CAST & CREATIVE BIOS

BENJAMIN APGAR (Rapunzel’s Prince) - This is Benjamin’s first mainstage show with GRT. He graduated from Ft. Worth Academy of Fine Arts in 2020 and has completed his first year at Texas State University where he is pursuing a degree in Music Education. He was a member of the Texas Boys Choir for six years. He would like to thank his family for all their love and support.

HANNAH BELL (Florinda) - Hannah is beyond pleased to be back on the stage with her first production at GRT. Since returning to Texas after a 2 year sojourn in China singing Baby Shark more times than is comfortable, she has appeared in Damn Yankees, Hayfever (T.A.R.T), Best Little Whorehouse (Theatre Arlington), and several theatre for youth productions (NTPA). Thank you to the FariSanders Fam for getting me back to my first love!

JULIE BELL (Running Crew) - Julie has been a part of GRT and community theater since her debut as Mrs. Gloop in Willy Wonka. Since then she has enjoyed several roles and jobs in GRT, her favorites being Ethel in Moon Over Buffalo and working with the "Tuna Helpers" backstage for Greater Tuna. She is very much enjoying the privilege of working backstage for this production.

KAY BERRU (Jack’s Mother) - A Graham native, her favorite roles include Ouiser Boudreaux in Steel Magnolias; Olive in The Odd Couple, Female Version; Charlotte Hay in Moon Over Buffalo; Sister Hubert in Nunsense and Nunsense 2, The Second Coming. Kay will do just about anything to be on the stage, including wearing an extremely hot fat suit as Helena Dowling in The Tell-Tale Farce. She serves on the GRT Board of Governors as the Business Manager. Kay is grateful to be back in the theatre.

AMANDA BRAKE (Giant) - Amanda is a new member to GRT this year. This will be her first production but she has always had a love for the arts. When she was 8 she directed her friends in the musical CATS for their parents’ amusement. She loves singing and dancing and being dramatic. She's excited to be a part of the GRT family and can't wait for the next production!

SUMMER BRANUM (Granny) - Summer is excited to be a new member of the GRT family! Summer lives on farm brimming with goats, chickens,…and human children…outside Olney, TX. Summer is a lawyer by trade, but she loved acting in productions in high school and college and continued to “perform” alongside toddlers and their parents each week as a Music Together teacher in Dallas for 7 years. She is thrilled to be back on stage and is grateful to GRT for making that possible!

AMY BRASWELL (Sound Technician) - Amy Braswell is excited about being the sound technician for Into the Woods at GRT. She joined GRT’s stage crew in 2017 for The Little Mermaid and was the projection technician for The Producers in 2018. Her past work includes the World Premiere of, A Doublewide, Texas Christmas where she worked stage crew at Theater off the Square. She was stage manager of 12 Angry Jurors for TOTS, which was performed in the Parker County Courthouse. When not in a play, she works on graphic design and enjoys spending time with family and friends.

JESSICA BRASWELL (Lucinda) - This is Jessica’s second show at GRT. She has always had a love for acting since the age of 7. Her most recent credits include Aquata in The Little Mermaid at GRT, and Sally in You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown at Theatre Off The Square. When not on stage, she enjoys singing and writing music, and hopes to release an album one day.

NIKOLAI BRASWELL (The Wolf) - Nikolai has been a member of the GRT Family since 2015 when he became Shrek in Shrek, the Musical. Since then, he has portrayed as many characters as he could, including Scrooge (GRT's Xmas Carol), Sebastian (The Little Mermaid) and Daddy Warbucks (Annie). Nik wants you to know that, though it may seem dark and hopeless, the sun will rise, you are loved and you are not alone.

