2026 First-Year Apprentices
Belle Chavey
Belle Chavey is beyond thrilled for the opportunity to make her professional debut with The Barn Theatre in their upcoming season. Belle is a rising senior pursuing a Bachelor of Arts in Theatre with a minor in Musical Theatre and Psychology at Kansas State University. Past K-State credits include THE FANTASTICKS, A YEAR WITH FROG AND TOAD, THE WOLVES, OUR TOWN and SPRING AWAKENING. Recently, she made her directing debut as the assistant director for PETER AND THE STARCATCHER. For the past two summers, she was the script editor for the North Central Kansas Tour with Lovewell Institute for the Creative Arts. She would like to thank her friends and family for their endless support, and The Barn for this opportunity. Keep supporting live theatre!
Anna-Grace Cummings
Anna-Grace Cummings is an incoming Junior at Marymount Manhattan College currently studying both BFA Acting and Playwriting. This year her roles at Marymount Manhattan include Kendra in 13 THE MUSICAL, and Robin in HORSE GIRLS. She joined the Barn company last season for HOW TO SUCCEED…which was her very first time participating in a production out of state! Anna-Grace could not be more thrilled to share the stage with such an incredible company and is so grateful to be doing what she loves this summer!
Anabella Klein
Anabella is so excited to be working at the Barn Theatre this summer! She was born and raised in Phoenix, Arizona and will be entering her fourth and final year at Arizona State University in the fall where she is obtaining her BM in Music Theatre Performance. Select credits include Rapunzel in INTO THE WOODS, Shelby in STEEL MAGNOLIAS, Jean MacLaren in BRIGADOON, and Gretchen in FREAKY FRIDAY. She also works locally as a music director and theater educator at numerous youth theaters in the Phoenix valley area where she most recently music directed MATILDA JR.
Finleigh Klein
Finleigh Klein is an actor and singer from Clarkston, Michigan. She is a recent graduate of Bowling Green State University and is delighted to be working her first professional performance job as a Barn Theatre Apprentice. In addition to studying musical theatre at BGSU, she developed her craft at the Gaiety School of Acting in Dublin, Ireland during the summer of 2025. Some of Finleigh’s recent collegiate roles include Wendy Darling in PETER PAN AND WENDY, Ensemble in SPONGEBOB SQUAREPANTS: THE BROADWAY MUSICAL, Williamina Fleming in SILENT SKY, and Meg Brockie in BRIGADOON.
Andrew Klepser
Andrew Klepser will be a junior at Western Michigan University this fall, majoring in Theatre: Acting with a minor in Dance. His WMU credits include Dogberry in MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING, Waiter in UTOPIA, and Nick Carraway (U/S) in THE GREAT GATSBY immersive show. In the fall, Andrew will be one of Lola’s Angels in WMU’s KINKY BOOTS. Before transferring to WMU, Andrew majored in Television and Digital Media Production at Ferris State University. With a passion for all things theatre performance and film production, Andrew is always working on his next project to better his craft.
Hannah Kurczeski
Hannah Kurczeski (she/her) is so excited to spend her summer at the Barn! She graduated in May from Yale University, where she double majored in Theater, Dance, & Performance Studies and English. Some of her favorite Yale credits include THE LAST FIVE YEARS as Cathy Hiatt, CABARET as Sally Bowles, A MIDSUMMER NIGHT’S DREAM as Titania, THE 25TH ANNUAL… SPELLING BEE as Schwarzy, COMPANY as Joanne, SONGS FOR A NEW WORLD as Woman 2, and LEGALLY BLONDE as Paulette Buonafonte. She is also a playwright whose first play, PROM NIGHT, was selected for the 2024 Yale Playwrights Festival and had its premiere production at Yale in April 2025. She’d like to thank her family and friends for being her constant supporters and biggest inspirations.
Calvin Means
Calvin Means (he/him) is a first-year apprentice and recent grad of the Dobbins Conservatory at Southeast Missouri State with a BFA in Musical Theatre. Calvin is originally from Waynesboro, Virginia, and has lived in Cape Girardeau, Missouri for two years. He started theatre as a fork in BEAUTY & THE BEAST. His recent and most favorite roles include Malvolio in TWELFTH NIGHT and Peter in JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR. Calvin also recently served on the organizing staff at The Lanford Wilson New American Play Festival, participating in creating and fostering new play development.
