Heather McHenry-Kroetch (Director) is thrilled to be working on the Civic Main Stage again after directing last season’s Lend Me a Soprano and co-directing Heathers: The Musical. Solo directing favorites for Civic include The 39 Steps, Cabaret, Murder on the Orient Express, Dial “M” for Murder, House of Blue Leaves and Cemetery Club. Heather also enjoys co-directing with friend Troy Nickerson, having worked together on Little Shop of Horrors (Ignite), Heathers: The Musical, Evil Dead The Musical and Fiddler on the Roof (Spokane Civic Theatre) as well as The Rocky Horror Show (Stage Left).

Emily Sperry (Stage Manager) loves being a part of productions from start to finish and watching the show come to life. Recent credits include being the Stage Manager for Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer (Civic), Stage Manager for The Lion King Jr. (My Turn Theater) and Stage Manager for Lend Me A Soprano (Civic). She is thankful for the support of her family. Enjoy the show!

Maddy Arana (Assistant Stage Manager / Properties) is excited to be back on another Civic show! Recent Civic credits include the Assistant Stage Manager and puppet design and construction for Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer and Properties for last season’s Lend Me A Soprano. Enjoy the show!

Jillian Kehne (Choreographer) is thrilled to be back at Spokane Civic Theatre. Jillian first performed at Civic during its 60th annual season and feels fortunate to be able to participate throughout the years. She has worked in various theaters in Spokane and Coeur d’Alene since 2006. Favorite shows include Pirates of Penzance, Godspell, Curtains, RENT, Hello Dolly, and Cabaret.

Allie Nemitz (Scenic Design / Scenic Artist) holds a BA in Theatre from Eastern Washington University, where she designed her first show, tick, tick… BOOM!. She earned an honorable mention in Scenic Design from the Kennedy Center American College Theater Festival, as well as an award for Excellence in Scenic Painting from EWU’s theatre department. Her previous work at Civic includes designing last season’s Lend Me a Soprano, scenic artist for All Is Calm, Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer, Legally Blonde, Romeo & Juliet, A Christmas Carol and Carousel. She’d also like to thank her family for all their support in pursuing her passion for scenic design and painting, as well as William Ledbetter for inspiring that passion in the first place.

Jamie L. Suter (Costume Design) holds a BA in Theater Design and Technical Production with concentrations in Costume Design and Directing from Marymount Manhattan College in NYC, studying under Broadway professionals Gail Brassard, Liz Covey, and Bob Anton. Notable credits include Costume Design for The Wonder!: A Woman Keeps a Secret (T. Schreiber Studio), Assistant to the Costume Designer for Sweeney Todd (Avery Fisher Hall), Assistant Costume Designer for The Lucky Chance (Theresa Lang Theater), Director/Costume Designer for Seven Femmes (Rathskeller Studios), and Costume Designer for The Lost Cabaret (NYC Fringe Festival). Jamie joined the Civic staff in 2018, her first design on stage being Present Laughter in the Studio Theatre. She loves being part of the fun and frivolity of live theater and is incredibly happy to do that at her home away from home, Spokane Civic Theatre.

Alexei Snow (Lighting Design and Board Operator) is excited to support Civic and local theatres. Recently he worked in backstage as Fly Coordinator for The Addams Family, Light Board Operator for Legally Blonde, CATS, A Sherlock Carol and Alice by Heart, Deck Chief for Jersey Boys (all with Civic) and Crew for Red (Stage Left). “I would like to thank my life partner Adam Snow and dear friend Sarah Dahmen for showing me the delight of collaboration and teamwork that is theatre.”

Devon Sands (Sound Engineer) is back in the sound booth! Previous Civic credits include Sound Engineer and Board Operator for last season’s Lend Me A Soprano and A Christmas Carol. He hopes you enjoy the show!

Mackenzie Willett (Costume Assistant) loves working behind the scenes at Civic as well as working as part of the Front of House Staff. Outside of theatre, Mackenzie spends all her time watching and playing soccer, spending time at church, and reading.

