2026 Tour Directors
At the heart of every Storybook Theatre performance are our incredible Tour Directors, professional theatre artists who bring energy, creativity, and compassion to each community we visit. These directors lead our five-day musical theatre residencies, guiding young performers through an unforgettable week of storytelling, collaboration, and growth.
Get to know the passionate individuals making the magic happen this season!
Hansel & Gretel
Matthew McCaskill as Troop Leader Paul
Matthew McCaskill is a recent graduate of Western Carolina University with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Acting, and is excited to be making his Storybook Theatre debut!
Some of his recent work includes Tom/Corporal Hammaker in A Few Good Men (Centre Stage), Andrew in Jagged Little Pill (Market Theatre), and Max Bennett in The Play That Goes Wrong (Market Theatre). Some of his favorite work he did at Western Carolina was Rober Lambert in Boeing Boeing and Emsemble in Pippin.
Outside of theatre Matthew enjoys reading comics, playing video games, and going to the movies with a bucket of popcorn and an ICEE. He can’t wait to teach the importance of always being prepared
Victoria Ryan as Brunhilda, the Candy Witch
Victoria Ryan is delighted to be joining Storybook Theatre as Brunhilda in Hansel & Gretel! She recently graduated from Sewanee: The University of the South with a BA in Theatre (Honors in Acting), as well as a minor in music.
Her favorite roles during her time at Sewanee include Emilie (The Moors), Stella Kowalski (A Streetcar Named Desire), Electra (The Oresteia), and Tilly Evans (She Kills Monsters). She also spent two summers performing with the Northeastern State River City Players as a country and rock ‘n roll singer! Off the stage she loves playing guitar, playing video games, and watching Studio Ghibli movies.
Victoria is so grateful for the opportunity to expand into children’s theatre and inspire the next generation of theatre doers and lovers!
A Midsummer Night’s Dream
Bizi Cutherell as Puck
Bizi Cutherell, originally from Katy, Texas, is a recent graduate from Southern Illinois University Carbondale with a BFA in Musical Theatre. She is so excited to be making her debut with Storybook Theatre as Puck in A Midsummer Night’s Dream!
Some of her past acting credits include Clown 2 in Corduroy, Principal Panch in 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, and the Bus Boy in She Loves Me. Previously she worked for the Paladin Playhouse Summer Theatre Camp in South Plantation Florida as an instructor/counselor, and she is thrilled to be helping kids discover the magic of theatre once again.
Outside of theatre, Bizi loves reading, playing Pokémon, sewing, and exploring new places. If you want to keep up with her adventures you can find on social media @bizi.cutherell!
Jacob Romeo as Nick Bottom
Jacob Romeo is thrilled to hit the road for his first tour with Storybook Theatre! Romeo grew up in Ohio and first attained a BA in Theatre from Berea College before graduating with an MFA in Theatre from the University of Central Florida’s Acting program. He was most recently seen in the Ensemble of Saints in Woodford Theatre’s The Hunchback of Notre Dame, as well as puppeteer for the Butterfly in Mariposa/Butterfly at the Lexington Children’s Theatre, and puppeteer in The Very Hungry Caterpillar Show at the Orlando Shakespeare Theatre before that. Other favorite roles of his include Cliff (u/s, performed) in Cabaret, Macduff in Macbeth, Victor in Playing With Fire, Bobby in Urinetown, and Stephano in The Tempest.
Romeo is eager to share the magic (and tomfoolery) of Shakespeare as Nick Bottom, and he hopes to encourage the next generation of theatre artists through this tour! When not touring or travelling for theatre, Romeo enjoys playing his harmonica, biking, and playing video games, and he can usually be found brewing a cup of Chemex coffee for him, his wife, and their two cats (Midge and Enzo) at their home in Lexington, KY.
Robin Hood
Mallory Carslake as Flora, Queen of the Faeries
Mallory Carslake is super excited to be joining Storybook Theater for her second tour this summer! She is studying to get her BFA in Musical Theatre at Western Illinois University. Some of her favorite previous roles include Chef Louis (Disney’s The Little Mermaid), Oaken (Frozen), and Paulette (Legally Blonde).
