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No. 306

Thank you!

To the generous sponsors of 
Around the World in 80 Days.

0623 Playbill Sponsors 80 Days

Show Information

Hale Centre Theatre's production of

By

Jules Verne

Adapted by

Laura Eason

Originally produced by 

Lookingglass Theater, Chicago

•••••

Directed by

Dave Tinney

AROUND THE WORLD IN 80 DAYS is produced by special arrangement with Broadway Play Publishing Inc., NYC. www.broadwayplaypub.com

The videotaping or making of electronic or other audio and/or visual recordings of this production and distributing recordings or streams in any medium, including the internet, is strictly prohibited and a violation of the author(s)’s rights and is actionable under United States Copyright Law.

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Production Team

Producer: Mark Dietlein

Director: Dave Tinney

Choreographer: Lindsey D. Smith

Music Director: Rob Moffat

Production Stage Manager: Jess Edling

Aerial Choreographer: Ramsi Nia Stoker

Fight Choreographer: Derek Smith

Dialect Coach: Adrianne Moore

Original Score Composer and Conductor: Rob Gardner

Scenic Design: Kacey Udy

Costume Design: Joy Zhu

Assistant Costume Design: Elise McMurry

Lighting Design: Jaron Kent Hermansen

Sound Design: Michelle Ohumukini

Properties Design: Michelle Jensen

Hair & Make-up Design: Candice Cronin

Video/Projection Design: Maddy Ashton

Automation Design: Nick Herring

Stage Manager: Ashna Horman, Riya Sahasrabudhe

Assistant Stage Manager: Taylor Ballard, Kirsten Busse, Rosalynn Eardley, Ellie Kuoppala, Skip Mulcock

Automation Operator: Scott Freeland, Nate Gallegos, Nate Jennings, Alena Rodriguez

Lightboard Operator: Collin Schmierer, Kaden Wells, Lee Wright

Sound Engineer: Kirsten Tenney, Griffin McMullin, Evan Saunders

A2/Zack Tracks: Lauren Moss, Richelle Ohumukini

Stage Technician: Devon Barney, Sydney Evans, Brian Garrick, Paige Glasser, Mckenzie Maag, Nikolas Mikkelsen, Liberty Miller, Anton Moss, Kaden Oaks, Cheyenne Proctor, Noah Sheen, Ryder Spotts, Kyle Trivett

Followspot Operator: Myka Ahlemann, Rose Allen, Mickey Beyer, Olly Brough, Shane Compher, Cynthia Harvey, Taite Morgan, Kevin Ostler, Jeff Parkes, Rebecca Perkins, JoAnne Phillips, Michael Shipley, Braxton Sisson, Maddison Tredway, Kirk Wilson, Jeff Young
Wardrobe Dresser: Emily Ebert, Michaela Gladwell, Kyla Johnson, Camie Jones, Thomas Moore, Akemi Nakashima, Cypress Stevens, MaKenna Tinney, Luseane Pasa Vaili, Cacie Waite

Hair & Make-up Crew: Lilly Bennett, Amelia Manwaring. Kennedy Nettleton, Daniel Perez, Liz Pettit, Marnee' Porter


 

•••••

Explore more of HCT's Behind the Scenes Staff. 

HCT_Behind the Scene - Staff - Crew

Director’s Notes

You are hereby cordially invited to attend a royal command performance in the presence of Her Majesty The Queen, to be held this day at the Hale Centre Theatre.

Queen Victoria loved attending the theatre. She would arrive fully adorned complete with diamond tiara, and after an entrance met with rapturous applause and a rousing rendition of ‘God save the Queen’, she would take her place in the velvet-draped royal box. 

Performances which featured evil villains, virtuous heroines, and intricate plots were the most popular as they were a rich and varied blend of melodrama, music, singing, dancing, spectacle, and morale.

If the queen enjoyed the performance she could be seen engaged and delighted. If she was less than amused, she would leave the theatre early, but always to applause and a rendition of ‘Rule Britannia’.

And rule she did. 

Victoria was Queen of the British Empire from 1837 to the time of her death in 1901. This unprecedented 64-year period is often remembered as a time of great scientific, social, cultural, and technological advances, as well as one of great global change. The worldwide influence of Great Britain during this period was so historically impactful, that it is still to this day referred to as the Victorian Age.  

The Industrial Revolution, which had begun in the previous century, came to full fruition during Victoria’s reign, ushering in a new age of discovery and innovation. 

As steam-powered factories could produce items more quickly and efficiently than ever before, Britain became the world leader in iron and steel production and mechanized innovation. Steam power revolutionized travel with the invention of steamboats and steamtrains. The invention of photography, bicycles, gas lighting, steam-powered electricity, antiseptics used in the prevention of bacterial infection, and even the first automobile ...all appeared before the turn of the century during Victoria's reign.

The Victorian age also sparked a great cultural revolution. Enduring literary voices emerged such as Charles Dickens, the Brontë sisters, Lewis Carroll, Rudyard Kipling, and Robert Louis Stevenson, to name a few. 

The 1870’s saw the first collaboration of Gilbert and Sullivan, who’s popular operettas married classical music forms with comic satire and music hall wordplay. Their works such as HMS Pinafore, The Mikado, and Pirates of Penzance are still produced by theatres worldwide. 

While Victorian industry brought wondrous advancements, these new technologies also increased the possibility for Imperial expansion and colonization on an industrial scale. Annexing countries on every continent (often by means of military occupation) Britain grew incalculably wealthy harvesting the natural, cultural, and human resources of its colonies.

