Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike

Vanya

John is a multidisciplinary artist and teacher, ten years into his Tucsonan adventure. He’s been seen in many plays over the past decade at the Rogue and Scoundrel and Scamp theaters, both as an actor and a musician. In the last year, he appeared in John Millington Synge’s PLAYBOY OF THE WESTERN WORLD Michael James Flaherty, and in Mickle Maher’s IT IS MAGIC as Ken Mason. He’s pleased to be a part of this production of VANYA AND SONIA AND MASHA AND SPIKE, his first at LTW.

Sonia

Lori is delighted to return to Live Theatre Workshop for Vanya, Sonia, Masha & Spike. Some of her other favorite LTW shows include BOSTON MARRIAGE, SYLVIA, DRY POWDER, and the one-woman show 9 PARTS OF DESIRE. Lori also performed sketch comedy and sang with a rock band for 9 years in Ohio, where she learned that middle management is not for her. Lori holds a BFA from the U of A Theatre Arts program and has studied with The Groundlings and UCB Theatre in Los Angeles. Offstage, Lori loves to read, cook, and train her chonky cats Chidi and Jianyu to run on their giant hamster wheel.

Spike

Cristian is a Tucson-based actor and musician with a BFA in Acting from the University of Arizona. His stage credits include Orhan in WHERE WORDS ONCE WERE, Lysander in A MIDSUMMER NIGHT’S DREAM with the Tucson Symphony Orchestra, Solyony in THREE SISTERS, and roles in THE LAST NIGHT OF BALLYHOO, ON THE VERGE, and THE TWO GENTLEMEN OF VERONA at the University of Arizona. He has trained under Hank Stratton, Danny Gurwin, and Brent Gibbs, with additional masterclasses through LAMDA. Cristian is a certified Actor Combatant with the Society of American Fight Directors and brings skills in stage combat.

Masha

Dawn is delighted to make her Live Theatre Workshop debut as Masha in VANYA AND SONIA AND MASHA AND SPIKE. Her Tucson stage credits include Macduff in MACBETH, Elizabeth/Emilia in THE BOOK OF WILL, Marianne Angell in THE REVOLUTIONISTS, and Charlotte Brontë in BRONTE. Dawn has worked extensively in both classical and contemporary theater as an actor and director in Tucson and beyond. Her television and film credits include ER, FRASIER, THE YOUNG & THE RESTLESS, and ZEUS & ROXANNE. Dawn is a member of two Unscrewed Theater house teams and has directed a range of contemporary and new works, including AN AVIARY FOR BIRDS OF SADNESS, CITIZEN, and POOH.  She has also toured as a singer with Spanish megastar Raphael—an unexpected chapter she still counts among her favorites—and has voiced characters in commercials and animation. In addition to performing, Dawn teaches Acting Shakespeare at Pima Community College and serves as a curator and director of volunteers for Tucson Meet Yourself, contributing to its collaboration with the Smithsonian Folklife Festival in 2026. She moved to the Sonoran Desert from Los Angeles over a decade ago and has finally stopped saying she’s new to Tucson. Dawn is the proud parent of two humans and the devoted staff member of two dogs.

Nina

Emily (she/they) is excited and grateful to participate in VANYA AND SONIA AND MASHA AND SPIKE! This is Emily’s third production on the LTW mainstage: she was previously seen in THE MISS FIRECRACKER CONTEST (Popeye) and THE LITTLE DOG LAUGHED (Ellen), and you might have recently seen her in LTW Children’s Theatre’s SLEEPING BEAUTY (Sara the Surly). Emily holds an Associate of Fine Arts in Theatre Performance (Pima Community College), a Bachelor of Arts in Theatre Studies (The University of Arizona), and Master of Arts in Studies of Global Media (The University of Arizona). She completed training in Shakespeare and Classical Drama with the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art (LAMDA,2023); credits include TWELFTH NIGHT (Andrew Aguecheek) and ‘TIS PITY SHE’S A WHORE (Inkeep/Friar). You can follow her exploits on Instagram at @emilylfuchs.

Cassandra

Robin is a Tucson-based performer, director, educator, and arts leader whose career spans more than three decades. Recent Tucson credits include MACBETH (Banquo, Lady Macduff, Doctor) with Scoundrel & Scamp Theatre, THE MISS FIRECRACKER CONTEST (Elaine) at Live Theatre Workshop, PEOPLE, PLACES & THINGS (Charlotte/Ensemble) with TAZ Theater Company, and [TITLE OF SHOW] (Susan) with Southern Arizona Performing Arts Company. Robin is also a recurring cast member of RETRO GAME SHOW NIGHT, and often hosts and performs in cabaret events in Tucson and throughout her years in Chicago. Some favorite Chicago credits include TONY ’N TINA’S WEDDING (Donna Marsala), ZANNA DON’T! (Roberta), and NUNSENSE (Sister Hubert). Robin serves as Artistic Director of Winding Road Theater and is a Program Director and Teaching Artist with Saguaro City Music Theatre, in addition to teaching theatre at Kino School. She is deeply grateful to this cast and creative team, and to Tucson’s vibrant arts community.  

