Disney's Descendants

Mal -

RONI SHELLEY PEREZ was recently seen in The Rose Theater production of Misunderstood: Heroes Vs. Villains. Favorite credits include: Soonja Ma (u/s Goeun Kim) in New York City's Off-Broadway production of Comfort Women: A New Musical and Veronica Sawyer in a regional premiere of Heathers: the Musical. Perez graduated from the University of Nebraska at Omaha. Grateful for her family; friends; Take 3 Talent Agency; and her dog, Cinnamon Charles, for the constant support.

Evie -

Briana is over the moon to be playing the role of Evie in Disney’s Descendants! Originally from Colorado, she grew up in Lincoln, Nebraska and has been involved in the performing arts since the age of 6. This is her second time performing on the Rose stage, her first as an ensemble member in The Best Christmas Pageant Ever in 2017. Currently, she is a senior at Burke High School, where she serves as president of theatre, soprano section leader of choir and a State Thespian Officer. After high school, Briana plans to attend college to earn a degree in acting. Briana would like to thank her incredibly supportive family and friends for shaping her into the person and performer she is today.

Jay -

Summer is excited to return to The Rose Theater and performing in front of audiences again! Summer made her debut on The Rose's mainstage in 2019 as Hortensia in Matilda The Musical. Originally from Elk Grove, California, she starred in her first role in Toby Johnson Middle School's production of James and the Giant Peach, Jr. (2017). After moving to Omaha, she has been a part of plays at Elkhorn Valley View Middle School and Elkhorn South High School. When not on stage, Summer loves reading books like Wildwood, listening to Will Wood, and playing video games on her Nintendo Switch. She can also be found in your local Barnes and Noble.

Carlos -

Dina Saltzman is thrilled to return to The Rose Theater after appearing in The Dollmaker's Gift in 2019 and Newsies in 2018.  Other credits include The Secret Garden (Mary Lennox) at the UNO Theater and West Side Story at Stagedoor Manor, NY (SDM Award for Best Featured Actress).  Dina was a member of the Senior Rose Brigade for three years and is currently in her second season with the Rose Dance Project.  A senior at Omaha Central High School, Dina is active in student government and National Honor Society.  She plans to pursue the performing arts in college.

Ben -

TREY MENDLIK (Ben) is ecstatic to be part of Disney's Descendants! His love for Disney Channel Original Movies could not be more R-I-D-I-C-U-L-O-U-S! Recently, Trey was seen as Peter Cratchit on the national tour of A CHRISTMAS CAROL. His favorite credits include Seymour in LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS and Marcellus in THE MUSIC MAN (Post Playhouse). Other credits include OKLAHOMA (Black Hills Playhouse), SINGIN’ IN THE RAIN (Circa ’21) MISUNDERSTOOD: HEROES & VILLAINS (Rose Theater) SISTER ACT, and MARY POPPINS (Post Playhouse). Trey recently wrapped his first independent film with Spoltz Productions, LLC., where he was fortunate enough to play Trevor Pearson in GOOD ENOUGH: THE MUSICAL. Upcoming, you can see Trey in ROCK OF AGES at Paramount Theatre in Chicago, IL. Keep up with Trey by following his journey on Instagram: @trey.mendlik

Chad -

Taylor is a current teaching fellow for the Rose Theater. They have been in many production at the Rose, credits including Bob the Party Penguin (Penguin Problems), the Maternity Doctor (Matilda), Oscar Delancey (Newsies), Tubby Ted (Peter & the Starcatcher), Skut Farkus (A Christmas Story). They graduated from Creighton University with a BFA in Acting Performance and Direction. While there, they were seen as Bobby (Company), Chuck (She Kills Monsters), Warner Huntington III (Legally Blonde), Andrei Prozorav (Three Sisters). They were also a part of the award winning production of Riot, Repeat as scenic designer and ensemble member. They have also been seen around town in various productions including Shelterbelt: Ricky Lee (Catherland), SNAP!: Freddie the Photographer (Carrie: The Musical), PLVCT: Scarecrow (Wizard of Oz). They hope to keep creating art spaces that foster connection and inclusion within the queer and trans community. Give them a follow on instagram: Taylor.the.Painter

