The Legend of Sleepy Hollow

Vato Tsikurishvili (Ichabod) A native of the country of Georgia, Vato is an award-winning actor, director, choreographer, and educator with more than a decade of experience imparting Synetic Theater’s unique style to audiences and students of all ages. Performing with his parents, Synetic co-founders Paata and Irina Tsikurishvili, since the age of 4, Vato also has an extensive athletic background, having trained in fencing under Olympic coach Vladimir Nazlymov and in gymnastics with his grandfather, the world-renowned Olympic coach Arnold Kvetenadze. Synetic credits include lead and supporting roles in dozens of Synetic productions, including Host and Guest, Othello, Antony and Cleopatra, King Arthur, Macbeth, The Taming of the Shrew, The Home of the Soldier, The Tempest, The Three Musketeers, Twelfth Night, The Picture of Dorian Gray, Cyrano de Bergerac, Hamlet... the rest is silence, Beauty and the Beast, Servant of two Masters, Much Ado About Nothing, Alice in Wonderland, Dante’s Inferno, The Hunchback of Notre Dame, The Immigrant, Sleepy Hollow, and Frankenstein: or, the Modern Prometheus. His recent work as fight choreographer includes The Hunchback of Notre Dame, Host and Guest, Frankenstein, Antony and Cleopatra, Dante’s Inferno, The Man in the Iron Mask, as well as Titus Andronicus and The Adventures of Peter Pan, for which he was also assistant director and co-director, respectively. He directed Cyrano de Bergerac and The Servant of Two Masters. As an educator, Vato has trained Synetic company members, travels throughout the DMV area teaching stage movement to students of all grade levels, serves as an instructor at Synetic Studio, and, alongside Irina Tsikurishvili, trains the Synetic Teen Company.

Maryam Najafzada (Horse Spirit) Maryam Najafzada  graduated from the Baku Choreography Academy and is a classically trained ballet dancer originally from Baku, Azerbaijan. Synetic’s stage credits: Legend of Sleepy Hollow (Horse Spirit), Cyrano De Bergerac (Roxanne), Richard III (Lady Anne), Tempest (Miranda), Phantom of the Opera (Christine), Madness of Poe (Raven) and Assistant Choreographer, Servant of Two Masters (Smeraldina) Choreographer, Dracula (Wife), Host and Guest (Deer, Ensemble), Snow Maiden (Snow Maiden), Bloom (Sister) Choreographer, Romeo and Juliet (Ensemble, Juliet U/S) Bloom (Sister and Choreographer), Golden Fish(Golden Fish), Hamlet (Ophelia), Little Comedies(Tasiko), The Immigrant (Hetty), Frankenstein The modern Prometheus (Gaia), Anthony and Cleopatra (Octavia) Maryam also directed and performed with Synetic Motion Pictures and was part of “The Decameron” series project as well as other short films “Oval Portrait”,” All the World Is Stage”

Tony Amante- Brom (Ensemble) Tony has been performing with Synetic since the end of 2022. His first performances were as an understudy in Beauty & the Beast (2023). He then understudied Christian in Cyrano de Bergerac (2023). His first mainstage show was Tell Tale Heart as an ensemble vulture (2023). Since then, Tony has taken on roles as Mercutio (R&J 2024), Lysander (Midsummer 2024), Polonius (Hamlet 2024), A.I. Zombie Ensemble (Frankenstein 2025), and Julius Caesar/Ensemble (2026).

Stella Bunch (Ensemble) Stella Bunch (Ensemble) is thrilled to step into one of Synetic’s iconic spooky productions. She’s a proud alum of the Synetic Teen Company, holds a BFA in Acting from Syracuse University, and is a teaching artist for camps and outreach. Previous credits: The Immigrant (HH Winner for Best Production), A Midsummer Night's Dream (Puck ’25, Titania ’22), Antony & Cleopatra (Mardian), Frankenstein (Ensemble), Little Comedies (Tasiko), and Hamlet...the rest is silence (Ensemble/Ophelia u/s). She’d like to thank her parents, friends, and the Tsikurishvili family for their support and mentorship. website: stellabunch.com IG:@stellabunch

Philip Fletcher (Headless Horseman)  is a Synetic Theater Founding Company Member who has appeared in over 40 Synetic productions.  Highlights include:  Titus Andronicus (Titus Andronicus), The Hunchback of Notre Dame (Claude Frollo), Twelfth Night (Orsino) [Helen Hayes Outstanding Ensemble], King Lear (Edmund) [HH Outstanding Ensemble and Supporting Actor nominated], Othello (Iago) [HH Outstanding Ensemble and Lead Actor nominated], A Midsummer Night’s Dream (Oberon) [HH Outstanding Ensemble], Romeo and Juliet (Mercutio) [HH Outstanding Ensemble], Carmen (Lucas) [HH Outstanding Ensemble Nominated], Macbeth (Witch) [HH Outstanding Supporting Actor], and Hamlet…the rest is silence (King Hamlet’s Ghost/Player King) [HH Outstanding Ensemble].

