Cabaret

Adam King is a Junior BFA Acting concentration at Western Carolina and is thrilled to be part of Cabaret this year. In the past, he has been a part of shows in the Niggli Black Box theatre, namely Intimate Apparel, and This is Our Youth. “I’m grateful to the School of Stage and Screen for this opportunity, as I take on this chance to grow! Also, a thank you to everyone who pushed me to be here; without you, I don’t know where I’d be!”

Michael Jackson is a Senior at WCU. He is very excited to bring the role of Bobby to life with such an incredible cast and crew. Michael has been in several WCU projects and productions including Men With Money, Hair, and Spring Awakening all directed Broadway vet Terrence Mann. He would like to give a shout out to his family and all his friends near and far and thanks them for all of their constant support because he knows he wouldn’t be who he is today without them. You can follow him on Instagram at musical_mic to keep up with him!

Dylan Renken is a junior (Class of 2020) in the School of Stage and Screen here at Western Carolina University, working towards a BFA in Acting, as well as a minor in dance. He is thrilled to be a member of this beautiful, dedicated, and most importantly, passionate program. Past WCU Stage and Screen productions that Dylan has been seen in are “Company” directed by Sarah Norris,  “J.B.” directed by Claire Eye, and “Spring Awakening” directed by Terrence Mann. Dylan would like to take this time to thank his friends and family for always supporting him to be the absolute best he can be! He wouldn't be here without their unconditional love and uplifting thoughts. Thank you for coming to experience the art we have created! Spread the love!

Alexa Hendrickson is pumped to be playing Fraulein “Fritzie” Kost in Cabaret! She is currently a junior in the BFA Musical Theatre program at Western Carolina. Alexa first started doing theatre after she began her dance training at Albemarle Academy of Dance when she was five. In her time at Western, she has been a swing for HAIR, and dance ensemble/dance captain for Company. Favorite credits outside of WCU include “Ursula” in The Little Mermaid, “Paulette”  in Legally Blonde, “Olive” in The 25th...Spelling Bee, and “Susan” in Company. Alexa would like to thank the incredible S&S faculty, her family, and the S&S class of 2020 for all of their love and support!

Connie Taylor, playing Rosie, is a sophomore Musical Theatre major. This is her first show at WCU. Previous roles include Betty in All in the Timing, Miss Weston in Damn Yankees, and Ensemble in Pippin. She is so thankful to her teachers for sharing their wisdom, grateful for Ashlee and Kristen for trusting her in this show, and appreciative to her family and friends for supporting her throughout it all! Willkommen, bienvenue, and enjoy the show!

Katelin Fitts is a junior Musical Theatre major here at Western Carolina University. This is her third main stage production here at Western. She was last seen as Frau Bergman in Spring Awakening directed by Terrence Mann. She is incredibly grateful to Ashlee and Kristen and the rest of the production team for this opportunity. She would like to thank her fierce mother for supporting and loving her unconditionally and also living in Germany for three years, which made her come in handy for this production. She'd also like to thank her Grammy for being the bee's knees. Lastly, Katelin would like to thank her father for always being her guiding light in a dark night. Enjoy the show!!

Caroline Ryan is a Junior in the BFA Musical Theatre program here at WCU. You could have recently seen her in WCU's productions of J.B. and Spring Awakening, as well as part of the dance show Lunch with the Peanuts at Carowinds amusement park. She's extremely excited to be in this production of Cabaret and to work with all of these amazing cast members. Caroline would like to thank Ashlee Wasmund and Kristen Hedberg for trusting her with this role, as well as her family, roommates, friends, and classmates for their constant support.  

Ryan Albinus is thrilled to be in Cabaret! He is a junior BFA musical theatre major. You may have seen him in the ensemble of Spring Awakening or Hair, or possibly even slapping the bass in God Save Gertrude. He would like to send love to his family and thanks for everyone involved in the process. @ryalbino

Corey Barrow is a junior musical theatre major and he is so excited to be returning to the Hoey stage! Recent credits include Cogsworth in Beauty and the Beast, Curtis in Sister Act, Paul in Company and Hud in Hair! He wants to thank his family and friends for their continuous love and support! @coreyindahouz

Matthew Howie, a senior from Monroe, NC is currently earning a BFA in Musical Theatre. He is thrilled to be a part of Cabaret as a swing for the Kit Kat Boys and understudying Ernst. His last performance on the WCU stage was as Dieter in Spring Awakening. He spent two summers at Pioneer Playhouse in Danville, KY doing four plays in ten weeks as everything from a WWII soldier in Guarded! to a British dandy in A Tell Tale Farce. In addition to being very busy with a number of student films last year he also was thrilled this past summer to enjoy a performance internship with the CAMMY award- winning Too Much Sylvia in venues all over North and South Carolina (youtube: Got The Rhythm). He wants to say thank you to all the people who support him on his journey, especially Mom and Dad!

