Lucy Wright (Director) is a long time theatre lover, her first production being inside her mom’s belly in 2000. Lucy graduated from Flagler College in St. Augustine, FL in 2023 with a BA in Theatre Arts, focusing in Stage Management and Direction. There she stage managed over a dozen productions, her favorites being The Old Man and The Old Moon and Cinderella. She also was the only student in her class to direct a full length production on the mainstage (Every Brilliant Thing) and also directed The Rocky Horror Picture Show as president of the theatre honors society. She began working with the WordPlayers in 2019 as an assistant stage manager for Bright Star and has since stage managed The Fantasticks, Hello, Dolly, Footloose, King Lear, and Fiddler on the Roof with them. She has been nominated for recognition in outstanding work in stage management by the Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival. She cannot imagine a better company to make her Tennessee directorial debut with and is beyond grateful for the opportunity. She would like to thank her family for their constant support, her professors Kip Taisey and Paul Denayer, her dear friends including Leann Dickson, Terry Weber, and David Ratliff for teaching and mentoring her, her truly amazing cast and crew with whom this show would not have been possible, and finally all of you for coming.

Anissa Dunaway (Stage Manager) is ecstatic to be a part of Junie B. Jones in Jingle Bells Batman Smells. This is her second time working with the WordPlayers, and she is glad to be back! She was previously the stage manager for CAK’s productions of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat and assistant stage manager for The Music Man. She would like to thank Lucy and Ethan for giving her this opportunity and Caleb for helping foster her love of all things crew and getting her foot in the door with the WordPlayers.

Mayah Kelley (Stage Manager) is thrilled to be stage managing for the WordPlayers for the first time! She was stage manager at CAK for The Music Man, and she was assistant stage manager for The Little Mermaid and Freaky Friday. Mayah has always loved the theater and is so grateful for this opportunity to be involved in the theater world again. She is very thankful for Lucy for giving her the chance to stage manage with the WordPlayers. She would also like to thank Anissa for continuing their joint stage managing journey together after graduating from CAK and this amazing cast for providing such a fun and loving environment. We hope you enjoy the show!

Ariana Dotson (Costume Designer) is beyond grateful to be working with The WordPlayers again. Since graduating from UTK with a major in Theatrical Tech and Design, she has been working consistently with various local theatre companies in the Knoxville area. This will be her fourth production doing costume design for The WordPlayers and she would like to thank her peers and mentors that have helped/ encouraged her from past productions. Some past notable productions include, SWEAT, A Christmas Carol, Blood at the Root, Trouble in Mind, HAIR, Twelfth Night, King Lear, and A Doll’s House. Ariana would also like to thank her family for their continued support of her work in the arts.

Stephen F. Krempasky (Scenic Designer) is the Executive Director of SHOP FARRAGUT; promoting retailers, restaurants, and service providers in the Town of Farragut. Additionally, he is President of MASSKUS Productions, a special events consulting agency. During his career, Steve has over 350 theatrical and corporate stage credits. He recently designed Bearden High School’s Mary Poppins and Hardin Valley Academy’s premiere of Puffs! He was delighted to work on the WordPlayers summer musical, Fiddler on the Roof. Steve was an official adjudicator at this year’s Ohio Community Theatre Festival this past Labor Day weekend. He is a “Fellow” of the American Association of Community Theatre with over 40 years of service to the organization.

Madeleine Trout (Elf Ellen, Props Master) is thrilled to be a part of the WordPlayers production of Junie B. Jones in Jingle Bells, Batman Smells. Most recently she was in the ensemble of the WordPlayers and Pellissippi’s production of King Lear and #8 in River and Rail and Pellissippi’s production of The Wolves. Other credits include Our Tempest, Three by Nigro, and Musical Comedy Murders of 1940, all produced by Pellissippi State Community College. Madeleine has been studying performance and technical theatre at Pellissippi for the past three years. She has had an absolute blast working with this cast and crew. She would like to thank her awesome director, Lucy Wright, for caring so deeply for the people in this production and the rehearsal process. She would also like to thank her wonderful family and best friend Kate for always believing in her.