Production Team

Christopher Shipley
Producer

Christopher is the long-time chair of MICA's Language Literature and Culture department where he has taught drama courses and staged performances since 1982 and encouraged his always gifted students to use their remarkable creativity on stage and off. In all that time, he has learned far more from them than they have from him.
Peter Shipley
Director

Peter Shipley has grown up doing theater in Baltimore. He began taking classes at Fells Point Corner Theater at the age of 5, and now is excited to be directing Midsummer Night's Dream at MICA. During High School Peter was a part of most shows during his tenure, and the same for College. Since College Peter has formed his own theater company Theater for Rent and has written produced and directed three plays and directed two others. Theater for Rent's last performance was a collection of short original comedies titled 'So Tender and True.'
Merry Rose
Stage Manager

A mere five years ago, we could have likely found Merry Rose elbow-deep in an alpaca, wondering just what to do with her life. With the following years she juggled part-time studio courses at Montgomery College; her artwork, meanwhile, was supplemented by a most unusual array of employs. She had jobs nursing people's pets and tasks tending flower nurseries. One frozen winter found her refueling small airplanes; later she spent a steamy summer refilling drinks at a DC music lounge, in between moderating their soundboard and mediating belligerent musicians. She also toiled in the wide world of dead-end retail, selling almost everything from sex toys to kayaks. But in the fall of 2007, Merry transferred to MICA as a General Fine Arts major, soon adopting a concentration in Video to satiate her newfound infatuation with digital editing. And although it's been more than a few years since Merry last indulged her theatrical instincts while attending Gaithersburg High School, the unconventional assortment of trades she's plied since then have prepared her for just about anything, even this. Merry is truly honored to be serving as the stage manager for MICA's burgeoning theater community, especially considering her hastily approaching graduation date this May.
Amy Kline
Assistant Stage Manager

I'm a freshman graphic design major here at MICA. Being new to the MICA community, this opportunity was both completely unexpected and incredibly exciting. I've had a love and appreciation for theater ever since my theatrical debut as the purple crayon in my second grade play. Nowadays, I tend to stay backstage. I was very involved in theater in high school and have filled the role of stage manager twice before, for high school productions of Beauty and the Beast and Les Miserables. This has been a wonderful experience and I look forward to many more theatrical productions here at MICA.

Set

Kel Millionie
Set Designer / Sceneographer

Kel Millionie is a Lighting Designer, Sceneographer, and Acrobat currently residing in Baltimore Maryland. He is the Performance Space Technician for BBOX and an active member of the MICA community. Kel is also the Resident Sceneographer for American Opera Theatre which holds a residency at Georgetown University.
Kel's theatrical design work has been described as "hauntingly ethereal" (The New York Times) "poetic, [and] atmospheric" (The Baltimore Sun) as well as "effective, [and] plot driven" and "gorgeous" (The Washington Post) and "part Robert Wilson / part Meridith Monk" (ionarts). Kel has worked with a diverse array of performance teams including: The Liz Lerman Dance Exchange, Grammy Award winner Moby, Tori Amos, Academy Award nominee Bill Pullman, Starke Theater, Dance Baltimore, Towson University, Peabody, and Baltimore Theater Project's presentation of Joyce J. Scott.
Hope Myers
Assistant Set Designer

I am an illustration major with a minor in creative writing. I have always had an interest in creating spaces with my art, which lead me to theater. My goal is eventually to become a set designer for theater or even film. However currently i'm just working tech. I worked on HAIR last spring. I spent this past semester working under Kel learning the in's and out's of theater tech. I also worked on the Closer and Inspecting Carol.
Madison Zalopany
Concept Artist

Madison Zalopany was born in the lush swampland of the everglades. Enamored by the wild landscape of Florida, Madison first started drawing the wildlife that inspired her; fish washed to shore, spanish moss growing on old twisted oak, barnacles growing on the sides of the pier. She is currently at the Maryland Institute College of Art earning a BFA in Painting and Illustration. As concept artist, she will try to leave palm trees and seagulls out of the set design, but makes no promises.
Meredith Cole

My name is Meredith Cole and I'm a freshman here at MICA. My major is Graphic Design, which i hope to use to open my own company one day. I have been interested in theatre production since I saw Beauty and the Beast on broadway, so in high school I started working in stage crew for all the yearly plays. When i heard that MICA started its own play program, I knew that I had to be a part of it for all of the fun times and amazing opportunities available, and hope to continue to stay with the program throughout my remaining years at MICA.
Mya Kerner

