Romeo & Juliet

Julian Stetkevych

Julian Stetkevych (he/him) is an actor, director, and Assistant Professor of Acting at Elon University. He holds an M.F.A. in Acting from the American Conservatory Theater and an M.F.A. in Performance Pedagogy from the University of Pittsburgh. He is a member of the Actors’ Equity Association (AEA) and a Certified Teacher of the Michael Chekhov Acting Technique through both the Michael Chekhov Association (MICHA) and the Great Lakes Michael Chekhov Consortium (GLMCC). He is a member and has presented work at the Association for Theatre in Higher Education, the Mid-America Theatre Conference, and the National Alliance of Acting Teachers. His research focuses on embodied script analysis and acting techniques.

Recent acting credits include: Emma, Henry V, The Thanksgiving Play, Sense & Sensibility, and Pride & Prejudice (Virginia Stage Co.); Taking Measure (professional premier)(Zeider’s Theatre). NYC credits include: Richard III and The Two Gentlemen of Verona with Oxford Shakespeare Co., Dog Act with Flux Theatre Ensemble, The Silent Concerto at NY Fringe Festival, and staged workshops and readings at Playwright’s Horizons, Classic Stage Company, and Ensemble Studio Theatre. Regional includes: A Christmas Carol (American Conservatory Theater), The Berlin Circle (world premier)(Steppenwolf Theater), and Les Liaisons Dangereuses (Theo Ubique).

At Elon Performing Arts, he directed The Grapes of Wrath in Spring 2025. Enjoy the show!

Kayla Higbee

Kayla Higbee (she/her) is an Assistant Professor in Theatrical Design and Technology. She has a BA in English from Centre College and an MFA in Production Design & Technology from Ohio University. Professionally, she has worked with Berkshire Theatre Group as wardrobe supervisor and Texas Shakespeare Festival as assistant costume designer. She was also resident costume designer and costume shop supervisor at Centre College for four years. At Elon, she is part of the Performing Arts Inclusivity Committee and serves as an Elon College Fellows mentor for multiple disciplines in Theatrical Design & Technology.

Jessica Hightower

Jessica Lynn Hightower has worked as a scenic designer & scenic fabricator in various venues across the U.S.. Recent designs include Little Women, The Seagull, and People, Places & Things. She has received two Kennedy Center national awards for her projection design work on The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time, a national award for the ASTC-USITT Venue Renovation Challenge, and multiple regional awards in both scenic and media design from Southwest USITT, USITT Ohio-Valley, and KCACTF Region 6. Jessica received her MFA in Scenic Design from The Ohio State University. Visit her website, jessicalynndesigns.com.

Jeff A.R. Jones

Jeff A.R. Jones (Fight Director) has staged fights and/or scenes of intimacy for over 250 shows in theatre, opera, and ballet, including at PlayMakers, Carolina Ballet, NC Opera and many of the RDU area’s universities and small theatres. His fights have received rave reviews in The Washington Post and The New York Times. He is recognized as a Fight Director, Certified Teacher, and Theatrical Firearms Instructor by the Society of American Fight Directors. He is a Certified Intimacy Director with Intimacy Directors and Coordinators. He has been on faculty at Elon University for the last 13 years. He can be contacted at jarjones@att.net about his fight classes in Raleigh or Triangle Intimacy Lab.

Courtney Liu

Courtney Liu is an Assistant Professor of Music Theatre and Director-Choreographer at Elon University. She has performed with the Broadway cast of the Phantom of the Opera (Ensemble, Meg u/s, Assistant Dance Captain), Matthew Bourne’s Swan Lake, the Radio City Christmas Spectacular, Queen of the Night, AEA & Disney Developmental labs, the Broadway Dance Lab, Norwegian Cruise Lines, Busch Gardens Theme Parks, the Cincinnati Ballet, and the Peridance Contemporary Dance Company. Courtney has taught dance for 20 year, published her research in the Journal of Dance Education, and presented at national and international conferences. Recent choreography credits include The Forestburgh Playhouse, Timber Lake Playhouse, Playmakers SYC, and the American Dance Festival in collaboration with the Nasher Museum. Prior to working as a dancer and choreographer, Courtney served as a Research Project Manager for an NIH-funded study examining the effects of Aprepitant on heroin addiction and withdrawal at NYU Langone/Bellevue Hospital. Courtney received her BA and MFA from Duke University.

