PRODUCTION DESIGN
Julia Noulin-Mérat
ASSOCIATE PRODUCTION DESIGN
Nick O’Leary
ASSOCIATE COSTUMER
Erika Duan
PRODUCTION STAGE MANAGEMENT
Misha S. Zimmerman
CHOREOGRAPHY
Paul Morland^
PRODUCTION MANAGEMENT
Austin Gray

SOUND DESIGN
Max Silverman
SOUND ENGINEERS
Dan Sjaastad 3rd Harmonic Live Productions
&
Sam Morin LIGHTING DESIGN
Jon Dunkle
LIGHTING CONSULTANT
Jacob Welch TECHNICAL DIRECTION
Benjamin Smith

Who belongs here? It’s a question that’s both started wars and given students tearful moments of private pain. Discount Ghost Stories: Songs from the Rockies approaches the question with the stories of forgotten Coloradans from the early days of the Western frontier. A lovelorn prospector looking for a new start. A Chinese immigrant and Native American, both killed by mobs whose definition of belonging didn’t include them. A freed slave putting down roots while searching for her lost daughter. Two women cab drivers moving the restless souls of a gold town from place to place. We hope that their stories evoke for you the questions they do for us: What journey do we need to take if we want to arrive at home? What does that mean about who doesn’t belong? Is it necessary for some to belong that others don’t? What does history have to do with me?

However you answer these questions, we would like to suggest that belonging is inextricably linked with place. In a society that’s increasing mobile, digital and socially fractured, it’s easy to feel disconnected from the ground you stand on. We don’t always know what’s happened here or how it relates to us, and that ignorance severs a link between our daily experience of the world, and the great long story of humanity.

A powerful example of this unfolded this spring as Denver community members organized to replace a misleading plaque about the anti-Chinese riot of 1880. During our show in 2019, very few audience members had heard of Look Young.  Today he’s the focus of a movement to combat current anti-Chinese bias.

How can we forget the music? Music is the great uniter.  It invites us all to belong. How can you hear “Bury Me Not” and hold back the tears that all around you are sharing? Our ghost band will pull you into these stories in ways that words alone could never do!

We hope that as you go back to your lives after the show, you’ll hear echoes of our ghosts in the streets of Boulder and Denver, on the trails of the mountains, and in the private corners of your mind.  Boo!

Pesha Rudnick and Rob Wright 
Book, Discount Ghost Stories: Songs from the Rockies

ERIK FELLENSTEIN - Clifford Griffin, Edward Trondell
Erik Fellenstein is a musician, actor, and filmmaker based in Denver, Colorado. In addition to freelancing in genres ranging from classical to folk, he recently launched a solo project and is the resident fiddle player in Denver’s hot-club jazz quartet LAPOMPE. Recent acting credits include Indecent and Anna Karenina at the Denver Center for the Performing Arts, voiceover and motion capture work for the Life is Strange video game franchise, and Julius Caesar at the Colorado Shakespeare Festival. Erik had the pleasure of writing string arrangements and originating the role of Clifford Griffen in the premier production of Discount Ghost Stories and he’s thrilled to get to spend another summer in Boulder making theater with Local. Keep up with his future projects at erikfellenstein.com

RUNNER FRANCISCO - Tabernash, Mabel MacLeay, Frank Addison
Runner Francisco is delighted to return to Local Theater Company. He has performed with Local Theater Company (Discount Ghost Stories), the DCPA (Twelfth Night - Curio), the Arvada Center (Velveteen Rabbit - Ben, A Midsummer Night's Dream - Demetrius, Murder on the Orient Express - Michel/McQueen, The Diary of Anne Frank - Peter), the Aurora Fox (Miss You Like Hell - Manuel), BETC (Ghost Light Series), Stagedoor Theater (Superior Donuts - Franco), and with CaryAnn Productions (Beauty and the Beast - Beast, Mary Poppins - Bert). As well as performing with Local Theater Company, Runner has also assisted in their LocalWRITES project, teaching students from Casey Middle School on the basics of playwriting. Runner would like to thank all the patrons returning to live theater for their thoughtfulness and safety.

