Gateway Center for Performing Arts' Youth Theatre Company
Book and Lyrics By
Music By
David Lindsay-Abaire
Jeanine Tesori
Original Production Direction By
Jason Moore & Rob Ashford
“I’m a Believer” By
Neil Diamond
Based on the Works of William Steig
Originally Produced on Broadway By DreamWorks Theatricals and Neal Street Productions
Director
Lisi Levy
Music Director
Sarah Vlodek
Stage Manager
Brynley Wall
Choreographer
Chrissy Clair
Assistant Stage Manager
Finley Mohr
Assistant Director / Choreographer
Audrey Schulz
Production Assistants
Adele Plank, Delaney Plank
Lighting Design
Tanner Douglas
Costume Design
Jen Blum-Tatara
Hair & Makeup
Caidyn Crouch
Sound Design
Jake Tillman
Props Design
Laura Skroska
House Manager
Eddie Kroeger
Marketing
Mike DePope & Susannah Egley
Crew
Set Design
Patrice Nelms
Scenic Artist
Tobias Reynolds
Production Photographer
Lisa Teadt Photography
Artistic Director
Stephanie Fox
Wynne Brakefield, Charlie Gillespie, Chloe Jennings, Brayden Liberton, Norah Meier, Lucy Schmitz
Welcome to the 11th season of Gateway Center for Performing Arts’ Youth Theatre Company! This season, we have carefully selected productions that not only showcase incredible entertainment but also resonate deeply with contemporary themes and timeless stories
We open our season with the beloved musical Oliver! Based on Charles Dickens' classic novel Oliver Twist, this heartwarming story captures the resilience of youth in the face of adversity. The themes of hope, belonging, and the struggle against societal injustices are as relevant today as they were in Dickens' time. The rich, vibrant score invites audiences into a world of both sorrow and joy, making it an ideal choice to highlight the power of musical theatre
Following Oliver!, we will present The Prom, a contemporary musical that shines a light on love, acceptance, and the fight for equality Set against the backdrop of a small town’s high school prom, this uplifting show addresses issues of identity and the challenges faced by LGBTQ+ youth Its heartfelt message remind us of the importance of inclusion and the need for a community that embraces all its members.
This summer, we invite performers to join us for Seussical KIDS and Seussical Junior, production camps designed for ages 6-10 and 11-16, respectively These registration-based programs provide an inclusive environment where students can explore their creativity without the pressure of having to “get in.” Through the whimsical stories of Dr Seuss, campers will embark on a journey of imagination and self-expression, developing confidence and teamwork skills that will last a lifetime.
For our more seasoned young performers, we are excited to announce our audition-based productions of Shrek Junior for ages 10-14 and Into the Woods for ages 14-18. Shrek Junior brings the beloved story of the ogre and his friends to life, celebrating themes of acceptance and friendship with humor and heart Meanwhile, Into the Woods marks a significant milestone as our first foray into the works of Stephen Sondheim. This intricate, enchanting tale intertwines the stories of familiar fairy tale characters, encouraging us to reflect on the complexities of our desires and the consequences of our choices. It promises to be a rewarding experience for our older students, pushing them to explore the depths of their artistic expression
If you like what you see, please consider joining us on our mission to provide quality, challenging, and out-of-the-box theatre for St Louis youth See our shows, take our classes, spread the word, volunteer, or donate. We’d love your story with GCPA to begin today
Stephanie Fox Artistic Director
PRINCESS FIONA PRINCESS FIONA
Vivian French
PINOCCHIO PINOCCHIO
Katie Balinski
MAMA
Erin Walter
SSHREK HREK
Ray Knickman Ray Knickman
DONKEY DONKEY
Abby Erwin^ Abby Erwin^
GINGY GINGY
LORD FARQUAAD LORD FARQUAAD Beaux Swoboda Beaux Swoboda
Kathryn Pierce^ DRAGON DRAGON
YOUNG FIONA YOUNG FIONA
Joylin Bass^ Joylin
Cora Solomon Cora Solomon
Claire Fiamingo^
TEEN FIONA TEEN FIONA
Paige Presnall Paige
Nick Karpman
THREE LITTLE PIGS THREE LITTLE PIGS
LITTLE OGRE / DWARF
LITTLE OGRE / DWARF
Reid Mattingly^ Mattingly^
Maddy Gieler Maddy Gieler BABY BEAR BABY BEAR
Paige Passanise
SSTORYTELLERS TORYTELLERS
Mia Battaglia
Olivia Loosemore^
WICKED WITCH WICKED WITCH
Abigail Bick^
PUSS IN BOOTS
Lilly Smoot^ Battaglia
Olivia Loosemore^
Claire Hill Griffin King
Sophia Yoder Hill
Mary Bleyer
Mary Bleyer
Hailey Minard Hailey
BLIND MICE BLIND MICE
Liana Ebel
Liam Lucey
