25-26 Season, Mainstage
Rydell High’s Graduating Class from GREASE!
Crack open those yearbooks: we’re going back to high school! Meet the fun-lovin’ senior class of Rydell High (a.k.a our cast from their own high school days! Dust off that leather jacket, throw on a poodle skirt, and grab your tickets today!
ALEGRA BATARA, they/them (Patty Simcox) is thrilled to be back at Village Theatre, this time in a musical! Village credits: Marianne in Sense and Sensibility and Maid Marian in Ken Ludwig’s Sherwood: The Adventures of Robin Hood. Seattle credits: Juliet in Romeo and Juliet, Sylvia in Two Gentlemen of Verona (Seattle Shakespeare Company), and Nancy in Oliver! (Reboot Theatre). Alegra is a producer for Pork Filled Productions. Love to family and friends for their continued support of their dream chasing. Alegrabatara.com
BEN DOW, he/him (Doody) is beyond thrilled to be returning to Village Theatre! Village Theatre credits: Bob Gaudio in Jersey Boys, Legally Blonde: The Musical. Other credits: Elf The Musical (The 5th Avenue Theatre), Elf The Musical, Grease (Drury Lane Theatre), Dames at Sea (Peninsula Players Theatre), Sons of Hollywood (Windy City Playhouse). Ben has a BFA in musical theatre from Indiana University Bloomington and is proudly represented by Stewart Talent – Chicago. Love to Maya and family. @bendow1322 / bennelsondow.com
TORI GRESHAM, she/her (Frenchy) has been seen before at Village as Amber in Hairspray and the Ensembles of Matilda the Musical and Guys and Dolls. She most recently was seen as Jovie in Elf The Musical, Dawn in Waitress, and Gloria Rasputin in Bye Bye Birdie (The 5th Avenue Theatre). She is also a company member of Seattle’s Can Can Culinary Cabaret. Much love to everyone who believes in her – especially J. @torigresh torigresham.com
CHERISSE MARTINELLI, (Marty) is overjoyed to be returning to high school after attending Harvard Law School last season as Vivienne Kensington in Legally Blonde: The Musical. Previous Village Theatre shows include: Beautiful: The Carol King Musical, String, and Disney’s Newsies. Other recent credits: Waitress (The 5th Avenue Theatre, Theatre Under the Stars), Jersey Boys (Great Lakes Center for the Arts), and Sister Act (Taproot Theatre). Always grateful for the gift and to the Giver. For la familia Martinelli!
NICK MCCARTHY, he/him (Roger) is over the moon to be back at Village after 10 years away! What a reunion! You may recognize him from the last couple of seasons at The 5th Avenue Theatre in Elf The Musical, Bye Bye Birdie, Waitress, and Disney’s Mary Poppins. Additional credits include: Frederic in Pirates of Penzance, George in The Drowsy Chaperone, and Danny in Schwartz’ The Magic Show (The Magic Castle). Love to Em, M&D, and family. @NickCMcCarthy
MAYA MCQUEEN, she/her (Sandy Dumbrowski) is so thrilled to return to Village Theatre! A proud Village Theatre’s KIDSTAGE alum, this theater feels like home. Select credits include work at: The 5th Avenue Theatre, Marriott Theatre, Mercury Theater Chicago, Peninsula Players, Northlight Theatre, Union Arts Center. Film: Screams from the Tower. Maya is proudly represented by Stewart Talent. Love to Mom, Dad, and Ben. @mayajmcqueen
PILAR O’CONNELL, they/them (Jan) is a Latiné actor from New Mexico. They are thrilled to be making their Village Theatre debut! Recent credits: Shrew, Twelfth Night (Union Arts Center); The Snow Queen, A Tale of Peter Rabbit (Seattle Children’s Theatre); Two Gentlemen of Verona, Cymbeline (Seattle Shakespeare Company); The Tempest, I’m Not Your Perfect Mexican Daughter (Seattle Rep); Mala, Christmastown (Seattle Public Theater); and Every Brilliant Thing (Santa Fe Playhouse). For Entheos always.
