ALVAN BOLLING II (Ditcher) graduated in Spring 2021 from Virginia Commonwealth University with his Bachelor of Arts in Theatre Performance. Along with acting on the stage, Alvan is also a voice actor making guest appearances on various podcasts, and can be heard regularly playing various roles on the SCP Archives podcast, as well as his own Horror podcast that he produces & edits himself — The Ghost Light Theater — which can be found anywhere podcasts are heard! He has also performed on stages across Virginia, in productions such as: Monty Python’s Spamalot as Sir Galahad (Little Theatre of VA Beach), Jekyll & Hyde as Gabriel John Utterson (Williamsburg Players), The Mystery of Edwin Drood as Throttle/Ensemble (Swift Creek Mill Theatre), and the touring company of Buffalo Soldier (VA Repertory Theatre). Most recently, Alvan was the Male Swing for VA Rep’s It’s a Wonderful Life: A Live Radio Play, understudying all 4 male roles, and actually performed on 6 occasions in the role of Freddie Filmore! He is now proud to play a part in shining a light on this buried piece of American History in Gabriel. Lastly, he wishes to send Love to his parents, best friends, dog, and especially those currently struggling through any kind of personal hardship, and hopes this performance will provide a few hours of needed escape. Visit: alvanthe2nd.com
KEYDRON DUNN (Ben, Billy) hails from Snow Hill NC. Achieved a BA in Drama from UNCG. He recently featured on stage in the one act festival “War in Pieces” and the RVA Baroque’s Opera “Julie, Monster.” He thanks Firehouse, RVABaroque, and St. Paul’s episcopal; organizations that have been dilag about safety and bringing service and art to our community. spread the news and please continue to support these organizations. Bless you for coming and stay safe.
J. RON FLEMING, JR. (Martin, Cowley) has performed on many local stages. He first started Acting as part of Ernie McClintock’s, “Jazz Actors Theatre”. He has performed at Barksdale Theater and Mystery Dinner Playhouse, Theatre IV and The Modlin Center at University of Richmond. As a founding member of Jazz Actors Theatre, he performed in five August Wilson plays. “Avery” in “The Piano Lesson”, “Troy and Bono in Fences, “Floyed ‘School Boy’ Barton” in “Seven Guitars”, Fielding in “Jitney” and “Sterling in “Two Trains Running”. “The Valet” in “The Blacks”. “Hodman” in Miss Ever’s Boys. He as also played in other venues, “Grant Wiggins” in “ A Lesson Before Dying”, “Hewlett” in “The African Company Presents Richard The III”, “Bigelow” in “Coming of the Hurricane “Martin Luther King” in “The Meeting”. He was previously seen at Fire House as, “The ‘Sheppard’ in “Odepus Rex”. His previous Musicals include, “Guys and Dolls as, ‘Nicely-Nicely Johnson’ ”, “Pa and Grady” in “The Color Purple” and “ Multiple Males Characters in “Crowns”.
KHADIJAH FRANKS (Delia) is excited to make her Firehouse debut! A recent graduate of Virginia Commonwealth University with a BFA in Theatre Performance, and a board member for The Conciliation Lab, her most recent credits include Jasmine U/S in PIPELINE (Virginia Repertory Theatre), Beneatha Younger in THE BLACKLIST (The Conciliation Lab), Thea in a filmed production of SPRING AWAKENING (TheatreVCU), Maima in ECLIPSED (TheatreVCU) as well as Dido in AN OCTOROON (The Conciliation Lab.) She would like to thank her family and friends for their constant support and the cast and crew for making this such a wonderful experience. Enjoy the show!
SYDNEE S. GRAVES (Nanny, She/Her) is overjoyed to be performing again, and is excited to be making her Firehouse debut! Previous RVA credits include Polkadots: The Cool Kids Musical (Ms. Square/Mama Square), Harriett Tubman and the Underground Railroad the Musical (Sister/Mom), as well as traveling with the Children’s tour at Virginia Repertory Theater. Sydnee would like to thank her family and friends for their constant love and support.
