Cabaret

Broadway Backwards: A Miscast Cabaret ~
A Hilarious Success

The second Talent Machine Cabaret was a great success, as the audience enjoyed a crazy, mixed-up series of songs and dances performed by 10 miscast Talent Machine alumni and regional actors. Women singing “Those Canaan Days” from Joseph (normally sung by Joseph’s brothers), Chrystal Jones portraying King George from Hamilton, and many other favorites made the audience laugh out loud while also appreciating the amazing voices and comedic talent of the cast.

Meet the People of Miscast Cabaret & Read the wonderful Severna Park Voice Article about The Cabaret & Cast.

Director, Sarah Johansen
Sarah grew up performing with The Talent Machine Company from 1998 to 2010. She directed Young Frankenstein (2024) and Urinetown: The Musical (2021) and has co-directed eight holiday shows with TMC. She currently serves on the Board of Directors. She is the Director of Finance and Business Operations for the Annapolis Symphony Orchestra. Recent performance credits include: Tracy Turnblad in Hairspray! (Ovations), Pamela in Head Over Heels (ASGT) and Audrey II in Little Shop of Horrors (AACC). She is excited to be back directing this Cabaret for a second time!

Host, Taylor Rector
Taylor performed with The Talent Machine Company from 1996 to 2008. After graduating high school, she studied musical theater at the University of Florida. She directed Legally Blonde: The Musical with Talent Machine in 2022.

Cast Members:

Abby Burns
This is Abby’s second cabaret with Talent Machine. She grew up in Severna Park and took vocal lessons with TMC’s Cyndi Wallman. Abby currently works full-time as a Mental Health Care Coordinator, and is also working on her master’s degree in Clinical Professional Counseling at UMGC. Abby has been involved in a few community productions since graduating college and returning to the area. Abby most recently had the privilege of performing in A Night of Duets Cabaret at the Green Room 42 in New York City.

Layne Cassidy
Layne is very excited to be back with her Talent Machine family! While growing up in Annapolis, Layne performed with The Talent Machine in summer shows and the annual holiday show. Some favorites include Bring It On! and The Wedding Singer. She then went on to study musical theatre and business at Marymount Manhattan College, where she graduated with a BFA in 2020. She is extremely grateful for the opportunity to preform with The Talent Machine again, an organization that means the world to her! 

Elizabeth Egan
Liz (formerly Liz Burdick, sealed her fate in 1995 when she took a tap class at Maryland Hall with the late, great Bobbi Smith. Her first Talent Machine show was The Wiz in 1999, where she was cast as a “hoopskirt munchkin” alongside the director of this Cabaret, Sarah Jo. Liz was hooked, and performed with Talent Machine until aging out in 2008. Her favorite role was playing Raggedy Anne opposite David Grindrod’s Raggedy Andy in the holiday show. Liz is now a wife and the mother of three children, living in Annapolis and working at The Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory (APL). She is thrilled to do her part to support this incredible organization.

Morgan Gingerich
Morgan started performing with the Talent Machine in 2006, performing on Christmas Shows, summer shows, and breakfast shows until 2015. She has returned to choreograph Annie Get Your Gun (2016), Big Fish (2019), and Oklahoma (2024) as well as numbers for the Christmas show. She is grateful to be back in the Cabaret after performing last year. 

Chrystal Jones
Chrystal is excited to return to the stage after nearly a decade away from performing! In high school, she appeared in a variety of productions, including Evita and Aida, where she first developed her love for musical theatre. This production marks her first performance with Talent Machine and she is so excited to work with such talented people. She is thrilled to be back on stage and to share this experience with the cast and audience.

Ruby Maghoney
Ruby was delighted to perform in last year’s cabaret and is excited to return for another year with a new cast. She discovered Talent Machine when searching for auditions after relocating to Baltimore from Birmingham, AL. She has worked with Birmingham Children’s Theatre (Theatre for Young Audiences), Virginia Samford Theatre, and more recently, Bowie’s 2nd Star as Rapunzel in Into the Woods.

Sophia Ortiz Leizman (bio to come)

Tabitha Tuttle
Tabitha (formerly Tabitha Thornhill) is thrilled to be back with TMC’s second Cabaret! Tabitha is a TMC alumni, who performed from 2001 through 2013. She has choreographed several TMC shows including Young Frankenstein as an assistant choreographer. Tabitha also co-directed TMC’s holiday shows in 2024 and 2025. She has returned to Stageworkz as a teacher focusing on jazz, tap, and Broadway choreography. Special thanks to her husband, Keith, and her daughter, Isla, for their constant love and support. Catch the Energy!

Katie Zinzarella
Katie (formerly Katie Peacock) has been around TMC for the last 17 years. You may have seen her on stage or behind the scenes. These days Katie is a teacher in Anne Arundel County where she directs shows and teaches music.  Big thanks to SJ, her castmates, and her supportive family and friends!

Questions?

For any inquiries, please contact Sarah at sjohansen@talentmachine.com.