Once Upon A Time

Averi Grace Adkins is an 8th grade homeschooler who loves performing on stage, turtles, learning about history (especially military history), watching murder mysteries, fashion (especially historical clothing and military uniforms) and traveling to different places. She has taken theater and choir classes at Lancaster Academy for the Performing Arts (LAPA) and theater classes and voice lessons with her wonderful voice teacher, Sarah Zahn, at Creative Pursuit Studios (CPS). Averi’s favorite roles were Santa Claus in Elf JR (CPS) and Modern Theater Student in All The World’s A Stage (LAPA). When she is not acting, Averi enjoys doing art, performing mime with the Silent Witness Mime Troupe, playing her flute, planning parties and making gifts for her friends, and doing calligraphy. With Servant Stage, she enjoyed the three summer theater camps she did (Honk JR, Seussical JR, and Oklahoma JR) as well as all the ConSERVANTory classes this past summer. Averi is thankful to Servant Stage for this virtual opportunity to do Once Upon a Time since she has really missed performing during COVID.

Kiley Andrews is excited to be a part of Once Upon A Time. This will be her third production with Servant Stage. She enjoyed being in Once On This Island JR and Frozen JR in the past. She was also a part of her school’s production of The Emperor’s New Clothes. Kiley is in 6th grade at Brownstown Elementary school. She plays the flute in the band and takes voice and piano lessons. In her free time she enjoys reading, writing, and drawing. Kiley would like to thank Servant Stage for this opportunity.

Hello, my name is Elliana Backert and I’m ten years old. I’m delighted to be working with Servant Stage on my first production! I’ve loved theatre from an early age and have always enjoyed putting on skits and plays for my extended family. I’ve also attended several theatre camps. In addition to theatre, I enjoy ice skating, horseback, and traveling with my family! After watching many Servant Stage productions over the years, I’m so excited to finally be old enough to participate in Servant Stage and can’t wait for Once Upon A Time!

Tate Boyer is a 10th grader at Manheim Township High School. She is so excited to be a part Once Upon A Time! Tate was in Frozen JR with Servant Stage last year, and is excited to be able to be in another show with them. Other shows she has done include: Music Man JR and Clue: Onstage with her middle school, Shrek the Musical JR, Mary Poppins JR, and Frozen JR, at Cavod Theatre, and High School Musical JR at Popovsky Performing Arts. She also takes voice lessons with Rebekah Hill. Along with theatre, Tate also loves to bake, read, and play guitar. She also fills her time with her part time job at an ice cream shop. Tate is thrilled to be a part of Once Upon A Time, and very thankful for the opportunity!

Tirzah Byers is super excited to be a part of her first Servant Stage production Once Upon A Time! She is homeschooled, 17 years old, and is in her senior year of high school. After high school she hopes to pursue a career in performing arts and to be accepted into Sight & Sound Theatre’s Conservatory next fall. Tirzah has been in dance classes at Adagio Dance Academy since she was 3. Some of her favorite shows she’s been a part of is The Nutcracker (Sugarplum Fairy & Dew Drop Fairy), Gisselle, Sleeping Beauty, Cinderella, and La Fille mal gardee (playing all sorts of fun various roles). She has been in music lessons for the last 10 years taking piano, voice, and guitar lessons. She also started taking acting classes at Cavod Academy this school year. Things you can often find Tirzah doing is baking with her sister, hanging out with her family, or teaching her dogs crazy tricks! She wants to thank her parents and teachers (Ms. Christine Pizzolo, Mrs. Brenda Balmer, and Mr. Caleb Heckman) for being such a wonderful inspiration and for their amazing help and support.

Lana Dyer is so excited to be a part of Once Upon a Time with Servant Stage. She has most recently been seen in 10 Ways to Survive Life in a Quarantine and The Wizard of Oz with her high school. She has also been in her middle school’s productions of Chitty Chitty Bang Bang JR (Chitty Chitty Bang Bang and the Toymaker), Peter Pan JR (Ensemble), and Bah, Humbug (Ensemble). Lana is also in concert band and chorus as well as a member of the L-S Marching Band and a singer in Madrigals. She also had the opportunity to be a part of the 2021 PMEA District 7 Choir. Outside of school, she takes voice and piano lessons, loves to bake, and enjoys photography and writing and has won several awards for both. Lana would like to thank the directors for putting on a show like this and giving her the opportunity to perform and meet new people as well as her family for supporting her in everything she does!

