Biographies

The following are brief excerpts from the noteworthy biographies for the cast of Into the Woods.
 
Luka Ashley Carter (Baker)
Luka returns to La Comedia after appearing in West Side Story. Other credits include: Grease! (Jersey Productions); Oklahoma! (The Showboat Majestic); Robin Hood (Cincinnati Children’s Theatre); The Baker’s Wife (New Edgecliff Theatre & The Carnegie); Guys and Dolls, and One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest (The Covedale); Bloody, Bloody Andrew Jackson (The Know Theatre); Murder Ballad (Stone on a Walk Theatre); Frankenstein (Falcon Theatre); Hairspray!, A Chorus Line, Billy Elliot, Love is Love, The Musical of Musicals, and The Hunchback of Notre Dame (Cincinnati Music Theatre); Visions of Us and caBOOret (SingOut Cincy), and the world premier of the new musical RUTKA (Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park). Much gratitude to the cast, crew & creative team, Connie & David, my Grandmother, and as always to Ms. Snyder; "Sometimes people leave you, halfway through the wood, do not let it grieve you, no one leaves for good." Instagram, YouTube, & LinkedIn: @LukaAshleyCarter.
 
Mary Ann Sprague (Baker’s Wife) 
Mary Ann is honored to return to the La Comedia stage after recently appearing in Jersey Boys and Holiday Inn – also  serving as dance captain. Originally from Cincinnati, Ohio, Mary Ann studied music and dance at Belmont University in Nashville, TN, where she worked professionally as a singer, dancer, actress, and choreographer before returning to Ohio to care for family. Some recent favorite roles include Suzy in Winter Wonderettes and Janet Van De Graaff in The Drowsy Chaperone. Mary Ann was also a soprano and chamber choir member in Cincinnati's renowned May Festival Chorus from 2022-2024, performing alongside the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra. Her deepest love and thanks to her parents, Ellen, and Victor.
 
Meghan Slowik (Witch)
Meghan is thrilled to be returning to La Comedia after most recently appearing in Ghost: The Musical. Other La Comedia credits include Beverly in The Church Basement Ladies: Plowin' Thru, Betty Jean in The Marvelous Wonderettes, and Punky Olander in Grumpy Old Men: The Musical. A native of Jacksonville, Florida, she is a graduate of the University of North Florida with a bachelor’s in music in piano performance. She was in a professional children’s choir for 10 years, performed at both Carnegie Hall and Lincoln Center, and was in the Florida Touring Choir for Josh Groban’s “Stages” tour. She has been in several operas, including Turandot, Suor Angelica, and Blind Injustice with the Cincinnati Opera.
 
Catie Cumings (Cinderella)
Catie is enchanted to be playing one of her biggest dream roles for her eighth show at LaComedia. You may have seen her most recently in the ensembles of Holiday Inn, Saturday Night Fever, and The Wizard of Oz. Other favorite roles around the community include Meg in Little Women (La Comedia), Usherette in The Producers (TheatreLab Dayton), and Sue in Carrie: The Musical (Millennial Theatre Project). When Catie was in middle school she was in two productions of Into the Woods, playing both Little Red and Florinda. She could not be happier to add Cinderella to that list. She thanks her friends and family for constantly reminding her that “no one is alone.” She hopes you enjoy the show! 
 
Allison Gabert (Little Red Riding Hood)
Allison is a graduate of Northern Kentucky University with a B.F.A. in theatre performance. She is excited to reprise the role after nine years. Her most recent credits include Dorothy in The Wizard of Oz, Adelaide in Guys and Dolls, Beth in Little Women, Judy Haynes in White Christmas and Babette in Beauty and the Beast. She also helped choreograph Holiday Inn and West Side Story last year. She loves helping with Camp Comedia and participating in children’s shows. She would like to thank her fiancé Dylan and her family for their endless support. 
 
