Staff
Chuck Still is a native of Chattanooga and a graduate of Davidson College. He has an MFA from the North Carolina School of the Arts. He began his professional theatre career as Production Manager of the North Carolina Shakespeare Festival in High Point. Still has extensive experience in theatre management:
• He most recently was Executive Director of the Community Arts Center in Williamsport, Pennsylvania.
• He was Founding Executive Director of the Midtown Arts & Theater Center Houston (MATCH) in Houston, Texas from 2015 to 2019.
• He was Founding Executive Director of the Katherine Hepburn Cultural Arts Center in Old Saybrook, Connecticut from 2008 to 2014.
• He has worked in production management at five different regional theatres. He has been involved in three successful capital campaigns and four building projects. Early in his career, he worked on Broadway as a production supervisor.
Debby has 25 years of experience in fundraising and business development.
Early in her career, Debby worked in the for-profit private sector, and public sector as a Regional Sales Manager and Account Executive with a Fortune 500 company. Most recently, she co-founded and sold Donor Haven, a digital platform designed to train functional areas of nonprofits for fundraising alignment. She’s been instrumental in developing and executing fundraising campaigns for myriad organizations. Her work has garnered national recognition; her ability to translate the importance of growing long-term donor relations for organizations has culminated in a philanthropic philosophy, and focus, on donor-centric fundraising.
Civic contributions include various leadership roles in nonprofit organizations including children’s causes, healthcare, homeless initiatives, and both the visual and performing arts. Debby is passionate about youth empowerment. Most recently, her focus has been promoting STEM programs that are currently playing a vital role in girls’ education. It is through her passion for giving children and young people the very best educational opportunities, and championing those causes, that she hopes to inspire, transform, and impact future generations.
She enjoys various outdoor pursuits, beach time, reading, painting, interior design and spending time with her nieces and nephews.
Janelle Austin Parrish has been with The Lost Colony Box Office since 2012, becoming Box Office Manager in the fall of 2014. She enjoys being the first point of contact to patrons from around the globe. She is a second generation part of the production with her father pushing the boat backstage for a nickel a night. Her family now has four generations of involvement in this great organization.
Matt comes to Manteo from Cincinnati, Ohio. A graduate of the University of Alabama, Matt spent 4 summers as a performer in The Lost Colony, as an Actor Technician and as Father Martin. After college, Matt spent 4 years traveling as an actor, and has worked with Thunder Bay Theatre, Lexington Children’s Theatre, and Birmingham Children’s Theatre. In 2021, Matt was hired as the Guest Experience Ambassador for RIHA, and now proudly serves as the Marketing and Development Coordinator for the company. He and his wife Emmi are proud Keepers of the Dream.
Karin grew up on the outskirts of NYC and loved taking the train into the City for walking tours and Broadway shows. After a career in corporate accounting at Domino Sugar, Karin relocated to Kitty Hawk, NC. Karin fell in love with the area and now calls the beautiful Outer Banks her home. Karin volunteers at the Outer Banks SPCA on the weekends.
Greg grew up in McClean, Virginia and went into the Air Force for 7 years. After his time with the military he founded his own Fiber Optic company which he owned and operated for 22 years. He and his wife retired to the Outer Banks and he is proud to maintain the beautiful grounds of the Waterside Theatre and Morrison Grove.