FAITH ANGELISE GOINS-SIMMONS* - Clara Brown, Florence Molloy
Faith was the first person of color to graduate from DU's "Lamont School of Music" Musical Theater. Venues include Pepsi Center,  Fillmore (Chance the Rapper), Aspen Tent, Red Rocks (Josh Grogan), Arvada Center, Town Hall, CSFAC, DCPA, Breckenridge Riverwalk, and many more. In the NBA world she was known as "Tumbleena" with the Denver Nuggets. My most gratifying role is "mama". Our son Syer Peace passed away at 13 months old. I encourage all to spread peace, love and joy everywhere you go. Your greatest pain can be your greatest strength! To my 3 year old Ma'Syah and 1 year old baby girl Syla (La-La), thank you for giving mommy a second chance!! Love you Hubby, in this life and beyond.

JOHN HAUSER - Money (Bassist)
John Hauser is a local actor in Denver and has most recently been seen Benchmark theaters production of Airness, Once at Miners Alley, and Paper Cut at Local Theatre Company.

JENNA MOLL REYES* - Gemma
Jenna is a local Equity Actor, Director, Musician, and Teaching Artist. She’s performed on many Colorado stages such as the Denver Center for the Performing Arts: Off Center, Miners Alley Playhouse, Aurora Fox Arts Center, Local Theater Company, Curious Theater Company, the Arvada Center, Vintage Theater, and the People’s Building. You can purchase Jenna’s music on Bandcamp under jmollreyes.bandcamp.com and find other music related posts on Instagram under the hashtag: #jennaontherocks. When off stage, Jenna loves to take photos (@boon.eye.photos), make Mala necklaces (@malas.by.moll), eat pizza, and use the Oxford comma.

BERN TAN* - Look Young, Frank Addison
Bern is thrilled to join the Local Theater Company family, and deeply grateful to perform in live theater again. During the pandemic, he stayed somewhat saner by playing Mason Chiang in Seasons 2 and 3 of Gates of Remembering, a play-by-mail adventure (Artistic Stamp). Recent stage credits include: Stine (City of Angels, Skirball Center, NYC), Kralahome and u/s King of Siam (King and I, National Tour), Sky Masterson (Guys and Dolls, NYU). Bern also loves creating new works, and was recently seen in Joshua Vrana’s and Maggie Moe’s My Pet Dragon, Annie Sherman's Piaf Lives, and Finding Home, an original musical featuring the music of Ricky Ian Gordon. He holds an M.M. in Vocal Performance and Pedagogy from NYU, and a B.A. from the University of Chicago. www.berntan.net

AMY ONWUDINANTI - Precious Time (drummer)
Amy O. is an up and coming drummer who’s known for her versatile, creative, and skillful playing. Jazz, neo-soul, fusion, and avant-garde are just some of the genres you will find this drummer playing, and well. When Amy isn’t drumming, she’s skateboarding, playing video games, coding, or thinking about drumming.

ALEXANDER SAGE OYEN - Composer, Lyricist
Alexander Sage Oyen’s songs have over 9 Million streams on Spotify. He is the recipient of the 2017 Lotos Foundation Prize in Arts and Sciences for his lyrics and the 2014 ASCAP Foundation’s Lucille and Jack Yellen award for lyricists. His musicals include DIVA: Live From Hell (Available for licensing through DPS), Discount Ghost Stories (cast album available on streaming platforms), Proxy (Underscore Theatre Company, 2019), Outlaws (Goodspeed Fest. New Musicals 2015), and Moment by Moment (Production at Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand 2015. Cast album available on streaming platforms). He was awarded the 2013-2014 Dramatist Guild Fellowship and his musical Outlaws was featured in the 2014 ASCAP Workshop. He’s been named one of Playbill’s “Contemporary Musical Theatre Writers You Should Know,” and was selected for the 2014 Johnny Mercer Songwriter’s Project . Additionally, he was a 2017 Jonathan Larson Grant Finalist. His music has been heard at Lincoln Center, Goodspeed Opera House, Symphony Space, 54 Below, Joe’s Pub, Playwrights Horizons, The Signature Theatre, New World Stages, The Laurie Beechman Theatre and venues in Thailand, London, The Netherlands and all across the world. Proud member of ASCAP and The Dramatists Guild.

