Who’s Who

MARK ZEISLER (Director) Directing: American Buffalo for Elm Shakespeare. Acting: Broadway: A View From the Bridge, Brooklyn Boy, The Big Knife. Off- Broadway: Rancho Viejo, Piece of My Heart, Eurydice, The Accomplices. Regional: Sherlock’s Last Case at The Huntington, (IRNE nomination), Red at Maltz Jupiter, Asolo Theatre and Merrimack Rep (IRNE nomination/Best Actor 2012 Sarasota Magazine), Duke Vincentio in Measure for Measure at The Folger Theatre (Helen Hayes nomination), Eddie Carbone in A View from the Bridge at The Alley Theatre and Seattle Rep, two seasons at American Repertory Theatre, Alabama Shakespeare Festival (three productions), Baltimore Center Stage (two productions), Merrimack Rep (five productions), Actors Theatre of Louisville (six productions), Yale Rep (two productions), Berkeley Rep (two productions), Shakespeare and Company (three seasons), Elm Shakespeare (four seasons), The Goodman, WAM, The McCarter, BAM Next Wave Festival. Television: “Bull,” “Castle Rock,” “For Life,” “FBI: Most Wanted,” “The Loudest Voice,” “The Blacklist,” “House of Cards,” “Elementary,” “The Good Wife,” “Rescue Me,” “Blue Bloods,” “The Americans,” all three “Law and Order(s)” and the upcoming “The First Lady” for Showtime. Film: Sundance 2022 entry The Cathedral, Two Week Notice, Random Hearts, Shaft, After School. Narrator for “GI Jews” (PBS). Trained at SUNY Purchase.

ELIZABETH BOLSTER (Costume Designer) has been the Wardrobe Supervisor at the Yale Repertory Theater since 2002 where she enjoys working backstage and training student work study crews. Outside of her job at Yale she is a Costume and Scenic designer whose work has been seen at Elm Shakespeare Company, Yale Baroque Opera Project, and Trinity College Hartford. Previous Legacy credits include Just Desserts and The Last Five Years. In what little free time she has Elizabeth enjoys exploring different mediums of visual and fiber arts as well as DIY home projects. Professional training: MFA in Costume Design from The Conservatory of Theatre Arts and Film at SUNY Purchase, and a BFA in Performance Production from Cornish College of the Arts in Seattle, WA.

RICH BURKAM (Technical Director) came to Connecticut to study music and music recording at UNH. He played in bands such as 4:20, Space Cushion, and Over The Line. His studies continued, learning to be a luthier under Barry Lipman and Chris Tatalias, giving him a taste for fine woodworking. Richard now owns a woodshop that makes fine furniture, in a space which is shared with lighting designer Jamie Burnett. Together they have built sets for many production companies, including Elm Shakespeare, Yale Baroque Opera Project, and many small black box theater productions.

JAMIE BURNETT (Set & Lighting Designer) is a graduate of Carnegie Mellon University and is a founding member of The Elm Shakespeare Company. The 2019 production of Comedy of Errors was his 24th Season with the illustrious company. As resident Set and Lighting Designer for the Elm Shakespeare Company he designed lighting for every production for the past 26 years. He has designed sets for almost every production till 2009. Hopefully you saw last year’s Halloween show of scary Shakespeare scenes in Edgerton park: Taste of Terror 2. International Festival of Arts and Ideas 2018, Lighting design: Requiem for an Electric Chair, 2017 Never Stand Still, Iseman Theater. Collective Consciousness Theater company: Lighting Design. Skeleton Crew, Rasheeda Speaking, Jesus Hopped the A Train, Sunset Baby, Topdog/Underdog. Also designed the past 4 seasons. SCSU shows include lighting design for Stop Kiss, Much Ado About Nothing, The Boyfriend and Our Country’s Good. Sacred Heart University: In The Heights, Jesus Christ Superstar. The past few years he has lit the main hall in the New Haven Armory with artistic lighting for the Citywide Open Studios events serving the unique art installations there. With Projects for a New Millennium, he was Designer for the Stamford Train Station Façade Lighting. Producer/Lighting Designer/Production Manager for 2014 hit Terra Tractus (The Earth Moves), also (2005) Terra Mirabila, (2001) Terra Lumina and Terra Continuum (1999) the grand multimedia extravaganzas all performed in the Stony Creek Granite Quarry. He also designed PNM’s Branford Luminata (2010) lighting the town hall on the Branford Green. He is a consultant, lighting and set designer, special events planner, and film/video gaffer, as well as a licensed electrical contractor. His company, Luminous Environments, specializes in Theater and TV Studio Renovations and site-specific public art installations involving specialized lighting. His latest projects include Branford High School Theater, Fairfield Community Theater, Southington High School Theater, and this very theater as consultant ,and lighting and rigging systems design and installation. He also designed all of the shows for the inaugural season of The Legacy Theatre. He is a 2005 recipient of the New Haven Arts Award.

