Meet the Players

Steve Whetzel, Artistic Director
(A.K.A. Mantise Sevall)

Steve became a member of the Shadowplayers in 2001. Prior to becoming a member he was involved in the Raleigh theatre scene and was training in Medieval style combat. Once he became me a full time Shadow Player he studied renaissance weapons, old school masters of defense and became proficient in the different styles of the period. Steve became the groups Artistic/Managing Director in 2008. In 2009 Steve was asked to become the ‘real’ pirate mascot for East Carolina University Pirates, a position he holds to this day. Steve has acted as fight choreographer for numerous theatrical and film productions and also teaches stage combat. Steve is still heavily involved in theatre and performs on stage when not traveling with the Shadow Players. He’s extremely proud of this group for the hard work and dedication each member shows at every event, be it large or small. Our safety record speaks for itself, not to mention the smiles on the faces of our audience members after each performance!

Cherylyn Lambeth
(A.K.A. Caitlin Murrell)

Alexandria McCormick
(A.K.A. Andrea Bordeaux)

Alexandria joined The Shadow Players in 2007 shortly after she turned 13. Unlike most millenials who grew up in the 90s, her favorite “princess” was Xena. Alexandria began taking Taekwondo passionately at the age of 9 and made it to black belt at 12. She was then asked to become an instructor thus making her the youngest to teach at her dojo. Following this achievement she decided to have herself signed up for a Shakespearean swordplay class where she had met Steve Whetzel, the classes stage combat instructor. She was a natural from the beginning and Steve, impressed, asked her to join as a member of The Shadow Players. She has loved every minute of it since.

Clay Raines
(A.K.A. William Greaves)

Clay is a 2001 East Carolina University graduate with a BFA in Musical Theatre and Theatre Education. He was lucky enough to join the Shadow Players in 2015 due to his prior involvement in Center Stage Theatre’s production of Robin Hood in which he portrayed Will Scarlet. He uses his talents to support the community and community organizations and does so regularly. He has had the privilege to perform at the White House, Disney World, East Carolina University, Lenoir Community College, Lenoir County Community Council for the Arts, and Center Stage. His performances include Edges, Macbeth, The Music Man, Godspell, Clue, and The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (Abridged), just to name a few. His most notable role was that of Jesus of Nazareth in Jesus Christ Superstar. He currently teaches theatre arts at Kinston High School, where he is an award-winning director.

Jamar Markey
(A.K.A. Solomon Messina)

Vincent Bridgers
(A.K.A. Maximilian Roberts)

Vincent has been a member of the Shadow Players since late 2012. He learned about the group during his six years as President of Center Stage Theatre (CST) in Goldsboro, NC. During a production of The Three Musketeers, he contacted Steve Whetzel for fight choreography. Once the show wrapped, he and his wife, Lauren (A.K.A Maggie Roberts), joined the Shadow Players. Vincent is a veteran of community theatre with over 30 shows under his belt during the last 10 years with roles such as the title characters in Robin Hood and Willy Wonka, Ichabod Crane in The Legend of Sleepy Hollow, Professor Plum in Clue: The Musical, and the Tin-Man in The Wizard of Oz. He is also an award winning director with CST having directed The Three Musketeers, Harvey, and productions of A Christmas Carol in 2013 and 2014. Now living in Denver, CO, Vincent’s “day job” is as a Box Office Manager and Broadway Treasurer for the Denver Center for the Performing Arts; the largest non-profit Theatre organization in the country. Vincent is working on creating “Shadow Players West” in order to offer a similar Shadow Players experience in Colorado and other western states.

Lauren Bridgers
(A.K.A. Maggie Roberts)