MEET THE CAST

Our amazing actors give their time so that we can all enjoy a little more art in our daily lives.

"I regard the theatre as the greatest of all art forms, the most immediate way in which a human being can share with another the sense of what it is to be a human being." - Oscar Wilde

PIPPIN

Director: Ben Earman

Ben Earman (Director)

is thrilled to be returning to the Guild in the role as Director. He has been actively involved with the Guild for many years, dating back to 2000, including being onstage, directing, and serving multiple terms on the Board of Directors. A fourth-generation resident of Vero Beach, he holds a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Musical Theatre from The University of Tampa and an Associate’s Degree in Education from IRSC. He has worked as an actor and director both locally and professionally around the state of Florida including performing with Busch Gardens Tampa Bay in their live animal show. He has also taught theatre at both the High School and Middle School levels here in Florida. Select stage roles include Carrie: The Musical (Billy Nolan), Little Shop of Horrors (Seymour), Beauty & The Beast (Lumiere), The Producers (Leo Bloom), The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee (William Barfeé) and La Cage aux Folles (Ensemble). Select directing credits include such shows as Legally Blonde: The Musical, Hairspray, Sweet Charity, Nice Work If You Can Get It, The Miracle Worker and Sylvia, the latter two earning the Genie Award for Best production of the season. An EMC member. During the day he works with the Senior Resource Association here in Indian River County as their Community Relations Manager and is actively involved with many other local organizations, committees, and boards throughout Indian River County.

Karen Wiggins (Music Director)

is ecstatic to be back at the Guild and working alongside Ben (again!), and Marty. She has been musical director for Vero Beach High School drama troop for many years, and has worked with Dee Rose, and many students - four of which grace the stage in our current production! (Kelly Clemenzi, Christine Light, Megan Taylor Callahan, John Stallings, and of course Miss Dee Rose herself). So let's not waste any more time - “We’ve got MAGIC to do!”

(Choreographer)

brings more than 30 years of dance experience to Vero Beach. Ms. Marty is a Florida Native born in Pinellas County where she began her training with Mrs. Agnus Phillips dance master for the Royal Ballet in England. Her training continued with superb teachers from the University of Utah, University of South Florida, American Ballet Theatre, Kirov School of Leningrad and Ballet Concerto Company of Cuba. Ms. Marty danced professionally with Florida West Ballet Company, Milwaukee Ballet, Joffrey Ballet and Tampa Ballet. She has shared the stage with such wonderful dancers such as Martin Freedman of the Kirov School of Leningrad, Haydee Gutierrez of Cuba, Lauren Rouse of Joffrey Ballet, Nobuyoski Nakajima of Tokyo City Ballet Company, Henry Hernandez of Southern Ballet and Orazio Messina of Teatro La Fenice, Venice Italy. She has written dance curriculum for Arts for a Complete Education with the Florida Alliance for Arts Education and has served on the Florida Dance Association Board of Directors. Also, Ms. Marty was chosen to work with dance writing team for the Next Generation Sunshine State Standards for the Arts (NGSSS-Arts). She felt honored to have been the owner and Artistic Director of Precision Contemporary Dance in Brevard County for over 12 years. Currently she teaches adult ballet and Jazz at Ballet Vero Beach and is the Executive Director at The Hope for Families Center.

Kelly Brown Clemenzi (Leading Player)

is excited to be back at VBTG. Some of her favorite appearances include, Legally Blonde (Elle Woods), Sweet Charity (Charity Valentine), Little Shop of Horrors (Audrey), A Chorus Line (Val), Thoroughly Modern Millie (Millie Dillmount), Hairspray (Amber Von Tussle), Producers (Ulla), and Into The Woods (Cinderella). She holds a B.A. in Theatre Studies from U.C.F. Kelly would like to thank her friends and family for their continued support.

Hunter Palmieri (Pippin)

is beyond excited to be in his first show at The Vero Beach Theatre Guild, making his debut as Pippin! Hunter is a Senior at The University of Central Florida and is graduating in May of 2023. Hunter plans to start a pharmaceutical sales position upon his upcoming graduation. He is beyond excited to share the stage with his fellow cast members! Hunter would also like to thank his family and friends for supporting him through school and his theatre career! Go Knights!

John Stallings (King Charlemagne)

got his start in acting as a member of VBHS’s drama competition troupe. He then went on to graduate from IRSC, where he earned an Associate’s Degree in Dramatic Arts/Theatre. John’s previous productions at the Guild include The Crucible (John Proctor), and this season’s Footloose (Wes Warnicker), and Musical Chairs (Harold).

Nicholas Keeler (Lewis)

is a local songwriter and a regular at the Guild whether on the stage or in the crew. His most recent credits include Visiting Mr. Green (Original Music & Lyrics), and Musical Chairs (Tuxedo). Outside of theatre he enjoys cycling and playing various instruments.

