MEET THE PRODUCTION TEAM

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Matthew Anderson - Set, Sound (Sophomore)

Matthew Anderson has almost zero previous experience working with theatre. Matthew Anderson enjoys hiking, rock climbing, playing video games, and playing ultimate frisbee along with spending time with my family, and doing pretty much anything in the mountains. This is Matthew Anderson’s first experience with working on the tech side of theatre.

 

Andrew Asmus - Props (Sophomore)

Andrew Asmus is a tenth grader at Maeser and is currently helping with prop design. Andrew Asmus was in the ensemble of Xanadu. Andrew's hobbies include playing video games/bored games, playing with his siblings and going to grandparents houses. He also enjoys reading and watching youtube videos. He also likes to listen to music and plays chess.

 

Alex Bahr - Production Stage Manager (Senior)

Alex Bahr is an accomplished stage manager, and they have been working in tech since 10th  grade. They began as a stage manager for Xanadu, and also ran tech for the Lost Boy. Their talents extend to the stage too, not just behind it. They placed second in the Region drama competition this year. Alex loves watching movies and reading, when they aren't doing math homework or running sound and lights. They want to thank their sister Harmony and their overweight orange cat, Chowder.
 

Danny Castaneda - Costumes (Senior)

This is Daniela's first and last year at measer as a senior. In theatre experiece, she's acted in 5 total musicals - Alice in Wonderland (as a Tulip), Peter Pan (as a mermaid), Camelot (as an ensemble lady), Guys & Dolls (as an ensemble doll, hot box girl, and cuban dancer). Since Daniela was usually acting and singing, she wanted a change of pace and decided to join Theatre Tech which was a choice she never regreted. Besides from theatre, Daniela enjoys being at home and releaxing in her bed as any usual teenager.

 

Sam Cole - Lights, Set (Senior)

Sam is a senior at Maeser, and is both Crutchie and has been involved in set design, set production and lighting in this production of Newsies. This is 9th production at Maeser, and the 13th production in the Utah county area. Which included 6 years of Scera Youth theater. Some of his productions are: Shrek the musical (Shrek), Alice in wonderland, Beauty and the Beast, The lLttle Mermaid, The Phantom Tollbooth, The Lost Boys, and Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dream Coat where he was the set lead. He has loved theater since he was a little kid watching his older siblings perform and supporting them. He enjoys helping with whatever he can. 

 

Alex Curtis - Marketing (Senior)

Alex Curtis had a very sad origin story, but that part isn't important. He was an award winning actor who loved the stage, and he recently became the first person in UHSAA history to place first at competition with an original dramatic piece. With the end of his career, the old Alex died. Nowadays, he's mega rich, mega ripped, mega handsome, and mega eligible. He has been portrayed in completely true stories in movies by award-winning actors such as Adam West, Christian Bale, Will Arnett, and much, much more. He spends his time doing three things: keeping his nine-pack toned (he has an extra ab), fighting the vile scum of Gotham City, and hating on Superman. He is the darkest (K)night. He is the Nightmare of Injustice. He is Vengeance. He is... Batman.

 

Tristram Hawkes - Set, Sound (Sophomore)

Tristram Hawks has been a student at Maeser for four years and has been helping out the theater tech side for two of them. He has helped out on previous Maeser productions such as Puffs, Joseph and The Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat and most recently The Lost Boy. He has helped out with the sound side for all of these shows as well as the creation of the set.

 

Holly Hill - Director

Ms. Hill is one of the drama teachers and the head of the theatre program at Maeser. While this is Ms. Hill's first year at Maeser, she has been an active member of the Utah theatre community for the last 16 years, which included earning a BA in Theatre Arts Education (K-12) from Brigham Young University. Favorite acting credits include Minnie Fay (Hello, Dolly!), Ado Annie (Oklahoma!), Miriam Wilkins (Dear Ruth), Corrie Bratter (Barefoot in the Park), Little Red (Into the Woods), The Reader (A Room Full of Glass), and Nurse (Shakespeare In Love). Favorite directing credits include The Lost Boy (Maeser), Almost, Maine (BYU), and Godspell (BYU). On the rare occasion that Ms. Hill is not working, she enjoys cuddling with her dog, Flapjack, and spending time with her family.

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Elenoa Huntzinger - Props, Costumes (Senior)

Elenoa is a Senior that's been at Maeser for the last 6 years. She's been under the "Theatre Kid" label for most of those years, but she's always been more of a theatre adjacent kid. This is her first time doing tech and she's loved supporting her best friends from backstage instead of onstage. (Its less panic attack inducing.) Although she tries her best to always do Shakespeare and participate in acting opportunities, most, if not all her "free" time is taken up by ballet. Next year she'll be in college.. somewhere? Probably Hampton University in Virginia, studying Biology to become a zoologist, but honestly who knows. She's so grateful for all the time she's spent in the Maeser Theatre Department and will always love the family she's found here.

 

Thomas Jackson - Set, Props (Sophomore)

Thomas is one of the tech crew for maser and has been since 9th grade.while he may not be the most competent person Thomas has shown his expertise in the set construction part of tech theater. Thomas has also done previous shows such as (Xanadu), and multiple years of middle school Shakespeare. When Thomas is not swamped by homework he spends his time playing video games, hanging out with friends, and watching anime.

