Kinky Boots

Malachi Alexander (Angel) is happy to be making his OLNEY THEATRE CENTER debut! REGIONAL: Clear Space Theatre Company: 9 to 5 (Joe); Joesph and the Amazing Technicolor (Dan); Grease (Teen Angel, Johnny Casino). DC AREA: Howard University: Heathers (Kurt Kelly); Pippin (Ensemble). TELEVISION: Black Broadway. Education: BFA in Musical Theatre, Minor in Dance, from Howard University. @thechialexander

Ricardo Blagrove (Ensemble / George u/s) is excited to make his OLNEY THEATRE CENTER debut with this amazing cast and team. NYC: Carnegie Hall: Jeanne d' Arc au Bûcher, Bernstein Mass, Faure’s Requiem; DC AREA: Monumental Theatre: Head Over Heels; Museum of the Bible: Amazing Grace - The Musical; REGIONAL: Baltimore Center Stage: Les Liaisons Dangereuses;  Everyman Theatre: Ruined; Roxy Regional Theatre: A Raisin in the Sun; StillPointe Theatre: Pop!; Toby’s Dinner Theater: Dreamgirls; Carl J. Murphy Fine Arts: Porgy and Bess; ArtsCentric: Little Shop of Horrors, Smokey Joe’s Cafe, Aida, Memphis, Dreamgirls, Into The Woods. @RicardoBaritenor 

Catrina Brenae (Swing) New York: Green Room 42: Jekyll/Hyde, National Tours: National Players Tour 73, REGIONAL: Signature Theatre: The Color Purple (Doris, Jarene Swing), Virginia Repertory Theatre: Mamma Mia (Rosie), Have You Filled a Bucket Today? (Bucket Filling Fairy), The Kennedy Center: Show Way (Auntie/Lil’ Bit u/s), Baltimore Centerstage: Soundcheck: Catrina Brenae in Concert, Dreamgirls (Effie Melody White), The Christians (Soloist/Ensemble), ArtsCentric: Hair (Dionne Cover/Ensemble), Little Shop of Horrors (Crystal u/s). Film/TV: The Black Joy Experience Docu-Series, Legal Enterprise Web Series. Education: Clark Atlanta University Bachelors of Art, Music: Vocal Performance. Instagram @catrina_brenae

Quadry Brown (Angel/ Lola u/s) is thrilled to be making his debut at OLNEY THEATRE CENTER. Past credits include: DC AREA: Toby’s Dinner Theatre: The SpongeBob SquarePants Musical, Spamalot, White Christmas, Shrek: The Musical, Kinky Boots and The Bodyguard.

Zach Cook is thrilled to be making his Olney debut! A junior at the Bullis School in Potomac, MD, and a very active member of their theatre department. Previous performances include Twelfth Night, The Crucible, Little Shop of Horrors, Seussical, as well as numerous small film projects. Thanks to Mom, Dad, Xavier, Mrs. Franklin, and his Bullis Theatre family.

Alex De Bard (Lauren) Previous OLNEY THEATRE CENTER credits include: A.D. 16. DC Area: Signature Theatre: Into the Woods (Little Red), Rent (Swing), Gun & Powder (Swing); NextStop Theatre: Little Women (Jo), First Date (Casey); Monumental Theatre Company: tick, tick…BOOM! (Susan); Museum of the Bible: Amazing Grace (Yema/Tennah); Adventure Theatre: The Velveteen Rabbit (Rabbit), Elephant & Piggie’s “We Are in a Play!” (Squirrelle), Fancy Nancy’s Splendiferous Christmas (Jojo), Blueberries for Sal (Little Bear); FILM: Bay Star Theatricals: The Condition of Ellen Mitchell (Ellen Mitchell). EDUCATION: The Benjamin T. Rome School of Music, BM. IG : @alexdebardmusic, @alex_debard

Robbie Duncan (Angel) is proud to be making his OLNEY THEATRE CENTER debut! REGIONAL: The Great Lakes Center: Godspell (Day by day soloist), The Keegan Theatre: Legally Blonde (Ensemble) [2020 Helen Hayes Nominee for Outstanding Ensemble], The American Repitory Theatre:The Donkey Show (Peaceblossom) EDUCATION: B.A Theatre from University of Maryland College Park instagram: @Robbi_Seahorse

