Nancy Carlin (Mother/Miss Shields) is pleased to return to San Jose Rep for the revival of A Christmas Story. Previous Rep roles include Ima Perry in The Immigrant and Gertrude/Elfride in Hannah and Martin. Ms. Carlin is an associate artist of the California Shakespeare Theater and a former company member of the American Conservatory Theater. She has also performed with the Berkeley Repertory Theatre, Oregon Shakespeare Festival, Shakespeare Santa Cruz, Marin Theatre Company, Aurora Theatre Company, SF Playhouse, TheatreWorks and The Jewish Theatre San Francisco, where she will appear in The Sisters Rosensweig in January. A director as well, Ms. Carlin is the co-author of Max Understood, a new musical developed at the Eugene O’Neill Center’s National Music Theater Conference and produced this fall in the New York Musical Theatre Festival. She holds a B.A. in comparative literature from Brown University and an M.F.A. in acting from A.C.T.

Emilio Fuentes (Randy Parker) is delighted to make his theatrical debut with San Jose Rep. He has previously performed in small plays in venues including church, school and local community centers. A gifted comedian, Emilio has the ability to make his audiences laugh, laugh and laugh again! He spends his free time drawing, playing guitar and building anything and everything with LEGOs®. Emilio wishes to thank his mother for her support and
for always being there for him.

Dan Hiatt (Adult Ralph) has appeared at the Rep in This Wonderful Life, The Triumph of Love, A Christmas Story, The Immigrant, Enchanted April, Hannah and Martin, Noises Off, A Flea in Her Ear, Cyrano, Sylvia and Mirandolina. Other credits include Happy End, Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead, Othello and The Matchmaker at American Conservatory Theater; Joe Turner’s Come and Gone, Dinner with Friends and Menocchio at Berkeley Repertory Theatre; Nicholas Nickleby, Arms and the Man and Uncle Vanya at California Shakespeare Theater; Twentieth Century at TheatreWorks; and The Real Thing at Marin Theatre Company. Regional theatre credits include performances at Seattle Repertory Theatre, Arizona Theatre Company, The Huntington Theatre Company, Pasadena Playhouse, Ford’s Theatre, Studio Arena Theatre and the Idaho Shakespeare Festival.

Leah Kolchinksy (Esther Jane Alberry) makes her San Jose Rep debut in this production, but has gained a lot of theatre experience in her 12 years. She has performed in Ragtime (Little Girl) and Will Rogers Follies (Mary Rogers) with South Bay Musical Theatre (formerly Saratoga Drama Group), and in San Jose Stage Company’s The Pillowman, Leah played three roles (The Little Jesus, The Mute Girl and Writer’s Brother’s Dead Body). Other shows include The Elves and the Shoemaker with Northbrook Children’s Theater; Silly Little Mouse, Musicians of Bremen, and People and Thieves of Kardamon with Lollipop Children’s Theatrical Studio; and appearances with Children’s Musical Theater San Jose. Leah has also appeared in several independent films and commercials.

Garrett Meyer (Ralphie Parker) is thrilled to make his professional acting debut with San Jose Rep. He has appeared in 10 shows with Children’s Musical Theater San Jose, most recently in the role of Greylag in Honk! Memorable roles include Linus in You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown; George “The Bill” in Schoolhouse Rock Live!; and Nicely-Nicely Johnson, where he “rocked the boat” in Guys and Dolls at Castillero School of Performing Arts. Garrett will make his directorial debut with How to Succeed in High School Without Really Trying and was recently honored with the Academic Expedition Award in acting. He thanks Michelle Markwart Deveaux and Sharol Felch for honing his acting chops, and his supportive family for taking him to his many rehearsals.

Max Mifsud (Scut Farkas) just turned 13 years old and is an honor student in the 7th grade at Saint Frances Cabrini School. He is excited to debut with San Jose Rep in A Christmas Story. In addition to his love of theater, Max enjoys playing football, basketball and swimming. His free time is spent drawing, reading, hanging out with friends and playing outside. Max has been in 11 other shows, including Honk! (Drake), The Wizard of Oz (The Wizard/Professor Marvel), and Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat (Potiphar) at Children’s Musical Theater San Jose. He hopes to continue performing and wants to become more involved in the acting world.

Ali Molaei (Schwartz) is thrilled to be making his San
Jose Rep debut! Most recently, he performed in Young People Theater Company’s production of Alice in Wonderland as the White Rabbit. A Christmas Story marks Ali’s 25th acting experience and the honor of performing with San Jose Rep. He dedicates his performance to his family and to Carole, Amy and Martha.

Elara Rivers (Helen Weathers) marks her professional acting debut with San Jose Rep in A Christmas Story! She has appeared in the Winter Holiday Show productions at the First Unitarian Church of San Jose in roles as varied as the Shamus Candle, a bear and the older brother. She is a sixth grader at a local two-way immersion elementary school where she studies in both English and Spanish, and enjoys acting, riding her bike, creating arts and crafts, and swimming. Elara wants to thank her friends, family and the Rep for supporting her and allowing her to share her love of acting with you today! P.S. She would love to do it again!

Nicolas Sancen (Flick) is 12 years old and in the 7th
grade at St. Leo the Great School. He is thrilled to be in his first show with San Jose Rep. Most recently he played the role of Young Tommy in Tommy for City Lights Theater Company of San Jose, and Beaky in Children’s Musical Theater San Jose’s production of Honk! Other favorite roles have been in Tabard Theatre’s Hot and Cole, and Chip in Beauty and the Beast for both South Bay Musical Theater and CMTSJ. When not on stage, he enjoys singing, tap dancing, playing basketball and spending time with friends. Nicolas hopes someday to be in a Broadway Show!

Howard Swain (The Old Man) returns to San Jose Rep where he performed in Around the World in 80 Days, Sideman, A Flea in Her Ear and the Matchmaker. Regional credits include work Off-Broadway; the National Tours of Picasso at the Lapin Agile and Love, Janis; and performances with the Oregon Shakespeare Festival. In the Bay Area, he has worked at the American Conservatory Theatre, Berkeley Rep, San Jose Stage Company, Marin Theatre Company, Magic Theatre, Word for Word, TheatreWorks, Aurora Theatre, SF Playhouse, Center Rep, California Shakespeare Theater and Santa Cruz Shakespeare. He is the recipient of five BATTC and five Dramalogue Awards. Television and film credits include Nash Bridges, Midnight Caller, Bed of Lies, Cherry 2000, Miracle Mile, Just one Night, Teknolust and Night of the Scarecrow.