Kyrsten Lyster

Kyrsten (she/her) is a graduate of the University of Indianapolis Department of Theatre and regular performer in local Indy theatre. Recent performance credits include: Rocket in Your Pocket!, Game of Crows, The Pope Walks into a Bar, Showerhead (IndyFringe); Hamlet (BardFest); aMUSEd, Who’s Minding the Snapper? (DivaFest); Almost, Maine (Mud Creek); Yellow Heat, The Duchess of Malfi, Much Ado About Nothing (KCT); The Seagull (Catalyst Repertory); Lend Me a Tenor (Scottish Rite Cathedral); Nana's Naughty Knickers, Death by Design, Squabbles, Dirty Work at the Crossroads (Epilogue Players); Next Year’s Man of Steel (StageWorthy); Animals Out of Paper, Hello Out There, Arms and the Man, There's a Burglar in My Bed, Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead, The Good Person of Szechwan, Five Women Wearing the Same Dress, The Comedy of Errors, Say de Kooning (UIndy).

Maresa Kelly

Maresa (she/they) is very excited to be a part of Coping with Autumn at Theatre Unchained. A recent graduate of Marian University, where she was a 4 year member of the Speech and Debate team, they love writing and performing poetry. Last seen in the 2020 production of The Vagina Monologues directed by Jenni White, she is thrilled to be continuing her performance journey. For fun, they enjoy reading feminist literature, taking care of their houseplants, and spending time in the great outdoors. She would like to thank her friends, family, and cats for their unwavering support.

Ethany Reeder Michaud

Ethany (she/her)is a mental health and addictions therapist by day and enjoys acting, singing and dancing in plays and musicals at night. She has participated in numerous shows throughout her lifetime in community theaters in and around Pendleton, Anderson, and Indianapolis. Last seen in Q Artistry's Perry Haughter in 2019, she is excited to get back to the stage. Additionally, Ethany is simultaneously bridging her two worlds of mental health and theater with Coping With Autumn. The opportunity to increase awareness of mental health is an important one to Ethany. She hopes to continue to reduce the negative stigma surrounding mental health treatment.

Roci Contreras

Roci (she/her) is returning to Indianapolis from her "Van Life" adventure, Roci is so excited to be back on stage for her first time since December 2019. She has been in several plays and film projects around Indianapolis. Currently, she hosts the YouTube channel, Mostly Everything, alongside her film actor husband. She is also the lead in YouTube comedy series, "#" by Naptown Films coming March 2022. She would like to thank her friends, family, and audience members for coming to see the show. Roci would like to especially thank the director (and writer), Megan Ann Jacobs, for trusting her with the role of Vera, thus being a part of such a moving and powerful production.

Kelse Leigh Miller

Kelsey Leigh Miller (she/her) is an Indianapolis actor originally from Washington state. She received her BA in Theatre Arts and later studied the Meisner acting technique with Bill Simmons. Kelsey has recently started working as a director and theatre educator; she is also on staff with Summit Performance Indianapolis. Notable acting credits include PILGRIMS (Storefront Theatre), HAMLET (Indy Shakes), and THE CHRISTIANS (Phoenix Theatre). She has also performed with American Lives Theatre, Bard Fest, Wisdom Tooth, Nova Theatre, and Summit Performance Indianapolis. At home, she is best known for her pie-baking passion. Thank you to Adam (obviously), thank you to Megan for the invitation, and thank YOU for attending live theatre and for supporting the Art of Empathy.

Thomas Sebald

Thomas Sebald (he/him) is delighted to be part of Theatre Unchained's debut production. This past year he appeared in Indy Bardfest's Antony and Cleopatra, and a filmed production of Tartuffe with Garfield Park Shakespeare. He moved to Indy last year from Milwaukee, WI where he collaborated with Voices Found Repertory (Titus Andronicus, Henry V), Mad Rogues (Merchant of Venice), Optimist Theatre (Midsummer Night’s Dream, Julius Caesar), TheaterRED (Bonny Anne Bonny), and Wisconsin Lutheran College (The Tempest). He would like to thank Maggie for being his rock and unwavering support.

Rickey Cortez

Cortez' (he/him) love for performing & storytelling was clear long before he ever stepped on a stage or in front of a camera for the first time in 2017. If he wasn't dancing or singing alone in his room, he was deep in his imagination writing stories about whatever came to mind. As an actor, Ricky loves to work on projects that focus on telling stories that mean something to the people & effect the community around him. He's worked on projects telling stories of racial injustice, mental health, family disfunction/destruction, etc. His hope is by helping share these stories and bringng these topics from the “awkward” & “dark” places to the forefront, we can confront them and overcome them together. Because at the end of the day, that is the beauty and the gift of this art, when done right.

Rachel A. Snyder

Rachel A. Snyder (she/her) is a writing manager for Artisan E-Learning, where she writes and designs bespoke e-learning courses for organizations. She most recently appeared as Agrippina in Southbank Theater Company's Seneca and the Soul of Nero. Previous roles in Indianapolis include the Indy Bard Fest productions of The Merchant of Venice (Salarino) and Hamlet (Osric) as well as several virtual theater festivals presented by Fat Turtle Theatre Company. She is grateful for the opportunity to perform with Theatre Unchained and this talented ensemble.

