Bethany Xan Kerr, she/her (Carole King) Nat’l tour & Intl tour of KINKY BOOTS (Pat); NYC- COMPANY (Jenny u/s) @ Lincoln Center, CHATAUTAUQUA @ The Public, HOW THE WESTONS WON @ New York Theater Barn, DUMB LUCK @ TruVoices, 420 THE MUSICAL @ The Kraine Theater; Workshops- ME THE PEOPLE (Hillary Clinton), PUSSY RIOT (Vladimir Putin), QUANAH (Lucinda), A LASTING IMPRESSION (Mother), EXIT ROW, and a new production of SUNDAY IN THE PARK WITH GEORGE (Dot). Additionally, Bethany won the Dark Chat Award at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival for Best Performance in a Musical for her rendition of Alice in THE ADDAMS FAMILY. She has performed in other regional productions, such as SISTER ACT (Sister Mary Patrick) in Colorado, SWING here @ The Carnegie, THE LITTLE MERMAID (Ursula) and NARNIA (White Witch) @ The Children’s Theater, BRIGHT STAR (Alice) @ the Covedale and originated the role of the Matchmaker in THE GIRL WHO at the Edinburgh Fringe; Screen: WHAT WOULD YOU DO? alongside supermodel Ashley Graham, Beachbody’s YOUV2 series (featured dancer), various commercials. Currently, Bethany is on faculty at NKU in the theater department, having previously been at Xavier, and is also the Director of Theater Arts at CCM Prep. She has a Master’s in Musical Theater from the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland, a BFA Musical Theater and BFA Acting from Pace University NYC, and is an alum of Interlochen Arts Academy. Agent: Heyman Talent. For her husband, her babies Adrian & Izzy, and parents.

Cary Davenport, he/him (Gerry Goffin) Cary is thrilled to appear in his first show at The Carnegie, a theater tied closely with the history of his alma mater, Northern Kentucky University! In Cincinnati he has performed for years with his friends at Cincinnati Shakespeare Company. Favorite CSC shows include ONE MAN, TWO GUVNORS, THE GRAPES OF WRATH, THE ADVENTURES OF TOM SAWYER, AUGUST: OSAGE COUNTY, THE LIVING DEAD, TWELFTH NIGHT, THE WINTER’S TALE, THE COMEDY OF ERRORS, THE TWO GENTLEMEN OF VERONA and EVERY CHRISTMAS STORY EVER TOLD! He has also composed music for 15 productions at Shakes including an original musical adaptation of Shakespeare’s AS YOU LIKE IT. He has also worked with Know Theatre, Commonwealth Theatre, New Edgecliff Theatre and Pones. Cary is so grateful to get to collaborate with Northern Kentucky and Cincinnati artists, but he is most grateful for his family back home in Louisville and for their unconditional love and support.

Jenny Herndon, she/her (Cynthia Weil) Jenny is excited to be on The Carnegie’s stage for the first time! She has performed in theme parks and dinner theaters in FL and TN. Recently, in CLP’s productions of The Producers and A White Christmas as Betty Haynes. The past 4 years she has ran a school of the arts program for kids directing over 20 shows. But she most proud of being a mom to her 4 awesome kids, Luke, Lucy, Ollie and Walt. Big Thank you to her amazing husband John for his constant love, encouragement, and support! And her parents Paul and Colleen for their continued support, help and love!

Grant Bell, he/him (Barry Mann) Grant is ecstatic to be making his professional theatre debut at The Carnegie! This upcoming spring he will be finishing his BFA in Musical Theatre and BSME in Mechanical Engineering at Ohio Northern University. Recent roles at ONU include Stevie in UGLY LIES THE BONE, Brian in IT SHOULDA BEEN YOU, Torvald in A DOLL’S HOUSE and The Beast in BEAUTY AND THE BEAST. Grant wants to thank his family for supporting him in pursuing his dreams and all of his friends for their endless encouragement. www.grant-bell.com

