CONTENT WARNING:

ARTISTIC TEAM

CAST

PIT

DIRECTOR'S NOTE

UPCOMING OMTA/OSTA PRODUCTIONS

OSTA PRESENTS

All In Your Mind

Music and Lyrics by Jake Berran and Jacob Richter

Book and Lyrics by Joey Birdsong

April 12-14, 2024

CONTENT WARNING:

Sexual humor
Light discussion of mental health
Discussion of death
Medication

ARTISTIC TEAM

Director/Writer: Joey Birdsong

Music Director/Composer: Jake Berran

Music Director/Composer: Jacob Richter

Stage Manager: Ruby McKeever

Assistant Director/Sound Designer: Ansel Mills

Assistant Stage Manager: Lorelei McCarthy

Choreographer: Rylan Dean

Lighting Designer: Nick Henneman

Assistant Lighting Designer: Reka Ladanyi

Sound Designer: Ari Heff

Set Designer/Intimacy Coordinator: Sam Hechler

Prop Master/Run Crew: Molly Reiser

Assistant Prop Master: Zoe Eisen

Costume Designer: Nova Gomez

Production Coordinator: James McCreary

Run Crew: Hannah Everett

CAST

Kate Magnacca as Lucy

Evelyn Walker as Theresa

Rachel Wilson as Pat

Conrad Branch as Paul

Zeph Samdperil as Bohort

Ethan Katz as Brian

Reyna Berry as Katie/Ensemble

Susannah Poese as Saleswoman/Ensemble

Talia Richer as Corporate #2/Ensemble

Sasha Borislow as Corporate #1/Sarah/Ensemble

Ian Taylor as Salesman/Man/Ensemble

Max Novick as CEO

Ansel Mills as Lawyer/Ensemble

Clay Sinclair as Patient/Ensemble

PIT

Conductor: Jacob Richter

Keyboard 1: Emma Li

Keyboard 2: Abigail Nordan

Flute: Ruby Ahdoot

Clarinet: Logan Modan

Horn: Julia Wineger

Violin: Grace Hofer

Cello: Zealin Glickrieman

Guitar: Ian Campen

Bass: Francesca Neibel-Spruill

Drums: Jake Berran

DIRECTOR'S NOTE

Dear audience,

All in Your Mind began sometime in late 2022, when the Jacobs (composers Jake Berran and Jacob Richter) and I decided that between the three of us, we possessed the skills necessary to write a musical. For a long time, I was sure that this whole “let’s write a musical together” idea was a running bit. But then we kept talking about it, and we talked about it so much that, eventually, we decided to make it our Winter Term project.

Come January, this non-existent musical suddenly became our primary responsibility, but we had no clue what we wanted to write about. We spent several long evenings tossing ideas around, and from those early conversations emerged several of the characters you’ll soon see on stage: a regret-filled inventor, a man enamored with the game of pool, a bodybuilding ballerina with an archaic Arthurian name, an anxiety-ridden nerd susceptible to political hysteria, and an artificial intelligence trying to cultivate her own eccentricities. With these characters in mind, we set out to write a silly, lighthearted comedy, but as we constructed a world around them, we found ourselves with a much darker show than we’d anticipated. Still, we made sure to let the comedy seep in around the edges (and then some), and its varied nature has proven essential to its meaning and personality. I had so much fun collaborating with Jake and Jacob, and I think this story, combined with its music, is bigger and brighter than anything I could have written on my own.

By the time we finished writing All in Your Mind, I thought I finally understood what kind of show we’d made. During the early rehearsals, however, most of what I thought I knew about the show vanished in the face of what I saw forming in front of me. Each actor embodied their role with ingenuity from the get-go, but the real pleasure has been to watch how they’ve grown into their characters in these final few weeks. Ansel, my assistant director, brought new insight that animated the show into something more dynamic than I ever thought possible, and Ruby and Lorelei, our stage managers, kept the show on its feet with grace, humor, and so many spreadsheets. As a prose writer, I’m used to my words staying on the page where I put them. Thanks to this cast and crew, I’ve gotten to watch them bloom into something three-dimensional and full of real-life energy. All in Your Mind may have come out of Jake’s, Jacob’s, and my minds, but the show you’re about to see is a product of everyone that has put their creativity, care, and love into it.

