Passage

Department of Theatre and Dance 

Daniel Gurskis, Dean, College of the Arts

Kathleen Kelley, Chair, Department of Theatre and Dance 

Artistic and Cast Biographies 

Debbie Saivetz (Director) New York directing credits include The Conduct of Life for the Maria Irene Fornes marathon (Public Theater); Stephanie Fleischmann's Sound House (New Georges), Sarah DeLappe's The Wolves (Pace Performing Arts), Kara Corthron's Julius by Design (Fulcrum), Javier Malpica's Our Dad is in Atlantis (Working Theater) and Sarah Ruhl's LATE: A Cowboy Song (Clubbed Thumb). International directing projects include Bess Wohl's Pequeños sonidos con la boca (TAI, Madrid), Musalem's Rebanadas de vida (Teatro San Ginés, Santiago, Chile; Lab Trece, Mexico City), and Ruhl's Eurídice (Casa de los Teatros, Oaxaca, Mexico) and La Casa limpia (Teatro Helénico, Mexico City). Drama League Directing Fellow, New Georges Affiliated Artist & Audrey Resident, Soho Rep Writer/Director Lab, WP Theater Director's Forum, New Dramatists resident director. Stage Directors and Choreographers Society, Actors' Equity Association, National Alliance of Acting Teachers.

Kathleen Kelley (Projection Designer) is a choreographer and media artist who puts collaboration at the center of everything she makes. She is the Artistic Director of Proteo Media + Performance, creating interdisciplinary work with dancers, filmmakers, designers, and musicians to explore how movement and technology shape experience. Her work has been presented at venues like Gibney Center, Judson Church, La MaMa and Movement Research, and shared through national and international festivals and platforms including NPR, TriQuarterly, and Lisbon INSHADOW Screendance Festival. She is a 2025 New York State Council on the Arts Individual Awardee, and Professor of Dance and Technology and Chair of the Department of Theatre and Dance at Montclair State University.

Kyle Talbert (Scenic Designer) is a Junior in the Theater: Design, Technology, and Management program with a concentration in Scenic. He has previously been the assistant scenic designer for Mad Forest as well as the Props Head for Natasha, Pierre, and the Great Comet of 1812 and Jesus Christ Superstar. He is currently working on his next project, Polaroid Stories, as the scenic designer.

Gary Magino (Lighting Designer) is a Lighting Designer and Programmer from Irvine, California. Previously at MSU, Gary has designed Lydia, Collateral Beauty, Spring Dance ’24, and Fall Dance ’25. Gary’s resume has also included Co-Head of Electrics at Musical Theater Wichita and programming Off-Broadway for Lost and Found. He has really enjoyed exploring this work and is extremely grateful for the collaborative process with his peers and mentors. He would like to thank you for coming, and hopes you enjoy the show.

Zoey Gromadzyn (Sound Designer) is a sound designer and technician whose approach creates vivid and immersive soundscapes that deepens theatrical storytelling. Their work demonstrates clear, dynamic audio that supports the emotional depth of a play through collaborative design and technical experience. Zoey’s resume includes sound design and head audio technician for productions with The Barnstormers Theatre, one of New England’s enduring summer theaters with a long history of professional work, and other regional projects. Passage by Christopher Chen is Zoey’s final show at Montclair State University, a marvelous end to their theatrical education.

Sean Hoffman (Costume Designer) is the Costume Designer for Passage. He is a Junior at Montclair State University, and this is his first design as a DTM student. He previously worked as Assistant Costume Designer for Pride & Prejudice, OKLAHOMA!, and Mad Forest, and was the Costume Designer for the Theatre Collective’s production of Boys in the Band. He has really loved working on Passage, and appreciating being part of this project has meant a lot. He is grateful for the opportunity to explore and create within this work, and collaborating with Debbie and the designers has been both inspiring and fulfilling.