Dee Anne Bryll, she/her (Director/Choreographer) Dee Anne is very pleased to return to The Carnegie. Carnegie credits include BIG RIVER CHICAGO, and TENDERLY Additional directing/choreography credits include work at Ensemble Theatre Cincinnati, Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park, Northern Kentucky University, Cincinnati Landmark Productions, Kings Island Winterfest, Xavier University and Commonwealth Theatre Company. She and her husband, Ed Cohen, were awarded the 2010 Acclaim Trailblazer Award for contributions to Cincinnati theatre. In January 2015, she was awarded the 2015 Freddie G Broadway Junior Spirit Award presented and sponsored by Freddie Gershon (CEO of Music Theatre International) and his wife Myrna. Dee Anne serves as an adjunct faculty member at Northern Kentucky University’s School of the Arts, is the Director of NKU’s Mainstage Musical Theatre Company, the Artistic Director for CCM’s Musical Theatre Summer Intensive, and as Artistic Project Mentor for JumpStart Theatre – Cincinnati (The Children’s Theatre Cincinnati). Many thanks to Tyler, Jacob, Julius, Shauna, Marcia, and the amazing cast and production team. Always wonderful to work with Ed on a project. Love to Dan, Briana, Sarah, Lane, and Coen!

Ed Cohen, he/him (Director) Ed has been a freelance director in the area for more than 30 years. His work includes MARJORIE PRIME, THE PILLOWMAN, THE BEAUTY QUEEN OF LEENANE, IN THE HEAT OF THE NIGHT, DOWN THE ROAD (twice), ASSASSINS (with his wife, Dee Anne Bryll), THE LIFESPAN OF A FACT and BREAKING THE CODE for Falcon Theatre. He has directed regional premieres of PRIDE’S CROSSING, LEBENSRAUM, SYMPATHETIC MAGIC, SHINING CITY and ALL THE WAY; his work was also seen in several Cincinnati Fringe Festivals, including A POSTER OF THE COSMOS, MAD by Jennifer Dalton and the world premiere of THE HOTEL PLAYS by Israel Horovitz (co-directed with Dan Doerger). Ed directed BREAKING THE CODE, THE FOREIGNER, ENCORE, ENCORE, PERSONA, THE PIG FARM and (With Dee Anne) A GRAND NIGHT FOR SINGING and SOME ENCHANTED EVENING for NKU, RECENT TRAGIC EVENTS and IN THE NEXT ROOM (OR THE VIBRATOR PLAY) for CCM Drama, THE WILD PARTY for Miami University, DEATH OF A SALESMAN and SLOW DESCENT FROM HEAVEN for New Edgecliff Theatre and CHAPTER TWO, A FEW GOOD MEN and BRIGHT STAR for The Covedale. With Dee Anne, Ed co-directed the world amateur premiere of WINDY CITY, along with productions of ASSASSINS and EVITA; they also directed FALSETTOS and PARADE for CCM Musical Theatre, BIG RIVER, TENDERLY: THE ROSEMARY CLOONEY STORY and CHICAGO at The Carnegie, THE MUSIC MAN and RAGTIME for Xavier University and SINGIN’ IN THE RAIN, ANNIE GET YOUR GUN, I DO, I DO, I LOVE A PIANO, GYPSY and The SOUND OF MUSIC for the Covedale. Ed teaches Directing and Playscripts Analysis at NKU and taught musical theatre acting for CCM’s High School Musical Theatre Intensive Program for 19 years. He and Dee Anne received the Trailblazer Award from the Cincinnati Enquirer’s Acclaim Panel in 2010 for ongoing contributions to area theatre and their productions of PARADE and CHICAGO were voted the Best Musicals of 2013 and 2014, respectively, by The League of Cincinnati Theatres.

