Valhalla 2024

About the Show

Welcome to Valhalla! This is a place of warriors, valor, and merriment. In Norse mytholgy, Vikings who die in battle are chosen by Odin (the chief god of war) and escorted by the Valkyries (his loyal “shield maidens”) to feast and fight in the “hall of the slain” known as Valhalla. Those who come to Valhalla know they must fight alongside Odin in the age of Ragnarok, the cataclysmic destruction of the cosmos and everything in it – even the gods.

Valhalla | A Viking Rock Opera follows the story of Sven, the newest Viking of a Norwegian clan. Seven years after his father left on a Voyage to settle a new land, Sven, under the leadership of his jarl (chief), Magnus, enters the exotic world of Britain with its strange Christian religion. But when the Vikings’ raiding expedition goes wrong, Sven finds himself alone and out of his element. Desperate to find his way back to Norway, he makes a hostage of a young nun named Mary, who helps him steal a ship and undertake a reckless voyage.

Together, Sven and Mary must overcome their differences as they sail beyond the limits of their worlds, confronting powerful storms, cruel villains, voices from beyond, and crises of faith. Their quest for hope and truth takes them beyond the limits of imagination and into the magical realm of the gods. The only question is what is real.

Crew

Bios

Reilly MacMichael

"Sven"

PAST ROLES: "Duke of Buckingham", The Three Musketeers, Cobb&Co Theater Productions; "Gideon", Gideon Vs. the Gods of Cool, Great Hall Theatrical; Ensemble, Robin Hood, Cobb&Co Theater Productions; Ensemble, Take My Death Away, Great Hall Theatrical

Grace Clark

"Mary"

HONORS: Top 15, National American Miss UT & NV; Best Resume Winner, National American Miss UT & NV; 1st Runner-Up, Miss Menard; Featured In Best Play, "Autocorrect", Great Hall Arts Festival, 2022; PAST ROLES: "Actor, Writer", Evermore Park; "Townsperson", To Kill A Mockingbird, Theatre In The Park, Lincoln’s New Salem; "Beatrice", Sheila’s Hunt (film), Utah Valley University; "Catherine", The Thief And The Lady, Headphone Theater; "Hermia/Peter Quince", A Midsummer’s Night Dream, Utah Valley University

Michael Mehner

"Sir Hector"

PAST ROLES: "Pat", Take My Death Away, Great Hall Theatrical; "King Richard", The Lady of Sherwood, Great Hall Theatrical; "Muzo", Gideon Vs. the Gods of Cool, Great Hall Theatrical; "Little John", Robin Hood, Cobb&Co Theater Productions; "Giovanni", A Krampus Karol, Great Hall Theatrical; "Narrator", The Adventrues of Simon Bilius Conrad, Cobb&Co Theater Productions

Garion Jorgensen

"Magnus (Viking jarl)"

Garion built the beautiful set before you (as well as nearly every other set over the past year at the Angelus). PAST ROLES: "Dirty Dan", Bums!, Great Hall Theatrical; "Krampus", A Krampus Karol, Great Hall Theatrical; "Dr. Isaac", Take My Death Away, Great Hall Theatrical; "Captain Smollett", Treasure Island, Cobb&Co Theater Productions; "Hawk", The Lady of Sherwood, Great Hall Theatrical; "Sportacus", Gideon Vs. the Gods of Cool, Great Hall Theatrical

Lori-ann Cunningham

"Astrid (lead Valkyrie), lead ghost"

HONORS: BA in Vocal Performance, Two-time Female Vocalist of the Year Winner at CMU. Lori-ann has been in many shows and choirs and is a sought after vocal coach. She has a booming private vocal studio and loves applying what she teaches to the stage. A born performer, she's relishing being a part of the shows at the Angelus Theatre this past year. PAST ROLES: "Rose", A Krampus Karol, Great Hall Theatrical; "Scarlet/Music Director", The Lady of Sherwood, Great Hall Theatrical; "Lily", Secret Garden, Colorado Mesa University; "Aunt Deborah/Music Director", Take My Death Away, Great Hall Theatrical

Nathaniel Erickson

"Thor, ensemble"

Nate has shared his talent on the Angelus stage many times. Most recently he played an old, sarcastic businessman in "Bums!", which is quite different from a young and reckless god of thunder.

Calvin Pratt

"Odin, ensemble"

Calvin, a man of many talents, is a pilot in training, a juggler, and a former pole dancer (not the kind you're thinking); PAST ROLES: "Thor", Valhalla, Great Hall Theatrical; "Pat", Take My Death Away, Great Hall Theatrical;

Jade Higley

"Father Sven, Fight Choreographer"

PAST ROLES: "Jesus Christ", Through the Eyes of a Leper, Cobb&Co theater production; "Grenwulf", Tristram, Cobb&Co theater productions; "The Ghost of Robin Hood", Lady of Sherwood, Great Hall Theatrical

Hannah Brown

"Brunhilda, Frigga"

PAST ROLES: "Paige", Princess Time, Cobb&Co Theater Productions; "Raven", The Adventures of Simon Bilius Conrad, Cobb&Co Theater Productions; "Mrs. Hawkings", Treasure Island, Cobb&Co Theater Productions; "Gisella"; The Lady of Sherwood, Great Hall Theatrical