KNIGHTS / GUARDS KNIGHTS / GUARDS
Lily Friedrich^, Tilly Goldkamp, Hailey Minard
Lily Friedrich^, Tilly Goldkamp, Hailey Minard
Logan Karpman,
Logan Bowhay, Nick Karpman, Jake Stokke^, Cooper Whitehorn
Mia Battaglia, Elina Dzubic, Claire Fiamingo^, Lily Friedrich^, Tilly Goldkamp, Claire Hill, Lilly Smoot, Erin Walter Hill, Smoot,
Tali Blevins, Elina Dzubic, Kyla Ellington, Marina Kondis, Laine Maranzana, Leanna Myers^
Tali Elina Marina Laine Maranzana, Leanna Myers^
FIONA Olivia Loosemore, DONKEY Levi Money, FARQUAAD Liam Lucey, DRAGON Mia Battaglia, PINOCCHIO Liana Ebel, GINGY Lilly Smoot,
TEEN FIONA Lily Friedrich,YOUNG FIONA Leanna Myers, MAMA OGRE Cora Solomon
Loosemore, Levi Money, Liam Lucey, DRAGON PINOCCHIO Ebel, GINGY Smoot, Lily Friedrich,YOUNG Solomon
Big Bright Beautiful World.................Mama & Papa Ogre, Little Ogre, Shrek, Storytellers
Story Of My Life............................................................Pinocchio, Fairy Tale Creatures
What’s Up, Duloc? (Part 1)....................................................................................Dulocians
What’s Up Duloc? (Part 2).................................................Lord Farquaad, Dulocians
What’s Up Duloc? (Reprise)..............................................Lord Farquaad, Dulocians
I Know It’s Today.........................................................Young Fiona, Teen Fiona, Fiona
Travel Song.................................................................................Donkey, Shrek, Ensemble
Forever..................................................................Dragon, Knights, Donkey, Ensemble
This is How a Dream Comes True..............................................................................Fiona
Morning Person...........................................................................................Fiona, Ensemble
I Think I Got You Beat........................................................................................Fiona, Shrek Make a Move..................................................Donkey, Storytellers, Three Blind Mice
Morning Person (Reprise)...............................................................................................Fiona
Freak Flag.................................................................................Gingy, Fairy Tale Creatures
Big Bright Beautiful World (Reprise).......................................................................Shrek
Finale..................................................................................................Shrek, Fiona, Ensemble
I’m a Believer...............................................................................................................Ensemble
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A few days ago, GCPA’s Artistic Director, Stephanie Fox, said to me: “You love Shrek” Love Shrek? Sure, I like Shrek just fine, but love? No That was too much. I love a lot of things – pizza, pets, GCPA, and yes, parfaits. But Shrek? “No, I don’t.” I bristled. My artistic tastes live above fart jokes, right? But she insisted, “Yes, you do You love Shrek”
It's hard for me to believe that Shrek is almost as old as I am Loosely based on the 1990s picture book, Shrek erupted on the screen nearly a quarter century ago. So what gives this tale its staying power? What resonates so well that the franchise is ongoing?
Perhaps Shrek speaks to the champion in all of us. Rough around the edges, crass, and very cranky, this green monster goes from homebody to hero, when his peaceful swamp is threatened by a hoard of displaced Fairytale Creatures Cast out by society, Shrek likes his solitude and will stop at nothing to get it back. Though he’s not everybody’s cup of tea, Shrek never once pretends to be something he isn’t – and he still gets the girl in the end Plus, he learns a few things about himself along the way, and his teachers are as memorable as they are quirky.
There’s Donkey: loud, rambling, and prone to meddling. His exuberance is an unlikely match for Shrek. Yet with a healthy dose of nagging, this mule nuzzles his way into the ogre’s (and our) heart In Donkey, our ogreturned-knight finds unwavering friendship in someone who, for the first time in Shrek’s life, doesn't scream and run at the sight of him. Rather, Donkey immediately embraces Shrek’s otherness, even relates to it, and convinces all of us that in our lowest moments, friendship and love are what matter most in life And let’s not forget he falls for Dragon, a formidable femme fatale, if there ever was one.
