The Aliens is performed with one fifteen-minute intermission.
“The Aliens” is presented by arrangement with Concord Theatricals on behalf of Samuel French, Inc. www.concordtheatricals.com
LEAD PRODUCTION TEAM
PROPERTIES HEAD
Bianca Gonzalez*
STAGE MANAGER
Taylor Ireland*
TECHNICAL DIRECTOR
Josh Christoffersen
* Indicates undergraduate BA student
DIRECTOR'S NOTES
The feeling of displacement and our inability to meaningfully connect with others are familiar themes in modern and contemporary drama. They are also at the heart of the plays written by Annie Baker, one of our most produced and celebrated new American playwrights.
Baker rose to sudden literary fame when her play Body Awareness premiered Off-Broadway in 2008. The following year, Circle Mirror Transformation was produced by Playwrights Horizon In New York City and received the Obie Award for Best New American Play. The Aliens, another Obie-Award winner, premiered in 2010 at the Rattlestick Playwrights Theater, a prestigious Off-Broadway venue dedicated to fostering new works and emerging artists. In 2014, Baker received the Pulitzer Prize for Drama for The Flick—perhaps her most famous work, which explores the relationships of three underpaid ushers as they come in to clean a movie theater between showings. Her most recent work for the stage, John, premiered in New York City in 2015 and was produced at the National Theatre of London in 2018.
The Aliens is part of Baker’s The Vermont Plays, a collection of four works set in the Green Mountain State, which also includes Body Awareness, Circle Mirror Transformation, and Nocturama.
In The Vermont Plays, Baker’s characters are ordinary people, often teetering on the socio-economic margins of society, who navigate unremarkable lives from which emerge transformational experiences. Through her distinctive writing style, best defined as contemporary Naturalism, she paints a detailed picture of these characters by crafting language and behaviors that mimic both the rhythms and colors of everyday life. This surgical precision is most apparent in the way she willfully deconstructs speech and unapologetically incorporates silences as a primary component of the theatrical experience. In doing so, Baker demands that audiences reassess their expectation of what it means to watch characters interact on stage. In a 2010 interview with American Theatre, the author described her plays as “zoomed-in portraits where you can see all the crazy pixels on people’s cheeks.” As a result, Baker’s plays feel powerfully intimate and surprisingly insightful about human nature.
Fabrice Conte-Williamson
Director
CAST LIST
The Aliens
KJ
Aren Goodwin
JASPER
Matt Gould
EVAN
Sam Carlson
U/S EVAN
Lucas Pitt
CAST BIOS
AREN GOODWIN (KJ) is a senior Theatre Arts major with a concentration in Acting. Previous credits include As You Like It (Orlando), She Kills Monsters (Orcus), and The Penelopiad (Telemachus) at UW-Parkside, Mr. Burns: A Post-Electric Play (Mr. Burns) and Oedipus Rex (Oedipus) at State Fair Community College, and Crimes of The Heart (Barnette Lloyd) at Brownville Village Theatre.
MATT GOULD (Jasper) is a junior Theatre Arts major with a concentration in Acting. Previous credits at UW-Parkside include As You Like It (Duke Senior/Charles the Wrestler), She Kills Monsters (Miles), The Penelopiad (Odysseus/Maid) and as deck crew and an uncredited role as a Janitor in The Thanksgiving Play. Matt is a native of Texas and a Veteran of the United States Navy.
SAM CARLSON (Evan) is a junior Theatre Arts major with a concentration in Musical Theatre. Sam recently transferred from the College of Lake County where he was seen on stage in Lions in Illyria (Andrew/Sebastian), Into the Woods (Jack), and As You Like It (Silvius). Additional credits include The Complete Works of William Shakespeare [Abridged] (Sound Board Operator) and Play On! (Sound Board Operator) at CLC.
