On the stage and behind the scenes

James and his wife, Tiffany, as Santa and Mrs. Claus

On the road, he commands an 18-wheeler. On the stage he travels with 9 reindeer. James Gordon is a truck driver by day, but he might just leave your cookie plate empty at night -- at least in the imagination of the nearest pre-schooler at Christmas. James plays the character of Santa Claus on the NarroWay stage. When you meet this gentle, kind-hearted man you might easily suspect typecasting. 

Regardless of his good nature, however, James has been cast in "bad guy" roles as well. A versatile actor, he transforms from jolly ol' St. Nick at Christmas to a mean, conniving pharisee at Easter. You'll find him in these conflicting roles when he takes to the stage in "The Real Christmas Story" and "The Fourth Cross." 

Ken and Miya Noblezada

When his daughter, Skylar, auditioned at NarroWay and was cast into a solo at 8-years-old, Ken Noblezada had no intention of being on the stage. Being a child, Skylar had to be accompanied by an adult, so her mother, Miya, came into the cast with Skylar and two of four siblings. “I never thought of joining the cast until the directors asked Miya if I would be open to being a Roman soldier," remembers Ken. "They promised that I wouldn't have a speaking part.”

That "promise" was relative. Perhaps it should have said, "We promise you won't have a speaking part in Belarusian."