The Confession… An Amish love story

Tim Clayton, Dylan

Tim Clayton was raised in Hilliard, Ohio, and is a graduate of Duke University with degrees in theater and psychology. Tim spent much of his time in school performing with Duke’s musical theater organization, Hoof ‘n’ Horn, and more recently has been performing all over the Midwest. Credits including Ryan James in A Simple Sanctuary, Randy Baker in the southern tour of We’ll Meet Again, and George in Love Life. Tim is honored and thrilled to be returning in his fourth season with Blue Gate Musicals, and sincerely hopes you enjoy the show!

Izzy Criscuolo, Rosie Taylor

Izzy Criscuolo is thrilled to be making her Bird-in-Hand debut! She has been coming to see shows here for years and is so excited to finally be in one! Izzy just recently earned her BA in Musical Theatre at DeSales University, where some of her favorite roles included: the Wicked Witch in The Wizard of Oz, Williamina Fleming in Silent Sky, and Mrs. Webb in Our Town. She would like to thank the cast and crew, as well as her family and friends for supporting her and most importantly God for this wonderful opportunity! https://www.isabelcriscuolo.com/

Nathan Garner, Samuel Lapp

Maxwell Gorman, Fulton

Maxwell Gorman (He/Him) is excited to make his debut with Blue Gate Musicals in The Confession. Maxwell is a performer based out of southeastern PA and graduated from DeSales University in 2022 with a BA in Theatre. Recent credits include Holly Jolly Christmas (Kristopher/Santa) and Clue: The Musical(Professor Plum) at the Pines Dinner Theatre. Maxwell would like to thank his family, friends, partner, and theatre educators. www.maxwellgormanactor.com IG: maxwell_gorman

Elisha Herr, Male Swing

Elisha Herr is excited to be acting as a swing for his first show with Bird-in-Hand Stage! Relatively new to the world of theater, he has recently had the pleasure of performing in Cavod Theater’s production of “Anastasia”. In his spare time he enjoys road-tripping, learning piano, and spending time with, and learning about chickens!

Sydney Hersch, Female Swing

Sydney Hersch is very excited to be working with Bird-in-Hand for her very first show here! Previous acting credits include Mae’s U.S./Ensemble in Tuck Everlasting, Sister Berthe/Party Guest in Sound of Music, Charlotte in Cinderella, Aunt March/Mrs.Kirk in Little Women, and Cinderella’s Mother in Into the Woods to name a few. She is very thankful for this wonderful opportunity and for her mom who supports her with everything. God bless! Esther 4:14.

Elle Herson, Female Swing

Elle is excited to join the cast of The Confession, her second show with Blue Gate after Our Christmas Dinner! Elle has had the opportunity to perform at the American Music Theater, Barley Sheaf Theater, SALT, Piercing Word, Servant Stage, Cavod, Liberty University, Glorify Performing Arts, and WC Studio at Uptown. Her experience with TV/commercials includes work with PGW, YMCA, the Discovery Channel, Sheetz, America’s Got Talent, the NYC Toy Expo, Veritas Press, Nemours Hospital, and the Philadelphia Convention and Business Bureau. Elle has had the honor of singing and signing the National Anthem at several Atlantic League Baseball stadiums, is a featured performer at Kitchen Kettle Village, and is currently a production intern at Piercing Word. Elle would like to thank Jo Abrom and Melody Stanert for instruction in voice and dance. Soli Deo Gloria!

Caitlin Howe, Katie Lapp

Based in NYC but born and raised in West Chester Pennsylvania, Caitlin is thrilled to be making her Blue Gate/Bird-in-Hand debut! Bitten by the theater bug from a young age, Caitlin has always felt more at home on the stage than anywhere else! Since graduating from AMDA in 2022, she has performed professionally with companies such as Disney Cruise Line, Six Flags Great Adventure, and most recently Dollywood. Caitlin would not be where she is today without the undying support of her loving parents, and her PopPop who is to this day her biggest fan! Additional thanks include: her Carousel Performing Arts Family, AMDA faculty, Sarah Bishop Vocal Studio, and all the amazing friends and family who have been by her side every step of the way! Caitlin would like to dedicate this performance to her MomMom who is no doubt cheering on from above!

Abby McLaughlin, Mary

Abby McLaughlin is excited to be making her Blue Gate Musicals debut in The Confession. Her recent credits include touring nationally with Virginia Repertory Theatre in Have You Filled A Bucket Today and Harriet Tubman and The Underground Railroad. She’s been in over 20 productions, her favorites including Princess Fiona in “Shrek The Musical” and Emily Webb in “Our Town”. She would like to thank her family and friends for always supporting her.

Steve Rau, Male Swing

Steve is humbled and blessed to be joining the Blue Gate family for the first time.  Steve has a music degree from IUP with a concentration in voice and has taken pastoral classes through the Wesleyan Church denomination Past roles: Horace – Hello, Dolly!, Barsad – A Tale of Two Cities, Willy and Jim – Gifts of the Magi, tenor quartet member – My Fair Lady, Chip – On The Town, and Alfred – Die Fledermaus. He is husband to Amy, Dad to Hannah and Emily, and has various vocational experience such as music teacher, pastor, Christian financial coach , and rural carrier for the post office. In his time away from work he enjoys Philly sports, strategy games, Drum Corp, playing golf, and helping people find financial freedom!

EJ Roeder, Alyson

EJ is thrilled to be making her debut with Blue Gate Musicals! A recent graduate from Towson University, with a B.F.A. in Acting, some of her previous roles include Henrietta Leavitt in Silent Sky and Urania in Paradise Lost. In addition, she worked this past season as a Scare Actor for Hersheypark Dark Nights. EJ would like to thank her wonderful cast and crew for all their hard work, and her friends and family for their continuous love and support.  She hopes you enjoy the show!

Zora Vredeveld, Rebecca Lapp

Zora Vredeveld is ecstatic for her Blue Gate debut with the role of Rebecca! A St. Louis native, Zora received her Bachelors in Music Theatre at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville. Since graduating, Zora has performed all across the country. Her most recent theater roles include Mad Hatter in Alice in Wonderland, and Mina in Dracula at Barter Theatre. She also has appeared in original NYC based projects such as Izzy and Jean as the voice of Izzy, and the webshow Bare Minimum as Beatrix. She would love to thank each and every person that made this production possible. Feel free to follow along with the chaos @zorabea.

Richard Weaver, Daniel Fisher

Richard is so thrilled to return to the Bird-in-Hand Stage! You may have seen him last as Levi Troyer in The Home Game, Mitch Lee in Dear Soldier Boy, Bart in Josiah for President, Denny in A Simple Sanctuary, Brock in The Best of Me, Jimmy Scott in Stolen the Musical. 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 at the Fulton Theatre and Laurie in Little Women at Cavod Theatre. When not performing he can be found teaching acting classes, playing DnD, and directing shows! A big thanks to his wife Catherine, friends, family, teachers, and God.

Catherine Weaver, Laura Mayfield

Catherine Weaver is excited to return to the Bird-in-Hand Stage after appearing in Our Christmas Dinner, The Home Game, Dear Soldier Boy, A Simple Sanctuary, Josiah for President, The Christmas Tree Ship, and Stolen. She holds a BFA in musical theatre from Samford University and has performed with various companies including Hampstead Stage Company, Birmingham Children’s Theatre, and National Theatre for Children. Catherine has also performed locally with Magic and Wonder Theater, Piercing Word, and Cavod Theatre. Thanks to Monica for this opportunity. Love to her wonderful husband Ric.