Director’s Note
Welcome to Wright State University’s Spring Dance Concert 2026.
This year’s program is a vibrant celebration of artistry and collaboration, and it features the powerful voices of women in dance. We are especially proud to present an evening of work created entirely by an exceptional group of female choreographers, each bringing a distinct perspective and movement language to the stage. Their collective vision shapes a concert that is as diverse in style as it is unified in purpose. These works highlight storytelling and the expressive depth of the human experience.
We are honored to welcome national guest artist Autumn Eckman, whose work resonates with emotional clarity and contemporary sensibility. Autumn danced with Giordano Dance Chicago, where she later served as assistant artistic director and resident choreographer. She has also performed with Hubbard Street Dance. Our second guest choreographer is DeShona Pepper Robertson, whose dynamic voice and commitment to narrative enrich this program. Deshona danced with DCDC for over a decade and now is head of dance at Stivers School for the Arts. The contributions of these two choreographers offer our students invaluable opportunities to engage with artists working at the highest professional level.
The concert also proudly features new works by our dedicated faculty: Gina Gardner-Walther, head of dance, and Ashley Pabst, lecturer of dance. Their ongoing commitment to excellence in dance continues to shape and inspire the next generation of artists. Through their choreography, our students are challenged to grow not only as performers but also as thoughtful collaborators and expressive individuals.
We are once again delighted to share the stage with our valued partner, the Dayton Ballet School Ensemble. Their presence enhances the richness of this concert and reflects the strong artistic connection between our institutions. This collaboration provides a meaningful bridge between pre-professional and collegiate training, fostering a shared community grounded in discipline, creativity, and passion for the art form.
This evening is a testament to the dedication, resilience, and artistry of everyone involved, from choreographers and dancers to the gifted lighting designers and backstage crew. We invite you to experience the energy, intention, and heart that each piece brings to life.
Thank you for joining us. We hope you enjoy the ride!
Performances
What Once Was
Choreographer: Ashley Pabst
Rehearsal Assistant: Kailey Colyer
Composer: Philip Glass
Costumes: Carly Anne Kimmins and Sharmaine Perea
Lighting Design: Levi T. Fravel
Scenic Design: WSU Shop, Kevin Nedberg
Dancers: Maria Becker, Emma Cole, Kailey Coyler, Alia Dalton, Jessie Etling, Gabrielle Garrett, Anderson Hayes, Audrey Lee, Hannah McGuffey, Gabrielle Morvatz, Jenna Mumford, Hayden Murphy, Alexia Parker, Raeanne Richard, Kobe Smith, Emma Van Norman, Kaitlyn Berry/Addison Cummings, Gretchen Greener/Raya Taylor
Spine
Choreographer: Emma McCaslin
Music: “Beef,” Bobby Krlic; “For Everything That You Lost,” Jambinai; “Chinatown, My Chinatown,” Andrew Bird
Costume Design: Emma McCaslin
Lighting Design: Raya Smith
Dancers: Maria Becker, Ally Jo Buck, Kailey Colyer, Carly Hanson, Audrey Lee, Hannah McGuffey, Raya Taylor
Spine centers around themes of intimacy, relationship dynamics, the good and bad of loneliness, and finding pure love and freedom in self, community, and movement. It is a love letter to the impermanence of life.
Heirloom
Choreographer: Autumn Eckman
Rehearsal Coach: Gina Gardner-Walther
Music: GoGo Penguin
Costume Design: Carly Anne-Kimmins
Lighting Design: Jennifer E. Dillard
Dancers: Kailey Colyer, Alia Dalton, Jessie Etling, Carly Hanson, Audrey Lee, Emma McCaslin, Hannah McGuffey, Sam Minneman, Jenna Mumford, Emma Cole, Maria Becker, Kaitlyn Berry, Anderson Hayes, Emma McCoy, Alexia Parker, Raya Taylor, Lucy Theado, Abby Zaleski, Gabby Garrett, Gabby Morvatz
Understudies: Ally Jo Buck, Laurel Cameron, Alanna Carey, Rae Richard, Anna Lynn Rude
Heirloom explores what we carry forward through memory, gesture, and relationship. The work reflects on inheritance as a living process, shaped by both preservation and change.
