BUY TICKETS
BUY TICKETS
DIRECTOR'S NOTE
CAST BIOS
PRODUCTION TEAM BIOS
LEADERSHIP TEAM BIOS
2023 SEASON SPONSORS

DIRECTOR’S NOTE

Thank you everyone for joining us this weekend at our Firehouse Factory! The past two weeks we enjoyed learning about the “Wonka” origin story; the battle of old candy companies! We were greatly inspired by the novel, which was published in England in the 1960’s, in an era of freedom for young teens when culture was revving up for “The British Invasion”. To us this show has been about illusion & power – but most importantly, the power you can hold as a kid & what you choose to do with it. It’s been inspiring to see each of our kids grow in their own power authentically through exploring these characters here at Firehouse! I promise you are in for a treat!!

 

-Ashley Kate Adams

CAST

Luke Acosta (JAMES) is thrilled to return to the Firehouse stage this summer for Willy Wonka JR! Luke has previously performed in last summer’s A Celebration of Sondheim for Firehouse JR. He has also played the role of Bottom in A Midsummer Night’s Dream at Blalack Middle School and Charlie Bucket in Country Place Elementary School’s production of Willy Wonka Kids. When he is not in school or acting he is busy with Boy Scouts, coding video games and writing and illustrating his own comic books.

Ella Bonneau (VIOLET BEAUREGARDE) is so thrilled to be a part of Willy Wonka JR! She’s been in several Firehouse productions, such as Matilda (Ensemble), Annie Jr. (Duffy), Frozen Jr. (Young Elsa), and many others. Ella would like to thank Miss Ashley Kate and Mr. Jason for their direction during this production!

Almaz Clawson (WILLY WONKA/CANDYMAN) is 14 and will be attending Booker T Washington High School as a theatre freshman in the fall. Some favorite past roles at Firehouse include Seussical JR (Cat in the Hat), Godspell JR (Jesus), and Matilda (Lavender). As well as Outcry Theatre’s Sunday In The Park with George (Celeste 2/Naomi) and MainStage Irving’s Gypsy (Young Tulsa/Kid Ensemble). Almaz would like to thank her parents, teachers, and vocal coach for all they have helped her with. Extremely special thank you to the most fabulous music director Mr. Jason for all the help and to Ms. Ashley Kate for absolutely everything she has done for her. Almaz sends her love to all her amazing friends in the cast and hopes YOU enjoy the show!!

Evelyn Hatfield (VERUCA SALT) Evelyn is excited to be a part of Willy Wonka JR. Most recently, Evelyn had the lead role in Tell Me the Truth, a 1970s game show played at her church. Prior to that a few of her favorite roles have been Chip the Teacup in Beauty and the Beast, and the Sour Kangaroo in Seussical the Musical Jr. Evelyn is going to be a 6th grader at Blalack Middle School in CFBISD. She wants to thank her mom for the constant support, along with her brother and her dad who are always cheering her on.

Cora Johnson (AUGUSTINA GLOOP) is so excited to be part of Willy Wonka JR this summer. This is her second year taking summer camp at The Firehouse Theatre and her first full production performance. Cora loves spending time with family and friends in her spare time. And don’t forget her two sweet, furry sisters.

Skylar Johnson (MIKE TEAVEE) is an incoming 6th grader at Barbara Bush Middle School and is excited to return to The Firehouse Theatre! Previous credits include Child in Into the Woods (Dallas Theater Center), Mysterious Man in Into the Woods JR (Firehouse), and Tiny Tim in A Christmas Carol (Dallas Theater Center). In his spare time, he enjoys video games, coding, and creating art. So kind of like Mike Teavee… if he were way nicer and actually enjoyed learning. Skylar would like to thank his parents, grandmas, Miss Sam, and all of the supportive friends encouraging him along the way.

Zoey Lipovsik (GRANDMA GEORGINA/MRS. BEAUREGARDE) attended her first musical at The Firehouse Theatre at the beginning of May (Saturday Night Fever) and was very excited to learn that there was theatre camp being held for junior players during the month of June! Zoey recently finished 6th grade at Story Elementary in Allen and is looking forward to moving on to middle school. Zoey is originally from Pennsylvania and has 4 brothers. She loves spending time with her friends, swimming, and playing video games. She hopes to continue with her acting career as she moves through middle and high school.

