Andrea Pane (Director/Writer/Scrooge)
Andrea is thrilled to be back for his second outing as writer for the TYA! A veteran of the DCT stage since 2008, audiences are familiar with him as a performer, director, and writer. Recent credits: RENT, 9 to 5, The Wizard of Oz, The Ugly Duckling, Beauty and the Beast, Little Witches, and Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat. Thanks to his editor Sarah, Hugh, Lauren, Lesley, Cam, the crew and dressers, the cast, Luan, his dogs and his family. IG: idaius__ www.andreapanephotography.com
Ashley DePascale (Tiny Tim/Belle/Fan)
Ashley is back for what will be her 15th year and season on the cabaret stage. She was last seen as Dorothy, in The Wizard of Oz. She’s been a veteran company actor since 2008 for both Theatre for Young Audiences and Main Stage. Over the last two years she has added directing to her resume. Some of her favorite past productions include Little Witches, Sherlock, Robin Hood, The Christmas Elf, Little Red Riding Hoods, Princess and the Pea, James & the Giant Peach, Princess and the Frog, The Man in Black, and Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat. Ashley holds a BFA in Drama from the University of Connecticut where she appeared in several Connecticut Repertory Theatre Productions. Additionally, Ashley has performed for HersheyPark Entertainment as well as a number of local commercials. Huge thanks to her amazing family, Hugh, Susan, the cabaret staff, crew and actors for their constant love and support. And a special shout-out to her nephew Dylan for being the best scene partner to practice lines with.
Carly Jurman (Choreographer/Ghost of Christmas Past/Fred/Want/Urchin)
Carly wears many hats here at the Downtown Cabaret Theatre including actor, choreographer, writer, director, and now Executive Assistant to Hugh Hallinan. Her DCT performance credits include A Santa Story, Beauty and the Beast, Ugly Duckling, Jack & the Beanstalk, Wizard of Oz, and Cabaret. DCT choreography credits include RENT, Rapunzel, Beauty & the Beast, Ugly Duckling, and the entirety of the 2023-2024 Theatre for Youth Audiences Season. Carly also has performed regionally at the American Repertory Theater, Reagle Music Theatre, as a guest artist with Doug Elkins and Friends, and with many dance/theater companies in the NYC area. She holds a M.A. in Devised Theatre from the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art in London, and also serves as the Project Coordinator for the Celebration Barn Theater in Maine where she continues her physical theater and clown training under masters such as Avner Eisenberg, Aitor Bausori and Bill Irwin. She creates original solo work and her first show, Unlovable, was nominated for an Off-West End Award in 2019 for Best Show (Festival Category).
Cory Murphy (Ghost of Christmas Future/Marley/Mr. Jeeves/Ignorance)
Cory was born Bridgeport, CT. This is Cory’s fourth show at the Downtown Cabaret, credits including Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, Beauty & The Beast, and Wizard of Oz. Cory has been dancing for many years and loves the experience and fun of the Cabaret’s stage.
Emily Pisarra (Mrs. Holowel/Swing)
Emily is thrilled to be making her debut in the children’s company with DCT this year! Emily has been performing for over 20 years in CT and NYC. Emily made her first return to the stage since graduating with a BA in theater from Baldwin Wallace this past spring as Fraulein Kost in Cabaret and most recently appeared as a swing for Guys and Dolls. A few favorite roles include Mother (Ragtime), Dragon (Shrek), Soccer Mom (The Wolves) and Alfieri (A View from the Bridge). When she is not at the theater she can be found taking a hot yoga class, or reading astrology charts for Pistarra’s Practical Magic. Thanks to family and friends for their support! Love to PB.
Jason Parry (Charles Dickens)
Jason is a CT-based performer with a BFA in Theatre who may or may not have spent months growing out his beard to resemble Dicken’s iconic facial hair only to remember that no one will actually be able to see it– this role is a voiceover, after all. A regular at DCT, you might remember him as Patches/The Wizard (Wizard of Oz), Hamish (Rapunzel) or even as Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer (Rudolph)! Other notable roles include Tick (Priscilla, Queen of the Desert at DCT), Emcee (Cabaret at CCP), Mozart/Flower Painter (Still Life With Iris at Long Wharf New Haven) and as a featured dancer in Jazz at Lincoln Center (NYC). When not “breaking a leg” on stage, Jason is busy mending them as a licensed Physical Therapist Assistant. Happy Holidays and as always, this performance wouldn’t be possible without the sizable talents of the EB.
Karen Hanley (Ghost of Christmas Present/Shopkeep)
You’ve seen Karen on the DCT stage in many shows, including The Wizard of Oz (playing both witches!), Little Red Riding Hoods, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, James and the Giant Peach, Cinderella, Princess and the Frog, Princess and the Pea, Little Witches, Dracula Goes to High School, The Little Mermaid, Three Pigs, Beauty and the Beast and Rapunzel (twice!). She’s done regional theatre, appearing in The Death of Octavia Hatcher at the Jenny Wiley Theatre and was in the Amazon Prime show Puzzled. While she’s only been involved in acting for about ten years now – after a career as a physical therapist – she’s performed on all kinds of stages, including CBGBs, the All Ireland Irish Dance Championships, and she had the honor of singing an original song at Jazz at Lincoln Center, which gave her the thrill of being in Playbill. Many thanks to cast, crew & DCT! Couldn’t do it without the magic of the EB.
Joseph “Jojo” DeVellis (Bob Cratchit/Fezziwig)
Jojo is ecstatic about joining TYA to perform Christmas Carol! Recently seen at the Downtown Cabaret as Cliff in Cabaret and Benny Southstreet in Guys & Dolls, other notable credits include Trunchbull in Matilda, Pulitzer in Newsies, and Pharaoh in Technicolor Dreamcoat with the 1214 Foundation’s NewArts program. Outside of theatre, Jojo works as an emotional educator and painter. insta: @whatsstudiojojo
