Home for the Holidays - NMU Theatre and Dance

Full Company:

Sydney Baudin (Cast)- Sydney is a freshman at Northern Michigan University double majoring in dance and biology. She has been dancing for 16 years and has trained in many styles such as ballet, tap, jazz, and modern and is super excited to be continuing her training here at Northern.

Delaney Brennan (Cast)- Delaney Brennan is a freshman at NMU. She is majoring in biology with a minor in dance! She has trained in various styles of dance, including ballet, tap, jazz, contemporary, and modern, for 15 years at a local studio in the Lapeer County area. She is forever thankful for the support of her family, friends, and dance mentor, Hannah Machado. Delaney can’t wait to bring this story to life and hopes you enjoy the show! 

Kayleigh Clark (Cast)- Kayleigh Clark is a sophomore at NMU studying a BFA in Musical Theatre. She has performed in several NMU T&D productions such as Spamalot, A Christmas Carol, and Anything Goes. She would like to thank her friends and family for their endless support and love! Enjoy the show! IG: @kayleigh_a_clark

Gianna Daprai (Choreographer/Cast)- Gianna Daprai is a third year student at NMU, majoring in both dance and environmental science. She has choreographed multiple contemporary pieces for the CO/LAB Dance Company, of which she is the president of the student committee. Her choreography has been featured at the North Coast Dance Festival (2023) and the Detroit Dance City Festival (2024). Her previous performances at NMU include The North Coast Dance Festival (2023), CO/LAB Dance Concert (2023, 2024), The Producers (ensemble), Excerpts From The Nutcracker (Snowflake), and Cabaret (Lulu). Gianna is both a performer and choreographer in Home For The Holidays and is excited to spread the holiday spirit. She is very excited to showcase her choreography about spending the holidays with family, and hopes everyone can relate to her loving, chaotic Italian family.

Abigail Foskuhl (Choreographer and Understudy)- Abigail is currently a junior pursuing a BA in Dance. She is a Co/Lab Dance Company member, as well as the Vice-President of the Co/Lab Dance Company Committee. She is also a member of the NMU Dance Team, and the BA Dance representative on the Student Advisory Board.

Mandy Granz (Cast)- Mandy is a sophomore Musical Theatre BFA at NMU. She is very excited to be a part of her third show in the department, with previous credits including “A Christmas Carol” and “Puffs”. She would like to extend her appreciation to all the directors, choreographers, and the entire creative team of the show for their unwavering patience and dedication to bringing this beautiful original show to life.

Emma Houston (Cast)- Emma Houston is a Senior graduating with a degree in Multimedia Journalism. Emma in her 18 years of dance has trained with companies like Joffrey School of Dance and Artistry in Motion and hopes to continue her dancing career after graduation. She is honored to be apart of this performance and showcase her piece, “Santa Clause is back in town”. Emma would like to thank her father, brothers, and Karina Johnson for the endless support.

Xander Martin (Cast)- For his second year at NMU, Xander is so excited to be apart of Home for the Holidays! After his last appearance in Anything Goes and Co/Lab, he is very happy to step on the stage again and perform for his friends, family, and all who see the show!

Sara Neva (Cast)- Sara Neva is a first-year student at NMU, majoring in elementary education. She spent the past six years training at Superior School of Dance in Hancock, Michigan, where she was a member of the Copper Studio Company and performed in numerous productions. She has also attended intensives with Eisenhower Dance Detroit and The Guthrie Theatre. In addition to dance, Sara participated in band and choir, as well as theater productions, including playing Savannah in Freaky Friday and Alice in Alice in Wonderland. Sara is excited to be a member of the Co/Lab Dance Company this year!

River Price (Cast)- River is a Sophomore Art and Design Photography major at NMU. River has been dancing competitively since they were five years old and is excited to make their debut in the Department of Theatre and Dance.

Erin Seiler (Cast)- Erin is thrilled to share her love for the holidays through dance in this year's Home for the Holidays performances! Erin is a junior majoring in Economics with minors in both Mathematics and Dance. She is a member of the Co/Lab Dance Company as well as a captain of the NMU Dance Team. Erin cannot wait to perform with the company and hopes you enjoy the show!

Cayden Smaka (Cast)- Cayden Smaka is a sophomore BFA Acting major at Northern Michigan University! He is ecstatic to be a part of this holiday show with such a talented cast and crew! This will be his eighth show at NMU, and when not on stage, you can find Cayden skateboarding, hiking, or napping on the rehearsal studio hallway floor! Cayden would love to thank his amazing family and friends, as well as his directors and mentors, for their constant support! and he is thrilled to share this spectacular show with you!

