OCP Announces Guest Creatives for Season 101

Omaha Community Playhouse is proud to celebrate the artistry and vision shaping our upcoming season. Join us in welcoming the incredible Guest Creatives of Season 101. These inspiring groups of directors, designers, and collaborators will bring bold storytelling, fresh perspectives, and unforgettable experiences to our stage.

Alex Rodriguez
Director, The River Bride

Alex Rodriguez is a Cuban-born, Miami-raised stage director, actor, and educator who most recently served as Co-Artistic Director of the Omaha Community Playhouse and is thrilled to return to guest direct The River Bride.  OCP directing and choreography credits include American Mariachi, Waitress,  Jersey Boys,  Cabaret, and Clyde’s. As a multi-hyphenate collaborator, Alex’s work spans from new work development to large-scale productions, with a strong focus on culture and belonging. Select directing and choreography credits include Rock of Ages and RENT at the San Antonio Broadway Theatre, RENT (Folio Weekly’s Best Theatre Production), Little Women,  Five Guys Named Moe, The Last Five Years, References to Salvador Dali Make Me Hot, Passing Strange, Havana Music Hall: A New Musical, Common Ground: A New Musical (NYC Workshop), A Night With Janis Joplin (Assistant to Randy Johnson), The Hunchback of Notre Dame (Associate to Kaitlin Hopkins), and Theresa Rebeck’s The Two Orphans (Assistant). As a performer, Alex has been seen as Juan Julian in Anna in The Tropics (Barrington Stage) opposite Tony Award®winner Wilson Jermaine Heredia, Emilio Estefan in On Your Feet! (Prather Productions), Carnival Cruise Line, The Flat Rock Playhouse, and the Jacksonville Symphony Orchestra, among many.  In addition to his performance work, Alex has taught acting and directing at Marymount Manhattan College and Texas State University. He has previously served as an entertainment project manager and vocal supervisor for Carnival Cruise Line. Alex holds an M.F.A in Directing from Texas State University and a B.F.A. in Musical Theatre from Jacksonville University. Proud member of AEA and SDC.

Thomas L. Wilson
Composer, Angels in America, Part Two: Perestroika

Thomas L. Wilson’s fascination with sound began when his family purchased an old Atari console for $10 at a garage sale just one street behind his home in Birmingham, Alabama. As a child, he sat for hours playing the outdated technology and hearing rudimentary electronic boops and beeps, sometimes as music, emerge from the tube television. His musical discovery began when his family received a hand-me-down upright piano. While sitting at the well untuned piano, emblazoned by engravings of initials and games of tic-tac-toe from the prior owners, he taught himself to read familiar music, specifically music from video games. Thomas then began creating and sharing arrangements of video game music online before turning his arrangements towards compositions. Thomas is the Music Industry Coordinator and Music Technology Instructor at the University of Nebraska Omaha. 

Jim McKain
Co-Director, A Christmas Carol

Dick Boyd Award recipient Jim McKain returns to directing duties after serving as assistant director for the 2021 production of A Christmas Carol, guiding last season’s The Mystery of Irma Vep and the previous season’s production of Fully Committed. No stranger to OCP’s stages, Jim’s last Playhouse performance was as Max Bialystok in The Producers which garnered him his third Fonda-McGuire Award. Other favorite Playhouse performances have been in such shows as Hairspray, August: Osage County, A Man of No Importance, Violet, The Boys Next Door and the 1988 production of The Rocky Horror Show. Jim has also performed on many other area stages and is currently a member of the Board of Directors for BLUEBARN Theatre in Omaha. As a director Jim has worked with many area theaters including Ralston Community Theatre, Papillion-LaVista Community Theatre, The Dundee Dinner Theatre and the Lincoln Community Playhouse. Next spring will mark Jim’s 14th year directing the musical for Concordia High School in Omaha.

