Artist Bios
DREW BATES
Originally from Auburn, Washington, Drew Bates is a genderqueer theatre artist with a love for comedy and energetic performance. Favorite previous roles include Baz in A Bright Room Called Day, Tybalt in Romeo & Juliet and Balaga in Natasha, Pierre & The Great Comet of 1812 at Webster University’s Sargent Conservatory of Theatre Arts, as well as Scuttle in Grandstreet Theatre’s The Little Mermaid and Pennywise in Village Theatre’s Urinetown. Drew loves tap, collaging, and watching old summer camp slashers. They can be seen in the 5th Avenue Theatre’s upcoming production of Spring Awakening in Seattle this June.
HANNAH BROWNING
Hannah Browning is an actor, singer, dancer and soon-to-be graduate of Webster University’s Sargent Conservatory of Theatre Arts. The central Kentucky native began a deep love of music and dance while learning to keep a steady beat at six months old in Kindermusik classes, followed by the start of ballet and tap classes at age three. Recently Hannah served as choreographer for The Spitfire Grill while also playing the role of Effy. Other latest credits include Agnes in A Bright Room Called Day, #8 in The Wolves, and American Idiot (Dance Captain/Ensemble). When not lip syncing to Bernadette Peters’ version of “Rose’s Turn,” Hannah enjoys reading, outdoor walks, scouring the JCrew catalog, ranking ‘90s sitcoms, and sharing meals with her family and friends!
ELISE COGAN
Elise is a proud Seattleite and cat lover excited to be graduating from Webster’s Sargent Conservatory of Theatre Arts. Accomplishing this degree is a gift to her younger self who was inspired by the classics and wanted nothing more than to become a theater artist.
CHASE HARLESS
Chase Harless is a youthful and energetic actor, singer, and dancer who loves everything about theater. He has been a guitar player for 11 years, and loves collaborating with his colleagues. He is an eager and hungry performer who leaps at any chance to learn more about his craft, as well as, teach those who are interested in learning more about theatre arts.
ARIA MAHOLCHIC
Already having her foot in the door of professional theatre, Aria Maholchic, whose home is the New York area, is happy to be graduating from Webster University’s Sargent Conservatory of Theatre Arts. Aria’s greatest accomplishment during her time at Webster has been building a working professional relationship with Repertory Theatre St. Louis. On top of working hard in class, she has been in 3 shows there in the past year; most recently, appearing as Lana Sherwood (Violet, Zuzu, Ruth) in It’s A Wonderful Life: A Live Radio Play directed by Kate Bergstrum. Away from performing, she is passionate about human and animal rights, and making theater accessible to both actors and audience members with disabilities.
REMI MARK
Remi Mark is a Jewish/Cuban-American actor, singer, dancer with a drive like no other. Born and raised in the warm and vibrant Miami, Florida, performing has always been a huge part of her life. Some of her favorite credits at Webster University’s Sargent Conservatory of Theatre Arts include Hélène Bezukhova in Natasha, Pierre, and The Great Comet of 1812, Shelby in The Spitfire Grill and Philaminte in The Learned Ladies. She also has had the opportunity to perform in the St. Louis regional theater scene with credits from The Repertory Theatre of St. Louis, Tesseract Theatre Company, St. Louis Fringe Festival, and St. Louis Shakespeare. Remi is incredibly thankful for her time spent at the conservatory, and couldn’t have done it without the support and love from her family.
COLLIN MILFORT
Collin Mekyel Milfort, an East Atlanta native, is thrilled to be completing his training here at the Sargent Conservatory. As a graduate of HHS Academy for Performing Arts, he is lucky that fate led him to St. Louis, where he’s called home for the past four years. Collin has continued to grow into a more committed, full-out performing artist and creative leader while in St. Louis. He continues to use his versatile prowess to bring an array of stories to life in joyful technicolor, while simultaneously honoring authenticity as a queer black artist. Some of Collin's theater credits include, The Muny, Alliance Theater, Riverside Theater, and Stages St. Louis, just to name a few!
PIPER K MURRAY
Piper K Murray is a vibrant and passionate artist from Seattle, Washington. Her love for theatre began in her grandmother's living room at the age of two and has been a foundation in her life’s direction ever since. She believes strongly in bringing body diversity to the theater and proudly plays roles not generally performed by larger bodied actors. Piper is someone whose upbeat personality is infectious, in and out of her work.
DAVID PAPEL
David Papel is a Canadian-American actor and singer based out of St. Louis, Missouri. He grew up in the greater Seattle area where he participated in school and community theater productions. At Webster University’s Sargent Conservatory of Theatre Arts, David played the roles of Joe in The Spitfire Grill (Dir. Jennifer Wintzer), Sisyphus in Myths and Hymns (Dir. Evangeline Whitlock), Will in American Idiot (Dir. Lara Teeter), as well as swing roles in Amélie (Dir. Wendy Greenwood) and Sondheim on Sondheim (Dir. Tali Allen & Michael Baxter). David also participated in Picking Up Chuck (Dir. Dominic Regazzi), a short film selected for The St. Louis Filmmakers Showcase. David is a dual citizen who spends his free time playing basketball, writing music, and playing chess.
RYAN PORTER
Ryan is a Seattle born singer and actor currently living in St Louis. He began his life in theater at the age of 11 in a production of Honk, starring as one of the ducklings. Since then, he has appeared as Aaron Fox in Curtains and The Favorite Son in American Idiot, both at the Ballyhoo Theatre run by Shileah Corey. Attending Webster University’s Sargent Conservatory of Theatre Arts, Ryan was featured as Joseph in Amelie (Dir. Wendy Greenwood), U/S for Will in American Idiot (dir. Lara Teeter), and Gregory in Romeo & Juliet (dir. Jef Awada). In his free time Ryan enjoys learning dialects and playing soccer.