THE COMPANY (2016-17)

New Muses is comprised of a seasonal company of theatre artists and tenured artistic associates
​joining together to produce intelligent, thought-provoking, and engaging theatre for a contemporary audience.

Alexander Bevier - Company Member

Alexander is thrilled to be returning to Tacoma theatre after a seven-year hiatus. During that time, he’s earned a Bachelor’s and two Master’s degrees. As a game designer and educator, Alexander has founded the Northwest Game Academy to share his knowledge and passion for making games with children. He loves storytelling in every form and encourages everyone to play.

Bethany Bevier* - Box Office Manager/ Production Stage Manager

Bethany is thrilled to be spending another season working with New Muses Theatre Company. Bethany has been stage managing throughout the Northwest for the last eight years. She previously designed sound for THE SHAPE OF THINGS; DOCTOR FAUSTUS (BWW Nomination); MISS JULIE; INTO THE WOODS; and ROMEO AND JULIET (BWW Nomination), as well as the 2014 -16 staged reading series. She most recently stage managed New Muses’ INTO THE WOODS.  Bethany is the co-host of the Backstage Knitting Podcast, available on iTunes.

Nick Clawson - Company Member

Nick is excited to return to New Muses, having previously appeared in INTO THE WOODS and several staged readings (RIDERS TO THE SEA/IN THE SHADOW OF THE GLEN, 1984). Nick attended the United States Military Academy, graduating with degrees in Electrical Engineering and Russian. Favorite credits include INTO THE WOODS (Baker), MEET ME IN ST. LOUIS (Warren Sheffield), and A MIDSUMMER NIGHT’S DREAM (Lysander). 

Eric Cuestas-Thompson - Company Member

Thrilled to return to New Muses Theatre Company, Eric was most recently seen in TLT's Of Mice and Men and Miracle on 34th Street, and Six Characters in Search of an Author, Peer Gynt, and A Servant of Two Masters with New Muses. Additionally, favorite roles have included Jacob Engstrand (Ghosts), Howard Wagner (Death of a Salesman), and Harpagon (The Miser). He thanks hubby Michael, for his continual love and support.

Sara Geiger - Company Member

Sara Geiger could not be more pleased to work with New Muses and the delightful brain of Nic Olson for a second time! Recent acting credits include Benvolio in Romeo and Juliet. She is one of the founding troupe members of the newly christened Olympia Improv Collective, where you can find her performing and leading Improv Dojos for all skill levels! Her podcast "Sixty Minutes to Fall in Love, with Sara Geiger", is now available on iTunes and SoundCloud! Love to Mother!

Alex Gust - Company Member

​Alex previously performed in It’s a Wonderful Life at the Lakewood Playhouse. Additionally, he was in Tacoma Little Theatre’s Of Mice and Men which was also directed by Niclas Olson. This is his first time with New Muses. Alex is extremely thankful to be working with Niclas again, and such an amazing cast. He enjoys entertaining others through creating music, poetry, and YouTube skits under the name Alex Sparkles. Some of his favorite things are, wild animals, kayaking, stargazing, and homemade chocolate chip cookies. He lives in Federal Way, WA with his loving and supportive wife. They have five children between them that they are very proud of, and five adorable grandchildren.

Katelyn Hoffman - Company Member

Katelyn has been acting in the Tacoma area for the past ten years, and is excited to have this opportunity in Peer Gynt. She could most recently be seen playing eleven roles in The Changing Scene Theatre Northwest's production of A Tuna Christmas. Recent roles in New Muses productions include Nora in A Doll's House, and Julie in Miss Julie.

Erinne Kellogg - Company Member

Erinne is so excited to be joining New Muses Theatre Company for a second season. She previously ran sound and lights for Romeo and Juliet, A Doll's House, and Ghosts and appeared onstage in Into the Woods and Six Characters in Search of an Author. She regularly performs and teaches with Puyallup Children's Theater and Music Academy. Erinne would like to thank her parents and siblings for their love and support!

Austin Matteson - Company Member

Austin is thrilled to be onstage once again, this time in New Muses Theatre Company’s production of Peer Gynt. As a Seattle area actor this is his first time appearing in Tacoma, his previous credits include roles such as Jimmy in Really Really, Macduff in Macbeth, and Philip in The Lion in Winter. Always looking to expand his boundaries and versatility, Austin is excited to see where this opportunity will lead him while he continues his pursuit of the arts. He would like to thank his parents, Michele and Bret, for all their support. And of course, his late sister, Victoria, as well.

