Meet the Cast of A Christmas Carol – 2025!
Scrooge – Eric Fletcher
Ghost of Christmas Past/Franny – Andrea Woodbridge
Agy/Ghost of Christmas Present – Brenda Bell
Marley/Caroler – Shino Frances
Mrs. Fezzi/Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come/Poor Nora – Courtney E. Hansen
Bob Cratchit – Wesley Gardner
Mrs. Cratchit/Belle – Nicole Gardner
Fred/Diggs – Dustin Iturri
Midge/Marley Spirit/Caroler – Shea Coughlin-Jacobs
Solicitor/Mrs. Holly – Sue-Ellen Mandell
Marley Spirit/Caroler/Patricia Cratchit/ Want & Ignorance – Sara Horiuchi
Caroler/Older Younger Scrooge/US Bob Cratchit – Blake Gioviti
Caroler/Fan/US Mrs. Cratchit, Belle, Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come – Amanda Egan
Caroler/John/Mr. Fezzi/US Scrooge – Gabe DeRose
Caroler/Paper Boy/Young Scrooge/Turkey Girl/Want & Ignorance – Avery Ilardi
James/Swing – John Pickup
Tiny Tim – Nicholas David Crocco, Giulia Ilardi, Rosie Ilardi
Youth Ensemble – Ella Anderson, Clara Burke, Owen Corrigan, Sebastian D’Agostino, Eli’a Garba, Sadie Lewinter
Eric Fletcher’s Off-Broadway credits include A Christmas Carol the Musical (Ebenezer Scrooge) Frankenstein (Victor Frankenstein), Hollow (Henry and Van Ripper), Phantom of the Opera (The Phantom), Beauty and the Beast (Papa), The Little Mermaid (Fish Witch), Cinderella (Madame), Alice in Wonderland (Queen of Hearts), The Selfish Giant (Giant) and Treasure Island (Ben Gunn). Eric earned a BFA in theatre per-formance form Virginia Commonwealth University. He can also be seen around New York as his drag persona Sparkle Monster. Thanks to friends, family and Michael Capecci.
Andrea Woodbridge is thrilled to be returning to the Players Theatre stage for her fifth year in a row as The Ghost of Christmas Past! She has appeared in other productions on this stage such as Dark Ladies, The Hollow, The Stranger, Murder on the Links, A Man Among Ye, and Blood Countess. She would like to thank the fantastic cast and crew for making this such an amazing experience, and send loads of love to Sierra and Steve. www.andreawoodbridge.com; @andrea_m_woodbridge
Brenda is thrilled to be a part of the 16th anniversary of A Christmas Carol the Musical at the Players Theatre – and to welcome audiences – new and familiar – to celebrate this holiday tradition together. Brenda founded Literally Alive Theatre in 1999 and Be Bold! Productions in 2009. She has written the book and lyrics for each production, including 13 with composer Michael Sgouros. Her adaptations of A Christmas Carol and original musical Tico Tales were featured in Costa Rica at Teatro Jaco. Rumor has it that she wrote, produced and directed her first show at age six when the summer proved to be too boring. Her first love has always been dance and Bell is committed to increasing the role of dance in Off-Broadway musicals. As the owner of the Showboat Theatre, she wrote and produced shows for theatre legends including Mickey Rooney, Jamie Farr, Van Johnson, Mimi Hines and Frank Gorshin. Her writing credits also include Reading Is Cool for Reading is Fundamental and Chasing Phantom, a travelogue that traced the novel of Phantom of the Opera through Paris. She would like to thank this talented cast and creative team for bringing Dickens story to life and The Players Theatre for providing the perfect home for her whimsy and always encouraging her to be bold! Special thanks to her husband Michael Sgouros for his unending support and trust.
An NYC-based Japanese-Jewish-American creative. Shino’s performance career started in diapers when accidentally moon-ing their grandparents’ guests at the dinner table. More recent fav credits include: Outstanding Lead Actress in a Full Length Musical from MITF; a “roaring” review for their Direction of Brenda Bell’s Off-B’way adaptation of Agatha Christie’s Murder on the Links; and continuing to break the “binary” in their most recent genderbending role as Jacob Marley, here today! Shino can be spotted some nights post show, entertaining guests as part of a musical duo @UT47 on 9th ave. Follow @shinofrances for more info -♥️
Courtney E. Hansen is thrilled to be part of this production of A Christmas Carol. She has been part of the Players Theatre, Literally Alive, and Be Bold! teams for over a decade, both in the office, behind the scenes doing costumes, and under the veil on stage. Love to her cast, crew, family, friends, niblings, & mechanic.
Wesley Gardner grew up singing at church and running spotlights for his dad’s theatre productions. Most recent, “Johnny” at Universal Studios Japan in their production of “Sing, On Tour!” Wes has been a teaching artist/director with GREAT Theatre’s traveling children’s camp in MN and teaches/plays classical piano. Favorite roles include Henry Clerval in an original production of “Frankenstein; or, The Modern Prometheus” and “King Charlemagne” in Pippin. Wesley is grateful to be a part of this production and hopes to continue performing wherever it takes him.
