Ethan Blakeney

is a second-year musical theatre major from San Antonio. Last year, he thoroughly enjoyed being an ensemble member and choreographer for Viterbo's production of The Marriage of Figaro in addition to performing in Dance Kaleidoscope. Fascinated by the impacts that acting and performance can have on others, he looks to continue discovering new avenues of conveying his art, working on projects with colleagues, and ultimately one day producing his own Broadway productions and feature-length films. @blakeney_ethan

Zachary Buhl

is a junior musical theatre major with a minor in arts admin. Past Viterbo shows include STP's Edges (Man 2), Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street (Offstage Singer). Other shows include, Newsies (Jack Kelly), Les Miserables (Marius). He thanks all his friends and family for their continuous support. @zachbuhl05

Tucker Mensen

is a senior musical theatre major with minors in dance and music. He has been a part of many shows at Viterbo including The Pirates of Penzance, 42nd Street, Bat Boy: The Musical, and Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street. He's excited to see his peers grow in his final year as well as see the classes below him grow in their acting journeys. @tucker_mensenbfa

Abbey Grace Messing

is a senior musical theatre major with dance and arts administration minors. This past summer she apprenticed at The Barn Theatre where she was able to bring the characters Mazzie (Seussical) and Rosemary (How to Succeed...) to life. She is thrilled to tackle Marcy this year in Viterbo's production of I Love You Because. Past Viterbo credits: Ophelia (Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead), Ensemble (42nd Street), Into the Dirt, and Dance Kaleidoscope 2025. She would also like to extend so much love and gratitude to her family and friend support systems. "This would not be possible without them!" abbeygracemessing.com @abbeys_playlist

McKenzie Russ

is a senior musical theatre major with minors in dance, music, and arts administration from Edmond, Oklahoma. At Viterbo, she’s been involved in many productions including The SpongeBob Musical (Sandy), Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead (Tragedian/Musician), Godspell (Choreographer), 42nd Street (Assistant Choreographer/Swing/Dance Captain), and The Pirates of Penzance (Swing). Outside of performing, she is a member of Dance Coalition and works for the admissions team. She would like to thank her family, friends and professors for their continued support and encouragement. Enjoy the show! @mckenzie_kay__

Kayla Taylor

is a senior musical theatre major with a dance minor and is beyond excited to be a part of this production! Her past credits include: Karen the Computer (The SpongeBob Musical), Lilith (She Kills Monsters), Maiden/ Mabel u/s (The Pirates of Penzance), Ensemble (Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street), Bird/Turtle (A Year With Frog And Toad). She is one of the co-directors of Student Theatre Project and is so proud of all the student collaboration this year! She is so grateful for this opportunity and hopes you enjoy this show as much as she has. @Kayla_taylor207

Sony Vassor

is a junior musical theatre major. He was the Assistant Choreographer for Young Frankenstein (Fall 2025), a part of the Ensemble in The SpongeBob Musical in (Spring 2025), and The Dance Captain in Godspell (Spring 2024). He would like to give a huge shout-out to the director for the tremendous hard work and also to his family and friends for always being by his side throughout his theatre journey. Vassor would lastly like to thank the cast for not only making this experience fun but also memorable.

Annie Voss

is a junior musical theatre major with minors in dance as well as tech and design. She is so excited and grateful to be back on the Viterbo stage doing what she loves. Past credits include, most recently, Carrie in Carrie: The Musical (SoWashCo Summerstock), Suzie Groove/Ensemble in The SpongeBob Musical, Dancer in Godspell, and Hair/Makeup designer for Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street and Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead (Viterbo University). She would like to give a huge shoutout to her family and friends for their love and support, she couldn't do it without them. Enjoy the show! @annievoss_

Brittany Bara

is an associate professor of theatre and musical theatre in the Conservatory for Performing Arts at Viterbo University. She currently serves as co-chair of the EduCore Committee for the international Voice and Speech Trainers Association (VASTA). As an actor and director, she has worked extensively throughout the U.S., Canada, and Western Europe. Bara is a Designated Linklater Teacher and continues to work professionally as a director, voice and text coach, dialect designer, intimacy director, and actor. Throughout all areas, she focuses her work on cultivating empathy and connection. She believes strongly in radical kindness and approaching life with a generosity of spirit.

Upcoming Directing Projects: I Love You Because (Viterbo), Silent Sky (LCT). Recent La Crosse theatre credits: Jen in John & Jen, Becky in LCT's Waitress. Viterbo Directing: Sweeney Todd: the Demon Barber of Fleet Street, Tar Beach, The Hello Girls, Amahl and the Night Visitors. Bara is VASTA's 2024 Dorothy Mennen Research/Development Grant awardee. She holds a BFA in Musical Theatre from Emerson College in Boston and an MFA in Performance Pedagogy from the University of Pittsburgh. www.brittanybara.com @bbara

Adam Moxness

is an assistant professor of theatre and musical theatre, a dedicated educator, performer, and researcher committed to inclusive voice and theatre training. He is a leader in developing accessibility-based and neurodiversity-affirming approaches through Universal Design for Voice and Theatre Teaching (UDVT/UDVTT). His mission is to establish spaces where every student thrives, regardless of background or ability.

