CY PAOLONTONIO (Director) is a multiracial, multidisciplinary artist whose work has been seen at notable venues such as Village Theatre (Matilda), The 5th Ave, Seattle Rep, The Kennedy Center, Arena Stage, NYMF, NY Fringe, The Smithsonian, The Arad Fort in Bahrain, Synetic Theatre, Cave B, Carnival Cruise Lines, NBC, BET, & VH1/SXSW/The Bowery/Rockers on Broadway (touring as a dancer with Steven Van Zandt). In addition to theatre, puppetry, commercials, and tv studio technician work, Cy tries to balance these artistic pursuits with family life – you can follow the antics on the ‘gram @mamasemamacy. She/they is known for exclaiming quite often, “Don’t tempt me with a good time.” cypaolantonio.com
JIMMY SHIELDS (Director) is a local choreographer, performer, teaching artist, and budding director. He has been working professionally since the age of 16 and has been blessed to share his love of the arts all over the US! Recent theatre credits include: the west-coast premiere of Polkadots: The Cool Kids Musical at Tacoma Musical Playhouse (director/choreographer), Hairspray (Gilbert/co-choreographer), Matilda (Ensemble/associate choreographer) at Village Theatre, Legally Blonde at Showtunes! (choreographer), and Howl’s Moving Castle (choreographer) at Book-It Rep. Jimmy has BIG plans for the performing arts world and can’t wait to take you all along for the ride!
AARON M. DAVIS NORMAN* (Cast and Music Director/Conductor) (they/them) is an educator-artist-activist originally from Compton California. Aaron has performed across Europe, Canada, and the US and continues to fight for equitable theatre programs for youth and diverse representation on stages and productions teams. Aaron is currently the Institute Manager at Village Theatre KIDSTAGE Everett and teaching voice Cornish College of The Arts.
CHRISTINA BARRIGAN (Scenic and Lighting Designer) is excited to be joining Village Theatre for the first time on the Holiday Concert. Her work has been seen on the stages of Harlequin Productions, the B Street Theatre, the Wyoming Theatre Festival, Grinnell College, Costa Rica, and Mexico. Alongside this work, she is a resident teaching artist offering her talents as a lighting, scenic, and media designer to the mainstage productions and new works at Central Washington University.
ESTHER GARCIA (Costume Designer and Costume Shop Manager) has designed for opera, modern dance, theater, and burlesque. Esther has a BFA from the University of Oregon with an emphasis in Costume Design. She has designed for Taproot Theatre, Eugene Opera, Lord Leebrick Theater, Lane Community College Theater and Dance Department, University of Oregon School of Music. She recently designed for Village Theatre’s She Loves Me. Favorite designs include Million Dollar Quartet, La Cenerentola, Pagliacci, Carmen, A Little Night Music, and HMS Pinafore.
KURT CONWAY (Sound Designer) originally from the mountains of North Carolina now residing in Everett WA, is excited to be designing his first show at Village Theatre after a long hiatus! He is currently working as the Master Sound Engineer for the Village Theatre in Everett as well freelancing around the greater Seattle area. Previously, he was the Head of Audio and Resident Sound Designer for the Flat Rock Playhouse from 2014 to 2018 where he designed and mixed well over 40 shows. Favorite credits include: School of Rock (Kidstage), Chasing Rainbows: the road to oz (FRP), Music Man (FRP), Always. Patsy Cline (FRP), Rocky Horror Show (Warehouse), Mamma Mia (FRP). Kurt is honored to work alongside such talented people and is very thankful for his family and friends who got him to where he is today.
ANDREW PANG (Associate Music Director/Keyboard 2) has been performing in musical theater for over 7 years. He worked on In The Heights and Out of Bounds at Village KIDSTAGE. He is classically trained in violin, viola, and piano, and composes, while teaching all of these topics. He spends his free time watching dramas and anime with his cat Ellie.
COLLEEN NIELSEN* (Stage Manager) Coming up on her 18th Season with Village Theatre, she is so excited to be coming back into theater spaces and helping to bring art back to the community. Previous credits include: Cabaret, Beauty & the Beast, My Fair Lady, The Passage, Afterwords, and ZM. This one is for HK, DM, and WA, dear in my heart.
LEILA CHEUNG (Assistant Stage Manager) is a bicoastal stage manager. Previous work includes productions at Book-It Repertory Theatre, ArtsWest, and A Class Act NY. Love to her family for getting her through the last 2 years, and a lovely holiday season to all!
BRADLEY C. BIXLER (Technical Director). This is Brad’s 21st Season with Village Theatre. Brad has been working in technical theatre for the past 30 years at companies around the area including: Intiman, Seattle Children’s Theatre, Mount Baker Theatre, Civic Light Opera, and Pacific Studios. He graduated from Western Washington University with a BA in technical theatre. Brad would like to thank Suzie, Colin, and Charlie for their continued support and encouragement.
ANDRE BURMAN (Assistant Technical Director). A 20-year veteran of Village Theatre, Andre helps coordinate set construction, drafts 3D set models, and supervises scenic construction, installation, and automation. Favorite Village Theatre sets include: Jesus Christ Superstar, Chasing Nicolette, Les Misérables, and I Do! I Do! Andre thanks the skilled scene shop and production staff for their excellence, and Beth, his wife, for her patience with all things theatre.
