THE COVEN
Jennica McCleary FOUNDER / WINIFRED |
A classically trained Singer/Dancer/Actor who also works in Burlesque, Wig Design, and Choreography, Jennica McCleary is best known for her work as a Bette Midler Tribute Artist, and most notably, Winifred Sanderson for nearly a decade. In addition to her self-produced shows Divine Deception, Betteducation and Winnie’s Rock Cauldron Cabaret, Jennica originated Winifred Sanderson at Disney’s Magic Kingdom production ‘Hocus Pocus Villain Spelltacular’ 2015. Her Regional Theatre credits include Fun Home, Jekyll & Hyde, Sweeney Todd, and Cabaret. Jennica has also worked with Legends in Concert and Pattycake Productions, and been seen on The Freeform Network, MTV, The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon and Comedy Central’s Upright Citizen’s Brigade. She was also featured in The Hocus Pocus 25th Anniversary Bash on Freeform as well as Freeform’s Halloween Road. She is thrilled to have conjured Winnie’s Rock Cauldron Cabaret, while battling breast cancer, to celebrate everyone's inner magical badass witch. She continues to advocate and volunteer for young Breast Cancer Survivors and Previvors who lack resources and support. Thank you to the entire cast, creative teams, administrators, and sponsors who continue to support, encourage, and trust my vision.
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Alyssa Kent is absolutely thrilled to been running Amuck (Amuck! Amuck!) again with WRCC for her 5th season! Her passion in life has been performing for as long as she can remember. She's followed this love for the stage all over the country from theatres growing up in Ohio to NYC, Connecticut, Arizona, and eventually found her place in the sunshine of Florida. Some other favorite roles include The Little Mermaid (Ariel), Mary Poppins (Mary Poppins), Winter Wonderettes (Suzy), Drowsy Chaperone (Janet Van De Graaf), and Thoroughly Modern Millie (Millie Dillmount). Alyssa is so proud of all her new witchy sisters and creative team for their hard work! She would like to thank Jennica for giving her the honor of sharing yet another stage together, and her incredible family and friends (and puppies!) for their constant love and support on this journey.
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Alyssa Kent SARAH / ADMIN & REHEARSAL CAPTAIN |
Desiree Montes MARY / WEBMASTER & MARKETING LEAD |
Desiree is an AEA Singer-Actress-Dancer and has been a part of the Central Florida theatre, film, industrial, and theme park entertainment industry for over 17 years. Additionally, she is a Voice-Over Actor, Audition Coach, Director, Arts Educator, Website & Graphic Designer, and Marketing Director for Opera Orlando. She's performed at Universal Studios, "Mabel" The Blues Brothers Show, and as "Celestina Warbeck" in the WWOHP. As well as "Coral / Peach" Finding Nemo: The Musical, and Joyful! A Celebration of the Holiday! at Walt Disney World Resort. Notable credits include: “Norma Valverde” Hands on a Hardbody, “Aida” Aida: the Musical, “Sarah” Ragtime: the Musical, “Daniela” In The Heights, “Diana Morales” A Chorus Line, and “Billie Holiday” in three productions of Lady Day at Emerson’s Bar & Grill. She made her off-broadway debut at the 2019 New York Musical Festival in Flying Lessons. She serves on the Central Florida Liaison Committee, the Equal Employment Opportunity Committee, and the WDW Negotiation Action Committee for Actors' Equity Association. Desiree also serves on the executive committee as the Communications & Digital Outreach Lead for CFEA, where she has developed and maintains the structure and functionality of CFEA’s websites. www.desireemontes.com
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Kristen Sheola is thrilled to be returning to the coven after performing at Greenroom 42 in NYC last Halloween as Sarah Sanderson! Favorite regional credits: Lippa’s Wild Party (Queenie), Hairspray (Amber VonTussle), Legally Blonde (Elle Woods), If/Then (Anne), Hattie in the developmental workshop of Whisper Darkly. She will be portraying Lorraine in Jersey Boys at the Maltz Jupiter Theatre in October. Kristen has performed at Walt Disney World and Universal Orlando in more than a dozen stage shows and more than 20 roles. She has also recorded vocals for several Disney projects and is the voice over artist for Hong Kong Disnyeland’s new firework spectacular, Momentous. Kristen serves as Associate Director for Encore Performing Arts (Head Over Heels at Orlando Shakes, Come Alive at the Steinmetz). Thank you Jennica for bringing her into the family!