Fern Middleton

Fern Middleton (they/them) is a freelance designer, educator, and performer. They earned an MFA in Drama with a Concentration in Design from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro in 2024 and a BA in Theatre Arts from Furman University in 2020. They have designed lights for multiple shows across the southeast, including Legally Blonde at Centre Stage in South Carolina and Madeline’s Christmas at Creative Cauldron. They are grateful to the faculty, staff, and students of Elon for welcoming them back to design this unique production.

Heidi Jo Schiemer

Kim Shively

Kim Shively is an Associate Professor at Elon University, where she teaches acting and directs. She is also Guiding Faculty with Theatrical Intimacy Education, a leading research and professional organization that trains and equips people in the best practices for staging intimacy for theatre, film, and TV. A member of Actors’ Equity Association and SAG-AFTRA, professional acting credits include Piedmont Shakes, Shakespeare Orange County, Laguna Playhouse, and the Asolo Rep; roles on both evening and daytime network television; and over a dozen national commercials. She is the co-Artistic Director of Piedmont Shakespeare Company, the region’s only professional theatre, dedicated to producing the works of Shakespeare for free throughout central North Carolina. Shively is also co-author of Applied Meisner for the 21st Century Actor (Routledge), and her peer-reviewed articles have been included in her discipline’s top research journals including Theatre Topics, The Journal of Dramatic Theory and Criticism, and The Journal of Consent Based Performance. With over 50 professional and academic credits as an Intimacy Choreographer, Shively travels around the world working as a theatrical intimacy choreography educator and practitioner with an emphasis on working with minors.

Shively earned a BFA in Theatre Performance at Chapman University and an MFA in Acting at the FSU/Asolo Conservatory. Learn more at www.KimShivelyCreative.com and www.21CActor.com.

Michael Smith

Michael is an Associate Professor in the Theatrical Design and Technology program at Elon University. Michael has been designing in theatre for over 20 years, designing in professional, academic, regional and community theatre across the county. In his spare time, he enjoys spending time with his family and being in the outdoors.

Lachlan Apple

Lachlan Apple (Any Pronouns) is a sophomore Acting and Arts Administration major with minors in Business Administration and Theatrical Design and Technology. Lachlan is also an improviser with Instant Laughter Improv, working for the department as a house manager, and is on the team for First Year Showcase. Last year Lachlan was in the department’s production of The Grapes of Wrath and is excited to be returning to the stage.

Mia Basulto

Mia Basulto is an Acting BFA student and an English double major! At Elon, Mia has participated in the 24 Hour Play Festival three times as a writer, and been apart of Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead, The Grapes of Wrath, and Love & Information as an actor. She thanks her mom, her dad, and her teachers for always supporting her in what she’s passionate about, and she thanks her cat for being cute!

Annika Benander

Annika Benander is a junior in the BFA Acting Program. Previous credits include Rosencrantz & Guildenstern Are Dead and John Proctor is the Villian. This show has meant so much to her and she cannot wait to share it will you.

Parker Bowen

Parker is currently a junior Acting and Arts Administration major at Elon University. He was last seen as The Player in Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead. Parker would like to thank his cast and crew for their hard work and dedication to this production.

Nick Brillo

Nick Brillo (Sampson, Benvolio u/s) is a sophomore from Wayne, NJ, majoring in Acting and minoring in Business Administration. Nick has loved being able to work on this show and can’t wait for the audience to see it. Some of his favorite roles have been Algernon in The Importance of Being Earnest, Macduff, and Danny in Grease. He also loves to workout, play lacrosse, and play guitar. He wants to thank his friends, family, and professors for all their support. Nick feels so blessed to work with the cast around him, experiencing all their handwork and dedication to this show.

Matthew Graham Brown

Matthew Graham Brown is a sophomore at Elon university, double majoring in Acting and Psychology. He is making his stage debut at Elon after understudying Paradise Lost last year. Matthew is also a film actor with several credits at Elon University, and debuted in his first feature film What We Carry With Us, last summer.

Jaden Carlisle

Jaden (Benvolio) is a sophomore majoring in Acting with a minor in Theatrical Design & Technology. Previous credits: Al in The Grapes of Wrath, Eddie in Pocatello, Doug in Gruesome Playground Injuries, Jesus in Godspell, George in The Drowsy Chaperone, etc. He would like to give thanks to Momma, Dad, Mawmaw, Pops, and all of his family back home and for their continued support towards his education. Isaiah 41:10.

