Stage Manager:  Faith Marsala
Assistant Stage Manager:  Sarah Chowaniec
Lighting Supervisor:  Marcus Harter
Lighting Designers:  Ethan Borrok, Liam Deyell, Marcus Harter, Max Teicher
Sound Designer:  Liam Deyell
Projection Designers:  Ethan Borrok and Marcus Harter
Head Electrician:  Kaileigh O’Sullivan
Light Board Operator:  Sara Goldschmidt
Sound & Projections Board Operator:  Amaya Sonubi
Deck Crew:  Amarya Genesis
Dresser Supervisor:  Audree Woods
Dressers:  Lauren Guarna, Ariana Mullin

Great Upward Drive
We, as humans, strive ourselves for superiority. We work for where we want to be. But, can we live up to those standards?
Choreographer:  Mario Liguori
Music:  “Horizon Red- Extended” and “Horizon Red (Pete’s Dub)” by Made by Pete
Dancers:  Gia Antonini, Shannon Brien, Lauren Jezioro, Grace Lamanna, Sophia Pham, Abby Postle, William Schmidt
Lighting Designer:  Liam Deyell

Finis Prope (“The End is Nigh”) 
Choreographer:  Ariana Mullin
Music:  “On the Nature of Daylight” by Max Richter, and sounds composed by Ariana Mullin
Dancers:  Sophia Clute, Ella Hankinson, Aniyah Mungo, Lauren Saab, Nicole Yu, Jessamy Zarragoitia
Lighting Designer:  Liam Deyell
Costume Designer:  Ariana Mullin
Video Content Creation:  Ariana Mullin

Through the Window
Choreographer:  Rebekah Bono in Collaboration with the Dancers
Music: “Polythene Pam", "She Came In Through the Bathroom Window", "Golden Slumbers", "Carry that Weight", "The End" by The Beatles
Dancers:  Madeline Elizabeth, Kendra Jones, Grace Lamanna, Shannon Nephew, Kira Sethi
Lighting Designer:  Ethan Borrok

bound by thought
The body whispers what the mind cannot. 
Choreographer:  Madeline Elizabeth
Music:  “Fear of the Unknown and the Blazing Sun” by Colin Stetson; “Vessels” by Philip Glass
Dancers:  Isabella Guerrucci, Rachel Hunt, Kendra Jones, Aniyah Mungo, Sophia Pham, Abby Postle, Valentine Lants, and William Schmidt
Lighting Designer: Marcus Harter
Costume Designer:  Madeline Elizabeth

Silk, Sin, & Scarlet 
Choreographer:  Megan A. Rakeepile
Rehearsal Assistant:  Shannon Brien
Music:  “TRY” by Madison McFerrin; “Abandon the Rule” by ELIZA; “Persuasive” by Doechii & SZA; “CORAÇAO (20th Anniversary Mix)” by Jerry Ropero, HUGEL, Mijangos, Jesus Fernandez
Dancers:  Shannon Brien, Makayla Garrett, Isabella Guerrucci, Valentine Lants, Mackenzie Leone, Ariana Mullin, Lauren Saab, Kira Sethi
Lighting Designer:  Ethan Borrok

15 MINUTE INTERMISSION

Would you like me to be quiet? 
Choreographer:  Selena Pereyra
Music:  “Etienne” by Ethel Cain; “Not My Responsibility” by Billie Eilish; “Devotion” by Tiko Tiko
Dancers: Marjorie Charles, Mackenzie Leone, Gia Maresca, Abby Postle, Maddie Sipowicz
Lighting Designer:  Marcus Harter
Projection Design:  Ethan Borrok & Lynne Koscielniak

The Alibi
Choreographer:  Miranda Spada
Rehearsal Assistant:  Ella Hankinson
Music:  Whispering Sound Effects, “Cuerpo Que Flota” by Lila Tirando a Violeta & Nicola Cruz; “Sin” by Travis Lake; “Are You Awake” by LVDF
Dancers:  Gia Antonini, Sophia Clute, Isabella Guerrucci, Ella Hankinson, Lauren Jezioro, Gia Maresca, Nicole Yu, Jessamy Zarragoitia
Lighting Designer:  Max Teicher

