REVOLT. SHE SAID. REVOLT AGAIN. Sargent Conservatory of Theatre Arts at Webster University. 2021. Director Joanna Battles. Left to right, top: Elizabeth Atkins ’22, Ashley Schwach ’24, Giac Noelle ’23, Carmen Retzer ’23, Chloe Berek ’22. Bottom: Evie Bennett ’22, Maya Love ’23
WHAT WE DO IN OUR STUDIOS, OUR REHEARSAL ROOMS, AND ON OUR STAGES SERVES AS REHEARSAL FOR WHAT WE DO IN OUR HOMES, OUR STREETS, AND EVEN OUR HEARTS.
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The Repertory Theatre of St. Louis is a fully professional theatrical operation belonging to the League of Resident Theatres, the League of St. Louis Theatres, and is a constituent member of Theatre Communications Group, Inc., the national service organization for the not-for-profit professional theatre. It operates independently of, but under a mutually beneficial agreement with, Webster University. The Rep operates under an agreement between the League of Resident Theatres and Actors’ Equity Association, the Union of Professional Actors and Stage Managers in the United States. The Rep hires directors and choreographers who are members of the Society of Stage Directors and Choreographers and stagehands who are members of the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees. Scenic artists employed by The Repertory Theatre of St. Louis are members of United Scenic Artists, Local 829, AFL-CIO. The scenic, costume, lighting and sound designers in LORT Theatres are represented by United Scenic Artists Local USA-829, IATSE. Financial assistance for this theatre has been provided in part by the Arts and Education Council of Greater St. Louis; the St. Louis Regional Arts Commission; and the Missouri Arts Council, a state agency. This project is supported in part by an award from the National Endowment for the Arts, a federal agency, which believes that a great nation deserves great art.
We honor and pay respects to the people that cultivated the land and then were forcibly removed from it. Our society is increasingly becoming more aware of the complexities of colonization, and those complexities come with us as we gather into spaces like The Rep. Acknowledging the land honors Indigenous communities, but more broadly it acknowledges the histories that brought us where we are today as a community. We are often fascinated by architectural history of a building; this gives us the opportunity to go further than a building and think about the history of a people that existed before buildings were erected. In addition to honoring donors and sponsors for financial gifts that they freely give, we believe it is critically important to honor those who lived and worked the land centuries before we arrived and still live here today.
About 80,000 people living in Missouri are a part of the Indigenous community. A land acknowledgment is a great starting point in honoring their history and legacy, and to make space for them in their own home.
It is important for us here at The Rep to acknowledge that the land beneath us owes its vitality to generations who have come before us in the spirit of making erased and silenced histories visible. We acknowledge that we are standing on the ancestral and occupied lands of many Native tribes that stewarded and cared for this land for centuries. The Illini, Osage, and Missouria tribes are just a few of the peoples that we pay our respects to. Please take a moment to consider the many legacies of violence, displacement, migration and settlement that bring us together here today and join us in uncovering such truths at any and all public in-person and virtual events.
There is nothing that brings me greater joy than to welcome members of our community to the theater as part of their holiday tradition. This extends to community organizations such as cultural touchstones COCA and The Big Muddy Dance Company, who we have partnered with on this production as part of our commitment to fostering a strong and vibrant arts community in St. Louis. The coming together of our community is vital, particularly at this time of year. I am consistently humbled and inspired that people from all across the region come together at The Rep. to experience joy, redemption and wonder. A Christmas Carol is truly my love letter to St. Louis. It is easily the best and brightest of what our community has to offer.
Written nearly two hundred years ago, A Christmas Carol tells the story of Ebenezer Scrooge, a wealthy miser who – as a result of his overwhelming grief – has severed himself from his own humanity. Scrooge must embark on a journey to reconnect with his humanity with the aid of family, community and three whimsical specters. It is only through this fantastical experience that Scrooge is able to recognize, understand and elevate the humanity in those around him. As someone who has seen at least a dozen
“ Reflect upon your present blessings—of which every man has many—not on your past misfortunes, of which all men have some.” —Charles Dickens
different adaptations of this treasured classic over the years, I was struck by Michael Wilson’s fearless ability to embrace the darkness of the story with unparalleled honesty and integrity, in service of the brilliant light of reclamation.
At its core, A Christmas Carol is a rumination on redemption, humanity and community. It manages to deftly examine the role that our community plays in our salvation as well as deeply explore the human condition. This is a story that above all affirms life and gives hope in potentially tumultuous times. Through the timeless genius of Charles Dickens’s storytelling and the brilliant imagination of Michael William’s script, I am certain that audiences will find this production a transformative experience regardless of age or background. You will see yourself in this story in a way you never have before and walk away with a deeper appreciation for the enduring masterpiece that is A Christmas Carol. Experience the wonder anew!
Hana S. Sharif AUGUSTIN FAMILY ARTISTIC DIRECTOR
Charles Dickens’ 1843 story, A Christmas Carol, has been beloved for generations. The story’s 6,000copy first printing sold out in less than a week, it went through 13 additional printings in its first year, and it continues to be a mainstay of the holiday season, now not only as a story to be read but also as one that has been frequently adapted to be enjoyed both on screen and on stage.
Many people embrace A Christmas Carol for its quintessential optimism: in this story even the most bitter, most mercenary person may overcome loneliness, isolation and cynicism to learn to celebrate the spirit of Christmas by embracing kindness and compassion. We as audience members delight in how Ebenezer Scrooge transforms almost magically from a curmudgeonly misanthrope grunting “Bah, Humbug!” to a joyous and generous wellwisher shouting “Merry Christmas!” in a matter of hours. And yet, if we view A Christmas Carol solely as the story about one person’s transformation from one extreme to another, we might miss its larger impact. Instead, we should appreciate Ebenezer Scrooge not as a mere caricature—a flat
figure whose signature “Bah, Humbug!” we can easily laugh at or reject outright—but rather as a multifaceted character living in a complicated world of both light and darkness. A Christmas Carol offers its audiences a chance to witness a personal journey that might at first seem foreign to our own experiences but can ultimately show us insights about ourselves.
It is essential to note that Scrooge himself once embodied the financially needy people he now scorns. In his early life, he endures poverty and privation. As he focuses on bettering his living situation, the young Scrooge forgets to continue to better himself. Thus tragically, while prioritizing putting his former poverty and pain behind him, Scrooge neglects his relationships and ultimately forfeits his own humanity. Over the course of A Christmas Carol, we witness a process of reconnection to others and a re-affirmation of a forgotten self. Moreover, when we keep Scrooge’s past in mind, we see that A Christmas Carol emphasizes a deeply felt recuperation more than a simple transformation.
In recognizing the story’s complexity, we deepen our understanding of Dickens’ story and our understanding of ourselves. Indeed, Dickens’ classic tale rebukes those who judge the less fortunate harshly, challenging us to confront our own blindness to the plight of others and to open both our eyes and our hearts to the world around us.
Dickens’ personal circumstances are helpful in understanding this perspective. The author himself had firsthand knowledge of the stress and pain of poverty: his father John Dickens was often in debt. Sometimes their family had to sell their own personal belongings and
everyday household goods such as their silverware and furniture to pay their creditors. Near Charles’ 12th birthday, the situation became dire, and his father was sent to debtors’ prison. John Dickens had many debts, but notably, it was money he owed to a baker—thus, significantly, a debt for food—that put him over the edge. Most of the family joined John Dickens in debtors’ prison, but young Charles was sent to work in a factory to earn money to pay off the family’s creditors. Although the family was released from prison after a few months when John received a small inheritance and although Charles subsequently stopped working in a factory, this early experience marked Dickens for life: he was constantly in fear of debt. In fact, A Christmas Carol was written in six short weeks under the spectre of mounting financial pressure.
As many know, spectres are literalized and play a centrally important role in Dickens’ original A Christmas Carol. Perhaps less widely understood is that just as people and characters embody versions of themselves, so do adaptations, which face the challenge of retelling a story in a way that retains its essential qualities while adding original elements. The adaptation of A Christmas Carol written by Michael Wilson that we see performed by The Rep today highlights and expands upon Dickens’ existing themes, and seems particularly apropos for a 21st century world that continues to struggle through the social and economic consequences of a global pandemic.
In this adaptation of A Christmas Carol, Wilson ingeniously adds three vendors: a seller of antique dolls, a purveyor of fruit and cider, and a watchmaker. All three characters owe Scrooge money. We discover one-by-one that business has been bad so none have any cash on hand when Scrooge comes to collect the money that is due. Instead, Scrooge collects an antique doll, a sparkling bottle of cider and a steam-powered clock. As you watch the show, I invite you to think deeply about these vendors, their lasting impact on Scrooge, and their thematic significance to the story as a whole. How do these figures haunt Scrooge? We know the vendors owe Scrooge money, but what does Scrooge owe to his fellow humans? How do we look beyond our own experiences? What can others teach us? How do we develop empathy? How do we remember our difficult pasts, and still move forward into the light? How can we best honor and enjoy the giving spirit of Christmas?
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Christmas Present/ Bert Paul Aguirre*
Belle/Fred's Wife Alegra Batara*
Fezziwig/First Solicitor/ Undertaker/Scrooge U/s Joseph Lewis Edwards*
Mrs. Fezziwig/Old Josie/Lead Caroler Carmen Garcia
Mrs. Cratchit Michelle Hand*
Second Solicitor/Party Guest Melissa Harlow*
Ebenezer Scrooge Guiesseppe Jones*
Topper/ghost dancer/Dance Captain Nathan Keen*
Bob Cratchit Armando McClain*
Christmas Past/ Bettye Laakan McHardy*
Jacob Marley/ Mrs. Dilber Michael James Reed* Fred/Young Scrooge Peterson Townsend*
Christmas Future/ Watchworks Eric Dean White*
ghost dancer/party guest/urchin DeAnté Bryant
Ghost Dancer /Fred's Sister In Law/Party Guest Jailyn Genyse
Claire Fezziwig/Rich Lady/Street Urchin Ally Gia
Ghost of Christmas Present/ Bert U/S Jayson Heil Martha/Nichola Fezziwig Aria Maholchic
Ghost Dancer /Beggar Woman/Party Guest Remi Mark
Ghost Dancer /Dick Wilkins/Street Urchin Collin Mekyel Milfort
Ghost Dancer /Party Guest Jorrell Lawyer-Jefferson
Ghost Dancer /Party Guest DaJuan Johnson
*Member of Actors’ Equity Association, the Union of Professional Actors and Stage Managers in the United States
Schoolboy/Wendy/Spoiled Child/Urchin Laine Auffenberg
Turkey Boy/Boy Scrooge/Fred's Son/Urchin Milo Baker
Ignorance/Cider Kid/Urchin Alexander Curtis Belinda/Past Attendant/Urchin Danity Gates Fan/Urchin Kaelyn McCurtis Young Scrooge/Urchin Vincent Emmanuel Meyer Past Attendant/Urchin Margot Perkowski
Schoolboy/Fred's Daughter/Urchin Arden Renee Powell
Want/Cider Kid/Past Attendant/Urchin Lorelai Radu Peter/Schoolboy/Urchin Spencer Slavik
Tiny Tim/Past Attendant/Urchin Rachel Spizler
Tiny Tim/Urchin Jaron Raphael Bentley
Ignorance/Cider Kid/Past Attendant/Urchin Sarah Jessica Bentley Schoolboy/urchin Cheyenne Alyssa Evans Peter/Schoolboy/Urchin Christopher D.A. Evans Past Attendant/Urchin Makenna Hosey Fan/Urchin Aspen Meyer Fred's Daughter/Urchin Rian Amirikal Page
Schoolboy/Wendy/Spoiled Child/Urchin Georgia Reynolds
Want/Cider Kid/Past Attendant/Urchin Imi Schneider
Turkey Boy/Boy Scrooge/Fred's Son/Urchin Christopher Varner Teen Scrooge/Urchin Christian (CJ) Varner, Jr. Belinda/Past Attendant/Urchin Devynn Yakel
The play will be presented with one 15 minute intermission.
Originally produced by the Alley Theatre, Houston, Texas, Gregory Boyd, Artistic Director; Paul R. Tetreault, Managing Director
A CHRISTMAS CAROL—A GHOST STORY OF CHRISTMAS is presented by special arrangement with Dramatists Play Service, Inc., New York.
