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Meet the Directors AND the TWO Casts of Seussical!
'Seussical', a musical comedy featuring Dr. Seuss’ most beloved characters, will be performed at Matthews Playhouse February 24 - March 5, 2023.
There will be a special "Pay-What-You-Can" performance on
Saturday, February 25th at 6:00pm benefitting Freedom School
Partners Inc., a non-profit literacy & cultural enrichment program for underserved children in our community.
The 11:00am performance of Seussical on March 4 will be a sensory friendly show to accommodate children and individuals with autism, sensory sensitivities, or other social, learning or cognitive disabilities. This performance will offer audience members lower sound and light levels as well as other modifications to ensure a more comfortable experience.
Date: March 4, 2023 @ 11:00am
Director- Sarah Baumgardner
Sarah Baumgardner (Seussical Director) was last seen as Ghost of Christmas Past in 'Scrooge! The Musical' at Matthews Playhouse in December. Oh, and did we mention she is also our very own Executive Director here at Matthews Playhouse where she is lovingly referred to as the “Chief Plate Spinner”?
Originally from Pennsylvania, Sarah has lived in Virginia, New Jersey, Ohio, and now North Carolina. She has traveled throughout Europe singing with the National Honors Choir and has performed with the New York Philharmonic. In addition to singing, she plays 5 instruments and enjoys crafting, art, sewing, and going to museums, where she is the person who reads every single sign. She loves spending time with her family, going to the beach, and traveling (she wishes she had more time to explore!). Sarah has music directed “The Rainbow Fish”, “101 Dalmatians”, “The Music Man”, “Oklahoma Jr.”, and “Honk Jr.”. She has also performed extensively in choir, concerts and on stage. Some of her favorite roles have been in the casts of “Grease”, “South Pacific”, “Damn Yankees”, “Guys and Dolls”, “Marriage of Figaro”, and “Cosi fan Tutte”.
Instagram: @sarahjaneinspires
Assistant Director - Hunter Stilwell
Hunter Stilwell (Assistant Director) was last seen on the Matthews Playhouse stage as the loveable Fezziwig in 'Scrooge! The Musical' where he also pulled double duty as the Assistant Stage Manager. A true Renaissance man, Hunter works as the lead carpenter at Matthews Playhouse where he builds the sets that audiences see on stage in our shows.
In his free time, he enjoys crossword puzzles, superhero movies, and completing puzzles without looking at the reference picture. His previous shows include “Mamma Mia” at Matthews Playhouse and “Ribs” on Zoom, “Pride and Prejudice”, “The Resistible Rise of Arturo Ui”, and “Blood Wedding” at Westmont College.
Due to high demand, the theatre has formed 2 casts.
Cast #1 (a.k.a. Star Bellied Sneetches)
Performance Schedule:
Sunday, Feb 26th - 2:00 p.m.
Monday, Feb 27th - 9:30 a.m. & 11:30 a.m.
Wednesday, March 1st - 9:30 a.m. & 11:30 a.m.
Friday, March 3 - 9:30 a.m. & 11:30 a.m. & 7:30 p.m.
Saturday, March 4 - **11:30 a.m. & 2:00 p.m.
** Denotes Sensory Friendly Performance
Cat in the Hat - Ally Baumgartner
Ally (Cat in the Hat) is so excited to be bringing the Seussical world to life as the Cat in the Hat! A recent theatre performance graduate from Winthrop University, Ally is a Myrtle Beach, SC native who loves performing, crocheting, spending time with her fiancé, and playing with her cat, Celeste.
A fun fact about her is that her first performing job was as a diving mermaid in a stingray tank at an aquarium! Her other previous shows include “Beach Blanket Beagle” at Carowinds, “Spring Awakening”, “The Women of Lockerbie”, and “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” at Winthrop University, and “Romeo and Juliet” at Shakespeare Carolina. This is Ally’s first production at Matthews Playhouse!
JoJo - Celia Bradley
Celia Bradley (JoJo) – a CMS 5th grader, is thrilled to be back at Matthew Playhouse where she appeared as the title character in “Peter Rabbit: The Musical” last year as part of the Matthews Playhouse School of Theater productions. This production of “Seussical” is extra special to her, as this is the first time she has appeared on stage with her real life dad (Mr. Mayor). Most recently, she appeared as Kate in Children’s Theatre of Charlotte’s production of “Annie.” Celia is also very involved with school activities, having appeared in many school productions, choir concerts, talent shows, and acting on student council. She is a member of the Schroeder Studio for piano and voice. Celia likes to write songs on her ukulele and travel in her free time. She would like to thank Sarah, Emily, Jessie, and Hunter for this opportunity.
Horton the Elephant - Tristan Nogueira
Tristan Nogueira (Horton the Elephant) is excited to be in his first show at Matthews Playhouse! Tristan comes from a big family with 5 siblings! He started acting his freshman year of high school, and has since then fallen in love with the art.
