Daneen Baird (Allana)

From a transatlantic cruise ship to a kingdom under the sea, Daneen is overjoyed to take the plunge into her second SALT production. The Little Mermaid was the soundtrack of her childhood, and now, she gets to be part of this world—fulfilling a lifelong dream of becoming both a mermaid and a princess. Previous credits include Anything Goes (Angel/Mrs. Harcourt U/S), Cinderella (Cinderella), South Pacific (Bloody Mary), The Sound of Music (Gretl von Trapp), and Oedipus the Musical (Jocasta). Offstage, Daneen is a corporate communications strategist and a proud mom. Special thanks to Lauren and the entire team for making this journey as joyful and unforgettable as the story itself. Daneen dedicates every performance to her family, her greatest treasure, for always keeping her anchored in laughter and love.

 

Shohom Basuthakur (Sebastian U/S)

Shohom is excited to be back on stage, where breaking into song mid-sentence is considered talent, not a personality quirk. He was last seen making an a$$ of himself in Shrek the Musical (Donkey), having previously appeared in Little Women(Laurie), The Hunchback of Notre Dame (Clopin), and Beauty and the Beast (Beast). He’d like to thank his parents and brother for their unwavering support, his daughter for being the toughest vocal coach he’s ever had (i.e., making him sing “Under the Sea” at least ten times daily), and his dog for tolerating the constant rehearsals. Most of all, he thanks his wife—the greatest human being to ever grace this planet—for writing this bio.

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Jerald Bennett (Sebastian)

Most recently, Jerald sailed the high seas as Billy Crocker in Anything Goes and is currently the understudy for James Thunder Early in Dreamgirls at Walnut Street Theatre. JB earned his BA in Theatre and Communications from Temple University, where he brought characters like Clay Evans (Dutchman), Canewell (Seven Guitars), and Purlie (Purlie Victorious) to life.  His performances have lit up the stages of Steel River Playhouse, The Prince Music Theater, The Ritz Theatre, Freedom Theatre, and The Media Theatre. Some of his favorite roles include Slow Drag (Ma Rainey's Black Bottom), Harpo (The Color Purple), James Thunder Early (Dreamgirls), Phil (White Christmas), Kodaly (She Loves Me), Rev. Canon Chasuble, D.D. (The Importance of Being Earnest), and Hysterium (A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum).  When he's not performing, JB, in his 7th year of teaching at AIM Academy in Conshohocken, brings the magic of Music, Special FX, and Improv to students in grades 1-8, while also directing the Lower School musical. Summers finds him sharing his love for Music Production at ESF Summer Camps, where he was honored with the Master Teacher Award (2009, 2010, & 2013).  JB’s passion is simple: to educate, entertain, and inspire. Follow the journey on Instagram/Facebook: @jeraldbennett.

 

Julie Byrne (Flotsam, Ursula U/S)

Julie is so excited to be making her SALT debut in The Little Mermaid. Always rooting for the villains,  she has been featured in shows such as Jesus Christ Superstar (Caiaphas) and Cinderella (The Stepmother). After working in Walt Disney World for two years, she now travels to local children’s hospitals to bring joy and smiles with her company The Hole in the Wall Gang Camp. Julie would like to give thanks to her friends and family who are constant supporters of her theatrical antics. She would also like to give a shout to The Penn State Thespian Society - YFIT forever. Congratulations to the cast and crew for all their hard work and creating a totally tubular experience. 

 

Thomas R. Dempsey (Ensemble/Prince Eric U/S)

Thomas is thrilled to be part of this production. This is his second show at salt and what’s more magical than a Disney musical. Some of his favorite past roles include Cabaret (Kit Kat Boy), Les Miserables (Marius), Seussical (The Cat in the Hat), Beauty and the Beast (Lumiere and The Beast), Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat (Joseph), and Mary Poppins (Bert). Thomas would like to extend his love and gratitude to the production staff for their dedication as well as to his family and friends for their unwavering support in his career.

 

Maddie Dixon (Flounder/Dance Captain)

Maddie is in her senior year at The Center for Performing and Fine Arts. She has been involved in over ten SALT shows and has loved every minute. Some recent favorite performing credits include Kate in Dancing at Lughnasa, Liesl in The Sound of Music, and Valentine/Chimney Sweep in Mary Poppins. She is also playing Little Becky Two Shoes in CPFA’s upcoming production of Urinetown the Musical. She would like to thank Lauren for all she’s done along with the entire cast and crew for their love and support. She hopes you enjoy the show!

