The Cast – FOUND

The Cast - FOUND.

Finch

Joseph Stam

Janelle

Wendy Piper

Keith

Ryan Henderson

Toby

Elijah Bullen

Lisa

Lucy Piper

Jackson

Josiah Gross

Callier

Rick McVey

Jessica

Sarah Laughland

Lane Billings

Nick Koesters

Marguerite

Randa Blackley

Steve Anderson

Kevin Burrill

Jeff Hines

Jesse Stam

Bobby

Luke Sage

Judge Raymond

Michael Gerber

Drake

Jesse Cox

Mrs. Fernsby

Kate Denson

Finch – Joseph Stam

Janelle Brennan – Wendy Piper

Keith Brennan – Ryan Henderson

Toby Brennan – Elijah Bullen

Lisa Brennan – Lucy Piper

Jackson Brennan – Josiah Gross

Callier – Rick McVey

Jessica – Sarah Laughland

Lane Billings – Nick Koesters

Marguerite – Randa Blackley

Steve Anderson – Kevin Burrill

Jeff Hines – Jesse Stam

Bobby – Luke Sage

Judge Raymond – Michael Gerber

Attorney – Timothy Stam

Mrs. Garnett – Madeleine Bullen

Mrs. Fernsby – Kate Denson

Coach Winklevoss – John Dawson

Drake – Jesse Cox

Caleb – Aiden Grisby

Olivia – Hannah Stam

Titus – Landon Kell

Janet – Tess Moormans

Receptionist – Stephanie Alford

Learn About Our Crew

Joseph Stam

Joseph Stam is a Virginia based Actor and Director. As an Actor he is known for roles in Found. and Cross Purposes with an upcoming film titled Royal Ashes. Joseph started his love of acting with theatre at age 11 and continued with theatre until 2019 when he starred in a short film that helped him make his leap from the stage to the screen. Since then, Joseph has stumbled upon the world of writing and had the opportunity to be a Co-Writer on Found. Joseph has now started directing with his directorial debut SOFIA (3 min short film) on Youtube now. Joseph has received 1 best actor award in addition to other nominations. Some of Joseph’s favorite hobbies include studying film, playing basketball and frisbee, spending time with family, and praising God.

Rick McVey

Mahoney

As a member of the Resident Acting Company at Barter Theatre, Rick McVey appeared in more than 100 productions including Les Miserables (Javert); It’s a Wonderful Life (George Bailey); and The Road to Appoma+ox (Robert E. Lee). Film work includes FOUND (2020), HEN AND HAM (2020), KITH AND KIN (scheduled 2021), THIS WORLD (2012), FREEDOM (2007) and MY LAST BEST FRIEND (2002). Rick is a graduate of East Tennessee State University and in 2010 was inducted into the ETSU Department of Communications Alumni Hall of Fame. Rick and his wife, Lola, live in southwest Virginia. His website is www.rickmcvey.com

Ryan Henderson

Ryan is excited and humbled to be a part of this story. He was most recently seen in the films Found, and Cross Purposes. The Rapid City, SD native started his professional acting career at the historic Barter Theatre in Abingdon, VA as a Barter Player. Ryan then spent three years in the Minneapolis theatre scene. Eager to experiment with how theatre could connect a community beyond the stage, Ryan came back to Barter Theatre as part of the education program, Project REAL. After nearly eight years of teaching, he now works at a nonprofit dedicated to early childhood education. Ryan likes playing basketball and eating desserts.

Elijah Bullen

Elijah Bullen is an actor and student who grew up on a farm on the edge of a small town in southwest Virginia. Having been involved in theatre from a young age, he developed an early love for performance and acting and was given the opportunity to play many roles on the stage before discovering acting on screen. Royal Ashes is Elijah’s second feature film, having played Toby in the award winning film, “Found.” Besides acting, he also enjoys reading, sports, and spending time with his friends and extensive family.

Lucy Piper

Lucy is a sixth grader at E.B Stanley Middle School. She has appeared at the Barter Theatre Gilliam Stage in Music Man, Elf, and was cast as a “Weird Sister” in Macbeth. She has been in numerous Barter Youth Academy shows, as well as a few local commercials. Some of her hobbies include singing, dancing, writing, and being outdoors–especially on her bike! She’s very excited to be in Found, which is her first film.

 

Josiah Gross

Josiah is a seventh-grade homeschooler. He has been active in theatre with the Barter Youth Academy going on 8 years. He has been in many shows, including some favorites, A Christmas Carol and The Little Mermaid. Josiah enjoys reading, cubing and playing piano and guitar. He is excited to play Jackson Brennan in Found.

Wendy Piper

Wendy lives in Abingdon, Virginia with her husband, Nick, and two daughters, Lucy and Maggie. A member of Actor’s Equity Association, Wendy has been seen in numerous productions at the Barter Theatre over the years as a Resident Actor. Originally from Corsicana, Texas, she has lived and worked as an actor in NYC and Los Angeles. While a member of SAG (Screen Actor’s Guild), Wendy appeared in many television shows and motion pictures, including regular appearances in the popular shows Ally McBeal and Friends. She was also in the independent films Get Dead (Purple Pants Media) and This World (McVey Multimedia.) Wendy is honored work on several project with Cross Purposes Productions. These projects have been extra special to Wendy because she has gotten to share the screen with both of her daughters.

