Jaclyn Mack

Elinor Dashwood

Jaclyn is a versatile actress in the Twin Cities area. Film, theatre, music and modeling are all part of her artistic career. Dance, in every form, as well as stage combat, improv and martial arts, are all ongoing pursuits that help round out her creative interests. Over the last year, Jaclyn has worked on 12 film/commercial projects, 5 stage productions and numerous art shoots. She has costumed 8 stage productions, 15 children’s productions and 11 events. Jaclyn enjoyed choreographing both dance and fight work for the stage (including MTB’s Moonshine Abbey!), garnered her second vocal scholarship through MacPhail Center for Music, and was humbled to be selected as sole vocalist for the 2022 MacPhail Concerto and Aria Concert live broadcast. Jaclyn would like to thank you sincerely for choosing to come share this experience with us and for supporting the arts. For, to quote Austen herself, “It isn't what we say or think that defines us, but what we do.”

Olivia Griffith

Marianne Dashwood

Olivia hails from rural Iowa and is now a happy resident of Saint Paul. She earned her BA in Performing Arts and Music from Iowa State University and, most recently, graduated from the University of St. Thomas with her master's in Catholic Studies. Fun fact: her last big role was as the eldest Dashwood sister, Elinor! She's eager to embrace the heights and depths of her sensibilities this time around. Olivia would like to dedicate this show to her mother, Susan - the sister she never had. I love you, Mom!

Annie Smaron

Margaret Dashwood

Annie Smaron is thrilled to be returning to the stage with MTBT after performing as Lucy in Catholic Young Adults. Annie earned her BA in Theatre from Saint Mary’s University, MN. Other recent credits include: Annie: The Musical (Lily St. Regis), Theatre 301; Why Do Fools Fall in Love (Millie), Seasons Dinner Theatre; You’re a Good Man Charlie Brown (Sally), Chaska Valley Family Theatre; Orestia (Electra), Hero Now Theatre; Choreographer for Jordan High School. Annie thanks her family, especially Matt and Avila, for making it possible for mommy to be part of this.

Ana Martin

Mrs. Dashwood

After eight long years away from the stage, Ana is making her debut with MTBT and thrilled to be here! In addition to acting, she enjoys traveling, listening to music, and corralling her anxious but very sweet kitties, Millie & Sky. 

Previous Shows: Pecan Brown and the Seven Dwarves/ MN Fringe Festival (2014), assorted South High Theater productions 2010 - 2014

Michael Conroy

Edward Ferrers
/Robert Ferrers

Michael graduated from Creighton University with a BFA Theatre Performance degree with a history minor in 2014. Since then, he has been an active performer in the Twin Cities theater scene, having performed in many shows at Lakeshore Players, Lyric Arts, Artistry, and more. Favorite roles from over the years include Roy in Moonshine Abbey, Paulus in CYA: The Musical, Hubert in Christmas in the Airwaves, and the titular role in Tartuffe, which was also his thesis project. Michael can be found on many Sundays at the Church of the Epiphany in Coon Rapids, where he participates as a member of the Parish Choir, the SATB group, as a Cantor, and as a wedding/funeral singer (upon request and payment). He is also the proud uncle of two nieces and two nephews whom he loves very much.

Tom Harren

Colonel Brandon

Tom grew up working on the family dairy farm near Eagle Bend, MN. He has four brothers so there was basically zero drama, yet here he is in a drama.  Tom currently works in software development at Polaris and his hobbies include singing, guitar, gardening, and hiking. It has been a delight to work with this team and he’s really enjoyed getting to know everyone in this show!

Previous Shows: Cross Community Players, Maple Grove: Mary Poppins, Pirates of Penzance, and State Fair 

Bertha-Hewitt High School: Joseph

Max Mauch-Morff

Willoughby/Servant

This is Max's first production with MTBT and is excited to get on stage as an actor.

Nikelle Morris

Fanny/Servant
/Gossip

“Quite extraordinary!” says Nikelle’s character Fanny in this play, and that’s a good description for the blessings in her life in the last few years. One of those blessings was to become a part of the MtBT community last fall. This year Nikelle got to play a villain, which (she hopes!) is a big departure from my regular personality. She’s relishing the fun of being nasty enough to make the audience hate her guts!

Previous Shows; Moonshine Abbey (MtBT), Mary Poppins & Fiddler on the Roof (both with Cross Community Productions)

Nick Messer

Mr. Palmer/Servant

Nick Messer has moved from the audience to the MtBT stage in this year’s production of Sense and Sensibility! In what seems like a past life (because it’s been a while), Nick performed in several shows starting in elementary and going through high school. Most notably, he starred as the titular Ogre Shrek in Shrek the Musical. He looks forward to bringing humor and joy to the stage once again for all to enjoy.