Josie Melle (GRANDMA JOSEPHINA/MRS. GLOOP) is excited to be in Willy Wonka JR. She has been in one other show at The Firehouse Theatre. When she is not on stage, Josie likes to play with her pets and friends. Josie would like to thank her dog, Millie, because she always puts a smile on Josie’s face!

Maggie Rivas (GRANDPA GEORGE) loves coming to The Firehouse for shows with her family as a Season Ticket holder and now she is excited to be a part of her first Firehouse production! Maggie was bitten by the Theatre bug when she entered middle school, has spent 2 years in the Blalack MS theatre program and was recently admitted to the Theatre Tech crew for her 8th grade year. She was also recognized with a small group of students as an outstanding leader in her school, as well as making honor roll all year long. During the summer Maggie spends her time babysitting, reading, swimming, and attending camps. She wants to thank her family for always making life fun!

Hayden Ruiz (MS. SALT) is very excited to be making her acting debut in The Firehouse Theatre’s Willy Wonka JR. Hayden loves musicals and was inspired as a young girl by the great Disney musicals and the talented performers involved in these phenomenal productions. Hayden will be a sixth grader at Lorena Middle School this year and plans to pursue theatre arts as she moves towards her teenage years. In her spare time, Hayden enjoys participating on the Sparkman swim team and making sketches of nature and her many pets. She wants to thank her family for supporting her passion for music and theater arts and always allowing her to spread her creative wings!

Dylan Smith (MRS. BUCKET) is very excited to be a part of Willy Wonka JR at The Firehouse Theater. She was recently in her middle school production of Annie Jr. Dylan has been in dance for 11 years and involved in theater for 6 years. When not in school or at dance practice, Dylan enjoys playing with Wilson her cat or practicing her trumpet. She wants to thank her Mom and Dad for always encouraging her to be herself and to reach past the stars.

Corinne Wade (CHERRY JUBILEE/MS. TEAVEE) thanks the directing team of Willy Wonka JR for this wonderful opportunity! She fell in love with musical theatre at the age of 6. She’s now 14 and will enter Booker T Washington High School’s Theatre Conservatory this fall. Favorite roles include Little Simba/THE LION KING, Hortensia/MATILDA, and Cinderella/INTO THE WOODS. She’s a fan of her dog, face-timing cousins, watching rom coms, and hanging out with friends.

Piper Welch (CHARLIE BUCKET) has performed in Godspell JR here at The Firehouse and 2 others shows. She doesn’t have a favorite color, but does have a twin brother, Simon. She likes to draw and skateboard in her free time.

Simon Welch (GRANDPA JOE) is the reincarnation of 800-year-old tree from Yoboki, Djibouti. He really likes Korean corndogs. I want to thank My Aunt Jean Welch & Ryan Reynolds for the opportunity to attend camp.

PRODUCTION TEAM

Jason Philip Solís (MUSIC DIRECTOR) earned their Bachelors of Music Education from Southern Methodist University and, for the last 15 years, has music directed/ performed all over the metroplex! Some of their favorite roles include: Taxi Driver from Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown (MainStage), Dr. FrankNFurter from Rocky Horror (OhLook), Matron Mama Morton from Chicago (OhLook), Bud Davenport from Gutenberg! the Musical (TART), Mr. Applegate from Damn Yankees (TART), Uncle Fester from Addams Family (GPAC) and Ms. Trunchbull from Matilda (GPAC). Their Firehouse stage credits include Once on this Island, The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, Wizard of Oz, In the Heights, Beauty and the Beast, and Spamalot.  “Into the Woods Jr.” will be their 5th music directing credit here at The Firehouse Theatre. Catch them performing new works with musicalwriters.com this upcoming year! Instagram: @canweduet. 

 

Chloe Munson (STAGE MANAGER) is excited to be back at The Firehouse this summer interning! She had a blast last summer Stage Managing Seussical Jr. and assisting/choreographing for the rest of the Firehouse Jr. summer camps. Chloe is a Senior currently earning her BFA in Theatre Education at Abilene Christian University. Chloe is from Grapevine, TX, and graduated from Grapevine Faith Christian School in the spring of 2020. Before starting college at ACU, she was an assistant teacher at Lifestage Theatre in Grapevine her freshman through senior year of high school! This is where she found her passion for teaching theatre. After completing her BFA at Abilene Christian University, Chloe plans to pursue a career teaching high school theatre. Chloe absolutely loves working with the Firehouse! All of these students are so talented, and she always has the best time working with the people here! All glory to God! Enjoy the show!

