What the Constitution Means to Me

Jay Sefton (He/Him) is an actor and licensed mental health counselor, originally from Philadelphia, and currently based in Easthampton, Massachusetts. Selected theatre credits include: “Unreconciled” (Writer/Performer, Chester Theatre Company), “What the Constitution Means to Me” (WAM Theatre/Berkshire Theatre Group), “Honor Killing,” “Paradise” (WAM Theatre, Fresh Takes Reading Series), “Million Dollar Quartet,” “Outside Mullingar” (The Majestic Theater), “Two Rooms” (Silverthorne Theatre Company), “The Most Mediocre Story Never Told” (Writer/Performer), “A Life in the Theatre,” “Dark Rapture” (Wellfleet Harbor Actors Theatre) and “King Lear” (Theatricum Botanicum, Los Angeles). Jay is the recipient of the LA WEEKLY Award for Best Solo Performance for “The Most Mediocre Story Never Told.” Film/TV: “The Wire,” “Grey’s Anatomy,” “The Shield,” “Summerland,” “Providence.” Jay holds a B.A. in theatre from West Chester University and a master’s degree in psychology from Lesley University. 

Kim Stauffer (she/her) is thrilled to be returning to perform with her Capital Repertory Theatre family where her credits include “The Crucible,” “Taming of the Shrew” and “Outside Mullingar.” Other credits: “Much Ado About Nothing,” “Mary Stuart,” “Macbeth” (New York Classical Theatre); “Lady Windermere’s Fan,” “The Tempest,” “Macbeth,” “Pericles,” “Lorenzaccio” (Shakespeare Theatre Company, DC); “Circle Mirror Transformation” (Kansas City Repertory Theatre); “Gaslight,” “A Streetcar Named Desire,” “The Crucible” (Barrington Stage Company); “Dracula” (Actors Theatre of Louisville); “Othello” (Shakespeare Festival St. Louis); “Disgraced,” “Madagascar,” “Crime and Punishment” (Chester Theatre); “Emilie: La Marquise du Chatelet Defends her Life Tonight” (WAM Theatre); “Proof” (Triad Stage); “Time Stands Still” (New Century Theatre); “A Christmas Carol” (Virginia Stage Company). Film/TV: “Hence the Stars,” “Pearl Divers,” “Small Shots: The Amish Matrix.”

She holds an MFA from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro and is a passionate practitioner of Applied Theatre as a facilitator with the Alan Alda Center for Communicating Science. Kimstauffer.com

Here’s to imagining “something else.” For my mom, Nancy. 

Izzy Brown (any but she) lives in Pittsfield, MA of the Berkshires of Western Massachusetts. Current Role with theREP: Debater. Selected Theatre Credits Elsewhere: “What The Constitution Means To Me” (WAM Theatre), “Little Shop of Horrors,” “She Kills Monsters,” “Pippin,” “Blue Stockings” (Pittsfield High School), “Touring Show,” “Footloose,” “Wizard of Oz,” “Willy Wonka,” “Aladdin,” “The Lion King,” “A Christmas Carol,” “Mary Poppins” (Berkshire Theatre Group), “The Supa Dupa Kid” (Barrington Stage), “Twelfth Night” (Shakespeare and Co.)

Creative Inspiration: Other artists, people who are dedicated to their craft, the wonderful people who have mentored me through the years such as Ms. Blocker, Kathy Jo Grover, Tommy Scrivens, NJ Agwuna, Kate Maguire and Kristen Van Ginhoven.

Awards/Proudest Achievement: Performing at the Tina Packer Playhouse, Performing first stand at Longy School of Music and learning the Troika in three days.

