Lauren Abramson (Katherine Plumber) feels so lucky to be with Stage 284 for the very first time as Katherine in Newsies! Growing up in Melrose, Lauren has been active in local theatre for years. Past credits include “Velma” in Chicago, “Maureen” in Rent, and “Ilse” in Spring Awakening. When she’s not rehearsing, you can catch her choreographing at Broken Leg Productions and working at The Bread Shop in Wakefield! Lauren would like to thank everyone who helped her feel so welcome here at Stage 284, and she hopes you feel the same as you enjoy our production of Newsies!

Malia Andrews (she/her/hers) (Newsie, Bowery Beauty) is excited for her first ever show with Stage 284! Malia is playing a Newsie and a Bowery Beauty. She started acting when she was 8 and has loved it ever since. Some past roles include Taylor McKessie in High School Musical, Anna in Frozen Jr., Jane Banks in Mary Poppins Jr., and a Featured Dancer in Aladdin. Malia is involved in chorus at her school and has taken voice lessons for 5 years, as well as having 6 years of dance experience. She’d like to thank her friends and family for always being supportive and her amazing cast!

Jake Bassinger (Crutchie) is so excited to return to Stage 284 for his eighth production. Jake has been performing since a young age. Past credits include A Christmas Carol-London Boy (NSMT), Runaway Bunny-Runaway Bunny (BCT), Footloose-Ren McCormick (BCT), 13-Evan Goldman (284), and Matilda-Ms. Trunchbull (MRMS). He would like to thank the entire production team for giving him this opportunity, as well as his family and friends for their support.

Doug Brendel (Pulitzer)

Jamie Cabot (Snyder, Mr. Jacobi) is delighted to be working again with his friends at Stage 284. In college, Jamie played Peter in Eugene O’Neill’s “Mourning Becomes Electra” and Simon in Bertolt Brecht’s “A Caucasian Chalk Circle” for the Mount Holyoke College Theatre Department. In 2017, he returned to the stage in Vianna Pilkington’s production of “Narnia”, playing The Professor and Father Christmas. Since then, he has played a Storyteller in “Children of Eden” at the Marblehead Little Theatre; the Grinch in “Seussical” and Walter Cunningham in “To Kill a Mockingbird” for Stage 284; George Widener in “Titanic” for the Voices of Hope; Benny Southstreet in “Guys and Dolls” and Uncle Henry (and ensemble roles) in “The Wizard of Oz” for Neverland Theater; and Old Henry in “The Fantasticks” for Bedford Off Broadway.

Lucia Carleo (they/she) (Newsie, u/s Spot Conlon) is very excited to be part of this amazing show Newsies. Lucia is playing Newsie and Spot Conlons understudy! Lucia started acting when they were in 4th grade and she fell in love with it. Past shows she has been in include Into The Woods as The Giant, Cinderella’s Father, and The Wolf, Frozen as Kristoff, Lion King as Bonzai and Timon, and Annie as Duffy! She loves to sing and play softball. They would like to thank her mom for signing them up for this. Enjoy the show!

Hailey Cook (Race) is an Endicott College alumni who holds a bachelor degree in Liberal Studies with a concentration in Performing Arts and a dance minor. She is from Keene, New Hampshire and was the President of the Endicott College Drama Club. Some of her favorite roles include Beauty and the Beast (Belle), The Glass Menagerie (Laura), Once Upon a Mattress (Jester), Bye Bye Birdie (Alice/Featured Dancer) and Pippin (Fastrada). She can also be seen choreographing for the vacation and summer workshops here at Stage 284! It has been a blast getting to work with my fellow newsies and this wonderful cast/production team!

Miranda Cotter-Holland (Jojo) is so excited to be a part of her first Stage 284 Main Stage Production! Miranda has loved acting, singing, and dancing as long as she can remember. Her past shows include the Fairy Godmother in Cinderella, Audrey in As You Like It, Don John in Much Ado About Nothing, Clara in the Nutcracker, and Philostrate in A Midsummer Night’s Dream. She wants to thank her family for driving her to and from rehearsals and thank Katie, Cassie, and Sarah for putting in so much effort to make this show perfect!

Meaghan DelGenio (Stage Manager, Newsie, Scab #2) is so happy to be back at Stage 284 performing! Her last show on stage here was Mamma Mia in 2019 when she played the role of Sophie. Since then, a lot has changed! As a recent Endicott College graduate in 2020, Meaghan also has received her Master of Arts degree in Theatre Education and is now finishing her MFA at Emerson College. Over the summer she was one of the Lead Teachers for the Annie Jr. and The Sound of Music programs here. As well as on stage dancing, you can find her behind the tech table for this production, as she is also one of our Stage Managers. She wants to thank all of those who love and support her in all of her dreams and endeavors. She dedicates her performances to her Auntie Bev, who she lost this past spring, as this will be the first show where she won’t be in the audience.

