The Wizard of Oz Cast

Jadyn Culp (Wendy) is 13 years old and an 8th grade student at Valley Middle School. She’s been dancing since she was 3 and performing in theatre for 4 years. Her first show was Wizard of Oz Jr(Barrister) and then she was hooked. Other shows she did were Once Upon a Mattress(Lady Lillian), The Little Mermaid(Andrina), Beauty and the Beast(Chip), Annie Jr(Tessie), High School Musical Jr(Martha), It’s a Wonderful Life(Young Mary), Shrek the Musical Jr(Fiona), In the Heights, Bye Bye Birdie Jr(Kim MacAfee), The Grove’s production of Annie(Duffy), Hunchbach of Notre Dame(choir), Alice in Wonderland Jr(Alice), Peter and the Starcatcher(Ted), Les Miserables(Young Eponine), “13”(Molly), and Annie(Annie). Jadyn is a vocal student with Joelle Witner. Outside of theatre, she is a cheerleader at Valley Middle School, a member of National Junior Honor Society, a girl scout in Troop 30268 and a member of Student Council. Jadyn is very excited to be a part of this amazing cast and crew!

Noah Witner is a 12th grade honors student at Hazleton Area High School. He has been participating in theatre since his youth, and will certainly continue to do so for as long as he can. He has played various roles, including: Cogsworth (Beauty and the Beast), Kyle (Legally Blonde), Peter Cratchit (A Christmas Carol), Snoopy (You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown), Shrek (Shrek: The Musical), Bert (Mary Poppins), St. Aphrodisius (The Hunchback of Notre Dame), Dr. Josiah Bartlett (1776), Jean Valjean (Les Miserables), and many ensemble positions throughout his theatrical endeavors. He is also a youth academy counselor at DM Performance Works Factory Theater, where he is actively involved with teaching children various skills that they can use both on and off the stage. He is also a dancer at Drama in Motion Studio of Performing Arts, and is a musician as well, playing both piano and guitar. He is also active in FBLA, the Psychology Club, the HAHS Drama Club, Mock Trial, and more.

Joshua Plesce (Scarecrow) is a junior at Bloomsburg University studying English and Education. Some of his favorite roles include The Squip (Be More Chill), The Cat (Seussical), Jack (Into the Woods), Sky (Mamma Mia), and Prentiss (Peter and the Starcatcher). Joshua is an avid coffee enthusiast. Also, he is always ready to beat you at Mario Kart. He is so very proud of this amazing cast and crew for all of the hard work involved with creating this production! :)

John Schugard – John was last seen on the DM Performance Works stage as Harry Bright in Mamma Mia and as Miss Trunchbull in a one-night engagement of Matilda. He has been active in NEPA theater over twenty years, appearing in productions of Sherlock Holmes and the Scarlet Avenger, Vincent, The Mystery of Irma Vep, The Threepenny Opera, Accomplice, and One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest to name just a few. His directing credits include Flowers for Algernon, Waiting for Godot, How I Learned to Drive, Frost/Nixon, Catch-22, Night of the Living Dead, Breakfast at Tiffany's, and most recently Evil Dead: The Musical. Thanks to the YouTube video Heynabonics, John is NEPA's best known asthmatic. Throughout all this, he would like to thank his wonderfully wicked kitty, without whom he would have retired from the stage years ago.

Donna Vojtek (Wicked Witch of the West) is thrilled to be tackling this dream role. Donna was last seen at DMPW as Alice Carpenter in Sherlock Holmes and the Scarlet Avenger and as Thelma (playing Macbeth) in The Farndale Avenue Townswomen’s Guild Dramatic Society’s Production of Macbeth. She was also the Assistant Director and Choreographer for Evil Dead: The Musical. Other acting credits include Night of the Living Dead (Barbara), Macbeth (Lady Macduff), Last of the Red Hot Lovers (Elaine Navazio), The Eight: The Reindeer Monologues (Blitzen), One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest (Nurse Flinn), and various roles in Catch-22, The History of the Devil, Frost/Nixon, and The Producers. Donna would like to thank Joelle for this opportunity, her cowardly Kitten for his unwavering love and support, and dedicates these performances to her mom, who introduced her to the magic of the Wizard of Oz and The Wiz at a young age. Donna wants the audience to know she loves dogs and would not hurt one!

