Holiday Inn at La Comedia

Scott O’Brien

Scott is a classically trained baritone from Las Vegas and is making his La Comedia debut. Scott has previously been seen as Judas Iscariot in Jesus Christ Superstar at Cumberland Theater, Cornelius in Hello Dolly and Heck Tate in To Kill a Mockingbird at American Gothic Festival. He would like to thank his family and friends for always supporting him. Instagram @Scott.ob

Stephanie Garcia Ochs

Stephanie is thrilled to be returning to LaComedia after recently appearing as Maria in West Side Story. Originally from Miami, Florida, she is a graduate of the American Musical and Dramatic Academy in New York City and now resides in Colorado while performing all over the country. Favorite credits include Judy Haynes in White Christmas, Marty in Grease, Gabrielle in Cinderella, Maria Elena in Buddy! The Buddy Holly Story, Go-To-Hell-Kitty in Chicago, and Jeanie in Hair. To the love of her life: “Te Adoro Landon!”

Sam Stickels

Sam is thrilled to be in his first show at La Comedia Dinner Theatre. He is a New York City-based theatre and film actor, as well as professional tennis instructor. Some of his previous roles include Lancelot in Camelot at the Regional Theatre of Palouse, Spot Conlon in Newsies at NCC Summer Theatre, and Melchior Gabor in Spring Awakening at Grinnell College. He’d like to thank his parents for being his biggest (and only) fans. @sstickelss

Emily Thamm-Avsyuk

Emily is a New York City-based dancer, singer, and actress. She is excited to be portraying the extravagant Lila Dixon, and to be returning to the La Comedia stage after appearing in West Side Story as Graziella. Emily’s other recent credits include Allana in The Little Mermaid, Joseph…Dreamcoat, Ordinary Days, The Gilded Age (HBO), The Time Traveller’s Wife (HBO) and Evil (Paramount+). Emily cannot possibly thank the greatest husband in the world, Greg, and her Gramommy, enough for being the most amazing support system in the world and filling her heart with so much love. Emily also wants to give a special shoutout to her puppy, Ralphie, who she really wishes was allowed to watch the show. :) “Happy holidays everyone!” IG: @Emilycthamm, www.emilythamm.com

Elliot Chilcote

Elliot is a native of Dayton, Ohio, and is thrilled to make his La Comedia debut. Elliot is no stranger to the stage, having performed in over 15 youth and community theater productions. His recent roles include Prince Topher in Rodgers and Hammerstein’s Cinderella, Gaston in Beauty and the Beast, and Prince Eric in The Little Mermaid. A recent high school graduate, he plans to pursue a B.F.A. in musical theater starting in fall of 2025. Elliot would like to thank his family and friends for their ongoing support. Proverbs 16:3.

Catie Cumings

Catie is enchanted to be spending another Christmas on the La Comedia stage. You may have seen her last year in Miracle on 34th Street, or more recently in The Wizard of Oz or Saturday Night Fever. Other favorite credits include Meg in Little Women, Usherette in The Producers and Sue in Carrie: The Musical. She’d like to thank her family and friends for their support, and wish everyone Happy Holidays.

Blair Elizabeth Godshall

Blair is excited to be making her LaComedia debut. Credits include St. Jimmy in American Idiot, Sleeping Beauty in Disenchanted, Missy in The Marvelous Wonderettes, Beauty & the Beast Jr., and Martha in The Children’s Hour. She holds a B.F.A. in acting from Northern Kentucky University where she appeared as Elle’s mom/Ensemble in Legally Blonde, Miss Lynch in Grease, Dabby Bryant in Our Country’s Good, and Aunt March in Little Women. Blair is a yoga instructor and has taught classes in Mexico, The Dominican Republic, Jamaica, Costa Rica and Turks & Caicos. When not onstage, she’s running her full-time pet sitting business in the Tri-state (OH, IN, KY). “Thank you to Mom, Brett and Dad for helping make my dreams come true.” IG @oh_my_godshall

Jacob Herr

Hailing from Northwest Indiana, Jacob is a character actor with several countrywide productions and dynamic roles under his belt including Big Ed Burns in the Legends & Lies: Gold Rush Saloon Experience, Major Holmes in The Secret Garden, and Constantine Bouc in Murder on the Orient Express. Jacob graduated from Butler University, with a B.A. in theatre, while also pursuing a secondary major in history; for he still strives to continue his efforts in show business as a means of both building a career, and mastering the art of living. He is thankful for this wonderful opportunity to perform on the La Comedia stage and take part in a musical with such classic songs, lovable characters, and an indelibly lasting story.

