Director's Note:
Estimated duration:
90 minutes with a 15 minute intermission
CAST:
Olive Beardsley – Ava
Evan Grinnell-Holderman – Cheep
Mahayla Joseph – Skylar
Hudson Ray – Jay
Isaiah Myers – Wildfire Blaze
Paige Cissna – Wildfire Flame
Cassius Peers – Wildfire Ember
Ryker Wheeler – Hawk
Davy Schuman – Oak/Butterfly
CREATIVE CREW:
Sara St. Clair – Director
Hannah Lynn – Stage Manager
Vanessa Cat – Light/Sound/Prop Designer & Choreographer
Jordanna Averett – Set Designer & Scenic Artist
Alayna Chamberland – Costume Designer
Mike Taylor – Lighting Crew
Tobin Day – Board Operator
SPECIAL THANKS!
Thanks to the following people and organizations that helped us put this production on stage!
Leone St.Clair
Janet Alene
Anna Bobcova
Julie Barrett
CAST BIOS:
Olive Beardsley
(she/her)
Ava
Olive is thrilled to be a part of this production! Outside of theater, she enjoys drawing, reading, and spending time with her friends. You may have seen her as Lily in OFT’s recent production of The Giver. She’s had a great time working with such a talented cast and crew and can’t wait for you to see the show!
Evan Grinnell-Holderman
(they/them)
Cheep
Evan is very excited to be back for their second production with Olympia Family Theater after their debut role in last spring’s The Wizard of Oz as a Munchkin! They recently came from their Harlequin Productions debut, when they played Tiny Tim in A Christmas Carol. When they aren’t acting, Evan enjoys reading, writing, thinking, archery, doing math, and obsessing over anime.
Mahayla Joseph
(she/her)
Skyler
Mahayla is thrilled to be back on stage for her second play with Olympia Family Theater. She enjoyed her first performance as Roo in The House at Pooh Corner this past Fall. Her favorite part about being in this production has been meeting new friends and learning a new character. When not onstage, Mahayla plays volleyball and loves to work on art projects. She also enjoys playing with her two cats and puppy along with spending time with her family playing games.
Hudson Ray
(he/him)
Jay
Hudson is an enthusiastic actor who is excited to be back for his third production with OFT. His credits include roles with Apple Tree Productions in 2023, where he played Winthrop in The Music Man and the title role in Peter Pan. This fall, Hudson was cast as Christopher Robin in OFT’s The House at Pooh Corner. His favorite show was when he did OFT’s Barney Carey (2023), where he really loved working with his co-stars. When he isn’t acting he plays clarinet and runs cross-country.
Isaiah Myers
(he/him)
Wildfire Blaze
Isaiah is so ecstatic to be in this production! You may have previously seen him as Winnie the Pooh in The House at Pooh Corner at OFT, or Fairy King Oberon in River Ridge High School’s production of A Midsummer’s Night Dream. His favorite part of being in this show has been being a part of something called a Greek chorus with his fellow Wildfire actors. When not onstage, you can find Isaiah looking for opportunities to expand on one of his skills, maintaining his grades, or maybe playing a video game. He would like to thank the OFT team for being so inviting and supportive, without them he doesn’t know where he would be!
Paige Cissna
(she/her)
Wildfire Flame
Paige is so happy to be in this show. Her favorite part of being in this show has been meeting/making new friends. This is her 2nd time working with OFT, her first was Honk! The Musical! She has performed in Honk Jr (froglet, geese, 3 blind mice), Beauty and the Beast Jr. (LeFou), Flat Stanly Jr. (cousin Sophia) and Honk! at OFT (duckling). Paige loves to play sports like softball and cross country. She’s been playing softball for 5 years. It’s her favorite sport!
Cassius Peers
(he/him)
Wildfire Ember
Cassius is so thrilled to be in this production! You may have previously seen him in little parts at OFT camps and after school programs but this is his first full, professional production! His favorite part of being in this show has been being a part of Wildfire, working with 2 other performers. When not onstage, you can find Cassius reading, playing legos, playing outside with friends as well as looking for and helping animals. He’d like to thank the Olympia family theater for being here and hopes you all enjoy the show!