PATRICK SHERMAN (Master Scenic Carpenter). A graduate of the University of Washington’s School of Drama, Patrick is excited to be continuing a career in technical theatre full time as a Scenic Carpenter with Village Theatre. Favorite Village Theatre productions include: Barefoot in the Park, Chasing Nicolette, Fiddler on the Roof, The Mousetrap, Into the Woods and Howard Barnes. He’d like to thank Jesus, his family, and his friends and coworkers, old and new.
RACHEL BENNICK (Properties Manager). This is Rachel’s third Mainstage Season with Village Theatre. Rachel has been working in technical theatre for the past nine years at companies around the country, including: NYC’s Julliard, Baltimore Center Stage, and most recently South Coast Repertory Theatre in Orange County. They graduated from The University of Texas with a BA in technical theatre with a scenic design and props emphasis.
JULIA B. FRANZ (Master Scenic Artist). With the opening of her 128th Mainstage show, Julia enters her 27th season as master scenic artist for Village Theatre. Julia is privileged to work with some of the best scenic carpenters, property artisans, and fellow scenic artists. Her daily work environment is charged with creativity…and she loves it. Gratitude to her crew and mentors. Love to her BF and husband Steven, and Maybelline the paint shop dog.
BRYNNE JOHNSON-MCKEEN (Costume Design Assistant) is a Seattle-based costume designer and a Seattle University graduate. She costume designed …Spelling Bee and the last three seasons of the Beta Series for Village Theatre. In Seattle, she has designed American Idiot and Death of a Salesman at ArtsWest, Hamlet at Freehold Theatre, and Always… Patsy Cline at Taproot Theatre.
DOUGLAS DECKER (Wig Master) has been at Village Theatre since Making Tracks. He has done wigs for pretty much every theatre in town, including Intiman, Seattle Children’s Theatre, and Seattle Shakespeare. Doug keeps asking the actors to stop moving around so much…
KYLE BAIZ (Company Manager) (he/him) finds much joy in being the Company Manager for Village! Kyle wears many hats as a theatre artist; as a director, actor, designer, producer, administrator, teaching artist, and as an arts management maven working up and down the west coast. Aside from working with the stage, Kyle has worked in film & voiceover as well. Additionally, he has spent many years working in casting and human resources for arts institutions and for Holland America and Princess Cruises. Kyle was a founding member and Artistic Director of Seattle’s Fantastic.Z Theatre, which sadly closed in 2020 after producing over 12 years of some of Puget Sound’s most inspired LGBTQ+ theatre. Kyle is passionate about inclusivity, creating a safe space (emotionally and physically) to work in, and providing opportunity for marginalized groups.
CAITLIN MCCOWN (Associate Production Manager) is delighted to be in her fourth season at Village Theatre. She has worked in arts administration and production management for over 15 years, and continues to freelance as a director, actor, and scenic designer. Since moving to Seattle, Caitlin has worked with Macha Theatre Works, Theatre Schmeater, West of Lenin, Harlequin Productions, Twelfth Night Productions, Island Stage Left, Fantastic Z Productions, Penguin Productions, and Seattle Public Theatre.
LOUISE BUTLER (Associate Production Manager, Everett) joined Village Theatre’s staff in March of 2020 and is delighted to finally open a show! She was previously the Production Manager at Seattle Shakespeare Company. Lou spent her pandemic setting up and helping to run the vaccination site at Lumen Field and hanging out in the woods with her dog.
JAY MARKHAM (Production Manager) has worked as Village Theatre’s production manager on over 100 productions since 2004. With a background in stage management, technical theatre, corporate events, and concert production, Jay approaches theatre with an understanding that the great achievements of any organization are the combined efforts of each individual. Favorite projects include: Dreamgirls, The Who’s TOMMY, Les Misérables, Million Dollar Quartet, Earth, Wind & Fire, Jesus Christ Superstar, and Show Boat. Love to Huckleberry, Ignatius, and Aimee.
ACTORS’ EQUITY ASSOCIATION (AEA), founded in 1913, represents more than 48,000 actors and stage managers in the United States. Equity seeks to advance, promote, and foster the art of the live theatre as an essential component of our society. Equity negotiates wages and working conditions, providing a wide range of benefits including health and pension plans. AEA is a member of the AFL-CIO, and is affiliated with FIA, an internal organization of performing arts unions. The Equity emblem is our mark of excellence. actorsequity.org
KATAKA CORN (They/Them) is a performing artist in the Seattle area. They have previously been seen in Village Theatre’s “Beyond the Curtain” virtual series, The 5th Avenue’s Pop-up Concerts, Village Theatre’s cancelled 2020 Beta Series show, Homefront (Maya), ArtsWest Playhouse and Gallery’s 2019 production of Head Over Heels (Mopsa), The 5th Ave 2021 Gala, and AMT at The 5th.
SHAUNYCE OMAR* (she/her) is thrilled to return to the stage this holidays season! Her Village credits include Matilda, Hairspray, Chicago & My Heart is the Drum. Shaunyce voiced “Madison Grant” in State of Decay: LIFELINE video game and is a teaching artist specializing in Theatre and Gospel Music. She holds a B.A degree in Theatre from Southern University and A&M College.
CASEY RAIHA (he/him) was seen last season in Guys & Dolls (Rusty Charlie/Ensemble) and previously in Matilda (Sergei/Trunchbull Understudy). Also has performed with 5th Avenue, Seattle Shakespeare, ArtsWest, and Seattle Public Theatre. Local VO Actor for Amazon Storytime and Amazon Rapids. 
