Terry Hermes - Ralph (as an adult)
This is Terry's second CenterStage appearance. Although not a musical theatre person, he made an exception for The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas (Scruggs). Terry has had multiple roles in Park Players Shakespeare productions. His favorite was Sir Toby Belch in Twelfth Night, also directed by Frank. He has appeared in shows at South City Theatre, BFT, Leeds, and Trussville, where he played this same role of Ralph a few years ago. Last year at this time, he starred as George in Theatre Downtown's acclaimed production of Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf. More recently, he played Dr. Chumley in Harvey, and Cromwell in a scene from King Lear in Muse of Fire's November showcase. He would like to thank his wife Lisa and daughter Leah for tolerating his incurable theatre bug.
Zachary Sayle - Ralphie (as a child)
Zachary, age 11, is thrilled to make his debut with CenterStage Productions! He has appeared as Tiny Tim in Scrooge, the Musical with Birmingham Children's Theatre, as Tommy in Ah, Wilderness! with Birmingham-Southern College Theatre, and most recently as Randolph McAfee in Bye, Bye, Birdie with Magic City Actors Theatre. Zachary has also been seen in La Boheme with Birmingham Opera and in Schoolhouse Rock at CenterStage's Summer Workshop. He will also be in the upcoming production of Les Miserables at the Virginia Samford Theatre. A resident of Hoover, Zachary studies voice, is a member of the Birmingham Boys Choir and is a piano student of Dr. Kevin Chance at the Alabama School of Fine Arts. Zachary would like to thank Frank and the rest of the Christmas Story cast for a legendary, official Red Ryder, 200-shot, carbine action range model, rip-roarin' good time!
"Dollar" Bill Lawson - The Old Man
Bill Lawson, known to his huge radio audience as, "Dollar Bill", is one-half of the top- rated morning team of "Patti & Dollar Bill", heard on Birmingham's FM 102.5 THE BULL. Dollar Bill has received several awards, both locally and nationally for his commercial production and voice work. You've probably heard his voice on many radio and television commercials that have aired all over the state and country. Bill also speaks regularly to large groups, organizations and at hundreds of public functions all year long. He has also worked in several local theatre groups over the years in plays such as Tartuffe, Oliver, A Christmas Carol, Mame and others. During the last 25 years, Bill has worked tirelessly for charities, schools and social organizations. He has been a telethon host every year since 1979 for United Cerebral Palsy's UCP Telethon, or the Muscular Dystrophy (Jerry's Kids) Telethon, and The Children's Hospital of Alabama Telethon. Dollar Bill has worked with hundreds of fundraising events for the Cancer Society, Head Injury Foundation, The Diabetes Association and many, many others. Bill Lawson loves his wife Mary, his family and his country.
Holly Dikeman - Mother
This is Holly’s tenth production with CenterStage, although her first time to do a non-musical production. She was recently seen as Cora in Thoroughly Modern Millie; other CenterStage credits include Cabaret (Rosie), Guys & Dolls, Little Shop Of Horrors (Chiffon), The King & I (Topsy), Cinderella (Portia), The Phantom Of The Opry (Carly), 42nd Street (Anytime Annie), and The Best Little Whorehouse In Texas (Angel). She teaches dance at Corky Bell Dance Studio, and is a Human Resource Professional for a local television network in real life. Holly would like to thank Frank for this fantastic opportunity, and the talented cast for providing constant entertainment.
Olivia Fulmore - Randy
In this production Olivia gets to fulfill her dream of playing a cross-dresser! Olivia's theatre "career" began in kindergarten, playing Jane in CenterStage's Peter Pan. Other favorite roles include Gretl in LJCC's Sound of Music, Want in A Christmas Carol, a Siamese Princess in The King & I, and the Steely Eyed Fox in a production at Vestavia Hills Elementary West, where Olivia is a third grader. When she's not on stage, Olivia enjoys girl scouts, math, science and reading.
Tucker Ratcliff - Flick
Tucker is very excited to be performing once again with CenterStage. He was last seen on the VST stage in CenterStage's production of A Christmas Carol The Musical. He is thrilled to be performing again along side his friend, "Dollar Bill". Tucker is a 7th grade honor student, and a member of the Symphonic Band at Hewitt Trussville Middle School. Most recently he was seen on stage as part of his school's production of Sleeping Beauty. Other school and community theatre credits include, Seussical, Alice in Wonderland, Honk, Cinderella, Aladdin, and Annie Jr. He also performed as Pooh in a CenterStage workshop production of Winnie the Pooh, and Pierre in The Boyfriend. Tucker is proud to be performing with such a funny and most talented cast. He wishes to thank Frank for another awesome opportunity to do what he loves best and that is, to perform on stage, and make new friends who love to do the same. He also thanks his Mom and Dad for their encouragement and guidance.
