Fight Captain, Marketing Director, Costume Coordinator, Dara Jade Tiller
Sound Designer, Matt w/2 t's
Lighting Designer, Rianne Lindsey
Assistant Director & Prop Painting, August Carter
Board Operator, E Forney
Rehearsal Assistant, Phoenix Gilmore
Fight Choreography contributions: Shannon Donovan, Tonya Lynn, Callee Miles, José Pérez IV. With primary assistance from Rachel Smith, Gina Stevensen, Dara Jade Tiller, and Andy Hickly. Additional assistance and contributions from the PPT 2023 Ensemble and the cast of this production.
Sound Designer, Matt w/2 t's
Lighting Designer, Rianne Lindsey
Assistant Director & Prop Painting, August Carter
Board Operator, E Forney
Rehearsal Assistant, Phoenix Gilmore
Fight Choreography contributions: Shannon Donovan, Tonya Lynn, Callee Miles, José Pérez IV. With primary assistance from Rachel Smith, Gina Stevensen, Dara Jade Tiller, and Andy Hickly. Additional assistance and contributions from the PPT 2023 Ensemble and the cast of this production.
Funding for To Battle: a fight play was provided by The Exposure Artist Program of The Pittsburgh Foundation.
Major Donors
Ellie Durham-Britton & Matt Britton-Durham
5801 Video Lounge & Café
Square Cafe
Title 9 PGH
Allies for Health + Wellbeing
Ellie Durham-Britton & Matt Britton-Durham
5801 Video Lounge & Café
Square Cafe
Title 9 PGH
Allies for Health + Wellbeing
The Cast, in order of appearance
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JOSÉ PÉREZ IV (Jo) [Sponsored by 5801 Video Lounge & Café] is the Artistic Director of Big Storm and the Resident Fight & Intimacy Director of Pittsburgh Public Theater. Recent fight/intimacy credits at Pittsburgh Public (Twelfth Night, The Hobbit, The Coffin Maker), City Theater (POTUS), Quantum Theatre (Seagull, A Moon for the Misbegotten), Actors Theatre of Louisville (Dracula: a feminist revenge fantasy, really), Cleveland Play House (Mary Shelley's Frankenstein). Recent acting credits: Billy/John in Birthday Candles (City Theatre), Bombur/Elven Queen in The Hobbit (Pittsburgh Public Theater), Kyle in Himbos (New Hazlett). MFA Performance Pedagogy University of Pittsburgh, BFA Drama NYU.
JosePerezIV.com | Instagram @jose.perez.iv |
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TONYA LYNN (Squall) is a Teaching Artist-in-Residence at the University of Pittsburgh, an adjunct instructor at Carnegie Mellon and Point Park University, and also works professionally as a fight and intimacy director. Professional credits include Pittsburgh Opera (Il Trovatore, Pagliacci, Tosca), the world premiere of Storming Heaven with West Virginia Public Theatre, and the original work Sword Play at Colonial Williamsburg. Tonya is recognized as Fight Director and Certified Teacher by the Society of American Fight Directors, and currently serves on their governing body as Fight Director Representative. Tonya teaches weekly stage combat classes open to all levels of experience, visit www.eclecticmayhem.com for details.
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ANDY HICKLY (Nat) is a Pittsburgh based actor, stage combatant, playwright, and director. His previous onstage credits include Il Trovatore (Fighting Supernumerary), A Christmas Carol (Jacob Marley), Romeo & Juliet (Mercutio), and The Tempest (Caliban). His previous directing credits include Sleeping Beauty, A Matter of Husbands, The Gondoliers, Honk!, and The Wounded Do Not Cry. As always, Andy would like to thank his wife Kelsey, friends, family, and God, through whom all things are possible.
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RACHEL SMITH (Jess) is a teaching artist who has been working with Pittsburgh youth for over a decade. When she’s not teaching, directing, or wrangling kids and teens, she enjoys finding opportunities to be a student and performer. Her love of stage combat is due in large part to the wonderful and welcoming fight community she’s discovered here in Pittsburgh. (Shout out to Tonya Lynn!) She’d like to thank her biggest supporters, Andy and Danica, who not only bring her joy but make pursuing her passions possible.
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DARRIN MOSLEY JR (Pat/Librarian) is a MFA graduate in Theatre Arts (2025) of the University of Louisville and BA graduate from Slippery Rock University in Dance (2017). As a performer his work spans both dance and theatre, performing with Attack Theatre, Steel City Shakespeare, and more. Darrin is happy to be back in Pittsburgh even if it’s just a short stay to battle it out onstage.
