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 Feb. 15 at the Thad Smotherman Theatre at Texas Wesleyan University (1205 Binkley Street, 76105) through Sunday, Feb. 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 include 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). Understudies include Peri Zachmeyer (Nan u/s), Nicole Ellis (Sweetheart u/s), Jackson Loya (Simon u/s) and Henry Valentine (Kyle u/s). The understudy cast will give their star turn during the Thursday, Feb. 22 evening performance.

The production team includes Reagan Fitzgerald (stage manager), Sidney Hernandez (assistant stage manager), Zachary Gafford (scenic design), Elizabeth Holmes (assistant scenic design), Grace Philipbar (costume design), Lillie Galvan (assistant costume design), Nathalie Beyna (lighting design), Pella Le Fever (sound design), Chad Rojas (props design), Ricky Olivarez (video 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 7:30 p.m. 

Fri., February 16 at 7:30 p.m. 

Sat., February 17 at 7:30 p.m. 

Second Weekend 

Thurs., February 22 at 7:30 p.m. - SPECIAL UNDERSTUDY PERFORMANCE

Fri., February 23 at 7:30 p.m. 

Sat., February 24 at 7:30pm 

Sun., February 25 at 2:00pm Matinee 

PERFORMANCE INFORMATION  

Exit, Pursued By A Bear contains adult themes and language, prop firearms and weapons, as well as domestic abuse, 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. Texas Wesleyan University students can redeem free tickets, sponsored by the Student Government Association, by using the code SGA at checkout or presenting their student ID at the box office on the night of the show.

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.