Theo is currently a junior in the acting BFA at UVU. He was last seen as Stephano in A Tempest. They have participated in Short Attention Span Theatre as both an actor and a stage manager. This is their first assistant directing opportunity and he is very excited. Theo would like to thank their friends and family with a special shoutout to Clara Thompson who everyone thinks that he is dating.


Sophie is so excited to be playing Amy in UVU's production of "Little Women"! She is currently a junior in the Musical Theater BFA here at UVU. Some of Sophie's favorite shows she has performed in include The Drowsy Chaperone, Something Rotten, The Little Mermaid, and Lucky Stiff. She wants to give special thanks to her husband Kevin and her family.

Grace is thrilled to be performing in her final show at UVU, bringing her childhood favorite, Little Women, to life on stage. Growing up with three sisters of her own, she feels a deep connection to the March sisters. Grace has a history of playing tragic roles, and some of her most memorable performances include Rapunzel in Into the Woods and Juliet in Romeo and Juliet. She sincerely hopes you enjoy the show and the enduring legacy of the beloved March sisters.

Sam is a sort-of-senior in the BFA Stage Management program at UVU. They are pleased to have been able to work with this cast and production team and so appreciate everyone's willingness to collaborate in putting together a beautiful show. Recent credits include The Hunchback of Notre Dame (Stage Manager, Timpanogos Community Theatre), Newsies (Assistant Stage Manager, Sundance), The Diary of Anne Frank (Stage Manager, UVU), Machinal (Assistant Lighting Designer, UVU), and Metamorphoses (Sound Designer, UVU). After Little Women, you can find them stage managing The Crucible for UVU this fall. They would like to thank their family and Patch Olsen for all their love and support.

Maryn is delighted to perform in Little Women at UVU! She is currently a junior studying Musical Theater at UVU and has previously performed with theatre companies such as Tuacahn Amphitheater, Brigham's Playhouse, and The Stage Door all in her hometown of St. George, Utah. Her training includes COPA Tuacahn, Westside Studio of Performing Arts, and UVU’s Theatre and Dance classes. Maryn would love to give a big thank you to the cast and crew of Little Women, and a special thanks to family and friends from Brigham's Playhouse, where her love for theatre started. Please enjoy the show!

Braden is proud to be a part of Little Women with this spectacular cast. He is finishing his Junior year in the Musical Theatre BFA this semester. He would like to thank his extremely supportive family, his boyfriend AJ, and all his friends for their love and encouragement.

Annie is a freshman at UVU working on her BFA in Costume Design. She loves costume design and is excited to work on Little Women as her first ever UVU production! Previously, she's worked on shows such as The Little Mermaid and The Man Who Came to Dinner.

Pat Debenham is a self-described ‘accidental’ artist. For most of his life as a teacher, performer, choreographer, director, writer and visual artist he has ‘fallen’ into personal and professional opportunities that are engaging, challenging, and creatively fulfilling. Playing Linus in Charlie Brown is wonderfully the most recent, except of course working with UVU students and faculty on Little Women. Past lives included thirty-seven years in dance at BYU and six at UVU. He’s currently on staff at the UVU Museum of Art. Present passions - three phenomenal daughters, their husbands, thirteen grandchildren and his multi-faceted wife Kathie. Present pleasures - desire for good food, thoughtful reading, meaningful conversation and some solitude just every once in a while.

Keaton Drummond is excited to be part of Little Women as his first show at UVU! He began acting for the first time at UVU and fell in love with it immediately. Since that first class he joined the Acting BFA at UVU and has been working hard to hone his craft in preparation to share his acting talents with the world. Keaton loves any activity that has to do with music whether it be playing guitar, singing, or multiple forms of dance (specifically social styles such as bachata), and has spent his whole life involved with any of the musical arts he could. After college, Keaton aspires to work in film and share his acting with as many people as possible. He also has goals to work in live theater whenever possible and pursue both styles of acting whenever available. You may have seen him recently in his first ever musical Mamma Mia at Sandy Arts or in his first straight play The Legends of Sleepy Hollow at The Hive Collaborative as Johnny Hudson. Keaton would like to thank his friends, family, and professors for inspiring him to work towards his passions and pushing him to pursue this career in acting. He dedicates this performance to them.

A true Wolverine, Anne will earn her Master of Education degree this year here at the UVU School of Education! She is now a student teacher in Theatre at Draper Park Middle School. She is a proud momma of 3 amazing children! She and her husband Michael have been married 30 years! He is Anne's 'Mr. Mom' for being such an amazing supporting person for their busiest family. She is grateful for them and for her family & friends. She hopes you are mesmerized here while watching "Little Women"!

As a freshman in the Musical Theatre BFA Program, Roe Goade is excited to make her UVU debut in Little Women! Having grown up in theatre, some of her favorite past roles include Jo March (Little Women), Marcy Park (Spelling Bee), Ariel (Footloose), and Penelope Pennywise (Urinetown). Roe is thankful for the opportunity to learn from the upperclassmen and for the support of her boyfriend, family, and friends!