JESS BURGESS (Assistant Director) - Jess is a recent graduate from the University of Southern California's School of Cinematic Arts, recently graduating with Summa Cum Laude honors in May. She is a driven actress, ballroom and Latin Fusion competitive dancer, writer, standup comic, filmmaker and storyteller, awarded the honored distinction of the Samuel French Award and UIL 4a Best Actress in the State of Texas in 2017 for her portrayal of Vivian Bearing in Wit by Margaret Edson. Jess is incredibly passionate about working in front and behind the camera, crafting unique stories and complex characters in film and television, with a special affinity for comedies and musicals. She attributes her joy and opportunities in acting in various films throughout college to her training in comedic roles at GRT, under the direction of Christian Sanders. Her favorite theatre memories with GRT include playing Abigail Dowling in The Tell-Tale Farce by Don Zolidis and Cassie Cooper in Rumors by Neil Simon. With a foundational background performing onstage, Jess utilizes her knowledge of acting in unison with her continued education in the techniques of directing and working offstage, to best support every member involved in the production process. She is ecstatic and so grateful to have the opportunity to assistant direct her first musical production, alongside the most talented, charismatic and imaginative cast and crew!

MEGHAN CLARK (Cinderella’s Mother) - Meghan Clark is from Olney and has taught in Newcastle for the past seven years, where she also served as assistant director for NISD's One-Act Play. She has been in several of GRT's previous shows, including A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum, The Glass Menagerie, The Little Mermaid, A Christmas Carol, The Producers, Annie, and The Importance of Being Earnest. She is delighted to be able to participate in live theatre again with GRT!

JUDY CRAWFORD (Snow White/House Manager) - Judy Crawford is a GRT veteran. This will mark her 11th year being a part of the GRT family. She has appeared as Annelle in Steel Magnolias, Mickey in The Odd Couple (Female Version), Arlene Miller in Murder at the Howard Johnson, and many more! When Judy isn’t on stage, she runs the box office. Her “grown up” job allows her to help the older adult population as a Caregiver Specialist with the Area Agency on Aging of North Texas. She is so excited to get back to theatre after it coming to a screeching halt due to the pandemic!

NATALIE CRAWFORD (Light Board Operator) - Natalie is 16 years old and has been a member of the GRT family since 2011 when she was cast as one of the king’s children in The King and I. Natalie’s most recent role was Olaf in GRT’s Frozen Jr. If she isn’t on stage she can be found where she is most comfortable; running lights or sound. Natalie serves as the Historian for Graham High School’s International Thespian Society Troop 1196 and can’t wait to see what her senior year has to offer!

RACHEL CRISWELL (Cinderella) - Rachel Criswell is 21 year old actress currently getting her music performance degree. She started acting at 10 years old when she played Marta in The Sound of Music (Clearwater High School, 2010.) Since then she has been in several roles including but not limited to Irene in Hello Dolly (Clearwater High School, 2014), Flossy Daily in DK Molar, the Devious Dentist (Graham Regional Theater, 2018), and Amy in Little Women (Florida College, 2020). Rachel would like to thank her lovely parents for always supporting her, her siblings for always pushing her to be better, and her best friend Maggie for paying for a flight to see this show.

MORGAN DAYLEY (Baker’s Wife) - Morgan Dayley is "more than the moon" excited to be with GRT! Morgan has previously played Morticia in The Addams Family, rambled about butterflies as April in Company at SF Playhouse, and learned American Sign Language (ASL) to play Sylvia in Tribes. Favorite directing and choreography projects include Nelly Don the Musical at the Crown Center in Kansas City, My Fair Lady, Spring Awakening, and The Great American Trailer Park Musical. Morgan is very passionate about arts education, and is the Assistant Professor of Musical Theatre and Acting at Midwestern State University, Texas. Keep up with her at www.morgandayley.com.

PAT DOHONEY (Cinderella’s Father) - Pat Dohoney is an attorney in private practice in Fort Worth. Pat has appeared on the GRT stage in Annie, The Producers, Rumors, A Christmas Carol, Shrek, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Beauty and the Beast, Moon Over Buffalo, & Les Miserables. Pat also directed The Tell-Tale Farce at GRT. Pat has directed and acted in Fort Worth, Dallas, Arlington, and Weatherford, Pat would like to thank Christian Sanders for letting him perform with this fantastic cast and crew. Pat would also like to thank his wife Karen for basically letting him act like a fool and never grow up.

