CAST

SCOTT WICHMANN*

(Sherlock Holmes) is proud to return to the Wells for the holidays. Previous VSC appearances include Cardinal Richelieu in The Three Musketeers and Lazar Wolf in Fiddler on the Roof. Recent credits include Black ‘Stache in Peter and the Starcatcher (Firehouse Theatre), part of the all-star ensemble of Sweeney Todd (Va Arts Festival) and Frank Abignale, Sr., in Catch Me If You Can (VMT). Regional credits include A Gentleman’s Guide to Love & Murder, 1776, The Producers, Dirty Rotten Scoundrels, and Say Goodnight Gracie (Va Rep); I Am My Own Wife (5th Wall); Brimstone (Berkshire Theatre Festival) The Life of Galileo (Studio Theatre), and Old Tom in The Lost Colony Outdoor Drama. On the small screen, Scott was featured as John Adams in FOX’s Legends & Lies: The Patriots. Other film and TV credits include Lincoln, Loving, TURN: Washington’s Spies, The Red Badge of Courage and The Good Lord Bird. Host of The Richmond Forum with John Lithgow. A graduate of Wagner College, (Staten Island, N.Y.), Scott moonlights as Mister Showtime, a one-man Rat Pack with a killer jazz trio, and proudly serves as a chief petty officer in the United States Navy Reserve. IG: @scottwichmann.

BEATTY BARNES*

(Ebenezer Scrooge) is excited to be returning in this production of VSCs A Merry Little Christmas Carol.  Beatty discovered his theatrical talent as a stand-up comedian traveling the country from coast to coast.  Some credits include  ABC's America's Funniest People, Comcast Comedy Spotlight, and HBO's Aspen Comedy Festival. His acting credits include: Othello, Top Dog/Underdog, Macbeth, 100, Coriolanus, Our Town, A Raisin in the Sun, and numerous productions with CORE Theatre Ensemble. An original member of the Pushers Improve and Sketch Comedy and a current member of PlanB Improv and sketch comedy. A sincere thank you to all those supporting live entertainment. Stay sane, stay sanitized, and be kind to one another.

PATRICK HALLEY*

(Actor 1: Dr. Watson/others/Fight Captain) happily returns to Virginia Stage and The Wells, after The Hound of the Baskervilles (2018) and A Merry Little Christmas Carol (2023). He is a New York based actor whose work has been seen Off-Broadway and at many of the country’s major resident theaters, including The Pearl Theatre Company, Ensemble Studio Theatre, Alliance Theatre, Cleveland Play House, Denver Center Theatre Company, Westport Country Playhouse, Maltz Jupiter Theatre, Baltimore Center Stage, Pioneer Theatre Company, Syracuse Stage, Flat Rock Playhouse, Arkansas Repertory Theatre, Peoples Light, Mill Mountain Theatre, Theatre SilCo, White Heron Theatre, TheatreSquared, and Hudson Valley Shakespeare. He has appeared on television in Law & Order, Law & Order: SVU, Difficult People, and several national commercials. Patrick is a Bucknell graduate and native of Poughkeepsie, NY. For Jackie. 

SARAH MANTON*

(Actor 2: Emma Wiggins/others) Theatre credits include: One Man, Two Guvnors (Broadway), Coast of Utopia, South Pacific (National Theatre, London), Baby in Dirty Dancing (West End), Major Barbara, The Madras House, The Mikado, Village Wooing (Orange Tree, London), Juliet in Romeo and Juliet (UK tour)  Pains of Youth (BAC, London) Look Back in Anger (UK Tour) Time and the Conways (Old Globe, San Diego), What the Butler Saw (Mark Taper, LA), Owners (Yale Rep), Villette (Frantic Assembly/Steven Hoggett), Henry V, Merry Little Xmas Carol (VSC), Things we do for Love, Bedroom Farce, What the Butler Saw, Lettice and Lovage (Westport Country Playhouse) When We Were Married (Denver Center), Time of my Life (Pittsburgh Public), The Champion of Paribanou, (Scarborough, dir. Alan Ayckbourn), The Rivals (UK tour), Educating Rita (West Playhouse)  TV/Film includes: New Amsterdam (NBC), Doctors (BBC), Casualty (BBC) Seriously Dirty Dancing (Channel 4) Radio/Recording includes: South Pacific NT cast album, Alan Ayckbourn’s Whenever (BBC radio 4) Proud member of The Actor’s Center NYC. @sarahmantonhollis

