Erin Markham is a Roanoke native with a lifelong passion for the theatre and music. She graduated summa cum laude from Radford University with a B.S. in Theatre and an emphasis in stage management. Along with stage managing several productions and student projects at RU, Erin worked as a House Manager, Box Office Assistant, and an Assistant to the Chair. In previous summers, Erin has worked with the Christiansburg Dance Academy, the Virginia Governor’s School for Arts and Humanities, and Mill Mountain Theatre’s Education tour of Curious George: The Golden Meatball. Her most recent work includes Assistant Stage Manager for Mill Mountain Theatre’s productions of Bright Star, Jersey Boys, Holiday Inn, The Diary of Anne Frank and Fun Home. Erin hopes this show gives you all the warm fuzzies (without the swollen tongue!)

Joe Barros (Associate Director/Choreographer) [he/him] is an award-winning queer director, choreographer and writer, and is a pioneer of the development of original musicals globally. Broadway: Gigi (associate director). Off-Broadway: Cagney (associate director, cast album), Hard Times (which became Paradise Square, New York Innovative Theatre Award nominee), The Evolution of Mann (cast album), Bastard Jones. Nat’l Tours/Regional/Int’l: A Charlie Brown Christmas, Charlotte’s Web, Beaches (Chicago’s Drury Lane, associate director), Aida (Singapore), Breathe (with Matt Doyle and Max Clayton, cast album), plus Goodspeed, DC’s Signature Theatre, Broadway in Chicago, The Phoenix Theatre Company (Keynote Speaker, 2022 Festival of New American Theatre), Bucks County Playhouse, Kaixinmahua (Shanghai). Artistic Director: New York Theatre Barn - an inclusive home for original culture-shifting musicals during incubation (16 seasons). Recent Film: The Girl Who Left Home with Paolo Montalban. Barros recently directed readings of Larry Kirwan’s Iraqi Rose and McGuire & Simon’s The Bubble, and co-wrote the musical Winner with Nico Juber (London workshop). Grateful for the opportunity to collaborate with Héctor and support his inspired vision. www.joebarros.com @bisforbarros

Cindy Blevins is a local musician and performer in both the classical and musical theatre realms.  After studying piano for 14 years and earning a BA in Music she went on to teach voice and piano both privately and in public school systems and also sing with different groups in and around Richmond, VA, her hometown.  After moving to the New River Valley she continued performing with Opera Roanoke, Summer Musical Enterprise, Mill Mountain Theatre, Blacksburg Master Chorale and Virginia Children’s Theatre.  She stays busy as a collaborative pianist/accompanist with individuals and groups, and as a director and coach with music makers of all ages.  Cindy is the Chairperson for Summer Musical Enterprise headquartered in Blacksburg, and the Assistant Director of Music at Blacksburg United Methodist Church. She is also a Licensed Professional Counselor with Life in Balance Counseling Center in Christiansburg.  Cindy is thrilled to be supporting Jersey Boys with her Mill Mountain Theatre family! 

Héctor Flores Jr. (Director/Choreographer) is a Queer, Puerto Rican theatre professional based in NYC. He is thrilled to be back for his third show with Mill Mountain Theatre and even more excited to be celebrating Christmas with all of you. Previous creative team credits include, In The Heights (MMT/Oregon Cabaret Theatre/ PA Shakespeare Festival), Matilda (MMT) Xena Warrior Musical (Off-Broadway), Sueños: Our American Musical (NewYorkTheatreBarn) and Westside Story (Flatrock Playhouse) just to name a few. He’s performed on stages across America in shows like On Your Feet (Gateway Playhouse / Prather Entertainment), Mama Mia! (Flatrock Playhouse), Kiss Me Kate (St. Petersburg Opera), Urinetown (FIPAP), Ghost: The Musical (Lake Dillon Theatre Co.), Sister Act (Lake Dillon Theatre Co./ Westchester Broadway Theatre), Sol of El Barrio (Jacob’s Pillow & Off Broadway) and the U.S. Spanish language premiere of In The Heights (Gala Hispanic Theatre). Flores has also been seen dancing on TV in episodes of Full Frontal with Samantha Bee and can be spotted in the Club scene of the In The Heights movie. Héctor spent 5 years dancing with the Fred Astaire Dance Studio franchise where he won a world title and several top 3 places at the Fred Astaire World Ballroom Championships in 2016. He is the president and co-founder of Theatre Barn Records - a branch of New York Theatre Barn: an incubatory home for original culture shifting musicals, which recently released albums for Sueños Our American Musical and Xena Warrior Musical now available wherever you stream music. You can follow @HectorFloresJr35 and/or @NewYorkTheatreBarn on instagram for more info and the latest news on the musicals of tomorrow. Special thanks to my partner in work and in life, Joe Barros, for stepping in and sprinkling his magic on this production.

