Meet the Cast and Creative Team

Meet the Cast and Creative Team of A Christmas Carol Reimagined

“I am so proud of the cast and their dedication in making sure that this important story was able to be told this year, of all years. From our veteran cast members to our newest, their resiliency, talents and passion light up the stage and the screen this year.” -Troy Siebels

CAST

MICHAEL O. AFRIYIE (Boy/Tiny Tim) is a 3rd grade student at Worcester Arts Magnet Elementary School. He is thrilled to join the cast of A Christmas Carol Reimagined in his first production. He has a love for theater and hopes you enjoy the show as much as he has enjoyed working on the show.

VIKTORIA CHIAPPA* (Actor 5/Belle) is so grateful to have been asked back to The Hanover Theatre for A Christmas Carol Reimagined. Last year she had the privilege of playing the role of Lucy on the main stage. Other regional credits include: Bet (Oliver!, Ivoryton Playhouse), Doreen (Saturday Night Fever, Ivoryton Playhouse), Marcy (Spelling Bee, Chestnut Street Playhouse), Poppy (Noises Off, Connecticut Repertory Theatre), Footloose (Ivoryton Playhouse) and The Wizard of Oz (Kansas City Starlight Theatre). National Tours: Tinker Bell, Disney on Ice. Viktoria is an Elon University graduate, where she studied as an Acting BFA and Vocal Performance BA. She is a member of AEA and Tracie Stanfield’s dance company, Construction. She would like to thank her family and all of the health care and essential workers for all of their work. Viktoriachiappa.com @toritutu

CLARA COCHRAN (Girl/Belinda Cratchit)

is a 4th grade student at Thoreau Elementary School, and she is thrilled to join the joyful cast and crew of A Christmas Carol Reimagined. Regional credits include the roles of Matilda in Matilda the Musical (The Cannon Theatre) and Ivonka in Once (SpeakEasy Stage Company). Clara has also performed in 11 different youth theater adaptations. Clara wishes everyone a cheerful holiday season!

STEVE GAGLIASTRO* (Ebenezer Scrooge)

is delighted and humbled to perform the role of Ebenezer Scrooge, having played Mr. Fezziwig for the last decade. One thousand thanks to Troy for this opportunity. Other credits - Tours: Cinderella with Lea Salonga; Spongebob Squarepants: The Sponge Who Could Fly (Broadway Asia); The Buddy Holly Story (TOTS); Cabaret w/Andrea McCardle (NetWorks). Regional: PCLO, Riverside Theatre, Casa Mañana, Stoneham/GBSC, Gateway, Ivoryton, Flat Rock & Ogunquit Playhouses, Lyric Stage, La Mirada Theatre, TBTS, Maine State Music Theatre. TV: “Billions” (Showtime), “The Deuce” (HBO), “The Detour” (TBS), “Emma” (Quibi). Film: “American Hustle,” “Eva,” “Ted 2.” Steve holds a BA in Music Education from UMASS, Amherst and is on the Visual/Performing Arts faculty at Worcester State University. Gags is a proud member of AEA and SAG/AFTRA. Learn more at www.stevegags.com. This performance is dedicated to the memory of Steve’s dad, Jack: “a real pussycat and a nifty dancer.”

TAAVON GAMBLE* (Actor 1/Bob Cratchit)

is grateful to have the opportunity to be part of A Christmas Carol Reimagined after appearing in A Christmas Carol in 2016 with The Hanover Theatre. Taavon is a New England based actor, director, choreographer and teaching artist. Regional appearances include: Trinity Repertory Theatre Company, North Shore Music Theatre, Lyric Stage Company, Greater Boston Stage Company, SpeakEasy Stage Company, Theatre By The Sea, Ivoryton Playhouse, Reagle Music Theatre, New Bedford Festival Theatre, The Hanover Theatre, West Virginia Public Theatre, Quantum Theatre, Village Theatre, Baltimore Shakespeare Festival and others. 2x IRNE nominee. He’s a graduate of Point Park University and a proud member of Actors’ Equity, serving as an Eastern Chorus Delegate.

