The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane: Cast and Creative Team

Georgia Beckmann (Dramaturg/Associate Director) is a theatre artist whose work as dramaturg, director, writer and producer is rooted in sensory world building, spatial semiotics and sociopolitical engagement. She is currently pursuing a Ph.D. in Theatre with a specialization in performance as public practice at The University of Texas at Austin, where her research focuses on theatrical explorations of queer history.

Aanya Bhasin (Second Assistant Stage Manager) is a first-year B.A. in Theatre and Dance major.

W. Scott Bussey (Senior Technical Director) graduated from The University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee with a B.F.A. in Technical Theatre Production and promptly moved to the east coast to start his career in technical theatre. He started out as a master carpenter (or fly man) with such companies as the Portland Stage Company, Ogunquit Playhouse, Virginia Opera and Spoleto Festival. He then worked his way up to being technical director for such companies as the Ogunquit Playhouse, North Carolina Shakespeare Festival, North Carolina Theatre, Dallas Theater Company and The Arizona Theater Company. He was most recently the head of the carpentry department for Cirque du Soleil's production of Alegria in the Beau Rivage Hotel and Casino in Biloxi, Mississippi. He has been the technical director for Texas Performing Arts at The University of Texas at Austin since September of 2000.

Cinthia Chen (Assistant Media Designer) is a first-year M.F.A. in Theatre student with a specialization in live design and production (integrated media for live performance). She is a member of the Obie award-winning company, Theater Mitu, and was a 2025-26 Lincoln Center Collider Fellow. Video projection design credits include Salesman 之死 (Connelly Theater), Language City (Little Island), OKUNI (Theater Row), The Healing Shipment (La Mama) and American (tele)visions (New York Theater Workshop, asst. designer).

Joseph Crawford (Assistant Lighting Designer) is a first-year M.F.A. in Theatre student with a specialization in live design and production (lighting design). Before entering grad school, Crawford was a freelance Lighting Designer based in Atlanta, GA whose work focused in and on the American South.

Gala Demarin (Scenic Designer) is a second-year M.F.A in Theatre student with a specialization in live design and production (scene design) at The University of Texas at Austin. Recent credits with Texas Theatre and Dance include DRT: Equinox, UTNT: Diet of Worms, and UTNT: Ordinary Time. www.galademarin.com.

Amanda Earp (Stage Manager) is a fourth-year B.A. in Theatre and Dance major with an emphasis in design and technology (stage management) at The University of Texas at Austin. Texas Theatre and Dance credits include Cabaret (Assistant Stage Manager) and The Cohen New Works Festival 2025 (Assistant Production Manager). Other recent credits include Rent (Assistant Stage Manager), The Lightning Thief (Lead Stage Management Intern) at Casa Mañana Theatre and Frozen (Stage Manager) at Dallas Young Artists.

Rob Hahn (Voice and Dialect Coach) is a dialect coach, voice and speech specialist and Visiting Guest Lecturer in Acting/Voice at The University of Texas at Austin. He spent 19 years on the faculty of the American Academy of Dramatic Arts in Los Angeles, directing 30-plus productions and coaching dialect and voice on 250-plus more. On screen, he recently coached the cast of Peacock's The Good Daughter and is coaching the upcoming season of Apple TV's For All Mankind.

Marco Hurtado (Co-Sound Designer) is a B.S. in Art and Entertainment Technologies major with a concentration in sound design. He has provided sound and music for The University of Texas at Austin College of Fine Arts events such as the Audio Pixel Collider, Evolution and The Art and Entertainment Technologies Showcase.

PJ Jetton (Assistant Scenic Designer) is a third-year B.A. in Theatre and Dance major with an emphasis in design and technology at The University of Texas at Austin. Recent credits with Texas Theatre and Dance and the Butler School of Opera include EQUINOX, Figaro and Downwind, in addition to work with the ACME lighting crew year-round.

Allison Normin Johnson (Costume Designer) is a third-year M.F.A. in Theatre student with a specialization in live design and production (costume design). Born and raised in Portland, Johnson graduated from Willamette University’s theatre design program in 2018 and has since worked with numerous Oregon-based companies such as CoHo, Corrib and Artists Repertory Theatre. She is currently working on her thesis, focusing on materiality and migration. Find more of her work at www.allisonjcreates.com.

Julia Kreutzer (Director) is a M.F.A. in Theatre student with a specialization in performance as public practice at The University of Texas at Austin. She works as a theatre-maker across multiple disciplines, with work spanning from musical theatre to immersive, experimental experiences. She is a co-founder of Incline Theater Collaborative. As an artist and educator, she’s worked with Pittsburgh Musical Theater, the Pittsburgh Cultural Trust and the Kelly Strayhorn Theater, among others. www.juliakreutzer.com.

Nandita Mahesh (Composer/Music Director) is a NYC-based multidisciplinary artist and musician. While she spends her days working as a Language Strategist, her free time is devoted to music production and on-stage performance. Recent composition credits include The Drag Seed (La MaMa), Why We Have a Body (University of Pittsburgh), Rapunzel (Pittsburgh Cultural Trust) and Young Playwright’s Festival (City Theatre). You can stream her albums From My Desk, Feeling Lucky, The Little Things and At Long Last on all streaming platforms, and check out @onenanband on Instagram for more!

