Pegasus PlayLab

Studio One

Presents
Offshoot
By Drew Paryzer

Directed by
Rina H. Gjoka

with

CAST

TEACHER: Marty Gnidula*
PUPIL: Elliott Horwitz*
STUDENT: Khalyah Liburd-Thompson*
STAGE DIRECTIONS: Owen Tavares-Olivier*

*Theatre UCF Student

PRODUCTION TEAM

Stage Managers: Abigail Reeves*, Candace Kinsel*
Assistant Director: Owen Tavares-Olivier*
Assistant Production Manager: Phoenix Connick*
Assistant Company Manager: Dylan Weston*
Dramaturgs: Sara Thornton*, Sav Debaylo*
Show Crew: Denise Carey*
E-Shop (Lighting and Sound) - Julia Borchers*, Averi Boyer*, Samuel Gomez*, Katherine Carvalho Gagno*, Fernando Cezar Mendes*, Jackson Hunsicker*, Jonanne Jean-Marie*, Ariana Jordan*, Brooke Ripley*
Costume Shop: Sean Duggan*, Rachel Hefner*, Veronica McGrath*, Lissa Ortega*, Rehana Quadir*
Scenic Shop: Alyssa Catalano*, Marcella Chambers*, Xotchilth Gutierrez*, Sam Motley*, Kenzie Robinson*, Nyla Pollack*, Robyn Tindall*
FOH/Box Office: Kristoffer Cajigas*, Alivia Cruce*, Angelina DuBois*, Elliot Horowitz*, Lily Johnson*, Walker Mattson*, Jorge Gabriel Sánchez Caceres*, Jordan Ruiz*, Alea Scheffler*, Jonathan Sommervil*

*Theatre UCF Student

PEGASUS PLAYLAB/Theatre UCF

Director School of Performing Arts: Michael Wainstein
Artistic Director: Julia Listengarten
Faculty Stage Management Advisor: Claudia Lynch
Faculty Design and Technology Advisor: Vandy Wood
Production Manager: James Cleveland
Technical Director: Tramaine Berryhill
Assistant Technical Director: Thomas Davis
Production Sound/Sound Advisor: Olivia Deiter
Production Electrician: Kevin Barkman
Costume Shop Manager: Allison Rexrode
Costume Workroom Supervisor: Cortnie Da Costa
Marketing Communications Manager: Jillian Sterritt
Marketing Coordinator: Katarina Monroe
FOH/ Box Office Manager: Imari Point-du-Jour
Assistant Box Office Manager: River Banks
Dramaturg Coordinator: Alyssa Barrack*
Artistic Associate: Kaila Cohen*
Undergraduate Coordinator: Kristina Tollefson
Academic Services Coordinator: Lauren Becker
SPA Administrative Coordinator: Victoria Hopkins
Theatre UCF Administrative Assistant: Samuel Waters

*Theatre UCF Student

Kaila Cohen (Company Manager / Theatre UCF Artistic Associate) is a local director, dramaturg, and teaching artist originally from Sarasota, FL. She earned her Bachelor of Arts in theatre arts and minor in communication studies from Rollins College, where she directed the premiere production of Nowheresville. Now, Kaila is pursuing her next adventure as a graduate fellow in the Master of Fine Arts program in Theatre for Young Audiences at the University of Central Florida. Professionally, she has worked as a teaching artist and director with Florida Studio Theatre, Stage Door Studios, Playwrights’ Round Table, Central Florida Community Arts, and Orlando Family Stage. Kaila enjoys working with all ages, having led programming for pre-K students, adults, and everyone in between, with a particular expertise and passion for working with neurodivergent individuals. She loves seeing all of her students grow and learn how to apply lessons learned in theatre to their everyday lives.

Candace Kinsel (Stage Manager) is a first-year transfer student in the BFA Stage Management program. This is her first Pegasus Playlab with Theatre UCF! She will also be deck crew in Racoon Play later this summer! This fall, she will be working as an assistant stage manager for the Orlando Family Stage! She has been a Stage Manager for productions of California Suite and Pocatello at Gulf Coast State College, as well as production assistant from The River Bride, Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike with Theatre UCF! 

