When I was 11 years old, I went through a bit of culture shock. I moved from Nashville, TN, to Sparta, NJ. I was a polite Southern boy thrown into the deep end of hard-nosed New England right at the beginning of junior high school. Needless to say, I was picked on, ridiculed, and outcast.

That year, Disney released its newest animated feature, The Hunchback of Notre Dame. Never had a story moved me so deeply or spoken to me when I needed it most. Very soon after, I took a trip to Disneyland, where they were performing a new stage adaptation of the show. I was mesmerized. Seeing that production was one of those pivotal moments that helped define my passion and love for theatre.

Since then, I waited with bated breath for Disney to release this show as a stage adaptation to the world, and when they did, the 11-year-old in me could not wait to be a part of telling this story. Although this version brings in some fascinating elements from Victor Hugo’s novel that the Disney film glosses over, its themes and messages still ring out powerfully—much like the Bells of Notre Dame themselves—thanks to the incredibly deep and moving music of Menken and Schwartz.

The layers of this piece are endless, from the study of human history, religious and Latin meaning, to Victor Hugo’s intent and literature, to the incredible melding of musical theatre and choral music that helps tell this story.

Victor Hugo’s original objective for this story was to draw people back to the wonderful legacy, history, and architecture of Paris. He noticed Notre-Dame de Paris falling into disrepair and saw that citizens were losing interest in and care for its great purpose as the heart of the city. Notre-Dame witnessed many moments of human conflict, often standing at the very center of them.

Our story begins in the aftermath of the great conflict that unfolded in 1482, stemming from racism, religious persecution, purism, mob mentality, and overall inhumane behavior. Since then, the cathedral has endured destruction through revolutions and world wars, including the recent fire in 2019. Yet humanity has continued to find sanctuary, faith, and hope within its walls—even in ruin—reminding us to believe in something greater than ourselves.

The lyric asks, “What makes a monster and what makes a man?” This is the question our beloved writers want us to ponder as we watch the events unfold for our leading characters. One of my favorite moments from the Disney film is at the end, when Quasimodo enters the square and society is hesitant and fearful to let him in. But one little girl leaves her nervous parent, walks up to Quasimodo, touches his deformed face, and holds him. To me, this is the answer to that question.

We see the parallel between how Quasimodo views the world—innocent and unmarred, full of light and goodness—versus how Frollo sees it: deformed, ugly, evil, and full of malicious intent. A perfect example of this contrast is the juxtaposition of Quasimodo’s “Heaven’s Light” and Frollo’s “Hellfire,” as both characters express their views on love.

Quasimodo sees the world much like a child. In my life as an educator and father, I am continually inspired by children and youth and their ability to teach me. Children don’t see ulterior motives tainted by years of disappointment or unmet expectations. They see the world as a wonder, full of people deserving of love and affection. Another lyric states, “I thought we all were the children of God.” Children. Brothers and sisters. Family.

In the end, we can answer the question “What makes a monster and what makes a man?” by choosing to see our fellow human beings not as “monsters,” or “deformities,”  but as a child would see them—as fellow children of God. Find the good.

That is my hope and prayer for this production: to remind us not to focus on faults, evil, or disappointment in the world and in others, but to see the light, search for joy, and find the good by doing good. I hope this story and its music can bring the same light into your life that it has brought into mine.

Thank you—and let’s make “Someday” come right now.

— David Paul Smith

The Language and Historical Context of The Hunchback of Notre Dame

The musical adaptation of The Hunchback of Notre Dame is inspired by the 1831 novel by Victor Hugo, who sought to illuminate the humanity of those pushed to society’s margins and to question the hierarchies of his time. Set in 15th-century Paris, the story reflects the prejudices and power structures woven into that era.

In this production, audiences will hear the term “gypsy,” historically used to describe the Romani people. Today, the word is widely recognized as a derogatory slur rooted in centuries of discrimination. We have chosen to retain the language of the script because it reflects historical realities essential to the story’s themes. The characters’ use of this word is not an endorsement of it; rather, it reveals the injustice and exclusion at the heart of the narrative.

Hugo’s work and this musical adaptation of it invite us to consider who is welcomed and who is pushed aside, and how language can both reflect and reinforce those divisions. By engaging honestly with the world of the past, even when it is uncomfortable, we hope to approach this story with care, empathy, and respect.

At Hale Centre Theatre, we believe that world-class storytelling has the power to enrich lives by deepening our understanding, broadening our perspectives, and cultivating compassion. It is our hope that this production honors the dignity of all people and invites thoughtful reflection beyond the stage.

