CIRCLE THEATRE ARTISTIC DIRECTOR, ASHLEY H. WHITE, TO DIRECT LAUREN GUNDERSON’S SEXIT, PURSUED BY A BEARAT THEATRE WESLEYAN, FEB. 15-25

The third production in Theatre Wesleyan’s 2023-2024 Season
will be presented across two weekends.
FORT WORTH, TX (January 22, 2024) – Ashley H. White, the Artistic Director of Fort Worth’s
Circle Theatre, will serve as guest director for Theatre Wesleyan’s production of the Lauren
Gunderson play, Exit, Pursued By A Bear.
Performances begin February 15 at the Thad Smotherman Theatre at Texas Wesleyan
University (1205 Binkley Street, 76105) through Sunday, February 25.
In Exit, Pursued By A Bear, Nan has decided to teach her abusive husband Kyle a lesson. With
the help of her friend Simon (acting as her emotional – and actual – cheerleader) and a dancer
named Sweetheart, she tapes Kyle to a chair and forces him to watch as they reenact scenes
from their painful past. In the pièce de résistance, they plan to cover the room in meat and
honey so Kyle will be mauled by a bear. This dark revenge comedy is a night of emotional trials
and ridiculous theatrics.
The cast, design team, and crew comprised of Texas Wesleyan theatre majors and minors
pursuing Bachelor or Bachelor of Fine Arts degrees. The cast includes Lillie Grace Galvan
(Nan), Nicole Davis (Sweetheart), Jaalen Williams (Simon), and Hunter Heart (Kyle).
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Understudies include Peri Zachmeyer (Nan u/s), Nicole Ellis (Sweetheart u/s), Jackson Loya
(Simon u/s), and Henry Valentine (Kyle u/s).
The production team includes Reagan Fitzgerald (stage manager), Sidney Hernandez (assistant
stage manager), Zachary Gafford (scenic design), Grace Philipbar (costume design), Lillie
Galvan (assistant costume design), Nathalie Beyna (lighting design), Pella Le Fever (sound
design), Chad Rojas (props design), and Colin Schwartz (technical director).
ABOUT THE GUEST DIRECTOR
Ashley H. White (she/her) is an award-winning director, fight & intimacy director, and teaching
artist, with international credits and nearly two decades of experience. As a director, she has
helmed many productions, each of which incorporate significant play and pursuit of creative risk.
She is the recipient of 5 DFW Critics Forum Awards for Outstanding Direction as well as special
recognitions from the Critics Forum for her Fight & Intimacy work.
She is a certified Intimacy Director with IDC Professionals. As an ID, she has worked across the
U.S, in addition to on film & television, where her intimacy coordination work can be seen on
Amazon, The CW, Paramount+, among other networks and studios
She is an accomplished Fight Director and is a Certified Teacher with the Society of American
Fight Directors. She is a sought-after educator and is the creator of The Cycle of Consent – an
approach to building and navigating safe creative spaces.
Ashley is a proud member of SDC (Stage Director and Choreographers Society), and has
received nominations for the SDC Zelda Fischander and SDC Barbara Whitman awards for
innovation in directing.
In June of 2023, Ashley was named the new Artistic Director for Circle Theatre in Fort Worth,
TX. Ashley is directing Exit, Pursued By A Bear by special arrangement with Circle Theatre and
Stage Directors and Choreographers Society.
PERFORMANCE DATES
First Weekend
Thurs., February 15 at 7:30pm
Fri., February 16 at 7:30pm
Sat., February 17 at 7:30pm
Second Weekend
Fri., February 23 at 7:30pm
Sat., February 24 at 7:30pm
Sun., February 25 at 2:00pm Matinee
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PERFORMANCE INFORMATION
Exit, Pursued By A Bear contains adult themes and language, and is produced by special
arrangement with Playscripts, Inc.
Tickets range from $5.00 to $10.00 and are available online at txwes.edu/theatretickets or by
calling (817) 531-4211. Tickets will also be available at the door in-person beginning one hour
before each performance.
All plans and information are subject to change, and announcements will be made in the event
of adjustments. Please check the Theatre Wesleyan Facebook for the most up-to-date details.
Audience members who purchase their tickets in advance will receive any updates at the email
address they provide upon checkout.
If you have questions, please contact the Theatre Wesleyan office at (817) 531-5867.