Cast & Crew of Alabaster by Audrey Cefaly

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Michael Simmons-- Director

Michael is excited to be back at the (resurrected) Carolina Actors Studio Theatre (CAST) and is grateful for the opportunity to direct this mesmerizing  production of “Alabaster,” by Audrey Cefaly. Michael is confident this performance will rise to the high standards CAST patrons have long come to expect with “Experiential Theatre”.  Michael believes the highly experienced cast & crew, the support of Actors Collaborate Theatre (ACT) and the partnership of the Mint Museum is the synergy that will not only meet the expectations of all patrons, but exceed them.  Currently, Michael’s biggest challenge for this production has been creating an F5 Tornado inside the Mint Museums Van Every Theatre and learning how to speak “Goat”! 

Michael is pictured here with Bib and her twin daughters Weezy and Willow  

Cynthia Farbman Harris-- Alice

 Cynthia is thrilled to be working with CAST again where she last appeared as Margie Walsh in Good People.Additional CAST productions include Dr. Katherine Brandt 33 Variations, Maria Callas Master Class (MTA Nomination), Mrs. Kendall The Elephant Man (MTA Nomination) and Dr. Martha Livingstone Agnes of God, (Best Actress in a Drama MTA). Other roles include Olivia Largo Sex with Strangers, Marianne Constellations,  Merteuil Les Liaisons Dangerous, Fosca Passion and Dr. Emma Brookner The Normal Heart. 

Cynthia is also actively involved in the Charlotte opera community where she is the soprano soloist for The Charlotte Music Club’s Messiah Concert. Her opera credits include Gilda Rigoletto (Mozart), (“an exquisite ‘Caro nome,’” - Washington Post), Queen of the Night Die Zauberflöte (Mozart), Countess Almaviva Le Nozze di Figaro (Mozart) and Sylva The Gypsy Princess (Kalman). 

Debbie Swanson -- Bib

Debbie moved to the Charlotte area in 2018 for a "day job" in corporate Marketing. Locally she has worked with Three Bone Theatre in Ugly Lies The Bone and the Queen City New Play Initiative. She has been performing since the seventies, however, as her first role was a school girl in The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie at the Des Moines Playhouse. Her background is Musical Theatre and she has sung and danced in most of the classics, but playing Fraulein Schneider in Cabaret was a "Bucket List" role for her.  Formerly from the Minneapolis area, other notable productions include The Dixie Swim Club and The Laramie Project with the Lyric Arts Theatre, as well as A Christmas Carol with the Guthrie Theatre. 

Friends and family might say that it's not "too much of a reach" for her to play an old goat...but she is thrilled to be working with CAST and living with the character of Bib for a spell. Thanks for supporting live theatre!

Zoe Matney -- June

Zoe is delighted to be making her CAST debut in Alabaster for 2025! She has a BA in Dramatic Arts from UNC Chapel Hill and has intensive training from Actors Group of Winston Salem. Zoe’s most recent credits include Clue with Piedmont Players, She Kills Monsters, and The Holiday Channel Christmas Movie Wonderthon with Lee Street Theatre. Zoe has also recently worked with UNCSA on many of their short films   You can keep up with all Zoe’s projects on her Instagram: @ms.zo.m. 

Kelly Mizell --Weezy

Kelly is thrilled to be back home in Charlotte, and in her first performance with CAST!  She spent her early career touring the US with the Alpha Omega Players (Texas), Children’s Theatre of Charlotte’s Tarradiddle Players and the Birmingham Children’s Theatre.  When in NC, she enjoyed performing with Charlotte Rep, Lees McRea Summer Rep, and Cape Fear Regional Theatre.  After earning her MFA in Acting at Harvard/ART and the Moscow Art Theatre School, Kelly taught voice and Shakespeare at NYU’s CAP 21 program. In 2002, she moved back home to Charlotte to teach, act and direct at UNCC.  In 2015 she left UNCC to join her talented stunt action designer husband, Richard Ryan, filming Vikings in Ireland. 