And of course, my favorite princess, Fiona, whom I played (choreographed by the inimitable Stephanie, herself, at Chaminade almost 10 years ago). Fiona’s my kind of ingenue. I love her spunk and relate to her plight because, despite her best efforts to be the perfect princess, she’s messy, clumsy, and beautifully flawed. After all, she’s as much an ogre as she is a princess And this ogre-princess’s superpower is hope – waiting through “day number 8,423” for her prince and his steed. Fiona has every reason to believe he’s a no-show. Still, she wills her future into existence: falling for Shrek, and more importantly, loving herself
From “once upon a time,” to “the end,” Shrek is a choose-your-ownadventure of timely lessons. In “Freak Flag,” the Fairytale Creatures teach us not to tolerate our differences, but to embrace them. Donkey encourages us to be vulnerable, ask for help, lean on a friend And both Fiona and Shrek illustrate the importance of resilience and radical selfacceptance. In Duloc, the unheard find their voices, the unexpected join forces, and the undervalued find their feet. They unite to overcome an uncaring, self-absorbed leader, because after all, evil dictators never last. These lessons make Shrek more relevant than ever
Hey, maybe I do love Shrek, particularly this production. I hope you will, too! From farts to Farquaad, this musical has something for everyone I hope you embrace these young artists and their tale as much as I have. They are lively, creative, determined, and compassionate storytellers, who offer community and showcase their individual and collective strengths, just as their characters do. Amidst the ills of the world, I feel so lucky that every day we got to create Shrek I’m delighted that you, the audience, are a part of this show, which speaks to the ogre, the donkey, and the princess in all of us. Shrek offers theatre magic at its best, and yes, I love it! I’ll leave you with my favorite lyric: “We’re a screwy but delighted crazy stew. We are different, and united. You are us, and we are you.”
Katie Balinski (Pinocchio) is a rising freshman and is so excited to be in her fourth GCPA summer camp production with Shrek Jr.! Recent favorite roles include Grandma Addams in The Addams Family Jr. (Dayspring), Old Sally in Oliver! (GCPA), Pearl in The SpongeBob Musical Youth Edition (GCPA), and Omar in Aladdin Jr (Shrewsbury YT). Behind the scenes this past spring, Katie served as a production assistant intern for GCPA's Jungle Book Kids and loved it! She takes voice lessons with Sarah Vlodek and dance classes at GCPA. She also enjoys basketball, volleyball, and youth group
Joylin Bass (Young Fiona) is thrilled to be part of Shrek Jr. A true lover of all things performing arts, she spends most of her time singing show tunes, dancing around the house, and binge-watching musicals When she's not on stage, you can find her playing soccer in the backyard with her favorite teammate her dog, Dogé
Mia Battaglia (Three Little Pigs, Rat, u/s Dragon) is so excited to be a part of Shrek Jr! She most recently appeared in the ensemble of GCPA’s The Prom. GCPA credits include: School of Rock (Summer), Willy Wonka Jr (Veruca), and Amélie (Young Amélie). Other favorites include: The Sound of Music (Brigitta) with Kirkwood Theatre Guild, Matilda Jr. (Matilda) with Stages Performing Arts Academy, Seussical Jr (The Cat in the Hat) at Stray Pups Theatre, and Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat at The Muny Thanks to everyone at GCPA for another magical experience!
Abigail Bick (Wicked Witch) (she/her), is so excited to be in Shrek Jr. Her recent roles include Adult Ensemble in Oliver! (GCPA) and Peach in Nemo Jr (GCPA) Abigail was part of the Youth Creative Team as the Assistant Stage Manager for The Prom (GCPA) She takes voice lessons with Sarah Vlodek and dance classes with Lilly Hetz. She would like to thank her crazy family for supporting her throughout her journey. Stay gold! <3
Tali Blevins (Ensemble) is ecstatic to be a part of the cast of Shrek Jr.! This is her fifth production with GCPA, having previously performed in Finding Nemo Kids (Crush), 101 Dalmatians Kids (Perdita), Willy Wonka Kids (Augustus Gloop), A Year With Frog and Toad Kids and School House Rock Live! Jr Tali enjoys Girl Scouts, aerial silks
and artwork of all kinds. Much love to her Auntie Stephanie for always being her biggest cheerleader. She wants to remind everyone to shine their shoes and wipe their face
Mary Bleyer (Puss In Boots), a fifth grader, is over the moon to be a part of this fun show! She gained so much experience the two years she took GCPA’s Musical Makers classes and this is her fourth summer performing with GCPA! Most recently, Mary was honored to be a part of Fagin’s Gang in Oliver! Outside of theatre, she enjoys cello, piano, swimming, and finding the perfect climbing tree
Logan Bowhay (Knight, Guard, Rooster) is a sixth grader and thrilled to return to the stage with GCPA! Past roles include Ensemble in GCPA’s The SpongeBob Musical Youth Edition and Ensemble in Tuck Everlasting at Stages Performing Arts Academy He studies piano with Jennifer Spohr, plays cello, and practices martial arts. Many thanks to the directors, cast, and crew for the chance to learn from you all!
