Who's Who
in order of appearance

Who’s Who…

 

 

ROMONA S. AUSTIN (Featured Ensemble) a retired native of Youngstown, Ohio, has two adult children, eight grandchildren, and two great-grands! Although she has only been involved in local theater performances for a couple of years, Ramona is fulfilling her childhood dream… acting. She feels blessed to be a part of the AMAZING GRACE cast. To God be the Glory!

 

EDDIE BONILLA (Corporal Briggs, Seaman James, Jeffries) is excited to take the stage again with Top Hat Productions in Amazing Grace! This marks his third production with the company. Although his son, Antonio, is not in this particular show, Eddie remains especially grateful for the journey theater has been for the both of them.  The stage will always be a part of the special bond they share. When not on sage, Eddie works in fire safety, specializing in fire extinguishing systems. Theater has become a meaningful creative outlet for him, allowing him to to explore a different side of himself and connect with audiences. Outside of rehearsal, he can often be found watching football, reading comic books, and supporting his daughter, Ellianna, in cheerleading – a role for which he would surely win the “Best Cheer Dad” award.  

 

JOE (Giuseppe) BORZACCHIELLO (Prince Frederick) is appearing for the second time in Amazing Grace! His role is not a large one, but a fun one, as he gets to wear a wig and dress in fancy clothes! Other Top Hat roles include appearances in all three Mangia’s (his all-time favorite show). Joe’s other performances were many with the old Main Street Theater in Columbiana. Performing at Top Hat is performing with family! “I am honored to be part of that family”.

 

DAVID G. BROWN (Featured Ensemble) started his acting career in a Los Angeles church play entitled Deacon Willie’s Last Will and Testament. Other LA credits include How Sweet the Sound, an original play written by Kenneth Brown. After being approached by a student of the New York Film Academy, he performed in the short film, Becoming Michael.  Returning to his roots, David performed in Our Lady of 121st Street, a play written by Matthew Mazuroski, at The Youngstown Playhouse, and later in, A Taste of Wine and Murder. He is proud to be a member of the cast of Amazing Grace!

 

JEREMY DAVIS (Robert Haweis, Featured Ensemble) has been performing with Top Hat Productions since 2022 when he appeared in Kinky Boots. Other stage credits include Jekyll and Hyde and last years The Renaissance Yuletide Feast. He is excited to play his first named character, Haweis!

 

DAMIN DEVAN (Mr. Quigley, Monsieur Clow) was born in Ashtabula, Ohio, resided in Parkersburg, West Virginia, and is now an area resident. Although this is Damin’s first time appearing with Top Hat Productions, he loves being onstage and is enjoying every minute!

 

MARLENE FIGLEY (Featured Ensemble) is a longtime Top Hat Productions supporter and member of Top Hat’sBoard of Trustees. Stage credits include memorable shows Violet, The Earth Trembled, Journeys, 57th Street, Aida, Ragtime, Blood Brothers and The Renaissance Yuletide Feast.  When not onstage with Top Hat, Marlene entertains locally with husband, Sparo, and enjoys being grandmother to three beautiful grandchildren! 

 

LYNNZ GONZALEZ (Sophie, Featured Ensemble) has been acting in movies and onstage musicals since the young age of 8. This is her second appearance with Top Hat, last being seen in Jekyll and Hyde.  When she isn’t giving time to her business, “Lynzz Designs,” Lynnz enjoys baking and painting.

 

HAGGY HAGEMAN (Featured Ensemble) Bio not available 

 

JAMIE HOLDERMAN (Featured Ensemble) is a longtime actress and volunteer with Top Hat Productions. She has appeared in The Earth Trembled, Journeys, Nativity, Jekyll and Hyde, Leap of Faith, Nativity, The Renaissance Yuletide Feast, and the first run of Amazing Grace. When not on stage, Jamie is active as a volunteer with the lobby staff & kitchen staff and is a resident theater makeup artist.  Jamie is a Dental Assistant by profession, and in her leisure time enjoys showing her dog, Ellie, in national dog competitions for which she has brought hoe many trophies.

 

MICHELLE JONES (Musical Director, Mrs. Catlett) is excited about her first experience at Top Hat! She has performed in productions at Selah Dessert Theater, Trumbull New Theater in Niles and KSU Trumbull. Michelle is an elementary music teacher, enjoys being crafty and spending time with her husband and two dogs.  

