The Gift of the Magi Cast Bios
Dennis Lee
Dennis Lee, Artistic Director and Producer, is the creator and founder of the Dingmans Ferry Theatre which began as a vision long before its actual start in 2018. The intent of the theatre is to provide a performing arts space where local performers can express their creativity and craft on a live stage for the enjoyment and education of the community. The success of the theatre is apparent by the large audiences we draw along with the donors, sponsors and patrons who support us, but truly we see it in the cast and the crew who have done such amazing and challenging work!
He has directed and produced a number of documentaries about the area including Welcome to Dingmans Ferry, Dingmans Ferry Americana and Shohola Along the River.
Emily Merriweather
Emily Merriweather, Director / Costume Designer, moved to Dingmans Ferry with her family in 2021. She has over 20 years professional experience working in theater, the last 10, on Broadway. She has worked as a dresser on such productions as The Merchant of Venice, The King and I, Glengarry Glen Ross and Tootsie.
For the Dingmans Ferry Theatre productions of Our Town, Miracle on 34th Street and It’s a Wonderful Life, Emily designed the costumes and was the assistant director.
Theatre, no matter where or how big or how small, is where magic can happen.
Kim Lacoste
Kim Lacoste, Assistant Director, has theater experience that includes It’s a Wonderful Life, Miracle on 34th Street and The Fantasticks.
She’s a Retired Registered Nurse from several hospitals in NY state, and her hobbies include Line Dancing, Crafting, Gardening and palling around with her granddaughter.
Barbara Norris
Barbara Norris, Musical Director, holds a Voice Performance degree from the Purchase Conservatory, as well as a master’s degree in Speech-Language Pathology. In 2000, she and husband Anthony Fast founded First Coast Opera in St. Augustine, FL, where she co-directed numerous productions.
In regional companies in New York she has appeared as the Queen of the Night in The Magic Flute, Gretel in Hansel and Gretel, Olympia in The Tales of Hoffman, and Soeur Constance in Poulenc’s Dialogues of the Carmelites. Barbara has been a featured solo recitalist at the Spoleto Festival in Charleston, SC, and with the Purchase Symphony Orchestra in NY, as well as performing as soloist in various parts of the country in oratorios such as Mozart’s Requiem, Handel’s Messiah, Bach Magnificat and Britten’s Ceremony of Carols. While in Asheville, NC, Barbara was privileged to sing for hospice patients as part of a Threshold Choir.
A born Yankee, Barbara is delighted to be back in the Northeast near her two children and 7 grandchildren.
Brian Altomare
Brian Altomare, Jim, is originally from New York but relocated to Dingmans Ferry a few years ago to live on land and cabins his great grandfather built in the 1950’s. He works remotely for an international travel based company.
In 2022, he performed in his first ever plays: Miracle on 34th Street as Mr. Mara and It’s A Wonderful Life as Harry & Pinky – both at Dingmans Ferry Theatre.
Diana Devlin
Diana Devlin, Della, is a native of NJ and has several credits to her name in film and television, most notably co-starring in the romantic comedy Drop Dead Roses which is streaming on Tubi. She also voiced several characters in the ABC cartoon series CLERKS the Cartoon. She was last seen in the film CLERKS 3, that premiered in 2022. You may recognize her from her appearance in the Back to School Toyota of Scranton commercial that aired each year from 2016 to 2019.
Diana was last seen performing the title role of Sylvia at Hemlock Players this past August. She has performed with several regional and professional theaters throughout the state of NJ and NY. Some of her favorite roles include Barefoot In The Park portraying Corie Bratter, for which she was nominated for the NJACT Perry Award for Best Actress. Several other favorite roles she has played include Laura in The Glass Menagerie, Raft of the Medusa for NJ Repertory Theatre portraying a 16 year old girl with AIDS, and in the musical Godspell.
Diana is a huge animal lover, and at one time was involved in rescuing/TNR/fostering of cats and kittens. She currently has 3 rescue senior kitties that she’s had since they were only a few weeks old.
This is Diana’s first show at the Dingmans Ferry Theatre. She is thrilled to be working with such a talented group of actors and singers!
Layla McCormick
Layla McCormick, Clarice, is 15 years old and have been doing theater for 3 years. After doing some school plays, Layla joined the Dingmans Ferry Theatre and has been in Our Town, Miracle on 34th Street, It’s a Wonderful Life and The Fantasticks.
Layla has not only done theater, but has been singing for 7 years in the Children’s Choir, Chamber Choir, open mics, and talent shows.
