Meet the Cast & Crew of Avenue Q!
Blake Aburn as Nicky /Trekkie Monster /Bad Idea Bear (beginning July 7)
Blake is thrilled to be joining the incredibly talented cast of Avenue Q. After recently moving to NYC, Blake is super excited to be back in Orlando. He was last seen at Mad Cow in James Joyce's The
Dead as Michael, and he can't think of a better show to bring him back to the herd than Avenue Q. He would like to thank Mitzi, Juan, and Heather for bringing him on and letting him play. Lastly, as usual, a big thanks to Ernie Losso for telling him he was more than a song and dance man. "Love is love is love is love is love is love is love."
Faith Boles* as Gary Coleman
Faith is very excited to be making her Mad Cow Theatre debut. Originally from Savannah, Faith received a BFA in musical theatre and opera performance from Shenandoah Conservatory in Virginia. Some of her past theatre credits include: Nehebka (Aida), the Narrator (Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor
Dreamcoat), Motor Mouth Maybelle (Hairspray), Mama Morton (Chicago),
B.J. (Smokey Joe’s Café), Mrs. Potts (Beauty and The Beast), Nell
(Ain’t Misbehavin’), Asaka (Once on This Island), and Miss
Mazeppa (Gypsy). Faith was also a lead production-cast vocalist on
Celebrity Cruises. She can be seen in various shows at Disney World and
Universal. Faith would like to thank her parents for their ongoing love
and support. ~Jeremiah 29:11
Adam Hose* as Princeton / Rod
Adam searches for his
clownfish son daily as Marlin in Finding
Nemo the Musical at Disney’s Animal Kingdom. Off-Broadway: Tully in No Particular Order, I Come for Love.
Regional: Mark Cohen in Rent (Hangar Theatre) and productions at the John W. Engeman Theatre and Casa Mañana; world premiere of Tom Jones’ Harold & Maude: The Musical with Estelle Parsons (Paper Mill
Playhouse); Emmett in Legally
Blonde: The Musical (North
Carolina Theatre); Macbeth (Colorado Shakespeare Festival,
Ovation Award nomination); Matthew in Altar
Boyz; Batboy in Batboy:
The Musical (Big Easy Award winner); Chris in Killer Joe; Happy in Death of a Salesman.
Television: Unbreakable Kimmy
Schmidt, Bloodline. Love to
my beautiful wife, Lindsay.
Maya Handa Naff as Christmas Eve
Maya is excited to be making her Mad Cow debut and to be returning to the role
that started her career. She has performed in Avenue Q in theatres across the country, including the Skylight
Music Theatre, Theatre Raleigh, Charleston Stage Company, and Playhouse on the
Square. Florida credits include freeFall Theatre (Cecily Cardew, The Importance of Being Earnest with Zombie, and Pegeen Ryan, Mame), American Stage (Amanda, 4000 Miles), and the Hippodrome (Belle, A Christmas Carol). Regional credits
include Miss Saigon (Kim), Les Miserables (Eponine), … Spelling Bee (Marcy Park), and Two Gentlemen of Verona (Julia). For her
wonderful, loving family, and for Nick. www.mayahandanaff.com
Paul Padilla* as Brian
Paul is thrilled to be in Mad Cow’s production of Avenue Q. A graduate of the American Musical and Dramatic Academy
and proud Texan, he now calls Central Florida his creative home. Recent roles: Cal
in Mothers and Sons and the Old Man
in A Christmas Story: The Musical for
Titusville Playhouse. Other highlights: Father Gonzales in Bless Me Father for I Have Danced (Orlando Fringe), Joseph in The Irish Curse; and Standing on Ceremony (Mad Cow). Paul
swims with the fishes daily in Finding
Nemo the Musical at Disney. He is honored to be working with such a
talented group of creative people. Thanks to Juan and Mitzi for this amazing opportunity,
and of course to Mi Familia for their love and support.
Sonia Roman as Mrs. Thistletwat / Bad Idea Bear
Sonia delightedly makes her
Mad Cow debut alongside some of her favorite people. She is most often seen
performing in Finding Nemo the Musical at Disney’s Animal Kingdom. In the past year she appeared as Martha May Whovier in Grinchmas Wholiday Spectacular and ran amok with Mary Sanderson in Hocus Pocus Villain Spelltacular. Other favorite roles include Bride of Frankenstein in
Beetlejuice’s Graveyard Mashup, Princess Fiona in Shrek the Musical, Natalie Goodman in Next to Normal, Vanessa (understudy) in In The Heights, and Little Red Riding
Hood in Into The Woods. She thanks
all of the ridiculously awesome and supportive people she has in her life.
Kurt von Schmittou* as Nicky / Bad Idea Bear / Trekkie Monster
Kurt is delighted to return to Mad Cow after playing Sam Byck in Assassins.
Broadway: Cats (Old Deuteronomy/Gus), Chitty Chitty Bang Bang (Sid/Inventor/Lord
Scrumptious). Kurt has performed as a soloist on the Grand
Ole Opry as well as lead vocalist for the Chippendales. Disney roles include
originating the role of Bruce in Finding Nemo the Musical, Gaston
in Beauty and the Beast, Erik in The Frozen Sing-Along Celebration,
the Voices of Liberty, and many others. He can be heard as a singer and voice-over artist in Disney parks around the world and is member of the a capella group Voctave. Kurt married “the love of my life” on March 22. “I love you, Zach!” www.KvonS.com
Christina Sivrich* as Kate Monster / Lucy
Christina is thrilled to make her
Mad Cow debut. A native of Pittsburgh (Go, Steelers!), she graduated from
Point Park University with a BFA in musical theatre. She was in the original
Broadway cast of The Wedding Singer
and the 2007 revival of Grease. Regional
credits include You’re a Good Man Charlie Brown; Hello, Dolly! and Joseph and
the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat.
She also has toured the US with Grease,
and, after a few stints on Disney Cruise Line, she can drive a pretty mean
lifeboat. She swims as Dory in Finding
Nemo the Musical at Disney’s Animal Kingdom. Many thanks to Juan for this awesome opportunity, and much love to her family, human and fur.
Brayshawna Thomas* as Gary Coleman (beginning July 7)
Brayshawna is extremely excited to be making her Orlando theater debut at Mad Cow. She is a graduate of The Ohio State University with a BFA in dance and theater, and she performs daily at Disney Jr. Live On Stage at Disney’s Hollywood Studios. Some credits include Tituba (The Crucible), Lead
(The Vagina Monologues), Lab technician (Wit), and Mary (The Black Nativity). Bray can be seen as a vocalist in local bands such as O’Town Motown, Rock On, and Party of Six. Shout out to her future husband Kenny!
Tracy Wiu* as Christmas Eve (beginning July 21)
Tracy is excited to make her Mad Cow debut in this dream role. Theatre credits include Miss Saigon (Mimi/Kim understudy) at Maine State
Music Theatre and Lenape Regional Performing Arts Center, multiple shows at
Walt Disney World including Finding Nemo the Musical, Lights
Motors Action, and Disney’s Spirit of Aloha. TV credits
include Homeland on Showtime and The Inbetweeners on MTV. Tracy offers thanks to Sam and her Class Act family for their love and support. #orlandoproud
Direction/Choreography by Juan Cantu
Music Direction by Heather Langs
Orchestration and Arrangements by Stephen Oremus
Scenic Design by Robert F. Wolin**
Lighting Design by John Hemphill
Costume Design by Laura Irene Young
Properties by Lisa Buck
Puppet Master Michael Paul
Stage Management by Danielle Paccione*
*Members of Actor's Equity Association
**Member of United Scenic Artists Local USA 829