MIGUEL ANGEL ACEVEDO is excited to make his debut with Theatre in the Wood. He is a Yonkers resident and New York City school teacher, who has directed and performed, locally and regionally, as well as for/on different educational levels, over the past 30 years. Miguel was most recently seen in Elmwood Playhouse’s acclaimed production of Young Frankenstein, playing the lead role of Frederick Frankenstein, as well as seen performing the title role, for Wilton Playshop’s production of the musical, Jekyll and Hyde. Other notable credits: include Beautiful, Disaster, Comedy of Tenors, and City of Angels (Curtain Call Theater, Stamford); The Shawshank Redemption, Violet; The Full Monty, The Wedding Singer (Actors Conservatory Theater, Yonkers); and Sister Act, Oklahoma, Miss Saigon, In the Heights, and La Cage Aux Folles (Clocktower Players, Irvington). Professionally, Miguel made his Westchester Broadway Theater (defunct) debut in Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, and most recently, was featured in Ghost, the Musical, produced by Music Theatre of Connecticut’s Equity acting company (Norwalk). He is most appreciative of the continued support he receives from his family, friends, and colleagues, and thanks Katie S.F. for this opportunity.

 

JESSICA BEITSCHER  Award-winning actress and singer and brings a dynamic range and dedicated work ethic to every performance. With experience spanning diverse theatrical forms, Jessica has captivated audiences in leading roles such as opera diva Katerina Cavelieri in Pelham Manor Club’s production of Amadeus, Fruma Sarah in Fiddler on the Roof, the beloved Mimì in La bohème, and the formidable Queen of the Night in Die Zauberflöte. Other notable roles include Mrs. Walsh in Bigger Than Them and Poppy in Noises Off. Her training is rooted in the Uta Hagen Acting Method, improvisation techniques, and a rigorous study of classical and contemporary singing. Jessica's talent has been recognized with prestigious awards, including multiple Excellence in Acting awards from the Theatre Association of New York (TANYS) and an Outstanding Achievement In Acting award from the Eastern States Theatre Association (ESTA). She is a non-union performer seeking engaging acting roles and opportunities to share her vocal talent at events.

​

ALLIE BON is a senior at the French American School of New York and an actress based in Westchester, pursuing a BFA in Musical Theater. She will be attending NYU Tisch School of the Arts next year. Her favorite roles she’s played include (Cathy) The Last Five Years, (Elle) Legally Blonde, (Audrey) Little Shop of Horrors, (Regina) Mean Girls, (Rapunzel) Into the Woods, (Sandra) All Shook Up, (Anne Bonny) Treasure Island, (Mira) Theory of Relativity, (Greg) The Laramie Project, and (Wicked Witch) The Wizard of Oz. She has performed with local theater companies such as Sandbox and Random Farms. Allie is excited to continue her journey, follow her on Instagram for updates!
@alliebon.performs

​

​​MARIO GIACALONE  is an actor, director, singer-songwriter who has been performing since the 1970’s. Giacalone's film and theater credits include lead roles in, "Cowboy Mouth, and the German film "I was on Mars". He's been Artistic Director at MSTS, and Creative Acting Company, where wrote, and directed plays and short films. Mr. Giacalone directed the Writers in Performance series, at Tribeca Performing Arts Center.". Today Mr. Giacalone contributes music to Treehouse Shakers Theater Company.

​

JOSH GLEASON is thrilled to be a part of his first theater in the wood cabaret! They are studying at Marymount Manhattan for theater design but somehow always finds himself back on the stage. She would love to thank her family and friends for their support and the lovely company for this cabaret. Happy Pride!

​

​​RYAN HONTZ  is a New York-based singer and stage actor with a passion for golden-age classics and contemporary musical theatre. Favorite roles include Trent Oliver in The Prom, Kodaly in She Loves Me, and Nicely-Nicely Johnson in Guys and Dolls. His work has spanned intimate regional productions, concert revues, and musical fundraisers—including Rocky Horror (Brad Majors) at Manhattan Theatre Club and the Ragtime Reunion Concert (Father) with Clocktower Players.

