The TCR’s Grandon production of Naked Mole Rat Gets Dressed: The Rock Experience is sponsored by Aegon Transamerica Foundation with additional support from McGrath Family of Dealerships and The Grandon Charitable Foundation, and McGrath Toyota of Iowa City
Creative Team
- Director: Mic Evans
- Music Director: Brandon Burkhardt
- Choreographer: Ellen Welch
- Scenic/Lighting Design: Jason “Blue” Herbert
- Costume Design/Props Master: Bre Kenney
- Sound Design: Darin Ulmer
- Production Stage Manager/Board Op: Madi Knaack
CAST
- Wilbur J Mole Rat Jr.: Kayla Jean
- Grande Mole Rat and Others: Shay Larson
- Venti Mole Rat and Others: James Odegaard
- Tall Mole Rat and Others: Kayla Lansing-Green
- Grand-Pah Mole Rat and Others: Jeffrey Harrington
- Secret Service and Others: Kara Ramirez
Production Team
- Technical Director/Scenic Artist/Master Electrician: Jason “Blue” Herbert
- Assistant Stage Manager: Noel Steffen
- Sound Board Operator: Ethan Hussel
- Backstage Crew: Connor Norfleet, Jeeah Kouba, Connor French (Sub), Mike “MO” Olinger (Sub), Wolfgang Amadeus Borchardt (Sub), Bahia Eady (Sub)
- Costume Crew: Deb Winter, Becca Clayton (Sub), Ann Lawrence (Sub)
- TCR Artistic Director: Angie Toomsen
- TCR Production Management: Madi Knaack
Meet the Cast
Kayla Jean (Wilbur J Mole Rat Jr.)
Kayla is excited to go underground and into the tunnels at TCR! They would like to thank the cast and crew for being such a fun group of head bangin’ moles! *raises pinky up* Kayla’s other notable past productions include Fun Home (Joan), Spring Awakening (Georg), and The Dumb Waiter (Ben). Now get ready to put your Hats
…AND MORE on and rock out with the colony!!! 🎸🐀🎶
Shay Larson (Grande Mole Rat and Others)
Shay is so excited to be in Naked Mole Rat Gets Dressed: The Rock Experience with such a beautiful and talented cast and team! This is their fifth show at TCR, where past credits include Elephant and Piggie’s “We Are In A Play” (Squirrelle), Rock of Ages including the Rock of Ages 80’s Concert, Waitress, and Carrie: The Musical (Freida). They’d like to thank their family and friends for supporting them in their love for all things theater. More specifically, they’d like to shout out Lauren, Raiya, Bre and Sam Larson for being so loving and encouraging over the past year. Enjoy our rock experience!
James Odegaard (Venti Mole Rat and Others)
James is so excited to get “naked” with his cast mates in The Naked Mole Rat Gets Dressed. He was previously made of gold wax and flame as Lumiere in Beauty and the Beast, covered in fur as the Cowardly Lion in the Wizard of Oz, but thankfully was most recently seen clothed as Bob Crewe in Jersey Boys. This show has been such a joy to pull together and he hopes audiences feel the love and acceptance shared in this show from head to tail!
Kayla Lansing-Green (Tall Mole Rat and Others)
Kayla is excited to be back with her TCR friends and family performing this totally rockin’ musical. She would like to say thank you to her husband and cats, as well as the cast, crew, and her wonderful TCR friends for supporting her and reminding her of the true magic of live theatre. Kayla is totally stoked to be completing the Mo Willems musical trifecta, a dream many years in the making. Enjoy the performance and rock on naked mole rats!
Jeffrey Harrington (Grand-Pah Mole Rat and Others)
Grand-Pah!
Kara Ramirez (Secret Service and Others)
Born and raised in Southern California, Kara Ramirez received her BA in theatre arts from California State University, Fullerton before studying improvisational comedy and writing at The Groundlings and Upright Citizens Brigade in Los Angeles. She has enjoyed performing in the Corridor area since moving to Iowa including Avenue Q (Lucy), Clue (Mrs. White), and Lizzie (Emma Borden). Thank you to Franklin and Eleanor for their continued support, and also Jeff.