Settling Place
Choreographer:  Anne Burnidge and Dancers
Music & Video:  Developed in conjunction with the multimedia project "Serenades for Settling" created by artists Stephanie Rothenberg & Suzanne Thorpe and debuting at the Burchfield Penney on October 10, 2025
*Funded in part by the UB Arts Collaboratory
Rehearsal Assistant:  Ariana Mullin
Dancers:  Marjorie Charles, Grace Lamanna, Mackenzie Leone, Ariana Mullin, Shannon Nephew, Kira Sethi, Jessamy Zarragoitia
Lighting Designer:  Max Teicher

A Drink Of You 
“For the people who are screaming down the road crying to a full blast stereo.”
Choreographer:  Kelly Quinn (KQ) 
Music:  “Composition” by Composer; “So Real” and “Lover, You Should've Come Over” by Jeff Buckley
Dancers:  Shannon Brien, Makayla Garrett, Ella Hankinson, Rachel Hunt, Kendra Jones
Lighting Designer:  Marcus Harter
Costume Designer:  Kelly Quinn (KQ)

Bows
Music:  “Tripped Out Slim” by Trombone Shorty 
Dancers:  ChoreoLab Company
Lighting Designer:  Marcus Harter

ANNE BURNIDGE (Choreographer, ChoreoLab Director, Associate Professor of Dance) is a dancer, dance-maker and educator. As the Artistic Director of Anne Burnidge Dance, her choreography has been presented nationally and internationally from NYC to Colorado to Taiwan. In addition to performing in her own work, she has danced in works by dance luminaries Bebe Miller, Meredith Monk, Jacques D’Amboise and Maguy Marin. Many of her choreographic works explore the intersections of dance and science, such as her 2018 collaborative project, Balancing Act, which investigates the human microbiome and implications for environmental sustainability presented at the Buffalo Museum of Science. She regularly creates collaborative works with UB graduate and undergraduate students, including her newest work Settling Place, based on the impacts of human noise pollution on oysters and premiering in this concert of ChoreoLab.

Burnidge’s scholarly research integrates theories and practices from somatics, dance science and culturally relevant and critical pedagogies to develop healthy, holistic dance education and training methodologies. She regularly presents her research at conferences, including the International Association of Dance Medicine and Science (IADMS), Dance Studies Association, and the National Dance Education Organization (NDEO). Burnidge specializes in teaching somatic-based contemporary dance and ballet technique, dance-making, anatomy and kinesiology for dancers, and Movement Analysis.

ISABELLA GUERRUCCI (Assistant to the Director) is excited to be returning as a student assistant for ChoreoLab! She is a senior Dance major from Lewiston, NY. Throughout her time at UB Dance, she has performed in ChoreoLab, ChoreoLab Informal, Emerging Choreographers Showcase, MFA Dance Thesis Concert, MFA Dance Showcase, and Dancers Workshop. She has also choreographed for Dancers Workshop and is excited to premiere her next piece in this year’s production! Isabella had the opportunity to serve as one of the student assistants to the director for ECS this past semester. Outside of school, she has performed with a variety of companies such as Starring Buffalo, Devi Bollywood, and the Greater Niagara Ballet Company where she recently debuted as a Principal dancer for her role of Snow Queen in The Nutcracker. After graduation, Isabella plans to continue performing and teaching throughout Western New York.

REBEKAH BONO is a dance instructor, performer, choreographer, and administrator currently pursuing her MFA in Dance at UB. She teaches tap, jazz, hip hop, modern, contemporary, and ballet to students of all ages. She previously served as Lead Faculty at Cora Dance in Brooklyn and VDT in Va, co-director of VDTPC, and Adjunct Professor at Mary Baldwin University. Rebekah has performed across the East Coast with Soul Steps and Shannon Hummel/Cora Dance based in NYC. Her choreography has been seen on the concert dance stage, in competition, and in productions of Guys and Dolls, Freaky Friday, and Mamma Mia. She has managed several education programs, produced performances, and teacher-training programs. Recently, Rebekah has presented works at UB and with the Buffalo Infringement Festival. She has also joined the faculty of Elite Dance Company. Rebekah aims to share the love of dance through education and performance with the University at Buffalo community!

MADELINE ELIZABETH is a choreographer, artist, mover, and teacher currently pursuing an MFA in Dance at the University at Buffalo. She has worked with renowned choreographers such as Yoshito Sakuraba and Andrea Miller, among many others. Madeline's professional experience includes performances at Nazareth University, the Rochester Fringe Festival, and an immersive dance-theater production at Rochester’s 2024 Cocktail Revival. She recently performed a self-choreographed solo in collaboration with her partner, cellist Anthony Aparicio, for DancesatMUCCC 2024 and was also featured in a duet by Mariko Yamada.

