Artist Bios

A dedicated theater artist from Salt Lake City.

Matthew Sincell is thrilled to join the New Play Sounding Series! His past theater credits include Shakespeare’s R&J (West End, London), A Shakespeare Master Play (The Globe, London with Mark Rylance), The Clean-up Project and Jump (Plan B Theatre Company), Tribes, Harbur Gate, and Streetlight Woodpecker (Salt Lake Acting Company), three seasons with The American Shakespeare Company, and Beyond Glory with Stephen Lang. Special thanks to Salt Lake Acting Company, his wife Corinne, and his two wonderful daughters, Semalu and Marisol.

NIKI RAHIMI is thrilled to return to SLAC, where she last appeared as Trudy in SLACabaret: Down The Rabbit Hole and as an understudy in A Year with Frog and Toad. Her regional credits include Around The World In 80 Days (Hale Centre Theatre), The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee (Good Company Theatre), Harvey (The Grand Theatre), Hello, Dolly! (Pioneer Theatre Company), and SLACabaret 2021 (SLAC). This season, Niki will tour Utah elementary schools with Squeak (Plan B Theatre) and The Story Weavers (Hale Centre Theatre). She extends heartfelt thanks to the cast, crew, and her friends and family.

Jason Bowcutt serves as the Community Programs and Performing Arts Manager for the Utah Division of Arts and Museums, overseeing initiatives like the Mountain West Arts Conference, OnStage in Utah, and the Utah Artists Fellowship. With a background in acting and directing and a degree from the University of Utah, he co-founded the New York Innovative Theatre Foundation and actively supports arts accessibility and leadership development statewide. Jason is also a board member of Arts Northwest and has served on the boards of the Utah Arts Alliance and Utah Pride Center.

Deborah Zoe Laufer is an acclaimed playwright whose work has been produced at top theaters worldwide, including Steppenwolf, Humana Festival, and Cleveland Playhouse. Her plays, such as Be Here Now, End Days, and Informed Consent (a New York Times Critic’s Pick), explore profound themes with wit and insight. A recipient of the Helen Merrill Playwriting Award and the ATCA Steinberg Citation, Deb has developed her work at prestigious venues like The O’Neill Playwrights Conference and PlayPenn. Her plays are published by Samuel French, Concord, and others.

A dedicated theater artist with a focus on learning across multiple disciplines, I’m currently pursuing a BA in Acting/Directing and an Associate’s in Technical Theatre at Weber State University. I have hands-on experience in scenic carpentry, painting, and design, and for the past four months, I’ve been an assistant carpenter in our university’s scenic shop, continually building my skills.

This is Jane’s first appearance with Pygmalion Productions. She has worked in various theaters across the Wasatch Front and holds a BA in Theatre from USU. She has performed with Walk-Ons over the last seven years in Portrait of a Caregiver. Favorite past roles include: Emma — Over the River and Through the Woods,Betty — The Foreigner, M’Lynn– Steel Magnolias, Veta– Harvey, Miss Skillon — See How They Run, and Jesse — ‘Night, Mother. Margery — Tender Hooks, now joins the list of favorites, because how could you not love that diatribe on cats? And, because she gets to share the stage for the very first time with her BFF of 40 years!

Brenda Hattingh has been active in the Salt Lake theater community since 2015, collaborating with companies like PYGmalion, Plan-B Theatre, and Sackerson. She has enjoyed various roles, including playing Mother in Shockheaded Peter and Lavinia in Julie Jensen’s Two Headed. Recently, Brenda co-founded Immigrant’s Daughter, a theater company, alongside local playwright/director Morag Shepherd and actress/playwright Ariana Farber. She is excited to be working with SLAC for the first time.

Fran has been in active in the Salt Lake Theatre Community for 30+ years. As such, she has done projects here and there and everywhere. Fran Pruyn leads the Marketing Department as Director. She’s been in the industry for thirty years, and with CRSA for seventeen, directing public relations and marketing as well as having her hand [foot and elbow] in business development and client relations. To sum up Fran: she’s all about helping the company and all the people inside of it grow.