Jenna McRill - Company Member

Jenna is so glad to be back with her friends at New Muses, after recently being seen in Romeo and Juliet (2016 Broadwayworld.com Best Actress in a Play), Into the Woods, and A Servant of Two Masters. Other recent credits include Janet in The Rocky Horror Show (Lakewood Playhouse) and ensemble in Little Red Riding Hood (Centerstage). Lots of thanks to Nic for the opportunity to be here, my friends and family, and to Nick for the love and support.

Niclas Olson* - Managing Artistic Director

Actor, playwright, director and founder of New Muses Theatre Company, Olson's work has been seen throughout the Puget Sound.  Directing accomplishments include Tony Kushner's Angels in America; David Mamet's Oleanna; William Shakespeare's Hamlet and Romeo and Juliet; My Name is Rachel Corrie; Oscar Wilde's The Importance of Being Earnest; Wallace Shawn's The Fever; Neil Labute's The Shape of Things and Reasons to be Pretty; his own Last Waltz on a Midnight Violin; August Strindberg's Miss Julie; Stephen Sondheim and James Lapine's Into the Woods; Noel Coward's Blithe Spirit; The Library; Dying City; Flop Cop; The Emperor's New Clothes; This Is Our Youth; On The Verge; Copenhagen; Sexual Perversity in Chicago; and Anthem: A Musical Theatre Cabaret.  Performance credits include roles in The Farnsworth Invention (NW Premiere); The Firebugs; Sweeney Todd; Into the Woods; Hamlet; Romeo and Juliet; Doubt; Doctor Faustus; Cabaret; Children of Eden; Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde; The Shape of Things; The Who's Tommy; Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf; I Love You, You're Perfect, Now Change; Blithe Spirit; The Importance of Being Earnest; A Midsummer Night's Dream; Twelfth Night; The Musical Adventures of Flat Stanley; Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day; Peter Pan: The Musical (NW Premiere); To Be Frank (world premiere); South Pacific; Gypsy; Grease; and Last Waltz on a Midnight Violin (world premiere).  Olson is a graduate of Pacific Lutheran University's BFA Acting and Directing program and Resident Lighting Designer at Tacoma Little Theatre.  www.NiclasOlson.com

Angela Parisotto - Company Member

Angela Parisotto has a background in clowning, comedy, and dramatic roles.  After a 15 year hiatus from performing, she has returned to the stage to continue her passion for zanny characters.  She was recently seen playing "Georgie" (a sociopathic, whiskey drinking farmer with split personalities) in I'll Be Back Before Midnight,  and multiple roles in the recent activist play Standing Rock.

Mehra Park - Company Member

Mehra Park is a Seattle native, graduate of the University of Washington, and full time mother. She's thrilled to be working with this amazing cast in beautiful Tacoma. Previous credits include The Wizard of Oz at the Kitsap Forest Theatre and Pirates and Saints at the Eclectic Theatre in Seattle. Many thanks to her family for supporting her throughout this journey. 

Kaylie Rainer - Company Member

Kaylie is a Language Arts teacher with a BA in acting and a Masters in Education. She studied Commedia Dell’Arte in Macerata, Italy. Past credits include Robin in Doctor Faustus (New Muses), Mrs. Michaelis in The Great Gatsby (TLT), Rooster in Bluebeard and Elijah/Flask in Moby Dick (Assemblage). She thanks her family and her fiancé Dylan for their support. Cincin! 

Jessica Robins - Company Member

​Jessica is pleased to be making her first appearance with New Muses. No stranger to the Puget Sound area theater scene, Jessica splits her time and talents on stage between musicals, straight plays, and improvisational theater.  You can find her performing regularly as a member of the company at Unexpected Productions, or at your favorite local karaoke bar.  Love to family, friends, and fans!

Emily Robinson - Company Member

Emily studied Voice and Music History at the University of Washington and Cornell University.  Recent projects include two commercials for Be Well Women's Health Clinic, Arden in Das Ende, Lady Capulet in Romeo and Juliet, Anne in A Doll's House, the Watchman in Agamemnon, Katisha in The Mikado (understudy), and Inez  in The Gondoliers.  She also sings with the Dickens Carolers and Puget Sound Concert Opera.

Melanie Schaffer - Company Member

Peer Gynt is Melanie's first show with New Muses Theatre Company. Her other recent projects have included The Diary of Anne Frank at ManeStage as well as the YWCA's Voices of Courage. She is excited to be part of a production showing off the other side of Ibsen.

