Our Team
Learn more about some of the wonderful company members who have helped this show come to life! All company members can also be found in the program.
María Amenábar Farias
Director
María is a MFA directing student and storyteller from Guatemala City, Guatemala. She got her bachelor's degree at the University of Notre Dame, majoring in Theatre and Economics, and is now pursuing an MFA in directing at Illinois State University. Some previous projects she has directed include Paula Vogel’s How I Learned to Drive, Larissa FastHorse's The Thanksgiving Play, and Heathers: The Musical by Kevin Murphy and Laurence O’Keefe. She also has experience directing new works and she is extremely interested in working on theatre for social change. Next semester, María will be directing Fairview by Jackie Siblies Drury at Illinois State University. She is so excited to finally be doing theatre in person again! "I think there is so much storytelling we can do through stage composition and hopefully this play will show that." She is so proud of everyone's work and thankful to have had the opportunity to work with such an amazing team.
T Bixby
Chloe
T is 20 years old, her favorite color is purple, and she cooked broccoli in an air fryer for the first time this year. She highly recommends it. "Theatre acts as a catalyst for uncomfortable discussions and asks the audience to practice empathy in an interactive and collaborative setting. We've all come to the basic conclusion that assault is bad. It's an easy statement, but a good portion of the population is struggling with some important questions. Who do we blame? Why do we blame them? Diving into why we think the way we think and how it impacts others is crucial to the survival of any society". Damn, she is happy to be back.
Sage Brown
Connor
Sage Brown is a Junior Acting major at ISU currently getting a degree to give his two cats the best life possible. He’s played such roles onstage as Daniel Kaffee in A Few Good Men as well as Cliff Bradshaw in Cabaret and even a role on Zoom, playing Jaxton in The Thanksgiving Play. He is honored to have the opportunity to tell this story. He hopes that we convey it in a way that can help people in the audience live their best life regardless of the world we live in.
Trinity Carpenter
Brianna
Trinity is a 4th year acting major at ISU. She started acting when she was 7 years old and hasn’t stopped since. She was previously featured in ISU’s productions of Top Girls and The Thanksgiving Play. Trinity feels this show is extremely important to present now. "Almost every woman has had some form of sexual harassment or assault occur in her lifetime. It is a very real and traumatic thing to go through. This play shows a lot of the harsh realities of how people respond to situations like this. It’s a topic that is hard to swallow and I think that’s why so many characters shy away from talking about it, much like people do in the real world. So putting this reality on stage and showing it to audiences might change their mindset. It could help someone heal from a past trauma or even help prevent a future one. This show might not change the world but it could help the one person who needs it most". Trinity is planning to graduate this spring and is looking forward to starting her professional acting career.
Alysa Chandler
Assistant Director
Alysa Chandler is a Junior Theatre Studies major with a Women's, Gender, and Sexuality Studies minor. In her studies, she focuses on stage direction and advocating for women and gender nonconforming theatre artists. In the past, she has assistant directed for Roe and has been on the stage management team for Guys and Dolls and Top Girls. You can view her mission, values, and work on her website, alysachandler.com. "Sexual assault is an ongoing issue, one that repeatedly gets ignored or dismissed. If anything, Good Kids exemplifies that idea. When news of the act starts to circulate the seemingly mundane town, what we see unfold is a series of discrepancies and denials. The question becomes - would there have been consequences had it not gone viral? In today's world, we see victim-blaming and inaction occur time and time again. I would hope that audience members, after watching this play, could leave the theatre with a better idea of the realities of sexual assault and a sense of urgency to do something about it. Even more so, I would hope that, after watching this play, a survivor of sexual assault could feel a little less alone in their truth, that they could leave the theatre knowing that they are not alone, nor should they be".