LEADERSHIP TEAM

David R. Moore, MBA (EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR) (he/him) David has been Executive Director at The Firehouse Theatre since 2014 assisting with vision, strategy, structure, management, fundraising, and marketing relationships. He serves as an Ex-Officio member of the Board of Directors, as well as on the Strategic Planning, Funds Development, Education, Finance, and Governance Committees. For over 30 years he served as a corporate executive at The Bonneau Company, Fossil, Inc., and Visionworks, and currently provides consulting services to various clients. He also serves on the Arts & Culture and Comprehensive Plan Stakeholder Advisory Committees for the City of Farmers Branch, as well as on the Advisory Board of The Warehouse Ministry in Georgia. He holds a BBA and MBA in Marketing and Management from Dallas Baptist University. David and his wife Cindy have lived in Farmers Branch for over 50 years and are blessed with three children, their spouses, two precious granddaughters and two fabulous grandsons.

Owen Beans (ASSOCIATE PRODUCER) (he/him) Owen is an Actor, Director, and Producer for theater and film. He served on The Firehouse Theatre Advisory Board from 2014-2021 and has been the Associate Producer, overseeing all programming at The Firehouse, since September of ’21. He has directed The Firehouse’s smash hit production of Catch Me If You Can, alongside his wife, Ally and co-directed The Firehouse Jr production of Into The Woods JR. As an actor, he’s been seen on stages in New York City, as well as prominent theaters across the country including Surflight Theatre, Totem Pole Playhouse, The Legacy Theatre, Cortland Rep, Casa Manana, and Dallas Children’s Theatre. Pre-pandemic he appeared as part of the inaugural tour cast of Kinky Boots aboard the Norwegian Encore. Additionally, Owen has worked as a Theatre Educator, Director, Music Director, Wardrobe Supervisor, Casting Assistant, and Dramaturg. He has also served as a producer on the short film Love as well as the upcoming Show Cat. Currently/Upcoming: Swing in Into The Woods (Dallas Theater Center), and co-directing Saturday Night Fever (The Firehouse). Owen holds a BFA in Theatre from Abilene Christian University and is a member of Actors Equity Association. Love to Ally. @OwenBeans. www.owenbeans.com

Claire Boschert (OPERATIONS & ADMIN MANAGER) (she/her) is a Dallas-based stage manager and theater maker. She is excited to be a part of the Firehouse team! She graduated from Rice University in Houston, Texas in 2021. She has previously stage managed I Love You, Your Perfect, Now Change (Theatre 3), Women of Troy (Cry Havoc), The Laramie Project and Silent Sky (Rice Players), and The Importance of Being Earnest and As You Like It (Rice Visual and Dramatic Arts Department). Claire grew up in Lewisville and loves getting to make theater in her hometown! She would like to thank her family and friends for their love and support.

Shawna Robinson (PATRON SERVICES & VOLUNTEER COORDINATOR) (she/her) Shawna started as a Firehouse volunteer back in 2018, and loved it so much that she joined the team in 2022 as the theatre’s Patron Services and Volunteer Coordinator. She holds a dual degree in Finance and Marketing and has extensive experience in sales, promotions, and investments. She has spent the last eleven years raising and homeschooling her children and working in a volunteer capacity on various event coordinating and children’s theatre projects. Her acting resume includes the important role of Angel #2 in her middle school’s Christmas production. She hopes you will fall in love with this theatre like she did and support its commitment to bringing the arts to our community.

Logan Uhtenwoldt (HEAD OF TECHNICAL THEATRE) (he/him) is a local technical theatre artist. He is an alumni of the University of Miami and Miami University with a background in set design, lighting design, and scenic construction. Before joining Firehouse, Logan was most recently the Technical Production Manager for House of Spirits: A Haunted Cocktail Soiree (Meyer2Meyer Production). He is thrilled to be the newest member of the Firehouse staff!

Maggie Sproul (PRODUCTION & TECH ASSISTANT) (she/her) is passionate about helping to create theatre magic! Spring of 2022, during her first show back after college, she fell in love with the art all over again. Maggie has enjoyed learning more about technical theatre as she steps into her leadership role here at The Firehouse Theatre. She uses her creative skills to help bring the director’s vision to life with scenic design and costumes. Maggie grew up acting, costuming, stage managing and scenic designing for a local children’s theatre and could have never imagined the privilege to turn her passion into a career.

The Firehouse Theatre gratefully acknowledges major support from:
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The Firehouse Theatre is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization that provides imaginative live performances and training through engaging artistic expression.