Program

Cast List

Poppy – Abby Avery

Branch – Everett Gerten

DJ Suki – Quinn Traver

Satin – Thora Dopp

Chenille – Hadley Brownell

Cooper – Tal Watson

Girl Diamond – Zoey Mead

Smidge – Eloise Sinclair

Pyrotechnics Troll – Mimi Banfield

Biggie – Andrew Swender

Trilliam Trollspeare – Mason Hanson

King Gristle – Henry Weeks

Bridget – Lyla Holm

Marie Bergenette – Mack Lessnau

Advisor – Elliott Seekman

Royal Guard Chad – Martin Tartaglia

Royal Guard Toddy – Melody Carson

Chef – Bailey McCormick

Sous Chef – Charlie Venske

Deputy Sous Chef – Kennedy Guthrie

Scullery Maid – Raegan Sheldon

Reporter 1 – Dexter Stahlhood

Reporter 2 – Freya Shippell

Extreme Announcer – Mia O’Leary

Echo – Violet Benson

Bard Troll 1 – Olivia Shedd

Bard Troll 2 – Norah Ivey

Bard Troll 3 – Brinley McCormick

Bard Troll 4 – Emma Abbey

Royal Hype Crew – Lillian Driggers, Willow Driggers,Hayden Ivey, Elizabeth Nelson, Elyse Priest, Riley Rose, Ezekiel Shedd, Natalie Shedd, Eloise Weaver

Maid Ensemble – Violet Benson, Makena Gates, Elsie O’Leary, Mia O’Leary,

Royal Entourage Ensemble – Ellie Carr, Everlee Kuehnlein, Emma LaFountain, Oaklynn Shaffer, Emilia Traver

Marie’s Entourage Ensemble – Charlotte Faesel, Eden Hackworth, Meredith Harris

Bergen’s Ensemble – Ella Abbey, Maizey Edwards, Myles Ivey, Enslee Kuehnlein, Charlie Martin, Leo Priest, Nellie Saltos Howland, Peter Schwartz, Mia Shippell, Caroline Stults, Leo Zeilstra

Trolls Ensemble – Charlotte Birch, June Bowman, Juniper Cape, Zoey Cummins, Loik Dopp, Blair Fisher-Short, Avery Gerten, Hadley Konkle, Lydia LaFountain, Wyatt Logan, Piper Mode, Claire Putnam, Parker Scibbe

Cast Bio

Ella Abbey (Bergen Ensemble) is a part of the Bergen Ensemble in Trolls Jr. This is her fourth production. Her favorite role was Baby Jellyfish in Finding Nemo Jr. She loves coming to all the rehearsals and shows for the play to meet and hang out with friends!

Emma Abbey (Bard Troll 4) is thrilled to be in her sixth production. She loves to be on stage! Emma also enjoys cheering, piano, 4H, and hanging out with her friends.

Abby Avery (Poppy) is 10 years old and a homeschooled 5th grader who loves to tumble, color, spend time in nature, and hang out with her friends. She has been in four previous shows, including a Minion in The Claw, the Doo-Wop Ensemble in Musicville, the Corgi Narrator in 101 Dalmatians, and Peach the Starfish in Finding Nemo Jr. Abby is SO excited to be playing the role of Poppy! She loves Poppy’s fun, energetic personality and has had the best time bringing her to life on stage. Abby really hopes you enjoy the show. So sit back, smile big, and make it poppy!

Mimi Banfield (Pyrotechnics Troll) is a 3rd grader at Gordon Elementary. Mimi spends her free time playing Nintendo, watching America’s Got Talent, and finding new ways to annoy her brother. She really enjoyed being part of Finding Nemo in 2025 and is super excited to be the Pyrotechnics Troll. She’s ready to light this show on fire!

Violet Benson (Echo, Maid Ensemble) is 9 years old and in 4th grade. She has been in numerous musicals and her favorite one is Trolls. Violet’s hobbies include theater, hanging out with her sister, sleeping, and coloring. Her favorite subject in school is math. Peace out!

