PNWF - Program A Cast

Shelly Cary (Director) is excited to be returning with the Bobcat Players! Favorite directing credits include Blithe Spirit (Bobcat Players), Hilda’s Yard (Red Barn Players), and The Setup (2019 PNWF Program A). Performance credits include Calendar Girls (Ruth: Bobcat Players) and numerous cabarets/concerts (Red Barn Players). Shelly holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Management from Penn State University, and is a Sr. Business Analytics Consultant for PNC Bank.

Patti Ross (Producer) is the artistic director of the Bobcat Players Community Theatre, located in Beaver, PA. A retired high school English and theatre teacher, she also is active as a director, actor, and chairperson of the company's outreach committee. She has produced for their New Works entries since the Bobcat Players have been a part of the festival.

Marsha Mayhak (Sarah Jane) is pleased to at last be appearing ON stage as part of the New Works Festival, having participated in previous seasons as stage manager, director, and/or play reader. Prior to beginning studies for her Master's in Conflict Analysis and Resolution, you may have seen Marsha on stage with any of these companies: PICT, Cup-A-Joe, Pittsburgh Playwrights, Little Lake, Throughline, Gemini Children's Theater, Steel City Shakespeare Center, Summer Company, Red Masquers, Mystery's Most Wanted, Musical Mysteries and More, or her very own Cross-Stitch Theater Company. On screen, Marsha has can be seen in Zar Productions' "Il Tradimento Della Famiglia" and in James Schneider's independent feature JACK AND THE TREEHOUSE.

Hailed as the best actor named Brandon Linkes, Brandon (Anthony) is pleased to be making his debut with the Bobcat Players. His favorite theatrical credit is Ma Rainey's Black Bottom, which he performed in whilst studying at the University of Miami. He also co-wrote and starred in the cult classic short film Oh Shit, They Shot Me.

J. Daniel Craig (Richie) is excited to making a second appearance with the Bobcat Players and first appearance at Pittsburgh New Works. Recent favorite roles include Anthony Wilding in Enchanted April with the Bobcat Players, Norman Hates in Scary Musical: The Musical with the Iron Horse Theatre Company, and Bob Zelnick in Frost/Nixon with Slippery Rock University. Jacob holds a Bachelor of Arts in Theatre: Acting, and a Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy from Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania where he was a Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival Irene Ryan Award nominee and was active in other productions as an actor, director, and crew member. Jacob currently works as a Supervisor in PNC’s Customer Care Center.

Caitlin Young (Beth) is thrilled to be making her return to Pittsburgh theater with this amazing team, and especially to be performing at her Alma Mater, Duquesne. While living in Florida, she had the honor of performing in the Candlelight Processional at Walt Disney World with icons like Neil Patrick Harris and Whoopi Goldberg. Favorite roles include: THREEPENNY OPERA (Polly) and PICNIC (Millie) with the RED MASQUERS, SEUSSICAL (JoJo) and THE ADDAMS FAMILY (Bride Ancestor) with SPOTLIGHT MUSICAL THEATER COMPANY, and BUS STOP (Elma) with THE SUMMER COMPANY. You may also recognize her from a long-running Duquesne commercial. Caitlin currently works at RESPONSIVAL, a local digital marketing agency, as a CLIENT SUCCESS MANAGER helping small businesses across the country with their websites.

Lora Oxenreiter (Director) is a graduate of California University of PA and a former teacher of Public Speaking and Theater Arts. She has been involved in theater for over 50 years. Once she entered the theater at college, she was hooked. All these years later, she is directing whenever and wherever she can. She has directed shows for a wonderful assortment of theater companies. Memorable among them are Little Lake Theatre, South Park Theater, McKeesport Little Theater, Riverfront Theater Company, Prime Stage Theater, University of Pittsburgh, CCAC, and Pittsburgh New Works Festival. Though she has worked in every aspect of theater, she is most comfortable in the director’s seat. Lora sits on the Board of the Pittsburgh New Works Festival.

Travis Barkefelt (Stage Manager) is extremely excited to have been given the opportunity to Stage Manage for Nik of T.I.M.E., his second show of this year’s Pittsburgh New Work’s Festival; previously making his stage management debut for the Lab Works show The High Ground. Travis is a senior Theater Arts and English major at Duquesne University with over three years of theater experience under his belt across most levels of production both on and off stage. Overall, he wants to welcome everyone back to live theater and wishes everyone a “Good Show!”

