Brityn Ramsey is thrilled to bring Wilbur to life in Charlotte’s Web at Nashville Children’s Theatre. A proud Nashville native, Brityn has been involved with NCT for over 10 years and has loved every minute. Her journey in theatre led her to pursue a BFA in Acting at California Institute of the Arts (CalArts), where she honed her skills and passion for storytelling. Her most recent role being Jérôme Bel in Jérôme Bel at The Roy and Edna Disney CalArts Theater at the Walt Disney Concert Hall. Returning home to perform at the very theatre where it all began is both a homecoming and a dream realized. Brityn is ever grateful to NCT, her mentors, and the audiences who continue to believe in the magic of the theatre.

Maya Antoinette Riley (She/They) Maya is a Nashville native performer, writer and director who is so excited to perform this wonderful classic. Some of Maya’s regional credits include: Aida in Aida (Studio Tenn Theatre Company), Nettie in The Color Purple and Macy in The Cake (Nashville Repertory Theatre), Ella C/Cinderella in Hip Hop Cinderella (Nashville Children’s Theatre), Joan in Fun Home (Street Theatre Company), Eleanor in Firework (Unicorn Theatre Company). They’ve also performed several new works in New York: bloodymessysurprised at the New Ohio Theatre, Kitty In The City at Urban Stages and Dance Cartel-X at the Public Theatre Gala 2019. She studied Checkhov with Slava Dolgachev (Moscow Art Theatre’s director) and Beijing Opera at the Shanghai Theatre Academy in China, while attending NYU for drama. You can find Maya on Instagram @mayaa.riley to follow their journey. Thanks to her family, friends, cast, crew and creative team for this awesome experience!

Charlotte Myhre Shealy is happy to be returning to the NCT stage! She is the artistic director of Springhouse Theatre Company and founder of their Youth Company. Her recent credits include: “, “Smoke on the Mountain” Studio Tenn, “It’s A Wonderful Life: Radio Play” Studio Tenn, “Diary of Anne Frank” Nashville Children’s Theatre, Most Wonderful Time” Amazon Prime. All her love to Evan and Honest, all glory to God.

Gerold Oliver is a Nashville native who has been performing professionally for over a decade. He is very excited to be sharing the stage with a very talented cast.

James is so happy to be back on stage at NCT with this amazing cast! He was last seen here as proud father Mufaro in the production of “Mufaro’s Beautiful Daughters”.
Favorite NCT performances include: Lahdalord (James and the Giant Peach), The Cat (Einstein is a Dummy), The Snail (A Year With Frog & Toad), Man In Suit (Dragons Love Tacos), Sebastian (The Little Mermaid), and the Wicked Witch (The Wizard of Oz). In addition to being a teaching artist and cake maker, James also just received a degree in music, specializing in violin.
Big thanks to Jen for the opportunity, his folks for their unwavering support, and you for supporting live theatre. You rock. Special shout-out to Scot Copeland.

Galen Fott has previously appeared at NCT as Mr. Rossetti in Return to Sender, as King Triton and Chef Louis in The Little Mermaid, in multiple roles in Mr. Popper’s Penguins, and as the Hairy Man in Wiley and the Hairy Man. Other local credits include Sir John Falstaff in The Merry Wives of Windsor (Nashville Shakespeare Festival), Mendel in Indecent (Nashville Rep), Burl in Smoke on the Mountain (StudioTenn), Mr. Mister in The Cradle Will Rock (Nashville Opera), Monsieur Dauphin in The Jonah People (Nashville Symphony) and understudying and performing Ebenezer Scrooge in A Christmas Carol Nashville Rep). Galen originated the role of Gaston in the Beauty and the Beast stage show at Walt Disney World, which is still running after over three decades. And in his other career as an animator, he reated projections for NCT’s The Very Hungry Caterpillar Show, and has adapted and directed over 25 children’s books into awahttp://www.galenfott.com/rd-winning films for Scholastic. www.galenfott.com

Natalie is delighted to return to the NCT stage! Favorite local credits include NCT’s production of THE BEST SCHOOL YEAR EVER (Louella McCluskey), Nashville Rep’s MARY POPPINS (Mrs. Banks) and RENT (Maureen Johnson), Street Theatre Company’s HEDWIG AND THE ANGRY INCH (Yitzhak), and Nashville Shakespeare Festival’s MACBETH (Witch). Natalie earned her BFA in Musical Theatre from Texas State University, and works as a certified One Voice Vocal Coach (singonevoice.com). Heartfelt thanks to the NCT team for their dedication and artistry; to Mommy and Pops for supporting my dreams; and to Matty, for absolutely everything.

Scott Leathers is delighted to return for his twenty sixth season as Resident Lighting Designer for NCT where he also named Resident Scenic Designer in May 2022. Favorite works include FINDING NEMO, THE WIZARD OF OZ, THE LIGHTNING THIEF, RETURN TO SENDER, GHOST, TOMAS and the LIBRARY LADY, MR. POPPER;S PENGUINS, TREASURE ISLAND, ROSA PARKS and the MONTGOMERY BUS BOYCOTT and SCHOOL HOUSE ROCK LIVE!. Mr. Leathers is also the Resident Lighting Designer for Studio West Dance Theater. Last year he was on the creative team for THE REMEMBER BALLOONS, which premiered last fall and has a national tour planned for the 25-26 seaon. He previously served as R.L.D. for Nashville Ballet (’87-’22) Kentucky Repertory Theatre (’05-’08), Opera at Chattanooga Symphony & Opera (’02-’11), Ballet TN (’96-’00) and the Ryman Auditorium’s Musical Theatre (’98-’02).

