CAST
ADALEE ALT
(Ghostly Child) is thrilled to be returning to Virginia Stage Company’s production of A Merry Little Christmas Carol for her fifth year! Adalee is in the 8th grade at Hickory Middle School. Her most recent stage credits include appearing as Matilda in the Chesapeake Children’s Theater (CCT) production of Matilda, Young Fiona in Shrek Jr (CCT), and Jack in Into the Woods Jr (CTT). Film credits include appearing as Young Maya in Block Island and numerous commercials. She is looking forward to an upcoming performance as Princess Anna in Hickory Middle Schools production of Frozen Jr. Adalee would like to thank everyone at VSC for helping her grow as an actress and her family for their constant love and support.
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 improve and sketch comedy. A sincere thank you to all those suporting live entertainment. Stay sane, stay sanitized, and be kind to one another.
ELLA BRESHEARS
(Actor 5) is incredibly excited to be making her official VSC debut with this beloved story. Ella was bitten by the theatrical bug at an early age when she performed as a fairy in The Tempest. From that moment on, theatre became her passion. Currently in college pursuing a degree in Communications, Ella has performed in numerous plays including Inherit the Wind, Elephant’s Graveyard, The Yellow Wallpaper, and Percy Jackson The Lightning Thief to name a few. She is grateful for this amazing opportunity and knows none of it could have happened without the love, devotion, and support of her amazing family and friends.
RACHEL FOBBS*
(Actor 4) 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
PATRICK HALLEY*
(Actor 1) 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.
DAVE HOBBS
(Ghostly Chorus) has been performing professionally since he retired from the U. S. Navy. He is very happy to be returning to the Historic Wells Theater for a second season of A Merry Little Christmas Carol. Dave has just finished a run, performing as Judge Turpin in Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street. In the past year Dave has played Chet Dumbrowski Jr in The Viewing Room at Generic Theater, And Otto, The Elder and other ghostly characters in the HRACT Awards Best Play winner Indecent, also at Generic Theater. Love to my amazingly talented and creative wife, Lori Dunn, for her support and collaboration.
SARAH MANTON*
(Actor 2) 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
STEVE PACEK*
(Actor 3) is delighted to be back for another production at Virginia Stage Company! Previous VSC credits include The 39 Steps, The Legend of Georgia McBride and The Hound of the Baskervilles. Other credits include: Assassins, 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, Metamorphoses and Clybourne Park (Arden); Titanic and The Bomb-itty of Errors (Milwaukee Rep), Hand to God (Alley); Peter and the Starcatcher (TheatreSquared & Arkansas Rep); See Monsters of the Deep and A Nantucket Christmas Carol (White Heron). He teaches with Jen Waldman Studio in NYC and UArts & Evolve in Philadelphia. Ithaca College alum. www.stevepacek.com
MIRI QUAINTANCE
(Ghostly Child) is in 8th grade at Academy for Discovery at Lakewood. She is so excited to return to A Merry Christmas Carol after understudying Tiny Tim in last year's production. Previous credits include: Trixie in Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, The Girl in The Brothers Grimm Spectaculathon, and James in James and the Giant Peach. She participates in as many theater classes and programs as she can, along with taking theater at her middle school. When not on the stage, you can find her at her local climbing gym, or baking in the kitchen. She would like to thank Mrs. Gayer, her friends, and her family for their support.
GRETA SCOTT
(Actor 6??) is thrilled to be making her VSC debut! A 3rd grader at WH Taylor Elementary in Norfolk, she enjoys singing with the Virginia Children’s Chorus. After participating in VSC’s summer theatre camps she is excited for the opportunity to be part of this local holiday tradition. She thanks her family and friends for their love and support, and is grateful to all those who teach her.