He currently studies at Corey Mitchell’s TGI (Theatre Gap Initiative) in Charlotte. In addition to performing, he is a huge gamer and anime fan. He is also really interested in psychology and loves to read (although he really needs to get back into it). His previous shows include “Les Miserables” (Marius), “Titanic the Musical” (Charles Clarke), “Done to Death” (Brad), “Benedict and Gregory Frankenstein” (Henry Clerva), “You’re A Good Man Charlie Brown” (Ensemble), and “Strike 1929” (JL Baugh). Instagram: @trippin.tristan
Gertrude McFuzz - Molly Barbery
Molly Barbery (Gertrude McFuzz) is excited to make her Matthews Playhouse debut in “Seussical”! A junior at Northwestern High School, Molly loves baking, reading, shopping, listening to music, and attempting to play music.
She loves One Direction and “Wicked” is her favorite musical. She also enjoys traveling, especially to the beach! Her previous shows include “The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee” (Olive) at Fort Mill Community Playhouse, “Descendants” (Evie) and “Wizard of Oz” (Dorothy) at Showtime Theatre Company, “Into the Woods” (Jack) at Northwestern High School, “Show Boat” (Kim) at CPCC, and “The Addams Family (Wednesday) at Rawlinson Road Middle.
Mayzie LaBird - Indya Tanner
Indya Tanner (Mayzie LaBird) is excited to be in her first production in the Charlotte community! Born and raised in Mississippi, Indya has been modeling since she was four years old and doing theatre since she was seven.
She has a business degree from MGCCC and loves to sing, dance, make jewelry, and try new restaurants! Her most memorable roles include Mimi in “Rent”, Moana in “Moana Jr.”, and Pilar in “Legally Blonde” at WINGS Performing Arts.
Instagram: @indya_skye
Sour Kangaroo - Shelby Annas
Shelby Annas (Sour Kangaroo) is excited to be in her fourth production at Matthews Playhouse and her 9th production total in the last year! She does Ambulatory Education and Training at Novant Medical Group and loves all things musical theatre! She also does headshot and theatrical photography. Some fun facts about Shelby are that she rides motorcycles and she can wiggle her ears!
Outside of theatre, her hobbies include playing card games, napping (a lifelong hobby) and baking desserts. Her previous shows include “Titanic the Musical” with Queen City Concerts, “Almost, Maine” at CPCC, “Big Fish” at Rock Hill Theatre, “Blithe Spirit” at Union County Playmakers, and “Miracle on 34th Street”, “Rainbow Fish” and “Scrooge! The Musical” at Matthews Playhouse.
Young Kangaroo - Jasmine Keenan
Jasmine Keenan (Young Kangaroo) is very excited to be making her Matthews Playhouse debut in Seussical!
A sophomore Music Education major/Theatre minor at UNC Charlotte, Jasmine can play four different instruments! In her spare time, her hobbies include singing, reading, and playing tennis. Jasmine’s previous shows include “EXIT” at Topsail High School.
Mr. Mayor - Chip Bradley
Chip Bradley (Mr. Mayor/Dad) is excited to be making his Matthews Playhouse debut in “Seussical”. He has been performing in and around Charlotte since moving back from Chicago in 2008.
Some of his favorite past roles include Franz Liebkind in The Producers, Brian in Avenue Q, Axel Hammond in The Nerd, Lieutenant Brannigan in Guys and Dolls, and Ghost of Christmas Present in A Christmas Carol. Chip lived in Chicago for thirteen years, eight of which he spent training and working at The Second City, as well as being a commercial voiceover artist for radio and TV. A big thank you to Sarah, Hunter, Emily, Jessie, Maddie and the rest of the production staff. Chip would also like to thank his wonderfully talented wife Lisa for everything she does for our family. And how cool is it that he gets to share the stage with his daughter Celia (JoJo) in his first show here?!!
Mrs. Mayor - Sarah Freeman
Sarah Freeman (Mrs. Mayor/Mom) is a singer and actor whose work focuses on live performances of musical theatre and solo voice. She has played numerous high-stake roles in operas, musicals, and plays.
One of Sarah’s favorite performances was the opportunity to perform with The Eagles during their 2022 Hotel California National tour at the Spectrum Center in Charlotte. Another favorite credit is playing Kate/Lily in UNC Charlotte’s completely virtual production of See Rock City & Other Destinations, a production made while completely quarantined during the peak of the COVID-19 Pandemic. Sarah is in her final semester at UNC Charlotte studying Music, Theatre, and Musical Theatre. She would like to thank her family for their constant support in all that she does. To see more from Sarah, visitwww.sarahfreemanofficial.com! Instagram: @sarahxfreeman
Thing 1 - Lilly Mooney
Lilly Mooney (Thing 1) is finishing her senior year of high school online while also working as a nanny and stage manager. She loves being silly, just like Thing 1. And Adi Callaghan (who plays Thing 2 opposite Lilly) is her Thing 2 in real life.
