Meet the Cast and Production Team of A Fabulous 50’s Christmas
Amanda Donohoe
Amanda is excited to once again be working with the Towle Theater! She was last seen here in Reefer Madness (Sally). Most recently she performed in Surging Film & Theatrics production of The Drowsy Chaperone (Janet van de Graaff), Catch Me If You Can (Brenda Strong), The SpongeBob Musical (Electric Skate/Ensemble) and their Jeff nominated production of Urinetown (Little Becky Two Shoes). You may have seen her in Metropolis Performing Arts Centre’s production of A Christmas Carol (Ensemble/Mrs. Fezziwig u.s). She has performed with Big Noise Theatre, where she is also a board member, in Elephant and Piggie’s “We are in a Play!” (Piggie) and Into the Woods (Cinderella’s Mother/Ensemble). Other credits include Joseph…Dreamcoat (Zebulun) at The Dells Palace Theater, Rocklusions (Illusionist/Singer) and Love at First Fright (Katie) at Six Flags Great America. She is a graduate of Millikin University. She’d like to thank her family, boyfriend, and puppy for the constant support.
Declan Durr
Declan is very excited to be a part of his fifth production with the Towle Theater! His previous Towle credits include, featured ensemble in Reefer Madness, Various characters in The Last Lifeboat, as well as a member of the last A Fabulous 50’s Christmas (2022). His favorite roles in other productions include Ren Mcormick in Footloose (BNT), and ensemble in The Drowsy Chaperone (Surging Films and Theatrics). Declan is thankful to once again share the stage with his partner Hannah, and hopes you enjoy the show!
Trillium Falotico
Trillium is filled with holiday joy to be performing in her 3rd Towle Theater Christmas show! Past work includes The Prom, Ragtime, Gypsy: A Musical Fable, The Addams Family (Morticia), The Little Mermaid (Allana), Zorro the Musical, A Fabulous 50’s Christmas (2021), and Shrek: The Musical (Princess Fiona). Trillium studied at Point Park University and can be found on instagram @Trillium04. All my love to my family & Brandon, the holiday season is always brighter with you around!
Emil Ginter
Emil is so excited and grateful to be back for his second Fab 50’s Christmas. He was last seen at the Towle as Jackson/Kirk in Women in Jeopardy! Other shows include As You Like It (Wheaton Shakespeare in the Park), Tambo & Bones (Refracted Theatre), Clue (Chicago Heights Drama Group), and Murder for Two (Towle). Read more about what he's up to at EmilGinter.com. Thanks to the cast and crew of Fab50s!
Hannah Kipp
Hannah is delighted to be making her official Towle Theater debut! Recent credits include Emma in The Prom and Lauren in Kinky Boots, both at The Highland Park Players. Other favorite roles include Elle Woods in Legally Blonde, Luisa in The Fantasticks, Veronica Sawyer in Heathers The Musical, and Wendla in Spring Awakening. Hannah has had the best time singing with this incredible cast, and she is feeling particularly joyful about sharing the stage with her favorite duet partner, Declan. Hannah wishes you all a Happy Holidays!
Z Moore
Z (they/he) is delighted to make their Towle Theater debut. Since starting their stage career in 2022, Z has been across Chicagoland in Avenue Q (Skokie Theater), I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change (Oil Lamp Theater), and The Lightning Thief (Skokie Theatre). Z has also appeared in new works such as Stabbed in the Heart (The Factory Theater) and In The Family (PrideArts), from which they created drag persona Misha Linh Star: the cuisine queen. Z would like to dedicate this performance to their supportive partner and his family, and wishes everyone a Happy Halloween. For more on Z Moore, head to Instagram: @suddenlyzmoore
Sean Rhead
Sean (He/Him) is thankful to make his Towle debut in (bittersweetly) Jeff and Kevin’s Fab 50’s Swan Song. Favorite past credits include Angel City 4 in City of Angels, Jacob Marley in A Christmas Carol (BrightSide Theatre), Frollo in Hunchback (JPAC), and Orin in Little Shop (Munroe Park Theatre). Outside of theatre, Sean spends his time narrating audiobooks and teaching music to children. Special thanks to Jeff, Kevin, Elizabeth, and the cast for welcoming him into the Towle family. Additionally, thanks to his wife Caitlin and their dog Ollie for their unconditional love!
