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Make Believe
July 24-August 10
Portland Stage Studio (25 Forest Ave Portland, ME, 04101)
It’s 1980 in the Conlee family’s attic playroom, and four young siblings—Chris, Kate, Carl and Addie—recreate their everyday lives in a colorful game of make believe. Just home from school, they expect snacks, unwind from the day, and irk one another. Everything seems ordinary—until it doesn’t. The children play and play, but where are the adults? Fast-forward 30 years and the kids are back–only this time the game’s over, and a troubled past needs reconciliation. Split into two halves set three decades apart, MAKE BELIEVE features four child actors and their adult counterparts in a provocative story that bends time, space, and narrative. Formally daring and eminently moving, MAKE BELIEVE is a thoughtful exploration of childhood and its lingering impact.
By Bess Wohl
Directed by Cait Robinson.
CAST & DIRECTOR
Chris
Addie
Carl
Kate
Adult Chris
Adult Kate
Adult Addie
Adult Carl
Director
PLAYWRIGHT
BESS WOHL is a playwright and filmmaker whose recent play Liberation won the 2025 Outer Critics Circle Award for Outstanding New Off-Broadway Play. Other plays include Grand Horizons (Tony Nominations for Best Play & Best Featured Actress, Outer Critics Circle Honor, Drama League Award nom); Make Believe (NYTimes Critic Pick, Best of 2019, Outer Critics Circle Honor); Continuity; Small Mouth Sounds; American Hero; Barcelona; Touched; In; Cats Talk Back and the musical Pretty Filthy with composer/lyricist Michael Friedman and The Civilians (Lucille Lortel and Drama Desk nominations for Outstanding Musical).
Wohl’s plays have been produced or developed at theaters including Second Stage, Manhattan Theater Club, Ars Nova, The Williamstown Theatre Festival, Goodman Theater and The Geffen Playhouse among many others. Awards and honors include the Sam Norkin special Drama Desk Award for “establishing herself as an important voice in New York theater,” multiple Outer Critics Circle honors, the Georgia Engell Comedy Playwriting Award from the Dramatists Guild, the Athena Award for her screenplay Virginia, MacDowell Fellowships and inclusion on Hollywood’s Black List of Best Screenplays. In her previous life as an actress, she appeared onstage in New York and regionally, and in numerous films and TV shows where she has given birth, solved crimes, committed crimes, been wrongly accused, and come back from the dead. She is a graduate of Harvard and the Yale School of Drama.
PRODUCTION & STAFF
DAVE REGISTER (he/him) (Founder + Artistic Director) founded the Portland Theater Festival in 2021, and has served as Producing Artistic Director for all four company seasons. He played Jasper in the company's inaugural production of Annie Baker's The Aliens, and Ryan in last season's sold-out run of A Case For the Existence of God. Dave has appeared on Broadway in the original company of Harry Potter and the Cursed Child (2018 Tony Award, Best Play), and most recently in Tom Stoppard's Leopoldstadt (2023 Tony Award, Best Play). Other theater: Rodolpho in Ivo van Hove's A View From the Bridge (Kennedy Center and Ahmanson Theatre); world premiere of Kimberly Belflower's John Proctor is the Villain at Studio Theatre (2023 Helen Hayes Award, Outstanding Play); Lincoln Center Theatre Director's Lab, Classic Stage Company, Ars Nova, Westport Country Playhouse, Portland Stage. He plays Chet in the Amazon Prime television series "Fallout" (Season 2 coming December!) and stars in the Maine-based feature film "Heightened." Co-Founder of R & R Acting with Bari Robinson. MFA: Columbia University.
JENN LONDON (she/they) (Stage Manager/Managing Director) is incredibly grateful to work alongside this wonderful group of artists to help bring live theater to our Portland community. After graduating from Flagler College in St. Augustine, Florida, with BAs in Theatre Arts and Philosophy/Religion, Jenn went on to manage numerous productions in multiple states including Florida, Texas, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Maine. Beyond managing the Portland Theater Festival on and off the stage, Jenn spends most of their time working at Portland Stage Company as their Company Manager and Apprentice Coordinator as well as managing shows and events around the Portland area, including The Maine Playwrights Festival and Mad Horse Theatre Company productions like Women Laughing Alone With Salad and Tumacho! Jenn would like to thank this marvelous team for their dedication to this beautiful production.
