CAST/CREW Franklin TN, Sept 29, 30, 2023
Directed by Leslie Milstead
Rae Wilson – Emily Eytchison
Mom – Annie Rice
Ethel – Savannah Grace Meinert
Helen (and choreography) – Erin Laming
Jessie – Corrie Maxwell
Doris – Eva Muterspaugh
Gene Slattery – Carter Miller
Mr. Jeffers – Art Peach
Jeffrey – Gabriel Pless
Dad & Conductor – Joshua Hollandsworth
Anselmo & Woman – Melia Young
Soldier/Sailor & Virgil – Kyle Varenkamp
Soldier/Sailor & Woodrow – Benjamin Gallagher
Soldier/Sailor & Denver – Patrick Jones
Soldier/Sailor & Merna – Tristan Valdez
Soldier/Sailor & Jimmy – Bennett Miller
Sound and Operations Manager – Jeremy Maxwell
Music Cues – Haley Gallagher
A huge thank you to The Franklin Special School District for the use of this beautiful Performing Arts Center. https://www.fssd.org/departments/performing-arts-center
Thank you to the Lincoln County Historical Museum, North Platte, Nebraska for keeping the Canteen Spirit alive for the past 80 years! https://lincolncountymuseum.org/
All SONGS written by Sue Fabisch Errico and Johnny Rodgers:
North Platte, Nebraska – Cast
Denver’s Coming – Rae
For Our Boys – Women
Canteen Christmas – Women
Mr. Jeffers – Rae
Possibility – women
Popping All The Corn – Ethel, Doris, Rae
Happy Birthday, Sailor – Sailors
The Nebraskan Way – Cast
The Shirt Off My Back – Gene
Popcorn Ball – Virgil
Patriotic Duty – Rae, Ethel, Doris
Popcorn Ball – Ethel
What I Wouldn’t Give – Woodrow
Buffalo Bill – Doris
Popcorn Ball Duet – Virgil and Ethel
Love Is – Rae & full cast
EMILY EYTCHISON – (Rae Wilson) – Emily Eytchison is delighted to be returning to the stage for this warm, hopeful story. After leaving the theatre for several years to manage chronic illness, she’s grateful for the chance to bring the nuances of that lived experience to the determined, vulnerable Rae.
She’s also overjoyed to work with Leslie Milstead again, the first director who believed in her. May we all learn, as Rae learns, that our limits are gifts, driving us into the community for which we were made.
(Favorite roles: Belle, Fantine, Dolly Levi)
CORRIE MAXWELL – (Jessie Hutchins)
Corrie Maxwell is excited to share the stage with her two sons. This Nov/Dec all three will be together again in Charlie and the Chocolate Factory at NCT. Favorite Credits: Chicago (Velma Kelly, NRT), The Wizard of Oz (Glinda/Aunt Em, NCT), Hans Christian Andersen (Mrs. Andersen, NCT), Romeo and Juliet (Lady Capulet, NSF), Motherhood the Musical (Brooke, FBP), Matilda (Acrobat, ATP), Mary Poppins (Mrs. Banks, ATP), Oliver! (Nancy, BRT), Annie Get Your Gun (Annie Oakley, BRT), A Streetcar Named Desire (Blanche, BRT), Beauty and the Beast (Belle u/s*p, Silly Girl, BRT). Other credits: Guys and Dolls, Hello Dolly (Studio Tenn); The Light in the Piazza, 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee (STC); By the Waters Of Babylon, Unraveling the Ribbon (TWTP); Twilight of the Gods, Roger’s Version (Blackbird Theatre); I Take This Man, Who’s Under Where, Bop She Bops: Merry Christmas Baby (Chaffin’s Barn); Crazy For You (DHT); Les Misérables, Nine, The Miracle Worker, Will Rogers Follies, Into the Woods, Gypsy, Nunsense (BRT). Corrie sits on the Board of Directors for Street Theatre Company and teaches Kindermusik and Musical Theatre at Act Too Players. Corrie loves her Seahorses.
