SOMEBODY TO LOVE

FOO FOO FESTIVAL - IMMERSIVE SHAKESPEARE

Directed by Ashley Simmons and Nathan Simmons, Music Directed by Destiny Howard, Choreographed by Kayla May // October 30 - November 9, 2025

Somebody to Love is a psychedelic, immersive reimagining of A Midsummer Night's Dream, adapted and arranged by Ashley Simmons, the creative force behind Pensacola Little Theatre's 2022 Foo Foo Fest experience, Unrequited. Set to the electrifying sounds of 1960s rock, this production blends Shakespeare's whimsical romance with the music of Jefferson Airplane, The Zombies, The Kinks, and more. Audiences will be swept into a world of fairy mischief, star-crossed lovers, and groovy rebellion as they wander through the Clark Family Cultural Center, where reality and enchantment blur in a haze of love, laughter, and rock 'n' roll.

Your tickets include entry to the event and complimentary sips throughout the performance, and a brief cocktail party on our new rooftop venue after the performance. Must be 21 to enter.

NO VIDEO OR PHOTOGRAPHY ALLOWED DURING THE PERFORMANCE.

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DIRECTORS - ASHLEY SIMMONS AND NATHAN SIMMONS
MUSIC DIRECTOR - DESTINY HOWARD
CHOREOGRAPHER - KAYLA MAY
STAGE MANAGERS - AJ JOHNSON AND KG USALN
LIGHTING DESIGN - CHOH MAN TENG
SET DESIGN - ASHLEY SIMMONS
COSTUMER - GAVIN PARMLEY
COSTUME CREW - JEANNETTE GIBSON AND TIFFANY NICHOLS
SOUND DESIGN - NATHAN SIMMONS
SOUND ENGINEERS - MARK DUGGAR AND CHUCK KIMBALL
BACKSTAGE CREW - ALYSSA ALLEN AND REN COLBERT
SET CONSTRUCTION AND DECORATION - BARRY BOYD, CAST & CREW, PLT STAFF
PLT MARKETING DIRECTOR - ASHLEY SIMMONS
SHOP SUPERVISOR - BRYAN CHAPMAN
PLT TECHNICAL DIRECTOR - KAYLA STEPHENSON
PLT ARTISTIC DIRECTOR - KATHY HOLSWORTH

ASHLEY SIMMONS - CREATOR/DIRECTOR
Ashley is an award-winning actor and director who has been active in the Pensacola arts community since 2008. A native of the Florida Panhandle, Ashley received her BA in Theatre from UWF in 2010. She serves on the PLT Artistic Committee and has been seen on our stage as well as in the Director’s chair. Noteworthy theatrical accomplishments include directing Macbeth: Sands of Fate for UWF in 2024 and creating and directing Unrequited, an immersive version of Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet, for Pensacola Little Theatre’s participation in Foo Foo Fest 2022. Some of her favorite stage roles include Blanche (A Streetcar Named Desire), Lady Macbeth (Macbeth), Beatrice (Much Ado About Nothing), and Kat (Taking Stock). Ashley is the Marketing Director at PLT and a self-taught graphic designer with over 10 years of professional design and marketing experience. She is a two-time American Advertising Award winner for photography and art direction. Beyond her professional pursuits, Ashley is a devoted mother and wife. She has loved directing Somebody to Love alongside her husband.

NATHAN SIMMONS - DIRECTOR/NICK BOTTOM
Nathan is proud and beyond thrilled to be making his PLT directorial debut alongside his wife, telling one of their all-time favorite stories! Nathan has been performing on stage for the past 20 years and received his BA in theatre from UWF. When not on stage, Nathan co-hosts The Silver Linings Playlist podcast and writes music with his band, The Fever // The Rage. Previous roles include Lancelot (Camelot), Roger (Rent), and Mercutio (Unrequited). (And he can play Thisbe, too!)

DESTINY HOWARD - MUSIC DIRECTOR
Destiny is a Pensacola-born professional musician. She has been teaching private voice lessons for eleven years and directing middle school musicals for the past four years. Her passion is singing jazz and theatre music, and she loves to help others transform their sound into something healthy and strong. She was last seen on stage as Lucy Harris in Jekyll and Hyde at PLT and Alice Russell in Lizzie at PenArts. When not rehearsing, she likes to play gigs around town with her acoustic duo.

