Janie Scott (Director/Choreographer) has directed and choreographed over 40 productions from New York to Michigan, to Los Angeles to Cabrillo Stage. Along the way sheճ worked Summer Stock, Dinner Theatre, Regional Theatre, Opera San Jose, Santa Clara Summerfest, industrials and film as a performer, director or choreographer. For Cabrillo Stage she has directed and choreographed Guys and Dolls, Kiss Me Kate, Swing, Honk! and Some Like It Hot. She has also choreographed for Cabrilloճ productions of Annie, Peter Pan and My Fair Lady. Her professional performing career provided her the opportunity to work with many musical theatre greats including Harold Prince, Stephen Sondheim, Trevor Nunn, and Michael Bennett. She was seen in the National and International touring companies of A Chorus Line as both Maggie and Diana Morales, as well as the Broadway production of Peter Pan as Wendy. After working on the Broadway production of Merrily We Roll Along, she joined the original LA Company of CATS as Rumpleteaser. In the last decade she has also managed to squeeze in the occasional return to the stage. In 2000 she appeared as Peter Pan in the Cabrillo Stage production of Peter Pan and in 2003 she returned to the New York stage to perform in the 20th Anniversary Concert Reunion of Merrily We Roll Along, under the direction of Tony Award winning director Kathleen Marshall. In 2006 she took the lead role at Cabrilloճ Annie Get Your Gun. Janie is also a Professor in the School of Music and Dance at San Jose State University. As artistic director of Compnay One for over 21 years, a musical theatre performing company in residence at SJSU, she has trained many performers who have gone on to National and International tours as well as Broadway.
Lile O. Cruse (/Music Director) Coming out of retirement, Lile returns after producing and music directing 22 seasons for Cabrillo Stage. His producing and music directing credits include West Side Story, Some Like It Hot, Honk! The Ugly Duckling, Peter Pan, Annie, Man of La Mancha, Funny Girl, The Sound of Music, Oliver, The King and I, Sweeney Todd, Fiddler On The Roof, Into The Woods, Camelot, Evita, My Fair Lady, South Pacific, Mame, Gypsy, Hello Dolly! and Chicago. Other credits include Musical Director for Annie Get Your Gun for Cabrillo Stage, Hair for Cabrillo College and Santa Clara University, Jesus Christ Superstar, Sweet Charity, Company, No, No Nanette, Oklahoma, Kiss Me Kate and Anything Goes for Cabrillo College. Mr. Cruse is the retired chairman of the Performing Arts Division at Cabrillo College.
Dustin Leonard (Managing Director/Production Manager) has had the honor of working with Cabrillo Stage since 1998, including Annie, Honk, Peter Pan, Music Man, Scrooge, Forever Plaid, Jesus Christ Superstar and The Wizard of Oz, just to name a few. Dustin has directed, produced and starred in a number of shows in the Monterey Bay area, most recently directing Little Shop of Horrors and West Side Story for Cabrillo Stage. Dustinճ diverse directing credits include The Laramie Project, Lord of the Flies, A Midsummerճ Night Dream, Cyrano de Bergerac, The Outsiders and Romeo & Juliet. Dustin has managed and produced diverse shows such as A Street Car Named Desire, A Christmas Carol, Art, Carousel and many more. A versatile performer, Dustin has been in shows as diverse as Shakespeareճ R&J to Guys And Dolls. Dustinճ most beloved performances on stage have been Mercutio in the return of the West Coast premiere of Shakespeareճ R&J, Jeff in The Sum of Us, Mark in Mass Appeal and the Barber in Cabrillo Stageճ Man of La Mancha. His Musical Direction & Scenic Design credits include West Side Story, Honk, Annie, Crazy for You, The Wizard of Oz, The Sound of Music, Fiddler on the Roof and Oliver.
Lena Mason (Stage Manager) has been part of Cabrillo Stage for many years as a Front of House Manager. 2006 marked Lenaճ first year behind the scenes, as production stage manager for Guys And Dolls, as well as 2007ճ Kiss Me Kate, 2009ճ The Wizard of Oz and 2010ճ Swing! and Scrooge. Her professional stage managing experience includes 11 years with ActorsՠTheatre Eight Tens @ 8 Festival, and such productions as Center Coast Theatreworkճ Angels in America, Cabrillo Collegeճ Godճ Country, Rashomon, A Man For All Seasons, Twelfth Night, Ghostlight Theatreճ Hunting for Moby Dick, Watsonville Taiko and five years with the Seventh Sense Fashion Show. She has also stage managed at the Mello Center for such performers as Tandy Beal, Bruce Lee, Phil Collins and The New Music Works, amongst others. Lena has worked at Cabrillo College in the financial aid department for 17 years.
