Ethan Paulini+ (he/him)

ELEVENTH SEASON

Ethan has national credits as a director, choreographer, actor, writer, and educator. Favorite WV Productions include Stones in His Pockets, Cabaret, Blood Brothers, Bright Star, One Man, Two Guvnors, and Everybody’s Talking About Jamie. He recently appeared in the New York Production of Maltby & Shire’s About Time. Drama Desk, Off-Broadway Alliance and Drama League nominations. Training: Emerson College. Proud member: SDC and SAG/AFTRA, and a member of AEA. More info at ethanpaulini.com and ethancoaches.com.

Noah Huseman (he/him)

FIRST SEASON

Samuel Molho (he/him)

FIRST SEASON

Samuel is a graduate of Angelo State University with a BA in Theatre. There, he focused on scenic design and construction. Some of his credits include TWELVE ANGRY JURORS (ASU) and THE CRUCIBLE (ASU), both of which he was awarded ACTF Region 6 Excellence in Scenic Design.

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.

AP PIKIBEN  (they/them)

FOURTH SEASON 

AP is a Professor of Theatre at Truman State University in Kirksville, MO. They are ecstatic to be here at the Weathervane for their fourth season. This year is a little special because their partner, Alex, and them are able to share the Weathervane with their daughter, Artemis.

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. 

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.

Alexander Pikiben (he/him)

FOURTH SEASON

Alex is a Lighting/Sound Professor at Truman State University. He is also a freelance designer based out of Minneapolis. He is glad to be at the Weathervane for another year and wishes to thank his fantastic partner, AP, and his wonderful daughter, Artemis, for letting him do his thing! #Free Palestine

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.

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!

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

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.

Jonathan Larson

Jonathan Larson received the 1996 Pulitzer Prize for Drama for RENT. He also won the 1996 Tony Award for Best Musical and the 1994 Richard Rodgers Award for RENT and twice received The Gilman & Gonzales-Falla Theatre Foundation’s Comendation Award. In 1989 he was granted the Stephen Sondheim Award from American Music Theatre Festival, where he contributed to the musical “Sitting on the Edge of the Future”. In 1988 he won the Richard Rodgers Development Grant for his rock musical Superbia, which was staged at Playwrights Horizon. He composed the score for the musical J.P. Morgan Saves the Nation, which was presented by En Garde Arts in 1995. Mr. Larson performed his rock monologue tick, tick… BOOM! at Second Stage Theatre, The Village Gate and New York Theatre Workshop. In addition to scoring and song writing for “Sesame Street”, he created music for a number fo children’s book-cassettes, including Steven Spielberg’s “An American Tail” and “Land Before Time”. Other film scores include work for Rolling Stones magazine publisher Jann Wenner. He conceived, directed and wrote four original songs for “Away We Go!”, a musical video for children. RENT, his rock opera based on “La Boheme”, had its world premiere on February 13, 1996 at New York Theatre Workshop. Mr. Larson died unexpectedly of an aortic aneurysm on January 25, 1996, ten days before his 36th birthday. His music (including songs cut from his shows) is archived in the Library of Congress.

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.