Audrey / Dance Captain -

Natalie is a Chicago and Omaha based performer from Seattle. A Creighton alum, she is ecstatic to be back in Omaha again. She was last seen as Pollyanna D. in the world premier of Howie D: Back in the Day, It's a Wonderful Life, and Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus with the Rose Theatre. Other noted Omaha credits include Peter Pan (Tigerlily) and Newsies! (Tommyboy) with the Rose Theatre, and Heathers the Musical (ensemble) with the BlueBarn Theatre. In Chicago, she was last seen in Hope: Part 2 of a Mexican Trilogy (Betty U/S) with Teatro Vista Theatre. During quarantine, Natalie began writing and producing her own music. Her self produced EP Likewise is on Spotify and Apple Music under the artist name Facade Queen. Natalie also produced a collaborative EP Sigh, Sigh, Kiss! with her sister, Emilie and their duo "Court the Muse" in the winter of 2020. Other artistic endeavors include work with TBD Dance Collective where she choreographed, directed, and produced a
piece to an original song for TBD Dance Collective's Making Space 2020 virtual event. To keep up with Natalie's artistic endeavors, her instagram is @facadequeen. Thanks to Mom, Dad, and Em for lifting me up always.

Jane / Understudy Mal & Evie -

This will be Brooke’s fourth production at The Rose Theater (Anna/Mary, "Sherlock Holmes and the First Baker Street Irregular," Stacy, "Prancer," Ensemble, "Madagascar: A Musical Adventure")! Brooke attends Burke High School and is currently the Historian on the Thespian Board. Other favorite roles include: Little Red Riding Hood in Into the Woods (Burke High School) and Agnes in She Kills Monsters: Virtual Realms (Burke High School). Brooke would like to thank her parents for their constant support!

Doug -

Carson is very excited to be portraying Doug in this production of Descendants. This is his fifth time participating in a main stage production at The Rose Theater. Carson first appeared at The Rose as Tootles, one of the Lost Boys, in Peter Pan. He is proud to be a six-year member of the Rose Brigade and is currently a junior at Millard North High School.

Maleficent -

Leanne is very excited to return to the Rose and play the Disney Villain after last being seen as Mary Poppins in Mary Poppins . Some of her other favorite roles include Grounded (The Pilot), Indecent (Halina/The Prime), Murder Ballad (Sara), Beauty and the Beast (Belle), Uncle Vanya (Elena), A Streetcar Named Desire (Stella), The Last Five Years (Cathy), Little Women (Meg), Opera Omaha's The Mikado (Pitti-Sing), and Legally Blonde (Elle Woods). She is also passionate about new, local theatre and has been involved in many projects locally including the Great Plains Theatre Conference, One Way to Mars, The Break, and The Octopus Play. She earned her Bachelor of Fine Arts in Musical Theatre from Sam Houston State University and her Master’s Degree from the University of Nebraska Medical Center. She is a Physician Assistant and co-owner of Finesse Advanced Medical Aesthetics and proud mom of Henry and Nora.

Fairy Godmother -

Lauren is so excited to perform in her 22nd show at The Rose Theater. Some notable roles at the Rose include Princess Fiona in Shrek the Musical, Miss Shields in A Christmas Story, Lucinda in Ella Enchanted, and Julia in The True Story of the Three Little Pigs. She also was a part of three world premiere productions at the Rose: Prancer, Back in the Day and Pete the Cat.

Lauren has also performed many times with the Omaha Symphony in their family and educational shows. She has been seen in their educational program Mission Imagination for two years, performing in The Misadventures of Melvin the Explorer and The Symphonic School Bus. She has also been seen in educational concerts with the Sarasota Symphony, Rochester Symphony, and Lima Orchestra.