Elina Dzubic (Rat, Ensemble) is thrilled to be back on stage with GCPA for Shrek Jr this summer! Previous credits include The SpongeBob Musical Youth Edition and Willy Wonka Kids Elina pours her heart into the arts through dancing and singing, is an energetic cheerleader, and enjoys giving back to others through volunteering and leadership opportunities like the National Junior Honor Society
Liana Ebel (Bishop, u/s Pinocchio), is a rising sophomore at Nerinx Hall and is thrilled to be in her second GCPA production! Some of her recent roles include the Mayor in The SpongeBob Musical Youth Edition (GCPA), Mathletes Moderator in Mean Girls Jr. (Ignite Theatre Company), and Zazu in The Lion King Kids (Kirkwood Youth Theatre) When Liana is not performing, she enjoys playing soccer, juggling, taking voice lessons, and practicing her unicycle She is grateful for the love and support from her parents, brothers, and dog Liana is especially thankful for all the rides from her mom and her carpool!
Kyla Ellington (Ensemble), is excited that her first show with GCPA is Shrek Jr! She has been performing in musicals since she was 8 years old. Credits include The Lion King Jr, Elf Jr, Aladdin Jr (Iago), Into the Woods (Hen), Tarzan, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (Violet), A Charlie Brown Christmas, Newsies (Scab), and Beetlejuice Jr. Kyla loves all things theater and is thrilled to be a part of this amazing cast!
Abby Erwin (Donkey) is thrilled to be in Shrek Jr this summer! Some of her previous roles include: The SpongeBob Musical Youth Edition (GCPA) as Pirate/Featured Dancer, Willy Wonka Jr (GCPA) as Mr. Bucket, Newsies Jr. (GCPA) as Oscar Delancey, and Singin’ in the Rain Jr. (Kirkwood Youth Theatre) as Dora Bailey. Abby was recently the Assistant Stage Manager for The Prom (GCPA) Thanks to friends, family, & directors for their support!
Claire Fiamingo (Dragon), is excited to be in Shrek Jr this summer! She has been a member of the GCPA family as a Show Starter for two years and has participated in dance and musical theatre performance classes, as well as voice lessons with Sarah Vlodek. Her previous roles include Dory in last summer’s Finding Nemo Kids and Nipper in Oliver! When not at her second home, GCPA, Claire can be found on stage at Wydown Middle School or singing and dancing around the house. “Thank you to my family for always supporting me! Love you, Mom, Dad, and James”
Vivian French (Princess Fiona), an 8th grader, is excited to be performing with GCPA for the 7th time! Some of her past performances with GCPA include The SpongeBob Musical: Youth Edition (Sandy), School of Rock (James), A Christmas Story (Ensemble), and Willy Wonka Jr (Grandpa Joe). She has also performed with Stages Performing Arts Academy, Kirkwood Youth Theatre, and Notre Dame High School Beyond theater, she enjoys playing softball, volleyball, and the piano Enjoy the show!
Lily Friedrich (Blind Mice, Rat, u/s Teen Fiona), an 8th grader, is excited to be a part of Shrek Jr! Lily has enjoyed being part of productions at GCPA including The SpongeBob Musical Youth Edition, Frog & Toad Kids and Willy Wonka Kids She loves singing, dancing, fashion design and snuggling with her 7-pound pup, Beanie She is grateful for the support of her family and friends!
Maddy Gieler (Papa Bear), is BEYOND excited to be in this amazing musical of Shrek Jr Her experience & credits come short to nothing as she is attending Grand Center Arts Academy She has starred in several plays - Medusa Tale and Dinomanalong with writing & directing in both Maddy has achieved district honors choir & straight A’s, too. Many thanks to her Mom & Dad, Grandma, Uncles & Aunt and her favorite three cousins.
Tilly Goldkamp (Blind Mice, Rat), a rising freshman, is ecstatic to be performing in Shrek Jr! Favorite shows include Frozen (STP), Oliver (GCPA), Matilda (SSP), School of Rock (GCPA), Newsies Jr. (GCPA), and A Christmas Story (GCPA) She also studies voice with Ashleigh Blevins. She would like to thank her family and friends for supporting her along the way!
Claire Hill (Storyteller, Rat), is excited to be in her second summer show at GCPA, after appearing in Finding Nemo Jr as Pearl's Parent last year. Recent favorite credits include Claire (aka "The Cheese Touch Girl") in Diary of a Wimpy Kid (St Louis Theatre Kids), Tessie in Annie Jr. (school), Cicely Endicott in Who Killed Aunt Caroline? (Clayton Community Theatre), and dancing various roles in The Nutcracker at the Fox Theatre Outside of performing, she loves art and writing Thanks to everyone at GCPA and her family for their support!
