Lighting Designer: Max Teicher
Stage Manager: Aidan Sumrall                                                                    
Light Board Operator: Aria Grisham 

TOBIAS PFLUKE (Director) is pursuing a degree in Theatre at The University at Buffalo. He is exploring every aspect of performance that he can! He recently acted in PUFFS, as J. Finch and Zach Smith. He is very proud to be the Director of NO EXIT, working with this wonderful team. He wouldn't be where he is today without the wonderful, beautiful, Kathleen Golde. Thanks, Golde!

Thank you all for coming to see this show! I was introduced to NO EXIT by Professor Ian Downes in Basic Acting 1, during my first semester here at University At Buffalo. I was instructed to read for Cradeau, who in the original script was named Garcin. My now-roommate Max, read for the bellboy. Once I had read the opening, I enjoyed it so much I started using NO EXIT for every school project I could. That meant I had to read the whole thing multiple times, and I started to really like it. I liked NO EXIT so much that I wrote a fake seasonal pitch for it as my final project for Script Analysis. Then, I saw the email that student could submit real season proposals for the Student Directed Series Program. Suddenly, my pitch for NO EXIT was real, and then it was accepted.

I’ve been involved in all matters of performance and production for the last 15 years. I’ve acted, sung, played instruments, danced, built, painted, programmed, designed, and now; directed. It has been an exhilarating experience. I’ve only made it this far because of a select few figures. Jamie Kazacos, my middle school chorus teacher. He was always helping me become a better performer and singer with each passing day, even when I was whiny and insubordinate. Kathleen Golde, who I stumbled into on accident in the entrance of this very theater, the KCT. She’s the reason that I have any place in the Department of Theatre and Dance. If I hadn’t run into her, I probably would have wound up in a different major. It is because of the spirit and love that Kathleen Golde emanates, that I can believe in myself enough to lead a production like this. Through her I have met lots of lovely people, and learned countless things about performance and myself. Moriah Armstrong (who I had to double check if that was still her last name, still not even sure if I’m right,) was the Director of the last Student Directed Series show that I acted in, PUFFS! Moriah’s passion and devotion to her show was unmatched. She sold record-breaking numbers of tickets, and raised the bar for SDS shows to impossible standards permanently. She was the first person I went to when I started to struggle with the production of NO EXIT. It is thanks to all of those people that I’m where I am today.

Now I want to thank the technical people behind this production. Alexandra Hasselback, thank you for being my mentor and reaching out to me for everything I need to make this show happen! Aidan Sumrall, thank you for being the king of emails. Interpreting them, writing them, making sure I see them at all… You are the digital wizard that protects the kingdom of NO EXIT. Cindy Darling, thank you for your tenacity, creative vision, and willingness to spend department money. Every actor who has never had a costume approved by Cindy Darling is an actor who has never lived. Tom Burke, thanks for letting us use your fireplace for our production. That was incredibly generous.

Finally, a little introduction to our show. NO EXIT is, at face value, a story about the afterlife. Three people are locked in a room with each other for the rest of eternity, awaiting punishment. It is also a story about power, and confidence. It’s about how worrying about the opinions of others blinds us, distorts our reality, and at worst, causes us to make decisions that hurt us further. As you watch the show, and even after the show has closed and you return to your life, ask yourself… How much autonomy are you keeping for yourself, and how much are you trusting to others?

Thank you, and with love,
Tobias Pfluke

DAX BARTLETT (Bellhop) is a Junior Anthropology major. This semester Dax is performing in No Exit and Anton Chekhov’s Three Sisters. Dax has also been in performances of King Henry VI Part 2, and Almost, Maine, among others, as well as working with Shakespeare in Delaware Park. Dax would like to thank the cast and crew of No Exit. Break a leg!

MELINA WHITE (Cradeau) (she/her) is currently a Sophomore Political Science major with a minor in Theatre. She has been involved in plays and musicals since she was six years old, and was recently in Mr. Burns: A Post-Electric Play (U/S Colleen/Quincy/ Edna) here at UB. Melina would like to thank her fellow cast and crew of No Exit for the amazing experience that this show has been. She is super excited to perform in her first SDS production, and hopes that you enjoy the show!

