CAMILLE BULLOCK //Activator

Camille Bullock is an actor/creator/educator who, although born and raised in New Orleans, Louisiana, has called Columbus home for the last four years. She is a graduate of Ohio State's MFA in Acting program, and currently teaches theatre at OSU and Denison University. Despite her cold-naturedness, she is still overwhelmed by the utter majesty of snow. After all, it turns the city into the best kind of Bob Ross painting.

JOHN DRANSCHAK //Co-Writer

John was born at Riverside Hospital and grew up in the Columbus suburbs (Worthington and Dublin).  He has since lived in Hilliard, Victorian Village, Grandview, and North Linden.  He studied Drama at Kenyon College and has been active in the local professional theatre scene for two decades.  With AVLT, he directed Merrily We Roll Along and Falsettos, co-directed Stop Sign [Language], wrote for 24 Hours, and co-created and performed in A Lonely Crowd.

ACACIA LEIGH DUNCAN //Ensemble

Acacia  has been living and making art in Columbus since 2003. A Michigan native, she moved here after graduating from Miami University and thought Columbus would just be one stop on the journey to finding her home. Thirteen years later, she is grateful for the quiet joys and opportunities this city and its people have given her. Her six words: “Columbus IS home. Room to grow.”

WHITNEY THOMAS EADS //Activator

Whitney  is thrilled to have the opportunity to activate and facilitate conversations for the Columbus Voices Workshop. She works as an actor, theatre educator, choreographer, and director around the Columbus area. The newest AVLT Company Member, Whitney is also the Middle School Performing Arts Director for Columbus Academy. AVLT Credits include: Feels Like: The Body Project, Still Quiet (dir.), Dedalus, The Ohio State Murders (dir.), The Christians, and others. All her love to Henry and Clay.

DREW EBERLY //Activator

Drew made Columbus home 13 years ago, the same year he met his husband Ben at the old Knotty Pine. He likes to walk his dog Marta through Schiller Park. He has taught English, performed/directed plays, and shared his songs all over town. After performances, he usually heads to Little Palace.  A day off takes him to Carfagna's, Spoonful Records, or Olde Town Tavern.

JORDAN FEHR //Ensemble

Jordan Fehr is a professional sound designer for films and video games, and a company member of Available Light Theatre. An Ohio native, Jordan grew up in University Heights, went to undergrad at Denison University, and made the permanent move to Columbus in 2008. During that time he has worked on 29 video games and 25 professional theatre productions here in his artistic home.

RUDY FRIAS //Ensemble

Rudy was born and raised in Columbus and grew up in Weinland park.  He attended Weinland Park Elementary, Indianola Middle School, and Linden McKinley High School, and is proud of it. After graduating from O.U. and spending 4 years away, Rudy moved back home to Weinland Park in 2008. "Even though I moved away, the neighborhoods I grew up in became a magnet for me. I always have and always will continue to dedicate my time and attention to my roots, my neighborhood, and my community."

WILMA HATTON //Ensemble

Wilma Hatton was born and raised in Columbus, Ohio. She has been a part of the theatre community for over 20 years, appearing in shows with Gallery Players, SRO Theater, Weathervane, Actors Theater, Columbus Children's Theater, and most recently, Short North Stage! This is her third production with AVLT, and she couldn't be happier!! What a wonderful community we live in, through all of our "ups and downs," Columbus is a phenomenal place to be! Thank you to everyone for their involvement!!!

MATT HERMES //Video Director

Matt is a lifelong Columbus native. Having resided in many of its neighborhoods—including Linden, Westerville, Downtown, and Olde Towne East (amongst others)—Matt has experienced many sides of this great city. One of the highlights of being a theatre artist in Columbus is working for Available Light, where he has acted and directed on numerous occasions. This is his third time providing Video Direction for the troupe, following Leaving the Atocha Station and Dirty Math 2016.

ADAM HUMPHREY //Stage Manager

Adam is still tickled to be doing what he loves in a town he loves. After growing up here, then skipping town to do theater with the Purple Rose Theatre Company, he re-discovered Columbus and fell in with a crowd that consistently encourages him to be a better artist and a better person. He currently lives in Grove City with his wife and a goofy mutt. He also hates writing in 3rd person.

