Christie Chiles Twillie (Music Director) (she/her) is a Pianist, Music Director, Sound Designer, Composer, and Orchestrator/Arranger. Among the 60 musicals she has Music Directed are: The Girl Who Sang With The Moon at DCASE New Works Development; Little Shop of Horrors, Once On This Island, and Jelly’s Last Jam at Cape Fear Regional; The Color Purple at Pennsylvania Shakespeare; A Year With Frog & Toad and Milo Imagines The World at Chicago Children’s Theatre; Out Here workshops at University of Chicago and Court Theatre; Dreamgirls at Paramount, Goodspeed, and McCarter); HAIR at Asolo; Five Guys Named Moe, Newsies, The Gospel at Colonus, Raisin, A Jolly Holliday at Skylight; Indecent at Milwaukee Chamber Theatre; Minnie’s Boys at Porchlight. Christie won a Footlights Best Musical Direction Award – Professional Production, a Rachel Rockwell “Fierce Women Behind The Table” award, a BTAA nomination for her Original Score for Yellowman. She was a Broadway World Finalist for Best Music Direction in Chicago for Big Fish and a New Jersey Finalist for Dreamgirls. www.christiechilestwillie.com

Grace Cirillo* (Assistant Stage Manager) (she/her) is a New York City-based Actor and Stage Manager. Originally from South Florida, she received her B.F.A from Florida Atlantic University. Select ASM credits include: Come From Away, Disney’s Frozen, Guys and Dolls, Man of La Mancha, Plaza Suite at Maltz Jupiter Theatre; The Last Yiddish Speaker at Theatre Lab; From Trinity to Trinity at Amateratu Za; Next to Normal at Lake Worth Playhouse; Rock of Ages and Clue: On Stage at Maples Repertory Theatre. She’s thrilled to be spending the summer in Auburn and hopes to see you again at Carousel! For her Mom, always. @grace.cirillo

Adam Dyer (Choreographer) (he/him) brings over 20 years of experience in the entertainment industry, contributing to visually ambitious productions across New York, Las Vegas, China, and beyond. He is thrilled to return to The REV Theatre Company, where he previously choreographed Disney’s Newsies. Career highlights include creating and directing the aquatic theatre sensation HiRO for Royal Caribbean Entertainment, performing on Broadway in Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark, and appearing as an acrobat, aerialist, and dancer in Franco Dragone’s Le Rêve and The House of Dancing Water. As a choreographer, Adam has created and reimagined movement for Fiddler on the Roof, Godspell, Footloose, Cinderella, and May We All. He currently serves as Associate Chair and Associate Professor of Contemporary Dance & Musical Theatre at Brigham Young University.

Christopher Elst (Fight / Intimacy Director) (he/they) is proud to return to The REV! An advocate for safe practices in theaters nationwide, Christopher has performed, directed, and designed violence, movement, and intimacy for theaters across the country, including Ogunquit Playhouse, Door Shakespeare, First Stage Children’s Theatre, Next Act Theatre, Milwaukee Chamber Theatre, Renaissance Theatreworks, Florentine Opera Company, and the Milwaukee Rep. In his commitment to maintaining up-to-date skills, he recently graduated summa cum laude with a Masters of Fine Arts in Theatre Arts from Western Illinois University and earned the rank of Fight Director with the Society of American Fight Directors. 

Stephen Gifford† (Scenic Designer) (he/him) is grateful to be a part of this production of Tarzan. Stephen’s designs have been seen on stages across the country and internationally including The Grand Ole Opry, The Chicago Theatre, Madison Square Garden, Pittsburg CLO, Sacramento Music Circus, The Walnut Street Theatre, 5thAvenue Theatre, Alabama Shakespeare Festival, Phoenix and Arizona Theatre Companies, Juneau Lyric Opera, and McCoy Rigby Entertainment. He has garnered many awards and nominations for his work. He was awarded The Bob Z Award for Career Achievement in Set Design by the Los Angeles Drama Critic Circle and Broadwayworld.com’s Scenic Design of the Decade in Los Angeles for Celebration Theatre’s production of Cabaret. Stephen also designs live immersive events, themed interiors, nightclubs, and cabarets. He holds an M.F.A. from NYU’s Tisch School of The Arts and is a proud member of United Scenic Artists, Local 829. For more visit @swgifford1 on Instagram and www.stephengifforddesign.com.