Nick Karpman (Knight, Guard), is an 11year-old boy who likes playing video games, playing hockey and playing lacrosse He is excited for his first production!
Griffin King (Storyteller), is going into 7th grade this coming year He is very excited to be a part of Shrek Jr This will be his first production with GCPA. Previously, he has played in local productions of The Little Mermaid Jr. (Scuttle) and Beauty & The Beast (LeFou) When not on stage Griffin loves playing piano, singing, and drawing "Many Thanks to my family and one-of-akind friends for all their love and support!"
Ray Knickman (Shrek) (he/him), a rising 9th grader, is excited to be returning to the GCPA stage in Shrek Jr! His credits include: Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat (SPAA), The SpongeBob Musical Youth Edition (GCPA), Madagascar Jr. (SPAA), and many more! Thank you for coming, and enjoy the show!
Marina Kondis (Ensemble), an 8th grader, is excited to be part of Shrek Jr! She was also a cast member last summer in The SpongeBob Musical Youth Edition with GCPA She plays cello, takes ballet and modern dance classes, and plays volleyball. Thanks to my family and friends!
Olivia Loosemore (Three Little Pig, u/s Fiona), is a rising 9th grader who is ecstatic to be a part of Shrek Jr! Past shows include Romeo and Juliet (Juliet), Oliver! (Fagin's gang), The SpongeBob Musical Youth Edition (Perch Perkins), A Midsummer Night's Dream (Starveling), and School of Rock (Adult Ensemble) She takes many classes at GCPA, including voice with Sarah Vlodek Big thanks and lots of love to Mom, Dad, Leo, Nell, and Clo for your constant support. Enjoy the show!
Liam Lucey (Guard Captain, u/s Farquaad), is ecstatic to be a part of Shrek Jr. He is going to be in 8th grade at Whitfield next year He has been in several shows, including as James the Candy Kid in Willy Wonka Jr and the Krabby Patty Fish in The Spongebob Musical Youth Edition. He also enjoyed being in Newsies Jr and Footloose Youth Edition At GCPA, Liam takes voice lessons with Ashleigh Blevins, acting with Paul Pagano, tap with Lizzy Egley, and musical theatre dance at COCA. Outside of Musical Theatre, Liam enjoys playing tennis and reading
Laine Maranzana (Ensemble) will be going into 6th grade and is excited to be starting middle school this fall. She has enjoyed being in seven musicals through the Shrewsbury Youth Theater program since the age of 8. This will be her first show with GCPA, and she can't wait to make new friends and learn from the GCPA staff! When she's not singing, dancing, and acting, she loves to play sports, cheer, and spend time with friends and family. Laine is so proud to be a part of this amazingly talented cast and crew!
Reid Mattingly (Little Ogre, Dwarf), is excited to be a part of Shrek Jr! Credits include several GCPA productions and most recently a cast member of GCPA's Show Starters 2024-2025 team. He enjoys singing, dancing and creating productions around the house He has recently taken interest in graphic design and editing. Reid would like to give a special thank you to his mom, dad, brother and the rest of his family and friends who have always supported him in doing what he loves
Hailey Minard (Pied Piper) is a 9th grader and is excited to be in her fifth GCPA production. Hailey has previously been in Footloose Youth Edition, Willy Wonka, Jr, The SpongeBob Musical Youth Edition and Oliver! (GCPA); Mean Girls Jr. (Ignite Theatre Company); Shrek, Jr (Kirkwood Youth Theatre); Finding Nemo, Jr and Singin’ in the Rain, Jr (Actor’s Attic); Descendants, Frozen, Jr, Finding Nemo, Jr, Aladdin, Jr. and Beauty and the Beast, Jr. (Shrewsbury Youth Theatre); and Fiddler on the Roof (Playhouse Productions) She takes musical theatre dance and studies voice at Sarah Wirthlin Studios Hailey would like to thank her family, friends and cast for their love and support
Cece Mohr (Ugly Duckling) (she/ her), is so excited to be a part of Shrek Jr! A sixth grader, this is Cece’s seventh GCPA show. Some of her favorite credits include Lavender in Matilda (Shooting Star Productions), William in Frankenstein (Debut Theatre Co) and Electric Skate #3 in The SpongeBob Musical Youth Edition (GCPA) When she’s not doing theatre, Cece loves to crochet, bake and read “Thanks to this amazing cast, crew and production team!”