PRODUCTION TEAMS
Production Personnel
Assistant Stage Managers
Jenna Speer
Allison Hayes
Stage Management Faculty Advisor
Misti Bradford
House Manager
Talia Last
Scenic Charge Artist
Talia Last
Head Carpenter
Aria Johnson
Lighting Faculty Advisor
Jake Bray
Head Electrician
Star Howard
Assistant Sound Designer
Maggie Jay
Props Faculty Advisor
Jim Guy
Hair and Make Up Faculty Advisor
Misti Bradford
Assistant Costume Designer
Elisebeth Sparks
Costume Shop Supervisor
Leslie Vaglica
Scenic Lab Supervisor
Josh Christoffersen
Light Board Operator
Savana Andershock
Sound Board Operator
Ben Brewer
Wardrobe Supervisor
Kalyn Diercks
Marketing
Kim Sekas and Aahlaysia Gentry
Program Layout
Aahlaysia Gentry
Poster Design
Kim Sekas
Production Photographer
Alyssa Nepper and Laura Mason
Director of Craft Services
Keith Harris
Theatre Arts Department Chair
Misti Bradford
Theatre Arts Artistic Director
Fabrice Conte-Williamson
Box Office Manager
Alex Gray
Costume Shop Assistants
Elise Sparks
Allison Hayes
Michelle Catalan
Kalyn Diercks
Lucero Martinez
Scene Shop Assistants
Bianca Gonzalez
J Lofty
Travis Siepl
Ben Brewer
Tianyu Liang
Scenic Paint and Construction Crew
Talia Last
Petr Jaros
Travis Siepl
Giuliana Soldatelli-Damo
Audrey Jenkins
Alyssa Ritacca
Cory Pugel
Joe Schwaller
Matt Gould
Annagrace McCurdy
Olivia Mauritz
Juju Garcia-Malacara
Sam Carlson
Alison Pinchard
Props Crew
Bianca Gonzalez
Alistair Weime
Delaina Kuzelka
Lighting Crew
Kammi Kringle
Star Howard
Savana Andershock
J Lofty
Lucero Martinez
Aren Goodwin
Briana Livesay
Emily Moisant
Colton Smith
Alex Ortiz
Josh Barner
Costume Construction Crew
Elisebeth Sparks
Percy Reed
Jane Sekas
Michelle Catalan
Kalyn Diercks
Janet Jurado
Donaji Sanchez
PRODUCTION TEAM BIOS
FABRICE CONTE-WILLIAMSON (Director) is a director, actor, and theatre educator, teaching courses in directing, theatre history, dramatic literature, and dramatic criticism at the University of Wisconsin-Parkside. Fabrice received a Master of Performing Arts from the University of Nice, France, as well as an MFA in Directing and an Interdisciplinary Ph.D. from the University of Oklahoma Helmerich School of Drama. His primary research focuses on post-modern French dramatic literature and performance theory, the role of literary myth in dramatic literature, and the development of multilingual and cross-cultural theatre movements. From 2007 to 2013 Fabrice was Chair of the Department of Visual and Performing Arts at St. Gregory's University. He also taught acting and voice and movement at the University of Oklahoma where he became actively involved with the Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival Region VI, serving as State Chair for Oklahoma and coordinator for the Arts Management and Administration Initiative (ASPIRE). Recent projects include directing Always a Bridesmaid for Waukesha Civic Theatre and She Kills Monsters for UW-Parkside.
PERCY REED (Assistant Director) is a sophomore Theatre Arts major with concentrations in Acting and Directing. Recent credits include Gruesome Playground Injuries (Doug), Indecent (U/S Lemml and The Ingenue), and The Penelopiad (Suitor/Maid) at UW-Parkside.
TAYLOR IRELAND (Stage Manager) is a junior Theatre Arts major with a concentration in Stage Management. Recent UW-Parkside credits include As You Like It (Assistant Stage Manager) and The Wolves (Assistant Stage Manager). Taylor was also the Stage Manager for The Stinky Cheese Man and Other Fair(l)y (Stoopid) Tales at Cyclopedic Ensemble, The Diviners, James and the Giant Peach, and Oedipus at State Fair Community College. Other credits include Dearly Departed (House Manager), Naked Mole Rat Gets Dressed: The Rock Experience (Crew), and First Date (Light Board Operator) also at SFCC.
JUSTIN A. MILLER (Scenic Designer) is thrilled to be designing at University of Wisconsin-Parkside. Justin currently serves as the Interim Technical Director at Ohio Wesleyan University. He received his MFA in Scene Design from The Ohio State University in 2018. Justin has worked professionally as a designer, scenic artist, carpenter, and technical director in Texas, Ohio, Montana and Washington D.C. Some of his favorite designs include Antigone, Bonnie and Clyde, All Shook Up!, Urinetown, Stupid F##king Bird, and The Diviners.
KAMMI KRINGLE (Lighting Designer) is a senior Theatre Arts major with an interest in both Acting and Lighting Design. Previous credits include As You Like It (Head Electrician and Choreographer), She Kills Monsters (Assistant Lighting Designer), The Penelopiad (Assistant Lighting Designer), The Mad Ones (Stage Manager), The Complete Works of William Shakespeare [Abridged] (Head Electrician), The Glass Menagerie (Assistant Stage Manager), and Rodger and Hammerstein's Cinderella (Head Electrician). Previous acting credits include The Wolves (#25), Circle Mirror Transformation (Marty), and Stupid F##king Bird (Nina/Emma U/S).
