Our Cast

Introducing our cast for the 2024 summer season!

Mariama Bandabaila

Mariama Bandabaila is a sophomore at Providence College with a major in political science and a minor in theatre. This is Mariama’s first time working with Festival 56 and she is elated. Her passion for theater has continued into her college career through her roles in Providence College productions. These roles include the Leading Player in the college’s production of Pippin, Cathy in DNA, and most recently Sandra from The Play That Goes Wrong. Each role shows her ability to fully grasp her characters and deliver her best performances with nuisance and flare. She is forever grateful for this opportunity to share her love of theater with this new audience and work with a new tremendous group of actors.

Joey Banks

Joey Banks, a native of Austin, TX, has been working in theater for the past 20 years as an actor, director, writer, and educator for students of all ages. Joey received his MFA from Illinois State University and a BFA from Southwestern University. He has performed professionally with the California Theatre Center, TheatreWorks, Austin Playhouse, ZACH Theatre, Austin Shakespeare, and the Illinois Shakespeare Festival, as well as multiple regional and local theaters in the Austin, Chicago, and San Francisco areas. Joey is also a resident company member of the Austin Playhouse, Doctuh Mistuh Productions, and the Artistic Director of Haymaker Players. While working out of Austin as an actor and director, he has earned multiple B. Iden Payne and Austin Critics Table awards/nominations. Currently, Joey is working as a Professor of Theatre at Abilene Christian University.

Dylan Beaty

Dylan Beaty, located in Murrieta, California, is a 21 year old, rising senior at Dean College in Franklin, MA where he is studying and working towards his BA in dance. He has been performing dance for 12 years, but only began performing in theater in the last two years. One of his favorite shows/roles was Robert/Thomas Colleymore (Play That Goes Wrong) and is excited to be a part of these productions and hopefully more in the future.

Jordan Britt

Jordan Britt is very happy to be joining Festival 56 for his third year. Recent shows include Matilda (2022), Footloose, and Something Rotten! (2023). He is a graduate of BVHS where he was involved in theater, most recently performing as Don Lockwood in Singin’ in the Rain. Future plans are to attend ISU for musical theatre. Thank you to my mom and my awesome music teacher for believing in my dreams!

Victoria Cannon

This is Victoria Cannon’s first season acting at Festival 56. Some of Victoria’s past roles include Fastrada in Pippin, Wednesday in The Addams Family, Mary, Robert in Sister Act, and many more. Victoria is currently pursuing a BA in musical theatre at Providence College where she works in the costume shop, scene shop and frequently sings the national anthem at Friar’s basketball and hockey games. Victoria most recently worked as a costumer at Disney World‘s Beauty and the Beast: Live on Stage! When she is not acting, Victoria also choreographs local student theater productions. She would like to thank her loving family, her mentor Jimmy Calitri, and the entire cast and crew.

Gia Chessa

Gia Chessa is a recent graduate from Dean College with a BFA in musical theatre.  Some of her past credits include Natalie Haller in All Shook Up and Hedy LaRue in How to Succeed…. She would like to thank everyone at Festival 56 for this opportunity, her wonderful family and her partner Patrick for the endless love and support.

Titus Cook

Titus Cook is excited to be coming back to Festival 56 for his second year and making his acting debut. He is a recent graduate of Bureau Valley High School where he was involved in its theater program. Some of his most recent and favorite roles include Man in the Yellow Suit in Tuck Everlasting and Cosmo Brown in Singin’ in the Rain. He plans to attend John Cabot University this fall.

Sophie Liu David

Sophie Liu David is thrilled to return to Festival this summer! Originally from Los Angeles, she currently studies musical theatre at Northwestern University. You may recognize her from last year’s Something Rotten! (Portia), Significant Other (Kiki), or Footloose (Urleen)! Other regional credits include Cinderella (Drury Lane Theatre), Chava in Fiddler on the Roof (The Lexington Theatre). Upcoming: Frozen, Cats (Paramount Theatre) @sophieldavid.

