DEBORAH ZOE LAUFER (Playwright) has had plays produced at Steppenwolf Theatre Company, Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park, Cleveland Playhouse, Geva, The Humana Festival, Everyman, Primary Stages, Ensemble Studio Theatre, and hundreds of other theaters around the world. Plays include Be Here Now, End Days, Rooted, Informed Consent (NYTimes critic’s pick), Leveling Up, Out of Sterno, The Last Schwartz, Sirens, Meta, The Three Sisters of Weehawken, Fortune, dozens of short plays, and the musicals, Window Treatment, and By Any Other Name, written with composer, Daniel Green. Deb is a recipient of the Helen Merrill Playwriting Award, the Lilly Award, The ATCA Steinberg citation, and grants and commissions from the National Endowment for the Arts, The Alfred P. Sloan Foundation, The Edgerton Foundation, The National New Play Network, and the Lincoln Center Foundation. Her work has been developed by The Eugene O’Neill Playwrights Conference, Theatre Lab, PlayPenn, The Cherry Lane Alternative, The Missoula Colony, LOCAL Theatre, Asolo Rep, The Baltic Playwrights Conference, and more. Her plays are published or recorded by Concord/Samuel French, Smith and Kraus, Playscripts, LA Theatreworks, and Premieres. She is a graduate of Juilliard, an alumna of the BMI Lehman Engel Advanced Musical Theatre Workshop, a member of Honor Roll, and a Dramatists Guild Council member. DEBORAHZOELAUFER.com

CRAIG WILLIS (Director/Producing Artistic Director) has been at the helm of Oregon Contemporary Theatre since 2003. Craig has an MFA in Directing and a PhD in Dramatic Literature/Theory from the University of Oregon. In 2008, he received an Oregon Arts Commission fellowship to train with Anne Bogart and SITI Company. Craig’s OCT directing credits include: Heidi Schreck's What The Constitution Means To Me, John Cameron Mitchell and Stephen Trask's Hedwig And The Angry Inch, Jonathan Tolins’ Buyer & Cellar, Jen Silverman’s The Roommate, Edward Albee's At Home at the Zoo, Lisa Kron and Jeanine Tesori's Fun Home, David Ives's Venus in Fur, Steve Yockey's Blackberry Winter, Jason Robert Brown's The Last Five Years, Aaron Posner's Stupid Fucking Bird, Nathan Alan Davis's Dontrell, Who Kissed the Sea, Edward Albee's Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?, Lauren Gunderson’s I And You, Bruce Norris’ Clybourne Park, Nina Raine’s Tribes, Adam Gwon's Ordinary Days, Brian Yorkey and Tom Kitt’s Next To Normal, Robert Lopez, Jeff Marx and Jeff Whitty’s Avenue Q, Geoffrey Nauffts’ Next Fall, Itamar Moses’s The Four of Us, Henrik Ibsen’s Hedda Gabler, Joe Calarco’s Shakespeare’s R & J, Martin McDonagh’s The Pillowman, Bertolt Brecht’s Mother Courage, Anton Chekhov’s The Seagull, Stephen Sondheim and John Weidman’s Assassins, Edward Albee’s The Goat, or Who is Sylvia?, David Auburn’s Proof, and Thornton Wilder’s The Skin of Our Teeth. His scenic designs for OCT include: The Flick, Becky’s New Car, Ordinary Days, The Seagull and I Am My Own Wife.

PAUL RHODEN (Paul) acted on stage for the first time 30 years ago at Eugene's storied Lord Leebrick Theatre Company, and completes the circle now with this especial opportunity to play at Oregon Contemporary Theatre. His maiden directorial effort, TALK RADIO, was produced last winter at Very Little Theatre. "For Darlene Michelle Rhoden: Now, always, forever."

PAYTON ROSEN (Sarah) is excited to be making her debut at Oregon Contemporary Theatre. She is a third year student at the University of Oregon majoring in biology and minoring in chemistry and theater arts. In the past, she has been involved in short films on campus, and shows at The Pocket Playhouse, most recently playing Becca in The Growups and set designing for Misery. Payton is very grateful for this opportunity to share such an important story with audiences, as many of the topics present in the show are current, pressing issues. She wants to thank everyone involved in this show for making it such an incredible experience and environment, and wants to especially thank her mom, dad, and little brother for always supporting her and believing in her.

SAM HILBOURNE (John) is happy about performing in his first show with Oregon Contemporary Theatre. Sam has acted in shows at the University of Oregon, playing Andrej in Once (University Theatre), #6 in 12 Angry Jurors (Pocket Playhouse), Noah in As The World Caves In (Pocket Playhouse), Van in Dog Sees God (Pocket Playhouse), Milo in The Phantom Tollbooth (University Theatre), and Jocke/Dad in Let The Right One In (University Theatre). Sam has also acted in University Film Organization films, playing Garrett in Blackout, Chester in Purple Love, Mitch in Where You Lead, and Avery in Bricks of Life. Sam is a proud Absolute Improv member and loves cracking jokes with his teammates. Sam likes going to the gym, hanging out with friends, and watching films in his free time. Sam is excited to be acting in an independent miniseries Dying Means You Lived Once coming soon.

REBECCA L. NACHISON (Chava) has worked extensively as an actor, director and producer in Southern California, New York and the Pacific Northwest. She twice received San Diego Critics Circle awards for Best Actress, and was honored with a Los Angeles Drama-Logue award for Outstanding Performance. Her favorite roles with Oregon Contemporary Theatre include: Violet in August: Osage County, Shrimp in the world premiere of Shrimp & Gritts: She’s Gone, Lorraine in A Lie Of The Mind and Anne Marie in A Doll’s House, Part 2. Rebecca was voted Best Actor by the readers of the Eugene Weekly.