Chris Genebach (Don) OLNEY THEATRE CENTER credits: Singin’ in the Rain, The Royale, Mary Stuart, Oil, The Crucible, My Fair Lady, Carousel, and Awake & Sing! Local theatre credits include: The Till Trilogy, A Human Being Died that Night, and Ulysses on Bottles (Mosaic Theater Company); Billy Elliot (Signature Theatre); Hamlet, Romeo & Juliet, Henry IV: Parts 1 and 2, Measure for Measure, The Two Gentlemen of Verona, Julius Caesar, Cymbeline, King Lear, and Titus Andronicus (Shakespeare Theatre Company); Mr. Burns, A Post Electric Play (Woolly Mammoth Theatre Company); William Davenant’s Macbeth, Antony and Cleopatra, Twelfth Night, Henry V, Othello, Cyrano, and Orestes: A Tragic Romp (Folger Theatre); and The Big Meal, Superior Donuts, and Shining City (Studio Theatre). BROADWAY credits include: Shining City (Manhattan Theatre Club). OFF-BROADWAY: Rose Rage: Henry VI Parts 1, 2, and 3 (STC at The Duke), The Other Side (Manhattan Theatre Club). REGIONAL: Death of a Salesman, A Streetcar Named Desire, and An Inspector Calls (Everyman Theatre); King Lear (The Goodman Theatre); Rose Rage, King John, and Short Shakespeare! productions of Macbeth, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, and Romeo & Juliet (Chicago Shakespeare Theater).

Grayden Goldman (Young Charlie) is thrilled to be making his professional debut at OLNEY THEATRE CENTER where he saw his first musical theatre production! Grayden has performed with Young Artists of America (Cinderella, Aida, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat), Columbia Center for Theatrical Arts (Shrek Jr. and Elf Jr.), and Glenelg High School (Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, A Christmas Carol, and Newsies Jr.). Grayden attends Glenwood Middle School and is a Brown belt in Taijutsu.  He wants to thank his family for always supporting him!

Kaiyla Gross (Pat/ Lauren u/s) is happy to be back at OLNEY THEATRE CENTER. Previous Olney Theatre Center credits include: Miss You Like Hell (Pearl), Most Wonderful Time of the Year. REGIONAL: Duluth Playhouse: Ragtime, Virginia Stage Company: A Christmas Carol (Belinda Cratchit),Norfolk State University Theatre Company: The Color Purple (Celie), Once on this Island (Ti Moune), Eclipsed (Maima). DC AREA: Signature Theatre: The Color Purple (Nettie), RENT (Seasons of Love Vocalist); Next Stop Theatre: Beehive; the 60’s Musical (Aretha); Museum of the Bible: Amazing Grace (Princess Peyai). EDUCATION: BS Exercise Science/Kinesiotherapy from Norfolk State University. Instagram: @__kaiylaaa__

Shane Hall (Associate Choreographer, Angel, Dance Captain) Shane is thrilled to make his debut at OLNEY THEATRE CENTER with this exciting production of Kinky Boots! Credits include, OFF BROADWAY: Hoagy Carmichael’s Stardust Road (The York Theatre,NYC – Associate Choreographer) Puck’d (Ensemble – Turtleshell Productions) NATIONAL TOURS: Cats (Mistoffelees) Carousel (Associate Choreographer - Riverside Theatre, FL) Irving Berlin’s Holiday Inn, & Beauty and the Beast (Director/Choreographer -Circa 21 Dinner Playhouse, IL) Let’s Get Wild (Associate Choreographer -Kings Dominion Park, VA.) Mamma Mia (Director/Choreographer - Timberlake Playhouse, IL.) Irving Berlin’s White Christmas, Singin in the Rain, Chicago, Mamma Mia, Sister Act, West Side Story, Disney’s Newsies, The Little Mermaid, Beauty and the Beast, A Chorus Line, Grease, & Avenue Q, (Director/Choreographer - Springer Opera House, Ga.) Singin in the Rain (Don Lockwood – Springer Opera House) Anything Goes (Dance Captain - NSMT), La Cage Aux Folles (Phaedra – NSMT), White Christmas (Ensemble – Denver Center Theatre & Arts Center of Coastal Carolina) Beauty and the Beast (Ensmble, us Lefou – Fireside Dinner Theatre) In NYC, Shane is a casting assistant for Alison Franck Casting and a resident staff member at Broadway Dance.