Abigail Reeves (Stage Manager) is a first-year transfer BFA Stage Manager. She has previously worked on The Wizard of Oz (Youth Edition) (Production Assistant) at Orlando Family Stage and Legally Blonde the Musical (Production Assistant) for UCF Celebrates the Arts at the Dr. Phillips Center. She is so excited to be working on Pegasus Playlab this summer! 

Rina H. Gjoka (Director) is an Assistant Professor at UCF, where she specializes in voice and speech.  Extensively trained in the Linklater vocal methodology, she is set to join the third cohort of the Vocal Combat Technique in January 2027—a science-based approach to healthy, sustainable extreme vocalizations. Rina is a dedicated member of the Voice and Speech Trainers Association (VASTA), where she serves on the Mentorship Committee. Rina’s other interests include acting, filmmaking, and the creation of devised works. Her research explores the actor’s voice and accents, the intersection of heritage and artistic practice, and the power of filmmaking in addressing social justice. Her award-winning film, My Sekret War, has been recognized at the Phoenix Film Festival, Dea Open Air International Film Festival in Albania, and the Los Angeles Film Awards, among others. The film chronicles the life and redemption of a child of the Kosovo War. Her documentary debut, Kept Promise, premiered at the Fan Noli Film Festival in 2025. Rina’s credits include performances with Lumen Repertory Theatre, voice-over narration for Kept Promise, and directing at the Wexner Center for the Arts in Columbus, OH. 

Marty Gnidula (Teacher) is a third-year MFA acting student and is so grateful to be part of his last show here at UCF! Originally from Orange, CT, Marty received his BA in Theatre and English/prelaw from the University of Vermont. Some of Marty’s past credits include Berenger in Rhinoceros (Theatre UCF), the Narrator in Every Brilliant Thing (MFA Thesis), Sir Robin in Spamalot (Vermont Rep), Mr Cladwell in Urinetown (Theatre UCF), and ensemble/ Tevye understudy in Fiddler on the Roof (Theatre UCF). https://martygnidula.com/ @martyg246

Sara Thornton (Dramaturg) is a Theatre student at the University of Central Florida pursuing a focus in dramaturgy. With over 15 years of theatre experience spanning performance, directing, stage management, and theatre education, she has developed a passion for storytelling and the collaborative process behind new works. Since 2020, she has directed youth productions and enjoys exploring how research, adaptation, and artistic collaboration help shape stories from page to stage. She is grateful for the opportunity to contribute to Offshoot and the Pegasus PlayLab process. 

Elliott Horwitz (Pupil) is a fourth-year BFA Acting major. TheatreUCF credits include One Man, Two Guvnors (Alan), Fiddler on the Roof (Avram), Imogen Says Nothing (William Shakespeare), Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street (Ensemble), and Peter and the Starcatcher (Ted). He is the co-president of UCF's chapter of Alpha Psi Omega and enjoys film photography. @elliottjhorwitz @elliottsfilmfolio

Averi Boyer (Lighting) is a first-year in the BFA Design and Technology program, and this is her first Pegasus PlayLab at UCF!  Some of her previous works outside of Theatre UCF include being a light board operator for Chicago and Down Came the Rain, as well as a spotlight operator for Jekyll and Hyde and The Addams Family.

Khalyah Liburd (Student) is a 3rd-year BFA acting student, last seen in Project Spotlight’s Death of an Author. Throughout high school and college, she has been part of numerous productions in Project Spotlight and Alpha Psi Omega, as well as musicals like Amélie (Georgette), SpongeBob SquarePants (Sandy Cheeks), and Shrek Jr. (Dragon). She is excited to work with the amazing cast and crew to create a thought-provoking performance. @khalyah.liburd

Sean Duggan (Costumes) is a first year transfer BFA design tech with a focus on costumes. This will be his first year participating in the UCF Pegasus Play Lab. During his first year at UCF Theater he has worked on constructing the costumes for One Man, Two Guvnors, The Bacchae and Legally Blonde. se930997@ucf.edu

Sav DeBaylo (Graduate Dramaturg) is a second-year MA Theatre Studies student and emerging dramaturg whose work centers on research, collaboration, and storytelling across performance practices. She earned her BA in Theatre Studies with a minor in Journalism from the University of Central Florida and is currently developing her thesis and upcoming defense. Her artistic interests include dramaturgy, new work development, and ensemble-driven creative processes. Selected performance credits include Chloe in Poltergeist with Project Spotlight and understudying #11 in The Wolves.

