Artistic Director
Skyler EricksonSkyler is a 2009 Sparta graduate and a 2013 graduate from Viterbo University with a BFA Musical Theatre degree. Throughout his high school, college, and professional career he has been in over 45 productions and has also directed and choreographed numerous show choirs and musicals. After graduating college, he moved to Las Vegas and worked for many show and talent agencies on and off the strip. He's performed shows through hotel/casinos such as the Bellagio, MGM Grand, Venetian, and Planet Hollywood. He was in a national commercial for Johnny Appleseed, a tour Motown show, and can be seen in the movie, "Show Dogs" with Will Arnett. This is the 8th musical Skyler has directed for Sparta High School. Skyler is now enjoying his time directing and adjudicating for WSMA festivals and solo ensembles and spending time with his two golden retrievers, Max and Finn.
Music Director
Camie SchneiderCamie is a graduate from Winona State University where she received her Bachelors in Music Education with an emphasis in voice and piano. She is the director of the vocal music program at Sparta High School, and directs the prep and varsity show choirs in addition to the musical. She has directed over 30 productions at a variety of venues in the surrounding area. She has received the Outstanding Musical Direction Award through the Madison Overture Center's Jerry Awards four times; Holmen High School's production of "25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee" (2018), and Sparta High School's productions of "Cinderella" (2019), "The Addams Family" (2023), and "Rock of Ages" (2024). Camie makes several trips to New York City every year to discover new Broadway shows, as well as participate in Broadway workshops and classes. She has had the opportunity to take workshops from professionals such as: Jason Robert Brown (composer), Natalie Weiss (performer), Leo Ash Evens (performer), Lynn Ahrens (composer), Susan Blackwell (performer), Kimberly Grigsby (music director of Spring Awakening), and Ian Weinberger (music director of Hamilton). In the little spare time she has, she enjoys traveling and spending time with family, friends, and her dog, Millie.
Choreography
Jen TeBeestJen has taught dance/musical theater and choreographed in the La Crosse and Winona areas since 1999; choreographing over 20 musicals and working with area high schools, community theaters, dance schools, non-profit organizations, and universities. Jen is a nationally and state registered Dance Therapist and yoga teacher. Jen holds a B.A. in English from Viterbo University and an M.A. in Licensed Mental Health Counseling with a Specialty in Dance Movement Therapy from Lesley University in Cambridge, MA. Jen currently serves as the Family and Community Services Program Lead at Stein Counseling and Consulting Services ,Ltd. and is on faculty at La Crosse Dance Centre, LLC as a ballet, modern and yoga instructor. Jen is so happy to be back working with the Sparta community and is grateful for the opportunity to work on such a fun show!
Pit Director
Andrew NicholsonAndrew Nicholson is the Band Director for Sparta High School. Andrew is also an active conductor for Sparta Spotlight Player Productions, the Backstage Beats Sparta Show Band, and the Sparta Marching Band and Symphonic Band. In 2015, he was the Drum Corps International World Champion Euphonium Soloist for their Individual and Ensemble Competition in Indianapolis. Andrew also received the Outstanding Musical Direction Award through the Madison Overture Center's Jerry Awards for Sparta’s productions of ‘Addams Family’ (2023) and ‘Rock of Ages’ (2024). In his free time, Andrew loves playing computer games while he relaxes with his three cats Alli, Meatball, and Nessie, and his dog Benny. Andrew holds a Bachelor's Degree in Music Education from the University of Wisconsin - Eau Claire, and two Master’s Degrees in Instrumental Conducting and Euphonium Performance from North Dakota State University.
Costume Designer
Irina ChristelOriginally from Kazakhstan, Irina trained at the Technical College of Textile and Sewing Industries and worked for many years as a technical engineer and fashion designer at the Regional Fashion House, Kazakhstan. She graduated from Light Industry College with an engineering degree at the sewing and textile industries and Shakerims University, Kazakhstan with degree in Art Teaching. After moving to the US, she worked at the Company Store as a technician at the Product Development Department. Irina graduated from Viterbo University with a BFA degree specializing in theatrical costume design. She currently works at Gundersen Lutheran and does her own wedding dress and costume alterations. She has also worked at La Crosse Community Theatre as a costume designer for many of their productions. In 2022, she received the Jerry Award for Outstanding Costume Design for her work on Shrek the Musical with Sparta High School.
Wig Design & Stylist
Kristyn TaggartKristyn has been doing theatrical hair and makeup professionally for 10 years. She now loves to be a part of local theaters and share her knowledge! She is currently working full time as a Hair Stylist, Event Hair specialist and educator. She last did wig designing for Shrek, Frozen Jr, and Addams Family. You can find her most days hanging out with her boys if she isn't doing hair!
Sound Design & Technician / Lighting Programmer / Voice Over Recording Engineer
Leo ChavollaLeo Chavolla is a technician and artist specialized in theatre technology engineering and design. Leo takes pride in collaborating with passionate teams to create impactful productions. His latest work includes audio engineer and sound designer at the Ohio Light Opera, audio and lighting engineer at Interstate Sound, and trombonist for the La Crosse Jazz Orchestra.
