Starting on tuesday!
With only a few days away from the start of the New Musical Labs (NML) at Christopher Newport University, the air is buzzing with excitement! As time draws near for the 2022 New Musical Lab season, we would like to introduce the amazing company for this year’s NML.
Amara Berhan (She/Her) starred in both MainStage Musicals at UNCG: The SpongeBob Musical (Sandy Cheeks) and As You Like It- The Shaina Taub Musical Adaptation (Phoebe) in the past year. She also had the pleasure of originating the role of Diane in Madeline Myers’ short musical film collaboration with UNCG, Flatbush Avenue. Originally hailing from Toledo, Ohio, she has been performing most of her life, having spent 10 years in competitive figure skating before she discovered her passion for the stage. Other favorite credits include: West Side Story (Maria) and Jesus Christ Superstar (Judas). Amara is thrilled and honored to be a company member of the 2022 New Musicals Lab!
John Byrd is an aspiring actor, pianist and music director. Recently, he has appeared in roles such as Jerry Lee Lewis (Million Dollar Quartet), Ensemble/Pippin understudy (Pippin), and Ensemble/Anthony understudy (Sweeney Todd). He is very excited to be joining the NML company once again and would like to thank Bruce Bronstein and Colin Ruffer for making this all possible.
Hannah Cecil is thrilled to be a company member of the 2022 New Musicals Lab. In her first year at Christopher Newport, she performed in TheaterCNU’s Captains Cabaret Series and its spring production of Pippin. Prior to college theater, Hannah worked with several regional theaters in the Roanoke Valley; including interning with their education teams and touring a production around Virginia last summer. Performance credits include Junie B. Jones, Mary Poppins, Wizard of Oz, Matilda, and Oz: A Staged Concert.
Melaina Furgeson was a featured performer in Collard and Rosenblatt’s “Quarter Note Crisis” at Feinstein’s 54 Below in New York. Recent roles include Ensemble/Johanna Understudy in Sweeney Todd (TheaterCNU), Ensemble/Dance Swing in Pippin (TheaterCNU), and has been a featured performer in numerous TheaterCNU Cabarets. Melaina is excited to bring these new musicals to life this summer!
Renee Kauffman had several roles including Feinstein’s/54 Below performance “Quarter Note Crisis” (Featured Performer), a staged reading of Like the Wind (Cai), Picket Fence People (Rachel), Pippin (Catherine U/S), The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee (Marcy), and The Drowsy Chaperone (Swing Janet/Drowsy). She was also a company member for the 2021 Summer New Musical Labs where she appeared in workshops such as Madame President (Amy U/S), and True North (Ensemble/Ben U/S).
Alexandra Lagos originates from McLean, Virginia, and some of her professional credits include Feinstein’s/54 Below performances of “Quarter Note Crisis” (Featured Performer) with music by Sam Rosenblatt and Elspeth Collard, and Captains Take the Stage (Featured Performer) with music by Drew Gasparini, Will Reynolds and Eric Price. Her college theater credits include But Did I Leave The Oven On (Nina), Pippin (Ensemble/ Leading Player U/S), and When It Rains (Lynn). Ms. Lagos was also a company member in the 2021 New Musicals Labs where she appeared in workshops such as Madame President (Lucretia Mott/Soldier 2/ AOC U/S), True North (Ensemble/ Roommate U/S), Fever Dreams (Ann/Marguerite), and Destination Wonderful (Shawna). Currently, she is working on writing and producing her own solo cabaret titled I Swear I’m Not Basic and will be appearing in TheatreCNU's fall production of The Spitfire Grill (Percy).
Lizzy Maisel hails from Chantilly, Virginia, and her most recent credit is Dance Swing in Pippin. She also performed in TheaterCNU’s “400 Miles South” Cabaret, “Cartoon” Cabaret, and 13th Annual Dance Concert. Lizzy has been trained in ballet, jazz, modern, pointe and tap dance. She also teaches dance classes at her studio back home.
