Playwright: Peter Sinn Nachtrieb
Directed By: Hannah Niece
Production Snapshot
What’s worse than a bad first date? A bad first date in a bomb shelter while a comet hurtles toward Earth. Meet Jules (literal, excitable, and possibly the last man on Earth) and Jo (strong, skeptical, and very much over this). Add a mysterious museum docent with a timpani, a cabinet full of tampons and diapers, and a very stressed-out damselfish, and you have boom. It’s a dark comedy about science, sex, and the “boom” that changes everything.
Run time: appx 90 minutes, with no intermission
Warnings: This show contains strong language (including swear words and slurs), strobe lights, and the use of a water based fog.
Cast
Kevin T. Keller
Jules
Kevin is so excited to be returning to Open Book for his 3rd season! He was last seen as Wadsworth in "Clue", Maurice in "Bernhardt/Hamlet", as well as directing "Ripcord" and soon he’ll direct "The Art of Floating". He has appeared on a variety of Metro-Detroit stages including (but not limited to) Detroit Rep, The Ringwald, and The Penny Seats. Kevin also directed an outdoor production of "Eurydice" with étude production that explored his love of dancers exploring theatrical acting. When not in a theatre Kevin runs a cafe, drags his friends on rollercoasters, and sees as many plays as he can. Many thanks to this "boom" team (all of whom he dreamed of working with for years), his friends, family, and all of his muses for all their unending support.
Danielle Wright
Jo
Danielle Wright (Jo) is excited to return to The Open Book Stage! She has had the opportunity to perform with theatres across the Metro-Detroit area, such as, Break the Chain, Planet Ant, The Snug, Theatre Nova, A Wilde Theatre, and more. You may have seen her last as Mrs. White in the "Clue" at Open Book Theatre. Danielle attended Wayne State University where she graduated with her BFA in Acting. When not performing, she loves teaching theatre with OpenSpot Theatre and hanging out with her fur babies. She hopes you enjoy the show!
Krista Schafer
Barbara
Krista Schafer (Barbara) is the founding Artistic Director of Open Book. She earned her degree in theatre from Northwestern University and has additional training from Arden Theatre Company, SITI Company, Fringe Benefits, and Augusto Boal. Krista has performed on professional stages large and small across the country. Krista won the Wilde Award for best performance by a lead actress for her title role in “Emilie”, as Lil’ Bit in “How I Learned to Drive”, and as Shelley in “Grand Concourse”, as well as the Best Director award for both “The Watson Intelligence” and “This Random World.” Like Barbara, she is sometimes a little overly enthusiastic, and often has to go back through written correspondence and remove an embarrassingly high number exclamation points. She loves to be anywhere in or near water.
Crew
Hannah Niece
Director
Hannah Niece (Director) is exploding with joy to be back working at Open Book! Hannah graduated from Wayne State University with a BFA in Theatre and has worked as an actor, director, and teaching artist for the last decade. Recent directing credits include "And Then There Were None" at Rochester Christian University and "The Complete Works of Jane Austen, Abridged" here at Open Book. Hannah splits her time between creating theatre, working as both a librarian and a bookseller, reading novels, and spending time with her sweet husband Eric and wild and wonderful children, Daphne and Miles, who give meaning to all this beautiful chaos.
Sarah Felicity Root
Stage Manager
Sarah Felicity Root (Stage Manager) is excited to return to Open Book Theatre. She is a graduate of Wayne State University where she earned a BFA in film and Broadcast Media Arts. After working at the Cannes Film Festival with IMDb and The American Pavilion, she transitioned into the theatre industry. Her recent theatre credits include: "Halftime with Don", "English", “The Complete Works of Jane Austen, Abridged", and "Clue". Outside of theatre, she works as a filmmaker. She's directed multiple short films and has worked on several professional sets including Discovery, IMDB, and Deadline. You can follow her work via her website or Instagram: www.sarahfelicityroot.org @sarahfelicityroot
Harley Miah
Lighting Designer
Harley Miah (Lighting Designer) is a freelance artist designing and programming for theatres, nightclubs, concerts and festivals across the country with IKO Global Productions. As the resident Lighting Designer for Open Book Theatre. Harley has earned Wilde Awards for Best Design – Lights for “Red” in 2014, and “This Random World” in 2022. Harley's work can also be seen this season at Tipping Point Theatre, The Inspired Acting Company, and at The Williamston Theatre. Harley spends his spare time with his loving partner Reyna spoiling their cats, traveling, and seeing as many shows as they can in this great theatre community we have in Southeast Michigan. He hopes you do the same.
