2021 cast
JIMMY HENDERSON - JACK LEWIS
Jimmy is just one semester away from receiving his Bachelors of Fine Arts in Music Dance Theater at BYU. He is a third-year member of the Young Ambassadors, and could recently be seen in Freaky Friday and Secret Garden at Hale Center Theatre, Sandy and Ordinary Days at the Covey Center.
ALISON CLARK - MARGARET
A graduate of BYU’s Music Dance Theater program, she has appeared in many film and stage productions. Some of her favorite roles have been Laurie in Tuacahn Amphitheater’s Oklahoma! (playing opposite her real life husband Brian Neal Clark), Jennifer Clement in Pretty Darn Funny (web series), Some of her film credits include: The Christmas Project, The Christmas Project 2: Reunion, Saturday's Warrior, Out of Step and Son’s of Provo. Alison has sung and performed all over the world with Holland America Cruise Lines and BYU’s Young Ambassadors. She is a wife and a mother of three amazing children and in her spare time she also directs the Daybreak Children’s Choir and performs with The Sock Puppets Improv Comedy troupe..
BRIAN CLARK - RON
Brian performed the role of Javert in the Broadway National Tour of Les Miserables. Some of his other stage credits include Abbe Faria in the debut of Frank Wildhorn’s new musical The Count of Monte Cristo, Judge Turpin In UVU's production of Sweeney Todd, Curly in Tuacahn’s Oklahoma! (opposite his wife), Chauvelin in The Scarlet Pimpernel, Billy Bigelow in Carousel, and Mickey in Blood Brothers. He was the lead singer on Holland America Cruise Lines and performed all over the world. Film Credits include, Saturday's Warrior, The Christmas Project, The Christmas Project: Reunion, Paradise, Pretty Darn Funny, Believe, Black and White World, and The World’s Fastest Indian appearing with Anthony Hopkins. Brian graduated from BYU where he performed with the Young Ambassadors and received a Masters Degree in Interior Design from USU. Married to Alison Akin Clark, he is an interior designer, husband, and father.”All my love to Atsi, Mustard, Beans, and Peanut.”
GUNNAR RUSSEL - MATTHEW HARRIS
Gunnar is thrilled to be reprising his role for the second time! He has been seen locally at Hale Centre Theatre Sandy in: Guys and Dolls, Baz Luhrmann's Strictlv Ballroom The Musical, Freaky Friday, and Newsies (Crutchie). Other favorite credits include: BYU-Rump (Rump); Jordan High School- Fredric (The Pirates of Penzance), Gomez Addams (The Addams Family). Gunnar is currently a Junior in the BYU MDT program and a BYU Young Ambassador.
BAILEE MORRIS - MOTHER
Bailee is excited to be back on this stage in West Valley! A few favorite Previous Credits include: Seussical! The Musical! (Mayzie la Bird, HCT), Katharine in "Freaky Friday" at HCT, Glinda in Wizard of Oz (HCT) and Mae Tuck (Tuck Everlasting, HCT). Bailee runs a vocal Studio at her house while also teaching in the Contemporary Voice departments of BYU and UVU and is a freelance photographer. @tayandbay and @tayandbaystudios. Bailee is the wife to her better half Taylor and the mother to three girls -Zoe, Tilly and Lulu. "To my snuggle family: you are my world! "
KERSEE WHITNEY - SUSAN LEWIS
Kersee started performing at age five, but was most recently seen as Mabel in BYU’s production of The Pirates of Penzance. She is currently studying Music Dance Theatre at Brigham Young University, and is performing with the BYU Young Ambassadors. She has performed at the Lincoln Center (NYC) in Crazy For You directed by Susan Stroman, as well as at Carnegie Hall in MCP’s Broadway Classics. Other favorite roles include Opal (The Miller’s Daughter) in BYU’s production of Rump, Cinderella in Rodger and Hammerstein’s Cinderella, Rusty in Footloose, and Mary Poppins in Mary Poppins. She is grateful to her husband, family, and friends for their love and support as she continues to do what she loves. Instagram: @kers_whitney & @kers_onstage
ALLY CHOE - LUCY LEWIS
Ally Choe is a junior in the BYU's Music MDT program. She has starred on BYU's mainstage Wonderland as Chloe, Hale Sandy's Freaky Friday, Hale Orem's Thoroughly Modern Millie. She is a second year Young Ambassador and is excited to be doing this show with some of her teammates. She hopes you enjoy the show.
