​​Laurisa LeSure (Jesus) is an artist and educator in South Bend. She feels “blessed beyond measure” to tell this story with Art 4. Laurisa guest directed Little Shop of Horrors this past October. She was also in the virtual musical Ragtime in 2021, and Showtunes Sunday.  She has performed on stage in August Wilson’s Gem of the Ocean and Joe Turner’s Come and Gone; Hair, the world premiere of Lot’s Wife, Rent, and Grand Concourse. She has also directed several plays including The Fantasticks, Topdog/Underdog, The Nativity Tales, By the Way, Meet Vera Stark, and James and the Giant Peach. She has worked with Chicago Shakespeare Theatre and The Secret Theatre in NYC. She has also worked with several schools in this community--IUSB, Notre Dame, and Clay High--directing plays and teaching theatre in an ongoing mission to give the stage to youths of all ages. “Thank you to My family, who lifts me up and inspires me constantly, to SBJA for making me memorize all those bible verses, and to my Heavenly Father, for allowing me to make Art 4 such a time as this!

Zach Wilkeson (Judas) is very excited to be making his Art 4 debut in this wonderfully unique production of Godspell. Some of his other theatre credits include Sonny Malone in Xanadu (SBCT), Jack in Into The Woods (ECT), and Lumiere in Beauty and The Beast (UYT). When not on stage you can find him playing with his beautiful dog Carter, or lifting weights in the gym. He would like to thank his directors, crew, and cast members for making this the most enjoyable experience possible. He hopes you can engage with us and have a good time!

Lila Beard - she/they (Ensemble) is extremely excited to be performing with Art 4 for the first time. They are currently a freshman at IU South Bend studying theater. You may have seen them in previous performances such as the Chaperone in The Drowsy Chaperone (Summerfly), Sue in Carrie the Musical, or Bobbi in Aristophanes: The Birds (Clay High School). They’d like to thank everyone who was a part of this show for making it such a wonderful experience as well as their family for always being such a great support with everything they do.

Laurel Blankenship (Ensemble) is thrilled to be back on stage with Art 4! Previous Art 4 credits include Mark’s Mom and others in RENT, Bird Girl/Dance Captain in Seussical, and Joan in the regional premiere of Fun Home. Other credits: Shylock in Something Rotten! Mrs. Wormwood/Dance Captain in Matilda (SBCT), Lucy in Avenue Q, and Fiona in Shrek the Musical (YPTC). Laurel was a Hoosier Star 2022 adult finalist. They would like to thank Mark and Aaron for the family they’ve built, and the cast and crew of Godspell for all their hard work. This performance is dedicated to Laurel’s mother, Susan, her most beautiful guardian angel.

Myah Englebrecht (Ensemble) is super happy to kick off her first show of the year with Art 4! You may have seen her last in Art 4's production of The Last Five Years. Some of her past credits include Gwendolyn in The Odd Couple and Pearl in SpongeBob the Musical (Premier Arts). Godspell wasn't a show she was super familiar with in the beginning, but the more she learned about it the more she grew to love it! The feeling of love and community the show brings is unmatched. The entire cast has been a wonder to work with and the production team has cultivated a truly spectacular show! Myah would to thank her family and friends for their unwavering support and the entire cast and crew of Godspell for the loving community they have created!

Danielle Haley (Ensemble) Born with the heart of an artist, Danielle began her creative endeavors as a young child. She performed in the Firefly Festival for three years, in roles as Sophie the Hooverville bum in Annie, Marty in Grease, and Golde in Fiddler on the Roof. She received her B.A. in Music from Saint Mary’s College. Danielle is elated to return to Art 4 after her performances in RENT and Little Shop of Horrors (Voice of Audrey II). She is thankful for her children, Jacob William, Cecilia Rose, and Genevieve Colette, who are blooms of creativity themselves, and for her husband Kevin, best weirdo and biggest fan. She is thankful to Mark and Aaron for this company of earnest artists, giving opportunities and building community they wouldn’t find anywhere else.

Cristian Marquez (Ensemble) is very excited to finally be returning to the Art 4 stage! You may have seen him previously in Art 4’s productions of Seussical (Horton The Elephant) and Next To Normal (Dr. Madden). Other credits include Billy Cane (Brightstar at ECT), Piragua Guy (In The Heights at SBCT), and Patrick Star (SpongeBob at PA). Cristian also choreographed Lucky Stiff (ECT) and co-choreographed Carrie the Musical (Clay HS). He would like to thank his family, his insanely talented fellow cast mates, his wonderful directors, designers, the incredible band, volunteers, and everyone who is involved in making the magic happen. He hopes you engage with us and enjoy the show!

Michelle Miller - she/her (Ensemble) is ecstatic to be returning to Art 4 for their production of Godspell! A graduate of Bethel University with a degree in Vocal Performance, Michelle spends her weekdays as a Branch Operations Manager with First State Bank. You may have seen her in previous shows with Art 4 as Cathy in The Last Five Years, Audrey in Little Shop of Horrors, Percy Talbot in The Spitfire Grill, or Maureen Johnson in RENT. She has also recently played The Minstrel (Something Rotten) and Petra (A Little Night Music), both with South Bend Civic Theatre. Other favorite roles include Sarah Stone (No Way to Treat a Lady), Pickles (The Great American Trailer Park Musical), and Kate Keller (The Miracle Worker) with various local theatres. Michelle is so incredibly grateful for all of the opportunities Art 4 provides to local artists and would like to thank Mark and Aaron for their continued support and friendship.

Julia Nurenberg (Ensemble) is excited to be a part of this Godspell family! Julia has been in many different productions. Some of her favorites include Frozen (Anna) at South Bend Civic Theatre, West Side Story (Anybodys) at Morris Performing Arts Center, and Carousel (Louise u/s, ensemble) at Round Barn Theatre. She has also directed and choreographed Beauty and the Beast at her school, and assistant directed The Lion King and Lord of the Flies at South Bend Civic Theater. Julia is in her final year of high school and is working every day to enhance her art. She just wants to thank everyone for their support!

Clare Ramel - she/her (Ensemble) is excited to be making her South Bend theatre debut in Godspell with Art 4. Clare has done numerous musicals in the Fort Wayne area, with favorite roles being Paulette in Legally Blonde, Columbia in The Rocky Horror Show, Maureen in RENT, and Regina in Rock of Ages. Her position at the Community Foundation of St. Joseph County is what brought her to South Bend. Clare is a graduate of the University of Saint Francis. She’d like to thank Mark and Aaron for giving her this opportunity to get more involved in the South Bend Arts Community with this incredible group of artists.

Aaron Smith (Ensemble) is a Theatre Major with a Minor in Communication at Indiana University of South Bend! You may have recently seen Aaron in Anything Goes, My Fair Lady, Evil Dead The Musical, The Ugly Duckling, Amahl and the Night Visitors, Xanadu The Musical, Rocky Horror Picture Show, Lucky Stiff, and The Full Monty, just to name a few. This will be Aaron’s first time doing a show for Art 4 and they are thrilled to be apart of this cast! Aaron will be graduating this spring and looks forward to giving their undivided attention their acting craft.

Austin Washington (Ensemble) is thrilled to return to the Art 4 stage. You may have previously seen him in Little Shop of Horrors (Seymour) with Art 4. Other credits include George in The Drowsy Chaperone and Chip in The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee. Austin would like to thank his directors and crew for creating a great show. He would also like to thank his fellow cast members for making this an amazing process.