Spring Awakening
ARIEL ARBISSER (Artistic Director) has served as Artistic Director of the MTC since Spring 2011 and recently joined the Board of Trustees. She performed with the MTC in Rent (Maureen Johnson), Little Women: The Musical (Marmee), Candide (Old Woman), and Songs For a New World (Woman #2). Ariel is a graduate of co-ed a cappella group: the Cornell Chordials. In 2010 Ariel received the Contemporary A cappella Recording Award for Best Mixed Solo from the Contemporary A cappella Society of America, and was voted Runner-Up for Favorite Female Vocalist of the Year in the national A cappella Community Awards. After co-producing two award winning albums with the Chordials, Ariel produced, co-wrote, and performed in Sex, Drugs, and A Cappella: An Original Web Series.
ZOË GUZY-SPRAGUE (General Manager, President) is a sophomore English major in the College of Arts and Sciences at Cornell University. Spring Awakening marks her third production with the MTC. In the past, she has served as Technical Director for Rent, and Master Carpenter for Little Women: The Musical. Additional credits include Scene Designer for Elegies: A Song Cycle and Set Crew for No Exit at Cornell's Schwartz Center, Set Crew and Scene Shop Intern for Time Stands Still, Habit of Art, POP!, and The History of Kisses at The Studio Theatre in Washington, DC, and Scene Designer for Pippin and Amadeus at Georgetown Day School. She would like to thank the always-wonderful Guzy-Sprague family for the unending support, and the entire staff and cast for being awesome because of reasons.
SARAH BYRNE (Assistant General Manager, Stage Manager) is a freshman Biology major in the College of Arts and Sciences at Cornell University. She plans to attend medical school, because she prefers organization to sleep. This is her second production with the MTC, previously serving as Assistant Stage Manager for Rent. She is so excited to be working with such a fantastic cast and crew on Spring Awakening! She would like to thank her wonderful family and friends for putting up with her, as she tries to stage manage in real life.
AMINA OMARI (Director) is an actor, director, and writer based in Ithaca, New York. After graduating from Cornell University with a concentration in Creative Writing, Amina completed a two-year, Meisner program at the Actor's Workshop of Ithaca, where she went on to teach acting and helped to found the Actor's Workshop of Ithaca Theatre Company (AWITC). Her directing credits at AWITC include Is He Dead?, Dog Sees God, Orange Flower Water, and Far Away. Recent stage roles have included Helen in the Readers' Theatre production of Fat Pig, Countess Geschwitz in a new translation of Frank Wedekind's Lulu, and Medea in an original adaptation of Euripedes's play.
MASA GIBSON (Music Director) graduated from Rutgers University with a double BA in Music and Linguistics. At Rutgers, he studied conducting under Dr. Patrick Gardner and served as an assistant conductor for the Rutgers Kirkpatrick Choir and the Rutgers Glee Club. While based in New Jersey, he appeared in several operas with Opera at Rutgers and with Opera at Florham. After relocating to Ithaca, Masa graduated from the Actor's Workshop of Ithaca where he now teaches the Meisner technique as an assistant instructor. Recent stage roles include Theseus in A Midsummer Night's Dream (Theatre Incognita), Tom in Fat Pig (Readers' Theatre of Ithaca), and Gordon in Rent (MTC).
EMILY GOLDMAN (Assistant Music Director)
KATIE BRUNO (Choreographer) graduated from the University of Miami in May 2011 with a BM in Musical Theatre. This is Katie's first time choreographing a musical, and she is thankful to have had the genuine support of the entire MTC staff. A HUGE thanks to Amina, Masa, the cast and crew for taking this journey with me and being so STREET. Much love to Mom, Dad and John.
TYLER EHRLICH (Orchestra Director, Business Manager, Conductor) is a sophomore at Cornell University in the College of Arts and Sciences. Spring Awakening marks his fourth production with the MTC, having previously served as Orchestra Director for Rent, Little Women: The Musical, and Dirty Rotten Scoundrels. As a clarinetist, Tyler performs with the Cornell University Wind Ensemble and Symphony Orchestra. He is in the studio of Lenora Schneller and studies conducting with Professor Cynthia Johnston Turner. Tyler is also the teaching assistant for the Cornell University Wind Symphony, where he assists in conducting both rehearsals and concerts. He would like to thank his family and friends for their constant support, and his past and present music teachers for all they have taught him.