PESHA RUDNICK + ROB WRIGHT - Book
Discount Ghost Stories: Songs from the Rockies is the couple’s second artistic collaboration (the first being the 2019 production of Discount Ghost Stories: A Colorado Folklore Concert). When they’re not stringing songs together, they thoroughly enjoy embarrassing their children, Axel and Poppy. Pesha is the Founding Artistic Director of Local Theater Company. For Local, Pesha has directed six world premieres including Paper Cut, The Firestorm and Faith and she curates the annual Local Lab New Play Festival. Nationally, Pesha has directed over 20 new plays including the world premieres of O.P.C. by V (formerly Eve Ensler) at the American Repertory Theater at Harvard University, 26 Miles by Quiara Hudes at Curious Theater Company and The History Room at Creede Repertory Theatre. Pesha has also directed and developed work at the Kennedy Center, Oregon Shakespeare Festival, Cornerstone Theater Company, Rattlestick Playwrights Theaters, 59E59 Street Theater, the Hangar Theater and many others. Pesha is a Drama League Directing Fellow and a member of the Stage Directors and Choreographers Society (SDC). 

PESHA RUDNICK^ - Director
Pesha Rudnick is the Founding Artistic Director of Local Theater Company. For Local, Pesha has developed 25 new American plays and oversees Local Lab, the annual new play festival. Nationally, Pesha has directed over 20 new plays including the world premieres of O.P.C. by Eve Ensler at the American Repertory Theater at Harvard University, 26 Miles by Quiara Hudes at Curious Theater Company, The History Room at Creede Repertory Theatre and Paper Cut at Local Theater Company. Pesha has also directed and developed work at the Kennedy Center, Oregon Shakespeare Festival, Cornerstone Theater Company, Rattlestick Playwrights Theater, 59E59 Street Theater, the Hangar Theater and many others. Pesha is a Drama League Directing Fellow and a member of the Stage Directors and Choreographers Society (SDC).

DAVID NEHLS - Music Director
As a composer/lyricist, David has supplied music and lyrics for the following: THE GREAT AMERICAN TRAILER PARK MUSICAL (Dodger Stages/ 2007 National Tour/ 2004 NYMF Festival/2008 Edinburgh Festival/ Produced Regionally), BROADWAY BARES 19 &20 (Opening Numbers for both years) as well as the 2016 opening number for BROADWAY BARES FIRE ISLAND, I'LL BE HOME FOR CHRISTMAS (World Premiere 2016 at the Arvada Center For The Arts And Humanities), THE WATERCOOLERS (2002 Off Broadway Production/ 2007 National Tour/ Continuing Industrials) BREACH (Evolution Theatre Company), A MIDNIGHT CLEAR, PANTO SLEEPING BEAUTY (both 2009 and a special 2020 edition online), PANTO MOTHER GOOSE (All at Stages Repertory Theatre), IT'S A WONDERFUL LIFE (1993 National Tour/Produced Regionally), KILLER WIGS FROM OUTER SPACE (2017 NYMF, Benefit concert for Denver Actor's Fund 2018, workshop production 2016 CU Boulder and Short Animation Project, GenCon Selection- 2013, Terror Film Festival, Philadelphia-2013), THE GREAT AMERICAN TRAILER PARK CHRISTMAS MUSICAL (Premiere at Stages Rep, Houston, Produced Regionally)and the new musical MOMMIE DEAREST which he has collaborated with Christina Crawford.

PAUL MORLAND^ - Choreographer
Paul Morland was born in Colombia and raised in Denver. Broadway: West Side Story (Fight Captain, Swing). Tours: Fiddler on The Roof (The Fiddler). Paul danced in and co-choreographed “Rare Changes” [Official Video] for grammy-nominated artist Mayer Hawthorne. Paul has been a creative and choreographic collaborator with New York based contemporary dance companies, and created a site specific show with musical artist Who Invited Evan in NYC. Paul has danced in world premieres with Rashaun + Silas, Gallim Dance, MADBoots, and Company SBB. He had the honor of being featured in Dance Magazine’s “25 to Watch” (2019). Paul has a BFA from NYU Tisch. He has taught movement and choreography around the world, and guides yoga classes in Denver.

