TCR Playbills A Christmas Story, The Musical Playbill | Page 18

Ben Joens (Randy Parker) This is
Ben’s second TCR performance
– with the first being The Wizard
of Oz. He has performed for the
Cedar Rapids Follies, Starlighters
Theatre, the opera Carmen, and
is part of Franklin’s Jazz Band
and Show Choir. He attends both
Franklin Middle School &
Kennedy High School. Besides
acting, Ben loves to play soccer,
tennis, percussion, and piano.
He hopes everyone gets what
they want for Christmas.

Zach Kelchen (Ensemble) Zach
is incredibly excited to be a part
of the show and enjoys working
with his fellow cast members.
He’s perfomed in shows up at
UNI during his undergraduate
“career” there, but this is his first
TCR show. On his off-time, he
loves to read and write (because
of course he does). Thanks
a-plenty to his mother, his
brother, his family, and friends
(and cue the music, Maestro, this
guy’s takin’ too long!).

Kaylie Kelchen (Ensemble)
Kaylie Dee Kelchen is a 4th
grade student at Washington
Elementary in Mt. Vernon.
Currently, she is involved in her
fourth main stage production
and her second at TCR having
shared the stage with her dad in
her first ever performance in The
Wizard of Oz. Kaylie spends
her time reading, practicing with
her violin, and playing softball,
golf, and every other sport there
is. Kaylie is thrilled to be back on
the stage and anxiously awaits
Christmas and the golf cart she
somehow believes she should
receive. ;)

Ben Lafayette (Santa/
Ensemble) This is Ben’s fourth
mainstage production at TCR.
Previous productions include
Sammy in The Wedding Singer,
Judas in Jesus Christ Superstar
and one of the Three Little Pigs in
Shrek. He has also recently been
seen as Albert in Giving Tree
Theater’s The Boys Next Door.
In addition he has written two
shows for the Underground New
Play Festival. His new play, The
Last Rodeo, will be performed at
the Festival in January 2016. He
would like to thank Meg for her
neverending love and support.
“Happy 10 years, babe!”