MICKELE HOGAN Mickele is originally from Omaha, Nebraska. She currently lives in NYC after recently graduating with a B.F.A in drama from New York University: Tisch School of the Arts where she trained at the Atlantic Acting School. She is a founding member of The Joust Theatre Company, where she serves as an actor and director.
SEAN TIVENAN Sean is excited to be a part of Message of Hope. His previous film experiences have been in Bout That Life, On the Hilltop, A, and Hired Help. All the love in the world goes out to his family and friends for their undaunting support. Visit seantivenan.com for more.
MATTHEW LOUIE Matthew Louie is a recent graduate of the esteemed William Esper Studio in New York City. He just recently graduated from the 2-year program in June (while also simultaneously finishing up college by his hometown in New Jersey) and in the months after graduation has booked numerous lead and supporting roles in 3 upcoming feature films, various shorts, and 1 upcoming web series. "This was one of my first films that I worked on as a bigger player, and I'd like to thank every cast and crew with whom I came into contact for making it so easy!"
ANOUK DUTRUIT Anouk is multicultural, multilingual performer from Switzerland. Adventurous and curious she has touched audiences in both Europe & America. She traveled extensively through Europe before attending law schools in London (King's College of London) & Paris (La Sorbonne) - graduated at 21 with 2 law degrees. She left everything behind to come to New York City to pursue her passion and attended the Neighborhood Playhouse, one of New York's most prestigious acting schools. She has performed in numerous films, commercials, plays; and lately she can be seen in Israel Horovitz latest feature "My Old Lady" starring Kevin Kline, and she can be heard in The Grand Theft Auto V - portraying the character Maria.
GABRIELLE ESPOSITO Gabrielle makes her film debut in Message of Hope. Her previous roles on the stage include a Brother in Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, Tammy and featured dancer in Hairspray, and ensemble work in Les Miserables, Beauty and the Beast, The Music Man, and The Fiddler on the Roof. She also studied at Helen Stanley School of Dance in ballet and jazz and performed with L’Ecole de la Dance in The Nutcracker for seven years. She attended Grove City College where she studied English and Theatre but was also active in the school’s two dance companies and marching band dance line. When she isn’t performing on the stage, Gabrielle runs her own private harp business, playing at weddings, luncheons, and special events since December 2000. She studied music under Julia Ann Scott at Grove City College and performed in the orchestra. Gabrielle looks forward to continuing her professional performing career and starring in other films and productions.
MEGAN LEE MILLER Megan is a PA/NYC based actress, singer who has been performing since she was 12 years old. Growing up it didn't take her long to be bit by the acting bug and after that she knew what she wanted to do when she "grew up," you couldn't keep her off the stage. After high school she attended Indiana University of Pennsylvania and received a B.A in Theater Performance where she was a three time Irene Ryan nominee and the winner of the 2009 NAPT Classical Acting Award. Since then she has been acting and singing professionally all around the world and in the US. She says, "I feel most alive when I'm performing, whether it be on stage or in front of a camera. I am fully aware that God has blessed me with the tools and the fervent passion for this craft, and I just everyday try to humbly figure out how to use them." She firmly acknowledges that she has the finest two parents there are on the face of the earth. They support her and stand behind her and her dreams, and without them she would never have been brave enough to pursue those dreams. She is the proud and loving Aunt of four beautiful boys, and when she's not off somewhere doing a show or a movie she spoils them fully with love or...maybe they spoil her. She dreams one day of being on the Broadway stage, and maybe the red carpet too ...but until that day she is enjoying every step of this adventure and prays that she will always remember to keep God as her compass, through not only her life, but her Career. "To wipe off the make of the real world, and paint on that of another...what a portal this is"~ MLM
NICK MARCO
MIDI MILLER Midi has been acting and modeling for 20plus years. As a child she participated in several musical/theatrical productions in the Pocono Mountains, where she was raised, and began modeling in her early twenties. "Back in the business" after a 15 year hiatus to raise her four children, she freelances in the New York City and Philadelphia areas, and can be seen in several television commercials and TV shows. She is infinitely Grateful to her husband and children for their neverending support and patience as she follows this dream. The role of Barbara Martriciano is her first speaking role in a film: "What a fantastic experience! Working with these kids - the entire cast and crew - has been SUCH and inspiration." www.midimiller.com
MATT NICHOLAS Matt has recently been seen in the independent films Latency and It Had to Be You, and can be seen in the upcoming films Crooked & Narrow and Spring Awakening. He has performed in New York’s Piney Fork Press Theater Festival in The Business Plan and on the Philadelphia stage in As Wicked, As Dangerous in the Philly Fringe Festival. Also a writer, Matt has trained with the Piven Theatre in Evanston, IL and at Tufts University, and grew up in Pittsburgh while living in Mr. Rogers’ actual neighborhood – ‘Hey neighbor!’ www.imdb.me/mattnicholas
MACKENZIE WETHERBY This is Mackenzie's first production and she is very excited to be part of Message of Hope! Mackenzie is 9yrs old and is in 5th grade at Eleanor Rush School in Cinnaminson where she is involved in Student Council and The Music Makers. Outside of school she competes in Swimming, Field Hockey and Tap, Jazz and Lyrical Dance classes. Mackenzie loves acting and is looking forward to being part of many more productions in the future!
