Josiah for President, the Musical

Nathan Garner, Josiah Stoltzfus

Nathan is glad to be returning to the Bird-in-Hand Stage. This is his 7th year at Bird-in-Hand and 8th with Blue Gate Musicals. He is excited for a new season of shows and a new cast of people to work with! Most recently he was seen as one of the lumberjacks in The Christmas Tree Ship and Abraham in Stolen in the Bluegate Theatre in Shipshewana Indiana. He wants to thank you all for coming and hopes you enjoy the show!

Hannah Gothard,  Elizabeth Stoltzfus.   (Aug. 18 –Sept. 3)

Hannah is so excited to be joining the cast of Josiah for President! She is from New Caney, Texas and is a graduate of Ouachita Baptist University receiving her BFA in Musical Theatre! Some of her favorite credits include playing Rapunzel in Into The Woods at Arkansas Repertory Theatre, Louisa in The Fantasticks at Arkansas Rep, Josephine in H.M.S Pinafore at OBU, Beth in Little Women at OBU and what got her started in theatre, playing Dorothy in The Wizard of Oz at New Caney High School. She would like to give thanks to God first and to her friends and family for their constant love and support!

Monica DePaul,  Elizabeth Stoltzfus.   (Sept. 9 – Oct. 21)

Past Blue Gate credits include: Leela in A Simple Sanctuary, Barbara Schuenemann in The Christmas Tree Ship,Fanny Miller in Stolen and more! Originally from: Orange County, CA; Training: BFA in Musical Theatre from California State University, Fullerton. Sight & Sound Theatre credits: Abraham and Sarah, Psalms of David, Voices of Christmas, Noah and more! Local theatre credits: The Fulton Theatre, PRiMA Theatre, Servant Stage Company and more! Favorite roles include: Sarah in Abraham and Sarah, Morgan in Godspell and Nimue in Camelot. She also enjoys the role of Artistic Director of Cavod Theatre in New Holland, PA. Love to: Mom, Vinnie, Amelia and Ella; to God for loving us and “directing us to radiate the beauty and spread the fragrance of His Providence”.

Martin Flowers, Mark Stedman

Martin is excited to be making his debut with Blue Gate! He grew up in Nappanee, Indiana, and attended Goshen College where he studied Theatre and Music. He is now based in New York with his incredible wife and travels the country frequently to perform and do what he loves to do. Recent credits include Guy in Once, Jonathan in The Play That Goes Wrong, and a featured singer/guitar-player in the devised show Heartbeat of America. Other favorite credits include Vince in Tape, Paul in Moon Over Buffalo, and Jess in Complete Works of Shakespeare Abridged. In his free time, Martin enjoys playing the piano and guitar, going outside, and obsessing over all things Star Wars. Thank you for supporting live theatre!

Catherine Patton, Cindy Stedman

Catherine is so excited to join the cast of Josiah for President. Originally from Opelika, AL, she is currently based here in Lancaster County. Catherine holds a BFA in musical theatre from Samford University and has performed with various theatre companies around the country such as Hampstead Stage Company, National Theatre for Children, Birmingham Children’s Theatre, and Opera House Theatre Company. She has also performed locally with Cavod Theatre, Piercing Word, and Magic and Wonder Theatre. Previous credits at the Bird-in-Hand Stage include A Simple Sanctuary, Stolen: The Musical and The Christmas Tree Ship. She sends love to her family and to her wonderful fiancé Ric.

Cassidy Giddens, Sara Rodriguez

Cassidy is excited to return to the Bird-in-Hand Stage! She was previously seen as Elsie in The Christmas Tree Shipthis past winter. Cassidy is a native of Shreveport, Louisiana, and a graduate from Northwestern State University in Natchitoches, Louisiana, with a degree in Musical Theatre and Directing. Cassidy has worked as a professional actor in numerous states including Kearney, Nebraska, (Crane River Theater) and Pagosa Springs, Colorado (Thingamajig Theatre Company). She also has out of state recognitions with the National Association of Teachers of Singing where she placed third in the Regional Collegiate Competition and placed first in the State Collegiate Competition.

Trenton Gunsolley, Carl Wilson

Trenton is thankful to be joining Blue Gate Musicals for a second season. He was most recently seen performing in Half-Stitched at the Carlisle Inn in Sarasota Florida. He has entertained audiences in his home state of Colorado as Sky Masterson in Guys and Dolls, George Banks in Mary Poppins, and Ali Hakim in Oklahoma! to name a few. He enjoys practicing and performing his trade of close-up, sleight of hand magic which he has studied for nearly 15 years. He is overjoyed to be back on stage amidst the Covid-19 pandemic and hopes you enjoy the show!

Love Ruddell, Marsha

Love is excited to return to Blue Gate Musicals in their third show after performing as Ali in A Simple Sanctuary here in Bird-in-Hand stage. Love is a graduate of Millikin University with a BFA in Musical Theatre. Before the pandemic, they were active as a Silly Girl in Beauty and the Beast at Round Barn Theatre right after performing as Jane Jones in The Lost Colony at the Waterside Theatre. Other credits include Val in A Chorus Line, Jeanie Muldoon in Nice Work If You Can Get It, Fiona in Shrek, and as a featured soloist in That’s Entertainment at Six Flags St. Louis. @loveruddellofficial

Richard Weaver, Bart

Richard is so thrilled to return to Bird-in-Hand Stage! You may have seen him last in A Simple Sanctuary as Denny, The Best of Me as Brock, The Christmas Tree Ship as Man #3, Stolen the Musical as Jimmy Scott, and Christmas to Remember as Man #1. Richard grew up in Lancaster County and has been performing locally for many theaters including The Fulton Theatre, The Dutch Apple Dinner Theatre, Servant Stage, and many more! Some of his favorite roles include Ensemble in Treasure Island and Horton the Elephant in Seussical the Musical at Cavod Theatre. When not performing he can be found playing DnD and directing shows! A big thanks to his fiancé Catherine, friends, family, teachers, and God. Go follow him on Instagram @richard__weaver!

Joshua A. Joyce, Harley Phillips

Joshua is a Georgia native and graduate of Valdosta State University with a BFA in theatre performance and has a diverse performance background including experience with children’s theatre, musical theatre, improv acting, and directing. He began his career in performance as a small child in church musicals and has been working to expand his horizons ever since. Josiah for President is Joshua’s second show with Blue Gate Musicals, and he is ecstatic to continue his time here in Bird-in-Hand.

Lauren Morgan, Karen Ledbetter/ Queen of England

Lauren is excited to be making her Blue Gate debut. Favorite roles include Jo March (Little Women the Musical), Jovie (Elf the Musical) and Woman 2 (I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change). She has also been a featured vocalist in concerts at Feinstein’s 54 Below, Don’t Tell Mama and The Metropolitan Room. Lauren is a born and raised New Yorker and when not performing she loves to read, exercise, and go on adventures. Many thanks go to her family, friends and husband, Martin for being supportive of her dreams. Keep supporting the arts, folks! www.laurenmorgan.net IG/Twitter: @less_is_morgan