BRANDON O’NEILL, he/him (Vince Fontaine). Previous Village Theatre appearances: 9 to 5 The Musical, Camelot, Ken Ludwig’s Sherwood: The Adventures of Robin Hood. Broadway: Disney’s Aladdin (Original Broadway Cast), A Bronx Tale (first replacement), Disney’s Aladdin: Live from the West End (upcoming film release). Select regional: Dracula, Oslo, Pride & Prejudice, A View from the Bridge, Assassins, Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, Beatrice and Benedict, Sondheim at the Pops. Voice of “Crow” in Bungie’s Destiny. brandon-oneill.com
CONNOR RUSSELL, (Eugene, u/s Doody) returns for his fifth Village Theatre production including The Who’s Tommy and Funny Girl. Former Village Theatre’s KIDSTAGE kid. Broadway: Book of Mormon. Tours: Book of Mormon, Disney’s The Little Mermaid. Regional: Elf The Musical, Disney’s Aladdin, A Chorus Line, Ride the Cyclone, et al. (The 5th Avenue Theatre); The Old Globe, Asolo Repertory Theatre, Seattle Children’s Theatre, Pittsburgh CLO. TV/Film: I Think I’m Sick, Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, Étoile, Younger. BFA from Point Park University. @connorrussellny
JASMINE JEAN SIM, she/her (Rizzo). Last seen at Village Theatre as Meg in Brigadoon, one of Jasmine’s favorite theatrical experiences to date! Jasmine is a founding Core Company Member at Union Arts Center (formerly ACT Theatre) and has worked with many of Seattle’s theaters and burlesque houses. She was nominated for two Gregory Awards in 2019 (one for a Village show, The Noteworthy Life of Howard Barnes) and again in 2025, all of which she lost gracefully. Love always to the family, Andie, and hot server Ben.
DANE STOKINGER, (Teen Angel, Johnny Casino) Favorite Village Theatre credits: Sky Masterson in Guys and Dolls, Sonny in Xanadu, Morris in No Way to Treat a Lady, Jerry in The Full Monty, Rocco in Once Upon a Time in New Jersey, and Elvis in Million Dollar Quartet. Regional: Earl in Waitress, Lonny in Rock of Ages, Rooster in Annie, The Old Man in A Christmas Story, Lancelot in Spamalot (The 5th Avenue Theatre); Samuel in Pirates of Penzance (The Ordway Center for the Performing Arts), and Tin Man in The Wizard of Oz (Seattle Children’s Theatre). Much love to Jess.
TERI LEE THOMAS, she/her (Miss Lynch) Previous Village Theatre: Secret Garden, Pirates of Penzance, My Fair Lady, Miracle Worker, Heidi, Crimes of the Heart. Numerous colorful roles span four decades in Shakespeare, classics, new plays, musicals, TV, and film. Local credits include Taproot Theatre, ACTLab, Bathhouse Theater, Intiman Theatre, Harlequin Productions, Seattle Shakespeare Company, Seattle Children’s Theatre, Seattle Gilbert & Sullivan Society, and others. Select regional: Rogue Theatre Tucson, Oregon Cabaret Theatre, Oregon Repertory Theatre, Montana Shakespeare in the Parks, Texas Shakespeare Festival, TV’s Northern Exposure, Three Busy Debras, various independent films.
