THE CAST
ANNETTE WRIGHT (Diane Pierce): I’ve been at this acting thing for a long time. I’ve worked at many of the theaters in town through the years. Recent theatre includes: The Roommate at SLAC, A Dolls House, Part 2, the Cheshire Cat in SLACabaret: Down the Rabbit Hole, and TEN summers of Saturday’s Voyeur (in the last one I was Mary Poppins!), all at SLAC! Recent film credits include: Christmas with the Campbells – a movie by Vince Vaughan, Murder at the End of the World, and Villains Incorporated by Jeremy Warner.
KIRT BATEMAN (Reggie Pierce): an actor since his 4th Grade production of A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Kirt returns to the stage after a 12-year hiatus. A Plan-B Theatre staple from 2000–2014, favorite works include The Laramie Project, Gutenberg! The Musical!, Clearing Bombs, Di Esperienza, Borderlands, Christmas with Misfits, and many others. Kirt has also performed with several other companies, including Amerika at the Toronto Fringe Festival. Kirt dedicates this performance to Oscar, “My light, my love, my heart,” and to Oscar’s Godfather, Jay, “for bringing the ERCBs into my life and being a life-long brother.” Kirt is proud to work at Grow the Flow—WATER TO THE LAKE!
ALLEN SMITH (Blair Pierce): has enjoyed performing in Hellman v McCarthy (Pygmalion); The Nethers, Race and The Waiters (Good Company Theatre); Wit and Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike (Wasatch Theatre) August: Osage County, The Pavilion, and 33 Variations (Silver Summit); Reefer Madness and Assassins(Dark Horse); Bash (Holladay Arts); and many productions with the Treehouse Troupe at the Treehouse Children's Museum in Ogden. Allen has an MA in Directing Theatre from Roosevelt University and loves spending his days teaching some of the best students in the world.
EVA TERRANOVA (Julie Pierce): is thrilled to be back at The Great Salt Lake Fringe Festival after 9 years! Some of her favorite roles include Lily St. Regis in Annie (Ogden Musical Theatre), a Soul Girl in Jesus Christ Superstar (The Grand Theatre), Isabella in Measure for Measure, Coriolanus in Coriolanus (both with New World Shakespeare Company), Beatrice in Much Ado about Nothing (Mad King Productions), Audrey in Little Shop of Horrors (Sandy Arts Guild), and Shelby in Steel Magnolias (On Pitch Performing Arts). Eva received her BFA from the U of U’s Actor Training Program.
PRODUCTION
RANDALL HUSKINSON – Playwright: is the founder of Curious Modern Plays and has spent a lifetime in and around the theatre as an actor, producer, playwright, board member, and Jimmy Awards regional judge. Among his plays are The Variants, War Bride, Save a Yeti—Ask Me How, and Out of the Mormon Closet, which was an award winner in The Marsh International Solo Festival. War Bride has received an Equity staged reading at HOME Theatre in Manchester, UK. As a journalist, his work has appeared publications around the world.
TERESA SANDERSON – Director: has been active in the Theatre Community in SLC for 35+ years. An actor, director, producer, and writer, Teresa loves all aspects of storytelling and feels lucky to be part of such a vibrant community. You may have seen Teresa on stage as Mama Rose in Gypsy, Violet Weston in August, Osage County, and Vivian Bearing in W;t. Recent directorial credits include The Roommate at SLAC, Red Devil at Meanwhile Park, Mother of the Maid for Pygmalion Productions, and Caroline, or Change for Good Company.
PAUL NAYLOR – Stage Manager: an experienced actorin his own right, and theatre board member. Paul is thrilled to be working with such a talented cast and team on his first adventure with Fringe. “Thanks to Teresa and Randall for the opportunity.”
CURIOUS MODERN PLAYS – Producer: develops new work for the stage. It was founded by playwright and producer Randall Huskinson. Projects range widely in setting and form, but return to the same question: what happens when people are placed inside a system—family, workplace, community—and the pressure begins to reveal who they really are? Development spans the U.S. and U.K., moving from readings and workshops toward production through partnerships with directors, actors, and producing organizations.
SALT LAKE ACTING COMPANY (SLAC) – Supporting Partner: is celebrating its 54th season and continuing its mission to engage and enrich community through brave contemporary theatre. Founded in 1970, SLAC is a not-for-profit 501(c)3 professional theatre dedicated to producing, commissioning, and developing new works and to supporting a community of professional artists. SLAC is affliated with the National New Play Network—an alliance of non-profit professional theatres that champions the development, production, and continued life of new plays.
MEANWHILE PARK / JEFF PARIS – Presenting Partner: Jeff has served on the board of Pioneer Theatre Co., SBDance, and Ririe-Woodbury Dance Co. Jeff has worked in advertising and marketing for over three decades. He was marketing director for the Utah Symphony.
What's Next for
THE VARIANTS?
Your experience at Great Salt Lake Fringe is the first public production of THE VARIANTS.
Like all new plays, it is still evolving. Every audience, every laugh, every moment of silence, and every thoughtful comment helps Randall shape what comes next for the Pierce family. The next major piece of the puzzle:
THE VARIANTS continues its development with a staged reading of the
full-length script (yes, there’s more!) in
Salt Lake Acting Company's prestigious annual New Play Sounding Series
which will be in February, 2027.
The reading will be public.
Visit SLAC for ticketing info.
Following that event, the script will continue to be adjusted as Randall explores future development opportunities and production opportunities.
If you'd like to help THE VARIANTS continue its journey:
Join the Curious Modern Plays audience at “Stay Connected” for updates via email.
Tell a friend about the show.
Know a theatre, producer, director, or literary manager? We'd love an introduction.
Every new play begins with an audience willing to take a chance on something that didn't exist before.
Thank you for being part of this beginning.
BACK TO TOP
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a CURIOUS MODERN PLAYS production
in association with MEANWHILE PARK
directed by TERESA SANDERSON
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and in development with
Further development and licensing enquiries:
Curious Modern Plays
copyright © 2026