 

NIKITA JONES (Princess Peyai) is no stranger to the stage! Regional credits include A Night with Janis Joplin in New York and Virginia. While attending Youngstown State University, Niki appeared in Once on this Island, 1940’s Radio Hour, RENT, and Broke-ology.  Performances with Top Hat Productions include Sister Act, Ragtime, Amazing Grace, Smokey Joe’s Cafe, Once on the Island, and Aida. The Youngstown Playhouse credits include Beautiful, The Carole KingMusical, 9 to 5, Sister Act, The Color Purple, and The Wiz. “I am happy to be working with my Top Hat family again! My performance is in remembrance of Heather Jones… we miss you so much.”

 

CHRISTA LANDLE (Featured Ensemble) Her first experience with Top Hat Productions was many years back when she took part in a Renaissance show, and was invited back to be part of The Renaissance Yuletide Festival last Christmas season. Christa is part of the Amazing Grace featured ensemble, and is very excited to be a part of many more shows in the future!

 

JAMES A. LOCKER (Thomas) is a veteran in community theater. Musicals, dramas and other aspects of the stage have been a part of his participation through The Youngstown Playhouse, PRAY Productions, Oakland Theater and local productions at Centenary United Methodist Church and New Bethel Baptist Church. His entrance into community theater was as the Wiz in the Playhouse production of The Wiz in 1988. Porgy and Bess, afforded him his latest experience as Peter, The Honey Man; the production was an effort of Opera Western Reserve. You may recognize James as a member of the local gospel trio, The Sons of Bethel. An alum of Howard University and its Gospel Choir, travel, reading, dancing, cooking, and singing, are his main hobbies. His vocal performances have included being soloist, singing with area choirs and smaller groups as a member.  He was present as a guest at the latest live recording of Richard Smallwood in Bowie, Maryland.

 

TAESHAWN MADISON (Mr. Tyler) a singer/songwriter, has been acting and singing with Top Hat Productions since 2004, and is reprising his role of Mr. Tyler. Partial Top Hat stage credits include The Earth Trembled, Leap of Faith, Dinner with the Addams, James and the Giant Peach, The Upper Room, Big Fish, Little Shop of Horrors, Sister Act andJekyll and Hyde.  Taeshawn also appeared in A Raisin in the Sun at Hopewell Theater.

 

TRENT MADISON (FEATURED ENSEMBLE) Bio not available

 

BECKY McCONNELL (Featured Ensemble) most recently performed in People, Places, and Things at The Youngstown Playhouse, and has appeared in Kinky Boots, Jekyll and Hyde and The Book of Liz on the Top Hat Stage. “It is my privilege to walk this stage with a gifted director’s guidance.” Todays performance is dedicated to Becky’s son Liam and her son Connor…”may you always have grace.”

 

GORDON MOORE (Featured Ensemble) performed in The Summer Youth Program with Top Hat Productions and with First Theater Initiative throughout elementary and middle school. Most recently, he played King Triton in Poland High School’s production of The Little Mermaid last spring. In his free time, Gordon is an avid runner, placing 2ndoverall in the Youngstown Peace Race 25K last month, and enjoys making music and acting in movies with his friends. He is happy to be returning to the Top Hat stage! 

 

JESSICA MURPHY (Mary Catlett) is delighted to come out of retirement to reprise the role of Mary in Amazing Grace! Partial stage credits include I Love You, Your Perfect, Now Change, The Music Man, Oklahoma, Anything Goes, and The Pajama Game. Jessica lives in New Castle with her husband, 2 daughters (Mollie and Graycie), 3 cats (Beesly, Mose, and Finn), and 17 chickens (because chicken math). She hopes to do more theater at Top Hat in the future!

 

ROBBERT NOBLE (Captain John Newton) has a long association with Top Hat Productions! He appeared in The Earth Trembled as the Roman Soldier (singing The Hammer) as well as a number of other roles throughout the years, in addition to composing three songs for that production. He appeared in the initial performance of Journeys (Jacob, Melchior), in the role of Don Quixote (Man of LaMancha), Father in Aida, and Judas in the Upper Room, which he co-wrote with Brian Palumbo. Most recently, he held a lead role in Jekyll & Hyde. He has numerous other performing credits throughout the Youngstown metropolitan area, Northeast Ohio, and Western Pennsylvania.  Mr. Noble, thirty-one years a choral director at Struthers High School, now retired, is serving in his twentieth year on the Struthers Board of Education. He is the Pastor of Locust Grove Baptist Church in Salem, Ohio. He and his wife, Mary Alice, have six children, and were foster parents for Mahoning County for twenty-two years.