Levi Money (Big Bad Wolf, u/s Donkey), is excited to be back for his fourth GCPA show, after doing The SpongeBob Musical Youth Edition last summer, Oliver! last year, and crew for The Prom earlier this spring. This is his second time doing Shrek Jr Levi is also a Show Starter, and when he's not on stage, he's likely in voice, dance, or acting class around the GCPA building Some of his past musicals include Diary of a Wimpy Kid, Willy Wonka Jr, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, A Christmas Carol, Peter Pan & The Wizard of Oz, just to name a few
Leanna Myers (Ensemble, u/s Young Fiona), a 7th grader, is excited to return to the GCPA stage! She is a member of GCPA's Show Starters Recent credits include Finding Nemo Kids (Sheldon/Turtle Kid) and Oliver! (Fagin's Gang) with GCPA; The Little Mermaid, Jr (Flotsam) with Stray Dog Theatre; and The Enchanted Bookshop (Fagin / Dolittle / Frankenstein) with Alfresco Productions She studies in the Bailey Voice Studio. Leanna enjoys making YouTube videos and taking care of her cat, Mobil. Love to her Mom, Dad, Ella, Mobil and her friends.
Paige Passanise (Baby Bear) is a rising 7th grader and so excited to work with the cast and crew of Shrek Jr.! This will be her fifth show She’s previously been in The Music Man, Mean Girls Jr., The Little Mermaid Jr., and Bye Bye Birdie When not acting, Paige enjoys dance classes, voice lessons, guitar lessons and spending time with her family and friends She thanks her voice instructor, Ashley, and her family and friends for all of their support!
Kathryn Pierce (Gingy) is so excited to perform with so many best friends! She is a rising 8th grader Earlier this summer she was in Hello, Dolly! with Shooting Star Productions. Her favorite past role is Elle Woods in Raise Your Voice, Jr with Ignite Theatre Company. Kathryn is also a threeyear member of GCPA’s Show Starters and two-year member of Lindbergh’s awardwinning Synchronicity Show Choir, both of which have provided her leadership opportunities When she’s not performing, she enjoys lacrosse, cross country/track, robotics, piano, clarinet, Book Battle, and has won state medals for Science Olympiad She’d like to thank her familyeven her three older siblings who always tell her to stop singing.
Paige Presnall (Teen Fiona) is a 7th grader and is excited to be a part of Shrek Jr! Credits include: Lawrence in School of Rock (GCPA), Ensemble in Oliver! (GCPA), Pirate in The SpongeBob Musical Youth Edition (GCPA), Bird Girl in Seussical (Stray Dog), and more! Paige studies voice at GCPA, has studied piano at Webster Music School, and also plays flute in the school band Paige is so excited for this amazing opportunity and cannot wait for more!
Cora Solomon (Mama Bear, u/s Mama Ogre) (she/her) is in 7th grade She is thrilled to be in Shrek Jr. Cora's three favorite shows are Raise Your Voice, The Sound of Music Jr, and Mean Girls Jr She wants to thank her mom and dad for the opportunity and her brother Owen for pushing her to improve When Cora is not on stage, you might spot her with her friends or brother, singing around the house or playing softball.
Lilly Smoot (Three Little Pigs, Rat, u/s Gingy), is a spirited 12-year-old who brings her love for singing, dancing, and performing to the stage! She’s an energetic performer who also enjoys dancing at RJ’s
and playing volleyball and the trumpet at school Lilly caught the theater bug a few years ago and has since been seen in Winnie the Pooh, Finding Nemo Jr, Willy Wonka Jr, and most recently in Show Starters with GCPA. She is so grateful for all she has learned and the many friendships she’s made performing! Even though Lilly is moving this summer, she couldn’t pass up the chance to be part of Shrek Jr! She’s thrilled to be performing with such a fun and talented cast.
Jake Stokke (Knight, Guard) is a 7th grader who is excited about his second production of Shrek Jr this time at GCPA! Previous GCPA credits include Fagin's Gang in Oliver!, Mike Teavee in Wonka Jr., and Bloat in Finding Nemo Jr Jake was also delighted to be a GCPA Show Starter for the '24-’25 season. Other credits include: Sir Harry in Once Upon a Mattress, SpongeBob in The SpongeBob Musical Youth Edition, and Claude Herdman in The Best Christmas Pageant Ever (CCLS) He also studies voice with Ashleigh Blevins. Jake would like to thank the directors for this opportunity. Enjoy the show!
Beaux Swoboda (Lord Farquaad), is so excited to be making his GCPA debut as a member of the cast of Shrek Jr.! You may have seen him in school productions such as Augustus Gloop in Willy Wonka Jr., or Cogsworth in Beauty And The Beast Jr He has also performed at Stages Performing Arts Academy as Issachar in Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat and Miles in Tuck Everlasting TYA. Beaux looks forward to joining GCPA again!