Susan Baer Collins
Co-Director, A Christmas Carol

Susan Baer Collins’ relationship with the Omaha Community Playhouse dates back to 1979 when she joined the acting company of the Nebraska Theatre Caravan (OCP’s Professional Touring Wing). She officially joined the Playhouse staff in 1987 and served for 27 years as an Artistic Associate with Artistic Director Charles Jones and, later, with his successor Carl Beck. During that time, she directed myriad plays and musicals. Susie has received numerous awards for her work as a director and actor from OCP, Omaha’s Theatre Arts Guild, and Omaha Arts Entertainment. She received the Nebraska State Governor’s Artist of the year Award with her longtime colleague Carl Beck in 2014. In 2018, she received the McDowell Award from the Great Plains Theatre Commons for her contributions to the Omaha theatre community. After her first retirement in 2014, Susie served as OCP’s Interim Artistic Director from January to June, 2016, and later from January to December, 2021. Currently, Susie has served as Co-Artistic Director since October, 2024. As of July 1st this year, she will officially retire from the Playhouse for the 4th time! “Thanks for the amazing opportunities, the wonderful memories, and the many lifelong friendships I’ve found here.”

Addie Barnhart (she/her)
Director, Dial “M” For Murder

Addie Barnhart (she/her) is a multi-disciplinary generalist originally from Wichita, KS who shares her creative impulses as an actor, director, educator, voice over artist, dialect coach, and intimacy choreographer. Her recent directing credits include Twelfth Night, Heathers, Eurydice at Creighton University, Crimes of the Heart with TENT Theatre, Vampire Panic! and Escape to New York for GPTC’s New Play Conference. Most recently she was seen onstage as Jill in the world premiere of Marie Amthor Schuett’s Stuck with Lemons a co-production with GPTC and Shelterbelt Theatre. Addie has worked across the United States with companies such as Virginia Repertory/Cadence Theatre, Richmond Shakes, Playmaker’s Theatre, TheatreLAB, Swine Palace, and many others along the way. Her passion for education and teaching life skills through theatre was the gateway to a master’s degree at Louisiana State University where she earned an M.F.A. in Acting. Addie is Associate Professor of Theatre at Creighton University. www.addiebarnhart.com

Liz Stinman (she/her)
Music Director, Disaster!

Liz Stinman (she/her) – Liz is beyond thrilled to return to OCP mainstage music direction with Disaster! Since 2009, Liz has been active as a music director, vocal coach, and/or keyboardist across the Midwest. She has also worked as a music director and teaching artist at Stagedoor Manor – a performing arts training center in New York – participated in the highly-selective Goodspeed Musicals Music Direction Intensive in Connecticut, and was an artist-in-residence for the New Musicals Lab at the Ferguson Center in Virginia. Currently, Liz works as a piano technician with Great Plains Piano Company and is on the music staff at St. Timothy’s Lutheran in Omaha. She resides in Council Bluffs with her husband, Michael, and two boys, Garrett and Bradyn. “I want to thank Alex, Susie, and Becky for seeing me, hearing me, and trusting me with this process. To the women of MAESTRA whom I so admire, who have been paving the way for women in the arts since 2017, THANK YOU for your tireless work, advocacy, and giving women a strong platform on which to stand. To my husband, thank you for supporting me and your willingness to be available overtime so I can do this. I see your sacrifice always. You are my rock and the best co-parent, and I couldn’t dothis without you – I love you! Finally, to my baby boys, I hope I always make you proud. Mama loves you forever and always!”

Tanner Harrod
Composer, The River Bride

Dr. Tanner Harrod (b. 1995) is a composer, arranger, and guitarist based in Omaha, Nebraska. Currently, he serves as Assistant Professor of Music at Peru State College, where he teaches music theory and serves as Music Director for the Peru Theatre Company. His compositions and arrangements have been performed around the world, with performances by ensembles such as the TRACE Chamber Society and the University of Nebraska-Lincoln Big Band. Additionally, his work has been featured at events like the Raffaele Trevisani Flute Course in Italy, the National Flute Association annual convention, and regional conferences of the Society of Composers, Inc. As an arranger for Omaha Performing Arts, he is currently contributing to the 2025 Nebraska Theater Academy Showcase. An in-demand guitarist, Tanner has performed in productions at the Omaha Community Playhouse (Waitress, Dreamgirls), Nebraska Repertory Theatre (Big Fish), Bellevue Little Theatre (The Prom), and Ralston Community Theatre (Something Rotten, Spamalot), among others. In 2025, he made his music directing debut at Peru State College with The Lightning Thief. Tanner earned his DMA in Music Composition from the Glenn Korff School of Music at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. He also holds an MM in Music Theory from the University of Oklahoma and a BS in Music Education from East Texas A&M University. He studied composition with Dr. Greg Simon, Dr. Marvin Lamb, and Dr. David Davies. Tanner serves on the National Council of the Society of Composers, Inc. as co-chair of Region VI. He is also co-chair of the Society for Music Theory’s Musical Theatre Interest Group. Tanner is a member of the College Music Society, Pi Kappa Lambda, Society for Music Theory, Society of Composers, Inc., and Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia. He is a Distinguished Member of Sigma Alpha Iota.