Ally Hasselback* (Production Stage Manager) (she/her) is thrilled to be joining the incredible team at The REV for her first production with the company! Ally is a native of Buffalo, NY, and has worked across the country as a Freelance Stage Manager in theatre, dance, opera, concerts, live and corporate events. Select theatrical stage management credits include: Rigoletto, Two Corners (World Premiere) at Finger Lakes Opera; The Pirates of Penzance at Virginia Opera; Sweeney Todd at Opera Omaha; The Great Gatsby (World Premiere) at Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre; 5 Productions at Starring Buffalo, and 20+ productions at Music Theatre Wichita. Ally is currently the Production Manager and Production Stage Manager for SUNY University at Buffalo’s Department of Theatre and Dance, as well as a proud union member of Actors’ Equity Association. She would like to thank the wonderful team at The REV for welcoming her, and making this such a special experience! Love and gratitude always to her incredible family, wonderful students, and, of course, Penny. Always: “Do your best” – I promise. Enjoy the show, everyone!

Tiffany Howard (Costume Designer) (she/her) is back in the costume shop for her 19th season! She is thrilled to be designing all four shows this year. In addition to the summer shows, Tiffany also designs and builds most of the costumes for our amazing education branch of theatre that reaches thousands of NY state students. In recent years she has also worked with the Schweinfurth Art Center, Skylight Theatre and Nazareth College. Favorite designs include Top Hat, Jesus Christ Superstar, Holiday Inn, Mamma Mia!, Into The Woods, Cabaret, Beautiful: The Carole King Musical, and From Here to Eternity. Huge shout out to the hardest working costume shop around! Would not happen without you! All my love to my ballast, Geoff. 

Kyle Jensen† (Sound Designer) (he/him) is a sound designer based out of Pennsylvania, and has worked on musicals, plays, operas, immersive productions, and trade shows across the country. His work was last heard here during last season’s production of Barnum. Selected credits: Off-Broadway: Relapse: A New Musical (Winner: Best Sound Design of a Musical). Regional: Ragtime at SSTI – Hilton Head, SC (Winner: Best Sound Design of a Musical); and Wild Child: A New Musical. Other places that he has worked include The NAMM Show (CA), Meadow Brook Theater (MI), Cortland Repertory Theater (NY), Creede Repertory Theater (CO), Dallas Theater Center (TX), Bucknell University (PA), and Two River Theater Company (NJ). He’s the sound supervisor for the School of Theatre at The Pennsylvania State University, a member of the Theatrical Sound Designers and Composers Association, as well as a member of the The Association of Sound Designers, and IATSE Local USA829. kylejensenmedia.com IG: @kylejensensound

Jacob Kerzner (Assistant Music Director) (he/they) is a music director and scholar currently on the musical theatre faculty at Syracuse University. He is also the Associate Editor for the Gershwin Critical Edition, for which he has edited Of Thee I Sing (expected publication 2027). Previously, Jacob has worked on the developmental music teams for Hadestown at The Citadel Theatre; Oklahoma! At St. Ann’s Warehouse; and Jerome Robbins’ Broadway at The Muny. Recent credits include Frozen at Syracuse Stage; Foolproof with New Works/New Voices; Sweethearts and Standards at Geva Theatre; Bernarda Alba at SU Drama; Pipe Dream at Berkshire Theatre Group. Upcoming: An American in Paris at SU Drama. MA Royal Conservatoire of Scotland, BM Ithaca College, AA Bard College at Simons Rock. Love to Nicole, Mira, and Juniper. 