The British expansion was not always accepted as colonization by the occupied countries but instead viewed as more of a ‘conquering’. Rather than acclimating to the local customs, more often the British would superimpose their architecture, language, and culture, transforming these areas into islands of English centricity. Though these countries did receive benefits from industrial advancements, trade, and improved infrastructure, those often came at the cost of independence and loss of autonomous national identity. For many of the occupied populations, it seemed that Britain was determined to remake the world in its own image.

At its height, the British Empire covered about one-fifth of the Earth’s land mass, and Queen Victoria ruled a quarter of the world’s population.

For better or worse, it was undeniable that the Victorian influence was changing the world. 

As Britain’s global reach increased, many Victorians became increasingly curious about the newly accessible world around them. The extension of the railroads meant that travel was faster, safer, and more affordable than it had ever been. Ever-advancing technological innovations such as the Suez Canal and the transcontinental railroad opened the possibility of rapid global circumnavigation. It meant that for the first time, not just explorers, but anyone with an imagination, a deep enough purse, and a hardy sense of adventure could travel around the world. 

In 1872, Thomas Cook organized the first around-the-world tourist trip, leaving on 20 September 1872 and returning seven months later. The journey was described in a series of letters published in 1873 as Letter from the Sea and from Foreign Lands, Descriptive of a tour Round the World. 

Also, in 1872 American William Perry Fogg traveled the world, describing his tour in a series of letters to The Cleveland Leader newspaper entitled, Round the World: Letters from Japan, China, India, and Egypt 

French novelist Jules Verne published Around The World In 80 Days in November of 1872. Verne was no doubt inspired by his adventuring real-world contemporaries. Scholars have pointed out similarities between Verne's account and Cook's letters. Verne even rather conspicuously named his fictional protagonist Fogg.  

The story first appeared in the French periodical Les Temps in 45 daily installments, with its final episode being timed to synchronize the fictional December 21st  race deadline with the real-world calendar. Some readers became so invested in the story that they believed the fictional accounts to be actual current events, and placed bets on the outcome of the race. 

 Around The World In 80 Days became one of Jules Verne’s most acclaimed works. Since its publication, it has been translated into multiple languages, adapted into countless stage plays, films, and radio productions. It has spawned sequel novels and even reality television programs. It has also inspired countless adventurers to attempt the same challenge to race around the world in 80 days. 

In our ‘command performance’ of Around The World In 80 Days, we playfully embrace the late Victorian forms of melodrama, satire, spectacle, song and dance, villains and virtuous heroines…and of course…entertainment. However, at the center of this retelling is a decidedly un-Victorian morale: When our very British racing hero finally surrenders to the conquering power of love, only then can he truly experience the beauty of the world that surrounds him…as it is and always has been; wondrous! 

If Queen Victoria were here today, I hope she would stay for Act Two.

 — Dave Tinney

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Synopsis of Scenes

Act I

Prologue

God Save the Queen

Queen Victoria's Royal Theatre

Full Cast

Scenes 1–3

A Day in the Life

London, England

Fogg, Passepartout, Inspector Fix, James/Ralph, Beggar Man/Stuart, Flower Seller/Club Man, Flannagan, Ensemble

Scenes 4–5

The Journey Begins

London → Brindisi

Pulitzer, Seitz, Bunsen, Hannah

Scene 6

Suez, Egypt

Fogg, Passepartout, Inspector Fix, Suez Consul

Scene 7

Egypt – on deck of The Mongolia

Fogg, Passepartout, Inspector Fix, Mr. Naidu, Ensemble

Scene 8

London, England – The Reform Club

Stuart, Club Man, Flannagan

Scene 9

The Bazaar & Temple on Malabar Hill

Bombay

Fogg, Passepartout, Inspector Fix, Mr. Naidu, Ensemble

Scenes 10–12

Travel to Calcutta

India

Full Cast

Scenes 13–14

Calcutta, India

Fogg, Passepartout, Inspector Fix, Mrs. Aouda, Judge Obadiah, Policeman, Clerk

Scene 15

on deck of The Rangoon

Fogg, Passepartout, Inspector Fix, Mrs. Aouda

Scenes 16–18

Hong Kong

Full Cast

Scene 19

at the docks → on deck of The Carnatic

Fogg, Inspector Fix, Mrs. Aouda, Captain Blossom von Darius, Passepartout

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Synopsis of Scenes

Act II

Scene 20

Yokohama, Japan – on deck of The Carnatic

Passepartout, Purser

Scene 21

Batulcar's Acrobatic Circus

Yokohama, Japan

Full Cast 

Scene 22

on deck of The General Grant

Fogg, Passepartout, Inspector Fix, Mrs. Aouda 

Scenes 23–25

The American West: San Francisco → Chicago

Full Cast

Scenes 26–27

Storm at Sea

New York → Liverpoolvia The Henrietta

Fogg, Passepartout, Inspector Fix, Mrs. Aouda, Captain Speedy, crew of The Henrietta

Scene 28

Liverpool, England

Fogg, Passepartout, Inspector Fix, Mrs. Aouda, Policeman

Scene 29

Wonderful World

London, England

Full Cast

Scenes 30–33

Race to the Finish Line

Full Cast

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Cast in Order of Appearance

Mon · Wed · Fri
Tues · Thurs · Sat
Passepartout
Ryan Simmons
Ryan Simmons
Man 1 / Mr. Naidu
Ammar Al-Saffar
Ammar Al-Saffar
Man 2 / Colonel Proctor
Bryan Dayley
Jacob Thomason
Man 3 / Captain Blossom Von Darius
Josh Durfey
Angel Martinez
Man 4 / Captain Speedy
Angel Rosa
Kaden Caldwell
Man 5 / Aerialist
Alan Brinkerhoff
Dave Hollerbach
Man 6 / Aerialist
Jordan Dahl
Lance Calvin Nielsen
Woman 1 / Aerialist
Jessica Zöe Bird
Mandi Johnson
Woman 2 / Aerialist
Olivia Lee
Jessica Kehl
Woman 3 / Aerialist
MaKayla Finlinson
Alyssa Larson
Woman 4 / Aerialist
Jane Jackson
Samantha Nielsen
Queen Victoria
Genesis Eve Garcia
Julie Silvestro
Phileas Fogg
Kelton Davis
Will Ingram
Inspector Fix
Zac Zumbrunnen
BJ Whimpey
Mrs. Aouda
Amishi Rohaj
Niki Rahimi
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Phileas Fogg

