In June this year, I had the chance to photograph The Understudy — a fast, funny, and delightfully unhinged backstage comedy written by Theresa Rebeck and directed by Debra Kent. It was onstage at Beavercreek Community Theatre, and from the very first scene, I knew I was in for something special (and a little bit chaotic — in the best way).

Set during an understudy rehearsal for a fictional Broadway production of a “long-lost Kafka play” (yes, seriously), the show follows Roxanne (Kelli Locker), a stage manager just barely holding it together. She’s tasked with running a rehearsal that’s unraveling by the second — made even more complicated by the fact that Harry (Brandon Shockney), her ex-fiancé, has just been cast as the understudy to Jake (Zach Katris), a mid-tier action star trying very hard to prove he’s a real actor.

What follows is a hilarious spiral of passive-aggressive tension, missed cues, malfunctioning tech, existential dread, and a truly questionable snow machine.

Photographing The Understudy felt like chasing beautiful chaos — and I loved every second of it. The energy onstage was big and unpredictable, which made for some really dynamic and expressive photos. I’m always drawn to the little in-between moments — the silences, the glances, the slow-building meltdowns — and this show had plenty of those, mixed in with over-the-top theatricality and perfectly timed comic beats.

Here are a few of my favorite frames from the show:

Huge shoutout to the cast — Kelli Locker, Brandon Shockney, and Zach Katris — for bringing such heart and humor to their characters, and to Debra Kent for directing a show that balanced absurdity with something deeply relatable. We’ve all had “understudy energy” days.

And of course, thank you to Beavercreek Community Theatre for continuing to create space for stories that are weird, wonderful, and wildly human.

Until next time,

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Production Credits — The Understudy

Presented by Beavercreek Community Theatre