LESLIE VAGLICA (Costume Designer) is a costumer whose foundation in fashion and art has enriched her focus in theatrical costuming. She has worked as a costume technician for Off-Broadway productions of Trevor, The Musical and Boswell, as well as for professional companies, including American Players Theatre, Milwaukee Repertory Theater, the Florentine Opera Company, Skylight Music Theatre, and Milwaukee Chamber Theatre. Professional regional design credits include The Milwaukee Repertory Theatre, Milwaukee Chamber Theatre, Sugar Creek Opera, Milwaukee Opera Theatre, Florentine Opera Company, Luminous Theatre, UW-Milwaukee Dance and Musical Theatre, Peter Stathas Dance, and Renaissance Theaterworks. She has also served as Costume Shop Manager at Hope Summer Repertory Theater in Holland, MI. Leslie is a graduate of UW-Eau Claire and holds a certificate in Apparel Product Design and Development from Mt. Mary University.
LYNN BRYANT (Hair and Makeup Designer) is a senior Theatre Arts major with a concentration in Acting and a minor in Communication. Previous credits include As You Like It (Phoebe) and She Kills Monsters (Agnes Evans) at UW-Parkside and Intervention (Sleeping Beauty) at Louisiana State University.
KEVIN GRAY (Sound Designer) is UW-Parkside’s Sound Manager and Instructor, working with both the Theatre Arts and Music departments to produce art and events on campus. Kevin received a BA in Sound Design with a minor in Music Composition from Michigan Technological University. Design credits include The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time, Cinderella, and Stupid F##king Bird, for which he received a national award.
BIANCA GONZALEZ (Props Head) is a senior Theatre Arts major with a concentration in Acting. Previous acting credits include As You Like It (Amiens), She Kills Monsters (Vera), Proof (Catherine), Pretty (Madeline), and Hope and Gravity (Narrator). She served as Props Head for The Penelopiad, Stupid F##king Bird, and Romeo and Juliet. Additionally, Bianca served as Charge Artist for As You Like It and Co-Charge Artist for She Kills Monsters.
JOSHUA CHRISTOFFERSEN (Technical Director) has worked as the Technical Director for the Brown University/Trinity Repertory company MFA program and a Carpenter for Trinity Repertory Company in Providence, RI. Josh has also worked multiple summers in Spring Green, WI as a carpenter at the American Players Theatre, building and sculpting scenery for their exciting outdoor productions. He has also toured for multiple years both nationally and internationally as a Crew Chief and Head Carpenter for Sesame Street Live! and the World Premier Tour of Curious George, The Musical, Live! Josh earned his BFA in Theatre from Emporia State University and received his MFA in Theatrical Design at the University of Iowa.
TALIA LAST (Scenic Charge Artist) is a senior Theatre Arts major with concentrations in Acting and Musical Theatre. Recent UW-Parkside credits include The Wolves (#7), Indecent (The Elder: Vera), The Mad Ones (Kelly U/S), The Penelopiad (Maid/Eurycleia), Rodgers and Hammerstein’s Cinderella (Madame), and A Doll’s House, Part 2 (Anne-Marie). Additional credits include Mamma Mia! (Ensemble, U/S Sophie) at Racine Theatre Guild, Twelfth Night (Maria), Hamlet (Rosencrantz), and Romeo and Juliet (Tybalt) at Fleeing Artists Theater, and The Comedy of Romeo and Juliet...(Kinda Sorta) (Juliet) at Lakeside Players. Talia is also certified with the Society of American Fight Directors in Rapier & Dagger, Knife, and Quarterstaff, and is pursuing her actor combatant status.
STAR HOWARD (Head Electrician) is a senior Theatre Arts major with a concentration in Stage Management. Previous credits include As You Like It (Assistant Director and Assistant Head Electrician), The Wolves (Stage Manager), She Kills Monsters (Stage Manager), The Penelopiad (Stage Manager), Rodgers and Hammerstein’s Cinderella (Assistant Stage Manager), Romeo and Juliet (Assistant Stage Manager), Stupid F##king Bird (Assistant Sound Designer), and Silent Sky (Deck Chief) at UW-Parkside. Additional credits include Love Stings (Production Intern) and Fishing for the Moon (Production Intern) at Northern Sky Theater. Recent acting credits include Hir (Max).
KALYN DIERCKS (Wardrobe Supervisor) is a junior Theatre Arts major with concentrations in Acting and Design and Technology. Previous acting credits include Hir (Narrator), The Wolves (Soccer Mom, U/S #8, #11), Indecent (U/S The Middle) and The Penelopiad (Maid/Naiad Mother) at UW-Parkside.
ELISEBETH SPARKS (Assistant Costume Designer) is a senior with a double major in Music Performance and Theatre Arts, as well as a concentration in Musical Theatre. Recent UW-Parkside credits include The Wolves (#11), Indecent (The Ingenue: Chana), The Mad Ones (Sam), Rodgers and Hammerstein’s Cinderella (Ensemble/Marie U/S), Stupid F##king Bird (Mash U/S), and 3Sisters (Irina). Additional credits include The Little Mermaid (Ariel) and Mamma Mia! (Sophie) at Racine Theatre Guild.
