Elementary Spacetime Show

Department of Theatre and Dance 

Daniel Gurskis, Dean, College of the Arts

Kathleen Kelley, Chair, Department of Theatre and Dance 

Artistic and Cast Biographies 

Dante Green (Director) (they/she/he) is a multi-hyphenate artist born and raised in rural Pennsylvania, based in Brooklyn. They are an alumnus of The Headlong Performance Institute and The University of the Arts (R.I.P.), with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Directing, Playwriting, and Production. Dante is the Founding Artistic Director of The Makers’ Ensemble, Co-Artistic Director of The Brick Theater, a Network of Ensemble Theaters member, a Roundabout Directors’ Group Cohort 7 Member, and a former Wesleyan Breaking New Ground Fellow. Dante’s work has been showcased at Playwrights Horizons, Atlantic Theatre Company, Ars Nova, Pig Iron Theater Company, FringeArts, and others. Dante has worked internationally with companies such as The Public Theater, Virgin Voyages, and the Hartwig Foundation. Dante is a former Instructor of Theater at NYU, Wesleyan University, Point Park University, and Sheridan College. Upcoming: The Potluck (Soho Rep)

César Alvarez (Music, Lyrics, Co-Book, Co-Music Director) (they/them) is a composer, lyricist, playwright, and performance maker. They create big experimental gatherings disguised as musicals in the key of inter-dimensionality, socio-political transformation, kinship and coexistence. With a background as a jazz saxophonist, band leader and sound artist, César's work inhabits a space between the worlds of theater, music, performance art and social practice. César has written seven full-length musicals, FUTURITY (2016 Lortel Award for Outstanding Musical); The Elementary Spacetime Show; The Universe is a Small Hat; NOISE (a commission of The Public Theater); The Potluck; egg; and Painting Mary. César was a 2018-20 Princeton Arts Fellow, 2020-22 Hermitage Fellow, a recipient of The Jonathan Larson Award in 2016, The Guggenheim Fellowship and the Kleban Prize in Musical Theatre for Lyrics in 2022. César is teaches at Dartmouth College. www.cesaralvarez.net

Emily Orling (co-Book, Scenic, Costume and Props Designer) (she/her) is a visual artist, designer, poet and mother working primarily with paint, clay, fabric and performance.  Emily works at the intersection of queer domesticity, motherhood, mental illness, metaphysics, and esoteric spiritual pursuit. Emily’s writing, thinking, spiritual practice and creative labor infests, alters and seeds the work of her partner César Alvarez. They have been creating experimental and participatory music theater performances in collaboration since 2008. Emily has worked with César in varying roles as co-author, performer, designer, dramaturg, and spiritual adviser on the musicals Egg, FUTURITY, The Elementary Spacetime Show, The Universe is a Small Hat, NOISE, egg and The Potluck.

Emily’s designs and creative work for theater and dance have been seen at Lincoln Center, Soho rep, Ars Nova, A.R.T., Jacob’s Pillow, Joe’s Pub, Northern Stage and New York Stage and Film. She has worked with students on productions at NYU, Princeton, Sarah Lawrence College and Dartmouth College, and she has participated in residencies at SPACE at Ryder Farm, The Hermitage, and The Grove Writer’s Colony.  Emily's work on the off-Broadway production of FUTURITY earned her Lortel and Drama Desk nominations for Set Design. 

Solo Exhibitions:  A.P.E. Arts (Northampton, MA); Lo River Arts Gallery; 473 Broadway Gallery; Dactyl Gallery. Group Exhibitions: 95 1/2 Main (Nyack, NY); Cal State Fullerton, Corridor Gallery. www.emilyorling.com

Spencer Weidie (Choreographer) Spencer James Weidie is a performance artist originally from Kailua, Hawai’i. They graduated from the Conservatory of Dance at Purchase College, SUNY with a BFA (Honors) in Dance. Spencer is currently in their fourth season with the Trisha Brown Dance Company. They have previously held company positions with Brian Brooks/Moving Company, Bocatuya, Gallim Dance, MADBOOTS Dance, the Metropolitan Opera Ballet, and Punchdrunks’s Sleep No More. In 2024, Spencer made their Broadway Debut as Dance Captain and Swing in Cabaret at the Kit Kat Club. They are also am emerging choreographer whose work has been commissioned by Breaking the Binary Theatre and presented by Movement Research, 92Y Future Dance Festival, Re/Venue NYC at Mark Morris Dance Center, NEWSTEPS at Chen Dance Center, Spoke The Hub, and NACHMO Dance. Spencer would love to thank all involved  for being absolutely incredible each and every step along this wild ride of a show!

Manu De Lima (Assistant Choreographer/Swing) Manu is a Sophomore Musical Theatre BFA at Montclair State. She’s very excited to be a part of this production, and can’t wait for people to see what this show has become.

