Who’s Who in the Cast

Barzin Akhavan

BARZIN AKHAVAN (Henrik Abelman) Pioneer Theatre Company: Debut; Broadway: Network; Off Broadway: Macbeth (CSC), Hamlet (Waterwell), Richard II (WNYC/Public). Regional Credits include Huntington, Arena Stage, Guthrie, Seattle Rep, ACT SF, Berkeley Rep, Mixed Blood, Lookingglass, Folger, Merrimack Rep, Cincinnati Playhouse, Baltimore Center Stage, CATF, Virginia Stage, San Jose Rep, Marin Theatre Co, Arizona Theatre Co, Idaho Rep, five seasons Oregon Shakespeare Festival, four seasons Lake Tahoe Shakespeare Festival, and Colorado Shakespeare Festival. Film: Funny Face, The Jew of Malta, Joyful. TV: “Law and Order: Criminal Intent,” “SMASH,” “The Blacklist,” “Girls5Eva,” “Chicago Med.” Training: University of Washington (PATP). Twitter/IG @barzinakhavan

Grayson DeJesus

GRAYSON DEJESUS (Einar Billing) is delighted to be returning to the beautiful Pioneer Theatre Company, where he was last seen in The Lion in Winter. Theatre: 1st National Tour of Broadway’s War Horse (Lincoln Center Theater), The Glass Menagerie (Guthrie Theater), Jane Eyre (Hartford Stage), World Premiere of Zoey’s Perfect Wedding by Matthew Lopez (Denver Center), Pride & Prejudice, The Lion In Winter (St. Louis Rep), The Complete Works of Shakespeare Abridged, The Lodger (Northern Stage), Native Gardens (Cleveland Playhouse), Picasso at the Lapin Agile (Longwharf Theater), Amadeus, King Lear, The Importance of Being Earnest (The Old Globe), Romeo & Juliet, All’s Well That Ends Well (Shakespeare Santa Cruz). Film: Kate Can’t Swim, Tasmania. TV: “High Maintenance” (HBO), “Sneaky Pete” (Amazon), “Conviction,” “Forever” (ABC). MFA from USD/Old Globe.

Mark H. Dold

MARK H. DOLD (Peter Stockman) A NYC-based actor/coach, Mark’s most recent Broadway credit was the 2020 Tony Award-winning play, The Inheritance. In July, 2020, Mark had the distinction of being the nation’s first AEA actor to perform for a live audience post pandemic-shutdown. In addition to his NYC work, Mark has performed across the country, including in PTC’s 1997 Arcadia, guest-starred on network television, web series and films. He is the recipient of Connecticut Critics Circle and San Diego Critics awards. In 2018, he was named BroadwayWorld Berkshires-Best Actor and in 2020 he was additionally named Performer of the Decade. A graduate of Boston University and the Yale School of Drama (a proud classmate of playwright Jeff Talbott), he is an Associate Artist at Barrington Stage Company, and a member of The Actors Center. Xi to JKT. www.MarkHDold.com

Meredith Holzman

MEREDITH HOLZMAN (Kristine Hovstad) is a New York City-based actor making her Pioneer Theatre Company debut. Select theatre: Death of a Salesman (Broadway, dir. Mike Nichols), Pretty Hunger (The Public), After the Revolution (Playwrights Horizons), The Seagull (Huntington), January Joiner (Long Wharf). Select film: Jungleland, The Climb, Blow the Man Down, Petunia. Select television: “Only Murders in the Building,” “Ramy,” “Chicago Fire,” “VEEP,” “Nurse Jackie,” “The Blacklist,” “Shades of Blue” (recurring), “Law and Order: SVU” (recurring), “The Good Fight” (recurring), “The Loudest Voice” (recurring), “The Sinner” (recurring). She will appear in Shonda Rhimes’ upcoming Netflix series, “Inventing Anna,” and she recently completed filming an ABC pilot alongside Hilary Swank, written and directed by Tom McCarthy.

Ora Jones

ORA JONES (Therese Stockman) Steppenwolf Theatre Company (Ensemble Member): The Children, Familiar, The Roommate, The Doppelgänger, The Brother/Sister Plays, Three Sisters, The Violet Hour. Broadway: Madame de Volanges in Les Liaisons Dangereuses at Booth Theatre; Mrs. Phelps in Matilda: The Musical at The Shubert/first national tour. Chicago: Katherine of Aragon in Henry VIII, Queen Charlotte in The Madness of George III, Maria in Twelfth Night, Lucienne in A Flea in Her Ear at the Chicago Shakespeare Theater; Essie in Ah, Wilderness!, Mrs. Rittenhouse in Animal Crackers, Claire in Proof, at the Goodman Theatre. Regional and New York credits include performances at Long Wharf Theatre, Yale Repertory, Manhattan Theatre Club, Public Theater, and a particular favorite, Mrs. Muller in Doubt at the Weston Playhouse. Some film and television appearances: “61st Street,” “Somebody Somewhere,” “Betrayal,” Were the World Mine, and Stranger Than Fiction.

