Paradise Lost

Paradise Lost was originally commissioned by the Stratford Festival, Ontario, under Artistic Director Antoni Cimolino and Executive Director Anita Gaffney.

Paradise Lost is produced by permission of the Playwright and Marquis Literary (Colin Rivers) www.MQlit.ca

Dramaturgy Website

Special Thanks

Connie Book, Rebecca Kohn, Hilton Kelly, Fred Rubeck, Natalie Hart, Kimberly Rippy, Tony Spielberg, the Kennedy-Shively Family

Bios

Susanne Shawyer

Susanne Shawyer is a dramaturg, theatre historian, and Associate Professor of Theatre at Elon University. Her research on dramaturgies of protest and theatre pedagogy has been published in such journals as Modern Drama, Theatre Journal, Theatre Topics, Research in Drama Education, Journal of Dramatic Theory and Criticism, Performance Matters, as well as multiple anthologies. She is Affiliate Faculty—Dramaturgy Specialist with Theatrical Intimacy Education, an organization dedicated to training students and theatre professionals in theatrical intimacy best practices. She is currently Editor of the journal Theatre Topics. Favorite Elon credits include Concord Floral, The Wolves, Moment, and Servant of Two Masters. Education: PhD in Theatre, University of Texas at Austin.

Grace Minton

Grace is a senior Drama & Theatre Studies and Arts Administration double major, and is thrilled to Assistant Direct and Music Coordinate her first main stage production! Last Fall, she Assistant Directed Cardboard Boxes with NewWorks, of which she is President. Grace will be Directing and Producing Captain’s Log with NewWorks this coming Spring. Outside of theatre, Grace is a Music Intern with Elon’s Catholic Campus Ministry, for which she selects music and directs the choir. She would like to thank her family, friends, and the entire team of Paradise Lost!

Ella Schultz

Ella Schultz is a second-year BFA Acting major at Elon. Her previous credits at Elon include Shelby U/S in John Procter is the Villian and Audrey in As You Like It. She wants to thank her family for running lines every moment of every day for weeks. Their endless support is everything. Enjoy the show! 

Kelly Gillan

Kelly Gillan is a Third Year BFA Acting Major and is so excited to be participating in her third Elon show. Previous roles include John Proctor is The Villain (Ivy) and Clue (Yvette Understudy) She would like to thank her friends and family for supporting her (especially her dog Winnie.) She hopes you enjoy the show!

Carter Sindelar

Carter is thrilled to make his Elon University performing and main stage debut in Paradise Lost. He has had an amazing experience putting together this show and working alongside such a talented cast and crew. He’d like to extend his heartfelt thanks to Dr. Shawyer, as well as the rest of the directing and creative team, his fellow cast members, his friends, and his family. Enjoy the show!

Niklas Salah

Nik is a senior BFA acting major, and is thrilled to be performing in Elon University’s production of Paradise Lost. His previous credits at Elon include Professor Callahan in Legally Blonde and Danny M2 in The Antipodes. Nik would like to thank all of his Acting Professors, Scott Proudfit, Gretchen Bruesehoff, Professor Liu, and Dr. Shawyer. Thank you for believing in me.

Sean Mikesh

Sean Mikesh is a Senior BFA Acting major with a COM Minor at Elon University who is excited to return to Roberts Studio Theatre! At Elon, Sean has performed in As You Like It (Duke Frederick), The Antipodes (Adam), and Elon’s 2022 spring show The Cherry Orchard (Trofimov). Also, Sean understudied for the other plays from the 2022 season including: Heart Of Shrapnel (Y) and Sense and Sensibility (Edward/Col. Brandon). In addition, Sean is a member of the Improv troupe Instant Laughter! @seanryannm

Isabella Shaffer

Isabella Shaffer is a 3rd year Acting BFA student. Previous Credits include: John Proctor is the Villain as Raelynn and The Inferior Sex as understudies for Madeline/Joan. She’d like to thank her family for traveling here to see the show!

