Supporting Materials

Free “Open Talk”

Saturday, January 3, 2:00–3:00 P.M.

Join us for a presentation by Director Cynthia Meier that will deepen your understanding of the play and hopefully enrich your experience of attending the production. As always, actors from our production will be on hand to present an exciting sneak peek at the play in action!

This open talk is supported in part by generous gifts from Ann Ellsworth.

Cynthia Meier (Director) is Co-Founder and Managing & Associate Artistic Director for The Rogue Theatre and holds a Ph.D. in Performance Studies from the University of Arizona. She has directed 43 of The Rogue’s 101 productions to date including The Secret in the Wings, The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time, Galileo, Bach at Leipzig, The White Snake, Hamlet, Waiting for Godot, Betrayal, Naga Mandala, and The Four of Us for which she received Arizona Daily Star Mac Award nominations as Best Director, as well as Arcadia and Richard III for which she won Mac Awards for Direction. Cynthia has created stage adaptations for The Rogue of Thornton Wilder’s The Bridge of San Luis Rey, Virginia Woolf’s The Lady in the Looking Glass & Mrs Dalloway, James Joyce’s The Dead, Kafka’s Metamorphosis, F. Scott Fitzgerald’s Tales of the Jazz Age, Ursula K. Le Guin’s The Left Hand of Darkness, and (along with Holly Griffith) Moby Dick. She is co-founder of Bloodhut Productions, a company performing original monologues and comedy improvisation, which toured throughout the western United States. She also directed The Seagull (featuring Ken Ruta) for Tucson Art Theatre, and she directed Talia Shire in Sister Mendelssohn and Edward Herrmann in Beloved Brahms for Chamber Music Plus Southwest. Cynthia has also been nominated for nine Mac Awards for Best Actress from the Arizona Daily Star, and in 2008, she received the Mac Award for Best Actress for her performance of Stevie in Edward Albee’s The Goat at The Rogue Theatre.

Cynthia Meier’s direction of Peter and the Starcatcher is supported in part by
generous gifts from Lewis Roscoe and Lori Levine & Gary Benna

CAST

BOY - Hunter Hnat*
A homeless and nameless orphan who is brave and resourceful. He becomes the hero of the story.

MOLLY ASTER - Chelsey Jean Smith
A young and intelligent Starcatcher apprentice, the daughter of Lord Leonard Aster.

LORD LEONARD ASTER - Joseph McGrath*
A loyal subject of the Queen and Molly's father, tasked with protecting the dangerous "starstuff". 

BLACK STACHE - Matt Walley*
A fearsome and notorious pirate who is obsessed with finding a worthy adversary.

SMEE - Chelsea Bowdren*
Black Stache's first mate and a pirate. 

MRS. BUMBRAKE - Christopher Johnson*
Molly's British nanny. She is a no-nonsense woman who is very protective of Molly. 

CAPTAIN ROBERT FALCON SCOTT - Carley Elizabeth Preston*
Captain of the Wasp and a friend of Lord Aster. 

BILL SLANK - Ryan Parker Knox*
The cruel and greedy captain of the Neverland. 

ALF - Arnie Krauss
A kindly, though somewhat coarse, sailor on the Neverland. 

GREMPKIN - Rafael Acuña
The sadistic schoolmaster of St. Norbert's Orphanage for Lost Boys. 

PRENTISS - Christopher Pankratz*
An orphan who is logical and ambitious. 

TED - Aaron Sosa
Another orphan who is obsessed with food. 

*Member of The Rogue Resident Acting Ensemble

Stand-Bys: Jim Fye, Owen Saunders & Kate Scally.

Biographies

Rafael Acuña (Grempkin & others) is an actor, amateur musician and arts educator with an AFA in Performance Arts from Pima Community College. Credits include PCC Center for the Arts: Monty Python's Spamalot (Sir Galahad), Dracula (Jonathan H.), In The Heights (Piaragua Guy), Three Sisters (Vershinin), Mamma Mia (Sam C.) Arts Express: Rent (Roger, T. Collins US), Bright Star (Jimmy Ray), Chess (Freddie T.), Ragtime (Tateh/Baron), Anastasia (Vlad P.), Catch Me If You Can (C. Hanratty), In The Heights (Usnavi), Rock of Ages (Lonny), Side Show (Terry C.), Kinky Boots (Harry, Charlie P. US), The Rocky Horror Show (Brad M.) Saguaro City Music Theatre: Wizard of Oz (Zeke/Lion). Rafael has also been an ensemble member and teaching artist with the performance community and educational institution, Stories That Soar. “I ain’t got nothing, but you can always have half.”