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MASON DOWD (Randy/Librarian) is from Pittsburgh and is very excited to be back! He has been seen performing with various regional theatres such as Lincoln Park Performing Arts Center, Pittsburgh Opera, West Virginia Public Theatre, City Theatre Company, PICT Classic Theatre, and The New Hazlett Theatre. He holds his BFA in Acting from Point Park University and is an Advanced Actor Combatant with The Society of American Fight Directors. He is currently working on his MFA in Acting at The University of Houston/The Alley Theatre.
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RYAN M. RATTLEY (Blitz) has no formal acting training, but has benefitted from various acting workshops and the welcoming theater community here in Pittsburgh. He enjoyed a residency with the Pittsburgh Public Theater that saw him on their main stage as the understudy for John Nevins in Trouble In Mind.
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DARA JADE TILLER (Ace/Conventioner) graduated from the University of Kentucky and was a member of the Actors Theatre of Louisville Professional Training Company. She was most recently seen in Dracula, A Feminist Revenge Fantasy at Actors Theatre of Louisville and To Battle:a fight play by José Pérez IV with Louisville Hivemind Artist Collective. Some of her favorite roles have been Mina in Dracula, Titus in Titus Andronicus, and Babe in Crimes of the Heart. She played Jamie Bell's wife in the award-winning film, Donnybrook, starred in Midway to Love on The Hallmark Channel, and has numerous commercial credits. Dara is an on-camera acting coach and theatre educator. Instagram @darajadetiller
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CAROLYN JERZ (Shooter/Conventioner) is thrilled to return to Big Storm after portraying Marigold in Very Berry Dead! CJ has understudied & performed as Margot Wendice in Pittsburgh Public Theatre’s Dial ‘M’ For Murder, and appeared with PICT, Kinetic, Front Porch, Pittsburgh Musical Theatre, & others. There’s no way she’d rather spend her last month before moving to London (to get an MFA in Musical Theatre from LAMDA) than swinging a sword and getting thrown about!
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JALINA McCLARIN (Conventioner) is a multidisciplinary artist who can’t seem to dial in her capacity or interests, and she’s thrilled to be brawling with Big Storm for the first time! You can catch Jalina: acting, devising, directing, dancing, drawing, wrestling her pals, falling in love, writing, climbing, biking, backpacking, doing improv, thrifting, and crying at the D&D table. None of us are free until all of us are free.
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JOANNA GETTING (Conventioner) is thrilled To Battle in her first José Pérez IV adventure and eighth Shannon Knapp-directed masterpiece. A Pittsburgh native, Pitt alum, and Shakespeare fanatic, Joanna will next play Macduff in Pittsburgh Shakespeare in the Parks’ Macbeth this fall.
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JUSTIN MOHR (Conventioner) is very grateful for this opportunity. Justin is a graduate from the University of Pittsburgh and has appeared in many regional productions, including Noises Off, Fox on the Fairway, Leading Ladies, and some original works in New York City. Special thanks to Jose for this opportunity and family and friends for their ongoing support.
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AUGUST CARTER (Conventioner) is thrilled to be making their Big Storm debut! They'd like to thank their castmates, Shannon, and José for believing in them, their PPU family, and their parents for being so supportive of a career that leads them to do things like this. Past roles include Veronica Sawyer (Heathers), Cinderella (Rodgers and Hammerstein's Cinderella) and Judas (Jesus Christ Superstar). Past fight direction includes One Night Ultimate Werewolf dir. Mando Gonzalvez and Beauty and the Beast Jr. dir. Jenn Lybarger. Enjoy the show! LOOK AT MY SPREADSHEETS!
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ANNE REMATT (Conventioner) is delighted to be back with Big Storm. They have previously been seen in roles such as Borachio in Much Ado with Ohio Shakespeare Festival and Lee Goldman in Prime Stage Theater’s world premiere of Perseverance. She has worked with Brawling Bard Theatre, Vigilance Theater Company, Pittsburgh Shakespeare in the Parks, Pittsburgh Classic Players, and many more. Anne is also an Intimacy and Fight Choreographer for various companies throughout the Pittsburgh region. Internationally, they have had the opportunity to perform in both Italy and Scotland.
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KALEE GEORGE (Conventioner) is a local theatre artist with a BFA in Theatre Performance from Niagara University. You can catch her has Banquo/Malcolm in Pittsburgh Shakespeare in the Parks this fall or see her costume design in Heritage Players' Little Shop of Horrors, just in time for Halloween. Learn more at Kaleegeorge.com
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MIKE McBURNEY (Conventioner) is thrilled to be part of this production, and especially in finding an increasing interest in stage combat. He has worked locally with Throughline Theatre, Vigilance Theater, Bricolage, and just finished his tenure as a member of Pittsburgh Public Theater's inaugural Core Company. He also performs regularly at Arcade Comedy Theater as a member of Penny Arcade and Co-Workers. Many thanks to José, Dara, Shannon, and all involved in the show, as well as friends and family for their support.