Darin Erickson

"Bassist, Osbert (squire)"

Darin is an aspiring actor! He loves the Angelus and hopes you enjoy the show. PAST ROLES: "Robin Hood ", Lady of Sherwood , Great Hall Theatrical; "Jussac ", Three Musketeers, Cobb&Co Theater Productions; "Sir Osbert"

Lisa King

"Mother Molly"

PAST ROLES: "Princess Ary", Princess Time, Cobb&Co Theater Productions; "Rose", A Krampus Karol, Great Hall Theatrical; "Pansy!", Bums!, Great Hall Theatrical

Taylor Hyde

"Prop master, ensemble"

A veteran of Evermore Park, Taylor is happy to return to Valhalla, which was his first show almost five years ago. Back and better than ever, he’s ready to show what he's learned.

Sydney Tuft

"Valkyrie, Agnus (nun), Ensemble"

Sydney has been a part of many a production here at the Angelus, both onstage and backstage, and we're excited to have her back for another year of Valhalla!

Kelli Stevenson

"Valkyrie, ensemble"

I love the Stage!!! Thank you to my husband and wonderful kids for all their support!!! PAST ROLES: "Very active chorus ", Lady of Sherwood, Great Hall Theatrical; "Mrs. Jennings ", Sense and Sensibility, Eagle Mountain Community Theater

Rochelle Rackliffe

"Valkyrie, ensemble"

Rochelle is exited to be back on stage and very grateful for all the support she has in her pursuit of acting. Oh..and Isaac...guess what? PAST ROLES: "The Stepmother", Rodger and Hammerstein's Cinderella, Eagle Mountain Community Theatre; "Countess Bordoni", Don't Drink the Water , Snow College; "Ensemble ", The Lady of Sherwood, Great Hall Theatrical

Lark Sippert

"Ensemble"

PAST ROLES: "Cholula", Bums!, Great Hall Theatrical; "Josephine", Gobble Gobble, Cobb&Co Theater Productions; "Joan", Gideon Vs. the Gods of Cool, Great Hall Theatrical

Aster Setzer

"Agnus (nun) understudy, Ensemble"

Aster Setzer, who recently starred as "Pansy" in "Bums!" the Musical, here at the Angelus, is returning to the world of theatre after a long break, and glad to be back! They hope you have as much fun watching as they’ve had performing!

Landon Christensen

"Ensemble"

Landon is new to the Angelus stage, and we hope he'll be back for more!

Ruthie Cobb

"Director"

HONORS: "Best Director", Best of Local Theatre Award 2021; Professional training with Lyric Repertory Theater Co.; Ruthie grew up doing shows with her grandmother, uncle, and father. She is now co-owner of Cobb&Co Theater Productions with her brother since 2014. She has loved producing shows at the Angelus Theatre more than anywhere else. PAST ROLES: "Bottom (Lead)", A Midsummer Night's Dream, Angelus Theatre; "Hettie (Lead)", Two Headed, Utah State University; "Lou (Supporting)", A Krampus Karol, Great Hall Theatrical "Ingrid (Supporting)", Robin Hood the Musical, Angelus Theatre; "Claire (Lead)/Mrs Brumble (Supporting)", The Thief and the Lady podcast, Taylor Productions

Jenna Rhodes

"Music Director"

This is Jenna's first opportunity to music direct and help choreograph! Many thanks to the cast for their patience and hard work. PAST ROLES: "Mary", Valhalla, Great Hall Theatrical; "Paulette", A Krampus Karol, Great Hall Theatrical; "Ary", Princess Time, Cobb & Co Theatre

Bethany Taylor

"Assistant Dance Choreographer"

Bethany has been choreographing for almost 20 years and loves performing and dancing (Mostly Ballroom dancing). She wouldn't be able to do all this without the support of her wonderful husband, Gary, and their four children. Well, maybe she could do it without the children, but she’s glad she has them! PAST ROLES: "Choreographer", Matilda, Spanish Fork Community Theater; "Sergeant and Choreographer", Pirettes of Penzance, Matt Davis/Gary Taylor and Great Hall Theatrical; "Director and Choreographer", The Thief and the Lady, Taylor Productions (Formerly Headphone Theater); "Choreographer", Joseph and the Technicolor Dream Coat, Spanish Fork Community Theater; "The Fiddler and Choreographer", Fiddler on the Roof, Springville Playhouse

Stephen Gashler

"Producer/Playwright/Composer"

HONORS: "1st Place", National Storytelling Slam; "1st Place" Utah's Biggest Liar (Tall Tale Contest); 2 × 1st Place, Utah Hauntings (Scary Stortelling Contest); 5 × Audience Choice storytelling awards; 2 × AML nominations; "Best Production", "Best Composer", "Best Writer", local theatre awards; "Audience Choice", LDS Film Festival; "Best Screenplay", UVSC Film Festival; "Best of Festival", New Play Project; PAST ROLES: "Sven", Valhalla, Great Hall Theatrical; "Percy", The Scarlet Pimpernel, SCERA Shell; "Cuthbert Miles", Lost Works, The Hive Collaborative; "Edward", Bums!, Great Hall Theatrical; "Dr. Kristoff", Take My Death Away, Great Hall Theatrical