Trish Dobson

Trish Dobson is a rising senior at Dean College earning her BFA in musical theater. She currently works as a performer, director and choreographer on campus. Her favorite roles include Maureen in Rent, Miss Sandra in All Shook Up, and Fastrada in Pippin. She is excited to make her Festival 56 debut, and would like to thank her mom, brothers, and amazing roommates for being in her corner since day one.

Seamus Foley

Seamus Foley is delighted to return to Princeton for another year! He previously starred as Nick Bottom in 2023’s Something Rotten!, as well as Orsino in Twelfth Night, Wes in Footloose, and Will in Significant Other. He is a 2022 alumnus of Drake University, where he received his BFA in musical theatre, and since then has moved to Minneapolis, where he’s making a play at auditioning.

Bonnie Griffin

Bonnie Griffin is a RI native who has made her home in Kansas City for the past 12 years. Shows include: Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?, A Lie of The Mind, Lieutenant of Inishmore, Dutchman, Twelfth Night, Macbeth, Lost in Yonkers, Equus, and And Then There Were None. She also sharpened her comedy skills by taking sketch writing classes with Second City and competed at the Kansas City Burlesque Festival at the famed Folly Theater.

Zamark Malik Griffin

Zamar Malik Griffin is very excited to be returning to Festival 56. Originally from Atlanta, GA, Zamar has his BFA in theatre performance from Columbus State University. You may recognize him from last season as Ren in Footloose or Jordan in Significant Other. Past credits include: the international tour of Nickelodeon’s Paw Patrol Live: The Great Pirate Adventure (Marshall), Cirque du Soleil’s Cirque Dreams Holidaze tour (featured dancer), and  Hairspray (Seaweed J. Stubbs). He’s forever grateful to God, his loving family, and friends for all their support! @ZamarMalikGriffin

Caroline Jameson

Caroline Jameson is delighted to debut at Festival 56 this season in Urine-town and Grease! She is a rising junior music theatre major and honors student at the University at Buffalo. This year, she performed in Renascence (Caroline B. Dow), The 39 Steps (Pamela/Annabella/Margaret), and 9 To 5 (Ensemble). She would like to thank her parents, Daniel, UBMT, and the entire Festival team for their support. Enjoy the shows! @_carolinejameson_

Joe Jozefowski

Jack Jozefowski is ecstatic to be returning to Festival 56 for the second summer in a row. A few of his most notable roles include Billy Bigelow (Carousel), Fitzwilliam Darcy (Pride and Prejudice), Banquo (Macbeth), Bobby Child (Crazy for You), and Romeo (Romeo and Juliet). Jack was also a 2022 Roger Reese Award Finalist and is now pursuing a degree in theatre with a musical theatre concentration at Providence College where he will be a junior this Fall.

Jane Knapp

Jane Knapp has been involved in community theater—on and off stage and directing—for 45 plus years. She has been seen on the stages, behind the scenes, and in the pit bands of several theaters and sits on the board of Festival 56. Jane has been involved with River Valley Players, Stage 212, Engle Lane Theater, Lakeside Dinner Theater, and Unicorn Theater. Her Festival 56 roles include Dorothy in Respect, The Musical Journey of Women, General Cartwright in Guys & Dolls, Yertle the Turtle in Seussical, the Musical, the Grim Reaper in Addams Family, and the Haggard Woman in Something Rotten! Other favorite roles include Karin in The Church Basement Ladies series, Martha in White Christmas, Marmee in Little Women, the Musical, Mama Rose in Gypsy, Dolly in Hello Dolly, Anna in The King and I, Miss Hannigan in Annie, the Baker’s Wife in Into the Woods, and Sr. Hubert and/or Rev. Mother in several Nunsense productions. As a retired music teacher, Jane directs her church choir, and resides in Putnam, IL, with her husband, Gary.

Clare Krug

Clare Krug is thrilled to be performing in her first season with Festival 56! She is a recent graduate from Providence College, where she double majored in musical theatre and music technology and production. Some of her favorite past performances include Carousel (Carrie) and Pippin (Catherine). Clare would like to thank her parents, family, and friends for their never ending love and support!

