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Ƶ University Theatre Presents “The Winter’s Tale” February 23 to March 3

The Ƶ University Theatre and Dance Program will present “The Winter’s Tale,” by William Shakespeare, February 23 to March 3 in the William Granger Ryan Theatre, Performing Arts Center, 100 Harrison Avenue, Greensburg, Pa. Tickets are $16, with student and group rates available. A reception with the cast and crew follows the opening night performance on February 23. There will be a talkback with the director and cast following the matinee performance on February 25.

Performances: February 23, 24, March 1, 2 and 3 : 8 p.m.; and February 25: 2 p.m.

Shakespeare’s romance gives us a captivating story of kings and queens, clowns and a bear, jealousy and betrayal, and true love and forgiveness. Spanning sixteen years and forever changing the lives of parents and children, “The Winter’s Tale” is sure to touch your heart.

The Ƶ student cast of “The Winter’s Tale” includes Nicole Castelli of Canonsburg, Pa.; Victorious Collymore-Bey of Spring Valley, N.Y.; Ian Denham of Bunola, Pa.; Brittany Dilliot of Arnold, Pa.; Stacey Fils of Boardman, Ohio; Lauren Grasser of Johnstown, Pa.; Jena Grgurich of Pittsburgh, Pa.; DeShaun Herzog of Franklin, Pa.; Tasha Matthews of Springdale, Pa.; Malcolm McGraw of Pittsburgh, Pa.; Elizabeth Miller of Pittsburgh, Pa.; Travis Miller of Greensburg, Pa.; Rhiannon Owen of Greensburg, Pa.; Adam Sarp of Latrobe, Pa.; James Scharer of Greensburg, Pa.; Jenna Snyder of Pittsburgh, Pa.; Julia Stypula of Mars, Pa.; Riley Tate of Munhall, Pa.; Robert Tramontina of South Park, Pa.; and Jacob Westwood of Irwin, Pa.

The Ƶ student technical staff includes Kathleen Adler of Springdale, Pa., charge scenic artist and scenic paint and props crew; Ashley Blazczak of Saxonburg, Pa., costume shop crew; Elena Bravo of Pittsburgh, Pa., dramaturg and scenic paint and props crew; Brooke Caldwell of Cambridge Springs, Pa., scenic paint and props crew; Kailey Campbell of Annapolis, Md., scenic paint and props crew; Molly Carbone of Allentown, Pa., scene shop crew; Nicole Castelli of Canonsburg, Pa., box office; Sarah Como of South Park, Pa., scene shop crew; Jamie Corbett of Pittsburgh, Pa., wardrobe manager; Brittany Dilliot of Arnold, Pa., costume shop crew; Natalie Dispenza of Monroeville, Pa., assistant stage manager; Angela Emanuele of Greensburg, Pa., costume shop crew; Stacey Fils of Boardman, Ohio, staff electrician; Abraham Gibson of West Leechburg, Pa., box office; Jordan Gilbert of West Newton, Pa., scene shop crew; Hallie Gilbert of West Newton, Pa., scene shop crew; Lauren Grasser of Johnstown, Pa., costume shop crew and costume fiber artist; Liam Johnston of New Kensington, Pa., scene shop crew; Danielle Jones of Uniontown, Pa., box office; Maureen Kailhofer of Shorewood, Wisc., set design and scene shop crew; Rebekah Kephart of New Kensington, Pa., dresser and costume shop crew; Hannah Kirschner of North East, Pa., costume fiber artist; Adriana LaMantia of Blairsville, Pa., make-up manager; Jess Lami of Farmington, Conn., scene shop crew; Julie Lang of Pittsburgh, Pa., dresser and costume shop crew; Gwen Little of Mechanicsburg, Pa., costume shop crew; Jessie Malone of Ruffsdale, Pa., scenic paint and props crew; Colleen Malley of Trafford, Pa., box office; Jordan Mayers of New Park, Pa., scene shop crew; Kaitlyn Mayers of New Park, Pa., scene shop crew; Elizabeth Miller of Pittsburgh, Pa., choreography and costume shop crew; Anna McClain of Belle Vernon, Pa., scene shop crew; Elaine Montgomery of Trafford, Pa., scene shop crew; Breanna O’Brien of North Huntingdon, Pa., scenic paint and props crew and scene shop crew; Halle Polechko of Harrison City, Pa., dresser and costume shop crew; Brendan Reed of Drums, Pa., sound board operator and staff electrician; Lyn Starr of Pittsburgh, Pa., staff electrician; Anna Strauser of Uniontown, Pa., light board operator; Ashlynn Swauger of West Newton, Pa., scene shop crew; Riley Tate of Munhall, Pa., scenic paint and props crew; Justin Taylor of Bronx, Pa., scene shop crew; Robert Tramontina of South Park, Pa., staff electrician; Jordyn Turner of Bethel Park, Pa., costume shop crew; Trenae Waller of Laurel, Md., costume fiber artist; Jacob Westwood of Irwin, Pa., costume shop crew and scene shop crew; and Noah Zaken of Pittsburgh, Pa., stage manager.

The Ƶ Theatre and Dance production of “The Winter’s Tale” is directed by Denise Pullen. A member of the Ƶ University Theatre and Dance faculty since 2002, Denise teaches performance and playwriting classes throughout the curriculum. Her recent directing at Ƶ includes the musicals Nine and Sweet Charity. Denise is a Pittsburgh area playwright, screenwriter, theatre director, voice actor, and educator. Her play Running in Traffic was developed and produced in 2012 at Ƶ University. Denise received a 2000 Sloan Foundation Award for her screenplay Riding Fire. She is the recipient of two Pennsylvania Council for the Arts Fellowships. She earned her BFA in Directing and MFA in Dramatic Writing from Carnegie Mellon University, where she teaches playwriting and drama lit for their Drama Pre-college Program.

Professional artistic staff for the production includes Patricia Barker, costume shop manager; Ken Clothier, assistant professor of theatre, sound and lighting design; Thomas K. Crowley, technical director; Alicia DiPaolo, house manager; Karen Glass, assistant professor of theatre, set design and properties manager; Susan O’Neill, instructor of theatre, costume director and designer; Katya Shaffer, box office manager; Kellee Van Aken, associate professor of theatre and Theatre and Dance Department Chair, artistic director; and Stefan Zubal, assistant professor of dance, choreography consultant.

Venue Information: All Ƶ Theatre performances are held in the William Granger Ryan Theatre in Ƶ’s Performing Arts Center, 100 Harrison Avenue, Greensburg, Pa. The Performing Arts Center is a fully accessible and climate-controlled facility. Parking is available in four nearby Greensburg parking areas: the Bell Parking Garage on North Otterman Street (across the street from the Performing Arts Center), the Hellman-Ghrist lot on North Main Street, the Albert Grillo lot on Ƶ Drive and the Wib Albright lot off West Otterman Street.

Photo: Stacey Fils, Nicole Castelli and Robert Tramontina in the Ƶ University Theatre and Dance Production of “The Winter’s Tale.”