A Christmas Carol

Jonathan Beck Reed is an award winning Actor, with over 35 years of experience working in Theatre, Film, and Television, and a familiar face on the Lyric stages, having starred in past Productions of THE MUSIC MAN/Harold Hill, FIDDLER ON THE ROOF/Tevye, PETER PAN/Capt. Hook, ME AND MY GIRL/Bill Snibson, and THE MYSTERY OF EDWIN DROOD/The Chairman, to name but a few. Most recently, he starred opposite Saturday Night Live Funnyman, Chris Kattan in the soon to be released Feature Film; JUST CRAZY ENOUGH, following a critically acclaimed performance as Fagin in Dallas’s’ Lyric Stage Production of OLIVER! This February, Mr. Reed will return to the Role of Professor Henry Higgins in Oklahoma City Repertory Theatre’s Production of MY FAIR LADY, having starred in the 1990 New York Revival Tour of the U.S. and Asia. With A CHRISTMAS CAROL, Jonathan is thrilled to be a part of yet another “first” in his long association with Lyric Theatre. He starred in the FIRST Original Musical Produced at Lyric in 1996 (A COUNTRY CHRISTMAS CAROL/Scrooge), he starred in Lyric’s FIRST Production on the Civic Center Stage (THE WILL ROGERS FOLLIES/Will), and, he starred alongside another Lyric favorite; David Coffee in the FIRST non-Musical ever Produced by Lyric in the FIRST Season at the Plaza (GREATER TUNA/Arles, et. al). Throughout his Career, he has been blessed to “trod the boards” acting opposite noted Celebrities, Tony, and Emmy Award Winners Don Knotts, Rip Taylor, Megan Mullally, G.W. Bailey, Kristin Chenoweth, and Norbert Leo Butz. Along with his lovely and talented Wife; Amy Reynolds Reed, Jonathan is the Co-Owner of Dance Unlimited Performing Arts Center, and Spotlight Acting Academy in Edmond, Oklahoma (www.danceunlimitedpac.com), and, the incredibly proud Papa of his greatest collaborations to date… his beautiful, and inspiring three year old Twins, Krayson Rayce and Emmalyn Ember Reed.

Tom is proud to be the James Garner Chair and the Director of the University of Oklahoma School of Drama. Recent appearances: Stanley Kowalski in A Streetcar Named Desire; Werner Heisenberg in Copenhagen; the feature films Pearl, playing Oklahoma legend Wiley Post; The Downwinders as Tom Fisher; and The Birth of Modern Opera as famed composer, Giulio Strozzi. New York and regional performance credits include: the title role in Hamlet; Hotspur in King Henry IV, p1; Petruchio in The Taming of the Shrew; Dr. Johnny Buchanan in Summer and Smoke; Brat in Advice from a Caterpillar; Silvio in PVT. Wars; Jonathan Harker in Dracula; Clifford in Sideman; Cliff in Cabaret; Jonathon in Snakebit; Philip in The Lion in Winter; and Mercutio in Romeo and Juliet. Tom is a graduate of the University of Texas MFA Acting Program, is a proud member of AEA and is professionally represented by the Switzer Talent Agency.

Matt was last seen as Rev. Jones/Terry/Mr. Venus in The Pollard’s regional premiere of PASSING STRANGE. Favorite roles at Lyric: Robert in BOEING BOEING, Caractacus Potts in CHITTY CHITTY BANG BANG, Seymour in LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS, Carmen Ghia in THE PRODUCERS, Brad Majors in THE ROCKY HORROR SHOW and Motel in FIDDLER ON THE ROOF. Also: Hedwig/Tommy Gnosis in several productions of HEDWIG AND THE ANGRY INCH, Berger in HAIR, and Clown 1 in City Rep’s regional premiere of THE 39 STEPS. Matt’s rock opera RAINBOW AROUND THE SUN premiered in New York City at NYMF 2009.

Susan Riley is thrilled to be back at Lyric after performing in The Producers and The Rocky Horror Show. After studying at OCU and UCO, she went on to perform at the Pollard Theatre, Oklahoma Shakespeare in the Park, Oklahoma Childrens Theatre, and Poteet Little Theatre.
Favorite roles include Christine in Dirty Rotten Scoundrels, Belle in Beauty and the Beast, and Cathy in The Last Five Years. Other favorites include Annabel in Lucky Stiff, Debbie in Debbie...the musical, and Marian in The Music Man. When not performing, she enjoys warm chocolate chip cookies, long walks on the beach, and playing with her kitties.

She is a Theatre Performance Graduate from UCO. Her credits include: ALL SHOOK UP (Lorraine), GREASE (Patty Simcox) and many more. Her professional credits include Silvertree Productions and Universal Studios.

