Jan 10-25, 2026 Wells Fargo Playhouse
2025-26 SEASON
Table of Contents 3
TITLE PAGE
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SHOW SPONSORS
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THE 2025-26 SEASON
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CREATIVE TEAM & CREW
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MEET THE CAST
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CAST BIOS
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CREATIVE TEAM BIOS
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STAFF & BOARD OF DIRECTORS
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OUR SUPPORTERS
Stay Connected
ImaginOn at sunset (photo courtesy of Charlotte Mecklenburg Library)
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Topsy-Turvy Cinderella Written by Christopher Parks
Jan 10-25, 2026 I Wells Fargo Playhouse
Director Christopher Parks Scenic Designer Tim Parati Costume Designer Elizabeth Swanson Sound Designer Michael Russo
RUN TIME 60 MINUTES Videotaping, photography and other recording of this production is prohibited.
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Thanks to Our Sponsors Today’s celebration is brought to you, in part, by Parker Poe.
The Resident Touring Company performs for students in Cabarrus County
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.
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JOURNEY WITH US
The 2025-26 Season
SUBSCRIBE & SAVE 20% Plus, enjoy free ticket exchanges if your family’s schedule Changes, and a 20% savings on any additional tickets you purchase duing the season. LEARN MORE 5
Creative Team & Crew Creative Team Director...........................................................................Christopher Parks Scenic Designer..........................................................................Tim Parati Costume Designer.......................................................Elizabeth Swanson Sound Designer...................................................................Michael Russo
For This Production Rehearsal Stage Manager ..........................................Brandon J. Johns Light Board Operator.........................................................Sage Espinosa
Scenic design by Tim Parati
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Meet the Cast Player 1, Cinderella...............................................................................Anna Goldstein Player 2, Stepmother, Prince Puppeteer.................................Adrienne Nixon Basco Player 3, Gertie, Fairy Odd Mother, Silly Policeman #1..........................Lohmar Wolf Player 4, Bertie, Cinderella’s Father Puppeteer, Silly Policeman #2....Daylen Jones
Anna Goldstein
Daylen Jones
Lohmar Wolf
Adrienne Nixon Basco 8
Cast Bios Anna Goldstein Player 1, Cinderella
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.
Costume design by Elizabeth Swanson
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Cast Bios Adrienne Nixon Basco Player 2, Stepmother, Prince Puppeteer 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.
Costume design by Elizabeth Swanson
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Cast Bios Lohmar Wolf Player 3, Gertie, Fairy Odd Mother, Silly Policeman #1 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.
Costume design by Elizabeth Swanson
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Cast Bios Daylen Jones Player 4, Bertie, Cinderella’s Father Puppeteer, Silly Policeman #2 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.
Costume design by Elizabeth Swanson
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Creative Team Bios Christopher Parks (Director) is a theater director, playwright, and board game designer and the Producing Artistic Director of the Experiential Theater Company, an international touring company dedicated to creating immersive theater productions for young audiences and their families. Past selected director credits include THE ODYSSEY EXPERIENCE, THE TEMPEST: A PUPPET PLAY, THE ARABIAN NIGHTS, PANTALONE’S FORTUNES, THE ADVENTURES OF PERSEUS, ROMEO & JULIET, and SUNJATA KAMALENYA (McCarter Theatre Center); TWELFTH NIGHT, A MIDSUMMER NIGHT’S DREAM, THE MERCHANT OF VENICE, DANTE’S JUGGLING INFERNO ( The Renaissance Kindom of Somerset); AESOP’S