Congratulations to Alanna Helfrich, winner of our 2022 Homegrown Talent Competition!
Pictured: Alanna Helfrich and Endstation Managing Director, David Lee
And a special shout out to Dana Beall and Tehya Cifers for their second place tie!
Pictured: Christen Brunstetter, Dana Beall, and proud papa!
Pictured: Faith Miller & Tehya Cifers
Local stars shined bright on this magical night!
Meet our incredible homegrown performers!
Christopher Badgett
Chris Badgett is a local performer and music educator. Chris teaches middle school, general music, and chorus at Amherst Middle School in Amherst, VA. Chris also plays the clarinet with the Lynchburg Pops Community Band. He earned his Bachelors of Arts in Music Education from the University of Lynchburg in 2013 and is currently a master's degree student at Boston University.
Merry Barth
Merry hails from Maryland, but she has lived in Lynchburg, VA for the last 15 years. She is a Document Control Specialist during the day and actor by night. In her spare time, she likes to read, knit, go Salsa dancing, and spend time with her family. She has a beautiful niece and nephew that she loves to spoil when she gets the chance. She’s been active in the theatre community for 12 years, and some of her shows include Ragtime, Seussical: the Musical, Kiss Me Kate, and The Secret Garden.
Dana Beall
Dana, who hails from southern California, has been sharing her love for theatre with local elementary and middle school students for the past decade in her classroom. When not teaching, she loves spending time with friends and family and performing. Some of her favorite local roles include Mother in Ragtime, the Witch in Into the Woods, and most recently, she starred as Lilli Vanessi/Kate in Kiss Me, Kate on the Historic Academy stage. She sends her love to her friends, students, and family, especially her husband and two (very dramatic) toddlers.
Kel Bickford
Kel is a rising 11th grader at Jefferson Forest High School. They love pretty much anything to do with art. In their free time, they play piano and guitar, crochet, and paint. They were last seen as “Veronica” in the original musical Jolly Street, written and directed by Brett Womack. They are often known for their obscure fashion and music taste!
Tehya Cifers
Tehya is a hair stylist at Veridia Salon, but when she’s not doing hair, you can find her singing, writing, acting, performing, and playing with her dogs. She’s a self-taught singer/songwriter, and she’s been doing both of those things since before she could talk. She is so thankful to have been included in Endstation’s Homegrown Competition for the second year in a row! Thanks to Evan for supporting her, giving her great advice, and for never complaining about having her songs stuck in his head.
Kathleen Davis
Kathleen Davis is a full-time marketing strategist and a part-time comedian from Decatur, Alabama. After graduating from the University of Alabama, she moved to Atlanta where her love for stand-up turned into a part-time gig. She is known locally for opening a show for Fortune Feimster in the Academy Center of the Arts Historic Theatre, but she has shared the stage with Atlanta legends like Ian Aber and Kia Barnes.
Emily Emanuel
Emily is a rising sophomore at Brookville High School, where she is involved with football cheerleading, Latin Club, Forensics, Vocal Ensemble, One-Act Competition Team, and Thespian Troupe 7962. She has been performing since the age of three and has been seen on stages all over Lynchburg, including Masterworx Theater, Alluvion Stage Company, Liberty University, Sweet Briar College, University of Lynchburg, The Academy Center of the Arts, and Brookville High School. Most recently, she played Little Red in Wolfbane's production of “Into the Woods.” Emily loves Marvel movies, macarons, Star Wars, Stranger Things, and NYC!
Alanna Helfrich
Alanna is 17 and a rising junior at Timberlake Christian School. She has always had a passion for singing and is a student at Timbre Vocal Studios, where she portrayed Little Red Riding Hood in their production of Into the Woods. Alanna has performed in 12 musicals with various different theatres in the community and has more performances lined up. You will also be able to catch her as "the clerk" in an upcoming tv show Eleanor's Bench. Alanna is excited to be chosen to participate in the Homegrown Talent Competition and plans a future with more singing and performing!
Bella Marciano
Bella Marciano is a 14-year-old singer-songwriter who enjoys singing pop songs, playing piano, and participating in musical theatre. Taylor Swift and 2000s pop heavily influence her creative musical style. She wrote her first song, Blue, at age 11. Reflecting real life emotions and experiences of today’s teens is the focus of her songwriting. Music has been a part of Bella’s life for as long as she can remember. She started playing piano at the age of five and participated in her first musical theatre production when she was 8 years old. She hopes to record and release her song, Worthwhile, sometime soon!
Faith Miller
Faith has loved to perform since she was eight years old and sing since she was thirteen. After graduating high school, she was away from the stage for seven years before once again diving back into the performance world in 2021. Faith thanks her amazing middle school drama teacher, Mrs. Martha Stanley, for introducing her to the musical that gave her her favorite song to perform. Sadly, her teacher passed away last year, and Faith would like to dedicate this performance to her.
Karly Ramnani
Karly is currently the Arts Administration Apprentice at Endstation, but they also love to perform. They grew up dancing, acting, singing, and writing songs. Originally from Richmond, they are currently studying psychology and musical theater at the University of Southern California. Theater credits include Off the Record with USC Musical Theater (songwriter), All’s Well That Ends Well with Lake County Theater Company (Helena), and Mamma Mia! with Godwin High School Theater (ensemble/featured dancer). They sing and write songs to tell their story and can be found on Spotify as “karly.” Their biggest inspirations are Taylor Swift, Phoebe Bridgers, mxmtoon, Olivia Rodrigo, Little Mix, and Billie Eilish. They’re excited to share “full moon” and apologize in advance if it makes you cry.
