Robert Hupp+ (he/him)

FIFTH SEASON

Jessica Chen+ (she/her)

THIRD SEASON

Jessica Chen is a Bessie-nominated choreographer and Artistic Director of J CHEN PROJECT. Her previous productions at Weathervane include Jersey Boys, Beautiful: A Carole King Musical, and Cabaret. Recent credits include choreographing Cameron Crowe’s reimagined Almost Famous with composer Tom Kitt, The Wizard of Oz at Alabama Shakespeare Festival, and Peter and the Starcatcher at Montclair State University. She served as Assistant Director on SUMO at The Public Theater (Drama Desk Award for Fight Choreography). She is a recipient of the 2025 SDCF Lynnette Barkley Fund. Her show AAPI Heroes tours nationally in 2026. She is a proud member of SDC. www.jessicachen.co

Noah Huseman (he/him)

FIRST SEASON

Noah Huseman is a NYC based pianist, music director, vocal coach, and arranger. Before moving, he worked in Nashville performing, teaching, and producing music. Previous work includes NYU Tisch Opera Lab, Chickenshed NYC, Shuffles NYC, and Secret Theatre. He’s excited to be joining Weathervane this year!

Seth Bowen (he/him)

FIRST SEASON

Seth is a former Wisconsinite who teaches at the University of Toledo. He went to grad school at Wayne State University in Scenic Design and has had the privilege of working all over the country. Seth is excited to be working here at the Weathervane and to bring the scenery to life on this repertory stage.

Chris Payne (he/him)

FIRST SEASON

Chris is excited to join Weathervane. He is a Chicago-based lighting and video designer who recently finished his MFA at Wayne State. Recent credits include lighting design for PLAY THAT GOES WRONG and TARTUFFE, and video design for ROCKY HORROR at Wayne. Recently, he was the lighting supervisor at APT.

Rien Schlecht (she/her)

TWENTY-SECOND SEASON

Favorite Weathervane designs include The Tempest, A Midsummer Night’s Dream (NH Theatre Award), Guys and Dolls (NH Theatre Award), Eurydice, Buyer and Cellar, and Sweeney Todd (NH Theatre Award). Her New York theatre credits – Out of the Box Theatrics, including the Drama Desk-nominated Baby, several seasons with Theatre For A New Audience, Radio City, Mark Morris Ballet, and many other theatres and TV commercials. She designed The Mysteries at The Flea (Drama Desk nom), The Jinx for HBO, worked on The Woodsman at New World Stages, and the stage and film productions of A Midsummer Night’s Dream with Julie Taymor. 

Jeremy Baldauf (he/him)

FOURTH SEASON

Based in Vermont, Jeremy has been a freelance technical designer for 10+ years, traveling the East Coast and beyond. He is excited to be returning for his fourth season with the Weathervane! Jeremy is also an active member of IATSE Local #481.

Ashley Harkey (she/her)

FIRST SEASON

Ashley is a sound designer and technician from Longview, Texas, based out of Shreveport, Louisiana. She recently graduated from Northwestern State University with a B.F.A in Production and Design. She can’t wait to be a part of the Weathervane’s upcoming season!

Cass Burgess  (he/him)

SECOND SEASON

Cass is a multidisciplinary theatre artist and poet known for his meticulous attention to detail and unrelenting dedication to examining life’s hard truths. He is excited to return to the Weathervane for his second year as props designer. Learn more about him at cassburgess.com.

Christa LeBlanc (she/her) 

FIRST SEASON

is a NYC-based scenic designer and artist, and is excited to be joining the Weathervane for her first season! Some of her favorite past works include designing CARRIE: THE MUSICAL (MMC) and scenic charging A CHRISTMAS CAROL (Engeman Theatre). Sending love to Rosco, her cat.

Celia Madeoy (she/her) 

FIFTH SEASON (Dialect Design) Credits include Syracuse Stage, Shakespeare Theatre Company, Guthrie Theater, Folger Theatre, Shakespeare & Company, Gateway Playhouse, The REV Theatre Company, and American Shakespeare Center. Trained internationally at Rose Bruford College, Royal Shakespeare Company, and Shakespeare’s Globe London. Professor of Voice & Speech at Syracuse University.