Lillian Chen

Lillian (she/her) is a junior Theatrical Design & Technology and Arts Administration double major from New Jersey and is so grateful to have been the Stage Manager for Romeo & Juliet. Past Elon Stage Management credits include: Paradise Lost (Stage Manager), Spring Dance Concert 2024 (Asst. Stage Manager), Abusua – Black History Month Dance Concert 2024 (Stage Manager), The Antipodes (Asst. Stage Manager). She sends her love to the entire cast, crew, and team for making this show such a joy to work on and hopes you enjoy the show!

Abi Colburn

She is so excited to be working on her last Elon production! Previously, she has been involved with Elon University’s Fall Dance (ASM) and Paradise Lost (ASM). After graduation, Abi will be moving to the UK to obtain her postgraduate degree in Stage Management!

Claire Fellows

Claire Fellows is thrilled to be making her Elon main stage debut! She has enjoyed performing in previous productions including U/S Pa in The Grapes of Wrath, Della in The Gift of the Maji, and Jane in The Coast Starlight. She’d like to thank the cast, crew, and wonderful director Kevin Otos, as well as her parents and cat Tilly for their unwavering support!

Parker Felumlee

Parker Felumlee is a proud member of the graduating BFA Acting class of 2026. This marks his third and final performance in the majestic McCrary Theatre, where he previously appeared as Tom Joad in The Grapes of Wrath and as Jacques in As You Like It. He would like to give a big shoutout to all of his friends, family, and faculty who’ve supported his artistic growth throughout the last four years, and a special SHOUTOUT TO HIS COMRADES IN THE CLASS OF ’26- WE DID IT YALL!

Kai Gaeta

Welcome to RENT!! Kai is so excited to be back on the McCrary stage and back performing this amazing show! He performed this show back in 2023, where he played Benny, and RENT has become his favorite musical since. Other Elon credits include An American in Paris and Merrily We Roll Along! Thank you, Mom and Emme, for your undying support.

Brooke Gustafson

Brooke Gustafson is a senior Arts Administration and Theatrical Design & Technology double major at Elon. She is so grateful for the opportunity to costume design Romeo & Juliet this spring with such a wonderful team. Previous credits at Elon University include Antigone (Costume Designer) and Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead (Costume Designer). Aside from her designing work, Brooke also works as a tailor at Men’s Warehouse and runs an alterations and custom design business. You can often find her running community events, having deep conversations, or grabbing coffee with a friend!

Jonas Hinsdale

Jonas Hinsdale is a freshman Music Theatre major thrilled to make his Elon debut. Regional: “A Christmas Carol“, “Matilda“. Favorite credits include “Alice by Heart“, “The Prom“, “A Chorus Line“, and “Anything Goes“. Endless thanks to his family, teachers, and friends for their unwavering support.

Christa Jenkins

Christa Jenkins is a first year BFA Acting Major and ecstatic to be a part of her first Elon main stage production ! Previous credits include Chicago (2022), Legally Blonde (2023), and The Drowsy Chaperone (2025). She is beyond grateful for the opportunity of working with this cast and production team and for the support of her friends and family !

Aubrey Kocsis

Aubrey’s love for theater began when she performed as a Billy Elliot Ballet Girl, playing Tracey Atkinson. At Elon she’s known for her role as Charleene the Wrestler’s Sister, a ballbusting acrobat, in As You Like It and as Ensemble in Grapes of Wrath. She’s a get-it-done girl, usually all in the same day. She is a group fitness instructor and trains in dance, voice, cello, acrobatics, aerial arts, improv comedy, and stilts. She loves cats, wishes she could eat gluten, and can’t wait to put her boogie shoes on for Romeo and Juliet!

Dylan Levison

Dylan Levison is a Junior BFA Acting major from Short Hills, New Jersey, and is very excited to be performing in his fourth Elon production! Some of Dylan’s favorite past credits include Antipodes (Josh) and The Grapes of Wrath (Grandpa/Floyd). He wants to give a special thanks to the entire cast and crew of Romeo and Juliet for making this show an unforgettable experience. Enjoy the show! Instagram: @dyllev

Brody Lyons

Brody Lyons (Abram/First Watch) is a freshman Acting Major at Elon University. This is his first credit with Elon University and he is thrilled to be a part of the cast. Past credits include: Hadestown (Orpheus), The Spongebob Musical (Plankton), and Almost, Maine (East). He would like to thank his mother, father, Allie Mae Carnes, and Matthew Hager for their continued guidance and support.

