Cast
Aslan/Professor Digory/Father Christmas – Cody Taylor
Cody Taylor is an actor, musician and clown from Lexington, KY. Recent credits include: Indecent, Ragtime (American Stage); Urinetown, La Cage Aux Folles (Studio Theatre Tierra del Sol); Once (Red Mountain Theatre); Unto These Hills (Mountainside Theatre); The Gathering (Cherokee Historical Association); The Little Mermaid, The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe (Lexington Children’s Theatre). He holds a B.F.A in physical theatre from Coastal Carolina University, a program that required him to study a year abroad at the Accademia dell’Arte in Arezzo, Italy.
Aslan Tail/Puppet Wrangler – Talon Shultz
Talon Schultz (Puppeteer) comes from Hastings, Michigan and is currently pursuing a BFA in Puppetry through West Virginia University. His previous roles include the voice/lead puppeteer of The Amazing Karnak in WVU’s production of Ride the Cyclone, as well as puppeteering in innumerable puppet productions. Talon is extremely passionate about giving characters life using the art of puppetry and is hoping to one day create his own shows. He would like to thank his family, friends, and everyone who encouraged him to pursue this art form further.
Aslan Body – Charlie Meeks
Charlie Meeks (Aslan body) is excited to work with WVPT again. He is currently an MFA Acting student at West Virginia University and went to undergrad for theatre at Northeast State Community College in Tennessee. Charlie has worked in professional regional theatre since 2016 performing in shows such as Treasure Island with Emerald Coast Theatre Company, Robin Hood with The Barter Players, and A Christmas Carol here with WVPT. Charlie would like to thank his friends, family, mentors, and fiancé Hannah for all their support and love. Please enjoy the show!
Mr. Beaver/Tumnus – Matt Frye
Matt (Mr. Beaver/Fenris/Tumnus) is a third year MFA Acting student at WVU. Regional: Something Rotten, Pirates of Penzance, Beautiful: The Carole King Musical (Rocky Mountain Rep); A Christmas Carol (WVPT); Airness, Sweet Charity (WVU); Big Fish, Dogfight (BoHo Theater Chicago); Full Monty, Bridges of Madison County (Theo Ubique Chicago); Man of La Mancha, A Christmas Carol (Milwaukee Reparatory Theater); Red, Candide (Third Avenue Playhouse); Zombies From The Beyond (Skylight Music Theater Milwaukee); NOW. HERE. THIS. (Brown Paper Box Chicago); Henry V (Chicago Shakespeare Theater). Love to Mom, Dad, and Luiza!
Lucy – Alexa Fanning
Alexa Fanning (Lucy Pevensie) is excited to be joining WVPT! A senior at West Virginia University, Alexa is pursuing her BFA in musical theatre with a minor in psychology. She was last seen in WVU’s production of Anatomy of a Suicide (Jo/Laura/Lola). Previous regional credits include Annie at Totem Pole Playhouse. Alexa would like to thank WVPT for this amazing experience, along with the entire cast and crew. As always, massive love and thanks to her family and friends.
Edmund – Harrison Sakai
Harrison Sakai (Edmund) is so excited to be making his WVPT debut in Narnia. An alum of Nazareth University (formerly Nazareth College) with a BFA in Musical Theatre, Harrison has been seen regionally in Into the Woods (u/s Storyteller) at The REV Theatre Company, Footloose (Bickle, u/s Willard) at Totem Pole Playhouse, and Footloose (Willard) and Jeffrey (Man 2, et al) at NCC Summer Theatre. Collegiately Harrison performed as Pippin in Pippin, Lt. Frank Cioffi in Curtains, and much more.
Susan – Drew Gasemy
Drew Gasemy (Susan) is so excited to be returning to West Virginia Public Theatre! A graduate of West Virginia University, earning her BFA in Musical Theatre and BA in Dance, Drew has recently been seen performing in Santa’s Village, Schoolhouse Rock! Live! (Dori), and Hersheypark as well as working in the New York City area. She would like to thank all of her friends and family, as well as the entire cast and creative team for their support and encouragement. Enjoy the show!
