Meet the Cast of Our Town

Quetta Carpenter (Co-Director) is the head of Acting at The University of Texas at Austin. She has previously directed Speaking in Tongues, The Sparrow, Wellesley Girl, The Prozorovs, and Interview at UT Austin and has directed her original adaptation of Shakespeare’s Julius Caesar at Phoenix Theatre and at Illinois Shakespeare Festival in its world premiere. She also directed/devised The Charmed Ring at the International Theatre Festival in Karachi, Pakistan and the world premiere of the Urdu translation of David Auburn’s Proof for the NAPA Professional Repertory in Karachi. Carpenter is a professional actor, most recently appearing as "Fool" in King Lear and "Leonata" in Much Ado About Nothing in the 2022 Illinois Shakespeare Festival, and on screen in Paper Girls (Amazon), Big Leap (Fox) and Power, Book IV: Force (STARZ.) She has an M.F.A. in Acting from Penn State. Thanks to Christin Davis, the cast and crew, the Department of Theatre and Dance, Dana McLaughlin, Jeff Grapko, Andy Grapko, Texas Performing Arts and The Butler School of Music for making this show possible.

Christin Sawyer Davis (Co-Director, Mrs. Myrtle Webb) grew up in Dallas, Texas and has lived in Austin for 11 years. She teaches in the acting area and is the co-head of the B.A. in Theatre and Dance. Davis has served as a voice, dialect and movement coach on numerous productions for Texas Theatre and Dance, including Matawan (2018) Sense and Sensibility, (2020) and Flora Circular (2019). Favorite acting credits include "Bessie" in The Drowning Girls and "Viola" in Twelfth Night. She will appear in the upcoming HBO show Love and Death. Davis holds a B.A. in English from Rice University and an M.F.A. in Acting from American Conservatory Theater. This is her first time directing for the Department of Theatre and Dance and she has loved every minute. Thanks to Kevin, Tilden, Annie and Quetta for making it all happen.

Mateo Hernandez (Community Engagement Director; he/they) is a first-year M.F.A. in Theatre candidate with a specialization in drama and theatre for youth and communities. He is a performer, writer, theatre maker and facilitator. He has worked with companies such as Goodman Theatre, Steppenwolf Theatre, UrbanTheatre Co., Filament Theatre (Chicago, Illinois), Teatro Vivo (Austin, Texas) and Cara Mia Theatre (Dallas, Texas). They are also a company member of FYI (For Youth Inquiry), a performance company in Chicago making participatory theatre around issues of reproductive justice. 

Bella Morgart (Stage Manager) is a second-year UTeach Theatre major at The University of Texas at Austin. She has extensive experience in acting, singing and dance. Recent credits include kin • song: ode to disability ancestors (Texas Theatre and Dance, 2021), Murky as Hell (UTNT (UT New Theatre), 2022) and scenes from Almost Famous and End Days with student directors from the Department of Radio-Television-Film. This is her third production with the Department of Theatre and Dance and her first production as stage manager.

Oliver Aaro (Joe/Si Crowell, Sam Craig) is a sophomore B.F.A. in Acting student. He is thrilled to be acting in his second production at The University of Texas at Austin. Originally hailing from Norway, Aaro made his way to Texas to become a proud longhorn. Outside of the theatre and school he enjoys skateboarding, the outdoors and holding it down with his little sister at home. He hopes you enjoy the show!

Hayley Carbajal (Howie Newsome) is a second-year B.F.A. in Acting student. This is her second time appearing in a show at The University of Texas at Austin. Her first appearance was in the director's studio production of Meek (2021) by Penelope Skinner. Carbajal is very excited about this show and hopes everyone enjoys it as much as she does. She would like to thank her family for supporting her and pushing her to always do her best.

Annie Clepper (Stage Manager) is extremely thrilled to be a part of this production. She is currently a second-year B.A. in Theatre and Dance major with an emphasis in performer’s process. Recent credits with Texas Theatre and Dance include kin • song: ode to disability ancestors (2021) and Murky as Hell (UTNT (UT New Theatre), 2022). She also assistant directed Uncommon Objects with Take the Wheel Productions. Clepper is a resident of Brenham, a small Texas town much like Grover’s Corners in its simplicity and connectedness. She hopes you enjoy this production and the opportunity it presents to sit, breathe and watch life as we live it.