Jesse Klug† (Lighting Designer) Off-Broadway: The Elaborate Entrance of Chad Deity (Lortel, Hewes nominations), The Screwtape Letters (Off-Broadway and National Tour), Romulus, and The Hunchback Variations. Regional: Goodman, Chicago Shakespeare, Marriott Theatre, Milwaukee Rep, Indiana Rep, American Players Theatre, Arizona Theatre Company, Paramount, Lookingglass, Victory Gardens, Geffen Playhouse, The Old Globe, Asolo, Shakespeare Theatre Company, Court Theatre, Virginia Stage Company, Northlight, Writers Theatre, Maine State Music Theatre. International: Edinburgh Fringe Festival, INFANT, Market Theatre of South Africa, Sydney Fringe Festival, as well as others on five different continents. Mr. Klug teaches at Linfield University in McMinnville, Oregon. He is a multiple Joseph Jefferson award winner and twenty-two-time nominee. JesseKlug.com 

Megan Larche Dominick, CSA (Casting Director) (she/her) Enjoying her third season as the resident Casting Director for The REV. Broadway credits include the revivals of A Chorus Line and Grease; Bring it On: The Musical; Legally Blonde; Grace; and Disney’s The Lion King. Associate Artistic Director / Director of New Works for Theatre Under the Stars. Associate Producer / Casting Director for The Muny (four-time Artios Award nominee for Outstanding Achievement in Casting). Select films include: Every Little Step, True Grit, It’s Complicated, Hairspray, and Diary of a Wimpy Kid. International premiere of Maltby & Shire’s Waterfall, A New Musical Bangkok, Thailand. Her casting work is featured in the documentary Every Little Step. Co-author of The Ugly Xmas Sweater Musical. meganlarchedominick.com 

Jess O’Connor (Assistant Stage Manager) (she/her)is honored to return to The REV for her second season. She previously worked on The REV’s production of Bonnie & Clyde. Selected credits: The Eyes and the Impossible (World Premiere) at Z Space; Dolores (World Premiere) at West Edge Opera; Romeo and Juliet at The Rogue Theatre; and nine shows as Arizona Theatre Company’s Production Assistant. Jess received her BA in Law, History, and Culture and her Theatre minor from the University of Southern California, where she began acting, directing, stage managing, and practicing dramaturgy. For anyone thinking of starting over, the time is now.  

Marshall Pope (Props Designer) (he/him) is thrilled to be in his 15th season at The REV, working as Props Supervisor for the last eight. Props credits at The REV include Grease, Grand Hotel, South Pacific, Working, Loch Ness, Buddy, 42nd Street, Footloose, Almost Heaven, Catch Me If You Can, The Hunchback of Notre Dame, State Fair, Ain’t Misbehavin’, Evita, Into The Woods, Beautiful, A Chorus Line, Jersey Boys, Newsies, Bandstand, May We All, Jesus Christ Superstar, Barnum, Top Hat, and Bonnie and Clyde, in addition to numerous productions for The REV On Tour. His work has also been seen on the Playhouse stage as a scenic designer, including Almost Heaven, Jersey Boys, Newsies, and Bandstand. He has also designed locally for Skaneateles High School and Geneva Theatre Guild. Proud member of The Society of Props Managers. 

Satellite Wigs (Hair & Makeup Design) Design: Othello and Frankenstein at STC; Rock Of Ages at Suncoast B’way; The Wild Duck at TFANA & STC; Uncle Vanya at BRT & STC. Wig Vending: A Wonderful Word on Broadway; “Zero Protocol,” “Daredevil: Born Again Season 2,” Babes, Smile 2, Companion. Satellite Wigs, Inc. is a female led wig-making company from Sara Donovan & Sarah Levine, deeply committed to creating welcoming and respectful spaces for all. We believe exceptional craft thrives in environments rooted in kindness, inclusivity, and fair labor — where all artists are respected and seen. Follow our adventures @satellitewigs.

