Sweeney Todd
Cast & Crew
Vashon Rep Has Talent-
Here they are:
The Cast
This is Indigo Alton’s (Little Girl) first professional performance in theatre. She studies aerial, dance, and loves to sing. Occasionally she practices her guitar. She is mastering the hula hoop and the yo-yo and is happy to be in this production.
Chris Boscia (Fogg, Ensemble) is delighted to be working with Charlotte Tiencken once again after last appearing in The Normal Heart under her direction. Chris is a director and actor who has worked at theatres in NYC and regionally for over 40 years. Chris is the Artistic Director for Vashon's own Take A Stand Theatre, which amplifies theatrical voices that have traditionally been silenced or misunderstood, and will soon appear in its upcoming production of Kissing Che.
Oliver Callahan (Anthony) made his acting debut in the lobby of an LA studio during the Oscar Mayer Wiener’s late 90’s commercial campaign for young, talented, and vibrant actors. It is an absolute honor and Oliver’s greatest pleasure to be performing with the outstanding cast and crew of VRT! As a recent transplant to the PNW, he is incredibly grateful for the love and support of the people in the Seattle area.
Amy Cole (Ensemble) is a versatile vocalist and performer with background in piano, guitar, classical voice and choral performance. On Vashon, she has appeared in a variety of productions for companies including Vashon Opera, Vashon-Maury Chamber Orchestra, and Vashon Island Chorale, performed solo acoustic sets at the Strawberry Festival, the Red Bike and other venues… but has never before been part of a musical! Sweeney Todd is a bucket list production for Amy and she is delighted to be working with Charlotte Tiencken and this excellent cast and crew.
Meagan Kirby (Ensemble) is relatively new to the area and so excited for her first VRT show! She hails originally from southern Oregon, where she got a degree in costume construction and developed her performance “hobby." Now she works in the costume shop of Village Theatre and hopes this is the first of many shows in WA. Special thanks to Mom, for always believing in me; to Jim and Michael, for teaching me to sing and dance; to Shannon and David, for continuing to watch me grow; and to Casey, for all the love and support you give.
Max Lopuszynski (Beadle) grew up on Vashon and is stoked to make his VRT debut in one of his favorite shows! A Seattle-based actor and singer, he’s performed with Bainbridge Performing Arts, Burien Actors Theatre, Last Leaf Productions, Seattle Gilbert & Sullivan Society, Seattle Musical Theatre, Seattle Opera, SecondStory Repertory, Renton Civic Theatre, Vashon Opera, and more. He also works as a voiceover artist for Winking Kat Books. He’d like to thank Charlotte Tiencken, and Stephanie Murray for inviting him back! For Marshall. Follow Max on Instagram: @MaxArthur97
Arlette Moody (Beggar Woman) discovered the joy of performance in high school. Since then she has sung with her sisters in rock bands, danced her way through college, then got a taste of musical theatre in Austin, TX professional productions. She then found herself in the PNW in Shenandoah with the Civic Light Opera. Since moving to Vashon she has written songs, choreographed dances, made luminaries, taught pilates, and joined fellow island artists’ projects. With Drama Dock, she was in The Rocky Horror Picture Show, and Chicago where she played Velma. She has performed with Vashon Opera and has been their Production Manager. Arlette hosts and produces her own radio show on Voice of Vashon called The Moody Hours.
Stephanie Murray (Mrs. Lovett) is honored to be working with this exceptionally talented cast and production team, and is proud that Sweeney Todd is the very first co-production for her little production company, Island Time Productions. A theatre graduate from University of Portland, she enjoyed a prolific career as a professional actress in the Portland area for 17 years prior to moving to Vashon. She garnered two Portland Drama Critic Circle Awards for Best Actress in a Musical for her roles as Patsy Cline in A Closer Walk With Patsy Cline and a cast member of the original West Coast premier of I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change which ran for over two years.
She wishes to thank Charlotte for this remarkable experience, the entire cast and production team, and especially her dear friend Bradley J. Thomas for making the trek from Kansas City to play opposite her as Sweeney Todd. This show is extremely near and dear to her heart, being one of her favorites, as well as a favorite of her late husband Marshall Murray. She is holding him in her heart every minute of every day, and every minute she is on this stage. I will never stop missing you, my love — this show is for you.
