Babes In Arms Cast
Aliza Ciara (she/her) is a New York City based Actress. A recent graduate and Company player with the American Academy of Dramatic Arts, credits include The Amateurs (Rona), The Late Wedding (Han and others), Julius Caesar (Cassius), A Midsummer Night’s Dream (Puck), The Trojan Women (Helen), with her most recent musical theatre credits being Into The Woods (Cinderella), and Bye Bye Birdie (Rose Alvarez). Aliza would like to thank her family for their continued support, and is very grateful for this opportunity at a time when art is crucial and revolutionary- Art is, in itself, an act of resistance!
DAN KELLY is thrilled to be back doing live theatre and to be joined by such an incredible cast. Earlier this year, Dan portrayed Robert F. Kennedy in RFK with Face to Face Films and Malcolm in an adaption of Macbeth staged in Brooklyn's McCarren Park. Dan is thrilled to be working with Douglas Carter Beane again, after originating the role of Pavlov in Beane's The Big Time. Dan is a graduate of The American Academy of Dramatic Arts, and was a member of their 2019-2020 Acting Company. Enjoy the show!
David Holbert (Gus) is making his debut to the Forestburgh Playhouse! National Tours: ‘The Color Purple’ (Bobby) Regional; Newsies’ (Crutchie) and ‘Footloose’ (Jeter/ Willard U/S),’Hair’ (Tribe/ Claude U/S), ‘Bring It On’ (Twig) and ‘In The Heights’ (Ensemble/Sonnie U/S), ‘West Side Story’ (Baby John).’The Hunchback of Notre Dame’ (Quasimodo) David would like to thank God, his family and friends For more information visit DavidHolbert.com Instagram: @_davidholbert
Eric Siegle is incredibly excited to be returning to the Forestburgh Playhouse as Val Lamar in Babes In Arms. He just recently graduated from Baldwin Wallace University with a Bachelor of Music in Music Theatre. Eric was last seen on the Forestburgh stage in the summer of 2019 as Gerald Bolingbroke in Me And My Girl and the “Springtime” Soloist in The Producers. He was also a member of the 2018 ResCo. Eric would like to thank his parents, siblings, and grandparents for their endless amount of love and support. Enjoy the show!
GraceAnn Kontak is an actor and singer based in New York City. A recent graduate of Elon University’s BFA Music Theatre program, she is extremely grateful to be closing out her college experience at Forestburgh where she has spent two summers as a resident company member (2018 and 2019). Favorite credits include Crissy (Hair), Dorothy (The Wizard of Oz), Gertrude (Seussical), Ali (Mamma Mia!) at the Forestburgh Playhouse, and Oz (We Will Rock You) at Elon University. Many thanks to her agents at Pantera/Murphy, and Brian Kremer. Love to mom, dad, Christian, and Kai. Insta: graceannkontak | website: graceannkontak.com
Jeffrey Marc Alkins is thrilled to be making a return to musical theatre and joining the cast of Babes in Arms. In addition to being an actor, Jeffrey is a classically trained dancer who has worked with such choreographers as Laurieann Gibson, Lorin Latarro, members of Alvin Ailey etc. Select Credits: Antipholus (Comedy of Errors), Puck (A Midsummer Night’s Dream), Cassius (Julius Caesar) Sganarelle (Love Doctor) at The Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey. Planchet (Three Musketeers) at The Classical Theatre of Harlem. Gregory Gardner (A Chorus Line) at Heritage Theatre Festival. Love you Mom and Dad. Dream Big. DO BIGGER!
Joseph Monseur is very excited to be making his Forestburgh Playhouse debut playing Petey the Communist in Douglas Carter Beane’s “Babes in Arms”. Joseph Monseur is a recent graduate of the American Academy of Dramatic Art’s three year program. Some Academy credits include Cléante in Molière's “Tartuffe” directed by Lucie Tiberghien and Russ/Dan in Bruce Norris's “Clybourne Park” directed by George Heslin. He has just finished a production of John DeBenedetto’s “Art and Circuses” in The Rogue Theatre Festival. When he is not on the stage, Joseph can be found at the piano practicing everything from Bach to Jazz.
Liat Shuflita is originally from South Florida and is thrilled to be at Forestburgh this summer! Professional highlights include A Midsummer Night's Dream (Hermia), Thoroughly Modern Millie, and Pirates of Penzance. Favorite Elon Credits: Sweeney Todd (Mrs. Lovett), Little Women (Aunt March/Hag), and American Idiot (Ensemble). Proud member of Elon MT20! Love to her family and friends (and dogs)! LiatShuflita.com
Logan Schmucker Is incredibly happy to collaborate again with Douglas Carter Beane and the dream team of ragamuffins in full 3D. He is an actor and classically trained violinist, a Kent, Ohio native who attended the American Academy of Dramatic Arts, graduating in 2020 from the esteemed Academy Company led by Barbara Rubin and Jonathan Bolt. Credits include Tony Stevenitti in Douglas Carter Beanes The Big Time, John Proctor in The Crucible by Arthur Miller, directed by Thomas Lester Shane; Pastor Chuck in The Harvest by Samuel D. Hunter, directed by Hal Brooks; The Archduke/ Archduchess in Orlando by Sarah Ruhl, directed by Shelley Butler-Hyler. Biggest and humblest thanks to friends and family supporting him during 2020, and here’s to the horizon!
Tia Karaplis is thrilled to be back at the Forestburgh Playhouse! She was previously a part of the Resident Company in the 2017 and 2018 Forestburgh seasons where she played Tzeitel in Fiddler On The Roof and Grace in Annie. She is so thankful to be on stage again after the year we’ve all been through. What better way to reunite than with art! She sends love and thanks to her family, her agents, the creative team, Mike, the Playhouse, and all of you for coming to see our show!