Liana Irvine (Dramaturg, she/they) is playful, nurturing, and faithful in emboldening the left-behind as a dramaturg, content producer, and literary manager. With an intimacy-driven lens, Liana explores how dramatic ecosystems affect their theatrical worlds, and in turn, how theatre affects “real” worlds. Graduating from Bucknell University with two B.A.s in Theatre and Literary Studies (Race in Literature concentration), Liana has insight into devising/new work, social justice movements, and American Theatre. Recent work includes Facilitator for The Workshop Theatre, Associate Producer for Magic Theatre, and Dramaturging the Phoenix Team member for Literary Managers and Dramaturgs of the Americas. Passionate about socio economic justice, big-swing-aesthetics, and artists as second responders, Liana is a freelance artist and the Outreach Coordinator for Philadelphia Asian Performing Artists.
Noelle Diane Johnson (EDI Consultant, she/her) is a multi-disciplinary Artist, Stage Manager, and Artist Advocate based in Philadelphia, PA. Noelle is a grateful InterAct Apprentice alumna for the 2015-2016 season and is thrilled to be returning to InterAct Theatre Company as Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Officer for The Chinese Lady directed by Justin Jain. She has worked for multiple venues in different capacities including the Wilma Theater, Theatre Horizon, The Lantern Theater Company, Simpatico Theatre Company, Theatre in the X, Shakespeare in Clark Park, The Bearded Ladies Cabaret, FringeArts, Long Wharf Theatre, Philadelphia Theatre Company, and Playbill among many others. Noelle is also the Founder & Owner of ARTISTS HEAL™, a company designed to create healing and care spaces for collaborative art-making while centering and providing resources for marginalized folx and vulnerable communities. Noelle believes in servant leadership and offers programming to promote self-liberated, inclusive, and equitable spaces designed for healing and expansion through artistic practice. Learn more at artistsheal.org. IG: @warmweathernoelle/@artistsheal
Chris Haig (Scenic Designer, he/him) A graduate of University of the Arts, Chris has professionally set and prop designed throughout Philly for 20 years and is enjoying his 10th season as Props Supervisor at Arden Theatre Company. He has designed sets and/or props for Arden Theatre Company, Theatre Horizon, 1812 Productions, Inis Nua, 11th Hour, Shakespeare in Clark Park, Tribe of Fools, Delaware Theatre Company, Commonwealth Classic Theatre Company, Delaware Shakespeare Festival, UArts, Quintessence Theatre Group and Simpatico Theater, including their production of Time Is On Our Side for which he received a Barrymore nomination for Best Scenic Design. He’s glad to finally be adding InterAct Theatre Company to his resume. To see more of his work, visit chrishaigdesigns.com
Ariel Liudi Wang (Costume Designer, she/her) is a freelance Costume Designer and Makeup Designer. She came to the US from Beijing, China for graduate school and achieved her MS in Communication Management and MFA in Costume Design at Temple University. Her recent credits include Costume Designs for Babel, Among the Dead, and virtual production of D-Pad at Theatre Exile; Sunset Baby, Ready Steady Yeti Go at Azuka Theatre; Natural Shocks, Cry It Out at Simpatico Theatre; The Weir, Medea at Hedgerow Theatre; A Hundred Words for Snow at Inis Nua Theatre Company; Original devised play In America: That is to Say Nowhere at Rowan University; and Our Town, The Odyssey at Temple University. Website: www.arielwangld.com
Maria Shaplin (Lighting Designer, she/her): Maria is a Philadelphia-based lighting designer who received her MFA from Temple University. She has a BA in Anthropology and Sociology from Hampshire College. Maria designs for many Philadelphia-based companies including: Applied Mechanics, The Riot Group, Swim Pony Performing Arts, InterAct, The Arden, The Wilma, New Paradise Laboratories, The Berserker Residents, and 1812. Maria is the co-founder of Applied Mechanics, a company who devises immersive, multi-narrative performance art. Maria is the recipient of a 2019 Pew Fellowship in the Arts. www.mariashaplin.com
Jo Vito Ramírez (Props Supervisor, they/them) is a Bronx-born, Philadelphia Prop-Designer and Actor. Jo is a graduate of Bryn Mawr College and the Headlong Performance Institute. They are a member of the Shoe Box Theatre Collective and have worked with The Arden, New Paradise Laboratories, Headlong, Del Shakes, Theatre Horizon, Shakespeare in Clark Park and many other beloved Philadelphia theaters. For more, please visit jovitoramirez.com
Originally from northeast Ohio, Kevin Hoover (Technical Director, he/him) has been in Philadelphia since 2013. In 2018, He graduated from Drexel University's Entertainment & Arts Management program. Since 2015, Kevin has been a part of numerous professional productions both in Philadelphia, and across the country. Since the end of 2019 he has served as the Lead Technical Director for Philadelphia Scenic Works. Outside of theater, Kevin spends a lot of time with the Philadelphia Browns backers and making custom furniture.
