2025 First-Year Apprentices
Abbey Messing
Abbey Messing is a rising Senior Music Theatre major at Viterbo University with minors in Arts Administration and Dance. Past Viterbo credits include 42nd STREET, INTO THE DIRT, R&G ARE DEAD, and DANCE KALEIDOSCOPE. Additional past credits include Ariel in FOOTLOOSE and Peter in PETER PAN. Last summer she was a Tour Actor/Director for PINOCCHIO with Missoula Children’s Theatre. She recently made her Directorial debut with Viterbo Student Theatre Project’s production of EDGES, and has dabbled in Dramaturgy and Lighting Design. So much love to her family and friends who support her endlessly.
Carrington Black
Carrington Black is so excited to be a part of The Barn Theatre’s apprentice company this season. She is a rising sophomore BFA Music Theatre major at Elon University. Her previous credits include : Aida in AIDA, Sarah in RAGTIME, Anya in ANASTASIA, Mary Poppins in MARY POPPINS and Ursula in THE LITTLE MERMAID. She would like to thank her friends and family for all of their support and The Barn Theatre for giving her this incredible opportunity. IG: @carrington_sinclair
Che Young
Che Young (He/Him) is thrilled to make his professional debut this summer at The Barn Theatre School. Recent credits include Ren McCormick in FOOTLOOSE, Colonel/Ratchett in MURDER ON THE ORIENT EXPRESS, and Ursula in THE LITTLE MERMAID. Che has just finished his freshman year as a musical theatre student at Marymount Manhattan College and would like to thank his teachers, friends, family, and Mom for their love and support. When he’s not flipping out on stage, literally, you can find Che down the shore, at a concert, or curled up with his dog, Lovey. IG: @chey0ung
David Bellin
David is beyond excited to be making his debut on the Barn Stage! A native of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania David is a rising sophomore in the BFA Acting Program at Syracuse University and is an alumni of the Pittsburgh CLO Academy for the Performing Arts. In the fall David will be embarking on tour with Syracuse Stage’s production of MY ROBOT. Some of his past roles include Frank N Furter in THE ROCKY HORROR SHOW, Evan/Conrad in SIGNIFICANT OTHER and Rapunzel's Prince in INTO THE WOODS. Lots of love to his family, friends, professors at SU and especially his mentors Carmen Lopresti and Dania Griffith.
Erin Ellis
Erin (She/Her) is ecstatic to be making her professional theatre debut with the Barn! A rising Sophomore at NYU Tisch pursuing a BFA in Musical Theatre. Erin has recently been seen in roles such as Sally Bowles in CABARET, Jesus in JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR, and Young Woman in MACHINAL. Some additional favorite credits include; Belle in BEAUTY AND THE BEAST, Roxie Hart in CHICAGO, and Wendla in SPRING AWAKENING. Erin sends endless love and gratitude to her family, friends, mentors, cast, crew, and beyond! IG & YouTube: @Erin_Ellis_Island
John Junkins
John is a rising Junior at Marymount Manhattan College, NYC, where he is working on his BFA in Musical Theatre and minoring in Media Production. He is originally from Pawleys Island, SC, a small coastal town in between Myrtle Beach and Charleston. John has been cast in several shows since arriving at Marymount, including a Shakespeare revival of A MIDSUMMER NIGHTS DREAM as Demetrius, THE HOPELESS PART CONFESSIONS OF A ROMANTIC MAN, a student created one-act play, and the 2024 Homecoming Musical, 13 as Brett. John is excited to work hard, learn, and develop his talent this summer at The Barn!
Erin McKee
Erin is very excited to be a part of the Barn Theatre company this season. Some of her favorite regional credits are Karen in JOSIAH FOR PRESIDENT at Blue Gate Musicals, Heather Chandler in HEATHERS, at Elysian Playhouse, and Fabian in TWELFTH NIGHT at Voices Found Repertory. She holds a BFA in acting from the University of Whitewater Wisconsin, and would like to thank her friends and family for their continuous support.
Jake Decker
Jake Decker is a Junior Musical Theatre BFA major at Indiana University. He is thrilled to be a Performer Apprentice this summer at The Barn. Regional Credits include FOREVER PLAID with Indiana University Summer Theatre and THE WIZARD OF OZ with Constellation Stage & Screen. In school, Jake has been in the Ensemble of LEGALLY BLONDE and REEFER MADNESS, Senator Flipp in URINETOWN, and Marvin in FALSETTOS. Instagram: @jddeckerr
Kyle Lowry
Kyle is a 21-year-old actor from Cincinnati, Ohio. He is currently pursuing a B.F.A. in Acting at Liberty University. There, he has participated variously, performing in main-stage shows and taking part in the writing and producing of original works. Some of his recent acting credits include King Louis XIII in THE THREE MUSKETEERS and Duke Senior in AS YOU LIKE IT. Outside of acting, Kyle enjoys fashion, photography, and writing music. This is his first summer at the Barn. Kyle will be returning to Liberty in the fall for his senior year.