Handel’s Messiah Dec 2-4 Big Band Holidays: Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra featuring Samara Joy Dec 5 All Mozart Dec 9-11 A Gospel Christmas with Sheléa Dec 15
Holiday Celebration featuring Byron Stripling Dec 16-21
Home Alone in Concert Dec 22-23
Film with Live Orchestra
Elf in Concert Dec 29-30 Film with Live Orchestra New Year’s Eve Celebration Dec 31
I am so thrilled to return to The Rep to serve as Choreographer for the 2022 production of A Christmas Carol. This is such a beautiful adaptation with an inspiring cast of artists. I am honored to work alongside this remarkable creative team to bring new life to this production under the leadership of the brilliant Director, Hana Sharif. This collaboration is very special to me as I have the opportunity to merge my loves of theater and dance. It also brings my artistic families: The Rep, COCA, and The Big Muddy Dance Company into the same space! I’m particularly proud to have two artists from Big Muddy in the cast this year as it has inspired them to explore new levels of their artistry and their connection to movement and storytelling.
This year, I focused on the symbolism of the ghost dancers. We worked on their character development, elevated the movement vocabulary, and created complex choreographic patterns. I worked with the dancers to establish an invigorating arch of dance and storytelling to guide Scrooge into the dream sequence where he begins his journey towards redemption. The level of collaboration that has gone into mounting this poignant story is a testament to The Rep’s dedication to artistic excellence and I look forward to future collaborations!
Kirven Douthit-Boyd, Choreographer Artistic Director, The Big Muddy Dance Company
20 The Repertory Theatre of St. Louis
PAUL AGUIRRE (Bert/ Ghost of Christmas Present) is overjoyed to return to The Rep and St. Louis for this unforgettable and beautiful production of A Christmas Carol. National Tours: Billy Elliot (Big Davey), Seussical (w/ Cathy Rigby), The Who’s Tommy (Uncle Ernie), How to Succeed… and How the Grinch… (Papa Who/cast recording) at Madison Square Garden. Regional: Favorite and recent include Evita (Magaldi), City of Angels (Lt. Muñoz/Vargas), Billy Elliot (Mr. Braithewaite) Jesus Christ Superstar (Herod), The Music Man (Marcellus), Guys & Dolls, Sunset Boulevard, multiple productions of In The Heights (Kevin, Piragua Guy), Kismet directed by Lonny Price at the Granada Theatre and Twist: An American Musical directed and choreographed by Debbie Allen at the Alliance Theatre and Pasadena Playhouse. Paul is also the creator/owner of Broadway Dolls & Guys, custom crocheted dolls and gifts. Love to David, Nikki and Arya. Paul forever dedicates his work to Ma for her never-ending love and support. Visit: BroadwayDollsandGuys.com
ALEGRA BATARA (Belle/Fred’s Wife) is elated to be returning to The Rep and A Christmas Carol. Alegra is an emerging multihyphenate theatre artist with a special interest in stories centering Queer identities and the AsianAmerican experience. Regional: Miss Honey in Matilda, Mercutio in Romeo and Juliet (Festival 56), Jacquenetta in Loves Labours Lost (Great River Shakespeare Festival), and Olive in the national tour of Pete the Cat (TheatreWorksUSA). Most recently, they led a devised theatre process in Knoxville, TN. Training: They received
their BFA in Musical Theatre in the spring of 2021 from the Sargent Conservatory of Theatre Arts. Thank you, Hana Sharif, for this wonderful opportunity to continue to learn and grow as an artist. Love to family and friends for their continuous support of her dream-chasing. Representation matters today. Visit: alegrabatara.com Social: IG @rubies_ and_daffodils
JOSEPH LEWIS EDWARDS (Understudy Fezziwig/First Solicitor, Scrooge) is an actor and playwright whose work has been showcased on film, television, and stage. His Off-Broadway adaptation Manchild In The Promised Land, was nominated for an AUDELCO Award for excellence in Black theater. He won three AUDELCO awards for his critically acclaimed Off-Broadway production of FLY. Off Broadway: Officer Burt in Urban Transitions with Chadwick Bozeman.
Regional: Boy Willie in the Baltimore Center Stage production of August Wilson’s Fences, Martin Luther King Jr. in the St. Louis Black Repertory Theater production of The Meeting at the Kennedy Center, and Bobo in the Williamstown Theater Festival production of A Raisin In The Sun starring Viola Davis and Rubin Santiago Hudson. TV: Guest appearances on Law and Order and Law and Order SVU, guest appearance in season 3 of the Netflix series Dare Devil.
CARMEN GARCIA (Mrs. Fezziwig/Old Josie/Lead Caroler) is thrilled to return to A Christmas Carol. Previously at The Rep: Evita, and a staged reading of Frida, a new musical. Regional: Last Stop on Market Street at Metro Theatre
Company, Grandma in COCA’s Billy Elliot, Luchadora! at Theatre Nuevo, The Last Days of Judas Iscariot at Mustard Seed Theatre, and In the Heights at R-S Theatrics among others. During quarantine Carmen participated in several virtual plays, readings and musicals. Visit: carmenunscripted.com
MICHELLE HAND (Mrs. Cratchit) is so happy to return to the cast of A Christmas Carol with Hana and this creative team. Previously at The Rep:Lady Middleton in Sense and Sensibility, Helen in Born Yesterday, Marianne/Toril in Oslo and Mrs. Bennet in Pride and Prejudice. She will appear next as Heidi Schreck in the St. Louis premiere of What the Constitution Means To Me with Max & Louie Productions. She is grateful for all the many opportunities the last twenty years have provided to work with the great companies, the great actors, and the great theater artists of St. Louis—thank you for your continued support of this community. Special thanks to the ladies, the mommies, Bazzy and Dave.
MELISSA HARLOW (Second Solicitor/Party Guest) is overjoyed to reprise her role as Second Solicitor. Previously at The Rep: Puss in Boots with the Imaginary Theater Company. Theatre: Favorites include Fiona in Shrek (Larry D. Clark Summer Rep), The Final Version (Nuyorican Poet’s Cafe), Bad Seed (Jedlicka Performing Arts Center), God of Carnage (Pax Amicus Castle Theater), The Adventures of Perseus (New Jersey Young Audiences & Experiential Theatre Co. Tour), A Comedy Wedding (Gateway Arch Riverboat Shows), Collective Cabarets with the national
touring cast of Wicked, cover (a play about trafficking) by Joy Powell, and This Very Moment - a musical revue by Brett Kristofferson (Stomping Ground Theatre Co.). She has also performed with the Hoosier Shakespeare Festival in The Complete Works of William Shakespeare Abridged, as Juliet’s Nurse in Romeo and Juliet, and Don Pedro in Much Ado About Nothing. Film: Star Crossed Lovers and The Writer.
GUIESSEPPE JONES (Ebenezer Scrooge) Regional: Sir Rupert Watlington Pipps in Jeeves Intervenes at NC Stage, Lt. Stokes in American Son at The Pittsburgh Public Theater, Bono in Fences at the California Shakespeare Festival, Henry in Race at The Contemporary American Theater Festival (CATF), Holloway in Two Trains Running and Sam in Master Harold and the Boys at The Weston Playhouse. NYC. Theatre: Stott in Public Enemy at The Pearl Theater Company, The Lieutenant in Ariel Dorfman’s NYC premier of Widows at 59East59th St., and Logger in Eisa Davis’s Pulitzer Prize nominated Bullrusher at Urban Stages. TV and Film: FBI: Most Wanted, For Life, Prodigal Son, The Black List, Blue Bloods, House of Cards, and Julie and Julia. Training: The American Conservatory Theater in San Francisco.
NATHAN KEEN (Topper, Ghost Dancer, Dance Captain) is excited to return for his second year with The Rep! Broadway: Hello, Dolly! (Ensemble, Vacation Swing, Shubert Theatre), Les Miserables (Gavroche, Imperial Theatre). National Tours: Hello, Dolly! (Swing, Assistant Dance
Captain), Finding Neverland (Ensemble), West Side Story 50th Anniversary International Tour (Jet Boy Swing), Chicago (Swing), We Will Rock You (Ensemble), West Side Story (Big Deal, Fight Captain, u/s Riff, u/s Action). Regional: The Cher Show (Regional Premier, Ogunquit Playhouse; Ensemble, u/s Bob Mackie), A Christmas Carol (Repertory Theatre St. Louis; Topper, Ghost Dancer, Dance Captain). Thanks to CESD. Love and thanks to Jenny, Mum, and Keener. Social: @nateckeen
ARMANDO MCCLAIN (Bob Cratchit) is an actor/writer/ teaching artist in the LA area. Theatre: Cranes (Center for New Performance), Julius Caesar (TFANA), Good Person of Schezuan (Cal Shakes), The Odyssey, The River Bride, The Sign in Sidney Brustein’s Window, Much Ado About Nothing, Twelfth Night, The Winter’s Tale, and Antony & Cleopatra (Oregon Shakespeare Festival) Othello (Perspective Theater), The 39 Steps, Macbeth, Taming of the Shrew (Livermore Shakespeare) The Night is a Child (Pasadena Playhouse) The Closet Farthest Away (Project Por Amor) and Blue/ Orange (Pacific Repertory Company). Training: MFA from the California Institute of the Arts.
LAAKAN MCHARDY (Christmas Past/Bettye Pigeon) is thrilled to return to the company of A Christmas Carol at The Rep! Most recently she appeared Off-Broadway in the American premiere of Chains by Elizabeth Baker with Mint Theater Company. Off-Broadway: The Wolves at Lincoln Center Theater. Regional: In addition to last season’s production of A Christmas Carol, she has
appeared in The Tempest (Guthrie Theater), Macbeth (Seattle Rep), Macbeth (Actors Theatre of Louisville) and The Many Deaths of Nathan Stubblefield (Humana Festival of New American Plays). TV and Film: Succession (HBO), The Blacklist (NBC), FBI: Most Wanted (CBS), Madam Secretary (CBS), Tommy (CBS) and the indie feature 16 BARS. Training: Mount Holyoke College and the Professional Training Company at Actors Theatre of Louisville.
MICHAEL JAMES REED (Jacob Marley/Mrs. Dilber) is so happy to once again wear the chains of Jacob Marley and the dress of Mrs. Dilber. Previously at The Rep: 19 shows including Pride & Prejudice (directed by Hana Sharif), Oslo, Dolls House Pt 2, All the Way, A Steady Rain, and A Midsummer Night’s Dream (St. Louis Theatre Circle Award). St. Louis Theatre: numerous appearances withThe MUNY (most recently Chicago and Mary Poppins) as well as St. Louis Shakespeare Festival, St. Louis Actors Studio, Moonstone Theatre, New Jewish Theatre, and Upstream. New York Theatre: La Bête (Broadway), King Lear (Roundabout), Amphitryon (CSC), and A Forest in Arden (NYTW). Regional: Michael’s favorites include the Old Globe (including Pericles in Pericles, Marc Anthony in Julius Caesar), Alley Theatre (Joe Pitt in Angels in America), American Conservatory Theatre (Brick in Cat on a Hot Tin Roof), as well as productions at Papermill Playhouse, Pasadena Playhouse, South Coast Rep, Asolo Theatre Festival, Berkshire Theatre Festival, Syracuse Stage, Great Lakes Theatre Festival, and Shakespeare Santa Cruz. TV: Favorite appearances include Chicago PD, Numbers, 24,
Six Feet Under, The Shield, King of Queens, and That 70's Show. Training: London’s Guildhall School of Music and Drama. All my love and my heart to Ivy & Julie. Visit: michaeljamesreed.com
PETERSON TOWNSEND (Fred/Young Scrooge) is honored to be returning to St. Louis Rep, where he was last seen in Ms. Bennet: Christmas at Pemberley and Satchel Paige & the Kansas City Swing. Theatre: Chains (Mint Theatre Co.); Porgy and Bess, Aida, Adriana Lecouvreur, La Boheme, Fire Shut Up in My Bones, (Metropolitan Opera); America 2.1 the Sad Demise.. (Barrington Stage); Antigone (Baltimore Center Stage); Twelfth Night (Chicago Shakespeare Theatre); A Raisin in the Sun, Cinderella, History Boys, Our Town (Arden Theatre); Big Doolie (NYC Fringe); Hospital (Axis Theatre); The Lost Colony (Riverside Theatre). TV and Film: Invasion (Apple tv+); Prodigal Son (Fox); Law & Order SVU/CI/Prime (NBC); The Good Fight, Madame Secretary, Instinct, Sally Hemmings (CBS); Twelve (Scarlet Sky Productions).