Sara Teel Gordon (Fastrada)

is thrilled to be back at the Guild! Some of her favorite roles include Legally Blonde (Paulette); The King and I (Anna), Into the Woods (The Witch), Sweet Charity (Nicki), and Pirates of Penzance (Ruth). Sara would like to thank her family for always supporting her passion!

Dee Rose (Berthe)

is a professional actress/retired theatre teacher of 35 years from VBHS. Previous credits: Gypsy (Mamma Rose), the titular characters in Hello Dolly and, Mame, Carousel (Carrie), The King & I (Anna), How To Succeed (Heddy), Little Foxes (Regina), Musical Chairs (Roberta), Oklahoma (Ado Annie & Aunt Eller) and is pleased to share the stage now with four former theatre students.

Christine Light (Catherine)

grew up performing at the Guild, RCT, and VBHS and pursued theater at Northwestern University. Favorite roles include Fiddler on the Roof (Golde), Sunday in the Park with George (Nurse), and Disney’s Beauty and the Beast (Mrs. Potts). Christine is also a poet and a mental health coach.

Charles Suleman (Theo)

is making his VBTG debut, and has appeared in a number of children’s theater roles across the country. Some of his favorite roles include The Little Mermaid (Flounder), and Into The Woods (The Baker). He is also an equestrian, and is represented by an agency for film, commercials, and television.

Alexander Wardell (Player 1)

is a member of International Artists Inc. He's worked in film with the military student film Purple Heart, and the HBO Max series Rap Sh!t. Previous VBTG roles include Native Gardens (Surveyor/Landscape Foreman), and Musical Chairs (Brad). Alex is always looking for more opportunities, working daily to continue growing his acting knowledge and career.

Cordelia Bolling (Player 2)

is a 19-year-old actress, ballet dancer, and color guard performer. She loves performing and learning about the art of theatre. Cordelia was last seen in our Studio production of Love, Loss, and What I Wore (Art Handler), and hopes to learn and get more experience through this experience.

Dawn Niemeyer (Player 3)

is a U.S. Navy Veteran, retired Special Education and Show Choir teacher in the U.S. and overseas, and is making her VBTG debut. Her previous roles include Grease (Cha-Cha DiGregorio), and Return To Calamity Gulch (Pansy Periwinkle). Dawn also enjoys scuba diving, music, and all forms artistic expression. We thank her for her service!

Joey Piscione (Player 4)

is making his VBTG debut! Recent credits: A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum (Protean), Elf the Musical (Mr. Greenway), West Side Story (A-Rab), La Cage Aux Folles (Hanna), Newsies (Tommy Boy), Gypsy (L.A.) and Side Show (Cossack). Joey is a UCF Graduate. Love to family and friends.

Marcella Crouteau (Player 5)

is excited to finally work with VBTG. They've previously performed in Rocky Horror Picture Show shadowcasts (Riff-Raff, Brad, Columbia, Eddie) with the Naive Charm group. Aside from performing, Marcella is attending IRSC, studying for a Bachelor's in Criminal Justice, as well as writing their first novel.

Megan Cournoyer (Player 6)

is 19 years old. She has most recently been seen in Footloose (Youth Ensemble) and Musical Chairs (Miranda). Megan is excited to keep pushing toward her dream of becoming an actor, and she thanks the Theatre Guild for the opportunities she has been given.

Mikaella Torres (Player 7)

is making her VBTG debut! Coming from a concert background, she has been involved in choir, and has performed at Carnegie Hall playing the clarinet on multiple occasions, but she is excited to take the plunge of musical theatre and has found a new family here working with these amazing people! Mikaella looks forward to what the future holds with her involvement at the Theatre Guild.

Sandi Hellstrom-Leonard (Player 8)

has appeared in dozens of shows throughout the Treasure Coast. Performances at the Guild include Cabaret, Hairspray, her Genie Award winning performance in Evita (Dancer), and most recently Cats (Jennyanydots) She was also in Cinderella (Queen), and recently celebrated forty years as a Jazzercise instructor. Break legs, cast and crew!

Megan Taylor Callahan (Player 9)

is thrilled to be making her Vero Beach Theatre Guild debut! Off-Broadway: The Imbible: A Spirited History of Drinking at New World Stages. Professional: Saturday Night Fever. Select NYU Tisch credits include Catch Me if You Can, Hairspray, and Merrily We Roll Along.

Lisa Keeler (Production Stage Manager)

has been a part of the local theatre community, and VBTG for 13 years,.While her main focus is Stage Management, she has held a range of roles over the years including directing, tech crew, scriptwriter, dramaturg, prop work, play reading committee, community outreach representative, and even appearing on stage a few times! Recently celebrating her 1 year anniversary as our PSM, her other recent accomplishments include directing last season’s Studio Theater’s grand opening production of Buyer & Cellar, as well as our January Mainstage production of Visiting Mr. Green.