Follow Us:

Directors Note: In the weeks leading up to this semester starting, knowing that I would be directing and devising a whole new performance piece without really knowing exactly what student-performers I'd be working with, I knew one thing... that it would predominantly be first year students. The word "welcome" kept coming to mind. How to welcome them to Doane Theatre? How to welcome them onto campus? What does it mean to feel welcomed and to actively welcome others? It then opened up to a more general scope... who in our world isn't actively welcomed into certain spaces? How can we bring more grace to others? I knew this would be fertile ground for exploration and experimentation in the creative process. Collaborating with senior Doane Theatre major, Ella Zubieni, we spent the first week of rehearsal onboarding mostly first year students to the collegiate theatre world. Then we spent a significant amount of time discussing in-depth about all of our personal experiences with feeling allowed and allowing others... welcoming the other. Ella led a whole writer's workshop with the cast where these potent themes could be explored through personal testimony, poetry, and art. Using these discussions, original writing, and improvisations in movement, gesture, and music, we began to shape and form what you see here. All of the words you hear spoken are the original words written by the cast member performing them.

A mantra of mine before every rehearsal has been "I am not here to control. I am here to shape, guide, and allow." I am extremely amazed by the beauty created by our student actors and designers, in tandem with Ella Zubieni's leadership, creation, and directing. 

You are welcome here. You are enough. 

-Joel Egger

Associate Professor of Theatre

Doane University

Cast

Production Team

Meet the Company

Joey Ramirez

Performer

Joey is a first year at Doane University originally from Houston, Texas, She is majoring in Theatre and minoring in eduction. Joey has been involved in theatre for 10 years doing both acting and tech! She is thrilled to be apart of the first show of year, and is so excited to continue her journey here.

Adrien Thomas

Performer

Adrien is a sophomore at Doane University. They are from Omaha, Nebraska and have been involved in the play She Kills Monsters as Steve in their freshman year. They are majoring in art and psychology and minoring in theatre and sociology. They are most excited for the audience to see the work everyone in the cast have put into this devised piece.

Annah Boyer

Performer

Annah is a freshman from Bellevue, Nebraska who is excited for her first show at Doane. It has been a great experience, and she hopes to continue to enjoy being involved in future theatre productions at Doane.

Isabel Mancinas

Performer

Isabel Mancinas is a freshman at Doane University. Majoring in psychology with a minor in theater. She is from Hastings Nebraska. She’s involved in the trio program, choir, theater and Doane players. She’s been involved in theater for 5 and a half years now, she plans on continuing her journey in the theater industry. She thanks her friends and family for their support and is excited for them to see the show!

Paulina Hurtado

Performer

Paulina is a freshman theatre major here at Doane. She has experience in many areas of theatre including acting, crew, technical directing, and directing. She is so excited to be apart of this show and company.

Elizabeth Stratton

Performer

Elizabeth is a freshman Theatre Major from Bellevue, Nebraska and is involved in Doane Players and Collegiate Chorale. This is her first show at Doane but has been involved in acting and costume/hair/makeup design all throughout high school. Some of her past roles include Mrs. Puff in Spongebob the Musical, Mrs. Phelps in Matilda, and Veta Louise Simmons in Harvey. Elizabeth is excited to continue doing what she loves here at Doane, and is ready for whatever comes next!

Byron Davos

Performer

Byron has done theater throughout high school, and is so excited for this show as it is his first college production.

Helina Cooper

Performer

Helina Cooper is from Lincoln, NE. They are a freshman pursuing a Sociology major with a general emphasis. They are involved in choir, theatre, and apart of the Hansen Leadership Program. They did theatre for three years back at Lincoln East High School where they were involved in One acts, fall musicals, spring shows, and cabaret! “Welcome” is their first show at Doane and they are so excited to continue be involved in the theatre program!!

Melissa Berrio

Performer

Mel is from Colorado Springs, Colorado. They are double-majoring in sociology and psychology with an emphasis on criminology at Doane. They will be participating in Choir and Theater through the Hansen Leadership Program. They are looking forward to expressing themselves through theater and trying new things!

Frankie McClaren

Performer

Frankie is a Sophomore Theatre Major from Omaha, Nebraska and is involved in Doane Players as Historian, Phi Sigma Tau, and The CAPE Project on Doane Campus. Frankie has done both main stage and student directed shows, including ‘B’ in “Town Hall”, ‘Tilly Evans’ in “She Kills Monsters”, and ‘Eddie in “Fool for Love”. Outside of Doane, Frankie has been in many shows including ‘Ebenezer Scrooge’ in “A Christmas Carol” and ‘Juror 3’ in “Twelve Angry Women”. Frankie is very excited to be working on another show with Director Joel Egger and can’t wait for everyone to see this amazing show!

Robert Asher Slover

Performer

Asher is a freshman at Doane University from Aurora, Colorado. This is his first production at Doane University, he would like to thank his friends and family for supporting him throughout this journey. He hopes you enjoy the show.

Tennyson Lewis

Performer

Tennyson is a first year at Doane from Gretna, Nebraska majoring in theatre. She has mostly worked set backstage, but had a leading role in Matilda her senior year. Tennyson is most excited about getting to know the Doane theatre department better the next few years.

