Thespians - Juniors
Kayla Bell: Kayla is a junior on costume crew and is very excited to see how this season comes together. She is a part of many things outside of drama such as Pantherettes, studio dance, Best Buddies, unified track, unified bowling, class council, FCCLA, and international club. Kayla is also very involved at her church, Griffith First Christian. Kayla is wishing everyone the best of luck and hopes everyone enjoys the season!
Ayden Chavez: Ayden is a junior. This is the second year. Ayden has been active with the Griffith Theatre Company. Last year he was Satan in Don't Fearthe Reaper. He was also a member of the crew during 2023-2024 theatre season. A part from theatre, Ayden is a member of Art Club and Crochet Club. He is also a proud pet parent to adorable chinchillas: Totoro and Sakura. He would like to wish the cast and crew a terrific season.
Jeremiah Fuentes: Jeremiah is a junior at Griffith High School and is excited to participate in his fourth season with the Griffith Theatre Company and 14th show in his career. His first appearance on stage was with the Regional Performing Arts Company in Annie. His most recent performance was LeFou in Beauty and the Beast. Jeremiah’s favorite role was his performance as Max in The Play that Goes Wrong. Besides performing, he has participated in Hair & Makeup for the Griffith Middle School production of The Wizard of Oz. Outside of drama, Jeremiah participates in student council, class council, choir, dance, FCCLA, book club, Academic Super Bowl, Booster Club, and NHS. He hopes you enjoy this season! He is excited to see what is in store forfuture years with the Griffith Theatre Company!
Nicholas Grahovac: Nicholas is a junior at Griffith Jr/Sr High School and has performed for the Griffith Theatre Company for five years, but for this fall show, he takes on a new job: crew! Nicholas has been a part of past productions, such as Whodunnit?/The Wolf & Its Shadows, Radium Girls, The Brunch Club, Grease, The Diary of Anne Frank, Annie, The Play That Goes Wrong and Beauty and the Beast. Nicholas spends the majority of his fall at football and spends his winter at wrestling. Nicholas is also involved with the National Honors Society, Student Council and Class Council. He is excited to tackle his new role backstage and hopes the audience enjoys this season!
Abby Jaime: Abby is a junior and is excited to be a part of the Hairand Make-up crew again! She has previously been on this crew for Annie, The Play That Goes Wrong, Beauty and the Beast, and several middle school shows. When not backstage, Abby is a part of choir, Girls Tennis and Color Guard. Abby would like to wish everyone a great season!
Emma Kidd: Emma is a junior and has been active in the Drama Department since her freshman year. Her first show was The Diary of Anne Frank. Other shows include crew for Charlotte’s Web and The Wizard of Oz and acting in Annie and The Play that Goes Wrong. When not on stage, Emma participates in Junior Class Council, Student Council, Crochet Club, and Color Guard. She wants to wish the cast and crew a great season!
Ava Lee: Ava is a junior at Griffith High School, returning to the Griffith Theatre Company for her third season. Her previous shows were Annie, The Play That Goes Wrong, and The Wizard of Oz, where she worked with hair and makeup. In her free time, Ava is a member of color guard, symphonic band, student and sophomore class council, and crochet club. She wishes our cast and crew a wonderful season!
Lilly Mowers: Lillian is a junior at Griffith High School and is honored to again be involved in another GTC season. This is her third year in the Griffith Theatre Company, and this is her sixth show. In the past, she has participated in various crews such as set/stage and light crew. When Lillian isn’t working the light board, she is participating in Color Guard (1st Lieutenant), National Honors Society, Girls’ Varsity Tennis, Class Council, Student Council, FCCLA (Family, Career and
Community Leaders of America) Crochet Club, and Paranormal Society. She is extremely grateful to be part of this amazing season and hopes everyone enjoys it! Thank you to everyone for their dedication, talent, and hard work!!! She also hopes the audience enjoys the sound & light effects!
Emoni Neal: Emoni is in the eleventh grade. Prior to working with GTC, she was an orphan named, Pepper, in Annie, she worked as a PA for, The Diary of Anne Frank. She’s also worked in and been in previous shows like, Grease, and The Brunch Club. When she’s not working with the GTC, she runs track and sings in choir. . She hopes you all enjoy this season.
