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Thank you!

To the generous sponsors of Hans Christian Andersen in New York

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Show Information

Hale Centre Theatre's production of

Music and Lyrics by

Frank Loesser

Book by

Paul Blake

Directed by

Dave Tinney

•••••

HANS CHRISTIAN ANDERSEN IN NEW YORK is presented through special arrangement with Music Theatre International (MTI). All authorized performance materials are also supplied by MTI. www.mtishows.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, a violation of the author(s)’s rights and actionable under United State Copyright Law.

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Production Team

Producer: Sally Dietlein

Director: Dave Tinney

Choreographer: Lindsey D. Smith

Music Director: Rob Moffat

Production Stage Manager: Jess Edling

Scenic Design: Jenn Taylor

Costume Design: La Beene

Lighting Design: Casey Price

Sound Design: Michelle Ohumukini

Properties Design: Danna Barney

Hair & Make-up Design: Candice Cronin

Video/Projection Design: Maddy Ashton

Automation Design: Nate Gallegos

Stage Manager: Megan Johnson, Heather Wadley

Assistant Stage Manager: Taylor Ballard, Ethan Ison 

Lightboard Operator: Ryan Hopkins, Lucas Russell, Kaden Wells

Sound Engineer: Griffin McMullin, Evan Saunders, Bre Stark

Stage Technician: Billy Gonzales, Zachary Kessinger, John Heath, Ben Ward

Followspot Operator: Kimberly Brown, Cynthia Harvey, Joey Milligan, Rebecca Perkins, Heber Portlock, Michael Shipley, Braxton Sisson, Sydney Wilkinson

Wardrobe Dresser: Emma Chapman, Michaela Gladwell, Amanda Howard, Paige Kuntz, Sara Riches, Cypress Stevens, Jillian Terry

Hair & Make-up Crew: Cassie Firth, Kylie Hallett, Claire Jones, Marnee’ Porter, Olivia Price

Child Guardian: Andrea Dial, Mia Aamodt, Annette Dalton, Melissa Davis, Tara Holt, Candice Mitchell, Andrea Rigby

•••••

Explore more of HCT's Behind the Scenes Staff. 

Director’s Notes

Composer Frank Loesser’s work is as American as apple pie. His musicals are award-winning classics, (Guys and Dolls, How To Succeed In Business…), and his golden age big band jazz standards such as What Are You Doing New Year’s Eve and I Don’t Wanna Walk Without You are immortally woven into the fabric of the American soundtrack.

At the height of his popularity, Mr. Loesser was invited to create the songs for Hans Christian Andersen, a 1952 musical film starring Danny Kaye. The story loosely follows the life of the famous Danish storyteller and creator of The Little Mermaid, Thumbelina & The Emperor’s New Clothes. At the time of its release, it became one of the top-grossing films of 1952 and garnered 6 Academy Award nominations including best score and best song.  Songs from the film like Inchworm, Wonderful Copenhagen, and Thumbelina were instant classics and were sung in grade schools for decades.

Despite its popularity, over time the film seemed to find its way into the dusty footnotes of musical film history, and those delightful award-nominated Loesser songs seemed in danger of slowly fading from America’s collective consciousness. This was something the Loesser family simply couldn’t allow.

That’s where our friend Paul Blake comes in.

Paul is a Tony Award-nominated theater producer, writer, and director. He served as lead producer of the Tony Award-winning Beautiful: The Carole King Musical, co-wrote and co-produced the Tony Award-nominated Irving Berlin’s White Christmas, served as lead producer for the 2017 Broadway revival of Andrew Lloyd Weber’s Sunset Boulevard starring Glenn Close at the Palace Theatre, and for 22 years was the executive producer of the St. Louis MUNY, the largest and oldest outdoor theater in America.  

Paul’s theatrical pedigree and love of the golden age of musical theater made him the perfect creative candidate to head the Hans Christian Andersen rescue. With the help and blessing of the Loesser family, Paul accepted the challenge to create a stage adaptation that would honor the spirit of the storyteller Hans Christian Andersen and the musical legacy of the late Mr. Loesser.

Paul isn’t a musical theater archeologist. He is a restorationist. Rather than simply unearthing the script from the famous Danny Kaye film, Paul revisited the entire Frank Loesser musical catalog and created a brand-new story…one that maintained the character of the old Hans, but also introduced a more contemporary love story involving a fictional ancestor living in 1962 NYC. His characters are quirky, loveable, and as charming as the songs they were inspired by. Paul wove all the best of Mr. Loesser’s songs into a classic ‘let’s put on a show’ structure that is as new as it is timeless. 70 years after many of these songs were first released, Paul has restored their shine in a brand-new Golden Age musical.

