James Fernandes (Jim) is excited to return to WFS where he played Sid Sorokin in The Pajama Game, Rooster in Annie, and Vittorio Vidal in Sweet Charity. He is a graduate of the American Musical and Dramatic Academy in NYC and holds a Masters Degree in Theatre Education from Emerson College. James' favorite credits include: Dan in Next to Normal, Bobby in Company, Enjolras in Les Miserables, Van Helsing in Dracula, Houdini in Ragtime, John Wilkes Booth in Assassins, Cinderella's Prince/Wolf in Into the Woods, Nicky, Trekkie Monster, Bad Idea Bear in Avenue Q, Man 1 in I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change, and Jitter in The Musical of Musicals, the Musical. By day, James teaches history at Southeastern Regional Vocational Technical High School where he also co-directs for the Southeastern Players. He hopes that your holiday season is filled with love, warmth, and music! Happy Holidays!
Daniel Forest Sullivan (Director/Choreographer/Ted) is in his seventh year as Artistic Director of Weston Friendly Society, which started in the fall of 2013 with their Moss Hart Award-Winning production of White Christmas. Since then he has directed, choreographed, set designed, and costumed in various combinations for 13 productions with the group, only taking a brief hiatus to join the National/International Touring Production of Annie in 2015/2016. Outside of Friendly, Dan is the Tech Director for a couple troupes at Artbarn Community Theater, a children's after-school theater program in Brookline and he free-lances directing, costuming, choreographing and performing in the Boston Area. Dan would like to thank the production teams this season for their devotion and hard work. Love to MDJBN!
Katie Howe (Louise) is returning to WFS after playing Rona in ...Spelling Bee earlier this year. Katie started performing at the age of eight and has a BFA in Musical Theatre from Tulane University. Favorite regional roles include Annie Oakley in Annie Get Your Gun, Sally Bowles in Cabaret and Kate in Kiss Me Kate. She also played the role of Nancy Clancy in Off-Broadway’s Fancy Nancy the Musical. Katie would like to thank Daniel Sullivan for not making her tap dance in this show, and her ever devoted fans (mom, dad, and fam) for coming to cheer her on.
Lucie Watkins (Charlie) is thrilled to be making her WFS debut. She recently performed in Weston Drama Workshop's Finding Nemo (Pearl) and Matilda (little kid ensemble). Favorite roles include Clara in Suddenly on Christmas Eve, the Blue Fairy in Pinocchio, and Akela in Jungle Book. Lucie is a fifth grader at Field School in Weston and enjoys soccer, basketball, math, and science. She is also active in Weston Girl Scouts and would be happy to take your Girl Scout cookie order!
Ian Costello (Byron/Dance Ensemble) is excited for his Weston Friendly Society debut! Previous credits include La Cage aux Folles, The Sound of Music, A Chorus Line, Anything Goes, and The Music Man at Reagle Music Theatre. A huge thank you to his friends and family for their unending support!
Rick Grenier (Singing Ensemble) is humbled to return for his seventh show with WFS having previously performed in Sweet Charity (Herman), Annie (Bundles/Ickes), A Christmas Carol (Fezziwig), Fiddler on the Roof (Nachem), Miracle on 34th Street (Shellhammer), and The Pajama Game (Hasler). Memorable roles include Jack (Into the Woods), Kralahome (King and I), Mayor Shinn (Music Man), Major General (Pirates of Penzance), Billis (South Pacific), Seymour/Dentist (Little Shop), and Rooster (Annie). Rick serves on the WFS Board as Membership Director and is also the Props Master for each production. Much love and thanks to my husband Lou and pup Dexter for supporting my ‘other love’ - the theater….and for tolerating the mess from various prop projects/crafts!
Emily Hurst (Singing Ensemble) is happy to be back for another show with Weston Friendly, after previously appearing in A Christmas Carol and Meet Me in St. Louis. When not on stage she can be found illustrating books and Weston Friendly theater posters! Many thanks to the cast and crew for a great show and a truly friendly experience! Extra thanks go to Simon and especially Luke for all the love and support.
Becca Mayersohn (Stella/Assistant Dance Captain) is happy to be back at WFS for her 8th production. Favorite roles include Bonnie Boylan in Annie and Old Joe in A Christmas Carol (in addition to many unnamed dancing characters, of course!) Becca works in Development at Walnut Hill School for the Arts and as the Marketing Manager for Weston Drama Workshop. Many thanks to DFS and the whole WFS crew for getting her back onstage. Most of all, Becca would like to thank her amazing parents for letting her take tap classes all those years ago.
Jessica Ober (Janie/Dance Ensemble) is thrilled to be returning to the Weston Friendly stage for the fifth time, having recently appeared in Sweet Charity and The Pajama Game! She currently teaches sixth grade math at Gibbs School in Arlington, where she loves to tap around the classroom. Favorite shows include A Chorus Line (Val), Carousel (Louise), and Merchant of Venice (Jessica). A huge shout-out to everyone involved in this production - it has truly been a blast! Jess would love to dedicate this performance to her gram, for always being her biggest fan.
