Meet The Talented Cast & Crew of The Wizard of OZ

PURCHASE TICKETS

Reese Benedic (Dorothy) is thrilled to take on the iconic role of Dorothy Gale in The Wizard of Oz! Reese is 14 years old and will be starting her journey at Pope John Paul II High School this August. She has already graced the stage in nearly 20 musicals; some of her most memorable performances include “Isabel” in Scrooge, “Miss Honey” in Matilda, “Miss Argentina” in Beetlejuice, and “Violet Beauregarde” in Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. In 2024, she was named Broadway Singing Champion and recently secured 1st place in both the Musical Theater and Commercial Music categories at the NATS Southern Regional Competition.

Kendel Smith (Hunk/Scarecrow) is a native of New Orleans and an alumnus of SLU. Shortly after graduating, he moved to NYC, where he worked in performing arts and healthcare and became a human rights activist and an activist for people living with HIV and AIDS. He moved back to Louisiana in 2015, where he and fellow SLU alumni started The Kay Performing Arts Project, a non-profit performing arts program in Ponchatoula and Swamplight Theatre.

Bode McDaniel (Hickory/Tin Man) is a 19-year-old music major at Southeastern Louisiana University. He’s performed roles at Swamplight in many productions, most notably “Squidward” in SpongeBob: The Musical, “Rabbi” in 13: The Musical, “Candy Man” in Willy Wonka, and “Elvis” in The Adult Cabaret. He is so excited to be a part of The Wizard of Oz and hopes you enjoy the show.

Logan Watts (Zeke/Cowardly Lion) has just graduated with a BA in Theatre and is excited to be back on stage at Swamplight. You may have seen him as “Dr. Field,” ”McCain,” or the ”A.D.A.” in Near Nellie Bly at Southeastern Louisiana University, or as “Kolenkov” in You Can’t Take It With You, “Patchy the Pirate” or ”Perch Perkins” in SpongeBob: The Musical, or “Officer Klein” in Arsenic & Old Lace at Swamplight Theatre. He enjoys interactive stories and wants to be a voice actor. He would like to thank everyone who has supported him.

Jennifer Wheeler (Auntie Em) is a graduate of PHS (‘06) and SLU. She is a Talented Art teacher for Tangipahoa Parish. This is her 2nd performance with Swamplight.

Keith Davis (Uncle Henry) is a retired violin maker and bagpiper-for-hire, and is now old enough to play an elderly man on stage without extensive makeup. This is his third show at Swamplight, where he previously played in Smoke On The Mountain and Arsenic and Old Lace. Originally from the far North, Keith and his wife, Diane, and daughter Christine moved to Ponchatoula in 2004. Since then, he’s written and published three books in the Iron Lake Fishing Club series.

Goose McNeese (Professor Maravel/Wizard) is a 20-year-old resident of Hammond, Louisiana. They’ve been doing theater since their junior year of high school and have found love for the stage, as well as wonderful friends in doing so. You may have seen him in Seussical and The Curious Savage at Ponchatoula High School, as well as Footloose here at Swamplight Theatre. He is also a seasoned scare actor at RISE Haunted House in Tickfaw, Louisiana. They’re incredibly excited to portray The Wizard and Professor Marvel in The Wizard of Oz.

Ellen Heiman (Almira Gulch/Wicked Witch) is extremely excited to perform as “The Wicked Witch of the West.” Ellen has performed with Swamplight Theatre for two years and has notably played a “Candy Kid” in Willy Wonka and “Rheba” in You Can’t Take It With You. Ellen is a proud librarian assistant and would like to dedicate this performance to her friends and family for all their support.

Bryson Parent (Nikko/Ensemble) is thrilled to be back on the Swamplight Theater stage for his second show, performing as “Nikko,” the flying monkey, and a “Munchkin” in The Wizard of Oz. His first acting role was as an “Oompa Loompa” in the musical Willy Wonka, performed at Swamplight Theater. Bryson is a 13-year-old young man looking forward to beginning 9th grade at Ponchatoula High School in August. He plans to continue his interest in acting by studying theater and joining the drama club. He has big dreams of performing in plays/musicals on the PHS stage!

Julia Van Mullem (Glinda the Good) is thrilled to be making her Swamplight debut! She is 18 years old and from Ponchatoula, LA. She recently graduated from Oak Forest Academy and will be attending Tulane University this fall to double major in Theatre and Psychology. You may have seen her in her previous performances, such as “The Sour Kangaroo” in Seussical Jr. at The New Octavians or “Ginger Spice” in Kiss of Death: A Murder Mystery at the Columbia Theatre.