Emilie Catherine (Nik) is delighted to return to the stage after a year long hiatus. She's worked with a variety of theatre companies in the city and currently lives in a haunted apartment with her to cats.

Andrew Lasswell (Carl Nelson) is making his 4th appearance in the PNWF. He moved to Pittsburgh to attend CAPA and stayed to delight audiences as sideshow stunt marvel Andrew the Impaled. In addition to theater and circus sideshow, Andrew has been producing music as the composer and band leader of The Liberty Tubes.

Mark Yochum (Alan Bronson) has participated in the Festival for 25 years and is pleased to work for the first time with CCAC. After a long career in local theater, he is looking forward to his first opportunity to play an actual tough guy!

Eamonn McElfresh (Brian) is delighted to be making his debut with CCAC South Campus Theater. Favorite credits include FUN HOME with FRONT PORCH THEATRICALS, A CHRISTMAS CAROL with PICT, and CHATTERTON with QUANTUM THEATER. He also recently portrayed Jack in the feature film JACK AND THE TREEHOUSE and was awarded BEST CHILD ACTOR through NYIFA. He is a Theater major student at PITTSBURGH CAPA and also trains with PITTSBURGH CLO, DAINA GRIFFITH, and ALEXANDER MCDANIEL.

Alice McCallister (Director) is pleased to be working again with Thoreau NM for the 8th year. A graduate of Theater Arts from the University of Pittsburgh, Alice has worked on a variety of shows including Little Shop of Horrors, Twelve Angry Men and Flow My Tears, The Policeman Said. Previously a stage and production manager with 12 Peers Theater include The Pittsburgh Monologue Project and Tick, Tick…BOOM, and Underneath the Lintel . Alice would like to thank her super awesome husband, her littles- Eliana and Trenton, and of course her mom for all their support!

lance skapura (Artistic Director) of Thoreau, NM -- A Production Company since its inception and has doggedly guided the company through years of wars, pandemics, and ennui.

Wendy L. Rea (Producer/Managing Director) has co-produced some 40 TNM shows, mostly original works, in many venues. She does free-lance copy-editing as well as stage lighting, having designed shows locally and nationally from dance, to mime, to theatre, and opera.

Katheryn Hess (Stage Manager) is thrilled to be a part of the PNWF once again. Previously directed the 2019 LabWorks performance of ""A safe love"" by Lindsay Brown. Graduated from Duquesne University in 2019 with a Theatre Arts/ Psychology degree. Assisted Directed/choreographed the Red Masquers Productions of ""A Little Night Music"" and ""Dames at Sea"". Recent credits include (Bassett/ Dance ensemble) in ""Jekyll and Hyde"" at the Greensburg Civic Theater, and as (Hazel) in the short film ""Growth"" directed by Daniel Loh. Also works as a production assistant for the Pittsburgh CLO since 2019, 2019-2020 season Prop Designer for PICT, and teaches dance at Janet Hays Dance Company. Love to Mom, Dad and special thanks to John Lane

Chelsea Forbes Conway (Sarah) is thrilled to again be involved with the Pittsburgh New Works Festival since being away from it for a few years! This is her latest show with Thoreau NM, most notably involved in their production of “Favorite Colors” at the 2019 Pittsburgh Fringe Festival. Other favorite regional credits: “Maggie” in “Cat On a Hot Tin Roof” (GPAC); “Audrey” in “Leading Ladies” (AAFC); and directing or stage managing various shows for AAFC. By day, Chelsea is an attorney at a law firm in Greensburg, focusing in Employment Law. Chelsea is also the Artistic Director for the Southmoreland HS Musical Program alongside her husband, Shawn, as their Director. Love to her family, friends, and especially Shawn for always being supportive.

Maher S. Hoque (Jamie) is overjoyed to be making his PNWF debut with TNM for Closing the Book, or, Sarah Isn’t Crazy. During these dark & foreboding times, Maher participated in several online productions, playing Shumon for the screenplay The Straight Path and Sergius in Arms and the Man for Little Lake Theatre. In the Before Times, he appeared on-stage as Prince Escalus in Romeo & Juliet for Pittsburgh Classic Players, Pushpak/Ensemble in Arcade Comedy Theater’s Bubble Boy: The Musical, and Sergeant Badass Von Doomstick (aka American Policeman) in Throughline Theatre Company’s production of André. Maher would like to thank TNM for this wonderful opportunity and wishes everyone and their pets continued health and safety.