Carmen Lambert - Schwartz
Carmen is currently employed as the theatre assistant at Hewitt Trussville Middle School. Although Carmen greatly enjoys directing, her real passion is perfomring. She was most recently seen as Gretchen in BCT's Rumpelstiltskin. She has been in numerous shows with CenterStagem LJCC, ACTA & LAC. Her favorite credits include: Honk! (Maureen), High School Musical (Martha Cox), and West Side Story (Pauline). Carmen would like to thank Frank for giving her the opportunity to play a 12 year old boy and her family for always supporting her.
Dianne Daniels - Miss Shields
Dianne is thrilled and grateful to be acting with CenterStage again, having been last seen as Lovey Howell in Gilligan's Island the Musical, over 4 years ago. During that time, she has been active behind the scenes with CenterStage, either as stage manager or lighting operator, just waiting for her big break. Past favorite acting roles include Mrs Shinn in The Music Man and the Widow Corney in Oliver! with Centerstage, and also Truvy in Steel Magnolias, Sissy in Come Back the Five and Dime, Jimmy Dean Jimmy Dean, Adriana in A Comedy of Errors all with South City Theatre. When not playing with her theatre friends, Dianne is the marketing director for EMH Inspection Services. Happy Holidays!
David Strickland - Scut Farkas
David is excited to be performing again with CenterStage, having recently appeared as Bun Foo in Thoroughly Modern Millie. His favorite local credits include: Annie, jr. (Daddy Warbucks), Bugsy Malone (Bugsy), The Music Man, jr. (Mayor Shinn), Honk, jr. (Turkey), Guys and Dolls (Sky Masterson), The Boy Friend (Lord Brockhurst), Grease (Sonny / Vince Fontaine), and You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown (Charlie Brown), which he also directed. Currently a member of the Oak Mountain high school show choir, Con Brio, and the CenterStage Rising Stars, David is also a past member of Summerfest and the Birmingham Boy’s Choir. He would like to send out this very important message: “Please don’t put me on your naughty list, Santa. All the bullying is just an act.”
Raymond Quintero - Christmas Tree Salesman / Neighbor
Raymond was last seen as in the Centerstage Production of Thoroughly Modern Millie. He has also appeared in Guys and Dolls, Peter Pan, Gilligan's Island The Musical, Phantom Of The Opry, Annie, Kiss Me Kate, The Music Man, A Christmas Carol, 42nd Street, The King & I, Gigi, and Bye Bye Birdie all with Centerstage Productions. He has also appeared in South Pacific and Fiddler On The Roof for VST and You Can't Take It With You and The Crucible for South City Theatre and The Odd Couple and Cat On A Hot Tin Roof for L.J.C.C. Raymond is employed by American Cast Iron Pipe Company.
Lee Fowler - Cowboy/ Santa Claus
Lee is proud to make his fifth appearance with CenterStage in A Christmas Story! Lee was most recently seen in the ensemble of Thoroughly Modern Millie with CenterStage. Other recent roles include Ernst Ludwig in Cabaret, Brandy Bottle Bates in Guys and Dolls, and Patrick Martin in Little Shop of Horrors, both with CenterStage. Thanks to the creative team and this amazing cast for the chance to be onstage again! Ho Ho Ho!
Paul McCracken - Black Bart / Delivery Man
Paul is delighted to be a part of another CenterStage show. He has previously been seen onstage in CenterStage's A Christmas Carol (The Ghost of Christmas Present), Kiss Me Kate (Harry/Baptista), The King and I (The Kralahome), Peter Pan (Pirate), Jekyll and Hyde (Lord Savage), My Fair Lady, and The Secret Garden (Albert Lennox). He has also been seen in Annie Get Your Gun (Sitting Bull), Give My Regards to Broadway (Dick Foster), Side By Side By Sondheim, and Godspell. When not on stage, Paul is the Associate Dean of the Jerusalem Institute for Biblical Exploration as well as being President of the CenterStage Board of Directors. He has three children and is married to the delightful Nancy. Thanks to FLT3 for the chance to be part of this show!
