Oklahoma! Cast Bios
Belden, Neal (Will Parker, Assistant Director, Choreographer) Neal is so excited to be back for his 12th show at Holy Cross. Past shows include Guys and Dolls (Nathan Detroit), The Addams Family (Gomez Addams), The Little Mermaid (Chef Louis), and The Drowsy Chaperone (Robert Martin). He works as a product photographer and content creator. He would like to thank his mom, his friends, Hailey for another opportunity to be on stage and Addie for being his partner in crime.
Clements, Dwayne (Fred) Dwayne is glad to be able to get to do yet another show with the Troops of Miracle Productions in his 23rd play. Thanks Holy Cross Theater Ministry for some of the best memories of my life.
Coyle, Casey (Ado Annie Carnes) Casey couldn’t say no to returning to the Holy Cross stage, where she previously appeared as Judy Haynes in White Christmas. Favorite credits include Wednesday Addams (The Addams Family) and Liesl Von Trapp (The Sound of Music) with The More Players, and Olive Ostrovsky (The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee) with Georgia Gwinnett College and the Aurora Theatre. She has also worked backstage for Aurora Theatre’s productions of Mamma Mia, Ripcord, and Be Here Now. She sends all her love and gratitude to her Dorks!
Ebbs, Charlotte (Virginia, Featured Dancer) Charlotte is a 7th grader at Immaculate Heart of Mary School and is delighted to be a part of her first production at Holy Cross. Some of her recent credits include Beauty and the Beast Jr. (Lumiere), 13 Jr. (featured soloist), and Sister Act Jr. (Mother Superior). She's currently dance captain and Shane Oman in Mean Girls Jr at The Studios Brookhaven. In her free time she enjoys baking, singing, praying, mascotting, and tap dancing. She would like to shout out her parents and siblings for being her ride to and from rehearsals and her singing, dance, and drama teachers (and mom) for teaching her everything she knows about performing. Enjoy the show!
Fisher, Zach (Jud Fry, Music Director) This is Zach's 16th show at Holy Cross, beginning with Annie in 2000 and most recently directing The Drowsy Chaperone. When not on stage, he sings with and directs the Holy Cross 9AM Celebration Choir. He's also the proud chairman of the Cherokee Trail and Campsites, a nonprofit committed to providing independent and inclusive scouting programs in the Tucker area. He's so grateful for the unending love and support of his wife Annemarie, and his 2 awesome kids, Nate and Josie, who make countless sacrifices to make these shows happen.
Fisher, Nate (Children's Ensemble) Nathaniel is in his third show at Holy Cross. He's a third generation member of the Holy Cross Theatre Ministry, and is excited to join his dad and aunt on stage again this year. Nate is in Second Grade at St. John the Evangelist and enjoys animals, reading, Cub Scouts, and playing piano. He loves his teachers, friends, and family.
Flynn, Amy (Ellen) Amy is excited to be a part of her very first show at Holy Cross. She works as Communications Director for the Church and usually sings at the Saturday Vigil Mass. She would like to thank her mom with whom she has treasured memories of watching musicals as a young girl and inspired her to sing in school productions. She is also incredibly grateful to her husband, Lane, and her girls, Katie and Madeleine, for their encouragement and believing in her to once again perform on stage.
Forbes, Teresa (Ensemble) Teresa is delighted to be a part of Oklahoma! She graduated from GSU in Fall 2023 where she earned a degree in Film and Media. Previous productions include Guys and Dolls (General Cartwright), High School Musical Jr. (Kelsi Nielsen), White Christmas (Ensemble), The Hunchback of Notre Dame (Ensemble), and The Drowsy Chaperone (Ensemble).
Gonzalez, Grace (Ensemble) I am excited to be a first timer and glad to be part of Oklahoma! I am the office manager for St. Martin de Porres Food Pantry.
Grummer-Strawn, Jessica (Ensemble) Jessica grew up in the Holy Cross Theatre Ministry and returned for Joseph, White Christmas, A Miracle Production, and The Drowsy Chaperone. After many years abroad, she now teaches Middle School Literature at Saint John Neumann where she also runs the drama program. She sings in the 9A.M. choir at Holy Cross, teaches adult ESOL class, and loves to hike and kayak with family. Jessica would like to thank her parents, her brother (Zach), his wife (Annemarie), and their wonderful children (Nate and Josie) as well as the amazing people in The Holy Cross Theater Ministry whom she loves dearly.
Hayes, Claire (Ensemble) Claire has been singing one thing or another for 70+ years. Choral music has taken her to Colombia and Sydney, and operettas and musicals have taken her to Japan, Siam, Austria and the deck of the Pinafore. When she’s not onstage, she’s painting sets, finding props and sewing costumes. Her daughter Margaret and husband Keely are hooked on community theater, too. Claire spent her working life in non-profits, serving families, people with disabilities, and the environment. She now spends her retirement life in her garden, in the Holy Cross choir loft, in Tucker volunteer projects, on Lake Lanier and in New Hampshire.
