about the Cast & Crew

Natalia Grace Melendez (Frog, Bookie Bear’s Mama) is excited and overjoyed to have her first ever performance with Encore. She first learned about Encore in 2020 through some friends and has been interested ever since. Natalia is eleven years old and is a fifth grader at West Springfield Elementary. She has been studying the viola for two years. Besides the arts, Natalia enjoys hanging out with friends, playing basketball, taking in a theatre show whenever she can and lately – learning the Wednesday dance!

Henry Phoel (Front of House Crew) is excited to be working on his fifth Encore production, second as crew. Outside of Encore, he attends Williamsburg Middle School as a seventh grader. He also enjoys basketball, dive, climbing, and ultimate frisbee. He hopes you enjoy the show.

Sam Regardie (Backstage Crew) is a twelfth grader at Washington Latin PCS. Sam is happy to be a part of this production and hopes you enjoy the show!

Abigail Reid (Rob Raccoon) is a fourth grader at Arlington Science Focus Elementary. She is so excited to be in her second Encore show. She most recently played Goldilocks and Miss Muffet in A Fairy Tale Christmas Carol. Outside of acting, she enjoys dancing, learning new languages and going to Disneyland!

Zachary Rubin (Ray Rabbit) is an eighth grader at Williamsburg Middle School. Outside of acting, Zach enjoys going to the skate park and playing soccer. He is excited to be performing in his first Encore production and hopes you enjoy the show!

Jonah Saxe (Bobby T. Boy) is very excited about performing in his second play for Encore. He loves acting, art and architecture. He enjoys diabolo, juggling, going on roller-coaster and playing tennis. Jonah plays the trombone in the advanced band. He responds to the names of Jonah, Bobby, Jack and bean boy. When he is not performing at Encore, he enjoys going to see Broadway shows and seeing theater at the Kennedy Center as well as local theater.

Reva Shukla Gorcys (Rebecca Robin, Bella Bluejay) is a fifth grader at Cardinal Elementary School. She is a long-time theater lover and is very excited to be in her first Encore production! Prior to joining the What Makes a Winner cast she performed in several ETC Educational Theater Company productions. Outside of acting, she enjoys playing soccer with her friends, dancing, and sushi.

Jessica Stein (Alice Ant) is a fourth grader at Haycock Elementary School where she is learning to play violin and recorder. Jessie loves theater and has been an avid actress and singer since she was little, starting with ad libbed performances and continuing with scripted productions. This is her first official Encore Stage role. She hopes you like the show!