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Our fall concerts are a wonderful opportunity to showcase all of the incredible talent we have in our community.
You Are Here, Now is an inspection of the relationship between theater and time. In the artistic sense, a single song can transport us to the past, ground us in the present, or send us dreaming into the future with the person singing. In the literal sense, in a world where so much of our lives are digital, happening somehow all the time and also never, theater is an art which still happens in front of us in real time and real space. It is fleeting, immediate, and gone in an evening.
Divided into three sections: Back There, Back Then; longing for the past, Here & Now; celebrating or bemoaning the present, and Somewhere, Sometime; hoping for or dreading a tomorrow that will be somehow different from today. Through this grand exploration, we hope to appreciate the yesterdays, todays, and tomorrows in our own lives just a little more.
The funds raised will support upgrades to current stage extension platforms.
Artistic Team
Director | Vanessa M. H. Powers | Music Director | Drew Wagner |
Production Manager | Abigail Blue | Media Advisor | Christine Janiak |
Lighting Designer | James Erickson | Graphic Designer | Haley Anderson |
Performers
Kelly Anderson | Marissa Badaczweski | Abigail Blue | Kate Callen |
Xander Condie | Christopher Dansby | Isaiah Dietz | Maddie Dinndorf |
Julie Erickson | Mason Esposito | Cassie Froese | Timothy Gravely |
Adam Hebeisen | Camryn Hodny | Christine Janiak | Janelle Karlsrud |
Joshua Krauskopf | Katri Reko | Yana Reko | Laura Wacker-Hansen |
Cast & Production Team Bios
Kelly Anderson (She/Her) is excited to return for a second year to SMCT for You Are Here, Now: A Fundraising Concert. Previous credits include Lady Macduff (Macbeth), Florinda (Into the Woods), and Rosalind (As You Like It). One interesting fact is that Kelly was a part of the world record for largest clog dance with over 2,600 traditional dancers in wooden shoes! “Thank you for supporting SMCT! Enjoy the show!”
Marissa Badaczewski (She/Her) is no stranger to the SMCT stage and is thankful be a part of the You Are Here, Now cast Previous credits include Josephine (Big Fish), Edna (Bright Star), and a Russian Soldier/Daughter Ensemble (Fiddler on the Roof). No stranger to performance, Marissa has spent time on the field with the University of Minnesota Marching band and Minnesota Brass, an all age drum and bugle corps. She also performs as a film actress in a variety of Indie Film projects in the Metro area currently. “Special thanks to my closest friends and colleagues, who always encourage me in my artistic endeavors, many of them on stage or in the audience tonight!”
Tim Badaczewski (He/Him) is excited to be back performing on drum set with SMCT and is thrilled to be performing alongside his wife Marissa. This will be his second production as an SMCT band member. His first being Bright Star. He has also performed on auxiliary percussion for both Mary Poppins at Inver Grove Heights community theater and Hairspray at Burnsville Summer Theater. Outside of theater, Tim loves computer programming, hockey and spoiling their cat.
Abigail Blue (She/Her) is thrilled to once again be on stage for an SMCT production. Previous credits include Ensemble (Beauty and the Beast), Jenny Hill (Big Fish), and Ensemble (Bright Star). A fun fact about Abigail is that she is part Japanese. “Thanks to you our incredible volunteers, who make our performances possible. including my wonderful husband, who is always first to sign up. Whether he knows it or not.”
Kate Callen (She/Her) is an SMCT veteran and is excited to be back on the stage for You Are Here, Now. Previous credits include Simon the Zealot (Jesus Christ Superstar), Sandra Bloom (Big Fish), and Meg March (Little Women). Throughout her illustrious theater career, Kate has played many animals including a raccoon, a starving cow, and a pig in a box. “As always, love to Ferg!”
