The Fireside auditions and hires professional singers, dancers and actors from all over the United States. Many come with Broadway and National Tour experience. All of them come with great talent and a passion for their craft.
Hans Friedrichs (Hercule Poirot) is pleased to be making his Fireside debut. As an actor, he has appeared Off-Broadway, Regionally, and in Stock. Favorite roles include Truman Capote, TRU; The Emcee, CABARET; Mercutio, ROMEO AND JULIET; Albin, LA CAGE AUX FOLLES; and Simon in HAY FEVER. He has also enjoyed a 20-year directing career, including NYC productions of THE DROWSY CHAPERONE (NY Innovative Theatre Award for Outstanding Production), A MAN OF NO IMPORTANCE, PARADE, and FIFTY MILLION FRENCHMEN. AEA, SAG-AFTRA and SDC.
Victor Hernandez (Monsieur Bouc) created the role of Henry Barrow in BONNIE & CLYDE on Broadway. Regional credits include B&C (La Jolla Playhouse & Asolo Repertory); Dan – NEXT TO NORMAL (Seven Angels Theatre); Lt. Brannigan – GUYS AND DOLLS (Bucks County Playhouse); and George Banks – MARY POPPINS, Harry Bright – MAMMA MIA, The Old Man – A CHRISTMAS STORY, Gazzo, Jergens – ROCKY The Musical, and Shellhammer – MIRACLE ON 34TH STREET (Fireside Theatre). Check out his bi-yearly posts on Instagram: @thevichernandez
Molly Chiffer (Mary Desenham) is over the moon to be making her Fireside Theatre debut on the Orient Express with this magnificent cast of suspects. Favorite credits include: THE GLASS MENAGERIE (Laura Wingfield), A CHRISTMAS CAROL The Musical (Belle), A LITTLE NIGHT MUSIC (Petra), NY premiere of PARTY? (Caitlyn), and her award winning short film, KISSING KEROUAC. BFA in Acting from the University of Southern California (Fight On!). Sincerest thanks to Ed for this opportunity. www.mollychiffer.com
Nick Anastasia (Hector MacQueen) Fireside: JERSEY BOYS (Frankie, BroadwayWorld Award WINNER), BEAUTIFUL (Barry Mann), ROCKY (Paulie). Other: JERSEY BOYS (Frankie x4), VOCA PEOPLE (Tenoro, Off-Broadway/National/Internat’l Tours, Lucille Lortel Award), HONEYMOON IN VEGAS (Jack, Regional Premiere, Carbonell Nom), LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS (Seymour), HAIR (Claude, International/European Tour), FRIENDS! The Musical (Ross, Off-Broadway/National Tour), IN THE HEIGHTS (Sonny, Regional Premiere), Florida Studio Theatre, DCL/Celebrity/RCCL. IG: @nottherussianprincess
D Eric Woolweber (Michel the Conductor) A native of SE Wisconsin, D Eric has performed globally aboard Crystal Cruises; at Milton Theatre in DE; in the Chicago area with Bailiwick Arts Center, The Ubique Cabaret Theater, Theater at the Center, and Music Theater Works; in Branson with Dolly Parton’s Stampede, Silver Dollar City, and the Clay Cooper Theater; in the Milwaukee/Madison area with MKE Rep, First Stage, Forward Theater Co, Renaissance Theatreworks, Skylight Music Theatre, and this is his first appearance with The Fireside. 143 mum and Gale..
Glory Kissel (Princess Dragomiroff) is very happy to return to the Fireside after an absence of 6 years! Her last appearance here was in MY FAIR LADY as Mrs. Higgins. She has also appeared in ANYTHING GOES (Mrs. Harcourt), SISTER ACT (Sister Mary Lazarus), and DRIVING MISS DAISY (Daisy Werthen). Glory is home-based in Chicago and has appeared in many Chicago area theaters. She loves working with two of her favorite people in the theater world – Ed and MJ! Remember, love, and respect one another!
Dinanda Klaassen (Greta Ohlsson) is excited to be performing for the first time at The Fireside. Regional Theatre includes SPAMELOT, INTO THE WOODS, and JOSEPH. Credits in her home country The Netherlands includes: Verdi’s MACBETH, THE VIRGIN SUICIDES, and Kurt Weill’s DOWN IN THE VALLEY. Dinanda lives in New York City where she is a proud teacher at The Barrow Group. Her most recent credit as a director was for BMW. A big shout-out to CPM Talent for their support and guidance.