Nathan W. Scheuer† (Projection Designer) (he/him)  is an LA based lighting and projection designer, who is excited to return to The REV where he previously designed Bonnie & Clyde. His designs have been seen across the country at venues such as The Kennedy Center, The Muny, Broadway in Chicago, Center Theatre Group, TUTS, Tuacahn, The Repertory Theatre of St. Louis, Pittsburgh CLO,  Bucks County Playhouse, Capital REP, Syracuse Stage, Berkshire Theatre Festival, and the Alabama Shakespeare Festival, as well as in Canada, Mexico, Europe and Australia. Some of Nathan’s 2026-2027 theatrical season includes the Dancing with Stars Live Tour; Hairspray at The Muny; Wild Child at Laguna Playhouse; Despertares at Soul Arts Productions. He’s had the pleasure of designing for Mandy Patinkin, Patti LuPone, Selena Gomez, Alice Cooper and has worked with companies like the NYC Ballet, San Francisco Opera, Lincoln Center Festival, and Paris Opera Ballet. He is an adjunct professor at USC and a proud member of USA829. 

Sierra (Video Engineer / Assistant Video Designer) (they/them) is a lighting and video designer originally from West Virginia and now based in New York City. Some of their recent theatrical media credits include Manifest P*ssy (Co-Projection Designer) and TL;DR (Projection Designer) at Diversionary Theatre; No Man’s Land (Projection and Lighting Designer) at Irondale; Ziggy, Stardust and Me (Projection Designer) at San Diego State University; In the Throes of Death (Projection Designer) at The Cell Theatre; and The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night Time (Assoc. Projection Designer) at California Center of the Arts Escondido. When not working in theatre, they can regularly be found working on a crafting project or visiting a board game cafe.

Brett Smock** (Producing Artistic Director / Director, Tarzan, and Carousel) (he/him) began his tenure here at The REV in 1992 when he appeared on the Playhouse stage as a dancer in two consecutive seasons. In 1994, he became a choreographer here, and in 1996, a resident director/choreographer. Throughout the early 2000s, Brett balanced his artistic work at the Playhouse alongside a busy freelance career as a director/choreographer based in NYC and LA. In 2011, Brett came aboard as the General Manager/Associate Artistic Director and, in 2014, was appointed the Producing Artistic Director. To date, Brett has been at the helm of countless shows here on the Playhouse stage. Highlights include the acclaimed productions of A Bronx Tale, Bonnie & Clyde, Barnum, Jersey Boys, Bandstand, Into The Woods, Catch Me if You Can, The Hunchback of Notre Dame, State Fair, 42nd Street, Almost Heaven, Footloose, Grand Hotel, Working, Cabaret, Parade, The Light In The Piazza, On The Town, Chicago, and Saturday Night Fever. Brett has directed and/or choreographed regionally and around the world, staged various workshops, readings, developmental productions of 17 new musicals, new musical revues for Cunard’s QE2 World Cruise, special events in Mexico and Indonesia, tribute galas for several Presidents and a host of celebrity, fundraiser and industry events. Currently, in addition to his role as Producing Artistic Director of The REV, Brett is developing five new musicals. He is also the director and co-producer of Tim Rice’s newest musical, From Here To Eternity, which made its North American premiere here at The REV in 2016 followed by subsequent productions at Ogunquit Playhouse (2017), a NYC workshop (2019), a 2022 London revival at the Charing Cross Theatre, and, most recently, the Midwest premiere at The Skylight Music Theatre in Milwaukee. Producing highlights include all US productions of Tim Rice’s From Here to Eternity, The REV’s commercial collaborations including Anne of Green Gables (Goodspeed ’22/Pre-Broadway), Loch Ness (Regional/pre-Broadway), Austen’s Pride (Seattle 5th Avenue / Carnegie Hall), and all of the new musicals at The PiTCH. Brett has served on the Boards of the Cayuga County Convention and Visitors Bureau as well as WCNY.  He lives in Auburn, NY and New York City and is a member of The Stage Directors and Choreographers Society (SDC), Actor’s Equity Association (AEA), and The Dramatists Guild (DG).