Thank you for becoming part of it too.

TEAM BIOS

JOEY BIRDSONG (any/all) (Director/Writer) is Professor Emeritus of Gobbeldygook and Hobnob at South Hamster University. They recently published a monograph on social sabotage in the context of adolescent cupcake stacking championships. Outside of academia, they dabble in artistic LARPing, non-competitive lentil eating, and musical theater.

JAKE BERRAN (he/him) (Music Director/Composer) Standing at six feet and three inches, Jake Berran is the tallest of the creators of All In Your Mind and the second tallest on the production team. In his fourth season as a Yeoman, Berran has bounced back from his back pain and earned an astounding 194 credits (source: Ellucian Degree Works), and while he goes hard in the paint metaphorically, his double degree is in music composition and math. Berran plays all over the court as a pianist, conductor, percussionist, and vocalist, and he believes in the power of music to dunk on em and cross em up with its unique combination of captivation and ambiguity (respectively). While Berran spent most of his first three seasons on the bench (composing contemporary classical music), he got his training in as music director of 9 to 5, She Loves Me, and Ordinary Days. Berran has loved the hustle of writing and working on AIYM and is so grateful to the cast, pit, production team, and everyone else who played a role. He is lucky to be in the pit, reunited with his long-lost love of drumming, but needs to improve his footwork before heading into the game on April 12. Next year, Berran will be traded to Rice University as a starting master’s student in music composition. He will also eat beans there. This bio is dedicated to the Berran family and Harkness Co-op.

JACOB RICHTER (he/him) (Music Director/Composer) is a fourth-year composition, computer science, and math major from the San Francisco Bay Area. He has previously music directed and orchestrated The World is Only Magic (OMTA, Fall 2022). When he’s not struggling to get the Harkness can opener to work, Jacob enjoys playing pool, though not quite as much as Paul does.

RUBY McKEEVER (she/her) (Stage Manager) talks a lot about her cat Bonnie, who lives in Michigan. This is the fourth production she has stage managed and the first at Oberlin. She currently serves on the OMTA board and studies Jazz Composition and Creative Writing. She also does other things, presumably. She wants to thank her mom, Aunt Jacks, and her nerdy theatre friends. Love to the cast and crew. Hate to anyone who doesn’t respond to her emails in a timely fashion.

ANSEL MILLS (he/him) (Assistant Director) is a Theater major from Bozeman, MT. Although this is his debut on the directing side of things at Oberlin, you may have seen him in Spelling Bee, Sweeney Todd, Grisling Hall, or maybe even The World is Only Magic. Ansel attended the British American Drama Academy last semester, and will be directing Julius Caesar next winter term. He is afraid of lizards and transforming into scary monsters.

LORELEI McCARTHY (Assistant Stage Manager) is a first-year student from the Hudson Valley region of New York. They are a theatre major (and probably something else) with a passion for stage management. They were an ASM on the Fall Mainstage production of Pipeline, and they have had a great experience working on their first OMTA/OSTA production! Much love to their friends who have tolerated their constant singing of the immensely catchy songs you are about to hear.

RYLAN DEAN (Choreographer) dances sometimes. They also sometimes tell other people to dance, which is what they did for this show. Rylan would like to thank Joey, Jake, and Jacob for believing in their ability to tell other people to dance.

REKA LADANYI (they/she/he) (Assistant Lighting Designer) looks at the sun a little too often. Maybe that's why they like to play around with bright lights. In any case, Reka's excited to be working on their first production at Oberlin as assistant lighting designer. Apart from potentially causing permanent retinal damage, Reka's life goal is to say hi to any and every dog they see.

