Miracle at Century High School

Originally hailing from Oregon, Aidan Tappert (Teddy) is an Actor, Writer, and Director. Some recent credits include “Flatland” (Quart/Mr. Point) and as a Maker in Collab24’s Devised Theater Festival in 2023. Aidan also recently debuted an original musical (Co-Created with Sophia White) titled “A Night to Dismember” in 2022 at the Great Salt Lake Fringe Festival.

A lifelong music lover, Andrew S. Marshall has brought his singing and guitar-playing talents as part of Old Town School of Folk Music ensembles celebrating Foo Fighters and Chris Cornell, as well as solo performances. He’s previously appeared in productions of Grease and All Shook Up and is about to begin a run of improv shows at @cictheater (catch him Wednesday nights at @finleydunnestavern ). @asmscribbles

Anthony Cusumano has written, directed, and performed standup, improv, and sketch comedy in Chicago since 2016. He made his directorial debut with 2018's IS THIS US at Second City, followed a year later by the sold-out run of VIEWER DEPRESSION ADVISED. In 2023, he co-launched the recurring DnA SKETCH SHOW with longtime writing partner David Zepeda. MIRACLE AT CENTURY HIGH SCHOOL is his first-ever musical, and he and audiences alike are relieved that nobody will have to hear him sing.

Barb Jackson has performed extensively in the Chicago comedy scene, including as part of the acclaimed Improvised Jane Austen ensemble at iO. She is legally obligated to state that her portrayal of Principal Shirley Aykroyd is NOT inspired by her own mother, who is finishing up her long career as a high school principal this year. Barb also enjoys directing and has two shows on the docket for The Annoyance main stage in 2025. Come see Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants: The Improvised Musical in January, and Benny Bingo & The Evangelikids in April! She hopes you enjoy Miracle at Century High School — have a happy holiday season!

Erin Grams has made her way from Iowa to the East Coast and landed in Chicago where she is now making her Annoyance Theatre debut as Molly in Miracle at Century High School! Recent credits include Cabaret (Glow Lyric Theatre, SC) The Magic Night Operetta (Great Lakes Operetta), The Handmaid's Tale Opera (Glow Lyric), and [title of show] (Willow Creek Theatre). Erin enjoys weird coffee and talking in third person. eegrams18@gmail.com

Jacob Duffy Halbleib has been performing since he was 11, strangely the skill hasn't sunk in yet. He's been in and out of the comedy scene for the past two decades training and performing at Austin Texas's Coldtowne Theater and Chicago's Second City, Annoyance, and iO.

Jayson Acevedo (Jacob Lunsford) is incredibly delighted to be making his return to musical theater after spending many years telling jokes onstage and hearing from his theater friends that he should hurry up and do a musical already. Jayson is honored to bring to life The Jacob Lunsford. Originally a stand-up comedian/improviser born and bred in the city of Chicago, Jayson and his comedy have been described as...Incomparable. Unpredictable. Tour de force. Adele's Understudy. Along with stand up, Acevedo is also an improviser, actor, singer, writer and proud Uncle who has opened for and/or shared the stage with Tim Meadows (SNL), Chris Redd (SNL), Godfrey (Comedy Central) & Jeff Ross (Comedy Central) among many others. Acevedo’s comedy has proven to translate well internationally, having told jokes in five different countries, two languages & throughout other comedy festivals from LA to New York, in between & beyond, most notably at The NBCUniversal/Second City BreakOut Comedy Festival [Chicago], The 2023 Burbank Comedy Festival [LA] (Awarded Best of Fest), The 2022 Lucille Ball Comedy Festival [NY] & The 2015 Edinburgh Fringe [Scotland] among many others. Acevedo continues to perform regularly throughout the city of Chicago at notable venues such as The World-Famous Laugh Factory, Zanies, Lincoln Lodge, Second City, House of Blues, his nephews’ house, and more. Jayson would like to thank this amazingly talented cast for consistently blowing his mind with their talents. He’d also like to thank his incredibly supportive and talented friends for their continued inspiration, love, art and support along with his family (Mom, Dad, & Evelyn) for believing in him, his crazy big dreams and for allowing him to sing and make jokes in the backseat of our old family car all while getting carsick for so many years. A big thank you goes out to his two nephews, Liam & Sebastian, for always continuing to be sources of love and inspiration. He hopes to make them proud with everything he does the way they make him proud with everything they continue to do. Love you dorks. Enjoy the show kids! For more of his hair or to watch his very first one hour comedy special “Lonely Wit”, visit jaysonavocado.com Follow him home or anywhere else @jaysonavocado

Karyn is an accomplished actress with over 7 years of experience on Chicago-area stages. This November, she originated the role of Jennifer (the evil stepmother) in the world premiere of Maggie: Never Bitter, a reimagination of Snow White produced by Harper & Harper Creative Productions. Other credits include Anastasia (Countess Lily) with Natural Talent Productions, On Golden Pond (Chelsea) with Skokie Theatre, Nunsense (Sister Mary Hubert) and The Book of Will (Rebecca Heminges) with Saint Sebastian Players, Young Frankenstein (Elizabeth Benning) and The Crucible (Elizabeth Proctor) with Devonshire Playhouse, Steel Magnolias (Truvy) with Galaxy Theater Company, and Mamma Mia! (Tanya) with Golden Ticket Productions. Follow her (and her dog!) on Instagram @keldymae.

Mike Kelley is a producer, singer/songwriter and a composer. He is thrilled to have the honor of composing the music for Miracle at Century High School. Based in Chicago (but a Memphis Native), Kelley has been apart of several projects, from scoring the viral slasher-film The Party's Over (2021) to being the sole creative force of the synth-pop band Anteeter. A graduate of Columbia College Chicago in 2023, his friend Tony owes him 20 bucks. I know you see this, Tony.

Miles graduated with his BFA in Acting from Minnesota State University, Mankato in 2022. In 2023, he moved to Chicago to continue his pursuit of auditioning, training, and expanding his horizons. Most recently, he worked with Surging Films and Theatrics as a swing in their production of The Drowsy Chaperone. Some of his favorite roles prior to living in Chicago include Squidward in "The Spongebob Musical," Tartuffe in "Tartuffe," and Trinculo in Shakespeare's "The Tempest." Aside from performing, Miles also works in the lighting side of things, having designed various productions over the past few years. In his free time, he enjoys tap dancing, video games, and collecting Lego sets. He is excited to be able to share the holiday spirit with you all!

Piper is excited to be working on this new musical! She recently moved to Chicago after she graduated from Rockford University with her BA in music and her BFA in musical theatre. She has had a great time with this process and is excited to share this new production with you!