Henry Harleston (Young Lola/ Simon) is very excited to be performing at OLNEY THEATRE CENTER. Henry lives in  Baltimore, Maryland where he is currently enrolled in middle school . He got his start in theatre performing in church plays at age 2. His favorite performance was playing Joseph in The Complete History of the Old Testament in 10 Minutes. Henry thanks his family for their love and support. He credits his love of musical theatre to being introduced to Broadway shows at an early age by Grandparents and being cast in 100s of shows produced by his sisters. Henry gives special thanks to Neece and Baba for all the rides to rehearsal.

Vincent Kempski (Charlie Price) OLNEY THEATRE CENTER:  Grease, Joseph...Dreamcoat, Takes One to Know One;  NEW YORK:  Musical Theatre Factory: The Greenwood Tree.  DC AREA:  Signature Theatre:  Into The Woods, RENT, Assassins, A Chorus Line, Camille Claudel, Gypsy, Grand Hotel, Billy Elliot, Jesus Christ Superstar, Miss Saigon, Spin, The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas, Ol' Blue Eyes, Entirely Elvis, Woodstock, Crossing  In Concert. Ford's Theatre: The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee;  Round House Theatre: The Nutcracker;  Keegan Theatre: Spring Awakening;  Kennedy Center:  The Greenwood Tree, Latino Inaugural 2013;  DAR Constitution Hall:  Horatio Alger Awards 2018;  Capital Fringe Festival: Gilded;  TELEVISION: A Capitol Fourth;  MUSIC: Sinderella;  EDUCATION: BM, The Catholic University of America.  @vinnykempski

Karl Kippola (George) is excited to be back at OLNEY THEATRE CENTER! Previous Olney Theatre Center credits include: Annie (Drake), Mary Poppins (George Banks), Anything Goes (Sir Evelyn), Oliver, and Secret Garden. DC AREA: Everyman Theatre: Opus, Art; Rep Stage: Bach at Leipzig, Glass Menagerie; Bay Theatre: Man of No Importance, Arms and the Man; Virginia Shakespeare: Julius Caesar, Illyria; Theater J: Jewish Queen Lear; Voices Festival: My Calamitous Affair. EDUCATION: BA in Drama from University of Montana, MFA in Acting from Wayne State University, PhD in Theatre from University of Maryland. Associate Professor and Theatre/Musical Theatre Program Director at American University.

Alexis Krey (Swing/ US Angels) is excited to be making her debut at OLNEY THEATRE CENTER! REGIONAL: Pittsburgh Music Theatre: The Little Mermaid (Attina); Lincoln Park PAC: Ragtime (Evelyn Nesbit). DC AREA: Toby’s Dinner Theatre: Shrek (Teen Fiona/Ensemble), The Spongebob Musical (Gary/Ensemble), White Christmas (Rhoda), Spamalot (Laker Girl);NextStop Theatre Company: Catch Me If You Can (Ensemble); Cumberland Theatre: Reefer Madness (Mary Lane), Gypsy (June). TV and Film: Mindhunter, The Lifeguard. Washington Capitals NHL Cheerleader for 3 years! EDUCATION: BM in Musical Theatre from The Catholic University of America.

Calvin McCullough (Harry) is happy to be back at OLNEY THEATRE CENTER, previous Olney Theatre Center credits include: A.D.16(Mathias), Elf (Store Manager), South Pacific (Professor), Carmen (Diego), and Godspell (Ensemble). DC AREA: Everyman Theatre: Flying West (Frank Charles), A Raisin in the Sun (George Murchison); Baltimore Center Stage: Miss You Like Hell; Arena Stage: Snow Child (Plow Horse); Shakespeare Theatre: Peter Pan And Wendy (Noodler); Signature Theatre: Freaky Friday, Jesus Christ Superstar; Fords Theatre: A Christmas Carol; Toby’s Dinner Theatre: Shrek (Donkey), In the Heights (Graffiti Pete); Imagination Stage: Peter and The Wolf, Freshest Snow Whyte, Roberto Clemente, When She Had Wings.