William ғkipӠEpperson (Resident Scenic Design) has been teaching theatrical design and backstage theatre for the past 19 years at Cabrillo College and currently serves as the Theatre Arts Program Chair. Holding a MFA from the Virginia Commonwealth University, he has had the opportunity to collaborate with many talented directors, designers, and technicians across the country, and has had many artists appear on his designs as actors, singers, and dancers. His work has appeared on the stages of many theaters and venues including Cabrillo Theatre Arts, Henry Street Playhouse, Washington and Lee University Theater, Santa Cruz Actors Theater, Santa Cruz Bible Church, Shakespeare Santa Cruz, and Cabrillo Stage. Skip is the proud recipient of a 2008 Rydell Visual Arts Fellowship. Together with his beautiful bride of 26 years, Mary Jo, his most precious productions have been his four childrenГara, Zack, Anna-Katherine, and GenevieveСges 23 to 6.
Kyle Grant (Lighting Designer) is thrilled to be back in Santa Cruz and with Cabrillo Stage once again. For Cabrillo he has previously designed The Fantasticks! and Little Shop of Horrors. Kyle is currently pursuing his BFA in Lighting Design at the University of North Carolina School of the Arts where he has recently designed ԍaster HaroldՉand the Boys, Fences (for the renowned Ms. Michele Shay) and Picnic. Other bay area theatrical credits include PYT, CMT and MBRT. Kyle is also designing a new work for the international choreographer and Kennedy Center fellow, Mollye Maxner, to premiere in Brooklyn, NY in 2010.
Maria Crush (Costume Design) has been working with Cabrillo Stage since 1988 and designed such shows as The Wizard of Oz, Annie Get Your Gun, Man of La Mancha, Funny Girl, The Sound of Music, Oliver, The King & I, Peter Pan, Honk, Some Like It Hot, West Side Story and The Music Man. She has designed costumes for West Bay Opera, New Music Works and Cabrillo College Productions including Much Ado About Nothing, Three Penny Opera, A Man For All Seasons, Rashomon, School for Scandal, The Visit, Twelfth Night, The Magic Flute, Oedipus Rex, The Importance of Being Earnest and Seussical. Other Credits include Bernsteinճ Mass and The Tender Land with the Cabrillo Music Festival. Additionally she has designed for the ActorsՠTheater. She is the costume shop manager at Cabrillo College, won the Gail Rich Award in 2007 and was nominated in 2009 for a Rydell Visual Arts Fellowship.
Skyler Kirby (Sound Design) has been with Cabrillo Stage for five years now. At age 20 he started his music label Supply & Demand Entertainment. His first album released was ҄eath or SuccessӠby the artist Sleyv. As a student of James Durland, Skyler has excelled in the music department at Cabrillo, from live sound to studio recording, from rap to jazz; heճ been around it all behind the mixing board, and is looking forward to continuing in the music recording business after college.
Marcel Tjioe (Resident Technical Director) has been working for Cabrillo Stage for the last four years. He has had a great time crucifying Jesus, hanging Judas, melting the Wicked Witch, killing all The Plaids and scaring the dickens out of Scrooge. Some of the other local companies Marcel has worked for include American Musical Theatre of San Jose, San Jose Repertory Theatre, and TheatreWorks in Palo Alto. He has also worked internationally in Germany (Capitol Theater in Dճsseldorf) and Austria (Seefestspiele Mճrbisch). Marcel was born in Mexico City, Mexico. He is a German citizen and he lives in Santa Cruz with his beautiful wife Myriam and 6 year old daughter Sofia. He is the Performing Arts Technician for Cabrillo College.
Coming Soon
Daniel Goldsmith (Assistant Music Director) has been an active professional piano performer and accompanist for the last 10 years. At the age of 17 he served as accompanist for Cabrillo Stageճ production of West Side Story, and has since worked as a rehearsal pianist and orchestra musician for multiple Cabrillo Stage shows, including Guys And Dolls, Annie Get Your Gun, and Jesus Christ Superstar. While attending University of the Pacific as an undergraduate, Daniel served as the universityճ choral accompanist and worked extensively as a freelance performer. Daniel would like to extend his greatest thanks towards Cabrillo Stage for entrusting him with the position of Assistant Musical Director.