Rafael Acuña’s performance is supported in part by generous gifts
from Marianne Leedy and Vicki Ettleman

Chelsea Bowdren (Smee) is excited to be in her fourth season as a member of The Rogue Resident Acting Ensemble. She has previously performed on The Rogue stage in Tartuffe, The Playboy of the Western World, If on a winter’s night a traveler, The Skin of Our Teeth, Love’s Labor’s Lost, Under Milk Wood, The Left Hand of Darkness, Heartbreak House, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Great Expectations, Sweat, Mrs Dalloway, Death of a Salesman, Twelfth Night and Immortal Longings. For Archer, Eloise, and Felix. 

Chelsea Bowdren’s performance is supported in part by generous gifts
from Eloise Gore & Allen Hile and Shawn Burke

Hunter Hnat (Boy) is grateful to be in his eighth season as a member of The Rogue Resident Acting Ensemble. He was most recently seen as Betty/Gerry in Cloud 9. He has performed in over 30 shows with The Rogue, some notable favorites include Romeo in Romeo and Juliet, Christopher Mahon in The Playboy of the Western World, Puck in A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Pip in Great Expectations, Happy in Death of a Salesman, Sebastian in Twelfth Night, Edmund Tyrone in Long Day’s Journey Into Night, and Christopher in The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time. Other credits include Salomé (Scoundrel & Scamp), U/S in Romeo and Juliet (Arizona Theatre Company), and How the House Burned Down (Live Theatre Workshop). He is a U of A alumnus with his BFA in Musical Theatre, class of 2015. Enjoy the show!

Hunter Hnat’s performance is supported in part by generous gifts from
Peggy Houghton & Paul Garner, Frank Flasch, Ed & Nancy Landes and Bob & Judy Bolt

Christopher Johnson (Mrs. Bumbrake) first came to The Rogue in 2011 to play Jewel in As I Lay Dying and now serves as Assistant Artistic Director, Play-reading Producer, and Resident Ensemble Member. Select acting credits at The Rogue include Il Maestro in If on a winter’s night a traveler, Biff Loman in Death of a Salesman, and Prior Walter in Angels in America: Millennium Approaches (2016 Mac Award Winner – Best Actor, Drama).Notable roles elsewhere include Joshua in Corpus Christi, Peter in Bug, Hedwig in Hedwig and the Angry Inch, Alan in Lemon Sky, Pale in Burn This, Chicklet in Psycho Beach Party, Thom Pain in Thom Pain (based on nothing), and The Master of Ceremonies in Cabaret (2013 Mac Award Winner – Best Actor, Musical).

Christopher Johnson’s performance is supported in part by generous gifts
from Denice Blake & John Blackwell and Katherine Jacobson

Ryan Parker Knox (Bill Slank ) had forgotten how many seasons he has been a member of the Rogue's Acting Ensemble, and with that blissful ignorance he's diving headfirst into his second full season since 2018-19. A South Dakota native, he has worked regionally in Minnesota, Ohio, Missouri, and Florida but he's glad to have found his home in the Old Pueblo. RPK brings his versatility into a number of challenging roles this season and can't wait to see where the journey takes him, creatively and personally. He would like to thank his lovely partner CM for her patience and support (but mostly her patience) and to his zoo of fur babies back at the house who all lovingly ensure that no one gets a good night sleep.

