Director

Emily Etherton

Emily Etherton (she/her) is a theatre artist based in OKC, and no stranger to Theatre Crude Fringe Festival. She co-wrote and directed the original sci-fi-fantasy-rock-opera Smoke & Mirrors which premiered at TCFF in 2024. As an actor, Emily has been seen at the festival in Biggest Little Fiend (2025), My Mind is a Smile with Blood Slicked Teeth (2023), and A Portion for Foxes (2022). Other OKC credits include Bris Amiss (with Jewish Theatre of Oklahoma), Love Song (with 3rd Act Theatre Company), and Constellations (a NextStage & KnockDownDragOut co-production). Emily is also a sometime sketch comedy writer and performer with the annual Christmas comedy outfit, The Polar Sketchpress. 

Why Eat Pray Poison? "I was drawn to this project for a couple of reasons. First, it's based on a fascinating, true story that illustrates women have always had each other's backs. In a world run by men, communities of women circled up to nurture and protect the vulnerable."

"Second, because the story of Aqua Tofana is sadly still relevant today. Women still have little recourse against domestic violence and abuse, in a system that is still run by men, many of whom work tirelessly to strip women of what rights we do have."

"My particular community of women - women in the arts - not only nurture and protect each other, but we are also in a position to shed light on women's stories and struggles, and I feel we have a responsibility to do so."

Jodi Nestander(Giovanna De Grandis and Laura Crispoldi)

Jodi Nestander (she/her) is returning to the stage after a four-year hiatus and making her Theatre Crude Fringe Festival debut. Previous theatre roles include Louise in "Always…Patsy Cline" (The Boom and Pollard); Katherina in "Taming of the Shrew", Supporta in "Scenes from an Execution" (Oklahoma Shakespeare in the Park); Becca in "Rabbithole", Mrs. Potts in "Disney's Beauty & the Beast", and Kate in "Sylvia" (Pollard Theatre). She is the voice of Lapis on the podcast "D20 to Curtain". She holds a BA in Communications-Theatre from the University of Central Oklahoma. Jodi is also an improv teacher, voiceover actor, and proud D&D nerd. She would like to thank Kris and the amazing cast/crew of EPP for bringing her back to life!

Rodney Brazil(Lt. Gov. Stafano Bracchi and Francesco D'Adamo)

Rodney Brazil (he/him) is an Oklahoma City-based actor whose work spans regional, fringe, and Off-Off Broadway stages. At Theatre Crude Fringe Festival, he co-created and performed in Meaningless, and collaborated on a number of others shows including Bromeo & Juliet, Thank You, Places, The Ultra-Conservative Theatre Summit and Naked Brunch, just to name a few. His regional and local credits include Texas the Outdoor Musical (Pioneer Amphitheatre), Schoolhouse Rock, Live! (Oklahoma Children's Theatre), The Divine Sister (The Boom), and The Merry Wives of Windsor (Oklahoma Shakespeare in the Park), alongside appearances at Lyric Theatre of Oklahoma in Newsies, Mother Road, Frost/Nixon, The Odd Couple, The Rocky Horror Show, and Lyric's A Christmas Carol. Off-Off Broadway, Rodney has appeared in Meaningless at Under St. Marks and performed his cabaret Presley Tweed: Fancy AF at The Rat as part of NYC Fringe. As a playwright, his works include Pricks! The Vaccine Musical, Worthy Causes, All My Ex-Boyfriends are Gay. He is a member of the Dramatists Guild of America.