Lena Armas is thrilled to perform the role of Frenchie in Cabaret! She is a Senior BFA Musical Theatre major and has been seen as Little Beaver in Hair at WCU or in the National Tour for Bright Star Children’s Theatre this past summer. Lena is also extremely passionate for the Stage Management side of theatre as well where she has been an ASM for In The Soundless Awe, SM for God Save Gertrude, and will be the ASM for Noises Off! immediately following Cabaret! She wants to give a special shoutout to Ashlee Wasmund for always being her Stage Mom and her sisters of Phi Mu for being her number one fans. Please support some of the seniors on their upcoming NYC Showcase, donations can be made on GoFundMe under “WCU 2019 Senior Showcase in NYC”!

Autumn Cravens is a junior musical theatre major with a minor in dance, and is playing Helga/Gorilla in Cabaret! At Western, she was recently seen in Company as April, and as an understudy for Leigh/Haley in Really, Really. Last year she was also a part of CPCCs summer stock season as an ensemble member in The Fiddler on the Roof, A Chorus line and MAMMA MIA! She wants to thank her family, friends and professors for being so supportive.  

Annelise is so thrilled to be playing "Lulu" and assistant choreographing in this wonderful production of Cabaret! Previous credits include Jesus Christ Superstar (Ensemble, Connecticut Repertory Theatre), Regional: Bonnie & Clyde (Bonnie), A Midsummer Night's Dream (Robin Starveling), Legally Blonde (Kate), Educational: Spring Awakening (Thea), Hair (Tribe), Company (Swing), Resident Alien (Shira). She would like to extend all of her love and thanks to her amazing family for all of their unconditional love, support, and encouragement.

Tayler Harris is a senior in the B.F.A Musical Theater Department in the School of Stage & Screen. Originally from Portland, Oregon, her previous show experiences include Beauty and the Beast, To Kill A Mockingbird, Company, King Lear, Intimate Apparel and Sister Act. Tayler is graduating in December 2018 and is truly grateful for time spent here at WCU learning from all the wonderful faculty and staff. Special thanks to her family and friends for their support.   

Jonathan Partin (Sound Design) is a senior at Western Carolina University majoring in Theatre Technology. Originally from Garner, NC he began working as a sound and lighting technician for an entertainment production company based in Smithfield, NC and was hired in 2013. He has continued to be involved in numerous opportunities available throughout the entertainment industry ever since. “I am very thankful for the opportunities I have received here at Western, both on campus and off, and I would especially like to thank the faculty, staff, and students who help create possibilities into a reality.”

Kristen Hedberg (Music Director) is an Assistant Professor of Musical Theatre - Voice, in the School of Stage and Screen. Kristen's previous production work at WCU includes God Save Gertrude (Music Director), The Rocky Horry Show (Director), Resident Alien - workshop (Sveta), and The Medium (Guest Artist/Title Role for School of Music). As a crossover artist, Kristen enjoys performing and directing in both the theatre and opera. Highlights include: Carousel (Julie Jordan), Don Pasquale (Norina), Don Giovanni (Donna Anna), Cosi fan tutte (Despina), Brundibar (Director) and The Sound of Music (Director) for Asheville Lyric Opera. Into the Woods (Witch), Legally Blonde (Paulette), Company (Amy), Avenue Q (Kate Monster) and The Light in the Piazza (Margaret Johnson) for Haywood Arts Regional Theatre. Kristen also works as the voice clinician for Terrence Mann and Charlotte d'Amboise's Triple Arts Intensive each summer at WCU. Kristen received her education from the A.J. Fletcher Opera Institute at the UNC School of the Arts and Catawba College.