Monica Turner (Tracy Turnblad) is excited to make her Cabrillo Stage debut! Most recently, Monica appeared as Jenny in Quilters at Ross Valley Players and as Mama Noah in Children of Eden at Stapleton Theatre Company, both in Marin. Favorite roles include Eve/Louise Lerman in Ruthless!, Mabel in The Pajama Game and a lead singer in Paramount Great America's Jump, Jive Swing and U Rock 2. Monica is originally from San Jose and currently resides in San Francisco. During the day Monica is a Googler troubleshooting display ad serving escalations and in her spare time she adores musical theatre, getting good use of her passport and cheering on the San Jose Sharks! She graduated from CSU Chico with a Bachelorճ degree in Business/ Marketing and also Musical Theatre.
Tony Panighetti (Edna Turnblad) considers it a true privilege to return to Cabrillo Stage. This marks Tonyճ fourth Cabrillo Stage production after playing Jerry/Daphne in Some Like It Hot, Charlie Davenport in Annie Get Your Gun, and Scrooge in last winterճ Scrooge. After graduating from AADA/West, Tony received a Backstage West Garland Award for his performance as Mozart in PCPA Theaterfestճ Amadeus. Since, he has performed up and down California as well as the high seas of Alaska, Canada, Europe and the Bahamas with Crystal Cruise Lineճ Repertory Theater at Sea. Some of his Bay Area credits include Beaumarchais in Ben Franklin In Paris (42nd Street Moon), Reverend Paris in The Crucible (San Francisco Playhouse), and he has alternated as both Man #1 and Man #2 in I Love You, Youղe Perfect, Now Change (Theater On San Pedro Square, Sierra Repertory Theater, Willows Theater Co.). Tony also portrayed Neil in the short film X-Y which received an Audience Award at the 19th Cinequest Film Festival.
Doug Baird (Wilbur Turnblad) returns to Cabrillo Stage having played Herr Schultz in last yearճ Cabaret. Doug has appeared in over 80 productions in the San Jose area. He was Michael in I Do! I Do!, Madam Lucy in Irene, Horace Vandergelder in Hello, Dolly!, Julian Marsh in 42nd Street, Luther Billis in South Pacific, (West Valley Light Opera), Captain Hook in Peter Pan (ChildrenճՠMusical Theater of San Jose), Max in The Sound of Music, Jeff in Brigadoon, and Hysterium, in A Funny ThingɮForum, (South Bay Musical Theater), Colonel Pickering in My Fair Lady, (Broadway by the Bay), Charlemagne in Pippin, Hines in Pajama Game (Foothill Musical Theatre), Melvin P Thorpe in Best Little Whorehouse in Texas, Mr. Parchester in Me and My Girl (American Musical Theatre of San Jose), to name a few. He received Best Actor and Supporting Actor awards for West Valley Light Opera and five Ginny Awards from American Musical Theatre of San Jose. Since Cabaret last year, Doug has directed Driving Miss Daisy for The Tabard Theater Company and 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee for West Valley Light Opera. He will direct Bells Are Ringing next summer. Doug is a retired Kindergarten teacher.
Ashley Rae Little (Penny Pingleton) Ashley is thrilled to be returning to work with Cabrillo Stage for her fifth consecutive summer. Cabrillo audiences will recognize Ashley in previous roles of vocalist (Swing!), Dorothy (The Wizard of Oz), Mary (Jesus Christ Superstar), and Chiffon (Little Shop of Horrors). Other Bay Area roles include Luisa (The Fantasticks), Rivka (The Meshuga Nutcracker), and Tingle/Single (SANTAstic) at The Retro Dome, where she will also reprise her role as Green Girl in Shout The Mod Musical this August/September. Other past credits include: Amneris (AIDA), Lady Larkin (Once Upon A Mattress), Ariel (Footloose), Fantine (Les Miserables), Dorothy (The Wiz) and Annie (Chicago). Ashley began dance training at age three and vocal training at age six. She is also a proud alumni of Company1 (SJSU), TAI (AMTSJ), TSA (AMTSJ) and Perry-Mansfield. Thanks and love to RMR. Enjoy the show!
