THREE SISTERS

Creative Team Bios

CRAIG MATHERS (he/him) — Director
Craig Mathers is an Emeritus Professor of Performing Arts at Emerson where he served as the head of the BFA Acting Studio for a decade and currently teaches Chekhov and Stanislavsky based approaches. He is on the faculty of the Michael Chekhov School in Hudson, NY and the Michael Chekhov Association (MICHA), where he serves on its board of directors and as its President. He has taught Michael Chekhov workshops for Real Escuela Superior de Arte Dramatico (RESAD) and Estudio Vertigo, both in Madrid, the Warsaw Academy of Drama; Gdansk University; the Interior Theater of St. Petersburg, Russia; Teatro Argos in Havana, Cuba; Teatro Alumbra in Lima, Peru; Escuela Nacional de Arte Teatral in Mexico City; and for Michael Chekhov Europe in Groznjan, Croatia. He is a designated Linklater teacher and a member of Actors Equity and SAG/AFTRA. 

LILY HOURIN — Scenic and Lighting Designer
BFA ’27 Theatre Design & Production. Emerson Stage credits: Sweet Charity (Scenic Paint Charge), Digging Up Dessa (Assistant Lighting Designer), Head Over Heels (Assistant Lead Electrician). Emerson College Theater credits: BlueWorks’ The Omniscient Bus (Lighting Designer). Other credits: Boston Lyric Opera’s William Tell (Scenic Painter); Huntington Theater’s Purpose (Scenic Painter). When Summer Ends BFA Film (Theatrical Lighting Designer); Will Miracles Never Cease! Independent Production (Assistant Lighting Designer); Shenandoah Summer Music Theater 2025 season (Electrician); The 45th Annual EVVY Awards (Associate Lighting Designer), The 44th Annual EVVY Awards (Associate Lighting Designer). Lily loves you very much.

ZEE COWAN (they/he) — Costume Designer
BFA Winter ’26 Theatre Design & Technology. Emerson Stage credits: Little Women (Dresser), 16 Winters, or A Bear’s Tale (Assistant Wardrobe Supervisor), Imogen Says Nothing (Wardrobe Supervisor), I Love XXX (Assistant Costume Designer), Confederates (First Hand), Spelling Bee (Draper), When Death Crashes a Dinner Party (Assistant Sound Designer), Sweet Charity (A2/Draper), Barbecue (Production Sound). Emerson College credits: Nüwa In Fairyland (Draper), No Exit (Wardrobe Supervisor), and Macbeth (Wardrobe Supervisor) for emShakes; Five Times in One Night (Assistant Costume Designer) for Rare works Theatre Company. Other credits: My Fair Lady (Wardrobe Supervisor), Damn Yankees (Wardrobe Supervisor), The Boys From Syracuse (Wardrobe Supervisor), The Merry Widow (Wardrobe Supervisor), and The Yeomen of the Guard (Wardrobe Supervisor) for Ohio Light Opera.
zeecowan.com | @zahavaleah

ANDY PHILIPPON (he/him) — Sound Designer
BFA ’28 Theatrical Design & Production. Emerson Stage credits: 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee (Asst. Production Sound); Julius Caesar (Asst. Sound Designer); Chantecler: A Musical Fable (Production Sound, A1); Sweet Charity (Asst. Sound Designer); Starting Here, Starting Now (Production Sound). Other Emerson College credits: Macbeth (EmShakes, Asst. Sound Designer); Nuwa In Fairyland (EmShakes, Sound Designer); 45th Annual EVVY Awards (A2).

RYAN BATES — Properties Lead
Ryan Bates is the Props Director for Emerson Stage, and has worked as a props lead and scenic designer throughout New England, including productions at Merrimack Repertory Theatre, Wheelock Family Theatre, New Repertory Theatre, Bridge Repertory Theatre, The Umbrella, Gloucester Stage Company, InMotion Theatre, Longwood Players, Off the Grid, Fresh Ink, and many more. In addition to his work in the prop shop, Ryan mentors scenic design students on Emerson Stage productions, teaches Props Construction at Emerson and taught Production Design for four years at Boston University. MFA: Boston University. www.ryanbatesdesign.com

BENJAMIN BROWDER (he/they) — Stage Manager
BFA ’28 Stage & Production Management. Emerson Stage credits: When Death Crashes a Dinner Party (1st ASM); Digging Up Dessa (Assoc. Production Supervisor); Head Over Heels (PA); I Love XXX (Asst. Production Supervisor); Emerson Stage Production Management Assistant. Emerson College credits: EVVY46 (SM); EVVY45 (ASM); EVVY44 (ASM). Opera: Des Moines Metro Opera’s King Roger (SM Intern) and Of Mice and Men (Cover SM Intern). Dance: The Pioneer Center’s Dog Days of Summer Dance Festival 2023, 2024, 2025, and 2026 (SM); Emerson Dance Company presents Chaos (SM); Emerson Dance Company goes Undercover (SM). Forever thankful for my family, friends, mentors, inspirations, and Vee and Matti!

NATHAN HERNANDEZ (he/him) — Production Supervisor
BFA Fall ’26 Stage & Production Management. Emerson Stage credits: Starting Here, Starting Now (SM); The Great God Pan (SM); 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee (Assoc. pSupe); Limber: A Love Story (2nd ASM); POTUS (Assoc. pSupe); Bat Boy: The Musical (2nd ASM); Natasha, Pierre, and the Great Comet of 1812 (PA). Emerson College credits: The 45th Annual EVVY Awards (UPM), MTAG’s Alice by Heart (SM). Professional credits: Contemporary American Theater Festival’s Enough to Let the Light In (SM Intern); Happy Fall: A Queer Stunt Spectacular (PA); ¡VOS! (ASM). Thanks to Deb, Vee, Rue, the DLCs, and all of the other educators who got me here!

MARGARET CLARK (PRONOUNS) –– Fight and Intimacy Director
Actor’s Shakespeare Project: Seven Guitars, As You Like It. Speakeasy Stage: The Antiquities, The Prom, Heroes of the Fourth Turning. Lyric Stage: Sister Act. Moonbox: Sweeney Todd. Company One: Black Superhero Magic Mama. Fresh Ink: John Deserves to Die. Tufts: Dry Land, Spring Awakening, Twelfth Night. She is a certified actor combatant with the SAFD, having received recommended passes in seven weapons disciplines. Special thanks to Tyler and to Captain. Margaretclark.work

INDIRA PENSADO (PRONOUNS) — Vocal Coach
Indira Pensado is an accomplished performing artist, deviser, and voice specialist with over two decades of international experience. She currently serves as a full time Assistant Professor at Emerson College, where she also directs the Linklater & Performance Global Pathways summer program. Certified as a Designated Linklater Teacher (DLT) since 2012 and deeply rooted in the Roy Hart voice practice since 2001, her work focuses on the provocative stage and transmedia collaborations. Indira has performed with prominent directors and taught voice across Mexico, Sweden, Argentina, Singapore, Costa Rica, and the United States. Her acclaimed solo performance, Crastchep, has toured globally since 2008 and was the subject of a master’s thesis on Roy Hart voice work in Mexico. A two time recipient of the prestigious Mexican FONCA grant for Scenic Creators (2008 and 2016). As the founder of Médula Teatro, she continues innovating the contemporary scene in collaboration with actors around the world.