Charleigh King (Emerald City Guard/Ensemble) is 14 years old and is thrilled to play a role in The Wizard of Oz. Her previous Swamplight performances include Oliver, SpongeBob: The Musical, Willy Wonka, and The Legend of Sleepy Hollow. This June, Charleigh participated in Swamplight’s summer theater camp for the seventh consecutive year. In August, Charleigh will begin her freshman year at Ponchatoula High School, where she will join the Tangipahoa Parish Talented Arts programs.

Maddie Guillot (Apple Tree/Ensemble) is 13 years old and will be a freshman at Springfield High School in the fall. Maddie has had roles in two St. Joseph productions, The Lion King and Peter Pan.

Elodie Wheeler (Apple Tree/Ensemble) is 14 years old and will be a freshman at Loranger High School. She has recently played “Scar” in The Lion King and was in the ensemble in SpongeBob: The Musical. This is her 20th stage performance.

Kailee Neal (Apple Tree/Ensemble) is 22 years old and a 2023 graduate of Southeastern Louisiana University with a degree in Business Management. Although she has had a lifelong passion for music, The Wizard of Oz marks her first theater production. Kailee is excited for the opportunity to learn and grow through this experience.

Odie Smith (Toto) is a 16.5-year-old cheese hound. Odie has a checkered past. He’s currently in the federal witness relocation program, so we can’t say much more than that. He’s thrilled to be making his Swamplight debut. Anyone wanting to make cheese offerings, please let his dad, Kendel, know.

Amelia Norman (Munchkin/Ensemble) is thrilled to be back on the Swamplight stage this summer! Amelia is 9 years old and has participated in theater, dance, and choir at Swamplight for the past 6 years. Her previous productions include Willy Wonka and Footloose. Amelia lives in Ponchatoula and will be entering 4th grade at St. Joseph’s School. Outside of the theater, she loves playing outside, spending time with friends, and singing Hamilton songs every chance she gets. Amelia thanks her family and friends for always cheering her on.

Avery Norman (Munchkin/Ensemble) is excited to return to the Swamplight stage for another summer production! Avery is 12 years old and has been involved in theater and dance at Swamplight for the past 7 years. Her previous shows include The Lion King, Willy Wonka, Footloose, and Oliver. She is thrilled to join the ensemble of The Wizard of Oz as a Munchkin this summer. Avery lives in Ponchatoula and will be entering 7th grade at St. Joseph’s School. When she’s not on stage, she enjoys swimming, spending time with friends, and bringing extra drama to everyday life. Avery thanks her family and directors for supporting her love of performing.

Ava Johnson (Munchkin/Ensemble), an 11-year-old sixth grader at Adolesco Prep, is excited to return to the stage for her second production as a member of the ensemble. She previously played an “Oompa Loompa” in Willy Wonka and has enjoyed taking classes and attending summer camps at Swamplight. Outside of the theatre, she enjoys playing volleyball and spending time with friends and family.

Baylor Johnson (Munchkin/Ensemble) is a 9-year-old rising 5th grader who is excited to be in his second summer musical, The Wizard of Oz. Baylor has been active in sports for much of his life, playing baseball for six years. He found his love for singing in the choir in the 2nd grade with Mrs. Wendy Savarino.

Aubree Glorioso (Munchkin/Enselble) is a 6-year-old kindergarten student at Gray's Creek Elementary. This is her 3rd year of dance at a Touch of Class in Ponchatoula, where she takes ballet and jazz. This past school year, she was in The Little Mermaid Jr. with the Livingston Parish Talented Theatre program as a Crab, a Frog, and Ursula's Chorus. She's looking forward to theatre camp at Swamplight this summer and being on stage in the Land of Oz!

Dylan Wheeler (Munchkin/Ensemble) is 7 years old and will be in 2nd grade at Loranger Elementary. She loves reading, making art, and performing on stage. This will be her 3rd performance with Swamplight.

MaciLyn Rohner (Munchkin/Ensemble) has been involved with Swamplight since 2022, during which she has studied ballet, musical theater, acting, and voice. Her previous theater credits include Willy Wonka and SpongeBob: The Musical. She has also performed in The Frozen Teddy Bear Tea for the past three years, playing “Little Lottie” during her first two seasons and stepping into the role of “Little Anna” this past year.

