Company Members
Courtney "Coco" Groves has been performing for as long as she can remember. In 2013 Coco graduated with a BFA in Musical Theatre From the Univeristy of Wisconsin- Stevens Point and immediately moved back to Minneapolis to pursue her career in the arts. She has been seen in many shows around the Twin Cities and is currently touring around the United States with Letters From Home as part of "America's Bombshell Duo". Some of Courtney's favorite theatrical, commercial, and film credits include: Audrey in Little Shop of Horrors, Christine in Phantom, Pixie in the film Sad Clown, Rose in the TV show Savage Sentinels, and you may even have seen her as a Christmas elf in a Grandmas cookies commercial or hanging out with Bro-Bot in one of Sonobi's online ads. She is beyond excited to be starting this journey with so many amazing people and can't wait to see what adventures come her way.
*Photograph by Adam Zuehlke
Courtney "coco" Groves
Dorian Brooke
Dorian Brooke, born and raised in Minneapolis, has been involved with the Performing Arts since the age of 3. By the age of 10, Dorian was involved with a variety of theatres throughout Minneapolis, including the Children’s Theatre Company and Stages Theatre Company. In addition, she pursued her passions through dance. Dorian has had the privilege to study with many well-known dancers, such as Travis Wall and Sonya Tayeh from So You Think You Can Dance. In both 2008 and 2010, she received the 1st Overall Champion award at the Showbiz National Championships for her tap solos. In May of 2015, Dorian graduated from the University of Mississippi (Ole Miss). There, she received a BFA in both Musical Theatre and Acting. Since then, she has made a career performing, teaching dance and choreographing throughout the Twin Cities.
*Photograph by Adam Zuehlke
Holli Richgels
Holli Richgels has been preforming professionally since graduating from Minnesota State University- Moorhead with a Musical Theatre degree in 2012. Holli is a very versatile actress and has had the chance to be a part of many different productions. Some of her favorites include: Kathy Selden in Singin' in the Rain, Sarah Brown in Guys and Dolls, Maria in The Sound of Music, Columbia in The Rocky Horror Picture Show, and Lulu in Cabaret. Holli is blessed that she has been able to share her talent in many different ways around the Twin Cities, whether it is singing with an acappella group at the Minnesota Renaissance Festival or teaching kids and staff members to dance at the elementary school she works at. She is so excited to be dancing with these extremely talented ladies and gent!
*Photograph by Adam Zuehlke
Kelly Nelson
Kelly Nelson was classically trained in theatre arts and dance performance from Minnesota State University of Moorhead. Kelly has been lucky to have worked with numerous companies around the Twin Cities in the last several years. Companies include: the Guthrie, Theatre Coup d'Etat, Artistry, Fox in a Box Productions, Candid theatre, Black Market Theatre, as well as many others. Through this community she has been honored to find her passion in her ensemble based movement as well as dance. She has been privileged to have worked with Ivey award winning shows such as Hamlet (2013) and Equus (2016).
*Photograph by Adam Zuehlke
Lars Nisswandt
Lars is an actor, dancer, and aerialist from the Twin Cities. He trained as a performer at Circus Juventas for several years specializing in duo aerial acts before rejoining the theatre scene. He has had the pleasure of working with companies such as Artistry, Candid Theatre, Chaska Valley Theatre, National Theatre for Children as well as training with Company XIV, Duo Transcend, Angelo Iodice, and Rachel Walker. Most recently he has had the pleasure of working with well known choreographers like Michael Gruber, Joe Chvala, Austin McCormick as well many others. As an aerialist he performs as the Awesome Lars Man.
*Photograph by Adam Zuehlke
Lily Lancaster
Lily Lancaster is so excited to be a part of this new, dynamic adventure with these wonderful people. She is a recent transfer to the Twin Cities from Lawrence, Kansas where she graduated The University of Kansas with a Theatre Major and a Dance minor in 2016. Lily had the privilege to study in the Fall 2014 inaugural Musical Theatre class at the Eugene O’Neill Theatre Center in Waterford, CT which boasts Alumni such as John Krasinski, Josh Radnor, Jennifer Garner and many more. Favorite theatre credits include Beth in Little Women, Grandma Tzeitel in Fiddler on the Roof, Hot Box Girl in Guys and Dolls and Maggie in Flora, the Red Menace.​
*Photograph by Adam Zuehlke
Sommer Walters
Sommer Walters is a local performer from Minneapolis, MN. She graduated with a B.A in dance performance; minor in cultural studies from the UMN: Twin Cities. Recent theater credits include ensemble in Lyric Arts' production of Nice Work, if you can get it (2016), Simone the Nun in Apostasia's world premier of Black Death: the musical (2016), and Mersister/dance captain in CVFT's production of The Little Mermaid (2017). In her spare time Sommer trains in kickboxing and loves to read.
*Photograph by Adam Zuehlke
Afton Benson (Manager)
Afton has her M.S. in Organizational Behavior and Business Management and has over 10 years of management experience. Her passion lies in helping individuals and nonprofits succeed in what they are passionate about and to redefine “on” into “let’s find the solution to make these passions work!” Currently, Afton serves as the Treasurer of the International Jugglers Association and works frequently with: Curiosita: A Collective, WLDRNSS//Jon Ferguson, and with local performing artist Benjamin Domask.
*Photograph by Ryan Haro*
