The Wanting Forest – Program

This production of The Wanting Forest is funded in part by a grant from the Arts Council of the Valley.

This project was supported, in part, by the Virginia Commission for the Arts, which receives support from the Virginia General Assembly.

This project was supported, in part by the Shenandoah Valley Electric Cooperative and its members who participate in Operation Round Up.

Jim Clemens has directed and performed music for middle school, high school, and college productions. At James Madison University’s School of Theatre and Dance, he works as an accompanist for shows, classes, and voice lessons. Jim also enjoys composing music and making visual art. He lives in the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia.

Christabell DeMichele is a poet, playwright, and performer based in Harrisonburg, Virginia. She began performing as a child in orchestras and guitar ensembles. After winning a playwriting competition in middle school, she took up acting. This decision proved to be a wise one, as it led and continues to lead to many fun adventures and explorations in improvisation, standup comedy, and musical theater, as well as the privilege of leading workshops in poetry, playwriting, acting and sketch comedy, to school-age and adult learners. Christabell also holds a BA in Individualized Study from James Madison University, where she concentrated in writing and literature. She is very excited to be making her debut at the Silk Moth!

Monica Flory is a playwright, director, and educator. She is passionate about writing coming-of-age stories, mother-daughter tales, and femme-forward versions of classic works. Her adaptation of The Jungle Book has had over 300 productions worldwide. The New York Times called it “scrupulously faithful to Rudyard Kipling and completely original in its approach.”Recent works include Rosemallow House for Poly Prep, One Last Ride with composer Spencer Lutvak and Bank of Violets with composer Jacob Fjeldheim. Her film Because of Dragons with puppet-maker Kat Caro was selected for the Reel Puppetry Film Festival. Her plays are published by Playscripts, Smith & Kraus, Applause, and Brooklyn Publishers. monicaflory.com

Aili Huber has been directing for over 30 years, specializing in text-driven, audience-connected, actor-centered work. She holds an MFA from Mary Baldwin College/American Shakespeare Center, and is the co-author, with Toby Malone, of Cutting Plays for Performance, published by Routledge Press. She also has developed Take 5, a framework to reduce trauma for theater workers.
Favorite directing credits include TJ Young’s Sperm Donor Wanted with Slow Your Role Theater Co., Pam
Mandigo’s Give Us Good and Monica Cross’s Wonder of Our Stage with Silk Moth Stage, The Duchess of Malfi, Antony and
Cleopatra, and Richard III with Pigeon Creek Shakespeare, and Merry Wives of Windsor at Quill Theatre.
Aili is an associate member of the Stage Directors and Choreographers Society and the Shakespeare Theater Association, and a member of Directors Gathering. She’s certified in Mental Health First Aid.

Amy Ippolito is beyond thrilled to be working with Silk Moth Stage! She has been waiting for the stars to align to be able to audition for Silk Moth and she couldn’t be more excited that this is the show she gets to start with. Amy, originally from New York, has her BA in Dance and Theater from Manhattanville University and her MLitt/ MFA from Mary Baldwin University’s Shakespeare and Performance Program. Currently Amy is an Education Artist with Studio Wayne (The Wayne Theatre) and an actor in their ReperTOURy Company. When not onstage or teaching, you can find her knitting with an iced coffee and her dog.

Heidi Jablonski has been involved with playback theater for the past ten years. She studied Peacebuilding, Theater, and Gender Studies at Eastern Mennonite University. Some favorite roles at EMU include Phoebe in As You Like It, Florinda in Into the Woods, and Miss Prism in The Importance of Being Earnest. Heidi was also seen in the Valley Playhouse’s productions of If There’s A Rock n’ Roll Heaven and The One More Last Chance Diner. She was last seen on the Silk Moth Stage as Amelia in Give Us Good. Heidi is often found crafting fantastical stories with her husband, Caleb, and going for walks in downtown Harrisonburg with their daughters.

