Assistant director of the laramie project
In the spring of 2025, I worked as the Assistant Director of The Laramie Project at Otterbein University. The Laramie Project tells the important story of the brutal murder of a gay college student named Matthew Shepard in Laramie, Wyoming, in 1998.
The play is an example of verbatim theatre, where the writers conducted and composed interviews with the people of Laramie who experienced this tragedy. The Laramie Project is a compelling work and tells a story that needed to be told in this moment.
As Assistant Director, I led the cast in team-building and warm-up activities at the top of every rehearsal. This helped to build a safe atmosphere where we could play in the rehearsal room and feel comfortable with each other. I also worked closely with the director to create intimate settings in a proscenium-style theatre. We embraced the challenge and created beautiful and unique staging.
Director: Jessie Glover
Assistant Director: Fiona Shella
Photos: Isaac Ramsey & Fiona Shella
Stage Manager: Adrian Casto
ASMs: Gail Sparks & Nathan Laemmle
Lighting Designer: Paige Vick
Scenic Design: Natalie Neville
Charge Artist: Ja’Na’Ya Johnson
Technical Director: Patrick Stone
Costume Designer: Anna Grywalski
Assistant Costume Designer: Max Lozada
A real Clown - Dell’Arte International: School of Physical Theatre alumni
Yes, this is for real, and no, I’m not joking. In the summer of 2024, I attended Dell’Arte International: School of Physical Theatre and Clowning for their week-long intensive Clown Core, taught by former Cirque du Soleil clown Michelle Matlock. The art of clowning has become something very near and dear to my heart, having watched firsthand how clowning opens people up and creates joy.
Since my time at Dell’Arte, I have worked with Good Medicine Productions, of Columbus, Ohio, a member of the North American Federation of Healthcare Clowning Organizations (NAHFCO), and a premier medical clowning and clown theatre company. With Good Medicine, I Assistant Directed their annual Christmas production, Uptown Scrooge: Abridged, an immersive reimagining of A Christmas Carol. I worked closely with director and company founder Kristie Koehler Vuocolo to create a high-energy clown theatre production with heart and a lot of audience participation.
Video of part of Dell’Arte performance
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Top Photo & Video: Michelle Matlock
Bottom Photos: Kristie Koehler Vuocolo
Uptown Scrooge: Abridged Director: Kristie Koehler Vuocolo
Singer and Dancer
On top of all of that, I also sing and dance. I have been dancing since I was six, and singing probably since I could talk. I have a very wide vocal range, singing Soprano 2, Mezzo, and Alto. I trained in private voice lessons at Otterbein University under Eric Sand and Kate Merryman. In terms of style, I am a big fan of comedic songs and patter songs. I also love to sing anything written by Andrew Lippa.
I have been a lover of dance my entire life. I danced throughout my childhood, but stopped dancing during high school before finding my love for it again in college. At Otterbein, I studied dance under Stella Kane (Jazz), Anna Elliot (Ballet, Tap, Jazz), Cindy Straub (Tap), Emily Glinski (Modern, Jazz), Jaime Wilson (Ballet), and Kelly Black ( Modern, Tap). My personal favorite styles are modern, jazz, and interpretive improv.
Song: What Do You Do With Your Arms
Written By: Carner and Gregor