News

Queen Neelah Directors Abby Emert and Molly Reynolds are excited to announce Matthew Spencer and Blake Webster as this year’s 2024 Queen Neelah Talent and Coronation Emcees.

Matt was born and raised in Independence and has no interest in leaving this wonderful town he calls home. Matt graduated from IHS in 1997, received his undergraduate degree from KU, and later received his Master’s degree in social work from KU a few years later. He has loved Neewollah for as long as he can remember. Matt was a stage escort in high school before graduating to the illustrious title of Doo Dah King with his Queen, Diane Spencer. Their reign over their little kingdom includes three wonderful kids: Emma, Katelyn, Tyler, and their dog, Little Orphan Annie. Matt is the behavioral assessment team lead at Jane Phillips Hospital in Bartlesville, Oklahoma where he has worked for the past 10 years. Matt enjoys golfing with the homies and watching his children in their many activities with his mother, Linda Spencer, who is one of the family’s biggest cheerleaders. Matt has known his co-emcee Blake, for over 20 years and is super excited to navigate this journey with him this Neewollah.

Originally from Wichita, Blake currently resides in Independence with his family. This year marks his first- time volunteering for Neewollah, but fun fact: his first Neewollah experience was when he came to see his now father-in-law Grant Sherwood, in his role as Generalissimo. Blake actively volunteers at Independence Middle School, helping students create videos based on their short stories, and with the gifted program at the ICC Fab Lab. Blake is a three-time Emmy award winner and a member of the Wichita Collegiate School Hall of Fame. He is a television producer and director, currently directing and producing the series “Carpool Karaoke” on Apple TV. Blake is married to his beautiful wife, Laurel, who grew up in Independence, and together they have three awesome kids (Grant, Olivia, and Maisie). In his spare time, Blake loves being around his family and friends, traveling for work, watching his kids’ activities, and occasionally playing golf. You might find it interesting that after growing up in Kansas, Blake and Laurel spent 15 years living in Los Angeles, California before moving back to be closer to family in 2017.

Neewollah 2024 Generalissimo Lauren Ysusi announces Brandon Halberg as Conductor of “Elf the Musical.” Brandon is currently Associate Professor of Instrumental Music at Independence Community College. In this role, Brandon conducts the Community Band, Orchestra, and teaches general coursework throughout the music department. In addition to his work at ICC, Brandon chairs the Board of Directors at Voices of Change: a non-profit organization that provides individual voice lessons to students who have limited access to music education.

Originally from Connecticut, Brandon served as Assistant Conductor of the Connecticut Symphony Orchestra, as well as a public school educator across the state. A versatile conductor of wind bands and orchestras, Brandon has conducted Symphoria Youth Orchestras, Congregation Beth Israel Orchestra, Manchester Symphony Orchestra and Chorale, and Mid-Continent Community Band. He holds his Bachelors of Science in Music Education from the University of Connecticut, a Masters of Music in Orchestral Conducting from SUNY Binghamton, and has studied conducting with Dr. Paul McShee.

“Elf the Musical” auditions are scheduled for July 9th, 10th and 16th at ICC’s William Inge Theatre. Those interested in all roles: principals, minor roles and chorus should register in advance and sign up for a time for an audition. Roles are available for 6 years old and up. Call backs will be Thursday July 18th. Please visit www.neewollah.com to sign up for auditions and for more information.

Neewollah week kicks off with performances of Elf the Musical October 18-20, 2024.

Neewollah 2024 Generalissimo Lauren Ysusi announces Cody Dixon and Lori Wesselowski as Co-Producers of “Elf the Musical”.

Cody Dixon has been involved in Neewollah for many years but this will be her first time producing a musical. In addition to performing in musicals she has choreographed Neewollah productions of “Lil Abner”, “Thoroughly Modern Millie”, “Grease”, “The Addams Family”, “Shrek the Musical”, “The Wizard of Oz” (2021) and “Peter Pan” (2022). She has been the choreographer for the Neelah Debs and the Queen Neelah Coronation opening number many times and served on different Neewollah committees over the years including Queens Talent Co-Chair in 2016. Cody is honored to serve on the Neewollah Board of Directors. She is a member of Indy Women United and is a mentor for the Teammates program for USD 446. Cody is the Storefront Manager and Director of Customer Service for Online Sales at Hugo's Industrial Supply. Cody and her husband Kristopher and daughters Alexandria, Kate and Evie reside in Independence.

This is Lori’s third time producing a Neewollah musical. Lori was a producer for “Young Frankenstein” in 2013 and again for “The Little Mermaid” in 2016. Lori has also served on many Neewollah committees which include Queens Director, Queens Co-chair, Judges Committee, Talent Committee, Coronation Committee, Stage Escorts, Queens Tea, Brunch, Pre-parade Breakfast, Summer Workshop, Sponsorship, Ticket Queen, Special Events, Sanitation and Publicity. She has also been the Neewollah social media director for the last several years. Lori served on the Neewollah Board for nine years and served as Generalissimo in 2021.