Sydney Norris (Master Electrician, she/her) is a freelance Lighting Designer and Electrician. A transplant from Florida, she is thrilled to be a part of The Chinese Lady. She is a graduate of Florida State University with a Bachelor of Arts in Theatre and Women’s Studies. Her previous works in the Philadelphia area include Pericles, Prince of Tyre (Shakespeare in Clark Park), our ouija board (On The Rocks), Red Lodge, Montana (The Antidote), and 12 Chairs (Juniper Productions). She would like to thank her family, both born and found, for all their love and support. You can find her work on Instagram @smnlightingdesign or at sydneynorris.com
John Kolbinski (Audio Engineer, he/him) Digital work: Beyond the Story: Wonderful Podcast; Sisters!, No Child…, Robi Hager: So Far, 74 Seconds to Judgement (Arden); Everybody, Water by the Spoonful, Uncle Vanya, Men on Boats (Fordham); It’s not a trip, It’s a journey (Chautauqua Theater Co); Live Theater: Popcorn Falls, Civil War Voices, The Winter Wonderettes, Baskerville, Souvenir, The Gift, Last of the Red Hot Lovers, A Child’s Christmas in Wales, Always…Patsy Cline (Walnut Street Theatre); The Two Gentlemen of Verona (Shakespeare in Clark Park); Basic Witches (Robert Hager); Every Brilliant Thing (Arden/Milwaukee Rep). He is also the Audio Engineer at Arden Theatre Company, InterAct Theatre Company, Vail Dance Festival; Sound Supervisor, Chautauqua Theater Company. Sound Systems Designer, InterAct’s Drake Theatre. beyondthestory.org
Philadelphia Scenic Works (PSW, Scenic Fabrication) is a fully outfitted theatrical scene shop, paint space and props shop that provides high-quality, affordable scenic and props fabrication, storage, and build space. PSW serves the Philadelphia region’s robust community of non-profit theatre companies and other cultural and educational organizations by maintaining the highest artistic standards, while embracing a more sustainable future through shared pools of recycled, reused, and repurposed stock and resources.
Dalton Whiting (Assistant Scenic Designer, he/him): Philadelphia based Lighting and Set Designer, who also dabbles with the technical sides of things. A few past credits include: A Symphony for Saint-Georges (Lighting Design) with Curio Theater Company(2021) and Unorthodox Methods of Cosmic Flight (Tarp Effect) with Anastassia Vertjanova (2021). Dalton is always up for crazy shows and crazy challenges!
Liv Shoup (Production Assistant, she/her) is incredibly excited to be a part of her first show at InterAct! Having graduated from Drexel University in March 2020 (with the worst possible timing), she couldn’t feel more lucky to be back to the stage. Liv’s most recent work includes directing her short play, Foaming at the Mouth with We’re Trying Up Here Entertainment, and having her short play The Box Play produced at high schools and universities across the country from New Jersey to Denver! Many thanks to mom, dad, and the other usual suspects. Love you guys!