THE PRODUCTION TEAM
PRODUCER/CHOREOGRAPHER
Jenna Betka-Pope (she/her) has performed in the musical theater community for 20 years and consistently seeks out opportunities to include those with disabilities in live performances. She trained in special education and has taught ages four through eighteen in both academic and theatrical areas. Jenna is passionate about creating access for all whether that be in the performing arts arena or in the workplace.
PRODUCER/SET DESIGNER
Eirann Betka-Pope (they/them) is an activist, humorist, and performing artist in Grand Rapids, and is part owner of Betka-Pope Productions. They are the former owner/curator of The Fuse Box, and former Theater Manager at The Comedy Project where they also wrote, taught, acted, directed, and produced. Eirann teaches both adult and youth classes at the Grand Rapids Civic Theatre, and also hosts professional improv workshops for businesses and organizations. They are SO excited to bring this dream production to the stage!
DIRECTOR
Brooke Bruce (she/her) is a performer and designer for the Grand Rapids area. Bruce has worked with Betka-Pope Productions as a stage manager since 2017 and is excited to be directing this show. Bruce has assistant- and co-directed around town with the University Wits, Brutal Sea, and Theater Noir.
Bruce does a lot of things, check her out on facebook.com/bruciebro.
MUSICAL DIRECTOR
Elizabeth Barry (she/her) is passionate about cultivating professional theatre in Grand Rapids and is so excited to join the team for Xanadu! She is a creative multi-hyphenate whose professional experience includes performing, directing, coaching, and teaching. Elizabeth runs Grand Rapids Voice Collective, a collaborative multi-teacher voice studio which serves professional and aspiring professional performers throughout West Michigan. She is also a Teaching Artist at Grand Rapids Civic Theatre School of Theatre Arts where she teaches musical theatre voice & dance.
SKATE CHOREOGRAPHER
Grace Davis (she/her) is a Grand Rapids native who graduated from Cornerstone University with a BS in Psychology, where she also works as an Academic Services Data Coordinator. Her absolute passion is roller skating, which she began doing at 3 years old. At 14, Grace began traveling, hosting, and competing at a national level. Now a mother of four, she is determined to keep that tradition going by founding “Sk8 with Grace,” where she teaches skate lessons to all ages.
SKATE CHOREOGRAPHER
Quise Jones (he/him) is Captain of Royal Wheels, a skating team he helped to create in Grand Rapids. Through Royal Wheels, Quise both teaches skating and hosts events. He owes his skating career to his grandmother, Barb Lester, who purchased his first pair of skates, paid his way through skating sessions, and who supports him every step of the way. He has been skating for 29 years, and though the journey has had ups and downs, he wouldn’t trade it for anything.
COSTUME DESIGN/CREATION
Allison Lutz (she/her) is thrilled to be joining the Xanadu team! Starting out as a historical reenactor, Allison’s experience as a costume designer and seamstress involves a little bit of everything! From building Tudor gowns for Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead, to designing costumes for Perchance to Dream, an immersive Art Prize exhibit, to a transforming Star Wars gown, when it comes to fabric, she is always looking for a challenge.
Xanadu has opportunities galore for Allison to push the envelope, and she’s excited to see what magic she can make.
SKATE DESIGN/CREATION- Tobie Romzek (he/him)
Tobie began designing custom shoes for local theatre companies and found he really loved it! With COVID-19 and necessity being the mother of all invention, he’s decided to put his wearable art out there for the world to enjoy and purchase!
Check out more information HERE
THE CAST
CLIO/KIRA- Mary Kate Murnen (she/her)
Mary Kate Murnen has been a performer since she was young, and has been involved in shows ranging from The Wizard of Oz to Sweeney Todd. Notably, she was in two productions of Legally Blonde: The Musical as Enid and Chutney respectively, Godspell as Morgan, On The Town as Hildy, The stage version of Rocky Horror as Magenta, and most recently as Louise in Always... Patsy Cline. Offstage, she can be found doing all things marketing and social media, as well as painting literally everything in her home.
SONNY MALONE- Meaghan Gietzen (she/her)
Meaghan is SO excited to be a part of this ONE NIGHT ONLY production of Xanadu! This will be her first roller skating musical and she is looking forward to learning to skate with this wonderful group of humans. Meaghan has been an active part of the Grand Rapids Theater Community for years now and is thrilled to be doing something so new and innovative. She would like to thank her family and friends for all of the amazing support she has received especially over these past few months!
DANNY MAGUIRE/ZEUS- Darius Colquitt (he/him)
Darius Colquitt is an award-winning entertainer, educator, writer, director, and entrepreneur. He has premiered in, produced, or directed over 90 productions and features with numerous theatrical and entertainment companies throughout the midwest, and has shared spaces and performed with celebrities like Oprah Winfrey, the late Maya Angelou, and Taraji P. Henson. He is the founder of Darius Colquitt & Company, and is the CEO & Producing Artistic Director of #BAMTalent.
MALPOMENE/MEDUSA- Matty Owen (she/her)
Matty Owen is a Grand Rapids transplant and actor/musician/artist. She has a BA in Theatre & Drama from Indiana University. Recent performing credits include: MC, "Once" GR Civic Theatre; Titania/Hippolyta, "Drunk Shakespeare: Midsummer" The Vagrancy, Caterpillar, "Alis Awake" The Vagrancy; Vocalist/Musician, "Community" & "Queer Stories" Actors Theatre GR; Amena, "As You Like It" The Vagrancy; Hedwig, "Hedwig & the Angry Inch" Actors Theatre GR; Vocalist/Musician, "Imagine" & "21st Century Broadway" Circle Theatre.