Joyce Michaelson (Prudy Pingleton/Gym Teacher/Matron) is thrilled to be joining Cabrillo Stage this summer! Recent local musical theater productions include Into the Woods (Jackճ Mother), Honk! (Queenie), Oliver! (Fagin), Sound of Music (Sister Margaretha), Mame (Vera Charles), Youղe A Good Man, Charlie Brown (Snoopy), Fiddler on the Roof and The Music Man with SVPA. She appeared last year in the west coast premiere of Neil Simonճ Roseճ Dilemma (Rose) at The Broadway Playhouse. Other local productions include Over the River and Through the Woods at the Actorճ Theater, Wind in the Willows with Shakespeare Santa Cruz, The Santa Cruz Follies, Annie Warbucks with Open Stage and Loose Cannon Theater Improv Troupe. She would like to thank her husband Tim.
Bobby Marchessault (Corny Collins) is stoked to be performing in his first production with Cabrillo Stage after a short hiatus from the theatre. He was previously seen on stage in Southern California in Joseph & The Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat (Benjamin), Godspell (John the Baptist/Judas) and at Disneyland in Playhouse Disney: Live On Stage (Jamie) and Snow White: An Enchanting New Musical (Dwarf). He spent four years touring the United States, New Zealand and Australia with The Young Americans, teaching arts in public schools, and spent two summers performing dinner theater with them in Northern Michigan. He currently teaches and directs for CYT, a local youth theater. He is extremely grateful for the support from his wife , Rachel, and their 2 little boys, and to Christ for this opportunity. He dedicates this showճ performance to the memory of his mom, Donna.
Kate McCormick (Velma Von Tussle) is thrilled to join the talented cast of Hairspray! Most recent credits include Xanadu (Euterpe), the National Tour of Strega Nona (Strega Nona) with Maximum Entertainment NYC, Dirty Rotten Scoundrels (Muriel), Pete ԮՠKeely (Keely) The Light in the Piazza (Franca Naccarelli), and Into the Woods (Florinda). In addition to acting, Ms. McCormick works as a vocal coach (San Jose Repertory Theater, Broadway by the Bay) teaches musical theater at Santa Clara University, and maintains a private voice studio. Ms. McCormick is a proud graduate of the Boston Conservatory.
Crystina Robinette (Amber Von Tussle) is delighted to be returning to Cabrillo Stage for her second summer production. Last year, she was a featured dancer in the musical, Swing! She is currently studying at San Jose State University for a BFA in Dance and is also a part of Company One, a musical theater company on campus under the direction of Janie Scott. Crystina has performed in several university productions including Filthy Rich, Of Corpse, Images and Portfolio Concerts. She has also performed with the award winning Rugged Dance Company. She has been dancing for the last 18 years and has been taking vocal training with Janie Scott and Izetta Fang for the past 2 years. Taking on her first major role as Amber, Crystina canմ wait to sing and dance for you in Hairspray.
Blake Coelho (Link Larkin) is thrilled to be back at Cabrillo Stage playing one of his dream roles, after playing Bobby in last summerճ Cabaret! A senior studying Theatre Arts at Santa Clara University, he was most recently seen portraying Snoopy in Youղe A Good Man Charlie Brown. Before that, Blake appeared as Jamie in a selfproduced performance of The Last Five Years, Benny in Notre Dam de Namurճ Rent and Trevor Graydon in SCUճ Thoroughly Modern Millie. Blake has been in several short films and documentaries, and has appeared in countless plays and musicals in the Bay Area and his home state of Arizona. Some favorite roles of Blakeճ have been playing Amos Hart in Chicago, Anthony in Sweeney Todd, and the Lion in The Wizard of Oz. Other credits include Gordo in All Hail Hurricane Gordo, Tito Mirelli in Lend Me a Tenor, and Tommy French in Smile! the Musical. Blake would like to thank his family and friends for all of their love and unending support!
Corey Liggans (Seaweed J. Stubbs) is a recent transplant to the Bay Area. He has spent the last 5 years in Fresno, California where he performed as Belcore (The Elixir of Love), Guglielmo (Cosi Fan Tutte), Signor Deluso (Signor Deluso), and Figaro (The Barber of Seville) with the Fresno State Opera Theatre. His most recent roles include Papageno (Die Zauberflճte) and Prince Filipo da Fiesole (The Clever Mistress) with the San Jose State Opera Workshop. This is his first musical since Once Upon a Mattress in high school and is very excited for the opportunity. Corey received his BA in Music from Fresno state and just completed his first year of graduate school at San Jose State University, where he will receive his MA in Music next May.
Lauren Hubbard (Little Inez) is a student attending the University of California at Santa Cruz. She has been involved in community musical theatre programs since 1995, and since then has been cast in many school stage productions such as Peter Pan (Jane, Tootles), St. Lucyճ Eyes (Old Woman), These People Can Fly (Harriet Tub man) and also performed in UCSC productions of Hair and Orestes the Terrorist.