Aiden Nieves: Aiden is a junior in high school and this is his fourth year with the Griffith Theatre Company. He has participated on crew for many shows in the past, such as Annie, Diary of Anne Frank, Wizard of Oz, and The Play That Goes Wrong and will appear again in the crew of Frozen Jr. (a production by Griffith Middle School). He has appeared on stage as an actor in Don’t Fear the Reaper (Jeremy) and Beauty and the Beast(Maurice). He is also involved in various extracurriculars such as Marching Band, National Honors Society, helping with Panther Press, and Paranormal Society. He looks forward to working with everyone in the future on more shows.
Janae Nolan: Janae is a junior and has been active in the Griffith Theatre Company since her seventh-grade year in middle school. Though she will be working behind the curtain as Props Manager, a role she has had for many shows, she has acted in many productions as well. Her favorite previous productions, Radium Girls and Grease. Outside of the theatre, you’re sure to see Janae as Historian in Junior Class Council, running in Track and Field, writing stories for Panther Pub Hub, volunteering with FCCLA, singing in Chorale, playing volleyball, shooting archery (outside of school) and taking pictures at many town and school events.
Dani Quintana: Dani is a junior. She has been active in the drama department since her freshman year. Prior shows include The Diary of Anne Frank, Annie, Don’t Fear the Reaper, and The Wizard of Oz, and Beauty and the Beast.Outside of drama, Dani is involved in band, sophomore class council, and crochet club. She is wishing the cast and crew a great season.
Rachel Sheline: Rachel is a junior this year and this is her fourth year working set crew for the company. She has worked in many productions with the Griffith Theatre Company including Annie and Beauty and The Beast. Outside of theatre she is the Second Lieutenant of the Griffith Color Guard and a culinary student at the Hammond Area Career Center. She hopes you enjoy the season!
Navada Smothermon Navada is a junior and has been a part of Griffith Theatre Company for three years. Her first show was as a feature dancer in the musical Grease! She has also participated in other shows such as Annie, The Play that Goes Wrong, GTC's regional show Don't Fear the Reaper, and Beauty & The Beast. Outside of acting, she runs track and sings in Griffith chorale. She wants to wish the cast, crew, and audience a great season!
Joe Valdivia: Joseph is a junior at Griffith High School. He’s very excited about helping this season. Joe is also involved in soccer and track.
Jacob Zielke: Jake is a junior, and this will be his third year in drama. His first show was Annie as a crew member. When Jake is not helping here, he’s in cross country, soccer, and track. He’s also in Best Buddies student council, and unified bowling.
Ayden Chavez: Ayden is a junior. This is the second year. Ayden has been active with the Griffith Theatre Company. Last year he was Satan in Don't Fearthe Reaper. He was also a member of the crew during 2023-2024 theatre season. A part from theatre, Ayden is a member of Art Club and Crochet Club. He is also a proud pet parent to adorable chinchillas: Totoro and Sakura. He would like to wish the cast and crew a terrific season.
Jeremiah Fuentes: Jeremiah is a junior at Griffith High School and is excited to participate in his fourth season with the Griffith Theatre Company and 14th show in his career. His first appearance on stage was with the Regional Performing Arts Company in Annie. His most recent performance was LeFou in Beauty and the Beast. Jeremiah’s favorite role was his performance as Max in The Play that Goes Wrong. Besides performing, he has participated in Hair & Makeup for the Griffith Middle School production of The Wizard of Oz. Outside of drama, Jeremiah participates in student council, class council, choir, dance, FCCLA, book club, Academic Super Bowl, Booster Club, and NHS. He hopes you enjoy this season! He is excited to see what is in store forfuture years with the Griffith Theatre Company!
Nicholas Grahovac: Nicholas is a junior at Griffith Jr/Sr High School and has performed for the Griffith Theatre Company for five years, but for this fall show, he takes on a new job: crew! Nicholas has been a part of past productions, such as Whodunnit?/The Wolf & Its Shadows, Radium Girls, The Brunch Club, Grease, The Diary of Anne Frank, Annie, The Play That Goes Wrong and Beauty and the Beast. Nicholas spends the majority of his fall at football and spends his winter at wrestling. Nicholas is also involved with the National Honors Society, Student Council and Class Council. He is excited to tackle his new role backstage and hopes the audience enjoys this season!
Abby Jaime: Abby is a junior and is excited to be a part of the Hairand Make-up crew again! She has previously been on this crew for Annie, The Play That Goes Wrong, Beauty and the Beast, and several middle school shows. When not backstage, Abby is a part of choir, Girls Tennis and Color Guard. Abby would like to wish everyone a great season!