Owen Tavares-Olivier (Assistant Director) Is a second year MFA TYA graduate student. He graduated with his BA in Theatre Studies from UCF in 2024. He is extremely excited and grateful for the opportunity to collaborate with this wonderful creative collective! Originally from South Kingstown, Rhode Island, Owen’s journey with theatre started at the age of five through his elementary school. Since then, he has predominantly been an actor but has taken on many roles in over 50 theatre productions. Most recently Owen was seen as Boss/Mr. Ellis in Theatre UCF’s Humans in the Loop: An AI Adventure, a performance for UCF Celebrates the Arts. He hopes you enjoy the show!

Dylan Weston (Assistant Company Manager) is a rising senior in the Theatre B.A program with a focus on administration and directing. Previously, he was the Qlab operator for Theatre UCF’s production of The River Bride. This is his first credit with Pegasus Playlab. 

Claudia Lynch (Stage Managers’ Advisor/ Show Crew Assignment Supervisor) Claudia is an Associate Professor and the Area Coordinator of the BFA in Stage Management. Claudia is the Theatre UCF Internship Coordinator, and Supervises the Theatre UCF Audition Office, and she is the Faculty Liaison for the Theatre UCF Professional Advisory Board. Credits include Broadway:  Rock of Ages, A Catered Affair, Company, Little Shop of Horrors; The Light in the Piazza, The Rivals, Dinner at Eight, Contact (at Lincoln Center Theater). Offbroadway:  Passion (at Classic Stage Company), Rock of Ages, and 9 Productions with NY City Center Encores!; Regional:  Alley Theatre, The Old Globe Theatre, The Cleveland Playhouse, and Arena Stage. Graduate of SUNY Geneseo. Proud Member of Actor’s Equity Association.  Claudia is also the USITT Management Commissioner for Programming, an Actors’ Equity Outreach Presenter, and the Coordinator for the Connection Convention: College Edition; which helps students interested in studying Stage Management meet with Educators and programs around the country.  Claudia is the Stage Management Intensive Coordinator for ACT Region 3, and is the former SM Coordinator for ACTF Region 4, and has served on the Board of The Stage Managers Association.  @OrlandoStageManagers

Julia Listengarten (Artistic Director) is Professor of Theatre and Interim Associate Dean in the College of Graduate Studies. Her research interests include avant-garde and contemporary theatre, interdisciplinary artistic practice, and socially engaged performance.  A theatre artist and scholar, Julia has worked professionally in New York City with various experimental theatre companies. Her translation of Christmas at the Ivanovs' premiered off-Broadway at Classic Stage Company and was included in Theater of the Avant-Garde, 1890-1950. Among her directing credits are Bernarda Alba, Seminar, Cloud 9, Marisol, Eurydice, The Burial at Thebes, Vinegar Tom, and The Baltimore Waltz.  Her recent books include Modern American Drama: Playwriting 2000-2009, Voices, Documents, New Interpretations (2018), The Cambridge Companion to American Theatre Since 1945 (2021), Performing Arousal: Precarious Bodies and Frames of Representation (2022), and Visual and Performing Arts Collaborations: Transdisciplinary Practices in Higher Education (2023). She has contributed to edited theatre collections, and her articles have been published in Recherches Semiotiques/Semiotic Inquiry, SCENE, Translation Perspectives, Ecumenica Journal of Theatre and Performance, and Slavic and East European Performance, among others. Julia is the recipient of many University of Central Florida awards including the Luminary Award 2022, the Pegasus Professor Award 2020, Pabst Steinmetz Innovation Awards in Arts & Wellness, the 2019 University Excellence in Graduate Teaching Award and the 2019 Women of Distinction Award in Creative Entrepreneurship.