Jessica Holm Werbin: Third Generation of a Theatre Lineage that goes back to the 1950's and beyond, Jessica has worked at most of the Valley theatres in her gypsy wandering, both onstage and offstage, from Board of Directors, to director, stage manager and actress. She's been seen as far north as Scranton's Actor's Circle Playhouse, to the mid-valley's Music Box, Little Theatre, and PTPA. Her theatrical wanderings finally brought her to DM Performance Works last November in Mamma Mia as Rosie. Travelling theatre-goers may remember her in such NEPTA productions as The Hunchback of Notre Dame, The Full Monty, The Complete Works of William Shakespeare Abridged, Funny Girl, Night of the Living Dead, Bye, Bye, Birdie and Urinetown. A special hello and thank you to her own Three Musketeers, her husband, Scott, and sons, Eric and Michael.

Nate C Kuhns (Professor Marvel/ Wizard) Previous DM Performance Works Factory Theatre credits include: URINETOWN:THE MUSICAL. His other theatrical endeavors span the past 23 years having performed or worked behind the scenes in numerous productions throughout PA and FL. Special thanks to Joelle for this wonderful opportunity to be in one of his bucket list shows/roles. And thanks(,, to family, friends, besties-KDALBCJR and especially his partner John for their constant love and support.

Brianna is 14 years old and a 9th grade student at Hazleton Area Arts and Humanities. She previously attended Holy Family Academy and was a member of both Student Council and National Junior Honor Society. She has played trumpet for 3 years and participated in PMEA’s Bandfest this past year. Brianna is currently a student with Bill Fox where she is learning to play guitar. Some of her favorite roles include Belle in Beauty and the Beast Jr., Nala in The Lion King Jr., “Learn Your Lessons Well” soloist in Godspell Jr., and Ensemble in 13.

Cassie Zeleznock (ensemble) is a 15 year old sophomore honor student at HAHS Arts and Humanities Academy, where she is a member of the Cougar Players and Chorus. She studies voice, jazz, ballet and hip hop under the direction of Joelle Witner and Phyllis Columbo at Drama in Motion. Cassie has been doing theatre for over 4 years and has performed in over 20 productions. She was last seen in PWFT’s main stage production of Matilda in September. Her favorite role was Rafiki in The Lion King, Jr. at PWFT. Some of her other favorite roles were in Les Miserables, Alice in Wonderland, Jr, Hunchback of Notre Dame, and Mary Poppins. Cassie would like to say "Break A Leg" to the entire cast and crew! She would also like to thank Joelle and her team for always supporting her and pushing her to be her very best!!

Zoey Force (Munchkin) is 12 years old and in 6th grade at Berwick Area Middle School. She is a member of her school’s student council, chorus, and S.O.A.R (Students Overcome and Achieve through Running). Zoey also studies voice, plays club soccer, basketball, and runs in many 5K races. This is her third play. She was middle Anna in DM performance work’s Frozen Jr. and Timon in PTPA’s Lion King Kids. Zoey is very excited to be part of this show!

Milana Daiute is 13 years old and is a 7 th grade student at Drums Middle School. This is her second mainstage production at the DM Performance Works Factory Theater! She was most recently seen on the DMPW stage playing the role of Matilda in Matilda the Musical. Some of her other favorite roles include the Genie in Aladdin, Jr. for which she received a NEPTA Award nomination for Best Young Actress (DMPW); Peter Pan in Peter Pan, Jr. (DMPW), Bulda in Frozen, Jr. (DMPW); Timon in Lion King, Jr. (DMPW); Kelsi Nielsen in High School Musical, Jr. (PTPA); Pinocchio in Shrek, Jr. (PTPA). Milana plays the trumpet and the piano and sings in the Drums Chorus. She also enjoys playing lacrosse, running cross country and being a part of the Freeland YMCA swim team. Milana loves the stage and is excited to be traveling to Oz with this amazing cast! Break a leg, everyone!