Photos by Ron Heerkens, Jr. / Goat Factory Media Entertainment, LLC.

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  Dean Cestari as Tarzan (center, on vine) with the Tribe in The REV Theatre Company’s production of “Tarzan.”

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  Eric Ulloa as Kerchak in The REV Theatre Company’s production of “Tarzan.”

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  Ollie Kufs as Young Tarzan in The REV Theatre Company’s production of “Tarzan.”

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  Dean Cestari as Tarzan (center, standing) with the Tribe in The REV Theatre Company’s production of “Tarzan.”

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  Kyle Adkins as Clayton in The REV Theatre Company’s production of “Tarzan.”

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  (From left) Tom Staggs as Porter, Emma Dean as Jane, and Jathan “JB” Briscoe as Snipes in The REV Theatre Company’s production of “Tarzan.”

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  Dean Cestari as Tarzan in The REV Theatre Company’s production of “Tarzan.”

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  Raquel Jennings as Kala in The REV Theatre Company’s production of “Tarzan.”

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  Dean Cestari as Tarzan and Emma Dean as Jane in The REV Theatre Company’s production of “Tarzan.”

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  Dean Cestari as Tarzan and Emma Dean as Jane in The REV Theatre Company’s production of “Tarzan.”

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  Sterling Baker-McClary as Terk in The REV Theatre Company’s production of “Tarzan.”

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  Eric Ulloa as Kerchak (center, standing), Dean Cestari as Tarzan, Tom Staggs as Porter, Emma Dean as Jane, and members of the Tribe in The REV Theatre Company’s production of “Tarzan.”

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  Kyle Adkins as Clayton and Jathan “JB” Briscoe as Snipes in The REV Theatre Company’s production of “Tarzan.”

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  Ella Grace Memmott and members of the Tribe in The REV Theatre Company’s production of “Tarzan.”

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  “Tarzan” at The REV Theatre Company.

Robert Bridge (Percussion) (he/him) is a Professor of Music at Onondaga Community College and adjunct faculty at Lemoyne College and Syracuse University. He also performs regularly in the Syracuse area including performances with the Society for New Music and The Syracuse Orchestra and can be heard on commercial recordings of both groups. He is an artist endorser for Yamaha Percussion, Sabian Cymbals, and Innovative Percussion mallets and sticks. He has enjoyed playing a variety of shows at The REV. Some favorites include Jesus Christ Superstar; Always Patsy Cline, Mama Mia!, Working, 42nd Street, Newsies, and May We All. He is also incredibly proud to have been part of The REV Concert in 2020. 

Jeff Dunn (Trombone) (he/him) is a varied performer, educator, and music leader. Prior to Tarzan, Jeff has performed other musicals such as Bandstand and The Wizard of Oz. Jeff has also performed with ensembles such as the Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra, the Binghamton Philharmonic, and the Cayuga Chamber Orchestra. Currently, Jeff is the trombone professor at Nazareth University and the trombonist with the Wilmot Brass Quintet and remains an active freelancer in New York. Additionally, Jeff is an administrator at the Eastman School of Music where he works for the Institute for Music Leadership, manages Eastman Summer, and teaches career and leadership courses. More at www.jeffdunntrombone.com. 

Michael Fittipaldi (Bass) (he/him) is excited to be a part of The REV’s 2026 season! Some of his favorite MGR productions include: Buddy: The Buddy Holly Story, The Full Monty, Altar Boyz, The Light in the Piazza, Million Dollar Quartet, Catch Me If You Can, A Chorus Line, Jersey Boys, and Jesus Christ Superstar. Michael is a member of the Syracuse Orchestra and the Albany Symphony. Many thanks to the amazing staff and crew for always making The REV a great place to be!