CALLIOPE/APHRODITE- Jess Luiz (she/her)
Jess has been a member of the Grand Rapids theatre community for over a decade and has the privilege to participate with many theatres in the area as a performer, costumer, volunteer, and audience member. A few favorite local productions include Heathers The Musical (Veronica), If/Then (Kate), Hands on a Hard Body (Norma), Sweat (Costume Designer), Burnt Part Boys (Costume Designer). Jess also serves as a teaching artist, sharing her love of storytelling through theatre arts with students of all abilities throughout the West Michigan area. She is grateful to her husband Jason for his support and their two kids for providing laughter, play, and all the hugs.
MUSE- Hayley Folstein (she/her)
Hayley is new to the Grand Rapids theatre scene, but she's no stranger to the stage. After graduating from The Royal Conservatoire of Scotland with a BA in Musical Theatre she spent four years in New York City auditioning, working, and auditioning some more. Some of her favorite past roles include Margot in Legally Blonde, Martha in Spring Awakening, Ronnette in Little Shop of Horrors and Lady Macbeth in Macbeth. Most recently she appeared in Circle Theatre's production of Cabaret as one of the "Two Ladies". When not on stage she works in E-Commerce Marketing at Neiman Marcus, and binges TV shows with her husband Gabe and puppy Maya Moon.
MUSE- Kerrie Baker (she/her)
Kerrie is a graphic designer who resides on Grand Rapid's West Side. She's very excited to be performing as a muse for Xanadu! While she's not doing that 9-5 design grind she also enjoys performing improv and stand up. Kerrie has been involved with music her whole life, from piano and French Horn lessons, to A Capella groups and musicals. Kerrie also has a cat named Frankie who is the LIGHT of her LIFE!
MUSE- Brenna Digison (she/her)
Though Xanadu is Brenna’s first ever theater performance, it is bound to be her breakout role! She was drawn to this production by her first love, roller skating. She resides in Holland, where she spends her free time enjoying the West Michigan great outdoors and playing roller derby with the Lakeshore Roller Derby team.
MUSE- Katherine Searcy (she/her)
Katherine Searcy is a GR native who transplanted to Illinois to earn a BFA in Musical Theatre from Rockford University. Since graduating, Katherine has appeared at various theatres in the Midwest. Some of her favorite roles include: Anne Shirley in Anne of Green Gables, Estelle in No Exit, and Cunegonde in Candide. Xanadu is Katherine's first LIVE show since 2019 and she couldn't be more thrilled. When not performing, you'll probably find Katherine petting cats (or wishing she was petting cats). Find more at www.katherinesearcy.com
MUSE- Micah Hamstra (he/him)
Micah Hamstra is so excited to do another show after a government mandated year off of the stage!! When he is not on the stage he works at Starbucks and is continuing to play animal crossing alone in his room. Some of his most recent theatre credits are, Big Kid, (Matilda) with Grand Rapids Civic theatre. and Grampy, (See Rock City and Other Destinations) with Grand Rapids Voice Collective.
FEATURED SKATER- Quise Jones (he/him)
Quise is Captain of Royal Wheels, a skating team he helped to create in Grand Rapids. Through Royal Wheels, Quise both teaches skating and hosts events. He owes his skating career to his grandmother, Barb Lester, who purchased his first pair of skates, paid his way through skating sessions, and who supports him every step of the way. He has been skating for 29 years, and though the journey has had ups and downs, he wouldn’t trade it for anything.
FEATURED SKATER- Grace Davis (she/her)
Grace is a Grand Rapids native who graduated from Cornerstone University with a BS in Psychology, where she also works as an Academic Services Data Coordinator. Her absolute passion is roller skating, which she began doing at 3 years old. At 14, Grace began traveling, hosting, and competing at a national level. Now a mother of four, she is determined to keep that tradition going by founding “Sk8 with Grace,” where she teaches skate lessons to all ages.
THE BAND
KEYS 1- Heather Huber (she/her)
Heather Huber is an active pianist in the musical theater scene in and around Grand Rapids. Some of her favorite local productions in which she's performed include Legally Blonde, Rocky Horror Picture Show, Young Frankenstein, and Freaky Friday. When not playing piano, Heather can be found helping new friends buy/sell houses, brewing beer, and writing musicals of her own. She and her wife, Jamie, live in GR with their pups, Sergei and Stella.
KEYS 2- Emily Volz Mills (she/her)
Emily is super excited to be playing Keys 2 in Xanadu. A music-maker, vocal coach and collaborative pianist, she has spent equal time in the classroom as on the stage. Her current endeavors include: teaching with Grand Rapids Voice Collective where she specializes in voice and functional piano skills for singers, Acting and Musical Theatre Teaching Artist with Grand Rapids Civic Theatre, and is in the midst of developing a Yoga for Performers series. She is extremely grateful to be a member of the Xanadu band. Shout out to the Volz/Mills tribe, you are my everything!
GUITAR: Eric Pennock (he/him)
Eric is a single dad, and a musician. Both roles are the source of a lot of inspiration.
DRUMS- Matthew Lesky (he/him)
Ecstatic to be joining the Grand Rapids scene, Matthew Lesky is an Ionia-based drummer where he previously performed with the Ionia Community Theater in the productions Xanadu (2015) and Rocky Horror Picture Show (2018), where he met his now wife, Krystal, also a musician (saxophone). He will also be performing with ICT in Rent (2022) next summer and hopes you will consider attending. Outside of theater, Matthew especially enjoys jamming with his close friends and band of 20 years, Terre Haute Sound.