Holiday Show Cast Members
Meet the Cast of the Fa La La La Follies
Welcome to the heart of the Spectacular Follies—our extraordinary cast. These remarkable performers, all 55 and better, bring decades of experience, passion, and pure joy to the stage. From dazzling dancers to powerhouse vocalists and unforgettable specialty acts, each cast member helps create the magic that makes our shows truly one-of-a-kind. We invite you to learn more about the talented individuals who make the Follies sparkle.
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Angie Smith
Dancer, Dallas Tap Dazzlers
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Audra Wadsworth
Dancer
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Betsy Lee
Dancer, Showgirl, Sassafras Dance Group
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Brigitta Powers
Dancer, Dallas Tap Dazzlers
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Candy Kelley
Dancer, Dallas Tap Dazzlers
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Cari Walker
Stage Manager
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Cenia Bowen
Dancer, Vocalist, Showgirl, Class Act Tap Company
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Charles McBride
Vocalist
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Chris Cree
Vocalist, Musician
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Class Act Tap Company
Dance Group
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Cyndi Darland
Vocalist
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Dallas Tap Dazzlers
Dance Group
Angie Smith
Dancer, Dallas Tap Dazzlers
Dancing since the age of 5, when she first put on a pair of tap shoes, Angie has also danced jazz, ballroom, hip hop, and was a musical choreographer for over a decade. Angie is retired from 31 years in public education, serving as a teacher, principal, and district administrator. During her career, she received her doctorate in education, taught master’s level classes at DBU, and was named a Texas Top Program Director for her district’s after-school program. She currently volunteers at Dallas Hope Charities. Angie has two boys and is proud to be a part of the Follies!
Audra Wadsworth
Dancer
This is Audra’s third year with the Spectacular Follies! Audra attended Booker T. Washington during high school and majored in dance. In 2018 she had her first ever ballroom lesson and was hooked! She loves to perform and is a member of Sassafras Dance Team – an adult jazz group. Audra continues to challenge herself and grow by learning new styles of dance and always striving to improve her technique. She seeks out adventure and will try almost anything – including Flash Mobs!
Betsy Lee
Dancer, Showgirl, Sassafras Dance Group
Betsy retired as a Financial Analyst at Fujitsu, a telecommunication company in Richardson in May, 2019 and is enjoying her free time dancing and performing.
Betsy took her first dance lesson when she was 43 and has not stopped dancing since. She is one of the original founder of USA DANCE DALLAS which is a local chapter of USA DANCE, INC., a national 501 ( c ) ( 3 ) non-profit organization that promotes ballroom dancing. She spent 12 years as its Treasurer and through her many years with the chapter, has learned numerous styles of dance including Ballroom, Argentine Tango, West Coast Swing and Salsa. To this day, she’s no longer on the board but still volunteers on its special committees.
In 2016, Betsy decided to take on a new challenge and began tap dancing with the Dallas Tap Dazzlers and soon after, joined the Follies cast in 2017. She became the newest member of the Follies showgirls and dance ensemble. Betsy joined the Follies’s board as their Treasurer in 2022 and hopes to help enrich the vitality of the senior community through song and dance.
In 2024 she accepted another challenge to learn a new dance style. She joined a senior jazz group named “Sassafras” which will debut in the 2025 Follies show “Feeling Groovy! Our tribute to the 60’s and 70’s”. Look for her in the show!
Brigitta Powers
Dancer, Dallas Tap Dazzlers
Brigitta has been a member of the Dallas Tap Dazzlers for 14 years. This is her fourth year dancing with the Spectacular Follies. She is the current Secretary of the Spectacular Follies Board of Directors. She enjoys fitness and golf and time with her family.
Candy Kelley
Dancer, Dallas Tap Dazzlers
A Texas native, Candy was born in Fort Worth. This will be her fourteenth year as a cast member of the Follies. Dancing since the age of 3, she has been a member of the Dallas Tap Dazzlers for 27 years.
Cari Walker
Stage Manager
This is Cari’s second show as Stage Manager for the Spectacular Follies. Cari has been married to her high school sweetheart, Jarred, for 28 years.
They have a beautiful and talented daughter, Sydni Kaye, who is a recent graduate of SMU and who is currently a multi-skilled journalist for KCEN TV in Temple, TX. Cari has a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology, with a minor in Women’s Studies, from Texas Woman’s University and a Master’s Degree in Social Work from UTA.
Cari has always been a fan of musical theater and is excited to be a part of this very special production! Her journey began when she was recruited to be the “Costume Mom” for her daughter’s 7th grade production of ‘Shrek the Musical’, and she then found herself happily volunteering in several capacities for every single production until Sydni graduated! She has experience in costuming, volunteer coordination, box office management, hospitality, and serving as the DSM judge liaison.
Cari is honored to be the Stage Manager for the Spectacular Follies 2025, and wants to thank her family for their encouragement and support.
Break a Leg!
Cenia Bowen
Dancer, Vocalist, Showgirl, Class Act Tap Company
Cenia has been a member of the cast and a Showgirl since 2018. She has been a member of Class Act Tap since Nov., 2017.
She is a native Texan and currently resides in Rockwall. She took tap & jazz lessons in the third and fourth grade. She graduated from Skyline High School, where she was a member of the drill team and Captain her senior year.
She earned a BS in Elementary Education from The University of Texas in Austin and a MS in Early Childhood Education from The University of North Texas. After 39 years as a public elementary school teacher, she retired and found her way back to dance and tap.
Growing up, she was able to attend a few Dallas Summer Musicals and wanted to grow up and dance, and maybe sing, in a big show. She has found that thrill, with being a part of the Follies, Class Act Tap Company and as an Ambassador at DSM.