Teresa is thrilled to be directing MOTHER OF THE MAID with these incredible theatre artists. Teresa has been actively involved in the Theatre Community for over 35 years. A designer, producer, director, singer and actor. Teresa loves all things art. Look for her later this year as Eleanor in THE LION IN WINTER for New World Shakespeare Company.

Dan Beecher has been acting in Salt Lake for well over 30 years. He attended the University of Utah’s Actor Training Program, and has been in theater ever since. This is his first foray to the director’s side of the table, and he’s very grateful to Pygmalion and Teresa Sanderson for the opportunity.

Has been designing for PYG since the very first show in 1998 and with other companies including Wasatch Theatre, Pinnacle Acting Company, Salt Lake Acting Company, Classic Greek Theatre Festival, Dark Horse Company Theatre, The Hive Theatre, and Utah Repertory Theatre Company. SoundScape and Projection designs include LAST LISTS OF MY MAD MOTHER, THE HALF LIFE OF MARIE CURIE, SELMA ‘65, ANTIGONE, SIX DEGREES OF SEPARATION, 33 VARIATIONS, STEEL MAGNOLIAS, GYPSY, THE PASSION OF SISTER DOTTIE S. DIXON, DOTTIE: THE SISTER LIVES ON, THE ODD COUPLE (FEMALE VERSION).

Pilar has had the immense privilege of designing for PYG for 20 years, lighting over 20 productions. Making her living in the live performing arts for 25 years, Pilar is currently the Production Stage Manager for Repertory Dance Theatre, having just completed her 9th season. Previous designs include: THE HALF-LIFE OF MARIE CURIE, MOUNTAIN MEADOWS, TWO-HEADED, SILENT SKY, SELMA ’65, HELLMAN V. MCCARTHY. Pilar continues to be grateful to enjoy her working-home at The Rose, and values the work and collaborations she has been so fortunate to be a part of for so long.

April has previously worked with Pygmalion Productions in THE HALF LIFE OF MARIE CURIE, WHITE SAVIOR, and LIVING OUT. Other local credits include MEDEA (Classical Greek Theatre Festival); MESTIZA (OR, MIXED), THE AUDACITY, and SUFFRAGE (Plan-B Theatre Company); MERCURY, BULL SHARK ATTACK, and BLACKBERRY WINTER (Salt Lake Acting Company); A STREETCAR NAMED DESIRE (The Grand Theatre); CLUE, PRIDE AND PREJUDICE, and SENSE AND SENSIBILITY (Hale Center Theater, Orem); STAGE KISS (Wasatch Theatre Company); AUGUST: OSAGE COUNTY (Silver Summit/Utah Rep); and TITUS ANDRONICUS (Pinnacle Acting Company). Regional credits include work with Berkeley Repertory Theatre and the California Shakespeare Festival. April holds a Bachelor’s degree in Theatre Arts from UC Berkeley.

Addie is currently a senior at UVU getting her BFA in musical theatre performance. She just returned from an internship in NYC with Ryan Scott Olivers Actors Therapy. Recent shows include: MOCKINGBIRD (UVU young audiences touring company),PIRATES OF PENZANCE(UVU), I HATE HAMLET(UVU),KING STAG(UVU), BACKSTAGE BERNIE(JSK Studios), ARCHIPELAGO (Harrington center for the arts), GINGERBREAD (Harrington Center for the arts), and has been a finalist for the Irene Ryan Awards at KCACTF for three years. Addie has also had many odd jobs ranging from working at a horse ranch in Idaho to foley artistry and everything in between. Addie is SO FUGGIN’ EXCITED TO BE IN MOTHER OF THE MAID!!!!!! Thank you so much to the brilliant cast and team behind this show and her family who’s been behind her whole life. Make sure to hug your pets.

Matthew Ivan Bennett has worked as an actor and writer with Pygmalion, Plan-B, Sackerson, Wasatch, SLAC, Pioneer Theatre, and Utah Shakespeare. In collaboration with Plan-B and KUER’s RadioWest, he’s written over a dozen radio plays, adapting classics such as FRANKENSTEIN and SHERLOCK HOLMES as well as airing original sci-fi and fantasy. His feature film THE WHOLE LOT (dir. by Connor Rickman) was an Official Selection at Philadelphia International Film Festival in 2022 and several indie film fests. His next project will be NON at the Great Salt Lake Fringe Festival. Matt is a member of the Dramatists Guild.

