Brave Irene

Cates Asleson is a rising senior Design & Production major at Interlochen Arts Academy and is incredibly grateful to be part of Brave Irene. This production has been a reminder of the resilience and collaboration that make theatre so special. As co-stage manager, Cates has loved helping bring this story to life alongside such a dedicated team. She would like to thank her teachers for their endless guidance, as well as her family for always supporting her dreams. Interlochen has shaped so much of who she is, and she is honored to share this experience with such a wonderful community.

Kit Ruiz is a rising senior at Interlochen Center for the Arts. They have a passion for technical theatre, and most recently were a sound designer for 4 shows during ICA’s one-act festival. They are very grateful to be able to work on Brave Irene in a stage management position, and to have the opportunity to collaborate with such an experienced and talented company.

MJ Brendel is originally from Washington State, and is currently a rising senior at Interlochen Center for the Arts. With a passion for storytelling, MJ has plenty of experience both on the stage and offstage, most recently as Don Juan in Don Juan in Hell and wardrobe crew for Carousel. She is ecstatic to serve as Assistant Director for Brave Irene, grateful for the opportunity to help this production full of childlike wonder come to life.

Valerie Marwood is currently a rising junior at Interlochen Center for the Arts. Trained as a dancer from a young age, she has grown into an artist with a passion for storytelling through theatre. Valerie is incredibly grateful for the valuable training she has received through performances of Ride the Cyclone and Carousel while at Interlochen. She is honored to take on the roles of Movement Captain and Maid for Brave Irene. This process has been truly transformative, and she is excited to share the wonder and heart that is the core of this production with all audiences.

London McKenzie is a rising senior at Interlochen Arts Academy. This year, she is thrilled to step into the role of the Duchess in this production of Brave Irene. Alongside her acting duties, she is excited to take on the role of Voice Captain, a position that has allowed her to expand her technical abilities. She is beyond grateful for this incredible opportunity to tell this heartwarming story and collaborate with such a talented and passionate company.

Eva Donahey is a passionate actor and storyteller, thrilled to be part of Brave Irene. This is her Fringe Festival debut! She has been performing musical theatre since the 4th grade, and started at Interlochen Arts Academy in 9th grade. When she's not singing and dancing, you can find Eva either rock climbing, hiking, or skateboarding. She wants to thank her family for supporting her and sending her to such a wonderful program, and would also like to thank Interlochen theatre staff for being such incredible mentors during her time attending Academy.

Kendall Buckley is currently a rising senior at Interlochen Center for the Arts. They have a huge passion for the arts and are so excited they get to explore that with Interlochen. Kendall is lucky enough to have entered the school as a freshman musical theater major and has gained an extraordinary amount of knowledge through performances such as Ride The Cyclone (Constance Understudy), Network (Louise Understudy), Natasha, Pierre and The Great Comet of 1812 (Maid, Ensemble) and much more. They are thrilled to be a part of the Brave Irene family and hope that everyone enjoys the show!

Sabrina Bianco is a rising senior at Interlochen Arts Academy, originally from New York. With a strong passion for theatre and travel, Sabrina has toured multiple times with IAA: first, to elementary schools in Traverse City, Michigan with the TYA production, The Snow Queen, and recently to Lincoln Center in New York City with a Shakespeare-based student devised work, Muse. She is overjoyed with the opportunity to embody The Dark in Brave Irene, and once again discover the whimsical nostalgia of this heartfelt story.

Ravi Mampara is a rising junior musical theatre major at Interlochen Arts Academy, and is thrilled to be performing in this year's Fringe Festival production. He would like to thank his mom, dad and brothers for helping him come to Interlochen, and his cast mates, who he is ecstatic to be collaborating with. He also wants to thank Bill Church for making this production come to life.

Nolan Filzek is a rising junior at Interlochen Arts Academy. With the love and passion for his art, Nolan has been so glad to learn and grow through his first year at Interlochen. He is thrilled to play the role of The Wind in Brave Irene! He is so excited to work with such an amazing cast and crew!