Madelyn Kobbermann

Lucy Steele/Gossip
/Servant

Madelyn fell in love with acting when she was five years-old while watching The Sound of Music. She performed in every school play, musical, and talent show she could during her school days. Since graduating Saint Agnes in 2022, she has continued pursuing theatre. When she’s not on stage, Madelyn works as a nanny, studies voice, and spends as much time as possible with her family and friends.

Previous Shows: Glinda in The Wizard of Oz with CastleCo Theatre, Louise in Holiday Inn with Saint Agnes High School, Romeo and Juliet with Shakespearean Youth Theatre, Eumaeus in The Return of Odysseus with Trinity School at River Ridge, Young Sarah in Old Jake’s Skirts with Trinity School at River Ridge

Elizabeth Teefy McGregor

Mrs. Jennings
/Servant

Elizabeth is pleased to return to the stage after a 20 year hiatus. Before raising her children, Elizabeth was seen performing and directing at a number of theaters in the metro area, New York City, and Europe. Elizabeth attended the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Arts (LAMDA), and holds a Master Degree in dramatic literature from the University of Minnesota

Kris Follmer

Sir John Middleton

Husband to Rebekah, Papa to Berend, Mara, Solvej, and Leif. Supply Chain Nerd by profession, Photographer also by profession. Philosophy and Finance student when time allows. Inveterate curmudgeon.

Previous Shows: Moonshine Abbey, Fiddler on the Roof, Curculio, The Menachmi, AIRNTKILIK,

Angela Cahill

Mrs. Palmer
/Miss Grey
/Servant

Angela is thrilled to be part of another Missed the Boat production! Her previous roles were Ginger in Moonshine Abbey and Vickey in CYA: The Musical. When not rehearsing, she's cheering her 5 children on in hockey, soccer, baseball, concerts, plays, gymnastics, chores, and life in general. She also quite enjoys checking out eateries with her husband Luke, autumnal walks, Catechesis of the Good Shepherd, living room dance parties, and a tasty beverage. Thanks be to God for this opportunity, to Luke for his incredible support, and to the village it takes.

Ben Stefonowicz

Thomas/Mr. Perks
/Doctor

Ben is excited and honored to be on stage again with Missed the Boat Theater. IT analyst by profession, Beer/Whiskey snob by confession. He always enjoys catching up over a beer or craft cocktail with friends or family, but generally finds time spent with friends and family doing the things he loves like playing board games, camping, hiking, watching a good movie or cheering on (unsuccessfully) any Minnesota sports team. Currently Ben lives in Saint Paul and loves finding opportunities to travel or get out now that the world is open again. 

Ben has been in various other high school productions, but only recently returned to the stage last year with Missed the Boat's Moonshine Abbey as the lovably aloof Brother Boniface. Ben is honored to be returning with a more serious role but still sporting an accent.

Mary Shaffer | Director

Mary is thrilled to direct her third production with Missed the Boat Theatre, following Catholic Young Adults: The Musical (2019) and Moonshine Abbey (2021). Recent acting roles include Romaine in Witness for the Prosecution (Zephyr Theatre) and Lusia in A Shayna Maidel (The Phipps), as well as Pauline Martin in a devised theatre workshop on the family of St. Therese of Lisieux (Sam Vargo, director). She enjoys gardening, wilderness adventures, and The Mandalorian.

Fr. Kyle Kowalczyk | Producer

Fr. Kyle is just a simple country pastor out in the lonely outskirts of Delano. Originally from Ann Arbor, MI, he made his way to MN some 17 years ago to serve as missionary with NET Ministries and never went home. When he is not priesting, he runs, writes, and hunts, and spares some time to run this bustling theatre company.

He is the co-founder of Missed the Boat Theatre, and has written a couple of the shows, and produced all of them with a great team of collaborators.

Samantha Vargo | Production Manager

Previously known by the last name Wend, Sam is happy to be back on the leadership team for another Missed the Boat show, fresh off completing her MA in Catholic Studies and getting married this summer. Sam has been working in theater professionally since 2014, primarily in stage and production management, producing, and dramaturgy and directing. MTBT has been the source of most of her dearest friends since she moved to the Twin Cities from Philadelphia in Fall 2019; she is immensely grateful for this community and for the artistic collaborators God has given her through it.

