Ella Enchanted

Ella -
Aguel Lual is a recent graduate of the Johnny Carson School of Theatre and Film at UNL and could not be more excited to be making her Rose debut! Some of her favorite credits are Kate "Monster in Avenue Q" (Nebraska Repertory Theatre) Maurice in "Lord of The Flies" (Nebraska Rep) and Emmie Thibodeaux in "Caroline, Or Change" (Omaha Community Playhouse.) She also loves sharing theatre with young audiences and has worked as a Teaching Artist with Flatwater Shakespeare’s Little But Fierce program.

Prince Charmont/Servant -
Marcel Daly is excited to be returning to The Rose Theater in "Ella Enchanted". Born and raised in Bellevue, Nebraska, he has loved performing since elementary school. As an alumni from Bellevue West High School, he was selected to represent Nebraska at the Jimmy Awards as a national nominee in New York City. Since then he has performed around the Omaha area, and graduated from the University of Nebraska at Omaha with a degree in Vocal Performance. Marcel's credits include: Benny in "In the Heights" (SNAP! Productions) Davy in "Newsies" (Rose Theater), Prince Eric in "The Little Mermaid" (Rose Theater), and Archibald Craven in "Secret Garden" (UNO Theatre Production). Marcel was last seen in "Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat" as Reuben at the New Theatre Dinner and Restaurant in Kansas. In the future, Marcel plans to pursue a career as an actor, composer, writer and lyricist.
Instagram:mdaly_27

Lucinda/Bird/Mistress Manners -
Lauren was last seen on stage at The Rose in "The Cat in the Hat” as the Cat. Some other notable roles at the Rose include Princess Fiona in "Shrek the Musical," Miss Shields in "A Christmas Story," Penny in "Honk!," and Julia in "The True Story of the Three Little Pigs." She also was a part of two world premiere productions at The Rose: "Prancer" 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. Most recently she performed with the Omaha Symphony as concert host with the program Link Up! She has also been seen with the Sarasota Orchestra, Rochester Philharmonic, and soon to be seen with the Lima Symphony and San Diego Symphony in "Gold Rush," a family concert celebrating American Composers.

Mother/Dame Olga/Menagerie Creature/Giant Bride -
Joey Hartshorn is making her Rose Theater debut in "Ella Enchanted". Brand spanking new to the area, she is excited and honored to be part of the Omaha theatre scene. She was recently seen in OCP’s "Ragtime" (Emma Goldman), she received the Barbara Ford Award for the 2018-2019 Season at OCP for her role as Marge in "Bridges of Madison County". Some favorite past roles include, Penelope Pennywise ("Urinetown"), Nellie Lovett ("Sweeny Todd"), Margaret White ("Carrie the Musical"), Vivian Bearing ("Wit"), Becca ("Rabbit Hole") God of Carnage ("Annette"), Sheila ("Boys Next Door") Pirates of Penzance ("Ruth") and some favorite directing credits include Greenday’s "American Idiot", "Dogfight", "Spring Awakening", "Heathers", "Closetland", "Beauty and the Beast" and "Next to Normal".
Joey is currently a Music Director and Creative Arts Director at First Lutheran Church in South Sioux City, a vocal artist with Resonance and a teaching artist with OCP.
She is grateful to her family and friends for their love and support and would like to thank all those involved in "Ella Enchanted" for making this a rewarding experience.

Sir Peter/Menagerie Creature/Ogre/Giant Groom/Squire -
LaDareon Copeland (LD) is one of the Teaching Artist Fellows and is so excited to be making his Rose debut in "Ella Enchanted". This Georgia peach graduated from Young Harris College in 2016. While there, he performed in multiple productions such as "Rent" (Tom Collins), "The Producers" (Carmen Ghia), and "Fences" (Jim Bono) where his school had the first fully African American cast production and was nominated for an Irene Ryan scholarship. He also was blessed to make his directorial debut at his college with "Songs for a New World". After graduation, LD worked for multiple children’s theaters such as First Stage Children’s Theater, Missoula Children’s Theatre, CLIMB Theatre in Minnesota, and Bay Area Children’s Theater where he originated the role of Ramone in "Peg + Cat Live". When he is not performing on The Rose stage, he also performs as Rustina Roze promoting equality, body positivity and love. He is so thankful for this opportunity to work with such an amazing cast. He would like to thank Matt and Nik for believing in him for this production and his cast and crew for being such a supportive team.

Hattie/Servant/Menagerie Creature/Ogre/Giant -
Shannon grew up and trained in Southern California. After graduating from school she joined The Young Americans to train and travel all over the world. After participating as a guest artist and educator in the US, UK, and Japan, she then took off to finish her education. As of this May, she graduated from Midland University with a Bachelors Degree in Arts Management. During her time there, she had the opportunity to play some noteworthy roles. Some of which included Mrs. Peacock ("Clue on Stage"), Queen Aggravain ("Once Upon a Mattress"), Mrs. Meers ("Thoroughly Modern Millie"), and Aldonza ("The Man of LaMancha"). She joined The Rose last season for her debut as The Manager in "Elf the Musical", and has since become a guest educator for Musical Theater Classes. She sincerely hopes you enjoy today’s production, and thanks you for your support.