Joshua is thrilled to be back on the HCT stage! His stage credits include: Little Women (Laurie Laurence), The Magician’s Elephant (Peter), Fiddler on the Roof (Fyedka), Newsies (Davey), Titanic The Musical, and Les Misérables with HCT; and Bright Star (Billy Cane), Tarzan, and Singin’ in the Rain with Playmill Theatre. “Hope is being able to see that there is light despite all of the darkness.” - Desmond Tutu

Making his HCT debut! Alex’s favorite credits include: The Hunchback of Notre Dame (Quasimodo) and Bright Star (Billy) at CenterPoint Theatre, as well as Dirty Rotten Scoundrels (Freddy Benson) and Fiddler on the Roof (Perchik) at Terrace Plaza Playhouse. Alex holds a Bachelor's in Applied Management from BYU Idaho and works as the Social Media Manager and Resident Video Designer for CenterPoint. “To Candra, Jean, and Peter...who fill our home with heaven's light. You are all my happy thoughts.”

Preston is thrilled to return to the Centre Stage! Notable performing credits include: Gaston (Disney’s Beauty and the Beast), Eric (Phantom), Phoebus and Claude Frollo U/S (The Hunchback of Notre Dame), Javert (Les Misérables ), Younger Brother (Ragtime), and Ramon (Zorro The Musical) with Hale Centre Theatre; Phantom (The Phantom of the Opera) and The Count/Edmund Dantes (The Count of Monte Cristo) at BYU; Sydney Carton (A Tale of Two Cities) with West Valley Arts; Petro (Kalyna The Musical) at The Eccles Theatre in SLC as well as Christmas and Redeemer Tours with Jenny Oaks Baker. Preston holds a Bachelor's in Music Dance Theatre from BYU and is the Owner of Yates Vocal Studio. “So grateful to My Wife, Megan, for all the support, I love you!” “Love being at Hale Centre Theatre, my Second home and Family!”

Josh is honored to return to the role of Claude Frollo in The Hunchback of Notre Dame! Other HCT roles include: A Christmas Carol (Marley/Undertaker), The Addams Family (Gomez Addams), Fiddler on the Roof (Tevye), Titanic The Musical (Captain Smith), The Little Mermaid (King Triton), Treasure Island (Long John Silver- 2009 & 2022), Guys & Dolls (Nathan Detroit), Les Misérables (Thenardier- 2014 & 2021), and many more. He studied acting & directing at SUU and works by day as an account manager for Holistic Web Presence. “Just be kind!” “All my love and thanks to Kristi, Spencer, William, Carter, Tristan, and Poppy!”

Glad to be back on the Center Stage! Some of Angel’s favorite performing credits include Sister Act and Titanic The Musical with Hale Centre Theatre; A Chorus Line with West Valley Arts; and A Tale of Two Cities at Peery’s Egyptian Theatre in Ogden. Angel is a proud alumnus of The American Academy of Dramatic Arts (AADA) in Los Angeles, California, and is a self-employed Jazz Vocalist. "Whether you think you can, or think you cannot, you are correct." Thanks for supporting Live Theatre!

Scotty is thrilled to be back on the HCT stage! They were recently seen in our production of Disney’s Beauty and the Beast. Other favorite credits include: The Nutty Professor, Hello, Dolly!, The Little Mermaid (Jetsam), The Light in the Piazza, and Treasure Island at HCT; Something Rotten! and An American in Paris with The Ruth; Batboy, Naked Mole Rat, and You Will Get Sick with Salt Lake Acting Company; In The Heights and West Side Story with West Valley Arts as well as performances with Lyric Repertory Company and Good Company Theatre. Scotty graduated from USU with a BFA in Acting.

Thrilled to be back on the Centre Stage! Some of Tanya’s favorite performing credits include: Finding Neverland and Freaky Friday: One Act Edition (Katherine Blake) with HCT; Something Rotten! with The Ruth; Footloose Jr. (Rusty) with HCTO; Shrek The Musical (Fiona) with SCERA’s Acting Up!; and The Hunchback of Notre Dame (Esmeralda) with Timpview High School. Tanya is currently a Sophomore in the BFA program at UVU. “Everything happens for a reason.” Tanya dedicates this performance to her family, the girls at 1416, and the neighborhood cats. 

Rebecca is excited to be reprising Esmeralda, which she played 7 years ago here on this same stage! She was most recently seen as Michelle in Sister Act. Her favorite credits include The Prince of Egypt (Tzipporah), Les Misérables (Eponine), The Addams Family (Wednesday), Bright Star (Edna/Lucy U/S), AIDA (Nehebka), Seven Brides for Seven Brothers (Ruth/Swing), and Matilda The Musical (Acrobat), with HCT; In the Heights (Vanessa) and South Pacific (Liat) with HCTO; and West Side Story (Shark Girl/Anita U/S) with West Valley Arts. She has a degree in Integrated Studies: Humanities/Art History from UVU and works part-time as a tattoo artist. “Thank you to my family, friends, and my husband for the continual support! I am me because of you!”