Lori’s involvement in the community currently include mentoring for the Teammates program for USD 446, President of Chapter EF, PEO, Chair of the Mission for Improved Housing, the Independence Land Bank and the President of the Independence Children’s Summer Theatre Board. Lori was also a member of the USD 446 School Board for eight years.

Lori is a Real Estate Agent for Coldwell Banker Pasternak Johnson in Independence. Lori and her husband Barry have three grown children, Erin, Alex and Anna. “I love everything Neewollah and am so excited to get to Co-Produce with Cody Dixon! I know it is going to be a fantastic show and a wonderful Neewollah!”

“Elf the Musical” auditions are scheduled for July 9th, 10th and 16th at ICC’s William Inge Theatre. Those interested in all roles: principals, minor roles and chorus should register in advance and sign up for a time for an audition. Roles are available for 6 years old and up. Call backs will be Thursday July 18th. Please visit www.neewollah.com to sign up for auditions and for more information.

Neewollah week kicks off with performances of Elf the Musical October 18-20, 2024.

What a treat we are all in for with Paul Molnar as the director and Ashley Hovell as the assistant director of this year’s Elf the Musical presented by Neewollah! Paul Molnar is an award-winning actor and director who is the Director of Theatre Performance and a Professor of Theatre at Independence Community College where he teaches acting, directing, movement, stage combat and voice. Before arriving in Kansas, Paul spent more than 20 years in New York City working as an actor, director, movement consultant, fight choreographer and producer.

Paul, along with his wife Dee, was the Co-Producing Artistic Director for six seasons with South Brooklyn Shakespeare, a 501(c)3 company devoted to bringing free Shakespeare and other Classic Works of Literature to the residents of South Brooklyn. Under their leadership this company performed in several locations throughout Brooklyn and produced some of Shakespeare’s classics: Twelfth Night, Much Ado About Nothing, A Midsummer Night's Dream, Romeo & Juliet, Macbeth & A Winter’s Tale.

As an actor, Paul has numerous professional credits: in New York City the Off-Broadway premier of Hot Mess (staring Max Crumm & Lucy DeVito), multiple shows with KEEN Company, Epiphany, Adobe, Tangent and Fifth Street Theatre. Regional credits include multiple shows with: Heart of America Shakespeare Festival, Premier Stages, Asolo Rep, Vermont Stage, Lost Nation, Michigan Shakespeare Festival, The Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey, New American Theatre and 12 Miles West Theatre. TV credits include: Law & Order, Law & Order SVU, Person of Interest, Film credits include: Sweet Sweet Baby & The Ones That Have Fallen. As a fight director Paul’s work has been featured Off-Broadway in: Party Face (Directed by Amanda Bearse & staring Hayley Mills), Roulette, Tape, Ghoul, work with DiCapo Opera, EST, 47^th Street Theatre. Other New York credits include movement coaching & fight chorography work with Fordham University, Queens College, MITF, and Keen Company where he was the Resident Company Fight Director. Regional movement & fight choreography credits: Buck's County Playhouse, Premiere Stages, Two River Theatre, Shakespeare on the Sound, The Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey, Michigan Shakespeare Festival, Second City (Detroit) & Asolo Rep.

Paul received his BFA from the University of Michigan and holds an MFA from the FSU/Asolo Conservatory for Actor Training. Paul has been a proud member of Actors Equity Association since 1998 and a member of SAG-AFTRA since 2011.

Paul’s Neewollah involvement has been directing the 2022 production of Peter Pan and offering his expertise in fight choreography for the 2023 production of Beauty and the Beast.

Ashley Hovell is an actor/director and staff member of Independence Community College. She graduated with a bachelor’s in theater performance from University of Wisconsin-Lacrosse in 2013. As a director, Ashley has worked most closely with Uprising Theatre Company in Minneapolis, MN directing such shows as: Doctor Voynich and Her Children, Line of Sight, The Laramie Project, Twisted Deaths and co-directed Prometheus Bound, and Who Has Eyes To See. She was also selected as a directing fellow as part of the ArtsNest DirectorWorks program in Minneapolis, MN.

As an actor, Ashley has worked with multiple theaters including Uprising Theatre Company, Hero Now Theater, Mission Theater Company, Six Elements Theater, as well as the ICC Theatre department. In 2019, Ashley was invited to take part in the first ever National Winter Actors Retreat through the HBMG Foundation. Ashley was also featured in the feature film No Blood of Mine as well as multiple short films in Minnesota. She is drawn to collaborative projects that create safe spaces for people to play and take risks and bring big ideas to the table.

Elf auditions are scheduled for July 9, 10 and 16 at ICC’s William Inge Theatre. Those interested in all roles: principals, minor roles and chorus should register in advance. Roles are available for 6 years old and up. Call backs will be Thursday July 18. Please visit www.neewollah.com to sign up for auditions.

Neewollah week kicks off with performances of Elf October 18-20, 2024.