ADELAIDE McDONNELL (Assistant Orchestra Director, Guitar II) is a junior at Cornell University majoring in Music. This is her second production with MTC. Previous credits include Keyboard II/Guitar II in Rent last semester, as well as Chorus in Aida and Chicago in high school. Adelaide plays saxophone, is actively involved in Cornell University's Wind Symphony, and is a member of Jazz Vocals, a CU ROSE ensemble. She is very excited to be able to play in Spring Awakening, and would like to thank her brother for lending her his guitar again.
SUE-JEAN SUNG (Director of Marketing) is a freshman at the School of Hotel Administration at Cornell University. She is thrilled to be part of the staff of Spring Awakening in her second MTC production. Prior theatre credits include Lefou in Beauty and the Beast, Mayzie La Bird in Seussical the Musical, Kratnoff in High School Musical, and Bag Lady in Rent. Recently, she has been working behind the scenes as co-director of Annie and director and co-writer of Prescription for Love. Sue-Jean is excited to be contributing to the success of Spring Awakening and would like to thank her family and friends for all of their support. Break a leg to the cast and crew!
MAXINE BELUS (Marketing Assistant) is a freshman in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences at Cornell University. She is studying in the Dyson School of Applied Economics and Management, and is looking to concentrate in the areas of marketing and strategy. Spring Awakening marks her first production with the MTC. She is thrilled to be a part of the marketing team, and looks forward to working with such a talented cast and crew!
SHAINA HIMELSTEIN (Marketing Assistant) is a sophomore in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences at Cornell University. She is majoring in Applied Economics and Management and plans to focus her studies on marketing and international trade. Spring Awakening marks her second production with the MTC, having previously served as Director of Marketing and Director of Alumni Relations for Rent. She is excited to continue working on the marketing team for the company this semester for Spring Awakening!
CHLOE RYU (Marketing Assistant) is currently a junior at Cornell University and is majoring in Hotel Administration. She is interested in studying marketing as her concentration and has worked at a few marketing departments in various companies. This is her first time working with the MTC as part of their marketing team, and she is excited to be working with such a talented cast.
DANNY BRISTOLL (Director of Photography)
TINA CHOU (Photographer)
ERIK JAWORSKI (Photographer) is a freshman at Ithaca College majoring in Documentary Studies and Productions. Hailing from Chicago, Erik worked as Photo Manager for his school's yearbook and photographer for Stage Door Fine Arts. Besides taking photographs, he too has played different roles in Bye Bye Birdie (Mr. Macaffe), Diary of Anne Frank (Peter Van Daan), Oklahoma (Jud Fry), and many more. Erik is excited to be part of the MTC and can't wait for what's to come in the future.
JULIAN MONTIJO (Assistant Business Manager, Assistant Stage Manager) is excited to be working on Spring Awakening. Previously, he worked backstage and with the marketing team for the MTC's production of Rent. He attended performing arts school in Coronado for musical theatre, and misses the beach a lot. Julian has performed in The Wiz, Thoroughly Modern Millie, Urinetown, and All Shook Up among others. He is currently studying Economics at Cornell Universityr, and is planning to minor in Dramatic Writing.
BEN SHIPLEY (Dramaturg) is a junior Drama and Writing double major and a dance and anthropology double minor at Ithaca College, from Santa Monica, California. Ben's previous IC credits include Dramaturg for Illuminated Bodies with IC Mainstage, Stage Manager for Blackbird with IC No bucks, Assistant Stage Manager for The Bacchae with IC Senior Directing Project, Production Assistant for Baby with IC Mainstage, and Stage Manager for A Bench At The Edge with IC No Bucks. Other credits include Assistant Stage Manager for As You Like It and A Midsummer Night's Dream with Ithaca Shakespeare Company, and Stage Manager of Five Uneasy Pieces with Santa Monica Playhouse. He would like to thank his family and friends for all their constant love and support. For Poppy. "Cheers!"
