Company Member Bios

Stacy Bartell (Technical Director): Stacy considers herself a lifelong student of technical theater. Over more than two decades in the industry, Stacy has been a lighting designer, a scenic designer, a carpenter and a technical director. She has built everything from Broadway scenery to trade shows to a full set of light-up magic wands and has touched more than 350 productions in 5 states in her career, giving her a thorough breadth of experience. In her free time, Stacy can be found practicing Aerial arts, reading and learning the German language. 

Gracie Burnham (Stage Manager): Gracie is an award-recognized playwright, choreographer, and stage manager and a published poet and essayist. She is a senior at K majoring in English and Theatre Arts with a minor in history, and this is her 9th production at the Festival Playhouse. In the rare times she’s outside of the playhouse, you can find Gracie somewhere on campus behind a camera or fulfilling her duties as a President’s Student Ambassador, Interfaith Student Leader, English TA, or member of the Kalamadudes. Gracie would like to thank her parents for always telling her to chase her dreams.

Derrick Chen (Wardrobe Crew): Derrick is a senior Computer Science major with a Theatre minor. He first got involved in the Festival Playhouse as an usher for Little Shop of Horrors, and has continued to work backstage for subsequent productions. He would like to thank the Festival Playhouse for offering him this experience, his friends and family for their support, and the audience for attending. 

Keegan Clarke (Assistant Costume Designer)
Keegan is a sophomore Psychology major who is very excited for her first design role K! She has previously worked as Wardrobe Crew Head for Love’s Labour’s Lost.

Jack Dewey (Bob Martindale): Hailing from far-off Minneapolis, Minnesota, Dewey is a senior Theatre Arts major/English minor at Kalamazoo College. When not working with Festival Playhouse however he can, Dewey can be found singing songs with the Kalamadudes, figuring out what food he can cook with the things in his fridge, petting the cats that hang around on his porch, and trying to organize games of Dungeons & Dragons. Dewey would like to thank their parents, sister, professors, and incredible partner for helping them get to this point without any major house fires.

Cooper Dahl (Theodore Sunderson): I am Junior History and Classical Civilizations Major who is involved in the Festival Playhouse whenever I can. I have previously played Earnest Worthing in The Importance of being Earnest with Festival Playhouse and have worked as a member of the lighting crew. When I’m not involved with Festival Playhouse, you can find me working through readings and papers, or painting fantasy and sci-fi miniatures.

Owen Ellis (Jim Baxter): ‘Perfect Arrangement’ is senior Owen Ellis’ fifth acting role in a Festival Playhouse, with previous roles such as Rich in ‘Be More Chill’ and Costard in Shakespeare’s ‘Love’s Labor’s Lost’. Outside of the theatre, Owen is a captain for Monkapult, Kalamazoo College’s improv team, works as a first year experience mentor, and sings tenor in the Kalamadudes. This one goes out to Alex and Grace Ellis.

Sofia Gross (Norma Baxter): Sofia is a sophomore at K and absolutely thrilled to be a part of this show! Her prior acting experience at the Festival Playhouse includes performing as Carly in “The Most Massive Woman Wins”, during the winter of 2026. She’d like to thank her family, friends, and fabulous fellow cast and crew!

Dr. Miriam Hahn Thomas (Director): Dr. Miriam Hahn Thomas is a theatre historian, artist, and educator. While this is her first production with the Festival Playhouse, she has previously taught courses in theatre history and acting at Kalamazoo College. Recent directorial credits include Radium Girls and The Cherry Orchard, both produced at the Kalamazoo Civic Theatre. She also serves as Associate Curator of Adult Programs at the Kalamazoo Institute of Arts. Deepest gratitude to Quincy, and to the entire Theatre Arts team at Kalamazoo College.

Hannah Haines (Barbara Grant): This is Hannah’s third production with Festival Playhouse, and she’s ecstatic to return to this stage! Outside of theater, Hannah is an English major hoping to become an author and pen pieces just as impactful as this show. Hannah would like to thank her amazing family and wonderful friends for their unending support, and for being themselves.

Katey Kumon (Assistant Stage Manager): This is their first production at the Festival Playhouse, but they have done theater for 4 years in high school. They hope you enjoy the show!

