Who's Who...

The cast of our 2008 Production of THE MIRACLE WORKER
 
Baileigh Aldrich (Beatrice, Blind Girl) is thrilled to be back onstage at the GRCT having appeared in The Wizard of Oz and Gypsy. Baileigh is very active in
the Grand Rapids community having appeared in Honk! at Cornerstone University and Carmen with Opera Grand Rapids. Baileigh is currently in the fourth grade at Valley View Elementary, and is also a member of a gymnastics team! Baileigh has had many good experiences singing here at Civic Theatre.
 

Carlee Bleeker (Bethany, Blind Girl) is making her GRCT debut with The Miracle Worker. Carlee is currently in the fourth grade at Lakes Elementary School. Currently a member of the Grand Rapids Civic Theatre School of Theatre Arts, Carlee takes Song and Dance Classes with “Mr. Ed.” Carlee enjoys acting,
gymnastics, diving, and basketball.
 
 
Sherryl Despres (Kate Keller) is no stranger to theatre in Grand Rapids. She has appeared with Civic in Amadeus, The Real Thing, Jack & the Giant Beanstalk, Dearly Departed, The Women, You Can’t Take It With You, and One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest. Sherryl has worked with Jewish Theatre, Actors’ Theatre and Heritage Theatre in which she last performed as Fifteen Minutes in Talking With. Sherryl is a Grand Award winner for her performance in Jewish Theatre’s Lost In Yonkers. Sherryl is a full time homemaker and free-lance actor. “Happy Birthday, Kyler!… and Vivian, the YaYa’s are waiting for you.”
 

Abner Fales (Percy) is happy to be performing for the first time at GRCT
with both parents, Hannah and Lyle. Abner is in the 2nd Grade at Beth Haven Baptist Academy.
 

Hannah Fales (Viney) is thrilled to be performing for her first time on the GRCT stage with her husband, Lyle, and son, Abner. At Greenville’s Flat River Community Theatre, Hannah has performed as Maureen in Honk! At Ionia’s Community Theatre, she played Izzy in Like Mother Like Hell.

 
 
Lyle Fales (Mr. Anagnos) is performing on the GRCT stage for the very first
time having appeared in numerous productions elsewhere. Some past
credits include Cat On A Hot Tin Roof as Big Daddy, Sylvia as Tom, and Our Town as Dr. Gibbs at Greenville’s Flat River Community Players where Lyle also plays a role offstage as Director. “Special thanks to Hannah, my “Cupcake”, for her continued support and encouragement.
 
Emma Gabites (Clara, Blind Girl) is excited to be returning to the Civic stage having appeared in The Wizard of Oz as a Munchkin. Emma also performed with Circle Theatre in Oliver! as an Orphan and one of Fagin’s kids. She is currently in the 5th grade at Oakdale Christian School, and is a member of the Grand Rapids Civic Theatre’s School of Theatre Arts. “Special thanks to my Mom for always bringing me to rehearsals!”
 

JoAnna Henry (Elizabeth, Blind Girl) is making her GRCT debut with The Miracle Worker. At Children’s Creations, JoAnna appeared in The Wizard of Oz and Aesops Fable. JoAnna is in the third grade at Cannonsburg Elementary and is currently a member of the Grand Rapids Civic Theatre School of Theatre Arts. JoAnna enjoys singing and dancing!

 
 

Dennis Hess (Doctor) is excited to be performing in his first show at GRCT. No stranger to the stage, Dennis has appeared in Once Upon A Mattress, Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, Fiddler on the Roof, and The Fantastiks with Flat River Community Players, and Cheaper By the Dozen with Cedar Springs Community Theatre. For Montcalm County, Dennis acts for “We Care For Kids.”

 
 

Will Hoyer (James) is no stranger to GRCT having appeared in last season’s Peter Pan and Oklahoma! and also The Wizard of Oz. Other stage credits include OIiver! at Circle Theatre and Our Town with Coopersville Community Theatre. Will is currently a senior at City High School and takes private voice lessons with Charles Hutchins and Ballroom Dance with Arthur Murray Studios. Will looks forward to attending college to receive a B.F.A in Musical Theatre.
 
