Emily Reece, Jack Dewey, Randa Alnaas, Amelia Saxton, Gracie Burnham.
Director’s Note
by Milan Levy ’23
If you feel inclined, say these positive affirmations to yourself and add some of your own!
| I am beautiful I love myself I am funny and cool I am gifted I am sexy I am desirable | I am intelligent I am awesome I am ____________________ I am ____________________ I am ____________________ |
Thank you for coming out to see our production of The Most Massive Woman Wins! The messages and themes that this piece explores are deeply personal to me. As an individual whose been plus size for most of their life, directing this piece was both triggering and healing. I knew to do this show justice; I had to be vulnerable with my cast. They must perform this vulnerability in front of an audience; the least I can do is be in that realm with them. This play showcase’s themes of fatphobia, self-harm, eating disorders, and misogyny, and it’s all layered with eeriness, vibrant colors, and movement. I hope you leave reflecting on your own biases and beliefs towards body image; seeing the true damage fatphobia and body shaming can do to a person. This play is set in the 90s, where the blueprint of body image for many was tied to supermodels. And culture today still tells us a similar message where medical pills are constantly being encouraged for weight loss. I do believe that everyone should choose what to do with their own body, but the intentions behind these choices should not be based on others’ ideals. I want us to reframe the message around what healthy is, understanding that healthiness looks different on everyone. As corny as it may sound: Remember you are a glittering snowflake; don’t let outside forces define your inherent beauty!
Dramaturgy Note
by Bernice Mike ’26
In a culture obsessed with the female body being as shrunken down as possible, Madeleine George’s The Most Massive Woman Wins analyzes what it would mean to take up space. Set in the intimacy of a liposuction clinic waiting room, each character goes through an emotional journey of reminiscing on the abuse, desires, and societal pressures that have led them to the surgical procedure they are about to embark on.
Even though the play was written in the 90s, when public scrutiny of women’s bodies was culturally normalized, and beauty standards were shaped by thinness ideals, the themes of the play are still relevant today. With the rise of social media, audiences have also grown accustomed to comparing themselves with, or judging the bodies that we see while scrolling. If the early 2020s saw a rise in body positivity, nowadays we can notice a return to unhealthy fixations demanding thinness, perpetuated by influencers, celebrities, and the wrath of the algorithm. While in the 90s individuals were seeking out liposuctions and now-banned pills such as Fen-Phen and Ephedra, today one can easily gain access to Ozempic, a weight-loss drug whose original purpose was to aid those suffering from diabetes. No matter the method used, the message remains the same: there is profit in convincing women that they need to change their bodies to succeed in a patriarchal world.
Throughout history, female bodily autonomy has never existed without restriction. Women’s bodies have been regarded as battlegrounds for political and cultural wars, as they have been regulated by laws, religious ideologies, and medical discourse – usually carried out by their male counterparts, with no woman present in the room. The recent overturning of Roe v. Wade in 2022 is just the last in a series of measures meant to take away choice from women, which proves that the lack of female bodily autonomy is still an issue far from getting solved. George’s work invites its audience to ponder on how the characters’ choice of altering their bodies is a double-edged sword: on one side they take ownership as they go through with the procedure knowing it will change their lives, but on the other side, they make this decision because of how deeply societal beauty standards, and their loved ones’ loud opinions on the matter have affected their perception of self.
Because laughter is the best form of resistance, we invite you to delight in this dark comedy, as our characters are trying to navigate a world designed to make it seem like no woman can in fact ever win. Sit back and enjoy subtle jokes, heart-warming confessions, and tear-jerking moments of raw honesty in The Most Massive Woman Wins.
Company Member Biographies
Randa Alnaas (Stage Manager) Randa is an international student from Libya, who is double majoring in Theatre Arts and Business. She did the New York Arts program in the winter term of her sophomore year, where she was a Stage Management intern. She was the Stage Manager of our last spring’s musical production Little Shop of Horrors. Last Summer, she was awarded the Vincent Liff Memorial Theatre Fund to partake in intensive classes at the American Academy of Dramatic Arts. Randa loves the theatre community here at Kalamazoo College, and she is happy to be part of it.
Katherine Andretz (Set Construction) Katherine is a senior Biology and Environmental studies major who is working on set construction for this show. She has worked on previous productions here at Kalamazoo College, such as Othello as part of the Run Crew team, Be More Chill, and Little Shop of Horrors.
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.
Chloe Briggs (Lead Electrician) Chloe is excited to be helping in her 8th show at Festival Playhouse. She is a theatre major and religion minor. Chloe is part of Kalamazoo College’s Interfaith Group. She would like to thank her family and friends for their continuous support.