Dan is thrilled to be back on the Hale Centre Theatre stage! Favorite stage credits include: Footloose (Chuck Cranston) and A Christmas Carol (Topper/Octet) with HCT; Cinderella (Prince Topher) with The Ruth; My Fair Lady (Jaime) with HCTO; Newsies (Spot Conlon) with Sundance Summer Theatre; The Secret Garden (Dr. Craven) with BYU; and Les Misérables (Jean Valjean) with Timberline Arts. “I saw the 2018 production of Hunchback at this theater when I was a kid, and it changed the course of my life. Thank you to God and my Savior, the whole Hunchback/HCT family, momma and gramma, Korianne: the Best Voice Teacher in the Universe(TM), and everyone who played a part in me being here.” 

Honored to be, once more, on the HCT stage! Ethan’s favorite credits include: Frozen (Kristoff) and The Prince of Egypt (Moses) with HCT; The Principal Wife (Benjamin) with The Covey Center, and Fiddler on the Roof (Perchik) with SCERA Shell Outdoor Theatre. Ethan graduated from Salt Lake School for the Performing Arts and was the Jimmy Award winner for Best Actor in 2019. “Thanks to my wife and daughter for their love and sacrifice to allow me to do what I love! ‘Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, “Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?” And I said, “Here am I. Send me!” ‘ - Isaiah 6:8 

Thrilled to be back on the HCT stage! Nathan’s credits include: The Prince of Egypt (Hotep), and One For the Pot (Body Double) with HCT; Great Expectations (Joe Gargery/Mr. Jaggers) with BYU; Seussical The Musical (Mr. Mayor) and Once (Svec) with HCTO; Pump Boys and Dinettes (Jim) with Buffalo Theatre Company; and As You Like It (Orlando) with Grassroots Shakespeare Company. Playwriting credits include: Archipelago, True Bugs, Dead Air, and The Sunrise Hotel & Casino. He has studied Musical Theatre at SUU and is currently attending BYU to obtain a degree in Playwriting. He works as a writer and voice-over artist for BYU Broadcasting and is BYUradio’s Distribution Manager. 

Nathanael is pleased to be back on the Centre Stage. His favorite credits include: May We All, Titanic The Musical, Bright Start, The Addams Family, as well as several seasons of A Christmas Carol with Hale Centre Theatre. Nathanael has performed regularly with Frank Sinatra tribute concerts across the Salt Lake Valley since 2021. 

Thrilled to be back on the HCT stage! Some of Isabel’s favorite stage credits include: Sister Act and The Prince of Egypt with HCT; Newsies (Mush) with Sundance Summer Theatre; The Wild Party (Nadine/Dance Captain) with Hart Theater Co.; and Godspell (By My Side), Machinal, Gin Mummy, and The Wolves (#14) with UVU. Isabel earned her BFA in Musical Theater from UVU and teaches at Utah COPA (voice and choreography). “I would like to thank my family and friends for their love and support during these show processes! I love you all.” 

Ecstatic to be back on the HCT stage! Sophia’s favorite credits include: The Prince of Egypt (Yochaved) with HCT; Evita (Evita) with The Empress Theatre; The Hunchback of Notre Dame (Florika) and West Side Story (Anita) with West Valley Performing Arts; In the Heights (Vanessa) with The Grand Theatre; and Into the Woods (The Witch) with Hopebox Theatre. She graduated from NYU Tisch School of the Arts with a BFA in Musical Theatre and from NYU College of Arts and Sciences with a BS in Broadcast Journalism. "If you stay ready, you ain't gotta get ready" - Suga Free

Thrilled to be back on the HCT stage! Michael’s favorite credits include: Sister Act (Ernie), The Addams Family (Lurch), Newsies (Snyder), The Hunchback of Notre Dame, The Wizard of Oz, A Christmas Carol with Hale Centre Theatre, as well as Hello, Dolly! (Ambrose) with HCTO.

Thrilled to be back on the HCT stage! Some of Brandon’s favorite performing credits include: Finding Neverland (Mr. Turpin) with HCT; Savior of the World (Cleopas) at the Conference Center Theater in Salt Lake City, as well as Nauvoo Pageant and British Pageant as Joseph Smith and Hyrum Smith. Brandon graduated from BYU with a degree in Accounting and works as a voiceover artist, as well as a BYU Sports Emcee. “Loyal to Notre Dame on stage, but to my family everywhere else. Forever grateful to my parents, siblings, nieces, and to God. Love you all!”

Making his HCT debut! Bryan’s credits include: Oliver! (Bill Sykes), The Music Man, and A Christmas Carol with HCTO; Arsenic and Old Lace (Mortimer) with The Grand Theater; The Sound of Music with Sundance Summer Theatre; and Hello, Dolly! (Horace Vandergelder), The Wizard of Oz, and A Christmas Story (Old Man) with SCERA. When not on stage, Bryan is a financier and stay-at-home dad. “Thanks to the production team for this incredible opportunity and to Wendy, Jack, and Max, always my biggest fans. Love you all!”