Sam Maverick

Sam Maverick Olt is a Senior BFA Acting major and is honored to play Romeo in his final production at Elon. He recently played The Son in Fatherland at Mettlesome Theater in Durham, and has graced the Elon stage in Paradise Lost as Ithuriel/Death, As You Like It as Touchstone and John Proctor is the Villian as Mason. He can not express how grateful he is to his family, friends, professors, frat bros, and the entire R&J cast/crew for this amazing experience and an unforgettable past 4 years. It’s all love from him! Stay groovy! @Sam_Olt

Za’Naisha McGuire

Za’Naisha McGuire (She/Her) is so excited to be apart of her second Grand Night here at Elon! You may have seen her recently in Elon’s Production of RENTas Blanket Person/ Joanne Jefferson U/S. Some of her previous credits include Countess Helene Bezhukhova ( Natasha Pierre and the Great Comet of 1812), Little Inez (Hairspray) , Ruth Sherwood (Wonderful Town), and Bebe Benzenheimer (Chorus Line) She is immensely thankful for the opportunities she’s been given while at Elon and hopes everyone enjoys the show!!
(Instagram @n.a.1.s.h.a)

Lauren Catherine McHenry

Lauren Catherine McHenry is a sophomore from Chicago double-majoring in Theatrical Design & Technology and Drama & Theatre Studies, with a minor in Italian Studies. Previous credits include ASM for Natasha, Pierre, and the Great Comet of 1812 (Elon University) and Stage Manager for The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time (Glenbard North High School). She would like to thank Madison Gillis, Marissa Talarico, and her family for their endless support. Enjoy the show!

Justin Miller

Kav Mills

Kav is A Junior Acting and MILA(Music in the liberal arts) Double Major with a Minor in Dance at Elon. This is his 3rd MainStage here at Elon Including As you like it & Zombies(Forest Lord), and Grapes of wrath(Winfield Joad/Ensemble). He will also be in SpongeBob the musical April 24-26th. He Would like to dedicate his performance to his step dad who is gone but never forgotten. He would like to thank his Family, Friends and Teachers for their support. He would like to thank the cast and crew for all their hard work and dedication. He would like to shoutout Prof. Julian for taking a chance on him and trusting him with his show!
@Kavmills_.

Alex Prejean

Alex is excited to continue his training at Elon!

Niko Rinaldi

Niko is a first-year music theatre major originally from Stamford, CT. Past shows include his Elon University main stage debut, RENT (Ensemble, u/s Collins, Benny, Mr. Jefferson & Others), as well as Pippin (Pippin), Anything Goes (Billy Crocker), Chicago (Billy Flynn), Legally Blonde (Emmett Forest), and The Addams Family (Gomez Addams). His prior experience with sound includes The Importance of Being Ernest (Sound Designer) with Renegade Productions as well as Irving Berlin’s Holiday Inn (Audio engineer), The Spongebob Musical (Audio engineer), and The Beauty and the Beast (Audio engineer) with Curtain Call Inc. He hopes everyone enjoys Romeo & Juliet!

Victoria Salisbury

Victoria is a freshman Music Theatre major from Orlando, Florida. You may have previously seen her in the ensemble in this year’s production of RENT! Regional: Princess Anita (Pirates Dinner Adventure), Ensemble/Swing in Diary of a Wimpy Kid the Musical (Orlando Family Stage), Mary Phagan in Parade (Garden Theatre). Other favorite credits: Lise Dassin in An American in Paris (Interlochen Center for the Arts). She sends all the love and gratitude in the world to her family, friends, and mentors for their unwavering support in her journey!! Enjoy the show! @vicsalisbury

Talia Scheckman

Talia Scheckman is excited to be the stage manager for her final college production of Rent. She is a senior studying Theatrical Design and Technology with a concentration in Stage Management and a double major in Arts Administration. Her recent credits include Into the Woods Jr. (Production Stage Manager), The Grapes of Wrath (Stage Manager), and Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead (Stage Manager). Talia is grateful to the entire Rent team for their dedication and would like to thank her family, friends, and her dog, Scout, for their endless support.

