Patty Rowell – Reagen Steele

Patty Rowell has performed on regional stages for nearly 40 years, including standout turns as Annie Oakley (Annie Get Your Gun), Reno Sweeney (Anything Goes), the Witch (Into the Woods), and Rosie (Mamma Mia!). She also lends her voice to professional voice-over projects (you may recognize her from Tesla Caraoke) and has performed with Seattle’s premier a cappella caroling ensemble. Patty studied at Northwestern University, UT Austin, and SUNY.

Cliff Butler – Cole Mason

A Christmas Card Musical playwright and co-composer Clifford Butler stars as lead character Cole Mason. In his first completely original work, Butler brings his own words to the stage with precision and charm. The role showcases his sharp, brilliant dialogue and impeccable comedic timing. He also delivers the heartwarming moments and side-splitting hilarity that define the show.

Wendy Zavaleta – Miranda Drew

Wendy Zavaleta has appeared on many stages including The Dallas Opera, City Theatre, TexArts, The Austin Playhouse, Miami Valley Theatre, Lyric Theatre Oklahoma, The Stage Austin and Casa Manana. Wendy received her Bachelor of Music Degree in Vocal Performance from the University of Oklahoma and can be seen performing around Austin with her ABBA tribute band, DiscoTex.

Taylor Allen – Taffy

Taylor Allen has appeared on CNN, HLN, Yahoo News, E! Channel, and The Huffington Post. She was a viral YouTube star, and has performed professionally nationally in Los Angeles, Seattle, Austin, and more. Favorite roles include: Eliza Doolittle (My Fair Lady), Juliet (Romeo + Juliet), Helena (R.U.R.), Lucinda (Into the Woods) and Eddie (Mamma Mia). She is a proud graduate of the University of Southern California where she was the Commencement Speaker for her class. 

Suzanne Orzech – Pat

Suzanne Orzech (Pat) has performed extensively across Austin and Central Texas stages, bringing depth and versatility to a wide range of principal roles. At the Georgetown Palace Theatre, her credits include Annie Wilkes in Misery, Myra Bruhl in Deathtrap, Berthe in Boeing Boeing, Louise Badger in Holiday Inn, Mrs. Tottendale in The Drowsy Chaperone, Alice Beineke in The Addams Family, Mrs. Pearce in My Fair Lady, and Jolene Oaks in Dirty Rotten Scoundrels. Additional highlights include Marie in Calendar Girls (City Theatre Austin), Susan in Company and Arlene McNally in Baby, The Musical (Austin Theatre Project), Helen in the world premiere of Trade with Klan (Southwest Theatre Productions), and her international debut as Roxie Hart in Chicago at Théâtre Charles Dullin in Rouen, France.

Nikki Bora – Maggie
(selected performances)

Nikki has been performing and teaching acting to teens for many years. She’s thrilled to make her Austin debut with this production and hopes you’ll sit back, relax, and enjoy the show!

Jerry Brown – Judge

Jerry Brown (ensemble and judge) has appeared in or directed over 100 shows, first in the DFW area, and for the last few years with the Georgetown Palace, the Play House, and the Archive Theatre.

He was also a theatre teacher while living in the DFW area.

Anabella Martinez – Annaleise

Anabella Martinez is thrilled to be performing in her very first musical. Acting has always been a huge passion of hers, and she’s excited to take on this new challenge.

Sam Menke

Sam Menke is an Austin native and obtains his BFA in Musical Theatre from Sam Houston State University. Favorite credits include Footloose (Jeter/Ren McCormack US) with Magnolia Musical Theatre, Elf (Ensemble/Swing) with TexARTS, Sherlock Holmes & the Mystery of the Crown Jewel (Pip) and Dragons Love Tacos (White Dragon) with Main Street Theatre. He hopes you have a happy holiday season and enjoy the show! Follow him: IG (@the.sam.menke), TikTok (@thesammenke) 

Mary Ellen Gross-Butler – Director

Mary Ellen Gross-Butler is an accomplished director and producer with a long history of revitalizing theater and building community through the performing arts. After returning to the United States and settling just outside Austin, she became the Artistic Director—and later Executive Artistic Director—of a historic 325-seat theater. Under her leadership, the theater grew from bankruptcy into a thriving organization with an annual budget of over $2 million and became a major catalyst in rejuvenating the city’s downtown arts district. For her contributions, the city’s newspaper named her Person of the Year, and upon her retirement, the Mayor officially proclaimed a day in her honor.

Before her time in Texas, Mary Ellen spent several years in Germany, where she founded The American Musical Theater Company, touring productions such as Cabaret, Little Shop of Horrors, and Jesus Christ Superstar. She also operated The Broadway Bistro, hosting performers from New York, and toured the beloved vocal ensemble The Glory Gospel Singers.

She continues to direct with a deep love for collaboration, storytelling, and community-centered creativity.

Sara Burke – Choreographer

Recent credits include Alice by Heart (Director, The ZACH Academy), Jesus Christ Superstar (Choreographer / Mary Magdalene, Summer Stock Austin),Beautiful: The Carole King Musical (Cynthia Weil, ZACH), SSA Short Films SCOUT, How to Musical Theatre, and Dance Hall (Choreographer) and HBOs Love & Death. In 2024, she received two B. Iden Payne Awards for her work in Beautiful: The Carole King Musical and A Year with Frog & Toad. Follow along on insta: @ohheysarab 

Max Randa – Music Director

Max is an alumnus of Oklahoma City University and after graduating with a degree in Music Composition, immediately became a part of Austin’s arts scene. He has been involved as a Vocalist, Pianist, Music Director and more in greater Austin staples such as the Georgetown Palace Theater, Zach Theater, Austin Opera and several other productions, in addition to serving as a keyboardist for the Praise and Worship team at Bethany United Methodist Church. 

Emily Taylor – Stage Manager

Emily Taylor is a theatre professional with decades of experience in all areas of theatre. She is thrilled to be joining this production of Once Upon a Christmas Card Movie. She holds a BFA from Texas Christian University and a MA from Goldsmiths’ College, University of London. She most recently directed the world premiere production of Bluebonnet Road, which was short-listed for the B. Iden Payne awards. Some of her favorite theatrical credits include Cabaret (director), Man of La Mancha (Stage Manager), Laughter on the 23rd Floor (director and props),and Oklahoma (director).