“Oliver!” Cast Info

Garrison: Fort Lee

Event: “Oliver!”

By: Lionel Bart

Casts:

2011 Army Festival of the Art Competition
Cast and Crew

Maurice Anderson (Knife Grinder/Ensemble) studied classical and gospel music at Virginia State University where he received his BS in Information Systems. He currently sings tenor for several organizations: including the Gospel Music Workshop of America, Petersburg and Vicinity Chapter, as well as in Octave Praise Ministries.

Joseph Michael Bailey (Long Song Seller/Ensemble) is 19-years-old. He has been involved at the Lee Playhouse since he was 12 and has enjoyed many KidKapers productions. Appearing in Oliver! (his second Mainstage, his first was Annie Get Your Gun in 2009), has been a fun experience.

Sarah Bain (Milkmaid/Ensemble) is a senior at Appomattox Regional Governor’s School. She was previously seen in Pippin at the Lee Playhouse and A Midsummer’s Night Dream at Sycamore Rouge as well as Flight of the Lawnchair Man; Babes in Arms; The Effect of Gama Rays on Man-in-the-Moon Marigolds and Chicago.

Joshua A. Beiro (Orphan/Pickpocket) is a 7th grade student a J.E.J. Moore Middle School in Prince George. He appeared as the Artful Dodger in a Homeschool Production and as a Wise Man in the Prince George Christian Church Nativity. He sings with Voices in Praise and was a viola soloist with Strings Alive. He hopes to attend ARGS in Visual Arts.

Nathan Beiro (Orphan/Pickpocket) attends 4th grade at North Elementary School in Prince George. His interests include the piano, LEGOs® and making others laugh! He sang with North’s chorus at Earth Day 2010, and has appeared as an angel and a shepherd in the Prince George Christian Church Nativity.

Justine Bennett (Strawberry Seller/Ensemble) was last seen at the Lee Playhouse as Hortense in The Boy Friend.

Alan Blackwood (Bow Street Runner/Ensemble) is a native of North Carolina and has lived in Virginia for two years. Alan has been a part of productions in South Carolina and North Carolina and is excited about his Lee Playhouse Mainstage debut in Virginia.

Dale Blake (Hussar/Ensemble) is glad to be on stage after a two-year break doing tech work. He has performed in five Lee Playhouse productions, his favorite being You Can’t Take it With You. His most recent stage appearance was Lakeland High School production of Tuesday Morning, where he stepped in during final dress rehearsal to take a leading part.

Denise Blake (Kid Wrangler-in-Chief) last appeared at the Lee Playhouse as Old Lady in Adventures of a Comic Book Artist, which she also stage managed.

Jonathan Brown (Workhouse Assistant/Ensemble), age 14, developed an interest in theatre arts while in elementary school. He has been an active participant in the School of the Performing Arts in the Richmond Community. He has appeared in Willy Wonka, Jr. and And the World Goes ‘Round: The Songs of Kander and Ebb. Jonathan was recently accepted to the Appomattox Regional Governor’s School class of 2015.

Georganna Maree Dowdy (Orphan/Pickpocket) first performed in High School Musical and has since appeared in several plays, including Bah, Humbug and Katie in Letters to Edwina.

Ann C. Easterling (Director) began working at the Lee Playhouse 26 years ago and is proud of its mission to create a community of performers of all ages and levels of experience. She’s worked at Henrico Theatre Company, Richmond Triangle Players, Ashland Stage Company, and Dogwood Dell. As a performer, her favorite roles include Fastrada (Pippin), Bella (Lost in Yonkers – Best Actress Top Hat Award) and Meg (Crimes of the Heart). She is currently an Educational Specialist with the U.S. Army Quartermaster Museum and the Smithsonian Institution.

Alisa J. Erway (Musical Director) was last seen providing musical direction here for 1940s Radio Hour, in which she also acted (Best Cast and Crew Top Hat Award). She holds degrees in both choral and instrumental music, has held several music ministry positions and is an active performer in both sacred and secular music.