Sarah Laughland

Sarah is a dancer, singer, actress, and dance educator & choreographer. She lives & works in Washington D.C. after spending 5 years at Barter Theatre, where she performed in 32 productions and 6 play festivals. Starting in 2014 as a Barter Player, she helped serve the youth of Southwest Virginia, moving up to the resident acting company as both a performer & choreographer. Sarah is also a passionate photographer, portraiture being her main focus. She currently teaches jazz, ballet, and tap for multiple studios around the region, ages ranging from 7-70.

Nick Koesters

Nick Koesters has over 30 years of experience in the entertainment industry. During that time he has produced and acting for television and film, hosted radio shows, and performed in over 100 stage productions. Nick has been seen in Spike TV’s “Kill Point” and in the Emmy-nominated children’s show, “Ask Gilby” as Mr. Nick, the voice of Gilby, and the lead puppeteer. He co-produced and starred in “Will Work for Food” which won the 2004 Los Angeles Independent Film Festival. He was last seen on the big screen in Cross Purposes award winning “Found.” as Billings and portrayed Randy in “Royal Ashes” along with being the Unit Production Manager and a Producer on the film.

One of his proudest accomplishments was performing the one-man show Side Effects May Include at SoHo Playhouse in New York City to raise money for the Michael J. Fox Foundation and increase awareness on the challenges of Parkinson’s disease. He grew up in Weaverville, NC and now resides in Abingdon with his two muses; his wonderful and supportive wife, Carolyn, and their daughter, Calliope.

Randa Blackley

At 41 years of age, there is a lot that Randa has done but still has so much more to explore! Born in Kansas City, Missouri, she grew up on stage singing and acting, moving from state to state, performing short skits and dramas for churches and youth groups across America. Because of this, Randa knows no stranger and cannot stay still for too long. She has been married for almost 20 years to her husband, Jonathan and they have two boys Andrew and Samuel. She stays very busy with teaching music to preschoolers in Bristol, Va and singing on her worship team at Celebration Church in Blountville, Tn. With no formal training, Randa leads with her instincts and street smarts, picking up what she learns along the way. She is so excited to be in her third film with Cross Purposes Productions and very grateful to David Alford for the opportunity to grow.

Kevin Burrill

Kevin Burrill was born in New Brunswick, Canada, in a community with a vibrant theater program. He fell in love with acting quickly and has been fortunate over the years to be involved in productions such as Anne of Green Gables (Gilbert Blythe), The Wind in the Willows (Mole), Arsenic and Old Lace (Mortimer Brewster), and more. In addition to acting, Kevin is currently working on a couple of fictional novels, and also enjoys writing poetry and composing music. Kevin moved to the USA in 2013, is married to Anna Burrill and has two sons, Judah and Levi.

Jesse Stam

 

Luke Sage

Luke Sage fell in love with performing in the second grade – the moment he wowed a hundred or so elementary school students with a couple magic tricks. That was the moment he began chasing stages, roles and spaces to perform in.

A junior at the University of Virginia’s College at Wise, “Royal Ashes” is Luke’s third film role. He’s also had various turns on the professional stage, most notably in the role of Cap Hatfield in the Appalachian Center for the Arts’ production of “Sally McCoy” in Pikeville, Kentucky.

When he’s not acting, Luke is a member of the regional country/jug/punk band the Crowe Hollerers. Most recently he has made a longtime dream come true of marrying music, art and theatre in a traveling medicine show performance.  

Michael Gerber

Michael Gerber was born in San Bernardino, California but moved with his mother and 2 sisters to Portland, Oregon at the age of 3 where he lived most of his young life. An avid writer and actor, Michael got his B.A. in Performing Arts from Western Oregon University and then his M.F.A. in Stage Direction from Ohio University. He now resides in Abingdon, Virginia where he teaches theatre and is an actor, director, and writer.

Jesse Cox

Born and raised in Bristol Virginia, Jesse Cox first discovered his love for acting through the Barter Youth Academy, and he has wanted to perform ever since. Although he has never been in a film before, he is thankful to God for providing such a great opportunity to learn an alternate form of acting, and hopes to make new friends along the way. He is the fifth of eight boys and other than acting his favorite activities include playing piano, practicing jiu jitsu, and cooking.

Kate Denson

Kate has worked as an Actor, Director, and Theatre teacher from Dallas, Texas to Miami and Orlando, Florida and at her favorite place Barter Theatre in Abingdon. Virginia. Over the past few years she has performed at “MadCow Theatre” and “Orlando Shakespeare Theatre” and directed several new 10 minute plays for “ Playwrites Round Table Theatre”. Kate lives in Bristol Tennessee with her husband ,their daughter Drew is a Doctor of Veterinary medicine and works with Horses on the race tracks in Hollywood, Florida. Kate was last seen as Fern Fernsby in the CPP film, “Found.” and as the Receptionist in CPP film “Royal Ashes”