Peter – Mason Dowd
Mason Dowd is a recent graduate from Point Park University’s acting program and is very excited to be working with West Virginia Public Theatre! A Pittsburgh native, Mason has been seen performing with various companies such as Lincoln Park Performing Arts Center, City Theatre Company (Pittsburgh), the New Hazlett Theatre, Big Storm Performance Company, Pittsburgh Opera, Arcade Comedy Theatre, the Pittsburgh Playhouse, and New Renaissance Theatre Company. Mason would like to thank his friends and family for supporting him.
White Witch – Shelby Garrett
Shelby is a third-year MFA Acting student at WVU School of Theatre and Dance. She has toured nationally with Girl’s Night: The Musical and has a range of favorite credits including Nunsense, The Basement Company, The Feast, Twelfth Night, A Christmas Carol, and The Wizard of Oz. At WVU, she has been involved in numerous productions including Indecent, Carrie: The Musical, Measure for Measure, The Misanthrope, and Kill the Bird. Shelby has also appeared on TV/Film in Chicago PD and Swan Song. Love to her amazing family and friends!
Mrs. Beaver – Josey Miller
Josey Miller (Mrs. Beaver) is elated to perform in Narnia! WVPT Credits: A Christmas Carol, readings of Ghost Brothers of Darkland County and I Want to Know What Love Is. Selected regional credits: Game On! (Pittsburgh CLO), Twas the Night (National Tour), Elvis: A Musical Revolution (Prather Productions), Some Enchanted Evening (SVST), Ring of Fire (Top Hat Productions), Mamma Mia!, Side Show, Oklahoma!, Young Frankenstein, Grease, Marvelous Wonderettes (Black Hills Playhouse), A Christmas Story (RBT), Pump Boys and Dinettes (MDT). Endless love and gratitude to John, friends, and family. @joseymariemiller
Fenris/Ensemble – Hunter LaSalle
Hunter La Salle (Ryweth, Ensemble) is a 25-year-old actor based in Los Angeles, CA. He has performed in theatres around the country, most recently The Wohlfahrt Haus Dinner Theatre. He has appeared in shows such as Grease (Danny Zuko), The Sound of Music (Rolf Gruber), and Million Dollar Quartet (Elvis Presley.) This is his first appearance at WVPT, and he thanks the cast and crew for their support. He would also like to thank God for “through him all things are possible.”
Troll/Ensemble – Max Clark
Max Clark (Troll/Ensemble) is a second-year musical theatre student at WVU and Narnia is his first professional production. Previous WVU credits include The Misanthrope (Clitandre) and Bright Star (Max/Billy u/s). When not onstage, Max is hosting The Campfire, Off the Shelf, and The Wild Card on FM 91.7 and co-hosting The Cinematic Odyssey, an art-house film podcast. He would like to thank his parents and sister for their support and WVPT for this opportunity. His favorite color is purple and he hammocks occasionally. @maxaroni_roll
White Stag/Third Wolf – Molly Featherston
Molly Featherston is a sophomore BFA Musical Theatre and BA Dance dual major at West Virginia University. Molly has danced in multiple WVU productions such as Celebration of Dance, Dance Now!, and Audacious Women, and she played Antigone in the lab theatre production of Antigone. This previous summer, Molly worked at Theatre West Virginia and performed as a dancer and ensemble in Hatfields and McCoys and Rocket Boys: The Musical. This is Molly’s first production with West Virginia Public Theatre, and she is so excited to bring Narnia to life!
Cruelie/Ensemble – Pippa McGinley
Pippa McGinley (she/her) (Cruelie/Ensemble) is a graduate of West Virginia Wesleyan College (’22) with a BA in Musical Theatre. You may have seen her in recent productions with The Rustic Mechanicals, the only touring Shakespeare troupe in WV, appearing in Romeo & Juliet (Juliet) and Henry IV Part 1 (Prince John/Lady Mortimer). She is excited to embark on her first journey with WVPT and is grateful for the opportunity to work with a wonderful cast and crew. She would like to thank her students, enjoy the show, surprise!
