Theater Arts Productions

Andie Cohen '28 she/her (Teacher) is majoring in Theater Arts at Brandeis, and she is so excited to play her first acting role in a Theater Department production as the Teacher! She previously worked on Dance Nation (Assistant Stage Manager), and also acted in Noises Off (Dotty/Mrs. Clackett) with Brandeis’ Undergraduate Theater Collective. She would like to thank the cast and crew of Small Mouth Sounds for putting together a terrific show, and Erika gets a special shout out for her immense help with voice work, since without it Andie would likely have ruined her vocal cords forever. Maybe not, but the possibility was ever present.

Ruben Seaman '29 he/him (Rodney)  is from New York City and is thrilled to make his theater production debut. Ruben is double-majoring in Theater Arts and Biology. Ruben is also a member of TBA Improv, a short-form improv comedy group at Brandeis! He is thankful for the support he has received from the cast, crew and production teams. Ruben is grateful to his family and friends for their continued support.

 

Paul Weir MS '26 he/him (Ned) hails from Birmingham, Alabama and is thrilled to be performing in his second (and final) department show! He will be completing his master's this may in Computational Linguistics and Natural Language Processing. He previously performed in the department's production of Eurydice (Intersting Man) and in the legendary comedy extravaganza Two Against Nature (Paul). In his free time, he serves as the musical director of False Advertising, a musical comedy improv troupe on campus. Paul would like to profusely thank the wonderful cast and crew for all their hard work and support.

 

Kieran van Hooser '29 he/they (Jan) is from Sudbury, Massachusetts and is excited to make their Brandeis Theater Department debut with the wonderful cast and crew of Small Mouth Sounds! He has also appeared in the Brandeis Undergraduate Theater Collective’s production of Ride The Cyclone as Ricky Potts and served as Assistant Choreographer for Alice, By Heart. Other previous credits include featured dance ensemble roles in Curtains: The Musical and Mamma Mia with Lincoln-Sudbury Regional High School. He is majoring in Psychology and hopes to minor in Theater Arts. Additionally, he wants to thank his friends, family, cast, and crew for their support throughout the production.

Eden Kates '29 she/her (Joan)  is a first year at Brandeis with a double major in physics and theater, and is excited to make her Brandeis mainstage production debut as Joan. Before this at Brandeis she was in UTC's Ride the Cyclone as Constance Blackwood. Prior to Brandeis her credits include Hello, Dolly! (Dolly Levi), Fiddler on the Roof (Tevye), Mamma Mia (Donna), Hadestown (Fate 3), and Freaky Friday (Ellie), with her high school and Starlight's Youth Theater. Outside of theater, Eden is involved in Proscenium A Capella, and undergraduate leadership within the physics department. She would like to thank this incredible cast and crew, along with her friends' and family's constant support. 

 

Katherine Bulthuis '27 she/her (Alicia) is a third-year Theater Arts major at Brandeis University, where she previously appeared in Eurydice (Eurydice) and Everybody (Everybody). She is currently writing an adaptation of the Homeric Hymn to Demeter, which is set to be staged at Brandeis in 2027. Katherine lost her voice on the day of the table read, and has been making various small mouth sounds ever since. She is delighted to share this story of agony, connection, and transformation. 

 

Rimas Youssef '29 (Judy) is from Boston, Massachusetts and is making her Brandeis University mainstage debut. She discovered her passion for theater during her freshman year of high school after performing a monologue from Romeo and Juliet in a Shakespeare competition. Since then, she has appeared in Macbeth (Lady Macduff), The Comedy of Errors (Luciana), and The Government Inspector (Mayor). In her senior year, Rimas co-wrote, co-directed, and performed in an original play alongside her fellow theater seniors. She is excited to be part of this production and is grateful to her friends and family for their continued support.

Samantha Richert Boehm she/her (Director) is an Associate Teaching Professor for the Department of Theatre at Northeastern University. Originally from Southern California, Samantha attended Brandeis University as part of their Graduate Acting Program from 2008-2011. She is a local Equity actor and regional director, providing intimacy and violence direction, vocal coaching and more. She was last seen as Belinda in Noises Off at Lyric Stage Company in December of 2024, and directed The Revolutionists by Lauren Gunderson as part of Northeastern University’s Fall 2025 Department of Theatre Productions. She has worked professionally in the Boston area with Lyric Stage Company, Huntington Theatre Company, Actors’ Shakespeare Project, Gloucester Stage Company, Central Square Theater, Boston Playwrights’ Theatre, Greater Boston Stage Company, New Repertory Theatre, Wheelock Family Theater, Berkshire Theatre Group, Noble & Greenough School, Newton North & South High School and more. www.samantharichert.com

Jenna McFarland Lord she/her (Scenic Designer). Jenna is happy to return to Brandeis after designing “Circle Mirror Transformation ” and “Escape from Happiness “. Other area credits include shows with Boston Lyric Opera, Speakeasy Stage, Gloucester Stage, Lyric Stage, New Repertory Theatre, Actors’ Shakespeare Project, Greater Boston Stage, Central Square Theater. Off-Broadway: Man in Snow (La Mama); The Secret of Mme. Bonnard’s Bath (New York Playwrights Lab). Jenna also designs for area colleges, and currently teaches Set Design at Boston Arts Academy, Boston’s public high school for the arts. 