Alvaro Cortez is a local actor both in film and theatre based in Salt Lake City. A 2020 pandemic graduate from Westminster College in the B.F.A program. Alvaro started in his actor training since his Junior year at Hillcrest High in Midvale, Utah. Where he was first able to learn and work on his craft with dedicated faculty.  Most recent work was in the Alliance Theater in the The Fringe Festival/The Classical Greek Theater Festival in THE BACCHAE (Dionysus) And a one man show of THE ABSOLUTE BRIGHTNESS OF LEONARD PELKEY. Other show credits have been ROMEO AND JULIET (Tybalt) & MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING (Don Pedro) As well as THE MEMORY OF WATER (Mike), THE ZOO STORY (Peter), and THE CHRISTIANS (Elder Jay) at Westminster College.

Jesse Nepivoda is an actor and playwright originally from Washington DC. He and his written work have been seen on stages around the United States and Canada and he is very pleased to be working with Pygmalion again. He also currently serves as a producer with SLC-based theatre company Sackerson. Much love to Isabel.

Jensie graduated from the University of Utah a long time ago with a BFA in theatre performance, and not as long ago with a JD from the SJ Quinney College of Law. Before getting her law degree, Jensie worked at Houston’s Alley Theatre, Actor’s Theatre of Louisville, and in New York City. She has been a practicing attorney for 31 years and is a law professor at her alma mater. Her law practice is primarily focused on advocating for the wrongfully convicted. Since her joyful return to the theatre, Jensie has played Sarah Weddington in a staged reading of Roe and Lady of the Court in Mother of the Maid, both at Pygmalion Productions. All of this is possible because Jensie has the best husband and daughter in the world, and an incredible BFF.

Morag Shepherd is the artistic director of Immigrant’s Daughter Theatre and is a member of the Plan-B writers lab, where her play MY BROTHER WAS A VAMPIRE, and NOT ONE DROP (David Ross Fetzer grant recipient) has performed. Her play WORSHIP recently performed with the Utah Arts Alliance (The Utah Review top moment of 2023), and her play DO YOU WANT TO SEE ME NAKED (Critics Choice Award, and Best Solo Performance) has performed in Salt Lake City, Tucson, and The United Solo Festival in New York City. Her site-specific play, CHERRY WINE IN PAPER CUPS performed outside the Salt Lake City library summer 2020, and her immersive play, A BRIEF WALTZ IN A LITTLE ROOM performed throughout 2019 in Salt Lake City. Recent directing credits include MOUNTAIN MEADOWS by Debora Threedy, THE BEAUTY QUEEN OF LEENANE by Martin McDonagh, MELANCHOLY PLAY by Sarah Ruhl, BODY AWARENESS by Annie Baker, and LET THE RIGHT ONE IN by Jack Thorne.

Ariana Broumas Farber is an actress, director, playwright, and producer who has worked on the professional stage locally and regionally for 22 years. Past productions with Pygmalion include: The Sex Habits of American Women and Spark. Other local theater companies include: Pioneer, Salt Lake Acting Company, PLAN-B, Wasatch, the Grand, The Classical Greek Theater Festival, The New Works Theater Machine, and Immigrant’s Daughter. She has 5 production credits from Immigrant’s Daughter Theater, where she serves as Managing Director alongside the illustrious Morag Shepherd. Their latest production, Worship, was selected by the Utah Review (alongside Pygmalion’s Mountain Meadows) as the number #1 production of the 2023 Utah Enlightenment. Her playwriting credits include Savage Resources (FFF Award at GSL Fringe Festival), Dreamers (Top 10 plays of 2022, Utah Review), Role Play, and Ride Me: A Play with Cruel Intentions (co-writer). Her writing will be featured in a collaborative production with Sakerson Theater Company coming in spring of 2024. Ariana graduated Magna Cum Laude with a BFA (Actor Training Program) and MPA from the University of Utah. She is a former Captain in the United States Marine Corps and works in economic development during the day.