Charlotte Birch (Trolls Ensemble) is a 1st grader and thrilled to join the Trolls Entourage. This is her second Franke Center performance after playing a seagull last year in Finding Nemo. Charlotte loves gymnastics, crafting, and family time. Fun fact: she once performed a solo song in front of her entire church!

June Bowman (Trolls Ensemble) is a 2nd grader. June has also starred in Aristocats Jr at the Franke. In her free time June likes playing with her friends and dogs. June is following in both of her big sister’s footsteps with plays at The Franke Center.

Hadley Brownell (Chenille) is a 4th grader at Hughes Elementary. This is her second play at the Franke Center. She is so excited to have a speaking role with a microphone this time around. Hadley also enjoys playing basketball and softball and dancing at the Dance Collective.

Juniper Cape (Trolls Ensemble) is a 2nd grader. This is her second production. Juniper enjoys nature, watching movies, and monkeys.

Ellie Carr (Royal Entourage Ensemble) is thrilled to be a part of Trolls here at the Franke. Ellie is a 4th grader. Her previous productions include 101 Dalmatians and Jungle Book here at The Franke Center.

Melody Carson (Royal Guard Toddy) is nine years old and in 3rd grade. This is her second play with the Franke Center. She was also a grouper fish in Finding Nemo Jr. Melody’s favorite part of theater is transforming with the costumes and makeup.

Zoey Cummins (Trolls Ensemble) is a 1st grader this year and this is her second production. She loved being in Finding Nemo last year. An interesting fact about her is that her favorite colors are black and pink .

Loik Dopp (Trolls Ensemble) is 6 years old and a 1st grader at Walters. This is his third play at the Franke! He considers himself a method actor, so if you’ve seen him “trolling” around town over the past month or two, don’t fret- he’s just harnessing his personal memories and getting into character. Loik would like to send lots of love to everyone who comes out to support the performers!

Thora Dopp (Satin) is 9 years old and a 4th grader at Walters. She is excited to be performing in her seventh production! When she isn’t at play practice, she keeps busy with eight dance classes a week. She loves music, art, and making people laugh! Thora would like to thank the adults who work hard to make Franke Center productions so special each year!

Lillian Driggers (Royal Hype Crew) is in Kindergarten. Her first debut into theater was being a special guest for the Jungle Book play. This is her first major role. Her favorite things are doing the splits and exercising.

Willow Driggers (Royal Hype Crew) is in Kindergarten. Her first debut into theater was being a special guest for The Jungle Book play. This is her first major role. Her favorite things are exercising and then going home to pet her cat Sneezy.

Maizey Edwards (Bergen Ensemble) is a 1st grader and this is her first production. She loves to sing and dance and is excited to bring it to the theater stage. An interesting fact about her is she is a dog-loving artist.

Charlotte Faesel (Marie’s Entourage Ensemble) is a 3rd grader. This is her very first production! She loves singing, dancing, horseback riding, soccer, and spending time with her family. She is an amazing reader, has a wonderfully goofy personality, and her favorite animal is the axolotl. She is excited to share her show with you!

Blair Fisher-Short (Trolls Ensemble) is delighted to be a part of Trolls! Through each new show and theater experience, Blair’s love for performing has continued to grow, giving her wonderful opportunities to explore her creativity and discover the joy of being on stage. She enjoys dancing, singing, and discovering new things, making the stage a wonderful place for her imagination and creativity to shine. Blair has especially enjoyed creating lasting memories with friends and sharing the magic of Trolls with this incredible cast.

Makena Gates (Maid Ensemble) also known as “Kena-boo,” “Da Boo,” or by her rap name,“Baby Mak G,” is a naturally dramatic person who has found her home on the stage. She was previously in 101 Dalmatians and is currently in 2nd grade.

Everett Gerten (Branch) has starred in three musicals to date and playing the part of Branch has been his favorite experience. He is a 5th grader with a love for making people laugh, being with his cousins, and always trying new things.

Avery Gerten (Trolls Ensemble) is a Kindergartener who is ready for the stage! This is his debut performance and is ready to get his happy feet under the lights! Enjoy!