Brian Doser (Bunsen, Stage Manager)

River Franz (Les)

Riley Freedman (he/him) (Newsie, Spot Conlon, u/s Davey) is excited to be performing at Stage 284 for the first time since the pandemic in Newsies. He is playing Spot Conlon and the understudy for Davey. Riley is a junior at Covenant Christian Academy and has been acting since the third grade. This is Riley’s second show at Stage 284, previously playing Dewey Finn in School of Rock. Outside of Stage 284, Riley has played roles in numerous shows at Neverland Theatre, such as Sebastian in The Little Mermaid, the Cowardly Lion in The Wizard of Oz, and Charlie Bucket in Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. Riley would like to thank his family for always supporting him and being there for him, as well as director Andy Diskes and music directors Lynne Jackson and Michael Palter, for making him the performer he is today.

Amanda Lane (Stage Manager, Hannah) is thrilled to return to her home away from home at Stage 284! Favorite performing credits include: Martha (The Secret Garden, Stage 284), Dorothy (The Wizard of Oz), Matilda (Matilda the Musical), and Sleeping Beauty (Into the Woods, Stage 284). Favorite production credits at Stage 284 include: Beauty & the Beast Jr. Workshop, Annie Jr. Workshop, and Pippin. Favorite life credits include: Mommy (The Lane family) and serving as the Admissions Visit Coordinator at Gordon College. Because she can’t resist biting off more than she can chew, she is currently Stage Managing the youth cast productions of Newsies while working full time, enjoying her husband & two wonderful children, and fostering bunnies. She looks forward to sleeping again sometime after closing night! In all seriousness, though, Amanda is a firm believer in the importance of self care and mental health: Investing in yourself is the bravest thing you will ever do. You matter!

Dylan Mills (Newsie, Scab #1, Romeo u/s) is so happy to make his first appearance at Stage 284 in the production of Newsies. Some of his past credits include The Music Man (Tommy Djilas), The Drowsy Chaperone (George), A Christmas Story (Ensemble), and Oliver! (Fagin’s Gang) for the NRHS Masquers. Dylan was also cast in the NSMT Productions of Willy Wonka Jr. (James), Aladdin Jr. (Omar), and Frozen Jr. (Hans). He is a Regional Men’s Gymnastics Champion and is a part of his school acapella group, NOTEorious. He is incredibly grateful for the warm welcome Stage 284 has given him. Dylan has loved rehearsing, but he can’t wait to perform with such an amazing cast! #Delsmills

Solenn Minogue (Newsie, Oscar Delancy)

Ciaran Mohan (Tommy Boy, Ensemble, u/s Crutchie) is excited to carry the banner with this amazing cast! Select regional & local credits include: Subtext (Gloucester Stage Company),  Into the Woods, The Secret Garden (Stage 284), multiple performances with North Shore Music Theatre including A Christmas Carol, and Roald Dahl’s Willy Wonka, and many more! He recently participated in Wheelock Family Theatre @ BU’s Teen Summer Intensive. He loves to read and he takes voice and dance lessons! Thank you to Katie, Sarah, Abby, Jimmy, the rest of the cast and crew!

Lila Blue (Elmer, Scab #3, Policeman) is thrilled to be back in another Stage 284 production. Now 16 and a Sophomore at Manchester Essex High School, Lila Blue has been singing and performing since the age of 10. Some of her favorite performances include High School Musical (Zeke), Elf (Mrs Greenway), The Sound of Music (Sister Sophia), 13, Legally Blonde (Dewy/Grandmaster Chad), Lion King and playing Morticia in The Addams Family. She has also been a member of Boston Children’s Choir for 3 years and now sings in their elite Premier Choir. Lila Blue would like to thank her family, her family of cast mates and the amazing, talented, tireless production team for bringing Newsies to stage for a second return to live theater again!

Owen O’Leary (Romeo, Jack u/s) is excited for his second show at Stage 284, he performed in the Youth Company’s 13! In the Summer of 2019. He is super excited to be working with such an experienced group of actors in the cast. He wants to thank his family for supporting him throughout the Newsies process! He is super excited to finally present Newsies!

