Theatre Under The Stars Announces the Cast of
Elf — The Musical
HOUSTON — Theatre Under The Stars (TUTS) is excited to announce the cast of Elf — The Musical.
“I don’t think there is a better modern show for the holidays than Elf,” said Dan Knechtges, TUTS Artistic Director, and the Director & Choreographer of Elf. “With its bubbly, infectious score, it’s guaranteed to get you into the holiday spirit.”
Leading off the cast are Quinn VanAntwerp as “Buddy,” Michael Halling as “Walter,” Raven Justine Troup as “Jovie,” and Julia Krohn as “Emily Hobbs.” Joining them are Steven Bogard as “Santa,” Simone Gundy as “Deb,” Brian Mathis as “Mr. Greenway,” LaBraska Washington as “Macy’s Manager,” Carlos Garza as “Michael Hobbs,” and Sam Morales as “Michael Hobbs” at certain performances.”
Rounding out the cast in the Ensemble are: Mackenzie Bell, Courtney Chilton, Trey Harrington, Logan Keslar, Jacob Major, Regina Morgan, Christopher Scurlock, Yasmyn Sumiyoshi, Christopher Tipps, and Kristin Warren. Additionally the cast will include 27 students from the Humphreys School of Musical Theatre and The River.
As previously mentioned, Elf, is directed and choreographed by Dan Knechtges. He is joined by Music Director Stephen W. Jones; Matthew Smucker, Scenic Designer; Colleen Grady, Costume Designer; Yael Yubetzky, Lighting Designer; Andrew Harper, Sound Designer; and Kelley Jordan, Hair & Makeup Designer. Casting for Elf is provided by Associate Artistic Director, Megan Larche Dominick, CSA.
Biographies:
QUINN VANANTWERP (Buddy) is best known for being the longest running Bob Gaudio in Jersey Boys history with over 2500 performances. He was most recently seen on Broadway in The Play That Goes Wrong, and can be seen on TV shows like “The Affair,” “Better Call Saul,” “Blue Bloods,” and the upcoming Netflix film Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom starring Viola Davis.
MICHAEL HALLING (Walter) most recently starred as Henry Higgins in over 40 performances of My Fair Lady at Lincoln Center. Other Broadway credits include The Boy From Oz, The Pajama Game, A Tale of Two Cities, In My Life, and The Scarlet Pimpernel. Off-Broadway credits include Giant at The Public (co-pro with Dallas Theater Center). National tours and regional credits include Les Miserables (Enjolras), The Full Monty; Timberlake Wertenbaker’s world premiere play Jefferson’s Garden at Ford’s Theater; and “Robert Kincaid” in the premiere regional production of The Bridges of Madison County at Arkansas Rep. TV credits include “Succession”, “The Americans”, and “Believe”.
RAVEN JUSTINE TROUP (Jovie) is humbled and grateful to be performing with TUTS once again. Previous TUTS credits include: Spring Awakening (Ilse), Seussical (Gertrude), Mamma Mia! (Lisa), and The Wiz (Ensemble); and other credits: Little Shop Of Horrors (Stages Repertory Theater), A Christmas Carol (Alley Theater), Hedwig and the Angry Inch, Funny Girl, Disenchanted, and The Hunchback Of Norte Dame (Art Factory).
JULIA KROHN (Emily Hobbs) Original Las Vegas company of Jersey Boys (Lorraine); NYC Credits: ABBA’s Kristina (pre-Broadway workshop), Joy (Off-Broadway); Regional: Disney’s Beauty and the Beast (Belle), Mack and Mable; TUTS: Anything Goes, Cats, The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas, Camelot, Man of La Mancha, Spamalot, A Chorus Line, Elf, Hands on a Hardbody, World premier of The Sweet Potato Queens, All Shook Up; Alley Theatre: A Christmas Carol, Sherlock Holmes, Toward Zero, Quack, The Three Musketeers; Catastrophic Theatre: Small Ball; First Place both as Presidential Scholar In the Arts and NFAA.
STEVEN BOGARD (Santa) Is excited to return to TUTS after playing Bill Austin in Mamma Mia last season. National tours; Jekyll & Hyde, Lord Glossop, u.s. Jekyll, Guys and Dolls, Calvin, u.s. Sky Masterson. International tour; Grease Das Musical, Vince Fontaine/Teen Angel. Regional; Guys and Dolls, Sky Masterson (Marriott Lincolnshire, Theater by the Sea, MSMT), Titanic, Thomas Andrews (MSMT), Children of Eden, Adam/Noah (Arvada Center and Arkansas Rep.), My Fair Lady, Guys and Dolls.
