Team of Directors

Resident Artists

Seasonal Staff

*scroll down for full bios

Team of Directors

COLIN ANDERSON

DIRECTOR OF PRODUCTION

Colin Anderson (he/him) has spent his life in Cleveland, which he now calls his artistic home as a director, producer and intimacy choreographer. He is proud to be openly gay and a fierce advocate for LGBTQ+ equity and access in the theatre industry and beyond. Directing credits include Significant Other, The Thin Place, DEAP - Spring Awakening: A Children's Tragedy, and multiple productions for the Marilyn Bianchi Kids' Playwriting Festival (Dobama); Merrily We Roll Along (French Creek); The Prom (Near West); I’m Alive You Bastards and I Always Will Be (Nightbloom Theatre Co); The Inside Story (Playwrights Local); Beyond Therapy (Access Theatre Project); The Baltimore Waltz, Ordinary Days, For Whom the Southern Belle Tolls, and Next to Normal (Oberlin College). Colin has also worked with Maelstrom Collaborative Arts, Cleveland Public Theatre, Olde Town Hall Theatre, Lake Ridge Academy, Elyria Catholic High School, and BorderLight International Theatre + Fringe Festival, where he acted as Assistant Producer during its founding. BA: Oberlin College.  colintyleranderson.com 

Email: canderson@dobama.org

LENA CHAPIN

DIRECTOR OF ADVANCEMENT

Lena Chapin (she/her) is a lifetime theatre-goer and has been a Dobama Member since 2021.  She comes to the role of Director of Advancement with over ten years of fundraising, networking, and development communications experience. Previously, Lena worked as the Director of Development at EDWINS Leadership Restaurant Institute, the Ignatian Solidarity Network, and Rose-Mary Center. Lena enjoys trail running, a good karaoke session, building relationships, and writing “thank you” notes. Please give at dobama.org/donate and allow her to write some more!

email: lchapin@dobama.org

ERIN E. DOLAN

DIRECTOR OF PROGRAMS

Erin E. Dolan (she/her) is proud to be a queer artist based in Cleveland. She is the co-founder of Awesome Possum Theatre Company as well as Stratosphere, a performing arts collective. In February of 2024, Erin received an Ohio Arts Council Individual Excellence Award for Playwriting. Since 2018, five of Erin’s plays have been produced and toured throughout the state of Ohio to audiences totaling over 20,000. With adaptations commissioned by The Illusion Factory, Talespinner Children’s Theatre, and Spark Theatre 4 Youth, Erin’s unique writing style brings together her extensive experience as an Early Childhood Educator with her passion for creating engaging theatre for kids and adults alike. Her original play with music, WHO ATE THE SUN? received its world premiere with Spark in celebration of the total solar eclipse that took place on April 8th, 2024. Erin considers it a great honor to be asked to share her perspective through new and classic children’s stories. A vocal advocate for the arts and education, Erin strives to nurture in all children, artists, and audiences an enthusiasm for learning and an appreciation for their own imagination.

Email: edolan@dobama.org

Elise Kuklinca

CONNECTIVITY DIRECTOR

Elise Kuklinca (she/her) began working at Dobama in 2015 in the box office before transitioning to the Patron Services Manager in 2018. In 2021, Elise became Connectivity Director, a role that encompasses fostering internal communication, connecting with artists, working with volunteers, and building deeper relationships with the greater community. Previously, Elise could be found in myriad places including La Jolla Playhouse, Ensemble Theatre Cincinnati, The Carnegie and Children's Theatre Company in Minneapolis.