KAYLA MAY - CHOREOGRAPHER
Kayla is an actor, educator, Director, and now a choreographer! Though she's often creating choreography for her students, this marks her first official dance gig, and she couldn't be happier to join this incredible creative team of both old and new friends. Kayla was last seen on the PLT stage as Connie Miller in The 1940s Radio Hour, for which she earned a Crystal Award. Other local acting credits include The Play That Goes Wrong, Steel Magnolias (Emerald Coast Theatre Company), The Hello Girls (PenArts), and numerous productions as a student at UWF, where she had the privilege of returning as a guest director for Our Town (2023) and Blithe Spirit (2022). For six summers, Kayla served as Camp Director at the New London Barn Playhouse in New London, NH, an experience that deepened her passion and sharpened her skills as a theatre educator. Here in Pensacola, she is now the Executive Director of Neighborhood Children's Theatre, voted Inweekly's 2025 Best Summer Camp. Kayla is a proud member of the Florida Association of Theatre Educators (FATE) and the Educational Theatre Association (EdTA). neighborhoodchildrenstheatre.com

Cast

Kismet Dunkerley as Helena

After playing St Jimmy in American Idiot at PSC and Father in Trail to Oregon at PLT, Kismet decided it was time to play a woman again, as men were begging her to stop stealing their roles.

Marin Nagy as Hermia

Marin is a Sophomore in the BFA Musical Theatre program at the University of West Florida. Some Shakespeare credits include Macbeth (First Murderer), Henry IV Part 1 (Lady Percy), and Hamlet (Lucianus). Musical credits include Fiddler on the Roof (Chava) and Into the Woods (Baker's Wife). She is so excited to be a part of this amazing group and perform music and text so close to her heart.

Ian Garnish as Lysander

Ian is thrilled to be performing as Lysander in Somebody To Love at Pensacola Little Theatre. He was recently seen as Porter Milgrim in Deathtrap with Santa Rosa Community Theatre, and has appeared in several PLT productions, including The Play That Goes Wrong (Max/Cecil Haversham) and Rent (Ensemble). Ian holds a BFA in Musical Theatre from East Carolina University in North Carolina. He is currently a performer with the interactive murder mystery troupes ICMT Gulf Coast and Going Noir Productions. When not onstage, he works as an Optician at Dr. Terrezza Optical in downtown Pensacola. He sends heartfelt thanks to his family and to the incredible community at PLT for their ongoing support and for fostering such a passionate, creative environment.

Sean McGrath as Demetrius

Sean is very excited to be back on stage at PLT. This is his third show and second musical here. Sean grew up with a love for acting and studied it in college. Previous roles include Dennis/Perkins (The Play that Goes Wrong), Inspector Lord (A Spider's Web), Brutus (Julius Caesar), and Lord Savage (Jekyll & Hyde).

Nathan Toepfer as Oberon

Nathan is thrilled to be living his best life as the Fairy King! A proud Pensacola performer, his favorite past roles include Leaf Coneybear (The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee), Lord Farquaad (Shrek), and the fang-tastic Dracula (Dracula, a Real Pain in the Neck!). When he's not commanding the stage, you can find him catching Pokémon or passionately debating the merits of his favorite vampire musicals.

SarahBeth Mowad as Titania

SarahBeth is excited to be making her PLT debut! She has been active in regional and community theatre since childhood. Favorite recent roles include Betty Johnson in (Funny Money at Melbourne Civic Theatre), Sukie Rougemont (Southeastern premiere of The Witches of Eastwick: The Musical at The Henegar Center), and, most recently, Helen Hubbard (Murder on the Orient Express at Santa Rosa Community Theatre). SarahBeth would like to thank Ashley and Nathan for the opportunity to participate in this production and for the experience of sharing it with her husband (Theseus).

Chelsea Brock as Puck

Chelsea Brock is thrilled to be making her Pensacola Little Theatre debut in Somebody to Love. After a 15-year break from the stage, she is overjoyed to return to theatre as the iconic troublemaker Puck. When she's not rehearsing, Chelsea enjoys watching competition reality shows and reruns of Buffy the Vampire Slayer with her wife and their five cats. She is deeply grateful for the chance to help bring this once-in-a-lifetime reimagining to life and to share the stage with such an amazing cast and crew.

