Emma
by Kate Hamill
Based on the novel by Jane Austen
Directed by Tom Quaintance
October 22 -november 9, 2025
Emma Woodhouse is clever, educated, and energetic… and about to go mad with idleness. In a time when respectable ladies are expected to sit quietly at home, Emma desperately longs for projects—and prides herself on matchmaking, much to the chagrin of her friend Mr. Knightley. But where Emma’s considerable energies focus, screwball comedy follows! A fresh and funny new take on a treasured classic.
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Run Time: 2 hours and 25 minutes with one 15-minute intermission
Audience Recommendation: “Emma” is entertaining for the whole family, but best suited for ages 8+.
Content Advisory: The comedic banter is layered with flirtatious and romantic themes, along with a healthy dose of social satire. Dating misadventures may cause discomfort to those particularly sensitive to cringe.
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October 22-24 | Preview Performances
October 25 @ 7:30PM | Opening Night Performance
October 26 @ 2:00PM | Post Show Talkback
October 31 @ 7:30PM | Mischief and Masquerade- Halloween and Regency Costume Contest
November 1 @ 2:00PM | Audio Description & Open Captioning*
November 1 @ 7:30PM | ASL Performance*
November 2 @ 2:00PM | Post Show Talkback
November 5 @ 7:30PM | Theater for Everyone
November 6 @ 10:30AM | School Matinee
November 7 @ 6:30PM | Pre-Show Hot Tea and Hot Takes with SoVA Tea Company*Seating for Audio Description & Open Captioning is provided in the Orchestra Left. Please use promo code “AccessVA” on checkout for proper booking.
*Seating for ASL is provided in the Orchestra Left side of the House. Please use promo code “ASL” on checkout for proper booking.
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Directed by TOM QUAINTANCE †
Choreographer CHARLOTTE BYDWELL
Scenic Designer JO WINIARSKI §
Costume Designer JENI SCHAEFER
Lighting Designer MARANDA DEBUSK
Sound Designer RYAN BIBLE
Resident Casting Director EMEL ERTUGRUL
NY Casting Director KATJA ZAROLINSKI
Dialect Coach JULIAN STETKEVYCH*
Stage Manager KIM FULLER*
Assistant Stage Manager ABBIGAIL LAROCQUE*† Member of the Society of Stage Directors and Choreographers Inc., an independent labor union.
§ Member of United Scenic Artists, local USA-829 of the IATSE
* Member of Actors’ Equity Association, the Union of Professional Actors and Stage Managers in the United States
CAST
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ANNA CRIVELLI (Emma Woodhouse) is a Brooklyn-based actor and teaching artist, originally from the San Francisco Bay Area. Off-Broadway: 53% Of (Second Stage), Doll’s House Part 3 (Exponential Festival), Drink with Death (La MaMa) Regional: Blithe Spirit (White Heron Theatre), How to Defend Yourself (Victory Gardens, 43rd Humana Festival), Private Lives (Dorset Theatre Festival), Once Five Years Pass, Dental Society Midwinter Meeting (Williamstown Theatre Festival), Appropriate (Westport Country Playhouse), Airness, Steel Magnolias (Geva Theatre Center) Television: Evil (CBS) Film: Beijing Rodeo, The Falling World, Desert Window Training: M.F.A., Yale School of Drama; B.A., Fordham University at Lincoln Center.
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ALANA DODDS SHARP (Miss Bates & Mrs. Elton) Alana is delighted to return to the beautiful Wells Theatre! Credits include The Hobbit at Virginia Stage Company (Gandalf), Odessa in Water by the Spoonful (Firehouse Theatre), The Great Society at Arena Stage (Ensemble), The Jewish Queen Lear at Theatre J (The Cantor), Henry the IV, Part I at The Folger Shakespearean Library (Worcester u/s), East of Eden at Next Stop Theater (Eva), As You Love It at Zeiders American Dream Theatre (Eloise Langtree) and The Whole Shebang at Prologue Theatre (Carp). National commercials include Berdon LLC, The Veterans Administration’s “REACH” campaign and Farmer’s Focus Poultry. Many thanks to the Tom and the entire VSC team and love to Sam, Gaby & Sebastian for their unwavering support.
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BLAIR HEINZ (Jane Fairfax & Robert Martin & Mrs. Elton) is beyond excited to join the brilliant cast, crew, and creative team of Emma! She has previously worked with VSC as the Assistant Stage Manager for Matilda. Her recent credits include: Athena in Medusa, Justine in Frankenstein, and Bridget in 40 Whacks: The Nightmare of Lizzie Borden all with the formidable CORE Theatre Ensemble. She also appeared as Margaret in the staged reading of Raising the Wreck (Unfinished Histories), Kit in the premiere production of Epiphany (Bridewell Theatre), and Eliza in the award winning short film Split Ends! Blair trained at East 15 Acting School in London and is a proud graduate of Old Dominion University. Many many thanks to her partner, to the people that fill her cup, and to you for coming to see the show - she hopes you enjoy!