Bryan Clark
Master Electrician and Projections Engineer
A second - year transfer from College of DuPage, Bryan came to the SOTD as a Junior, and is now in his Senior year. This is only his second show here in person, and his first show here working on lights. Bryan is working towards his degree in Production Design and Technology, with an emphasis in both sound and lighting. "Unfortunately, rape and sexual assault in school has been an issue for as long as I can remember. It is time something be done of it". He is so thrilled to see the things we do with projections and black light for this show, and is looking forward to yet another amazing performance!
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Parker Daugherty
Ty
Parker Daugherty is a sophomore musical theatre and theatre education major at ISU. He is so excited to be a part of his first main stage and in person performance at the university! "This show is so important because it is still an issue that is relevant today. We need to tell these stories that make audiences uncomfortable to confront issues in our society". He is thrilled to be in his first year of in-person classes at ISU and is enjoying the year. He cannot wait for audiences to see this powerful show and hopes you enjoy the show!
Teresa Estrada
Skyler
Teresa is a senior acting major. She started acting as a freshman in high school and has been in productions ever since. Her most memorable performance thus far has been Hit The Wall (ISU). "This show handles a very important topic that I feel many of us are scared to talk about. Sexual assault occurs every day in so many of our lives, whether we hear about it or not. Only 34% of assault cases are actually reported. In 2020 alone, the United States took in a documented 126,430 rape cases. While the importance of our show will not bring this number to 0, my hope is it will bring awareness to the importance of the message, and the responsibility we each hold to speak up for silenced voices". She's so excited to be working with this wonderful cast and crew. She wants to especially shoutout our insanely talented stage management team, who have gone above and beyond with their hard work and dedication. The show would not be opening without them. Thank you and please know your work is always seen and praised. She attributes much of her success to thoughtful mentors along the way, especially Dr. Erika Banick and Mr. Thomas Witting.
Amanda Hoople
Madison
She is so thrilled to be a part of Good Kids, the first time she's been on a physical stage at ISU! She's previously played the Soccer Mom and understudied the cast for ISU’s online mainstage production of The Wolves, as well as playing The Duchess of York in Richard III and Linda in Roe. "This show brings up such an important topic that so often gets ignored. Even though it is upsetting to hear and discuss, it is extremely important to open this conversation up and help victims feel heard and secure".
Kylee Hozian
Stage Manager
Kylee Hozian is a 3rd year undergrad with a focus in stage management, and minor in political science. She has worked on shows such as Top Girls in Fall 2020 as the assistant stage manager, and was the stage manager of the Radio Opera, Gallantry and Old Maid & the Thief, and The Thanksgiving Play in Spring 2021. "We are watching rights of women being taken away in several cities, states, and countries. It is like we digressing as a world. When that stat was released that 1 in 3 women has experienced some sort of sexual harassment in their life was not even shocking. It’s important to bring awareness to this issue since many people our age are going through this, and many are going through it alone. I really hope this show will help remind people that they are not alone in this, and that help is there if you need it". She cannot wait for everyone’s hard work to be displayed!
Carol Kelleher
Amber
Carol is a senior acting major at ISU, and this will be her final main stage production at the University. Previous credits include Marianne in Constellations, Logan in The Thanksgiving Play, and Hastings in Richard III. She is also the recipient of the Sutter Shakespeare Scholarship, and was a company member with the Illinois Shakespeare Festival this past summer. "Although the struggles depicted in this play are now more visible than they ever have been before, they haven’t gone away". She is so thrilled that her last show here is one she can be so unabashedly proud of. She thanks her Mom and Dad for encouraging her to study what she is truly passionate about.
Tan Macaraeg
Assistant Technical Director
Tan is a senior in the SoTD and has been involved mostly within the scenic realm. Past credits include Waiting for Lefty, Pipeline, Barbecue, Hit the Wall, and Machinal. In post-graduation, they plan to serve with Americorp NCCC and build relationships through civic engagement and service learning. "This show is important because it is a reflection of our world in which men's reputation is put above women's safety. It is an absolute injustice that women and female-presenting people have their safety threatened constantly with no decisive action being done to protect them. It is obvious that the people in power are content with how our campus, nation, and world are run so it is up to us to use our collective power to build a better future where we all feel safe, protected, and valued".