Mike Havens was born and raised in Roanoke, VA and has been involved in music and playing guitar since the age of 12. He received his Bachelors’ degree in classical guitar performance from Radford University and was awarded a full scholarship to study for a Masters’ degree at the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music. In 2001, he taught guitar studies at local colleges and universities including, Radford University, Emory and Henry College, Sweet Briar College, Randolph-Macon Woman’s College, and Lynchburg College. In 2008, he was offered and continues, a full-time position teaching guitar and electronic music at Patrick Henry High School in Roanoke, VA. Mike performs regularly as an acoustic and classical guitar soloist, is a member of the classical guitar and flute duo Con Eleganza, as a guest guitarist for the Roanoke Symphony Orchestra, and is the guitar and bassist for Roanoke’s Mill Mountain Theatre.

Teresa is excited to be performing in her 2nd MMT concert series and 54th MMT production! Other theatre work: Hollins University Theatre Dept. and Columbia, South Carolina's Town Theatre and Workshop Theatre where her very first show was Sweeney Todd. Teresa has been playing woodwinds since age 12, and was a member of the Dennis Reaser Orch., Roanoke Jazz Orch., founder of Star City Swing for Salem Jazz Fest, and a member of The Sway Katz. She performs for area churches and special occasions, and has performed extensively around SW VA including concerts with Gladys Knight, The Temptations, Shirley Jones and Maureen McGovern. Teresa teaches woodwinds at Hollins Univ. and Roanoke College, and taught at Bluefield Univ. from 2009-2019. She also teaches woodwinds and her husband Steve teaches brass at Hedrick Music Studios. They own Hedrick Music, Inc., which publishes the Band Fundamentals Book Series.

Sam is thrilled to be back at MMT for Elf! After working on Bright Star, he's really starting to become a semi-competent piano player. Wow, he ought to be proud! Sam is a proud member of Actor's Equity, and past credits include roles with the American Shakespeare Center, Atlantic Theater Company, Cape May Stage, Laguna Playhouse, and the 2019 Once National tour. All thanks in the world go out to his ever-growing family and the five main elf food groups (especially maple syrup). Happy holidays--no matter what you choose to celebrate, may it be filled with love and joy!

Brittney Nicole Price received her MFA from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV) with a concentration in Lighting Design and technlogy. She completed her Bachelors of Science in Theatre from Radford University in Radford, Virginia. Now a resident of Las Vegas, Nevada for the past 5 years, she has had the chance to work on a varitety of new and interesting projects. She has worked as the Assisant Lighting designer for Cirque du Soleil’s RUN, as well as Dancing with the Stars Live Tour 2020, 2022,and 2023 as the Lighting Director. She has designed for the Las Vegas Opera’s production of The Ghosts of Gatsby, as well as Super Summer’s production of Kinky Boots. Most recently, she has helped to open a new venue in Las Vegas, Voltaire, as their Head of Lighting/ Lighting Dirctor. She is over joyed to be back in Virgina near she hometown to design Mill Mountain’s production of Elf: The Musical and hopes you enjoy.

Ashley Raper is an AEA stage manager currently based out of Minneapolis, Minnesota. Elf the Musical is her Mill Mountain Theatre premiere. Her theatre credits include Dark and Stormy Productions: The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie (SM); God of Carnage (SM); Jacuzzi (SM). Artistry: Godspell (SM); Shrek the Musical (SM) PRIME Productions: The Revolutionists (SM). Park Square Theatre: Airness (SM); The Diary of Anne Frank (ASM); Face to Face: Hmong Women’s Experiences (SM); Paige in Full (SM). Sod House Theater: Arla Mae’s Booyah Wagon (SM). University of Minnesota: Ted Mann Concert Hall (SM). Kentucky Opera: Barber of Seville (PA); Rigoletto (PA). Commonwealth Theatre Center: The Ugly Duckling (SM); Little Red Riding Hood (SM). NC Summer Repertory: Sweeney Todd (ASM); Sunday in the Park with George (ASM). Triad Stage: The Price (ASM).

Chloe Riederich is a theatre practitioner from California. They graduated from Hollins University with a BA in Theatre and Environmental Studies and are currently pursuing their MA in New Play Development at Hollins. Chloe is passionate about dance, acting, directing, good coffee, and connecting with people. They are so grateful to Mill Mountain for allowing them to continue to explore their love for theatre in new ways!

Matt Shields is a native of Virginia, having grown up in Loudoun County, he first moved to the region in 2013 to attend school at Radford University where he graduated with a BS in theatre. After working for a few other companies, Matt is happy to call MMT his artistic home. In the past few years Matt has served in a variety of jobs around Mill Mountain, including Props Master, Costumes Manager, Teaching Artist, Scenic Designer, and Company Manager. Matt is very happy to now be serving MMT as the Production Manager and is grateful to MMT for all the faith they have put in him over the years.