MISHA S. ZIMMERMAN - Production Stage Manager
Misha S. Zimmerman is the production stage manager and producer at Local Theater Company, where her credits include award-winning productions of Discount Ghost Stories: A Colorado Folklore Concert, Paper Cut, Wisdom from Everything and the annual Local Lab New Play Festival. Misha served as the digital producer for Local’s 2020/2021 online season. Other credits include The Secretary (Curious Theatre Company), Florencia en el Amazonas (Opera Steamboat) and The Enchanted Pig (Opera Steamboat). Misha holds a BA in Theater and Literature from the University of Colorado and participated in the Semester at Sea study abroad program.

AUSTIN GRAY - Production Manager
Austin is technician based out of New York City. He has been working as a head carp for the past five years and is currently the Crew Head/Automation Operator of The Play That Goes Wrong Off -Broadway.

JULIA NOULIN-MÉRAT - Production Designer
Julia Noulin-Mérat is an international producer, designer and is the General Director & CEO of Opera Columbus. Noulin-Mérat is the creative director for Hong Kong-based More Than Musical and is the Artistic Advisor of Guerilla Opera. In addition, Noulin-Mérat has worked on over 400 opera, theater, and television productions, including 25 new operas, 22 new plays. Other projects include DGS at Trident for Local Theater Company, a TEDx talk on site-specific opera productions, Neverland (China Broadway): a 50,000 square immersive theater piece in Beijing, an immersive Pagliacci (Boston Lyric Opera) production complete with fairgrounds inside an ice rink and Playground (Opera Omaha) a National touring operatic sound sculpture in collaboration with composer Ellen Reid. Her work has been featured in Opera News, LiveDesign, the New York Times and the Wall Street Journal to name a few. Noulinmerat.com

NICK O’LEARY - Associate Production Designer
Nick O’Leary is a New York based theater maker and director. Born and raised in New England, he has developed new work with The American Repertory Theater (MA), Guerilla Opera (MA), Actors Theatre of Louisville (KY), The Flea Theater (NY), The Museum of the Moving Image (NY), Dacha Theatre (WA), Sinking Ship Creations (NY), and more. Nick is also a designer and creator of games and interactive experiences. More at www.nickoleary.com

JON DUNKLE - Lighting Designer
Jon Dunkle is a Colorado based designer, manager, and educator with credits and professional connections on Broadway and Off, with national and international tours, dance, concerts, special events, as well as television and architecture. Prior to arriving in Colorado, Jon was a member of the Production and Design faculty at NYU Tisch School of the Arts and was production manager at NYU’s Jack H. Skirball Center for the Performing Arts. He is also the production manager for the Colorado Shakespeare Festival. www.jonnydunkle.info

VIKTORIA PADILLA - Assistant Lighting Designer
Vik is a recent graduate from the University of Colorado Boulder. She earned both a BFA in Theater Design and Technology and a BA in Psychology. She specializes in lighting design, lighting programming, and electrical work

JACOB WELCH - Lighting Design Consultant
Jacob Welch has designed lighting for Local for Paper Cut and Wisdom from Everything. Jacob is a Full Professor of Theatre in Lighting with Metropolitan State University of Denver. Jacob is an award winning lighting designer working throughout North America. Jacob received the 2013 Henry Award for Best Lighting Design for Kiss of the Spiderwoman with Lake Dillon. Jacob has designed Off-Broadway with Conviction at the 59E59 Theatre. Other favorite designs include August: Osage County and General Store with Creede Repertory Theatre, Angels in America with Bas Bleu, 9 Parts of Desire with Curious Theatre, The Syringa with Alliance Stage, MY NAME IS Rachel Corrie with Countdown to Zero, and The Night Heron with Paragon. Jacob is a member of United Scenic Artists Local USA-829.

