The Will Rogers Follies
September 26 – November 9, 2019
Shake hands with the heartwarming humorist who spun a rope, poked fun at headlines and never met a man he didn’t like. The rags-to-riches story of America’s beloved humorist, journalist and friend of presidents bursts to life as a Ziegfeld Follies-style extravaganza. Family, fame and fate are center stage in Will’s rise from obscurity to stardom. Along the way, he’s arm-in-arm with vivacious showgirls and a slew of cowboys. Catch Williamania!
Age Appropriateness: Recommended for ages 10 and up
Running Time: 2 hours 20 minutes
The Will Rogers Follies
September 26 – November 9, 2019
Shake hands with the heartwarming humorist who spun a rope, poked fun at headlines and never met a man he didn’t like. The rags-to-riches story of America’s beloved humorist, journalist and friend of presidents bursts to life as a Ziegfeld Follies-style extravaganza. Family, fame and fate are center stage in Will’s rise from obscurity to stardom. Along the way, he’s arm-in-arm with vivacious showgirls and a slew of cowboys. Catch Williamania!
Age Appropriateness: Recommended for ages 10 and up
Running Time: 2 hours 20 minutes
Private: Ashley Mills Becher
Ashley Mills Becher (Swing/Betty Blake Understudy) is honored to be back at Dutch Apple, where she previously appeared in Phantom and Anything Goes. It is always a thrill to work alongside her husband, Bobby, with whom she also writes TYA shows for their company, WhatFun! Theatre. Ashley also loves working as a freelance director, choreographer, and educator. B, you always bring me to light. Praise! Website: abBecher.com IG: @blissed7, @whatfuntheatre
Private: Bobby Becher
Bobby Becher (Wiley Post / Will Rogers Understudy) is proud to be returning to Lancaster, having previously been seen in Dutch Apple’s Phantom, James and the Giant Peach, and Anything Goes. Most recent credits include Million Dollar Quartet, Holiday Inn, and Tom Prather’s own Second Chances: The Thrift Shop Musical. Bobby is also co-owner of the Theatre for Young Audiences company, WhatFun! Theatre with his wife Ashley. Check them out at whatfuntheatre.com! Love to Ashley and the Bunch! BAsh! Roll Tide!
Private: Julia Feeley
Julia Feeley (Ensemble) is so happy to be back at The Dutch Apple where she was last seen as Potiphar’s Wife in Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat. Other regional credits include Joseph.., Chicago, Beauty and the Beast, The Producers (Theatre by the Sea); Beauty and the Beast (The Gateway); Singin’ in the Rain (The Wick Theatre); and The Joe Iconis Christmas Extravaganza (Feinstein’s 54 Below). Thank you to everyone here at Prather Entertainment for welcoming me back and to my amazing family and friends for their never-ending support. IG: @juliafeeley
Private: Corinne Holland
Corinne Holland (Ziegfeld’s Favorite) is overjoyed to be joining this cast and creative team to perform in Will Rogers Follies. International: Legally Blonde The Musical (Brooke Wyndham; China Tour). Regional: A Chorus Line (Sheila Bryant; Madison Theatre); Legally Blonde, West Side Story, Thoroughly Modern Millie (Thingamajig Theatre Company); Guys & Dolls (The Wick); Catch Me If You Can (NextStop Theatre); Pippin (Highlands Playhouse). ECU Alum. Thank you Mom and Dad for all your constant love and support! IG: @corinne_holland
Private: Kerry Lambert
Kerry Lambert (Ensemble) is back in his 12th season with Prather Productions. Favorite performances include Anything Goes, Cats, The King and I, Guys and Dolls, Fiddler on the Roof, 9 to 5, Mama Mia!, High School Musical and Swing! Kerry has performed with Universal Studios Theme Park in Osaka, Japan, and has choreography works across the U.S. including The National Tour of Seven Brides for Seven Brothers, Oklahoma! South Pacific, Grease, and Funny Girl. He graduated with a Bachelor of Fine Arts from Northwestern State University and is a Baton Rouge Native. He served as the Assistant Director for the International Dance Challenge Competition, has choreographed for New Regency Films, and was an instructor at The Chicago School of Dance & Theatre.
