Chet Wollan

Host – “Cowboy" Chet Wollan is back for his fifth season as the Host of the Medora Musical. Since he last left the Medora stage, Chet toured the country hosting Live from Nashville: A Merry Country Christmas. Other National tour credits include, A Christmas Carol, Pump Boys and Dinettes, Miracle on 34th Street, Ring of Fire, and Live! From Nashville. He has also been seen in Ring of Fire at Dutch Apple Dinner Theatre, and Circa 21 Dinner Theatre. Before that, he spent several years at Dollywood, in Pigeon Forge, TN, where he met his wife, Candice. Chet would like to thank his family for their continued support, and of course his dog Knuckles.

Candice Lively Wollan

(BHS) Candice Lively “Princess of the Prairie” is excited to be back in the beautiful badlands for another great summer. Since last summer, she was seen touring the U.S. with Live From Nashville: A Merry Country Christmas. Other tour credits include: Pump Boys and Dinettes, Ring of Fire, Miracle on 34th St., and Live- from Nashville! Previously, Candice was a Lead Production Singer for Norwegian Cruise Lines, and spent several years singing, and dancing in Pigeon Forge, TN. Candice was a featured singer for several theaters in the area, including Dolly Parton’s theme park, Dollywood. She is excited to be back on stage with her husband Cowboy Chet, and would like to send love to her family!

Annie Freres

Co-Host -"Calamity" Annie Freres hails from the musically rich southern city of Memphis but has spent her adult life entertaining all over the USA! From Alaska Cabin Nite Dinner Theatre outside Denali National Park to the National Tour of Fiddler on the Roof to Broadway Palm Dinner Theatre in Florida she has filled rooms with her brassy charm and big heart in shows like CATS, 9 to 5, Mamma Mia and Drowsy Chaperone. Her new passion is creating and starring in original Cirque Concerts; but sharing her love of Americas best idea, our National Parks, and making your vacation unforgettable will give her the summer of a lifetime! She hopes you have a rootin' tootin' good time in the badlands!

Jeanna Zenz

(BHS) Jeanna Zenz grew up near the North Unit of the Theodore Roosevelt National Park in Watford City, North Dakota. After attending college at Minnesota State University Moorhead for Theatre Arts, she moved to New York City. This is Jeanna’s first year as a Burning Hills Singer and she could not be more excited to fulfill this dream! She first saw the Medora Musical at the age of three and has been attending almost every year since. Lots of love to her family and friends who have supported her on this journey.

Ken Quiricone

(BHS) Ken Quiricone is back for the 9th time in the “Greatest Show in The West”!  Performing every summer night in the Burning Hills Amphitheater is one of his favorite things to do.  When away from North Dakota, Ken spends his time working with theaters from all across the country.  Recently spending the winter months performing in Atlanta, GA & Fort Myers, FL.  He would like to thank the incredible audiences from this country that fill the amphitheater every summer night, the wonderful cast of friends on and off stage, and the amazing production team who create a fresh and new Medora Musical every season.  So kick up those heels, scream Yee-Haw, and have a Bully of a time at the show!! Kenquiricone.com

Damon Fichter

(BHS) Damon Fichter is thrilled to be back in the saddle again for his 5th Medora season! Born and raised in Dickinson, North Dakota, Damon earned a BA in Music while attending Dickinson State University. After graduating he moved to Minneapolis, Minnesota and found prosperity teaching piano and voice lessons; acting in film and theater; performing in bands and a worship team; and creating poems, art, and pottery. Damon recently moved to Nashville, Tennessee to pursue songwriting. He is also working to publish his first book of poetry, and practicing to become a yogi. He is forever grateful for the love and support surrounding him. Namaste and enjoy the 2020 Medora Musical!

Jessica Bradish

(BHS) Jessica Braddish is thrilled to be returning to perform in The Medora Musical! She’s performed in shows everywhere from Alaska to Florida and always loves coming back to North Dakota. She’s originally from Des Moines, IA, and is now based out of New York City where she earned her BA in Musical Theater performance at Wagner College. She sends love and thanks to her family, Babba, and Ryan.

