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  

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.

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 Moving Poets and 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). 

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 acting in her first show with CAST!  After earning her MFA in Acting at the American Repertory Theater (ART) at Harvard and the Moscow Art Theatre School, Kelly taught voice and Shakespeare at NYU. In 2002, she returned to Charlotte to teach, act and direct at UNCC.  In 2015 she retired to join her talented stunt action designer husband, Richard Ryan, filming Vikings in Ireland. 

Kelly recently played opposite Ethan Hawke in The Good Lord Bird on Showtime, and the title role in the UK horror film, Listen To Mother.  Film/TV highlights: The Exorcism, Miramax; Shots Fired, Fox; Loggerheads, LaSalle Holland Productions.  Theatre highlights include: Phaedra, The Island of Anyplace, ART; 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; The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie, Charlotte Rep. 

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. 

Debbie is making her CAST debut in this production of Alabaster.

Sophie Carlick-- Costume Design

Sophie is a College of Charleston alumna and  pleased to be a collaborator on CAST's return. In addition, Sophie also works with the Ballantyne Arts Center as their resident costume designer, as well as Theatre Charlotte for their productions of Misery, Baskerville, and Smoke on the Mountain. During the summer, Sophie travels to various theatre's throughout the U.S. Most recently, she worked with Williamstown Theatre Festival as a Costume Shop Assistant and Ohio Light Opera as their Assistant Costume Designer.

Tom Hollis -- Property Master

Tom is happy to be serving as Prop Master for the return of CAST in Alabaster. Tom has worked on numerous productions and musicals during his 45 year theatre career, which included serving as the Drama Chair at Central Piedmont Community College and was Artistic Director of CP Summer Theatre for over 10 years. In addition, Tom has worked with various theatres in the Charlotte- Metro area to include Old Courthouse Theatre, the Uwharrie Players, Lee Street Theatre, Theatre Charlotte, Rock Hill Theatre and the Davidson Community Theatre. When not doing theatre, Tom is busy with grandkids and whatever his wife Linda has planned for him next.

Lauren Dunlap--  Website Design & Social Media

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. 

Dave Meeder - Lighting Design

Emily Bebber - Lighting Assistant/Gaffer

Kelly Wright - Asst Lighting Design and Light/Sound Tech

Tim Baxter Ferguson - Scenic Design

Tim Beany - Technical Director

Breeze Pleasant - Makeup Crew

A Special Thanks to the following: 

 Michael and the entire cast and crew would like to send a huge thank you to all who made our production of Alabaster possible with their shared time and talent. And a special thank you to Tonya Winders for sharing her personal experience in order to make this production more realistic for our audience.

We'd also like to thank Moving Poets, Jeff Cravotta Photography,  Wild West Lighting, Charlotte Conservatory Theatre,  Laura Hale & Alison Rogers of the Mint Museum, Greg James, Chesson Louise, Raeburn Seagroves, and ShadowCreek Artisans for publicity and photos.

Grateful for our volunteers:

A special "shout out" to Michael Harris for going over and above! Also:

• Christine Hull
• Ciel Davis
• Thom Tonetti