JULY 18-27, 2025
Sponsored by: The City of Leawood
Special Thanks!
Presenting Sponsor the City of Leawood
Mayor Marc Elkins
Members of the Leawood City Council
Chris Claxton, Director of Parks and Recreation
Melissa Duggan, Cultural Arts Supervisor
Leawood Parks Department
We would like to sincerely thank all of the people who have invested their time, talents, and energy in making 27 years of theater magic for Leawood Stage Company.
PLEASE NO PHOTOS OF ANY KIND
Letter From the Leawood Stage Company Artistic Director
As Artistic Director of The Leawood Stage Company, it is my great pleasure to welcome you to our swamp for the first production of our 27th season: Shrek the Musical!
We’re thrilled to kick off the season with this hilarious, heartwarming tale that reminds us all that being different is something to celebrate and that even ogres have layers.
Since 1998, Leawood Stage Company has proudly partnered with the City of Leawood and the Leawood Parks and Recreation Department to bring high-quality entertainment to our community. Our mission is rooted in presenting vibrant theatrical productions, providing educational programming, and strengthening community bonds through the magic of live performance.
Leawood Stage Company is, at its core, a true community theatre experience. From our Board of Directors to the gifted performers and musicians on stage, this production is made possible by the dedication of our volunteers. It’s our way of making live theatre accessible and affordable, while creating a space where families, friends, and fairy tale creatures alike can come together and share in the joy of storytelling.
If you enjoy tonight’s performance and want to support what we do, we invite you to speak with one of our Board Members. Whether you’re an aspiring dragon, a hopeful Pinocchio, or just someone who believes in the power of community, we’d love to welcome you into our story.
Thank you for being with us tonight. We hope you enjoy this heartfelt and fun story that celebrates individuality, acceptance, and the idea that heroes come in all forms.
Carrigan Hope, Leawood Stage Company Artistic Director
SHREK CAST
Shrek ............................................................ Matt Runnells-Rebol
Fiona ................................................................ Lauren Daugherty
Donkey .............................................................. Terrace Wyatt Jr.
Dragon .............................................................. Kimberly Arzoian
Lord Farquaad ........................................................ Colin Rohach
Gingy & Sugar Plum Fairy ................................ Ashlyn Robertson
Pinocchio .............................................................. Brandon Baker
Mama Orge & Mad Hatter ..................................... Kristen Baker
Papa Orge & Wolf ...................................................... Jesse Miller
Queen Lillian & Peter Pan .......................................... Kelsey Linn
King Harold & Pig .................................................... Jerry Nevins
Pig ............................................................................. Jack Fortner
Pig ................................................................................ Jack Lloyd
Papa Bear.......................................................... Jonathan Kirkland
Mama Bear .............................................................. Jaime Tanner
Little Shrek & Baby Bear ........................................ Henry Tanner
Ugly Duckling, Pied Piper, & Bluebird ............. Emma Hildebrand
Fairy Godmother ......................................................... Kim Crane
Humpty Dumpty ................................................... Scarlett Nevins
Wicked Witch ..................................................... Jessica Znidarsic
Captain Hook .......................................................... Cole Bracken
White Rabbit ..................................................... Natália Monteiro
Elf ........................................................................... Janelle Weber
Teen Fiona ............................................................ Sophia Nguyen
Little Fiona ................................................................... Lila Shove
Guard .......................................................... Matthew Santaularia
Mouse ............................................................ Kaydence Rowland
Mouse .................................................................. Mia Thompson
Mouse ............................................................... Autumn Nicholes
Puss in Boots ....................................................... Ireland Nicholes
Dragon Assistants ..................... Brandon Baker & Micah Watney
SHREK PRODUCTION TEAM
Director ................................................................. Carrigan Hope
Vocal Director/Conductor ............................... Cassandra Nguyen
Choreographer ................................................ Anna Tovè Shelton
Stage Manager ............................................................ Bre Kristen
Costume Designer .................................................. Andie Metzger
Assistant Stage Manager ............................................ Paige Eacret
Stage Hand .................................................................. Becca Noel
Production Assistant ................................................ Don Leonard
Lighting Designer ....................................................... Zach Dulny
Technical Director ........................................ Celeste Abrahamson
Audio and Sound Director ......................................... Silver Blazer
Scenic Painter .................................................... Duncan McCloud
Set Design .............................................................. C&C Creative
Light Operator ........................................................ Chris Rohach
Prop Assistant ........................................................... Kyra Larson
Dragon Designer ....................................................... Vivian Wong
Gingy Puppets .......................................................... Ashley Basile
SHREK ORCHESTRA
Keyboard 1 ............................................................ Kathy Quigley
Guitar 1 .................................................................... Mark Felton
Guitar 2 ..................................................................... Hai Nguyen
Bass ....................................................................... Colvin Hooser
Drums ........................................................................ Eric Powers
Cello .................................................................... Tiarra Johnston
Violin 1 ................................................................. Tosh Watanabe
Violin 2 ....................................................................... Laura Gray
Horn ....................................................................... Elora Peaches
Reed 1 ................................................................... Noelle Schlenk
Reed 2 .................................................................. Brynna Ladesic
Trombone .............................................................. Dave Lovetere
Trumpet ............................................................... Charlie DeLong
AUX Percussion ................................................. Mary Beth Sloan
Meet the Cast of Shrek the Musical
Kimberly Arzoian (Dragon) is excited for another show with Leawood Stage Company! She was last seen as the Wardrobe in Beauty and the Beast When she's not performing she is busy teaching or directing and music directing with GEYTA in Gardner Enjoy the show!