Email: elisek@dobama.org

Nathan Motta

Artistic Director

Nathan Motta (he/him) is the 5th Artistic Director at Dobama Theatre where he spurred Dobama's move to become an Equity Theatre. Select directing credits at Dobama include: AN OCTOROON (Best Director- Cleveland Critics Circle 2016), THE FLICK (Best Director- Cleveland Critics Circle 2017), STUPID F**KING BIRD (Best Director- Cleveland Critics Circle 2019), APPROPRIATE, PETER AND THE STARCATCHER, SUPERIOR DONUTS, A BRIGHT NEW BOISE, THE ALIENS, A CIVIL WAR CHRISTMAS, THE OTHER PLACE, MAKE BELIEVE, and World Premieres of HOW TO BE A RESPECTABLE JUNKIE and THE LAND OF OZ. A professional director, conductor, and composer/lyricist, he has worked with Cleveland Play House, Great Lakes Theater, Idaho Shakespeare Festival, Baldwin Wallace University, Oberlin College, Cleveland State University, John Carroll University, Opera Cleveland, Ohio Light Opera, Cain Park, Cleveland Orchestra, Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra, Mercury Opera Rochester, and Civic Light Opera (Pittsburgh). Original musicals, include THE LAND OF OZ (composer; book and lyrics by George Brant), MIDSUMMER (composer/ book/ lyrics), and LITTLE WHITE GLOVES (composer/ book/ lyrics). Motta is a leader in equity, diversity, and inclusion work, and a fierce advocate for safety and wellness practices for the theatre. He holds a B.F.A. from Carnegie Mellon University and an M.M. from the Eastman School of Music. Member Stage Directors and Choreographers Society (SDC), the national theatrical union that unites, empowers and protects professional stage Directors and Choreographers throughout the United States.

Email: nmotta@dobama.org

AMY WEAVER

Business DIRECTOR

Amy Weaver (she/her) came to Cleveland from the Washington, D.C. metro area, fell in love with the arts community here, and never left. Amy began her professional career as the inaugural house Stage Manager at the Maltz Performing Arts Center at Case Western Reserve University before spending several years with progressive administrative responsibilities at Cleveland Public Theatre, concluding as their Finance Manager. Her theatre production credits include sound design and stage management roles with Cleveland Public Theatre, the CWRU Footlighters, Players' Theatre Group, Wildwood Summer Theatre, and Damascus Theatre Company. Outside of her theatre operations, finance, and development work, Amy enjoys restoring old houses, skiing, and baking.

email: aweaver@dobama.org

CARRIE WILLIAMS

EDUCATION Director

Carrie Williams (she/ her) is a performer, director, scenic artist, and a fierce arts education advocate. After earning a Bachelor of Arts in Theatre from Bowling Green State University, she moved to Cleveland to join Great Lakes Theatre’s acclaimed School Residency Program as an Actor-Teacher. She has taught and created programming for a multitude of organizations, including Playhouse Square, Ensemble Theatre, French Creek Theatre, Brecksville Theatre on the Square, Fairmount Center for the Arts, Hawken School, and Talespinner Children’s Theatre. Her artistic pedagogy focuses on exploring collaborative processes, fostering creativity, and empowering youth to step outside their comfort zone. Here she coordinates the Marilyn Bianchi Kids’ Playwriting Festival, the longest-running celebration of young playwrights in the United States.

Email: carrie@dobama.org

Resident Artists

QUENTIN BALL

Resident Technical Director

Quentin Ball (he/him) is excited to be back at Dobama this season as Resident Technical Director after spending last season as the theatre’s Production RAD. He is a graduate of Kent State University and an emerging professional Technical Director, Scenic Carpenter, and Scenic Designer who has worked with Dobama, Porthouse Theatre, Berkshire Theatre Group, Hawken Upper School, and the Academy for the Performing Arts.

JAMIE Cohen-Kiraly

Resident ScenIC ARTISAN

Jamie Cohen-Kiraly (she/her) is a contemporary artist in Cleveland. She graduated from the Cleveland Institute of Art in 2020 and has continued her career as a professional artist in the form of theatre, tattooing, murals, and other painting projects. As a former Dobama Theatre RAD, she is now working on many shows behind the scenes, building and painting productions around the Cleveland area.