Intermission
On Becoming Unbound
Choreographer: Gina Gardner-Walther
Music: Culprit 1, East Forest, Ezio Bosso
Costume Design: Gina Gardner-Walther, Carly Kimmins, Zoe Still
Lighting Design: Robbie Crissman
Dancers: Alanna Carey, Kailey Colyer, Alia Dalton, Carly Hanson, Anderson Hayes, Lylla Kovacs, Cheyenne Maher, Emma McCoy, Emma McCaslin, Alexia Parker, Sam Minneman, Gabby Morvatz, Anna Lynn Rude, Lucy Theado, Abby Zaleski
Understudies: Laurel Cameron, Elizabeth Smedley, Gabrielle Garret
On Becoming Unbound traces a journey shaped by sensitivity, imagination, and quiet doubt. Tangled thoughts and self-critique give way to acceptance, as movement softens into clarity. In releasing overthinking, one emerges grounded, open, and at ease; an unfolding presence learning to belong fully within one’s own skin.
Still
Choreography by: Megan Forney and Gabrielle Sharp
Music: Thomas Newman
Costume Design: Revolution Dance Wear
Lighting Design: Connor Veal
Dancers: Addison Cummings, Jessie Etling, Gabrielle Garrett, Amber Huggett, Mollie Juniewicz, Jenna Mumford, Anna O’Connor, Raeanne Richard, Emma VanNorman, Elle White
Still explores the quiet expectations placed on women—the pressure to be composed, restrained, and unheard. This piece reflects on the stillness before finding the strength it takes to break free from it, and how we still move forward.
They That Wait
Choreography: Deshona Pepper Robertson and Tashara Maye
Choreographers' Assistants: Byron Griffin, Anniyah Muhammed
Music: Various Artists, Ólafur Arnalds, 2CELLOS, ARKIVAL and Tyler Durham
Musical Score Editor: Kevin Anderson
Lighting Design: Dylan Serrano
Cast selected from: Kaitlyn Berry, Maria Becker, Ally Jo Buck, Laurel Cameron, Alanna Carey, Emma Cole, Jessie Etling, Carley Hanson, Sawyer Hertel, Audrey Lee, Cheyenne Maher, Helena Malik, Emma McCaslin, Emma McCoy, Hannah McGuffy, Raya Taylor, Lucy Theado, Elle White, Abby Zaleski
- Surrender
- Lament
- Time Thief
- Expectant
Special thanks for assisting to Mekayla Derrick, Jorja Tyson, and Hannah McGuffey.
Production Team and Run Crew
Stage Manager: Dylan Serrano
Technical Productions Manager: Kevin Nedberg
Sound Engineer/Audio Coordinator: James Dunlap
Costume Shop Manager: Carly Anne-Kimmins
Resident Lighting Designer: Matthew Benjamin
Light Board Operator: Keb Stevens
Sound Board Operator: Tara Mastorakos
Deck Crew: Jennifer E. Dillard, Levi T. Fravel
Fly Operators/Deck Crew: Lindsey Fetter, Hunter Gee
Wardrobe Crew: Wrynn Boucher, Lauren Crane
Choreographer Bios
Autumn Eckman
Autumn Eckman received her classical training on full scholarship at the Houston Ballet Academy and began her professional career with Giordano Dance Chicago, where she later served as assistant artistic director, resident choreographer, and director of Giordano II. She has also performed with Hubbard Street Dance Chicago, Luna Negra Dance Theatre, Lucky Plush Productions, Ron De Jesus Dance, State Street Ballet, and The Cambrians. She is a recipient of the APEX Award for Research at Kennesaw State University and the University of Georgia’s Georgia Sea Grant Artist, Writers, and Scholars Award. Her choreographic work has been commissioned by State Street Ballet, Dance Kaleidoscope, DanceWorks Chicago, Visceral Dance Chicago, Chattanooga Ballet, Vitacca Ballet, Mareck Dance, The Big Muddy Dance Company, and numerous universities across the country. Praised by Sid Smith of The Chicago Tribune as choreography that “designed and sparkled,” her work is marked by theatrical vitality and nuanced physical expression. Her choreography has been presented nationally and internationally, including at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, Bates Dance Festival, Detroit City Dance Festival, Performática (Mexico), and the Blackbox International Theatre and Dance Festival (Bulgaria). Autumn received her M.F.A. from the University of Iowa. She serves as master faculty for the American Dance Festival and is artistic director of KSU Dance and assistant professor at Kennesaw State University.
