Come From Away

Rick has worked as an award-winning actor, director, filmmaker, and arts manager with more than three decades of experience, formerly based in Washington, DC.

Since relocating to Richmond and joining the leadership team at Virginia Repertory Theatre, he has directed Beautiful: The Carole King Musical (for which he received an RTCC Award for Best Direction of a Musical), Murder on the Orient Express, Waitress, Misery, Martha Mitchell Calling, After December, and most recently adapted and directed VA Rep’s A Christmas Carol.

He received a 2018 Helen Hayes Award for his direction of Lela & Co. and a 2020 Helen Hayes Award nomination for his direction of Agnes of God, both for Factory 449. Other directing credits include Dizzy Miss Lizzie’s Roadside Revue’s The Brontes (New York Musical Theatre Festival), Reykjavik (Rorschach Theatre), Emilie: La Marquise du Châtelet Defends Her Life Tonight (WSC Avant Bard), Driving Miss Daisy featuring Karen Grassle (Riverside Center for the Performing Arts), Junie B. Jones Is Not a Crook (Adventure Theatre MTC), Dead Man Walking (American University) and Closet Land (Factory 449).

As an actor, he has performed Off-Broadway and regionally, receiving a Helen Hayes Award for his turn as Hedwig in Signature Theatre’s production of Hedwig and the Angry Inch, as well as nominations for his work in Angels in America (Signature Theatre), Me and Jezebel (MetroStage) and Oliver! (Adventure Theatre MTC).

His debut film, signage, which he wrote, directed, and produced, has screened in over 60 film festivals worldwide, receiving 6 film festival awards and was subsequently licensed by MTV’s LOGO Channel.

He is a founder and the current Producing Artistic Director of Factory 449, the recipient of multiple Helen Hayes Awards, including the John Aniello Award for Outstanding Emerging Theatre Company, and the Executive Director of the Washington Area Performing Arts Video Archive (WAPAVA).

As Virginia Rep’s Artistic Director, he provides leadership of our programming, including our strategic planning processes. He is also our key liaison with the national theatre industry.

804-783-1688 ext. 1262

Ti Reneé Ames, she/they, (Hannah & others) is excited to return to acting in her Virginia Repertory Theatre debut! Ti is primarily a theater educator, director, and intimacy coordinator. An Oberlin College graduate, they’re currently pursuing an MFA in Theatre Pedagogy at VCU. Select credits | Acting: Men On Boats (Live Arts); Jitney (Charlottesville Players Guild). Directing: Out The Mud (Firehouse Theatre, Assistant Director); Young Frankenstein, Fireflies, RENT (Live Arts); Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom (Charlottesville Players Guild); The Brothers Size (Oberlin College). Intimacy: Out The Mud (Firehouse Theatre); Fireflies, Matilda Jr. (Live Arts). Modupe to the orisha, ancestors, and my community.  

Ashlee Beary, she/her, (Janice & Others) is a New York-based actress who is thrilled to be making her Virginia Repertory debut! Select credits include SIX (alternate), Little Women (Jo) at Riverside CPA, Beautiful (Carole King) at Riverside CPA, Waitress (Swing) at John W. Engeman Theater, and Oliver! (Nancy) at Area Stage. Endless gratitude to her family, friends, and husband Matt for their love and support. Follow along on Instagram @ashleebeary.

Sherri L. Edelen (Diane & Others) is delighted to debut at VA Rep.  She traveled the country with 3 National Tours and received the Helen Hayes award for Les Miserables and Side Show (Signature Theatre, over 30 productions) and a Barrymore Award for The Light in the Piazza (Philadelphia Theatre Company).  Recent acting credits include  Dave, Vanya/Spike, Ann (Arena Stage), The Humans (Olney Theatre Center), Gloria: A Life, Copenhagen (Theatre J), Romeo and Juliet  (Folger Theatre), Outside Mullingar (Fusion Theatre Company), Sister Act (Ford’s Theatre), Merrily We Roll Along, Sunday in the Park with George (Kennedy Center).

