Post Playhouse Staff

Production Stage Manager

A Sheridan, Wyoming native, Ashley is excited to be returning once again to the Post Playhouse! Currently, Ashley is a technical theatre major at Chadron State College with an emphasis in stage management. She has been the Head of Properties at the college for the last two years and has served as an actor in You’re A Good Man, Charlie Brown as Snoopy and in How I Learned to Drive as the Teenage Greek Chorus. She has also been production stage manager for Bus Stop and Vampire Cowboy Trilogy. After her experiences last summer, Ashley is ecstatic to be joining such a fantastic cast and crew for another summer!

Winter Box Office

Season Costume & Scenic Designer

This backwoods spitfire hailing from Pennsylvania’s Laurel Highlands now lives and works in our Nation’s Capital.  As well as designing and assisting in the city, he can be seen as a design assistant on Real Estate Intervention with Sabrina Soto on HGTV.  He also does Costume craft work for My Fair Lady (Arena Stage) and Nabucco (The Washington National Opera).  Shows he has assisted on include Macbeth (Folger Theater) directed by Teller, 1001 (Rorschach Theater Co.), Cymbaline (Milwaukee Shakespeare) My Name Is Asher Lev (Arden Theater), Stunning (Wholly Mammoth) winner of the Helen Hayes Award, and The Lieutenant Of Inishmore (Signature Theater, 2009 Tony Award Winner). His designs include Suite Surrender (1st Stage), Grease (Post Playhouse), Don Quixote (Gala Theatro), Bola Nieve; Cuba’s King Of Song (Gala), Summer In Nohant (Ambassador Theater), A Year With Frog And Toad (KCACTF Region II Selection 2010), The Ash Girl (The University of Maryland), Anton In Show Business (University of Maryland), Antigone: In The Woods, Les Miserables (Mancini Award Winner, Scenic Design), Honk!, Suessical The Musical, The Secret Garden, James And The Giant Peach, Charlie And The Chocolate Factory, Into The Woods, Once On This Island, and Guys And Dolls.

Season Stitcher
Darlene was born and raised around the Crawford and Harrison area on a farm/ranch with her parents, sister and brother.  She currently works as a cook at the Crawford Senior Center and several other odd jobs.  Darlene also owns her own quilting business, “The Butterfly Patch” and enjoys sewing and will join the Post Playhouse this summer as stitcher for all of the musicals.  She has two sons, Cody and Clayton. Darlene was seen last season helping out with A Year With Frog & Toad and Oklahoma. She is looking forward to helping the Post Playhouse out again this summer.  It should be a lot of fun!

Season Technical Director

Ross is the Resident Technical Director and Production Manager for the Department of Theatre & Dance at the University of New Mexico. He holds an MFA in Technical Direction from the University of Arizona and earned a BFA in Theatre Education from East Carolina University.  He formerly comes from Oklahoma City University where he served as the Resident Technical Director for the College of Performing Arts (Theatre, Music Theatre, Opera, and Dance).  As an Assistant Professor of Technical Theatre for the School of Theatre, he taught stagecraft, drafting, sound design, and advanced theatre technology.  While in Oklahoma, he worked as the Technical Director for Oklahoma Children’s Theatre and TD/Production Manager for Oklahoma Shakespeare in the Park. Prior to OCU, he was a project manager and draftsman for Stage Light, Inc.  Ross has worked professionally for other companies around the US, such as Oklahoma City Rep, LoneStar Flight Museum, Arizona Repertory Theatre, William Inge Center’s College 24 Hour Play Festival, Sonora Theatre Works, R.E. Lee Auditorium and ECU/Loessin Summer Theatre. He is an active member of the United State Institute for Theatre Technology.