Joshua Erway (Oliver) is a 14-year-old home-schooled freshman, whose first role at the Lee Playhouse was a pie thief in Seven Brides for Seven Brothers. His favorite role was LeFou in Beauty and the Beast. He enjoyed playing a ghost in the 2010 48-Hour Film Festival with Kline Films.

Sarah Erway (Charlotte Sowerberry) is a home-schooled junior who loves to act, dance and sing. Her favorite role was Belle in Beauty and the Beast. She has acted with Kline Films and recently finished a commercial for Virginia Credit Union, Inc. Sarah is leaning toward medicine that specializes in the performing arts.

Marie Harrison (Widow Corney) has appeared in a variety of roles in professional and community theatre. She was a permanent performer at Epcot and performed with the Orlando Opera Company for several years. Marie Her two solo CDs are “Then Sings My Soul” and “Prince of Peace.”

Emily Haswell (LadyHuffam/Ensemble) is passionate about Lee Playhouse, having been involved in shows here since the time the only song she knew was, “The Sun Will Come Up Tomorrow.” She spent the last year in New York studying and plans to continue acting and singing. Past performances include Cinderella in Into the Woods, Sharpay in High School Musical, Betty in No, No Nannette, and most recently Polly Brown in The Boy Friend.

Mellen Heggie (Nancy) previous appearances on the Lee Playhouse stage include Sister Robert Anne in the Nunsense musicals, Meg in Damn Yankees, Martha in The Secret Garden and a member of the ensemble cast of Perfectly Frank. Earlier this season, she was Stage Manager for The Boy Friend.

Deborah Huish (Rehearsal and Production Pianist) graduated with a Bachelor of Music degree from University of North Texas in Denton, Texas. She has performed with Swift Creek Mill Theatre and Theatre IV as well as James River Opera Company and Boston Concert Opera. She lives in Woodlake with her husband and middle-schooler twins.

Kenny Holley (Fagin) has been performing either onstage or behind the scenes directing at the Lee Playhouse for 15 years. Favorites include Damn Yankees (Joe Hardy, U.S. Army Festival of Performing Arts Award); I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change (Top Hat Award); Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat (Reuben, Top Hat Award); Into the Woods Jr. (Director-Top Hat Award); and Schoolhouse Rock Jr. (Choreographer, U.S. Army Festival of Performing Arts Award).

Sue Howells (Stage Manager) is excited to be back at the Lee Playhouse after stage managing the delightful Pippin in September 2010. Sue has also worked at Henrico Theatre Company, Richmond Triangle Players, and Dogwood Dell among others. She is proud to be part of this hard working and talented company. Many thanks to Ann and Alisa for letting her play!

Becki Jones (Mrs. Sowerberry) is delighted to be appearing on stage with her husband for the first time in 23 years! Fort Lee audiences may remember Becki as Penny in You Can’t Take It With You and Berthe in Pippin. She teaches theatre at the Thomas Dale High School Specialty Center for the Arts in Chesterfield County, and just finished directing Shakespeare’s The Tempest staged at Henricus Historical Park. “Cheep, cheep!”

Wally Jones (Dr. Grimwig) is excited to be acting once again with his wife Becki for the first time in 23 years! Some of his favorite roles include Pseudolus in A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum, Emile de Becque in South Pacific, and Dr. Einstein in Arsenic and Old Lace. As a teenager, Wally was in Oliver! and he played … Dr. Grimwig!

Cyrus Kapadia (The Chairman) was active in the theater as a child, training at the California Performing Arts Center for Children and appearing in theater productions in San Diego and Solana Beach. After a 28-year hiatus, Cyrus returned to the stage for the Playhouse production of Adventures of a Comic Book Artist. Cyrus now divides his time between his wife and children, his job, and his passion for screenwriting and filmmaking.

Olivea Kapadia (Orphan/Street Urchin) made her musical theatrical debut in the Lee Playhouse production of Adventures of a Comic Book Artist. Prior to that, Olivea had performed on stage with various dance and gymnastics companies. Olivea has devoted her free time to writing, shooting and editing short films (when she is able to recruit her siblings and friends).

