Who's Who

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David Brown (Ensemble) started his theater career in 2012 at The Youngstown Playhouse with the production of Our Lady of 121st Street, and then joined the ranks of Top Hat Productions – the friendliest group of people around. David has performed in Kinky Boots, Jekyll and Hyde, and Amazing Grace, and is excited to now be appearing in The Prince of Egypt. He hopes you enjoy the show!

 

Connie Cassidy (Tuya) has performed in numerous theaters in Ohio and Pennsylvania. Favorite musicals include roles in Gypsy (Mama Rose), My Fair Lady (Eliza Doolittle), The King and I (Anna), Guys and Dolls (Miss Adelaide) and Mame(Mame).

 

Sophia Colvin (Miriam, Ensemble) is making her debut stage performance. She has long been a patron of theatre and loves to sing. The Prince of Egypt holds a special place in her heart, so it has drawn her out of her comfort zone. With a passion for fashion, Sophia thought she might assist with the costume design, but when offered the chance to play Miriam, it was an opportunity she couldn’t refuse.

She now joins her brother, Danny (Moses), in following in their father’s footsteps as a thespian.

 

Jeremy Davis (Ensemble) is excited to be back on stage with Top Hat Productions after appearing in their renditions of Kinky Boots, Jekyll and Hyde, The Renaissance Yuletide Celebration, and most recently, Amazing Grace. 

 

Ashley Garcia (Ensemble) is performing in her first musical. She is a ninth grade student at Struthers High School where her favorite subject is Biology. Ashley would like to thank her parents, brother Jayden, and older sister, Dely, for supporting her!

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Elena Gonzalez (Ensemble) is excited to be part of this production and loves making new friends. She is learning to read and enjoys being creative and active. She especially loves swimming and is always hoping for a trip to the beach – especially if it involves a flight!  Elena will graduate from Falcons Five Preschool in May. She lives with her family, two dogs, and a cat. 

 

Lynnz Gonzalez (Keturah, Ensemble) is so excited to be doing her 3rd production with Top Hat! Growing up in theater has turned into a second home for her. Past area performances include Descendants (Audrey) and Big Bad Musical(Sydney Grimm) at the Oakland, and The Addams Family (Ensemble) at Salem. Lynnz has also done several movie productions, among them Song of a Tree Frog and Aladdin. She is so excited for all of you to see this amazing musical, The Prince of Egypt.  

 

Aundrea Heschmeyer (Ensemble) is excited to return to the stage in a show that carries special meaning for her family. She was drawn back to theatre to be part of something bigger than herself – and for the much needed reminder to leave work at a reasonable hour. She is grateful to share the stage with such a warm passionate cast.

 

Ellie Kistler (Leah, Ensemble) is an 8th grader at Champion Middle School and a vocal student at The Harts School of Performing Arts. Ellie’s recent credits include Beetlejuice Jr. (Sky), Hadestown Teen Edition (Worker, Dance Captain) with Top Hat Productions, and Matilda (Teen Ensemble) with Kent Trumbull Summer Stock. Ellie would like to thank her Directors and Production Team for pushing her to reach her goals.

 

Christa Landle (Ensemble) was first a part of Top Hat Productions many years ago, when she took part in The Renaissance, and was invited back to perform in The Renaissance Yuletide Celebration in 2024. Christa’s most recent stage appearance was a part of the ensemble for Amazing Grace, and she is very excited to be a part of tonight’s show and many more shows in the future. 

 

Danny Colvin-Lovett (Moses) has been a Prince of Egypt fan for most of his life and is thrilled to be returning to the Top Hat stage! He performed as Sidney in 57th Street (2012) and in the role of Peter in The Upper Room (2016). In 2015, he wrote produced, directed and starred in his own musical, Its Midnight. Coming from a theatrical family, he starred in The Wiz, Fences, and Gem of the Ocean, with his father, D.C. Colvin. He is honored to share tonight’s stage with his sister, Sophia (playing Miriam). They sang the song When You Believe together as children, never knowing what miracles they could achieve.

 

Brooke Mazzone (Ensemble) discovered that she loved performing onstage for people at the age of nine. Favorite roles include Brigitta from The Sound of Music, Veruca Salt from Willy Wonka, and Alice from The Best Christmas Pageant Ever. This is Brooke’s first show with Top Hat, and she is very excited to be performing in The Prince of Egypt. She hopes to be a part of the Top Hat Team until the end of her career, and wishes everyone in the cast good luck and a fun show!  

