The Appointment Company Bios

ALICE YORKE (Lead Artist, Lead Writer, Co-Creator, Ensemble) is a Philadelphia-based theatremaker. She is a Co-Artistic Director of Lightning Rod Special and has performed in almost every LRS production from Hackles (2012) to SPEECH (2022). Select performance credits: How to Be Brave (Inis Nua), The Gap (Azuka Theatre, Barrymore Award nomination), Down Past Passyunk (InterAct Theatre), Alex Bechtel's The West, Pig Iron Theatre Company’s 99 Breakups and Pay Up. Recent directing credits include We Are Trying to Reach You, an audio work by Katie Gould as part of LRS’s Sound Break series, Cerebral (UArts), and Lee Minora’s White Feminist (Ars Nova Ant Fest). In 2019 she was named the Best Theatre Talent in Philadelphia by Philadelphia Magazine.

EVA STEINMETZ (Lead Writer, Director) is a Philadelphia-based theater and film director, making new works that straddle the ordinary and extraordinary. Most notably she directed and co-wrote The Appointment with Lightning Rod Special (NY Times Critic’s Pick; Time Out NY critics Pick; 6 Barrymore Nominations, including Best Director). Other collaborations include the Pig Iron Theater Company, Team Sunshine Performance Corporation, Theatre Horizon, The Polyphone Festival, Alex Bechtel, Grace McLean, Alexandra Tatarsky, Tommy Butler, Johanna Kasimow, Sarah Knittel, and Lily Kind. Eva was also a performer/creator in Josephine Decker’s film, “Madeline’s Madeline.” Keep eyes out for: Sad Boys In Harpy Land at Abrons Art Center in March, and Penelope at HVSF in September.

SCOTT R. SHEPPARD (Lead Writer, Co-Creator, Ensemble) is an Obie award-winning theater artist and a Founding Co-Director of the Philadelphia-based theater company Lightning Rod Special (2019 Barrymore Award for Evolving Theatre Company). Recent credits: Writer of Blood Meal for Theater in Quarantine (NY Times Critics’ Pick); Co-creator and performer of Underground Railroad Game (NYTimes top 25 Best Plays of the past 25 Years). Scott graduated from Pig Iron’s School for Advanced Performance Training. With Pig Iron: Period of Animate Existence and 99 Breakups (deviser/performer) and Gentlemen Volunteers (performer). Scott was an Independence Foundation Fellow, and current member of Page 73’s Interstate 73 Writer’s Group. 

ALEX BECHTEL (Lead Writer, Music, Lyrics, Arrangements, Music Director, Keys) is a multidisciplinary artist dedicated to the creation of new works of music, theatre, and musical theatre. He’s a company member of Lightning Rod Special. Recent composing work: People’s Light & Theatre Company’s Alice in Wonderland: A Musical Panto and Shakespeare in Love, Arden Theatre Company’s The Light Princess, and seven seasons of new music for plays at Pennsylvania Shakespeare Festival. He is the creator/composer of The West, Philadelphia Nocturne, and Cheer Up Dostoevsky. His newest musical, Penelope, will have its world premiere this summer at Hudson Valley Shakespeare Festival. See and hear more at alexbechtel.com.

KATIE GOULD (Co-Creator, Ensemble) is a founding member of Lightning Rod Special. Her LRS credits include: Let the Dog See the Rabbit, Sans Everything, The Appointment and Superhost. She was the lead artist on the autobiographical audio play about her infertility struggles, We Are Trying to Reach You. Select performance credits include: Pig Iron's 99 Breakups, Alex Bechtel's, The West, The Civilian's This Beautiful City, and Dark Play (Theater Exile). Katie is also the owner of a woman-powered strength training studio in Philadlephia called KG Strong and the proud mom to her wild toddler, Elliot.

JAIME MASEDA (he/him/his, Co-Creator, Ensemble) is a Barrymore-nominated performer based in Philadelphia. He has worked across disciplines with various artists and companies, including Pig Iron Theatre Company, Miguel Gutierrez, Arden Theatre, the Wilma Theater, Azuka Theatre, People’s Light, Orbiter 3, Magda & Chelsea, Mel Krodman & Kelly Bond, George & Co.; as well as in collaborative partnership with NYC-based artist Iris McCloughan as No Face Performance Group.

