Bera Handa

Cast

Creative Team

Lakshmi Damayanthi - Director & Choreographer

Melissa Yanchak - Music Director

Devon Painter - Costume Designer

Gayani Bulathsinghala - Headdress & Makeup Designer

Laura Fine Hawkes - Scenic Designer

Nate Wheatley - Lighting Designer

Jithendra Vidyapathy - Assistant Choreographer

Yuruo Zhang - Costume Design Assistant

Ava Zuckerman and Zane Noel - Assistant Lighting Designer

Production Team

Celesta Siby - Stage Manager

Olivia O'Brien - Production Stage Manager

Emma Kephart - Assistant Stage Manager

Grace Burkart - Assistant Stage Manager

Mia Hargest - Assistant Stage Manager

Marianna Kyriacou - Assistant Stage Manager

Chris Hawkes - Technical Director

Scott Selmeski - Assistant Technical Director

Clarence Hause - Scenic Artist

Cady Vitale - Props Master

Ariel Thomke - Costume Shop Manager

Laura Kensley - Lighting & Sound Technician, Master Electrician

Olivia Dilworth - Costume Construction Specialist

Jana Kucera - Costume Shop Assistant

Laura Kensley - Lighting & Sound Technician, Master Electrician

Orchestra

Melissa Yanchak  - Music Director / Keyboard

Jithendra Vidyapathy - Drums

Austin Shadduck - Shakuhachi 

Devyn Jenks  -  Flute

Abriana Arokiaraj - Violin

Bios

Niamh McCarthy

Sun God

Niamh McCarthy is a sophomore studying psychology and musical theatre. A native of Brooklyn, New York, Niamh has spent a majority of her life on stage. Performing in community theatre since she was young, Niamh took a strong interest in the arts. Bera Handa will mark her first performance on the Binghamton’s MainStage. Niamh regularly performs in cabarets around the NYC area, most recently at “Don’t Tell Mama” Piano Bar accompanied by Seth Bisen-Hersh. She made her Off-Broadway cabaret debut in her senior year of high school with A Class Act NY. The last two summers, Niamh has interned under Broadway producers Gordon Greenberg and Pam Pariseau, where she learned all aspects of theatre and networked with fellow aspiring actors and theatre makers. She would like to thank Lakshmi, Melissa, Cel, and the entire cast and crew for their enormous contributions to making this show happen. Break legs!

Alix O'Connor

Sindagana

Alix O’Connor is a first year Musical Theatre major from Montgomery, NY. She is thrilled to be making her Binghamton University Performing Arts debut on the Watters Theatre stage. Her past work includes high school performances (Curtains, The Wizard of Oz) and productions with the Hudson Valley Conservatory (Chicago, The Addams Family), founded by Broadway’s Samuel E. Wright. Alix would like to thank Lakshmi Damayanthi Bulathsinghala, Melissa Yanchak, and the entire cast, crew, and orchestra of Bera Handa for bringing this adaptation to life through their hard work and dedication.

Bee Huh

Demon King

Jared Wofse

Panchasika

Jared is so excited to be back on Binghamton's Theatre Department stage for Bera Handa! His previous projects with the department include Thrive, Into the Woods, Vignettes of an Artist, She Kills Monsters, In Pieces, and Pippin. Some of his other favorite projects outside the department and before Binghamton include Assassins, Spring Awakening, Chicago, The Little Mermaid, and On The Town. He is super excited to be a part of this show - it's a unique style of musical which makes it all the more fun and enjoyable. He'd like to thank the entire cast, crew, pit, and production team for a fantastic show, as well as his friends and family for their constant love and support.

Shania Adams

Demon

Born in Queens NY, Shania joined the Bera Handa team in her first semester at Binghamton university as a Freshman. She would like to express her thanks to the director, Lakshmi for believing in her and the entire cast and crew of this production for making it a success.