Connor James Reilly (Angel) is happy to be back at OLNEY THEATRE CENTER. Previous Olney Theatre Center credits include: Beauty and the Beast (Enchantress), Matilda (The Escapologist), Cabaret (Bobby) [Helen Hayes Award nomination for Best Musical 2020], Singin’ in the Rain, Elf, On the Town. REGIONAL: Northern Stage: Spamalot. White Plains Performing Arts Center: The Hunchback of Notre Dame. Barter Theatre: Mamma Mia and The Music Man. Dollywood: Smoky Mountain Christmas. DC AREA: Avant Bard: Beowulf (Young Beowulf). TELEVISION: AMC’s Turn: Washington’s Spies. History Channel’s Tracking Oswald. DMV Native and JMU graduate. For Gus. @connorjreilly

Stephen Russell Murray (Richard) OLNEY THEATRE CENTER: The Music Man; Signature Theatre: Which Way to the Stage, Spin, Sunday in the Park with George, Shakespeare's R&J; Folger Theatre: Rosencrantz & Guildenstern Are Dead, Pericles, The Way of the World; Arena Stage: For Whom the Southern Belle Tolls; Keegan Theatre: Legally Blonde, Chicago, Spring Awakening, What We're Up Against, American Idiot; Constellation Theatre: Little Shop of Horrors; 1st Stage: Never the Sinner; 4615 Theatre: Separate Rooms; Pointless Theatre: Rhinoceros; Spooky Action Theater: Maple & Vine; Adventure Theatre: Winnie the Pooh. EDUCATION: MFA Classical Acting, Shakespeare Theatre Company.

Solomon Parker III (Lola) is thrilled to be making his OLNEY THEATRE CENTER debut! DC AREA: Signature Theater: The Color Purple (Harpo), Hotter Than July: Stevie Wonder Cabaret, RENT, Ain’t Misbehavin’ (Andre), Grand Hotel, Billy Elliot, Jesus Christ Superstar. Ford’s Theatre: A Christmas Carol, Grace the Musical (Lawrence), The Wiz. Monumental Theatre Co: Pippin (Leading Player) [Helen Hayes nomination for Best Lead Actor in a Musical], Sunday Funday (Host), Montgomery, Bashful. Keegan Theatre: Legally Blonde, Halloween Gala ‘21. Toby's Dinner Theatre: Kinky Boots, Dreamgirls, Hairspray; Red Branch Theatre Company: Dogfight. Film: After Midnight dir. Jared Grimes, Signature Vinyl. EDUCATION: AA in Theatre Performance Montgomery College. Instagram @thesolomonexperience @echinaceamonroe

Daniel Powers (Angel) Excited to be making his Olney Theatre debut. REGIONAL: Signature Theatre: She Loves Me, A Chorus Line, Billy Elliot; Phoenix Theatre Company: Cinderella; Flat Rock Playhouse and Virginia Repertory Theatre: West Side Story; Cincinnati Ballet; Cincinnati Opera; Ballet Austin; MorDance; DPAA; Orlando Ballet. EDUCATION: The Freeman Studio, Washington School of Ballet; Houston Ballet; Ballet NOVA. UPCOMING: Phoenix Theatre Company: A Chorus Line @daniel.powers_  

Dustin Sardella (Young Charlie) is thrilled to make his OLNEY THEATRE CENTER debut. Theatre: Imagination Stage: Freaky Friday (Fletcher), Aladdin KIDS (Aladdin), Hero Zone, A Long Horizon; Film: An Arab Family, Nikki and Amir, Duke and Duchess of Queens, Rings; Voiceover: Nickelodeon All-Star Brawl (voice of Aang), Spotify Kids Arabian Nights Podcast. Dustin thanks his family and teachers for all their support and hopes you enjoy the show!

Stephen F. Schmidt (Mr. Price) returns to OLNEY THEATRE CENTER. Previous credits include South Pacific (Brackett), The Producers (Franz), Triumph of Love (Hermocrates), Stuff Happens (Tony Blair) and Crave. DC AREA: Ford’s Theatre (Associate Artist) A Christmas Carol (Marley), Ragtime [Helen Hayes Award nomination for Outstanding Ensemble] Violet, Hello Dolly! [2014 Helen Hayes Award for Outstanding Ensemble]. Arena Stage: The Great Society (Everett Dirksen), All The Way (Deloach), Death of a Salesman (Harry Wagner), Noises Off (Frederick Fellowes) Signature Theatre: Urinetown (Lockstock) [Helen Hayes Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Musical] The Kennedy Center: Roald Dahl’s Willy Wonka (Wonka) [Helen Hayes Award nomination for Outstanding Actor in a Musical] FILM: J. Edgar, My One and Only, The Invasion, La Bamba. TV: House of Cards, The Wire.

