Hearts Like Fists at Austin Community College Drama Department

Hannah Cohen

Ariana Melendez

Marcus McQuirter

Marcus McQuirter is a faculty member in the Drama Department at ACC where he teaches Voice, Acting, and Introduction to Theater. He would like to thank the cast & production team for their work on this production.

Chloe Nichols

Chloe Nichols is a student within the Drama Department at ACC and is very excited to be stage managing with this production! Previous experience includes acting in The Sightless and Iphigenia in Aulis with ACC, Assistant Stage Managing for Bat Boy: The Musical at ACC, Director for My Neighbor Teddy Roosevelt at ACC, Co-Director and Playwright for Just How It Is at ACC, acting in Playhouse Creatures at Sam Bass Theatre, and acting in Sons of Atreus with FronteraFest. Chloe is currently applying to transfer to university at a few different schools, but you can see her next in Fiend’s Folio here at ACC. She would like to thank the ACC Drama Department for having her, Merrick for always supporting her goals, and her cat as well as birds for making her smile.

Cynthia Gage

Cynthia Gage is the administrative assistant for the Drama, Dance, and Creative Writing departments at Austin Community College. Cynthia received a BA in Radio/Television/Film Production and a BA in History from the University of North Texas. They also hold a MA in History from Baylor University. She loves being a part of bringing the arts and education together. She is always grateful for opportunities to help create!

Carrie Kaplan

Carrie Kaplan is the Literary Manager/Dramaturg for ACC Drama as well as an Adjunct Professor and Instructor of Introduction to Theater. She is a graduate of Dartmouth College (B.A.), CUNY Queens College (M.S.Ed.) and The University of Texas at Austin (M.A., Ph.D. ABD). She is also a fellow of the Mellon School of Theater and Performance Research at Harvard University. In addition to serving as a dramaturg in academic institutions such as ACC and UT, she has worked as a production and new play dramaturg for Salvage Vanguard (TX), PlayPenn (PA), New York Theater Workshop (NYC), New Dramatists (NYC), Portland Stage Company (ME), Book-it Rep (WA). and PCPA Theatrefest (CA) among other producing institutions. One of these days, she is going to go back and finish her Nancy Drew one woman show.

Desiree Humphries

Desiree Humphries is an Austin native costume designer who’s recent credits include The Mad Ones (ACC) and Black Feminist Guide To The Body (The Vortex) She is a former ACC student who holds a BFA in Theatre Design and Technology from Texas State University and works at the University of Texas at Austin as the costume stock supervisor and costume production manager. She is excited to be part of the return of live theatre and would like to thank ACC for inviting her to create!

Rachel Atkinson

Rachel Atkinson is a multi-disciplinary collaborative artist with a particular focus on designing theater for young audiences, immersive theater design, and design for devised theater. She is a faculty and staff member at Austin Community College. Rachel holds an MFA in Theatre Design from The University of Texas at Austin.

Malia Felipe

Malia Felipe is a homeschooled high school dual-credit student studying Technical Theater here at ACC. Although a former youth actor, this is her first time working as a part of the technical production team for a show. Her dream is to become an Actress, as well as a Set and Lighting Designer for Sight & Sound Productions. She is very grateful and excited about all the skills she is learning here at ACC. All in all, she hopes you enjoy the production.

Miguel De Hoyos

Andrew Heinrich

Andrew Heinrich is an assistant professor of Drama with Austin Community College. Professor Heinrich wears several hats in the theatre – playwright, actor, director, and violence designer. Previous directing credits include No. 6, No Exit, and Paladin at St. Philip’s College in San Antonio, in addition to online readings for Movement of Conclusion at The Public Theatre of San Antonio. Andrew holds both a BFA and MFA from Texas State University. His plays have won national recognition through the Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival, and he is a National New Play Network affiliated artist.

Cassie Nordgren

Tomas Salas

Tomas Salas has more than thirty years working as a professional theatre technician. He is a master scenic carpenter and lighting tech. His experience includes working in California as; the technical director for Luis Valdez’ El Teatro Campesino in San Juan Bautista, Master Electrician for the Mark Taper Forum and Japan America Theatre in Los Angeles. In Austin Tomas has worked as a freelance tech with just about every local theatre and dance company and in most performance spaces including the Paramount Theatre, State Theatre, ESB Mexican American Cultural Center, Carver Cultural Center, Zach Scott, Planet/Vortex, and others. He is very happy to be a part of the ACC Drama Dept. Team.

Joe Kelley

Joe Kelley is an Austin resident with a passion for collaboration and storytelling. Whether it’s the set, props, paints, plants, or puppets he’s so excited and grateful to work with Marcus, Channing, Tomas and the entire production team to bring life and love to every show. Joe has been active in the Austin theatre community on and off of the stage in many different productions with many wonderful groups such as: The Archive Theatre, Pollyanna Theatre Co., Summer Stock Austin, Penfold Theatre Co., Expatriate Theatre, and his home: ACC Drama. As always, much love to Remy and Tomas for their patience and support during the whole process.

Gavin Kenter

Gavin Kenter Is a technical theater student at ACC, Gavin Kenter is honored to have been chosen to ME this production. Recent credits include: LD for “RED” at ACC and "Radio :30" with Hyde Park Theater and, as well as Master Electrician for Austin Shakespeare's rendition of “El Cid” in the Rollins.

Christina Montgomery

Christina Montgomery received a BFA in Technical Theatre, Theatre Design, and Technology from the University of Kansas and has over 15 years of experience working in professional theatre. Her costume designs for (The Odyssey) were sent to represent KU in the RITU 24 International Theatre Festival in Liege, Belgium. After graduation, Christina worked with the Kansas City Ballet and Opera (Kansas City, MO) and the Theatrical Wardrobe Union Local 810. She moved to Austin, Texas, in 2013, where she was Wardrobe Supervisor at Zach Theatre for seven years. Costume Designs (Zach Theatre, Austin TX) include: (Every Brilliant Thing, Somebody Loves You Mr. Hatch, Notes from the Field, Goodnight Moon, Elephant and Piggie, Winnie the Pooh, and Frog and Toad). She is excited to be part of the ACC Drama Department and would like to thank everyone for their hard work and suppor

Deya Macias

A recent ACC graduate with a Certificate in Costume Technology, Deya’s primary job is costume construction and alterations. They love helping realise the designer’s vision, as well as working backstage with wardrobe crew to ensure a successful run. They’ve worked in most ACC productions in the costume and wardrobe department since 2016, and even helped ASM for ScriptWorks shows outside of ACC since 2022. One of Deya’s favourite villains is Debbie Jellinksy from The Addams Family Values… Or Dr. Octopus & Venom from Spider-Man :)

Channing Schreyer

Channing Schreyer is a faculty and staff member at Austin Community College and is grateful to be a member of both the Dance and Drama departments. Channing received their BA in Production Design and Studio Art from Pepperdine University.

Jamie Rogers

Jamie Rogers holds an MFA in Arts Administration from Texas Tech University, and an MFA in Acting from The Actors Studio Drama School. He has worked as an actor and director in New York City, Los Angeles, and the Chicagoland area. As an administrator, his primary areas of focus have been in production management, fundraising, grant writing, and marketing. Jamie is an Associate Professor in the Drama Department.