Emma Kidd: Emma is a junior and has been active in the Drama Department since her freshman year. Her first show was The Diary of Anne Frank. Other shows include crew for Charlotte’s Web and The Wizard of Oz and acting in Annie and The Play that Goes Wrong. When not on stage, Emma participates in Junior Class Council, Student Council, Crochet Club, and Color Guard. She wants to wish the cast and crew a great season!
Ava Lee: Ava is a junior at Griffith High School, returning to the Griffith Theatre Company for her third season. Her previous shows were Annie, The Play That Goes Wrong, and The Wizard of Oz, where she worked with hair and makeup. In her free time, Ava is a member of color guard, symphonic band, student and sophomore class council, and crochet club. She wishes our cast and crew a wonderful season!
Lilly Mowers: Lillian is a junior at Griffith High School and is honored to again be involved in another GTC season. This is her third year in the Griffith Theatre Company, and this is her sixth show. In the past, she has participated in various crews such as set/stage and light crew. When Lillian isn’t working the light board, she is participating in Color Guard (1st Lieutenant), National Honors Society, Girls’ Varsity Tennis, Class Council, Student Council, FCCLA (Family, Career and
Community Leaders of America) Crochet Club, and Paranormal Society. She is extremely grateful to be part of this amazing season and hopes everyone enjoys it! Thank you to everyone for their dedication, talent, and hard work!!! She also hopes the audience enjoys the sound & light effects!
Emoni Neal: Emoni is in the eleventh grade. Prior to working with GTC, she was an orphan named, Pepper, in Annie, she worked as a PA for, The Diary of Anne Frank. She’s also worked in and been in previous shows like, Grease, and The Brunch Club. When she’s not working with the GTC, she runs track and sings in choir. . She hopes you all enjoy this season.
Aiden Nieves: Aiden is a junior in high school and this is his fourth year with the Griffith Theatre Company. He has participated on crew for many shows in the past, such as Annie, Diary of Anne Frank, Wizard of Oz, and The Play That Goes Wrong and will appear again in the crew of Frozen Jr. (a production by Griffith Middle School). He has appeared on stage as an actor in Don’t Fear the Reaper (Jeremy) and Beauty and the Beast(Maurice). He is also involved in various extracurriculars such as Marching Band, National Honors Society, helping with Panther Press, and Paranormal Society. He looks forward to working with everyone in the future on more shows.
Janae Nolan: Janae is a junior and has been active in the Griffith Theatre Company since her seventh-grade year in middle school. Though she will be working behind the curtain as Props Manager, a role she has had for many shows, she has acted in many productions as well. Her favorite previous productions, Radium Girls and Grease. Outside of the theatre, you’re sure to see Janae as Historian in Junior Class Council, running in Track and Field, writing stories for Panther Pub Hub, volunteering with FCCLA, singing in Chorale, playing volleyball, shooting archery (outside of school) and taking pictures at many town and school events.
Dani Quintana: Dani is a junior. She has been active in the drama department since her freshman year. Prior shows include The Diary of Anne Frank, Annie, Don’t Fear the Reaper, and The Wizard of Oz, and Beauty and the Beast.Outside of drama, Dani is involved in band, sophomore class council, and crochet club. She is wishing the cast and crew a great season.
Rachel Sheline: Rachel is a junior this year and this is her fourth year working set crew for the company. She has worked in many productions with the Griffith Theatre Company including Annie and Beauty and The Beast. Outside of theatre she is the Second Lieutenant of the Griffith Color Guard and a culinary student at the Hammond Area Career Center. She hopes you enjoy the season!
Navada Smothermon Navada is a junior and has been a part of Griffith Theatre Company for three years. Her first show was as a feature dancer in the musical Grease! She has also participated in other shows such as Annie, The Play that Goes Wrong, GTC's regional show Don't Fear the Reaper, and Beauty & The Beast. Outside of acting, she runs track and sings in Griffith chorale. She wants to wish the cast, crew, and audience a great season!
Joe Valdivia: Joseph is a junior at Griffith High School. He’s very excited about helping this season. Joe is also involved in soccer and track.
Jacob Zielke: Jake is a junior, and this will be his third year in drama. His first show was Annie as a crew member. When Jake is not helping here, he’s in cross country, soccer, and track. He’s also in Best Buddies student council, and unified bowling.