News
3 FSPA alums in FPAC's Newsies!
FSPA alums Chris Lebeau, Ali Funkhouser, and Lucas Melfi will be returning to Franklin from NYC to star in the Franklin Performing Arts Company's production of Disney's Newsies!
Chris Lebeau (Davey) appeared in many FPAC productions including West Side Story (Riff), Bye, Bye, Birdie!, Brigadoon, Grease (Danny), and others! He has traveled the US and the world with the Broadway National Tours of Chicago (Amos Hart u/s) and The Producers (Leo Bloom u/s). In NYC, he performed at Lincoln Center for the 25th Anniversary celebration of Crazy for You! with Susan Stroman, and took part in the Lab presentation of Babes in Arms under Randy Skinner's direction. He graduated from Syracuse University with a BFA in Musical Theatre.
Ali Funkhouser (Katherine Plumber) has appeared in the national tours of Joseph...Dreamcoat starring Patrick Cassidy and Evita directed by Hal Prince, Legally Blonde (Margot, u/s Elle) at The LEX directed by Laura Bell Bundy, Puccini’s Suor Angelica (La Novizia) with Chelsea Opera NYC, Hairspray (Penny), How to Succeed… (Smitty), and Company (April). Ali received her Bachelor of Music in Music Theatre from Oklahoma City University. Her FPAC credits include Joseph...Dreamcoat (Narrator), Little Shop of Horrors (Audrey), The Sound of Music (Liesel), and Humbug! (Freddie).
Lucas Melfi (Albert) is a New York based dancer and choreographer. He received his Bachelor of Fine Arts in Dance Performance and Choreography from Elon University in May 2017. He has performed as a company dancer for TERRANOVA Dance Theatre, The Kearns Dance Project, RAD | Renay Aumiller Dances, Natalie Marrone & the Dance Cure, and Gerri Houlihan. He has danced in festivals throughout the country, including the American Dance Festival, The Austin Dance Festival, the Boston Contemporary Dance Festival, and the NC Dance Festival Tour. He has also presented his own choreography in North Carolina and New York. Most recently, Lucas performed in the production "Gilded" at the Capital Fringe Festival in Washington D.C. His FPAC credits include The Nutcracker (Chinese Soloist, u/s Prince), Humbug! (Young Scrooge), and The Secret Garden.