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CHAD BAVIS (Prince Eric) is in 12th grade at North Harford High School. This is Chad’s 16th show with Starlight Theatricals having previously been in Footloose as Travis, Annie Get Your Gun as Foster Wilson, The Play That Goes Wrong as Perkins, the Butler, Jekyll and Hyde as Lord Savage, Young Frankenstein as the Hermit, Mary Poppins as Robertson Ay, And Then There Were None as Thomas Rogers, Titanic as both Harold Bride and John Thayer, Les Miserables School Edition as both the Bishop and Feuilly, Grease as Sonny, Quiet Summer as James Clark, The Addams Family as Gomez Addams, Joseph and The Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat as Levi, and Into the Woods as Cinderella’s Prince. He was also a high school mentor for Cinderella Youth Edition. In addition to the shows at Starlight Theatricals, Chad has performed in Into the Woods Jr. at North Harford Middle School, Footloose, Legally Blonde, Addicted, Red vs the Wolf, and Little Shop of Horrors at North Harford High School, Carrie and Ride the Cyclone with Streetlamp Productions, and Beauty and the Beast with Theatreworks Live. Thank you to my parents for always supporting my love for acting.

 

BRUCE BAYNE (Jetsam) is in 7th grade at North Harford Middle School. This is Bruce’s 2nd show with Starlight Theatricals having previously been in Descendants The Musical as Chad. Thank you to everyone for being so welcoming.

 

MARY KATE BOWDEN (Sebastian) is in 11th grade at Bel Air High School. This is Mary Kate’s 27th show with Starlight Theatricals having previously been in Beauty and the Beast Jr. as Lefou, The Lion King Jr. as Zazu, Rock of Ages Youth Edition as Sherrie, Annie Get Your Gun as an ensemble member, Aladdin Jr. as Isir, Young Frankenstein as an ensemble member, The Music Man Jr. as Zaneeta, Sister Act Jr. as Mother Superior, Mary Poppins as Miss Lark, And Then There Were None as Ethel Rogers, Titanic as Caroline Neville, Les Miserables School Edition as Eponine, Grease as an ensemble member, Quiet Summer as Harriet Morgan, Chicago Teen Edition as Mona, The Addams Family as Wednesday, Joseph and The Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat as the Narrator, and Into the Woods as Cinderella. She was also a high school mentor for Cinderella Youth Edition, Xanadu Jr., Frozen Jr., Finding Nemo Kids, Aladdin Kids, The Wizard of Oz Youth Edition, Matilda Jr, and Descendants The Musical. Elsewhere, she played The Mad Hatter in Alice in Wonderland and Vivienne in Legally Blonde at Bel Air High School, and Madame de la Grande Bouche in Beauty and the Beast and Urleen in Footloose with Theatreworks Live. Thank you to my mom and dad for always supporting me in everything I do.

 

CARLEE BURCHAM (First Mate) is in 7th grade at North Harford Middle School. This is Carlee’s 7th show with Starlight Theatricals having previously been in Cinderella Youth Edition as the dessert chef, Frozen Jr. as the Bishop, Beetlejuice Jr. as an ensemble member, Matilda Jr. as Nigel, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat as a member of the children’s choir, and Descendants The Musical as the royal page. With the Abingdon Community Theatre, she played the mayor in Rock of Ages Youth Edition. Thank you to my family and friends who come out and support all of my shows.

 

CAMRYN CRISWELL (Ariel) is in 10th grade at Patterson Mill High School. This is Camryn’s 6th show with Starlight Theatricals having previously been in Xanadu Jr. as both a muse and Aphrodite, Chicago Teen Edition as Hunyak, The Addams Family as an ancestor, Joseph and The Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat as both Asher and the Butler, and Into the Woods as Rapunzel. Other shows she has performed in include Moana Jr. as Ancestor 3, High School Musical Jr. as an ensemble member, Frozen Jr. as Bulda, and Shrek Jr. as both the witch and a dead knight. Thank you to my amazing and talented cast and crew mates, my incredible directors, and my wonderful family and friends for always supporting me.

 

ZOE DIAZ (Atina) is in 9th grade at Perry Hall Christian School. This is Zoe’s 1st production with Starlight Theatricals. At Perry Hall Christian School, she played Sister Berthe in The Sound of Music. Thank you to my director at Perry Hall Christian School, Mrs. Pierce, for giving me my first role. Thank you to my mom and dad for always encouraging me to step out of my comfort zone and sacrificing their time and money to support me. Thank you to God for giving me the confidence and opportunities I have to follow my dreams.