Lewis, Addie (Dream Ballet Laurey, Swing, Choreographer) Addie is excited to be involved in another Holy Cross production. She is currently working towards her acting career while having the background of Advertising and Project Management. Her previous roles included Hunchback of Notre Dame (Esmeralda), Drowsy Chaperone (Janet Van de Graaf), Much Ado About Nothing (Hero), and if you went to dinner in Buckhead or Roswell from 2021-2022, Addie most likely played the role of your Valet Attendant at one of those restaurants. Addie would love to thank her parents, as well as Neal for being the best partner in crime. She thanks everyone for coming to the show!
Lewis, Ruby (Featured Dancer, Ensemble) Ruby is so excited to be in her second Holy Cross Production this year. "After Drowsy Chaperone, I was hooked". She has a background in web design and paints acrylic works on canvas; performance arts are next to be added to the creative toolbox. She is also an avid student of physics, political science & math. Her primary acting experience includes body double work on a Snoop Dog movie.
Martin, James (Ensemble)
Martin, Jamie Rose (Kate, Featured Dancer) Jamie Rose is so excited to be participating in her very first Holy Cross show this year! Before coming to Holy Cross, Jamie loved performing in shows at St. Pius X. Her favorite roles included Laurey in Oklahoma ‘20, Katherine Plumber in Newsies ‘19, and Mrs. Peacock in Clue ‘18. Thank you so much for coming!
Mason, Sarah (Aunt Eller) Sarah is thrilled to be performing in another Holy Cross Street People show! Some of her favorite roles have been Reno Sweeny in Anything Goes, Golde in Fiddler on the Roof and Mae Peterson in Bye, Bye Birdie all performed at Holy Cross. She has also been blessed to play the roles of Dolly in Hello Dolly and Miss Hannigan in Annie with the St. Thomas More Players. Over the years, she has performed at Onstage Atlanta, Cobb Community Playhouse, and Stage Door Players. Most recently, she was thrilled to act in Tucker Main Street Theater productions of "Death by Chocolate" and "Harvey". She would love always to her supportive husband, who usually plays bass in the orchestra but is helping with the music tracks for this show.
Miller, Ashley (Stage Manager) This is Ashley’s eleventh Holy Cross production since 2012 (Big, Music Man, Footloose, Shrek, Catch Me If You Can, Little Mermaid, Honeymoon in Vegas, Dirty Rotten Scoundrels, and Road to Assisi). Besides his stint as Underling in last year's production of Drowsy Chaperone, he’s been happy to “live in the shadows” working backstage with the tech crew. Outside this ministry, you may have seen him as Teddy Roosevelt in Newsies at St. Pius X. Ashley thanks his wife Maria, daughter Hailey, and all his family and friends for their love and support.
Miller, Hailey (Director) Hailey has been acting in Holy Cross productions since 2012, when she made her debut in Big! Since then she has assistant directed 3 musicals at Holy Cross, graduated with a degree in Theatre, emphasis in directing, and began teaching STEM at IHM. Her favorite recent production credits include Sister Act Jr (director, IHM Dinner Theater), Finding Nemo Kids (director, Forefront Arts), Oklahoma! (choreographer, Waco Civic Theater), and Echoes of a Bedroom Farce (writer/director, Baylor Theatre). She would like to thank all of HCT, Joseph, Bonnie, and her parents for fostering her love of the stage! Baylor Grad, haileymmiller.com
Morriss, Carson (Children's Ensemble) Carson is 9 years old, he is a 4rd grader at Knight Elementary School. He enjoys swimming, playing with legos, skating, riding his bike, and playing the piano. This is Carson’s 4th show at Holy Cross. He has participated in Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, White Christmas and The Drowsy Chaperone. He would like to thank his mom for her love and support and God for letting him have this opportunity.
O'Hara, Kenneth (Ensemble) This is Kenneth's second show here at Holy Cross after doing The Drowsy Chaperone last year. He was "Slowpoke" in his Loganville High School play, "Snow White" as well as playing himself in a play dubbed "Once upon a time in Saint Mary's." He enjoys acting and singing, and hopes to join Holy Cross again in the future!
Pratt, Timothy (Children's Ensemble) Timothy is 6 years old and a member of Holy Cross. He enjoys reading chapter books, singing and playing instruments like piano and guitar. He also loves building with Lego, putting together puzzles, roller skating, and playing in Henderson Park. He participated in White Christmas and The Drowsy Chaperone, and he is happy to be in the play again, he is also grateful for the opportunity.