Ann M. King (Sally/Ensemble) is taking her first turn on the Lee Playhouse stage. She is no stranger to the theater, however. Ann played Sister Sophia in The Sound of Music and Rifka in Fiddler on the Roof while living in the Atlanta area. Originally from Hopewell, Ann is glad to be back in the area after an absence of nearly 20 years.

Steve King (Bill Sykes, Mr. Sowerberry) serves on the Theater Company at Fort Lee Board of Directors and Oliver! marks his onstage debut at the Lee Playhouse. He performed in several productions with Swift Creek Mill Playhouse including Singin’ in the Rain and Dames At Sea. Recently returning to his native Hopewell, Steve is the morning announcer and General Manager of iKCG – Retro Classics Radio, heard exclusively on the internet at www.retroclassicsradio.com.

Becky Lussier (Lighting Designer) is a third year Lighting Design student at VCU. Her previous TheatreVCU credits include Tommy, Psycho Beach Party and Shadow Play. She has worked for The Stephen Petronio Company, Swift Creek Mill Playhouse, SPARC and Richmond Festival of the Arts at Dogwood Dell. This summer she will be traveling to Becket, Massachusetts to be a production intern at Jacob’s Pillow Dance Festival.

Haley Mizelle (Pub Wench/Ensemble) has appeared in the KidKapers shows Toy Camp, Tiny Thumbelina, High School Musical and High School Musical 2 . She appeared as Jessie in Annie Get Your Gun. Haley is an honor student at Dinwiddie Junior High School whose goal is to attend Julliard and someday appear on Broadway!

Kieran O’Hare (Orphan/Baker’s Daughter) has performed in Café Murder dinner theatre, Grey Gardens at Prince George High School, Scrooge at Centre Hill Mansion, and Guys and Dolls, Jr. at J.E.J. Moore Middle School. Kieran plans to pursue acting in community and school theatre, and hopes to someday teach theatre to special needs children.

Francesco Pino (Orphan/Pickpocket) was last seen as Theo in this season’s production of Pippin, Francesco just wrapped up a run playing Nicely-Nicely Johnson in Guys and Dolls, Jr. at J.E.J Moore Middle School, where he is in sixth grade. He is a member of Prince George County’s Program for the Artistically Advanced Student in the area of Voice.

Hannah Polaski (Bet) adds Bet to a repertoire that includes Jesus (Godspell, Jr.), Hera (Young Hercules), Pinocchio (No Strings Attached), and Judy (Miracle on 34th Street). Hannah is a sixth grader in the International Baccalaureate program at Lucille Brown Middle School in Richmond.

John “Red” Redling (Sound) is in his eighth season as sound designer at the Lee Playhouse. Red is Band Director at J.E.J. Moore Middle School in Prince George, and performs with various ensembles in the area. Honored with the title of Vice President of the Theater Company at Fort Lee Board of Directors, he also enjoys working on KidKapers shows.

Paul Redling (Orphan/Charley Bates) is making his Mainstage debut at the Playhouse, having recently appeared as Mr. Wunderman in the KidKapers production of Adventures of a Comic Book Artist. Paul is happily anticipating attending Appomattox Regional Governor’s School for the Arts and Technology next year.

Abby Roscher (Orphan/Pickpocket) is no stranger to the Playhouse stage; she began performing here at age three. Some favorite roles include Gretel (Sound of Music), ZuZu (It’s a Wonderful Life) and little Jake (Annie Get Your Gun). She’s happy to be back on stage again after recently appearing in the KidKapers production Adventures of a Comic Book Artist.

