Meet the Team

Michael Radzwilla is thrilled to make his Philly Fringe debut. The last role he played was Mr. Sowerberry in Oliver! — also a Charles Dickens musical. He studies acting under Bryan Fox at Actor's Lab, where the first performance of the first song of this show took place. When not writing Christmas rap musicals, Michael teaches chess to elementary school kids. Tremendous gratitude to the cast and crew, especially Ryan, Maura, and his mom (who is coming to the show even though she doesn't like rap).

For the past 25 years, Sharif Lacey, aka Reef the Lost Cauze, has been a prolific and prominent artist, activist, and educator in the city of Philadelphia. Since releasing his first album in 2001, he has amassed a celebrated catalog of songs spanning into the hundreds. His true calling card is his captivating live performances, which he attributes to his theater training as a youth at the legendary Freedom Theater. Born and raised in West Philly, he has resided in South Philly since 1999, where he lives happily to this day with his wife and three children (and dog and two cats).

Thenegard is excited to be part of the cast of Christmas Carol: The Rap Musical. He loves exploring characters, collaborating with fellow artists, and bringing meaningful stories to life for audiences. He has trained at The Actor's Lab under Bryan Fox and continues to develop his craft both on stage and on screen. When he's not acting, he enjoys spending time with his family and staying active through fitness and martial arts. He is thrilled to bring Bob Cratchit to life in this fresh, modern retelling of the classic story.

Andre is a multi-disciplined artist from Philadelphia; these days, Wilmington is his home. Andre was the Emerging Artist Fellow for the Delaware Division of the Arts in 2013, and the 2023 Delaware Division of the Arts Individual Artist Grantee, for which he produced a twenty-five-piece original painting body of work entitled Metaphorical Imagery: The Intersection Between Hip-Hop Lyricism and Superheroes. Andre has written a catalogue of sixteen plays, including Off, A Nation of Millions, Bathsalt Army, Exhibited, and Steel, to name a few. He is delighted to be a part of this multi-talented cast and thanks God for those with whom he has crossed paths.

Joa is a multidisciplinary artist. Originally trained as a screen actor, Joa made her theater debut as Connie in Lucy Prebble's The Effect. Her background in the visual arts, as well as her many past lives as a nomad, inform her current practice as a performer. Her work witnesses the points of friction between body, psyche, and spirit. She is bilingual and enjoys the specificity of language.

Diamond is a classically trained vocalist and actress specializing in opera, jazz, and R&B. A Philadelphia native, Diamond has performed onstage with legendary artists Andrea Bocelli and Jon Bon Jovi. Most recently, Diamond starred as Alice 2 in Opera on Tap Philadelphia's production of Alice Tierney in the 2025 Philly Fringe Festival and was a top-5 finalist in the 14th annual Sarah Vaughan International Jazz Vocal Competition.

Connor is hyped to play Fezziwig at the Philly Fringe Festival in Christmas Carol: The Rap Musical, written by his friend and cast mate Michael Radzwilla. Connor holds a Master's in Arts Administration from Colorado State University, blending his love of arts and education by teaching fifth grade and co-directing the school drama club. Favorite past credits include Dave in The Full Monty and Joe in 9 to 5 the Musical, which he also produced. Heartfelt thanks to Mike, Maura, and Ryan, the rest of the crew, his cast mates, and as always his family and loved ones for their constant support.

Ryan Simme is thrilled to help bring Christmas Carol: The Rap Musical to life at the Philadelphia Fringe Festival. After many years of involvement in community theater, this is Ryan's Fringe Festival debut. Tremendous thanks to his good friend Mike for writing such an impressive and innovative musical, and for inviting him onto this creative journey. Most importantly, Ryan thanks his incredible wife, Alicia, for her constant support and for holding things down at home with their son, Nicholas.

Maura is ecstatic to help bring Christmas Carol: The Rap Musical to Philly Fringe! She is a musical theatre actress performing in the Greater Philadelphia area and previously served as the assistant stage manager for Montgomery Theater. She is drawing on her background both onstage and off to help manage scheduling, communication, music direction, choreography, and anything that needs an extra set of hands. Maura is incredibly proud of her partner, Michael, for his creative vision. It has been an honor to watch this show grow from its conception to world premiere!

Taylor Leigh Davis is a Philadelphia-based actor who is grateful for the opportunity to bring her historical costuming hobby to life on stage for the first time in this production. Taylor has a bachelor's degree in Theatre from The Ohio State University and currently trains at The Actor's Lab. When she's not in front of the camera, she's crafting something or repairing a sewing machine.

Hallie is an A/V technician, composer, and multi-instrumentalist from Northern Virginia. Based in Philadelphia, they are a recent graduate of Temple University's Boyer College of Music and Dance, where they earned a Bachelor of Science in Music Technology and Composition. With over four years of technical experience, Hallie has supported countless live events across entertainment, education, and corporate fields. Their passion for the craft has encouraged them to expand the overlapping boundaries of technical efficiency and creative expression.

Emily is excited to lend her lighting design talents to Christmas Carol: The Rap Musical for its Philly Fringe debut.