Once On This Island Playbill 25 - Flipbook - Page 13
Biographies
passion for backstage work during this produc琀椀on. She
would like to thank the produc琀椀on team for allowing her
to help bring the show to life.
Tonisha Strange (Produc琀椀on Stage Manager)
Tonisha Strange has been a lover of the arts all her life.
She began working on shows in high school under the
direc琀椀on of Calvin Weary and went on to train in performance and produc琀椀on at the William Penn Performing
Arts Ins琀椀tute (WPPAI). While she has experience in both
performing and tech, she found her true passion in stage
management.
Over the years, Tonisha has stage managed hundreds of
produc琀椀ons, including Phantom of the Opera, The Wiz,
Hair, and numerous original works. She has also directed
several shows, including The Fantas琀椀cks and Annie. Tonisha currently serves as Execu琀椀ve Assistant to her mentor, Calvin Weary, at Weary Arts Group, where she collaborates with talented arts professionals to bring meaningful arts programming to children and adults throughout
York County and beyond.
Ciera Welch (Ensemble)
Ciera is excited to be part of her very 昀椀rst produc琀椀on. She
loves singing and dancing and is eager to keep improving
in both. She works with toddlers at a daycare—a job she
昀椀nds both rewarding and joyful. Ciera plans to audi琀椀on for
many more shows in the future and is thrilled to begin her
theater journey with Once on This Island.
Danielle Woods (Ensemble)
Danielle is thrilled to return to the DreamWrights stage!
She began her musical theatre journey last year as Medda
Larkin in Newsies, and also served as a narrator in The
Laramie Project. She is excited to be part of the ensemble
for Once on This Island and looks forward to sharing this
story with the audience.
Adison Sweitzer (Crew)
Adison is an 8th grade student who is excited to be part
of the crew for this produc琀椀on! She discovered her passion for theatre by working behind the scenes and loves
being part of the magic that brings a show to life.
Hannah Waterman (Erzulie)
Hannah Waterman (she/her) is thrilled to be making her
theatrical debut in Once on This Island. Although this is
her 昀椀rst experience on stage, she has had a lifelong love
for the arts, beginning with her church’s children’s choir
and dance ministry in Brooklyn, NY. She holds a degree in
Human Services with a focus on Interna琀椀onal Business
and Spanish from York College of Pennsylvania. Hannah
currently works in Community Engagement for the Medicaid team at Je昀昀erson Health Plans and remains ac琀椀vely
involved in the music ministry at Shiloh Bap琀椀st Church in
York, PA.
Amani Weary (Papa Ge)
Amani Weary is currently a 昀椀rst-year student at Loyola
University New Orleans, studying Musical Theatre. Her
recent credits include The Addams Family (Gomez), West
Side Story (Chino), The Wiz (The Lion), The Moors
(Huldey), Rent (Joanne), Bring It On (Danielle), American
Idiot (St. Jimmy), and For Colored Girls (Lady in Green).
Amani began performing at the age of 4 and has been in
love with the stage ever since. She would like to thank
her family for their ongoing support throughout her journey as an ar琀椀st.
About Weary Arts Group (WAG)
Founded in 2014 by Calvin Weary, Weary Arts
Group is a mul琀椀disciplinary arts organiza琀椀on
based in York, Pennsylvania. WAG is commi琀琀ed
to cul琀椀va琀椀ng crea琀椀vity, con昀椀dence, and community by providing high-quality training in theatre,
music, dance, and visual arts. Through yearround programs and performances, WAG empowers students of all ages and experience levels
to grow as ar琀椀sts, leaders, and changemakers.
With a mission to upli昀琀 and inspire through the
power of the arts, WAG con琀椀nues to be a vibrant
force in the York arts scene—fostering collabora琀椀on, expression, and lifelong impact.
To learn more or get involved, visit
www.wagbus.com.
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