Ax of Murder Cast

Cheyenne is a junior this year at DHS. They were previously on the DHS stage in Hunchback of Notre Dame, Pandora’s Backback, and Descendants. In their free time they enjoy art, writing, foraging, and loves animals. In the future Cheyenne would like to pursue a career in early child hood education or attend mortuary school. They would like to give special thanks to their pets and their family.

Laynie is currently a senior at DHS. She has been in many theatre productions. Her favorites being Catherine in “It’s Not You, It’s Me,” Eve in “Descendants,” Barbara Maitland in the GI production of “Beetlejuice,” and many more. She has been in every theatre production at DHS since her freshman year, has been in Honors Choir for 2 years, and has been taking singing lessons at Woodlawn Arts Academy for 2 years. Laynie planes to attend college as a theatre major with minors in business and education. She plans to become a playwright and also a theatre director at either a performing arts school or public theatre. She would like to thank her mom, dad, and sister for supporting her in every way. Also, a special thanks to her best friends for always helping her and encouraging her in everything she does.

Brett is currently a sophomore this year at DHS. He as appeared in multiple theatre productions previously, however his favorites are the Lion King, Little Mermaid, and Willy Wonka. In his free time, he enjoys hanging out with his friends, preforming in plays and being a part of DHS Key Club. Brett is also a part of the Penguin Project. He would like to give special thanks to his mom, dad, sister, and his friends.

Senior Madison Cumberland is playing Taylor Merridew in DHS’s production of Ax of Murder. She has been in 11 previous productions. Her favorite production at DHS was Descendants. In her free time, she is involved in dance team, soccer, Key Club, Student Council, Penguin Project, and on the side extreme couponing. Her future goal is to some day become a child psychologist, but she is unsure at this time of where she would like to attend school. Madison would like to give a shout out to her awesome parents, Michele and Troy. Additionally, she would like to thank the people who keep her sane Ainsley, Ian, Emily, and of course Jacob.

Lillian Deter is a senior at Dixon High School and is playing Officer Sue Poindexter in Ax of Murder. She is involved in band, choir, Madrigals, dance, Scholastic Bowl, and the Penguin Project of the Sauk Valley. She has been involved in the past 4 shows at DHS, and many others with the community. Her favorite shows that she has appeared in were Annie Jr. and Fiddler of the Roof. Later this fall, she will be in the Penguin Project of the Sauk Valley’s production of School House Rock Live Jr. and will be featured as the Rat King in Woodlawn’s production of “The Nutcracker.” She would like to give special thanks to Ben Lightner for trusting her a little too much with power tools and Mr. Ryan Hoffman for not letting her fail AP Calculus.

Aidan is a Senior this year at Dixon High School. In “Ax” they play the role of Colin Chambers. Aidan’s past theatre experience includes Davey in “Newsies” and Ben in “Descendants.” In their free time, Aidan reads, listens to music, and writes stand-up material. After graduating from DHS, Aidan plans to move to Chicago and pursue a career in as a stand-up comedian. Aidan would like to thank their friends and family, especially the Kellys’ and Ahmad-Coltrain.

Gavin is a sophomore this year at Dixon High School. This will be his first time appearing upon the Dixon High School stage. Gavin enjoys playing football and basketball at his grandma and grandpas house in his free time. In the future, he plans to attend college and become a teacher. He would like to give special thanks to his parents, family, and friends for always supporting him.

Ian, a Junior this year at DHS, is playing the role of Sergeant Mike. He has previously appeared in over 20 theatrical productions. His favorites are “Beetlejuice” in GI, Aladdin Jr., and Music Man. Outside of theatre, Ian is involved in Key Club, plays 1 st chair tuba in band, and plays self-started single person pro disc golf personal league. In the future, Ian would like to pursue a career as a history teacher or become a police officer. He would like to give special thanks to his entire family and his close friends Jacob, Madi, and Brett.

