Dek Ingraham is a Pittsburgh-based director, actor, administrator, educator, and life-long student of theatre. Some of his most memorable projects include directing the North American premiere of Phil Willmott’s The Master’s Boy and associate directing the London premiere of The Guys by Anne Nelson. From 2006-2012 he served as a founding member and Managing Artistic Director of Phase 3 Productions. He is the creator of Prime Stage Theatre’s Second Stage series where he developed an evening of the speeches of John F. Kennedy to mark the 50th anniversary of his assassination that now resides in the Kennedy Presidential Library. He held the position of Festival Director for the Pittsburgh New Works Festival from 2015 - 2021 where he has also served on the board of directors since 2010. Before joining the SSA community in July of 2021, he proudly served the arts community of the Pittsburgh region for 13 years as a staff member at the Greater Pittsburgh Arts Council. Dek studied Theatre at Marietta College and, after a 15-year hiatus, completed his undergraduate degree at Chatham University in 2020 where he continues to serve on the advisory board for the Chatham Drama Club. He is in his final year as an MFA candidate at the University of Idaho, studying Directing and Theatre Pedagogy.

Austin Davidheiser has worked as the technical director and resident designer for Shady Side Academy’s Hillman Center since 2010. During that time, he has designed lights, set and/or sound for over 20 student productions including two shows produced at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival in Scotland. Austin has also been fortunate enough to mentor multiple students through their own set, light, sound, projection and prop designs for SSA productions in that time. During his time at the academy he has designed lighting for dozens of Hillman Series events and rentals including the Miss Pennsylvania Pageant for seven years. Outside of SSA Austin has worked with a broad range of theater and entertainment organizations including colleges, touring groups, summer arts programs, summer stock theaters, regional theaters, and event and production companies including nine summers spent as the Technical Director for the Pennsylvania Governor’s School for the Arts. He designed lights and ran the load in crew for Kutztown University’s production of Lucky Stiff that was presented at the Kennedy Center American College Theater Festival regional competition and was fortunate enough to work on an international collaboration of Forget Herostratus with director Armen S. Khandikian when he made his American debut. Notable SSA productions include: Into the Woods (2015), Macbeth (2016), The Addams Family (2017), Oedipus (2018), Little Shop of Horrors (2019), Dream (winner of the 2019 Prime Stage Drama Award for Best Crew) and The Mystery of Edwin Drood (2020).

Tonya Lynn is pleased to be working for the first time with Shady Side Academy on this production. Tonya is a Pittsburgh, PA-based fight director, teaching artist, and Certified Teacher with the Society of American Fight Directors. As a fight director, her credits include well over 100 productions at Pittsburgh area theaters, universities, colleges, and schools. Her credits include West Virginia Public Theatre, Colonial Williamsburg’s Hallam Players, City Theatre’s Young Playwrights’ Festival, the University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh Irish and Classical Theatre, Prime Stage Theater, Carnegie Mellon University, Robert Morris University, Seton Hill University, Westminster College, and Allegheny College. She has served as fight director for Pittsburgh Shakespeare in the Parks for over 15 years, and is a resident company member with the New Renaissance Theatre Company. As an educator, she has worked as an adjunct instructor in theatre at Point Park University and CCAC South Campus, and has been a guest artist for the University of Pittsburgh. Tonya has also worked as a teaching artist with Pittsburgh Public Theatre, City Theatre, Gateway to the Arts, and the Pittsburgh Cultural Trust.

Lochlan McGinnis (Form VI) is thrilled to join this production. He has multiple years of experience from being in in crew for productions all the way back to the middle school, and will enjoy designing sounds for the play. His experience centers around sound, from running the sound board to choosing effects, but he also enjoys all aspects of technical theatre, from construction to light hanging.

Riley Doyle (Form VI) is ready to participate in her next Senior School production as Farrah the Faerie! She also is excited for the chance to work on choreography and puppet movement for the show! Riley came to the SSA Middle School in 8th grade; there she participated in the fall play A Midsummer’s Night Prom Dream (Mia, who was based off Hermia), and performed in the musical Peter Pan (Pirate). Freshman year, she was a part of Oedipus Rex (Greek Chorus) and Little Shop of Horrors (Ensemble). Sophomore year she choreographed a dance in the show A Midsummer’s Night Dream where she played the role of Snug/Lion. That same year, she was a featured dancer and assistant choreographer for The Mystery of Edwin Drood (Ensemble). Despite COVID, Riley did two more shows her junior year, Alice in Wonderland (White Rabbit) and Now. Here. This. (Ensemble). She has performed in over fifteen musical productions outside of school, making theater a real passion for her. In addition to the theater, Riley has taken dance classes since she was three, making dance a central aspect of her life. She would like to thank her excellent castmates, Mr. Ingraham, and the amazing crew for all the effort they put into making this show great!

Georgia Horgan (Form VI) is thrilled to be stage manager for this production. She joined the SSA Theater Program her sophomore year after transferring to the Senior School. She has previously served on stage crew and as assistant stage manager.

Zach Kamenov (Form V) likes participating in Shady Side Academy's drama programs, from construction on day 1 to controlling the sound live during performances. Zach believes that it is important to be part of this wonderful community of students and teachers to accomplish something large as a team. For 6 terms in high school and 2 terms in middle school, Zach participated in drama activities as a member of the technical team. Zach hopes you enjoy the show at the Hillman Center for Performing Arts.

runner (Form VI) is excited to be working on a full show after the strange last year. She became interested in theater in the SSA middle school and acted onstage for several shows. However, she quickly found that she preferred work behind the scenes. This is her seventh show at the senior school and she will miss the theater community when she graduates next year. Isabel spends the majority of her time on stage crew building set pieces. She is particularly proud of the yellow 20-sided die she made this year. For this show Isabel looks forward to running lights for the first time. She would like to thank everyone who worked on the show and she hopes you enjoy it!

Ayli Davidson (Form V) is excited to assist in the creation of the fall play. Though she has participated in stage crew for the winter musical in the past, this is her first time in the play. She has had a wonderful time in stage crew and hopes you enjoy the show!

Arnav Jain (Form VI) is thrilled to be crewing up this wonderful piece of theatre. This is his first year as part of the SSA Theater Department, and he is happy to be here.

Tashari Morgan (Form IV) is absolutely ecstatic to have the opportunity to watch this work of art come together behind the scenes. After many years of admiration of theater Tashari made the decision to join her sophomore year.

Ganesh Pennathur (Form VI) is excited for this year's play: She Kills Monsters! This is his first time being on the stage crew for the fall play, however he has been on the stage crew for the past three years helping backstage for the musical. Ganesh's love of the arts stems beyond the play and musical. Ganesh is an avid violin player and is a member of the school’s String Orchestra for the past four years. He also had training in the flute and tap dancing. Outside of his arts activities, Ganesh has a wide variety of interests. He enjoys fundraising for St. Jude’s Hospital and Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank, mentoring younger students, and participating in youth activities at the SV Temple. After graduation, Ganesh plans to take what he's learned from his experiences in stage crew and hopes to have a fruitful career in either mathematics or mechanical engineering. In his free time, Ganesh likes watching cricket with his family, cooking Indian food with his mother, taking pictures, listening to classical and 80s music, and collecting magnets from the different places he visited. Ganesh would like to thank Amma, Appa, Krithika, and both Paatis for their unconditional love and support in his endeavors. Ganesh hopes that you enjoy the show!