DIGGING UP DESSA
Annual Theatre for Intergenerational Audiences Production
By Laura Schellhardt
Directed by Jonathan Kitt
A play about a 12-year old girl named Dessa who, after the death of her father, moves to a new town and school. Struggling with grief and anger, she finds solace and inspiration in the ghost of 19th-century paleontologist Mary Anning. Dessa fights for Anning’s legacy while also confronting her own challenges.
November 6-8, 2025
Semel theater
Our 10am performances on November 6th and 7th will be student matinees. Please reach out to emersonstage@emerson.edu if you are hoping to make a school booking.
Performances Nov. 7-8 open to the public.
Produced by special arrangement with THE DRAMATIC PUBLISHING COMPANY of Woodstock, Illinois
Run Time: 1 hour 10 minutes, no intermission
Content Advisory: Grief and loss, themes of trauma, a simulated panic attack.
DIGGING UP DESSA
Creative Team
Scenic Design
Elodie Lambert
Costume Design
Evelyn Walyus
Lighting Design
Grace Elphinstone
Sound Design
Skylar D’Amore
Props Lead
MJ Fox
STAGE MANAGER
Kylah Nee
PRODUCTION SUPERVISOR
Jenna Thomas
DRAMATURG
Xandria Bao
A note from the
Director, Jonathan Kitt
My inspiration to direct Digging Up Dessa comes from its powerful centering of women in science,
especially those whose contributions have been ignored or erased by history. The play follows young
Dessa, an aspiring scientist, who discovers that Mary Anning, a real-life 19th-century paleontologist, has
been left out of the historical narrative simply because she was a woman. As a director, this speaks
deeply to me. I think of pioneering Black women in science like Katherine Johnson, Alice Ball and Valerie
Thomas, whose groundbreaking work was similarly overlooked due to both their race and gender. This
play offers a vital opportunity to honor those who came before and to inspire future generations to
continue the pursuit of truth and representation.
Beyond its historical and scientific themes, Digging Up Dessa is also a poignant story about grief,
friendship, and the complexities of family dynamics. It captures the emotional journey of a young girl
navigating personal loss while finding her voice and power through discovery and connection. These
layered themes make the play resonate across ages, making it an ideal piece for intergenerational
audiences. It’s a story that invites both reflection and dialogue about who gets remembered, whose
stories matter, and how we can make space for voices that have too long been silenced.
A note from the
Dramaturg, Xandria Bao
“Women do not need men to save them.”
Who hasn’t tried and often tripped over the tongue twister, “She sells seashells by the
seashore”? Few realize that this playful phrase conceals the extraordinary story of Mary Anning,
a pioneering paleontologist from the early 19th century. Born into poverty in Lyme Regis, Mary
Anning defied the limits of class, gender, and convention to unearth the first complete
Ichthyosaur and Plesiosaur skeletons, forever transforming our understanding of Earth’s deep
history. Yet, during her lifetime, she received little credit for her discoveries as her fossils were
sold to men who claimed her work as their own. Her name was largely erased, her brilliance
buried beneath the weight of patriarchy and privilege.
In Laura Schellhardt’s Digging Up Dessa, Mary Anning’s spirit resurfaces to guide Dessa, a
bright, curious young scientist grappling with the loss of her father and the turbulence of growing
up. When a wall at the science museum reveals that Anning’s legacy has been forgotten, Dessa
decides to set things right. With help from her once-rival, Nilo, she embarks on a mission to
unearth both Mary’s story and her own voice. Together they discover that the past and present
are layered with the same struggles for recognition, truth, and self-definition.
Digging Up Dessa is more than a story about fossils; it is about what we choose to remember and
what we are brave enough to rename. It celebrates girls who question, who imagine, who dare to
step into fields once closed to them — girls in STEM, girls who speak up, girls who dig deep. It
reminds us that reclaiming “her-story” is an act of power, that to name is to honor, and that every
discovery, whether of bones, memory, or identity, is a strike against the silence of history.