MAGGIE JAY (Assistant Sound Designer) is a sophomore Theatre Arts major with concentrations in Acting and Design and Technology. Previous credits at UW-Parkside include Gruesome Playground Injuries (U/S Kayleen), The Wolves (Scenic Charge Artist), Circle Mirror Transformation (Theresa), The Tourists (Peggy), and The Penelopiad (Deck Crew).
ALLISON HAYES (Assistant Stage Manager) is a senior Theatre Arts major with a concentration in Musical Theatre. Previous credits include As You Like It (Audrey), The Wolves (Sound Designer), Circle Mirror Transformation (Swing and Sound Designer), The Penelopiad (Maid/Iole) at UW-Parkside, James and The Giant Peach (James), She Kills Monsters (Farrah) at State Fair Community College, and The Addams Family (Pugsley) at Next Generation Performing Arts Camp.
JENNA SPEER (Assistant Stage Manager) is a senior Theatre Arts major with a concentration in Musical Theatre and a transfer student from State Fair Community College (Sedalia, MO). Recent credits include The Wolves (#2) and Indecent (U/S The Ingenue) at UW-Parkside. Additional credits include Racine Theatre Guild’s The Little Mermaid (Arista), Cyclopedic Ensemble's Stinky Cheese Man (And Other Fair(L)y Stoopid Tales), Summit Theatre Group’s Mamma Mia! (Ali), SFCC’s First Date (Lauren), James and the Giant Peach (Aunt Spiker), and Coffeyville Community College’s regional premiere of The Humans (Brigid).
SPECIAL THANKS
Casa Capri for ongoing support, Rachael Swartz, Charlie Collins, Milwaukee Repertory Theater Props Department, KC Gouthro.
THEATRE ARTS SUPPORTERS
The College of Arts and Humanities with the UW-Parkside Foundation gratefully acknowledges the following individuals for their investment in the Theatre Arts Department and students.
PRODUCING SPONSOR
Trish Petretti*
Susan M. Cable, D.D.S., '81*
$1,000+
Susan M. Cable, D.D.S., '81*
Dr. Donald A. Cress*
Marie Kohler & Brian Mani*
Trish Petretti*
$500-$999
Laurie & Steve Feiler
Shirley Warter
$250-$499
Debra Karp & Stephen Smiley
Kim and Jody Sekas
$100-249
Darleen Chiappetta
Barbara DeLaney
Ruth A. Frear
Dr. Claire M. Hicks
Lisa & Mike Humke
Karen MacKinnon
Jeff & Lynn Skatrud
Melissa Smyth
You can enhance Theatre Arts Education.
In the same way that mounting a play requires a team, funding it is likewise a team effort. To produce our amazing shows, we rely on a combination of sources—ticket sales, the University, and private funding.
Play a part in advancing the student experience through your one-time or recurring contribution to the Dr. Donald A. Cress Theatre Production Enhancement Fund.
Donations listed were received Jul 1, 2020-Sep 30, 2021. For omissions or changes to this donor list, please contact development@uwp.edu
*Denotes members of the UW-Parkside Chancellor’s Society.
This production is entered in the Kennedy Center American College Theater Festival (KCACTF). UW-Parkside is very active in the Region 3, the largest region of the Kennedy CenterAmerican College Theatre Festival
We regularly accrue a significant number of Merit Awards (in Design, Direction, and Tech) as well as Acting Awards, including what we consider to be the highest accolade, The Ensemble Acting Award. At festival, our students compete and succeed.
THE VIDEOTAPING OR MAKING OF ELECTRONIC OR OTHER AUDIO AND/OR VISUAL RECORDINGS OF THIS PRODUCTION AND DISTRIBUTING RECORDINGS OR STREAMS IN ANY MEDIUM, INCLUDING THE INTERNET, IS STRICTLY PROHIBITED, A VIOLATION OF THE AUTHOR(S)’S RIGHTS AND ACTIONABLE UNDER UNITED STATES COPYRIGHT LAW. FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE VISIT:
https://concordtheatricals.com/resources/protecting-artists
About UW-Parkside
Since 1968, the University of Wisconsin-Parkside has continued to build a reputation as an outstanding liberal arts institution with particularly strong fine arts programs. With The Rita Tallent Picken Center for Arts & Humanities, our state-of-the-art instructional facilities and stunning performance venues match our award-winning academic programs and provide even greater community access. UW-Parkside offers a wide variety of undergraduate and graduate degree programs, as well as specialized online programs. Each year, more than 100 College of Lake County graduates transfer to UW-Parkside to pursue a four-year degree. The award-winning Theatre Arts program is a popular destination for transfer students.