Mackenzie Rogers (Countess Andrenyi) Mackenzie’s company credits include St. Petersburg Opera (FL), The Fireside (WI), Westchester Broadway (NY), Utah Festival Opera (UT), Portland Opera (OR), and Broadway Rose (OR). Favorite performed roles are Petra in A LITTLE NIGHT MUSIC, Sister Robert Anne in NUNSENSE, Lucy in YOU’RE A GOOD MAN, CHARLIE BROWN, Martha in THE SECRET GARDEN, Cherubino in LE NOZZE DI FIGARO, and Nancy in ALBERT HERRING. Mackenzie is a proud member of the Chickasaw Nation.
Heather Patterson King (Helen Hubbard) is happy to be back at The Fireside! Last seen – MAMMA MIA! (Donna), A CHRISTMAS STORY (Mother), MIRACLE ON 34TH STREET (Doris). Off-Broadway: ON THE RAILS; International and Regional: MAMMA MIA! (Donna and Tanya), THE PROM (Dee Dee Allen), NEXT TO NORMAL (Diana), OLIVER (Nancy), 9 TO 5 (Violet), NINE (Liliane), THE WIZARD OF OZ (Glinda), EVITA (Eva); TV: Harlem, Bull, Shadow of Doubt; cabaret artist, concert vocalist, director, coach. heatherpattersonking.com @therealhpk Thanks to FSE Talent!
Isaac Hickox-Young (Colonel Arbuthnot) is an actor, director, and teaching artist based in NYC, and is thrilled to be making his debut with The Fireside Theatre. Regional credits include: Shaker Bridge Theatre, 19 productions with The Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey, The Argyle Theatre, the Illinois Shakespeare Festival, the Lake Tahoe Shakespeare Festival, and Merry War Theatre Group. He is a proud graduate of the BFA Acting Program at the University of Cincinnati: College-Conservatory of Music.
Steve Watts (Samuel Ratchett) Among the 34(!!) Fireside productions since 2003 are JERSEY BOYS, ANNIE, 42nd STREET, and 15 band shows, along with nine New Year’s Eve revues and six solo/group concerts. Regional/Int’l: ROCK OF AGES (Mercury, Chicago); TITANIC, HEDWIG AND THE ANGRY INCH, RAGTIME (Milwaukee Rep); A MIDSUMMER NIGHT’S DREAM (Teatro Franco Parenti, Milan). NYC: MACBETH, HAMLET, and the world premiere of the original musical HURRICANE. Thanks to family, friends, and everyone at The Fireside. Be kind to each other.
Parker Joh (Head Waiter) is a New York based actor. This is his sixth production here, other Fireside credits include MIRACLE ON 34TH STREET, MATILDA: The Musical, GUYS AND DOLLS, ANNIE, and A CHRISTMAS STORY: The Musical. Other notable credits include: SINGIN’ IN THE RAIN, SPRING AWAKENING, BLOODY, BLOODY, ANDREW JACKSON, and MAMMA MIA! He is excited to board the Orient Express! Special thanks to Ed, MJ, and the entire Fireside staff for making the magic happen! @parkerjohact
Kimberly Abrams (Helen, Greta, Princess Cover) is overjoyed to be back at The Fireside after playing Fruma Sarah in last year’s production of FIDDLER ON THE ROOF! Other Fireside credits: SISTER ACT. National Tour: vocalist with CIRQUE DREAMS HOLIDAZE. Off-Broadway: PINKALICIOUIS. Recent Regional credits: FIDDLER ON THE ROOF (Grandma Tzeitel, Beef & Boards); ELF (Emily Hobbs, Broadway Palm); A GENTLEMAN’S GUIDE . . . (Lady Eugenia D’Ysquith), CLUE (Mrs Peacock), and MAME (Mame Alternate) all at Arizona Broadway Theater. IG: @kimabrams. For my Dad.
Alyssa Jaffe (Mary, Countess Cover) is thrilled to be back at The Fireside! Favorite credits include FIDDLER ON THE ROOF (Hodel), BEAUTY AND THE BEAST (Belle), and THE SOUND OF MUSIC (Maria). She is an NYC-based performer (originally from sunny LA) and is a graduate of NYU. You can find her @alyssavjaffe, with over 250,000 followers. Special thanks to the Fireside team, Take 3 Talent and WSM Talent, and to her Mom, Ava, and Grandparents for always believing in her!