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Kristen Sheola SARAH / CO-CHOREOGRAPHER |
Caila Carter WINIFRED |
Caila Carter is a gifted and sought after singer/actor whose talents have taken her all around the world. Her resume boasts work with Hong Kong Disneyland, Norwegian and Oceania Cruise Lines, and Universal Studios Florida. She has a genuine love for all facets of the arts, and has extensive experience working both as a performing and teaching artist for numerous organizations throughout the Central Florida region. Caila is THRILLED to be joining the cast of Winnie’s Rock Cauldron Cabaret, alongside so many talented sisters, in a role that marries her passion for performing to iconic pop cultural lore.
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Rachel Ihasz is thrilled to be making her debut as Mary in Winnie’s Rock Cauldron Cabaret! After wrapping up The Complete Works of Stephen Sondheim (Abridged) back in May at Orlando Fringe, NAKED! At Winter Park Playhouse’s 5th Annual New Musical Festival, she is so excited to get spooky with the new Sisters of Salem! When she is not at rehearsals, you can find her performing at various local Orlando theatres or House Managing at Theater West End! Huge thanks to her family (Sheila, Patrick, Jordan, & Marieke), Jennica, Tara, Alyssa, and the rest of the amazing WRCC production team!
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Rachel Ihasz MARY |
Daisy McCarthy MARY / WINIFRED COSTUME ASSISTANT |
Daisy McCarthy Tucker has been performing and creating in Orlando since childhood. She is over the moon to be joining the coven this year! This production is her first endeavor back on stage after several years creating costumes full time. For a few years she was grateful to bring Winifred to life at Disney’s El Capitan Theatre in Hollywood, and on Freeform’s 25th Anniversary Special. She’s been glad to design costumes for Disney and Sea World over the years, as well as designing custom wedding gowns and cosplays for clients across the globe. Most recently she was honored to design costumes for Roberta Emerson’s production of Disney’s Beauty and the Beast and Oliver! for Theatre at St. Lukes. For the Christmas season she’ll be clowning around Gaylord Palms as Tempetina in “Cirque: Spirit of Christmas”.
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Dayja Le’Chelle is thrilled to be joining the cast of Winnie’s Rock Cauldron Cabaret as Sister Mary Sanderson! After graduating from the University of Tampa with a BFA in Musical Theatre and a minor in dance, she began performing all over Central Florida. Some of her favorite performances include Ragtime (Sarah), Rodgers and Hammerstein's Oklahoma! (Laurey), Sister Act (Deloris Van Cartier), and A Year With Frog And Toad (Turtle/Mother Frog). You may have also seen her casting spells at Universal Orlando or singing on a certain snowflake in Islands of Adventure. Dayja would like to thank the cast, crew, and creative team of Winnie’s Rock Cauldron Cabaret for welcoming her into the Sanderson family. She would also like to thank her beautiful wife for always getting her out the door safely and for encouraging her passions. www.DayjaLeChelle.com
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Dayja Le'Chelle MARY |
Isabel Bernal SARAH |
Isabel Bernal is thrilled to be joining this phenomenal group of sisters for this spooky season. She is a graduate from the University of Central Florida with a degree in Theatre Studies and a minor in Dance. Most recently you may have seen her in Theater West End’s production of In the Heights as Vanessa. Some of her favorite shows that she has had the pleasure of being in include Gorgeous! (Andrea Adams) and La Medéa (Chorus/Magdalena) both with Renaissance Theater Company, and In the Heights (Nina) with the Breakthrough Theatre Company. She would like to thank her family and friends for their continuous love and support.
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Kamryn C. Burton is an alumni from Shenandoah Conservatory where she got her Bachelors of Fine Arts. She started her professional career playing a Dynamite in Hairspray at Shenandoah Summer Musical Theatre in Winchester, VA. From there she moved to Orlando, FL. You may have seen her as the Beggar Woman in Sweeney Todd or as Martha in Heathers with New Generation Theatrical. You can also find her in space with the Walt Disney World Company. She is overjoyed to be joining such a fierce team of creatives for Winnie’s Rock Cauldron Cabaret.
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Kamryn Burton MARY / WINIFRED |
Meg Stefanowicz SARAH |
Meg Stefanowicz (she/her) is ecstatic to be joining the newest legion of sisters ready to Rock the Cauldron this fall! She is an Orlando-based singer actor and puppeteer, currently appearing
in Finding Nemo the Musical: The Big Blue and Beyond! at Disney’s Animal Kingdom as Dory/Peach. Local performances include work with Encore Performing Arts (Come Alive 20th Anniversary Concert- 2022, Cabaret-2020) and Theater at St. Luke’s (Little Women, 2019). Meg attained her BFA in Musical Theatre performance from Shenandoah Conservatory, and continued studies at Det Danske Musicalakademie in Fredericia, Denmark. She is currently workshopping a new musical titled Bad Influence, written by Colby Lapolla and Sarah Caroline Billings. More info to be found on her website www.megstefanowicz.com, and Instagram @megstef |
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Katy Williams is having so much fun running amuck with this incredible team! She has performed as a singer, actor, and stilt-walker at Universal Orlando, Walt Disney World, Capone’s Dinner and Show, and ZooTampa, and worked with several local theatre companies and medical simulation teams. Some of her favorite roles have included Queenie (The Wild Party), Cinderella (Into The Woods), Ms. Jewel (Capone’s Dinner and Show), and Dora Decor Who (Universal Orlando Grinchmas Atmosphere). Enjoy the show!