W. ALEJANDRO MELENDEZ - Lighting Board Operator
Alejandro is a lighting technician and designer based out of Denver. Connect at https://www.wamelendez.design/

MAX SILVERMAN - Sound Designer
Max Silverman is a Colorado and NYC based Composer, Sound Designer and Online Technical Director. He holds a BFA from Westminster College of the Arts. NYC credits include Atlantic Theatre Company, MCC Theatre, Inproximity Theatre Co, Theatre For a New Audience, Brooklyn Academy of Music, New York Deaf Theatre, American Academy of Dramatic Arts, Columbia University, Heartbeat Opera, Epic Players, Actionplay, Manhattan Repertory Theatre, 5th Floor Theatre Co, Encores! Off-Center and Juilliard. Regional credits include Williamstown Theatre Festival, MA, Quintessence Theatre Group, PA, Trinity Rep., RI, Hartford Stage, MA, Penguin Rep., NY, Cara Mía Theatre Co., TX, 4th Wall Theatre, NJ, Princeton University, NJ, Local Theater Co., CO, Hoodoo Berlin and CLB Berlin. Max has also written music for several podcasts, advertisements and short films. max-silverman.com

SAM MORIN - Sound Engineer
Sam Morin is a Sound & Projections Designer, Composer, and Sound & Computer Engineer who puts both sides of his brain to use in all his work. He is most proud of his work from The Laramie Project (University of Colorado Boulder), Discount Ghost Stories (Local Theatre Company), and Harvey Mainstage (Colorado Thespian Conference 2017). Sam takes creative and technical approaches to the work that he does and pushes the boundaries of what can be done with the given tools, techniques, and technology. Sam is excited to be back for the second time working as the sound engineer for Discount Ghost Stories. samamorin.com

ERIKA DAUN - Associate Costumer
Erika Daun is excited to rejoin the Local Theatre Co team this season! Erika's work can be seen at Vintage Theatre, BETC, CU Boulder and the Colorado Shakespeare Festival. In 2019 Erika's design for Miss Bennet: Christmas at Pemberly was nominated for a Henry Award for Outstanding Costume Design.

NIA QUAN - Costume Assistant
My name is Nia Quan and I am a costume designer and costume construction specialist. I have a slew of colorful expertises such as hand sewing, machine sewing, fabric dyeing, stock pulling, layout & cuttings, millinery, and patterning. I have the ability to design from concept to production. Strong artistic designs utilizing color & fabric textures. Creative sketches providing visualization of characters. Assessed scripts to understand costume requirements. Costume construction including sewing, patterning, and tailoring. Detail oriented, organized & hardworking.

WHITNEY ROY - Production Assistant + Covid Compliance Officer
Whitney is delighted to begin working on her first production with Local Theater Company. Whitney will be graduating from Colorado State University in December 2021, with a BA in Theatre with concentrations in stage management and scenic design. Whitney will also be graduating with a minor in Ethnic Studies. Some of Whitney's past credits at CSU include being the stage manager for On the Brink, a reading series that workshops new plays and the scenic designer for the KCACTF award winning production of Cabaret. Outside of CSU Whitney has been involved in various technical positions at Garland Summer Musicals, Dallas Young Artists and Uptown Players in Dallas, Texas where she was born and raised. Whitney would like to thank her family and friends for their continued support. 

ISABELLA TAPIA - Company and Box Office Manager
Isabella Tapia is excited to join Local Theater Company as the Box Office Manager and Company Manager. She is currently attending the University of North Carolina School of the Arts, School of Design and Production for Stage Management. While at university she has been a Production Assistant for Our Lady of 121st Street and Shakespeare’s Henry V: A Radio Play which can be listened to on Spotify and any other podcast app. She started participating in theatre right near Boulder at Erie High School and has really found a passion for it. In her free time she loves to read, make art, and hang out with her dog Maya.

KARA SHEA - Front of House
Hi my name is Kara Shea, I am a Colorado Native and recent graduate of Colorado Boulder where I got a dual degree in Acting (BFA) and Creative Writing (BA) with a minor in education. I am an avid reader and love story telling in any capacity.

Appearing through an Agreement between Local Theater Company and Actors' Equity Association, the Union of Professional Actors and Stage Managers in the United States.

