Ms. Freer is a Northwestern University’s Performance Studies and Theater Program graduate. She studied at the Royal Court Theatre’s International Summer School under Elyse Dodgson and was a part of the Royal Court’s Young People’s Theatre. She holds an MA in Education from Brandman University. She has performed professionally on stage, screen, and radio throughout the country and is grateful for the beautiful life that has unfolded through following her passion for this art.

Rich is a retired electrician who has been helping in the Theater for many years. He teaches the students how to build and repair all the set pieces and anything that breaks in the theater. He also teaches sound and lighting for the shows. This is my 7th Musical with this theater.

This is Ms Rubini’s 9th year teaching at UM, and her 8th year choreographing for Musical Theater! With a BA in Dance and Social Anthropology from Randolph-Macon Woman’s College and an MA in Multicultural Education in a Global Classroom from National University, Caitlin is passionate about sharing her love of dance with young performing artists. She is honored to be a part of this project, and incredibly grateful to collaborate with Heather Freer, Caitlyn Miller, Matt Lane, and the incomparable Rich Findley.

As a Union Mine alum, Caitlyn is thrilled to be back for another show. She is currently running the Crocker House Creative Arts Center right here in El Dorado and tries to find time on stage whenever she can. She is proud to be amongst these teachers who are so dedicated to their programs and their students.

Mr. Lane has a B.M. in Performance (UC Santa Cruz). Mr. Lane is in his 7th year as Music Director at UMHS. This is his sixth production with Theatre at the Mine. He is thrilled to be working with the fantastic musicians, cast, and crew at UMHS.

Rick has worked professionally in both film and theatre as costumer, prop builder, actor combatant, and choreographer. Outside of stage, he also runs a living history group and teaches historical martial arts, and trains groups for battle pageants.

Sophia has assistant-directed the past three shows beginning in the spring of her junior year with Be More Chill and continuing on into her senior year with Ghostlight last fall. Peter Pan was the musical Sophia was hoping for this spring to attract the young audience into our theater. Sophia is happy to be ending her high school career directing such a wonderful musical.

As a high school senior, Chloe is celebrating her fifth and final show with the theater. As bittersweet as it is to say goodbye, she is excited to take on life with all the new things she’s learned helping out in productions and being in the theatre.

Devan is proud of his work the past two shows and is pleased to be handing the lighting over to freshman Azzy when he graduates early in the fall of 2024. Devan has tons of experience in electrical and engineering work and will continue in the industry after high school.

Chloe Spellman is a junior at Union Mine. This is her seventh show in the theater program. She’s been doing theater since her first show Heathers during her freshman year and loves it. She wants to continue learning everything sound and light-related, and teach it to as many people as she can. She hopes to continue this hobby to turn it into her career and to continue with her gigs separate from high school.

Marilynn is a sophomore at Union Mine, and she is thrilled to be involved with this show! Previously, Marilynn has been on stage for dance recitals and was both on and off screen for her school’s film class. Outside of drama, Marilynn is on the UM tennis team and likes to play bass. She would like to thank her family for dealing with her schedule and Freer and Rich for always being there!

Payton has been a part of drama for two years and this year stepped up as set designer. The theater and everyone in it has been such an important part of her life and she couldn't be happier that she joined. It's a lot of hard work and a lot of time but it's kept her busy in the best way.

Skylar is a junior at Union Mine. She was the Lighting Operator for She Kills Monsters and Lighting Designer for the 2022 spring musical Heathers and the fall play And Then There Was None. This year she is expanding her skills by being a part of the backstage crew and for this show she is a Set Designer.

S.J is a sophomore with a passion for helping the theater grow by the minute; she previously worked on Ghostlight which was her first ever production where she worked backstage and on costumes. Now, in her second show, she understands what she can grow in and how she can show her full love in the theater. The makeup and costumes will be improving by the minute, so you’d better look out!!

In his second year in the theater program, Collin has proved himself as a go-to for almost any project. He is active and involved in every step from design, to build, to the finishing touch. Collin is often the first person to start working, the last one to stop, and is a leader for the tech department.

Azzy is a freshman who has been learning the works of the lightning system in the booth. She has learned everything she knows from junior Devan Findley and will soon take over the lighting from him and make the actors shine on stage for upcoming shows.

Devyn is a freshman who has stepped up quickly into the position of sound designer. She enjoys sound designing extremely and is very excited to be running Peter Pan. Devyn is shy on stage but can really bring the sounds of theater to life.