WYLLOW SMITH
(Ghostly Child) is delighted to return to Virginia Stage Company in A Merry Little Christmas Carol. A passionate theatre actor, Wyllow’s recent stage credits include Cinderella, Little Shop of Horrors, and Matilda (Hurrah Players). Expanding her talents to the screen, she worked as a child extra in Pharrell Williams’ upcoming film, Atlantis (2025) and stars as Mayson in Mayson: Diary of the Indestructible Girl (Spectacular Ink Comics, LLC. /Royal House Productions, 2025). Known for her vibrant portrayals and dedication to her craft. Wyllow brings energy to every role. She is grateful to her family for their unwavering support and extends her deepest thanks to the directors and instructors at Hurrah Players and Coastal Broadway Collaborative for providing top-notch training and inspiring mentorship. Instagram: @its_really_wyllowsmith
ANNA SOSA
(Ghostly Chorus) is a proud Filipina-American, born and raised in Norfolk, VA and is merrily pleased with returning for the holiday! She was most recently onstage at the Wells as Renfield in Dracula: A Feminist Revenge Fantasy. Other favorite roles with VSC include the Narrator in their current touring production of Every Brilliant Thing and Gollum in The Hobbit. Catch her in the new year reuniting with director Jordan Setzer as part of the cast for My Brother Death at The Zeiders American Dream Theater. Her Christmas wish is for everyone to bring at least one friend who has never been to live theater to a play in the new year!
REFIYE TAPPAN
(Piano/Actor 7) 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
RUSSEL TEAGLE
(Ghostly Chorus) is a local Virginian who was originally born in Fairfax County and now resides in Norfolk. He studied Vocal Performance at Old Dominion University and has performed with the I Sherman Greene Chorale, the BOCA Band as well as the Galilee Church Choir in Virginia Beach. Along with returning for this year’s A Merry Little Christmas Carol, his most notable roles include Caiaphas in Jesus Christ Superstar at Little Theatre of Norfolk, Ambrose Kemper in Hello, Dolly! at Little Theatre of Virginia Beach and Doris “Dorie” Miller/Dr. Carter G. Woodson in Path To Freedom at the Hurrah Players of Norfolk. As the current Development Associate at Virginia Stage Company, he would love to thank his family, friends and God for all the support.
STORMIE TREVIÑO
(Actor 6) is excited to return to Virginia Stage Company. As an eight year old, she has previously performed with VSC’s A Merry Christmas Carol (Actor 6) and Fiddler on the Roof (Beilke). She has also appeared in the Virginia Opera and Virginia Arts Festival’s production of The Sound of Music (Gretl), Virginia Musical Theatre’s Evita (children’s choir), and Virginia Wesleyan University’s production of Anastasia (Young Anastasia/Alexei). She has been studying and performing with The Hurrah Players since the age of five and has appeared in 10 Hurrah productions. She also studies voice and dance locally and in NYC. She can be heard in several radio commercials and has appeared in industry productions and recordings. Love to her family, coaches, and the creatives at VSC. @stormietrev
MARGO VON BUSECK
(Ghostly Chorus) is thrilled to be rejoining these amazing artists in bringing this hopeful story to Hampton Roads. Their previous credits include Ingenue/Chana in Indecent at Generic Theatre, Elizabeth in Frankenstein from CORE Theatre Ensemble, and Macy in The Resting Place from New Theatre N Norfolk. They would like to thank their friends and family for their all of their support.
CREATIVE TEAM
JORDAN SETZER
(Director) is excited to revisit the magic of Christmas at The Wells! Her previous artistic endeavors with VSC include GreenBeats Live!, A Merry Little Christmas Carol, Guys and Dolls, Fun Home, The Secret Garden, Pride and Prejudice, and The Wiz. Other choreography credits are Legally Blonde, Shrek, Beauty and The Beast, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Return to The Forbidden Planet, The Wizard of Oz, A Year with Frog, and Toad, and Alice and Wonderland. Some of her favorite performance credits are in the national tours of The Radio City Christmas Spectacular and CATS 30th Anniversary (Victoria). Regional Theatre: Spamalot, Mary Poppins (Dance Captain), Legally Blonde (Serena), S’Wonderful (Leslie), CATS (Sillabub), How To Succeed.., The Producers(Dance Captain), The Secret Garden, Peter Pan, Ballet Memphis Company, and Celebrity Cruises. Jordan received her training at North Carolina Dance Theatre, Kansas City Ballet, Nashville Ballet, Ballet Memphis, and Playhouse on The Square. To Dusty, Caleb, and Liam, may you bring as much joy to the world as you do to my heart. To our audience members, May each of you leave the theater having a heart full of joy and Christmas spirit that you can spread throughout Hampton Roads!
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.
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 Designer) 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 Merry Little Christmas Carol with you and yours.
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.