Royal Page -

Andrew Hedin is very excited to make his Rose Theatre debut in the musical Descendants! Andrew has most recently appeared in productions at the Bellevue Little Theatre in Tuck Everlasting and Our Town. His other appearances include: A Christmas Carol, Shrek the musical, and Disney’s Beauty and the Beast at the Omaha Community Playhouse. Andrew is currently a sophomore at Bellevue West High School where he enjoys participating in their show choir, select choir and theatre. He loves to paint, cook, and play the piano.

Snow White / Understudy Jane -

Maddie is excited to return to The Rose Theater after playing Actor 9/Janie last Christmas in Its A Wonderful Life. Her other Rose credits include Shawanda in Elf the Musical in December 2019; Matilda in Matilda the Musical in June 2019; and Nora in The Dollmaker’s Gift in February of the same year. She is a sophomore at Marian High School where participates in Speech and played Gretchen in Marian’s production of Freaky Friday. Her previous theater credits include productions at the Omaha Community Playhouse: Little Fiona in Shrek The Musical (2018), James Trotter in James and the Giant Peach (2018), Chip in Beauty and the Beast (2017) and A Christmas Carol (2015 – 2018) playing the roles of Girl with Sled, Belinda Cratchit and Fan. In her spare time, Maddie loves to read, play her guitar, listen to her favorite music on Spotify, and spend time with her beloved dog, Mori.

Jafar / Beast -

Joshua Orsi graduated from Doane University with a BA in Theatre. A current resident of Omaha, Joshua enjoys doing comedic improv. You can catch him at Dinner Detective at the Hilton Double Tree or in shows at The Backline. He has two fluffy boys who are the love of his life (besides his girlfriend) and is always up for showing pics! Previous credits include: Gumbo the Musical (Ponytail, Lied Center for Performing Arts), Red (Ken Apollon Art Space), Forbidden Frontier (Digger, Cedar Point Amusement Park), Twelfth Night (Valentine/Priest, North Dakota Shakespeare), Romeo & Juliet (Friar Lawrence, Samuel-Lancaster Productions), Spamalot (Ensemble, Omaha Community Playhouse).

Maurice / Coach -

Cruella de Vil / Belle -

Zhomontee Watson is an established actress, singer, and full time mental health therapist at the University of Nebraska at Omaha and UNMC. You may recognize Zhomontee from a recent Rose production of Don't Let the Pigeon Drive The bus in her role of the Little old lady. Zhomontee was also played Deloris Van Catier in Sister at at the Omaha Community Playhouse, Medda Larkin in Newsies at the Rose, and Uncle Billy in Th Rose's porcustionof It's a Wonderful Life. Zhomontee has recieved multiple awards to include an OEAA for Best female actress in a Musical in 2017.

Grimhilde -

Bailey is thrilled to join The Rose for a little wicked fun! She was recently in The Last Five Years at the Omaha Playhouse and the Blue Barn’s Sunset to Starlight cabaret. Before COVID, she was traveling the world on Holland America Line, touring with the B.B. King All Star Band and YouTube sensation Post Modern Jukebox (PMJ). Bailey has been based out of New York for the past four years where she studied with The Barrow Group and the Growing Studio, and recently relocated back to Omaha due to the pandemic. In Bailey’s free time, you can find her either walking her Borgi, Willie (a Corgi-Border Collie), knitting, or watching every single David Attenborough documentary. Past productions in Omaha include All Shook Up, Bat Boy: The Musical, Footloose, 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, Reefer Madness, Hedwig & the Angry Inch, Urinetown: The Musical, Quilters, and the 2006 production of Ragtime. www.itsbaileycarlson.com 

Guard / Understudy Doug -

I am 14 years old and have been dancing/acting for 3 years. I am involved in the Rose Brigade at the Rose and in show choir at my high school. I also love doing art like painting and drawing. The class that was most beneficial for me was Boys Athletic Dance taught by Michael James. It has really taught me how to be a great male dancer.

