Ella Harris (they/them) is a student at Boston University pursuing a BFA in Scenic and Lighting design. They are exceedingly proud to join Next Exit Productions, having worked previously on 50 Miles Away (2023) and the Love Bites 10 Minute Play Fest (2024). They would like to extend a heartfelt thanks to Holly and Jason for providing them with the opportunity to collaborate on impactful Appalachian theatre & storytelling, and look forward to many more years of movin' and shakin' with Next Exit.

Helia Quhite is a stage manager and actor for Next Exit. Previously, she stage managed and acted during the Chattanooga Fringe Festival and acted during the Love Bites 10-Minute Play Fest. She is a UTC graduate with a BA in Theatre and an MBA. She works for the Tivoli Theatre Foundation and Chattanooga Public Library. She also stage manages for Obvious Dad. Helia is very grateful to work with this amazing group and InterSEXtions.

Jack Rogers is from Chattanooga, TN and a senior at the McCallie school. Jack has loved theater since the third grade and has been involved with various components including acting, assistant directing, and set design. Jack is grateful for the many opportunities that Next Exit has provided him to grow as an artist over the years. Jack also looks forward to continuing his theater journey in college, where he aims to further enhance his skills as an actor and director.

Arche Twitty is a lover of words, great stories, and (theatrical) drama. Having caught the acting bug in 2022, Arche has had the honor of sharing the stage and learning from some of the city's most talented actors and directors, including Next Exit's brilliant founders Holly Morse-Ellington & Jason Tinney, and the incredibly talented Kashun Parks. Arche has had the privilege of playing a wide range of roles, including Hamlet, The Count of Monte Cristo, and originating characters in Love Bites.

Cris loves working with Next Exit Productions! She’s also performed with Improv Chattanooga at various venues across Tennessee. Past productions include Love Bites! (Next Exit Productions), The Prince (Seed Theater), and Vintage Hitchcock (CTC). When she’s not on stage, she’s probably quilting on the couch with her wife, Ramsay, and their three cats.

Faith Larson is thrilled to be a part of this company! She has had the pleasure of performing in several regional theater productions, including Mrs. Armstrong in Best Christmas Pageant Ever (CTC, 2022), Mrs. Beaver in The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe (Rivermont, 2023), and a variety of pieces in the Brave New Works series (ETC, 2023). One of her favorites is when she gets to be Mrs. Claus! Most recently, she originated the Maitre D and Entomologist Love Bites 10-Minute Play Fest.

Gage Miller lives in Chattanooga Tennessee and attends UTC studying theater. He has been doing theater since he was about 8 playing Pig Pen in A Charlie Brown Christmas. Even since he has been obsessed with being on stage and story telling. Gage has performed with multiple theaters around Chattanooga like Chattanooga Theatre Centre, Ensemble Theater of Chattanooga, The Seed Theater, The Signal Mountain Playhouse, The Oak Street Playhouse, and of course Next Exit Productions.

Svenyarose is a student at Girls Preparatory School, and a lifelong theatre kid. She has dabbled in many aspects of the performing arts, running from acting to tech roles, and occasionally seeing life from behind a camera. While she loves a chance to shine on stage, she is also fascinated by all the work that is put into a production, and is very thankful to Next Exit Productions for opening another door to the arts!

Mo Rodriguez Cruz, 26, is an abolitionist, a cultural organizer, and an Aries. Originally from Mexico City but living in his "hometown" of Chattanooga, Mo serves as the Co-Founder and Field Director of Semillas TN, the city's only community based organization founded and led by latinx immigrants. A self described cowboy, yapper, and bona fide clown, Mo’s work is driven by their commitment to social change, the arts, and the belief that another world is possible.

Peyton Hudson is a Chattanooga based actress who has been involved in theatre for over 10 years. She is currently the costume manager and actor trainer at Hells Bar Dam haunted house during the fall season. She loves weird, experimental theatre and when she gets to learn a new skill for a roll!

A playwright, actor, and director from Chattanooga, TN, Mixy graduated from Sewanee: The University of the South with a B.A. in Theater and a curricular certificate in Playwriting. At Sewanee, Mixy was awarded the Tennessee Williams Fellowship. Mixy is a versatile theater artist, but it all started with their love of acting. Mixy has appeared in both film and stage. Mixy has portrayed Ophelia in Hamlet, Fraulein Kost in Cabaret, and Janet Weiss in The Rocky Horror Picture Show.