SETH ROBERT PATTERSON

(Actor 3: Dr. Cratchit/others) is thrilled to make his Virginia Stage debut in A Sherlock Carol! Seth is a graduate of Central Michigan University and a proud member of Dr. Eric Tucker’s voice studio. Seth has performed in regional theaters across the country (Fireside Dinner Theatre, The Stephen Foster Drama Association, The Derby Dinner Playhouse, Florida Repertory Theatre and more!) Favorite credits: Clifford Bradshaw (Cabaret), Stephen Foster (The Stephen Foster Story), Jamie (The Last Five Years), and Bob Gaudio (Jersey Boys). Seth would like to extend gratitude to Mark Shanahan for his beautiful and heartening play and to the VSC for the opportunity to be a part of it. To my family, program bios must be brief, but I could fill books thanking you for everything. @seth_robert_patterson

RACHEL FOBBS*

(Actor 4: Countess/others) is blessed to be home for the holidays! VA Stage credits include Blues for an Alabama Sky, Matilda, and Pride & Prejudice! Other adventures: World Premiere of Christmas in Connecticut (Goodspeed Musicals); Escape to Margaritaville (Broadway 1st Nat'l Tour); World Premiere Actor-Musician production of Godspell (St Michael's Playhouse).  Follow her antics on IG @fobbsy 

CREATIVES

MARK SHANAHAN

(Playwright) serves at the Artistic Director of the historic Westport Country Playhouse in Westport, Connecticut. As a playwright, he is the adapter of Agatha Christie’s The Murder of Roger Acroyd, in partnership with Agatha Christie Ltd., which premiered at the Tony Award-winning Alley Theatre. He is also the author of A Merry Little Christmas Carol, See Monsters of the Deep, the Off-Broadway and regional hit comedy The Dingdong, and numerous radio plays as creator of The White Heron Ghostlight series, featuring Christopher Plummer, Judith Ivey, Rhonda Ross, and other notables. A Sherlock Carol was a New York Times Critic’s Pick during its two seasons Off-Broadway and earned an Off-Broadway Alliance nomination for Best New Play 2021 and is currently being produced at numerous theatres across the United States and internationally, including a third sold-out season in London at The Marylebone Theatre. Mark's directing work has been seen extensively at The Alley Theatre, Westport Country Playhouse, Irish Rep of New York City, White Heron, Florida Rep, George Street Playhouse, Virginia Stage, Penguin Rep, The Fulton Opera House, Arkansas Rep, Theatre Squared, Hudson Stage, and many more. As an actor, he has appeared on and Off-Broadway in The 39 Steps, Tryst,  As Bees in Honey Drown, The Shaugraun, and others, at many celebrated regional theatres.

STEVE PACEK

(Director)  is thrilled to be back at VSC, where he has appeared in A Merry Little Christmas Carol, Dial M for Murder, The Hound of the Baskervilles and The Legend of Georgia McBride, in addition to directing A Comedy of Errors.  Other directing/choreography credits include: Rosie the Riveter (Roūge); tick, tick...BOOM! (Theatre Horizon); Ragtime, Once and The Light Princess (Arden Theatre Co); Man of La Mancha and Peter and the Starcatcher (Delaware Theatre Company); A Little Night Music (UArts); See What I Wanna See, Kiss of the Spider Woman, Grey Gardens and Hair (11th Hour); and Once (TheaterSquared).  Upcoming: The Prom (Tantrum Theater @ Ohio University); Pride and Prejudice and Dragons (Roūge); and RENT (Arden Theatre Co). Merry Christmas to all and to all a good night! www.stevepacek.com