RACHEL MARRS (Lucy) is glad to finally get this premiere musical onstage at Firehouse! Rachel is a Richmond based musical theatre actor and singer. Most notably, Rachel was seen as Jerusha Abbott in DADDY LONG LEGS (Swift Creek Mill) (RTCC nomination, Best Actress in a Musical) and as Alice in ALICE: A NEW MUSICAL (TheatreLAb & Firehouse) (RTCC award, Best Ensemble). Other roles include Maggie Winslow in A CHORUS LINE (Richmond Triangle Players), Cordelia in FALSETTOS (Richmond Triangle Players), Edwin Drood in THE MYSTERY OF EDWIN DROOD (Swift Creek Mill), Lucy in BRIGHT STAR (Swift Creek Mill), Emma Borden in LIZZIE (5th Wall) and Rhetta Cup in PUMP BOYS AND DINETTES (5th Wall). Rachel also performs around Richmond with Trunk Show Band and was a featured vocalist on Royal Caribbean’s Empress of the Seas. Special thanks to her amazing husband, Joel White. www.rachelmarrs.com
MICHAEL MCMULLEN (Thomas) is very excited to join Firehouse Theater in the role of Thomas Prosser for their world premiere production of Gabriel! After graduating with a B.S. in Theater with a focus in performance from Radford University, he started his professional career in the role of Durdles for Swift Creek Mill’s The Mystery of Edwin Drood in 2019. After a lengthy (and necessary) pandemic delay, you may have seen him as the titular character in Yes And’s live Cover to Cover performance of The Rocky Horror Picture Show, and he is very excited to perform live for the incredible Richmond audience again! Michael is also an avid geology nut and outdoor lover, who enjoys taking hikes all over the state and telling anyone who will listen about the various rock formations. Michael would like to thank the entire cast, production team, and orchestra for their amazing work and commitment, as well as his family for their continued love and support.
JEROLD SOLOMON (Gabriel, Co-librettist) is thrilled to be making his Firehouse Theater debut with this Production of Gabriel. Credits: Broadway: South Pacific (Lincoln Center) Off-Broadway: Bare (New World Stages) National Tours: Ragtime; Big River; Annie. Regional: Ragtime (Diamond Head); Dreamgirls (Virginia Rep); The Wiz(Virginia Rep); The Color Purple (Virginia Rep); The Whipping Man (Virginia Rep); Mountaintop (Cadence); Once On This Island(Paper Mill) 25th Annual Putnum Spelling Bee (Paper Mill); Cutman (Goodspeed); Smokey Joe's Cafe (Inside Broadway); Between Riverside and Crazy(Cadence); Sweet Charity(Virginia Rep); You're a Good Man Charlie Brown(Virginia Rep); Gross Indecency(Virginia Rep); Olympus on My Mind(Virginia Rep); Henry V(RSF); The Merry Wives of Windsor (RSF); The Lost Colony and many others. TV/Film; 30 Rock, Law and Order and Kings (NBC); The Unusuals (ABC); Hiding Divya (Desipina). Jerold has a BFA in Theater Performance from VCU and currently teaches theater in Henrico County Public Schools. For A, E, L, J, and L.
EDDIE WEBSTER (Monroe; he/him) is thrilled to be back performing at Firehouse! He was most recently seen as Rabbi Edelstein in A Christmas Kaddish (RTP). Favorite Richmond credits include everyone in The Santa Closet (RTP), Chick in Times Square Angel (RTP), Gould in Grey Gardens (RTP), Pierre in Red Velvet (Quill Theatre), Rooster in Annie (JFT), Gladhand in West Side Story (VA Rep), and James in Corpus Christi (RTP). Thanks to Casey, Deb, Samm, BJ, Trevin, and Breanoh for the love and support, and Chandler for the endless inspiration. Follow Eddie’s adventures at @edddiegrams
JOEL WHITE (Johnson/Guard/Taylor) is tickled pink to be making his Firehouse Theatre debut and to be a part of the world premiere of this fantastic and essential new musical. A law student by day and actor by night, you may have seen Joel as Huckleberry Finn in HUCK AND TOM (Virginia Rep); Mr. Collins in PRIDE AND PREJUDICE and Hamlet in ROSENCRANTZ AND GUILDENSTERN ARE DEAD (Quill Theatre); Bobby in OFFICE HOURS (CAT Theatre); and George DeWitt in PURE CONFIDENCE and Major George Rice in LES BLANCS (UR Theatre). Much love as always to Rachel and many thanks to you for being a patron of the arts in Richmond and for supporting new works like this one.