Cora Glacken is so excited to be part of Once Upon a Time. An 8th grader with the Conestoga Valley Virtual Academy, she enjoys singing, acting, and playing the violin. She's in her seventh year dancing with Premiere Danse Academy. This year, she's enjoyed reading and playing video games a lot more. Her credits include Mary Poppins and Fiddler with CV High School; Servant Stage camps Into the Woods JR, High School Musical JR, and Frozen JR; Servant Stage’s production of The Music Man: and several other church and class productions, choirs, and activities. She looks forward to Once Upon a Time, because of her great SSC camp experiences and so she can improve her musical and acting abilities; she is also interested to see how it will work online!

Hi! My name is Eli Heinsey and I am 13 years old. I love and have been involved in theater and singing for several years. My favorite role to date was Peter Pan, it was amazing! Some of my other interests include drawing and dancing. This year, I started Hip Hop and Tap classes and I am having a great time! I also am very interested in anime (I’m a huge anime nerd!). I love to cosplay, (dress up as anime characters), and my favorite accessory is wearing different wigs! It has been difficult being able to stay connected in the theater world due to COVID, and I especially love singing, so I am really excited for opportunities such as Once Upon a Time. And who doesn’t love princesses?! I do, and even have been able to play Snow White in Princesswhatshername?!

My name is Evelyn Hetrick. I’m twelve and homeschooled in the 7th grade. I live in Lancaster County with my parents and four siblings, three older and one younger. My hobbies include singing with my family and church, songwriting, crocheting, knitting, sketching, and being outdoors when I can! I was a “Who” in Seussical JR with the Lancaster Academy for the Performing Arts, and I look forward to being in Once Upon A Time. I hope to learn a lot and have a lot of fun!

Brooklyn Hilton is fourteen years old and in ninth grade. She has called Lancaster home for the past seven years. Some of her favorite roles include Young Miriam (Sight & Sound Theatres), The Ensemble in The Music Man (Servant Stage), and the Little Girl in First John (Piercing Word). She is so excited to continue working with Servant Stage with whatever comes!

Tayah Julian is ten years old and in fourth grade. She is new to theatre and started taking voice lessons this past summer. She was the Coroner in Penn Manor High School’s production of The Wizard of Oz in March 2020 and played Annie at one of Popovsky’s Performing Arts Studio’s summer camps. She is excited to be a part of Servant Stage this winter as she’s been patiently waiting to finally be old enough to sign up.

Anna Kiley is a 6th grader who was homeschooling even before the pandemic. She loves singing, dancing, learning how to play her new ukulele, and spending time with family and friends. Past shows include LBC’s production of Sight & Sound Theatre’s Ruth, Seussical JR, Oliver, The Pirates of Penzance JR, and The Wizard of Oz.

Hello, I am Kole Lawrence and I am 14 years old. Ever since I was young, I have always wanted to sing. The first singing event I did was my school’s American Idol, and I won! Later on, I realized I wasn’t just into singing, I loved musical theater, and tried out for my middle school’s musical. That was one of the best experiences in my whole life and brought me my new favorite hobby. I have been doing musicals ever since. Then, some friends were talking about Servant Stage’s Winter Camp, Frozen JR, and I knew I had to get involved right away. I was anxious to try for my first-time theater outside of school, but it turned out to be the best show I was ever in. Everyone was so kind and loving and made me feel so welcomed into the Servant Stage family. Now I feel musical theater down the line is going to be my career. I am very excited about Once Upon A Time because with all these crazy things going on, I am so happy to get back to what I love to do. It’s been awhile since I have had to use my skills, and I’m so excited to get to use them again and to improve as an actor. Thank you for this opportunity and I am ecstatic to get this going!

Soren Lefever is in 11th grade. She enjoys singing, cuddling puppies, playing ukulele, dancing, and hanging out with her friends. Soren is very excited to be able to be back with Servant Stage again this winter! She has been involved with Cavod Academy of the Arts, Creative Pursuits,and Learning Station dramas and musicals for the past seven years. Her favorite role to date was Diana Berry in Anne of Green Gables. As the Old Woman from Beauty and the Beast says, “Never buy six eggs from a singing townsperson, they are too expensive!!”