Liz Lamora
Liz is ECSTATIC to be at the Barn Theatre this Summer! Originally from Sacramento, California, Liz is a rising Junior at the University of Oklahoma (Boomer!), where she is getting her BFA in Musical Theater. Regional Music Circus credits of Liz include SEUSSICAL and BYE BYE BIRDIE. While at Sacramento Theater Company Liz performed in DISASTER! as Ben/Lisa and in CARRIE as Carrie. OU University Theatre credits of Liz include CRAZY FOR YOU as a Swing; RENT as an Asst. Director. In the OU Musical Theatre Downtown Series, Liz is credited with Edna/Lucy U/S in BRIGHT STAR. In the OU Artist’s Gallery Liz Directed BOOMER BACKWARDS. Many thanks to the OU faculty, friends, family, and YOU for your support! Follow my journey on Instagram! @Lizlamoraofficial. Enjoy the show!
Mark Mumford
Mark Mumford is thrilled to be making his professional debut with The Barn for their 79th season! He is pursuing a BFA in Music Theatre Performance at Western Michigan University, and previously graduated from Walnut Hill School for the Arts in Natick, MA. Recently he was Henry Etches in TITANIC THE MUSICAL: In Concert at WMU. Much love to his parents for their continued and consistent support from the West Coast, and to his new and much-loved network of Michigan friends, who, without them, would make life a lot less bright. Keep up with all of Mark's work and projects at markrmumford.com or IG: @markrmumford.
Olivia Thiemann
Olivia (she/her) is thrilled to be making her debut at The Barn Theatre this summer! Originally from Berkshire County, MA, she is a recent graduate of Muhlenberg College, where she received double majors in Theatre and Psychology. A classically trained soprano, Olivia grew up studying musical theatre and Shakespeare. Some of her favorite roles have included Ariel in THE TEMPEST, Rona Lisa Peretti in THE 25TH ANNUAL PUTNAM COUNTY SPELLING BEE, and Juliet in ROMEO AND JULIET. She also studied at the Theatre Academy of London in the spring of 2023. Olivia thanks her family and friends for their support! IG: @olivia.thiemann_
Parker Cobden
Parker Cobden is delighted to make his debut with the Barn Theatre this summer. He is from Kansas City, Missouri and is a student at the Dobbins Conservatory of Theatre and Dance at Southeast Missouri State. Recent roles at Southeast Missouri include The Baker in INTO THE WOODS, Cord Elam in OKLAHOMA!, Mayor of Munchkinland in THE WIZARD OF OZ, and Paul in THE GUY WHO DIDN’T LIKE MUSICALS with Brick Road Productions. Parker will be in GREASE this fall playing Danny Zucko at Southeast Missouri State. He is so excited to work at this incredible theatre this summer and praying he won’t succumb to heat exhaustion in July.
Sam Corry
Sam Corry is beyond thrilled to join Barn Theatre School this season! Hailing originally from New York, he is a rising Sophomore getting his BFA in Musical Theatre from Rider University. Favorite credits include Whizzer in FALSETTOS, Laurie in LITTLE WOMEN, and Melchior Gabor in SPRING AWAKENING. Sam is so excited and grateful to be starting off his professional career in Michigan this summer! IG: sam.corry19
Sam Hopper
Sam Hopper is 19 years old and a Junior in college. He is currently studying at CCM to get his BFA in Acting. Some recent roles Sam has performed are M in LUNGS and Polixenes in THE WINTER’S TALE. When he is not performing, Sam likes to play pickleball, go thrifting, and try new foods. Sam would like to thank his parents for being such great supporters and motivators. He would also like to thank The Barn for giving him the opportunity to work with and learn from equity actors in their apprenticeship program. He hopes you enjoy the show!
Vivian Lakin
As a Michigander herself, Vivian (she/her) is extremely excited to be performing at The Barn Theatre this summer! She is currently pursuing her BFA in musical theatre with minors in arts administration, dance, and technical theatre at Ohio Northern University with an expected graduation year of 2027. Some of her recent credits include Ermengarde in HELLO, DOLLY!, Judy Haynes in WHITE CHRISTMAS, and U/S Violet in 9-TO-5: THE MUSICAL. She would like to thank her parents and her coolest aunt for always supporting her in everything she does. IG: viviannlakin
Will Nysse
Will is thrilled to be joining the Barn Theatre for their 2025 season. Will is a recent graduate of the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse with degrees in Theatre Performance and Economics. His recent credits include Bobby in CABARET, George Wickham in THE WICKHAMS: CHRISTMAS AT PEMBERLEY and Don Pedro in MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING at UWL and, Don Kerr in A CHORUS LINE at Sunset Playhouse in Elm Grove, Wisconsin.