I am so excited and honored to have been given the opportunity to direct TGRC's Production of Descendants The Musical! This production is made up of the largest cast that the theatre guild has seen in years, and it has been such a joy to be part of such a large family for the past few weeks. This is my first time directing a mainstage production with TGRC and it has truly been a fantastic and rewarding experience. In 2016, I was lucky enough to have been chosen by the Theatre Guild to serve as a student director for a production called Silver's Secret. Many of the amazingly talented actors and actresses on this stage were also part of that production, and it has been so cool to have been able to create with them again after 8 years of growth!
I have had so much fun getting to watch this show come together over the past 6 weeks, and I can't wait for you to see it too! Enjoy!
Jordan Adkins, Ross Ammons, Mariyah Atha, Cora Bullins, Sofia Chalco, Ricky Greenway, Liam McCraw, Melody Nall, River Nance, Mo Overman, Isabella Petty, Essie Swisher, Sadie Tesh, Stephen
Thomas
Theatre Guild of Rockingham County and the cast and crew of Descendants would like to thank the following:
Rockingham County High School
Rockingham Community College
BF Myers Photography
Rockingham High School Tech Class
Layla Monday
Dale McCraw
Woodmont United Methodist Church
Ingrid’s Cupcakes and Confections
The Collective
Harvest Ridge Cornatcular
Fursty’s Pizza
Production Staff
Director: Maddie Barham
Musical Director: Marlo Nall
Choreographer: Karamie Walsh
Stage Manager: Danny Tanner
Assistant Stage Managers:
Colton Seacat & Ingrid McCraw
Costumes: Sophie Wood
Light Designer: Brandyn Myers
Properties: Stephanie Ham
Set Design/Build: Evan Tanner
Sound Engineer: Tom Murphy
Producers: Kelly Cole & Laurie Suthard
Program: Laura Williams
Cast bios
Jordan Adkins is thrilled to be part of the Auradonian choir in her 1st show. A 4th grader at Stoneville Elementary, Jordan enjoys singing, dancing, being with her family & friends, cheering, shopping, acting, being a leader, helping others, playing softball, and learning Spanish.
Amber Ammons is excited to share the TGRC stage with her son (for the first time!) and this talented cast. She loves being wicked and getting the chance to use her natural “Resting Witch Face” as Evil Queen.
Ross Ammons cannot wait to kick off his third season as an actor with Descendants! He embraces all of his roles and is thankful for his TGRC family and friends. Break a leg everyone!
Mariyah Atha is a second grader, and this is her first performance. She loves to sing, cheer and hangout with friends and family. She has a heart for God and serving others. She is excited to have the opportunity to be on stage and hopes you enjoy the show.
Tisha O. Barber is thrilled to be participating in yet another TGRC production. She has been a part of TGRC off and on since 1995. Favorite roles include Tuptim, Cruella de Vil, Gingy/Sugar Plum Fairy and of course The Wicked Witch of the West!
Lily Barnett is a 2nd grader making her stage debut in this production, and she couldn’t be more excited! When she’s not performing, she enjoys dancing, tumbling, and creating art. She is thrilled to be part of this experience and hopes you enjoy the show!
Cast bios
Elizabeth Brown is excited to be making her TGRC debut in “Descendants”! Elizabeth is a 7th grader at RCMS who loves to sing, dance and perform. She has been preparing for this moment her whole life (in her living room). Enjoy the show!
Nellie Brown is a 5th grade student at Wentworth Elementary and this is her 3rd TGRC production. She loves to dance and has been with AOD since she was four years old. She is so excited to perform with the Auradonian Teens.
Penny Brown is a 7th grade student at RCMS and this is her 3rd TGRC production. She loves music and takes every opportunity to make it - singing in her school choir, playing Tuba in the RCMS band, and even traveling to Auradon Prep.
Cora Bullins is excited to be a part of her first ever TGRC production. She participated in All-County Chorus last year and plans to audition again this year. She is in the 5th grade and enjoys a wide variety of music, spending time with friends, and playing Dress to Impress.
