Production Team Bios
Director’s Note:
Every Christmas season, we return to stories that remind us of who we are and who we aspire to be. Among them, A Christmas Carol stands out—not just for its unforgettable characters and imagery, but for its power to challenge and inspire us anew with each retelling. At its heart, this tale is about redemption, faith, and the healing power of time. It reminds us that no matter what we’ve done in the past, transformation is always within reach.
When I first encountered A Christmas Carol as a child, I was captivated by its mix of humor, music, and timeless lessons (thanks to The Muppet Christmas Carol). That wonder has only deepened with age, especially as I’ve had the privilege to perform in it twice and now direct it for the first time. This adaptation by Emily Snyder captures the story’s rich themes while integrating traditional carols in a way that feels organic and deeply moving. It invites us to imagine how Charles Dickens himself might have crafted this tale as a theatrical experience—intimate, reflective, and bursting with the spirit of Christmas.
By highlighting the healing power of time and memory, we see transparently how reflection on our past, present, and future can heal and transform us. The organic nature of the traditional carols within this production underscores the story’s spiritual journey, reminding us that music can both mourn and celebrate, bringing light to the darkest of times.
My hope is that you experience the wonderful feeling of nostalgia associated with Dickens, and that you leave this theater inspired to look inward and outward—to reflect on your own “Christmas Past,” embrace the joy of your “Christmas Present,” and consider how your choices will shape your “Christmas Yet-To-Come.” May this story rekindle a sense of faith, generosity, and joy in your hearts this Christmas season. Let us choose light, even in the midst of darkness.
Joshua Zapata-Palmer
Role: Director
Open Window Theatre: Wizard of Oz (Director), Young Actors Academy Instructor
REPRESENTATIVE THEATRE: The Children’s Theater Company: (assistant director) Snow White, Cinderella; Star Map Players: (director) The Importance of Being Earnest; Prairie Fire Children’s Theater: (director) Tom Sawyer; REIF Center: (director) Lalo’s Lunchbox; Farmington High School: (director) Wedding Reception, Melancholy Play; Old Log Theater: (actor) The Reluctant Dragon; Gilbert & Sullivan Very Light Opera Company: (actor) Pirates of Penzance, Utopia Ltd, The Sorcerer; Arts Garden: (actor) The Music Man; Héritage Players: (actor) Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat; National Theater for Children: BrainSTEM
UPCOMING: Hidden Falls (the web series) www.hiddenfallsfilm.com
TRAINING: B.A. Theater Arts (Acting, Directing, Musical Theater) from Bethel University
LEARN MORE: www.joshiepalms.com
Dylan Sauder
Role: Music Director
Open Window Theatre: Macbeth
REPRESENTATIVE THEATRE:
(MUSIC/VOCAL DIRECTOR) Bunce Performing Arts: The Little Mermaid, Tuck Everlasting; Southwest Christian HS: Peter and the Starcatcher, Beauty and the Beast; The B.E.A.T.: Finding Nemo Kids, Frozen Kids, Seussical Kids, Aladdin Kids, The Aristocats Kids; Totino-Grace: Annie, Jr.
(ACTOR) Lyric Arts: The Last Five Years. Bunce Performing Arts: Bright Star, A Christmas Carol: The Musical. LaMarca Theatre: Puffs. UNW-St. Paul: The 1940s Radio Hour, Die Fledermaus, Into the Woods, The Phantom of the Opera.
UPCOMING: Bunce Performing Arts: Anastasia.
TRAINING: University of Northwestern – St. Paul (Vocal Music Education)
1 Cor. 10:31 – Soli Deo Gloria
Kendra Kispert
Role: Stage Manager
Open Window Theatre: Debut
REPRESENTATIVE THEATRE:
(STAGE MANAGEMENT) UNW Theatre: Sherlock Holmes, Romeo and Juliet, These Shining Lives
(DIRECTOR) UNW Theatre Bathrobes Christmas Festival: A Hallmark Christmas; UNW Theatre One Act Festival: Hanging On
UPCOMING: Faith Community Theatre: You Can’t Take It With You
TRAINING: University of Northwestern, St. Paul (Theatre); Internship at Sight and Sound Theatre, Branson, MO
LEARN MORE: https://kendrakispert.weebly.com
Peter Colburn
Role: Ebenezer Scrooge
Open Window Theatre: Our Town, Lillies of the Field, Macbeth
REPRESENTATIVE THEATRE:
Red Tail Entertainment: A Smokey Mountain Christmas Carol; Nebraska Theatre Caravan: The Taming Of The Shrew, Animal Farm; The Jungle Theatre: Dial M, For Murder; Playhouse On The Square: A Streetcar Named Desire, Greater Tuna, Uncle Vanya; Vanguard Repertory: Twelfth Night; The Circuit Theatre: Sherlock’s Last Case; Bucket Brigade: Kingdom Undone, Sam’s Son; Hero Now Theatre: Terra Nova, A Thing Of Beauty; Troupe America: Ghost Stories
LEARN MORE: Peter-colburn.com
Peter Aitchison
Roles: Jacob Marley, Christmas Present, Old Fezziwig, Old Wessex, Joe the Scavenger
Open Window Theatre: Macbeth
REPRESENTATIVE THEATRE: Lyric Arts : TheMystery of Edwin Drood, Bright Star, Urinetown Theatre in the Round: The Government Inspector, Hero Now: Terra Nova, The Orestia, The Importance of Being Earnest Classical Actors Ensemble: Tis Pity She’s a Whore Meadowbrook: Noises Off
TRAINING: Wayne State University, MFA, Stratford Shakespeare Festival
LEARN MORE; Dedicated to the memory of my father, Gary and brother Steve. Special thanks to all involved with this production and my family for their encouragement and support.
