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CAST & CREATIVE-

WHO’S WHO

CAST

CHERYL UMAÑA (Alma, she/her/hers) Cheryl Umaña is a graduate of the UCLA School of Theatre Film and Television and of the LACC Theatre Academy. She is an L.A. native with strong roots in Guatemala. She has had the pleasure of working with various theatre companies throughout L.A. Some of which include The Latino Theatre Company (Mother of Henry, La Virgen) Company of Angels (This Land), Artists at Play (In Love and Warcraft) and Breath of Fire (Digging up the Dirt). Most recently, she had the wonderful experience of performing in Luis Alfaro’s Mojada at the exquisite Repertory Theatre of St Louis. Cheryl first worked with CTG in their wonderful Library Play Reading Series in Boyle Heights as well as in their Community Stories program. She is very honored to be part of Alma, helping to tell our stories and lifting up the Latino experience in our country.

SABRINA FEST (Angel, she/her/hers) is a 25-year-old triple threat. Along with four years of formal training at the University of Southern California’s School of Dramatic Arts, she has studied classical piano for 12 years, and has also been dancing for 20 years with 12 years of ballet training, 10 years of traditional Chinese dance, and five years of competitive Latin Salsa. With a vocal range of E3 to C6, Ms. Fest has sung principal roles such as Sarah Brown in Guys and Dolls and Cosette in Les Mis as well as ensemble roles in Grease, The Wild Party, and Helga in Cabaret. Ms. Fest has been featured in multiple voice-over ventures, including commercials for McDonald’s, guest starring as Meli Ramos on Nickelodeon’s The Loud House, Neonlicious in the OMG Dolls franchise LOL Surprise, and more. She is represented by CESD and Symington Talent Management.

MARILYN CAMACHO (Understudy Alma, she/her/hers) is excited to be back in a theatre and working with CTG! Marilyn, a Southside Chicago native, is an actor, director, and filmmaker, now happy to call Los Angeles her second home. She has performed on many stages throughout her career, notably, at Steppenwolf Theatre, The Goodman, Victory Gardens, and with UrbanTheater Company (UTC), where she is a founding member and served as former Artistic Director. UTC has produced plays that include Short Eyes, Cuba and His Teddy Bear, Brainpeople, Water and Power, Fucking A, and others. Aside from theatre, Marilyn can be seen on TV in the recent film Never And Again, and in shows such as: American Gods, Animal Kingdom, Chicago Fire, Scandal, and many more. Currently, she is developing content with her team at her production company, Caribeña Creatives, where they are dedicated to bringing multicultural stories to screen. Follow: @sheismarilync

BIANCA RUIZ BROCKL (Understudy Angel, she/her/hers) is a B.F.A. graduate from California Institute of the Arts. Her credits include appearances on the film TiMER, the TV show ER, and various shows on the Disney Channel. Bianca has also performed at the REDCAT Theater and the Walt Disney Concert Hall with the Los Angeles Philharmonic. Bianca thanks her parents, siblings, and loved ones who have supported her on this journey.

CREATIVES

BENJAMIN BENNE (Playwright, he/him/his) was born and raised in Los Angeles County and, as an adult, has lived in the Pacific Northwest, Midwest, and now resides on the East Coast, where he is a David Geffen/Yale School of Drama M.F.A. Candidate in Playwriting and represented by Paradigm Talent Agency. He is a current member of the Dorothy Stelsin New American Writers Group at Primary Stages (NYC) and under commission from South Coast Repertory Theatre (Costa Mesa, CA). Scheduled productions in 2022 include Alma at ArtsWest (Seattle, WA) and American Blues Theater (Chicago, IL) and the World premiere of In His Hands at Mosaic Theater Company (DC). His artistic journey began by doodling renderings of Noah’s Ark in church and when he wrote (and illustrated) his prize-winning little book The Tale of the Adventurous Penguins in 5th grade. He is so grateful to his first drama teacher: Arik Boles, first playwriting teacher: Susan Merson, first playwriting mentor: Rebecca Tourino Collinsworth, current teachers and mentors: Anne Erbe, Amy Herzog, Tarell Alvin McCraney, and Sarah Ruhl, and his dear friend and collaborator: Cat Rodríguez—without them, Ben wouldn’t
be the playwright he is. benjaminbenne.com

JULIETTE CARRILLO (Director, she/her/hers). Juliette has directed critically acclaimed premiere and revival productions in theatres across the country including Oregon Shakespeare Festival, Mark Taper Forum, South Coast Repertory, Yale Repertory, Denver Theater Center, Arena Stage, and Seattle Repertory. Her recent World premiere, Carmen Aguirre’s Anywhere But Here, was produced in Vancouver, B.C., with current plans to tour internationally. As a member of the Cornerstone Theater ensemble, she has developed work for and with various communities such as the East Salinas farm working community, the addiction and recovery community, the Hindu community and seniors and their caregivers. She is a recipient of several awards, including the prestigious National Endowment of the Arts/Theatre Communications Group Directing Fellowship and the Princess Grace Award. She was also chosen by Sundance Theater Institute to participate in the Sundance/Luma Foundation Theater Directors’ Retreat in Arles, France. She is a Yale School of Drama graduate and on faculty at University of California, Irvine. juliettecarrillo.com

