Presenting The 2025 Resident Company!
Vivienne Gianneschi is a rising senior BFA Musical Theatre Major at Shenandoah Conservatory. She is originally from Jacksonville, Florida (DUVAL!). She is so excited to be at Forestburgh Playhouse this summer! She was last seen as Paulette in LEGALLY BLONDE at Shenandoah Conservatory. Other credits include SWEET CHARITY, PIPPIN, and HELLO DOLLY. Vivienne is planning on moving to New York City post-graduation and continuing her theatrical career there. Outside of performing, you can find Vivienne listening to 80s hard rock music much too loud, reading books, or playing her bass guitar. She would like to thank all of her family, friends, and professors for their constant support. She would also like to thank her fellow castmates, crew, and production team for all of their amazing work this summer!
Leilani Miranda is an upcoming sophomore at Elon University double majoring in Music Theatre and Arts Administration with a minor is Business Administration. She is thrilled to join Forestburgh Playhouse’s Resident Company this summer! Some of her favorite roles include Wednesday Addams in “Addams Family” (Herberger Theatre Center), Marty in “Grease” (Shadow Ridge Theatre), and Esperanza Carvahlo in “Triangulo” (Triangulo Productions). She extends gratitude to Franklin and the creative teams for each show, this is such an incredible opportunity and she cannot be more excited. She would like to thank her family for giving her the support and motivation to pursue her dreams, I love you all. “El que busca, encuentra” Let’s connect! @leilani.mirandaa
Mason Ballard is a San Diego native who is beyond excited to be making his Forestburgh Playhouse debut! He recently graduated from Ithaca College in upstate New York with a BFA in Musical Theatre. Some credits include: Jersey Boys (The REV), Beautiful (Crane River Theater), West Side Story (Teatro San Diego) A Chorus Line (Welk Resort). Huge thanks to his family, friends, and coaches for all their constant support & guidance and to everyone at Forestburgh for this extraordinary opportunity. Spread love and be kind! @mason.ballard
Lauren is so excited to be returning to Forestburgh! She is a recent graduate of Montclair State, where she earned her BFA in Musical Theatre. Some of her favorite roles include Judy in “A Chorus Line,” Alice in “Bright Star,” the Sour Kangaroo in “Seussical,” and Mopsa in “Head Over Heels.” In her spare time, she enjoys writing and producing her own music and recently released her first single. She sends thanks to her family for their unconditional support, and for her students back in Jersey for letting Miss Lauren follow her dreams! @laurenctay
Isaiah is an artist originally from Atlanta, GA and is thrilled to be making his return to Forestburgh Playhouse this Summer! He is recently graduated from The Institute For American Musical Theatre and currently resides in NYC. Previous credits include A Chorus Line (Richie), Beautiful: The Carole King Musical (Drifter), Heathers (Kurt), Godspell (Swing), and Mary Poppins (Miss Andrew). Outside of performing, Isaiah loves the outdoors, writing, and playing video games with his best friends. He is grateful to his friends, mentors, and the faculty at IAMT. Isaiah would especially like to send his gratitude and love to his mother for all of her support for his theatrical journey throughout his life. You can follow Isaiah on Instagram @isaiahmauricebyrd or visit www.isaiahbyrd.com.
Jacob Kim is a rising sophomore musical theatre major from Atlanta, Georgia. You may have recently seen him in the Ensembles of Legally Blonde and Monty Python’s Spamalot at Shenandoah University! Some of his other credits include Raoul in The Phantom of the Opera, Bill in Kiss me Kate, and Enjolras in Les Misérables. He is very excited to be performing in his first season at Forestburgh Playhouse. Jacob is very grateful for this opportunity and for being able to perform in such a welcoming environment with such talented and hardworking peers! He’d like to thank the cast and crew of each show along with his family and friends for continuing to motivate him to be the person he is today. Enjoy the show!
Carl Robinett is thrilled to join Forestburgh Playhouse for its 79th season, taking on the roles of Davey in Newsies and the ogre himself in Shrek. A California native and proud BFA Musical Theatre candidate at Pace University (Class of 2026), Carl’s passion for performance has taken him from coast to coast. Carl’s past credits include Young Frankenstein (Dr. Frederick Frankenstein)*, 9 to 5 (Ensemble, Joe U/S), and Putting it Together (Male Swing). Most recently, Carl was apart of the NYC industry reading of the new play He’s Not Like That by emerging playwright Eleanor Evans-Wickberg. In his free time, Carl enjoys running, gaming, and Thai food. 2022 Jimmy Award Recipient of the Rising Star Award & 2022 Rita Moreno Award for Best Actor*. He sends all of his love and thanks to his Mom and Dad, his sisters Kelly and Helen, his Grammy, his girlfriend Ruby, and his agents. Carl is represented under the Stage division by Paige and Morgan at Resolute Artists Agency in NYC. @carlrobinett
Reagan McComas is thrilled to be spending his summer with Forestburgh Playhouse! Originally from Bel Air, Maryland, he is currently pursuing a BFA in Musical Theatre at The Boston Conservatory in Boston, Massachusetts, where he continues to grow as both a performer and collaborator. Recent credits include Alice by Heart, Something Rotten, Footloose, and a number of original student works that have deepened his passion for storytelling and ensemble-driven theatre. Most recently, Reagan made his 54 Below debut in New York City with Acts of Love, an original musical revue featuring the work of Jason Robert Brown. He is immensely grateful to his friends and family for their unwavering support, and to the entire team at Forestburgh Playhouse for this incredible opportunity to learn, grow, and perform in such a vibrant and welcoming environment.
