Meet the Cast
Dahlia Adair
Children Ensemble
Paityn Adams
Esther Jane
Paityn is in the 6th grade at Oakwood Grade School. She has recently found a passion for performing. She has been in Seussical, The Lion King, Jr., and is very excited to be a part of A Christmas Story. Hope you enjoy the show!
Anna Bacon
Adult Ensemble
Anna is 17 years old and is a Senior in high school, homeschooled through Penn Foster. She is the current Miss Westville Labor Day Queen. This will be her second musical, first one being Hairspray that she did in Jr. High School! Some of her other passions include beauty pageants, welding, fishing, and hiking!
Lenora Barrett
Children Ensemble
Merrisha Bryant
Adult Ensemble
Erin Cox
Grover Dill
Olivia Cravens
Children Ensemble
Olivia is 12 years old and has always been interested in theatre because it lets her explore different parts of her personality. She also loves singing. She’s acted in Pollyanna, The Neverending Story, Descendants, Seussical, and now A Christmas Story. When she’s not acting she likes hanging out with her family and friends and playing sports.
Jeannette Cullum
Miss Shields
Jeannette is a PhD student at the University of Illinois studying Ecology, Evolution, and Conservation Biology. She was last seen in DLO’s production of Seussical as the purple bird girl. Jeannette is excited to dust off her tap shoes this time as Miss Shields in A Christmas Story! Past productions include 9 to 5: The Musical, Oklahoma!, That Lovin’ Feelin’, and Godspell. She would like to thank her friends and family for their continued support, and you all for coming today! She hates to spoil the fun but expects that you all pay close attention to the margins, um show. P.S. Don’t shoot your eye out!
Jeanne Dunn
Schwartz's Mother
Addie Earles
Adult Ensemble
Addie is 16 years old and goes to Salt Fork High School. She loves nature, cats, all things tie dye, and playing her ukelele!
Hallie Elston
Mary Beth
Hallie is 9 years old and is in the 4th grade at Salt Fork North Elementary school. This is her first time performing in a musical/play. Throughout her childhood, she has always enjoyed going to see musicals or plays, and is excited to be a part of it now. In her free time she enjoys hanging out with her friends and family, hunting, and playing with her dog Gunner.
Olivia Enos
Children Ensemble
Olivia attends Oakwood Grade School as a high honor student. She loves dancing and is on the Junior Competition Team at Laurel School of Dance. She would like to thank her grandma, who encourages her in everything!
Marshall Gooch
Randy
Marshall has been singing since he could talk, and after a little coercion; he is thrilled to be joining his first DLO production. After 10 long years of life and many years of careful research of the 24-hour airings on TV during Christmas, he is fully equipped to give his adaptation of Randy! He couldn’t be more excited! On most days, you can find him roaming the halls of Salt Fork North Elementary, playing soccer for Danville Soccer League and bothering his little sister and brother. His “breakout role” of Santa Claus in last year’s Christmas program at SFN really sparked the theater bug! A big THANK YOU goes out to his mom and dad for carting him back and forth to rehearsals and being his biggest fan! He hopes you enjoy the show, and Merry Christmas!
Craig Krukewitt
Adult Ensemble
Craig has appeared in numerous DLO shows since 1996 and regularly performs elsewhere, too! The original film version of A Christmas Story is a long time favorite of his mother and sister, who sadly live out in Washington State and cannot attend. Thank you, everyone, for your continued support of performing arts in Danville!
Brooke Kuchefski
Adult Ensemble
Brooke is a Danville native whose love of theatre began at the early age of 9. When not on stage you can find her at home bingeing a new show with her love, Tony, and their dogs. While Brooke has been in a number of shows, this one feels extra special as she gets to share the stage with her nephew Marshall in his first show. Thank you for supporting local theatre; enjoy the show!
Alayna Little
Children Ensemble
Alayna is 10 years old. Some of the previous productions she has been in are Lion King and Neverending Story. She likes to be in theater because it is fun, exciting, and she likes performing in front of an audience. Some of her other interests are band, choir, and coloring.
Justin Little
Department Store Santa
Justin Little is 37 years old, and this is his first theater production in a long time (since high school). He is a baritone in the Danville Barbershop Chorus. He is very excited to be performing with his daughter!