JULIANNE BODNER (Scenic Designer) received her B.A. in Theatre Arts from the University of Oregon in June 2023. Select credits include: Scenic Designer for Predictor (Oregon Contemporary Theatre), The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee (Gather Repertory Theatre), Shooting Star and Exit, Pursued By a Bear (Ten Fifteen Theatre), Elephant's Graveyard, A Girl in School Uniform (Walks Into a Bar), The 39 Steps (The Pocket Playhouse), She Kills Monsters and Personal History (University Theatre). Julianne was recognized nationally for Excellence in Scenic Design at KCACTF, 2023, for Personal History. She plans on attending an MFA program for Scenic Design after gaining a few years of hands-on work experience.

KRYSTEN ELKINS (Costume Designer) is a recent University of Oregon alumni, double majoring in Theatre Arts with a focus on costumes as well as Cinema Studies. Growing up in San Antonio, Texas, she had the opportunity to design costumes for many of her High School theatre's productions including A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Rock of Ages and 1984 (OCHS). Since moving to Eugene in 2019, she has been a part of countless projects at the U of O, designed costumes for The Wolves (UO), designed and was costume coordinator for the student lead short film Where You Lead, was assistant costumer for Peter Pan (Eugene Ballet), is currently stitcher/head of wardrobe/assistant costumer for The Shedd Institute's 2023 and 2024 seasons, and is now also assisting designers/designing at OCT. Krys is incredibly grateful to her mentors Heather Bair, Jeanette deJong, and Anna Björnsdotter for all they have taught her, as well as her amazing partner and their two kids (cats).

MARTIN FOGARTY (Assistant Director) is excited to be part of this production as it is his first from a director's lens here at OCT. Martin is also a producer for NW10, serves on the board for OCT, and has performed recently in Eurydice (Wildish Theater), Much Ado about Nothing (Free Shakespeare in the Park), and A Density of Thought (NW10 2023). Martin earned his degree in Theater and English from the University of Oregon and studied his MFA in Acting at the University of Washington.

KEVIN INOUYE (Firearms Coordinator) is relatively new to Eugene, but is a SAFD Certified Teacher of stage combat and Theatrical Firearms Instructor, certified teacher in several acting and movement pedagogies, and a SAG-AFTRA performer. He is an award-winning fight choreographer, and runs a prop weapons rental business. He has published books, book chapters, articles, and video channels addressing the safe and effective creation of physicality and the illusion of violence that have been well received, taught in higher education for over a decade, and presented at hundreds of workshops and conferences around North America. More info at www.fightdesigner.com or www.fightdesigner.com

MICHAEL A. PETERSON (Lighting Designer) is is excited to return to Oregon Contemporary Theatre to design this show as part of the 2024/25 season. Previously he has designed the lighting for; Georgianna & Kitty: Christmas at Pemberley, Something Clean, The Roommate, The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time, Thanksgiving Play, The Cake, Good People, Damascus, The Understudy, Hand to God, Buried Child, The Flick, Marjorie Prime, Venus in Fur, Blue Door, Melancholy Play, The 39 Steps, The Big Meal, Silent Sky, The Last Five Years, A Christmas Carol, The Great Gatsby and Next to Normal. Other companies that Michael has designed for include; American Players Theatre, National Tour of City of Angels as a lighting design assistant, Valley Music Festival - Solvang, CA (David Crosby & CPR, Michael McDonald & Christopher Cross), Solvang Country Music Festival (Suzy Boggus, Desert Rose Band, Zaca Creek), Eugene Ballet, Eugene Concert Choir, Eugene Opera, Eugene Symphony, New Hope Christian College, Northwest Christian University, Oregon Bach Festival, PCPA Theaterfest, Skylight Opera, U of O – School of Music/Opera Department, Willamette Repertory Theatre, Willamette University, Diablo Valley College, Allan Hancock College Dance Department, The Music Academy of the West, San Jose Rep, and S.B.C.L.O

RYAN RUSBY (Sound Designer) is a local designer who works with digital media and 3d printing while also working in higher ed where he pretends to be a responsible adult. Some of his favorite sound and media design work includes OCT's Fahrenheight 451, Boom, Tribes, The Understudy, The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time, and Ride the Cyclone. His work can also currently be seen as select media for NY-based band Zed Star Seven's music videos and live performances.

LAURA TUFFLI (Production Stage Manager/Properties Designer) is excited to be working on this lovely show. They have spent their time in theatre focusing on costumes and stage management. Costuming credits; Birds Flying Through, James and The Giant Peach, Wunderkammer (LCC); Man and Moon, What The Constitution Means To Me, Every Brilliant Thing (OCT); Wigs for Hedwig And The Angry Inch and Wickhams: Christmas at Pemberley (OCT); and stage manager for The Thin Place, Every Brilliant Thing, NW10 (OCT). Laura also appeared onstage last season as Jane Doe in Ride The Cyclone. Thank you all for being here!

INGA WILSON (Intimacy Coordinator) directed Predictor to finish last season at Oregon Contemporary Theatre after opening the season on stage as Heidi in What the Constitution Means to Me. Other recent projects at OCT include directing Something Clean and Tiny Beautiful Things, and playing Judy in Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time in the before times. She also had great fun last year directing Wunderkammer for SPA at Lane Community College. Originally from Minnesota, she received a BFA in Theatre Performance from Drake University and went on to study at the O’Neill National Theater Institute and Chautauqua Theater Conservatory. Inga enjoys acting, directing, and teaching theatre for diverse audiences. Thank you for coming and supporting the arts!