Cast
Gregor Samsa…………Joshua Jackson*
Grete Samsa…………Brianna Smart*
Mr. Samsa………………Johnathan Carter*
Mrs. Samsa………Jasmine Reid*
Mind…………….Blake Holliday
Body……………Lakryslin Williams
Spirit……………Jayd-Lynn Graves
First Salesman, The Office Manager, The Cleaning Woman………Robbie Ramirez*
The Teenage Apprentice, Anna the Maid, Second Boarder……….Moira Vaughn
Second Salesman, A Phantasm, First Boarder……………………Elvis Karegeya*
The Boss, The Woman In Fur, Third Boarder……………………Delaney Keith*
Company Doctor……………………………………………………Jon Gill
Artistic Staff
Director……………………………….Halena Kays
Lighting Designer…………………Ron Collins
Costume Designer……………….Tommy Macon
Scenic Designer……………………Scott Boyd †
Assistant Directors……………….Courtney Coppa* and Conner McCabe*
Assistant Scenic Designer…….Donovan Hughes*
Assistant Lighting Designer........John Canaday
Sound Designer/Music Composition……………………Jon Gill
Production Team
Production Manager……………Justin Reed
Technial Director.....................Nick Ryan
Stage Manager……………………Megan Inmon*
Lighting Design Faculty Advisor..............Darren E. Levin † ˟
Master Electrician...........................Brian Elliott
Costume Shop Coordinator...................................Trish Clark
Scene Shop Manager....................................Andy Berg
Wardrobe Manager.................................Amy Hipp
Assistant Stage Managers……Tera Alexander, Angela Forte
Assistant Technial Directors...........Jay Mullens*, Alex Riggs
Deck Electrician.................Ben Spurlock
Light Board Operator.....................Shalon Mooney
Scenic Painters............Scott Boyd, Megan Inmon, Parker Chase
Crew Manager……………….…….Brendan Woods
Stage Crew.....................Matthew Phillips, Andrew Gately
Costume Crew Head...............Elizabeth Daniels
Wardrobe Crew..............Megan Castleberry*, Melissa Elkouz, Aaron Johnson*,
Milan Milstead, Samuel Troyer, Haylee Powell, Mary Moreland, Rowan Balcom, Ribboney
Bowen, Salwa Mohammed Habash, Chance Rule
Playwright’s Note
When I first set out to adapt Franz Kafka’s most famous novella, I wanted to highlight the things I love about his work—his deadpan approach to the fantastical, his deep understanding of bureaucratic indifference, the guilt and anxiety that pervade every sentence. Reading Kafka is like watching The Twilight Zone with all the morals edited out; it’s exhilarating and terrifyingly lonely all at once. I was excited.
I was not, however, prepared to deal with the bug.
The creature that Gregor Samsa transforms into is, of course, the most famous facet of this story. It’s the answer to the question, “What is The Metamorphosis about?” And yes, it concerns a traveling salesman who wakes up one day as an insect. But this is only the first sentence. The strange ride that follows is Kafka’s true aim.
Put another way, millions of people know what this book is about. But how many of us grasp what it’s About? Every time I read this novella, it transforms a little for me. And as you watch our adaptation, I know you’ll draw your own conclusions.
Because the bug is not just one thing. We might grasp its meaning in the moment, but by the time we’ve articulated that, the bug has moved on, scurrying off to another interpretation. In Gregor Samsa’s plight, Kafka created the best kind of symbol—an idea you can’t quite pin down, yet somehow, instinctively rings true.
—Steve Moulds
Student Bios
Jonathon Gill: (Music Composition) is a 24-year-old musical polymath and student of Philosophy at MTSU. Born and raised
in New Orleans, Jon has been surrounded by music his whole life. He's worked as a
musician and sound engineer in countless contexts, from jamming with friends in grimy
dive bars to scoring feature films to mixing live sound for audiences of thousands.
This is his first time composing for stage, a task fraught with exciting new challenges.
He'd like to thank Halena, Steve, Megan, the cast and crew, the Theatre department
and College of Liberal Arts, and above all, his family.
Jayd Graves: (Sprit) is a Junior theatre major here at MTSU and is so excited to have the opportunity
to take part in an original production. Previous credits for Jayd include West Side Story, Steel Magnolias, and Shrek the Musical. Jayd would like to thank Halena so very much for letting her be part of such an
amazing process and her fellow members of this adventure for being brilliant. She
would also like to thank her family and friends for their support, her fiance for
being very patient and willing to stay up late to see her, and her sister Haley, whose
love lives ever on in the theatre. "The experience of life consists of the experience which the spirit has of itself in
matter and as matter, in mind and as mind, in emotion and as emotion..." -Franz Kafka
Megan Inmon: (Stage Manager) is in her third year here at MTSU. She has worked on many shows here over the years
including La Cage, Almost, Maine, and Peter Pan. This is the first play that Megan has stage managed on Tucker. She is excited and
grateful to have gotten to work with all of these amazing people!
