Ronmal Mottley is making his debut with Contraband theatre as Steve. Ronmal has been seen working with other theatre companies in musicals such as Hawthorne Players, The Alpha Players, and his latest season with New Line Theatre. He would thank Taijha and E.K for casting and trusting him with this role, as well as his family and friends for supporting him. 

Rachel (she/her) is so excited to be back for another Contraband world premiere! Favorite previous credits include Golde - Fiddler on the Roof, FNT, Calista - Madam, FNT, Susan - [title of show] Prism Theatre, Lychorida - Am I Dangerous? Contaband Theatre. Much love, as always, to her friends, family, and Benny for always putting up with her shenanigans.

e.k. doolin, she/her, is a playwright, theatre artist, and educator living in the Midwestern United States. Her artistic aesthetic centers around humor, hope, and curiosity. She has had the privilege of working with several theatre companies in the region, including Chorus of Fools, Center of the Creative Arts (COCA), Contraband Theatre, Heartland Theatre, Prison Performing Arts (PPA), Slightly Askew Theatre Ensemble (SATE), and the St. Louis Shakespeare Festival, (where she developed her play Titania and Oberon’s Epic (therapy) Road Trip as a part of the Confluence Writers Project).  Her play, Waiting for Hecate was commissioned by PPA and is digitally available on their website (prisonperformingarts.org). In 2024, Contraband Theatre produced a World Premiere of her play, Am I Dangerous?, which was then nominated in the category of Outstanding New Play by the St. Louis Theater Circle. The St. Louis Post Dispatch named her one of “5 Playwrights You Should Know” (January 2025). In October 2025, GLUT was part of the Ingram New Works Project with the Nashville Repertory Theatre, where it was workshopped and developed. She is a proud grad of Case Western Reserve (MFA Acting) and Southern Illinois University (MFA Playwriting). 

Follow @ekdoolinplaywright on Insta

Tress Kurzym is a multi-hyphenate theatre artist and educator. She has served as an intimacy director for more than 30 productions; local intimacy direction credits include The Muny, St. Louis Shakespeare Festival, Tesseract Theatre Company, and Moonstone Theatre Company, and Chorus of Fools. This is her second collaboration with Contraband after previously directing the world premiere of e.k. doolin’s Am I Dangerous? Tress proudly heads the Theatre Education and Teacher Training area at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville where she has the privilege to mentor future theatre artists and educators.

Tre’von Griffith (Tre G) is a multidisciplinary artist, composer and director whose work blends music, theater, and storytelling across  disciplines. He recently composed original music for We Are Gathered by Tarell Alvin McCraney at Arena Stage, and his mini-opera Madison Lodge premiered at Opera Theatre of Saint Louis. His creative contributions span productions with The Acting Company, Repertory Theatre of St. Louis, Shakespeare Festival St. Louis, The Black Rep, Metro Theater Company, and projects across Europe and China. In 2025, he received the St. Louis Theater Circle Award for Best Sound Design. Named one of Out in STL’s Most Influential LGBTQ+ figures and a St. Louis Business Journal Business of Pride honoree, Tre is also the Founder and Creative Architect of WerQFest, one of the Midwest’s largest festivals celebrating Black queer creativity. IG: @treg_music

Joanna Followell is the founder, owner, and planner-in-charge at Joanna Followell Events Co. She has coordinated hundreds of weddings and celebrates ALL love. Joanna has developed an extensive network of wedding vendors and collaborators throughout the St. Louis region. She approaches each wedding with care, intention, and a strong respect for the responsibility involved to help create a wedding experience filled with low stress and high joy. Follow @joannafollowellevents

Reagan Posey is elated to be joining Contraband Theatre again, this time as part of the cast after having served as the Stage Manager for last year's world premiere of Professor House. Other recent projects include their debut as the new Assistant Director for Lindbergh High School Thespians with Dracula, Stage Manager for Fiddler on the Roof (Fly North Theatricals), Director for Kodachrome (Monroe Actors Stage Company), and bringing four wonderful years to an end as the director for Bayless School District's theatre department. She'd like to thank her wife, Lauren, who is her number one supporter. Instagram: @no.shows.reagan

Kelly is so pleased to be returning to Contraband after first appearing in See You In A Minute. She has worked locally with Stray Dog, The Midnight Company, SATE, The Black Rep, The New Jewish Theatre and Chorus of Fools. The Midnight Company’s production of Just One Look featuring Kelly as Linda Ronstadt continues its long residency at The Blue Strawberry, tickets at bluestrawberrystl.com.