 

David Livingston

David Livingston is a professional actor based in Massachusetts. He has had the incredible opportunity to perform at professional regional theaters across New England including North Shore Music Theatre, Theatre by the Sea, and the Firehouse Center for the Performing Arts, to name a few. David is incredibly excited to be performing with Festival 56 this year, and he can’t wait for audiences to join him, his cast, and crew in experiencing these wonderful productions. 

Kaley McConnaughey

Kaley McConnaughey is a New York-based actor originally from Visalia, CA. She recently made her New York City debut in the world premiere of Plume (The Tank), and is so excited to be spending her first summer with Festival 56! Kaley is a graduate of Oklahoma City University with a BM in musical theatre. @kaleyclairemc

 

Patrick McKinney

Patrick McKinney is excited to make his Festival 56 debut. He recently graduated from Dean College, with credits such as Roger Davis (Rent), Pippin (Pippin), and Finch (How to Succeed…). He would like to thank his wonderful girlfriend, Gia, his friends, and his family for endlessly supporting him in all his endeavors.

 

Maisie Meehan

Maisie Meehan originally from Nantucket, MA, is thrilled to be spending the summer in Illinois working with Festival 56. She is a proud student of the theatre, political science, and women’s and gender studies departments at Providence College. Recent credits include: Jane Bennet in Pride and Prejudice (Providence College), Kate McGowan in Titanic (On the Isle), and Sue Snell in Carrie (White Heron Student Company). Tremendous thanks to the cast and crew.

 

Marisol Miller-Wave

Marisol Miller-Wave is so excited to spend another summer in Princeton. Previous Festival 56 credits: Something Rotten! (Nostradamus), Footloose (Vi), Significant Other (Helene), Twelfth Night (Toby Belch), Love’s Labour’s Lost (Princess), Dames at Sea (Mona), Lucky Stiff (Dominique), Moon Over Buffalo (Charlotte), and You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown (Lucy). Other favorite shows include Alice by Heart (Queen of Hearts), How to Succeed in Business without Really Trying (Hedy), Light Up The Sky (Frances), High Society (Liz), Lend Me a Tenor (Maria), and Five Women Wearing the Same Dress (Trish). She currently resides in her home town of Santa Barbara, CA, where she works as freelance makeup artist and wig and makeup designer with her company Mar Makes Face. Thank you to the Suarezes and the Yepsens who always made Princeton feel like a home away from home.

Justin Moon

Justin Moon goes to Bureau Valley High School as a junior. He is super pumped to be back with Festival 56 for another summer, and can’t wait for this season’s shows! Justin likes to perform because of all the amazing people he gets to work with. Previous Festival 56 shows include Godspell, Merry Wives of Windsor, Footloose, and Something Rotten!.

Ryan Reid

Ryan H. Reid is thrilled to return to Festival 56 on this, the 10-year anniversary of his first season at Festival…It’s good to be home. Since you’ve last seen Ryan, he’s been working as a full-time voiceover actor and narrator in Chicago.

Liam Roberts

Liam Roberts is an actor from Warwick, RI, and recent graduate from the University of Rhode Island. Some notable roles include Macduff (Macbeth), Wadsworth (Clue: On Stage), Malvolio (Twelfth Night) and Charles in the Rhode Island premiere of Red Velvet. He was most recently seen as Orin Scrivello in URI’s production of Little Shop of Horrors. Liam would like to thank the audience for their support of Festival 56 and for supporting the arts.

Hunter Semrau

Hunter Semrau is a New York-based singer, actor, and musician originally from Canada, and is so excited to be returning to Festival 56! His recent credits include Million Dollar Quartet Christmas (National Tour), Million Dollar Quartet (National Tour Limited Engagement), and originating the role of DJ in the Off-Off-Broadway premiere of Goblins & Gates (Teatro LATEA). Hunter is a graduate of Oklahoma City University with a BM in musical theatre. @huntersemrau, huntersemrau.com

Emily Smith

Emily Smith is thrilled to return to Princeton a decade after her debut season! She was last seen as Georgie in Festival 56’s The Full Monty. Since then, Emily has appeared as Rosalind (As You Like It) with Austin Shakespeare, Hero (Much Ado About Nothing) with Penfold Theatre, and Player 4 (Nevermore) with Doctuh Mistuh Productions, along with many more. Emily would like to thank Tim and Jimmy for the opportunity to bring Susan to life with this amazing cast, as well as Chani for the laughs, the snuggles, and the always judgmental side eye.