Kennedy Guthrie (Deputy Sous Chef) is a 5th grader and this is her 5th show she’s been in. Her favorite role was playing an elephant in The Jungle Book. An interesting fact about her is that she loves solving fractions in math class.

Eden Hackworth (Marie’s Entourage Ensemble) is in 4th grade and is excited to be back at the Franke Center for her second play! Last year, she made her debut in Finding Nemo. She loves theater, singing, and dance- especially acro. She’s thrilled to be a part of this performance and hopes you enjoy the show.

Mason Hanson (Trilliam Trollspeare) is a 4th grader at Walter’s. This is his 5th show. His favorite role was Ziggy in The Jungle Book. He is also a dancer- ballet, tap, and jazz. He plays piano and loves to read Warrior Cats!

Meredith Harris (Marie’s Entourage Ensemble) is nine years old and in the 4th grade at Walters Elementary. This is her second production. Meredith is an animal lover and wishes she could have a horse. An interesting fact about Meredith is she has loved books since she was in diapers and once she learned to read she devoured any book she could get her hands on.

Lyla Holm (Bridget) is a 5th grader who loves singing, acting, and lighting up the stage! She has performed in several productions, including some of her favorites: A Christmas Story, Finding Nemo, and 101 Dalmatians. When she’s not rehearsing, Lyla enjoys spending time with her family and friends, playing sports, and getting creative. She loves stepping into each character and bringing every role to life. Lyla is thrilled to share this show with you, so sit back, enjoy the music and laughter, and get ready for a little bit of Bridget magic!

Hayden Ivey (Royal Hype Crew) is 6 years old and a kindergartener at Walters Elementary. This is his very first theater production, and he is excited to be a part of this show! When he’s not rehearsing, Hayden loves playing sports and dancing to music. He has had so much fun being on stage and is excited to share the show with everyone!

Myles Ivey (Bergen Ensemble) is 7 years old and a 2nd grader at Walters Elementary. This is his very first theater production, and he is excited to take the stage. When he’s not rehearsing, Myles loves building with LEGOS and playing outside. He is having so much fun being part of the show and looks forward to sharing it with the audience.

Norah Ivey (Bard Troll 2) is 9 years old and a 4th grader at Walters Elementary. She previously performed as a Moonfish in Finding Nemo Jr and as Hermione in Puffs. When she’s not on stage, Norah enjoys playing piano and cuddling with her cats. She loves baking and hopes to become a professional baker when she grows up. She is excited to be part of this show and can’t wait to share it with the audience.

Hadley Konkle (Trolls Ensemble) is in kindergarten and is excited for her first performance. She does gymnastics and plays soccer and flag football. Hadley’s spirit animal is Stitch and she is known to act just like him!

Everlee Kuehnlein (Royal Entourage Ensemble) is a 3rd grader, and this is her second production. An interesting fact about her is that she loves animals.

Enslee Kuehnlein (Bergen Ensemble) is a kindergartener, and this is her first production. An interesting fact about her is she loves candy.

Emma LaFountain (Royal Entourage Ensemble) is a 3rd grader at Hughes Elementary. This is her second theater production and she’s having SO much fun! She loves to swim, dance, and spend quality time with her family and friends.

Lydia LaFountain (Trolls Ensemble) is a Kindergartener at Hughes Elementary. This is her second production at The Franke Center. Lydia loves to sing, dance, and play dress-up!

Mack Lessnau (Marie Bergenette) is 10 years old and this is her 3rd play! She loves animals- especially dogs-playing basketball, and dreaming up fun outfits. Don’t let this villain role fool you, she is super kind, sweet, and helpful! She’s thrilled to be part of the show and hopes you enjoy it!

Wyatt Logan (Trolls Ensemble) is a Kindergarten student who loves singing and dancing! He enjoys playing baseball, watching airplanes, or talking about his favorite animal- the capybara!

Charlie Martin (Bergen Ensemble) is a 2nd grader at Walters Elementary School. He has previously appeared in The Aristocats Jr. and Finding Nemo Jr. When he isn’t acting, he spends his time training for his career as the future center fielder for the Chicago Cubs (where he intends to break all the records set by his favorite player, Pete Crow-Armstrong). He would like to thank the Franke Center for this opportunity and his family for their love and support (especially his Nana for providing personal chauffeur services to and from rehearsals).