Julius “Eclypse” Jenkins, he/him (Choreographer) Over the last 15 years, Julius Jenkins has focused his attention on all the major street dance styles, starting with Breaking (breakdance) then moving to Popping, Locking, House and Krump. His preferred style is Popping and specifically Robotic Animation. Jenkins trained directly from the originators of these styles and their students. In the battle (competition) world, he became known for his hard-hitting aggressive style of popping. In recent years, he has stepped away from competition to perform more regularly, first with the performance group 20/Twenty Cru and eventually The Millennium Robots of which he is the founder. He has opened for and performed with various International acts such as KRS-One, Lupe Fiasco, Rusko, Flux Pavilion, MrCarmack, Troi Boy and Black Thought of The Roots. Locally, The Millennium Robots is well known with numerous annual performances at festivals and concert venues. Television appearances include City Lights, Living Dayton and Good Morning America. Jenkins was featured at the Cincinnati Ballet New Works 2014 project where audiences had the opportunity to view his mechanical style up close! He has created choreography in multiple high profile classical collaborations, most notably Concert Nova: Alleged Dances of 2015 with MyCincinnati at HipArt2016 and Luminosity 2016. Jenkins has also created Cincinnati’s No.1 street dance event called Heroes Rise. This event brings street style dancers from around the country to compete against local talent. From competing to judging and now teaching, he’s quickly becoming a force in the street culture community. His current goal is to bring true street dance culture back to light in the Cincinnati area. He is working closely with various organizations to achieve this goal.

Jacob Priddy, he/him (Music Director) Jacob Priddy is thrilled to be returning to The Carnegie to work on BEAUTIFUL: THE CAROLE KING MUSICAL this summer! Originally from Louisville, KY, Jacob has worked professionally as a Music Director/Pianist for the last decade in a variety of capacities. Credits include: A CHRISTMAS STORY: THE MUSICAL (nat’l tour), THE OFFICE! A MUSICAL PARODY (NYC, Off-Broadway), NEWSIES, SATURDAY NIGHT FEVER, CINDERELLA, KINKY BOOTS, BEAUTIFUL: THE CAROLE KING MUSICAL (Theatre By The Sea), JERSEY BOYS (TBTS, Ogunquit Playhouse), and THE SECRET GARDEN (Cincinnati’s Playhouse in the Park). He has served on musical theatre faculty for Kentucky’s Governor School for the Arts and is a frequent collaborator with The Children’s Theatre of Cincinnati. He has composed music for TCTC’s ArtReach program reaching dozens of schools in the Ohio/Kentucky area and written commissioned works for Northern Kentucky University’s New Student Orientation program. Jacob is also a Vocal Director for Celebrity Cruises Entertainment and RWS Entertainment Group where he has traveled the globe teaching, arranging, and creating shows for cruise lines. He is currently pursuing a Master of Music in Orchestral Conducting at the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music. All my love to Kat, the love of my life!

Tyler Gabbard, he/him (Producer, Scenic Designer) Tyler is the Producing Director of Theatre at The Carnegie, dubbed “Favorite Local Theatre” by the BroadwayWorld Cincinnati Awards and called “Cincinnati’s finest non-collegiate regional theatre for musicals” by The Sappy Critic. Previously, he was the Patron Experience Manager for The Children’s Theatre of Cincinnati, the Patron Communications Manager for the Lisa Smith Wengler Center for the Arts at Pepperdine University in Malibu, California, the Events and Publicity Manager for the School of the Arts at Northern Kentucky University, and Vice President of the League of Cincinnati Theaters. Tyler has worked as a designer for theatres in New York City and Los Angeles and over a dozen venues in Kentucky and Ohio, including 20 shows at The Carnegie. Tyler received his Bachelor of Fine Arts in Drama from New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts. He has a Certificate in Nonprofit Management from Northern Kentucky University. In January 2020 he was one of 27 individuals selected from across North America to participate in the Emerging Leadership Institute of the Association of Performing Arts Professionals. He won the Northern Kentucky Chamber of Commerce’s 2023 Next Generation Leader Award in Arts, Entertainment, and Hospitality. He has been profiled in Movers & Makers, Cincy Magazine, CityBeat, and Queer Kentucky. Tyler lives in Bellevue with his husband Jack and their dog Popsicle.

