The Staff

Leslie is a Yonsei, fourth generation Japanese American, debuted as an actor in Northwest Asian American Theater’s Breaking The Silence that raised legal defense funds for, WWII US Concentration Camp Resister, Gordon Hirabayashi and his Supreme Court Case. This standing room-only event featured the first play to publicly share the history and stories of Japanese American Concentration Camp survivors, resisters, and their descendants. Since then, Leslie has felt called to support storytelling that is the healing justice of Black/Indigenous/People of Color (BIPOC) artists and the collective liberation of all.  As a director, community builder, and activist, Leslie is grateful to have worked with legacy BIPOC theatres; El Teatro Campesino, East West Players, Penumbra Theatre, Theatre Mu, and Native Voices. These artistic opportunities have informed her advocating in every initiative, space and creative process with which she curates and engages. (Service) Consortium of Asian American Theaters & Artists; National New Play Network; Juneau Arts and Humanities Council, E/D/I/A Committee; Anchorage Arts Alliance; Professional Non-Profit Theater Coalition; National Theatre Conference Member; artEquity; Tsuru For Solidarity. (Awards) United States Artist Fellowship, 2023; SDC Zelda Fichandler Director Award Finalist 2022; Teachers Making A Difference; New England Foundation for the Arts, Capacity Building Grant; Doris Duke Foundation National Theatre Grant; James P. Shannon Leadership Institute; Los Angeles Women’s Theatre Festival Integrity Award; SDC 2016, 2017 National Standout Recognition for championing equity/inclusion.  (228)

Anika Adames (she/her) is thrilled to join the Perseverance team as an apprentice in the beautiful Tlingit Aani! A proud Latine artist from Houston, TX, she has an immense love for work that celebrates and centers the voices of BIPOC creators. Prior to her graduation from Texas Tech University with a B.A. in Theatre and a minor in General Business, she wrote and directed Graves, a ten-minute play exploring queer love and the processing of grief, for the new work development-focused Frontier Festival that partnered with the university’s ASL department to incorporate deaf and hard of hearing performers and audience members. Anika has worked on several productions in varying roles, with her favorites being Props Designer for Water by the Spoonful (Texas Tech University), Scenic Charge Artist for Hairspray! (Moonlight Musicals), and Assistant Dramaturg for The Secretaries (Texas Tech University). She is so grateful to the Perseverance community for the chance to continue expanding her horizons and working towards just and equitable practices in the theatre.

Rio Alberto is a Chicano storyteller, arts educator, and producer based on Dena’ina Ełnena in Anchorage, Alaska. Most recently on the Perseverance Theatre mainstage as understudy for Roy/Mark/Pete/Bobby Jeremy in Fun Home, other notable roles include Ernst in Spring Awakening, Oscar D’Armano in Andrew Lippa’s The Wild Party, Niko Argitako/Sundeep Padamadan in Legally Blonde, Winston in 1984, Tom Collins in RENT, and Yinihaat/Kashagoon in Vera Starbard’s Devilfish, directed by Leslie Ishii. Alberto is Artistic Director of Spokane Ensemble Theatre, a member of the Professional Nonprofit Theatre Coalition, which is currently producing a tour of John Kauffman’s According To Coyote to tribal communities throughout the Northwest.

Benjamin Brown is a lifelong Alaskan who currently serves as Development Director at Perseverance Theatre, where he is a long-time company member having first performed in the 1996 production of Death of a Salesman directed by Molly Smith.  Brown has been a member of the Alaska Bar Association since 2002, was an attorney in private practice for many years, and has worked for all three of the State of Alaska's governmental branches.  Brown has served as Chairman of the Alaska State Council on the Arts since 2007, is Chairman of Women & Children’s Health Associates (a nonprofit that provides scholarships to young Kenyans pursuing education in medical fields) and is currently President of the Greater Juneau Chamber of Commerce.  Brown received his diploma from Palmer High School, bachelor’s degree from Georgetown University’s School of Foreign Service, and juris doctor from Northeastern University School of Law.

Noa Carlson (she/her) is honored to be an apprentice at Perseverance Theatre. In love with theatre and the study of the living world (biology), she feels blessed to have the opportunity to work in Tlingit Aani. Born and raised in St. Paul, MN, she found great interest in all things theatrical, beginning as an actor in her middle school production of The Music Man to stage managing her high school’s production of Mary Zimmerman’s The Secret in the Wings.

She ventured to Los Angeles, ready to experience consistent sun, where she graduated with a B.A. in Theatre & Performance Studies and Biology at Occidental College. After performing as lady in brown for a senior’s comprehensive project that focused on creating a space for women of color to heal together through the work of Ntozake Shange’s for colored girls who considered suicide/when the rainbow is enuf, Noa excitedly embraced theater as a means of community gathering and healing. In her senior year, she explored what it takes for land to become home by exploring themes of migration, creation stories, and indigeneity through her one-woman play A Land Unknown, Remembered. She looks forward to continuing that work through stories and action.

She is grateful to have worked with Penumbra Theatre and Mixed Blood Theatre in the Twin Cities this past year on various projects related to Black racial healing and community work, respectively.

Staff Bio

Earnest Eckerson is a versatile theater professional with experience in various roles, including painter, carpenter, technical director, and set designer. He has designed two previous productions, The K of D and Boeing! Boeing!, contributing his skills to bring stories to life. Earnest enjoys collaborating with creative teams and is passionate about the many facets of theater-making, from building sets to supporting the technical elements that shape a performance. 