Christina Malloy | Assistant Director

Youth Minister by day, Youth Minister and Assistant Director by night. Originally from Sunny California, Christina moved to Minnesota to Serve with NET Ministries for 3 years and is now currently a youth minister at St. Jude of the Lake in Mahtomedi. While she's not being a goofball with youth she's scheming with the director, Mary Schaffer on how to create devised stylized movement pieces and play on the playground of the stage. Her dream is to create a theatre company that centers on Catholic theology, encourages freedom through creativity, and healing through different methods of acting.

Fr. Aric Aamodt | Assistant Producer

When Fr. Aric is not reading Tolkien or viewing movies & shows based on Tolkien, he is the associate pastor at St. Hubert Catholic Community in Chanhassen, MN. He enjoys picking up heavy objects and putting them back where he found them, and exploring the glory of God’s Creation.

SPS Theatre – Acting: The Professor, Murder & Mariolatry; Tony, Death of a Liturgist; Barney, Moonshine Abbey; Hamlet, Hamlet; Assistant Director, Moonshine Abbey

Missed the Boat Theatre: Assistant Producer, Catholic Young Adults the Musical, Moonshine Abbey

Elizabeth Bina | Assistant Production Manager

Elizabeth & Sam Vargo met during CYA and bonded over being both Pennsylvania transplants AND Sarah Serdar's (now Willerscheidt's) biggest fans. They proceeded to do everything together, from cooking a full Thanksgiving meal to running a marathon to co-defending Sam's Catholic Studies Master's Essay (ask them about it sometime). Try to find bigger proponents of Missed the Boat's friendship-fostering capacity. As production management, Sam likes to describe them as old-time switchboard operators - they connect all the moving pieces of the production puzzle.

Sam Patet | Stage Manager

Sam Patet is excited to be serving as Stage Manager for Missed the Boat Theatre’s production of Sense and Sensibility. A lover of books and the written word, Sam serves in the Marketing Communications Department for Lyngblomsten, a senior services nonprofit in St. Paul. He attends Maternity of Mary Parish and is a member of the Emmanuel Community, a Catholic charismatic community committed to adoration, compassion, and evangelization. In his spare time off stage, he enjoys running, cooking, creative writing, and spending time with his family (which includes seven nieces and nephews).

Natalie Pechman | Assistant Stage Manager

Natalie is excited to be back at Missed the Boat for Sense & Sensibility! When she signed up for theater in high school because all her friends were doing it, little did she know she would discover a lifelong passion. Not one for the spotlight, Natalie’s theater hobby has involved almost every behind-the-scenes role there is, and even several reluctant on-stage cameos. Various production roles include Missed the Boat (Moonshine Abbey), Ashland Productions (Heathers), and St. Anthony Community Theater. Outside of rehearsal, you’ll find Natalie living her dream job designing magazines.

Alex Baum | Technical Director

By day I teach at Trinity school at River Ridge and by night I stay up late scratching down plans for archeologists to interpret and reconstruct the following Saturday (constructing the set for MTB)

-Acted in Richard II (big billy), The Cave Dwellers (William Saroyan), acted and did set in The Skin of Our Teeth (Thorton Wilder)

Autumn Irlbeck | Hair & Make-up Designer

Autumn Irlbeck enjoys the theatre but you will not find her on the stage. She prefers to share her creative gifts behind the scenes. She has a flair for makeup and styling hair. She taught herself to cut men's hair during the pandemic and finds it to be a therapeutic past time. She is grateful to put it to use for this production.

Emma Knapik | Hair & Make-up Designer

After spending most of her time on stage, Emma is thrilled to be stepping behind the curtain for the first time in almost a decade to play with people's hair! Music and theater is in her blood, and she's been performing in school and community theater productions almost her entire life. Some recent credits include Mamma Mia (Sophie - Ashland Productions), Little Mermaid (Flotsam - 4CT), She Loves Me (Woman 2 - 4CT), and Little Women (Clarissa/Amy - Woodbury Community Theater). An old soul, she enjoys knitting, earl grey tea, and reading Jane Austen on repeat. She's having a blast in her first Missed The Boat endeavor and hopes you enjoy the show!

