Puffs Cast

Nelson is so proud to be sorted into PUFFS! He's excited to get to work with this cast and crew, who knows what it means to be a PUFF and are a pleasure to work with. Nelson's patronus is a Bear, because he's big, fuzzy, intimidating when he needs to be, loves salmon and would like to learn how to hibernate. He is glad to be able to lend his body and voice to several cooky characters in this production. Nelson has had an exciting 2023, being fortunate enough to act in the following WHATCo productions: Othello (Cassio), Midsummer (The Wall), The Great Gatsby Live Radio Play (Tom Buchannon), and Trivia Night Murder (Sammy the Host). Favorite line: "Yer parents were BRITISH!"

He has performed in a wide variety of roles during his career and true to his commitment as a character actor, he is playing multiple roles in “Puffs.” Dwyer has given life to characters ranging from law enforcement to a mobster, a psychiatric patient and a counselor; Lurch, “The Addams Family;” an elf (yes, elf), a not so pretty stepsister; a pig and a Big Dog. Some of his favorite roles are The Creature, “Frankenstein;” Riff Raff, “The Rocky Horror Show;” Ghost of Christmas Present, “A Christmas Carol;” and The Mikado, “The Town of Titipu.” Dwyer is a public address announcer for special events, parades and athletic competitions who once had the privilege of announcing in Yankee Stadium. Dwyer is thrilled and grateful to work in the new theatre with the talented and committed cast and crew of WHATCo.

Samantha is honored to share the stage with this incredible cast! This is Samantha's third production with WhatCo. She previously performed in You're a Good Man Charlie Brown (Peppermint Patty, U/S Lucy) and A Midsummer Night's Dream (Hermia). Prior to moving to New Jersey, Samantha acted in numerous local and community theatre productions in Rhode Island and Massachusetts. Some of her favorite roles include Soupy Sue (Urinetown), Mayor Maggie (Bat Boy), and Esther (Cartoon). Samantha would like to thank her husband, Brian, and their pup, Winston, for their support.

Timothy Firth currently teaches high school science in Kearny, NJ and has been volunteering with the West Hudson Arts and Theater program since the beginning. He also coaches the Kearny varsity ice hockey team and plays in a Jersey City ska band. Mr. Firth would like to thank the kind people of W.H.A.T. for being so welcoming and providing opportunities to perform for one such as he. Notable W.H.A.T. appearances: George Bailey, The Cat (in the Hat) The Beast, The Mad Hatter, Ebeneezer Scrooge, Shere Khan

Although usually behind the scenes, Brooke is excited to join the WHATco stage. Brooke has been working professionally in theater on stage and backstage for over eight years. Some of her previous roles include- Catherine, PROOF (WHATco); Peaseblossom, A MIDSUMMER NIGHT'S DREAM (The Virginia Shakespeare Festival); The Dog, THE BLIND (The Wheel Theater Company); Brooke Wyndham, LEGALLY BLONDE (York County School of the Arts); Belle, BEAUTY & THE BEAST (Backstage Productions). She is currently serving on the board of directors for West Hudson Arts & Theater Company as the Technical Advisor for Media & Lighting. When she isn't volunteering with WHATco, you can find her working as a creative digital content designer. To view her portfolio, please visit brookegorsica.com. Although you may see her as a 'brave' in Puffs, she is a very proud self-proclaimed 'smart' (which she means in the least egotistical way possible). She would like to thank Allyssa, Brandi-Leigh, Luis, Michelle and Will for all of their support and encouragement to return to the stage. Much love!

Hailing from the boiler room of the Holy Cross Church basement, and returning to the stage for the first time in over twenty years...please welcome...The Narrator... John Jesse Jeffords! During his time away, John has quenched his thirst for theatrics with summer campfires, tabletop campaigns, and by and large annoying family and friends. This is his first show with WhatCo. and he's quite excited for the opportunity to rile a broader audience. A consummate Puff and a Potter fan, John is delighted to share this experience with a magical cast and crew! (applausus insertus)

Jessica Jones loves to act! She loves fun and this show is fun! She has her MFA in acting from Savannah College of Art & Design. She loves both stage and screen and using her voice to do voice acting. She is so excited to do her second show with her husband, Nick Maes, here! They were previously in WHATCo’s Rumors together. Other WHACo shows Jessica has done include Drop Dead, Great Gatsby, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, and now this! Wow!

Joseph Jones is delighted to make another appearance at West Hudson Theater Company as the bemused and bumbling budding wizard Oliver Rivers. Most recently, he played Iago in a production of Othello. Previous productions include The Great Gatsby: A Live Radio at WHATCO, Westfield Community Players’ production of 12 Angry Jurors, the stage production of Murder Gurl, What a Drag! Other select productions across four states include Raisin in the Sun, Almost Maine, Legally Blonde, Crimes of the Heart, First Night, Death of a Salesman, A Midsummer Night’s Dream and Home Grown. Upcoming productions include Kinky Boots at Dover Little Theater. When not indulging his passion for the stage, Joseph can be found lobbying for low-income communities, improving government programs, playing with his cats, or not finishing his novel.

Chloë Kiefer is a West Hudson Arts and Theater veteran, grateful to be taking the stage again with new faces and old. She has previously sat on the creative board and aided in the running of WHAT co.'s education program, as well as performing in a handful of shows over the past six years. As an aspiring editor, Chloë currently works out of a documentary house in New York, but has not left her love of fantasy and fiction behind. When not at rehearsals or the office, she can be found polishing her creative eye through her hobbies, namly reading and playing video games, and tabletop role playing games with her friends. Her previous credits with W.H.A.T include Gayle in Almost Maine, Mrs. Shellhammer/Prosecutor Mara in Miracle on 34th street, Cinderella/Wicked Witch/Ghosts in Monster Princess Tales, Officer 2 in Rumors, Tanya Chesham-Leigh in Mamma Mia! Various named characters in The Stinky Cheeseman and Other Fairly Stupid Stories, and Marigold Clover in The Unlucky Clovers. As always, Chloë would like to mention how endlessly grateful she is to her fiancé Dan for supporting her often wild whims and packed schedule. Thank you all for coming out to support local arts, enjoy the show and have some fun!

