Any video and/or audio recording of this production is strictly prohibited
Thank you to our GOLD sponsors!
Thank you to our SILVER sponsors!
Ray Sanders
Ebenezer Scrooge - Fri 7 / Sat 1
Ray has done it all at MYT - performing, stage crew, CIT, intern, and staff – and she’s loved every minute of it. MYT is her family! Favorite MYT roles include Mary Poppins (MARY POPPINS JR), Madame (CINDERELLA), Squidward (SPONGEBOB THE MUSICAL), Cruella (DESCENDANTS), Ryan (HIGH SCHOOL MUSICAL 2 JR), Andrea (ONCE ON THIS ISLAND JR), and Mulan (MULAN JR). Meriden Schools: Ariel (THE LITTLE MERMAID JR), Babkak (ALADDIN JR), Dorothy (WIZZARD OF OZ JR), and Scott (DEAR EDWINA JR). Ray studies theatre, both acting and technical components, at Education Center for the Arts in New Haven.
Peighton O'Hara
Bob Cratchit - Sat 6 & Sun 2
Peighton O’Hara is thrilled to take part in MYT’s production of A Christmas Carol. She has been fortunate to participate in many different aspects of theater with such an amazing group of people. She is looking forward to portraying the well known and loved character Bob Cratchit. Peighton hopes you enjoy the show and can’t wait to perform for you!
Kylie Rybak
Ghost of Christmas Past - Fri 7 & Sat 1
Kylie loves musical theater and her MYT tribe. She has been in many past MYT performances including Frozen, Fiddler on the Roof, Matilda, Guys and Dolls, Cinderella, and Grease. She looks forward to performing in her role as the Ghost of Christmas Past.
Jessica Rybak
Sally / Scrooge's Mother / Granny Pickwick- Fri 7 & Sat 1
Jessica is so happy to be home for another MYT performance. MYT is her tribe. She has previously been in such MYT productions as Elf, Spongebob, The Descendants, and Cinderella, Mary Poppins among others. Prior to joining MYT, Jessica was involved with Paperhouse Productions and YPPCA. She loves acting so much and is sad that this is her last year with MYT.
Isabella DiFronzo
Mrs. Mops / Woman 1 / Cook - Fri 7 & Sat 1
This is Isabella's second performance with MYT. She was Ms. Smyth in MARY POPPINS in the Spring 2024 season and was so happy to return to MYT this season. Isabella was in the ensemble in HEATHERS (Southington Community Theater) and MATILDA (Kennedy Middle School). She was part of the stage crew for SCHOOL OF ROCK (JFK Middle). Isabella is a lacrosse player for Southington High School and Team CT. Her love of theater started as soon as she saw SPONGEBOB on Broadway. She thanks the cast and crew for making A CHRISTMAS CAROL a fun and memorable experience.
Jamie Baribault
Sally / Scrooge's Mother / Granny Pickwick - Sat 6 & Sun 2
Jamie is a senior at Southington High School and is a huge theater fan. She has been in many shows including, MARY POPPINS JR. (MYT), THE LIGHTNING THIEF THE PERCY JACKSON MUSICAL (Warner Theatre Summer Arts Program), THE LITTLE MERMAID AND LEGALLY BLONDE (Southington High School Drama Club), THE LION KING JR. (Flanders School Drama Club), and many others. She is very excited to be participating in her seventh MYT production, A CHRISTMAS CAROL, with her friends and can't wait for you to see the show that everyone has worked so hard on.
Evie Lindberg
Martha / Fan
This will be Evie’s 13th production at MYT (Small Alice in MTC ALICE IN WONDERLAND JR. and Cobweb in ONCE ON A HOUSETOP). She loves theatre and is grateful to be learning from so many amazing role models. When she’s not on the stage she can be found in the pool (WFYD), drawing, reading, or outside hiking/exploring.
Rowan O'Hara
Old Joe
Rowan O’Hara has been performing with Meriden Youth Theater since she was five years old, and it has become one of her favorite things. Some of her most recent performances with MYT have been Grease, Alice in Wonderland, Mary Poppins, and Sister Act. She hopes you enjoy the show!
