CHESS, The Musical: A Staged Concert Cast

Wayne just returned to Richmond after spending 6 months performing at sea in Syd Norman’s Pour House on Norwegian Cruise Lines. He’s happy to be back home with his partner, Oz and their dog, Midnight. Wayne is a Richmond native who enjoys singing karaoke, but his favorite musical he’s performed in is The Rocky Horror Show where he has had the pleasure of playing both Rocky and Riff Riff. He is ready to take the stage as Freddie.

Georgia was raised in a household that inspired creativity of all kinds. Her dream has always been to be inspired and to be able to inspire others to create something that makes the world more beautiful than the way they found it. She owns her own art business @wisecracksart but the creation that is closest to her heart and can touch her more than any other is music. She is so very thrilled and honored to be singing this beautiful music and to be creating something that is beautiful with amazingly beautiful humans!

Zachary Fortune (Anatoly) is excited to join Amaryllis Studios and this fantastic cast bringing this fantastic story to life . He was last seen soaking up sun as Tully Mars in Escape to Margaritaville with Homefront Players. Other favorite credits include Ted Hanover in Holiday Inn (HTC), Georg Nowack in She Loves Me (Homefront Players), Jack in Into the Woods (Homefront Players), Mack the Knife in Berlin to Broadway: A Musical Voyage (Longwood Theatre Company), and Ensemble in Something Rotten (Dogwood Dell Festival of the Arts). Zachary studied Music Education with a concentration in voice from Longwood University and is the current choral director at Fairfield Middle School.

DeVon is a Richmond native that loves to play on the stage and spread the arts to all. He has been seen most recent in Hairspray as Seaweed with Homefront Players and the voice of Audrey II in HTC's Little Shop of Horrors. He has been featured in other productions and theaters in the Richmond area. He thanks this awesome cast and crew; and his family and friends for their unwavering support!

Katy is thrilled to be joining this creative and passionate team to bring Chess to life! She is a recent graduate of Longwood University where she earned a degree in Theatre Education. Some of her favorite previous on-stage roles include Fiona in Shrek the Musical (The Lynn Theatre) and Ouiser Boudreaux in Steel Magnolias (Longwood University). She has also recently worked as a choreographer (Bright Star: School Edition at Goochland High School and Seussical Jr. at the Summer Fine Arts Academy in Prince George), served as a hair and makeup designer (Songs for a New World at Longwood University), and taught an SFX makeup workshop at the Virginia Theatre Association Conference. In her free time she loves playing with her cats, practicing her stilt-walking skills, and watching scary movies.

Andrew Hamm has been a mainstay of the Richmond theatre scene for over two decades, winning RTCC awards as an actor (Richmond Triangle Players’ This Beautiful City) and director (Richmond Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream), as well as earning nominations for directing As You Like It, musical direction for A Child’s Christmas in Wales, and producing the world premiere of Joe Jackson’s Night and Day at RTP. Other favorite roles include Salieri in Amadeus, Angelo in Measure for Measure, Dickens/Scrooge in Mr. Dickens’ Christmas Carol, Hook in Peter Pan, and Martin Luther in Wittenberg, but his very favorite role is as Lizzy’s husband and father to Ruby, Gabriel, Francis, And Paul.

Gabrielle “Gabby” Klatt is so excited to be in Chess with Amaryllis LLC. Gabby had recently finished a production of Some Enchanted Evening with Henrico Theatre Company. She was recently in the production of Cabaret (2023) with Jewish Family Theatre. She was the Makeup/Wig Artist and Designer for Let’s Murder Marsha (2023) for RiverCity Community Players. Gabby is a very proud member of the board for On the Air Radio Players. Gabby would like to thank her friends and family for their love and support.