Jared is thrilled to be back on the HCT stage! Some favorite credits include: Curtis (Sister Act), Jethro (The Prince of Egypt), Lazar Wolf (Fiddler on the Roof), King Triton (The Little Mermaid), Signor Naccarelli (The Light in the Piazza), Christmas Present (A Christmas Carol 2021, 2023, 2024, and 2025) and Bishop of Digne (Les Misérables) with Hale Centre Theatre; The Voice of Audrey II (Little Shop of Horrors), Professor Callahan (Legally Blonde), Doc (West Side Story) with West Valley Arts. 

Thrilled to be part of the company of The Hunchback of Notre Dame and singing songs from my favorite Disney film! Favorite credits include: Titanic The Musical (Wallace Hartley), Freaky Friday (Adam), and The Wizard of Oz with HCT; Little Shop of Horrors (Seymour) at West Valley Arts; Ragtime with The Ruth; Bright Star (Billy) at HCTO; Big River (Huck Finn) at the SCERA; and Sweeney Todd with UVU and Utah Rep. Zack is currently a student at UVU where he is studying Theatre Education. “Thank you to the cast, crew, and production team.”

Some of Zac’s favorite stage credits include: Finding Neverland (Mr. Turpin), May We All (Joe), Guys & Dolls (Big Jule), The Wizard of Oz (Uncle Henry), and The Pirate Queen (Sir Richard Bingham) with HCT; Shrek the Musical (Shrek) with Sandy City Arts; Disney’s Beauty and the Beast (Beast) for Cottonwood Heights; Something Rotten! (Nick Bottom), RENT (Roger), as well as appearing in a commercial for the Living Planet Aquarium. When not performing, Zac works at VASA as a NASM-certified Personal Trainer. “My love to my wife, three boys, and one girl.”

Making his HCT debut! Bennett’s favorite credits include Les Misérables (Jean Valjean) with Goshen Theater Project; Big Fish (Edward Bloom) with the 2018 Illinois All State Theater Production; The Hunchback of Notre Dame (Quasimodo) with OTHS Productions; and The Music Man (Ewart Dunlap) at the Gateway Center for Performing Arts. He was a soloist/tenor 2 with the 2024 ICCA Champions “Bloom a cappella” from UVU, where he is currently studying. “Every role is a discovery, both of the character and of myself.”

Christian’s favorite stage credits include: The Secret Garden, Bright Star, and The Music Man with HCT; Nightfall, The Hunchback of Notre Dame, and Jekyll & Hyde with West Valley Arts; Sunday in the Park with George, The Cripple of Inishmaan, and Where Words Once Were with Weber State University; Big River and Charlotte’s Web with with Lyric Rep. Co.; Sweeney Todd with The Grand; and A Gentleman’s Guide to Love and Murder, Holiday Inn, West Side Story, The Fantasticks, and White Christmas with Centerpoint Legacy Theatre. He holds a Bachelor's in Musical Theatre from Weber State University and a Master's in Public Administration from Strayer University. "Now and then it's good to pause in our pursuit of happiness and just be happy"-Guillaume Apollinaire.

Making his HCT debut! Sam’s favorite credits include: Alice by Heart at West Valley Arts; Something Rotten! with Music Theatre West; Anastasia with USU Opera theatre; and The Hunchback of Notre Dame at Ziegfeld Theatre. He studied vocal performance at Utah State University and works as a Band Instrument Repair Technician at Summerhays Music. “I’d love to thank my lovely wife, who is the most supportive and wonderful person I know. She brings so much light and love into my life that it makes it wonderful to continue striving for the things I love doing! I love you so much!”

Bryan is excited to be back on the HCT Stage after previously playing in our recent productions of May We All, School of Rock, A Christmas Carol 2021 - 2025, and The Scarlet Pimpernel. Other performing credits include: Sleepy Hollow (Balthus) with West Valley Arts; Disney’s Beauty and the Beast (Beast) with Timpanogos Arts; The Wizard of Oz (Tin Man) and The Drowsy Chaperone (Robert Martin) with SCERA and Lehi Arts; Pride and Prejudice (Charles Bingley) with Creekside Theatre Fest; and A Christmas Carol - A One Man Show with The Covey. Bryan graduated from BYU with a degree in mechanical engineering and works as a Software Developer at Ancestry for their DNA team. “All my love to Shay and the kiddos! I couldn't do this without you!”

Jordon is thrilled to be back on the HCT stage! Favorite credits include: The Magician’s Elephant with HCT; Sleepy Hollow (Brom) with West Valley Arts; Joseph…Dreamcoat (Pharaoh) with CenterPoint Legacy Theater; The Barber of Seville (Figaro) with Lyrical Opera Theatre; and Thaïs and The Revolution of Steve Jobs with Utah Opera. Jordon holds a Bachelor's Degree of Music in Vocal Performance from Utah State University and works for Garrett Parks + Play. “When the world is cruel, the only answer is kindness.”

Benjamin is thrilled to be back on the HCT stage! Other notable performing credits include: Sister Act, The Prince of Egypt, and The Addams Family with Hale Centre Theatre; Disney’s Beauty and the Beast with Grand Performing Arts; Mary Poppins with Royal Theatre Academy; and Newsies with Draper Historic Theatre. “Shoot for the Moon. Even if you miss, you'll land among the stars“ - Norman Vincent Peale.