 

Lauren Hunkele (Assistant Music Director, u/s Kost) is a senior musical theatre major. At WCU, she has previously appeared in In the Soundless Awe (Gray Woman) and Company (Susan) among others. Some of her favorite previous roles include Jo March in Little Women and Kala in Disney’s Tarzan. Lauren would like to thank Kristen Hedberg and Ashlee Wasmund for this opportunity as well as her family and friends for always being her cheerleaders. She would also like to thank the Friends of the Arts for their constant support of WCU School of Stage and Screen.

 

Yu “Leo” Lei (Lighting Design Leo is very excited to join Western Carolina University as the Assistant Professor of Lighting and Sound in the School of Stage and Screen this Fall, and it is such a pleasure for him to work on the production of Cabaret as the Lighting Designer with such a great team! He graduated from Kent State University in 2016 with an M.F.A and an award winning Lighting Design for Side Show in the 68th Southeast Theatre Conference(SETC). He has worked as the Season Master Electrician for Porthouse Theatre from 2014 to 2016, and designed lighting for Footloose, co-designed lighting for Violet, and Sister Act with Cindy Stillings. He joined Santa Fe University of Art and Design as the Assistant Technical Director and Lighting Faculty in Fall 2016, and designed the lighting for the musical Company. Leo moved back to China in 2017, worked at Maidong Media, a production company and rental  house as the Chief Lighting Consultant and Designer, in charge of design and coordinate lightings for live concerts, corporate events, and music festivals. Leo coming back to the States was such a quick transition, he felt so welcomed and supported from everyone. And he is so honored to be a member of this wonderful team!

 

Rachel Lockleair (Hair & Makeup) is a Junior and General B.A. student. “Cal” has also worked on Angels in America as props crew and  worked on J.B, Spring Awakening, and Really Really as a scene painter. “I would like to thank Tory Depew for encouraging me to continue to do effects makeup and for giving me the wonderful opportunity to work on this wonderful show.”

 

Stephanie Moyse (Asst. Scenic Design) is an Honors BA Theatre Design/Tech senior in the School of Stage and Screen. Some of her notable past works include being a Props Artisan at Berkshire Theatre Group this past summer, Co-Props Master for both Spring Awakening and J.B. last semester, and Set and Props Designer for This Is Our Youth in 2017. Stephanie has taken pride in her academic and show work since beginning her studies at Western and she is thankful for all the experience and knowledge she has earned throughout each semester and show. She would like to thank her father and step-mother, John and Tammy, her mother, Tracey, her siblings, Amber and Dalton, and her grandparents, Shirley and Bill, for all of their continued support and encouragement.

 

Rachel Schuldenfrei (Costume Shop Manager) is excited to start her WCU career with Cabaret. She spent 10 years in the Washington D.C. area as Costume Shop Manager for Round House Theatre and a Draper for Wolf Trap Opera. Rachel is a graduate of Wesleyan University (B.A. Art History) and University of Virginia (B.F.A. Costume Design and Technology). Thanks to Tory and Jayme for this opportunity and to the Costume Shop Assistants for all their hard work.

 

Isaiah Jarrett (Asst. Sound Design) is a freshman studying Entertainment Design and Technology. This is his first show here at Western Carolina and he is super excited to be starting his college career. Previously he has designed shows such as Rodger's and Hammerstein's Cinderella, And Then They Came for Me, Hairspray, Eurydice, and The Clean House.  He would like to thank the amazingly talented cast and crew for putting together such an amazing show and would also like to thank the faculty and staff for this amazing opportunity.

 

Kirsten A. Smitherman (Stage Manager) is a Senior BA with a concentration in Stage Management and a proud Actor’s Equity Association EMC. Stage Management credits include; Western Carolina University’s Company (Dir. Sarah Norris), Intimate Apparel (Dir. Brenda Lilly), and Really Really (Dir. Colin Wasmund) and Forestburgh Playhouse’s (LOA) Seussical TYA (Dir. Andy Hudson). Assistant Stage Management credits include; Forestburgh Playhouse’s (LOA) Steel Magnolias (Dir. Trent Blanton), Million Dollar Quartet (Dir. Anthony C. Daniel), Kiss Me Kate (Chaz Wolcott), Annie (Franklin Trapp), Fiddler on the Roof (Marky Hardy), Mamma Mia, and The Last Five Years (Robin Levine) and Western Carolina University’s HAIR! (Dir. Terrence Mann).