Artist Bios

Leopoldstadt

Austin Atencio (Aaron Rosenbaum / Young Nathan / Leo Chamberlin) Austin is beyond thankful to take part in Main Street’s production of Leopoldstadt! Raised in Houston, he has been doing theatre since his fourth-grade musical and is currently a fourth-year B.F.A. Acting major at the University of Houston. He was last seen in the Classical Theatre Company’s production of The Taming of the Shrew. Utmost gratitude to his friends, mentors, and family for helping him get to where he is now.

Terri Branda (Poldi) Terri Branda, is resuming her first love, acting, after a career in the corporate world. Thank you, Main Street Theater!

James Cardwell (Fritz / Dr. Otto Floge), James is thrilled to make his Main Street debut. James has appeared in the Houston Shakespeare Festival and is a soon to be graduate of the University of Houston B.F.A. Acting Program where he has been seen in roles such as Big Love (Constantine), All My Sons (Joe Keller), and Richard III (Buckingham). James would like to thank his family and friends for the continued support through his artistic journey.

Nadia Diamond (Hanna Jakobovicz) Nadia is delighted to be back in Houston for her MST debut after receiving her M.F.A. in Acting from UH last year! Recent Houston work: Julius Caesar with Boiling Point Players and the 2025 Sin Muros Festival. Recent New York work: Oklahoma Samovar at La MaMa E.T.C. B.A., Princeton, History. Thanks to Helen & Sam, and this incredible cast and crew! www.nadiadiamond.com
“Until we are all free, we are none of us free.”- Emma Lazarus, 1883

Shannon Emerick* (Wilma Jakobovicz Kloster) Main Street Theater: What the Constitution Means to Me, Permanent Collection, The Mother of the Maid, Silent Sky, The Revolutionists, Men on Boats, The Real Thing, Richard III, The Coast of Utopia, Arcadia, Wondergirl; Off-Broadway: Parts They Call Deep, Gorgeous Raptors, Trade, Nursery; Kings County Shakespeare: Hamlet; HERE: The Cherry Orchard; Expanded Arts: Oedipus Rex; CTC: Electra, Candida; A.D. Players: Miss Maude; Equity Festival: Every Brilliant Thing; Stages: The Mineola Twins, The Pitchfork Disney. Numerous regional credits. B.A., Yale University.

Dain Geist* (Hermann Merz) Main Street Theater: (Actor) Memoriam, Mother of the Maid, Enemies, Love and Information, Fallen Angels, Love Goes to Press, The Coast of Utopia, (Director/Playwright) Seven Assassins Walk into a Bar; A.D. Players: A Texas Carol, A Texas Carol Part Deux, The Sound of Music; Stages: Black Super Hero Magic Mama; Houston Equity Festival: The Effect; Classical Theatre Company: The Government Inspector, Dr. Faustus, Hamlet, Ubu Roi; Education: B.F.A., Adelphi University; M.F.A., Actors Studio Drama School.

Kara Greenberg* (Rosa Kloster) 13th show at MST! Favorite credits include: Seven Assassins Walk into A Bar, The Best of Everything, Wolf Hall / Bring up the Bodies, Relatively Speaking, The Outsider, Texas Carol, Bat Boy the Musical, The Laramie Project, I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change, Kith and Kin. TV/Film/VO and Anime. M.F.A, University of Houston, Acting / Directing; B.A., University of Texas at Austin, Drama. AEA/SAG/AFTRA. www.karagreenberg.com. ILYASR

Joel Grothe (Ernst Kloster) Main Street Theater: Private Lives, Wolf Hall Parts 1 & 2, Peace in Our Time. Additional credits include: Landscape with Weapon, So You Can Look Ahead (GCRT/ Lamar); The Ring Cycle (HGO/La fura dels Baus/ National Theatre Taiwan). Film/TV: The 11^th Hour, Intelligence, Mississippi Grind, Cinderella Man. M.F.A, University of Virginia, Acting; B.A., University of Toronto, English. Chair of Theatre & Dance, Lamar University, Beaumont.

Hannah Hall (Jana / Sally Kloster Fischbein) Hannah Hall is excited to be part of her first show at Main Street Theater. She is currently a third-year Acting student at the University of Houston School of Theatre and Dance and has been a part of works such as Frankenstein by Nick Dear (Female Creature) and Richard III (Young Elizabeth/Mistress Shore/ Ensemble). Huge thanks to her friends and family for their love and support.

