Jovey McFarland (she/her) (Charity Hope Valentine) is thrilled to be back on the Hedrick stage for Sweet Charity! Originally from Louisville, Kentucky, she is a senior at Catawba pursuing a BFA in Musical Theatre. Some of her credits include Kate Monster (Avenue Q), Dance Captain/Lead Jitterbug (The Wizard of Oz), and Woman 2 (I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change) at Catawba College, Schwarzy (The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee) at Piedmont Players Theatre, as well as Princess Fiona (Shrek the Musical) at Lee Street Theatre. She wants to thank her family for their continued support as she pursues her passion, even if it means being far from home. She hopes everyone enjoys the show!

Zoë Logan (she/her) (Nickie) is a senior at Catawba college studying Theatre: Performance and she is incredibly excited to perform on Hedrick stage for the last time! She has been featured in roles like Hope Cladwell (Urinetown,) The Tinman/Hickory (The Wizard of Oz,) Frankie Healy (Jagged Little Pill,) and Gary Coleman (Avenue Q.) She would like to thank her family and friends for their continued support through these past few years and she hopes you enjoy the show Palsy!

Ariana Shingleton (she/her) (Helene/Ponytail Girl) is honored to have her first major role in this production of Sweet Charity. She was a competitive dancer for 10 years training in all different styles of dance. She’s trained with some of the industries best and has won multiple awards through the years. Over the past two years she has worked with her community theaters, performing and choreographing numerous shows including Mean Girls for Opera House Theatre Company. She is excited to continue her theatrical experiences and cannot wait for what the next four years have in store.

Clinton Efird (he/him) (Oscar Lindquist/Charlie) is a Junior at Catawba College majoring in the BFA Musical Theater program. His most recent ventures include portraying Scarecrow in The Wizard of Oz and Hot Blades Harry in Urinetown the Musical. He has also performed in over twenty shows at varying theaters over the years. His favorites include Beauty and the Beast JR (Lumiere), Macbeth (Macbeth), Carrie the Musical (Billy Nolan), and Almost Maine (East). He would love to give praise to all of the talented minds that went into making this show a reality, and for the loving friendly environment that makes Catawba always feel like home. Finally, and most importantly, he would love to dedicate this performance to his favorite wiener dog Oscar. Yes, they share a name. Enjoy the show!

Brenton Taylor (he/him) (Vittorio Vidal/John S.) is so excited to be Vittorio Vidal! He is just a few months off his latest role as The Winkie General in The Wizard of Oz, and is hoping to help Catawba put on another amazing show. Some audience members may also remember him as George from 2024’s Carrie: The Musical and previously played multiple characters in A Night With David Ives. He would also like to express his gratitude to his friends and family for all of their support.

Mak Petersen (he/him) (Herman/Daddy Brubeck) is a sophomore BFA Musical Theatre and BS Theatre Administration double major. Notable Credits Include: The Wizard of Oz (Ensemble), Becky Nurse of Salem (Jailer/Officer Friendly/Magistrate/Creepy Voice), and Love/Sick (Man/Andy/Bill/Kevin) at Catawba College. Additionally, he spent this last summer working with Mythik Camps as an improv actor and is currently serving as the President of the Where Are the Diamonds? improv troupe on campus. Mak would like to thank his family, friends, and teachers for all their support and hopes this show puts a tingle in your fingers and your feet!

Giana Tucciarone (she/her) (Ursula March) is thrilled to have you spend a little time with Sweet Charity! She is a transfer student with an AFA from Central Piedmont; and a senior musical theatre major with a music minor. With Catawba, she has performed in Love/Sick and Wizard of Oz. Coming very soon, she and the rest of the senior company will be putting on Nunsense at Piedmont Players black box. She hopes you enjoy the show!