Nicole Gardner has worked alongside experts at the Powerhouse Theater Program at Vassar College and graduated from Muhlenberg College with a B.A. in Theater and Music. Nicole is thrilled to be returning to The Players Theater after appearing in Sleepy Hollow as Sarah. Other recent credits include Barefoot in the Park (Corie Bratter), The Three Penny Opera (Jenny Diver), Trojan Women (Helen of Troy), and Steel Magnolias (Annelle Desoto). She would like to thank her friends and family for their endless love and support.
Dustin is so tickled to be back in London. This is his fifth time in A Christmas Carol and his first crack at Fred. Dustin has appeared in many productions at The Players Theatre including: Murder on the Links, Sleepy Hollow (Ichabod), The Stranger, And Then There We’re None, and many more. He also dabbles in Burlesque and clown all about town. Thank you to his family here at the Theatre and to his cuties at home. Big love! @dustinychild
Shea Coughlin-Jacobs a New York based performer and creative. Her background training in concert dance, Musical Theater BFA, and passion for all aspects of performance art has propelled her into an eclectic creative career. Shea can frequently be found in shows with Be Bold! Productions in residence at the historic Off-Broadway Players Theater, both in performing and creative capacities. She has a particular love of new works and her favorites to have worked on include Limerence (world premier) and Nickel Mines (regional premier). Shea would like to thank her wife, Kayleigh for her unwavering love and support.
Sue-Ellen Mandell appeared in many Regional, Off-off Broadway and Off Broadway productions. Roles include: Blanche: Streetcar Named Desire, Martha: Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf, Ouisa: Six Degrees of Separation, Escalus: Measure for Measure. At The New York Theater Festival: Sunset Park, for which she was nominated as Best Actress. Television work: Celebrity Ghost Stories, Investigation Discovery. Golden Corral and other commercials. At Comedy Central, collaborating to produce and appear in several Mini Mocks on their website. She has been seen in 20 productions, Off Broadway, at The Players Theater. When not acting, she enjoys teasing her granddaughters and sailing with her “boatman”, Jack! sueellenmandell@aol.com
Sara Horiuchi was born and raised in Japan. She moved to NYC 3 years ago, and this is her third time to FALALA in this pretty and sweet theatre! / Coppelia’s friend in Coppelia (CityDanceNY), ensemble in Cinderella (literally alive theatre) / Raven in A Man Among Ye (Spit&Vigor)/ George in Brutes (Spit&Vigor)/ Stage Manager at Ballet Arts showcases. Huge thanks to my family, friends and my partner. Happy Holidays!
Blake Gioviti (he/him) is a Florida native based in New York City. A graduate of the University of Florida and Berklee College of Music, he works professionally both on stage and behind the camera as a cinematographer. Recent performance credits include Gavin in Fugitive Songs (AMT Theater), Ensemble in Miss Fairfield County (New York Theater Festival), and a performer at multiple cabarets and concerts around the city. @blakegioviti
Amanda Egan hails from Pompton Lakes, NJ. She graduated Summa Cum Laude from Fordham/Alvin Ailey in 2019, and has since performed with Lydia Johnson, The Merce Cunningham Trust, Caterina Rago, and Wolf and Swan among other freelance projects. She made her Off-Broadway debut in Beauty and the Beast at The Players Theater in 2025. In 2014 she represented Team USA as a soloist, and was awarded the Gold medal at the World Championships of Tap Dance in Reisa, Germany. Amanda also has a passion for choreography and teaching, and in her spare time dabbles in songwriting. IG: @amanda_egan96
Gabe DeRose (Fezzi/Scrooge U/S) Gabe was born and raised in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania and is a graduate of Point Park University with a BA in musical theatre. Favorite credits include Captain Hastings (Murder on the Links Off-Bway), Charlie Price (Kinky Boots), Godspell (Jesus), Titanic (Barrett), and As You Like It (Orlando). Gabe recently played Captain Hastings in Murder on the Links and Brom Bones in Sleepy Hollow the Musical here at the Players Theatre, and is so thrilled to be part of Christmas Carol! He would like to thank his family and friends for their constant love and support. www.gabederose.com
Avery is super excited to be back on stage during the most magical time of the year and to help spread holiday cheer to everyone who comes to see this amazing production. Avery can be seen playing the drums in the Kars4Kids Commercial, laughing it up with the Impractical Jokers in a couple of episodes, co-staring alongside Matt Rife and Eric Roberts in The Elevator and The Undead. Avery would like to thank Mother, Father, Rotner and Jim for their constant love and support. Happy Holidays to everyone @averyilardi
John is excited to join The Players production of “A Christmas Carol”. When not performing John is sharing his love of classical ballet with his students. Select credits: Professor Callahan – Legally Blonde (Sceneworks Studios) Lurch – The Addams Family (Cape Fear Regional Theatre); Colonel Mustard – Clue! (Circa21); Mr. Z- An American in Paris (Surflight); Principal Bellamy/Sneaky-Snow White (92ndY); Puppeteer-Petunia’s Big Day! (New Ohio Theater); The Wizard-Dorothy’s Adventure in Oz (92ndY); Drosselmeyer/Cavalier-My First Nutcracker (NYCCT); The Wiggles! (Australia/Canada) Gelsey Kirkland Studio Company (NYC); Lithuanian National Ballet (Vilnius) Training: Ballet Theatre Australia (Leeanne Rutherford), Voice (Peter Van-Derick) Acting (Laura Henry Studios) Instagram: @johnhpickup