Mother of the Maid

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.

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.