Children of Eden Jr.
Photos from Children of Eden Jr. Click here for more photos.

Aug 2-4, 2024
Friday, Saturday, Sunday, Aug. 2-4, 1 pm
Book by John Caird
Music and lyrics by Stephen Schwartz
Directed by Dori Bryan-Ployer
Music Director: Esther Zabinski
The Mass Arts Center Academy is proud to present Stephen Schwartz’s Children of Eden Jr. This inspirational musical explores the phenomena of love, faith, conflict, and forgiveness against the backdrop of family. With a sweeping score — one of Schwartz’s best — life lessons have never sounded so good! Don’t miss out. Secure your tickets today!
Many thanks to Michael McGarty for creating the program book.
OUR CAST

Katie Ault (Snake 1, Storyteller) is excited to take the stage with her students and sister, Maggie, for the first time in this production of Children of Eden. When not performing, Katie is a teacher at the Mass Arts Academy. Special thanks to Dori, Ken, Caitlin, and Ellie for their work on the show!

Maggie Ault (Snake 2, Storyteller) is so excited to be in Children of Eden! This is her first performance with MAC and she wants to thank Dori for the opportunity to be a part of this production. Thanks to her family for inspiring her and above all God for everything.

James Brandolo (Cain, Japeth, Storyteller) is very excited to be taking on the role of Cain/Japheth in Children of Eden. James is an entering freshman to Mansfield High School. He has been in two other shows, Newsies, playing Albert, and 42nd Street, playing Julian Marsh. He plays a number of instruments including the alto saxophone, the piano, the guitar, and the flute. He would like to thank his mother, and his performing arts teacher, Patrick Macrossan for their support.

Katie Brandolo (Storyteller) Hi, my name is Kate Brandolo and I am 13 years old. Prior to this show, I have performed in the Big Bad Musical and 42nd Street. I have also worked behind the scenes in the musical Newsies. I want to thank Dori and Esther for all of the hard work they have put into this show and into helping us become better actors. I have had so much fun rehearsing for Children of Eden and I hope you enjoy the show!

Nora Daubert (Young Abel, Seth, Snake 4, Storyteller) is eleven years old and a student at Montrose school in Medfield. She has been a Mass Arts student for three years. Recent credits include Gypsy (ventriloquist, young Yonkers), and Madagascar a Musical Adventure Jr. (Marty).

Ella Desfosses (Eve, Yonah, Storyteller) began taking voice lessons with Cassola Voice Studio in 2021, where she quickly developed a passion for singing and musical theater. In addition to her studio vocal performances, Ella has performed with the Wheelock Family Theater and Easton Collaborative Theater. Most recently she commanded the stage as Ursula in The Little Mermaid Jr. Ella is thrilled to share her love of singing and theater as Eve and then Yonah in Children of Eden in her first performance with the Mass Arts Center!

Ciara Fitzgerald (Aysha, Storyteller) My name is Ciara Fitzgerald and I am 11 years old. My favorite thing about musical theater is seeing all of our hard work come together to make one beautiful show. I have been at the Mass Arts Center for a little over a year and I have previously been in 4 shows: Frozen, The Lion King, The Little Mermaid and The Sound of Music. Children of Eden will be the 5th production I’ve been in here. I want to thank Katie and Ellie Ault and Dori Bryan-Ployer for teaching me to love musical theater and working really hard to make the productions perfect.

Benjamin Fleming (Adam, Noah, Storyteller) was drawn to the stage at an early age and has enjoyed the process of becoming both Adam & Noah, as well as the challenges each role provides. Favorite roles include Marius in Mass Arts Center Les Mis, Crutchie in Newsies, Mowgli in Jungle Book and Charlie Bucket in Charlie & the Chocolate Factory. He is thankful for every opportunity to be on stage, bringing his joy and energy to the show. Thank you Dad & Mom for the love, support and willingness to drive me – figuratively and literally!

Daniel Fleming (Father, Storyteller) walked onto a stage by the age of 1 and has never looked back. He has enjoyed the challenge of becoming Father and appreciates the hard work and dedication of Director Dori and the wonderful cast of Mass Arts Center Children of Eden. Some of Daniel’s favorite roles include Jean Valjean in Mass Arts Center’s Les Mis, Scar in The Lion King and Davey in Newsies as well as his first role on stage as Tiny Tim. Thank you Mom & Dad for guidance, direction and believing in me! To his cast mates “Remember the hardest part of a show is the letting go…”

Katie Hobbs (Abel, Mama, Snake 3, Storyteller) is thrilled to be joining the cast of Children of Eden this summer and is thankful for the opportunity to work with the Director and staff on bringing this beautiful piece of theater to life. Katie is an incoming Junior where she is the vocal captain of Panache, the schools award-winning show choir. She has been a competitive and pre-professional musical theater and dance student for the past 14 years and loves the joy that comes from a performance well done. Some of her previous performance credits include Shrek, Footloose, Annie, Children of Eden, Sound of Music and MTI’s Raise Your Voice. This past spring, Katie was a finalist for Classic Singer’s Musical Theater High School division soloist and had the honor of performing in Washington D.C.

Shannon Hobbs (Shem, Snake 5, Storyteller) is so excited to be in her first full production outside of her studio! Shannon has been a competitive dance and musical theater student for the past 6 years where she has had the opportunity to compete and perform with her team, winning a few titles and national recognitions. Shannon is a rising 5th grade student and when she’s not singing or dancing, she can be found nurturing and caring for all animals, riding horses, doing acrobats or cuddling with Rocky, her cat. Shannon would like to thank Miss Dori for the opportunity to perform, her mom and dad for driving her to rehearsals and her big sister, Katie for working on choreography and harmonies at home. She also would like to thank Landon for coming to the show, even though he doesn’t want to. She hopes everyone enjoys the story of God’s love for Earth.

Declan List (Young Cain, Hamm, Storyteller) is excited to be performing once again with The Academy at Mass Arts. His other productions have included Les Miserables (Gavroche), Madagascar Jr. (Zookeeper Zeke), The SpongeBob Musical (Ensemble) and Little Shop of Horrors (Orin Scrivello, DDS). Declan’s favorite musicals include Les Miserables, Merrily We Roll Along, Kimberly Akimbo and Sweeney Todd, and he dreams of one day starring on Broadway. He’s excited to be sharing the stage with his sister, Madeline.

Madeline List (Storyteller) has been a student of The Academy at Mass Arts since 2022 and is excited to be performing in her first full-length musical. Her other roles at MAC have included Sister Mary in Do! Re! Mi!, Sea Creature in Little Mermaid and Twin in The Greatest Showman. Madeline is excited to be sharing the stage with her brother, Declan.

Ilana Lovett (Aphra, Storyteller) will begin sixth grade in September. She enjoys acting and has been in several productions at Mass Arts Center. She also plays the piano and violin. Ilana’s biggest passion is animals. She especially loves her dog, Harry.

Caitlin Meyer (Storyteller) Since she was young, Caitlin built sets and worked backstage for the Mass Arts Center alongside her father, John Meyer. Caitlin stage managed Les Miserables Jr. in 2023 and is happy to be partnering with Dori again as the stage manager for Children of Eden Jr. She is especially excited to be performing in the show in the role of a Storyteller. Caitlin would like to thank the audience for coming to support the cast and crew of Children of Eden Jr.