Sofia Chalco loves music and crafting. She has a blast playing with her 2 dogs, 3 cats, and snake. She especially loves her kitty Lilo. She’s super excited to be in this Disney Descendants play!
Addie Clark is a sophomore at Rockingham County High School and is in the Advanced Theater Class. This is Addie’s fourth performance with TGRC and she is so excited to play the role of Jane. In her free time, Addie loves to sing, dance, and do arts and crafts.
Bella Bolden Bella is wickedly excited to be performing in her 8th TGRC production! When she isn’t rotten to the core, she is a freshman at RECHS and loves being a C/SMSgt with Civil Air Patrol! She hopes you enjoy the show!
Cast bios
Amelia DeFalco is ecstatic to perform in her 8th show with TGRC! She is a very theatrically involved 8th grader, helping keep her school drama club alive. Amelia hopes you all love this fun show as much as she does!
Rebekah Dowdle is 15 years old and a sophomore at Rockingham Early College High School. This is her ninth year participating in TGRC. Her favorite roles include Spongebob in Reidsville High School's production of Spongebob the Musical and Penny in Hairspray.
Asher Evans, a homeschooled 4th grader, is excited to join the Isle of the Lost in his 3rd TGRC production. A talented dancer, Asher is a member of the MPDC competitive team. He enjoys playing soccer, banjo and video games.
Lily Evans, a homeschooled 7th grader, hails from the Isle of the Lost in her 5th TGRC production. Lily showcases her talent and passion for performing arts as a MPDC competitive dancer, through theater performance, media creation and singing.
Mary Reid Frazier is thrilled to be participating in her second TGRC performance, “Descendants”. Mary Reid is a 4th grade student at South End Elementary School. She enjoys dancing, singing, reading, swimming, and performing.
Ricky Greenway is a HUGE Descendants fan and super excited that this is his first musical! He played his first villian this past spring, "Bully the Bullfrog" in "Swamped", at his school. Ricky has also performed at his church and Stagelights.
Cast bios
Allan Gwyn is a junior at RCHS and this is his 5th production with TGRC. He is also part of RCHS Cougar Dramatics. While we are really not sure about his ability to communicate with dogs, we do know he really is loyal to his friends.
McKinley Hairston is performing in her third production with TGRC. Beyond theater, she enjoys volleyball, shopping, and hanging out with friends.
Reagan Hairston is performing in her fourth production with TGRC. Beyond theater, she enjoys competitive dance, shopping, and playing Roblox.
Finley Hudson - has been in 3 productions! A current 8th grader, Finley is very, very excited to play Doug in Descendants!
Elizabeth (Liz) Kratz is thrilled to be in her second show with TGRC! She was previously in Finding Nemo JR and is excited to be in the cast of Descendants. An eighth grader at Community Baptist School, Liz enjoys singing, acting, traveling with her family, being with her friends, and is actively involved in her church.
Britton Lackey was determined to never act or sing in front of an audience, but he is happy to call “Descendants“ his fourth production! Britton enjoys writing music, singing, performing, and playing on the piano. He is currently a Senior at Westover Christian Academy.
Cast bios
J
ake Law is a junior at Reidsville High School and this is his first TGRC production. He swims for his school's swim team and likes hanging out with his friends in his free time. He hopes you enjoy Descendants!
Abigail Lewis is a 7th grader at Rockingham County Middle School who loves to cheer, dance, and hang out with her friends. She is excited to be returning to the stage in her 2nd TGRC performance! She hopes you enjoy the show!
Caroline Lewis is excited to be returning to the stage in her 3rd TGRC show! She is a 5th grader at Wentworth Elementary who loves to read, dance, and spend time with friends and family. She hopes you enjoy the show!
Katie Longbrake is a Ridgeway native and RCHS grad, a USAF veteran, teacher, and mom to 3 tiny humans and 2 bonus international students. With 8 fur babies, she watercolors, dances, and gardens, waving her Fairy Godmother wand and sprinkling magic wherever life takes her!