 

Maeve McGuire (Young Miriam, Ensemble) is performing in her first show with Top Hat and is thrilled to be working with Brian, Julie, and the entire cast and crew! She has been performing for 6 years, and favorite roles have been that of Matilda in KSU Trumbull Summer Stock production of Matilda: The Musical, Robin Starvling in A Midsummer Night’s Dream with The Youngstown Playhouse, and Charlie in the Hart School’s production of The Best Christmas Pageant Ever. Maeve would like to thank her family, and send a special thank you to Miss Melanie Lucas for encouraging her to audition for this show and become part of the Top Hat family.

 

Gordon Moore (Aaron, Ensemble) performed in youth community theatre with Top Hat Productions and Kids Theatre Initiative throughout elementary and middle school. Most recently, he got back into theatre playing King Triton in Poland High School’s production of The Little Mermaid last spring, and returned to the Top Hat stage in the fall for Amazing Grace. Gordon works for MPZ Contracting and hopes to start his own epoxy floor business. In his free time, Gordon is an avid runner, most recently racing in the Winter Park Road Race in Florida, and enjoys making music and acting in movies with his friends. He would like to dedicate his performance in memory of his Papa.

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Thomas O’Donnell (Ensemble) has been involved with Top Hat in one way or another since becoming involved with Top Hat’s sister theatre, Selah Dessert Theatre, since its beginning over 10 years ago. He opened at Selah with the one-man show Mr. Lincoln, directed by Selah Theatre founder, Mary Ruth Lynn, and has performed Mr. Lincoln throughout the area, including a Director’s Special for the 150th Anniversary of the assassination at Salem Community Theatre. A special sold out run was later repeated at the Selah theatre for it’s 10th Anniversary. Tom was named as a YSU Success Story by Jim Tressel for his Salem performance, as well as his work as a clinical counselor in the area. Tom’sinvolvement at Top Hat the last few seasons have been technical, as well as onstage, in Jekyll and Hyde, The Renaissance Yuletide Celebration, and Amazing Grace. 

 

Brian Palumbo (Jethro) founded Top Hat Productions in 1991 and has been writing, directing, and appearing on area stages since that time. Brian is co-owner of Selah Restaurant and Gepetto’s Costumes, both in downtown Struthers, and in his spare time (LOL), he likes to travel.

 

Jessica Allura Patoray (Nefertari) has been performing in Youngstown’s community theater scene for more than a decade. Playing in many Rust Belt Theater Company shows, she has been Judy in Living Dead: The Musical, Betty in Serial Monogamy, Tweedle Dum in Alice, a Curious Musical, and has been a part of many ensembles. Although this is Jessica’s first performance with the Top Hat Theater Company, “Never in a Million Years” did she think she would be cast as Nefertari! She promises to “Deliver Us” a performance that is anything but “Heartless”. This amazing cast truly shows us that “When You Believe”, you can achieve anything! Jessica wants to thank Brian and the whole cast for this wonderful experience, and her family and friends for their support. Please sit back and enjoy the show!

 

David Pratt (Hotep) is a graduate of YSU with a BA in Music Performance. He has appeared from coast to coast in numerous opera and musical theater productions. David is a long-time veteran at Opera Western Reserve and is making his first musical theater appearance in the Youngstown area.

 

Rowdaly Sepulveda (Ensemble) known to her friends as Dely, is an 18-year-old senior at Youngstown Rayen Early College. Her favorite color is purple and she loves telling people about Jesus! Stage credits include Frozen Jr. and skits performed at her church. Dely loves everything with music and is glad to be back on stage. She has two dogs, Bambi and Rubi.

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Brittany Leah Storey (Yocheved, Ensemble), grew up on the Top Hat Stage and is excited to be playing Yocheved for the production of The Prince of Egypt.  Some of her acting credits include Sister Mary Robert in Sister Act, Spider in James and the Giant Peach, and ensemble roles in Kinky Boots, Jekyll and Hyde, Amazing Grace, Big Fish, and many, many others. Outside of theatre, Brittany is a dog groomer and a small business owner. She hopes you enjoy the show and the talented performers that worked hard to bring the show to life. 