Sophia Andrae, age 11, is a 6th grade student at Valley Elementary/Middle School. Sophia was part of the ensemble cast of Frozen Junior earlier this year. She plays the Alto Saxophone and is part of the Elementary, Middle School and Jazz bands at VEMS. Sophia enjoys spending time with her friends and family and playing field hockey and soccer. She is also very involved in her church Youth Group and is a member of the Junior Bible Quiz Team.

Ruth Parker Huey (ensemble) is 11 years old and a 6th grader at Commonwealth Charter Academy cyber school. Ruth has been involved in youth productions since she was 7 years old. Ruth’s favorite roles were Young Nala (Lion King Jr.) and Small Alice (Alice in Wonderland Jr.) with Drama in Motion. She also enjoyed School House Rock Jr and Newsies with PTPA. Ruth takes jazz, voice, and tap with Drama in Motion. She is excited to be a part of this main stage production with DMPW!

Jacob Guerriero (Munchkin) is 12 years old and in 6th grade at Berwick Area Middle School. He is a member of S.O.A.R (Students Overcome and Achieve through Running), Berwick Areal Little League , and the Berwick Area Middle School Wrestling team. Jacob also volunteers in the community at the ELKS and the Berwick Community Dog Park. He is an alter server for Saint Mary’s Catholic Church in Berwick and also has played the piano for 7 years. Jacob is is honored to be part of this show!

Kylee is a 9 year old in 4th grade at Holy Family Academy. Kylee was in Frozen. The Wizard of Oz will be her 2nd show. Kylee just finished her 4th season of softball and takes acro and ballet at Drama In Motion. She also takes voice lessons from Joelle Witner. Kylee’s hobbies include singing, swimming, and bike riding.

Carly Force (Munchkin) is 9 years old and in 4th grade at Nescopeck Elementary School. She is a member of her school’s student council and chorus. Carly plays club and AYSO soccer. She also enjoys running in 5K races. This is Carly’s third play. She was Sven in DM Performance Work’s Frozen Jr. and Ed in PTPA’s Lion King Kids. Carly is super excited to be part of this show.

Josephine Polly is 10 years old and is in 5th grade a Freeland Elementary. Wizard of Oz will be her 4th show. She was also in Peter Pan Jr., Frozen and Matilda. She enjoys playing soccer and softball. She also dances ballet, hip hop and tap plus does gymnastics too. She plays the trumpet for her school band. She is very excited for this show and many others to come.

Alexis Lutz is 11 years old and is in 6th grade at Drums Elementary where she is an honors student. The Wizard of Oz will be her first production. She enjoys playing soccer and field hockey, swimming, baking, and spending time with her friends and family. Alexis is also part of the chorus and Builder’s Club at her school, and is part of a youth group at her church. She is very excited to be in this show with her brother and cousin, and looks forward to many more.

Isabella Polly is 5 years and going to preschool at country charm. Wizard of Oz will be her 1st production. She also enjoys soccer, gymnastics, ballet and tap. She cannot wait to do this show and many more.

Austin Lutz is 9 years old and is in 4th grade at Drums Elementary where he is an honors student. The Wizard of Oz will be his first production. He enjoys playing baseball, soccer, and spending time with his friends and family. Austin is also part of the chorus and has just started playing the drum in the band at his school. He is excited to be in this show with his sister and cousin, and looks forward to many more.

Madison Sisock is a fun loving nine year old who is on the swim team and in Leo’s club. Madison was part of the Peter Pan jr. cast and can’t wait to be a munchkin. She has been in several sports including softball, soccer, and horseback riding. Madison loves camping, the beach, and puppies.

Ella Sorber is a sweet nine year old in fourth grade at northwest area intermediate school. Ella plays softball and the drums. She also likes soccer and basketball. Ella can’t wait to be a munchkin for her big debut.