Alison “Ali” is 10 years old and has been performing since she was 6. Ali has played the roles of a zoo keeper, Madagascar Jr; Simba, Lion King jr; Step-Sister, Cinderella Jr.; Susan, White Christmas; Matilda, Matilda; Marta, Sound of Music; and Ralphie, A Christmas Story. Ali is homeschooled and is a voice student of Shaunna Lucas and is Miss Southern Maine Pre-teen 2024. Ali is so excited to play the role of Bruce and to be performing with her mom and twin sister Lexi.

Caitlin is stepping onto the stage for the first time since her 5th grade days when she played a navy blue crayon. She's excited to be working with an equally colorful cast and crew for this production of Matilda. Thank you to her husband Justin and daughter Ella for their never ending support. And to her parents for showing her how to be brave and never give up!

Cam is a third grader at Durham Community School and is really excited to be a part of the Matilda cast. He has a passion for theater, but also enjoys reading, traveling, baseball, and riding his bike. He would like to thank Royal River Community Players for this amazing opportunity, and his family for their support. Enjoy the show!

Cassandra Sparrold Shute (Cassie) is originally from Tucson, Arizona where she spent 10 years working as a Middle School Social Studies Educator and served as a Marketing Director with the Tucson-based Wild Wild West Steampunk convention. By joining Wild Wild West Steampunk convention and Tucson Steampunk Society, she connected with a rich collection of costumers as a means to explore historic content and recover the knowledge of day to day life of yesteryear. She routinely integrated dress-up days as part of her curriculum, and encouraged learners of all ages to explore time periods in history through fashion. After moving to join her Maine family in 2021, she costumes for Royal River Community Players and substitute teaches in several school districts and has opened her own small business dedicated to cultivating joy with creating costumes.

Chenxi began to play the piano at the age of four, and is good at playing flute, piccolo, French horn and the Chinese instrument Ruan. Last year, she won the top prize in the National Vocal Competition in China. She debuted as shuaner in the opera Nation Family and won the top prize at the National Opera Competition in China. Some of Chenxi's roles have been 13 the Musical (Kendra) with M&D Playhouse; A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to Fifth Period (Musical theater actress), and Heidi (Miss Usher) at Royal River Community Players. She is excited to be a part of Matilda and hopes that you enjoy the show.

With nearly two decades of experience working with non-profits in the southern Maine, Chris Sullivan has made a career of creating accessible art experiences for audiences of all ages.

Chris has led the way in designing and creating spaces for the arts all over Maine, most notably in his key role as the Consulting Exhibits Director for the new Children’s Museum & Theatre of Maine, which opened in 2021 and features 30,000 square feet of exhibits spanning three floors and a 90 seat proscenium theater. As a longtime leader at the organization since its days on Free Street, Chris was instrumental in preserving the organization’s mission, vision, and heart while expanding its reach. He proudly served as Board President for Mad Horse Theater Company. His leadership efforts helped secure several key sources of funding. This expanded organizational capacity that empowered Mad Horse to continue its proud creative legacy of bringing innovative, challenging performances to the greater Portland community.

David is thrilled to be working with RRCP for the first time! Recent credits include Once Upon a Mattress: Youth Edition (Director, Unified Production, Lyric Music Theater); The Sound of Music (Director, Lyric Music Theater); and Willy Wonka (Music Director, The Grand,). Congrats and thank you to a talented cast and crew!

Emmett is eleven years old and lives with his family in Yarmouth. He loves to be on the stage and has enjoyed acting and dancing roles at summer camp, with the Connecticut Dance Center, and every night at dinner. When he's not pretending to be someone else, Emmett enjoys reading (the original Matilda is great!), writing
palindrome poems, singing in the school a cappella group, memorizing super long poems to win points for his summer camp cabin, and playing Magic, DND, and neighborhood nerf wars. Emmett would be happy to recite over 170 digits of pi for you...3.14159265...

Eric Kelley (Mr. Wormwood) from South Portland, Maine is thrilled to be in this amazing show. He was a high school actor, but after graduation took a 10 year hiatus from performing. In 2021, he returned to the theater with his first show at RRCP. During that pandemic year, he played the role of Storekeeper/Narrator in Love is a Cabaret, directed by Kathy Slack. Just before 2022, he was in the Wizard of Oz twice, first as the Cowardly Lion, and then with Schoolhouse Arts as Uncle Henry & Nikko. He is an avid singer and student of Mary Letellier. He describes her as a fantastic and supportive teacher having prepared him for many Southern Maine, musical theater auditions. When not doing theater, he coaches high school football and basketball, and is an on-call firefighter. He is also a Portland, Maine Narrow Gauge volunteer, who duing train rides, plays the Polar Express Conductor, a role Tom Hanks played in the film, and a character people say Eric resembles. He describes himself as a jack of all trades and passionate actor and singer. He gives a huge shout out to Director, Janie Downey; Assistant Director, Stanley Kimball; Music Director, David Sheehy; and Producer, Kathy Slack for giving him this amazing opportunity to play Mr. Wormwood.

