This is Annabel’s sixth and final drama players show. Being a theater student these past three years has truly made her middle school career feel 10x more magical. She plans to carry these memories with her and apply all the lessons she’s learned as she makes her way to high school. She hopes to continue to perform and knows she will never loose her love for the arts. And just like that Stuart Hobson drama players…that’s a wrap.

Hairspray marks David's 8th and final musical production with the DramaPlayers as an 8th grader. After working in Technical Design & Production for his first year, Ms. Pergerson (our director) encouraged him to audition for a character in Matilda. Ever since, his presence has been felt on stage, though he is still very actively involved in the technical aspects of each production. This January, David had the honor of joining 32 of his cast mates in a journey to Atlanta, Georgia to participate in the Junior Theater Festival. Our group won the highest possible award and performed in front of 8,000 of our peers. All his years of hard work were rewarded when David was accepted into the Duke Ellington School of the Arts theater department, which he will be attending starting this September. He is committed to supporting the DramaPlayers in their future endeavors and truly believes: "Once a DramaPlayer, always a DramaPlayer." David is forever in debt to Ms. Pergerson for her bountiful contributions and impact to his theater journey.

Ellie is in 7th grade, and this is her third play with the Stuart Hobson Dramaplayers. She is excited to be playing Edna. This role really challenged her and pushed her out of her comfort zone. She learned a lot and is very grateful she had this opportunity. When Ellie is not doing theater, she loves to sing and play the piano. She wants to thank her family and friends. And hopes you enjoy the show!

This is Lucy's 6th and final show as a Stuart Hobson Drama Player and she has loved every step of the way. You might have seen her previously this year as “Thing 1”  in Seussical, or in her sixth-grade year as “Centipede” in James and the Giant Peach. She is headed to Benjamin Banneker High School next year but will miss the friends and memories she has made being Drama Player. 

Addie is an eighth grader here at Stuart Hobson and has been a Dramaplayer since her sixth-grade year. You may have seen her as the “Moon”/ensemble in the Addams family, or a main dancer in James and the Giant Peach, Matilda, and The Wiz. In eighth grade, she served as Assistant choreographer and “Birdgirl” in Seussical. She is so excited for you to see her play “Velma Von Tussle” in Hairspray! Enjoy the show!

Cheshmei is in 7th grade and has been in drama for 2 years. She loves singing, acting, and dancing and has been having a lot of fun learning and teaching the many dances in Hairspray. She is excited to perform the part of Amber Von Tussel in Cast B and hopes you enjoy the Stuart Hobson Drama Player’s production of Hairspray.

Cooper Hart is a 7th grader at Stuart Hobson. He has been involved since 6th grade and has developed a passion for it. He was fine in the background, but in his 7th grade year found new confidence and stepped out of his comfort zone. Mrs.Pergeson has really helped him develop not only as a theater kid but as a whole. 

Evan is a talented 7th grader with a longtime love for theater and performing. Coming from a family of musicians and performers, his passion for the stage comes naturally. At SHMS DramaPlayers, Evan has appeared in productions including Shrek Jr., Frozen Jr., SpongeBob the Musical, The Addams Family, The Lion King, Madagascar, and Seussical, and is excited to now perform as Seaweed in Hairspray. 

Evan has also trained through the iTheatrics Summer Academy in New York for two years and studied with Theater Lab. This year, he proudly represented SHMS as an All-Star DramaPlayer at JTF and performed as a featured vocalist at the Capitol Hill Community Gala honoring the DramaPlayers with the Frazen Award. 

Evan is grateful for the chance to perform alongside his castmates and friends and thanks to everyone for supporting the arts and this production of Hairspray. 

Playing "Seaweed J. Stubbs" is more than a role to Evan. It's proof that hard work, perseverance, and belief in yourself can turn dreams into reality. 

Nife is SUPER excited to be playing Little Inez! This is Nife's last year at Stuart Hobson Middle School, but she is extremely grateful for being given the privilege to be a SHMS Dramaplayer. She has tremendously appreciated the support, love, and feedback that her teachers and castmates have given her. She will forever apply the life lessons and techniques she has learned here later in life. This program has helped her confidence in singing, dancing, and acting a lot. She has also learned what it means to give 1000% and portray your character well. She has had endless joy and fun being a Dramaplayer! She will always remember and cherish the memories at SHMS in her heart. She would also like to thank Ms. Pergerson, Ms. Kensey, Ms. Imani, her castmates, and her family for supporting her through the process of Hairspray. She hopes you enjoy the show! 

