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Director's Note

I was first introduced to Puffs by my father. We actually saw the show in New York City and I… didn’t quite understand it. I was very young at the time and many jokes just flew right over my head. It wasn’t until my junior year of high school that I was reintroduced to the show. My school was producing it and I got cast as Cedric/Voldy. I can honestly say, it may have been one of the best shows I’ve ever been in. That’s why when Players was looking for a show, I had a quick suggestion :)

In a way, I think Puffs is a good representation of Pioneer Players. A bunch of nice, fun, happy people who tend to get overlooked, but we still help whenever we can. Even if we fail a million times, we will keep pushing until we get it right. And after many hard years of expanding the club, I am honored to present Pioneer Players first ever licensed show! 

To my amazing cast and crew, thank you all for your hard work and dedication. I would also like to give a special thank you to Rhod Holiday, Al Clarke, Chriss Williams, Gina Gueirreri, the SGA, the TSW, Matthew Crick, my amazing parents, Craig, and of course, my stupendous wondrous drop dead gorgeous girlfriend. 
With that, please enjoy Puffs!

Creative Team

Meet the Company

Rowen Hackett

WAYNE HOPKINS

Rowen Hackett is somehow a junior already, majoring in Creative Writing. In his free time, he enjoys watching TV shows, playing video games, hanging out with his friends, and contemplating life. He’s also working on writing a murder mystery for next fall semester. Rowen is very excited about playing Wayne in Puffs, as he feels he has a lot in common with Wayne. Though unlike Wayne, he’s not an awkward teenager — he’s an awkward adult! He’d like to thank his family and friends for their unwavering support, and hopes that everyone will enjoy the show and laugh their mismatched socks off.

Mathias Lostao

OLIVER RIVERS

Watch out motherpuffers, Mathias Lostao, a dorky math nerd whose entire sense of self-worth is tied to his grades and academic success. Basically, he's playing himself. And his parents are probably in the audience reading this bio, so... hi dad! Hi mom! I promise the therapy's working! You may find this fucking loser in the arcade writing fanfiction or cooped up in his dorm, speedrunning a problematic videogame older than ObamaCare. Or at Pioneer Players. He's there too.

Payton Marx

MEGAN JONES

Payton Marx is a junior here at WPU, and this is her second production with Pioneer Players. Some of her previous roles include Ensemble (Hunchback of Notre Dame), Elice (Murder in the Manor), Ursula(The Little Mermaid), Narrator(Puffs), Carmen Bernstein (Curtains), and many more. She is excited to partake in Puffs once again and hopes everyone enjoys the show.

El Barba

NARRATOR/GINNY

El Barba is a senior serving their final year as Pioneer Players President. They have been involved in theater since high school previous roles, including Virginia (Forever Hold Your Peace ), Florika (Hunchback of Notre Dame), and Pilar (Legally Blonde). El is incredibly grateful for all the friends, faculty, and family who made productions possible and is excited about the future. Thank you to everyone who made this and future performances possible.

Baylee Matthews

CEDRIC/MR. VOLDY/UNCLE DAVE

Baylee will be playing Cedric, Voldy, and Uncle Dave in this production, which they’ve done all of the PR for! With all of their family still in their hometown in Tennessee, they’re deeply grateful to everyone that shows up to see them perform. They are a junior in Media Production with a minor in PR and certifications in TV Broadcasting and Sports Journalism. Fun fact: opening night is also their little brother’s birthday, a date they have tattooed on their right arm. Happy Birthday Brennan!

Toniann Sosa

SUSIE BONES/MR. POTTER/MYRTLE/ROWENA/RITA SCOOTER

Toniann Sosa is a pragmatic senior majoring in media production. Toniann has been acting for over 12 years. You may have seen her in the playground theatre project’s Lady parts- or as the host of last years comedy festival.

Spencer Serritella

J. FINCH FLETCHLEY/PROFESSOR SPROUTY/PROFESSOR TURNBAN/HERMEOONE/MR. BAGMAN

Spencer Serritella, playing J. Finch, Sproutty, and others, is super excited to be here! They're a junior majoring in communications and minoring and music. Spencer started working with Pioneer Players in 2023, playing Nysha in Murder in the Manor. On stage, you can expect a wide range of voices and emotions among their various roles. Off stage, Spencer likes to spend their free time playing video games, watching movies, hanging out with their friends, or giving their dogs some quality time. They'd like to thank their parents and their fellow Puffs cast and crew for being endlessly supportive! THIRD OR NOTHING!

