Kenneth Early is honored to return the Ensemble Theatre stage to be part of this production. He was last seen at ETC as Aldrin in The Dancing Princesses, and some of his other credits include Pipeline, Red Velvet, The Whipping Man, Grey Gardens, Alice in Wonderland, Snow White, and Around the World in 80 Days. He has also been seen in productions at Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park, Cincinnati Shakespeare Company, The Human Race Theatre Company, and Actors Theatre of Louisville.

Blake Gehring (he/him) is grateful to be working with Ensemble Theatre for his first time. He received his BFA from Northern Kentucky University, where he studied Radio/TV/Film and Theatre. He most recently attended the Theatre Training Institute under the direction of Ken Jones. Following graduation, Blake spent several years in Los Angeles pursuing acting and stand-up comedy. A few of his favorite theatre credits include The Brighton Beach Memoirs, Young Frankenstein, The Shape of Things, The Full Monty, and Dearly Departed.

Maliyah Gramata-Jones (she/her) is so excited to be back at Ensemble Theatre, where she was last seen as the quiet but fierce #00 in The Wolves. Some of her other Cincinnati credits include Puffs and Red Bike at Know Theatre Cincinnati, Titus Andronicus at Cincinnati Shakespeare Company, and many beautifully “weird” projects through the Cincinnati Fringe Festival. Maliyah currently lives in Brooklyn, NY, teaches yoga, and is a dog mom to an adorable Doberman pup.

Kyndra Dyanne Jefferies (she/her) is excited to be making her debut with Ensemble Theatre, and she couldn’t be more thrilled to join them for the world premiere of Who All Over There? by the accomplished Torie Wiggins. She is a native of Cincinnati and an alum of the School for Creative and Performing Arts. Kyndra has performed in various productions in the area including Disney’s Descendants, The Wiz Jr., Annie Jr., Superman, Mary Poppins Jr., The Children’s Theatre of Cincinnati; Bourbon at the Border, Falcon Theatre; Memphis, Loveland Stage Company; and Disney’s Newsies, Warsaw Federal Incline Theater. Her film credits include Dark Waters and The Old Man and the Gun.

Keisha L. Kemper (she/her) is a native of Cincinnati and is excited for her debut performance with Ensemble Theatre. She graduated from the University of Cincinnati-College Conservatory of Music with her BFA in Dramatic Performance. Her regional credits include Weezy in Alabaster and Harry in Harry and the Thief, Know Theatre of Cincinnati; Chorus/Nurse in Prokofiev: Suite from Romeo and Juliet, Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra; (Story)Teller in The Bradbury Tattoos: An Experimental Rock Opera, Concert:Nova; Maria, Captain, and First Officer in Twelfth Night, Cincinnati Shakespeare Company’s Shakespeare in the Park; and Amanda Wingfield in The Glass Menagerie, New Edgecliff Theatre.

Spencer Lackey (he/him) returns to Ensemble Theatre, where he was last seen in the virtual production of Side Man. He is an actor and composer based in Brooklyn, NY. His regional theatre credits include Barefoot in the Park, Queens Theatre; Shakespeare in Love!, Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey; and The Other Rhine, Know Theatre of Cincinnati. His film and TV credits include Notzilla, Healing River, and Dead of Winter on Discovery ID. Spencer has a BFA in Acting from the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music.

Jay Wade (he/him) was last seen at Ensemble Theatre as Chris in Sweat and as Omari in Pipeline. He also appeared as Omari in Alabama Shakespeare Festival’s production of Pipeline. He is from St. Louis, MO, and earned his BFA in Acting from Southeast Missouri State University.

Torie Wiggins is a multi-hyphenate artist whose Cincinnati theatre credits include Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson and Harry and the Thief, Know Theatre of Cincinnati; Mame, Crowns, and The Revolutionists, Human Race Theatre Company; To Kill a Mockingbird, Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park; To Kill a Mockingbird, Oliver Twist, A Raisin in the Sun, and Fences, and Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom, Cincinnati Shakespeare Company; and Twilight: Los Angeles 1992 by Anna Deveare Smith, Diogenes Theatre Company. Her Ensemble Theatre credits include The Mountaintop, Violet, Alice in Wonderland, Around the World in 80 Days, Cinderella, Cinderella: After Ever After, and His Eye is on The Sparrow. Torie’s directing credits include We Are Proud to Present… and Good Kids, Miami University’s Department of Theatre; Dreamgirls and Proof, The Carnegie Theater; and Blues for an Alabama Sky, Falcon Theatre.

