Theatre and Dance Department Chair:  Eero Laine
Associate Department Chair, Producing Director:  Lynne Koscielniak
Production Manager:  Rick Haug
Assistant Production Manager:  Ally Hasselback
Department Props & Paints Supervisor:  Marc Quattlebaum
Costume Shop Manager:  Max Levitt
Asst. Costume Shop Manager:  Cindy Darling
Department Administrator:  Veronica Sedota
Senior Staff Assistant:  Rob Falgiano
Administrative Assistant:  Kristin Mann
Production Photographer:  Ken Smith

SOPHIA VESSECCHIA  (Director) (She/Her) is a senior music theatre student & is beyond excited for her directing debut! Some of her credits include Charlotte in R&H’s Cinderella (KCACTF Irene Ryan Acting Scholarship nominee), Bertolt Brecht in Outrage (KCACTF Irene Ryan Acting Scholarship nominee), Violet Newstead in 9 to 5 (KCACTF Music Theatre Intensive nominee & KCACTF Acting Scholarship Audition, Formerly Irene Ryans nominee) and Constance Blackwood in Ride The Cyclone. She would like to thank her family for their constant love & support. She would also like to thank her amazing friends, her wonderful stage manager Elisabetta Antonacci, Ally Hasselback, Matt Marco, & James Beaudry. For her upcoming project, she will be assistant director to James Beaudry for UB’s musical production of The Pajama Game! She hopes you enjoy Ernest & The Pale Moon!

Hi everyone! My name is Sophia Vessecchia, & welcome to the Katharine Cornell Theatre for Ernest & the Pale Moon as part of UB's Student Directed Series! The show is described as the following: inspired by the likes of Edgar Allan Poe and Alfred Hitchcock, this is the spinechilling tale of obsession and murder based upon a short story by Oliver Lansley about a man who spends his days watching the beautiful, young woman who lives in the apartment block opposite. Upon seeing her with another man, he is thrown into a jealous rage and driven to murder, though all is not what it may at first seem, and slowly Ernest’s guilt sends him on a spiraling descent into madness.

When I first saw this show, I knew if I ever got the chance to direct, it would be this show. As a fan of Alfred Hitchcock and Edgar Allan Poe’s work, I love the moments throughout the show that pay homage to their work. This incredible cast does such an amazing job portraying these complex characters, and the sounds and lights are incredible and really help portray our story. This show is so special and I’m so proud of everyone.

And PLEASE don’t close your eyes and don’t turn away, for it will all go on, whether you’re watching… or not… (as said by Bertolt Brecht in Outrage).

ASH FERGUSON  (Co-Lighting Designer) (they/them) is currently a sophomore majoring in Classics with a minor in History. They have been involved in technical theater since 5th grade and attended LaGuardia High School in NYC for lighting. They most recently worked as the head electrician and lighting board programmer/operator for Ride the Cyclone in the Fall. They are thrilled for Ernest and the Pale Moon to be their designer debut! Ash would like to thank director Sophia Vessecchia for bringing them on to this project and for being such an amazingly kind human. They hope you enjoy this fantastic show just as much as they do!

ASHTYN ROZENBERG  (Co-Lighting Designer) (They/Them) is currently a sophomore Theatre Design/Tech student here at UB and is very excited to co-lighting design for Ernest and the Pale Moon! Most recently they worked as programmer for Zodiaque, and as carpenter on Fabulation. They are excited to be co-lighting designer on Zodiaque later this semester.

JOYCE CHENG / J.MELODY  (Sound Designer) a senior from New York City, is pursuing Theatre Design & Technology with a concentration in sound at the University at Buffalo. Her notable works at UB include serving as Sound Designer & Mixer for The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, and 9 to 5: The Musical, as well as sound designer and stage manager roles for the Zodiaque Dance  Company. She would like to thank her family, friends, and mentors for supporting her. After graduation, Joyce aims to be a “sound princess,” aspiring to mix for a K-Pop concert! She hopes you enjoy the show! Instagram: @j.melody

ELISABETTA ANTONACCI  (Stage Manager) (she/her) is a senior pursuing her BFA in Design/Tech. This will be her 4th time stage managing a show at UB, and her first time working on an SDS. In the past, she has worked on Outrage, 9 to 5 the musical, and Ride the Cyclone (receiving a KCACTF for all 3). Elisabetta is so excited to be working on her first noir horror show, and to be working with Sophia Vessecchia as director!

