JESSICA JACKSON is a director, composer, actor, writer, and rampant improviser. During her time as Artistic Director of Creede Repertory Theatre, this award-winning theatre produced 6 world premiere productions, 7 new play festivals, & 12 world-premiere commissions for young audiences. She founded Boomtown Improv Comedy and helmed the devised Pants on Fire: a totally made-up musical for kids. Some of her favorite projects: Socially distanced golf-cart odyssey The Rough (writer/director) & satirical musical Small Ball (director) with The Catamounts, Roe (director) and The Laramie Project (director) at Oklahoma City University, Colorado premieres of Miss Holmes (director) and William Shakespeare’s Land of the Dead (director), the world premiere of Sight Hound (director) by Pam Houston, Billy Hell (composer-Denver Post Ovation Award Best Original Music), and sundry original shows created with Jeff Carey (composer/director). She’s working on a new full-length musical, Singletrack, with Steven Cole Hughes and goofing around with her 12-year-old daughter, Penny, and brilliant husband, Matt.

STEPHEN GILLESPIE is a Fort Collins native, returning for his third season with OpenStage. On stage credits include October Surprise (Lake Roberts), Treasure Island (Squire Trelawny), Elf The Musical (Walter Hobbs), A Musical Christmas Carol (Jacob Marley), and has brought energy to the ensembles of The Little Mermaid and James and the Giant Peach, as well as Never A Bride (Paul). Stephen has a Bachelor’s Degree in Architecture from the University of Illinois and applies his creativity to set design and construction. When he’s not on stage, Stephen develops innovative digital marketing strategies for clients across the country. He also loves experimenting in the kitchen and cherishing moments with his two adored pups—Finn, a charming Goldendoodle, and John E., a devoted Labrador Retriever.

AUBREY BIERMAN is thrilled to be joining OpenStage for an 8th season! She has been stage managing for over 15 years and has a Bachelor of Fine Arts with an emphasis in Stage Management from the University of Oklahoma. Previous OpenStage Assistant Director/Stage Manager credits include The Full Monty, Frankenstein, Spamalot, August: Osage County, The North Plan, Spring Awakening, Journey to the West, The Tempest and Dangerous Liaisons. She received the 2015 OpenStage OPUS Award for Outstanding Technical Support for the Season. Other Fort Collins Assistant Director/Stage Manager credits include Harvey, Equus, The Blue Flower, A Tuna Christmas, Juno and the Paycock, Our Town, The Year of Magical Thinking, Ghosts and Rabbit Hole with Bas Bleu Theatre Company. Aubrey feels truly blessed to be able to work with OpenStage and to be a part of this amazing Fort Collins theatre community. 

JAMES BROOKMAN is grateful to the artists and educators who have helped him realize some good stories, unconventional visions, and sneaky tricks so important to his life in the arts. Born in Fort Collins, he traveled for years seeking skills and perspective before returning in 1988. James now boasts what seems to him the longest string of day jobs in recorded human history. Often the day jobs were cousins of stagecraft: window display, event production, fashion shows, and designing residential light fixtures. There was almost always some play or musical to work with and artists from whom to learn. For OpenStage in recent years, James designed And Then There Were None, August: Osage County (OpenStage OPUS Award/Set Design, Henry Award Nomination/Set Design) and Stage Kiss. He worked as Master Carpenter for True West, Orphans, and Stage Kiss. James thanks you for coming and encourages you to sit back and enjoy the show.

CARLA BROOKMAN is a six time OpenStage Opus award recipient, Carla returns to choose, craft and invent props, furnishings and decor for The Cottage. Audiences will remember her work on past productions: True West, Stage Kiss, August, Osage County, Steel Magnolias, And Then There Were None, Murder on the Orient Express, Clue: On Stage, and Misery. Carla wishes to thank the OpenStage management and creative staff for the opportunity to help present this unique production and hopes you enjoy your stay in The Cottage.

MACKENZIE LOWE is thrilled to be back with OpenStage, sharing her passion for enhancing storytelling and artistic vision through lighting with such a talented cast and crew. She holds a B.A. in Theatrical Design/Technology from the University of Northern Colorado and has over a decade of experience in the live entertainment industry. MacKenzie has worked on a wide range of events, from theatrical productions to live concerts and festivals. Known for her innovative designs, technical precision, and collaborative spirit, her work captivates audiences and evokes emotion. Past OpenStage productions include The Minutes, Big Fish and Hedwig, while recent projects include A Walk in the Woods, All is Calm, Beautiful, Jersey Boys, Margaritaville, and Beauty and the Beast. Outside of her design work, MacKenzie is passionate about mentoring future technicians and designers, passing on her knowledge and experience. When she’s not immersed in lighting, she loves spending time with family and traveling.

JASPER DAY is based in Fort Collins, Colorado. He holds a B.S. in molecular biology from the University of Denver and studied costume design at Colorado State University from 2022 to 2023. He has designed for opera, dance, film, and theatre and worked with theatres across Colorado including Open Stage Theatre and Company, Fort Collins Children’s Theatre: Places Everyone!, Northglenn Youth Theatre, and the Vintage Theatre. 