Amanda Bates
Scenic Designer and Builder
Amanda Bates (Scenic Designer) is a Theatre Artist from the Detroit area working both in technical roles and as a performer. Most recently she was the Scenic Designer for "Athena" at Theatre Nova, "Car Stars The Musical", and Open Book Theatre Company’s 12th Season ("The Fantasticks"; "The Complete Works of Jane Austen, Abridged"; "Clue"; "How We Got On"; and "Lettice and Lovage"). Amanda received her MA in Theatre Arts from Eastern Michigan University and is a Scenic Carpenter at Meadow Brook Theatre. She is forever grateful to Milo and Liam for their support.
Katie Rain Auberle
Costume Designer
Katie Rain Auberle (Costume Designer) is a costume designer and technician based outside Detroit. Most recently, she was the assistant designer for “Always a Bridesmaid” at Meadow Brook Theatre where she was a stitcher and dresser for the 2025-26 season, a wardrobe apprentice at The Santa Fe Opera for the 2025 season where she designed an excerpt from “The Rake’s Progress,” and the costume designer for the Michigan premiere of “Little Women” at Tipping Point Theatre. Katie Rain is very excited to make her Open Book debut. When she is not dressing, stitching, or designing, Katie Rain can be seen tap dancing with her friends at Tap Dance Detroit.
Samantha Silva
Properties Designer
Samantha Silva is once again delighted to join the team at Open Book Theatre Company! She has served here as a stage manager and a props designer since 2021. She is eternally grateful for the doors Open Book has opened and the love and community she finds here year after year. She would like to thank her family, friends, and partner for pushing her to chase creative dreams and helping to keep all the plates spinning. Thank you to her son, Xander, for lending Mama all your art supplies and inspiring me every day. And thank you to the actors, artists, and audiences who keep theatre alive Downriver! Art is community and community is the only thing that can save the world.
Meet the Playwright(s)
Peter Sinn Nachtrieb
Peter Sinn Nachtrieb, 6’6″, is a San Francisco-based playwright who often writes about misfits, biology, apocalypse, and people struggling against large systems. His works include the plays boom (TCG’s most produced play 2009-10), BOB: A Life in 5 Acts, The Totalitarians, Hunter Gatherers, The Making of a Great Moment, A House Tour of the Infamous Porter Family Mansion with Tour Guide Weston Ludlow Londonderry, T.I.C. (Trenchcoat In Common), Colorado, Litter: The True Story of the Framingham Dodecutuplets, and the musical Fall Springs with composer/co-lyricist Niko Tsakalakos. His work has been seen off-Broadway and across the world including at Ars Nova, Woolly Mammoth, Seattle Rep, Actors Theatre of Louisville, Southern Rep, Barrington Stage Company, Kitchen Dog, Merrimack Repertory and in the Bay Area at Z Space, A.C.T., Encore Theatre, Killing My Lobster, Marin Theatre Company, Impact Theatre, and The Bay Area Playwrights Festival. His plays have received numerous awards including the Will Glickman Prize, The Stavis Award, The ATCA/Steinberg New Play Award, among others.
Peter is an alumna of New Dramatists and was the Mellon/HowlRound Playwright in Residence at Z Space in San Francisco 2013-18. He holds a degree in Theater and Biology from Brown and an MFA in Creative Writing from San Francisco State University.
