It Happens Every Summer Cast

Payton couldn’t be more excited for you all to see this year’s production of It happens every summer!! Through everything that has happened, Payton is so grateful to Mrs. Weber, Marcia, and everyone making it possible for us to perform (even if it isn't in person). This will be Payton's 9th and final STM production. She is so grateful for everyone she's been around throughout these last four years, and even more grateful for every opportunity she was given as an actress. Lastly, she wants to thank her seniors who have been with her these last four years. Nobody else could have handled these obstacles like we did we. Enjoy the show!!!

Mary Kinyon (MK Roberts): Mary is delighted to welcome you all to this unique stage as she portrays the everso fun character of MK. This is Mary's tenth St. Thomas More production, and the very last of her high school career. Next year, she is excited to kick off her next four years at the University of Mary. She would like to thank Mrs. Weber, Mrs. Kahler, Mrs. Vickers, and Mrs. Oleson for making these past wonderful years of theater possible. She'd also like to thank her family for their support and encouragement. Lastly, she'd like to thank her fellow seniors for sticking with her for these enjoyable four years.

Emma has been a member of the theater program at STM for four years, and after 10 shows, she is extremely sad to say goodbye. Emma would like to thank Mrs. Weber for all that she has done for her. She has learned so much over these four years, and couldn’t have asked for a better mentor. Emma would also like to give a shoutout to her fellow seniors because even though this was not how they imagined their final show, she gets to experience it with her best friends. Lastly, Emma wants to thank her family, especially her parents, for always being her biggest supporters at all of her shows, even when she was a horse. She loves you all so much, and is going to miss this theater program more than anything about high school. And here’s a special note from the woman herself, “Hey guys, Emma here. I just want to personally say I love you all from the depths of my heart, and thank you for the best four years of my life. I wish I could give you all a big group hug right now. I owe it all to you.

This is Katie’s 8th play and she’s so sorry you couldn’t see it in person, but like everything else we make do! Thank you to her parents for the love, her friends, her cast mates, and all the supporters watching the show! It means a lot especially this year. This last play will always hold a memory in my heart!

Kaitlyn Greene Bitsy Stelling. Kaitlyn is a Junior at St. Thomas More. This is her sixth play with the STM Drama Department. She would like to thank her parents, Mrs. Weber for this opportunity and all of you for supporting the STM Theater Department, especially in these tough times. She thanks you for coming and hopes you enjoy the show!

Alissa is excited to be a part of STM’s first ever virtual production. This will be her ninth STM production, and she will be playing the part of Gretchen, the fiction editor. Even though this does not compare to a typical production, she hopes that you enjoy this unique performance and get few laughs out of it! Thanks for tuning in!

Emily Kandolin is a junior at St. Thomas More And has participated in STM plays and musicals over the past three years. Her favorite play was Our Miss Brooks and she had a great time with all her theater friends. She would like to thank her parents, Jonna and Brandon for allowing her to be so involved and pushing her to do better and stay involved! She would also like to thank her siblings for helping her sing and practice everything, including the play! But most of all she would like to thank Mrs. Weber for dedicating her time and commitment to the drama department!

Emma is a sophomore and is so excited to be doing her 5th show at St. Thomas More theatre! She would like to thank everyone who has worked hard during this world-wide pandemic to allow the show to go on. Special thanks to Mrs. Weber, Marcia Kahler, Mrs. Vickers and her parents for all they do. Thank you castmates for being amazing and great friends. Last shout out is to the crew! We miss you! We hope you all enjoy the show!!

Nathaniel is a junior at St. Thomas More. This is his 9th production at STM. He is also a member of STM’s Chorus, Jazz Choir, has attended All-State Choir and Orchestra for all three years at STM, and is a member of the National Catholic Youth Choir. In his free time, he enjoys gaming, hanging out with friends, and playing basketball. He would like to thank his parents for their unending encouragement and support and Mrs. Weber for her tireless dedication to the STM theater department

This is Emily’s 4th STM Production as a sophomore. She is very disappointed that we all can’t be together, and wishes that you could see the production in person. She would like to thank Ms. Weber for continuing this and bringing this to everyone. She would also like to thank her family for letting her continue to do this and be apart of theatre. Emily hopes that enjoy the show!

Hello, my name is Sif Gullikson and I am playing the part of Olga Stone in “It Happens Every Summer”. I am a sophomore at Saint Thomas More High School, and this is my first real play with the STM fine arts program. I played in the pit for last year’s musical, “The Pirates of Penzance”, and it inspired me to get on the stage myself. It has been a pleasure to bring this play to the screen. I hope you love our performance of “It Happens Every Summer”!

This is Tom's second STM production as a freshman. He would like to thank Mrs. Weber and all the juniors, sophomores, other freshmen, and especially the seniors for being there for him this year, helping him learn everything about drama. In his free time, Tom likes to play soccer and run track (while not in the midst of a global pandemic) as well as write, and do puzzles. Tom would also like to politely ask the corona virus to go away forever. Anyways, he hopes you enjoy the show!

It Happens Every Summer is Abbi's first STM production, and she is honored to be playing the role of Jennifer Truex! Abbi's freshmen life has been full of volleyball, band events, church youth groups, One Acts, drawing, and an absurd amount of reading (especially during quarantine!). A huge thank you to the seniors who inspired Abbi to try out for the play with their amazing skills on stage throughout the years! Stay healthy and enjoy the show!

This is Lucy's second production with STM Drama, but her first time being in the cast. After doing crew for "Pirates of Penzance", she couldn't help but come back, this time as the fabulous, over-the-top Mademoiselle Rene. When she's not busy with school, volleyball, and golf, Lucy likes to read, write, hang out with friends and family, go to movies, and be outside. She thanks Mrs. Weber, all the crew, and all the fun cast members for making this happen. Lucy hopes everyone enjoys the online version of "It Happens Every Summer"!

Carly Hanzlik is a freshman at Saint Thomas More. This is her third STM theater production she has done. Although this her first stage debut, unless you count holding up Queen Victoria. She would like to thank her friends for pushing her to audition for the play. This year isn't quite what she expected, but it was so much fun nonetheless. She would also like to thank everyone who helped put this play together and hopes that everyone enjoys the play.

Gavin Ryder is a freshman student at STM Middle School in Rapid City, SD. He has been involved in the STM theater department since the 2019 musical, Pirates of Penzance, when he played clarinet in the pit orchestra. He has gone on to understudy for the entire male cast of The Night is my Enemy (2019), participated in the 2019 one-act play, The Shape of the Grave, with his role as 'The Finder', and is officially acting for the first time in an STM production (although not technically on stage), with his role as 'Zachary Bryan' in It Happens Every Summer (2020). Gavin also plays STM Soccer in the summer and fall and plays for the STM Jazz Band. Gavin wants you to enjoy the show, despite how awkward it may seem at first!

This is my third STM production. I have loved to be on the crew for these plays, and hope to do more in the future. I have loved my role as assistant director, I have made many great memories! I would like to thank Mrs. Weber for all the hard work that she put into this show to make it come to life on a virtual level. I would also like to thank everyone else who has helped to make this an STM historical moment. Enjoy the show!

Malia is a sophomore and she is excited to be working on her second play with St. Thomas More Theatre! She would like to thank Mrs. Weber, Marcia Kahler, and everyone else who helped this show come alive. Thanks to all of you for coming to watch even in these difficult times.