The Cast & Production Team of Annie Jr.

MEET THE CAST

Perry Anderson (Annie) is thrilled to make her SYT debut! She has performed selections from various musicals through her musical theatre class at Arts Academy of the Carolinas. Perry has grown up singing along with Annie on screen and is honored to portray her on stage! She is a student at Dawkins Middle School, and her favorite subjects are ELA and social studies. She would like to thank God, her family, and her friends for loving and encouraging her through all things, big and small.

Sara Brooks (Orphan/NYC Ensemble) is excited to be a part of this production. She is a 4th grader at West View Elementary School. This is her third production with SYT. She was previously seen in Elf the Musical Jr. and Alice in Wonderland. Sara 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 (Lilly St. Regis) is a homeschooled student in 12th grade. She is so excited to participate in another SYT production! She has previously been in a several SYT shows, some of her favorites being Elf the Musical Jr. and Disney’s Freaky Friday the Musical. Emma would like to thank her friends and family for always supporting her and coming to cheer her on.

Hadley Cash (Molly) is delighted to be in her first show with the SYT! Hadley is a 6th grader and recently played the Witch in her school’s production of Into the Woods. Other favorite roles include Flounder in the Greer Children’s Theatre production of The Little Mermaid. The show Annie is especially poignant to Hadley as she was cast to play Annie in her school’s production of the show that was canceled due to COVID. She is thrilled to be a part of this production of the play she loves so much. Hadley would like to thank SYT and the entire cast & crew of Annie Jr. for this wonderful opportunity.

Addyson Crocker (Cecille/Usherette) is so excited to be in another SYT production! She was last seen at SYT in Disney’s Freaky Friday. She is a sophomore at Spartanburg High School and also plays tennis. She would like to thank everyone at SYT and her family for their support.

Veronica Glinyany (Miss Hannigan) is thrilled to be in another SYT production! Veronica is a senior at Dorman High School and has been in many SYT productions, including Kitty in Disney’s Freaky Friday the Musical and Deb in Elf the Musical Jr. She was most recently the stage manager for SYT’s production of Charlotte’s Web. Veronica loves her SYT family dearly, and she cannot wait to see where the rest of this year brings her! She would like to thank the entire cast, crew, and production team for this wonderful opportunity.

Ava Hisker (Warbucks Staff/Sound Effects Person/NYC Ensemble) is excited to be in another SYT production! She was last seen at SYT in Charlotte’s Web (Charlotte). Ava is in 11th grade at James F. Byrnes High School and loves to sing, act, and play on the varsity lacrosse team. Ava would like to thank her family and friends for all the love and support they have given her!

Gloriana Howard (Dog Catcher/Warbucks Staff/NYC Ensemble) has always loved acting. Some of her favorite roles include Sally in Dr. Seuss’s The Cat in the Hat and Alice in Alice in Wonderland at SYT. She was recently onstage as Little Old Lady in SCCT’s production of Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus. She would like to thank her friends and family for all their support, as well as the amazing SYT staff that made this experience possible. She hopes you enjoy the show!

Chloe Hujik (Annette/NYC Ensemble) is excited to be back on the SYT stage! She was last seen as Thing 2 in Seussical Jr. but has crewed shows since then, including Freaky Friday and Alice in Wonderland. Chloe is a 9^th grader at Spartanburg Day School. Apart from acting, she loves playing bass and swimming. She would like to thank her parents and friends for their constant love and support.

Anslee Johnson (Officer Ward/Warbucks Staff/NYC Ensemble) is thrilled to be performing in Annie as her first production with SYT. Her favorite roles have been Vera in And Then There Were None, and Sally in You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown. She is a senior at Boiling Springs High School and a member of View Church. She sends her thanks to her parents who support her activities, and always encourage her to try new things. She can’t wait for everyone to see this phenomenal cast perform.

