The Complete Works of Jane Austen, Abridged

ALYSSA ANNE AUSTIN (Charlotte) is delighted to make her ETC debut! Alyssa is an award-winning actor whose regional credits include Noises Off, Murder on the Orient Express (The Old Globe); The Play That Goes Wrong (La Mirada Theatre/McCoy Rigby Entertainment); Murder on the Links (World Premiere – North Coast Rep & Laguna Playhouse); POP Tour: Jin vs the Beach (La Jolla Playhouse), Follies, Cabaret (Cygnet Theatre); Becky Sharp in Vanity Fair (Scripps Ranch Theatre); 42nd Street (Moonlight Stage Productions); Spamalot (Theatre at the Welk); and Titania in A Midsummer Night’s Dream (Coronado Playhouse), along with 30+ on-camera and commercial projects. Her “part TED Talk, part Broadway cabaret” original one-woman show, Always a Banana, Never the Bride: An Ode to Broadway’s “Lesser Ladies,” won the BroadwayWorld San Diego Award for Best Cabaret/Concert/Solo Performance. Alyssa received her Bachelor of Arts in English Literature from Penn State University and has also studied at the Guildhall School of Music & Drama in London. In addition to acting, Alyssa is an entrepreneur and best-selling author. For more about Alyssa, please visit AlyssaAnneAustin.com, PoisedandProfessional.com, or follow her on Instagram/TikTok @alyssaanneaustin.

KYLE T. HESTER (Trevor) is delighted to be returning to ETC and the world of Jane Austen again, having last been seen at the New Vic in The Wickhams: Christmas at Pemberley as Mr. Wickham. Other regional theatre credits include Twelfth Night, A Midsummer Night’s Dream and Hamlet (Santa Cruz Shakespeare), The Canadians (South Coast Repertory), Arms and the Man (Jewel Theatre Company), Wild Goose Dreams (La Jolla Playhouse), King Lear (Harold Clurman Lab Theatre), Measure STILL for Measure (Boston Court), Design for Living (Odyssey Theatre Ensemble), Edward III (The Porters of Hellsgate) and Girlfriend (Dezart Performs). Kyle can also be heard in “Play On” Shakespeare’s audioplay recording of The Taming of the Shrew as well as Amy Freed’s adaptation Shrew! as Tranio. In addition to acting, Kyle is a dedicated and enthusiastic educator, currently on faculty teaching Shakespeare at the Art of Acting Studio in Hollywood, the West Coast sister school of the Stella Adler Studio in New York. He received his M.F.A. from UC San Diego and B.F.A. from NYU Tisch. For more information or to check out some of Kyle’s art visit www.kylethester.com or @kyle.t.hester on Instagram.

KIRSTEN HØJ (Jessica) is thrilled to be making her ETC debut! Previous credits include Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein (Indiana Repertory Theater), Macbeth (Prague Shakespeare Company), Below Zero (Hollywood Fringe Festival), SHE WOLF, Margaret of Anjou (UCSB LAUNCH PAD), Twelfth Night (Naked Shakes), and Seagull (UCSB). She has a love for new play development and has had the privilege of working with some incredible writers and directors, including Beth Henley, Pesha Rudnick, Katie Bender, Idris Goodwin, James Still, and Risa Brainin. Kirsten holds a B.F.A. in Acting from UC Santa Barbara. She is grateful to be back here sharing the joy of Jane Austen’s work! You can follow her on Instagram @kirsten_hoj

LUNA AGUILAR (Austenian 1) is absolutely thrilled to make her ETC debut. She is currently a student at UCSB, enrolled in the B.F.A. Acting program, and is set to graduate in 2027. Her most recent works include Ariel in The Tempest with Naked Shakes, and Margaret in Much Ado About Nothing with Prague Shakespeare Company. Her favorite roles include Miss Wilhemina in John Patrick’s The Curious Savage and Zuzu in Clare Barron’s Dance Nation. She would like to give thanks to her professors, friends, and family for their unwavering support.