AG Anderson (she/her) (Carmen) is a sophomore at Catawba College studying Musical Theatre, Public & Professional Writing, and the Humanities. You may have seen her last season floating in her bubble as Glinda in The Wizard of Oz or buzzzzzing around as May/Swift in A Night with David Ives. She hopes you have some fun, laugh away, and feel the good times of the show!

Jess Slapnik (they/them) (Rosie) is a junior at Catawba, they are a BFA in Musical Theatre and a BS in Theatre Arts Administration Major, as well as a dance minor. Some of their previous acting credits include: Urinetown (Dr. Billeaux/Dance Captain) and Breadcrumbs (Beth/Mother). Make sure to check them next semester in Smash as Agatha Wylie and as Choreographer in The Velveteen Rabbit! Jess’s previous work experience includes being the marketing/social media intern at Village Square Theatre and was a Cast Member on the Young American Midwest Summer 2025 Tour. They want to thank everyone involved in Sweet Charity and hope you enjoy the show!

Melany Cubenas (she/her) (Frenchy) is super excited to be apart of her first college show here at Catawba! Her previous experiences include Ursula (The Little Mermaid Musical), Marty (Grease), and Vivienne (Legally Blonde). She is ready to bring even more fierce, sassy energy to Sweet Charity!

Alora Engel (she/her) (Alice) is a first-year BFA Musical Theatre student at Catawba College. She is so excited to participate in her first show here, Sweet Charity! Some of her past productions include A Chorus Line as Lois and Hairspray as Brenda (Winston-Salem Theatre Alliance), Legally Blonde as Vivienne (TA Rising Stars), and Badger as Irene (RJ Reynolds High School). She would like to thank her parents for supporting her in her acting journey and hopes that you enjoy the show!

Ava Phillips (she/her) (Suzanne) is a freshman at Salisbury Academy Upper School with a love for all things dance, theater, music, friends, and, of course, Diet Coke! A competitive dancer, Ava has spent years performing on stage and loves bringing this passion into the theater. She has appeared in multiple Piedmont Players Theatre productions and is so grateful for every opportunity to perform, grow, and be part of the theater community. Ava is extremely grateful to be part of Sweet Charity and hopes you enjoy the show!

Lotte Gendel (she/her) (Ensemble) is a first-year BFA musical theatre student. She is a member of the Catawba Singers and the Blue Masque. Her hometown is Emory in Southwest Virginia. Recently, she played Annie in Annie at her high school and was a featured dancer in a summer production of The Drowsy Chaperone. Lotte enjoys writing, specifically playwriting, and wants to someday publish her own play. She would like to thank her mom and younger sister for being her biggest supporters since day one.

Katie Sosa (they/she) (Ensemble) is happy to be working on her fifth show and first musical at Catawba College! They are a Junior with a Major in Film and a double minor in Theater Arts & Creative Writing. You may recognize her from No Exit (Estelle), Breadcrumbs (Alida), David Ives (Maria/Dr.Fritz/Dawn Devito), or No Mans (Willa Rose Kelly). She hopes you have fun and enjoy the show!

Jennie Conner (she/her) (Ensemble) is a senior Design and Production major here at Catawba! While most often found stage managing shows such as The Wizard of Oz, Carrie: The Musical, and Urinetown: The Musical, or working on electrics for Natural Shocks or I Love You, You're Perfect, Now Change, for her senior year, she's decided to take a gander on stage. She hopes you enjoy the show and take some of Charity's joy with you!

Lilah Stewart (she/her) (Ensemble) is a current freshman at catawba college studying musical theater. She is excited to start her freshman year off in Sweet Charity and looks forward to the shows she’ll do in the future!

Daryan (Elliott) Tiller (Ensemble) is currently a freshman studying Musical Theatre at Catawba College. They are very excited for their debut performance on stage with Catawba in this production of Sweet Charity. They would like to thank their director and everyone else working to make this show possible for this opportunity. They hope that you enjoy the show!