Daphne "Bunny" Churgel

Demon

Bunny, a native of Long Island, is a freshman at Binghamton University majoring in Musical Theatre. They are incredibly grateful to be a part of Bera Handa and to work with such a talented and spirited group of performers. Bunny would also like to thank Lakshmi, Jith, and Melissa for their constant guidance, support, and kindness. They are so excited to share in this experience with the cast, crew, and audience, and cannot wait to join in more productions with the BU Theater Department in the future.

Jacqueline Gomez

Demon

Nicole Greeley

Demon

Nicole is a first-year Binghamton student fresh from her hometown of Port Washington, New York. She's always been interested in language and culture, majoring in linguistics, so it was always clear she wanted to be a part of Bera Handa. This is her first college performance; however, she has been in theater for ten years. Whether in Pit or cast she's always had a love for theater. Nicole would like to thank her friends and family for always building her up after she tears herself down, and she would also like to thank Whiskey, the best dog, for making every day adorable and fluffy. Thank you to the creative team, the production crew, and all who made this possible. Finally, she'd like to thank Elias for going the extra mile every time, all the time.

Carly Jefferson

Demon

Carly is currently in her sophomore year at Binghamton as a B.F.A. Musical Theatre major and Education minor. She is more than thrilled to be performing in her first MainStage show at Binghamton. Carly was previously in the studio season show A Super Happy Story last semester as a multi-role. Other productions she has participated in include: The Addams Family (Pugsley, Wednesday u/s), Guys and Dolls (Benny Southstreet), and Four Baboons Adoring the Sun (Phillip). She is super stoked to be performing and dillydallying with her friends & castmates. Best of luck fellow demons! ( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)

Fiona Stephenson

Demon

Fiona Stephenson is thrilled to be appearing in Bera Handa. She is a freshman from Manhattan, NY and this is her first show at Binghamton University. She hopes you enjoy the show.

Rachel Aung

Chief Trader/Chorus

Rachel, a native of Queens, NY, is a freshman at Binghamton University studying Anthropology with a concentration in Archaeology and minoring in Theater. While she has had experience before performing at concerts and festivals, Bera Handa is her first ever theater production and she is so excited to be a part of it. Rachel would like to thank her family, friends, and past mentors for helping her all the way to where she is today as well as Lakshmi for giving her the opportunity to be part of this production.

Adalyn Bayer

Greek Trader/Chorus

Addy, who came from California, is a first-year student at Binghamton University, and is currently in the musical theatre B.F.A. program. She is very excited and thankful to be a part of this musical, and to be able to work with everyone else in the cast and crew.

Yangzhou (Yao) Bian

Greek Trader/Chorus

Yangzhou (Yao) Bian, is a first-year Ph.D. student in translation studies at Binghamton University, with a research interest in creative translation, adaptation, and cross-culture introduction of Chinese Theatre History. Yangzhou obtained her B.A. in dancing and M.A. in theory and criticism in Theatre Studies at Binghamton University and is inspired to become a theatre professional/university professor/whimsical grandmother in the near and distant future. Her favorite animals are rabbits from children's literature and fiery foxes from well-crafted posters.

Lydia Korneffel

Greek Trader/Chorus

Lydia, from Saint James, Long Island, is a sophmore at Binghamton University studying musical theater. Some of her past productions include Les Miserables (Eponine), We Will Rock You (Oz), Thrive or What You Will (AD), and The Sweet Delilah Swim Club (Director). She is grateful for the opportunity to be a part of this unique and special piece and would like to thank Lakshmi and Melissa for making it possible.

Sydney Perez

Greek Trader/Chorus

Sydney Perez is so excited to be appearing in Bera Handa. She is a freshman from Middletown, NY and this is her first production at Binghamton University. She would like to thank the cast and crew of Bera Handa for making this show such a good experience.