Ben is ecstatic to be back on the Centre Stage! Some of his favorite performing credits include: Footloose, The Magician's Elephant, Tuck Everlasting, A Christmas Carol, and The Heart of Robin Hood with Hale Centre Theatre; Catch Me If You Can with Bingham High School; and Les Misérables with Kensington Theater Company. Benjamin is currently a Senior at UVU studying in the Personal Financial Planning Program and works as an Independent Life & Disability insurance agent. Isaiah 41:10

Making his HCT debut! Tanner’s favorite acting roles include: Jekyll & Hyde (Jekyll & Hyde), Jack Kelly (Newsies), Miles Tuck (Tuck Everlasting), and Edward Bloom (Big Fish). His Music Director credits include: Guys & Dolls, Anastasia, Once Upon a Mattress, Little Women, Freaky Friday, and Mean Girls Jr. Tanner holds a Bachelor's of Science in History and Social Studies Education from Utah Valley University, and when not on stage, Tanner is a voice teacher, author, podcaster, book collector, and mediocre cook. “Love to my family, my close friends, God, and my students for putting up with my schedule!”

Making her HCT debut! Melissa’s favorite credits include: Thoroughly Modern Millie (Miss Flannery) and Joseph…Dreamcoat with HCTO; Shrek the Musical (Mama Shrek) with Regalo Theater Co.; and numerous shows with SCERA. When not on stage, she is the Assistant Musical Theatre teacher at Viewpoint Jr High. “I’ve choreographed and directed theater and dance for adults and children of all ages for over 25 years. It brings me so much joy! I’m so excited to get back on the stage. The rest of the time I’m with my wonderful family and at Disney.”

Jen is thrilled to be on the HCT stage once again! Performing credits include: Sister Act, Little Women, and Fiddler on the Roof with Hale Centre Theatre; The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, Crazy For You, and Big Fish with Sandy Arts; The Drowsy Chaperone, Seussical The Musical, The Crucible, Princess Academy, and Tarzan with Kensington Theatre; Last Lists of My Mad Mother at The University of Utah; and Freaky Friday with The Empress Theatre. “I am so grateful for the support of my family!”

Making her HCT debut! Yasamin’s favorite credits include: Spring Awakening (Anna) with Hart Theater Company; We are the Tigers (Eva) with Mad Kings Productions, as well as Assistant Director of Alice by Heart at West Valley Arts. She is a recent graduate with a degree in Criminology and minors in Theatre and Psychology. “Stories are equipment for living.” — Kenneth Burke 

Making her HCT debut! Angela’s favorite credits include: Les Noces and Symphony of Psalms at Ballet West; Joseph…Dreamcoat at CenterPoint; and The Sound of Music, La Traviata, and more at UFOMT. Angela holds a Bachelor of Music in Vocal Performance from USU and a Master of Music in Vocal Performance from BYU. She works as a Playground Designer and is a Mom of 3 kids. “Happy to be here with my husband, Jordon.”

Making her HCT debut! Isabella’s favorite appearances include: “The Rehearsal” on HBO, “Jimmy Kimmel Live!”, Sy Snooties, and “A Star Wars Live Reading” by Dynasty Typewriter. She is currently a Senior at Utah Valley University, where she is studying for her BFA with an emphasis in Musical Theater. “Hard work beats talent when talent doesn’t work hard.”

Making her HCT debut! Ella’s favorite roles include: Fiona in Shrek the Musical with Sandy Arts Guild and Miss Honey in Matilda The Musical at Draper Historic Theatre. She is a graduate of Salt Lake School for the Performing Arts, and when not on stage, works as a receptionist for Utah Valley Dermatology. “I am so stoked to be a part of this production! I’d like to give a special thanks to my family for all of their support.”

Making her HCT debut! Brooklyn’s favorite roles include: Silent Sky (Henrietta Leavitt) at UVU; Newsies (Hannah) with Sundance Summer Theatre; and Jersey Boys (Mary Delgado) at The Ruth. She has her BFA in Musical Theatre from UVU. "I would rather die of passion than boredom." - Van Gogh.

Making her HCT debut! Sydney’s favorite roles include: Daddy Long Legs (Jerusha) with CenterPoint; Little Women (Jo March) with Empress Theatre and OPPA; The Little Mermaid (Ariel) with Terrace Plaza Playhouse; and Grease (Sandy), Disney’s Beauty and the Beast (Belle), and Chitty Chitty Bang Bang (Boris) with Ziegfeld Theater. When not on stage, she works as the Marketing Director and Production Manager for the Ziegfeld Theater in Ogden. “Many thanks to my friends, family, and of course, Alma for their endless love and support.”

