Production Staff: Spring 2025
Interested? Have questions? Feel free to reach out to someone on our Production Staff so we can get to know you!
PRODUCER – Dakota Hickerson
The Producer oversees the entirety of First Year Players, unifying production staff, artistic staff, technical crew, pit orchestra, and cast. Among their duties are coordinating regular organization-wide staff meetings, convening a committee to choose the next show, and serving as liaison to the greater University community.
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​Dakota Hickerson (she/her) is a third year studying Drama and Women, Gender, and Sexuality Studies.
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Contact her at producer@firstyearplayers.org
TECHNICAL DIRECTOR – Zoe Benton
The Technical Director supervises the technical crew and all technical aspects of the show, from building the stage and set to wiring the sound and lighting. They are in charge of all operations at the show venue and select the members of the technical staff and crew.
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​Zoe Benton (she/her) is a third year studying Mechanical Engineering with a minor in Material Science.
Contact her at technicaldirector@firstyearplayers.org
PIT DIRECTOR – Ella Sher
​The Pit Director assembles the Pit Orchestra, plans the Pit Orchestra rehearsal schedule, maintains and transports equipment, prepares the Pit Orchestra for performances, and conducts the Pit Orchestra at all performances.​
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Ella Sher (they/them) is a fourth year studying Environmental Thought & Practice and History.
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Contact them at pitdirector@firstyearplayers.org
DIRECTOR – Emily Wartel
The Director is responsible for all artistic elements of the production, including selecting of the show and the members of their artistic staff, casting the show, and leading rehearsals throughout the week. They work closely with the cast and the artistic staff, as well as the technical and pit directors, to put on a production embodying the vision presented in their proposal.
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Emily Wartel (she/her) is a third year studying Media Studies with minors in Economics and Drama.​​
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Contact her at director@firstyearplayers.org
ASSISTANT PRODUCER – Jack Ireland
The Assistant Producer supports the Producer in overseeing the organization. They coordinate all rehearsal, performance, and meeting spaces, keep minutes and attendance of all production and staff meetings, document members' contact information and voting eligibility, and perform any other tasks assigned by the Producer.
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​Jack Ireland (he/him) is a third year studying Music and Drama with minors in Leadership and Religious Studies.​
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Contact him at assistantproducer@firstyearplayers.org
BUSINESS MANAGER – Layne Parker
The Business Manager is responsible for all financial aspects of the organization. They obtain the rights to each semester's show, run the house during the show, are responsible for establishing and maintaining all budgets, handle expenditures and donations, and oversee publicity and fundraising campaigns.
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​Layne Parker (she/her) is a second year studying History and English.
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Contact her at businessmanager@firstyearplayers.org
ASSISTANT BUSINESS MANAGER – Priscilla Saldana
The Assistant Business Manager aids the Business Manager in executing the financial responsibilities of the organization. They solicit advertisements for the production's program, design and distribute the program, and assist with ticket sales and seating for the production.
​Priscilla Saldana (she/her) is a fourth year studying English with a minor in History.
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Contact her at assistantbusinessmanager@firstyearplayers.org
PUBLICITY CHAIR – Hana Kewaisy
The Publicity Chair promotes First Year Players performances and events to the University community and beyond. They prepare publicity initiatives and materials, maintain the organization's social media presence, design and distribute merchandise, and strengthen connections with other performing arts organizations both on and off Grounds.
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​Hana Kewaisy (she/her) is a second year studying Biology.
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Contact her at publicitychair@firstyearplayers.org
PUBLICITY CHAIR – Elise Bowen
The Publicity Chair promotes First Year Players performances and events to the University community and beyond. They prepare publicity initiatives and materials, maintain the organization's social media presence, design and distribute merchandise, and strengthen connections with other performing arts organizations both on and off Grounds.
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​Elise Bowen (she/her) is a second year studying Youth & Social Innovation and Leadership & Public Policy with a minor in Child Development.
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Contact her at publicitychair@firstyearplayers.org
PUBLICITY CHAIR – Nicole Burroughs
The Publicity Chair promotes First Year Players performances and events to the University community and beyond. They prepare publicity initiatives and materials, maintain the organization's social media presence, design and distribute merchandise, and strengthen connections with other performing arts organizations both on and off Grounds.
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​Nicole Burroughs (she/her) is a second year studying English and Apllied Statistics.
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Contact her at publicitychair@firstyearplayers.org
SOCIAL CHAIR – Kunal Bahl
The Social Chair fosters the community that makes First Year Players unique. They plan and find venues for parties and other social events throughout the semester. The Social Chair ensures not only that first years get to know and feel comfortable around one another, but that they become seamlessly integrated into the rest of the First Year Players family.
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​Kunal Bahl (he/him) is a fourth year studying Biomedical Engineering and Computer Science.