Matthew Longbrake is a full time English teacher, part time pastor and less than part time actor. He has an incredible wife, three kids (two girls and a boy) & two bonus exchange student daughters: one from Italy and one from Spain.
Vivian Lucas is 18 years old, and graduated from Morehead High School. Vivian plans on going to beauty school next year. She loves musicals, anything beauty related, and Mamma Mia! She hopes you enjoy this show as much as she does.
Layla Mabe is ecstatic to be in her second musical! A Junior at RCHS, she loves singing, acting, her dogs, and her family! She hopes everyone enjoys the show!
Cast bios
Kendall Manning is a 6th grader at RCMS. This is her second year with TGRC and she doesn’t plan on stopping anytime soon. She has been in “Frog and Toad Kids”, “Beauty and the beast Jr”, and “Nemo jr”. She has always loved Descendants and is super excited to be working on the stage show!
Mallory Marion is thrilled to be a part of her first show with the Theatre Guild of Rockingham County! Mal is a 3rd grader at Bethany Elementary School and loves to dance and make art in her free time. She hopes you love the show!
Liam McCraw is excited for his fifth show. A 6th grader at Holmes, Liam loves to make videos, go to the movies, and spend time with his family. He was most recently Monsieur D’Arc in the TGRC Summer Camp production of Beauty and the Beast, Jr.
Kensleigh Meeks is very excited to play Royal Page and to be included in the Auradonian Teens cast. This will be Kensleighs 3rd play and looks forward to more opportunities with the TGRC in the future. Kensleigh loves animals, doing makeup, dancing and singing!
Gwyneth Mize is excited to be tapping into her inner baddie, as part of the isle of the lost ensemble. Outside of theater, she enjoys cheer, singing, dancing, doing make up, and spending time with friends!
Justin Mize came out of TGRC retirement in 2023. He enjoys experiencing the theater community he loved as a teen, now alongside his children. Justin is as big of a nerd in real life as he is playing Maurice.
Cast bios
Norah Mize Descendants is Norah’s 5th TGRC production! In addition to being on stage with TGRC, she enjoys singing, drawing, listening to music, and loving on her cats.
Melody Nall is thrilled to be in her second TGRC show after Finding Nemo Jr. last year! Currently a 6th grader at RCMS, she enjoys reading, painting, playing video games, singing, and cuddling her dogs Hershey and Addie.
Edison Nance is a 6th grader at RCMS. When she is not dreaming of being a VK, she enjoys her time being a competitive dancer at MPDC, where she loves musical theatre and tap the most. She also loves playing her guitar and is enjoying her first year of cheer at RCMS.
River Nance is a 4th grader at Wentworth and is so excited to be a part of the Aurodonian choir! When she’s not singing her heart out, she is busy taking classes at MPDC where she loves acro, jazz, and hip hop. She also loves working on her art and playing her fiddle, Valentina.
Bryan Overman is thrilled to be making his theatre debut as Jafar, and is excited to perform alongside his daughter Mo and wife Shaunna. Bryan hosts an awesome podcast on Spotify - The Underscore and helps his wife run her real estate empire. Enjoy the show.
Mo Overman is excited to be on stage for her 2nd TGRC show as an Auradonian! Earlier this year Mo made her theatre debut with CTG's Lion King, then joined TGRC for Beauty & the Beast Jr! Mo loves her friends and family.
Cast bios
Shaunna Overman is excited to return to the TGRC stage as Snow White. She made her TGRC debut in Bright Star in 2023. Shaunna received vocal training at Elon University. Special thanks to her husband Bryan, daughter Mo and TGRC for making dreams reality!
Isabella Petty is in the 4th Grade at Stoneville Elementary School in The SPLASH program. She is fluent in Spanish. Currently she’s playing volleyball for The Prowlers. She also has done competitive cheer since the age of 5. This is her 2nd time performing with TGRC.