Movement artist, costume designer, educator, MFA (Case Western Reserve University). Holly has been collaborating with theatre artists in the Shenandoah Valley since 2005. She has
worked with Bridgewater College, Eastern Mennonite University, Valley Brethren-Mennonite Heritage Center, Wanderlust Theatre Company and Unreal City Theatre on a variety of productions, including two productions that traveled to DC Capital Fringe Festivals. Additionally, her work has received both regional and national recognition by the Kennedy Center American College Theater Festival.

Sarah Levine McClelland is an actor and acting coach who has performed Off-Broadway, in Great Britain, and regionally throughout the United States. Favorite roles include Artemisia Gentileschi in Artemisia’s Intent here at SMS, Celia in As You Like It (Valley Shakespeare Festival, CT), Lady Percy in Wars and Whores: The Henry IV Musical (Philly Fringe), Alison in Fun Home (4th Wall Theatre, NJ), Little Red Riding Hood in Into The Woods (Roxy Regional Theatre, TN), and Mina Harker in Dracula (The Old Rep, Birmingham). Originally from New York, she holds a BA in theatre from Sarah Lawrence College and also completed the conservatory program at The Atlantic Acting School. She earned her MA with distinction from The Royal Birmingham Conservatoire in the UK where she had the privilege of working with Cicely Berry of the Royal Shakespeare Company, and on the stage of Shakespeare’s Globe. Locally, she’s worked as a director and/or teaching artist with Mary Baldwin University and Bridgewater College, serves as the executive director of Eunoia Theatre and as an artistic associate at Silk Moth Stage. Sarah is also a food content creator at wingredients.com. She makes her home in the Shenandoah Valley with her husband and their rescue pup, Henry.

Amanda Saufley is an arts administrator, director and stage manager. Amanda served as the Managing Director of Sipe Center in Bridgewater, VA from 2020-2023, launching a return from the pandemic with programming featuring local artists, children’s theatre and national touring artists. Prior to that, she served as the Managing Director of Inside Out Playback Theatre in Harrisonburg, VA from 2018-2020. Amanda is currently a member of Playback Theatre Virginia. She holds a BA in Theatre and History from Eastern Mennonite University and is an alum of the Cornerstone Theatre Residency.

Ariel is so excited to return to Silk Moth Stage for The Wanting Forest! Recent credits include John Dee in Wonder Of Our Stage at Silk Moth Stage and understudy for the American Shakespeare Center’s 2024 Summer/Fall Season. Ariel holds MLITT and MFA degrees in Shakespeare & Performance from Mary Baldwin University. When not on stage, Ariel enjoys honing her photography skills, playing the harp, and watching her two cats noodle around. arielatatum.com, arieltatumphoto.com

Elizabeth Wislar is a multi-award-winning costume professional, large-scale repurposed textile artist, storyteller, and instructor. She has designed over 300 shows and built more than 200 productions throughout the course of her career. She can be found participating in the development of new artistic collaborators and technicians as sustainably-conscious creators.

blue stone sky, a harmonious folk trio featuring Julie Caran, Kevin Caran, and Sarah Cheverton, has developed a style characterized by three-part harmony in the folk-rock and
Americana music genres. Julie, Kevin and Sarah first got together while singing in the choir and at coffeehouses at the Harrisonburg Unitarian Universalist fellowship. Playing at church events quickly led to gigs at coffee houses, farmers markets, and music events around the Shenandoah Valley. They’ve had the honor of opening for big names in folk music, including John McCutcheon, Bill Staines, and Robin & Linda Williams. Their resume includes performances at the Oak Grove Music Festival and First Night Harrisonburg. They specialize in tunes to lift the spirit, using the tools of guitar, flute, percussion, vocals, and on-stage rapport.

Juniper Tree is the indie folk project of Valerie Westerman Bess and Taylor Bess. Originating in Harrisonburg, Virginia in 2018 and moving down the road to Richmond in 2021, the duo continues to find and share inspiration in the beautiful landscapes of Virginia, drawing listeners into a peaceful environment with their introspective, nature-immersed songwriting and electric harmonies. Juniper Tree’s self-titled debut album, recorded at Taylor’s Richmond, VA studio and released on December 1, 2023, sparkles with the balance between reserved contemplative moments and soaring full-band arrangements, exploring themes of connection, curiosity, and contentment.