Songs For A New World by Jason Robert Brown
October 2025
Summit Theatre Group
Lee's Summit, MO
This production was performed in a storefront studio that transformed into a black box. Audience was seated in a thrust configuration on three sides of the acting space. The show changes setting for each song, so projections and black boxes were utilized. While the show is written for four performers, the directing team wanted to add a male and female ensemble to act as understudies and featured dancers.
Director's Note:
When I first looked at Songs for a New World, I had no idea how important of a story it would be for right now. The music was fun and the characters were interesting. In the midst of our current cultural and political chaos, this show has been a beam of hope for me. These songs focus on individual moments of transition and transformation. It asks each of us to either make a stand or turn around. I believe, if we stand in community, we can create a new and better world together. A world of peace and love for each other. This new world is our responsibility to create and maintain for the future generations.
There is a moment in the show, in Flagmaker, that came across as overly supportive of our government. I had a hard time working through this song as I cannot say that I feel proud of our country in its current state. As a production, we switched out the typical stars and stripes for our own flags that held meaning to us. These flags include the Black Power fist in Pan African colors, Climate Stripes (visualization of the planet’s warming over time), and an American Flag with 51 stars. We see the stars and stripes, but it is in need of mending just as our country needs to mend.
My wish is that you walk out of this show with a feeling of hope for the future.
Cast: Woman 1 - Jessica Schnake Woman 2 - Miranda Brand Featured Ensemble - Jocelyn Harper Man 1 - Robert Vardiman Man 2 - Aidan Sarmiento Featured Ensemble - Corey Blake Todd Creative Team: Director - Christina Foltz Music Director - Scott Salem Choreography - Nacy Krus Stage Management - Alexa Coffi-Abbt Projection Design - Gracie Heath Set Design - Elijah Shafer Light Design - Michael Hadley Costume Design - Ginger Driskell Props Design - Betsy Sexton
Cast: Woman 1 - Jessica Schnake Woman 2 - Miranda Brand Featured Ensemble - Jocelyn Harper Man 1 - Robert Vardiman Man 2 - Aidan Sarmiento Featured Ensemble - Corey Blake Todd Creative Team: Director - Christina Foltz Music Director - Scott Salem Choreography - Nacy Krus Stage Management - Alexa Coffi-Abbt Projection Design - Gracie Heath Set Design - Elijah Shafer Light Design - Michael Hadley Costume Design - Ginger Driskell Props Design - Betsy Sexton
INSIDE/OUTSIDE by Brie Knight
July 2025
KC Fringe Festival
Read the show program here: Playbill
INSIDE/OUTSIDE takes a poignant look at the beauty and brutality of humanity through the playful eyes of a ten year old whose world is stripped from her after a military grade high security surveillance border wall is built in her town. Things change when another girl is found on the beach on the other side of the wall, separated from safety and family.
This production partnered with Al-Hadaf KC and Free Palestine KC to provide education and resources surrounding the war and genocide occuring in Gaza. After each performance, donations were collected for the Palestinian Children’s Relief Fund. Funding for this production was made possible by The Puffin Foundation, Ltd.
Director's Note:
I first found this play sometime around 2018-2019 on the New Play Exchange. At that time, I had imagined it to be set on the American/Mexico border with Trump’s border wall. The playwright originally wrote it with Turkey in mind. Now, as I get to present this play, it is set on the Gaza/Israel border. It saddens me to find so many opportunities across the world that this story can fit into.
Cast: Inside - Natalee Merola Outside - Anna Schneeberger Patrol/Builder - Brent Custer Creative Team and Crew: Playwright - Brie Knight Director - Christina Foltz Stage Manager - Sarah Owen Lighting Design - Eric Morrow Properties - HeatherAnne Norbury Sound Design - Morgan Hixson Costume Design - Jessie Paxton
Cast: Inside - Natalee Merola Outside - Anna Schneeberger Patrol/Builder - Brent Custer Creative Team and Crew: Playwright - Brie Knight Director - Christina Foltz Stage Manager - Sarah Owen Lighting Design - Eric Morrow Properties - HeatherAnne Norbury Sound Design - Morgan Hixson Costume Design - Jessie Paxton
This play is meant to showcase humanity and innocence. In every war, people will be asked to ignore their shared humanity. At the top of the script, Brie included a quote from Mahatma Gandhi, “You must not lose faith in humanity. Humanity is like an ocean; if a few drops of the ocean are dirty, the ocean does not become dirty.” We must have faith that despite the evils and atrocities humans commit against each other, there are good heros. Every protester, every aid flotilla, and every person calling their senators.It is my hope that by watching this play, it challenges you and at the least makes you think. I do not expect everyone to agree with me on this issue. But I am challenging you, the audience, to seek out credible information. Listen to real Palestinians and their story.
Call for a CEASEFIRE NOW.
Call for an end to the blockade.
Call your Congress representative and demand an arms embargo and access to humanitarian aid for Gaza.
9 to 5 the Musical by Dolly Parton and Patricia Resnick
August 2023
City Theatre of Independence
Independence, MO
The overall show concept took inspiration from the women in the show and their fight against the patriarchal ideology. This reflects real life political movements during the setting of the show which was in the middle of the second wave feminist movement.
The prevailing belief was that women who were truly feminine should not want to work, get an education, or have political opinions.
In 9 to 5, we see three women who are eager to have careers of their own as their career is what fulfills them; not beauty, not sex, not a man, not housework. These are smart and capable women. Violet works hard and devotes her life to this company. Her loyalty deserves the promotion she is waiting for. Judy is new to the workforce but learns quickly how much she prefers the single, working life to her old married one.