Cecilia Hartman plays Delia Mondaign and is a senior at DHS. In the past she was in all the Jr. musicals in junior high. At DHS, she has been a card soldier in “Alice in Wonderland,” a Newsie in “Newsies,” and Blackbeard in “Night at the Wax Museum.” Outside of theatre she participates in Honors Choir and Madrigals. After high school she plans to attend Sauk Valley Community College to continue her education and currently plans on majoring in sociology. A special thank you to her mom and grandparents for always supporting her and being her lights in the dark.

Olivia is currently a junior at Dixon High School this year. She has appeared previously on the stage in 8 th grade for the crew of “Music Man.” In her free time, she is involved in Madrigals, football, and Acapella. In the future she plans to attend college and double major in law and political science. She would like to give special thanks to her mom and Aidan Flanagan for looking like that.

Eve Hvarre is a senior this year at DHS, and has been performing in theatre since she was a freshman. She is a part of the ensemble cast but has also appeared previously in Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland, Newsies, Night at the Wax Museum, Hunchback of Notre Dame, and Pandora’s Backpack. She also was part of the crew for DHS’s Descendants and helped build the set for Centennial’s Matilda over the past summer. Away from the theatre, she is involved in Key Club, DHS’s Dance Team, Centerstage’s Competition team, and she is a part of DHS yearbook and newspaper. After high school, she wants to major in Journalism and work for a newspaper or magazine company. Eve would like to thank her friends, and family for always supporting her and Ben Lightner for helping her get over her fear of power tools.

Molly is sophomore this year at DHS. This will be her third show preforming upon the DHS stage. However, she has preformed in ten other shows within the Sauk Valley area. Her favorite role that she has played was Belle in DHS’s Descendants. Outside of theatre, she is involved in dance team. When she graduates, she would like to become a hairstylist. Molly would like to give special thanks to her mom, Aunt Jackie, dad, and Aunt Toni for always supporting her.

Olivia is a freshman this year at DHS. They have been in one play previously and are striving to be in more in the future. They have previously appeared in Romeo & Juliet and will appear in Ax of Murder and A Christmas Carol this year. In the future Olivia would like to become a neuro surgeon or a heart surgeon. They also would like to pursue a career as an actress, teaching young kids, or become a therapist. In their free time they participate in karate as a teacher and competitively, are in band, acapella, and Key Club. They would like to give thanks to their mom, dad, Nathaniel, and Aiden.

Ava Pazera is playing the role of Malone in this current play. She has previously appeared on the stage in seven musicals. Ax of Murder will be her first-time preforming in a play. Her favorite performances have been Guys and Dolls and The Lion King. When she is not preforming in theatre, she is involved in private voice lessons, an acapella group, and enjoys drawing. In the future, Ava would like to have a career in graphic design or illustration. She would like to give special thanks to her parents and to her dog for letting her recite her lines in front of him.

Leslie is currently a Junior at DHS. She has appeared on the DHS previously as Liz in Pandora’s Backpack, a Congregant in Hunchback of Notre Dame, and Jane in Descendants. Outside of theatre she is also a part of DHS Varsity Team, Madrigals, and Honors Choir. In the future, Leslie plans to attend Carroll University and eventually become a psychologist. She wants to give special thanks to Laynie Berkey, Jana Breedlove, and Aiden Flannagan which are her very best theatre family.

Jacob is a senior this year at DHS and is excited to play Brady Parks in Ax of Murder. Jacob’s previous theatre experiences include Night at the Wax Museum, Newsies, Descendants, Peter Pan, Mulan, and many, many, more. When not preforming on the stage, Jacob is involved in scuba diving, hiking, Penguin Project, Key Club, Student Council, boxing, and baseball. In the future, he plans on being happy and spreading love as well as being a police officer. He would like to thank his mom, dad, and the rest of his family as well as the directors and his best friends Madi, Ian, and Brett. “I say dance; they say how high,” – Michael Scott

Falan is a freshman this year at DHS. She has previously appeared in Beauty and the Beast, Seusical, Willy Wonka, and The Lion King. This will be her first time appearing on the DHS stage. In her free time she is in anime club and she plays softball. In the future, she would like to travel the country and be a voice actor on the go. She would like to give special thanks to her dad for encouraging to participate in theatre.