Erin Pelikhov (she/her/hers) (Finch) is excited to be back at Stage 284 to play Finch in Newsies while her twins play the Delancey brothers in the youth casts. She is no stranger to having her name in The Bay State Banner and other community newspapers, where she worked as designer for 11 years. She is currently Graphic/Web Designer at the JCC in Marblehead and has previously taught dance throughout Greater Boston. She played “Mother Ginger” for five years in the Urban Nutcracker and was assistant director of Forty Steps Dance for 10 years. Theatre credits include ensemble and featured dancer in Pippin, Mamma Mia, Billy Elliot, and Hair. Erin would like to thank the directors and production team for working us hard, and her husband and family for all the childcare help and schlepping long distances. Break legs to Ida, Noah and the entire cast of Newsies (except for Crutchie!)

Madeleine Penafiel (Newsie) is an eighth grader at the Masconomet Middle School and is so excited to be in this production of Newsies with Stage 284! Some of Maddie’s favorite past roles have been Tina Denmark in “Ruthless, Veruca Salt in “Willy Wonka”, and Molly in “Annie”. Maddie has always enjoyed dancing and singing and currently is part of the Bosoma Youth Dance Company as well as a vocalist for the Tri-Town Rock Band. Besides singing and dancing, Maddie likes to read in her free time and loves to play with her dogs, Rori and Gus! She would like to give a special shout out to her whole family for supporting her and giving her all these amazing opportunities.

Cai Radleigh (Jack Kelly)

Eva Revette (Les) is excited to be back performing at Stage 284! Other productions Eva has performed in include The Sound of Music (Kurt Von Trapp), Frozen Jr. (Sven), Into the Woods (Milky White), Annie Jr (Sandy), and Seussical the Musical (Baby Kangaroo). When not on stage, Eva enjoys writing, reading, and ballet. Eva would like to thank Katie, Craig, Sarah, Cassie, Brian, the band, and everyone who made this show possible.

Allie Smail (Newsie, Bowery Beauty, Race u/s) is so excited to be in Newsies it has been one of her favorite shows for so long! Some of her favorite past roles include Ms. Darbus High School Musical, Elle Woods Legally Blonde, Urleen Footloose, and The Bearded Lady in The Greatest Showman. She is so excited to be able to do one of her favorite shows at one of her favorite places. She loves stage 284 and is so excited to be back after a long time without theater! She would like to thank Katie, Abby, Sarah, Meaghan, Amanda, Craig, and everyone else who has helped put on this show! Allie hopes you enjoy Newsies! #goDelsmills

Amelia Smith (Seitz/Newsie) is excited to be making her Stage 284 debut in Newsies as Seitz, the editor of the New York World! Recent credits include Snout in A Midsummer Night’s Dream (North Shore Players), a featured soloist in The Prophet Project (Still Small Theatre), and Cecily in The Importance of Being Earnest (Firehouse Center for the Arts). When she is not onstage, Amelia teaches theatre at North Shore Christian School. She would like to thank her cast-mates, and everyone on the production team, for all of their hard work, and making her first Stage 284 experience so much fun!

Jacqueline Tetrault (Newsie, Morris Delancey) a.k.a. Jackie is thrilled to be in Newsies, a show that is very special to her as a writer passionate about social justice. She has been in several productions with Still Small Theatre, including lead roles in The Prophet Project and The Diary of Perpetua. Jackie is a graduate of Gordon College, where she studied English and communications with a concentration in creative writing. In addition to doing freelance photography and her own writing projects, she is a full-time reporter for The Pilot, the newspaper of the Archdiocese of Boston. Samples of her work can be found at www.jacquelinetetrault.com. Jackie would like to thank her parents; her Still Small family, especially her fellow newsie Amelia; Stage 284 for giving her this opportunity; and the staff of The Pilot for letting her take so many old newspapers!

Elisabeth Thomas (Darcy, Newsie) is very excited about performing in Newsies. She plays the role of Darcy and has been in multiple other productions including The Jungle Book and Charlotte’s Web. She is a writer, a reader, an artist, and she loves being part of musical theater productions.

Lilia Thomas (Henry) is very excited to be part of Newsies at Stage 284! She plays the role of “Henry.” Her recent credits include Les Miserables, The Good Life, and The Jungle Book. Aside from acting, Lilia also enjoys rowing, fishing, and reading. She is in 9th grade and enrolled in Masconomet Regional High School. Lilia would like to thank her family for supporting her and she would also like to thank her fellow cast members for making Stage 284 so welcoming and fun.