JAYLENE JENNINGS //Stage Manager

Jaylene is an Ohio native and spent the past couple decades of her life in Columbus. After graduating from The Ohio State University, she made the Columbus area home and the place to raise her family. Currently living in the Clintonville area, she has been part of the Available Light Team for the past five seasons, including Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson and bobrauscenbergamerica, and many others as a stage manager, costume designer, and collaborator. Thankful to call Columbus and AVLT home.

MICHELLE GILFILLAN LOWREY //Activator

Michelle  was born at Riverside Methodist Hospital in Columbus, OH in 1972. She studied theatre as a proud Buckeye at OSU and strayed only a short time before returning home to have her beloved Eleanor at Riverside Methodist Hospital. She is loved by Jon and proudly makes art as a founding member of Available Light Theatre. Michelle believes Columbus is still “making it great” and yes, she can sing you the song.

SHANELLE MARIE //Ensemble

Shanelle is a Columbus native. Her favorite place to people watch is at Broad and High. She credits her first acting teacher as her beloved grandmother, who would enchant her by reciting poetry and by bringing Paul Lawrence Dunbar’s words to life. Her love of the arts grew at Fort Hayes Metropolitan School of Performing Arts and Miami University. Her most cherished moments on stage include performing for actress Ruby Dee and playing Black Woman in We are Proud to Present.

ELENI PAPLEONARDOS //Activator

Eleni Papaleonardos was born in Columbus in the same hospital where 32ish years later her son was born. Eleni grew up between Ohio and Greece, moving away from home, but always coming back. She earned her M.F.A. in Contemporary Performance from Naropa University and upon returning to Ohio found her artistic home with Available Light. Eleni teaches acting, movement, and creating original work at Denison University and is Artistic Director of AVLT.

IAN SHORT //Ensemble

Ian was born in Columbus, Ohio. He graduated from Gahanna Lincoln High School and Otterbein University then moved to New York for ten years before coming back to this rapidly growing city. His favorite AVLT shows have been Richard III and Pride and Prejudice. His favorite restaurants are Northstar Cafe and Harvest Pizzeria, and he loves walking around German Village, where he lives with his wife Amanda.

MATT SLAYBAUGH //Director / Writer / Producer

Matt returned to Central Ohio in 2003 to start a theatre company. The second try became Available Light Theatre. He’s lived in Harrison West, and now resides in Grandview, 300 steps from Luck Bros Coffee. “Talking to so many people all over town for this project has been a life-changing process of discovery. Thanks to the many people who’ve lent their voices to this mission. This is just the beginning.”

DAKOTA THORN //Ensemble

Dakota Thorn is a post-grad Columbus transplant living in Franklinton. When not "getting her theatre on" you might catch her grabbing brunch at Katalina's, creek stomping with her hound around Highbanks Metro Park, lifting up heavy things at Fit Club or escaping to the mountains on the Appalachian Trail. On stage, she most recently hung out with Actor's Theatre of Columbus in Schiller Park telling The Winter's Tale. "Columbus: not forever, wonderful for now."

EMILY TURNER //Co-Writer

Emily Turner has lived in Columbus since attending The Ohio State University and she loves The Scioto Mile, fountains, Metro Parks, Impero Coffee, train sounds, basset hounds, The Book Loft, community gardens, crunchy snow, Franklinton, old bingo cards, polka dots and that handsome Langer fellow.

ELIZABETH WELLMAN // Activator

Elizabeth Wellman is an artist-scholar who is honored to have been able to call Columbus her home city since 2009. Though her early years were spent all over the map, she feels like she finally figured out who she was here.

LONELLE YODER //Co-Producer

Lonelle Yoder didn’t move to Columbus until she was an adult, but she still grew up here. She will readily admit that central Ohio is a bit vanilla… but hey, why does vanilla get all the hate? Vanilla is freakin’ delicious! (Lonelle also likes Jeni’s Queen City Cayenne, makes delicious salads out of the weeds that grow her back yard, and is kind of in love with Columbus’s network of bike trails and lanes.)

LEIGH ZEIDNER //Videoographer

Leigh is a homegrown Columbus resident, living here with her high school sweetheart of a husband and their two young children. She considers herself an adventurer, but it’s of the calculated risk-taking variety – like rural exploration with the kids or venturing off into the woods with (not like skydiving.) Presently, connecting Columbus through film has been the most exciting kind of adventure.