Kelton Davis

Kelton Davis

MON · WED · FRI

A familiar face to our HCT audiences; Kelton’s HCT credits include Titanic The Musical (Thomas Andrews), Treasure Island (Dr. Livesy), The Secret Garden (Dr. Neville Craven), A Tale of Two Cities (Charles Darnay), Murder on the Orient Express (Samuel Ratchett/James Arbuthnot), Cinderella (Jean-Michelle), and The Scarlet Pimpernel

Other favorite stage credits include: Sweeney Todd (Judge Turpin) with Actor’s Repertory Theatre Ensemble; Disney’s Tarzan (Kerchak), Seussical The Musical (General Genghis Khan Schmitz), and Children of Eden (Noah) with American Fork Players. Kelton holds a BA in Media Arts from BYU and works as a Multimedia Manager at BYU. “Thank you to the wonderful cast, crew, and Emilie & Nellie for making this adventure possible.”

Will Ingram

Will Ingram

TUES · THURS · SAT

Will is honored to be back on the HCT stage. Past stage credits include: The Unsinkable Molly Brown and School of Rock with Hale Centre Theatre and Once, Man with the Pointed Toes, Sense and Sensibility, Emma, The 39 Steps, and Over the River and Through the Woods with Hale Center Theater Orem. Will graduated from UVU with his Bachelor of Arts in Theatre Arts and works with HCTO as a carpenter/shop hand in their scenic shop.

Passepartout

Ryan Simmons

Ryan Simmons

MON · TUES · WED · THURS · FRI · SAT

Ryan Simmons returns to the Centre Stage after taking time off to direct our productions of Hello, Dolly!, Disney’s The Little Mermaid, One for the Pot, and The Play That Goes Wrong. Ryan's HCT stage credits include The Cat in The Hat (Seussical The Musical), Mr. Wormwood (Matilda The Musical), Lumiere (Disney’s Beauty and the Beast), and the titular role in The Nerd in both our 2016 and 2006 productions. 

Ryan's award-winning one-man show has toured around Utah for years and was produced at the United Solo Theatre Festival in NYC this past fall. He is an adjunct professor in the Theatre Department at both Utah Valley University and Brigham Young University. Ryan would like to thank his wife, Kimberly, for allowing him to travel ‘round the world’; and for creating the best home to race back to. 

Inspector Fix

Zac Zumbrunnen

Zac Zumbrunnen

MON · WED · FRI

Zac was last seen as The Bishop of Lax in our recent production of See How They Run. Favorite HCT credits include: Lucky Stiff (Body of Anthony Hendon), Singin’ in the Rain (R. F. Simpson), Chitty Chitty Bang Bang (Grandpa Potts), Bright Star (Daddy Murphy), Wait Until Dark (Sergeant Carlino), The Music Man (Mayor Shinn), Disney’s Beauty and the Beast (Cogsworth), Peter and the Starcatcher (Alf), and She Loves Me (Mr. Marachek). 

Zac holds a BFA in Theatre Education from the University of Utah and teaches Drama at Evergreen Junior High School. Zac would like to thank his amazing and supportive family for “letting him play.”

BJ Whimpey

BJ Whimpey

TUES · THURS · SAT

@whimpeybj

Some of BJ’s favorite credits include: HCT - Treasure Island, The Mousetrap, Murder on the Orient Express, Baz Luhrmann’s Strictly Ballroom The Musical, Cinderella, Phantom, and The Wizard of Oz; Weber State University - Will Rogers Follies, Sleepy Hollow The Musical, The Lion in Winter, Tartuffe, Assassins, and JingleJacks; The Grand Theatre - Forever Plaid and First Date; CenterPoint Legacy Theatre - Shrek The Musical and Into the Woods

BJ holds a Bachelor's Degree in Musical Theatre from Weber State University and works as a freelance voiceover artist and Audiobook Narrator, as well as a Substitute teacher for Ogden School District. “For my ‘Match Made in Space’ Danielle.” 

Mrs. Aouda

Amishi Rohaj

Amishi Rohaj

MON · WED · FRI

@amishi_roha

Thrilled to be back on the Hale Centre Theatre Stage after her appearance in our 2021 production of The Secret Garden. Amishi is an accomplished vocalist who lends her talents to A&A Bollypop - mashup covers of popular Bollywood and American Pop songs, which can be found on YouTube. She is also a Sophomore at the University of Utah where she is studying Pre Med and Business. She works as an EMT. 

Niki Rahimi

Niki Rahimi

TUES · THURS · SAT

Making her HCT debut! Niki’s favorite stage credits include: Hello, Dolly! (Ernestina) with Pioneer Theatre; Harvey (Myrtle Mae) at The Grand Theatre; The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee (Marcy Park) at Good Theatre Company; and SLACabaret 2022 (Trudy) at Salt Lake Acting Company. Niki is also a member of the HCT Story Weavers. Niki is a graduate of the University of Utah Musical Theatre Program. 