Ryker Wheeler
(he/him)
Hawk
This is Ryker’s third OFT production. His first role was the Top in the Toy Cupboard in The Velveteen Rabbit (2023), where he was just happy to be in his first ever play. He was also in The Wizard of Oz last May, where he got to play a Munchkin and the King of the Flying Monkeys – he really loved creating unique characterizations for both characters! Outside of the theater Ryker plays video games and music- he is a flutist and is currently learning the bass.
Davy Schuman
(they/she)
Oak/Butterfly
Davy’s first role was in OFT’s The Velveteen Rabbit (2023), where they played The Fairy Godmother, as well as the Sailboat in the Toy Cupboard. They were also in this year’s Tales Told in Ten and have been a part of multiple OFT theater camps, and are honored to be cast in another OFT production. Davy loves spending time with their friends, and their favorite part of being in OFT shows has been the cast bonding and watching their own growth as an actor.
CREWS BIOS:
Sara St. Clair
(she/they)
Director
Sara thanks you for supporting live theater! A Greener grad, playwright, teaching artist, actor, and singer, Sara has been performing for over 30 years with theater and musical groups around WA State and in North Carolina. Wildfire & the Birdscouts marks her directing debut at Olympia Family Theater, but you may remember seeing her on the OFT stage in The Lightning Thief: The Percy Jackson Musical, The Girl Who Swallowed a Cactus, The Alphabetastics, or in Amelie: The Musical and Sunday in the Park with George at SPSCC Theater Collective. Sara also bops around town as a member of The Fakers improv troupe and with her cheeky folk band, SpareCrow. She lives in Olympia with her three darling children.
Hannah Lynn
(she/her)
Stage Manager
Hannah feels so delighted to be a part of another mainstage production at OFT after stage managing last season’s The Velveteen Rabbit. It was a privilege to witness the young actors grow and blossom, and a joy to watch how they shine. She is deeply grateful for the stewardship that the Squaxin, Chinook, Chehalis, and Nisqually peoples provided since time immemorial to our forests, waters, mountains, shores, and meadows- these are the places where she is her truest and happiest self. Outside of the theater Hannah is a nanny, a caregiver, and an avid listener of birdsongs.
Vanessa Cat
(she/her)
Light/Sound/Prop Designer & Choreographer
Vanessa is an Olympia based performing artist, dancer, choreographer, producer, musician, actor, Teaching Artist, mama, and lover of cats. Vanessa has been working in theater and performance for over 20 years, and is very grateful to be part of this production here at OFT.
Jordanna Averett
(she/her)
Set Designer &
Scenic Artist
Jordanna is an Olympia artist and theater creative. She is happy to continue her work as OFT’s scenic artist, set designer, and carpenter for the 2024-25 season with Wildfire and the Bird Scouts – a show that steps thoughtfully into her other great joy in life: our natural world and its intricate cycles. Jordanna is grateful to the dedicated and passionate staff of OFT who bring so much love and warmth to our theater. As ever, all my love and thanks to Danny.
Alayna Chamberland
(she/her)
Costume Designer
Alayna has absolutely adored working on this special production! It is always so fun to create costumes for unique characters like dancing fire or a troop of blue birds. When not crafting for the stage you can find Alayna helping manage things behind the giant curtain here as the Interim Director of OFT. She loves to read, rhinestone art projects, and take care of her literal zoo of animals back at home (Hi Arpeggio, Olive, Marla, TT, Toot, Poppy, Petal, and Ebby! Mama loves you!)
