9 to 5 The Musical Cast

Alyssa graduated from Central Washington University with a degree in Vocal Performance and then moved back to Seattle after graduating. She found her passion for Musical Theater while living in Seattle and has played many different roles from serious to hilarious! She moved back to Ellensburg a few years ago and got married. She is thrilled to be a part of VMT and is grateful for the opportunity to keep performing. She wants to thank her husband, Patrick, for helping her learn all her lines! She hopes you all enjoy this amazing production!

Hildi is thrilled to be back in the business of making music and community theater. After a long break from music, she re-emerged onstage as Donna in last year’s VMT production of Mamma Mia! She graduated from CWU with a Vocal Performance Degree and Music Ed Certificate. After a short time teaching, she returned to the Valley as a small business owner, and runs what is now Evolve Clothing & Jewelry in downtown Ellensburg. When Hildi’s not in her shop, she can be found with her husband and two incredible kids, traveling, and hopefully hiking! Hildi is absolutely thrilled to continue to be a part of the community that is VMT, and all the beautiful friendships and adventures that are sure to follow!

Hey, howdy, hey y’all! Tishra is thrilled to be joining this spectacular production and it is truly a dream to be singing songs written by her idol, the Queen of Country music herself! Recent credits include Audrey in Little Shop of Horrors (Warehouse Theater Company) and Cabernet Cabaret (Valley Musical Theater). Love and gratitude to her family and friends, especially her two daughters who are the best reminders that “You can be rich in spirit, kindness, love, and all those things that you can't put a dollar sign on.” -Dolly Parton

Originally from Connecticut, Patrick has been acting since he was 8 years old, when he put on a tutu to sing for his aunts (granted he tried to forget about that performance, but his aunts wouldn't let him)! He performed in plays throughout his school years and then studied & performed theater at Pace University in New York City. Life took him away from the stage for the next 30 years, but seeing his own kids perform in the EHS Winter Musical revived his love of theater. Since then, he’s had the joy of performing in several VMT shows — as Fagin in Oliver!, Mayor Shinn in The Music Man, lots of characters in Greater Tuna & Sam in Mamma Mia. Every show gives him a chance to both do what he loves and spend time with the most wonderful people in this community! Patrick is a board member of VMT and manages the Cabin Creek Lodge in Easton.

Jodi made her debut into the theatre arts as "Tanya" in Mamma Mia during summer 2022 with Valley Musical Theatre followed by The Cabernet Cabaret in the fall. She is so excited to be continuing her thespian streak into this year's production of 9 to 5. You will most likely find Jodi hiking up on Roslyn Ridge with her two pups, playing her guitar, and trying to live her healthiest life.

Nick is in his second year of CWU's Musical Theater BFA program. He is a seasoned Ellensburg actor having performed with CWU's Theater Department, Valley Musical Theatre, Ellensburg High School, Ellensburg Children's Theater, Ellensburg Dance Ensemble, and Leavenworth Summer Theater since the age of five. Some of his favorite roles have included Gavroche in CWU's Les Miserables, Rolf in LST's Sound of Music and the Prince in EDE's Nutcracker. When not on stage you can find Nick working in the Central Theater Scene Shop making the scenery you see on stage. He is also studying theater education and is focused on learning the tools necessary to facilitate theatre in underserved communities and further developing theatre companies.

Well shoot, Kyle somehow found himself in yet another show! Having acquired an addiction to theatre, he's been in several productions with VMT and Ellensburg High School (EHS) over the past 7 years. His favorite previous roles include Lumiere in Beauty and The Beast (EHS), as well as Chris Bean in The Play that Goes Wrong (VMT). When he's not on stage, Kyle fills the void of theatre by playing Dungeons & Dragons and has recently started running games professionally at Windy City Toys and Collectables. He wants to thank his friends and family for their constant love and support.

Ellen's world is a stage - just ask her long-suffering coworkers and family members, who regularly endure spontaneous outbreaks of the "accent of the day" and mini operettas based on any given topic. With a background in community theatre, she has appeared in Fiddler on the Roof and as Julia in Said the Spider to the Spy. She also sang with a “girl group” and impersonated Celine Dion in local variety shows in Seattle. Her most recent stage experience was as Dennis/Perkins in VMT’s The One-Act Play That Goes Wrong. Ellen thoroughly enjoyed working with the incredible cast and crew of that production and eagerly anticipates joining the musical fun of 9 to 5!

Zack will be a Senior at Ellensburg High School in the fall and also attends the CWU Running Start program. He has been acting since he was seven when he decided to jump on stage with his older brother in CWU's production of Les Miserables. Zack is a "go big or go home" guy and this was certainly a big show to debut in! He loved it and has continued to act with Valley Musical Theatre, Leavenworth Summer Theatre, Ellensburg Children's Musical Theatre, and Ellensburg High School ever since. His favorite roles have included Kurt in LST's Sound of Music, Oliver in VMT's Oliver!, Nikos Argitacos in EHS's Legally Blonde, and most recently Mr. Bennet in EHS's Pride & Prejudice and Gremio in Kiss Me Kate! Zack loves to sing, dance, act, and play the violin.

