Kate Willis
PRODUCTION MANAGER
Kate oversees all of Cotton Hall’s official productions and tours. She has the tough job of keeping up with EVERY Swamp Gravy cast member’s hectic schedule and trying to make sure they actually get to rehearsal. She also manages props, set pieces, stage notes, and working with all the production designers to get things accomplished. She’s basically the go to gal for everything. If you’ve got a question, chances are she will have an answer.
Susanne Reynolds
STAGE MANAGER
Susanne started out in the youth theater as a replacement pirate in Peter Pan. When some of the original cast began to vanish, she broke out her pirate garb, and subsequently broke her toe—onstage—during the show. She then became a production assistant for Bridge to Terabithia. For Willy Wonka, she worked as assistant director, and was stage manager for both Marvello and Alice in Wonderland. She unfairly describes her role as the person who “holds things,” but in reality Susanne does whatever needs to be done for the show to go on.
Among the many responsibilities she takes on, Susanne notifies the cast of rehearsal times, works on the set, and offers creative input during rehearsals.
Matthew Tully
LIGHTING DESIGNER
If ever anyone had seen a Youth Theater Production in full rehearsal light, they would’ve been less than impressed. Costumes—no matter how extravagant and set pieces—regardless of their impressiveness—would be unfinished without the work of the lighting designer. Lights are the icing on the cake, and Matthew is skilled with a lighting ‘spatula.’ Matthew has worked on four of the five Youth Theater shows. He has created the sunshine and the darkness of Neverland, Willy Wonka, Marvello, and Alice’s Wonderland.
Will Murdock
DIRECTOR
Will has directed all five of the CMAC Youth Theater’s productions. He had no directing experience when he was allowed to direct 2007’s Peter Pan. After that show, the addiction was firmly rooted. He later staged Bridge to Terabithia, Willy Wonka, and Christmastime in the Circus Marvello in 2008. He wrote Marvello himself—primarily in his first period Pre-Calculus class. Alice in Wonderland hit the stage in 2009. Will hopes that he is become a stonger director with each production. His directorial duties have included, among other things: becoming a master of spray foam use, making himself look like a complete idiot, and on rare occasions cleaning the toilets.