Ian is a Maine native and Yarmouth Alumni, Ian originally became interested in technical theater while working with The Yarmouth Playmakers during his High School years. This interest compelled him to attend the Boston University School of Theatre. After graduating with a BFA in Technical Production, Ian moved to New York City where he quickly made connections with Juniper Street Productions, a major Broadway Production Management company. This relationship was the start of a 12 year career that allowed Ian to work on numerous Broadway and touring productions, primarily as an Automation Carpenter, operating and maintaining computer controlled scenic elements. Some highlights of his Broadway career are; Little Shop of Horrors (National Tour), The Wedding Singer; Legally Blonde:The Musical; Dreamgirls (National Tour); All Shook Up and The Producers. In 2011, Ian decided to give up this demanding lifestyle and moved back to Yarmouth with his family. He is now a founding member of the ownership team at Liquid Riot Bottling Company where he manages the distillery. He is a Board Member at Royal River Community Players and enjoys the opportunity to reconnect with his theater days here at the Playhouse.

Jackie is excited to be in this production of Matilda. She is an alumni of RRCP’s Stroll Haunted Yarmouth and Heidi as well as Freeport Community Theater’s Love and Lobsters and Radio. Thanks, as always, to Don for his love and support, and to Dixie for “best friendship.”

Janie moved to Maine in 1994 to work at L.L.Bean and discovered an amazing theater community in the greater Portland area. She acted in and directed dozens of shows in Maine before moving home to Alexandria, VA during the Pandemic. But now she’s back because Kathy Slack (Producer) asked, and because Janie has a deep love for Matilda, the Musical. She thanks the production staff and cast for making this an extraordinarily fun time – even with a 9-hour commute most weekends! We hope you are inspired by our work to go start your own rebellion!

Jasper is fourteen years old and lives with his family in Yarmouth. He is very excited to be working with RRCP again. Past credits include two years of Stroll Haunted Yarmouth (RRCP), solos in the school chorus, playing the Young Barnum in The Greatest Showman (Connecticut Dance Center) and dancing as Clara’s brother in the Nutcracker (CDC). When he's not on stage, Jasper enjoys reading everything, writing fantasy novels and short stories, playing Magic and DND, learning different kinds of music on his violin, and hanging out with friends.

Josie is a 3rd grader at Brown Elementary School in South Portland. Her favorite past performances include The Sound of Music (Ogunquit Playhouse: Marta; Maine State Music Theatre: Gretl), opening for the Rockettes at Radio City Music Hall, Elf (Ogunquit Playhouse: ensemble), Into The Woods Jr (Jack). When she isn’t on stage, Josie likes to read, direct shows in her playroom with her little sister and sculpt pottery. She hopes you enjoy the show!

Julie is a piano teacher, collaborative pianist, and music director. She is currently studying for her Masters in Piano Pedagogy at the University of Southern Maine. Julie is excited to be performing with her twin daughters.

Kathy, an Ithaca College, Theater graduate, has enjoyed various positions in theater and music, as actor, director, singer, and now producer; from summer camp in West Virginia, to theaters in Maryland, New York, and now Maine. Before landing at Royal River Community Theater, she sang with the bands, Little Debbie and the Snack Cakes as well as the unique, a cappella, vocal improv group, Improvox. Her favorite acting roles have been: Eitsiric in a NYC, Off Off Broadway production of Frankenstein, and most recently as Grandmamma in the RRCP production of Heidi. Her favorite directing job was for RRCP's Love Is A Cabaret, presented online during the CoVid pandemic. She teaches Voice at 317 Main Community Music Center in Yarmouth, and her Yarmouth home studio, and is a member of NATS (National Association of Teachers of Singing) and Actors' Equity. She wholeheartedly thanks Janie Downey for taking on this, Matilda, the Musical, directing project, considering her long, weekly commutes! Many thanks to the cast, crew, & volunteers for all their hard work and amazing talent! And to Chris for always picking up the pieces!

Keith is excited for his return to musical theater after playing Father Christmas in RRCP's production of Narnia in 2020. Keith has also acted in Stroll Haunted Yarmouth and other RRCP productions. Keith is a supple actor with incredible upper body strength, and when he is not acting, singing, or dancing the rhumba, he enjoys camping, traveling, and being outdoors. Keith is thankful to be acting with his family and with the incredible RRCP community both on and off stage.