Jennifer Taylor Daniels (MotorMouth Maybelle) is a jazz and blues vocalist who has been performing in Santa Cruz for a decade. She has appeared at the Kuumbwa Jazz Center, and been a featured performer at Santa Cruz AIDS Project World AIDS Day memorials. Having done Little Shop of Horrors at Cabrillo Stage, Hair at the Rio, Swing! in the new Crocker Theater last summer, and now Hairspray, she is almost through her bucket list of shows. She says of Hairspray, Ҕhis show is a very important one to me personally. I have seen in real life how music can help overcome prejudice. ҙOU CANՔ STOP THE BEAT!Ӽ/div>
Hugh Haiker (Mr.Pinky/Spritzer/Guard/Principal) is delighted to be returning for his third Cabrillo Stage production. He was most recently featured as a dancer in the highly successful summer production of Swing! and as Bisset the Butcher and Topper in Scrooge. Hugh started performing professionally over 25 years ago at Disneyland where he danced and sang in parades, stage shows, the originating cast of Fantasmic!, and many other venues over a span of ten years. Other recent performances include Tommy, Cabaret, Hello Dolly!, Meet Me in St. Louis, and A Christmas Carol (The Western Stage). Hugh spends his time outside of theater life researching and designing programs to promote diversity, equity, and social justice.
Zoe Schneider-Smith (Tammy) is very excited to be a part of her fourth professional show with Cabrillo Stage. She has been dancing since the age of three and doing musical theater since the age of eight. One of her favorite roles was Adelaide in Guys and Dolls with AAT. Other roles with AAT include Ensemble and Daphne in Thoroughly Modern Millie, Ensemble in West Side Story, Helene in Sweet Charity, Gina and Dance Captain in Smokey Joes CafӼ, Principle Clark and Dance Core in Footloose and Rizzo in Grease. With Cabrillo Theater Arts she appeared in Seussical. For SLV High School Zoe was a Kit Kat girl and assistant choreographer for Cabaret and co-choreographed Urinetown the Musical. With Cabrillo Stage she was ensemble for Wizard of Oz, Miss Dilber and Featured Dancer in Scrooge and a Kit Kat Girl in Cabaret. Zoe just graduated with an AA in Dance from Cabrillo College and will be attending Boston Conservatory this fall for Musical Theater.
Matt Dunn (Brad) is thrilled to be returning to Cabrillo Stage, having most recently appeared in Scrooge as the Nephew and last summerճ production of Swing! (Dancer). Professional credits include: The Mute in The Fantasticks, Dance Instructor/Tony in The Full Monty, Mercedes in La Cage Aux Folles, Miss Industrial Northeast in Pageant, Peter Pan at Tokyo Disneyland, and various ҦurryӠcharacters in parades and shows at Disneyland in Anaheim. Regional credits include: Paul in A Chorus Line, Che in Evita, The Emcee in Cabaret, Jack in Into The Woods, Billy in 42nd Street, Conrad Birdie in Bye Bye Birdie, Tom Sawyer in Big River, and many more! Training includes A Master Acting Workshop with Kevin Kuhlke (Tisch School of the Arts at NYU), Meyerhold Biomechanics with Kathleen Baum (Syracuse University), Post Modern Movement with Stacy Dawson Stearns (NYU Experimental Theatre Wing). A big thanks to Cabrillo Stage, to my friends and family, and especially to my better half for allowing me to follow my dreams!