Ella Jewel Miller
Ella is thrilled to be working at the Barn Theatre this summer! She is a rising senior at Marymount Manhattan College in New York City, pursuing a BFA in Musical Theatre with a minor in Music Industry. Originally from Brentwood, Tennessee, her recent credits include Alyssa Greene in THE PROM, Maureen in RENT, Marie in Rodgers and Hammerstein’s CINDERELLA, and Fantine in LES MISÉRABLES. When not performing, she works at the front desk of a Pilates studio. She enjoys playing electric bass guitar and loves traveling to national parks!
Ryan Parody
Ryan Parody is a rising sophomore studying Musical Theatre at the University of Miami. He is thrilled to be joining The Barn for its 80th season! Recent credits include John Thayer in TITANIC: THE MUSICAL at the Jerry Herman Theatre, as well as workshopping two new roles for the University of Miami Studio Show. Ryan would like to thank his family, friends, and mentors for their endless love and support, and hopes you enjoy the show!
Ben Shawn
Ben Shawn (He/Him) is a rising Junior at Webster University’s Sargent Conservatory working towards his BFA in Acting. Ben is beyond stoked to be joining The Barn this summer. Favorite credits include Emmett in LEGALLY BLONDE, Larry the Lobster in SPONGEBOB SQUAREPANTS: THE BROADWAY MUSICAL, and Mischa in RIDE THE CYCLONE. Outside of acting, Ben enjoys playing tennis and thrifting. He hopes you enjoy the show! Instagram @ben_shawn12
Sophie Sonntag
Sophie is so excited to be making her Barn Debut as a first year apprentice! She is a recent graduate of the University of California, Irvine Music Theatre BFA program and has been performing for as long as she can remember. Some of her favorite roles include Isabel in SCROOGE! THE MUSICAL at Chance Theatre in Santa Ana, CA; Rapunzel in INTO THE WOODS at JStage in Irvine, CA; and Anya in ANASTASIA at Del Mar Performing Arts in Campbell, CA. She is so grateful to her family, friends, and professors at UCI for their endless support. Enjoy!
Peter Stoycos
Peter Stoycos (he/him) is thrilled to be returning to the Barn Theatre! He has previously been seen at the Barn in the Christmas Cabarets, but this will be his first summer as an apprentice. He is a rising senior at Western Michigan University where he is pursuing a BFA in Music Theatre Performance as well as a minor in dance. He has been seen on Western’s stage as Anthony in SWEENEY TODD, Quaxo/Munkustrap understudy in CATS, and Ensemble/Emmett understudy in LEGALLY BLONDE. He would like to thank his family for always supporting him in his theatrical endeavors, especially his two cats.
Parker Brian Valek
Parker began his acting career at the age of sixteen. After his high school graduation, he did not plan on continuing with it and instead went into the trades. After the pandemic ended, he found his way back to theatre and has been pursuing it ever since. He is a recent graduate of Illinois State University, with his bachelor’s in Musical Theatre. Previous roles include Wolf/ Steward in INTO THE WOODS, Lecturer in REEFER MADNESS, Kurt Heathers, Inspector Bertozzo in THE ACCIDENTAL DEATH OF AN ANARCHIST, and Leonard Grossman in THESE SHINING LIVES.
Corrinthea Washington
Corrinthea Washington is a recent graduate of Ithaca College, where she earned her BFA Degree and performed in numerous productions, most recently playing Emily Webb in OUR TOWN. Her recent professional credits include Miley in the industry reading of the new work THE GIRL WHO CRIED DIFFERENT at Ripley Studios, Miranda in THE TEMPEST with Ithaca Shakespeare Company, Nina U/S in STUPID F*CKING BIRD at the Hangar Theatre, ensemble member in the new play HIJAS for Finger Lakes New Works Festival, and collaborator on the new work TALES OF THE VOICELESS: A CONVERSATION, first performed at Ithaca College. Her favorite tv show will forever be Vampire Diaries!