Tatiana Fox is beyond excited and honored to be playing Motormouth Maybelle in the musical Hairspray/Hairspray! This role means so much to her because Maybelle is powerful, confident, loving, and stands for equality and change. Tatiana cannot wait to bring her energy, big voice, and personality to the stage while performing iconic songs and connecting with the audience. She is incredibly thankful for this opportunity and is ready to shine, inspire others, and make this performance unforgettable! 

Andrew Flowers is a 7th grader at Stuart Hobson middle school and has been in the drama program since 6th grade. He has starred in Madagascar as Melman and in Seussical as Jojo. He plays the role of Wilbur in Hairspray. 

Gigi is excited to be playing the role of Tracy Turnblad in Cast A. This will be her third role with the Drama Players, and it is by far her favorite.  She would like to thank Ms. Pergeson and Ms. Kinsey for their mentorship and guidance. She also wants to thank her Mom, Dad, brother, and two dogs for their support and encouragement.

Brooklynn is a 7th grader here at Stuart-Hobson Middle School. Brooklynn loves to do drama because it allows her to have fun and be free. She loves to come to class and do what she loves. She wants to thank all her drama friends and family, and her directors.  

Josephine is an 8th grader excited to attend School Without Walls High School this fall. She is a member of the National Honor Society and participates in basketball, soccer, and band, where she serves as saxophone section lead. Josephine has loved being part of Drama Players and is grateful for the friendships and memories she has made. 

Jess has been a DramaPlayer since 6th grade! She started as stage crew, hair and makeup for The Addams Family. She was an ensemble member in James and the Giant Peach. In 7th grade she played “Nigel” in Matilda and Ensemble/Soldier Messenger in the Wiz. In 8th grade, she played “Gertrude” in Seussical and now “Edna/Council Kid” in Hairspray! She is headed to School Without Walls and is excited to see what's in store for her there! 

Alexi loves and values drama. He aspires to become an actor one day and always pushes himself to do better. Alexi has learned many valuable skills for drama. 10/10 would recommend.

Raegan Waddy is an 8th grader here at Stuart-Hobson Middle School. Raegan loves drama because it allows her to be herself. She loves the friendships that the drama club has given her. She wants to thank everyone who has helped her, like her family and friends. Enjoy the show! 

Essence Merritt first joined the Stuart-Hobson DramaPlayers during her 6th grade year. When she first started as a Drama Player she was stage crew for the Addams family, her first play. As she grew to understand how to be part of a community and how to commit to something, she went on to be in James and the Giant Peach, Matilda, The Wiz, Seussical, and now Hairspray. (Which she is now a Dynamite in). When Essence first joined drama she really had no idea what she was signing up for, but over time she realized she had found a second family at school. (One she'll stay afterschool until 7:15 for). She feels grateful that she had Ms. Pergerson and Ms. Kenzie, her drama and dance teacher to show her the way. Although she’ll be leaving Stuart-Hobson and going to McKinley Tech, you will always remember her friends, Aria, Stella, Chloe, Charlie Nife, Ferran, Sara and especially Callie.

Sofia is a 7th grader in her second year with the SHMS drama players. It’s her third show and she is 13. Sofia is a dynamite. Sofia loves Hairspray and is very excited about her role. Sofia loves musical theater because she loves the process of working on something and then seeing it all come together in a performance. It’s a magical experience. She is really excited to perform for you!

Malaika Tull is a 7th grader at SHMS. She is very excited to be a part of Hairspray and thanks her family, friends, and cast for their support. She also loves performing and thanks everyone who helped make this show possible, So grab your Hairspray and enjoy the show!!!!!

Zaira is excited to finish her final year of middle school drama after being part of productions such as James and the Giant Peach, Matilda, The Wiz, Seussical, and Hairspray. Throughout her years in drama, she has grown tremendously as a performer, improving not only her acting skills, but also her dancing and vocal abilities. Being part of the theater program has helped her become more confident, hardworking, and expressive both on and off the stage. Drama has given her unforgettable memories, lifelong friendships, and the opportunity to step outside of her comfort zone. As she closes her 8th grade year, Zaira is proud of how much she has grown as both a performer and a person, and she is excited to continue carrying out the lessons she learned through theater into the future. 