Male 1 / Naidu

Ammar Alsaffar

Ammar Al-Saffar

MON · TUES · WED · THURS · FRI · SAT

@ammaralsafar

Making his HCT debut! Ammar’s favorite credits include: The Winter’s Tale (Polixenes) with New World Shakespeare Company; Hamlet (Osric/Player King) with Parker Theatre; and Fortinbras (Claudius) in the SLCC Black Box Theatre. He holds a BA in Law and an A.S. in Theatre Arts and works at Catholic Community Services. “Love life…Life will love you.” 

Male 2 / Colonel Proctor

Bryan Dayley

Bryan Dayley

MON · WED · FRI

BryanDayley.com

Bryan is no stranger to the HCT Stage. HCT credits include Lucky Stiff, One for the Pot, The Play That Goes Wrong, Million Dollar Quartet, Baz Luhrmann’s Strictly Ballroom The Musical, Wait Until Dark, Cash on Delivery!, The Nerd, Is He Dead?, The Foreigner, and Beau Jest. Other credits include: HCTO - A Gentleman’s Guide to Love and Murder, Sense and Sensibility, and Million Dollar Quartet; Desert Star Playhouse - playwright for Star Wards, Hungry Games, and Freezin’. 

Bryan would especially like to thank his friends and family for their support in his creative endeavors. “I don’t know where I’m going from here, but I promise it won’t be boring.'' 

Jacob Thomason

Jacob Thomason

TUES · THURS · SAT

Making his HCT debut! Jacob’s favorite credits include The Drowsy Chaperone and A Gentleman's Guide to Love and Murder at HCTO and Oklahoma! at Sundance Summer Theatre. He graduated this Spring with his BFA in Musical Theatre from Utah Valley University.

Male 3 / Captain Blossom Von Darius

Joshua Durfey

Josh Durfey

MON · WED · FRI

Excited to be back on the HCT Stage! Josh was most recently seen in Titanic: The Musical. Other favorite credits include: Hale Centre Theatre - Lucky Stiff, The Light in the Piazza, Les Misérables and Disney’s Tarzan; Ziegfeld Theatre - Bright Star and Comedy of Errors (Director); Noorda Center for the Arts - Fly More Than You Fall; Utah Shakespeare Festival - Guys & Dolls, Disney’s Mary Poppins, Shakespeare in Love, and The Cocoanuts; as well as productions at The Hive Collaborative, Sacramento Theatre Company, and Pickleville Playhouse. Josh holds a Bachelor's in Fine Arts with an emphasis in Classical Acting from Southern Utah University.

Angel Martinez

Angel Martinez

TUES · THURS · SAT

@theboxiest

Ecstatic to be back on the HCT stage! Angel’s favorite credits include Hello, Dolly! and Titanic: The Musical with HCT; Grease: The Musical at The Ziegfeld Theater; The Rocky Horror Show at The Egyptian Theatre; and the 2016 Jimmy Awards at The Minskoff Theater (NYC). Angel is an alumnus of The American Academy of Dramatic Arts and works as an actor. “Whether you think you can or you think you cannot, you are right.” 

Male 4 / Captain Speedy

Angel Fernandez

Angel Rosa

MON · WED · FRI

@b3hold23

Angel is thrilled to be back on the HCT stage. He was most recently seen in our production of Treasure Island. Other favorite stage credits include: The Jungle Book, Twelfth Night, and Sweeney Todd. “Care less, you’ll be less stressed” 

Kaden Caldwell

Kaden Caldwell

TUES · THURS · SAT

@caldwellkaden

Kaden is excited to be back on the HCT stage after his most recent appearance was in Titanic: The Musical. Other notable credits include: The Unsinkable Molly Brown, Treasure Island, Les Misérables, Phantom, A Christmas Carol with HCT; Musical of Musicals with The Grand; Les Misérables with HCTO, along with the 2014 season with Playmill Theatre. He currently works at Cycle Gear. “Forth! And fear no darkness!” 

Male 5

Alan Brinkerhoff

Alan Brinkerhoff

MON · WED · FRI

@alanbrinkerhoff

Making his HCT debut! Alan joins our production with an extensive background in aerial work, his many credits include Fighter (aerial chains) at Capitol Theater, duo straps at Lands Rocks Music Festival, and straps at Aeris Aerial Arts. He holds a BA in Spanish as well as a Doctorate in Physical Therapy from the University of Utah, where he is currently an MBA candidate. 

He works as a physical therapist and aerial coach. “BIG thank you to my amazing and supportive partner, Nate! Lots of love to the family and friends who support me in my whimsical adventures.”

Dave Hollerbach

Dave Hollerbach

TUES · THURS · SAT

Dave is delighted to be back on the HCT stage after recently performing in our production of Disney’s The Little Mermaid. Other favorite credits include: HCT - SIngin’ in the Rain, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, Guys & Dolls, Disney’s Tarzan, Mary Poppins, and Phantom; Hopebox Theatre - Bright Star; Mountain West Ballet - Alice in Wonderland, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, and Copelia; Utah Opera (Capitol Theater) - Yenufa; Ballet West (Capitol Theater) - The Nutcracker and Swan Lake; and 2002 Salt Lake Olympic Winter Games - Opening and Closing Ceremonies. 

He has a Master of Film Scoring from Berklee College of Music, a Master of Information Systems, and a Bachelor of Business Marketing from the U of U.

Male 6

Jordan Dahl

Jordan Dahl

MON · WED · FRI

Jordan was most recently seen on our Centre Stage in our recent production of Disney’s The Little Mermaid. Other HCT credits include: Disney’s Tarzan (Terk), The Wizard of Oz (Scarecrow), Newsies (Romeo), AIDA, and Joseph...Dreamcoat (Gad). When not flying above our stage, Jordan works as an RN at St. Marks Hospital. “Hayden and Avery, I could search the whole globe and not find a place I’d rather be than with you.”