Dylan Jacob Loraw is an 8th grader at Lionville Middle School. He has been performing since he was ten years old. He was most recently seen at the Dutch Apple Dinner Theater as Michael in Elf the Musical. He has had some amazing theater opportunities such as being on the National Tour of Finding Neverland as Peter. He has spent three years working for Sight and Sound Theatres as well as the American Music Theatre in original roles. He also has worked with Servant Stage Company, Dutch Apple, SALT and others. His most challenging role to date has been Billy in Billy Elliot. He is excited to be performing again with Servant Stage Company. So much love to friends and family for their continued support and prayers. Matthew 5:16 “Let your light shine.” IG@dylanjloraw

Hi! I’m Malloree and I’ve been doing theatre for roughly 5 years now. The first show I was in was Seussical JR at the Susquehanna Stage. I have also been in the 2016 winter performance at American Music Theatre and was also in Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat at Dutch Apple in 2019. Theatre gives me a chance to express myself in different ways and make new friends I wouldn’t get to meet otherwise. I have been doing ballet since I was 2 ½ and slowly added jazz and tap onto that. In my free time I enjoy drawing, writing and painting. I also play the oboe and the violin and play volleyball as a sport with PA Elite.

Anne McIlvaine is excited to be a part of Servant Stage's Once Upon A Time! A junior at McCaskey High School, Anne loves the arts and especially performing. Some of her credits include The Addams Family (McCaskey), High School Musical JR (Servant Stage), Shrek the Musical (McCaskey), and two teen shows with Servant Stage, Jukebox Saturday Night and Jump, Jive, and Jukebox! She was honored to participate in Teen Company in 2020. She also participates in her school's marching band and with McCaskey's vocal ensemble and chamber choir. She would like to thank God, her parents, the Servant Stage Staff, her music teachers, and anyone else who has ever been an encouragement!

Clara Mecouch is an 8th grader at Martin Meylin Middle School. She has been involved in community musical theater in Lancaster County since she was 8 years old. Some of her favorite roles are Pepper in Annie at Dutch Apple (2019), Miss Andrew in Mary Poppins JR at EPAC (2019), and Violet Beauregard in Willy Wonka JR at EPAC (2018). She was a part of Aladdin JR (2016), Lion King JR (2017), and Frozen JR (2020) at EPAC. She also was a part of her middle school production of Chitty Chitty Bang Bang as a featured dancer in 2018. Most recently she enjoyed playing Sister Mary Stephens in Sister Act JR with CPS (Summer 2020) and Dixie Bell Breeland in the virtual cabaret, The Bachelor, with CPS (March to June 2020). And her most recent project included a spotlight solo of “Popular” from Wicked, in EPAC’s 2020 Online Teen Benefit Concert (Nov 2020).Clara dances at Pulse Dance School in Lititz, where she studies ballet, tap, and musical theater jazz. She also dances at the preliminary championship level of competitive Irish dance with the Hooley School in Brownstown. She takes voice lessons with Sarah Zahn and receives acting coaching with Reji Woods, both with CPS in Lancaster. Clara is part of her middle school choir and special singers group, Madrigals. She is part of her middle school orchestra and plays the violin. Clara enjoys Broadway musicals, reading, riding her bicycle, painting, and doing arts and crafts projects. She is happy to be a part of Once Upon a Time, as it allows her to continue to participate in the arts and share her God given gifts with others during these tough times.

Ava Joy Munn, age 13, is a home schooled 7th grader who’s missed sharing the stage with all her friends. She’s grateful for the virtual opportunities Servant Stage has provided for everyone to continue growing in their talents and an outlet for creativity. Some of Ava’s favorite roles have included: Sarah (Jesus, Sight & Sound Theatres), Youth Ensemble (Joy to the World, AMT), Youth Ensemble (Let Freedom Ring, Servant Stage), Ensemble (Mary Poppins JR, EPAC), Young Girl (Titanic: The Musical, Servant Stage). She enjoys taking voice lessons at CPS with her wonderful teacher, Rebekah Hill. Ava would like to thank God for His many blessings and her family for their love and support, including putting up with her nonstop singing around the house. “Make a joyful noise unto the Lord, all the earth: make a loud noise, and rejoice, and sing praise.” Psalms 98:4

Brady Norgaard, age 15, is ready to travel to a magical land for this fun show! Brady loves performing with Servant Stage and was most recently seen with Servant Stage in Frozen JR, Music Man, Once on this Island JR, Jump Jive and Jukebox, A Christmas Carol, Titanic, Jukebox Saturday Night, and The Old Time Gospel Radio Hour. Brady recently performed in the 2012-2019 American Music Theater Christmas Shows, as well as playing Curious George in Curious George at Dutch Apple Dinner Theater. Brady has also performed with the Fulton Theatre, Creative Works Lancaster, Piercing Word, Prima Theatre, Theater Harrisburg, and Lancaster Bible College. Brady would like to thank Servant Stage Company for this great opportunity as well as their Teen Company instructors who provide a wonderful performing arts education.