Ryan Jackson is a talented and creative 7th-grader who is excited to return to the Drama Club for her second year. Since Ryan was a toddler, she has loved acting, storytelling, and bringing characters to life on stage. She also has a passion for hair and makeup, enjoying the opportunity to express her creativity both on and off the stage.

When she’s not rehearsing, Ryan can often be found on the volleyball court. She loves the teamwork, discipline, and excitement of the game and enjoys balancing her athletic pursuits with her artistic passions. Whether she’s performing under the spotlight or competing in a volleyball match, Ryan brings energy, determination, and a positive attitude to everything she does.

Known for her creativity, confidence, and kind spirit, Ryan enjoys spending time with family and friends and is always eager to learn new skills. She is grateful for the opportunity to be part of the Drama Club and looks forward to continuing to grow as a performer while sharing her love of theater with the audiences this season.

Naomi Michele Simmons is a 7th grader who has loved drama for years and hopes she can get on Broadway when she is older. 

Glenn is very grateful to be apart of this program and community and would like to thank everyone for this opportunity. 

Charlie is excited to be Corny Collins in their last SHMS DramaPlayers show. From Lavender to Who #32, he has made amazing memories and friends and will keep a place in their heart for the program. He hopes you enjoy the show.

Josephine Davis is an eighth grader who has been in the Drama program for three years. She has performed in many shows, including “The Addams Family”, “James and the Giant Peach”, “Matilda”, “The Wiz”, and “Seussical”. These productions have created amazing memories, helped her grow so much, and will stay with her forever. Now, she is taking the stage for her final performance as Velma Von Tussle in "Hairspray". She is extremely sad to say goodbye and will miss everyone so much. Josephine would like to thank her teachers, parents, brother, and all her castmates. Love y’all so much! Enjoy the show! 

Elizabeth Kirby is an eighth grader who has loved all three years of her Drama players experience. From Spiker in James and the Giant Peach, to Lavender in Matilda, and now Amber in Hairspray, each role has brought challenges and new experiences. Elizabeth has learned so much in these past few years. She has made so many friendships in drama that she hopes will last for many years to come. Drama has truly become her second family. Elizabeth would like to thank her family, friends, teachers, and anyone else who has helped her along the way.  Hairspray has been a wild ride and an unforgettable experience and hopefully that shines through tonight. Enjoy the show!!! 

Richard has played a scarecrow and elephant and is ready to end his 8th grade year in Baltimore.

Darren Cauley is an eighth grader at Stuart Hobson. He has been involved in theatre for a few years and has performed in six different shows. He enjoys acting, working with the cast, and bridging characters to life on stage. Outside of drama he enjoys sports, spending time with his friends and family, and being involved in his community.

Theater is important to Xavier because it taught him that many hands make light work.  This means that when people come together the work becomes a lot easier, and that is what Drama is: one big happy family.  Drama Players is family, we have our ups and downs but, in the end, we still come together and make things work.  Theater allows Xavier to feel and perform in ways that he may never have had the opportunity to. Theater is art and art is life! 

Ian Nwagwu is an eighth grader at Stuart Hobson Middle School. He has been in 6 productions and has loved and celebrated each one of them. He has always loved and cared for the Dramaplayers not only the program but also the people, especially Mrs. Pergerson and Mrs. Kensey. The program may be incredibly difficult, but it’s also one of the most influential things in his life, not only from the lessons he learnt but from the experiences and friends he’s made. He will be forever grateful for theater and both Mrs. Pergerson and Mrs. Kensey for all the effort and care they put into this program, especially into the kids. 

Chloe Rae is proud to end her final year as a Stuart Hobson Drama Player, being a part of productions such as Seussical and Hairspray. Although she has only been in the drama program for one year, it has helped her grow tremendously as both an actor and singer. Through rehearsals and performances, Chloe has become much more confident in her abilities on stage and has learned how to truly express herself through acting and music. Being a Drama Player also allowed her to create meaningful friendships and connections with people she may not have met otherwise. Chloe is thankful for all the memories, lessons, and experiences she gained during her time in drama, and she will always cherish being part of the Stuart Hobson Drama family. 

Eliza is an eighth grader at Stuart Hobson. This is her fourth show as a Dramaplayer and she is so excited for everyone to see Hairspray! Drama has taught her so much and has helped her build relationships and confidence! She is so grateful for Ms. Pergerson and Ms. Kensey for all they have done! Enjoy the show! 

