Meet the Cast
Rob Moffat grew up in Mesa, Arizona. Music was big part of his life since starting piano lessons at the age of 4. Voice lessons started in high school and eventually he graduated with a degree in music dance theater from BYU. He moved to Los Angeles and taught for the elite Adderley School in the Palisades while he pursued film work. He took a short detour to Las Vegas to perform in Monty Python’s Spamalot.
Rob returned to Utah in 2012 to join the faculty the Theatre Department at UVU where he helped to create the BFA in performance. He also received an MFA in directing from the University of Idaho.
He has worked as a music director, songwriter, choreographer, director, production manager, film producer, and professor. He currently teaches voice and music theatre performance at BYU and is a sought-after voice teacher through his private studio, Rob Moffat Vocal Studio (robmoffat.com). He recently directed The Addams Family for the Hale Center Theatre in Sandy. Other credits include: Around the World in 80 Days, Hans Christian Andersen in New York, Treasure Island, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, Million Dollar Quartet, Matilda The Musical, The Pirate Queen, and The Heart of Robin Hood with the Hale Centre Theatre Sandy; Cinderella and Footloose with Sundance Summer Theatre; Into The Woods, Man of La Mancha, and Peter Pan with HCTO; and Cabaret, Anything Goes, 9 to 5 The Musical, and Letters To Myself with UVU.
Through it all, Rob is the most thrilled to be with his two ladies: Courtney, his wife, and Sabrina, his daughter.
George Banner feels so honored to be a part of telling this incredible story! His favorite credits include: Next to Normal (Gabe) at the Liahona Theatre; Little Women (Professor Bhaer) and Hairspray (Link Larkin) at the HCTO; Titanic the Musical (Frederick Fleet) and A Tale of Two Cities (Gabelle) with Hale Center Theatre. He can be seen in the forth coming Little Women the Hale Center Theatre in Sandy in January.
From hiking Kilimanjaro, completing a Half Ironman, and working as the Sr. Director of Customer Experience at Crumbl Headquarters, George strives to celebrate life and find beauty in all of its moments.
Born and raised in Charleston, IL, Sterling Stowell comes from a very musical family. He started out on the violin at five years old, then picked up singing and finally beatboxing at age twelve. After graduating from high school in 2019, he left on a mission to San Antonio, TX, where he was able to arrange and produce music for missionary social media pages during the COVID-19 pandemic. He is thrilled to be living his dream of studying commercial music at BYU and beatboxing for Vocal Point. Sterling is also an accomplished vocal arranger; Vocal Point, Noteworthy, and Young Ambassadors are among the groups that have performed his work.
Emma Wadsworth Hurley is a recent BYU grad with a BFA in Music Dance Theater. Some of her favorite credits include: Jenna in May We All: A Country Musical (HCT), Lily in The Secret Garden (BYU), Nancy in Oliver! (HCTO), and Gabrielle in Cinderella (Sundance). She also spent two years performing and touring with the BYU Young Ambassadors. Emma is so grateful for her wonderful support system, and the opportunity to perform with her husband! See her in Cinderella at The Ruth this spring.
Cecily Ellis-Bills favorite credits include: Les Misérables, Mary Poppins, A Gentlemen’s Guide to Love and Murder, The Music Man, Little Women, Candide, The Secret Garden, Ragtime, The Pirate Queen, and Sweeney Todd. She has a performance diploma in Musical Theatre from the AMDA and both a Bachelor’s and Master’s of Music in Voice Performance from U of U. Cecily works as an Adjunct Professor in Vocal Performance at UVU and BYU and as a private vocal instructor.
Noah Hurley is a Singer, Actor and Dancer originally from Minnesota, but based now in Utah. While studying Music Dance Theatre at BYU, he has performed at Cabaret style productions, professional theatres, and touring groups. Some recent performance credits include being a Guest Soloist with the San Diego Santa Choir, BYU’s Young Ambassadors, Hale Centre Theatre (Beauty and the Beast, Newsies), Sundance Summer Theater (Newsies), and BYU MainStage Theatre (The Secret Garden, 12 Angry Men, Matilda), Ted’s Mann Concert Hall (The Lamb of God). He was Minnesota's “Triple Threat Award” winner and was selected for the MMEA All-State Choir as a featured soloist for multiple years. He also spends time in the recording studio for Right on Cue Services (SpongeBob the Musical, Head over Heels) While not performing he enjoys being a husband to his amazing wife Emma, being outdoors and spending time with his family. He thanks his amazing wife, his parents, and his teachers and mentors for their unwavering support.