Paul Sobrie - Company Member

Paul, a Belgian native, rediscovered his love for acting later in life and took it to a higher level after moving to the US a decade ago. Paul has appeared in various commercials as well as indie films and TV projects, including NBC’s “Grimm.” He has nurtured his passion for acting at Seattle’s Freehold Theater and with other local acting coaches.  He can be seen regularly on stage in the Tacoma and Seattle area.  His most recent productions were Treasure Island in Sumner, and Das Ende and The Interview in Seattle.

Ben Stahl - Company Member

Ben received his degree in Theatre Arts from Western Washington University with an emphasis in acting and playwriting. He spent a few seasons performing with the Skagit River Shakespeare Festival before finding his way to the South Puget Sound theatre scene. He most recently worked at Lakewood Playhouse in It's a Wonderful Life and at Tacoma Little Theatre in The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance. Ben thanks you for supporting local theatre and hopes you enjoy the show!

Andrew Yabroff - Company Member

Andrew is thrilled to make his New Muses debut. He was last seen at the Island Shakespeare Festival, where he has spent the last three summers, playing roles such as Richmond in Richard III, Touchstone in As You Like It, and Casca in Julius Caesar among many others. He is also a former touring actor/director with Missoula Children's Theater and actor at the Oregon Shakespeare Festival where he was seen in the 2013 productions of Taming of the Shrew and King Lear. Andrew holds a BFA in Acting from Southern Oregon University.

Additional Members of the 2016-17 Company

​Ethan Bujeaud, Gabriel McClelland, Margret Parobek, Jefri Peters, Jacob Tice, Virginia Yanoff, and Jennifer York

Adjunct Company Members

Individuals and Businesses who have provided support through donations, artistic supporters, and company members from throughout our history.
2016-17 Season Donors:
Historic Company Members:
Business Partners:
Anonymous
Bethany Bevier
Niclas Olson
Amina Ali
Lexi Ary
Vivian Bettoni
​Alexander Bevier
Bethany Bevier*
Lynn Bishop
Ethan Bujeaud
Shannon Burch
Becky Cain-Kellogg
Jesse Cantin
Sammy Cattin
Randy Clark
Nick Clawson
Corey Cross
​Eric Cuestas-Thompson
Kimberly Davis
Cori DeVerse
Arwen Dewey
Karter Duff
Kina Ericksen
Marcia Ericksen
Olivia Ericksen
Ron Field
Louise Fisher
Rachel Fitzgerald
Steve Gallion
​Sara Geiger
Brynne Geiszler
James A. Gilletti
Heather Goff
Brittany Griffins
​Alex Gust
Kelsey Harrison​
​Robert Hinds
Katelyn Hoffman
Myia Johnson
​John Kelleher
​Dave Kellogg
Erinne Kellogg
Kamryn Kellogg
​Zachary Kellogg
Sarah Langham
Hayley Magnuson
​​Katherine Mahoney​
​Deanna Martinez
Austin Matteson
Gabriel McClelland
​​​​Jenna McRill
Derek Mesford
Keiralee Monta
Lisa Olson
​Niclas Olson*
Tony Onorati
Deya Ozburn
Angela Parisotto
Mehra Park
Jefri Peters
Alexander Peterson
Kathryn Philbrook
Margret Parobek​
​Kaylie Rainer
​Bruce Roberts
Frank Roberts
​​Jessica Robins
Emily Robinson
​Kathryn Robinson
Loralynn Rosenberg
Miranda Rowland
​Melanie Schaffer
Carrie Schnelker
Pearl Schwind
Fred Schwindt
Chris Serface
​Tasha Smith
Paul Sobrie
Nick Spencer
Ben Stahl
​Ryan St. Martin
​Steve Tarry
Jacob Tice
Fiona Thornton
Laverne "Cookie" Troxell
Dylan Twiner
​Maria Valenzuela
​Steven Walker
Jeffrey Weaver
Andrew Yabroff
Virginia Yanoff
Blake York
Jennifer York
Lance Zielinski
Dukesbay Productions
Tacoma Little Theatre
Lakewood Playhouse
Roxy Theater
Fire Mountain Arts Council
Centralia College
The Backstage Knitting Podcast
Bodywork by Bethany
Devall Publishing
The East County Journal
Puyallup Children's Theater
CatBox Productions
*The title of artistic associate is a tenured position offered to professional artists who demonstrate a passion for their career, exceptional skill and ability, and commitment to the future of the company.