Chad McKnight is from Culpeper, Virginia, and has several credits including Pippin (Charles), Feinstein’s/54 Below “Quarter Note Crisis” (Featured Performer), Sweeney Todd (Anthony), and An Enemy of the People (Captain Horster).
Charlie Murtha is extremely grateful for the opportunity to become a company member for the 2022 New Musical Labs. He is originally from Wilmington, North Carolina, and has played many roles such as Curly in Oklahoma, Nick Bottom in Something Rotten, Bazzard in The Mystery of Edwin Drood and Laurie in Little Women.
Russell Muzyczka (He/Him) is incredibly excited to be a part of the 2022 New Musicals Lab. Originally calling Hinckley, Ohio home, Russell grew up performing in musicals, playing sports and building Legos. Recently, he has been a part of Peter and the Starcatcher (Alf) as well as As You Like It- The Shaina Taub Musical Adaptation (Orlando) at his program in Greensboro. A few of his other favorite credits include Hairspray (Link) and Urinetown (Lockstock). Russell couldn’t be more excited to be a part of this team!
Trevor Neal (He/Him) has several credits in acting including SpongeBob The Musical (SpongeBob), As You Like It ( Duke Senior) both performed at UNCG and also seen in Black Nativity (Joseph) and 9 to 5 The Musical ( Dick) both at the Barn Dinner Theatre. He is so honored to be a part of the talented New Musicals Lab company and would like to thank his family and friends for their continued support!
Colleen Pechin is a recent graduate of Christopher Newport University from Warrenton, Virginia, earning a Bachelor’s degree in Arts and Humanities with a major in Theatre and a concentration in Music Theatre/Dance. Some of her credits include Feinstein's/54 Below performance of "Quarter Note Crisis" (Featured Performer), Pippin (Catherine), The Comedy of Errors (Adriana), and the world premiere of The Trial of God (Hanna/Ensemble). Colleen has also presented on panels at the 2022 MATC and NeMLA conferences with research topics surrounding Shakespeare and genre theory.
Ethan Poisson is so excited to be a company member for the 2022 New Musical Labs. Most recently, he had the pleasure of playing Mr. Krabs in UNCG’s mainstage production of SpongeBob The Musical. He is originally from Atlanta, Georgia, and has been doing theatre since the 4th grade. Other credits include Will Bloom in Big Fish, Nicely-Nicely Johnson in Guys and Dolls, and Andy in 42nd Street.
Remy Thompson grew up in the Washington, D.C. area and is a recent graduate of Christopher Newport University earning a Bachelor’s degree in Arts and Humanities with a major in Theatre and a concentration in Music Theatre/Dance. Some of her past credits include Feinstein’s/54 Below performance of “Quarter Note Crisis” (Featured Performer), Pippin (Fastrada), Like The Wind (Ash/Emma/Heather) at The Brick Theatre, Madame President (Gracie Allen/Grace) and ?????: The Improvised Broadway Musical (Company Member) through the 2021 New Musicals Lab at the Ferguson Center, and Drowsy Chaperone (Kitty), and Oklahoma! (Dream Laurey/Ensemble) through TheaterCNU.
Peyton Townsend is thrilled to be joining the company of this summer's New Musicals Lab! He is a recent graduate of Christopher Newport University with a Bachelor of arts degree in Theater (Concentration: Music-Theater/Dance) from Chesapeake, Virginia. Past credits include “Quarter Note Crisis” at Feinstein's/54 Below (Performer) and Drew Gasparini's We Aren't Kids Anymore (Ensemble), as well as TheaterCNU's productions of Pippin (Ensemble), The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee (Barfée), The Drowsy Chaperone (Underling), and Oklahoma! (Ali Hakim). Peyton thanks his family and friends for their support in his endeavors and the New Musicals Lab team for providing exceptional opportunities for young performers.
The New Musicals Lab is honored to have these talented actors and actresses be a part of helping the musical theater flourish. As we get closer to the start of the program, our eagerness and excitement grow as we prepare to make the stage shine. We can’t wait to start this coming Tuesday and bring new musicals to life!