Guest Male Performers
Cole Companion - Guest Artist in Residence
Cole began his training at the Alabama School of Fine Arts in Birmingham, Alabama. After graduating with their highest honor, the “Prix D’excellance De Danse,” he has been a performing member of Alabama Ballet, The Arova Foundation, Birmingham Ballet Reparatory Company, Oakland Ballet Company, and Bay Pointe Ballet. Previous roles include Albrecht in Giselle, Tea Man in George Balanchine’s The Nutcracker, Principal in Alfonzo Figeroura’s Changes, Hues in The Awakening, Furbo In Graham Lustig’s Pulcinella, Russian in Bruce Steivel’s The Nutcracker, Michael in Bruce Steivel’s Peter Pan, and Puck in Bruce Steivel’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream. As a choreographer he has created numerous works including The Allegory of the Cave, Our Best Decision, El Dorado, Les Biches, and The Cask of Amontillado. In response to COVID, Cole Companion co-founded an online virtual performance platform called The Isolation Project, allowing artists around the globe to create new and original artistic compositions.
Cole began his training at the Alabama School of Fine Arts in Birmingham, Alabama. After graduating with their highest honor, the “Prix D’excellance De Danse,” he has been a performing member of Alabama Ballet, The Arova Foundation, Birmingham Ballet Reparatory Company, Oakland Ballet Company, and Bay Pointe Ballet. Previous roles include Albrecht in Giselle, Tea Man in George Balanchine’s The Nutcracker, Principal in Alfonzo Figeroura’s Changes, Hues in The Awakening, Furbo In Graham Lustig’s Pulcinella, Russian in Bruce Steivel’s The Nutcracker, Michael in Bruce Steivel’s Peter Pan, and Puck in Bruce Steivel’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream. As a choreographer he has created numerous works including The Allegory of the Cave, Our Best Decision, El Dorado, Les Biches, and The Cask of Amontillado. In response to COVID, Cole Companion co-founded an online virtual performance platform called The Isolation Project, allowing artists around the globe to create new and original artistic compositions.
Josh Maldonado - Guest Artist in Residence
(Courtesy of BEEF & BOARDS)
Josh Maldonado is so excited to be a part of this production! Josh graduated from Anderson University where he studied musical theater and dance. His musical performances include: Albert (Disney’s Newsies), Dick (9 to 5), the Centipede (James and the Giant Peach) from The Indianapolis Children’s Museum, and Audrey II Operator (Little Shop of Horrors) at Beef & Boards. He has performed as Snow King, The Nutcracker, Dew Drop Prince (The Nutcracker), The King (The Little Mermaid), and The King of Hearts (Alice in Wonderland). Josh has also performed as a touring puppeteer with Madcap Players, performing for children all over the Midwest. In his spare time, he loves learning about technology, eating popcorn, and playing the organ. He would like to thank Jennifer Thiemet for her teaching, his family for their support, and God for His love.
(Courtesy of BEEF & BOARDS)
Josh Maldonado is so excited to be a part of this production! Josh graduated from Anderson University where he studied musical theater and dance. His musical performances include: Albert (Disney’s Newsies), Dick (9 to 5), the Centipede (James and the Giant Peach) from The Indianapolis Children’s Museum, and Audrey II Operator (Little Shop of Horrors) at Beef & Boards. He has performed as Snow King, The Nutcracker, Dew Drop Prince (The Nutcracker), The King (The Little Mermaid), and The King of Hearts (Alice in Wonderland). Josh has also performed as a touring puppeteer with Madcap Players, performing for children all over the Midwest. In his spare time, he loves learning about technology, eating popcorn, and playing the organ. He would like to thank Jennifer Thiemet for her teaching, his family for their support, and God for His love.
Prudencio Rodriguez III
Prudencio Rodriguez III has been dancing since the age of 13. He started his dance training with the Latin dance group Talento De Barrio. In high school he was then apart of Hammond Academy for Performing Arts where he studied modern, ballet, jazz, tap, and hip hop. He is graduated from
Anderson University with a degree in Dance Pedagogy. He most recently performed in Alice in Wonderland. Prudencio plans to attend Florida State University where he hopes to achieve his MFA (Masters of Fine Arts) in dance. Upon receiving his master’s degree, he plans to audition for professional dance companies and teach dance at a university level.
Prudencio Rodriguez III has been dancing since the age of 13. He started his dance training with the Latin dance group Talento De Barrio. In high school he was then apart of Hammond Academy for Performing Arts where he studied modern, ballet, jazz, tap, and hip hop. He is graduated from
Anderson University with a degree in Dance Pedagogy. He most recently performed in Alice in Wonderland. Prudencio plans to attend Florida State University where he hopes to achieve his MFA (Masters of Fine Arts) in dance. Upon receiving his master’s degree, he plans to audition for professional dance companies and teach dance at a university level.