Brandon Loy Baker (Pinocchio) is stoked to return to Leawood Stage Company after managing some mischief with the Puffs cast and crew in 2024. He would like to thank Carrigan and Colin, his very green wife (she’s the Mama Ogre), and his various beloved family members (improv team included).
Kristen Baker (Mama Ogre/Mad Hatter) is so excited for her Leawood Stage Company debut as Mama Ogre and the Mad Hatter, among other things! She is immensely grateful to Carrigan for trusting her with these roles, and for her husband, Pinocchio, for giving her the confidence to audition.
Cole Bracken (Captain Hook) is excited to be returning for his third show at Leawood after Beauty and the Beast and Legally Blonde! Please enjoy the show!
Kim Crane (Fairy Godmother) Is a local actor born and raised in Kansas City She is beyond thrilled to be making her first Leawood Stage Company production debut! Represented by Moxie Talent Agency. Endless gratitude to the Shrek Team As always many thanks to God, her friends and family for the constant love and support. Love and be kind to one another, live each day like it’s your last and most importantly let your freak flag fly! Enjoy this amazing show!
Lauren Daugherty (Fiona) hopes you enjoy this big, bright, beautiful production of Shrek! Recent performances include Ride the Cyclone (ESU, Jane Doe), Legally Blonde (LSC, Delta Nu), and Puffs (LSC, Sally Perks).
Offstage, she’s a barista at Hi-Hat! Lauren thanks her friends and family for their ardent support! @lolopop.249
Jack Fortner (Pig) This is Jack's first show with Leawood Stage Company and he is very excited. Jack has been doing theatre his whole life and is excited to see what the future will hold for him. He wants to thank his family and friends for always being so supportive of him.
Emma Hildebrand (Ugly Duckling/Pied Piper/Bluebird) is thrilled to be a part of her first show with Leawood Stage Company. After participating in nine shows at JCCC, she couldn’t wait to get out in the community and continue performing post graduation. Emma wants to thank the production team for this amazing opportunity!
Jonathan Kirkland (Papa Bear/Duloc Greeter) is so excited to be in his fourth show with LSC, he can hardly "bear" it. He graduated from College of the Ozarks with a BA in Music Theatre. His credits include Legally Blonde, Seven Brides for Seven Brothers, Chicago, Beauty and the Beast, Addams Family, and more
Kelsey Linn (Peter Pan/Queen Lillian) is so excited to do a show with her daughters Ireland and Autumn again! She has worked with theaters all over KC! IG: kelsey linn
Jack Lloyd (Pig) This is Jack’s first production through Leawood Stage Company. He has enjoyed the rehearsal process greatly! His only request is that no one in the audience blows his house down. Enjoy the show and don’t forget to smile!
Jesse Miller (Wolf/Papa Orge) is excited for his first show with Leawood Stage Company. Some of his favorite roles have been Major Magnus (Real Inspector Hound), Caliban
The Tempest), and Joe Benjamin (God's Favorite). He wants to thank his wife Samantha for supporting him while he went to play pretend
Natalia Monteiro (White Rabbit) is excited to return to Leawood Stage Company! Past roles include Beautiful (Barn Players), Little Mermaid (The J), Beauty and the Beast (LCS), and Rock of Ages (Mid-Life Players) Originally from Brazil, she thanks her husband and friends for their love and support.
Jerry Nevins (Pig/King Harold) is excited to be on stage here at Leawood after a bit of a theater hiatus, especially since he gets to perform with his daughter Scarlett! He’s performed improv comedy in KC (Full Frontal Comedy-10 years), as well been in productions of Guys & Dolls (SMTITP), A Few Good Men (Barn Players) and a smattering of radio plays for KC Fringe.