Megan Forney
Megan Forney is originally from St. Louis, where she began her dance training. She trained as a student at Kanas City Ballet, Ballet Chicago, and Ballet Internationale. Forney graduated from Wright State University with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in dance in 2008. She has performed in many Dayton Ballet mainstage shows including The Nutcracker, Swan Lake, American Cinderella, Sleepy Hollow, and The Three Musketeers. She has been the recipient of the Josephine and Hereme Schwarz Award, the Walter J. McCaslin Award, and the Dayton Ballet School Peer Award. Megan has been a dance educator and choreographer for 15 years. She is currently education manager of the Dayton Ballet School and co-director of the Dayton Ballet II companies.
Tashara Maye
Tashara Maye is a dance artist, choreographer, and educator whose work embodies a compelling fusion of physical rigor, emotional depth, and culturally rooted storytelling. Hailing from Dayton, Ohio, she trained at the esteemed Stivers School for the Arts and earned her Bachelor of Fine Arts in Dance from Wright State University, laying a foundation grounded in both technical excellence and artistic intention.
Tashara’s performance experience includes her tenure with Dayton Contemporary Dance Company’s Second Company and her work as a guest artist with the Jeraldyne Blunden Dance Fellowship Program, immersing herself in the rich lineage of contemporary Black dance and shaping her distinct artistic voice.
As a choreographer, Tashara is recognized for creating work that is both viscerally expressive and structurally refined. Her choreography has been premiered and presented nationally at the International Association of Blacks in Dance Conference, with works showcased in Atlanta, Pittsburgh, and Memphis—marking her growing presence within a vital national platform for Black dance. She maintains a sustained artistic relationship with Stivers School for the Arts, where she serves as adjunct faculty and rehearsal coach, developing new work and mentoring the next generation of artists. In summer 2024, she was commissioned as a guest choreographer for Deeply Rooted Dance Theatre.
A committed educator and cultural contributor, Tashara has taught extensively throughout the Dayton community, including with Dayton Contemporary Dance Company’s outreach program. Her practice is driven by a dedication to artistic excellence, legacy, and the transformative power of dance as both a personal and communal experience.
Emma McCaslin
Emma McCaslin (she/her) is graduating with her B.F.A. in dance in May 2026. During her time at Wright State, she has had the opportunity to work with various guest choreographers, such as Stephanie Martinez and Ray Mercer. She was a swing in Wright State’s production of Cabaret, and she has been featured in the annual dance concerts put on by the program. She is forever grateful to her professors, cast, and family for their constant love and support. She is excited to share her senior work with you.
Ashley Pabst
Ashley Pabst is an enthusiastic instructor and award-winning choreographer. Her professional teaching credits include the International Ballet Competition (Jackson, MS), Point Park University, Sam Houston State University, National Choreography Intensive, Regional Dance America Festivals, Dayton Contemporary Dance Company, and Eisenhower Dance Detroit. Ashley has performed with companies including the Atlanta Ballet and Dayton Ballet. Before retiring from the stage, she performed at The Kennedy Center, where she was awarded Northeast Performer of the Year. She is a nine-time National Choreographic Recognition Award recipient. She has been honored with the Monticello Award, Barbara Weisberger Emerging Choreographer, Project Tier, and Jonathan Phelps Award. Her works have been selected for the International Association of Blacks in Dance, The Ballet Alliance, Youth American Grand Prix Finals, and Jazz Dance World Congress. Ashley would like to thank her husband and parents for their endless love and support.