Some of Carolina’s favorite credits include: Finding Neverland - HCT; Fiddler on the Roof and The Wizard of Oz with AD Players; Esther with The George Theater; and Torera with The Alley Theatre. “I, a devout Catholic, am here today performing in a troubling, beautiful story inspired by true events, hoping to be a faithful representative of his word.” ‘We cannot fail to recognize the infidelities to the Gospel committed by some of our brethren. Let us ask pardon for the past and present sins of the Body’s sons and daughters, the violence some have used in the service of the truth, and for the distrustful and hostile attitudes sometimes taken towards the followers of other religions.’ - Saint John Paul II

Thrilled to be back on the HCT stage! Nikole’s credits include: The Prince of Egypt with HCT; As You Like it with Creekside Theater; Spamalot with SCERA; and The Hunchback of Notre Dame with Lehi Arts Council. Nikole has her Bachelor of Science from UVU and works full-time as a mother and actor. “Thankful to my friends and family for supporting my passion.”

Making her HCT debut! Ariel’s favorite credits include: Lion King Jr. (Rafiki) and Frozen Jr. (Bulda). She loves her pets —a ferret, a sugar glider, and a leopard gecko —and is passionate about singing and playing the piano. Ariel also pursues art, creating art in all mediums, swimming, and vacationing with her family. She loves the outdoors, and the mountains are her happy place.

Making her HCT debut! Lydia’s favorite credits include: Matilda the Musical and Disney’s Beauty and the Beast at Draper Historic Theatre; Annie with J.E. Cosgriff; and Tender Hooks with Pygmalion Theatre. She also loved performing with the Salt Lake Children’s Choir for the last two years. When not on stage, Lydia enjoys listening to Noah Kahn and Laufey, playing lacrosse, and walking her dog, Benny. She would like to thank her moms, sister, and voice teacher, Jin-Xiang Yu.

Jared is thrilled to be a part of The Hunchback of Notre Dame once again after playing Saint Aphrodisius in HCT’s 2018 production. Other recent credits include: Fiddler on the Roof, Titanic The Musical (Benjamin Guggenheim), and Phantom (Minister of Culture) with HCT, as well as The Hunchback of Notre Dame (Frederic Charlus) and Disney’s Beauty and the Beast with West Valley Arts. Music directing credits include: Crazy For You, Little Women, and Annie. Jared has a degree in Music Therapy from USU with a minor in Psychology and is a board-certified music therapist working in mental health settings throughout Salt Lake and Utah Counties.

Thrilled to be back on the HCT stage! Conner’s credits include Prince of Egypt with HCT; Catch Me If You Can with Centerpointe Legacy Theatre; Svetlana (Stalin) with Wasatch Theatre Company; Hamlet, A Christmas Story: The Musical, and Spongebob: The Musical - Stansbury High School; Newsies, The Wedding Singer, and Legally Blonde with The Empress Theatre; and Cabaret, The Prom, and Julius Caesar, and 219, his first written and produced show, with SUU. He is currently a Junior at SUU working towards a BS in Theatre Education. This performance is dedicated to my beautiful mother, close family, and friends. "Soooo....LET'S DO THIS THING!" - Ratatouille

Thrilled to be back on the HCT stage! Cameron’s favorite credits include: Elf The Musical at HCT; The Hunchback of Notre Dame, Legally Blonde, and A Tale of Two Cities with West Valley Arts; and Spring Awakening with Hart Theatre Company. He graduated from BYU with a BFA in Music Dance Theatre and works with Bridge Investment Group. "Sick of tea? That's like being sick of breathing!"

Ashley is excited to be a part of this gorgeous show again! Favorite stage credits include: Disney’s Beauty and the Beast (Madame de le Grande Bouche), The Light in the Piazza, Newsies 2018, and The Hunchback of Notre Dame with Hale Centre Theatre; Bright Star (Alice Murphy) with Sandy Arts Guild; Romeo et Juliette, Magic Flute, Helene, and Suor Angelica with UVU Opera; and Disney’s Beauty and the Beast with Sandy Amphitheatre. Ashley graduated from Utah Valley University with a degree in Vocal Performance. “I am ecstatic to be a part of this beautiful show and want to thank my family for cheering me on.”

MaKenna’s favorite HCT credits include: Sister Act (Sister Mary Martin-of-Tours), Elf The Musical, Titanic The Musical (Kate Murphy), The Unsinkable Molly Brown (Julia), The Light in the Piazza, A Tale of Two Cities, Bright Star (Florence), The Addams Family (Wednesday Addams), Matilda The Musical, and The Hunchback of Notre Dame. By day, MaKenna works as a Phlebotomist. By night, she continues to be haunted by the spirits of the dead. “Enjoy the show! Or don’t.” 

Emily’s favorite credits include: May We All, Elf The Musical, Newsies, and Singin’ in the Rain with HCT; Cinderella and Something Rotten! with The Ruth; and My Fair Lady, Bright Star, Matilda The Musical, and Sister Act with HCTO. She studied Elementary Education at BYU and works as a dance instructor for Utah Dance Artists and The Hive Dance Company. She is also a choreographer with Riverton High School, American Fork High School, and SCERA Center for the Arts. "Big thanks to my amazing husband Spencer for always helping me do what I love!"