Josh Ilan

Josh is a New York-based actor, book writer and lyricist, and piano tuner making his La Comedia debut. Regional credits include Spamalot, Jesus Christ Superstar, Seussical, The Music Man, and HMS Pinafore. Workshops: KHAN!!! The Musical! A Trek-Tacular Parody, Forgotten Mythos, and Seven Days Between Heaven and Hell. Book and Lyrics: The Butler Convention, Robin Hood in the West, Sinternet the Musical. Josh is a graduate of NYU Tisch School of the Arts and is also a voice actor and audiobook narrator—find him on Voice123.com for more information. For Mom, Dad, Naomi and Taylor.

Jack Preston Issler

Jack is a performer originally based in Dayton, Ohio, and returns to La Comedia after just appearing in Saturday Night Fever as Joey. Some of his other favorite recent credits include Joseph and Marsha at Theatre for the New City in NYC, as well as regional productions of Jersey Boys, Matilda, The Secret Garden, Cats, and The Great American Trailer Park Musical. Jack is a graduate of NYU with a B.M. in music theatre. He thanks Chris Beiser and his mom, dad, Rachel, Dylan, and Payton, and hopes you enjoy this holiday spectacular. Follow along @jack.ice.

Haley Iverson

Haley is excited to be back on the LaComedia stage for the first time in 10 years. She hasn’t been able to perform much after the Covid lockdown, other than her senior year musical, Mamma Mia! She spent her last two years of high school at WCCC and was a welder for GE Aviation. With conflicting schedules, she decided to get back into theatre and leave welding for a later time. Some of her favorite rolls include The Genie Aladdin, Ursula in The Little Mermaid, Elsa in Frozen, and Mufasa in The Lion King. She hopes this production helps you enjoy the little things in life and shakes your blues away. “Happy holidays!”

Anderson Knee

Anderson is a young 5th grade actor who attends Springboro Elementary School. He returns to the La Comedia stage after appearing in Moanna Jr., Miracle on 34th Street, and The Wizard of Oz. He also attended Camp Comedia summer musical theatre program. Anderson loves to sing and dance, even when he’s not in a show.

Parker Lowrie

Parker is excited to make his La Comedia debut. A New York City-based tap dancer and actor, Parker has a diverse range of recent credits, including playing Cosmo Brown in Singin’ in the Rain at Rivertown Theaters and Priscilla Beach Theater. He has also performed as an American tap dancer in Celtic Fyre at Busch Gardens Williamsburg, and a choreographer for the Full Circle Dance concert in Los Angeles. With a passion for dance and storytelling, Parker is eager to bring his talent and enthusiasm to this new opportunity at La Comedia.

Charlie MacPherson

Charlie is excited to be making his debut on the La Comedia stage. He caught the acting bug just three years ago and has since done numerous productions across the Miami Valley. His favorite roles have been JoJo in Seussical with Children’s Performing Arts of Miamisburg, Bobby in A Doll’s House with Wright State University Theatre, and Chip in Beauty and the Beast with Alter High School. When not performing, he enjoys spending time with his buddy Jack, playing tennis, and reading spy novels.

Naomi Quigley

Naomi is excited to be back after most recently being in Saturday Night Fever. She recently graduated from Southern State Community College with an Associates of Arts. Some of her favorite credits include Hen in Duck for President, Dorothy Double/Nikko in The Wizard of Oz, Hot box girl in Guys and Dolls, Mouse/Ensemble in A Year With Frog and Toad, Rumpleteaser in Cats, and Minnie in West Side Story. She was also in the Street Cast at the Ohio Renaissance Festival. When offstage, she likes snuggling with her cats and drinking coffee. She would like to thank her mom and Meg for supporting her in everything she does.

Mary Ann Sprague

Mary Ann is thrilled to be making her LaComedia debut. Originally from Cincinnati, Ohio, Mary Ann worked professionally as a singer, dancer, and choreographer in Nashville, Tennessee, for a decade before returning to Ohio to care for family. She is overjoyed to be back on stage performing in her hometown. Most recently, Mary Ann played Suzy in Winter Wonderettes at The Drama Workshop and Janet Van De Graaff in The Drowsy Chaperone at The Footlighters, Inc. Mary Ann was also a soprano and chamber choir member in Cincinnati’s renowned May Festival Chorus from 2022-2024, performing alongside the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra. She’d like to thank her husband, Victor, for his unconditional love and support of her dream.

