2013: SPRING AWAKENING
Meredith Casey (Director) is a senior at Southwest High School, her past performances include The Who’s Tommy, Arsenic and Old Lace, Little Shop of Horrors, Hairspray, Winnie/Fred: The Tale of Two Biddies, Boeing-Boeing, Les Miserables, I Hate Hamlet, Macbeth and 42nd Street. She has also been involved behind-the-scenes on another five productions at Southwest, her favorites being Little Women and Odds Are. She also volunteers at Interact Center for the Visual and Performing Arts and performed with them at the Guthrie Theater in 2010. She has also done productions with Stages Theatre Company, Eat Street Players and Lake-Harriet Como Players. She is more than thrilled to be working on this production with so many skilled actors and such a dedicated production crew. She would like to thank Abby Hilden for 15 long years of friendship, and two long months of putting this show together. She would also like to thank Eric Heltemes for being a wonderful musical director and a great friend for the past four years.
Abby Hilden (Director) is a senior at Southwest High School, and is so happy to be co-directing/producing Spring Awakening with TASU. Some past performances include The Who’s Tommy, Hairspray, The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, Charlotte’s Web, Ramona Quimby, Look Back in Anger, The Little Princess, Babes in Toyland, Cattle Call, and the Music Man. She has grown up around Twin Cities theatre, performing with the Children’s Theatre Company, Guthrie Theatre, Stages, and Youth Performance Co. She feels so blessed to be able to put this show on stage, working with some of the most talented actors and peers. Next year she’s excited to attend the University of Michigan, where she’ll continue studying both theatre and Spanish. She’d like to thank the more-than-incredible cast, music director Eric Heltemes, and above all Meredith Casey. Mere, the fact that TASU happened shouldn’t be a surprise to either of us. Love you.
Eric Heltemes (Musical Director) is a senior at Southwest High School, and has done many shows there. Notable productions include The Who’s Tommy, Little Shop of Horors, The Foriener, and The 25th Annual Putman County Spelling Bee. He enjoys writing and arranging music and plans to study voice in the future. Besides music he watches “Doctor Who” and thinks.
Angie Vaaler (Wendla) is so excited to be a part of Spring Awakening and the beginning of TASU Theatre Company. A junior at Southwest High School, Angie plays the violin, sings, dances, and occasionally bakes cookies. Past shows include Bye Bye Birdie, The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, Hairspray, and The Who’s Tommy. Angie would like to thank her amazing directors and friends Abby Hilden, Meredith Casey and Eric Heltemes for providing such a wonderful opportunity and for being the talented artists that they are. She would also like to thank her parents for their love and support.
Eric Peters (Melchior) is a senior at DeLaSalle High School, where he is Theater President. He is currently narrowing down his list of college choices. He has been seen onstage at DeLaSalle as Billy Crocker (Anything Goes), The Baker (Into the Woods), Charles Darnay (A Tale of Two Cities), Billy Lawlor (42nd Street), and many others. Outside of school, Eric has been in productions at the Children’s Theatre Company and Young Artists Initiative. In his down time Eric thoroughly enjoys candlelight dinners and long romantic walks on the beach with his ukulele. Many thanks to Thaxter Cunio, John Lynn, Anna Carol, the Buffingtons, and my wonderful parents!
Dylan Cima (Moritz) is a sophomore at Washburn High School. He has performed with Stages Theater Company, Children’s Theatre Company, and the Minnesota Opera. In his free time he enjoys lifting weights, and watching “Gossip Girl”. He would also like to thank the directors for all their hard work and collaboration.
Charlotte Anderson (Ilse) is a junior at Southwest High School. Her SWHS shows include The Who’s Tommy (Hawker), Hairspray (Penny), Little Women (Meg), Arsenic and Old Lace (Abby), Hamlet, Boeing Boeing (Jacqueline), and Puberty: The Game Show (Karen). She will be onstage at the Children’s Theatre this August in their teen production of Hair and she plans to pursue theater in college. In her free time she draws large-eyed, small-limbed cats, and makes French toast.
Emma Thvedt (Martha) is a freshman at Southwest High School, where she has performed in The Who’s Tommy (Nurse) and Assassins (Balladeer). She is super excited to be a part of TASU Theatre Company’s first show and would like to thank Meredith, Abby, and Eric for all their hard work!
Spencer Joles (Hanschen) is a senior at Southwest High School. He recently played Speed in The Odd Couple, as a part of Southwest’s Unhinged Theatre Program. He is very excited to be a part of Spring Awakening, which is his first musical. Spencer also would like to give many thanks to Eric Heltemes for the extensive musical assistance and teaching. He likes to swim as well.
Aidan Sponheim (Ernst) is a sophomore at Southwest High School. He has been in numerous shows including, Babes in Toyland, The Great Gilly Hopkins, West Side Story, Harispray, Little Women, The Odd Couple, and The Who’s Tommy. While he loves to perform, Aidan also loves to play trumpet, participate in ultimate frisbee, rock climb, bike, walk, run, jump, sleep, and eat. He also would like to give a huge shout out to his recently made friend, Mr. Coffee. He couldn’t have done this show without him. “where are my hands”.
Sam Gaines (Adult Men) is a Junior at Southwest High School. His previous shows include Les Miserables, Hairspray, Do Not Disturb, The Boor and The Who’s Tommy, as well as working backstage for numerous other shows. When he’s not doing theater, Sam enjoys singing, eating, spelunking, and sloths. He prefers to be referred to by his alter ego “Street Justice”.
Margaret Burris (Adult Women) is a junior at Southwest High School and is playing her dream role of being a woman. She has previously been in The Odd Couple and Tommy. She enjoys fanny packs, TASU, acronyms, camping, and occasionally making jokes. Margaret feels incredibly grateful to be working with such a talented cast and would like to thank her directors and friends, Eric, Abby and of course, Meredith.
Anna Moskowitz (Anna) is excited to be part of Spring Awakening! She is a sophomore at Southwest, where she’s performed in The Who’s Tommy and Little Women. She’s also performed at the Children’s Theatre Co., Bloomington Civic, and the State Theatre. Anna wants to thank Abby, Meredith, Eric, and everyone else who has worked so hard on this show!
Isak Keller (Georg) is a sophomore at Southwest High School. There, he has been featured in Do Not Disturb, and The Who’s Tommy. Prior to Southwest he was in Beauty and the Beast, and The Music Man. One day he hopes to found a competitive hide and seek league. “TASU is neat” – Isak
Jackson Hurst (Otto), a senior at Southwest High School, loves music, theater, sports, and everything that includes those things. Jackson has been featured in Guthrie Theatre, History Theatre, Penumbra Theatre, and Illusion Theatre productions. At Southwest, he has been in Hairspray, and the The Who’s Tommy, he will love his fellow playmates forever. He would also like to thank the directors of Spring Awakening for giving him this opportunity.
Annaleah Magnuson (Thea) is a junior at Southwest High School and has been in shows there such as, Hairspray, The Who’s Tommy, Little Shop of Horors, and Little Women. She loves baking, laughing, Netflix, and all things related to singing and music. She is also exited for this show and wants to shout out to the entire talented cast and the bane of her existence Olivia Meire.
{•TASU Theatre Co•} 