Some of her previous shows include “Scrooge! The Musical” and “The Adventures of Madeline” at Matthews Playhouse, and “Just Okay”, an ensemble written show that won second place at NCTC. When she is not performing, she loves scrapbooking, reading, and eating pork and beans!
Thing 2 - Adi Callaghan
Adi (Thing 2) is a ninth grader at Parkwood High School. They have been involved in theatre for the past 7 years and audiences may recognize them from their past roles in “Scrooge! The Musical”, “Pinocchio: Without Strings” and “Rainbow Fish” as The Rainbow Fish at Matthews Playhouse.
A fun fact about Adi is that they really enjoy taking analog photography. When not appearing on stage, Adi loves listening to music and playing guitar at a local mic night!
Elephant Bird/Jungle Ensemble - Erin Evans
Erin Evans (Elephant Bird/Jungle Ensemble) is so excited to be making her Matthews Playhouse debut in “Seussical”!
A 3rd grader at Unity Classical Charter School, Erin has been speaking French since she was five years old and loves doing makeup and gymnastics.
Her previous shows include “Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory” and “Madagascar Jr.” at Children’s Theater Summer Program.
Bird Girl #1 - Megan Reif
Megan Reif (Bird Girl) is thrilled to be in Seussical! Megan is a junior at Myers Park High School who has been at Matthews Playhouse for seven years along with her sister who also did productions at the playhouse. She does all star cheerleading, choir, and dance. And she loves helping out in her community in any way that she can, especially by working at her school’s greenhouse to help provide fresh plants and greens for the community.
Her previous shows include “Jungle Book”, “Pinocchio”, and “Oklahoma Jr.” at Matthews Playhouse, “Seussical” at Trinity Episcopal School, and “Beauty and the Beast” at Creative Kids. When she isn’t performing, she can be found hanging out with her two dogs named Nala and Belle.
Bird Girl #2 - Miley Rogers
Miley Rogers (Bird Girl) is excited to be back on the Matthews Playhouse stage after working as backstage crew for “Scrooge! The Musical”.
Miley is a junior at North Carolina Virtual Academy as well as a dual-enrollment student at CPCC. She was born in Nashville, Tennessee and loves playing acoustic guitar in addition to performing. Some fun facts about Miley are that her favorite musical is Fun Home, her favorite band is The 1975, and she got to go to NYC for her 16th birthday! Her previous shows include “The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee” at CPCC, “Sister Act” at Charlotte Academy of Music, and “Miracle on 34th Street” at Matthews Playhouse.
Bird Girl #3 - Emma Henley
Emma Henley (Bird Girl) is excited to be performing in “Seussical” at Matthews Playhouse! Emma is a freshman at Northwest School of the Arts and enjoys playing the trombone and listening to music. Her favorite artists are Ariana Grande, NCT, Melanie Martinez, and CL. She also loves animals, especially ferrets, rats, and dogs.
Her favorite dog, however, is her dog Brownie! Her previous shows include “The Best Christmas Pageant Ever” and “The Wizard of Oz” at Spotlight Community Theatre and “The Best Christmas Pageant Ever” and “Stuart Little” at Matthews Playhouse. When she isn’t performing, she loves to go camping, play video games, and watch TV.
Wickershams #1 - Seth Yarman
Seth Yarman (Wickersham) is excited to be monkeying around in Seussical at Matthews Playhouse. Seth is a trainer at Chick-fil-A who enjoys photography, Pokemon, video production, and performing. He also has a couple odd skills which include snapping abnormally loud and wiggling his ears! His previous shows include “Beauty and the Beast”, “Sister Act”, “Hairspray”, and “The Music Man” at Dilworth United Methodist and “A Chorus Line” at Northwest School of the Arts. Instagram: @hi_im_photographer_jason
Wickershams #2 - Maggie White
Maggie White (Wickersham) is a 10th grade homeschooled student who loves dancing, public speaking, going to concerts, and traveling.
Maggie is a proud black belt in Tae Kwon Do as well as a copperhead snake bite survivor! Her previous shows include “Animal Farm”, “Pinocchio”, “Music Man”, “Jungle Book”, and “The Lion King” at Matthews Playhouse. In the rest of her free time, she can be found watching cartoons and listening to music.
Wickershams #3 - Mason Morris
Mason Morris (Wickersham) is so excited to be in his first production at Matthews Playhouse! Mason is a 6th grader at Weddington Christian Academy who enjoys running, and going to the beach.
The oldest of 4 siblings, Mason can usually be found reading or playing his video games. His previous shows include “A Charlie Brown Christmas” at Weddington Christian Academy.