CARTER MILLER – (Gene Slattery)
Carter Miller was part of the original table read for North Platte Canteen and is thrilled to be part of this reading where he gets to share the stage with his brother and mom. This November and December he will be playing Charlie Buckett in Charlie and the Chocolate Factory at Nashville Children’s Theatre where he will share the stage with his brother and mom once again! Theatre Credits include Freedom Middle School: The Addams Family Jr. (Pugsley); AT Pro: Matilda (Eric); Act Too Players: Newsies Jr. (Crutchy), Shrek Jr. (Shrek), Grease, HSV (Roger), Pitch Perfect: Dear Evan Hanson (Connor u/s*), Pitch Perfect: Come From Away (Oz), 13 the Musical (Eddie), Disney’s High School Musical Jr. 1&2 (Zeke), The Sound of Music (Kurt), Disney’s The Descendants Jr. (Carlos), Disney’s Aladdin Jr. (Aladdin), Disney’s Aristocats Jr. (Berlioz), Disney’s Aladdin Jr. (King of the Guards), Disney’s 101 Dalmatians (Horace), Disney’s Alice in Wonderland (King of Hearts), Disney’s Little Mermaid Jr. (Flotsam), Schoolhouse Rock (ensemble). Film credits: Worm (Dream sequence son); Short Film: Airport (Boy in Airport). Carter can be heard as the voice of the Spotted Elephant in the cast recording of Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer Jr. He is an eighth grader at Freedom Middle School where he participates in football, soccer, and the school theatre program.
ART PEACH – (Mr. Jeffers)
Art Peach is a Franklin native and has been involved in local theater since first appearing in Meet Me in St. Louis in the 7th grade at Freedom Middle School with Leslie Milstead. Art was most recently seen as Benny South Street in Guys and Dolls. Favorites include Tevia in Fiddler On The roof, Albert and Bye-Bye Birdie, Horton in Seussical the Musical, Harry and Lucky Stiff, and Willard in Footloose. Art sends all is love to Charlotte, Dawson, and Bristol for the love and support.
ERIN LAMING – (Helen Crist)
Erin Laming: Erin has been involved in theatre for the bulk of her life, from teaching, to performing, choreography and stage managing Erin has worked in all facets of theatre; most recently she could be see on stage last fall with Expression City in their production of The Addams Family. Erin works as a dispatcher for WM and spends her evenings being a mom to Ariel and wife to Scott which have been her greatest roles. Erin is honored to play Helen in The North Platte Canteen and wishes to thank Sue and Johnny for this incredible script and score and to the Lord for putting all of these incredible performers and production team together. Lastly, she hopes you all fall in love with this Musical Miracle the way she has. Enjoy the show!
SAVANNAH GRACE – (Ethel Butolf) Savannah Grace is a seventeen year old actress and singer. Her first show was Sound of Music at age seven with her first lead role as Jemima Potts in Chitty Chitty Bang Bang at age 9. Some of her other favorite on stage roles include Alice from Alice in Wonderland, Augustus Gloop from Willy Wonka, Ella from Cinderella, Sally Brown from You’re A Good Man Charlie Brown, and Jessica Olive in Done to Death. She was also featured recently in the music video First Things First by the band Consumed by Fire. Her training and educational background include Premiere Programs, All- State for both Choir and Musical Theatre, Open Jar Institute Intensive, dance training with Kari Smith, and vocal coaching from the renown Janna Landry. Savannah Grace also has her Certificate in Performing Arts Essentials from NYU- Tisch. She is currently in production for her high school play as Gwendolen in The Importance of Being Earnest. She is honored to have had this opportunity to work on this amazing brand new musical The North Platte Canteen. She would like to thank Sue Fabisch Errico, Leslie Milstead, and Johnny Rodgers for trusting her with this role. Enjoy the show!
KYLE VARENKAMP – (Virgil Butolf) Kyle Varenkamp is a 17 year old actor and singer from Nashville, TN. He has performed in more than 22 shows, starting at the age of 9 in Wizard of Oz. Some of his favorite live performance roles include Dimitry in Anastasia, Inspector Javert in Les Miserables, Prince Eric in The Little Mermaid, Rodney Duckton in Done to Death, and Professor Callahan in Legally Blonde. He has been awarded and recognized with positions in All State Musical Theatre in 2022, All State Choir in 2022 & 2023, and was a 2023 Spotlight Lead Actor Nominee. Kyle has film & TV credits including local commercial spots as well as promotional work for an upcoming film ‘The Glitch’. He is honored to be a part of the cast for the Staged Reading of The North Platte Canteen and would like to thank the writers and directors for giving him this opportunity. He hopes you enjoy the show!
