DIRECTOR’S NOTE

The concept of Strings Attached came about one sunny day when Charley and I were walking my dog. We were discussing the ups and downs, the stressful moments and the belly laughs, the community and the loneliness that come from doing theater. And Charley decided to write a play about it. With puppets, of course. Strings Attached has been through many different iterations over the last two years. After many different read-throughs, brainstorming sessions, and a lot of editing, Charley, Tumbleweed, and I are proud to bring it to life on the historic Pink Garter stage. 

But why now? Because local, original works are more important than ever. In our contemporary society AI feels like it is taking over the artistic space, looming in our feeds and lurking in every corner. Tumbleweed felt that it is even more important to produce an original production. Every inch of this show is dripping with creative collaboration. From the script to the music to the puppets, everything has been brought together with love from the hands and minds of the Jackson Hole community. 

In the world of Strings Attached, humans and puppets coexist but at the Proscenium Athenaeum there is a hierarchy and Franzyz Holden-Keatz sits at the top. But looming over his stage is the ghost of his great, late mentor. The Great Late Steve who demands genius, blood, sweat, tears, and occasionally a sacrifice to keep the theater running. Franzyz’s college classmate and playwright, Austen Gibson, comes to join their crew and quickly realizes that things aren’t quite right. 

Charley Daveler’s writing forces us to feel our feelings - yes, even the uncomfortable ones - and examine what it means to create “good art” in a realm where art is subjective and the goalpost is constantly moving. She encourages us to ask ourselves what and who we are willing to give up in the pursuit of accomplishment and evocative theater. Through the lens of sarcastic humor and lively puppets, Strings Attached brings to light the humiliation and humility it takes to create art. 

-Lacey Lukas

CAST

Ian Chapman – Franzyz Holden-Keatz

Ian was born and raised in Jackson, WY. A lifelong theater fan, Ian didn’t make his debut until 2022 as an ensemble member in Riot Act Inc.’s production of Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown. Now a regular of the community theater scene in Jackson, Ian loves performing. When he is not on the stage, he can be found photographing wildlife, cruising on his motorcycle, or reading a good book. He wants to thank the entire cast and crew for their hard work and dedication.

Find Ian on Instagram and TikTok @iansscriptsandtomes.

River Grace - Austen Gibson

River Grace is a born and bred performer. Originally raised in Utah, she has been performing for nearly two decades. Some of her favorite stage credits include Alice Perkins in Seven Brides for Seven Brothers, Ursula Merkel in Bye Bye Birdie, and Katherine Blake in Freaky Friday. With Tumbleweed Creative Arts, she has portrayed Grace Miller in Petticoat Rules: the 25th Anniversary Revival, Elaine Harper in Arsenic and Old Lace, and a Main Stage Dancer in the most recent Burlesque. Happy play-ing!

Azusena Garcia - Mezzy Anne Ning 

Azusena y Suzy thanks her cast, crew, parents, friends, and community for supporting her and the local theatre. En el teatro se vive, la magia de la creación, donde el texto y el cuerpo,
dan vida a la ilusión. Thank you for being present and stepping into this synthesis. 

Puppeteers

Mason Marshall – The Great Late Steve

After playing a litany of villains and antiheroes, including John Wilkes Booth of Assassins, an incumbent mayor named Henry Crabtree in Petticoat Rules, the murderous Tobias Parker in The Black Ibis, a lonely and complicated Paul in When We Were Young and Unafraid, Mason is thrilled to be part of this production, and finally playing the hero for once in The Great Late Steve. A professor of such elevated ilk, his name must self reference his greatness.

Mason hopes you enjoy the show and he’s grateful ever for all cast, crew, employees, board, patrons, and donors of tumbleweed for helping create the opportunity for us to be up here doing what we love. 

Margaret Gordon - Jazzi Sparkle Hands

There will never be a better character name than Jazzi Sparkle Hands. Thank you to Charley for creating her, Dolyn for making her, and this wonderful cast and crew for helping bring her to life. Margaret's previous acting credits include The Fool's Journey, Lear, It's a Wonderful Life, and Pride & Prejudice. She owes perpetual gratitude to her family for their continued support (and the Lasso sessions) and hopes you enjoy the show!

Shannon Perrone – Joan “Booth” Wilkes

Shannon is very excited to be participating in her first Tumbleweed production as Booth in Strings Attached. Recent credits include Jane Bennet in Pride and Prejudice and Lynette Squeaky Fromme in Assassins. She is especially grateful to be cast in the world premiere of a women written, directed, and produced local production. Shoutout Charley and Lacey for making this the incredible art it is!