TY BURGESS (he/him) (Ernest Hemel) is so excited to be playing Ernest in this production. Previously he had been a part of productions at UB such as Ride the Cyclone (Ricky Potts), 9 to 5, and Sleepy Hollow. He will be performing later this semester in the Pajama Game as Vernon Hines. Ty would like to thank the people who have worked on this production, his family, and friends. He hopes everyone involved in the production has a great show!

GWEN DARETANY (she/her) (Gwendoline Betram) is excited for her first performance in an SDS at UB. Most recently, you may have seen her in 9 to 5 (ensemble), Renascence (Vincent Dance Double), and Cinderella (Ensemble). Gwen is very excited to be playing Gladys Hotchkiss in UB’s upcoming production of Pajama Game! She wants to give a huge thank you to the cast, crew, and production team for putting together this amazing show. An extra special thank you goes out to her family, friends, and Juneau her cat! Break legs everyone!

ANDRÉ WHITE (Thomas Thistle) is a Junior pursuing a Theatre Performance BFA major at the University at Buffalo. Throughout his time at UB he has been growing his craft with his amazing friends and is grateful and excited to be able to perform this play alongside them. Previous UB production roles include Father Understudy in Eurydice, Socrates in Outrage, Speed in The Odd Couple SDS, and Father/Herve/Ensemble in Fabulation, Or the Re-Education of Undine. He also participated in backstage crew for ChoreoLab (ASM) and 9 to 5: The Musical (Fly Rail/Deck Crew). He would like to thank his dedicated cast mates, director, and crew for their guidance, inspiration, and support. He would also like to thank his Mother, Father, Brother AJ, and family for their everlasting love and support. Enjoy Ernest and the Pale Moon!

JAMES GALLAGHER (Edgeford/Officer) is a Sophomore at UB, and is currently an Occupational Therapy major. This will be his third show at UB, after playing Cedric in Puffs, Felix Ungar in The Odd Couple, and Dave/East in Almost, Maine. He hopes the audience enjoys the show!

PAIGE KENT (Nurse/Mother) is a senior Communication Major at UB and was so honored to have such an amazing career in the Theatre Department. She was recently seen as Inez (No Exit), Jenny/Marge (Mr. Burns: a post electric play), Grandmother (The Intruder), and Lady Anne (Richard III) in UB's Shakespeare Showcase. She has also been behind the scenes as a Stage Manager for Almost, Maine and Gruesome Playground Injuries. A special shoutout to Aria Grisham who has been to every show and was crucial to Paige's survival these past 4 years.

TOBIAS PFLUKE (Chorus 1) is a senior in the Theatre BA program at UB. He is finishing up his final semester. After a full seven semesters of directing, designing, and performing, he's ready for the next big thing. If you're interested in his work, check out his projects in Impulse Dance Force, and UB Improv! Shout out to Kathleen Golde, who helped him get to where he is today.

SARAH HELLER (Chorus 2) is a Freshman Music Theater major at UB, and is so excited to be a part of her first production here! She was last seen in her high school’s production of Chicago, where she played Roxie. Some of her other favorite roles are Candy in Mean Girls, and Wendla in Spring Awakening. She would like to thank her parents, Sophia, Liz, and the rest of the cast and crew.

WISTERIA JONES (she/her) (Chorus 3) is a junior musical theater major at The University at Buffalo. She has been in musicals consistently since the seventh grade. Her first role was Little Red Riding Hood in Into the Woods, Jr. Her most recent roles were Hope and Sandrine in Almost, Maine. Some of her favorite roles include Sandy in SpongeBob the Musical, Elle Woods in Legally Blonde, and Lucy in You’re a Good Man Charlie Brown. She is from Rochester, New York and hopes to someday work at Disney as a performer.

GARRETT FLICK (Chorus 4) is a Sophomore English Education Major with a Minor in Theatre Performance. Past credits include Seussical (Ensemble), Guys and Dolls (Nicely Nicely Johnson), and Beauty and the Beast (LeFou) at Maryvale High School. As well as Newsies (Buttons), Mamma Mia (Ensemble), and All Shook Up (Ensemble) at the Lancaster Youth Bureau. He has also performed with UBKickline since Fall 2023 and will have a featured ensemble role in The Pajama Game at UB later this semester! Garrett would like to thank his family for their support over the past few weeks of production, and the cast of Ernest and the Pale Moon for making his first show at UB so memorable!

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

UBTHD 2024-2025 SEASON

Today’s performance of Almost, Maine, is part of the Department of Theatre and Dance’s season of plays, dance concerts, and musicals. Our season of programming is also 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