Emelie Faith Thompson, she/her, (Bonnie & Others, U/S Beverley & Others, Dance Captain) is thrilled to be back at the Rep! Audiences may remember her from Waitress (Jenna) and MAMMA MIA! (Donna), both garnering her RTCC nominations, as well as Curious Incident (Siobhan). Her regional credits include Countess Lily in Anastasia (Virginia Musical Theatre), Mother in Ragtime (Shenandoah Summer Music Theatre), Reno in Anything Goes (Barter Theatre), Shelby in Steel Magnolias (Wayside Theatre), and Eliza in My Fair Lady, Violet in Violet, and Annie in Annie Get Your Gun (Virginia Theatre Festival). Off-Broadway: Night Games and A.A. Milne’s The Ugly Duckling (Marvell Repertory Theatre). National tours: A Christmas Carol and Miracle on 34th Street.  Love to N, V, T, and L! IG: @emeliefaiththompson.

Alia Bisharat Glidden (Beverley & Others) is a native to Richmond and returned in 2018 after a nearly 9 year stint in NYC.  Her VA Rep credits include 9 to 5 (Judy Bernly), Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (Mrs. Bucket), The Wizard of Oz (Dorothy), Bus Stop (Cherie), Cinderella (U/S Stepmother & Fairy Godmother). NYC/Regional credits include Good Morning America (NYC), Bethlehem on Broadway (NYC), The Days of 98’ Show (Skagway, AK). You can find Alia running around with her kids or helping amazing folks buy and sell houses. Alia would like to thank her family for all their love and support. And of course her amazing husband Jimmy, who is chasing their beautiful children so she can participate in today’s performance.  I love you all so much.  James 1:17  Insta: @alia_bisharat_glidden  

Durron Marquis Tyre (Bob & Others) Regional Credits: Anatole Kuragin (Great Comet, Firehouse Theatre), Baker (Into the Woods, Richmond Shakes), Frank N. Furter (Rocky Horror Show, Richmond Triangle Players), Rashad (The Light by Loy A. Webb,Yes And! Ent.), Henry (Sugar in Our Wounds, Richmond Triangle Players-RTCC Award for Best Play (2022), Lt. Eddie Souther (Sister Act, the Musical, Virginia Rep), CC White/Curtis Taylor US (Dreamgirls, Virginia Rep), and Tom Collins (Rent, Firehouse Theatre), where he earned the RTCC Award for Best Lead Actor in a Musical in 2010.  

Susan Sanford (Beulah & Others) was last seen on the Virginia Rep stage as Mrs. Dilber in the smash hit A Christmas Carol. She was also seen in this season’s production of Murder on the Orient Express as Mrs. Hubbard. Previous roles in Richmond include Big/Little Edie in Grey Gardens with Richmond Triangle Players, The Witch in Into the Woods with Richmond Shakespeare and Toni in Appropriate with Cadence Theatre, all of which garnered her RTCC best actress awards. She is thrilled to be a part of this beautiful story. All love to Foster, Willow and Jordan.

James Scales (Claude & Others) is quite pleased to make his Virginia Rep debut in this beautiful show! He is the manager of UVA’s Drama Department and has been acting in the Charlottesville area for thirty years. Favorite shows include The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, My Fair Lady, Gypsy, Carousel, Sweeney Todd, 1776, Annie Get Your Gun, West Side Story, Middletown (Virginia Theatre Festival); Stage Kiss, Uncle Vanya, Violet, Follies (Live Arts). James hosts a weekly radio show on WTJU devoted to musical theatre. He raises a glass of Screech to Kate, Ash, and Atlas for their invaluable support. Welcome to The Rock!

Erich Schroeder (Oz & Others) is so thankful to be performing in this show again. He is an actor/musician whose credits include Once The Musical (Emcee), Follies (Young Buddy), Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer The Musical (Santa), The Spitfire Grill (Sheriff Joe Sutter) and, most recently, Come From Away North American Tour (Oz & Others). He would like to thank Natalie Iscovich, his agent Natalie Kollar, and his friends and family for all their support. IG: theantiqueshrodeshow

Thomas Adrian Simpson (Nick & Others) is happy to be returning to Virginia Repertory Theatre after playing Scrooge in A Christmas Carol earlier this season. Tom just completed a run of 1776 at Ford’s Theatre playing John Hancock. Favorite roles include Abraham Lincoln, in Mary T. and Lizzy K., and Col. Pickering, in My Fair Lady, at Arena Stage; Caiaphas, in Jesus Christ Superstar, and Noah, in 110 in the Shade at Signature Theatre; and Judge Turpin in Sweeny Todd at The Olney Theatre Center. Tom is a proud graduate of The North Carolina School of the Arts. 