Lakshmi Damayanthi

Director & Choreographer

Lakshmi Damayanthi Bulathsinghala is a scholar–artist who is a faculty member in the Department of Theatre at Binghamton University; she also teaches courses for Asian and Asian American Studies and the program in Women, Gender, and Sexuality Studies. She is a two-time alumna of Binghamton University, having received her second Master’s in Theatre (directing) and her PhD in the program in Philosophy, Interpretation, and Culture. Her directing credits at Binghamton include Patrick Marber’s After Miss Julie and Lee Blessing’s Independence. Lakshmi is also a noted performing artist in Sri Lanka, where she appears in theatre, television, and film. In 2018 she produced and starred in the 47-episode television series Sulanga Mahameraka, and is currently planning another series. A feature film that she produced will be premiered in January 2024 in Sri Lanka, while preparations are underway for her next film, which will be set in both Sri Lanka and the U.S., with Binghamton University serving as a main filming location. She is a published author in multiple genres: in 2018 she released a book of Sinhalese poetry, Viraha, and is under contract to publish two more Sinhalese books, a novel called Amuththek Awidin (“A Stranger’s Arrival”), and Dakunu Asiyanu Natya Kalawa: Indiyanu Sampradaaya (“South Asian Drama: The Indian Tradition”), an educational text. Her first scholarly book, The Legacy of Stylistic Theatre in the Creation of a Modern Sinhala Drama in Sri Lanka, is slated for release next year by Routledge Publishers, a leading British academic press. She is delighted to share her experience and her culture with Bera Handa (“The Sound of the Drum”), a musical from Sri Lanka originally written in 1961 and presented here in an English translation for the first time ever. She wants to thank the faculty, staff, and students of the Department of Theatre, with special thanks to her Sri Lankan family and friends and to Andrew and Don for their unending support, love, and care that she is blessed to have and cherishes from the bottom of her heart.

Melissa Yanchak

Music Director

Melissa Yanchak is currently the Resident Music Director for SUNY Binghamton's Department of Theatre. Prior to joining faculty in Binghamton, Melissa was a faculty music director for the Musical Theatre Program at Penn State University’s School of Theatre and served as staff music director and vocal coach for Wright State University's Department of Theatre, Dance, and Motion Pictures. Melissa has worked as a music director, conductor, keyboardist, vocal coach, and/or music supervisor for Work Light Productions (NY/NJ), Tuacahn Center for the Arts (Ivins, UT), West Virginia Public Theatre, 1812 Productions (Philadelphia, PA), Summer Stock Austin (TX), Cockroach Theatre (Las Vegas, NV), Florida Studio Theatre (Sarasota, FL), The Human Race Theatre (Dayton, OH), Interlochen Center for the Arts (Interlochen, MI), Feld Entertainment (Palmetto, FL), Pittsburgh CLO, Pittsburgh Musical Theater, Front Porch Productions, Keystone State Music Theater, and Point Park University. Melissa served on staff for the Pittsburgh CLO Gene Kelly awards and can be seen on the PBS special about the Jimmy Awards, "Broadway or Bust," as a member of the creative staff. Regional: Disney’s The Little Mermaid, Cats, Disney's Mary Poppins, Starlight Express (regional premiere), Thoroughly Modern Millie, The Wizard of Oz, Joseph & the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, Godspell, Nunsense, The Marvelous Wonderettes, Mr. Burns, Lizzie. National Tours: Rodgers &Hammerstein’s Cinderella, Dr. Seuss's How the Grinch Stole Christmas, Ringling Bros Circus (Blue Unit, “Legends” & “Out of This World”).

Ali Sadeqi

Arranger, Orchestrator, and Copyist

Ali Sadeqi is composer and sound artist who crafts music across various ensembles and genres. His compositions range from unaccompanied solos to large scale works for the full orchestra, seamlessly fusing traditional folk influences with contemporary styles. Ali has collaborated with renowned musicians and ensembles including Momenta Quartet, New Thread Quartet, Modern Medieval Voices, and Hub New. Currently, he is pursuing a Master of Music in Composition at Binghamton University.