Making her HCT debut! Sidney’s credits include: Catch Me If You Can (Ensemble) and A Christmas Carol (Sally Anderson) with CenterPoint; Fiddler on the Roof (Tzeitel), White Christmas (Judy Haynes), and West Side Story (Teresita) with Hopebox Theatre; and Disney’s Beauty and the Beast (The Rose) with Cottonwood Heights Arts Council. She graduated from UVU with a BFA in Dance, emphasizing ballet, and works as a dance teacher at Expressions Dance in Bountiful. “I'm thrilled to be part of telling such a timeless and powerful story.”

Director of Education and Resident Director at Hale Centre Theatre. His most recent directing credits with HCT include: Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, The Wizard of Oz, Little Women, Freaky Friday, May We All, The Sound of Music, Newsies, Mary Poppins, Disney’s Descendants, School of Rock, and My Son Pinocchio. He most recently appeared on stage at HCT as Charles Frohman/Captain Hook in Finding Neverland, Lumiere in Disney’s Beauty and the Beast, Buddy the Elf in Elf the Musical, Don Lockwood in Singin' in the Rain, Jervis Pendleton in Daddy Long Legs, and Jerry Lee Lewis in Million Dollar Quartet. David also writes music for film and theater including the animated films The Swan Princess: A Fairytale is Born and The Swan Princess: Far Longer Than Forever, The Sorcerer’s Apprentice, The Three Little Pigs, The Untold Story of the Tortoise and the Hare, The Emperor’s New Clothes, Peter Pan’s Great Adventure, Alice in Wonderland, Little Red, The Velveteen Rabbit, A Christmas Carol (HCTO), and a new full-length musical called Blink. He also writes the original productions performed by HCT’s Story Weavers. Thanks to the loving support of his wife and kids.

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, touring over 50 cities and kicking at Radio City Music Hall. At Walt Disney World, she was a choreographer and teaching artist for Disney Performing Arts. She performed in ‘Beauty and the Beast Live On Stage’ and the Halloween show ‘Hocus Pocus Villain Spelltacular’. Lindsey likes to keep busy between choreographing, teaching, and performing. She is HCT’s Resident Dance and Movement Specialist. HCT credits include: Sister Act, Finding Neverland, The Prince of Egypt, The Addams Family, Fiddler on the Roof, Elf the Musical, Around the World in 80 Days, Hans Christian Andersen in New York, 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), the Orlando Fringe Festival, and Disney Event Group.

Alex Marshall, M.M. Instrumental Conducting, B.M. Piano Performance, is a highly regarded music director and performer with decades of experience. From 2007 to 2025, Alex served as the Music Director for the University of Utah Department of Theatre, where he contributed significantly to establishment and development. He is an active member of the professional music community in Utah, regularly performing with prestigious institutions such as the Utah Symphony, Pioneer Theatre Company, and Hale Centre Theatre, among others. Alex's international performance experience spans France, the United Kingdom, Taiwan, and New York, including multiple engagements at Carnegie Hall. His recording credits include The French Masters (2025), Passion of the Soul (2023), and David Park Plays Fritz Kreisler (2020), all released under Centaur Records. Recent stage credits include: Footloose (Hale Centre Theatre) Bat Boy: The Musical (Salt Lake Acting Company), Souvenir (Pioneer Theatre Company), Spring Awakening (University of Utah), and the U.S. premiere of The Magician’s Elephant (Hale Centre Theatre). In addition to his performing and conducting work, Alex is honored to serve on the Board of Trustees for Hale Centre Theatre. Alex expresses deep gratitude for the unwavering support of his family: Jackie, Kimi, Henry, and Penny.

Ellen is in her first season with Hale Centre Theatre. She has Stage Managed Previously for Childsplay (Thomas and the Library Lady National Tour, The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane, SchoolHouse Rock Live!, Super Cowgirl and Mighty Miracle, Girls Who Wear Glasses), Arizona Broadway Theatre (The King and I), PCPA (Million Dollar Quartet, Fiddler on the Roof, Spamalot), and the Disneyland Resort (Frozen: Live at the Hyperion, Fantasmic!, Mad T Party, Frozen Sing-A-Long Celebration, Mickey’s Halloween Party, Thor and Loki: Heroic Encounter, and many more!), and many corporate shows and events including Virgin Galactic’s Unity 22 Space launch. She is so thankful to her family, her daughter Eloise, and her husband Bryan, for their unending support.