Debbie Massey-Schneweis
Choreographer, Disaster!

Debbie Massey-Schneweis returns to OCP after a fast and furious 10 years as Choreographer of Disaster! You last saw her onstage in 2014’s The Drowsy Chaperone and in the years leading up to that she appeared in numerous OCP hits including Gypsy (Tessie Tura), Thoroughly Modern Millie (Rita), Guys & Dolls (Hot Box Dancer/ensemble), Chicago (Mona), All Shook Up (Matilda) and Legally Blonde (various roles). A multi award winning choreographer, she began her training at age 3 and has herself danced and competed from coast to coast. She has been choreographing full time for multiple high schools, theatres, and special events including the Miss Nebraska Teen pageant for going on 20 yrs. She won the 2014 TAG Outstanding Choreographer for 42nd Street at Papillion Area Community Theatre and since then is a 3 time OEAA Outstanding Choreographer winner, most recently for Bellevue Little Theatre’s White Christmas. Debbie is thrilled to return to OCP after starting her family where she formerly taught tap, jazz and musical theatre classes. She recently returned to the “dance studio life” where she is on staff at Rennae’s School of Dance and Acrobatics in Elkhorn. Debbie resides in Omaha with her husband Jason and they are the proud parents of 2 kindergarteners: adorable (dancing) twins Jackson and Victoria!!

Melanie Epps
Choreographer, Hair

Melanie Epps is thrilled to join the creative team for Hair. Her choreography has been seen in OCP productions of Jimmy Buffett’s Escape to Margaritaville, Beautiful The Carole King Musical, School of Rock, Spamalot, Mamma Mia!, Young Frankenstein, Parade, Legally Blonde The Musical, Altar Boyz, Caroline, or Change, Evil Dead: The Musical, The Producers, and Sister Act, as well as BLUEBARN productions of Die Hard: The Musical, Priscilla Queen of the Desert, and Indecent. For over 25 years, Melanie has also served as choreographer for numerous regional high school show choirs and secondary school musicals, and often serves as a clinician and adjudicator. As a performer, favorite roles include Lady of the Lake (Spamalot – OCP Fonda McGuire Award – 2016), Eva Peron (Evita), Velma Kelly (Chicago), Cassie (A Chorus Line), Adelaide (Guys and Dolls), Judy Bernly (9 to 5), Lucy Harris (Jekyll and Hyde), Mary Magdalene (Jesus Christ Superstar), and The Narrator (Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat). By day, Melanie is proud to serve as Executive Director for the Omaha Academy of Ballet.

MacKenzie Mulligan
Lighting Designer, Disaster!

MacKenzie Mulligan (Lighting Designer) is a designer and electrician who has worked across the United States on a variety of projects from concerts to musicals and beyond. National credits include Cain Park Summer Concert Series 2021 (Cain Park), The Bubbly Black Girl Sheds Her Chameleon Skin (Karamu House), Sherwood, Steel Magnolias (Creede Repertory Theatre), Book of Mamaw (Barter Theater), Amelia, Alice in Wonderland, Clementine the Musical, and James and the Giant Peach (Barter Players),Deathtrap, Home, I’m Darling, POTUS, The Shark is Broken, Dial M (Jarrott Productions), RENT, Little Shop of Horrors, Rock of Ages (San Antonio Broadway Theatre), The Wizard of Oz, Anything Goes, Hairspray (San Pedro Playhouse) Secrets of the Sea Commercial (Literati), and Real Women Have Curves (Classic Theatre). Regional credits include Angels in America: Part One (Omaha Comm. Playhouse). www.mackenziemulligan.com

Roxanne Nielsen
Choreographer, Grease

Roxanne has been a dancer, dance instructor, choreographer and teaching artist for most of her life. She was the assistant and resident choreographer at the Omaha Playhouse for many years and during that time choreographed and performed in numerous musicals. Other choreography venues included area high schools, colleges, and local theaters. She has received many choreography and performance awards for her work.She became a National Dance Institute Teaching Artist and a Dancing Classrooms Teaching Artist after attending training in New York. She also became a Dancing Classrooms Senior Teaching Artist and Site Evaluator, studying with founder Pierre Dulaine. Roxanne was the Dancing Classrooms Site Director in Omaha NE for several years.Roxanne also has training and experience working with special needs groups including those with Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s Disease and was honored to help write the Dance Standards for the Nebraska Board of Education Fine Arts Standards. Roxanne is currently the Executive Director of Pacific Ballroom Dance.