Cecelia Turcotte (Mush) is a freshman at the Academy At Penguin Hall. She has been with Stage 284 since 2018 and has participated in shows such as Annie Jr. and the Lion King Jr. When not performing in musicals, Cecelia plays softball and spends time with her friends!

James Turner (Davey) is thrilled to be returning to Stage 284 for Newsies! A proud member of SAG-AFTRA, James has performed up and down the east coast. Past credits include Baker (Into the Woods), Jamie (The Last 5 Years), Jean Val Jean (Les Miserables), Judas/Jesus (Jesus Christ Superstar), and Shrek (Shrek). When not on stage, James works as a DJ and vocal coach. “It has been an honor and a joy to ‘carry the banner with my chums’ – new and old – here at S284. I am so proud to share the stage with you all in a triumphant return to live theater! Now sit back, relax and ‘watch what happens – We’re back!’”

Crystal VanArtsdalen (Medda Larkin) is so excited to finally be able to perform in person at Stage 284! Some of her favorite previous roles include Queen Aggravain in “Once Upon A Mattress”, Billie Dwyer in “Unnecessary Farce”, Aunt Eller in “Oklahoma”, and Mother Superior in “Nunsense.” When not onstage, Crystal can be found backstage crafting, building and painting scenic pieces. She is so pleased to be able to participate in a show about giving a voice to the voiceless, and is even more grateful to be able to do it with such a delightful group of people!

Sean Westgate is excited to be back performing! This is his third production at Stage 284, having done “Into the Woods” and “Pippin” previously. During his time off from the stage, he has been working with his voice coach, Jimmy Turner, participating in Stage 284’s Virtual Cabarets, and spending more quality time with his family. Sean lives in Hamilton with his wife, Tracey, and kids, Maeve and Bennett. He would like to thank everyone for their support and hopes you all enjoy the show!

Gabby Wheeler (Newsie, Bowery Beauty, Katherine u/s)  is so excited to be playing Katharine’s Understudy, Bowery Beauty, and a Newsie in Stage 284’s production of Newsies! She has loved her time working on the show and creating a new theatre family and can’t wait to show everyone what we have been working on. Gabby has been doing theatre since she was 12, some of her favorite roles include Cinderella in Into The Woods, Gabriella in High School Musical, and ensemble in Legally Blonde. She wants to thank her parents for driving her to rehearsals and her family and friends for coming to the show! She also wants to thank the production team for all they do!!

Katelyn Agri (Newsie-Buttons, Nunzio, Bowery Beauty) is 14 years old so excited to be back at Stage 284. Some favorite past roles she has played have been Liesl (Sound of Music), Veruca Salt (Willy Wonka), Baloo (The Jungle Book) and Mrs. Witch (A Wrinkle in Time.) In her free time she enjoys singing, baking, sports, and hanging out with friends. Katelyn would like to thank her family for supporting her and everyone who helped put the show together.

Adelaide Baird (Newsie-Finch, u/s Crutchie) is a sixth grader from Hamilton and loves doing theater more than anything else. She has been in three other musicals at stage 284; Beauty and the Beast, Frozen and her favorite, playing Rafiki in The Lion King. She has had so much fun in Newsies and is excited to do more in the future. Outside of Stage 284 she enjoys playing soccer and watching Broadway musicals on Disney+. She would like to thank the actor from the Broadway Newsies that played Crutchie, for inspiring her understudy part.

Greta Baird (Katherine) is an eighth grader from Hamilton and has been in three other shows at Stage 284; Annie Jr as Molly, Lion King Jr as Nala, and Frozen Jr as Anna. Her favorite role was playing Nala in The Lion King. Besides theater, she likes to play soccer, sing in chorus, and hang out with friends. Greta would like to thank her cast mates and directors for being so helpful and supportive.

Kenzie Banks (Newsie – JoJo) is excited for her first performance with Stage 284. She realized her love of theatre after participating in the one week Annie Jr. summer camp where she played Kate. Kenzie also enjoys gymnastics, going to the beach and spending time with friends at the park. Kenzie thanks her family for all the rides and support and her cast mates for making this a great experience!

Sydney Bartlett (Medda Larkin)  is currently a freshman at Essex Tech. This is Sydney’s first time performing at Stage 284 and she is so excited! Her past credits include The Music Man (Alma Hix), Fiddler on the Roof (Hodel), Into the Woods (The Witch), and Peter Pan (Wendy). When not performing Sydney enjoys painting, drawing, and baking. Sydney would like to thank her family for always coming to her shows and supporting her.