Final Word: “It is better to remain silent and be thought a fool than to speak out and remove all doubt.” – Abraham Lincoln

Isabel Sanchez is ecstatic to be performing in her first show at Capital Repertory Theatre! She is an actor and a full-time student at the University at Albany studying Theater & Acting and Education. Some of her recent theater credits include: “The Wolves” (#46), “How We Survived” (Dana), “Emotional Assortment” (Salem), “Sixty Seconds to Midnight” (Ruth), “Twelfth Night” (Maria) and “There Was a Dent Here, It’s Gone Now” (Sue Newman).

Her recent short film credits include: “Laser-Focused,” “Al Otro Lado,” “C- Student,” “Rookie Card” and “Unconditional.”

She wants to thank her family and friends for their undying support. https://www.theisabelsanchez.com/

Cate Damon is pleased to be making her Capital Repertory Theatre debut in this wonderful play. Off-Broadway: “Johnny Got His Gun” (Mary)–Cherry Lane Theatre; Regional: “Rancho Mirage” (Pam), “Jack and Jill” (Jill)–New Rep Boston; “Vanya, Sonia, Masha and Spike” (Sonia), “Miss Maybelline’s Nocturnal Flights of Fancy” (a reading of a new work) (Elaine)–Martha’s Vineyard Playhouse; “I Have Seen Horizons” NS–Stonington Opera House; “Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf”(Martha), “God of Carnage” (Veronica), “Rabbit Hold” (Becca), “Noises Off” (Belinda)–New Century Theatre. “The Glass Menagerie” (Amanda), “Mamma Mia” (Donna), “Alabama Story” (Emily), “Harvey” (Veta)–The Majestic Theater. Film: “The God Question” (Jane Hurst). Cate is a proud member of the professional actors’ unions AEA and SAG/AFTRA.

Timothy is thrilled to be back at theREP where he earned his Equity card as Boo Radley/Mr Gilmer in “To Kill A Mockingbird.” Most recently, he was in “Harry Potter and the Cursed Child” (San Francisco Company). Regionally, he has performed at The Goodman Theatre, Chicago Shakespeare Theater, Lookingglass Theatre Company, Writer’s Theatre, Colorado Shakespeare Festival and Shaw Chicago among others. He has also been a recurring character on “Chicago Fire” (NBC), as well as appeared on “Empire” (Fox), “The Big Leap” (Fox) and “Proven Innocent” (Fox). Film credits include “Christmas Is Cancelled” and “Virgin Alexander.” He is a proud member of Actor’s Equity Association and SAG-AFTRA.

Juliana von Haubrich(she/her) is a Berkshire-based scenic designer and visual artist. With WAM Theatre, Juliana recently designed “What The Constitution Means to Me” and “Cadillac Crew,” past WAM productions include “ROE,” “The Thanksgiving Play,” “Ann,” “Lady Randy,” “The Last Wife,” “Emilie,” “In Darfur,” “The Bakelite Masterpiece” and other earlier productions. Elsewhere in the Berkshires, Juliana has designed “Heisenberg,” “The Waverly Gallery,” “Hymn” (Shakespeare & Company); “I And You,” “Disgraced,” “Curve of Departure,” “Tiny Beautiful Things,” “Pride @ Prejudice,” “Circle Mirror Transformation” (Chester Theatre Company); “La Cenerentola,” “Richard III” (The Juilliard School); “The Taming of the Shrew,” “Puddin’head Wilson” (The Acting Company); “Ghosts in the Cottonwood,” “Uncle Vanya” (Echo Theatre Company). Additional Artistic Credits: designer of Williamstown’s town flag; Artistic Intern (Paramount Studios “Star Trek,” BBC “Bugs,” TNT “Babylon 5”).

Creative Inspiration: my late father, Charles Haubrich, an innovative designer and sculptor gone too soon.

Community Engagement/Activist Work: WAM Theatre and Mosaic Youth Theatre of Detroit. 

Membership/Affiliations: Local USA 829, IATSE. Training: BA in Cultural Anthropology from the University of Michigan (96), and an MFA in Scenic Design from California Institute of the Arts (99). 