Ryweth/Ensemble – Eryk Bluto
Eryk Bluto (Ensemble) is an east coast-based actor who is also a WVU/WVPT Alum, getting his BFA in Musical Theatre in 2022. Past WVPT credits include George (Schoolhouse Rock Live!), and Young Scrooge (A Christmas Carol). He is so excited to be back with WVPT for another terrific holiday season. Regional Credits include Peter (Jesus Christ Superstar), Orin Scrivello (Little Shop of Horrors), Angel (Kinky Boots), Performer (Dutch Wonderland). As well as being in Narnia, he is also acting as the social media assistant! Enjoy the show!
Designers / Director
Scenic Designer – Tammy Honesty
Tammy Honesty (she/her) is thrilled to return to West Virginia Public Theatre. Notable productions include The Memory Exam (Off-Broadway), An Evening with Groucho (Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park), which is currently being broadcast on PBS stations nationwide, Merchant of Venice (Cleveland Play House), and the Midwest premiere productions of Gloria: A Life!, Managing Maxine, Lombardi, and Becky’s New Car and the world-premiere productions of Family Ties, Banned from Baseball, and the upcoming musical, Tom Jones (Human Race Theatre Company).
Costume Designer – Mary McClung
Mary McClung has designed costumes, puppets, and sets for theatre, video, and television. Companies include Disney, Children’s Television Workshop, Universal Studios, Dallas Children’s Theatre, The Idaho Repertory Theatre and The Colorado Shakespeare Festival. Along with multiple professional and academic theatrical and dance designs she is also the writer and illustrator of two books: Foam Patterning and Construction Techniques: Turning 2D Designs into 3D Shapes and Mask Making Techniques: Creating 3-D Characters from 2-D Designs for Theatre, Cosplay, Film, and TV. This is McClung’s 11th design for West Virginia Public Theatre.
Lighting Designer – Alan McEwen
Alan McEwen is currently the Clinical Professor of Lighting and Sound Design at West Virginia University’s School of Theatre and Dance. Alan has designed numerous productions for WVU as well as Whitman College. Other workplaces include Idaho Repertory theatre, Colorado Shakespeare Festival, Mountain State Repertory, and other companies in various capacities. Alan earned his MFA in Lighting from the University of Oregon. Recent designs include Sherlock: The Final Adventure and The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time with WVPT, and The Skriker with WVU.
Stage Manager – Rachel Rock
Rachel Rock, she/her (Stage Manager) is a senior BFA Theatre Design and Technology major with a concentration in Stage Management at WVU. Her recent entertainment projects: Script Supervisor, The Gun on Second Street (film); Stage Manager, Sherlock Holmes: The Final Adventure; Key Production Assistant/2nd Assistant Director, 12 Desperate Hours (Lifetime Film). Next on her calendar: Dance Now! 2023, & Cinderella at WVU.
Choreographer – Maureen Kaddar
Maureen Mansfield Kaddar is a dancer and dance educator originally from New York, currently a faculty member in the School of Theatre and Dance at WVU. She holds a Masters in Choreography and teaching certifications in the Simonson Method and Raja yoga. Professionally, she performed with the Paul Taylor Dance Company and currently restages Mr. Taylor’s works and teaches at the NYC studio. Maureen is thrilled to be working with West Virginia Public Theatre again.
Music Director – Spencer Hansen
Spencer Hansen – This is Spencer’s third production with West Virginia Public Theatre as a Music Director, and he is thrilled to be joining this lovely team for another project. Previous Direction credits include: Book of Merman (off-Broadway); A Charlie Brown Christmas (National Tour); I Do! I Do! (WVPT); A Christmas Carol (WVPT); Switched (Workshop); Dear Edwina (Theatre Aspen); Billboard Onboard (Holland America); and many more. Thank you for coming to the show and enjoy! @spencerdhansen
Director – Joe Olivieri
Joe Olivieri (director) is a UCLA Professor Emeritus where he was head of the undergraduate Acting program in the Department of Theater for 25 years. Before joining the faculty at UCLA, he was head of the MFA and BFA Acting Programs at WVU. He is a member of SAG-AFTRA and Actors Equity Association. Regional theater credits include Denver Center Theater, PCPA Theaterfest, San Jose Repertory Company, Pittsburgh City Theater, Carnegie Mellon Showcase of New Plays, WVPT, and Pacific Resident Theater in Los Angeles, where he directed several award-winning productions. Joe is thrilled to be directing at WVPT!