Penelope Bellucci (Snyder, Newsie) is 13 years old and in eighth grade at Miles River Middle School. In her free time, she likes reading, singing, and hanging out with friends. Previously, Penelope has performed as ‘’Rapunzel’s Prince’’ in Into the Woods, ‘’Ensemble’’ in Aladdin Jr., and “Who Ensemble’’ in Seussical the Musical. She would like to thank her friends for telling her about Stage 284, her parents, her brothers Eli and Sam, and her dog Charity for supporting her, and the production team at Stage 284 for being so patient and thorough.

Sam Bellucci (Newsie, Scab 3, u/s Mr. Jacobi and Guard) is 9 years old and in third grade at Cutler Elementary School. Previously, Sam has participated in the Wednesday Workshops for “Where the Wild Things Are” and “Harry Potter”. “Newsies” is his first Main Stage production, and he loves being a part of this show! Sam also plays soccer and tennis, and in his free time, he enjoys playing outside, drawing, and playing board games. He would like to thank his family, his friends, and the entire Stage 284 family for their support.

Claire Bennett (Hannah, Darcy, Newsie) is excited to perform at her first Stage 284 main stage production! Prior to the Newsies, Claire has performed in Annie, Beauty and the Beast, Rumpelstiltskin Private Eye, and Aladdin. When she’s not on stage, Claire loves to design, organize, and run. She’d like to thank her Mom and Dad for putting in all the hard work to do this play. Her brother, Zach, and her sister, Amelia, for putting up with the play. Claire would also like to thank her Nana and Grandpa, Grammy, Aunt Mary and friends. She is so grateful for how supportive you have been!

Sophie Breed (Newsie) is 9 years old, born and raised in Hamilton. This is her first production with Stage 284. Her love of theater and performing began at Stage 284 Youth Studio, helping to write, design sets, and perform in adaptations of “Sing”, “Descendants”, and “101 Dalmatians”. Sophie is excited and proud to be a part of the Stage 284 theater family. She can’t wait to share the action and drama of the “Newsies” story with you!

Will Butler (Spot Conlon, u/s Jack Kelly) A newcomer to stage 284, Will makes a major leap by getting cast as Spot Conlon and understudying for his dream role, Jack Kelly. Will has done many performances in the past. His most recent performances include “Eddie” in Mamma Mia at Ipswich High school “Prince Charming” in Cinderella at acting out in Newburyport. This whole experience for him can be summarized in one quote “dreams come true, yeah they do.”

Isabelle Campbell (Race, u/s Davey) is excited to join the cast of Newsies! She is 12 years old and in 7th grade at MRMS. Some of her favorite roles she has performed at Stage 284 include Anna in Frozen Jr, Baloo in The Jungle Book, Narrator in Into the Woods and Timon in The Lion King. Isabelle loves singing, acting, dancing and she has been in over 14 shows!

Eva Cheverie (she/her/hers) (Newsie-Specs, Bowery Beauty, u/s Bunsen) is so excited to be a part of this production of Newsies as Specs and a Bowery Beauty! She has been doing theater for years, and some of her favorite previous shows have been Seussical as a Who, The Jungle Book as the coconut tree, and The Sound of Music as Herr Zeller and Sister Berthe. She would like to thank her parents for letting her audition and driving her to and from rehearsals, as well as everyone in the cast and crew who made this possible. Enjoy the show!

Teddy Connors (Newsie, Scab #1) attends 4th grade at the Winthrop Elementary school in Hamilton. Newsies is Teddy’s first main production. Prior to this show Teddy participated in two theater workshops at The Community House: Harry Potter (Hagrid, Ron) and Aladdin (until COVID interrupted the show). Teddy is an avid reader, he loves to play hockey and to build forts.

Cecilia Crockett (Hannah, Bowery Beauty, Newsie) is 12 years old. Her favorite things to do are reading and singing. She has been in many different plays but some are: Into The Woods (Rapunzel”s prince), The Lion King (Shenzi) and The Sound of Music (Frau smit).

Riley Crockett (Wiesel, Newsie, u/s Pulitzer) is happy to join the cast of Newsies! Previous shows include: Into the Woods, The Jungle Book and many more! Riley enjoys singing, theater and softball. Riley would like to thank her mom and dad for supporting her.

Gabbi D’Andrea (Medda Larkin) is a sophomore at Manchester Essex High School. She is so excited to return to Stage 284 for Newsies! Some of her favorite shows that she has been a part of include Legally Blonde, High School Musical, and The Lion King. Gabbi enjoys playing the guitar, singing, and playing lacrosse.