Some of Kelly’s theatre role highlights include: Phaedra, American Repertory Theatre,  Invierno, American Shakespeare Collective, Inherit the Wind, She Loves Me, Rumors, Cape Fear Regional Theatre, Bug, The Exit Interview, Actors Theatre of Charlotte, Barbecue, Theatre Raleigh.  While performing in Theatre Charlotte’s production of Brighton Beach Memoirs, she was signed by JTA Talent’s Judy Simpson Cook and has had numerous roles in film productions since. Her most recent production was playing a Scottish hotel manager opposite Ethan Hawke in The Good Lord Birdwith Showtime and the title role in a short film, Listen To Mother for Hoi Polloi Productions, shot in the UK during the pandemic. Other film roles include The Exorcism (formerly the Georgetown Project), Miramax and Loggerheads, LaSalle Holland Productions. 

Dee Abdullah-- Assistant Director

Dee Abdullah is a seasoned Director, Acting Coach, and Writer with a rich background in the performing arts. Graduating from Southern Connecticut State University, Dee's artistic journey has spanned from her home state of Connecticut to Los Angeles, Iowa, and ultimately to Charlotte, where she has established her long-term residence. It was during this time that Dee co-founded C.A.S.T. alongside the late Ed Gilweit, contributing significantly to the local theater community. In addition, Dee has played a pivotal role in founding other various theater schools and companies, including Distant Voices in Connecticut, A Unique Perspective in Los Angeles, and Ames Few Dance and Theatre Co. in Iowa.

A true veteran of the stage, Dee has excelled as an actor, playwright, director, costume designer and educator. Dee’s extensive credits encompass showcasing the high quality of her work. However, Dee's most cherished accomplishments lie in the remarkable individuals she has nurtured and had the privilege to collaborate with throughout her career.

Christine Hull-- Run Crew & Volunteer Usher

Christine is no stranger to the performing arts and the Charlotte theatre community. Audiences may recognize her from numerous performances that include Dutchess Stephanie in Death Takes a Holiday, Mrs. Grose in The Innocents with PMP, Berthe in Boeing Boeing with DCP,  Starting Here, Starting Now (Best Supporting Actress in a Musical as Harriet),  Velma in Hairspray, Sally in Follies, Maggie in A Chorus Line, Florence Unger in The Odd Couple (Female Version) and Queen Anne in The Three Musketeers.

In addition to acting, Christine also co-wrote both rock musical productions of Water, Inc. and The Children of Children, while also performing and recording the productions with her band, Madmen and the Dreamers. The Children of Children enjoyed an Off-Broadway run at the Bleecker Street Theatre. In addition, the Water, Inc. workshop production cast album was released on all digital platforms as of May 2024 with plans to release the full production at a future date. 

Christine is happy to be a part of Team Alabaster at CAST!  She is grateful to her husband and creative partner, Mark Durstewitz. 

Lauren Dunlap-- Marketing & Website Design

Lauren is excited to be rejoining Michael and the CAST team. Lauren has successfully staged managed over 30 live productions across the Charlotte region including CAST, Actor’s Theatre of Charlotte, Johnson C. Smith University, Theatre Charlotte, and Fort Mill Community Playhouse. A few of Lauren’s favorite past productions she managed include The Elaborate Entrance of Chad Deity, Becky’s New Car, The Dixie Swim Club, Blithe Spirit, Death Tax, The Odd Couple (female version) and The Luckiest People.

She would like to thank Michael and Victoria for their friendship and support over the last fifteen years. 

Ciel Davis-- Makeup Crew

Ciel is currently working on her Bachelors in Theater Education at UNC Charlotte. She has performed in, directed, and written many plays throughout her educational career. When she has a moment to spare, she loves to watch movies, read, and snuggle with her pets.  

Breeze Pleasant-- Makeup Crew

Breeze is currently a student at CPCC that  has been involved in multiple theatre productions over the years that include Wicked, Seussical The Musical, The Crucible, One Magic Kiss: Snow White and the Seven Dwarves, play of the Harry Potter series and Drop Dead Juliet. Breeze has also been involved in the Blind Eagles improv group and a one-act play: Cinderella: A Tale Twisted in Time, which she was a co-writer of named. Breeze also volunteers backstage in various roles for other productions and continues to pursue her dream of being involved in all parts of the performing arts. When not involved in the theatre, Breeze wants to achieve her goal of traveling the world during her educational career.  

Jean-Claud Caton, Assistant Directors

Dave Meeter, Lighting Design Design

Christy Edney, Sound Design 

Tim Baxter Ferguson, Set Design

Sophie Carlick, Costume Design

Tom Hollis, Prop Mastery & Scenery

Tim Beany, Technical Director

Thom Tonetti, Run Crew & Volunteer Usher