Lavinia has been acting since she was 5 years old. Her first role in June of 2021 was the lead in her Kindergarten play, The Very Grouchy LadyBug. She fell in love with the theater right away, and has participated in various plays in camp and acting classes since. In October 2022 she played the role of a little girl in Stroll Haunted Yarmouth. In March of 2023 she was cast in the ensemble of The Little Mermaid Jr. as one of the Sea Creatures. She played the role of Molly in Annie's Kids in July of 2023. In February of this year she was thrilled to play the lead role in Heidi. Lavinia is 9 years old, and lives in Cumberland with her parents, 2 siblings and her many animals. When she’s not on stage she loves to sing, play piano, dance, write, draw, do gymnastics, ski and play soccer. She is very excited to be a part of Matilda, and she hopes you enjoy the show as much as she does!

Alexa “Lexi” is 10 years old and has been performing since she was 6. Lexi has played the roles of Randy, Christmas Story; Brigitta, Sound of Music; Amanda Thripp, Matilda; Kowalski, Madagascar Jr; Pumba, Lion King Jr; and a Step-Sister in Cinderella Jr. Lexi is homeschooled and is a voice student of Shaunna Lucas. She is signed with New England Modeling Group and is also Miss Western Maine Pre-teen 2024. Lexi is so excited to play the role of Matilda, and to be performing with her mom and twin sister Ali.

Lucy is an occasional performer and enthusiastic supporter in the Greater Portland theater community and is excited to make her RRCP debut. Favorite roles include: Fraulein Kost in Cabaret; Amanda & others in The Laramie Project; and Miss Shields in A Christmas Story (twice!). Off stage you'll find her marketing for MRG, parenting her two terrific kids, or hunting for her next great thrift score. She's grateful to Chris, Carter, Baxter, her parents, and all the support that's allowed her to make time for the stage; and to Matilda's kind and talented cast, crew, and production team. IG: @wrchia

Maeve is 11 years old and they are in the 5th grade. This is their first play with RRCP. In their free time they enjoy drawing, playing piano and flute, and skateboarding, as well as playing with their two year old puppy, Roz. They would like to thank their parents and siblings for all the support they have given throughout auditions, callbacks, and rehearsals. They've enjoyed meeting many new people in the cast and crew, and they really enjoyed having lots of fun at rehearsals. Maeve hopes to be in many other plays and musicals with RRCP. They are so excited to share this show with you. They hope you enjoy the show.

Maia is in 5th grade and loves theater. She spent the summer of 2023 with Stages Youth Theater in Portland participating in multiple productions. She also participated in Frozen Jr. with Twin City Theater in Biddiford. She is very excited to be able to share Matilda, the Musical with you. Maia enjoys singing and spending time with her friends. Maia would like to thank friends and family, and especially her Mom and Dad for all their support.

This is Margaret’s first time Stage Managing at Royal River Community Players, but she has been backstage in community theater for over 20 years. This production team and cast is one of the best she’s ever worked with; thank you! Congratulations on a wonderful production everyone! Love to her husband Mark and daughter Alannah; she appreciates all you do.

Marlena is thrilled to be performing in her first show with Royal Rivers Community Players. Most recently she has appeared in Disaster at Community Little Theater and Hunchback of Notre Dame at Lyric Theater. When not on the stage, Marlena loves to travel, spend time outside, read a good book, and play with her dog Sophie. She would like to thank her family and her partner Chris for their constant support!

Meagan is excited to be part of Matilda. Despite already being a character, her official acting life began with RRCP in A Christmas Carol; Free to Be: You and Me, and two seasons of SHY. It’s especially wonderful to share the stage with her husband, Rudolpho, and their son, Nigel. Thank you to the production team for their tireless work and positive energy throughout. I particularly want to thank my older children for encouraging me to audition and filling in as mom when needed, and to my littlest one for being patient with the evenings away, and for singing all of the songs with us!

Noa is really excited to be playing Lavender in their second production with the Royal River Community Players. They are really happy to be in their first musical with their friends in the cast. In their free time they love to go to their summer camp, read, skateboard, and hold their guinea pigs! They would like to thank both their parents for all their love and support for past, present, and future shows, and the director and crew who made it all possible! They hope to continue performing and hope you enjoy the show!

Nora is a third grader who loves being on stage with some of her friends from past performances at Lyric Music Theater, including Sound of Music and A Christmas Story. She’s excited to join the RRCP family for Matilda, a favorite of hers! When she’s not on the stage, she is a competitive horseback rider and dancer. She wants to thank her voice teacher, Janelle LoSciuto for helping her land all of her roles so far. She also thanks her parents, brother, and extended family for always supporting her on and off the stage!

