ALICE MURPHY

Courtnie is so very excited to be back onstage at Fort Salem! Courtnie is a Washington County native who, after graduating from Greenwich Central School, moved to New York City to train at a musical theater conservatory. During her time in NYC, Courtnie was the hair designer on Hudson Classical Theater’s productions of Pride and Prejudice (Lydia Bennet) and Sense and Sensibility (Charlotte Palmer). Since moving back upstate in 2020, Courtnie has been seen in Songs for a New World (Woman 2) at SLOC and The Diary of Anne Frank (Edith Frank), There’s No Business Like Snow Business, and Pride and Prejudice (Lizzy Bennet), all at Fort Salem. In April of 2022 Courtnie was named an Artistic Associate of Fort Salem Theater and has served on the production teams of Little Shop of Horrors as Hair Designer/Assistant Stage Manager and Grease as Assistant Director/Hair Designer. Endless love and gratitude to my family and friends for their continued support!

JIMMY RAY DOBBS

Matthew makes his Fort Salem Theater debut as Jimmy Ray, a role he recently performed at the Red Barn Theatre in Indiana where he also appeared in Murdered To Death (Thomskins). Matthew is a graduate of the American Musical Dramatic Academy Acting and Voice Conservatory NYC. Regionally, he has performed in Newsies (Jack Kelly) at both Crane River Theater in Nebraska and Virve Theater of St. Louis, Songs For a New World (Man 1) at Grand Center Arts, and originated the role of Johnny Roger in Off-Broadway's Birthday Boy. At Peabody Opera House in St. Louis, Matthew performed alongside American Idol and Broadway star Fantasia Barrino in her concert tour. He also appeared in ACT of Connecticut's New Works Series and performed in Godspell (Jesus) and You're A Good Man Charlie Brown (Schroder) while in school.

BILLY CANE

Noah Casner returns to the Fort Salem stage as Billy Crane, having recently appeared in Grease (Doody), Next to Normal (Gabe) and There's No Business Like Snow Business. Noah holds a BFA in Drama from NYU's Tisch School of the Arts, where he studied at the Lee Strasberg Institute and the Experimental Theatre Wing. His stage credits include Spring Awakening (Moritz) at Weathervane Theatre, where he also performed in White Christmas, Sister Act, and Bright Star, The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee (William Barfeé) at Spa City Theatre, and Parade (Frankie/Young Soldier) at the Strasberg Institute. He has participated in the development of numerous premieres and new works and short films.

MAYOR JOSIAH DOBBS

A Salem native, this is Ethan's fifth show at Fort Salem Theater this season and his fifth overall! Getting most of his theatre background from school, and different cabaret shows around the Upstate New York area. Some of his theatre work includes; Annie (Rooster Hannigan), Shrek: The Musical (Lord Farquaad), Lil' Abner (Police Officer & Stage Manager), The Little Shop of Horrors (Mushnik), Pride And Prejudice (Mary Bennett/ Mr. Bingley), Grease (Johnny Casino). Ethan also co-directed The Wizard of Oz: Youth Edition on the Fort Salem Theater stage. He hopes to continue his acting and theatre career and hopefully branch out to all works of entertainment!

MARGO CRAWFORD

SHE/HER | Arianna is 18, and a recent graduate of the keystone high school. She is one the three cofounders of the new immersive theater company in Glens Falls, N.Y., Company of Curiosity’s LLC. She is also a dance instructor for the Spa City Dance and the Arts Competitive Team. Some of Arianna’s favorite roles include ZigZag, A New Musical (GIRL), Frozen Jr. (Elsa) All Together Now! (Jo March), and Grease (Cha-Cha). She would like to thank her best friends, family and mentors for all of the love and support. Though this is her first show with Fort Salem Theater, she could not be more proud to have found a new forever family, with an outstanding cast and crew!

DADDY CANE

Peter has been performing music in the upstate NY area since the age of seven, his roots beginning in folk and bluegrass. A graduate of Schuylerville High School, Peter attended the Conservatory of Music at Wheaton College in Chicago, earning a Bachelor in Music Education with a voice concentration. Peter has been a private music instructor with Rural Soul Studios in Greenwich as well as providing music enrichment classes at area schools. He has performed with the Schuylerville Community Theater as well as Saratoga’s Homemade Theater. Peter has recorded five albums of original songs and is currently performing in local venues with the band Simple Beggars. Peter is married to his high school sweetheart Jen and lives in Cambridge where he pastors the Coila Church.