FABLES, HEALTHILY EVER AFTER (Young Audiences NJEPA); THE SPIRIT OF POE (Florida Repertory Theatre); JOURNEY TO OZ, LAST STOP ON MARKET STREET, GRIMMZ FAIRY TALES, TOPSY-TURVY CINDERELLA (Children’s Theatre of Charlotte); BEAR STATE OF MIND (Tricycle Theatre for Youth); and A PUPPET CHRISTMAS CAROL (Long Island Children’s Museum). Christopher is also currently the lead designer for the Make-A-Play series of board games. www.exptheater.org Tim Parati (Scenic Designer) is the resident Scenic Artist at Children’s Theatre of Charlotte where he has designed over 30 productions including ELEPHANT AND PIGGIE’S: “WE ARE IN A PLAY!”, THE LION, THE WITCH, AND THE WARDROBE, ACCIDENTAL FRIENDS, DANNY, KING OF THE BASEMENT, TOO MANY FROGS and TRUE STORY OF THE THREE LITTLE PIGS. He co-designed PETITE ROUGE and LILLY’S PURPLE PLASTIC PURSE. He has also designed for Theatre Charlotte, Opera Carolina, and BNS Productions. As an actor, Parati’s credits include recurring roles on “Army Wives” and “The Walking Dead” and in “A Time to Kill”, “Will Trent”, “From the Earth to the Moon”, and “John Adams”. He sends all his love and thanks to his wife and muse, Kim, and amazing daughter, Ava Luna, for their support and inspiration! Family is strength. Visit timparati.com to see his work! Elizabeth Swanson (Costume Designer) is thrilled to make her design debut at Children’s Theatre of Charlotte, after completing her first year as their Costume Crafts Specialist. Selected previous costume designs include BRIGADOON (Sargent Conservatory of Theatre Arts), NEWSIES, and THE TEMPEST (Maine East Fine Arts Department). Her costume work has been seen on stages across the globe, from JR-East Shiki Theatre Haru in Japan, to the Brooks Atkinson Theatre on Broadway, and many regional theatres, cruise ships, museum exhibits, and theme parks in between. When not designing, Elizabeth enjoys making large scale 13
Meet the Cast chalk murals, and working in her garden. Special thanks to Anna and Emily for being her costume fairy godmothers, and to Adam, Steven, and Chris for the trust. Michael Russo (Sound Designer) is an audio engineer and the Audio/Video Supervisor at Children’ s Theatre of Charlotte. He graduated from DeSales University with a BA in theatre and an emphasis on audio engineering. His recent work includes sound design for GUYS AND DOLLS, JR. and FOOTLOOSE:YOUTH EDITION for Children’s Theatre of Charlotte’s Onstage program. His prominent role at Children’s Theatre of Charlotte is building the sound systems needed for the shows. Some productions he built include THE SCHOOL OF ROCK THE MUSICAL, DIARY OF A WIMPY KID THE MUSICAL, THE BEST CHRISTMAS PAGEANT EVER: THE MUSICAL, and RUDOLPH THE RED-NOSED REINDEER. Previously Michael worked at the Pennsylvania Shakespeare Festival as an Assistant Audio Supervisor and audio engineer. Productions he mixed there are THE TEMPEST, THE COMEDY OF ERRORS and the musical THE COLOR PURPLE, as well as built IN THE HEIGHTS, THE MERRY WIVES OF WINDSOR, LADY DAY AT EMERSON’S BAR AND GRILL, THE LAST FIVE YEARS, SENSE AND SENSIBILITY, THE PLAY THAT GOES WRONG, JAMES AND THE GIANT PEACH, and WINNIE THE POOH AND FRIENDS. He would like to thank his new family at Children’s Theatre of Charlotte for all of the opportunities given to him, as well as his girlfriend Jordan for supporting him every step of the way.
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Next Up!
Jan 24 - Feb 8, 2026 I For Ages 3+ LEARN MORE 15
Staff & Board of Directors CHILDREN’S THEATRE OF CHARLOTTE LEADERSHIP
School Group Sales & Performance Coordinator - Chris Stonnell
Artistic Director - Adam Burke
Data & IT Manager - Claire Whitworth-Helm
Managing Director - Nao Tsurumaki
Audience Service Coordinator - Louise Lawson
Administration
Marketing Assistant - Aaron Bunzey
Human Resources Manager - Carolyn Lugo-Allred
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Business Manager - Alex Doxey
Lisa Miller - Chair
Senior Accountant - Crystal Johnson
Charlitta Hatch - Chair-Elect
ImaginOn Partnership Coordinator - Maryann O’Keeffe
Mike Burgess - Treasurer
ImaginOn Administrative Support - Casey Kaufmann
Stephanie Isham - Secretary
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 Camps & Community Programs Manager - Mary Katherine Smith