Turna Mete

TURNA METE (Petra Stockman) New York: Off-Broadway: BAM: The Parable Conference; Ma-Yi Theater Company: Soldier X; The Flea: Office Hours, Looking at Christmas, The Great Recession; Ensemble Studio Theater: Asking For Trouble. Regional: Shakespeare Theatre Co.: The Panties, The Partner and The Profit; The Huntington Theatre Company: The Who & the What; American Theater Group: The Way We Get By; The Kitchen Theatre: Proof; Theatre Workshop of Nantucket: The 39 Steps, Time Stands Still. Film: Hiding in the Open, How He Fell In Love, Completely Normal. Television: “Small Miracles,” “Deadbeat.” www.turnamete.com

Connor Mamauz-Partridge

CONNOR MAMAUX-PARTRIDGE (Tobias) is excited and grateful to be making his professional debut in PTC’s The Messenger! He is a senior in the University of Utah’s Actor Training Program and plans to graduate this May. Recent credits include “The College Tour” (Amazon Prime), The Lower Depths, and The Odyssey (University of Utah). He is extremely thankful for his friends, family, and professors for all their love and support. He is currently represented by Talent Management Group.

Marcello Joseph Say

MARCELLO JOSEPH SAY (Noah) is looking forward to being a part of The Messenger. He was previously in the University of Utah’s production of Tartuffe, and is currently an intern for Pioneer Theatre Company. He wishes to thank his friends and parents, Elaine and Danny Say, for all their support.

Alexis Grace Thomsen

ALEXIS GRACE THOMSEN (Marianne) is thrilled to be a part of this wonderful production. She is a senior in the U of U’s Actors Training Program and has been seen in She Kills Monsters (Kingsbury Hall), Twelfth Night (PTC), and Henry V via Zoom. She would like to thank Karen, Wes, Jeff, her family, her professors, and the wonderful cast and crew.

Victoria Wolfe

VICTORIA WOLFE (Elisabeth) is a senior in the Actor Training Program at the University of Utah. She was last seen as Regan in Storm Still (Babcock Theatre). She wants to extend the deepest of thanks to her professors, family, and friends who have helped her reach this point in her craft. She would also like to thank Pioneer Theatre Company for the experience of interning here.

JEFF TALBOTT (Playwright) Jeff Talbott’s play “i” had its world premiere at PTC in 2018. His first play The Submission (MCC Theater, NYC) won the Laurents/Hatcher Award and the Outer Critics Circle John Gassner Award for New American Play. Other plays: The Gravedigger’s Lullaby (off-Broadway - TACT/Theatre Row), Civics And Humanities For Non-Majors (Commissioned And Produced By Montclair State University), A Public Education (Out Of Box Theatre, Atlanta); Joseph Cook, How To Build A City, Three Rules For The Dragon, Elliot And All The Stars In The Midnight Sky. He writes musicals with composer Will Van Dyke; their EPs and singles are available wherever you stream music. Together, they were finalists for the 2022 Edward Kleban Award and the 2019 Fred Ebb Award. Jeff graduated with honors from the Yale School of Drama. www.jefftalbott.com

WES GRANTOM (Director) is delighted to be back at PTC after directing The Lifespan of a Fact, The Lion in Winter, A Comedy of Tenors, and three Play-by-Play presentations. He has also worked at Ars Nova, Pittsburgh CLO, Williamstown Theatre Festival, Asolo Rep, Berkshire Theatre Group, Theatreworks USA, Premiere Stages, the Atlantic, New Harmony Project, Roundabout Theatre Company, among others. Wes has a number of Broadway credits as resident and associate director, working alongside James Lapine, Emma Rice, John Rando, Anthony Page, and Rufus Norris. He is a recipient of multiple Drama League Fellowships, a member of Lincoln Center Directors Lab, and is on faculty at the University of Evansville.

YOON BAE (Scenic and Costume Design) Yoon is an international scenographer. She is delighted to return to Pioneer Theatre Company and work with the talented production staff. For The Messenger, Yoon is grateful to have the unique opportunity to design both set and costumes for PTC’s world-premiere production. Previously for PTC, she designed the set for Once and costumes for Once On This Island. Other credits include Don Giovanni (Welsh National Opera), Candide (Tokyo), Closer (Seoul), Oedipus El Rey, The Great Gatsby, Three Sisters, The Importance of Being Earnest, Emma, The Sunshine Boys, Evita, Murder On The Orient Express, The Magic Flute, Anything Goes, As You Like It. UK world premieres include Running the Silk Road (Barbican), Three Thousand Troubled Threads (Edinburgh International Festival), Bedevilled (Crucible), Disconnect, Caridad Svich’s Archipelago, and Howard Barker’s Wounds To The Face. She is a professor at the University of Kentucky, and a member of Local USA 829 and Wingspace. www.yoonbae.com

BRIAN TOVAR (Lighting Design) Brian is an award winning and Drama Desk nominated lighting designer. Theatrical: The Public Theater, Ars Nova, Page73, Playwrights Realm, Prospect Theater, Goodspeed, Signature, Denver Center, Barrington, Two River, and Northern Stage, among others. Live Event: Original Museum of Ice Cream and 29Rooms, Hall of Magic, Tyra Banks’ ModelLand among others. Brian is a frequent collaborator with the City of New York and has created and designed multiple art installations in New York City.