PETER BLOOM (he/him) (Technical Director) Maine carpentry and design credits include Vintage Rep, Acorn Productions, Biddeford City Theater, Mad Horse Theater, PORT Opera, Portland Ballet, Maine State Ballet, Good Theater, The Originals, Dramatic Repertory Company, and three fantastic seasons with Portland Theater Festival, as well as 20-ish years as Technical Director at Cape Elizabeth High School. Peter would like to thank Dave Register and PTF for the excellent and important work they do; so happy to help bring it to life.
MICHAEL LEWIS - (Scenic Designer) is a scenic designer for theatre and opera. He earned his Master of Fine Arts from the Department of Design for Stage and Film at New York University/Tisch School of the Arts. Recent set design includes Kin at the Chain Theatre in Manhattan, Orpheus in the Underworld at Manhattan School of Music, Dialogues des Carmelites and Florencia en el Amazonas at Eastman Opera Theatre, and a double bill of Suor Angelica and Gianni Schicchi at NYU/Steinhardt. Broadway credits include associate set design for English (design by Marsha Ginsberg/direction by Knud Adams) and Days of Wine and Roses (design by Lizzie Clachan/direction by Michael Greif). michaelbennettlewis.com
MARY LANA RICE - (Lighting Designer) is thrilled to return to Portland Theatre Festival for a third, exciting season! She has a BS in Theatre Design and Technology and has worked across the country as a Lighting Designer and Electrician. Some of her favorite design credits include Clyde's and Murder on the Links (Portland Stage), Sanctuary City and Wolf Play (PTF), Aladdin (MSMT), Born Yesterday (Cortland Repertory Theatre, NY), Wait Until Dark, I Am My Own Wife, and Five Guys Named Moe (Fulton Theatre, PA). All my love to Seth, Hazel and Logan
SETH ASA SENGEL (Sound Designer) is a listener and tinkerer from Parsonsfield. He has collaborated with professional arts and education institutions all across our nation, and is currently Resident Sound Designer at Portland Stage. Last season, Seth designed A Case For The Existence Of God, Dry Land, and Wolf Play, for Portland Theatre Festival. Be kind to yourself and others, and let people know that you love them. Much Love to Mary Lana.
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IZZY McCLELLAND (Costume Designer) is a Queens based costume designer and fiber artist, originally from Freeport, Maine. They earned their BFA in Fashion Design with a specialization in Knitwear from the Fashion Institute of Technology. Their work in costumes centers around creating with sustainable and accessible means. Izzy’s work in textile art shapes a lot of her approach to costume design through promoting an organic, personal lens to her storytelling. Recent design credits include: Chicago and Newsies (Interlakes Summer Theater), I Have Loved Strangers (Atlantic Acting School), The Perfection of the Donut (The Tank), and Archie’s Weird Parody (Theater Row). You can check out more of their design work at izzymcclelland.com.
ADAM CORRIVEAU (Props Designer) is a Portland based maker and writer, and is positively humbled to be working for Portland Theater Festival. Adam designed puppets for Túmacho (Mad Horse Theatre), Grumbo as part of The Semi Darkness Place and Grumbo's Big Night (Portfringe 2024 and 2025 (@Grrrumbo)), Pete the Cat and Baby Shark (Maddy’s Theatre). He also was assistant director and special effects coordinator for the short film Come Home (Damnationland 2024). He is eternally grateful to all of the weirdos in his life that have supported him.
