The Actor's Charitable Theatre

Cast

• Greg Vander Wal (Sweeney Todd) is honored to be on stage again with The ACT in this incredible role. Greg is a psychologist and director of the UA Counseling Center. In 2019, he won "Best Actor" at the Southeastern Theatre Conference for his portrayal of Lennie in Of Mice and Men. Other stage credits include The SpongeBob Musical (Mr. Krabs), Annie (Mr. Warbucks), Beauty and the Beast (Beast), and Urinetown (Caldwell B. Cladwell). Love and special thanks to this production's beautiful cello player.
• Danielle Molina (Mrs.Lovett) is thrilled for the opportunity to explore her darker side as Mrs. Lovett in the ACT’s 2023 production of Sweeney Todd alongside an outstanding ensemble cast and production team. She has previously appeared with the ACT in Bright Star (Mama Murphy), Urinetown (Penelope Pennywise), Les Miserables (Madame Thernardier), and Nunsense (Sister Mary Hubert). Danielle has also been featured in Theatre Tuscaloosa productions including Company (Sarah), Hands on a Hardbody (Ginny), Fiddler on the Roof (Golde), and Secret Garden (Martha). Thank you, Ozzy, Osi, Olivia, and Dorothy for allowing me this detour down Fleet Street and for bringing light into my heart always.
• Darian Polke (Anthony Hope) is a sophomore at the University of Alabama and is playing Anthony Hope. Darian wants to thank his friends, family, and his cast for always supporting and believing in him!
• Grace Davis (Johanna) is honored to be a part of the ACT once more after spending several years in south Carolina. While there, she performed as Belle (A Christmas Carol) and Marguerite in a new production of The Scarlet Pimpernel. Previous ACT roles include, Belle (beauty and the beast), Grace Farrell (Annie), Cinderella (Into the Woods), Yonah (Children of Eden) and Ensemble the first time the ACT performed Sweeney.
• Brady Taylor (Tobias Ragg) has been participating with the Actor’s Charitable Theatre and the Tuscaloosa Children’s Theatre for the past seven years. Some of his favorite roles include “Flounder” in the ACT’s production of The Little Mermaid, "Finch" in newsies, and the ACT’s productions of Spongebob the Musical and Cats in ensemble roles. He has also participated with the ACT’s Junior Theatre Festival productions for the past three years. Brady is truly grateful for the numerous opportunities that he has received and for the friends whom he has made in the Tuscaloosa theatre community.
• Jeff Wilson (Judge Turpin) made his Actor’s Charitable Theatre debut in 2022’s Holy Ghosts. Favorite roles over the past 40 years include “Antonio Salieri”, “Atticus Finch”, “Willie Loman”, “Ebenezer Scrooge”, “Thomas Jefferson” and “Stanley Sanders”. Mr. Wilson humbly thanks Actor’s Charitable Theatre for the opportunity to create another memorable character and Becky Price for her support and love."
• Jordan Harper (Beggar Woman) is so grateful to be back on the ACT’s stage this winter. Her previous credits with the ACT include musical directing Newsies, Hucklebee- The Fantasticks, and performing with the ensemble in Bright Star. Jordan teaches music at Matthews Elementary and Collins Riverside Intermediate. Prior to moving to Tuscaloosa in 2020, her favorite credits include Martha Dunstock- Heathers, Ursula- Little Mermaid, and Beehive the 60s Musical. She would like to thank her incredible castmates and production team for sharing their talents and patience with her.
• Kazarious Brown (The Beadle) is thrilled to be on the ACT’s stage again. He was recently seen in their production of Newsies the Musical as Medda Larkin. He has done many shows in school and the community. Some of his favorite past credits include: Aladdin Jr. (Genie), Seussical (Mr. Mayor), Shrek the Musical (Donkey), Launch Day (Brylo),and many more. He is a proud member of the Board of Directors for Theatre Tuscaloosa. He thanks everyone for their continuous support.
• Royce Garrison (Adolfo Pirelli) is thrilled to be back on stage with The ACT after last being seen as Daryl Ames in Bright Star at the Bama Theatre in 2021. Other previous credits with The ACT include Assassins (John Wilkes Booth), Godspell and Urinetown (Hot Blades Harry). Some of Royce’s favorite past credits include Kiss of the Spider Woman, Company (Paul), Cabaret (Max), When Pigs Fly and Pageant (Miss Bible Belt). Royce would like to thank everyone for supporting the arts by continuing to attend live theatre.
• Andrew Maughan (Birdseller, Ensemble) is a current student at Northridge High School. He has grown up performing in various Tuscaloosa Children’s Theatre productions over the years, and he is excited to be performing alongside his friends in this show. His most recent ACT credit is Romeo in Newsies. He would like to thank his parents, extended family and friends, and his church family for their continued support. 
• Matthew King Smith (Passerby, Ensemble) is an IT professional with the Tuscaloosa County School System and is excited to be making his debut with The ACT! Thanks to his family and friends for supporting him and the ACT for allowing him this wonderful experience.
• Mitchell Waits (Jonas Fogg, Ensemble) is a senior at the University of Alabama and is studying theatre with a minor in computing technology and applications. Over the years, he has participated in many theatrical productions, both on stage and backstage, with his most recent performance being Oscar Delancy in the ACT's Newsies. He is immensely excited to be a part of this production of Sweeney Todd!
• Tony Bordeaux (First Man, Ensemble) was a part of the first ACT Sweeney Todd show in 2011. He helped build the set for that show and on opening night when the music began, he was mesmerized. He knew then that if Sweeney was ever revived, he wanted to be on the stage! Having been a part of the ACT for the past 12 years has been amazing with roles in Chicago, Les Misérables, 9 to 5, Buried Child, Bright Star and Holy Ghosts. Additionally, he worked behind the scenes on many other productions during this time – it truly takes a community for these productions to be presented to the public. Thank you to all of the production staff who have spent countless (and he does mean countless) hours in preparing for this show. Your tireless efforts have not gone unnoticed!