Ryan Parker Knox’s performance is supported in part by
generous gifts from Carol Mangold and Joan Warfield

Arnie Krauss (Alf) …

Arnie Krauss’ performance is supported in part by generous gifts
from Barbara Martinsons & Larry Boutis and Nan Schubel

Joseph McGrath (Lord Leonard Aster) is a graduate of the Juilliard School of Drama and Co-Founder and Artistic Director for The Rogue Theatre. He has recently appeared in Cloud 9, Romeo and Juliet, The Playboy of the Western World, If on a winter’s night a traveler, Under Milk Wood, The Left Hand of Darkness, Heartbreak House, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, The Seafarer, Great Expectations, Mrs Dalloway, Passage, Death of a Salesman, Twelfth Night, The Awakening, As You Like It, The Weir, A View from the Bridge, Moby Dick, Long Day’s Journey into Night, The Crucible, The Secret in the Wings, Galileo (2018 Mac Award for Best Actor), and King Lear. He also received the Mac Award for Best Actor for his portrayal of Tobias in A Delicate Balance. Joe has toured with John Houseman’s Acting Company and has performed with the Utah Shakespearean Festival. He has been a frequent performer with Ballet Tucson appearing in The Hunchback of Notre Dame, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, and for seventeen years as Herr Drosselmeyer in The Nutcracker. He has also performed with Arizona Theatre Company, Arizona Opera, and Arizona Onstage.

Joseph McGrath’s performance is supported in part by generous gifts
from Kathy Ortega & Larry Johnson and Brock & Chantal McCaman

Christopher Pankratz (Prentiss, Property Master) Christopher’s Rogue acting credits include Cloud 9, Tartuffe, Romeo and Juliet, The Playboy of the Western World, If on a winter’s night a traveler, The Skin of Our Teeth, Love’s Labor’s Lost, Under Milk Wood, The Left Hand of Darkness, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Great Expectations, The Awakening, As You Like It, A View from the Bridge, Moby Dick, The Crucible, Much Ado About Nothing, King Lear, and The Grapes of Wrath. Christopher also directed An Enemy of the People, Constellations, and The Sun Also Rises for the John and Joyce Ambruster Play-Reading Series. Christopher formerly taught theatre at Flowing Wells High School where he wrote and produced numerous new plays including The Longest Day of April, The Story Seller’s Tale, and You Can’t Make Wine from Raisins, which are available online for licensing and performance. While attending the University of Arizona, Christopher earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts, as well as a master’s degree from the College of Education.

Christopher Pankratz’s performance is supported in part by generous gifts
from Marianne Leedy and Felicia & Warren May
His work as Prop Master is supported in part by a generous gift
from Bill Krauss & Kate McMillan

Carley Elizabeth Preston (Captain Robert Falcon Scott) was last seen as Lady Capulet in Romeo and Juliet on The Rogue stage. Now in her seventh season as a member of The Rogue Theatre’s Resident Acting Ensemble, Carley has also appeared in Marjorie Prime, The Skin of Our Teeth, Love’s Labor’s Lost, Under Milk Wood, Heartbreak House, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Babette’s Feast, Sweat, Mrs. Dalloway, Passage, Twelfth Night, The Awakening, As You Like It, The Weir, A View from the Bridge, Blithe Spirit, and The Crucible. Carley received her BFA from the University of Arizona, where she was a member of the Arizona Repertory Theatre. Some of her other stage credits include Time Stands Still (Mac Award for Best Actress), Molly Sweeney, Enchanted April, and The Search for Signs of Intelligent Life in the Universe. She would like to thank the love of her life, Jerrad McMurrich, and their pups, Loki Björn Hiddleston, Freyja Laveau, and Indiana Idris Jones, for supporting her theatre habit!

Carley Elizabeth Preston’s performance is supported in part by
generous gifts from Susan Tiss and Ann & Andrew Lettes

Chelsey Jean Smith (Molly) is thrilled to be returning to the Rogue stage, after previously appearing as Honor Blake in The Playboy of the Western World. A Jersey native, she’s appeared on east coast stages such as Walnut Street Theatre, Bristol Riverside Theatre, and the Majorie S. Dean Little Theater in NYC. Previous credits include Evelyn Nesbit in Ragtime, Amy in Company, and Catherine in The Foreigner. Recent local credits include u/s Margot Wendice in Dial M for Murder (Arizona Theatre Company) and Almost, Maine (Invisible Theatre). Smith proudly holds her BFA in Musical Theatre from Shenandoah Conservatory. She is grateful to be back at it after a brief hiatus, during which she’s fulfilled her greatest role yet: “Mama.” Sincerest thanks to the Rogue team for the opportunity and their kindness!