DARYL AMES

Luke is a sophomore at Salem Central School and intends on pursuing a degree in music and performing arts. Luke has previously performed in The Sound of Music (Rolf Gruber), School House Rock Live JR (Bill & Interplanet Janet), Diary of Anne Frank (Collaborator), Little Shop of Horrors (Reporter), Shrek the Musical (Peter Pan) and Grease (Eugene). He is also involved in Jazz Dance, Jazz Band, Chorus and Drama Club.

LUCY GRANT

Emily recently made her Fort Salem Theater debut as Jan in Grease! She is a proud graduate of the University at Albany where she studied theatre with a minor in fine arts. She was last seen playing Meg in Little Women. Other performance credits include HAIR (Sheila), A Doll’s House (Mrs. Linde), The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee (Logainne), Shrek: The Musical (Mama Ogre). In NYC, she performed in Manhattan Concert Production’s Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat 50th Anniversary Concert at Lincoln Center. Next, you can find her playing Mrs. Wormwood in Matilda this fall in Hudson. She would like to thank everyone at FST for this wonderful experience. Shout out to her best friends, parents and fur baby, Stella, for their constant love and support.

MAMA MURPHY

Maureen attended The Crane School of Music and SUNY Albany, majoring in music. She has been in numerous local productions, including those at Hubbard Hall Opera Theater. At Fort Salem Theater, Maureen has served as stage manager, lighting designer, sound designer, and music director, working on shows like Steel Magnolias, There’s No Business Like Snow Business, a John Denver Christmas, and Little Shop of Horrors, where she performed the singing voice of Audrey II.

Current engagements include music ministry director at 3 local churches, resident Stage Manager at Hubbard Hall, and vocal coach.

DADDY MURPHY

Jared is thrilled to be back on the Fort Salem stage once again. He has been both onstage as a performer and behind the scenes as a music director or pianist. Onstage, he was most recently seen in Pride and Prejudice (Wickham/Collins) and The Diary of Anne Frank (Otto Frank) here at Fort Salem, A New Brain (Roger) at OhLook Theatre and A Man of No Importance (Sully O’Hara) at Brick Road Theatre. Other favorite roles are Ragtime (Younger Brother), Guys and Dolls (Sky Masterson) and Cabaret (Cliff). Jared has recently appeared behind the keys for Grease, Little Shop of Horrors and Snow Business at Fort Salem, Ebenezer Scrooge at Pocket Sandwich Theatre and White Christmas, AIDA and Gypsy at Firehouse Theatre. Love to Kyle.

DR. NORQUIST

Since relocating to Greenwich, NY, David has directed throughout the Capital Region, including shows at Curtain Call Theater, Confetti Stage, Hubbard Hall, Greenwich Youth Center, Soul Rebel Performance Troupe [now Black Theatre Troupe of Upstate New York], and the premiere of Our Time by Ken Levine (head writer “MASH”, “Cheers”) at Saratoga Arts Center. In addition, he has done training for Skidmore College’s “Awkward Kids Talking” improv troupe, and has performed here at Fort Salem Theater, where he appeared as Dracula in Jay Kerr’s Dracula’s Grandmother and as Linus in You’re an Old Man, Charlie Brown. Recently, he directed FST’s The Diary of Anne Frank.

Prior to moving upstate, he lived, directed, performed and taught in both Atlanta and the NYC area. In Atlanta, on the strength of his Atlanta Circle of Drama Critics Best Actor-nominated performance as Jimmy Porter in Look Back in Anger, he joined Actors Equity and performed as Gunner in Misalliance with Dana Ivey (Hal Scott, director). Several other acting roles followed. While still performing, he began directing, and also taught acting and improvisation classes, from which he formed “Good Clean Fun – the Improvisation Company.” He went on to write and direct The Book of Esther and The Hermitage Show with the troupe, in addition to booking improv engagements at colleges, cabarets, schools and community groups. He also spent two years an actor-teacher-writer-director with the Academy Theater State Tour Team of Atlanta, an NEA-funded ensemble formed to tour to middle and high schools throughout Georgia, and created over twenty original theater pieces with his students.

In NYC, he taught, directed and performed at Process Studio Theater, as well as directing at Altered Stages and Good Clean Fun’s improv show at Storefront Blitz. At TOSOS, he assisted writer-director Doric Wilson in the comedy hit The West Street Gang and later joined the cast. He also appeared in productions at 13th Street Theater, at the Actors Studio under the direction of iconic director Gene Frankel, Circle in the Square, and at The Kitchen.