Taylor Dees (Simon Stimson) is a second-year B.F.A. in Acting major at The University of Texas at Austin. Our Town is Dees’s first play at UT Austin, and she is looking forward to continuing to get involved in future productions. Dees hopes the audience leaves the show a little more empathetic than they came in– we could all use a little empathy right now. She is grateful to so many; her family, her friends, Quetta, Christin, the whole cast who she wishes she could hug all at once, her acting teachers who have taught her the true meaning of exploration and vulnerability and all those who have played Simon before her.

Lucien Douglas (Professor Willard) is an associate professor in the Department of Theatre and Dance and director of the B.F.A. in Acting UTLA program. Acting credits include Broadway, Off-Broadway, regional theatre, stock, film, television, commercials and voice actor on many video games and narrations, most recently Aquaman, as well as his solo performance piece on Edgar Allan Poe. Directing credits include The Juilliard School, New York University, University of North Carolina School of the Arts, The University of Texas at Austin, Southwestern University, St. Edward’s University, Off-Off Broadway, summer stock and the Clarence Brown Company, Knoxville.  Mr. Douglas holds a B.F.A. from the University of Connecticut and a Ph.D. from Michigan State University. He is a recipient of the UT Regents’ Teaching Excellence Award, College of Fine Arts Excellence in Teaching Award, Department of Theatre and Dance Teaching Award and the Texas Exes Teaching Award.

Isaac Garcia (Dr. Frank Gibbs) is a fourth-year B.F.A. in Acting major at The University of Texas at Austin. He has an extensive background in acting, filmmaking and martial arts. Recent credits with Texas Theatre and Dance include Sense and Sensibility (2020), in addition to several short films within the university and in collaboration with outside networks.

Dominic Gross (Stage Manager, Foley Sound Operator) is a second-year B.F.A. in Acting major from Grand Prairie, Texas. This will be his third production with the Department of Theatre and Dance. Previous Credits include The Tasters (2021) and Love and Information (2022). Outside of classes, he enjoys magic, cooking and doing backflips.

Edward Lopez-Jimenez (Stage Manager) AKA Eddy Fun Time because of his YouTube channel, is a third-year B.F.A. in Acting major at The University of Texas at Austin. This is his first time back on stage since 2020 and he’s quite excited to share the room with you today. Lopez-Jimenez would like to thank his wife, directors, family, friends and God for all the love and blessings.

Hannah Nelson (Stage Manager, Music Director) is a second-year UTeach Theatre major. This is her first production at The University of Texas at Austin. Nelson grew up in Raleigh, North Carolina, but her family calls Texas home. Nelson has served in the coffee industry for seven years, and she’s proud to be on the team at Creature Coffee. She also currently works as a production assistant in the Fabrication Studios at Texas Performing Arts. While Nelson remains uncertain of where her studies will take her, she knows that the moments of love and truth found in theatre will keep her grounded and curious along the way. Nelson would like to thank Quetta and Christin for the gift of this show.  To her cast mates and crew, she sends love and gratitude for their dedication, acceptance and joy. Lastly, Nelson would like to thank her mom, Kathleen, for being the ultimate cheerleader and flying all the way from North Carolina to see her perform.

Mia Hsiung Nguyen (Emily Webb) is a second-year B.F.A. in Acting major at The University of Texas at Austin. She has previously been seen in Meek (director's studio project, 2021) as "Gudrun Sigarsdottir" in the Lab Theatre and various student films from the Moody College of Communications, including Visit the Grave, Drupe and To Die For. Nguyen would like to thank her parents and sister for their support in her acting career. She would also like to thank her fellow acting cohorts for their generosity, energy and creativity which inspire her every performance (they are the best people that anyone could ask for), as well as all her acting professors for their kindness and knowledge. In her free time, Nguyen can be found writing, reading stories of all varieties or binge watching period television/movies. She is ecstatic to play "Emily" and hopes everyone enjoys the performance.

Shalom Onuorah (Mrs. Julia Gibbs) is a second-year B.F.A. in Acting major at The University of Texas at Austin. Our Town is her debut show here and she could not be more excited for audiences to see it.

