The Jungle Book

Aaron Ellis attended the University of Nebraska at Omaha where he graduated with his B.A. in Theater with a focus in acting. Aaron has been involved in several productions around Omaha including "Jackie & Me" at The Rose Theater, "Hairspray" at the Omaha Community Playhouse and has been a part of the Bluebarn’s immersive theater event, "Walk the Night", for three productions. Aaron works as the lead actor-educator for the R.E.S.P.E.C.T organization and as a teaching artist for the Omaha Community Playhouse as well as Omaha Performing Arts through the Disney Musicals in Schools program.

Kevin Ehrhart has been a member of the Omaha Theater Company staff since 1989 as a Director/Actor/Instructor and Chief Technology Officer. While at the Theater, he has directed main stage, studio theater and national touring productions. His directing credits include Charlotte’s Web, Treasure Island, Old Yeller, The Giver, A Year in The Life of Frog and Toad and Pinkalicious. Recently, Kevin directed – Sherlock Holmes and First Baker Street Irregular and Cat in the Hat. Kevin’s acting credits include George Bailey in It’s a Wonderful Life, Cat in the Hat in Seussical and George in George and Martha.  As an instructor, Kevin teaches Acting Technique classes for Broadway at the Rose and Drama at the Rose classes on Saturday mornings.

The Jungle Book marks Joshua Lloyd Parker's 5th show here at the Rose. Last season he played Peter Pan in Peter and the Starcatcher and Pete the cat in Pete the Cat. He was also a Puppeteer in Plastic Drastic and a Squirelle in Elephant and Piggie. Josh is a graduate of The American Musical Dramatic Academy (AMDA) in NYC. Some of his favorite past roles includes Jesus from Godspell, Nathan Detroit from Guys and Dolls, James Keller from Miracle Worker, and Lovborg in Hedda Gabler. Josh would like to thank the Rose Theater all his friends and family for all the love and support. 

J. Isaiah Smith has been in several different shows at different theaters. He was part of the ensemble of Mary Poppins at the Rose Theater, and also played the role of Jetsam at The Rose in their production of The Little Mermaid. At the Community Playhouse he tackled the role of TJ in Sister Act and has since been aspiring to play more and more villain roles. He is a Freddy G Award winning actor and singer and a NHSTA nominated performer who is aiming to go as far as he can in theater to be the best performer he possibly can.

Stephanie is a full time Teaching Artist and the Director of Youth Productions at The Rose Theater. She previously directed George and Martha, Charlotte’s Web and The Rose’s world premiere of The Grocer’s Goblin and The Little Mermaid as well as The Misfits and A Child’s Garden of Verses. She will be writing and directing a TVY adaptation of Hans Christian Andersen’s Thumbelina this January. She appeared on stage as the Mother in Pinkalicious, and Arrietty in The Borrowers, Frog in A Year With Frog and Toad, Gina in Big Nate, Irma Cody in Buffalo Bill’s Cowboy Band, Nancy in Ivy & Bean, and Ida in Honk. Stephanie has her MFA in Acting from the University of Iowa, is a certified Yoga instructor, participated in the Diavolo Project: Nebraska, and is a trained puppeteer specializing in shadow puppetry and Bunraku. Before moving to Omaha, she lived in NYC where she worked with Liz Swados, Lee Bruer’s Mabou Mines, Taylor Mac and The Jim Henson Company. She would like to thank her Rose family, her husband Chad, son Finn, and Blue. Thank you, Rose Theater goers, for supporting this theater and arts for children in Omaha!

Autumn Simpson is a native Texan, who received her BFA in Theater Education from the University of Houston. She is thrilled to be here in Omaha now, in her first production with the Rose Theater. Autumn also works as a Teaching Artist Fellow at the Rose, and loves working with young people of all ages. When not on the stage or in the classroom, she loves fiction writing and playing with her pet bunny, Tyrion. Past productions include The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie, The Philadelphia Story, Three Sisters, and Serious Money. Autumn is thankful for her family, who always support her, and for the families and students who come to see productions at the Rose, because they keep the magic of theater alive.

Madison Marie Hoge grew up performing at the Rose and is delighted to be returning after ten years!  She recently graduated from the University of Nebraska Kearney with a Bachelors of Music in Musical Theatre. Regional credits include: "She Loves Me" (ensemble), "Shrek" (Gingy), "Footloose" (Urleen), "Drinking Habits" (Sister Augusta) and many more. God bless and enjoy the show!

John Hardy is an Associate Artist with The Barter Theatre. He has been working around the country as a playwright, actor, director for over thirty years. Over the course of his career John has directed over one hundred professional productions including MACBETH, A MIDSUMMER NIGHT'S DREAM, ROMEO AND JULIET, HENRY V, JULIUS CAESAR, ONE FLEW OVER THE CUCKOO'S NEST, TARTUFFE, OEDIPUS THE KING, MAN OF LA MANCHA and others. As an actor John has played many of the great roles including Hamlet, MacBeth, Tom Wingfield in THE GLASS MENAGERIE, Oberon in A MIDSUMMER NIGHT'S DREAM, Teach in AMERICAN BUFFALO and many others. John has recently returned from a national tour, playing George in OF MICE AND MEN. As an playwright he has had over forty productions of fifteen plays produced across the country and overseas.

John recently received the Sara Spencer Award, for lifetime achievement, from the Southeastern Theatre Conference.