FOSTER SOLOMON (Director, Co-librettist) has been involved in theater for over thirty-five years since he was a teenager. From acting, directing, producing, writing, and choreographing, there is very little he hasn’t done. Originally from Atlanta, GA, Foster has lived and worked in theater all along the east coast. Some of his favorite acting credits include playing Hamlet for Richmond Shakespeare Festival, Othello for Kentucky Shakespeare Festival, Ahmed in “Like Two Eagles” for American Jewish Repertory in NYC, and creating the role of Papa Ubu for “Ubu ‘84” for Firehouse Theater. On camera, he was the host of “Travelers” on The Discovery Channel in the late ‘90s; the Principal Cooter in the film “The Beautiful Ordinary;” and Elijah in the film “Hawks Ridge” which he also wrote and directed. Foster’s other writing credits include several short films and plays that have been screened and performed in festivals across the country. Foster is a proud MFA graduate from The Shakespeare Theatre’s Academy for Classical Acting in Washington, DC.
RON KLIPP (Co-librettist, Music & Lyrics, Orchestrations) was born and raised in Chicago. He received his Bachelor of Music degree from the University of North Texas and served on the music faculty at a Dallas college while working as a pianist and arranger in local recording studios. He attained an MBA after moving to Richmond, Virginia to pursue his career in Information Technology consulting and management, working also as a local keyboardist and a composer, arranger and orchestrator of several musical theatre productions, including NO MAN’S LAND, STREETS OF GOLD, A STORYBOOK CHRISTMAS, A TIMELESS HOPE, and SINCERELY YOURS (all at West End Assembly of God). Since retiring from I.T. in 2016, Ron has been writing and performing music full-time. He is a member of the Dramatists Guild. Much love and gratitude to his family, particularly to his son John, who's been the primary source of encouragement and guidance throughout this process.
LESLIE OWENS-HARRINGTON (Choreographer/Director,SDC) A Native of St. Louis Missouri, with a BS from Howard University, Washington, DC., is a seasoned choreographer with theatre, theme park, AMC and HBO movie credits and over 30yrs experience. She is a member of SDC, Stage Directors and Choreographers and former Artistic Director/Owner of a dance studio. A few of her musical theater credits include, DreamGirls, Anything Goes, The Wizard of Oz, Cinderella, Godspell, You’re A Goodman Charlie Brown, and Peter Pan . Mrs. Harrington’s Choreographer/Director credits include; Once on This Island, Smokey Joe’s Café, Blues in the Night, Ragtime, Hairspray, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, to name a few. Leslie is thankful for the many Phoebe and Richmond Theatre Critic Circle Awards for Best Choreography and/or Musical, a few include: Once On This Island, Music Man, Color Purple, Dirty Rotten Scoundrels, Peter Pan, Beehive, All Night Strutt, They’re Playing Our Song, and Caroline or Change. God has Blessed her with a supportive family, and number 1 fan, Dr. Gary Harrington, her husband!
MORGAN LEA PALMER (Stage Manager) is thrilled to be back in the theatre. Hailing from W Texas, she received her BA in Theatre from Southern Virginia University and her MFA in Stage Management from the University of Missouri-Kansas City. Past credits include: The Picture of Dorian Grey (Firehouse Theatre), West Side Story & The Marriage of Figaro (Utah Festival Opera & Musical Theatre), Gun Play (Fishtank Theatre), Oliver! (Leawood Stage Company), Bengal Tiger at the Baghdad Zoo (Unicorn Theatre), The Diary of Anne Frank (KC Rep). Thank you friends and family for your love and support all these years!
ANDREW BONNIWELL (Lighting Designer) is absolutely thrilled that theatre is opening back up. The last 18 months or so has found him way too focused on his day job. He wants to thank his wife for her love and support in all things. Andrew has worked at many of the theatres in Richmond, some favorite past designs include: FENCES (Virginia Repertory Theatre), CAT ON A HOT TIN ROOF (Firehouse Theatre Project), AMERICAN IDIOT (Firehouse Theatre Project), JOHN (Cadence Theatre Company), IN MY CHAIR (Cadence Theatre Company), CORPUS CHRISTI (Richmond Triangle Players), THE WINTER’S TALE (Henley Street Theatre) and A CHRISTMAS MEMORY (The Illuminated Stage).
