Carol Dunne
Producing Artistic Director
cdunne@northernstage.org
(802) 296-7000 ext. 110
Carol Dunne has served as Producing Artistic Director of Northern Stage since 2013. Under Dunne’s leadership Northern Stage has experienced a powerful expansion, including the opening of the Barrette Center for the Arts, and made a major commitment to enriching the Upper Valley with world class theater. Since 2013 Northern Stage has presented 10 world premieres and three Off-Broadway transfers including the New York Times Critic’s pick Only Yesterday. In 2017, Dunne received a Genius Grant from the Helen Gurley Brown Foundation, and with the Foundation she created and now directs the BOLD Theater Women’s Leadership Circle (www.boldtheater.org), a $1.75 million annual grant in its sixth year which supports emerging women theater leaders. At Northern Stage, Carol has directed over 16 productions including The Railway Children, Spamalot, Mamma Mia, Once, Million Dollar Quartet, Disgraced, Dear Elizabeth, Our Town, Good People, and The Importance of Being Earnest. In 2020, Dunne was honored as a finalist for the prestigious Zelda Fichandler Award, which recognizes directors who have demonstrated great accomplishment and deep investment in community. Dunne is also a Senior Lecturer in Theater at Dartmouth College where she directs plays and musicals including Cabaret, Hair, Eurydice, Angels in America and Rent. With the Dartmouth Department of Theater, she launched the Experiential Term providing professional development to Dartmouth students. Prior to coming to Northern Stage, Dunne was Producing Artistic Director of the New London Barn Playhouse from 2008 until 2015.
Jason Smoller
Managing Director
jsmoller@northernstage.org
(802) 296-7000 ext. 126
Jason Smoller is proud to join the visionary team at Northern Stage in its 25th Anniversary Season. Before moving to the Upper Valley, he was the Director of Development and Marketing at Irish Repertory Theatre in Manhattan. During the COVID shutdown, he worked closely on the strategy behind the organization’s successful online season, reaching 60,000 patrons in more than 20 countries, and the theatre’s reopening. Jason also streamlined the theatre’s fundraising programs, resulting in an increase of 20% in contributed revenue. Prior to his tenure at Irish Rep, Jason held fundraising and external relations roles at The New York Pops orchestra and The Morgan Library & Museum. Jason is an accomplished oboist and holds a Masters in Orchestral Performance from Manhattan School of Music, as well as an AB in French and Music from Brown University. His first full-time job was at Northern Stage in 2012. Jason grew up in the theatre, where from an early age he developed a passion for lighting design and stage management. He made a few forays onto the stage at the Weekend Theatre, a community theatre in Little Rock, Arkansas, including a run as Huck Finn in Big River.
ADMINISTRATION
Milena Zuccotti
General Manager
mzuccotti@northernstage.org
Milena first arrived at the Northern Stage in 2005, spending six years in various administrative and development roles. She returned to the company in 2022 after an 11-year hiatus and is delighted to be back. Other work has included the Wang Center for the Performing Arts and Commonwealth Shakespeare Company in Boston; the New London Barn Playhouse, where she served five years as Managing Director; the Dartmouth Dept of Theater; and the Dorset Theatre Festival, where her fate as a Vermonter was sealed when she met her husband Jason. They live in Hartland with daughters Cassie and Lily and a cacophony of household pets.
Susan Dicken
Associate General Manager
sdicken@northernstage.org
(802) 296-7000 ext. 134
Susan started her Northern Stage career as the Box Office Manager in 2018, before becoming the Associate General Manager in 2020. Previously Susan spent a year as the General and Company Management Apprentice at Cleveland Play House. She also worked at Near West Theatre developing programming that coincided with their new ADA compliant building including sensory friendly productions, signed performances, and generally making the arts accessible to all. Susan holds a Bachelors of Arts in Marketing and Economics from Wilmington College and completed her course work for her master’s in Arts Administration at The University of Akron.
Rae Hickox
Company Manager
rhickox@northernstage.org
Rae Hickox is a lifelong lover of theater and is thrilled to be the company manager of Northern Stage. For the past seven years Rae has worked in education, teaching kindergarten, first grade, and performing arts. Rae graduated from Trinity College in 2016 with a BA in Political Science and Community Action. She had the joy of being in 10 shows in her time at Trinity and brought her love of theater with her to her education career. Rae has planned large scale theater events for students across Boston and is excited to transition into professional theater. A proud Tuck Partner, Rae loves the Upper Valley and all of its beauty.