All of us here at Hale Centre Theatre are honored to present the world premiere of Paul Blake and Frank Loesser’s new musical, Hans Christian Andersen In New York.

 — Dave Tinney

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Synopsis of Scenes

Act I

Scene 1a – Bookstore

I'm Hans Christian Andersen

Hans, Bunny 

Scene 1b – Dance Studio

I Hear Music
I'm Hans Christian Andersen (Reprise)

Hans, Bunny, Tiffany, Rosalie, Carol, Ashley, Darlene

Scene 1c – Bookstore

I'm Hans Christian Andersen (Reprise 2)

Hans, Bunny, Old Hans

Scene 2a – Dance Studio

Hoop-Dee-Doo

Hans, Bunny, Bobbie, Tiffany, Rosalie, Carol, Ashley, Darlene

Scene 2b – Bookstore

Inchworm
Why Fight the Feeling

Hans, Bunny, Harry, Nancy, Old Hans, Ian, Natalie

Scene 3 – Bookstore/Dance Studio

I Get the Neck of the Chicken

Hans, Bunny, Harry, Ruthie, Tiffany

Scene 4a – Dance Studio

Thumbelina

Hans, Bunny, Bobbie, Ian, Natalie, Tiffany, Rosalie, Carol, Ashley, Darlene

Scene 4b – Bookstore

Ugly Duckling

Hans, Ian, Natalie

Scene 5 – Ming Dynasty Restaurant

Moments Like This

Hans, Nancy, Old Hans

Scene 6 – Bookstore

Finale Act 1

Hans, Bunny, Harry, Nancy, Bobbie, Old Hans, Ruthie, Tiffany, Rosalie, Carol, Ashley, Darlene

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Synopsis of Scenes

Act II

Scene 1 – Bookstore

How'dja Like to Love Me 

Bunny, Harry

Scene 2 – Nancy's Living Room

Wonderful Copenhagen

Nancy, Ian, Natalie 

Scene 3 – Bookstore

I Don't Wanna Walk Without You
Dancing on a Dime

CoHans, Bunny, Nancy. Old Hansmpany 

Scene 4a – Bookstore

I Hear Music (Reprise)

Hans, Nancy, Bobbie, Old Hans, Ian

Scene 4b – Bookstore

I Hear Music (Reprise 2)

Hans, Bunny, Harry, Nancy, Bobbie, Ben Greenspan, Ian, Natalie, Tiffany, Rosalie, Carol, Ashley, Darlene

Scene 5a – "The Music of Home"

Tallahassee

Hans, Harry, Ian, Natalie, Tiffany, Rosalie, Carol, Ashley, Darlene

Scene 5b – "The Music of Home"

I Fall in Love With You

Harry, Bobbie

Scene 5c – "The Music of Home"

The King's New Clothes

Hans, Ian, Natalie, Tiffany, Rosalie, Carol, Ashley, Darlene

Scene 5d – "The Music of Home"

The Music of Home

Company

Scene 6 – Bookstore

What Are You Doin' New Year's Eve

Company

Cast in Order of Appearance

Mon · Wed · Fri
Tues · Thurs · Sat
Hans Christian Andersen
Alex King
Ryan Shepherd
Bunny Bailey
Korianne Johnson
Erin Royall Carlson
Tiffany
Betty King
Lucy White
Rosalie
Scarlett Burt
Elsa Parry
Carol
Tessa Jensen
Hailey Burnham
Ashley
Libby Despain
Gemma Sanders
Darlene
Grace Moore
Sophia Quinn
Old Hans
Keith Evans
Mark Pulham
Bobbie Tone
Ashley Carlson
Selena Quayle Proctor
Harry Porter
Ben Henderson
Mark Knowles
Nancy Offenbach
Teaira Burge
Amy Shreeve Keeler
Ian Offenbach
Link Evans
Mason Burnham
Natalie Offenbach
Jane Wilkins
Olivia Dietlein
Ruthie
Koryn Sobel
Mckelle Shaw
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Hans Christian Andersen

Alex King

Alex King

MON · WED · FRI

Honored to be back on the HCT stage! His favorite stage credits include: HCT - Singin’ in the Rain (Cosmo Brown), Chitty Chitty Bang Bang (Caractacus Potts), Disney’s Tarzan (Terk), Les Misérables (Feuilly), and Over the River and Through The Woods (Nick); and HCTO - Seussical The Musical (Wickersham Bro) and UrineTown (Bobby Strong). 

