Annapurna

by Sharr White

Directed by Matthew Ivan Bennett

Ulysses……………..Jeff Nichols

Emma………………Stephanie Stroud

Lil Poppet celebrates the legacy of Jeff Nichols as an educator, historian, and thespian. Jeff, thank you for your commitment, dedication, and story telling!

Matthew Ivan Bennett (Director) has been active in Salt Lake theatre since 2005, where he’s premiered several stage and radio plays as a playwright, including the fractured fairy tale Troll at Plan-B/RadioWest, A Night With The Family at PYGmalion, and this July, A French Toast at Meanwhile Park (and soon A French Toast). He’s acted with SLAC, Plan-B, PYGmalion, Voodoo, and Utah Shakespeare. He directed The Words At The Door for Sackerson's 2025 Great Salt Lake Fringe Festival, which won Best of Fringe FF, and Best Ensemble at the Tucson Fringe. He’s twice been a contributor at Great Plains Theatre Commons and has been a finalist at the O’Neill for his play Let Down Your Hair. His feature screenplay The Whole Lot was an Official Selection at the Philadelphia Independent Film Festival in 2022. Matt was a 2024 artist fellow at the Helene Wurlitzer Foundation in New Mexico, is an Artistic Producer at Sackerson, and is a member of the Dramatists Guild.

Jeff Nichols (Ulysses) began teaching History at Westminster in 1995. He’s appeared in a number of Westminster productions, including “Hands of its Enemies,” “Spinning into Butter,” “A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum,” “Lysistrata,” “A Midsummer Night’s Dream,” “Macbeth,” and “Two Gentlemen of Verona" (with his dog Hogan). Jeff will retire after co-leading a May Term trip along the Camino de Santiago. He is enormously grateful to Matt and the crew, and especially to Stephanie, whose great and generous offer made this possible. Long live Westminster Theatre!

Stephanie Stroud (Emma) is the founder of Lil Poppet Productions. Salt Lake City Credits include: Worship (Immigrant’s Daughter/Director), In Your Dreams (Sackerson/Director), Dreamers (Immigrant’s Daughter/Director), Medea (CGTF/Director), Small Box with a Revolver (Great Salt Lke Fringe/”Sam”), Misery (Lil Poppet/”Annie”), My Brother Was a Vampire (Lil Poppet-Immigrant’s Daughter/Director). Stephanie is a member of the Actor’s Equity Association and Stage Directors and Choreographers Society.

Amelia Stensrud (Stage Manager) graduated from Westminster University in May 2024 and since has been working with The Grand Theatre on their SM team. She also works in the Westminster Admissions office as their Performing Arts Liaison. Her credits at The Grand include The Drowsy Chaperone (assistant stage manager), Jesus Christ Superstar (assistant stage manager) and Dreamgirls (assistant stage manager), The Full Monty (production stage manager), American Idiot (stage manager). Other credits include God of Carnage (stage manager), The Aliens (assistant stage manager), The Taming (stage manager), The Moors (stage manager).

Gail Wright (Assistant Stage Manager) is a Westminster University alumnus with a BFA in theatre production and design. While at Westminster, they worked on several performances, including God of Carnage (Set Design), Frankenstein (Assistant Stage Manager), and Cartoon (Makeup Designer). Since graduating, they have been working with local groups and artists, eager to learn more and continue building communities. They have previously worked with Pioneer Theatre Company as an electrician for Natasha, Pierre, and the Great Comet of 1812 and The Lehman Trilogy. They are currently a stage manager for Sappho SLC and a run crew member with The Lucha Project. They are excited to be working with old friends and colleagues.