Chris Beiser

Chris has directed/choreographed over 60 of the theatre's shows including Saturday Night Fever, The Wizard of Oz, Cinderella, Little Women, Grumpy Old Men, The Music Man, Phantom, A Christmas Story, Footloose, The Sound of Music, Elf: The Musical, White Christmas, Mamma Mia, and Beauty and the Beast. He has performed here in many shows including Shear Madness, A Gentleman's Guide to Love and Murder, The Fantasticks, Love Sex and the I.R.S., and Honky Tonk Angels: Bubba’s Revenge. Chris is also the director of La Comedia's Lunch and Learn Children's Theatre, and the summer musical theatre program, Camp Comedia. Chris' work with community theatres has been awarded over 75 honors for excellence in directing and choreographing at both the regional and state level. His work as a show choir choreographer and adjudicator/clinician is known all over the Tri-State area. The show choirs he has worked with are ranked amongst the best in the competition circuit. Chris is in his 27th year as the director of music for St. Mark's United Methodist Church in Fairfield.

Meghan Slowik

Meghan is pleased to return as a music director at La Comedia, after having done several shows including West Side Story, Miracle on 34th Street, Grumpy Old Men, and Just Desserts: A Musical Bake-Off. She has served as a music director for several groups at the Ohio Renaissance Festival since 2021, her most recent being the variety group Your Favorite NPCs. Before becoming a full-time music director, Meghan was an assistant music director at Prince of Peace Church in Jacksonville, Florida. Meghan has worked as a professional collaborative musician since 2012, participating in performances for piano and voice. She has also had previous experience as a vocal coach and piano teacher since 2014. She graduated from University of North Florida after receiving a partial scholarship from the Scheidel Foundation, achieving a B.F.A. in piano performance. She trained in piano under Erin K. Bennett, and trained in voice under Elizabeth Wade and Cara Tasher. Meghan has had the pleasure of performing on the La Comedia stage as well, including roles in Saturday Night Fever, The Marvellous Wonderettes, The Wizard of Oz, The Music Man, and Phantom. She has also performed at the Cincinnati Opera, the Times-Union Center for the Performing Arts, and in Josh Groban's Stages Tour as a classically trained vocalist.

Allison Gabert

Allison is a graduate of Northern Kentucky University with a B.F.A. in theatre performance with a concentration in dance. Allison has choreographed programs for Northern Kentucky Dance, Dayton Dance Conservatory, and Vandalia Youth Theatre. She has been a dance instructor at Miss Leslie’s School of Dance, Camp Comedia, and Pendleton Recreation Academy. Besides being dance captain with several productions at LaComedia, she has instructed gymnastics at the Ohio Sports Academy. She has been in a few Lunch and Learn Shows and many main stage productions at LaComedia. She was also recently honored as co-choreographer for this year’s production of West Side Story. She thanks her fiancé for all his support.

Kris Byerly

Kris is finishing her 19th season at La Comedia with Holiday Inn marking her 135th show here. Since moving from stage manager to production manager in 2018, Kris has also enjoyed building props for both mainstage and children's shows and designing lights for shows including Cinderella, A Gentleman’s Guide To Love And Murder, Godspell, and now Marvelous Wonderettes. A graduate of the University of Iowa, Kris previously stage managed shows in Florida, Georgia, Vermont, Minnesota, Michigan, and Pennsylvania as well as touring more than 30 states with The Unsinkable Molly Brown. She would like to thank the friends she’s made here in Ohio and her family in Iowa for their love and support.

Aubrie-Lee Dentino

Aubrie-Lee is a graduate of Sinclair College’s Theatrical Design & Technologies program, and a veteran of onstage and marching arts performance. Some of her recent theatrical projects/roles include She Kills Monsters (costume design, Sinclair), The Lightning Thief (props, Sinclair), The Hello Girls (Suzanne Prevot, Sinclair), The Marvelous Wonderettes (Cindy Lou swing, LaComedia), Guys and Dolls (Mimi, LaComedia), and West Side Story (dance ensemble, LaComedia). Outside of theatre, Aubrie-Lee has performed, coached, toured, administrated and designed for colorguards and drum corps for over a decade, including Milford, Miamisburg, Troopers, Carolina Crown, Boston Crusaders, Allegoria, Inspire, and the Pride of Cincinnati. Much love to her family and friends for all their support throughout the years.

Madeline Sherck

Colin Cranstoun

Jonathan Pendergrass

Isaac Bement

Nick Herrera