Peer Mentor Program

What We Do

UP Peer Mentors serve as a resource for student mentorship on all live performance and production topics including developing and producing a project; designing, building, and installing scenery and equipment; and planning and executing load-in and the tech process. We’re here to help during any phase of mounting a show and share knowledge of technical skills. The Peer Mentors are always happy to meet with and advise any student working on (or maybe just still thinking about) a theater project.  Peer Mentors are also available for outside consultations, assistance, and support during load-in.

Remember, there truly are no silly questions! We are all here to help, and are never far from phones or the internet. If we can’t answer your question, we know someone who can! Feel free to contact any of us directly. Our contact info can be found below.

If you are interested in becoming a Peer Mentor, visit our Work Study page for info on applying.

Who We Are

Abby Asmuth

Abby (JE ‘26, she/her/hers) is an English major from Madison, WI. Coming to Yale, she wasn’t sure what being a producer actually meant; now, producing is her favorite role in theater. She would have been lost without advice from her peers, which she’d love to pass on to you. Abby also has experience as a director, stage manager, and sound designer. Outside of theater, she edits for the WKND section of the Yale Daily News and advises at Matriculate. She would be excited to talk to anyone interested in Yale theater — please don’t hesitate to reach out!

abby.asmuth@yale.edu,  Cell: 608-960-3878

Dhruv Bhalla

Dhruv (MC ‘27; he/him/his) is a prospective Computer Science and Economics major from Mumbai, India, and is pursuing Education Studies. Having never participated in performing arts in high school, Dhruv has really loved the welcoming theatre community at Yale. He has primarily worked in Stage Management and has also explored production, technical direction, and lighting design. Dhruv is, famously, never outside the theatre, but he does enjoy board games club and meeting new theater makers. He would love to help with anything theatre (or not) related, so please reach out!

dhruv.bhalla@yale.edu, Cell: 203-508-4328

Emiliano Cáceres Manzano

Emiliano (BF ‘26; he/him) is double majoring in Film and English. Throughout his time in Yale theater so far, he has designed lights, served as Secretaryfor the Dramat, directed, acted, and most recently, assistant costume designed. In the rare times when he’s not in rehearsal, he can be found drinking French Toast Lattes at Atticus, giving tours at the YUAG, or making tea with his friends. Please feel free to reach out to him with questions about any of the aforementioned things, but also if you need help finding your way around the world of Yale theater!

emiliano.caceresmanzano@yale.edu, Cell: 210-287-2707

Allison Calkins

Allison (BF ‘27; she/her/hers), hailing from Cincinnati, plans to double major in Theatre, Dance, and Performance Studies along with The History of Art. She has ample experience in lighting design and electrician work. Allison is always open to providing advice regarding Vectorworks, Lightwright, board programming, or the design process. Further, she also works in the lighting industry outside of Yale—so please reach out if you are at all interested in the professional field!

allison.calkins@yale.edu, Cell: 513-725-6710

Emily Currie

Emily (BR ‘27, she/her/hers) is a biomedical engineering major from New Hampshire. Emily’s primary theater specialty is costuming, and she is very passionate about sewing and costume construction in particular. Outside of theater, she is the president of The Writer’s Room and a member of Yale Club Jump Rope. She is very grateful to have found her passion for costuming through the Yale theater world, so please feel free to reach out to her with any questions about specific shows or costumes, or even just about what costuming is like at Yale in general!

emily.currie@yale.edu, Cell: 603-918-6548

Corinne Evans

Corinne (GH ‘25; she/her/hers) is an Environmental Studies major from New Haven, CT. In her college theater experience, she primarily works as a lighting designer or electrician, but she has also dabbled in other production roles (such as producing). She is eager to share her knowledge and passion, meet other theater-lovers, and help people out in a pinch, so do not hesitate to text, call, or email her about lighting, producing, safety, or navigating the world of undergraduate theater at Yale. No idea is too silly; no question is too small.

corinne.evans@yale.edu, Cell: 203-645-8165

Maya Evans

Maya (SY ‘27, she/her) is a psychology and education studies major from Brooklyn. Coming to Yale, she didn’t have much experience in technical theater; she now has experience as a stage manager, lighting designer, and most recently, the Policy Director of the Dramat (and before that the Outreach Coordinator!). Outside of theater, she is a research assistant in two psychology labs, a Writing Partner (both at the Poorvu Center and with the Yale Prison Education Initiative), and a volunteer with the Yale Undergraduate Prison Project. As her primary interest is stage managing, Maya is passionate about creating rehearsal spaces that are inclusive, accessible, equitable, and fun for all involved. She would love to help both new and experienced theater-makers feel welcomed, empowered, and confident to make theater at Yale! Please reach out with anything theater related (or not theater related)!! She is so excited to be able to welcome people into this community that she loves so much – no questions are too small or silly!!