Jeff Whiting
Director/Choreographer
Jeff Whiting is an award-winning director, choreographer, producer and entrepreneur with work on Broadway, TV/Film, Special Events and Concerts around the world. BROADWAY (Associate): Bullets Over Broadway, The Scottsboro Boys, Hair, Young Frankenstein, Big Fish. NYC: Loch Lomond, In the Light, The Z Team, Single Wide. CONCERTS/EVENTS: Carnegie Hall (James Taylor, Bette Midler, Steve Martin, Sting, Tony Bennett), New Victory Theatre (Nathan Lane, Matthew Broderick, Sarah Jessica Parker), Kodak Theatre (Catherine Zeta-Jones), Disney’s Magic Mirror (Mexico), Disney’s Magical Moments Parade (Brazil). FILM: Executive Producer of The Show Must Go On (Best Documentary – Cannes 2022). NATIONAL TOUR: Bullets Over Broadway, Hairspray, The Producers, Young Frankenstein, The Rockin’ Road to Dublin, Christmas In Killarney. OTHER THEATRE: Fly More Than You Fall (World Premiere), The Lost Colony (Waterside), Chasing Rainbows (World Premiere), Hairspray (NSMT), Gypsy (Capital). BUSINESS: Jeff is the Creator/Founder of Stage Write Software (Patented documentation technology), Open Jar Studios (Broadway rehearsal space), The Open Jar Institute (theatre training program), The Stage Door Network(theatrical resource directory), and the non-profit Stage Door Foundation (supporting theatre makers), BWAY Headshots/Printing, and was featured in a TED Talk sharing his philosophy of “Open Jar Thinking.” Jeffwhiting.com
Keith A. Truax
Lighting Designer
Keith A. Truax is thrilled to be returning to The Lost Colony for a fourth season. Additional Theatrical Designs for: Lincoln Park Performing Arts Center, Pittsburgh CLO, PICT Classic Theatre, Point Park University, PEAK Performances, Utah State University, 59E59, Penguin Rep Theatre, Cape Rep Theatre, Fordham University, Phoenix Theatre Company, Constellation Stage & Film, Red Mountain Theatre, New London Barn Playhouse, Blumenthal Performing Arts, Utah Valley University, Timber Lake Playhouse & John W. Engeman Theatre. North American Tours: “Dirty Dancing In Concert”, “The British Invasion Live”, “Syncopated Ladies 2022” & “Turning 15 on The Road to Freedom”. Keith holds an MFA in Lighting Design from Carnegie Mellon University. For additional information please visit www.keithtruax.com & @keith.a.truax.lighting
Christopher Ash
Projections Designer
Christopher’s Broadway credits include New York, New York, Sunday in the Park with George, and Saint Joan. Opera credits include The Metropolitan Opera, Paris Opera, La Monnaie, Lausanne, Lyric Opera of Chicago, Canadian Opera, and Houston Grand Opera. Dance credits include Arizona Ballet, Miami City Ballet, Houston Ballet, Municipal de Santiago, Atlanta Ballet, Northern Ballet, Ballet Hispánico, and River North Chicago Dance. Regional theater work includes the Guthrie Theater, Wilma Theater, Philadelphia Theatre Company, and Yale Repertory Theatre. His work has been seen in 19 countries and recognized with 17 awards. Christopher holds an MFA from the Yale School of Drama.
Kaya Littleturtle
Cultural Advisor
Coming from a long line of cultural leaders that guided him on his walk as a traditionalist, Kaya Littleturtle is currently employed at the North Carolina Museum of History as the community programs and festivals coordinator. He is the lead singer of the championship drum group WarPaint who travels all over Indian country and he is an active member of his community’s traditional longhouse and belongs to Snipe clan one of the 7 traditional longhouse clans. Kaya is also the Program Manager of the Good Mind Initiative, through this program he is able to coordinate and help facilitate meaningful harm reduction and substance use disorder recovery services to tribal communities. He is an enrolled member of the Tuscarora Indians of Kahtehnuaka Territories.
Ashton Michael Corey
Sound Designer
Recent credits include Irving Berlin’s White Christmas (Bucks County Playhouse), The Lehman Trilogy (The Phoenix Theatre Company), Tick, Tick… BOOM! (Bucks County Playhouse), Press Your Luck Live (Norwegian Cruise Lines), On Your Feet (National Tour; Associate),The Lost Colony (87th Season), Constellations (The Phoenix Theatre Company), Million Dollar Quartet Christmas (Bucks County Playhouse), Make A Joyful Noise (Carnegie Hall), The Price Is Right Live (Norwegian Cruise Lines), Million Dollar Quartet Christmas (National Tour; Associate), Soundtrack 63 (Lincoln Center), Medicine The Musical (Off-Broadway).
