Ivy Austin - Lilly the Lady Bug
Ivy Austin is the voice of Cate, the leading character in the story, "A Hickory Bench Christmas." Ivy's career highlights include a four-year stint as the "girl singer" and comedienne on Garrison Keillor's, "A Prairie Home Companion."
She appeared on Broadway as Raggedy Ann and in the New York City Opera productions of Candide, Sweeney Todd, South Pacific, and The Music Man.
For a decade, she wrote for and performed with The Thalia Follies satirical revue in New York City.
Ivy recorded over 100 songs with the "Muppets." Songs you grew up with watching "Sesame Street." You've heard her voice for years without knowing it's Ivy.
Rich Muenz - Firefly Jerome
Rich starred on Broadway as Lancelot in Lerner and Lowe's Camelot with Richard Burton and Richard Harris.
He appeared for three years on Garrison Keillor’s The American Radio Company of the Air and received a Drama Desk nomination for The Pajama Game.
Leonard Bernstein invited Rich to join the cast of his Broadway musical 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue. He starred in the The Fantasticks, the Broadway production of A Most Happy Fella and the TV soaps Ryan’s Hope and Another World.
Leslie Carrera-Rudolph - Waffles
Three-time Emmy Award-winning performer Leslie Carrara-Rudolph is a multi-faceted entertainer, puppeteer, voice actor, artist, writer and creator. She is best known for bringing to life Abby Cadabby (and Tango) on Sesame Street—a role that has earned her multiple Children’s & Family Emmy Awards for Outstanding Puppetry Performer. Leslie also received a Sports Emmy for Outstanding Interactive Experience as part of the NBC Olympics Host team, performing as Abby.
Leslie is also the creator and sidekick of Lolly Lardpop a true candy obsessed force of nature. Together they entertain audiences with an interactive musical comedy experience that's fun packed from start to finish.
John Tabacco - Dog Catcher - Cab Driver
John is not only one of our most talented and versatile voice actors, he's our master engineer.
Above all John is a brilliantly gifted editor. He has mixed music for hundreds of recording artists on some of the industry’s major labels including Columbia, Electra and RCA.
His work has been praised in the New York Times and Keyboard Magazine.
Its not only how a project is recorded, its how its edited and mixed that can make all the difference in the world. Going from paper to success is an art form all its own.
Richard Cashman - Announcer
Rick wrote and produced the "Hickory Bench Playhouse" that aired on iHeart Radio and starred Ivy Austin and Rich Muniz. He authored, produced, illustrated, composed of the "Hickory Bench Christmas" and created, illustrated, narrated and composed the music for the Hickory Bench Productions "The Red Lantern" and "The First Crumby Christmas." starring Ivy Austin, Rich Muenz and Leslie Carrera-Rudolph.
Rick also wrote a memorable Christmas Song. "Christmas in Old New York" that appears at the end of the Christmas story.