Brinley McCormick (Bard Troll 3) is a 4th grader at Walters Elementary and is excited to be part of her sixth production. Her favorite roles have been Jungle Thistle in Jungle Book and Bippy the House Elf in Puffs. Brinley enjoys playing Roblox, drawing, and playing the piano too.

Bailey McCormick (Chef) is a 5th grader at Walters Elementary. Her favorite roles have been Edgar in Aristocats and Shanti in The Jungle Book. Outside of theater, Bailey enjoys playing Roblox, watching YouTube videos, and spending time with family.

Zoey Mead (Girl Diamond) attends 4th grade at Hughes Elementary in Marshall. This is her fourth play at the Franke Center. Zoey was previously cast as a tanguerro in Musicville and as Amelia in Aristocats. She enjoys swimming, cheerleading, and playing basketball.

Piper Mode (Trolls Ensemble) is in 1st grade and incredibly excited to make her very first stage debut. When she is not practicing her loud Troll cheer, she enjoys swimming and practicing Taekwondo, where she proudly holds a green belt. An interesting fact about Piper is she has a twin brother.

Elizabeth Nelson (Royal Hype Crew) is 10 years old. This is her first play, but she did the Summer Camp and decided to do more! She really loves singing, dancing, and reading.

Elsie O’Leary (Maid Ensemble) is a 2nd-grade student and is excited to be part of her third production. Her favorite role so far was playing a Munchkin in The Wizard of Oz this past winter. One interesting fact about Elsie is that she dreams of scuba diving with sharks some day. She is excited to be part of this production and can’t wait to perform on stage.

Mia O’Leary (Extreme Announcer, Maid Ensemble) is a 5th grade student and is excited to be part of her fifth production. Her favorite role so far has been Scat Cat in the Aristocats. In her spare time, Mia enjoys watching Gimore Girls with her mom! She is excited to be part of this production and can’t wait to share the stage with everyone!

Elyse Priest (Royal Hype Crew) is a 4th grader in Marshall. This is Elyse’s fourth production. Previously she was in The Aristocats, Finding Nemo, and The Jungle Book at the Franke Center. A fun fact she wants to share is she lived in the country of Georgia when she was 3!

Leo Priest (Bergen Ensemble) is in Kindergarten in Marshall. He has loved watching his friends and sister perform over the years and is excited to be in his first show! Leo loves dinosaurs, biking, and being silly.

Claire Putnam (Trolls Ensemble) is in 3rd grade and this is her third production with The Franke. Her favorite role so far is “all of them!” Something about Claire is that she loves to read and sing, and she wants to be a scientist when she grows up.

Riley Rose (Royal Hype Crew) is in 3rd grade and this is her first theater performance. Riley’s favorite activity is playing softball.

Nellie Saltos Howland (Bergen Ensemble) is a 2nd grader who is so excited for her second production as a Bergen! When she’s not on the stage, she loves drawing, horseback riding, and spending time with friends.

Peter Schwartz (Bergen Ensemble) is in 2nd grade. He has previously participated in the Franke at the Theater Discovery Camp and performed in the opening number for Jungle Book this summer.

Parker Scibbe (Trolls Ensemble) is excited for his debut show! Parker is excited to be a troll and loves to sing and create. An interesting fact about Parker is that he is good at math and has completed two kid triathlons.

Elliott Seekman (Advisor) is a 2nd grader in Marshall and this is her third production. Her favorite role was an octopus in Finding Nemo Jr. When off stage, Elliott enjoys dance, art, and music.

Oaklynn Shaffer (Royal Entourage Ensemble) is a 1st grader and this is her second production. She was previously a seagull in Finding Nemo. She enjoys dancing, reading, and drawing.

Ezekiel Shedd (Royal Hype Crew) is a bright and ambitious first grader. He has been honing his dance skills for three years and is thrilled to be back on stage.