Elliot Chilcote (Jack)
Elliot is a local theater actor currently based in the Miami Valley. He was last seen in the ensemble of La Comedia’s production of Holiday Inn. He will be pursuing a B.F.A. in music theater in the fall. He would like to thank Dave and Sherry Gabert, Chris Beiser, his friends and family and the whole cast for the ongoing support. Proverbs 16:3
 
Robert Tully (Narrator/Mysterious Man)
Bob is thrilled to be back at the La Comedia where he performed the role of Gen. Waverly in White Christmas in 2022. He has recently appeared as Rev. Moore in Footloose, Major Metcalf in Mousetrap, as well as Cervantes/Quixote in Man of La Mancha. A Cincinnati native, Bob can’t wait to share these “Grimm stories” with the La Comedia community.
 
Max Bartel (Wolf/Cinderella’s Prince)
Max is overjoyed to be participating in what he hopes is his first of many productions at La Comedia. A graduate of Otterbein University in Columbus, his favorite roles include Rapunzel’s Prince in Into the Woods, Otto Frank The Diary of Anne Frank, Alfred Doolittle in My Fair Lady and Vernon Gersch and in They're Playing Our Song. A huge thank you to his friends and family for their continuous love and support. “Enjoy the show!”
 
Charmien Byrd (Rapunzel/us Cinderella)
Charmien is excited to return for the sixth time after most recently pouring her heart out as Molly Jensen in Ghost: The Musical. She graduated from Ohio University with a Bachelor of Specialized Studies in musical theatre performance and media production and has since appeared Off-Broadway in 54 Sings Bo Burnham Volume 2 (54 Below), Estrella in Life Is A Dream (Gene Frankel Theatre), and originated the role of Gluttony in Infernal: The Musical (Theater 555). She has also recently toured as a Michael Jackson backup dancer for impersonator MJDejaVu. Other favorite roles include Kate Monster in Avenue Q, Johanna in Sweeney Todd, and Marcy Park in The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee. She would like to thank her family, friends, and God for all their love and support. www.charmienbyrd.com.
 
Trinity Cravens (Lucinda/us Witch)
Trinity (she/they) is excited to be making their La Comedia debut. Along with a B.F.A. in musical theatre and dance from Ball State University, select credits include Beetlejuice’s Rock and Roll Show with Universal Studios Japan, singer/dancer on the Regent Seven Seas Explorer, and instrumentalist with Cedar Fair. Endlessly grateful to her parents and to her team. “Rock on!” IG:@trinity_cravens
 
Aubrie-Lee Dentino (Florinda/us Rapunzel)
Aubrie-Lee has spent the last two years backstage at La Comedia as both a technician and stage manager, and is excited for the opportunity to step back out onstage with her mother, Karie-Lee. She has recently been seen at La Comedia in  West Side Story (dance ensemble), Guys & Dolls (Mimi), Marvelous Wonderettes (Cindy Lou swing), Miss Nelson is Missing (Allison), and in Sinclair’s The Hello Girls (Suzanne Prevot).  Aubrie-Lee has also performed, coached, toured, administered and designed for colorguards and drum corps for over a 15 years, including Milford, Miamisburg, Troopers, Carolina Crown, Boston Crusaders, Allegoria, Inspire, and the Pride of Cincinnati. Much love to her family and friends!
 
Linda Dew (Jack’s Mother/Granny)
Linda returns to the La Comedia stage after appearing last summer in Sheer Madness as Mrs. Shubert. A La Comedia regular  since 1997, some of her favorite roles include Anna in the 1999 production of The King and I, Steel Magnolias as M’Lynn, Mother Superior in Sister Act, and Carlotta in Phantom. She has performed in operas, plays and musicals throughout the Tri-State and New York. She is thrilled to be on stage with this talented cast who are also dear friends. She is blessed to be a real mom to her four children and a real Grammy to 13 grandchildren. Most of all, she thanks God for everything—absolutely everything! Proverbs 3:6
 
Jerrod Gruber (Cinderella’s Father, us Narrator/Mysterious Man)
Jerrod is excited to be returning to La Comedia. They were last seen at La Comedia in their 2017 production of Beauty and the Beast. Other recent credits include Cogsworth in Beauty and the Beast, Brother Jeremiah in Something Rotten, and Daryl in Bright Star with Cincinnati Landmark Productions. Jerrod also can be found teaching acting and improv classes, as well as serving as assistant director for Cincinnati Young People’s Theatre (Jesus Christ Superstar, Anything Goes, Children of Eden). They would like to thank you for coming and supporting the arts.
 