MACIE COX (ASM & Crew) is a senior from Amity High School. She is doing an internship with Legacy Theatre for the duration of Deathtrap. Macie is used to being on the stage at her high school and other local theatres including, New Paradigm Theatre, Center Stage Theatre, and New Haven Academy of Performing Arts. However, she decided in order to further her career she should experience other aspects of putting on a production. Macie is thrilled to be on the assistant stage management team and she would like to thank Legacy Theatre for welcoming her with open arms.

NICHOLAS GRAHAM (ASM & Runner) is currently a junior at Southern Connecticut State University and will be beginning his senior year in Fall 2022. He studies Studio Arts at Southern with a concentration in Printmaking, and a minor in Theatre.

ADAM JACKSON (Sound Designer) is excited to be a part of Legacy Theatre’s second season. Adam has been involved in over 40 productions both in front of the audience and backstage. Of the many shows he has been on stage for, Adam has most enjoyed portraying the likenesses of J. Bruce Ismay in Titanic (2017), Henry David Thoreau in The Night Thoreau Spent in Jail (2017), Farquaad in Shrek (2018), Ebenezer Scrooge in A Christmas Carol (2018), and both Lucas Beineke and Gomez Addams (understudy, performed) in The Addams Family (2019). Adam was head stage manager for Shoreline Theatre Company’s Inaugural Season and has continued to work with them in the areas of lighting and sound design as well as the technical director for their summer camp shows. Adam has also worked as a sound engineer for various productions and concerts, and more recently, helped produce several live-streamed events during the Covid-19 Pandemic. Adam is currently studying music education at Western Connecticut State University with a concentration in classical trombone. Adam works on the student crew at WCSU, helping to plan and run events. He also works as the sound engineer at The River Church in Danbury. In his free time, Adam works on some of his own projects, which have previously included recording an album of barbershop songs, conducting several big band recording sessions, and planning a live concert in Branford which included the performances of 30+ musicians from all over Connecticut.

SAVIAH KNUDSEN (ASM & Runner) has played the title role in Alice in Wonderland, Katie Nana, Chimney Sweep, and Ensemble in Mary Poppins, Stepsister in Into the Woods, the Queen in Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, and Daughter in Rumpelstiltskin, among others. She also has been a crew member for Polkadots, Oedipus Rex, A Christmas Carol, and many more!

ERICA PAJONAS (Props/ASM/Runner) Quinnipiac University: Thebes: A New Musical (Laius), Proof (Catherine), Macbeth (Lennox & Doctor, Props Master), Thom Pain (based on nothing) (Producer), The Lifespan of a Fact (Props Master), Love & Information (Ensemble), Bad Jews (Set Designer), Seven Minutes in Heaven (Run Crew), A Midsummer Night’s Dream (Fairy) New Play Festival 2019: (Stage Manager, Last Words). Legacy Theater: A Midsummer Night’s Dream (Hippolyta & Mustardseed). Education: Quinnipiac University, Psychology and Theater double major. Awards: Alpha Psi Omega Theater Honor Society, Psi Chi Psychology Honor Society.