His work is recognized nationally and internationally with organizations such as the Musical Theatre Educators Alliance (MTEA), Pan American Vocology Association (PAVA), National Association of Teachers of Singing (NATS), American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA), and the International Congress of Voice Teachers (ICVT). His work has been supported by grants from Berklee College of Music and collaborations with institutions including the Voice Study Centre and Bowling Green State University.

His teaching fosters technical mastery, artistry, and creativity, encouraging students to rediscover play, embrace inclusivity, and prepare for success in the ever-evolving world of musical theatre.

As a performer, select credits include: John (John & Jen), Jimmy Ray (Bright Star), Jervis (Daddy Long Legs), Lt. Cable (South Pacific), Phil Davis (White Christmas), and Bert (Mary Poppins). He has also originated roles in The Callback (Shawn) and Vaudeville Fiasco (Ricky Rock). www.adammoxness.com/

Abby Schrunk

is a junior musical theatre major who is so excited for the 2025-26 season. She is so excited to stage manage her first show, I Love You Because this winter. She wants to thank you for supporting the arts and hopes that you will continue to do so in the future!

Isaac Glen

is a senior musical theatre major with a minor in dance. They are thrilled to be returning to the viterbo stage. Their past roles include: Mr. Reed in These Shining Lives (Viterbo University), Pan/Bud in Bat Boy: The Musical (Viterbo University), Chuck in She Kills Monsters (Viterbo University). Thanks for coming to the show! @Isaacglen_

Benjamin Gonzales

is an assistant professor teaching in the areas of theatre history and literature, playwriting, and directing at Viterbo University. He is proud to have received the Teacher of the Year at Viterbo for the 2024–25 academic year. This is his 23rd year as an instructor/professor (4th at Viterbo), directing, designing plays, and teaching classes in playwriting, lighting, sound, directing, theatrical literature, theatre history, and design fundamentals and aesthetics. Gonzales earned an MA in teaching from Washington State University, and an MFA in Theatre Arts (focused on dramatic writing) from the University of Idaho. He specializes in writing verbatim plays that highlight the stories of communities who have in some way been marginalized.

He currently serves as the national chair of the Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival's (KCACTF) National Playwriting Program (NPP) and has previously served as the inaugural Representation, Equity, and Diversity (RED) Chair/Coordinator for KCACTF.

Plays written by Gonzales include: The Lion and Lamb (2016), Memoria de Oaxaca (2017), Up Chimacum Creek (2018), VOUCHer (2018), The Good Soldier (2018), Sour Mash (2019), and An Enemy of the People (2025).

Jason Underferth

is a seasoned lighting designer with over two decades of experience lighting the stages of the Midwest. He dedicated over a decade to shaping the theatrical landscape as the production manager and lighting design lecturer at Saint Mary's University of Minnesota. During his tenure, he artfully designed the visual components for more than 40 shows. Most recent designs include Young Frankenstein and Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber Of Fleet Street at Viterbo. Now on his fourth year at Viterbo, Underferth continues in his roll as the production manager for the Conservatory for the Performing Arts. He looks forward to creating memorable experiences for the Conservatory's upcoming performances through his designs. www.UnderferthDesign.com

Leo Chavolla Barrera

is a technician and artist specialized in theatre technology and design. He takes pride in collaborating with passionate teams to create impactful artwork. He currently serves as the audio systems technician for Interstate Sound. His latest theatrical work includes assistant sound design for Finn at the Kennedy Center Theatre for Young Audiences, sound design for The Arcadians and Me and My Girl at the Ohio Light Opera, and lighting programming and sound design for The 25th Annual Spelling Bee at Sparta High School. He is proud to have represented our theatre community and UWL at the 2024 KCACTF National Festival, where his sound design for Dr. Faustus earned the national sound design award. When not behind an audio console, he enjoys playing trombone and bass in pit orchestras, including Cabaret at UW-La Crosse and Viterbo's production of Young Frankenstein. He would like to thank Justin Schmitz, Christopher Plummer, Jeff Sherwood, and Ben Golden for their mentorship and support. www.ChavollaDesign.com

Kelsey Taunt

is enjoying her third year at Viterbo as supervisor for the Conservatory's props shop. She holds a BA in theatre with a double emphasis in acting and design from UW-Oshkosh. In addition to her work at Viterbo, she also runs the drama program for Holmen Middle School and works as a freelance director, designer, and stage manager. She would like to thank her family and friends for their eternal support.