Wickershams #4 - Avery Gemmill
Avery Gemmill (Wickersham) is very excited to be in her first mainstage production at Matthews Playhouse! A 2nd grader in Stallings, she has previously been seen in the summer camp performance of “Encanto”. She also danced at Mint Hill Dance Center in tap and ballet from 2018-2022.
When Avery grows up, she wants to be a veterinarian AND a rock star! She also loves roller skating, making jewelry, and hanging out with her brother.
Who Ensemble - Graham Buckley
Graham Buckley (Who Ensemble) is a fifth grader at St. Gabriel Catholic School. Graham is quite accomplished as an entrepreneur, an author, a performer, a soloist in 3 children’s choirs, and a junior brown belt in Taekwondo! He started his own business in the summer of 2021 called “Graham-cierge- Your Neighborhood Helper” and published his first book in the spring of 2020 titled “The Martial Arts Madness. When he was 3 years old, he proclaimed to his family, “I was born to be on stage!” When not singing, dancing, writing, or starting a business, he enjoys Pokemon, Minecraft, crafting and writing/directing his own plays and musicals at home. His previous shows include “Annie”, “Madagascar Jr.”, “Still Life With Iris Ray” and “101 Dalmatians” at Children’s Theatre of Charlotte, and “The Nutcracker Ballet” at Matthews Ballet.
Who Ensemble - Lina Zierler
Lina Zierler (Who Ensemble) is super excited to be in her third mainstage production at Matthews Playhouse! A 6th grader at South Charlotte Middle School, Lina enjoys playing piano, fishing, ice skating, dancing, hanging out with her two bunnies named Michael Scott and Kevin Malone and playing with her grandparent's puppy, Teddy. She has been seen in past Matthews Playhouse School of Theater productions including “E-I-E-I Oops” and “Babe the Sheep Pig” and past mainstage productions including “Princess Fearless” and “Scrooge! The Musical”. When she isn’t performing, she can also be found playing accordion and pickle ball for fun, and chilling by the pool!
Yertle the Turtle/Vlad Vladikoff/Who Ensemble - Alexander Joles
Alexander Joles (Yertle the Turtle/Vlad Vladikoff/Who Ensemble) is excited to be making his Matthews Playhouse debut in Seussical! Alexander works at Barks, Bones & Biscuits where he gets to bathe adorable dogs all day. He loves to perform and he credits his sister as being the reason he got into theatre in the first place. In addition to performing and bathing puppies, he is aspiring to become a professional wrestler someday! He also loves video games, biking, working out at the gym, reading, and martial arts. His previous shows include “Spongebob”, “Footloose”, “Seussical Jr.”, and “Wedding Singer” at Spotlight and “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat”, and “Godspell” at Legacy. Instagram: @anustydaboi
Who Ensemble - Margot Meyers
Margot Meyers (Who Ensemble) is excited to be in her first full length musical! A fourth grader at Covenant Day School, Margot is the youngest in her family of five redheads.
She loves to write plays and stories and is working on her first novel! Margot has been in the church Christmas play since she was four years old and enjoys singing, dancing, and all things theatre.
Who Ensemble - Alice Fincher
Alice Fincher (Who Ensemble) is excited to be in her first mainstage performance at Matthews Playhouse!
A fourth grader at Socrates Academy, Alice is proud to be a second generation Matthews Playhouse performer. Her dad was in the very first Matthews Playhouse production! Another fun fact about Alice is that instead of living in a neighborhood, she lives on an old farm with her family. She loves to dance and do theater and has been seen on the Matthews Playhouse stage in the MPH School of Theater Production of “Peter Rabbit”!
Grinch/Who Ensemble - Anne Long
Anne Long (Grinch/Who Ensemble) is thrilled to be making her Matthews Playhouse debut! Audiences may have heard her on-air at Lite 102.9 (or 107.9 The Link).
She is excited to be back in musical theatre after taking a hiatus to play some extra/featured extra roles in films and TV. Her most recent credits include “Sistas”, “Electric Beach”, “The Summer I Turned Pretty”, and “It’s Supernatural”. When she isn’t performing, she loves sewing, crafting, jewelry and costumes! Previous theatre credits include “Belling the Cat” at Union County Playmakers, “Chitty Chitty Bang Bang” at Uwharrie Players, and “A Christmas Carol” at Theatre Charlotte.
Jungle/ Circus Ensemble - Claire Wallace Anderson
Claire Wallace Anderson (Jungle/Circus Ensemble) is thrilled to be making her mainstage production debut alongside her sister, Caroline. A third grader at Matthews Elementary, Caroline is passionate about the color blue, bunnies, and sea turtles. She loves acting, singing, and being involved with Matthews Playhouse camps and School of Theatre.
She has previously been seen in the MPH School of Theatre production of “Peter Rabbit”. When she isn’t performing, she also enjoys gymnastics, art, making jewelry, reading, swimming, and anything math related.
