Puffs Cast

Elizabeth Brisland (Form VI) is participating in her second performance here at Shady Side Academy. She is a member of the Residential Life community as she grew up in Chesapeake Virginia, before coming to Shady Side Academy for her sophomore year. She joined the theatre program her junior year and played the role of Lilith in the production "She Kills Monsters." She is also a member of the girls prep ice hockey team and plays defense. Elizabeth has played ice hockey for 10 years. In her free time, she loves drawing, reading, playing guitar, and listening to music.

Aaron Little (Form V) is excited to be participating in Puffs as Oliver. Of the five shows he's been a part of thus far, this is the first lead role that he's been able to play, and he's absolutely ecstatic about it. He's very used to playing comedic characters with a surplus of energy, and Oliver is no different. He's very excited to bring that energy to the table and illustrate Oliver's abbreviated seven years at the School of Male Magic and Female Magic. "Oliver is the second wizard I've played who doesn't have a damn clue how to to what he does." He says. "And I intend to make Oliver shine just as much as The Great Mage Steve did." Much like Oliver, Aaron came to Shady Side with the full intent of keeping his head down and figuring out how to be a student in a new environment. They’re both very used to being “good at school” and can’t stand answering a question incorrectly or getting so much as a B+. But just like Oliver found Wayne and Megan, Aaron found his friends too, and now he can lift his chin a little more. “I might have been a lonely corner-of-the-room-dweller if I hadn’t gotten into theatre. All the lasting friends I made are doing these shows with me.”

Kevin Polke (Form IV) is very excited to be returning to the Shady Side stage this year, having previously played the role of Chuck Biggs in She Kills Monsters and Ensemble in Pippin. Kevin has performed in community theatre productions and attended theater workshops for many years. Favorite roles include Dennis in Rock of Ages, Kenickie in Grease, and Ensemble in Scrooge. He is honored to be a Puff this year and gives much love to Mr. Dek and Mr. Davidheiser, Ayli Davidson, and to his family for their eternal support.

Elaine Gombos (Form VI) is delighted to work with such a dedicated and inspiring group of people in Shady Side Academy Senior School's production of Puffs. As a theater participant at SSA since her middle school years, she also played the lead of Agnes Evans in She Kills Monsters in 2021. Elaine is a best supporting actress nominee for the 2021 Gene Kelly Awards for Excellence in High School Musical Theater and was beyond honored to perform at two of its awards ceremonies. She has been involved in the performing arts since she was four years old. As a dedicated choral singer, Elaine has performed and competed at numerous venues worldwide, notably Lincoln Center in New York City, Mercedes-Benz Arena in Shanghai, and the 2014 and 2016 World Choir Games hosted in Riga, Latvia and Sochi, Russia. Currently, she is a member of the Junior Mendelssohn Choir of Pittsburgh (a spotlight soloist and Barbara Cass Award nominee), SSA's Chamber Choir, and SSA's a capella group, the Bulldog Bellas. Elaine is also a finalist in Pittsburgh Cultural Trust's Williams Sing Off Competition. She has experience acting and working on sets as a lead and as an extra in a movie and a TV series. Her other interests include golf, swimming, community service, writing, multiculturalism, and STEM. Elaine is grateful for SSA's theater and arts program and everyone who has made it so special!

Jeffrey Brunner (Form IV) is excited to be performing in his second fall play at the Senior School. Jeffrey played Steve in last year's play, She Kills Monsters, and also operated one of the follow spots in last year's musical, Pippin. Jeffrey has been going to Shady Side since Pre-K and has enjoyed performing at all grade levels. During his free time, Jeffrey rides his bike, rollerblades, and cooks. Jeffrey has an older brother and sister, a dog, and two guinea pigs. He would like to thank Mr. DH, Mrs. DH, Tron and Mr. Ingraham for their dedication to the show and he hopes you enjoy!

Ethan Chen (Form III) is delighted to be able to perform in his first play at the senior school, The Puffs. Ethan has previously acted three times in the fall play at the middle school since he arrived at the Shady Side Academy in sixth grade. Outside of school, Ethan enjoys fishing in his pond, biking around various cities, and hiking on trails around Fox Chapel with his family. Additionally, he loves playing racket sports such as tennis, badminton, and ping pong. Ethan would like to thank you for coming to see the show and hopes you have a great time watching it!

Sophia Gombos (Form IV), is very excited to be a part of the cast of Puffs. Sophia has been in the SSA fall play since 6th grade, the musical since 7th grade, and really enjoys the people and experiences that she gets to encounter. She has been in a TV show and movie before, and loves being a part of a cast and seeing everything come together behind the scenes. Along with acting, Sophia has also been a model since she was 6 years old, and has attended over 300 commercial photo shoots, more than 10 TV commercials, done 5 voice overs, and walked over 40 fashion shows. Sophia’s been dancing since she was four, and started official vocal training when she was eight. Besides dancing, singing, acting, and modeling, Sophia also enjoys drawing, writing, golf, and rock climbing. Sophia is looking forward to working with more people and continuing her acting experiences here at SSA!

Jinny Guo (Form V) is incredibly proud to join this amazing cast and excited to play multiple roles in Puffs. While theater and acting have always been a major passion in her life, she enjoys participating in fall play at SSA and working with director Mr. Dek Ingraham again. Last year, Jinny played the role of Monster Handler in She Kills Monsters. Outside of SSA, she spent a month in a theater program in Connecticut two years ago and took part in a play called Youtopia. Apart from theater, she also like painting, reading books, swimming, and traveling. Science and foreign languages are her favorite subjects at school. Jinny thanks the show's director Mr. Dek Ingraham, the production designer and technical director Mr. Austin Davidheiser, and all her fellow performers for making this fantastic theatrical production possible.