 

Katy Engelman (Arista/Eel Swing)

Katy is very excited to be back on the SALT stage with so many friends for The Little Mermaid! Some favorite previous appearances at SALT include Beauty and the Beast (La Fille de la Ville), A Chorus Line (Dawn Kerr), White Christmas (Rita), and Singin’ in the Rain (Zelda/Ensemble). By day, Katy spends her time working with children as a preschool teacher. Katy would like to thank Lauren, Brigitte, and Val for giving her this opportunity to perform at SALT again, as well as her friends and family for supporting her through this journey.

 

Ally Hagan (Ariel)

Ally, a musical theater graduate from DeSales University, is thrilled to be returning to SALT in The Little Mermaid!  Previous SALT credits include Marian in The Music Man, Gertrude in Seussical, Fiona in Shrek, and many more. Regional credits include Hitler’s Tasters (Margo) and Turning (Mary) at Centenary Stage Co, Cinderella (Cinderella) and Beauty & the Beast (Babette) at The Growing Stage, as well as numerous productions at The Pennsylvania Shakespeare Festival: Taming of the Shrew (Bianca), and The Little Mermaid (The Little Mermaid) to name a few! She would like to thank her family and friends for their love and support, the production staff for their incredible creativity, dedication, and direction and everyone involved in The Little Mermaid for helping to bring such a heart felt story to life. Lastly, she would like to thank her prince in real life, Ryan, for being the best part of her world!

 

Shamus Halloran ( Grimsby/ Chef Louis) 

Shamus is thrilled to be back on the SALT stage after working on his best role yet papa bear to his sweet little girl!  Recent Theatre credits include The Music Man( Mayor Shinn), Shrek the Musical ( Lord Farquaad) Good o'l Fashioned Variety Show( Co host) Godspell (ensemble) and Willy Wonka (Phineous Trott). Shamus is thrilled to be working with this incredible cast and crew!  He would like to thank his friends and family for their love and support. Big shout out to his wife Katy for her love and encouragement,  he would be under the sea without her. 

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Nella Hilden (Leeward, Flounder U/S)

Nella is thrilled to be back at SALT!  In the past few years, Nella has had the good fortune of being in some fabulous productions, including Evita (Child Soloist), Shrek (Young Fiona/Baby Bear), and Annie (Molly). She has also had a blast in the Stagelight versions of Frozen Jr. (Middle Anna) and Addams Family, School Edition (Gomez). Nella would like to thank Ms. Lauren, Ms. Val, Ms. Brigitte and the rest of the production team for giving her this rad opportunity to be a part of such a totally tubular show!

 

Drew Kalkiewicz (Andrina/Ensemble) 

Drew uses any/all pronouns and is beyond excited to be in this totally tubular production of The Little Mermaid at SALT! They are most often seen music directing at Stagelight year-round and stage managing at both SALT and Stagelight, as well as teaching private voice lessons. They recently music directed Stagelight U’s productions of Curtains and stage managed Stagelight U’s production of Chicago school edition, and have previously been seen on stage in Les Mis (Enjolras), Pippin (Pippin), and most recently in Beauty and the Beast (Beast’s Right Arm, Ensemble, Lefou u/s, Assistant Music Director). In their spare time, they enjoy playing video games and spending time with family, friends, and their dog. They would like to thank Lauren, Brigitte, Val, Stephen, Maddie, the entire stage management team, and the rest of the production team for creating such a magical, lively, and gnarly space where anyone can be themselves. Enjoy this radical show!

 

Mitch King (Triton)

Mitch is excited to make a return to his home away from home on the SALT stage. He would like the opportunity to thank Lauren McComas for always believing in him and giving him the opportunity to be a part of the SALT Nation. He hopes everyone who gets to come see our shows as an audience member might one day consider joining us and creating amazing art together. Lastly, he would like to thank the amazing cast that he gets to work with for sharing their space, talent, and most of all... their love. Enjoy the show!

 

Genevieve Kline (Atina/ Ariel U/S)

Genevieve is so grateful to return to the SALT stage with the best and the bubbliest team imaginable! Recent credits include Anything Goes (Erma),Tick Tick Boom (Susan), Eurydice (Eurydice), Seussical (Mrs. Mayor), and Head Over Heels (Philoclea). When she is not performing on the stage as an actress, you can find Genevieve teaching music and performing with her cello in the Philadelphia area.

 

Kylie Murray (Aquata) 

Kylie is unreasonably excited to be a part of this show!  Not only is it jam packed with nostalgia, located at “Pepper”, and themed larger than life, but it’s put together by a great community of people you want to surround yourself with multiple times a week. Prior credits include Cabaret (Kost/Fritzie/Sally Bowles U/S), Mary Poppins (Mrs. Corry/Chimney Sweep), High School Musical 1 & 2 (Gabriella), The Pajama Game (Gladys), and Zombie Prom (Sheila). Kylie would like to thank Lauren, Stephen, Brigitte and Val for this opportunity to join in on this under the sea adventure, building memories to last a lifetime. Special shout out to Val, Maddie and Katy for their endless supply of love and support while she continues to work on her dance technique/skills. She could NOT do this track without them. And of course, all the love in the world for her friends and family! “She’s In Love” <3

 

Alexa Poling (Adela) 

Alexa is thrilled to be making her SALT debut! Some of her favorite roles include Mamma Mia! (Donna) and The Wizard of Oz (Glinda). She is a proud graduate of West Chester University where she studied clarinet performance and music before receiving a degree in elementary education. Out of the water, Alexa is known as Miss Poling to her sixth-grade students in Downingtown. She is incredibly grateful to everyone who has supported her in reigniting her passion for performing.