Candice Shedd-Thompson (Nicola) is so excited to be back at OLNEY THEATRE CENTER! Olney Theatre Center: A.D. 16. INTERNATIONAL: Celebrity Cruises: Production Vocalist. REGIONAL: Riverside Center: The Hunchback of Notre Dame (Esmeralda), Mamma Mia; Highlands Playhouse: The Spitfire Grill (Percy); Winnipesaukee Playhouse: The Rocky Horror Show, High Society; West Virginia Public Theatre: Mary Poppins (Bird Woman); Hersheypark: Wide Open Country; Broward Stage Door: Tickling the Ivories; Charleston Performing Arts Center: Fever! DC AREA: MetroStage: Rooms: A Rock Romance (Monica); Monumental Theatre: Head Over Heels (Gynecia); NextStop Theatre: Lucky Stiff (Rita LaPorta); Creative Cauldron: Beauty and the Beast (Babette), Disenchanted (Snow White), Always…Patsy Cline (Patsy Cline). B.A. in Musical Theatre from James Madison University.

Sarah Anne Sillers (Trish) is overjoyed to be back at OLNEY THEATRE CENTER! Previous Olney Theatre Center credits include The Music Man, Singin' in the Rain, and Elf the Musical. DC AREA: Signature Theatre: Rent, She Loves Me; Kennedy Center Theater for Young Audiences: The Day You Begin; Monumental Theatre Company: Songs for a New World (Woman 2), Urinetown (Little Becky Two-Shoes); NextStop Theatre Company: Ordinary Days (Claire), 45 Plays for 45 Presidents, A Grand Night for Singing; Avant Bard: Visible Language (Anne Sullivan) [Helen Hayes Award nomination for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Musical]. EDUCATION: Princeton University. Instagram: @sarah.anne.sillers www.sarahannesillers.com 

David Singleton (Angel) is a MD based performer, choreographer, and drag superstar (@thetiaramissou on Instagram), and is so incredibly thrilled to be back at OLNEY THEATRE CENTER for this production of one of his favorite shows, Kinky Boots! Previous credits include, Olney Theatre Center: Beauty, and the Beast, Elf. Toby's Dinner Theatre: Kinky Boots (Angel/Co Choreographer), Dreamgirls, Young Frankenstein (Ziggy), Newsies, The Bodyguard. Artscentric: RENT (Angel), Sister Act (TJ), Snapshots. Education: Theatre Performance, Montgomery College.

Tyrell Stanley (Swing) is happy to be making his OLNEY THEATRE CENTER debut. DMV AREA:  Signature Theater: The Color Purple (Swing), Keegan Theatre: Memphis (Ensemble, Bobby u/s). REGIONAL: Baltimore Center Stage: Dreamgirls (C.C. White); ArtsCentric: The Wiz (Ensemble, Lion/TinMan u/s), Aida (Ensemble), Snapshots (Ensemble), Memphis (Ensemble, Wailin’ Joe u/s); Cockpit in Court: Sister Act (TJ), Wedding Singer (Mookie), Gypsy (Yonkers); Phoenix Festival Theater: Legally Blonde (Grandmaster Chad);  The Heritage Ensemble Theatre Company (VA): Confessions of a Black Cowboy (Nat Love/Willie Kennard). TV/FILM: HBO: We Own This City. EDUCATION: Virginia Union University. Instagram: @stagerightt.

David James (Swing) is excited to be making his debut at OLNEY THEATRE CENTER for Kinky Boots. He was last seen in Summer: “The Donna Summer Musical" National Tour (Brian) . Some regional favorites: The Wedding Singer at The Gateway Playhouse, Beauty and The Beast Live on Stage at Walt Disney World, Boy From Oz (Trick) Wicked at Universal Japan  (Swing/Dance Captain), A Midsummer Night’s Dream (Puck) Opera Naples, Seven Brides... (Benjamin), Crazy For You (Mingo).Tonya and Nancy, The Rock Opera (Fan Reporter) Theatrezone. Instagram: @fancytanci, Website: Tanciar.com