ERIC DEAN WHITE (Christmas Future/Watchworks/ Party Guest) is very excited to be returning to The Rep after appearing in A Christmas Carol in 2021 and in Pride & Prejudice in 2019! He has worked at numerous theatres around St. Louis and regionally. Theatre: Favorite roles include Salt, Root & Roe (Gareth), The Kiss/De Kus (Man), The Last Days of Judas Iscariot (Satan), Driving Miss Daisy (Boolie), The Fourth Reich (Man), Never the Sinner (Robert Crowe), The Normal Heart (Felix), The Pillowman (Tupolski), King Lear
(Kent), Savage in Limbo (Tony). TV: Chicago Fire, (NBC). Training: The American Academy of Dramatic Arts, New York. Proud member of Actors’ Equity Association. Love to Wendy, Payton & Cassidy for their never-ending patience & support. Visit: ericdeanwhite.com
JORRELL LAWYER-JEFFERSON (Ghost Dancer) Jorrell Lawyer-Jefferson holds both his Bachelors of Arts in Music and his Masters of Fine Arts in Dance from Sam Houston State University. He has performed works by Andy and Dionne Noble, Evelyn Toh, Joshua Peugh, Shen Wei, Gabrielle Lamb and Joshua Manculich. After debuting as a featured dancer in Houston Grand Opera’s 2019 production of Florencia en el Amazonas, Jorrell has gone on to work with directors Eric Sean Fogel, Francesca Zambello, Rob Ashford and Robert Wilson. Notably, he choreographed HGO’s 2020 production of Aida where he worked closely with director Phelim McDermott. This summer he will be choreographing Rinaldo at the Glimmerglass Festival. Jorrell is currently a company member with the Big Muddy Dance Company for their 2022-2023 season.
DAJUAN JOHNSON (Ghost Dancer) is a Saint Louis native who began his dance training at Best Dance and Talent Center. He attended the Central Visual and Performing Arts High School where he also attended Alexandra School of Ballet. DaJuan participated in The Fox Annual
Talented Teen Competition where he received 1st place for his performance in the Cotton Club. In 2012, DaJuan, attended the University of Missouri - Kansas City (UMKC) where he studied in the Dance Conservatory Program. In 2017, DaJuan received his Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) with a dual emphasis in Modern and Ballet Performance Techniques. Upon graduation DaJuan attended the Alonzo King Lines Training Program in San Francisco, California. Upon completion in 2019, DaJuan was offered the opportunity to join the TU Dance Company of Minnesota where he performed alongside Bon Iver, and The Indie Pop Star, in collaboration with the TU Dance Company for the production of Come Through. Come Through had the opportunity to travel its production to cities throughout the United States. DaJuan is currently a company member with Big Muddy Dance Company in his hometown of Saint Louis, Missouri. DaJuan has performed works by Michale Utoff, Ray Mercer, Sabrina Madison Cannon, Deanna Hiett, Gary Abbott, Keviin Lega Jeff, Sidra Bell, Maurya Keer, Gregory Dawson, Gregory Dolbashian, Arturo Fernandez, Uri Sands, Bridget Moore, Alex Ketly.
DEANTÉ BRYANT (Ghost Dancer/Party Guest/ Urchin) is a senior Musical Theater Major at the Sargent Conservatory of Theater Arts. He is thrilled to make his return to A Christmas Carol this season. Theatre: Reverend Dr. Thomas Vincent in The Living directed by Jennifer Wintzer and A Dickens of a Christmas Fox Theater Tour. Outside of the stage, DeAnté loves making music and has a few songs out on Spotify & Apple Music. DeAnté also enjoys writing and is currently working on his first musical “It’s Not About You”.
JAILYN GENYSE (Ghost Dancer /Fred's Sister In Law/Party Guest) is thrilled to be making her debut at The Rep! She is a current senior in the Sargent Conservatory of Theatre Arts at Webster University where she will receive her Bachelor of Fine Arts in Acting. Theatre: Big Kid/ Miss Honey understudy in Matilda The Musical (COCA), Edward Tulane in The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane (Sargent Conservatory), and Ensemble in American Idiot (Sargent Conservatory). Social: @jailyngenyse
ALLY GIA (Claire Fezziwig/Rich Lady/ Street Urchin) is thrilled to be making her Rep debut in A Christmas Carol! She was most recently seen as Heather in Webster’s Sargent Conservatory’s American Idiot. Theatre: Sondheim On Sondheim (Ensemble), Deadly (Chorus), and Good Kids (Chloe). Ally is currently a
senior at Webster’s Sargent Conservatory, and will be graduating in May with her BFA in Musical Theatre. She would like to thank Hana, Becks, and everyone at The Rep for this amazing opportunity, and her mom for being her biggest supporter. Visit: allygia.com
JAYSON HEIL (Ghost of Christmas Present/Bert Understudy) is thrilled to be making his Rep debut! Favorite Theatre: Segismundo in Sueño, Man in Chair in The Drowsy Chaperone, Edna Turnblad in Hairspray, Sondheim on Sondheim at the Webster Conservatory. Training: Webster Conservatory of Theatre Arts (current senior, BFA candidate). He'd like to thank his family, friends, and teachers for always supporting and encouraging his passion for theatre.
ARIA MAHOLCHIC (Martha/Nichola Fezziwig) hails from a small town in Upstate New York and is currently a Junior at Webster’s Sargent Conservatory of Theatre Arts, earning her Bachelor of Fine Arts in Musical Theatre.
Theatre: She grew up performing in a number of musicals and operas at the Glimmerglass Festival in Cooperstown, New York. Most notably, she appeared as Amaryllis in The Music Man directed by Marcia Milgrom-Dodge and Athena in The Odyssey directed by Francesca Zambello. This past spring she appeared as Julien in The Conservatory’s production of Moliere’s The Learned Ladies directed by Rebekah Scallet. Aria is thrilled to be making her debut at The Rep.
REMI MARK (Ghost Dancer /Beggar Woman/ Party Guest) is ecstatic to be making her professional debut with The Rep! Born and raised in Miami, Florida. Theatre: Philaminte in The Learned Ladies (Sargent Conservatory), Swing in The Miraculous Journey of… (Sargent Conservatory). Film: REMI (Sam & Jack Productions). Awards: Young Playwrights Festival Winner 2019 and 2020 (The Blank Theatre). Training: Sargent Conservatory at Webster U BFA MT '24, NWSA MT '20. Thankful for my family and mentors for the never-ending support! Social: @_remimark"
COLLIN MEKYEL MILFORT (Ghost Dancer/Party Guest/ Urchin) is thrilled to be making his debut at The Rep! Regional: Swing in Joseph and The Amazing… (The Muny), Palefsky Collision Project (Alliance Theater) TV: Legacies (CW), Do Revenge (Netflix). Training: BFA MT '24 Webster U. HHS APVA Musical Theater ‘20. SAG-E and EMC. East Atlanta native! Thanks to my team and huge support system! Broadway, I'm coming for you. Social: @CollinMilfort
LAINE AUFFENBERG (Schoolboy/Wendy/Spoiled Child/Urchin) is very, very excited to be a part of this A Christmas Carol cast! Laine is a 9 year old fourth grader at The Immacolata School and enjoys volleyball, voice and staying up late to read the encyclopedia. Theatre: Favorite credits include C.C. in Big Machine (COCA), Bright Bird in A Year with Frog and Toad (GCPA), & Rooster in Annie (COCA).
MILO BAKER (Turkey Boy/Boy Scrooge/Fred's Son/ Urchin) After an amazing time at Camp Rep this past summer, Milo jumped at the opportunity to audition for A Christmas Carol and is excited and proud for his debut theater performance! Milo is in the fourth grade and in addition to being the entertainment, he loves to play video games, dance, and play soccer. He is currently taking dance classes at COCA .
JARON RAPHAEL BENTLEY (Tiny Tim/Urchin) is extremely excited to get his first role in The Rep’s A Christmas Carol. As a homeschooled third grader, Jaron’s favorite subject is math, playing his drums and dancing hip hop. Following in his older siblings footsteps, Jaron has taken musical theater classes at Stages St Louis and currently enjoys tap, hip hop and ballet classes at COCA St. Louis. He also loves singing with the St Louis Children’s Choir.
SARAH JESSICA BENTLEY (Want/Urchin) is excited to be cast in her first role playing the roles of Ignorance & Cider Kid in A Christmas Carol at The Rep. Sarah is a homeschooled first grader who loves singing and dancing to musicals in her free time. She is getting her skills ready for the world of musical theatre by taking tap and ballet at COCA St. Louis, and singing with St. Louis Children’s Choir.
AJ CURTIS (Ignorance/Cider Kid/Urchin) is in first grade. When he's not on stage he loves soccer and tennis and enjoys going to Cardinals Games and the Saint Louis Zoo. His favorite artists are Coldplay and Imagine Dragons.
CHEYENNE ALYSSA EVANS (Schoolboy/Urchin) is a native of St. Louis, Missouri. She attends the St. Louis Language Immersion School and is a fifth grader within the Chinese Program. In addition to acting in school and church plays, Cheyenne has been a valuable player on her youth basketball team and is a candidate to test for black belt in martial arts. Cheyenne’s picture was selected to advertise her school on the St. Louis city bus for several months in 2020. She is also gearing up for a new role in an upcoming national film.
CHRISTOPHER D.A. EVANS (Peter/Schoolboy/Urchin) is a native of St. Louis, Missouri and a middle schooler at St. Louis Language Immersion School within the Chinese Program. He has been a professional performer of local
audiences for seven years portraying a variety of roles in theatre as well as commercial production, including social media, and several film projects. His favorite roles include his appearance in the energetic, "Like a Lot a Lot" SAVE A LOT commercial and his role as Timothy during the On The Set Summer Film Camp 2022. He's excited to make his debut with The Rep and thanks his TeamFocused Productions talent manager, for believing in his potential.
DANITY GATES (Belinda/Past Attendant/Urchin) is a sixth grader and has a passion for the theatre arts. Her hobbies include dancing, singing, acting and reading. Danity's personality is very dramatic, comical and bubbly. Her favorite school subject is social studies and when she grows up, she wants to be a historian and/or actress. She is a PPD student at COCA and recently starred in Matilda the Musical as Hortensia. Danity was also seen in plays such James and the Giant Peach with the YMCA Chesterfield Community Theater.
MAKENNA HOSEY (Past Attendant/Urchin) Makenna is excited to be in her first professional theatrical production at The Rep. She is a first grader attending Garden City Montessori. She loves to read, draw and dance and takes dance classes at COCA.
KAELYN MCCURTIS (Fan/Urchin) is ecstatic about her role in A Christmas Carol at The Rep. She recently played Mal in Disney’s Descendants at Stages Performing Arts Academy. Kaelyn participates in the Triple Threats Program at Stages. Kaelyn got to know The Rep over the summer while attending Camp Rep. Kaelyn loves to sing, act, and dance (especially hip-hop and ballet)! Kaelyn is an eighth grader at Abiding Savior Lutheran School. Kaelyn plays volleyball for the Warriors and takes part in Student Council.
ASPEN MEYER (Fan/Urchin) is honored to make her Rep debut in A Christmas Carol. Theatre: Youth Chorus in Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat (Muny), Kendra, 13: The Musical (GCPA), and Mary Poppins, Mary Poppins Jr. (SPAA). She’s a member of the STAGES Triple Threats, and alumni of Destination Broadway. In her free time she volunteers for A Touch of Hope: Purse Project. She gives special credit to her vocal coach and mentor Sonny Willis and to the COCA & Repertory ACC Youth Team. Social: @aspentreemeyer
VINCENT EMMANUEL MEYER (Young Scrooge/Urchin) is thrilled to be part of the youth ensemble in The Rep’s’ production of A Christmas Carol. An actor, musician, composer, visual artist, and member of COCA’s Pre Professional Division, Vince has received additional training in interdisciplinary arts at the Interlochen Center for the Arts, and is grateful for the ongoing support from instructors including Adina, Michael,
Jenny, and Rob. Last season’s production of A Christmas Carol at The Rep was Meyer’s first professional stage appearance. Meyer attends Ladue Middle School.