Christan McRae (she/her) (Ensemble) is a current Junior at Catawba College. Her major is Theatre Arts with a concentration in performance. This is Christan’s first Catawba production, and she is excited to be joining this production of Sweet Charity. She is thankful for her friends and family who have always supported her. She hopes you enjoy this production of Sweet Charity.

Dretwan NeSmith (he/she) (Ensemble) is currently a freshman at Catawba College studying musical theater with a minor in African-American religion. He is so excited to create many memories that he will cherish for the rest of my life. When he's not performing, he would love to do karaoke.

Zayden Cartegena (he/she/they) (Ensemble) is excited to be in their first show at Catawba. They would like to thank their whole family, but their father in particular, for supporting them and helping them to get here.

Marissa Lashbrook (she/they/he) (Ensemble) is a freshman at Catawba College studying Musical Theatre with minors in Creative Writing and Dance. They are excited to be kicking off their theatre journey with Catawba in Sweet Charity. When she isn’t on stage, she is either making friendship bracelets or playing the kazoo. He hopes you enjoy the show!

Danielle Hannah (she/her) (Ensemble) is a freshman at Catawba College studying Musical Theater and Popular Music. This is her Catawba College debut! She is absolutely thrilled to be a part of this amazing cast. Enjoy the show!

Briana Pena (she/her) (Ensemble) is a current freshman at Catawba and is very excited to be in her first college production of Sweet Charity. Back in Cypress Creek High School in Florida, she has previously performed in Little Women (Beth), Clue (Mrs. Peacock), Peter and the Starcatcher (Prentiss), Mamma Mia (Ensemble), and much more.

Nicholas Fuqua (he/him) (Director/Music Director) is a director, music director, performer, voice artist, and educator whose work spans musical theatre, opera, professional theatre, audiobook narration, original musical development, and arts education. A native of Flint, Michigan, he is currently an Assistant Professor of Musical Theatre at Catawba College in Salisbury, North Carolina, where he directs and music directs productions, teaches voice and performance, and mentors emerging theatre artists.

Fuqua maintains an active professional career alongside his work in higher education. In Summer 2025, he joined Circa ’21 Dinner Playhouse in Rock Island, Illinois, appearing as Mary Sunshine in Chicago and as Mr. Ratburn/The Queen in Arthur & Friends Make a Musical!. The following summer, he performed at Weathervane Playhouse near Columbus, Ohio, appearing as Beadle Bamford in Stephen Sondheim’s Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street and Ewart Dunlop in Meredith Willson’s The Music Man. His additional professional performance credits include work with Kentucky Opera, the Barn Theatre in Augusta, Michigan, and regional productions of 42nd Street, Shrek, Fiddler on the Roof, Hello, Dolly!, Hair!, and Peter Pan.

His work as a vocalist and actor has also expanded into voiceover, audiobook narration, and new-work development. Fuqua was selected by author David M. Keyes to narrate Legacies of the Leopard King: A Story from the New Oz Chronicles, a collaboration that led to invitations to narrate additional titles in the series. He has also provided spoken and sung vocals for the original musical You, Me, Eternity by composer Kino Lee and writer Ian Rice.

As a singer, Fuqua was a semifinalist in the inaugural National Musical Theatre Competition. He performed leading roles in the Canadian premieres of Leonard Lehrman’s Thyrsis and Amaranth and The Harpies with the Halifax Summer Opera Workshop in Nova Scotia, work that received recognition from Opera Canada. He is a member of the American Guild of Musical Artists.

Fuqua holds an MFA in Theatre Arts with a concentration in Directing and Pedagogy from the University of Idaho, where his research examined relationships between participation in the fine arts and academic performance. He also holds a Master of Education from the University of Louisville and a Master of Music in Musical Theatre and Opera Performance from Arizona State University. He earned his Bachelor of Arts in Theatre and Musical Theatre with a minor in Music from Siena Heights University.