DAHLIA AL-HABIELI

(Scenic Designer) Upcoming: The Half God of Rainfall (Wilma Theater), Le Tempestad (Trinity Repertory). Previous credits include: Dracula: A Comedy of Terrors, Disney's The Little Mermaid, The Odyssey, In the Heights, Steel Magnolias, Gloria (Dallas Theater Center); Much Ado About Nothing (Playmakers Repertory Theater); The Refugees (Gulfshore Playhouse); A Merry Christmas Carol, Henry V (Virginia Stage Company); House of Joy (Repertory Theater of St. Louis), Native Gardens (Trinity Repertory); What We Were (Second Thought Theatre). Dahlia's design work has received IRNE and Kennedy Center awards. She has held faculty appointments at Carnegie Mellon University's School of Drama, Wake Forest University and Albright College. Learn more about her work as an artist and educator at www.eloquentaction.com

JENI SCHAEFER

(Costume Designer) is the Director of Design and Resident Costume Designer at the Virginia Stage Company in her 23rd season. Regional credits include: The 39 Steps at Westport Country Playhouse, The 39 Steps at White Heron Theatre, A Christmas Story at Arkansas Repertory Theatre, Hound of the Baskervilles at The Hangar and White Heron Theatre, Always...Patsy Cline PCPA Theatrefest, World premiere of Tom Jones for Florida Studio Theatre, Wit for Playmakers Repertory Theatre. VSC productions include; Arsenic and Old Lace,  The Three Musketeers,  Dial M for Murder, Henry V, The 39 Steps, The Hobbit, Every Brilliant Thing, Dreamgirls, Merry Little Christmas Carol, Dear Jack Dear Louise, Hold These Truths, Sense and Sensibility, Guys and Dolls, Matilda, Secret Garden, Fun Home, Always Patsy Cline, Crowns,The Hound of the Baskervilles, Pride and Prejudice, The Wiz, and many others. Jeni Schaefer holds a MAC in Theatre/Costume Design from Wichita State University. Thank you to my family Tony, Sara and Ethan for being my inspiration and for always believing in me.

MARANDA DEBUSK

(Lighting & Projection Designer | they/she/he) is an artist and educator specializing in lighting and media designs. She currently serves as an Assistant Professor of Lighting Design at the Ohio State University. She was last seen at Virginia Stage designing lights and media for A Merry Little Christmas Carol (2021-2023) and Matlida (2019). Select Design Credits: Playmakers' Repertory Theatre, Chapel Hill, NC; Actors' Express, Atlanta, GA; Music Theatre Wichita, Wichita, KS; Triad Stage, Greensboro, NC; and Warehouse Theatre, Greenville, SC. Select Associate Credits: Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park, Trinity Repertory Company, Providence, RI; and the Denver Center for the Performing Arts. Her work has been shared internationally in Taipei, Taiwan (World Stage Design 2017); and Prague, Czechia (Prague Quadrennial 2019 & 2023). At the core of all of her work is her belief in the power of the dramatic arts to create positive change in our communities. The greatest work is that which when let out into the world, improves it.

STEVEN ALLEGRETTO

(Sound Designer) is an accomplished sound designer with a passion for creating immersive experiences for live theatre. A graduate of Full Sail University’s prestigious Recording Arts program, Steven has honed his skills through years of hard work and dedication to his craft. In addition to his work as a sound designer, Steven is also a committed educator. He has served as an Adjunct Professor of Theatre Sound Design at the College of William &Mary, as well as a part-time instructor for the Governor’s School for the Arts. Steven has had the honor of designing past VSC shows including Fiddler on the Roof, Arsenic & Old Lace, Henry V, Every Brilliant Thing, Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, The Hobbit, and more. His ability to create complex sonic landscapes that transport audiences to other worlds has made him a sought-after collaborator in the Hampton Roads theatre community. Steven is thrilled to be back at the Virginia Stage Company, where he looks forward to sharing his vision for A Sherlock Carol with you and yours.

