Tomato Plant Girl Digital Playbill
Family Weekend Performance Dates: June 8 – 9, 2024
On Tour: June 6 – July 19, 2024
By Wesley Middleton
Produced in arrangement with Dramatic Publishing
Cast
Little Girl – Ally Veloudis
Bossy Best Friend – Jenna Johnson
Tomato Plant Girl – Carla Moreno Morales
Cast & Crew Bios
JENNA JOHNSON (Little Girl)
Jenna is so excited to be performing in her first touring production with LCT. She will also be performing in LCT’s Summer Family Musical SpongeBob as Karen! Jenna is a proud alumna of LCT’s Companies, ACTivate, and LCA Women’s Chamber Choir. She hopes you enjoy the show!!
CARLA MORENO MORALES (Tomato Plant Girl)
Carla is a junior in high school who is very excited about her first show with LCT. She is excited to play Tomato Plant Girl! Carla enjoys the arts and wants to do something with acting or visual arts once she graduates.
ALLY VELOUDIS (Little Girl)
Ally is a rising senior who plans to attend Berklee College of Music in the fall through dual enrollment. Ally is passionate about activism through art, with her favorite performance being at Global Citizen Festival: The World on Stage. Ally loves anime, rollercoasters, and her two dogs, Felicia and Beaufort.
Special Thanks
Dr. John Denison DDS; HighBridge Spring Water; Sally Horowitz, Sally Horowitz Photography; 3M Cynthiana; Copy Express; Bobby Taylor; Matthew Snoddy, Network Therapists, Inc.; Pro Sound and Lights; Transylvania University Theater Department; University of Kentucky Department of Theatre and Dance; Mahan Multimedia; University of Louisville, Centre College
Production Staff Credits
Gabriel Slusser (Director)
Bill Pierson (Based on the original Scenic Design)
Marie Henderson (Costume Design)
Kate Tayler (Production Stage Manager)
Gabriel Slusser (Technical Director)
Laika Myers (Assistant Technical Director)
Laika Myers (Charge Artist)
Laika Myers (Properties Manager)
Marie Henderson, Laika Myers, Gabriel Slusser (Properties Construction)
Marie Henderson (Costume Director)
Gabriella Cortés, Emily Hampton, Marie Henderson, Missy Johnston (Costume Construction)
Maddi Knoettner (Front of House Manager)
Maddi Knoettner (Box Office)
Rhonda Bell (Educational Materials)
Staff Bios
Rhonda Bell (Education Director)
Rhonda is excited to continue her journey at LCT as Education Director. She holds an MA in Theatre from the University of Hawai’i at Mānoa and a BA from Berea College. Rhonda enjoys driving her car, watching cartoons, and having lively debates with her students.
Octavia Biggs (Director of Shooting Stars Youtheatre)
Tavia has worked hard over the last 19 years to bring children’s theatre to Eastern Kentucky. She believes strongly that all children have the ability to be creative and through that creativity will discover the gifts they possess. She would like to thank LCT and the W. Paul and Lucille C. Little Foundation!
Heather N. Branham (Resident Director / Company Manager)
Heather is overjoyed to be back at LCT after an artistic odyssey spanning from “The Little Apple” of Manhattan, KS to “The Second City” of Chicago. She earned a Master of Arts from University of Kentucky and serves on the KPW board. Heather dedicates this season to Eddy and Huckleberry.
Ashlee Collins (Development Director)
Since completing LCT’s Arts Administration internship in 2015, Ashlee has worked with theatres all over the country, including Chicago Children’s Theatre, Lifeline Theatre, and most notably, with Broadway in Chicago as a marketing assistant during the first National Tour of Disney’s Aladdin!
Emily Hampton (Stitcher)
Emily graduated from the University of Kentucky with a BA in Theatre in 2020. She is passionate about costuming and the fiber arts!
Marie Henderson (Costume Director/Costume Designer)
Marie’s experience with LCT, and theatre altogether, began with a walk on role at the age of nine. She is delighted to have closed the circle of her theatrical experience by coming “home” to LCT as a staff member.
Kathryn Henriques (Director of Marketing and Analytics)
Kathryn started with LCT in 2015 as an Arts Administration Intern, became a full-time staff member in 2016, and since then has held a few different positions, most recently Director of Marketing and Analytics. Thanks to the LCT Family for all your love and support over the years!
