Corduroy

Puppeteer -

Jackie began at The Rose as a summer education intern and is delighted to return as the Director of Education. She has had the privilege of working as a theatre artist and teacher in communities across the country and world, including with Disney Musicals in Schools, Seattle Children’s Theatre, Lexington Children’s Theatre, Bay Area Children’s Theater, Shanghai Children’s Art Theater, 7 Stages International Theatre, San Francisco Playback Theatre, Chattanooga Theatre Centre and StageWrite. Her work at The Rose Theater ignited her passion for theatre for social change and she went on to receive her Masters in Counseling Psychology and Drama Therapy at the California Institute of Integral Studies. Since she has utilized theatre to facilitate dialogue for communities and organizations around topics such as harassment, immigration, veteran’s issues, LGBTQ+ pride and much more with San Francisco Playback Theater.

Puppeteer -

Kimberlee Stone is elated to be back on the Rose Theater mainstage after all this time! Previously seen in other classics like "Goodnight Moon," "The True Story of the Three Little Pigs," and "Mouse on the Move" she is excited to dive ever deeper into the world of puppetry. Aside from Rose Theater credits, Kimberlee is also a recent graduate of the University of Hawai'i at Mānoa (MFA, Playwriting), and is currently on the staff as a Contract Teaching Artist for the season. She is grateful for this opportunity to continue to learn and grow, and hopes you enjoy this precious classic book live in living color on the Rose Theater stage.

Puppeteer -

Joe is excited to be making his debut with The Rose! He holds a B.M. in Musical Theater from the University of Nebraska at Kearney and an MFA from the FSU/Asolo Conservatory for Actor Training. He has most recently been seen performing all over the world with Norwegian Creative Studios on the Regent Seven Seas Voyager and Navigator, in "Fun Home" at Portland Center Stage, "Boeing Boeing" at Maples Repertory Theater, and "Mamma Mia!" with Crane River Theater. Along with performing, Joe is a spoken word poet, and teaches Acting, Voice & Diction, and Accents & Dialects.

Night Watchman -

Matthew R. Olsen (he/him/his) is grateful to return to The Rose stage, previous Rose credits include Howie D: Back in the Day!, and It’s a Wonderful Life (which you can catch him in AGAIN this season!). You may have seen him around Omaha with Bluebarn Theatre (The Woodsman, Venus in Fur), Brigit St. Brigit (Bernhardt/Hamlet), Shakespeare On The Green (Much Ado, King John, Merry Wives, King Lear, Macbeth, Taming of the Shrew, As You Like It, Othello), Nebraska Shakespeare On Tour (Hamlet, Romeo & Juliet, Midsummer, As You Like It). Other select Regional credits include: The Matchmaker, Both Your Houses (dir. Frank Galati), True West, School For Lies, How I Learned To Drive & Oleanna.

Matthew is an actor, facilitator, movement/fight coordinator based in Omaha. He holds a BFA from the University of Minnesota-Duluth and an MFA from Florida State University—Asolo Conservatory for Actor Training. When he’s not on stage or in the classroom you can catch him roasting coffee up the street at Bad Seed Coffee & Supply! Much love and thanks to my family (biological & theatrical).

Mother -

Katherine MacHolmes (she, her) is a native North Omaha who is deeply grateful to be debuting on the MainStage at The Rose. An ardent lifelong activist, Katherine took a ten-year break from theater-making, before boldly declaring her return to theater in October of 2019 (yes, right before it all shut down). Before, Katherine was in one season of Broken Mirror and two seasons of Pride Players through The Rose’s Teens N’ Theater program, and is delighted to be playing the role of Mother in Corduroy. You might have seen her in the ‘Day of Absence’ reading at the Union for Contemporary Art, in the reading for ‘Juniors’ at the Omaha Community Playhouse, in ‘Where the Lovelight Gleams’ and ‘BurnBabyBurn’ at the Great Plains Theatre Conference and just recently originating the role of Tara in ‘Stories: On the Brink’ with Anastasis Theater Co.

Lisa -

Chase is excited to be returning to The Rose after her last roles in Matilda, Madagascar, and Best Christmas Pageant Ever! Chase has taken various singing and acting classes since she was 3 years old. She is a former member of the award-winning Rose Brigade. She is in the 9th Grade at Burke High School where she is a member of the Synergy show choir, and a member of the Nebraska Thespian Society. Chase is passionate about school, acting, and political justice and is planning on pursuing acting as a career. Chase would like to thank her family and friends and The Rose staff for their continued love and support. She hopes you enjoy Corduroy!

Lisa -

Nivi is a sophomore at Gretna High School. She has previously performed as, Vita, in How To Build an Ark, a Rose Production. She has also portrayed Anna in Frozen. Jr, Mrs. Lanford from Show N' Spell, and the Mayor from Homeschooled, along with some other roles in small skits. Nivi is an Indian classical dancer and likes to sing and act. She is currently part of GHS Show Choir - Evolution, Treble Clef Choir, Speech Team, Class Officers, Drama Club, and One Act. Nivi loves being on stage, and hopes you all enjoy this heartwarming show!

Director & Puppet Designer/Builder -

Stephanie has worked at The Rose for over 16 years, as the Director of Early Childhood, Teaching Artist, Actor, Playwright and Director. She has had her adaptations of The Grocer's Goblin (co-created with Brian Guehring), Thumbelina: Adventure Day, and Kindness Begins with Us: The Tail of Two Wolves (co-written with Carina DuMarce) produced at The Rose Theater. Stephanie has her MFA in Acting from the University of Iowa, is a Yoga instructor, participated in the Diavolo Project: Nebraska, member of Omaha's The Moving Company, performed in The Woodsman (at The Bluebarn) and participated as a playwright at The Eugene O'Neill Puppetry Festival, and is a trained puppeteer specializing in shadow puppetry and Bunraku. Before moving to Omaha, she lived in NYC where she worked with Liz Swados on Jabu at The Flea Theatre, Lee Bruer’s production of Mabou Mines' A Dollshouse National and International Tour, Taylor Mac and The Jim Henson Company. www.stephaniejacobson.weebly.com