Paola is incredibly honored to perform as Jo in UVU's production of Little Women! She has loved the book since she was young, her favorite version of the movie is Winona Ryder's 1994 version, and she considers herself a mix between Jo and Amy. She is a junior in the BFA Musical Theatre program here at UVU, and her previous UVU productions include Metamorphoses, Gin Mummy, The Diary of Anne Frank, and The Divine. Paola likes to spend her free time going to karaoke with friends, hiding in a corner of a coffee shop with a good book, or trying to maintain a successful Wordle streak. She would like to thank everyone who has helped her get to this moment, specifically her lovely cast, who she wouldn't have survived this process without. She hopes you enjoy the performance and always love as deeply as the March sisters do! Instagram: loladmar170

Laurie holds an MFA from the National Theater Conservatory in Denver, Colorado. She taught for 14 years in the Theatre and Media Arts Department at Brigham Young University and is now a professor in the Theatre Department at Utah Valley University. In addition to teaching acting, movement, and improv, Laurie is a director, actor, voiceover artist, and writer. She directed The Wizard of Oz and performed as Mrs. Paroo in The Music Man and Aunt Eller in Oklahoma! at Sundance Summer Theatre. Her onscreen credits include the role of the Nurse in Romeo and Juliet, an independent film by Parking Garage Pictures. In recent years, she has appeared in three Hallmark Christmas movies and seven commercials. Laurie’s writing projects include a musical adaptation of Alice in Wonderland, which was performed at UVU and at the Bumbleberry Summer Theatre in Springdale, Utah, as well as Is There an Actor in the House, which was staged at UVU. She also served as the acting coach for the independent film Green Flake, which won Best Picture at the LAFA Awards in 2020.

Julie is an Associate Professor of Theatre here at UVU, and specializes in acting for the camera and voice over. However, musical theater is her first love! It is what first brought her into acting 30 years ago and after much time away, serving as director and/or music director for dozens of musicals, she's honored to have this opportunity to be back on stage. She holds an MFA in Acting from the University of Nevada Las Vegas and has been teaching in higher education for the last 15 years, serving as the Theatre Program Director at SLCC, and the head of Musical Theatre at Nebraska Wesleyan University prior to arriving at UVU in 2020. In addition to her theatrical credits, she has appeared in film, commercials, countless voice over projects, and even spent 7 years in the Tabernacle Choir at Temple Square. She is the mother of 4 children, wife to her 8th grade crush, and enjoys tending to her small flock of backyard chickens.

Shannon earned her MFA in Theater Design & Production (Wig Making & Makeup) from The University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music in 2017 and has worked as a freelance hair/makeup designer and makeup artist at various companies spanning theater, film and television for the last 10 years. Recent credits include 'Metamorphoses' and 'Gin Mummy' here at UVU, and 'The Flying Dutchman' at the Utah Opera. She currently is working as a Lecturer of Design here at UVU.

Taytum is super stoked to be in UVU's production of Little Women. Some recent shows that you might have seen Taytum in include Metamorphoses as multiple characters at UVU, Little Red in Into The Woods at UVU, Holly in The Wedding Singer at the Ideal Playhouse, Tina in Sister Act at Draper Historic Theatre, and Trina in TAG's production of Falsettos at UVU. Taytum would like to thank her friends and family for supporting her dream. She’d like to give a special shout out to her mom and her best friends Holly Snow and Alexa Herrera who have always been there for her. Thank you for coming to see the show. Peace and love!

Gayle Lockwood, originally from the San Francisco Bay Area, has called Orem, Utah home for the past 41 years. In 2019, she retired from her position of Teaching Professor of Music at BYU where she taught voice in the Music Dance Theatre Program. Since the spring of 2023, she has been an adjunct teacher of music theatre voice at UVU. Gayle has served as music director for numerous productions including, Phantom of the Opera, Les Miserables, She Loves Me, Secret Garden, Wonderland and the American premier of Frank Wildhorn’s The Count of Monte Cristo. She has been a guest lecturer and clinician for many groups including both local and national chapters of National Association of Teachers of Singing and the Grammy Award winning vocal ensemble, Roomful of Teeth. Her students have performed and are currently performing in over 50 Broadway shows and touring companies. She is thrilled to be working with the talented students at UVU.

Richard Lorig, Assistant Professor of Theatre, is pleased to be making his UVU debut. He is a recent transplant from Seattle, WA where he served as Professor of Theatre and Head of Design (and sometimes director) at Seattle Pacific University. He has enjoyed a long career as a freelance scenic designer in the Pacific Northwest. Recent productions include designs for Silent Sky, The Old Man and the Old Moon, Jasper in Deadland, and Jeeves Takes a Bow. Recent directing projects include Big Love and The Christians. He’s known his amazing wife, Gina, since they were both 13. They’re parents to three amazing humans and two dogs: Rexa and Steve Hotrod. Love and thanks to all!