 

CAROLINA GALLIHER (Andrina) is in 8th grade at Fallston Middle School. This is Carolina’s 6th  show with Starlight Theatricals having previously been in Beetlejuice Jr. as an ensemble member, The Wizard of Oz Youth Edition as a tech crew member, Matilda Jr. as Sergei, and Descendants The Musical as Fairy Godmother. She was also a middle school mentor for 101 Dalmatians Kids. With Harford Music and Arts, she played the butler in Frozen Jr., Andy Hosten in Camp Rock, and the cook in Matilda Jr. She was also on the tech crew for Annie Jr. at Fallston Middle School. Thank you to my mom and dad for being supportive and always coming to my shows. Thank you to Ms. Nancy for driving me to practice. Thank you to my friends at Starlight for being supportive and friendly.

 

LILY GEHRING (Leeward) is in 10th grade at North Harford High School. This is Lily’s 4th show with Starlight Theatricals having previously been in The Addams Family, Joseph and The Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, and Into the Woods as a tech member. At North Harford High School, she was on the light crew for The Brothers Grimm Spectaculathon, The Fairy Tale Courtroom, and Little Shop of Horrors. Thank you to Mr. Ben and Mr. Chuck for the opportunity to be on the other side of this performance. Thank you to my supportive family and boyfriend.

 

LUKE GEHRING (King Triton) is in 10th grade at North Harford High School. This is Luke’s 4th show with Starlight Theatricals having previously been in The Addams Family as an ancestor, Joseph and The Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat as Napthali, and Into the Woods as the Narrator. At North Harford High School, he was on the stage crew for The Brothers Grimm Spectaculathon and in the ensemble for Little Shop of Horrors. Thank you to my family and friends for supporting me in my journey in the world of theatre. It has been so much fun and I am grateful for the opportunities I have received. Thank you to Mr. Ben and Mr. Chuck for this wonderful place that you have allowed me to be a part of.

 

SARA HANDLEY (Chief Officer/Aquata) is in 7th grade at Harford Day School. This is Sara’s 6th show with Starlight Theatricals having previously been in Beetlejuice Jr. as Juno, The Wizard of Oz Youth Edition as the Cowardly Lion, Matilda Jr. as Agatha Trunchbull, and Descendants The Musical as Queen Belle. She was also a middle school mentor for 101 Dalmatians Kids. Other shows she has performed in include Willy Wonka Jr. as Mrs. Gloop with Tidewater Players Jr., Elf as Mr. Greenway with Harford Music and Arts, Newsies Jr. as Wiesel with Theatreworks Live, and Frozen Jr. as Sven with Harford Music and Arts. Thank you to Mr. Chuck, Mr. Ben, Ms. Suzanne, Ms. Jasmine, Señora, Ms. Holly, and the entire production team of Starlight Theatricals for believing in me and creating a theatre space that truly feels like home. Thank you to Jennifer Biglen for supporting and guiding me throughout my vocal journey, and to Andrea Sarsfield and Rebecca Poole for always believing in me and supporting me in my school productions.

 

DAKOTA HELWIG (Allana) is in 9th grade at Kennard-Dale High School. This is Dakota’s 7th show with Starlight Theatricals having previously been in The Music Man Jr. as a townsperson, Cinderella Youth Edition as the Staring Maiden, Chicago Teen Edition as an ensemble member, Beetlejuice Jr. as the priest, The Wizard of Oz Youth Edition as Glinda, and Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat as Benjamin. With Southeastern Intermediate School, Dakota played Anna in Frozen Jr., Shenzi in The Lion King Jr., the narrator in The Entire American Revolution in 40 Minutes for Less, and Cinderella in Into the Woods. With Kennard Dale High School, she played Young Sophie in Mamma Mia, Mildred Simmons in Decision Heights, and Young Elsa in Frozen. Thank you to my family and friends who always support me and run me to my rehearsals.