SIMONE GUNDY (Deb) is delighted to be back at TUTS this holiday season. You may have recently seen her open the annual Thanksgiving Parade here in Houston. She is currently singing with the amazing Drywater Band all over the country and running her own natural skincare business: Skin Karma. Simone’s favorite credits include: Memphis (Felicia Farrell) at TUTS, RENT (Featured Soloist/Ensemble) Casa Manana theatre, Spring Awakening (Martha) Watertower Theatre, and The Wiz (Addaperle) at TUTS. As always Simone would like to thank her family for continuing to be her biggest supporters.
LABRASKA WASHINGTON (Macy’s Manager) has been seen in TUTS Public Works Houston’s: Seussical as “The Mayor”, Ragtime (TUTS), The Wiz (TUTS) ”Collins” in RENT, “Leonato” in Much Ado About Nothing (Tablerock Festival), “Morris” in God’s Favorite (A.D Players). He holds a B.F.A in Musical Theatre from Santa Fe University of Art and Design.
BRIAN MATHIS (Mr. Greenway) is thrilled to return to TUTS after recently appearing in SPRING AWAKENING. Past TUTS productions include All Shook Up, Pippin, Heathers, Oliver, and Mary Poppins. He appeared on the national Equity Tours of Seussical and Jesus Christ Superstar. Also the all new musical, Rock and Roll Man. Regionally he appeared with Arizona Theatre Company, Syracuse Stage, Bucks County Playhouse, Casa Manana, Dallas Theatre Center and Nashville Rep to name a few. He can be heard on dozens of Funimation Anime projects as well, including Ancient Magus Bride.
CARLOS GARZA (Michael Hobbs), a native of Pearland, TX, is in his fourth year at Humphrey’s School of Musical Theatre where he studies acting, music, ballet, and tap. He made his TUTS debut in Beauty and the Beast (2018) and was recently cast as “Michael” from Peter Pan in TUTS’ Jerome Robbins’ Broadway (2019) and in the ensemble of Seussical (2019). He has participated in several high-quality community productions including JATD, Fiddler on the Roof, Godspell, and Beauty and the Beast Junior (as LeFou). Carlos is also known for being a beast both on the soccer field and in the Fortnite arena.
MACKENZIE BELL (Ensemble) Broadway: SUMMER, Sunset Boulevard, Pippin. TV: “Fosse/Verdon.” 1st National Tours: Jersey Boys, Flashdance. Off-Bway: Carrie the Musical (Original Revival Company). Regional: SUMMER (Giorgio, La Jolla Playhouse), Chasing Rainbows (Gale Sondergaard, Papermill Playhouse), A Chorus Line (Val, MUNY), Moonshine (Savana, DTC), RENT (Maureen, Casa Mañana). BFA Elon. @mackthebell, mackenziebell.com.
COURTNEY CHILTON (Swing) is delighted to be back at TUTS for the holidays! She has worked across the country as a director, choreographer, and performer. Favorite credits include: Can Can (Celestine), Gypsy (Dainty June), Mary Poppins (Miss Lark), Hay Fever (Jackie), Promises, Promises (Vivienne), All Shook Up (Virginia), Disney’s Beauty and the Beast, West Side Story, Memphis, Guys and Dolls, Evita, Pippin, Victor/Victoria, The Music Man, A Christmas Story, Showboat, and My Fair Lady. She is also an HSMT, HSPVA, and Tribble school teacher. courtneychilton.com
TREY HARRINGTON (Ensemble) A Houston native, Trey was recently seen in the TUTS production of Ragtime. A former student of the Humphreys School, Trey grew up doing various other productions at TUTS before getting his BFA at the Boston Conservatory. Favorite credits include Roger in Grease at Totem Pole Playhouse and for Royal Caribbean’s Harmony of the Seas, Tony in Billy Elliot at the Palace Theatre, and Les Miserables at the Zach Theatre. Now based in NYC, Trey can’t wait to be home for the holidays!
LOGAN KESLAR (Ensemble) Bway: Tony Award-winning La Cage (Original Cast Recording, 1st National Tour); West End: West Side Story 50th Anniversary production; Hollywood Bowl: Into the Woods (Assoc. Choreographer). Regional: Papermill, Maltz-Jupiter, Riverside Theatre, Kansas City Starlight, HGO. TV: “TONY Awards”, “Today Show”, “GMA”, “Regis and Kelly”. HSPVA Dance graduate. Thanks to Dan, Megan, and Olson! Twitter/Instagram: @logankeslar
JACOB MAJOR (Swing) is a Houston native now living in NYC. He most recently appeared as Don in A Chorus Line at TUTS, and was also seen last season in Mamma Mia! & Disney’s Beauty and the Beast. Regional: A Chorus Line, The Music Man (Lexington Theatre Company), West Side Story (Cortland Repertory Theatre), Footloose (Tibbits & Bigfork).
