Meet the Cast of A Christmas Carol's Past: Mike Kopera

Meet Mike Kopera

I played Peter Cratchit and Young Scrooge for at least one year at MBT (maybe two?), back when Geoffrey Sherman was artistic director.  It was one of Booth Colman’s last years as Scrooge if I recall.

I have one vivid memory of nodding to sleep backstage during a tech rehearsal while the adult cast was trying to learn how to move the perikctoi - the giant three-sided scene towers that had a different picture on each side...and apparently weren’t easy to move! [ Editor's note: this was the set design used in 1996.]

But I recall Diana Van Fossen and some other actors singing “The Coventry Carol” during this transition and, as I sat backstage presumably waiting a long time for my entrance (ah, the beauty of tech rehearsals), I felt this warm sense of calm and peace hearing the “loo lay loo lahs.”

To this day, that song makes me feel warm and cozy inside. 

Since then, I went to Northwestern where I majored in theatre, then moved to LA in 2005.  I’ve produced 4 feature films and had a handful of small roles in commercials and TV shows, including “Fresh Off the Boat” and “The Resident.”

I’m still pursuing acting (auditioning for less theatre these days, but still doing the occasional live improv performance at “The Groundlings”), have a day-job at the W Hotel in Hollywood, am married and have 3 kids.

I live in the hills of Mt. Washington, a fun, artsy area of LA.

My nephew, David Kopera, now carries on the "A Christmas Carol" tradition, and I’m very proud of him!!

Meet the Cast of A Christmas Carol's Past: Matt Britten

Meet Matt Britten

Though I was only a Carol Kid for one year, 1998, I had an absolute blast as Peter Cratchit. (I hope we didn't give our kid wrangler too much trouble!)

After graduating high school in Michigan, I went to Syracuse University where I studied theater and entrepreneurship. I worked for The Walt Disney Company and Warner Bros. Entertainment, and eventually ended up in New York where I served as Creative Director for the theatrical non-profit New York Musical Festival for a few years.

Five years ago, I somewhat serendipitously created Broadway Briefing (a daily theater industry publication) which grew to become Broadway Brands, which now also publishes Broadway News and Broadway Business. As of this past year, we also now produce the Drama Desk Awards, which honor outstanding work in New York theater.

In between, I've produced and written a bit, including producing the first ever app-enabled theatrical experience, Blank! The Musical, and writing Odyssey, an epic musical retelling of the classic myth.

I'm currently living in New York City, though I think about Michigan and Meadow Brook all the time, and wish a very happy holidays to everyone there now and to all of my fellow Carol Kids from way back when!

Meet the Cast of A Christmas Carol's Past: Kelly Niemiec

Meet Kelly Niemiec

I was one of Belle's children and Fan (years 2005-2008). I graduated from Oakland University in 2017 with a Bachelors Degree in Communication. I am currently obtaining my Associates Degree in Sign Language Interpretation. I will graduate this December and start the process of becoming a state certified Sign Language Interpreter. My recent theatre experiences have been involved with theatre interpreting. I have interpreted five shows and have enjoyed every minute of it.

Meet the Cast of A Christmas Carol's Past: Nicole Niemiec

Meet Nicole Niemiec

I was one of Belle's children and Fan (years 2006-2009). I graduated from Michigan State University in 2018. While I had many accomplishments there, my greatest achievement was becoming the world's most famous mascot, Sparty. I was the second female ever to become Sparty. I now have a Bachelors Degree in Marketing with a minor in sports marketing and am currently working as a District Manager for General Motors. My position requires lots of travel and moving to different locations every year. I love the travel and currently resides in State College, Pennsylvania.