Artistic Staff
Robert Fitzsimmons (he/him)
Production Designer
"Rj" is co-owner of Bare Bodkins and the husband of Jayna Fitzsimmons. He has a B.F.A. in technical theatre and design from Western Kentucky University and has worked for Augustana University, the Black Hills Playhouse in South Dakota, Brevard Music Center in North Carolina, Jenny Wiley Theatre in Kentucky, and the Arundel Barn Playhouse in Maine.
Production Designer
"Rj" is co-owner of Bare Bodkins and the husband of Jayna Fitzsimmons. He has a B.F.A. in technical theatre and design from Western Kentucky University and has worked for Augustana University, the Black Hills Playhouse in South Dakota, Brevard Music Center in North Carolina, Jenny Wiley Theatre in Kentucky, and the Arundel Barn Playhouse in Maine.
Jeff Larsen (he/him)
Jeff is excited to be joining Bare Bodkins for his tenth production with the company. He earned his Bachelor of Arts from Augustana University in Theatre and Philosophy, and his Master of Fine Arts in Directing at the University of South Dakota. He is currently the Community Engagement and Education Program Coordinator for the South Dakota Symphony Orchestra. Additionally, he has served as the Artistic Director for Monstrous Little Theatre Company and works with other area theatre companies. He is excited to be returning for another summer with Bare Bodkins and is continually inspired by the tremendous work of all around him. He would like to thank his family and loved ones for their never ending support and encouragement.
Nolan Wipf (he/him)
Nolan is joining for his 4th season with Bare Bodkins. He is a recent graduate of Augustana University, having majored in Vocal Music and Education. In the fall, Nolan will be teaching vocal music at Memorial Middle School. Aside from the performing arts, Nolan enjoys spending time with his Fiancée and three cats. He is looking forward to acting again with the Bare Bodkins Theatre Co.
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Tatiana Chance
(she/her)
Tatiana is excited to spend another summer with Bare Bodkins. She is a graduate of Augustana University with a B.A. in Theatre and Elementary Education. In her free time, Tatiana loves to travel and she is the founder and executive director of Help 4 Huhas. She loves spending her summers sweaty for Shakespeare. She also works with the Dakota Academy of Performing Arts and Goodnight Theatre. She would like to thank her mom and her puppies for being her practice audience, and anyone in the audience with a big laugh.
Kale Hellman (they/them)
Kale is a 2021 Augustana University gradute with a BA in Theatre and English. You may have previously seen Kale in Bare Bodkin's production of Much Ado About Nothing as Don Jon and Beatrice, and in The Tempest as Ferdinand and Sebastian. They are incredibly excited to be joining their third production of Bare Bodkins as Curio, Maria, and Officer in Twelfth Night. Kale has also recently been on stage in the productions Cinderella and Comfortably Single with the Premiere Playhouse, and back at Augustana in This Is My Body. They would like to thank their friends and family for their support, especially their partner Caleb for being such a wonderful scene partner outside of rehearsal. Kale is positively delighted to spend part of their summer with you all at the Mill. Enjoy the show!
Jayna Fitzsimmons (she/her)
Artistic Director
Jayna is a professor in the theatre department at Augustana University where she directs productions and teaches courses in acting, theatre history, playwriting, improv, and theatre for social change. She also teaches a global studies course that explores performance in Central and Eastern Europe. She earned a B.A. in theatre arts from SMSU; an M.A. in theatre with emphases in theatre history and literature, directing, acting and early modern drama from USD; and a Ph.D. in critical studies in English literature with specialization in the intersection between metatheatre and theatre for social change. Jayna has received regional Kennedy Center honors for her directing, adaptation, new play development, and production response work. When she's not busy with Bare Bodkins, Jayna frequently collaborates with playwrights from across the region and country to develop new work, and she partners with the Dakota Academy of Performing Arts' youth Shakespeare and Plays for Living programs. Originally from the Sioux Falls area, Jayna grew up enjoying Bare Bodkins performances and joined the company as an actor in 2006. Now in her 12th summer as Bare Bodkins' artistic director, Jayna is thrilled to collaborate with this season's incredibly gifted company!