SARAROSE WILLEY (she/her) (Asst. Stage Manager) is a Maine-raised theatre artist, working both on and offstage in the greater Portland area. She feels honored to be joining PTF for the first time this summer, and is eager to share this season's stories with her community. In recent years, she has had the pleasure of working with Maddy’s Theater, Fenix Theatre Co., Acorn Productions, Portland Shakespeare Co., The Theater Project, and more! She would like to thank all PTF audiences & supporters, whose contributions help make these heartfelt productions possible.
MOLLY WAGNER (she/her) (Asst. Stage Manager) is honored to join PTF this year along with so many talented artists. She is a transplant to Maine and in recent seasons has been holding curtains and pressing buttons at Lyric Music Theater (The Prom, A Christmas Carol, The Spongebob Musical), Mad Horse Theatre Company (White, Witch, The Legend of Georgia McBride), and Portland Players (Fun Home). By day, she also takes notes and makes lists at the Children’s Museum and Theatre of Maine. Special thanks to her dog Frisco for all the cuddles, even if he still hasn’t figured out how to have dinner ready by the time rehearsal ends.
EMILY PARUK (she/her) (Associate Producer) is returning for her third year in a row working with PTF! She recently graduated from Rider University with a BFAin Acting. This past spring, she lived in Los Angeles interning at the production company Atlas Entertainment, one of the producers of the Best Picture film“Oppenheimer.” In the fall of 2024, Emily wrote, directed, and produced her own play titled How We Fall, based on the 2015 Netflix movie “Circle.” She also co-hosts a film analysis podcast with her older sister called Sisters and the Stars. Emily thanks you for supporting the arts in Portland!
KIMMARIE McCRANN (she/her) (Associate Producer) is thrilled to be joining the wonderful team at Portland Theater Festival for the first time this year. Afterearning her BFA in Acting from Adelphi University, Kim went on to work as the inaugural Artist in Residence at the Accademia dell'Arte in Arezzo, Italy. After Italy, Kim moved to New England to pursue a Directing & Dramaturgy apprenticeship at Portland Stage Company. As a passionate theater director, several of her favorite recent credits include working as an Assistant Director on Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf? (Portland Stage), Madeleines (Portland Stage), and Melancholy Play (Adelphi University). Up next, Kim is looking forward to beginning an Artistic Workshop Fellowship in the 2050 Administrative Fellowship program at New York Theatre Workshop.
KENDALL COOPER (she/her) (Casting) has served as resident Casting Director of PTF for the last two seasons. She recently cast principal actors for two features filmed in Maine ("Heightened", "The Ghost Trap"), as well as recreations for Season 1-3 of HULU’s "WILD CRIME". She regularly works in New England and the Mid-Atlantic region casting extras. Credits include: “Hocus Pocus 2", ”Madame Web,” “Little Women,” “Dopesick,” “Defending Jacob,” “Homeland” and more. Kendall is a native Mainer who has recently moved back to Portland. She is deeply grateful to be working in the local film and theater industry in her home state.
TOM HAUSHALTER (he/him) (Marketing & Communications) is delighted to put his marketing hat back on for PTF’s landmark 5th season. A relative newcomer to the Maine theater community, he has had the honor of appearing on stage with Portland Players, Out There Theater Company, and Mad Horse Theatre Company. He is deeply grateful to his wife and daughter for their mountains of love and support.
JULIANA SASS (Literary Director & New Works Programmer) is thrilled to be working with PTF on programming and new work initiatives in support of the festival’s mission to produce bold, imaginative theater in the wonderful city of Portland. She is currently assisting a small team at A24 curating the first season at the new Cherry Lane Theater in New York. As an actor, she has long been committed to new play development. She originated the leading role of Shelby in Kimberly Belflower’s John Proctor is the Villain, for which she was nominated for a Helen Hayes Award, and has performed in readings, workshops, and productions of new works at leading theaters including Playwrights Horizons, The Public Theater, Clubbed Thumb, The New Group, New York Stage & Film, The Tank and Studio Theater. She graduated with a BA in Comparative Literature from Harvard University and is represented by Aleen Keshishian & James Thompson at Lighthouse Management + Media. In 2024, she made her PTF debut in Dry Land at Cassidy Point.
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