Cast Biographies

Nikki Schmidt

Diana

Nikki got started in performing in high school plays and competing on the North Platte Speech and Debate team. She has played roles in productions such Sweeney Todd, Midsummer Night’s Dream, The Mouse Trap and other performances, and was Class A State Speech Champion in Duet Acting, alongside her amazingly talented husband. After high school, she performed in several plays and musicals including Godspell and The Little Mermaid with one of her favorite roles being The Leading Player in Pippin.

Diana has been a dream role of Nikki’s for a long time, and she is incredibly excited to bring this roll to the stage at the Fox!

Chris Terry

Gabe

Chris has enjoyed performing since his high school speech and one act days in Grant. In college he began trying theater and music at MPCC and loved it, singing in choir and performing here at the Fox in Into the Woods. He took a break from the stage for a few years at UNK while pursuing his bachelor’s, but it wasn’t long before he was back to performing- this time in Kearney, on stage at UNK, Kearney Community Theater, and Crane River. Now he lives in Omaha where he hopes to continue performing and singing with his friends.

Lane Swedberg

Dan

Lane is a Teaching & Learning Consultant for ESU 16. He and many of his family members have been involved in numerous productions at NPCP. As a kid, he loved going to the theater to watch the shows as an audience member. Now he loves getting to share his passion with others on stage or in the orchestra pit.

Sophia Perez

Natalie

Sophia is a full-time librarian and part-time graphic designer. She loves to spend time with her fiancée Trenton and their cat Tee. Apart from theater Sophia enjoys art and singing.

Dustin Cartmill

Henry

Dustin Cartmill is a current MPCC student who is planning on graduating with an Associate’s in Fine Arts this spring. He has been apart of multiple shows here before including Something Rotten and Chicago. He enjoys performing musical theatre as well as meeting and connecting with new people while doing so. He plans to attend UNK next fall with a plan to get a Bachelor’s in Music Education.

Maggie Butler

Dr. Madden

Maggie is excited to return to the stage in her 5th production at North Platte Community Playhouse as Dr. Madden in Next to Normal. You may remember previously seeing her as the Baker’s Wife (Into the Woods), Meg (Little Women), or Ethel (Footloose). She’s also helped with set painting for various shows. Aside from the theater, Maggie works full-time for North Platte Public Schools, and enjoys spending time with her husband and their three children.

Trenton Emmons

Dr. Fine

Trenton graduated from MPCC with an Associates of Fine Art in Music. In his free time he enjoys theatre, and spending time with his fiancée Sophia and their cat Tee. This is Trenton’s 5th show at the Playhouse.

Ady Hastings

Ensemble

Ady Hastings is a current NPCC student who will graduate in May. She is transferring to Nebraska Wesleyan University for her BFA in Acting. When she is not in the theatre, you can find her making music on the piano or violin or with her cat and two dogs.

Benjamin Hill

Ensemble

Benjamin is jovial to perform in Next To Normal for his 22nd show at the NPCP and 1st season performing in all 4 shows. He works here at the Fox as Technical Manager plus Movies on the weekends. He calls North Platte his home and the North Platte Community Playhouse his home away from home where he has performed: Macy’s Manager in Elf the Musical, Mushnik in Little Shop of Horrors, Denver in The North Platte Canteen A Musical Miracle, and more. He loves his great big Chocolate Lab named Cocoa, only weighing 130lbs of pure happiness! He’s a good boy! He would like to thank you for supporting this little gem of the community as the arts are always a necessity within each community!

Jessica Shore

Ensemble

Jessica Shore is a passionate performer and director with a deep love for musical theater, bringing heart to every production she is part of. With experience both on stage and behind the scenes, she is especially drawn to storytelling through music and character work. Jessica is currently expanding her work into directing, where she enjoys guiding casts and shaping meaningful theatrical experiences. Outside of the theater, she is a mother, tattoo artist, and nail technician, balancing creativity in both her professional and personal life.