PORTSMOUTH, NH -- Prescott Park Arts Festival, an independent nonprofit arts organization, is thrilled to announce the talented cast of its highly anticipated 2025 signature musical production, Disney’s Freaky Friday. 

Presented by Service Credit Union, this family-friendly musical will take center stage this summer on the Wilcox Main Stage from June 20 through August 10.

A long-time supporter of the arts in the community, Service Credit Union continues its proud partnership with the Festival, ensuring that high-quality, live performing arts experiences remain accessible to all.

"The Prescott Park Arts Festival is a wonderful asset to the Seacoast and NH community at large, with a wealth of shows for people of all ages," said Jaime Yates, AVP of Community Development at Service CU. "We are excited to continue our support of their amazing work, and look forward to another incredible season in the park."

Directed by Tom Alsip, Director of the Musical Theatre Program at the University of New Hampshire Theatre Department, Disney’s Freaky Friday marks Alsip’s fourth summer directing in the park. He will be joined by Festival favorites Mary Beth Marino as Choreographer and Breanne Battey as Music Director. The team worked together for the first time last summer for Legally Blonde, the musical. 

“You don’t want to miss this one! Disney's Freaky Friday is an up-and-coming musical with a bright future that we are so excited to perform. It’s a chance for theatre patrons of the Seacoast to get to see a fun, new show BEFORE it makes its way to Broadway, which is a unique opportunity,” shared Tom Alsip, Director. “Based on the classic Mary Rodgers novel which has been adapted numerous times, including the famous 2003 film version with Jamie Lee Curtis and Lindsay Lohan, this show has great music, high energy dance numbers and is fun for the whole family. With a mix of new faces and returning talent, we know this show will be a crowd-pleaser.”

The production will officially premiere on Friday, June 20, 2025, with performances scheduled most Thursdays through Sundays at 7:00 PM until August 10. Additional matinee performances and ASL-supported show dates will be announced later this spring when reservations open.

PLAY SYNOPSIS

A mother and daughter swap lives in this heartfelt musical about growth, change, and the valuable lessons that come from seeing the world through each other’s eyes.

Disney’s Freaky Friday: The Musical is a lively, heartwarming story about the complex relationship between a mother, Katherine, and her teenage daughter, Ellie. When a mysterious event causes them to swap bodies, they must navigate each other’s lives with hilarious and poignant results. Katherine, a busy, overworked mother, finds herself in Ellie’s rebellious teenage world, while Ellie, desperate to escape her mother’s control, faces the challenges of adult responsibility. The two are forced to step into each other’s shoes and learn to appreciate the struggles and strengths that come with their respective roles.

Set against the backdrop of their chaotic family life, the musical explores themes of empathy, understanding, and the importance of family. As Katherine and Ellie attempt to return to their own bodies, they discover new perspectives on their relationship and ultimately grow closer, learning valuable lessons about love, respect, and the balance between independence and connection. With catchy songs, energetic choreography, and plenty of heart, Freaky Friday is a story about finding common ground, no matter how different we seem.

• Ellie Blake – Cheslee Duke: Making their Arts Festival debut, Cheslee hails from Munford, Alabama, and is on the Musical Theatre BFA track at The University of Alabama at Birmingham.
   
• Katherine Blake – Caitlyn Kuhn: Caitlyn returns to the Arts Festival in this lead role after making her professional debut in Legally Blonde last summer.
   
• Mike – Justin Demers: Originally from the NH seacoast, Justin is a musician and songwriter with Boston-based rock group Float Stanley.
   
• Torrey/ Adam’s Mom – Megan Onello: A recent graduate (’25) of NYU’s Vocal Performance – Musical Theatre program, Megan is making her Arts Festival debut.
   
• Adam – Gabriel J. Hill: Making his Arts Festival debut, Gabriel is a music theatre major from Baldwin Wallace and hails from Ann Arbor, MI.
   
• Hannah/ Ensemble – Grace Giannetti: Grace is currently studying theatre education and educational studies at the University of New Hampshire and is making her Arts festival debut.
   
• Gretchen/ Ensemble – Lia Jade: Lia returns to the Arts Festival’s main stage after appearing in Legally Blonde last summer.
   
• Savannah – Briar Moon: An alumni of Camp ENCORE!, Briar is making her main stage debut at the Arts Festival this summer.
   
• Parker/ Louis/ Ensemble – AJ Gori: AJ returns to the park this summer after playing the loveable Emmett in Legally Blonde last summer.
   
• Wells/ Ensemble – Grace Dalton:  Making her Arts Festival debut, Grace is pursuing a BFA in Musical Theater at Temple University in Philadelphia.
   