Sarah Smith

Sarah Smith is thrilled to return to the Festival after 10 years to bring you this hilarious and heartwarming role to the Princeton stage. Previous roles include The Witch in Into the Woods, Jeannette in The Full Monty, Fraulein Schneider in Cabaret and Songs for a New World. Credits include Broadway National Tour of Mamma Mia! (Rosie) and Rogers and Hammerstein’s Cinderella (Madame). NYC credits include Ragtime (Emma Goldman) and Urinetown (Pennelope Pennywise). Other regional credits: Fun Home (Helen) at Theatre Raleigh, Rumors (Chris Gorman), Martha Watson in White Christmas. Limitless gratitude to our audience—thank you for coming into this space and sharing in our story-telling—without you, we would not be here.

Avery Sullivan

Avery Sullivan is 21 years old and located in Oviedo, FL. Currently she’s a rising senior at Dean College in Franklin, MA, studying for a BFA in musical theatre. She has loved performing her entire life and some of her favorite productions have been Rosemary Pilkington (How to Succeed…), Fantine (Les Miserables), and more! Avery is so honored to be a part of these wonderful productions and she hopes you enjoy them all!


Emily Turtle

Emily Turtle is delighted to be making her Festival 56 debut in Grease! Emily is a graduate of the University of Rhode Island where she received a BFA in acting and theatre management, and a music minor in vocal performance. She is a professional singer, actress, and voice actress, and a music director and teaching artist. Emily is very grateful for all of the love and support from her husband Steven, and her family and friends. Regional theatre: The Sandra Feinstein-Gamm Theatre: It’s a Wonderful Life: A Live Radio Play in association with The Public’s Radio (Announcer/Zuzu), Assassins (Ensemble/Pianist/Associate Musical Director), It’s a Wonderful Life: A Live Radio Play (Announcer/Zuzu), Fort Myers Theatre: The Last Five Years (Cathy Hiatt), Encore Opera Company: The Magic Flute (Queen of the Night), Marley Bridges Theatre Company: Newport Murder Mystery (Company Member), TEN31 Productions: Company Member University of Rhode Island: Mary Poppins (Mary Poppins—RI Motif Theatre Award Winner/Best Female Performance 2018), Lady Windermere’s Fan (Lady Windermere), A Little Night Music (Anne), The Trojan Women (Andromache), Spring Awakening (Anna), Legally Blonde: The Musical (Kate/Judge).

Amy Van Dyke

Amy Van Dyke is excited to be returning to Festival 56 this summer thanks to the incredible hospitality of Princeton and the amazing team of artistic directors and creatives. Her most recent credits include Judy Haynes in White Christmas (Legacy Theatre), Sister Mary Robert in Sister Act (Festival Playhouse), Ariel in Footloose, and Something Rotten! (Festival 56). Thank you to her family, the Tischer family, and Alex for the love and support.

Elin Workman

Elin Workman as born and raised in Bureau County, Elin attended her first theatrical experience at the Grace Theater with her grandmother and fell in love with it. The next year, she attended Camp 56 and has been with Festival 56 ever since, appearing in Seussical, The Addams Family, Mary Poppins, Godspell, Matilda, Something Rotten!, and Music, Memories and Merriment: An Evening of Stories and Songs with Sarah Smith. Other performances include Babes in Toyland, Clue, Little Shop of Horrors, and 12 Angry Jurors. Elin also has a background of 8 years in dance. She just completed her sophomore year at Princeton High School where she was active in choir and band and as a Thespian.

BOX OFFICE HOURS

Box Office Hours
Two days prior through opening, the box office is open 3-6 p.m. and also one hour before each show. 

For tickets, please leave a message at the Box Office phone 815-879-5656.

LOCATION

Festival 56
316 S. Main Street
Princeton, Illinois 61356