Jess Johnston
Finance and Admin Consultant
jjohnston@northernstage.org
Jess joined the Northern Stage staff as the Production Manager in 2015, before becoming the General Manager in 2020. Having graduated with a BA in Theatre from the University of Mary Washington in 2006, Jess spent the following 9 years working in event and stage management with a number of companies in New York and regionally, before permanently relocating to Vermont. Her stage management work includes 16 world premiere productions, 5 years as PSM for the Brits Off Broadway festival at 59e59 Theaters, and 7 summers of Vermont Theatre at Weston Playhouse and Dorset Theatre Festival. In addition, Jess managed events such as the National Magazine Awards, the Annual Blossom Ball, and the Product of the Year Awards, and spent 5 years as Associate General Manager for Japan Day, an annual cultural festival in Central Park. Jess is so happy to help fulfill Northern Stage’s mission of changing lives, one story at a time.
Wayne Trask
Facilities Manager
wtrask@northernstage.org
Wayne Trask is a native Vermonter experienced in construction, finish carpentry, historic structure preservation, remodeling, cabinetry, large tree removal, painting, landscaping, and more handy and creative pursuits too numerous to name. As a man who thrives on new challenges, Wayne is excited to be joining Northern Stage in 2021. Wayne is blessed with co-parenting Ember, an outstanding young equestrian with whom he shares his love of animals. He lives in White River Junction with Lily, Atlas, Ginger and Oliver, a furry and frolicsome family of ferrets.
ARTISTIC
Sarah Elizabeth Wansley
BOLD Associate Artistic Director
swansley@northernstage.org
(802) 296-7000
Sarah Elizabeth Wansley directs and develops new plays and musicals, as well as highly theatrical adaptations of classic works. Previously she was the Artistic Producer at Chautauqua Theater Company and the inaugural recipient of the Cleveland Play House Artistic Directing Fellowship for Women. Recent directing projects The Amish Project by Jessica Dickey at PlayMakers Repertory Company, Egress by Melissa Crespo and Sarah Saltwick at Cleveland Play House, Revolt. She Said. Revolt Again. by Alice Birch at Dobama Theatre, The Wolves by Sarah DeLappe at SUNY Purchase and A Midsummer Night’s Dream at Chautauqua Theater Company. She has directed new work at New York Stage and Film, The Flea Theater, Ensemble Studio Theatre, La Jolla Playhouse, McCarter Theatre, White Heron Theatre, and Pipeline Theatre Company. Sarah is a New Georges Affiliated Artist, a 2018 Drama League Resident Artist, a 2015 Drama League Directing Fellow, and a member of the 2011 Lincoln Center Director’s Lab. Sarah received her MFA in Directing from UCSD; from 2016-2020 she was a faculty member at Fordham University.
DEVELOPMENT
Robin Caissie
Director of Development
rcaissie@northernstage.org
(802) 536-1786 ext. 116
With over 29 years of development experience, Robin has held senior development positions in higher education, healthcare, and the arts. Her development experience includes annual and leadership giving, planned giving, campaign and event planning, and non-profit management. She earned her B.S. degree in business management from Franklin Pierce University. Robin enjoys teaching yoga and loves running, hiking, tap dancing, and anything that involves the outdoors. She and her husband Stephen reside in Norwich, Vermont.
Ruth Ann Pattee
Development & Campaign Manager
rpattee@northernstage.org
(802) 536-1786 ext. 123
Ruth Ann Pattee has worked with Vermont schools, organizations, and community groups for over 20 years as a theater educator, and for 15 years with non-profit arts organizations as a database manager and fundraiser. She grew up outside Philadelphia, studied Theatre Arts and Communications at East Stroudsburg University, and moved to Vermont in 1989. In response to the lack of theater programs for children in her area, in 1998 Ruth Ann founded KidsACT, a children’s theater company based at the Valley Players Theater in Waitsfield, Vermont. Ruth Ann began working on development programs in 2005 with the Mad River Chorale community chorus while also continuing her passion for theater education. From 2016-2019, she was the Campaign Manager for the Joslin Memorial Library’s More Than Just a Good Read capital campaign to renovate and make handicapped-accessible the 100 year old library building in Waitsfield Village. Ruth Ann lives in the Mad River Valley and, most days, enjoys her commute to Northern Stage by listening to a theater podcast or catching up on Wait, Wait, Don’t Tell Me.
Kelsey Walker
Development Assistant
kwalker@northernstage.org
Kelsey Walker is a New Hampshire native and a graduate of Kimball Union Academy. She received her BA in Musical Theatre with a Minor in Business for the Entertainment Industry from American University. In addition to Northern Stage, her professional theatre experience includes the Weston Playhouse, the New London Barn Playhouse and the Glimmerglass Festival. Kelsey is thrilled to return to Northern Stage in an administrative capacity having previously performed here in Matilda and Legally Blonde. Kelsey enjoys singing and composing, cooking and mixology, and recently debuted her “Girlsplaining Gaming” YouTube channel!