Scarbrough, Mell (Mike)
Sherer, Joseph (Swing) Joseph is excited to join the HC family! Previously seen in Madeline's Christmas (Horizon Theatre Company), Sweeny Todd (Baylor Theatre),The Music Man (Flat Rock Playhouse), Seussical The Musical (FRP), and Hairspray (Hendersonville Theatre). You can find Joseph teaching music/theatre at The Studios Brookhaven. Big shoutout to Hailey, Mr. and Mrs. Miller for giving him the opportunity to serve this ministry. Baylor Grad, josephcsherer.com
Thornton, Sarah Thiele (Gertie Cummings, Featured Dancer) Sarah has previously been in Fiddler, Camelot, Birdie, Good News, Damn Yankees, Little Mermaid (Allana), Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, White Christmas, and The Drowsy Chaperone. Sarah has also helped the crew behind the scenes during Catch Me If You Can. Sarah is a special education paraprofessional at Simpson Elementary School who assists teaching Pre-K ASD and is currently attending Georgia Gwinnett College to finish her bachelor's in special education. You can see Sarah around Holy Cross singing with Crossfire Choir in the Life Teen Mass. Sarah is so happy to be on the stage and working with an amazing group of talented people, doing what we all love for a great cause! Sarah wants to thank her father Patrick, family, and friends for being supportive through the shows, especially her husband, Matthew Thornton, encouraging her to go out for this show, believing in her always, and being her wonderful joy of life.
Thornton, Matthew (Curly McLain) Matt is very excited to be back on stage at Holy Cross. He is a 6th Grade Social Studies teacher at Chamblee Middle School where he also runs the school Drama Program, Chamblee Spotlight. Some of his past stage credits include Oklahoma! (Curly), Forever Plaid (Frankie), The Sound of Music (Rolf), Les Misérables (Marius), Annie (Rooster), The Music Man (Marcellus/Choreographer), Bye-Bye, Birdie (Hugo), Footloose! (Ren/Choreographer), Shrek: The Musical (Donkey/Choreographer), You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown (Schroeder), The Little Mermaid (Sebastian/Assistant Director), Beauty and the Beast (Lumiere), Dirty Rotten Scoundrels (Freddy), Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat (Pharaoh/Gad/Assistant Director/Choreographer), White Christmas (Phil/Director), and The Drowsy Chaperone (George/Director). He also directs and choreographs shows for the Holy Cross Youth Drama Camp and Chamblee Middle School, including High School Musical, Beauty and the Beast, Thoroughly Modern Millie, Hunchback of Notre Dame, Guys and Dolls, Hairspray, Legally Blonde, The Addams Family, Once Upon a Mattress, Footloose, and Grease. He would like to thank his friends and family for their undying love and support, especially his incredible, beautiful wife Sarah- his rock, his foundation, and the love of his life.
Trimble, Ethan (Ensemble) This is Ethan's second show at Holy Cross. You may have seen Ethan in The Drowsy Chaperone. Ethan is currently in school at Georgia Massage School to become a licensed massage therapist. He enjoys playing music, modeling, and writing. He'd like to thank Neal, Addie, and his girlfriend, Ruby, for getting him involved with theater!
Vader, Katrina (Laurey Williams) This is Katrina’s thirteenth show at Holy Cross. Previous shows include Honeymoon in Vegas, The Little Mermaid, Footloose, The Music Man, Beauty and the Beast, and Wizard of Oz. Her favorite roles to date are The Drowsy Chaperone (Drowsy Chaperone),White Christmas (Betty Haynes), Dirty Rotten Scoundrels (Christine Colgate), Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat (Narrator), and Shrek, The Musical (Dragon). Katrina teaches Middle School Math at IHM and sings with the Holy Cross Crossfire Choir. You can also see her around Holy Cross as Producer of the Youth Drama Camp shows. She would like to thank her parents, son Landon, and the rest of her family and friends for being so amazing and supportive.
Walsh, Jim (Andrew Carnes, Theatre Ministry Director) This is Jim’s 31st show at Holy Cross beginning with Godspell when he was in high school, and he’s excited to be back performing with this talented group of friends. Some of Jim’s favorite Holy Cross roles are: The Drowsy Chaperone (Mr. Feldzieg), Dirty Rotten Scoundrels (Lawrence), Shrek (Lord Farquad), Camelot (King Arthur), Beauty & the Beast (Beast), Footloose (Rev Moore), Music Man (Harold Hill), Sound of Music (Captain von Trapp), and Oklahoma! (Curley). Jim also performs with the More Players and the Cathedral Players & some favorite roles are: Sound of Music (Max), Mary Poppins (Mr. Banks), Oliver (Fagin), Wizard of Oz (Tin Man), Children of Eden (Adam/Noah), and The King & I (King). When not on stage Jim is SE Mid-Corp Sales Mgr for Wells Fargo Treasury Mgmt and he also directs the CrossFire band at the 5:30 Sunday mass. Love to his wife, Mary & daughter, Kate!