He also spent three years directing the highly praised Teen-Life Theater touring company for Planned Parenthood of NJ in association with Dwight Morrow High School. Later, while teaching and directing at William Carlos Williams Center for the Arts and at Paul Sorvino’s American Stage company, David taught, wrote and directed for Allyn Sitjar’s Youth Theater of New Jersey. At the Williams Center, he trained and directed the Manhattan Improv Troupe which performs widely in the New York metropolitan area.

David owes much to his directing studies with Carlo Mazzone-Clementi, Geraldine Fitzgerald, Gene Frankel, Hal Scott, Claude Chagrin, Keith Johnstone and Paul Sills.

FLORENCE

Peyton has been performing for over a decade in many Cabaret shows, plays, and musicals in the Albany area, including Footloose (Vi Moore), Thoroughly Modern Millie (Ms. Flannery), Sister Act (Featured Nun/Dancer), My Fair Lady (Lady Boxington), Disney’s Beauty and the Beast (Napkin), Fiddler on the Roof (Yente), amongst various others. She was most recently seen in Into the Woods (Granny) at Proctors Theatre in Schenectady, as part of their Educational Program. Peyton is returning to the Fort Salem stage after Grease, where you may recognize her from the Ensemble, or Marty u/s! She currently studies Tap and Jazz under Freddy Ramirez, and recently made her professional debut as choreographer and assistant director at Ravena Coeymans Selkirk High School’s 2022 production of Disney’s Newsies, where she looks forward to continuing to work with the RCS students this upcoming year. Peyton is grateful for the opportunity to perform once again, and thanks you all for coming!

EDNA
UNDERSTUDY MARGO & LUCY

Sophia is a junior at South Glens Falls High School and is ecstatic to be making her Fort Salem Theater debut. Recent credits include Broadway Upstate’s production of FROZEN, JR. (Anna) and South Glens Falls High School’s award-winning MATILDA (Lavender). Sophia is also a member of South High’s contemporary a cappella group, Vocal Point. Follow Sophia on Instagram (@sophiabelden_).

STANFORD

Chandler Hansen is making his Fort Salem Theater debut playing the role of Stanford Adams. Chandler is a graduate of Gordon College where he majored in History and minored in Music. He lives in Easton, NY and in his day job works as a writer/editor for the agriculture news publication Morning Ag Clips. Previous theater experiences include productions with Greenwich Central School and Schuylerville Community Theater when he was a student.

MAX

Quinn is a 2022 graduate of Salem Central School and will attend Middlebury College next semester. He participates in his School Band and Chorus, as well as Drama Club, and is a three season athlete. In his free time, he enjoys learning and playing instruments, traveling, and building with Lego. His past performances include The Wizard of Oz (Tin Man), Peter Pan (Lost Boy), Othello (Iago), Little Shop of Horrors (Seymour), SchoolHouse Rock (Tom Mizer), The Diary of Anne Frank (Peter Van Daan), The Sound of Music (Captain Von Trapp), and Grease (Sonny). Quinn has lived in Salem for 13 years and is very excited to be a part of another FST production.

ENSEMBLE
UNDERSTUDY BILLY & MAX

Daniel is currently attending South Glens Falls Senior High School and is entering his Sophomore year. His love started for theatre when he was just 7 years old, when he performed in Willy Wonka (Grandpa George). All throughout his life, Daniel has been eager to perform in as many shows possible. Daniel has performed in The Little Mermaid (Windward), Footloose (Parishioner), The Addams Family (Ancestor), Shrek (Thetonious), West Side Story (Doc), Matilda (Bruce/Escapologist - Regional Best Supporting Actor), and High School Musical (Ryan Evans). Daniel is thrilled to be able to be a part of the cast of Bright Star and cannot wait to make his debut with the Fort Salem Theater!