Alex studied Theatre Arts and Education at BYU and received his Master’s Degree in Slavic Languages and Literature from The University of Washington. When not on stage, he is a father of five wonder gremlins, a drama teacher at Mountain Ridge High School, and Husband to my favorite human being. "Somebody, somewhere, wants me and needs me, that's very wonderful to know!" - Frank Loesser

Ryan Shepherd

Ryan Shepherd

TUES · THURS · SAT

Thrilled to be back on the HCT stage! After a successful career on Broadway and then as a dentist in Albuquerque, New Mexico, Ryan recently retired and returned to Utah, getting back to his roots in theatre. Favorite credits include: Broadway/National Tours: CATS (Skimbleshanks), West Side Story (Riff), and Disney’s Beauty and the Beast (Young Prince/Doormat); at HCT: Titanic The Musical (Etches), Singin’ in the Rain (Rod), and The Secret Garden (Albert); Regional: Singin’ In the Rain (Cosmo), Shrek The Musical (Lord Farquaad), The Music Man (Harold Hill), Mary Poppins (Bert), and A Christmas Carol (Scrooge). 

He was part of the BYU Young Ambassadors and performed at Walt Disney World. Ryan has a BFA in MDT from BYU and a DMD from Harvard School of Dental Medicine. “Thank you, Tamera, for indulging my love of the stage! Couldn’t do it without you.”

Bunny Bailey

Korianne Johnson

Korrianne Johnson

MON · WED · FRI

kjvoicestudio.com

Returning to the Jewel Box Stage - Korrianne was previously seen as Katherine in our 2019 production of Freaky Friday. Other favorite stage credits include: Les Misérables (Fantine) with HCTO; Carman (Frasquita) with Utah Lyric Opera; as well as AIDA (Amneris), Ragtime (Mother), Sister Act (Mother Superior), Little Shop of Horrors (Audrey), Lucky Stiff (Annabel), The Secret Garden (Lily), and 110 in the Shade with Audra McDonald (Frankie). Korianne holds a MM in Vocal Performance and a BFA in Music Dance Theatre from BYU.

Erin Carlson

Erin Royall Carlson

TUES · THURS · SAT

A Hale Centre favorite; Erin is excited to be back on the Jewel Box Stage. Stage credits include: Singin’ in the Rain, The Play That Goes Wrong, The Addams Family, A Gentleman’s Guide to Love and Murder, The Scarlet Pimpernel, Seven Brides for Seven Brothers, and Big Fish with HCT; The Bridges of Madison County, The Kiss of the Spider Woman, and The Last Five Years; Noises Off, A Chorus Line, Evita, and Chicago with the Egyptian Theatre. Erin is co-founder of Audition Advantage; she is a vocal instructor, personal trainer, luckiest wife, and Mom of two.

Harry Porter

Ben Henderson

Ben Henderson

MON · WED · FRI

A familiar face to HCT audiences. Previous credits on our stages: The Bishop of Lax (See How They Run), Baron Bomburst (Chitty Chitty Bang Bang), Gomez Addams (The Addams Family), Sebastian (Cinderella), Harry Roat, Jr. (Wait Until Dark), Prince John (The Heart of Robin Hood) and Steven Kodaly (She Loves Me). 

Other credits include: Shakespeare Theatre Company-Romeo and Juliet and The Tempest; Salt Lake Acting Company in Fun Home; Parker Theatre in Hamlet; Hale Center Theater Orem in Bright Star, Annie, Peter and the Starcatcher, Big Fish, and Peter Pan; and The Tempest with Renaissance Now. Ben has a B.S. in Theatrical Arts from UVU and an MFA in Classical Acting from George Washington University. Ben wants to thank his children and their mother for all the support.

Mark Knowles

Mark Knowles

TUES · THURS · SAT

Mark is excited to be on the HCT stage again. Credits include: Treasure Island (Captain Smollett/Black Dog), Guys & Dolls (Arvide Abernathy), A Tale of Two Cities (Mr. Jarvis Lorry), Murder on the Orient Express (Hercule Poirot), My Fair Lady (Henry Higgins), 1776 (John Adams), The Sound of Music (Captain Von Trapp), Hello, Dolly! (Horace Vandergelder) and Dirty Rotten Scoundrels (Lawrence Jameson) with HCT and Camelot (King Arthur), The King and I (The King of Siam) with CenterPoint Legacy Theatre. “Thanks to my Savior and Wendy, my guiding star.”

Nancy Offenbach

Teaira Burge

Teaira Burge

MON · WED · FRI

Thrilled to be on the Jewel Box Stage for the first time! Teaira’s favorite stage credits include: The Unsinkable Molly Brown and Chitty Chitty Bang Bang with HCT; The Light in the Piazza and Cosi fan Tutte with Transgressive Theatre Opera; Rodgers and Hammerstein’s Cinderella and The Hunchback of Notre Dame with The Palace Theatre; Iolanthe with Gilbert and Sullivan Opera Company of Chicago; Candide, The Pirates of Penzance, Into The Woods, and Anything Goes with Music Theatre Works; Nine with Blank Theatre Company; The Flower of Hawaii and Johnny Johnson at Chicago Folks Operetta. 