Chelsey Jean Smith’s performance is supported in part by generous gifts
from Sylvia Pozarnsky & Tom Riley and Kristi Lewis

Aaron Sosa (Ted) …

Aaron Sosa’s performance is supported in part by generous gifts
from Paul & Mary Ross and Pauline Pettinato

Matt Walley (Black Stache) is a member of The Rogue Theatre Resident Acting Ensemble and was most recently seen as Clive/Cathy in Cloud 9. Other appearances include Tartuffe in Tartuffe, Lord Capulet in Romeo and Juliet, Jon in Marjorie Prime, Jimmy Farrell in The Playboy of the Western World, Marana in If on a winter’s night a traveler, Mr. Antrobus in The Skin of Our Teeth, Don Armado in Love’s Labor’s Lost, Captain Cat in Under Milk Wood, Estraven in The Left Hand of Darkness, Boss Mangan in Heartbreak House, Francis Flute in A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Richard in The Seafarer, Stan in Sweat, and Stubb in Moby Dick. He co-created and performed in Oaf at The Scoundrel and Scamp Theatre. He is also a strength coach at The Protocol gym in Tucson. Thank you to Laura for thinking ‘clown’ a decent occupation. 

Matt Walley’s performance is supported in part by generous gifts
from Barbara & Gerald Goldberg, Mona Mizell and Gay Gilbert

Music Direction & Piano   Russell Ronnebaum                      
Percussion   Liz Soflin

Russell Ronnebaum (Music Director) has served as The Rogue Theatre’s Resident Composer and Director of Music since 2019. Some favorite productions include Tartuffe, Marjorie Prime, If on a winter’s night a traveler, Under Milk Wood, The Left Hand of Darkness, Mrs. Dalloway, Death of a Salesman, The Awakening, As You Like It, Frankenstein, Moby Dick, and Much Ado About Nothing.

Russell holds a Master of Music degree in collaborative piano from the University of Arizona. He is the assistant director of music at St. Mark the Evangelist Catholic Church in Oro Valley. As a pianist, Russell often performs with the Tucson Symphony Orchestra. Russell made his Carnegie Hall debut in 2016, performing the music of Dan Forrest. 

 Russell also composes music for Rogue Radio, a radio play series produced in partnership with Arizona Public Media, NPR 89.1 FM. Recordings, videos, sheet music, and more can be found at www.RRonnebaum.com.

Russell Ronnebaum’s music direction is supported in part by generous gifts
from Denice Blake & John Blackwell and Rebecca Standifer

Elizabeth Soflin (Percussionist) is so excited to be returning to the Rogue Theatre for her second production! She is a performer whose work focuses on interdisciplinary works for solo speaking percussionist and on collaborative chamber music projects. She was a 2022 recipient of the Arizona Commission on the Arts Research and Development Grant and performed “The Impostor Poems”, the resulting work for which she composed original music and poetry, at the Fall 2022 Percussive Arts Society International Convention. She has also recently appeared as an solo artist at the Tucson Fringe Festival, the Oh My Ears Festival, and the Transplanted Roots Percussion Symposium in Guanajuato, MX, as well as performing with the Tucson Symphony Orchestra, True Concord Voices & Orchestra, and Flagstaff Symphony Orchestra. Dr. Soflin earned her Doctor of Musical Arts degree from the University of Arizona and holds performance degrees from The University of Tennessee and Central Michigan University. She is an artist endorser for Black Swamp Percussion.

Designers and Production Staff

Cynthia Meier (Costume Design) worked her way through college at Eastern Michigan University by assisting in the costume shop. Most of what she knows about Costume Design, she learned from Katie Holkeboer, the costume designer and professor at EMU. After graduating with her MA in Speech & Theatre, Cynthia stayed on at EMU to teach Costume Design, Costume Construction, Stage Makeup, and Introduction to Technical Theatre while designing the university mainstage plays and supervising the costume shop. She has designed costumes for each and every one of The Rogue plays since 2005. 

