* Current CCT Showcase Company ^ Alumni CCT Showcase Company
Aaliyah Krummel (SCAR) is 12 years old and thrilled to have gotten to play the role of Scar in this first production of hers with CCT. She has attended acting classes in Los Angeles and really loves the performing arts. She also loves basketball, volleyball, singing, acting, skateboarding, and surfing. You can also find her reading and spending time with her family in her spare time. She hopes to continue doing CCT shows in the future. Enjoy the show!
Adele Smorzewski (MEERKAT MOVER) is 7 years old and a 1st grader in Carlsbad. This is her first performance with Carlsbad Community Theatre and she is very excited to dance and sing amongst so much talent. She thanks Austin, Olivia and Kaylen for their time and guidance throughout this production and is already looking forward to being a part of many more plays. Adele is also a big fan of dogs and knows about many breeds. She enjoys art and has special skills in painting and drawing. When Adele is not playing with her dog or creating art, she loves spending time with her family and friends.
Alayna Darwin (MEERKAT MOVER) *is new to the stage, in fact this is her FIRST production ever. She has always had a love for musicals growing up and realized it was a passion of hers when she saw Carlsbad Community Theatre’s production of Beauty and the Beast. Since then, she has not missed seeing a CCT show and loves to brag that her list includes Addams Family, Peter Pan Jr., Mary Poppins, and Thoroughly Modern Millie. She is also wrapping up and loving her first year as a Showcase Company member. Alayna has loved every step of this journey and cannot wait to see how far she can go.
Bailey Straka (PRIDE ROCK ENSEMBLE) is an 8 year old 3rd grader at Palmquist Elementary School. This is Bailey’s second production with Carlsbad Community Theatre, having been in Peter Pan Jr. last spring. She is so excited to be a part of Pride Rock Ensemble and to learn new dances from the amazing choreographer, Kaylen Lash! Bailey enjoys art, reading, writing stories and playing with her French Bulldog named Pam. She thanks the Lion King Jr. creative team for this opportunity and her entire family, especially the Lash family, for their support. Bailey looks forward to many more plays in the future.
Bellina Tricarico (LIONESS/ HYENA) * lives in Carlsbad and attends 4th grade at a local Montessori charter school. Her enthusiasm for musical theatre continues to grow as she celebrates her 3rd production with CCT, having previously been in Alice in Wonderland Jr. as a Flower and Royal Cardsman, and in Peter Pan Jr. as a Brave Girl. She is also a member of CCT’s Showcase Company and loves dancing, singing, camping, fashion, traveling and writing. Her debut on live TV was as a yoga model. She’s a lead in the children’s choir at her church and has performed on stage in many pageants, school shows, camps, etc.
Ben Koesling (PRIDE ROCK ENSEMBLE) * is very excited to join the cast of Lion King Jr. He enjoys singing and and has found the challenge of a live show thrilling. He also performed in Mary Poppins, Beauty and the Beast, Elf Jr., Alice in Wonderland, Fiddler on the Roof and Music Man with CCT. In addition to acting and singing, Ben spends his time studying war history and playing Dungeons and Dragons. He is also an identical twin! He thanks his parents and two brothers for their support of his love of theatre. He would like to thank Austin, Olivia, and Kaylen for this wonderful opportunity!
Benson McEvoy (GRASSLANDS ENSEMBLE/ HYENA) is excited to be a part of the Lion King Jr. cast! He is a 6th grader at Valley Middle School, where he enjoys being in Showstoppers Show Choir and advanced classes. He always enjoys his CCT time with Nathan and the production team. Last spring, he was Tootles in Peter Pan Jr. When he has free time, Benson enjoys hanging out with his friends, reading, or exploring with his 3 siblings and the family Golden Retriever, Mango. Benson enjoys singing songs by ABBA, his Gloria Estefan choir set, or The Greatest Showman, and watching movies like The Sound of Music, Avengers, or Jurassic Park. Enjoy the show!