Warren, Jami (Ida Skidmore, Vivian) This is Jami's fourth show on stage with Holy Cross. Past stage credits include The Drowsy Chaperone (Gangster 1), Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat (Aphlaleth), Beauty & the Beast (Belle), Sugar (Dolores), Guys and Dolls (Hot Box Girl), Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (Ms. Beauregard), MacBeth (Lady MacBeth), and Chicago (Velma). Jami is the Theatre Director and Theatre Teacher at St. Pius X Catholic High School, and is excited to join the cast of Oklahoma!. A special thanks to her husband William (Ali Hakim) for his constant love and support in all things and a shout out to almost 2 year old Gwendolyn Reese who brings joy to life every day. Enjoy the show!
Warren, William (Ali Hakim) William is stoked to ham up the stage of the parish hall once again for his fifth show with the Holy Cross Theatre Ministry. Previous HoCro credits include The Drowsy Chaperone (Aldolpho), A Miracle Production (Moses/Jon), White Christmas (Dance Ensemble), and Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat (Dan). William has worked as an actor, director, stage manager, producer, and writer on productions at Actors Express, Synchronicity Theatre, the Academy Theatre, and others---but there is no place like the Theatre Ministry at Holy Cross! He holds an MFA in Creative Writing (Fiction), teaches high school ELA at Midtown International School, and is the father of the cutest little girl this side of the asteroid belt. Thanks especially to his wife Jami (Ida Skidmore), and the whole Holy Cross community for all of the fun and support!
Whitley, Margaret (Ensemble) Margaret’s favorite role so far is Princess Fiona in Shrek at Habima Theatre. She’s also been a muse in Xanadu, Marty Maraschino in Grease, and Grandmother Addams in The Addams Family. In recent years Margaret has appeared in many Holy Cross Miracle Productions: a seamstress in White Christmas and ensemble in Wizard of Oz, Annie, Camelot, South Pacific, Bye Bye Birdie and others. Margaret loves her dogs and her job at Kroger, where she greets many Holy Cross parishioners. She dedicates her performance to her grandmother Louise Whitley.
Wiegand, Julie (Featured Dancer, Ensemble) This is Julie's fourth show at Holy Cross. She was a member of the ensemble for The Drowsy Chaperone, The Little Mermaid, the summer teen camp production of Footloose, and a part of the stage crew for the summer teen camp production of Grease. She participated in drama productions at school: The Snow White Variety Show and Wooing Wed Widing Hood at Livsey Elementary and the Outsiders (Nurse) at Tapestry Public Charter School where she is an 8th grader. She enjoys dance and Scouts.
Wiegand, Kathy (Slim) This is Kathy's sixth show at Holy Cross. She was a member of the ensemble for The Drowsy Chaperone, The Little Mermaid, Music Man, The Sound of Music, and South Pacific, and was the Spotlight Operator for Curtains. Kathy teaches psychology at Spelman College and enjoys running, biking, swimming, and artistic outlets. Much love and appreciation to her husband, Ryan, and son, Andy, for being supportive and patient throughout the rehearsals and shows.
Wilson, Brian (Cord Elam) Brian is very excited to be in his first production at Holy Cross. He has previously worked with The More Players at St. Thomas More church and school, including Beauty and the Beast, The Sound of Music, and as Uncle Henry in The Wizard of Oz. Most recently he was in their production of The Addams Family. What makes this show particularly special is that he is a native Oklahoman, born and raised in Osage County.
Wollam, Marc (Joe) This is Marc’s fourth musical production at Holy Cross. Previously he was in The Little Mermaid (jellyfish), The Road to Assisi (Franciscan Brother), and White Christmas (ensemble). He's recently performed with the St. Thomas More Players in The Sounds of Music. Marc has done many shows at Jerry’s Habima Theatre including Music Man Jr. (Quartet), Oklahoma! (Tom), Footloose, Once Upon A Mattress (Prince Dauntless), Disco Inferno (Tom), Happy Days (Richie Cunningham), Guys & Dolls, Jr. (Nathan Detroit), Grease (Johnny Casino), Little Shop of Horrors (Skip Snip), Aladdin, Jr. (Sultan), Shrek, The Musical Jr. (Lord Farquaad), Wizard of Oz (Munchkin Mayor), Xanadu, Jr. (Danny McGuire), Mamma Mia! (Bill Anderson), and Cinderella, Jr. He’s also done work in Swampy Meadows through Spotlight and was in his friend's production of Differently Abled. He would like to dedicate this musical production in a honor and a memory of my late Uncle Eddie who passed away from cancer last year and for John Fayad who was in our community theatre plays and also in our choir.