Stacey Ray
Stacey is a freshman in high school. She has lived in Virginia for nine years, and she is the seventh oldest of nine. She has been singing since she was three years old. She can sing, dance, and write her own lyrics. She has dreamed of performing in front of a live audience since she was very young. She is very excited to be part of this talent show!
Zachary Smith & Sara Preast
Zachary grew up in Daytona Beach, Florida; am now a resident of Lynchburg, Virginia. He has lived in Lynchburg for 8 years. He graduated from Liberty University with a Bachelors of Science degree in Worship Studies in the Fall of 2020. In school and at church, he has been involved in music leadership and in theatre. He has recorded two albums. The most recent album is available on all music streaming platforms. The album can be found by searching Zach Smith, or the title track, which is “I Got Music.” He is writing new music, and planning to start recording another album this year.
Sara Preast plays and teaches multiple instruments, specializing in piano and violin. She has taught for Claudia’s School of Music, Patel Conservatory, as well as her own independent piano studio. Her passion is to see students not only excel in what they are playing, but to love it at the same time! She seeks to challenge students to expand their repertoire by playing classical music with precision, but to also play modern pieces, composition and improvisation! Sara does freelance work which includes performing in wedding ensembles, singing with the 100 Years Young Anton Coppola Gala with Opera Tampa, singing with Liberty University’s Choir at Carnegie Hall, playing in several orchestras, accompanying, performing in and directing musical theatre productions, and her greatest pleasure, resident and substitute church pianist.
Angel Thompson
Angel is a Lynchburg native and graduate of Heritage High School. She is a rising sophomore at Virginia Commonwealth University pursuing a bachelor's degree in vocal/choral music education. She hopes to become a high school choral teacher and a private vocal instructor. She was last seen as Ms. Fleming/Veronica's Mom in Unified Theatre Company's Heathers. In addition to singing, Angel enjoys acting, thrifting, and playing with her dog, Hank. She would like to thank her family and friends for the support and Endstation for this opportunity.
Michelle Zehr
Michele Zehr, a.k.a. Michele the Whistling Musician, is an internationally ranked musical whistler who has been performing music on a multitude of instruments for almost 30 years. Her musical adventure began at the age of 7 when she performed popular music by ear on an electric organ in an Oklahoma City nightclub. She is a former U.S. Marine who played the clarinet and saxophone in the Marine Forces Pacific Band, and she is currently the percussionist for the Nelson County Community Orchestra. Michele regularly sings, plays the electric ukulele, and whistles live music at Bryant’s Cidery in Nelson County, VA.
Meet our judges!
Patrick Earl
Originally from Grand Rapids, Michigan, Patrick got his B.S. in Theatre and Biology from Aquinas College and His M.F.A from the University of Houston. He has worked regionally for the American Shakespeare Center in Staunton, VA, The Alley Theatre and Mainstreet Theater in Houston, TX. His previous Endstation credits include The Complete History of America, Abridged, Orlando in As You Like It, and Jack in this season’s production of Buried Deep. Patrick is currently an adjunct professor at Randolph College.
Stephanie Earl
Stephanie Holladay Earl is an Associate Professor of Theatre at Randolph College. She earned her BA in Theatre and Dance from Greensboro College and her MFA in Acting from The University of Houston. Favorite roles include Hermione in The Winter’s Tale, Helena in A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Duchess in The Duchess of Malfi (The American Shakespeare Center), Louise in Gypsy, Rosalind in As You Like It (Barter Theatre), and Beatrice in Much Ado About Nothing (Palo Duro Shakespeare). Stephanie appeared with Endstation Theatre Company as Rosalind in As You Like It, Neddy McCullough in The Bluest Water, and as Tara in this season’s production of Buried Deep.
Karl Lindevaldsen
Karl has been performing since he was a young child. He was part of a professional improvisation group called The Fantasy Players that performed throughout the NY metro area. After graduating from The American Academy of Dramatic Arts in NYC, Karl joined the historic theater company, The Light Opera of Manhattan, and performed in numerous operettas, including The Pirates of Penzance, The New Moon, The Merry Widow, and Naughty Marietta. He performed in many cabarets in NYC and was chosen to perform for Ronald Reagan’s inauguration in 1985. Karl continued to sing in concerts and perform as a soloist in NYC. He performed with Endstation Theater Company in Assassins as Charles Guiteau, The King in Big River, Father in Violet, and, this month, he is excited to be part of Bye Bye Birdie. Throughout his time in Lynchburg, he has been a guest instructor for various theater programs for children, youth, and college students and has been a judge for VTA. This past winter he was a guest director for The Crucible at Brookville High School.
Perry Payne Millner
Perry Payne was most recently seen locally as the inimitable Dolly Levi in Alluvion Stage’s Hello Dolly. As a NYC singer, actress, and writer, she worked extensively in theatre, cabaret, comedy, industrials, and voiceovers. Early in her career she performed leading roles in the DC area, including Barbara DeMarco in Shear Madness at the Kennedy Center, and went on to perform in regional theatres around the country.
Michelle Velastegui
Michelle is the new Performance and Corporate Rentals Manager here at the ACOA, and the Artistic Director and co-founder of Masterworx Community Theater in Lynchburg. Michelle has directed, choreographed, and costumed hundreds of productions locally and with many of the different community organizations. A retired teacher of over 30 years, Michelle has taught both Theater and Spanish in most of the area school districts. Though musical theatre has always been her passion, they don't compare to her love of her 2 children, JJ and Jessica, and her precious 5 grandchildren. She loves to travel, drink a lot of coffee, and spend time with her 2 best buddies, Tequila & Bella (her chihuahuas :)
