FEBRUARY 27 - MARCH 1, 2026
PAT COLLINS BLACK BOX THEATER
Geneva Community Center
By: Arthur Miller
Directed by: Jesse Tyler Halstead
Arthur Miller’s classic, Death of a Salesman, is a stark portrait of family, identity, and illusion. Willy Loman, an aging Brooklyn salesman, shoulders the crushing weight of the American Dream while clinging to his idea of success. As memory invades the present, the Loman family confronts what they owe one another and grapples with the cost of their dreams.
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CAST
CAST ANNOUNCEMENT
CREATIVE TEAM
Jesse Tyler Halstead (Director)
Jesse Tyler Halstead has served on the Geneva Theatre Guild Board of Directors since 2025. He is a local singer, actor, musician, and aspiring director with two decades of performance experience. He returned to theatre in 2024 after an extended hiatus and has since contributed to GTG productions, bringing a performer’s perspective to the board. Alongside his work as a musician, he has held notable theatrical roles, including Jean Valjean in Les Misérables, Miss Trunchbull in Matilda the Musical, and Audrey II in Little Shop of Horrors. He lives in Waterloo with his fiancée, Erika, and their pets.
Arthur Miller (Playwright)
Miller was a Pulitzer Prize-winning American playwright and essayist known for socially conscious dramas like Death of a Salesman and The Crucible that explored the struggles of the common man and the failings of the American dream. Born in New York City, his family's financial hardships during the Depression influenced his themes of fragile ambition and personal responsibility. Miller's career spanned decades, making him a towering, influential figure in American theater and culture.
PRODUCTION TEAM
Melissa Witchey-Osborne (Stage Manager)
​Melissa has over 35 years of theater experience across many organizations, this is only the second time Melissa has held the title of stage manager. Normally you could find her onstage like in the recent GTG production playing Debbie in Let’s Summon a Demon at Debbie’s. When not in a theater, Melissa is at Goulds Pumps working on getting customers their documents. In her down time she likes to go to movies and concerts with her husband and snuggle with their kitties. ​​​
Lara Ann Schmidtgall (Scenic Design)
Lara Ann Schmidtgall began working with Geneva Theatre Guild in 2016, but has been involved in theatre (onstage, backstage, and everything in between) for 20 years in the Finger Lakes Region. She has been closely supporting the GTG Board of Directors in various volunteer roles, which is what led to the role of President coming to her so soon after she officially joined the Board in May of 2024. Outside of GTG, Lara holds a bachelor's degree in Fine Art and is the Performing Arts Coordinator in the Gearan Center for the Performing Arts at Hobart and William Smith Colleges, working in administrative and faculty support capacities. She is also infatuated with her pets (three cats and one dog) and their silly shenanigans.
Luann Wilsey (Costume Design)
Luann Preston-Wilsey is a dedicated costumer who brings a unique blend of creativity and practicality to every production. Her journey with the Geneva Theatre Guild began when her daughters participated in Youth productions. She has been designing, constructing, and coordinating costumes for both the Adult and Youth divisions of the Geneva Theatre Guild, as well as for Geneva High School and Middle School and the Geneva Light Opera, for over 20 years. Luann joined the Geneva Theatre Guild Board in 2010 and has served as Secretary and as Chair to the Geneva Theatre Guild Youth Committee. She is dedicated to fostering a positive and inclusive environment backstage, where young actors understand the role their costumes play in the performance and where the costumes help them to feel confident and empowered. Outside of the theatre, Luann has spent most of her adult life conducting agricultural research for Cornell University and New York State, focusing on a wide range of subjects from insect behavior to wine fermentation.​​
Damian Grzeskowiak (Technical Director/ Lighting Design)
Damian Grzeskowiak is a retired English and Theatre teacher from Marcus Whitman High School, where he spent more than two decades directing and designing lights, sets, and costumes for over 65 productions.In addition to his work at Marcus Whitman, Damian has directed regionally at Newark High School, Victor High School, The Norman Howard School, Downstairs Cabaret Theatre, Blue Gill Productions, and the Cobblestone Arts Center. His productions have received numerous honors through the RBTL Stars of Tomorrow program, the ELENBE Awards, and TANYS.Some of his favorite projects include directing and designing Les Misérables, The Crucible, Carousel, Clue: The Musical, James and the Giant Peach, and the regional premieres of Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, Between the Lines, and The Phantom of the Opera.Damian returned to the area in 1996 after touring nationally with Into the Woods and working in New York City, where he spent five years as an associate teacher at the Michael Harney Acting Studio. His NYC credits include performances with Face Value Productions and Impact Theatre, the TV series 6th Floor Harrison, three seasons as a seasonal extra on Saturday Night Live, the film Stonewall, and industrial projects for Mattel Toys .A TANYS Award–winning actor, Damian’s local stage credits include Zorba, The Grey Zone, A Chorus Line, and A New York Minute. He has also been recognized for his performances in Bonnie & Clyde, Oliver!, and The Prom with PCSCT and SCP. He is thrilled to return to GTG after having last directed Beauty and the Beast in 2016 and designing Lights for Let’s Summon a Demon at Debbie’s.
TJ Bogart (Publicity)
TJ is a Director, Producer, and Social Media Guru born and raised in Geneva. He has been with the Guild since 2017 and a board member since 2023. He has served multiple roles within GTG as an actor, stage manager, director, liaison, and social media expert. Outside of the Guild, you can often see him around Geneva as an HWS Community Member, Volunteer Fire Fighter, and a professional Lolly-Gagger.
Erika Murphy (Program/Poster Design)
​Erika Kaye Murphy is excited to contribute to Death of a Salesman in her first collaboration with the Geneva Theatre Guild. She has long loved theatre, especially musicals, and has enthusiastically supported the Guild and public theatre as an audience member. Erika brings over ten years of experience in graphic design, primarily in nonprofit and mission-driven work. Outside of theatre, she is passionate about animal welfare and the human–animal bond, finds joy in caring for her own pets, plays in the Waterfalls Dart League, and enjoys spending time tending to her home aquariums
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Bella Amato (Props) ​​
Bella Amato has been with the Geneva Theatre Guild since 2024 and has been a board member since 2025. During her time with GTG, she’s loved stage managing productions where the challenges and opportunities have helped her grow and thrive. Outside of GTG, Bella is an active member of the SUNY Geneseo community as a student and can be seen spending time with children as a future educator.
Loren Schmidtgall (Producer)
Loren Schmidtgall has been a member of the GTG Board of Directors since approximately 2017. During that time, he has served in various Officer and committee roles, has been active onstage in several productions and backstage in just as many, even directing shows for both the Youth Theatre and Mainstage programs. Though his work with GTG has been extensive in the last 8-10 years, he has been involved with theatre in some aspect almost his entire life. When he's not in a show, you can find him just about anywhere in the Seneca-Cayuga County area working in the Community-Hab portion of Mozaic, or flipping through his Pokémon cards to decide which one he should post next for his eBay following.​​
Want to be involved in our production team?
Just send us an email at: info@genevatheatreguild.org