Melanie O’Brien has quickly made her mark, performing in productions such as the 10-Minute Play Festival, Fringe Fest: Love Bites Again, and Cast Iron: Fear/Less. As a lifelong performer, she is now eager to tell as many stories as possible with passion and creativity. Outside the theater, Melanie is married, a mom of two, is interested in mental and bodily health, and enjoys fashion and makeup.

Karlee Ming is an actor, stage manager, and storyteller born in Taiwan and raised between Alabama and Tennessee. They are currently a theatre student at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, and have been involved in several UTC Theatre Co. productions including 9 to 5 and Blood Wedding. They’ve also been involved in other projects in the Chattanooga community including Cast Iron Storytelling and Don’t Stand In Front of the Microwave.

Riann Bilderback is a lifelong Chattanoogan and a UTC graduate with a B.S. in Legal Studies and a M.A. in English with specific interests in American drama and women’s studies. She currently spends her days with numbers and her nights with words. Riann also teaches and has developed several college-level English and Humanities courses. She’s a polymath who loves books, dogs, Halloween, pigs, and a fresh notebook with a Blackwing pencil.

Jason Hackbarth's Introduction to Next Exit Productions Theater Company was with the Love Bites: 10-Minute Play Festival. Here he debuted Duncan in Love is a Bitter Brew. Originally from Wisconsin and having a background as a musician, Jason developed as an actor at the University of Wisconsin - Platteville's theatre program. Jason is now proud to have found a caring theater community through Next Exit Productions here in Chattanooga.

A lifelong theater kid from New York, Alyssa has always been passionate about the arts. During her husband’s naval career, she earned accolades for her theater work across the East Coast. After relocating to Chattanooga in 2017, she became known for her work with the Chattanooga Theatre Center, ArtsBuild, and Next Exit Productions. Beyond her love for the stage, Alyssa runs a thriving small business in Red Bank and treasures time with her beautiful family.

Ben Bilderback is an undergraduate in English and Creative Writing at ETSU. Having worked with Next Exit since its inception under the mentorship of co-founders Holly Morse-Ellington and Jason Tinney, Ben has led production on multiple Next Exit projects serving titles such as stage manager, set designer, assistant director, and various tech work. Ben would like to recognize and thank Holly, Jason, and Taylor Boyd for their mentorship across years of partnership and passionate artistry.

Logan Lynn is a Chattanooga-born actress and educator. She earned her Bachelor of Arts in Theatre Education from the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, where she showcased her talent in productions like "The Bald Soprano" and "Cry it Out," earning the esteemed Breakout Performance Award. Currently, Logan dedicates her time to inspiring young minds as an educator in Hamilton County Schools, fostering a love for both US history and the performing arts.

Mary is a visual artist, writer and puppeteer. Her drawings, paintings, mixed media work and art dolls have been shown in juried art exhibits in TN, GA, NC and CT. Mary’s writing has been published in newspapers and will be included in the 2024 Chicago International Puppetry Festival Archive. She is a “Monster Artist” with the company Playful Evolving Monsters, where she designs, builds and performs with giant puppets. Her play, Cicada Love, was her first adventure as a playwright.

Alexander Walker (he/they) is a Chattanooga native with a BA in Theatre from UTC. He keeps busy with performing and writing and enjoys our city’s outdoor areas. He recently appeared as Dr. Frank-n-Furter in The Rocky Horror Picture Show, Tony West in Next Exit’s Love Bites festival, and various appearances in local independent film projects. With a deep connection to the Chattanooga community, Alexander is committed to bringing creative expression to the stage through his work with Next Exit.

Scriptly speaking, Allison Fradkin (she/her) creates satirically scintillating stories that (sur)pass the Bechdel Test and enlist their characters in a caricature of the idiocies and intricacies of insidious isms. In Tennessee, her work has been presented by Next Exit Productions, Barking Legs Theater, The Seed Theatre, Emerald Theatre Company, and Ensemble Theatre of Chattanooga. Allison's auxiliary activities include vintage shopping, volunteering, and tending to her thespian tendencies.