Caydence Sturtevant (Cast)- Caydence is in her second year of studying business management and dance at Northern Michigan University. In her collegiate dance career, she has been a full-company member of Co/Lab Dance Company for two years and was seen playing Reno’s Angel in Anything Goes last spring. Before her college dance experience, she participated in competitive dance for ten years, receiving the Title Champion award among several other high-point awards. Caydence also got the chance to perform in The Great Russian Nutcracker with the Moscow Ballet twice before pursuing a degree in dance. She is extremely excited to share her love of dance in this show and simply can’t wait to be Home for the Holidays. 

Clara Usealman (Cast)- Clara Usealman is a sophomore at Northern Michigan University. She previously starred in productions such as A Christmas Carol and Puffs. She hopes you enjoy the show! Venmo: cusealman

Ryan Zepp (Cast)- Ryan Zepp is a junior BFA Musical Theatre Major and is excited to be back performing on the FRT stage. His previous credits include Rodger (Grease), Sir Bedevere (Spamalot), Ensemble (Anything Goes). Merry Christmas!

Lex van Blommestein (Scenic Designer)- Lex van Blommestein is a theatre designer based out of Marquette, MI. While he currently teaches at Northern, he also maintains a prolific national and international design career. Lex earned his MFA from Wayne State University's Hilberry Repertory Program in Detroit, and has lived, designed, and taught in Edwardsville, IL; St. Louis, MO; Cincinatti, OH; Raleigh, NC; Memphis, TN; Milwaukee, WI; Detroit, MI; Lansing, MI; Windsor, ON; and Amsterdam, NL, to name a few. In addition to his love for scenic design, he enjoys using design to explore audience reaction, interaction, and emotion, and to create experiences involving virtual reality and augmented reality as well as immersive design.

Morgan DeJager (Wardrobe)- Morgan is very excited to be helping put on this show, as she loves christmas very much. Morgan has been doing theater for 5 years now whether she is on stage or helping put one on. Morgan has recently just done wardrobe and makeup for NMU's production of Rocky Horror and has also been in a few mainstage productions such as Big Fish the new musical, Alice in Wonderland, Mean Girls, Clue on stage, and Peter and the Starcatcher.

Jamie Downing (Stage Manager)- As a graduate of Wylie E. Groves High School and current freshman at Northern, Jamie Downing is excited to be stage managing their second show with NMU, their first being Wildcat Theatre Follies 2024. In high school, they held the roles of Stage Manager, Student Technical Director, and Scenic Designer. They spent the summer of 2024 working with Michigan Stage as an Assistant Stage Manager for Lost in Yonkers and Guys & Dolls, as well as the Scenic Designer for Peerless. Jamie looks forward to designing the rabbit hole for NMU’s February 2025 performance of Alice in Wonderland.

Abigail Foskuhl (Choreographer and Understudy)- Abigail is currently a junior pursuing a BA in Dance. She is a Co/Lab Dance Company member, as well as the Vice-President of the Co/Lab Dance Company Committee. She is also a member of the NMU Dance Team, and the BA Dance representative on the Student Advisory Board.

Sylvia Gravel (Choreographer and Rehearsal Assistant)- Sylvia Gravel received a BS in Dance from Northern Michigan University in 2023. She has spent the last three semesters as the CO/LAB Dance Company intern/assistant, where she has choreographed (STATIC, White Christmas), and acted as Production Stage Manager for the 2024 CO/LAB Showcase and North Coast Dance Festival. During her time as a student, she performed and choreographed for CO/LAB and dance team, primarily focusing on jazz and contemporary styles. Earlier this year, Sylvia was a showing artist at the first annual Dancing In Summer, The Festival (Ypsilanti, MI). Sylvia has also participated in “Dancing with Our Stars, Marquette County Style” as a dance pro.

Riley Joy (Audio 1)- Riley Joy is attending NMU as a Freshman and although she is pursuing her BFA in Acting and a Minor in English. She is excited to be working sound for this production and can't wait to learn everything else on the tech side of things! Enjoy the show! 

Karina Johnson (Director/Choreographer)- Karina Johnson is an accomplished dancer, teacher, and artist. She started training in ballet at the age of 4 in Irvine, California, and went on to study with many renowned teachers from American Ballet Theatre, San Francisco Ballet, New York City Ballet, Ballet West, and others. While ballet was always her main focus, she trained in all styles and forms of dance including jazz, tap, modern, contemporary, and lyrical. In 2010 she graduated from The University of Utah with a BFA in Ballet Performance. However, her professional dance career began while in college, guesting with Aspen Santa Fe Ballet and Ballet West. After graduating, Karina moved to San Francisco to dance with Smuin Contemporary Ballet for a year and then onward to Sacramento Ballet, where she danced some of her most notable and rewarding roles. After retiring in 2015 from her ballet career, Karina helped found the dancer-run company Capital Dance Project, choreographing, performing, and organizing their summer performance series. After 8 years of dancing professionally and 5 more helping run a project-based company, she decided it was time to pass on her love and knowledge of dance to future generations... bringing her to NMU! Karina currently teaches dance for the Theatre & Dance Department.