Manu Cornick Fernández

Hailing from Costa Rica, Manu is a Senior Acting Major who is pleased to have the opportunity to play on a stage once again. She started her Elon on stage journey with Concord Floral, and in a full circle moment she is ending it with Paradise Lost, also directed by Dr. Shawyer. Thank you for devising with me!

Graham Cole

Graham Cole is a senior BFA Acting major. His past work at Elon includes Concord Floral (7 / Couch), As You Like It (Corin / Charles), Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead (Claudius), Sense and Sensibility (Mrs. Jennings u/s, Sir John u/s), and improv with Instant Laughter. Graham is also a playwright and songwriter; he is the writer of Elon NewWorks’ 2024 and 2025 Spring productions, and his music, released as The Concept of Graham, is available wherever you stream music.

Deborah Han

Deborah Han is a senior BFA acting major and is so excited to be apart of the winter show! Her previous Elon credits include John Proctor Is The Villian (Shelby Holcomb) and Clue (Mrs. White U/S). 

Katie Kapp

Katie Kapp is a senior BFA Acting major, currently playing Zephon/Astoreth in Paradise Lost, her fourth and final J-Term production. Previous performances include her roles in The Antipodes and The Inferior Sex. She is excited to close out her college journey with this performance and looks forward to the next chapter of her acting career after graduation.

Sam Olt

Hello! Sam is so excited to come back from his time abroad and immediately get right on stage! In previous Elon performances he was in As You Like It (Touchstone), John Proctor is the Villain (Mason), and Concord Floral (U/S #10 – Greenhouse). He would like to thank his supportive friends and family, as well as the incredible cast and crew! He hopes you get in lost in paradise! Insta – @sam.olt

Janae Willock

Janae Willock is a Sophomore Cinema and Television Arts Major and is stoked to be in her first Elon Mainstage Production! She would like to thank her family and friends for their support in traveling to see the show and hopes you enjoy!
instagram: @janaewillock

Maya Max

Maya Max is thrilled to have worked on her first Main Stage show at Elon! As a first-year Acting BFA major with a double major in Arts Administration, she has already participated in the 24-Hour Play Festival and the 48 hour film-fest as an actress. Maya extends her heartfelt gratitude to her family and friends for their unwavering love and support.

Gennie Philpott

Gennie is so excited to be a part of this show! Previously at Elon she understudied for Rosencrantz And Guildenstern Are Dead.

Graham Boggess

Graham Boggess is excited to be involved in his second production at Elon! Last winter, he played Danny M1 in The Antipodes by Annie Baker, and in the spring, he’ll be performing in Grapes of Wrath. Legend has it, he once wrestled a juvenile shark.

Matthew Graham Brown

Matthew is thrilled to be part of his first Elon production. His past credits at Elon include Mr. Torrence, in Rengade’s production of The Audition. Outside of Acting, Matthew loves drums and music.

Gigi Elbitar

Gigi is so excited to be working on Paradise Lost. This is her first main stage show at Elon and she is thrilled to be able to work with her peers and professors!

Ava Foley

Ava is a first year at Elon and is so excited to be apart of her first main stage show! She has really enjoyed the process of understudying, and getting to know her cast. She hopes you enjoy the show!

Amelia Brinson

Amelia Brinson (she/her) is a sophomore Drama and Theatre Studies/Music in Liberal Arts double major from Chapel Hill, North Carolina. Her Elon credits include NewWorks’s Cardboard Boxes, NewWorks’s Sleeping Beauty, Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead, as well as Instant Laughter. Amelia is thrilled to be a part of her first main stage production. She’d love to thank her parents, her brother, and her dog for all of their constant support of her goals.

Marina Jansen

Marina is a senior Music Theatre major who recently appeared on Broadway in the original cast of How To Dance In Ohio and national television at the 97th Annual Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. Elon credits include Legally Blonde, Bridges of Madison County, She Loves Me, and Head Over Heels. They are so grateful to have been a part of Paradise Lost, and hopes you enjoy the show!