Michelle Garrity
Choreographer, A Christmas Carol & Mary Poppins

Michelle Garrity is no stranger to the Omaha Community Playhouse stage, having performed in many musicals over the last 30 years. Michelle has choreographed for many local community theatres and metro high schools. Her latest choreography credits include OCP’s annual production of A Christmas Carol, Kinky Boots (2022), Dear Jack, Dear Louise (2021), The Last Five Years (2021), Annie (2019), Ragtime (2019), Disney’s Beauty and the Beast (2017), City of Angels (2016), Hands on a Hardbody (2015), Next to Normal (2014), all at OCP, A Christmas Story at Chanticleer, Hairspray at Papillion Area Community Theatre, and Sweet Charity and Thoroughly Modern Millie at Ralston Community Theatre.

Kyle Thomas
Composer, Dial “M” For Murder

Kyle Thomas is a Nebraska-based director, music director, choreographer, and composer. A Kansas City native, Kyle’s work has been seen with companies such as Musical Theatre of Kansas City (Dirty Rotten Scoundrels, Band Geeks), Theatre in the Park (West Side Story, Oliver, Gypsy), and Starlight Theatre (Annie, Footloose). After receiving his B.F.A. in Theatre Direction from Nebraska Wesleyan University, Kyle worked in the Twin Cities with companies such as Tyrol Hills Music (Deal: the Musical, world premiere), Artistry MN (42nd Street), Chaska Family Theatre (Annie, A Year with Frog and Toad), Young Artists Initiative (The Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe), and Freshwater Theatre (Homewrecker). Locally, his work has also been seen at UNO, Omaha Community Playhouse, The Rose, Theatre West, Midland University, Nebraska Wesleyan University, and the Fremont Opera House. He also serves as a co-director/choreographer for the Nebraska All State Musical and as the Director of Marketing and Communications for Opera Omaha.

Cody Tellis Rutledge (he/him)
Scenic & Lighting Designer, Angels in America, Part Two, Perestroika

Cody Tellis Rutledge (He/Him/His) is originally from McMinnville, TN and a current 2nd year MFA Lighting/Scenic candidate at UCONN. He graduated from the University of Memphis with a BFA in theatre with a double emphasis in musical theatre and technical production. Cody is back at the playhouse for his second show after the hit show The Play That Goes Wrong. He thanks the whole team as well as his ride and die lighting partner, Cameron Filepas, for all the work everyone has put into this show. Also, shoutout to the amazing staff for asking him back. Feel free to follow him on insta @rutledgescenicdesign to see more of his work across the country or visit his website rutledgescenicdesign.com for more.

Nora Marlow Smith (she, her)
Scenic & Lighting Designer, The River Bride
Scenic Designer, Disaster!

Nora Marlow Smith (she/her) is a New York based Scenic and Costume Designer and Assistant Professor of Design at SUNY Albany. Nora is delighted to return to OCP for Season 100! Nora made her OCP debut designing the set for RENT in 2022 and returned for Pipeline with sets and projections in 2023. Previous professional credits include Fiddler on the Roof at The Proctor’s Theatre, She Kills Monsters at Capital Repertory Theater, The Mountaintop with The Black Theater Troupe of Upstate New York, Come Here to Me and The Employees with The Mill Theater, Wake… Sing and The Banality of Evil with MetaPhysed, Fort Huachuca and Bloodshot with SheNYC, Carmen in the 1920’s and The Little Prince with BalletCo.Laboratory, The Life and Deaths of Alan Turing with Chicago Opera Theater, Being Chaka with TÉA Artistry, Erastes with the Wild Project. Nora is the 2022 recipient for the Michael E Merritt Award for Excellence in Design and Collaboration.   www.noramarlowsmith.com  @noramarlow

