PROGRAM

Oliver!

Jul 20th - 30th

The streets of Victorian England come to life as Oliver, a malnourished orphan in a workhouse, becomes the neglected apprentice of an undertaker. Oliver escapes to London and finds acceptance amongst a group of petty thieves and pickpockets led by the elderly Fagin. When Oliver is captured for a theft that he did not commit, the benevolent victim, Mr. Brownlow takes him in. Fearing the safety of his hideout, Fagin employs the sinister Bill Sikes and the sympathetic Nancy to kidnap him back, threatening Oliver’s chances of discovering the true love of a family.

Brought to you by Creative Waco

Music By: Lionel Bart

Composer: Lionel Bart

Lyrics by: Lionel Bart

A WCT Production by special arrangement with Cameron Mackintosh

Oliver! Is presented through special arrangement with Music Theatre International (MTI). All authorized performance materials are also supplied by MTI.

ANY VIDEO AND/OR AUDIO RECORDING OF THIS PRODUCTION IS STRICTLY PROHIBITED

CAST

Oliver Twist

Wesley

Zuniga

Wesley Zuniga is excited to be performing in his first show with the Waco Civic Theater. Wesley is 10 years old and recently played the roles of Candy Man and Willy Wonka in his school’s production of WILLY WONKA, JR. He also played Benjamin in the 2022 summer music camp production of “Feeding of the Five Thousand” at Seventh & James Baptist Church. Wesley would like to thank Paula Hoover for casting him in his first two shows and OLIVER! director Joe Taylor for his trust and guidance in this awesome production!

Fagin

McGee

Nall

McGee Nall (Fagin) is thrilled to join Waco Civic for another feel-good, happy show! Recent credits include Mrs. Slocum in Best Christmas Pageant Ever, Ensemble in Light in the Piazza (WCT), Sarah Good in The Crucible (Silent House), and Gayle in Almost, Maine (Athens Creative Theatre). Huge thanks to her sis for being the ultimate cheerleader and to Joe for the chance to play the role of a lifetime!

Nancy

Tori

Christensen

Tori is excited to be back on the WCT stage with her theater family after a two-year hiatus while she became a mom! Some of her favorite past roles include Joe March in Little Women (WCT), Sophie in Mamma Mia! (TCT), Frenchy in Grease (WCT), and Heather in Hands on a Hardbody (WCT). She would like to thank her theater family for making this such a fun process, and her husband for holding down the fort with their rambunctious toddler and allowing her to pursue her dreams both on and offstage!

Bill Sikes

Ethan

Trueman

Ethan Trueman (Bill Sikes) received his B.F.A. in Theatre Performance from Baylor University in 2012 and has worked with the Waco theatre community since 2017. Some of his latest stage credits include: Detective Green (Second Chair), Chadd (Escape to Margaritaville), and Barnette Lloyd (Crimes of the Heart).

The Artful Dodger

Solomon

Cooper

Solo is soooo pretty! Everyone loves him. He has never met anyone who hasn’t liked him. Even I like him and I’m just his bio. Solo is very excited to play “The Artful Dodger” and is also unbelievably tired.

Bet

Madison

Mayfield

Madison is thrilled to be back on the WCT stage! During most of the year, sheÕs a diligent student at Iowa State University double majoring in English and Music. Madison is forever grateful for the limitless love and support from her friends and family.

Mr. Brownlow

William

Priest

William is excited to be in another local show! Recent credits include Footman/King in CINDERELLA (WCT), Brandon in THE WAY HE LOOKS AT YOU (Wild Imaginings), Veronica’s Father in HEATHERS (Silent House), and Kerry in THE EXONERATED (Mission Waco). In his free time, he loves to sing, sew, and play The Sims.

Mr. Bumble

Edgar

Sierra

Edgar is Assistant Professor of Voice at MCC. This is his first show with WCT and is excited for the opportunity to perform alongside such a talented cast.

Mrs. Corney

Alex

Arias

Alex is incredibly excited to take to the Civic stage for the fifth time this year! You may have seen her recently as Kitty the KitKat Club Girl in CABARET, Ensemble in MACHINAL, and Hip Hop Girl in HEATHERS, all with Silent House Theatre. This summer she had the honor of dancing around a (fake) dead body as Widow Corney in Waco Civic Theatre’s OLIVER! She has also been occasionally seen helping out behind the scenes with such Shadow Season favorites as ORDINARY DAYS and SIGNIFICANT OTHER. Of course she has to thank her incredible family and countless friends who support all her passionate creative endeavors. Special shout out to Megan Braswell, WHITE CHRISTMAS’s incredible choreographer, for inviting her to return to her JSOD tap dancing roots with this show!

Mrs. Bedwin

Joy

Marshall

Joy is so pleased to be performing once again on the WCT stage. Previously you may have seen Joy in Miscast Cabaret, Wizard of Oz, Little House Christmas, and The Most Wonderful Show of the Year. Joy also enjoys directing, music directing, stage managing and costuming shows (such as this one!). Outside of her time at WCT Joy is a choir teacher, and enjoys creating art and spending time with her family.

CREW

Director

Joseph A.

Taylor

Joseph (Director/Choreographer) has 25 years of professional performing and choreographic experience. He is blessed now to be an Associate Professor of Theatre at MCC. HeÕs so excited to have the chance to direct and choreograph for Waco Civic. Joe has been directing and choreographing for the last 18 years. This experience has been a joy from cast to crew; everyone has been so welcoming!

Stage Manager

Kaleigh

Huser

Kaleigh Huser is a graduate of Oklahoma City UniversityÕs school of music. She is so excited to be working behind the scenes as Stage Manager for Oliver! This show would not have happened without the talents of Joseph Taylor, Hallie Stone (ASM), and the rest of the Oliver! crew. Recent credits include Stepsister (Grace) in CINDERELLA (WCT), Veronica in HEATHERS, Sonia in GODSPELL, and Marta in COMPANY (Silent House). Love goes out to her Mom (Shay shay from Port A), Nina, and the rest of her theatre fam!

Assistant Stage Manager

Hallie

Stone

Hallie Stone (they/them) is currently a theatre student at McLennan Community College. They have Stage Managed for The Light in the Piazza (WCT), The Gods of Comedy (MCC), The Addams Family (MCC), and Love/Sick (MCC). They have also been apart of the tech crew for Legally Blonde Jr. (WCT) and Cinderella (WCT). Lots of love to their family and the whole Oliver cast! @hallie.liz.stone

Choreographer

Joseph A.

Taylor

Technical Director

Chaz

Macklin

Chaz is the set wizard! He joined the team in spring of 2021 and came on staff the following August. He programs the lights, designs the sets, constructs everything (with the help of volunteers), and is mastering the sound system. His most recent sets include The Light in the Piazza, Outside Mullingar, and Legally Blonde Jr., among many. His favorite show is Something Rotten but his dream role is The Carnival Barker from Assassins.