Into the Woods Cast

Zach Johnson is a familiar face on the Princess Stage. He is married to April, and they have three children: Avery, Anna & Declan. Zach works at White Ford as the Sales Manager, and serves on the Princess Theatre Board of Directors. He has appeared in numerous productions, including South Pacific; Drop Dead Disco; Dinner by Eight, Murder by Nine; and Willy Wonka. He also made his directorial debut with this year’s Dinner Theatre, Always a Bridesmaid.

Originally from Dallas, Texas, Christie is a summa cum laude graduate of Baylor University with a Bachelor of Arts in Journalism and a minor in English. Before relocating to Louisiana in 2015, Christie spent 15 years working for a large hedge fund in Dallas in the Investor Relations group. She is now a middle school English teacher at Franklin Academy. Christie attends Life Church in Winnsboro where she is a worship leader. Her previous Princess productions include Willy Wonka Jr. and Pump Boys and Dinettes. Christie resides in Winnsboro with her husband of 18 years, Robby, and their 3 children, Jackson, Addison and Kaitlyn.

Born in Dallas, Texas, Jackson moved to Winnsboro with his family in 2015. Before moving to Louisiana, Jackson had numerous roles in school and church plays. He played the role of Charlie in the 2017 Princess production of Willy Wonka Jr. He is a sophomore at Franklin Academy, where he is on the tennis team. Jackson resides in Winnsboro with his parents, Robby and Christie, and his siblings, Addison and Kaitlyn.

Born in Anchorage, Alaska, in 1992, James has been on stage from a young age. He participated in many church and school musicals and plays. He carried that enjoyment through high school as well, participating in the Christian Homeschool Association choir, the Christian Forensics and Communications Association by performing dramatic interpretations of various works, as well as church and homeschool association skits and plays. In college, he was part of the Belhaven University Choir and Chorale, as well as being in a number of theater and musical theater productions, including multiple one-act plays, three of Belhaven's Annual 24-Hour Theater Festivals, and Belhaven University's 2012 production of Into the Woods as Jack. He was also in The Princess Theater's 2017 production of Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory as Grandpa Joe. He now works as pastor at Faith Baptist Church near Sicily Island and as an online teacher. He and Rebekah, his wife of six years, have three children.

Betsy Shirley began acting at age 5 in “Just Scratching the Surface” at the Princess Theatre. She was Dorothy in “The Wizard of Oz,” Wendy in “Peter Pan,” Louisa in “Sound of Music,” Tzeitel in “Fiddler on the Roof,” and ensemble in many other shows at the Princess. She completed a degree in vocal music performance, and participated in most of ULM’s operatic and musical productions while studying there. She was the Baker’s Wife in “Into the Woods” during her Senior year at ULM. She teaches piano and voice lessons (with 30 students) among other, various music performance gigs. She prefers to spend time with her husband, Travis, and their cats.

Laura Hassell grew up in Alexandria, LA and is a graduate of LA Tech University. She works as an accountant with her husband, Doyle, at Marcus, Robinson & Hassell, CPAs in Winnsboro. Their children, Lauren & Damon of West Monroe, and Chris of Monroe, are their pride and joy! Laura serves as Treasurer of the Winnsboro-Franklin Parish Chamber of Commerce as well as the Winnsboro Main Street Economic Committee. She is a member of St. Mary's Catholic Church and resides in Winnsboro with her husband and two beloved dogs, Bear and Sadie. This is her first role at the Princess in many years.

I am Camryn Price, and I’ve lived in Winnsboro all my life. My interests include dance, visual arts, and music. I work at the LSU Research Station and I am planning to begin college at Louisiana Tech in the Fall, majoring in Graphic Design.

My name is Jessie waller. I am a 2nd grade teacher at Gilbert and I am also a dance teacher at Miss Lindsey’s School of Dance. I enjoying singing, dancing and playing with my pup Chewy!

KAY LAFRANCE-KNIGHT, Winnsboro Main Street Manager and curator of the Old Post Office Museum, is no stranger to the stage, having played everything from Sally Bowles in Cabaret to the ditzy blonde in “Born Yesterday.” Her most familiar roles at the Princess have been as Mother Superior in Nunsense I and II, and Bloody Mary in South Pacific. She lives in her family home in Gilbert with her 5 dogs (“my grrrrrls”) and one cat. Her philosophy? “On with the show!!”

