A Christmas Carol Cast

Sawyer Richman is a Junior BFA musical theater major at SIU. This is Sawyer’s second mainstage production at SIU and his first major role in a non-musical play. Last year he was in the ensemble of She Loves Me. Sawyer has also stage-managed several productions at SIU including The Black Paradox, and Dragons Love Tacos (MSP 2024). Sawyer also enjoys playwriting, singing, and video games. Sawyer wants to thank everyone who has supported his acting journey and hopes you enjoy the show!

J’kuion is a 20-year-old sophomore B.A Theater major from East St. Louis, IL here at SIU School of Theater & Dance. This is his second production at SIU after The Black Paradox where he played the roles of Shemar, Claude, and Jim. Other performances in Collinsville, IL include The Crucible as Marshall Herrick, Grease: The Musical as Johnny Casino and Leaving Iowa as The Grandpa and Jack Singer. J’kuion has also worked backstage on 3 productions for SIU including Ride the Cyclone, She Loves Me, and most recently The Lightning Thief: A Percy Jackson Musical. While not performing, J’kuion spends a good majority of his time listening to music, hanging out with close friends, and looking for ways to add to his fashion style. J’kuion would like to thank everyone who came out to support the cast, crew, and anybody involved in this production, and hope that you all enjoy it as we enjoy doing it. He hopes that this show gives you a new perspective and insight, not just on Christmas, but as humans who deal with internal and external battles. God Bless us All!

Kenzie Losinski is a junior from NW Indiana double majoring in Musical Theater and Communications. Recent credits include The Trail to Oregon as Son, The Prom in the Ensemble, Not I as Actor, and The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee as Olive Ostrovsky. She hopes everyone enjoys the show!

Amelia Warner is a sophomore BFA in Musical Theater at SIUC. She is so excited to join the production of A Christmas Carol! Amelia has been doing theater since she was eight years old. You might have seen her in previous SIU productions like Dragons Love Tacos (Red Dragon) at McLeod Summer Playhouse, Philoten (Philoten), School for Wives (Agnes), and Wedding Band (Princess). She thanks all her friends and family, especially her twin brother and parents for supporting her since day one. Amelia also thanks everyone who helped in this lively production in any way. She dedicates her performance to Maxwell, Jacob, Uncle Jason, and her Grandma Shirley and Papap Wally "The past is forever living for those who chose to remember it" - Spirit of Christmas Past. Enjoy the show!

You may have seen him in 2023’s New Faces performance and The Black Paradox here at SIU’s School of Theatre and Dance. Away from the spotlight, Damaurion enjoys cooking, singing, and studying emotional intelligence. He thanks his fellow cast members for being amazing people, and his director, Kesiana Obue, for not only giving him this opportunity but also bringing life, joy, and dedication to him as an actor. Our prime purpose in this life is to help others. Sit back and watch him blossom into this world of wrenching warmth and togetherness.

This is Lia’s 7th show at SIU! Past credits include Lady Capulet in Romeo and Juliet, Ms. Boyle in Agatha Christie’s The Mousetrap, Mattie in Alice Childress’ Wedding Band, and a featured soloist in SIU’s Sondheim Tribute Revue. They have also performed as a swing in Lucky Stiff! Lia has also worked in costume and enjoys dressing for shows at SIU. Lia is very excited to perform for you again and they hope you thoroughly enjoy the show! God bless us, everyone!

Iris Thompson is in their third year at SIU as a BA theatre major, and this is their first time acting in a main stage production. They also were the assistant stage manager during last year’s production of Ride the Cyclone, and they love getting involved with theatre and the community. Iris wishes to thank their family for the constant love and support throughout the years, and their fellow performers for being great to work with!

Lydia Holterman is a Junior Theater Major here at SIU. Past credits at SIU include The School for Wives as Horace, Murphy’s Law of Pretenders as Gia, and Fierce’s production of The Trail to Oregon as Grandpa/Cletus Jones. Earlier this semester, Lydia was the stage manager for The Lightning Thief, and she frequently works offstage as a stitcher and dresser. 

