Bart Shatto

Bart (BHS ’83) was born in Peoria, to Sara Kelly and Player Shatto.  Sara worked as a caregiver for the disabled and Player was a maintenance supervisor for Pabst Brewery and a jazz musician. The youngest of four, he has two older sisters and one older brother. He studied mass communications and theatre at both Western Illinois University and Southern Illinois University.

He started his theatrical career in St. Louis Missouri for regional theaters before moving to New York City. While working on Holland America Cruise Lines as an entertainer he met Jim Caruso (of New York's "Cast Party" fame) who invited him to become a member of his musical comedy trio "Wiseguys."  Bart worked with "Wiseguys" for a year performing at Carnegie Hall twice with the late Rosemary Clooney, in London and many other venues throughout NYC.  After the group dissolved, Bart decided to pursue his theatrical career landing the role of "Gus/Growltiger" in the National Tour of "Cats." That tour would lead to his first Broadway show "The Civil War" which began his relationship with Tony-nominated composer Frank Wildhorn.  Bart would later work with Frank Wildhorn on "Dracula: the Musical" on Broadway (as the Texan Quincey Morris), "Bonnie and Clyde" and many "Civil War" productions around the country including the 1st National Tour with country music legend Larry Gatlin and TV star John Schneider. Bart also played the pivotal role of Jean Valjean in "Les Miserables" on Broadway for a year and a half under the direction of Jason Moore ("Pitch Perfect"). Other Broadway credits include the Tony-nominated "Hands On a Hardbody" (standby for Tony nominee Keith Carradine) and "War Paint" (starring Tony Winners Patti Lupone and Christine Ebersole).

Bart can be heard as the voice of "Gaspard's Papa" in the animated series for Disney Jr. "Gaspard and Lisa." Other Television credits include: "Murphy Brown" (CBS), "Chicago Med" (NBC), "Ghost Stories" (Fox Family), and "Guiding Light" (CBS). Bart co-starred in the feature film "Freedom" opposite Academy Award winner Cuba Gooding Jr (available on Netflix) and the musical film "Life of an Actress: The Musical" opposite Tony nominees Orfeh ("Legally Blonde") and Taylor Louderman ("Peter Pan Live") with cast album produced by Broadway Records.

He has one child, Conor Shatto, who is a graduate of Ithaca College in musical theatre. Bart resides in New Jersey with his wife, Dr. Amy Bladen PhD.

Alexandra Palkovic

Alex (PND’07) is a graduate of Western Illinois University. Off-Broadway: Attack of the Elvis Impersonators. Other Credits: Tommy (Paramount Theater), Singin in the Rain (The Drury Lane Oakbrook), Smokey Joe's Cafe (Delee) New Theatre Company, Elf the Musical (Ensemble, u/s Jovie) Arvada Theatre Center, Constellations (Marianne) Clinton Area Showboat Theatre, Cabaret (Sally) and Sweet Charity (Charity) Timber Lake Playhouse, and Chicago (Mona) Beef and Boards Dinner Theatre. A few commercial credits include: American Financing, KFC, Taco John's, and Visible Wireless.

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Mike Reams

Mike Reams (AOL/SI ’84) is a graduate of Bradley University. He has performed in over 150 theatrical productions at Peoria Players, Corn Stock, Eastlight, and Peoria Cabaret theatres. Mike had leading roles in many shows including The Producers, Next to Normal, Dirty Rotten Scoundrels, Anything Goes, Guys and Dolls, and Billy Elliot. In 2015, Mike and Bart Shatto appeared together at Corn Stock Theatre in The Secret Garden. Mike’s most recent stage appearance was in December as the Ghost of Christmas Present in A Christmas Carol: The Musical at the Scottish Rite Theater. Mike has applied his Catholic school background performing in and directing multiple productions of the musical Do Black Patent Leather Shoes Really Reflect Up?

Rusty Brost

Rusty graduated from PND in 2013 and went on to study finance at Indiana University. He kept up with his passion for performing by joining the Singing Hoosiers at the Jacobs School of Music. Since graduating, he has worked with GE Healthcare while living in Milwaukee, and, currently, Chicago. He travels to Peoria frequently to perform in fundraisers, and was recently seen in the Peoria Players Theater production of Mamma Mia.  

Annie Carroll

Annie Carroll (PND’ 15) is thrilled to be in her fourth year of teaching at Peoria Notre Dame High School in the social studies department and working on the Admissions Team. She is currently pursuing her master’s degree online in Education Policy, Organization, and Leadership through the University of Illinois. Annie has been active in community theater since the age of seven and has been involved in over 25 productions, most recently onstage as Pearl in These Shining Lives at Corn Stock, and as the director of White Christmas, The Great High School Whodunit, and High School Musical at PND this past year. She appreciates PND allowing her to perform at this event, and specifically for not asking her brother, John, who will *maybe* reach her level of talent one day.

Laurel Cramer

Laurel Cramer (PND ’16) is a lyric soprano who received her Bachelor’s of Music in vocal performance under the tutelage of Dr. Ann Cravero. Laurel’s recent stage work has included music directing and choreographing for several Peoria theatres and sacred music solo work for local churches. Some of her favorite roles performed include Alice Ford in Falstaff, First Lady in Die Zauberflöte, and Young Alice in Alice Ryley. At Drake University, Laurel was an Honors Recital winner, the choral-orchestral soloist for Beethoven’s Mass in C, a 4-time NATS finalist, and toured across the US and Europe.   Laurel currently enjoys teaching visual art at Peoria Notre Dame High School. She is very grateful to work full-time in the fine art field, surrounded by such a supportive and dedicated community.

Cheri Beever

Cheri Beever (BHS '74) has been active in Peoria-area theatre forever (well, almost).  At Corn Stock, she’s been a Board member, Lab Committee member, Gretchen Iben Award winner, and is currently Season Costume Co-chair. But her favorite pastime? Performing, of course! She's done more shows than she can count at Peoria Players, Corn Stock and the CST Winter Playhouse, and other local theatres. Recent shows include Company, The Spitfire Grill and My Fair Lady at CST, and August, Osage County, Sunset Boulevard and Steel Magnolias at PPT. She also performs yearly at the Peoria Gridiron Dinner, and sang at the Peoria Race for the Cure with her dear friend, Joe Couri, for almost 30 years.

The Dwyer Family

Peggy Flynn Dwyer is a 1987 graduate of Academy of Our Lady/Spalding Institute. Peggy is married to Tom Dwyer (AOL/SI ‘86). They have five children and live in West Peoria. Peggy is the director of Flynn School of Irish Dance, a local, performance-based school.

Carissa Phan

Carissa (PND ’22) currently attends Drake University double majoring in Law, Politics, and Society and English. She has been dancing for 5 years, and she participated in the musicals during her 4 years at PND. She recently co-choreographed Community Children’s Theatre’s (CCT) production of Aladdin Jr, and next summer she will be choreographing Newsies with CCT! She hopes to continue dancing/musical theatre in college as well! 

Will Church

William Church (PND ’22) is currently attending ICC part time studying engineering and welding. William is training to become a Team USA athlete in Geneva Illinois with his younger sister Margaret Church. William also dances at Peoria Ballet. William has been the lead in Peoria Ballet’s Nutcracker as well as Coppelia. He is also a nationally ranked athlete and is the 2022 figure skating novice pairs national champion. William hopes you all enjoy the evening.