Cara Siobhan (Singing Ensemble) is excited to be returning to the WFS stage after producing Sweet Charity last spring. This will be her fourth season with Weston Friendly. In addition to WFS, Cara performs with The LIARS, an all female singing group based out of central MA. When not performing, Cara is a pre-k teacher.
Bakhita Thordarson (Susie/Dance Ensemble) is delighted to be performing with Weston Friendly again. Recently she played the ponytail girl with WFS in Sweet Charity and as a member of the Dance Ensemble. You can catch her twice a year performing with the Concord Chorus. Currently, she teaches high school physics and astronomy and moonlights as a seamstress. She would like to thank her family and friends for supporting her.
Deana Varitimos (Vi/Dance Ensemble) This is Deana’s first production with the Weston Friendly Society. She would like to thank Daniel and the production team for this wonderful opportunity. Past roles/performances have included, Chimney Sweep/Dance Ensemble in Mary Poppins, Virtue in Anything Goes, Gladys in 42nd St., and Olga Mara in Singin’ in the Rain. Thanks to this lovely cast, and love to her hubby and family for their continued support!
Holly W. Sullivan (Music Director) was thrilled, after an absence of many years, to make her return to the Friendly Stage in the fall 2014 production of Meet Me In St. Louis under the direction of her son, Daniel! Since then, she has happily continued this partnership by returning to her Music Directing roots for many recent shows, including last December’s Moss Hart Award-winning production of Annie. Holly's long association with Weston Friendly started when she worked on hair and makeup for the Society's BiCentennial production of Ben Franklin In Paris, working backstage while her parents performed in the cast. Over the years she has been on stage, played piano, sewn costumes, music directed and directed for the group. Holly is especially pleased to work with this talented cast (which includes her daughter, Bridget and son, Daniel) and to have the support of her husband as he helps behind the scenes to bring this production to the stage. During the school year, Holly works as a bank teller for the Village Bank in Wayland and as an Independent Contractor for the Wellesley-based company, Jammin’ With You, teaching piano lessons in student’s homes. Love and thanks to J,D,J,B&N. Break a leg B & D! XO
Yolanda Daelemans-Greaves (Stage Manager) is excited to be working on her first show with Weston Friendly Society. She is thrilled that her first show is Holiday Inn, a show that has some of her favorite holiday music. Yolanda has been stage managing for over 30 years. She has done work for dance companies, community theaters and various conferences and events, including Production Stage Manager for “The Nutcracker” at the Norwood Theater. When not stage managing Yolanda is volunteering as a Select Board member in the town of Ashland. Yolanda wants to thank her husband Rich for connecting her to this great group of people!
Lisa Tierney (Linda) is delighted to be venturing onto the WFS stage for the first time! Favorite past roles include Marian Paroo in The Music Man (Savoyard Light Opera Company), Sarah Brown in Guys and Dolls (Barre Players), Annabel Glick in Lucky Stiff and Cinderella in Into the Woods (Calliope Productions), Betty Haynes in White Christmas (Theatre at the Mount), and Young Heidi in Follies (Concord Players). By day she is an Agile Practitioner at Auth0, a rapidly growing software startup.
Vallery Koenig (Lila) is excited to be back on the Weston Friendly stage and to be a part of this special show. She has most recently been seen on the WFS stage in Sweet Charity, Annie, Miracle on 34th Street, The Pajama Game, and Jerry's Girls. Off stage, Vallery serves as the President of the Weston Friendly board and runs her own interior design business. She would like to thank her family for their love, understanding and patience, her friends for all their support and for the excitement they bring to life, the rest of the WFS Board for all their hard work!
Brian Higgins (Danny) returns to the Friendly stage after previously appearing as William Barfée in The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee and as Harry in Company. Other past roles include Bazzard in The Mystery of Edwin Drood (Vokes Players), the Narrator/Mysterious Man in Into the Woods (Woodland Theatre Company), and Beadle Bamford in Sweeney Todd (Westborough Players Club). He also enjoys performing and teaching improv comedy with NatickImprov and his performance troupe Penguin Apocalypse.
Scott Berozi (Stanley/Dance Ensemble) is thrilled to be in his third consecutive production with WFS having recently performed as Monty in Sweet Charity and as Mitch Mahoney in Spelling Bee! Previous credits include Sweeney Todd (Pirelli, BWW RI Regional Award Nomination), Company (Paul), Bye Bye Birdie (Mr. MacAfee), Seussical (Mr. Mayor), and The Pirates of Penzance (Major General). Many thanks to everyone involved with the show and much love to my family, friends, and colleagues for your support and being here today!
Lance Dillaway (Singing Ensemble) has enjoyed a variety of roles since his first WFS show in 1977, from crew and set construction to soft shoe and highland sword dancing. His favorite roles include Will Parker (Oklahoma), Tin Man (Wizard of Oz), King Sextimus (Once Upon a Mattress), and Harry Beaton (Brigadoon). Many thanks to all who make this possible and my loving and supportive family.