LEE MINORA (Co-Creator, Ensemble) is so happy to be reunited with Lightning Rod Special. Lee is a writer, performer, and theater-maker living in Philadelphia. Her 4th-wall-smashing solo shows, Cheeks and White Feminist, have been presented at The Wilma Theater, Ars Nova, Edinburgh Fringe, London’s Sick of the Fringe, Philly Fringe, Z-Space, Good Good Comedy and UMS’s No Safety Net. As a creator/performer she has worked with The Berserker Residents, It’s So Learning, Applied Mechanics Vainglorious, Theater in Quarantine, Blood Meal, (New York Times Critics Pick) and Lightning Rod Special, The Appointment, (Best of Theater 2019: New York Times, Time Out New York and New York Magazine). As an actor, she’s been seen in over 20 productions in Philadelphia. She is a Barrymore nominee, an F. Otto Haas award finalist and the two-time recipient of The Jilline Ringle Performance Grant. Love to Matteo and my family.

BRETT ASHLEY ROBINSON (Co-Creator, Ensemble) is a 2021 Pew Fellow as well as Barrymore Award winning devisor, theatre maker, director and educator based in Philadelphia. She is the 2021 winner of the PEN America/ Jean Stein Oral History Grant for her original work Re-Enactment as well as a Skidmore College 2021 MDOCS Storytellers’ Institute Visiting Fellow. She was also a two-time nominee for the Golden Tassel Jawn, Philadelphia’s Drag and Burlesque awards, for best comedy act as Patricia! She has worked with Under the Radar Festival, Ars Nova Ant Fest, Actors Theatre of Louisville, Pig Iron, The Arden, Theatre Horizon, Geva, Theater Exile and the Bearded Ladies. She is a company member of Applied Mechanics and a member of the HotHouse–the Wilma Theater’s resident acting company. She loves buck a shuck oysters and Vino Verde.

DANNY WILFRED (he/they, Ensemble) is grateful to be joining the cast of The Appointment. A few theater credits include: Alice in Wonderland: A Musical Panto (Mean Flower/Tweedle/Dance Captain) People’s Light; Assassins (Charles Guiteau) Theater 2020; Cabaret (Emcee) Highlands Playhouse; Sister Act (Eddie Souther) Westchester Broadway Theatre; Shrek (Donkey) Colorado Springs Fine Arts Center; A Chorus Line (Richie Walters) John W. Engeman Theater. Tour: Flashdance (C.C., North America/New Zealand), How the Grinch Stole Christmas (Papa Who u/s), A Christmas Story (Ensemble). Casting Director at Exquisite Corpse Company (Brooklyn, NY). BFA Musical Theater, University of Michigan. Danny is currently pursuing his Master’s degree in Mental Health Counseling at Northwestern University. Many thanks to Danny’s friends and family for all their love and support! IG: @wannydilfred

MELANIE COTTON (she/her, Choreographer) is a choreographer, dancer, educator and theater artist. Her performance and creative practice integrates various forms into her work: clown, musical theater, improvisation, hip- hop, and street dance styles. Melanie’s work as a choreographer has been featured at The Arden Theatre, 1812 Productions, Theater Horizon, The Bearded Ladies Cabaret, People's Light, Lightning Rod Special and more! Her performance credits include productions with Walnut Street Theater, 1812 Productions, and Pig Iron Theater to name a few.

OONA CURLEY (Production Designer) is a lighting and scenic designer. Frequent and favorite collaborators include: Knud Adams, Tara Ahmadinejad, John Anselmo+Crew, Eliza Bent, Martha Graham Cracker, Will Davis, Machine Dazzle, Stacey DeRosier, Jordan Fein, Morgan Green, Emma Griffin, Ásta Bennie Hostetter, Qween Jean, Jenn Kidwell, Jes Levine, Taibi Magar, Gunnar Montana, Kimie Nishikawa, James Rutherford, Stoli Stolnack, Awoye Timpo, Annie Tippe, Masha Tsimring, and Whitney White. Oona is a proud company member of Lightning Rod Special (creators of Underground Railroad Game), Associate Artist with Bearded Ladies Cabaret, and member USA829. MFA NYU/Tisch. www.oonacurley.com

REBECCA KANACH (Costume Designer) is a Barrymore Award-winning costume designer. In New York, her work has been seen at Lincoln Center, The Guggenheim, Ars Nova’s ANT Fest, La MaMa, The New Ohio, and Joe’s Pub. Regionally, her work has been seen at companies including The Arden Theatre Company, Opera Philadelphia, and People’s Light and Theater Co. Academic work includes Bryn Mawr College, Drexel University, Temple University, Swarthmore College, and University of the Arts. Rebecca is a co-founder and the resident costume designer of The Bearded Ladies Cabaret, and a company member of Lightning Rod Special. She is a MFA graduate from NYU Tisch and a USA 829 member.

MASHA TSIMRING (Lighting Designer) is a NYC based designer for live performance. Recently: Events (The Hearth); Montag (Soho Rep); Vietgone (Guthrie); Tick Tick…Boom! (Portland Center Stage); Der Freischütz (Wolf Trap Opera); Private (Mosaic); Cunning Little Vixen & Salome (Bard); Puppet Lab (St. Ann’s Warehouse); To the Yellow House (La Jolla Playhouse). In addition to design, Masha’s interests include progress towards pay equity and a more ethical model of making in the American theater. She is a proud member of USA829. More info at www.mashald.com. 