While working on Offshoot, I kept returning to how the play develops its central concern: the ways in which technology entangles loneliness, vulnerability, and the desire to be understood. Set in a near future shaped by emotionally responsive AI systems, the play uses speculative technology not just as worldbuilding, but as a framework for recognizing familiar present-day conditions: curated identities, mediated intimacy, emotional distance, and the impulse to avoid discomfort in relationships. What becomes most compelling in development is the way Offshoot blurs the boundary between performance and authenticity. Characters negotiate how much of themselves can be revealed, protected, revised, or performed, exposing connection as both deeply desired and quietly destabilizing. Funny, unsettling, and deeply human, Offshoot asks what it means to be present with another person in a culture designed to shield us from vulnerability, and what is lost in that protection.

- Dramaturg, Sav Debaylo

Studio One

Presents
Eight-Hand Jig
By MC Crosby

with

Directed by
David Sterritt

CAST

BRIGID O'MALLEY, DR. TAM, RTÉ NEWS REPORTER, EIBHLÍS, BRÍD, MARY: Alyssa Renée*
BREE O’MALLEY, DAME CATHERINE, GUARD: Sarah Gruber*
BRENDA O’MALLEY/CIARÁN TIARNA/BANSHEE/CHAD MCKENNA/RÍAN: Ana Gomez-Lugo*
MEL O’MALLEY, ONE EYED HARE, MELVINA, ROBOTIC VOICE: Laura Banguero*
U/S BRIGID O' MALLEY, U/S DR. TAM, U/S RTÉ NEWS REPORTER, U/S EIBHLÍS, U/S BRÍD, U/S MARY, U/S BRENDA O'MALLEY, U/S CIARÁN TIARNA, U/S BANSHEE, U/S CHAD MCKENNA, U/S RÍAN: Tristen Mendoza*
STAGE DIRECTIONS, U/S MEL O’MALLEY, U/S ONE EYED HARE, U/S MELVINA, U/S ROBOTIC VOICE: Cadence Zalopany*
U/S BREE O’MALLEY, U/S DAME CATHERINE, U/S GUARD: Mia Brian*

*Theatre UCF Student

PRODUCTION TEAM

Stage Managers: Abigail Ingram-Lawrence*, Vivian Riffe*
Assistant Director: Jenna Robinson*
Assistant Production Manager: Phoenix Connick*
Assistant Company Manager: Dylan Weston*
Dramaturg: Bug Read*
Show Crew: Denise Carey*
E-Shop (Lighting and Sound): Julia Borchers*, Averi Boyer*, Katherine Carvalho Gagno*, Fernando Cezar Mendes*, Samuel Gomez*, Jackson Hunsicker*, Jonanne Jean-Marie*, Ariana Jordan*, Brooke Ripley*
Costume Shop: Sean Duggan*, Rachel Hefner*, Veronica McGrath*, Lissa Ortega*, Rehana Quadir*
Scenic Shop: Alyssa Catalano*, Marcella Chambers*, Xotchilth Gutierrez*, Sam Motley*, Kenzie Robinson*, Nyla Pollack*, Robyn Tindall*
FOH/Box Office: Kristoffer Cajigas*, Alivia Cruce*, Angelina DuBois*, Elliot Horowitz*, Lily Johnson*, Walker Mattson*, Jorge Gabriel Sánchez Caceres*, Jordan Ruiz*, Alea Scheffler*, Jonathan Sommervil*

*Theatre UCF Student

PEGASUS PLAYLAB/Theatre UCF

Director School of Performing Arts: Michael Wainstein
Artistic Director: Julia Listengarten
Faculty Stage Management Advisor: Claudia Lynch
Faculty Design and Technology Advisor: Vandy Wood
Production Manager: James Cleveland
Technical Director: Tramaine Berryhill
Assistant Technical Director: Thomas Davis
Production Sound/Sound Advisor: Olivia Deiter
Production Electrician: Kevin Barkman
Costume Shop Manager: Allison Rexrode
Costume Workroom Supervisor: Cortnie Da Costa
Marketing Communications Manager: Jillian Sterritt
Marketing Coordinator: Katarina Monroe
FOH/ Box Office Manager: Imari Point-du-Jour
Assistant Box Office Manager: River Banks
Dramaturg Coordinator: Alyssa Barrack*
Artistic Associate: Kaila Cohen*
Undergraduate Coordinator: Kristina Tollefson
Academic Services Coordinator: Lauren Becker
SPA Administrative Coordinator: Victoria Hopkins
Theatre UCF Administrative Assistant: Samuel Waters