Samuel Kitchen (Rooster) is happy to participate in his tenth production at SYT. Samuel has also enjoyed participating in productions at school, CAC at the Mill, USC Upstate, and more. His most recent role was Templeton/Lurvy in Charlotte‘s Web. Samuel’s other interests include academics, cooking, and hanging out with his siblings as the middle child of seven. Samuel would like to thank his family, friends, and the Annie Jr. production team for their support.

Duncan Knight (Oliver Warbucks) is honored to be in this production. This is Duncan’s fourth show with SYT. He previously played Robbie in Grace for President, Warren in Junie B. Jones is Not a Crook, and Raymond in Miss Nelson is Missing. Duncan is an eighth grader at Spartanburg Christian Academy where he will play Tin Man in their spring 2023 production of The Wizard of Oz. Duncan loves listening to classic rock (loudly), playing the guitar and bass guitar, drawing, and competing with the robotics team. He is thankful for Mrs. Byington and has enjoyed hanging with this cast and crew.

Sabrina Maldonado (Apple Seller/Warbucks Stuff/NYC Ensemble) is excited to make her SYT debut! Favorite credits include Asaka in Once on This Island Jr. She attends Florence Chapel Middle School, and her favorite subjects are writing and chorus. She would like to thank her family, friends, and teachers for supporting and believing in her.

Jane Martin (Duffy) longs singing, dancing, and acting. She has enjoyed playing Mrs. Mayor in Seussical Jr. and is excited to be in her first play at SYT. Jane is a student at Oakbrook Preparatory School and her favorite subjects are math and dance. Jane would like to thank her family and everyone who worked so hard on Annie Jr.

Cooper Martsberger (Bundles/Drake/Burt Healy) is thrilled to be in his first musical at SYT. His favorite SYT productions include Charlotte's Web (Wilbur) and Miss Nelson is Missing (Mouse). Cooper is a 6th grader at the Spartanburg Day School where he runs cross country and track and is on the basketball team. His hobbies also include acting and art. He would like to thank his family and friends for being supportive and encouraging of his many interests.

Adison McAbee (Mrs. Pugh/Star-to-Be) is excited to be making her SYT debut! Since the age of 9, she’s starred in many productions at her local theatre. Some of her favorite roles include Gertrude in Seussical and Beth in Little Women. Adison is a sophomore at Landrum High School and is on the golf team. She would like to thank the cast, crew, and her friends and family for their love and support!

Cassie Mccrady (July) is thrilled to have a new theatre family! Originally from Ohio, she recently moved to Woodruff where she attends Woodruff Middle School. Cassie was Moana in Moana Jr. for Rise Up Arts Alliance in Central Ohio. She was also cast as Pollyanna and played Lucy in A Charlie Brown Christmas along with school voice solos. Cassie is the daughter of Aaron and Julie Mccrady and is child number 6 out of 7 siblings.

Margo McDowell (Grace Ferrell) is ecstatic to be in one of her favorite shows! She made her SYT debut as Jovie in Elf the Musical Jr. last season and appeared as the “Bless the Lord” soloist in Godspell Jr. this summer. She attends Chesnee High where she is first chair cello in orchestra and plays tennis. She wants to thank all her friends and family for their love and support, and the Annie Jr. directors for the opportunity to play this wonderful character! Psalm 104:33

Grace Mitchell (Tessie) has appeared in dozens of print and web ads since the age of two and made her acting debut as Little Red Riding Hood in SYT’s summer camp production of Totally Red! A student at Pine Street School, Grace has been to nine countries and will spend the first seven months of 2023 in Australia. Annie Jr. is her first public stage performance.

Wren Padgett (Pepper) has last seen at SYT as an elf in Elf the Musical Jr., March Hare in Alice in Wonderland, and Storybook Live: The Day the Crayons Came Home. Wren is a 5th grader who loves playing piano, drums and reading. She would like to thank her SYT teachers, staff and cast/crew for their friendship and support.

Birdie Powell (Kate) is excited to return to the SYT stage! She was last seen as the Narrator in SYT’s production of Charlotte’s Web. Birdie is a 7th grade honor student at Gable Middle School. She would like to thank her family and friends for their continued encouragement and support.