Piper Hill (co-music director) Hi! I’m Piper Hill (he/him), a performer/composer/theater artist/gamer from central Ohio. I live in Brooklyn now! I make game musicals - by which I mean musicals that are games, games that are musicals, or musicals that are made out of games. I’m currently working on a Sims musical as well as a musical RPG called Small Dragon. I’m a core collaborator with Spirits Go Blah (Emily Orling, César Alvarez, and Co.). On different projects of theirs, I sing, act, play keyboard, music direct, score supervise, projection design, video edit, and run captions. It’s been such a joy to co-music direct The Elementary Spacetime Show!

Sean Johnson (Assistant Music Director/Rehearsal Pianist/Keys 2) Sean Johnson is a senior Theatre Studies major at Montclair State University. Previous credits include; The Little Mermaid (MD), Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat (MD), Natasha, Pierre, and The Great Comet of 1812 (MD Intern), Hansel & Gretel (Assistant to Conductor), The Color Purple (Ensemble/Ol' Mister). Sean is excited to be playing in a pit professionally for the first time, and would like to thank his mom and dad for their love and support!

Nick Kolin (Lighting Designer) Currently Lighting Director and Resident Lighting Designer for the Philadelphia Ballet, including designs for Angel Corella, Matthew Neenan, Juliano Nunes, Russell Ducker, and Meredith Rainey. 

Lighting Designer for Mark Morris and the Mark Morris Dance Group with over a dozen works in the repertory; as well as designs for the Philadelphia Dance Company (Philadanco!) with Hope Boykin, Tommie-Waheed Evans, Roderick George, Thang Dao, Juel D. Lane, Dawn Marie Bazemore, Rennie Harris, among others.

Additional projects include: New York City Ballet Choreographic Institute, English National Ballet, Trisha Brown Dance Company, NY City Center’s Fall for Dance Festival, and Lincoln Center Festival.

Associate Lighting Designer for Mike Birbiglia’s The New One on Broadway and Netflix. 

Member IATSE USA829 and Assistant Professor, Montclair State University.  

Gaby Flores (Assistant Director) Gaby is honored to be closing out her MSU Musical Theatre career by assistant directing this incredible show. This show has been such a gift. She hopes that it touches viewers in the same way it has touched her, and maybe even brings a little bit of healing into their lives. Gaby would like to thank her family, parents, Donna, and every mental health professional that has made her journey possible.  

Lily Weigand (Sound Designer) is so excited to do her official mainstage sound design here at Montclair State University! In the past here she has been an associate a handful of time but now she gets a chance to be in the driver's seat! Now as a junior she has done over 15 shows here at Montclair in roles both in sound and lighting! She is so beyond grateful to the team and cast to be apart of this immense creative show! Lily hopes you enjoy all the elements of this wonderful show!! 

Related school credits: Associate sound designer: Oklahoma! - 2025 / Natasha, Pierre, and the Great Comet of 1812 - 2025 / Audio Engineer: Pride and Prejudice - 2024 / 

Alaina Ferris (co-orchestrator) is an interdisciplinary composer, poet, and performer working across opera, choral music, and contemporary theater. Described by The New York Times as “arrestingly lovely” and “haunting,” her music explores empathy, memory, resilience, and the impact of violence against women.

A vocalist, pianist, and Celtic harpist, she draws on her experience as a former music therapist, as well as her love of Renaissance chorales, classical orchestration, jazz, folk improvisation, and avant-garde poetics. She performs on harp with Night Heron Quintet and is one half of the folk duo Physical Kids.

Her recent works include The Lydian Gale Parr (an oratorio/incantation with librettist Karinne Keithley Syers), Simone at the Museum (a vampire opera in development), and collaborations on adaptations of The Blind (dir. Mia Rovegno & Jeanette Oi-Suk Yew) and The Black Crook (dir. Joshua William Gelb). She has worked with the Brooklyn Youth Chorus, Barnard College, HERE Arts, SoHo Rep; as well as artists including Mac Wellman, Coco Karol, Sxip Shirey, Anne Waldman, William Burke, and more. She is a longtime collaborator of César Alvarez and Emily Orling.

Ferris has received fellowships and grants from the Hermitage Artist Residency, NYC Women’s Fund, New Music USA, Cité Internationale des Arts, American Opera Project, and National Sawdust. Born in Las Vegas and raised in Boulder County, Colorado, she holds a B.A. in Music and Creative Writing from the University of Denver, an M.F.A. in Poetry from NYU, and an M.M. in Composition from the Manhattan School of Music. She lives in New York.

