MEET THE CAST
Of We Sail On In Darkness
Courtney Johnson
Perpetua
Courtney Johnson began acting when she was 4 years old, giving her first performance in a Walmart "Grandparent's Day" commercial. Her love for the performing arts continued to grow and develop throughout her youth, studying theatre in Middle and High School, casting for local One-Act Plays with The Renaissance Guild, and starring in Bobby McMorris's He Loves Me Knot. Courtney has always found her home on stage and in front of the camera, and hopes through her dedication, enthusiasm and a strong sense of professionalism she will take the Texas Film and Stage industry by storm.
Katrin Blucker Ludwig
Hildegard of Bingen
Katrin’s work includes artistic director, stage manager, co-producer of award winning one-acts, stage tech, and performer from Ohio to California. Audiences may recognize her from her role as Mrs. Whatsit in Magik Theatre’s production of A Wrinkle in Time. In addition, she worked with Magik as Puppet Designer and Puppet Choreographer. She also works with Crosstitch Productions, now based in Bexar County.
Originally from Chicago, in Illinois, she co-founded a touring puppet theater company: Walkabout Puppets. This company created original works and used creative drama and audience participation with their K-8 audience. Grounded in arts integration and the power of improv, Walkabout Puppets provided residencies to underserved communities throughout the Midwest.
In the Bexar County area, she is a Teaching Artist with Wolf Trap Early Learning Through the Arts and the Generation Next Education Initiative using puppetry, child directed creative drama, chamber theatre and improv in residencies for children and adults.
She has a degree in Theater from Northwestern University; and, at the Drama Studio London-Berkeley completed the Graduate Acting conservancy program. Katrin recently completed training for Beat the Odds, Dance for All and Social Emotional Arts programming from UCLArts & Healing.
She is excited to be a part of the premiere of We Sail on in Darkness.
Cynthia Neri
Julian of Norwich
Cynthia Neri found her passion for acting while attending classes at Performing Arts of San Antonio. Under the guidance of Paul Tinder and Vaughn Taylor, Cynthia continues to discover the art of character exploration and truth. She played Anita in the short film “Golden Life” directed by Alejandro Colosio and produced by Generation Hope. Cynthia is currently part of the Avant Agency family where she works with amazing and talented people from the industry. Cynthia brings an unparalleled uniqueness to the stage whose enthusiasm for the craft is exemplified in every role she brings to life.
Michelle Bumgarner
Angela of Foligno
Michelle is a born and raised Texan. Originally from San Antonio, she caught the theater bug in Marble Falls High School. She’s been performing for over 25 years in venues in and around her military travels. After leaving Texas in 2004, Michelle’s travels lead her to Fort Erwin, California where she was employed and took the role of Music and Theater Director of the installation. She then spent time at The Springer Opera House in Columbus, Georgia, where she worked in Stage Management and Technical Production of several shows, and acted in “The King and I,” and “A Christmas Carol. She then bounced through several locations with the military where she taught children’s theater, acting classes and performed in “The Sound of Music,” while working with Morale Welfare and Recreation on the installations. She ended her time around the military in Germany, where she spent time directing shows and working in children’s theater. Michelle moved back to San Antonio in 2016 where she began working at PASA. While there, Michelle once again taught acting classes and performed in several shows to include the roles of LoGray in “Wicket”, Mrs. Dashwood in “Sense and Sensibility”, and Mrs. Reed in “Jane Eyre.” Post Covid, Michelle has performed in a cabaret at the Woodlawn, and performed in “The Confessions Of Davy Crockett” for the Alamo Society here in San Antonio.
While not performing, Michelle’s “day job” is spent running a local CPA office. Michelle is married to her wife Chelsea and is the mother of 7 beautiful children. She has also become involved in local pride initiatives, groups/fundraisers, and helps to plan events to raise awareness of LGBTQIA rights.
Michaela Rouse
Amma Syncletica
Michaela Rouse began her classical ballet training with the Royal Ballet in SIngapore about 1981. Upon her arrival in Texas, she trained with Margo Marshall and was a junior member of the Houston City Ballet performing the ubiquitous Nutcracker as well as other classical repertory pieces.
During high school she added jazz and tap to her studies, as well as choral work with the Spring Branch Girls’ Choir. She performed with the Stratford Playhouse between 1991-1994 in Me and My Girl, 42nd Street, and finally, as Kathy Selden in Singin’ in the Rain.
She began the University of Texas at Austin in 1994 as a science major, but soon drifted over to the department of Theater and Dance. Her professors were Lyn Wiltshire, Holly Williams, Yacov Sharir and Acia Gray of Tapestry Dance Company(rhythm tap). She performed with the Longhorn Womens’ Chorale. In the summer of 1997, while accompanying a professor doing research in NYC, Michaela studied with Finis Jhung and Zena Rommett.