Maggie Madere is new to Harrison and Whatco! Originally from New Orleans, Louisiana, Maggie moved to the area to improve literacy instruction. By day you can find her teaching at TAL Academy in Rockaway Beach, NY, and by night, she calls Harrison home with her husband (Ashley), dachshund (Chewbacca), Shih Tzu (Charley), and Orange Tabby (Rey). She attended the New Orleans Center for Creative Arts for Drama and has a BA in Drama from the University of North Carolina Greensboro. She is excited to return to her first love and be a part of the Whatco family!

Nick Maes is a big fan of the theater! This is his second production at WHATCo, the first being Rumours, though he's enjoyed many more productions here from the audience's perspective. He attended Denver School of the Arts for acting, and went to University at Columbia for English and Comparative Literature, where he focused on Elizabethan and Jocobian theater. When not casting spells and sheltering in place from trolls, he spends his free time with his wife Jessica and their three cats doing something nefarious, no doubt.

Hailing from Maryland, her first big role was Annie in the aptly named, Annie, she slayed. Consider her a Q level celebrity for her avid TikTok presence as @leanmeantrashmachine (we love a shameless plug), professional goofy goober. Known for finding any reason to cartwheel on stage. She wants to thank the WHATCO team for allowing her to do at least ONE cartwheel. Trust me, she’s really good at them. Oh yeah and thanks for casting her too, she’s very grateful to be back on stage!

Maria Ruppert is very excited to be back on the WHATco stage playing Sally Perks, Bippi, and Rita Scooter in PUFFS! She has loved the stage since she was a little girl and is very excited to be back for more fun! Some of her favorite past roles include as Sally Brown (You’re a Good Man Charlie Brown) at WHATco, Narrator (Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dream Coat) at Trilogy Repertory, Mayzie (Seussical) at St. Anne Stages, Mayor of Bikini Bottom (SpongeBob Squarepants) and Sister Mary Leo (Nunsense) at RosenPAC, Nadine (Wild Party at OLT), Florika (Hunchback of Notre Dame), Adella (The Little Mermaid), Enid Hoopes (Legally Blonde), and Tommy Boy (Newsies) at Rhino Theater. She is also a member of Triad Choir, The Players Guild of Leonia, and a virtual theater group called Enter Stage Left. In her off-stage life, Maria has a BS and MS in chemistry and music and works as a Senior Application Lab Chemist (Personal Care) at Gattefossé, sales manager and coach at MudSweatTears, and a Princess for parties and events. (#doallthethings) She loves her friends, family, Juan and obviously her dogs Lucas & Columbia.

Hiiiiiii! Dylan is very honored to be playing the part of Wayne Hopkins in Puffs! This is Dylan's third production with WhatCo. He previously performed in Drop Dead! and A Midsummer Night's Dream. Ironically, this is the first role he will not be using a British accent.

Prat Shekhar is thrilled to be part of West Hudson Arts and Theatre Company (WHAT Co). He returns on stage after a hiatus of 20 years as ‘Ernie Mac” in Puffs! He enjoys every bit of rehearsals – learning and getting inspired by his fellow actors, the director, and the stage managers. They all are basically the best (of course after Ernie Mac). When not rehearsing, he enjoys long walks, across Harrison and Kearney, appreciating the diversity of the neighbourhood. He is an extrovert hiding in an introvert. So - If you see him wandering around town, stop by and say - Hiiiiiii !

Deke Stoklosa is a native NYer who works for the fashion brand Desigual as Head of Retail & Wholesale for North America. He has been a member of Edith O’Hara 13th Street Rep Company (playing Dolan in the longest running off off Broadway hit LINE) scored a “best actor” nom in the Think Fast One Act Play Festival, & won a TANY award for one of his set designs. He was last seen at BAC in the Perry Nominated production of Head Over Heels (Dametas), Cabaret (Ernst Ludwig), Reefer Madness, & the Perry Nominated RENT (Gordon, The Man & Others). Noteable NJ appearances: Victor Frankenstein in Frankenstein (Studio Playhouse), Charlie in The Wickham Way (TNT), Eric in Death By Design (Summit Playhouse), and as Gregorio in My Big Gay Italian Wedding (TLC). Other regional credits: Ryan in HSM2 Live, Victor in Cabaret, Tyrone in Fame, Egon Schiele in Organic Movement, Joe Farkas in Last Night Ballyhoo, Chuck Cranston in Footloose, Greg in A Chorus Line & Eugene in Grease. @Dekestok

Roberta Stone was born Roberta Almeida in a small town in Rio DeJaneiro Brasil. My parents put me on a plane in 1987 and told me we were going to Disney. Fast forward 30 years. After three high school performances and two years of college as a drama major, a theater lover was born. Motherhood derailed the dream but didn’t kill the spirit. Serendipitously, I found the amazing people at WhatCo who ignited the fire once more. Thank you to this wonderful cast and crew for their hard work in bringing this play to life. Thank you to all of you for supporting the arts it means the world to us. Enjoy the show!

The youngest of six siblings, Ron is thrilled for his time to shine on stage with WHATCo. When not helping to clean up behind the scenes, Ron enjoys chess, flying cars, and three hearty meals a day.