And for all the young people watching — little girls and little boys — this play is an invitation to
wonder. It asks you to stay curious, to dig beneath the surface, and to see how much courage it
takes to uncover truth. Whether you dream of being a scientist, an artist, a sound designer, a
storyteller, or something entirely your own, may Digging Up Dessa remind you that discovery
begins with imagination, and that your voice, too, deserves to be heard.
CAST
Dessa — NATALIE KECKLER
Esther — GRACE OSIER
Mary Anning — AMALIA GOSHTIGIAN
Nilo — NICOLAS CARMENATE
UNDERSTUDIES
U/S Dessa — MADELINE NILES
U/S Esther — ALEXANDRA AZAN
U/S Mary Anning — JESSICA KNOWLES
U/S Nilo — MAX NAIDL
Meet the
Artistic and Production Staff
Assistant Director — MAGGIE STEWART
Observing Director — ALYSSA VERA RAMOS
Technical Directors — KRISTIN KNUTSON, OSCAR MCQUILKIN
Assistant Scenic Designer — MACK MACINTYRE
Scenic Artist — KRISTEN LEE
Assistant Props Lead — VERRINE FARAG
Assistant Costume Designer — RYLAN SUMMERS
Costume Production — IZZY BACALLAO, GEORGIE TEN EYCK
Assistant Lighting Designer — LILY HOURIN
Production Electrician — STEL STEIN
Lead Electrician — MAYA SHOKRIAN
Production Sound Engineer — IRENE WANG
Assistant Sound Designer — NOAH STRUNIN
Assistant Stage Manager — SHAE MUCHLER
2nd Assistant Stage Manager — MEL LAUREN
Production Assistant — PATRICK BRUDERLE
Associate Production Supervisor — AMIT KESHET
Associate Production Supervisor — BENJAMIN BROWDER
Company Manager — RYAN TSE
Education Team — LAUREN MENNEN, AUDREY MOLINA, EMILY MCDOUGAL, KENNEDY VANCLEVE, MIA VILLENEUVE, MAKENZIY MCCLURE
Run Crew — SHAYA BEN-DAVID, JACKSON BERRY, STELLA BYRNE, MIA COSTELLO, EMILY DEICH, MCKAYLA DO, SOMERS EBERLY, SOFIA NOVAES FERREIRA, KENDALL PELLEGRINO, MOIRA POEPPERLING, SYDNEY SCRIPPS, JERIN YOO, MADELEINE YORK, RUONING YU, CHLOE GAILLARD, BENJAMIN GMYREK, JUSTYCE EASTER-BUTCHER
Cast Bios
NATALIE KECKLER (she/her) — Dessa
BFA ’26 Theatre and Performance. Emerson Stage credits: The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane (Track 3 & 10 u/s). NewFest Short Works: “PAYPHONE” (Woman #3). Emerson College credits: BlueJay’s SL**: The Play (Joey Del Marco) and BlueJay’s Dog Sees God (Van’s Sister); Rareworks’ Stains (Miriam) MTAG’s The Guy Who Didn’t Like Musicals (Choreographer); Kidding Around’s Tuck Everlasting (Assistant Choreographer); Swomo Comedy Troupe (President). Upcoming: MTS’ Sweeney Todd (Choreographer) and The Mad Ones (Choreographer). Thank you to her friends and family for all their love and support. Enjoy the show!