Gracie Brown (Captions/Supertitles) Gracie Leigh Brown is a freshman here at MSU and has been deeply involved in theatre for most of her life. She has performed in a variety of productions and enjoys both performing as well as being part of the creative process. Gracie is excited to be part of this production and grateful to work with such a talented cast and creative team. She hopes you enjoy the show:)

Ansel Brasel (Production Stage Manager) Ansel Brasel is a Junior at Montclair State University and is very excited to be a part of this project. Montclair State University credits include: Die Zauberflöte, The Elementary Spacetime Show (Workshop Presentation), Spring Dance, Jesus Christ Superstar, Sophisticated Ladies, Spring Awakening. Next up, The Elementary Spacetime Show (Workshop Presentation) at Lincoln Center. IG: @ansel_brasel

Andrea Avilés (Razmush/Player) Andrea is a freshman at Montclair state and is beyond excited to be in her first performance role at MSU! Other than performing Andrea was the assistant stage manager for Assassins. Andrea would like thank the creative team for making such a welcoming environment and her parents for supporting her no matter what!

Lila Knowles (Props Head) Lila is a Junior DTM major, concentrating in Scenic Design and Properties. She is thrilled to be working on this production with so many creative individuals! Some of her past credits include: ATNY's Into the Woods (rigging/A2), Bring It On (Scenic Coordinator/A2), High School Musical (Scenic Coordinator/A2). Bergen Alumni Theatre's Cartoon (Props), MSU's Natasha, Pierre & The Great Comet of 1812 (Props runner), Pride and Prejudice (A2). She would like to thank Meg for going on this props journey with her, and her friends and family for always supporting her <3

Renee Redding Jones (Intimacy Director) Renee is a movement professional and a Certified Intimacy Director. She is a teacher of dance and movement, a Certified Laban Movement Analyst, Choreographer, and 200hr Registered Yoga Teacher. Renee is a New York Dance and Performance “Bessie” Award winning performer. As a dancer, Renee was a featured performer in the companies of Ronald K. Brown, David Rousseve, and Cynthia Oliver. As a teacher, choreographer, and Intimacy Director, Renee has enjoyed a long tenure at The Atlantic Theater Acting School and in the undergraduate drama department (The Classical Studio) at NYU/Tisch School of the Arts, in addition to serving several years as an Assistant Arts Professor in the school’s dance department. 

Tenda Kavuma (Mosquito) Tenda Kavuma is currently a sophomore BFA Musical Theatre Major at MSU. Her past MSU credits include Collateral Beauty and Assassins. She feels very blessed to be in the show and share this story! 

Makiela Mauney-Brooks (Swing/Understudy) Makiela Mauney-Brooks began theater training at four years old in her hometown Washington, DC! The journey began at local summer theater communities such as The Theater Lab and Adventure Theater. She is now an alumnus of the Theater Department at Duke Ellington School of the Arts. Currently, she is a Junior at Montclair State University majoring in Musical Theatre. She has previously performed at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts as an ensemble dancer for the 2023 Cappies Awards Gala (and won best ensemble)! She is also among the first (Along with others in her ensemble) to sing at Washington D.C’s National Gallery of Art, in an Afro-Atlantic Histories exhibition entitled “When We Gather”. Makiela is dedicated to her craft and continues to grow her skills in singing, dancing, and acting! 

Annabelle Corigliano (Ensemble) Annabelle is so excited to make her MSU debut! Some of her favorite past roles include: Fiona (Shrek), Elle Woods (Legally Blonde), Regina George (Mean Girls). She hopes you enjoy this transformative production. 

Mia Grizzuti (Ensemble) Mia Grizzuti is a senior musical theater, and is cherishing every moment of her last show! She has been a part of various productions at Montclair including Blind Injustice, Spring Awakening, and Assassins. This is her last show, and she is thrilled to be apart of a show that is so impactful and moving. 

Claire Smith (Player) Claire Elizabeth Smith is thrilled to be making her Montclair State debut! Claire is a sophomore Musical Theatre major from Jacksonville, FL. She is grateful to her family, friends, professors, and creative team. 

Pamela Chayabutra (Player) Super excited to be making her Kasser Theater debut at Montclair State! Pamela is a current junior BFA Musical Theatre major originally from Bangkok, Thailand. Selected credits include A Chorus Line at Theatre Row (Connie), Jesus Christ Superstar at MSU (Ensemble), and Royal Shakespeare Company’s Julius Caesar performance at MSU (Soothsayer.) Thank you for coming to see this incredible show! <3

Leilani Ford (Alameda)  Leilani (They/ She), a current junior BFA Musical Theater major, is overjoyed to be sharing this story of self discovery and acceptance. Their most recent performance on an MSU stage was in Natasha, Pierre, and the Great Comet of 1813 in the Ensemble/ Helene’s Understudy. She is ecstatic to live this story with her company and engage with her audience in such an immersive way. @leilaniisabell

Samara DeCastro (Player) Samara is a senior Musical Theatre major and is thrilled to be finishing out her time here at MSU with The Elementary Spacetime Show! Previous credits include Wendla (Spring Awakening), Simon Zealotes (Jesus Christ Superstar), and Giuseppe Zangara (Assassins). @samaraadecastro on Instagram. 