Cynthia Meier’s costume design is supported in part by generous gifts
from Denice Blake & John Blackwell and Chris Wozney

Joseph McGrath (Scenic Design) worked in the scene shops at West Virginia University and the Juilliard School of Drama while he was studying to become an actor. He served as Technical Director for Arizona Theatre Company from 1987–88, and opened his own scene shop, Sonora Theatre Works, in the 1990s. Joe has designed and built scenery for Ballet Tucson for most of their ballets for over 20 years, as well as various projects with UA Opera Theatre. He has designed each and every set for The Rogue since its inception in 2005.

Joseph McGrath’s scenic design is supported in part by
a generous gift from Jerry James

Josh Hemmo (Lighting Design) is a NYC based lighting designer who is thrilled to be back at The Rogue! His previous work was seen in Romeo and Juliet, Under Milk Wood, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Mrs Dalloway, Twelfth Night, Middletown and Much Ado About Nothing. Other notable credits include: Revelation: The Musical (Off-Broadway, The Players Theatre), Humanity’s Child (Off-Broadway), Cleopatra: A Pop Experience (Off-Off Broadway, Theater for the New City), Route 66, Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner (Sierra Repertory Theatre), The True Story of the Three Little Pigs, A New Brain (Florida State University), Talent is Sexy, Ladies of Glen Ross (Randomly Specific Theatre, NYC), Harvey (Out of The Box Theatre), Show Risqué (Hard Rock Casio and Hotel Biloxi), Moscow Ballet’s The Great Russian Nutcracker tour (lighting director of West Coast 2017 tour), and 2016–2017 lighting fellow at Berkeley Repertory Theater. jhemmolighting.com

Josh Hemmo’s lighting design is supported in part by
a generous gift from Vicki Ettleman

Hannah Al-Baiaty (Stage Manager) is thrilled to be working with The Rogue Theatre again after previously stage-managing Romeo and Juliet, Marjorie Prime, If on a winter’s night a traveler, The Skin of Our Teeth, Love’s Labor’s Lost, Under Milk Wood, The Left Hand of Darkness, The Seafarer, Great Expectations, Twelfth Night and Passage. Hannah earned her BFA in Technical Theatre Production and Design from the University of Arizona. Her previous credits include Stage Manager for Under Construction Series: Ralph Lemon & Friends at Park Avenue Armory, Helen Simoneau Danse’s Flight Distance at Joyce SoHo, Tucson Folk Festival, Arizona Repertory Theatre’s productions of Avenue Q and Voice of the Prairie, Assistant Stage Manager for Eugene Opera's production of Nixon in China and Assistant Production Manager for Pipeline Theatre Company’s world premiere of Byuioo. She also spent five seasons as a Costume Technician for The Gaslight Theatre. Hannah would like to thank her husband, family, and friends for their endless support and love.

Hannah Al-Baiaty’s stage management is supported in part by
a generous gift from Els Duvigneau

Maddie Thatcher (Assistant Stage Manager) is thrilled to be working with The Rogue Theatre again after previously stage managing The Playboy of the Western World last season. Maddie was born and raised in Tucson and got her BFA in Technical Theatre Production and Design from the University of Arizona. Some of her local credits include Asst. Stage Manager for The Scoundrel and Scamp’s productions of One Twig at a Time and Pooh, as well as Production Stage Manager for Hamlet: Fine Revolution. Maddie has spent several summers in Ohio as the Production Stage Manager & Assistant Director for Scioto Society’s Tecumseh! The Outdoor Drama, as well as Production Stage Manager for their Haunted Mountain shows including Frankenstein, The Passion of Dracula, and Tales of the Dead: St. Nicolas.  Maddie would like to thank her family and friends for all of their love and support!

Maddie Thatcher’s stage management is supported in part by
a generous gift from Gian & Marykay Morelli

Shannon Wallace (Production Stage Manager) first came to The Rogue in 2015 to stage manage The Picture of Dorian Gray, and now serves as their Production Stage Manager and Operations Manager. She has worked on over 30 shows with The Rogue, some favorites include: The Bridge of San Luis Rey, The Grapes of Wrath, Curious Incident, Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein, As You Like It, and If on a winter’s night a traveler. She holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts from the University of Arizona, with a dual emphasis in stage management and lighting design. During her college years, she worked on over 25 productions with Arizona Repertory Theatre and dabbled in production & company management at Arizona Theatre Company and the Contemporary American Theatre Festival. After graduating, she continued to expand her breadth of experience to include different arts management positions such as Operations Assistant at Mudlark Theater Company. Apart from a one-year sojourn to Chicago, The Rogue has been her home for almost 10 years, and she is grateful every day to be a part of this vibrant and loving community.