Scarlett Nevins (Humpty Dumpty) is thrilled to be making her 4rd appearance at LSC and has been involved in KC theater since 2013. She is a top ranked Missouri State vocalist, and has been a performer at the Lyric Opera, Starlight, and the KC REP. She hopes you enjoy the show!
Sophia Nguyen (Teen Fiona) is so excited to be a part of her first show at Leawood Stage Company! She would like to thank her friends, family, and teachers for their unwavering support. She will be seen next as Donna in Mamma Mia at Bishop Miege! Enjoy the show!
Autumn Rose Nicholes (Mouse) This is Autumn's second show with Leawood Stage Company. Local: A Christmas Carol (KCRep); Newsies, Frozen Jr (The Barn); Annie Jr (Stage Right); Matilda Jr (Leavenworth Community Theatre); Beauty and the Beast (LSC). Autumn is excited to share the stage with her mom, Kelsey, and sister, Ireland, again!
Ireland Nicholes (Puss in Boots) This is Ireland's second show with LSC! Ireland loves to do gymnastics, swim, and collect everything Sanrio!
Ashlyn Robertson (Gingy/Sugar Plum Fairy) will be a senior at Olathe West High School and is thrilled for her second show at LSC. Her recent roles include Olive in The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee and Margot in Legally Blonde at LSC She would like to thank God, her supportive family, and her friends DON’T LOSE YOUR GUMDROP BUTTONS!!!
Colin Rohach (Lord Farquaad) would like to dedicate this performance to his future orthopedic surgeon who likely will be operating on both of his knees after his performance as Lord Farquaad.
Kaydence Rowland (Mouse) is a 12 year old middle school student. This is her debut at Leawood Stage Company! She has been in over 15 musical theater productions, and has taken lessons from Tony award winners! She would like to thank her family for support and God for her abilities.
Matt Runnells-Rebol (Shrek) is excited to return to the Leawood Stage Company for Shrek. He has enjoyed performing all around that Kansas City area, and is so grateful for the opportunity to work on such an impactful production. He extends thanks to his friends, family, and fiancé Megan for always supporting him.
Matthew Santaularia (Guard) is beyond excited to return to LSC for the second time He has also danced his way across the stage at Theater in the Park and in several high school shows. He's here to prove that inclusion works and that embracing each other's differences makes us all better people.
Lila Shove (Young Fiona) feels so honored to be here! Huge thanks to God, family, Ashley, and the director for believing in her. She hopes Shrek reminds you that no matter how different you may feel, there are people out there who appreciate you. When you find them - hold on tight. Enjoy the show!
Henry Tanner (Young Shrek/Baby Bear) Henry is excited to return to Leawood for Shrek! Henry will start middle school in the
all. In his spare time he likes to read books and play with his dog. Henry wants to thank Mom for feeding him and driving him around. Enjoy the show!
Jaime Tanner (Mama Bear) is ecstatic to be back on stage this summer with Leawood! Offstage Jaime enjoys teaching private piano lessons and Kindermusik classes. She also loves playing with her boys Henry, Eli, and Cole and her dog, Calypso. Thanks and love to Andy for holding the fort down!
Mia Thompson (Mouse) is excited for her first show at Leawood Stage Company. Mia is 11 years old and enjoys singing, dancing, and being on stage. Mia wants to give a big thank you for her family and friends both near and far for their support. Enjoy the show!
Micah Watney (Dragon Assistant) is thrilled to make his debut as a first-time dragon and to return to the LSC stage. He was most recently seen as John in The Barn Players’ production of Jesus Christ Superstar. A familiar face at LSC, Micah previously portrayed Wayne in Puffs and appeared in Legally Blonde and The Drowsy Chaperone. Offstage, he works as a local filmmaker and editor, and enjoys spending time with his wife and dog.
Janelle Weber (Elf) is a graduate of Northwest Missouri State University, where she received her B.S. in Theatre Performance. Janelle's recent performances include The Play That Goes Wrong (2024). Janelle also works as a scare actor and teacher In her off time, she is also an active cosplayer!
Terrace Wyatt, Jr. (Donkey) is hyped to make his third appearance with LSC His past two shows were Seussical and West Side Story. He's also a playwright, producer and director who's been taking over KC since the pandemic. He has worked with almost every theatre company in KC and he's currently producing his NEW play Terrace Wyatt, Jr.'s: Mel'N E [Melanin & Educated] at KC Fringe Festival at Music Theater Heritage. Kcfringe.org Get your waffles on it's about to get parfait in here!!!!
Jessica Znidarsic (Witch) is a graduate of the University of Arkansas. This is her first Leawood Stage Company production and she is so excited to be on stage again! She thanks her friends and family for always supporting her and telling her to follow her dreams.This one's for you! She is so excited to take you somewhere far far away!
