Chelsea St. John Wade is honored to have the opportunity to direct The Sound of Music alongside an amazing production team and cast! This is her 8th year directing for Theatre Veritas. She's blessed to see God's Hand on each show over the years and the many lessons that He's taught her on trusting the Lord and knowing that He always holds the production. Enjoy the show!

Doyle Barnes graduated from Pepperdine University with a Fine Arts degree degree in Music, where he had leading roles in several major choral works and musicals such as “Oklahoma”, “My Fair Lady”, “H.M.S Pinafore”, “The Mikado” and “Down in The Valley”. He has also been a member of several entertainment troupes and has performed for audiences large and small. He has also served as Worship Leader for many churches over the years. This is the third (Veritas) musical for which Doyle and his wife, Kathleen have joined forces as Music Directors. He has thoroughly enjoyed working with the outstanding Veritas students and hopes all who see the show will enjoy and appreciate the effort they put forth.

Kathleen and her husband, Doyle, have been singing, dancing, and entertaining since meeting at Pepperdine University… and the rest is history! Kathleen (who was “born singing”) has had roles in several musicals and major choral works, and has performed as a soloist with several entertainment troupes. Together with her husband, she has served as a member of multiple worship teams. This is Doyle and Kathleen’s third opportunity to serve as Music Directors with Theatre Veritas and they have received great joy from watching these exceptional students grow and mature as musicians and actors. They look forward to many more musicals with Theatre Veritas. Thank you for your presence today… and enjoy the show!

Estella Wollny is excited to return as the stage manager for Theatre Veritas’ production of the Sound of Music. She started participating in theater before she moved from Seattle and has loved every moment of it. When she came to Veritas she shifted from the stage to behind the scenes. She was a part of The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe, The Wizard of Oz, and Little Women. She hopes you enjoy the show.

Tucker Rikard is excited to be trying backstage during the musical. You may know him from The Wizard of Oz, Hamlet, Little Women, and The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe. He hopes you will enjoy this show.

Jordan McDowell is overjoyed to be in 2023’s musical, The Sound of Music. He is in the crew as the light technician, cooking up all the beautiful lights in this production from the booth. This is his 4th production that he will be shedding light on, and the past productions he has lit up were the Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe, the Wizard of Oz, as well as Little Women. He is thrilled that you are able to come watch our production and to see how our hard work has paid off!

Victoria Weatherman has been involved in Theatre Veritas since 2019. She has been in several productions, such as A Christmas Carol, and Oklahoma! For The Sound of Music, she is a part of the crew helping backstage and with set design. She hopes you enjoy the show!

Stewart Matlick is a sophomore who is excited to participate in The Sound of Music. He is in the crew as the sound manager, providing all the wondrous sound effects you hear during the play. He has been in two other productions, Cinderella and The Wizard of Oz. He is overjoyed to welcome you to watch this production.

Erin Babcock is excited to be in Theatre Veritas’ production of The Sound of Music. She has been in three previous productions for Veritas. She has been the slides manager for The Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe and The Wizard of Oz. In this past fall play of Little Women she was the crew member behind the spotlight. She is extremely thrilled to be once against the slides manager for this astounding musical.n n

Frank's first "gig" was in seventh grade playing the National Anthem every morning for the opening of school. It has been non-stop playing and teaching ever since. In addition to teaching elementary music at Veritas since 2001, he has about 50 private piano students and is organist/pianist at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Hendersonville. He's recorded albums of Christmas music, Broadway classics, and worship. When he's not teaching or doing things with his wife Mary, Argo their Mini Pinscher keeps Frank busy playing ball.

Gracie Coe has been playing piano for 12 years and this is her first orchestral production. She is excited to play in Rodgers and Hammerstein’s The Sound of Music. She is excited to see you at the show!

Ash Hopkins studied Music Theory and Composition at the College of Charleston and spent several years producing and engineering records at Rebellion Rd Studios in Charleston, SC. He is currently the director of the Veritas Rhetoric Praise Band where, alongside teaching academic classes in History and Mathematics, he seeks to glorify God with the help of the incredible talents of our Rhetoric School students. Having learned to play the drums from his father at a young age, he is thrilled to join the Sound of Music orchestra as percussionist

Wren has played the cello for 3 years and is a sophomore at Veritas. This is her first year participating in a Theatre Veritas production and she is very excited to be playing in the orchestra. She hopes you enjoy the performance.

Caroline Kirsch is a flutist and teacher based in Hendersonville, NC. She has performed piccolo with the Mississippi Opera and held the position of principal flute in the Lamont Symphony Orchestra, where she performed at the Colorado premiere of the National Geographic's documentary film, Jane. Caroline was recently the graduate teaching assistant for flute at the University of Denver where she taught students from beginner to advanced levels. She holds a Master of Music degree from the University of Denver and Bachelor of Music degree from the University of Southern Mississippi.

Samantha Higgins is a Logic School Science and Math teacher with Veritas Christian Academy. She has two children, Noah and Quinn, also at Veritas. A graduate from Wingate University, Samantha played with a community band while in college. Throughout the entirety of high school, Samantha participated in the symphony band and marching band. She was honored to participate in the All County, All District, and All State bands as well and aspires to continue to be involved in music throughout her life.

A VCA staff member, Marcia has performed piano, guitar, flute, and vocals in mostly church venues. She loves theatre and this is her first time in a VCA production.

When Tyler was fourteen, he signed up for his high school orchestra as a guitarist. Unfortunately, the orchestra did not include guitars. On the first day of class, his conductor, Mr. Peterson saw that Tyler was wholly unprepared for this musical endeavor and gave him a tour of the instruments of the orchestra. Tyler naturally gravitated toward the double bass, mostly because it was tuned in fourths like a guitar, and partly because the bass’s large mass and size had a stronger gravitational pull than that of the other instruments. Tyler and the bass have been inseparable since then, though he still enjoys playing the guitar. Tyler lives in Hendersonville with his wife, Tiffany, and their three children, Agnes, Beckett, and Windsor.