Jungle/ Circus Ensemble - Caroline Anderson
Caroline Anderson (Jungle/Circus Ensemble) is beyond thrilled to be performing in her first mainstage production with Seussical!
She has been seen on the Matthews Playhouse stage in various summer camp productions as well as the School of Theatre production of “Peter Rabbit”. Caroline loves all things Harry Potter and identifies as a Gryffindor. She loves acting, singing and attending the Matthews Playhouse camps and School of Theatre classes. When she isn’t performing or taking part in acting class, she can be found playing basketball, swimming, playing piano, and dancing!
Jungle/ Circus Ensemble - Seona Gosu
Seona Gosu (Jungle/Circus Ensemble) is thrilled to be making her debut with Matthews Playhouse! She is 10 and is a fifth grader at Elizabeth Lane Elementary. Seona enjoys listening to music and audiobooks, and singing. She is very adventurous and enjoys activities such as hoverboarding, roller blading, and zip lining.
She also loves spending time with her family, friends, and especially her furry friend, Trixie! Seona was part of Atrium Health's promotional video and has played the role of Molly in the mainstage production of “Annie” at the Children's Theater of Charlotte as well as in 42nd Street, a Children's Theater of Charlotte's Onstage production.
Cast #2 (a.k.a. Green Eggs and Ham)
Performance Schedule:
Friday, Feb 24th - 9:30 a.m. & 11:30 a.m. & 7:30p
Saturday, Feb 25th - 2:00 pm & *6:00 pm
Tuesday, Feb 28th - 9:30 a.m. & 11:30 a.m.
Thursday, March 2nd - 9:30 a.m. & 11:30 a.m.
Sunday, March 5th - 2:00 p.m.
*“Pay-What-You-Can” performance on Saturday, February 25, 2023 at 6 p.m. benefiting Freedom School Partners Inc., a non-profit literacy & cultural enrichment program for underserved children in our community.
Cast of Characters
Cat in the Hat - Winston Sims
Winston Sims (Cat in the Hat) is excited to be in his fifth production of “Seussical” (third time as the Cat)! The first time he played the Cat, he shared the stage with his mom, Donna, who played a Who. Now he gets to perform alongside his daughter, Veda Grace! He is an adjunct professor at Central Piedmont Community College where he teaches Theatre Appreciation.
He also helps people with pain, stress and sleep issues with high quality CBD products from Green Compass Global. Additionally, he has been Props Master for some Matthews Playhouse productions including “Princess Fearless”, “The Hundred Dresses”, “The Adventures of Madeline” and “South Pacific”. Outside of performing and teaching, he especially enjoys Harry Potter LEGO sets and MOC building, but he likes to build all kinds of LEGO sets with his family. His previous shows include “A Funny Thing Happened On The Way To The Forum” (Hero), “South Pacific (Lt. Cable), “Joseph And The Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat” (Simeon), “Oklahoma” (Ali Hakim), “The Wizard of Oz” (Scarecrow), and “Shrek: The Musical” (Lord Farquaad) at Matthews Playhouse. Instagram: @cbd.sims
JoJo - Julia Straley
Julia Straley (Jo Jo) is thrilled to be on the Matthews Playhouse stage for the first time in the fun musical! Julia is an eighth grader at Northwest School of the Arts who recently moved to Charlotte from Atlanta, GA in 2021.
She speaks French and enjoys writing and listening to music. Her previous shows include “Matilda” at Northwest School of the Arts as the titular character, “Zombie Prom” at Children’s Theatre of Charlotte, “The Sound of Music” at City Springs Theatre of Atlanta, and “Moana”, “The Wizard of Oz”, and “The Lion King” at Orbit Arts Academy of Atlanta.
Horton the Elephant - Daniel Keith
Daniel Keith (Horton the Elephant) is excited to be in this elephant-astic show! By day, Daniel works as an Esthetician at Idolize Brows and Beauty at Dilworth.
He was a makeup artist for two years and has done makeup for formals, weddings, and runway. He is also a roller coaster enthusiast and grew up wanting to be a roller coaster engineer, but once he saw how much math he needed to learn, he changed his path. Some of Daniel’s previous shows include “Spelling Bee”, “Guys and Dolls”, “Diary of Anne Frank”, “You Can’t Take It With You”, and “Almost, Maine” at CPCC and “Sister Act” at Matthews Playhouse. He would like to thank his amazing fiancée for all of her love and support!
Gertrude McFuzz - Kara Holt
Kara Holt (Gertrude McFuzz) is thrilled to be in Seussical the Musical! A 10th grader at Cabarrus Kannapolis Early College High School, Kara has played almost every sport there is! Her main athletic focus, however, is softball which she has played since she was 8 years old. In addition to sports, Kara is no stranger to the stage. Her previous shows include “Frozen Jr.”, “The Lion King Jr.”, “Legally Blonde”, “Into the Woods Jr.”, and “SchoolHouse Rock Live! Jr.” at Piedmont Players Theatre and “The Ever After” at High Point Community Theatre. When she isn't performing or playing sports, she can be found hanging out with friends or playing piano!