Katie Daniels (Crutchie) is so excited to be back performing with Stage 284. When Katie is not acting she likes to play lacrosse, ski, sing and spend time with friends. Some of Katie’s most favorite productions have been Into the Woods, The Best Christmas Pageant Ever and Seussical. Katie would like to thank her parents and brothers for being her biggest fans. She would also like to thank the entire Stage 284 crew for their hard work in getting us back to live theater.

McKenna Donahue (Les) is beyond excited to play Les in Stage 284’s production of Newsies! McKenna has been performing since she was 6 and some of her favorite roles have been Gretl in The Sound of Music, the White Rabbit in Alice in Wonderland, and Chip in Beauty and the Beast. McKenna is thankful for her parents for driving her to rehearsal and is so excited for her family and friends to see the show. Lastly, McKenna is thankful to be a part of the stage 284’s family in her new favorite role!

Hannah Donnellan-Doser (Jack Kelly) is 13 years old and excited to be a part of this production! Some of her favorite past performances include Nottingham and Alladin Jr. Hannah’s special talents include singing and dancing. When not on stage, she loves to hang out with friends! Hannah would like to thank her friends and family for supporting her.

Madeline Frontierro (Les) is very excited to be playing Les in Stage 284’s production of Newsies! Madeline began acting at 5 years old and has been in many productions. Some of her roles include Marta (The Sound of Music), Luna (Harry Potter), and Tiny Tim (A Christmas Carol). Madeline’s favorite acting memory was getting hit in the face by a tomato while filming the food fight scene in Hubie Halloween! She loves being a part of such a wonderful theater family!

Lila Garrett (she/her/hers) (Davey) is excited to be back and performing her favorite musical with Stage 284. Her previous roles include Mother Abbess in The Sound of Music, Olaf in Frozen Jr., Jack’s Mother in Into the Woods Jr., and Lowbutt in Honk! In her free time Lila likes to read, write and draw. She would like to thank her friends, family, teachers and cats for putting up with her constant singing and sleep-deprived rants. She hopes you enjoy the show!

Beckett Guest (Newsie-Race) is a 7th grader at O’Maley Middle School. He is super excited to be returning to Stage 284 live and in person with “Newsies” after 631 days away (but who’s counting?!). Beckett’s favorite past roles include Lefou in “Beauty and the Beast” and Jack in “Into The Woods” with Stage 284, Mr Boxer in “Brick by Brick” at Magnolia Arts Exchange, and Peter Dennis in “Mame” at North Shore Music Theatre. When he’s not on the stage he can be found belting tunes with his Besties, hanging with his cat, playing Minecraft, playing Goalie for his PeeWee Hockey team, or performing the National Anthem as The Singing Goalie. Beckett wants to Thank Katie for always being real and reminding him that “theatre is for everyone” and to be himself! “You do You!”

Anna Kercher (Newsie-Elmer, u/s Finch) is 14 yrs old and this is her second show with Stage 284. She previously played in the Ensemble for High School Musical. She enjoys singing, playing guitar, drums, and piano. She enjoys the experience of performing in Newsies.

Timmy Kercher (Davey) is very excited to be performing in my 10th production at Stage 284 as Davey in Newsies. Most recent credits include The Sound of Music as Captain Von Trapp (Stage 284), High School Musical as Ryan Evans (Stage 284), and Mamma Mia as Pepper (Ipswich High School). In my spare time I like to play Piano, Drums and sing a lot! I’d like to thank the amazing cast and crew for their incredibly hard work and for my family who are my top supporters. I hope you enjoy the show!

Olivia Laidlaw (Spot Conlon, Ensemble) is joining Stage 284 for her second production and she’s excited to be joining the cast of Newsies. Olivia is passionate about musical theater and has performed and studied with many other theater groups including: Kids Curtain Call (Wakefield, MA,) ImprovBoston (Cambridge,) Sheila Rosanio’s School of Dance (Revere,) and Kidstock, (Winchester.) Among the many live productions Oliva has attended or watched, her current favorites are BeetleJuice, Heathers, The Guy Who Didn’t Like Musicals, Black Friday, The Prom, Hadestown, and Falsettos. Oliva is currently in 8th grade, and outside of her love of theater and dance, Olivia enjoys hanging out with her friends, talking about anime, and teaching herself guitar.