Natalie Shedd (Royal Hype Crew) is a vibrant and ambitious girl who is poised to dazzle audiences with her stage presence. With four years of dance experience under her belt, she is now taking on her third theatrical role in Trolls Jr. Natalie’s enthusiasm is infectious and she can’t wait to share this exciting production with you.

Olivia Shedd (Bard Troll 1) has a passion for the arts that knows no bounds and she is eager to shine on stage through acting and singing, having already honed her craft through four years of dance. Her love for animals will surely shine in her role as Bard Troll!

Raegan Sheldon (Scullery Maid) is 9 years old and she is excited to have been cast as the Scullery Maid, with this being her first theatrical performance. Raegan enjoys singing and really loves to do art!

Freya Shippell (Reporter 2) is age 9 and this is her first production. She loves animals. She enjoys moving her body with swimming and cross country.

Mia Shippell (Bergen Ensemble) is 7 years old and this is her first production. She loves arts and crafts and making up songs.

Eloise Sinclair (Smidge) is a 3rd grader and this is her first production. Eloise is an active girl who loves sports, singing, and dancing. An interesting fact about her is that she is very creative and is really good at drawing.

Dexter Stahlhood (Reporter 1) is in his third year of participating at the Franke Center. Dexter is a student at St. Joseph Catholic Elementary School and wants to be a police officer when he grows up. He loves being on stage and wants to continue to be in theater programs.

Caroline Stults (Bergen Ensemble) is a kindergartener. This is her first production here at the Franke, but she has loved coming to watch her brothers and sister perform through the years.

Andrew Swender (Biggie & Mr Dinkles) is in fifth grade. This is his 4th show, and his favorite show was Jungle Book Jr. In his spare time, Andrew likes to play piano, listen to audio books, and swim. Mr Dinkles hopes you enjoy the show!

Martin Tartaglia (Royal Guard Chad) is a 4th grader at Hughes Elementary. This is his fifth production, including Finding Nemo Jr and Lion King Jr. He likes staying chill, hanging out with family and friends, and playing with Legos.

Emilia Traver (Royal Entourage Ensemble) is 7 years old, and this is her third play. And in case you forgot, she still loves turtles.

Quinn Traver (DJ Suki) is 9 years old and this is her third play and she can’t wait to be the loudest DJ in this place!

Charlie Venske (Sous Chef) is 11 years old. She is in 5th grade. She has been a part of The Claw (Smerfet), MusicVille (Low E), Aristocats (Slick Cat), Lion King (Ensemble), Finding Nemo Jr. (Gill), and Puffs (Narrator). Her favorite play was Puffs as the narrator. Charlie would like to thank the helpers backstage. Even though they don’t get as much credit as the actors- they do just as much work.

Tal Watson (Cooper) is a 10-year-old 5th grader at Walters Elementary. He is a hilarious and creative kid who has discovered his love of theater over the last 4 years at the Franke Center. When not on stage, you will find him playing soccer, reading, or in a world of imagination. He thanks you for supporting the arts and wonders if anybody wants a cupcake?

Eloise Weaver (Royal Hype Crew) is 10 and a half years old. She has been in six different productions. Her favorite role so far has been The Jungle Book! She loves to sing and dance, do arts and crafts, music, and loves theater. She loves Disney and her favorite character is Stitch. She has a brother and a sister. She’d like to thank you for this opportunity to perform.

Henry Weeks (King Gristle) is a 5th grader at Walters Elementary and this is his 8th production. His favorite role has been skipping as J. Flinch Fletchley in Puffs. Henry enjoys being funny, gaming, and traveling when he’s not putting on a show. Thank you for coming, and where’s my advisor? Advisor!