Mia Marks
Kylie
Mia is a senior acting major and Good Kids will be my second CPA stage show in person! Some other titles at ISU include Maria in Twelfth Night and Actor 5/Sarah in We Are Proud.... "I think this show is important to present because no matter what year it is, this kind of thing will always be relevant. One of my favorite quotes as an artist is, "Art should comfort the disturbed, and disturb the comfortable." And I think this show will do just that". She feels so lucky to be apart of this wonderful cast and crew and it is definitely one of the shows that she will take with her wherever she goes as an actor and a person. Being in person again has made her fall in love with theatre all over again, and she's excited to do it every single day.
Terrence Mayfield JR.
Tanner
Portraying Tanner has been one of the most rewarding and challenging experiences Terrence has come across. From the cast, to the designers and directors, they've put in so much of our time, effort and gratitude to make this show spectacular. "If just one person in the audience watches this show and takes something away from it, whether that be the awareness of the power of victim blaming, the courage to speak up, or simply the experience of the show, then that proves the need to do this show here and now". Working with physical presences again has rekindled his passion for the theater, and he is thrilled to see all of you in the audience!
Nora McKirdie
Daphne
Nora is thrilled to be in her first mainstage production as ISU that is actually on stage! Nora is a senior acting major at ISU and recently was part of ISF's intern program where she played Juliet in Measure for Measure and various roles in the Theatre for Young Audiences Show, A Summer's Winter Tale. During lockdown, Nora appeared as Lady Anne in ISU's Zoom production of Richard III. Nora is happy to be part of live theatre and hopes to never return to Zoom again.
Marisa Patten
Dramaturg
Marisa is a senior Theatre and Film Studies major. It is her last semester at ISU, she is so thoroughly excited to have gotten the chance to be involved in this show! Being a part of Good Kids has reinforced her love of the theatre community and the impact that art can have on the world. "It is a natural inclination for people to tell and enjoy stories, and I believe theatre is a powerful tool to have difficult but important conversations about the world we live in. Good Kids tackles intense topics with care and sensitivity without shying away from diminishing the severity."
Aneesah Phillips
Deirdre
As a Transfer Musical Theatre Junior, Aneesah Phillips was excited to strengthen her acting while exploring the SOTD. Though this is only her first show at ISU, Aneesah is excited to add Deirdre and many others to the collection of roles she has played in the past including, Deirdre in The Humans, Lorraine in All Shook Up, Hope in Urinetown, and the Nurse in Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet. She would like to thank her chosen and blood families for their continued support. "People should not live with the responsibility of protecting themselves from those who wish to harm them. Unfortunately the reality is that, like Chloe says in the show, 'This could happen to all of you'. With the disappearances and attempted kidnappings of students on and off campus, it is incredibly important to stay safe and hold people accountable; especially on a college campus with parties and the promise of a fun time. So, shows like Naomi Iizuka's Good Kids will always be important as long as attacks like sexual violence remain rampant for many people in this nation". To many, theatre has always been about sharing stories, and she is so excited to share this important story with our audiences!
Isabel Samuel
Lighting Designer
Isabel is a second-year lighting MFA student at Illinois State University. She recently was the Master Electrician at Trollwood Performing Arts Center, as well as a freelance designer and electrician in the Boston area. Recent credits with the School of Theatre and Dance include Thanksgiving Play (Lighting Designer) The DePriest Incident (Background and Sound Designer), and Pipeline (Lighting Designer). Favorite outside design credits include The Little Mermaid (North Attleborough High School) and Driving Miss Daisy (The Barnstormers). Isabel received her BFA in theatrical design from Salem State University. She wants to thank Myles McMann and her cats Liliana and Sorin. Isabel can also be found at: isabelsamuel.com. "Sexual assault is so prevalent. As a survivor of sexual assault myself, I want to communicate how absolutely horrifying it is, in order to raise awareness on ISU's campus".