Tearza Leigh Foyston is excited to be a part of this production of Before Tonight. She just returned to the US after 2 years living in Shanghai, China performing for the Walt Disney Company. She appeared as multiple beloved princesses in meet and greets, as well as Anna in Frozen: A Sing-Along Celebration, and Rapunzel and Elsa in Mickey’s Storybook Adventure. Other international credits include Swing for Frog Choir in The Wizarding World of Harry Potter at Universal Studios Japan in Osaka. Additionally, she performed as Kathy in The Last 5 Years, and Casey in First Date at Bar Theatre Ludo in Osaka, Japan. Locally, she has performed as Katherine Plumber in Newsies with Draper Historic Theatre, Penny in Hairspray at The Scera Shell, and Torrey in Freaky Friday at Spanish Fork Community Theatre. Next up for her is Jersey Boys at The Ruth in Pleasant Grove.
Dan VanOrmer is excited to get to testify of Christ in this unique and wonderful work! Recent stage credits include Newsies at Sundance, My Fair Lady at HCTO, and The Secret Garden at BYU. Dan is currently working in A Christmas Carol at Hale Centre Theatre, and is excited to be playing Prince Topher in Cinderella at The Ruth coming up this spring.
Jonathan Hanson is a cellist currently studying under Dr. Michelle Kesler at Brigham Young University. Originally from Alpine, Utah, Jonathan first started playing the cello when he asked Santa for a cello at the age of seven. 15 years later, Jonathan performs for various groups including his wedding string trio, WestBrothers. Jonathan enjoys classical music and loves sharing music about the Savior with others.
Taylor Morris is a lifelong singer and performer. You can regularly find him on stage and is currently playing Tateh in Ragtime at The Ruth. He’s most known for portraying John in Rob Gardner’s Lamb of God: The Concert Film.
Taylor has a BFA and MPA from BYU and currently works at BYU as an Artist Manager. Taylor and his wife, Bailee, and the parents of four beautiful and lively children.
Juliana Boyer is an Oregon native who grew up doing theater and dance. She was part of the Oregon All-State Dance Team & All NW Jazz Choir. At BYU she was on the folk dance team & graduated in Health Promotion & Business. She & her husband, Jason, have 6 kids & lived in Oregon for several years where Juliana was very involved in the Portland music community. She has performed with Portland Symphonic Choir, Portland Mormon Choir & Cantico Chamber Singers. Some of her favorite roles include Maria in "The Sound of Music" & Marion in "The Music Man". She has directed church choirs, stake plays & community choirs. Juliana & her family recently moved to Utah, she is happy to be performing in "Before Tonight".
Getting to finally perform “Before Tonight” is truly a dream- especially after having sung several songs from the piece previously. Bailee Morris has performed in many shows- most recently as Morticia in the Addams Family (HCT) , Crystal in May We All (HCT) School of Rock (HCT), Seussical The Musical (HCT), Footloose (Sundance). Other favorite credits include: Something Rotten (Bea) with CenterPoint Legacy Theatre; Damn Yankees (Gloria) with Hale Center Theater Orem. Bailee studied in the MDT Program at BYU and performed worldwide with the BYU Young Ambassadors. She can be featured on many albums including Rob Gardner’s “Lamb of God.” She teaches contemporary voice at UVU, BYU, and out of her home and also owns and operates a freelance photography business. “Love to my snuggle family: Taylor, Zoe, Tilly, Lulu, and Brink. You are my whole world.”
Madeline Walter is excited to be a part of this musical Christmas celebration. She studied in the Music Dance Theater program at BYU and is currently preparing to perform for Disney Cruise Line starting 2025. Some of her favorite credits include, Stephanie in LazyTown Live Tour (Energy Productions) Elle Woods in Legally Blonde, Olive in Spelling Bee, Belle in Beauty and the Beast, Betty/ Cynthia U/S in Beautiful (Moonlight Amphitheater) Tammy/ Amber U/S in Hairspray, Louis in Crazy for You, Ensemble/ Natalie U/S in All Shook Up (San Diego Musical Theater)
Amanda Crabb is an Associate Professor at Utah Valley University where she teaches voice and acting in the Musical Theater BFA program. Amanda is a graduate of The Boston Conservatory of Music in Musical Theater and also has a BFA from Brigham Young University in MDT and Theater Education. Amanda Music Directs and performs in the region. Some of her most recent credits include Cinderella at Sundance, My Fair Lady, Sweeney Todd, She Loves Me, Into the Woods, Tarzan, Single Wide, Big Fish, Catch Me if You Can, In the Light, Ragtime, and 9 to 5. Amanda sang with the Tabernacle Choir from 2010 to 2024. Amanda is currently preparing to play Marmee in Little Women at HCT.
Curtis Allen originally hails from Albany, Oregon and is currently a second-year Music Dance Theater student at BYU and a featured member of the BYU Young Ambassadors. As much as he loves singing and dancing, he’s also thrilled by every opportunity to drum on things — a hobby he’s enjoyed for as long as he can remember. Curtis is grateful to Rob Moffat for penning this beautiful work and for inviting him to help share it with you tonight. Thanks for coming!
Jonathan Avila is a BYU Young Ambassador and love to share the light of the Gospel of Jesus Christ through performing. Merry Christmas!