Nathan is a student in UVU’s Bachelor of Arts program. He is pursuing a Bachelor’s degree in sound design and production. Nathan has been a sound engineer and designer for several theaters around Utah County for the past three years. He loves the opportunity to support actors and directors in telling profound stories. Enjoy the show!

Kara (They/He/She) is grateful for the opportunity to have worked as the dramaturg for UVU's production of Little Women. Researching and providing historical and literary context for this show has been a rewarding experience, and they've loved working with the cast and creative team to help bring the story to life. Kara loves exploring all areas of theater, including acting, stage management, and lighting, and is always looking for new ways to grow as an artist and find ways to make impactful theater. Kara is an alumni of Utah Valley University and holds a Bachelor's Degree in Theatre Arts. When they’re not working on shows, Kara enjoys spending time with their dog, Kylo.

Mikenzie is so excited to be in this production of ‘Little Women’! This will be her second show here at UVU! Mikenzie is a sophomore pursuing a BFA in Acting and a minor in Marketing. Some of her favorite roles include Zaneeta Shinn in ‘The Music Man’, Billy in ‘Kid Turboni Brings The Rain’, and most recently a Wheeler in Ozma of Oz here at UVU. Mikenzie would like to thank her sister and best friend! She hopes you enjoys the show!

Devon is a senior in the BFA for sound design at UVU, and is doing his 2nd mainstage lighting design for UVU. He is very excited to be working on this show with such a great team!

Reese is very excited to partake in this wonderful show with its emphasis on family, kindness and love. His most recent role was that of General Pershing in HCTO‘s The Hello Girls. Reese performed in the UVU-produced Wizard of Oz at Sundance in 2015, and he is very happy for another chance to work with the talented production team and students here at UVU. While Reese teaches at BYU in the BFA/MDT acting programs where he focuses on training the beginning actor and improvisation, this Spring his son Ian will be the last of his three progeny to graduate from UVU, so he proudly wears the hats of both a Cougar and a Wolverine.

Cortnee's theatrical experience includes Lucky Stiff & Into the Woods (Props Designer), The Seagull (Stage Manager), Little Shops of Horror (Stage Manager), Sound of Music (Assistant Production Manager), SAST (Stage Manager), Ready, Steady, Yeti Go! (Stage Manager), Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead (Set Crew Chief), Ephraim Hanks the Musical (Production Manager), Little Women (Lighting Assistant).

Brock is so excited to be a part of Little Women at UVU! He has been in Little Women before, understudying for Professor Bhaer and John Brook at the University of Nevada, Reno. Brock is grateful for the opportunity to have a role and share his talents with the world. Brock loves to spend his free time with his family, learning things he is unfamiliar or uncomfortable with, and forever working on his craft of performing. He aspires to move to New York upon graduation and pursue his passion of performing on Broadway. You may have seen him recently in Newsies! at Sundance Summer Theatre, or as the Steward/Swing in Into The Woods put on by UVU. Other credits include Raj/Ensemble in Working: The Musical, Warner Huntington III in Legally Blonde, and Jean Valjean in Les Miserables. Brock would like to thank his friends and family, especially his mother, for inspiring him to live a life filled with peace, love, and joy.

Isaiah is a junior Acting Performance major at UVU, with a minor in Computer Science. At UVU, Isaiah has performed in Lady M and sung as a member of Deep Green. When not performing, Isaiah enjoys drawing, crochet, computer programming, and biking.

Julia is thrilled to be doing another production here at UVU! She is a junior in UVU's Musical Theatre BFA program and is excited to be in Little Women at long last. Some of her previous favorite roles included Penelope Pennywise (Urinetown), Pamela (The 39 Steps), and The Narrator (Into the Woods). She would like to thank all her friends and family for supporting her through this process, and for the cast and crew that made this experience amazing!

Clara or Jack, she/her/he/him, (use whatever you want, she doesn't care) is excited to be in UVU's production of Little Women! You may have seen Jack on the UVU stage as Silenus, Hades, and Narcissus in Metamorphoses this past fall, or seen her play the kooky and evil transorbital lobotomy doctor in Lady M in fall of 2023. Outside of acting, Jack also has an interest in scriptwriting and directing. In 2024 she wrote and workshopped the script for a pilot episode of a TV series, and this fall she will be assistant directing UVU's production of The Crucible. Clara dedicates this performance to her nephews and niece, Reed, Miles, Lydia, and one more nephew on the way! He'd also like to give a shoutout to Theo Beene, the assistant director to this show and her best friend who she is rumored to be dating. The rumor isn't true, they aren't actually dating… or are they?

This is Melanie's third show at UVU. She is a current sophomore and is studying Stage Management. Past projects include assistant stage managing Gin Mummy, Ozma of Oz, and being the props master for Newsies at Sundance. Melanie has learned a lot from ASMing her first musical and thanks her family and Sam Brockman for all the support!