Emmy Starke (Maid), rising senior at Interlochen Arts Academy, is honored to be part of the Brave Irene cast at the 2025 Fringe Festival! Emmy’s love and dedication for theatre has grown through recent productions of Carousel (Featured dancer), Into the Woods (Choreographer/Sleeping Beauty), and Hamlet (Reynaldo/Horatio u/s) at IAA. A huge thanks for the support of family, friends and faculty. A special thank you to Bill, SJ, and Emily for making this opportunity possible, and to the inspiring cast and crew of Brave Irene for including Emmy on this journey of bringing Irene's story to life. 

Oliver is excited to be back at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival for a second year. Previous Fringe role: Ensemble/Swing in Re:ACTION 2022! Previous roles include Ensemble in Carousel (Interlochen Arts Academy), Ensemble in Ride the Cyclone (Interlochen Arts Academy), and Mr. Bostwick in The Triangle Factory Fire (Denver School of the Arts). He would like to thank his family for their support.

Emily is honored to collaborate with the directors, designers, performers, and technicians of Interlochen Center for the Arts as they bring Brave Irene to the Edinburgh Fringe Festival. 

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Hanna Maes, a rising senior, is a musical theater major at Interlochen Arts Academy. Hanna's love for theater began in the 3rd grade. She has performed in various productions ranging from Greek Tragedy (Electra) to Theater For Young Audiences (Stella Luna), to musicals (Ride The Cyclone), and as far as a World Premier Opera (Edmonia). Hanna enjoys being a part of her improv group at school, writing, and indulging in fashion. She is ecstatic to take her passion to the Fringe Festival playing the Noblewoman along with other supporting roles in Brave Irene.

Julieta Amoroz is a rising junior at Interlochen Center for the arts. She is devoted to performing and enjoying storytelling with an amazing company. Julieta has experience through playing Sam in Corners Grove, ensemble and understudy in Ride the Cyclone, and ensemble in Carousel at Interlochen. She is so grateful to be a part of this cast featured as Tree #1 and hopes you enjoy the show!

William Church is the director of theatre at Interlochen Center for the Arts and serves as the artistic director for the Interlochen Shakespeare Festival, which he founded in 2008. Church has performed for theatre companies throughout the United States, including the American Repertory Theatre, California Theatre Center, The Repertory Theatre of St. Louis, The Publick Theatre, Hope Summer Repertory Theatre, and the Illinois Shakespeare Festival. Recent performances include Scrooge in A Christmas Carol in Prose with Parallel 45; Captain Nick Flanagan in The Guys, Prospero in The Tempest, and Herr Drosselmeyer in The Nutcracker, all at Interlochen. His directing credits range from Shakespeare to contemporary work, including a touring children's theatre troupe he founded while serving as a Peace Corps volunteer in West Africa. Directing credits at Interlochen include The Comedy of Errors, Julius Caesar, Othello, Richard III, Much Ado About Nothing, and King Lear for the Shakespeare Festival; Hamlet, An American in Paris, The Winter's Tale, The Hunchback of Notre Dame, My Fair Lady, RENT, Amadeus, Spring Awakening, and West Side Story at the Academy; as well as several productions at Camp. Church is a member of Actors' Equity Association, the Screen Actors Guild, and the American Federation of Television and Radio Artists. He has won multiple Wilde Awards for Best of the Bard for his professional Shakespeare productions and was named a Distinguished Teacher by the US Presidential Scholars Program. Church is a graduate of the American Repertory Theatre Institute for Advanced Theatre Training at Harvard University, has an M.F.A. from the Moscow Art Theatre School, a B.F.A. from Webster University’s Conservatory of Theatre Arts, and is a graduate of Interlochen Arts Academy.

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Emily is honored to collaborate with the directors, designers, performers, and technicians of Interlochen Center for the Arts as they bring Brave Irene to the Edinburgh Fringe Festival. 

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