Justine schneider

Resident Scenic artist

Justine Schneider is a freelance artist from the Cleveland area. She is happy to make her return to Dobama Theatre as their Resident Scenic Artist this season! Justine has previously painted many of Dobama's productions including, but not limited to; HAND TO GOD, THE FLICK, THE NIGHT ALIVE, AN OCTOROON, MARIE ANTOINETTE, PETER AND THE STARCATCHER and THE REALISTIC JONESES. Justine has also painted for Great Lakes Theater, Cleveland Play House, Chagrin Falls Performing Arts Academy, Near West Theatre and Cedar Point’s Halloweekends. She is always up for a challenge and enjoys how each production is a brand new experience! For more information and pictures from her various theatrical endeavors, visit www.facebook.com/artistjustineschneider/.

JENNIFER RYAN (LADY JEN)

RESIDENT WARDROBE MANAGER

Lady Jen is an artist and an originator. Lady Jen has performed and worked from
behind the curtain for over three decades. Lady Jen majored in vocal performance and
minored in musical theatre at Bowling Green State University. Lady Jen is an
operatically trained vocalist, a fully licensed cosmetologist, an experienced makeup
artist, a proficient stylist, a skilled dresser, and a distinguished costume designer. Select
design credits include AADAMS FAMILY, BEAUTY AND THE BEAST, CHESS,
FRANKENSTEIN 1930, HAIR, ROCKY HORROR SHOW, the Cleveland Premiere of
the SNOW QUEEN, SPRING AWAKENING, THE MYSTERY OF EDWIN DROOD,
XANADU. Select performances include APPLAUSE, CABERET, HUNCHBACK OF
NOTRE DAME, JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR, LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS, NINE,
ROCKY HORROR SHOW, SCROOGE! VICTOR VICTORIA, YOU’RE A GOOD MAN
CHARLIE BROWN. Lady Jen would like to acknowledge her support system and
theatre muses. LG, KJK, RB, RGS – TPOG - Special Thanks to Ms. Walker, My Beast,
My Boo, My Jellyfish, My King – only you.

TESIA DUGAN BENSON

Resident COSTUME DESIGNER

Tesia is a Cleveland based Costume Designer. Recent designs include AN OCTOROON, PETER AND THE STARCATCHER, MARIE ANTOINETTE, SUPERIOR DONUTS, A CIVIL WAR CHRISTMAS: AN AMERICAN MUSICAL CELEBRATION, THE ALIENS and TIME STANDS STILL for Dobama, TOXIC AVENGER, THE FROGS and SMOKEY JOE'S CAFE for Cain Park, DONTRELL, WHO KISSED THE SEA and ANCESTRA at Cleveland Public Theatre, and 'NIGHT MOTHER at The Beck Center. Tesia worked with Opera Cleveland as Costume Coordinator and designed the costumes for LA VOIX HUMAINE.  Other credits include designs for Apollo’s Fire, Lakeland Civic Theater, Near West Theater,  Keystone Repertory Theater, Baldwin Wallace University, BIOLA University in La Mirada California, Cleveland State University, Cleveland City School District All City Musical, and Laurel School. She also serves as draper for the Baldwin-Wallace University Costume Shop and Adjunct Faculty teaching Stage Makeup.  Tesia holds her M.F.A. in Costume Design from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.

ANGIE HAYES

Resident sound DESIGNER

Angie Hayes (she/her) has designed and mixed sound for productions at many area theaters, colleges, and high schools. She has also recorded and sound designed for several podcasts, including Sidewalk, Munchen, MN, and a radio play series for The Endangered Species Theatre Project of Frederick, MD during the pandemic. She has a Bachelor Degree in Music from the University of Wisconsin Oshkosh, with an emphasis in Recording Technology and Music Business.