Nicole Peckens
Costume Coordintor
A native of Kalamazoo, Michigan Nicole is proud to join The Lost Colony for her 8th season. It is a dream position in a dream location. Throughout the year, she freelances with academic and regional theatres. Her resume includes a wide variety of film and theatre: “My Brother, My Brother, and Me,” “America’s Feud: The Hatfield and McCoys”, and such iconic shows as THE TOXIC AVENGER, AVENUE Q, THE PRODUCERS, MARAT/SADE, and THE ARABIAN NIGHTS. She received her MFA in Costume Technology from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign and her BFA in Costume Design from Marshall University in Huntington, West Virginia. She sends a thank you to her mother, her husband Murdoc, her Partner in Mischief, and her furlings for their love and support to keep her sane. Together we are Keepers of the Dream.
Nicholas Mahon
Puppet Designer
Nicholas Mahon is an Emmy nominated puppet and theatrical designer specializing in performer interactive pieces and character creation. Since 2004 he has worked on projects for Michael Curry Design, Walt Disney Entertainment, Broadway, The Jim Henson Company, Blue Man Group and many more. Most recent projects include 2018 Winter Olympics Opening Ceremony (Pyeonchang), Little Shop Of Horrors (NYC 2019), Sesame Street Television (2013-present), Islamic Solidarity Games Opening Ceremony (Baku 2017). His work on the Baku 2015 European Games Opening Ceremony as Scenic Designer was nominated for a Daytime Emmy.
Jason Paul Tate
Fight Director
Jason Paul Tate is a director, choreographer, performer, and special effects designer. He loves to create abstract and deconstructed depictions of violence, and is passionate about consent-forward, radically inclusive theatre-making. Tate was the fight choreographer for the world premiere of Watch Night, the inaugural production at PAC-NYC. Other favorite collaborations include Alice in Wonderland with Havoc Movement Company, Lady Macbeth of Mtsensk at the Metropolitan Opera, The Play that Goes Wrong at Cleveland Playhouse, Arrabal at A.R.T., Circus: Wandering City at BAM, Othello at Classic Stage Company, and Love’s Labour’s Lost for Great Lakes Theatre and Idaho Shakespeare Festival. Tate is the co-founder of Neutral Chaos, LLC, a nationally recognized movement company based in NYC. He is a proud member of the Stage Directors and Choreographers Society (SDC), Actors’ Equity Association (AEA), and serves as the current Vice President of the Society of American Fight Directors (SAFD), with whom he is also a Certified Teacher and Fight Director. Tate has been an educator for over a decade and currently serves as Professor of Movement at the FSU/Asolo Conservatory. jasonpaultate.com
Sam Davis
Composer
Broadway credits as arranger, orchestrator, and/or conductor include An American in Paris, Prince of Broadway, Holiday Inn, Gigi, Side Show, Big Fish, Curtains, and the upcoming Company. London: Joseph… Dreamcoat (Palladium), An American in Paris, and Company. Film and television credits include Beauty and the Beast (2017), Hail, Caesar!, “A Christmas Story Live,” and “Good Behavior.” As composer: Bunnicula, #DateMe, Red Eye of Love, Love and Real Estate (all off-Broadway), The Taming of the Shrew (Shakespeare in the Park.) Other theater work includes Susan Stroman’s Little Dancer (Kennedy Center, Seattle’s 5th Avenue) and The Beast in the Jungle (Vineyard Theater), Jason Robert Brown’s The Trumpet of the Swan (Kennedy Center), The Honeymooners (Paper Mill), Ever After (Atlanta’s Alliance), and music supervisor for Dreamgirls (Apollo Theater, U.S. national tour, South Africa, Korea, Japan). Sam is a winner of the Jonathan Larson Award and a graduate of the University of Michigan. For more information, visit samdavismusic.com.
Jesse Kissel
Music Director
Broadway: Chicago, The Visit, Days of Wine And Roses, The Cher Show, Leap Of Faith, Spiderman: Turn Off the Dark, Cirque Du Soleil’s: Paramour, Bright Star, Ragtime (Avery Fisher Hall 15th Anniversary Concert). National/International Tour: Chicago. Regional: Kid Victory (Signature Theatre, DC), The Visit (Williamstown Theatre Festival), The Scottsboro Boys (Center Theatre Group, LA), Titanic, Cats (MUNY). Producer and Arranger of “The Randy Rainbow Show” on YouTube—2022 Emmy Nominated. Executive Producer and Arranger of “A Little Brains, A Little Talent” by Randy Rainbow—2023 Grammy Nominated Best Comedy Album. Cabaret/Concerts: Randy Rainbow, Live! (Live Nation Tour), Cabaret/Concert Work: TOVAH: Out Of Her Mind (Tovah Feldshuh), Aaron Lazar (The Kennedy Center, Birdland, 54 Below, and Joe’s Pub) Symphonic work: The Boston Pops; Naples Philharmonic. BFA Boston Conservatory, MM Cincinnati Conservatory of Music in Orchestral Conducting.