RIAN AMIRIKAL PAGE (Fred's Daughter/Urchin) is both excited and thankful to be returning to the Rep's production of A Christmas Carol this year. She made her debut last year as Tiny Tim Cratchit and is looking forward to her new roles as Fred's Daughter and Schoolboy. Rian also enjoyed playing the role of Nigel in COCA's production of Matilda the Musical. Rian trains vocally with Dr. Philip A. Woodmore of P. Woodmore Music, LLC. She sings with Phil Woodmore Singers, KIDZ and the Youth Choir at Kennerly Temple COGIC. Rian was featured as a soloist for the Mayor of St. Louis at her State of the City Address in April 2022. Rian loves to model and is a social media influencer for Afro World Hair and Fashion, CO in St. Louis, MO. In her spare time Rian has started playing the flute and loves spending time with her family and friends.
MARGOT PERKOWSKI (Past Attendant/Urchin) is a kindergartener at Maplewood Richmond Heights Early Childhood Center. She takes dance and theater at COCA and loves to perform for family and friends. When not in school, you can find Margot creating songs and shows with her younger sister at home. A Christmas Carol is Margot’s first professional performance.
ARDEN RENEE POWELL (Schoolboy /Fred's Daughter/ Urchin) is thrilled to return to The Rep in A Christmas Carol! Arden is in the second grade and aspires to see the bright lights of Broadway as she pursues her musical theater career. She’s been inspired by the works Hamilton, Annie and The Sound of Music. In her free time, Arden enjoys spending time with her family and friends, riding her bike, singing and doing lots of reading! She is so grateful for the opportunity to play the role of Want/Cider Kid. Thank you to Hana Sharif, Jenny Wintzer, Michael Tran, the incredible youth ensemble and the amazing “grown-up” actors for creating a memorable and treasured experience!
LORELAI RADU (Want/Cider Kid/Past Attendant/ Urchin) is an avid reader and theater enthusiast. Lorelai has already starred in her kindergarten production of The Little Red Hen. This performance however is her big stage debut and she is very excited about it. Lorelai is a kindergartener at The Wilson School, right here in St. Louis.
GEORGIA REYNOLDS (Schoolboy/Wendy/Spoiled Child/Urchin) is thrilled to be joining A Christmas Carol for its second year! Last year she made her Rep debut, playing the role of Tiny Tim. Georgia has taken acting and voice lessons with the GCPA for several years. Georgia lives with her mom and dad and two older brothers, and she attends fourth grade at North Glendale Elementary School. Besides acting and
singing, Georgia is coached by her dad on her St. Louis Scott Gallagher soccer team and plays field hockey for the St. Louis Field Hockey Club, she also sings for her church choir. In her (little) free time, Georgia loves playing with her friends, singing in the shower, doing cartwheels and doing art projects.
IMI SCHNEIDER (Ignorance/Urchin) is over the moon to return to The Rep in A Christmas Carol! She is delighted for this chance to play the role of Want in her second major theatrical experience.
SPENCER SLAVIK (Peter/Schoolboy/Urchin ) is 13 years old and in eighth grade. Spencer is thrilled to be back on The Rep stage. Previously at The Rep: Randy in the play A Christmas Story. He is a member of Show Starters and the CrAFT program at Gateway Center for Performing Arts (GCPA). This summer he was in Mary Poppins with The Muny, and is a member of The Muny Kids Troupe 2022. Theatre: Favorite roles include Young Clyde in Bonnie and Clyde with GCPA, Ted in Peter and the Starcatcher with Goshen Theatre Project, Tommy in Matilda with GCPA, Captain Hook in Peter Pan Jr. with GCPA. Film: Scooter in the short film The Mink Slide. Spencer loves to play piano and cello. His favorite school subjects are Math and Art, and he wants to be an engineer/inventor when he grows up, and play one on TV. He enjoys volleyball, basketball, building with Legos, Chess Club and Student Council. He is a member of the
Humane Society Shelter Buddy Reading Program, which gives comfort to shelter dogs by reading to them, reducing their anxiety, helping them get adopted.
RACHEL SPIZLER (Tiny Tim/Past Attendant/Urchin)
Rachel is so excited to make her stage debut at The Rep! Currently in the third grade, she also does ballet and modern dance at Arts in Motion in St. Louis and performs with their youth ensemble group. Additionally, she's had a blast participating in dance, theater, and arts camps at COCA. When she's not performing, Rachel enjoys playing chess, reading, and hanging out at home with her family. Rachel's favorite musicals include Hamilton, Something Rotten, and Wicked.
CHRISTIAN (CJ) VARNER, JR. (Young Scrooge/Urchin) is thrilled to be in his second production at The Rep where he is reprising the role of Young Scrooge. Over the past two years, he has also been featured in The Rep’s outdoor production of The Snowy Day: A Glowy Snowy Experience. CJ is a budding young musician who enjoys playing the piano and the violin. Christian is a member of the Chess Club and gifted and talented program at Jefferson I ntermediate School.
CHRISTOPHER VARNER (Turkey Boy/Boy Scrooge/ Fred's Son/Urchin) is excited to be in his second production at The Rep where he is reprising the role of Turkey Boy. Over the past two years, he has also been featured in The Rep’s outdoor production of The Snowy Day: A Glowy Snowy Experience..
Chris is a talented athlete. He loves to play football, basketball and soccer. He is a member of the Kindness Club and is on the safety patrol at Harris Elementary School.
DEVYNN YAKEL (Belinda/Past Attendant/Urchin) is thrilled to be returning to The Rep in A Christmas Carol! She is a 10 year old sixth grader, and has performed in over a dozen community stage, dance, and musical theatre productions. Theatre: Favorites include performing as Matilda US/Alice in Matilda The Musical, Amaryllis in Music Man, Bird Woman in Mary Poppins Jr., Anita in 101 Dalmatians Kids, Marta in The Sound of Music, The Nutcracker Ballet, and many more. She’s currently a member of Triple Threats with Stages St.Louis. Social: @devynnphoenix
HANA S. SHARIF (Director) has directed acclaimed productions of A Christmas Carol (4 STL CC nominations, STL A List award), Pride & Prejudice (5 STLCC nominations), Porgy & Bess, The Who & The What (3 SFBA Critic Circle nominations), Fun Home, Sense and Sensibility, The Christians, Les Liaisons Dangereuses, Pride and Prejudice (DCArts: Best Director/ Best New Play), The Whipping Man, Gem of the Ocean (six CCC nominations), Gee’s Bend (CCC Award Best Ensemble, two nominations), Next Stop Africa, Cassie, The Drum, IFdentity, Pretty Fire, Patient 463, I, Marcus Garvey, Quicksand, Hospice, The Blacker The Berry and Cassie. Her plays include All the Women I Used to Be, The Rise and Fall of Day and The Sprott Cycle Trilogy (1880, 1964, 2010).
KIRVEN DOUTHIT-BOYD (Choreographer) returns to The Rep after choreographing last season’s A Christmas Carol, and Mlima’s Tale. Kirven is the Artistic Director of The Big Muddy Dance Company and Associate Director of Dance Productions at the Center of Creative Arts (COCA) in St. Louis, Missouri. Training: MFA in Dance from Hollins University in Roanoke, Virginia. He began his formal dance training at the Boston Arts Academy in 1998 and joined Boston Youth Moves in 1999. He has also trained on scholarship at The Boston Conservatory and The Alvin Ailey School prior to performing with Battleworks Dance Company, Ailey II, and the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater from 2004-2015.
TRE’VON GRIFFITH (Music Director), better known by stage name Tre G, is an independent artist, creative and music director. He is thrilled to be returning to The Rep this season. He recently directed the summer touring production of A Midsummer’s Night Dream at Shakespeare Festival St. Louis. His new opera, Madison Lodge is scheduled to premiere ’23 at Opera Theater of St. Louis. He has been a part of the creative team of productions at Shakespeare Festival St. Louis, The Black Rep, Metro Theater Company, STAGES St. Louis, TLT Productions, and companies in Europe and China. In 2020, Tre G formed WerQFest, St. Louis’ first arts and culture festival celebrating and highlighting black queerness. Training: Master’s degree in Global Entertainment and Music Business from Berklee College of Music campus in Valencia, Spain. Social: @treg_music
TIM MACKABEE (Set Designer) Previously at The Rep: A Christmas Carol (2021), Angels in America: Parts One and Two. Broadway: The Elephant Man and Mike Tyson: Undisputed Truth. He designed the West End production of The Elephant Man and Off-Broadway: Heathers The Musical, Seared (Outer Critics Circle Award, MCC Theatre), Guards at the Taj (Lortel Award), Describe the Night, The Penitent, Our New Girl (Atlantic), Darling Grenadine, The Last Match (Roundabout), Vietgone, Important Hats of the Twentieth Century (MTC), Luce (LCT) and Gigantic (Vineyard). Regional: Ford’s Theatre, Seattle Rep, The Old Globe, Baltimore Center Stage, Denver Center, Portland Center Stage, Cleveland Play House, Dallas Theatre Center, Yale Repertory Theatre, Syracuse Stage, South Coast Repertory, Arden Theatre Company, Studio Theatre, The Muny and Williamstown. Television: Amy Schumer: Live at the Apollo (HBO), Gotham, Smash, The Today Show and Football Night in America. Training: North Carolina School of the Arts, Yale School of Drama. Visit: timothymackabeedesign.com Social Media: @ timmackabeedesign
DEDE AYITE (Costume Designer) is a two-time Tony Award® nominated costume designer. Broadway: Topdog Underdog, Ohio State Murder, American Buffalo, How I Learned to Drive, Chicken & Biscuits, A Soldier’s Play, Slave Play, American Son and Children of a Lesser God. Off-Broadway: Select credits include Merry Wives (The Public Theater); Secret Life of Bees, Marie and Rosetta, (Atlantic); By the Way, Meet Vera Stark (Signature); BLKS, School Girls... (MCC); Bella: An American Tall Tale (Playwrights Horizons); The
Royale (Lincoln Center) and Toni Stone (Roundabout). Regional: Ayite’s work has appeared at Oregon Shakespeare Festival, Steppenwolf, Arena Stage and more. She has worked in television with Netflix, Comedy Central and FOX Shortcoms. Training: MFA at the Yale School of Drama and has received a TDF/Irene Sharaff Young Master Award, Henry Hewes, Obie, Lucille Lortel, Helen Hayes, Theatre Bay Area and Jeff Awards.
SETH REISER (Lighting Designer) works in theatre, opera, dance and music. NYC: MASS directed by Elkhanah Pulitzer at Geffen Hall; Heartland directed by Pirronne Yousefzadeh at 59e59; Somebody’s Daughter directed by May Adrales at Second Stage; Mike Daisey’s The Agony and the Ecstasy of Steve Jobs at the Public Theater; The Mysteries at the Flea, directed by Ed Iskandar; Reggie Watts and Tommy Smith’s Radio Play at PS 122, directed by Kip Fagan; Taylor Mac’s Obie Award winning production of The Lily’s Revenge at HERE Arts. Regional: Highlights include designs for, Oregon Shakespeare Festival, Shakespeare Theatre DC, Dallas Theatre Center, Two River Theatre Company, Portland Center Stage, Trinity Repertory, Berkeley Repertory, Seattle Repertory, The Denver Center Theatre Company, Woolly Mammoth, American Repertory Theatre, and Playmakers Repertory. Training: Bachelors Degree from Ohio Wesleyan University and MFA from NYU/Tisch School of the Arts. Visit: sethreiserdesign.com
NATHAN A. ROBERTS (Composer and Sound Designer) is a multi-instrumentalist, composer, instrument-maker and sound designer who specializes in creating original music and soundscapes for plays, often live on stage.