KEISHA GILLES* (Actor 4/Ghost of

Christmas Present) is overjoyed to be a part of this reimagined production of A Christmas Carol Reimagined. Now, more than ever, stories told reflecting the multiplicity of society are necessary. Keisha is also a teaching artist who believes in cultivating joy, awareness and empathy so that her students can discover the power to create the world of their dreams. Currently, she is teaching dance at Waltham High School and various virtual classes. Broadway: The Book of Mormon (Eugene O’Neil) National Tours: Aladdin (First National), The Book of Mormon (First National) Regional: A Christmas Carol (The Hanover Theatre), Smokey Joe’s Café (Stages St. Louis), The Little Mermaid (Theater by the Sea). Sketch Comedy: Explanation of Benefits (Heck No Techno). More info at www.keishagilles.com.

ANNIE KERINS* (Actor 3/Associate

Director) feels truly blessed to be a part of this reimagining of A Christmas Carol under the direction of Troy Siebels at The Hanover Theatre Repertory. Most recently, Annie played a co-starring role for The History Channel in “The Food That Built America.” Off-Broadway: Looking for Billy Haines (Theatre Row). Regional: Miss Adelaide in Guys and Dolls (Majestic

“I’m so excited to be involved with A Christmas Carol Reimagined and to have this opportunity at this current time. I think this story today resonates more than ever because we all can relate to Scrooge’s isolation from others and his journey to becoming part of society again. I love this version Troy has reimagined. It puts the emphasis squarely on the storytelling, creating a playground for actors to just run with.” -Taavon Gamble

Theater), The Gypsy King (Goodspeed Opera House), Shrek (Wheelock Family Theatre), Animal Farm (New Repertory Theatre), Addams Family (GBSC) and The Rocky Horror Show (Foothills Theatre). Film/TV credits: “Out of Body,” featured last month in Worcester’s QFLIX Film Festival, “Central Intelligence” (Warner Brothers/New Line Cinema), “The Devil You Know” by Jenji Kohan and “Russian Doll” (small or LARGE Productions). Annie is a member of AEA and holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts from The Hartt School. She’s thrilled to be back on the stage in 2020 while her husband, Steve Gagliastro, takes on the iconic role of Ebenezer Scrooge.

MARK LINEHAN* (Actor 2/Marley) is grateful to be back in Worcester for the holidays, having appeared in the last three years of A Christmas Carol, most recently as the Ghost of Christmas Yet To Come. Mark’s most recent credits include Captain von Trapp in The Sound of Music and Harold Hill in The Music Man (Reagle Music Theatre), Onegin in the U.S. premiere of Onegin (Greater Boston Stage Company), and Gaston in Beauty and the Beast (Wheelock Family Theatre). A graduate of Emerson College, Mark is a four-time IRNE nominee and a proud member of Actors’ Equity Association. www. marklinehan.com @BeAnArtsHero

CREATIVE TEAM AND CREW

GAIL ASTRID BUCKLEY (Costume Design) happily returns to this reimaged production of A Christmas Carol. Recent work (2019) includes Pacific Overtures and Murder on the Orient Express for the Lyric Stage Company of Boston, Lifespan of a Fact at Gloucester Stage Company and assistant costume designer on the film “I Care A Lot” starring Rosamund Pike, Peter Dinklage and Dianne Wiest, recently sold to Netflix. Upcoming designs included the opera La Calisto for New England Conservatory (unfortunately abandoned due to Covid-19). Gail has received two Elliot Norton Awards and two IRNE Awards for Costume Design. Gail is a proud member of United Scenic Artists Local 829.

CHADYN CASE (Assistant Stage Manager) returns for her sixth holiday production with The Hanover Theatre and is thrilled to break new ground this year. Huge thanks to the people who helped keep us safe this year, and lots of love to the show’s extended family!

NICK JOYCE (Audio Designer/Post-production mixer)

Member of IATSE local 96.