GABRIELLA ROBERTS (Austenian 2) is excited to make her debut with ETC. She will be graduating from UCSB with a B.F.A. in acting in 2027. Favorite roles include Helena in A Midsummer Night’s Dream with the Prague Shakespeare Company, Antonio in The Tempest with Naked Shakes, Calypso in The Odyssey with COC, and Elizabeth in The Crossing Party with Launchpad Reading Series. She would like to thank her family, friends, and teachers for their support, with a special thanks to Thomas.

ROBERT KELLEY (Director) is the Artistic Director Emeritus of TheatreWorks Silicon Valley, which he founded in 1970. Following the company’s receipt of the 2019 Regional Theatre Tony Award, he retired in 2020, having directed over 175 productions, including many world premieres. He has directed five previous Jane Austen stage productions, including the world premieres of the Paul Gordon musicals Pride and Prejudice and Emma, which he also directed at Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park and Repertory Theatre of St. Louis, as well as the first reading of Lauren Gunderson’s Christmas at Pemberley, which he directed for the Jane Austen Society of North America–Northern California Chapter. A native of San Francisco and a Stanford University graduate, he has received the Bay Area Theatre Critics Circle Award for Lifetime Achievement and many regional awards for Outstanding Direction. His recent work includes the musicals Sense and Sensibility and Ragtime, and the musical revue Being Alive: a Sondheim Celebration, which he co-created in 2024. In April, he directs TheatreWorks’ production of the award-winning musical Come From Away. He is thrilled to be joining longtime collaborator Scott Devine and the entire ETC family.

JANE AUSTEN (born December 16, 1775, Steventon, Hampshire, England—died July 18, 1817, Winchester, Hampshire) was an English writer who first gave the novel its distinctly modern character through her treatment of ordinary people in everyday life. She published four novels during her lifetime: “Sense and Sensibility” (1811), “Pride and Prejudice” (1813), “Mansfield Park” (1814), and “Emma” (1815). In these and in “Persuasion” and “Northanger Abbey” (published together posthumously, 1817), she vividly depicted English middle-class life during the early 19th century. Her novels defined the era’s novel of manners, but they also became timeless classics that remained critical and popular successes for over two centuries after her death. These works reflect her enduring legacy.

JESSICA BEDFORD (Playwright) is a Philadelphia-based actor, director, dramaturg, playwright, and teacher. She has been seen onstage at McCarter Theatre, Walnut Street Theater, Lantern Theatre Co, Montgomery Theatre, the Arden, Tiny Dynamite, Theatre Horizon, People’s Light and Theatre Co. and other stages in the Philadelphia area. Recent directing credits include Delaware Shakespeare, the Philadelphia Artists’ Collective, Act II Playhouse, DeSales University and the McCarter. As a writer, her works have been produced with Passage Theatre, 1812 Productions, Recognize Theatre, Act II Playhouse, Tiny Dynamite, Villanova University Theatre, Juniper Productions and Riverside Theatre (Iowa). Jessica has taught at Villanova University, Temple University, DeSales University and University of the Arts. She is a professor of theatre at DeSales University. Villanova University, M.A.; Queens University, M.F.A.

KATHRYN MacMILLAN (Playwright) is the Artistic Director of Tiny Dynamite, where The Complete Works of Jane Austen, Abridged had its world premiere in 2019. She was the production’s first director, earning a Barrymore Award nomination for Excellence in Theatre for Best Direction. KC has directed more than 60 productions, including off-Broadway at Theatre Row; her regional credits include Lantern Theater Company, InterAct Theater, Inis Nua Theatre Company, Delaware Theatre Company, Pennsylvania Shakespeare Festival, Shakespeare in Clark Park, Playhouse on Park and Theatre Horizon. KC has been nominated for several Barrymore Awards in Theatre Excellence for Outstanding Direction, Outstanding Production, Outstanding Ensemble and with this team, Outstanding New Play for 2023’s world premiere of Jane Eyre. In 2015, KC was named one of Billy Penn’s Who’s Next: 16 Young Philadelphians Shaping the Arts Scene.