EVAN FARIS (Narrator/Mysterious Man) - Evan is so happy to be back on stage with GRT. Some of his favorite roles with GRT have been Nicely Nicely Johnson in Guys & Dolls, Jonathan in Arsenic and Old Lace, and Maurice in Beauty and the Beast. When not on stage Evan can usually be found on the golf course or in the kitchen. He was a guest chef with the Fort Worth Food + Wine Festival for five years. Evan would like to thank his family for helping him through the past year and is so happy to be back with his theatre family and friends old and new!

KEM FORBUS (Stage Manager) - Kem has been with GRT since 2004, performing in many shows, serving on crews, and helping with camps. She is excited to serve as the stage manager for this incredible show. She loves theatre and truly believes that it plays a vital role in the community.

CASSIDY FREEMAN (Little Red Riding Hood) - Cassidy Freeman is a 20 year old music education major from Texas Tech University. She started her career with GRT in the 2008 production Lil’ Abner as a scrag. She has done many shows throughout the years and hopes to continue to do shows with this family.

DAX FREEMAN (Conductor) - Dax is has been an active member of GRT since it's very first show. Currently, he is the assistant producer on the GRT board of directors. This is his 22nd show conducting music for the productions, along with 25 years as a band director, 23 being with Graham Independent School District. He is married to his beautiful wife Jennifer and has two daughters, Madison (who played Anna in this year's production of Frozen Jr.) and Cassidy (Little Red in tonight's production). He would like to thank his family for their support and love.

ELIZABETH HART KIRKLAND (Costumer) - Elizabeth has a passion for telling stories with costumes. She has been creating signature styles since her teenage years, and began collaborating with Graham Regional Theatre in 2013. She has invented numerous ensembles that have graced the stage, with her most memorable costumes ranging from sea creatures to Victorian era socialites to Shakespearean icons. When she’s not sewing or crafting, she is taking care of her two daughters and celebrating life with her husband Scott, whom she met while costuming. Elizabeth would like to thank her family for their support and encouragement.

SUSAN HART (Costumer) - Susan has been sewing for most of her life, creating MANY halloween costumes, cheer uniforms, formals and wedding dresses for her family members throughout the years. She began working with Graham Regional Theatre as a costume assistant in 2013, helping make repairs and alterations. Since then, she has conceived, stitched, modified, and build literally thousands of costume pieces. Her one stage credit was in GRT's A Midsummer Night's Dream, when she promptly decided she much preferred being out of the spotlight. She would like to dedicate her work to her husband of 48 years, Verl Hart, who was an avid photographer and an incredible supporter for our theatre family.

KATIE HUITT (Cinderella’s Stepmother) - Katie has been involved with GRT since 2012, when she was cast as Mrs. Beauregard in Willy Wonka and discovered the magic of live theatre. Since then, she has found her life path, her second family, and her voice. Katie is an MSU Theatre graduate (2017), and she teaches Theatre Arts and directs UIL One-Act Play (with her fantastic partner Stephanie Sanders) at Graham High School. Her favorite GRT experiences include playing Madame Thenardier in Les Miserables, Dr. Einstein in Arsenic and Old Lace, and Ursula in The Little Mermaid. When she's not onstage, you can find her working tech, stage-managing, or assisting however possible. Katie is so grateful to her loving family and incredible friends, without whom she would not have made it through the past year. She'd also like to thank her father, Verl Hart, for all his encouragement and support. We all miss you so much! This one's for you, Dad.

SARAH HUITT (Rapunzel) - Sarah Huitt is a 19 year old actress who’s been with Graham Regional Theatre since her debut as an Oompa Loompa in Roald Dahl’s Willy Wonka, and has since gone on to play roles like Kira from Xanadu, and Alice in Alice In Wonderland. She just got her cosmetology license from Ogle School in Fort Worth. She plays Rapunzel in this production of Into the Woods. She would like to thank her parents and her brother Jake, as well as her late Grandfather, Verl Hart.

ANDREW JONAS (The Baker) - Andrew has been so ready to be back on the stage since 2020, and he couldn't have asked for a better cast and show! He has so many people he wants to thank and mention here, but he doesn't have the room. First, his thanks to Christian and Stephanie Sanders for giving him the opportunity to get back out there, and to let him play a character he has never felt closer to. Second, to his wife Jill and his new son Beau for giving him encouragement and allowing Daddy to be gone some nights. His last thanks? To this awesome cast. Let's go break a leg!