REGINA MORGAN (Ensemble) is a native of Houston. She has collaborated, recently, with Theatre Under the Stars in their “Best Musical Award” show for the 2018/2019 season in Ragtime. She completed her Masters of Music in Vocal Performance from Boston University. While studying at BU, she performed as Marie La Fille du Regiment, Laeticia in Menotti’s The Old Maid and the Thief: A Radio Opera, in collaboration with BU’s Opera Institute and WTBU Radio Broadcast. She also made her Symphony Hall debut in Boston, MA with BU’s Symphony Orchestra and Chorus in Haydn’s The Creation as soprano soloist, Eve.
CHRISTOPHER SCURLOCK (Ensemble) is making his TUTS debut! He is currently a Senior at Sam Houston State University pursuing his BFA in Musical Theatre and a Houston native. Regional: Panto: Star Force (Uncle), Parade: Concert (Jim Conley), You’re…Charlie Brown (Schroeder). Favorite Collegiate Credits: Assassins (Balladeer), Noises Off (Selsdon), and Harvey (Elwood). Chris plans to pursue a career in musical theatre/directing and move to New York!
YASMYN SUMIYOSHI (Ensemble) recently graduated from Sam Houston State University with her BFA in Musical Theatre. Her recent credits include A Chorus Line (Swing), Mamma Mia! (Ensemble), and All Shook Up (Ensemble) at TUTS. Her favorite collegiate credits include, The Wolves (#11), Hairspray (Shelley), and The Rocky Horror Show (Phantom). Yasmyn is thrilled to be moving to New York City come the new year!
CHRISTOPHER TIPPS (Ensemble) is so happy to make his 51st season debut with this production! He was most recently seen at The Muny as Lyle in Footloose The Musical! Pepper – Mamma Mia!, Ensemble –Jerome Robbins’ Broadway, ensemble –The Wiz (TUTS). Thanks to everyone who’s helped me along this amazing journey- @Mistah_Tipps
KRISTIN WARREN (Ensemble) past TUTS credits include Jerome Robbins’ Broadway (Claire/Tessie/Frumah Sarah); All Shook Up (Sandra); Reefer Madness (Mae); Murder Ballad (Narrator); Man of La Mancha; The Sound of Music; Guys & Dolls; Meet Me in St. Louis; Cabaret; Tommy; Scrooge; Grease. Regional credits include Sweeney Todd (Mrs. Lovett), for which she received Broadway World’s 2015 Best Actress Award; Batboy (Meredith); Ruthless (Judy); Spring Awakening (Adult Women); A Midnight Clear (Emily); Mack & Mabel (Lottie); In the Next Room (Sabrina Daldry); Das Barbecue (Gutrune); and Godspell (Morgan).
This modern day Christmas classic returns to Theatre Under The Stars in an all-new production just in time for the holiday season! Based on the cherished 2003 movie, Elf – The Musical, tells the story of Buddy, a human accidentally transported to the North Pole as a baby. Unaware that he is actually human, Buddy’s enormous size and poor toy-making abilities cause him to face the truth. With Santa’s permission, Buddy embarks on a journey to New York City to find his birth father, discover his true identity, and help the Big Apple remember the true meaning of Christmas. Don’t miss this warm-hearted Broadway hit from TUTS!
Elf — The Musical runs December 7 through 22 at the Hobby Center for the Performing Arts. Tickets start at just $40, and are available online at TUTS.com, or by contacting the TUTS Box Office by phone at (713) 558-8887 or in person by visiting the Box Office located at 800 Bagby Street.
This production of Elf — The Musical is made possible thanks to the generous support of production sponsors, Enbridge.
Theatre Under The Stars is grateful to our 2019/20 Season Sponsors: Children’s Memorial Hermann Hospital, United Airlines, KTRK ABC-13, and Hampton Inn / Homewood Suites Downtown Houston. TUTS is supported in part by the City of Houston through the Theater District, the National Endowment for the Arts, and the Texas Commission on the Arts.
THEATRE UNDER THE STARS (“TUTS”) – (Dan Knechtges, Artistic Director; Hillary J Hart, Executive Director) – was founded by Frank M. Young in 1968 and is Houston’s leading musical theatre company for performance, arts education and professional theatrical training; ranging from the classics to new work development. As a 501c3 performing arts organization, TUTS is dedicated to breaking down barriers to access by focusing on inclusivity, education, and community engagement through a commitment to artistic excellence, programs in the community, technique-based curriculum at the Humphreys School of Musical Theatre, and explorative, creative life-skills at The River. For more information, visit tuts.com.