In 2023, we are in the fourth wave of the feminist movement. This movement is focusing more on body shaming, sexual harassment, and rape culture. This is how #MeToo came about. We see this theme in Doralee’s story. Unfortunately, many women can still see themselves in Doralee.
This production tied these two movements together. It made the vintage modern. It reminded us, as the audience, that these themes are still something worth fighting for. 9 to 5 is a feminist ode to working women.
Mixed Feelings by Christina Foltz
February 10, 2023
A commission for the InterUrban ArtHouse for the ArtHeals exhibit
Overland Park, KS
The play is about mental health and emotional regulation. For the performance, we held a post-show discussion with an art therapist.
We are constantly in seasons. We are always moving and growing. When I wrote the play, I envisioned a tree on stage and I did not know why. As I went to direct, I saw it transforming through the year as it moves through its seasons in life with me.
BRONE: What if we’re not supposed to always be happy?
GALE: That’s crazy. Why wouldn’t we want to always be happy?
BRONE: It can’t be healthy.
Something I have been learning is how our seemingly “bad” emotions are healthy to have when processed. Trying to be happy all the time is an added stressor. A good and healthy life is when the two are balanced.
The Exception and the Rule by Bertolt Brecht
February 2021
Southwest Baptist University, Bolivar, MO
I was very excited to be able to direct the first Epic Theater style show at SBU. When rehearsals started, I worked carefully with actors to make sure they understood the concepts and theories behind Brecht. I also incorporated Laban's technique of acting and did many warmup exercises for learning Epic Theater.
The Exception and the Rule is one of Brecht's learning plays. The show focused on what privilege is and how it is abused. After the events in June of 2020, my view of the script had changed. Seeing the tragedy of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, and the following protests of racial injustice, I began to better recognize where I stand in my own privilege. This includes educating myself, having conversations, and being intentional with others. This also meant having tough conversations within the rehearsal space.
I was blessed to be able to collaborate with the Black Student Union on campus. I made sure that the show and every design was being used as a way to advocate as we wanted to give them a space to tell their stories. After every performance, we held a post-show discussion led by leaders in the Black Student Union to discuss the issues within society and the play.
The Case of the Terrible, Awful Professor by Mark Naggi
December 2023
Bell Road Barn Players, Kansas City, MO
Radio Plays for the Holidays short playwright festival
Whispering Wood by Stephen Howard
December 2023
Bell Road Barn Players, Kansas City, MO
Radio Plays for the Holidays short playwright festival
A Requiem for Shermy by Mark Harvey Levine
December 2022
Bell Road Barn Players, Kansas City, MO
Hollywood Holidays short playwright festival
Horror Holidays by Dean Kinsey
December 2022
Bell Road Barn Players, Kansas City, MO
Hollywood Holidays short playwright festival
Fastball by Erik Meixelsperger
December 3-5, 2021
The Barn Players, Kansas City, MO
Fastball was a premier play for The Barn Player's annual 6x10 Festival.
Assistant Director
Hamlet by William Shakespeare
November 2020
Southwest Baptist University, Bolivar, MO
Directed by Jonathan Wehmeyer
Our production was gender swapped and set in 1920s New Orleans Mardi Gras. This concept helped with the use of masks during the time of COVID. As assistant, I helped to make sure sight lines were clear and blocking was accurate. I was also a second pair of eyes and ears in case something was off. The director trusted me to give opinions about blocking and notes to actors when necessary.
I was entrusted to block and direct two scenes, Act 4 scenes 2 and 3. I also helped lead a group of actors in a movement exercise to develop their characters. As new student actors, they had a hard time getting past the fact they were doing Shakespeare (thinking it had to be done a certain way), so practicing how their characters walked and talked was one way to get then out of their heads.
Assistant Director
Overture: The Musical by Barbra Nichols and Krista Eyler
March 2020
Southwest Baptist University, Bolivar, MO
Directed by Jonathan Wehmeyer
As assistant, I helped to make sure sight lines were clear and the choreography was accurate. I was a second pair of eyes and ears in case something was off. The director trusted me to give opinions about blocking and notes to actors when necessary. I also led warmups before performances with the cast.
The Tale of Noah's Wife by Andrew Black
January 2020
Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival, Sioux Falls, SD
Directed a staged reading of the ten-minute play, The Tale of Noah’s Wife by Andrew Black, for the National Playwriting Program competition over the course of a week culminating in a final performance.
The Leader by Eugene Ionesco
December 2019
Southwest Baptist University, Bolivar, MO
I used Viewpoints in rehearsals to create a strong ensemble and to encourage the actors to play. My concept for the play was a critique on America's political two party system. This was done by having the two lovers and the two admirers dress up in either all red or all blue outfits. The Announcer was wearing a red, white, and blue striped suit. The stage was bare except for the mid-stage curtain and legs, allowing the actors to run as needed.
Les Amis: a Web Series
Aug. 2018 - Aug. 2019
Bolivar, MO
Directed, co-wrote, acted, and edited a two season web series titled Les Amis, published on YouTube. The show is based off of Victor Hugo's novel Les Miserables. The web series took the characters from the barricade and placed them on a modern college campus.
A Game of Life or Death by Rebecca Foltz
November 2019
Southwest Baptist University, Bolivar, MO
Staged Reading for the playwriting class performance "A Night of Staged Readings."