He has designed lighting for theatre, dance, and opera dance since 1981 to critical acclaim. Many of his designs have been for original works. Other credits include StudioTENN, Opera Omaha, Nashville Opera, TN Repertory Theatre, Milwaukee Ballet, American Negro Playwrights Theatre, Stage One, Theatre Craft, Amun Ra Theatre, Musical Theatre Louisville, Karen Steele Dance Quintet, Ballet Omaha, Ballet Austin, Cumberland County Playhouse, Dollywood, and internationally with Tanz Ensemble Cathy Sharp (TECS-Switzerland) and Ballet Manila (Philippines), and three designs at the Kennedy Center; lighting for Ben Fold’s Piano Concerto with the National Symphony Orchestra, Nashville Ballets’ inclusion in Ballet Across America, and scenery and lights for NCT’s JACK’S TALES.

Mr. Leathers graduated from the College of Santa Fe with a BFA in technical theatre and is a proud member of United Scenic Artists Local 829 in both Lighting and Scenic Design categories.

Billy hails from the coal country of Eastern Kentucky. He attended Morehead State University where he studied communications and theatre. While at MSU he designed such shows as By the Skin of Our Teeth, Once Upon a Mattress, Caged Birds, An Evening with Harold Pinter as well as going back in 2020 for an all alumni designed production of Treasure Island. Tennessee Dance Theatre brought him to Nashville in 1994 as a company member and he has used it as his home base since then. Some of his favorite design experiences include The Will Rodgers Follies, Sweeney Todd, The Rocky Horror Picture Show at Boiler Room Theatre; Chicago, Annie Get Your Gun, Cabaret, Man of La Mancha and Annie at Chaffin’s Dinner Theatre where he was the resident Costume Designer for 4 years; Coriolanus and Macbeth at Nashville Shakespeare; Four legs has one chair and the evening length-Voices From the Ground for Still Point Dance Theatre; Under The Lights with the Johnny Cash Estate, The Flowers Have yet to Come and The Ben Folds Affair and The Bluebird Cafe for Nashville Ballet where he was the Costume Shop Manager for 5 years. For the last 8 years he has designed costumes for the Tennessee Governor’s School for the Arts Dance Program held at Middle Tennessee State University as well as a assistant designer for Vanderbilt Opera.

Jenilee Houghton (Director) is thrilled to be directing their first production for Nashville Children’s Theatre, as well as serving as the newly appointed Executive Artistic Director. Jenilee is excited to continue NCT’s legacy of inspiring young audiences through bold, imaginative storytelling. A director, choreographer, educator, and collaborative storyteller, Jenilee is passionate about creating productions that spark empathy, wonder, and connection. Their work spans new plays, musicals, and devised projects, centering ensemble-driven creativity and visually dynamic worlds. Jenilee has worked at theatres across the country, such as Sierra Repertory Theatre, Trinity Repertory Company, Heritage Repertory Theatre, Paper Mill Playhouse, and Glimmerglass Opera. Some recent Director/Choreographer roles include Cabaret, Shout! The Mod Musical, Urinetown and Grease at Metropolis Performing Arts Center; Dr. Seuss at the Opera with JAM Orchestra; Love Sick and Amadeus at Parker Players; Matilda at Highland Park Players and The Wizard of Oz at Big Noise Theatre. Jenilee is also a playwright, and their original plays have been produced at Annoyance Theatre, Greenhouse Theater Center and Moving Bench Theatre in Chicago, as well as Vintage Soul Production’s international new works festival. Jenilee is a dedicated advocate for arts education and accessibility, and is also a certified Safe Zone facilitator. Their consent-based rehearsal practices are based on training through the Theatrical Intimacy Education program.  Jenilee earned their BFA from Illinois Wesleyan University as well as their MFA from NYU, Tisch School of the Arts.

Marsalis Turner is the Sound Designer and Audio Engineer at Nashville Children’s Theatre. He joined NCT in 2023 and helps make all the sounds you hear during the show! From music and sound effects to microphones Marsalis works behind the scenes to help bring the story to life.

Will is very excited to be returning to Nashville Children’s Theatre for Mufaro’s Beautiful Daughters! He received his BFA in Performing Arts with a concentration in tech and design from Western Kentucky University. Past Stage Management credits include Nashville Repertory Theatre, Surflight Theatre, Mill Mountain Theatre, Tent Theatre, Bell Witch Fall Festival, BG on Stage, Revival Theatre Company, and Interlakes Theatre. He would like to thank his parents for always encouraging him to chase his dreams.

Rae Phillips first fell in love with theatre at an early age and has found it difficult to leave ever since. She is a graduate of Belmont University with a BFA in Theatre Performance and began working with NCT in 2023. When not fulfilling her roles as an assistant stage manager and a scenic carpenter, Rae enjoys being on the stage. Some of her favorite productions, either onstage or behind the scenes, have been Finding Nemo, Kodachrome, Much Ado About Nothing, and Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf