🚨 NOTE: MASKS AND PROOF OF VACCINATION (for guests over 12) REQUIRED FOR ENTRY 🚨
There’s No Business Like Snow Business
December 10, 11, 12
Friday and Saturday at 7:30PM;
Sunday at 2PM.
Fort Salem Theater Mainstage
(11 E Broadway, Salem, NY 12865)
Directed by Kyle West
Music Directed by Maureen Cossey
Stage Managed by Anna Threet
Taking the ‘Snow Business’ stage are stars from this season’s mainstage productions, including Iris Rogers (The Marvelous Wonderettes), Sam Luke (Next to Normal), Courtine Harrington (The Diary of Anne Frank), Noah Casner (Next to Normal), and Kyra Fitzgerald (The Diary of Anne Frank). Local favorites, the Susi Shoes Dancers will make a guest appearance, and 14-year-old soloist Alexandra Behmoiram will make her Fort Salem Theater debut.
About the show:
Join your favorite Fort Salem Theater performers as they deck the halls with boughs and Broadway in this original holiday showtune sing-a-long! Fun for the whole family!
Alexandra Behmoiram (Soloist), a fourteen-year-old, in not only new to Fort Salem Theater, but to the area as well. Now Located in Shushan, Alexandra has been acting on Long Island since she was a little girl. A student at the Ross School in East Hampton, New York, she has appeared in shows on this island including Mary Poppins, The Music Man, The Little Mermaid, and Chicago. She is so excited to be participating in There’s No Business Like Snow Business and hopes to participate in more Fort Salem Theater events in the future!
Noah Casner (Soloist) is a recent graduate of NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts, where he studied at the Lee Strasberg Institute and NYU’s Experimental Theatre Wing. A Saratoga Springs native, he’s more than happy to make the trek out to this beautiful little theatre in Salem, where he recently played Gabe in Next To Normal. Favorite past roles include Spring Awakening (Moritz) at Weathervane Theatre, and Parade (Frankie) at Strasberg Institute.
Kyra Fitzgerald (Soloist) recently joined the Fort Salem Theater family playing Miep Gies in The Diary of Anne Frank! A Cambridge native, she has always loved performing and creating with others, and followed that passion to a degree in Music Education from the College of Saint Rose. Since graduating, she has performed at theatres across the region including Hubbard Hall, Schenectady Light Opera Company, Pittsfield Shakespeare in the Park, and Bennington Community Theatre. Roles include: A Midsummer Night's Dream (Puck), The Mystery of Edwin Drood (Rosa Bud), Into the Woods (Lucinda), Othello (Emilia), Peter and the Starcatcher (Molly Aster), The Crucible (Ann Putnam), Love's Labour's Lost (Holofernes), The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee (Olive), Romeo & Juliet (Lady Montague), a virtual reading of Twelfth Night (Olivia), and the opera L'elisir d'amore (Chorus). In addition to performing, Kyra directed the Cambridge Central School Drama Club for four years, conducted the Hubbard Hall Youth Chorale for three years, and organized many fundraiser cabarets, producing a dozen concerts and four full-length musicals. She teaches voice, piano, and music theory through Lighthouse Lyrical Studios.
Courtnie Harrington (Soloist) is so excited to be back acting in Washington County, having just appeared as Edith Frank in The Diary of Anne Frank! Courtnie is a Greenwich Central School alumni who recently completed training at a NYC conservatory. Most recently, Courtnie has been seen in NYC with Hudson Classical Theater in Sense and Sensibility (Charlotte Palmer/Hair Design), Antony and Cleopatra (Iras), and Pride and Prejudice (Lydia Bennett/Hair). Before that she was seen in the Capital District as Ariel in The Little Mermaid with Family Players of Northeastern NY as well as Ensemble/Hope Cladwell understudy in Urinetown and a featured dancer in The Producers at Schenectady Light Opera Company. Up next, Courtnie will appear in SLOC’s Songs For A New World. You can find Courtnie on Instagram (@cjharrington55) or TikTok (@coscourt)!