CHARLIE MORRISON (Lighting Designer) National and international tours and New York City credits include Disney’s The Little Mermaid, A Christmas Story: The Musical, Dr. Seuss’s How the Grinch Stole Christmas: The Musical (NYC, Grand Ole Opry, US tour), A Chorus Line (US, Japan and China), Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, Miss Saigon, Aida (US and Asia), The Producers, Groovaloo (NYC, LA, US Tour), The Who’s Tommy (Europe and Japan), Titanic, The Music Man and many others. Regional credits include Paper Mill Playhouse, Guthrie Theater, Shakespeare Theatre Company (D.C.), Goodspeed Musicals, Seattle Repertory, Seattle 5th Avenue, Sacramento Music Circus, Theatre Under the Stars, Dallas Summer Musicals, Kansas City Starlight, Pittsburgh CLO, George Street Playhouse, North Carolina BRENDA SHEPARD (Head Electrician) is excited to be changing things up this year as the production electrician for A Christmas Carol Reimagined. For the past 12 years, Brenda has been the house lighting designer/head electrician at The Hanover Theatre. She was fortunate to have amazing mentors in college indoctrinate her in the ways of lighting, encouraging her to take risks and play. In addition to her lighting portfolio, Brenda has a Masters from BU in Broadcast Production, where she produced a documentary, a music video and promotional spot for a prominent funk band in Boston. Her most favorite gig, however, is wife to Steve and mom to Kat.

TROY SIEBELS (Director) serves as president and CEO of The Hanover Theatre and Conservatory, having led the organization’s development and staff since 2005. In non-Covid times, the theatre presents more than 140 performances to audiences of more than 180,000 annually, and has welcomed more than two million visitors to date. In its first 12 years, The Hanover Theatre has become an integral part of the city’s cultural fabric and an active participant in helping to drive the city forward. Troy served as producing director at Stoneham Theatre in Stoneham, MA and managing director of American Stage Festival in Milford and Nashua, NH. His favorite directing credits include Artist Descending a Staircase, The Mystery of Irma Vep, Wait Until Dark and more than 15 productions of his adaptation of Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol. Troy serves on the board of directors of Discover Central Massachusetts, the Downtown Worcester Business Improvement District, MassCreative and Worcester Cultural Coalition, and has been appointed by governors Patrick and Baker to the Massachusetts Cultural Council.

JOHN STIMPSON (Videographer) writes, directs, produces and edits motion pictures. He owns and operates his production company, H9 Films, out of Worcester, MA. Notable films include: “The Legend of Lucy Keyes” (2006), “A Christmas Kiss” (2010), “Sexting in Suburbia” (2011), “A Fall From Grace, aka Last Hours in Suburbia” (2012), “The March Sisters at Christmas” (2013), “Sins of the Preacher” (2014), “Vehicle for Revenge” (2016), “The Spruces & The Pines” (2017), “Ghost Light” (2018), “Christmas a la Mode” (2019) and, most recently, “Christmas on Ice” (2020).

RACHEL STURM* (Stage Manager) is thrilled to be a part of A Christmas Carol Reimagined at The Hanover Theatre Repertory this year. Regional credits include: Alice in the Pandemic, I Am a Dreamer Who No Longer Dreams (White Snake Projects), The Children, Fun Home (SpeakEasy Stage Company), Roald Dahl’s Willy Wonka (Wheelock Family Theatre), Becoming Dr. Ruth (New Repertory Theatre), The Magic Flute (BYSO), Calendar Girls (Greater Boston Stage Company), Menopause the Musical (GFOUR Productions), Shrek: The Musical (North Shore Music Theatre), Cosi Fan Tutte (New England Conservatory), and Twelfth Night (Commonwealth Shakespeare Company). Proud member of Actors’ Equity Association.

KIT VERWEIJ (Assistant Stage Manager) is a student at Lincoln-Sudbury High School. They are excited to work on this production, and hope you enjoy the show!

*Member, Actors’ Equity Association