CHARLOTTE NORTHEAST (Playwright) is a two-time Barrymore Award winner for her acting work at InterAct (Skin in Flames) and Lantern Theater Company (Emma). Graduate: Circle in the Square. Credits include Philadelphia Artists’ Collective (PAC), Act II Playhouse, Theatre Exile, Passage Theatre, Azuka, Montgomery Stage, Hedgerow, Orbiter 3 (Barrymore Nomination), Theatre Horizon, Delaware Theatre Company, and the Walnut Street Theatre. She has directed for InterAct, PAC, Curio, Hedgerow, Rutgers-Camden, WST, Tribe of Fools, and Philadelphia Young Playwrights. Co-creator and performer of The Complete Works of Jane Austen, Abridged and solo show They’ve All Gone and We’ll Go Too, which traveled to the Edinburgh Fringe Festival this past summer. Love to Damon, Jules, and The Kitties. Please visit: www.charlottenortheast.com

MEGHAN WINCH (Playwright) is a Philadelphia-area dramaturg, actor and playwright. She is the Associate Artistic Director of Tiny Dynamite, where she cowrote The Complete Works of Jane Austen, Abridged and wrote Georgiana Recovered in Time – a play-by-mail in 10 installments set in the world of “Pride and Prejudice,” co-created with designer Natalia de la Torre. With the Jane Austen, Abridged team, she also cowrote a new adaptation of Jane Eyre for Philadelphia Artists’ Collective (6 Barrymore nominations, including Outstanding Original Production). She has served as the dramaturg for more than 40 productions at theatres that include: Lantern Theater Company (resident dramaturg), Shakespeare in Clark Park, Tiny Dynamite, Hedgerow Theatre, Theatre Horizon, Iron Age, and Beacon Theater. As an actor, she’s appeared at Tiny Dynamite, the Lantern, Shakespeare in Clark Park and Hedgerow. She earned her M.A. in Theatre with a focus on dramaturgy at Villanova University.

OLIVIA RYAN ESCOBEDO (Assistant Director) is ecstatic to be making her ETC debut. She is currently a directing student at UCSB and will graduate with a B.A. in Sociology and Theatre in 2026. Recent credits include Assistant Director for the Naked Shakes production of The Tempest and Director of Holding Space by Abby Dougherty, for the ENOUGH! Plays Reading Series in collaboration with ETC. Other favorite directing credits include scenes from Romeo and Juliet and Love’s Labour’s Lost, as well as stage managing for LAUNCHPAD’s The Rink at the End of the World. She is honored to be a part of this production and would like to thank her family, friends, professors, and ETC for supporting her at the beginning of her directing career.

JOEL DAAVID (Scenic Design) is an award-winning director/set designer since attending the American Film Institute. His career accomplishments also include directing/cinematography for film and video projects. Awards include Ovation, LA Weekly, NAACP and LADCC Theater Awards. He directed/designed the award-winning production of The Miracle Worker at the Matrix and Edgemar Theatres and the new production of Tennessee Williams’ Baby Doll at the Lillian Theatre, the multi-award winning Frankenstein for Theatre Tallahassee, the epic story of Camille (Claudel) at the Greenway Arts Alliance, the world premiere musical Caligari’s Cabinet of Curiosities written by Vanessa Stewart and most recently Sweeney Todd for the Monticello Opera House. www.joeldaavid-director.com

ABRA FLORES (Costume Design) has been telling stories with her designs for the past 35 years, both as a designer and educator. As a working Designer, with experiences in multiple venues and production situations (theater, film, dance, and opera), Abra brings a strong knowledge of and appreciation for Costume Design to her work and her teaching. Abra has initiated, developed, and integrated active programs in costume design and makeup at Ventura College, Moorpark College and CSU, Channel Islands (currently, the CSUCI program is on hiatus). It is very apparent she loves her craft, and takes great pride in creating excellent work, striving to instill in her students a pride in their craftsmanship and a love of theatre. Abra has also created an international program, where groups of students tour various cities in Europe, seeing plays and touring theaters. She received a B.A. in Theatre from Portland State University and a M.F.A. in Costume Design from California Institute of the Arts. Abra is delighted to be collaborating with Ensemble Theatre Company again.

