KAREN AZENBERG (Director/Choreographer) This marks Karen Azenberg’s eighth season as Artistic Director at PTC. Favorite projects include the world premieres of Alabama Story and “i”; the regional premieres of Sting’s The Last Ship, and Les Misérables; and The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time, Newsies, Sweet Charity and The Rocky Horror Show. Originally from New York, her work there includes Lyrics and Lyricists (92^nd St. Y), Blocks (a collaboration with Jonathan Larson), Prom Queens Unchained and choreography for Richard Greenberg’s The Dazzle (Roundabout Theatre Company). Among her other credits are National Tours of Carousel and Brigadoon, West Side Story (over 15 productions), and productions at Indiana Repertory, Geva Theatre Center, Alabama Shakespeare Festival, Goodspeed and Utah Shakespeare Festival. Karen is a past president of the Stage Directors and Choreographers Society (SDC). Her favorite productions are her son Alexander and her daughter Emelia.

PHIL RENO (Musical Director/Conductor) has been the music director/conductor for numerous Broadway shows: Something Rotten!, Promises, Promises, Elf-The Musical, The Drowsy Chaperone, The Producers, Thou Shalt Not, Dame Edna: The Royal Tour, Dame Edna: Back with a Vengeance and Cats. Off-Broadway: The Diva Is Dismissed (Public), A New Brain (Lincoln Center), Chess (Master Theatre). National Tours: Joseph… (with Donny Osmond), world premiere of Music of the Night, Starlight Express and Bob Fosse’s Sweet Charity. Regional: Minsky’s (pre-Broadway premiere at Ahmanson), How the Grinch Stole Christmas (premiere at the Old Globe), Melissa Manchester’s I Sent a Letter to My Love (premiere at North Shore), Happy Days (premiere at Falcon Theatre). Television: Music director/conductor for “Broadway Under the Stars,” CBS 2002-2006; CBS Tree Lighting in Bryant Park 2006-2013. Film: The Producers. Reno has conducted six original cast albums and has been nominated twice for a Grammy award for his work as a producer of Something Rotten! and The Drowsy Chaperone cast albums.

BRENDA VAN DER WIEL (Costume Designer) is part of the design faculty for the University of Utah Theatre Department and serves as head of the Performing Arts Design Program. She designs regularly for that department as well as for Pioneer Theatre Company and the Alabama Shakespeare Festival. Recent works in Utah include Chess, Hello Dolly!, the masks for Animal Farm, Blue Stockings and the Avenue Q puppets for the Babcock Theatre. Some favorite designs for Pioneer Theatre Company include Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street, Mamma Mia!, Outside Mullingar, Alabama Story, Rent, Emma and A Christmas Story. Some favorite designs for the Alabama Shakespeare Festival include Annie, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, The Little Mermaid, Mary Poppins, Macbeth, Much Ado About Nothing, The Comedy of Errors and The Count of Monte Cristo. Her work has also been seen at Utah Shakespeare Festival in Mary Poppins, Treasure Island and A Midsummer Night’s Dream.

MICHAEL GILLIAM (Lighting Designer) Broadway credits include: Bonnie and Clyde, Brooklyn, Big River and Stand-Up Tragedy. West End credits: Gershwin Alone. Off-Broadway: Cagney the Musical, Tappin’ Thru Life, Mr. Joy, Striking 12, Blue, End of the World Party, Zooman and the Sign and Menopause The Musical. National Tours include Peter Pan, Brooklyn, Guys and Dolls and Big River. Regional: Pioneer Theatre Company, Arena Stage, The Globe Theatres, Mark Taper Forum, Seattle Repertory, Goodman Theatre, The Guthrie Theater, The Pasadena Playhouse, Geffen Playhouse, The Kennedy Center, Ford’s Theatre, Philadelphia Theatre Company, Prince Music Theater, Denver Center and Arizona Theatre Company. Awards: Los Angeles Ovation Award, Drama-Logue Award, Garland Award and the 1999 Career Achievement Award from the Los Angeles Drama Critics Circle.

ALLAN BRANSON (Sound Designer) is thrilled to be a part of Pioneer Theatre Company. He previously worked at The Arkansas Repertory Theatre as their resident sound designer for six seasons, where he designed such shows as Because of Winn-Dixie (world premiere), The Bridges of Madison County (regional premiere) and Memphis (regional premiere). Branson is a proud member of The Theatrical Sound Designers and Composers Association.

YANCEY J. QUICK (Hair Designer) is the Wig Master and Shoe Master for Ballet West in SLC, UT. His work has been seen on stage at the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, when the company was invited to perform its production of The Nutcracker to sold-out houses.  He has also designed wigs and makeup for several years at Utah Opera and Utah Festival Opera and Musical Theatre. He has had the privilege of working for companies such as The Tony Award-Winning Utah Shakespeare Festival, Utah Symphony, and The Oregon Cabaret Theatre. As a member of IATSE Local 99 (the union of professional stagehands, motion picture technicians, and allied crafts) he also has the privilege to work backstage on numerous national Broadway tours. After studying Wig & Makeup Design at The University of Utah, he is thrilled to be working for PTC. 

MARY P. COSTELLO (Production Stage Manager) has worked on over 60 productions during nine seasons with PTC. Favorites include Sting’s The Last Ship, Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street, Les Misèrables, In the Heights, Next to Normal and Rent. Other stage management teams: Indiana Repertory Theatre, Connecticut Repertory Theatre, Boston Theatre Works, Grand Valley Shakespeare Festival and the Utah Shakespeare Festival. Proud Equity member.

AUGIE K. MERICOLA (AEA Stage Manager) An Equity stage manager for more than 30 years, Augie’s credits include Broadway, National Tour, and regional productions. On Broadway, Augie stage-managed Jonathan Larson’s Rent, Neil Simon’s Proposals and Molly Sweeny by Brian Friel. National Tours: First National Tour of Rent, The Sisters Rosensweig, Lost in Yonkers, Laughter on the 23rd Floor, Driving Miss Daisy, Grease and Those Were the Days. He also spent nine years as an ASM and SM at Indiana Repertory Theatre, where he worked on too many shows to list. In addition to stage management, Augie served as Assistant and Head Props on several Broadway shows, including Movin’ Out, The Odd Couple, The Drowsy Chaperone and Wicked. Much love to my wife, Karen, and children, Alex and Emelia.

DEEDEE PALMER (Non-AEA Assistant Stage Manager) is excited to be returning to PTC after last season’s Once. Palmer is currently a junior in the Stage Management program at the University of Utah. ASM credits include: Up: The Man in the Flying Chair, Big Love (U of U Theatre), The Addams Family (SAG). SM credits: Nutcracker (Mountain West Ballet). Special thanks to her parents and boyfriend for their unwavering love and support!