Lance Nielsen

Lance Nielsen

TUES · THURS · SAT

aerobaticscircuscenter.com

Making his HCT debut! Lance is joining our production with an extensive background in aerialism. His credits include The House of Dancing Water at Dragone, Chimelong International Circus, and Cirque de la Mer at SeaWorld, San Diego. He is the co-owner and director of Aerobatics Circus Center in Bluffdale, Utah, Utah’s largest youth circus training center. 

Female 1

Jessica Bird

Jessica Zöe Bird

MON · WED · FRI

Thrilled to be back above our Centre Stage; Previous HCT credits for Jessica include: Disney's The Little Mermaid, Disney’s Tarzan, Seussical The Musical, The Wizard of Oz, and AIDA. “Thank you to my coach, Ramsi, and all of the supportive friends and family members who have helped me along the way.”

Mandi Johnson

Mandi Johnson

TUES · THURS · SAT

@builtfor_flight

Making her HCT debut! Mandi joins our production with an extensive resume including: Thriller with Odyssey Dance Company and Tuacahn. When not flying high, she works as a hairstylist and aerial instructor. “I fly because it releases my mind from the tyranny of petty things.”

Female 2

Olivia Lee

Olivia Lee

MON · WED · FRI

@_liv_lee_

Inspired by our 2015 production of Disney’s The Little Mermaid, Olivia began her aerial arts journey with Ramsi and her studio, Defying Gravity Utah. Now performing on the HCT stage is truly a full-circle experience. Olivia’s HCT credits include last season’s production of Disney’s The Little Mermaid as well Disney’s Tarzan and Seussical The Musical. “Thank you to Ramsi, Defying Gravity Utah, and my supportive friends and family for your help along the way. I am so grateful!” 

Jessica Kehl

Jessica Kehl

TUES · THURS · SAT

Jessica is thrilled to be back on the Hale Centre Stage after her most recent appearance in last season’s Disney’s The Little Mermaid. Her other HCT credits include Disney’s Tarzan and Seussical The Musical. Jessica and her aerial partner Samantha Nielsen won the 2022 Aerialympics and they have enjoyed performing their routine at a Utah Jazz game. Jessica wants to thank her husband and her 3 amazing kids for supporting her aerialist dreams.

Female 3

Ma Kayla Finlinson

MaKayla Finlinson

MON · WED · FRI

@mooolyka

MaKayla is thrilled to be back on the HCT stage after her most recent appearance in our production of Disney’s The Little Mermaid. She has performed across the Salt Lake Valley with Odyssey Dance Theatre in Thriller, 90&9’s Fighter at Capitol Theatre, and numerous performances at Tuacahn Amphitheater. “Come on, dance with me. The earth is spinning, we can’t just stand on it.” - Dino Ahmetovic 

Aylssa Larson

Alyssa Larson

TUES · THURS · SAT

@aerialist_owl

Making her HCT debut! Alyssa comes to us with an extensive resume including performances during the Utah Jazz Halftime, at the Urban Arts Festival (SLC), at the Busker Fest (SLC), in Cirque Dream Story (South Dakota), at the State Capitol (SLC), at the Grand America Hotel (SLC), in BallDrop, Catastrophe, and Bones with VikoCjDane Productions, as well as corporate events for Crumbl Cookies, Traeger Grills, and events in Las Vegas. 

She was a competitor on American Ninja Warrior Junior in Season 1 and took 4th place in Utah State Wrestling in 2022. She is a recent graduate from Corner Canyon High School and coaches at Aerobatics Performing Arts Center as well as at Impact Ninja Gym. “Dreams make things happen. Nothing is impossible as long as you believe.” 

Female 4

Jane Jackson

Jane Jackson

MON · WED · FRI

@janejackson.movement

Jane was most recently seen in our production of Disney’s The Little Mermaid. Other HCT credits include: Disney’s Tarzan, The Wizard of Oz, and Seussical The Musical. She has a BA in Dance from BYU Idaho and teaches and coaches dance at Herriman High School. She began her aerial training in 2018 with Ramsi Nia Stoker of Defying Gravity. “Why worry about the things you can't do? Start enjoying the things you can do." 

Samantha Nielsen

Samantha Nielsen

TUES · THURS · SAT

@samanthajnielsen

Samantha is honored to be a part of our production of Around the World in 80 Days. Her favorite stage credits include: Disney’s The Little Mermaid and AIDA with HCT, Utah Jazz Halftime performances, Eclipse 6 Christmas Concert, The Mayan Adventure, and Chimelong International Circus. She is the co-owner and director of Aerobatics Circus Center. “May all your days be circus days! And a special shoutout to my kids: Jade, Paisley, and Conner!” 

Queen Victoria

Genesis Eve Garcia

Eve Garcia

MON · WED · FRI

Genesis’ many credits include: Hale Centre Theatre - Charwoman/Mrs. Fezziwig (A Christmas Carol), and General Cartwright (Guys & Dolls). Her favorite roles include Mrs. Lovett (Sweeney Todd), Paulina (A Winter’s Tale), Puck (A Midsummer Night’s Dream), The Chairman (The Mystery of Edwin Drood), and Justice Charlier (Rock of Ages). 

She has a BFA in Acting from BYU and an MFA in Shakespeare in Performance from Mary Baldwin College and works as the Manager at King Arthur Storage. “The subject matter of art is life, life as it actually is; but the function of art is to make life better.” - Gertrude Stein “Thank you to my Antonio for his love and support.”