Private: Chelsea Moses
Chelsea Moses (Ensemble) is so happy to be making her debut at Dutch Apple! Regional: Saturday Night Fever, Mamma Mia, Ragtime, Funny Girl (Interlakes Summer Theatre); Meet Me in St. Louis (Myers Dinner Theatre); Christmas, Again (Cornwell’s Dinner Theatre). Eternal gratitude to my family and friends for supporting me, always. @chelseamoses
Private: Anna Novak
Anna Novak (Ensemble) is excited to make her Dutch Apple Dinner Theatre debut! Her most recent regional credits include Phantom (Fireside Theatre), Sense and Sensibility (Guthrie Theater), Guys and Dolls (Arizona Broadway Theatre). Off Broadway: Angelina Ballerina the Musical (Vital Theatre Company). She grew up dancing with Minnesota Dance Theatre as well as performing with the company. Much love to Mom and Dad! anna-novak.com IG: @anna_nova2
Private: Jeanette Palmer
Jeanette Palmer (Ensemble) is thrilled to be returning to The Dutch Apple! She is a graduate of The American Musical and Dramatic Academy and has appeared in Disney’s Beauty and the Beast (National Tour), Funny Girl (Dutch Apple Theater), and Singin’ In the Rain (Arts Center of Coastal Carolina). Past favorites include White Christmas, Anything Goes, Thoroughly Modern Millie, and Children of Eden. Showers of love to friends and family! Chase, so grateful for your constant love and support! Luke 1:45
Private: Dwight Robinette
Dwight Robinette (Ensemble), a New Orleans native, is beyond excited to be making his Dutch Apple debut! Regional: Funny Girl, Aida, A Chorus Line, The Wedding Singer, The Little Mermaid, Legally Blonde. All my love to Imogen, Chance, Pingpong, Gus, and Ted. This show is for y’all.
Michael Santora
Michael Santora (Monsieur Bouc) grew up in New Orleans and recently graduated from the University of Idaho with a MFA in Acting! National Tours: Annie, Flashdance, and Million Dollar Quartet. Off-Broadway: The Office! A Musical Parody (Dwight), The Imbible: A Spirited History of Drinking (Narrator). Favorite roles include: Harold Hill (The Music Man), Sam Phillips (Million Dollar Quartet), Don Lockwood (Singin' in the Rain), Will Rogers (The Will Rogers Follies), and Jon (Tick...Tick...Boom!). All my love to my wife Kim, Ronald, Nannan, and my Mom, who always holds a special place in my heart. www.michaelsantora.com
Private: Megan Stricker
Megan Stricker (Ensemble/Ziegfeld’s Favorite Understudy) is thrilled to be returning to the Dutch Apple where she was recently seen in Annie. Other credits include Rita/ Dance Captain in Irving Berlin’s White Christmas and Off-Broadway productions of Guilty Pleasures Cabaret. She has toured the world in Mystic India and performed in Kevin & Caruso’s Magique and Holiday Jubilee! She also appeared in a Marc Fisher Footwear commercial “The Line Up”. Fordham University/ Alvin Ailey and Bachelor of Fine Arts graduate. Many thanks to her friends and family for their endless love and support! MTS always. Meganstricker.com
Private: Gabriella Tooma
Gabriella Tooma (Ensemble) is an Australian performing artist and graduate of New York’s AMDA College. Her credits include regional productions of Chicago, Swing and Joseph. She has also judged the World Dance Championships 2019, performed with the Collective Dance Company at Alvin Ailey, and completed studies with the Royal Academy of Dance and Trinity College for Acting, London. She is beyond excited to perform with the Dutch Apple in Will Rogers Follies. IG @gabriellatooma
Private: Stephen Vaught
Stephen Vaught (Male Swing) is thrilled to be making his Dutch Apple debut! Stephen is a native of Louisville, KY. Past Prather Productions credits include: Benny Southstreet in Guys and Dolls (Broadway Palm), Mary Sunshine in Chicago (Broadway Palm), Ensemble/Thief in 42nd Street (Broadway Palm), Ensemble in Elf the Musical (Broadway Palm). Stephen would like to thank his friends and family for their never-ending love and support. Now sit back, relax, and Let’s Go Flying!
Melissa Whitworth
Melissa Whitworth (Miss Adelaide) is thrilled to return to the Dutch Apple! Lancaster audiences may have seen her as Grace in Annie or Miss Betty Blake in Will Rogers Follies. Regional credits include The Sound of Music (Maria), Gypsy (Louise), Mary Poppins (Mary Poppins), and The Wizard of Oz (Wicked Witch of the West). Later this year, Melissa is excited to marry her fiancée, also appearing in this show - and it only took her 9 years, Adelaide! MelissaLouiseWhitworth.com