoDayButToday #MeasureInLove

Matt Richardson (Music Director) is so excited to be returning to OCTA for his third show! OCTA will always hold a special place in his heart because this is where he met his wife, Alisha Garnier, now Richardson, during their 2014 production of Little Women. Matt is a full-time voice teacher and music director at The Culture House, his home away from home. At The Culture House, Matt has music directed 35 shows since joining staff in 2016, including the 5 of the last 6 summer Broadway Series productions. Outside of Culture House, Matt has also served as music director at Theatre in the Park, The Barn Players, MidLife Players and for a number of new works. Though he spends most of his time as a teacher and music director, Matt also loves to be on stage. Some of his favorite roles include Jekyll and Hyde (TCH 2021), Sweeney Todd (Leawood 2016), Caiaphas in JCS (Arts Asylum, 2019), and Rochester in Jane Eyre (The Barn, 2016). Matt also has a PASSION for new works and loves to be in or work on them as often as possible. Matt would like to thank his wife, Alisha, and his kids, Aubrey and Theodore for their love and support.

Nicholas Perry (Choreographer) has been a part of KC's local theatre scene for nearly 25 years and has worked with many companies including: KC Lyric Opera, Starlight Theatre, The MET, MTH, The Coterie, New Dinner Theatre, KC Rep, The White Theatre, TTIP, The Barn Players, OCTA, TCH, First Act, and Storling Dance Theatre. Some of his favorite roles include: John (John and Jen), Will Parker (Oklahoma), Pirate King (Pirates of Penzance), Chino (West Side Story), Man 2 (Songs for a New World), and Benjamin (Joseph). Nick would like to thank the cast and crew for this great experience and his family for their continued support. Enjoy the show!

Mandy Stone (Stage Manager) is thrilled to make her debut as a Stage Manager for RENT at OCTA. Her previous experience includes Set Design and leading the Set Shift Crew in productions like Wizard of Oz, Beauty and the Beast, Madagascar and Frozen at The Culture House in Olathe, KS. She thanks Amy for allowing her this ‘dream come true’ experience and her family for all of their love and support.

Jason Hagg (Lead Construction/Set Designer) is excited to finally be involved with an OCTA production. Jason is the Director of Theatre at Gardner Edgerton High School and works as a local Set Designer in the metro area. Jason would like to acknowledge his wife Jennifer and his two boys Tanner and Tyler for their support.

Colton Rice (Lighting Designer) makes his debut as a designer here at OCTA with this production of RENT. A scholarship recipient for theatre at Kansas State, Colton emphasized in lighting and received awards for his work on Dancing at Lughnasa, The Laramie Project, and Dog Sees God. He's thrilled to end his thirteen-year hiatus and return to the theatre for RENT. Colton thanks his family and friends for their love, encouragement, and invaluable support.

Joshua Finch (Sound Designer) is a local sound designer here in the Kansas City area. Well known for his designs here in OCTA, he has worked several venues in Kansas City, both theatre and live music. He currently is an OCTA board member and also works with UMKC, designing sound for their theatre program. When not working in the theatre world, he is a full time educator for music and sound. He holds a Masters degree in both music and sound engineering and is currently working on an MFA in Theatre Sound Design.

Suzanne Ryanstrati (Co-Costume Designer) is honored to work with the cast and crew of RENT. She has a MFA from the University of Iowa and has designed, altered and constructed costumes for 25+ years. This is the second production she and her daughter, Katherine, have worked on together; the first being Something Rotten at Shawnee Mission Theater in the Park with Patricia Berning.

Amanda Tufano (Props Designer) Amanda is pleased to be back at OCTA for her 5th production. She has previously worked on Over the River and Through the Woods (ASM), Unnecessary Farce (Props Designer), Sunday in the Park with George (ASM) and Curious Savage (SM). She is thrilled to be a part of this show. She would like to thank, Mike her husband and the Supers for the incredible support and encouragement.