*Theatre UCF Student

CAST

Tristen Mendoza (U/S BRIGID O' MALLEY, U/S DR. TAM, U/S RTÉ NEWS REPORTER, U/S EIBHLÍS, U/S BRÍD, U/S MARY, U/S BRENDA O'MALLEY, U/S, CIARÁN TIARNA, U/S BANSHEE, U/S CHAD MCKENNA, U/S RÍAN) is a Third year in the BFA Acting Program. This is her second Pegasus Playlab production. Tristen was last seen Directing APO Production of Matt and Ben. Other theater credits include Pegasus PlayLab- The Visiting Hour (U/S Maggie), Rhinoceros @TheaterUCF (Botard), and The Rocky Horror Shadow Cast (Eddie).  Instagram: @tristenm_arts

Cadence Zalopany (U/S MEL O’MALLEY, U/S ONE EYED HARE, U/S MELVINA, U/S ROBOTIC VOICE) is going into her 2nd year at UCF as a communications major. This is her first Pegasus Playlab production and she is very excited to get back into theater! Cadence was involved in Pineapple Theater’s Rocky Horror Picture show Shadow Cast (Lips/ensemble) last October and hopes to continue popping up in more shows around UCF in the upcoming semesters! Instagram: @cadence.zalopany

Mia Brian (U/S BREE O’ MALLEY, U/S DAME CATHERINE, U/S GUARD) Mia is going into her second year as a Theater and English major. This is her first Theater UCF production, and she is beyond excited to be part of this process! She is an Applause Award winning actress, and some of her outside credits include Jo March (Little Women), Lindsay (Godspell 2012), Della (The Gift of the Magi), and Dragon (Shrek The Musical). Instagram: @miaclairee07

Ana Gomez-Lugo graduated from the BFA Acting Program in May. You may have seen her on the Theatre UCF stage in The River Bride (Helena), The Cherry Orchard (Dunyasha), The Prom (Ensemble,U/S Shelby/Kaylee).

Laura Banguero (MEL O’MALLEY, ONE EYED HARE, MELVINA, ROBOTIC VOICE) is a second-year MFA acting student. Originally from Cali, Colombia. Laura received her BFA in Performance from Florida International University. You may have seen her on the Theatre UCF stage in The Bacchae (Dionysus), The River Bride (Sra. Costa), The Last Firefly (A spider/puppeteer) or The Clean House (Ana).

Sarah Gruber (BREE O’MALLEY, DAME CATHERINE, GUARD) is a second year in the MFA Acting program. She was last seen on the UCF stage in The Bacchae (Ino), Urinetown (Jo “Ma” Strong), The Last Firefly (Puppeteer), and Rhinoceros (Logician). Up next, Sarah will appear as Desdemona in Othello with Actors’ Theatre of Columbus in Ohio. She has her BA in Theatre and Sociology from Smith College. Website: www.sarahgruber.com, IG: @sarahrgruber

PRODUCTION TEAM

David Sterritt (Director) is excited to be making his Pegasus PlayLab debut! He is an Actor, Fight Choreographer, and Director from Atlanta, GA and is currently an Assistant Professor at UCF.  He recently directed One Man, Two Guvnors at UCF. He received his MFA in Acting from Wayne State University through the Hilberry Repertory Theatre. He also received his Advanced Theatre Training Certificate while training in Russia at the Moscow Art Theatre School and has a BFA in performing arts from Savannah College of Art and Design.

Ella Amir (Production Stage Manager) is a rising 2nd-year BFA stage manager at UCF. Some of her past UCF credits include Urinetown: The Musical (PA), and One Man Two Guvnors (A2). She is looking forward to working on Blues for an Alabama Sky as a Props Manager in the Fall!

