OUR MISSION
Wolfbane Productions is a nonprofit Arts and Civic organization bringing award-winning professional theater, premium arts education, and community driven advocacy programs to Central Virginia.
Steel Magnolias, 2021
our values
We treat our patrons as friends.
We listen to their needs and wants and follow through with our promises. Wolfbane prides itself on excellent customer relations and supports this with our integrity, selfless service to the community and accessible professional theatre. We give our customers more than they expect. Walt Disney said it best, "Do what you do so well that they will want to see it again and bring their friends."
Inclusion, diversity, equity, accessibility
Wolfbane embodies the values, policies, and practices that ensure that all people— including but not limited to those who have been historically underrepresented based on race/ethnicity, age, disability, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, socioeconomic status, geography, citizenship status, or religion—are welcome, included, and accepted.
Behind every Wolfbane production is this constant core value: the story.
We always ask ourselves, "What does this story say and why do we want to say it? How does this story relate to our community?" Our productions are carefully crafted and designed to target modern audiences, many of whom have never been exposed to the magic of live theatre.
With this philosophy & sustained effort to foster existing donor and audience relations, our patrons are more likely to give, both financially and their time, to spread the word about our mission, and come back again and again.
It is our goal to break the stigma in our area that theatre is unapproachable, too expensive and outdated.
With our artistry, our financial strategy and our creative approach, we are changing the way people in our area experience this art form.
OUR STAFF
Dustin Chase Williams
Founding Artistic Director
Born and raised in Appomattox, Virginia, Dustin Williams is the founder of Wolfbane Productions and could not be more proud or excited about Wolfbane's ever growing and thriving presence in American theatre. Dustin first fell in love with theatre in his hometown while studying under Wes Williams. He received a degree in Theatre from Lynchburg College, where he first began his career as a director.
In New York, Dustin studied under David Newer at the William Esper Conservatory and began working professionally as an actor and director. Since then, his career has taken him across the country from Los Angeles to New York, allowing him to work with such names as Richard Dreyfuss, Justin Long, William H. Macy, and Don Cheadle.
Dustin began Wolfbane in 2008, as a means to produce a passion project, Bat Boy The Musical. Since then, he has been overwhelmed at the growth and success of the company. He has directed over 30 Wolfbane shows, including Bare: A Pop Opera, Grey Gardens, Venus In Fur, Dark of the Moon, The Pillowman, and Evil Dead: the Musical! Dustin was the chief developer on of Wolfbane's original adaptations of Macbeth, The Tempest, A Midsummer Night's Dream, and Wolfbane’s Romeo and Juliet, as well as creator and writer of our popular Crawford Farm Ghost Tour and Wolfbane’s ‘Til Death Do Us Part Murder Mysteries.
Ken Arpino
Executive Director
Ken Arpino is thrilled to be a part of the wolf pack at this incredibly exciting time of growth and development. His father is equally excited that he is putting his marketing degree to use. Ken is a professional writer/actor/improviser based out of NYC. Broadway: Ruben and Clay’s First Annual Christmas Carol Family Fun Pageant Spectacular Reunion Show (Broadway debut as a performer and as a writer) Off Broadway: My Big Gay Italian Wedding (starring Anthony Wilkinson and Danny Bernardi) and The Christmas Rose (starring Jane Seymour). Broadway National Tours: Mamma Mia!, Legally Blonde: the Musical! and Hairspray; Select Regional: Monty Python’s Spamalot, A Midsummer Night’s Dream and Bare: A Pop Opera with Wolfbane Productions, Joseph… (Starring Clay Aiken and Keala Settle) and Legally Blonde: The Musical! (Starring Becky Gulsvig and Sally Struthers) with the Ogunquit Playhouse. Ken has written original works for Wolfbane including A Christmas Carol, Dracula, The Hannah Reynolds Story and been a writing assistant for Wolfbane’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Macbeth, Tempest, and Romeo and Juliet. He is a member of the Upright Citizens Brigade Advanced Study Program and performs around NYC on two indie improv teams. His original series The Queens Project now has 2M+ views on YouTube. Boston area native; Emerson College graduate; AEA member; for more information, please visit www.kenarpino.com
Christine Yepsen
Technical Director and House Manager
Christine is a proud member of the Wolf Pack since 2011. Christine holds a Bachelor of Arts in theatre production from Liberty University. After graduating, she worked in stage management, design and most prominently in costume design at various theatres and events throughout the Virginia area. For five years Christine was employed at a non-profit children’s museum working her way up from an exhibit technician to the position of Exhibition Designer. This experience let her to realize her passion of connecting theatre to local youth.
Since working with Wolfbane, Christine has been able to work professionally as a designer in New York City. Credits include Animus Theatre's Tennessee Williams Short Play Festival (Off Broadway), The Queens Project and Chitty Chitty Bailey Chang (Web Series), and working as Designer for many high-end events in the New York area.
In 2015 Christine officially took the reins as Wolfbane's House Manager and Technical Director to oversee productions and events in our performing arts space. She is beyond thrilled to continue fostering Wolfbane's community outreach and programming and see the growing positive effect the company will have on our community.
Gabrielle Mirabella
Development Director
Gabrielle is a writer, actor and avid supporter of this vital arts organization here in Appomattox, VA. Gabrielle received her MFA from NYU Tisch in Musical Theatre Writing and an undergraduate degree in Music studying Classical Voice at the Manhattan School of Music. She is proud member of the Dramatists Guild, Actor’s Equity, and Maestra Music.
Writing Credits include: CAMP CRYSTAL LAKE, THE HORROR PARODY MUSICAL (World Premiere Summer 2022), SoundBites Festival at Lincoln Center’s Merkin Hall with her musical RISE, WHAT WILL SHE DO NEXT? A Women’s History Podcast (with Ernie Bird), University reading of MADAM PRESIDENT, AN OPTIMISTIC NEW MUSICAL through CNU (with Field/O’Brien/Toeplitz). Acting Credits include: MAMMA MIA! & ELF (Tours), Regional Premiere of FIRST DATE (Straz), World Premiere of STRANGER SINGS! (Wolfbane)
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
TABATHA ROBERTSON
President
ASHLEY SANDMAN
Vice-President
PHILLIP JAMERSON
Treasurer
CHRISTOPHER LEATHERS
Secretary
BOARD MEMBERS
Winfred Nash | Sergei Troubetzkoy
J.F. Taylor | Andrew Wilcox | Wanda Williams