Production Staff: FALL 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.
Dakota Hickerson (she/her) is a fourth year studying Drama and Women, Gender, and Sexuality Studies.
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.
Zoe Benton (she/her) is a fourth year studying Mechanical Engineering with a minor in Material Science.
Contact her at technicaldirector@firstyearplayers.org
PIT DIRECTOR – Paul Kurtzweil
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.
Paul Kurtzweil (he/him) is a fourth year studying Economics and Math.
Contact him at pitdirector@firstyearplayers.org
DIRECTOR – Nicole Burroughs
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.
Nicole Burroughs (she/her) is a third year studying English and Applied Statistics.
Contact her at director@firstyearplayers.org
ASSISTANT PRODUCER – Elle Bowen
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.
Elise Bowen (she/her) is a third year studying Youth & Social Innovation and Leadership & Public Policy with a minor in Child Development.
Contact her 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.
Layne Parker (she/her) is a third year studying History and English.
Contact her at businessmanager@firstyearplayers.org
ASSISTANT BUSINESS MANAGER – Eli Hughes
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.
Eli Hughes (she/her) is a second year studying English and Government.
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.
Hana Kewaisy (she/her) is a third year studying Biology.
Contact her at publicitychair@firstyearplayers.org
PUBLICITY CHAIR – Sophie Curtis
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.
Contact them at publicitychair@firstyearplayers.org
SOCIAL CHAIR – Lulu Wilson
The Social Chairs foster 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.
Lulu Wilson (she/they) is a third year studying Computer Science and Math.
Contact them at socialchair@firstyearplayers.org
SOCIAL CHAIR – Emily Wartel
The Social Chairs foster 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.
Emily Wartel (she/her) is a fourth year studying Media Studies with minors in Economics and Drama.
Contact her at socialchair@firstyearplayers.org
SOCIAL CHAIR – Karina Yakubisin
The Social Chairs foster 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.
Karina Yakubisin (she/her) is a fourth year studying Computer Science and minoring in Drama.
Contact her at socialchair@firstyearplayers.org
HISTORIAN – Bethany Powers
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.
Contact them at historian@firstyearplayers.org
HISTORIAN – Gina Vicari
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.
Gina Vicari (she/her) is a second year studying Computer Science.
Contact her at historian@firstyearplayers.org
HISTORIAN – Rally Costen
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.
Rally Costen (he/him) is a second year studying Material Science and Engineering.
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.
Liam Maguire (he/him) is a fourth year studying Public Policy and Leadership with a minor in Psychology.
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.
Sophia Fox (she/her) is a fourth year studying Chemistry and Youth and Social Innovation.
Contact her at alumnichair@firstyearplayers.org
FUNDRAISING CHAIR – James Camp
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.
James Camp (he/him) is a second year studying Studio Art and History.
Contact him at fundraisingchair@firstyearplayers.org
DIVE-IN CHAIR – Hannah Swird
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.
Hannah Swird (she/her) is a second year studying Politics and History.
Contact her at diversityandinclusionchair@firstyearplayers.org
DIVE-IN CHAIR – Nick White
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.
Contact them at diversityandinclusionchair@firstyearplayers.org
WEBSITE MANAGER – Will Conrad
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.
Will Conrad (he/they) is a third year studying electrical engineering and theatre lighting.
Contact them at websitemanager@firstyearplayers.org