Sula Mahagam Arachchi

Translator

Sula, a foreign student from Sri Lanka, is in her first year at Binghamton University studying for a PhD in Translation studies. Her interest areas include the translation of folk literature. Sula would like to thank Prof. Lakshmi and the theatre department for making her a part of this project.

Devon Painter

Costume Designer

After earning her MFA at the University of Texas at Austin, Devon worked in regional theaters as a draper, dyer-painter, a first hand and design assistant. She moved to New York in 1998 and began her freelance career as a costume design assistant to many award-winning costume designers, including Desmond Heeley, Jess Goldstein, Susan Hilferty, Paul Tazewell, and Andreane Neofitou on Broadway, Off-Broadway, in television and in opera. She now designs at major regional theaters across the country, including the Guthrie Theatre, The Denver Center, Geva Theater Center, Indiana Repertory Theater, Milwaukee Repertory Theatre, and American Players Theatre. Learn more at devonpainter.com

Gayani Bulathsinghala

Headdress and Makeup Designer

Gayani Bulathsinghala is a Costume/Fashion Designer who has been a part of the performing arts and entertainment industry for more than fifteen years. She worked in television and theatre as a performing artist as a child, and as a young adult moved on to specializing in Costume Design. Gayani was born and raised in Sri Lanka until she moved to the United States at the age of sixteen. She earned both her Bachelor’s and her Master’s degrees in Theatre with a specialization in Costume Design from Binghamton University. Her work as a costume designer and costume assistant includes designing multiple theatre productions in the United States. At Binghamton University, she costume-designed Triptych (2021) and She Kills Monsters (2022). In Sri Lanka in 2019, she was the costume designer for Mama Newei Wena Kenek (an adaptation of Ray Cooney’s Run for Your Wife), a production that was nominated for multiple awards at the State Drama Festival in Sri Lanka and continues to tour around the country successfully. Her design work for feature films began with the production of Kawulu Dora (“The Window”) in Sri Lanka in 2022, and she has been invited to design costumes for two upcoming films. She is currently pursuing her creative work as a costume designer both in the United States and in Sri Lanka.

Laura Hawkes

Scenic Designer

Laura Fine-Hawkes' work broadly encompasses scenic design for theatre, opera and musical theatre, as well as art direction for live shows, themed visitor experiences, museum exhibits, events and television programming. Theatrical engagements include design for Houston Grand Opera, Utah Opera, Arizona Opera, Center Theatre Group at the Mark Taper Forum, Stages Repertory Theatre, Catastrophic Theatre, Big League Productions, the Geffen Playhouse, Ensemble Studio Theatre Los Angeles, the Road Theatre, Circle X Theatre, NoHo Arts Ensemble, the Fountain Theatre and a short film within Cirque du Soleil's Iris production at the Kodak Theatre, among many others. Fine-Hawkes joined the faculty of Binghamton University in the fall of 2017 as an assistant professor in scenic design, having served as chair of the Performing Arts Department at Santa Fe University of Art and Design in Santa Fe, New Mexico. She is a 2016 recipient of the Laureate Education GPS Award for Leadership. Previously, Fine-Hawkes has worked with academic institutions and young artist training programs as a guest designer and guest faculty in scenic design. Highlights include Rice University Shepherd School of Music, the Opera Institute at Cal-State University Long Beach, San Francisco Opera Merola Program, UCLA Opera and Cal-State Los Angeles. Fine-Hawkes has participated in the development of multiple international large scale live shows and themed visitor experiences for Thinkwell Group, Inc. and the Hettema Group, both based in the greater Los Angeles area. She designed the THEA award-winning Air Force One Discovery Center housed in the Air Force One Pavilion within the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library and Museum in Simi Valley, CA. Art direction for television includes programming for NBC/Bravo, Comedy Central, PBS and the FUEL Network. Fine-Hawkes is a former assistant and associate of the late scenic designer David Mitchell. She holds an MFA in scenic design from UCLA. designhawkes.com

