ARTISTIC DIRECTOR'S NOTE:
Thank you so much for joining OFT as we reopen our doors for our first full season since 2020. Although I’ve only been at OFT for one short year, I have come to know this place as a community full of love, creativity, courage, and integrity. It is an honor to be part of this story.
In our 2022-2023 season, every play we produce is intended to bring us together around ideas and themes that spark conversation, build empathy, and help us to heal from the last two years: in The Secret Garden we are directly talking about healing, grief and community. In the shows coming up we’ll have dance parties, hero’s journeys, and critical analysis of equity in America.
You’ll also notice that every play centers young people in leading roles. The last two years have been difficult for people of all ages, but have had a profound impact on our youth. We need to uplift, center, and celebrate their resilience and talent – especially as we rebuild our communities.
In closing, I’ll ask you these questions: What is the world you want to see in the future? What does it look like? What does it feel like? How do people treat one another? I believe that theater can play a critical role in helping us to visualize that world, and to share our ideas for transformation with one another. I hope the plays we’re sharing with you this season embody some of your hopes and dreams – and I can’t wait to sit next to you in the theater to share these stories.
BIG, big love,
Lily
The Girl Who Swallowed a Cactus
runs for about 50 minutes with no intermission
Great for ages 5 and up!
No photography or video recording is allowed during the show.
CAST:
Susana Bailén Acevedo, Dustcloud
Jordan Richards, Coyote
Sara St. Clair, Bobcat
Harper Jurss, Bighorn Sheep
Evelyn Cone, Sheila
Karsten Tomlin, Dennis
Lane Nixon, Leon
Kalani Martinez Bailen, Twin 1
Twana Beedle, Twin 2
Ensemble:
AJ Fournier
Sara Hoberecht
CREATIVE CREW:
Rebecca Rogers, Director
Jordanna Averett, Set Designer & Stage Manager
Jonnita Thompson, Costume Designer
Olivia Burlingame, Lighting Designer
TW, Sound Designer
Bonnie Reese, Properties Designer & Assistant Stage Manager
Joelle Montez, Mask Design
Stevie Bylsma, Mask Maker
Jill Carter, Video Shadow Puppet Designer
David Nowitz, Scenic Engineer
Kefa Crow, Sound & Video Operator
Kate Arvin, Production Manager
Special Thanks:
To all of our helpers, carpenters, painters, puppet crafters and folks who loaned us things!
Ashlen Hodge
Cameron Price
Donna Myers
Emily and Karen Skelton
Eveline Neff
Faith H.
Jaylah Riley
Jill Carter
Kaylah Riley
Kefa Crow (thanks for
lending us your projector!)
Lori Campbell
Nicole Villacres
Peter Rushton
Sara Hoberecht
Stephan Adams
Stevie Bee
Anna Bobcova
Jamie Terry
Danny Denniston
Kat Bigler
And especially The Washington Center for the Performing Arts. They donated their old main curtain for us to use as our new curtains/sound baffling. Yay theaters supporting theaters.
Also thanks to these folks for helping install flooring, drywall and curtains in our new space (OH YEAH, OYAA!)
Joel Finch
Natalie Colbentz
Christine Yorba
Ben Pagel
Jill Carter
Jordanna Averett
Jordan Richards
CAST BIO'S:
Dustcloud - Susana Bailen Acevedo
Proud and loud, yet somehow shy, queer Puerto Rican Latina with a passion for the theater, kids, and social justice issues. She loves to sing and dance, play pranks on others, and go on adventures. One of her greatest talents is pretending she is immune to tickles. Some argue she can do a cat’s “meow” better than most cats.
Coyote - Jordan Richards
Jordan is an Olympic Theatrical Athlete and South Sound Celebrity who is ecstatic to be returning to the OFT stage (after too long of an absence (parenthetically))! Toad of Toad Hall was his previous role here and he wants Kate to know, “We are out of peppermint ice cream”.
Bobcat - Sara St. Clair
Sara is thrilled to be back in her fourth OFT production. You may have heard her singing the G Blues in The Alphabetastics, hamming it up with OFT’s own improv troupe, The Real Faker’s Dozen, and most recently in Tales Told in Ten! Sara is a writer, teacher, TESC alum, and sings in the cheeky folk band, SpareCrow. She lives in Olympia with her three children. Catch her again in the upcoming SPSCC production of Sunday in the Park with George, May 26-June 4!
Bighorn Sheep - Harper Jurss
Harper has acted for many years, she has also been in many shows such as Willy Wonka and Matilda. She loves doing theater, especially with her best friend, Maysen. Harper is one of the best people you’ll ever meet, she is kind, caring and funny. Harper is so excited to be in this and hopes you enjoy the show. (Bio written by Harper’s best friend Maysen)
Sheila - Evelyn Cone
Evelyn-Rose (14) is in the 8th grade at Oakville Middle/High School.