Jeremy Kisling (Producing Artistic Director)
Welcome to LCT! We want this to be your theatre, a place where you feel empowered, enriched, and emboldened. I am so honored and humbled to work with such amazing and talented artists and individuals every day! Thank you for being here, for your support, and for being a part of the LCT Family.
Maddi Knoettner (Patron Services Manager)
Maddi is a recent college graduate from the University of Kentucky with a degree in Communication Studies. She is a Gold Medalist of The United States Figure Skating Association and is a figure skating instructor over at the Lexington Ice Center. Maddi brings a unique blend of communication expertise and athletic achievements, and she is honored to showcase her diverse skills at Lexington Children’s Theatre!
Laika Myers (Assistant Technical Director / Charge Artist)
Laika Myers graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Communication from Bowling Green State University with a specialization in Design and Technical Theatre. In her spare time, she loves to read and visit a new coffee shop; while on the clock, she loves to use her artistry to share the magic of theatre with young audiences!
Rachel Ray (Managing Director)
Rachel has a BA in English and a BS in Speech Therapy from U.K. In her free time, she likes to hang out with her husband, Bobby, and their dogs, read, run, and craft. She is a founding board member of First-Generation Women Achievers of the Bluegrass and a proud volunteer and board member for Girls on the Run.
Gabriel Slusser (Director)
Gabriel is so excited to be back working with LCT’s Summer Tour Program! A graduate of Piedmont University, Gabriel spent 4 years training to be a director. He has garnered experience working with musical theatre, drama, satire, reader’s theatre, and theatre for young audiences. Since graduating, he has continued to work as a freelance director throughout the southeast, including with LCT through productions like Puss in Boots and Aesop’s Fables on Stage. He’s very grateful that you’ve come to see Tomato Plant Girl and hopes you leave with a sense of acceptance, both for yourself and those around you.
Chris Swanson (Sales and Outreach Manager)
Kate Tayler (Resident Stage Manager)
Kate Tayler graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Communications degree from Bowling Green State University in Design & Technical Theatre. She is originally from Monroe, Michigan. Kate is very excited to continue sharing her love for stage management and for theatre for young audiences to LCT!
LCT Professional Staff
Rhonda Bell, Education Director
Octavia Biggs, Program Director of Shooting Stars Youtheatre
Heather N. Branham, Resident Director / Company Manager
Ashlee Collins, Development Director
Marie Henderson, Costume Director
Kathryn Henriques, Director of Marketing and Analytics
Jeremy Kisling, Producing Artistic Director
Maddi Knoettner, Patron Services Manager
Laika Myers, Charge Artist / Assistant Technical Director
Rachel Ray, Managing Director
Makenzie Shimko, Box Office Assistant
Gabriel Slusser, Technical Director
Chris Swanson, Sales and Outreach Manager
Kate Tayler, Resident Stage Manager
Indigenous peoples have lived on the land now called Kentucky for at least 12,000 years. Every community owes its existence and heritage to generations from around the world who contributed their hopes, dreams, and stories to making the history that led to this moment. Indigenous peoples have always lived on the land that is now called Kentucky and continue to live here today. The place we now call Kentucky is primarily Shawnee, Cherokee, Chickasaw, and Osage land.
A commonly cited claim many of us heard in history class growing up is that this region was merely a hunting ground. This claim is a myth, perpetuated at first by land speculators who wished to improve land sales, and still today to absolve settler colonists and their descendants from grappling with their history of land theft, genocide, and white supremacy. The continuation of this myth is harmful for all of us.
Lexington Children’s Theatre is committed to creating an environment where everyone feels welcome to enjoy the magic of theatre. Learn more about Audio Description, ASL Interpretation, Sensory Friendly Performance, and Pre-Visit Resources by following the link below.
LCT’s Annual Campaign
Imagine if all 100,000+ people LCT serves a year made a $10 donation every year. That would cover more than 95% of LCT’s operating expenses and bring the cost of our classes and shows WAY down. If you share our passion for arts education and want to support our mission, please consider making a donation of any size to our Annual Campaign. Learn more about LCT’s Annual Campaign by visiting https://www.lctonstage.org/support-us/give-online/ or by emailing our Development Director, Ashlee Collins, at acollins@lctonstage.org.