Interim Managing Director

Don is happy to be able to take part in the goings on at Post Playhouse, even from afar. Though you won’t see him onstage (or even in Nebraska) this year, he has helped Tom out behind the scenes as everyone geared up for this amazing summer season. Don has appeared on the Post Playhouse stage in 2008 (Sky Masterson in Guys and Dolls, Lt. Cable in South Pacific), 2010 (Jim in Pump Boys and Dinettes, Tin Man in Wizard of Oz, Panch in Spelling Bee), and 2011 (Hank in Hank Williams: Lost Highway, Frankie in Forever Plaid). Don regrets that he can’t be here this year and share the stage again with his favorite brother, Dan.

Box Office Manager
Stitcher

Emily Chidalek has enjoyed working in theatre, whether it be on stage or behind the scenes. She spent two years studying acting at Blackpool and the Fylde College in England. During Emily’s jaunt in England she served as scenic charge artist for shows such as Thatchers Women, You’re a Good Man Charlie Brown, The Wonderful World of Dissocia, and Midsummer Night Dream. As well as all the painting she also worked with costumes (as a stitcher), lighting and sound design. In Chattanooga Emily has worked as assistant stage manager for You’re a Good Man Charlie Brown, and stage manager for a professional production of Macbeth. Her favorite acting roles include; Lucy in You’re a Good Man Charlie Brown, Oolie/Donna in City of Angels, and Tina/Gina-joe in Dearly Beloved. Emily is extremely excited to be working at Post Playhouse for the very first time this summer and hopes there will be many more to come!

Music Director – Annie Get Your Gun, Hollywood: a Cabaret, The Drowsy Chaperone, Keyboards – Seussical

John Callahan is thrilled to be joining the staff of Post Playhouse. In the spring he will receive a BM in piano performance from Florida State University, where he has been involved as a pianist in a number of productions, including Jesus Christ Superstar, The Full Monty, How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying, and Spring Awakening. Also at Florida State he was the recipient of the Brautlecht Award, as well as the winner of the 2012 Annual Competitive Festival, for French music. An active composer, his recent commissions include Pulsar by the Orlando Philharmonic Orchestra, which premiered under the baton of acclaimed conductor JoAnn Falletta. He is excited to be working with so many great musicians and artists at his first summer at Post Playhouse.

Box Office, Assistant Stage Manager, Run Crew

Jon Marquez hales from Western Nebraska, where he was a member of many musical ensembles while attending Chadron State College. He served as the principle trumpet player for four years, sang in the select vocal jazz ensemble and was a member of the CSC concert choir. Show choir has always served as a important foundation of his life as he has been an active show choir clinician in Western Nebraska for the past four years. He is currently head director of the Chadron High School Cardinal Singers. His group was featured this year at the Nebraska Rural School Board Association in Kearney. Jon is in his third year serving as head director of the Musical at Chadron High School where he has directed Bye Bye Birdie, All Shook Up and Into The Woods.  Jon has also been cast in several roles including Anything Goes (the captain), Beauty and the Beast (Lafou), Into the Woods (Cinderella’s Prince) Godspell (Lamar) and served as a member of the orchestra in You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown. Jon has always admired the talent at the Post Playhouse and is ecstatic to be working with such talented people.

Choreographer – Always…Patsy Cline, The Drowsy Chaperone, Annie Get Your Gun, Seussical

Annie Get Your Gun – Dolly
Always… Patsy Cline – Louise
The Drowsy Chaperone – The Drowsy Chaperone
Seussical – Bird/Mrs. Mayor

Jorie Janeway is ecstatic about returning to Post Playhouse this season! She last appeared on the Post stage last season in Oklahoma! (Ado Annie), Godspell (Turn Back), Grease (Jan), and Broadway Gold: A Cabaret (MC). Other credits include, National Tour: Hairspray (Female Authority Figure), Regional: The Full Monty, The Producers, The Marvelous Wonderettes. Jorie is also thrilled to be choreographing this season! Choreography credits include, Guys And Dolls, The Marvelous Wonderettes, Brigadoon, The Music Man.

