CAST

Virginia

Queenie Navarro

Queenie Navarro is excited to land this role in her first professional musical. When not on stage, she works a regular 9-5 at Warner Bros. Discovery, enjoys early morning workout sessions, loves to sing for church and weddings, and is a bird mom to two parakeets, Boba & Mochi. On her downtime, she loves dancing with friends, playing piano, getting lost in fantasy books or cozy videogames, and prioritizes spending time with family every weekend.

Sam

Michael Deni*

Michael is so excited to be working with such an amazing cast and crew for his Hudson Theatre Debut! Past theater credits include Beast In Beauty and the Beast (Moonlight Amphitheater), Lt. Cable in South Pacific (REV Theater, SALT Awards Nomination for Best Supporting Actor and Best Ensemble), and Mamma Mia! (Hollywood Bowl, Dir. Kathleen Marshall). Film and TV credits include "T-Rex Ranch" (Netflix, Series Regular), and "Into the Wild Frontier" (Tubi).

Krishnamarti

Steven Wishnoff*

Steven grew up on a diet of musical theatre, classic sit-coms and horror movies. So naturally he’s a completely normal, well-adjusted multi-hyphenate. Selected Credits include: FILM/TV: Hollywood (Netflix), OZ (HBO), Marci X (Richard Benjamin dir.), Flawless (Joel Schumacher dir.) Stonewall (Nigel Finch, dir.) THEATRE: NYC: The Real Live Brady Bunch, Howard Crabtree’s Whoop Dee Doo, Star-Crossed Lovers. REGIONAL: La Cage aux Folles (Albin/Zaza), Chicago (Amos) Chet Walker (dir.), Jesus Christ Superstar (Herod).

Harriet

Connie Monroe*

Many eons ago, I had the privilege of working with the renowned Joseph Papp in a King Lear workshop. I was extremely green and undisciplined. One day he stopped me looking deep into my eyes and said, “one day you will make it…not today or anytime soon, but trust that you will!” So in-between casting and producing incredible content for A&E’s Intervention along with other major projects: Cold Justice (Oxygen) Undiagnosed (A&E) Breaking Anonymity (HBO MAX) Life Styled (Freeform) Life Interrupted (Disney Channel) Secrets and Wives (BRAVO) Inside Jokes (Fox) I have never let go of the stage. As a long-standing member of Neo Ensemble Theater here in Los Angeles, I’ve been able to play many roles as well as produce. I’ve created my own content and love doing stand-up comedy! I am THRILLED to be here at The Hudson Theater’s Mainstage Theater in Adventures of The Great Beyond. Let’s see where this goes!

Blu

Connie Jackson*

This is Connie’s debut appearance at the Hudson Mainstage. Her credits range from the Broadway revival of Michael Bennett’s DREAMGIRLS, to touring the world, and recording as a vocalist with pop icon, Phil Collins, to recurring as Elaine on NCIS. A bucket list moment was singing with Barbra Streisand at the Grammys, and MusiCares Person of the Year benefit. Her current film roles include Aunt Ellis in Ethan Coen’s DRIVE-AWAY DOLLS, and Rene Lewis in Jay Silverman’s CAMERA. Connie spends her spare time volunteering by photographing/transporting shelter animals and cooking 20 meals a month for the unhoused.

Mattie

Katherine Heflin

Katherine is thrilled to be back on stage. Her previous roles include Tracy Lord in The Philadelphia Story, Lucy Westenra in Bram Stoker's Dracula, and Rachel Brown in Inherit the Wind. Katherine is also excited to be brought on as the costume designer for this vibrant show. Katherine would like to thank Tom, Joe, and Steven for believing in her as well as her partner Ben and her parents for their unwavering support.

Luke

Ryan Foreman

Hi my name is Ryan Foreman and I’m a Chicago/LA-based actor and singer who graduated from Northwestern University with a degree in Theatre, Musical Theatre, and Acting for the Screen. Most recently, I was in the horror comedy Departing Seniors which screened at The Chicago international Film Festival, The Chinese theater and is available on Apple TV! I’m represented by Mcguffin Management.

Marcia

Kim Taleas

Kim Taleas, a dynamic singer, actor, and songwriter from just outside Boston, now shines in Los Angeles. With a Bachelor’s Degree in Vocal Performance and Composition from LA’s Musicians Institute, she’s graced stages across the city, including a standout showcase at the famed “Hotel Cafe.” Kim is exhilarated to debut as Marcia in Adventures in the Great Beyond and eagerly anticipates this thrilling new chapter in her vibrant career!

Understudy

Krista Unverferth

Krista was born and raised in California and is now a Los Angeles based actor, singer and voiceover artist. After graduating with a BFA from Southern Oregon University, she performed with the Oregon Shakespeare Festival in the gender bending Oklahoma! and the world premiere, The Way the Mountain Moved. Since moving to LA, she has worked on various projects in film, television and commercials including the award winning short Catch the Bus and with Yale Repertory on Between Two Knees. Krista is thrilled to be working with this fantastic team.

Understudy

Sean Jasko

Sean is a recent LA transplant from Chicago where he guest starred on Chicago Fire and Chicago P.D., performed improv at ComedySportz, and musical improv with MINt at The Annoyance Theater. When he’s not on stage, Sean is a writer, gamer and comic book fanatic, but his great love is being a dad to Beau and Clark and being a husband to his best friend, Yvette. Thanks for always supporting me. Love you 3000.