Noah Ratgen
Roles: Fred, Young Scrooge, Christmas Future
Open Window Theatre: Macbeth
REPRESENTATIVE THEATRE (select list):
Utah Shakespeare Festival: Othello; Nashville Shakespeare Festival: Cymbeline; Hoosier Shakespeare Festival: Macbeth, Merry Wives of Windsor; Guthrie: A Christmas Carol; Children’s Theatre Company: Pippi Longstocking, Jackie & Me, Wizard of Oz, Diary of Wimpy Kid: The Musical (World Premiere); Classical Actors Ensemble: Twelfth Night.
FILM/TV: (mis)placed (webseries), Elskan (short film), Be The Match (commercial)
AWARDS: Society of American Fight Directors: 2023 National Stage Combat Workshop recipient of Best Performer Award.
TRAINING: Shenandoah Conservatory (B.F.A. Acting), Society of American Fight Directors (Advanced Actor Combatant), Commonwealth Shakespeare Company Apprentice.
“Many thanks to my family, friends, and significant other, Maggie, for supporting me through all the blood, sweat, and tears! I love you all and wouldn’t be the man I am today without you!”
Jillian Ehlke
Roles: Belle, Maggie, Clara, Employee
Open Window Theatre: Our Town, George Orwell’s 1984, A Christmas Carol (2021)
REPRESENTATIVE THEATRE:
Star Map Players: The Importance of Being Earnest
Concerto Dance by Jolene Konkel: Girls in the Band; UNW Theatre: As You Like It, Singin’ in the Rain, Dancing at Lughnasa, Sleeping Beauty, Mary Poppins, 1940’s Radio Hour, Newsies, Julius Caesar
DANCE: UNW Dance Theatre Company: Company Member 2018-2022
CHOREOGRAPHY: 4CT (Choreographer): Little Shop of Horrors; UNW Theatre (Assistant Choreographer): Bright Star, Emma the Musical, Peter Pan, Anything Goes
UPCOMING: Hidden Falls Web Series Hiddenfallsfilm.com
TRAINING: University of Northwestern (Theatre and Dance)
LEARN MORE: jillianmae.com
Jacob Koshiol
Roles: Bob Cratchit, Young Fezziwig, Topper
Open Window Theatre: Debut
REPRESENTATIVE THEATRE: Gilbert & Sullivan Very Light Opera Company: Pirates of Penzance, Utopia Ltd; Skylark Opera Theater: Amahl and the Night Visitors; Gustavus Theater: Sweeney Todd, King Lear, The Laramie Project, Hello Mama
TRAINING: B.A. Vocal Music (Opera and Classical) from Gustavus Adolphus College
LEARN MORE: jkoshiol96.wixsite.com/koshiolcreativeco
Sarah Stanbary
Roles: Emily Cratchit, Fezziwig Guest, Penelope
Open Window Theatre: The Potting Shed, Lolek, Frassati, A Christmas Carol (2021), George Orwell’s 1984, Leaving Iowa, Mercy Unrelenting, Nicholas (2022 & 2023)
TRAINING: University of Wisconsin-Green Bay, Double major in Theater & Arts Management
Meg Bradley
Roles: Mrs. Fezziwig, Charity Woman, Choir Mistress, Bess
Open Window Theatre: Macbeth
REPRESENTATIVE THEATRE:
Sod House Theatre: RARE; Rochester Civic Theatre: Blithe Spirit, Steel Magnolias, Addams Family Musical; Orchard Theatre: St. Joan; Theatre Coup d’Etat: Rogue Prince, Et Tu Brute; Pangea: Mother Courage; History Theatre: Servant’s Christmas, Gold in the Streets; Lindbergh Festival CTC: Clown of God, Cinderella, King Arthur and the Magic Sword, A Midsummer Night’s Dream; Company member of Theatre de la Jeune Lune: Cirque de Moliere, Ubu for President, 1929, The Kitchen, Red Noses, Cyrano, Seven Dwarfs. InterMission Theatre: Ordinary Days, Ghost Quartet.