Sarah Tellier

is a proud member of the theatre and musical theatre faculty at Viterbo University, where she is a vocal coach, collaborative pianist, music director, pit pianist, and rehearsal pianist. Prior to her appointment at Viterbo, she attended the University of Central Florida, where she received her Bachelor of Music degree in Piano Performance and her Master of Arts degree in Collaborative Piano, in addition to a study abroad program in France and Belgium. Before leaving Florida and arriving in Wisconsin, Tellier worked for the Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts in Orlando and the Straz Center for the Performing Arts in Tampa where she was a collaborative pianist and instructor, vocal coach, musical theatre teacher, pit pianist, and music director. She has spent the last 10 years music directing and organizing regional Jimmy Award programs and successfully training students for auditions and performances in the art of musical theatre. Past favorite projects include: Tuck Everlasting with Patel Conservatory, Heathers: The Musical with mad Theatre of Tampa, Ragtime with American Stage, Dames At Sea with freeFall Theatre, and collaborating with SIX: The Musical for their open call in Orlando. Viterbo MD credits: The SpongeBob Musical. @PianoPixie05

Chad Kolbe

is an associate professor of theatre in his 20th year teaching at Viterbo. He teaches design and technology courses such as Stage Craft, Design Basic, Fundamentals of Technical Theatre, Theatre Practicum, and Stage Lighting. He also serves as technical director and lighting designer for the theatre and musical theatre department. Before beginning his journey at Viterbo, he served as instructor and technical director at The University of Northern Iowa. For six years, he served as the technical director for the Texas Shakespeare Festival in Kilgore, Texas, and before that he served three years as carpenter, head rigger, and assistant technical director for The Des Moines Metro Opera. He enjoys time with family and being outside exploring all La Crosse and the surrounding areas have to offer.

Braeden Jackson

is a junior pursuing a BFA in musical theater with minors in dance and technical theater and design. Originally from LeClaire, Iowa, he has performed as Perch Perkins in The SpongeBob Musical, Ensemble of Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street and as member of Jesus' Entourage in Godspell at Viterbo. In addition to performing, he is a passionate costume designer, recently designing for Viterbo's production of Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead. He also worked in the costume department at the Des Moines Metro Opera the past two summers. Enjoy the show! @braedenjackson1

Aidan Reilly

is thrilled to be a first-year student pursuing a BFA in musical theatre. Originally from Waukesha, he feels right at home studying and performing only a few hours away. As an avid lover of life, he takes advantage of every moment and is so grateful to be here! Some past shows include, Little Shop of Horrors (Seymour), Chicago (Billy Flynn), The Wedding Singer (Robbie Hart), and Grease (Danny Zuko). @aidan_reilly

Jen Brown

is a designer whose work spans a wide range of theatrical productions. Over the years, she has collaborated with a variety of established theaters, including the Viterbo University Conservatory for the Performing Arts, the Commonweal Theatre Company, the University of Madison Theatre Department, and the Children's Theatre of Madison in both costume and properties design.

Through her innovative approach to costume design, she has brought countless characters to life, enhancing the storytelling with carefully crafted, visually striking costumes. Some of her favorite design credits include Three Sisters, Charley's Aunt, Our Town, Failure: A Love Story, Measure for Measure, The Hello Girls, and She Kills Monsters.

As a 1999 graduate of Viterbo with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Theatre Design, she is known for her versatility and her ability to design across both dramatic and music theatre. Above all, she is driven by a passion for creating designs that not only support but elevate the artistic vision of each production.

Rubie Stetzer

has established herself as a stage actor, on-camera actor, vocalist, dancer, and model with a unique and vibrant personality. She is a sophomore BFA musical theatre major with a minor in dance from Trempealeau. Her Viterbo main stage debut was in The SpongeBob Musical (Krabby Patty). She started performing locally at a young age. Her most memorable productions at La Crosse Community Theatre are Elf The Musical (Michaela Hobbs), Newsies (Ensemble), and The Music Man (Amaryllis). She is a lover of theme parks, vintage handbags, world travel, and caramel lattes. @rubiestetzer

Tori Greenlaw

is a junior pursuing a BFA in musical theatre with a minor in technical theatre and design. She is from Sarasota, Florida, and graduated from Booker High School's VPA theatre program. She performed in Evita at the Asolo Repertory Theatre. Within Viterbo's Conservatory, she has appeared in Godspell, Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street, and The SpongeBob Musical. She is simply thrilled to be doing this show and thanks her mom, dad, grandmother, and friends for their everlasting support. Thanks for comin'! @torigreenlaw_

Ema Arthur

is a sophomore musical theatre student from Cincinnati. Outside of theatre, she also plays the violin. Her favorite role she has ever played is Sarah Brown in Guy and Dolls. She would like to thank her parents for all of their love and support. @ema.arthur