Finnegan Vandewalle
Finnegan trained as an actor and has 10 years of theater experience performing in community theater, school plays, and musicals. He has performed in such shows as: Les Misérables, Macbeth, The Nutcracker, Jungle Book, Wizard of Oz, Peter Pan, and Alice in Wonderland. Finn also did four years of hip hop when he was younger. Aside from his love of the performing arts, Finn has also studied for the past 15 years in Taekwondo. He has earned his 3rd degree Black Belt. Finn is a senior in college and attends Ivy Tech in Bloomington and will graduate with a degree in Marketing.
Finnegan trained as an actor and has 10 years of theater experience performing in community theater, school plays, and musicals. He has performed in such shows as: Les Misérables, Macbeth, The Nutcracker, Jungle Book, Wizard of Oz, Peter Pan, and Alice in Wonderland. Finn also did four years of hip hop when he was younger. Aside from his love of the performing arts, Finn has also studied for the past 15 years in Taekwondo. He has earned his 3rd degree Black Belt. Finn is a senior in college and attends Ivy Tech in Bloomington and will graduate with a degree in Marketing.
Ethan Carter
(Courtesy of Anderson University)
This is Ethan Carter’s first production at AYBT. Ethan is a sophomore Music Education and Musical Theatre Major at Anderson University. He studies voice with Dr. Sarah Ballman. He also studies composition with Dr. Caroline Kyunga Ahn. Ethan is a proud member of the Anderson University Chorale, Vox Corvi, and the Anderson University Composition Studio. In his free time, Ethan is an avid connoisseur of literature, history, and fitness. He would like to thank Jennifier Thiemet for the opportunity and all of her ard work. He would also like to thank God, Eryn Carter, and the rest of his family for shaping him into the man that stands before you today.
(Courtesy of Anderson University)
This is Ethan Carter’s first production at AYBT. Ethan is a sophomore Music Education and Musical Theatre Major at Anderson University. He studies voice with Dr. Sarah Ballman. He also studies composition with Dr. Caroline Kyunga Ahn. Ethan is a proud member of the Anderson University Chorale, Vox Corvi, and the Anderson University Composition Studio. In his free time, Ethan is an avid connoisseur of literature, history, and fitness. He would like to thank Jennifier Thiemet for the opportunity and all of her ard work. He would also like to thank God, Eryn Carter, and the rest of his family for shaping him into the man that stands before you today.
Tyler Binnion
Tyler Binnion returns to the stage with AYBT after 34 years. He fell in love with ballet when Miss Lou Ann first invited him to dance in AYBT’s production of The Nutcracker. Under her tutelage, he performed the following roles: Father to Claire and Fritz, Arabian dancer, and Mother Ginger. He is honored to share the stage with AYBT dancers, again, as Drosselmeyer, and wants to thank Miss Jennifer for inviting him back into the world of dance.
Tyler Binnion returns to the stage with AYBT after 34 years. He fell in love with ballet when Miss Lou Ann first invited him to dance in AYBT’s production of The Nutcracker. Under her tutelage, he performed the following roles: Father to Claire and Fritz, Arabian dancer, and Mother Ginger. He is honored to share the stage with AYBT dancers, again, as Drosselmeyer, and wants to thank Miss Jennifer for inviting him back into the world of dance.
Craig Sample
Craig returns to the stage after many years, prompted not-so-subtly by his daughter, AYBT dancer Josephine Sample. He studied Meisner Acting Technique under Michael Blain-Rozgay in Portland, OR and then Howard Fine in Los Angeles, CA. He attended the Dick Grove School of Music in Los Angeles as well, where he crafted 2 albums. As a SAG/AFTRA member, most of his acting career was spent in front of the camera for film, commercials, and industrials. Some of his work, he was blessed to be able to work with Kevin Costner in The Postman, Marissa Silver/Keanu Reeves in Permanent Record, and Janet Jackson in the Black Cat Live video.
He’s honored and excited (if not a little nervous) to be a part of this AYBT production, but doubly so to share the stage with his daughter.
Craig returns to the stage after many years, prompted not-so-subtly by his daughter, AYBT dancer Josephine Sample. He studied Meisner Acting Technique under Michael Blain-Rozgay in Portland, OR and then Howard Fine in Los Angeles, CA. He attended the Dick Grove School of Music in Los Angeles as well, where he crafted 2 albums. As a SAG/AFTRA member, most of his acting career was spent in front of the camera for film, commercials, and industrials. Some of his work, he was blessed to be able to work with Kevin Costner in The Postman, Marissa Silver/Keanu Reeves in Permanent Record, and Janet Jackson in the Black Cat Live video.
He’s honored and excited (if not a little nervous) to be a part of this AYBT production, but doubly so to share the stage with his daughter.