Student Director
Sophie EbertSophie is a junior at Sparta High School. This is her fourth show with the Sparta Spotlight Players. Her theatre credits include: “The Addams Family” (Elizabethan Queen Ancestor) and “Newsies” (Tommy Boy). She also played Jan in “Grease.”. Sophie is also in Upstage Adrenaline and a dance captain for Rise of Adrenaline. Sophie wants to thank her family and friends for being very supportive of all her accomplishments. She would also like to thank her directors for always believing in her and giving her the opportunity to be student director. She is very excited for you all to see the hard work that the cast and crew have put into this production! Enjoy the show!!!
Stage Manager
Emma SmithEmma is a senior this year. This is her fifth production at SHS. Her other shows include The Addams Family (Crew), Newsies (Crew), Rock of Ages (Stage Manager), and Grease (Stage Manager. Previously Emma was the stage manager for both show choir groups and decided to switch to a performer this year. Emma also is the president of DECA and enjoys painting and reading in her free time. After high school, Emma is attending River Falls for Social Work and Psychology. Emma would love to thank her entire family and all of her friends for their never ending support in all that she does.
Assistant Stage Manager
Jenna BeckerJenna is a sophomore at Sparta High School, participating in her third musical. She was part of the crew for Newsies and served as the Assistant Stage Manager for Grease. Jenna loves working backstage and seeing each production come to life. Beyond theater, she is involved in both Prep and Varsity Show Choirs, Treble Choir, and serves as the Sophomore Vice President on Student Council. In her free time, she enjoys traveling with her family and spending time with friends. Jenna would like to thank her family, the directors, Emma (the Stage Manager), and all the amazing friends she’s made through musicals. Enjoy the show!
Light Board Operator
Colby MartinColby is a junior and this is his 6th production with the Sparta Spotlight Players. He participates in Sparta’s Upstage Adrenaline as a singer dancer, Jazz Combo 2, Jazz Band, Symphonic Band, and Marching Band as a percussionist. He loves that there’s audience participation in this show because it can make the musical so much funnier. He is excited to have the community back in the Sparta Auditorium for the production of The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee and he hopes you have a fantastic time.
Spotlight Operator
Io ForsbergIo is a senior and in her seventh and final production as a spotlight operator! Alongside spotlighting, she is the drumline captain for the schools Marching Band, the president of Art Club, the auxiliary percussion player for the Show Band, and she operates the soundboard for the schools Vocal Jazz. In her free time, she enjoys overanalyzing movies and reading pretentious books, as well as sculpting and painting. She is thankful for the experience these last four years have given her, and is excited to take the next step to pursue her passion for film and cinematography at UW Milwaukee. She would like to thank her friends and family for their never ending support, and for inspiring her to break out of her shell and enjoy the little things in life.
Spotlight Operator
Bella BetterlyBella is a freshman and this is her second production here at Sparta! For this production Bella works as a Spotlight Operator. On top of musical, Bella also participates in Upstage Adrenaline as a performer, and in Rise of Adrenaline as a band member. She is also in Concert Band, marching band as color guard, treble choir, robotics, Jazz Combo 2, earth club, and DECA. Bella would like to thank Io for taking her in and teaching her spotlight; she would also like to thank her family for encouraging her to partake in the musical.
Stage Crew
Layton EversonLayton is a freshman at Sparta High School, and this will be his third musical production. His past musicals were Grease (ensemble), Annie Jr. (Rooster Hannigan), and Freaky Friday (Fletcher). Layton is also involved in show choir. This will be his very first musical being on crew.
Stage Crew
Bella GreydanusBella is a junior this year! This is her 4th production with the Sparta Spotlight Players. She was involved in Newsies as a stage crew member (or a crewsie as the crew called themselves), Rock of Ages (stage crew), Grease (assistant stage manager), and Spelling Bee as (stage crew). Outside of the musical, Bella is involved in Treble choir, Chamber choir, Color Guard, Upstage Adrenaline and Rise of Adrenaline show choirs. Bella would like to thank her family and friends for supporting her throughout the past couple productions, as well as her sister Jackie Greydanus for introducing her to the music program, her other sister Maya for letting Bella encourage her to come out of her comfort zone and be involved in the things her and Jackie love doing. Finally, Bella would like to thank the directors for supporting her and always encouraging her to always strive to improve whether that would be in musical or show choir. Enjoy the show!!!!
Stage Crew
Addyson HalversonAddy is a freshman at Sparta High School this year. This is her second production with the Sparta Spotlight Players. Her first production was Grease as an ensemble member. Alongside the musical, Addy is also a singer/dancer in Sparta’s show choirs, Rise of Adrenaline and Upstage Adrenaline. She would like to thank her sister for all of her support and encouragement throughout the year. She hopes that everyone enjoys the show!