Nate Wheatley

Lighting Designer

Nate Wheatley is a lighting designer from Kansas City, MO. He has worked with companies such as Opera Orlando, the Des Moines Metro Opera, Florida Grand Opera, Arizona Broadway Theatre, Lyric Opera of Kansas City, Pittsburgh Opera, and more. Favorite productions include Frida (Florida Grand Opera), Alcina (Pittsburgh Opera), and Elizabeth Cree (LSU Opera). Productions Nate designed have been nominated for Emmy Awards twice and the Des Moines Metro Opera production of Bon Appétit won in 2020. Nate's upcoming work includes Bera Handa (Binghamton University) and Tosca (Opera Orlando). Before launching a design career, Nate assisted designers at Lyric Opera of Kansas City and was the Assistant Head Electrician for Trinity Repertory Company in Providence, RI. Nate also led an award winning and innovative boutique opera company in Kansas City called Opera180 for 5 years before moving to the southern tier.

Jithendra Vidyapathy

Percussionist and Assistant Choreographer

Jithendra Vidyapathy is a professional percussionist as well as a traditional dancer, choreographer, music composer and an actor. He has performed in over 25 countries for dancing, drumming and theater performances. He has worked as head percussion instructor and principal percussionist of Ravibandhu Drum Ensemble and visiting lecturer in University of Colombo, University of the visual and performing arts and University of Moratuwa. Currently he is a first year acting and choreography major theatre graduate student in Binghamton University.

Xutong Shi (Sunny)

Assistant to the Director

Xutong Shi is a senior studying at Binghamton University majoring in Theater- Dance program. She is the assistant to the director for Bera Handa and very excited of having this opportunity to be a member to work in this production. She says that she gained a lot of experience during every day's rehearsal progress and also learned how to take responsibility, and to be helpful to the director and the team. She says that watching every day's rehearsal progress in Bera Handa, also has helped her to gain acting skills. She believes that watching others perform sometimes is a good way to improve her own skills. I'm so thankful for everyone and everything that I learned and experienced so far by being there throughout the rehearsals as the assistant to the director.

Celesta Siby

Stage Manager

Celesta originally from Kerala, India, is a dedicated Theatre enthusiast. Her journey in Theatre began in 2015, and she has since explored various aspects of the field, including choir singing, acting, directing, set design, prop mastery and artisanship. With a BA in Theatre, English, and Psychology from Christ University, Bangalore, she went on to work as a guidance counselor and facilitator in the Theatre department at Christ Junior College. She is currently pursuing her MA in Theatre, with a focus on Stage Management. Celesta's most recent achievement was serving as the Stage Manager for The LUMA Festival 2023, where she worked closely with artist Snow Raven and diligently managed the events at Hawley Street. Prior to this milestone, her track record includes the role of Stage Manager for "RENT," First Assistant Stage Manager for "Jazz Nutcracker," Assistant Stage Manager for "Bing Excellence," and Production Assistant for "She Kills Monsters." And now, she is super excited to be serving as the Stage Manager for Bera Handa. Celesta extends her heartfelt gratitude to her exceptional Assistant Stage Managers, Grace, Emma, Marianna, and Mia. She is deeply humbled by your patience and immense dedication throughout this journey. Celesta is also profoundly thankful for the invaluable guidance and mentorship she has received from Olivia O'Brien, Melissa Yanchak, and Lakshmi Damayanthi. Your support has been instrumental, and she is genuinely appreciative of your unwavering commitment to her growth in the theatre.