Deshona Pepper Robertson
Deshona Pepper Robertson is an interdisciplinary artist, dancer, choreographer, and educator whose work blends performance, storytelling, and arts education to explore identity, culture, and community. A Chicago native, she trained at the Ruth Page Foundation and Barat College Conservatory of DePaul University and began her professional career with companies including Joseph Holmes Chicago Dance Theatre and Alvin Ailey American Dance Theatre before joining Dayton Contemporary Dance Company in 1992. She later rose to principal dancer, performing nationally and internationally in works by some of the field’s most influential choreographers.
Her performance career includes appearances at such venues as The Kennedy Center, The Joyce Theater, and Jacob’s Pillow. She is a recipient of the Josie Award and Montgomery County Arts and Cultural District Fellowships in both performance and choreography.
Since 2004, DeShona has served as dance director at Stivers School for the Arts, where she is known for cultivating a rigorous yet nurturing environment that encourages both technical excellence and artistic voice. Her students have gone on to attend leading institutions, including The Juilliard School and Howard University. In honor of her mentor, she established the Jeraldyne Blunden Award to recognize students who demonstrate perseverance, humility, and determination.
An award-winning choreographer and passionate mentor, DeShona continues to create, teach, and collaborate nationally and internationally. Deeply rooted in her faith and community, she views teaching as both a calling and a ministry and remains committed to uplifting and inspiring the next generation of artists to live and create with purpose, joy, and authenticity.
Gabrielle Sharp
Gabrielle Sharp is co-director of the Dayton Ballet School Ensemble and has danced with Dayton Ballet. You may have seen her perform in Dracula, The Nutcracker, Tales from the Shadow, There Was a Time, and America’s Robin Hood, and recently as the fairy godmother in Cinderella and the nurse in Romeo and Juliet. As a member of Dayton Ballet II Senior Company, she received the Dancer Peer Award, Walter J. McCaslin Memorial Award, and the Josephine and Hermene Schwarz Award. Gabrielle was the previous director of the SSK Dance Ensemble.
Gina Gardner-Walther
Gina Gardner-Walther is a dedicated teacher/mentor and award-winning choreographer who has choreographed nationally, regionally, and on university stages. Her professional teaching experience includes Indiana University, Point Park University (PA), New Arts Festival (FL), RDA Craft of Choreography Conference, and RDA Pacific Festival (WA). While performing with the Dayton Contemporary Dance Company, she toured Germany, Russia, and France, and throughout the United States. She had the honor of performing at Lincoln Center, The Kennedy Center, and The Joyce Theatre. She has performed works by many of modern dance’s most influential choreographers including Dwight Rhoden, Ulysses Dove, Donald McKayle, Merce Cunningham, Talley Beatty, Anna Sokolow, Donald Byrd, and many more. In her final season with DCDC, she won the Josie Award as best female dancer. Gina’s choreography has won several awards including the prestigious National Choreographic Award. The New York Times called her work, Still Present for DCDC, “a stirring dance” that “served as a sparkling introduction to the troupe.” Gina received her B.F.A. in Dance Performance from Southern Methodist University.
Dayton Ballet School Ensemble
Dayton Ballet School Ensemble, which is divided into apprentice and junior ensembles, is a pre-professional training program available to dancers through audition only. This division is for dancers committed to a high level of dance training, strengthening, and artistic development, along with elective classes to supplement their dance education. This division includes additional performance opportunities.
Dancer Bios
Maria Becker
Maria Becker is a sophomore dance major from West Chester, Ohio. She grew up dancing at SDA Studios and is grateful for the opportunity to pursue her love for dance at Wright State University. Maria would like to thank the people who helped her get to where she is and who continue to support her!
Kaitlyn Berry
Kaitlyn Berry (she/her) is a sophomore dance major from Dayton. She began her training at South Dayton School of Dance at the age of five. She danced with her school's pre-professional company for eight seasons before choosing to attend Wright State. She is grateful for the opportunity to perform in her second Spring Dance Concert.