Beth Davis (she/her) is a singer/actor, professor of musical theatre voice at VCU, and real estate agent. Beth holds a Bachelor’s degree from Ithaca College and a Master’s degree from California State University, Northridge. Favorite past roles include: Fiona (Shrek), Susan (title of show), The Witch (Into the Woods), Shelby (The Spitfire Grill) and Heather (Hands on a Hardbody). @bethdavis.rva

Elise is thrilled to be a part of Amaryllis Studios and Vienna Waits Creatives first ever collaboration of Chess the musical. She was last seen in HAT Theaters production of From Up Here. Some of her favorite past roles have included Beth in Little Women, Matt in Matt and Ben, and Julia in The Wedding Singer. She graduated from Hardin-Simmons University in 2019 with a BFA in Musical Theatre. Elise moved to NYC in 2020 to pursue theatre but left due to Covid and is so excited to be gracing new stages in the Richmond area, where she was born and raised. In her free time, she enjoys playing the piano and singing, or being outdoors, either hiking/backpacking or running half-marathons around the US.

Tim is thrilled to return to the stage for Chess working alongside his former castmate from Richmond Triangle Player’s production of A Chorus Line (2018)! Other local Richmond stage credits include Corbetta in Julie Monster!, an original opera by RVA Baroque staged at Firehouse Theatre (2021), a number of years playing bass for Richmond Shakespeare’s Bootleg Shakespeare project, and K Dance’s SHORTS (2019). Tim can otherwise be seen dancing nearly everywhere he goes, as well as recording queer protest music under the pseudonym Ruckus Aquinas.

Melissa has enjoyed working with Amaryllis Studios on Chess, The Musical: A Staged Concert for her first performance since moving to Richmond. Her previous credits include Shrek the Musical, The Wedding Singer, and The Secret Garden (Vestal, NY). Melissa graduated from James Madison University with a Bachelor of Science in Health Sciences. She currently works for Trilogy Federal as a Consultant. When she isn't on stage, Melissa enjoys hanging out with her family, friends and her dog Owen. She wants to thank her partner Andrew and her family for all their love and support.

Lisa Dyer could not be more thrilled to be back on the stage! As a theatre teacher for 20 years, many of her recent roles have been as a director, choreographer, and designer. Favorite directing credits include: Sweeney Todd High School Edition, Disaster! The Musical, Jesus Christ Superstar, and Aida. Lisa is a three-time international director at the Edinburgh Fringe through the American High School Theatre Festival. She is planning another performance tour in 2025! Lisa has performed at Dogwood Dell in multiple roles including Rose in Bye Bye Birdie and Vi in Footloose. She’s also performed with Opera Roanoke and the Blacksburg Summer Arts Festival. Returning to the stage in Chess has reignited her passion for performing and working in an ensemble. Thank you to Amaryllis Studios for this opportunity and thank you to my family for their unwavering support!

Kate is thrilled to be making her Amaryllis Studios debut with this fabulous cast and crew. Kate was last seen in Dogwood Dell’s production of “Something Rotten” as a featured ensemble member. Other theatre credits include The Voice of the Giant in Into the Woods (Homefront Players), Kiss Me Kate (Homefront Players), Fontaine in Les Miserables in Concert (Salvation Army TN), Director/Francine Nugent in Hands on a Hardbody (Ocoee Theatre Guild), Director/Principal cast member in Selections from Godspell (Unity Dance Studios), Sister A in Doubt (Lee University Theatre), Ms. Boyle in Mousetrap (Lee University), as well as other Lee Theatre productions, including dance, film, and singing showcases. When she is not acting, Kate is a Reading Specialist for Henrico County. She would like to extend a huge thank you to her friends and family for their support, especially her handsome husband who never questions her need to be creative. Love you, Handsome!

Lance is very grateful to be in Amaryllis Studios first ever production: Chess! He is a student at JR Tucker and has been involved in the school's drama program, playing the Beadle in Sweeney Todd and the wealthy husband in Disaster! This is Lance's first out of school production and he couldn't be more excited.

Greg is a rising senior at J.R. Tucker High School and couldn't be more thrilled to be participating in his first community theatre production! Greg has played a variety of roles but some of his favorites include Roeder (Radium Girls), Maury (Disaster!), and Sweeney Todd (Sweeney Todd). Greg's passion for theatre couldn't be greater, and this show has only made that passion grow. He hopes you enjoy the show!