John C. Stark
Scenic Designer and Charge Artist
John is a Professor of Design in the School in the Theatre and Dance at ISU. And he serves as the Artistic Director of the Illinois Shakespeare Festival. He received a B.S. from Wayne State College and an M.F.A. in Scene Design from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. John joined ISU in 1991 after teaching at Illinois Wesleyan University and Arizona State University where he was named College of Fine Arts Distinguished Teacher of the Year. He is a member of the United Scenic Artists Local 829 and he has designed professionally for Chicago Theatre companies such as A Red Orchid Theatre, Victory Gardens, Seanachai Theatre, Drury Lane Theatre, The Next Theatre, Noble Fool Theatricals, and Famous Door where his design of The Living won the Joseph Jefferson Award for Scenic Design in 1997. He has designed 34 productions for the Illinois Shakespeare Festival. Regional credits include work at Indiana Repertory Theatre, Ball State University, The Garden Theatre (Winter Garden, FL), The Sacramento Theatre Co., Nebraska Repertory Theatre, Pennsylvania Center Stage, Diablo Light Opera (Walnut Creek, CA), Actors Theatre of Phoenix, Childsplay (Tempe, AZ) and Actors Lab of Scottsdale. John's recent professional credits have been in St. Louis where he has designed at the Mustard Seed Theatre and The New Jewish Theatre. His design of Way to Heaven at the New Jewish Theatre was nominated for a St. Louis Theatre Circle Award in 2013. In 2012, the production Falling that originated at the Mustard Seed theatre, was produced Off Broadway at the Minetta Lane Theatre by Falling Feathers Productions receiving three Drama Desk nominations that year. "The show is important today because it unfortunately continues to be a major problem in. our world. The actions and inactions of the characters reflect how our society excuses the abuse that occurs everyday".
Emily Grace Stranski
Costume, Hair, and Makeup Designer
Emily Grace Stranski is a second year costume design MFA candidate. Some of their recent work includes costume design for Proof (ISU),Top Girls (ISU), Heathers the Musical (Moraine Valley), Evil Dead the Musical (Moraine Valley), and Cyclist Attacked by Mountain Lion (Triton College). To see more of their work, please visit www.emilygracestranski.com. "Good Kids confronts a subject matter that we have ALL dealt with directly or adjacently. It's also within the context of what we are all familiar with, and interact with daily- social media. This play shows how detrimental slut shaming and victim blaming are. It reinforces how women shouldn't have to dress or act differently, but that we need to educate young men on the importance of consent and agency, no matter the setting. #metoo #mybodymychoice #nomeansno #notaskingforit". Emily is THRILLED to be back in the costume shop and theatre, and to see her first in-person design at ISU come to fruition with a script that means so much to her. She is beyond thankful to everyone involved with this production, and can't wait to share their work with the audience.
Gared Thrush
Landon
Gared is excited to be able to perform live for an audience again! He is a senior acting major and has loved theater ever since junior high. "Sexual assault is too relevant in this day and age and it needs to be talked about so people understand it more. It may even lead to the rate diminishing if people were to talk about it more as well". He would like to thank his family and friends for supporting him all this time and he hopes you enjoy the show!
Lorelei Wernecke
Dramaturg
Lorelei is a sophomore Musical Theatre and Theatre Education student at Illinois State. Good Kids marks her first design role at ISU! Previously, she's worked on Super Mario Bros: The Musical (Yoshi), The Diary of Anne Frank (Dramaturg/Publicity Coordinator), and Little Shop of Horrors (Audrey). Currently, she is cast in The Moors (Emilie) and is looking forward to shows in November. She is so excited for audiences to see this company's passion and hard work presented in person. She has loved creating this site and compiling resources for you with Marisa and is so pumped this has become a reality.
