Velvet
(Athena Velasco)
At the tender age of 4, having seen her first play, Athena fell in love with acting. She wowed her first audience at age 5 and has been passionate about acting ever since!
Her purpose in life other than acting, is to beautify and preserve our wonderful planet. Her vision is to become a talented actress and use her possible notoriety to speak out about saving our environment and animals. This combines her talent and desire to make a difference in the world.
She loves to draw anime, read, swim, climb trees and care for cats and dogs. She is rough and tough with the best of them and yet she can be a gentle young lady when she wants to be. Having life coaches for parents, she learned early to live a life she loves. She adores being a playful kid and, at the same time, she is wise and mature for her age.
Her motto is "Perfection paralyzes, excellence excels."
www.lacasting.com/AthenaVelasco
(Lucy Angelo)
Lucy (12) began her stage dreams at age 5 and has been in over 40 theatrical productions! She was recently Annie in Annie and Mary (blind girl) in the The Miracle Worker which she will reprise in May and June. Lucy also has television, movies music videos and a few commercials to her credit. She is honored to be a part of National Velvet. Lucy has been chosen to be the kick off singer for The Ronald McDonald Kids Walk June 13 singing her original song "Get Up".
www.myspacemusic.com/LucyAngelo
The "Pi", short for piebald, an old english term for black and white spotted coloration, is the spirited and talented horse, who impresses Mi and wins Velvet's heart in her quest of a dream to win the Grand National, the greatest horse race of all!
Mi Taylor
(Dagwood)
Dagwood is proud to be a part of this incredible Cast and Production. Originally from Pittsburgh,PA, he has enjoyed being a part of several theatre productions including Man of La Mancha, Little Shop of Horrors, Crimes of the Heart, and was writer/director for a stage adaption of the story 'Walking Across Egypt' by Clyde Edgerton.
Mrs. Brown
(Alexandra Smothers)
I am honored to be in this premiere production of an American classic, 'National Velvet' at the World Famous Improv playing the accomplished, deeply driven and loving Mrs. Brown. I have had the honor of working consistently in film and television. On stage, I have portrayed many leading ladies including Ms. Blanche DuBois, Maggie the Cat, Cherie in Bus Stop and Lorraine Sheldon in 'The Man Who Came to Dinner'
Mr. Brown
(Ron Kari)
Ron Kari (Mr. Brown) is excited at playing the father of four adopted children. His credits include: "It's A Wonderful Life" Mr. Gower, "And Then there Were None" General Mackenzie, "Phantom of the Soap Opera" Dr. Noah Caine, "Christmas Carole the Musical" (three roles), "Fiddler on the Roof", Arsenic and Old Lace and others. Film includes the recent filming of "Bobbie Fischer Live". Ron thanks Dagwood for this opportunity. A special thanks to his wife Leah for her love and support in all of their and his adventures. He feels he is a God Blessed man.
Mally
(Natalie Piechowski)
Natalie is delighted to be a part of such a heart-warming production! Her credits include:
- LA Operas The Fly
- Medea, Greek Chorus
- Belle, Beauty and the Beast
- Young Jane Eyre, Jane Eyre
- John Darling, Peter Pan
- Linus, Youre A Good Man, Charlie Brown
- Stuff Happens
- The Effects of Gamma Rays on Man in the Moon Marigolds
- Cat on A Hot Tin Roof
- The Miracle Worker
- The Glass Menagerie
Thank you to my parents, Amanda, Ryan, Carla Wynn, Alyssa, Sam, Nana, Papa, for all the love and support. I could not have tread this road without you. Thank you, Dagwood and Randy, for allowing me to be a part of the magic.
(Samantha McCullough)
Samantha is excited to play Mally and be a part of this amazing production with a stellar cast and classic story with a "twist". A Texas native, she now lives in Burbank and loves it. In addition to acting, she loves reading, singing, skateboarding and electric guitar. She plays basketball on a team and is in the renowned Jordan Middle School Choir. She played Amy in Little Women as well as Cindy in the musical Sunday School Musical. She can be seen on BrainSurge! this summer on Nickelodeon as well as on television as Ashley in an Ashley Furniture commercial. Samantha helps raise money for Generosity Water, a foundation that builds wells and provides clean drinking water in many impoverished locations throughout the globe.
Edwina
(Mary Huse)
Mary is very excited to be a part of this production of the beloved story, National Velvet. She is also very grateful for the opportunity to work with such a delightful cast, and everyone involved in this production. Mary's acting experience has been in various acting, commercial, singing, and musical theatre classes, television commercials, and most recently Little Women at the Long Beach Playhouse this past holiday season. Last summer, Mary went to London and studied at The Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts, completing a three week classical theatre workshop. Her greatest wish is to go back to England and enroll full time in drama school.
Donald
(Anthony Chavez)
Anthony is pleased to be a part of the re-telling of this heart-warming story and is grateful to his Mom for all her support.
Miss Ada
(voiced by Mary Huse)
The Brown family car... with a modern makeover, she now flies and gives more information than most want!
Mr. Cellini
(Wayne Baldwin)
Wayne Baldwin is an actor with both stage and screen credits to his name, in addition to being a retired physician. He has an extensive list of accomplishments, most recently completing a role in Bobby Fischer Live. www.nowcasting.com/wbaldwin
(Sydney Hines)
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