EVAN NAEF - EDMUND LEWIS
Evan is a Washington native majoring in accounting. He is second oldest of five and is currently a Junior at BYU. Evan is thrilled and humbled for the opportunity to be a part of Star of Wonder. Some of his most recent credits include Cowboy Bob in Sundance’s production of Footloose and his role as Schroeder in You’re a Good Man Charlie Brown. Additionally, he is a current member of the BYU Young Ambassadors. He is so grateful for the amazing support of friends and family, making his experience the best ever.
MIA CLARK - ANNE
You may have seen Mia this year in the Lifetime Christmas Movie Staging Christmas with Soleil Moon Frye, George Stultz, and Jaleel White! She loves to be on stage and some of her favorite credits include: Olaf in Frozen Jr (Riverton Arts),Young Fiona in Shrek Jr (Sandy Arts), Molly in Annie (Riverton Arts), and Young Kangaroo in Suessical! (Riverton Arts). Her film credits include: Kirtland: America's Sacred Ground, Saturday's Warrior, and The Christmas Project. She performs with The Daybreak Children's Choir, write plays and musicals, and studies at The center for the Performing Arts (COPA).
EVAN CLARK - HUGH
Evan is excited to be returning to his professional stage debut with Star of Wonder. He is a senior at Riverton High School and a member of their Music Dance Theater company. His Theater credits include: The escapologist in Matilda (RHS), Sky in Mamma Mia (RHS), French Narrator in Spongebob (RHS), and was just cast in Curious Incident of the Dog in the Nighttime. You can see Evan in The Christmas Project, now on Netflix, and in the sequel The Christmas Project: Reunion on amazon music. He plays the guitar, writes music, and has multiple songs under the name Evan Reilly on Spotify.
LILA CLARK - HILDA
Lila made her film debut earlier this year on the Hallmark film Love, Fall and Order and now she is happy to be following in the family footsteps on the stage. She loves to sing and perform in the plays and musical numbers written by her sister and performed in the Clark living room. She loves unicorns, squishies, and all things pink! She studies dance at Local Motion Studios and performs with the Daybreak Children's Choir.
JAMES CONLEE - WRITER / DIRECTOR
As a composer/producer James has produced 12 different Christmas projects, sold hundreds of thousands of albums, recorded with Mannheim Steamroller, The London Symphony Orchestra, and The City of Prague Philharmonic Orchestra. As a singer James has toured with the Broadway Musical 'Miss Saigon', with Josh Groban, and performed in a dozen different countries. Star of Wonder marks his Theatrical Composing Debut.
James Conlee would like to thank those who helped get this show off the ground. Jeff Whiting who stood behind me from day one and has been to every iteration and workshop. Thank you for convincing me to let this show come alive. James Clarke for being the first to catch the vision and the first to encourage. Todd Schwartzman and George Nelson at the BYU Playwrights Program. Matt Adams and Lindsay Adams for the endless re-write sessions. Rob Moffat and the UVU Blackbox cast (On A Midnight Clear forever!). Craig Miner for countless hours of Musical Direction and stems. Marcus Andersons for the charts, orchestrations, charts, live conducting, charts, pizza, and charts! (You're my #1 Nephew with a bullet). The Brian and Alison Clark family for 25 years of friendship and for being THE family. My family for the love and support. My wife for her never ending love, you're the reason for everything! And most of all to God, for the gift of His Son.
Merry Christmas
MARCUS ANDERSON - MUSIC DIRECTOR
James’s sister Julie asked if there’s a favor he could do for her son. Julie reminded James of all the family secrets she keeps. James said - "he’s hired." Julie then said, "Make sure his bio says the following..."
Marcus Anderson is a multi instrumentalist, composer, and producer. His recordings and compositions have been featured on Netflix, ESPN, Americas Got Talent, Dancing With The Stars, and many others. Marcus has performed around the world, opening for Journey, The Roots, Kelly Clarkson etc. and has also performed with the band Train. Marcus loves Christmas more than any other holiday has been involved in Star of Wonder for 3 years.
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