Teaira earned her Bachelor of Music from Idaho State University and Master of Music from Chicago College of Performing Arts at Roosevelt University. “I am beyond thrilled to have the opportunity to bring this production to life at Hale Centre Theatre!”

Amy Shreeve Keeler

Amy Shreeve Keeler

TUES · THURS · SAT

@amyshreevekeeler

A former singer, actress, and dancer for the Walt Disney Company, Amy’s favorite HCT credits include: Les Misérables (Fantine), Cinderella (Ella), She Loves Me (Amalia), The Little Mermaid - 2015 (Ariel) and Ragtime (Mother). She earned a BFA in Music Dance Theatre from BYU, toured with the Young Ambassadors, and is now a full-time mama to three boys and a girl. 

She anxiously awaits the day that her brain cells recover from motherhood, and is always grateful to spend time at Hale doing what breathes life into her soul. Always thanks to Chuck, Mom, Davis, Hayden, Bennett, and Kennedy. 

Bobbie Tone

Ashley Carlson

Ashley Carlson

MON · WED · FRI

@ashleygcarlson

Some of Ashey’s favorite stage credits include: HCT - An American in Paris, Matilda The Musical, and Chitty Chitty Bang Bang; HCTO - Dirty Rotten Scoundrels and Anything Goes; Pioneer Theatre Company - Mamma Mia and The Rocky Horror Picture Show; The Grand Theatre - Into The Woods and The Last Five Years; Scera Shell - Matilda The Musical (Choreographer); Alabama Shakespeare Festival - Disney’s Mary Poppins; Utah Lyric Opera - My Fair Lady; and Lyric Rep - The Drowsy Chaperone and Nunsense.

Ashley graduated with a BA in Broadcast Communications from The University of Utah and MBA from Westminster College. She works as a dance teacher, choreographer, and director. “Thank you to Dave & Rob for this opportunity and to HCT, as always, for being a great place to work!” 

Selena Proctor

Selena Quayle Proctor

TUES · THURS · SAT

Selena is thrilled to play on the HCT stage yet again. She was previously seen in Guys & Dolls on the Centre Stage. Her other credits include performances with Tuacahn, Lagoon, and Provo Theater Company. She has a BFA from BYU and works as a mother of four and as a fitness instructor at Brick Canvas Fitness and Lehi Legacy Center. “I hope you uncover what it is that makes you feel alive, and even more so, I hope you find the courage to chase after it.” - Gerardo Perez, Jr.

Her favorite film credits include “Destined at Christmas” (Kim), “Identical Love” (Charlotte), and “My One True Love” (Helen). Shae graduated from BYU with a Bachelor's Degree in Music Dance Theater and is signed with Talent Management Group working in commercial, voice-over, TV, and film. “In the words of my grandpa Harley ‘Party on!’.” 

Megan Heaps

Megan Heaps

Cover

@megthewanderess

No stranger to both HCT stages, Megan’s favorite credits include Bright Star (Alice), Guys & Dolls (Sarah Brown), Les Miserables (Fantine), Disney’s Tarzan (Jane), A Tale of Two Cities (Lucy), Zorro The Musical (Louisa), Ths Scarlet Pimpernel (Marguerite), Chitty Chitty Bang Bang (Truly Scrumptious), The Sound of Music (Maria), Mamma Mia (Donna), and She Loves Me (Ilona Ritter).  Megan is a BYU graduate, and when not appearing on a local stage, she is sailing the high seas with Princess Cruise Lines.  “God is good.”

Old Hans Christian Andersen

Keith Evans

Keith Evans

MON · WED · FRI

Keith is overjoyed to be back on the HCT stage. His favorite HCT credits include - Thomas Andrews (Titanic The Musical), Fred/Charles Dickens (A Christmas Carol), Archibald Craven (The Secret Garden), Jimmy Ray Dobbs (Bright Star), Percy Blakeney (The Scarlet Pimpernel), Harold Hill (The Music Man), Sam Wheat (Ghost: The Musical), and Frank Abegnale, Jr. (Catch Me If You Can) as well as Benny (In The Heights) at Hale Center Theatre Orem. Keith earned his BA and MA from BYU and works as the Choir Director at West Jordan High School. “For our girls, Adrianne and Lydia”

Mark Pulham

Mark Pulham

TUES · THURS · SAT

Since its opening, Mark has spent most of his time doing shows at Hale Center Theatre Orem - even performing with founder Ruth and Nathan Hale in the early years. He’s enjoyed a long list of notable characters from Bob Cratchit to Professor Higgins and many in between. His recent credits include Emma: The Musical (Mr. Woodhouse) at HCTO and Disney’s Tarzan (Porter) at HCT. 