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Katy Williams SARAH |
THE PRODUCTION TEAM
Tara Kromer CO-DIRECTOR / CREATIVE TEAM LEAD |
TARA KROMER is thrilled to be rocking the cauldron with this wicked talented cast and team this Halloween! Recent Directing credits include: Honky Tonk Laundry (Hippodrome Theatre), Ragtime (Athens Theatre), Tick Tick Boom (Celebration Theatre Company), Fun Home (Theatre West End), The Legend of Sleepy Hollow (Orlando Rep), A Gentleman’s Guide to Love and Murder (Osceola Arts), Perfect Arrangement (Ensemble Company at Penguin Point), Driving Miss Daisy (Theatre West End; Orlando Sentinel Critic’s Choice for Best Director of a Comedy and Best Show of the 2021 Season), Violet (Garden Theatre), The Super Variety Match Bonus Round and My Pal Bette (Orlando Fringe), and It Shoulda Been You (Studio Theatre Tierra Del Sol). Tara is also an educator and a freelance sound designer. She serves as the resident Props and Puppetry Designer and often directs productions for Orlando Repertory Theatre. Keep an eye out for Tara’s upcoming productions of Aaron Posner’s Stupid F^*%ing Bird with The Ensemble Company at Penguin Point and The Prom at Theatre South Playhouse. Visit www.tarakromer.com for more info on her work.
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Ayọ̀ Jeriah Demps (Associate Director) is excited to be a part of this maggots malfeasance. A mild-mannered former middle school theatre teacher, they moonlight as a freelance performer and director across Central Florida. Favorite directorial credits include Young Frankenstein the Musical, Puffs, or Seven Increasingly Eventful Years at a Certain School of Magic and Magic, and Memphis. Ayọ̀ is currently a Popular Fiction Writing and Publishing grad student at Emerson College, and lives in Deltona with their wife Tiffany, and their two dogs. Come, we fly!
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Ayọ̀ Demps ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR |
Marisa Quijano-Sirois MUSICAL CAPTAIN / MARY '19-'21 |
Marisa 'Risa' Quijano-Sirois is a professional singer, actress and comedic burlesque performer. Risa is the Co-Founder, Director and Producer of the Blacklist Babes Cabaret, Orlando's first all singing, live band burlesque cabaret troupe since 2015. Risa is a part of the Miss Comedy Queen Family, Billy Mick & Friends Variety Show, Blue La La Events and former Mary Sanderson in "Winnie's Rock Cauldron Cabaret." Risa is 3rd Place Best Local Actress in the Orlando Weekly's Best Of 2022, Runner Up Miss Lady Comedy Queen 2022 & 2018, Miss Whiskey Business 2020. Among other titles, Risa has been published in over 30 International Pin Up magazines.
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Justin began writing with Marisa "Risa" together in 2021, composing music & lyrics for "Selling Out! The Musical", Patron's Pick Award Winner 2021 International Fringe Festival. The two paired up again to write music for "The City Beautiful, a Live Music Burlesque Cabaret" which sold out it's entire run in the International Fringe Festival 2022. "The City Beautiful" was created, written and directed by Risa, and co-written by her writer/editor husband, David J. Sirois aka 'Cheesy Pizza Productions'."
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Justin J. Scarlat MUSIC DIRECTOR / COMPOSER |
Leigh Green MARKETING TEAM |
Leigh Green (she/her) is excited to officially be part of the Sisterhood! Leigh is a graduate from the UCF BFA Musical Theatre program (c/o 2016). Most recently, Leigh has been working in Entertainment with Universal and Gaylord Palms and for Theater West End as their marketing associate. She has worked with regional theaters all over the state including: The Renaissance Theatre, Winter Park Playhouse, The Wick Theatre & Costume Museum, Slow Burn Theatre Co, Theater West End, and more. After Hallow’s Eve, Leigh will be heading on tour with Theatreworks to star in CLICK CLACK MOO! Leigh sends all of her love to her family & friends who give her constant support and love. IG: @leigh.shani.green
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