Mayzie LaBird - Sid Willoughby
Sid Willoughby (Mayzie LaBird) is thrilled to be making their Matthews Playhouse debut in “Seussical”! Sid has previously been seen in “Anything Goes” and “Grease” at Showtime Theatre Company, “Chicago” at Nation Ford High School” and “Freaky Friday” with JCC. Outside of performing, Sid’s hobbies include yodeling, drag, making obnoxious looking jewelry, and taking every opportunity to nap.
They can also be found hanging out with their 3 cats named Peyton Manning, Brad, and Pablo.
Sour Kangaroo - Ellie Dudeck
Ellie Dudeck (Sour Kangaroo) is excited to be in her second show in the area after moving to Charlotte in September. Ellie was born and raised in Rockford, IL and moved to Ohio where she lived for the last year and a half with her boyfriend. She auditioned virtually (before moving to Charlotte) for Fort Mill Community Playhouse’s production of “The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee” where she was lucky to be cast as Logainne. She currently works as a Music teacher at Mr. Music Man Company as well as a server at Firethorne Country Club. Her favorite roles include Logainne in “The 25th Putnam County Spelling Bee”, Sandy in “Grease”, Liesl in “The Sound of Music”, Marianne Wilson in “Disaster!” and The Wicked Witch in “The Wizard of Oz”. She would like to send a big shout out to her twin brothers, with autism, who are the lights of her life!
Young Kangaroo - Sky Clinton
Sky Clinton (Young Kangaroo) is excited to be in her first professional show! Sky Clinton is an 11 year old 5th grader originally from Boston MA. She has 3 dogs whose combined weight is less than 25 pounds!
In her spare time, you can find Sky playing golf, painting, or baking. With pose and maturity far beyond her years, Sky brings talent and dedication to this production. She has enjoyed working with the cast and would like to thank Matthews Playhouse for welcoming her!
Mr. Mayor - Steve Harper
Steve Harper (Mr. Mayor/Dad) is excited to be making his Matthews Playhouse debut in “Seussical”! He currently plays the drums for his church and has been playing for nearly 15 years. In addition to playing drums, he also does voice impressions! His hobbies are drums, traveling, voice acting, and gaming.
Some of his previous shows include “12 Angry Jurors” (Juror #5), “Legally Blonde” (Emmett), “Pippin” (The Leading Player), and “Wizard of Oz” (Tin Man) at Mount Pleasant High School, and “Little Shop of Horrors” (Audrey 2) at Mint Hill Spotlight Performing Arts Academy. Instagram: @harper_1998
Mrs. Mayor - Liz Waller
Liz Waller (Mrs. Mayor/Mom) is thrilled to be in her first performance at Matthews Playhouse. Favorite past roles include Imogene in Four Old Broads at Lee Street Theatre and Vera in Smoke on the Mountain at Theatre Charlotte.
When she’s not on stage she’s busy with her husband and three sons and she would like to thank them for all of their support and encouragement. She dedicates this performance to the memory of Glynis Robbins.
Thing 1 - Nora Yesowitch
Nora Yesowitch (Thing 1) is so excited to return to the stage at Matthews Playhouse. She has had such an amazing time working with the cast and crew. Nora has been seen as Kathy Cratchit in “Scrooge! The Musical” at Matthews Playhouse, Pepper in “Annie” at Children’s Theatre of Charlotte, and Annie in “Annie” at JSTAGE Charlotte.
Her most favorite role was Merryweather the Fairy in “Sleeping Beauty” at JSTAGE. Nora is in eighth grade at Northwest School of the Arts and enjoys cooking and spending time with her pets. She would like to thank her family and friends for their support and this fantastic cast for making this performance so much fun.
Thing 2 - Quinley Griffin
Quinley Griffin (Thing 2) is excited to be in her first show ever! A sixth grader at Crestdale Middle School, Quinley loves all kinds of animals and learning about different countries.
She also loves to play the clarinet and ride roller coasters.
Elephant Bird - Veda Grace Sims
Veda Grace Sims (Elephant Bird/Jungle Ensemble) is so excited to be making her mainstage debut in “Seussical”! A first grader at Shiloh Valley Primary School, Veda Grace was recognized as a Terrific Kid by her teacher!
She loves drawing, coloring, arts and crafts, playing with dolls, singing, dancing, dressing up, playing with friends, gymnastics, reading, and building LEGO sets. She also enjoys hanging out with her little brother, Elliott. A fun fact about Veda Grace is that her birthday is two days before her dad’s! She has previously performed in the showcase for one of the MPH Encanto Jr. summer camps as well as a Jasmine camp.
