Cast and Crew
Jack Colombo - Light Designer
- Junior Theatre Teacher Education major -
While working on A Green River, Jack has enjoyed learning to design lights and run a light board. “Shout out to Wes for showing me the ropes!”
This show is important to Jack because mental health is such an important topic, and this show perfectly captures it.
Jack would also like to add: Be real.
Megan Compton - Costume Designer
- Junior Acting and Design Production major with a minor in Psychology -
Emily Franke - Amy
- Sophomore Acting major -
While working on A Green River, Emily has learned a lot about the military and things like PTSD that they never heard people talk about in depth before.
This show is important to them because this show really brings to light the problem society has regarding mental health and how it is treated in the public eye. Asking for help isn’t seen as weak when it’s regarding physical health but mental health is seen as a weakness now.
Matthew Garbin - Sound Designer
- Senior Arts Technology major with a minor in Music -
While working on A Green River, Matthew has learned how to relate to a show and how to put themselves into production completely and the show has become important to him because of that!
Guy Gudeman - Erik
- Freshman Acting major -
While working on A Green River, Guy has learned a lot about learning lines and showing the full journey of a character.
This show is important to Guy because this is the first show they’ve done that is student directed. It's something Guy been looking forward to here at ISU.
MaKenna Lockhart - Intimacy Choreography
- Senior Directing major -
One thing that MaKenna enjoyed learning while working on A Green River is working in a shorter time span and the use of repeated evolving motifs!
This year MaKenna has been focusing on the study of Intimacy Choreography. She has been working on every show she could get her hands on and it's been wonderful for her!
Jenna Panos - Mom
- Sophomore Theatre Teacher Education -
While working on A Green River, Jenna has learned that people can’t get through difficult times alone, and that there’s no weakness in asking for help. You shouldn’t suffer through something alone, and don’t be afraid to ask for help from your friends, family, or professionally.
This show is important to Jenna because this show brings up a lot of ideas that people are sometimes reluctant to talk about, but they are important to talk about. It is important to her because she thinks everyone needs to hear this story because it has a very powerful message.
Jenna would also like to add: Hi Mom!
Danny Provis - The Sergeant
- Senior Music Education major with a Spanish minor -
Working on A Green River has been important to Danny because he has loved helping his roommate and close friend Wesley bring his vision to the stage.
Danny is thrilled to be in their first FreeStage production!
Cody Rogers - Dramaturgy
- Sophomore Theatre Teacher Education major -
While working on A Green River, Cody has been able to learn about the process of Dramaturgy and dabble more into that aspect of putting on a show.
This show is important to Cody because it gives us a look into a story that is rarely talked about in our society today. The stigma around mental health has left many people, both in service or not, to not get the help they need. Cody believes this show can bring more dialogue to this issue and create an awareness about mental health and toxic masculinity that our Veterans may face.
Thomas Russell - Fight Choreography
- Senior Acting major -
Simran Sachdev - Counselor
- Senior Acting major -
While working on A Green River, Simran has learned a lot about what evaluation processes new veterans go through and how veterans get help.
This show is important to them because they believe therapy is an important and necessary tool to everyone. There shouldn't be a stigma around mental illness. It is okay to ask for help.
Troy Schaeflein - Jason
- Senior Acting major -
One thing that Troy enjoyed learning while working on A Green River is how to sweep and clear a room.
This show is important to Troy because it tells the audience that it’s ok to ask for help. We all need it every now and then.
Wesley Skym - Director/Dad
- Senior Theatre Teacher Education major with an English Language Arts Endorsement -
While working on A Green River, Wes learned how to direct a cast of a play that he is very passionate about. He learned more about scheduling and keeping a positive rehearsal atmosphere.
This show is important to Wes because it covers very important themes about Mental Health and Toxic Masculinity that he feels is needed to be heard or seen by many more people. This is Wes’ directorial debut, so he wanted to be sure that it was for a piece that covers themes important to himself.
Wes is so grateful to everyone who has been involved in this process and thanks you all for your hard work!
Chris Turner - Jeff
- Freshman Theatre Teacher Education major with a minor in Film Studies -
While working on A Green River, Chris has learned how horrific war can be. Chris thinks there is a tendency in our culture to glorify combat; the people who serve our country are heroes, yes, but the cost of war is much greater than you realize in history class.
This show is important to Chris because the show confronts many topics that are hardly ever discussed until recently. Chris really appreciates the way the show submerges the audience into the experience of a troubled person. Discussing mental health issues is very important, of course, but Green River goes deeper than just a discussion.
Chris would like to send a thank you to his family: Mom, Dad, Kim, Steph, Grace, Christian, and Grandpa for all their support!
Allen Van Luvender - Stage Manager
- Sophomore Theatre Teacher Education major -
While working on A Green River, Allen has learned how to keep as on top of their life as humanly possible.
This show is important to Allen because mental health has always played a major role in their life. It runs in their family, and says roughly 60-75% of their friends suffer from some kind of mental health issue. Seeing something like that represented on the stage has always been important to them.
Allen hopes everyone enjoys the show!