Emerson LaFont (Munchkin/Ensemble) is 13 years old and is excited to be part of The Wizard of Oz. Her previous theatre productions include Roald Dahl’s Willy Wonka and SpongeBob: The Musical at Swamplight Theatre, as well as Cinderella at Louisiana Academy of Performing Arts. She takes musical theatre, acting, and ballet classes at Swamplight Theatre and especially enjoys performing comedic roles that make the audience laugh.

Brantley Blades (Munchkin/Ensemble) is a 4th-grade student at D.C. Reeves Elementary School and is excited to perform in The Wizard of Oz. His previous Swamplight performances include SpongeBob: The Musical and Teddy Bear Tea. Brantley enjoys performing on stage and spending time with his castmates.

Rhett Michael Thomas (Munchkin/Ensemble) is a 9-year-old third-grade student at Courtney Christian School with a growing passion for musical theater and dance. He has performed in several youth productions, including playing “Tad” in Finding Nemo Jr. and “Olaf” in Frozen Jr. He also appeared in the dance cast of Moana Jr., where he enjoyed bringing energy and movement to the stage. Rhett Michael has trained in dance for the past three years at The McLaurin Academy of Contemporary Arts, LLC, and has attended theater camp at Swamplight for three years.

Camille Patti (Munchkin/Ensemble) is 11 years old and will enter the 7th grade at St. Joseph School. She has enjoyed her classes & camps at Swamplight over the past 3 years. This will be her first production!

Sarah Savarino (Munchkin/Ensemble), also known as Bette, is eleven years old and is no stranger to the Swamplight stage. Bette is a student at St Joseph’s School in Ponchatoula. She is the daughter of Tony Savarino & Wendy Kinchen Savarino. Having grown up at Swamplight Theater, Bette has been in shows such as Hairspray, The Legend of Sleepy Hollow, Oliver, and Willy Wonka. Recently, Bette played “Nana the Dog” in her drama club's performance of “Peter Pan Jr.” Other than being on stage, Bette’s favorite things are dark chocolate, sweet tea, and her Malshi puppy, Pebble.

Lucien Pigott (Munchkin/Flying Monkey/Ensemble) is 8 years old and is going into first grade. This is his second time performing on stage, but he is not a stranger to the theatre because he often tags along with his stage-manager mom, Haleigh Pigott. He has had a lot of fun with this show and hopes everyone enjoys it.

Molly Delaney (Munchkin/Ensemble) is thrilled to be in her theatrical debut! She has attended camps at Swamplight and has been quietly planning her stage entrance for quite some time. Molly is excited to be sharing the stage with her sister Henrie, “brother” Bode, and new friends.

Emilia Taylor Vallot Haughn (Munchkin/Ensemble), 11 years old, is the daughter of Kayln Vallot Haughn and Keels Haughn, granddaughter of Barbie Vallot and Frank Vallot, and the great-granddaughter of the late Kay Butler and (not late) Dr. Bob Butler. She began her acting career at the ripe young age of 4 months old. Appearing as “Baby Emilia” in the short film, Finding Emilia, featured at the New Orleans 48 Hour Film Festival in 2015. She has participated in countless performances at Swamplight Theatre. Her most recent role was “Charlie” in Willy Wonka. She also wants to give a shoutout to Mrs. Wendy for writing her bio!

Aria Davis (Ensemble) is 13 years old and is a freshman at Loranger High School. She is excited to make her debut with Swamplight Theater. She began performing 3 years ago. The Wizard of Oz will be her 7th production, including prior performances in Clue, Frizzy Freida, and Graveyard Girls.

Zachary Judice (Ensemble) is 16 years old and is homeschooled. He has enjoyed participating in his local theater since 2019; his last role was as an "Electric Skate" in SpongeBob: The Musical at Swamplight.

Erica Spangenberg (Ensemble) is 29 years old and, last year, she was an Assistant Stage Manager for SpongeBob: The Musical. She attends Northshore Technical Community College, is majoring in General Studies, and will graduate in the fall.

Hailey Judice (Ensemble) is 18 years old and will be going to Louisiana Tech University in the fall. She has been participating in local theatre since 2019, her latest production being in SpongeBob: The Musical last summer.