Laura Kaldis* (Eva Merz Jakobovicz) MST: Multiple seasons as Lizzy in all 3 Christmas at Pemberley plays; A.D. Players: The Wizard of Oz; Stages: Panto Pinocchio; CTC: The Taming of the Shrew; Alley Theatre: Sense and Sensibility; Houston Equity Festival: Almost, Maine; TUTS: Hello, Dolly!; BCCM: The Secret Garden; Multiple appearances with Paul Hope Cabarets. Regionally: Boeing Boeing, Crossing Delancey. NYC: Primary Stages, St. Luke’s Theatre, FringeNYC, SoHo Playhouse, Goode Time Carolers (3 seasons). B.F.A., Sam Houston State University. IG: @laurakaldis LauraKaldis.com

Jackelyn Kraitman (Child Understudy) Jackelyn is 9 years old and attends Kolter Elementary. She has been in the JCC’s productions of Matilda Jr., Jungle Book KIDS, Aladdin KIDS, and 101 Dalmatians KIDS and in the JCC Performing Arts Camp productions of Moana JR. and Welcome to Candy Kingdom. Jackelyn enjoys spending time with friends and family, playing softball, doing art, and practicing for upcoming shows.

Ian Lewis (Jacob Merz / Percy Chamberlain) Main Street Theater: Georgiana and Kitty: Christmas at Pemberley, The Woman in Black, Peace in Our Time; LAMDA: The Winter’s Tale, Henry VI pts 1 & 2, The Dog in the Manger. Stoic Theater: King Charles lll; Shakespeare in the Shade: Henry V. Training: M.A., London Academy of Music & Dramatic Art. Ian dedicates this show to his Great-Grandfather Leonard Levy, a WW2 Navy veteran. https://app.spotlight.com/8132-7837-9509

Clara Marsh (Nellie Jakobovicz Rosenbaum) Clara is a theatre artist based in both Minneapolis and Houston. Her previous productions with Main Street Theater include The Coast of Utopia: Salvage, Wolf Hall, The Last Wife, and Georgiana and Kitty Christmas at Pemberley. She’s had the joy of working with a number of other theatre companies including: Playwright’s Center, Rec Room, The Alley, Theatre Pro Rata, Wayward Theatre, and BARd Shakes. She is a proud graduate of both the UMN/Guthrie B.F.A. Actor Training Program and The High School for the Performing and Visual Arts.

Scarlett Raven Clarabelle Marshall (Young Rosa / Bella Fischbein) Scarlett has never been her age. A lover of filmmaking, acting, dancing, and making people laugh, she believes the world is her stage. She is a proud theater kid, Girl Scout, and first grader. She enjoys comedies, storytelling, spending time with friends and family, and playing with her pets and foster animals. She is thrilled to be part of this production and honored to help share this powerful story.

Charley Moster (Young Sally / Mimi Fischbein / Young Rosa / Bella Fischbein) Charley has performed in theatre since age 5, appearing in Matilda at TUTS and playing the leading role at the JCC Kaplan Theater, whose production won the Excellence in Music Award at the Junior Theatre Festival in Sacramento (February 2026). She also portrayed Young Alice in the JCC production of Alice by Heart, among other shows. Theatre is her passion, and she loves performing for an audience.

Meg Rodgers* (Gretl Merz) is delighted to return to Main Street Theater (The 39 Steps, Enemies). Local credits include Angels in America (Rec Room Arts) and several seasons with the Houston Shakespeare Festival. Regionally, she has performed in over 30 productions at the American Shakespeare Center, as well as roles with Virginia Stage Company and Hope Repertory Theatre. She holds an M.F.A. from the University of Houston’s Professional Actor Training Program and is a proud member of Actors’ Equity.

Karen Ross (Grandma Emilia Merz) Karen has been a working actor since she was 9 years old. More than 25 roles at Main Street Theater including The Diary of Anne Frank, Morning Star, Anyone Can Whistle, Hay Fever, State of the Union, Blithe Spirit, Nine, Falsettoland, Of Thee I Sing, and Sunday in the Park with George. Other favorites: Fiorello, Merrily We Roll Along, Beyond Therapy, Do I Hear a Waltz, The Retreat From Moscow, and Into the Woods.

J.P. Stringer (Pauli Jakobovicz / Heini Floge) is thrilled to return to Main Street Theater in Leopoldstadt, having previously appeared in a staged reading of The Grippe. His additional credits include Seussical Kids and Willy Wonka Kids with ROE Theater Club, The Addams Family Kids at Wildfish Theatre, and Moana Jr. and Frozen Kids with Stage Right. JP loves performing, especially making audiences laugh and connecting through storytelling. He is grateful to his directors, teachers, and family for their support.