Anthony Mowad as Theseus

Anthony is incredibly excited to be a part of Ashley and Nathan's vision for this classic. He's also super stoked to play a part in such a philosophical ship-replacement-over-time thought experiment. Anthony's most recent performance at PLT was as Cromwell in The Man for All Seasons. He has also performed, directed, and written for theaters throughout Florida and Georgia. And while Theseus' heart may belong to Hippolyta, Anthony is firmly under Titania's spell.

Eleanore Armani as Hypolita

Eleanore is excited to be a part of this immersive theater experience, just 3 years after appearing as Lady Capulet in PLT's Unrequited. She has been seen in several PLT productions such as POTUS, Little Wars, The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Nighttime, Mindgame, and others.

Michael Ball as Egeus

Somebody to Love is Michael’s first experience in a theatrical production. He’s excited to join the cast and crew in what will be a performance for all to remember.

Jana Miles as Patty Quince

Jana is having a blast bringing Patty Quince to life with this incredible cast and crew! She was last seen at PLT in The Play That Goes Wrong, A Christmas Story, and Disney's Descendants. She's so grateful to be part of another show and hopes everyone has as much fun watching as she has performing. Hi Mom & Dad!

Kelli Rebecca Deaton as Francis Flute

A graduate from Northern Kentucky University with a BFA in Acting, Kelli is extremely honored to be working with such fun, skilled, and kind human beings on and off the stage. This will be her debut performance at Pensacola Little Theatre as well as her first musical! She was last seen in Murder on the Orient Express, in which she played the Hungarian Countess Andrenyi at Santa Rosa Community Theatre. She would like to wish an extra special welcome to her Mom and to her Dad, and express all the Love to her friends and family who show her constant warmth and support. She’s eagerly awaiting your laughter and enjoyment of the show!

Emma Hobbs as Snout

Emma Hobbs is thrilled to be performing in Somebody to Love! She most recently appeared as Tom in Camelot at PLT, where she also loved playing Gertrude in Seussical Jr. and Pugsley in The Addams Family. Another favorite role includes Cady in Mean Girls Jr. at Mixon Magic Performing Arts. Emma is so grateful for every opportunity to perform and hopes you enjoy the show!

Kurt Finkenstaedt as Snug

After some minor roles at his alma mater, James Madison University, Kurt made his debut at Pensacola Little Theater in The Flick. Kurt is excited to take on the role of Snug in Somebody to Love.

EmJ as Parsley

EmJ was last seen on stage in Disney's Descendants as a member of the ensemble. She has also teched for many shows, including Jekyll and Hyde, her most recent as Spot Operator. She is very excited to be back onstage sharing her passion with her theatre family.

Heather Reis as Sage

Growing up, Heather always had a passion for performing, whether it was in front of her stuffed animals or family members. Heather will be pursuing her BFA in acting next year out of state. Somebody To Love will be her debut with Pensacola Little Theatre, and she is very grateful to have this opportunity to perform this whimsical show. Heather's last performance was as Mary Debenham in Murder on the Orient Express at Santa Rosa Community Theatre. Outside of acting, Heather enjoys reading novels and manga, playing video games, watching cartoons, listening to music, and enjoying time in nature.

Michele Edge as Rosemary

Michele has been an educator, an actress, and a vocalist on the Gulf Coast for over 30 years. She has appeared in productions at Pensacola Little Theatre and other local and regional venues, including several as part of a few murder mystery dinner theatre troupes. She is an avid traveler and a lover of all things theatre and musical theatre, traveling to New York City and other cities several times a year to see shows. Michele is excited to once again be a part of FooFoo Fest!

Emily Tryon as Thyme

Emily is thrilled to play with the talented cast of Somebody to Love. This is her first-ever musical, which is so exciting! Emily earned her BFA in acting at Elon University. During her time there, she particularly loved playing Edward/Victoria (Cloud 9) and Van's Sister (Dog Sees God). After college, she received an award for Best Supporting Actress for her performance as Nurse Kelly in Harvey at Longmont Theatre Company. She took a brief 10-year hiatus from performing to attend veterinary school, after which she played her favorite role ever, Dusty, in POTUS at Pensacola Little Theatre.