Sam Luke (Soloist) recently played Dan in FST’s Next To Normal and appeared in The Diary of Anne Frank, returning to the theatrical stage after a hiatus working as a professional singer, songwriter and guitarist in nightlife venues across New York and Vermont for the past several years. On stage, he has starred in Newsies (Jack Kelly), Damn Yankees (Mr. Applegate), The Wizard of Oz (Tin Man), and High School Musical (Troy Bolton). Sam has also performed as a stand-up comedian. He is a graduate of Cambridge High School and studied writing at SUNY Cortland.
Iris Rogers (Soloist) is a graduate of Purchase College where she graduated with a Bachelor of Music with a focus in Operatic Studies and vocal performance. In addition to The Marvelous Wonderettes at FST earlier this season, she has appeared onstage in The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee (Olive), Little Shop of Horrors (Audrey), Hänsel und Gretl (Hänsel), The Crucible (Rebecca Nurse), and doubled in L’Iincoronazione di Poppea as Arnalta and Nutrice. Iris also owns a local business in Hebron, (Homestead Hemp 1787) and recently hit a viral wave when she started sharing stories about her family farm on Tiktok.
Kyle West (Director/Choreographer) has three decades of creating award-winning theatre under his belt, working as a producer, director, choreographer, designer, and performer. His work has been seen all across the US, from Cape Cod, to Boston, Arizona and Dallas, to New York and has been recognized by the AriZoni Awards of Excellence, BroadwayWorld Awards, Column Awards, Annie Award, MET Awards, and MHSDG Awards, among others.
Best known for creating larger-than-life musicals, some of Kyle’s credits include Hairspray, Next to Normal, Evita, White Christmas, I Love You Because, Fiddler on the Roof, Guys and Dolls, The Music Man, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, A Man of No Importance, West Side Story, Footloose, Into the Woods, RENT, The Rink, The Boyfriend, Schoolhouse Rock Live, Little Shop of Horrors, A Chorus Line, Chicago, Grease, La Cage aux Folles, The World Goes ‘Round, Cabaret, Pirates of Penzance, My Favorite Year, Annie, and Fame. At Fort Salem Theater, he has directed Salem Under the Stars, The Marvelous Wonderettes, and Next to Normal.
Kyle’s favorite onstage appearances include Footloose (Ren), West Side Story (Action), Godspell (Judas/John the Baptist), Grease (Eugene), and in commercials for Sony, American Eagle Outfitters and others.
In 2005, Kyle became manager of concessions for Broadway’s New Amsterdam Theatre, which was home to Mary Poppins at that time, before moving on to Broadway productions of Chicago and The Color Purple. He has since worked on marketing and social media for dozens of Broadway national tours and regional theatres.
Kyle has served on the Board of Directors of Mesa Encore Theatre, and as a board liaison for Phoenix Youth Ballet Theatre/Legacy Ballet Foundation.
Maureen Cossey (Musical Director/Technical Director) is a native of Cambridge, NY.
She attended The Crane School of Music and SUNY Albany, majoring in music. She has been in numerous local productions, including those at Hubbard Hall Opera Theater.
Current engagements include music ministry director at 3 local churches, resident Stage Manager at Hubbard Hall, and vocal coach.
She thanks Fort Salem; Jared and Kyle, for allowing her to be a part of this amazing theater community!
Anna Threet (Stage Manager) attended The University of Arkansas as an acting performance major. She has appeared in Little Women the Musical as a Hag/Ballroom dancer. She has performed in two ten-minute plays at the University of Arkansas titled After the Video and Out of Tune. She helped on deck crew for Top Dog, went on to Assistant Direct In the Book of and did a stage reading of We are all soldiers in a Strange World and in Men on Boats as John Wesley Powell. At Fort Salem Theater, she appeared in The Diary of Anne Frank, playing double duty as onstage Officer and backstage stage manager.
Jared West (Accompanist) recently made his Fort Salem Theater debut as Otto Frank in The Diary of Anne Frank. He has been both onstage as a performer and behind the scenes as a music director or pianist. Onstage, he was most recently seen in A New Brain (Roger) at OhLook Theatre and A Man of No Importance (Sully O’Hara) at Brick Road Theatre. Other favorite roles are Ragtime (Younger Brother), Guys and Dolls (Sky Masterson) and Cabaret (Cliff). Jared has recently appeared behind the keys for The Sound of Music at Salem Central School, Ebenezer Scrooge at Pocket Sandwich Theatre and White Christmas, AIDA and Gypsy at Firehouse Theatre.
