THE STAFF OF THE ROCKY HORROR SHOW
Vocal DIrector
Choreographer
Producer
Rehearsal Accompanist
Production Stage Manager
Technical Supervisor
Stage Director
Assistant Producer
Assistant Director
Karen Duke (Asst. Stage Manager): is a sophomore going into psychology and nursing at the U of I. Previous credits at the university include Illini Student Musicals' Little Shop of Horrors and The Wedding Singer. Karen is so excited to be a part of The Rocky Horror Show. She wishes the cast a successful show and hopes that everyone has a great time doing the Time Warp again.
Pia Muyot (Sound Designer): is a senior in MCB. As soon as the show was announced, she jumped on the chance to finally do Rocky Horror Picture Show after she fell in love with "Time Warp". She is excited to be sound designing at the Canopy Club this semester. Her past credits include sound designing for Little Shop of Horrors and The Wedding Singer with ISM.
Noah Karvelis (Orchestra Director) is a sophomore studying Instrumental Music Education at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. This is Noah's first pit directing position and he is extremely excited to be working on such a fun score with such great musicians. He would like to thank Christopher Cayari and the rest of ISM for granting him the opportunity to work on this production.
Syrus White (Vocal Director): is a native to the Champaign County. He is currently a sophomore studying Music Education. This is his first production with Illini Student Musicals. His past roles include Mr. Boddy in Clue, Uncle Joe in Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory, and William Barfée in The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee. He enjoys peanut butter and playing Super Smash Bros.
Derrick Pemberton (Technical Supervisor): is a senior engineering and entertainment design student at the U of I. Credits at the university include Clybourne Park (Asst. Scenic Designer), The Tempest (Show Carpenter), as well as Illini Student Musicals' The Wedding Singer, Little Shop of Horrors, and The Drowsy Chaperone. Elsewhere, Derrick has worked at several regional theaters. His most recent credits include scenic designing Chess at the Station Theater and a carpentry internship for Barrington Stage Company's 2013 season including the Broadway bound revival of On The Town (Directed by Tony Award winner John Rando), The Chosen, Much Ado About Nothing, Clybourne Park, and Southern Comfort among others.
Nicole Tauster (Hair and Makeup Designer): is a junior majoring in Elementary Education and minoring in Spanish. Previously, she did hair and make-up for the IUB musical The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee. After some time off and a semester abroad in Spain, Nicole is excited to be back behind the scenes and looks forward to creating looks for some transvestites from Transylvania!
Kelsey McGrath (Costume Designer): is a senior earning dual degrees in Theatre Studies and Media Studies. This is her first venture into costume design and couldn't have asked for a better show to play with! She is elated to be collaborating with the phenomenal personalities and talent of ISM.
Emilee McArdle (Production Stage Manager): is pleased to be on staff for her second ISM show. She was previously the assistant set designer for The Wedding Singer. As a performer in high school, she is very excited to be looking at theatre from a new lens. She was previously cast in Into the Woods, A Mid-Summer Night's Dream, Christmas Carol and many others. She wants to thank her family and friends for their continued support!
Alberto Vargas (Rehearsal Accompanist): This is Alberto's first production with Illini Student Musicals. He has been playing piano for 12 years and is really looking forward to performing this crazy fun show.
Rebecca Vahldick (Technical Director, Scenic Designer): This is Rebecca's first show with ISM. She is a freshman studying architecture and music, and is really excited to be working on this show. Other shows she worked on at her high school included A Pirates of Penzance, Skaddoo, Damn Yankees, and various others. She would like to thank everyone involved in this show for a great experience and fun time. And her amazing family for their encouragement! I hope you love the show!