Kaila Cohen (Company Manager) Kaila is a local director, dramaturg, and teaching artist originally from Sarasota, FL. She earned her Bachelor of Arts in theatre arts and minor in communication studies from Rollins College, where she directed the premiere production of Nowheresville. Now, Kaila is pursuing her next adventure as a graduate fellow in the Master of Fine Arts program in Theatre for Young Audiences at the University of Central Florida. Professionally, she has worked as a teaching artist and director with Florida Studio Theatre, Stage Door Studios, Playwrights’ Round Table, Central Florida Community Arts, and Orlando Family Stage. Kaila enjoys working with all ages, having lead programming for pre-K students, adults, and everyone in between, with a particular expertise and passion for working with neurodivergent individuals. She loves seeing all of her students grow and learn how to apply lessons learned in theatre to their everyday lives.

MC Crosby she/they (Playwright) is a playwright, performer, and choreographer based in Brooklyn. Their dance-infused play Sleeping Soldiers received four stars at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival and semi-finalist status for Amnesty International’s Freedom of Expression Award. A global artist, MC’s work has been produced in New York City, Scotland, China, Singapore, and Madagascar. MC was a finalist for the Playwrights’ Center McKnight National Residency, and they won the Kaufman Playwriting Award for the immersive yoga play Um…Om. They recently received a grant from the Lower Manhattan Cultural Council to stage their site specific Alcoholics Anonymous play Uncle Al in Fall 2026. MC uses their own unique style of “movement theatre” to create socially conscious art. They are thrilled to collaborate with the peppy , perceptive, and profound artists of Pegasus Play Lab.

Alyssa Barrack (Lead Dramaturg/Dramaturgy Coordinator) is a theatre artist and PhD candidate in the Texts & Technology program at UCF. Recent UCF projects include The River Bride, The Human-in-the-Loop, The Drolls, and AI Cabaret, alongside roles as Dramaturgy Coordinator and Research/Teaching Associate with Theatre UCF. Alyssa’s research explores theatre from a digital humanities context, focusing on audiences, DIY methods, and digital culture. They use dramaturgy and interactive media to investigate how theatre and technology shape one another. Professional experience spans dramaturgy, scenic and lighting design, teaching, event and production management, and professional writing. They are committed to keeping audiences central to performance, both in scholarship and in practice. 

Abigail Ingram-Lawrence (Stage Manager) is a rising 2nd year BFA Stage Manager. Her previous UCF credit was Legally Blonde The Musical (PA). Some of her outside credits include Little Women (PSM) and Frozen (SM). She is super excited to work on Twelfth Night as Props Manager in the Fall!

Vivian Riffe (Stage Manager) is a rising 2nd year BFA Stage Manager. Her previous UCF credit was The Bacchae (PA). She is very ecstatic to work on The Hatmaker’s Wife as a Props Manager in the Fall and as a stage manager on UCF Celebrates the Arts in the Spring!

Samuel Gomez (Sound Designer) is a rising 2nd year BFA Design and Technology student, with a focus in sound and lighting. His previous UCF credit was Legally Blonde (Assistant Production Electrician). Sam has also worked with Project Spotlight as an Assistant Sound Designer. He is very excited to work on Godspell (A2) in the fall, on Twelfth Night (Assistant Sound Designer) and Young Frankenstein (A3) in the spring!

Phoenix Connick (Asst. Production Manager) is a first-year in the BFA Stage Management program. He has previously worked on Legally Blonde (Production Manager Production Assistant), The Wizard of Oz (Youth Edition) (Production Assistant) at Orlando Family Stage, and One Man, Two Guvnors (Fly Rail Operator).

Rehana Quadir (Costume Designer) is an upcoming second year transfer student in the Theatre UCF BFA Design and Technology program. Previously, Rehana has assisted with Urinetown: The Musical (Wardrobe) at UCF. On top of attending UCF, Rehana is working on getting their Apprenticeship title at Venice Theatre located in Venice, Florida.

