The Yellow Boat

Axle Kwiatkowski (Benjamin) (he/him) - This is Axle's third performance with Aquinas College following The Laramie Project, and Too Much Light Makes the Baby Go Blind. He is beyond grateful for this show to help tell the story of Benjamin Saar. He thanks his mother, who’s been a beacon of hope throughout Axle’s own health issues and bleeding disorder, as well as his brother and girlfriend who have given him support and love.

Delaney Pocevich (she/her) - Delaney is a third year student at Aquinas College and playing Mother in this show! Previously she has been in the Aquinas College Productions of Too Much Light Makes the Baby Go Blind (Ensemble), The Laramie Project (Barbara Pitts), Eurydice (Little Stone), Twelfth Night (Maria), and The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane (Man 2). She is very thankful to have been a part of this cast with this amazing crew! She thanks all her friends and family for their love and support throughout this process.

Drew Huegli (Father) (he/him) - Drew is very excited to be part of The Yellow Boat as Father and as the Assistant Director for the show. He is an alumni from Aquinas College and very excited to be back for this show. He has been a part of many shows at Aquinas such as, Eurydice (Orpheus), Twelfth Night (Feste), The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane (Musician/Edward), Waking Nightmare (Hippolytus), The Thanksgiving Play (Caden), Failure: A Love Story (Assistant Stage Manager), The Arkansaw Bear (Mime), and Too Much Light Makes the Baby Go Blind (Ensemble). Other shows include Mary Poppins (Bert), Bamboozled (Leandro), and Sense and Sensibility (Edward) at East Grand Rapids High School, and Girls Weekend (Bubba) at Circle Theatre. Drew is extremely grateful for the opportunity to be part of this show both as an actor and as the Assistant Director. Drew hopes you all love this show as much as he does. Drew acknowledges his own community that has helped him get to where he is today. Without those people he would be a very different person, and he is so grateful for all of the encouragement and support throughout the years. Drew thanks all of you for coming to the show and supporting the arts. Finally Drew dedicates this show to his best-friend Katherine Schneider-Thomas, who has been a constant guiding light and shoulder to lean on.

Lauren Espy (Eddy/Chorus #1) (she/her) - Lauren is a first year student, majoring in Vocal Jazz. She has done theatre for four years and works as the Theatre Program Assistant and is responsible for marketing and the program’s social media accounts. Lauren enjoys performing and feels very lucky to be a part of this wonderful cast and crew. She dedicates her performance to her family, boyfriend, and cat.

Reign Lawson (Joy/Chorus #2) (she/her) - Reign is a senior at Aquinas College. Reign is a double major in Exercise Science and Theatre. Previous roles include Scarlet in Clue, Florence Collymore in The Play That Goes Wrong, Abilene and Sarah Ruth in The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane, Viola In Twelfth Night, and, most recently, performed in The Laramie Project. When not on the stage, Reign is training in the gym, playing video games or hanging with her friends. Reign thanks her boyfriend and friends for the late night food runs and full support of her dreams, and the cast and crew for being so wonderful and always putting their best effort forward.

Ash Vanrooyen (Chorus #3) (they/them) - Ash is currently a first year student, majoring in music education. They have been doing theatre for a while and were in The Laramie Project earlier in the year. In their free time, Ash likes to sing, and they are in three choirs with an upcoming concert. Ash thanks all of their friends for being there to support them.

Cristiana Worthams (Chorus #4) (she/her) - Cristiana is excited to be part of The Yellow Boat. She is a junior at Aquinas, studying Developmental Psychology and Communication. Her most recent theatre credits include: These Shining Lives (2024) - Stage Manager, Next to Normal (2025) - Asst. Stage Manager, and Eurydice (2025) - Stage Manager, Ride the Cyclone (2025) – Constance, and Too Much Light Makes the Baby Go Blind (2026) - Stage Manager. She thanks her parents and friends for all of their support throughout the rehearsal process. Her favorite cheese is the havarti dill from Aldi!

Bud Thompson (Director) (he/him) - Bud is deeply honored to be back at Aquinas College, this time as a Guest Artist DIRECTOR. Last fall, he was a Guest Artist ACTOR in AQ's production of The Laramie Project. He has been doing theatre since the 9th grade, and in the Grand Rapids area since 1990. He has performed with GRCT, Circle, Actors', JTGR, Ebony Road and GVSU. His most recent directing accomplishment was Judgement at Nuremberg for JTGR. Bud is also an award-winning, published (through Dramatic Publishing) and internationally produced playwright and an award-winning composer/performer of acoustic folk/rock music. He fills his semi-retired days with running Theatrical Mementos, which has produced a majority of the show shirts in the GR area for the past 25 years. Thanks to you for coming to see the show, and to God, who got us all this far… again.

