Adalee alt
(Actor 12 Ghostly Chorus, Tommy, Little Fezziwig, Ignorance) is 12 years old and is in the 7th grade at Hickory Middle School in Chesapeake, Virginia. She is excited to be returning to VSC after appearing as Tiny Tim in the 2019 production of A Christmas Carol and the 2021 and 2022 production of A Merry Little Christmas Carol. Past credits included appearing in the 2020 featured film Block Island. Short films The Monster Inside Me and Aberration. Stage performances include The Children's theater of Chesapeake production of Into the Woods as Jack, Hickory Middle Schools production of Beauty and the Beast as Chip, The Hurrah Players production of Disneys Frozen Jr. and The Best Christmas Pageant Ever. She is also involved in her school’s choir and drama club. She aspires to one day perform on Broadway. Adalee would like to thank her Mom, Dad, Nina, Pop Pop, Grandma, Pappy, Jamison, Carson, and the rest of her family for their constant love, encouragement, and rides to whereever she needs to go.
Beatty Barnes Jr.*
(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 Improv 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.
Margo Von Buseck
(Actor 11 Ghostly Chorus, Madge) is thrilled to be joining this amazing cast and crew for her first production with Virginia Stage Company. Previous credits include Sally Bones/Harry/Myrtle in Puffs (Hair out of Square Productions), Ensemble in The Yellow Wallpaper (CORE Theatre Ensemble), and Macy in The Resting Place (New Theatre N Norfolk). Margo is so grateful for her family and friends who have helped her reach this point and would like to dedicate this performance to her mother, Carita Yeager (1963-2023).
Social Media Handles: instagram- margo.vonbuseck
Tiktok- margovonbuseck
Mia Haymes
(Actor 5 Boy, Christmas Past, Martha Cratchit) is a local actor in the Hampton Roads area. This is her debut at VSC, and she is excited to be a part of this amazing show! Mia graduated from Regent University with her BFA in Acting in 2019 and has been pursuing her dreams ever since! She recently performed in her first professional show as Ariel in The Little Mermaid at Virginia Musical Theatre. Some of her favorite and past roles include Hope Cladwell in Urinetown: The Musical, Beth March in Little Women; and Amalia Balash in She Loves Me. Mia would like to thank her family for their support, her friends for encouraging her, her husband for cheering her on, and Jesus for being by her side through this entire journey! (Romans 10:9-13)
Instagram: __me.uh__
Facebook: Mia Haymes
Dave Hobbs
(Actor 8 Ghostly Chorus, Mr. Raleigh, Frank) has been performing professionally since he retired from the U. S. Navy. Dave is very happy to be performing in his 3rd production with VSC. Previous productions were Of Mice and Men and The Diary of Anne Frank. He recently had fun in the role of JD in Escape To Margaritaville (Little Theater of Va Beach) and Rick Sanchez in Likker Out Of Control (Zeiders American Dream Theater). Love to my wife, Lori, for her amazing support and collaboration.
Sarah Manton*
(Actor 2 Jolly Gentlewoman, Belle, Mrs. Cratchit, Catherine, Mr. Hibbert) At VSC - Henry V, Merry Little Christmas Carol. Other credits include: One Man, Two Guvnors (Broadway), The Coast of Utopia, South Pacific (National Theatre, London), Baby in Dirty Dancing (Aldwych Theatre, London), Major Barbara, The Madras House, Village Wooing, The Mikado (Orange Tree theatre, London), Juliet in Romeo and Juliet (UK tour) Time and the Conways (Old Globe, San Diego), What the Butler Saw (Mark Taper Forum, LA), Owners (Yale Rep), When we are Married (Denver Center), Time of my Life (Pittsburgh Public), Things We Do For Love, Bedroom Farce, What the Butler Saw and Lettice and Lovage (Westport Country Playhouse), The Champion of Paribanou, (Scarborough, dir. Alan Ayckbourn) Villette (Frantic Assembly /Stephen Hoggett), House and Garden (PICT), The Rivals (UK tour), Pains of Youth (BAC, London), Peter Pan in Peter Pan (De la Warr Pavillion, UK) TV/Film: New Amsterdam (NBC), Doctors (BBC), Casualty (BBC), Seriously Dirty Dancing (Channel 5, UK) Radio plays: Whenever (BBC Radio 4), Christmas Carol (WCP), Echo and Narcissus (Playing on Air), Sound of Siren (The Artist Experiment). Training: Guildford School of Acting, London. Member of The Actor’s Center NYC.