DANIEL VELASQUEZ, he/him (Danny Zuko) is so excited to be back at Village Theatre! Past Village credit: Charlie Dalrymple in Brigadoon. Some regional favorites: Jersey Boys (The Fulton Theatre, Maine State Music Theatre, Norwegian Cruise Line), Mamma Mia! (Arvada Center, Arkansas Repertory Theatre), Grease (Hard Rock Hotel Atlantic City, The Fulton Theatre), and Waitress (Arts Center for Coastal Carolina). Film credits include Kiss of the Spider Woman (2025). @dkvelasquez
JEFFERY WALLACE II, he/him (Sonny) is thrilled to return to Village Theatre. Previous credits include 9 to 5: The Musical, Legally Blonde: The Musical, Once on This Island, Beautiful: The Carole King Musical, and Hello, Dolly! (Village Theatre); and The Last Five Years (The 5th Avenue Theatre, ACT Theatre). Off stage, Jeff works as an interior and event designer. He is so grateful to share his God-given gifts and deeply thankful for the endless love and support of his family, friends and theatre community! IG: @JBrianjr_
SHELBY WILLIS, she/her (Cha Cha, Dance Captain) is thrilled to perform in Village Theatre’s Grease! Past Village credits: In the Heights, My Fair Lady, Singin’ in the Rain, Hello, Dolly!, Dreamgirls, Legally Blonde: The Musical, and 9 to 5! The 5th Avenue Theatre credits: White Christmas, Disney’s The Little Mermaid, The Wiz, Disney’s Beauty and the Beast. I love you Zach/Fam-Bam. Please enjoy the show! Insta: Shelby.Willis
UNDERSTUDIES
SUSANNA CATHRYN BALLENSKI, she/they (u/s Frenchy, u/s Cha-Cha, u/s Jan) – Bio coming soon!
TOMMY BEALE, he/him (u/s Eugene, u/s Roger) is stoked to join Village him (u/s Sonny, u/Theatre for the first time. Previous favorites include An Enemy of the People (Union Arts Center), Oliver! (Reboot Theatre), and Airness (University of Washington School of Drama). He is an actor, stunt performer, and goose-lover who is endlessly thankful for his support system and thanks you (yes, you!) for supporting live theatre. Cheers! @tomebale
CONOR BREEN, he/s Kenickie, u/s Roger, u/s Doody, u/s Eugene) is thrilled to be making his Village Theatre debut! Conor received his degree in theater performance from Pace University as part of the BA Acting International Performance Ensemble. Notable credits include Fred in Anything Goes (Reboot Theatre), Melchior in Spring Awakening (Mainframe Theatre NYC), and Derek in The Deep End (Schaeberle Studio Theater). A heartfelt thanks to Kim and Sean for the endless love and support.
DANNY KAM, (u/s Johnny Casino, u/s Vince Fontaine, u/s Teen Angel, Vocal Captain) is delighted to be back at Village Theatre after most recently appearing in Dear Mr. C and Legally Blonde: The Musical and serving as vocal coach on MISS STEP. Other recent favorites include Elf The Musical (5th Avenue Theatre), Hitchcock Hotel (Can Can Culinary Cabaret) and Sister Act (Taproot Theatre). In addition to performing onstage, Danny is a voice teacher and musical director who teaches at Cornish College of the Arts and maintains a private vocal studio.
JACQUELINE TARDANICO, she/her (Teen Angel, u/s Marty, u/s Rizzo, u/s Miss Lynch, Vocal Captain) is thrilled to make her Village debut! Recent work includes A Christmas Carol (Palace Theatre) and Jesus in Godspell (InD Theatre). Other credits include Dot in Sunday in the Park with George (SecondStory Repertory), Cabaret (Harlequin Productions), The Hello Girls (Taproot Theatre), Jesus Christ Superstar (Reboot Theatre), and The City of Tigers (Seattle Opera). Jacqueline holds a BFA in vocal performance from Carnegie Mellon University. Jacquelinetardanico.com
CHAILIA WENDLAND, she/her (u/s Sandy, u/s Patty) is so grateful to be making her Village Theatre Mainstage debut! Recent credits include Ariel in Disney’s The Little Mermaid (Leavenworth Summer Theatre), Teen Ensemble and u/s Kim in Bye Bye Birdie (The 5th Avenue Theatre), and Elle Woods in Legally Blonde: The Musical (Village Theatre’s KIDSTAGE). Much love and gratitude to her family, friends and mentors for their endless support of her dream.
Grease
ISSAQUAH MAR 24–MAY 3, 2026
EVERETT MAY 9– 31, 2026
Originally published February 5, 2026