The Cast of Alice in Wonderland

CAST

Sara Brooks (Fish Footman) is excited to be a part of this production. She is a 3rd grader at West View Elementary School. She was previously an elf/ensemble in Elf the Musical Jr. and is thrilled to be back on stage. In addition to acting, singing, and dancing, Sara enjoys reading, doing gymnastics, and spending time with friends and family. She would like to thank her family for their love and support, and she would like to thank SYT for this opportunity to perform.

Emma Brown (The Gryphon) is a homeschooler in 11th grade. Emma is very excited to be in another SYT production this year! She has previously been in Dr. Seuss’s The Cat in the Hat, Elf the Musical Jr., and Disney’s Freaky Friday. Emma would like to thank everyone who has supported her pursuit of theatre.

Colten Bruce (White Rabbit) is thrilled to be back on the stage at SYT! He was last seen in Elf the Musical Jr. with SYT and as Chip in Disney’s Beauty and the Beast at Dorman High School. Colten loves music and art and making people laugh. He thanks his family and friends for supporting him!

Neilie Chappell (The Duchess) is SO excited to be performing with SYT! This is her first show with SYT. She has been in nine shows with Dorman Theatre Department and two operas with Spartanburg Repertory Opera. She is an active member in her church and she loves to sing and act. She would like to thank all of her friends and family for being there for her!

Sidney Davis (Knave of Hearts) is a 9th grader at Spartanburg High School. This is Sidney’s third production at SYT this season including Elf the Musical Jr. and Disney’s Freaky Friday. She is very excited to be in this production. She would like to thank Adam and her family for the continuous support.

Beckett Ferguson (King of Hearts) is excited to be a part of this production. He was last seen at SYT in Elf the Musical Jr. and Disney’s Freaky Friday.

Gloriana Howard (Alice) has been in many plays throughout the years, and this is her second play with Spartanburg Youth Theatre. Some of her favorite roles include Young Nala in Disney’s The Lion King, Summer Hathaway in School of Rock, and Sally in Dr. Seuss’s The Cat in the Hat. She would like to thank her family and friends for their support, and the wonderful SYT staff for making the experience incredible. She hopes you enjoy the show!

Mariam Kitchen (The Mouse) is excited to be part of her first show with SYT. She loves to sing and loves learning about history at school. She would like to thank her family, especially her brother who is her acting inspiration, for their love and support.

Cooper Martsberger (Dormouse) was previously seen at SYT onstage in Miss Nelson is Missing, and virtually in SYT’s Storybook Live! Production of The Day the Crayons Quit. Cooper is a student at Spartanburg Day School, and his favorite subjects are art and history. He thanks his family for their support.

Wren Padgett (March Hare) is excited to be a part of this production. She has always enjoyed SYT and fell in love with performing after attending camps. She was last seen at SYT in Elf the Musical Jr. She would like to thank her castmates, stage manager Mary Cathryn, and director Ahsha for their friendship and guidance.

Ali Claire Pingley (Mock Turtle) has most recently appeared at SYT as Thing 2 in Dr. Seuss’s The Cat in the Hat and an elf in Elf the Musical Jr. She is a 4th grade student at Pine Street Elementary School and loves being on the stage! She would like to thank her family and friends for their love and support.

Ivy Kate Rhodes (The Cheshire Cat) is in 9th grade at Woodruff High School. She is so excited to be in her first play at SYT. She has been in many productions at Creative Arts Camp at Church at the Mill. Some of her favorite roles were Ariel in The Little Mermaid Jr. and Sven in Frozen Jr. She would like to thank everyone for their love and support.

Ava Stricklen (Queen of Hearts) is proud to take on another villainous role. She loved playing Mrs. Greenway in the "best show of her life": SYT's Elf the Musical Jr. She loved playing the Grouchy Typing Lady in her first SYT show Junie B. Jones Is Not a Crook. SYT and the wonderful directors and staff that dedicate their time have been pivotal to her personal growth and love for the theatre. She would like to thank Ahsha, Connor, Adam, and Mrs. Barnet for the opportunities, experience and memories they have given her. She would also like to thank her family for their continued love and support.

Ivy Stricklen (The Cook) is very excited to be in her first SYT production. She is a student at Spartanburg Day School. Her favorite subjects are science and art. She would like to thank her parents and sister, Ava, for all their love and support.