Gracie Burnham (Rennie A) Gracie is a junior English and Theatre Arts double major and History minor. She is an award-recognized playwright and choreographer with Festival Playhouse credits from Love’s Labour’s Lost, Little Shop of Honors, Eurydice, The Importance of Being Earnest, and Dutchman. Aside from practically living in the Playhouse, Gracie can often be found behind a camera somewhere on campus, and is an Interfaith Leader, Bible Club board member, and President’s Student Ambassador.
Evelyn Calderon-Dyche (Assistant to the Scenic Designer, Curtain Speech Voiceover) Eve is a senior theater and comp sci student here at K. She started working on productions freshman year and got trapped in the department forever.
Derrick Chen (Run Crew) Derrick is a junior Compute Science major with a Theatre minor. He enjoys helping in productions at Festival Playhouse, with this being his third one, this time on run crew.
Kristen Chesak (Lighting Designer) Kristen Chesak is an accomplished arts executive and multidisciplinary theatrical designer whose career spans more than 30 years across nonprofit leadership, lighting and sound design, production management, and community-based arts development. Her work reflects the integration of artistic practice and organizational leadership, grounded in collaboration, storytelling, and long-term systems thinking.
Kristen currently serves as Executive Director of the Arts Council of Greater Kalamazoo, where she leads a 16 person staff dedicated to connecting with creatives to amplify their work, fuel collaboration, and build a vibrant and inclusive arts community. Previously, she served in multiple leadership and production roles at the Kalamazoo Civic Theatre over a 22 year period, including Executive Director, Production Manager, and Lighting Designer.
Her design portfolio includes more than 200 productions spanning theatre, musical theatre, dance, and symphonic performance. A significant portion of her early design career was rooted at Kalamazoo College, where she designed lighting for productions in The Playhouse and Dalton Theatre, as well as a dance works with the Ballet Theatre at Kalamazoo College. Selected Kalamazoo College related lighting credits include, Baby, The Miser, Coastal Disturbances, Burning Patience, Getting Out, La Bayadere, The Nutcracker, Beautitudes, Shape of Grace, and Rising of the Moon.
Following her time at Kalamazoo College, Kristen continued her design practice in Seattle with the Group Theatre and the Annex Theatre. Her Seattle credits include To Be Young, Gifted and Black and The Night Was Young: A Bitch in a Hurry Produces Blind Pups.
Kristen also designed extensively with the Kalamazoo Civic Theatre, with credits including Chicago, CATS, Gypsy, A Raisin in the Sun, Our Town, The Miracle Worker, and The Diary of Anne Frank. More recent work includes lighting design at Farmers Alley Theatre for Primary Trust (2025) and Dial M for Murder (2024).
She holds an MFA in Performing Arts Administration from Western Michigan University and a BA with Honors from Kalamazoo College.
Elliot Corpuz (Usher, Sound Board Op.) The Most Massive Woman Wins is Elliot’s second Festival Playhouse production. Elliot has loved learning and working with the Festival Playhouse this year.
Bizzy Curtis (Props Lead) An ANSO major, Japanese minor and Film & Media concentration, it surprises many to learn that they aren’t a Theatre Arts minor or major, with the amount they have hung around the Festival Playhouse, in roles such as usher for Next to Normal, usher for Be More Chill, dramaturg for Little Shop of Horrors, and usher for Love’s Labour’s Lost. They are excited to be a part of MMWW in the role of props lead.
Maya Davis (Electrician) Maya is a Music major and a Sophomore at K. If she’s not roaming the catwalks, you can find her wandering the FAB Basement, coordinating student events through APISA and K Filmmakers’ Society, or running sound for other campus events like A Cappella Concerts and the Lunar New Year Celebration!
Jack Dewey (Assistant Stage Manager, Run Crew) Dewey is a junior Theatre Arts major at Kalamazoo College. Outside of Festival Playhouse, he serves as one of the Directors of the Kalamadudes. In his spare time, he can be found playing D&D, reading the latest Brandon Sanderson novel, and trying to turn in his homework on time.
Samuel Gladhill (Light Board Programmer) Sam is a senior Classical Civilizations major with a minor in Theatre Arts. He has served in the scene shop since his first year, and worked as the lead electrician and spotlight captain on productions such as Next to Normal, Be More Chill, and Little Shop of Horrors. He is excited to continue his final season with the Playhouse, and he thanks his mother and fiance for supporting him throughout his college career.