Jasmine Reid: (Mrs. Samsa) has been in shows such as Amen Corner, Year with Frog and Toad, La Cage Aux Folles, American Tall Tales, West
Side Story and the MTSU Dance Theatre Company's dance concerts. She is excited to be a part
of Metamorphosis and working with Helena for the first time, could not have asked
for a more exciting experience.
Courtney Coppa: (Assistant Director) is a Senior Theatre Major with an emphasis in Directing. She is excited to be assistant
directing for the 2nd time with Halena and 1st time on Tucker. Other credits include Director for Ordinary Days, Assistant Director of The Magic Play, and will be Director of Gruesome Playground Injuries this April. She’d like to thank her wonderful director Halena for creating a collaborative
world to make some cool art and her family for all their love and support!
Brianna Smart: (Grete Samsa) is a sophomore here at MTSU and is beyond excited to be a part of this production.
Previous credits include: Peter Pan, West Side Story, Ordinary Days, and Dog Sees God. She would like to thank her family for their unending love and support, and everyone
who worked on making this production possible!
Angela Forte: (Assistant Stage Manager) is a Senior Theatre Major focusing on design and directing. She is thrilled to be
assisting with Metamorphosis. She recently completed an internship with Nashville
Rep on Noises Off and has been busy at MTSU working on shows like Peter Pan and Next to Normal. She is grateful to be part of a wonderful team with such an encouraging director
and leader.
Tera Alexander: (Assistant Stage Manager) is a Senior Theatre Major and Writing Minor here at MTSU. She would like to thank
Halena Kays for showing her what theatre can be. She also thanks her friends and family
for following any endeavors she takes on. Thank you all for being you. Enjoy the show!
Delaney Keith: (The Boss, Woman in Fur, Third Boarder) is a senior theater major. She was most recently on the Tucker stage in Walking in Sunlight, West Side Story, and Almost, Maine. This is her last production on this stage. She would love to thank all of her professors
and directors who have been there for her and helped her grow. She is truly grateful
for the past few years here, the experiences she has had, and the friends she has
made and will truly never forget. "To send light into the darkness of men's hearts-such
is a duty of the artist." She thanks the ones who have sent light to her, and hopes
to send light to others. Enjoy the show.
Blake Holliday (Mind) is currently in his fourth year here at MTSU. He is majoring in Journalism, and minoring
in Theatre and Fashion Merchandising. Some of his past credits include Hand to God, The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, and Heathers the Musical. This is Blake's first production with the MTSU Theatre department, and he is ecstatic
to be working with this fantastic cast, crew, and production team!
Conner McCabe: (Assistant Director) is a Sophomore Theatre Major. This is his first time Assistant Directing! He loves
working with this awesome group of people and thanks Halena for being extremely helpful
throughout the process.
Joshua Jackson: (Gregor Samsa) is a senior and majors in theatre. He has been in shows like Uncle Vanya and American Tall Tales. This is his last show here and he wants to thank Mrs. Halena Kays, the theatre department,
friends, family, and last but not least Jesus.
Johnathan Carter: (Mr. Samsa) is a senior theater major. His previous credits with MTSU include Peter Pan and La Cage Aux Folles. He would like to extend his gratitude to Steve Moulds for writing such an en-kindling
yarn that embodies Kafka and life so resplendently. He also thanks Halena Kays for
her constant love for the craft and helping him on this "metamorphosis" into such
a rich and deep character as the father as well, as discovering himself. Now please sit
back, relax, and mind the apples.
Lakryslin Williams: (Body) is a senior Theatre major. She was cast in Alpha Psi Omega's production of Julius Caesar and Kafka's Metamorphosis is her first show in Tucker. She would like to acknowledge the cast and crew for
all of the encouragement and love received along this journey.
Elvis Karegeya: (Second Salesman, A Phantasm, First Boarder) is a senior theatre major. This is second production working with Halena, and he
couldn't be more thankful. He would like to thank the theatre department students
and faculty for their friendship and support. He hopes you enjoy the show!
*members of Alpha Psi Omega
† members of United Scenic Artists 829
˟ members of IATSE