Andrew Hoe (Form V) was here last year and now he's back again to do more acting. Andrew is excited to be doing his first play after his long series of musicals and is certain Puffs will be just as good.

Chelsea (From VI) is very excited about performing in the production of Puffs this year. Chelsea has been doing theater at Shady Side Academy since she started in middle school. She has done every winter musical since 6th grade and began acting in the play in her freshman year. Some of her favorite roles include Evil Tina in She Kills Monsters and her ensemble parts in both The Mystery of Edwin Drood and Pippin. The community she has experienced and the countless hours she has spent at tech rehearsals have been some of the most memorable moments of her high school experience. Although she is upset her career as an actor in Shady Side's plays has come to an end, she is thankful for all of the lessons she has learned and opportunities the shows have given her.

Juliet Krokosky (Form IV) is excited to be apart of this unique show. Having her first high school theater experience last year as Tilly in She Kills Monsters, Juliet is excited for the opportunity to be in a new kind of show. The comical and sarcastic nature of this show, while fun, is new to Juliet. This is her 5th year participating in Shadysides theater department. She dances outside of school and M and M dance academy, and is involved in the arts in many other aspects. She is thrilled to be apart of such a fun show.

Cassie Li (Form III) is a fan of art, especially performing act. However, in her old school, there were not any chances for her take part in activities includes acting. Luckily she went to SSA this September and became a member of this great community. When she heard of Fall Play, she knew that she would definitely go. And here she is, in this fantastic and fabulous play.

Kelita Nolan (Form IV) is joining Puffs after 10 years of school theatre. She is excited to join after being unable to audition for She Kills Monsters last year. Kelita enjoys the performing arts and plays the flute in the Symphonic Band this year. She lives with four cats and leaves a trail of cat fur wherever she goes.

Cole Patterson (form VI). Puffs is the fifth show Cole is participating in at Shady Side. Despite many years of saying he would not follow in his brother's footsteps as an actor he somehow ended up here and found himself a second family and a home away from home in the SSA Drama Department that he wouldn’t give up for anything. His favorite classes this year is Biology and Pittsburgh History. He hopes to go to Juniata College and major in clinical psychology. He is a bit of a geek when it comes to his interests. Cole enjoys, video games, comics, manga, novels, cartoons, anime, and films. He is an ex-hockey player who still loves the game and religiously watches the Pittsburgh Penguins. He is most passionate however about music, he enjoys playing multiple instruments, primarily the guitar and voice, and listening to all the albums, artists, and genres he possibly can.

Leo Rickard (Form V) is elated to be a named character role in this year's production of Puffs. So elated, in fact, that he has given out various ceremonial friendship rings commemorating the group's time on set; three were given to the Production Directors, immortal, wisest and fairest of all beings. Seven to the crew members, great techies and craftsmen of the backstage halls. And nine, nine rings were gifted to the actors, who above all else desire a major role. For within these rings was bound the strength and the will to finish the production. But none of them were deceived, for another ring was not made. Deep in the land of the Glimcher Tech and Design Hub, in the Fires of the CNC Mill, the Leo Rickard definitely did not forge a master ring, and into this ring he totally did not pour his writing, his extroversion, and his will to make straight-up bizarre actor biographies. One ring to do anything but rule them all. Take his word for it.

Ben Rohr (FormVI) is extremely excited to be a member of the cast for this year's fall play. Ben is also a huge Harry Potter fan, so this year's production is especially fun for him. He really appreciates all the references and subtle jokes concerning the books and films. Ben is very much looking forward to playing the role of Cedric as well, and thinks seeing Cedric get to be a totally developed character is very cool. Ben greatly appreciates the opportunity to be in the show, and he would like to thank his family, Mr. Dek, DH, and all of his fellow students involved. Congrats everyone!

Madeira Semins (Form V) is thrilled to be participating in her eighth show at SSA, following a lively (and very dance heavy) performance as both Evil Gabbi last year in She Kills Monsters and featured dancer in Pippin. She is excited to be playing Harry this year, as well as some puppets and a large ghost.

Kat Wolfe (Form VI) is looking forward to performing as "Susie Bones" in this year's production of The Puffs. This is her third year participating in the play, and she is especially excited about this show. She had performed in two winter musicals at the middle school, but she had no prior experience with plays until her sophomore year of high school. While this was initially nerve wracking, she was met by so many welcoming and encouraging people. The play has since become something Kat always looks forward to. She looks back fondly on all the memories she has made and the people she has met. It has become an integral part of her high school experience, and she will always remember the things it has taught her. She would like to give a special thank you to everyone who has spent so much time and effort to make this production the best that it can be. Everyone has worked so hard and she can't wait to see it all come together. Thank you so much for coming out to support all of us, hope you enjoy the show!

Kayla Zhu (Form V) is thrilled to be in this production of "Puffs"! Kayla attended the Shady Side Academy middle school since the 6th grade, and has participated in the theater productions there as well. Kayla has previously been in "Alice in Wonderland: A Radio Play" as an ensemble character, and "She Kills Monsters" as Tilly here at the senior school. Kayla previously trained at the Pittsburgh CLO Academy for acting, voice, and dance, and attended the Drama Summer Intensive at the University of North Carolina School of the Arts in the summer of this year. Kayla is currently rehearsing in a workshop of Aaron Posner's adaptation of Anton Chekhov's "The Seagull" with The Collective at Carnegie Stage. Kayla is so incredibly excited for people to see this hilarious and wonderful play, and really hopes you enjoy it!