Reagan Reid is so excited to be performing in her first musical. A freshman in high school, her favorite subject is history. Reagan enjoys singing, acting, sleeping, the beach, hanging out with friends, and meeting new people. She hopes you have an amazing time!
Colbi Riddle is in the 6th grade. This is her third show with TGRC and she is so thrilled to be a part of it! When she’s not on this stage she’s dancing away at MPDC or playing volleyball! She loves her TGRC family and plans to do many, many more shows with them!
Ashlyn Rising is a TGRC newbie, but she is no stranger to the stage! A sophomore at Westover Christian Academy, she has spent years singing, dancing, and acting in numerous productions at church, school, and in the Danville community.
Leighton Royster has participated in plays at Growing Oaks Community Church. She was in Frog and Toad and Beauty in the Beast JR. She takes dance at Academy of Dance, plays piano and is in the 3rd grade at Bethany Elementary school, where she participates in the Spanish immersion program.
Cast bios
Aitana Ruiz Sanchez is an exchange student from Spain with a passion for music and theater. Just 16 hours after arriving in the U.S. , she auditioned for Descendants! . Despite her love for playing “evil” roles, Aitana is the sweetest teen you’ll ever meet.
Braeden Seacat is a junior at RCHS, a member of the Cougar Dramatics, and the RCHS marching band. He has been involved with TGRC since he was a little seakitten. Unlike his character, he is not mischievous or sneaky, well maybe we better double check that fact with his mom…
Cooper Strader is a Junior at Rockingham Early College. This is his 7th production with TGRC, and his 16th production in all. Cooper also is in the marching band and theatre program at Reidsville High School. He enjoys the beach, coffee trips, and riding around town in his Jeep!
Sandy Strader is in her very first TGRC production after lots of prompting by her son, Cooper. A true Queen (ask her adoring husband), Sandy most enjoys her family time and supporting her kiddos in all of their activities.
Carly Stanley is excited to be a part of this year’s
Descendants Musical! She is a junior at RCHS and enjoy reading, watching movies, shopping, and sleeping. She hopes you enjoy the show!
Essie Swisher enjoys playing outside, games, swimming, dancing, singing, acting, drawing, painting and dressing up. Essie loves her family: Jacob (brother), Kendall (sister), Amy(mommy) and Kenny (daddy). Her family has been so supportive.
Song selection
Better Together (Prelude 1) - Ben
Rotten to the Core - Mal, Evie, Jay, Carlos, Ensemble
Evil Like Me - Maleficent, Mal
Be Our Guest - Chad/audition-songs/16129/evil-likeme/disneys-descendants-the-musical, Ensemble
Good Is The New Bad (Preprise) - Fairy Godmother
Good Is The New Bad (Part 1) - Mal, Evie, Jay, Carlos, Ensemble
Good Is The New Bad (Part 2) - Doug, Audrey, Chad, Ensemble
Evil Like Me (Reprise 1) - Mal
Rotten to the Core (Parents' Revenge) - Maleficent, Jafar, Grimhilde, Cruella de Vil
Ways to Be Wicked (Preprise) - Mal, Evie, Jay, Carlos Did I Mention (Prelude) - Ben
Did I Mention - Ben, Jay, Carlos, Evie, Ensemble
Better Together (Prelude 2) - Ben, Mal
Space Between - Mal, Evie
Chillin' Like a Villain (Part 1) - Evie, Jay Carlos
Chillin' Like a Villain (Part 2) - Evie, Jay, Carlos, Ben
Good Is The New Bad (Reprise 2) - Ensemble
If Only - Mal, Ben
Ways to Be Wicked - Company
Go the Distance (Chorale) - Ensemble
Evil Like Me (Reprise 2) - Maleficent
Better Together - Company
Break This Down - Company
Cast bios
Lilly Taylor is in 8th grade. She has been in Finding Nemo Jr., Oklahoma, Beauty and the Beast Summer Camp, and now Descendants with TGRC. She loves to be part of these productions. She is looking forward to this season.