Savannah Woodruff was born and raised in Southern Pines, North Carolina, where she was encouraged to become involved in technical theatre in high school. Savannah is a graduate of The University of North Carolina at Greensboro, and received a BFA in Technical Production. Prior to joining the Mill Mountain Theatre staff, she worked as a member of Weston Playhouse Theatre Company’s Intern Company. Savannah is grateful for the support of her family (and especially her cats) in her endeavors, and is thrilled to be able to continue working and growing with Mill Mountain Theatre.

Jackson Yowell, a Virginia local (Broadway, Va) is working as the props designer as well as backstage crew for Elf the Musical. He has also worked in previous productions at Mill Mountain such at Matilda the Musical, Brightstar as well as Jersey Boys.

Ginger Poole is a proud member of Actor’s Equity Association and an Associate member of the Stage Directors and Choreographers Union. She has studied, taught, choreographed, and performed throughout the U.S. She has worked in GA, HI, FL, MS, SC and VA with, Theatre in the Square, The Alliance City Series, Theatre Gael, Synchronicity Performance Group-GA, Mill Mountain Theatre-VA and SC Children’s Theatre. Originally from Atlanta, she has worked with the N.F.L. and The Atlanta Falcons as their director and choreographer and The Atlanta.

Prior to coming to Mill Mountain Theatre, she was based out of North Carolina where she has worked with Flat Rock Playhouse, the State Theatre of North Carolina, in over 25 productions. She was a part of the Education program at Flat Rock Playhouse for 5 years where she taught for their Apprentice Companies and their Conservatory Program in Acting, Dance, and Musical Theatre.

 Ginger has taught at The University of Southern Mississippi, Western Carolina University, William Carey College, Mississippi University for Women, and currently teaches at Hollins University.

With Ginger’s strong background in dance she finds herself not only acting and dancing on stage but also directing the choreography and classroom skills for her students. Ginger holds her M.F.A. in Acting Performance from the University of Southern Mississippi and continues to teach acting and dance. She has worked with students that range in age from kindergarten through professionals.

Ginger has worked in commercials, voice-overs, film, stage, and the classroom, and was profiled in the book FIRESTARTERS as “the actor”.

Ginger serves on the following Board of Directors: South Eastern Theatre Conference (SETC Secretary, Second Term), Junior League of the Roanoke Valley (Past President and Current Nominating Committee, Second Term), Burton Performing Arts Advisory Board, The Roanoke City Public Schools Education Foundation, and she has served on the Review Panel for the Virginia Commission for the Arts. She was the recipient of the DePaul’s Women of Achievement Award in the Arts in 2013 and was named the 2016 Kendig Award recipient for Individual Artist. Ginger is also a guest host with WSLS, the NBC affiliate, Daytime Blue Ridge television show, and is the host of the new Mill Mountain Theatre Podcast, Meet Me at Mill Mountain. She is very proud to be a member of the Mill Mountain Theatre team and looks forward to its continued growth, success, and artistic influence in the region.

Erin Markham is a Roanoke native with a lifelong passion for the theatre and music. She graduated
summa cum laude from Radford University with a B.S. in Theatre and an emphasis in stage
management. Along with stage managing several productions and student projects at RU, Erin worked
as a House Manager, Box Office Assistant, and an Assistant to the Chair. In previous summers, Erin has
worked with the Christiansburg Dance Academy, the Virginia Governor’s School for Arts and Humanities,
and Mill Mountain Theatre’s Education tour of Curious George: The Golden Meatball. Her most recent
work includes Assistant Stage Manager for Mill Mountain Theatre’s productions of Bright Star, Jersey
Boys, Holiday Inn, The Diary of Anne Frank and Fun Home. Erin hopes this show gives you all the warm
fuzzies (without the swollen tongue!)

J.T. has been playing drums at Mill Mountain since 2008. His favorite show was "My Son Pinocchio" which included his wife Rachel on piano and both kids, Kyle and Caroline, on stage. Early in his career J.T. performed in the country show at Kings Dominion and on the La Boheme cruise ship. Currently he plays with The Boogie Kings, a ragtime / dixieland group that has been together since 1986. He also plays with the 1st Baptist Roanoke orchestra, The Winds of the Blue Ridge, and the Let's Dance big band. J.T. is the owner of Sun Tan City and Buff City Soap, both supporters of Mill Mountain Theatre.

Peyton Gentry returns to Mill Mountain Theatre for Elf the Musical after performing Jersey Boys and Bright Star alongside JT Fauber. Peyton is a current grad student at Virginia Tech completing a master's degree in Curriculum and Instruction. Last spring he completed his undergrad with a Bachelor of Arts with a dual focus in both Music Education and Percussion Performance. Peyton is an active performer in the Blacksburg and Roanoke areas performing with groups such as the Roanoke Opera, Mill Mountain Theatre, Celtic Steel, and Winds of the Blue Ridge. Peyton has competed in PASIC’s International Percussion Ensemble Competition placing 3rd and 4th place on separate occasions. After graduating, Peyton plans to teach middle school, elementary, or high school music and to stay in the area to continue performing.