Meredith Noël*
(Actor 4 Jolly Gentlewoman, Fan, Christmas Present) is so excited to be returning home to The Wells Stage! Credits include, Regional: Harley and Co/Viv Healthcare- As Much As I Can, Chicago Shakespeare Theatre- The Hero Within, South Coast Repertory- Nina Simone: Four Women, Kansas City Rep- the ripple the wave that carried me home, A Christmas Carol, For Colored Girls..., The Village of Vale (reading) Flood (reading) The Coterie- Brainstorm, Virginia Stage Company- Crowns, The Wiz, The Parchman Hour, Oliver Twist, The Hampton Years, A Christmas Carol, Zeiders American Dream Theatre- Lady Day at Emersons Bar and Grill, Grotesquerie Lake (reading) Education: BA English with a Theatre Concentration, Norfolk State University. MFA Acting and Directing, UMKC.
Steve Pacek*
(Actor 3 Fred, Jacob Marley, Dick Wilkins, Peter Cratchit, Old Joe) 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
Wyllow smith
(Actor 14 Ghostly Chorus, Marcus, Little Fezziwig, Want) is thrilled to make her debut with Virginia Stage Company in this holiday classic. Wyllow is an eleven-year-old 6 th grader in the gifted program at Greenbrier Middle School in Chesapeake, VA where she participates in chorus. She studies musical theater, camera acting, improv, jazz and tap dance with The Hurrah Players. She also takes vocal lessons with Brandy Bollen Voice Studio and acro lessons with Danceland II. Wyllow participated in the 2023 Coastal Broadway Collaborative Summer Musical Theatre Intensive. Previous credits include The Hurrah Players productions: The Lion King (young Nala u/s), Finding Nemo, Madagascar, The Little Mermaid, Black Girl Magic (Sarah Collins) and Best Christmas Pageant Ever/Happy Hanukkah My Friend (Gladys Herdman/Julia); as well as summer cabaret performances. This year, Wyllow made her professional debut in Virginia Musical Theatre’s The Little Mermaid. She would like to thank her family for always supporting
her dreams! @its_really_wyllowsmith
Anna sosa
(Actor 9 Ghostly Chorus, Annie) is a proud Filipina-American born and raised in Norfolk, VA. You may recognize her from last year's season at VSC in The Hobbit as Kili and Gollum, and from Henry V as Bardolph and M. Le Fer. Around the area she has most recently performed as the Goddess Artemis in Artemis, I and The Women of Troy both written and directed by Deborah Wallace. You might catch her as Spork McConnor (Half-elf Bard, lvl 3-ish) with Pushing Dragons, a monthly Dungeons and Dragons show at Push Comedy Theater and in the touring production of Every Brilliant Thing with VSC.
refiye tappan
(Music Director, Compiler, and Arranger, Actor 7: Mr. Creakle, and Fred's Musician) is delighted to return to VSC. Refiye is a Collaborative Pianist, Instructor, and Music Director, originally from the U.K. and now based in Virginia. She is twice nominated for Outstanding Music Direction in Theatre Washington’s Helen Hayes awards in D.C. She works at the Governor’s School of the Arts, and Christopher Newport University. Virginia Stage Company credits: Fiddler On The Roof (Associate Music Director/Conductor/Keys); Henry V (MD/Music Arranger/Actor); A Merry Little Christmas Carol 2021 and remount 2022 (MD/Music Arranger/Actor/Pianist); Under the Big Top Gala (MD/Arranger//Keys). D.C. Area credits: Constellation Theatre Company: Once On This Island (MD/Keys 1/Conductor - Helen Hayes nomination 2023). Mosaic Theater Company: Max & Willy’s Last Laugh Reading (Associate MD to John McDaniel). Keegan Theatre: Seussical (Associate MD/Conductor/Keys). Creative Cauldron - On Air (MD/Keys - Helen Hayes nomination 2020); Always...Patsy Cline 2021 and remount 2022 (MD/Keys); Audrey - A New Musical Reading (MD); Cabarets (MD): New York, New Nora; George’s White-Hot Scandals; A Best Friends’ Christmas; Hallelujah! Synetic Theater: Gala 2020 (MD). 1st Stage: Benefit 2023 (MD). Other Regional credits: Zeider’s Theater: Fountain of You (Associate MD). Virginia Opera-VA Arts Fest: The Sound of Music. Virginia Musical Theatre: Mamma Mia. Education: Royal Birmingham Conservatoire, UK; University of Reading, UK. Refiye would like to thank the MCC creative team and all at VSC for their wonderful collaboration, and husband Philip for supporting her creative endeavours. Merry Christmas! Refiyemusic.com
russell teagle
(Actor 10 Ghostly Chorus, William) 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 Bay River Band, the BOCA Band as well as the Galilee Church Choir in Virginia Beach. His most notable roles include Caiaphas in Jesus Christ Superstar at Little Theatre of Norfolk and Ambrose Kemper in Hello, Dolly! at Little Theatre of Virginia Beach. He is the current Development Associate here at Virginia Stage Company.