Chelsea Kerl she/her (Costume Designer) returns to Brandeis having previously designed The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, The Tempest, The Lathe of Heaven, Love and Information, Circle Mirror Transformation, Leveling Up, and Big Love. Select recent designs include: Witch (Huntington Theatre Company); Primary Trust (SpeakEasy Stage Company); The Moderate (Central Square Theatre); Greater Good (Company One Theatre/American Repertory Theatre); Willy Wonka (Wheelock Family Theatre at BU). Chelsea teaches costume design at Wellesley College, Bridgewater State University, and Brandeis University; she was previously staff in the costume shop of the American Repertory Theatre. She received an MFA in costume design from Boston University and BAs in Theatre and English from the University of Maryland. More of her work can be seen at www.chelseakerl.com.

Anna Drummond they/them (Sound Designer) is a Boston-based sound designer for theatre companies and educational institutions, returning to Brandeis after designing Bad Jews, Everybody, Lemons Lemons Lemons Lemons Lemons, and The Baltimore Waltz. Selected Credits Include: Front Porch Arts Collective - Chicken & Biscuits, Exception to the Rule; The Huntington Theatre - K-I-S-S-I-N-G (Elliot Norton Award); SpeakEasy Stage - Pass Over, BLKS (Elliot Norton Award), Cost of Living, Primary Trust, The Antiquities; Chuang Stage - Nüwa in Fairyland, Learning How to Read By Moonlight; Company One (C1) - Black Super Hero Magic Mama, The Interrobangers, HOOPS; Fresh Ink Theatre - Kayfabe, Our Friend Lyssa!, Truth or Consequences; Central Square Theater - Beyond Words; Trinity Repertory Company/Brown University - soul tapes, The Book of Lucy; Harvard University - Married or Made, Cells; Boston Conservatory at Berklee - Machinal, As You Like It; Northeastern University - Fefu and Her Friends, The Revolutionists, ; Emerson College - Paris. Anna holds a BA with Honors in Sound Design/Audio Post-Production from the Visual & Media Arts Department at Emerson College. Thanks to Dyl, Jer, Eleanor, and of course and always, Ken.

Deb Sullivan (Lighting Designer) is a Boston based lighting designer. She is happy to return to Brandeis having previously designed Love and Information and In the Empty Recent works include: UMass Lowell: One Flea Spare, Actors’ Shakespeare Project: Little Woman, Central Square Theatre: Summer1976, Speakeasy Stage: Lizard Boy, Lyric Stage: Our Town, Gloucester Stage Company: Ms.Holmes & Ms. Watson Apt2B. Regional work include Trinity Rep, Actors’ Theatre of Louisville, Alliance Theatre, The Public Theater, Shakespeare and Company, Dorset Theatre and others. dlsullivanld.com

Emma Whiteside she/her (Prop Designer)  is a multidisciplinary artist based in Providence, Rhode Island and a proud member of IATSE Local 481. She enjoys taking on innovative and creatively challenging projects, and collaborating with dedicated artists to bring concepts to life. Her work for the screen and stage includes prop fabrication, set decoration, and graphic design. Recent film credits include "Real Housewives of Rhode Island" (Set Decorator) with Bravo TV, "Risk of Injury" indie short film (Production Designer, Property Master), and "Laundromat" indie feature film (Property Master, On-Set Dresser). https://emma-whiteside.com/

Triona Suiter '27 she/her (Scenic Assistant) is a Theater Arts major from Seattle, Washington. She is an Undergraduate Department Representative for Brandeis Theater Arts and a student carpenter in the Spingold scene shop. Prevoius scenic design credits at Brandeis include The Aliens with FreePlay, Ride the Cyclone with the Undergraduate Theater Collective, and Julius Caesar with Hold Thy Peace. 

Eliana Lippman '27 (Production Stage Manager) is currently a junior majoring in Theater Arts at Brandeis, and is so excited to be production stage managing her first department show! This is her third department production at Brandeis, having previously assistant stage managed both Eurydice and The Thanksgiving Play. She is so grateful for the entire company of Small Mouth Sounds, and would specifically like to thank her assistant stage managers for everything they've done!

Gracie Mitchell ‘29 she/her (Assistant Stage Manager) is from Kennebunkport, Maine and this is her first show with the Brandeis Theater Department. Before coming to Brandeis, Gracie was very involved in high school theater having directed, stage managed and house managed and hopes to continue being involved in theater here at Brandeis. She is very excited and grateful to be the assistant stage manager on this production of Small Mouth Sounds and is grateful for the amazing cast and crew for welcoming her.

Renee Saint-Amour '29 she/her (Assistant Stage Manager) is a freshman studying Theater Arts and Environmental Studies, and she is so excited to be assistant stage managing for the first time! Previously with the Brandeis Theater Department, she was a part of the Thanksgiving players ensemble for The Thanksgiving Play in the fall, and she worked backstage as an A2 and wardrobe crew member for Sense and Sensibility last month. She is also a student electrician in the lighting department. She has learned so much through this production and would like to give a huge thanks to Sam, Eliana, and Gracie for teaching her so much.