Sami Blake (she/her) is so excited to make her Directing debut in Seussical, the first show she ever performed in 10 years ago! Sami graduated from Ithaca College, receiving a BFA in Musical Theater in 2022. Some of her favorite performance credits: Legally Blonde (Paulette), Annie (Miss Hannigan), Rent (Ensemble), The Penelopiad (Helen of Troy/Melantho) and The Trail to Oregon (Mother). Sami wants to thank Laura Casertano for being her rock during this process, her amazing cast and creative team for being down to play and create magic with her, and Eric Simon who’s legacy lives on in everything she does.

Laura Casertano is an IlluminArt Teaching Artist & Touring Company Cast Member and is so excited to be assistant stage managing for the first time! She is a singer, songwriter, and actor based in Staten Island, with a Bachelor of Music degree in Vocal Performance from Hunter College. Laura has appeared in various projects, performing in venues such as 54 Below, Brooklyn Bowl, Carnegie Hall, The St. George Theatre, and The Theater at MSG. She is also in an original duo with her sister called The Laura The Melissa (@thelaurathemelissa). Laura has composed jingles and music for IlluminArt shows: “Asking Alex” and “Alex Around the World.” Favorite credits: A Year With Frog and Toad (Snail/Lizard/Mother Frog), Baby (Lizzie), The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee (Olive), and A Little Night Music (Anne).

Steve is thrilled to be back with Illuminart working on this fun show (couldn't ask for a better team/cast to work with). When Steve is not music directing, he is either working as a high school music teacher, or performing with several bands across the tri-state area.

Kristi is in her 9th season as a Touring Company member and Teaching Artist with IlluminArt Productions. She has a BFA in Acting from Wayne State University in Detroit. When not performing at schools around Staten Island, she teaches musical theater, dance, mural making and choreographs main stage musicals with and for young audiences with IlluminArt Productions. She also just directed her first show “Tortoise vs. Hare 2: This Time it’s Personal” with IlluminArt. Kristi enjoys the community theater scene here on Staten Island and was most recently featured as Penelope Pennywise in Urinetown and Ma Joad in The Grapes of Wrath, both with Ghostlight Players.

Courtney Emerson is a multi-skilled artist hailing from Staten Island, New York. Aside from directing, she is also an actress, playwright, and set/props designer with a passion for storytelling and a dedication to her craft. Instagram: @cocoem

Ally Popick is the Stage Manager and Audio Tech- nician for IlluminArt Productions Touring Company and a freelance audio engineer and stage manager. She originally started on the stage as an actor and musician, but throughout her time doing theater and music, she fell in love with what goes on behind the scenes and decided to help create shows and experi- ences from behind the curtain!

Asher Rin Paterno (Assistant Stage Manager) is so extremely excited to be a part of this wonderful show. Huge thanks to Ariel and all of Illuminart for giving me this opportunity. Breaks legs to all the cast and enjoy the show!

This is Matthew Homme’s second show with Illuminart. He is in his 4th year at CSI and is a lighting designer who has worked with spotlight theater for a year now. Some of his favorite shows he has worked on are Oliver (Spotlight Repertory theater, Lighting) Bat Boy (Spotlight Repertory theater, Lighting) Hello Dolly (Spotlight Repertory Theater, Lighting).