Stori Ayers (she/her) is a storyteller. She’s a New York-based actor, director, and co-founder of [RARE] Lotus Productions. She is originally from Washington, D.C., and has a passion for stories that challenge, ignite, and inspire. Stori is excited to return to Ensemble Theatre after having previously directed Skeleton Crew in 2019. She recently directed the world premiere of Confederates by Dominique Morisseau at Signature Theatre in NYC, for which she won an Antonyo Award for Best Direction (off-Broadway) and received a nomination for Outstanding Direction from the Drama League. Her other directing credits include Paradise Blue, Geffen Playhouse; Blood at the Root, Chautauqua Theatre Company; and Night Vision and Third Grade; Playing on Air. Stori was honored to serve as the Associate Director of Skeleton Crew on Broadway. With her love for young artists, Stori has also directed at the University of Michigan, Penn State University, and Mary Baldwin University. She assistant directed the world premiere of August Wilson’s one-man show How I Learned What I Learned at the Signature Theatre in New York City staring Ruben Santiago-Hudson. She was the 2018 and 2019 Directing Fellow at Chautauqua Theater Company where she assistant directed An Octoroon (Dir. Giovanna Sardelli), Into the Breeches (Dir. Laura Kepley), One Man Two Guvnors (Dir. Andrew Borba), and Amish Project (Dir. Sarah Wansley). Stori is a proud member of SDC and AEA; holds a BA from Mary Baldwin University and an MFA in Acting from Penn State University; and is the former executive assistant to writers Dominique Morisseau and Katori Hall. Currently, Stori works as a writer’s assistant to Dominique Morisseau, serving in the development of new musicals, plays, pilots, and films.

Brian c. Mehring (he/him) has designed more than 100 productions at Ensemble Theatre. His favorite productions include Thom Pain (based on nothing), Next to Normal, 33 Variations, Freud’s Last Session, and I Am My Own Wife. Mr. Mehring’s regional favorites for set design include The Last 5 Years and I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change, Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park; Henry IV, Part 1, The Georgia Shakespeare Festival; and I Am My Own Wife, Actors Theatre of Louisville, Peterborough Players, and Florida Studio Theatre.

Aharon Simone is elated and humbled to be working with Ensemble Theatre for the first time. She is happy to have collaborated and helped build this story with this incredible company. Aharon is currently costuming, designing, and styling in NYC. She is also a current Wardrobe Dresser for Moulin Rouge! The Musical on Broadway.

Nigel C. Mask is a hair stylist and entrepreneur that has offered award-winning services for over 15 years. A native of Mansfield, Ohio, Nigel is the owner of Nigel’s Gifted Hands, LLC, based here in Cincinnati. He earned a BA in Psychology from the University of Cincinnati and his MS in Executive Leadership and Organizational Change from Northern Kentucky University. Nigel is a public speaker and consultant who seeks to spread his knowledge of hair education and his philosophy on the relationship between hair care and personal wellness to the world. He has partnered with community based organizations and institutions of higher learning to bring enlightenment on various topics related to the beauty industry. His professional work has been featured in Southern Bride Magazine and Cincinnati Magazine and can be seen reoccurring on Netflix and ABC Network.

Matt Callahan (he/him) was the Resident Sound Designer for Actors Theatre of Louisville for seven seasons. Some of his most recent designs for Ensemble Theatre include Queen, Pipeline, Fortune, Fun Home, and Ripcord. He was also a co-creator/designer of Rock n’ Roll: The Reunion Tour. He spent two seasons as the Resident Sound Designer at The Eugene O’Neil Center for their National Playwrights Conference. He was formerly the sound engineer for Steppenwolf Theatre, the Assistant Engineer for Blue Man Chicago, and a member of the disbanded Defiant Theatre. He received a Jeff Citation for Red Dragon, a nomination for Fortinbras, and a Kevin Kline nomination for Sherlock Holmes.

Shannon Rae Lutz  (she/her) earned her Master’s degree from the University of Cincinnati’s College-Conservatory of Music in 1996 and became Properties Master at Ensemble Theatre. Trained as a performer, she first appeared on ETC’s stage during the 1988-1989 New Works Festival. In 1991, she was granted an ETC internship. Now the Director of Apprentice Programming, she is honored to guide ETC’s essential ensemble: The Professional Acting Apprentice Company. Shannon would like to thank D. Lynn Meyers, Ruth Sawyer, and the Cincinnati theatre community and patrons for their generous, supportive, and tenacious spirit.

Jack Murphy (he/him) grew up in the Cincinnati area and studied technical theatre at Hanover College. While there, he spent his summers at several different summer stock theatres including Georgia Shakespeare Company and the Brevard Music Center’s Janiec Opera Company as a carpenter. After graduation, he moved to Bellport, NY to work for The Gateway Playhouse as a carpenter and rigger, and he went on to work for Norwegian Cruise Line. After another summer at the Janiec Opera Company, he came full circle and returned home to Cincinnati. Jack is eager to continue to do the cutting edge work ETC is known for and has enjoyed working on such productions as An Iliad, Grounded, and The Humans.

Margot Whitney (she/her) is thrilled to be a part of the Ensemble Theatre family! Her previous credits include Sweat on Broadway and the first national tours of Mean Girls, Come From Away, Bright Star, The King & I, Rodgers & Hammerstein’s Cinderella, and War Horse. She has worked with The Public Theatre, Signature Theatre Company, New York Stage and Film, Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey, La Jolla Playhouse, Virginia Opera, Cincinnati Opera, Ensemble Theatre Cincinnati during the 2012-2013 Season, and Cincinnati Ballet. Margot received her BFA from the University of Cincinnati’s College-Conservatory of Music.

Lexi Muller (she/her) is delighted to be back at Ensemble Theatre, where some of her credits include include Fun Home, The Wolves, Skeleton Crew, and Fly by Night. Other regional credits include Sex with Strangers, The House, Legendale, and 26 Pebbles with the Human Race Theatre. She is a proud member of Actors’ Equity Association and a graduate of Wright State University, where she received her BFA in Stage Management.