Jenna Robinson (Assistant Director) is a second year transfer student in the UCF Theater program. She is currently pursuing a BA degree in Applied Performance with a minor in Business. She is currently working as a Co-Artistic Director for a club at UCF called Project Spotlight, as well as a Production Coordinator and Costume Assistant for a local film studio. Outside credits of Jenna are Acts of Wonder (Assistant Director) through Project Spotlight, The Sinking of SS Wilmington (Director) at SCF, and multiple acting credits through separate theaters around Florida.

Bug Read (Dramaturg) is a Theatre Studies MA student currently curating her thesis within her final year at UCF. At home in the realm of research, Bug earned her Bachelor’s in Theatre Studies from UCF in the fall of 2022. This is her first Pegasus Playlab production and she’s extremely excited to be involved! A majority of her time is spent perusing various corners of the internet for the next weird fact, thesis crumb, or niche historical event. 

Dylan Weston (Assistant Company Manager) is a rising senior in the Theatre B.A program with a focus on administration and directing. Previously, he was the Qlab operator for Theatre UCF’s production of The River Bride. This is his first credit with Pegasus Playlab. 

Claudia Lynch (Production Supervisor/ Stage Managers’ Advisor/ Show Crew Assignment Supervisor) Claudia is an Associate Professor and the Area Coordinator of the BFA in Stage Management. Claudia is the Theatre UCF Internship Coordinator, and Supervises the Theatre UCF Audition Office, and she is the Faculty Liaison for the Theatre UCF Professional Advisory Board. Credits include Broadway:  Rock of Ages, A Catered Affair, Company, Little Shop of Horrors; The Light in the Piazza, The Rivals, Dinner at Eight, Contact (at Lincoln Center Theater). Offbroadway:  Passion (at Classic Stage Company), Rock of Ages, and 9 Productions with NY City Center Encores!; Regional:  Alley Theatre, The Old Globe Theatre, The Cleveland Playhouse, and Arena Stage. Graduate of SUNY Geneseo. Proud Member of Actor’s Equity Association.  Claudia is also the USITT Management Commissioner for Programming, an Actors’ Equity Outreach Presenter, and the Coordinator for the Connection Convention: College Edition; which helps students interested in studying Stage Management meet with Educators and programs around the country.  Claudia is the Stage Management Intensive Coordinator for ACT Region 3, and is the former SM Coordinator for ACTF Region 4, and has served on the Board of The Stage Managers Association.  @OrlandoStageManagers

Denise Carey (Backstage Crew) is a fourth-year in the BA program. She joins the backstage crew for this series of play readings, where she loves helping bring stories to life through organization, teamwork, and a passion for live theatre. She hopes to continue exploring both onstage and offstage roles throughout her time at UCF. 

Alyssa Catalano (Scenic Designer) is a rising 2nd year in the BFA Design and Technology program with a focus in scenic. This is her first Pegasus Playlab credit and she is super excited to be part of the scenic team this year!

When stepping into this show, I didn’t expect to fall so entirely in love with the O’Malley girls. In between several Irish folklore deep dives and endless script rereads, the women of Eight-Hand Jig started looking exactly like the women in my life. The O’Malley’s are headstrong, vulnerable, ridiculous, and so profoundly honest it tugs your heart strings.

Nick Bazo
Director

Nick Bazo is a Cuban American director, professor, and arts administrator originally from South Florida. He currently serves as an administrator and Special Projects Manager at the Renaissance Theatre. 

His directing credits include Gorgeous, The Pitchforks, Milk, and Office Holiday Party (The Ren); Anna in the Tropics (Orlando Shakes); Desert Oceans (Theatre UCF); Metamorphoses and Water by the Spoonful (Rollins College); Make Way for Ducklings (Orlando Family Stage); and On Your Feet! (Garden Theatre). 

Previously, Nick served as Director of Education at the Garden Theatre and worked in Boston as Director of Programs for the The Theater Offensive, where he also led the True Colors: OUT Youth Theater program for LGBTQ youth. 

Nick holds an MFA in Theatre from University of Central Florida and a BA in Theatre from Rollins College. He is also a three-time nominee for Best Director in Orlando Theatre by the Orlando Sentinel.