Megan Hibbard(Choreographer (Radio City and Hot Chocolate))- Megan Hibbard is Adjunct Faculty and an alumna of Northern Michigan University. She loves her time both onstage and off, and loves to have a hand in multiple aspects of the theater! In the past you may have seen her onstage as Natalie Goodman in “Next to Normal”, Judy Turner in “A Chorus Line”, or Sherrie Christian in “Rock of Ages”. She was also the Co-Choreographer of NMU’s “Grease”, and the Choreographer of NMU’s Spamalot! Megan’s lighting designs include “Elf”, NMU’s 2023 and 2024 CO/LAB performances and the 2024 North Coast Dance Festival. She is so unbelievably proud of her dancers and would like to thank her loved ones for their support!

Lizzie Kucharek (Choreographer)- Lizzie Kucharek is a junior at NMU, pursuing a degree in graphic design with a double minor in business management and dance. With a deep appreciation for the art of movement, Lizzie has started her own dance group on campus called Double Step Cloggers. In addition, she has performed in NMU’s double-feature of A Charlie Brown Christmas and The Nutcracker. She is thrilled to contribute to this holiday performance, celebrating the season through the rhythmic tradition of clogging. Combining her creative passions in dance and design, Lizzie is dedicated to bringing joy and energy to the stage with every step.

Olivia Mayer (Run Crew/A2)- Olivia is a first year biology major. Throughout high school she was very involved in the music program and in her senior year she had the opportunity to play in the pit orchestra and help out backstage in their production of Alice by Heart. When she came to NMU she hoped to continue her journey in theater and is excited to be part of the crew for Home for the Holidays as her first college show.

Ambrose Meteyer (Production Stage Manager)- Ambrose is a sophomore in the BFA Theatre Technology & Design program and has had a fantastic time working with this extremely talented group of people and getting into the holiday spirit since the end of the summer! Favorite credits include Assistant Stage Manager for Predictor (Williamston Theatre), The Professor/Sheriff in Ghost Soldiers (North Coast Theatre Festival), u/s Oliver, Cedric, and Narrator in Puffs (NMU), and Stage Manager for Spamalot (NMU). In addition to theatre, Ambrose enjoys playing the cello, biking, and writing. Enjoy this energetic fun-filled holiday show and have a happy new year! IG: ambrosem_

Dominic Mrakovcich (Sound & Media Supervisor)- Dominic Mrakovcich is a composer with nearly two decades of experience in music. He’s an experienced collaborator and concert production assistant, having worked with both emerging student artists and professional ensembles. Specializing in crafting ambient soundscapes, Dominic draws on a wide array of electronic and acoustic instruments to create immersive music. He currently serves as the Sound & Media Supervisor at Northern Michigan University.

David Pierce (Lighting Designer)- David Pierce earned his MFA in Theatre Technology from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and serves as Director of Production and Lighting Supervisor for the Department of Theatre and Dance. He teaches courses in stage electrics, lighting design, and management.  He is an active member of the United States Institute for Theatre Technology (USITT) as well the Production Managers Forum, a network for production managers of non-profit theatre, dance, opera companies, and educational theatres in North America, where he currently serves as a member of the Diversity and Inclusion subcommittee.  Professionally, David has served as the Technical Director and Production Manager for the Adirondack Theatre Festival in Glens Falls, NY, a company devoted to new and contemporary work, where he has been apart of such productions as Murder for Two, Filming O’Keefe, The Whale, Spun, Nikola Tesla Drops the Beat, and many others.  He is also a freelance lighting designer with design credits (selected) of Rock of Ages, Grease, The Producers, Above the Timberline, Mamma Mia!, Sweeney Todd, and What We Leave Behind.