SARAH PERO (ASM & Production Manager) Born and raised in New Haven, CT, Sarah has been involved with local community and professional theatre for 20+ years. Acting at the age of 10, and Directing at 16, Sarah received her BFA in Theatre, with a concentration in directing from the University of Rhode Island. Right after college, Sarah was a part-time drama teacher in New Haven Public Schools and also taught theatre classes with Performing Arts Programs (South Windsor, CT). Sarah then worked at the Music Theatre of CT (Norwalk, CT) School of Performing Arts, wearing many hats as Administrative Manager, Teaching Artist, Director, Music Director, and Choreographer for the school. Sarah also managed the Box Office and was the Resident Sound Designer for MTC’s Professional Main Stage. Following MTC, Sarah worked as Administrative Manager at the Downtown Cabaret Theatre (Bridgeport, CT). As a Production Stage Manager for various Theatre Productions in Rhode Island and Connecticut, some of her favorites include: Tick, Tick Boom; Little Women: The Musical; and You’re a Good Man Charlie Brown. Most recently, Sarah served as the Production Stage Manager for I Do! I Do! and multiple Legacy productions in the 2021 season. Sarah is thrilled to officially join the Legacy team as Production Manager.

LIZA PENNEY (Production Stage Manager) is excited to be premiering with Legacy Theatre! New York stage management credits include: Radium Girls at Metropolitan Playhouse, Ragtime and Run for Your Wife at The Gallery Players, King John, Julius Caesar, and The Tempest with the Fools and Kings Project. Past stage management credits include An Enemy of the People and The Glass Menagerie with the University of Rochester's International Theatre Program.

DAVID SEPULVEDA (Scenic Artist) David’s theatrical set designs and scenic painting skills were honed during theatrical productions at a Stamford, Connecticut public school where he taught art education for 36 years. He holds a Master’s Degree from NYU in Studio Art. After retiring from teaching, he continued producing theatrical sets and scenic painting at various local and regional theaters, including Regional Center for the Arts, Bregamos Community Theater, and Collective Consciousness Theatre in New Haven. David’s setwork has appeared at Long Wharf Theater’s Stage Two, Iseman Theater at Yale, Hartbeat Ensemble’s Carriage House Theater, Norwich Arts Center, and most recently at Legacy Theatre, where he worked on several productions for Legacy Theatre’s first season.

RICHARD SQUERI (Stage Combat Choreographer & Intimacy Coach) is an award winning Fight Director/ Intimacy Coordinator, 2nd Director, and stunt and stage combat instructor; with over 40 years of experience; 400 shows and a record of safety. His work has appeared in every media genre. He is an adjunct faculty member at the College of Marin and East Bay Ctr. for the Performing Arts in CA. He was board chair of Four Springs Retreat Center, (A Jungian retreat Ctr.) for 9 years. He is also one of the Co-founders of Birdbath Theatres, Executive Director of the award winning ‘Open End Theater’ and one of the founding members of The Elm Shakespeare Co. In New Haven, CT. Richard is the ‘Gogy’ (Founder), of Flowing Dragon Swords: a dynamic practice of connection and care. Flowing Dragon Swords braids together three strands of unique life experience: counseling of at-risk youth; teaching of stunt and stage combat; and mentoring by indigenous and Far Eastern teachers. His Company ‘FDS/SCI ‘Provides: Stunt & Stage Combat services for the Film & Stage Industry, Choreography & Physical Action Instruction, Special ‘Practical’ Effects Prop & Weapon Fabrication, Ordnance Supply, Intimacy Coordination, V.O. and 2nd Unit Direction. He is also a Martial Artist, Stone Mason, therapeutic counselor, Grandfather, and C.A.S.A. (Court Appointed Special Advocate).

AMIE ZINER (Scenic Artist) has been making fine art, commissions, and commercial illustration for more than 50 years. She grew up in a family of artists, writers and craftsmen. Ziner sold her first commercial illustration when she was 13. Amie attended Pratt Institute in NYC, SUNY Purchase, and later graduated from Goddard College. She is the children’s book illustrator of “There Once Was A Sky Full of Stars”, and wrote and illustrated “Jennifer Ellen Watermelon”. She has shown her work at libraries, galleries and schools in NY State and in CT. Ziner is a frequent participant at CityWide Open Studios. Amie Ziner has worked with David Sepulveda doing murals, banners, and theatrical sets for several years; for Junta New Haven, Bregamos Community Theater, Collective Consciousness Theater, and others. She recently retired from being a Park Ranger to spend more time making art. She worked most recently at Legacy Theatre, where she worked on several productions for Legacy Theatre’s first season.

SPECIAL THANKS FOR DEATHTRAP

Jim Andreassi, Susan Ades