Nate Bertone is a NYC-based theatrical storyteller who has worked internationally as a director, designer, playwright, and producer. Nate recently made his West End debut designing Christina Aguilera's new musical, Burlesque. His work has been seen at Lincoln Center, Disney's D23 Expo, Google, the Sydney Coliseum, and regional theaters across the country. At Hale Centre Theatre, his design work was recently seen in Disney’s Beauty and the Beast, The Prince of Egypt, and Finding Neverland, Sister Act, and will be featured in our upcoming productions of The Hunchback of Notre Dame, My Fair Lady, Joseph…Dreamcoat, and Anastasia.  As the Associate to 2-time Tony Award-Winning Designer Beowulf Boritt: Be More Chill (West End/Japan), Crazy for You (LCT), Superhero (2ST). Assistant to: Harmony, New York, New York, Freestyle Love Supreme, A Bronx Tale (Broadway). Recently, he co-produced the new musical How to Dance in Ohio on Broadway, Your Lie in April on the West End, and Co-Produced/Directed/Designed the Australian tour and London Production of Alice in Wonderland. His plays Letters From War and The SeaView Nursing Home for the Newly Deceased are currently in development. Nate's children's book “Nana Nana” was published in September 2024 and was created in benefit of Seth Rogen and Lauren Miller Rogen's Hilarity for Charity and The Alzheimer's Association. He is a proud member of the Dramatists Guild and USA829. The Gersh Agency represents Nate. Carnegie Mellon University Alumnus. Dean's Scholar of Central Saint Martins, London.

Dennis Wright is happy to return to Hale Centre Theatre after designing costumes for Fiddler on the Roof, Catch Me If You Can, Titanic: The Musical, and Lucky Stiff. Dennis holds a Bachelor of Science degree from Brigham Young University in Clothing & Textiles with a minor in Theatre Arts. He also holds a Master of Fine Arts degree from Boston University in Theatrical Costume Design. He is an Associate Professor in the Theatre & Media Arts Department at BYU and the Artistic Director of BYU Theatre. Dennis spent 10 years as a Costumer, Costume Designer, and Project Manager with Walt Disney World in Orlando, Florida. While there, he designed character costumes, attraction uniforms, and contributed to multiple live-stage productions. Dennis has designed costumes for productions at BYU, Jackson Hole Playhouse, The Scera Shell, American Repertory Theatre, The Barn Theater, Signature Productions of Las Vegas, HCTO, and The Ruth. He was recently awarded Best Costume Design 2025 from The Costume Society of America for his work on House of Desires at BYU.

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: Disney’s Beauty and the Beast, The Magician's Elephant, May we All, Fiddle on the Roof, Clue On Stage, Elf The Musical, Around the World in 80 Days, Newsies, 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.

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 many local performances in multiple states. Michelle loves theater and being able to use sound to help tell the story. She currently serves as one of the Sound Commissioners 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!”            

Danna has worked at Hale Centre Theatre in various departments for over 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. Danna is now the head of the Properties Department for Hale Centre Theatre and has provided the prop design for Twelve Angry Men, Little Women, Disney’s Beauty and The Beast, The Magician's Elephant, The Addams Family, The Nutty Professor, The Time Machine, Clue On Stage, Catch Me If You Can, and Hans Christian Andersen in New York as well as contributing to our production of The Three Musketeers and Tarzan. "Thank you to my wonderful team who help make such amazing things. It's so fun to create with you!" 

Krissa has been with HCT for over 10 years and is excited to be part of the production team on Little Women. Some of her favorite hair and makeup designs at HCT include Titanic The Musical, Lucky Stiff, Treasure Island (2022), Bright Star, Seussical, AIDA, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang (2013 and 2021), She Loves Me, and Peter and the Starcatcher. Krissa holds an MFA in Wig and Make-up Design from the University of Cincinnati CCM, a BFA in Theater Tech/Design from Millikin University, and is also a licensed cosmetologist in the state of Utah. Krissa has previously worked for Utah Shakespeare Festival, Sarasota Opera, Chicago Opera Theater, and Utah Opera. “I am so grateful to be part of the dream team in the wig shop. Thanks to HCT for allowing me to do what I love. Enjoy the show!!

As Projections Designer, Madeline’s work was recently seen in productions of Footloose, Little Women, The Addams Family, A Christmas Carol, Fiddler on the Roof, Light in the Piazza, Silent Sky, Daddy Long Legs, and more at HCT. She has also been able to design Scenery for HCT for Fiddler on the Roof, Silent Sky, Daddy Long Legs, Murder on the Orient Express, as well as Oklahoma! (Sundance Summer Theatre); Fire! and Singing to the Brine Shrimp (Plan B Theatre). Madeline earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Scenic Design from Utah Valley University. 

Nick serves as Hale Centre Theatre's Head of Automation, where he oversees the design and programming of the theatre’s automated stage and flying systems. Passionate about blending engineering with storytelling, he collaborates with directors, designers, and technicians to transform creative ideas into seamless, dynamic stage experiences. Nick previously spent several years with Disney Live Entertainment as a Senior Show Control Designer, developing & programming complex control systems for large-scale productions and nighttime spectaculars. His work also includes collaboration with Walt Disney Imagineering on major themed attractions, helping deliver immersive entertainment experiences enjoyed by audiences around the world.