Mercedes Schaum (set designer) for The Horizon Theatre Co. and The Center for Puppetry Arts in Atlanta, Tulsa Opera, JMU Theatre Department, VCU Opera Department, Theatre IV, the Barksdale Theatre SPARC, and Stage One, but this is her first season at the Playhouse, having designed Pippin and The Boyfriend. Mercedes has done designs for including Annie, Ferdinand the Bull, The Song of Mulan, Into the Woods, The Secret Garden, Annie Get Your Gun and The Magic Flute. She teaches in the theatre department at Matoaca High School and is beginning work on designing a new restaurant space in downtown Richmond.

Natalie Sierra (Rose Seller/Ensemble) is grateful for the opportunity to perform at the Playhouse. Her last performances were on the stage of Hopewell High School 15 years ago, where she sang with the Chorus and the Girls’ Glee Club. She is active in her church, singing in plays and worship services, and has made number of contributions to the “Sierra Gene Pool”.

Amanda Sims (Assistant Stage Manager) is thrilled to be working with the Lee Playhouse again! She performed in Pippin and The Boy Friend, and was Props Master for Same Time, Next Year. She is excited to be part of the production staff for Oliver! and is grateful for the chance to learn from the best! She is a proud Army veteran, wife and the mother of Michaela and Lane.

Kyrie Sims (Annie/Ensemble) is excited to be making her theatrical debut at the Lee Playhouse. She is an U.S. Army veteran and has been at Fort Lee since 2006. Kyrie would like to thank her husband and family for their support and the cast and crew for this amazing opportunity and experience.

Chris Stephens (Noah Claypole), 19-years-old, has performed in several venues locally. Chris majored in Cinema–Television at Regent University in Virginia Beach. He aspires to be a film and television actor. Oliver! marks his debut on the Lee Playhouse stage.

April Tate (Mrs. Bedwin) makes her Mainstage debut in Oliver! She was last seen as the letter “R” in a Martin Luther King tribute produced by her 2nd grade class. April has assisted with costumes for many KidKapers productions and currently serves on Theater Company at Fort Lee Board of Directors.

Trevor Tate (Orphan/Pickpocket) is a fifth grader at South Elementary School. He was last seen on stage in the Lee Playhouse KidKapers production of Adventures of a Comic Book Artist. Trevor started “hanging out” at the Lee Playhouse when he was three years old watching his sister Megan rehearse.

Emily Thompson (Orphan/Vegetable Seller) is 11 years old and Oliver! is her acting debut. She has a 6-year history of studying dance including ballet, jazz, and musical theatre. She has lived in Texas, Georgia, and Virginia, and hopes that she never has to move again. Emily loves ice cream and Build-a-Bear. She is currently a fifth grade student at Midway Elementary School in Dinwiddie.

Mike White (Mr. Brownlow) was last seen at the Lee Playhouse in The Boy Friend and in Bob’s Psycho Analyst at Henrico Theater Company’s 25th Annual One Act Plays Showcase. He has performed in more than 60 productions on stages in Korea, North Carolina and Virginia. Favorite shows include 1940s Radio Hour, Children of Eden and Over the River and Through the Woods. Mike is a retired Army officer who still works at Fort Lee in civil service.

Tyler Wilson (The Artful Dodger) is thrilled to be in his first Lee Playhouse production! Tyler is a Theatre Arts Senior and International Thespian Society President at the Appomattox Regional Governor’s School and will attend college in the fall. Credits include: Little Women (Laurie), A Midsummer Night’s Dream (Lysander), The Crucible, Babes in Arms, and The Wiz at ARGS; and A Midsummer Night’s Dream (Snout) at Sycamore Rouge, He also appeared in HBO’s John Adams.

David T. Zimmerman (Mr. Bumble) is proud to make his Fort Lee debut in a show that he has been in three previous times—all as Mr. Sowerberry. A graduate student at VCU studying Theatre Pedagogy, David was last seen in The John Smith Water Trail (Swift Creek) and as Mr. Gower in It’s a Wonderful Life (Riverside Dinner Theatre). Other appearances include A Lesson Before Dying (AART), and Packer Fans from Outer Space (Racine Theatre Guild) and five years with ComedySportz, Milwaukee. Eye Level.