Luke Leavitt (Pulitzer)

Joshuah Maggiacomo (Pulitzer) is thrilled to make his Stage 284 debut as Pulitzer in Newsies (Queens cast)! Josh has appeared in a couple school performances such as Into the Woods as the Baker’s father (flashback) and was also slotted as Zazu in The Lion King before Covid shut things down. He is a voracious reader, loves to tell jokes, and enjoys doing voice impressions of pretty much any character. Josh would like to thank his Mom, Dad and brother for their constant support, and for his cousin Laurille (and family) who is also in this play.

Katie Mendonca (Newsie-Mush) is very excited to be part of the Newsies cast. This is her second show at Stage 284, and was previously in The Sound of Music. Katie is 13 years old and enjoys theater, dance, and a lot of outdoor activities.

Nuala Mohan (Newsie-Henry) is so excited to join the cast of Newsies at Stage 284! She is a dancer, gymnast, and figure skater along with being a singer and an actress. Nuala would like to thank the production team and cast for everything. Enjoy the show!

Liam Mumford (Seitz, Newsie) is thrilled to be making his Stage 284 debut as “Seitz” with the amazing cast of Newsies! This 7th grader started singing in kindergarten, some of his favorite roles include the “Tin Man” in The Wizard of Oz, “Captain Hook” in Peter Pan, and he loves singing at Creative Co-Op. Liam would like to thank his mom, dad, and brother Connor for believing in him–and his dog, Matilda for all the snuggles! He hopes you all feel inspired to Seize the Day today and always.

Madison O’Brien (she/her/hers) (Newsie-Splasher, Bowery Beauty) is beyond excited to be back at Stage 284 as Splasher, Bowery Beauty, and Nun in Newsies! Some of her favorite past credits include Mowgli in The Jungle Book, Sister Sophia in The Sound of Music, and Mrs. Potts in Beauty and the Beast. Madison would like to thank everyone, especially her parents, for making this show possible!

Ida Pelikhov (she/her/hers) (Oscar Delancey, Newsie, Woman) is excited to play Oscar Delancey alongside her twin brother in their first main stage show at Stage 284! Ida is 8 years old, lives in Marblehead, loves fashion and doing gymnastics at Burke’s. Previous credits include Concessionaire in Charlotte’s Web, July in Annie Jr and Dory in Finding Nemo. She can’t wait to tap dance in King of New York, and to see her mom on stage in the Adult cast of Newsies! Good luck to Noah and the whole cast of Newsies!

Noah Pelikhov (he/him/his) (Morris Delancey, Newsie) is excited to play Morris Delancey alongside his twin sister in their first main stage show at Stage 284! Noah is 8 years old, lives in Marblehead and likes playing basketball and practices gymnastics at Iron Rail. Previous credits include Fairgoer in Charlotte’s Web, Sandy in Annie Jr and Marlin in Finding Nemo. He is excited to play a tough guy in Newsies, and can’t wait to see his mom on stage in the Adult cast! Good luck to Ida and the whole cast of Newsies!

Ethan Petersheim (Newsie) is 10 years old and in 5th grade. He enjoys singing, comedy, and dancing. He previously performed in Treasure Island in the pirate choir at a theater in Indiana. Newsies is his first show with Stage 284 at The Community House, and he hopes to be in many more shows! #seizetheday

Mikayla Petersheim (Wiesel, Newsie) is excited to be part of Newsies! She is an 8th grader at Miles River Middle School who has been singing and acting since 2nd grade. She began acting at the civic theater in her hometown in Indiana before moving to Hamilton two years ago. Some of her favorite productions have been Treasure Island, Gooney Bird Greene, Matilda, and High School Musical. This is her 2nd play at Stage 284. In her free time, Mikayla enjoys reading, watching movies, and hanging out with friends.

Ava Pinto (Stage Manager, Newsie) is excited to be able to perform again at Stage 284 with Newsies! Ava is playing the role of “Stage Manager!” Ava started acting in 5th grade. Her first performance was in The Lion King in the role of “Sarabi”. She also participated in the Frozen ensemble. Ava has had mini singing solos in school concerts and has played percussion. She has also taken ballet and gymnastics. She would like to thank her parents for always supporting her desire to act/perform. She hopes this show will bring you much joy and inspiration.

Gavin Renna (Newsie-Albert) is excited for his first performance at Stage 284 with Newsies! Gavin is playing Albert, known for his funny one liners and hard nosed New York attitude. Gavin started acting in fourth grade and has had the pleasure of performing in several amazing shows. Past credits include “The Wizard” in The Wizard of Oz, “Prince Abdullah” in Aladdin Jr., “Banzai” in The Lion King Jr., “Cubby” in Peter Pan and “The White Rabbit” in Alice in Wonderland Jr.! Gavin would like to thank his parents and brothers for always supporting him and Bethany Vahn for supporting him in his theatrical pursuits.