T. Paul Lowry

Resident Video Projection DESIGNER

T. Paul Lowry has served in artistic, production and design capacities with such companies as Long Wharf Theatre, Playwrights Horizons, Eugene O’Neill Theatre Center, Williamstown Theatre Festival, Karamu House, and Cleveland Public Theatre. T. Paul is the Technical Theatre Director at Hathaway Brown School. T. Paul is honored to be a Resident Designer for Dobama Theatre. Noted design work includes: Egress (Cleveland Play House), Airness, Kill Move Paradise, brownsville song (b-side for tray), Sherlock Holmes: The Baker Street Irregulars, Ella Enchanted, The Nether (Dobama Theatre), American Dreams, Rastus & Hattie (Cleveland Public Theatre), Black Nativity, and Greenwood (Karamu House). tpaullowry.com

JULIA FISHER

Resident Intimacy Choreographer

Julia Fisher (she/her) is an intimacy director and playwright whose work has been seen in professional theatres throughout Northeast Ohio. She is a Certified Intimacy Director through Intimacy Directors and Coordinators, where she also served for two years as a Teaching Artist and Curriculum Developer. She is thrilled to serve as Dobama's Resident Intimacy Director, and she has intimacy directed over 40 productions - at Rubber City Theatre, Seat of the Pants, Cain Park, Ensemble Theatre, convergence-continuum, Ohio Shakespeare Festival, Cleveland Public Theatre’s Test Flight, Near West Theatre, LatinUs Theater, Broadview Heights Spotlights, the University of Akron, and Ohio Northern University. www.juliachristinefisher.com

Barbara Kozlov*

Resident Stage Manager

Barbara is thrilled to work with some of her favorite folks at Dobama once again as Resident Stage Manager. Her previous SM credits include the following: Significant Other, Little Women, POTUS, Peter/ Wendy (Dobama); It Happened in Atlanta (Karamu); The Baron of Brown Street (RCT); Caroline, or Change (Cain Park), and Anything Goes (RCT). She strives to make people smile both through the theatrical arts and in her studies as a dental hygienist. Barbara gives thanks to her loved ones who have always supported her dreams and Viewers Like You.

Joel Rathbone*

Resident Stage Manager

Joel has been a freelance Stage Manager for over twenty years in Cleveland. He has managed productions for Playhouse Square, Dobama Theatre Company, Cleveland Public Theatre, Ensemble Theatre Company, Cleveland Shakespeare Company, and Lakeland College. He was grateful for the opportunity to manage Dobama’s HAND TO GOD, THE NETHER, MARIE ANTOIETTE, ELLA ENCHANTED, GROUNDED, SUNSET BABY, SKELETON CREW, WAKEY WAKEY, THE NIGHT ALIVE, THE REALISTIC JONESES, THE CALL, THE NORWEGIANS, SUPERIOR DONUTS, and COCK. His other favorite productions around town have been NEXT TO NORMAL for Lakeland College and Ensemble’s production of THE NORMAL HEART. As always, he couldn’t do it without the support of his friends and family, especially his wife Hester, and his sons, Joel and Felix.

KENEDY BROOKS

Resident ASSISTANT STAGE MANAGER

Kenedy Brooks (they/them) is a graduate of Kent State University. After graduating in 2023, they have been working in the Cleveland area at theatres such as Dobama (Peter/Wendy, Make Believe, Marilyn Bianchi Kids’ Playwriting Festival), Near West Theatre (BKLYN, The Prom, Legally Blonde), and Playhouse Square (Shrek, Velveteen: A New Musical). Kenedy is excited to continue their work and grow as a stage manager!

*denotes member Actors' Equity Association, the labor union representing American actors and stage managers in the theatre.

DOBAMA THEATRE MISSION:

Dobama Theatre is dedicated to premiering important new plays by established and emerging playwrights in professional productions of the highest quality. Through theatrical production, community engagement, and education programming, Dobama nurtures the development of theatre artists and builds new audiences for the arts while provoking an examination of our contemporary world.