Sofia Gross (Carly A) Sofia is a first year student at K and this is her first time acting in a Festival Playhouse production! She is a member of Monkapult and Premium Orange, and an adorer of eels and lizards. She couldn’t be more excited to be a part of this show!
James Hauke (Light Board Operator) James is a Studio Art major with a Film & Media concentration, and an English and potential Theatre minor. This is his third show with Festival Playhouse. He is excited to step back into production for the second time. Outside of the theatre, he works for Kalamazoo College Video Production, Elemental Media and his own freelance company JC Hauke Productions.
Weslee Innes (House Manager) Weslee is a sophomore Theatre major at Kalamazoo College. They love all things theatre and are excited to be house managing for the first time.
Shay Kruse (Carly B) Shay is a sophomore English and German double major, and has been a member of Festival Playhouse since her first term at K. She has done stage management, props design, set construction, and now for the first time, she is performing on stage! Shay feels lucky to have been able to work with so many incredible people on such a special production. She hopes you enjoy watching the show just as much as she did working on it!
Milan Levy (Director) Milan Levy (They/Them) was born and raised in Los Angeles, California. From their early days as the Yellow Brick Road in The Wizard of Oz to joining a Shakespeare troupe at age 11, Milan’s love for the stage has always been evident. They studied technical theatre and acting at the Los Angeles County High School for the Arts (LACHSA) and graduated with a bachelor’s degree in Theatre Arts from Kalamazoo College in 2023. After graduating, Milan became the production manager at Face Off Theatre Company (FOTC) and a program coordinator at their Alma Mater. Their recent acting endeavors include Normal Jean/Medea/Janine in The Colored Museum (2025) and Camae in The Mountaintop (2023). In 2024, they co-directed Smart People by Lydia Diamond with FOTC. Milan is honored to return to the stage where they spent their college career, to direct this timely piece. To my phenomenal cast and management team, thank you for trusting me to lead y’all through this process. Thanks to the designers and crew, for bringing my vision to life. And a big shout out to my best friends and my beautiful boy Tetra <3! Enjoy the show!
Bernice Mike (Dramaturg) Bernice is a senior studying Psychology and Theatre at K. This is her fifth show at The Festival Playhouse. Past roles include Eurydice in Eurydice, and Katherine in Love’s Labour’s Lost. She is excited for everyone to see this show, and she would like to thank her family and loved ones for the support, as well as Dr. Thomas and Kirsten Sluyter for their dramaturgical help.
Tony Mitchell (Sound Designer and Mentor) Tony wears many hats, but at the core, he is a musician and filmmaker. His expertise lies in post-production sound, where he works as a sound designer, audio mixing engineer, and composer. Additionally, he is an entrepreneur and business owner, leading a team of three exceptionally talented individuals at Texture House Sound & Visuals.
Stephanie Moranko (Assistant Costume Designer) Stephanie is from Sterling Heights, MI and this is her first time in a production position. She has worked as a costume shop assistant since her first year at K and wanted to give something new a try.
Zoee Perez (Cel B) Zoee is a Biology and Psychology double major, as well as Biology DSA. She also went on study abroad in San Jose, Costa Rica. In her free time she enjoys listening to metal/rock music and working at her parents’ restaurant. Her all-time favorite thing to do is travel, and her favorite place she has been to is the Bahamas.
George Eric Perry (Scenic Designer) MR. Perry, a local to Kalamazoo, has designed for many theaters around the area and enjoys sharing his talents with audiences from all over. He is excited to work with the wonderful team here at Kalamazoo College all season. He has traveled the country professionally always looking for ways to build on or add to his many skill sets. As a craftsperson he enjoys experimenting with new mediums all the time but most often can be found in some combination of wood and steel working. When not working he can be found outside enjoying nature or quietly at home with his 3 favorite creatures.