Zoe Foster is a senior at Franklin Parish High School where she has played trombone in the marching and concert band for the last three years and currently holds the position of first chair and low brass captain. Her parents are Jayme and Jason Foster and she is the oldest of four kids. She’s been in many productions with the children’s theater including “Willy Wonka” and “Christmas in Wonderland”.

Judy Long has been casting her spell on the Princess Theater stage since 2002 . She has been married to Duane for 25 years. She has 2 beautiful daughters, Mandy Moroni and Katie Long, and 2 amazing grandchildren, Colten and Blair. Judy works at Progressive Bank in Winnsboro and is very active in the community. In her spare time she has been known to go INTO THE WOODS camping with her husband and their puppy ACE. She also loves spending time with her grandbabies, singing, and running.

Craig Gill is the owner of Gill First National Funeral Home in Winnsboro. He has been involved with the Princess Theatre since 1997. He has performed in many plays, is a season ticket holder and a patron of the theatre. He also raises goats and has nine baby goats for sell at this time.

Bekah is honored to be working with the Princess Theatre once again on their production of Into The Woods, having previously played Donna in Drop Dead Disco and working as stage manger for Dr. Dolittle and Going to See the King. Her love of stage performance began at a young age with ballet and various church play and choir productions. It continued as she grew and lead to involvement in college productions at Belhaven University including multiple performances at the 24-hour Theatre Festival, as well as a choir pedagogy performance. Bekah lives outside of Sicily Island with her husband, James, and their 3 children.

Phillip is the 15 year old son of Shaun and Amy Thornhill and Mel and Nikki Stephens. He is a homeschool student who enjoys hiking, working with his hands, and being involved in his church, as well as various performing arts including playing the piano, singing, and acting. Most recently, Phillip was in the SYAA production of Beauty and the Beast playing the role of Belle's father, Maurice. Phillip has also been seen in several Princess productions. He was the Doctor in Dr. Dolittle, Mike TV in Willy Wonka, a Narrator in Going to See the King, and the Snowman in Dorothy in Christmasland.

After having helped with numerous productions in costuming and set design, this is Melanie’s first onstage performance. She has served on the Princess Theatre Board of Directors since 2016. Married to tonight’s onstage “Mysterious Man,” Hank Jones, they make their home here in Winnsboro with their three children, Stella (10), Owen (9), and Nina (5).

Brandon Loman is a resident of Wisner, LA. He is a proud member of the Franklin Parish Sheriffs Dept., and the music pastor Wisner Pentecostal Church. He has worked in music since his early teenage years, growing up in Allen Parish. His musical career placing him on stages around the country with such legends as Willie Nelson, Shenandoah, The Crabb Family, The Isaacs, and others. Over the years, he has played in 40 different states, Canada, Athens-Greece, Rome-Italy, the stages of the Grand Ole Opry, and the historic Ryman Auditorium. He is currently a member of the locally based Signal 20 Band, as well as the nationally traveled band The Arenos. One of his greatest joys in life is spending time with his high school sweetheart wife Stephanie, and their 3 children... Connor, Abigail, and Oliver.

Jacob Emfinger is the 14 year old son of Damon Emfinger and Heather Ezell. He is entering 9th grade at Franklin Parish High School and has participated in the gifted program in Drama under the leadership of Gene Thompson. Jacob's stage experience includes, most recently, the role of Robin Hood in the Missoula Children's Summer Workshop at the Princess. Prior to that, he played the Cowardly Lion in Christmas in Oz, Lewis Carroll in Alice in Christmas Land, and a Shepherd in Going to See the King.

Hank Jones has lived in Winnsboro since 2002, when he married Melanie Jones, nie Adreveno. He was reared in West Carroll Parish and later graduated LA Tech (BS) and LSU (MS). He has 3 hyper children, Stella (10), Owen (9), and Nina (5). When not found scouting cotton fields, Hank can be found scouting soybean and corn fields in various locations in Northeast Louisiana. This is Hanks 3rd Princess production, having been a silent police officer in 9-5, and the guitar picking Jackson in Pump Boys and Dinettes.