CAST BIOS

(IN ALPHABETICAL ORDER)

ROSEANN RUGGIERO (Frau Schmidt) has been acting for over 50 years throughout the NY/NJ area. Since moving to Naples in 2019 at TNP she has been in Bye Bye Birdie, Calendar Girls, Ruby of Elsinore, A Christmas Carol and worked backstage on several others, including assistant directing Boeing, Boeing. She looks forward to future directing and performing projects with TNP and other theaters.

MATT SCHWABAUER (Captain Georg von Trapp) has been a theatre artist for many years. He is honored to be joining TNP for the first time, and is fresh off a six-year break from theatre. No stranger to both sides of the stage, he has been the technical director and production manager for the theatre department at Gordon College in Massachusetts, and now works as a carpenter locally at Gulfshore Playhouse. His first love has always been acting, getting his start at the age of thirteen (coincidentally in The Sound of Music). Notable past roles include Duke Orsino/Twelfth Night, Edward Rochester/Jane Eyre: the Musical , Algernon Moncrieff/The Importance of Being Earnest and Edgar/King Lear. He is grateful for your presence and hopes you enjoy this performance!

SUE SMITH (Sister Margaretta/Dance Captain) moved to SWFL three years ago after spending 20 years as a Professor of Theatre and Dance at Adrian College in MI. Sue also spent 30 years creating shows throughout Ohio and Michigan with her husband, Mark. She has appeared in TNP’s productions of Mary Poppins (Mrs. Corry) and Bye, Bye, Birdie (Mrs. MacAfee) Thanks to Dawn, Charlie, and the rest of TNP’s team for the opportunity to be a part of this amazing theatre community.

VANESSA TARABOCCHIA (Sister Sophia) is thrilled to be working with The Naples Players! Born and raised in New Jersey, Vanessa has appeared on various stages in the northern east coast, including renowned theaters Paper Mill Playhouse and Carnegie Hall. She temporarily moved from New York to Naples and is excited to get a taste of paradise! Vanessa is an alumni from Montclair State University where she earned her Bachelor of Fine Arts in Musical Theater. Most recently she played Marty Maraschino in Grease directed by the remarkable Lisa Stevens. Vanessa would like to thank her family and friends for their endless love and support. Enjoy the show!

NORMAN TOBACK (Franz) appeared at The Naples Players Readers Theatre as Dave in Opposites Attract and then was cast by The Lemon Bay Playhouse as Harry in Prisoner of Second Avenue. He returned to The Naples Players, cast as eight characters in It’s a Wonderful Life: A Live Radio Play. And last year, finished a full run as Liam in Calendar Girls at The Naples Players. More recently he has appeared as Stew in The Readers Theatre production of Joe and Stew’s Theatre of Brotherly Love and Financial Success, as well as several Radio Theatre productions. Love to his wife and daughter!

MALENA TUCKER (Ensemble) is 14 years old and attends First Baptist Academy. She is thrilled to be in this production of The Sound of Music. Malena was most recently seen as Godmother/Cinderella at FBA and Dorothy/The Wizard of Oz at TNP. Previous performances include Newsies Teen and the JR productions of Matilda, Frozen, Madagascar, and Annie. Malena is grateful to her family and friends for their love and support. A special thank you to TNP staff and crew for this opportunity. Enjoy the show!

LORELAI VEGA (Liesl) is 17 years old and a junior in high school. She is so incredibly excited and honored to be a part of not only this beautiful story but the last show in Blackburn Hall - a stage she’s been performing on for years. You may have caught her recently as Emily in A Christmas Carol or as Portia in Something Rotten! Teen. She is so thankful to everyone involved in this production and hopes you enjoy the show!

LINDSEY WALSH (U/S Maria) is ecstatic to help bring her favorite musical to the stage at TNP! Prior to moving to Naples, Lindsey spent 4 years performing at Walt Disney World. For the last few years she has found her second home at TNP. Favorite credits include Holly/The Wedding Singer, Ariel/Footloose, Ali/Mamma Mia!. Endless thanks to my “front row parents” who have never missed a performance in 31 years, amazing sister, and friends who come out and support me every chance they get. Enjoy the show!

TRACY WEAVER (Ensemble) is thrilled to be performing at TNP again. She previously performed at TNP in An Ideal Husband as Lady Basildon. Tracy was Mrs. Thistletwat in Avenue Q at The Laboratory Theater in Fort Myers, and Madame Rosemonde in Les Dangereuses Liaisons also at The Lab Theater. Tracy was nominated in 2021 for Best Supporting Actress in a play by Broadway World for her performance in Cultural Park Theater’s production of Mama Won’t Fly. Tracy also appeared in an Off Broadway production of an original play at the Hudson Guild Theater in NYC. Tracy currently sings with a local Praise band and is mother to five wonderful children.

BEALEY CATE WHITE (Brigitta/Salzburg Cast) is excited to be in her second main stage show at TNP after performing in A Christmas Carol last fall. In addition, she performed in the KidzAct shows Newsies JR and Seussical JR (Mayzie). Before moving to Florida, she performed in more than 30 shows in Delaware and Pennsylvania. A 7th grader now living in Bonita Springs, favorite roles include Sharpay/High School Musical JR, Flounder/Little Mermaid JR, Michael Banks/Mary Poppins, and Jana in the Holocaust drama A Child Shall Lead in which she won best young actress of the year at the historic Everett Theatre in Middletown, DE. She made her professional debut in 2019 in Christmas by Candlelight at the Candlelight Dinner Theatre in Arden, DE.