Sage Zeman is one of three “Sages” in this theater. However, she is the only techie Sage. She is a freshman who has worked her way up to the position she is at quicker than most people in the theater. Sage is planning and hoping to continue sound design for the next three years of her high school career.

Kylie is a sophomore at Union Mine High School. This is her third production: she was a backstage tech for Be More Chill and Ghostlight. She is so excited to be in a management position and so excited for the future to come.

Peyton loves the theater and has been in countless shows, unfortunately this is her last year at the theater because she is a senior, a bittersweet ending for her high school theater career.

Ayla is a sophomore at UMHS and this is her fourth production with Theatre at the Mine. She has been a backstage tech for And Then There Were None and Be More Chill and was Assistant Stage Manager for Ghostlight. She would like to thank her friends and family for being so supportive and everyone in the theatre for making it her favorite place to be.

Crystal is a 15-year-old sophomore at Union Mine. This is her second year working with the theater and first year working backstage. She is grateful for the opportunity to work as co-assistant director and hopes to help direct more shows in the future! In the future Crystal wishes to work in welding or mechanical work. Outside of theater she loves hanging out with friends. She'd like to thank them for supporting her in her new role <3

Marley is a freshman and has always had a love for theater. She has just started working in the booth and is excited to learn all that she can about this new aspect of theater.

*nothing :)

Penelope is a junior who has helped with two shows so far in her high school career. Her favorite memory is when she got to do spotlight and was able to dance around in the booth without people seeing her. Penelope is looking forward to continuing theater in her senior year.

Mia is a freshman who was in the Fall play Ghostlight and now she is doing tech for Peter Pan. She joined kind of late but is happy to work with all of the lovely theater people again.

Rryder has been involved in a couple of shows now as a backstage tech. This will be their 4th or 5th show now, possibly more. It has all been quite stressful along the way but it's definitely an interesting experience.

Caitlyn ( Caity ) is a Sophomore at Union Mine High School and she enjoys doing Ceramics and Different Mediums of art. She built the Mermaid statue that hangs from the front of the ship with some help here and there.

Jack has been in the music and drama programs for two years and this is his first year in pit.

Sumi has been playing music since the 5th grade, and has participated in UMHS Musicals since sophomore year. She has loved being able to play music and help out another VAPA group through the last three years.

Melody Lindstrom really loves music and playing instruments. She has learned a total of 12 instruments over the course of a year or two, and she wants to learn more. She wants to be a Songwriter/Composer, and has already started on multiple projects. She also wishes to be an Orchestra Conductor one day.

James is a senior this year, and this musical will be the very first he’s been a part of! He has been a part of the music program for 7 years; he mostly plays the flute but for the musical he started to play his first string instrument, viola. He loves music and is so glad that he gets to play music for the musical!

This is Aubrey's second year playing clarinet, and first year in high school. They love playing music, and playing in the musical pit has been a goal of theirs ever since they saw a live band playing while watching a musical. Aubrey would like to thank Mr Lane, Ms Freer, their mom, and their friends.

This is Jillian’s second year of doing Pit for the Union Mine musicals. Jillian has been playing percussion for three years. Jillian is currently a junior at Union Mine High School and looks forward to being in future musicals as a Pit player.

This is Liam’s first year at Union Mine, in Marching, Concert and Jazz Band, now Musical Pit as well. Liam has been playing flute for 5 years, since 5th grade. He is enjoying the experience and plans to perform in any other musicals here in the future!

Abby is a senior and has been involved in Union Mine musicals for four years, first as a crew member for Been There Done That, then as a pit musician for Heathers, Be More Chill, and Peter Pan. Abby would like to thank the theater for welcoming her with open arms after suddenly appearing mid-musical season (she followed her friend there) even though she had no idea what she was doing or getting into. Abby is also extremely thankful for her parents for adapting quickly to the crazy rehearsal schedules.

Gabrielle Garlick is a senior at Union Mine High School. She has participated in Union Mine's music program all four years of high school (4 marching band, 2 concert band, 2 jazz band, 1 choir). She is excited for her second year in the musical pit after performing on baritone saxophone for last year's Be More Chill. This year for Peter Pan she will be performing on both bass clarinet and bassoon. She would like to thank all of the VAPA staff that allows these wonderful productions to happen, and her friends and family for their support.

Wesley is playing french horn in the pit for Peter Pan but can normally be found playing trumpet in marching band

Mr. Jared Collins is the Music Director at El Dorado HS and enjoys playing disc golf in his free time. Mr Collins loves working with Mrs Freer, Mr Lane, and all the UM students!