Olivia O'Brien

Production Stage Manager

Olivia O’Brien is an AEA Stage Manager with over 15 years of experience as a stage manager, company manager, and production manager. As a New York City based stage manager she worked with various companies nationally and abroad. From 2017 to 2020 Olivia worked as a Production Supervisor at the Brooklyn Academy of Music where she worked with companies such as The Royal Shakespeare Company, Mark Morris Dance Company, Meredith Monk, and Grupo Corpo. Additionally, Olivia provided support for BAM’s Annual Gala, Apple corporate events, film premiere parties, and as the lead supervisor on Jimmy Kimmel Live! Working for a wide variety of companies and in many genres of theater including straight plays, musicals, devised work, dance, and vaudeville has afforded Olivia the opportunity to develop stage management skills to address the various needs of the directors, creatives, performers, and production personnel in each of those areas. Career highlights include Barrington Stage Company, The Spoleto Festival USA, Arena Stage, Lincoln Center, the New Victory Theater, The Joyce, Classic Stage Company, and La Jolla Playhouse. Favorite shows she has stage managed include Guys and Dolls, Sweet Charity, Mourning Becomes Electra, and Porgy and Bess.

Grace Burkart

Assistant Stage Manager

Grace is in her senior year at Binghamton University, studying sociology and minoring in theater. She is extremely grateful and excited to be a part of Bera Handa, and could not be more pleased with the cast and crew she is working with. This will be the second production she has done with the main stage and her first-time assistant stage managing ever.

Emma Kephart

Assistant Stage Manager

Emma, from the Corning area, is a Senior at SUNY Binghamton majoring in mathematics. Through the years she has had the opportunity to play various roles in theater and behind the screen, being able to act, (assistant) stage manage, assistant direct, and be a tech hand. She is so excited to take part in her first production with the BU theater department. She would like to thank everyone who worked on this production, especially the rest of the stage management team.

Marianna Kyriacou

Assistant Stage Manager

Marianna, a sophomore from Queens, NY, is a double major Biology with a pre-veterinary focus and Musical Theatre student. She is super grateful for the exceptional chance to work on the production of "Bera Handa". She cherishes the hands-on experience it offers her as she continues to learn about theatre. Marianna previously was an assistant stage manager for "A Super Happy Story" at Binghamton University. She extends her heartfelt gratitude to the rest of the stage management team for making her this show a truly remarkable experience.

Mia Quinn

Assistant Stage Manager

Mia Hargest is a freshman cinema student from northern Virginia. She is very grateful to have been given this opportunity to be part of a Binghamton production. Bera Handa is the eleventh show she has worked on. She would like to extend her eternal thanks to the rest of the stage management team and to congratulate the cast and crew on their talent and dedication. She hopes you enjoy the show.

Chris Hawkes

Technical Director

Chris Hawkes is an entertainment design and construction professional with 29 years of experience in specialty fabrication, focusing on project management and technical direction/design. Projects include a broad spectrum of work in live theatre, permanent installations for theme parks and museums, corporate events, trade shows and television. Most recently, as the Technical Director for the Performing Arts Department at Santa Fe University of Art and Design, Chris taught undergraduate BFA technical direction and production classes, in addition to leading all technical production areas. Prior to this, he was Technical Director for the Theatre Department at University of Houston and taught graduate level technical direction coursework. Chris spent many years in Los Angeles working as a technical director, project manager and production manager with multiple entertainment design firms, production companies and scenic fabrication companies. Production management projects include work for Thinkwell Group: Fernbank NatureQuest at Fernbank Museum of Natural History in Atlanta, GA and Warner Bros. Theme Park in Abu Dhabi. With BRC Imagination Arts, Chris worked as Fabrication Manager for the Information and Communication Pavilion at World Expo in Shanghai. He has worked on three project teams which have received Themed Entertainment Association Awards. Additional projects involve project management work for Universal Studios Japan and Universal Studios California, The Guggenheim at The Venetian Las Vegas and The Cerritos Millennium Library. Project management for corporate clients includes: Microsoft, Harley Davidson, Motorola, SmithKline Beecham, Time Warner, Qualcomm. Theatrical experience encompasses work as the Scene Shop Foreman for La Jolla Playhouse/University of California San Diego Theatre Department, Director of Opera Production at Rice University Shepherd School of Music, as well as fabrication for UCLA Opera, USC Opera, The Old Globe, The Geffen Playhouse, The Philadelphia Opera Theatre, among many others.

