Presenting The 2026 Resident Company!
Caira Carmelle is a native to Columbus, Ohio and is a rising junior musical theatre major at The University of Cincinnati: College Conservatory of Music (CCM). She is very grateful and excited to be performing here in Forestburgh! Recent regional credits include: Hairspray! (The Muny), The Color Purple (The Carnegie), Ragtime (CCT), Bright Star (SPP), The Lightning Thief (CCM). She would like to thank her friends, family, and classmates for being the best support system. Go Bearcats! @_cairacarmelle
Regional: The Robber Bridegroom, Little Harp (Beck Center) Spring Awakening, Bobby Mehler (Beck Center) West Side Story, Riff (The Wynmoor). Community/Educational: Jesus Christ Superstar, Priest (Kleist Performing Arts Center) Heathers, JD (Sunrise Civic Center) Legally Blonde, Emmett (Cypress Bay), Rent, Mark Cohen (Sunrise Civic Center). Connor is thrilled to join the resident company at Forestburgh Playhouse this summer. He has done regional work in both Fort Lauderdale, Florida and Cleveland, Ohio, and he is currently pursuing a B.M. in Music Theatre at Oberlin Conservatory. He sends his love and thanks to his family back home in Florida, he could not do this without their support. Follow him on instagram: @connorlirio
Gabe is beyond excited to join the 2026 Resident Company at Forestburgh Playhouse this summer! He is a rising Junior pursuing a Bachelor of Music in Musical Theatre at the Oberlin Conservatory of Music. He was recently seen in Timberlake Playhouse's production of Rock of Ages (Franz Klinemann), the Beck Center for the Arts' production of Spring Awakening (Hanschen), and Oberlin Music Theatre's regional premiere of Stranger Sings! (Jonathan/Steve). Born in Venezuela, Gabe later moved to South Florida and grew up in sunny beaches singing and dancing. He is incredibly grateful to storytell such beautiful and fun stories this summer and hopes you enjoy the shows! IG: @gabenrique_
Griffin Small is beyond excited to make his Forestburgh Playhouse debut this summer during their 80th season! He is a rising junior at Shenandoah University pursuing a BFA in Musical Theatre. Recent credits include Dogfight (Eddie Birdlace), The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee (Chip Tolentino), and Tick, Tick… Boom! (Jon). He would like to thank his mom, dad, brothers, friends, and everyone who has always supported him. Enjoy the show! IG: @griffinmsmall
Jade-Marie Gantt is thrilled to make her debut at the Forestburgh Playhouse. She is entering her junior year as a Musical Theatre major at Baldwin Wallace University and is originally from the Cleveland area. Some of her previous roles include Persephone in Hadestown: Teen Edition and Lorrell Robinson in Dreamgirls. She is grateful for the opportunity to spend the summer performing with such a talented company and continuing to grow as an artist. Jade would like to thank her family for their constant love and support.
Jayla Shedeed, originally from Colorado, is a current Musical Theater major at the Boston Conservatory at Berklee! Along with being a vocalist, dancer and actor, Jayla is also a singer songwriter and self taught guitarist, having written and performed many of her own original songs! As of recent, Jayla originated the role of Katie Williams in LATE: A New Musical at the Boston Center of the Arts; past credits additionally include: Be More Chill (Chloe Valentine), The Little Mermaid (Ariel), Footloose (Ariel Moore) Chicago (Roxie Hart), Mama Mia! (Sophie Sheridan). She would like to extend the biggest thank you to the amazing cast and creative team at Forestburgh Playhouse for this incredible opportunity, and to her biggest supporters, her family! @jayla_shedeed
Jocylon Evans(she/her) is a recent grad of the Indiana University Musical Theatre program! She is so so thrilled to be joining the forestburgh Resco family this summer!! She was last seen as Dee Dee Allen (The Prom) at Indiana University! Other professional credits include Alyssa Greene( The Prom) at Eclipse Summer stock Stage, Matilda (Ensemble), Wizard of Oz (Internal Swing), Beauty and the Beast(Ensemble) at constellation Stage and screen. She thanks Franklin and the whole creative team for this wonderful opportunity and her family and friends for all their support and love!! Go HOOSIERS! GO IUMT’26!!!
An Indiana native, Luke Housman recently completed his sophomore year as a BFA Musical Theatre major at Indiana University Bloomington. His recent stage credits include Rent (Roger), The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee (Chip), and The Prom (Nick). He is excited to return in Fall 2026 as Riff Riff in IU's MainStage production of The Rocky Horror Picture Show. Luke is incredibly grateful to Forestburgh Playhouse for the opportunity to be part of the 2026 Resident Company and to learn from such inspiring industry professionals. He would also like to thank his parents for their unwavering support and the sacrifices they've made to help him pursue his dreams. Lastly, he sends love and appreciation to his friends and mentors for their constant encouragement and guidance!
Mary is so incredibly excited to be making her Forestburgh Playhouse debut! She is currently a sophomore at Boston Conservatory at Berklee earning a BFA in musical theater! She has done various productions both at school and in the Boston area such as: “The Wolves” at the Hive Theater Company ( #7), “BFF” at Boston Conservatory (Lauren), and “She Kills Monsters” at Boston Conservatory (U/S Tilly). An enormous shoutout and thank you to Mom and Dad, G&G, Jake and Luke, and the rest of my family, and friends, and a special thanks to the most incredible voice teacher, Noel Smith!
Maya is thrilled to be a part of Forestburgh’s 2026 Season! Favorite regional credits include 9 to 5 and Shrek: The Musical (Priscilla Beach Theatre), Little Shop of Horrors (Theatre West) and Sister Act (Summer Repertory Theatre). Proud graduate of The Boston Conservatory (MT '25). Represented by Stewart Talent. For more, follow @mayajjaynee on socials or visit www.mayajayne.com.
Riley Eichberg is overjoyed and grateful to be a member of Forestburgh’s ResCo this season! Originally from Los Angeles, California, she is a rising sophomore working towards a BFA in Musical Theatre from Indiana University. Past credits: Parade (Lucille Frank), 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee (Olive Ostrovsky), Urinetown (Penelope Pennywise). Most notably, she was a 2025 Jimmy Awards semifinalist in NYC for her role as Pennywise and the best actress winner of the Jerry Herman Awards in Hollywood, CA. So much love to her unbelievably supportive family, friends, and every single team member at Forestburgh for giving her this incredible opportunity and allowing her to grow and learn. Riley is represented by Stewart Talent. IG @itsrileyeichberg
Roman Gatti is a BFA Acting major at Pace University and a proud member of the 2026 Resident Company. He is thrilled to continue developing his craft alongside such a passionate and dedicated group of artists. Roman has previously appeared as Father in Eurydice, Rum Tum Tugger in Cats, Freddy Benson in Dirty Rotten Scoundrels, and Mike Costa in A Chorus Line. He is especially excited for the challenge of this summer and the opportunity to push himself in new and unexpected ways. Roman looks forward to growing both as an artist and collaborator, embracing the intensity, discipline, and creativity that come with this experience. He would love to thank his Mom, Dad, Sophia, Neil, Sage, Jake, and all his Family, Friends, and Professors!
Spencer, a rising senior B.F.A MT Point Park University, is honored to be making his Forestburgh Playhouse Debut this summer. Spencer has previously been seen as Moritz in OFC Creations Spring Awakening, a Swing in Point Park University’s Steel Pier, and Paul San Marco in OFC Creations A Chorus Line. In his free time you can catch him cooking, going on walks, and cheering on the Buffalo Bills. He would like to thank his mentor Zeva Bartzell and everyone who has supported him alongside his journey.