A graduate of education from BYU, Mark taught 4th grade for 30 years and was also at the Children's Library in Orem for 40 yrs. Now retired, Mark enjoys doing more theater and volunteering at a local elementary school. “Life itself is the most wonderful fairy tale.” - Hans Christian Andersen

Ruthie (Postal Worker)

Koryn Sobel

Koryn Sobel

MON · WED · FRI

@Koryniebin

Making her HCT debut! Koryn’s favorite credits include Seussical The Musical with Kayenta Center for the Arts; The Lion King with Cedar City Children's Musical Theatre; and Studio Reds: Sister Act. She is currently a student at the University of Utah in the Musical Theatre Program and works at RMHC/Primary Children's Hospital & University of Utah Hospital. "I am so excited to be working with Hale Centre Theatre! I feel honored to be a part of bringing these new characters to life and can't wait for this new adventure. Huge thank you to my mom and dad for always believing in me!” 

Mckelle Shaw

Mckelle Shaw

TUES · THURS · SAT

@mckellelindsay

Mckelle is excited to be back on the HCT stage; some of her Hale credits include: Titanic The Musical (Alice Beane), The Unsinkable Molly Brown (Mary Nevin/Emma/Ensemble), The Secret Garden (Martha), Les Misérables (Ensemble), Seussical The Musical (Mrs. Mayor), and My Son Pinocchio (Rosa). 

Her favorite stage credits include: Little Women (Jo), Into the Woods (The Witch), Anything Goes (Erma), She Loves Me (Ilona), and The Drowsy Chaperone (Kitty). Mckelle has her BFA in Musical Theatre (UVU) and works as an actor and makeup artist. “Thank you to my wonderful support system, Sarah and Ardon; I love you guys.” 

Ian Offenbach

Link Evans

Link Evans

MON · WED · FRI

Thrilled to be back on the HCT stage! Link was most recently seen as Tiny Tim in 2022’s production of A Christmas Carol. “I've loved being part of this show - I hope you love it too!”

Mason Burnham

Mason Burnham

TUES · THURS · SAT

@theburnhamkids

Mason is excited to be back on the Hale Centre Theatre stage for this world premiere! He was recently seen on our Jewel Box Stage as Tiny Tim in A Christmas Carol. When not on stage, Mason enjoys baseball, soccer, building with LEGO bricks, and watching Star Wars. He’s excited to share the stage with his sister, Hailey. “Thank you to my talented siblings for letting me follow in your footsteps! Thank you, Hale Centre Theatre, for letting me play. Enjoy the show!” 

Natalie Offenbach

Jane Wilkins

Jane Wilkins

MON · WED · FRI

Thrilled to be back on the HCT stage! Jane’s favorite credits include Chitty Chitty Bang Bang (Marta) and Frozen Kids (Middle Anna) with HCT; A Christmas Story The Musical with Pioneer Theatre Company; The Sound of Music (Brigitta) at Draper Historic Theatre; The Audience (Young Queen Elizabeth) at Creekside Theater Festival; The Sword and the Stone (Meadow) with Parker Theatre; and Matilda The Musical (Matilda) with Cottonwood Heights. 

Jane studies classical ballet, voice, and tap, and in her spare time, Jane loves writing her own plays, choreographing dances with her little sister, and spending time with her family.

Olivia Dietlein

Olivia Dietlein

TUES · THURS · SAT

@waitingforjamesband

Honored to be back on the Centre Stage, Olivia’s favorite credits include School of Rock (Madison), The Secret Garden (Mary Lennox), Les Misérables (Young Eponine) A Christmas Carol 2020 (Little Fan/Harriet Cratchit/Want), A Bundle of Trouble (Lee Lee), and Matilda The Musical (Hortensia).  

Tiffany

Betty King

Betty King

MON · WED · FRI

Making her HCT debut! Betty’s favorite performances include Lion King Jr. (Rafiki) and Moana Jr. (Tomatoa) at High Valley Arts, and the tapping Rat Queen at Utah Valley Homeschool Dance Academy. She sings and dances through life. She also plays piano and guitar, and she is on her local swim team!