Bella Norton
Adult Ensemble
This is Bella’s 11th show with DLO. Some notable roles include Mal in Descendants Jr., Anna in Frozen Jr., and Mrs. Mayor in Seussical. She is a freshman at Danville High School. She is in show choir, Madrigals, and Pompettes.
Lizzie Pithoud
Children Ensemble
Lizzie is 10 years old and from Parke County, Indiana. This is her very first time performing on stage. She has had a love and passion for musical theatre since she was three years old and first saw The Wizard of Oz. She wants to say a huge Thank You to Tyler and Bailey Thompson and Spotlight Performing Arts for introducing her to DLO and giving her this awesome opportunity!
Bodie Ray
Schwartz
Bodie is excited to be in DLO’s production of A Christmas Story. He has been in Frozen Jr. (Olaf), A Christmas Story (Ralphie), Pollyanna, Descendants (Doug), The Neverending Story, and The Lion King, Jr. (Pumbaa). Bodie wishes you all a Merry Christmas!
Jordan Richey
The Old Man
Jordan currently serves as a Biology teacher and theatre director at Danville High School. A graduate of Southern Illinois University — Edwardsville with a B.A. in Biological Sciences, Jordan spent his first two years of higher education at Southeastern Illinois College studying theatre. Past shows include: The Hunchback of Notre Dame (DLO), Mamma Mia! (DLO), Bridges of Madison County (DLO), 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, Carousel, The Producers, Young Frankenstein, Sweeney Todd, and more!
Kady Richey
Choreographer
Jerry Strain
Director
Paul Strain
Jean Shepherd
Paul has been active in the performing arts for over 40 years in just about every capacity. Having the privilege of appearing in this role, in this musical, is beyond anything he dreamed. A Christmas Story is of course an iconic favorite around the Strain household, and bringing life to the Narrator has been a joy. Thanks to his lovely bride Lisa for being his constant collaborator and inspiration, and to Jerry for the opportunity!
Bailey Thompson
Mother
Bailey is grateful to return to the stage after directing The Lion King Jr., Descendants, and Frozen Jr. at the Fischer Theatre the past three summers, as well as Christmas at Granny’s last December. She has also appeared on stage with DLO this year in Seussical and Ghost. She has performed with numerous professional and community theaters, and is owner of Party Princess Bailey and Spotlight Performing Arts. On most days, she can be found raising her three young children (Gideon, Hiram, and Zuzu) and her family’s many pets while coordinating her theatrical pursuits. She’d like to thank her husband, Tyler, and her parents and siblings (Williams) for their love and support. She hopes you enjoy the show!
Tyler Thompson
Music Director
Silas Van Camp
Ralphie
Silas is so excited to be a part of A Christmas Story! He enjoys doing theatre and has been in several productions in the area with Red Mask, Gregory’s Academy, and DLO. Silas recently played Young Simba in Lion King Jr. Silas is a student at Salt Fork Jr. High and enjoys being on the scholastic bowl team. Silas is grateful for his family and all the directors that have helped him learn so much about theatre. He hopes everyone enjoys the show and gets the Christmas present they have been hoping for this year!
Mason White
Flick
Jackson White
Scut Farkus
Jackson is an eighth grade student at North Ridge Middle School, where he is involved in show choir and marching band. Jackson has previously appeared in 5 DLO productions.
Delaney Wright
Adult Ensemble
Delaney is an entering fifth year Scenic Technology BFA student at the University of Illinois. Delaney has been involved in numerous theatre and performance productions in the Champaign and Danville area. Past credits include Rapunzel (Into the Woods, UPD), Aunt Mary (How I Learned to Drive, Parkland), Titania (A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Parkland), and Tambourine Dancer (Hunchback of Notre Dame, DLO). Delaney has thoroughly enjoyed her time working on A Christmas Story and hope you all enjoy the show!
Gideon Wright
Adult Ensemble
Gideon is a 16 year old homeschooler who is appearing in his third DLO show after appearing in the ensembles of The Hunchback of Notre Dame and Ghost. Gideon has appeared in several roles with the Urbana Park District, CUTC, and the Homer Opera House. He thanks you for coming and hopes you enjoy the show!