Artistic Director
Jayna is a professor in the theatre department at Augustana University where she directs productions and teaches courses in acting, theatre history, playwriting, improv, and theatre for social change. She also teaches a global studies course that explores performance in Central and Eastern Europe. She earned a B.A. in theatre arts from SMSU; an M.A. in theatre with emphases in theatre history and literature, directing, acting and early modern drama from USD; and a Ph.D. in critical studies in English literature with specialization in the intersection between metatheatre and theatre for social change. Jayna has received regional Kennedy Center honors for her directing, adaptation, new play development, and production response work. When she's not busy with Bare Bodkins, Jayna frequently collaborates with playwrights from across the region and country to develop new work, and she partners with the Dakota Academy of Performing Arts' youth Shakespeare and Plays for Living programs. Originally from the Sioux Falls area, Jayna grew up enjoying Bare Bodkins performances and joined the company as an actor in 2006. Now in her 12th summer as Bare Bodkins' artistic director, Jayna is thrilled to collaborate with this season's incredibly gifted company!
Macie Lupica (she/her)
This is Macie’s first foray with Bare Bodkins, and she couldn’t imagine a more fantastic group of people to work with for her first Shakesperean production! Though new to Shakespeare, Macie is not a stranger to the stage. She has been active in the local theatre community since 2018 and has worked with multiple companies including The Premiere Playhouse, Monstrous Little Theatre Company, Storytellers Anonymous, and Mighty Corson Art Players where she serves as a board member. Some of Macie’s
favorite roles include Annelle in Steel Magnolias, Jamie in American Hero, Jerrie Cobb in They Promised Her the Moon, and Rachel Corrie in the one-woman show, My Name is Rachel Corrie. Macie wants to thank the kind folks here at Bare Bodkins for welcoming her so warmly and inviting her to tell stories with them!
Tristan Love
(he/him)
Tristan graduated from Augustana University in 2020 and now enjoys a career at Levo Federal Credit Union. Tristan can often be found enjoying the restaurants, shops, and arts in downtown Sioux Falls, and he’s thrilled to be returning to Bare Bodkins and be a part of the community here. Chicken is his favorite food, he enjoys any sport involving a frisbee, and he loves the high dive at any swimming pool. Thank you for coming to the show!
2024 Acting Company
Ryan Howe (he/him)
Having been recently called out by his friends for his boring, professional bio, Ryan will not be telling you about his work as a Sioux Falls actor, director and writer. It is of little importance that he graduated from the University of Sioux Falls with a B.A. in Communications and Theatre, and certainly of minute value that he is the President of the Mighty Corson Art Players. Bare Bodkins faithful may remember Ryan as Mercutio in Romeo & Juliet or Dromio in A Comedy of Errors. Ryan deems it important to share that he once embarked on the first leg of a 1,000 mile swimming expedition along the Missouri River, a brief journey that forever changed the trajectory of his life. In his free time, Ryan enjoys playing Dungeons & Dragons and Final Fantasy XIV, as well as watching One Piece, the greatest anime of all time.
Having been recently called out by his friends for his boring, professional bio, Ryan will not be telling you about his work as a Sioux Falls actor, director and writer. It is of little importance that he graduated from the University of Sioux Falls with a B.A. in Communications and Theatre, and certainly of minute value that he is the President of the Mighty Corson Art Players. Bare Bodkins faithful may remember Ryan as Mercutio in Romeo & Juliet or Dromio in A Comedy of Errors. Ryan deems it important to share that he once embarked on the first leg of a 1,000 mile swimming expedition along the Missouri River, a brief journey that forever changed the trajectory of his life. In his free time, Ryan enjoys playing Dungeons & Dragons and Final Fantasy XIV, as well as watching One Piece, the greatest anime of all time.
Vaughn Schneider
(he/him)
Vaughn is a junior at Augustana University pursuing a bachelor’s degree in theatre. When he's not on stage or in the classroom, you can usually find him holed up in his room thinking about Dungeons and Dragons, driving to Giliberto’s at 2:00 am for a chicken burrito and enchilada combo, or working his summers away at Camp Leif Ericson. You may have seen him somewhat recently as The Bumble or Heimer in Augustana Theatre Company's productions of Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer Junior and This Is My Body, respectively. This is Vaughn’s first year working with Bare Bodkins, and he has gone on record to say he is “incredibly grateful to be working with such wonderful and talented people.”
TJ
Ashes
(he/him)
T.J. is a Theater Major at Augustana University. This will be his FIRST Bare Bodkins show! At Augustana, he has portrayed Eric in This is My Body, as well as Doug Panch in The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee. He is super excited to do his first Shakespeare show ever! He is very thankful for his family, friends, and faculty.