Montana Iverson (Rapunzel’s Prince)
Montana is delighted to be back on the La Comedia stage. His previous roles at La Comedia include Sam Wheat in Ghost: The Musical, Jesus in Godspell, and Count Philippe in Phantom. Montana has also performed as a singer Kings Island, sang in 54 Sings Bo Burnham Vol. 2 at 54 Below NYC, and spent three years in the rock band Bohemian Funk as bassist and backing vocalist. Montana teaches beginner guitar and commercial pop/rock voice at The Music in Me Studio in Springboro. For this production he is especially grateful to once again perform alongside his fiancé, Charmien Byrd. He would like to thank his friends, family, and God for all that they have given him and hopes you enjoy the show. 
 
Jonathan Pendergrass (Milky White Puppeteer/us Jack)
Jonathan returns to La Comedia after appearing as Bob Crewe in Jersey Boys. Other La Comedia credits include Bobby in Saturday Night Fever, Tin Man in The Wizard of Oz, Lumiere in Beauty and the Beast, Jaime in Escape to Margaritaville, Leaf Coneybear in The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, Tommy Djilas in The Music Man, as well as our Lunch and Learn Children’s Theatre productions of A Year with Frog and Toad, Charlotte's Web, Frederick: The Mouse and The Musical Adventures of Flat Stanley. He thanks his mom, dad and supportive friends. Dedicated to Kathryn Metz. Phil 4:13.
 
Justin Reilmann (Steward/ us Princes)
Justin is excited for the opportunity to return to La Comedia. Recent credits include the Ensemble of Ghost: The Musical and Joseph in Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat (Footlighters). He would like to thank God, his family, and his friends for their endless love and support. Special thanks to Lena Andrews and Genevieve Perrino.
 
Carly J. Shepherd (Cinderella’s Mother/Giantess/us Baker’s Wife)
Carly is excited to return to La Comedia. She was last seen with Cincinnati Landmark Productions in Beauty and the Beast (Silly Girl, Potts and Wardrobe u/s) and is excited to be back with her dinner theatre family. Other recent credits include Saturday Night Fever (Monty/Ensemble), The Man of La Mancha (Aldonza), The Spongebob Musical (Patrick Star), The Red Velvet Cake War (Jimmie Wyvette), Addams Family: The Musical (Ancestor), The Marvelous Wonderettes (Suzy), Finding Nemo Jr. (Peach/Coral/Dory US), Elf: The Musical (Deb), Bright Star (Edna), Kinky Boots (Trish), and Once Upon a Matress (Lady Merril).
 
Karie-Lee Sutherland (Stepmother)
Karie-Lee returns to La Comedia after most recently appearing as Barbara DeMarco in Shear Madness and Glinda in The Wizard of Oz. Favorite roles include Tanya in Mamma Mia!, and Morticia Addams in The Addams Family. Karie-Lee has toured the world as a performer for the DOD-USO, and is a veteran of live shows at Kings Island. She has worked as an actor, director, and choreographer at various theaters in Cincinnati including the Covedale Center, Warsaw Federal Incline Theater, the Educational Outreach program at Playhouse in the Park, Showboat Majestic, CCM’s Prep Department, and Miami University’s theatre department. Love to Matthew, William, Aubrie-Lee, and Jeremy. Find her on YouTube at “Still Kicking with Karie-Lee.”
 
Dylan Jackson (u/s Baker)
 
Naomi Quigley (u/s Little Red Riding Hood, Florinda, Lucinda)
 
Thomas DiFato (Male cover)