Discount Ghost Stories: Colorado is a concept album with original music and lyrics by award-winning composer/lyricist Alexander Sage Oyen. Featuring some of the most talented vocalists and musicians working today, from the Broadway stage to the Colorado front range, Discount Ghost Stories: Colorado is a barn-burner that’ll take you to the height of the Rockies with its folk rock, neo-Broadway tunes. This album was recorded during the COVID-19 lockdown in spring 2020, with Oyen shipping a mobile recording studio from his personal studio in NYC across the globe to performers including La Chanze, George Salazar, Lesli Margherita and Michael James Scott. Jakob Reinhardt produced the album from his Frieburg, Germany studio. What has emerged is an unlikely collaboration of artists, sharing their time, talent and now this thrilling album… Discount Ghost Stories: Colorado.

Proceeds from the streams of this album benefit the Local Love Fund.

Alpine Modern
Jane Butcher
Jim Butterworth The Hon. Andrew & Amy Hartman
Amy Howard & Scott Hunsaker
Larry & Helayne Jones
John & Mary Lithgow
Robin Lithgow & Tim Rudnick
Megan Mathews Tony & Mary Mathews

The McDaniel Cunningham Fund
Sacha Millstone of the Millstone Evans Group of Raymond James
The Prickly Pear Foundation
Carolyn Schuham
Sallie Smith
Whole Family Dentistry
Tish & John Winsor
Nicky Wolman & David Fulker

Lari & Tom Abraham
Mary Backlund & Ginny Corsi
Nikki Barnett Felicia Furman
GerRee Hinshaw & Lee Anderson Jon & Jerrie Hurd
Diana & Mike Kinsey
Linda & David Lakhdhir
Emily Lawrence
Robin Lithgow & Tim Rudnick

Kevin & Robin Luff Family Fund
Will Misko
Louise Pearson & Grant Couch
Dee Perry
Sarah Pierce Martin
Diana Verrilli & David Raduziner
Linda & Alan Rogers
Ellen & Josh Taxman
Tami & Michael Wakeman

Dean Abraham
Lari Abraham
Megan Barbour
KC Becker
Cheri Belz
Lisa Berley
Karen Bernardo and the Bernardi Group at Coldwell Banker
Brent Berry
Jerome Blake
Boulder Conventions & Visitors Bureau / Crreate Boulder 
Sara Bryant
January Burton
Debbie Cardineau
Cindy & Dan Caruso
Joyce Chase
Heidi Cluff
Sylvie del Giudice
David Deutsch
Jenna Doty
Elana's Pantry
Amy Fenton
Felice Fenwick-Smith
Sandy Friedman
Kerry Gaertner Gerbracht
Martin Gang
Abner Genece
Kerry & Eddie Gilmartin
Kate Gipson
Rosamond Glasscock
Vicky Glasser Golden
Barbara Gotshall
Harriet Gould
Kathryn Gray
David Gross
Erika Haase
Kim Haller
Mary Catherine Hamelin
Lynn Hamrick
Albert Hand
Monica Harmon
Betty Hart
Collette Hart Wallace
Sue Heilbronnerr
Ana Maria Hernando
Hill Hotel Partners
GerRee Hinshaw

Historic Boulder 
Anthony Hodes
Jana Johnson
Racy Joseph
Maria Kincaid
Clarissa King
Sophie Kofman
Charlotte Kyle
Jordan Lichtenheld
Michanda Lindsey
Susan Litt
Richard Long
Stefan Magnusson & Ellen Morris Magnusson
Megan Mathews
Billie McBride
Timothy McCracken
Lon McGowan
Christopher H Merrell
Joseph Misko
Hilary Morland
Julia Noulin-Mérat
Michael O’Brien
P Jenny Otto
Cat Palmer
Peggy Palmer
Margaret Palmer
Alison Palmer
Laura Palmer
Jean Patton
Ruthie Pfeiffer
Sarah Pierce Martin
Scott Pilutik
Rebecca Pineda
Pamela Putch
Steve Reiss
Pesha Rudnick
Stephanie Rudy
Firuzeh Saidi
Max Silverman
Elizabeth Snowden
Miriam Sproul
Tara Tolar-Payne
Esther Varney
Mark Villarreal
Diana W. Kinsey
Raymond Wells
Nicky Wolman
Sandy Younghans
Joan Zimmerman
Daniel Ziskin