• Alex Diggins (Second Man, Ensemble) is extremely thrilled to be on the ACT's stage. Sweeney Todd will be his FIRST official show and he’s happy to see where life can lead him after the show. He thanks everyone for their continuous love and support.
• Jalen-Dukes Palmer (Third Man, Ensemble) is 22 years old and really loves theatre. He have been involved with The ACT since 2008 and have loved it ever since, they’ve always made me feel welcomed whenever I first joined and i was just a little 8 year old who loves to dance. Ever since that moment I knew this is where and what i wanted to do for the rest of my life, dont get me wrong i had this dream ever since i was a little baby bird growing up but soon as i was welcomed with open arms at The ACT Studio…they made me believe that i actually had a chance as a young black male to grow up and become a great actor from learning and gaining the amazing skills and knowledge of their theatrical talents and experiences that they have learned and been through. I appreciate The ACT so much for what they’ve done to help me also realize who I am growing up im very thankful and blessed to be in such an amazing, wonderful community….no actually this isn’t a community it’s a family bc that’s how Joey Lay makes you feel once you’ve joined and you’re under his wing. :)
• Vannah Smalley (First Woman, Ensemble) is a senior at the University of Alabama studying Creative Media, Creative Writing and Theatre. She has previously worked with the ACT as “The Mayor” in SpongeBob the Musical. Recent credits include Ensemble in Theatre Tuscaloosa's Mamma Mia and “Shwoopsie” Flutterfly Projects' Firebringer. She would like to thank her family and friends for all their support and giving inspiration for the Fogg's Asylum scene.
• Alisha Jones (Second Woman, Ensemble) has most recently served as co-director and co-choreographer of Spongebob: The Musical for The Actor’s Charitable Theatre. She previously directed Seussical and The Wiz, and choreographed countless shows including Urinetown, Hairspray, and In the Heights. Her favorite performance credits include Cats (Bombalurina), Rock of Ages (Sherrie), and Chicago (Velma Kelly).
• Ava Sanders (Third Woman, Ensemble) is in the 9th grade at Northside High School. Ava has a love of music and passion to sing. She has performed in many school musicals, most recently Frozen Jr. (Young Elsa). This is her first performance with The ACT and she is excited to have the opportunity to be on stage! Along with school activities, she enjoys leading the youth praise band at church each week.
• Brandy Johnson (Fourth Woman, Emsemble) holds a B.A in English from UT Chattanooga. Her most recent theatre credits include: Keera in Launch Day: Love Stories from the Year 2108, Rosie Mulligan in Mamma Mia (Theatre Tuscaloosa), Gary Coleman in Avenue Q, along with several others from her hometown theatre in Chattanooga. She is more than excited to be a part of this production and would like to thank everyone involved.
• Sophia Allen (Young Lucy, Ensemble) is a college student currently in her final year studying music at Shelton State Community College. She has participated in many shows in the past, her favorite being the ACTs production of “Newsies”. This is her 5th show on the stage with the ACT and she has loved every minute of it! She is very grateful for all of the friendships that this company has brought her and she hopes to do great things with them again in the future!
• Melinda Allen Laska (Female Ensemble) is a teacher with Tuscaloosa County and a lifelong lover of musical theatre and Sondheim. Some of her favorite past shows have been Les Miserables, Steel Magnolias, Addams Family, Mary Poppins, Assassins, and Ragtime. She has wanted to perform in Sweeney Todd for so many years and is thrilled to be doing this show with ACT, along with many of her favorite theatre people! To Lee, my wonderful husband of ten months, and my precious kids Bel and Julia - I love you!
• Harmony Leverett (Female Ensemble) is originally from Mobile, Alabama. She recently graduated with her B.S. in Political Science from the University of Montevallo. She is currently pursuing her M.A. in Women’s Studies at the University of Alabama. Some of her favorite past credits include Hope Harcourt in Anything Goes, Veronica Sawyer in Heathers, and Catherine Donohue in These Shining Lives.
• Ally Marie Skelton (Female Ensemble) is a Freshman at the University of Alabama. This is her third show working with the ACT. Previous credits include "Pearl" (Spongebob), as well as "Elsa" (Frozen Jr.), and "Dorothy" (Wizard of Oz) with Northside High School. She thanks God, her family, and everyone at the ACT for this experience.
• Jacob Crawford (Male Ensemble) is an Alabama theatre alumnus with an MA in Shakespeare and over ten years' experience in theatre and film. Last year, he played Caliban in The Tempest, Don Pedro in Much Ado About Nothing and Coleman Shedman in Holy Ghosts. He hopes you enjoy the show. 
• Derek Reeves (Male Ensemble) joins the Sweeney cast for his second ever theater production. He previously appeared as Cancer Man in the ACT’s rendition of Holy Ghosts. Derek is pleased to be sharing the stage for the first time with his son, Jackson.
• Ellie Lay (Child) is excited to participate in the not so scary scenes of Sweeney Todd! She has previously appeared in The ACT’s productions of Seussical (Elephant Bird) and Bright Star. Ellie attends Rock Quarry Elementary and is a proud member of The Dance Centre Company.
• Jackson Reeves (Child) is in the 7th grade at Northridge Middle School, and is no stranger to the ACT’s stage. His past credits include James in “James and the Giant Peach”, Dawson in “Hogwash”, Buster Bluetang in “SpongeBob the Musical”, Flounder in “The Little Mermaid Jr”, and Les in “Newsies”.