CAST

Harrison is a junior at Bear River High School, way out in Garland, Utah. He is recently coming from starring as Charlie Brown in his school’s production of You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown and actually was the voice of Mike on the Different: The Musical soundtrack. He is hoping after graduating high school, to pursue acting as a career. He would like to thank his parents and his best friend Kalia Thompson for being so incredibly supportive of him through the different roles he’s had, and being a great inspiration to keep going.

Marion is a super senior at BYU studying theatre education. She loves acting and singing, but also enjoys directing and stage managing. She was most recently seen on the BYU stage as Yente in Fiddler on the Roof and Henrietta Leavitt in Silent Sky. Marion has also recently worked on several productions, including this one, as music director, which she has also fallen in love with. She is so excited for the world premiere of this new musical and its very important story to tell. Lots of her family members are on the autism spectrum, and she has loved working on this show to help tell their story.

[see also CREW - Marion Pack - Vocal Coach]

Name: Myra Palmer

Grade: 16, Upcoming Junior

Role: Jessica Price

Myra plans to get her Major in Psychology, so that she can help others who have struggled with intense mental illness, or any problems. Myra was diagnosed with OCD in 2019, and Autism in 2022. She also has no intention of giving up a career in writing and illustrating Graphic Novels on the side. She is ambitious. Myra has been acting since nine years old, when her parents plopped her in a backyard Musical Rendition of Momotaro, due to her musical talent. After that, she went on to participate in many school musicals and plays, and even a public production at the SCERA Theater. She represents her school at state competitions, and through that portal, found Different, the musical. Myra is grateful to finally play her childhood self’s most coveted part, a female lead. She wasn’t very specific.

Myra takes great strides to one day be a very successful writer of all forms of media. She hopes that soon she will be invited to direct more pieces, especially those created by her own hand. She hopes to use her influence and lifetime to change lives for those who are mentally ill.

“I would like to thank three women who have changed my entire relationship with Theatre.

First of all my Mother, who has always dreamed of me thanking her when I became famous. She has reignited my confidence many times and has kept me going to rehearsal when my passion has faltered in the past. I love you, Momma.

Next, Sammy. My director, who I happened to see performing in a skateboarder rendition of Hamlet. She inspired me to reach the level of theater I have, and her level is my aspiration. She has put up with so much from me and been so patient when I fell short often. Thank you, Sammy.

Lastly, my Aunt Darcie, who helped me discover my passion for directing, and who has comforted me through my entire struggle with mental illness. I love you, Auntie. Thank you for trusting me.

I also want to provide an additional thanks to my Father, who I love dearly, and my UltraDirector, Mr. Avila who taught me all I know.

Thank you my beloved friends and family. May we meet at the tree one day.”

Sara Platter: Sara is a Senior at BYU majoring in the BFA Acting program. She has most recently performed in a staged reading of The Thanksgiving Play, BYU's TYA production of Hamlet, several student Advanced Directing Projects, and many more. She is excited to continue pursuing her education in Acting past her college career such as her current study in the history, practice, and use of clowning, and anticipates performing in many more productions in the years to come. She is grateful for the wonderful friends, family, fellow actors, students, professors, and mentors that have helped her along her journey.

Marie Jacobs is a Junior at BYU, majoring in Acting. She has previously performed in several advanced directing projects at BYU, including Peter Pan Goes Wrong, What’s Up, Doc?, and Almost, Maine. She is looking forward to being in future BYU productions and eventually becoming a professional actor and a seminary teacher for the LDS church. She is thrilled to be a part of such an important production, and wishes to thank her family and friends for their love and support.

Emily Trejo graduated from BYU in 2021 with a BA in Theatre Education K-12 and minors in TESOL K-12 and Family Life. She is currently the theatre teacher at Diamond Fork Middle School in Spanish Fork. She is very excited to work with the students on this year’s production. She’d tell you what it is, but is worried you might spill the beans to her students. She is grateful to Sammy for this opportunity to act again. It has been so much fun to be a director, dramaturg, and techie but it has been nice going back to where she first fell in love with theatre. Aside from theatre she also fills her time playing violin in her band, Mariachi Montes Azules. Emily would like to give a special shout out to her husband, Dravyn, who encourages to keep participating in all the things she loves.

Joseph (Jo) Hansen: Jo is a junior at Lone Peak highschool. He wants to go into either theater or English in college but, as any highschooler knows, that definitely is not set in stone. Jo has been doing theater since he was eight, playing roles in over 20 productions, some of which include: James in James and the Giant Peach Jr, Jack Kelly in Newsies, and Daniel in Once on this Island. Also, he voices Henry in the recordings of Different the Musical on Spotify. He would like to thank his family and friends for supporting him throughout his theater endeavors, and for constantly being there for him. He never would have been here if it wasn't for them.