Julie Silvestro

Julie Silvestro

TUES · THURS · SAT

A familiar face on the HCT stage, Julie’s favorite credits include HCT - Hello, Dolly!, The Unsinkable Molly Brown, Singin’ in the Rain, A Christmas Carol (multiple seasons), The Secret Garden, Bright Star, Tuck Everlasting, The Heart of Robin Hood, Seven Brides for Seven Brothers, Big Fish, Fiddler on the Roof, The Scarlet Pimpernel, and The Pirate Queen; SLAC - Saturday’s Voyeur 2019; Grand Theatre - Into the Woods and The Full Monty; CPT - Anything Goes, The Secret Garden, and The Drowsy Chaperone. Julie holds a BA in Musical Theatre from Weber State University and is currently a pianist for the Theatre Department at the U of U.

Naidu (Cover)

Daron Bergstrom

Daron Bergstrom

COVER

Returning to the Centre Stage, Daron was previously seen in our 2021 production of The Secret Garden. He earned his B.S. in business Information Technology and Education and MBA from Utah State University and works for Health Catalyst as a Senior Technical Director. “Do not wait for the perfect time and place to enter, for you are already onstage.”

Production Team Biographies

Director

Dave Tinney

Dave Tinney

For Hale Centre Theatre, Dave has previously directed Hans Christian Andersen in New York, Titanic The Musical, The Unsinkable Molly Brown, Singin’ in the Rain, The Light in the Piazza, Treasure Island, Chitty Chitty Bang, The Secret Garden, Guys and Dolls, Les Misérables, A Tale of Two Cities, Disney’s Tarzan, Disney’s Mary Poppins, Bright Star, Seussical, The Addams Family, Cinderella, Matilda The Musical, An American in Paris, The Wizard of Oz, Wait Until Dark, Newsies, The Hunchback of Notre Dame, AIDA, The Heart of Robin Hood, Seven Brides for Seven Brothers, Sister Act, The Pirate Queen, Peter and the Starcatcher, She Loves Me, Hello, Dolly!, The Drowsy Chaperone, Dirty Rotten Scoundrels, Zorro the Musical, and Oliver!,. 

He has also directed for BYU, UVU, Tuacahn Center for the Performing Arts, ASCAP Musical Theatre Workshop in NY, Sundance Summer Theatre, and, one of his favorites, 110 in the Shade for HCT Orem starring Audra McDonald and Will Swenson. He received the National Outstanding Director of a Musical award from the Kennedy Center American College Theater Festival. He works for HCT full-time as the Associate Artistic Director and Resident Director after being Artist in Residence in the Theatre Arts Department at Utah Valley University for nine years. “Thanks to Sally, Mark, Rob M., Rob G, Derek, Lindsey, Ramsi, Jess, Kacey, Joy, Jaron, Michelle O., Michelle J. Candice, Maddy, Nick, Adrianne and an awesome cast and crew...all brilliant! Also a special thanks to my family.”

Choreographer

Lindsey D Smith

Lindsey D. Smith

Originally from Utah, Lindsey relocated to the East Coast after graduating from the University of Utah with her BFA in Modern Dance. She spent 5 years as a Radio City Rockette where she toured to over 50 cities and kicked at Radio City Music Hall. At Walt Disney World, she was a choreographer and teaching artist for Disney Performing Arts, and a performer in Beauty and the Beast Live On Stage as well as the Halloween show Hocus Pocus Villain Spelltacular

Lindsey likes to keep busy between choreographing, teaching, and performing. She has joined the team at HCT as the Resident Dance and Movement Specialist. HCT credits include: Hans Christian Andersen in New York, Disney’s The Little Mermaid, Titanic The Musical, The Unsinkable Molly Brown, Singin’ in the Rain, Guys and Dolls, and The Secret Garden. Choreography credits in Orlando include: Matilda The Musical and Hello, Dolly! (The Garden Theatre); Tuck Everlasting and A Year With Frog and Toad (The Orlando Repertory Theatre), and the Orlando Fringe Festival. Last year she choreographed a brand new Christmas show entitled Home For Christmas at Silver Dollar City in Branson, Missouri. After many shows on the Center Stage, Lindsey is thrilled to be working in the Jewelbox and part of the team bringing this new work to life!       

Aerial Choreographer

Ramsi Stoker

Ramsi Nia Stoker

Ramsi’s extensive background as a competitive gymnast and professional dancer led her to the circus. Inspired as a youth by Cirque du Soleil, she added aerial arts to her repertoire over twenty years ago. Her talents have been seen around the world, performing in theatrical productions, televised awards shows, sports arenas, theme parks, conventions, music videos, software apps, fitness videos, cruise ships, and commercials. She is a member of the nation’s premier acrobatic troupe – Anti-Gravity. 

Some of her favorite performances have been for Walt Disney World, where she was a principal aerialist and original cast member in Tarzan Rocks!, at Universal Studios, and here locally as the original aerialist for Odyssey Dance Theatre, Utah State University, and ICON Health & Fitness. Ramsi loves being a part of the team at HCT, where she has been the Aerial Choreographer & Trainer for Disney’s Tarzan (2013, 2020), Catch Me If You Can, Disney’s The Little Mermaid (2015, 2022), AIDA, The Wizard of Oz, and Seussical The Musical. Ramsi shares her passion for the aerial arts through her pro-level classes and workshops @DefyingGravityUtah. Ramsi is eternally grateful to her husband and their four children for their love and support… and for letting her make their lives a circus!

Fight Choreographer

Derek Smith

Derek Smith

Derek is celebrating his 20th anniversary with HCT - he first appeared on our stage in The Music Man in 2002, where he met his wife, Keolani. The Unsinkable Molly Brown is Derek’s 35th production with Hale Centre Theatre. Some favorite credits include: Disney’s Tarzan (2020 and 2013), She Loves Me, The Wedding Singer, Les Miserables (2021 and 2014), Zorro: The Musical, The Heart of Robin Hood, and Oklahoma!. Other recent credits include: Guys & Dolls and Cinderella. “Behind every Father of 4 who performs is an amazing wife running things at home flawlessly. 