Grace is a freshman this year at DHS. She has previously appeared on the stage in six shows at Woodlawn. Most recently in Guys and Dolls, Moana, The Lion King, Willy Wonka, Seusical, and Beauty and the Beast. In her fee time she is on Dance Team and is also involved with Penguin Project. In the future she plans to go into the medical field. She would like to give special thanks to Mrs. H and Faith for building her up as an actor.

Emily is a sophomore this year at DHS. This is her first year appearing on the DHS stage. In her free time Emily runs cross country and plays soccer. She also participates in Key Club and Student Council. In the future, Emily plans to attend medical school and become a doctor. She would like to give special thanks to her parents for encouraging her to audition and Teyla Wendt for dragging her to the auditions.

Teagan is a freshman this year at DHS. Teagan has appeared in multiple other shows, notably Willy Wonka, Mary Poppins, The Lion King, Peter Pan, Moana, Guys and Dolls, and Frozen. In her free time she enjoys graphic design and art. Currently she does not plans for the future. She would like to give special thanks to her family for encouraging her join theatre in the first place.

Tyra is a senior this year at DHS. This will be her fifth time appearing on stage. She has previously preformed in Newsies, Alice in Wonderland, Wax Museum, and Pandora’s Backpack. In her free time she is a part of her Church Youth Group Worship Team and a part of Acapella group at school. In the future, Tyra would like to start her own baking company. She would like to give special thanks to her mom for helping her not forget her dreams.

Abby is a senior this year at DHS and has been in 11 shows so far, her favorites being Newsies and Matilda. Outside of school she participates in Madrigals, bowling, and Penguin Project. She enjoys hanging out with her friends, reading, driving around aimlessly, and theatre. After high school she plans to attend college for environmental studies. She would like to give special thanks to her friends and family who have supported her throughout the last four years. Also, thanks to Ben Lightner for dealing with her all summer.

Christopher is a freshman this year at DHS. He has previously appeared in Jungle Book, 101 Dalmatians, Cinderella, Aristocrats, Mulan, Seussical, Willy Wonka, The Lion King, Music Man, Peter Pan, and Guys and Dolls. When not preforming, he is involved in Student Council. Christopher would like to give special thanks to his sister.

Teyla is a sophomore this year at DHS. She has previously appeared on stage in Willy Wonka Jr, Lion King Jr, Pandora’s Backpack, and Descendants. Outside of theatre she does cross country, track, Student Council, and Key Club. In the future, Teyla would like to go to go to school to become a medical examiner or forensic scientist. She would like to give special thanks to Aiden and Iaynic for always giving her rides, her family, dog, and friends, but also to Emily Smith for joining her on stage.

Owen is a freshman this year at DHS. Owen may be new to the DHS stage but has previously appeared in Beauty and the Beast, Seussical, Willy Wonka, Mary Poppins, High School Musical, Lion King, Willy Wonka, Peter Pan, Moana, Guys and Dolls, Frozen, and Musical Review. In his free time he plays tennis, and is involved in Student Council and Key Club. In the future he would like to work with technology, education, or do theatre. He would like to give special thanks to his parents.

Senior Ellenor Zimmerman is playing the role of Marilu O’Conner in her tenth production. She has previously appeared in shows such as Newsies, Night at the Wax Museum, and a musician in Beetlejuice. Outside of theatre Ellenor is the Key Club President, Student Council Co-President, Co- Varsity Cheer Captain, First Chair Flute, and on the track team. Next year, she plans to attend either Sauk Valley Community College or a 4-year university but is unsure what subject she would like to study. She would like to thank her friends and family for supporting her across her entire theatre journey.