Heather Stephens (Backstage Crew) has a BA in Theatre from Eastern Washington University. Earlier this season, her and her family helped bring the characters of Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer to life with handmade puppets. Last season at Civic, she played Juliet in Romeo & Juliet and previously she has been in CATS as Etcetera (Civic), Cinderella as Marie (SCT), Shrek as Gingy (CYT), Drowning Ophelia as Ophelia (EWU). She thanks God, her friends, family and the Artistic Team for this opportunity!

Peter Rossing (Scenic Artist) has designed sets for theater, opera, and dance in Portland and Austin and staging for corporate events in Europe and Asia. Recent designs for Civic have included Legally Blonde, The Beauty Queen of Leenane, A Christmas Carol, Carousel, and Cats. Favorite past projects include A View from the Bridge for Portland Repertory Theatre, The Importance of Being Earnest for New Rose Theatre (Portland), On the Verge for Different Stages Co. in Austin, and A Comedy of Errors on Austin’s Zilker Park Stage.

Jane Austen was born in Steventon, Hampshire on December 16, 1775 and grew up in a tight-knit family. She was the seventh of eight children, with six brothers and one sister. Her parents, George Austen and Cassandra Leigh, were married in 1764. Her father was an orphan but with the help of a rich uncle he attended school and was ordained by the Church of England. Subsequently, he was elevated enough in social standing to provide Cassandra a worthy match whose family was of a considerably higher social status. In 1765, they moved to Steventon, a village in north Hampshire, about 60 miles southwest of London, where her father was appointed rector. In 1795, when she was 20, Austen entered a productive phase and created what was later referred to as her “First Trilogy.” Prompted by increasing social engagements and flirtations, she began writing Elinor and Marianne, a novel in letters, which would eventually be reworked and retitled Sense and Sensibility. The following year, she wrote First Impressions, which was rejected by a publisher in 1797. It was the first version of Pride and Prejudice. She began another novel in 1798, titled Susan, which evolved into Northanger Abbey.

Emma was first published in December 1815. As in her other novels, Austen explores the concerns and difficulties of genteel women living in Georgian–Regency England. Emma is a comedy of manners. Before she began the novel, Austen wrote, “I am going to take a heroine whom no one but myself will much like.” In the first sentence, she introduces the title character by stating “Emma Woodhouse, handsome, clever, and rich, with a comfortable home and a happy disposition, seemed to unite some of the best blessings of existence; and had lived nearly twenty-one years in the world with very little to distress or vex her.” Emma is spoiled, headstrong, and self-satisfied; she greatly overestimates her own matchmaking abilities; she is blind to the dangers of meddling in other people’s lives; and her imagination and perceptions often lead her astray. Jane Austen passed away on July 18, 1817 at the age of 41. Her work has lived on with many of her books having movie, TV, and stage adaptations, as well as cultural influence on media of all types.

Kate Hamill is an actor & playwright. Kate has been one of the most-produced playwrights in America from 2017-2023 and is the most-produced playwright in the country for 2024/25 (tied with Rajiv Joseph). Wall Street Journal Playwright of the Year, 2017; Einhorn Award, 2023. Plays include Pride & Prejudice at Primary Stages / HVSF (originated role of Lizzy; nominee, Off-Broadway Alliance Award), Sense & Sensibility at Bedlam (originated role of Marianne; winner, Off-Broadway Alliance Award; nominee, Drama League Award); Vanity Fair at the Pearl (originated Becky; nominee, Off-Broadway Alliance Award), The Light and the Dark (the Life and Times of Artemisia Gentileschi) at CTC / Primary Stages (originated Artemisia), The Odyssey at A.R.T., Mansfield Park at Northlight, Little Women at Primary Stages & the Jungle, Dracula at Classic Stage Company (originated Renfield), Ms. Holmes & Ms. Watson – Apt. 2B at KCRep, The Little Fellow (or: the Queen of Tarts Tells All) at Cygnet Theatre, Emma at the Guthrie; BadAssGalBoss at Primary Stages; The Scarlet Letter at Two River. Other plays include Scrooge for Senate; The Piper (O’Neill Finalist, PlayPenn Fellow), In the Mines (Sundance Finalist), and Murder Play (or: The Aristocrats!). www.kate-hamill.com