My wife, Keolani, deserves her own spot in this bio! I couldn't do this without her kindness, patience, strength, grace, and unflinching support. Every love song I sing on stage is sung to her! Keolani, Kenzie, Annie, Ty, and Maggie are a little slice of heaven on earth, and my entire world revolves around them! I love them all more than pink frosted sugar cookies!”

Music Director

Rob Moffat 2023

Rob Moffat

Rob graduated with a degree in music dance theater from BYU and has performed and taught regionally in Utah, Arizona, Nevada, and California. He received an MFA in directing from the University of Idaho. He teaches music theatre at BYU and is a sought-after voice teacher. Credits include: Hans Christian Andersen in New York, Treasure Island, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, Million Dollar Quartet, The Addams Family, Matilda The Musical, and The Pirate Queen with Hale Centre Theatre; Cinderella and Footloose with Sundance Summer Theatre; Into The Woods, Man of La Mancha, and Peter Pan with HCTO; and Cabaret, Anything Goes, 9 to 5 The Musical, and Letters To Myself with UVU. He was recognized by the Kennedy Center American College Theater Festival for Outstanding Achievement in music direction for his work on Next to Normal at UVU. “Love to Courtney and Sabrina.”

Original Score Composer and Conductor

Rob Gardner

Rob Gardner

Rob is a composer and producer of projects for film, theater and the concert stage. He is the author of a handful of stage musicals, including "Blackbeard", "The Price of Freedom", and "12 Princesses". He is the co-creator and producer of the group Cinematic Pop, arranging tracks featured everywhere from "America's Got Talent" to the BBC's "Strictly Come Dancing" to the Winter Olympics. Rob has also composed several sacred music works including "Lamb of God", which was originally recorded by the London Symphony Orchestra and Spire Chorus, and is regularly performed around the world. In 2021, Rob produced a concert film of the work that was released in movie theaters and premiered in the top 10 films in the U.S.

Production Stage Manager

Jess Edling 2020

Jess Edling

Jess is thrilled to be at the helm of Around the World in 80 Days. Her twenty-plus-year career includes a wide variety of productions, from intimate one-man dramas with provocative and social impact to large-scale spectacles. Large musicals are probably her favorite genre to stage manage, but right now, she really enjoys working on a diverse range of projects throughout the year thanks to the opportunities provided by working as an in-house Production Stage Manager at Hale Centre Theatre. 

Recent HCT credits include the world premiere of Hans Christian Andersen in New York, Titanic: The Musical, Treasure Island, Singin’ in the Rain, The Play That Goes Wrong, Agatha Christie’s The Mousetrap, Lucky Stiff, Strictly Ballroom: The Musical and Phantom. As a swing, she has supported her fellow HCT stage managers on works such as Les Misérables, Daddy Long Legs, Steel Magnolias, and Matilda The Musical. Some of her favorite non-HCT credits cover a variety of theatre from California and Utah, primarily Silent Sky, Peter and the Starcatcher, Shakespeare’s Much Ado About Nothing, Tintypes, The Gog/Magog Project, Neil Simon’s Eugene trilogy, and the world premiere of Edison & Tesla: An Original Musical. Jess is also a mom to 3-year-old Beau and wife to Brent, her husband of 16 years. Neither of these would be possible without their unwavering support and encouragement to continue chasing her dreams.

Scenic Design

Kacey Udy 2020

Kacey Udy

Kacey is the Creative Director and Resident Scenic Designer at Hale Centre Theatre. He has designed over 100 productions at HCT and loves the challenge of working on our unique stages. Kacey oversaw many of the design aspects of the new building in Sandy and feels fortunate to be able to design on the stages that he helped create. His designs for Les Misérables, Tarzan, The Pirate Queen, A Tale of Two Cities, The Little Mermaid, Matilda, and Tuck Everlasting are among his favorites. He graduated from Utah State University with a BFA in both graphic design and scenic design. When not pursuing new inspiration or shiny objects, Kacey enjoys traveling, watching design and baking competitions and simply being with his family. His family has been crucial in supporting and assisting him throughout his design career. “More is more and less is a bore!” Iris Apfel   

Jenn has also done scenic design for Utah State Theater’s Lincoln Center’s KCACT award-winning design for Sweeney Todd, Mad Woman of Chailott, and lighting designer for Love's Labour's Lost, Utah Lyric’s The Foreigner, Sandy City’s Hairspray, and Park City’s Jesus Christ Superstar, My Fair Lady, Trailer Park, and many more. Jenn has a BFA from the U of U in Theatre Design and an MFA from Utah State in Scenic Design. Jenn has been with HCT for ‘nigh on 21 years.’ “A special thanks to my family, who help me every day to continue my passion in theatre design. A special thanks to Isaac, who thinks I’m the best designer in the world...you’re sweet.”  

Costume Design

Joy Zhu 2018

Joy Zhu

Previous HCT Costume Design credits include Hello, Dolly!, Disney’s The Little Mermaid, The Unsinkable Molly Brown,The Light in the Piazza, One for the Pot, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, The Secret Garden, Les Misérables, A Tale of Two Cities, Murder on the Orient Express, The Addams Family, An American In Paris, Tuck Everlasting, and My Son Pinocchio, along with Joseph...Dreamcoat in 2017. She holds a BA from Hainan University in Fashion and Leather Products Design, and an MFA from Utah State University in Costume Design. Joy also designed for UST’s Candida, and was OLR’s Costume Designer for Game of Love and Chance

Lighting Design/Video Design

Jaron Hermansen

Jaron Kent Hermansen

Jaron has been the resident Lighting Designer for the oldest operating summer theater in the nation: The Cape Playhouse, where his credits include Little Shop of Horrors, The Importance of Being Earnest, Deathtrap, Clue, Altar Boyz, Steel Magnolias, Art, Red, The Foreigner, Murder for Two