Meredith Byars - Ester Jane
Meredith is in an active 8th grader. Her stage credits include Belinda Cratchit in CenterStage's A Christmas Carol, Alice in How Reading Returned to Nowhere and a Forest Creature in The Princess and the Pea (both SMS productions), Children's Ensemble in CenterStage's Cinderella, Charlotte in BPES performance of Charlotte's Web, and Tootles in CenterStage's Peter Pan. She also performed as "Young Chrissy" in CenterStage's reading of Phantom of the Opry. Meredith attended CenterStage's Rising Star workshop the last three summers and performed as Genevieve in The Boyfriend, a teenager in Bye Bye Birdie, and an alien in Gilligan's Island, the Musical. Meredith has also been seen in School House Rock Live, Jr. at the LJCC and in several church performances. She is excited to be in A Christmas Story and wishes to thank Frank and her family for the opportunity to perform.
Lizzy Polhill - Helen
Lizzy is thrilled to make her Center Stage debut! She's an active 6th grader who loves "the stage!" She began studying ballet when she was only three years old and has performed in numerous dance productions including The Alabama Ballet's Nutty Nutcracker, Birmingham Ballet's production of The Nutcracker, and Briarwood Ballet's productions, The Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe, and The King's Garden. She has performed with her church in several children's musicals. Lizzy is also a member of her school's concert choir. Her extracurricular activities involve doing what she loves most, studying drama, voice, and dance. She wishes to thank Frank for this wonderful opportunity and for believing in her! She also thanks her drama teacher, Maree Jones, who has helped her in so many ways, and to her family for all their love and support. Lizzy especially thanks God. Without Him, she would be nowhere!
OTHERS
Frank Thompson - Director
Frank is proud to direct one of his favorite holiday classics, A Christmas Story. He most recently directed and appeared as Trevor Graydon in CenterStage's Thoroughly Modern Millie, and is currently appearing as Bob Cratchit in BCT's A Christmas Carol. Frank's performance credits include Henry Higgins in My Fair Lady, Harold Hill in The Music Man, Fred/Petruchio in Kiss Me, Kate, Bill Snibson in Me And My Girl, Julian Marsh in 42nd Street, Fagin in Oliver!, Mr. MacAfee in Bye Bye Birdie, The Governor in The Best Little Whorehouse In Texas, Clifton Feddington in The 1940's Radio Hour, and The VST 80th Anniversary Gala, for which he also wrote the script. His work as a director includes Anything Goes, The Secret Garden, Guys And Dolls, Hair, and the world premiere of Lloyd J. Schwartz's The Phantom Of The Opry. Frank looks forward to appearing in I Love You, You're Perfect, Now Change coming up soon at VST. Much love and Merry Christmas to family and friends!
Molly Saunders - Stage Manager
Molly is a senior at the Alabama School of Fine Arts in the Creative Writing Department. She has been involved with many CenterStage productions, both on and off stage, and is a member of the Rising Stars Performing Ensemble. Last February, Molly stage managed for Theater LJCC's wildly successful High School Musical, and this June she was awarded CenterStage's 2007 Andrew Gainey Award. Thanks for yet another opportunity, Frank!
Rosemary Gilliland - Costumes
Matthew H von Redlich - Fight Arranger
Matthew H von Redlich is an actor/director and fight arranger. He has been working in theatre for over thirty years and has acted in dozens of stage productions, including What the Butler Saw, Tartuffe, Becket, Annie, Anything Goes, Our Town, The Actor's Nightmare and The Sound of Music, to name just a few. He has also directed many shows, including You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown, Gilligan's Island, Bye Bye Birdie, School House Rock Live, Cinderella and Alas! Alack! Zorro's Back. Matthew especially enjoys stage combat and the challenges of creating the illusion of violence on stage. He has choreographed fights and stunts for the University of Montevallo (The Snow Queen), the University of Alabama (Othello), Theatre Tuscaloosa (I Hate Hamlet, Moon Over Buffalo, The Grapes of Wrath, The Complete Works of Wm. Shakespeare), Tuscaloosa County High School (Romeo and Juliet, 1984, A Midsummer Night's Dream, The Jungle Book), Tuscaloosa Children's Theatre, Looney's Tavern, Mountain Brook High School (I Hate Hamlet, Anne of the Thousand Days, Rumors, A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum and Hello Dolly), Shades Valley High School ( Hamlet, The Complete Works of Wm. Shakespeare) and most recently, Centrestage Productions (Jekyll & Hyde, Peter Pan, Phantom of the Opry, Kiss Me Kate) . Matthew currently teaches theatre at Tuscaloosa Academy and has been on the staff of many theatre workshop camps, including Mel-O-Drama, Theatre Tuscaloosa's Ovation Camps, Tuscaloosa Children's Theatre Summer Camps and the Levite Jewish Community Center's Summer Program. He is a member of the Society of American Fight Directors and holds a Master of Fine Arts from the University of Alabama.