Jay Vangsnes (The Hatter) was most recently seen at SYT as the Cat in Dr. Seuss’s The Cat in the Hat. Jay is homeschooled and his favorite subject is history. He would like to thank his mom for encouraging him to try new things.

Hannah Winkler (Frog Footman) is thrilled to be performing in her first SYT production. Hannah is in 5th grade at West View Elementary School. She would like to thank her family for their love and support.

PRODUCTION TEAM

AHSHA DANIELS (Director) is thrilled to be back with her SYT family after previously directing SLT's The Color Purple. Ahsha holds a Bachelor’s in communications with a theatre focus from the University of South Carolina Upstate. She has acted, directed and stage managed at theatres around the Upstate for many years. Ahsha is a graduate of the Horizon Theatre Company’s 2015-2016 Acting Apprenticeship Program in Atlanta, GA. She is now the Sales Manager at the AC Hotel in Downtown Spartanburg and serving on the Board of Directors for Spartanburg Little Theatre! “To my 'Wonderettes', thank you for teaching me every day! Break legs and enjoy your time in Wonderland!” Psalm 37:4.

ADAM SANDERS (SYT Artistic Director) is currently in his seventh year at SYT and has the best job in the world! He previously worked with the SC Children’s Theatre as a teaching artist, director and touring actor. Adam has directed many productions including Disney’s Freaky Friday, Elf the Musical Jr., Songs for a New World, Disney’s Aladdin Jr., Mamma Mia, Seussical Jr., Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, James and the Giant Peach, Jr., HONK! Jr., ‘Twas the Night Before Christmas, Junie B. Jones the Musical, The True Story of the 3 Little Pigs, Those Magic Changes, Godspell, and Diary of a Worm, a Spider and a Fly. He’d like to thank his beautiful wife, Kelsey, for loving him and being his biggest fan.

MARY CATHRYN ENGLISH (Stage Manager) is 18 years old and a senior at Boiling Springs High School. Mary Cathryn has been involved with SYT for 10 years. Some of her favorite roles are Emily Hobbs in Elf the Musical Jr., Lucy in A Charlie Brown Christmas and Emily in ‘Twas the Night Before Christmas. This is her first time stage managing a production! She would like to thank her family and friends who have supported her all these years!

SARAH KNEISLEY (Assistant Stage Manager) is on the Junior Advisory Board at SYT and has crewed many shows. Some of her favorites are Disney’s Freaky Friday, Disney’s Aladdin Jr., and Seussical Jr. Sarah is homeschooled with her bunny, Tofu. She loves long walks on the beach, live-laugh-loving, and keeping calm and carrying on.

PAM HALOULOS (Scenic Designer) is excited to be back designing for SYT! Pam has been the theatre teacher at Dorman High School since 2004. She has an MA in directing from Roosevelt University in Chicago and a MA in theatre studies from Southern Oregon University. She has directed and designed several shows at Dorman High School. A few of her favorite scenic designs include The Curious Savage, Thoroughly Modern Millie, Fools, and Harvey.

HEATHER STEWARD (Costume Designer) is so excited to take part in her first production with SYT! Heather and her family just moved back to the upstate from Memphis, TN, where she was the Costume Shop Manager for Theatre Memphis. She holds an MFA in Costume Design and Technology from the University of Southern Mississippi and her BA in theatre from North Greenville University. She has both constructed costumes and designed costumes for many companies in the United States. Some of her favorite designs have been Peer Gynt at USM, Showboat at Natchez Opera, and Little Women at Theatre Memphis. Heather would like to thank SYT for allowing her this opportunity to get back into the theatre community here in the upstate!

MARY THALASSINOS (Sound Designer) is an actor, teacher, designer, and choreographer at SYT. She is a 2020 graduate of Wofford College where she received a BA in theatre. Her work has been featured in Dr. Seuss’s The Cat in The Hat as sound designer, as assistant choreographer in Elf the Musical Jr., and was last seen on stage as Daisy in The Great Gatsby. A Spartanburg native, she is proud to now work at the place where she discovered her passion for theatre many years ago! She'd like to thank her family for their love and support, and her SYT family for their encouragement and love.