ANNA BIALKOWSKI (Costume Designer) Costume design credits include: WAR IN PIECES, WINGS and A CIVIL WAR CHRISTMAS with Firehouse. TWELFTH NIGHT, ROSENCRANTZ AND GUILDENSTERN ARE DEAD (Richmond Theatre Critics Circle nomination for Outstanding Achievement in Costume Design), TEMPEST, A MIDSUMMER NIGHTS DREAM, MACBETH, COMPLEAT WRKS OF WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE, DRACULA, STUPID F***ING BIRD, AMERICAN BUFFALO, HAMLET (Richmond Theatre Critics Circle nomination for Outstanding Achievement in Costume Design) and THE LION IN WINTER with Quill Theatre.
DASIA GREGG (Scenic Designer) is based in Richmond, VA, graduating from TheatreVCU in 2018 with a BFA in Theatre and concentration in Scenic Design. Some recent credits include Projection Designer for PIPELINE (Virginia Repertory Theatre), co-scenic designer for THE PINK UNICORN (Richmond Triangle Players), Scenic/Projection Designer for Level 4 (TheatreLAB), and Associate Projection Designer for LIVE ART: FAMILY (SPARC). She is very excited to be working with Firehouse Theatre again!
DENNIS BOWE (Assistant Stage Manager) is excited to be part of a Firehouse production. He has been involved in multiple shows at Mills E. Godwin High School such as INTO THE WOODS as sound board operator, and ALMOST MAINE as technical director. He is grateful to the entire Gabriel cast and crew for this valuable learning opportunity.
KENNEDY SHAHAN (Assistant Stage Manager) is a Cinema student at Virginia Commonwealth University and is very happy to be involved in the work-study program at Firehouse! Though she has seen many productions at Firehouse, this is her first time working on one, and she’s so grateful that it was Gabriel. She has previously worked in the scenic and advertising departments at Riverbend High School in the productions of ANNE OF GREEN GABLES, LEND ME A TENOR, and CLUE. She would like the cast and crew of Gabriel to know how much she has learned and gained from working with them, and that they will always hold a place in her heart. She would like to specifically thank the rest of the Stage Management team for being her little family for the last few months, the Writing team for creating such an amazing, powerful, and important musical, and her boyfriend, Talon, for picking her up from every late-night rehearsal.
JAY BASU (Costume Assistant) has been working on their own costumes (self-taught) since 2017. They are very appreciative of Firehouse for granting them the opportunity to work on Gabriel. They plan on a future in costume in film out west. Was a costume assistant to Anna Bialkowski in Gabriel (Firehouse).
RON KLIPP (Co-librettist, Music & Lyrics, Orchestrations) was born and raised in Chicago. He received his Bachelor of Music degree from the University of North Texas and served on the music faculty at a Dallas college while working as a pianist and arranger in local recording studios. He attained an MBA after moving to Richmond, Virginia to pursue his career in Information Technology consulting and management, working also as a local keyboardist and a composer, arranger and orchestrator of several musical theatre productions, including NO MAN’S LAND, STREETS OF GOLD, A STORYBOOK CHRISTMAS, A TIMELESS HOPE, and SINCERELY YOURS (all at West End Assembly of God). Since retiring from I.T. in 2016, Ron has been writing and performing music full-time. He is a member of the Dramatists Guild. Much love and gratitude to his family, particularly to his son John, who's been the primary source of encouragement and guidance throughout this process.
LESLIE OWENS-HARRINGTON (Choreographer/Director,SDC) A Native of St. Louis Missouri, with a BS from Howard University, Washington, DC., is a seasoned choreographer with theatre, theme park, AMC and HBO movie credits and over 30yrs experience. She is a member of SDC, Stage Directors and Choreographers and former Artistic Director/Owner of a dance studio. A few of her musical theater credits include, DreamGirls, Anything Goes, The Wizard of Oz, Cinderella, Godspell, You’re A Goodman Charlie Brown, and Peter Pan . Mrs. Harrington’s Choreographer/Director credits include; Once on This Island, Smokey Joe’s Café, Blues in the Night, Ragtime, Hairspray, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, to name a few. Leslie is thankful for the many Phoebe and Richmond Theatre Critic Circle Awards for Best Choreography and/or Musical, a few include: Once On This Island, Music Man, Color Purple, Dirty Rotten Scoundrels, Peter Pan, Beehive, All Night Strutt, They’re Playing Our Song, and Caroline or Change. God has Blessed her with a supportive family, and number 1 fan, Dr. Gary Harrington, her husband!
