Casey Mraz (Technical Director & Resident Scenic Designer) was born and raised in Albuquerque, New Mexico. He is a playwright, musician, scenic and properties designer, and sometimes actor. He graduated from the University of New Mexico in 2004 with a Bachelor’s of University Studies degree in History (emphasis in American and Ancient History), Theatre Arts (emphasis in Playwriting) and Media Arts (emphasis in Film History).

As an undergraduate Casey had three original plays produced in the Words Afire New Play Festival; Dios No Existe, en el Fin (a one-act, fall 2002); Miserable Miranda Milvenschlager (a play for young audiences, fall 2003); and, Bringing in the Sheeps: A Political Burlesque (fall 2004). In the fall of 2006 Casey entered graduate school at the University of New Mexico and will finish in the spring of 2009 with a Masters of Fine Arts in Dramatic Writing. In the summer of 2007 he studied Playwriting at Charles University in Prague, Czech Republic as part of a cultural/artistic exchange program sponsored by Western Michigan University. Under the pen name of Mars Mraz, Casey is the author of 14 plays: 5 original full lengths, 2 adaptations, 3 one-acts, 2 original plays for young audiences, 1 adaptation of a children’s book, and 1 ten-minute play.

As a musician Casey Mraz (guitar & vocals) is an original member of Dread Pirate Hotchkiss, formerly known as Morning Wood XXX, (Albuquerque’s only Chill Out Skip band established in 1997). The band, which blends various styles of music ranging from punk, reggae, and hip-hop to bluegrass, latin and metal, changed its name to Dread Pirate Hotchkiss in 2006 following the death of its guitarist/vocalist Chris J. Hotchkiss. At UNM Casey studied Flamenco guitar under Pedro Cuarda for two years during his studies as an undergraduate. Casey has also composed music on the guitar for The Laramie Project, (directed by Denise Schulz, spring 2003), and This Miserable Kingdom (A Radio Play about the Pueblo Revolt of 1680). Most recently he composed music on the banjo for Tricklock’s production Black River Falling. He also recorded a track on the accordion for Juli Hendren’s original piece, Cry Baby Sally. In addition to composing music for Black River Falling Casey also performed in the show, playing banjo in the band Snake Oil Market, during the Albuquerque run of the show and the subsequent European tour to Koln and Munster, Germany and Schzechin and Lodz, Poland.

As an undergraduate at UNM Casey begin designing sets for many student productions as well as main stage productions including Honk!, Psycho Beach Party, The Day They Shot John Lennon and Godspell. From 2002 to 2005 Casey served as the Properties Manager for the UNM Department of Theatre & Dance designing props for all main stage UNM productions including West Side Story, Plunda, and Once Upon a Mattress.

Casey began designing sets and props for Tricklock Theatre Co. in 2004 when he designed the backdrop for The Glorious & Bloodthirsty Billy the Kid... Since then he has designed many shows with the Company including Ionesco’s MacBett, Mac Wellman’s Dracula, In the Wind, Splinters, Love & Beauty, Mercy Seat, Black River Falling and Tricklock’s Production of Candide, in collaboration with UNM.

Casey would like to thank his father David, his mother Barbara, his sister Jessica and his son Massimiliano Adeodatus Mraz (Max) for all of their continuous love and support.