Tellin' Tales Cast

Juliette Aaslestad (she/her) is so excited to be a part of Tellin' Tales and to bring all of these fun characters to life. This is her first show with The Heritage Ensemble Theatre Company. Next up, she will be touring with the National Theatre for Children in North Carolina in the fall. Theatre credits include Isabel understudy in Sugar In Our Wounds (Richmond Triangle Players), Shelby Eatenton in Steel Magnolias (Lyric Arts), Hieronyma Tru in Energy Endgame (National Theatre for Children), and ensemble in The Laramie Project and 10 Years Later (Uprising Theatre Co).

Ameesha Smith is excited to be a part of Tellin’ Tales as her first in person production since 2020. She currently works as the administrator of The Heritage Ensemble Theatre Company and earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts from Virginia Union University. Ameesha has been acting since 2006 and she enjoys every aspect of theatre. Most recently she has written her first play ‘Coming Out’ that was featured in the Summer Staged Reading Series with The Heritage Ensemble Theatre Company.

Calvin Graves is an alumnus of Virginia Commonwealth University. He graduated in the spring of 2022 with his BFA in Theatre Performance. His previous acting credits include Richmond Triangle Players production of Sugar In Our Wounds (Henry Understudy) and VCU mainstage productions In the Red and Brown Water (Ogun Size) and Machinal (Bailiff/Man Behind Bar). He wrote and starred in his own one-man solo show Built For Your Pleasure in conjunction with VCU that got a one night run at Firehouse Theater. Some of his other credits include Oliver Twist (Ensemble) at the Virginia Stage Company and other work during his time at The Governor’s School for the Arts in Norfolk. In addition to acting, Calvin was the co-founder and lead writer of a local sketch comedy team. Calvin would like to thank his parents for their love and support. He would also like to thank his late grandmother for instilling in him a love of knowledge and creativity.

Tre’ LaRon is an actor from Richmond,Virginia. He attended Virginia Union University as a theatre major prior to starting his acting career. This is Tre’’s third show with The Heritage Ensemble Theatre Company(“When a Women is Loved Right” and “Sweet Chocolate and the Seven Christians”) and is currently a cast members of “Weak on Wednesday’s” Improv show. Excited to be a cast member of “Tellin’ Tales”, Tre’ is growing as an actor and a person.

Originally from New Jersey and migrating from Hawaii, this will be one of Ayana Flowers’ first production in Richmond! Previous performances include “The Bodyguard”, “Spring Awakening”, “Into the Woods”, “Godspell”, “Company”, “Aida”, “The Vow: Made to Measure”, and “Sugar in our wounds”. She thanks her family and friends for being a constant source of support and love, and for her mama…taffeta darling.

Hashimoto Yakisobi is making his professional debut with The Heritage Ensemble Theatre Company during this production of Telliń Tales. He is a native of Mouseville, Japan and here on a actor’s cultural exchange. Since his creation, he quickly grew in local status as a professional giggler and rice ball connoisseur, landing him the role in this production. He is excited to be part of such a wonderful cast and is thankful for the opportunity to share his talent. In his spare time, Hashimoto enjoys yoga, light gardening and practicing ju-jitsu. Hashimoto would like to give thanks to some very special people…Margarette Joyner for trusting the little guy; playwright, April Jones, for writing a piece that fit him so well; his voice coach, Dorothy Dee D. Miller, for helping him to get his giggle up to par in enough time to be cast; and she was also his creator and stylist. Without her, his adorable existence would not even be possible. “出てきてくれてありがとう、ショーを楽しみます!” (Thank you for coming out, enjoy the show!”)