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); The Prom (Near West); Goodnight Tyler (reading), 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, Harlequins Theatre, Olde Town Hall Theatre, Elyria Catholic High School, and BorderLight International Theatre + Fringe Festival, where he acted as Assistant Producer during its founding. He is a proud member of the board of directors for Seat of the Pants Productions. BA: Oberlin College. colintyleranderson.com
Email: canderson@dobama.org
MARIAH BURKS
DIRECTOR OF ENGAGEMENT
Mariah Burks (she/ her) is a Cleveland, OH native. Her work has mainly been seen at Cleveland Play House, where she most recently played the titular role in Antigone. Other CPH credits include; Clue: A New Comedy (The Cook); The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee (Logainne). Onstage at Dobama: Airness (Nina), Little Women (Meg/ Bhaer). An alumni of the CWRU/CPH MFA Acting Program and a graduate of Bowling Green State University’s Musical Theatre Program, Marian was the recipient of the National Irene Ryan Acting Award at the Kennedy Center(ACTF) in Washington, DC. Other regional and local theatre work includes: Caroline, or Change (Tantrum Theatre) and RAGTIME (Cain Park). Instagram: @magical_mariahb
Email: MariahB@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 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
Jeremy Paul
Resident Technical Director
Jeremy Paul is an innovative media experimenter, experienced entrepreneurial artist, director, lighting designer and performing arts leader who creates collaborative multimedia and ensemble performances at the boundaries of artistic genres, using a mix of live performance, digital media and technical design to create compelling contemporary experiences.
A passionate storyteller, artistic collaborator and experimental artist, Jeremy has led the creation of many devised multi-media, site-specific productions including Who We Used To Be, Don't Wander Off, Broken Codes, The Turing Machine, The Grand Celebration of the Celestial Mystery, TingleTangle, Code: Preludes, The Excavation, and Marble Cities. He co-created the original works The Last Day (with the Maelstrom Cadre), NICK&JEREMY (with Nick Riley), Absence (with Michael Rau) and The Beetlebug and the Bad Worm (with Faye Hargate). Jeremy’s directing credits include Northeast Ohio world and regional premieres including Tall Skinny Cruel Cruel Boys, Stranded on Earth, Black Cat Lost, My Barking Dog, Inoculations and Anna Bella Eema. His lighting, projection, and set designs have been seen throughout Northeast Ohio.
Jeremy is the founder and Executive Artistic Director of Maelstrom Collaborative Arts, an interdisciplinary arts company that supports artists creating outside of traditional categories. He has been the inaugural Interdisciplinary Artist-in-Residence at the Cleveland Institute of Music since 2021.
Jeremy graduated from Wesleyan University in Connecticut with dual majors in Film and Theater and received post-graduate training with the Pig Iron Theatre Company, New World Performance Lab and the Celebration Barn International School for the Performing Arts. He was awarded CPAC Creative Workforce Fellowships in 2012 and 2016.
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.
Marcus Dana
Resident LIGHTING DESIGNER
Marcus has worked at Dobama Theatre since 2003 in various capacities including Technical Director and Lighting Designer. Recent shows are: HANSEL & GRETEL (Technical Director) with Nightingale Opera, LD Dance Concert: Design Dancing On The Edge, Cleveland School of Ballet THE NUTCRACKER. Previously Lighting includes: Tri-C East/Metro from 2000-2016 as Lighting Designer, Laurel School 2009-12, Resident Lighting Designer at Near West Theatre from 2001-06, Guest LD at The Canton Players Guild 2005-11, Verlezza Dance 2004-10, Beck Center 1995-2000, including THE SECRET GARDEN, where he won the 1995-96 Peggy Ezekiel "Award of Outstanding Achievement”, CSU Factory Theatre, Cassidy Theatre, Karamu House, Lake Erie College 1997-06, Willoughby Fine Arts Association, The Bang and The Clatter Theatre, Kalliope Stage, The Denver Center for the Performing Arts, Bonfils Theatre and The Changing Scene.
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. Julia has intimacy directed over 30 productions across Ohio - in addition to Dobama, at Rubber City Theatre, Cain Park, Ensemble Theatre, convergence-continuum, Ohio Shakespeare Festival, Cleveland Public Theatre’s Test Flight, LatinUs Theater, Broadview Heights Spotlights, the University of Akron, and Ohio Northern University. She has also been involved with the Marilyn Bianchi Kids’ Playwriting Festival at Dobama for the past eight years in a variety of capacities. She is overjoyed to serve as Dobama’s Resident Intimacy Director. www.juliachristinefisher.com
Vanessa Cook
Resident PROPS DESIGNER
Ms. Cook is new to Dobama Theatre as Resident Props Designer for the 2019-20 season. She is a graduate of the Baldwin- Wallace Conservatory (BM) and Regent University (MA). She is the owner of Cook Theatre Designs, LLC, a freelance design firm that serves community, professional and educational theatre programs. Ms. Cook has expert experience in the area of theatre production specifically costume, set and prop design and production. She is the former set/costume designer, Technical Director and adjunct professor with the Heidelberg University’s School of Music and Theatre. In addition, she long served as Costume/Set designer for Heidelberg’s Community Music School Children’s Musical theatre program. Ms. Cook works with several Cleveland/Akron based theatre companies. She served as wardrobe head for Madame Butterfly, costume designer, production pros and wardrobe head for Barber of Seville (Cleveland Opera Theatre), production props for Jane Eyre (Cleveland Musical Theatre) and set design/ construction for Silentious Scream (Progressive Perspective Theatrical) and New Kid (Spark 4 Youth Theatre). She was a teaching artist for Terra State’s Kids College 2018 and currently is a teaching artist (K-12) with Spark Theatre 4 Youth (Elyria). Ms. Cook is also the co-founder of the Norwalk Arts Center, LLC a non-profit theater education and production company. Ms. Cook resides in Norwalk, Ohio with her husband Jeff and their
four-active theater loving boys.
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.
ELIZABETH CAMMETT
Resident ASSISTANT STAGE MANAGER
Elizabeth is a Cleveland native and 2014 graduate of Kent State University with a Bachelor of Arts in Theatre Studies, with a focus in Stage Management. She has worked with several Northeast Ohio theaters, including Dobama Theatre, Seat of the Pants Productions, Playhouse Square, Chagrin Arts, Talespinner Children’s Theatre, Cleveland Public Theatre, Players Guild Theatre, Lakeland Community College, Porthouse Theatre, and Stagecrafters Youth Theatre. Elizabeth has worked in film and TV, both on-camera and as an agent behind the scenes, and participated in various area live events. Select credits include Macbeth, Dance Nation, The Old Man and the Old Moon, Wakey, Wakey, Smokefall, Vicky Velocity and the Star Strikers, The Nether, John, The Slipstream Drive, The Santaland Diaries, The Family Claxon, Intermission, Labio de Liebre: The Lip of the Hare, 44 Plays for 44 Presidents, Les Miserables, Pride and Prejudice, Legally Blonde, Fiddler on the Roof, The Rocky Horror Show, Reefer Madness, Ragtime, Agamemnon, 4.48 Psychosis, Mr. Marmalade, Hamlet, and Cloud 9. For Dad, always.
*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.