Leo Zeilstra (Bergen Ensemble) is 6 years old and is in 1st grade. This is his first theater performance and he is part of Bergen’s Ensemble. Leo likes to play video games, find treasures, 

Production Team

Director: Angela Gerten

Music Director: Rob Monahan

Choreographer: Angela Gerten

Producer: Jen Popovits

Costume Designer: Melanie Russcher

Lighting Designer: Matthew Seifert

Set Designer: Angela Gerten & Mike Tartaglia

Lead Set Builder: Mike Tartaglia, Jamie Bowman

Assistant Producer: Dede Weaver

Assistant Director: George Pyatt

Assistant Music Director: Nery Figueredo

Production Assistant: Mollie Weaver

Set Dressers: Allison Ebner, Angela Shed

Assistant Set Dresser & Props: Angela Shedd

Props Master: Allison Ebner

Props Captain: Charlotte Bowman

Makeup Assistance: Lisa Abbey

Stage Manager: Mollie Weaver

Sound Engineer: Annabelle Machalka

Sound Operator: Nery Figueredo

Light Operators: Theo Colclasure & Mason Popovits

Youth Theater Director: Allison Ebner

Assistant Youth Theater Director: Jen Popovits

House Manager: Kim Watson

Bio Board Design: Abby Ivey

Bio Board Cast Photos: Stacey Avery

Program: Jodi Haywood & Jen Popovits

Poster Design: Jodi Haywood

Box Office: Jodi Haywood & Bob Veramay

Production Photography: Jeff Wilson with Event Photography, Schmidt Photography

Videographer: Adrienne Dysinger

Cast Mentors: Elle Andrews, Madison Avery, Charlotte Bowman, Adelheide Brandafino, Lincoln Freds, Evie Gerten, Violet Groeneveld, Harper Guthrie, Scarlette Murray, Emma Popovits, Mason Popovits, Braeden Russcher, Sylvia Swender, Livia Watson, Calvin Stults

Backstage Crew: Elle Andrews, Charlotte Bowman, Adelheide Brandafino, Evie Gerten, Violet Groeneveld, Julie Machalka, Scarlette Murray, Emma Popovits, Braeden Russcher, Sylvia Swender, Dede Weaver, Jeremy Young, Calvin Stults

Set Builders/Painters: Jason Bowman, Allison Ebner, Scott Hanson, Jefferson Howland, Allison Logan, Chrissy McCormick, James Mode, Matthew Priest, Nick Rose, Kayleigh Schwartz, Angela Shedd, Carter Tartaglia, Jolene Tartaglia, Mike Tartaglia, Dennis Tomblin, Stephanie Tomblin, Liz Venske, Leo Zeilstra, Jeannine Thurn

Costume Assistance: Lisa Abbey, Elizabeth Birch, Taylor Delaney, Chelsea Frambes, Melissa Gates, Sarah LaFountain, Lauren Hackworth, Brooke Kuehnlein, Allison Logan, Chrissy McCormick, Mina O’Leary, Katie Putnam, Angela Shedd, Taylor Seekman, Taylor Shaffer, Danielle Sheldon, Stephanie Stahlhood, Karolina Traver, Elizabeth Venske, Brinn Walerych

Cast Party Coordinators: Lisa Abbey, Lindsey Dopp, Chrissy McCormick, Christina Mode, Danielle Sheldon

Special Thank You!

A special thank you to our Sparkle Sponsors—Integrative Wellness Therapy PLLC, O’Leary Water Conditioning, and Mary Taylor’s Piano Studio! Your generous support helped bring the colorful, whimsical world of Trolls to life through vibrant costumes, fabulous wigs, and all the sparkle that makes this production so special. We are incredibly grateful for your investment in our young performers and in the magic of youth theater! 

A heartfelt thank you to the Traver family, the Holm Family, Sam’s Club, and Team 1 Plastics- their generosity helped make our cast party possible and provided scholarship assistance for our performers. A shout-out to Event Photography and Schmidt Photography for the beautiful photos that capture the magic and memories from the show. Your kindness helps create meaningful theater experiences and ensures more students have the opportunity to shine on stage.

Thank you to The Hotel Tavern in Springport for their generous donation of delicious food for our Cast Party! Your generosity helped us celebrate our amazing cast and crew after all their hard work bringing Trolls to life. We are so grateful for your support of our young performers and the Franke Youth Theater Program!

Thank you to FUG for working with us to create our cast and crew T-shirts! We are so grateful for your time, creativity, and support in helping us bring these shirts to life. Your partnership helped give our cast and crew a fun way to show their Trolls spirit!