PRODUCTION TEAM

Musical Director

Joe Nedder

Joe Nedder is a 24-year-old composer, singer, and multi-instrumentalist based in Los Angeles. Originally from Boston, Massachusetts, Joe got his start performing in community and regional theaters across the greater Boston area and began composing his own songs at the age of 13. After completing summer programs at the Berklee College of Music and NYU’s Clive Davis Institute of Recorded Music, Joe went on to attend Northwestern University, obtaining degrees in both Jazz Studies and Political Science. While at Northwestern, Joe regularly composed for Northwestern jazz ensembles, scored numerous student films and TV pilots, and wrote, performed, and released music with his pop/R&B band “Morning Dew.” After graduating in 2022, Joe moved to LA to pursue careers in composition and performance. He has performed regularly as a singer, bassist, and trombonist with groups and artists such as the Lucky Devils Band, The Moon Units, the Chicago Shakespeare Theater, the Beantown Swing Orchestra, Sabina Sciubba, and a variety of jazz ensembles. Nedder has assisted composers such as Daniel James Chan, Joshua Moshier, and most recently worked with Darren Fung on the upcoming feature length film “The Silent Planet.”

Director

Tom Chiodo

Tom Chiodo is executive producer of Special Projects / National Productions for WETA (Washington Educational Telecommunications Association), the flagship PBS station in Washington DC, developing primetime documentary films, original digital content, national impact and engagement campaigns, across 330+ PBS stations in more than 150 markets.

Documentaries: Ken Burns presents Hiding in Plain Sight: Youth Mental Illness (2022); Emmy-nominated The Gene: An Intimate History (2020); DuPont Columbia Award & Emmy-nominated Cancer: The Emperor of All Maladies (2015). In production: Caregiving (2025); Remote Chance: Health Care in Rural America (2025).

Forty years’ experience in media, communications, television and theatre. Former SVP Development Entertainment Industry Foundation, creating programs and funding for national initiatives in health care, volunteerism, childhood hunger and education. Tom has held senior positions at Rubenstein Associates (NY), U.S. Department of Health & Human Services, Massachusetts Department of Public

Health & State Office for Children.

Former clients: HBO; AMC; TIME, Inc. (Time magazine, TIME 100); Wenner Media; Talk Miramax Books; Albert Einstein College of Medicine; Dance Theater of Harlem; The Apollo Theatre; Al Roker Entertainment; The Tony Awards; League of American Theatres & Producers, Tribeca Film Festival; Times Square New Year’s Eve, ABC’s Good Morning America; and Stand Up to Cancer.

Theatre: Clue, The Musical (lyricist); Murder at Rutherford House (co-writer); Murder A La Carte Mystery Plays (book writer); published by Concord Theatricals. Co-author of U.S. & World Clue/ Cluedo Championships (Parker Brothers). Manhattan Repertory Company (producer/director).

Served on the boards of the Professional Performing Arts High School (NY), Heart Gallery New York. Fenway Community Health Center (Boston).

Co-author of “Home Care for Respirator Dependent Children” New England Journal of Medicine. Contributing writer Forbes.com.

Production Stage Manager

Michelle Elizabeth Vasquez

Michelle is very excited to be a part of this beautiful team to bring this show to life. Notable credits: 2nd Annual Music Is Instrumental Concert (Stage Manager – Burbank USD Arts For All), Richard III (Stage Manager –Fury Theatre), Titanic The Musical (Assistant Stage Manager – Griffin Theatre Company), Secret Comedy of Women Tour (Stage Manager – Playhouse Production), Is God Is (Assistant Stage Manager – Lobby Theatre). @mich.eliz.vasquez

Assistant Director / Musical Staging

Steven Wishnoff

Social Media

Norman King IV

Norman is a writer, director, and actor born and raised in Washington D.C. In 2022, he graduated from the Global BFA program at Emerson College in Boston and Paris College of Art (PCA) in Paris France. Norman holds a dual degree in Film Art from Emerson and Paris College of Art.

Assistant Manager

Blanca Chivichon

As a recent graduate of the CSUN theatre department, Blanca is excited to join the team as the assistant stage manager. She previously was part of the tech operating team for the 2024 Hollywood Fringe Festival. She also has a background in acting for TV and stage since childhood and loves to work in entertainment. With a passion for theatre arts, performance, and music, she looks forward to making her life a work of art.

Public Relations

Sandra Kuker (Sandra Kuker-Franco)

An Award-winning Publicist with over four decades of experience she has created a client list of diversity and successful campaigns. Film highlight: A World Away (Mark Blanchard). Stage: I’m Not A Comedian,

I’m Lenny Bruce (Ronnie Marmo, Director, Joe Mantegna), Eisenhower: This Piece of Ground (Tony Winner John Rubinstein), Death Of A Salesmen (Frances Fisher & Joe Cortese), Elephant Man, My Child, Mothers Of War (an all-star cast), Voice Lessons (Laurie Metcalf, French Stewart & Maile Flanagan), Write Act Repertory 15+ Production Campaigns, Panic! Productions: Footloose The Musical, plus 8 others. Beverly Hills Playhouse: Outrage and The Doll’s House Project + 8 other shows. Utilizing the strength of relationships, social media and traditional PR. www.SandraKukerPR.com

CAST

PRODUCTION TEAM

*AEA Member