Kelly Keller

Kelly (he/him) is thrilled to be working with Theatre Unchained on the world premiere of “Coping with Autumn!” Kelly would like to thank director Megan Ann Jacobs for this opportunity! He is very excited to be working with such a talented cast and crew and to bring this important story to life. Kelly has been involved in local theater for the last several years, acting, directing, technically directing, or helping in some other way. Some of his favorite roles include Van Helsing in “Dracula” (Westfield Playhouse), Bill in “Women of Lockerbie” (Mud Creek Theater), and Tom in “Lucky Me” (Epilogue Players). Kelly’s next project will be directing “Becky’s New Car” at Epilogue Players running April 21 – May 1, 2022. Kelly would like to thank his wife and daughter for their continued support.

Megan Ann Jacobs

Megan Ann Jacobs (she/her) has been a theatre artist for her entire life. She began by creating terrible plays she would put on with the neighborhood kids at block parties. Today she celebrates the world premiere of her second full-length play. Directing pieces, you’ve created is especially challenging, which is why she is so thankful for the phenomenal cast and production team. It would not have been possible without them. Megan will continue to act, direct, write, and work at the Artistic Director of Theatre Unchained bringing art to life! You are being here has more weight than you could possibly realize. Your support allows us to continue creating and bringing these tough conversations to the table. Enjoy the show!

Case Jacobus

Case (they/them) may be a scientist by trade, but is truly an artist at heart. Case was most recently spotted on the Indy Basile stage in Transitory State for the 2021 Indy Fringe Festival, but decided to duck behind the curtain and try their hand at stage managing for this inaugural show. They are so excited to be a part of the amazing work at Theatre Unchained headed by Megan Ann Jacobs; from its re-branding to its first show, Case is glad to have witnessed the growth of Jacobs' brainchild into an inclusive and approachable theatre for the community. They'd like to shout out the cast and crew for their hard work and dedication to this difficult piece, as well as their fellow Dragons at Theatre Unchained!

Max Andrew McCreary

Max Andrew McCreary(he/him) is a director, dramaturg, and teaching artist, local to Indianapolis. His passion is supporting new works and he is thrilled to do so during the daytime hours as the Box Office Manager for IndyFringe. Max Andrew holds a BA in Playwriting from Emory University in Atlanta, where he started as a dramaturgical assistant for the play, "Too Heavy for Your Pocket" at the Alliance Theatre. He worked in the artistic department of Cleveland Play House on projects including Lynn Nottage's "Sweat" and the world premiere of "Tiny Houses." Most recently, Max Andrew directed "Silent Sky" at Westfield Playhouse, and "You, Me, and She," for Theatre Unchained. After finishing his adventure as Charlie Brown in "A Charlie Brown Christmas," Max Andrew is delighted to be on the other side of the table, supporting this thrilling project and its immensely creative team of artists.

Tim Dick

Born and raised in Indianapolis, Tim (he/they) has returned to his hometown after spending years on the East Coast. Graduating with a BA in theatre from ISU, he started his journey by moving to California’s Bay Area and working closely with Mojo theatre and Ragged Wing Ensemble on their devised pieces. Soon after he moved to New York, where he worked with Gateway Playhouse as their assistant master electrician. Now he’s back home and planning to stay and ingrain himself into Indy’s theatre scene.

Aidan Sturgeon

Aidan Sturgeon (he/him) is a Sound Designer and Composer based out of Central Indiana. He is excited to get to work on this original production with the deep and touching subjects that Coping with Autumn talks about. Some of his upcoming and recent credits include Sound Design and Music Composition for Ball State's A Christmas Carol adapted by Bill Osetek, Talent Unchained, and Mix Engineer for Violet at Ball State in February of 2022.

Jade-Alia

Jade (she/her) studied theatre at University of Indianapolis. Jade has sound designed and was head painter for Character House’s production of Uncle Vanya. She sound designed and was assistant painter for the Shawnee Summer Theatre's 60th Season, shows included Wait Until Dark, Odd Couple, Miss Nelson Is Missing, Fantasticks, and Grease. She has also designed Apples in Winter for Pheonix Theatre as well as Nickle and Dimed for Indy’s NoExit Theatre Company. Her UIndy technical/design credits include sound designer for Cabaret; Frankenstein; the collegiate debut of Totalitarians; and The Laramie Project; master electrician for The Tragedy of King Lear; and paint crew for The Complete Works of William Shakespeare Abridged; and Move Over Mrs. Markham.

Maggie Sebald

Maggie Sebald (she/her) is a graphic designer who is new to Indianapolis, but not new to the theatre world. While she has recently started acting, she has spent 7 years working as a jack-of-all-trades behind the scenes, making sure the shows run smoothly. From set design and building, to prop and costume management, to marketing and design and more, she loves to be involved “backstage”, assisting the actors as they bring a story to life. She is currently working as a freelancer, as well as Theatre Unchained's Graphic Designer and Social Media Manager. To see Maggie's portfolio, please visit her site at maggiesebalddesign.myportfolio.com/

Chandra Lynch

Chandra Lynch (she/her) is an actor, artist, international photographer & model and branding/social media manager. Chandra is the founder and co-owner of Ankh Productions (ankhproductions.org); offering photography, branding & social media management and original theater & film works. Notable stage credits include: SaltPepperKetchup (Fonseca Theatre), Still Singing Those Weary Blues (Jackson-Brown Entertainment) & To Kill A Mockingbird (Booth Tarkington Civic Theatre).

Rachel Replogle

Founder and Director of Replogle Studios, Rachel (she/they) is a multi-media artist, a musician, a blackbelt, and an applesauce enthusiast. As a “prominent Muncie person”, Rachel is very involved in her community, working alongside other organizations to make Muncie, and Indiana more inclusive, accessible, and sustainable. She is passionate about disrupting cycles of white supremacy and patriarchy through media representation.