the musical

“Just Beginning” is the story of female willpower and resilience. Inspired by historical events, Just Beginning begins in Paris 1719, when French women were unjustly imprisoned and exiled to the New World. Their stories come to life on stage in this gritty, relevant re-telling of real women.

An Indianapolis native who grew up competing in ballet, tap, jazz, hip hop, contemporary , musical theater, modern, and pointe. She’s studied under the instruction of Linda Rees, Sarah Burney and various choreographers as seen on TV. Meghan loves teaching all styles of dance but has a passion for contemporary, jazz and musical theater. She loves to experiment with a juxtaposition of music and movement. She adores the Fosse style, and it inspires her in all genres of dance. Meghan is the director of Strive Dance Company and we are honored to have her original choreography in our show.

Rachel Shelby is an Indianapolis based aerialist and coach. Rachel has performed professionally in Indiana and Georgia for events like UFC/NFC fights, the Atlanta Arts Festival, Indy Girl Pride, Cirque After Dark, and various corporate gatherings. She also taught aerial on Fox’s Labor of Love TV show and recently performed aerial in Beef and Boards stage production of Beauty and the Beast. Outside of dancing in the air and teaching, Rachel co-owns a business with her husband Nick with whom she shares a 3 month old son, Elliott.

Nick received his MFA in Directing from The University of Memphis, and most recently taught theatre and directed plays at Franklin College. Select directing credits include Dead Man’s Cell Phone by Sarah Ruhl; Metamorphosis by Mary Zimmerman; Anon(ymous) by Naomi Iizuka; and The Hamlet Project, an adaption of Hamlet co-written with his wife Dr. Susan Crisafulli. In addition to theatre, Nick’s creative pursuits include playing mandolin with The Happy Enchiladas- an Americana roots cover band, and he has recently picked up the banjo.

Paully Crumpacker (electrician, lights/sound/projections designer and operator) is an up and coming designer based in Indianapolis, Indiana. Previous design credits include: ICONIQ with Dance Relevations at the Phoenix, The Lion in Winter with Southbank Theatre, Rollercoaster at Constellation Stage and Screen, The Wizard of Oz and Cinderella with Ohio Youth Ensemble Stage.

Marc Etbinger, known as French Marc, a reminiscence from being part of the Angel Burlesque troup. Self proclaimed wine snob, Jack-of-all-trades, making stagecraft solution somewhere between McGuyver and Dr Bunsen Honeydew. “And yes I am French, I do not shave my armpits love to cook.”

Rin Ulick is currently going into her senior year at Purdue Fort Wayne as a Theatre Major with a concentration in Costume Design and Technology. Rin has been seen both on stage and behind the scenes at PFW, most recently playing Caliban in The Tempest and running costumes for Hot n’ Cole: a Cole Porter Celebration. Not only active in school, Rin also has worked on costumes for Phantom of the Opera and Legally Blonde at Indiana Musical Theatre Foundation. Planning to graduate in the spring of 2025, Rin plans on becoming a professional costume designer one gig at a time!

Singer, composer, and music director Dr. Laura Krell was born in Kansas City, MO, and began performing at a young age. Some of her favorite roles include the Queen of the Night from Mozart’s Die Zauberflöte, Laurie from Oklahoma, and Miss Scarlet in Clue: The Musical. Krell has served as music director for several local churches and theaters, composing for orchestra, choral, and theater programs. Currently, Laura teaches music at St.Susanna school, and serves as the artistic director of the new Stage Door Theater in Irvington.

JOI BLALOCK studied Acting at Purdue University where she earned a Bachelor of Liberal Arts. Some of her favorite roles were, a Vocalist in SONGS FOR A NEW WORLD, Shayna (Dynamite) in HAIRSPRAY, Acid Queen in THE WHO’S TOMMY, Gymnasia in FORUM, an Ensemble member in LA CASA AZUL, Levora in DISASTER THE MUSICAL, Chiffon in LITTLE SHOP, and Cleopatra in SHAKESPEARE SUPERSTAR. She would like to thank Dr. Laura Krell for the opportunity to portray Marguerite Pancatalin and the White Sun Chief in this amazing new show. Looking forward to bringing this untold history to life! Enjoy!