Scott Selmeski

Assistant Technical Director

Scott Selmeski is the Assistant Technical Director for the Binghamton University Theatre Department and Building Administrator for Fine Arts. As an alumni he earned a BA in Theatre from Binghamton University, and attended graduate school at Syracuse University College of Visual and Performing Arts. With an eclectic background in many aspects of technical theatre, he has designed sets, sound and lights, constructed, painted and stage managed many productions in a variety of venues. Selmeski was the Master Carpenter/Assistant Technical Director at Broad Hollow Theatre Company on Long Island, NY for several years.

Clarence Hause

Scenic Artist

Clarence Hause is an award-winning artist who obtained his Master of Fine Arts degree from Brooklyn College in 2017, and his Master of Arts from Binghamton University in 2020. His artwork has been displayed in Brooklyn (Dumbo), N.Y.C., Albany, and Binghamton. He is also a published illustrator whose work can be found in 50 books. Hause has been a scenic artist on previous Binghamton mainstage theatre productions, most recently She Kills Monsters (2022), Sunset Mirage (2022) and Into The Woods (2022).

Ariel Thompke

Costume Shop Manager

Ariel Thomke is a costumer and theatre technician from the greater Los Angeles area. Her passion for theatre has led her to house management, scenic painting, props, design, and teaching. She has worked on productions such as Les Miserables, Hamilton, Apollo 11 national tour, America's Got Talent, and the Academy Awards. Her interest in education has led her to Binghamton University as the costume shop manager where she is excited to help guide students to pursue their own theatre dreams.

Laura Kensley

Lighting & Sound Technician, Master Electrician

Laura is originally from Indiana, but has lived and worked in various parts of the US including TN, NE, NC, SC, and NYC. She has worked on many productions in the roles of master electrician, sound engineer, lighting designer, sound designer, and more. Some of her favorite lighting experiences include designing The Jungle Book at The Rose Theater in Omaha, Spamalot, and Bright Star. She also had the opportunity to serve as a spotlight operator for The New Group's Off-Broadway production of Clueless: The Musical, and Good for Otto. She is eager to help students learn the ins and outs of lighting and sound technology, and she absolutely can't wait to be continually learning along the way.

Olivia Dilworth

Costume Construction Specialist

Olivia Dilworth is a costume technician with experience in theater, opera, and dance. She graduated from the University of North Carolina School of the Arts with a BFA focused in costume design and technology. Companies Olivia has worked for include The American Shakespeare Center, The Santa Fe Opera, Tuacahn Center for the Arts, and Norwegian Creative Studios. In her free time, Olivia enjoys creative writing and playing piano.

Jana Kucera

Costume Shop Assistant

Jana is thrilled to be a part of the costume shop team! As an alumni, she earned her Masters of music in vocal performance and continues to perform in both professional and community productions. Performance credits include The Rev Theatre Company, Sugarloaf Performing Arts Center, and The Cidermill Playhouse. Jana has designed costumes for professional productions such as The Importance of Being Earnest and A Midsummer Night’s Dream and A Christmas Carol as well as several community productions such as Something Rotten and Guys and Dolls. An avid cosplayer, Jana has also been selected to compete in the Crown Championships of Cosplay competition several times, and continues to participate in the 501st and Rebel Legion costuming groups.

Yuruo Zhang

Costume Design Assistant

Yuruo Zhang，From China. This is her third year studying at binghamton. Her major is Theater Technical Design. She is very grateful to her professor for giving her this opportunity to be a costume design assistant, which is her first real contact with the design assistant field!

Abriana Arokiaraj

Violinist

Abriana is a junior majoring in biology and minoring in forensic health, and she is thrilled to be a part of this year’s production BERA HANDA. She has twelve years of experience playing the violin and was a member of her high school’s pit orchestra for Fiddler on the Roof. Outside of theater, Abriana is a member of the Binghamton University Explorchestra. She gives her congratulations to the cast, crew, pit, and production team for making this show possible!