Shannon Redstone

SALLY PERKS/BIPPY/BLONDO MALFOY

Shannon goes to this school. Shannon is so excited to play Sally Perks, Bippy, and Blondo in William Paterson Pioneer Players' production of Puffs. She wants to thank everyone who has made this happen and a special thank you to Director Chase Haffner. :)

Seraph Majano

ERNIE MAC/FIRST HEADMASTER/FAT FRIAR

Yo, yo, swiggedy swaggedy, it's Seraph Majano, who is performing in his first-ever Pioneer Players production. Previously, he has helped troubleshoot technical issues and recorded performances. Seraph can often be discovered lurking at the TSW window or pretending to be a GTA 2 NPC in his car as he blasts music and downs his Wendy's.

Leyla Kerim

HANNAH/PROFESSOR McG/XAVIA JONES/HERMEOONE

Leyla is an ambitious freshman, majoring in Film, Television and Audio. With unstoppable enthusiasm and an immense love for theatre, she is ready to light up the stage and make their debut! When they aren't rehearsing, you might find them writing poetry or thanking their parents Ibrahim, Roberta and uncle Hermann for their unconditional support.

Emily Elizondo

LEANNE/HELGA/ FRENCHY/HERMEOONE

Emily is thrilled to be a part of this production, marking her second show with Pioneer Players. She is deeply grateful to Olivia for lending her pajamas for this production.

Brando Rakoski

A CERTAIN POTIONS TEACHER/VIKTOR/SECONDY HEADMASTER/CLUMSY LONGBOTTOM/ A VERY TALL MAN/PROFESSOR TURBAN/GHOST HISTORY TEACH/ PROFESSOR LOCKY/PROFESSOR LANNY/RUNES TEACH/MS. BABBLE/MR. NICK/RIC GRYFF

Brando[n] Rakoski is an actual wizard! Or at least five of them. When he can get off book, he raises the energy of the room with his ad-libs and silly whimsical sense of humor. He is a Psychology and English major who wants to broaden his creative horizons by trying everything. You may find him. If you can. MWAHHHHAHAHAHAHA!

Johnathan Kick

ZACK SMITH/GOYLE/SAL

Jonathan Kick is a senior majoring in media production. This is his first time performing in a play. When not on stage, you can find him on Brave New Radio on Fridays from 6 to 9.

Jonathan's Sketch Mop

RON MOP

Jonathan's Sketch Mop is no stranger to the stage. He was first purchased by Jonathan Kick for a sketch class and played the mop of a raging janitor. He was an immidiate star and fell in love with performing. He is so happy to make his Players Debut!!! He would like to thank Mr. Jonathan Kick Esquire as well as his "hair" stylists for helping him become a ginger. Mop's message to the world is to get your pets spayed and neutered and stop brooms from taking over the world.

Chase Haffner

Director

Chase Haffner is proud to direct his second and last show at Pioneer Players, following his murder mystery Forever Hold Your Peace in the fall. He's also been in the Music Departments production of The Hunchback of Notre Dame as Captain Phoebus. He would like to thank his cast, crew, and parents.

Jianna Johnson

Assistant Director/Stage Manager

Though not new to theater, this production is the first Pioneer Players Production Jianna is assistant directing and stage managing. Last semester, she was cast in multiple ensemble roles in the fall murder mystery Forever Hold Your Peace.

Alex Gonzalez

Lighting Designer/Operator

Alex Gonzalez is our beloved Lighting Designer/Operator. He has helped Pioneer Players (and really everyone he can) time and time again. He is very involved in the department, from working at the TSW to creating to creating promotions for radio and acting as Vice-President of TV Club! Alex is an amazing person and the cast and crew is thankful to have him helping us!

Chris Pauliuc

Sound Operator

Chris Pauliuc is the sound operator for this production. You may have seen Chris as Rick in last semester's murder mystery Forever Hold Your Peace. Apart from Pioneer Players, Chris is involved in the Student Film Association, Comedy Club, and TV Club and works in the library.

Gavin McKeon

Front of House Manager

Oh noooo, who's that trapped in a box? Oh, it's just Pioneer Players Vice-President and Front of House Manager Gavin McKeon! Gavin is a senior Communication student and has been part of Pioneer Players since his second semester. When not knee-deep in Magic the Gathering or Destiny, Gavin stalks the halls of Hamilton as a TSW worker, Vice president of Comedy Club, Technical Producer of FNN, and President of Podcasting Club. Fun facts include that he works at a liquor store, has a tattoo, and has tamed a manticor, which live in his basement.

Shannon Redstone

Costumes

Shannon has done to costumes for off broadway shows in New York, the murder mystery here at William Paterson and for The Charles Seller Foundation and now for Puffs!

Kevin Stewart

Photography

Kevin, our wonderful photographer and senior is another person who everyone only has good things to say! Kevin first started his journey as a Pioneer Player three semesters ago, playing both Filipe & Mr. Sharinghold in Murder in the Manor. Kevin also played Walter in last fall's production Forever Hold Your Peace (his first assistant directing experience). Kevin, everyone in Players truly loves and appreciates you, and we're excited to have you here!

Photos