ImaginOn at sunset (photo courtesy of Charlotte Mecklenburg Library)
New Kid
Written by Dennis Foon
April
18-19,
2026 I Wells Fargo Playhouse
Director Chester Shepherd
Scenic Designer Adriana Pinkerton
Lighting Designer Lawrence Csernik
Costume Designer Sara Petty
Sound Designer Maddi Penn
RUN TIME 60 MINUTES
Videotaping, photography and other recording of this production is prohibited.
Photo by Alex Aguilar
Many Thanks
Children’s Theatre of Charlotte is supported, in part, by the City of Charlotte, and the North Carolina Arts Council, a division of the Department of Natural & Cultural Resources. Additional support is provided by the Shubert Foundation.
Anna Goldstein is thrilled to be returning for her third season with Children’s Theatre of Charlotte’s Resident Touring Company. She is a graduate of Winthrop University with a BA in Theatre Performance and a minor in K-12 Education. Throughout her career, Anna has enjoyed teaching several contracts at Carowinds, teaching at local theatre camps, and developing new skills like stilt walking and puppetry. Some of her favorite credits include Judge Prudence (THE TRUE STORY OF THE 3 LITTLE PIGS) and Lily (DRAGONQUEST) with Sigmon Theatrical. She is grateful to be continuing her work bringing accessible theatre to communities all over the southeast.
Anna Goldstein
Mench
Costume design by Sara Petty
Cast Bios
Adrienne Nixon Basco holds a degree in Theater Arts from Davidson College and has studied acting for television and film under Andra Reeve and Rob Decina. Throughout her career, Adrienne has been part of over 13 theatrical and indie film productions. A veteran of past Children’s Theatre of Charlotte tours and Mainstage productions including MUFARO’S BEAUTIFUL DAUGHTERS, AFRICAN TALES OF EARTH AND SKY, and THE LION, THE WITCH AND THE WARDROBE, Adrienne is delighted to once again bring smiles and giggles to both young and young-at-heart audiences as a member of Children’s Theatre of Charlotte’s 2025-26 Resident Touring Company.
design by Sara Petty
Adrienne Nixon Basco
Mom
Costume
Cast Bios
Lohmar Wolf is excited to hit the road on his first Children’s Theatre of Charlotte tour! Before embracing soliloquies, he toured with bands as a merchandise manager and stage tech—so road life is second nature. Though a skilled software engineer offstage, Lohmar’s true passion is performing. With extensive community theatre experience and training in both acting and singing, he’s eager to bring stories to life for young audiences. Notable roles include Dracula (DRACULA: A COMEDY OF TERRORS), Chad (ALL SHOOK UP), and Bobby (URINETOWN). He sends love to his cats holding down the fort at home and expresses deep gratitude to Children’s Theatre of Charlotte for this opportunity.
Lohmar Wolf
Nick
Costume design by Sara Petty
Cast Bios
As Metrolina Theatre Association’s 2024 Emerging Artist of the Year, Daylen enjoys expressing himself through multiple forms of art as a path of holistic healing. Favorite credits include: FAT HAM (Tio) at Common Thread Collective, THOUGHTS OF A COLORED MAN (Love) and CONFEDERATES (Abner/Malik) at Three Bone Theatre, and COMEDY OF ERRORS (Antipholus of Ephesus) at Shepherd Shakespeare Company.
Daylen Jones
Mug
Costume design by Sara Petty
Creative Team Bios
Chester Shepherd (Director) was delighted to direct NEW KID. As an actor, other CTC shows include FROZEN, JACKIE AND ME, A SICK DAY FOR AMOS MCGEE, and DR. SEUSS’ THE CAT IN THE HAT (twice!). With his wonderful wife Katy, he co-founded Shepherd Shakespeare Company, which tours Shakespeare plays for young audiences, produces a free outdoor show every fall--Bard at the Barn--and provides educational experiences, including the Shakespeare Summer Repertory Company for teens in association with CTC. Other plays include THE CURIOUS INCIDENT OF THE DOG IN THE NIGHT TIME and HAND TO GOD at Actor’s Theatre of Charlotte. TV includes Will Trent and various commercials. Chester holds an MFA in Acting from Western Illinois University, and is represented for film/TV by JTA Talent. He would like to thank the two inspirations and joys of his life, Katy and Perbear.
Adriana Pinkerton (Scenic Designer) is a SoCal raised, queer, mixed, Latina designer and artisan that pursues her passions in multiple fields. Her work spans musicals, plays, museums, restaurants, theme parks, and other live visual experiences. Her most recent credit being scenic designing for The Climate Change Theatre Action Project at Davidson College. There, she had the pleasure of collaborating with the campus and local community to create an interactive performance that discussed the dangers of climate change and environmental pollution. Adriana’s approach to design is to lead with joy, curiosity, and kindness, and to learn something new with every experience. Her main focus is to promote dynamic and innovative visuals that support fostering sustainable, accessible, and equitable environments. Adriana earned her BA in Theatre and Dance from the University of California, Davis and is currently based in Winston-Salem, North Carolina.
