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THE CAST

Chelsea Hough ( Iris Kelly) - Chelsea is excited to make her Circle Players debut in Fame the Musical!  This 15-year-old has danced competitively for seven years and is a member of the Hermitage Dance Academy Competition Team.  Chelsea also enjoys singing and has been a vocalist on professional recordings for NuSpring Kids and The Garfield’s Fun Learning with Music CD to be released worldwide this summer.  Chelsea will be a sophomore at Mount Juliet High School and enjoys eating, watching So You Think You Can Dance, and networking on Facebook.  She would like to thank her parents, grandmother, family, friends, and the Cast and Crew of Fame for their support as she continues to pursue her dream!
Brandon Johnson (Dancer/Ensemble) - This is Brandon’s first performance with Circle Players, but he has performed in several local productions as part of the Thomas Edward Poag Players’ Guild and the Tennessee State University Dance Experience Ensemble.  His credits include Macbeth, Jitney, For Colored Girls Who Have Considered Suicide When the Rainbow is Enuf, Make Me Wanna Holla (Vanderbilt University), and Waitin’ 2 End Hell (Negro Playwright Theatre).  Brandon has also performed as a dancer for recording artists including TRIN-I-TEE 57.  He is a native of Detroit and attends Tennessee State University.  Following his personal motto of “Entertain, Educate, and Elevate,” Brandon serves as a mentor and volunteer with several youth dance programs in Nashville. He feels blessed to be among the gracious cast and crew of “Fame the Musical.” Brandon is thankful for their energy and patience and hopes audiences enjoy the experience of “FAME” as much as he enjoys being part of such a wonderful production.
Faith Kelm (Carmen Diaz) –  Faith is ecstatic to appear in her first Circle Players production.  She previously appeared in Renaissance Players production of Cats, Guys and Dolls, and The Wizard of Oz.  Faith’s other credits include Woulda, Coulda, Shoulda: A Night of Musical Theatre fundraiser, and work with the Mind Enriching Theatre and The Gaslight Theatre.  A student at Brentwood Academy and an assistant dance instructor, Faith has studied at The Dancer’s Edge and performed at the Tennessee Performing Arts Center, in New York and Canada.  Faith would like to thank her mother her never-ending love and support.

Hannah McGinley (Serena Katz) – Hannah was last seen in Nashville as Rusty in Circle Player's Footloose and is thrilled to be back home in the south this summer after her second year at NYU majoring in Musical Theatre. Some of Hannah’s favorite roles include Shelley in Bat Boy (Street Theatre), Millie in Thoroughly Modern Millie (FHS) and Adelaide in Guys and Dolls (Pull-Tight). She would like to thank her friends and family for their constant support as well as this amazing cast and production team for making this summer an absolute blast!!
Earl P Landree (School Principal) - is making his fifth appearance with Circle Players.  He was previously in productions of The Music Man (Barbershop Quartet), The King and I, Titanic the Musical (Edgar Beane), and most recently Once Upon a Mattress (Knight #2). He has also been seen in the Nashville Dinner Theatre’s productions of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, Sweeney Todd, Mame, and The Adventures of Tom Sawyer.    Earl has performed with the Nashville Opera in the chorus ensemble of  four productions.  I guess I can’t get enough of everyone at Circle!  I just want to thank everyone, especially Tim, Kate, and LaTonya, and I can’t wait for the show!  Break a leg everyone!
Julia Nettles  (Mabel Washington) - Julia is a newcomer to Circle Players, but has enjoyed every minute of it! She is currently a junior at Belmont University majoring in art and English. Julia loves singing and dancing, and is extremely excited to perform in her first musical. She would like to thank her family and everyone with Circle Players for their support. And to the Fame, the Musical cast, she sends a big thanks for making this her best summer ever! 
Michalina Norris (Ensemble) -  Micha is thrilled to be a part of another Circle Players production and to be working with such an amazingly talented cast and crew!   Her previous performances include Once Upon A Mattress with Circle Players, and Pollyanna and Beauty and the Beast with Christian Family Theatre.  Special thanks to Kate for making her a better dancer!
Trey Palmer  (Joe Vegas)  - Trey is originally from Macon, Georgia, where he was active in community theater.  In 2008 he moved to Music City with his hopes and dreams. . . . . . But seriously, Trey moved here with his dog, Kenni, and brother, Dennis, who is pursuing a music career.  Some of Trey’s stage credits include the Scarecrow from Wizard of Oz and a portrayal of Lt. Jonathan James Kendrick in A Few Good Men.    Now a Nashville resident, Trey works for an internet marketing company, DefiNet Contact, as a marketing consultant. “I would just love to say thank you to Tim for casting me and making me a part of the Circle Family.  Joe is a new character for me in a few ways and I have really loved getting into his head.  The whole family at CP has made me feel so welcome and I look forward to doing more and more work here in Nashville with the friends I have made through Circle.”
Caleb Reynolds (Jack Zakowski) - This is Caleb’s third show with Circle Players and by far the most enjoyable.  He’s had a blast getting to know this cast and wants to thank them for the amazing times and support they give.  Caleb’s past credits include Danny Zuko in Grease and Chuck Cranston in Footloose.  He has studied dance for 15 years and was one of 8 male finalists for back-up dancer for Taylor Swift’s Fearless tour.  Caleb will attend Point Park University in the fall to study Musical Theatre.   He wants to thank his parents, all involved in producing “Fame the Musical,” his wonderful cast mates, and the good Lord above for giving him the ability to do all these things. Break a leg ya’ll!