Julie is Utah’s most-produced playwright. She grew up in Beaver, Utah, and graduated from College of Southern Utah and Utah State University, receiving a B.A. and M.A. in English. She also holds a Ph.D. in Theatre from Wayne State University in Detroit. Having taught playwriting as a guest at more than a dozen colleges and universities, she was a professor of theatre at Saint Mary’s College and the University of Notre Dame and directed the graduate playwriting program at University of Nevada, Las Vegas. She also spent five years working as a writer in Hollywood. She now makes her home in Salt Lake City where she works with several theatres. Jensen has written more than 30 plays, all of which have been professionally produced. PYGmalion has produced several of them, including LAST LISTS OF MY MAD MOTHER, CHEAT, WAIT, MOCKINGBIRD, and MOTHER MOTHER.

Barb Gandy – Dorethea, In the late 1960’s I was in the spelling bee world.  I made it to the City-wide meet (in Denver) and went down pretty quickly on the word ‘milieu’ (from the French meaning environment or setting); as you can see I haven’t forgotten that word.  I love ensemble theatre and it is a delight to be part of Eleemosynary.  Other recent credits:  Hellman v. McCarthy (Pygmalion); Buried Child (Silver Summit); Martian Chronicles (Salt City Radio Players).

Ma – Reb Fleming. – Long ago and far away Reb Fleming and the lovely Miss Nancy Roth dreamed of a theatre company that would present theatre from a decidedly female point of view. That dream gave birth to PYGmalion. Ms. Roth took the helm as producer and Reb as artistic director and history is still in the making. Reb has acted and directed for this company she loves in productions including HELLMAN V. MCCARTHY, GIN GAME, BLITHE SPIRIT, CAKEWALK, BEYOND THERAPY, HOUSE OF BLUE LEAVES, LIVING OUT, KNOWING CAIRO, BUS STOP and SORDID LIVES. She also taught Voice and Speech for the Actor, Acting I and II, and treasures each memory of every student she worked with.

Tamara has worked PYGmalion many times, most recently in Julie Jensen’s MOTHER MOTHER as the indomitable Bella Abzug in BELLA BELLA Other recent work has included SWEENEY TODD at the Grand Theatre, and FOUR WOMEN TALKING ABOUT THE MAN UNDER THE SHEET at Salt Lake Acting Company. During the Covid shutdown, she was in Plan B’s radio play P.G. ANON by Julie Jensen. Other recent roles include Modesto/Floating/Jenya in WAIT!, Mary Todd Lincoln in MARY AND MYRA, Chris Remington in REMINGTON AND WEA¬SEL, Mrs. Brooks in MOCKINGBIRD (Pygmalion), Abuela Claudia in In THE HEIGHTS (Good Company), Emperor Saturninus in TITUS ANDRONICUS (Pinnacle) and Bashira in TWO STORIES (SLAC). Tamara earned her BFA in Theatre from the University of Utah and is currently pursuing her Masters. She is a junior-high school theatre teacher.

Stephanie as Evelyn Glimord is pleased to return to Pygmalion, and to be working with old and new friends! Last season, she appeared as Jean in Salt Lake Acting Company’s GOOD PEOPLE and played Brandie/Janeal/Sherilynn in Plan-B Theatre Company’s ‘3.’ Previously at Plan-B, she was seen in BORDERLANDS, THE END OF THE HORIZON, THE ALIENATION EFFEKT and BASH, as well as all 10 slam’s (Plan-B’s annual 24-hour theatre festival.) Other local credits include ONE FLEW OVER THE CUCKOO’S NEST, BIG RIVER, FORUM and SOUTH PACIFIC at Pioneer Theatre Company, as well as productions at The Grand Theatre, The Emily Company, The Egyptian Theatre Company, Repertory Dance Theatre and Aerial Arts of Utah. Stephanie is a graduate of Northwestern University with a degree in Theatre Arts.