Donna Poirier (Music Director)- Donna Poirier is currently serving as the Choir Director at Ishpeming Public Schools and Vocal Instructor at Northern Michigan University.   She an active singer and accomplished pianist. She has served as music director for the Shreveport Opera and the Natchez Music Festival and stage director for Manhattan Lyric Opera. She was thrilled to join Opera Fresca in Mendocino, CA, as music director for their production of "Pagliacci." In 2012-2013, Donna served as a regional conductor for the 105 Voices of History National Choir based in Washington D.C. Her stage roles include: Susan in "Big, the Musical" with Artful Living Productions, Musetta in Puccini's "La Bohéme" with the Opera Theatre of Connecticut, Pamina in Mozart's "Die Zauberfløte," Madame Silverpeal in Mozart's "Impressario" with Crystal Opera, Rosina in Rossini's "The Barber of Seville" with Opera New England, Adina in Donizetti's "Elixir of Love," Susannah in Mozart's "Le Nozze di Figaro," Gretel in Humperdinck's "Hånsel and Gretel" with New York Opera Forum, La Ciesca in Puccini's "Gianni Schicchi," the Shepherd Boy in Puccini's "Tosca," Ida in "Die Fledermaus"  with the Natchez Music Festival in Mississippi, and Gianetta in "Elixir of Love" with Manhattan Lyric Opera of New York for their tour in Boca Raton, FL. Donna has appeared as soprano soloist with the New York City Choral Society in Händel's "Messiah," the Manchester Symphony and Chorale and the Northeast Concert Choir in Beethoven's Mass in C, and the Middletown, CT, Chorale in Mozart's Mass in C minor. She has made numerous recital appearances throughout the country including an appearance for the International Dickens Society, RI, and the American Women Composer's Society in NY. She enjoys playing throughout the southeast with her band, The Court Jesters. Donna holds a Bachelor of Music from the University of Michigan, a Master of Music from the University of Connecticut, and a Doctor of Musical Arts degree in Choral Conducting from the University of South Carolina under the tutelage of Dr. Larry Wyatt.  She has served on the faculty at Allen University, Alcorn State University, the University of Connecticut, the Ethel Walker School and the Young People's Institute. Donna is the founder of Summit Studios, a performing arts studio serving over 700 clients per week in Manchester, Connecticut.

Emily Rusmisel (Props/Paint Manager)- An Illinois native and explorer at heart, shortly after returning from an exchange year abroad(Bulgaria), she hopped on a Greyhound headed to Portland, Oregon. She fit right in with the weird and stayed most of her adult years, returning for a stint to earn her BS from Illinois State University. Before venturing to the U.P., she served as Oregon Children’s Theatre’s Charge Artist(2017-2024) and freelance designed throughout the area. Recognition's include Portland Area Musical Theatre Award for Outstanding Scenic Design(2020, 2018), a Sparkle Award for Outstanding Scenic Design(2019), and a Drammy for Outstanding Achievement in Properties Design(2018). www.emilyrusmisel.com

Em Rossi (Costume Designer)- Em Rossi is an NMU alumnus (2004 BS, 2006 MA). After designing many productions at FRT and other theaters in the Marquette area, she relocated to Detroit where she obtained an MFA in Costume Design from Wayne State University. Em is adjunct faculty in costumes and makeup and also serves as a mentor for costume, hair and makeup design students. Recent and upcoming designs include costumes and puppets for Above the Timberline, costumes for Next to Normal, and costumes for Grease.

Rachel Wells (Technical Director)- Rachel Wells (She/Her) is thrilled to join the NMU team as the Technical Director and Shop Supervisor. Originally from Ann Arbor, MI, she is excited to return to her home state. Rachel recently received her MFA in Theatre Technology from Indiana University where she served as the Technical Director for Indiana University Summer Theatre, IU’s professional summer stock, for the past three seasons. There she managed repertory productions with a small but skilled team of early career professionals. Rachel is an active member of the United States Institute for Theatre Technology (USITT) and loves helping young artists to grow their skills and confidence in the world of theatre.

Kristen Beth Williams (Choreographer)- Kristen Beth Ludwig (Williams) has directed and choreographed Cabaret, Anything Goes, Rock of Ages (North Coast Theatre Festival), and the Holiday Soirée here at NMU. She is proud to be part of this world premiere holiday spectacular and thanks Karina Johnson for her patience and for going along with all her crazy ideas! She is a professional actor/singer/dancer with an extensive career spanning Broadway, national tours, and regional theatres across the country. She was most recently seen in the new Broadway musical Paradise Square. Other Broadway credits include Hello, Dolly with Bette Midler, Pippin, and the original Broadway casts of Nice Work if You Can Get It with Matthew Broderick and Kelli O’Hara, Anything Goes starring Sutton Foster, and Promises, Promises with Sean Hayes and Kristin Chenoweth. She originated the role of Sibella Hallward on the first national tour of A Gentleman’s Guide to Love and Murder and starred as Dale Tremont in Top Hat in London’s West End. Her regional theatre credits include Kiss Me Kate (Kate) at Sacramento Music Circus, Million Dollar Quartet (Dyanne) at Lake Tahoe Shakespeare Festival, and Irving Berlin's White Christmas (Betty Haynes) at the Ordway St. Paul, as well as many others. She has been a featured soloist at London’s Royal Albert Hall, Carnegie Hall, and New York’s Town Hall.