Kristin Kavanagh (she/her) (Choreographer) is an Assistant Professor of Dance at Catawba College. She holds undergraduate degrees in Dance and Sport and Exercise Science from DeSales University and an MFA in Dance Performance and Choreography from the University of Arizona. Prior to joining Catawba College, she served as Instructor of Dance at Western Illinois University and Dance Coordinator at Frostburg State University. Before entering academia, she performed as a dancer and aerialist with the Emmy Award–winning company RWS Global. Her research focuses on dance science and injury prevention, emphasizing safe, sustainable movement practices. Kristin is a certified Pilates mat instructor and is passionate about fostering confidence and joy in her students’ artistic development.

Viper Schenck (He/They) (Assistant Director / Dance Captain / Wig Designer) is a Sophomore BFA Theatre Arts major with a concentration in Directing & Devising, as well as a double minor in Dance and Musical Theatre. In his first year at Catawba, they acted in shows like Love/Sick (Singing Telegram Man, Ben, Keith, Mark, Jake), Becky Nurse of Salem (Stan), and The Wizard of Oz (Oz Head Puppeteer), as well as working behind the scenes as Scenic Charge Artist (Urinetown, The Wizard of Oz) and various operator positions (A Night w/ David Ives, Urinetown, The Wizard of Oz). They're endlessly grateful for the opportunity to work with such a talented cast, crew, and creative team on this production, and hope you enjoy the show!

Luca Narciso (Lighting Designer) is a Sophomore here and is studying Technical Theatre to become an Educator in the field. Last year Luca was the Technical Director, Fly Captain, & Oz Head Puppeteer for The Wizard of Oz! + Asst. Scenic Designer & Master Electrician for Urinetown! He also Technical Directed Singin' In The Rain Jr! over the summer at KBCTW. He's loved doing Charity work (Get It?, Wocka Wocka) and hopes you all enjoy! Remember to have a "Breakfast of Champions" tomorrow!

Allie Rahman (they/she/he) (Scenic Charge) is a Junior from Louisville, KY, working towards a dual concentration BFA in Theatre Arts Design & Production and Theatre Arts Performance. Some of their previous technical work includes: The Wizard of Oz (Props Artisan), Hand to God (Scenic Design/Costume Design) A Night With David Ives (Costume Design), I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change (Asst. Costume Design), and Carrie (A2). You may have also seen them onstage at Catawba in Becky Nurse of Salem (Gail), Urinetown (McQueen), A Midsummer Night’s Dream (Lysander), or The Revolutionists (Charlotte Corday). Wishing a ‘sweet’ show to all of the wonderful people who have been so charitable with their time making this show what it is, break legs!

MJ Trammell (she/her) (Sound Designer) is a first year Design and Production Major from High Point, NC. She is so excited to be working as a sound technician on her first Catawba Production. Previously, she's worked as a sound designer for Community Theatre of Greensboro, working on Dear Evan Hansen, Hadestown, Sister act, Hairspray, and many others. She hopes you enjoy the show!

Teddy Lepage (he/him) (Props Lead) is a Junior with a BA in Theatre Arts and a Minor in Creative Writing. His most recent technical position was Master Carpenter & Propsmaster for Lee St. Theater’s summer season. He has done props for Catawba shows like The Wizard of Oz, and Love/Sick. He hopes you enjoy the show!

Olivia Kelley (she/her) (Wig Design) is a current Freshman at Catawba College with the major BFA in Directing & Devising. She is so excited to be working on her first Catawba theater production, Sweet Charity. Her most recent endeavor was as an assistant directing her high school’s production of Godspell. She cannot wait to grow at Catawba College!

Grayce Pittman (she/her) (Marketing Director) is a current Junior at Catawba College studying Theatre Arts Administration with minors in Business Administration and Marketing. She is ecstatic to be leading the marketing for Catawba’s production of Sweet Charity. This is the second Catawba Theatre production that she has directed the marketing, having worked on last spring’s production of The Wizard of Oz. She hopes that you enjoy the show!