Mandy Jiran holds a Bachelor of Music degree in Musical Theatre performance from Oklahoma City University and a Master of Arts degree from the University of Oklahoma. She is a faculty member in the Weitzenhoffer School of Musical Theatre at the University of Oklahoma, teaching musical theatre voice. Her professional credits include performances with Lyric Theatre of Oklahoma, Kansas City Starlight Theatre, Great Plains Theatre Festival, Casa Manana in Fort Worth, and the Main St. Theatre in Pennsylvania, where some of her favorite roles have been Lucille in the World Premiere musical Grossingers with Gavin MacLeod, Madame in The Unsinkable Molly Brown with Cathy Rigby, Sr. Robert Anne in Nunsense II, Rosamund in The Robber Bridegroom, Vi Petty in Buddy-The Buddy Holly Story, and the principle female in Swing!, and My Way; A Musical Tribute to Frank Sinatra. She has been a guest artist with the Oklahoma City Philharmonic and performs with the Oklahoma City Philharmonic POPS Chorale. She has worked as music director, accompanist, and vocal coach for Sooner Theatre Studio and Lyric Theatre Thelma Gaylord Academy.

Mat recently relocated to Oklahoma from NYC and is thrilled to return to Lyric and work with Michael Baron and the entire Lyric staff on one of his favorite musicals. While in NY Mat performed in the Tony Award winning Broadway revival of CABARET at Studio 54. Favorite credits include: SWEET SMELL OF SUCCESS (JJ Hunsecker), HIGH SOCIETY (Dexter), JOSEPH AND THE AMAZING TECHNICOLOR DREAMCOAT (Joseph), A FUNNY THING HAPPENED ON THE WAY TO THE FORUM (Miles), OKLAHOMA! (Curly) and SEVEN BRIDES FOR SEVEN BROTHERS (Adam). Mat recently completed the Master of Music degree at the University of Central Oklahoma. He maintains a private voice studio in Norman and teaches music theatre and acting at the Thelma Gaylord Academy at Lyric Theatre and the Studio at Sooner Theatre.

Charlie is very excited to be back at Lyric Theatre. Past Lyric productions include the SOUND OF MUSIC, JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR, SHE LOVES ME, EVITA and DAMN YANKEES. A strong supporter of Oklahoma theatre, Charlie has been in many local productions. Some of his favorite shows include HAIR (Claude), LUCKY STIFF (Harry), FULL MONTY (Malcolm), SWEENEY TODD (Tobias), SWEET CHARITY (Oscar), INTO THE WOODS (Baker), SUESSICAL (Cat in the Hat), ONE FLEW OVER THE CUCKOO’S NEST (Billy), SIX DEGREES OF SEPARATION (Trent) and CURTAINS (Aaron). When not on stage, Charlie can be seen as the Registrar at Oklahoma City University.

Aside from being a representative of Shred-it Oklahoma, Tommy has performed the roles of The Phantom and Che in The Broadway National Tours of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA and EVITA; and most recently Judge Turpin in Lyric Theatre’s SWEENEY TODD. Since moving to Oklahoma in 2003, Tommy has made a few movies: Heaven’s Rain, The Hunt and Soul’s Midnight. He has been in a few commercials: The OK Lottery’s Harley Guy, EI Dorado Motors’ Bad Credit, He played EI Gallo in City Rep’s THE FANTASTICKS, Scrooge and Fagin in the Sooner Theatre’s SCROOGE and OLIVER and Cassius in OKCTC’s JULIUS CAESAR. Tommy is a graduate of Penn State University with a B.A. in Theatre.

Melissa Griffith is absolutely thrilled to be making her debut on the stage with Lyric Theatre. She is a Musical Theatre graduate from the University of Central Oklahoma where she recently received credit as the vocal arranger for the world premiere of the new musical FLIPSIDE: THE PATTI PAGE STORY. Melissa is currently the female swing for Lyric Theatre’s OKLAHOMA! INTERACTIVE and has spent her last two summers as Gertie in Discoveryland’s OKLAHOMA! Some of her favorite credits include: HIGH SOCIETY (Tracy Samantha Lord), STEEL PIER (Precious McGuire), COSI FAN TUTTE (Fiordiligi), and THE WILL ROGERS FOLLIES (Ziegfeld’s Favorite). Melissa is also a recent addition to the voice staff at the Studio at Sooner Theatre.

Lexi played Evelyn Nesbit in RAGTIME & Sheila in A CHORUS LINE during Lyric Theatre’s 2011 Season at the Civic Center Music Hall. She is delighted to be back at the Plaza where she recently played Gretchen in BOEING BOEING & Columbia in THE ROCKY HORROR SHOW! Lexi performed in Lyric's centennial production of OKLAHOMA! starring Kelli O'Hara, and was in City Rep's Regional Premiere of THE 39 STEPS (Annabella/ Margaret/ Pamela). She has enjoyed spending the last four years traveling worldwide entertaining active-duty troops & veterans with performance troupes such as: ‘The American Bombshells’ & ‘The USO Liberty Bells.’

Lyric Theatre: Louise in ALWAYS… PATSY CLINE, Yente/Fruma Sarah in FIDDLER ON THE ROOF: At Carpenter Square: Florence Foster Jenkins in SOUVENIR, Sissy in SORDID LIVES. At the Pollard: Carrie Watts in TRIP TO BOUNTIFUL, Jeanette in THE FULL MONTY. Brenda teaches Drama, Stagecraft and Creative Writing at Harding Fine Arts Academy. She’s also a member of Everybody & Their Dog and The Midolls, comedy improv troupes.