Lawrence Csernik (Lighting Designer) is excited to be designing NEW KID, having recently moved from Cincinnati, OH. As a lighting designer for opera, theater, and dance over the past decade, he has designed for academic institutions, local theatres, non-profits, and dance troupes. Of all the works he’s collaborated on, he takes particular joy in designing new works and has been fortunate to present Mud Nostalgia and The Divine Visitor at his alma mater (Northern Kentucky University), Soldier’s Christmas with the Cincinnati Remembers World War I Project, and GEORGE REMUS (The Carnegie). While in Cincinnati, Lawrence worked closely with Queen City Opera, a non-profit that focuses on supporting
Creative Team Bios
local emerging artists and highlighting community socio-political issues, and the Contemporary Dance Theatre of Cincinnati (CDT) that later merged in Mutual Dance Co. With CDT/Mutual Dance he fully embraced its mission to provide an artistic laboratory for the regional community, first by technical directing their Performance and Time Arts Series and then later production/lighting designing their annual Area Choreographer Festivals and other projects. Outside of his design work, Lawrence continues to work for Children’s Theatre of Charlotte as their Head Electrician, where he enjoys working with other passionate artists.
Sara Petty (Costume Designer) is a local of North Carolina who has been involved in theater her entire life. After earning her Bachelor of Fine Arts in Theatre Technology and Design, she started her professional career in The Berkshires of Massachusetts. Having always wanted to go back for her Masters in design, she found herself returning to her home state in 2019 to earn a Master of Fine Arts in Costume Design. She has always been interested in the connection between people’s personality and the expression of it through clothes as a medium.Through the University of North Carolina School of the Arts, Sara was able to experience film, and find a new medium to explore with design. After moving to Charlotte Sara has been able to work with Children’s Theatre of Charlotte multiple times. She has truly enjoyed working on shows for a younger audience and the unique experiences that come along with that. Sara’s hope is to help people connect with stories through the world created for them on stage.
Maddi Penn (Sound Designer) is grateful for the opportunity to collaborate with the talented artistic team behind NEW KID. She received a BA in Theatre Performance from Winthrop University in 2020, and began working as a sound engineer in the year 2022. Her sound experience lies primarily in Live Line Mixing for plays and musicals here at Children’s Theatre of Charlotte. Some of her favorite Mixing projects include DISNEY’S FROZEN THE BROADWAY MUSICAL, SCHOOL OF ROCK THE MUSICAL, DON’T LET THE PIGEON DRIVE THE BUS!, and CATCHING THE MOON: THE STORY OF A YOUNG GIRL’S BASEBALL DREAM. This will be her second professional sound design, following her professional sound design debut with THE TRUE STORY OF THE THREE LITTLE PIGS! in the 2024-2025
Creative Team Bios
Children’s Theatre of Charlotte season. She is thankful for the support and guidance she received as she returned to the world of sound design, and is excited to be sharing her work with the Charlotte community! NEW KID holds a special place in her heart, as she believes it gives us the ability to empathize with those who are brave enough to leave their Homelands and adapt to a completely new environment. Compassion is key, especially in our world today.
Photo by Alex Aguilar
Staff
LEADERSHIP
Artistic Director - Adam Burke
Managing Director - Nao Tsurumaki
ADMINISTRATION
Human Resources Manager Carolyn Lugo-Allred
Business Manager Alex DePinto
Senior Accountant Crystal Johnson
ImaginOn Partnership Coordinator Maryann O’Keeffe
ImaginOn Administrative Support Casey Kaufmann
ARTISTIC & PRODUCTION
Director of Production Steven Levine
Costume Shop Manager Anna Klinger
Cutter-Draper Emily Heilig
Crafts Specialist Elizabeth Swanson
Technical Director Shane Burgett
Resident Stage Manager Steven James
Charge Scenic Artist Tim Parati
Master Carpenter John Slechta
Head Electrician Lawrence Csernik
AV Supervisor Michael Russo
Assistant Technical Director Sterling Lett
Assistant Electrician Amber Bidwell
Scenic Carpenter Maddie Anthony
Sound Assistant Maddi Penn
Properties Master Bekah Achuff
Production Assistant/Associate Artist Claire Hilton
EDUCATION
Director of Education EG Engle
DEVELOPMENT
Director of Development Courtney Hurd
Grants and Partnership Manager Jean Edwards
Donor Relations Specialist Emily Swanzy
Operations Coordinator Ava Jessup
MARKETING AND COMMUNICATIONS
Director of Marketing & Communications Cindy Taylor