Alanna Rishaan Porter (She/Her) is a recent graduate of Indiana University with her BFA in Musical Theatre. Outside of rehearsal, you can find Alanna performing in her band ‘Yours Truly' and choreographing for several different high school and middle school theatre and choir programs. She also enjoys crafting, reading, and playing with her nephews. Favorite IU credits include Cabaret (Helga), Carrie (Miss.Gardener), and Joseph and the Technicolor Dreamcoat (Dan/Dance Captain/Pharaoh Understudy). Other Credits: Dreamgirls (Charlene/Edna/Ensemble )at the Muny in St.Louis and Beautiful the Carole King Musical (Lucille/Shirelle) at Music Theatre Wichita in Kansas. Alanna is from Indianapolis, IN. She would like to thank her family, friends and faculty for their love and support! Philippians 3:14
Alyssa McDonald is so excited to be returning to Forestburgh Playhouse as a part of their 2025 Resident Company! Last year, she had the joy of performing in Forestburgh’s productions of ROCK OF AGES (Ensemble/Sherrie u/s) and ROCKY HORROR (Phantom/Janet u/s).
Alyssa was born and raised in New York, and graduated in 2023 with her BFA in Musical Theatre from Western Connecticut State University.
Other favorite credits include: BAT BOY (Shelley), Rodgers and Hammerstein’s ALLEGRO (Jennie), and HEAD OVER HEELS (Ensemble).
Alyssa dedicates all of her performances to her late father, Broadway actor David McDonald.
Instagram: @alyssamariemcd
Kevin Rodriguez is ecstatic to be joining Forestburgh’s Resident Company this season. He just recently finished his first year at Elon University and cannot wait to go back for sophomore fall!Some of his favorite roles include: Joseph “Joseph and The Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat” (Henegar Center), Balaga/Anatole u/s “Great Comet of 1812” (Elon University), and Laurie “Little Women.” He would like to thank Franklin and the board of directors/choreographers for each of the shows this season for entrusting him with this responsibility to represent the name of Forestburgh this summer, and he cannot wait to bring each of these stories to life! He would also like to thank his family and close friends for always believing in him, he loves you all so much and will never forget all the sacrifices you all have endured for him. All the glory to God! @kevinroddie
Lucy Ferguson is so thrilled to be making her Forestburgh debut in the Resident Company! Lucy is a rising senior BFA Musical Theatre major at Indiana University, and proud to call St. Louis home. Regional: Constellation Stage & Screen The Wizard of Oz (Ensemble, u/s Dorothy) & Matilda (Ensemble), Indiana University Summer Theatre Into the Woods (Ensemble, u/s Cinderella, Rapunzel), The MUNY Chicago (Teen Ensemble). IU Mainstage: Reefer Madness (Mae), Legally Blonde (Pilar), Head Over Heels (Ensemble, u/s Philoclea), Cabaret (Swing, u/s Kost), Something Rotten! (Ensemble). Lucy wants to extend her love and gratitude to her family and IUMT friends & faculty for all their continued support! Thank you to Franklin, John, and all at Forestburgh Playhouse for this opportunity! @lucy._ferguson
Jillian is so grateful to be joining Forestburgh's 2025 Resident Company! She is a funky individual through and through who aspires to play characters ranging from deadpan sarcastic to outrageously over the top. Jillian is a recent graduate of Shenandoah Conservatory where she obtained her BFA in musical theatre. She will miss her Hornet team but is ready to take on New York and all the possibilities to come. Jillian’s favorite credits include CABARET (Sally Bowles), LEGALLY BLONDE (Vivienne Kensington), PIPPIN (Berthe), and A MIDSUMMER NIGHT’S DREAM (Bottom). All the love to her family and friends for their endless support.
Forestburgh debut! Mia is elated to spend her summer in the Catskills after recently graduating with a BFA in Music Theatre and minor in Communications from Elon University. Favorite theatre credits: Mary Flynn (Merrily We Roll Along), Amalia Balash (She Loves Me), Judy Bernly (9 to 5), and Vivienne Kensington (Legally Blonde). She wouldn’t be here without the unwavering support of her parents, two younger sisters, French Bulldog Louie, and entire extended family. Thanks to Franklin, John, her incredible professors at Elon, and every team member at Forestburgh. miamcmanamy.com, @mia.mcmanamy