Eric Ramos (George Gibbs) is a second-year B.F.A. in Acting student here at The University of Texas at Austin. He is originally from Galveston, Texas but moved to Friendswood, Texas at an early age. This is his first show here at UT Austin and he could not be more excited to work with such a talented group of people

Hunter Simon (Mr. Webb, Lighting Coordinator) is a third-year transfer student pursing a B.A. in Theatre and Dance with an emphasis in performer’s process. Originally from Waco, Texas, he has been acting since the seventh grade. Recently, Simon portrayed "Richey Otis" in the UTNT (UT New Theatre) production of Tiny Fingerprints (2022). Our Town will be his second production with the Department of Theatre and Dance. Simon would like to thank Mariah for jump-starting his acting career at UT Austin.

Juliana Smith-Etienne (Stage Manager) is a second-year B.A. in Theatre and Dance major with an emphasis in performer's process also pursuing a double major in Journalism. Recent credits with Texas Theatre and Dance include kin • song: ode to disability ancestors (2021) and Love and Information (2022). She would like to thank her family and friends for their endless support.

Austin Brian Taylor (Constable Warren/Joe Stoddard) is a third-year B.F.A. in Acting major at The University of Texas at Austin. In 2021, Taylor made his UT Austin stage debut in Sonnets for an Old Century and starred in the award-winning short film Eraser. Taylor has also portrayed "Hamlet" in the Classical Vlogues series. He is an avid lover of stories in all mediums and spends his free time playing games of all sorts, watching films and connecting/collaborating with other people and artists. Taylor is very excited to bring Thornton Wilder’s classic to life and to have the opportunity to collaborate with other incredible artists and friends here at UT Austin. He also wants to thank his amazing family and friends for all of their support and love, shoutout to y’all. <3

Madeline Rose Thompson (Mrs. Soams) is a fourth-year B.F.A. in Acting major hailing from Wisconsin. Before coming to The University of Texas at Austin, she studied and performed at The Stella Adler Studio of Acting in New York. Recent credits with the Department of Theatre and Dance include Love and Information (2022), The Prosorovs and "Viola" in the short film Viola.

Courtney P.  Trowers (Lizzie) is originally from Miami, Florida and began her theatre/musical theatre training in Atlanta, Georgia at Tri-Cities High school. Trowers is a third-year in the B.A. Theatre and Dance program with an emphasis in performer’s process. This is her first year here at The University of Texas at Austin. Before attending UT Austin she studied at the Theatre School at DePaul University, where she majored in acting.

Victoria Vargas (Rebecca Gibbs) is a third-year B.A. Theatre and Dance major with an emphasis in performer’s process. Other projects she’s been a part of include kin • song: ode to disability ancestors (2021), bangs (2021), and workshopped scenes from Jesus Hopped the A Train (2022) and American Beauty (2022). When she’s not acting, she can be found writing, playing guitar, singing or feeding her cinephilia. She wants to thank her friends and family for their continuous and unwavering support. She also wants to shoutout the cast as well as the directors for the magic that we’ve created - it has been a pleasure crafting the world of Grover’s Corners with you. This show has become very special to her, and she hopes its message sticks with you. Something her grandma says is “We were happy, and we didn’t know it;" she believes this play encapsulates that.

Jaden West (Wally Webb) is a first-year B.A. in Theatre and Dance student with an emphasis in performer’s process student at The University of Texas at Austin. West is very excited to make his stage debut here at UT Austin in Our Town. While this is West’s first show at UT Austin, he performed in many theatrical productions in high school. The most recent role he played was "Josh" in 9 to 5 at the Humphrey Burson Theater. His favorite role was "Thomas Klopper" in The Book of Everything. West wants to thank his family and friends for their support of his artistic endeavors. He also wants to extend a thank you to the cast and crew of this production for welcoming him and making his transition to UT Austin smoother. Lastly, West wants to thank the directors Quetta Carpenter and Christin Davis for casting him and giving him this amazing opportunity to learn and hone his craft.

Keya Zingade (Mrs. Carter/Costume Coordinator/Wardrobe Supervisor) is a second-year B.A. in Theatre and Dance major with an emphasis in performer’s process. She is originally from Mumbai but has lived in the states for over a decade now. Her recent credits include stage management for Uncommon Objects with UT Theatre’s student org Take The Wheel Productions, as well as some non-profit work over the summer, including The Shakespeare Experiment. She would like to thank the cast and crew of this production for all of their hard work and hopes that you enjoy the show and take it as a sign to appreciate your daily life as you live it.