Ren Pruis (Artistic Director) As a professor of Theatre Arts, Ren specializes in performance courses. From 2000 to 2023 she was a founding member of Queen’s Company in NYC, an all-female company devoted to producing clasical texts. Favorite credits there include the Cardinal in Duchess of Malfi, Gremio in Taming of the Shrew, and the title role in Macbeth. Some West Coast performance and direction credits include San Francisco Shakespeare Festival, Electra Theatre Company, Central Works, Boscov Productions, Human Nature, and The Marsh. Ren also spent six years with Kaiser Permanente’s Educational Theatre Programs, as both an actor and manager of multiple shows that toured across the U.S. mainland and Hawaii. Ren holds a Master of Fine Arts in Acting from The American Conservatory in San Francisco, is a Fitzmaurice Voicework®Associate, and a member of the Voice and Speech Trainers Association. Previous directing credits for the Festival Playhouse include Othello, Well Intentioned White People, Silent Sky, Twelfth Night, Intimate Apparel, for colored girls who have considered suicide…, A Raisin in the Sun, Good Night Desdemona {Good Morning Juliet}, In the Next Room (or the vibrator play), Cloud 9, The Tempest, The Rover, Macbeth, Top Girls, Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead, As You Like It, Imaginary Invalid, and an all-female production of Hamlet. Locally she has directed for the Kalamazoo Civic Theatre, Whole Art, and worked as an acting coach for the Grand Rapids Opera’s production of Stinny: An American Execution.
Akaash Raghunath (Assistant Sound Designer, Sound Board Op.) Akaash has a difficult relationship with professionalism, which is to say, rather than list his prior theatre experience or major or whatnot, he’d much prefer informing you all that his favorite cheese is asiago….. he greatly relishes in video editing, zoning out for concerningly extensive periods of time, and being sarcastic.
Emily Reece (Rennie B) Emily is a junior and a Studio Art major and Psychology minor. She just returned to campus, after a term abroad in Rome, Italy. This is her first time performing in a Festival Playhouse production. She is so excited for you to see the show. She wants to give special thanks to her family and friends for supporting her. She hopes you enjoy the show!
Amelia Saxton (Assistant Stage Manager) This is Amelia’s second time at Festival Playhouse; however, she has done 3 years of high school theatre. For Amelia, it has been amazing working with Staff, crew, cast, and management team. She is planning on majoring in Biology with a minor in German studies. She is also a part of the equestrian team.
Kirsten Sluyter (Company Manager) Kirsten is extremely grateful to be part of the team here at K, and doubly so to get to be a small part of this production. A graduate of the Arts Management program at Western Michigan University, she has experience working both the front and back of the house, and has stage managed shows like Violet, Priscilla Dreams the Answer, Am I Blue, Tigers Be Still, Haunted Houses, and The Art of Self Defense. She is a lover of all things theatre, and is thankful for any opportunity to learn more. She would like to thank her spouse Bennie for their love and immense support, and her kitties for making sure she always wakes up in time for breakfast.
Lili Stout (Sabine) Lili is a senior Art History major and Studio Art minor. This is her first time acting in a Festival Playhouse Production. Outside of rehearsal, Lili enjoys working in the office of Student Activities and at Woodward Elementary with the Center for Civic Engagement.
Helen Stoy (Cel A) Helen is a senior Theatre and Spanish double major. This is Helen’s 6th and final show at K. Helen is excited but nervous to perform as she typically sticks to crew positions (favoring stage management). She is so thankful for the time spent away in NYC and abroad in Spain, as well as all of the people she met and classes she took. She hopes everyone enjoys the show!
Mathias Takacs (Wardrobe Crew) This is her second show with Festival Playhouse. previously having worked on Love’s Labour’s Lost on lighting crew. She had a wonderful time helping out, meeting everyone, and she is excited to be doing more work for The Most Massive Woman Wins.
Hannah Ulanoski (Assistant Lighting Designer) Hannah is a senior double majoring in Theatre and East Asian Studies here at Kalamazoo College. This is her first time acting in a production, but sha has worked behind the scenes in many previous shows outside of Festival Playhouse. Hannah is involved in campus organizations. She is the president of ACAPOC and Crochet club. She is also the treasure of K-Rock. She also plays a few instruments you could ask her all about Taiko Drumming. She is also a DSA for the Japanese Department.
Ian Whistler-Myers (Costume Designer, Costume Shop Supervisor) Ian 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 costumes for shows like Little Shop of Horrors, Playhouse Creatures, Next to Normal, Be More Chill, Annie, First Date, Puffs, or Seven Increasingly Eventful Years at a Certain School of 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 a wonderful season here at the Festival Playhouse.
Max Wright (Run Crew) Max Wright is a senior theatre arts and classical civilisations major at Kalamazoo College, and is very excited to be participating in their 9th show at the Festival Playhouse. Having previously acted in Othello, Be More Chill, and Little Shop of Horrors, this is their final show on stage here, and they would like to thank everyone they have worked with over the last four years for all of the experiences and lessons they’ve gotten. Outside of the theatre, Max can often be found singing with the Kalamadudes and sitting around campus with a book.
ASL Interpretation is generously supported by Theatre Kalamazoo and the Jim Gilmore Jr. Foundation.
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