Emily Schuster (Newsie-Romeo) has been participating in theater productions since the age of four. Her productions include but not limited to, Annie, Aladdin, Wizard of Oz, Beauty and the Beast, and Frozen with the North Shore Children’s Theater. Since moving to Wenham, Emily has been thrilled to join Stage 284 in the summer of 2021 in The Sound of Music and now her role as Romeo in Newsies.

Ella Soucy (Newsie-Tommy Boy) is super excited to be performing as “Tommy Boy” in her debut with Stage 284! Past performances include The Musical Adventures of Flat Stanley, Willy Wonka, and numerous plays at Brookwood School. In addition to acting, Ella plays the piano and is a dancer at High Street Studios in Ipswich. Ella would like to thank her family for always loving her, her new theater family at Stage 284 for welcoming her, Deirdre and John at Acting Out! for showing her the ropes, and her BFF’s for always cheering her on! Now is the time to seize the day!

Dylan Stein (Crutchie) is an 8th grader at Miles River School. She is so excited to be back doing theater again! Some of her previous shows include High School Musical, Matilda, The Lion King, and Shrek. Dylan would like to thank her family for driving her and putting up with her crazy schedule.

Mara Stein (Katherine) is delighted to be in her 5th show at Stage 284 as Katherine Plumber. Mara has been performing around the North Shore since she was 5 years old and hasn’t stopped since. A few of her past favorite roles have been Annie in Annie (Marblehead Little Theater) Patrice in 13! The Musical (Stage 284) Jojo in Seussical The Musical (North Shore Music Theatre) and an upcoming performance of Beth in Little Women (NSCT). In addition, Mara has been a repeat and requested National Anthem singer in Washington D.C for the Washington Nationals and Harvard University Athletics. She has also performed the Canadian and American National Anthem at Gillette Stadium for the New England Revolution. Mara enjoys being a part of the touring Premier Choir in Boston Children’s Choir. This summer, she was accepted and attended the Boston Conservatory at Berklee for their 3 week musical theater intensive for selective talented students around the world. Mara attends Essex Tech and majors in Carpentry in hope to study Musical Theatre at NYU and minor in set design when she graduates. Finally, Mara would like to thank her Mom, Dad, Craig, Crystal, Katie, Sarah, and her amazingly talented sister Dylan for their support and pushing her to reach for the stars!

Bennett Westgate (Guard, Mr. Jacobi, Newsie) is looking forward to his second main stage production at Stage 284! He has previously been in Frozen Jr., as well as Where the Wild Things Are, Harry Potter, Aladdin, and Annie Youth Workshops. Bennett is 8 years old and a 3rd Grader at Cutler Elementary. In his free time, Bennett is an avid reader, likes to play video games, and is looking forward to Spring Baseball.

Maeve Westgate (Bunsen, Newsie, u/s Les) is excited to be back at Stage 284! Les is a role that she really wanted and is so thrilled to have the chance to understudy. This is Maeve’s fifth show with Stage 284 having previously done: Best Christmas Pageant Ever, Lion King, Into the Woods, and Frozen Jr. Maeve is 11 years old and a 6th Grader at Miles River Middle School here in Hamilton. In her spare time, she likes to play video games, arts and crafts, and bake.

Braden Willenbrock (he/him/his) (Jack Kelly) is elated to be back at Stage 284 for Newsies! He originally started his acting career in 4th grade as Augustus Gloop in Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory and has, since then, loved being on stage. Other credits include Simba in The Lion King Jr., Troy in High School Musical, and most recently, Newscaster/Colonel Mustard Understudy in Clue. Braden would like to thank his supportive family for always letting him express himself and having to deal with him singing 24/7. He’d also like to thank his fellow castmates for always being there for him and being like a second family. He’d especially like to thank his grandparents for taking him to rehearsal, running lines, and spending genuine, quality time with him. He hopes you’ll watch what happens and enjoy the show!

Laurille Wirling (Newsie) is thankful to finally be making her Stage 284 debut! Along with Newsies being her first full Stage 284 production, it’s also her first ever full show! Ms. Wirling has had a passion for theater for years, participating in Rising Stars summer camps, Boston Children’s Theater classes and Stage 284 workshops. However, she hasn’t had time for a full show… until today!! She would like to thank her family, dance teachers at Mitchell’s Dance Studio and Creative Arts Dance Conservatory, and music teachers Steve Kercher and James Turner for helping her prepare and being so kind and supportive!!