In addition to her performance and choreographic work, Madeline is deeply committed to teaching and sharing her craft. As an artist and mover, she continuously seeks to explore new forms of expression through dance, while also inspiring the next generation of dancers. Her choreography draws deeply from the human experience, crafting pieces that evoke a wide range of emotional responses. As a performer, she is recognized for her innovative use of bodily and facial expression, utilizing somatic approaches to push artistic boundaries.

MARIO LIGUORI is a junior at the University at Buffalo. He is a double major in Dance and Psychology inside the Honors College at UB. He is also a Collegiate Ambassador for the College of Arts and Sciences. Recently, Mario has performed in the Emerging Choreographers Showcase, Choreolab, Kathy Wendell Showcase, MFA Showcase and Thesis concert, Dancers Workshop, and he is a current second-year member of Zodiaque Dance Company. He has the privilege of being a recipient of the Jean Taylor Beard Award this year. As a Psychology major, he has researched and studied a variety of topics in the realms of behavior, cognition, and social analysis. Mario has an immense passion for choreography, as he aims to bridge various psychological concepts with movement vernacular. He is thankful for his family, his professors, and his wonderful cast for guidance and inspiration through this process. Mario is thrilled to be presenting his work in his first departmental show at UB.

ARIANA MULLIN is a current senior BFA Dance major at UB. She is also double majoring in Exercise Science, on a Pre-Health track. Through her time at UB she has performed in many departmental shows. Nurturing her love for choreographing, she has previously choreographed for Emerging Choreographers Showcase, Dancers Workshop, the Informal Showcase, and directed several independent dance films. Ariana has recently performed in the Buffalo community with Starring Buffalo, Historic Palace Theater, and at the Lewiston Jazz Festival. Ariana is so excited to share Finis Prope, performed by her masterful cast.

SELENA PEREYRA (Assistant to the Director) is a junior Dance and Psychology major and a Presidential Scholar in the Honors Program at the University at Buffalo. She is currently the Student Assistant to the Director of Emerging Choreographers Showcase/ ChoreoLab. Growing up in Westhampton Beach, New York, she trained at Peconic Ballet Theater in many styles including ballet, jazz, hip-hop, tap, musical theater, character, modern, and contemporary. The past two summers, she has traveled to Guatemala with JUNTOS, an organization that works with dance volunteers to provide dance workshops and performances in underserved communities. She has had the honor to perform in the Emerging Choreographers Showcase, ChoreoLab, Spring into Art, Kathy Wendell Showcase, Lewiston Jazz Festival, and Dancers Workshop during her last two years in Buffalo, and is the 2024 and 2025 recipient of the Lucille and Jack Yellen Award.

This year she received a grant to bring dance performances to Fox Run Independent Living Community and hopes to expand opportunities for UB dancers to perform for diverse audiences off campus. Selena is grateful to have worked with such an amazing cast and to share her first departmental piece in ChoreoLab!

KELLY QUINN (KQ) is a passionate choreographer and dancer from Detroit, Michigan. A current Senior Dance BA at UB, Kelly has had a diverse and rich journey in the world of dance. She has danced and choreographed with various companies and productions, including being a member of the Zodiaque Dance Company and contributing as a choreographer for ECS last semester.

Kelly’s performance credits (other than Zodiaque) include notable roles in productions such as 9 to 5: The Musical, Dancers Workshop, Emerging Choreographers Showcase, and Choreolab. They have a deep love for tap dancing, which continues to inspire and shape their artistic expression. Kelly is incredibly grateful for the unwavering support from their parents throughout this journey.

MEGAN A. RAKEEPILE (Founder, Director, and Lead Choreographer of MahataMmoho Collective) A Buffalo NY, native Megan Rakeepile has studied a wide range of dance styles and techniques for the past thirty plus years. The two genres of dances that she specializes in are Afro Caribbean and Afro Fusion. They both share similar foundations, influenced by the African diaspora and the survival of colonization. Megan began her dance training at Miss Barbara School of Dance, Buffalo City Ballet, and NYSSSA (NYS Summer School of the Arts), during the years of 1991-2008. She then graduated from Buffalo Academy for Visual and Performing Arts with a degree in Dance. After completing her schooling, she set her sights on training professionally in Toronto, ON and entered the professional training program (PTP) at Ballet Creole, studying there from 2008-2010. It is from this program that she received her dance certification in modern, classical, traditional, and folkloric dance.

