Meet the Cast

CAST BIOS

Erica Bowers
Erica is overjoyed to be in her 14th show at TIBBIES. Before joining the cast, Erica was a featured singer on Holland America and Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines. She also shared her vocal talents on the “Radio Disney World Tour”. Her band, Volkanik, performed with Everclear and Nickleback through North America and Canada. Her theater roles include Once On This Island (Timoune), A Chorus Line (Val), and Ain’t Misbehavin (Charlene). Erica has also been a back up vocalist for Martha Washington, Crystal Gale, Frankie Avalon, Everclear, and Larry Gatlin.

Gina Gianelli
After graduating Summa Cum Laude from USC, Gina’s theatrical talents took her to major venues all around the world. Gina started her dinner theatre and international touring career while performing with the world-renowned song and dance company “The Young Americans”. Also an accomplished opera singer, Gina had the opportunity to perform in Italy. Gina’s favorite stage credits include: Evita (Eva Peron), My Fair Lady (Eliza Doolittle), Grease (Sandy), Sweet Charity (Charity), Sugar (Sugar), Anything Goes (Bonnie), The King And I (Tuptim), Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat (Mrs. Potifar), Bye Bye Birdie (Kim McAfee), and Annie (Lily St. Regis).

Bobby Hempstead
Bobby has actually worked in every TIBBIES venue since it originally opened in Peter’s Landing, Huntington Beach, some 25 years ago. An alumni of The Young Americans, Bobby has been performing his entire life and has been fortunate enough to have worked all over the world, including performances with Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, Peggy Legg and Mel Tillis, to name a few. Bobby has also studied theater, music and screenwriting in New York City, where he worked as assistant director and stage manager of several local productions.

Jonathan Jimenez
Jonathan is excited to be doing his 12th show at TIBBIES. At the age of 15, Jonathan toured the US with the “Young Americans”. He is now attending the prestigious AMDA, the American Musical and Dramatic Academy. Jonathan is also a partner in the Youth Cultural Arts Foundation located in Bellflower, CA. Past credits include Godspell (Jesus), Working (Mike), The Mikado (Pooh Bah), and Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat (Benjamin).

Josh McKinney
Josh McKinney is ecstatic to be joining “Let’s Go To the Movies” for his very first production at TIBBIES! He received his bachelors degree from U.C. Irvine in drama through the musical theatre program. His performance career began with the Disneyland Resort and the Macaroni Grill. Some of his favorite roles include: Diesel in West Side Story, Cinderella’s Prince in Into the Woods, Emcee in Lucky Stiff, Reuben in Joseph, Teddy in The Full Monty, and L.A./Phil in Gypsy. He has appeared on television in Sesame Street and on ABC’s Night Before Christmas.

Sage Thommen
Sage Thommen, a graduate of California State University, Fullerton’s musical theater BFA program, is thrilled to be back on the Queen Mary in her sixth Tibbie’s production. Most recently, she was seen in Suessical at Performance Riverside. In October she returned from the great state of Tennessee where she originated the role of Molly Ann in the ragtime revue Hoot ‘n Holler. Other favorite performances include Camelot at the Hollywood Bowl, Bebe in A Chorus Line, and Leading Player in Pippin.

Dustin Thompson
Dustin Thompson is thrilled to be joining the TIBBIES family for the first time. A native Southern Californian, Dustin studied musical theatre at the Orange County High School of the Arts and the American Musical and Dramatic Academy in New York. After spending the past three and a half years working as a singer on board several Royal Caribbean Cruise ships, he can’t wait to perform on a ship that stays docked and allows him to be back home.

Suzanne Wachman
Suzanne Wachman is excited to perform at her second show at TIBBIES. Most recently she could be seen regularly at the Curtain Call Dinner Theater in Tustin. Some credits there include Lucy in You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown, Marty/Frenchy/Patty in Grease!, Flor in No, No Nanette, and Gertie in Oklahoma! Other Southern California credits include: Charlotte/Strawberry Seller in Oliver! (Santa Barbara CLO), Gloria Rasputin in Bye Bye Birdie (Downey CLO), Grace Farrell I Annie (Cypress Civic Theater( and Chiffon in Little Shop of Horrors (UCI). Suzanne has also sung backup for Celine Dion and Julie Andrews, and has performed at such venues as the Hollywood Bowl, the Roxy, the Orange County Performing Arts Center, and Disneyland. She received her Bachelors Degree in Film and Media Studies from UCI in 2004.

PRODUCERS BIOS

Jennifer Vigiletti
Jennifer is amazed that this year marks the 13th anniversary of being Executive Producer, choreographer, and costume designer for TIBBIES. She is currently starring in her best role yet – mother to her three year old daughter Paige Marie. You can also find Jennifer heating up the stage as the sultry diva of Vamp the Lounge, aboard the Queen Mary!

Todd Vigiletti
Todd is pleased to be back for his 67th show here at TIBBIES – wow! That’s right, Todd took his first bow on the TIBBIES stage in 1989 and since then has made over 2,000 appearances at the dinner theater. Todd started his performing career at the dinner theater with the world-renowned performing group, “The Young Americans”, and in 1994 formed Stargazer Productions of Orange County, Inc. along with his wife, Jennifer, to run TIBBIES. Aside from the dinner theater, Todd stays busy writing, directing and producing shows for national conventions and corporate events. Todd is proud to announce the successful opening of Vamp the Lounge, aboard the Queen Mary and the upcoming opening of TIBBIES at the CENTER STAGE in Fontana, CA in May of 2008!

BAND BIOS

BASS–Chris Booke
Chris has been a part of the TIBBIES family since 1998. He has also worked for Royal Caribbean and Carnival Cruise Lines. Along with Tibbies, Chris is busy playing everything he can from studio recordings to shows at Disneyland. Chris has performed with The Platters, The Osmond Brothers, Jack Sheldon, Steve Allen, and has performed for President George W. Bush.

PIANO–Brian Sherick
Brian is a pianist, percussionist and composer. With degrees from Chapman University and USC, he has performed in Las Vegas, the opening ceremonies of the 1984 Olympics and has written music for film and the theater. He has played for the cast at TIBBIES since 2001.

DRUMS–John White
John has had a fulfilling career as a musician, working with the likes of Jackson Browne, The Grateful Dead's Bob Weir, Stephen Bishop, Danny O'Keeffe, Warren Zevon, Michelle Shocked, Dwight Yokum, Hoyt Axton, John Conlee, The Dilliards, The Flying Burrito Bros, and many others. His musical work has taken him around the world and to famous stages and recording studios everywhere. He has been working in musical theatre for the last 15 years and he says that he loves it. He is proud and happy to be part of the TIBBIES Family! John lives in the Southern California area and also works as a Marriage and Family Therapist. He is married to a professional dancer. John and his wife have one son who John says is destined for a show business career.

Additional TIBBIES Band Members
Tony Scarponi - Drums
Scott Cokely - Piano
Todd Kreutzer - Bass

OTHER CREDITS

Matt Hoglund - Choreographer
Sean Hunt - Technician

Tammy Vigiletti - Group Sales Manager

indicates our “Five Star Program”. We applaud these outstanding cast members who have appeared in at least five TIBBIES productions! BRAVO!

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