Musical Theater in the New River Valley
Isaac Thompson (Sea Creature/Chef) feels very blessed to be a part of this year’s Summer Musical Enterprise show. He was recently in Blacksburg High School’s production of Mamma Mia! as Sam Carmichael. He also played Paul in a Senior Directed One Act called Digging Up The Boys. He was Professor Plum in Blacksburg High School’s production of Clue On Stage. Isaac is a Junior at BHS and plans to pursue dentistry as a career after high school.
Heather “Dexy” Ursano (Ensemble) resides in Christiansburg, VA. She is an alumna of Radford University and currently teaches Special Education and Theatre at Narrows High School in Giles County. Notable roles with SME include; Pirate in “Peter Pan”, the Wicked Witch in “Shrek the Musical”, Miss Shields in “A Christmas Story”, Ethel Toffelmier/Pickalittle Lady in the 25th Anniversary revival of “The Music Man, and Madame de la Grande Bouche in “Disney’s Beauty and the Beast”. Shout out to the Gull Squad for making this summer AWKsome!
Hana Kwon is delighted to make their big stage debut with Summer Musical Enterprises. Recent credits are playing the Mother in Little Leapers’ Princess and the Frog, and ensemble member in SME’s Christmas Revue. She is also a preschool teacher at Rainbow Riders Childcare Center in the CRC.
Gwen Hawdon has always had a love for the performing arts. Her favorites include singing, playing guitar, dancing, and acting. Gwen is part of the women’s chorale at BHS, where she will be starting her junior year in the fall. While she starred in many self written and directed “plays” at an early age, she first took to the stage at age 7. The last four years she spent her summers at a Shakespeare camp where she played many parts including lady McBeth and Ophelia. She recently played the lead in New River Stage’s Decision Heights, played guitar in the pit of Blacksburg High’s Mama Mia, and Ruth in the Senior Directed one act Digging Up the Boys. The Little Mermaid is her first musical, and she’s having a wonderful time. She loves the show and can’t wait for everyone to see it.
Gretchen Honaker is a rising Blacksburg 8th grader and is tickled pink to be part of this show. Her theatre experience began with SME’s Peter Pan. Other SME appearances include Shrek, The Musical, The Music Man, and Beauty and the Beast. Gretchen’s other musical endeavors include participating in the Blacksburg United Methodist youth and handbell choirs and playing piano and clarinet. “Thanks to God, my family, and my pets, especially Perle, for your love.”
George Tatum is extremely excited to be performing in this summer’s production of The Little Mermaid. He has thoroughly enjoyed playing the roles of seagull and sea creature, as well as the honor of being Sebastian’s understudy. Offstage, he has had the pleasure of designing and building the row boat in Kiss the Girl and Ariel’s clam shell. He hopes you have as fantastic an experience watching the show as he has had helping it come alive!
Genesis Simmons is absolutely thrilled to be a part of SME’s The Little Mermaid this summer! You may have seen Genesis in Blacksburg High School’s recent production of Mamma Mia! as Rosie. She will be attending the University of Mary Washington this fall in hopes of furthering her theatre career. Genesis extends all of her love and thanks to Cypress Ambrose for always being there for her, Tara Hemmen for pushing her to hit those high notes, and Carrie Mayer for being the best director a girl could ask for. She would like to dedicate these performances to Jamie Simmons with all the love in the world. Genesis is SO excited for you to see this production and hopes you’ll enjoy it!
Felix Hooper (Leeward) got hooked on theater while playing a clown fish in BHS’s 2016 production of The Little Mermaid. Since then, he has appeared in SME’s Beauty and the Beast and The Music Man and has taken part in the summer camp It’s Showtime, JoeLoe Productions, and BMS’s Drama Club. Felix will be an Eighth grader this fall.
Evelyn Cameron is delighted to portray Flounder in SME’s production of the Little Mermaid. She is excited to once again be performing, especially with this fantastic cast and crew. She is a rising sophomore in Blacksburg High School, and was recently in their production of Mamma Mia. She has been performing with SME and other production companies ever since she was a child and loves it with her all heart. In her free time she enjoys reading and hanging out with her friends. This is her fourth SME production and she can’t wait to perform in this fantastic musical.
Ethan Fisher is very excited to perform in his first show with Summer Musical Enterprise. Ethan is a recent alum of Blacksburg High School where he was in shows such as: Clue On Stage, Singing in the Rain, and Mama Mia. He will attend Emory and Henry College in the fall majoring in Business Administration and minoring in Vocal Performance.