Bright Star Cast

Josie Anderson is 16 years old and a sophomore at Andover High School. Her past credits include Once Upon a Mattress (Lady Larken, Andover High School) Bring it On (Kansas All State) Billy Elliot (Angela Robinson, Music Theatre of Wichita). She will be seen next in Godspell (Katie Banks-Todd Studio of Performing Arts) and The Sound of Music (Louisa, Music Theatre of Wichita). Josie has been dancing to her dreams for 13 years at Kansas Dance Academy, and has been seen in numerous productions with MTW and MTYP in the last 8 years. Josie is always thankful for Miss Diane and her dance family at KDA, and to Katie Banks for helping her grow into the performer she is today, and her family for their unwavering support!

Molly Beth Blanchard is a rising senior at Baton Rouge Magnet High School in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, and is ecstatic to be attending SSTI for the first time! A few past credits include Heathers the Musical, Disney’s The Little Mermaid, Footloose, Into the Woods, and Disney’s Mary Poppins. Molly would like to thank her parents and SSTI for this incredible opportunity!

Lauren Bries is a rising sophomore at Naperville Central High School in Naperville, IL, and is delighted to perform in Bright Star, her first production at SSTI! Lauren has been in Chicago, A Christmas Story, High School Musical, and Seussical, as well as many other productions. She wants to give a huge thank you to SSTI for this amazing opportunity. So, now, sit back, relax, and enjoy the show!

Gabriella Collins is a rising Senior at Southside High School in Ft Smith, Arkansas. Gabriella plays the flute, piccolo, violin and has performed in over 21 musicals. Her favorite roles include Penny in Hairspray, Mabel in Pirates of Penzance and Little Red in Into the Woods. The highlight of her Musical Theater endeavors was being chosen as a soloist, from a nationwide audition, to sing in the Third Annual Kristin Chenoweth Masterclass. Gabriella would like to thank her SSTI family for this amazing opportunity.

Ellie Hewitt-Corzine is a rising freshman from Asheville, North Carolina and she's very excited to perform in this beautiful show set in her home state! She attended SSTI Junior for 2 years and is overjoyed to be returning to this community of talented artists. Her recent credits include Once on This Island, Newsies, A Chorus Line, and Mary Poppins. Eleanor would like to thank everyone at Asheville Performing Arts Academy for their constant support, and SSTI for giving her this amazing opportunity.

Dominic DeCicco is a rising senior at Blue Valley Southwest High School in Overland Park, KS. He is excited to be making his SSTI debut in Bright Star. Past credits from the year include Little Women, The Seagull, Picasso At The Lapin Agile, and Bring It On. He would like to thank his family and friends for all of their love and support.

Devin Elliott is a graduated senior, currently adrift in the winds of MT college decisions. She is elated to be returning to SSTI for her third summer, having previously performed in Anything Goes (Erma) and Tuck Everlasting. Recent credits include The Wedding Singer (Julia), Ragtime (Evelyn), The 25th…Spelling Bee (Olive), and American Love Story (Emily). Many thanks to her family, friends, acting teacher, and vocal coach for always being so wonderful, and her entire SSTI family for giving her the opportunity to return for another amazing summer! @devin_zain

Jeremy Gobrogge is a homeschooler entering his last year of high school. He spent the last three years in the mountains of Switzerland and has recently moved back to the US just in time for his first year at SSTI. Theatre credits include Urinetown, Singin’ in the Rain, The Tempest, 13!, and many more. Jeremy wants to thank everyone at SSTI for this incredible opportunity!

Reed Marie Grubbs is a rising junior at Douglas Anderson school of the Arts (Theatre) in Jacksonville, FL. She is thrilled to be returning for her third year at SSTI, having previously performed in Young Frankenstein and Tuck Everlasting. Reed's recent credits include Les Miserables (Fantine), The Marvelous Wonderettes (Missy), The Robber Bridegroom (Raven), A Christmas Story (Miss Shields), and many more! She would like to thank her family for always supporting her, the cast and crew of Bright Star, and Ben Wolfe for this wonderful opportunity to come back to her home away from home.

