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 theatermakers. He would love to help with anything theatre (or not) related, so please reach out!
dhruv.bhalla@yale.edu, Cell: 203-508-4328
Maxwell Brown
Maxwell Brown (TC ‘25; he/him/his) is a Theater, Dance, and Performance Studies Major from New York. In the Yale theater scene, he has directed, acted, sound-designed, and composed music for several productions. Outside of theater, you may find him singing with Shades of Yale or giving tours around campus. Reach out if you’d like to talk about musicals, troubleshooting sound, any of the roles above, or how to get the resources/people needed to make shows happen!
maxwell.brown@yale.edu, Cell: 917-929-7629
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, Secretaried for 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
Forrest Hutchison
Forrest Hutchison (BK ‘25) is a Math and Physics major passionate about lights, drama, and coffee. Forrest has experience in lighting design, lighting tech, producing, and stage management, and he is always interested in learning more. Having never touched theater before coming to Yale, he loves helping first-time theatermakers find their way. Outside the theater, Forrest is a FOOT leader, climbing team member, and coffee snob. He loves hearing crazy ideas, answering questions about light boards, balancing theater and life, and wearing hard hats, so don’t hesitate to reach out!
forrest.hutchison@yale.edu, Cell: 601-383-3940
Aya Ochiai
Aya (TD ‘25; she/her/hers) is a mechanical engineering and environmental studies (not the science) double major from Skagit Valley, Washington. Her primary interest is technical direction and set design, and she would love to answer questions about how to make a cut list, how to use the props warehouses, and anything else sets related or otherwise. When not working in theatre, she dances with Taps and works in the engineering machine shop (in the basement of Mason). She started in technical theatre as a result of a peer mentor workshop her first year (yay UP Start) and welcomes everyone to Yale theatre!
aya.ochiai@yale.edu, Cell: 360-488-3064
Arden Parrish
Arden (SM ‘25, he/they) is a Molecular/Cellular/Developmental Biology and Psychology double major from Chicago. Most people are surprised to learn he’s a premed student because he spends the vast majority of his time stage managing! He’s passionate about cultivating rehearsal environments that prioritise the well-being of everyone involved in a production, and they’re excited to share their knowledge about how to navigate the many resources Yale Theatre has to offer, especially for first-time theatremakers. Outside of theatre, Arden conducts research at the medical school, plays piccolo in the Yale Precision Marching Band, and serves as the CT state chapter leader for the #insulin4all movement. Whether you’re a seasoned theatremaker or this is your first production, he’s happy to answer any questions you may have!
arden.parrish@yale.edu, Cell: 847-420-3486
Rylan Polster
Rylan (ES ‘25; he/him/his) is a junior studying Electrical Engineering and Computer Science. He is currently the Production Officer for the Dramat and has lots of experience in sound engineering, head electrician work, and technical direction. Rylan came to Yale with almost no technical theater experience, so he is especially passionate about helping first-time theater-makers navigate all of the resources Yale offers. Outside of theater, Rylan enjoys late nights in the Stiles buttery and doing NYT crossword puzzles with his roommates. Feel free to reach out with any questions about theater or Yale in general!
rylan.polster@yale.edu, Cell: 216-213-5300
Tyler Schroder
Tyler (MY ‘25; he/him/his) is a Computer Science major from Northern Virginia and even though he often finds himself behind the sound console or in the grid, he has to remind himself he is still not a theater major. His primary interest is in sound design & engineering and he is also experienced with project management, technical directing, and teaching theater skills. Outside of theater, Tyler runs the amateur radio station at ESC, can be found marching with the YPMB, or spending time with the Pauli Murray community. Send him any questions related to lighting and sound, or if you’re just not sure who to turn to!
tyler.schroder@yale.edu, Cell: 703-939-0494
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 theatermaker 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 theatermakers 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