Gillian Kroll (Guitar) (she/her) is excited to rejoin The REV as guitarist for Tarzan after previous pit credits in Barnum, Footloose, and Beautiful. Gillian has performed across New York as a guitarist and multi-instrumentalist for 10 years, spanning various styles including classical guitar, musical theatre, and rock/pop. She has a BA in Guitar Performance and Music Education from Ithaca College, and is a current graduate student of Boston University and music teacher at Berea Elementary School. Recent performances include Xanadu, Matilda, and Shrek at Yorktown Stage; 54 Sings Hair at 54 Below; A Sharp Applauds at The Green Room 42; Man of La Mancha with The Playhouse at Museum Village; and Beyond Perfection at AMT Theatre’s Broadway Bound Theatre Festival.v

Eduardo Sepulveda (Reeds) (he/him) is the Principal Oboist of The Syracuse Orchestra. A native of Antofagasta, Chile, he is also a member of the Cabrillo Festival of Contemporary Music and has served as Principal Oboe for the Des Moines Metro Opera, the Mansfield (Ohio) Symphony Orchestra, and the Antofagasta Symphony Orchestra. Eduardo has performed as a guest musician with the Minnesota Orchestra, Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra, Columbus Symphony Orchestra, Richmond Symphony Orchestra, National Symphony Orchestra of Chile, Santiago Philharmonic, and the Chamber Orchestra of Chile. As a soloist, he has performed with The Syracuse Orchestra, Antofagasta Symphony Orchestra, Oberlin Contemporary Music Ensemble, and Oberlin String Orchestra. Eduardo holds music performance degrees from the Oberlin Conservatory of Music, the Cleveland Institute of Music, and The Juilliard School.v

James R. Spadafore (Reeds) (he/him) is excited to be playing in the pit with such outstanding conductors and musicians. As a freelance musician, James has performed with Marvin Hamlisch, Natalie Cole, Tony Bennett, Frank Sinatra Jr., Ben Vereen, Bob Hope, Petula Clark, The Fifth Dimension, The Spinners, Frankie Valli & the Four Seasons, The Four Tops, and The Temptations. As a pit musician, Mr. Spadafore has performed with the national touring companies of City of Angels, The King And I, A Chorus Line, Peter Pan, Big, Chicago, The Producers, Hairspray, Spamalot, Wicked, The Book of Mormon, The Phantom of the Opera, Beautiful:The Carol King Musical, Motown the Musical, the Lincoln Center tour of My Fair Lady, and MJ the Musical. Mr. Spadafore is currently a member of the Stan Colella Orchestra, and has performed for Syracuse Stage and Syracuse Drama. James resides in Liverpool, NY and wishes to thank his significant other, Betsey, who inspires him each and every day.

James Tapia (Trumpet) (he/him) is making his orchestra debut at The REV in Tarzan! His professional theater orchestra production credits include: A Chorus Line, Chicago, Evita, Mame, Matilda the Musical, Teddy and Alice, The Man of La Mancha, The Music Man, Oklahoma, and Shrek.  

Jennifer Vacanti (Percussion) (she/her) received her Bachelors in Music Education and “Performer’s Certificate” from SUNY Fredonia, and her Masters from Ithaca College studying with acclaimed marimba soloist and composer Gordon Stout. Mrs. Vacanti is an adjunct faculty member at Onondaga Community College where she co-directs the percussion ensemble, and teaches percussion and drum set lessons. She has conducted the Rensselaer County High School Percussion Ensemble, the Oneida County Junior High Percussion Ensemble, the Cayuga County Junior High All-County Band, the CNY All-Star High School Percussion Ensemble and for 9 years directed the Baldwinsville High School Percussion Ensemble. Mrs. Vacanti has studied doumbek, frame drum, riq, mbira, and djembe and keeps a busy performing schedule, playing with the The Syracuse Orchestra, the Society for New Music, Central Winds, and for musicals throughout CNY.