Kylah Anderson

Kylah is going into her sophomore year of high school. She has been in 23 shows and has worked tech for many more recently, she has played Matilda in Simle’s production of Matilda, Mrs. Goop in Willy Wonka, and the daughter in Secret of the Wings. Besides theater, Kylah sings in choir, plays pickleball, and plays the bass in jazz band.

Maya Archuleta

Maya Archuleta has just graduated high school and this will be their third production with Shade Tree. They have previously worked in Descendants as Carlos De’vil. They love being in theater and working with their cast members.

Audry Bashus

Audry Bashus is going to be an eighth grader. She has been in seven shows including Star Warts as the Umpire. Audry is looking forward to being in Shade Tree’s Conservatory full time next summer. Audry would like to thank her dog, parents, and sister.

Rachael Bosch

This is Rachael’s 18th show and her 1st Shade Tree production. Rachael is about to start her senior year at Legacy. She hopes to pursue theater past graduation. Rachael has played Ursula in The Little Mermaid, The Witch in Into the Woods, and Chris/Ensemble in Carrie. She would like to give a special thank to her sister Zoe, who always comes to show her support.

Serenity Clegg-Laporte

Serenity is going to be a senior in high school. Serenity has been in many shows with Shade Tree, with Adventures of a Comic Book Hero as her first show. Serenity has also been in House on Pooh Corner, Do Not Go Gentle, and Bone Chiller.

Christine Cunningham

Christine Cunningham is going to be a freshman. She has been in five plays including The Lightning Thief. Christine’s favorite roles have been Rosamond in Best of Both Worlds and the Assistant to the Wicked Witch and Glinda in Wizard of Oz: Deleted Scene. Christine hopes everyone enjoys that show as much as the cast enjoyed putting it together!

Kennedy Cunningham

Kennedy Cunningham is going to be an eighth grader. She has been in three shows besides The Lightning Thief. Kennedy has been in Wizard of Oz: Deleted Scene, Rumpelstiltskin Private Eye, and Robin Hood.

Brynn Currie

Brynn is going to be a sophomore at BHS and her hobbies include reading, acting, and singing. This is her first show with Shade Tree, but she has been in six other shows before. Some of Brynn’s favorite roles were Linus in You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown and Little Red Riding Hood in Into the Woods Jr.

Aubrey Dewald

This is Aubrey’s second show overall, and her first Shade Tree musical. Aubrey is going to be an eighth grader at Horizon.

Zofia Dostal

Zofia is thrilled to make her Shade Tree debut in this production. Previously, she has performed as Pilar in Legally Blonde and as Miss Honey in Matilda. Zofia would like to thank her parents and sisters for their support, and her friends for inspiring her love of music. Since she has graduated from Beulah High School, Zofia plans to attend Bard College to study political science.

Garrison Dreher

Garry is going to be a sophomore in high school. He has been in seven shows, including Baby Shrek in Shrek the Musical.

Owen Engelhart

Owen is a 13 year old who is in his sixth Shade Tree show. Owen is super excited for The Lightning Thief. He would like to give a shout out to his parents and his two dogs: Georgie and Murphy.

Valerie Ebenal

Valerie has just graduated high school and is wrapping up her time with Shade Tree Players. She has been in four other Shade Tree shows, including ensemble in Pajama Game and Audrey in Descendants. She has always been a bookworm, and is very excited to bring the Percy Jackson story to life!

Brynn Feist

Brynn Feist is a 15 year old going into her sophomore year in high school. The Lightning Thief will be her first Shade Tree production. Her first and only other show role was Grace Ferral in Annie the Musical.

Katherine Fitzpatrick

Rein is a soon to be seventh grader. The Lightning Thief is going to be her second show ever. She has previously been in “Singin’ in the Rain.”

Wilbur Gniffke

Wilbur is so excited to be in The Lightning Thief musical. He lives in New Salem and will be a senior in high school. He was also in Just Another High School Play and played Wayne in PUFFS, and has played Trunchbull in Matilda as well as Donkey in Shrek the musical. Wilbur is very thankful for his family and his beautiful girlfriend, Eden, for always supporting his passion for acting.

Kaylee Hixson

Kaylee is going to be a senior in high school. She has been a Flying Monkey/Poppy in Wizard of Oz and Detective Gold/Billy Goat Gruff in Law and Order: Fairytale. Kaylee would like to thank all her choral directors as well as her family and friends.