ARI HEFF (he/him) (Sound Designer) makes strange noises a lot of the time, which is good because he's co-Sound Designer on this show and sound design has something to do with noises. He thinks. He could also be wrong about that, but no one's said anything yet. He's been lighting designer on several OMTA shows and thinks lightbulbs are the greatest invention since sliced bread, but diced bread is pretty good too. Microphones.

ANSEL MILLS (he/him) (Sound Designer) Here are a few little-known facts about Ansel: his height changes depending on how you view him, he has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, his name means "King of the Lizards," he has cameos in over 1 blockbuster film/tv hits, he will never eat a human, he must never show emotion, and he is over 250 million years of age.

MOLLY REISER (Prop Master) is a first year creative writing student at Oberlin. This is her first show with OMTA/OSTA, but she did theatre all throughout high school, mainly with the sets crew. Her favorite show she's done is Les Miserables. Coincidentally it was also her most emotionally draining. Barricades are no joke. She is so excited to be a part of All In Your Mind. When this show makes it to Broadway, she can say she was here since the beginning. While watching the show, please keep in mind the beautiful, amazing props. And the music and the acting and the costumes and the lighting. But mostly the props.

ZOE EISEN (Assistant Prop Master) enjoyed working on her first production at Oberlin. She also liked learning what it is like to be in the crew, rather than on the stage and she hopes to explore it more in the future.

NOVA GOMEZ (Costume Designer) costumed the show or something.

JAMES McCREARY (Production Coordinator) is a third year theater major and French minor from Manhattan, NY. He has been serving on the OMTA board since his first year, and has previously been PC on The Dance Of Hands, The Theory Of Relativity, 9 to 5, Ghost Quartet and 13! Onstage credits include Sideways Stories From Wayside School (Louis), Ubu Roi (Stanislas Leczinski/Others) and this semester, Galatea Erupted (Ensemble.) Up next, you can see his capstone, Miss Ermintrude's Guide to Etiquette, this fall.

CAST BIOS

KATE MAGNACCA (she/they) (Lucy) is thrilled to join the cast of AIYM! Some of their recent credits include: TWiOM (Allison), Shrek (Pinocchio), The Addams Family (Wednesday Addams), JCS (Featured Dancer), Young Frankenstein (Inga U/S), The Wedding Singer (Featured Dancer), and Little Women (Meg March). Kate is a second year studying psychology and gender studies. She would like to thank the production team and cast for this wonderful show.

EVELYN WALKER (she/her) (Theresa) is thrilled to be playing Theresa in "All in Your Mind"! She is a second-year theater and musical studies major. She played Amanda in "The World is Only Magic" last year, and has served as dramaturg for "My Dead Boyfriend is a Robot" and "Calypso". Evelyn would like to send thanks and love to the whole cast and crew, and to Mabel the dorm cat for her emotional support throughout the spring semester. Enjoy the show!

RACHEL WILSON (she/her) (Pat) can't believe she's finally in one of these musical plays she's been hearing so much about! Haha just kidding, that was just a little joke for you. Rachel knows what a musical is, and she's so so psyched to be in this amazing original production. She's a second year Theater/English double major and French minor from the magical land of rural Pennsylvania. She has previously performed in other smash hit OMTA productions like The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee and The World is Only Magic and has been doing theater since she was itty bitty. When she's not in musical plays, Rachel also has a blast doing improv with the lovely Sunshine Scouts! She would like to thank the wonderful All In Your Mind cast, crew and pit for being such a joy to work with, and hopes you enjoy the show!

CONRAD BRANCH (he/him) (Paul) is from Denver, Colorado and has been writing and performing in plays since he was a small little boy. This is his first year at Oberlin, and his second theatrical college production that he has been a part of. Conrad is very excited for the opportunity to perform in an original musical and hopes to be recast in his role as Lucy in the inevitable Broadway production.