Jason Loewith (Artistic Director/Director) grew up in Fairfield, Connecticut, and on weekends he took the train to New York with his family to see shows. His dad was the comptroller of a Formica manufacturing company, and his mom was the first woman in the state to be president of a conservative synagogue. After her parents became ill, she took over their dress shop in a now sadly derelict part of Bridgeport. Jason particularly enjoyed hiding in the poofy dresses on the rack, and selling costume jewelry during the store’s annual sidewalk sale. He inherited his father’s love of numbers, working part-time as a bank teller, and leading Math Team in high school and as a bookkeeper for various nonprofit organizations as an adult. From his mother he inherited a dedication to Jewish causes, joining the international Board of United Synagogue Youth and working at the Jewish Home for the Aged during high school, and serving as chair of Brown University’s Committee for Soviet Jewry as an undergraduate. Jason seriously considered studying to become a rabbi, but the theater intervened, taking him to Santa Barbara, Los Angeles, New York City, Chicago, and finally the Washington, DC region, where he’s been since 2009. Jason has directed some 30 plays, written a handful (one of which, Adding Machine: A Musical, won a lot of awards in Chicago and New York), managed or produced hundreds, and done just about every other job there is to do in a theater-- all of which has helped him learn the value of a dollar, the importance of honesty, and the fact that you do not put a silk suit in either the washing machine or the dryer. On days off, Jason loves to cook (ask him how he learned to make bouillabaisse), hang out with his twelve nieces and nephews and four grandnieces and nephews, play Civilization, play tennis and jog (just don’t ask him how good he is), vacation in faraway places, and listen to music written between 1950 and 1986. He volunteers for local and national arts organizations, serves as Chair of Board of Theatre Washington, and has mentored a fantastic teenager in Anacostia for BestKids, which he urges you to support.

Tara Jeanne Vallee (Choreographer) has choreographed for the Broadway stage in Cirque Dreams Jungle Fantasy, as well as shows Off Broadway, aboard cruise ships, on television, National Tours, and on the stage of the Grand Ole Opry. She served as Choreographer for the OLNEY THEATRE CENTER productions of The Little Mermaid, Triumph of Love, Mary Poppins, Elf, Annie, The Producers, Pippin (concert), The King and I and On the Town, earning 4 Helen Hayes Awards nominations for Outstanding Choreography. Directing credits include The Little Mermaid, Joseph..Dreamcoat, They’re Playing our Song, School of Rock, and Let’s Get Wild!  (Kings Dominion). Tara Jeanne has also developed and directed shows with Cedar Fair Entertainment, Virgin Voyages, and is on staff as a Choreographer for Walt Disney World Live Entertainment. www.tarajeannevallee.com

Christopher Youstra (Music Director/ Director of Music Theater) As the past resident music director, Mr. Youstra has music directed and conducted over 45 musicals at Olney Theatre Center, including The Most Wonderful Time of the Year, A.D. 16, Cabaret, Matilda, Once, On the Town, In the Heights, My Fair Lady, Sweeney Todd, Evita, Carmen: An Afro-Cuban Jazz Musical, Carousel, Godspell, How to Succeed In Business Without Really Trying and has also music directed at many of the other local theaters including Ford’s Theatre: Ragtime, 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee; Studio Theatre 2nd Stage: Bloody, Bloody Andrew Jackson, Jerry Springer: The Opera, Passing Strange; Studio Theatre: Adding Machine: A Musical; Round House Theatre: Once on This Island, A Murder A Mystery A Marriage, The Summer of ‘42, and The World Goes ‘Round; Toby’s Dinner Theatre: Les Misérables, The Color Purple, Titanic, Beauty and the Beast; Imagination Stage; The Kennedy Center Theatre for Young Audiences; Arena Stage; Burn Brae Dinner Theatre; Montgomery College; American University; Musical Theatre Center; Signature Theatre; and Columbia Center for the Theatrical Arts. Mr. Youstra has been nominated for twelve Helen Hayes Awards for Outstanding Music Direction and received the award for Titanic. He was director of music at St. John the Evangelist Parish in Columbia for 29 years, has worked with both Phoenix Productions and Troika Entertainment national touring companies and toured both Europe and Korea with Smokey Joe’s Café. As a composer, Mr. Youstra’s music has been heard throughout the area, including The Dancing Princesses at Imagination Stage, Big Nate: The Musical (with Jason Loewith), the Helen Hayes Awards, the 2014 Summer Hummer, and the opening gala of the ATLAS center. Milagros Ponce de León (Set Designer) Previous Olney Theatre Center credits include: The Thanksgiving Play, Matilda the Musical, In the Heights, Sweeney Todd, Carousel, and  Once on this Island. Recent regional credits include Silent Sky at Asolo Rep, School Girls; Or the African Mean Girls Play at Cincinnati Playhouse. Detroit’67 at Signature Theatre; Quixote Nuevo at Round House and Steel Magnolias at Everyman Theatre. Additional credits include Silent Sky, Into the Woods, Jefferson’s Garden, and Ragtime at Ford’s Theatre; Gala Hispanic Theatre; Imagination Stage, The Kennedy Center, Ensemble Studio Theatre in NYC, and Children’s Theatre of Charlotte among others. Milagros Heads the B.F.A. Program in Theatre Design & Technology at Penn State. She holds MFA degrees in Studio Arts and Scenic Design from University of Maryland and a B.F.A. in Painting from Catholic University of Peru. Milagros is a five-time Helen Hayes Nominee for Scenic Design in the Washington, D.C. area, she is a member of USA-829, and an Associate Artist at Ford’s Theatre.  