A.N. Jorgensen (Lighting Designer): A Lighting Design student at University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Has recently worked as a master electrician on Studio Dance 1, Florencia en el Amazonas, and February Dance at Krannert Center for the Performing Arts. Served as assistant lighting designer on The Brothers Size, Dracula, Spring Awakening, Fiddler on the Roof, and The Tempest. Programing experience includes ETC Ion, Express, Expression, Smartfade, GrandMA, Whole Hog 3 PC, Leprecon LP -1500, LightFactory, and Omega 2. Design experience includes 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, Fifth of July, Impulse 24/7, Inner Voices, Cigarettes and Chocolate, The Wild Party, Studio Dance 1, Greater Tuna, Fiddler on the Roof, The Foreigner, and "Gone".
Katherine Farley (Wardrobe and Props Manager): is a sophomore elementary education student at the U of I. This is her first time working on a show at the university, but performed and worked on several productions throughout high school. Such shows include: Hello Dolly (Ermengarde/Stage & Props Crew), Seussical The Musical (Who-Girl/Stage & Props Crew), A Midsummer Night's Dream (Fairy/Stage & Props Crew), and a few others.
Christopher Cayari (Stage Director): has been a director for elementary, junior high, high school, and now college theater. His favorite shows that he has directed are You're A Good Man, Charlie Brown, The Complete Works of William Shakespeare [Abridged], and now The Rocky Horror Show. He wants to thank all of his cast, staff, and crew for making this the best ISM experience he has had. "Hey guys, look, we made it to Rome!"
Austin Errera (Production Assistant): is a freshman in Economics with a concentration in Public Policy and Law. This is his second show with ISM: his first was The Wedding Singer (Assistant Lighting Designer). Austin also did high school theatre all four years were he was light and sound chair and Technical Director.
Justin Brauer (ISM President): is a senior in Choral Music Education, and will begin work on his M.M. in Musicology in the fall. Most recently, he served as Music Director for ISM’s The Wedding Singer and for the Urbana Park District’s production of The Music Man, and spent two weeks in the Chicagoland area playing reeds for the Fremont Street Theatre Company’s The Drowsy Chaperone.
Sophia Ege (Properties Master): is studying rhetoric, political science and communication. In her high school years, she crafted and collected props such as man-eating plants for her school's production of Little Shop of Horrors, and a goat with detachable legs for Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat. Last semester she had the pleasure of collecting props for The Wedding Singer.
Emily Sniegowski (Choreographer): is a senior in English at the University of Illinois with a concentration in Secondary Education. She grew up in New Lenox, IL and began dancing at the age of two. At Lincoln-Way Central High School, she participated in color guard, several choirs and spring musicals, and was a choreographer for the Orchesis dance company. During her first three years at U of I, she was a choreographer for Cutting Edge Show Choir and is now thrilled to be taking on her first full-length musical with ISM, The Rocky Horror Show.
Michael Pirovano (Assistant Director): Is a sophomore in integrative biology. This is his first time directing a musical. With ISM, Michael has played Mr. Mushnik in Little Shop of Horrors. Credits outside of ISM include Shrek from Shrek The Musical, The Cowardly Lion from The Wizard of Oz, and Rev. Samuel Parris in The Crucible.
Michael Courtney (Assistant Producer): is a senior at the University studying Consumer Economics and Finance with a minor in Organizational Leadership. Michael is the assistant producer for the Rocky Horror Show and serves as Treasurer for Illini Student Musicals. Michael is a member of the founding board of ISM and this is his 4th production with the group. In the past, he has served as Technical Director, and Logistics Coordinator for ISM. Michael would like to thank Matt Bleck for his hard work and dedication. Thank you, our audience, for your continued love and support.
Matt Bleck (Producer): is a junior at the University studying Civil and Environmental Engineering with a primary focus in construction engineering and management and a secondary focus in transportation engineering. Matt is the producer for the Rocky Horror Show and serves as Vice President for Illini Student Musicals. Matt has been a member of ISM from the begining and this is his 4th production with the group. In the past, he has served as Technical Director, and Box Office Manager for ISM. Matt would like to thank Michael Courtney for his hard work and dedication. Thank you, our audience, for your continued love and support.