Gerry Williams

(BHS) GERRY WILLIAMS is back again and is thrilled to return to the Medora Musical. Originally from Durham NC, he has called Pigeon Forge TN home for the last 17 years. After studying Music and Theater at UNCG he has sung, acted, and danced in theater, dinner shows, spent 10 years performing at Dollywood and, since leaving Medora in 2014, was the director of the Great Smoky Mt Murder Mystery. He’d like to thank Mom, Dad, Chance and Charley Pride! 

J'Kobe Wallace

(BHS) J’Kobe Wallace is thrilled to be performing as a Burning Hills Singer with the Medora Musical.  As a Minot High School and Minot State University graduate, (Music BSEd), J’Kobe is honored to represent his home every night in the beautiful North Dakota Badlands doing the “Greatest Show in the West”!  Since graduating in December,  Wallace has toured the country performing with the Bright Star Touring Theatre.  Notable credits from previous productions include Newsies (Specs), The Little Mermaid (Sebastian the Crab), and Oklahoma (Curley).  He thanks his biggest supporter, his mother, for not only raising him and his brother, but for also serving her country in the USAF for 20 years.

Taylor Leet

(BHS) Taylor Leet returning to the Burning Hills Amphitheater for a 4th summer, Taylor is ready to kick up her heels! She grew up in the beautiful city of Bismarck with a passion for music and dance. In 2010, she moved to Chicago, IL where her love of the arts continued as she graduated from Columbia College with a BA in Vocal Performance/Contemporary Urban Popular Music. She has had the opportunity to be a community ambassador for the arts in Bismarck performing for several conferences and various events. Taylor is honored and grateful to perform again in the Medora Musical-a show she has loved and enjoyed  since age 5! She is thankful for the love and support of her parents Jon and Jennifer Leet, sister Anna Leet, family, friends and the great state of North Dakota! 

Alaina Droog

Kevin Korczynski

(BHS) KEVIN KORCZYNSKI is grateful to return to this beautiful part of the world, for another season of “The Greatest Show in the West!" and the Medora Gospel Brunch.  An east coast native, Kevin has performed regionally and toured stages across the country.  Many thanks to Curt, Lexie, Sandy, and the entire StageWest team for the incredible opportunity of a ninth season.  Much love to Mom, Dad, and Medora friends old & new.  Enjoy the show, the Badlands, and the blue skies of the shining West!

Jonathan Woodruff

(BHS) Jonathan Woodruff is thrilled to be returning for his third summer in Medora! Jonathan attended Viterbo University where he received his BFA in Music Theatre. He was most recently seen as Larry in A Chorus Line at Seacoast Repertory Theatre. Before that, he was given the opportunity to perform in the ensemble and understudy Buddy in Elf The Musical. Some of his other credits include Chicago set by Charlotte d’Amboise, Romeo in Romeo and Juliet with Missouri Shakespeare Festival, The Prince in The Nutcracker ballet with the Metropolitan Dance Alliance, and several children’s theatre tours. Jonathan would like to thank his family and friends as well as his girlfriend Andrea, for always being supportive. 

Willow Osborne

(BHS) Willow Osborne is from Pigeon Forge, Tennessee. At 19 years old she is a seasoned entertainer and musician of fifteen years. Willow’s outstanding vocals and banjo skills have given her the unique opportunity to entertain audiences across the country from the Smithsonian to Seattle. She was a featured entertainer at Dollywood theme park, Country Tonite theatre and Hatfield & McCoy Dinner Theater. Willow was recently cast and featured in the IMAX movie “America’s Musical Journey” premiering worldwide. 

Junior Mercer

(Pedal Steel Guitar) Junior Mercer, returning for his third year, Junior Mercer comes to the Medora Musical from Sevierville, Tennessee. He has worked with many country artists over the years including Con Hunley, Lorrie Morgan, and Johnny Paycheck. Theater shows include five years with Opryland Productions at the Alabama Theater in Myrtle Beach, SC, Nashville to Broadway at the Ronnie Milsap Theater also in Myrtle Beach, and five years with Country Tonight! at the Country Tonight Theater in Pigeon Forge TN. Junior is proud to be a part of The Medora Musical!