Shannon Wallace’s production stage management is supported in part by
a generous gift from Brock & Chantal McCaman

Amy Novelli (Scenic Artist) received her Cum Laude BFA from the Columbus College of Art & Design and her MFA from Carnegie Mellon. Novelli’s scenic art career began in New York City at the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade Studio. As Charge Scenic Artist for the Arizona Theatre Company (2010–2014), Amy also painted several sets for Arizona Opera and UA Opera, and presently paints for The Rogue Theatre. Amy created monstrous Halloween decor for Hotel Congress for 20 years, and was lead painter for Marshal-Fields 1998 award-winning Easter Window display “Alice in Wonderland.” She supervised four public art projects in the Tucson area with high school youth and won commissions to design and paint five large scale outdoor murals across the country as well as at Biosphere II and La Posada Hotel. She has taught at the University of Arizona and Pima Community College. Novelli’s fine art work has been exhibited at several Tucson Galleries, and she had a one woman show at the Tucson International Airport in 2020. Amy currently lives in New Orleans where she designs and paints floats for the annual Carnival Season of Mardi Gras.

Amy Novelli’s scenic painting is supported in part by
a generous gift from Bill & Nancy Sohn

Nanalee Raphael (Costume Shop Supervisor) has known from age five that she would work in theatre. Of course, she thought it would be as an actor, not as someone who flings fabric around. She feels blessed that she has always been employed in costuming, for both professional and academic theatres, and has never had to have a “day job.” Until moving to Tucson in 1995, she was peripatetic in her work situations, desiring to work with theatres all over the country. She has worked as a costume designer, costume director and/or draper in professional theatres in Michigan, (Hope Summer Repertory, Holland), Wisconsin (American Players Theatre, Spring Green), Illinois (Goodman, Wisdom Bridge, and Steppenwolf, Chicago), New York (The Public, NYC), Arizona (ART & ATC, Tucson), at Shakespeare Festivals in Vermont and New Jersey, and California (The Old Globe, San Diego). She received both her Bachelor's and Master's degrees in Costume Design and Technology from Syracuse University. She is one of the “Pioneering Seven,” the first group of women to study full-time at Dartmouth College.

Peter Bleasby (Master Electrician) has been actively involved with lighting for theatre and other entertainments for 70 years. That is not a typo! Professionally it includes stints with BBC Television, and with UK lighting designer Richard Pilbrow for the opening of the National Theatre (Director: Laurence Olivier). Non-theatrical lighting has included Commercial/Industrial, Cathedrals, Major Sports Venues and Fashion Shows. He assisted with The Rogue’s initial lighting rig at the Historic “Y” in 2009 and has been the master electrician for every show since the 2013/14 season. His most recent contribution was the design and oversight of the $95K LED lighting installation in time for Tartuffe - the 100th production - in September 2025. From light bulbs in coffee cans to LED lights with internal software, it’s been an amazing  technological journey, but always in the service of the productions.

Connor J. Greene (Assistant Master Electrician) first came to The Rogue as a volunteer electrician on Miss Julie in 2016. In 2018, he interned for Peter Bleasby on The Grapes of Wrath. Starting with The Awakening in 2020, he began drafting for Deanna Fitzgerald’s designs. In 2021, when a piece of lighting technology misbehaved during Twelfth Night, he became a special projects electrician. Now, in 2025, Connor is excited to serve as The Rogue’s Assistant Master Electrician. He is looking forward to the learning and growth that comes from making good art with the wonderful community who supported and fostered him throughout his entire career. Connor holds a BFA from the University of Arizona, with an emphasis in lighting design. He was a Journeyman Electrician for Williamstown Theatre Festival in 2019, a freelance electrician in NYC from 2019-2020, and the Lighting Programmer for Arizona Opera Company from 2021-2023. He would like to thank his families of both blood and water.