Director

Molly is an accomplished international actor, director, casting director, teacher, and playwright. Molly has acted, directed, or taught across the US, Canada, and Europe. Since relocating to Tucson, Molly feels fortunate to have worked with Live Theatre Workshop where she last directed A LIFE IN THE THEATRE, also The Rogue, Scoundrel & Scamp, and Winding Road Theatre.
Favorite directing credits include: A LIFE IN THE THEATRE, ANGELS FALL, ON THE VERGE, TWELFTH NIGHT, JULIUS CAESAR, BARBER OF SEVILLE, MAGIC FLUTE, CARMEN, THE FOREIGNER, DIARY OF ANNE FRANK, THE CLEARING, an award-winning GLASS MENAGERIE.  A few favorite acting roles include: Lady Macbeth-Macbeth, Fortune Teller-The Skin of Our Teeth, Rebecca & Anne–THE BOOK OF WILL, 7 characters including Ela, Dora, Kyle–STRING OF PEARLS, Ana-THE STANDBY LEAR, Ellie-SWEET TEXAS RECKONING, Cabdriver-HELLCAB, Titania-A MIDSUMMER NIGHT’S DREAM, Nurse-ROMEO AND JULIET, Beatrice-MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING, Feste-TWELFTH NIGHT. Molly’s education includes: Santa Clara University, California Institute of the Arts, Royal Shakespeare Company, Second City, & more.

Lee, Sarah, Jen, Roark and Petra

The family began creating together when the kids were young and their family tradition has developed into a life of cosplay, acting, multiple home businesses and a theatre costume and prop production crew. Combining their artistic abilities, the crew has a broad and growing wheelhouse and they love using these skills to solve creative problems to make the impossible possible. Some of their favorite projects include MACBETH (props), ALEBRIJES (props and costumes) and SCARLET AND THE WOLF (costumes). They are excited to be joining Live Theatre Workshop in prop design for VANYA, SONIA, MASHA & SPIKE!

Scenic Design / Construction

Matthew is a native Tucsonan, and has been an avid participant in all sorts of theatre things for most of his life. While he typically feels more at home ON stage, Matthew is excited to give this Scenic thing another go. He designed and built the set for LTW’s recent production of HAT BOX, and long ago (in the old LTW space) he designed the set for SHOW PEOPLE. More of Matthew's previous work at LTW includes roles in THE ONE GOOD THING, MOONLIGHT AND MAGNOLIAS, STAGE KISS, BASKERVILLE: A SHERLOCK HOLMES MYSTERY, BELOW THE BELT, [SIC], OLD JEWS TELLING JOKES, LAUGHTER ON THE 23RD FLOOR, MOVE OVER MRS. MARKHAM, THE COMPLETE WORKS OF WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE (ABRIDGED) [REVISED], and PHOTOGRAPH 51. Other acting credits include STONES IN HIS POCKETS with Beowulf Alley, HOT L BALTIMORE with The Nathalia Stage Ensemble, MACBETH and A MIDSUMMER NIGHT'S DREAM with Tucson Community Theater, and THE SINS OF SOR JUANA with Borderlands Theater. Matthew offers up BIG LOVE to all members of the Copley Clan!

ASM

Makayla recently graduated from A.S.U. with an emphasis in Stage Management and will continue her journey in theater and film. Fun fact: Makayla skipped her university graduation ceremony to attend intensive training with Cirque du Soleil. She recently wrapped a short film called, I'M HERE FOR U, coming soon. In June, she will be Stage Managing THE GUY WHO DIDN'T LIKE MUSICALS.  She is interested in becoming a talent agent because she helps actors in NY and AZ. She is also considering obtaining a license as an intimacy coordinator. Her dream show is STARLIGHT EXPRESS.

Costume Designer

Kathy has worked for many theaters around town and has costumed hundreds of kids at THMS. She loves working with LTW, especially when Molly is the director. This was a challenging but fun show to costume. Thank you to Molly and the cast for their generous collaboration. Enjoy the show!

Lighting Designer/Technical Advisor

Richard has been lighting the LTW stage for the past 18 seasons. His lighting designs have also been seen on other Tucson stages in the past. He is a graduate of the University of Arizona where he received a B.F.A. in Theatre Education. Richard is the acting and technical theatre teacher at Empire High School. He is the recipient of the Arizona Thespians Teacher of the year (2017-2018 & 2023-2024) and the OnMedia Tucson Arts Hero (2018-2019).  Aside from teaching, Richard acts, directs, and writes plays for the LTW stage. He currently has 11 published plays which have been seen all over the United States, Canada, India, Hong Kong, England, and Australia. www.richardgremelplaywright.com

Assistant Director

Allison is thrilled to be back at LTW, this time behind the curtain. Known for her work onstage, you may have seen her recently as Irene Adler in MORIARTY at Invisible Theatre, Caitlyn in SHIP at Live Theatre Workshop, or Lexi in MACBITCHES at the Scoundrel and Scamp. Grateful to do what she loves @allisonakmak

Stage Manager

Suzanne is so happy to work on this show. Suzanne has been stage managing at LTW for over 10 years, and some of her favorite shows that she has done at LTW include SIC, DEATH BY DESIGN, ALWAYS…PATSY CLINE, WAITING FOR DOGGO, THE SAVANNAH SIPPING SOCIETY, and THE HAT BOX. Suzanne would like to thank you for continuing to support local theatre and she would especially like to thank her husband Kyle for being so supportive!

Sound Designer

Michael is a recording artist, music director, audio engineer, and private music instructor with over 20 years of teaching experience and more than 35 years of acting and performance experience. He spent 25 years as a touring musician with Honeybeegroove and Kristen Chandler. After graduating from the University of Oregon in 2006 with a Bachelor of Science in Music Technology, Michael moved to Tucson, AZ. He is the music director for Center for Spiritual Living Tucson, and teaches guitar, piano, voice, drums, percussion, and bass guitar as a master teacher at Music & Arts.