JACKSON KIDD (Projection Operator) - Jackson is excited to be working with the awesome cast and crew of Into the Woods. No stranger to GRT, he has worked on stage and behind the scenes in numerous GRT Youth Camp productions including The Lion King, Jr., Aladdin, Jr., and Alice in Wonderland, Jr. Most recently, Jackson appeared as The Duke of Wesselton in the GRT production of Frozen, Jr. His interests include hanging out with his cat, playing saxophone, becoming a Lego master, and all things Volkswagen. He would like to thank his family for their support!

JOSHUA KIDD (Cinderella’s Prince) - Joshua is thrilled to be back on stage with GRT! After much peer pressure and cajoling, he joined the GRT family in 2017, appearing as numerous characters in the theatre's productions of The Little Mermaid and The Producers. A huge fan of improv, he has also been a consistent cast member of murder mystery dinners produced by GRT actors. When not on stage, Joshua is an active music educator, serving as Director of Bands for the Graham Independent School District. A man of many interests, he can often be found sailing or working on a multitude of home improvement and automotive projects. He would like to thank his beautiful wife Sarah, and his two children, Jackson and Carson for their amazing support!

SCOTT KIRKLAND (Steward) - A resident of Graham since 2011, Scott came to Graham Regional Theatre in 2019 along with one of his daughters for the production of Annie. He enjoyed the experience so much, he married the costume designer. Since then, he’s been honored to be in the casts of The Importance of Being Earnest (Lane) and LaRue’s Return, or How’s a Bayou? (Ike). Scott and his family are thrilled to see live theatre return to Graham and will work to make sure it remains for generations to come.

ARIELLE PAGE (Sleeping Beauty) - Arielle is new to the Graham theatre family and loves it so far! She enjoys acting, dancing, and spending time with her family. Arielle loves summer; she enjoys swimming and summer fashion. She has been in The Little Mermaid, Princess and the Pea and Fiddler on the Roof. She can’t wait to do more shows with GRT.

JACK PAGE (Jack) - Jack Page is excited to be doing his first show with Graham Regional Theatre, Into the Woods. He is starting off young at 13. Some previous shows he has been in include Cinderella Jr; “A Newsies/Mulan/Hairspray Conjoined Show” and Frozen Jr at Graham Regional Theatre’s summer camp. His family is very theatre oriented with one of his sisters having a Masters in theatre and the other having a degree in technical theatre. He has loved joining in with the theatre family and hopes to stay with us for awhile!

CHRISTIAN SANDERS (Director/Technical Director) - Christian is the Managing Director of Graham Regional Theatre and is extremely happy for the theatre to be open and running again. Christian has performed over three hundred roles in his career as an actor and directed dozens of plays and musicals. Some of his favorites include Max Bialystock in The Producers, Pseudolus in A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum, and Nathan Detroit in Guys & Dolls. He invites everyone to be involved in GRT in some capacity, whether that be onstage, backstage, or by supporting the theatre financially as a donor!

FARIS SANDERS (The Witch) - Faris Sanders is a 19-year-old actress who made her stage debut when she was carried onstage by her mother at three weeks old in The Music Man. Some of her favorite roles include Junie B. Jones in Junie B. Jones is not a Crook (Graham Regional Theatre, 2018); and Elle Woods in Legally Blonde Jr. (Graham High School, 2019); Polly Montclaire in La Rue’s Return… or How’s a Bayou? (Graham Regional Theatre, 2020); Melpomene in Xanadu Jr. (Graham High School, 2020); and was cast as Olive Ostrovsky in The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee (Not opened due to COVID-19). She is currently a Junior at Texas State University as an Acting Major. She loves being able to experience theatre and grow up doing theatre with her family.

STEPHANIE SANDERS (Production Coordinator/Musical Director) - While not working for Graham Regional Theatre doing a myriad of tasks, Stephanie teaches English and Choir at Graham High School, as well as coaching the GHS Bella Blues. She would like to thank her family for being so wonderful during all the crazy.