Jaycob Fontenot (Ensemble) is 25 years old and is looking forward to being back on the stage at Swamplight! His previous performances include various roles during his time at Hammond High Magnet School, as well as a brief appearance in Swamplight's production of Willy Wonka in 2024. He would like to thank his family for sticking by him, and of course, everyone at Swamplight for this opportunity!

Henrie Delaney (Ensemble) has been performing at Swamplight Theatre since they were 7. They go to Madisonville Junior High and are active in the talented theater program there. They are looking forward to all the new friends they can make in the theater and to this performance.

Jamicia Shannon (Ensemble) is an upcoming sophomore at Ponchatoula High School. She has been in Dare to Dream Jr., where she played the role of a "Junior Imagineer," and in Peter Pan Goes Wrong, where she played "Gill." This will be her third production, and she hopes everyone will enjoy the show.

Moriah Hernandez (Ensemble) is 17 years old and resides in Springfield. She is a 12th-grade homeschooler and has performed in productions of Oliver, Fiddler on the Roof, and SpongeBob: The Musical. She has received ballet, tap, jazz, and hip-hop instruction over several years.

Ray Oalman (Wicked Witch of the East/Ensemble) is a 19-year-old actress who loves acting. She could be recognized from haunting at RISE or the ensemble of numerous productions! She hopes you enjoy the show!

Makayla Hernandez (Ensemble) is 15 years old, is entering the 10th grade, and is homeschooled by her parents. A resident of Springfield, this is her second Swamplight production, and she is excited to be back again. Her previous performances include Fiddler on the Roof, Oliver, and SpongeBob: The Musical. In addition to theater, she has had three years of dance instruction, including tap, ballet, and hip-hop.

Piper Stowe (Ensemble) is 13 years old and attends Ponchatoula Junior High School, where she will enter the 8th grade in the fall. She has performed in her school’s Talented Theatre productions, including The Cafeteria Attack as an “Alien.” Piper recently joined Swamplight Theatre, making her debut in SpongeBob: The Musical as part of the ensemble. She enjoys the creativity of acting and the friendships she builds through theatre.

Kaylee Gegenheimer (Crew) is 21 years old and graduated from Southeastern Louisiana University in May with a Bachelor's Degree in Psychology. Currently, she is enrolled in a Master of Psychology program at SELU and is scheduled to start in the fall. You may recognize her from one of her 20+ past productions with TJHS, JPAS, or TADA Studio, her favorites including Beauty & the Beast and the three times she’s performed in The Little Mermaid. This is Kaylee’s first time with Swamplight, and she is super excited to have found a new family!

Gabby Taylor (Crew) is a recent graduate of Ponchatoula High School. Although you usually see her on stage acting, she also has experience working backstage. She is excited to work as an assistant stage manager for The Wizard of Oz.

Leah Riggs (Crew) is 14 years old and is starting her sophomore year in the fall at PHS. This is her third drama production. She recently played “Player 5” in Dare to Dream Jr., was a part of the backstage crew for Peter Pan Goes Wrong, and is now a stage crew member for The Wizard of Oz. Leah would like to thank her parents, teachers, friends, all of her cast and crewmates, and her directors.

Michael Dufreche (Crew) is a 9-year-old 4th grader at Holy Ghost Catholic School. Although this is his first production, he attended Intro to Music at Swamplight and performed in their spring showcase in 2026.

Dennis Watts (Crew) is 54 years old and based in Walker, LA. He is a Holden High School alumnus who went on to attend Southeastern Louisiana University, a proud postal worker with over 31 years of service with the US Postal Service, a husband of 28 years, and a dad to eight kids. Off the clock, you’ll find him watching wrestling, listening to full-cast fiction podcasts, or falling asleep to ambient music. Dennis’ previous Swamplight appearances include “Larry” in SpongeBob: The Musical and “Mr. Witherspoon” in Arsenic & Old Lace. He has also had many appearances at the Columbia Theatre, including “Mr. Slides” in House on Haunted Hill, “Baloo” in Jungle Book, and “Tommy Comet” in Kiss of Death.

Mia Spaulding (Crew) is a recent high school graduate working as a stagehand in this production. She assisted backstage for all four years of high school and will continue to do so in college.

Santana Garcia (Crew) is 17 years old and a graduate of Ponchatoula High School's class of 2026. In the fall, he will attend Southeastern Louisiana University to major in Supply Chain Management. This is his second production with Swamplight; he previously worked as a light technician for the Cabaret production in 2025.