Stage Crew
Aidan MaloneAidan is a senior, and this is his 6th production at SHS. His previous credits include: “The Addams Family” (crew), “Little Shop of Horrors” (crew), “Newsies” (Morris Delancy), “Rock of Ages” (crew), and “Grease” (Eugene Florczyk). When he is not at musical rehearsals, he is in show choir, band, chamber choir, tenor/bass choir, and track! He would like to thank his family and friends for all of the amazing support throughout ALL of the shows, getting or given rides, and etc. Especially with all of the money that was used to support everything he has been a part of to continue with these programs. He would also really like to thank the directors for giving him the best high school musical experience EVER!! He is super amazed by all of the things he's gotten to do throughout his years and is super excited to see everyone that will come to this beautiful and super hilarious show!
Percussionist
Roman OlbertRoman is a sophomore this year and this is his 7th show! Some previous roles include: “Shrek the Musical” (Young Shrek/Baby Bear/Dwarf), “The Addams Family” (Ancestor/Cousin Itt), “Little Shop of Horrors” (crew), “Newsies” (Romeo), “Rock of Ages” (Franz), and “Grease” (Roger). Some other activities that he is involved in are Show Band, Jazz Band, Jazz Combo, Marching Band, Symphonic Band, Golf, and his own band Flavorville. Roman is super excited to perform his first show on percussion, and has had a great time learning the parts. He would like to thank Mr. Nicholson for this opportunity, and his friends and family for their continuous support.
Original Creative Team
Rebecca Feldman - writer, director
Rebecca Feldman is the conceiver of The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee for which she won a Lucille Lortel Award, Drama Desk and Tony Nomination for Best Musical. She directed its world premiere at Barrington Stage Company in the summer of 2004.
Rebecca is Associate Producer on TRANSPARENT, the MUSICAL FINALE and served as Staff Writer on the finale as well. She is currently developing an episodic drama with Big Kid Pictures, called LA COYOTE, which has been selected to the WeForShe’s 2019 Writeher List.
She is an alumna of the Lincoln Center Director's Lab as well as the AFI Directing Workshop for Women where she won the Jean Firstenburg Award for Best Short.
Her short films include, MY FIRST TIME DRIVING (AFI Jean Firstenburg Award, Best Short at Lake Arrowhead Film Fest, Best of Shorts at Outfest), A/V CLUB (TV Pilot, NYTVF), UBER ALICE (Woodstock Film Fest), DEAD CAT (Producer, Tribeca Film Fest) and IRVING (Official Selection Rhode Island Film Fest, Official Selection USA Film Fest, Ft. Lauderdale Film Fest, Atlanta Jewish Film Fest).
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William Finn - Music
Mr. Finn is the writer and composer of Falsettos, for which he received two Tony Awards, Best Book of a Musical (with James Lapine) and Best Original Score. He has also written and composed In Trousers, March of the Falsettos and Falsettoland (Outer Critics Circle Award for Best Musical, two Los Angeles Drama Critic's Awards, two Drama Desk Awards, the Lucille Lortel Award, and Guggenheim Fellowship in Musical Composition). Mr. Finn wrote the lyrics to Graciela Daniele's Tango Apasionado (music by the great Astor Piazzolla) and, with Michael Starobin, the music to Lapine's version of The Winter's Tale. His musical, Romance in Hard Times, was presented at the Public Theater. Recently, he wrote Painting You for Love's Fire, a piece commissioned and performed bye the Acting Company, based on Shakepeare's sonnets. For television, Mr. Finn provided the music and lyrics for the Ace Award-winning HBO cartoon "Ira Sleeps Over," "Tom Thumb and Thumbelina," "Pokey Little Puppy's First Christmas," and, with Ellen Fitzhugh, two "Brave little Toaster" cartoons. Mr. Finn has written for Vogue, Harper's Bazaar, and The New Yorker. A graduate of Williams College where he was awarded the Hutchinson Fellowship for Musical Composition, Finn now teaches a weekly master class at the NYU Tisch Graduate Program in Musical Theatre Writing. His most recent projects include Elegies, A Song Cycle (Lincoln Center) and The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee which ran on Broadway and has been produced nationally and internationally, as well.
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Rachel Sheinkin - Book
Broadway: The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee (Tony, Drama Desk awards); Off Broadway: Striking 12 (Lucille Lortel nomination), Off-Off: Serenade. Regional: Guthrie, Little House on the Prairie; Center Theater Group, Sleeping Beauty Wakes(Los Angeles Ovation Award); London: Blood Drive. Residencies, fellowships, commissions include: Eugene O'Neill National Theater Center, Baryshnikov Dance Foundation, MacDowell Colony, Manhattan Theatre Club, Deaf West, McCarter Theatre, Playwrights Horizons. Rachel is a volunteer mentor for TDF's Open Doors program, a visiting instructor at Yale School of Drama, and adjunct faculty member of NYU's Graduate Musical Theater Writing Program.