Stormie Treviño
(Actor 6 Girl, Littlest Fezziwig, Tiny Tim) is excited to work with Virginia Stage Company again. At 7 years old and a second grader in Chesapeake, this is Stormie’s third professional theater role. She performed as Bielke in VSCs Fiddler on the Roof and as Gretl in the Virginia Arts Festival and Virginia Opera’s production of The Sound of Music and several productions with The Hurrah Players. She is an enthusiastic and disciplined student and would like to thank everyone at Hurrah, Ms. Dianna, Ms. Candice, her NYC coaches, dance instructors, family, and her older sister, who is currently Annie in the Broadway National Tour of Annie, for showing her what life in musical theater is all about. @stormietrev
Patrick Halley*
(Actor 1 Bob Cratchit, Mrs. Dilber, Mr. Fezziwig, Topper) Happily returns to Virginia Stage and The Wells, after playing a slew of roles in 2018’s The Hound of the Baskervilles. 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, Denver Center Theatre Company, Cleveland Play House, Baltimore Center Stage, Maltz Jupiter Theatre, People’s Light, Pioneer Theatre Company, Syracuse Stage, Westport Country Playhouse, Arkansas Repertory Theatre, Flat Rock Playhouse, Mill Mountain Theatre, St. Michael’s Playhouse, White Heron Theatre Company, and four seasons with the Hudson Valley Shakespeare Festival. On television, he has appeared in Law & Order: SVU, Difficult People, and multiple national commercials. Patrick is a Bucknell graduate and native of Poughkeepsie, NY. www.patrickhalley.com. For The Lawrences.
Miri quaintance
(Actor 13 Ghostly Chorus, Charlie, Little Fezziwig, Ignorance) is in 7th 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.
Creative Team
Tom quaintance†
(Director/Producing Artistic Director) is in his seventh season with Virginia Stage Company. At the Wells, Tom has directed Every Brilliant Thing, A Merry Little Christmas Carol, Pride and Prejudice, The Santaland Diaries, and Matilda The Musical, and Henry V. Regionally Tom directed Twelfth Night at the Guthrie Theater, and as an Associate Artist at PlayMakers Repertory Company he directed An Enemy of the People, Shipwrecked! An Entertainment, The Life and Adventures of Nicholas Nickleby, and The Little Prince. As Artistic Director of Cape Fear Regional Theatre (CFRT), Tom produced over 35 plays and directed many others, including the World Premiere of Downrange: Voices from the Homefront, a play based on interviews with military spouses from Fort Bragg. As the founder of FreightTrain Shakespeare in Los Angeles, he earned a Drama-Logue Award for his direction of Pericles. Other Los Angeles credits range from King Lear to The Devil With Boobs. A member of the Stage Directors and Choreographers Society, Tom is a graduate of Wesleyan University (Middletown, CT) with a B.A. in Theatre and Economics, and the University of California, San Diego MFA directing program, where he was the assistant director on the original production of The Who’s Tommy. Tom and his wife Wallis are the proud parents of Mireille Julia and Annika Christine.
