Brent Pedersen is an active member of the theatre community. Brent earned his BFA from Oklahoma Christian University. His prior theatre experience entails directing, stage managing, set design, props master/designer and even performing across the state of Oklahoma. Brent’s resume includes Annie, Fiddler on the Roof, Shrek the Musical, Thoroughly Modern Millie, Beauty and the Beast, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, Seussical, Cinderella, Bye Bye Birdie, She Loves Me, and many more.

Elena Gage Weinbender (Assistant Director) is an Oklahoma-based actress/singer originally from Baltimore, MD. A musician since she was 5, Elena’s roots start in church singing alongside her mother, Monica, her aunts, Ana & Elena, and her late grandfather, John. By the age of 9, she started reading music through elementary school band at St. Augustine Catholic School in Elkridge, MD when she learned to play clarinet. From there, her love of music and performance came to fruition when she accepted an instrumental education scholarship her junior year of college after a degree change in 2012. She would continue her music studies both in clarinet and voice until she graduated from William Carey University (Hattiesburg, MS) in 2016. Following graduation, she went on to complete her Master of Music Theatre degree from Oklahoma City University. Through both schools, she’s studied with Drs. Connie Roberts, Bill Christensen, and more recently Molly Johnson and coached by Jan McDaniel and Brandon Hayes. During her education, she performed shows such as Of Thee I Sing (Diana Deveraux), Hairspray (Motormouth Mabel), and On the Town (Madam Dilly). Following graduation in 2018, she made her professional debut with The Lyric Theatre of Oklahoma’s production of Freaky Friday (Ms. Meyers). She was most recently seen in shows such as 25th Annual…Spelling Bee (Marcy Park), SpongeBob: The Musical (Sandy Cheeks), Water by the Spoonful (Orangutan), and Godspell (Joanne). She’s been lucky enough to work with directors/conductors such as Karen Coe Miller, Tommy Malek, Isaiah Williams, Suzanne Richtal, Michael Baron, Dr. Matthew Mailman, Steve Elkins Kennedy, and Jordan M. Andrews. When she’s not actively performing, she works as a supervisor at Midfirst Bank, travels anywhere to see Breaking Benjamin concerts, and more recently explores state campgrounds with her husband, Patrick, and there dogs, Dobby & Penny. She is so grateful to all the kids for being so welcoming to her, understanding her stance on performance, their professionalism and of course, their talents, no matter how big or small. She would also like to thank their fearless director, Brent Pedersen, for not only entrusting her to assist in their production, but being a great friend through this process. Finally, all performances by the kids are dedicated to her grandfather John Lazo who passed away in September. She owes the beginning of her music career to her Pop-Pop.. thank you for humming to me when I used to cuddle under your chin as a kid, Pop. Without it, I don’t know what this life would be.

Amelia Brunkhorst is a Drama Major at the Classen School of Advanced Studies MS. She is an eighth-grade student and finds passion in theatre. She played Charlie Brown in the VPA Showcase at Classen, and Actor in Slay Troubles by William Griffen in the 10-minute Winter Plays at Classen, Assistant Stage Manager for Legally Blonde Jr., Costume Manager for The Curious Savage at Classen, Costumes and Props for Tuck Everlasting at Classen, Stage Manager for Mye and the Sandpeople at Classen, and played Ralph in the Winter Monologue Showcase. She has been in 4 debate tournaments and won 2 first-place medals and 1 second-place medal. She has played guitar for 5 years and volleyball for 4 years straight. She has always been a straight-A student on the Principal High Honor Roll at West Nicholas Hills, Ridgeview, and Classen SAS MS. She is a French 2 student and plans to continue through high school. She aspires to be a great student, a friend on the court, and a kind face in the halls.

Lali Ramirez-Neal is the Assistant Stage Manager for Freaky Friday! She goes to school at Classen SAS MS and is in 7th grade. She is a drama major and takes two drama classes, Intermediate Drama and Debate. She has been doing musicals since she was about 4 years old and she is currently doing a musical called Xanadu. She can play multiple instruments, but the ones she mostly focuses on are Trumpet, Piano, and Guitar. She plays soccer and her positions are goalie or left wing. She also mentors a class for 6-10 year olds at Kismet Arts Studio! Her goal in life is to obviously graduate high school, but she wants to become a lawyer or an actress!

Mary, a native New Jerseyan, began her career of music directing while studying at Elon University in North Carolina. She worked in many regional theatres up and down the east coast before settling in Oklahoma, where she is currently a Professor of Voice at both Oklahoma City University and the University of Central Oklahoma. She is a frequent Music Director for both professional, community, and educational theatres in the area, and has a thriving private voice studio. Here in Oklahoma, she has been seen both onstage and in the pit for several local theatres including Lyric Theatre of Oklahoma, City Rep Theatre, Upstage Theatre, The Jewish Theatre of Oklahoma, Oklahoma City Theatre Company, The Pollard Theatre, and the Poteet Little Theatre at St. Luke’s. Mary was most recently Music Director for OU’s fall production of Heathers, and her next adventure is King of Pangea this spring at Lyric. Some favorite shows and roles are Amy in Company, Maureen in Rent, and Liliane Le Fluer in Nine, as well as Wife to Kyle, and Mom to Ella and Ruby.

Alyssa Hedding is a performer and choreographer from Flower Mound, TX. She is a Senior at the University of Central Oklahoma, earning her Bachelor of Music degree in Music Theatre and Minor in Dance. Some of her favorite credits include Meg in Little Women, Dance Captain/Ensemble for Rock of Ages, a featured performer in NSU’s River City Players, and the associate choreographer for She Loves Me. Alyssa began dancing at Footlights Dance Studio at the age of 3 and that has been her dance home ever since. After she graduates she will be teaching at Footlights and pursuing her plans to be a full-time performer and choreographer. Alyssa is so thankful that Brent gave her the opportunity to choreograph such a fun show with such talented kids!

Kyle Wierick serves as the instructor of Technical Theatre, Stagecraft, and 5th Grade Drama at Classen SAS Middle School. He is a graduate of the University of Central Oklahoma with a Bachelor of Arts in Arts Administration. Stage and screen credits include equity and non-equity theatrical roles, stunt shows for Six Flags theme parks, documentary characters for the The National Geographic, Lifetime, and Discovery channels, as well as various voiceover works. Production experience includes crewing Lyric Theatre of Oklahoma’s 50th and 52nd Summer Stock seasons, Crew Lead for Drape Kings Washington, D.C. branch, and Concession Manager for The National Theatre. He is also author and illustrator of a children’s book entitled, Theatresaurus.

Mia Jacobs is an 8th grader at Classen SAS MS. She has been in The Jungle Book, Aladdin, Tuck Everlasting, and The Curious Savage. She is excited to do Freaky Friday. She would like to thank her friends and family.