Josie Milner

Josie Milner is a Sophomore majoring in Theatrical Design and Technology and is very excited to have the chance to work on Paradise Lost. She has worked on costumes for past Elon productions such as Spring Awakening, As You Like It, and Legally Blonde and was the assistant costume designer for A Chorus Line. She has had a great time being the costume designer for her first Elon show and hopes everyone enjoys the production.

Ilana Meissner

Ilana Meissner is a senior from St. Louis, Missouri pursuing a major in Computer Science (BA) and a minor in Theatrical Design & Technology. Having worked with Renegade, NewWorks, and Elon Performing Arts on shows previously, she is ecstatic to be making her mainstage debut as a Lighting Designer! She would like to thank the wonderfully talented cast, crew, and the entire ‘village’ that helped bring this show together including mentors from along the way. She would also like to thank her family and friends for their love and support.

Justin Schmitz

Justin Schmitz (Sound Designer) has collaborated Off-Broadway with 59E59 Theaters and Round House Theatre, and The Dixon Place Theatre. Regional: Chautauqua Theatre Company, Cincinnati Playhouse In The Park, The St. Louis Black Rep, The Kennedy Center, Signature Theatre, Olney Theatre Center, Shakespeare Theatre Company, Woolly Mammoth, Studio Theatre, Constellation Theatre Company, Gala Hispanic Theatre, Imagination Stage, Round House Theatre, Prologue Theatre Company, VOCA, NextStop, amongst many others. Justin is the Eastern Region Trustee for USA829’s LUEB, Co-Chair for the USA829 Sound Design Committee, Co-Vice Chair for the Theatrical Sound Designers and Composer’s Association (TSDCA). Helen Hayes nominations include 2017 (Constellation Theatre Company The Wild Party) and 2016 (I Call My Brothers Forum Theatre Company.) www.justinschmitztheatre.com

Lillian Chen

Lillian is a sophomore from New Jersey with a double major in Theatrical Design & Technology and Arts Administration and is thrilled to be Stage Managing her first show with Paradise Lost! Past productions at Elon include Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead (Scenic/Props Coordinator), The Antipodes (Asst. Stage Manager), Abusua – Black History Month Dance Concert (Stage Manager), and the 2024 Spring Dance Concert (Asst. Stage Manager). When she isn’t backstage, you can find her working as a house manager! Enjoy the show!

Abi Colburn

Abi Colburn is so excited to be participating in her first mainstage production as Assistant Stage Manager. She is a junior Arts Administration and Drama Theatre Studies major, and hopes to be involved in many more shows to come!

Kayla Jordan

Kayla Jordan is a senior at Elon with a double major in Theatrical Design and Technology as well as Drama and Theatre Studies. Most recently, she has worked as a dramaturg on The Antipodes, as the props manager for Legally Blonde, and as a props artisan for Spring Awakening. She is so excited to be the Lead Dramaturg for Paradise Lost, and so happy that her final Elon production has been such a great experience.

Jesse Price

Jesse Price is a first-year double major in Cinema and Television Arts and Drama and Theater Studies. Jesse has already had some wonderful opportunities at Elon, being a stage manager for the 24-Hour Play festival as well as being a Production Assistant for multiple BFA senior thesis films. His previous works include Big Fish (Edward Bloom) at Charleston School of the Arts, The Audition (Allison’s Father) at Elon, and The Addams Family (Pugsley) at the Queen Street Playhouse. Jesse once again would like to thank his faculty, friends, and family for supporting him in all of his creative endeavors.

Tara Flury

Tara Flury is a sophomore Vocal Performance major at Elon University, with minors in Theatre Arts and Music Production. She has been involved in theatre for eleven years, with some of her favorite onstage roles being Hope Cladwell (Urinetown), Gertrude McFuzz (Seussical), and Cinderella (Into the Woods). She would like to thank Dr. Shawyer and the entire cast and crew for such an amazing first experience with dramaturgy!