Ellie O’Connor (Millie Martindale): Ellie is excited to perform in the Festival Playhouse’s production of Perfect Arrangement. She has been in theater productions for six years, her favorite being the musical Ride The Cyclone. Ellie is planning to double major in Psychology and Musical Theater.

Evie Popovitz (Wardrobe Crew): Evie is a freshman, and this is her first production at the Festival Playhouse; previously, she was the vice president of her theatre department in high school as well as a frequent cast member in shows at Flint Youth Theatre in Flint, Michigan. At K, she is a member of College Singers and crochet club, and plans to major in Theatre! She would like to thank her parents and her peas for their support!

Lanford J. “Lanny” Potts (Scenic and Lighting Design): Lanny is thrilled to be working with the most awesomely gifted team for Perfect Arrangement!  Lanny is an award-winning designer whose work has earned national, state, and regional recognition. His honors include a national lighting award from the John F. Kennedy Center for Fun Home, six Michigan Wilde Awards for “Best of” in Lighting Design, multiple regional design awards in Atlanta, Detroit, Chattanooga, and Lansing, and two Governor’s Commendations from Georgia and Michigan. He has also received multiple BroadwayWorld Award nominations and the Community Medal of Arts for contributions to the local arts community.  He serves as Artistic Director of Festival Playhouse at Kalamazoo College, James Stone Senior Chair of Fine Arts, and First-Year Class Dean. Lanny would like to thank his entire family for allowing him to pursue his passions.

Faolan Rohr (Kitty Sunderson): Faolan Rohr is a first year student participating in her first show through the Festival playhouse here at K College. An aspiring English major and hoping to minor in theater, she enjoys writing stories and studying myth in her free time, as well as practicing special effects makeup; anything that can be used to tell a compelling story is completely up her alley.

Flora-Jac Saldaña (Assistant Stage Manager): I’m a freshman and this is my fifth year in theater but my first time in tech!

Arden Schultz (Run Crew): Arden is an English and philosophy major with a minor in political science and concentrations in American studies and critical theory. Arden is also music director for Premium Orange A Cappella, is a member of K Votes, KTS, and is SRA in Trowbridge. This is Arden’s 8th show with Festival Playhouse but first time as run crew and they are very excited. 

Kirsten Sluyter (Dramaturg & Company Manager): Kirsten is extremely grateful to be part of the team at K, and is in the thick of her fourth season with the Playhouse! She graduated with her bachelor’s degree in Arts Management from Western Michigan University in 2020. With experience working both the front and back of house, she is a lover of all things theatre, and is thankful for any opportunity to learn more. Outside of work, she loves to bake, learn about the natural world, play mermaids with her friends, and watch women’s hockey. She would like to thank her spouse Bennie for their tireless support, and for being the best Bride of Wifenstein in the business, and Dr. Miriam Hahn Thomas for taking a chance on her as Dramaturg.

Morgan Smith (Wardrobe Crew): Morgan is very excited to be part of the wardrobe crew for “Perfect Arrangement”. After playing the Princess of France in “Love’s Labour’s Lost” last year at the Festival Playhouse, they’ve been very excited to return. When not doing theater, they can be found singing with the Kalamadudes, drawing, or watching terrible movies and shows with their friends.

Mathias Takacs (Lighting Crew) This is her third show with Festival Playhouse. previously having worked on Love’s Labour’s Lost on lighting crew, and wardrobe crew for The Most Massive Woman Wins. She had a wonderful time helping out, meeting everyone, and she is excited to be doing more work for Perfect Arrangement.

Ian Whistler-Myers (Costume Designer): Ian Whistler-Myers is the Festival Playhouse’s Costume Shop Supervisor and Costume Designer for the 2025-2026 season. He earned his BFA in Design and Technical Production, with a focus in Costume and Scenery Design, at Western Michigan University and holds an additional concentration in Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, & Justice. Over the past couple of years he has designed the costumes for shows like Playhouse Creatures, Next to Normal, Annie, First Date, Puffs, or Seven Increasingly Eventful Years at a Certain School of Magic and Magic, Say Cheesecake! A Musical about Girls of a Golden Age, Witch, Lys, and many more! He hopes to continue his design work in the SW Michigan area and looks forward to another wonderful season here at the Festival Playhouse. 

PERFECT ARRANGEMENT is presented by arrangement with Concord Theatricals on behalf of Samuel French, Inc.
www.concordtheatricals.com