Ryan has also performed as a featured soloist with the New York City Gay Men’s Chorus and backed up Galia & The Lollipops at Glastonbury Music Festival. Ryan brings warmth, wit, and vocal precision to every performance.

​

KATIE LUEKENS CHAN CHEE is PROUD to be serving as Music Director for her second Theatre in the Wood show, having recently done the Mother’s Day Brunch show, Mama, A Rainbow. Previous MD credits include: Young Frankenstein (Elmwood Playhouse), In the Heights, Cabaret, and Godspell (White Plains Performing Arts Center), The Full Monty (ACT Yonkers), The Music Man, Seussical, HMS Pinafore, Company, She Loves Me, Hello, Dolly!, Once Upon a Mattress, Honk!, The Pirates of Penzance, The Wizard of Oz, and The Phantom Tollbooth. She has also served as both director and MD for productions of Disney’s The Little Mermaid, Hello, Dolly!, Chicago: Teen Edition, Xanadu, Nunsense, and Nunsense 2: The Second Coming. When she is not the MD, she frequently plays keyboard in the pit bands for various local theaters, performs onstage in community and local theatre productions, and sings professionally as a freelance soloist and ringer. Katie is a school music teacher at North Salem Middle/High School in North Salem, NY. She thanks Katie SF for her friendship and vision, and she sends all her love to the Best. Husband. Ever. (Brian), without whom she would be lost.

 

ÒRAN MATHESON (he/they) is excited to be making his debut with Theatre in the Wood! Òran is a transmasculine performer, writer, producer, and experiential designer most recently seen in Spelling Bee at Brewster Theater, and as a writer in the 24 Hour Plays at the same venue (“The Curse of La Llorona”). He is also the writer, lyricist, and composer of “Coffee Shop AU: The Musical”, and several others in the works. He has appeared as a featured singer at Joe’s Pub with the Epic Players, and in the Colorado Renaissance Festival, among others. Find him on Instagram at @oranmath_ceol.

​

NICK NAZARIO  (An Any/All Gay) is a New York-based performer with a passion to realize the stories yet to be told. They hold an AS in Performing Arts from Westchester Community College and is always seeking to expand their education. Recently, Nick closed with Anywhere Theatre Company's Shakespeare production of Twelfth Night (Sir Andrew). Prior credits include Fiddler on the Roof (Motel), 25APCSB (Chip), Beauty & the Beast (Lefou), Marjorie Prime (Walter), and Othello (Cassio). Pleasure as always, Katie! 💛 IG: @nicknazario.

​

KATIE SCHMIDT FEDER (Director / Producer / Performer) is the founder of THEATRE IN THE WOOD and thrilled to be presenting our third show at GLEASON’s following two "Broadway Brunch" in April and May.  In 2024 Katie directed three productions for TITW, developing the immersive MOVABLE MUSICAL FEAST at two locations, and HALLOWEEN AT THE HALL at Peekskill Dramatic Hall.  With over thirty years as a stage director, choreographer, designer, and arts administrator, Katie most recently served as the Executive Director of Garrison Art Center. Prior to that post, she was Co-founder & Executive Director of EMBARK|Peekskill, a performing & literary arts nonprofit. For the Capa Space photography center in Yorktown, she directed George & Ruth: Songs and Letters of the Spanish Civil War  She is an alumnus of the Lincoln Center Directors’ Lab and NY’s Ensemble Studio Theatre’s Actor/Director Lab and has directed from Shaw to Shakespeare to Sondheim in New York and regionally. NY acting credits include Rosemary Kennedy in the play Rosemary by James O’Connor (Abingdon Theatre Co.), Titania in A Midsummer Night’s Dream (78th St. Theatre Lab) Regional credits include: Sally Bowles in Cabaret (Theatre Arlington), Squeaky Fromme in the regional premier of Sondheim’s ASSASSINS (Dallas, TX), Audrey in Little Shop of Horrors (Lyric Theatre). Katie has also served as a costume and scenic designer for many productions. She holds a BA in Musical Theatre/Dance Minor – University of Northern Colorado, Graduate 2-year Meisner program - William Esper Studio (NYC). Masters in Arts Administration - Goucher College (2015).  www.katieschmidtfeder.com