Ella Schultz

Ella Schultz (Mercutio) is a junior at Elon University and is thrilled to be back on the Mercury Stage for Romeo & Juliet! Her previous Elon credits include Paradis Lost (Satan), As You Like It (Audrey), and John Proctor the Villain (Shelby, U/S). She would like to thank her younger sister, Pearl, for being the reason she knows her lines. Enjoy the show!

Isabella Shaffer

Isabella Shaffer is a senior BFA Acting major and is incredibly honored to be apart of this amazing production. Previous Elon University credits include Raelynn in John Proctor is the Villain and Michael/Moloch in Paradise Lost. She is deeply grateful to her family members who have traveled near and far to be here and would especially like to thank her Mom and Brother for traveling from California and her Stepmom for traveling from Hungary. It has been her biggest joy to be apart of this production and such a dream come true. Special thanks to the wonderful cast & crew, and to Professor Julian, for making it so.
@isabellaashaffer

Carter Sindelar

Carter is thrilled to be back for his second main stage production here at Elon. He previously played Adam in Paradise Lost, directed by Dr. Shawyer. He would like to thank his family, the cast and crew of Describe the Night, and Professor Otos for giving him the opportunity to be a part of this amazing show. Enjoy!

Mikayla Tees

Mikayla is so grateful to be performing as Nurse in Romeo and Juliet! This is her 2nd year at Elon University as a BFA Acting Major. Her previous credits at Elon include Understudying in Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead and Ensemble in Grapes of Wrath! Outside of the shows, she is a member of the Instant Laughter Improv Troupe. Mikayla would like to thank the entire company of Romeo and Juliet for making this process so special. She dedicates this show to her friends and family who have supported her throughout her entire Acting Journey.

Owen Tesch

Owen Tesch is a first year Acting Major from Charlotte, NC. He is so honored to be apart of this amazing show and being able to witness the show being built in a different perspective. His previous credits include: Don Pedro in Much Ado About Nothing, Casca in Julius Caesar, and Willard in Footloose. Owen would like to say thank you to Prof. Julian, Lillian, Prof. Liu, and the rest of the creative team for helping create such an amazing show. Lastly, he would like to acknowledge his parents for being the best inspirations ever.

Milo Timpanaro-Throop

I’m from Charleston, SC. I’ve been doing theatre for the past four years but danced before acting for eight years. I’ve been in such productions as The Awesome 80’s Prom, Alice by Heart, Love Labours Lost, and The Imaginary Invalid.

Jonah Uffelman

Jonah is a sophomore Music Theatre Major. His past Elon credits include Mr. Z/ Ensemble in An American in Paris and Charlie Kringus in Merrily We Roll Along. This summer he will be at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival as The Guard/Nickolas in the brand new ANTIGONE: A Town Hall Musical. He would like to thank his professors and his parents for the incredible opportunities he’s been given. Happy Grand Night!

Seth Upchurch

Locally grown and raised, Seth has spread himself all over the acting world, from stage combat to voice over, to commercials and short films. Romeo & Juliet is his last performance here at Elon, and he’s excited to show what he’s learned!

Arlan Visser

Arlan Visser is an international student and is double-majoring in Acting (BFA) and Psychology (BA). This is her fourth Elon University production. Previously playing Guildenstern in Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead, Oliver Martext in As You Like It, and understudying Ruthie and Ma in The Grapes of Wrath.

Jeffery Wilson

Jeffery Wilson is a sophomore BFA Acting major here at Elon University. Previous Elon credits include: Describe the Night (Vova), Grapes of Wrath (Ensemble/ Jim Casy U/S). He is incredibly grateful for the opportunity to have been a part of this process and share his and his castmates’ work! For His glory first! Thanks, family for your love and support. Instagram: jwilson_p713

George Zemla

George is honored to be a part of this production of Romeo & Juliet and would like to thank the Acting cohort for welcoming him so warmly as the lone Musical Theatre major. His past credits at Elon include Merrily We Roll Along (Ensemble), Legally Blonde (Dewey/Ensemble), and Renegade Productions’ Peter and the Starcatcher (Peter) and Pippin (Ensemble/US Lewis). When not performing, George likes noodling around on the banjo, working on scripts, and watching movies. He would like to thank his mom for all the love and support, and you for reading all the way through his bio!