Significant dance influences in her life came from her residencies with Pina Bausch Tanztheater Wuppertal, Mark Morris Dance, and Merce Cunningham Dance Co. during those UT years. After graduation, a job that began as a student internship evolved into a full time position as event coordinator for the 7 different theaters that were part of the UT Performing Arts Complex. She married in 1998, moved to the east coast in 2004 and began raising a family of 4 children with her husband Jeff. She returned to Texas in 2013 and now lives in Boerne.
Jenine Whitehawk
Amma Theodora
Jenine is excited to be back on stage and continuing her tradition of playing strong women. Over the years she has enjoyed exploring the psyches of Mrs. Kilbride (By the Bog of Cats), Marquise de Merteuil (Dangerous Liasons), Grace (Bus Stop), Monica Breedlove (The Bad Seed), Cecily Cardew (The Importance of Being Earnest), Clytemnestra (Aeschylus), Medea (Euripedes), Portia (Julius Caesar), Yoko Martinez (Confessions of Women from East LA), Kate Percy (Henry IV-Part 1), Marita (The Lady of Havana), Bianca (Taming of the Shrew), Death (Death Knocks); and many other wonderful parts.
For the past five year she has been behind the scenes directing students at Metzger Middle School, creating sets, and fabricating set/ prop pieces. She also has extensive experience with running a stage crew, designing and executing hair and make up looks for the stage.
Crystal Gulley
Amma Sarah
Crystal Gulley earned her Bachelor of Music Education from Baylor University and has taught music in schools for 20 years. While in San Antonio, she has performed in several community theatre shows at the Public and sung with the San Antonio Master singers for 5 seasons.
Her love of theatre and creating theatre moved her to New York in 2012. She lived there for six years, was trained in the Meisner Acting Technique, and earned her Master of Arts for Educational Theatre in Colleges and communities from the NYU Steinhardt School for Culture, Education, and Human Development before coming back to Texas to teach and start a children's theatre.
While in NY she was involved in several collaborative theatre projects as well as creating a few of her own. She received training in physical theatre, devised theatre and directing. She worked as a high school vocal music teacher, an elementary music teacher in the Bronx, and a teaching artist for music and theatre. She has also been a Director, Assistant Director, and Music Director for several New York and Texas children’s theatre productions.
She is currently an elementary Music Education Specialist at Cornerstone Christian Schools and the proud owner and director of Impact Youth Theatre. She believes music and theatre go hand-in-hand, and loves to provide opportunities for students to tap into their creative potential and explore the arts.
Brooke Arnold
Amma Matrona
Brooke Arnold is a versatile singer, dancer, and actress known for her powerful stage presence and dynamic vocal range. She discovered her love for performing in college and continued to pursue it, receiving her degree from Ohio University. She has a strong background in classical, choral, and musical theatre voice, as well as classical training as a pianist.
Brooke is an avid tap dancer but also has proficiency in ballet, jazz, and ballroom dance. She has been nominated for regional awards for her performance in roles such as Emma Carew (Jekyll & Hyde), Janet van de Graaff (The Drowsy Chaperone), and Charlotte Hay (Moon Over Buffalo) and has performed in many theatrical productions, cabarets, and shows across the country.
An Irene Ryan scholarship nominee for her role in Moon Over Buffalo (2018), she was honored to perform in that role at the 50th Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival (Region 2). She is currently based in San Antonio, Texas, and has been seen in shows at the Woodlawn Theatre and S.T.A.G.E. including: The Little Mermaid (Aquata), Hairspray! (Brenda, Velma u/s), Elf (Jovie u/s, Ens.), R&H’s Cinderella (Cinderella u/s, Ens.), The Music Man (Feat. Dancer), A Christmas Carol the Musical (Dance Captain), The Miracle Worker (Kate Keller), and Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner? (Joanna Drayton). She is thrilled to be joining the talented cast of this exciting new production!
Instagram: @brooke.a.arnold.
Website: www.thebrookearnold.com
Benjamin Watson
Man
Benjamin Watson received a BFA in Acting from The Theatre School at DePaul University in Chicago, Illinois. Since graduating he has acted in several stage and film productions in Los Angeles and New York. Some highlights are playing Macduff in Macbeth, Oberon in A Midsummer Night's Dream, and Orgon in Tartuffe. Benjamin also performed in the first touring and bilingual production of Bill W. and Dr. Bob, playing Dr. Bob in Costa Rica, Austin, and New York City. He also enjoyed playing Athos in a touring educational and bilingual production of The Three Musketeers.
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