Steven L. Williams
Scenic & Lighting Designer, Hair

Steven L. Williams is the Theatre Coordinator and Full Professor at the University of Nebraska at Omaha (UNO). He is a freelance scenic, lighting, and graphic designer who has designed over one hundred fifty productions with such notable theatre companies as the Lake Tahoe Shakespeare Festival, the Nebraska Shakespeare Festival, Omaha Community Playhouse, The Rose Theatre, Theatre Aspen, Heritage Repertory Theatre, Indiana University, Brown County Playhouse, and Mcleod Summer Playhouse. Steven has designed fifteen productions at OCP including Spamalot, School of Rock, Recommended Reading for Girls, Lost Boy at Whole Foods, A Raisin in the Sun, and Baskerville to name a few. Since 1998, Steven has proudly served as Theatrical Consultant and Scenic Designer for The Thorn including the most recent film of The Thorn. His most rewarding design work has been for a police investigation/training facility for Project Harmony in Omaha, NE. Steven is in his twenty-ninth year with UNO.

Cameron Filepas
Lighting Designer, Mary Poppins

Cameron Filepas (Lighting Designer) is a NJ/ NYC based lighting designer for Theatre. Recent design credits: The Last Match Tour (Temple Theatre), Spring Awakening (EPIC Player’s), RIFT or White Lies (Luna Stage), A Raisin In The Sun (Bristol Riverside Theatre), White Christmas (Arizona Broadway Theatre), Ride The Cyclone (Ramapo College), Rock of Ages (Centenary Stage Company), The Prom (Axelrod PAC), Into The Woods (EPIC Player’s), Torn Asunder (Luna Stage), Little Women (Madison HS), Camp Rock The Musical (Theatre Row). Recent assistant credits: Giselle (American Repertory Ballet), Queens Girl In The World (Abingdon Theatre Company), A Midsummer Night’s Dream (American Repertory Ballet), NEXTSteps (The Washington Ballet). Cameron is a graduate from Montclair State University where he received a BFA in Lighting Design. cameronfilepasdesign.com

Bradley Pesarchick (he, him)
Costume Designer, Angels in America, Part Two: Perestroika

Bradley kicked off his costuming career after he completed the Theatre Tech Apprenticeship Program (TTAP) at the Omaha Community Playhouse. Since then, he’s been involved in numerous productions around Omaha. Currently, he operates as our Wardrobe Coordinator (2021 – present) working backstage with actors and dressers. He’s delighted to be given the opportunity to costume design at OCP. His most recent designs include The Play That Goes Wrong at the Omaha Community Playhouse (2024), Little Shop of Horrors at the Omaha Community Playhouse (2023), The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee at the Papillion Area Community Theatre (2021), and American Son at the Benson Theatre (2022). In 2022, his design for the 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee was nominated for an OEA. His most notable work has been in wardrobe doing supervisory positions backstage. His wardrobe credits include Kinky Boots (2022), RENT (2023), Dreamgirls (2023), Beautiful, The Carole King Musical (2023), & Cabaret (2024) all at The Omaha Community Playhouse. Bradley would like to thank his coworkers, family, and friends for being unconditionally supportive throughout his career!

Tim Burkhart
Sound Designer, Various Shows

Tim Burkhart is a multi-winner of the Theatre Arts Guild Awards and Omaha Entertainment and Arts Awards for sound design. Some OCP shows for which he has designed include Beautiful The Carole King Musical, Respect, Little Shop of Horrors, Dreamgirls, RENT!, School of Rock, Bright Star, Once, The Rocky Horror Show (2019), Annie (2019), Ragtime (2019), The Bridges of Madison County, Shrek The Musical, Caroline, or Change (TAG Award), City of Angels, Young Frankenstein, Ella, Les Misérables (TAG Award) and The Wizard of Oz (TAG Award). He appeared onstage as Hucklebee in The Fantasticks (Outstanding Young Actor) at Cedar Rapids Community Theatre in 1976. His first paid sound job was setting up the stage sound for Johnny Cash, Ray Price, Tom T. Hall and Ronnie Milsap. Tim was inducted into the Iowa Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2019 for his work 40 years ago; it’s rare for an engineer to be inducted. He says he carries a Van Halen guitar pick in his pocket at all times as his good luck charm, because Eddie was one of very few rock Gods to personally thank him after a show. Currently, Tim is the senior systems designer for Midwest Sound & Lighting. He studied mathematics at the University of Nebraska at Omaha and technical theatre at Simpson College. He also is an instrument-rated private pilot and experienced fly fisherman.