EDUCATION
Robert David Grant
Director of Education
rgrant@northernstage.org
(802) 296-7000 ext. 122
Robert David Grant, a Vershire native, makes his return to the Upper Valley after 10 years working in the New York theater and film industry. He first appeared at Northern Stage in 2016 playing the title role in Macbeth, where a chance workshop with Dartmouth’s Shakespeare society sparked a love of teaching and actor training which guides him to this day. After returning to appear as Edgar in 2019’s King Lear, Robert directed YES Ensembles’ Richard III, solidifying his love for the work being done by Northern Stage’s education programs and prompting him to apply for the role of Director of Education. Robert appeared onstage in New York with The Mint Theater Company, Pearl Theater, Drama League, The Acting Company, The Flea Theater and The Westside Theatre, and regionally with The Guthrie, Geva Theatre Center, Yale Rep, Barrington Stage Company, Shakespeare Theatre of NJ and Yale Cabaret, among others. His TV credits include the Emmy-winning HBO drama Succession, sharing scenes with Brian Cox, Holly Hunter and Cherry Jones, and The Orville on Fox. A member of The Actors Center, Robert has been fortunate to train and collaborate with some of the leading voices in actor training, and holds a BA from Princeton University and an MFA from Yale School of Drama.
Sam Empey
Assistant Director of Education
sempey@northernstage.org
Sam is so excited to be starting his second season at Northern Stage. In his time at Northern Stage, Sam adapted and directed Robin Hood Jr for YES Jr, was the Assistant Director for Urinetown & The SpongeBob Musical and was the Stage Manager for the Fall Showcase. He also was the child guardian for The Railway Children on the Main Stage. Sam has worked as a teaching artist at Prescott Park Arts Festival, Hackmatack Playhouse & Seacoast Rep. Sam also works as an Actor when he is not teaching, he will be appearing in Lost Nation Theatre’s production of The Addams Family this summer as an Ancestor and serve as The Dance Captain. Sam would like to thank his Parents, Rob , Jackie and the whole Northern Stage team for their support and guidance.
Kate Kenney
Director of BridgeUp: Shakespeare in the Schools
kkenney@northernstage.org
Kate Kenney is delighted to take on this exciting position with Northern Stage. A lifelong lover of Shakespeare and a passionate advocate of arts education for all, Kate trained for a year at Shakespeare’s Globe in London, and has been a teaching artist for Bridge UP since its inception in 2016. Kate is also an actress and aerialist whose favorite credits include Romeo & Juliet (Juliet), Eurydice (Eurydice/Aerialist), Peter Pan (Wendy), Hamlet (Ophelia), The 39 Steps (The Woman), and HACK! An I.T. Spaghetti Western (The Soldier). Some of the great companies Kate has been an actress with include Shakespeare & Company, The Pearl, Shakespeare Forum, New Light Theater Project, Oldcastle, Lost Nation, Penobscot, and NJ Rep. Kate is a Company Member of Shakespeare & Company and Ensemble Studio Theatre. Kate has spent a decade volunteering in New York State prisons with Rehabilitation Through the Arts, a non-profit dedicated to building life skills through theatrical techniques. Shows inside the walls include Our Town, Twelfth Night, Golden Boy and Superior Donuts at Sing Sing Correctional, Macbeth, Cyrano, and The Odd Couple at Fishkill Correctional, and Cafe of the Heart and Midnight at Greenhaven Correctional. Kate holds a BFA in Acting from Rutgers University, and an MS in Corrections and Offender Rehabilitation from the University of Cincinnati.
Courtney Buzzell
Education Associate
cbuzzell@northernstage.org
Courtney is ecstatic to come back to the Upper Valley to join Northern Stage as the new Education Associate. Courtney has worked with several organizations in NYC and across the country including, Roundabout Theatre Company, 54 Below, The Drama League, Manhattan School of Music, New London Barn Playhouse, Ogunquit Playhouse, Opera MODO, & Ozark Actors Theatre. Hailing from Michigan, Courtney received a BFA in Technical Theatre & Design from Wayne State University and an MFA in Performing Arts Management from Brooklyn College. Off Broadway, Courtney worked with Tinc Productions on ¡AMERICANO!. Recently, Courtney served as the Associate Adjunct Lecturer in Theatre at Long Island University-Post.