She was born a performer (and a bit of a drama queen coming into the world a 6 1/2weeks early) and learned from a very young age that she could make most anyone laugh and uses this skill frequently especially to help cheer someone up.
Her love of performing in front of an audience began when she started gymnastics and dance at age 3, two things she still enjoys doing.
When she has down time she loves playing with her two giant dogs, hanging out with her friends, and rollerblading.
She is very excited to be playing Shiela at OFT and is looking forward to taking classes here once production ends.
Dennis - Karsten Tomlin
Karsten is 14 and in the 8th grade. He has been performing around Olympia since the 4th grade, starting with The Wizard Of Oz with Pacific Northwest Theater. This winter Karsten was in White Christmas with the Evergreen Playhouse. Karsten has performed in both plays and musicals. Karsten is working towards achieving his goal of being a full-time actor. Karsten is super excited to be performing as Dennis in The Girl Who Swallowed A Cactus!
Leon - Lane Nixon
Lane Nixon is in the 7th grade. His love for acting started with an Olympia Family Theater camp when he was in the first grade. He is very excited to be back with OFT! He has performed with Harlequin and Broadway Olympia Productions, Pacific Northwest Theater, and SPSCC. Lane also plays baseball, volleyball and the bass clarinet. His goal is to become a professional actor and voice actor.
Twin 1 - Kalani Martinez Bailen
Bookworm and prankster who loves his family almost as much as his Legos. And The Beatles, he also really loves The Beatles. Sometimes shy and sometimes eager… or sometimes eager and sometimes shy, this kid has a passion for all things F1 – he won’t miss a race! – documentaries and, well, candy.
Twin 2 - Twana Beedle
Twana is a strong believer in Sasquatch! She is a fifth-grade student at Boston Harbor Elementary School. Twana is delighted to be in her first OFT production! You may have seen her in A Christmas Carol (2021, 2022) at Harlequin Productions in Olympia. She recently made her screen debut starring in the short film Nightcap, an Intertribal Youth Film Production produced by OlyFilm. Twana has loved being part of Creative Theater Experience (CTE) since first grade. In addition to theater, she enjoys making balloon animals, playing cello, and math. She loves her cats, old man Zeus and Mittens the kitten. She is terrified of seagulls.
Ensemble - AJ Fournier
Aj (12) is a homeschooling student new to Washington. She has participated in other community theater productions including Sleepy Hollow and The Enchanted Bookshop. She also enjoys drawing anime and playing her guitar or mandolin. She is excited to be a part of her first OFT production. .
Ensemble - Sara Hoberecht
Sara (17) is currently a junior at Steilacoom High School. She started her acting career at the age of 11 here at OFT. She has performed in multiple after school and summer programs. Her most memorable are; “March Hare” in Alice in Wonderland, “Piglet” in Winnie the Pooh, and “Leroy”, in this season’s Dragons Love Tacos. She is very excited for the opportunity to work with Rebecca Rogers and learn another aspect of performing.
CREWS BIO'S:
Rebecca Rogers - Director
Rebecca Rogers’ lifelong love of theater has given her many opportunities onstage and behind the scenes, all of which led up to her currently trying to swallow a cactus here at Olympia Family Theater, where she has been a familiar face for nearly eight years! In addition to directing and teaching, she leads OFT’s first improvisational troupe, The Real Faker’s Dozen. She would like to let the cast and crew know, “That’s Gravity!” Rebecca would also like to thank Maren, Taz, Ivan, and Sypha for their love, patience, and support. And she hopes very much they remember what she looks like.
Jordanna Averett - Set Designer & Stage Manager
Jordanna is a Puget Sound theater creative. Having worked as a stage manager, board op, set and properties designer, and scenic artist – she is passionate about all things behind-the-scenes! Jordanna is excited to put on this show alongside such a spunky and awesome cast + crew, and is always happy and grateful to be part of things at OFT. Infinite love to Danny.
Jonnita Thompson - Costume Designer
Jonnita Thompson (Costume Designer) was inspired to learn to sew to make Halloween costumes, it came in handy when her daughter began performing in school plays! Jonnita has assisted with costumes for OFT shows Alice in Wonderland, Fishnapped!, The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane, and Cinder Edna. Corduroy was her first show as lead designer.