Amy LeGrand

Carson Hooley

(Percussion) Carson Hooley is excited to return for his second summer performing with the Medora Musical!  Originally from Waco, Texas; he currently resides in Indianapolis, Indiana and has performed across the country and world-wide, most recently traveling aboard the Norwegian Joy Cruise-ship. Carson’s theater experience includes serving as Percussionist for My People, My Music (Dollywood) : Master Percussionist for Vitalist Theatre’s: Anung’s First American Christmas and Mother Courage and Her Children.  Carson has studied with: Jim Chapin, Bobby Sinabria, Peter Erskin, Louis Bellson and many more.

Travis Smith

(Piano/Bandleader) Travis Smith hails all the way from Columbus, OH and is ecstatic to be apart of this year’s Medora Musical! Along with being a pianist and multi-instrumentalist, he has music directed nearly 100 professional productions.  Travis is also a freelance composer and arranger having written several children's shows that are performed and seen by thousands of children every year. Additionally, he is the composer/lyricist for "Steeple People: A Southern Gospel Comedy" a musical about a gospel quartet from Stinking Creek Tennessee!  www.travis-smith.com

Perry Orfanella

(Bass) Perry Orfanella has shared the stage with Tony award winner Bernadette Peters, Emmy winner Bob Newhart, Grammy winner Peter Cetera and Oscar winner Rita Moreno. While not expecting to win any of these awards himself, his goal on stage is to not embarrass his children, who actually have most of the talent in the family. 

Adam Vogel

Curt Wollan | Executive Producer/Director

(Producer/Director) Curt Wollan has been connected with The Medora Musical for 36 seasons as a BHS in 1977 and 1978, Ass’t Director/Assoc. Producer from 1987 to 1991, and since 1992 under his company, StageWest Entertainment, as the Musical’s Producer/Director.  A native of the Twin Cities, Curt ran the popular Plymouth Playhouse for 40 years and with his production company, Troupe America Inc., has produced and directed over 250 national tours since 1987.  He also directs for Dollywood and has directed the Kratt Brothers as well as Dolly Parton herself in several productions.  As a Free-Lance Director, his work has been seen at Houston’s Theatre Under The Stars, Kansas City’s New Theatre Restaurant, Iowa’s Old Creamery Theatre, Nashville’s Ryman Auditorium, Beef and Boards Dinner Theatre in Indianapolis, and Circa 21 in Illinois to name a few.  

Sandy Tipping | Musical Director/ Musical Arranger

(Music Supervisor/Arranger) Sandy Tipping was born and raised in a small town north of Toronto, Ontario (in Canada!).  He attended Berklee College of Music in Boston, graduating summa cum laude (B.Mus), and moved to Nashville where he has frittered away the last 20 years as a busy recording engineer, music director, elementary music teacher, hired-gun keyboard player, producer, arranger, and bagel enthusiast.

In Nashville, he has been the music director for the popular night show on the General Jackson Showboat and is currently Music Director for touring jazz artist Jaimee Paul. He has also produced award-winning records for Denver and the Mile High Orchestra, Daniel Lee Martin and Jaimee Paul, toured with acts such as the Platters, the Temptations and Martha Reeves, engineered albums for the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, Bobby Osborne and Andrea Stolpe, and orchestrated or arranged custom music for numerous churches, show bands, theme parks and publications, as well as shows for a variety of national and international acts.
 

Lexie Wollan-Swenson | Asst. Director/Choreographer/Wardrobe Supervisor

(Choreographer) Lexie Wollan-Swenson has loved Medora and the Medora Musical since she was born.  She has been “Sheriff Bear”, a BHS for ten years, the Assistant Choreographer for three years and the Choreographer for six seasons.  As a performer she has been seen on National Tours and Dinner Theatres across the country.  She now resides in the Twin Cities with her daughters and her husband, Jeremiah, who she met in Medora. 

Greta Grosch | Writer

(Head Writer) Greta Grosch Since 1989 Greta has worked as a professional writer and performer across the country, and has a wealth of experience in both commercial and business theater. An original cast member of the popular “Church Basement Ladies” musicals, Greta wrote the last 7 installments of the highly successful series. She is also a voiceover and commercial artist, travels the country as a motivational speaker and corporate trainer, and is a founding member of the Looney Lutherans. Greta has been working on the Medora Musical since 2005. For more information visit gretagrosch.com

Erica Zaffarano | Set Designer

(Set & Props Designer) Erica Zaffarano feels fortunate to be involved in this, her 10th year with the Medora Musical. Originally from Iowa, she has designed east of the Mississippi in Indiana, Illinois, Pennsylvania, Maine, Vermont, the US Virgin Islands and west of Washington, California, Utah, Nevada, Iowa and her newest home, Minnesota.  Coincidentally, while working in Los Angeles many years ago, she worked as a scenic artist for Rene´ Lagler, designer of The Burning Hills Amphitheater.  She feels lucky and grateful to be surrounded by the community of so many inspirational, unique, eccentric, delightful people in her work and loves coming “home to Medora!”