GRACE OSIER (she/her) — Esther
BFA ’26 Musical Theatre. Emerson Stage credits: Head Over Heels (Ensemble & Pamela U/S), Natasha, Pierre, & the Great Comet of 1812 (Ensemble & U/S Sonya), POTUS (Harriet U/S), Bonnets: How Ladies of Good Breeding Are Induced to Murder (Claire/Mistress Stone U/S). Emerson College credits: Mercutio Troupe’s My Dearest Apologies (Kate), Kidding Around’s Honk! (Ida), Musical Theatre Against The Grain’s Hot Dam! (Gayorg), Emerson Dance Company. Upcoming: Musical Theatre Society’s The Mad Ones (Bev). Thank you to this wonderful team, my awesome parents, the best sister ever, Hannah, & my amazing girlfriend Juliet! @graceosier
AMALIA GOSHTIGIAN (she/her) — Mary Anning
BFA ’28 Musical Theatre. Emerson Stage credits: Head Over Heels (Assistant Music Director). Emerson College credits: Mercutio Troupe’s The Sea Ends at Troy (Helen). Amalia would like to congratulate the cast, crew, and creative team for putting on a wonderful show. She would also like to thank her mother and father for all their support. A special thanks to her mother, the first scientist she ever knew. Instagram and TikTok: @Amalia.Goshtigian
NICOLAS CARMENATE (he/him) — Milo
BFA ’28 Theatre & Performance. Emerson Stage credits: Head Over Heels (Deck Crew). Emerson College Credits: Mercutio Troupe’s My Dearest Apologies (Johnathan) and The Effect (Male Swing), Rareworks Theatre Company’s The Ball Game (Rodney), and independently produced The Two Gentlemen of Verona (Valentine). Thanks to my mothers for their unwavering support and pushing me to be the best version of myself I can be. @Nick.Carmenate and nicolascarmenate@gmail.com
MADELINE NILES (she/her) — U/S Dessa
BFA ’28 Theatre and Performance. Emerson Stage debut! Emerson College credits: Emerson FreshFest 2024’s Cabin Fever (Jenni) and Katie and Amara (Katie). Other credits: Colgan High School’s The Little Mermaid (Ariel), The Play That Goes Wrong (Chris), and PUFFS (Hannah/Xavia/First Headmaster). She would like to thank her parents for all their support and the cast and crew for making this such a wonderful experience.
ALEXANDRA AZAN (she/her) — U/S Esther
BFA ’27 Theatre and Performance. Emerson Stage credits: NewFest Short Works: “Hear Me Out” (Partner B). Emerson College credits: Kidding Around’s Tuck Everlasting (Ensemble), BlueJay Theater Collective’s SL**: The Play (Natalie). Thank you so much to the Dessa team! Te quiero mucho familia! @alexaleidaa!
JESSICA KNOWLES (she/her) — U/S Mary Anning
BFA ‘27 Acting. Emerson Stage debut! Emerson College credits: MTS Emerson’s Chicago (Merry Murderess, Ensemble), EmShakes’ My Dearest Apologies (Lauren) and No Exit (Estelle). Thanks to my loved ones who I can’t function without, and thanks to the cast, crew, and everyone involved in this very special production! @JessicaKnowlessss
MAX NAIDL (he/him) — U/S Nilo
BFA ‘27 Theatre and Performance. Emerson Stage credits: Head Over Heels (Ensemble/Dametus U/S). Emerson College credits: Musical Theater Society’s High School Musical (Ryan Evans), Kidding Around’s Alice by Heart (Doremouse), Musical Theater Society’s Dogfight (Fector), Musical Theater Society’s 13: The Musical (Malcolm). Other Credits: Fort Peck Summer Playhouse’s Newsies (Romeo). Thank you to my family for the constant support. Follow the TikTok: MaxTaps 😉
Creative Team Bios
JONATHAN KITT — Director
Emerson Stage Director debut! Directing credits: Late Bus To Mecca, Yellowman, for colored girls…, 4.48 Psychosis, In Real Life, Songs For A, New World, Gee’s Bend, School Girls…, Holly Down In Heaven, Gem of the Ocean, In The Continuum. Acting credits: Off Broadway: Boy x Man (Negro Ensemble Company). Off-Off Broadway: Becoming Something: Canada Lee (The Kraine Theater), Blues For an Alabama Sky (NYU Gallatin School), The Mighty Gents (African American Showcase Theatre). Regional: August Wilson’s The Piano Lesson, (Actor’s Shakespeare Project and Shakespeare and Company), Toni Stone (Huntington Theatre); Knives In Hens (The Vineyard Playhouse); North Folk and Ends (New Jersey Repertory Company); Servant of the People and Julius Caesar (Jomandi Productions). Film: Unexpected (Student Teacher LLC). TV: Crisis (NBC); Chicago Fire (NBC). Education: MFA (The Theatre School at DePaul University). He is an Assistant Professor of Scene Study/Acting at Emerson College. jonathankitt.com
ELODIE LAMBERT (she/her) — Scenic Designer
BFA ‘27 Theater Design/Technology. Emerson Stage Credit: Head Over Heels (Asst. Technical Director), Amour (Asst. Scenic Designer). Emerson College credit: Rareworks’ Stains (Co-Scenic Designer). Thanks to all the other designers for their hard work!