David Lyve Watkins, he/him, (Kevin J. & Others) is proud to be back at the Rep! Recent credits include Off-Broadway: Harder they Come (Public Theatre). Regional: Gabriel (Atlas Partnership), Me and the Devil (Arkansas Rep), and the Artsie winning Detroit 67 (Firehouse). Film credits include Voices of Fire (Netflix), Whitney (Lifetime). David is also the lead singer for the multi platinum group Ready for the World as well as a part of the choir recording of ‘This is Me’ (The Greatest Showman).  David continuously thanks God, Janine and Justice for the blessings and support to continue a life in the arts!

Eddie Webster, he/him, (Kevin T. & Others) is excited to be back on the November stage to tell this story. Most recently seen as the Porter in Macbeth (Richmond Shakespeare), Eddie’s other credits include A Christmas Carol (Virginia Rep), Natasha, Pierre, and the Great Comet of 1812 (Firehouse), The Diary of Anne Frank (SCM), 9 to 5 (Virginia Rep), Lonely Planet (5th Wall), The Inheritance (RTP, RTCC nominee – Best Supporting Performance in a Play), Red Velvet (Richmond Shakespeare), and Parade (JFT). Thank you to Rick for the opportunity and, as always, thank you to my friends and family for the love. @itseddiewebster 

Jianna Hurt, they/she, (Swing – Hannah & Janice) is happy to be a part of Virginia Rep’s Production of Come From Away. This is their first swinging experience, and they are so excited to be a part of the beautiful storytelling. Theatre credits include: A Midsummer Night’s Dream (Richmond Shakespeare), 9 to 5 (Virginia Rep), Beautiful: The Carole King Musical (Virginia Rep/Regional Theatre of the Palouse), Once on This Island (The Lynn Theatre), She Persisted (Virginia Rep), and Beehive: The ’60s Musical (Virginia Rep; RTCC nomination for Best Supporting Performance). They would love to thank their family, friends, and all the cast and crew. 

David Ramirez (Swing – Kevin T, Kevin J, Bob) was born and raised in the Richmond region. He attended VCU where he earned degrees in both Philosophy & Urban Planning. He’s super excited and grateful to be able to work with Virginia Rep again, after performing in Waitress (Ensemble, U/S Cal), Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (Swing), 9 to 5 The Musical (Ensemble, Detective), Beautiful: The Carole King Musical (Swing) and in Mamma Mia (Ensemble, Harry u/s). David’s other Richmond theatre credits include: Billy Lawlor in 42nd Street at Dogwood Dell and Freddy in Carrie: The Musical with 5th Wall Theatre company.

Aaron Thomas Moore, he/him, (Swing – Claude, Oz & Nick) is thrilled to join the Virginia Rep family for the first time! Aaron has traveled the world with Norwegian Cruise Lines as a Production Vocalist, and roles including Mr. Banks in Mary Poppins, Herbie in Gypsy, and Sam in Mamma Mia. Aaron holds a Master’s in Theatre from Regent University and is a proud alum of VSU Theatre and Dance with a BFA in Musical Theatre. He works as a director, choreographer, and is Production Manager at Riverside Center for the Performing Arts. Aaron is grateful to his family and friends for their unwavering love and support in every season of the journey. @aaronthomasmoore

Alanna Wilson, she/her, (Swing – Bonnie, Beulah, Diane) is thrilled to be a part of the Come From Away family! She’s also excited to be back on the November stage for this production. Recent local credits include: The Golden Girls: The Lost Episodes – The Holiday Edition (RTP), Snapshots: A Musical Scrapbook & From Up Here (HATTheatre), Firebringer (Dogwood Dell), She Loves Me (Homefront Players), and Winter Wonderettes (Swift Creek Mill). She has performed regionally at The Ivoryton Playhouse, Gateway Playhouse, Roxy Regional Theatre, and Northern Stage. Graduate of TheatreVCU. Special thanks to Rick, Ellie, Brandon, and the entire CFA team. Love to Joe, Owen, and Daphne.