Ryan Milligan | Production Manager/Sound Designer

(Production Manager/Sound Designer) Ryan Milligan is happy to be returning to Medora with StageWest Entertainment for his 6th season. Ryan lives in Astoria, New York and has previously worked with Troupe America Inc., The Professional Performing Arts School in Manhattan, The New York Musical Theatre Festival, Nebraska Theatre Caravan, and the Old Creamery Theatre Company as well as many others. Ryan would like to thank Curt Wollan, Randy Hatzenbuhler, Kinley Slauter as well as everyone else at StageWest and TRMF for their great work making this show. Thanks to his family and Jessica for all of their support.

Katrina Benedict | Costume Designer

Katrina Benedict is thrilled to have the opportunity to costume design this year’s Medora Musical.  Katrina works as a free-lance Draper for the Guthrie Theatre in Minneapolis, MN and as a Costume Designer for various theatres in the Twin Cities area.  Her design work includes:  Kirby, at the History Theatre, Sherlock’s Last Case at the Minnesota centennial showboat, and various productions at the Normandale Community College.  Her most recent designs include: Ring of Fire, and four of the Church Basement Ladies musicals –Church Basement Ladies: A Second Helping, Away in the Basement, A Mighty Fortress is our Basement, and The Last Potluck Supper.

Jason Lee Resler | Co-Costume Designer

(Costume Designer) Jason Lee Resler has returned to the Medora Musical every summer since 2014 and has many wonderful memories of his time in Medora. Previously Jason has designed for theatre companies in Minnesota and around the country, including Idaho Shakespeare and Great Lakes Theatre Festivals, Phoenix Theatre, Commonweal Theatre, Trollwood Performing Arts, Park Square Theatre, Illusion Theatre, History Theatre, Hope Summer Repertory, Cortland Repertory, Citadel Theatre, and Minneapolis Musical Theatre. Jason has also worked in the costume shops of Barrington Stage Company, Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey Circus and Disney on Ice. During the year Jason is Associate Professor of Costume Design at Indiana University South Bend.

Rachael Endrizzi | Production Stage Manager

(Stage Manager) Rachael Endrizzi returns to Medora in 2020 after performing as a Burning Hills Singer in 2019. Originally from Greater Cleveland, Rachael is a graduate of the American Musical & Dramatic Academy in NYC and studied film & media at New School University. She has been performing and directing for over 15 years throughout the United States and is proud to have worked with the Cleveland Playhouse, Alliance Theatre, Florida Repertory Theatre, The Legacy Theatre and Prather Entertainment among others. Endrizzi is also the Founding Artistic Director of Spark Theatre Company, a touring theatre for young audiences based in Ohio.

Erica Zaffarano | Set & Props Designer

(Set & Props Designer) Erica Zaffarano feels fortunate to be involved in this, her 10th year with the Medora Musical. Originally from Iowa, she has designed east of the Mississippi in Indiana, Illinois, Pennsylvania, Maine, Vermont, the US Virgin Islands and west of Washington, California, Utah, Nevada, Iowa and her newest home, Minnesota.  Coincidentally, while working in Los Angeles many years ago, she worked as a scenic artist for Rene´ Lagler, designer of The Burning Hills Amphitheater.  She feels lucky and grateful to be surrounded by the community of so many inspirational, unique, eccentric, delightful people in her work and loves coming “home to Medora!”

James Eischen | Lighting & Projection Designer/Master Electrician

Gilbert Smith | Assistant Technical Director/Carpenter

Rebecca Karstad | Stitcher

Mags Scanlon | Electrician/Assistant Lighting Designer

Ian La Fountain | Electrcian/Assistant Lighting Designer

John Tsafoyannis | Business Manager

Joe Wiegand | Voice of Theodore Roosevelt