Milagros Ponce de León (Set Designer) Previous OLNEY THEATRE CENTER credits include: The Thanksgiving Play, Matilda the Musical, In the Heights, Sweeney Todd, Carousel, and  Once on this Island. Recent regional credits include Silent Sky at Asolo Rep, School Girls; Or the African Mean Girls Play at Cincinnati Playhouse. Detroit’67 at Signature Theatre; Quixote Nuevo at Round House and Steel Magnolias at Everyman Theatre. Additional credits include Silent Sky, Into the Woods, Jefferson’s Garden, and Ragtime at Ford’s Theatre; Gala Hispanic Theatre; Imagination Stage, The Kennedy Center, Ensemble Studio Theatre in NYC, and Children’s Theatre of Charlotte among others. Milagros Heads the B.F.A. Program in Theatre Design & Technology at Penn State. She holds MFA degrees in Studio Arts and Scenic Design from University of Maryland and a B.F.A. in Painting from Catholic University of Peru. Milagros is a five-time Helen Hayes Nominee for Scenic Design in the Washington, D.C. area, she is a member of USA-829, and an Associate Artist at Ford’s Theatre.   

Kendra Rai (Costume Designer) is pleased to be back at OLNEY THEATRE CENTER, where she designed Cabaret, Elf the Musical, Proof, Hay Fever and The King and I. Kendra received the Helen Hayes award for Outstanding Costume Design in 2012, 2015, and 2018; and in addition has been a nominee for the award nine times. Kendra’s work has been seen at Signature Theater, Round House Theater, Adventure Theater MTC, Opera Lafayette, Synetic Theater, Constellation Theater, New Victory Theater, Theater J, and Imagination Stage. Kendra is a Princess Grace Honorarium recipient, and holds an MFA from Pennsylvania State University, and is currently teaching at Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU), and has held teaching posts at Howard University, University of Pittsburgh and Gallaudet University.

Max Doolittle (Lighting Designer) OLNEY THEATRE CENTER: Hedwig and the Angry Inch, Elf, South Pacific, Every Brilliant Thing, My Fair Lady. DC Area: Ford’s Theatre, Woolly Mammoth, Folger Theatre, Signature Theatre, Mosaic Theatre, Theatre Alliance,Theatre J, Rep Stage, Kennedy Center/Second City, Imagination Stage, Forum Theatre, Adventure Theatre, Constellation Theatre, Shakespeare Theatre Academy for Classical Acting, Pointless Theatre Co, NextStop Theatre. NYC includes Ars Nova, Juilliard School, New Ohio Theatre, New World Stages. Regional includes Geffen Playhouse, Kitchen Theatre Company, Great Lakes Center for the Arts, Pennsylvania Shakespeare Festival, Fulton Theatre. Lighting direction for television includes Anderson Cooper 360, Piers Morgan Live. Aboard Cruise Ships: Wine Lovers, The Musical. BFA: Ithaca College. MFA: University of Maryland.

Matt Rowe (Sound Designer) is proud to be back at OLNEY THEATRE CENTER. Olney Theatre Center: The Music Man, Headwig and the Angry Inch, A.D 16, Beauty & the Beast, Miss You Like Hell, Cabaret, Once, In The Heights, My Fair Lady, Sweeney Todd, A Chorus Line; Kennedy Center: Orphie and the Book Of Heroes, First You Dream, Snow White, Rose Red (and Fred!), Nobody’s Perfect. MetroStage: The Last Five Years; Signature Theatre: No Place to Go, Miss Saigon, Company, The Last Five Years, Shakespeare’s R&J, Dreamgirls, Dying City, The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas, Xanadu, God of Carnage, Brother Russia, Really Really, Hairspray (Helen Hayes nomination), A Second Chance, Sweet Tea: Black Gay Men of the South, The Boy Detective Fails, The Hollow, Side by Side by Sondheim, Art, And the Curtain Rises, Sunset Boulevard, Walter Cronkite is Dead, A Fox on the Fairway, Chess, Sycamore Trees, [title of show], Sweeney Todd, Show Boat, First You Dream: The Music of Kander & Ebb, Dirty Blonde, Giant, The Little Dog Laughed, Les Miserables, Anyone Can Whistle in Concert, The Visit, The Happy Time, Kiss of the Spider Woman, Glory Days, Merrily We Roll Along, The Witches of Eastwick. Norwegian Cruise Lines: Million Dollar Quartet, Rock Of Ages.