EVELYN WALYUS (she/her) — Costume Designer
BFA ‘27 Design and Technology. Emerson Stage credits: Imogen Says Nothing (Assistant Costume Designer), Red Wolf (Wardrobe Supervisor), Amour (Assistant Wardrobe Supervisor), A Doll’s House (Assistant Wardrobe Supervisor). Emerson College credits: MTAG’s Daddy Long Legs (Ccostume Designer) and The Guy Who Didn’t Like Musicals (Costume Designer), Mercutio Troupe’s The Effect (Co-Costume Designer) and My Dearest Apologies (Assistant Costume Designer). Thank you to my family and my roommates for all of the support! @evelynwalyus
GRACE ELPHINSTONE (she/her) — Lighting Designer
BFA ’26 Theatre Design & Technology. Emerson Stage credits: Amour (Lighting Designer), Red Wolf (Production Electrician), BONNETS: How Ladies of Good Breeding Are Induced to Murder (Assistant Lighting Designer), Natasha, Pierre, & the Great Comet of 1812 (Assistant Lead Electrician), Little Women (Dramaturg). Emerson College credits: Kidding Around’s Dear Morgan Le Fay (Lighting Designer), Mercutio Troupe’s Room 333 (Lighting Designer). Regional credits: Baby and Sunday in the Park with George (Costume Intern) at Pittsburgh’s Front Porch Theatricals. Thank you so much to my friends, family, Kirby, and Francis for their endless love and support!
SKYLAR D’AMORE (she/her) — Sound Designer
BFA ’27 Theater Design and Technology. Emerson Stage credits: The Impracticality of Modern Day Mastodons (Asst. Production Sound Engineer), Natasha, Pierre, & the Great Comet of 1812 (Asst. PSE), POTUS (PSE), The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane (Asst. PSE), I Love XXX (Asst. Sound Designer), and Head Over Heels (Asst. PSE/A2). Emerson College credits: Rareworks Theatre Company’s Stains (Sound Designer), Musical Theatre Society’s Sunday in the Park with George (Sound Designer), Musical Theatre Against the Grain’s Hair (Asst. Sound Designer), Mercurio Troupe’s The Effect (Asst. Sound Designer), and EmShake’s No Exit (Sound Designer).
MJ FOX — Props Lead
BFA ‘26 Theatre Design and Technology. Emerson Stage credits: Amour (Scenic Designer), Second Star To The Right (Asst. Technical Director), Bat Boy (Asst. Props), Little Women (Asst. Scenic Designer), The Loyals ( Asst. Props/Scenic Designer).
KYLAH NEE (she/her) — Stage Manager
BFA ’26 Stage and Production Management. Emerson Stage credits: Mary Sweet Mary (PA), How We Got On (2nd ASM), Head Over Heels (1st ASM). Emerson College credits: Mercutio Troupe’s Our Dear Dead Drug Lord. Outside Credits: Boston Ballet Summer Season 2025 (PA), The American Ballet Theatre Summer Season 2025 (PA). Thank you to my family for encouraging me to dream and helping me live them. Mahal Kita.