Previously at The Rep: Pride and Prejudice and Puss in Boots. Off Broadway: Golden Shield at Manhattan Theatre Club; Letters of Suresh at Second Stage; Natural Shocks at WP Theater, The Servant of Two Masters at TFANA, Julius Caesar and Macbeth at The Acting Company, and Crane Story, Dramatis Personae at The Playwrights Realm. Regional: The Way the Mountain Moved and Sense and Sensibility at the Oregon Shakespeare Festival, Miss You Like Hell, Fun Home, The Christians, and Les Liaisons Dangereuses at Baltimore Center Stage, Animal Farm at Milwaukee Rep, Sense and Sensibility at Dallas Theater Center/Guthrie Theater, Tokyo Fish Story at The Old Globe, Assassins, Accidental Death of an Anarchist and The Servant of Two Masters at Yale Repertory Theater, Twelfth Night and The Tempest at Hartford Stage and It’s a Wonderful Life at Long Wharf Theatre. Training: MFA from Yale School of Drama. Faculty: Lecturer in Theater, Dance, and Performance Studies, Yale University. Visit: sethreiserdesign.com
CHARLES COES (Composer and Sound Designer) Previously at The Rep: Pride and Prejudice in the Mainstage series. Theatre: Letters of Suresh (2ST); The Tempest, Cymbeline, Much Ado About Nothing (HVSF); Sing Street (NYTW); Jitney (Mark Taper Forum, Music Hall of Detroit, Arena Stage); Miss You Like Hell, Fun Home, Soul, The Christians, Les Liaisons Dangereuses (Baltimore Center Stage); The
GoodBook (Berkeley Rep); The Belle of Amherst, Third (Two River Theater); Natural Shocks (WP Theater); The Way the Mountain Moved, Sense and Sensibility (OSF); Little Black Shadows, The Tempest (South Coast Rep); Animal Farm (Milwaukee Rep); Robber Bridegroom (The Laura Pels); Sense and Sensibility (Dallas Theater Center, The Guthrie); and Tokyo Fish Story (The Old Globe). Broadway: Associate on twenty shows including Girl from the North Country, To Kill a Mockingbird, Peter and the Starcatcher and Junk. He has toured the world with the Homer’s Coat production of An Iliad.
HANA S. KIM (Projections Designer) Off Broadway: Eve’s Song and The Visitor (The Public Theater). Regional: The Untranslatable Secrets of Nikki Corona at Geffen Playhouse, The Great Leap at A.C.T. Eva Trilogy at Magic Theatre, Little Black Shadows at South Coast Rep, and Fun Home and The Christians at Baltimore Center Stage. Opera and Concert: Sweet Land at The Industry, Magdalene at Prototype Festival, The Anonymous Lover at LA Opera, Wonderful Town at LA Opera and Oscillations at LA Philharmonic. She is the recipient of Princess Grace Awards, CTG Sherwood Award, Helen Hayes Award and Kinetic Lighting Award by LADCC. Training: BFA in visual communication at Seoul National University in South Korea and an MFA from University of California, Los Angeles. Visit: hananow.com Robert Crenshaw
ROBERT CRENSHAW (Youth Hip Hop Choreographer) is a St. Louis native who started his career as a student at Central VPA. His background includes dance, theatre and vocal performance. He is a
The Repertory Theatre of St. Louis
hip hop dance teacher at COCA and has played featured roles at local theatres like Metro Theatre Company, Stray Dog Theatre, The Black Rep and COCA.
KAYLA PARKER (Assistant Director) is a director, writer, and actor. After receiving a B.F.A in acting from Howard University, Parker began her Atlanta career as a directing and acting dual apprentice at Actor’s Express during the 20192020 season. In 2021, Parker produced her short piece, On Being Born as a DK Fellow with Kenny Leon's True Colors Theatre Company as well as being a writer for the serialized podcast drama, Crossroads, produced by Actor's Express. Shortly after, her documentary, Maschood was commissioned as part of the Alliance Theatre’s Spotlight Studio. Parker wrapped 2021 by producing her comedy one act, How to Be A Lesbian, as a part of Synchronicity Theatre's Stripped Bare Arts Incubator project. Parker is thrilled to be working with The Rep!
KYU SHIN (Assistant Scenic Designer) has designed sets for Machine Learning Hamlet; or, Text Like Daggers, The Work of Art in the Age of Its Technological Reproducibility (The Brick, NYC), Crazy Bread (Seoul, South Korea), The Talmud (Target Margin Theatre, NYC), The Niceties (Heritage Theatre Festival, VA), The Briefly Dead (59E59, NYC), Interview (St. Clement Theatre, NYC), Half Moon Bay, Comes a Faery (The New Ohio Theatre, NYC), A cappella (New York Musical Theatre Festival, NYC), and more. Previously at The Rep: Scenic Designer for Stick Fly. Training: BA in Chinese Language and Literature at Korea University in South Korea and his MFA in Design and Technology at Brooklyn College, CUNY. Visit: kyushindesign.com
BEN ARGENTA KRESS (Assistant Costume Designer) Regional: Recent design credits include Antigone, Twelfth Night, Endgame at Baltimore Center Stage Mobile Unit, Everything is Wonderful, Wait Until Dark, Outside Mullingar at Everyman Theatre, Sweat at Maryland Ensemble Theatre, Lady Day at Emerson’s Bar and Grill, H2O, Technicolor Life at Rep Stage, Bloomsday at Washington Stage Guild and Spring Awakening at Stillpointe Theatre. Training: Ben previously received a BA in Theatre and Psychology from Kenyon College in Gambier, Ohio and is working on completing his MFA in Stage Design at Northwestern University.
JONAH SCHNELL (Assistant Lighting Designer) is very excited to be returning The Rep. Jonah is a NYC based Lighting Designer but a St. Louis native. Attending Rep shows as a child inspired Jonah to become a theater artist. Previously at The Rep: Jonah served as an Asst. Lighting Designer; A Christmas Carol, Angels in America Pt.1 & 2, The Play That Goes Wrong, and Heisenberg. Jonah’s Associate/Assistant Design work can been seen at; The Santa Fe Opera, Steppenwolf Theatre, Goodman Theatre, Alliance Theatre, Long Wharf Theatre, Baltimore Center Stage, Trinity Repertory Company, Berkeley Repertory Company, The Old Globe, Victory Gardens Theater, and Geva Theatre Center. Visit: jonahschnell.com.
ANDREW RONVER (Assistant Sound Designer) is a sound designer, composer, and audio engineer for live performance. His work has been heard at Audible Theater, Yale Repertory Theatre, Steppenwolf Theatre Company,
Jackalope Theatre Company, First Floor Theater, Walkabout Theater Company, and others. As an associate designer, he has contributed to productions at Lincoln Center Theater, Second Stage Theater, Atlantic Theatre Company, MCC, Hartford Stage, and more. Training: MFA, Yale School of Drama. BA, Vassar College. Visit: andrewrovner.com
ERIN TEACHMAN (Assistant Projections Designer) has been freelancing as a digital artist, projection programmer and engineer since 2014, working across disciplines to bring digital media to stages across the United States, including working with the Atlanta Opera, Ford’s Theatre, Baltimore Center Stage, the Alley, Dallas Theatre Center, Arena Stage, Florida Grand Opera, the Washington Ballet and the Kansas City Ballet, among others. Erin is excited to return to The Rep with this extraordinary production of a holiday classic.
ADI CABRAL (Dialect Coach) is excited to be returning for their third show at The Rep. Their work was recently heard in A Christmas Carol and Mojada: A Medea in Los Angeles. Adi has also coached at the Arvada Center for the Arts and Humanities (CO), New Repertory Theatre (MA), the Stella Adler Studio of Acting (NY), Mildred’s Umbrella Theatre Company (TX), The New Hazlett Theater (PA), The Hangar Theatre Company (NY) and Central Square Theatre (MA). Training: BA in Musical Theatre from Rhode Island College and MFA in Theatre Performance from Arizona State University. Cabral is an actor, dialect coach, intimacy director and a certified teacher of Knight-Thompson
Speechwork and Fitzmaurice Voicework. They currently serve as Associate Professor of Voice and Movement at the University of Nevada, Reno.
BASS/VALLE CASTING (Casting Director) led by Harriet Bass (she/ her) and Gama Valle (él/him), is a boutique NYC casting office focusing on new musicals, new plays, indie films and regional theater productions. To know more about our casting philosophy and current projects, please visit bassvallecasting.com. Happy Holidays to ALL!
P. TYLER BRITT (Production Stage Manager) is a multi-disciplinary Theater Practitioner, Stage Manager and Teaching Artist. Brooklyn based, born and raised. P. Tyler’s teaching artistry is currently featured online via WNET/ PBS, New Jersey Performing Arts Center, Queens Public Library (NYC), Brooklyn Public Library (NYC) and The New Victory Theater. As a stage manager P. Tyler has worked at various venues and festivals including Allentown Shakespeare in the Park, The Shed, Signature Theater, La Mama, New York Theater Workshop, Rattlestick, INTAR Theater, South Street Seaport, York Theater, Theatro Circulo and The Public Theater.
CAROLINA ARBOLED (Assistant Stage Manager) CAROLINA ARBOLEDA (Stage Manager) Regional: Fandango for Butterflies (and Coyotes) at En Garde Arts / La Jolla Playhouse. Broadway: A Strange Loop, Slave Play. Off-Broadway: Man Cave (Page 73), What to Send Up When It Goes Down (The Movement Theatre Company, BAM, Playwrights Horizon), Novenas For A Lost Hospital
(Rattlestick Playwrights Theater.) Virtual: American Dreams (The Working Theater) International: Festival de Teatro Alternativo, Festival de Mujeres En Escena Por la Paz. She is delighted to be collaborating with The Rep!
NATHAN WRIGHT (Production Assistant) is a young professional stage manager who graduated from Lindenwood University with a BFA in Stage Management. Since Nathan's graduation they have been busy at work with professional stage management gigs. Nathan worked as a COVID compliance officer for Iphigenia in Splott at Upstream Theater & Proof at Moonstone Theatre Company. Nathan also assistant stage managed Proof at Moonstone Theatre, Dear Jack, Dear Louise and The Bee Play at The New Jewish Theater, Eugene Onegin, Falstaff, and A Little Night Music at Union Avenue Opera, and toured with Masters of Illusions for their Fall 2022 Canadian & American tour. Nathan is thrilled to be a part of the stage management team for A Christmas Carol.
ADENA VARNER Youth Ensemble Director) is the Director of Learning and Community Engagement at The Repertory Theatre of St. Louis and is thrilled to be the youth director for this beautiful production of A Christmas Carol. She served as the Director of Learning and Social Accountability at Baltimore Center Stage before joining The Rep in 2020. She is a playwright, producer, director, performer, and educator committed to advocating for equity and diversity in the arts and increasing access to art for all children. She is a member of Theater for Young Audiences and The Educational Theater Association.
Training: BFA in Theatre from University of Maryland College Park, MA in Theatre Education from the Catholic University of America. Directing: Credits at The Rep include, Tomás and The Library Lady, The Glowy Snowy Day and The Last Fresh Start. Upcoming: Directing, The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane (The Rep); Acting, The Wolves (COCA).
