The Renaissance Repertory Theatre Company
The Renaissance Repertory Theatre Company includes all professional actors working at the center. Members are selected through open auditions at the center and various unified auditions across the country. Company members are hired for roles in The Gaslight Dinner Theatre and for the M.E.T. series.
Nathan W. Brown
Nathan W. Brown has appeared in Gaslight Dinner Theatre productions of A Chorus Line, My Fair Lady, Anything Goes, Nuncrackers, A Grand Night for Singing and Smoke on the Mountain. He has appeared in Renaissance Players productions of The Music Man, Annie, Cats and Children of Eden and in the Mind Enriching Theatre productions of High School Musical on Stage, Snoopy!!!, HONK! and Pinocchio. As resident musical director for The Renaissance Center, he has worked on more than 20 productions. He also was musical director for the Houston County Community Theatre production of Hello, Dolly! A native of Sterling, Ill., Nathan is a graduate of Illinois Wesleyan University with a Bachelor of Music in Vocal Performance. He also has been Musical Director for Bigfork Summer Playhouse in Montana, The Stage Door Theatre in Florida, Bearcreek Farms Resort in Indiana and Illinois Wesleyan University.
Ashton Frey
Ashton Frey appeared in Renaissance Players productions of Charlotte’s Web, Peter Pan, The Miracle Worker, The Sound of Music, Annie, The Best Christmas Pageant Ever and Cinderella. The Dickson resident has appeared in the video for Martina McBride’s Joy of Christmas and a production of Cinderella for Bellevue Home School Enrichment. A home-schooled student, Ashton enjoys writing, singing, reading, riding bikes, dancing and acting.
Kedzie Frey
Kedzie Frey appeared in the Renaissance Players productions of Charlotte’s Web and Annie. The fifth-grade home-schooled student enjoys weaving, singing, dancing, acting and riding bikes.
Tory Gunn
Tory Gunn of Dickson appeared in the Gaslight Dinner Theatre production of My Fair Lady. She has appeared in Renaissance Players productions of The Music Man, Cats, Annie, Fiddler on the Roof, Cinderella, The Sound of Music, A Christmas Story, The Best Christmas Pageant Ever and A Christmas Carol, for which she won a Jimmy Award as Best Actress Under 16 in a Play. She has appeared in Disney’s Aladdin Jr. and Disney’s Jungle Book Kids with the Young Entertainers on Stage series and Why the Rain Falls in the Jungle with the Youth Theatrical Outreach Program. As a member of The Renaissance Center’s Young Actors Studio, Tory appeared in The Legend of Sleepy Hollow, Mark Twain’s Huckleberry Finn, A Christmas Carol and Young Cherokee and she appeared in the Mind Enriching Theatre series productions of Alice’s Adventure in Wonderland and High School Musical on Stage. Some of her other favorite theatre credits include The Best Christmas Pageant Ever as Alice and Lisel in The Sound of Music with Houston County Community Theatre, The Best Christmas Pageant Ever as Imogene with Whole Heart Drama Team and the title role in Cinderella with the Bellevue Home School Enrichment Drama Troupe. Tory also appeared in a teen pregnancy awareness campaign video produced by The Renaissance Center for the Tennessee District Attorneys General Conference.
Valton Jackson
Valton Jackson of Columbus, Ga., is a graduate of Berea College in Berea, Ky., with a Bachelor of Arts in Theatre with an emphasis in performance. Through his four years attending Berea, Valton was a highly active performer in the dance, music and theatre departments, as well as a cheerleader his junior and senior years. Some of Valton’s most honored roles include Tony in West Side Story, Rabbit in Winnie the Pooh, Agwe in Once on This Island and Kenickie in Grease. Valton also was named Best Actor at the 4-AAAA Regional One-Act Play Competition for his portrayal of U.S. in Second Samuel in the fall of 2003. Valton appeared at The Renaissance Center in High School Musical on Stage for the Mind Enriching Theatre series and A Chorus Line in the Gaslight Dinner Theatre. Valton also loves his mother and brother very much.
Emma Jordan
Emma Jordan has appeared in Renaissance Players productions of Peter Pan, The Music Man, Cats, The Wizard of Oz, Disney’s Beauty and the Beast, Jesus Christ Superstar, Fiddler on the Roof, Guys and Dolls, Annie and Children of Eden, winning Jimmy Awards for Outstanding Chorus Member in 2006 and ‘08 and the Renaissance Players Spirit Award in 2005. She appeared in the Gaslight Dinner Theatre productions of A Chorus Line and My Fair Lady. As an intern with the Renaissance Repertory Theatre Company for the past two years, Emma has appeared in Mind Enriching Theatre productions of Alice in Wonderland, High School Musical on Stage, The Adventures of Tom Sawyer, A Christmas Carol in Prose, HONK! and Pinocchio. She appeared in the Young Entertainers on Stage productions of Disney’s The Jungle Book Kids and Disney’s Aladdin Jr. and was stage manager for Disney’s Cinderella Kids. She has been on the technical crews for A Christmas Carol, Little Shop of Horrors, Bird Woman (The Story of Sacagewea) and Auschwitz Lullaby. Other theatre credits for the home-schooled sophomore from Charlotte include The Best Christmas Pageant Ever and Hello, Dolly!