Katherine Sanders
3rd Charity Man / Drunk
Katherine is most happy when she is anywhere near a stage, whether it’s performing or stage crew, just being around the theatre brings her joy! Her favorite MYT roles so far are Marlin in FINDING NEMO JR and Lavender in MATILDA, but she also had a great time as Tall Alice (ALICE IN WONDERLAND JR), Mary Stephen (SISTER ACT JR), Herbert (JUNIE B JONES JR), Sponge (JAMES AND THE GIAN PEACH JR.), Young Ana (FROZEN JR.), and Annie (ANNIE JR). Meriden Schools: Manal (ALADDIN JR), Dory (FINDING NEMO JR), and coming soon everyone’s favorite giraffe Melman (MADIGASCAR JR).
Desi Chaplin
While growing up in Seattle, WA, Desirée was in a school play written and performed with her peers about fairies and was a Party Goer in THE NUTCRACKER BALLET for New Era Dance Company. Since moving to Connecticut she has performed 2 musical productions with Pantochino Productions (3rd Bean in JACK AND THE BEANSTALK AND ZOMBIES & Mother Wolf in JUNGLE Book). Then performed in 2 productions with MYT, (Katie Nana in MARY POPPINS & Ensemble in GREASE).
Beyond the stage, Desi has very diverse interests ranging from baking, sewing, felting, and digital animation to rollerblading, ice hockey, and rock climbing. Desi wants to thank everyone at MYT for their continued support and is looking forward to creating many new memories through the years.
MYT Teen Company
- 2024: A Christmas Carol and Grease: School Edition
- 2023: Cinderella & The Spongebob Musical
- 2022: Descendants: The Musical & Elf JR
- 2021: Legally Blonde & High School Musical 2 JR
- 2020: Once on this Island JR
- 2019: Chicago High School Edition & Camp Rock
- 2018: 13: The Musical & Aladdin JR
- 2017: Into the Woods JR & Seussical JR
- 2016: Grease: School Edition & The Wiz
- 2015: Little Shop of Horrors & Shrek TYA
MYT Staff
- Director - Lindsay Porter
- Assistant Director - Cessa Fontanez
- Choreographer - Nich Palumbo
- Music Director - Maureen Ruhe
- Costumes & Props - Carolyn Daniels, Jalina Secchiaroli
- Technical Director - Joe Oblon
Special Thanks To
- Select Costume Rentals from: Warner Theatre
- Sound Crew: Devon Diaz, Shepard Fisher
- Lighting & Projection Design: Joe Oblon
- Spotlight operators: Angelina Blair and Randy Aresco
- Photography: Atticus Scott, Annabella Scott, Priscilla Baldwin, Jia Contardo
- Set Construction by: Joe Oblon, Troy Starkey
- Set Decoration by: Lindsay Porter, Carolyn Daniels, Jalina Secchiaroli
- Parent volunteers for helping to run the lobby
- Star Gram Chairperson: Kim Sanders
- Paperhouse Productions for the Kitchen Set
- Freddie and the custodial staff at Edison Middle School
- Kendra Henderson, Luke Henderson, Erin Lyons-Barton, and the Edison Music and Theater Department
- The Meriden YMCA
- Brian Cyr & Meriden Public Schools
Director's Note
“I can see a future full of beauty and my spirit starts to fly. I can change the world, yes it’s my duty. God forgive me, let me try.�� As a director and educator, my primary goal is to empower students to recognize their ability to make a meaningful impact on the world. I strive to show them that kindness and hard work can coexist, and that every decision they make carries the potential to influence the lives of those around them. I hope to inspire them to lead with integrity, compassion, and love. In 2011 Cessa and I were in Maloney High School’s production of “A Christmas Carol.” If you ask the directors to this day about that show, they will laugh and talk about the disasters that led up to that opening night. And somehow, despite it all and the threat of not even opening the show, Cessa and I were happy as a clam. We loved being in the ensemble and taking on multiple roles to tell this story. It became one of our favorites shows we’ve been in, and honestly my favorite version of “A Christmas Carol.” I have long hoped for the chance to share the joy and significance of this show with a new generation, and I am thrilled to finally do so. Thank you for joining us for this production. I am incredibly proud and grateful to work with such talented teens and dedicated staff. Wishing you all a Merry Christmas and a joyful holiday season!
~Lindsay Porter
Join MYT for our Spring 2024 Production!
Registration opens soon for Spring 2025!
Follow MYT on Instagram @mytymca. Learn more on our website!
Click here to join our mailing list!