Michael Rasbury
Digital Orchestral Track Production
VIRGINIA THEATRE FESTIVAL A Chorus Line, Cabaret, Dear Jack Dear Louise, Little Women, Little Shop of Horrors, The 39 Steps. HERITAGE THEATER FESTIVAL Harvey, Chapatti, The Odd Couple, Baskerville, A Sherlock Holmes Mystery. THE TRANSPORT GROUP (OFF-BROADWAY) And Away We Go (Premiere), The Patsy, Hello Again, Being Audrey, Bury The Dead, Marcy in the Galaxy, Crossing Brooklyn, Dark at the Top of the Stairs. THE PUBLIC One Flea Spare. ACTORS THEATRE OF LOUISVILLE One Flea Spare, Dinner With Friends, Like Totally Weird, Strange Encounters. FOLGER THEATRE Henry VIII (Helen Hayes Nomination), Henry V. FORT MASON CENTER (SANFRANCISCO), EUGENE O’NEILL NATIONAL MUSIC THEATRE CONFERENCE, NEW YORK MUSICAL THEATRE FESTIVAL Max Understood. THE JOHN CAGE TRUST An Alphabet. SUGARLOAF MOUNTAIN AMPHITHEATER Tecumseh! (2022-2025), The Passion of Dracula, Frankenstein. THE LOST COLONY Sound Design/Composition (2006-2021), OTHER Associate Professor in Sound Design, Director of Miller Arts Scholars, University of Virginia. Michael resides in Charlottesville, Virginia with his wife Amanda and two of their children, Avery and Max.
Joey Cassella
Associate Director
2025 marks Joey’s 9th season with The Lost Colony, and 3rd on the creative team. A local from Kill Devil Hills, Joey has always considered it an honor to be a part of a show with deep roots and connection to the community. Joey would like to thank Jeff Whiting for welcoming him to his creative team, and for bringing about so many wonderful additions and changes to the show in his five years as Director.
Previous productions include The Three Musketeers (Virginia Stage Company) Anything Goes (The Wick), Aida (The Metropolitan Opera), The Lost Colony (The Waterside Theatre), A Christmas Carol (Virginia Stage Company). Commercial credits include ads for SunHeist Eyewear, Shock Top Beer, Dr. Squatch Soaps, Birdova Golf, Sweetwater Brewing Company, Comet Clip Flashlights, Clip Hire and Trade Up Mobile. Following this season Joey will be attending Sacred Heart University to pursue his M.A. in Sports Communication and Media: Sports Broadcasting. He would like to thank his parents, family and Lily for all their love and support. Joey is dedicating this season to Saquon Barkley. Go Birds!
Chelsea Langevin
Associate Choreographer
Chelsea is based on the Outer Banks and is thrilled to continue bringing this beautiful production to life! She is a director, choreographer, and dance educator based on the Outer Banks who loves to coach and encourage the next generation of artists. Chelsea graduated from the high school dance program at the University of North Carolina School of the Arts before attending Oklahoma City University to complete her BFA in Dance Performance. Her performance credits include Ogunquit Playhouse, North Carolina Theatre, Theatre by the Sea, Fireside Theatre, Busch Gardens Williamsburg, and several cruise contracts as a dancer and singer/dancer with Disney Cruise Line, Holland America Line, Viking Cruises, and Norwegian Cruise Line. Chelsea was previously an Install Creative Supervisor for Norwegian Cruise Line and is currently the Choreographer & Assistant Director for the theatre program at First Flight High School here on the Outer Banks. She is also an adjudicator for Inspire National Dance Competition, sharing her knowledge and love of dance and storytelling to young artists. Thank you to Jeff Whiting and RIHA for allowing me to continue being a “keeper of the dream!” All my love to Keil, our dogs, and my parents. Enjoy the show!