EVA MUTERSPAUGH – (Doris) A senior at Centennial High School, Eva has been a performer her whole life. She started as a dancer, developing her craft for fifteen years and counting. Eva found her love for dance through ballet, and then went on to learn and love modern, contemporary, jazz, and pointe work. She discovered theatre through dance, and for seven years she has participated in numerous school and community productions. Eva started choreographing two years ago, and she hopes to continue performing and creating in the years to come. She would like to thank her loving mother and sisters for their endless support.
Annie Rice (Mom)
Annie Rice is thrilled to be sharing the stage with this wonderful cast and creative team. Some previous productions include The Curious Savage (Florence), The Odd Couple: Female Version (Olive), and You Can’t Take it With You (Penny). She currently is the theater director at Summit High School and has held that position since the school opened in 2011. Some of her directing credits include Rumors, Beauty and the Beast, The Little Mermaid, The Diary of Anne Frank, Mamma Mia and so many more. She would like to thank Leslie, Sue, and Johnny for allowing her to be a part of this journey, her family for their unending and unwavering support, and her students for their enthusiastic encouragement.
Benjamin Gallagher (Soldier/Sailor/Woodrow)
Benjamin Gallagher is a Franklin local with upwards of 20 productions in experience. He has had the honor of playing Marius in “Les Miserables” and Seymour Krelborn in “Little Shop of Horrors,” two of his dream roles- with Garry Lejeune in “Noises Off” being a surprise favorite for the actor. Benjamin thanks his past and present directors and mentors, as well as his family for all of their support on his journey on-stage. He is honored to be a part of this brand new musical with a beautiful true story to tell.
Melia Young (Anselmo and Ensemble)
Melia Young is 18 years old and a Freshman at Columbia State. She was in her first show at fourteen where she played Sheila Birling in a production of An Inspector Calls. Since then she has been a part of nine shows. She has played in roles such as Alonsa Queen of Naples in The Tempest, Cha Cha Digregorio in Grease, Madame in Rogers and Hammerstein’s Cinderella, and most recently the apache dancer in Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dream Coat. She also has over 8 years of dance experience.
Bennet Miller (Soldier/Sailor/Jimmy)
Bennett Miller (Character) is excited to be a part of this reading and to share the stage with his brother and mom. This November and December all three will be on stage together again in Charlie and the Chocolate Factory at Nashville Children’s Theatre where he will be playing Mike Teevee. Theatre Credits include Freedom Middle School: The Addams Family Jr. (Lucas); Act Too Players: Newsies Jr. (Davey), Grease, HSV (Sonny), Pitch Perfect: Dear Evan Hanson (Evan), Pitch Perfect: Come From Away (Kevin J), 13 the Musical (Brett), Disney’s High School Musical Jr. 1&2 (Chad), The Sound of Music (Friedrich), Disney’s The Descendants Jr. (Jay), Disney’s Aristocats Jr. (Roquefort), Disney’s Aladdin Jr. (King of the Guards), Disney’s 101 Dalmatians (Horace), Disney’s Alice in Wonderland (Doorknob), Schoolhouse Rock (Conjunction Junction), Disney’s Little Mermaid Jr. (Jetsam). Film credits: Worm (Dream sequence son). Bennett is a freshman at Centennial High School and is involved in choir and theatre. He is looking forward to trying out for basketball and soccer this winter and Spring.
Tristan Valdez (Soldier/Sailor/Merna)
Tristan Valdez is honored to be included in the stage reading of The North Platte Canteen. He currently attends Independence High School and is very involved in the theatre community in Middle Tennessee. His credits include Ricky Potts in Ride the Cyclone, Dewey Finn in School of Rock, William Bloom in Big Fish, Pippin in Pippin, and Frank Abagnale Jr. in Catch Me If You Can. Tristan is excited to see the success of this show from its very beginning. He gives thanks to his family, both of blood and theatre, for their unending support.