 

COOPER HOAGLAND (Scuttle) is in 9th grade at C. Milton Wright High School. This is Cooper’s 15th show with Starlight Theatricals having previously been in Beauty and the Beast Jr. as Gaston, The Lion King Jr. as an ensemble member, Rock of Ages Youth Edition as Stacee Jaxx, Aladdin Jr. as Babkak, The Music Man Jr. as Tommy Djilas, Sister Act Jr. as Monsignor O’Hara, Titanic as William Murdoch, Xanadu Jr. as Danny Maguire, Les Miserables School Edition as Courfeyrac, Frozen Jr. as Prince Hans, Grease School Edition as Vince Fontaine, Beetlejuice Jr. as Beetlejuice, The Addams Family as Lucas, and Into the Woods as Rapunzel’s prince. With Abingdon Community Theatre, Cooper played Charlie in Willy Wonka Kids, Sven in Frozen Jr., Chief Tui in Moana Jr., and Eric in Matilda Jr. Thank you to the directors for believing in me over the years, to the staff for training me, and to all my friends in the cast and crew for all the fun. Thank you to my family for supporting me.

 

BRENNA HOVATTER (Flounder) is in 9th grade at C. Milton Wright High School. This is Brenna’s 8th show with Starlight Theatricals having previously been in The Music Man Jr. as a townsperson, Sister Act Jr. as Michelle and a nun, Cinderella Youth Edition as Joy, Xanadu Jr. as Terpsichore, Frozen Jr. as Anna, Beetlejuice Jr. as Deliah, and The Wizard of Oz Youth Edition as Aunt Em. At Southampton Middle School, she played Susan in High School Musical Jr., and at Honeygo Elementary School, she was in the ensemble for Annie Jr. Thank you to my mom for supporting me and being there for me throughout my theatre journey. Thank you to my best friend and my rock, Jenna. I could not have done it without you, J. I love you always.

 

MOLLY HUDSON (Tech Crew) is in 11th grade at Havre de Grace High School. This is Molly’s 13th show with Starlight Theatricals having previously been on the tech crew for Aladdin Jr., The Music Man Jr. Young Frankenstein, Mary Poppins, And Then There Were None, Titanic, Les Miserables School Edition, Grease, Quiet Summer, Chicago Teen Edition, Joseph and The Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, and Into the Woods. At Trinity Lutheran Christian School, she was on the tech crew for High School Musical Jr. Thank you to my mom and family for driving me and to my friends for supporting me.

 

TANNER HYATT (Tech Crew) is in 9th grade at North Harford High School. This is Tanner’s 4th show with Starlight Theatricals having previously been on the tech crew for Beetlejuice Jr. and Into the Woods and playing an ancestor in The Addams Family. At North Harford High School, Tanner was on the tech crew for Between the Lines. Thank you to Ant for introducing me to Starlight and my mom for paying.

 

MADISON INCHES (Adella) is in 8th grade at Perry Hall Christian School. This is Madison’s 16th show with Starlight Theatricals having previously been in Beauty and the Beast Jr. as a Silly Girl, both The Lion King Jr. and Aladdin Jr. as a member of the tech crew, both Rock of Ages Youth Edition and Annie Get Your Gun as an ensemble member, The Music Man Jr. as Mrs. Squires, Sister Act Jr. as Ernie and an altar boy, Cinderella Youth Edition as Queen Constantina, Xanadu Jr. as a siren, Frozen Jr. as Pabbie, Beetlejuice Jr. as the Cigar Mobster, The Wizard of Oz Youth Edition as the Wizard, Matilda Jr. as Mrs. Phelps, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat as an ensemble member, and Descendants The Musical as Cruella de Vil. Elsewhere, she was an ensemble member in Legally Blonde Jr. and Mean Girls Jr. with Abingdon Community Theatre, an ensemble member in SpongeBob SquarePants with Tidewater Players, and an ensemble member in Newsies, Karen in SpongeBob SquarePants, an ancestor in The Addams Family, and Whitney in Legally Blonde with Streetlamp Productions. Thank you to the directors, my family, my friends, and my castmates for everything you do.

 

BETHANY JAMES (Ursula) is in 10th grade at Patterson Mill High School. This is Bethany’s 14th show with Starlight Theatricals having previously been in The Music Man Jr. as a townsperson, Sister Act Jr. as Sister Mary Celeste, Cinderella Youth Edition as a maiden, Xanadu Jr. as Calliope, Les Miserables School Edition as an ensemble member, Grease as Frenchy, Quiet Summer as Pamela Young, Chicago Teen Edition as Annie, The Addams Family as an ancestor, Joseph and The Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat as the Narrator, and Into the Woods as Florinda. She was also a high school mentor for Aladdin Kids and Descendants The Musical. With the Abingdon Community Theatre, she played Ms. Norbury in Mean Girls Jr., Rafiki in The Lion King Jr., Kassim in Aladdin Jr., Pilar in Legally Blonde Jr., Pua in Moana Jr., Violet in Willy Wonka Kids, and the Narrator in Into the Woods Jr. She was part of the Oaken family in Frozen Jr. and was the Big Bad Wolf in Shrek Jr. at Patterson Mill Middle School. She played Jane Harden in Radium Girls and Prentiss in Peter and the Starcatcher at Patterson Mill High School. Thank you to my friends, parents, and directors for all the support and the opportunity to perform in this amazing show! Break legs and thanks for everything; much love!!