JORDAN SETZER
(Assistant Director and Choreographer) 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) returns to VSC having directed The 39 Steps and Hound Of The Baskervilles, and writer/director of VSC’s virtual presentation of A Murder At Fernly Hall. Mark is the author of Off Broadways's A Sherlock Carol (nominated Best Play, Off-Broadway Alliance) playing annually in London and throughout the United States, and The Murder Of Roger Ackroyd, the official adaptation of Agatha Christie Ltd., which premiered in 2023 at the Tony Award winning Alley Theatre. Additional credits include the Off Broadway hit The Dingdong, an adaptation of Feuydeau’s farce, Le Dindon, and See Monsters Of The Deep, a comedy about the work of artist Tony Sarg. Mark is the creator/author of original radio drama for Ghost Light Series, featuring a Christopher Plummer, Judy Ivey and other notable performers. He is an Edgar Award nominee for his adaptation of The Chronology Protection Case, and co-writer of the short screenplay Kill Me(Adirondack FilmFest). Mark's directing work has been seen extensively at major theatres across the country. As an actor, he appeared on Broadway inThe 39 Steps and Philadelphia, Here I Come!, Off-Broadway in Tryst, The Shaughran, Small World, Checkers, As Bees In Honey Drown and more, and has performed on numerous regional stages. Mark serves is the incoming Artistic Director for the historic Westport Country Playhouse and is a faculty member of Jen Waldman Studio in New York, a premiere training ground for professional theatre artists. He is graduate of Brown University (BA) and Fordham (MA). www.mark-shanahan.net
DAHLIA AL-HABIELI
(Scenic Designer) Recent and upcoming credits include designs for the Dallas Theatre Center, The Rep of St Louis, Playmaker's Rep, Gulfshore Playhouse, Muhlenberg College, and Harvard College. She has held faculty appointments at Carnegie Mellon University's School of Drama, Wake Forest University and Albright College. While at Albright, Dahlia won the KCACTF Region II Award for Distinguished Scenic Design in 2020 for The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Nighttime; she also she directed an all-remote, communally-created adaptation of Romeo & Juliet, pairing a company of student actors with 50 artists of all ages from around the world. 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 22nd season. Regional credits include: 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; 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, A Streetcar named Desire, Oliver, Peter and the Starcatcher, All my Sons,The Great Gatsby, The Fantasticks, Death of a Salesman, Red, Around the World in 80 days, Crowns, Billy Bishop Goes to War, Hank Williams Lost Highway and A Christmas Carol. 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 | she/her) 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 (2021-2022) 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 Design) 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. He also teaches privately, helping aspiring sound designers develop their skills and reach their full potential. Steven has had the honor of designing past VSC shows including Every Brilliant Thing, Dreamgirls, Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, The Hobbit, A Merry Little Christmas Carol, 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 Henry V with audiences. With his expert ear and tireless dedication to his craft, Steven is sure to deliver a truly unforgettable sonic experience.
EMEL ERTURGUL
(Casting Director) officially joined the Virginia Stage Company team in 2017 but worked on various projects with the company well before. Her first casting adventure was the beautiful production Pride and Prejudice for Season 39. Since then it has been a goal to strengthen and cultivate VSC's relationship with professional local and out of town artists. Each season has provided new challenges and each production a new opportunity to find the perfect showcase of talent. Emel has most recently been seen performing in The Twelve Dates of Christmas on the Wells Stage and currently serves as the Operations Manager for VSC and the Producing Artistic Director for Core Theatre Ensemble.
EMMA D. EMDE*
(Production Stage Manager) is elated to be returning to Virginia Stage Company this season. Her recent credits include Regional: The Tempest, Sense and Sensibility (Pennsylvania Shakespeare Festival) 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, The Old Maid and the Thief, 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.
Kim Fuller*
(Assistant Stage Manager) is excited to be back at Virginia Stage Company for their second season, and happy to join the stage management team this year. Kim has been a part of various productions across Hampton roads ever since graduating from Boston College with a B.A.,with a focus on stage management, in 2014. Past production positions include Production Stage Manager for Sound of Music at the harrison opera house, and various shows at Zeider's American Dream Theater. Kim is excited to make her equity debut with Fiddler, and thanks the cast and crew for all the hard work.
JEFF RYDER
(Managing Director) has been the Managing Director of Virginia Stage Company since March 2022. Prior to coming to VSC, Jeff served in several roles at Cleveland Play House from 2013 to 2022. Jeff holds a Master of Public Administration Degree from the Levin College at Cleveland State University and a Bachelor’s Degree from Tufts University. At Levin, Jeff was inducted into Nu Lambda Mu, the international honor society for the study of nonprofit management and philanthropy. Jeff also holds a certificate in Diversity and Inclusion for HR Professionals from Cornell University. He is the president of the board of Hampton Roads Pride and is the community service director for the Rotary Club of Norfolk. He has previously served on the boards of the Cleveland Kids’ Book Bank, Theatre Forward, the Young Nonprofit Professionals Network of Cleveland, and the Cleveland Professional 20/30 Club. In Cleveland, Jeff was honored to be a part of the Cleveland Leadership Center’s Advanced Leadership Institute and the Cleveland Foundation’s Foundations for Philanthropy Program. Jeff has also been a stage manager at several theatres including Talespinner Children’s Theatre, Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park, and Berkshire Theatre Festival.