Camden Kent

Performer

Camden is a freshman from Crete, Nebraska. They are currently studying Secondary English Education with a minor in Spanish and is apart of choir, theater and they will hopefully be rushing in the spring!

Joel Egger

Co-Director

Joel Egger is Associate Professor of Theatre at Doane University and has been teaching and creating there since 2015. Egger teaches all levels of acting, playwriting, script analysis, devised theatre, and directs in the main stage season. Egger has devised and created several original ensemble-based performance works throughout his career and absolutely loves to create "art out of nothing but each other." Freedom of expression is of paramount importance right now. Say something! Joel would like to thank this amazing group of student-performers and design / technicians. Joel would also like to thank his incredible wife, Kjerstin and their goofy dog, Maven for loaning him out so much to make this.

Ella Zubieni

Co-Director

Ella is a senior theatre major at Doane University from Aurora, Colorado. She loves performing and has worked on past productions including She Kills Monsters, Town Hall, A Midsummer's Nights Dream, The Cherry Orchard, and more! Ella is so grateful to have gotten to be apart of this incredible experience with an amazing group of students. She is so excited to end her Doane Theatre experience strong! Ella would like to thank Joel Egger for being an amazing mentor throughout this process. She hopes you enjoy the show!

Emily Domenguez

Stage Manager

Emily Dominguez is a Junior from Wylie, Texas. She has been apart of numerous shows at doane both offstage and onstage, shows like: A Midsummer Nights Dream, A Bright New Boise, The Delays, Town Hall and A Map of Virtue. Emily is very excited for everyone to see the show, and see how amazing the performers are doing!

Daisa Smidt

Assistant Stage Manager

Daisa Smidt is excited to be a part of Welcome as the Assistant Stage Manager. She is thrilled to have her first tech position ever. Previous credits include Granny in "The Beverly Hillbillies", Alice Beineke in "The Addams Family", and Polly in "Out of the Dust", all at Palmyra High School. Daisa is grateful to her family and friends for all their support. When not on stage, Daisa enjoys singing and reading.

Sam Feng

Scenic Design/Technical Direction

Sam is a junior theatre major from Colorado. He primarily focuses on Scenic and Sound Design. Past shows with Sam's involvement include A Map of Virtue, The Delays, Between the Lines, A Bright New Boise, and more!

Johanna Horne

Lighting Design

Johanna Horne is a freshman theatre major from Denison Texas. She has participated in High-school and Community theatre, with a grand total of 17 shows! This is her first show on the collegiate level. Previously, she was selected for Honor Crew at the Grapevine, Texas Thespian State Festival in 2024 and she has earned All-Star Crew Member at a District UIL OAP competition (three times!) and was in a Best Tech Team at a District UIL OAP competition.

Cody Lee Crist

Master Electrician

Cody Lee is excited to be back at Doane for his final year! In the past Cody Lee has designed lighting for productions including A Bright New Boise, She Kills Monsters, Town Hall, The Addams Family, The Birds, and more! Cody Lee is very excited for his upcoming projects! Check out his portfolio on Instagram @theleeman0213

Kennedy Abbott

Light Board Operator

Kennedy is a freshman and this is their first show at Doane! Please enjoy the show!!!! THANK YOUUU !!!!

Matthieu Helaine

Sound Coordinator

Matthieu is a junior theatre major from Centenniel, Colorado who works in both tech and acting. He mainly works in lights, this is his first time sound designing. He spends time watching movies and shows with friends (mainly House M.D)

Kat Cover

Costume Coordinator

Casey Callahan

Properties Design

This is Casey’s first show at Doane! She is so excited for this show. Enjoy!

Adam Millikan

Sound Board Operator

Adam Millikan, is a Junior here at Doane from McCool Junction, Nebraska. They are an actor with a passion for sound design. Previous roles include in A Bright New Boise, The Delays, and She Kills Monster here at Doane. They're are excited for everyone to experience this beautiful piece of art everyone has worked to create.

Erin Landkamer

House Manager

Naomi "Novy" Clutter

Wardrobe

See What's Next!

I'm Gonna Marry You Tobey Maguire by Samatha Hurley - November 13th-15th

Birthday Candles by Noah Haidle - February  26th-28th

Scarlet: A New Musical with Book and Lyrics by Richard Lindenfelzer and Book and Music by Jess Newman - April 30th-May 2nd

This program was created by Doane Players

10.25.25

Find us on Instagram @doane_players

Broadway News

	Watch: Next On Stage Season 6 Finalists Revealed
	Photos: WONDER Celebrates Opening Night at the A.R.T.
	Video: Riz Ahmed Stars as HAMLET in First Trailer for Modern Reimagining
	Photos: ALL OUT: COMEDY ABOUT AMBITION Gala Performance
	Video: Bess Wohl and Kristolyn Lloyd Discuss LIBERATION on CNN's AMANPOUR
	Twelve Days of Christmas: Tracy Letts
	Stage Mag Spotlight: American Theater Group's IT'S A WONDERFUL LIFE
	WICKED Star Bowen Yang to Exit SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE After Seven Seasons
	Listen: Shoshana Bean Sings 'You’re Not Alone (Aquarius)'
	Photos: Garrett Clayton Stars in HOW THE GRINCH STOLE CHRISTMAS