Charles Terrat
Charles Terrat, Digsby, learned the basics of jazz theory at Berklee when it was still a one-room schoolhouse. After years of touring up and down the East Coast in a high energy band, he started working with the comedy troupe Artificial Intelligence in NYC, developing a project that became Tony and Tina’s Wedding, staging it in NY and LA.
After stopping performing for 20 years to marry Donna and raise a family, they started started playing music together as Qween Pashmeen 10 years ago, while taking acting lessons with Jeffery Stocker. Charles has occasionally taken a turn in community theater, appearing with City Stage in Sister Act, and Dingman’s Ferry Theater in Our Town. Charles is very happy to be working with this fun and talented cast! Special thanks to Jeffrey Stocker, Michael Gillespie, and my wife Donna.
David Prause
David Prause, Art, originally from NJ and WA, has been living in Dingmans Ferry for the past year. David has always found acting very interesting and plan on making it a full time job. In the meantime, you’ll catch him working in the medical field.
David Rude
David Rude, Watch Clerk, has been a radio personality, musician, singer, telecom engineer, author and Priest. In his retirement, he is trying new things, including theater. He appeared in last year’s productions here at the Dingmans Ferry Theatre. Currently, he is filling in at St Alban’s, Franklin Lakes, NJ
Allison Taylor
Allison Taylor, Narrator / Woman with Umbrella, is originally from Houston, TX. She came to Pike County 25 years ago as a weekender-escaper from Manhattan. She has been here full time since 2008.
Allison was in every high school play and was most recently in The Miracle on 34th Street and It’s a Wonderful Life, both productions of the Dingmans Ferry Theatre.
Donna Dale
Donna Dale, Madame Vodskaya, started acting in high school performing in dinner theatre productions in the Wildwood and Philadelphia area. At 21, she moved to New York to pursue the dream professionally and was hired to do an original play of Great Catherine by George Bernard Shaw off off Broadway. Donna also performed at The Boca Raton Theatre in Anything Goes and played Banjo in the pit band for The Unsinkable Molly Brown.
Donna studied acting at the Herbert Berghof Studio and dancing with Chuck Kelly, and at 24 decided to change careers and became a self-taught fashion jewelry designer in the early 80’s, designing and manufacturing her own line of jewelry, working in the industry for 20 years.
Donna met her husband, Charles, started a family and moved to Sussex County. She took vocal lessons with Sandy Stalter and acting lessons with Jeffrey Stocker, doing her first play in years in the Presby’s production of Oliver. She has since been performing locally with her husband in their musical duo, Qween Pashmeen, and have acted in local community theaters, Christmas shows, musical reviews, benefits, and open mics in the Tri-State area. Roles best known for is Addaperle in the City Stage Production of the Wiz and Mrs. Webb in the Dingmans Ferry production of Our Town.
Kristin Albrecht, Dot / Lady Boot Clerk, is originally from Milford, PA, and is a business owner and local performer. She currently hosts the Time’s Right Open Mic, performs with the Dingmans Ferry Theatre, and is lead vocalist for the band Big Ska.
Ivy Yetter
Ivy Yetter, Donna Marie, has been studying acting and voice, under the direction of Lynda Sargese for seven years. She performed as Rebecca in Our Town and Luisa in The Fantasticks at Dingmans Ferry Theatre and Little Red Riding Hood in Totally Red. She was also in the WAHS players production of Guys and Dolls. She performs in Choir, Marching Band, Concert band and Chamber Choir at Wallenpaupack Area High School.
Jamie Merriweather
Jamie Merriweather, Caroler, is a Pike County native and Wallenpaupack alumni. She sang in the choir during her school years, loves music and loves to sing. However, she has not performed in front of a crowd in 20 years.
Jamie has worked in the front end of the medical field for the last 17 years as a hospice aide. This past year she has gained her Certified Professional Coder credentials and is enjoying working from home as a coding specialist.
All of her free time is spent hanging with her family of 7. She loves being outdoors fishing in the summer and hunting in the fall. Jamie is accompanied on stage by her oldest daughter Angelia and is very excited to perform with such a talented cast and crew!
Angie Lawlor
Angie Lawlor, Caroler, is currently a junior at Wallenpaupack High School studying art and business law. She is born and raised in Paupack and enjoys swimming, baking and drawing. Angie is the oldest of 5 and has 2 brothers and 2 sisters. She loves traveling to Virginia where her aunt and girlfriend reside.
Angie began singing in 3rd grade chorale and later in WAMS Chorus. This will be her first performance at Dingmans Ferry Theatre.
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