Spencer Stringer (Young Jacob / Young Leo) is excited to be performing in Leopoldstadt at Main Street Theater. He previously appeared in a staged reading of The Grippe and is grateful to return to the Main Street stage. His recent credits include Seussical Kids and Willy Wonka Kids with ROE Theater Club, and Frozen Kids at Stage Right. Spencer loves collaborating with fellow actors and bringing meaningful stories to life. He thanks his family, directors, and castmates for their continued support.

Julia Strug (Hilde / Hermine Zenner) Julia Strug is thrilled to be making her Main Street Theater debut. She holds a B.F.A. in Acting from Illinois Wesleyan University and is honored to be part of such a meaningful production. Julia dedicates her performance to her grandmother, Mimi, who first introduced her to MST and to the art of theater. Learn more about her stage and film work at juliastrug.com or on Instagram @julia.strug

Russell Tautenhahn (Zac Fischbein / Nathan Fischbein) Russell is stoked to make his debut at Main Street Theater. He’s soon to be a graduate of the University of Houston’s B.F.A. Acting Program and loves to shoot hoops and throw some darts. Some credits include University of Houston: All’s Well That Ends Well (Bertram), By the Way, Meet Vera Stark (Maximillian / Peter), Shakespeare in Love (Wabash); The Ensemble Theatre: A Beautiful Death… (Barry); Houston Grand Opera: Tannhäuser (super), Silent Night (super).

Zack Varela (Ludwig Jakobovicz) is honored to return to the Main Street Theater (MST) stage. Previous MST credits include The Book of Will, A Civil War Christmas, and A Year with Frog and Toad. Other credits: Assassins (Standing Room Only, 2015), Company (Texas Repertory Theatre, 2013), Rent (Island ETC, regional premiere), and The 39 Steps (College of the Mainland, 2011). Offstage Zack enjoys working from home and can also be found in the MST Box Office.

Gigi White (Young Sally / Mimi Fischbein) Gigi is excited to be making her debut with Main Street Theater. Recent credits include Peter Pan Jr. (Wendy), Matilda Jr. (Mrs. Wormwood), Dorothy in Wonderland, Aristocrat Kids, and Seussical Kids (Cat) with the Evelyn Rubenstein Jewish Community Center. She was also a member of the ERJCC Junior Theater Festival troupe (Excellence in Music Award, Sacramento 2026). Gigi feels happiest and most like herself when she is on the stage.

Mike Yager (Kurt Zenner / Civilian) is thrilled to make his Main Street debut after a long hiatus from the Houston stage! Past credits include You Can’t Take It With You (Alley Theatre), Chinglish (Asia Society Texas Center), Our House (Black Lab), Among the Thugs (Horse Head), numerous anime voice-over roles (Log Horizon, Haikyuu!, The Garden of Words), and the cult-horror film Teeth. Vocationally, Mike is the pastor of Vessel, a fully-affirming Christian community in the Stafford/SW area. vesselhouston.org

Rebecca Greene Udden (Director / MST Executive Artistic Director) Main Street Theater: (Director) The Year of Magical Thinking, Mother of the Maid, Darwin in Malibu, Elliot, a Soldier’s Fugue, The Hard Problem, The Book of Will, An Iliad and Twelfth Night with Prague Shakespeare Company (MST collaborations), Holes, Enemies, Wolf Hall, Bring Up the Bodies (First American Productions), Silent Sky, Peace in Our Time, Heartbreak House, The Real Thing, The Coast of Utopia, The Heidi Chronicles, Arcadia, Caroline, or Change, An Empty Plate in the Café du Grand Boeuf, and many more; (Actor) Private Lives (2019), Memory House, Richard III (with Prague Shakespeare Company), The Last Night of Ballyhoo, Third, The Busy World Is Hushed, The Sisters Rosensweig, Hamlet, and more; (Costume Design) numerous productions; Prague Shakespeare Company: (Director) Twelfth Night. Catastrophic Theatre: Advisory Board. Wordsmyth Theater Company: Advisory Board. Member, American Leadership Forum Class XVI.

