Deathtrap

Paul Takács, he/him, (Director) is a Richmond, VA based director and most recently directed the world premiere of Andrew Gall’s play, Burial Tax for Firehouse Theatre. Previous credits for Virginia Repertory Theatre are: Mo Willems and Deborah Wicks La Puma’s Don’t Let The Pigeon Drive The Bus!, Roald Dahl’s Charlie & the Chocolate Factory and Ken Ludwig’s Baskerville: A Sherlock Holmes Mystery.  He was the founding Artistic Director of The Shop in New York City, where he directed the New York premieres of David Harrower’s Knives in Hens for The Shop at 59E59 Theaters and Philip Ridley’s Dark Vanilla Jungle at HERE Arts Center. Other credits for The Shop include the U.S. premieres of Jon Fosse’s I Am The Wind translated by Simon Stephens and Philip Ridley’s Tender Napalm, both at 59E59 Theaters. Other work: The world premiere of David Pinski’s Yiddish play Professor Brenner and the premiere of a new translation of Peretz Hirshbein’s Yiddish play Carcass both for the New Worlds Theatre Project at HERE Arts Center, NYC. He holds a BA in Drama from St. Mary’s College of Maryland and an MFA in Directing from The New School for Drama. Paul is currently Head of Upper School Theatre at St. Christopher’s School in Richmond, VA and Artistic Director of Ampersand, the joint theatre company of St. Christopher’s and St. Catherine’s Schools.

Dasia Gregg (Scenic Design) is a projection and scenic designer based in Richmond, VA.  Some recent and favorite credits include Projection Designer for Misery (VA Rep), Animator for The Dragon King’s Daughter (The Kennedy Center), Scenic and Projection Designer for Disney’s Descendants: The Musical (VCUarts Theatre), Assoc. Projection Designer for Cinderella: Enchanted (Flat Rock Playhouse), and Assoc. Projection Designer for On Your Feet! The Musical (Gala Hispanic Theatre). Dasia graduated from Virginia Commonwealth University School of the Arts in 2018 with a BFA in Theatre and concentration in Scenic Design.

Sarah Grady (Costume Designer) has been designing costumes for Richmond audiences since 2004. Recent designs include Waitress, Dial M for Murder & Moriarty (Virginia Rep) and True West (Cadence). She worked as a Costumer on the Pharrell Williams movie “Atlantis”, Apple TV’s Swagger and AMC’s The Walking Dead: World Beyond. She was the Assistant Costume Director for Virginia Repertory Theatre for 17 years. Favorite designs include Sister Act, West Side Story (RTCC Award for Best Costume Design), In the Heights, Dreamgirls (RTCC Award for Best Costume Design), Junie B. Jones, The Music Man, Spring Awakening, The Sound of Music (Virginia Rep); Fun Home, Violet, The Mountaintop, Caroline or Change, and Appropriate (Cadence). For three lucky summers, Sarah traveled to Roma, Italy, to work with the Operafestival di Roma, where she coordinated the costumes for The Magic Flute, Suor Angelica, The Marriage of Figaro, and Die Fledermaus. She has also worked at VCU Opera, TheatreVirginia and Williamstown Theatre Festival.

Steven Koehler, he/him, (Lighting Designer) is happy to return to the Tavern. Previous Virginia Rep credits include Dial M for Murder, Moriarty, Baskerville, Honky Tonk Laundry, Gross Indecency, the Three Trials of Oscar Wilde, The Syringa Tree, A Doll’s House Part 2, Pipeline, and many more. Additional design work through the Midwest and in Idaho, The Syringa Tree, Good People, Chicago, Grey Gardens. Steven is also the managing director of Swift Creek Mill Theatre and is married to local musician, Shellie Johnson, and proud parent to three mostly grown children.

Jonathan Pratt (Sound Design) Jonathan is thrilled to be designing again at Virginia Rep where some of his recent designs include Waitress, Dial M for Murder, Ken Ludwig’s Moriarty, Baskerville: A Sherlock Holmes Mystery, Satchmo at the Waldorf, On Air, 9 to 5: The Musical and Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, the latter three winning the RTCC Award for Outstanding Sound Design of a Musical. At the Rep Family Theatre, Jonathan’s favorite shows designed include Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus: The Musical!, The Santa Clues and Grace for President. Other favorite local design credits include: The Scarlet Pimpernel (William and Mary), Cry It Out (Yes, And!) and Sunset Baby (Blk Theatre Alliance for Youth). Jonathan has also designed over 40 productions for Camelot Theatre in Talent, Oregon. Favorites include Catch Me If You Can, Matilda the Musical, Almost, Maine, and Something Rotten, and wrote and directed musical tribute shows to Stephen Sondheim and the music of Motown.

Casey Kaleba, he/him, (Fight & Intimacy Direction) has arranged violence and intimacy for nearly 600 productions, most recently at Round House Theatre (Rules for Living), Wolf Trap Opera (Carmen), and Olney Theatre Center (Red Pitch).  He has worked throughout the country, including Northern Stage, Washington National Opera, Ford’s Theatre, Signature Theatre, Spoleto Festival USA, Guthrie Theatre, and as an audition choreographer for Marvel Universe Live.  A Fight Director and Certified Teacher with the Society of American Fight Directors, Casey holds a PhD in Theatre History from the University of Maryland – College Park.  For more of his work go to www.ToothAndClawCombat.com

Hannah Hoffert, she/her, (Stage Manager) is a proud alumnus of Carnegie Mellon University, receiving her B.S. (‘16) and M.S. (‘17) in Mechanical Engineering. This is her fifth season with Virginia Rep, and some of her previous credits include Murder on the Orient Express, Dial M for Murder, Ken Ludwig’s Moriarty, Beautiful: The Carole King Musical, Beehive: The 60’s Musical, Mamma Mia!, Chicken & Biscuits, Elephant & Piggie, Naked Mole Rat Gets Dressed and Grace for President. In addition to stage management, she works full-time at Virginia Rep as a Production Associate. Hannah wouldn’t be here today without her medical alert service dog, Clara, and her late service dog, Olive, who accompanied her to every rehearsal and performance in her professional career. To learn more about life changing service dogs like Clara and Olive, please visit www.servicedogsva.org.

Amber Hooper, she/her, (Assistant Stage Manager) is thrilled to be working at the Hanover Tavern once again. She has Assistant Stage Managed with Virginia Rep at the Hanover Tavern for a few years now, in shows such as Steel Magnolias; Honky Tonk Laundry; Baskerville; On Air; Moriarty; and Dial M for Murder. She has also worked backstage at the November Theater on shows such as Misery and Waitress, but she prefers working at the Hanover Tavern due to its intimate space, delicious food, and friendly staff. Amber graduated from Eastern Mennonite University in 2020 with a degree in Theatre. In her free time, Amber enjoys crocheting, cosplaying, and playing video games with her wonderful fiancé, Johnny.