Thank you to our 2023-2024 Donors
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Ball Homes
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Kaelyn Query & Lexington Event Company
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LCT’s Members
When you become a member, you’re a part of our LCT Family and the work we do to bring theatre to young people and families across the Commonwealth and beyond! You’re also getting the opportunity to see professional, imaginative theatre at an affordable price.
We LOVE our 2023-2024 Members
Supernova Members
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The Bylund Family
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The Keon Family
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Galaxy Members
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LexArts 2022 Fund for the Arts
2022 Corporate and Individual Donors
Corporate
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Blue & Co. Employees, Commerce Lexington, Crowe Horwath Foundation, Davis & Plomin Mechanical, Dean Dorton Allen Ford, PLLC, Delta Dental of Kentucky, Dinsmore & Shohl, LLP, S. Barr & Company, EOP Architects, Fasig-Tipton Company, Inc., Highbridge Spring Water Co., Keeneland Association, LexArts Employees, Lexington Children’s Theatre Employees, Lexington Quarry Company, Mountjoy Chilton Medley, LLP, National Thoroughbred Racing Association Employees, Neogen Corporation, Portofino, Powell Walton Milward, A Marsh & McLennan Agency LLC Company, Raymond James Financial, Inc., Rosenstein Development, Stites & Harbison Employees, Tate Hill Jacobs: Architects, Inc., Tri-State Roofing & Sheet Metal, Whole Foods, Wyatt Tarrant & Combs Employees
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21c Museum Hotels, 859print, Able Engine Apex Realty, Inc, Atchison Heller Construction, Azur Restaurant and Patio/Brasabana Cuban Cuisine/Dupree Catering + Events, Bank of the Bluegrass and Trust., BC Wood Properties, Bluefire Capital Clay Ingels Company, LLC, Community Trust Bank, DaRae & Friends Catering*, Fitzsimons Office of Architecture, Gess, Mattingly & Atchison Attorneys, Godolphin, Hinkle Studio*, JPMorgan Chase & Co, Kentucky Blood Center, Keystone Financial Employees, Landrum & Shouse, Lexington Herald-Leader, LexTran Employees, NAI Isaac Commercial Properties, Netgain Employees Nicholson Insurance Agency, Nomi Inc., Omni Architects, Padgett Construction, Inc., Serafini, Space Center Storage, Stoll Keenon Ogden Employees, Sweet Turns, The Webb Companies, Windstream, Traditional Bank
Individuals
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Tom and Susie Bell, Luther Deaton, James and Suzanne Elliott, Harold and Rebecca** Faulconer, Walter L. Gross, Stephen and Robin Jennings, Bruce and Jeannette Lucas, Chad Rudzik, Jason and Julie Sims, Jim Stokes and Jo Ann Czekalski, Robert and Ruth Straus
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James C. Albisetti, Ann Bakhaus, Heather Barron, Robert and Judith Baumann, Mark and Laura Boison, Anne E. Bolton, Edward and Sherri Bullard, William and Ellen Chapman, John and Jill Cioci, Jim Clark and Don Granger, Julia and Timothy Costich, Norwood and Judy Cowgill, Chuck and Susan Creacy, Lisle & Katherine V. Dalton, Robert Elliston, Meredith Lane Ferguson, William Fortune, John L. Gohmann, James P. Gray, Gina Greathouse, Richard Greissman and Randolph Hollingsworth, Gail Hart and Dan Featherston, D. and Laura Hieronymus, Hilary Boone Foundation, Phillip and Nancy Hoffman, Stephanie Hong, Lane Charitable Foundation, William and Vange Lear, Anthony Burgett and William Loggins, Richard and Sue Masson, Steve and Cindy Matherly, Brian McCarty, Michael & Catherine Mills, Allen Norvell, Albert Pennybacker, Robert E. Putt, Michael and Gloria Rie, Doug and Melanie Roederer, Rob Rosenstein, Marion Rust, Marilyn Robie and Arthur Shechet, Andrea Schaefer, David Smith, Jim Spencer and Nan Plummer, Franklin D. Thompson, Ellen Tunnell, John Van Meter, Griffin and Sarah Wylie Van Meter, George M. VanMeter, Jr., Jayne and Alex Waldrop, Tracee Whitley, Harvie and Nellie Wilkinson, Rebecca and Greg Yeary, Chris and Josefine Young
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Arts Partner ($300-499)
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*In-Kind
**Deceased