Other credits include: Hello, Dolly!, Titanic The Musical, Disney’s The Little Mermaid, Lucky Stiff, Singin’ in the Rain, School of Rock, One For The Pot, A Christmas Carol 2021, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, The Secret Garden, A Tale of Two Cities, Million Dollar Quartet, Baz Luhrmann’s Strictly Ballroom The Musical (Hale Centre Theatre); The Music Man, The Wizard of Oz, Seven Brides for Seven Brothers, Fiddler on the Roof (Sundance Summer Theatre, Utah); Eleemosynary (The Brooks, California); The King’s Men, Private Ear, Hedda Gabler, The Weird Play (Rose Wagner Performing Arts Center, Utah); Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street, I Never Saw Another Butterfly, Romeo & Juliet (Noorda Center for the Performing Arts, Utah); This Bird of Dawning (Regent Street Black Box, Utah). Jaron sits on the Board of Directors for the Intermountain Desert Region of the United States Institute of Theatre Technology-the association for performing arts and entertainment professionals-and is a nominee for its Rising Star Award. He has been a lecturer at Utah Valley University and the resident designer and technical director at the Waterford School.

Sound Design

Michelle Ohumukini 2022

Michelle Ohumukini

Michelle has always loved telling stories. Being Native Hawaiian has helped her gain experience in events from a young age. She decided to dive into finding out more about sound and how it functions. This path led her to her MFA in Sound for the Performing Arts from Purdue University. 

She has designed shows from Utah to Indiana, toured the United States and Central America, worked with touring groups from Olivia Newton-John to Pentatonix, and has worked with many local performers in multiple states. Michelle loves theater and being able to use sound to help tell the story. She currently serves as the Associate Sound Commissioner of the United States Institute of Theater Technology (USITT) and is a member of the Theatrical Sound Designers and Composers Association (TSDCA). She'd like to say: “Thank you to my outstanding sound team and all of your hard work!”      

Properties Design

Michelle Jensen 2020

Michelle Jensen

Michelle is extremely passionate about details, research, beautiful and interesting “things,” anything to do with flowers and opening packages. She recently designed her 103rd with our production of Hello, Dolly!. Some of her other favorite designs have included The Drowsy Chaperone, Over The River..., Les Misérables, Tuck Everlasting, My Fair Lady, AIDA, A Tale of Two Cities, Cinderella, Silent Sky, and She Loves Me

She retired from teaching first grade after 32 years. Michelle is thrilled to be part of the HCT production team and is grateful for the encouragement and support of her three beautiful daughters, two charming sons-in-law, and her amazing husband, Steve. 

Hair & Make Up Design

Candice Cronin 2020

Candice Cronin

@candicecroninmakeup

Some of Candice’s favorite hair and makeup designs for HCT include: Steel Magnolias, Disney’s Mary Poppins, Always...Patsy Cline, and Disney’s The Little Mermaid. She is a graduate of Paul Mitchell the School, where she has been an instructor since 2008. She also works as a resident designer and cosmetologist for the HCT Hair and Makeup Department. “I would like to thank Trisha, Krissa, and Marneé for helping me grow as an Artist and Designer. I also want to thank Adam, Cordelia, and Gabriella for being so supportive of my dream to work in theatre. Kiss Kiss!” 

Video/Projection Design

Madeline Ashton 2020

Maddy Ashton

@madelinemakesart

As Projections Designer, Madeline’s work was recently seen in productions of Light in the Piazza, Silent Sky, Hans Christian Andersen in New York, Unsinkable Molly Brown, Daddy Long Legs, and more at HCT. She has also been able to design Scenery for HCT for Silent Sky, Daddy Long Legs, Murder on the Orient Express; Oklahoma! (Sundance); Fire! anad Singing to the Brine Shrimp (Plan B Theatre). Madeline earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Scenic Design from Utah Valley University. 

Automation Design

Nick Herring

Nick Herring

Nick is thrilled to return to HCT and join the amazing production team responsible for bringing this production to life! Recent HCT credits include: Hello Dolly!, Titanic the Musical, Disney’s the Little Mermaid, The Unsinkable Molly Brown, Singin’ in the Rain, School of Rock, Treasure Island, A Christmas Carol, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, The Secret Garden, and Guys & Dolls. 

Outside of HCT, Nick works for Disney Live Entertainment based in Orlando, FL as a Senior Show Control Designer, designing & programming complex show control & automation systems for live entertainment productions as well as various attractions such as: Fantasmic!, Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge, Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance, and the Fireworks Spectaculars.

Dialect Coach

Adrianne Moore

Adrianne Moore

A noted dialect coach, Adrianne is honored that Around the World in 80 Days could be her first production with Hale Centre Theatre. She has also coached dialects for Pioneer Theatre Company (Murder On The Orient Express, Charles III, Cracula, The Heiress, and My Fair Lady). She has served as dialect, voice, and text coach for American Players Theatre for the last 5 seasons (Once Upon A Bridge, Stones in His Pocket, An Improbable Fiction, A Doll’s House, and Our Good Company). Utah Shakespeare Festival (Dracula, Two Gentlemen of Verona, Sherlock Holmes, and Boeing, Boeing), Salt Lake Acting Company (over 20 productions including The Cake and Hand To God), as well as Tuachan Center for the Arts (Mary Poppin’s, The Count of Monte Cristo and Shrek) and The Lyric Repertory Company. Film and Television credits include” ‘The Corps’ with Netflix, ‘Galyntine’ with AMC, and the film ‘The Saving of Sarah Cain’. Adrianne is a member of the Voice and Speech Trainers Association.

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