PLAYWRIGHT: JungleTheatre Tossin’Junk
MUSIC: Basilica Mundus Choir, LeagueAires Singers
TRAINING: U of MN BFA Theatre, Dance Minor
AWARDS: Newberry Award for Creativity UWMC
Thanks to my adult children, boyfriend, neighbors, other family, and Dr. Price
Kasmira Heisler
Roles: Christmas Past, Beggar, Ensemble
Open Window Theatre: Debut
Audryn Hegewald
Roles: Fanny Scrooge, Belinda Cratchit, Ensemble
Open Window Theatre: Wizard of Oz (Young Actors Academy)
REPRESENTATIVE THEATRE: New Life Academy Theatre: Beauty and the Beast, One Night in Hollywood, Hutchback of Notre Dame, Cinderella, Hello Dolly; Zephyr Theatre: Newsies; Lakeshore Players Theatre: The Child
DANCE: Cannon Falls School of Dance: Alice in Wonderland
CHOREOGRAPHY: New Life Academy Theatre: Elf Jr., Peter Pan Jr., Chitty Chitty Bang Bang Jr.
UPCOMING: New Life Academy Theatre: Nevermore
Carter Monahan
Roles: Youngest Scrooge, Assistant to Joe the Scavenger, Ensemble
Open Window Theatre: Nicholas (2023)
REPRESENTATIVE THEATRE:
Minnetonka Theatre: On Golden Pond. The Phipps Center:The Further Adventures of Nick Tickle. Morris Park Players: RAGTIME! The Musical. Lakeshore Players Theatre: A Christmas Story. Artistry: Shrek! The Musical. Minnesota History Theatre: Not For Sale. Guthrie Theater: A Christmas Carol
Augustine Stanbary
Roles: Master Wessex, Undertaker/Ensemble
Open Window Theatre: Thornton Wilder’s Our Town, Nicholas (2022 & 2023), Multiple Young Actors Academy Productions
TRAINING: Young Actors Academy at Open Window Theatre
Justus Heisler
Roles: Tiny Tim, Ensemble
Open Window Theatre: Debut
Thaddeus Heisler
Roles: Youngest Fezziwig, Ensemble
Open Window Theatre: Debut
Kurt Larson
Roles: Live Music Accompanist, Ensemble
Open Window Theatre: Everyman, Dante’s Inferno, The Living Water, Wizard of Oz
REPRESENTATIVE THEATRE:
“A Known” Production Company: His Name Is Michael, Something So Big, Ain’t You the One?
A Christmas Carol
Crew & Designers
Jeremy Stanbary (Producer/Artistic Dir. & Sound Designer)
Nate Farley (Props Designer & Production Assistant)
Nate has been with OWT since Season 2 and is now our resident designer and scenic artist. Nate is a Librarian by day and a freelance designer/actor by night. He was last seen on the Open Window stage in our production of Leaving Iowa last season. He also shares his many talents with a variety of other theater and film companies in the area, in addition to serving as the Resident House Manager for Open Window Theatre.
Sue Berger (Lighting Designer)
Sue is thrilled to return to OWT after previously designing lights for Dante’s Inferno, The Living Water, The Lilies of the Field, and Wizard of Oz. this season. Sue is Production Coordinator and Resident Lighting Designer at Chanhassen Dinner Theatres. Her work has been seen with The Finnish National Opera, Arizona BroadwayTheatre, The Palace Theatre WI Dells, Yellow Tree, Historic Pantages Theatre, Ordway Center, North Star Opera, Valleyfair, MusicBox Theatre, Carousel Dinner Theatre, Circa21 and Park Square Theatre, among others.
Sue enjoys spending her summers designing for Iowa’s Cedar Summerstock while also teaching at ChanDT’s Musical Theatre Camp. She’s been a guest artist with several universities and high schools, has taught theatre for all levels and is currently teaching Lighting Design at Concordia University in St. Paul. In her spare time, Sue designs for concerts, schools and churches, and mentors students interested in tech theatre.
Robin McIntyre (Scenic Designer & Master Carpenter)
Open Window Theatre: Dante’s Inferno, The Lilies of the Field, Macbeth
Robert Graff (Costume Designer)
Open Window Theatre: Dante’s Inferno, The Lilies of the Field