Cherie Guevarra is a Hong Kong based actress and is beyond thrilled to be joining SSTI for the first time! In 2017, she was the youngest nominee for “Best Actress” in the HKELD awards. Professional Musical Theatre credits in the recent years in which she appeared in were : Mulan in Mulan (Face Productions), Little Sally in Urinetown (TheatreLab HK), Glinda in Wizard of Oz (Kids’ Gallery), Innocence in The Bluebird Of Happiness Re-run (MQ Studio) and Jasmine in Arabian Dreams (MQ Studio) - World Premiere. Ensemble credits include: Catch Me If You Can (Face Productions) - HK Premier, My Fair Lady (Face Productions)

Bryce Hall is a in Orlando, FL, and is thrilled to attend his first session at SSTI for this exciting production of Bright Star. Past credits include Chorus Line, 42nd Street, Annie as well as numerous other productions. Bryce would like to thank the entire community of SSTI for welcoming him and giving him the opportunity to participate in this amazing program!

Haley Herman is a rising senior at Chantilly High School in Chantilly, Virginia. She has no words that can express how excited she is to be apart of the SSTI Bright Star family this year. She has been most recently seen in A Midsummer's Night Dream as Helena, as well as in other productions of Chicago, Hairspray, Thoroughly Modern Millie, Pride and Prejudice, and many more productions around the Northern Virginia area. Haley would love to thank her two school theatre teachers (Mr. Shaw & Mrs. K), her amazing family and friends for endlessly supporting her in what she loves to do most, the new friends made at SSTI, and Susannah Kratt for not leaving her side!

Casey Keefe is absolutely ecstatic to be back for her second summer at SSTI after performing in Tuck Everlasting in 2018. She is a rising senior at the Salt Lake School for the Performing Arts in Salt Lake City, Utah. Some of her past credits include Jo March (Little Women), Bebe Benzenheimer (A Chorus Line), and Joe Hardy (Damn Yankees!).She would like to thank everyone who has ever believed in her in any capacity and promises to do her best to make all of you proud.

Susannah Kratt is a rising senior at Chantilly High School in Fairfax, VA, and is so excited to be a part of her first ever show with SSTI! Past credits include Hairspray, Chicago, Pride and Prejudice, and Beauty and The Beast, as well as many more. Susannah would like to thank her cat Bubby for being her biggest support system (oh and her family too) as well as Haley Herman for being her partner in crime for everything theatre!

Lillie Langston is a rising senior from Meridian, MS and is thrilled to be making her SSTI debut! Lillie is homeschooled and is a member of Orbit Arts Academy’s Senior Company in Atlanta, GA. Recent theatrical experiences include: Li’l Abner, Big Fish, Les Misérables,, Oklahoma!, Peter Pan, Cinderella, and many more! Lillie would like to thank SSTI for the opportunity to learn and grow through this incredible program and show!

Elizabeth Mandell is overjoyed to be returning for her third year at SSTI! She is a rising junior at Crossroads School for the Arts and Sciences in Los Angeles, CA, and has been involved in numerous productions this past year including: SSTI’s 2018 productions of Chicago and Tuck Everlasting, Heathers, Working the Musical, and RENT. Elizabeth is so grateful for the family she has found at SSTI, and could not be more excited to be a part of Cabaret and Bright Star this summer.

Elise Marra is a rising junior from Michigan whose greatest passion is musical theater. Elise has performed many times at Carnegie Hall and in over 20 school and community shows, including most recently as Ethel in Footloose and last year in Tuck Everlasting at SSTI. Elise is a prolific writer and composer who directed her first original musical and first original play in Michigan this year with more to come. Elise is beyond excited to join SSTI again this year for Bright Star and hopes you enjoy the show!

Eva Muir is a rising Junior at Sunset High School in Portland, Oregon. She is so happy to be back for her second summer at SSTI. Her past performances include The Music Man, Tuck Everlasting, Billy Elliot, Wizard of Oz, and Into the Woods. Eva would like to thank Ben for creating such an amazing program. She also thanks her family for letting her fly across the country to be here.

Breckin Murphy is a rising Senior at Zach Performing Arts Academy in Austin, Texas. He is ecstatic to share his summer with the amazing staff and artists at SSTI! His credits this year include, Matilda (Michael Wormwood) with Zach Regional Theatre, Tarzan (Tarzan) with CYT San Antonio, and Newsies (Brooklyn Newsie/Dance ensemble) with North East School of the Arts in San Antonio, as well as featured roles with Zach Pre-Professional Elite Company in Austin. Breckin would like to thank SSTI for giving him this opportunity to grow and have an unforgettable summer!