Queyonté Carolina (Ensemble, Diamana u/s, Nurse Kathy u/s) Queyonté is very excited to be making his MSU production debut, and be apart of this new work. He has previously held roles such as "Billy Flynn"(Chicago) in high school, and sang as "Middle Michael" in a Broadway Benefit Concert. He sends a special thank you to his mentor: Maleah Joi Moon, his family, and the entire creative team of The Elementary Spacetime Show.

Jason Pritchett (Nurse Kathy) Jason is a junior at MSU, and is ecstatic to be playing Nurse Kathy in The Elementary Space Time Show. He is currently studying to obtain his BFA in Musical Theatre. His most recent performance on an MSU stage was in Assassins as the Proprietor. Jason has had an amazing time throughout this process, and can’t wait to live this story with the audience!

Ryan Donnelly (Player/Ensemble) Ryan is a senior Theater Studies major at Montclair State University and he is super excited to be making his Mainstage debut! He would like to thank all of the cast and production team for such a great experience and opportunity. 

Robert Myers (Momdad) Robert Myers is so excited to be in this production of The Elementary Spacetime Show! This is Robert’s 3rd production at Montclair State University and was previously seen as Dolokhov in The Great Comet of 1812. Robert would like to thank his family and friends for all of their support and his professors for this incredible opportunity.

Lexi Tabor (Player / Dance Captain) Lexi Tabor is a Junior Musical Theatre major, and is thrilled to be back onstage at the Kasser Theater! Previous MSU credits include The Great Comet of 1812, Jesus Christ Superstar, and Sophisticated Ladies. She thanks God, her family, and all the cast and crew. Enjoy The Elementary Spacetime Show!

CJ Fassl (The Beast) CJ Fassl (The Beast) is very excited to be in his seventh production at MSU. He is a senior in the Musical Theatre program here at Montclair where he was recently seen as one of the Proprietors in Assassins in Concert. Outside of performing, CJ thoroughly enjoys getting the absolute most out of his AMC A-List subscription.

Jack Gemmell (Rhubarb) Jack Gemmell is so hyped to be making his Alexander Kasser Theatre debut in The Elementary Spacetime Show. While he feels type cast as a ginger in this role, he has fallen in love with Rhubarb and ALL their horny cousins. In bringing Rhubarb to life, his biggest inspiration has been baby sensory dancing fruit videos on YouTube. He thanks his supportive root family and friends and hopes you enjoy the show—and don’t call a musical a play… That’s offensive!!!!!!

Elena Domenico (Eunice x9) Elena is so excited to be making her MSU debut in The Elementary Space Time Show! She is a freshman BFA Musical Theatre major and has thoroughly enjoyed her first year here, and is excited for what’s to come. She would like to thank the cast and crew for making The Elementary Space Time Show such a positive and uplifting experience, and her family and friends for their love and support. @elenaadomenico 

Halle Cantu (Swing) Halle is a freshman Musical Theatre major and is honored to make her Montclair debut with the Elementary Spacetime Show! This process has been one of a kind and she is most excited to hear the conversations that will emerge from this show.

Casper Parvin (Frankie) Casper Parvin is extraordinarily excited to be making his MSU debut! They are also honored to have the opportunity to be a part of such a special show and play a role with whom they resonate so deeply. He would like to thank the cast, crew, and creative team for their hard work and his family and his girlfriend for all of their love and support.

Lussi Pearl (Player) Lussi Pearl is a senior musical theatre major who is so excited to make her mainstage debut! Previous MSU credits: Collateral Beauty (The Busker) and Assassins (Balladeer). #transfernation!!!

Princess Gant (Diamana) Princess Gant is in her final semester here at montclair. She is Excited to end her run here with such an exciting production and amazing company. She has previously been seen on Montclair state stages as A Balladeer in Assasins, Woman By the Fire in Jesus Christ Super Star, and Josephine Baker in Grin and Bare it. She would like to thank her family for supporting her through all her academic/artistic endeavors as well as Caesar Alvarez, Emily Orling and Dante Green for choosing her to bring this new character to life and making her last months here at Montclair one big happy memory she’ll remember for a very long time. 

Stella Hunter (Player (U/S Rhubarb and Alameda 2)) Stella is beyond thrilled to be making her debut at Montclair State! She is from California and has been loving life on the East Coast. Some past role highlights include; Maria (The Sound of Music), Olive (Spelling Bee), and Sandra (Big Fish). She hopes you enjoy the show and that it changes you in some way, the way it changed her.