Meet the artists of
PIG AND COW
Get a Head
brad reisinger | Playwright
Bio coming soon!
ANNE Valentino | PLAYWRIGHT
A queer playwright, Anne tends to write about that intersection where underrepresented populations collide with a mindset that interprets different as somehow “deviant.” Receiving a PhD in Literature from Temple University, Anne has won or been a finalist in festivals including the Bechdel Project Room of One’s Own Residency, The Road Theatre Summer Playwrights Festival, Cincinnati Lab Theatre, Baltimore Playwright’s Festival, Aphra Behn Festival, Lesbian Thespian’s Play Writing Festival, Project Y Women’s Theatre Festival, Lanford Wilson New American Play Festival, and VetRep’s playwriting competition, among others. She lives in the DC area with her fiancée and their pups, Tiberius and Athena.
MATTE O’Brien | DIRECTOR
Matte is a playwright, lyricist + director. His writing often focuses on creating and reclaiming LGBTQ+ stories. He lives in Williamsburg, Brooklyn with his dog, Mowgli Waffles. His plays and musicals have been seen at The Goodspeed Opera House in Connecticut, The Hope Theatre in London, The Arches in Glasgow, The Royal George in Chicago, Le Petite Theatre in New Orleans, and The Rev in Auburn, New York. His musical White Noise was produced by EGOT-winner Whoopi Goldberg. And his play The Wonderful Mr. & Mrs. O’Leary was a finalist for the Eugene O’Neill and was seen at The Actor’s Company Theatre in New York City, featuring Tony Award winner Alice Ripley and Tony Award nominee Aaron Lazar.
He has an MFA in Directing Classic and Contemporary Texts from The Royal Conservatoire of Scotland and a BFA in Musical Theatre from Syracuse University. He has taught classes and/or workshops at Syracuse University, Indiana University, Boston University, The College of Charleston, Tulane University, The Royal Conservatoire of Scotland, The New York Film Academy, and the New York State Theatre Institute. He also works as a private audition coach and dramaturg in New York City.
isabella meltzer | Pig
Isabella is 19 years old going into her Sophomore year at WCU pursuing a BFA in Musical Theatre! This is Isabella's first time working with Calliope and she could not be more excited about it! She is so excited to see these productions come to life. Some of Isabella's past roles include Enid in Legally Blonde, Fraulein Schneider in Cabaret, Melpomene in Xanadu, and The Witch in Into The Woods.
Tyler spencer | Cow
Tyler Spencer is a rising Senior studying a BFA in Musical Theatre at Western Carolina University and is so happy to be working with Calliope Stage on The Exchange. At WCU, you may have seen him as Jekyll and Hyde in "Jekyll and Hyde", Carlos in "Legally Blonde", and Lurch in "The Addams Family". "Thanks to all of my friends and family for your support! Happiness Over Everything!" Instagram: @tylrspncr
luke younts | head
Luke Younts is so thrilled to be performing with Calliope Stage. He is a Junior at Western Carolina University and studies Musical Theatre. He is a part of Black Theatre Ensemble as Social Media Chair. At Western Carolina, he has been in Tartuffe (Valere), Jekyll and Hyde (Sir Archibald Proops) and Legally Blonde (Ensemble). Favorite credits include Children of Eden (Abel/Ham), The Arkansaw Bear (Mime), Mamma Mia (Harry Bright), and Cinderella (Prince Topher). He would like to thank his family, Grace, Riley, and his friends for always believing in him!