TYLER ZUSCHNEID grew up in Fort Collins and has been involved with theatre from a young age, acting, singing, dancing, assisting with hair/make-up/costumes for many productions over the years with Debut, Fort Collins Children’s Theatre, Fossil Ridge High School, University of Northern Colorado, and OpenStage. They designed make-up for Cabaret and Hedwig And The Angry Inch in OpenStage’s 50th Season.  By wearing makeup every day, including while they work at Costco, Tyler is hoping to bring positive social representation to the Northern Colorado community. Tyler would like to thank their Mom and Rebecca Spafford for being a close mentor and fabulous friend. 

SHANNON LIGHT is a Colorado native and has been working with OpenStage since 2013. She entered the world of theater as an actress, and was later offered additional exciting opportunities to design and style hair, wigs and makeup. As she loves to be both on- and off-stage, you can find her teaching fitness at Pure Barre, or at Tuana Beauty Academy training to become a hair professional. Her most recent credit with OpenStage was in 2023 as the hair/wig designer for Big Fish. Shannon wishes to express her gratitude to Denise Freestone for sharing her knowledge and experience in designing hair/wigs, and even more for encouraging her to take risks, be true to herself, and dream big!

JAMES BURNS graduated from Colorado State University with a degree in Theatre Arts in 1997. He worked at the Arvada Center during the 2000, 2001 and 2002 seasons as a scenic painter and technician before moving to New York City. He stage managed On Love and Lies and Square One at the 2004 Edinburgh Fringe Festival, and Box of Fools for the 2005 American Living Room Festival in NYC. Since moving back to Fort Collins in 2010, James has worked extensively with both OpenStage Theatre and Bas Bleu as an actor, fight choreographer and scenic artist. He appeared onstage most recently as Benedick in Much Ado About Nothing, Phillip Lombard in And Then There Were None, Steve Heidebrecht in August: Osage County, Petruchio in The Taming of the Shrew,The Husband in Stage Kiss, Austin in True West and Sharky in The Seafarer, all with OpenStage Theatre. In addition, James recently co-directed OpenStage’s Sherwood and directed etcetera’s productions of Fool for Love and Christmas Chaos. He sends thanks to his wife, Jessica and love to his daughters, Scarlett and Sterling.

ANNA EPSTEIN has worked in live events for 26 years but fell in love with theater at the age of 6. She has worked concerts, weddings, inaugurations, awards, television and her favorite, live theater. Most recently she made her directorial debut with the FCCT+ Places Everyone! production of The Prom! Anna is thrilled to be joining the OpenStage team for this production!

DAVID MILLER is a retired engineer who enjoys building things with his hands. Although he completed Introduction to Acting 101 at CSU as an elective some 50 years ago, the bug to be on-stage never took hold. He appreciates the process of constructing the background illusions that support the actors as they ply their craft. David has helped build over ten different sets for OpenStage.

THOM D’ALBERGARIA began his involvement with theatre lugging props to City Park for OpenStage’s production of Three Cuckolds in 1974. After acting in a couple of shows, he soon realized his talents were better suited to creating the environments within which actors ply their craft. Thom built or designed scenery for numerous OpenStage productions through the mid-1980’s and was also the Shop Supervisor for CSU Theatre for five years. He left University Theatre to complete a Bachelor of Science and pursue a career in science education. Thom worked with OpenStage until 1985, when he left the OpenStage family for his first teaching job. He returned to OpenStage in 2013 to reconstruct Peter Anthony’s 1981 cartoon designs for Bullshot Crummond and has since worked with the Company as a carpenter for several productions; the Master Carpenter for The North Plan; and the Set Designer/Master Carpenter for Don’t Dress for Dinner. Thom recently retired and moved back to Fort Collins, where he lives with his understanding wife, Nancy, and his daughter, Ann.

PHILIP SAN FILIPPO is a retired NJ attorney who moved to Fort Collins in 2016 to be near a son and daughter and spouses. He rebuilt a tired ranch house with his wife; good enough to attract skilled craftsmen to recruit him to assist on set builds for OpenStage.

PETE LAGONI, states that Bryn Frisina, an OpenStage actor, is his daughter. Before he was a software engineer for Hewlett-Packard and worked on many construction crews. Learning all aspects of building and remodeling paid the bills through college, as well as during his early years in Colorado when skiing as much as possible took precedence over building a career. Now, in retirement, he uses the practical skills he acquired when he was younger to help create the amazing sets that OpenStage always produces. This is his first experience with set building, and he hopes to be part of the crew for many more plays to come.