Katie Tanner’s real life is quite the spin on Cruella based on her obsession with her fur babes. She owns four businesses alongside her husband, Evan. Katie’s pride and joy is her son, Tennessee. She loves dill pickles, the word groovy, and when Evan cooks hibachi on the black stone.
Sadie Tesh is thrilled to be in her first ever production. A second grader at Central, Sadie’s favorite hobbies are drawing, dancing, and swimming. Her favorite animals are dolphins and tigers. Welcome to Auradon, enjoy the show!
Stephen Thomas is 13 years old and is in the 8th grade at RCMS. This is his 8th production with TGRC. He has a very social personality and likes entertaining. He loves music, building legos, riding his four wheeler, playing video games and his cat Maple.
Staff bios
Maddie Barham (Director) is so excited to be directing again with TGRC! She started working with The Guild in 2011, and has been involved in some capacity ever since. Maddie received her BA in Acting from Greensboro College and then spent a year studying Shakespeare at Mary Baldwin University before becoming the Theatre Teacher at Rockingham County High School. Recent directing credits include Beauty and The Beast Jr., Frog and Toad KIDS (TGRC), Footloose, Into The Woods, Romeo and Juliet, and Peter/Wendy (Rockingham County High School). She would like to thank her amazing partner, Rodney, for always supporting her in everything she does and making her directing endeavors possible.
Marlo Nall (Music Director) is the RCHS chorus and piano teacher (and musical director) since 2013. Her acting involvement with TGRC goes back to 2006, with Wizard of Oz (2017) as her first music directing credit for the Guild. Two of her favorite things about working on Descendants is getting to work alongside her former student and now director Maddie Barham, and also getting to music direct her daughter Melody. She has had an absolute ball working with the amazing singers in this show and can’t wait for you to hear them!
Staff bios
Danny Tanner (stage manager) has been part of the TGRC family for seven years now! He has been involved in 15 productions with TGRC since his arrival and looks forward to many more! From backstage help, to assistant stage manager, to stage manager, to acting on stage, Danny loves to be involved and loves meeting new people and fulfilling TGRC’s commitment for diversity! Danny currently serves on the board of directors. He is also working towards his Bachelor’s in Psychology and will have that completed in December.
Evan Tanner (set designer)- our very own Evan of all trades, he builds stuff! He and his wife Katie have local small businesses, fur babies, and a human baby. Evan enjoys cooking on his blackstone and visits to the beach.
Karamie Walsh (choreographer) started her dance career at the age of 3. Once a competitive dancer, Karamie is one of the instructors at MPDC. She has choreographed award winning competitive routines as well as a variety of theatre shows like Footloose, Moana Jr., and Rock of Ages. Her goal with performers is to encourage creativity and help find comfort and confidence in themselves through movement.
Stephanie Ham (Props) is excited to take on a new role as the props master. Stephanie has volunteered with TGRC for many years as her sons, Braeden and Colton, have been involved since they were in the first grade.
Staff bios
Brandyn Myers (Lighting Designer) is thoroughly excited to be back working with The Guild this year after spending a summer in Alaska! Brandyn holds a BFA in Musical Theatre from Greensboro College and has been working professionally as an Actor/Photographer/Theatre Technician since the summer of 2022. Brandyn has been working with the guild in many facets since 2016 and is currently serving as the Director of Technical Theatre. Recent credits include: Joe/Charlie Swing (Alaska Cabin Nite Dinner Theatre), Flap Horton/Lighting Designer (Terms of Endearment - TGRC), Touring Actor for The National Theatre for Children, Set Builder and Lighting Designer (Bright Star - TGRC), Various Roles/Assistant Technical Director (Unto These Hills).
Colton Seacat while often sharing the stage with his twin brother, this time he is stepping into a new role with TGRC as an Assistant Stage Manager. A current junior at RCHS, and member of the Cougar Dramatics as well as the RCHS marching band, Colton has also been involved with TGRC since he too was a wee seakitten.