Randy is RRCP's in- house photographer extraordinaire. He has been involved with RRCP for several years in many capacities. In addition to doing the cast & crew headshots, as well as publicity materials, he has performed in Stroll Haunted Yarmouth, playing such roles as Mr. Hammond and Captain Joseph Buckman, to name a few. He is grateful to RRCP for having had the opportunity to celebrate the human spirit through the roles of those who have lived before us. He enjoys his family immensely, and loves photography, baking, hanging with his dog walking group, singing, playing ukelele, exploring the ocean, and practicing Yoga.

Rory chose to volunteer for RRCP because of her interest in the “behind the scenes work” of theater. She is a junior at Yarmouth High School, and is our enthusiastic, patient, and kind Sound Operator, which is not an easy task for a musical like Matilda, the Musical, as there are so many performance tracks to operate. She has been previously involved in choir and community theater at Portland Players.

Silas is excited to be in this wonderful production of Matilda the Musical. In his first show, he played Hep Cat in The Aristocats in 2019 when he was six years old. Some other shows he has been in are Linus in You’re a Good Man Charlie Brown and Zazu in The Lion King Jr. He would like to thank his Mom and Dad, who will be taking part in this show, for bringing him to all his rehearsals. Silas has learned a lot of things in this show including that blazers have great protection, and they are quite comfortable.

Stanley is a local actor, filmmaker, and photographer. This is his second time working with Janie; he played the Obsessive Impulsive Male in Love/Sick at Lyric Music Theater in 2020. This however, is not his first time working on Matilda. As part of the ensemble at Lyric in 2019, he went on to play Mr. Wormwood/Rudolpho at Schoolhouse Arts Center in 2023. Other credits include Jake Laurents in It’s a Wonderful Life: Radio Play at Schoolhouse; Herbert/The Historian in Spamalot; and Ethan in The Full Monty at Portland Players, all in 2023. This is his first time as Assistant Director, and he has been absolutely thrilled to work with this cast and crew!

Sue has been designing lights for 2-5 shows a year at a variety of local community theaters for more years than she wants to admit. She is happy to be working with Janie Downey at Royal River Community Players, and on a new show. She is always active in the technical operations at Lyric Music Theater, in South Portland. She 'retired' and now in addition to theater activities, is active with the Portland Community Chorus, Magic of Christmas Chorus, gardening and babysitting her grandchildren. Sometimes she even finds time to read or sew.

Tanner is a 7th grader at Falmouth Middle School. Tanner has appeared most recently in the ensemble cast of A Christmas Carol at Portland Stage Company during the holidays. Prior to that, as Ralph True in Stroll Haunted Yarmouth with the Royal River Community Players, and has appeared in several summer camp productions with the most recent being The Addams Family Musical as Pugsley. Prior experiences on stage include the lead role of Jack in Jack and Phil; Leroy in Dragons Love Tacos, and improv skits at the Centennial Celebration, all at Maddy’s Theater in the Children’s Museum. Tanner loves his friends, loves to act and perform, enjoys reading and Legos, going to the beach, video games and board games, swimming and tennis, and playing with his goofy Golden Retriever, Paddington. Tanner looks forward to the challenge of singing, dancing, and acting in the role of Michael in the production of Matilda at RRCP!

Timothy Lee has been a long-standing member of RRCP, contributing his talents to productions such as Stroll Haunted Yarmouth, Heidi, and now as the lighting operator for Matilda. Although he has tried his hand at acting, he found himself battling with stage fright and now dedicates himself to backstage work. In addition to his involvement in theater, Timothy also enjoys playing and writing music. As a resident of Yarmouth, he takes pleasure in helping others and is grateful for the welcoming and supportive community at RRCP. Above all, his passion lies in bringing joy to others and he hopes that audiences will find delight in the current production of Matilda.

Tom studied acting at Colby College, American Academy of Dramatic Arts, and Columbia University. He has acted and/or directed plays for several community theater groups from Damariscotta to Portland. Representative roles have been Big Daddy in Cat on a Hot Tin Roof; Erie in Hughie; Jerry in Zoo Story; Judas in Jesus Christ Superstar; Leslie in Seascape; Billy in Carousel; Charlie in Stones in His Pockets; Bowie in Rabbit Hole; Charles in Blithe Spirit; and Mr. Rice in Molly Sweeney. He played multiple roles in The 39 Steps last November at Royal River Community Players. He lives and works in Portland.