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Bill Marr (Swing-Seti).  Bill has been doing shows with Top Hat for many years. Brian needed a twin for the show Blood Brothers and even though Bill had more hair and was in better shape than him, Brian gave him the job! After that, Bill did Smokey Joe’s Café, Ragtime (Father), Aladdin (Genie), The Addams Family (Gomez), and Amazing Grace (Captain Newton) to name a few. Bill is a chemist and runs his own business. Bill’s home is now Kane, Pa. His wife, Lisa, has been incredibly supportive of the last minute fill-in role as Seti.

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Mark Samuel (Seti) is no stranger to the Top Hat stage, appearing in a number of productions over the years, including The Earth Trembled, Aladdin, Journeys, The Little Mermaid, Ragtime and Amazing Grace, to name a few. “This production company is a blessing. They are not like family. They are family and I am grateful for the years together.”

 

Tricia Terlesky (Ensemble) has previously appeared with Top Hat Productions in Sister Act, Kinky Boots, and Amazing Grace. Some of her other most memorable area performances include Taming of the Shrew and Julius Caesar with MVP’s (Youngstown) Shakespeare in the Park, Rob Joki’s original one-act, Serial Monogamy with Rust Belt Theatre, and The Shadowbox, Women in Jeopardy, Love Sick, and People, Places & Things, at The Youngstown Playhouse. 

 

Francine Vazquez (Ensemble) a Community Activist, has been a member of The Jericho Project Street Ministry for 24 years, and is the Co-Founder of the Vasquez Family Ministry. For the past 9 years, this music ministry has worked with, and for, the community and area churches spreading the word of God. Francine just opened a New Chapter of her life, ”Acting”. She loves all of GOD’s Children and making people smile wherever she goes.

 

John “Manuel” Vazquez (Ensemble) At only 10 hours old, satan tried taking my life, but God had bigger plans for me!  I am a rapper – singer from Ohio, who mixes and produces my own music and that of other artists. My mission is to reach my generation with music that has a positive influence while bringing the church with me to those that might not attend church. John’s goal is to replace the music that others listen to that influence destruction, hate, greed, and violence with his music, “building up our community, not destroying it.”  

 

John Vazquez, Sr. (Ensemble) is a community activist and co-founder of The Vazquez Family Ministry of 9 years, spreading God’s word in the community. John has also been a member of the Jericho Project street ministry for the past 24 years, working with churches and communities in  the Mahoning Valley and further out of our region, to help lost souls come to the right path to Our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, 

 

Anthony Villa (Ramses) has been a part of Top Hat Productions for over 15 years. He has performed in many productions during this time, and is blessed to have the experiences that he has had.  Anthony is very happy to be a part of the The Prince of Egypt because it is one of his favorite childhood movies, and he is excited to see it come to life!

 

Julie Palumbo – Villa (Tzipporah) has been a part of Top Hat Productions since its inception. “Some of the best parts of my life have either started, or grown, here. I thoroughly enjoy watching, not only the stories brought to life onstage, but the relationships being fostered behind the scenes. The cast and crew of this production, The Prince of Egypt, are an amazing, talented, respectful, hard-working group of people, that have been an absolute pleasure to work with. I am very thankful for the opportunity to share this experience with all of them!”

 

Alexandra Ashraf Karam Milad (Stage Manager) is a junior at Struthers High School. Some past shows that she has also stage managed include The Play That Goes Wrong (Tri – City), Totally Red (SHS), Amazing Grace (Top Hat Productions), and Hadestown Teen Edition (Tri – City Drama Club). Alex would like to thank Mrs. D and Mrs. Dill for introducing her to the wonderful world of stage managing. She would also like to thank all of the amazing people she’s met through Top Hat Productions and their Tri – City Drama Club. 

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Jeff Chann (Technical Director) works for GE and is co-owner of Selah Restaurant in Struthers.  In addition to technical director, Jeff is the designer of lighting, sound, and video.  For 30+ years Jeff has designed over 250 productions.  Kudos to Top Hat as they have upgraded to a state-of-the-art lighting control system, sound system, and entered the realm of video projection.  The 10-person technical team for this show includes Derek Stoner on the light board , Dhruv Shah on the video board, Alex Ashraf as stage manager and running music cues, Addison Kish, Emily Mitchum, Annabelle (Sunny) Serrano, Jaisah Dawan, and Giana Martin running followspots, and Jeff live-mixing sound.