Mya Kerner is currently studying Interdisciplinary Sculpture with a concentration in Environmental Design. Although she has always had some interest in set design and building, Mya's interest escalated after her coordination of MICA's first annual Haunted House this past fall. Working on Midsummer Night's Dream is hopefully only the second of many productions.
Megan Darling

Megan is a Sophomore Photography major at MICA. She is originally from Stamford, Connecticut where she participated in her school's drama and art programs. She became very interested in the drama program at MICA after seeing last year's production of HAIR. Megan is really grateful for the opportunity to work with all of the talented people involved and learned so much from everyone. Many thanks to the whole Midsummer team for making this such an amazing experience!
Yerin Kim

I worked as a cafe interior designer in Korea till 2007. In 2008 I came to MICA to study Fine art. Now I'm a junior sculpture major. I think stage design is a good combination of art and living space. I?m' excited to be part of remaking the old love story, Midsummer Night's Dream. I hope it will give everyone a chance to reexamine what love is to them.
Owen Rocosky

Owen is a photography major in his sophomore year. This is his first experience working behind the scenes here at MICA. Though he is no novice to technical theater. Owen was active in his high school's fall play as well as the spring musical for his sophomore, junior and senior years. He also worked for five years at a summer theater program. Owen has filled many roles behind the seances including carpenter, scenic painter, backstage sound, sound designer, electrician, and once was very lucky to design an LED backdrop. He has been involved in over fifty shows and is excited to add Midsummer Night's Dream to the list.
Andrew Largent

My name is Andrew Largent and I am handling the sound for MND. I am a Sophomore Interdisciplinary Sculpture major at MICA and I am from the Eastern shore of Maryland. This is my second production with the Rivals of the West at MICA, and I am a member of the International Thespian Society.
Jennifer Schachter

Jen Schachter is finishing her last semester at the Maryland Institute College of Art. Originally from Long Island, New York, she has fallen in love with Charm City and plans to live and work there after graduation. Jennifer is something of a Renaissance woman- she works in video documentary and filmmaking, sculpture and installation, as well as the more traditional 'fine arts' of drawing and painting. Above all, she enjoys working with people- "The most rewarding projects are the ones where a group of people with different talents and ideas come together to create something big." Midsummer Night's Dream will be the first production Jennifer has participated in at MICA.
Mika Nakano

Mika is currently a junior illustration major, also studying to become an art teacher in her hometown Los Angeles, California. She was always surrounded by her parents' passion for music and theatre and thus grew to enjoy working for productions. She participated throughout high-school by acting, directing, set designing/coordinating, and publicizing. This is her first year being part of MICA's show and is thrilled to have this opportunity to be part of a production again.
Roxana Shamsazar

Roxana is a Sophomore Graphic Design major with a concentration in Interactive Design at MICA. After being on the crew for HAIR last spring, she has joined again to help with MICA's production of A Midsummer Night's Dream. This year along with set building she will be working with the lights and running the light board. She has been involved with technical theater for five years now and is looking forward to many more.
Garret Varady

Garrett Varady hails from Colora, a small town in Cecil County, Maryland. He began his college career at the Delaware College of Art and Design as a Graphic Design major. Garrett then transferred from DCAD, after the two-year program ending, to MICA this past fall. The transition was fairly graceful and has been very rewarding. While at DCAD, Garrett and a few classmates helped build sets for a local theater as part of a community service project for class. He enjoyed that very much and decided to help with the set for this production of A Midsummer Nights Dream.
Rebecca Vaughan-Geib

Becky Vaughan-Geib is a freshman at MICA, and MND is her first Rivals of the West production. She works on building and painting the sets. She plans on keeping the theatre in her life as long as possible.
Lisa Warren

I am a current freshman painting major at MICA with strong interests in theater set design and all that behind the scenes business. I was part of Stage Crew throughout high school and was dubbed "painting captain" my senior year. I love painting sets and wish to continue working in theater in years to come.
Kristie Winther

Kristie is a painting major at MICA, who emerged from the Atlantic coasts of Mastic Beach, New York before arriving in Baltimore. She has been a scenic painter and muralist since 2003 and also has a studio practice creating narrative, figurative paintings. She loves touching moss and feels most at home around tall trees.