Matt Dantas-McCutcheon (Van Ripper) is thrilled to debut with the Synetic Theatre Company. Community theatre credits: Dave in A Snowball's Chance and Baked in Snack Machine Blues at Silver Spring Stage. Profound gratitude to Synetic for believing in him, and all of his love to his family for supporting this dream.

Elijah Williams (Ensemble) This is Elijah’s first show with Synetic theater and he is very excited to be joining the team. Recent credits include Benvolio in Romeo + Juliet with CSC and Omar in Pressure with Expats theater.

Sia Li Wright (Katrina) Sia Li Wright is a graduate of Studio Acting Conservatory. Credits include: Eurydice - Song’s of the Goat (Eurydice), Around the Snake Turn - Pipeline Playwrights (Aku U/S), Pillow Fortress - Peregrine Theatre Company (Ry), Fair Play - 1st Stage Theater (Ann U/S), A Midsummer Night's Dream - Synetic Theater (Hermia, Peaseblossom, Cobweb U/S), Dance Nation - Silver Spring Stage (Zuzu). Member of the Theater Troupe and SHOUT program at Smithsonian's National Museum of American History. She also teaches movement to young actors in the summer. She gives all her love and gratitude to her supportive community, family, and friends.

Liam Klopfenstein (Van Tassel) celebrates his one year anniversary of his first Synetic show. Liam thanks his family and friends for their support, and the Synetic family for the training and growth. He hopes you enjoy all the spooky movement! Previous Synetic credits: The Immigrant (ensemble), Antony&Cleopatra (messenger/ensemble), Frankenstein or The Modern Prometheus (ensemble)

Ernest Fleischer (Ensemble) whose favorite holiday is Halloween, is thrilled to haunt the Hollow this fall. Selected credits: Antony & Cleopatra (Synetic), The Waverly Gallery (Shaker Bridge Theater), Galathea (Maryland Renaissance Festival), Macbeth (Maryland Renaissance Festival), How the World Began (Shaker Bridge Theater), Over the Pub (New London Barn Playhouse). On camera, he recently appeared in Emotional Support Animals, which won the Audience Choice Award at Silvervox Film Festival. Ernest holds a BA in International Politics and Theater from Oberlin College.

 

Kaitlyn Shifflett (Ensemble) Artistic Associate and Operations Manager, Kaitlyn is thrilled to be a part of yet another production with Synetic Theater. She is currently pursuing a BFA in theater performance at George Mason University. Kaitlyn is also a proud alum of Synetic's Teen Company. Her past Synetic acting credits include: Antony & Cleopatra (Ensemble), Frankenstein, or the Modern Prometheus (Ensemble), A Midsummer Nights Dream (Flute & Helena U/S), Hamlet (Ens. Gertrude U/S), Romeo & Juliet (Lady Capulet), The TellTale Heart (Vulture), Golden Fish (Wife), Little Comedies (Tasiko), Snow Maiden (Snow Maiden U/S), Dracula (Wives & Mina U/S), The Immigrant (U/S), and Host and Guest (U/S). Kaitlyn would like to extend her gratitude to all of her friends and mentors who have helped her get to where she is today. @kaitlynshifflett

Morgan Taylor (Ensemble) Morgan trained with Synetic Theatre beginning in 2019 and is thrilled to join the company this fall in Sleepy Hollow. Most recently, she performed in Synetic’s Antony and Cleopatra (January 2026), as well as PWLT’s Hairspray the Musical (March 2025) and in front of audiences at the Ritz-Carlton Tysons’ Nutcracker Tea. She stays busy at Kickhouse Chantilly as Owner and Head coach of her Kickboxing gym. In her spare time, she trains and competes in Pole sport competitions, most recently earning the bronze medal at Pole Sport Organization’s professional level competition. Morgan wants to thank her family for their continued support. She also wants to thank Diane for everything she has done to support her performance journey.