Meet the artists of
sweet potsie pie
Rory Burnell | Playwright
Bio coming soon!
Blaine weiss| PLAYWRIGHT
Bio coming soon!
candice dickinson | DIRECTOR
Candice Dickinson is a dedicated producer, director and actress with a passion for enhancing the performance arts and making a positive impact on the community. She is the Artistic Director at HART. Candice earned her BFA in Musical Theater and Professional Acting from East Carolina University. After graduation, Candice spent time in New York City perfecting her craft and traveled across the country to act and direct. Before arriving at HART, she produced three original plays—two of which premiered in NYC—and directed numerous others.
Beyond directing and acting, Candice has sung in over 50 cabarets, and taught workshops and classes on acting, improvisation, directing, and musical theater performance. She is now settled in Cruso, North Carolina, with her husband and two sweet pups.
Maggie ashley | kathryn
Maggie is thrilled to be back acting in her third round of Shorts! A transplant to Sylva, Maggie has lived and performed throughout the country, and couldn't be happier to have landed here in WNC. Favorite past productions include A Bright Room Called Day (Zillah), The Odyssey (Siren), The Greatest Christmas Story Ever Told (Scrooge), Vanities (Kathy), and Come Back to the Five and Dime, Jimmy Dean (Sissy). Maggie is thrilled to call this a family production, acting on a set designed by her husband, Scott, and sharing the stage with her daughter, youth company member Elizabeth.
Shout out to the Bardo Center for the Fine and Performing Arts. Like Calliope Stage, the art and performances they bring to this community are delightful!
Laurel Chiesa | potsie
Laurel Chiesa is a current sophomore at Western Carolina University. Whether performance or technical, theatre has always been Laurel's passion. With some of her most recent roles being a Swing in Legally Blonde at Western Carolina and Rosie in Bye Bye Birdie at West Forsyth High School she continues her study of the arts. Her most recent project was the stage manager for Urinetown the Musical at Spring Theatre in Winston Salem.
Rozalyn walton | lilly
Rozalyn is a current BFA Acting student at WCU, and she is thrilled to be joining Calliope Shorts: In the Kitchen! She is a Rockwell, NC native who has been performing on stage for as long as she can remember. She is still new to the mountains, but excited and grateful to join the WNC theatrical scene and gain professional experience alongside her peers.