Dominic is a sophomore working towards his BA in Theatre. Dominic is from the horseradish capital of the world in Collinsville, Illinois. This is Dominic’s first main stage show with the SIU School of Theatre and Dance. He has acted behind the camera with MCM as Cop 1 in Snappy. Dominic is thrilled to take you all through the story of A Christmas Carol with this production. He wants to continually thank his parents for their continued support and love for him. He also wants to send much love and support towards the designers and cast for a Christmas Carol as he had so much fun working with them.

Israeli Jones is a 20 year old musical theater BFA junior from Cairo, Illinois. You may have seen her in the School of Music’s production of Old Maid and the Thief, as Lula Greene in The Wedding Band, as Sally Jackson in The Lightning Thief, and as an ensemble member in shows such as She Loves Me and last summer at McLeod Summer Playhouse in The Prom and Hello Dolly!. She’s really excited to be in this production of A Christmas Carol, and hopes everyone loves it!

Gaige is a Senior getting his Bachelor's in Fine Arts Musical Theater. This is Gaige’s second appearance on the McLeod Theater stage, you may have seen him last spring as Arpad in She Loves Me. Gaige is very excited to be working with this cast and crew. He would like to thank everyone for coming and supporting SIU’s School of Theater and Dance. He sends all the thanks to his Mother for her continuous love and support. 

Bizi Cutherell is a junior at SIU getting her BFA in musical theatre. You may have seen her in past shows at SIU as Dionyza in Philoten and Her Painful Pattern of Adventures, as the Bus Boy/ensemble in She Loves Me, or as Panche in Fierce Musical Theatre's production of 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee. In addition to her acting pursuits, she served as a stitcher in the McLeod Summer Playhouse 2024 season and costume designer in Fierce Musical Theatre's production of Trail to Oregon. She would like to thank the entire cast and crew for making A Christmas Carol a show full of mirth and spirit for all. You can find her on social media @bizi.cutherell

This is Blue's first performance with SIU School of Theater and Dance. She has been in theater for 8 years, and danced for 14 years. Outside of theater she loves reading and writing. She would like to thank her family who encouraged her on her journey.

Yasmin Martinez-Powell is a new member of the Southern Illinois theatre community, though you may have seen her in the 2024 production of New Faces, as well as her most recent role as Daughter in Trail to Oregon  produced by Fierce Musical Theater at Southern Illinois University. A freshman pursuing a BFA in Musical Theatre, Yasmin hails from Springfield, IL, where she gained most of her experience. Some of her favorite roles include Stoner Chick in Heathers (2023), Ensemble in Beauty and the Beast (2023), and Constance in Ride the Cyclone (2023). She is thrilled to embark on her journey with this fantastic production of A Christmas Carol and hopes you enjoy the hard work that the cast and crew have put into the show!

Jack Kinkaid is delighted to join the cast of A Christmas Carol for his debut on the McLeod stage.  Credits include The Jungle Book, Aristocats as Thomas O’Malley, Finding Nemo as Nigel, and Frozen as Grand Pabbie at Market House Theater in Paducah, KY, as well as Godspell at Saint Andrew School (SAS) in Murphysboro where he is a fifth-grader. In addition to performing, Jack Kinkaid enjoys playing baseball, soccer, basketball, and music (piano and violin, member of the SIU and SAS Children’s choirs).  He would like to thank his family for their love and support, especially his brother for joining him in past performances—with very special thanks to Kesiena C. Obue, the cast, and the production crew for the opportunity to be so warmly welcomed into the SIU School of Theatre and Dance family.

Quincy is a freshman and A Christmas Carol is his first show at SIU. He has participated in multiple shows throughout middle school and high school. Such as Shrek Jr, Beauty and the Beast Jr, A Midsummer Night's Dream, and Little Shop of Horrors. Quincy is very excited for you to come support him in his first production at SIU.

This is Jack's second show with the SIU School of Theatre and Dance. Past credits include The School For Wives as Georgette. Jack is an aviation flight and management major. He would like to thank his parents and friends for their constant love and support.