Caleigh "Cag" Loveless is a recent graduate of Purdue Fort Wayne with a B.A. in Theatre. Along with theatre, they are an avid writer, and have one published poem and other plays and poems hoping to be published in the near future. At PFW, Cag has been seen onstage as Peppermint Patty in The World According to Snoopy, Smee in Peter and the Starcatcher, Josephine Strong in Urinetown, Antonio in The Tempest, ensemble in The Laramie Project, and featured soloist in Sondheim on Sondheim. Last summer, they worked with the Nettle Creek Players, playing Liddy Allen in Whodunit: The Musical and Woman 1 in Comedy Extravaganza. Cag plans to go back to school in the next couple years to get their MFA in playwriting.

Jennifer Richins is a Hoosier native with a passion for performing. When she isn't singing, she teaches piano to kids, promotes literacy for children, and likes to utilize her psychology degree to be a listening ear for her friends. Her husband and five kids are supportive of all her creative endeavors. You may even see her kids in the show! We are grateful to Jennifer’s beautiful voice, her dedication, and her work as a seamstress on the w

Ryley is so excited to be a part of a brand new, original musical! She was just recently Jacques in As You Like It with NCAC, in the ensemble

for The Bodyguard at Footlite, Tick Tick Boom with Carmel Community Players, and was Lady Capulet in Romeo and Juliet with Garfield Shakespeare Company. Special thanks to her family and friends for their endless support and love! Enjoy “Just Beginning”!

Shaylyn Krell is a 16 year old, going to Franklin Central high school. She’s in show choir and enjoys doing theater. This is her first big time musical. In the past she’s been in The Kissing Fence and Anne. She’s is so excited to be in this new production and hopes to continue working with these people. She also enjoys doing Dungeon and Dragons at a club at school. After high school she hopes to become a travel nurse, also wishes to continue with musical theatre in the future.

Romain is a lifelong performer who integrates his love for strategy, analysis, and continuous self-improvement into his creative pursuits. In grade school, Romain gained experience in pantomime and poetry as a junior thespian. At the University of Florida, while earning his engineering degree, Romain danced hip-hop with the renowned Apocalypse Dance Troupe. Now as a full-time engineer, Romain writes and performs songs on-stage and online with the purpose of building people up. Follow him on Instagram and Facebook: @thenameromain. Listen to and enjoy his latest music project, Alter Egos EP, on all streaming platforms!

Snaufer joins us from Fort Wayne, Indiana, and is a recent graduate of Purdue University Fort Wayne with a BA in Theatre. There he played many roles with some of his favorites being Stephano in The Tempest; Hot Blades Harry in Urinetown; The Fire Captain in The Bald Soprano; Black Stache in Peter and the Starcatcher; and Charlie Brown in Snoopy! While offstage, Snaufer also worked in the shops studying costume, scenic, and lighting as well. To apply his college education, he worked at his alma mater where he ran his high school’s theatre department where he has recently directed and designed The Addams Family and The Little Mermaid. After this show, Snaufer hopes to continue his career in Florida where he hopes to become a resident actor for a theater company or employed with a cruise line.

JB is grateful to be sharing the stage with this extremely talented cast and crew for this world premier production of Just Beginning: The Musical. JB is active with several theatre companies across central Indiana and serves as one of the producers for Bard Fest, Indy’s only Shakespeare festival. A few of his favorite character roles the past several years include Gomez in Carmel Apprentice Theatre’s production of The Addam’s Family Musical; El Gallo in Carmel Community Players’ production of The Fantasticks; Lt. Kendrick in Booth Tarkington Civic’s production of A Few Good Men; and Stanley in Carmel Community Players’ production of A Streetcar Named Desire. JB would like to thank everyone who has contributed their time to this production and his family and friends for their tremendous support and encouragement. Enjoy the show!

Brent Williamson is an actor, director, and writer who lives just down the street in Irvington with his wife and two kids. Past favorite roles include John Worthing in The Importance of Being Earnest and Benedick in Much Ado About Nothing. He is also the author of the award-winning YA dystopian fantasy series The Chronicles of Gwendolyn Gray.

Nate is a recent graduate of Franklin College’s Theatre program and so excited to participate in his first professional post college musical. Thanks to the cast and crew for this wonderful first step/opportunity into professional theatre.

Jordan McQuiston is very excited to be in this show and to see it come to fruition. His favorite past roles include Uncle Fester in The Addams Family musical, Ralph in First Featherton…, and Huron and Chepart in a musical called Just Beginning that you’ve probably never heard of. His favorite line in this show is “8”. (Just kidding. It’s “Say anything more and I’ll have your tongue cut out.” Much cooler.)

Special thanks to greg potter for supplying antiques in our show!