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JULIAN STETKEVYCH (Mr. Weston & Mr. Woodhouse) is thrilled to be back performing with VSC for the Tidewater audience. VSC credits include: Henry V, The Thanksgiving Play, Sense & Sensibility, and Pride & Prejudice. At Zeider’s, he appeared in Taking Measure by Chris Hanna. Off-off Broadway includes: Richard III and The Two Gentlemen of Verona with Oxford Shakespeare Co., Dog Act with Flux Theatre Ensemble, The Silent Concerto at NY Fringe Festival, and staged workshops and readings at Playwright’s Horizons, Classic Stage Company, and Ensemble Studio Theatre. Regional includes: A Christmas Carol at American Conservatory Theater, The Berlin Circle at Steppenwolf Theater, and Les Liaisons Dangereuses at Theo Ubique. He holds MFAs from the American Conservatory Theater and the University of Pittsburgh. He is an Assistant Professor of Acting at Elon University in North Carolina and is a proud member of Actors’ Equity Association.
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RISHAN DHAMIJA (Mr. George Knightley) is thrilled to be making his VSC debut! Select theater credits include: DATA Workshop (Arena Stage), Selling Kabul (Ensemble Theatre Company, SB), The Yoga Play (Syracuse Stage and Geva Theater Co), The Play That Goes Wrong (Syracuse Stage), Sense and Sensibility, Tartuffe, Dot, Leaving Eden, May Queen (Playmakers Rep). TV Credits: Not Suitable For Work (Hulu), Blue Bloods (CBS), New Amsterdam (NBC), Little Voice, WeCrashed (Apple TV+). Video Game/MOCAP credits: Crazy Taxi (SEGA). Education: MFA Acting '19, UNC Chapel Hill, MFA Dramatic Writing, '21, NYU Tisch School of the Arts.
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GREG DRAGAS (Frank Churchill & Mr. Elton & Mrs. Bates) Born in Norfolk, VA, Greg has spent most of his professional career as an educator in Virginia Beach. He has been active on local stages for many years and holds degrees from The College of William & Mary and Wake Forest University. Greg is currently part of VSC's touring production of Every Brilliant Thing, performing at a number of venues around Hampton Roads and beyond. Other recent credits include Frankenstein (Victor Frankenstein) with CORE Theatre Ensemble, My Brother Death (Jeremy) with Zeiders American Dream Theater, Pride & Prejudice & Dragons (Mr. Bingley) with ROŪGE, and As You Love It (Bartholomew Callow) with Zeiders American Dream Theater.
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BETHANY MAYO (Mrs. Anne Weston & Mrs. Bates) is thrilled to return to Virginia Stage Company for this production Emma. At The Governor's School of the Arts she teaches in the Theater & Film, Musical Theater and Vocal Music departments. She also teaches in the Theater Department at Old Dominion University. Selected Actor Credits include Angry, Raucous, and Shamelessly Gorgeous (VSC), The Miser (Classic Theater of Maryland), Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead (Fells Point Corner Theater), Men on Boats (Cohesion theater), Merry Wives of Windsor (Baltimore Shakespeare Factory), Othello (Chesapeake Shakespeare Company), Exit Pluto (Strand Theater Baltimore). She would like to thank her family for their continued support, her students and supervisors for their increased flexibility and teachers Katie Miller, Denis Hildreth and Melissa Alpers-Springer for seeing an artist in a kid twenty-some years ago and taking a chance on her.
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LEA ZAWADA (Harriet Smith) is delighted to join VSC’s production of Emma. She most recently performed as Viola in Twelfth Night (PCS), and originated the role of Monique in the world premier of awe/struck by Chris Peña (Profile Theater). Earlier this year she played Cady Greene in Law & Order SVU: Shock Collar (NBC). Other film/tv credits include a principle in the pilot Marvin Is Sorry (Slab Productions), as well as guest star roles in FBI Most Wanted: Inheritance (CBS), and Law and Order; As Hubris is to Oedipus (NBC). She received her MFA in acting from NYU. Lea would like to give a special thanks to her dear parents for their ongoing love and support, and a second thank you to her unmatchable partner Jack for making her laugh and adding joy to her life!
*Member of Actors’ Equity Association, the Union of Professional Actors and Stage Managers in the United States
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