Previous Show (post high school): She Loves Me and Little Mermaid (4 Community Theater), Mamma Mia! (Ashland Productions), Mary Poppins (Cross Community Players), Little Women and Hunchback of Notre Dame (Woodbury Community Theater)

Caroline Redelmeier | Scenic Designer

n/a

Nikolai Medow | Sound Designer

Nikolai is blessed and excited to be a part of his 2nd Missed the Boat Theatre show, this time as part of the production team. In 2019, Nikolai played the role of Tom, in the MTBT production of Catholic Young Adults The Musical. Usually found on the stage, in roles including Friedrich in The Sound of Music, Jacques in Carnival, Banquo in Macbeth, Daddy Warbucks in Annie Jr., Ed Silverberg in And Then They Came for Me, and Billy Ray Jr. in On Golden Pond, Nikolai is grateful for the opportunity to design the sound for Sense and Sensibility. While now a Marketer for a biotech company in Roseville, he used to work in the music industry in Chicago. Nikolai wishes to thank his beautiful wife, Katlynn, and his family and friends for their love and support. Enjoy the show (and the sound)!

Olivia Lundsten | Lighting Designer

 Olivia is a budding lighting designer with over a dozen productions to her credit, including Kiss Me, Kate (Bethany Lutheran College), Beauty and the Beast and Little Shop of Horrors (State Street Theater), A Midsummer's Eve (Mankato Ballet Company), and The Giver (Maple River Community Theater). She designed lights for the premiere of Catholic Young Adults: The Musical for Missed the Boat Theater, and had the pleasure of designing their last show, Moonshine Abbey, as well. Her most recent lighting project was The Originalist at Open Window Theatre.

When not in the tech booth or cat walks, Olivia can be found in the Catholic Studies Department at the University of St. Thomas where she works as a Program Assistant. She and her husband Joe live in St. Paul and enjoy traveling, hosting, and eating spicy food.

Jaclyn Mack | Formal Choreographer/Etiquette Coach

see cast bio

Abigail Fleck | Wardrobe Coordinator

I like coffee, hiking, and sewing pretty things.

Previous Shows: Moonshine Abbey; Hillsdale College: The Drowsy Chaperon, Twelfth Night, Mother Courage, The Eumenides, Death of a Salesman 

(among others but the most of my work was in these shows)

Mary Mailand Schlichting | Scene Transition Choreographer

I am a local dance artist and choreographer who has been flailing my limbs around since the age of three. I am a company member of Crash Dance Productions and Contempo Physical Dance as well as a freelance choreographer. This will be my third production with Miss the Boat.

Nikelle Morris | Props Designer

see cast bio

Ellie Wagner | Costume Designer

Eleonore graduated from Bethany Lutheran College with a degree in English Literature and Philosophy, as well as being heavily involved in the theatre and music departments. She is a published author and amateur farmer, and is excited to design costumes for Sense and Sensibility. Her previous experience includes assistant stage managing Tell It to the Wind and performing as Maud Dunlop in The Music Man, both at Bethany Lutheran College.

Erika Zabinski | Managing Director

Country girl from central MN, freelance editor by day and theater administrator by night. You won't see me during the show, I'm holed up somewhere doing the invisible administrative stuff that helps make it happen! I'm a cat lover, a history nerd, a Catholic Match survivor, an INTJ (but can pass for human), am urgently looking for a farm to live on, and will leap at any opportunity to make you dinner.

Previous Shows: all the Missed the Boat Theatre and Saint Paul Seminary Theatre shows since the beginning of time

Liz Holman | Publicity Manager

Liz fell in love with musical theatre at the young age of four years old when she saw Julie Andrews singing “I’ve Got Confidence”. Since then she has studied, watched, and obsessed over many musicals (on stage or the screen). Though she has never been on the stage herself that does not mean she acts any less dramatically. A true Texan who has moved 1,000 miles north surviving on coffee, whisky, and humor, Liz is excited to show you how fun being part of Missed the Boat theatre is for two years in a row now.

Laura Kuschel | Box Office Manager

Laura fell in love with musical theatre while attending St. Agnes. She pursued a music degree in college & continued to participate in choirs, opera, and theatre opportunities along the way. Now curious in learning how a theatre company operates behind the scenes, so she’s changing it up this year and focusing on the box office instead. On or off the stage, Laura very excited to be working with this amazing group of people again!

MtBT Shows: Moonshine Abbey (Shirley)

Ryan Gau | Set Construction/Run Crew

Back for my third year, after getting addicted to MtB and the community over the last two shows. I had to come back for more! This time I will continue my tradition of assisting with set construction, and new this year, instead of running one of the spotlights, I will be running the sound cues.

After the show, until the next production, Ryan will go back to catching up with friends, beating escape rooms, working on house projects, volunteering at my local parish, and questing for the perfect chess game!