ZEPH SAMDPERIL (any) (Bohort) is oh so very excited to be in this production! This is their first time acting in a show at Oberlin! Wowee! Gee willikers! Maybe this is your first time watching a show at Oberlin. That would be pretty silly. In their free time, they like to write and play games. Maybe you also like to play games. If you do, here’s a game: find all four places where the name “Zeph Samdperil” appears in this program, including this bio. If you’re here with friends, race them to see who can find the name fastest. If you’re here alone, turn to your neighbor, introduce yourself, and see who can find the name the fastest.

ETHAN KATZ (he/him) (Brian) is a second year theater and creative writing double major from NYC. Past Oberlin Shows include Beyond Therapy (Bruce), 13! (Evan), Sideways Stories from Wayside School (Dameon), & 9 to 5 (Josh).

REYNA BERRY (she/her) (Katie/Ensemble) has never swallowed a brain-draining, energy-sharing, scary AI nanorobot crafted by evil hands—but through the power of acting tonight, she just might…! You may have caught Reyna as Sophronia/Lexi in Oberlin’s production of Ancestra this February. Her voice will also be featured in a collage performance held for one day only at the Allen Memorial Art Museum. The performance was put together as part of a Day of Connection on April 13th, in honor of the museum’s new exhibit, “The Body, The Host.” As a first year student, Reyna is excited to continue working on productions, both on and off the stage. Thank you to the lovely All In Your Mind cast and crew!!

SUSANNAH POESE (she/her) (Saleswoman/Ensemble) is a first-year College student. Currently, her major is hanging out with her friends and watching dumb movies. She has been passionate about theater and music all her life, and was so excited to be in All In Your Mind! Her favorite things include: glitter, her dog Fibonacci, trivia, and the movie Jab We Met. Her instagram is @zoozannah.

TALIA RICHER (she/her) (Corporate #2/Ensemble) is a first year prospective English major. All In Your Mind is her second show at Oberlin, and she is thrilled to a part of such an incredible company! Previous roles include Archie in 13! Talia would like to extend a special thank you to her friends and family, and also to Diet Coke for keeping her sane.

SASHA BORISLOW (any) (Corporate #1/Sarah/Ensemble) is a second year studying creative writing and sociology, and she is overjoyed to be in the worldwide premiere of All In Your Mind!! This is her second show with OMTA, and her one millionth show overall. You may have seen her playing a thirteen year old last semester, or acting a fool with the Sunshine Scouts improv troupe. Enjoy the show!

IAN TAYLOR (any) (Salesman/Man/Ensemble) is from Ann Arbor, Michigan. They gained notoriety through their portrayal of the dad of the guitarist kid in school of rock. Ian can do cool tricks and flips but just doesn’t do any in this show. Ian is working on something really big right now, they just need more time. Then you’ll see. You’ll all see.

MAX NOVIK (he/him) (CEO) is excited to be involved in All in Your Mind. Max Is a Sophomore math major. At his time at Oberlin he has played Ramone in OMTA’s The World is Only Magic, and Herr Shultz in Cabaret.

ANSEL MILLS (he/him) (Lawyer/Ensemble) *guaaaaa* *guaaaaaaa* *sluck sluck sluck* *guaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa*

CLAY SINCLAIR (he/him) (Patient/Ensemble), a 2nd-year bio major from Avon, CT, is thrilled to be a part of dystopian romance horror sci-fi adventure legal thriller musical production All in Your Mind! He has acted in several other musicals, almost exclusively of the Disney Jr. variety, and one that wasn't (Hello Dolly), in addition to numerous stage plays (including as Robert Sideway in Our Country's Good) and a few short films. This is his second OMTA/OSTA production, the first being 3 Michelin star experience Ubu Roi. He can be located studying at the Science Center, running through Tappan on the way to a class he's going to make it to, and 'Round Midnight concerts. He hopes you enjoy the show, in addition to rejecting any offers from people volunteering to put questionable devices inside of your head!