 

TOM O’DONNELL (Mr. Einhorn) was last seen in Top Hat’s musical, Jekyll and Hyde. During the last few seasons, he has helped backstage, run lights and sound for Mangia, and appeared in The Renaissance Yuletide Festival last Christmas season. Tom has been heavily involved in Top Hat’s sister theater, Selah Dessert Theater, both on and offstage since its inception.

 

REGINA REYNOLDS (Featured Ensemble) loves the arts, and has been involved in theater projects across the valley for many years, including that of stage manager, Director, actor and props. She has coordinated Top Hat’s “Around the World in Plates” Summer Program for youth the past three summers.  A nurse at Canfield High School, Regina has three grown sons and five grandchildren that she adores! “Thank you for allowing me on the Top Hat Stage”!  

 

BELLA SAUCEDA (Yema, Featured Ensemble) Bio not available

 

BRITTANY LEAH STOREY (Featured Ensemble) Bio not available

 

TRICIA TERLESKY (Featured Ensemble) has been involved with several local theaters since 2011. She is excited to be back with Top Hat after previously being on stage here in Sister Act and Kinky Boots. Other memorable performances include Taming of the Shrew and Julius Caesar with MVP’s (Youngstown) Shakespeare in The Park, Serial Monogamyand Dating Sucks at the Rust Belt Theater, and The Youngstown Playhouse productions of Love Sick, and most recently, People, Places and Things.

 

TRESHAWN THOMAS (Featured Ensemble) is a local recording artist/entertainer and Youngstown native. He loved the arts growing up and was influenced in his desire to become a music artist and performer while attending Chaney High School, which was a VPA/Stem school at that time. Since graduating in 2014, Treshawn has performed across multiple stages in different cities and states, whether it be performing his own music or performing in musical plays and shows produced by his Aunt Martha. This is his first time performing with Top Hat Productions and “I am very honored and thankful that Brian gave me a chance! 

 

LOIS THORTON (Featured Ensemble) is a retired administrator from the Youngstown City Schools District. She is very actively involved in her church activities as a trustee, choir director and usher. Lois is a veteran community theater performer and soloist, having been cast in many theater productions with The Youngstown Playhouse, Salem Community Theater, Ballet Western Reserve, The DeYor Performance Arts, The Youngstown Symphony, and Top Hat Productions, as well as many area church productions.  

 

RACHELL JOY-TUPAJ (Nana) a Top Hat Productions Board of Trustees Member, was a Marquee Award nomination for her roles of Once on this Island and Aida, for which she was awarded a “Positive Image Award by the North Eastern Ohio Education Association. Other stage credits include The Swing Show, The 50’s Dinner Dance, The 70’s Dinner Dance, and The Earth Trembled. She has worked with the Top Hat Summer Youth Program and volunteers as a graphic designer and resident theater makeup artist for Top Hat. Active in the community, Rachell was honored as “Volunteer of the Year” by the Windsor House Foundation and recognized for years of volunteer service to Christian Services at the Mahoning County Juvenile Justice Center. In 2015, she received the “Presidential Lifetime Achievement Award for Volunteer Service”. An avid gardener, Rachell is a member in the Holborn Herb Growers Guild. With 27 years of service, she has recently retired as a graphic designer from Youngstown State University, and resides in Mineral Ridge with husband, Robert.

 

ANTHONY VILLA (John Newton) has been a part of Top Hat Productions for over fifteen years! During this time, he has been a part of numerous productions and is blessed to have the experiences that he has had. Anthony is very excited to be reprising his role as John Newton, because this role has been the most challenging, but absolutely the most rewarding role of his life.

 

MARION WRIGHT (Featured Ensemble) Bio not available

 

TYLOR ZUNIGA (Major Gray) is happy to finally back to performing with Top Hat Productions, returning to the stage after a four-year hiatus! Tylor would like to thank all of the wonderful cast and crew involved for helping to make this amazing show come to life, and hopes everyone enjoys the return of Amazing Grace.