Anna Harrington (Assistant Stage Manager/Pianist Assistant). Is so excited to make her debut at Fort Salem Theater! Anna is a Junior at Greenwich Central School. She has loved performing since she started band in 4th grade, and has had a passion for music and singing for as long as she can remember. Anna was in All County Chorus this year, and is in a Varsity Choir a special, audition-only chorus group in the Greenwich High School.
Susi Thomas (Susi Shoes Choreographer) made her professional debut at the age of 12 at Ashcroft Theater in the UK. She then went on to earn her BA in Dance from the University of Surrey, where she worked as a professional dancer and choreographer. Later, Susi set up her own Dance and Theatre company, Charlie's Works, in London and was always kept busy with product launches, fashion shows and reviews for renowned companies such as Tommy Hilfiger and British Airways. Since her arrival in the States she has choreographed and produced shows for the likes of Adirondack Childrens Troupe, Salem Central School, Salem Courthouse, Fort Salem Theater, Queensbury High School, Long Trail School (Dorset Vermont) and Broadway Upstate (Glens Falls, NY).
In Salem, Susi is an active member of the Chamber of Commerce, an owner of the upcoming Jacko’s Corner, and creator of The Susi Shoes Dancers, who are made up of a diverse crowd of enthusiasts who dance and perform for community events, whose goal is to touch the lives of young people and to get shoes and any necessary items gently and gracefully on the right hands and feet, and to always ensure that youth who cross their path stand tall with confidence and pride.
Heather Hayes (Wonderette) is a senior at South Glens Falls High School, who recently made her Fort Salem Theater debut at Betty Jean in The Marvelous Wonderettes. Recent credits include West Side Story (Maria) at Broadway Upstate, Songs For a New World (Woman 1), and Damn Yankees (Lola) at South Glens Falls High School. She wishes to thank the entire production team for this amazing opportunity. Love and thanks to Mom, Dad, Catherine and Gemma. Follow her on Instagram @hayesheatherm www.heathermhayes.com
Kallie Ann Tarkleson (Wonderette) is a New York based actress currently working towards her BFA in musical theatre at Nazareth College. Before appearing as Suzi in The Marvelous Wonderettes and Natalie in Next to Normal at Fort Salem Theater, she has appeared on stage all over the Capital Region and Central New York in shows such as RENT: Workshop 360 (Maureen), Wolves (#46), Shrek (Fiona), A Charlie Brown Christmas (Sally Brown), Calvin Berger (Bret - TANYS Award for Excellence in Performance), Grease (Marty), and Seussical (Gertrude McFuzz). She was seen in the collegiate premiere of Chaplin the Musical (Usher) at Nazareth College directed by Valerie Wright, where she most recently starred as Berthe in Pippin. She also worked on the musical workshop of Modern with book and lyrics by Derek Gregor and Selda Sahin. She has directed and choreographed multiple shows for local elementary and middle schools. She was also a vocal/acting coach and counselor for SCC Theatre Kidz! To learn more about Kallie Ann stop by her website (kallieanntarkleson.com) and her Instagram (@kallieanntarkleson)
Jenna Wilkinson (Wonderette) recently had her debut with Fort Salem Theater as Missy in The Marvelous Wonderettes. She currently attends Russell Sage College where she studies Criminal Justice, Law, and Behavioral Science. Onstage, she has performed in Thoroughly Modern Millie (Millie), The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee (Olive), Heathers (Veronica), and Into the Woods (The Baker's Wife) among others. Jenna has also been a stagehand for multiple youth theatre productions around the capital region as well as the co-stage manager for Staging Youth's Future Inc's production of Mary Poppins.
Elana Andrews, Mari Barboza, Cindy Fronhofer, Janet Fronhofer, Susan O’Keefe, Patricia Russell, Lori Stokem, Susi Thomas (The Susi Shoes Dancers) most recently won the “Best Overall” prize in the Salem Christmas Parade 2021.
The Susi Shoes Dancers are made up of a diverse crowd of enthusiasts who dance and perform for community events. The goal is to touch the lives of young people and to get shoes and any necessary items gently and gracefully on the right hands and feet, and to always ensure that youth who cross their path stand tall with confidence and pride.