maya.evans@yale.edu, Cell: 347-405-3772

Talia Hsia

Talia (JE ‘27; she/her/hers) is an Economics major and Computer Science and French minor from New York. She has loved theater since middle school and spent a good portion of her high school and college years engaged in the stage production scene. At Yale theater, Talia primarily works in stage management and lighting design, but has taken on design roles in props, sets, and sound. When she is not running a show, Talia enjoys debating with the YDA and organizing events with her residential college council. She loves talking to people about all the random tasks and roadblocks in theater production and invites you to reach out about any questions or problems you might encounter or even if you just have a crazy story to tell. 

talia.hsia@yale.edu, Cell: 646-647-5448 (Maya will be studying abroad in the Fall but will become available in January)

Thomas Kannam

Thomas (GH ‘26; they/them) is a Theater, Dance, and Performance Studies major from Durham, Connecticut. Yale has given them the invaluable gift of trying on many different theatrical hats: producing, stage managing, choreographing, writing, and performing. None of this would be possible without guidance from Peer Mentors of past. They are extremely excited to share any and all knowledge of Yale theater processes and sincerely hope you’ll reach out! On campus you can also find Thomas in the Hopper aides office (go Hop!) or the Asian American Cultural Center (go Asians!)

thomas.kannam@yale.edu, Cell: 860-597-3668

Victoria Mnatsakanyan

Victoria (TD ‘27, she/her/hers) is a Cognitive Science major from Toronto, ON with certificates in Global Health and Italian. Growing up, Victoria performed in and directed a number of theatre productions; at Yale, she discovered the production side and now enjoys producing most of all. She also has experience on the institutional side of theatre, having served as the Secretary of the Yale Dramatic Association and now serving as the Treasurer. Outside of theatre, Victoria is a Campus Tour Guide, and the Business Manager of Yale’s premier sketch comedy group, Red Hot Poker. If you have any questions about theatre, Yale, or theatre at Yale, don’t hesitate to reach out!

victoria.mnatsakanyan@yale.edu, Cell: 203- 832-0177

Maya Molina

Maya (JE ‘28, she/her/hers) is from Baltimore, Maryland and planning on majoring in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology (maybe). She started her time in Yale Theater producing the Dramat Froshow, and since then has dabbled in as many different things as possible, including electricianing, technical directing, assistant stage managing, and assistant lighting designing (and while not technically true, she claims to have assistant costume designed). She is currently the Dramat’s Production Officer, and outside of theater dances with Yale Jashan Bhangra. She’s gained and learned so much from the many welcoming and capable people in Yale theater, and is excited to help other people enter its thralls. Please reach out about anything theater tech related (or anything theater related at all!)

maya.molina@yale.edu, Cell: 667-303-5905  

Owen Pinhasi

Owen (MC ‘28, he/him/his) is a Physics major from Cleveland, Ohio, pursuing certificates in Energy Studies and Statistics & Data Science. He has experience as a lighting designer for a variety of shows (17o1 Records, CPA, Thesis, Dramat), head electrician, and as secretary for the Yale Dramat. He also loves building and working on sets! Outside of theater, Owen is involved in renewable energy on campus and the Undergraduate Aerospace Association, and he spends a bit too much time playing pool and crocheting. Please reach out with any questions about lighting/electrician-ing, or Yale theater in general!! 

owen.pinhasi@yale.edu, Cell: 262-444-2450

Elizabeth Stanish

Elizabeth (SY ‘26; she/her/hers) is a Computer Science major from Keene, New Hampshire. She is primarily experienced as a stage manager, but also dabbles in props, costumes, and hangs lights from time to time. When she’s not in a theater, Elizabeth dances with Taps at Yale, is a tour guide, and works for the Computer Science department. She is passionate about creating safe and fun rehearsal rooms for everyone, and she is always willing to share her spreadsheet and scheduling tips with new theater-makers. No question is too small or silly, so whether this is your first show or tenth, please reach out with anything theater or Yale related!

elizabeth.stanish@yale.edu, Cell: 603-305-0802

AJ Walker 

AJ (BK ‘26; he/him/his) is a Theater, Dance, and Performance Studies and African American Studies double major from New York City. He is a multi-hyphenate theater maker with experience in directing, writing, acting, and producing and recently served as the Policy Director for the Yale Dramat. AJ is passionate about creating theater that is inclusive, equitable, and accessible for all and is always happy to help both new and experienced theater makers navigate the Yale theater scene. Outside of theater, he hopes to one day be an ambassador for Awake Chocolate. (Please sponsor me!)

 aj.walker@yale.edu, Cell: 646-630-3446

Sophia Williams

Sophia (TC ‘28; she/her/hers) is an Electrical Engineering major from northern Vermont. She has learned so much from being involved in the Yale theater community and is passionate about sharing her knowledge with others, especially new theater-makers! Her main area of expertise is sound engineering and sound designing, however, she also has experience with projections and set building. Sophia is very rarely outside of the theater but when she is, she enjoys live music, spending time with friends, and drinking coffee. She can also be caught mixing shows for Yale’s radio station WYBC! Sophia is always willing to talk anything sound or Yale theater related, and she will not hesitate to physically help troubleshoot technical issues. Please feel free to reach out at any time for any reason, and she will try her best to help!

sophia.williams@yale.edu Cell: 802-370-1100