Cleo DeOrio (she/her) is a Physical Theatre and Dance artist from Cleveland,Ohio. Cleo received her Bachelor's degree at Baldwin Wallace University, where she focused her studies in Directing and Choreography. She then received a Master's degree from Dell’Arte International School of Physical Theatre, where she developed works such as Citizens of Nowhere and Visions of a Crying Girl. Cleo specializes in dance, storytelling through movement, devised physical theatre, and movement coaching. Her work has premiered across Ohio and California in works such as The Three Musketeers, Big Love, and IMPRINTS - a dance-theatre piece about violence against women.

Julie Eccles-Benson is a teaching artist for the Humboldt County Oce of Education, and teaches acting for OLLI students as well as teens at the Humboldt Light Opera Company. She has taught for the California Shakespeare Theater, and Colorado College. Julie’s acting credits include American Conservatory Theater, Berkeley Rep., San Jose Rep., The California Shakespeare Theater, and Seattle Rep. among others. Julie has a B.A. in Theatre Arts from U.C. Davis and completed her post-graduate work at the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art.

Ruthi Engelke has a Bachelor of Arts in Theater from the University of Texas and a Masters of Arts in Literature from the University of Houston-Clear Lake. She has over 30 years experience teaching acting to both children and adults. She most recently directed “The Revolutionists” at RCT and was seen on stage locally as Martha in Ferndale Repertory Theatre’s “Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?” She is a former member of the Redwood Curtain Theatre board and Pedagogy and Theatre of the Oppressed, Inc.

Caroline McFarland is a local educator and theater artist who works actively as an actor, director, and fight choreographer. She is certified by the Society of American Fight Directors in unarmed and single sword combat. She received her BA in theater from Willamette University and additional training at the British American Drama Academy in London.

Laura Montagna has been the Redwood Curtain Casting Director since 2013. She enjoys providing qualified extras, speaking roles and production assistants for film crews who come to beautiful Humboldt County. She has been both an actor, production assistant and an extra in several films. Her favorite actors to work with were Daniel Radclie and Paul Dano, favorite director was Bobcat Goldthwaite.

John-Michael “JM” Wilkerson - The adopted son of a musically and artistically gifted family, he appeared to have few artistic inclinations, until it was discovered that he had a knack for writing. Given access to every writing seminar, camp and class that came through the Midwest, JM's family doted on his every writing whim, to encourage his craft. But it wasn't until he entered and subsequently won the 2002 Theatre for Young Audiences – Playwriting Competition, that he realized his inclination for dramatic writing. Since then JM has written several works that have been produced and many, many more that have not. Not being satisfied with his overwhelming success as an unknown playwright, JM lives vicariously through those he is able to usher into the craft.