DANNY FIANDACA (Sound Designer) returns to Ensemble Theatre Company having previously designed Ring of Fire and Million Dollar Quartet. He began his career as an assistant/associate to Peter McBoyle for ten years for productions across the U.S. and Asia as well as Broadway (Twyla Tharp’s Come Fly Away). Expanding on that experience, Danny became the designer of all musical theatre productions for Princess cruises between 2010 and 2020, collaborating with Stephen Schwartz and the Jim Henson Company on multiple stage productions. In addition to his work abroad, his local work includes designs for Ensemble Theatre, Rubicon Theatre, Music Theatre West, Long Beach Opera and Ebony Repertory Company. Some favorite credits include The Secret Silk (Stephen Schwartz/Princess Cruises), Henson Inspired Silliness (Jim Henson Company/Princess Cruises), In the Heights (Rubicon Theatre), Fantastic Journey (THEA Award – Princess Cruises), Once – Enchanted Storybook (Vinpearl Land, Phu Quoc, Vietnam) and Ring of Fire (ETC Santa Barbara). Most recent credits include Bonnie & Clyde (Rubicon Theatre), Moon Mine (Turrell Sky Space),Viva La Musica (Princess Cruises), and Buddy Holly Story (Music Theatre West).

ALEX JOHNSTON (Props Design) is a Props Designer, Carpenter, Art Department Fabricator, and Scenic Artist working throughout Southern California on theatre and commercial productions. He regularly works with Mustache Productions, Rubicon Theatre Company, Ensemble Theatre Company, and is the Artist in Residence for Santa Susana High School’s Theatre Department. Some of his recent credits include Props Designer on Rubicon’s Bonnie and Clyde, Art Department on 2nd Try’s But Wait There’s More!, Carpenter and Scenic Artist on Ensemble’s Hamlet, Carpenter and Scenic Artist on Rubicon’s Two Trains Running, Props Designer for Ensemble’s Million Dollar Quartet, and Art Department on the short film Stalling. Alex is also a longtime volunteer at the Ojai Raptor Center, helping to rehabilitate native birds of prey. Ojai Raptor Center’s extensive efforts in wildlife conservation and their methodology for existing within the natural world, as well as Ojai’s surrounding community, continue to be profoundly important and inspiring to him. He would like to give special thanks to Anthony and Mallory for their grace and support during this production. He would also like to thank his dog Ollie, even though he was no help whatsoever.

SEAN O’SHEA (Fight Coordinator) was last seen in the Santa Barbara City College production of Young Frankenstein where he played the monster. He is the Academic Advisor in the Theater and Dance Department at UCSB where he also teaches stage combat. In his 40 years in theater Sean has been an actor, director, producer, fight choreographer. He is the Founder and former Artistic Director of the Santa Barbara Shakespeare Festival having produced 26 of SBSF’s productions. Locally he’s been seen on stage at SBCC’s Garvin and Jurkowitz, Circle Bar B, Ensemble Theater’s New Vic, the Lobero and Center Stage. In San Diego he’s worked at the Old Globe, Black Friars, North Coast Repertory Theater, and Balboa Theater. Sean worked several seasons with the Idaho Shakespeare Festival, in Boise, ID, and was also part of their traveling repertory group. He studied at San Diego State University, and was in the M.F.A. acting program at the University of San Diego in affiliation with the Old Globe.

GABI BALTZELL (Production Assistant) is a Stage Manager and Director from Ventura, California. Recently, Gabi worked as Assistant Stage Manager for Rubicon Theatre’s productions of Million Dollar Quartet, Bonnie & Clyde and Once, and was also the Backstage Manager for their productions of Constellations and Crazy Mama. Over the past Summer, she also served as the Stage Manager for New Art City Theatre’s 2025 Staged Reading Festival and their staged reading of Sunday After Next. Gabi’s most recent directing credits include 2.5 Minute Ride in collaboration with the New and Reimagined Works Initiative, a one-act adaptation of The Pillowman, and Assistant Directing an adaptation of Macbeth with the Prague Shakespeare Company. gabibaltzell.com