Isabella Toscano (Mrs. Greer/NYC Ensemble) loves theatre and all things music and dance. This is her first show at SYT. Previous credits include Street Urchin in Descendants at Greer Children Theatre. Her hobbies include playing violin, dancing, and baking. She would love to thank all of her family and friends for supporting her dream of acting, and SYT for the opportunity to perform here.

PRODUCTION TEAM

DAWN BYINGTON (Guest Director) has been on stage since she was eight years old. She loves singing and acting and has loved directing at SYT for the past six years. Dawn is originally from Connecticut and moved here ten years ago. In her free time, she enjoys the mountains and beaches with her family. Dawn loves working for SYT and believes in its mission to educate and train youth in the theatre arts. Dawn also teaches and directs at Spartanburg Christian Academy.

ADAM SANDERS (SYT Director) grew up with SYT and loves directing the program that helped shape him. He has been the SYT Director since 2015, and previously taught and directed at the SC Children’s Theatre in Greenville, SC. Favorite directing credits include Godspell Jr., Disney’s Freaky Friday, Elf the Musical Jr., Disney’s Aladdin Jr., Mamma Mia! (SLT), Seussical Jr., and many more. He’d like to thank his beautiful wife, Kelsey, for loving him and being his biggest fan. Galatians 2:20.

SARAH KNEISLEY (Stage Manager) is so excited to be stage managing Annie Jr.! She is a member of SYT’s Junior Advisory Board and is a senior at Spartanburg High School. She's grown up at this theatre and is sad to leave it soon. She's been in many productions, but one of her favorites was Seussical. Sarah wants to thank to Adam, Dawn, and Mary for all their support.

MADISON DOGGETT (Assistant Stage Manager) has crewed several productions for Spartanburg Youth Theatre and Spartanburg Little Theatre. Her favorite productions include being the assistant stage manager for both Disney’s Freaky Friday and The Addams Family. She is a senior at SC Connections Academy and is a part of SYT's Junior Advisory Board. She would like to thank her family and friends for all their support.

MARY THALASSINOS (Choreographer/Assistant Director) is an actor, teacher, designer, and choreographer at SYT. She is also a 2020 graduate of Wofford College where she received a BA in theatre. Most recently, her work was seen in Charlotte's Web, in which she assistant directed, and sound designed. Her work has also been featured in Dr. Seuss’s The Cat in The Hat and in Alice in Wonderland, in which she was sound designer, and in Elf the Musical Jr. as the assistant choreographer. Fun fact! She was last seen on stage as Daisy in SLT's The Great Gatsby. A Spartanburg native, she is proud to work 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.

PAULA ARNOLD (Music Director) is excited to be serving as Music Director for Annie Jr. and is thankful for the opportunity to work with such amazing kids! Paula is a school counselor at Woodland Heights Elementary School. Paula has also worked as a high school choral director in addition to teaching drama, voice, and piano. She has enjoyed singing and playing the keyboard on her church’s worship team in the past. She and her husband, Chris, have 3 "Beau Brummell-ly" boys.

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.

KENNEDY ROBERTS (Costume Designer) is so excited to be back at SYT! Previous credits include Disney’s Freaky Friday (SYT), Sister Act (SLT), Little Women (MMT), The Legend of Sleepy Hollow (Limestone University), Legally Blonde (Byrnes High School), Pouf! (CLT) for which she won Best Costume Design at SHEFest 2021.

JADE ALFORD (Properties Master) is thrilled to be working with SYT for the first time! She has a BFA in musical theatre from Limestone College. At Limestone she was able to design costumes for Measure for Measure, and more recently worked as stage manager for Daddy Long Legs. Some of her favorite acting credits include You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown (Lucy Van Pelt) and The Little Mermaid (Aquata). She would like to thank Adam and the wonderful creative team for giving her the opportunity to design again!