Ally Jo Buck
Ally Jo Buck is a junior dance major. She grew up in Cincinnati, where she studied and now teaches at Broadway Bound Dance Academy. Ally Jo has performed in several dance concerts at Wright State, and she hopes you enjoy the show!
Laurel Cameron
Laurel Cameron is a sophomore dance major from Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania. She is immensely passionate about the musical theatre side of dance and is thrilled to be expanding her Wright State dance journey in this electrifying concert.
Alanna Carey
Alanna Carey (she/her) is a sophomore dance and communication double major. She danced with South Dayton Dance Theatre throughout high school, and she is very excited to be performing in her second Spring Dance Concert!
Emma Cole
Emma Cole is a junior dance major. She grew up in Toledo, Ohio, and studied dance at Toledo Met, where she returns to teach during the summer. Emma is excited to be performing in this year’s Spring Dance Concert and is grateful for this opportunity!
Kailey Colyer
Kailey Colyer is a dancer and choreographer from Cincinnati. She will soon graduate with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Dance and an arts management certification. Kailey is incredibly thankful for the support and guidance that her family and professors have given her over the last four years!
Addison Cummings
Addison Cummings is a freshman dance and exercise science major. She is also involved in the Dayton Ballet School Ensemble. Addison has spent the last 16 years training at New Albany Ballet and Straub Dance Center. She can’t wait for what the next few years hold.
Alia Dalton
Alia Dalton (she/her) is a senior dance major from Cincinnati with 16 years of training at Just Off Broadway, SCPA, and Wright State University. She recently performed in Wright State’s production of The Wedding Singer and the Emerging Choreographers Concert. She is excited to perform in her last Spring Dance Concert. She would like to thank her family for their continuous support!
Jessie Etling
Jessie Etling (she/her) is a senior dance major from Salisbury, Maryland. She has been dancing for 17 years and feels incredibly grateful for the opportunity to be a part of the Wright State University dance program. Jessie is also a part of Dayton Ballet School Ensemble and has performed roles in Dracula, Coppelia, The Nutcracker, and Swan Lake alongside the first company.
Gabrielle Garrett
Gabrielle Garrett is a freshman dance major. She trained at Irey Dance Academy and Edye Cook’s School of Dance for 13 years. She is excited to continue her journey at Wright State and perform in her first Spring Dance Concert.
Gretchen Greener
Gretchen Greener is a sophomore dance and marketing major from Carmel, Indiana. She has studied ballet and Irish dance for over 15 years. Gretchen studied under the direction of Suzann DeLay at Central Indiana Dance Ensemble and under John and Heather Timm at Richens/Timm Academy of Irish Dance.
Carly Hanson
Carly Hanson is a 22-year-old dancer and choreographer originally from Lebanon, Ohio. She will soon graduate with a B.F.A. in Dance as well as an arts management certificate. Carly is so thankful and excited to perform in this year’s Spring Dance Concert!
Anderson Hayes
Anderson Hayes (she/her) is a sophomore dance major from Lawrenceville, Georgia. She trained at Southern Performing Arts Academy for 16 years, with Southern Ballet Theatre, and at Central Gwinnett School of Performing Arts. Ande wants to thank her family and friends for their unwavering support and encouragement throughout her time here with Wright State Dance Ensemble.
Sawyer Hertel
Sawyer Hertel is a junior dance major from Nashville, Tennessee. From 2024 to 2025, she was a member of the Dayton Contemporary Dance Second Company. In the company, she participated in community outreach performances, Littlest Angel, and Configuration.
Lylla Kovacs
Lylla Kovacs (she/her) is a junior dance major from Cincinnati. She has been dancing for 17 years and trained at Technical Dance Center and Butler Tech School of the Arts. This is Lylla’s third Spring Dance Concert, and she can’t wait to dance alongside her peers!