Insta: @melinaewhite

PAIGE KENT (Inez) is a Senior majoring in Communications here at UB. Her recent credits include Jenny (Mr. Burns: A Post-Electric Play), Grandmother (The Intruder), and various roles in UBTHD’s Shakespeare Showcase. She is so excited to be playing Inez in this production of No Exit. She would like to thank all her friends and family for being such a support throughout her college years.

SARAH BRAY (Estelle) is a Sophomore Theatre Performance BFA student, and is delighted to be playing Estelle in this SDS production of No Exit. Some of her favorite previous roles are Miss Scarlet in Clue, Jacquie in Ranked, and Chef Louie in The Little Mermaid. When she’s not on stage, Sarah is the assistant costume designer for UB’s Ride the Cyclone production, and will be working in the scenic area for all of the Spring Semester. She’d like to thank her momma and fellow cast-mates for all the support that made performing in this show possible.

AIDAN SUMRALL (Stage Manager) has been a dedicated member of the department of theatre and dance. He has held numerous positions in department shows, which include: ASM for 9 to 5, Fly Captain for Cinderella and Outrage, and an upcoming position as Assistant Lighting Designer for Ride the Cyclone. Aidan recently had the pleasure of stepping on stage for the first time, this time last year in his role of Wayne in Puffs. He is very excited to return to his behind the scenes rolls, as the Stage Manager for NO EXIT. He is excited and thankful for all who have supported him and this show! Instagram: Aid_in_the_Fight 

ARIA GRISHAM (Light Board Operator) - No Exit will be Aria’s fourth show with UB’s Student Directed Series! Most Recently, Aria held the role of Stage Manager / Light Board Operator for Gruesome Playground Injuries, and Assistant Stage Manager for The 39 Steps. As a first-year graduate student in Epidemiology, Aria is so grateful for the opportunity to continue to be involved in the theatrical world. Aria’s extracurricular time is mainly spent working, volunteering, and getting involved with public health in the Buffalo community.

Theatre and Dance Department Chair:  Eero Laine
Associate Department Chair, Producing Director:  Lynne Koscielniak
Production Manager: Rick Haug
Assistant Production Manager: Ally Hasselback
Intimacy Consultant: Lana Sugarman
Fight Consultant: Adriano Gatto
KCT Box Office Manager: Rob Falgiano
KCT House Managers: Ally Hasselback, Tom Tucker
Production Photographer: Ken Smith
Senior Staff Assistant: Tom TuckerTheatre and Dance Department Chair:  Eero Laine
Associate Department Chair, Producing Director:  Lynne Koscielniak
Production Manager: Rick Haug
Assistant Production Manager: Ally Hasselback
Intimacy Consultant: Lana Sugarman
Fight Consultant: Adriano Gatto
KCT Box Office Manager: Rob Falgiano
KCT House Managers: Ally Hasselback, Tom Tucker
Production Photographer: Ken Smith
Senior Staff Assistant: Tom Tucker

The UB Department of Theatre and Dance is a proud member of the UB College of Arts and Sciences. https://arts-sciences.buffalo.edu/

With a firm commitment to creative research and experiential learning, the Student Directed Series is administered by the Department of Theatre and Dance.
https://arts-sciences.buffalo.edu/theatre-dance.html

The department thanks UB Center for the Arts for their support in advanced ticket sales. https://www.ubcfa.org/

UB Theatre and Dance wishes to acknowledge the generous continued philanthropic support of Fox Run at Orchard Park, an official contributing sponsor of the UBTHD 2024-2025 season.  

Today’s performance of No Exit, is part of the Department of Theatre and Dance’s season of plays, dance concerts, and musicals. Our season of programming is made possible by the generosity of patrons in the form of both ticket purchases and donations. If you would like to further support THD, please visit our website: https://arts-sciences.buffalo.edu/theatre-dance/about/support.html