Awards/Proudest Achievements: Best of LA Scenic Design and being the founding Tech Director/Scenic Designer for Mosaic Youth Theatre of Detroit, with an all-female tech crew, most of whom are still creating storytelling magic in theatre and film.

Final Word: Increase your compassion and always be curious! 

www.JulianaDesigns.org

Lara Dubin (she/her) is a Lighting Designer and Lecturer of Lighting Design based in Western Massachusetts. Along with designing lights for “What The Constitution Means to Me” at the Unicorn Theatre and at theREP, Lara has also been the resident Lighting Designer for Chester Theatre Company since 2001 – this exceedingly long list of Chester Theatre credits can be found at dubinlighting.com along with design credits for the Great Barrington Public Theatre Company, Smith College, Mount Holyoke College, UMass Amherst, Academy of Music in Northampton, and more.

Broadway credits include Assistant Lighting Designer for “Taboo,” “Movin’ Out,” “The Lion King,” “The Green Bird,” “Bells Are Ringing” and “Imaginary Friends.” Lara is a member of the United Scenic Artists Local USA 829 and USITT. Thank you for coming to this show today, for reading all the bios in this program and for supporting Capital Repertory Theatre and the folks whose immense joy in life is to make this theatre experience happen for you.

Shovanna Sooknanan is a set and costume designer based out of New York City (born and raised). Selected recent design credits include: “What the Constitution..” (theREP and BTG), “Hello Dolly” (Shenandoah), “Selling Kabul” (Premiere Stages). 

Other than her own theatre designs she has been the assistant/associate to designers such as Clint Ramos, Dede Ayite, Wilson Chin, Derek McLane, Arnulfo Maldonado, etc. on shows on and off Broadway.

Some event/ commercial clients and collaborators include Tiffany and Co., Hudson Bay Co., Bergdorf Goodman and Bloomingdale. David Beahm, David Landgraf, Michael Cerbelli, Ryan Hill etc.
www.shivannasooknanandesign.com, @shivanna_sooknanan on Instagram

Caroline Eng (she/her) is a sound designer and podcast engineer based in New York. Selected Sound Design credits: “What the Constitution Means To Me” (WAM Theatre / Berkshire Theatre Group), “Little Women” (Theaterworks, UCCS), “Three Sisters” (Two River Theatre), “Belfast Girls” (Irish Rep), “A Christmas Carol” (Trinity Rep), “The Late Wedding” (Brown University/Trinity Rep), “Popcorn Falls” (Greater Boston Stage Company) and “Twelfth Night” (Theatreworks, UCCS).

Selected Assistant Design credits: “Bring Down The House” (Oregon Shakespeare Festival) and “Fefu and Her Friends” (Theatre For A New Audience).

Selected Training: Fordham College At Lincoln Center (NY).

Connect at carolineengdesign.com

Talya Kingston is a playwright, dramaturg and educator who is inspired by the live interactions between artists and audiences and how these can be a catalyst for social change. She is the Associate Artistic Director at WAM Theatre and a Co-Producer for Plays In Place.

Selected Dramaturgy Credits: WAM Theatre (“What The Constitution Means to Me,” “Roe,” “Lady Randy”) Hartford Stage (“Necessary Targets”), New York Fringe Festival (“Helmet”), Ko Festival (“Seriously.. What Did You Call Me?” Written and performed by Onawumi Jean Moss), UMass, Amherst (“Gum,” “Christmas Carol,” “Bovver Boys,” “The Last Five Years,” “Life is a Dream,” “Late Style”).

Playwriting: “Port of Entry” (WAM Fresh Takes Play Reading Series, upcoming Play By Play Festival), “Circling Suspicion” (upcoming Historic Northampton), “Campus Unrest” (WAM Theatre, Silverthorne Theatre, finalist in the 2019 Bechtel Test Fest), “Wave Goodbye” (2020 PLAYground TYA Festival at NorthWestern University, semi-finalist for Provincetown Playhouse’s New Plays for Young Audiences), “Sheryl Addresses the PGO” (The New England Monologues Project), “Wishing on Satellites,” “Anxiety Overdrive.”

