Director:
Elton Knupp
You can find Mrs. Knupp spending her days at Galvin as a paraprofessional and teaching classes with Children's Playhouse of Wakefield. She moved here two years ago from Maryland where she was a K-8 Theatre teacher! Mrs. Knupp has her BA in Music Theatre from McDaniel College and has been performing since she was in elementary school. She is a mom of two girls and a cute little pup named Bella. Mrs. Knupp LOVES performing, sharing that passion with young people, and all things Disney . If she could be anywhere beside here it would be Disney World!!
Elton Knupp
You can find Mrs. Knupp spending her days at Galvin as a paraprofessional and teaching classes with Children's Playhouse of Wakefield. She moved here two years ago from Maryland where she was a K-8 Theatre teacher! Mrs. Knupp has her BA in Music Theatre from McDaniel College and has been performing since she was in elementary school. She is a mom of two girls and a cute little pup named Bella. Mrs. Knupp LOVES performing, sharing that passion with young people, and all things Disney . If she could be anywhere beside here it would be Disney World!!
Music Director:
Kienan Reilly
Mr. Reilly is excited to be taking on a new role with GMS theatre as the music director for Little Mermaid. He has been directing the choirs at GMS since 2011, and began directing GMS musicals in 2014 with "Into the Woods." It has been amazing to see the GMS music program grow during that time! He has been involved in choirs and playing in musical theater pits since he was in middle school and high school. When not at GMS, he enjoys hanging out with his four kids, hiking, fishing, and reading.
Kienan Reilly
Mr. Reilly is excited to be taking on a new role with GMS theatre as the music director for Little Mermaid. He has been directing the choirs at GMS since 2011, and began directing GMS musicals in 2014 with "Into the Woods." It has been amazing to see the GMS music program grow during that time! He has been involved in choirs and playing in musical theater pits since he was in middle school and high school. When not at GMS, he enjoys hanging out with his four kids, hiking, fishing, and reading.
Choreographer:
Samara Schwartz
Ms. Schwartz is thrilled to be working on the Little Mermaid, her fifth Galvin theater production! She frequently performed in theater pit orchestras on viola and violin through high school and college, but now is excited to be working on the part of the musical that is actually on the stage. When not teaching music at Woodville, Ms. Schwartz plays viola in the Boston Civic Symphony, and has even played for the penguins at the New England Aquarium. She has a very large and very cute dog named Roy, who likes to join in the dancing when she's working on choreography.
Samara Schwartz
Ms. Schwartz is thrilled to be working on the Little Mermaid, her fifth Galvin theater production! She frequently performed in theater pit orchestras on viola and violin through high school and college, but now is excited to be working on the part of the musical that is actually on the stage. When not teaching music at Woodville, Ms. Schwartz plays viola in the Boston Civic Symphony, and has even played for the penguins at the New England Aquarium. She has a very large and very cute dog named Roy, who likes to join in the dancing when she's working on choreography.
Choreographer:
Caitlin Brighenti
Mrs. Brighenti is super excited to be involved in her 7th musical production at the Galvin Middle School! She has taught music in Wakefield for the past 8 years, working at the Greenwood, Walton, and Doyle Schools. This is her 15th year teaching music, having taught previously in Newton and Holbrook, MA. In Holbrook, Mrs. Brighenti had the privilege of music directing the spring musicals for the high school. She now thoroughly enjoys working on choreography for the Galvin shows! While Mrs. Brighenti’s primary areas of study in college were piano and voice, she has always loved being on stage in any type of performance. She became involved with dance and gymnastics at a young age, and participated in chorus, band, drama, and dance club in high school. Outside of school, Mrs. Brighenti enjoys the beach, hiking, cuddling her cats Sammy and Sylvester, and having adventures with her four year old son, Lochlan.
Caitlin Brighenti
Mrs. Brighenti is super excited to be involved in her 7th musical production at the Galvin Middle School! She has taught music in Wakefield for the past 8 years, working at the Greenwood, Walton, and Doyle Schools. This is her 15th year teaching music, having taught previously in Newton and Holbrook, MA. In Holbrook, Mrs. Brighenti had the privilege of music directing the spring musicals for the high school. She now thoroughly enjoys working on choreography for the Galvin shows! While Mrs. Brighenti’s primary areas of study in college were piano and voice, she has always loved being on stage in any type of performance. She became involved with dance and gymnastics at a young age, and participated in chorus, band, drama, and dance club in high school. Outside of school, Mrs. Brighenti enjoys the beach, hiking, cuddling her cats Sammy and Sylvester, and having adventures with her four year old son, Lochlan.
Production Assistant
Naya Chankhour
Naya is 14 years old and a freshman at Wakefield High. She enjoys teaching and helping people. Naya also plays quite a few instruments and is a member of the marching band. Last year you saw her portray the role of Lavender in the GMS production of Matilda and three years ago she was in the ensemble of Seussical. This past summer Naya dedicated her time to working with the kids at Children's Playhouse of Wakefield. She is "excited to get to know you all over the next few months!"
Naya Chankhour
Naya is 14 years old and a freshman at Wakefield High. She enjoys teaching and helping people. Naya also plays quite a few instruments and is a member of the marching band. Last year you saw her portray the role of Lavender in the GMS production of Matilda and three years ago she was in the ensemble of Seussical. This past summer Naya dedicated her time to working with the kids at Children's Playhouse of Wakefield. She is "excited to get to know you all over the next few months!"
Production Assistant:
Abigail Stratton
Abby Stratton is a Freshman at Wakefield Memorial High School. She is super excited to be helping with The Little Mermaid, her third musical production at the Galvin. Last year you saw her in Matilda as Mrs. Wormwood, she was also in the ensemble of Seussical in 2020. When she is not singing or acting she is dancing her heart out on the stage or the field, she participates in dance at her studio Catch the Funk as well as the WMHS Dance Team. She is very excited to be working with such an amazing cast this year!
Abigail Stratton
Abby Stratton is a Freshman at Wakefield Memorial High School. She is super excited to be helping with The Little Mermaid, her third musical production at the Galvin. Last year you saw her in Matilda as Mrs. Wormwood, she was also in the ensemble of Seussical in 2020. When she is not singing or acting she is dancing her heart out on the stage or the field, she participates in dance at her studio Catch the Funk as well as the WMHS Dance Team. She is very excited to be working with such an amazing cast this year!