Sallie Beason - Past Chair Matt Andress Cynthia Banks Dr. Veronica Bell Stephanie Couch Shawn Garrett Leigh Hickman Ben Hume Tim James Mitzi Lynch Jennifer Madara Scott Manning Rosemary Morgan Jonathan Ocampo Katie Ramseur Eric Ritz Christina Russ Tanya Taylor Daniel Terry, Ed.D Kristin Tokić April Whitlock
Education Program Manager - Morgan Southard Resident Teaching Artists - Karen Steele Administrative Assistant - Katie Kinser Development Director of Development – Courtney Hurd
Honorary Lifetime Members
Advisory Board
Robin Branstrom
Robin Branstrom
Carla DuPuy
Tom Eiselt
Peter Flur
Jami Farris
Marketing and Communications
Cynthia Lank
Peter Flur
Director of Marketing & Communications - Cindy Taylor
Linda Lockman-Brooks
Gina Lawrence
Grants and Partnership Manager - Jean Edwards Donor Relations Specialist - Emily Swanzy Operations Coordinator - Ava Jessup
Associate Director of Marketing - Rob Odum Assistant Director, Audience Growth & Retention - Ashley Hughes PR & Social Media Mananger – Alex Aguilar Touring Performance Coordinator - Margot Parrott
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Our Supporters CORPORATE AND FOUNDATION PARTNERS
EXECUTIVE PRODUCING PARTNERS ($50,000 and more) City of Charlotte North Carolina Arts Council C.D. Spangler Foundation, Inc. The Shubert Foundation PRODUCING PARTNERS ($25,000 to $49,000) Brighthouse Financial DIRECTING PARTNERS ($10,000 to $24,999) Cherry Bekaert Clear Blue Insurance Group Coca-Cola Bottling Co. Consolidated Cornwell Foundation The Hartford Paige Johnston Thomas Giving Tree STANDING OVATION PARTNERS ($5,000 to $9,999) Carolina Panthers The Dickson Foundation, Inc. Parker Poe CENTER STAGE PARTNERS ($3,000 to $4,999) The Daniel, Edward, Cora & Strickland Foundation LEADING ROLE PARTNER ($1,000 to $2,999) Deloitte & Touche LLP
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Our Supporters Cont’d INDIVIDUAL AND FAMILY DONORS We recognize and thank our generous Donors who gave as of December 8, 2025. Our annual Donors are recognized at the most current giving level.
LEADING PLAYERS SOCIETY ($10,000 - $24,999) Dorlisa & Peter Flur Mitchell Kelling Tammy Stringer & Richard Viola Derek & Iris Wang ($5,000 - $9,999) Omid & Julie Ahdieh Mike & Katie Burgess Stephanie Couch Dr. Daniel Donner Andrew & Stephanie Fulford Lise Hain David Holland Bruce & Anita LaRowe Ann & Scott Manning Arrington Mixon Brian & Laura Murdock Sarah Pollock Tari Schutzman Sandy & Greg Vlahos ($3,000 - $4,999) Herb & Gina Clegg Rob & Caryn Craige Ben and Christy Hume Brian Litwak Jennifer & Eric Madara Pat Burgess & Joan Martin Ken & Lisa Miller Stephen & Stephanie Sorenson Tanya M. Taylor Nichelle & Sasha Weintraub ($1,000 - $2,999) Stephen Allred & Carolyn Lugo-Allred Matt Andress Cynthia Banks Sallie & Gary Beason Veronica Bell
Robin & Bill Branstrom Julie & Stoke Caldwell Amy & Alfred Dawson Tom & Julie Eiselt Beth & Gaston Gage Pam and Bill Giono Mr. & Mrs. Greg Gonzalez Watts & Carol Hamrick Charlitta Hatch Scott & Claire Helm Ryan & Danielle Hutcheson Stephanie Isham Timothy James Laurie Johnston Ashley & Matthew Joseph Craig & Mitzi Lynch Michael & Leslie Marsicano Valecia McDowell Gary Monie Rosemary Morgan & Fielding Huseth Maddie & Brian Myers Anna & Tom Nelson Sarah Peck Katie Ramseur Linda Reynolds Eric Ritz Andrew and Christina Russ Emily and Greg Skidmore Jay Thomas Kristin Tokic Patrick & Elizabeth Vaughn Rosa Maria Vega April & Thomas Whitlock John & Carrie Woolley SUPPORTING PLAYERS SOCIETY ($500 - $999) Sylvia Bartee Craig & Mary Bunzey Susan Butler-Staub Dallas and Kathy Craven Charlene and Thomas Dumas Brian & Jean Edwards
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Our Supporters Cont’d INDIVIDUAL AND FAMILY DONORS We recognize and thank our generous Donors who gave as of December 8, 2025. Our annual Donors are recognized at the most current giving level. John & Mara Gose Brad & Karen Harris Bill Hammill Leigh Hickman Soli Kennerly Caroline Knight Mrs. Catherine Lecompte Lynn Manock Saumya Mehta Amy Merino Daniel Merlin Ron & Janet Meyer John & Suzy Nurkin Eileen Manlove O’Brien Catherine Philpott Heidi and Hart Squires
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Michael and Denise Shields Cindy & Rob Taylor Ina Whitley-DeRochi ESCENA CIRCLE ($500) The Saavedra Family