Maya is a Nashville native and graduate of NYU Tisch School of the Arts. Her most recent credits include: Macy in The Cake (Nashville Rep), Aida in Aida (Studio Tenn), and various roles in Cymbeline and Gem of the Ocean (Nashville Shakespeare Festival). In NYC, Maya performed at the New Ohio Theatre, Urban Stages Theatre, and the Public Theatre Gala 2019. She studied with Slava Dolgachev (Moscow Art Theatre’s director) and performed Beijing Opera at the Shanghai Theatre Academy in China. She is beyond excited to make her Nashville Children’s Theatre debut! Big love to family and friends who help her feel limitless.

James is so excited to be a part of this intergalactic adventure! A Nashville native himself, James has been on stages all around town and abroad. James grew up coming to this theatre as a child and now passing the magic on as an adult is an honor and a privilege he doesn’t take lightly. He was last seen here keeping Llama awake as his toy Robot in “Llama Llama, Red Pajama”.

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 performing, James is working on a degree in music and also runs a cake business, JR’s Cake Company. He would like to thank Ernie for this opportunity, Nikki and Abby for all of their hard work, his folks for their continued love and support, and you for supporting live theatre. You rock. Special thanks to Scot Copeland. Check him out on all things social at @JaydedTheGr8; for cake, @JRsCakeCo.

Sarah is so excited to be back at NCT! She loved being a part of “The Little Mermaid” and “Auntie Claus,” and adores this cast and crew. When she isn’t singing on stage or in the recording studio, Sarah is an audio engineer, producer, and content creator at Well Wishes Productions. Her award-winning original superhero musical web series, “Incognita’s Infamous Adventures,” is currently streaming on Amazon Prime – go to http://www.incognitaseries.com for more info! Love to Christopher, Cassian and family. Non nobis.

Hello All! GiGi is always overjoyed to be back at the Children’s Theatre. You may have seen her here as Charlotte in Charlotte’s Web, or more recently as Sandy Jennifer Cheeks in Sponge Bob the Musical, or maybe way back when she was Ariel’s pink sister in The Little Mermaid. Other credits include Jovie in Elf, and Randy in A Christmas Story at Nashville Rep, as well as Urinetown and Mary Poppins. She loved working at Nashville Shakespeare Company in Romeo and Juliet as the Nurse/Benvolio/Friar. Other beloved roles are Deloris Van Cartier in Sister Act at the ol’ Chaffin’s Barn. She would like to give her undying love to all who laugh and lose their minds along side her everyday.

Jordan is thrilled to be back on the NCT stage! She has a BFA in Musical Theatre from Roosevelt University and recently received her MFA from The University of Louisville. When not on stage she teaches, plays with her pups, and watches bad reality tv. Favorite roles include: Judy Bernly in 9 to 5, Fifi La Mer in Baby Shark, Phebe in As You Like It, and Ethel Toffelmier in The Music Man.

Gerold Oliver is a Nashville Native and he has been performing for 10 years now! He is very excited to be sharing the stage with an incredibly talented cast!

Joi Ware is a native of Dallas, TX where she began her formal training at Dance Industry Performing Arts Center and Booker T. Washington High School for the Performing and Visual Arts. Joi is a graduate of Point Park University where she received a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Dance and a Bachelor of Science in Sports, Arts, and Entertainment Management. In 2019, Joi moved to Nashville to join New Dialect. She has enjoyed being part of Nashville’s tight knit yet growing dance scene as a freelance artist. Joi has created and danced in independent projects with Oz Arts, Apple, CMT, and multiple musical artists. She has also had the pleasure of being part of productions with Bombshell Dance Project, David Flores Productions, and PYDANCE. Joi is so excited to be part of NCT’s production of Hip Hop Cinderella!

“Even before engaging with formal training, Travis Cooper–also known as Santikaro, meaning “peace-bringing ray of light”–has been in love with movement and dance since he was a child. As a kid, he discovered a passion for the choreographic process, making dances with willing family members. He participated in many years of dance training mainly in Nashville, TN and Los Angeles, CA.
His training and love for dance eventually helped him land a multitude of work dancing on several episodes of “Nashville” (TV) & Cee-lo’s “Forget You”, touring with the late disco queen Donna Summers, industrials for FedEx, assistant choreographer for Just Dance: Kids, assisting choreographers internationally, etc.
While Santikaro is grateful for his thorough training and full career in the dance industry as a dancer and choreographer for music videos, tours, commercials, TV shows, films, dance companies, and industrials, he has spent years learning to integrate those formative experiences into the larger tapestry of living a purposeful, meaningful, authentic life.
Most recently, Travis is approaching the dance and movement classes he offers as a way of holding space for people no matter where they are in their journey, and seeks to provide a rich experience for all that are present in his classes.”

Abby earned her BA in Theatre Production and Design from Harding University. She has spent the past three summers as a Production Stage Manager at Stagedoor Manor while training baristas during the year. Her favorite stage management credits include Groundhog Day and BKLYN (Stagedoor Manor), Matilda (Harding University), and Steel Magnolias (Searcy Summer Dinner Theatre). She worked with Nashville Children’s Theatre as a Stage Management Intern in 2018 and is thrilled to return as a staff member for the 2022-2023 season!

Nikki Staggs is just here for the music and the dancing… she might call a cue or two.

Sam is a graduate of Lipscomb University with a B.F.A. in Theatre. He works as the Head Electrian for the Nashville Children’s Theatre throughout the course of the season but is excited to get a chance to run the show from backstage this go around. “Much love to my wife, Lo, and all my friends and family!”