Jed Jordan
Jed Jordan appeared in the Renaissance Players productions of The Music Man and Peter Pan and the Young Entertainers on Stage productions of Disney’s Cinderella Kids and Disney’s Aladdin Jr. As an intern with the Mind Enriching Theatre series, he appeared in A Christmas Carol in Prose. The Charlotte resident has appeared in church plays. The home-schooled first grader enjoys swimming, riding his pony, Tae kwon do, target practice, going to the beach, acting, baseball and playing Call of Duty.
Zane Jordan
Zane Jordan has appeared in Renaissance Players productions of The Music Man, Peter Pan, Fiddler on the Roof and Children of Eden and the Young Entertainers on Stage production of Disney’s Aladdin Jr. He was on the technical crew for Cats and Disney’s Cinderella Kids. While serving as an intern with the Mind Enriching Theatre series, he appeared in Alice in Wonderland, High School Musical on Stage, HONK!, The Adventures of Tom Sawyer and A Christmas Carol in Prose. Other theatre credits include The Sound of Music. A home-schooled eighth grader from Charlotte, Zane enjoys spelunking, hiking, paintball, riflery, Tae kwon do and computer games.
Jenny Norris-Light
Jenny Norris-Light is a graduate of Belmont University with a Bachelor of Music degree. She was a featured member of Belmont’s musical theatre ensemble “Company” for three years. She performed for Opryland USA in shows such as I Hear America Singing and A Gift for Santa, and Fire on the Mountain performing live with Dolly Parton at Dollywood, various industrial shows for Gary Musik Productions, and the Lee Greenwood Show. Her most recent role was Kathy Seldon in the musical Singin’ in the Rain performed at the Looby Theatre. She has been the featured entertainer for national shows, conventions and pageants and has played leading roles in various musicals in the Middle Tennessee area. Aside from being a performer Jenny is also a mother of two, voice and performance coach and choreographer, having directed and choreographed the Miss Teen America Pageant, The Miss Oregon America Pageant, and the televised Miss Virginia USA Pageant. Jenny is very excited to be in Seussical, which is her first show with the Mind Enriching Theatre series at The Renaissance Center.
Barbie Pitts
Barbie Pitts appeared in the Renaissance Players productions of The Music Man, Children of Eden and Fiddler on the Roof. The Erin homemaker and home-school mom has appeared in Houston County Community Theatre productions of Hello, Dolly!, Uh-oh, Here Comes Christmas, Frankenstein Radio Play, Oklahoma!, It’s a Wonderful Life, The Best Christmas Pageant Ever, The Sound of Music and All I Really Need to Know I Learned in Kindergarten. She is managing director for Houston County Community Theatre and secretary on the board of directors of the Houston County Arts Council. She enjoys acting, singing and spending time with her family – especially her husband of 22 years, Andy.
Daniel Pitts
Daniel Pitts is a home-schooled sophomore from Erin and is appearing in his fourth Mind Enriching Theatre series production. Favorite theatre experiences include The Music Man and Children of Eden (Renaissance Players), Oliver! (Houston County High School), The Homecoming and Oklahoma! (Houston County Community Theatre) and HONK! (M.E.T.). When not doing theatre, Daniel enjoys playing tennis, running, playing fiddle and banjo, reading, tap dancing and a good cup of tea.
Greg Pragel
Greg Pragel is from Buffalo, N.Y., where he graduated from Niagara University. Since then, he has performed with Downstairs Cabaret Theatre, Mill Mountain Theatre, Sesame Street Live! He appeared in the Mind Enriching Theatre series production of Disney’s High School Musical on Stage (Ryan) and the Gaslight Dinner Theatre production of A Chorus Line (Mike). He recently finished as a Resident Company Member and the Fight Choreographer for Playhouse on the Square in Memphis. Some of his favorite roles there were Malcolm MacGregor in The Full Monty, Tom Sawyer in Big River, the Cat in the Hat in Seussical, Peter in And Baby Makes Seven, Charlie in Purlie and the title role in Scapin. Greg would like to thank Snooker for all the laughs, his friends and family for all the love and support, love always to Tim, the Seussical cast for a blast again with this show and a special thanks to his BP.
Stacie Riggs
Stacie Riggs appeared in the Gaslight Dinner Theatre production of A Chorus Line and the Mind Enriching Theatre series production of High School Musical on Stage. She has previously been seen in productions of Chicago, Cats and Children of Eden at the center. Her favorite roles include Dorothy in The Wizard of Oz, Ruth in Blithe Spirit and Maria in The Sound of Music. Stacie has been performing since the age of four in theatre, dance and television and even attended a performing arts high school to study musical theatre. Before moving to Tennessee to pursue a singing career in country music, the California native worked at The Walt Disneyland Resort as a parade dancer/performer and in 2002 had a recurring role on the CBS daytime drama The Young and the Restless. She would like to thank her family for all of their support and encouragement. Special thanks to the cast and crew for all of their hard work and for all the many moments of fun and laughter.
B.J. Rowell
B.J. Rowell appeared in the Gaslight Dinner Theatre productions of A Chorus Line, Chicago and My Fair Lady, the Renaissance Players production of Cats and the Mind Enriching Theatre series productions of High School Musical on Stage, The Adventures of Tom Sawyer, Alice in Wonderland and A Midsummer Night’s Dream. B.J. has studied theatre at Auburn University as well as the American Musical and Dramatic Academy in New York City. His favorite roles include the Emcee in Cabaret, John Proctor in The Crucible and Stanley Gardner in Caught in the Net. B.J. would like to thank everyone who supports his career, especially his new wife Hannah, with whom he is looking forward to sharing many fun adventures in the very near future.
Minnie Scronce
Minnie Scronce is from Newton, N.C. She recently graduated from Catawba College in Salisbury, N.C., with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Theatre Arts and a minor in dance. She just recently finished working for Prairie Fire Children’s Theatre in Minnesota. She played the evil stepmother and the fairy godmother. Some of Minnie’s memorable roles would be Marianne in Tartuffe, Ms. Krumholtz in How to Succeed in Business without Really Trying and Emma from Pterodactyls. Minnie would like to thank the cast of Seussical for making this experience one of the best she has ever had. She would like to thank her parents and family for all of their support. “I love you!”
Jennifer Stone
Jennifer Stone appeared in the Gaslight Dinner Theatre production of A Chorus Line and the Mind Enriching Theatre series production of High School Musical on Stage. A graduate of Lees-McRae College in North Carolina, Jennifer earned both a Musical Theatre and Dance degree then pursued her career in the performing arts. Some regional performing credits include Anita in West Side Story, Belle in Disney’s Beauty and the Beast, Guinevere in Camelot, Mrs. Anna in The King and I, Josephine in HMS Pinafore, Shelby in Steel Magnolias, Julie in Pizza Man, and touring in the title role of Pinocchio. When Jennifer is not performing, she enjoys the creative side of the arts such as directing and choreographing. Jennifer thanks her family, friends and God for all their love and support.
Jessica Taige
Jessica Taige does not want to start her bio in the usual cliché manner, but please know that she really is excited to be performing in her first Renaissance Center production. Jessica recently graduated from Catawba College with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Musical Theater. Favorite past credits include Belle in Beauty and the Beast (Bigfork Summer Playhouse), Mabel in Pirates of Penzance, Rhoda in A New Brain (Catawba College) and Rapunzel in Into the Woods (Mill Mountain Theater). She has also had the pleasure of performing with the WAMI award-winning band, Mr. Lucky Syndicate, in Wisconsin.
Bryan J. Wlas
Bryan J. Wlas has appeared in Gaslight Dinner Theatre productions of A Chorus Line, My Fair Lady, Sanders Family Christmas, A Grand Night for Singing, Smoke on the Mountain, Anything Goes, Christmas My Way: A Sinatra Holiday Bash and Nuncrackers, and Mind Enriching Theatre productions of High School Musical on Stage, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, SNOOPY!!!, HONK!, Pinocchio and Bird Woman (The Story of Sacagewea). He has appeared in Renaissance Players productions of The Music Man, Children of Eden, Cats and Little Shop of Horrors, for which he won a Jimmy Award as Best Actor in a Musical. As resident choreographer for The Renaissance Center, he has worked on more than 20 productions. He also directed Hello, Dolly! for Houston County Community Theatre. A native of Woodridge, Ill., Bryan is a graduate of Millikin University with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Musical Theatre and a Dance minor. Bryan’s choreography also has been seen at Bigfork Summer Playhouse in Montana, in Smokey Joe’s Café at Lees-McRae Summer Theatre in North Carolina, at Tweetsie Railroad, Bearcreek Farms Resort in Indiana and for the Millikin University Dance Concerts. As a performer he has traveled all over the country and Western Europe, performing in theme parks, on a cruise ship and at various regional theatres.
STAGE MANAGER
Colin Christie
Colin Christie is company stage manager for the Renaissance Repertory Theatre Company. This summer he will be calling cues for Greater Tuna, A Tuna Christmas and Seussical. Prior to The Renaissance Center, Colin has stage managed professionally with The Colorado Festival of World Theatre and The Gremlin Theatre Company. He also is an avid sound designer and actor, and holds a Bachelor of Arts in Theatre from St. Olaf College. He would like to thank his family and loved ones, as well as the entire company for their hard work and dedication to this project.