TANYA ORELLANA (Scenic Designer, she/her/hers) designs performance spaces for theatre, opera and immersive experiences. Collaborations include The Winter’s Tale directed by Eric Ting (Cal Shakes), The Kind Ones by Miranda Rose Hall directed by Lisa Peterson (Magic Theatre), The Industry’s Sweet Land, an immersive opera directed by Yuval Sharon and Cannupa Hanska Luger and the Mexico premiere of Angels in America directed by Martín Acosta (Mexico City). Originally from San Francisco’s Mission District, she has been a core member of the award-winning ensemble Campo Santo since 2008, participating in their intimate new work process, conceptualizing, and designing sets alongside the writing process. She is a member of Wingspace Theatrical Design and an organizing member of La Gente: The Latinx Theatre Design Network. Tanya received her M.F.A. in Scenic Design from CalArts and is the 2016 recipient of the Princess Grace Fabergé Theatre Award.

CAROLYN MAZUCA (Costume Designer, she/her/hers) is a Texas born and Los Angeles-based costume designer for stage and screen. Her theatrical designs have decorated productions at Repertory Theatre of St. Louis, Arena Stage, Berkeley Repertory Theatre, Oregon Shakespeare Festival, South Coast Repertory, and more. Her industry experience recently collided in her designs of filmed theatrical productions Tomás and The Library Lady and Puss in Boots with Repertory Theatre of St. Louis. In Carolyn’s screen career—she is an active member of the IATSE Costume Designers Guild 892. She is the Costume Designer of What? and Retribution as well as an Assistant Costume Designer on HBO’s Perry Mason season two. Carolyn earned her B.F.A. in Costume Design from Carnegie Mellon University. Carolyn can’t wait to see what amazing future projects await her! carolynmazuca.com @carolynmazuca

LONNIE RAFAEL ALCARAZ (Lighting Designer, he/him/his) is a professor at the University of California, Irvine, where he is the head of the lighting program. He has designed for various regional theatres around the country. Recent designs include Opera Festival on Ice for Bietak Production (Muscat, Oman), Curie Curie for Transversal Theatre Company in Irvine, CA and Warsaw, Poland, A Christmas Carol at the Denver Center, American Mariachi and A Shot Rang Out at South Coast Repertory, All is Calm at the Alabama Shakespeare Festival; Mojada at Oregon Shakespeare Festival, and Portland Center Stage. He is an associate artist at South Coast Repertory and Cornerstone Theater Company and is the Resident Lighting Designer at South Coast Repertory, Great River Shakespeare Festival, and Ballet Repertory Theatre. He is a member of the United Scenic Artists, Local 829/International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees. His complete design portfolio can be found at lradesigns.com.

DANIEL CORRAL (Sound Design & Original Music, he/him/his) is a mixed heritage Filipino-American sound artist born and raised in Eagle River, Alaska. In Los Angeles since 2005, his work includes accordion orchestras, microtonal electronics, video, handmade music boxes, sound installations, chamber music, puppet operas, and interdisciplinary collaborations. Corral’s music has been commissioned and presented around the world, including BAM’s Next Wave Festival, Sundance Film Festival, REDCAT, MATA, Miami Light Project, Operadagen Rotterdam, Walt Disney Concert Hall, Göteborg Art Sound Festival, Center for New Music, Pianospheres, and the Carlsbad Music Festival. Corral taught at CalArts from 2016 to 2020 and the Los Angeles DCA declared him a 2019–2020 Cultural Trailblazer. Past residencies include APPEX, Marin Headlands Center for the Arts, I-Park, the Banff Centre, and Djerassi. His music has been released by Populist Records, Orenda Records, Innova Recordings, the wulf. records, MicroFest Recordings, and independently. His teachers include James Tenney and Anne LeBaron.