Olive/Servant/Menagerie Creature/Ogre/Giant -
Carina hails from the lovely land of South Dakota but studied Theater Arts at Minnesota State University Moorhead, in Moorhead MN. While living in the Fargo/Moorhead area, Carina worked as a freelance theater artist directing, choreographing, prop designing, stage managing, teaching, and acting. In Fall of 2018, Carina made their way to The Rose Theater to start as a Teaching Artist Fellow.
Some of their favorite projects include "Winnie the Pooh" (as Winnie the Pooh), "Darkness Like A Dream" (as Hermia), "The Jungle Book" (as Baloo), "Eurydice" (Director), "Cinderella: If the Shoe Fits" (Director/Choreographer), "A Year with Frog and Toad" (Stage Manager) and Disney’s "The Little Mermaid" (Stage Manager/Prop Designer).
To every one in the cast and creative team, thank you. What a magical show we’ve created.
To every young human in the audience, do not be afraid to use your voice to stand up for what is right. “The power of language is vital you see, real understanding unites you and me. Words are like magic, comic or tragic. I want to know what you say.”

Co-Choreographer -
Sue Gillespie Booton's national tour credits include "Annie Get Your Gun", "Beehive", and "Grease". Most recent credits include "Elf" (Sam/Mrs. Santa), World Premiere of "The Dollmaker's Gift", (Pola/Rebecca), "Rocky Horror" (Columbia), "Ring of Fire" (Ensemble) and "Always, Patsy Cline" (Louise). She was an original cast member in Omaha’s longest running musical, "Beehive" (Brenda Lee, Petula Clark, Janis Joplin), and appeared in shows on Royal Carribean, Carnival, Royal Viking and Europe’s Sally Cruise Lines. Other Rose stage appearances include "Madagascar" (Gloria), "Cinderella" (Fairy Godmother) and "Cat in the Hat", (Thing #1). Choreographic credits include "Elf The Musical", "Matilda", Disney’s "Newsies", "The Best Christmas Pageant Ever", "Madagascar", "Mary Poppins", "A Christmas Story", "Tarzan", "Narnia", "Peter Pan", "HONK!" and "Annie - The Musical". She won the 2019 Omaha Entertainment Award for "Outstanding Choreography" for "Newsies" and is the 2020 nominee for both "Elf" and "Matilda". She was inducted into the Nebraska Music Hall of Fame summer, 2019 and is the 2014 recipient of the National Freddy G Award given to outstanding musical theater educators as well as the 2014 Theater Arts Guild Education Award winner. Sue is The Rose Theater’s Resident Choreographer and Director of BROADWAY at The Rose, which includes The Rose Brigade and Dance Lab at The Rose. She is thankful to return to Omaha and continue her professional career at The Rose Theater near friends and family.

Music Director -
Jerry Brabec, tenor, is an Ordained Deacon on the clergy staff at Omaha St. Paul United Methodist Church where he serves as Minister of Worship. His responsibilities include the overseeing of liturgical preparation for the congregation of 500. 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 for the past eleven seasons, “Ella Enchanted” marks his 39th show as a visiting 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.

Director/Co-Choreographer -
Nik Whitcomb is a theatre artist, casting director, and Rose Kid currently based in Chicago, IL where he is a Casting Associate with Paskal Rudnicke Casting and serves as the Associate Producer/Director of Casting at Haven Chicago. Nik is thrilled to be back at The Rose Theater where he learned everything about anything. You may remember Nik from his onstage performances in "A Christmas Story", "Pete the Cat", "Honk!", "Shrek the Musical", and many others. He has also been seen at the Blue Barn ("Little Nelly's Naughty Noel"), performed at the Great Plains Theatre Conference, and earned a number of awards (TAG, OEA, Elaine Jabenis Cameo Award) for his performance as the Dryer/Bus in "Caroline, or Change" at the Omaha Community Playhouse. Nik was also a Rose Theater high school intern, college intern, the inaugural Artistic Fellow, a member of the front of house team, membership department, and a contract teaching artist for a number of years. Since leaving Omaha, Nik has had the pleasure of working with artists across the Midwest both on and off the stage. He has spent time in major regional theatres like the Guthrie (Minneapolis), Ordway (St. Paul), and Goodman Theatre in Chicago. Nik also did a short stint in New York where he made his Off Broadway debut. Most recently Nik has been involved in the development of a new musical in Chicago by Davyd Reddyk and Ethan Krupp called "Hildegard: An Unfinished Revolution" and has directed for Collaboraction Theatre, The Theatre School at DePaul, assistant directed "Nina Simone: Four Women" with Kenneth L. Roberson at Northlight Theatre in Skokie, IL, and devised a musical experiment entitled "To The Sea" with The Stillwell Institute for Contemporary Black Art. Omaha directing credits include "Smart People" and "The Divine Order of Becoming" (Assistant Director) with the Performing Arts Collective at the Union for Contemporary Art, "Seussical the Musical" at Omaha North High School, assistant director for "Ivy & Bean" and "Plastic Drastic" on The Rose mainstage, and co-director for "The Young Playwrights Festival" and "Pride Players" in the Teens 'n' Theater series. Nik is honored to be back home at his artistic home and to be working with this remarkable team on telling this story. He would like to thank his mother for her undying support and you for sharing in this moment with us. Nikwhitcomb.com.