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Contact him at socialchair@firstyearplayers.org
SOCIAL CHAIR – Carson Harter
The Social Chair fosters the community that makes First Year Players unique. They plan and find venues for parties and other social events throughout the semester. The Social Chair ensures not only that first years get to know and feel comfortable around one another, but that they become seamlessly integrated into the rest of the First Year Players family.
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Carson Harter (they/them) is a second year studying Drama and Commerce.​
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Contact them at socialchair@firstyearplayers.org
SOCIAL CHAIR – Kenzie Stinson
The Social Chair fosters the community that makes First Year Players unique. They plan and find venues for parties and other social events throughout the semester. The Social Chair ensures not only that first years get to know and feel comfortable around one another, but that they become seamlessly integrated into the rest of the First Year Players family.
​Kenzie Stinson (she/her) is a second year studying Astrophysics.
Contact her at socialchair@firstyearplayers.org
HISTORIAN – Lillianne McMinn
The Historian maintains the historical records of First Year Players. They are responsible for capturing and archiving photos of First Year Players events, creating a video scrapbook of the performance, issuing a newsletter with weekly updates, and taking headshots of the cast and artistic staff to display at each performance.
​​Lillianne McMinn (she/her) is a second year studying History and Political Philosophy, Policy, and Law with a minor in Drama.
Contact them at historian@firstyearplayers.org
HISTORIAN – Grace Caramanis
The Historian maintains the historical records of First Year Players. They are responsible for capturing and archiving photos of First Year Players events, creating a video scrapbook of the performance, issuing a newsletter with weekly updates, and taking headshots of the cast and artistic staff to display at each performance.
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​Grace Caramanis (she/her) is a third year studying Cognitive Science and Spanish with a minor in Astronomy.
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Contact her at historian@firstyearplayers.org
HISTORIAN – Sam Holliday
The Historian maintains the historical records of First Year Players. They are responsible for capturing and archiving photos of First Year Players events, creating a video scrapbook of the performance, issuing a newsletter with weekly updates, and taking headshots of the cast and artistic staff to display at each performance.
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​Sam Holliday (he/him) is a second year studying Computer Engineering with a minor in Engineering Business.
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Contact him at historian@firstyearplayers.org
ALUMNI CHAIR – Liam Maguire
The Alumni Chair keeps our alumni connected with First Year Players. Each semester,they produce a newsletter with updates on the current happenings in the organization. The Alumni Chair is also responsible for maintaining up-to-date contact information, managing the alumni donation process, and organizing alumni-friendly events.
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​Liam Maguire (he/him) is a third year studying Public Policy and Leadership with a minor in Psychology.
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Contact him at alumnichair@firstyearplayers.org
ALUMNI CHAIR – Sophia Fox
The Alumni Chair keeps our alumni connected with First Year Players. Each semester,they produce a newsletter with updates on the current happenings in the organization. The Alumni Chair is also responsible for maintaining up-to-date contact information, managing the alumni donation process, and organizing alumni-friendly events.
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​Sophia Fox (she/her) is a third year studying Chemistry and Youth and Social Innovation.
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Contact her at alumnichair@firstyearplayers.org
FUNDRAISING CHAIR – Abby Milne
The Fundraising Chair coordinates events and campaigns to help support all that we do as an organization. Among their primary responsibilities are setting a fundraising goal and leading the staff auction(s), during which events hosted by members are sold to the organization.
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​Abby Milne (they/them) is a third year studying English and Drama.
Contact them at fundraisingchair@firstyearplayers.org
DIVERSITY & INCLUSION CHAIR – Kiera Butler
The Diversity & Inclusion (or DiveIn) Chair is the newest addition to our production staff. They guide the organization in its promotion of diversity and inclusion through awareness, community engagement, and steadfast support.
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Kiera Butler (she/her) is a second year intending to study Spee h Communication Disorders and minor in ASL and Real Estate.
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Contact her at diversityandinclusionchair@firstyearplayers.org
DIVERSITY & INCLUSION CHAIR – Olivia Profit
The Diversity & Inclusion (or DiveIn) Chair is the newest addition to our production staff. They guide the organization in its promotion of diversity and inclusion through awareness, community engagement, and steadfast support.
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​Olivia Profit (she/her) is a second year intending to major in Biology.
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Contact her at diversityandinclusionchair@firstyearplayers.org
WEBSITE MANAGER – Nathan Snow
The Website Manager is responsible for creating and maintaining First Year Players' presence online. This website is not only a source of information to members and the general public alike about our organization and upcoming productions, but it also hosts a detailed record of our past productions. The Website Manager is also the head of all Listservs for the organization.
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Nathan Snow (he/him) is a fourth year studying Political Philosophy, Policy, and Law and Economics with a minor in Spanish.​
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Contact him at websitemanager@firstyearplayers.org