Bird Girl #1- Kenzie Schmitt
Kenzie Schmitt (Bird Girl) has been a student at Matthews Playhouse for the past 11 years. 7 years ago, She was in her first MPH mainstage production of “The Lion, the Witch, and The Wardrobe” as Lucy!
Her most recent productions include “Oklahoma Jr.” as Laurey Williams, “The Wizard of Oz” as Miss Gulch/Wicked Witch Understudy, and is currently in “The Addams Family” as Alice Beineke at Marvin Ridge High School! She is a Junior at Marvin Ridge, and currently serves as the Captain of her school’s Check! Improv Club! She is also a member of the MRHS Varsity Dance Team!
She is so excited to be involved in this amazing production and hopes you enjoy the show!
Bird Girl #2 - Rolial Sita
Rolial Sita (Bird Girl) is thrilled to be in her first show at Matthews Playhouse. No stranger to the stage, Rolial is an actor who is always up for an adventure. She is also quite the foodie!
Her family will stop at new restaurants in whatever town they are in and, at this point, she can probably differentiate foods just by taste! When she isn’t on stage, she loves drawing, writing, dancing, yoga, and analyzing art. Her past shows include “The Lion King” at McClintock Middle, “Dionysia” at Northwest School of the Arts and she had the opportunity to be an extra in “The Idea of You”, a 2023 film.
Bird Girl #3- Bella Mikels
Bella Mikels (Bird Girl) is a Marvin Ridge High School senior, and this is her very first production at Matthews Playhouse! Musical theatre has been Bella's favorite thing to do since childhood.
When not performing, Bella fundraises for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, serves as Vice President of her school's National Honor Society, and plays basketball. Some of her favorite roles have been Mary Poppins in "Mary Poppins," TinMan in "The Wizard of Oz," Lilly St Regis in "Annie" and she is currently playing Morticia Addams in "The Addams Family" at MRHS.
Wickersham #1- Joey Rising
Joey Rising (Wickersham) is excited to be back on the Matthews Playhouse stage! An 8th grader at Northwest School of the Arts, Joey has performed at open mic nights around Charlotte and Matthews. He can also be seen in a Hallmark movie called “A Nashville Christmas Carol”!
Local audiences may recognize him from his previous roles in “Matilda” and “Once On This Island Jr.” at Northwest School of the Arts, “Freaky Friday” at JStage, “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat” at CPCC, and “Rainbow Fish” and “It’s A Wonderful Life” at Matthews Playhouse. Outside of doing theater, I play guitar and love to write music and plays.
Wickersham #2 - Lauren Berkley
Lauren Berkley (Wickersham) is a Junior at Marvin Ridge High School, and this is their first production at Matthews Playhouse! They love the performing arts, but they love theatre most of all. They take acting classes at Matthews Playhouse and have taken many theatre classes at MRHS with Winston Sims, our very own Cat in the Hat!
When not on stage, they love working behind the scenes in props, singing in chorus at MRHS, and listening to music. Their prior productions include “Annie”, “Zombie Prom”, “The Wizard of Oz”, and they’re currently in a production of “The Addams Family”.
Wickersham #3- William Helms
William Helms (Wickersham) is excited to be in his first mainstage production at Matthews Playhouse! A seventh grader at Cuthbertson Middle School, William loves anything art related: music, theatre, drawing, painting, graphics, and photography.
A fun fact about William is that he has broken 4 major bones! In addition to his creative outlets, he also loves traveling, swimming, and shoes. His previous shows include “Big Fish” when he was a fourth grader (but he never got to perform it thanks to Covid), “Greatest Showman Jr.” camp (PT Barnum) at Matthews Playhouse, “Aladdin Jr.” (Townsperson) at New Town Elementary, and “Frankenstein’s Creature” (William Frankenstein) at Cuthbertson High School.
Wickersham #4 - Avery Smulktis
Avery Smulktis (Wickersham) is a 6th grader at Grace Academy and is thrilled to be part of the Seussical cast! Avery was diagnosed with type one diabetes six years ago but she has never let it stop her. She's used her love for public speaking by appearing on stage at the JDRF gala and recording videos to thank corporate sponsors.
Avery loves all things having to do with theater. She enjoys dancing, cooking/baking, and hanging out with friends. Her previous shows include “Captain Louie Jr.” at Children's Theater of Charlotte, and “The Little Mermaid Jr.”, “Aladdin Jr.”, and “Frozen Jr.” at Camp JuMp.
Who Ensemble - Nolan Maggi
Nolan Maggi (Who Ensemble) is thrilled to be in his first performance at Matthews Playhouse! A third grader at Matthews Elementary School, Nolan loves the musical “Hamilton” and it is his dream to play King George one day. He likes learning about history and architecture and also enjoys trivia and watching Jeopardy with his family. Building legos is his favorite hobby, in fact he has over 27 Lego sets!
He also loves singing, dancing, ice skating, and hockey. He has had previous roles as Moses and Joseph in his church performances.