Audrey Lee
Audrey Lee is a senior dance major from Springfield, Ohio. She is grateful to have continued her education at Wright State while pursuing an arts management certification. She cherishes each performance and deeply appreciates all the love and support she has received.
Cheyenne Maher
Cheyenne Maher is a sophomore dance major from Piqua, Ohio. Before attending Wright State, she previously trained at the Sidney Dance Company. She is so grateful for the opportunity to perform in her second Spring Dance Concert.
Helena Malik
Helena Malik is a freshman dance major from Cleveland, Ohio. She is so excited to be a part of the Spring Dance Concert. She would like to thank her family and friends for supporting her in her dance journey.
Emma McCoy
Emma McCoy is a sophomore dance major and has been dancing for 18 years. She previously trained at Toledo School for the Arts and competed for 10 years at Courtney's Dance Force. This is her second Spring Dance Concert, and she is so excited to share these pieces with the world.
Hannah McGuffey
Hannah McGuffey is a senior dance major from Dayton. She has performed in Wright State concerts and trained with DCDC, American Dance Festival, and Gem City Ballet, developing versatility across various dance styles and choreography.
Sam Minneman
Sam Minneman is about to graduate with her degrees in dance and psychology. Sam started her career as a company member of Gem City Ballet and continues to cultivate her passion for art while being a member of Psi Chi, the International Honor Society in Psychology.
Gabby Morvatz
Gabby Morvatz is a first-year sophomore at Wright State. She has been dancing for 16 years and has performed with the Dayton Dance Conservatory and the BGSU Dance Team. She hopes to have a successful and fulfilling career as a dancer, preferably in commercial or concert dance. She has loved the program here and the many opportunities given to her at Wright State.
Jenna Mumford
Jenna Mumford is graduating this spring with a B.F.A. in dance. During her time at Wright State, Jenna has been a part of the Dayton Ballet School Ensemble and furthered her passions for performing and choreographing through Spring Dance Concerts, Emerging Choreographers Concerts, and shows with the Dayton Ballet and the Dayton Ballet School.
Hayden Murphy
Hayden Murphy is a freshman dance major from Cincinnati. After 16 years of dancing with multiple studios, he graduated from South Dayton Dance Theater in spring 2025. Hayden is excited to participate in his first Spring Dance Concert at Wright State.
Emma Van Norman
Emma Van Norman is a freshman dance major. She spent the last 15 years training at the Ballet Theatre Ashtabula in Ashtabula, Ohio. Emma is excited to continue her training at Wright State, and she is looking forward to performing in her first Spring Dance Concert!
Alexia Parker
Alexia Parker is the 20-year-old daughter of Jason Parker and Autumn Le. She is currently a sophomore and plans to continue her career in dance long after her time here. Originally from a small town in West Virginia, Alexia has found her second home at Wright State!
Raeanne Richard
Anna Lynn Rude
Anna Lynn Rude is a sophomore dance major. This is her first Spring Dance Concert, and she’s excited to perform for her friends and family. When she’s not dancing, you can usually find Anna outdoors, where she is hiking, climbing, or enjoying nature with her friends!
Elizabeth Smedley
Elizabeth Smedley is a freshman dance major. She has been dancing for 16 years and counting, and she is so excited to see this production come to life!
Kobe Smith
Kobe Smith is a freshman dance major. This is his first dance concert at Wright State, and he is pumped about performing. Kobe has a history of performing on stage, either acting or dancing. He hopes you enjoy the show. PEACE!
Raya Taylor
Raya Taylor is a sophomore dance major from Cambridge, Ohio. Before Wright State, she trained at Movement on Main Center for Dance. Raya is incredibly grateful for this opportunity to work with such inspiring teachers and choreographers and perform alongside her peers.
Lucy Theado
Lucy Theado is a sophomore pursuing a double major in communication and dance. She is very excited to be featured in this year’s Spring Dance Concert. She would like to thank her parents, friends, and family for supporting her on her college journey.
Elle White
Elle White is a sophomore dance and English major. She is part of the Dayton Ballet School Ensemble and has participated in their productions. When not in school, she loves to read, play piano, knit, and crochet.