Eponine is thrilled to be joining this fantastic cast for her first big, full-length production with VMT. She has enjoyed her time in the past two Cabernet Cabaret events, and she is so excited to get to put on her dancing shoes and shake and shimmy a little for this show! A wife, mom, graduate student, employee, and more, she does a little bit of everything-- but always tries to carve out time whenever possible for one of her first loves, musical theater.

Jared is a high school math teacher who also teaches driver's ed. He is very active in his church. As a kid, watching his father on stage helped instill a love of the theater, and he’s been involved in almost every aspect since. Jared has been very active with Valley Musical Theater and enjoys being on the stage. His most recent shows were "The One Act Play that Goes Wrong" where he played Jonathan Harris, and he was in the ensemble last summer in "Mamma Mia".

Grace is a theatre performer and educator based in Ellensburg. She was last seen as Annie in VMT's The One-Act Play That Goes Wrong. Her BFA in Theatre Education comes from CWU and she is a proud alumna! She loves her husband, her family, her kitty Roscoe, and being a chaotic neutral to those around her! She gives God glory for everything and stands for love and light. Fun Fact: She has been a character performer, being good friends with Tinkerbell and Captain Marvel!

Jill is President of KEEN (Kittitas Environmental Education Network) a non-profit focused on nature-based lifelong learning. KEEN's big project is to establish the Yakima Canyon Interpretive Center at the mouth of the Yakima River Canyon Scenic Byway. Her day job is as an environmental planner for the WA Department of Ecology. Her two loves are her son and daughter who together explore the outdoors and also share a love of music and dance. Her son, Nathaniel Arango is lead singer and founder of Wavesons, and her daughter, Serena Scheffer-Arango, dances with love and passion and has been performing on stage since she was 3. Jill also serves as the Vice President of the non-profit Ellensburg Dance Ensemble (EDE), a group that operates 'The Studio' with dance classes for all ages, and mounts the largest performance of The Nutcracker in even years in partnership with Central WA University. She has been dancing on stage for years in supporting roles in EDE shows. Jill also performed in VMT's Mamma Mia in 2022 as the unforgettable "Chorus Member Number 13".

Noah is honored to be a part of this production of 9 to 5. He first fell in love performing in theatre during Ellensburg's High School's production of The Drowsy Chaperone. He’s been a part of VMT's musical productions ever since including productions of Oliver, Forbidden Broadway, The Music Man, Mamma Mia and most recently, The Play That Goes Wrong. He loves to sing and although usually shy, he enjoys the camaraderie he has with everyone he works with. Noah lives with his family in Ellensburg and currently is going to YVC for Drama.

New to the magic of theatre, Tom has delighted Valley Musical Theatre audiences during VMT's fall productions of Cabernet Cabaret for the last three years. This year, he joins us for the mainstage production of 9-to-5. Past performances include from The Books of Broadway, Music of the Night from Phantom of the Opera, Gethsemane, from Jesus Christ Superstar, as well as, Bring Him Home from Les Miserables, and A World of Pure Imagination, from Willie Wonka and the Chocolate Factory. A fine artist and musician, Tom’s work includes mural design and restoration, chalkboard art, book illustrations, corporate art, and puppet and creature fabrication.

Serena has been dancing on stage and in competitions since she was three years old. She has learned many dance styles over the years and her favorites include contemporary and musical theater. She will be a senior in high school and will graduate in 2024. She has performed in five out of six of the high school shows, in both cast and crew. Her hobbies include dancing, reading, performing, and collecting books.

Olivia Reiman is very excited to be a part of VMT’s production of 9 to 5. She is both a lead dancer and the Assistant Stage Manager in the production. You may have previously seen her as Ursula in the Little Mermaid, or in the ensemble of Music Man and Guys and Dolls. Last year she was the Assistant Stage Manager for Mamma Mia. She is a student at CWU and is majoring in Law and Justice with a minor in studio arts (photography). She loves to dance and has been dancing for the past 6 years.

Janet is a peppy 71-year-old who believes age is just a number. She does Zumba classes early in the morning twice a week and loves it. She's a mother of one, grandmother of 4 and great grandmother of 4. She knits and has given away over 300 afghans to family and friends which are knitted with love and hugs (and an occasional swear word).

Lydia is a first-year student at the University of Colorado, Boulder pursuing a Bachelor of Music degree in musical theater. She grew up participating in VMT productions, which played a huge role in nurturing her love of theater. A few of her favorite roles to date have been Elle Woods in Legally Blonde, Roxie Hart in Chicago, Bet in Oliver and as an ensemble member in Music Man.

Steve appreciates the chance to say a couple lines, since the last time he performed on stage was as Judas in Jesus Christ Superstar - in high school!