Alumni Updates

THOMAS BEVAN

- (STC Alumni: ACTOR, BACKSTAGE / CREW) Current Location: New York, NY Since moving to NYC after college Thomas has worked a variety of jobs. Some highlights being: booking his very first audition and becoming a featured vocalist in the Radio City Christmas Spectacular. The next big step in his career was branching into film when he was cast as a principal dancer in the soon to be released “The Last 5 Years” adaptation. He spent most of the time on set with Anna Kendrick which “made the whole experience surreal, informative and beyond fun”. Most recently Thomas toured the US and Canada with Broadway’s “Chicago.” “I played the Bailiff in a track that is known to producers of the show as “the spirit of fosse.” I understudied Amos and was able to play him just once opposite John O’Hurley which was an unbelievable experience.”

Thomas is currently spending the rest of the year traveling (Fiji, Portugal, Italy…) with his Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons tribute show “The Unexpected Boys.”

On working with Stages Bevan says: “I loved my time at Stages. I met my best friend there and learned so much about who I was, who I wanted to be and how to make a life in theatre happen.”

MICHAEL MAHLER

- (CPTC + STC Alumni: ACTOR, BACKSTAGE / CREW) Current Location: Chicago, IL Michael wrote music and lyrics for Hero the Musical, an original show about an aspiring artist working in his dad’s comic book store. It had its premier production at the Marriott Lincolnshire theatre and was produced this past year at the Asolo Repertory Theatre. He was brought on by Cameron Mackintosh to work with Alain Boublil and Claude-Michel Schonberg on revising the lyrics of Miss Saigon for the new revival in London. They tweaked lyrics throughout and Mahler got to take the first crack at English lyrics for a new song for Ellen called “Maybe.” That production is still running, the show has had a smash engagement in Japan, and a live cast recording is now available.

Michael is currently writing music and lyrics for Wonderland: Alice’s Rock ‘n’ Roll Adventure, which will premiere at Chicago Children’s Theatre in May, as well as an adaptation of the Universal Studios film October Sky which will premiere at the Marriott Lincolnshire theatre in September.

ABBY MAAS

(STC Alumni: ACTOR, BACKSTAGE / CREW) Current Location: Chicago, IL Abby’s favorite role was as Roo in House at Pooh Corner and Wilbur in Peef the Christmas Bear. She’s currently a freshman at Loyola University Chicago pursing two degrees in theatre and psychology and hopes to end up using art, theatre and music as a form of therapy for kids.

HANNAH MORRISSEY

(STC Alumni: ACTOR, BACKSTAGE / CREW) Current Location: Eden Prairie, MN. Hannah loved every role she was a part of at Stages Theatre. Hannah write: “From an actress to a light board assistant to a sound board operator each role was such a special experience for me.” Hannah and her family have opened up a new dance and theater studio called Velocity Dance and Theater located in Chanhassen.

DEREK PRESTLEY

- (STC Alumni: ACTOR, BACKSTAGE/CREW) Current Location: Minneapolis, MN. Derek’s first show was Rumpelstiltskin in 1999 and continued on in a dozen other productions. He recieved his BFA in Musical Theatre from University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point in 2010. Since graduation, he’s worked at Minneapolis Musical Theatre, Red Eye Theatre, Theater Latté Da, and Channhassen Dinner Theatre. In 2012 he was in the Ivey Award winning production of Spring Awakening with Theatre Latté Da and just recently played Flounder in The Little Mermaid at Channhassen.

Derek recently founded 7th House Theater last summer with a production of Hair (named one of Star Trib’s 10 best shows of the year) and will be doing Jonah and the Whale with 7th House in the Dowling Studio at the Guthrie in December!

RENEE RODEN

- (STC Alumni: ACTOR, BACKSTAGE/CREW) Current Location: New York City Renee’s favorite role with Stages was Fiona in The Giver. She currently is working as an AmeriCorps volunteer in NYC at a beautiful high school. She spent this past fall coaching the improv troupe, and was consistently wowed by how fabulous the kids are, and how much talent they naturally possess! Many thanks to Stages for teaching me how to share my love of theatre, and the invaluable importance of a theatre education!

MELANIE SALMON-PETERSON

(CPTC + STC Alumni: STAFF, DIRECTOR, DESIGNER, STAGE MANAGER, BOX OFFICE/FRONT OF HOUSE STAFF) Current Location: Minneapolis, MN

“Stages has provided me to grow broadly as a theatre artist, to facilitate my goal to be a life-long learner and to work with the most amazing artist and young people.”

“At Stages, I have been a teacher, theatre-maker, house manager (yes, that was my first staff position!) props designer, stage manager & director. I have moved from the downstairs office to the upstairs office. Both of my children are in their 20s, one in college, one in grad school. I am one proud mama.”

AMY VELSOR (aka: AMY JOHNSON)

(CPTC Alumni: CAST MEMBER) Current Location: Mound, MN MEMORIES: Amy remembers participating in multiple years of Summer Theatre Workshop. And being in shows at Eisenhower, including: The Snow Queen, The Queen Who Couldn’t Bake Gingerbread, Huck Finn, Babes in Toyland.

“I became involved at CPTC at a time when I didn’t feel very connected anywhere – I wasn’t athletic and though I loved music, I didn’t have an outlet aside from piano lessons. Summer Workshops helped give me the skills and confidence to actually audition. I think my experience with CPTC was extremely impactful on my entire life because of the confidence it gave me to just be me.”

“I graduated from high school and went to Concordia College in Moorhead, MN where I earned my BA in Communications and English. I fell into a career in Purchasing/Sourcing. I am married and my husband and I are raising our three sons, ages 14, 7 and 5 in Mound, MN. In my spare time, you can find me at the rink as two of my boys are hockey players. I also enjoy yoga, working out, singing with my church, traveling and boating on Lake MInnetonka.”

MADELINE SCOTT

(STC Alumni: CAST MEMBER) Current Location: Chicago, IL “As an adult, it’s been a lot of fun to work alongside other Stages Alums all over the country!”

Madeline enjoyed singing and dancing in Stages’ premiere of The Snowy Day by Ezra Jack Keats and Charlotte’s Web. She received her BA in Theatre Arts from Loyola University Chicago and now serves as a Stage Manager and Assistant Lighting Designer across the country. Madeline has served on management and design teams at Adrienne Arsht Center, American Theatre Company, Chanhassen Dinner Theatres, Children’s Theatre Company, Court Theatre, The House Theatre of Chicago, Haven Theatre, Lookingglass Theatre, Music Theater Works, Old Log Theatre, Seattle Children’s Theatre, and Sidekick Theatre. She is extremely passionate about sharing stories with young people and her favorite productions are those that include youth actors!

BRETT WILLIAMS

(STC Alumni: Cast Member) Current Location: Minnetonka, MN Brett is currently performing at the Chanhassen Dinner Theaters where he is part of Stevie Rays Comedy Cabaret every Friday and Saturday night. He is also a tour guide at the Wabasha Street Caves in St. Paul where he does Cave Tours and Gangster Tours. In the Gangster Tours he portrays John Dillinger. He also does a murder mystery called Tommygun Trouble as Federal Agent Frank Lee Perfect. He also does a live comedy trivia show every Tuesday night at Tuttles Bowl and Grill in Hopkins.