Giao Nguyen (Ensemble) is a Vietnamese-American actor, director, and filmmaker based in Seattle. He recently graduated from Seattle Pacific University with a BA in Theatre Performance and minored in Art: Digital Media. Notable acting roles include Gordon Hirabayashi in Hold These Truths, and Constantine in Big Love. More acting and film work at giao-nguyen.com
Sydney Penticuff (Johanna) is thrilled to be making her VRT debut in one of her favorite musicals of all time! She is a recent alumna of Seattle Pacific University, where she graduated Summa Cum Laude with a BA in Theatre Performance and Music. Some of her favorite past roles include Jovie in Elf the Musical, Hope Caldwell in Urinetown, and Cinderella in Into the Woods. Sydney is employed by Naomi Morgan Entertainment as an entertainer for Singing for Seniors, where she performs solo cabaret shows at retirement homes around Seattle. She would like to thank her family for their endless love and support!
Steve Perry (Ensemble) lives and works in Seattle, and comes to Vashon Island often to visit friends. He has been in several productions, including Sweeney Todd, at Shoreline Community College. Steve also sang for many years in the Seattle Opera chorus.
Hailey Howell Quackenbush (Tobias) has been in love with performing since he was a child. He grew up writing play and movie scripts with his cousins that they performed for captive audiences of various relatives. More recent projects include Tommy and A 1940s Radio Christmas Carol with Drama Dock, Woody Guthrie's American Song with VRT; and playing with the Vashon Ukulele Society. He thanks his family and friends for their love and support; this wonderful cast and crew for sharing their talents and kindness; and he would also like to thank YOU in the audience for coming-- he hopes you enjoy the show!
Erika Strandberg (Ensemble) is excited to join the cast of Sweeney Todd in her debut VRT production after recently returning to Vashon. Favorite performances include Winghaven Park (Drama Dock), Die Zauberflote, Candide (Stanford Light Opera Company), She Loves Me (Portola Valley Theatre Conservatory), Spamalot, Ragtime (Woodside Community Theatre), and the Mystery of Edwin Drood (Foothill Music Theatre). By day Erika is a Sr. Product Manager in Health AI at Microsoft and mom to Paul and Nora who will also be on stage in Drama Dock’s Matilda Jr. in May. Thanks to the Maples/Strandberg families for their support.
Bradley J. Thomas (Sweeney Todd) starred in VRT’s production of The Exonerated as Delbert Tibbs. His International credits include Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat (Great Britian), Ragtime (Germany). His US regional credits include Man of La Mancha (Sierra Rep), Footloose, Forever Plaid, The Guys (Portland Center Stage, Sylvia’s Theatre, Embers Stages and more). In Kansas City, A Christmas Carol, Sweeney Todd, Mermaids, Carousel Tomorow Inshalla,
Pontypol,Chainsaw-The Musical, Titus Andronicus, Carousel, The Death of Cupid, and The Fishtank. Bradley would like to thank the company of Sweeney Todd for their dedication to bringing this show to life, his partner Melissa and his friends and family back in Kansas City for their support. And he especially thanks his co-lead and co-producer Stephanie Murray for allowing him this opportunity to perform with her after almost 20 years. This show is dedicated to Marshall, wherever you are watching from, I hope I make you proud. Miss you, brother!
Timothy Wilds (Judge Turpin/Vocal Coach) lives in Olympia, WA working as a performer and educator. He has performed at Southern Appalachian Repertory Theater (NC), Players Circle Theater (FL), Daytona Playhouse (FL), Vashon Repertory Theater (WA), Drama Dock (WA), Tacoma Little Theater (WA), Asheville Lyric Opera (NC), Union Avenue Opera Theater (MO), and Beach Street Repertory Theater (FL). Recent roles include: Roger Walker in Somewhere Between; Rick Lloyd in Winghaven Park; Father Paxton in What We Heard from the City of Asylum; and Kris Kringle in Miracle on 34th Street—the Musical. Upcoming in 2023: Charlie (The Foreigner). He is a certified Estill master trainer with Estill Voice International. To learn more, go to Wilds4Estill.com
Matt Wilson (Ensemble) is honored to be part of the Sweeney Todd production at VCA and thrilled to share the stage with so many talented actors and musicians. Matt has been on and off the stage for over 40 years with roles in everything from Shakespeare to Sondheim.