MORGAN LEA PALMER (Stage Manager) is thrilled to be back in the theatre. Hailing from W Texas, she received her BA in Theatre from Southern Virginia University and her MFA in Stage Management from the University of Missouri-Kansas City. Past credits include: The Picture of Dorian Grey (Firehouse Theatre), West Side Story & The Marriage of Figaro (Utah Festival Opera & Musical Theatre), Gun Play (Fishtank Theatre), Oliver! (Leawood Stage Company), Bengal Tiger at the Baghdad Zoo (Unicorn Theatre), The Diary of Anne Frank (KC Rep). Thank you friends and family for your love and support all these years!
ANDREW BONNIWELL (Lighting Designer) is absolutely thrilled that theatre is opening back up. The last 18 months or so has found him way too focused on his day job. He wants to thank his wife for her love and support in all things. Andrew has worked at many of the theatres in Richmond, some favorite past designs include: FENCES (Virginia Repertory Theatre), CAT ON A HOT TIN ROOF (Firehouse Theatre Project), AMERICAN IDIOT (Firehouse Theatre Project), JOHN (Cadence Theatre Company), IN MY CHAIR (Cadence Theatre Company), CORPUS CHRISTI (Richmond Triangle Players), THE WINTER’S TALE (Henley Street Theatre) and A CHRISTMAS MEMORY (The Illuminated Stage).
ANNA BIALKOWSKI (Costume Designer) Costume design credits include: WAR IN PIECES, WINGS and A CIVIL WAR CHRISTMAS with Firehouse. TWELFTH NIGHT, ROSENCRANTZ AND GUILDENSTERN ARE DEAD (Richmond Theatre Critics Circle nomination for Outstanding Achievement in Costume Design), TEMPEST, A MIDSUMMER NIGHTS DREAM, MACBETH, COMPLEAT WRKS OF WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE, DRACULA, STUPID F***ING BIRD, AMERICAN BUFFALO, HAMLET (Richmond Theatre Critics Circle nomination for Outstanding Achievement in Costume Design) and THE LION IN WINTER with Quill Theatre.
DASIA GREGG (Scenic Designer) is based in Richmond, VA, graduating from TheatreVCU in 2018 with a BFA in Theatre and concentration in Scenic Design. Some recent credits include Projection Designer for PIPELINE (Virginia Repertory Theatre), co-scenic designer for THE PINK UNICORN (Richmond Triangle Players), Scenic/Projection Designer for Level 4 (TheatreLAB), and Associate Projection Designer for LIVE ART: FAMILY (SPARC). She is very excited to be working with Firehouse Theatre again!
DENNIS BOWE (Assistant Stage Manager) is excited to be part of a Firehouse production. He has been involved in multiple shows at Mills E. Godwin High School such as INTO THE WOODS as sound board operator, and ALMOST MAINE as technical director. He is grateful to the entire Gabriel cast and crew for this valuable learning opportunity.
KENNEDY SHAHAN (Assistant Stage Manager) is a Cinema student at Virginia Commonwealth University and is very happy to be involved in the work-study program at Firehouse! Though she has seen many productions at Firehouse, this is her first time working on one, and she’s so grateful that it was Gabriel. She has previously worked in the scenic and advertising departments at Riverbend High School in the productions of ANNE OF GREEN GABLES, LEND ME A TENOR, and CLUE. She would like the cast and crew of Gabriel to know how much she has learned and gained from working with them, and that they will always hold a place in her heart. She would like to specifically thank the rest of the Stage Management team for being her little family for the last few months, the Writing team for creating such an amazing, powerful, and important musical, and her boyfriend, Talon, for picking her up from every late-night rehearsal.
JAY BASU (Costume Assistant) has been working on their own costumes (self-taught) since 2017. They are very appreciative of Firehouse for granting them the opportunity to work on Gabriel. They plan on a future in costume in film out west. Was a costume assistant to Anna Bialkowski in Gabriel (Firehouse).