Darin Richardson (Schlomo Mettzabaum) - Fame is Darin's second production with Circle Players. He recenlty playerd the dual roles of Charles Clarke and Harold Bride in Titanic, the Musical.  He is elated to be working with such a talented group of people who share his love for music and acting.  Since he began singing onstage at the age of 7,  Darin has performed in numerous church, school, and theatre productions including: Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dream Coat, Nathan in Guys and Dolls, Tevye in Fiddler on the Roof, and most recently as Sir Lancelot in Camelot.  While obtaining a degree in business management from Kansas State University, he was both a 4 year member and 3 year manager of the elite auditioned performance group “the K-State Singers”. After graduating, Darin moved to Nashville to pursue a career as a Country/Christian artist.  After coming across the Circle Player's website, he decided to audition and get back into the world of theatre; a decision he will never regret.  God has blessed Darin with so many great friends and family that support him and to all of them he is forever grateful.
Erin Spencer (Ensemble/Dancer) --  Erin is currently a student in her senior year at Middle Tennessee State University. She is a theatre major with a directing cognate and a dance minor. Her dance training comes from Ann Carroll School of Dance as well as working extensively with Broadway Dance Center in NYC. She has studied with such artists as Frank Hatchett, Sheila Barker, Josh Bergasse, Jared Grimes, Natalya Stavro, Dorit Koppel, Tracie Stanfield, and Jamie Jackson.  Erin’s show credits include Hello Dolly, Crazy For You, The Man Who Came to Dinner, Footloose, Guys and Dolls, Frankenstein, and It's A Wonderful Life. She is truly honored and excited to be part of Fame, the Musical, one of her favorite musicals of all time!

Mary-Molly Storey  (Grace Lamb) – Mary-Molly is very excited about playing Grace “Lambchops” Lamb in FAME, the Musical.  She always seems to snag the comedic relief role, but if you know Mary-Molly she is absolutely nothing like her character.  Having to depend on one semester of percussion in band and her natural rhythmic ability, Mary-Molly picked up drumming--and fast! Besides rehearsing, writing music, and preparing to graduate from Nashville School of the Arts, Mary-Molly has performed in roles such as Betty in The Foreigner or Cathy in High School Musical.  Mary-Molly hopes to attend college in New York next fall, so watch out! She’d like to thank her family for being such a great support (gas money has to come from somewhere!), God (for giving her such a passion for performing), her friends (for being, well, her friends), Mrs. Kindall at NSA (for being a great role model and teacher), the AMAZING cast and crew of FAME, and the Schaeffer’s for letting her come over and raid their drum kit when she needed it most. Enjoy the show!
Joseph Turner  (Goodman King) - Joseph has always loved to sing, but only recently realized his passion for acting on stage when he entered Hume-Fogg Academic High School.  His wonderful facial expressions in class prompted someone to encourage Joseph to audition  for school productions. As a result, he was cast in The Sound of Music - his first musical theater performance. Joseph looks forward to many more on-stage roles and is so happy to be a part of Fame The Musical.

Elizabeth Walsh  (Ensemble / Musician) - Elizabeth was born in Michigan and lived there until age 12 when her family moved to Tennessee. She recently graduated from Middle Tennessee State University with a degree in Theatre, of which she is very proud--though she still can't believe college is over!  Elizabeth has been acting (but only so-so) since she was around age 10. Until recently, she has only had time to do shows at school and Fame the Musical is her first show post-college. At MTSU, she performed in several productions including Summer and Smoke, Seussical the Musical, Rhythm In You: A Percussive Stomp, Romeo & Juliet, and The Country Wife. Elizabeth would like to thank her parents and her dog for always supporting her.
Rachel Ward (Ensemble) - Rachel Ward is excited to be making her debut with The Circle Players in Fame! She attended MTSU where she studied dance and obtained a Bachelor's Degree in Electronic Media Journalism with a minor in Speech and Theatre. She is now an Assignment Editor at News Channel 5.  Rachel is from Decaturville, TN where her early credits include Steel Magnolias and Grease.  Since moving to Nashville after college, Rachel has appeared in country music singer Jason Michael Carrol's music video " I Can Sleep When I'm Dead" and the Nashville Dinner Theatre's The Adventures of Tom Sawyer.  She would like to give a shout out to her parents, her sister, Riley,  her boyfriend, Andrew, and the endless supply of Red Bull energy drinks for helping her balance work and rehearsals.  

Special Guest Appearance
Music City Salsa


Circle Players is proud to partner with Music City Salsa for portions of Fame the Musical.   This Nashville-based group is a performance and competition Latin dance team led by Chris Martin.  Their mission: “To help build Nashville into a premier salsa-dancing U.S. hot spot and to share our passion for this beautiful and sexy dance with the world.”
    Music City Salsa members from various ethnic backgrounds perform and teach Salsa dance throughout Tennessee and at events such as Dancing with the Stars and Nashville Cares AIDS Walk.  Last year, the dance team competed in the World Amateur Salsa Rueda Championship in Florida and, this year, plans to bring home a trophy!
    In Fame the Musical, members of Music City Salsa perform in several scenes featuring Latin-influenced music.
“Dancing in Fame the Musical is a thrilling, exhilarating, tremendous experience,” says Chris Martin. “Inviting us to share our knowledge and expertise demonstrates artistic appreciation for authenticity and the extraordinary diversity of our great city.  We extend our open arms to the Fame team and hope to share memories that will live forever!”
    To learn more about Music City Salsa, visit their website:  www.musiccitysalsa.com.