ABBY SMITH (Scenic Designer) studied Architectural Design at Cornell University where she worked in the Theatre Department's costume shop creating costumes for many a production. After leaving Cornell, she designed and created costumes, props, and sets for Ithaca's Kitchen Theatre Company. A graduate of the Actor's Workshop of Ithaca, Abby is now an assistant instructor at the Workshop and a designer for the Actor's Workshop of Ithaca Theater Company (AWITC). Recent credits include costume and set design for Orange Flower Water (AWITC), set design for Poona the F***dog (and other plays for children) (AWITC), Art Director for Sex, Drugs, and A Cappella (An Original Web Series) and costume and set design for Rabbit Hole (AWITC).
MARIANNE DORADO (Costume Designer) is a sophomore Fiber Science and Apparel Design major in the College of Human Ecology at Cornell University. She has just recently finished working on Elegies, her first production as Costume Designer at Cornell, though she has previously costumed such plays as Les Misérables and Carousel, throughout high school. Marianne also works as an assistant in the Schwartz Center costume shop and has helped build costumes for past Schwartz productions such as Learned Ladies and No Exit. Marianne is also working on the Schwartz's upcoming production of Long Ago in May.
WEILI SHI (Lighting Designer) is a junior in Cornell University's College of Arts and Sciences, majoring in Information Science with minors in Theatre and Game Design. Previous company credits include Lighting Designer for Dirty Rotten Scoundrels, Little Women: The Musical, and Rent. Additional credits: Elegies: A Song Cycle, Far Away, and the 2011 Locally Grown Dance Festival at the Schwartz Center, where she is a selected member of the Advanced Undergraduate Theatre Program, and also a staged concert version of Aida. She has also served as Light Board Operator and Production Intern for American Buffalo and Passing Strange at the Studio Theatre in Washington, DC. Thanks to the entire cast and staff for an amazing, reason-filled semester, but especially Tim for his brilliance and luminosity.
TIM DYSTER (Assistant Lighting Designer) is a member of Cornell's Class of 2012 and is currently pursuing a B.A. in Biological Sciences and a minor in Music. Tim has been member of the MTC since 2009, and became a member of the Board of Trustees in 2011. Company credits include: I Love You Because (Jeff Bennett), Candide (Assistant Director), Dirty Rotten Scoundrels (Assistant Director, Director of Marketing), Little Women: The Musical (Director of Alumni Affairs), and Rent (Director). In the spring of 2011, Tim directed a staged concert version of the musical Aida, working with Broadway actors and students from Cornell and Ithaca College to raise money for children's education in Africa. "Thanks to my incredible friends and family for endless love and support! Shout out to JC, TS, AA, JR, and MB."
JOSH ROLLIN (Sound Designer) is a freshman Communication Studies major at Ithaca College. This is his first show with the MTC, and he's thrilled to be working with them on Spring Awakening. His past theatre experience includes working as Sound Designer or Crew Head for shows such as Pippin, Amadeus, and The Producers at Georgetown Day School in Washington, DC.
PATRICK CROWLEY (Graphic Designer)
NOAH WEINGART (Master Carpenter) is a freshman studying Applied and Engineering Physics at Cornell University. In high school, he was both Master Carpenter and Vice President of Tech Crew during his senior year. His most recent work includes building the set for Brighton Beach Memoirs in the style of a 1930's household. He has also built sets for other shows at his high school, including Curtains, Romeo and Juliet, and Guys and Dolls. He is both excited and honored to be working on his first show at Cornell with an amazingly creative technical crew and an incredibly talented cast.
MARTHE HOFFMAN (Property Master, Scenic Artist) is a scenic artist, set designer, and Jill-of-some trades. An '09 graduate of the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama, Marthe has worked in a wide variety of theatrical venues, a few of which are: Scottish Opera, Finborough Theatre London, The Glasgow Arches, Scottish Youth Theatre, Edinburgh Fringe Festival, and Cortland Repertory Theatre. She is thrilled to be working with such a talented director, cast, and technical staff on this exciting project! Usually found covered in some kind of adhesive, Marthe is currently the Junior Designer at MacKenzie-Childs.
SOPHIA HO (Rehearsal Accompanist)