Nora Turner (Peter Pan) (she/her) will be a 6th grader in the Fall and is thrilled to be joining the cast of Shrek Jr! She previously performed in The Little Mermaid Jr (Sebastian), Beauty & the Beast Jr (Hat Seller/Napkin), Aladdin Jr. (Iago), Finding Nemo Jr (Tad), Frozen Jr (Cook), Shrek Jr (Puss in Boots), and Descendants Jr (Isle Kid/Ensemble) with Shrewsbury Youth Theater She also appeared in Elf (North Pole Elf) with CBC High School. Nora is also a competitive swimmer and takes both voice and acting classes Nora would like to thank her mom, dad, and sisters!
Erin Walter (Mama Ogre, Rat) (she/her) is so excited to be returning to GCPA for Shrek Jr! Erin is spending this summer practicing with her high school dance team, where she will be a freshman, and rehearsing with this awesome GCPA cast and crew Some of Erin's favorite credits include Anne Boleyn in Six the Musical Teen Edition (COCA), Bowery Brigade in Newsies, Jr (GCPA), and Maleficent in Descendants, Jr. (Stages). Erin studies voice with Katie Kopff, dance at St Louis Ballet, and has been a part of TeamStages for the past three years.
Cooper Whitehorn (Knight, Guard), is a 7th grader making his stage debut in Shrek Jr! Cooper loves singing in the concert choir at SLCC as well as playing the guitar, drums, and keys at home When he’s not doing his music thing, he is competing on his baseball team or playing various sports with his friends Thank you to the cast and staff for this amazing experience!
Sophia Yoder (Storyteller) (she/her), a rising 8th grader, is excited to be a part of Shrek Jr.! Recent credits include Princess Jasmine & Mary Katherine Stephenson (Ignite) and Townfish 3 (GCPA). She is also excited to intern with GCPA this summer! “Many thanks to my Uncle Richard, brother Wyatt, Mom, Dad, and everyone for being there to support me!” Follow her at @sophiayoyo2 on Instagram!
Audrey Schulz (Assistant Director / Assistant Choreographer) (she/her) is thrilled to be a part of Shrek Jr. as the Assistant Director/Choreographer for her first time on Youth Creative Team! Past performance credits include Violet in 9 to 5 (Southeastern Summer Theatre Intensive) and Shelby in The Prom (GCPA), and production credits at GCPA include Finding Nemo Kids (Crew), Willy Wonka Kids (Intern), and Footloose Jr. (Crew). Audrey is a member of the GCPA CrAFT program, takes voice with Lisa Campbell-Albert, and takes acting and dance at GCPA Thank you so much to the cast, crew, and creative team! SFCB
Finley Mohr (Assistant Stage Manager) (she/her) has loved being the Assistant Stage Manager for Shrek Jr! Her previous production credits include Willy Wonka Kids (Intern), School of Rock (ASM), and The Spongebob Musical Youth Edition
(Assistant Director). She takes many classes and is a part of the CrAFT College program at Gateway Center for Performing Arts. She would like to thank the cast, crew, and creative team for making this show a wonderful experience!
Adele Plank (Production Assistant) (she/her) is thrilled to be a part of Shrek Jr for her first time working with GCPA! Past production credits include Mamma Mia (Crew), Shrek (Crew), and Freaky Friday (Crew) She would like to thank the cast, crew, and creative team for making this show a wonderful experience!
Delaney Plank (Production Assistant) (they/them) is excited about joining the Shrek Jr crew as an intern Their previous works courtesy of their high school's theater programs include Mamma Mia! (Crew) Shrek (Crew) and Freaky Friday (ASM) While participating in previous GCPA shows as a cast member, this is their first time working as a crew member and they couldn't be more hopeful for the result They would like to thank everyone involved for the tremendous amount of time they have dedicated to this production!