Lucy White

Lucy White

TUES · THURS · SAT

@lucymaewhite

Thrilled to be back on the HCT stage; Lucy’s credits include HCT - Chitty Chitty Bang Bang (Tori) and Matilda The Musical (Matilda); Ogden Musical Theatre - The Secret Garden (Mary); Regalo - White Christmas (Susan); HCTO - A Christmas Carol (Little Fan); Creekside - Tuck Everlasting (Winnie u/s); and American Fork Community - The Music Man (Amaryllis). She has been in various commercials and films. “If you’re the smartest person in the room, then you’re in the wrong room.” - Marissa Meyer 

Rosalie

Scarlett Burt

Scarlett Burt

MON · WED · FRI

@blsssisters

Making her HCT debut! She comes with an extensive resume including: Frozen Jr. (Anna); Aladdin Jr. (Magic Carpet), guest co-host on Houston Life TV; Dancer for 2022 Christmas with the Tabernacle Choir; featured singer at the 2022 Mothers without Borders gala; and appearances on KSL TV, FM100 radio and Wonderama. 

Scarlett has performed at many unique venues, including Viking Stadium in Minneapolis, St. Patrick’s Cathedral, Grand Central Station and Central Park in New York City, and Eccles Theater in Salt Lake City “The Noblest art is that of making others happy.” 

Elsa Parry

Elsa Parry

TUES · THURS · SAT

Making her HCT debut! Elsa’s favorite credits include A Christmas Story The Musical at Pioneer Theatre Company; Matilda The Musical (Matilda) at Centennial Middle School; A Christmas Story The Musical at the SCERA Center for the Arts; and Alice in Wonderland (Queen of Hearts), Fiddler on the Roof, and Disney’s Beauty and the Beast at COPA Youth Theatre.

Carol

Tessa Jensen

Tessa Jensen

MON · WED · FRI

Happy to be back on the HCT stage! Tessa’s favorite credits include Chitty Chitty Bang Bang (Jemima Potts) with Hale Centre Theatre; A Christmas Story The Musical with Pioneer Theatre; National Tour of Waitress (Lulu) at the Eccles; A Christmas Carol (Fan/Belinda/Want) at Hale Center Theatre Orem; Matilda The Musical (Amanda Thripp) at Alpine Community Theatre; Annie (Molly) at Midvale Main Street Theater and Bluffdale. “Thank you, HCT, for this amazing opportunity, and thanks to my family for always supporting me!”

Hailey Burnham

Hailey Burnham

TUES · THURS · SAT

@theburnhamkids

Hailey is thrilled to be back on the HCT stage! Her favorite credits include the Broadway National Tour of How The Grinch Stole Christmas (Annie Who); HCT - Chitty Chitty Bang Bang (Jemima), A Tale of Two Cities (Little Lucie), and Frozen Kids (Young Elsa); Pioneer Theater - Once (Ivonka); BYU - Turn of the Screw (Flora); and HCTO - A Christmas Carol Youth (Ghost of Christmas Past). 

Hailey has been a guest soloist at several venues across Utah. “Thank you to everyone here at Hale Centre Theatre for the opportunity to be a part of this world premiere! Lots of love to my family, and friends for all their support!”

Ashley

Libby Despain

Libby Despain

MON · WED · FRI

Libby is excited to join the talented cast and crew of Hans Christian Andersen in New York! Other credits include: Les Misérables (Young Cosette) and A Christmas Carol with Hale Centre Theatre; Disney’s Frozen Jr. and Annie Jr. at Midvale Main Street Theatre and her recent appearance as Annie in her school's production. In addition to theatre, Libby loves to sing, dance, and tumble; and is the best sister in all of the land. “She shall have music wherever she goes.”

Gemma Sanders

Gemma Sanders

TUES · THURS · SAT

Making her HCT debut! Gemma comes to Hale Centre Theatre with an extensive resume. Favorite stage credits include: Martha/Little Fan (A Christmas Carol Youth Edition) and Young Anna (Frozen Jr.) with HCTO; Grover Dill (A Christmas Story The Musical) with SCERA; and Marta (The Sound of Music) and Matilda (Matilda The Musical) with SCERA Shell.

Darlene

Grace Moore

Grace Moore

MON · WED · FRI

Excited to be back on the HCT stage! Grace’s favorite credits include Chitty Chitty Bang Bang with Hale Centere Theatre; Mary Poppins (Jane Banks) at Beverly’s Terrace Plaza Playhouse; The Sound of Music (Marta VonTrapp) and The Wizard of Oz (Lullaby League/Adult dance ensemble) at Ziegfeld Theatre; and she has performed in 5 casts with the Ballet West Nutcracker. 

She is honored to have been offered a spot to train with the Royal Ballet School in London (Spring 2023). “Thank you to my family for your love and support, to my teachers for always believing in me, and to everyone at Hale Centre Theatre for this amazing opportunity. I love you all!”