 

Adam Jensen - Props (Freshman)

Adam's story is a classic. A traumatized teenager, boy with issues, living his life as he can. Of course, it wasn't always this way. There once was a time his house got hit by a car, he poisoned his entire neighborhood, broke his skull, established a black market, nearly drowned on a water slide, saved multiple lives, won in a rivalry that had lasted at least a year, ruined a couple's relationship over pet simulator, angered a gang of teenagers who chased him home, and ate an entire jar of pickles in one sitting. Those who know Adam tend to like him. Those who don't know him, tend to really not care. Adam cares a bit too much about too many people. He also likes acting so that he can pretend he is less interesting than he really is, and thus has been in multiple plays. He's also a GREAT hang ;)
 

Elise Larsen - Props (Sophomore)

Elise Larsen is a sophomore at Maeser. They love to sew and craft. This is Elise's first year in Theater Tech and they have enjoyed making props for Newsies. When Elise is not in school they love working on their photography and designing dresses. 
 

Whitney Lowry - Marketing, Assistant Stage Manager (Senior)

Whitney Lowry has been involved in theater for five years. She is a senior this year at Maeser. She has been an active techie for three years. Her favorite productions she has worked on or acted in are Romeo and Juliet set in the 80'S, Xanadu, and Sorry Wrong Number. In addition she has really enjoyed her time at the Shakespeare competition each fall, and the region/state competition each spring. Her favorite Shakespeare ensemble she has been involved in was Henry the 8th, and her favorite role from region/state was Gwendolen in the proposal scene from The importance of being Ernest. When she isn't participating in Theater you can find her hanging out with friends, reading a good book, or with her pets. 

 

Adam McFarland - (Junior)

Adam started theater tech this year and has loved every second of it! He loves building set pieces and problem solving (even when his ideas don’t always work out). He’s always loved building and he loves problem solving. He hopes to do more tech stuff in the future, but in the meantime it’s just a side hobby of his that lets his creative side sing and not just his musical side :).

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Madi Mecham - Costumes (Senior)

Madi Mecham is one of the costume designers for this production of Newsies. She is a hardworking senior here at Maeser. She joined the production team after Ms. Hill caught a glimpse of her sketch book and complimented the dress she'd been drawing. After that Ms. Hill invited her to participate in region/state where she won second in region's costume design. Besides drawing, Madi really enjoys reading and music. She does ballroom and spends time in the summer backpacking with her family. 

 

Ashlyn Nielsen - Costumes (Junior)

Ashlyn Nielsen is a Junior at Maeser who has previously been in theatre programs. In her seventh grade year, Ashlyn was in the ensemble of Romeo and Juliet: Love is a Battlefield. In eight and ninth grade she participated in the middle school plays. She has previously worked with the Maeser fall play, Lost Boy, performance costumes and now has also worked in the costume department for Newsies. Ashlyn also does performances outside of Maeser, performing dance for her studio. Between these two things it is a wonder how she can fit in her homework.

 

Maia Schreiner - Lights, Sound, Marketing (Senior)

Maia Schreiner is a Senior at Maeser. Despite it being her first time working with the tech crew, she loves troubleshooting and solving problems alongside the team. In the Fall, she will be attending Utah State University to study Biological Engineering. Outside of academics, she enjoys exploring new places, snuggling with her silly dog, Sage, and playing Pokémon.

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Natalie Shields - Choreographer

Natalie Shields has loved choreographing Newsies! It is one of her all time favorite musicals. This production has been so incredibly fun to create together with Holly Hill as they met doing theater when they were teenagers. Last year she also was privileged to choreograph the musical Joseph. She teaches Mandarin Chinese and dance at Maeser. Favorite credits include: Parade (Manhattan Concert Production), Crazy For You (NYC), Chava in Fiddler on the Roof (HCTOY), Liza in Seven Brides for Seven Brothers (Scera) , Babette in Beauty and the Beast (Skyridge High School), Eliza in Crazy For You (Scera), and Rachel in The Pear Tree (Best Actor in Utah 2017). Thank you for all the support from her incredible husband Dallin, her family, and her baby girl coming July 2025.

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Samantha Smith - Assistant Stage Manager, Marketing (Sophomore)

Samantha Smith has been acting for many years. She blesses all with her presence. She has performed such things as a Catherine of Aragon monologue, a Henry V duo scene, and a Joan of Arc monologue, all for the Shakespeare Festival. She is an angel of grace and beauty. She has been acting seriously since seventh grade with many primary roles. She has been compared many a time to Maddy Watabe, who’s impossible to be with and an all around annoying person. (She’s actually wonderful though.)
Look at Maddy’s bio

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Maddy Watabe - Assistant Stage Manager (Sophomore)
Maddy Watabe has been a stage manager for many years. She is an inspiration to all who interact with her. She created the role of stage manager for the Middle School Play. She blesses people with her presence daily, even when they don't deserve it. She is also an actor, but she has found that she loves the technical side of theater. She takes the time to help others with anything they need, even when she's extremely busy. Her best friend, Samantha Smith, sucks. She has made her whole life much much harder. She's also very mean. Unfortunately, Watabe has been compared to Smith on more than one occasion. They've been told they were the same person, much to Watabe's chagrin. (Actually she's not. She is really sweet and supportive.)
Look at Samantha's Bio

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Olivia Woods - Marketing, Set (Freshman)

Olivia is a freshman student at Maeser.  Olivia has been attending Maeser ever since seventh grade. Olivia has had a passion for playing sports and has been on the Maeser volleyball team every single year of her attendance at Maeser. During her freshman year she was voted to be the Assistant Captain on the volleyball team. Olivia has also participitated in Broadway Rocks each year and has enjoyed it fully. Olivia has done two plays and played major roles in both. She has played the Tin Man (Wizard of Oz) and Cousin Mary/Faith (Tom Sawyer). While Olivia is not at school, she enjoys getting her nose deep in books, making bracelets, listening the music or goofing off with her little sister. 

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