Devyn Jenks

Flute

Devyn, hailing from Albany NY, is in her third year at Binghamton University studying history and education. She's thrilled to make her theatrical debut by playing the flute in this production of "Bera Handa." Devyn has studied flute for ten years, and has enjoyed learning flute under the guidance of Jeanne Sperber here at Binghamton. She is also a member of the Binghamton University Wind Symphony and Binghamton University flute ensemble.

Austin Shadduck

Shakuhachi

Austin Shadduck is a New York-based composer and performer whose first compositions were written in high school, and the thrill of collaborating to create new sounds guided his college experience. He graduated from the University of Rochester in 2008 with a B.A. in Music. Then, during a year in Wisconsin as a sheet music engraver for Musicnotes, a budding interest in traditional Japanese culture led him to the shakuhachi, an end-blown bamboo flute, which he studies with Michael Chikuzen Gould. In 2011 he received his M.A. in Music Composition from Queens College under the guidance of Bruce Saylor (additional studies with Jeff Nichols and Bright Sheng). He is a Ph.D. candidate at the CUNY Graduate Center, where he was composer and conductor-in-residence with Whitney George’s Contemporary Music Ensemble and took courses with David Del Tredici, Jason Eckardt, and especially Tania León, with whom he worked at Composers Now, León’s nonprofit supporting living composers, as a development assistant and event coordinator. Austin now works at RILM, directs a handbell choir, and, in addition to shakuhachi, sings and plays saxophone. Visit austinshadduck.com for additional information.

Cady Vitale

Props Master

Department of Theatre

Production Run Crew

Scenic/Props: 

Thea Huang Kirtland 

CK Zaki

Sophia Romano

Michael Esquivel

Scenic Fabrication Crew:

Rebecca Nowicki

Keaton Hemminger

Allison Sanel

Zoha Khan

Yuruo Zhang

Shaw Peng

Xutong Shi

Steven McKnight

Costumes:

Justin Frank

Claire Sekarore

Joyeuse Sekarore

Ravin Van Gelder

Costume Fabrication Crew:

Abdul Razak Mohammed

Alexandra Blum

Charles Speciale 

Chris Chang 

Grace Burkart 

Jadon Lau 

Julianna Mpazicos

 Kaitlyn Hennie

Kenneth Davis 

Rachel Kim 

Ravin Van Gelder

Santiago Parra 

Shaw Peng

Stephenie Lin 

Xiaoning Wang

Sunny Shi

 Yuruo Zhang 

Costumes/Makeup:

Yana Serjantov

Sound:

Val Sasso

Anthony Letta

Sophia Greggio Mas

Lighting Board Operator:

Deborah Rodriguez

Lighting Crew:

Billy Szabo

Zayn Noel

Olivia Richmond

Jade Jiminez

Jade Torres

Isabella Ambrosio

Chantal Jenkins

Rocco Dominguez

Michael Esquivel

Sebastien Scioscia

Erica Gunderson

Linda Chen

Ava Zuckerman

Caleb Lai

Kristina Yim

Samantha Goldman

Makeup executed by the Beijing Opera Class:

Yifei Chen

Aixuan Zhao

Yutong Liu

Shoaping Yan

Baohao Wang

Aurora Wu

Claudia Cui

Yingyin Xu

This production is presented by the Department of Theatre. 

Department of Theatre Chair:  Barbara Wolfe

Assistant to the Chair:  Keriann Dillenbeck

Accounts & Budgeting:  Theresa Price

Marketing & Communications:  Barbara Call

Social Media Marketing:  Alana Nappi, Arianna Ortega, & Allison Sanel

Photography:  Marcus Newton

Special thanks to:

KCACTF

 Anderson Center Box Office, House Operations, and Technical Staff

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