Jon March (Captain Keller) has appeared in many productions at GRCT including his most recent work in To Kill a Mockingbird and Enchanted April. The Miracle Worker marks Jon’s sixth time working with director, Penelope Notter. Jon has also performed with Actors’ and Circle Theatres, and was a recipient of the James Mitchell Award. Jon is a trial lawyer with Miller Johnson. “This performance is in memory of Fred Gibbons, who played Captain Keller here 15 years ago. Fred, who passed away in November, was a great friend of Civic Theatre.”
 

Sydney Elise Nelson (Alice, Blind Girl) is excited to be returning to the GRCT
stage having appeared in Madeline in 2004. Sydney is in the 7th grade at Pinewood Middle School where she appeared in Cinderella.

 
 
Kira Sanscrainte (Annie Sullivan) is making her GRCT debut with The Miracle Worker. Kira is no stranger to the stage having appeared in The Curious Savage as Fairy May and Little Women as Beth with Master Arts Theatre. Kira has performed with Pigeon Creek Shakespeare Company, Magic Circle Theatre, and Battle Creek Civic Theatre. She appeared as Dame Gothel in Rapunzel with All Ears Radio Theatre. Kira was a 19th century theatre internin Long Island, New York during the summer of 2004.
 
 

Kaitlyn Victoria Squires (Helen Keller) is thrilled to be making her GRCT debut with The Miracle Worker. Although new to GRCT, Kaitlyn has performed at her school and church in productions of Discover and Miracle on Main Street. Kaitlyn’s fascination about the story of Helen Keller grew last year when she wrote a paper for school. Her Grandmother encouraged her to audition for this show. Kaitlyn has taken drama classes with Master Arts Theatre, and is currently in the 7th Grade at Byron Center Middle School.

 
Brady Squires (Belle Keller) is proud to be making his stage debut in this performance of The Miracle Worker. Displaying his typical canine courage, Brady, a 2-year-old male Golden Retriever, plays the part of a girl. Brady is from a family of all girls so he feels a special bond with girls especially Kaitlyn who plays the role of Helen. His great strengths are his loyalty, enthusiasm, kind temperament and his very expressive face. When he is not acting, he enjoys sniffing, wrestling with his feline friend Oreo, lying at anybody’s feet, and playing ball in the yard.
 

Katie Szostak (Laura, Blind Girl) is making her GRCT debut with The Miracle Worker. Katie played Puss in Puss and Boots and Helen in A Christmas Story at Holland Civic Theatre. She is in the 7th Grade at Baldwin Street Middle School in which she placed 1st in vocals in their talent show.

 
 

Nicole Brielle Vandermeulen (Sara, Blind Girl) is thrilled to be making her GRCT debut with The Miracle Worker. Nicole is in the 3rd Grade at St. Anthony of Padua School and is a member of the Grand Rapids Civic Theatre School of Theatre Arts.

 

 
 

Eboni White (Martha) is returning to the GRCT stage having appeared in Fences. Eboni is currently in the 7th grade at Northern Hills Middle School. She has been a member of GRCT’s Peanut Butter Players in which they performed The Queen’s Twinkies and Pirates of the Playground. Eboni has also been in Humpty Dumpty at Lowell Community Theatre and the main character in her school’s play, Sudako and the Cranes.

 
 

Rachel White (Georgia Ann, Blind Girl) is marking her GRCT debut with The Miracle Worker. She is currently in the Eighth Grade at Lowell Middle School where she is taking drama classes and is an honor roll student. Rachel has taken dance, karate, and gymnastics lessons. “Thanks to my family for supporting me!”

 
 

Stacey L. Wykoski (Aunt Ev) is returning to the GRCT stage having appeared in many shows such as The Wizard of Oz, The Music Man, Annie, 1940’s Radio Hour, and Fiddler on the Roof. She has also appeared with Circle Theatre and Actors’ Theatre, where she was a part of the cast of the Grand Award Winning Musical The Spitfire Grill. “Big hugs, kisses, and thank yous to my loving husband, Rick, and patient son, Sean. A special thank you to Craig Hammerlind for encouraging me to try a non-musical.”