Always active!!! While in school, when dancing wasn’t affordable, she was the neighborhood tom-boy playing kickball and softball in the streets, riding bikes, etc. In college, working toward a Physical Education minor, she participated in classes like badminton, dance, racquetball, swimming, and was even a guard for the winning co-ed intramural football team.
In her adult-after children life, she loves and participates in various dance exercise classes, such as Jazzercise, Zumba and now, U-Jam. She has taught adult aerobics classes, Bokwa, and currently teaches beginning tap to Seniors. She participates weekly in an aerobic dance class, Class Act Tap, yoga, Pilates, and Barre. She and James, her high-school sweetheart, have been married for 44 years. They follow his parents tradition, as well as his siblings, of marrying high school sweethearts-and all have remained married. They have two children and one grandchild.
Charles McBride
Vocalist
God loving family man!
Chris Cree
Vocalist, Musician
Singer/songwriter/guitarist. President of the Spectacular Follies Board.
Serves on boards of 4 other not for profit corporations. Founder of North American Scrabble Players Association and NASPA Foundation for Youth Literacy.
Met wife, Carla, on the tournament Scrabble circuit. 3 children; Kendall (37), Faith (16), Henry (12). Two grandchildren; Hank and Dottie Gunderson. Performs regularly at Kitchen Café, Sammons Center for the Arts and with BYO Musicians (a not for profit comprised of business-people who like to make music and give back).
Class Act Tap Company
Dance Group
Members: Barbara Frank, Cenia Bowen, Debbie Dutton, Karla Roberson, Liz Thomas, Madonna Nuckolls, Margaret Diehl, Teri Ann Rogers, Valerie New
Since 1986, Class Act Tap Company has entertained numerous groups across North Texas at a variety of different venues including shows for veterans, seniors, corporations, charities, schools and churches. Class Act tappers are a group of volunteer women, aged 50 or older, who dedicate their time in performances and practice to bring joy to those groups they serve.
Over the years, Class Act has been recognized by veteran’s groups, civic organizations and the media for their service and commitment to the community. With a wide repertoire of sparkling costumes and dance routines, Class Act customizes their shows for specific groups and occasions. To learn more, go to www.ClassActTap.com or call 972-345-1346 for more information.
Cyndi Darland
Vocalist
Cyndi is excited for this year’s Spectacular Follies, and loves being a part of the Follies’ Family!
She has performed in Carnegie Hall in NYC and the Kennedy Center in Washington, DC. She has performed with many groups including Allen Symphony Chorus, Noteworthy, Achord, Ms. Texas Senior America Cameo Club, and many local community Theater productions. A fun fact is that she met Cindy Kahn – also in the show-over 40 years ago at Plano Repertory Theater doing South Pacific. Cyndi’s Son and Cindy’s daughter were the boy and girl cast to sing “Ditta Moi” as well as both Mamas in the show!
She has been honored as First Runner up in the Ms. Texas Senior America Pageant.
She is a Fighting Texas Aggie, with a Degree in Biology, Health, PE, Music and Foreign Language from Texas A&M and Texarkana Junior College with advanced work from Hardin Simmons, ACU and Hardin Simmons.
She taught and coached at Trent School, Lincoln JH and Cooper HS in Abilene, Plano SHS, Allen HS and Princeton HS. She coached everything Girl’s play over the years. She received the honor of Dallas Morning News Coach of the Year for taking her Soccer Team to State 2 years in a row!
She is a retired School Teacher and Coach.
She is currently a School Board President for Princeton ISD, her 3rd year as President and Trustee for 5.
She was a Mary Kay Director for 20 years with Mary Kay Ash as her trainer and mentor. And yes! she had 9 free cars!
She is a Wife of Rick Darland, Mother of 4 great Children-2 girls and 2 boys, and Grandma of 9 precious Grandchildren.
She currently has “A Note Above the Rest” Studio and teaches private Voice and Piano.
She also has Ms. Cyndi’s Swimmers and teaches 6 mos. thru adult swim classes, and coaches swimmers on swim teams and other competitions like Triathlons..
She is still a Mary Kay consultant, Doterra consultant and Norwex consultant. She shares the things she believes in and makes a difference in her own life.
Cyndi is in the Noino Club, the oldest Women’s Service Club in Princeton – over 50 years serving Princeton.
Cyndi is a Christian and sings on Praise team and is also on Evangelism Team and other Ministries. She has also been a Children’s Ministry Director.
Dallas Tap Dazzlers
Dance Group
With an average age of 73, the Dallas Tap Dazzlers is a 501(c)(3) organization formed in 1990 and not only “still around”… they’re “still kickin!” This exciting ensemble performs multiple times every month entertaining and inspiring groups of all ages. As a result, the Dazzlers are one of the most recognizable and sought-after groups in the Metroplex and beyond.
While the Dazzlers enjoy the benefits of exercise (weekly rehearsals and year-round performances), fresh air (check out any parade in the Dallas-Ft. Worth area), fellowship (most members have been Dazzlers for over ten years) and laughter (just meet any one of these fabulous women and you’ll soon be laughing, too) their REAL reward is realizing they inspire women of every age. After almost 5,000 performances – in heels, fishnets and sparkling costumes – the entire group still loves to dazzle audiences with their high kicks and fast-paced snappy routines. They have had many memorable moments from tapping through Manhattan at the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade to performing on a Caribbean cruise. They even opened for a Lee Greenwood concert and appeared on Cross Canadian Ragweed’s first music video which was nominated for the “Country Music Video of the Year.”
They have what they believe to be a World Record; eight of their dancers have been crowned Ms. Texas Senior America.
Our contact is Director Frances Dempsey, 972 896 1944. The Dazzlers encourage you to visit their website at http://www.dallastapdazzlers.org.
