Our Company
Our company is made up of dancers and actors who are students or recent graduates from Alma College in Alma MI. All the company members are participating in our spring term course in which we will create a play that tells the story of Martha Graham and the revolutionary ideas she brought
Elise Bacon
Elise is from Petosky. She made her ACT debut as the Apothecary in The Imaginary Invalid last year, having transferred to us from North Central College. Elise then appeared in Streetcar Named Desire as Eunice and as Mom in Leaving Iowa. In addition to her theatre activities, Elise sings with the Alma College Choir.
Mackenzie Bennets
Mackenzie Bennetts is completing her first-year at Alma College. She now lives Farmington Hills, MI, but grew up in Detroit. She is planning on majoring in Psychology and minoring in Theatre "maybe a major, we shall see how ambitious I get." At Alma, In Cabaret , she played Kat girl, Helga and worked costumes on Airness and Exit Pursued by Bear . About WWOI, Mackenzie says, "When I heard about this project, I was immediately interested!. I wanted to get more involved in the Theatre Program and to get to know the incredible people who make Alma College Theatre what it is! I think it is so cool that we got to write this show ourselves and watch it grow into what it is now."
Kia Blysniuk
Kia is a junior from Royal Oak, MI. She is a double major in Sociology and Art.
Ella Bright
Ella is a theatre major and English minor from Sturgis, MI. Her previous ACT experiences include Leaving Iowa (Sis), A Streetcar Named Desire (Stella) The Imaginary Invalid (Angelica) She Kills Monsters (Agnes/Tilly Understudy); The Addams Family (Alice); Out of the Fire; Cry it Out (Lina); and Bigfoot Stole My Wife. Ella is the Vice President of Alpha Psi Omega and sings in the Alma Choir and Pretty in Plaid.
Catie Carey
Catie Carey is from Cadillac, Michigan. She is currently undecided on her major, but she is interested in Communication, Spanish, and Dance. Her first ACT experience was in Cabaret at a KitKat girl, though she has performed in numerous productions in her hometown. She is looking forward to this experience at the Fringe Festival!
Cody Deisler
Cody is from Traverse City, Michigan. He has performed in several productions at Alma College, including The Addams Family, She Kills Monsters, A Streetcar Named Desire, Cabaret, and Airness. He joined this project because he understands that art can drive social change, and he hopes to pay homage to one of the greatest artists and changemakers of the 20th century.
Hailey Elwarner
Hailey is a theatre major from Roseville. During her time at Alma, she performed as an Ancestor in Addams Family, Farrah the Faerie in She Kills Monsters, and The Strange Woman in A Streetcar Named Desire. Behind the curtain, she Assistant Stage Managed The Imaginary Invalid and was on the running crew for Cabaret
Erica Johnson
Erica Johnson is a first-year from Ithaca, Michigan. I am planning to major in biology. She has been interested in theater for a long time. When she first heard about the spring term, she was ecstatic about a chance to go to Scotland and when Erica learned more about the project, she "knew this was something I HAD to do." She is both intrigued and excited to learn study and produce a play about Martha Graham and the role she played in the pathway to modern dance.
Heather Kaatz
Heather Kaatz is a recent graduate from Alma College. In December 2023 she earned her BA in Theatre: Design and Technology. During her time with ACT, she was part of the stage management team for 9 theatre and dance productions! She could also be found working in both the scene and costume shops. Heather is now working at Interlochen Center for the Arts as the Technician in Residence for Interlochen Presents!
Ava Kelly
Ava is a Dance and Elementary Education double major from Rogers City, Michigan and grew up dancing at The Dance Centre in Alpena, Michigan. At Alma she is involved in dance company, Pi Delta Chi Dance Honorary, and sorority life. Ava became interested in studying Martha Graham after she took a Dance History course in 2023. Particularly inspired by Steps in the Street (1936) and Heretic (1929), Ava wants to bring Graham’s contraction and release technique to life in a story about its creator. Graham’s approach to how the female body is viewed in dance also caught Ava’s eye, inspiring her to bring this feminist point-of-view into each aspect of her everyday life.
Stephanie Krueger
Stephanie is a junior from Howell, MI
Syd Lopez
Syd Lopez is a fourth-year Elementary Education and Dance major from Oscoda, Michigan. Most recently, her choreographic works have been selected by the Alma Dance Faculty to represent Alma College at an American College Dance Association conference and were performed in the 2023 Alma College Dance Company Spring Dance Concert. She has worked with and for numerous directors and choreographers such as Ben Munisteri, Rosely Conz, Kayt MacMaster, Scott Heinrich, Giuseppe Canale, Bryn Cons, Cisco Graciano, and Winston Dynamite Brown.
Mia Minniti
Mia Minniti is from Novi/Northville, Michigan and studying to become an Occupational Therapist. Mia is a distinguished performing arts scholarship recipient and a member of the International Thespian society. Some of her favorite characters she has portrayed are, Kate in Somewhere in France is a Lily, Mr. Kirby in You Can't Take It With You, and The Queen of Hearts in Dorthy in Wonderland The Musical. Mia is ready to embark on this adventure of a lifetime and perform in the Edinburgh Festival Fringe and to take her love of theater and preforming to the next level and across the world.
Olympia Moore
Olympia Moore is sophomore Dance and Integrative Physiology and Health major from Iron Mountain, Michigan. She has worked as a backstage manager for multiple dance concerts at Alma College while also dancing in them. She has worked for Ben Munisteri, Kayt MacMaster, Lynn Bowman, and Alisyn Hurd, as well as being actively apart of Pi Delta Chi dance honorary.
Atticus Mulder
Atticus is an art and design major from Sidney. They appeared as Vera/Evil Gabbi/Beholder in She Kills Monsters and as Pablo in A Streetcar Named Desire. They were on costume crew for our production of The Addams Family and assistant stage-managed Cabaret. Each fall, Atticus marches with the color guard of the Kiltie Marching Band.
Miranda Patterson
Miranda is a 4th year Dance and New Media Studies double major from South Bend, Indiana. Her performance credits include performing in the Fall and Spring dance concerts and student choreography concert every year, as well as debuting her own choreography. Through her time at Alma, she has had the pleasure of working with guest artists Bryn Cohn, Cisco Graciano, and Winston Dynamite Brown. She is a proud member and PR chair of Pi Delta Chi (Dance Honorary) and Pine River Film Club, as well being active in Alma College Dance Company all 4 years. She is excited and grateful for the opportunity to be a part of this year's Fringe, for she is always on the lookout for new experiences and ways to get out of her comfort zone.
David Troyer
David Troyer is a soon to be graduate of Alma College from Huntington, Indiana. He majors in biology and theatre and has been a prolific performer in both theatrical and choral productions on campus. Ever since David first heard of the project, he's been nothing short of ecstatic to go to the Edinburgh Fringe Festival. In his mind, this is a massive opportunity to grow as an artist and see what's being created. Of course, he's also excited to make something new with all his friends and colleagues.