Music Director – Always…Patsy Cline, Seussical

Keyboards – Annie Get Your Gun, The Drowsy Chaperone

Matthew Meckes is overjoyed to be returning to the Post Playhouse for a second year.  Last summer Meckes served as musical director for Grease and A Year With Frog and Toad.  Other credits include Cabaret, Assassins, Les Miserables, Gypsy, Once On This Island and Dirty Rotten Scoundrels.  As an assistant credits include Godspell, Oklahoma! (Post Playhouse), Next To Normal and Shake, Rattle and Roll (Florida Studio Theatre).  Before becoming a music director Meckes attended Berklee College of Music where he received his BA in Music Composition.  During that time he also ran a small non-profit theatre producing over 20 shows in five years.  Meckes would like to thanks his parents for their unending support and the other artists and friends he is blessed to share the theatre with every night.

Director – Seussical

Matt is entering his 3rd and final year in the MFA directing program at Florida State University.  Matt hails from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania where he received his MA in Theatre from Villanova University. He is a 2010 Barrymore Award nominee for Best Director of a Musical for his 14-person adaptation of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolored Dreamcoat.  In his first two years at FSU, Matt has directed Crimes of The Heart and also served as Assistant Director and did the fight choreography for Jesus Christ Superstar.  Favorite directing credits include Art, Waiting for Godot, and Burt & Me (a world premier musical featuring the songs of Burt Bacharach and Hal David).  Prior to his time at FSU, Matt enjoyed working on world premiers with Austin Pendleton and Terrance McNally on Golden Age and with Michael Hollinger on Ghost Writer.

Box Office
Run Crew
Seussical – Bird

Nicole Blaylock, born and raised in western Nebraska is thrilled to experience the opportunity to join the Post Playhouse for the first time this summer. She is a Chadron High School graduate who attended her first collegiate year as a Musical Theatre Major at the University of Nebraska at Kearney. Some of her previous roles include Miri in Halfway Nebraska, the witch in Into the Woods, and Sylvia in All Shook Up. She plans on returning to her hometown next year to attend Chadron State College and receive a degree in Music Education and Psychology with a Theatre minor in order to live up her dream of directing High School show choirs and musicals. Nicole looks forward to working with such talent at the Post Playhouse and hopes the audiences are as excited about the performances as she is. She wants to thank Tom for providing her with this opportunity, Chadron High School for nurturing her with great music and theatre experiences, and her family for their never ending support.

Assistant Artistic Director
Director - Annie Get Your Gun, Hollywood: a Cabaret

Rob is thrilled to return to the Post Playhouse for his sixth summer!  Last year, he directed and choreographed Godspell and A Year With Frog and Toad.  This year, he is creating and directing Hollywood: A Cabaret and directing Annie Get Your Gun for the second time.  In previous summers, he has directed Annie Get Your Gun and The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, and directed/choreographed The Marvelous Wonderettes.  Some other directing credits include:  Closer, How I Learned to Drive, The Woman in Black, Always… Patsy Cline, Jesus Christ Superstar, Singin’ the Rain, Guys and Dolls, The Threepenny Opera, Anything Goes, Sweet Charity, as well as noted chamber operas il Matrimonio Segreto and Amahl and the Night Visitors.  Some favorite acting roles include Toad (A Year with Frog and Toad), Nathan Detroit (Guys and Dolls), Herr Schultz (Cabaret), Mushnik (Little Shop of Horrors) Magaldi (Evita), Billis (South Pacific), Tiger Brown (The Threepenny Opera), Giles Corey (The Crucible), Don Armado (Love’s Labor’s Lost), and Dottore Lombardi (The Servant of Two Masters).  Rob is on faculty at the University of Arizona as an Assistant Professor of Musical Theatre, where he choreographed The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee and directed The Secret Garden, Bat Boy, the Musical, Into The Woods, and Avenue Q.  He will be directing Oklahoma! next spring.  MFA in Directing: Florida State University

Lighting Designer

Scott is excited to be returning to the Post Playhouse for his 15th season. Scott graduated with a MFA from Illinois State College and a BFA from Stephens College. During his educational experience he was given the opportunity to travel and work with a variety of theatre professionals. After graduation Scott worked and designed for theatres in Los Angles, Chicago, Albany GA, Boise ID before landing in Chadron. His most recent Design (Set and Light) credits include: Once Upon a Mattress, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Rabbit Hole and Cat on a Hot Tin Roof.   Working at the Post Playhouse allows Scott to continue working with students and theatre professionals from around the country.