Xander Condie (He/Him) is nostalgic as he returns to the SMCT stage for a third time for You Are Here, Now: A Fundraising Concert. Previous show credits include Jesus Christ Superstar, Fiddler On The Roof, and Seussical. A fun fact about Xander is that he met Bob Dylan after a concert once and says that it was really memorable. “Are you here, now? Are you now here? Were any of us ever anywhere else?”
Chris Dansby (He/Him) is enthusiastic to be back on stage for SMCT’s fundraising concert. Previous credits include Principal Clark (Footloose) and Mordcha (Fiddler on the Roof). Chris’ funs fact is that he is an avid cribbage player who plays in tournaments. “Thank you for coming, and supporting SMCT! I hope you enjoy You Are Here, Now!!”
Isaiah Dietz (He/Him) is excited to be back on stage for SMCT’s fall concert. Previous credits include Peter (Jesus Christ Superstar), Perchik (Fiddler), The Little Prince (The Little Prince). Isaiah’s fun fact is that he is in a band! “Thank you all, for your support!”
Maddie Dinndorf (She/Her) is thrilled for another year of being on stage for SMCT’s fall concert. Previous credits include Paulette (Legally Blonde), Woman 1 (Songs for a New World), and Crystal (Little Shop of Horrors). One fun fact about Maddie is she has seen all 46 seasons of Survivor and auditioned to be on the show (unfortunately Jeff Probst hasn’t called her yet). “I raise my cup to all of my friends and family who support me on this road, and extra grateful to be onstage again with my partner, Tim.”
Julie Erickson (She/Her) is excited to be back again and share the SMCT stage with the amazing cast of You Are Here, Now. Previous credits include Tzeitel (Fiddler on the Roof), Apostle (Jesus Christ Superstar), Margo (Bright Star). One fun fact about Julie is outside of rehearsals and her day job, she practices metalsmithing in her free time. “We’ve had a lot of fun putting this concert together. Enjoy the show!”
Mason Esposito (They/Them) is excited to be making their concert debut after joining SMCT for the first time this past spring. Previous credits include Yussel (Fiddler on the Roof ), Ensemble (Godspell), and Florinda (Into The Woods). A fun fact about Mason is they love to bake, and they enjoy decorating cakes with weird things they or their friends say. “Thank you to my friends and family for always encouraging my passions, and to the other people who live in my apartment who have tolerated me being ‘the girl in 14G’ for the entirety of this process.”
Cassie Froese (She/Her) is thrilled to be making her SMCT debut for You Are Here, Now. Previous credits include Eliza Doolittle (My Fair Lady), Emily (A Christmas Carol), Mae Tuck u/s (Tuck Everlasting). An interesting fact about Cassie is that she lived in South Korea for a year during the height of the COVID pandemic. “Thank you to all who showed up tonight to support the arts! Community theater is truly defined by our community!”
Timothy Gravely (He/Him) is overjoyed to also be making his SMCT stage debut for You Are Here, Now. Previous credits include Johnny (American Idiot), Mike (A Chorus Line), and The Baker (Into the Woods). Tim is an avid collector of the fun figurines called pop funkos and at the moment has over 600! “Thank you to my wonderful partner, Maddie, for showing me that I still have a passion for singing and pushing me to be a better person everyday.”
Adam Hebeisen (He/Him) is gob smacked to be back on stage for another SMCT production. Previous credits include Will Bloom (Big Fish), Billy Cane (Bright Star), and Fyedka (Fiddler on the Roof). One fun fact about Adam is he is an avid painter! “Shout out to Grandma for putting up with me singing at the top of my lungs at any hour of the day.”
Camryn Hodny (She/Her) is overjoyed to be returning to the SMCT stage once again. Previous credits include Annas (Jesus Christ Superstar), Fritzie (Cabaret), and Gloria (Boeing Boeing). A really fun fact about Camryn is that she was on an episode of Extreme Makeover: Home Edition when she was 10! “Thank you to my wife for always saying ‘yes’ when asked to help me practice a song, and to my bunnies for patiently listening to me sing each night.”