Miles Wingett (Perilli) is delighted to return to VRT with Sweeney Todd. They began their theatrical career on Vashon in 2015 and have since studied musical theatre at AMDA NY. Miles debuted with VRT this summer as a choreographer for Much Ado About Nothing. Other credits include Mary Sunshine in Drama Docks’s Chicago, Ensemble in Venice Theatre’s 42nd Street, and Younger Chuckles in Lincoln Center’s Sycamore Street Kite Flying Club.
The Crew
Stephanie Blower (Assistant Costume Designer & Dresser) has been involved in theater for the past year and a half and is very excited for this production. Previous projects include costuming VHS’s productions of A Midsummer Nights Dream and A Spirited Manor. They look forward to more theater in the future.
Mackenzie Breda (Stage Manager) (she/her) is a Seattle stage manager and recent graduate of Seattle Pacific University with a degree in Theatre Design and Production. She focuses primarily on Stage Management and Props. Her most recent work includes a Props and Scenic design internship at Taproot Theatre and working as Assistant Stage Manager for The Williams Project and Langston’s co-production of James Baldwin’s The Amen Corner. Much love to her family and friends for their unending love and support! mackenziebreda.com
Jill Bulow (Props Designer) On stage or behind the scenes, Jill is thrilled to be part of the theatre world. Sweeney Todd has a strong message. May we all come away from this show more grounded in love and desire to help each other.
Newt Carkonen (Assistant Stage Manager & Co-Lighting Designer) is a technical assistant at the Vashon Center for the Arts and is excited to work with Vashon Repertory Theater for the first time. Newt got their start in theater during high school where they were a sound designer and technician for four years while simultaneously working with the independent ManeStage Theater Co. when they were operating out of Sumner, WA. Newt would like to thank Charlotte and Mackenzie for asking them to be a part of the production!
Laura Clampitt (Millinery Care)
James Melville Corey (Handmade leather masks)
Tesse Crocker (Costume Designer) is a Sustainable Bridal Designer and Vashon Islander who owns Luna Bella’s Consignment Clothier. In her past life as a Costume professional, she assisted great designers such as Paul Tazewell (Hamilton) and Catherine Zuber (Moulin Rouge). Tesse has designed Costumes for Seattle Repertory Theater, Intiman, Seattle Children’s Theater, Cabrillo Festival (Music director Marin Alsop), American Conservatory Theater, and UMO. Tesse prefers to use no new materials when creating wearable garments. This philosophy is applied to all aspects of design and business, including the Costumes created for this production of Sweeney Todd! Rewear/Reuse/Recycle!
Joyce Degenfelder (Wigs)
Shannon Flora (COVID Safety Officer) is happy to be part of her first VRT show appearing backstage as the heavy - COVID Safety Officer. She has worked behind the scenes in many capacities and has appeared on stage with Drama Dock, Vashon Opera, Vashon Chorale, and ArtsWest. Favorite roles include Miss Pennywise in Urinetown the Musical, Mazeppa in Gypsy, and singing Sinatra tunes in Fly Me To the Moon. Stay safe!
Chantel Jackson, Island Time Catering (Pies)
Ken Jacobsen (Guitar & Cello) is a guitarist, cellist, composer, performer, teacher, and producer who is at home in a wide variety of musical styles from classical to electronic and everywhere in between.
Chloe Kampeier (Backstage wardrobe crew)
Elizbeth Klob (Choreography) has been toiling, playing, and reinventing herself in the theatrical world for 30 years. After graduating from SUNY Purchase with a BFA in acting she worked on acting in NYC, while working in multiple costume shops. She escaped to Seattle in 1992 to create physical ensemble theatre. She started Open Circle Theater in the '90s when grunge was cool and theatre in Seattle was done in warehouses. She is the current executive artist for the UMO Ensemble where she directs, designs, and performs. Her most directorial works include Pu’uhonua and See Me Naked with Maria Glanz and Open Circle Theater, Rapunzel, Fatal Peril, Red Tiger Tales, Fail Better, and the Resistance Cabaret with UMO. Elizabeth owns and designs for Cicada Bridal in Seattle.
