The Guy Who Didn’t Like Musicals

The Theatre Company of Saugus is excited to announce the cast for The Guy Who Didn’t Like Musicals, opening in February 2026!

This special event production features an incredible ensemble consisting entirely of TCS veteran performers. The show is directed by Jason Hair-Wynn, with musical direction by Shane A. Stecher, and stage management by Ally Lewis and Grace Meidanis. Billy Thompson is the lighting designer. Brian Dion is the set builder.

The Guy Who Didn’t Like Musicals is a horror comedy musical, with music and lyrics by Jeff Blim and a book by Matt and Nick Lang. It is the 11th stage show produced by StarKid Productions. The show is the first installment in StarKid’s Hatchetfield series. Loosely inspired by 1956 horror film Invasion of the Body Snatchers, the show follows Paul, an average guy who “doesn’t like musicals,” as the citizens of his town are gradually overcome by an alien hive mind that makes them sing and dance as if they are in a musical.

Performances are February 5-15, 2026, on Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays at 8 PM, and with Sunday matinees at 2 PM. For complete info about purchasing seats, see our Tickets page.

The performers and their roles:

  • Michael Silvia … Paul (the guy)
  • Tessa Newell … Emma, Ensemble
  • Lauren Thompson … Charlotte, Ensemble
  • Brady Neiss-Moe … Ted, Homeless Man, Ensemble
  • Andy LeBlanc … Bill, Stu, Newscasters, Ensemble
  • Ian Page … Professor Hidgens, Ensemble
  • Mark Damon … Mr. Davidson, Sam Sweetley, General John McNamara, Greg, Ensemble
  • Mariah Hanzel … Greenpeace Girl, Alice, Ensemble
  • Dana Murray … Zoey, Deb, Ensemble
  • Melissa Sullivan … Nora, Ensemble
  • Caroline DeBrota … Newscaster Donna, Colonel Schaffer, Ensemble
  • Meg Brown … Melissa, Ensemble
  • Shawyoun Shaidani … Newscaster Dan, Ensemble
  • Amanda Raponi … Nurse, Infected Teen, Ensemble, dance captain
  • Billy Jenkins … Ensemble

The performers and staff of the show have all been involved in multiple TCS productions. Here is the list:

  • Meg Brown – Directed in short play festival Lovely Thoughts and Other Stories. Judy in Night of the Living Dead. Alf and Mermaid in Peter and the Starcatcher. Ensemble in Evil Dead the Musical. Scenic painter for many shows.
  • Mark Damon – Orin in Little Shop of Horrors. J. Finch Fletchley in Puffs. Jake in Evil Dead. Mischa Bachinski in Ride the Cyclone.
  • Caroline DeBrota – Leanne in Puffs. Annie in Evil Dead. Schmendiman in Picasso at the Lapin Agile. Gwendolyn in a scene from The Importance of Being Earnest.
  • Brian Dion – Oberon and Theseus in A Midsummer Night’s Dream. Sheridan Whiteside in The Man Who Came to Dinner. Menelaus in Iphigenia in Aulis. Tevye in Fiddler on the Roof. Sganarelle in The Imaginary Cuckold. Father Donnally and the Doctor in The Marriage of Bette and Boo. Ensemble in the revue From Broadway to Hollywood. Pirate King in Pirates of Penzance. Deputy Governor Danforth in The Crucible. Stationmaster in Cherry Orchard. Lion/Zeke in Wizard of Oz. Henry II in Lion in Winter. Knowby in Evil Dead. Karnak voice in Ride the Cyclone.
  • Jason Hair-Wynn – Directed The Laramie Project, Nevermore, Little Shop of Horrors, Evil Dead, and Ride the Cyclone.
  • Mariah Mulcahy Hanzel – Ensemble in Spring Awakening. Smee in Peter and the Starcatcher. Shelly in Evil Dead. Stage crew in Ride the Cyclone.
  • Billy Jenkins – Dromio of Ephesus in Comedy of Errors. Blondo Malfoy and others in Puffs. Puppet wrangler in Little Shop of Horrors.
  • Andy LeBlanc – Father in Children of Eden. Ed in Evil Dead.
  • Ally Lewis – Stage manager for Lovely Thoughts and Other Stories, Peter and the Starcatcher, Evil Dead, and Ride the Cyclone.
  • Melissa Jean MacNeil – Ensemble in Nevermore. Ensemble in Spring Awakening. Ensemble in Evil Dead.
  • Grace Meidanis – Ensemble in Oliver.
  • Dana Murray – Candy in Zombie Prom. Urchin in Little Shop of Horrors. Linda in Evil Dead.
  • Brady Neiss-Moe – Zach Smith, Second Headmaster, and others in Puffs. Ash in Evil Dead.
  • Tessa Newell – Audrey in Little Shop of Horrors.
  • Ian Page – Scotty in Evil Dead.
  • Amanda Michelle Raponi – Heather Chandler in Heathers. Logainne SchwartzandGrubenierre in Spelling Bee. Ilse in Spring Awakening. Constance Blackwood in Ride the Cyclone.
  • Melissa Reda – Various roles in short play festival On This Winter’s Eve. Singer in Lovely Thoughts and Other Stories. Urchin in Little Shop of Horrors.
  • Shawyoun Shaidani – Wayne Hopkins in Puffs. Ensemble in Evil Dead. Einstein in Picasso at the Lapin Agile. Jack in a scene from The Importance of Being Earnest.
  • Michael Silvia – Seymour in Little Shop of Horrors. Ensemble in Evil Dead. Karnak puppeteer in Ride the Cyclone.
  • Shane Stecher – Musical director for Evil Dead.
  • Billy Thompson – Ensemble in Cabaret. Juror #5 in Twelve Angry Jurors. Benvolio in Romeo and Juliet. Carmen Ghia in The Producers. Theo Maske in The Underpants. Lighting design for several shows.
  • Lauren Thompson – Nancy in Oliver. Ensemble in The Producers. Ensemble in the revue Twelve Months of Music. Mitch Mahoney in Spelling Bee. Voice of Audrey II in Little Shop of Horrors. Ginny, Helga, Bippy, and others in Puffs. Fake Shemp in Evil Dead.

Volunteers are needed to staff the front-of-house positions during the performances of the show: selling raffle tickets and selling refreshments. Click here to signup. The bar will not be open, so we will not need certified bartenders.