​​

GARY SKIDMORE  is very happy to be celebrating pride with Theater in the Wood. Gary has been active in Westchester and Connecticut Community Theatre for more than 40 years, and performed for 13 seasons with New York Cabaret Unlimited. A short list of some of his favorite roles include Sir Evelyn in Anything Goes, Molokov in Chess, Jerry/Daphne in Sugar, Max in The Sound of Music, Manolo in The Odd Couple (Female Version), Hysterium in ...Forum, Magaldi in Evita, and Ernie in Rumors. Offstage, Gary leads Pilates Mat classes and tutors mathematics. He is thankful for and proud of the support of his husband Ernie for this performance.

​

TANYA WILLS (she/her) most recently appeared in Mama, A Rainbow with Theatre in the Wood, in Spelling Bee with the Brewster Theatre Company (Comfort Counselor) and New Milford (CT) Theatreworks (Rona), and in Bat Boy (Meredith) with Phoenix Productions (NJ). She appeared Off-Broadway (Planet Connections) in Falsettos (Trina). Regional credits include the New London Barn Playhouse (NH), Lost Nation Theater (VT) and the title role of the national tour of Judy Blume’s Otherwise Known as Sheila the Great. Favorite roles: Next to Normal (Diana), Into the Woods (Bakers Wife), Sweeney Todd (Mrs. Lovett). Tanya is a graduate of the Boston Conservatory, NYU, and Michael Howard Studios. A fierce advocate for trans children and queer families, she is a member of PFLAG and provides gender affirming gyn, fertility, and pregnancy services to all bodies as a Certified Nurse Midwife in NY and CT. For Charlie and Milo: “There’s joy to be had if you choose to look…”

JUSTIN WINGENROTH is the Owner and Director of The Dance Conservatory in Cortlandt Manor. With over 15 years of experience in teaching ballet, jazz, musical theater, lyrical and tap, he has been a guest teacher throughout New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, and Pennsylvania, most notably as a Summer Intensive Guest Artist with Berks Ballet Theatre, in-studio workshops hosted by Man In Motion and mPower Workshops, and in conventions with the Greater New England Chapter of the National Association of Dance and Affiliated Arts. As a professional, Justin appeared in the North American tour of CATS (Mr. Mistoffellees, Pouncival) and the National Tour of 42ND STREET. He performed in regional theatres across the country in productions of THE MUSIC MAN (Ensemble), Irving Berlin’s WHITE CHRISTMAS (Ensemble), and THE KING AND I (Simon of Legree). He has also performed with C. Eule Dance, Christopher Caines Dance Company, The Chase Brock Experience, Peconic Ballet Theatre, as well as appearances in various Nutcrackers throughout the region. Justin is proud to share his education with the future generations of dancers in Westchester by providing a conservatory system unlike any other in the region.

​

GENE PANCZENKO (Lighting and Sound Coordinator) is a video artist, photographer, musician, and audio/visual specialist who lives in Peekskill. In addition to helping many arts organizations in our region by providing low cost technical equipment and assistance, Gene's artwork has been seen in many galleries and venues in the Hudson Valley and beyond. He is founder of P.E.A.C.E. (Peekskill Electroacoustic Ambient Chamber Ensemble). In 2023, Gene had a solo photography exhibition at Peekskill’s Field Library Gallery titled Documenting Peekskill 1995-2023.