EDGAR LANDA (Fight Director, he/him/his) is an actor/director and creates fights and violence for theatres large and small. Fight credits include: Geffen Playhouse, San Diego Rep, South Coast Repertory, The Wallis, Kirk Douglas Theatre, Mark Taper Forum, and Tennessee Shakespeare Company. He has choreographed mayhem for many of Los Angeles’ intimate theatres including Fountain Theatre, Sacred Fools and Playwrights Arena. Edgar serves on the faculty of the USC School of Dramatic Arts and is a long-time collaborator of Son of Semele Ensemble. He is an SDC and AEA member and supporter of intimate theatre in Los Angeles. edgarlanda.com

MORALES/O’CON CASTING (Casting) Rosalinda Morales and Pauline O’con, CSA have been collaborating for over 14 years. Their meeting was fated when Pauline was the Industry/Talent Relations Manager at the Los Angeles Latino International Film Festival (LALIFF) where Rosalinda had several short films being showcased. Upon discussing their casting knowledge from the theatre, independent film, network television and studios, they band together to begin crafting new, unique, and fun casting experiences. Morales/O’con Casting enjoy collaborating with their writers, directors, producers, executives, and filmmakers to bring life to each project and to showcase the diverse, progressive culture of today’s audiences. They are both thrilled to be back casting theatre for the Center Theatre Group team.

MIRIAM MENDOZA (Production Stage Manager, she/her/hers) is an El Paso, Texas native who graduated from University of Texas at El Paso with her B.F.A. in Stage Management (2016). Miriam then moved to Southern California where she received her M.F.A. in Stage Management from University of California, Irvine. She continues to work as an educator and stage manager in the greater Los Angeles area as well as a Guest Talent Coordinator for Disney’s Imagination Campus at the Disneyland Resort. Miriam is grateful to be working with a fantastic team on her first production at Center Theatre Group. Miriam is grateful for her family and Abel’s endless support.

CENTER THEATRE GROUP

MEGHAN PRESSMAN (Managing Director/CEO, she/her/hers) joined Center Theatre Group as Managing Director in 2019. Previously, she served as Managing Director of Woolly Mammoth Theatre Company (D.C.), Director of Development for Signature Theatre (N.Y.), and Associate Managing Director of Berkeley Rep, in addition to working at numerous other theatre and arts organizations across the country. She is the Vice-Chair of the National Board for the Theatre Communications Group (TCG).

DOUGLAS C. BAKER (Producing Director, he/him/his) is now in his 30th season at Center Theatre Group. He is an active member of the Broadway League, the Independent Presenters Network, and is a proud member of the Association of Theatrical Press Agents and Managers. In May 2013, Doug received the Broadway League’s prestigious Outstanding Achievement in Presenter Management Award.

LUIS ALFARO (Associate Artistic Director, he/him/his) is pleased to return to Center Theatre Group after 17 years. A Chicano playwright born and raised in downtown Los Angeles, he has received fellowships from the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation; United States Artists; Ford Foundation Art of Change; Joyce Foundation; Mellon Foundation and is the recipient of the PEN America/Laura Pels International Foundation Theater Award for a Master Dramatist. He was the inaugural Playwright-in-Residence for six seasons at the Oregon Shakespeare Festival (2013-2019); Playwright’s Ensemble at Chicago’s Victory Gardens Theatre (2013-2020); Inaugural Latinx Playwrights at the Los Angeles Theatre Center (2021); and Ojai Playwrights Conference member since 2002. His plays include Electricidad, Oedipus El Rey, Mojada and have been seen at regional theatres throughout the United States and Europe. Luis spent two decades in the Los Angeles Poetry and Performance Art communities. He is an Associate Professor at the University of Southern California (USC).

KELLEY KIRKPATRICK (Associate Artistic Director, he/him/his) since his arrival at CTG in 2005, Kelley has produced over 100 productions, readings and workshops, many of which have gone on to Broadway, Off-Broadway, and beyond. He has collaborated with celebrated artists including David Henry Hwang, Phylicia Rashaad, Ruben Santiago Hudson, Michael Friedman, Culturel Clash, Lucas Hnath, Roger Guenveur Smith, Les Waters, Leigh Silverman, Lauren Yee, and Danai Gurira.

NAUSICA STERGIOU (General Manager) has worked supporting artists in theatres of all shapes, sizes, and locales including Center Theatre Group as General Manager and, previously, as Audience Development Director. She oversees productions at the Taper and Douglas, as well as new play commissions and developmental productions. Nausica has taught Marketing and Management at USC’s School of Dramatic Arts and works with local nonprofits including Hollywood Orchard. B.A. Cornell University. M.F.A. Yale School of Drama.

GORDON DAVIDSON (Founding Artistic Director) led the Taper throughout its first 38 seasons, guiding over 300 productions to its stage and winning countless awards for himself and the theatre—including the Tony Award for theatrical excellence, Margo Jones Award, The Governor’s Award for the Arts, and a Guggenheim fellowship. The Kentucky Cycle and Angels in America (Part One) won the Pulitzer in consecutive years and, in 1994, three of the four plays nominated for the Tony Award for Best Play were from the Taper (Angels in America won). In 1989, Gordon took over the Ahmanson and, in 2004, he produced the inaugural season in the Kirk Douglas Theatre.

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