Jordan Conklin-Yousef (Hair and Makeup Designer)  is an NJ/NY based IATSE 798 Hairstylist. Her work can be seen both on the stage and the big screen. Recent credits include: Joy The New True Broadway Musical,  Run (2026) and Mad Forest. She is a proud MSU alumni and is excited to be designing this exciting production alongside such an amazing group of creatives! @jordancyousef

Sarah Koestner (Vocal Coach) teaches acting and voice and speech  in the theater department at Montclair State University. Previously she has taught at NYU and Rutgers University. She earned her MFA in Acting at Rutgers University where she trained under William Esper and Lloyd Richards and received her BFA in Acting from Emerson College. New York theater credits include: The Libertine, Love Song, Waiting for Lefty, and Betrayal. Regional credits include: The Understudy, The Libertine, The Maids, Doubt, Landscape of the Body and She Stoops to Conquer. She's also been featured in numerous films and webseries. She's a proud member of Actor's Equity. 

Elli Caunitis (Production Stage Manager) is a senior pursuing a BA in Theatre Studies. Her select MSU Stage Management credits include Natasha, Pierre and the Great Comet of 1812 (ASM), Stupid F*Ing Bird (PSM), The Birds: A Modern Adaptation (PSM), La Calisto (PSM), Fall Dance 2024 (PSM), Dante’s Renaissance (PSM), and We Are… (PSM). Elli has previously served as a Production Assistant and Stage Manager for The Spoleto Festival USA in Charleston, South Carolina. This summer, she will join the 2026 cohort of Technical Apprentices at the Santa Fe Opera in New Mexico. 

Cast

Marissa Gonzalez (H) is a Sophomore in the BFA Acting program at Montclair State University. This is her second main stage show at MSU, the first being Mad Forest where she played Securitate. She is super grateful for this opportunity and can’t wait to perform in this amazing production!!

Neal Reitano (M/D) is a sophomore at Montclair State University in the BFA acting program. He has been involved in three productions in his time here, understudying for both “”The Birds” and “Stupid F*cking Bird” and playing “Gabriel” in “Mad Forest” this past semester. He is very excited for his remaining semesters at Montclair State and hopes you enjoy the show.

Jonathan Tejada (G/Mosquito/Gecko) has been at MSU for 3 years and has been in 3 productions, is studying acting because he’s found a genuine passion for it, and is looking forward to further productions at MSU and beyond.

Nala McCalla (B) is a senior in the BFA Acting program at Montclair State University. She has been in productions such as Black Snow, Everybody, Language of Angels,  Macbeth, Marie Antoinette, Pride and Prejudice and Confederates. Being this is her last show, Nala has been grateful for the opportunities given to her and is looking forward to future productions beyond Montclair State University.

Hannah Kemp (Q) is a sophomore at MSU. This is her first mainstage production and is thrilled to share this work! She recently assistant directed for "Mad Forest", and played "Beth" in the BA's production of "Dinner with Friends". She is a BFA Acting major, and is looking forward to further productions at MSU and beyond!

Abigail Schwartz (F) is currently a Junior in Montclair’s BFA Acting Program. She previously worked on Montclair’s productions of Pride and Prejudice (Mary Bennet/ Miss de Bourgh), Marie Antoinette (Mr. Sauce), and Macbeth (understudy). Abigail is grateful for the opportunity to tell this complex story alongside the cast and crew of “Passage”. She looks forward to further productions as she approaches her final year at MSU.

Isaiah Paperno (R) is currently a Junior at MSU and has been in The Birds, Lydia, and Mad Forest thus far. He is studying acting in the BFA track to be as well equipped as possible when working in the industry. He is looking forward to further productions at MSU and beyond!

Aidan Sales (J/S) is a Sophomore in the Acting program at Montclair State University . This is his Third time being part of this mainstage production at MSU and is happy to be part of this amazing project. Aidan joined this program to better understand and hone his craft and is grateful to be inspired by the talented individuals who put this show together.

Violet Merrigan (Understudy) is a freshman at MSU and has been in 1 production, is studying Acting, and is looking forward to further productions at MSU and beyond.

Ethan Marrero-Montenegro (Understudy) is a freshman here at Montclair State University. He has been in a total of 5 shows with this show being his second show here in Montclair. He first started acting his senior year of high school and since then has fallen in love with acting and is looking forward to being in further productions in the future.