Ingrid McCraw is taking on a new role for this production: Assistant Stage Manager. She has sung with various bands over the years and managed various production elements for youth camps and churches. She was just in her first musical with TGRC, Oklahoma. In her everyday life, she owns a bakery in Eden and is a wife to Dale and mom to twins, Liam and Spencer.
Katie Tanner / “Cruella deVil”
Cruella has her own nationOf 101 dalmations
She makes coats from their furShe only cares about her Jasper & Horace - Act as her accomplice To lie, cheat and steal,They are keepin’ it real For Carlos her son -He left the island With Evie, Mal & Jay -In Auradon to stay.
We cannot wait to see what you bring to the stage in this role!
Like Cruella you are quick-witted, intelligent, and a little sneaky, with a fantastic eye for fashion, and a wicked sense of humor!
However, as an animal lover, you’re the one who stops to help turtles across the road, relocates bugs to outside, and helps lost animals find their way home! Regardless of good versus evil, black & white hair, and (fake) fur outfits, we know you will shine bright!
We love you and are VERY excited to see you back on stage!
Love, Mom & Dad
Britton Lackey
This is your biggest role yet! We are extremely proud of all your musical abilities! We can’t wait to see you as “Ben” and all of your dancing skills. Ha! Do all things for His Glory!!! We love you so much!!!
Break a leg!!! Colossians 3:23
Mom, Dad, Mollie, and Cam
Rising
While you aren’t really “Rotten to the Core,” you are certainly “Chillin’ Like a Villain!” You are made to play Evie! We are so proud of you and the amazing performer you have become. God blessed us beyond measure with a wonderful daughter like you! Love, Dad and Mom
SADIETESH SADIETESH
We are so proud of you, Sadie! Never stop shining Jesus’s light! We love you always and forever.
DADDY, MOMMY, SPENCER, AND ANNALISE
Aitana Aitana
Ruiz Sanchez Ruiz Sanchez
Aitana, you are our star and although we can't be there, we know you are going to shine with your smile. We love you very much. Proud of our great artist. Your parents and your sister
Bella Boo
We are wickedly proud of you and all of your accomplishments!
Love Mom, Brad, Dakota, Grace & Jack
Break a leg Elizabeth Brown!!
You have been training your whole life for this moment!
We are so proud of you and can’t wait to see you light up the stage!
“Always remember you matter, you’re important and you are loved, and you bring to this world things no one else can”.
~ Charlie Mackesy The Boy, the Mole, the Fox and the Horse Love, Mom, Dad, & Sarah Katherine
Mary Reid, You are our STAR! Shine Bright on Stage! Your fan club is so proud of your talents, dedication, and kindness.
Break a Leg!
Rebekah (aka The Queen of Mean)We love you and are so proud of you!
Break a Leg!
Mom, Dad, Thea, Mum Mum, Dawn Marie and Maria
Penny & Nellie Brown
Did we mention that we are so proud of you? Dance and sing your little Auradonian Teen hearts out!
Love, Mom, Dad, and Maren Mo! We are endlessly proud of you. Can you believe it?! You are in DESCENDANTS!! To the girl who steals our heart, we love you! - Mom & Dad
Congratulations on another great TGRC performance!
We are so proud of you!
Love, Daddy, Mama, Emily and Zachary
Thomas
We are so proud of you. Continue to be true to yourself and follow your dreams. You are amazing! We will always love you and be there for you. Enjoy your adventures in life and make beautiful memories.
Love, Mommy, Mama and Maple
Kensleigh as a Royal Page!
We are so proud of you & look forward to seeing you in many more productions to come! Keep doing what you love & light up the stage!
Love your family
I'm so proud of you, Kiddo! You belong on stage, and your talent is going to take you far in this life!
I love you!
-Your biggest fan Mom
This project received support from the Rockingham County Arts Council, the NC Arts Council an agency of the Department of Cultural Resources, and the National Endowment for the Arts, which believes that a great nation deserves great art.
