Meet the cast of the 2026 season of Unto These Hills outdoor drama: Part 1
Meet the cast of the 2026 season of Unto These Hills outdoor drama! We have a lot of talented folks to introduce you to, so this is just part one. Stay tuned to meet the many faces it takes to bring the story of the Cherokee people to life each season.
Marcus Agro
Marcus Agro is from Panama City Beach, Florida and a graduate from the University of West Florida in Pensacola, Florida. This is his first year with Unto These Hills. Previous university credits include Twelfth Night, Jesus Christ Superstar, Fiddler on the Roof, and Akeelah and the Bee at the University of West Florida, and Dracula: The Case of the Silver Scream, Urinetown, and Blood Wedding at Gulf Coast State College. He enjoys reading, writing, and swimming. Marcus would like to thank his friends, family, and mentors for their unconditional love, support, and guidance.
Marcus plays Kanega, Tsali’s oldest son. You can also see him in the ensemble during fight scenes and crowd scenes. This is Marcus’s first year with us, and we are happy to have him!
Marilyn Bailey
Marilyn is so thrilled to be back at Unto These Hills for her third year. She is one of the co-costume designers at Asheville Community Theatre and a Bridal Consultant at Best Bride Prom & Tux in Asheville. She has an MFA degree in Acting from Regent University and a BA in Music from Western Carolina University. Some of her favorite roles include Mother in Ragtime, Meg Brockie in Brigadoon, and Mrs. Cratchit in Busch Gardens Williamsburg’s production of Scrooge No More. She would like to thank her mom, Teresa, for her unconditional support.
Marilyn first joined us in 2022 as Mrs. Perkins. She returned to Unto These Hills in 2025, for the 75th Anniversary Season, as the Wardrobe Supervisor and an understudy for Mrs. Perkins. This season, you can see some of the lovely costumes she helped redesign and see her onstage as Mrs. Perkins on Wednesday through Saturday nights.
Walker Beaman
Walker is originally from Missouri but currently located in Wisconsin as a student at the University of Wisconsin-Parkside. He is excited to be returning for his second year with Unto These Hills. Previous roles include George Gibbs in Our Town, Lucky in Waiting for Godot at the University of Wisconsin-Parkside. Walker would like to thank all his friends and family who have supported him as he goes further into the world of theatre. He couldn’t have made it this far without you!
Walker joined us for the first time in 2025, playing the Deputy and a soldier in the ensemble. This year, Walker takes on the role of Sam Houston, a man who was raised by the Cherokee. Be sure to catch him in action during the big fight scene!
Larry Blythe
Larry Blythe attended the University of Idaho and is a registered forester. He was the Forest Manager for the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians for 20 years. Larry served on Tribal Council from 1987 to 2003 and then served as Vice Chief of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians from 2003 to 2015. Most recently, he has worked in casino regulation and operational management for the tribe. Larry is married with 5 children, 3 step children, 2 foster children, and 15 grandchildren. He enjoys music, playing guitar and singing, cycling, golf, hiking and traveling.
Larry is an enrolled member of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians. He and his niece Jaelee joined the cast of Unto These Hills in 2025, but Larry has been a Board Member of Cherokee Historical Association for many years. You can see Larry onstage in the ensemble and playing guitar with the pre-show band.
Sawyer Bowers
Sawyer is so excited to be back for his second summer with Unto These Hills! He is from Wake Forest, North Carolina. He cannot wait to tell this incredible story again this year! Sawyer invites you to follow him on Instagram: @sawyerbowerss
This is Sawyer’s second season as a dancer and ensemble member in Unto These Hills, and we’re glad to have him back onstage.
Haleigh Bowman
This is Haleigh’s second year here with Unto These Hills, and she loves it. She started acting in kindergarten in a Christmas show and has continued doing theatre through middle school. Haleigh hopes to continue and possibly have a career in theatre someday.
Haleigh and her mom, who is one of the backstage child care providers, joined us part of the way through the 2025 season. We’re happy to have them both back for a full season, and we are always happy to help kids grow their love of theatre!
Michael Brewer
Michael Brewer is an Advanced Actor Combatant with the Society of American Fight Directors. He has choreographed for many productions and has taught stage combat at Western Carolina University, University of Houston, and here at Mountainside Theatre. Michael is currently a professor of Movement, acting, and The Theatre Experience at Western Carolina University. He received is undergraduate degree from Montclair State University and his MFA from the University of Houston’s Professional Actor Training Program. Some of his previous favorite acting credits include Antony in Antony & Cleopatra, Kenny Talley in Fifth of July, and Edward II in Edward II.
In addition to acting, Michael is integral to the pyrotechnics team. He is responsible for creating and safely implementing all of the exciting fire props, pyrotechnics effects, and gunshots you see in the show. Michael has been with Unto These Hills since 2019, and we’re fortunate to have him on the team.
Kullen Burnet
Kullen Burnet is an actor and playwright originally from Oahu, HI. He graduated from the University of Southern Mississippi with a BFA in Theatre Performance in the fall of 2018. Some of his favorite university credits include Laurent in Tartuffe, Ensemble in 4.48 Psychosis, and Philosopher in Galileo. Favorite professional credits include Gary Lefkowitz in I Hate Hamlet at Biloxi Little Theatre, The Conjuring Experience with RWS Global, and Dark Nights at Hershey Park with Epic Entertainment.
Kullen joined us as an Actor/Technician in 2022, and has been with us ever since. He’s played several different roles over the years and traveled with The Gathering, Cherokee Historical Association’s touring production in 2022 and 2023. This is Kullen’s second season playing prominent Cherokee leader John Ross.
Be sure to catch these talented performers onstage in Unto These Hills outdoor drama this season! Unto These Hills runs Mondays through Saturdays through August 22nd. You can find a full schedule and more info here. And stay tuned to meet the rest of the cast with Meet the Cast, A to Z.