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Production Team
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SHANNON KNAPP (Director) is a director, producer, and sound designer in Pittsburgh and thrilled to be working on this production. Selected directing credits: Himbos (New Hazlett), The Ravages of Now and Milo de Venus (Non-State Actors), A Streetcar Named Desire (Pittsburgh Classic Players), Andre and Ubu Roi (Throughline Theatre), Iphigenia & Other Daughters and Crave (Alarum Theatre), Waking Dream (Between Us Productions). Assistant Directing: Ciara (Quantum Theatre), The Grand Duke (Pittsburgh Savoyards). She has also sound designed for theaters like Off the WALL Productions, Throughline, 12 Peers, Aftershock, South Park, Ghostlight, and folkLAB. Follow her on Instagram for spicy takes and photos of her cats @knapp_sack
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RIANNE LINDSEY (Lighting Designer) is a local freelance lighting designer and educator. Select credits include: Uncle Vanya (2023) with Throughline Theater Company; Ego (2025), One-Log Bridge (2023), and Himbos (2023) with The New Hazlett Theater; Lost on a Loom (2024) with Kelly Strayhorn Theater; and Quantum Theatre’s 2024 Q-Ball. Rianne holds a BFA in Theatre Production: Design from Point Park University | www.riannelindsey.com
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Matt w/2 t's (Sound Designer) is a theatre artist, singer-songwriter, trivia host and bartender. Selected credits: Living News Festival 2025, Throughline Theatre Company (sound design); Full Day Suspension, Suspension Theatrical Arts (playwright); New Play Who Dis?, Non-State Actors (festival organizer, playwright); Queer, folkLAB (deviser, performer); The Rocky Horror Show, Split Stage (Riff Raff); In the Next Room, or The Vibrator Play, Throughline Theatre Company (composer, sound design). Their idols include Shannon Knapp and Luigi Mangione.
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E. FORNEY (Board Operator) They have frequently collaborated with Big Storm in various support roles: Stage Manager (Or Forever Hold Your Peace), Audience Guide (Quest; Portals on Penn), Narrator/Stage Directions (a read through of Very Berry Dead), Tech Operator (Say That to My Face; Dance Show: A Dance Show). Outside of theatre they tuft rugs, run puzzle hunts, and do local activism. You can learn more about them at eforney.weebly.com.
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Special Thanks
Pittsburgh Public Theater and their Resident Artist program, for generously providing rehearsal space and development support. This production would not have been possible without PPT. The University of Pittsburgh's Department of Theatre Arts for incredible logistical support and hosting Big Storm for two years in a row (previously: Very Berry Dead in the Henry Heymann Theater, July 2024). Script Editor, Taylor Couch. Tonya Lynn for donating extra stage weapons for fighting and epic set dressing. Andrew Watts for lighting assistance. Sewickley Academy. Attack Theatre. Harold's Haunt.
Pittsburgh Public Theater and their Resident Artist program, for generously providing rehearsal space and development support. This production would not have been possible without PPT. The University of Pittsburgh's Department of Theatre Arts for incredible logistical support and hosting Big Storm for two years in a row (previously: Very Berry Dead in the Henry Heymann Theater, July 2024). Script Editor, Taylor Couch. Tonya Lynn for donating extra stage weapons for fighting and epic set dressing. Andrew Watts for lighting assistance. Sewickley Academy. Attack Theatre. Harold's Haunt.
Recommended age 10+ for mild language, discussions around death, mild violence
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The only public & weekly stage combat certification classes in Pittsburgh! Every Monday night, all experience levels.
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The first reading of To Battle was hosted by Alpha Psi Omega National Theatre Honors Society at Saginaw Valley State University, June 2023.
The first workshop performance was hosted and supported by Pittsburgh Public Theater's Resident Artist Program, Director and Fight Director José Pérez IV, July 2023
World Premiere, Directed by Jess De La Rosa, Fight Director José Pérez IV, Louisville Hivemind Artist Collective, April 2024
First university production, St. Mary's College of Maryland, Director & Fight Director Dr. Diego Villada, November 2024
The first workshop performance was hosted and supported by Pittsburgh Public Theater's Resident Artist Program, Director and Fight Director José Pérez IV, July 2023
World Premiere, Directed by Jess De La Rosa, Fight Director José Pérez IV, Louisville Hivemind Artist Collective, April 2024
First university production, St. Mary's College of Maryland, Director & Fight Director Dr. Diego Villada, November 2024