She then received an opportunity to come back to the states, and moved to Rochester, NY to dance with Garth Fagan Dance Co. For one year she trained and danced with the company as a professional member, and adopted Fagan’s dance technique as one of her many core disciplines. After a year in Rochester, NY she moved back home to Buffalo, and started many nonprofit arts programs in her throughout 2012. Megan continues to work with her previous home church, Grace UCC, as well as the Fruit Belt Coalition, Urban Christian Ministries, New Generation Ministries, Matt Urban Center, and current home church of New Covenant UCC, in addition to many other organizations, to bring dance to the Buffalo community.

In 2014 Megan has established her own professional dance company, MahataMmoho Collective, and in 2023 she was a recipient of NYS Choreographers Initiative Grant, a program of the NYS DanceForce, where she was able to focus solely on her development as a choreographer. She continues to work as a freelancer for dance studios, schools, and arts programs like Studio J, Buffalo State University, Peace of the City, University at Buffalo, Shea’s Arts Engagement and Education, and so many more. Megan sees the value in sharing her passion and mission with her community, she feels that it is especially important to bring artists from diverse backgrounds and professions together and create works of unity and cultural exchange.

MIRANDA SPADA received her Bachelor of Fine Arts Degree in Dance from the University at Buffalo under the direction of Tom Ralabate. There she was a member of the prestigious Zodiaque Dance Company, where she was able to work with numerous choreographers. She was honored to be named Director of Dancers Workshop for two years during her time at UB. After graduation, Miranda stayed in the Buffalo area, where teaching opportunities opened, and she found her passion includes choreographing for Zodiaque in 2015 and ChoreoLab in 2025, in addition to guest appearances in Friday Forums. She is currently the Competition Director at Tonawanda Dance Arts, and also directs and runs her own Mentorship Program called L.E.A.D. This program facilitates the growth of individuals who are looking to enhance their training and work towards pursuing a possible career in dance. She enjoys giving her students opportunities inside, and outside, of New York that enhance their dance journeys.

She is involved with the More Than Just Great Dancing Organization under Misty Lowen, and is also certified in Progressing Ballet Technique (PBT) Levels 1 and 2, as well as the Progressing Contemporary Technique. She is also certified in Modules 1, 2 and 3 of Alixa Flexibility. She is a Mental Wellness Certified Dance Adjudicator as well. Training under Larraine Susa, Miranda continues to go back to her roots in PA to provide dance education, as well as guest classes, and choreographs all over! As Somerset County and Pennsylvania's Outstanding Young Woman in 2008, she was provided many opportunities to share her love of dance. Miranda is an adjudicator with many organizations within the industry, including IMPACT Dance Adjudicators, and AMP Dance Competition, where she also runs and directs their new Ambassador Program, Beyond The Stars, Breakout, Guidance Dance Experience and American Dance Awards. She loves being able to pass on what she has learned, through her passion of dance, to the next generation.

ETHAN BORROK (Lighting & Projections Designer, Department Projections Technologist) is a Senior Design/Tech student at UB, and is very excited to be working on ChoreoLab as both a Lighting and Projection Designer. He has worked on multiple productions produced by the Department of Theatre and Dance, such as Cinderella and Mr. Burns, a Post-Electric Play. He has also worked on several Zodiaque Dance Company productions. This semester, he is the Lighting Designer for The Pajama Game in the UB Center For The Arts Drama Theatre. Starting in the fall, Ethan will attend The University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign to pursue an MFA in Media Design and Technology. Enjoy the show!