Cat Schmeal-Swope, she/her (Costume Designer) Cat Schmeal-Swope is the Costume Shop Manager at Northern Kentucky University School of the Arts. Various costume design credits include: Hands on a Hardbody (Ensemble Theatre Cin.), 9 to 5 (NKU), Looped (The Human Race Theatre Company), Little Shop of Horrors (The Carnegie), The African Company Presents Richard III (NKU),  Around the World in 80 Days (The Human Race Theatre Company), Daddy Long Legs (CATCO), Othello (Ohio St. U. in collaboration w. Royal Shakespeare Co.), True West (Minnesota St. U. Mankato). Cat holds an MFA in Theatre Design from The Ohio State University and a BFA in Theatre with an emphasis in Costumes from NKU. Cat would like to send a big thank you to Evelyn Schmeal and Andrew Swope for all their love and support as well as Missy White, Alexandra Deaton, Michael Hatton, and the rest of her NKU SOTA colleagues.

Chris Lipstreu, he/him (Lighting Designer) Chris is a lighting designer and production manager based out of Cincinnati, Ohio. He recently served as the lighting director for the national tour of Nutcracker, Magical Christmas Ballet, and served as the lighting designer for Hair, The Prom, The Color Purple, Rocky Horror, Beautiful: The Carole King Musical, The Wild Party, Into the Woods, RENT, and Spring Awakening at Short North Stage, as well as Where The Lost Children Play and MLM is for Murder at Ensemble Theatre Cincinnati. Chris completed his B.F.A. in Lighting Design from the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music in 2021. Chris is currently the Production Manager and Production Master Electrician at Ensemble Theatre Cincinnati.

 Mia C. Teboe, she/her (Sound Designer) Mia recently graduated with a BFA in Sound Design & Technology from the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music. Her recent work includes TICK, TICK… BOOM!, THE ROCKY HORROR SHOW, HELLO, DOLLY! (The Carnegie), LITTLE WOMEN (UC-CCM), and FIONA: THE MUSICAL (Ensemble Theatre Cincinnati).

Shauna Nelson, she/her (Production Stage Manager) Shauna is so excited to be spending another summer with The Carnegie! Some favorite show credits include: LADY DAY AT EMERSON’S BAR AND GRILL (PSM), DISENCHANTED (PSM), LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS (ASM), & AMERICAN IDIOT (ASM). She also spent many years as an Assistant Stage Manager for Cincinnati Ballet, where she worked on various productions such as THE NUTCRACKER, CINDERELLA, & NEW WORKS. Shauna is a proud NKU SOTA alumni, where she earned her BFA in Stage Management. Special thanks to all of you for your continued support of the arts. Enjoy the show!

Doug Stock, he/him (Technical Director) Doug is in his fifth season at The Carnegie, where he has designed sets for LITTLE SHOP…, JOSEPH…, PROOF, AMERICAN IDIOT, DREAMGIRLS, and THE FULL MONTY in addition to overseeing tech for hundreds of concerts and rental events. Previously, he was Ensemble Theatre Cincinnati’s Assistant Technical Director and Master Carpenter. He was also the Technical Director and Scenic & Lighting Designer at Thomas Worthington High School, his Alma Mater. Graduate of UC-CCM.

Marcia Fortner, she/her (Assistant Stage Manager) Marcia just finished her Junior year at Northern Kentucky University where she is pursuing a BFA Degree in Stage Management. She is excited to return to the Carnegie for her 5th show! Her recent credits include: Moss Performing Arts: IMAGINE A DRAGON (SM) and FINDING NEMO JR (SM). The Cincinnati Arts Association: THE OVERTURE AWARDS (PSM). The Cincinnati Ballet: 60th ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION (ASM) and THE NUTCRACKER (ASM). The Carnegie: TICK, TICK… BOOM (House Manager), THE ROCKY HORROR SHOW (Wardrobe Manager) and GUYS AND DOLLS (ASM). NKU: THE PLAY THAT GOES WRONG (SM) and 9 TO 5 (SM). She would like to thank her friends and family for their love and support. Enjoy the show! Philippians 4:13