Lisi Levy (Director) (she/her) is overjoyed to be making a return to GCPA this summer! A former GCPA student herself, Lisi graduated from Oklahoma City University with a BFA in Acting and a minor in Directing Since then, she has directed countless youth theatre productions, including Footloose Youth Edition and Godspell Jr. for GCPA! Lisi is currently based in Philadelphia, PA where she works as an actor, director, and teaching artist
Sarah Vlodek (Music Director) has had a passion for performing from a very young age, beginning dance lessons at the age of 2, and being in her first musical at the age of 7 Sarah recently graduated from Waldorf University where she earned both a BA in Musical Theatre and a BA in Vocal Performance Sarah discovered her love for directing and teaching when she directed her first one act play in high school, and since then she has taught private voice, worked as an assistant for the St Louis Children’s Choirs, and co-directed the Musical Theatre Showcase at her university Sarah has attended several summer vocal intensives where she has performed in many scenes and full length operas including Don Giovanni, Little Women, and
Susannah. Sarah has performed in many musicals, a few favorites being Mother in Ragtime, Pennywise in Urinetown, and Cathy in The Last Five Years
Chrissy Clair (Wallen) (Choreographer) began dancing at Ballet Arts Center in Farmington, then at Webster University where she earned a BFA in Dance with an emphasis in ballet and departmental honors.. Chrissy has spent the last five summers at the Space Station Residency, performing works by artistic director Jacob Henss, Josiah Gunderson, Nicole Kennett, and Paige VanNest. In February 2023, Chrissy performed in Emily Duggins Ehling’s independent show “ and everything stays the same , ” where a duet from the show, “please hold me,” became a separate work, touring at various festivals alongside her best friend, Abbi LeBaube Chrissy is also a dedicated member of RESILIENCE Dance Company, where she is in her fourth year and also serves as the costume curator/designer She has performed in multiple evening-length works by artistic director Emily Haussler and guest choreographers such as: Victoria Awkward, Annie Rigney, Kia Smith, Mike Esperanza, Persi Mae, Rosanna Taverez, Vim Viggor, Xi Zhao Chrissy’s costume design has been featured in seven RDC shows. Most recently, she choreographed and premiered “just turn me on” for RDC’s Collective Realities in February Chrissy is in her fifth year of teaching at Ballet Arts Center and Dimensions Dance Center, shaping the next generation of dancers Chrissy has loved spending the summer with GCPA choreographing Shrek Jr!
Bynley Wall (Stage Manager) is a rising junior at the University of South Carolina studying International Business and Marketing She is so excited to be back at GCPA as the Stage Manager Previous GCPA credits include 42nd Street, Something Rotten, and A Christmas Story She also spent 12 summers performing in the Youth Ensemble at The Muny Thanks to Stephanie, the Shrek creative team, & GCPA for welcoming her back with open arms!
Stephanie Fox (Artistic Director) (she/her) is originally from Oklahoma and graduated from the University of Central Oklahoma with a Bachelor of Music: Music Theatre and continued her studies independently in New York As a proud member of Actors’
Equity (Stephanie Long) she has performed regionally, on National tour and in New York. In St. Louis, Stephanie has taught at COCA, STAGES, and choreographed 8 years at Chaminade College Prep along with numerous professional choreography credits. While I didn’t work directly on this one, this one is for Lisi - cause she loves Shrek
Jen Blum-Tatara (Costume Designer) As a professional costumer who has been working in the St Louis area for almost a decade, Jen has met and worked with many talented performers and artists throughout the years. She loves to collaborate in any way she can, from designing their costumes to parodying the show she’s running with other backstage technicians Jen holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in both Theater and English Literature from Southern Illinois University Edwardsville, and she has returned annually to her alma mater to design costumes for the Cougar Theater Camp every summer. Recent projects include Die Zauberflöte (Winter Opera St. Louis) and Chicago-High School Edition (Edwardsville High School) When not working, Jen prefers to spend her time at home reading alongside her husbandandthreepets
Caidyn Crouch (Hair and Make-Up Design) is excited to make her Hair and Makeup debut In Shrek Jr! She has been in theatre for eight years and recently graduated with her Associate’sDegreeinArts
Jake Tillmann (Sound Design) is a sound designer, percussionist, audio engineer, and technician from the Cincinnati area. He has performed in and designed many productions over his twelve year career including Godspell, The Producers, Next to Normal, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, Tick Tick Boom, Ride the Cyclone, and more Jake found theater during his studies at Valparaiso University, where he obtained a degree in Music Industry. Jake has consulted and designed for many theatres, venues, studios and other organizations all across the country He is excited to make his design debut at GCPA with Shrek Jr Outside of music and theater, Jake can often be found traveling with his wife, Ashley, and Goldendoodle,Charlie.”
Patrice Nelms (Set Designer, Technical Director) is a freelance theatrical designer, technician, + interdisciplinary artist who is deeply interested in the way that people experience color, space, texture, + the world around them A St Louis native, they have served as the technical director at Union Avenue Opera, Winter Opera St Louis, + assisted at the New Jewish Theatre. Patrice has designed scenery at Thunder Bay Theatre in Alpena, MI; Buck’s Rock Creative + Performing Arts Camp in New Milford, CT; the Professional Training Company at Actors Theatre of Louisville in KY; Mustard Seed Theatre in St Louis, MO; + most recently, Union Avenue Opera They served as the scenic apprentice at Actors Theatre of Louisville after earning a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Theatre Design + Technology from the Dobbins Conservatory of Theatre + Dance in 2019 Patrice is deeply excited to be back with GCPA for the summer season before pursuing a Master of Fine Arts in ScenicDesignattheUniversityofMemphis
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