Meet the Production Team of Shrek
Carrigan Rohach (Director) is beyond proud to direct Shrek the Musical, her fifth production with Leawood Stage Company. It has been a true joy to bring this story to life with such a talented and dedicated cast. Guiding this group of fairy tale characters through this journey this been a highlight of her time with Leawood Stage Company. Carrigan is in her final year of law school at the University of Missouri–Kansas City School of Law, where she competes nationally on UMKC Law’s Trial Advocacy Mock Trial Team. Her passions for theatre and advocacy go hand in hand both rooted in powerful storytelling, collaboration, and communication She extends her sincere thanks to the exceptional production team for their creativity, leadership, and unwavering support throughout this process. To the cast: thank you for your energy, commitment, and heart. Finally, Carrigan would like to thank her family for their constant love, encouragement, and support every step of the way.
Cassandra Nguyen (Music Director) is thrilled to be returning to the Leawood Stage as Music Director. She last did The Music Man in the early 2000s with Leawood Stage Co. as a Picka-Little Lady. Since then, she has received her Masters in Music Education at Central Methodist University and has been teaching for the past 12 years to a wide range of students. Recent Music Directing experiences in community theater include The OCTA’s New Works production of The Giver and The White Theater’s A Gentleman’s Guide to Love and Murder. Cassandra would like to thank her husband, Hai and their two kids, Emery and Luka for all of their love and support!
Anna Tovè Shelton (choreographer) recently earned a BFA in Dance Performance with a Theatre minor from the University of Kansas She was Assistant Choreographer and Dance Captain for Pippin, President of the University Dance Company, and a recipient of KU’s Key Collaborator Award, recognizing her leadership, creativity, and dedication to the arts.
Andie Metzger (Costume Designer) studied Apparel Design & Production at Kansas State University and has always had a passion for theatre. She joined Leawood Stage Company last season as the costume designer for Legally Blonde and is thrilled to return for Shrek the Musical. With a background in editorial styling and fashion show production, Andie brings both creativity and attention to detail to her work. She has loved the challenge of bringing this whimsical, fairy tale world to life through costume design.
Bre Kristen (Stage Manager) is so excited to be back working with Leawood Stage Company! After working on Suessical the Musical in 2021 as an Assistant Stage Manager, they are excited to jump into Shrek the Musical as the Stage Manager. They would like to thank their fiancé Celeste for supporting them throughout this process and bringing joy into their life everyday!
Paige Eacret (ASM) is excited to be back with Leawood Stage Company! Currently, she is a middle school theatre teacher at RaymorePeculiar East Middle School. In her free time she enjoys reading, lifting, and spending time with her cat and husband. Thank you to Bre for getting her on this show, Noah for supporting her through these crazy weeks, and the entire cast and crew for welcoming her. Enjoy the show!
Duncan McCloud (Scenic Painter) is excited to return to Leawood Stage Company after working on Puffs, and is having a fantastic time bringing the swamp to life for Shrek the Musical. He paints murals across Kansas City and enjoys using his artistic talents to transform spaces into imaginative, immersive environments
Kyra Larson (Props Assisant) has had a small obsession with the Shrek movies since childhood by small, she means she could probably quote all four films in her sleep. Being part of this production is truly a dream come true (and possibly the peak of her theater career). She’s loved working behind the scenes to help bring the swamp to life and is thrilled to finally put her encyclopedic Shrek knowledge to good use. Long live the ogre!
Becca Noel (Stage Hand) has always loved the theatre and is honored to be part of the tech team for Shrek the Musical. In high school, they worked on the tech crew for Annie Get Your Gun and played oboe in the pit orchestra for Mary Poppins at Fulton High School. Being part of this production has been a fun and rewarding experience, and they hope you enjoy the show as much as they’ve enjoyed helping bring it to life
Silver Blazer (Audio and Sound Director) is a Audio Visual Engineer with a focus in Theater, AV Technology, and music production. Her journey started with her elementary schools production of Seussical. In 2015 Silver started learning the basics of music theory and audio production. Now she produces music under the name Jsilver and is working with several theaters in the Kansas City area and KKFI as an audio technician.
Celeste Abrahamson (Technical Director) is excited to be working on her first show with Leawood Stage Company! Moving recently to the KC area, she has done productions with KC Fringe Festival, The Arts Asylum, and Whim Productions. She would like to give a huge thank you to her fiance Bre for not only being ever-so supportive of her theater life, but for being an excellent creator of theater themself! Catch Celeste in the booth at Whim Space for KC Fringe Festival this season!
Join Leawood Stage Company this fall for:
The Goppert Theater at Avila Oct. 24 - 26 & Oct. 29 - Nov. 2
Auditions will take place August 2025
Follow @leawoodstageco on Facebook and Instagram for more information