Robin Nettles (Technical Director & Co-Lighting Designer) has worked in a technical theatre capacity since the early 2000s starting with community theater at the High Desert Playhouse in Joshua Tree, CA. Until 2021 she worked in special effects and rigging for several theme parks in the Orlando area. Since then she has been working with local productions and IATSE in the Seattle area.
Kevin Nortness (Music Co-Arranger/Instrumentalist) is a multi-instrumentalist composer, arranger, performer, audio engineer, and educator from Seattle. He’s a private instructor of saxophone, trumpet, clarinet, piano, flute, and bass. He now lives on Vashon.
Christopher Overstreet (Musical Director) is a pianist, composer, and improviser as well as an interactive technology artist and consultant. He has been teaching privately for over 30 years, and has written music for modern dance, film, theater and created technology for many artists and ensembles throughout the world. He has served as musical director for over a dozen pieces of musical theater since moving to the island 16 years ago.
Kendra Phillips (Dramaturgy) is thrilled about the opportunity to work on Sweeney Todd. As a Sondheim super fan, an excuse to geek out on the composer's work is a dream come true! Kendra serves as the literary manager for Northwest Playwrights Alliance. She has previously worked as the dramaturg for VRT during The Exonerated and Woody Guthrie's American Song. As a playwright, her most recent production, Her Sister, premiered in Pennsylvania as part of Millersville University's Conference on Holocaust and Genocide. (kendrawrights.com)
Max Sarkowsky (Sound Designer & Audio Engineer) is a designer, musician, and collaborative art-maker based in Seattle, exploring the boundaries between design disciplines for live performance. Max creates unique soundscapes, music and visuals for a variety of projects including plays, podcasts, installations, dance, and film. Since the summer of 2020 he has been working freelance with Seattle area theatre companies; Vashon Repertory Theatre, UMO Ensemble, and others, as well as with Colorado College in Colorado Springs. Max is thrilled to be back on Island working with Vashon Rep. www.maxsarkowsky.com.
Samantha Sherman (Assistant Director/Marketing & Communications) has had the pleasure of wearing many theatrical hats on Vashon. You might see her directing a woman amidst trees or staging a reading by local playwrights. She might also be running around chasing actors with Covid tests, herding volunteers, or running projections for a solo act. On rare occasions, she even winds up onstage. This time she gets to hang out with some of Vashon’s best talent and assist the worldly Ms. Tiencken. This is the first musical she has worked on since 1987!
Charlotte Tiencken (Director) (she, her) is an arts administrator, director, producer and educator who has been working in the producing and presenting fields for over 30 years. She has worked for many arts organizations throughout the US, including Managing Director at Seattle Public Theater, Freehold Theatre Lab and Book-It Repertory Theatre in Seattle, WA. She has also worked as General Manager at Jacob’s Pillow Dance Festival in Massachusetts, Alabama Shakespeare Festival, Spirit Square Center for the Arts in Charlotte, NC, and Tacoma Little Theatre, among others. She has taught at the College of Charleston in SC, Lesley University in Cambridge, MA, The University of Washington, and Seattle Pacific University. She has directed throughout the US and in China. She received her MFA from The University of Texas at Austin. She lives on Vashon with her husband, Bill, and is the founder of Vashon Repertory Theatre.
Stuart Gordon Tribble (Makeup and Special Effects)
Nicola Wheston (Scenic Design) is primarily a figurative painter. However, in the first season of Vashon Rep’s production of Woody Guthrie, she enjoyed painting the backdrop of the Oklahoma dust bowl...
Nicola was born in London, England, educated at the Ruskin School of Drawing, Oxford, England and NSCAD in Canada. She recently presented her work at the San Juan Museum of Art on hoarding. Her work can also be seen at Nicolawheston.com.
Jesse Whitford (Co-Arranger/Instrumentalist) is a professional musician and music instructor. He grew up playing music on Vashon and holds a bachelor’s degree in percussion from WWU. This is his first show with Vashon Repertory Theatre.
Blake Whitmore (Asst. Technical Director) (they/them) is excited to be a part of live musical theater on Vashon! This is Blake's first production as a scenic painter, though their background in graphic design and fine arts were useful assets. Blake would like to thank their husband, Jacob, for his support and advice throughout this process.
Russell Baker - Sierra Tinhof - Reede Harvey (Backstage Miracle Workers)
Joel and Seattle Shakespeare Company
Nate Everson and Jason Culp