Costumes

Leanne Guaneri
Head of Costume

A soon-to-be MICA alum with a BFA in Fiber, Leanne is pleased to have spent her final semester working on MND. She aims to work sustainably and is proud to say that many of the MND costumes were thrifted and altered or constructed from donated or found materials. She has designed for various fashion events, and built costumes for New York Classical Theatre's production of "King Lear." She enjoys fashion and costume and will pursue a career in either field. She thanks her family and friends, the MND cast and crew for a wonderful experience, and you for supporting this important MICA program.
Amelia Beiderwell
Assistant Head of Costume

I am new to MICA and the East coast having transferred from Lane Community College in Eugene, Oregon. Midsummer Night's Dream is my first production at MICA and my ninth production costuming and working with wardrobe management. I revel in applying my creative vision into the fruition and magic of the stage and screen.
Mickey Hoover

I Grew up in Brooklyn, down by Coney Island, which is probably why I love people. I have a soft spot for the way things collect and deteriorate; the way that fungus grows and the way the sidewalk cracks. You might say I have an obsession with looking at the little things, and I suppose this is why the art I make has always had a strong sense of detail. I only recently began to make masks and headdresses, which became a way for me to translate my fascination with organic form into a portrayal of the self. Working on the play has made me realize the possibilities of costume design, and I can't wait for them to be a reality.
Ann Boland

Ann Boland has returned to college after a long break while working in the corporate world. She is a dedicated Fiber major with a strong interest in pursuing costume design. Ann lives in Baltimore with her husband and cat, Maya.
Maya Graffagna

A Junior Fibers major who has resided in Boston, California, Connecticut and Tokyo before finally arriving at MICA. She has switched her major around a few times, and has experience also in both Graphic Design and Illustration, which she hopes will be useful skills to have in the future. She has been on a couple costume crews, having worked on "Hair" last year. This is her tenth production overall, and is very excited to be working with the cast and crew of "Midsummer Night's Dream".
Ariel Chornsbay

Most of my youth was spent by the ocean on Oak Island, North Carolina. I spent my last two years of high school at UNCSA in Winston Salem, NC where I was first introduced to working with fibers in a sculptural context. I am a freshman at MICA and I enjoy making garments that transform the way people perceive others. Everyone's internal reactions and external responses to both live entertainment and film are unique and I find that intriguing. Performance related art has become a growing interest of mine in the past few years. The effects that anecdotal situations have on both the audience and the viewer is becoming an important part of my thought process both in my art and reflections on life in general.
Elizabeth Kebel

I am currently a senior at MICA working towards a BFA degree in illustration and book arts. My interests include cut paper collage and papermaking. I am part of this production as a member of the costume design team and hope to contribute my illustration skills into the designs of the clothing.

Publicity

Nechama Frier
Head Publicist

Nechama is a Senior Illustration major at MICA. As a Creative Writing minor, she is obsessed with character, emotion, and a healthy dose of Shakespeare appreciation on the side. When she isn't drawing or writing, she enjoys road trips, sewing, and awkwardly dirty Mythology.
Bonnie Bladen

Bonnie Bladen is a senior Illustration major and a concentrator in Book Arts graduating in May, . She grew up on the Eastern Shore of Maryland. She loves Illustrating children's books and hopes to make it into a career. She also loves designing packages and children's apparel. When not doing "artsy things," she loves to play with her puppy, Gretsch, and her love, Will. Frisbie Fridays are a must!
David Colson

A senior graphic design major with an athletic lifestyle, Dave brings energy and encouragement to the promotion team for a Midsummer Night's Dream. He also lends his skills to set construction and loves to socialize with the head costume designer and close personal friend, Leanne Guaneri. Dave embraces the fact that his Tin Man role in a 7th grade production of the Wizard of Oz was the closest he would ever get to professional acting but knows that his efforts are better served as a crew member.
Erica Scheff

Erica began to draw at the age of two when her imagination was captured by elephants. At the age of ten, she gained a love for myth and legend; and now, as a Junior in Illustration, her work revolves around those themes.
Brian Agamie

Brian is a native of Guilford, Connecticut. This lifelong film enthusiast realised early on that his future lies behind the camera. As an aspiring photographer/videographer, he is passionate about interesting people and places. In his free time he can be found on Charles Street be it serving coffee or checking out the latest films at The Charles. Brian admired MICA's production of Hair and is thrilled to be documenting a Midsummer Night's Dream.
Paul Slupski

Paul Slupski, a sophomore Film/Video Major, is excited to be in the MND band and to document the play in its entirety. He's been playing the trumpet for eight years, performed with his Semi-Finalist high school band at BOA in Indianapolis, and was part of the HAIR Band in Spring 09. He hopes to capture a stellar performance of MND and to show all the behind the scenes work and energy that fuel a production of this magnitude.
Olivia Flick

Olivia is sophomore video and film arts major with a strong interest in documentaries as well as the editing process. She was approached by Brian Agamie and Paul Slupski to collaborate on a documentary about the making of a Midsummer Night's Dream and is very enthusiastic about the project they have taken on. She is excited to document the performances and the hard work that goes on behind the scenes of this ambitious play.