ORGANIZATION CREDITS:
OFT Staff
Alayna Chamberland
Tracy Thomas
Lex Langguth-Torres
String & Shadow
Jill Carter
Jupiter Shellman
OFT Board of Directors
Victor Velazquez
Christine Goode
Kaiah Costa
Debbie Sampson
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Special Thanks to our MEMBERS:
Ensamble Members:
Kerry Beardsley
Michael Corcoran
Laura Deaton
Jennifer Guyant
Marcia Haggerty
Bonnie Jacques
Leah Kosik
Tom Lockhart
Hugh McGavick
Donna Myers
Pier Petersen
Cara Preuss
Diana Purvine
Ryan Rodriquez
Katie Stemmene
Christopher Taylor
Janelle Tyler
Aaron Wiggett
Director’s Circle Members:
Krishna Chowdary
Trina and Gary Delaney
Toni Dewees
Lori Fascilla
Susan Faubion
Lacy Fehrenbach
Korja Giles
Wally and Linda Mead
Jeannie Simpson
Kenneth Thiessen
Members:
Dave Alford
Jay Allen
Susan L Allen
Bret & Mary Anderson
Patricia Atkins
Victoria Book
Stefanie Booth
Priscilla Bowerman
Linda Boyer
Martha S Buck
Edsonya Charles
Leslie Christenson
Wanda A Cross
Thaddeus Curtz
Carolyn Darrow
Marisa Dillard
Marla Elliot
Christopher Ertel
Lori Fascilla
William Gallin
Lee Ann Gekas
Korja Giles
Karen Hanan
Elizabeth J Hauser
Carolee Johnson
Kursta Joslin
Amy Keltner
Leah Kosik
Jonathan LeFaive
Kelly Leonard
John Linderman
Thomas Lockhart
Vicki Lovegren
Pamela Lykins
Valerie Lynn
Britt Madsen
Claudia McClain
Linda Mead
Nicole Miller
Patricia Mix
Patricia Moore
Donna Myers
David and Jane Nowitz
Penny Purkerson
Diana & Stephen Purvine
Melanie Ransom
Karen Ray
Stacey Ray
Jena Regan
Jerry Romasco
Sarah Rossman
Kristi Rutledge
Lillian Ryan
Jennifer Ryle
Alexis Sarah
Deane Shellman
Jeannie Simpson
Patricia Starzyk
Amanda Stevens
Oliver Stormshak
Trista & Michael Tempke
Tracy and Eric Thomas
Angela Tobias
Cathy Wasserman
Eli Wasserman
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Thank You to our GALA PARTICIPANTS:
Thank you to the generous supporters who bid on items and/or attended our very successful GALA fundraiser at SPSCC in early May.
Mark Alford
L.M. Attea
Susanna Bailen Acevedo
Toby Batcheldor
David Bayne
Kerrie Blackburn
Alyssa Bleckwehl
Derek Bumrungsiri
Nicole Butigan
Clay Campbell
Jill Carter
Marisa Caughlan
Alayna Chamberland
Samantha Chandler
Edsonya Charles
Heather & Michael Christopher
Stephanie Claire
Aaron Coby
Sandy Cocanour
Mary & Patrick Concannon
Kaiah & Pete Costa
Bonnie Cotton
Max Crabapple
Sarah Davis
Sara Develle
Peter & Robin Downey
Allison Dumas
Debe Edden
Meredith Ehlers
Keith Eisner
Caroline Flores
Veronica, Carlos & Elise Garcia
Luz Gaxiola
Yulia, Leopold & Irina Gendelman
Korja Giles
Christine Goode
Meghan Goodman
Andrew Gordon
Anya Guadamuz
Miriam Hathaway
Tealah Hill
Jeff Hsu
Hiroko Ishii
Bonnie Jacques
Matt Jarbo
Keoki Kauanoe
Morgan Kelley
Elisabeth Kingsbury
Lexis knight
Brian & Aylis Lind
Lauren Love
Valerie Lynn
Margaret MacRae
Ben & Heather Matthews
Ashley McBee
Maren McBeth
Emily McHugh
Robin McPherson
Melissa Mead
Nicole Miller
Lily Montoya
Liam Mooney
Titus Mutchler
Elizabeth Napolitano
Jimmy Nguyen
Doreese Norman
Jane & David Nowitz
Debbie Overstreet
Donald Palardy
Kristine Pepper
Pier Petersen
Constance Phegley
Rebeca Potasnik
Travis Prather
Diana & Stephen Purvine
Kristina Ralls
Angel Ramirez
Stacey & Tyler Ray
Ashleigh Rhinehart
Rebecca Rogers
Oswaldo Rosaro
Kristi Rutledge
Jen & Ted Ryle
Mandy Ryle
Melissa Sampson
Thomas Sanders
Mike Santana
Alexis Sarah
Andrea Schmitt
Bryanna Selders
guest of Bryanna Selders
Andrea Severson
Nick & Deane Shellman
Micah Sherman
Wesley Shoemaker
Sara St.Clair
Jan Teague
Sara Thiessen
Kyle Thiessen
Jonnita Thompson
Karen, Michael & Sonja Ulrich
Victor, Kaelyn, Joaquin & Katherine Velazquez
Lauren & Steven Wells
Chris Wickham
Teresa Winstead