Taijha Silas (They/She) is an STL transplant from Southern Louisiana and received their bachelor's in Directing and Musical Theatre from Northwestern State University. After college, Taijha moved to St. Louis to start working with the Saint Louis Black Repertory Theatre as an Acting and Marketing Fellow. During her time in Saint Louis, Taijha has performed with companies such as The Black Rep, New Jewish Theatre, & Jest Murder Mystery Company, and now Contraband Theatre! When Taijha is not performing, they have been able to work with companies such as The Metro Theatre Company, First Run Theatre, The Repertory Theatre of St. Louis, Opera Theatre of St. Louis, The Fabulous Fox, St.Louis Shakespeare Festival, and The Muny using their proficiencies in tech theatre & Directing! Taijha also works at The Repertory Theatre of Saint as the Production Associate. Taijha is beyond blessed and thankful to everyone who supports them in their career and can’t wait for you to enjoy their work!

Erik has been a technical director, scenic and lighting designer, fight director, stage combat instructor, and/or actor on projects with professional companies and educational institutions all across St. Louis. He is recognized as an Advanced Theatrical Combatant & Full Instructor with Dueling Arts International.

Jacob heads the Playwriting MFA at SIU (Southern Illinois University) and is the Founding Artistic Director of Contraband Theatre. Plays include See You in a Minute, 18 Months After November, Hath Taken Away, In the Shadow of His Language, Joan’s Laughter, and Under America. They have been developed by Playwrights Horizons, Alliance Theatre, Eugene O’Neill Theatre Center, Great Plains Theatre Conference, Last Frontier Theatre Conference, Sewanee Writers’ Conference, Chicago Dramatists, and Chicago’s DCase. Jacob’s work has been supported by the Fulbright Program, the NEH, Krakow’s International Cultural Center, the Illinois Arts Council, and the Alliance/Kendeda National Graduate Playwriting Competition. www.jacobjuntunen.com

Josh got his start in acting as a sophomore in high school after landing the role of Frank Jr. in Catch Me If You Can. Since then, he has had the opportunity to originate many roles in new works within St. Louis in productions such as: See You in a Minute, Live at Club Riviera, ACTION, 1877, Eleventh Hour Radio, and now as Cab in GLUT! He is overjoyed for his return to Contraband Theatre and looks forward to helping spread a positive message!

Brian McKinley is happy to make his Contraband Theatre debut! A native of Peoria, IL with a BFA  in Musical Theatre from Western Illinois University. Brian is the Director of Education and Community Engagement at The Black Rep Highlighted acting credits include: Harpo in The Color Purple, Larry in Fat Ham, and Cory in Fences (The Black Rep), Dr. Alexander Hines in When It All Falls (Alma Creatives), and Richard in Little Miss Sunshine (Fly North Theatricals). Directing credits include: Sleeping Beauty, Jabari Dreams of Freedom (The Black Rep touring company) and Caroline or Change (Fly North Theatricals). Brian also dances with the Adult Ballet Conservatory of St Louis. He would like to thank his family and friends for all their love and support. @BrianEMcKinley

Bekah is an artist and theatre maker who is thrilled to be returning to Contraband after Stage Managing the reading of Professor House in 2025! Other Stage Management highlights include work with Shooting Star Productions and That Uppity Theatre Company. Some of Bekah’s favorite directing credits include Children of Eden, The Drowsy Chaperone, Violet, & a virtual production of A Christmas Carol performed in both ASL & English. By day, Bekah is a Teaching Artist with Metro Theatre Company and STAGES St. Louis, working as an ambassador for theatre in schools across the region. 

Elena Jaquez is excited to be making her design debut with Contraband Theater for GLUT. She graduated from Missouri State University with a BFA in Theatre, and has spent the past few years pursuing costume work in STL. You can find her at the Opera Theater of St. Louis as a First Hand, at The Repertory Theatre of St. Louis as the Costume Manager, or you can take a class with her at City Sewing Room. Elena has a deep love for the community that theater creates and hope audiences enjoy watching GLUT. 

Melina Huckelberry is an award-winning theatre lighting designer who has designed for dance concerts, plays, and musicals. While she is known for her use of color and texture, she has captivated audiences, creating moody and emotional scenes across her several practices.