In her free time she loves to wake surf, jet ski, and spend time with her family. She hopes you enjoy the show! She’s very excited to bring the sweet and sassy Flora to life this summer!
Ryder Wickett as Sheriff of Nottingham
Ryder Wickett is stoked to be making his Storybook Theatre debut as the Sheriff of Nottingham! Ryder recently graduated from the University of Northern Iowa with a double major in Theatre Performance and Theatre for Youth and Communities and is excited to call Storybook his first foray into the world of professional theatre!
Some of the Ryder’s favorite roles he’s played recently include Dolokhov in Natasha, Pierre, and the Great Comet of 1812, Shreddy Eddy in Airness, Swing for Jason/Warren in Ordinary Days, and funnily enough, the Sheriff of Nottingham in Marian, or the True Tale of Robin Hood. Outside of theatre, Ryder enjoys hanging out with his friends, travelling, singing, (trying to) dance, and relaxing with a LEGO set and a podcast. Ryder is super excited to dive back into the world of Nottingham and to make some memories this summer both on and off the stage!
The Little Mermaid
Parker Ellsworth as Delta
Parker Ellsworth is a rising senior at Oklahoma City University, where he is double majoring in Musical Theatre and Opera Performance. Raise in Iowa, Parker fell in love with performing by watching Carol Burnett in Annie (1982). Ever since, he’s sought ways to create, inspire, and collaborate. He’s been a camp counselor at Breckenridge Backstage Theatre and currently serves as the music director of Tonal Eclipse, OCU’s Competing A Cappella group.
Some of his favorite past roles include Jack Kelly in Newsies, Robert in The Drowsy Chaperone, the Hermit in Young Frankenstein the Musical, and Gherardo in Gianni Schicchi. Parker plays the piano, harp, violin, ukulele, bass guitar, erhu, recorder, kalimba, and loves learning new instruments. He also plays pickleball and does Etch-A-Sketch art. He is thrilled to be making his Storybook Theatre debut and to meet so many fantastic people!
Trent Ramert as Caliban
Trent Ramert is so excited to return for his second tour with Storybook Theatre! He was previously seen as Sheriff Crooks in The Three Little Pigs, and he is excited to play another villain this summer! Originally from Minnesota, Trent now calls NYC his home. He received a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Musical Theatre Performance from Columbia College Chicago. Trent has performed professionally in the Twin Cities and around the country.
Last year he worked as an English immersion theatre performer in Italy, as he traveled around the country, performed in schools, and worked with students. Some of his favorite credits include Pippin (Ensemble), The Wild Party (Jackie), and Young Frankenstein (Swing/Dance Captain). Trent has a passion for creating a supportive and artistic space for everyone. Outside of theatre, Trent loves to hang with friends, dance, watch reality television, and drink coffee!
Twice Upon A Time
Kailee Larmon as Fairy Godmother
Kailee Larmon is thrilled to be joining Storybook Theatre for the first summer after her graduation! She is a recent graduate of Florida International University, where she recevied her Bachelor of Fine Arts in Musical Theatre. Go Panthers!
Some of her favorite works include Ella in R&H Cinderella, Shelby in John Proctor is the Villain, and Dogberry in Much Ado About Nothing. When Kailee isn’t frolicking around a theatre, you can probably find her scrapbooking or playing Pokemon Go. Kailee is so excited to work with young minds and share the joy of theatre this summer with Storybook!
Heath Chase as Rip Van Winkle
Heath Chase is a recent graduate of Slippery Rock University, where he earned his BFA in Acting and a minor in Film and Media Studies. Past roles include Roger Shears/Others in The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time, Angelo in Measure for Measure, and Robert in The Drowsy Chaperone. Heath has also directed in the past! He was the director of The Importance of Being Earnest, associate direct of Red Bike, assistant director of The Lion King Kids, and assistant music director of Frozen Kids.
Heath also loves Dungeons & Dragons (check out Campaign Casters wherever you find your podcasts!) and rocking out on the drum set. Big thanks to his friends and family for their endless support. He cannot wait to make his debut with Storybook Theatre! Rip Van Winkle is a character after his own heart, sleeping all the time. Heath is ecstatic to share the gift of theatre with the next generation of artists.