Molly O’Shea is a seventh grader at Manheim Township Middle School. She has participated in two Youth Theater Camps (Oklahoma JR and Frozen JR) She has also performed in two school shows while she was in Intermediate School. She has been born and currently being raised in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. She enjoys Singing, hanging out with her friends, and playing sports. Molly is involved in chorus, vocal ensemble, and Tri-M Music Honors Society at school. She is greatly appreciative of the opportunities that Wally has given her and is thankful for being able to perform with Servant Stage.

Hi, my name is Michaela Richter and I’m 16 years old. I enjoy writing, listening to music, helping to lead worship at my youth group, and spending time with friends. Acting has been a passion of mine ever since I was 7. I’ve acted mostly at Cavod Academy of the Arts. I have participated in shows like Amelia Bedelia, Alice In Wonderland, Willy Wonka JR, Doctor Dolittle JR, Dear Edwina, and Shrek JR. I’m excited to start learning and meeting new people through this program! It's my first time doing a concert with another company, specifically singing. I’m also excited for more opportunities like this! My favorite verse at the moment is Psalm 27:1-14.

Hi! My name is Maeve Sasse, and I am eleven years old. I love singing and acting and have been doing both for three years. My favorite shows that I have done are Les Miserables, Into the Woods, and Annie. I take voice lessons and am a part of Berks Youth Chorus and Reading Civic Theatre’s Young Triple Threats. I am excited to be a part of Once Upon a Time because I get to do what I love while learning and growing as an actor and singer. Plus, I get to meet and work with so many new people, which is so fun. I can’t wait to get started!

Laciee Tito recently moved to Lancaster from Riverside California. She is in the 7th grade. Laciee has taken dance classes since she was four years old. She has performed in Christmas and spring dance shows every year. She also performed in a children's musical theatre group in 101 Dalmations. She enjoys music and wants to expand her studies in the musical arts.

Coden Tortolano has performed in Seussical JR as Horton, Octavius in William Shakespeare’s Julius Caesar, and has also played the White Rabbit in Alice in Wonderland. He has sung in multiple choirs over his 9 years of singing and is currently co-leading a singing group at his church. Coden has taken theater classes at the Lancaster Academy for the Performing Arts (LAPA) with Reji Woods and Rachel Musser. He also took a Dance theater class with Andrea Calderon. And he worked under Jen Felty while in the show Seussical JR. Coden lives for the theater and loves working with others. In his free time, he likes to play and sing at the piano, play soccer and frisbee with his friends, tinker with Legos, and enjoys playing video games. He is so excited to be in his first Servant Stage show, Once Upon a Time, and can’t wait to see what God has in store for him.

Lenae Tortolano is 16 years old and enjoys acting, singing, sewing, learning Spanish, Legos, and pretty much anything cat related. She has been on the stage since age 6, and is always singing in her everyday life. Her most recent show was Beauty and the Beast with Lancaster Academy for the Performing Arts, but it never appeared on the stage because of the COVID-19 mandate in March. Thankfully, God provided a way to still do theater online through Covidokes with Red Accordion Studios. Once Upon a Time will be Lenae’s first performance with Servant Stage. She has seen many of their shows, and enjoyed learning from the ConSERVANTory during the summer. She is super excited to do Once Upon a Time, because she really misses doing theater, working with a cast to put on a production, and portraying fun characters. One of her favorite bible verses is 1 Thessalonians 5:11.

Catherine Weaver is making her Servant Stage debut in Once Upon a Time. She has been a part of the stage crew for Superduck and Big Bad at Sacred Heart School in Lancaster. Catherine enjoys art and photography. She is happy to get the chance to perform with Servant Stage because it will be fun! Thanks to Mom, Dad, Lydia, Laciee, Myha, and Julie.