Drew McPeak – Zap

Drew was bestowed a human form in exchange for performance gigs. A Jackson Hole native and musical theater geek, she enjoys getting involved in all projects she can. Most recently, you may have seen her as Taylor in High School Musical. Offstage, she likes cats, creative writing, science, and watching Survivor - although none simultaneously. Drew rarely posts, she invites you to keep up with her and keep in touch on Instagram!: @drewwmcpeakk

This run of shows, she dedicates to her grandpa, who passed away on September 19th, 2026.

May William “Bill” McPeak’s soul rest in peace.

Heika Loudenslager - Zip

Heika Loudenslager (she/her) has come a long way since her first role as a blue alien in Gulliver's Travels in Space.  More recently, she scorned her way through Alice in Wonderland as the Queen of Hearts, then knitted under a blanket as Grandma Josephine in Wonka.  This is her first time acting through a puppet, and she is loving bringing fuzzy fluff to life, sore arm notwithstanding.  Zip is having a blast causing chaos with his scene partner, Zap! 

Rebecca Bernstein - Zop

Rebecca Bernstein is elated to return to the stage as Mrs. Zop after a 30-year hiatus. Favorite roles include Katisha in The Mikado, Princess Puffer in The Mystery of Edwin Drood, and the title role in Hedda Gabler. This performance is dedicated to her biggest fan, Noah.

Mikki Cavaroc - Fitz

Mikki Cavaroc has resided in Jackson Hole since 2008. Discovering a love for theater only two years ago, she has been soaking up the theater scene since then and has performed in Assassins, Other Desert Cities, Velveteen, and Arsenic and Old Lace. She is honored to have the chance to work with such esteemed professionals as Mrs. Zop, Zip and Zap, Booth, Jazzi Sparkle Hands, and, of course, the Great Late Steve, just to name a few. In her free time, Mikki enjoys long walks in the mountains, nerdy TV shows and movies, photography, birding, writing, reading, and most of all, spending time with her wonderful daughter.

Konner Frederic – Corey O’Graphy

Konner Witherkay Frederic is a 32-year-old from Louisiana with a degree in psychology from LSU. He has spent the last five years in the service industry for Jackson Hole Mountain Resort and Cowboy Coffee, moving to the mountains after a great flood. Appreciating and practicing theater, art, and philosophy keeps him from becoming a mindless drone in this world.

Samantha Hubbs – The Understudy (Sheep)

Samantha Hubbs is stoked to be a part of this show and see Charley’s vision come to life. She grew up here in Jackson, and is happy to be back in the Pink Garter theater, but she also knows what it means to miss New Orleans.

CREW

Director - Lacey Lukas

Lacey Lukas was thrilled to direct the world premier of Strings Attached. She was excited for the opportunity to work on this new production. She would like to thank the cast for all the hard work they put into the production.

Playwright - Charley Daveler

Charley was born and raised in Jackson and used the wilderness around Kelly to come up with fantastical worlds. Since graduating from the University of La Verne in Los Angeles, her plays have been preformed around the country, but can’t express how much closure she feels seeing her work performed on the same stage as her very first performance at eight-years-old.

She is predominantly a fantasy writer, and her best known work is her adult vampire comic, The Parasite and the Pet.

She would like to offer special thanks to Lacey, because without her saying, “You have to finish this,” she likely never would have, and thanks to Andrew Munz for originally bringing the Pink Garter back to the theatre.

WitchsTrunk.com

Sandra Reed – Paintings and Signs

Sandra is a student at Jackson Hole High School who first became involved in theatre seriously in eighth grade, with Jackson Hole Middle School’s production of Frozen Jr., during which she ran lights. She also assisted with light production in Jackson Hole High School’s production of High School Musical. When Sandra isn’t involved in theatre, she enjoys drawing, reading, and hanging out with her friends. Sandra is planning on being involved in the high school musical this year as well.

Prop Master – Marisa Sullivan

Marisa Sullivan first tapped away on a shattered shatterproof table at four-years-old. This prepared her for pratfalls on the stage as  she practiced her thespian skills through high school in musicals,  Laff Staff, community theater and her recent role as Grizz 399. She is often seen behind the scenes creating costumes and organizing chaos.  

Music

Karissa Dabel - Lyrics

Zach Friedhof - Singer and musician

Jesse Morgan - Underscore.

Puppet Design and Build

Built by Charley Daveler, Dolyn Kinney, Sam Soper.

Designs by Charley Daveler, Sandra Reed, Iris Bruner, Kershaw Finlay.

General Painting

Cast and Crew

Poster Design Charley Daveler

Set and special effects built by Tumbleweed Faculty Manager.