NINA FIELD (Sound Designer) is a sound designer based in New York. She particularly enjoys working on straight plays, experimental work, and movement pieces. Member of TSDCA & USA 829. Selected Works: Regional: Urinetown, The Musical (Northern Stage; White River Junction, VT), Our Town (Dallas Theater Center; Dallas, TX), Beyond the Fourth Wall (WMPAC; Big Sky, MT), Ms. Bennet, Christmas at Pemberley (Playhouse On Park; West Hartford, CT). Fringe: The Ecstasy of Victoria Woodhull (Owl & Pussycat Theatre Company; shown at Hollywood Fringe, 59E59, & Edinburgh Fringe) New York: The Road Back (Chrysalis Theatre Company), Motel Andromeda (Waterwell), House of American Activities (The After-Image), The View (Columbia U. School of the Arts). Virtual: Murder, We Spoke (Tantrum East). Associate Design: Twelfth Night (Chicago Shakespeare Theater, Designer: Lindsay Jones), Hamlet on the Radio (The Old Globe, Designer: Lindsay Jones).

NOAH MEASE (Props Designer). Props: Natasha, Pierre & the Great Comet of 1812 (Broadway, etc.); Oklahoma! (St. Ann’s); Hadestown (NYTW); John (Signature; OBIE Award); An Octoroon (Soho Rep, TFANA); After the Blast (LCT3: props & robot design), seven productions with Ars Nova, three plays by the Debate Society. Plays: Alum of Ars Nova’s Play Group, Science Park (third person, Target Margin Theater), Omega Kids (New Light Theater Project), Republic (JACK / Hoi Polloi), *keysmash* (Ars Nova ANT Fest: story, props, costumes). Comics & Illustration: Underground Railroad Game Companion Book (Jennifer Kidwell & Scott R. Sheppard), Omega Kids Companion Comic, @nameless.mage on instagram. Noahmease.com. 

JO FERNANDEZ (he/they, Progduction Stage Manager) (formerly known as Joseph Fernandez, Jr.) Broadway: The Ferryman, Head Over Heels. Other New York: Oratorio for Living Things (Ars Nova); soft, Charm (MCC); Montag (Soho Rep); Only An Octave Apart (St. Ann's Warehouse); The Underlying Chris (Second Stage), Public Works' Hercules, Julius Caesar, The Gabriels Trilogy (The Public); If Pretty Hurts Ugly Must Be…, Men on Boats, The Christians, Bootycandy (Playwrights Horizons); Continuity, India Pale Ale (MTC). Regional work for Hudson Valley Shakes, NY Stage and Film, Berkeley Rep, and Shakespeare Theatre Company. Many thanks to Lighting Rod Special, the company of The Appointment, and especially Kelsey and Gray.

KELSEY VIVIAN (Assistant Stage Manager) believes in and supports pro-choice. Some credits include: Off-Broadway: Montag (Soho Repertory Theatre), Oratorio for Living Things (Ars Nova), The Mother (Atlantic Theater Company); Twelfth Night, We Rise: A Celebration of Resistance (The Public Theater). NYC: MEAT (The Tank), Hamlet Rehearsed, Lear’s Shadow (Smith Street Stage); The Mile-Long Opera (The High Line), Medicine the Musical (Startup Productions); Ghost Story (Little Spoon, Big Spoon Productions); 36 Juniper, Really Really (Wrong House); Larvae (The Alchemical). Regional: Long Wharf Theatre, Vermont Shakespeare Festival, Vermont Stage Company and Saint Michael’s Playhouse.

JES LEVINE (she/her, Production Manager) is grateful to this incredible group of collaborators for their passion, humor and imagination. Jes serves as the Director of Production & Facilities at Ars Nova where she was introduced to Lightning Rod Special on Underground Railroad Game, helping grow it from a one night presentation during ANT Fest to World Premiere Off-Broadway Production to International Tour. Many thanks to her incredible team at Ars Nova, the wonderful technicians, designers and producers on this show and the amazing staff at WP Theater, who are all game problem-solvers and thoughtful colleagues. It has been a community effort - and that has been a true joy. 