Who Ensemble - Sophia Golden
Sophia Golden (Who Ensemble) is excited to be making her Matthews Playhouse mainstage debut in “Seussical”. An eighth grader at Metrolina Regional Scholars Academy, Sophia is very passionate about art. She developed a strong love for painting and drawing and takes any opportunity to sketch something down.
Since an early age she has loved singing and has always been fascinated by the magical world of theater. In addition to theatre, she enjoys hiking, camping, and paddle boarding. She has been seen in “Fiddler on the Roof” at her school as well as in the Matthews Playhouse Haunted Trail.
Yertle the Turtle/Vlad Vladikoff/Who Ensemble - Nathan Loring
Nathan Loring (Yertle the Turtle/Vlad Vladikoff/Who Ensemble) is very excited to be in his second show at Matthews Playhouse (within 3 months)!
Nathan has a BFA in Animation and would absolutely love to find a job where he could use those skills. Audiences may recognize him from his most recent role as Tom Jenkins in “Scrooge! The Musical” as well as one of the Trail Guides in the 2022 Haunted Trail at Matthews Playhouse. In addition to acting, he loves storytelling, drawing, playing video games, and being a general goofball.
Who Ensemble - Gabby Daly
Gabby Daly (Who Ensemble) is so excited to be in her first mainstage show at Matthews Playhouse! A 10th grader at Ignite Achievement Academy, Gabby is the youngest of four children and has two adorable dogs: Rudy the Pug and Chewy the Shih Tzu Bichon mix. Gabby has lived in many places across the USA, including New Orleans for 3 years, Chicago for 7 years, and now Charlotte since 2017.
Gabby has been seen in many summer camps and School of Theatre shows at Matthews Playhouse with some highlights being “The Greatest Showman” camp and “Honk Jr.” When she isn’t onstage, she can be found reading, singing, spending time at the beach, and working on her growing collection of vinyl records.
Who Ensemble- Scarlett Stahnke
Scarlett Stahnke (Who Ensemble) is excited to be in her first mainstage performance at Matthews Playhouse. It’s very fitting for her first mainstage show to be “Seussical” because she shares a birthday with Dr. Seuss!
Scarlett is a fourth grader at Telra Institute and enjoys reading, logic puzzles, crafting, and creating entertainment for her little brothers. Her previous shows include “Peter Rabbit” as part of the Matthews Playhouse School of Theatre as well as “Wizard of Oz”, and “Matilda”.
Grinch/Who Ensemble - Cathy Schroeder
Cathy Schroeder (Who Ensemble/Grinch) is excited to be making her Matthews Playhouse debut in Seussical the Musical! She is a dancer who loves music and has recently discovered the joy of community theater. Cathy has performed at Little Theater of Gastonia in the ensemble of several shows - Something Rotten, Mamma Mia and Disaster the Musical, to name a few.
Cathy is a dance instructor at the Harris YMCA and has performed the role of Herr Drosselmeyer in the Harris Dance Performing Company’s production of The Nutcracker for the past 10 years. She loves to read and spend time with family and friends! She is married with 2 adult children who support her fun adventures!
Jungle/ Circus Ensemble - Catherine Gaertner
Catherine Gaertner (Jungle/Circus Ensemble) is so incredibly excited to be in her first show ever! A fourth grader at Springwater Academy Homeschool, Catherine is referred to as “Cat” and “Kitty” by her friends and family.
She has been to Europe twice and even had the experience of celebrating Easter at the Vatican! Catherine is currently learning how to skateboard and loves swimming, soccer, and riding her scooter. She also enjoys all kinds of arts, but especially loves drawing, painting, and sculpture. When she isn’t enjoying her many hobbies, she loves to watch her favorite movie, “Elf” and eat her favorite foods which include pasta and meatballs, corndogs, watermelon, tomatoes, and cucumbers.
Jungle/ Circus Ensemble - Madeleine Larson
Madeleine Larson (Jungle/Circus Ensemble) is excited to be in her first production with Matthews Playhouse! A 7th grader at Windrow Academy, Madeleine loves to draw, paint, dance, sing, act, and create! She is the middle child of 5 kids and has a bearded dragon named Ollie.
Her previous shows include a Musical Revue and “Mary Poppins” at Eagles Wings Studios and “Aladdin” at Spotlight Theatre. When she is not performing or creating, she loves to bake, spend time with her friends, family, and pets, and ORGANIZE (you should see her room).
Jungle/ Circus Ensemble - Isla Fraser
Isla Fraser (Jungle/Circus Ensemble) is excited to be making her debut at Matthews Playhouse in “Seussical”. Isla is a 7th grader at Marvin Ridge Middle School who loves watching and performing musical theater! She also enjoys baking and reading.
When she isn’t enjoying her various hobbies, she can be found hanging out with her brother, two dogs, two cats, and one frog!