DIRECTOR/CHOREOGRAPHER

Dennis is thrilled to be here at Fort Salem for Bright Star! Dennis is a New York native, but also has a home in Venice, FL. Currently he is teaching acting classes for Utica Children’s Theater and is an adjunct at Utica University. He was the first full time Artistic Director of the Ritz Theater in Sheffield, AL. Dennis has taught and directed shows for the Walnut Hill School For the Arts and Stagedoor Manor. He also serves as the Vice President of the Board of Directors for Fort Salem Theater. As a director and choreographer Dennis has been involved with productions across the U.S. including Rounding Third (Players of Utica), John and Jen, West Side Story, Sylvia (Ritz Theater), Ruthless! and Heathers (The Starlite Room), Oklahoma! (Naples Players), Thoroughly Modern Millie, Curtains, Xanadu, Seussical, Sweet Charity (Walnut Hill), Life Could Be a Dream, The Drowsy Chaperone, I Love a Piano (Swift Creek Mill) White Christmas and Fiddler on the Roof (Riverside Center), An Act of God, Oklahoma!, The Marvelous Wonderettes, Santaland Diaries and The Drowsy Chaperone (Venice Theatre), ICONS!, Legally Blonde and Footloose (Players Center for the Performing Arts), Violet, Annie and Little Women (Stagedoor Manor), As Thousands Cheer (New Harmony Theatre), Gypsy (Sheboygan Theater Company) Footloose (Crown Uptown), Whoop Dee Doo (RTP) and an original musical An American Christmas. Dennis would like to thank everyone involved for making this production a possibility. Next up, Dennis will be directing/choreographing I Love You Because for Utica University and She Kills Monsters for Utica Children’s Theater.

MUSIC DIRECTOR

Berry is a transgender musical theatre artist, musical director, director, choreographer, writer, comedian and model. After finishing school at University of Cincinnati, College-Conservatory of Music in musical theatre, she traveled the world performing on stages from LA to New York and every continent that has a stage. She spent five years as The Naked Maid in Naked Boys Singing and toured nationally as Paul in A Chorus Line, plus regional credits as ZaZa/Albin in La Cage Aux Folles, Edna in Hairspray, Harold Bride in Titanic, Princeton/Rod in Avenue Q, Dave in The Full Monty, Miss Deep South as well as Miss Bible Belt (for 3 years) in Pageant, Sylvia St. Croix in Ruthless!, George in The Drowsy Chaperone, Tito Morelli in Lend Me A Tenor and Jinx in both Forever Plaid and Plaid Tidings. As musical director, she has worked on the shows The Who's Tommy, Footloose, Legally Blonde and Beehive, to name a few. She starred in the short film entitled Pie Car with Starfruit Productions, an official selection of the MINDY film festival in Miami, The Dumbo Film Festival in New York City, The Sarasota Film Festival and Lady Filmmakers Festival in Beverly Hills, now available on Amazon Prime. She was a frequent co-host and guest on daytime television with ABC7's Suncoast View. Her comedic tour of the famous Ringling Museum made the New York Times, and she has performed on national touring comedy stages. She has hosted performances for Nielsen Ratings and performed for the 2020 American Theatre Critics Association annual conference where Frank Rizzo, theatre critic for Variety called her "...such great fun."

STAGE MANAGER

Amy graduated from SUNY Albany where she majored in Theater and assisted in the costume shop. She has interned at the Adirondack Theater Festival, stage-managed years ago at Fort Salem Theater for Kathy Beaver’s Patsy Cline tribute show, and for Nunsense with Schuylerville Community Theater. After a 20-year hiatus from theater, Amy returned to Fort Salem Theater as Co-Stage Manager for Pride and Prejudice and was assistant to the stage manager during the run of Grease at Fort Salem Theater. Amy has sincerely enjoyed every moment working at Fort Salem Theater and will be forever grateful to Kyle and Jared for the opportunity to work with them and so many other wonderful artists.

SCENIC DESIGNER

Charles is a well-rounded artist who dabbles in creative writing, HDR photography, graphic design, improvisational piano, original song composition, building fun things and scenic design for theater. While attending Southern Vermont College 2001-2005 he worked summers at Old Castle Theater in Bennington, VT (2000 to 2005) where he learned, by observation, volumes on the art of stagecraft and theatrical techniques and best practices. As a stage director, Charles directed Shakespeare’s Titus Andronicus in 2004 at his then-former High School, and The Glass Menagerie at Southern Vermont College in 2009. Charles has over eight years of experience designing set, artistic/stage directing, assistant directing and serving as a theatrical creative-solutions consultant (for a local high school drama club). Shows he has designed include Grease, Steel Magnolias, Pride & Prejudice, The Diary of Anne Frank (now twice 2007 and 2021) Once Upon a Mattress, Rumors, The Importance of Being Earnest, Beauty and the Beast, Into the Woods, Twelve Angry Jurors, Dirty Rotten Scoundrels, And Then There Were None, The Sound of Music, Noises Off, Shrek the Musical, and The Mousetrap. He feels truly thankful and honored to design for Fort Salem Theater after taking some time away from theatrical design and is looking forward to contributing more in the near future.