RACHEL SUSSMAN (she/her, Executive Producer) is a Tony Award-nominated producer and co-founder of The MITTEN Lab, an emerging theatre artist residency program in her native state of Michigan, as well as The Business of Broadway, an educational venture designed to democratize commercial producing knowledge. Broadway: What the Constitution Means to Me (Tony nom, Pulitzer finalist), The Old Man and the Pool, Dana H / Is This a Room (with Plate Spinner Productions). Selected producing credits include: the Obie Award-winning production of The Woodsman (New World Stages), The Peculiar Patriot (Audible Theater), and Eh Dah? Questions for My Father (Next Door at NYTW). Rachel was one of the producers of Saturday Night Seder, a virtual Passover seder during the pandemic that raised over $3.5M for the CDC Foundation. A past Women's Project Lab Time Warner Foundation Fellow, Rachel was the recipient of the 2019 Prince Fellowship in Creative Producing in conjunction with Columbia University and is currently the VP of Plate Spinner Productions. She is a graduate of the Commercial Theater Institute and a University Honors Scholar alumna of NYU Tisch. www.rachel-sussman.com

ERICA ROTSTEIN (she/her, Executive Producer) is a theatre producer, talent manager, and educator. Her work is driven by a passion for music, and a desire to nurture creative collaborations built on transparency and mutual respect. Erica is a co-founder of The Business of Broadway, offering classes designed to democratize knowledge and examine the theatrical business model. Select producing projects include: Hundred Days by The Bengsons and Sarah Gancher, directed by Anne Kauffman (Lortel & Drama League noms for Outstanding Musical, hundreddays.org); Sovereignty Hymns, a musical series about reproductive liberty created by The Bengsons; We Aren’t Kids Anymore, a song cycle by Drew Gasparini; Water for Elephants by Rick Elice and PigPen Theatre Co. (in development); and I Love that Senator for You, a digital series to humanize the ballot for young people (@ilovethatsenatorforyou). As a manager, Erica represents generative theater artists and changemakers.  Erica is an Adjunct Professor at Berklee College of Music and Barnard College, Board Chair of Colt Coeur Theatre Company (coltcoeur.org) and holds an MBA from NYU’s Stern School of Business. www.ericarotstein.com

RENEE BLINKWOLT (she/her, General Manager) is a creative producer. She is the Producing Executive Director of Ars Nova, whose #BestTeamInShowBiz she thanks for their support while she moonlights with The Appointment! She is passionate about the work of Lightning Rod Special, reproductive justice, and the value of theater. She's had the privilege and pleasure of working with extraordinary generative artists such as Heather Christian, Lee Sunday Evans, The Bengsons, Anne Kauffman, Salty Brine, Jennfier Kidwell, Scott R. Sheppard, Rachel Chavkin, and Bess Wohl and on projects such as Oratorio for Living Things, Underground Railroad Game (which she internationally toured), KPOP, Rags Parkland Sings the Songs of the Future, Small Mouth Sounds. MFA: Columbia University. BFA: Carnegie-Mellon University.  Her thanks to Rachel Sussman and Erica Rotstein for saying 'yes,' and to Jes Levine and Lucy Jackson for being the better halves of each side of her brain. 

LUCY JACKSON (she/her, General Manager) is a London-born, Brooklyn-based performing arts producer, who supports playwrights and multidisciplinary artists to develop, produce and tour new work, as well as a nationalized healthcare system which provides medical care that is free at the point of service. She currently produces for artists including Rachel Mars, Salty Brine and Greg Wohead, and is also the Interim Producing Director at the Bushwick Starr. 

Lucy has produced with many venues and companies in NYC, as well as national & international tours. Work in the UK includes 9 years at the Edinburgh Fringe, the Latitude & VAULT festivals, and productions at the Finborough Theatre, Bush Theatre and Theatre503. She was a 2018-2020 WP Lab Fellow, and is a member of the Creative Independent Producer Alliance (CIPA).  www.lsajackson.com

STEVEN TARTICK (Creative Director) is the Executive Creative Director at RPM, a Broadway advertising agency. He is responsible for developing the creative strategy for clients including A Strange Loop, Moulin Rouge! The Musical, Hamilton, Slave Play, and The Phantom of the Opera. Steven is an organizing member of TEDxBroadway (now in its 11th year) and a founding board member of Starring Buffalo, an arts organization bringing together Broadway stars and Buffalo's professional theater scene.

JACOB COOPER (Creative Director) is the Senior Creative Director at RPM, a Broadway advertising agency. He oversees the development of Broadway brands and key art, as well as campaign strategy. He has created branding and campaigns for clients including A Strange Loop, Moulin Rouge! The Musical, Oklahoma!, Fun Home, Mean Girls, Bright Star, and Natasha, Pierre, and the Great Comet of 1812. Jacob is a proud cat dad to Artemis and Apollo.

RPM (Marketing) is a full-service marketing agency for live entertainment. Current clients include Hamilton, The Phantom of the Opera, Moulin Rouge, Bad Cinderella, Sweeney Todd, Take Me Out, The Big Apple Circus, and Chicago. HelloRPM.com