Angie Vaaler (Director) is so excited to be directing Next to Normal and carrying on the TASU tradition with Charlotte. A senior 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. This is Angie’s directorial debut. She would like to thank her amazing cast for their positivity, hard work, and for being the talented artists that they are. She would also like to thank her parents for their love and support.
Charlotte Anderson (Director) Charlotte is very happy and honored to be taking over TASU Theatre Company this year with her partner Angie. She is currently a senior at Southwest High and plans on studying acting at Chapman University this coming fall. This is the third time Charlotte has gotten the opportunity to direct, she co-directed The Importance of Being Earnest this fall with Sam Gaines, and assistant directed Odds Are. Notable performances include: Thoroughly Modern Mille, Hair, Spring Awakening, The Who’s Tommy, Hairspray, Arsenic and Old Lace, Hamlet, and Boeing Boeing. She would like to thank her supportive instructors, friends, and family, as well as her dedicated cast and crew.
Levi Schwartzberg (Music Director) Levi Schwartzberg has been playing piano since second grade, falling in love with music at an early age. Throughout his studies he began to lean progressively towards jazz and other improvised music. He started playing jazz piano in seventh grade and has not looked back, getting involved in many twin cities jazz events. He has played at the Artists Quarter, Jazz Central, Macphail, the Saint Paul Jazz Fest, and many other venues. For the past two years he has been a member of the Dakota Combo, a band of jazz musicians from all around the metro area. At Southwest High School, he has participated in the pit orchestras for Working, Hairspray, Tommy, and Thoroughly Modern Millie.
Kaeli Patchen (Diana) Kaeli is beyond excited to be playing the challenging role of Diana Goodman in her favorite show, Next to Normal! She is a senior at The Blake School, and most recently played Olive Ostrovsky in Blake’s production of The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee. Some of her other favorite roles include Audrey in Little Shop of Horrors, Adelaide in Guys and Dolls, and Jeannie in The Children’s Theatre Company’s production of Hair. This fall, she will continue her study of musical theatre at American University. This is Kaeli’s first (and unfortunately, last) show with TASU, and she has had a marvelous time.
Davis Brinker (Dan) Davis is a senior at Washburn High School. He has performed in productions at Washburn High School, Children’s Theatre Company, and has studied at the MacPhail Center for Music. He enjoys biking, backpacks, and dogs. In the fall he will
be attending the University of Evansville in Indiana to pursue a BFA Degree in Acting.
Dylan Cima (Gabe) Dylan Cima is a Junior at Washburn High School. He has performed with Washburn High School, Stages Theater Company, Children’s Theater Company and The Minnesota Opera. In his free time he enjoys purchasing Supreme clothing and ironic sarcasm. His favorite color is blue, and he would like to dedicate his performance to the 7th wife of the late Osama Bin Laden, and his own mother.
Anna Moskowitz (Natalie) Anna is excited to be in TASU’s second production after last year’s Spring Awakening. She is a junior at Southwest High School, where’s she been in Thoroughly Modern Millie, Tommy, and Little Women. Anna has also performed at Bloomington Civic Theatre, State Theatre, Playwright’s Center, and Children’s Theatre Company, where she most recently assistant directed their holiday production of Cinderella. She’d like to thank the cast and crew, and especially Angie and Charlotte for their hard work and support.
Stuart Gordon (Henry) Stuart Gordon is honored and excited to take part in this production of Next to Normal. Stuart has acted in multiple Southwest shows and has been in the Como-Harriet Streetcar Improv Murder Mystery for 3 years. Many times you can find Stuart behind stage doing lightwork for shows. Stuart has done lights for 16 shows inside and outside of Southwest High School to this date. When not working on a show you can find Stuart singing in the shower or whistling obnoxiously. Stuart would like to thank his fantastic and beautiful directors, his voice teacher and his talented cast mates and his hard working parents. Most of all he would like to thank his friends for all their support.
Sam Gaines (Dr. Fine/Madden) Sam has previously been in multiple shows at Southwest High School, including Les Miserables, Hairspray, The Who’s Tommy, The Nerd and Thoroughly Modern Millie, among others. He has also worked backstage in many Southwest productions, most recently as co-director of The Importance of Being Earnest with Charlotte Anderson. He has also performed with the Minnesota Opera in La Boheme and Griffelkin. Sam enjoys Stuart Gordon and good cheese.
{•TASU Theatre Co•} 