Penny Avery (Producer/Theatre Program Director) (she/her) - Penny joined the Aquinas College faculty in 1994 and currently serves as both the Communication Department Chairperson and the Theatre Program Director with a PhD in Communication from Michigan State University and a MA and BS from Central Michigan University in Secondary Education with certification in English and Speech/Theatre. She was a member of the facility planning team when the Performing Arts Center was designed and loves to see the space being utilized to share arts with diverse audiences through Aquinas College’s partnerships with Community Circle Theatre and the Grand Rapids Catholic Schools. In her early years at AQ, she taught Children’s Theatre (suitably renamed Theatre for Youth and Education) and directed several productions, including The Great Cross Country Race and Charlotte’s Web. She is happy to be celebrating her 32nd  year at AQ!

Kelsey Edwards (Scenic Designer/Technical Director) (she/her) - Kelsey is a graduate of Adrian College with a Bachelor’s Degree in Theatre. She has been involved in many productions throughout her theatre career. Kelsey is very excited to be working as the technical director for her fourth season at Aquinas College. She also has experience in scenic design, costume design, and properties design. Recently, Kelsey has worked on The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane (2024), Next to Normal (2025), Eurydice (2025), Ride the Cyclone, and The Laramie Project (2025), as technical director and scenic designer.

Jess Luiz (Costume Designer) (she/her) - Jess has been a member of the Grand Rapids theatre community for over a decade, participating as a costume designer, performer, props designer and audience member. She studied Theatre at Northern Michigan University. Jess also serves as a teaching artist, sharing her love of storytelling and design through theatre arts with kids and adults of all abilities throughout the West Michigan area. She is grateful to her husband Jason for his support and their two kids for providing laughter, play, new ideas, and all the hugs. 

Gabby Zeinstra (Props Designer) (she/they) - Gabby is an alumna of Aquinas College, holding a B.A. in Theatre with an emphasis on technical theatre. Gabby has been staying busy in the theatre scene with credits including Costume and Props design for The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane, props designs including Lizzie and most recently These Shining Lives, all at Aquinas College. Gabby has previously worked behind the scenes with Circle Theatre, Pigeon Creek Shakespeare Company, Ebony Road Players, and Civic Theatre. If she isn’t doing theatre things, you can find Gabby at home cuddling her cat, making delicious food, or slinging drinks as a barista. She thanks her loving partner Eli, family, and friends for supporting her in her art and all she does!

Kyle Los (Sound Designer) (he/him) Kyle Los is the Executive and Artistic Director of Actors’ Theatre Grand Rapids and is a multidisciplinary theatre artist working across Michigan as a Sound Designer, Composer, Scenic Designer, Director, and Actor. He has designed sound for over 60 productions, including, most recently, Continuity (Grand Rapids Community College), Dance Nation (Actors' Theatre Grand Rapids), Orion, Dracula: A Comedy of Terrors (GRCC), Hyenas, and Spain (ATGR). As an actor, he was most recently seen on stage as Frank in Witch with Actors’ Theatre. He was recognized as a part of the Grand Rapids “40 Under Forty” in 2014 and has received Grand Awards for his performances in Hair (Circle Theatre Grand Rapids), and Venus in Fur and Other Desert Cities (Actors’ Theatre).

Gabby Aguilar (Lighting Designer/Board Operator) (she/her) – This is Gabrielle’s senior year at Aquinas College. She is majoring in Theatre and minoring in Environmental Science. She’s previously worked as a spotlight operator for Aquinas Theatre’s Ride the Cyclone, Next to Normal, and Lizzie. In the summer, she works at the Saugatuck Center for the Arts as a spotlight operator, including their productions of Come From Away and Waitress.

Drew Huegli (Assistant Director) (he/him) - See cast bio

Zoebelle Bean (Stage Manager) (she/her) - Zoebelle is a fourth-year student at Aquinas College studying English Writing, and Communication with a Theatre Emphasis. Previously, she was involved with The Laramie Project as Assistant Stage Manager, and Too Much Light Makes the Baby Go Blind as Assistant Stage Manager and soundboard operator. She is thrilled to be Stage Manager for The Yellow Boat. This is Zoebelle’s third Aquinas production.

Michaela Faith (Assistant Director, Deck Crew, Costume Crew) (she/her) - Michaela is a junior at Aquinas College double majoring in Theatre and Business Administration with a minor in Legal Studies. She is overjoyed to be continuing her directing journey as an Assistant Director for The Yellow Boat. Previously, she co-directed Too Much Light Makes the Baby Go Blind at Aquinas College. Some acting credits include: Jane Doe in Ride the Cyclone, Ellie in Girls' Weekend at Circle Theatre, Eurydice in Eurydice, Ella in Camp Rock at Circle Theatre, and much more! She is also honored to be portraying Gretel Bergmann in Games at Jewish Theatre this summer. Michaela is so thankful to everyone in this show for their hard work, to her incredible boyfriend, CJ, and to her friends and family for continuing to support her. She thanks you for supporting live theatre and hopes you enjoy the show! (Pirate noise)

Jr Sanden (Assistant Stage Manager, Deck Crew) (he/him) - Jr is a fourth-year student at Aquinas College, studying Biology. Previously, he was involved in These Shining Lives, Ride the Cyclone as Assistant Stage Manager, and a light board operator for Too Much Light Makes the Baby Go Blind, as well as an Assistant Stage Manager. He is very excited to be an Assistant Stage Manager for The Yellow Boat, as this is his final show before he graduating.