Oh, You Really Did Want to Know More...
We knew you would.
Welcome behind the scenes of Avenue Q, where you can meet the talented local performers bringing the neighborhood to life.
Keep scrolling to meet the cast, read their bios, and get to know the people behind the puppets.
Carter Rawlins
Princeton/Choreographer
Carter Rawlins is a junior Musical Theatre major at Otterbein University. Carter is super excited to be choreographing at the Marion Palace Theatre for the first time. Carter's previous choreography credits include Tick, Tick…Boom! at the Ohio Performing Arts Academy and Rodgers and Hammerstein's Cinderella at Marion Harding High School. Carter's Regional Theatre credits include The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee as Barfee(OST), She Loves Me as Ladislov Sipos(OST), and Tick, Tick…Boom! as Michael(Ohio Performing Arts Academy). Carter's most recent Education Theatre credits at Otterbein include Rodgers and Hammerstein's Cinderella as Jean-Michel and Footloose as Principal Harry Clark. Carter is pleased to be back home performing at the Palace and would like to thank his family and friends for constantly supporting his dreams. Hope you enjoy the show! @carter.rawlins
Morgan is beyond excited to finally check a dream role off her theatre bucket list as Kate Monster in Avenue Q. She's been listening to this soundtrack since she was a teenager (probably a little younger than she should have been), so getting to bring Kate to life has been surreal.
Most recently, Morgan was seen as the unhinged Miss Hannigan in Annie. Other favorite roles include Diana in Next to Normal, Maureen in RENT, Ursula in Disney's The Little Mermaid, and Miss Scarlet in Clue: On Stage. In recent years, Morgan has discovered a love for directing and recently directed her second production, Bringing Down the House. Working with the incredibly talented kids in our community has quickly become one of her favorite parts of theatre.
Morgan would like to thank the entire production team for their incredible work. Most of all, she thanks her biggest supporters: her husband, Caleb, and kids Oliver (12) and Nora (10), for always cheering her on as she does what she loves.
Morgan Schwartz
Kate Monster
Kendell Edgerton
Nicky
Michael is a local musician/performer. You may have seen him with his guitar at different venues around town. He has always had a passion for music and the performing arts. This is his second production on stage at The Palace, with the first one being Rent.
Michael would like to thank the cast and crew for creating a welcoming and enjoyable environment. He would like to thank Dustin, Jami, and Kathy for all their help and direction and for giving him the opportunity to breathe life into this fun character. Mostly, he would like to thank his family for all the love and support. They always give him the courage and confidence he needs to be on the stage.
Amanda has been active in local community theatre for over 20 years and is always thrilled to be back on the Marion Palace Theatre stage. She is a member of Rogue Theatrics and is a responder for the Ohio Community Theatre Association. She was most recently Sheila in the Marion Palace Production of A Chorus Line and is looking forward to directing Gutenberg! The Musical! at the Palace in November.
Amanda would like to thank BZ & CZ for their love and support. Thanks also to the entire production team and you, the audience, for supporting local theatre.
Michael Gibbs
Rod
Nick Burns
Trekkie Monster
Nick is from the big city (Caledonia). This is his debut in community theater, and he is very excited to be part of this show and amazing cast.
Shana Riedlinger
Lucy the Slut
Farrah Gregg
Bad Idea Bear
Joey Karrick
Bad Idea Bear
Amanda Zucker
Mrs. Thistletwat
Andrew N. Joseph is playing The Newcomer in Avenue Q. Andrew is born and raised in Marion, Ohio and very proud to be a part of his second Marion Palace Production with this exceptional cast and crew. His first production with the Palace was last month in A Chorus Line, where he played Bobby Mills. He works alongside Ridgedale Local Schools with their spring musical and is a singer/songwriter in his spare time.
Olivia grew up in Marion, Ohio, where she graduated from Harding High School in 2017. After High School, Olivia attended AMDA College of the Performing Arts in Los Angeles, California, and graduated with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Performing Arts/Acting in February 2020. Olivia is currently an Intervention Specialist for Marion City Schools. She recently choreographed the Marion Palace Theatre’s productions of Beetlejuice Jr. and Disney's Lion King Jr. She also directed past Pleasant Local School’s musicals, including 9 to 5 and Newsies Jr. Olivia is also a part of Marion’s Improvisation group, Shovel City, and was recently seen on stage as Tina in the Marion Palace Theatre’s production of Tony & Tina’s Wedding and Ensemble in A Chorus Line.
Francisco Ollervides is better known by everyone as “Paco,” a common nickname for Francisco’s in Mexico, where he was born and raised. Paco is supporting ensemble in Avenue Q. His love for acting started at a young age, playing the lead role in Antoine de Saint-Exupéry's The Little Prince in 1980; he was Linus in Clark Gesner's You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown in 1983; and “the wall” in William Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night's Dream in 1987. He is a marine biologist, and together with his wife Emily, they own and operate ECO Center, an outdoor education place just outside the city of Marion.
Elizabeth Moore is excited to bring Christmas Eve to the Palace stage. She has grown up on the Palace stage and has been enjoying theatre since her early days of Shooting Stars Youth Theatre! She directed Holy Mother of Bingo! in the spring, volunteers for a number of organizations in Marion, is involved with the Ohio Performing Arts Academy, and raises tons of kids on any given day - whom her amazing husband Ben is taking care of while she’s galavanting around the Palace stage.
Cameron Williams
Brian
Cameron is so excited to be doing his 8th show on the Palace stage. Thank you, friends, family, and all who have made this show possible. Enjoy!
