The Cast – Royal Ashes

The Cast - Royal Ashes

Paul

Luke Sage

Jenny

Ariana Ireland

Lucas

Eliah Bullen

Kevin

Joseph Stam

Jordan

Parker Gray

Annabelle

Maggie Piper

Peggy Royal

Wendy Piper

Mahoney

Rick McVey

Randy

Nick Koesters

AJ

Jesse Stam

Nick

Joshua Bullen

Robert Style

Ryan Henderson

Aunt Judy

Randa Blackley

Receptionist

Kate Denson

Shane

Hannah Stam

County Court Clerk

Michael Gerber

Paul Royal – Luke Sage

Jenny Gardner – Ariana Ireland

Lucas Royal – Elijah Bullen

Kevin Royal – Joseph Stam

Jordan Royal – Parker Gray

Annabelle Royal – Maggie Piper

Peggy Royal – Wendy Piper

Mahoney – Rick McVey

Randy – Nick Koesters

Robert Style – Ryan Henderson

Aunt Judy – Randa Blackley

Nick – Joshua Bullen

Receptionist – Kate Denson

Shane – Hannah Stam

County Court Clerk – Michael Gerber

Neil – Bill Monin

April – Tess Moormans

Truancy Officer – Ben Bullen

Bank Rep/Woman at Wreck – Brenna Williams 

Lisa Guess – Karissa Bullen

Angela Howell/Girl #1 – Hannah Easton

School Principal – Stephanie Alford

Lauren – Lydia Bullen

CPS Agent #1 – Annie Parsons

CPS Agent #2 – Pat Lower

Police Clerk – Joshua Belfield

Pharmacist – Timothy Stam

Mr. Burbage – Benjamin Dawson

Helpful Woman – Monique Stam

Girl #2/Police Photographer – Danielle Bullen

Jenny’s Dad – Hugh Belcher

Police Officer – Terry Stam

Man at Wreck – Steve Williams

Job Applicant #1 – Christian Miller

Job Applicant #2 Joelle Canary

 

Learn About Our Crew

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.  

Ariana Ireland

Ariane Ireland is an Actor based in the South East. her bread and butter has always been performance, whether it’s creating new work or getting a last minute jingle to learn, she’s all in.

Although Film and TV are her current focus, her love for acting started in the theater. Since earning her BFA in Theater Performance from Virginia Commonwealth University she’s created new work with The Contemporary American Theater Festival, trained with Upright Citizen’s Brigade and The Barrow Group NYC, directed March Alien premiering at United Solo Festival, and performed Irish theater with GSA in Dublin, Ireland. You can see her latest work on an award winning web series by Atlantic Record’s, a true crime tv show on Amazon Prime or catch her on TV as Honest Ella in the latest Havertys Furniture Spots.

On any given day she can be found hiking with her pups and backing up her family’s cafe The Girl and The Raven where her husband, Cillian roasts the best coffee around, and thanking God for the gift of filmmaking, creation, and a new day.

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.

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.

Parker Grey

At the age of nine, Parker Gray found his love of performing. His first role was Michael Banks in Mary Poppins on Gilliam Stage at Barter Theatre! Many performances followed in Barter Theatre’s productions of Big Fish, Christmas Carol, Music Man, and Elf the Musical. Parker lives in Johnson City, TN and is a high school sophomore. When given the chance, he is sporting on basketball courts and mountain biking trails for the local high school. He also enjoys traveling, history, music, violin, and making new friends.Royal Ashes will be Parker’s first film role and he is super excited to portray Jordan Royal.

Maggie Piper

Maggie Piper of Abingdon, VA is excited to be making her film debut in Royal Ashes. Now a second grader, some of her favorite hobbies include dance, volleyball, acting, and reading. She also loves playing with her sister Lucy, and her puppy Daisy. She would like to say that she had an amazing time being a part of this movie, and she loves everyone who was a part of it.

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.

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

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.

Jesse Stam

 

Joshua Bullen

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.

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.

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”

Hannah Stam

Hannah Stam is a senior college student at Milligan University. She has been performing on stage for around fourteen years. Hannah is thankful for the opportunity to be a part of another Cross Purposes Productions project. Hannah has worked as the Assistant director for Cross Purposes (2019), Found (2021) and Royal Ashes (2022). She has also had the privilege to work in many other roles with Cross Purposes Productions. Hannah believes theatre, movies, books and any type of storytelling is extremely important, storytelling is how humans experience a life or time that is different from their own! She loves acting because it helps her understand people who are very different from herself. She says she hasn’t found a better way to understand another person than to walk a mile in their shoes, and for Hannah that’s what acting is all about.

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.