Unprotected Creative

Playwright

Jean Koppen

Jean Koppen recently moved to Portugal after living in Alexandria, VA for over 25 years. Her plays have been seen at the Kennedy Center's Page to Stage Festival, at Keegan Theatre (D.C.), the Capital Fringe Festival (D.C.), SkyPilot Theatre (CA), and The Alumnae Theatre (Toronto). "Capsmittment" was Active Culture’s 2012 playwriting competition winner, and "Got a Light?," a finalist in City Theatre’s 2019 National Award for Short Playwriting, is published in Smith and Kraus’ "The Best Ten-Minute Plays 2022." "Unprotected" was a Trustus Playrights' Festival Finalist and a semi-finalist in Unicorn Theatre's Plays in Progress series. Jean's play "The Best Worst That Can Happen" is licensed through Next Stage Press. www.jeankoppen.com

Director

Catherine Tripp

Catherine Tripp has worked with a number of companies around DC, including Source Theatre Festival and Woolly Mammoth Theatre Company. She frequently works with play development workshops and has helped bring new works to the stage. This is her fourth production with Pipeline Playwrights; she previously directed "How’s That Workin’ Out for Ya? 2.0," "A Very Present Presence" by Ann Timmons and "Heartland" by Patricia Connelly. She is also a proud company member of Rorschach Theatre. Catherine holds a BFA in Theatre from the University of Southern California and a M.Litt in Theology, Imagination and the Arts from the University of St. Andrews (Scotland). Other credits include directing "Brainpeople" by Jose Rivera and "The Gallerist" by Fengar Gael, as well as being a part of the production team for a number of other productions.

Creative Team and Crew

CREATIVE TEAM

James V. Raymond
Scenic Designer, Props Designer and Costume Designer
James V. Raymond is currently on the faculty at Shenandoah University’s Conservatory. He was brought on to set dress and source props for the Broadway production of “A Strange Loop,” currently at the Lyceum Theatre, NY. Set designing “Cabaret” in 2020 for Ovations Theatre of Rockville, MD, was nominated for Broadway Regional Awards - DC for Set Design of the Decade (Non-equity). James has worked closely with the late six-time Emmy award-winning Production Designer of “Sesame Street”, Bob Phillips, as well as two time Tony Award Nominated Broadway Designer Dede Ayite. James has done carpentry and scenic artwork for Round House Theatre, ARTECHOUSE, Woolly Mammoth, Constellation Theatre Company and Signature Theatre, just to name a few. www.jamesvraymond.com

Emily Pan
Designer, Sound and Lights
Emily Pan is a lighting and sound designer based in the Washington D.C. area. She is also studying lighting and sound at the University of Maryland, College Park. Select design credits include: 158Z, Efflorescence, Finally Fairies!, Sacred Spaces...Her work can be seen at empanxin.com

Kayode Kendell
Videographer
Kayode Kendall is a videographer and filmmaker based in the DC/Metro area. Over the past ten years, Mr. Kendall has worked extensively in the field of videography with a variety of clients. As the chief video production manager for Dupont Studios from 2015 to 2018, Mr. Kendall coordinated and produced several interviews with corporate executives and public officials, as well as producing live-stream events and other video content for the National Museum of Women in the Arts. In addition to short films, Mr. Kendall has also previously filmed theatrical performances for Nu Sass Productions, including “Marx In Soho” and “50 Ways To Date Your Aubri.”

Emily “EJ” Jonas
Fight Coordinator
Emily ‘EJ’ Jonas is grateful to work on another Jean Koppen play. EJ is a Fight Choreographer, Intimacy Director, Director, and Performer from Alexandria, VA. Most recently she did the intimacy choreography for “The Best Worst Thing That Could Happen” at Aldersgate Theatre. In 2022, she directed “Bright Star” at Little Theatre of Alexandria (LTA) and Disney’s “Newsies” with The Arlington Players (TAP.) EJ is the drama teacher and Arts Coordinator at Burgundy Farm Country Day School. Congrats to the cast and crew!

Lanae Sterrett
Hair and Makeup Designer

Crystal Adaway
Producer
Crystal Adaway is a playwright, screenwriter, and former teacher. Her first screenplay, “Bangers & Mash,” was a finalist in the Virginia Film Office’s Screenwriting Competition. Her plays include “The Christmas Card,” produced for the DC Capital Fringe Festival, and her dark & twisty, award-winning “The Wish,” presented at the Kennedy Center Page to Stage Festival. Her monologue, “Barbara,” is published in “She Persisted: One Hundred Monologues by Women over Forty.” Crystal is an alumna of the Kennedy Center Playwriting Intensive and a member of Honor Roll! and The Dramatists Guild. A freelance editor and graphic designer for more than 25 years, she operates WorthyNotes Writing & Editing: worthy-notes.com.

CREW

Dana Maksymova
Stage Manager
Dana is thrilled to be making her Pipeline Playwrights debut! Dana moved to the DC area in 2020 BC (Before Corona). She recently stage managed “Native Gardens” and “A Christmas Story” for Silver Spring Stage and “Night of One Acts” for The Arlington Players. Other credits include “Sound Of Music,” “White Christmas,” “Peter Pan,” “Catch Me If You Can,” “Chicago,” and “Tarzan.” Although Dana received her bachelor’s degree in editing and publishing, theater has always been her passion. She thanks her husband for his endless love and support, and the whole cast and crew for their hard work and for being amazing!