 

ARYN KOPPENHOEFER (Sea Creature) is in 12th grade attending the Community College of Baltimore County. This is Aryn’s 13th show with Starlight Theatricals having previously been in Footloose, Annie Get Your Gun, Les Miserables School Edition, Grease, and Chicago Teen Edition as an ensemble member, Titanic as Mrs. Thayer, and Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat as a narrator. She was also a high school mentor for Finding Nemo Kids, Aladdin Kids, Matilda Jr, 101 Dalmatians Kids, and Descendants The Musical. At Harford Music and Arts, she played Violet in A Charlie Brown Christmas. Thank you to my family for supporting me over the last 4 years, and to my Starlight family for making this my home away from home. I am going to miss you all so much, but I cannot wait to see all the amazing things yet to come.

 

KEIRA MCCONNAUGHEY (Arista) is in 10th grade at Patterson Mill High School. This is Keira’s 12th show with Starlight Theatricals having previously been in The Music Man Jr. as a townsperson, Sister Act Jr. as Nina and a nun, Cinderella Youth Edition as a maiden, Xanadu Jr., Les Miserables School Edition, Grease, and Chicago Teen Edition as an ensemble member, The Addams Family as an ancestor, and Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat as a wife and the baker. She was also a high school mentor for Aladdin Kids and Descendants The Musical. With the Abingdon Community Theatre, she was in the ensemble for Legally Blonde Jr. At Patterson Mill Middle School, she was in the ensemble for both Frozen Jr. and Shrek Jr. At Patterson Mill High School, she was Mack in Peter and the Starcatcher. Thank you to my family and friends for all their love and support.

 

NATHAN OLIVE (Windward/Chef Louis) is in 9th grade at George Washington Carver High School. This is Nathan’s 10th show with Starlight Theatricals having previously been in The Music Man Jr. as Winthrop, Sister Act Jr. as Eddie Souther, Cinderella Youth Edition as the chef, Xanadu Jr. as Sonny, Beetlejuice Jr. as Adam Maitland, The Addams Family as an ancestor, The Wizard of Oz Youth Edition as the Tin Man, Joseph and The Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat as Judah, and Into the Woods as Jack. Elsewhere, he was an ancestor in The Addams Family and a knight in Shrek Jr. with the 7th District Rec Council, an ensemble member in Once Upon a Mattress Youth Edition, Mike Teavee in Willy Wonka Jr., and Beetlejuice in Beetlejuice Jr. at Perry Hall Middle School, and Howie Newsome in Our Town at George Washington Carver High School. Thank you to the directors for making this show the best it can be.

 

VANESSA PERKINS (Tech Crew) is in 11th grade at Perry Hall High School. This is Vanessa’s 17th show with Starlight Theatricals having previously been in The Lion King Jr., Rock of Ages Youth Edition, and Aladdin Jr. as an ensemble member and Young Frankenstein, The Music Man Jr., Mary Poppins, And Then There Were None, Titanic, Grease, Quiet Summer, Chicago Teen Edition, The Addams Family, Joseph and The Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, and Into the Woods as a member of the tech crew. She was also a high school mentor for Beetlejuice Jr and Descendants the Musical. At Trinity Lutheran Christian School, she was an ensemble member in both Willy Wonka Jr. and High School Musical Jr, and at Perry Hall High School she was on the tech crew for The Play That Goes Wrong, Rent, She Kills Monsters, The Addams Family, Amadeus, and The Wizard of Oz. She returned to Trinity Lutheran Christian School to assist with The Little Mermaid Jr., Rudolph The Red Nose Reindeer, and The Lion King Jr. Thank you to my family for always supporting me and my mom for being the best mom in the world.