Refiye Tappan

(Music Director/Arranger) is delighted to return to VSC for the productions of A Merry Little Christmas Carol and A Sherlock Carol. Virginia Stage Company credits: A Merry Christmas Carol 2023; Fiddler on the Roof (Associate MD, Conductor, Keys); Henry V (MD, Music Arranger, Pianist, Actor); A Merry Little Christmas Carol 2021 & 2022; Under the Big Top Gala (MD, Arranger, Keys). Off-Broadway: Vincent the Musical - staged reading (MD, Keys). Regional: Signature Theatre: HAIR (Associate MD). Constellation Theatre Company: Desperate Measures (MD/Conductor/Pianist); Once On This Island (MD/Conductor/Keys). Mosaic Theatre Company: Max & Willy’s Last Laugh - staged reading (Associate MD). Keegan Theatre: Seussical (Associate MD/Keys/Conductor). Creative Cauldron: On Air (MD/Conductor/Pianist); Always Patsy Cline (MD/Conductor/Pianist).  Zeider’s Theater: Fountain of You (Associate MD). Virginia Opera: The Sound of Music. Virginia Musical Theatre: Mamma Mia, Jersey Boys. Education: Royal Birmingham Conservatoire & University of Reading, U.K. Awards: Helen Hayes Nominee for Music Direction 2020 & 2023. Upcoming: Signature Theatre: In The Heights. Thank you to all at VSC for the wonderful collaboration, and husband, Philip for supporting her creative endeavours. Merry Christmas! refiyemusic.com

EMMA D. EMDE*

(Production Stage Manager) is elated to be returning to Virginia Stage Company this season. Her recent credits include Regional: Cymbeline, The Merry Wives of Windsor, The Tempest, Sense and Sensibility (Pennsylvania Shakespeare Festival) Arsenic and Old Lace, The Three Musketeers, A Merry Christmas Carol, Henry V, Angry, Raucous, and Shamelessly Gorgeous, The 39 Steps, A Merry Little Christmas Carol, The Hobbit (Virginia Stage Company) Collegiate: Nightfall with Edgar Allan Poe, She Kills Monsters (University of Nebraska at Kearney). Emma graduated with honors from the University of Nebraska at Kearney with a BA in Theatre. She is also a proud member of the Alpha Psi Omega National Theatre Honors Society, The National Honors Society of Dance Arts, and Actors’ Equity Association. For information on Emma’s upcoming projects, follow her on Tik Tok and Instagram @mrsemmademde.

ABBIGAIL LAROCQUE

(Assistant Stage Manager) is very excited to be joining Virginia Stage Company's production of A Merry Little Christmas Carol. Abbigail is from Virginia Beach and has her B.F.A in Theatre Design & Production from Coastal Carolina University. Before joining the VSC team she worked at King’s Dominion Halloween Haunt and Winterfest as a stage manager. During the summer she can be found working in Staunton, Va for the Heifetz International Institute of Music as their festival stage manager. She would like to thank her family for their support in her passion for theatre.

TIA COLLIER

(Assistant Stage Manager) is excited to be working on this Rep production of A Merry Little Christmas Carol and A Sherlock Carol. Originally from Smithfield, Virginia, Tia discovered her passion for the arts at a young age. A graduate of Norfolk State University with a BFA in Theatrical Performance, she specializes in acting while also excelling in writing, directing, and ensemble devising. Tia’s diverse skill set includes stage management, scenic design, stage makeup, and hair, all of which highlight her sharp eye for detail and dedication to storytelling. A committed advocate for social change, Tia uses her artistry to amplify the voices and stories of the BIPOC community, shining a light on overlooked achievements and histories. She is deeply drawn to projects that spark meaningful conversations and inspire thought. Tia would like to thank God for His continuous blessings and VSC for becoming her new creative home. This spring, she looks forward to collaborating with UVA Darden School of Business as a storyteller and working with local playwrights on new works.

with…

Dialect Coach SARAH MANTON
Production Crew JASMINE AYEDI, NAT BAZINET, WENDY CLARK, LUCAS GUZZO, ROOK HADDOCK, MARLEY HAUGEN, MCKINLEY HEIDELBERG, EMILY LUTZ, LUKE NORRIS, CRISTINA ROSE, RAYAH SORIANO, KYLIE SORBOR
Overhire Electricians SOPHIA KAMINARIS, HANNAH GENBERG, LUCAS GUZZO
Overhire Carpenter
DELONA BEAN

Wardrobe Dressers
AUDREY BIRD,
CHELSIE CARTLEDGE ROSE
Young Performer Supervisor:
MCKENZIE LADNER,
MARLEY HAUGEN,
CHARLOTTE SALYER

Young Performers Dresser
CHELSIE CARTLEDGE ROSE
Audio 2 SIDNEY JAMES

ASL Interpreters (A Sherlock Carol)
SHERRY PARSONS, MOIRA TRAVIS, LEANNE COULTER