Abby Zaleski
Abby Zaleski is a sophomore dance major from Englewood, Ohio. She has been dancing since she was three years old. She is so excited to perform in her second Spring Dance Concert!
Designer Bios
Matthew P. Benjamin
Matthew P. Benjamin (Resident Lighting Designer) is in his 27th year at Wright State as a professor of theatrical design, head of the Theatre Design and Technology Program, and the resident lighting designer with Theatre and Dance Programs in the School of Fine and Performing Arts.
Professional credits include seven seasons as the resident lighting designer for the Opera Theatre and Music Festival of Lucca, Italy, where he also served as the company’s production manager. Other professional designs includes projects with the Interlochen Center for the Arts, Cincinnati Opera, Aspen Music Festival, Dayton Opera, Dayton Ballet, Children’s Theatre of Cincinnati, Tri-Cities Opera, Dayton Performing Arts Alliance, Opera at Florham, Luna Negra Dance Theatre, Dayton Contemporary Dance Company, Human Race Theatre Company, Little Theatre of the Rockies, ballet tech of Ohio, New Horizon Theatre Company, Taj Mahal casino, National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences, and many others. An active theatre consultant, he has worked on regional projects at the Schuster Center, Springboro Performing Arts Center, Theatre at Third in the downtown Dayton Public Library, Dixie High School, and Alter High School Performing Arts Center, among others.
He is a proud member of the United Scenic Artists Local #829 (Lighting Design) and the International Alliance of Lighting Designers.
Robbie Crissman
Robbie Crissman is a sophomore theatre design and technology major with a focus in lighting. His most recent design was for the world premiere of Only in New York at Wright State. Robbie would like to thank his friends and family for their constant support.
Jennifer E. Dillard
Jennifer E. Dillard is a junior theatre design and technology major concentrating in lighting. She is very excited to be designing for the Spring Dance Concert. Over the summer, Jennifer was the spotlight operator for Kings Island’s Country Crossroads and a float driver for Carnivale. She previously designed for Wright State’s Dance Concerts and 1776. Jennifer was the production electrician for Wright State’s performances of The History Boys and The Wedding Singer. She is very thankful to all her professors for always supporting her in her work and her family for adjusting to her crazy theatre schedule.
Levi T. Fravel
Levi T. Fravel (they/them) is a junior studying lighting design. They are really excited to be working on this unique piece and hope you all enjoy it. They'd like to thank their friends and family for their combined support in their career.
Dylan Serrano
Dylan Serrano (Stage Manager) is a senior design/technology major with a concentration in stage management and lighting design. Wright State stage management credits: 1776, Fall Dance Concert ’25, StageWright: A Celebration of Arts in America at the Levitt Pavilion, Spring Dance Concert ’25, Carrie: The Musical, 25thAPCSB, The Liar, The Laramie Project. Professional stage management credits: assistant stage manager for Dayton Ballet’s The Nutcracker (’23-’25) and stage manager for Dayton Dance Initiative’s CoLAB II. Wright State lighting design credits: Concord Floral, Dance Concerts since 2023. They are also the resident lighting designer for Stivers School for the Arts’ dance department. This summer, they will be stage managing for Dayton Dance Initiative’s concert, The Light in Between, as well as designing the lights for student Kailey Colyer’s piece.
Raya Smith
Raya Smith is an actor, dancer, and lighting designer from Cincinnati. She is a graduate of Drew University (Class of 2025), where she earned her B.A. in Theatre Arts and History. Post-grad, she decided to continue her education in theatrical lighting at Wright State. She is very excited to share her work with you tonight!
Connor Veal
Connor Veal is a junior transfer majoring in theatre design/technology, with a focus in lighting design and technology. This is Connor’s second dance concert, and he is very excited to work with the Dayton Ballet this year! He has had the opportunity to design on a multitude of theatrical productions, including Beetlejuice Jr., An Enchanted Bookshop Christmas, and Macbeth. Connor hopes you enjoy the concert!