 

ANTHONY RUSH (Flotsam) is in 9th grade at Bel Air High School. This is Anthony’s 9th show with Starlight Theatricals having previously been in Rock of Ages Youth Edition as an ensemble member, The Music Man Jr. as Maud Dunlop, Sister Act Jr. as Mary Robert, Cinderella Youth Edition as the second maiden, Xanadu Jr. as Hera, Beetlejuice Jr. as a dead jockey, The Addams Family as an ancestor, and Into the Woods as Little Red Riding Hood. Elsewhere, Anthony played the dragon in Shrek Jr. and the minstrel in Once Upon a Mattress with Act With Me, Lavender in Matilda Jr. and Plankton in SpongeBob The Musical Jr. at Bel Air Middle School, an ensemble member in Mean Girls with Harford Music and Arts, and Karnak in Ride the Cyclone with Streetlamp Productions.  Thank you to my family and friends for supporting me in my love for theatre.

 

BETTA WINKLER-BERMUDEZ (Tech Crew) is in 12th grade at Perry Hall High School. This is Betta’s 8th show with Starlight Theatricals having previously been on the tech crew for Grease, Quiet Summer, Finding Nemo Kids, Chicago Teen Edition, The Addams Family, Joseph and The Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, and Into the Woods. At Perry Hall High School she was on the tech crew for The Sound of Music, The Play That Goes Wrong, Rent, and She Kills Monsters, and onstage for The Addams Family Amadeus, and The Wizard of Oz. Thank you to Mr. Ben for dragging me back to Starlight and Vanessa for driving me around.

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STARLIGHT PRODUCTION STAFF

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SUZANNE BOWDEN (Associate Director) is a graduate of West Virginia University with a degree in Visual Arts and Performing Arts. After graduation Suzanne worked in NYC at Joseph Papp's Public Theater, NY Shakespeare Festival at the Delacorte in Central Park, NY Theater Workshop, Playwrights Horizons, Lincoln Center Theater, and Richard Frankel Productions as part of their Stage Management Team. Suzanne was a member of  Actor's Equity while in NY until moving to Maryland to work at Center Stage in Baltimore.  For over 20 years, Suzanne was the Drama Director at Trinity Lutheran Christian School where she was blessed  to work in educational theater with young people.  

  

MAYRA PAPPATERRA (Backstage Manager) is a graduate of the University of Puerto Rico with a Bachelor’s degree in Drama with a minor in Languages and Corporal Movement. She was a member of the Rolling Theater of the University of PR, where she studied classical, experimental and contemporary theater. Mayra went to the Siglo de Oro Spanish Drama Festival Chamizal in El Paso, Texas. She worked giving theater workshops to High School students. Mayra did professional theater in Puerto Rico as a stage manager, assistant director, actress, as well as designing and running lights, and props.  She worked for Cuarzo Blanco Inc., participated in the XIX Festival Internacional de Teatro de Oriente in Barcelona Pto. La Cruz, Venezuela with José Vega also known as Remi the Clown and designed the props for the play “Salvemos el Planeta con Remi”. She traveled the island participating in a play based on the TV show for kids “La casa de María Chuzema”. Since 2012 she has been the Production Stage Manager at Trinity Lutheran Christian School. Mayra is very excited to be a part of the Starlight Team and to bring her talents as the Back-Stage Manager. When she is not backstage Mayra works as an International Board Certified Lactation Consultant at the Anne Arundel County WIC program (Woman Infants and Children) coordinating The Breastfeeding/Breastfeeding Peer Counselor Program.

 

CHUCK BOWDEN (Artistic Director / Technical Director) is the founder and managing partner of Starlight Theatricals. He is a faculty member at Bel Air High School where he has taught English, Drama, and Technology for the past 25 years. A graduate of West Virginia University with a BFA in Theatre and the College of Notre Dame of Maryland with a Masters in Education, Chuck worked with the theatre program at Bel Air High for over 25 years serving as the Artistic Director, Technical Director and Scenic  Designer as well as performing in the pit band for the musicals since 1994. He is the co-founder of the North East Theatre Festival and has served as the Co-Executive Director for 12 years. Chuck is currently the Chair of the Harford County Cultural Arts Board, a founding member of the Scottfield Theatre Company and continues to work as a Technical Director and Designer for several community theatres around the region. 

 

BENJAMIN SMITH (Artistic  Director / Choreographer) is the founder and managing partner of Starlight Theatricals. He is a   faculty member at Bel Air High School teaching Government and Economics for the past 26 years. Prior, he taught Social Studies at Chariton High School in Chariton, Iowa. He is a     graduate of Peru State College in Nebraska with a BA in Secondary Education and Towson University with a  Masters in Education. For over 25 years, Ben has been involved with high school theatre serving both as artistic director and choreographer for numerous  productions. He is the co-founder of the North East Theatre Festival and has served as the Co-Executive Director for 12 years. 

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