LIAM DEYELL (Lighting & Sound Designer) (he/him) is currently a Sophomore Theatre BFA, focusing in Stage Management, with a minor in Dance. He has been in theater since he was about 9 years old, and recently worked on UB productions such as Zodiaque Dance Company’s Spring ’25 concert as a Stage Manager, and Ride The Cyclone as both an RASM and a Dresser. He is very excited about his Lighting Design debut in ChoreoLab! Liam would like to thank his family and friends for always supporting him, and would also like to thank the entire cast and creative team for making this such a fun show! Instagram: @liam_deyell.27

MARCUS HARTER (Lighting & Projections Designer, Lighting Supervisor) is a sophomore BFA Theater Production and Design student from Buffalo, NY. Marcus started his theater journey at the young age of 9, assisting his family in local high school theater. He has worked on multiple shows at UB, including 9 to 5 as the Assistant Set Designer, Mr. Burns as the Assistant Lighting Designer, ZDC Fall ‘23 as the Light Board Programmer and Operator, ECS Fall ‘24 as the Sound and Projections Designer, and ZDC Celebration 50 as the Sound and Projections Designer. He is excited to be working as the Lighting Supervisor/Designer on this semester's ChoreoLab concert, and hopes that everyone enjoys the show! He would like to thank his family and friends for all the love and support they have shown him throughout his journey.

FAITH MARSALA (Stage Manager) started off her technical theatre career working under the Natural Muscle Association as a scorekeeper and audio editor, and is currently the Association’s Show Manager. She previously performed in five productions throughout high school, as well as co-directed an original play written by one of her peers. During her time here at the University at Buffalo, she has been the Assistant Stage Manager for Renascence, Mr. Burns, a Post-Electric Play, and Fefu and Her Friends, and was also the Stage Manager for Fabulation, Or the Re-Education of Undine. Faith hopes to pursue a career in stage management and would like to thank her family and mentors for their support.

KAILEIGH O’SULLIVAN (Head Electrician) This is Kay's third show at UB and second production serving as Head Electrician. She looks forward to cabling many, many more lights in her future!

MAX TEICHER (Lighting Designer, Department Electrician) is a senior in UB’s Design Tech and Management major, and a Lighting Designer in ChoreoLab 2025. Most recently, Max Lighting Designed for Zodiaque's Spring ‘25 performance, including the piece “Strike A Pose”, as well as last semester's production of Fabulation. He has explored many facets of scenography, including costume design for Mr. Burns, A Post-Electric Play and scenic design for Renaissance, both at UB. During the summer, Max is a stagehand and LX Tech with the national live event company Dynamic Productions USA.

Production Stage Manager:  Elisabetta Antonacci 
Department Graphics:  Elisabetta Antonacci, Lisa Gallagher
Sound Supervisor:  Lisa Gallagher
Props Director:  Alexandria Connolly
Electricians:  Molly Crandall, Braxton Stone, Max Teicher
Scenic Artist:  Sarah Bray
Scene Shop Assistant:  Chris Ochman
Costume Shop Assistant:  Jen Marquez, Sarah Bray
Projections Technologist:  Ethan Borrok
Information Technologist:  Dylan McGannon

Asst. Technical Director & Sound Mentor:  Tom Burke
Costume Technician:  Judy Curtis
Asst. Costume Shop Manager/Wardrobe Supervisor:  Cindy Darling
Asst. Technical Director:  Erich Frank
Crew Instructor:  Rick Haug
Stage Management Mentor:  Ally Hasselback
Lighting & Projections Mentor:  Lynne Koscielniak
Production Stage Manager:  Melinda J. Lamoreux
Costume Shop Manager:  Max Levitt
Costume Design Faculty:  Cathy Norgren
Paint & Props Mentor:  Marc Quattlebaum
Technical Direction Mentor:  Jon Shimon
ChoreoLab Artistic Director:  Anne Burnidge

Department Chair:  Eero Laine
Associate Chair/Producing Director:  Lynne Koscielniak
Acting Director of Undergraduate Dance:  Jeanne Palmer Fornarola
Director of Undergraduate Theatre:  Jon Shimon
Production Manager:  Rick Haug
Assistant Production Manager:  Ally Hasselback
Department Administrator:  Veronica Sedota
Senior Staff Assistant:  Rob Falgiano
Administrative Assistant:  Kristin Mann

The UB Department of Theatre and Dance is a proud member of the UB College of Arts and Sciences. With a firm commitment to the advancement of creative research, experiential learning, and community engagement, the UBTHD 2024-2025 Production Season is administered by the Department of Theatre and Dance. We acknowledge our full faculty and staff for their part in preparing students for work on stage and behind the scenes. We thank UB Center for the Arts for their support in making these productions possible.

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.

Our season of programming is also made possible by ticket purchases and donations from patrons like you. We thank you for your continued support of our works. If you would like to further support THD, please visit: https://arts-sciences.buffalo.edu/theatre-dance/about/support.html