Sophia Quinn

Sophia Quinn

TUES · THURS · SAT

Making her HCT debut! Sophia’s favorite credits include Matilda: The Musical (Matilda), Frozen Jr. (Olaf), Annie Jr. (Molly), and Junie B. Jones (Junie B.), as well as many other dance performances and " Broadway Showcases". Sophia attends school as part of the Spanish immersion program. “Working hard is important. But there is something that matters more. Believing in Yourself.” - Harry Potter

Reeds

Derek Crane

Derek Crane

@saxspy

Glad to be back with Hale Centre Theatre; Derek previously played in the band for our production of Baz Luhrmann’s Strictly Ballroom The Musical. Other notable credits include Hugh Jackman’s World Tour along with lending his talents to the Zelda Symphony. Derek studied commercial music at BYU where he is now an Adjunct Faculty Member. 

“Considering the great heritage in music that we have - the work of the giant of the past, the present, and the promise of those who are to come - I feel that we have every reason to face the future optimistically” - John Coltrane 

David Hall

Dave Hall

-Sub

Making his HCT debut! Some of Dave’s favorite credits include: Jesus Christ Superstar, Bye Bye Birdie, The Sound of Music, Joseph…Dreamcoat, CATS, The Phantom of The Opera, Mean Girls, Something Rotten, A Christmas Story, The Musical, Hello, Dolly!, Ain’t Too Proud, and Putting It Together. Dave holds a Master’s in Jazz Performance and a DMA in Saxophone Performance, both from the University of Utah.

Trumpet

Reed Le Cheminant

Reed Le Cheminant

Reed was last a part of the band for our 2020 production of Baz Luhrmann’s Strictly Ballroom The Musical. He has also performed across the valley at Capitol Theatre, Eccles Theatre, as well as Pioneer Theater. “Trumpet, like fly casting, is best done on a four-count rhythm.” 

Seretta Hart

-Sub

Making her HCT debut! Seretta is thrilled to join the HCT family with this production of Hans Christian Andersen in New York! She holds her DMA in Trumpet Performance from the University of Utah. 

Trombone

Craig Moore

Craig Moore

Craig is thrilled to play a part in this production of Hans Christian Andersen in New York! Craig earned his Bachelor of Music from Elder Conservatorium and his Master of Music from DePaul University as well as his Performers Certificate from DePaul University. 

Brian Woodbury

-Sub

Making his HCT debut! Brian is excited to join the Hale Centre family with this production of Hans Christian Andersen in New York! 

Keyboard 1

Tanner De Haan

Tanner DeHaan

A familiar face to Hale Centre Audiences, Tanner is honored to lend his talents to this production. Favorite stage credits include: A Christmas Carol, Forever Plaid, Tuck Everlasting, Bright Star, Daddy Long Legs, Always…Patsy Cline, and School of Rock with HCT, as well as A Christmas Story with PTC. Tanner earned his degree in Choral Music Education from the University of Utah and serves as the Choir Director at West Jordan Middle School as well as the Principal Accompanist for Utah Voices. 

Alex Marshall

Alex Marshall

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Keyboard 2

Ann Christensen

Ann Christensen

Ann is thrilled to be back on the Hale Centre stage after previously playing in the band for School of Rock and Baz Luhrmann’s Strictly Ballroom The Musical. She graduated with a Bachelor's in Piano Performance and a Masters in Piano Performance and Pedagogy from the University of Utah. 

Eric Noyes

Eric Noyes

By day, Eric teaches choir at South Hills Middle School in Riverton, Utah, and serves as Associate Conductor of Utah Voices. He earned his Bachelor of Music from BYU and a Master of Music from Central Washington University. He was previously seen jamming out in our production of School of Rock.

Bass

Matthew Shumway

Matt Shumway

Matt Shumway is a native of Utah, a professional performer of many genres, and an experienced teacher. He holds two degrees in Double Bass Performance; a Bachelor’s from BYU-Idaho, and a Master’s from Northwestern University in Chicago. Matt was the Acting Principal Bass for the Fort Collins Symphony Orchestra from 2016 to 2018 and is the current Principal Bass for the Ballet West Orchestra. 

He is an active recording session artist and enjoys a varied and rigorous performance schedule. Matt has enjoyed performing with many prominent artists and musicians, including Andrea Bocelli, Alfie Boe, Renée Fleming, David Archuleta, Richard Marx, and Collin Raye. Although his degrees are in Classical Bass Performance, Matt has experience in other genres such as Jazz, Folk, Bluegrass, and Rock. He enjoys teaching every skill level from beginning to advanced and maintains a large active private studio.

Emily Maddison

Emily Maddison

Making her HCT debut! Emily is thrilled to lend her talents to this production of Hans Christian Andersen in New York. Emily holds a BFA in Jazz and Contemporary Music from The New School in NYC. 