MICHAEL WILSON (Playwright) adapted A Christmas Carol, A Ghost Story of Christmas, which enjoyed its 22nd holiday season at Hartford Stage, where Wilson was Artistic Director from 1998 to 2011. Published by Dramatists Play Service, his adaptation premiered in 1990 at Houston’s Alley Theatre, where it celebrated 24 years in December 2019. In 2020, with theatres closed around the world due to the pandemic, Washington DC’s Ford’s Theatre commissioned Wilson to adapt and direct an all new radio version of the Dickens classic. This new aural production featuring music and sound by Wilson’s longtime collaborator John Gromada will be broadcast Christmas Day by Ford’s presenting partner, WMAU 88.5 American University Public Radio. On Broadway, Wilson directed the revival (as well as the 2014 Emmy and DGA Awards-nominated and NAACP Image Award-winning) Lifetime/Ostar film adaptation of Foote’s The Trip to Bountiful, for which Cicely Tyson received the Tony Award® for Best Actress. He received Drama Desk and Outer Critics Circle Awards for his direction of Foote’s nine-hour, three-part epic, The Orphans’ Home Cycle, which premiered at Hartford Stage in 2009 before moving to New York and winning every major new play award that season (sans the Tony, for which as an Off- Broadway production it was not eligible). On Broadway, he directed the Tony Award® nominated
revival of Gore Vidal’s The Best Man and the Tony Award® nominated new plays, Dividing the Estate and Enchanted April, among others. Off-Broadway, he has directed premieres by Eve Ensler, Marcus Gardley, Rebecca Gilman, JohnGuare, Beth Henley, Tina Howe and Christopher Shinn, among others, as well as revivals of Arthur Miller (Incident at Vichy at Signature Theater Company, subsequently filmed for television by WNET 13 and Broadway HD), Tennessee Williams and Lanford Wilson. His other screen work includes the award-winning film Showing Roots by Susan Batten, starring Uzo Aduba, Maggie Grace and Elizabeth McGovern. A recipient of the Princess Grace Fellowship and Statue Awards, the Daryl Roth Creative Spirit Award, the 2017 Bay Street Theater Visionary Award and, along with Ben Brantley and Howell Binkley, an inaugural inductee into the R. J. Reynolds Arts Magnet High School Hall of Fame, Wilson recently directed the acclaimed American Repertory Theater (A.R.T.) revival of Tennessee Williams’ The Night of the Iguana starring Elizabeth Ashley, Dana Delaney, Bill Heck, James Earl Jones and Amanda Plummer, and the 2018 premiere of Fellow Travelers by Jack Canfora. Wilson, a Morehead Scholar of UNC Chapel Hill, serves as Treasurer of the Stage Directors and Choreographers Society (SDC). Current projects include Bryan Batt’s new play Dear Mr. Williams, Daisy Foote and Steve Earle’s new musical Tender Mercies, and the live stream benefit captures of The Best Man (Broadway’s Best for The Actors Fund) and Stan Zimmerman’s Right Before I Go (La Vie Productions/ Quick Center for the Performing Arts at Fairfield University for Jed and American Foundations to Prevent Suicide). Wilson lives with his longtime collaborator and life partner, scenic designer and visual artist Jeff Cowie.
james and the giant peach
Adaptation for the stage by David Wood
From the book by Roald Dahl
Sail away to uncharted lands with James and friends abroad a mystical giant peach. As James embarks on a magical adventure
He learns about courage, teamwork and friendship with an animated group of oversized insects. Experience the enchanting Roald Dahl’s classic story as it comes to life in David Wood’s musical adaption of this family favorite.
the miraculous journey of edward tulane
Adapted by Dwayne Hartford
From the book by Kate DiCamillo Hitch a ride along the miraculous journey of Edward Tulane. Accidentally thrown overboard while at sea, Edward begins a mystical voyage in which he learns what it means to love, the pain of love lost, and the courage it takes to love again. This beautiful theatrical adaptation of Kate DiCamillo’s award-winning tale is storytelling at its best.
HANA S. SHARIF (Augustin Family Artistic Director) has enjoyed a multi-faceted theatre career, including roles as an artistic leader, director, playwright and producer with a specialty in strategic and crossfunctional leadership. She served for five years as Associate Artistic Director at Baltimore Center Stage, where she oversaw the day-to-day execution of all of the mainstage and studio productions, and was the architect of the innovative CS Digital program: a platform that pushes the boundaries of traditional theatre and looks at the nexus point between art and technology. Her other achievements at Baltimore Center Stage include prototyping the Mobile Unit, strengthening community engagement, producing multiple world and regional premieres and helping to guide the theatre through a multi-million dollar building renovation and rebranding effort. In 2012, Hana served as the inaugural Program Manager of the ArtsEmerson Ambassador Program and launched ArtsEmerson Artist-InResidency program featuring playwright Daniel Beaty. In addition to her work at ArtsEmerson, Hana leveraged her regional theatre experience to freelance produce for smaller theatre companies, looking to expand and restructure their administrative teams. Hana served as developmental producer and program manager for Progress Theatre in Houston, where she consulted with the Artistic Director on redefining the artistic vision and subsequent recasting of the ensemble company and lead strategic organizational planning focused on LORT market entry. During her decadelong tenure at Hartford Stage, Hana served as the Associate Artistic Director, Director of New Play Development, and Artistic Producer. Hana launched the new play development
program, expanded the community engagement and civic discourse initiatives, and developed and produced Tony, Grammy, Pulitzer and Obie Award-winning shows. From 1997–2003, Hana served as the co-founder and Artistic Director of Nasir Productions, a theatre dedicated to underrepresented voices to challenge traditional structure. Her guest lecturer credits include Spelman College, Sewanee University, UT Austin, UCSD, Prairie View A&M, Emerson College, Maggie Flanigan Studio, Towson University, UMD, UConn, UMass and University of Hartford, among others. Additionally, Hana has directed acclaimed productions of Porgy & Bess, The Who & The What, Fun Home, Sense and Sensibility, The Christians, Les Liaisons Dangereuses, Pride and Prejudice (DCArts: Best Director/ Best New Play), The Whipping Man, Gem of the Ocean (six CCC nominations), Gee’s Bend (CCC Award Best Ensemble, two nominations), Next Stop Africa, Cassie, The Drum and IFdentity. Her plays include All the Women I Used to Be, The Rise and Fall of Day and The Sprott Cycle Trilogy. Hana holds a BA from Spelman College and an MFA from the University of Houston. She is the recipient of the 2009–10 Aetna New Voices Fellowship, EMC Arts Working Open Fellowship, Theatre Communications Group (TCG) New Generations Fellowship, and is a founding member of The Black Theatre Commons (BTC). She serves on the board of directors for the TCG, BTC, and the Sprott Foundation.
DANNY WILLIAMS (Managing Director) became The Rep’s Managing Director in January 2022. An experienced arts administrator, Danny has expertise in nonprofit accounting, senior management, and organizational development.
Prior to joining The Rep, Danny worked at The Public Theater in New York, where he served in various roles since 2006. Most recently, as Senior Director, Finance and Administration, he managed the daily and strategic financial operations of the $50 million nonprofit organization, successfully launched an organization-wide intranet, partnered with the development team to achieve fundraising goals, and collaborated on long-term financial planning and analysis, including cash investment strategies, budget analysis, and project management. Noteworthy and favorite productions include Broadway productions of Fun Home, Eclipsed, Hamilton, and Hair along with OffBroadway productions of Here Lies Love, Into the Woods, Twelfth Night, As You Like It, White Noise, and Rock Bottom.
As a performer, Danny was featured in the 2002 Westport Country Playhouse pre-Broadway production of Our Town starring Academy Award winner, Paul Newman. He also performed extensively as an improvisor at various venues in New York. Williams directed several NY Fringe Festival productions including Gated and Yellow Brick Wall, both written by Marisa Marquez. For several years, Danny has been affiliated with the Warren Miller Performing Arts Center in Big Sky, Montana, bringing world class theater to the Treasure State. Danny produced productions of
Shakespeare’s The Winter’s Tale, directed by Laura Savia, the world premiere production of Levity by Stephanie DiMaggio, directed by Stella Powell-Jones, The Last Five Years directed by Jason McDowellGreen, and [title of show] directed by Danny Sharron. Williams has held roles with Musical Theatre International and Manhattan Theatre Club and has served as an adjunct professor in the performing arts management master of fine arts program at Brooklyn College. He earned degrees in marketing and theater from Fairfield University and spent a semester abroad studying at Regents University in the United Kingdom.
PRESIDENT
Gwen Middeke* the todd organization
Brian Clevinger* prolog ventures
Susan Stith* cigna
MEMBERS:
VICE PRESIDENT,
SECRETARY
Judi Scissors* community volunteer
Ven Houts* ernst & young
Ann Harris Straw* community volunteer
Wendi Alper-Pressman lathrop & gage, llp Margaret Augustin* community volunteer
Patrick Aydt merrill lynch | vice fresident Lauren Smith Blair u.s. bancorp community development corporation | vice president
Dedric A. Carter* washington university | vice-chancellor for operations and technology transfer
Brian Clevinger* prolog ventures | managing director
Brandon Evans* ernst and young | partner Frank Hamsher* skyline public strategies, inc. | principal Laurie Hiler cgb enterprise inc. | project manager Gina Hoagland collaborative strategies, inc. chairman and principal
Ven Houts* ernst & young | community volunteer
Dan Jay*christner architects | principal of counsel
Gwen Middeke* the todd organization of st. louis | partner
Ronald L. Roberts ridge graves, llc | managing partner
Lauren Sagel community volunteer Ann Scheuer community volunteer
Pat Schutte* community volunteer
Judi Scissors* community volunteer
Ann Cady Scott* community volunteer
Susan Stith* cigna | vp dei, civic affairs & foundation
Ann Harris Straw* community volunteer / vice president, volunteers
Elizabeth J. Stroble webster university | chancel lor
Susan D. Tuteur community volunteer
*executive committee
One of the most treasured and dedicated resources, The Rep’s Volunteer Board provides amazing support each season with donations of time, talent and skill throughout all facets of the organization. We are so grateful to the Volunteer Board for their continued dedication as integral members of The Rep family. If you are interested in serving on The Rep Volunteer Board, please contact call the Development Department at (314) 687-4030.
PRESIDENT
Ann Harris Straw
VICE PRESIDENT
Trish Alexandre
SECRETARY
Ann Bronsing
MEMBERS:
Trish Alexandre
Ann Bronsing
Michaeleen Cradock
Dorothy Diehl
Denise Eschenbrenner
Karen Fairbank
Glenda Hares
Vicki Helling
Laurie Hiler
Marcia King
Margie Knapp
TREASURER
Carol Schreiner
IMMEDIATE PAST PRESIDENT
Laurie Hiler
SENIOR MEMBERS
Susan Barley
Barbara Mennell
Linda Lowry
Karen Miller
Shirley Raitzsch
Colleen Ritchie
Rocky Rosen
Helen Sandifer
Cindy Schnabel
Carol Schreiner
Ann Harris Straw
Linda Vandivort
Lynn Yearwood
ARTISTIC PRODUCER AND DIRECTOR OF NEW WORK Becks Redman COMPANY MANAGER Michael Ward ASSOCIATE COMPANY MANAGER J. Ching
DIRECTOR OF LEARNING AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT Adena Varner
LEARNING PROGRAMS MANAGER Brian Coats TEACHING AND ENGAGEMENT MANAGER Britney Walker-Merritte TEACHING ARTIST Brea Rollston Claire Himstedt Aliyah Jackson
GENERAL MANAGER Clifford Hannon SENIOR MANAGER, ADMINISTRATION Laura Wandersee SPECIAL EVENTS MANAGER Bailey Pashia ATTORNEY Sara Robertson, Polsinelli PC
INSTITUTIONAL GIFTS MANAGER Kevin Ginty DEVELOPMENT ASSOCIATE Rob Kapeller
MARKETING DIRECTOR Ashton Beck MARKETING MANAGER Mike De Pope COMMUNICATIONS MANAGER Cameron Wulfert MARKETING AND COMMUNICATIONS ASSISTANT Michael Thanh Tran GRAPHIC DESIGNER Delores Eddington
DIRECTOR OF FINANCE Kevin Blansit ACCOUNTING ASSOCIATE Suzanne Bodenstein ACCOUNTING ASSISTANT Marsha Whitler
DIRECTOR OF AUDIENCE SERVICES Ricki Marking-Camuto BOX OFFICE MANAGER Kristy Kannapell ASSISTANT BOX OFFICE MANAGER Lin Joyce DATABASE ADMINISTRATOR Dan Ladd BOX OFFICE ASSOCIATES Michael Dorn Christian Hoffman
BOX OFFICE REPRESENTATIVES
Taylor Kelly Carl Wickman Brittni Brown LaTonya Shepherd
LEAD HOUSE MANAGER Deanna Danger ASSOCIATE HOUSE MANAGER Hope Harbour ASSISTANT HOUSE MANAGERS Jessica Barnes Marrissa Spinks Mo Moellering
DIRECTOR OF PRODUCTIONCatherine Campbell STAGE MANAGERS Emilee Buchheit Lorraine Fiore Shannon B. Sturgis PRODUCTION ASSOCIATE Jacob Cange
scenic
TECHNICAL DIRECTOR Michael Strickland ASSOCIATE TECHNICAL DIRECTOR Emilie WeilbacherMcMullan
CHARGE SCENIC ARTIST Scott Loebl SCENIC ARTISTS Stephen Pollihan, James Van Well SCENIC SHOP FOREMAN Dave McCarthy SCENIC CARPENTERS Dan Roach, Jr. Danny McCarthy
INTERIM PROPERTIES MANAGER Eric William Barnes PROPS CARPENTER Ralph Wilke
COSTUME SHOP MANAGER Kristie Osi ASSOCIATE COSTUME SHOP MANAGER Erica Jo Lloyd
HEAD DRAPER Robert Trump DRAPER Elizabeth Eisloeffel Michelle Bentley
FIRST HANDS
Sandra Kabuye Carrisa Sexton Bruk Longbottom
HEAD CRAFTS ARTISAN John Inchiostro CRAFTS ASSISTANT Lisa Drewel WIG AND MAKEUP SUPERVISOR Dennis Bensie WIGS Jessica Paxton Isa Venere Drew Fisher Daisy Held Justina Ramos Abigail Stuckey
WARDROBE Allie Thornton
lighting
LIGHTING AND PROJECTIONS SUPERVISORMichael Jarvis MAINSTAGE HEAD ELECTRICIAN Connor Meers ELECTRICIAN Casey Morris III sound MAINSTAGE SOUND ENGINEER Joshua Riggs SOUND ENGINEER Sean Wilhite crew A2 AND SOUND Parnassus Funk Alex Daspit
WARDROBE SUPERVISOR Calyn Roth ASSISTANT WARDROBE SUPERVISORClaire Cosby IATSE FLY AND AUTOMATION Jacob Goodwin Curtis Williams Jeff Stone
WARDROBE Lauren Buzzwell Jennifer Blum Jade Harnish Shay Brogley Paola Rodriguez Marilyn Wilson
DECK CREW Alex Barge Bret Hanna Cali Noack Virginia Parkinson Sarah Emberling
SPOT OPERATORS
Jeremiah Mathis Elena Karnezis Jake Price Sara Leste
Experience our annual outdoor, socially distant, drive-through spectacle filled with giant illuminated puppets, glow-in-the-dark scenery and a podcast that tells the story of Peter, a young boy, playing outside with his friends during the season’s first snow.