Afsaneh Aayani (Set Designer) Main Street Theater: The Wind in the Willows, Charlotte’s Web, Don’t Let The Pigeon Drive The Bus, Dog Act, The Oldest Boy, plus numerous puppetry credits; Alley Theatre: English, A Christmas Carol; TUTS: Frozen; Trinity Rep: Alabaster; Other Credits: Meow Wolf Houston; Catastrophic Theatre: Turn of the Screw,  Waiting for Godot,; Stages: Roe, Black Superhero Magic Mama; Houston Grand Opera: Big Swim; HSF: King Lear; Education:  B.F.A., Puppetry, Tehran University of Art; M.F.A., Scenic Design, University of Houston. www.afsanehaayani.com

Eric L. Marsh (Lighting Design) MST: Seven Assassins Walk into a Bar, Dog Act, Darwin in Malibu, The Hard Problem, Private Lives, The Book of Will, Enemies, Wolf Hall and Bring Up the Bodies, The Coast of Utopia, and more; Ensemble Theatre: The Waiting Room, The Wiz; Sam Houston State University: Into the Woods, Nine, Hamlet, Rent, The Secret Garden, Chicago; TUTS: Like You Like It. Education: M.F.A., Western Illinois University; B.A., CSU – Chico. Professor, Sam Houston State University.

Shawn W. St. John (Sound Design) An award-winning sound designer, composer, producer, audio engineer and voice artist, Shawn has worked with Tony Award winning sound designer Tony Meola, as well as notable actors, playwrights and directors, including Eli Wallach, Sandy Duncan, Joanne Woodward, Calista Flockhart, Joe DiPietro, Beth Henley, John Rando, Jason Nodler and Mickle Maher. Sound designs include Main Street Theater, A.D. Players, The Catastrophic Theatre, Unity Theatre, and the Berkshire Theatre Festival. Education: B.A., Rollins College, Theatre. www.fiver.com/stjohnstudios

Amber Stepanik (Costume Design) Amber Stepanik earned her M.F.A. in Theatre from the University of Houston and her B.S. with a minor in Theatre from Trinity University. She is a Lecturer, Designer, and Costume Shop Manager at Rice University. She has designed more than 90 productions and is a five-time recipient of the Kennedy Center American College Theater Festival Award for Excellence in Costume Design, as well as a six-time Broadway World Houston Award winner for Best Costume Design.

Rodney Walsworth (Props Design/Set Dressing) Over 120 productions as actor, director, set designer, properties and sound design including Wolf Hall, Darwin in Malibu and The Woman in Black. Recent prop designs include The Coast Starlight, Purlie Victorious, Seven Assassins Walk into a Bar, The 39 Steps and The Lightning Thief. Resident Property Designer/Set Dresser: Main Street Theater.

Debs Ramser* (Stage Manager) Debs has done seven previous productions of Stoppard’s plays at MST (Arcadia, twice; On The Razzle; Rough Crossing; plus The Coast of Utopia trilogy, as A.S.M.). She has stage managed professional theater, musical theater, opera, dance, concerts, and benefits for almost 30 years, working with Alley Theatre, TUTS, MST, Stages, HSF, Prague Shakespeare, and HGO, among many others. Debs is a graduate of Rice University and a proud member of Equity.

Julie Marie Paré* (Assistant Stage Manager) MST: (Production Stage Manager) Memoriam, The Year of Magical Thinking, Taking Steps, The Best of Everything, Trouble in Mind, Darwin in Malibu, The Wickams: Christmas at Pemberley, Private Lives, The Secretary, (Asst. Stage Manager) The Book of Will, Men on Boats, Wolf Hall & Bring up the Bodies (First American Productions), Richard III; Other Houston credits include Mighty Acorn Productions, Stages, Houston Shakespeare Festival. Education: University of Washington.

Actors’ Equity Association (“Equity”) founded in 1913, is the U.S. labor union that represents more than 51,000 professional Actors and Stage Managers. Equity fosters the art of live theatre as an essential component of society and advances the careers of its members by negotiating wages, improving working conditions and providing a wide range of benefits, including health and pension plans. Actors’ Equity is a member of the AFL-CIO and is affiliated with FIA, an international organization of performing arts unions. #EquityWorks.

Equity is governed by its own members through an elected Council, representing principal actors, chorus actors and stage managers living in three regions: Eastern, Central and Western. Members at large participate in Equity’s governance through a system of regional Boards and Committees. Equity has 28 designated liaison areas, metropolitan areas with a concentration of more than 100 members.

*Appearing through an Agreement between this theatre, Main Street Theater, and Actors’ Equity Association, the Union of Professional Actors and Stage Managers in the United States.