• Grandma Helene/ Mrs. Luckenbill/ Mrs. Time/ Gretchen’s Mom/ Ensemble – Lilly Whelan: Lilly returns to the main stage after being in the cast of Legally Blonde last summer.
   
• Grandpa Gordon/ Mr. Blumen/ Señor O'Brien/ Wells’s Dad – Adam Furgal: Another Arts Festival alum, Adam played the memorable UPS Guy in Legally Blonde last summer.
   
• Danielle/ Ms. Meyers/ Officer Sitz/ Savannah’s Mom – Jhonika Wright: Originally from Maryland, Jhonika spent most of her life in Arkansas where she graduated from Ouachita Baptist University with a BFA in Musical Theatre, she is making her Arts festival debut.
   
• Dr. Ehrin/ Pastor Bruno/ Officer Kowalski/ Parker’s Dad/ Ensemble – Jackson Rogers: Jackson is currently studying business and theater at the University of New Hampshire and is making his Arts Festival debut.
   
• Laurel/ Ensemble/ Swing – Alyssa Beaulieu: Alyssa is making her Arts Festival debut and is currently earning her BFA in musical theatre at Syracuse University.
   
• Fletcher Blake 1 – Carson Curtis: From Brentwood, NH, Carson is 14 years old and making his Arts Festival debut.
   
• Fletcher Blake 2 – Sebastian Finnegan: A camper from the Arts Festival’s Camp ENCORE!, Sebastian is making his first mainstage appearance at the Arts Festival this summer.

This production is perfectly timed as Freakier Friday, the Disney film sequel starring Jamie Lee Curtis and Lindsay Lohan, is set to come out on August 8, 2025. Prescott Park Arts Festival is excited to bring this heartwarming and hilarious musical that the New York Times called a "delightfully entertaining show" with "catchy tunes" and a "heartwarming story" to the Seacoast community. Stay tuned for more updates, including specific performance dates and reservation details.

Reservation Information:

Prescott Park Arts Festival remains an optional recommended donation of $8 per person for the musical. Attendees are welcome to reserve tables and blankets to ensure the best seating and to support the festival. RESERVATIONS WILL OPEN IN MAY. 

For more information, visit PrescottPark.org.

Disney’s Freaky Friday Cast List

CAST

Ellie Blake …. Cheslee Duke

Katherine Blake …. Caitlyn Kuhn

Mike ….  Justin Demers

Torrey/Adam's Mom …. Megan Onello

Adam …. Gabriel J. Hill

Hannah/Ensemble …. Grace Giannetti

Gretchen/Ensemble …. Lia Jade

Savannah …. Briar Moon

Parker/Louis/Ensemble …. AJ Gori

Wells/Ensemble …. Grace Dalton

Grandma Helene/Mrs. Luckenbill/Ensemble …. Lilly Whelan

Grandpa Gordon/Mr. Blumen/Señor O'Brien/Ensemble …. Adam Furgal

Danielle/Ms. Meyers/Officer Sitz/Ensemble …. Jhonika Wright

Dr. Ehrin/Pastor Bruno/Officer Kowalski/Ensemble …. Jackson Rogers

Laurel/Ensemble/ Swing …. Alyssa Beaulieu

Fletcher Blake 1 …. Carson Curtis

Fletcher Blake 2 …. Sebastian Finnegan

UNDERSTUDIES

Ellie …. Lia Jade

Mike …. Adam Furgal

Torrey  …. Alyssa Beaulieu

Adam …. AJ Gori

Savannah/ Hannah/ Gretchen …. Alyssa Beaulieu

Prescott Park Arts Festival FACT SHEET

For over 50 years, the Arts Festival has stayed true to its mission of accessibility to the arts by offering all of its events with no fixed admission. All performances of Disney’s Freaky Friday have an optional, recommended donation of $8. Reservations will open later this spring. 

In addition to Disney’s Freaky Friday, presented by Service Credit Union, Prescott Park Arts Festival offers the River House Restaurant Concert Series along with the Wentworth-Douglass Hospital Movie Night Series. Tables in The Kane Company VIP Seating Area can be reserved for all of the Festival’s series, in addition to limited blanket reservations, in front of the Wilcox Main Stage. The Best Seat in the House is a special seating area at the front of the VIP section that is available for reservation as well. 

Reservations for Freaky Friday will open in May.
An early access window will be available to Season Passholders and then reservations will open to the general public. Reservations are never needed to attend any of the Arts Festival’s events. 

All reservations can be made at: www.prescottpark.org.