Drums

Todd Mitchell

Todd Mitchell

Todd is thrilled to be stepping onto the HCT stage. He was last seen in our 2020 production of Million Dollar Quartet as Fluke - a role he also played at HCTO in 2019. He has shared the stage with such notable acts as Tanya Tucker, Mark Farner of Grand Funk Railroad, Jack Blades of Night Ranger, Dickey Betts of Allman Brothers, and Nashville Guitar Great Johnny Hiland. 

Todd holds a BA in Communications from the University of Utah and works in the administration department of UTA.   

Cris Stiles

Cris Stiles

Making his HCT debut! Cris is honored to drum along with the talented band of Hans Christian Andersen in New York! 

Production Team Biographies

Director

Dave Tinney

Dave Tinney

For Hale Centre Theatre, Dave has previously directed 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, Kelly, Lindsey, Jess, Jenn, La, Casey, Michelle O., Maddy, Danna, Candice, 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 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!                       

Music Director

Rob Moffat

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: 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.”

Production Stage Manager

Jess Edling 2020

Jess Edling

Jess is thrilled to be at the helm of the world premiere of Hans Christian Andersen in New York. 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 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 2-year-old Beau and wife to Brent, her husband of 16 years. Neither of this would be possible without their unwavering support and encouragement to continue chasing her dreams. 

Scenic Design

Jenn Taylor

Jenn Taylor

Jenn’s work was most recently seen as the Scenic Designer for See How They Run, The Light in the Piazza, One for the Pot, The Mousetrap, Bright Star, The Addams Family, Freaky Friday, and Steel Magnolias. Recent costume design credits for HCT: Singin’ in the Rain, Guys and Dolls, The Wizard of Oz, and AIDA. Other Scenic Designs for HCT include The Nerd, A Bundle of Trouble, Big River, Beau Jest, Over the River and Through the Woods, Is He Dead?, The Foreigner, The 39 Steps, and The Game’s Afoot

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

La Beene

La Beene

La has designed nearly 50 productions in the past 10 years for Theatre, Dance, and Opera across the West, including Salt Lake Acting Company, Sundance Summer Theatre, Plan B Theatre Co., Utah Festival Opera and Musical Theatre, Oregon Cabaret Theatre, UVU, and BYU. As the Commissioner for the Costume Design; Technology Commission for the United States Institute for Theatre Technology (USITT), she works to provide training and resources to professional and educational costume designers across the U.S. She has her MFA in Costume Design and currently works as an Associate Professor of Costume Design and Technology at Utah Valley University and Chair of the Theatre Department. 

Lighting Design

Casey Price is a Seattle based Designer/Electrician/Programmer whose work has been seen across the country at Village Theatre, Arts West, Seattle Rep, SCERA, Arizona Broadway Theatre, Mad Cow Theatre, The Rep (Orlando), Garden Theatre, Walt Disney World’s Magic Kingdom, and Cape Playhouse. He is thankful for the opportunities the Hale Centre Theatre has given him. He would like to say “thank you” to his partner, Brett, for always supporting him in the crazy times and to his family for always believing in his dreams. 

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 three different 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

Danna Barney

Danna Barney

Danna has worked at Hale Centre Theatre in various departments for 20 years. Much of that time was as Master Electrician, Lighting Design, and Lighting Department Head. She has created designs for The Nerd, Is He Dead?, AIDA, Freaky Friday, and Wait Until Dark. She recently ventured into prop desig, with notable maks work in The Three Musketeers and Disney’s Tarzan. She is excited to have Hans Christian Andersen in New York be her first solo venture as Props Designer. She would like to thank all of those who supported her and made this a possibility.

Hair & Make Up Design

Candice Cronin 2020

Candice Cronin

@candicecroninmakeup

Some of Candice’s favorite hair and makeup designs for HCT include: Steel Magnolias, Mary Poppins, Always...Patsy Cline, and Disney’s The Little Mermaid, as well as our recent Youth Productions of Frozen Jr and The Descendants. 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 an accomplished artist and associate Designer, Madeline’s work was recently seen in our productions of Guys and Dolls, Les Misérables, A Tale of Two Cities, Disney’s Tarzan, Murder on the Orient Express, Million Dollar Quartet, Baz Lurhman’s Strictly Ballroom The Musical, Bright Star, Seussical, Matilda, and Cinderella

Other scenic design credits include: Silent Sky, Daddy Long Legs, Murder on the Orient Express (HCT); Oklahoma! (Sundance); Distance of the Moon (Sackerson); and Let The Right One In, and Angels in America (An Other Theatre). Madeline earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Scenic Design from Utah Valley University. 

061022 RC Willey Utah Stage Arts
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