 

Sarah Riley (Jetsam)

Sarah is excited to be making her debut performance not only with SALT, but as her first performance in over 15 years! She has been in complete awe of the welcome she has received from the cast and crew. Other than performing Tony level productions in front of her dog, Luna Lovegood, Riley also spends her spare time expressing her art through cake decorating. Riley is incredibly grateful to Lauren, Brigitte, Val, and the rest of the production staff of SALT for giving her the opportunity to reignite her passion of the performing arts.

 

Maeve Sasse (Windward/Mersister Swing)

Maeve is so very excited to be back at SALT! She was last seen on SALT’s stage as an orphan in Annie! Other favorite past roles include Betty Parris (The Crucible), Matilda (Matilda), Annie (Annie), Patty Simcox (Grease), and ensemble performances in Phantom of the Opera and Les Miserables. She's grateful to Lauren, Brigitte, and Val for this opportunity and excited to share the stage with this talented cast. Break legs, everyone! 

 

Ryan Schrader (Ensemble)  

Ryan is thrillified to be making his SALT debut! He would like to express his gratitution to all fellow cast members and the talented production team for such an amazing experience. On the surface, Ryan is a partner and portfolio manager at a global investment firm, a theatre producer, and board member of Philadelphia Theatre Company. Special thank you to Mike for his love, support, and encouragerizing him to dance under the sea!

 

Janine Weiss (Scuttle)

Janine is thrilled to be a part of this awequatic cast! A seasoned performer, she has loved bringing characters to life in productions such as The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee (Rona Lisa), Guys and Dolls (Sarah Brown), Avenue Q (Kate Monster), Thoroughly Modern Millie (Millie), The Drowsy Chaperone (Janet Van de Graaff), and The Sound of Music (Maria). Offstage, she fills her days with music as a middle-school choral director and an enthusiastic mom of three. She extends her deepest gratitude to her adoring husband, her #1 P.I.C., whose unwavering support and encouragement fuels her passion and a heartfelt thank you to Lauren and her talented production team for bringing the subaquatic world to life so beautifully.

 

James Wier (Prince Eric)

Eric is ready to set sail into Disney magic with this spectacular cast! Favorite past credits include: (Gaston U/S, Beast U/S) Beauty and the Beast at SALT Performing Arts, Beauty and the Beast (Director, Set Designer/Master Carpenter), Disaster (Professor Ted Scheider), at Footlighters Theater, Little Shop of Horrors (Audrey II Puppeteer) at Steel River Playhouse, Mamma Mia (Eddie), Hunchback of Notre Dame (Jehan, St. Aphrodisius), Newsies (Jack Kelly U/S, Oscar Delancey, Darcy, Seitz) at SALT Performing Arts, The Producers (Franz Liebkind) at Milburn Stone Theatre. Keep creating art. It brings something to this world in a very special and necessary way. Thank you to my friends and family for their unwavering love and support. Couldn't do anything without you. “To the world you may be just one person, but to one person, you may be the world.” – Dr. Seuss

 

Daniel K. Williams (Ursula) 

Daniel has been seen performing at SALT in The Wizard of Oz (Zeke/Lion), Spelling Bee (Barfee) and Little Shop of Horrors (The Dentist). Other performing credits include How to Succeed…(J.B. Biggley), James and the Giant Peach (Aunt Sponge), Joseph… (Jacob/Potifar), Trial by Jury (The Judge, Defendant, Counsel), and The Sorcerer (Alexis). Daniel has directed Beauty & the Beast, Anything Goes, Jekyll & Hyde, and Seussical for the SALT stage. Other directing credits include Nunsense, Company, Into the Woods, John & Jen, The Vagina Monologues, Spelling Bee, and Chess for Bravo Theatre Company as well as The Rocky Horror Show, You’re A Good Man Charlie Brown, Assassins, and The SpongeBob Musical for Footlighters Theater. Daniel has also directed The Wizard of Oz at Limelight Performing Arts and a multitude of Gilbert and Sullivan shows at various groups in the Greater Philadelphia Area. Future projects include stage managing Sweeney Todd and directingInto the Woods at SALT later this season.