This revolutionary family event is an adaptation of the beloved classic children’s book, The Snowy Day by Ezra Jack Keats and is in partnership with StoneLion Puppet Theatre and Missouri History Museum.
Produced in partnership with StoneLion Puppet Theatre and the Missouri History Museum
For more information, visit repstl.org/snow
The Rep produces work in three spaces from September through April, all sharing the same high production values and commitment to presenting exciting live professional theatre.
The work presented in the Mainstage series is eclectic, ranging from modern to classics to musicals, and benefits from the large space afforded by the Browning and Berges Theatres. Performances are given in both the Virginia Jackson Browning Theatre at the Loretto-Hilton Center and the Catherine B. Berges Theatre at COCA.
Longtime Rep Artistic Director Steve Woolf was a champion of producing innovative and provocative plays in an intimate setting. The Rep continues his legacy with the STEVE WOOLF STUDIO SERIES and invites you to a stunning new location to experience this exciting work. The Kirkwood Performing Arts Center (KPAC) is St. Louis’ newest performance space and houses the beautiful Strauss Black Box Theatre. This season enjoy:
Doug and Kayleen meet as eight-yearolds in the school infirmary. (He tried to ride his bike off the roof. She has a stomachache that her mother blames on “bad thoughts.”) Their lives inter sect for the next three decades as they return to each other, alternately reveal ing and concealing their injuries — both physical and psychological — as they struggle with attraction, vulnerability and love. Pulitzer Prize finalist Rajiv Joseph creates a hilarious and heart breaking love story that the Washing ton Post calls, “Mystical, arresting and quirkily amusing.”
Late Seating: Latecomers will be seated at an appropriate moment in the performance.
Electronic Devices: Please silence all electronic devices while in the theatre.
Inclement Weather Policy: In the event of inclement weather, please check our website, social media pages, or call the Box Office for current information. If a cancellation occurs, please call the Box Office starting the day after the inclement weather occurred to exchange your seats for another performance of the same production.
Exchanges are an exclusive subscriber benefit. Exchanges may be made within the run of each production. Tickets may be exchanged up to two hours prior to show time. If you choose to exchange into a higher-priced area, you will be charged the difference. No refunds are made for exchanges to lower-priced tickets.
For parties of 10 people or more, please contact us at (314) 968-9489 or email groupsales@repstl.org to discuss group sales discounts.
For seniors, students, military, first responders or educators please visit repstl.org/events/ways-to-save or call (314) 968-4925 for additional information.
Hearing: Free assistive listening devices using an FM system are available at Audience Services prior to all performances.
Open Captioning: We offer open captioning, an electronic text display which shows what the actors are saying or singing, at the last Sunday show for all Mainstage performances.
Vision: The Rep partners with MindsEye to offer live audio description for the final Thursday performance of each all productions.
Mobility: The Rep offers services for patrons who utilize mobility aids in all of our theatre spaces. Please discuss seating requirements with the Box Office when purchasing tickets or visit Audience Services when you arrive at the theatre.
American Sign Language: We offer ASL interpreted performances on the final Saturday matinee for all shows this season. Interpreters will be placed inside the theatre and sign what actors are saying and expressing for the audience.
Masking: We offer masking-required performances for audience members with health conditions that put them at high risk for airborne illness. One-time use surgical masks will be available for patrons who need them. For details on masking requirements, visit repstl.org/safety.
The Imaginary Theatre Company (ITC) focuses on theatre for young people and their families. Through the use of literature, folk tales, fairy tales and new adaptations of classic works, ITC is committed to bringing the very finest in theatre to youth where they live and learn. For more information visit repstl.org/itc
Digital study guides include information on the play and production, as well as activities and worksheets that educators can modify to meet the needs of their students.
Hear from the actors who bring ITC to life as they discuss their work on the shows and their artistry.
James and the Giant Peach The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane
Essence Tyler, Puss In Boots Photo by The Repertory Theatre of St. Louis 80 The Repertory Theatre of St. LouisThe Rep’s student matinee program is designed to cultivate a love for theatre in young audiences. Schools pay $10 per ticket and bring eager students to the theatre for a performance and post-show discussion with cast members. Teachers receive a free, multi-disciplinary Study Guide containing information about the play, the playwright and the production, as well as useful background articles and suggested classroom activities. For more information visit repstl.org/student
The Rep’s new Story 2 Stage program unlocks the power of storytelling by way of mining lived experiences, imaginations and aspirations. Through our 9-session residency program, schools receive an innovative, worldbuilding curriculum, designed for learners of all ages that leads youth and community members to create their own 10-minute plays. At the end of the residency, students may submit their work to the Story 2 Stage Festival for a chance to have their play professionally produced. Additionally, all Missouri students may submit a play to the festival for consideration. For more information about our residencies and festivals at story2stage.org
This free conversation series takes a creative approach to building community through dialogue. Throughout the year, The Rep hosts thought-provoking public forums intended to provide a safe space for the free exchange of
ideas, explore the intersectionality of art and civic life with experts and thought leaders and rigorously yet artfully discuss the issues that matter most to our community, all while actively discovering the subtle truths that unite our human experiences. For more information, visit repstl.org/representstl
The Rep is proud to present the 3rd annual The Snowy Day: A Glowy Snowy Experience from January 6 - January 9 2023! This wintertime drive-through spectacle is filled with giant, illuminated puppets, glow-in-the-dark scenery and a podcast that tells the story of a young boy playing outside with his friends during the season’s first snow. This free, family-friendly experience is based on the beloved children’s book, TheSnowyDay, by Ezra Jack Keats,. For more information, visit repstl.org/snow Produced in partnership with StoneLion Puppet Theatre and the Missouri History Museum
Each summer, The Rep is pleased to offer Camp Rep for youth in 2nd through 8th grade. Campers receive engaging instruction from some of the region’s leading teaching artists in Broadway Dance, Acting, Music, Creative Storytelling, Puppetry and more. This 2-week artistic immersion culminates in a creative showcase for families and friends. For more information, visit repstl.org/camp
PAULA VOGEL
$500-$999
Trish Abbene
Wendi
Alper-Pressman
Christy Beckmann Pamela Belloli
Cindy Belmont
Terri Ciccolella Carolyn Gold Sara Kessler
Merritt McCarthy Elizabeth Meteer
Karen Miller Lucy Schreiber
Lisa Easton Silver berg
Ann H. Straw
Susan Warshaw Kathleen Wood Lynn Yearwood
$250-$499
Bette L. Bude
Elaine Coe
Joan D. Dougherty
Roberta S. Frank
Barbara Gervais
Laura Greenberg
Julie & David Hohman Joanne Iskiwitch Susan Kilo Susan Knight
Sylvia Manewith Judith Smart
Terry L. Thornton Linda Vandivort
PHILLIPA SOO
$100-$249
Penny Bari
Nancy Berg
Myra Crandall
Rose Mary Dieckhaus
Dorothy Diehl
Michelle Drabin
Denise Eschenbrenner
Karen L. Fairbank
Ann Franke
Judy Garfinkel
Shirley Haake
Glenda Hares
Vicki Helling
Mary Beth Hennessy
Linda Hensley
Jan Hermann
Carolyn Hileman
Jeane Jae
Mx. Rob Kapeller
Margie Knapp
Suzanne Levin
Dorothy Lovelace
Linda Lowry
Sally Rice Markland
Monica McFee
Susan Miller
Suzie Nall
Susan A. Oefelein
Marilyn Raphael Lynn Rawlings Marcia Roentz
Melanie Ryterski Carol Schreiner
Janice Seele
Arlene Spector
Trish Williams
Lisa Zarin
Gifts received 6/1/2021 –11/2/2022
For more information or to join Leading Ladies, please contact Call the Development Department at (314) 687-4030.
Your gift empowers a wide spectrum of artists, from local artisans and craftspeople to our administrative and leadership teams, to dream and innovate in new ways to continue to bring magic to our stages.
Your gift brings the power of live theatre to thousands of youth each year. These young learners gain an understanding of the literary value and the making of theatre while simultaneously developing skills in communication, teamwork and leadership.
Your gift to The Rep helps overcome the financial challenges of the past two years and secures the longevity of our theatre for decades to come.
Benefits are based on giving levels. Please visit www.repstl.org for more details and full benefits for all giving levels available. Dive deeper into your theatrical journey with Rep Reads, our monthly play reading and discussion group (minimum gift of $100 or more). Celebrate the season with us at the Annual Spotlight Society End-of-Season Celebration (minimum gift of $1,500 or more). Join in exclusive conversations with our Augustin Family Artistic Director, Hana S. Sharif and other artists in deep conversation around the artistry of productions and the impact of our work on the local community as part of our Artistic Director's Circle (minimum gift of $20,000 or more).
Visit repstl.org/support PHONE Call the Development Department at (314) 687-4030. MAIL Send a check to The Repertory Theatre of St. Louis, Attn: Development Department, 130 Edgar Road, St. Louis, MO 63119
As a nonprofit organization, The Repertory Theatre of St. Louis relies upon the support of corporate and foundation partners. The Rep gratefully acknowledges the following corporations and foundations whose generous support helps us to create the highest caliber of professional theatre for St. Louis, engage the next generation of theatregoers and provide opportunities for diverse artists. For information about how your business or organization can support The Rep, contact Kevin Ginty, Institutional Gifts Manager at (314) 687-4029.
$100,000+ Doris Duke Charitable Foundation
The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation
The Shubert Foundation Inc. Berges Family Foundation
$25,000-$49,999 Mary Ranken Jordan and Ettie A. Jordan Charitable Foundation PNC Arts Alive Edward Jones
$10,000-$24,999
Louis D. Beaumont Fund No. 1 of the St. Louis Community Foundation
The Trio Foundation of St. Louis
$5,000 - $9,999 Enterprise Holdings Foundation Edward Chase Garvey Memorial Foundation
Dewitt and Caroline Van Evera Foundation
$2,500 - $4,999 Employees Community Fund of Boeing Graybar Foundation Sign of the Arrow/St. Louis Alumnae Club of Pi Beta Phi
$1,000 - $2,499 DCA Family Foundation Joy Waltke Fisher Fund of the St. Louis Community Foundation Lathrop & Gage LLP Polsinelli
UNDER $1000 Commerce Bancshares Foundation
A tribute gift is a meaningful way to honor a special person or remember a loved one and support The Rep. To make a tribute gift, contact to Rob Kapeller, Development Associate, rkapeller@repstl.org or (314) 687-4031.
received 8/9/2022-
Spotlight Society is an organization of donors who provide outstanding annual support to The Repertory Theatre of St. Louis. In appreciation, donors enjoy a host of special benefits, including Circle Drive parking, an invitation to the Spotlight Society Cabaret Dinner and much more. The Repertory Theatre of St. Louis gratefully acknowledges members of the Spotlight Society for their commitment to sustaining and promoting the highest quality professional theatre at The Rep.