Jacqueline Mai (Assistant Stage Manager) is in her final year as a B.A. in Theatre and Dance (design and technology: stage management) student. She has experience in many areas of technical work and stage management. Her recent Theatre and Dance titles include Twelfth Night and Ordinary Time.

Micah Medellin (Assistant Costume Designer) is a B.A. in Theatre and Dance major with an emphasis in design and technology at The University of Texas at Austin. Their recent credits include being a dresser for Twelfth Night and assistant designing for the Dance Repertory Theatre Spring Show, EQUINOX.

Joe Morales (Media Designer) is a M.F.A. in Theatre student with a specialization in live design and production (integrated media for live performance) at The University of Texas at Austin.

Nate Motes (Assistant Scenic Designer) is a second-year B.F.A. in Theatre Education major at The University of Texas at Austin. He is serving as an Assistant Scenic Designer for this production, marking his first production with Texas Theatre and Dance.

Angie Olivieri (Second Assistant Stage Manager) is a third-year B.A. in Theatre and Dance major.

Jessica Paine (Assistant Dramaturg/Directing Apprentice) is a third-year B.F.A in Theatre Education major at The University of Texas at Austin. Recent credits with Texas Theatre and Dance include This Girl Laughs, This Girl Cries, This Girl Does Nothing.

Patrick Schoen (Lighting Designer) is a M.F.A. in Theatre student with a specialization in live design and production (lighting design) at The University of Texas at Austin. Recent lighting design credits include Onegin (Georgia College & State University, 2025), Rindaldo (Mercer University, 2025), Angels in America Part One: Millennium Approaches (Theatre Macon, 2025) and DRT: EQUINOX (UT, 2026).

Rylie Wilson (Co-Sound Designer) is pursuing a B.F.A. in Theatre Education at The University of Texas at Austin. Although she has experience in technical work, this is her first designer role in the Department of Theatre and Dance.

Caleb Goodwin (Musician/Edward Tulane) is a third-year B.F.A in Acting major at The University of Texas at Austin.

Channing Grace (Traveler/Lawrence/Marlene) is a second-year B.F.A. in Acting major at The University of Texas at Austin.

Shaya Harris (Traveler/Sarah Ruth/Abilene’s Father/Lolly) is a third-year B.F.A. in Acting major at The University of Texas at Austin. Recent UT Theatre credits include Fraulein Schneider in Cabaret, The Senator from Kentucky in Diet of Worms (UTNT 2026), as well as being featured in multiple Cohen New Works Festival projects (2025). Harris also has a background in film and TV. Thank you to her teachers, family, cast and crew! (she/her)

Jarell Kearney (Traveler/Bull/Martin/Doll) is a third-year B.A. in Theatre and Dance (performer's process) at The University of Texas at Austin. He works as an actor, writer, and dramaturg. Recent credits with Texas Theatre and Dance include Diet of Worms, Ain't No Mo, The Prudes and now The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane. Additionally, he has done much theatre work as a member of The University Theatre Guild.

Meera Laskar (Traveler/Pellegrina/Old Doll/Lucy Dog Puppeteer) is a third-year B.A. in Theatre and Dance (performer's process) at The University of Texas at Austin. Recent credits with Texas Theatre and Dance include A Tale For Home, Twelfth Night; or What You Will, and multiple projects for the 2025 Cohen New Works Festival. (she/her)

Mackenzie Moberly (Traveler/Nellie/Neal/Old Lady) is a second-year B.F.A. in Acting major at The University of Texas at Austin. She has an extensive background in music (both as a vocalist and guitarist) that she is incredibly excited to share with you during today’s show. Moberly’s recent credits with Texas Theatre and Dance include Diet of Worms (spring 2026).

Blake Persyn (Traveler/Jack/Lucius/Society Lady) is a fourth-year B.F.A. in Theatre Education major. His recent credits with Texas Theatre and Dance include serving as Apprentice Director for Cabaret (2025) and acting in Diet of Worms (2026). (He/Him)

Christian Zak (Traveler/Bryce/Amos) is a B.F.A. in Acting major at The University of Texas at Austin. This production marks his first play with Texas Theatre and Dance. His theatre credits include Macbeth in Macbeth and Leontes in The Winter’s Tale. Zak is also developing his work in film through writing, directing and scoring, with a passion for storytelling across theatre and film.

Penny Lou Zimmerman (Traveler/Abeline/Watchman/Shopper) is a fourth-year B.F.A. in Acting major at The University of Texas at Austin. Previous credits with Texas Theatre and Dance include “Clara” in Pretend It’s Pretend (UTNT 2024), “Blue” in a staged reading of Grief Camp (Eliya Smith, 2024) and “Lulu” in Cabaret (2025). She premiered her play Absolute None at the 2025 Cohen New Works Festival. She is honored to be a part of The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane and wants to thank all her wonderful friends, family and cohort for a beautiful four years.

Ava Deviney (Understudy) is a B.A. in Theatre and Dance (directing and playwriting) major at The University of Texas at Austin. This is her first show with UT Theatre and Dance! Recent credits with University Theatre Guild include The Fantastic Mr. Fox (Rat), Sweeney Todd (Johanna) and Carrie (Ms. Gardner).

Siena McKelvey (Understudy) is a second-year B.A. in Theatre and Dance major at The University of Texas at Austin.