Winter Box Office

Author and Original Director – Always…Patsy Cline

Ted Swindley has directed and/or produced over 200 plays for over 20 years. Some of his outstanding directorial credits include world premieres, classics and musicals including, Carnal Knowledge, Pacific Overtures, Follies, and Cat On A Hot Tin Roof, along with rotating repertory projects such as Havel’s The Memorandum with Giradoux’s The Madwoman Of Chaillot, Thornton Wilder’s Our Town and Les Liaisons Dangereuses with The Imprtance Of Being Earnest. Ted was named Esquire magazine’s register of Americans for Outstanding Achievement in Arts and Letters, and was featured in Southern Living Magazine. In 2007 he was a keynote speaker at the Southwestern Theatre Conference. He was also the recipient of the Los Angeles Dramalogue Award for outstanding direction and nominated for the Los Angeles Critics Award for his work at the Pasadena Playhouse. He is the Founding Artistic Director of Stages Repertory Theatre, the second largest theatre in Houston, Texas. There he implemented such diverse programming as the Texas Playwrights Festival, for which he won national recognition in 1986 from the Wall Street Journal and Backstage Magazine. Best known for creating the hit musical, Always…Patsy Cline, which was one of the top ten shows produced across the country in 1998, he has also director in over 60 theatres. The Honky Tonk Angels is his latest hit, and he has complete the trilogy with The Honky Tonk Angels Holiday Spectacular, and Bubba’s Revenge, (which all can be done independently of each other). He has just recently premiered his latest work, Bachelor Pad in New York City, and completed a Southern adaptation of The Important Of Being Earnest, entitled The Importance Of Bein’ Earnest, and a play, Stories My Grandmother Told Me which had it’s premiere in Kansas City, MO, January 2008. He is an active member of the Dramatists Guild and The Society of Stage Directors and Choreographers, and is a member of the Playwrights/Directors Workshop at the famed Actors Studio in New York City.

Artistic Director – Post Playhouse
Director – Always…Patsy Cline, The Drowsy Chaperone

Tom is the Producing Artistic Director for the Post Playhouse at Fort Robinson State Park in Nebraska and is an Associate Professor for the BFA Music Theatre Program at Florida State University. Most recently at the Post Playhouse, Tom has directed Grease, Broadway Gold: a Cabaret, Pump Boys & Dinnettes, The Wizard of Oz, Nunsense, Always…Patsy Cline, Hello, Dolly!, Oklahoma!, South Pacific, and Guys and Dolls, and at Florida State, he has directed The Drowsy Chaperone, How To Succeed in Business Without Really Trying, On The Town, Hair, The Rocky Horror Show and Sweeney Todd and music directed Spring Awakening, Jesus Christ Superstar, Spelling Bee, RENT, Into The Woods, The Man of LaMancha, and Urinetown. Tom has also directed for theatres such as the Centennial Theatre Festival in Connecticut, Seaside Music Theatre in Daytona Beach, FL, The Lost Colony in Manteo, North Carolina, and the Bigfork Musical Theatre in Montana. His work has also taken him to Zug, Switzerland and to St. Croix in the U.S. Virgin Islands. Tom is also the former Head of the Music Theatre Department at Illinois Wesleyan University, where he taught acting, directing, and musical theatre courses. Some additional directing/music directing credits include Chicago, 42nd Street, A New Brain, and A Man of No Importance. Other professional credits include You’re A Good Man, Charlie Brown!, Lucky Stiff, The Fantasticks!, Crazy for You, Grease, Little Shop of Horrors, and Fiddler on the Roof. He is also a member of The Society of Stage Directors and Choreographers.