JENNA THOMAS (she/her) — Production Supervisor
BFA ’26 Stage and Production Management. Emerson Stage credits: Natasha, Pierre, & the Great Comet of 1812 (2nd Assistant Stage Manager), The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane (1st Assistant Stage Manager). Emerson College credits: Musical Theatre Against the Grain’s Tanner Maverick’s Book of Sound (Stage Manager), Kidding Around’s Tuck Everlasting (Stage Manager). Other credits: Prague Shakespeare Company’s Summer Shakespeare Intensive 2024 Measure for Measure (Stage Manager) and The Comedy of Errors (Stage Manager) Thanks to Eric, Angela, and Katie for all their incredible work this year. Thank you to my amazing pSupe team, Amit and Ben. You are rockstars! Find me and my website at @jennaskindafunny on Instagram.
XANDRIA BAO –– Dramaturg
BFA ’27 Theatre & Performance. Emerson Stage credit: I Love XXX (Ensemble). Emerson College credits: Assemblywomen and the Farce of Democracy (Elsa). Regional credits: Hairspray (Prudy), Time and The Conways (Joan Helford/Scenic Designer), Jack Studio Theatre’s Butterflies (Langhua’er), Peckham Fringe Festival’s Miracle (Alisa). To every young woman out there, we can do anything we put our minds to, don’t let anyone tell you otherwise. @xandria_wawa
Meet the
Emerson Stage Staff
Staff
Director of Theatre Operations — Eric Paris
Production Manager — Angela Harrington
Artistic & Production Associate — Katie Meade
Technical Director — Kristin Knutson
Head Carpenter — Connor Thompson
Properties Director — Ryan Bates
Assistant Properties Manager — Lauren Corcuera
Costume Shop Supervisor — Richelle Devereaux-Murray
Draper/Cutter — Erika Krause
Electrics Supervisor — Timothy Fairley
Mentors & Advisors FOR THIS PRODUCTION
Stage and Production Management Advisor — Debra A. Acquavella
Scenic Area Advisor –– Luciana Stecconi
Scenic Design & Props Mentor — Ryan Bates
Costume Area Advisor –– Tristan Raines
Costume Design Mentor — Chloe Moore
Lighting Area Advisor –– Jason Lyons
Lighting Design Mentor — Jessica Elliott
Electrics Mentor — Timothy Fairley
Sound Design Mentor — Aubrey Dube
Education Team Instructor — Lily Odekirk
Student Staff
Emerson Stage Office Assistants:
Emery Frost, JJ Moore, Liliana Ravins, Alyssa Schlaifer, Joanna Su, Elizabeth Tippens
Production Management Assistants:
Mariana Morales, Oliver Worner
Scenic Technicians:
Lúa Azancot Garcia, Verrine Farag, Ari Flaherty, Kieran Graeff, Callie Herzog, Lizzie Lamb, Aiden Lank, Mack MacIntyre, Oscar McQuilkin, Zoe Mills
Volunteer Scenic Technicians:
Samuel Greenstein, Ernest Shao
Scenic Painters:
Rayan Afif, Gabriella Berry, Nel Blinman, Sophia Da Silva, Lily Hourin, Elodie Lambert, Kiana McCully, Leo Servetar, Maggie Stewart, Charlize Tabrizi
Prop Shop Assistants:
Eri Lackey, Bee LaClair, Alexa Lunney, Georgie Ten Eyck, Sydney Williams
Costume Shop Office Assistant:
Ila Nabi
Stitchers:
Anna Ten Eyck, Zee Cowan, Amanda Jacobson, Nina Turovskiy, Alexa Peterson-Ismail, Heidi Keithahn, Sidra Sundberg, Morgan Burke, Chiron Speidel, Evelyn Walyus, Parker Fedak, Jaidyn Wein
Crafts:
Madeline Henry, Georgianne Ten Eyck
Stock Attendants:
Sophia O’Quest, Maria-Renee Herman
* Denotes staff external to the college