Publications: The Journal of American Drama and Theatre, Scene Magazine, Theater Journal, The Moving Voice, European Stages, Howlround and The Valley Advocate.

Training: MFA University of Massachusetts.

Professional Affiliations: proud member of the Northampton Playwrights Lab, the Play Incubation Collective, the Dramatists Guild and LMDA Literary Managers and Dramaturgs of the Americas.

Shayne David Cameris is a local boy and is THRILLED to be back with theREP in a new role. Credits include: Capital Repertory Theatre- “Midsummer” (2nd ASM/Mechanicals US), “The Wizard of Oz” (1st ASM), “Jersey Boys” (2nd ASM/Bob Crewe), “The True” (2nd ASM), “Fly” (Reynolds), “The Irish…” (2nd ASM), “Cinderella: On the GO!” (King et. al), “Sleepy Hollow: On the GO!” (Brom Bones), “Camelot” (Guilliam/Percussionist), “Blue Sky Boys” (CJ Caldwell); Troy Foundry Theatre- “City of Myth: Ilium Sings,” “Where There’s Smoke: Ilium Burns,” “The Prohibition Project: Ilium Was,” “Catastrophe Carnivale” and “New World Order;” Lake George Dinner Theatre- “Buyer and Cellar” (Alex More) and “The Hound of the Baskervilles” (Sir Henry et. Al); Saratoga Shakespeare Company– “Twelfth Night” (ASM/Antonio), “Henry IV Parts 1 and 2” (Mistress Quickly et. Al), “The Winter’s Tale” (Clown), “Love’s Labour’s Lost” (Dull). Creative Associate with Troy Foundry. Love to JSC.

Kathleen is thrilled to be back at theREP for this production of “What the Constitution Means To Me! “She just returned to Albany from the Berkshires where she worked on WAM’s first mount of the play. At theREP, her credits include “Fly,” “Dracula: A Comedy of Terrors,” “The Wizard of Oz” and “Harriet Tells It Like It Is”. She also serves on the board at Albany Civic Theatre. 

Kristen (she/her) is a leader, director, educator, change-maker and social entrepreneur who works at the intersection of arts and activism. A dual Canadian/American citizen, Kristen is based in the Berkshires of Western Massachusetts, where she regularly enjoys the many outdoor and cultural wonders.

As WAM’s Producing Artistic Director, her selected directing credits include “What the Constitution Means to Me” (Co-pro with Berkshire Theatre Group), “Roe,” “Ann” (Co-pro with Dorset Theatre Festival), “The Bakelite Masterpiece” (with Berkshire Theatre Group), “In Darfur” (New England Premiere) and “Emilie” (New England Premiere). Kristen has also directed “Ann” at Arena Stage and Dallas Theatre Center, “Disgraced” and “I and You” at Chester Theatre, “The Whale” at Adirondack Theatre Festival, “Petticoats of Steel” at theREP and the 10 Minute Play Festival at Barrington Stage Company.

Kristen has also been an assistant director at the Stratford Shakespeare Festival of Canada and the Huntington Theatre in Boston. Kristen trained at Dalhousie University (BA), Queen’s University (BEd) and Emerson College (MA). She is a member of the Society of Stage Directors and Choreographers and a member of the Lincoln Center Director’s Lab.

Growing WAM Theatre and being honored by the Berkshire Theatre Critics Association with the prestigious Larry Murray Award, presented to a person or theatre project that advances social, political, or community issues in Berkshire County are two of Kristen’s proudest achievements. An artist, feminist and highly sensitive person, she values healthy practices like meditating and walking, time affluence and social connection. Her guiding quote is “I may be one person, but I can be one person who makes a difference.”