PRODUCTION
Julia Egizio
Production Assistant
jegizio@northernstage.org
Julia Egizio is thrilled to be a part of the Northern Stage Company. She recently completed her undergraduate degree in Theatre and English Literature and Language at Lewis University in Illinois.
Bella Granlund
Costume & Wardrobe Technician
igranlund@northernstage.org
Bella is so excited to be joining Northern Stage this year and looks forward to working and making art in Vermont. A Cape Cod native, she is thrilled to be back in New England after receiving a BA in Drama from Vassar College, and recently finishing an costumes apprenticeship at the Walnut Street Theater in Philadelphia.
Ellen Houlden
Props Manager
ehoulden@northernstage.org
Starting her Northern Stage career as the Assistant Props Manager in 2021, Ellen is now enjoying the role of Props Manager. Previously, she worked at Weathervane Theatre as their Properties Designer. She was an entertainment costumer at Walt Disney World on Mickey’s Royal Friendship Faire on the castle stage in Magic Kingdom. She has also been Props Production during the last two summer seasons for Music Theatre Wichita. Ellen has a BFA in theatre from Tarleton State University in Texas.
Ilan Liebmann
Management Assistant
iliebmann@northernstage.org
Ilan Liebmann has worked in theater since high school, and is excited to have the opportunity to work with Northern Stage. He worked as a Stage Manager and Lighting Designer during his time studying at Mount Holyoke College, and this is his first post-college job. He graduated with dual degrees in Theater and Philosophy. He is originally from the New York metro area, and is thrilled to make his home in the beautiful Upper Valley.
Joshua Steckelberg
Co-Technical Director
jsteckelberg@northernstage.org
Joshua Steckelberg is so excited to join the Northern Stage team! Joshua comes from NYC where he worked as a carpenter and painter for several Off-Broadway and youth productions including Fiddler on the Roof at New World Stages, Bernarda’s Daughters at Signature Theatre, and H*tler’s Tasters with New Light Theatre Project. He’s also worked with Columbia Grammar and Preparatory School, Tada! Youth Theatre, and Long Lake Camp for the Arts. He loves walking, thinking, antiquing and the color pink of course.
Lexi Spanier
Costume Shop Supervisor
lspanier@northernstage.org
Lexi has an undergraduate degree in Theatrical Design and Technology from the University of New Hampshire, and prior to joining Northern Stage spent several years working in costuming for theme parks and animatronics in Nashville. She is excited to be able to continue to combine her experience with unorthodox techniques and materials with her love of live theater here at Northern Stage.
Joshua Davis
Production Manager
jdavis@northernstage.org
Moriah James
Wardrobe Supervisor
mjames@northernstage.org
Mirah Kozodoy
Sound Engineer
mkozodoy@northernstage.org
Luca Collins
Lighting & Sound Technician
lcollins@northernstage.org
Jason Monmaney
Assistant Lead Electrician
jmonmaney@northernstage.org
Trey Nicholson
Lead Electrician
tnicholson@northernstage.org
SALES & MARKETING
Michael Nichols
Audience Services Manager
mnichols@northernstage.org
(802) 296-7000
Michael Nichols is a theatre professional, passionate about the community of Northern Stage! Graduating from Florida State University with a BA in theatre, he began his career doing a little bit of everything in Florida Studio Theatre’s literary, artistic, and front of house departments. Serving as Northern Stage’s Audience Services Manager has brought exciting challenges and introduced a wealth of new relationships that makes this work so fulfilling. Michael looks forward to the adventures to be had in Vermont and the purposeful theatre being produced here.
Brandy (Yijin) Zhang
Marketing & Engagement Associate
bzhang@northernstage.org
Brandy arrives at Northern Stage as a recent graduate from Dartmouth College, where she was closely involved with theatre productions throughout her college career, primarily as a stage manager. She is excited to join the Northern Stage team and keep exploring the Upper Valley a while longer! She is super ready to embark on her professional journey in theatre thousands of miles away from Shenzhen, China, where Brandy calls home.
Alia Gonzalez
Sales & Marketing Assistant
agonzalez@northernstage.org
Alia Gonzalez is a recent graduate of LIU-Post with a BFA in Theatre Arts. While earning her degree, Alia served as the head of Marketing for both the Post Theatre Company and the student-directed theatre club, Emerging Student Theatre Artists. She also interned at Premiere Stages in Union, NJ, and the New London Barn Playhouse in New London, NH. A NH native, Alia spent her high school years participating in educational programs at Northern Stage, and is honored to return as a member of the Sales and Marketing team!
Victoria Fortune
Audience Services Associate
vfortune@northernstage.org
E-TERMERS