SAM PELAEZ Samuel Pelaez has been very active in theater since he was 6 years old. His first production in 2012 was ensemble in Moorestown Theater Companies production the Music Man. In the summer of 2013 Sam performed in 2 productions with Curtain Call Performing Arts Center (CCPAC): He stared as Mike Tevee in the production of Willie Wonka and the Chocolate Factory and as Lefou in Beauty and the Beast. Sam also starred as Mogli in CCPAC’s winter 2014 production of The Jungle Book. His most recent role with CCPAC was Wickersham 1 in this summer’s production Seussical. Message of Hope is his first full length film but he certainly hopes it is not his last. Sam definitely has the acting bug and was thrilled to participate in Message of Hope. He enjoyed learning about film production and working with the wonderful cast and crew. Sam also enjoys music and has been training in the Suzuki method on the violin for 3 years. He has even performed with the Philadelphia Orchestra in a Suzuki Student Playdown. He is studying dance, and he is active in cub scouts and church, where he particularly enjoys helping with service projects.
JARED BRITO Jared feels blessed to be a part of Message of Hope! He is thankful to have worked with Tom Lee and the talented cast and crew. Jared recently appeared in an episode of HBO’s Boardwalk Empire’s final season. In addition, he also completed background work in the 2014 Annie remake, to be released this Christmas. He can also be seen in a national Comcast/ Xfinity commercial, a national XBOX/ NFL commercial, and a local PECO commercial. Jared has also performed at the Walnut Street Theatre in The Music Man as Winthrop Paroo, in ELF as The boy on Santa’s Lap and Michael Hobb’s understudy. Last winter, he performed in the Philadelphia Academy of Music’s rendition of Nabucco as a Hebrew child. Most recently, he played the role of Jerome in South Pacific at the Broadway Theatre of Pitman. When not acting in theatre, television, or movies, Jared enjoys playing organized basketball, baseball, and practicing martial arts. He sends love and gratitude to his mom and dad, his brother Aidan, and to all his great friends and family.
JOE GORCZYNSKI After teaching quantitative methods at the college level for thirty-five years, Joe Gorczynski retired and began pursuing various creative interests, including photography, motion graphics, voiceover, sketch comedy, sketch writing, improvisation, and acting. He is a character actor who has appeared in numerous film and stage projects, where he adopted the roles of priest, homeless man, corpse, sociopathic CEO, exorcist, janitor, and college professor, to name a few. He has appeared off Broadway, as well as in several web series. His performances have been viewed at numerous film festivals, including New York University First Run Film Festival and the New York City International Film Festival. He currently studies motion graphics and voiceover at The School of Visual Arts, acting and mprovisation at the HB Studio, and sketch writing at The Upright Citizens Brigade, all in NYC.
WELLINGTON TALKPA After his interest peaked while in graduate school at Lynn University. Wellington's time spent living in South Florida allowed him to immerse himself in various avenues of art and entertainment. With that passion Wellington decided to pack his things and move back to his hometown in New Jersey. Since then Wellington has spent his mastering his craft and building his resume. He is currently looking for delve into work mainly in NYC region in effort to catapult his career to the next level.
When Wellington is not on set or the stage he spends his time creating music. Wellington is not only a passionate bassist but also an apt on the instrumentalist on drums, percussion instruments. Additionally he attempts to play the electric guitar and keyboard.
KAT VELLALEY From the time Kat was first asked what she wanted to be when she grew up, she knew she wanted to be an actress. In her childhood and teens she pursued that dream by writing and performing plays with her friends and doing musical theatre. Kat took a long sabbatical from acting to homeschool her three children but, in 2013, she found her way back to the stage and hasn’t stopped since. Message of Hope is Kat’s first film and she is thrilled to share this new experience with such a warm and talented group of people.
DENYSE ELLINGTON
OLIVIA JOLIN
DEBRA SARNEL Deborah Sarnel (Tricia) hails from Columbus, OH where she got the "acting bug" when 20th Century Fox invited her to work as an Extra. She then got involved in community theater with hopes of moving to LA. God had a different plan, though & diverted her to NYC instead, where she worked on films, music videos & attended acting classes. Today she finds herself busy with family life & her church theater group (Hawthorne Gospel Church, NJ). "I'm so excited to be a part of Message of Hope! Much love to Robin, Corrine, Olivia & Sela for all your support. All praise & glory to the Lord Jesus Christ!"