In Alphabetical Order
Emma Beaver (a Courtesan) has been the Head Librarian for the Penn State Fayette Library since December 2019. While this is her first production with the Lion Players, Emma earned her BFA in Acting from West Virginia University in 2008 and appeared in such works as The Cherry Orchard and The Seagull by Anton Chekhov, Mountain Language by Harold Pinter, and Comic Potential by Alan Ayckbourn. During her time working in New York City, she was a member of a comedic improv troupe, and even filmed a pilot for a sci-fi show about vampires in space (surprisingly, no television network decided to back this venture). In her free time, Emma is proud to work with a group of actors, via Zoom, reading new scripts so that writers can workshop their pilots; one of these scripts recently won the Jump Start Writing Competition and was a finalist in several screenplay competitions.
Joshua Brady (Antipholus of Syracuse) is a freshman at Penn State Fayette. He plans on transferring to University Park after two years and majoring in Architectural Engineering. Josh has participated in over 15 productions between school and community shows and has been a part of over 20 choral performances. In his free time, he enjoys singing, drawing, writing, and playing games (both video games and tabletop). While Josh has no planned career in the performing arts, he hopes to continue singing and acting as a hobby.
Elizabeth Brunelli (Emilia, an Abbess of Ephesus) is a junior at Penn State Altoona. She majors in Electromechanical Engineering Technology, and has an interest in defense, powdered metals, and energy. Elizabeth has been participating in various productions since 2011 including: Willy Wonka, The Sound of Music, The Wizard of Oz, Cinderella, and She Kills Monsters: Virtual Realms. Elizabeth enjoys singing and acting in her free time and performs both as a soloist and as a lead soprano in her church choir. Outside of Penn State, Elizabeth enjoys spending time with her family and cuddling her cat.
Amanda Collins (Solinus, Duke of Ephesus) is the Mental Health Counselor at Penn State Fayette, The Eberly Campus. Amanda is a Penn State alumnus, Class of 2009. Amanda has been passionate about the arts since she was a young girl and was involved in singing, dancing and acting. Amanda was involved in high school musicals including You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown and Annie Get Your Gun. Amanda is thrilled to return to the stage and support this production alongside the Lion Players and fellow faculty and staff members.
Kate Cramer (Dromio of Syracuse) is a sophomore at Southmoreland High School. She has performed at the Geyer Performing Arts Center since she was nine and has interned with their after-school program and choir. She’s performed at the Carnegie Library in Connellsville for the program C Glee as well. In December 2020, she participated in the Penn State Fayette production of She Kills Monsters: Virtual Realms. Some of her other theatre credits include Hairspray Jr., Unconventional, and Matilda. This May, she will appear in Southmoreland High School’s spring production of Les Misérables as Enjolras. Inside of school, Kate participates in marching band, E concert band, jazz band, student council, Tri-M, and pep band. Outside of school, Kate likes spending time with friends and family and writing.
Carol Evans (Angelo, a goldsmith) is a Teaching Professor of Biological Sciences at Penn State Fayette. While growing up Carol was enthusiastically involved in dancing, marching corps, drama, and theatre during her high school years. These performances included participating in the play And Stuff and Happy Days. Outside of school Carol enjoys the outdoors, hiking and playing hockey. She is thrilled to be joining the Lion Players alongside her colleagues.
Jo Jankoski (Merchant/Balthazar/Pinch) Associate Professor in the department of Human Development and Family Studies at Penn State Fayette. While this is her first production with the Lion Players, Dr. Jo performed at Scottdale ShowTime Theater in the production of Room Full of Roses. She is excited to share the stage with the Lion Players and colleagues.
Nina Jeffries (Adriana, wife of Antipholus of Ephesus) is a Film major at Penn State Fayette and plans on minoring in journalism as well. Nina has been involved in the performing arts for the majority of her life with studying dance at Cheryl Frost Dance Studio for 16 years. In high school Nina was involved in the drama club for four years with musical productions James and the Giant Peach, Fiddler on the Roof, Anything Goes, and Little Shop of Horrors, and plays such as Dancing with the Olympians, Robyn Hood and Her Merry Women and finally, Romeo, Juliet, and Toto,Too.
Daniel A. Krack (Antipholus of Ephesus) is an Assistant Teaching Professor of English and Theatre at Penn State Fayette and has been serving as advisor to the Lion Players since January 2020. Prior to coming to Penn State, Dan has directed over thirty productions including Titanic: The Musical, The Wizard of Oz, and Children of Eden at Greater Latrobe Senior High School. Additionally, Dan has appeared on stage across the region in productions such as Titanic: The Musical (Split Stage Productions), Six Dance Lessons in Six Weeks (Apple Hill Playhouse), and Shaving Lessons and Half-Windsor Knots (Pittsburgh New Works Festival). Dan will be appearing alongside the original cast in a revival of Shaving Lessons in May (https://pittsburghnewworks.org/). He can also be seen in Little Lake Theatre’s production of Neil Simon’s comedy Rumors as Lenny Ganz this November.
Alysha Lessman (Luciana, sister of Adriana) is a freshman at Penn State Fayette majoring in Nursing. Since the age of 4, Alysha has participated in the performing arts by competitively dancing at Dance Dynamics Dance Studio. She has also participated in her Junior High’s Musicals Hairspray Jr. and The Lion King. Additionally, Alysha was an active member of a local theatre group called C Glee for several years. Alysha returned to the stage her senior year of high school by playing Templeton in her senior class play Charlotte’s Web. Outside of theater arts, Alysha enjoys volunteering in her local community through Girl Scouts and discovering new places through hiking.
Jacob Levendosky (Dromio of Ephesus) is a freshman at Penn State Fayette majoring in Biology. Jacob has always greatly appreciated the fine arts, specifically theatre, and likes to be involved in a production whenever he can. He has been involved in previous productions such as The Little Mermaid and Seussical as a student director but has also been an actor and editor in a previous Penn State Fayette performance, She Kills Monsters: Virtual Realms. Outside of participating in Lion Players, Jacob enjoys playing video games and golfing with friends.
Cheryl Farren Tkacs (Jailer/Luce/Officer/Messenger) is the Instructional Designer on the Fayette campus supporting faculty in developing and incorporating educational technology into their courses. This is Cheryl’s first time working with the Lion Players on stage but not her first time on the “stage.” She spent many years teaching music and directing musicals and plays for her Middle School chorus. Cheryl is excited to view the finished play in this new virtual Globe Theater!
Steven Patrick Wilt (Egeon, Merchant of Ephesus) is the Career Services Coordinator at Penn State Fayette, The Eberly Campus supporting students in their journey from student to professional. As an alumnus of the campus and the Lion Players, Steven has performed in several productions including, but not limited to, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, A Comedy of Errors (2010), Two Gentlemen of Verona, and A Fairy Tale Christmas Carol. Steven is happy to have had the opportunity to act with the Lion Players once more and looks forward to the show’s debut!