Larry Peterson (Wig/Hair Designer) got his start in performance and production during his time at Morgan State University where he studied music vocal performance. At his alma mater, Howard University, he studied theatrical hair and makeup, and majored in fashion design.  He served as Costume Designer and Wardrobe Supervisor for theater productions such as The Color Purple, In the Blood and Raisin, an adaptation of A Raisin in the Sun.  Larry truly has a passion for the arts and has over 15 years of experience in makeup artistry, hair/wig design, and costuming.  He has partnered with Screaming Queens Productions LLC, Black Rock Center for the Arts, and other performance venues as a performer and hair/makeup designer. Larry is excited to bring his wide array of experience and creative skills to the production of Kinky Boots at OLNEY THEATRE CENTER. Instagram Thereal_Jasmine_Blue

Devon Vaow (Drag Consultant/ Makeup Designer) is the co-founder and Director of the country’s largest drag production company, SADBrunch, Devon, aka Evon Michelle, is known for his work ethic, ability to captivate a crowd, and his drive to bring opportunity to queer performers, specifically drag performers of color all over the nation. For over 10 years he has traveled up and down the east coast emceeing and performing at venues and drag events including numerous pride festivals, In 2020, he won the title of Baltimore’s Drag Performer of the Year and hosted OLNEY THEATRE CENTER’s first ever drag show in 2021.

Casey Kaleba (Fight Director) OLNEY THEATRE CENTER: Singing in the Rain, The Comedy of the Tenors, Mary Stuart, Sweeney Todd, Dial ‘M’ for Murder, Bakersfield Mist; REGIONAL: Guthrie Theatre: King Lear; DC AREA: Washington National Opera : Il Trovatore, Elektra, Carmen; Signature Theatre: Into the Woods, The Color Purple, Gun & Powder; Round House Theatre: Nine Night, We Declare You a Terrorist; Quixote Nuevo; Ford's Theatre: Born Yesterday, Death of a Salesman, Ragtime; Wolf Trap Opera: Susannah, Der Freischütz, Romeo et Juliette; Rorschach Theatre: Dracula, She Kills Monsters, Neverwhere; Certified Teacher and Fight Director with the Society of American Fight Directors. www.toothandclawcombat.com

Leigh Wilson Smiley (Dialects Designer) has been on the artistic teams as a voice/dialect/text director at numerous shows produced at OLNEY THEATRE CENTER, Ford’s Theatre, Studio Theatre, Center Stage Baltimore, Everyman Theatre, Round House Theatre, Arena Stage, John F. Kennedy Center, Folger Shakespeare Theatre, Shakespeare & Company, NBC on-camera talent, and Cirque du Soleil. Smiley created the Visual Accent and Dialect Archive, a web-based resource for dialect and accent samples. She is a member of Actors Equity Association, Screen Actors Guild, American Federation of Television and Radio Artists, and the Voice and Speech Trainers Association. LeighSmileyVoice.com

Ben Walsh (Production Stage Manager) Previous OLNEY THEATRE CENTER credits: A Christmas Carol, The Music Man, Olney Outdoors 2021, The Amateurs, Ken Ludwig’s A Comedy of Tenors, Labour of Love, Every Brilliant Thing, Thurgood, Fickle: A Fancy French Farce, The Diary of Anne Frank, Forever Plaid, Cinderella, Spring Awakening, Little Shop of Horrors, The Submission, Over the Tavern; Upcoming: World Goes Round. MD/DC AREA: Everyman Theatre: The Lion in Winter, Signature Theatre: Masterpieces of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity; Shakespeare Theatre Company Academy for Classical Acting (2 Seasons); Maryland Lyric Opera; Peabody Opera.  REGIONAL: Finger Lakes Musical Theatre Festival; Gateway Playhouse; Montana Shakespeare in the Parks; Riverside Center for the Performing Arts (Resident PSM, 2 Seasons); Busch Gardens Williamsburg’s Christmas Town (3 Seasons); EDUCATION: University of KY, Howard CC, James W. Rouse Scholar. Ben is an alumnus of Olney Theatre Center’s Apprentice Training Program.