Christine Janiak (She/Her) is thrilled to be a part of another SMCT production. Previous credits include Judas (Jesus Christ Superstar), Paulette (Legally Blonde), and Fruma Sarah (Fiddler on the Roof). One fun fact about Christine is that THE Bill Murray once hit her in the head with a tennis ball! “Thank you to my loving husband for putting up with me during this process, you’re a rockstar. I hope you enjoy You Are Here, Now.”
Janelle Karlsrud (She/Her) is exited to be sharing the stage again with the cast of SMCT’s You Are Here, Now concert. Previous credits include Mary Magdalene (Jesus Christ Superstar), Alice Murphy (Bright Star), and Bombalurina (CATS). One fun fact about Janelle is that she has held her breath underwater for over 2 minutes. “Thank you to my partner, Jorgen for his support! Thank you to my son, Oscar for letting ‘mommy sing with her friends’.”
Josh Krauskopf (He/Him) is grateful to once again be on stage with his friends for SMCT’s You Are Here, Now: A Fundraising Concert. Previous credits include Mal Beineke (Addams Family), Stanford (Bright Star), and Zacky (Big Fish). Josh’s fun fact is that he has stood on the Great Pyramid of Giza. “Thanks for coming out to support our little community theater. I’m so glad you are here, now!”
Vanessa Magowan Horrocks Powers (She/Her) is grateful to once again bring our community together through the power of theater. Vanessa has been directing at SMCT for 10 years, and has loved each directing opportunity more than the last. Outside of SMCT, she has directed for the 10-Minute Play for Lakeshore, The Spitfire Grill, at Cross Community Players, and Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf independently. Vanessa is also an award-winning filmmaker, and one of her favorite things to do is to bring her stage actors onto the silver screen! “Thank you to my friends, my family, and partner, Ben Powers, who love me, support me, and lift me up in all that I do. To all of you, thanks for sharing your evening with us — I hope you enjoy You Are Here, Now.”
Katri Reko (She/Her) is excited to return to the SMCT stage for this concert. Previous credits include Russian Soldier (Fiddler on the Roof), Student (Les Misérables), Ensemble (Something Rotten). One fun fact about Katri is that she started a trend of having teen interns on the Susan G. Komen 3Day medical team! “Thank you to my friends and family supporting my mom and me! Y’all are the greatest!!”
Yana Reko (She/Her) is excited to be back at SMCT for You Are Here, Now. Previous credits include Yente (Fiddler on the Roof), Nurse (Big Fish), and Maria (The Sound of Music). Fun fact about Yana – she skydived to celebrate her 40th birthday and plans to jump again with her daughter this spring! “Shout out to daughter Kat, who is also on stage tonight and husband Allan, who picks up the slack while Yana and Kat are at rehearsals. Enjoy the show!!”
Lily Russ (She/Her) is overjoyed to be back on the tech/run crew for SMCTs 2024 Concert. Her first SMCT experience was Fiddler on the Roof this past spring. A fun fact about Lily is that she is a recent transplant to Minnesota.
Laura Wacker-Hansen (She/Her) is excited to return once again to the SMCT stage for their fundraising concert. Previous credits include Golde (Fiddler on the Roof), Soul Girl (Jesus Christ Superstar), and a Daughter/Police Officer (Pirates of Penzance). Laura’s fun fact is that she feeds over 4,000 kids breakfasts and lunch everyday in her role as Director of Nutrition Services for Monitcello Schools. “Thank you to my husband Garrett and my Mom, Julie, for supporting me and taking such good care of my beautiful daughter while mommy makes art with her friends!”
Drew Wagner (He/Him) is super ecstatic to be the music director for another SMCT production. While he has played in many SMCT shows, he made his music director debut in the 2023 production of Jesus Christ Superstar. HIs fun fact is that during the day, Drew is the Music Director for St. Matthew Lutheran Church. A second fun fact is that he did not write his bio.