Emily DuPont Peterson (she/her), originally from the Blue Ridge Mountains, is a music therapist, music educator, and performer. In addition to co-owning West Michigan Music Therapy LLC, Emily maintains a thriving private music studio that serves all ages and abilities. Emily is a sought-after vocalist who frequently collaborates with area artists, including the Vintage Parlor Orchestra and members of the Grand Rapids Symphony. She is a folk harpist, avid reader, and currently enjoys botanical watercoloring. 

Hailie’s incredibly excited to be making her BPP debut as Roxie Hart! You may recognize her from other performances all over the Grand Rapids area. Some of her favorite area roles include Ensemble/Audrey Understudy in Little Shop of Horrors, Ursula Merkle in Bye Bye Birdie, and Crissy in HAIR (where she earned a nomination for “Best Performer in a Musical” in the 2022 Broadway World Detroit Awards). She also enjoys singing in concerts in the city, her previous vocalist credits include Nobody Does it Better: The Music of James Bond, Divine Divas: Iconic Women of Pop, and The Music of Moulin Rouge. In addition to performing, Hailie is also incredibly dedicated to choreographing musical productions for her students at Jenison High School. On her few days off, she loves second-hand shopping and editing theatre-related vlogs for her YouTube channel. Every theatrical production of Hailie’s career will be dedicated to Kristine MacKay-Guardino, who gave her a world full of “yes”. Instagram: @the.hailie.ann TikTok: @hailiemackay YouTube Channel: Hailie MacKay

Jenna is so excited to return to the stage after a five year hiatus especially playing this DREAM role of Velma Kelly! She is currently the Director of Education and Outreach at Grand Rapids Civic Theatre and co-owner of Betka-Pope Productions. She has been performing since the age of eight in Grand Rapids, and some of her favorite recent credits include Young Republicanette in Heathers at Actors' Theatre and Lucinda in Into the Woods at Circle Theatre. With her spare time, Jenna loves to read, travel, snuggle her dog Cornelius, and watch trash TV! Jenna would like to thank the team for trusting her with this immense opportunity and sends all the love to her spouse, Eirann, for their unending support.

Stephen is honored and thrilled to be a part of this dream come true production! An actor and musician for most of his life, his (recent) stage credits include Billy - Once (GRCT - ‘21), Captain Von Trapp - Sound of Music (GRCT - ‘21), & Don - Kinky Boots (GRCT - ‘22). He is so grateful to the Grand Rapids theater community for their incredible warm embrace as well as his parents Bruce and Debbie for their continual support. A big thank you to Eirann and Betka-Pope Productions for their inspired push to bring more theater into this city.

Hannah is a professional singer and voice teacher from Grand Rapids, MI. After spending several years in the opera world and earning her Bachelor's in Voice Performance from GVSU and Master's in Voice Performance from Wichita State University, Hannah has been enjoying spending her time in the world of musical theatre, as well as choral music. A busy voice teacher, Hannah operates DeBoer Voice Studio (www.deboervoicestudio.com), where she teaches private lessons out of her house, as well as at Northview High School, Grandville Middle School, and Ottawa Hills High School. Last year, she also co-founded Vox GR, Grand Rapids' premiere professional choral ensemble, where she sings soprano and serves as director of education and community outreach. Hannah has most recently be seen in "School of Rock" and "Shakespeare in Love" at Grand Rapids Civic Theatre, and in "The Sound of Music" with Shadblow Theatre. Some favorite past roles include Rose in "Street Scene", April in "Company", La bergere in "L'enfant et les sortileges" and First Lady in "The Magic Flute"

Originally from Grand Rapids, Brandon is so happy to be back on stage in GR after returning home from Los Angeles. Brandon spent much of his professional career in the city of Chicago, where he was a company member with The House Theatre of Chicago (and now, look! He gets to be in the MUSICAL version!)

Favorite Los Angeles theatre credits include “Lights Out: Nat “King” Cole” and “Sex with Strangers” with the Geffen Playhouse Theatre, “Failure: A Love Story” with Center Theatre Group/Coeurage Theatre and most recently as Tom Sawyer in “Big River” at Rubicon Theatre Company. Some of his favorite film/tv credits include “Black AF” and “Gilmore Girls: A Year In the Life” on Netflix, Warner Brother’s “Into the Storm” and ABC’s primetime comedy “The Goldbergs”.

Brandon is also an accomplished Illustrator and Character Designer. www.BrandonRuiter.com. Thanks to his family for always making him feel way cooler than he actually is!

Ruth Ann has been a part of the Grand Rapids community theater for the past 35 years. She has graced the stage at Grand Rapids Civic Theatre, Robeson players, Circle Theatre, Grand Rapids Jewish Theatre, and Ebony Road Players. Her most recent shows were Circle Theatre’s Summer Concert Series: Divine Divas: Iconic Women of Pop, Rent (Circle Theatre), Sheepdog (Ebony Road Players), Little Shop of Horrors (Circle Theatre), Once On This Island (Civic Theatre), and Petty Crimes (Actors Theatre).

Brooke Bruce is a GR-based entertainer with a background in musical theatre and burlesque. Bruce has performed, directed, stage managed, and designed lights throughout MI and neighboring states since 2011. Bruce produces multi-media art through Goblin Haus Productions.