Matt Elias (House Manager, Sound Consultant) is constantly seeking out art whether it be theatre, music, television or video games. He became enamored with live performance at The Rogue Theatre in 2014 while joining his wife, Shannon, as an usher. His experience as a touring musician, his penchant for audio production and his general obsession with how stuff works, makes him useful in all sorts of tight places throughout the production process. Nowadays you’ll see him as House Manager, trading off shows with Woods Fairchild and you might not see him sneaking a peek at each of those shows from behind the scenes. Matt has experience as a Master Bicycle Technician, Emergency Medical Technician, Fire/EMS 911 Dispatcher, and most recently a Production Brewer at Dragoon Brewing Company.

Woods Fairchild (House Manager, she/they) first met the Rogue by assisting their installation of “The Object” art piece in preparation for The Left Hand of Darkness. The Object’s designer, John Farrell, is a dear friend of Woods’ through her work with his wife, Carol Farrell, in costume design. John’s invitation to Woods to help assemble the art kindled an immediate friendship between Woods and the Rogue team. Woods formally joined the Rogue family in October 2023. In overlap with performance arts, Woods has an artistic background in dance and movement practice studies, as well as sewing and costume design. Woods also worked as a Project Manager with the Arts Foundation who manage public art projects, as well as distribute funding to support artists and arts organizations in Southern Arizona, including the Rogue Theater! Woods is a photographer, crafter, biker and her little old pickup truck is her true love. Grateful to be with the Rogue!

Thomas Wentzel (Box Office Manager, Program, Website) is a Scientific Programmer for the National Solar Observatory and holds a Ph.D. in Physics from the University of Arizona. Previously he has worked as a Data Manager for several prevention programs in the Arizona Cancer Center and the Mel and Enid Zuckerman Arizona College of Public Health. He has served on the Board of the Tucson Men’s Cooperative, editing its newsletter for five years, and on the Executive Committee of Sons of Orpheus—The Male Choir of Tucson. He has sung with Furry Day Singers, Sons of Orpheus, AwenRising and Arizona Repertory Singers, and has performed with Tucson Art Theatre in Viktor Slavkin’s Cerceau and Clifford Odets’ Waiting for Lefty. Thomas has designed and built The Rogue Theatre Web site (with great assistance from Bill Sandel and Bryan Falcón in creating the 2020 Website update), and serves as Webmaster and Business Manager. He has also served on The Rogue’s Board of Directors since the founding of the theatre.

Shannon Elias (Box Office Associate, Volunteer Coordinator) got her first big break in theatre at age 11 when she was cast as the Wicked Witch of the West in The Wizard of Oz in school. After that first applause, she was hooked. She began at The Rogue Theatre as an usher in 2008, and volunteered in various roles until she was hired to the box office in 2018. She made her debut on The Rogue stage in The Oresteia in 2020 and has since appeared in The Playboy of the Western World, The Skin of Our Teeth, Babette’s Feast, The Left Hand of Darkness, and the staged-readings of Everybody and The Sign in Sidney Brustein’s Window. She also worked backstage with The Rogue as Assistant Stage Manager for The Awakening, Mrs Dalloway, A Midsummer Night’s Dream and Love’s Labor’s Lost. Shannon holds a Bachelor of Arts in Theatre Arts from the University of Arizona with a minor in Special Education and Rehabilitation Psychology.

Megan Coy (Box Office Staff) is excited to return to the Rogue after taking a few years away! As the resident stage manager in 2019-2020, she worked on Middletown, Long Day’s Journey into Night, Moby Dick, and The Beauty Queen of Leenane. In 2020, she decided to leave the Rogue to be home with her daughter Eleanor and has now welcomed a son, Esben. Always looking for a creative outlet, Megan started her jewelry business, Coy Creative, in 2020 as well! Prior to working at the Rogue, she worked in marketing and production at The Magik Theatre in San Antonio, traveled internationally with a touring production, and graduated from the U of A in 2013 with a BFA in Theatre Production. She is so excited to be back with her friends at the Rogue!

Our Thanks

Performance Schedule