Jada Lange

Jada Lange is an 18 year old who will be attending CLI Conservatory to pursue dancing professionally this fall. She has been in one Shade Tree show besides The Lighting Thief, which is her role of Evie in Descendants. Jada had been in many productions through Let’s Dance Studio. She is very excited for the show since everyone is so talented and has worked so hard!

Jo Lesmeister

Jo is 18 years old and this is her 15th show overall. You might know her for her unforgettable roles at BHS as the Wicked Witch and Meg March in Little Women. Being in The Lightning Thief is a dream come true. She read all the books in middle school and they played a huge part during her childhood — what a way for Jo to enter adulthood!

Joseph Macdonald

Joseph Macdonald has been in many shows, including the Sheriff in Robyn Hood and Her Merry Women, A Princess with No Name, and a Henchman in A Comic Book Hero. Joseph is going to be a junior in high school. He would like to give a special thanks to the cast, the crew, and his family who have all helped him in many ways.

Kara Milakovic

Kara is going to be a seventh grader at St. Mary’s Academy next year. This will be her fifth show with Shade Tree and first time in Conservatory. When Kara is not acting, she is dancing competitively with Just for Kix or playing for her school’s volleyball team. Kara has previously been in Rainbow Fish, The Big Bad Musical, Robinhood, How I became a Pirate, and Channeling Grimm.

Johanna Moch

Johanna is a first time Shade Tree actor and The Lightning Thief will be her first play. She would like to thank her grandma for providing transportation.

Tracy Jo Moch

Tracy is a first time Shade Tree member who joined due to her love of the Percy Jackson book series. She is going into seventh grade and is very grateful for the support of her parents. Tracy has had a blast so far and is excited for performances.

Maebelle Oxendahl

Maebelle is going to be a sophomore in high school. After dancing competitively for four years, Maebelle has decided to explore acting and the theater world. This will be her sixth show. Maebelle is very excited to be in this show and has had a fun time with the cast.

Ella Patera

Ella Patera is 15 years old and is in her 10th Shade Tree production, though she has been in 12 shows overall. She is the youngest of seven children and the loving owner of two dogs and one cat. Ella loves literature, music, and theater, and she hopes to continue to improve her many skills, especially dancing.

KennaDee Quast

Ken is an 18 year old who is going to BSC for architecture. Ken has been a dancer for four years and The Lightning Thief will be her first show.

Serenity Quellhorst

Serenity Quellhorst is a soon to be freshman in high school. She has been in five shows, three of which have been with Shade Tree. Serenity has played Jane in Descendants and Bippy/Moaning Myrtle in PUFFS. In her free time, Serenity enjoys reading and writing.

Brooklynn Riedinger

Brooklynn is going to be a junior at Legacy High School. This will be her first Shade Tree show, however she has been in eight other shows. Brooklynn is really excited to perform this show, as The Lightning Thief has been her dream show for years.

Maria Schaff

Maria Schaff is a soon-to-be sophomore in high school. Maria has been in four shows, including 101 Arabian Nights, Best of Both Worlds, and The Big Bad Musical. She would like to give special thanks to her family, her best friends, Ellie and Lacy, and her new and old friends, Asher and Sam.

Tara Schneider

Tara is ecstatic to return to Shade Tree in their production of The Lightning Thief as Sally Jackson. She is going to be a sophomore at NDSU studying English, and she was most recently seen in BHS’s production of Mama Mia as Ali and Radium Girls as Diane Roeder/Madame Curie. Tara also participated in Sleepy Hallows pit as a cellist.

Sam Thompson

Samantha “Sam” Thompson is soon to be a senior in high school. She has been in one other show, PUFFS, where she played Hannah and Viktor. She enjoys reading, writing, and acting, and has been acting since six years old — though her mom would argue that she was four when she memorized her first show.

Lex Belile

Choreographer

Lex Belile is a past Shade Tree Players participant, and has been working with Dakota Stage and Shade Tree Players, in various positions, since 2017. She has over 10 years of dance experience, and she has been involved in over 40 productions in the last 15 years. This is her second show as choreographer, first show being: Spamalot (2019). She has been the Stage Manager for nine shows, her most recent being Church Basement Ladies (2024). As well as a director for one, Christmas Carol (2022). She is currently the Office Assistant for Dakota Stage LTD, and holds an MBA and a Master’s in Philosophy.

Bethany Belile

Bethany Belile is a sophomore at NDSU. After being in theater for eight years with roles such as Xavia Jones in PUFFS, Reverend Mother in Murder in a Nunnery, and Daimler in A Dark Road, she is now trying her hand as stage manager.