Autumn is a mid-Michigan native where she studied and performed dance at Happendance, Impulse, Capital Ballet Theater, as well as Northeast Dance Academy, Grand Rapids Ballet School, Elements Ballet, and Haus of Glass. She performed in ballets such as The Nutcracker (Snow Queen, 2021 for C. Glass Dance), Sleeping Beauty & Cinderella (CBT), along with contemporary projects (Ghost Love, 2017 for Deanne Brooke Rivera), Michigan Youth Arts Festival (2017, 2018 with Impulse), she also choreographed and performed group and solo pieces for various Happendance and Impulse Co. concerts. Through grade school, she learned musicality learning alto saxophone and enjoys singing along to all kinds of music. With a passion for movement and anatomy, she works as a medical/manual massage therapist and teaches various movement methods. She enjoys crafting costumes, attending live events, and trying new things. Autumn wants to give a big thank you to all her friends and family who have supported her through her arts and career, especially mom! Chicago will be her musical debut, as well as first show with Betka-Pope Productions.

Zoe is thrilled to be returning to the stage for the first time since the pandemic! She is currently pursuing a BFA in illustration through Kendall College of Art and Design, and stays involved in theatre as Assistant Properties Designer at Grand Rapids Civic Theatre. You can find their illustration work @me.mariey on Instagram.

Katie Baumann was a student at HIS Dance Academy from 2002-2019, where she participated in the HIS Ensemble and HIS Pre-Professional Company. Her dance background also included time at Blue Lake Fine Arts Camp and Grand Rapids Ballet's Summer Intensive Program. Baumann also assisted as a Student Mentor Dance Instructor under Hannah Sullivan at Grand Rapids Civic Theater in 2018, where she returned as a musical theater student the following year. She would like to thank Hannah Sullivan for this opportunity and her guidance throughout her life inside dance and out, as well as her mom who has taught her everything she has needed to know about jazz music, as a former jazz singer herself with The Beltline Big Band. Katie is honored and excited to present Chicago with all of her talented castmates, and can't wait to see what the future holds on stage.

Roz’Lyn Clayton, in the role of Merry Murderess June/Juror, is beyond ecstatic to be cast in her first Betka-Pope Production! “To be in Chicago the Musical is an actual life dream come true!” An immigrant from England; she cast, directed, and starred in her own neighborhood production of Cinderella at age 7 and has been romancing the stage ever since. Roz’Lyn has dedicated over 12 years to music education, studying under world-renowned directors including Dwayne Davis. Her most cherished performances are her four years marching in the Jenison Color Guard and two seasons of Interplay Winter Guard. She has an Associates in Recording Engineering from GRCC. Roz’Lyn resides in GR with her Husband Jake and their four fantastic pets. She is a professional musician having worked with several amazing West MI band groups and is currently a vocalist and plays keys in The Blue Pines band.

Erica Soto is a Music Teacher in the Grand Rapids Public Schools District and lead vocalist for the Bluewater Kings Band. Most recently they performed with the Grand Rapids Symphony opening for NEYO & Leslie Odom Jr. at the Grand Rapids Symphony with Soul and La Sinfonía Navideña. Other notable performances for them include Cabaret, Little Shop of Horrors, Circle Theatre Summer Concert Series, Black, Bold, and Beautiful: Onward Together, Broadway at the Ballpark, and A Streetcar Named Desire. When they are not performing Erica is a proud soccer mom. They are excited to be part of this amazing & timeless production of Chicago.

Bio (to be shared on social media)*

Ryann Risner (she/her) comes from a colorful performance background of Burlesque, Pole, and Aerial Skills. After 11 years of performing across Midwest- Michigan and L.A California she settled back in Grand Rapids and started sharing her love of performance and all things aerial by becoming an instructor at Zeal Aerial Fitness. When she is not in the air she is working on her Esthetics career at Wanderlux spa.

Alex likes to make music and share his hot movie takes. He was most recently in “The Creation of the World and Other Business” and “Biloxi Blues”, both at Jewish Theatre Grand Rapids. He believes that the world’s best pancake recipe is out there, but he has yet to find it.

Leigh Angel (she/they) is so excited to be working with Betka-Pope Productions again and to be performing in and swinging for one of her all time favorite musicals! Previous area credits include Another Antigone (Judy Miller) with Jewish Theatre Grand Rapids; The Music Man (Salesperson/Ensemble) with Circle Theatre; The Rocky Horror Show (Phantom/Janet U/S) with Betka-Pope Productions; and Almost, Maine (Glory/Sandrine) with LowellArts. She would like to thank Eirann for being their constant source of love and support, and the rest of the cast, crew, and production team for all of their hard work and dedication to this production and to the art of theatre. They also hope that you enjoy the show!

Jasmine Nykamp is entertaining her senior year at Calvin University studying politics, philosophy and economics. With 16 years of formal dance training from Over the Top Academy of dance and HIS Dance she has trained primarily in ballet, pointe, jazz, modern and social dances. Despite an offer for a trainee position at Ballet Met, she has chosen to pursue a career in law. A love of travel and food has taken her across the US as well as many countries in Europe and Asia. In between studies and work, she finds herself watching shows with her mom, trying new restaurants, thrifting and making elaborate spreadsheets.

I’ve done a handful of shows, playing Svec in Once, Johnathon in The Play That Goes Wrong, The Collector and ensemble in A Streetcar Named Desire, and crew for several shows including Fun Home, Chorus Line, Little Shop Of Horrors and many more! I am wickedly excited to add this legendary show to my belt!