Callie has been apart of the SHMS Drama Players since 6th grade. This is her sixth show, and she has changed a lot since her first show, "The Addams Family". She has grown as a person and an actor over these past few years. She hopes you enjoy her last but certainly not least show, "Hairspray"!

Sara is an 8th grader graduating from Stuart-Hobson this June after participating in DramaPlayers for three years. She was part of the ensemble in both "The Addams Family" and "James and the Giant Peach" in 6th grade. In seventh grade, she played Matilda in " Matilda, Jr. " and Addaperle in "The Wiz". Most recently, she appeared as "Mayzie La Bird" in Seussical. She was also part of the inning team at this year's Junior Theater Festival , performing as "Gincy from "Shrek the Musical". Sara is very graetfiul for everything that she has learned from Ms. Pergerson . Ms. Kensey, and all of her cast and crew mates in Dramaplayers. Sara is attending Benjamin Banneker Academic High School in the fall where she looks forward to helping expand the drama club into musical theater.

From 6th grade, Cora Allen has been a dedicated member of the tech team, ensuring lighting is always on point. She began her journey on spotlight during the 6th grade performances The Addams Familyand James and the Giant Peach. In 7th grade, she continued with spot for Matilda, and during Madagascar she made her move to the lighting board, assisting in lighting design. Later that year, she took on her biggest role yet — Head of Lighting for The Wiz. 

Now in her final year at Stuart Hobson, Cora is bringing her expertise to Seussical, Descendants, and for her last show, Hairspray, ensuring smooth transitions and dynamic lighting throughout each production. Next year, she will take her talents to Duke Ellington School of the Arts (DESA), where she will continue her study of lighting in the Technical Direction & Production program. She is excited to see what comes next. 

Will is in his third year with the Dramaplayers. He started out on the sound team and joined stage crew for the Wiz. This year, he took on the role of stage manager for Suessical and Hairspray. When he isn’t working backstage, he is on the baseball field or hanging out with friends.

From the wings to the spotlight, Abby Pierson’s time in theatre at Stuart Hobson Middle School has been filled with creativity, dedication, and growth. In 6th grade, she began working behind the scenes on spot for The Addams Family and James and the Giant Peach. During that same year, she also contributed to set design and helped build sets for both productions. In 7th grade, she served as prop manager for Matilda, while also helping with mic switches and being part of the ensemble. Later she helped run music and sound effects for The Wiz and in 8th grade also played music for Seussical. Now, for her final production at Stuart Hobson, she is coming full circle by returning to her roots on spot while also serving as Assistant Lighting Designer for Hairspray. She is grateful for every cast member, crew member, and teachers who helped make these years unforgettable. Special thanks to Ms. Pergerson, Ms. Kensey, and Ms. Smullen. 

This is Kai Knapp’s first and last show with Stuart Hobson tech, she had just joined the school only a few months ago. She had always been in drama whether she was onstage or backstage, Kai has always had a passion for that sort of thing. She acted in 4 musical theatre programs/plays prior to SHMS, featuring in one movie and a short film. Since this has been her first ever experience in tech, it’s made her time at SHMS very memorable. She is very grateful to be able to have the opportunity of joining drama considering that she joined so late. Even though she’s been here for a short amount of time, very moment spent at Stuart Hobson has been so special thanks to the drama program. She’s very appreciative of this experience and hopes you enjoy Hairspray.

Zeve is an 8th grader. This is his 8th production with the Stuart-Hobson DramaPlayers as a tech member. His roles have included running the audio board and working with microphones, including 6th grade productions. For two years he has run the technical department of the DramaPlayers. 

Leona is an 8th grader and has been with the SHMS Drama Players for two years. She has been lighting for the past 4 shows, "Matilda", "Madagascar", "The Wiz" and "Seussical". Most recently she has transferred to audio helping with the 6th grade play "Descendants Jr." and now for her final show "Hairspray". Leona loved being a part of this community and has learned many skills that will benefit her when she attends School Without Walls next year. She hopes you enjoy the show!

Caroline is in eighth grade and this is her third show. During The Wiz you might have seen her doing audio, and in Seussical she ran projections. Now for Hairspray she is back on audio for her final play as a Stuart Hobson Drama Player. She's so excited for this show and can't wait to see what's coming next.