Nora Wragg
Nora is a first-year theater teacher at Bishop Noll Institute. Just a few weeks ago, she made her directing debut at Bishop Noll with Leaving Iowa. She is an alumnus of the Towle Youth Theater Ensemble, having performed in Carrie, Peter Pan, and Chicago. This past Spring, Nora operated Lights and Sound for Towle’s The Spider or the Fly? Favorite credits include 42nd Street (Peggy Sawyer), Last Train to Nibroc (May), and Lucky Stiff (Annabel Glick). Nora is a recent graduate of Western Illinois University where she studied Musical Theater.
Jeff Casey (Director)
Writing one last bio for a Towle – “What a surreal sentence that is to write”! The very first show I directed and produced here at the Towle Theater was A Fabulous 50s Christmas, 2003. A concept that I thought would pay tribute to Hammond’s past and lure people back to downtown Hammond after decades of decay – AND it worked! Fab 50s become an instant hit and let people know that something significant was happening. Two years later, Kevin joined me on staff, full-time and we’ve spent so much of our time and talent creating something very special.
I want to thank all our subscribers, donors, Mayor Tom and the Hammond City Council, our board of directors (past and present), volunteers, friends and the hundreds of actors who have entrusted their valuable time to us and shared their talent so we could make a dream a reality. I do have to thank a few specific people as well; Valerie Webdell, dear friend and collaborator on so many projects, including the arrangement of Little Drummer Boy/Do You Hear What I Hear, for that very first Fab 50s and performed in every version since. Linda Wilczynski, not only for all the time and talent she has spent on our stage, but for always being a huge cheerleader for our work here and for being forever friends. Shelley Crosby, her short but impactful time as our Director of Education and founding of Towle Youth Theater Ensemble changed the Towle and my life in ways I never could have imagined! Elizabeth Tuazon, the person I’ve worked with the most and continue to learn from, my work wife in a way, “I have enjoyed every minute, my talented friend”! And of course, Kevin – for inspiring me, challenging me, carrying me and trusting me - and all my crazy ideas. And for being able to make lumber last for dozens of shows, season after season, year after year.
And just like that, here’s my final bow! Thanks for the memories, laughs, tears and creative fulfillment – all enough to last a lifetime!
Elizabeth Tuazon (Music/Vocal Director)
Elizabeth is happiest whenever immersed in various combinations of arts and supportive leadership. Her musicality and movement styles have been healthily cross-pollinating over her 35+ years of being a musician and dancer. After a few careers as a music educator, performer, and curriculum designer at a nonprofit, she is pivoting back to life coaching. She completed her Masters in Transformational Coaching and Leadership at the Wright Graduate University in 2022 and is a Professional Certified Coach with the International Coaching Federation. Elizabeth loves sharing the joy of exploration, connection, creativity, possibility, and play with others through combining music, theater, and pole dancing (catch a class with her at Pole Icons in Chicago!); snuggling with her beloved husband Ryan and precious toddler Lyla Rose; eating delicious food and playing games with her family of creation (now including her au pair Ohanna!); and co-creating all-around beautiful experiences with people.
Kevin Bellamy (Set/Costume Designer)
This show marks Kevin’s 115th and final production at the Towle Theater and his 188th production to date. He has enjoyed his time over the past 20 years performing and designing sets, costumes, and sound for the Towle. Some of his favorites were The House of Mirrors and Hearts, Standby, Hollywood Arms, Ruthless, Ordinary Days and Next to Normal. Kevin has had the chance to work with some amazingly talented artists over the years and would like to thank them publicly for sharing their time and talent here at the Towle Theater. He is also thankful to have had the opportunity to create art side by side with his husband, Jeff Casey. Lastly, he would like to thank all of the patrons who have filled our theater with laughter and tears over the years.