Janis Hudson (Rose/Dance Ensemble) is excited to be back with the wonderful people of WFS, where she recently had the privilege of playing Nickie in their production of Sweet Charity. Janis has performed professionally in New England, NYC, and the Philadelphia region including work in cabaret, improv & musical theater. Most recently, you may have seen her as Elsa Schrader in Reagle Music Theater’s Sound of Music or as a Phantom in Moonbox Production’s The Rocky Horror Show. She would like to thank Sandra Hardy for teaching her about her flaws, and to Andrew for loving her in spite of them.
Bevie Lord (Singing Ensemble) Bevie is a retired world language teacher from Foxborough High School where she started French & Spanish Exchanges. She was recently elected to a Lifetime Membership of MASC (Massachusetts Association of School Committees) after serving 16 years on the Foxborough SC. Bevie also directed musicals at FHS. Through NETC (New England Theater Conference) she represents NE to AACT (American Association of Community Theaters). Her 3 favorite WFS shows are “Ben Franklin in Paris”,”White Christmas” and “A Christmas Carol”. Her favorite role is playing “Grammie” to 4 year old Benjamin. Break a leg Cast & Crew!
Sarah Minkoff (Singing Ensemble) is excited to be a part of her 7th Weston Friendly production, previously appearing in Annie, Pajama Game, and Miracle on 34th Street. She has also worked as a producer for Sweet Charity and the Assistant Stage Manager for Spelling Bee. WFS has been a wonderful addition to her life and she wants to thank everyone involved for being so welcoming and encouraging. Sarah also wants to thank all her friends and family for putting up with her incessant tapping during the rehearsal process.
Allan Singer (Singing Ensemble) has no reservations whatsoever checking into “Holiday Inn,” converging with this multi-talented cast of frequently performing travelers! This marks Allan’s 18th stage excursion since 2008’s “Joseph … Dreamcoat.” Subsequent WFS theatrical visitations include barbershop quarteting in “The Music Man;” cultivating Herbie-to-a-Rose in “Gypsy;” aging as Grandpa in “Meet Me In St. Louis;” drunkenly judging “State Fair;” rabbinically officiating in “Fiddler;” and divining his inner “Tony Soprano” as Peter Allen’s obstreperous talent agent in AFD’s “The Boy From Oz.” Allan, a Weston psychotherapist, gratefully resides with his husband Emil and adorable pups Simon & Bailey. Here’s woofin’ at y’all!!
Bridget Sullivan (Daphne/Dance Captain) is excited for her seventeenth production with The Weston Friendly Society, having performed in Sweet Charity as Frenchie and Annie as Connie Boylan/Co-Dance Captain. She has set painted for the past fourteen Friendly productions and will be stage managing their first Friendly Kids production this Spring. Bridget is currently pursuing a career in visual arts and would like to thank her family for their endless love and support.
Joey Thordarson (Singing Ensemble) is excited to be back for his fourth show at Weston Friendly! Favorite roles include LT Ward in Annie and the tenor soloist in Sweet Charity. Joey also recently made his debut at Reagle Music Theatre in Waltham. Special thanks to family, friends, and everyone involved with Holiday Inn!
Josh Zammuto (Sawyer/Dance Ensemble) has been a featured dancer in Nice Work If You Can Get It (Savoyard Light Opera Company) and has appeared in the dance ensembles of My Fair Lady and Bye Bye Birdie (Reagle Theater). Other musical theater roles include Young Cosmo/Dance Captain in Singing In The Rain, Yonkers in Gypsy, featured dancer in White Christmas (Weston Friendly Society), Adam/Storyteller in Children Of Eden (Wellesley Players) and Gaston in Beauty and the Beast (Acton School of Ballet). Josh has also performed as several roles in The Nutcracker, including Russian Dancer, Toy Soldier, and Rat King (Boston Dance Company).
Alecia Thomas (Assistant Director) is a director, actor, singer, dancer, and teacher who lives in Holliston, MA with her husband and three daughters. She is thrilled to be returning to WFS for her second show after working on the production team of “Sweet Charity” last season. Alecia holds a BFA in Drama from New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts, where she studied musical theater at Collaborative Arts Project 21 and directing at the Playwrights Horizons Theater School. Recent/upcoming productions: Directing- Into the Woods, The Sound of Music, Summer and Smoke, The Fantastiks, Crimes of the Heart. Choreography- The Little Mermaid. Assistant Directing- Sweet Charity, Dog Sees God, Proposals. Special thanks to Daniel and the rest of the WFS crew for welcoming me into this wonderful family!
Jean MacFarland (Co-Producer, Production Stage Manager) is pleased to be back at the Weston Friendly Society after stage managing our productions of Sweet Charity, Annie and The Pajama Game. She has produced and stage-managed for Vokes Theatre, The Wellesley Players, the Footlight Club, Riverside Theatre Works and the Newton Country Players. Stage M anager credits include All Shook Up, Next to Normal, The Mystery of Edwin Drood, Sunday in the Park..., Avenue Q, Is He Dead, Picasso at the Lapin Agile, The Full Monty, and Parade for which she won the DASH award for Stage Management. By day, she works in Human Resources for the Howard Hughes Medical Institute. She is excited to be part of Holiday Inn as every Christmas she would watch the move with her dad…this one’s for you dad.