Elizabeth Moore
Christmas Eve
Olivia Davis
Gary Coleman
Olivia Brazell
Ensemble
Andrew Joseph
Newcomer/Ensemble
Paco Ollervides
Ensemble
Jaidin Ramirez
Ensemble
Jaidin is a recent graduate of Marion Harding High School and is excited to be performing on the Palace stage for the first time! Although this is Jaidin's first musical ever, he is a former member of the Marion Harding Singers Xtreme and a crew member in many performances. Jaidin would like to thank Jami and Dustin for introducing the magic of Musicals to him this past school year. Enjoy the show!
Joseph Karrick is excited to be back on the Palace stage this summer! Joseph is currently employed at the Marion Palace Theatre and loves his job. He was most recently a part of Rogue Theatrics’ Summer Grills Gone Wild and the Palace’s Holy Mother of Bingo! Joseph thanks the cast and crew of Avenue Q for such an amazing time and hopes you enjoy the show!
Alex Dietsch
Ricky/Ensemble
Alex is excited to be back on the Palace stage in Avenue Q! He is thrilled to be part of such an amazing and talented cast. He was last seen as Donkey in Pleasant’s Shrek the Musical. He would like to thank everyone for coming and supporting!
Shana grew up in Marion and graduated from Harding High School in 2011. After high school, she attended Olivet Nazarene University and graduated with a Bachelors of Social Work in 2015. Since graduating, she has moved back to Marion and has been strongly involved in the Harding musical program as their set director and is currently the Student Pathways Advisor at Harding High School. She was last seen as a background singer for OPAA’s production of Tick, Tick...Boom! and in the ensemble of Rent on the Palace Stage.
Kendell Edgerton is excited to be back on the Palace stage as Nicky. Kendell teaches 6-12 Vocal Music and Music Theory at Pleasant Local Schools and is originally from Grove City, Ohio. He’d like to thank friends, family, students, and the creative team for helping make his musical dreams come to life.
Farrah Gregg feels incredibly lucky and proud to be a part of the AMAZING cast of Avenue Q as the Girl Bad Idea Bear! She has been a part of numerous shows both here in Marion and elsewhere since she was in the third grade.
Olivia is thrilled to be returning to the Palace Stage as Gary Coleman in Avenue Q! Olivia lives in Marion and is a teacher and coach at Olentangy Berlin High School. Most recently, she has appeared on the Palace stage in The Will Rogers Follies, Disney's Beauty and the Beast, and Christmas at the Palace. She is excited for the opportunity to work alongside such a talented cast and crew and to bring this hilarious and heartwarming show to our community.
Dustin Rawlins
Director
Dustin Rawlins is thrilled to return to the beloved Marion Palace Theatre to Direct Avenue Q. Dustin attended The Ohio State University, where he majored in Vocal Music Education and Vocal Performance. While there, he was featured as a soloist in the University Chorus, Symphonic Choir, Chorale (OSU's top mixed ensemble), and the international award-winning Ohio State University Men's Glee Club and Men’s select group, the “Statesmen”. Most recently, Dustin directed 2 groundbreaking productions at the Palace: Next to Normal and Rent. He has been blessed to play on the Palace stage, most notably as Al DeLuca in A Chorus Line, Kyle “The UPS Man” in Legally Blonde the Musical and Christmas at the Palace, Daddy Warbucks in Annie, The Beast in Disney's Beauty and the Beast, and Dan in Next to Normal. Rawlins also directs Musicals, and Directs/Choreographs/Assists award winning Show Choirs in Ohio. Dustin, along with his incredible wife Jami, loves nothing more than pouring their talent and commitment back into our incredible community here in Marion. They are dedicated to spreading the love and passion of Music and Theatre to our community. He and Jami are also the Owners, Directors, and Primary Instructors of The Ohio Performing Arts Academy, OPAA, here in Marion. Dustin would like to thank his wife and three beautiful kids for just being amazing!!
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Jami Rawlins
Vocal Director
Mrs. Jami R. Rawlins is a proud alumna of The Ohio State University, where she obtained her Bachelor’s degree in Music Education with an emphasis in voice.
For the past 17 years, Jami has worked as the Director of Choirs, Show Choirs, and Musicals at Marion Harding High School. She also serves as the District Music Coordinator for grades 6-12.
In her free time, Jami serves as the Marion Education Association (MEA) president, vocal director at the Marion Palace Theatre for multiple musicals, and is an adjudicator and clinician. Jami and her husband, Dustin, are also the owners of the Ohio Performing Arts Academy (OPAA), where she instructs Broadway classes and voice lessons. She is proud to have multiple students from her program regularly accepted into honors ensembles, competitive collegiate music programs, and working professionally in the music industry.
Jami is proud to have spent the past 20 years serving her community and growing the talent of her hometown of Marion. She could not accomplish her professional endeavors without the support of her husband, Dustin, and her three talented kids: Carter, Hillary, and Madeleine!
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Kathy Hill
Rehearsal and Orchestra Accompanist
Kathy Hill has been a proud member of the Marion community since 1980 and
considers the Marion Palace Theatre her second home.
Having studied Piano Pedagogy at MVNU, Kathy has operated her own piano studio since 1981 and currently teaches at the Irey Dance Academy. Her extensive accompaniment career includes local churches, schools, regional theaters, master classes for the Moscow Ballet, and
collaborations with three Broadway choreographers.
Professionally, she serves as the Administrative Assistant for META Solutions' Columbus office. Kathy and Ralph are avid roller coaster buffs and the proud parents of their three adult children (Ralph IV, Mally, and Karmen), and their Lab, Christian Dior.