AMANDA JO REISENWEBER, states The Cottage is Amanda Jo’s second production with OpenStage! With over 30 years of experience in theatre and entertainment, her time in Fort Collins has included work with The Story Bakers, Playcrafter Kids and Fort Collins Children’s Theatre with various roles as director, choreographer, performer, teacher, costume construction & scenic artist as well as independent collaborations with the The Aggie, R Bar and Lounge & Foothills Unitarian Church as co-director, stage manager, lighting designer & board op, performer and media management. AJ has enjoyed watching her two kiddos enter into the world of theatre the last few years and is excited to support them with her newest position as an FCCT Board Member. Amanda Jo has always believed in the healing power of performance and collaboration. Theatre saves lives! Thank you for supporting OpenStage and the Arts!

DAVID GRINNELL has been continuously involved with OpenStage for the last 10 years. David originally worked in the Saint Paul/Minneapolis area, with companies such as The Great American History Theater, Cricket Theater, Theatre de la Jeune Lune, and The Guthrie Theater. For OpenStage, he has served as the Master Electrician for Moonlight and Magnolias, Unnecessary Farce, North Plan, Monty Python’s Spamalot, Avenue Q, and Men On Boats. David was the Lighting Designer for this season’s CABARET and Don’t Dress for Dinner in 2017. Since the 2015 relaunch of OpenStage etcetera, he has served as Lighting Designer and Master Electrician for their productions of The Submission, A Bright New Boise, Ultimate Beauty Bible, H2O, Ideation, The Mystery of Love and Sex, Fool For Love, Every Brilliant Thing, Tiny Beautiful Things, Cry It Out, and A Doll’s House Part 2.

MORGAN TAYLOR Since the 29th Season, Morgan has fulfilled many roles with OpenStage, including performer, writer for their radio projects, stage manager, stagehand, and technician. His favorite recent work with the company was a dual role that allowed him to channel his inner pirates as both the evil Blind Pew and the happy-go-lucky Lucky Mickey in the outdoor production of Treasure Island in 2023. A native of Minden, Nebraska, he first performed in school productions in Phillipsburg, Kansas and with companies as far away as Worms, Germany and as small as The Eddyville Community Players in Eddyville, Nebraska, a town with fewer than a hundred residents in the Nebraska Sandhills. After so many years, Morgan still enjoys being asked to work with OpenStage and hopes they never stop calling.

AMANDA FYOCK has worked with OpenStage previously in Clue: On Stage, Big Fish: small cast edition, Reefer Madness, and The 39 Steps. She is a structural drafter by day, but when she’s not sitting at a computer she is an aerialist, training and performing aerial sling, lyra, and other circus apparatuses. She is involved in several board game communities and playtests brand new board games.

CHRISTINA MARIE OLSON is a versatile actor and artist with a Bachelor of Arts in Theatre from Nebraska Wesleyan University, where she specialized in acting, makeup, hair, and costuming. She returned to the stage after a 12-year hiatus this past summer with OpenStage as Lizzy in Pride & Prejudice. Her other stage credits include Phaedra, Legally Blonde, Lend Me A Tenor, and 100 (Nebraska Wesleyan). Outside of theatre, Christina enjoys streaming on Twitch and creating digital art, passions that allow her to connect with others and explore her creativity in new ways. She is excited to be working with OpenStage again as a Full Company Member!

JACOB OFFEN has played many roles at OpenStage Theatre & Company – actor, staff member, board member, and now director and Producing Artistic Director. Misery marks his directorial debut at OpenStage. Jacob taught Acting at the University of Houston during his tenure as an MFA candidate, and recently at the University of Northern Colorado. He designed a comprehensive curriculum rooted in Stanislavsky, Hagen, Meisner, Roy Heart and Cecily Berry, and coached actors in scene work/audition preparation. Further, Jacob has created acting, voice, and Shakespearean text workshops at the Texas Shakespeare Festival, Houston Shakespeare Festival, and for acting students of all ages. While he served as the Company Development Administrator (2011 – 2015), he produced and directed entertainment for OST&C’s spring fundraisers (Casino Royal: The Sting, Viva Las Vegas, Oceans 11, le Cirque Rouge!). He is thrilled to put his years of experience as a performer and teaching artist to work for Misery and for many future productions to come!

SANDY RUSTIN is an actress and award-winning playwright named by American Theatre Magazine as one of the “Most-Produced Playwrights of the ’22-’23 season.” Her stage adaptation of the film CLUE is one of the most-produced plays in the U.S., with over 3,000 productions worldwide. Her original comedy, The Cottage, premiered on Broadway in July 2023 at The Hayes Theatre (Jason Alexander, director). Other works include: the concert adaptations of Dear World & I Married An Angel for New York City Center Encores!, Mattel’s American Girl Live, The Suffragette’s Murder (upcoming premiere), Rated P for Parenthood (Off Broadway/ABC-TV), Houston (New American Musical Award), Always Something There for Primary Wave Music, and many others. Sandy serves on the Board of Camp Kesem, helping children through a parent’s cancer diagnosis. She lives in Maplewood, NJ with her husband and two sons. www.sandyrustin.com INSTA: @sandyrustin_