Cecilia Funk (she/her) is stage manager and recent graduate from William & Mary where she earned her B.S. in Theatre and Applied Mathematics.  She has credits in stage management, direction, and performance. Most recently, Cecilia directed Paula Vogel's How I Learned to Drive as a part of her senior thesis, focusing on the importance of survivor stories. She is grateful for the opportunity to continue her theatre journey at Perseverance. 

.

Todd Hunt spent his formative years in stage lighting running lights for the 80s cover band NEXXT in Louisville, KY and finally got some actual training while in graduate school for orchestral conducting at Indiana University. In Juneau, he has been Perseverance Theatre’s Master Electrician off and on since the 2000 production of Wild Nights with Emily, and often helps out other local companies. Todd’s lighting designs have been seen in Juneau most recently by the audiences of West Side Story, L’Orfeo, Alcina, La Bohème, and most recently with PT’s STAR performances this past summer.

Risa proudly serves as both Production and Company Manager for Perseverance Theatre. She has served as a stage manager for Perseverance's The Great Leap and has taught stage management for our STAR education program. She is passionate about advocating for social equity and supporting cultural institutions. As an Angeleno who now works with a wonderful Alaskan theatre, she is in awe of the beautiful community and kindness she has received and wants to continue to contribute positively back for the generosity.

Josh Lowman is a writer, director, actor, photographer, filmmaker, projection designer, and occasional manager. Perseverance Theatre credits include Co-Directing This Wonderful Life with Leslie Ishii; Projection Design for Rush at Everlasting, Treadwell Gold, and The Elaborate Entrance of Chad Deity; as well as video capture and editing of several Perseverance Prodictions over the last three years. Acting credits include Gordon/Dwight in Cyrano's production of Dead Man's Cell Phone, Reggie Massy in The Beekeepers, various indie short films, and over 30 TV commercials over 30 years. Writing and directing credits include several plays for the One-Minute Play Festival and his short film Standards of Karen. Prior to joining Persevance Theatre he also had brief stints as a birthday clown, Branch Manager for Wells Fargo and National Bank Alaska, and board member for AIGA Alaska, Alaska Dance Theatre, and the Alaska chapter of the American Diabetes Association.

Melody is a lifelong Alaskan, hailing from Southcentral and the Kenai Penninsula. Though she began singing on stage at a very young age, Melody discovered that psychology and shared connectivity through the arts is what truly sets her heart ablaze. Leaving the pursuit of a music degree, Melody instead obtained a PhD in Psychology with a focus in Media Effects. Now, she gets to do her favorite thing: consume incredible art of all forms and share its beauty and messages across the world. Melody is excited to share her passion for experiencing and exploring art in all of its forms with everyone in the Perseverance community.

Staff Bio

Staff Bio

Salissa Thole is a proud woman of Hawaiian, Black, and Filipino descent. She is a local Juneauite, who is blessed to call both Alaska and Hawaii her home. She is a wife and a mother of two beautiful sons. Salissa is grateful to work with Perseverance Theatre, wearing a ‘different hat’ and joining the incredible behind the scenes team, as Administrative Assistant.

She most recently performed in Theatre Alaska’s World Premiere of Sisters of White Chapel, and Neighborhood Cabaret. Last appearance on stage (pre-Covid) was Juneau Ghost Light Theatre's (JGLT) production of The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee as Marcy Park. Other Stage Credits include Perseverance Theatre’s (PT) productions of Sweeney Todd, Chicago, Bigfoot and Other Lost Souls, Yeast Nation, Much Ado About Nothing, The Last Five Years, The Who's: Tommy, and Hair. Juneau Lyric Opera's productions of I Love You, You're Perfect, Now Change and Hairspray. Juneau Douglas Little Theater's (now known as JGLT) production of Five Lesbians Eating A Quiche. She was Irene Adler in the KTOO’s and JGLT’s collaboration of Sherlock Holmes Radio Mystery. Salissa is currently in two bands, Brown Sugar, and Gamble & the High Costa Living, who perform music gigs throughout Southeast Alaska. Last band gig was the Blues Brothers Concert 2022. She performed for the KRNN Show, Waayy Off Broadway; and for the Duke Ellington Show, which was a Black Awareness Association & Juneau Cabaret collaboration. She has sung for Martin Luther King Jr. celebrations annually; and has performed many times for Juneau Cabaret and Jazz Divas. She won 1st Place in the 2020 Juneau's Got Talent Competition presented by Juneau Dance Theater; had the honor of being a solo singer for A.W.A.R.E.'s Women of Distinction Gala 2020; and has performed for various other local community events. Salissa has been blessed with performing professionally for over 16 years, starting with PT back in 2006. Upcoming performance is Theatre in the Rough’s adaptation of Witch, opening this Fall 2022.

Laura hails from Port Arthur, Texas and Walnut Creek, California. She drove up to Juneau in 1995 with a friend who had designed hats for Perseverance. A three-month visit has turned into “forever.” She was told of the excellent plays Perseverance Theatre produced. She ushered for every show for the first 5 years and since spring of 2000, has been greeting patrons at every show.  Laura is excited to see all patrons come through the doors and watch the shows. She strives to make sure our guests’ needs are met whether it’s changing your seats or slipping you a cough drop. She likes to say "Perseverance feeds my soul."