PIT BIOS

RUBY AHDOOT (Flute) is a second-year prospective Law & Society major and Russian, Eastern European, and Eurasian Studies minor. She is very excited to be participating in her fourth OMTA production! She previously played flute in the pit for 9 to 5: The Musical and The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee. She also did run crew for 13: The Musical last semester. She would like to thank Jake and Jacob, our amazing music directors, for composing the music and directing her and her fellow pit members. She also thanks Joey, Ruby, Lorelei, and everyone else who made this production possible. She hopes the show is MINDblowing!

LOGAN MODAN (Clarinet) is a first year at Oberlin College and Conservatory, attempting to major in musical studies, and is from Niskayuna, New York. In past years, he’s played Reed 4 in A Chorus Line at Niskayuna High School, and Reed 2 for The Prom at Proctors Theatre. He sends his thanks to the cast and crew of AIYM, especially Ruby McKeever who introduced him to this wonderful show.

JULIA WINEGER (Horn) is a 3rd year double degree horn performance and geosciences major who loves the outdoors, her friends, and cooking meals for her co-op.

GRACE HOFER(Violin) is a third year Conservatory student originally from Los Angeles, California. They are a lover of new music, old music, and music with beeps and bops. Grace is so excited to be playing in this fun new musical, and thinks the purpose of life is to keep a basil plant alive and have cute picnics with friends.

ZEALIN GLICKRIEMAN (Cello) successfully plays the cello, and less successfully plays several other instruments. She's played music for about 17 years, and she continues to do so both because she wants to and because it's an incredibly effective procrastination technique. She's a fourth year majoring in anthropology and politics, with a linguistics minor, and spends the vast majority of her time either thinking about or playing the card game Magic: the Gathering. She doesn't really know what else to put in this bio, but she's open to suggestions.

IAN CAMPEN (Guitar) is a guitarist studying jazz performance in the conservatory. His favorite color is yellow and his favorite shape is triangle.

FRANCESCA NEIBEL-SPRUILL (Bass) is a multi-instrumentalist and composition major in Oberlin's Conservatory. She has a background in a variety of music, including jazz, EDM, and metal, in addition to classical training. Francesca is also a visual artist and had studied painting from a young age.

SPECIAL THANKS

Jerry Achtermann

Jesse Jones

Stephen Hartke

Jacob Crosby

Gina Azzari

Ross Karre

Michael Frazier

Ella Pike

OMTA/OSTA Board

Co-Chairs:

OMTA: Phin Samdperil

OSTA: Nova Gomez

Treasurers:
OMTA: Chloe Howes

OSTA: Freya Kailing

Treasurer in Training:

Emily Zinner

Secretary:

Ansel Mills

Technical Coordinator:

Andrew McCracken

Technical Coordinators In Training:

Ari Heff

Yasiel Ewing

Graphic Designer:

Nat Howard

Musical Coordinator:
Jake Berran

Musical Coordinator In Training:

Ruby McKeever

Webmaster:

Zeph Samdperil

Photography Coordinator:

Cady Hurlbert

Videography Coordinator:

Keagan Tan

Props Master:

Chloe Sinder

Costume Coordinator:

Ev Ackert

Intimacy Coordinator Coordinator:
Paulette Maher

Props/Costumes Team:
Vyvia Shen

Sarah Storace-Nelson

Marney Harris

Ofek Levy

Production Coordinators:
For The Lightning Thief: Ev Ackert

For All In Your Mind: James McCreary

Marney Harris

Zeph Samdperil

Production Assistants:
Wesley Brubaker
Calvin Shawler
Sarah Storace-Nelson

Juno Rose

OMTA Mascot:
Alvaro Barquero-Rodriguez

Members At Large:

Owen Shirrell

UPCOMING OMTA/OSTA PRODUCTIONS

The Lightning Thief (May 3rd-5th): Dir. Alvaro Barquero Rodriguez

Horse Girls (Week of November 11th-18th): Dir. Quinn Miller

Eurydice Tells Orpheus Goodbye (Week of November 19th-26th): Dir. Calvin Shawler

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