Aliana Asperi (she/her) 

FIRST SEASON

Sam Powers* (he/him)

SECOND SEASON

Select regional credits include: GableStage – EUREKA DAY, Act II Playhouse – PROOF, Olney Theatre – A CHRISTMAS CAROL, MWO- LEWIS AND TOLKIEN, Kennedy Center – SHEAR MADNESS, Round House – A HANUKKAH CAROL, Florida Studio Theatre – THE WORLD GOES ‘ROUND.  www.sampowersstage.com | @sampowersstage

REED DAVIS* (he/him)

THIRD SEASON

Reed is returning to Weathervane for his third season. He is currently pursuing his MFA in Stage Management at the University of Iowa. Previously, he has worked with Opera House Arts, First Stage Milwaukee, and Penobscot Theatre Company. Thank you to his friends and family for their support—enjoy the show!

EGYPT DIXON*, she/her 

SEVENTH SEASON (Resident Stage Manager) Credits: National Tours (Asst. Stage Manager): PARADE, THE NOTEBOOK; Atlantic Theater Company (Production Stage Manager): ANATOMY OAS; TFANA (Assistant Stage Manager): FEFU AND HER FRIENDS; Weston Playhouse (Asst. Stage Manager): INDECENT. 

RIEN SCHLECHT*, she/her

TWENTY-SECOND SEASON

Favorite Weathervane designs include THE TEMPEST, A MIDSUMMER NIGHT’S DREAM (NH Theatre Award), GUYS AND DOLLS (NH Theatre Award), EURYDICE, BUYER AND CELLAR, and SWEENEY TODD (NH Theatre Award). Her New York theatre credits – Out of the Box Theatrics, including the Drama Desk-nominated BABY, several seasons with Theatre For A New Audience, Radio City, Mark Morris Ballet, and many other theatres and TV commercials. She designed The Mysteries at The Flea (Drama Desk nom), The Jinx for HBO, worked on THE WOODSMAN at New World Stages, and the stage and film productions of A Midsummer Night’s Dream with Julie Taymor. 

HANNAH SHOWALTER*, she/her

SIXTH SEASON

This is Hannah’s sixth season with the Weathervane. Hannah graduated from Keene State College with a BA in Theatre and Dance. Last season, Hannah played Jan in GREASE! She is super excited about season 61! 

AASRITH VEERAPANENI, he/him

FIRST SEASON 

Aasrith is a rising third-year at the University of Iowa. PSM credits include THE INDOCTRINATION OF BANANAS (2025, UIowa) and 10 MINUTE PLAY FESTIVAL (2026, UIowa). Select ASM credits include FRANKIE AND JOHNNY… (2025, SDT), ARGONAUTIKA (2025, UIowa), and DIE FLEDERMAUS (2026, CROpera). Go Hawkeyes.

Irene Sankoff & David Hein

IRENE SANKOFF & DAVID HEIN are the Olivier-award winning, Tony and Grammy nominated, Canadian writing team behind the worldwide award-winning hit Musical Come From Away, currently playing to over 100 countries on Apple TV+, and around the world.

Their first show, My Mother’s Lesbian Jewish Wiccan Wedding, based on David’s mother’s true story, has won Best Musical awards across North America, with Sankoff and Hein performing in many productions.

Together, they have written for Disney, Netflix, Warner Bros., HBO and the CW as well as Marvel Comics and the Canadian government. They are the recipients of the FourFreedoms Good Neighbor Award and the Meritorious Service Cross of Canada which recognizes Canadians’ exceptional accomplishments.

Music Theatre International

Music Theatre International (MTI) is one of the world’s leading theatrical licensing agencies, granting theatres from around the world the rights to perform the greatest selection of musicals from Broadway and beyond. Founded in 1952 by composer Frank Loesser and orchestrator Don Walker, MTI is a driving force in advancing musical theatre as a vibrant and engaging art form.

MTI works directly with the composers, lyricists and book writers of these musicals to provide official scripts, musical materials and dynamic theatrical resources to over 100,000 professional, community and school theatres in the US and in over 150 countries worldwide.

MTI is particularly dedicated to educational theatre, and has created special collections to meet the needs of various types of performers and audiences. MTI’s Broadway Junior® shows are 30- and 60-minute musicals for performance by elementary and middle school-aged performers, while MTI’s School Editions are musicals annotated for performance by high school students.