Dr. Theresa & Zulfikar Jeevanjee
Patrick Aydt Nancy Berg
Holly & Marc Bernstein Michael & Arlue Briggs ✠ Sara Burke Eileen Clarke & William Dodd Elizabeth & Don Cobin Bob & Becky Courtney Dr. Debbie A. Depew
Pamela Wing Dern Mr. and Mrs. Henry Dubinsky Rosemary & Robert Emnett
Richard Engelsmann & Diane Buhr Engelsmann
Brandon & Lucy Evans Mr. & Mrs. Greg Evans Sam & Marilyn Fox Foundation ✠ Mr. & Mrs. Ronald Fromm
Mr. & Mrs. David P. Gast
Ed & Julie Glotzbach E.L. Green ✠
Laura & Ted Greenberg
Frank Hamsher
Reginald & Stephanie Harwell
Kathleen Locklar Heimann
Margaret & Michael Heinz Bill & Linda Hentchel Brad & Phyllis Hershey Laurie Hiler Marian & Maurice Hirsch Lee & Gina Hoagland Mark & Peggy Holly
Sam and Pat Hopmeier Charitable Fund at Youthbridge Community Fund
Mike Isaacson & Joe Ortmeyer
Daniel G Jay & Mary Ann Lazarus
Jeanne & Aron Katzman Mr. & Mrs. Ronald Kessler
Judith Weiss Levy ✠ C. Arden Mennell
Barbara & Lee Meyer Mrs. Rena Murphy ✠
Kim & Rick Nast Mr. & Mrs. Raymond W. Peters Colleen Ritchie
Paul & Cindy Schnabel Steve & Marlene Schumm
Judi Scissors & Sam Broh
Julian & Helen Seeherman, The Seeherman Charitable Fund
Joan & Paul Shaver
Lisa & Allan Silverberg ✠ Dr. Raymond Slavin
Mary Strauss ✠ Ann & Jack Straw
Paul & Beth Stroble
Deane* & Fancine Thompson Joan Tiemann
Throughout our 56 years, The Rep has worked to make theatre accessible to all. From providing free and low-cost educational programs to young people to bringing locallyproduced theatre to life for the people of St. Louis, the support of The Rep Backers has a crucial impact each season. Every year we look to people like you - individuals who value the amazing, unexpected art of theatre—to lend a hand and bring our mission to life!
BACKER
$1,000-$1,499
Anonymous Bill Aitken
Gordon Alloway Donald & Marilyn Blum Catherine S. Bollinger
Mike & Sue Darcy
The Dunagan Foundation
Kirk & Alice Fritsch Robert & Donna Heider Cheryl & Keith Kowalczyk
Laurence & Silvia Madeo
Laura & David Margolis Dr. James A. Morrell Mike Ness & Jenny Voelker
Joseph & Sammy Ruwitch Mrs. Peter Sargent
Joel & Barbara Schwartz Christine Secorsky & Greg Sacho Beverly Wagner Hoyt W. Wallace
$600-$999 Anonymous
Dr. E-P. Barrette Kyle Baxter & Alan Ratchford Drs. Nanci & James Bobrow
Ms. Doris Drewry & Mr. Baker Cunningham Bill & Jane Doub Heather & Len Essig Jane B. Evans Terry & Marjorie Franc, Franc Family Fund of the St. Louis Community Foundation Margaret & Larry Harris
Dot & Steve Larsen Jeanne Lewi John Muller Drs. Bill & Betsy Powderly
Dr. & Mrs. Lester T. Reese
Jim & Diane Relleke Susan & Albert Schlueter Donna & Howard Smith Stuart & Cindy Sweet Mat Turner Paul & Linda Vandivort David P. Weiss
June R. Bierman
Joyce & David Bishop
Richard M. Blaha
Kevin Blansit Ruth Blundell Bob & Kay Boyd
Lary & Lynn Bozzay
Suzan Kelsey Brooks DeAnne & Gordon Brown
Joseph Brown
John & Kathy Brugere
John Carr & Kay Kaiser
Evelyn & Louis Cohen
Bernie L. Corn & Michael Danzer
Kathianne & David Crane
Robert & Jan Dawson
Jay & Marsha Delano
Dorothy Diehl
Mr. & Mrs. William Eckert
Dorsey & Sondra* Ellis
William Enyart Sara Epstein
Karen Fairbank
David R. Ganz
Jerome & Catherine Gidlow
Terry & Judy Gooding
Patricia D. & Gary L. Gray Barbara Harris
Bernice Heavilin
Dr. & Mrs. Jay Henis Dr. Michael & Carolyn Hesterberg Anne W. Hetlage Dennis Johnson
Mr. & Mrs. Jim Kaiser Mr. Ernest H. Key Susan & Jack Kissinger Susan Knight Fran & Roger Koch Christine & Jon Krueger Joan Krueger & Brian Betker
Dr. James Laing & Dr. Margaret Weck Nancy LeMaster
JoAnne Levy & Jim Thomeczek
Dr. & Mrs. Frederick C. Lewis, Jr. Jerri & Bill Livingston
Kay & Gerry Love
Linda Lowry
Cindy & Gregg Lueder
Dr. Robert Lynch & Dr. Ellen Wood
Joseph Martinich & Vicki Sauter
Dr. & Mrs. Jerald A. Maslanko
Patrick & Rosanne Mathis
Melissa J. McClain David & Ginny McDonald
Mary Jo Hunter & Gary Miller
John & Lucy Morris Nancy & Jim Murphy
Adrienne & David Piston Harriet & Philip Polster
Donald Prahlow
Elizabeth Pribor
Marilyn & Bob Raphael
Drs. Robert & Sheryl Ream
Dr. and Mrs. Leon Robinson Tom & Kathy Ryan
Lauren & Darryl Sagel
Thomas & Marilyn Schultz
John & Nancy Solodar
Bart & Meg Solon
Gary Stansbery
Laura Stanton
Mr. & Mrs. R. Stover Tracy & Elizabeth Strevey Drs. Samer & Joni Thanavaro
James Tobin & Virginia Heagney
Glen & Libby Travers
John & Dea Vallina
Linda & F. Dale Whitten Miriam Wilhelm & Eric Friedman Jim Wilson
Melissa Wohlwend
Jennifer Billhartz
Marian & John Bleeke
Kenneth & Ann Bohm
Wendy & Les Borowsky
Betty Bowersox & Phil Powell Linda & Jack Bryant
Carol Carlson
Sal & Terri Ciccolella Gwen Clopton Lois F. Crampton Mary K. Cullen & Daniel Goldberg Conrad Damsgaard Adrienne Davis Theodore & Deborah Dearing Diane DiTucci Mike Doherty & Kathy Kane Jerome & Renee Epplin
Ernst Radiology Clinic Denise & James Eschenbrenner
Dr. & Mrs. Elliott Farberman Barb & Tom Feiner Jeffrey & Veronica Fernhoff Dr. Lewis C. Fischbein
Gary & Christy Fox
Agnes & Dave Garino
Holly Garrett Darla Gavin
Dr. & Mrs. Edward Geltman Mrs. Joseph F. Gleason
Mark & Chris Greenberg William Grivna Dr. Brenda Grossman & Dr. Steven Brody
Claire Halpern & Michael Greenfield Glenda Hares Pauline Hawkins Drs. Craig & Abby Hollander
Michael & Heidi Hope Ms. Sydney Jumper
Rob Kapeller
Sheila & Ken Kleinman
Margie & Steve Knapp Joanne Kohn Dr. & Mrs. Ren Kozikowski Mr. & Mrs. Ronald Krieger Jim & Mary Lou Krueger Paul & Martha LaFata
Joseph Lane
Dr. Edward & Joelyn Knopf Levy
Dr. & Mrs. Robert L. Lewis
Jerry & Mary Jo Liberstein
Lonnie Link
Michael & Mary Alice Long
Gloria & Roy Luber
Carl & Lynn Lyss
Eleanor Mandel
Neil & Ricki Marglous
Ricki Marking-Camuto
Dan Marshall
Sharon & Stan McCaslin
Gary & Gale McKiddy
Stacey & Pat McMackin
James McMillan
Susan & Bruce Miller
Dr. Mary Ann Morley
James H. Myles
Betty A. O'Dea
Joel & Sue Picus
Tim & Jodi Pierce
Sue Rapp
Dr. Gary Ratkin & Marilyn Ratkin
Susan & John Rava
John & Lynn Rawlings
Terry & Karen Reeves
Pam & Michael Richards
Judith M. Roach
Jenny Levis Sadow
Margaret S. Sant'Ambrogio
Rick & Dottie Schainker Carol Schreiner Kathy & Doug Schroeder
Dawn Schuessler
Lois & Walter Schultz Bill & Diane Schwab
Bradley & Kay Shaw
Dr. & Mrs. L. Smith
Lee & Diana Speicher
Lucie & Steve Springmeyer
Susan & Drexel Stith
Susan Sundermeyer
Greg & Brenda Teakert
Jack Walbran
Dr. & Mrs. Stephen Waltman Jeffrey Webb
Margaret Wehrenberg
Paul & K. Wentzien
James White & Cindy Payant
Vicky Riback Wilson Bert & Bobbe Wunderlich
Catherine Taylor Yank
PERFORMER BACKER
$100-$174
Nancy Albrecht Don Aulph Dr. Patricia Martens Balke Ruth Ellen & Jay Barr Nancy Bengtson
Deborah Bloom Kathy Borges Mitchell & Kathryn Botney Susan & Robert Bowman
Tim & Marianne Brady Don Brinkman
Ann Bronsing Dr. Robert Buzzell Christina Carr
Clare L. Chapman Ann Coleman Ms. Ann Corrigan Kathryn DeVoto
Diana S. Dickes Robert & Jamie Driver Debbie Fishwick Toni Gacka Laura Geiser Marianne Gillis Brian Gonner & Jennifer Arp Fran Grebel Suzy & Richard Grote Peggy Grotpeter Myron & Carol Gruber Judy & Scott Guerrero Colleen Heelan Vicki & Larry Helling Joyce & Robert Hillebrand
C. Norman Jones & Barbara Fraser Gerry Kettenbach Lynn & Mark Kloss Nikki & Aaron Krawitz
Lance Loewenstein
Todd London & Karen Hartman
Tim & Jan Long Dorothy & James McCalpin
John P. McGuire
Barbara B. Mennell
Frederic J. Mohr
Jeanne Most & Nicholas Davidson
Mike & Pat Mueth JoAnn Mulcahy
Charles E. & Susan Niesen
& Mrs.
& Marsha
Michael & Frances Slusher
Dr. Cary & Helen Stolar
Russ & B. Vanderbeek
Patricia & Richard Walters Richard & Mary Weinstock
Patricia Wells Ellen White
Jean M. Wood Kenneth Yancheck Sandra Young
(JAN 6 - JAN 9)
The Rep is proud to present the 3rd annual The Snowy Day: A Glowy Snowy Experience in January 2023!
This wintertime drive-through spectacle is filled with giant illuminated puppets, glow-in-the-dark scenery and a podcast that tells the story of a young boy playing outside with his friends during the season’s first snow. This free, familyfriendly experience is based on the beloved children’s book, The Snowy Day, by Ezra Jack Keats,. Details on reservations coming soon.
(JAN 27 - FEB 19)
Celebrate legendary composer and lyricist Stephen Sondheim by revisiting nearly 30 of the most poignant, powerful and witty songs in the American musical theatre canon. This beautiful, funny and emotionally charged musical review exposes the complicated relationships and deepest desires of two couples out for an elegant evening. For tickets visit repstl.org
(FEB 10 - MAR 5)
An enslaved rebel turned Union spy and a tenured professor in a modernday private university are having parallel experiences of institutionalized racism, despite existing more than a century apart. MacArthur Genius Award-winning playwright Dominique Morisseau brilliantly bends the continuum of time and weaves together the stark realities of racial and gender bias both women face in this illuminating drama. For tickets visit repstl.org
