CAST BIOS

(IN ALPHABETICAL ORDER)

CHRISTIAN DINSMORE (Ensemble/Dance & Youth Captain) is 19 years old and is very thrilled to perform at TNP once again. He was last seen a few years back playing Sky in Mamma Mia! Teen and in the ensemble in the mainstage production at TNP. He recently graduated from Interlochen Arts Academy where some of his favorite theatre credits include King Charlemagne/Pippin, Dream Curly/Oklahoma!, Ensemble/In the Heights and the Aide De Camp/Death and the King’s Horseman. Christian would like to thank his family for all their love and support in all that he does, especially in the arts! Enjoy the show!

KATIE ELKIND (Ensemble) is thrilled to be working with The Naples Players for the first time! She graduated from Santa Clara University last spring with a degree in Finance and a degree in Music. It took until graduation for her to realize that music and the stage is truly where her heart lies. So, she has been on a performing adventure since. First, with a community theater in Michigan that also did The Sound of Music, and then professionally with The Young Americans in their Dinner Theater and Christmas shows. Katie is immensely grateful for her family and friends’ endless enthusiasm and support for her.

SURI FINCH (Marta/Vienna Cast) is so excited to bring her talent to the stage. This is her first performance with The Naples Players, but she has been doing many other things to improve. Suri was chosen and participated in all county honor’s choir for the past 2 years, performs in many school performances, was an anchor on her school’s morning news, and is a member of her school’s drama club. She is a 6th grade student at Pine Ridge Middle, with straight A’s and on the highest honors roll. Suri would like to thank her family for their love and support, and The Naples Players for this wonderful opportunity. She is so excited to work with and learn from this talented cast and crew, and put on a wonderful show!

DANIELLA FLOM (Louisa/Vienna Cast) is 17 years old and is a current high school senior at The Village School. She is so excited to be performing in her first adult production with The Naples Players! She has performed with KidzAct for many years, and you may have most recently seen her as Medda Larkin in Newsies Teen. Some of her other favorite roles have been Mal/Disney’s Descendants, Bea/Something Rotten! Teen, Matilda/Matilda JR , and Annie/Annie JR . Beside performing, she loves reading and art. She would like to thank the cast and crew for making this show such a memorable experience! Enjoy the show!

SARAH GAMBLIN (Ensemble) moved to Naples in June 2022. This is her first show with The Naples Players. While she has had experience performing through school and performed for a local community theater in Des Moines, Iowa, her love of theater has only grown throughout her experience in The Sound of Music. She is exhilarated by the enthusiasm of the TNP community and hopes you enjoy the show!

JAN GEHRMAN (Ensemble) is so excited to be a part of The Sound of Music, and to work with Dawn and Charlie. It has been her dream to be on The Naples Players main stage. She just finished being a part of 9 to 5 in Greensboro, GA. Over the last six years, Jan has been a part of Mary Poppins, Jesus Christ Superstar, Beauty and the Beast, and The Producers. She is very thankful to have this opportunity.

ALEX GONZALEZ (Ensemble) is a Cuban guy who came up from Naples High. He has been fond of theater for some time now. Alex has done his own bit of acting for a while, but this is certainly a big step up for him. He hopes to do well.

EMILY HART (Ensemble) has been showcased in several cabarets at the Center for the Arts of Bonita Springs and is a current member of the Fort Myers Symphonic Mastersingers, most recently performing Handel’s Messiah with the Gulf Coast Symphony Orchestra. Emily studied environmental science at Ball State University and teaches middle school science in Fort Myers. Eternal thanks to their incredible, talented wife Lin for all her love and support.

LIN HART (Ensemble) first trained at Indiana University and then at Ball State University’s Department of Theatre & Dance. Before relocating to Florida in 2017, Lin worked at the Eugene O’Neill Theatre Center, developing scripts for Off-Broadway productions. She won an LMDA award through the Kennedy Center for her work on a new musical adaptation of Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein. In addition to music directing shows and playing piano around SWFL, you may have seen Lin onstage here at TNP recently in A Christmas Carol (Christmas Past) or Mary Poppins (Miss Andrew). All the love to her gorgeous, talented wife Emily and a huge thank you to this amazing production team and cast!

ASHLEY KOSTEN (Ensemble) is excited about her first show out of college! She graduated from AMDA’s NYC campus with an associates degree in Musical Theatre in October of 2021. She is proud to call Naples her home for the past 3 years. She’d like to thank her family and friends for continuously supporting her.