Olivia Burlingame - Lighting Designer
Olivia is grateful to be designing for OFT once again! Olivia has designed in Olympia for the last ten years. Some favorites include Hedwig and the Angry Inch, Little Shop of Horrors, and The Wind in the Willows. Olivia graduated from Central Washington University with a BFA in Theater Design and Technology. She has also worked with Harlequin Productions, Tacoma Opera, Theater Artists Olympia, Tacoma Arts Live, SMU, SPSCC, and Seattle Children’s Theater. Olivia is a proud member of the Cowlitz Indian Tribe. Thank you to all her friends and family! * Drawing by the awesome Kate Arvin*
Bonnie Reese - Properties Designer & Assistant Stage Manager
Bonnie has been working with different live theaters in Olympia, she is making her second appearance as Properties Designer on this fun and imaginative story at Olympia Family Theater. She has worked with OFT on shows such as The Secret Garden, Dragons Love Tacos and made her first appearance as props designer for Nyx and The Long Night. She is a student at SPSCC where she has worked on The Thanksgiving Play, [title of show], and The Moors. She is currently working at SPSCC in Far Away and a properties intern at Harlequin Productions for Building Madness. She would like to that thank those close to her for the love and support on her journey doing what she loves to do. She would also like to thank the cast and crew for being so great! She is looking forward to many more amazing productions to come.
Joelle Montez - Mask Design
Joelle Montez is an artist working in Olympia, WA. They are a potter and ceramic artist, and dabbler of all creative pursuits.
Jill Carter - Graphic Designer & Shadow Puppet Designer
Jill is delighted to be OFT’s Resident Designer. She has decades of experience in scenic, lighting, and projection designs, for a variety of theaters in the Pacific NW. Some of her favorite OFT designs include Corduroy, Cinder Edna, Orphan Train, BusyTown, The Wind in the Willows, and Fishnapped!.
David Nowitz - Scenic Engineer
David is happiest tinkering around in his scene shop
coming up with imaginative ways to make things.
Some favorite engineering challenges for Olympia Family Theater include:
- The dunking donut for Flora & Ulysses
- Building an escalator for Corduroy
- Making a recycling machine with working wooden gears for Cinder Edna
- Making an under bed and over bed/jungle gym in The Monster Under the Bed
- Making a bed fall through a ceiling in Mercy Watson to the Rescue
- The TV falling in Dragons Love Tacos
- & Kabuki style curtain drops for NYX And The Long Night
Thank You to our OYAA Campaign DONORS:
Thank you to the generous supporters of our recent space expansion campaign for O YAA: a new interdisciplinary office, workshop and performance space for people of all ages! Together we raised over $21,000 to support this exciting new endeavor. Find out more here.
Diane Arvin
Tracy Thomas
Larry Krames
Michelle Bretherton
Diana Purvine
Hugh McGavick
Elizabeth Lord
Annie Severson
Mark Slavens
Pannowicz Jewlers
Bonnie Warren
David Owen
Polly Peterson
Ramzia Rida
Ed Thorpe
Heather Matthews
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Marcy LaViollette
Tamar Krames
Tanya Mote
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Mike Gregory
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Brandon Estrella
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Jill Carter
Lulu Scofield
Kathy Strauss
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Donna Myers
Irina Gendelman
Lisa Every
Jeff Arvin
Anne Jeffrey
Hazel Bergtholdt
Lauren Love
Dennis Dorling
Bonita Jacques
John Helde
Kassidy Anderson
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Cindy Klettke
Rachel Bryant Anderson
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Joseph Rucker
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Two Jays Property Service
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Lily Raabe
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Michael Hogan
Jacci Butler
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Charleen Patten
Kaiah Costa
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Maritza Corliss
Bud @ $1,000 & Up!!
David Nowitz
Seedling @ $200 - $999
Gwen Bodeutsch
Genevieve Chan
Erin Chanfrau
Edsonya Charles
Josef Krebs
Vicki Lovegren
Nicole Miller
Diana Purvine
Sprout @ $100 - $199
Bret Anderson
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Daniel Berschauer
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Seed @ $1-99
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Judith Olmstead
Debby & Bob Pattin
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Tora Saeger
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Charles Stafford
Hunter Stenovitch
Quasar Surprise
Meg Turk
Cindi Velazquez
Aide Villalobos
Nora Walsh
*Denotes monthly donors/Combined Fund Drive donors.
ORGANIZATION CREDITS:
OFT Staff
Artistic Director
Lily Raabe
Deputy Director
Kate Arvin
Director of Programs
Erin Murray
Communications Director
Natalie Coblentz
Operations Coordinator
Angel Ramirez
Box Office Staff
Tracy Thomas
Scenic Engineer
David Nowitz
Resident Designer
Jill Carter
Company-in-Residence
String & Shadow
OFT Board of Directors
Executive Committee:
Samantha Chandler
Sara Thiessen
Annie Severson
Mike Taylor
Members at Large:
Jonnita Thompson
Lauren Love
Edsonya Charles
Doreese Norman
Nicole Miller