WILL VAN DYKE (Original Music) is a New York City-based songwriter, music supervisor, and a 2020 Grammy Award nominee. Will has orchestrated and arranged shows both on Broadway and off, and is a frequent collaborator with many of New York City’s finest talents. Will has released multiple albums, which are available wherever digital music is sold. He writes musicals with Jeff Talbott and has a band. Will has a BFA from New York University, and a master’s degree from Berklee College of Music. For the latest information visit www.willvandyke.com

MICAH LAMBERT MAXSON (Audio Engineer) Micah hails from Ogden, Utah where in three years he earned his BA in Theatre Arts, emphasizing in Sound Design, at Weber State University. During his time there, Micah facilitated his education by honing his skills as an audio engineer, working for premiere audio production companies in the Salt Lake area, in addition to working directly for performance venues across the Wasatch Front. After graduating in 2018, Micah went on to work with Carnival Cruise Line in an international capacity as a production engineer and audio technician, facilitating hundreds of shows across dozens of Caribbean ports. Micah is happy to be home and remembers fondly attending PTC shows as a high school student where he proudly works now.

SAMANTHA WOOTTEN (Hair and Makeup Designer) is excited to join the Pioneer Theatre Company and the University of Utah as Wig Master. Previous career highlights include Washington National Opera in D.C., Glimmerglass Opera in N.Y., Los Angeles Opera in CA, and Repertory Theatre of St. Louis.

JENNIFER GREGORY (Production Stage Manager) is thrilled to be a part of PTC. Prior to this, she stage-managed in Chicago, where her credits included X-Marks the Spot (Tour, Chicago Children’s Theatre); Bloomsday, Frankenstein, Puff: Believe It or Not, The Skin of Our Teeth, and Born Yesterday (Remy Bumppo Theatre Company); A Parcel from America (Irish Theatre of Chicago); The Little Flower of East Orange (Eclipse Theatre Company); and Disgraced, A Christmas Carol, Another Word for Beauty, The Matchmaker, The Sign in Sidney Brustein’s Window, and War Paint (Goodman Theatre). Outside of Chicago, Jennifer has also worked at Mason Street Warehouse, Arkansas Repertory Theatre, Kitchen Theatre Company and PTC for Ain’t Misbehavin’ and Elf The Musical.

MARY P. COSTELLO (Stage Manager) has worked on over 60 productions during 11 seasons with PTC. Favorites include Sting’s The Last Ship, Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street, Les Misèrables, In the Heights, Next to Normal, and Rent. Other stage management teams: Indiana Repertory Theatre, Connecticut Repertory Theatre, Boston Theatre Works, Grand Valley Shakespeare Festival, and the Utah Shakespeare Festival. Proud Equity member. #blacklivesmatter #translivesmatter

EMILY NACRISSA GRIFFITH (Assistant Stage Manager) graduated from Utah Valley University with a Bachelor of Science in Theatre Arts with emphases in performance and design/technology. Griffith earned the Kennedy Center’s Meritorious Achievement Award for her work as the production stage manager of UVU’s Next to Normal, which received the Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival national award for Outstanding Production.

BOB CLINE (Casting) is the founder of Bob Cline Casting in New York. He has cast film, TV, commercials, over 75 national tours, and numerous regional theaters across the country and has been associated with the casting for PTC for many years. Cline is currently a proud faculty member in Pace University’s theatre program, in charge of the senior BFA musical theatre majors. He is the Associate Director of Broadway Artists Alliance, enjoys working with The Open Jar Institute, and often teaches through The Growing Studio and The Actor’s Loft.

PIONEER THEATRE COMPANY (PTC): Now celebrating its 60th season, the award-winning PTC is Utah’s premier professional theatre and a leading arts organization of the West. Led by Artistic Director Karen Azenberg and Interim Managing Director Diane L. Parisi, PTC promotes community-building and education through presenting world-class productions; developing new socially resonant and universal work; hosting talks, lectures, and workshops that engage a versatile and inclusive demographic, while celebrating diversity in culture and society; and serving as the connecting bridge between art and scholarship as an affiliate of the University of Utah.

ACTORS’ EQUITY ASSOCIATION (AEA): founded in 1913, represents more than 51,000 professional Actors and Stage Managers nationwide. Equity seeks to foster the art of live theatre as an essential component of society and advances the careers of its members by negotiating wages, improving working conditions and providing a wide range of benefits, including health and pension plans. Actors’ Equity is a member of the AFL-CIO and is affiliated with FIA, an international organization of performing arts unions. #equityworks