Ensemble / Understudy Royal Page & Snow White -

Stella Clark-Kaczmarek is a sophomore at Burke High School. She has been seen at the Rose in It’s a Wonderful Life, Elf and Wonderland: Alice’s
Rock and Roll Musical. Stella is very active in the Omaha theatre community and has worked with the Omaha Community Playhouse, Nebraska Shakespeare, Opera Omaha, Papillon Community Theatre, Great Plains Theatre Conference and Burke High School. Recent roles include: Jack’s Mom in Into the Woods, Siobhan in A Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night Time, and Tilly in She Kill’s Monsters. Stella was recognized by OCP and OEA as an outstanding youth performer for her role as Annie in Annie. In her spare time, she loves to travel, swim and spend time with her friends.

Ensemble -

Artie is excited to be joining the Rose Theater for another another musical. His first was show there was Matilda, and he played Eric. He has also performed in shows at his church and schools. He is now a Sophomore at Central High School. He enjoys watching shows and movies, drawing, listening to music, making people laugh, and cooking.

Ensemble -

Sophia is thrilled to make her Rose Theater debut! Previous to performing in Descendants, Sophia was a part of The World Goes Round at Mercy High School where she is currently a junior. She is a student actor at the Rose and has participated in Senior Rose Brigade in the past. Besides theater, she loves tap dance, art, and school.

Ensemble -

Callahan has been involved in theater since he was ten years old. For three years, Cal was in the children’s ensemble and played the role of Ebby in the Omaha Community Playhouse production of A Christmas Carol. He also attends many acting and singing classes in the Omaha area. Descendants is Cal’s first production at the Rose and he is excited for the opportunity. Cal is a student at Central High School where he plays Sousaphone and many brass instruments in the Marching Band and Trombone in the Jazz Band. Cal enjoys live theater, singing, and baking for his bakery Instagram account.

Director -

Katherine M. Carter (she/her) is a stage director of theatre & opera. She is happy to be back at the Rose after directing MISUNDERSTOOD this spring. Katherine recently directed the new musical FAR FROM CANTERBURY at the Barnstormers Theatre in NH. Previous: Rice University Opera, Mad Cow Theatre, On Site Opera, Carnegie Mellon University, Santa Fe Opera, Parallel 45 Theatre, Canadian Opera Company, Houston Grand Opera. New School for Drama, Joe’s Pub, Westport Country Playhouse, Wellfleet Harbor Actors Theatre, NYMF, 3LD, NYU, and Wolf Trap. Fellowships: New Georges, The Drama League, and Playwrights Horizons. 2019 Honored Finalist for Women in the Arts & Media Coalition with playwright Jacqueline Goldfinger. Katherine is currently training to become a certified Intimacy Director with IDC. Upcoming: Guest Faculty at The New School Mannes Opera, L’ENFANT/CENDRILLON (Carnegie Mellon, Opera) Special thank you to Cora & Brooke for being the best dramaturgs. KatherineMCarter.com

Music Director -

Jerry Brabec, tenor, is an Ordained Deacon on the clergy staff at Omaha Saint Paul United Methodist Church where he serves as Minister of Worship. His responsibilities include the overseeing of liturgical preparation for the congregation of 400. He also serves as choral director for Temple Israel’s Kol Rina. Awarded the Master of Music degree from the University of Nebraska, he studied choral conducting with Dr. Cina Crisara and Dr. Z. Randall Stroope. As a chorister of the acclaimed Robert Shaw Festival Chorus at Carnegie Hall, he sang for five years under the baton of the late Robert Shaw, was twice selected one of six participants in the Alice Parker Melodius Accord Fellowship Program and frequently continues his conducting studies with Ms. Parker during January in New York. At The Rose Theater for Performing Arts the past twelve seasons, “Misunderstood: Heros and Villains” marks his 46th show as a resident music director/vocal coach. He also serves as music director for the nationally acclaimed Rose Brigade, one of the award winning offerings of the “Broadway at the Rose” program. Formerly, Jerry taught at the high school level for Council Bluffs Community Schools, served as associate artistic director of the Omaha Clarion Chorale, and as artistic director for the Kanesville Chorus and Renaissance Faire of the Midlands.