Calvin Pierce is a rising Senior at Oak Grove High School in Hattiesburg, MS and is thrilled to make his SSTI debut in Bright Star. Recent credits include performances in Sister Act, The Addams Family, The Who’s Tommy, the Axeman’s Requiem, and The Putnam County Spelling Bee at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival in Edinburgh, Scotland. Calvin would like to thank the amazing Faculty and Crew of SSTI, and his fellow Bright Star cast members for this incredible experience.

Genevieve Shaftel is a rising senior at Hopewell Valley Central High School in Pennington, NJ, and is thrilled to be a part of SSTI for this beautiful production of Bright Star! Past credits this year include Chicago, The Dolls of New Albion, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, as well as numerous other productions. Genevieve would like to thank the entire community of SSTI for welcoming her and letting her have this opportunity to do one of her favorite shows!

McKenna Shaw is a rising senior at Pittsburg High School in Pittsburg, Kansas and she is stoked to return to SSTI for her third summer after appearing in Pippin and as Inga in Young Frankenstein! She has recently appeared as Rusty in Footloose, Ariel in The Little Mermaid, for which she earned the title of Best Actress at the Music Theatre Wichita Jester Awards. She has also appeared as Penelope Pennywise and Campbell Davis in the internationally recognized productions of Urinetown and Bring it On. She is very thankful to the SSTI family for welcoming her back!

Elleda Spitzer is ecstatic to be returning to SSTI for a second summer after performing in Tuck Everlasting last year! Elleda is 16 and a rising full International Baccalaureate senior at Scotts Valley High School in the Bay Area, California. Favorite past credits include Into the Woods (Baker's Wife), Beauty and the Beast (Belle), and Tom Sawyer (Ensemble). Elleda also studies voice and numerous styles of dance, and takes pride in rolling her R's and wiggling her ears! Elleda would like to thank Ben Wolfe for this amazing opportunity, as well as the rest of the cast and crew for welcoming her back home. Enjoy the show!

Sarah Swift is a rising senior at Cypress Woods High School in Cypress, TX and is excited to be making her debut with SSTI in Bright Star! Sarah is member of the International Thespian Society and is active in theatre and Chamber Choir at her school. Favorite credits include Sweeney Todd, Chicago, Les Miserables, Into the Woods, Grapes of Wrath, Peter Pan, Antigone, Buddy Holly, High School Musical, James and the Giant Peach, Shrek, Little Mermaid, Footloose, Beauty and the Beast and many other productions. Sarah would like to give special thanks her family, friends, many directors & teachers for their love and support.

Ty Vizenor is a rising senior in the Arcata Arts Institute at Arcata High School in Arcata, CA. He is very excited to be spending his first summer with the SSTI family and to be included in this wonderful production of Bright Star. Recent past credits include playing leading roles in Singin’ in the Rain, Urinetown, Guys and Dolls, and Wizard of Oz. Ty would like to thank his parents for being incredibly supportive as well as Ben Wolfe and SSTI for having him.

Koko Waller is a rising senior and is absolutely-over-the-top thrilled to be returning to her Southern home after performing as Mrs. Harcourt in Anything Goes and Nana in Tuck Everlasting in 2017 and 2018. Some of her favorite roles this past year include Mitch Mahoney/Olive’s Mom in …Spelling Bee and Tanya in Mamma Mia!. She couldn’t be more excited to be growing, learning, and performing at SSTI again for another incredible summer. She would like to thank her family and friends as well as The One and Only Ben Wolfe™ for making this experience possible. Welcome to Bright Star!

Logan is an eighteen year old senior at Plainfield High School. He lives in Plainfield, Indiana and is a returning SSTI member. He was a part of session two Tuck Everlasting last summer as Miles Tuck. His other roles include Nicely Nicely Johnson in Guys and Dolls, Theodore Laurence in Little Women, and a few other fun ensemble roles. Logan will be attending Anderson University next fall to major in musical theatre. He is over the moon to be back to perform this amazing show. He hopes you will enjoy it as much as he does!