Isai Centeno (Fender) was last seen on the Cabrillo Stage in Swing!, as a Dancer. He is super excited to be working with Janie again, along with tons of friends! Isai just finished performing Chicago, with Marquee Productions (Ensemble) and is so excited to be dancing again this summer. Some Regional Credits include: The Fantasticks (The Mute) with Guggenheim Productions, Into The Woods (Rapunzelճ Prince) a benefit for Lincoln High School, and 4 Guys Named Jose...(Jose Mexicano) with Teatro Vision. Love to Family and Friends
Kristina Israel (Brenda) is in her first Cabrillo Stage show! Some of her performance credits include Joanne in Filthy Rich, Patty in Ofcorpse! and Florinda in Into the Woods. Kris was nominated by American Musical Theatre San Joseճ honor program for student choreography in 2003, 2004 and 2005, and was awarded the Governorճ Medal for the Arts in 2004. Sheճ also had the joy of being a theater adjudicator for San Jose Stage Company, being a dance instructor for CMTSJճ summer programs, and assistant choreographer for Altar Boyz. Kris continues to spread her passion for dance by choreographing musicals for local high schools, community theatre groups, and performing. www.choreographerkris.wordpress.com
Jennifer Gorgulho (Lou Ann/Asst. Choreographer) graduated in the spring with a Bachelor of Fine Arts Degree in Dance with an emphasis in Jazz from San Jose State University. Last summer she performed for Cabrillo Stage in the hit musical Swing! as an ensemble dancer and featured as a Lindy Hop dancer. In the past she has performed with both resident performing companies at San Jose StateѴhe modern performance company University Dance Theater at San Jose State under the direction of Gary Masters, along with Company One which performs musical theatre under the direction of Janie Scott. This summer she has choreographed Fame for Stage One in Newark and will be choreographing Annie Get Your Gun for Scotts Valley Performing Arts. Jennifer is excited to be working with Janie Scott yet again! She thanks her friends and family who have supported her with all her career choices. Enjoy the show!
Shawn Miller (Sketch) is thrilled to be one of the Үicest kids in townӠthis summer with Cabrillo Stage! Hairspray is one of his favorite shows and he is excited to be able to be in it. You may have seen him in Cabrillo Stageճ past productions of Jesus Christ Superstar and The Wizard of Oz. Shawnճ other recent credits include: A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum (Protean) and The Producers (Ensemble, u/s Leo Bloom and Carmen Ghia) with South Bay Musical Theatre; Godspell, Urinetown (Tiny Tom/Dr. Billeaux), The Fantasticks (Matt), Youղe a Good Man, Charlie Brown (Schroeder) and Seussical (The Cat in the Hat) with Sunnyvale Community Players; Ted Kopulosճ The Poptimists at Tabard; and Elton John and Tim Riceճ Aida (Mereb) at Hillbarn. He loves being able to do what he loves and share it with so many people! When not onstage, Shawn has enjoyed working at SLVHS and is planning on going back to school to get a teaching credential this fall. He wants to thank God, his very supportive family, and his amazing friends. He is grateful to be working with such a wonderfully talented cast and crew!
Elizabeth Shipton (Shelly) is thrilled to be doing her fourth Cabrillo Stage production, and especially excited to be playing Shelly! She is a graduate of The American Musical and Dramatic Academy and will graduate from Cabrillo with an AA in music this summer. She plans to pursue a Bachelorճ degree in music at a four year university. Her most recent role was as the Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come in 2010ճ Scrooge. Before that she was seen as Helene in Cabrillo Collegeճ production of Sweet Charity, Helga in Cabrillo Stageճ production of Cabaret, and The Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come in Scrooge (2009.) She currently works as a director/choreographer for All About Theatre, and as a teaching assistant for Cheryl Andersonճ Cabrillo Youth Chorus. Lizzie would like to thank the Cabrillo Stage family for such great opportunities and experiences.
Cody Scott (IQ) marks his third show at Cabrillo Stage with Hairspray. He was seen in Peter Pan at the tender age of 9, and later in Annie Get Your Gun at age 15. He was also seen in the role of Mark in San Jose Stageճ production of Altar Boyz. He is currently a vocal major at San Jose State University, where he has been a featured soloist with both the Concert Choir and Chamber Singers. He also recently sang with Viva La Musica!, the internationally known baroque and classical choir.
Brance William Souza (Gilbert) is absolutely ecstatic to be performing with Cabrillo Stage! Most recently you may have seen him performing as the Punch and Judy Man (Scrooge). He has also performed in Cabaret (Kit Kat Boy/featured dancer), and Wizard of Oz (featured dancer/ensemble). Along with being a performer with Cabrillo Stage, Brance has been known to choreograph shows with All About Theatre, a local community theatre group. Brance is a full time student at Cabrillo College as well as also being an avid performer with the dance program. He will be graduating at the end of this semester and hopefully moving to SF to begin training in ballet, as well as eventually achieving a BFA in dance. Brance would like to take this opportunity to thank all of his friends and family for all of their continued love and support!
Chris Waters (Duane) is elated to be making his Cabrillo Stage debut in Hairspray. He performs in the San Francisco Bay Area for various theater companies, most recent credits including Angel in Rent (E-Company), and Ensemble/Dance Captain in Aladdin (Berkeley Playhouse), which was nominated for Best Musical (Local) at the Bay Area Theater Critics Circle Awards. Other credits include Hair (Alameda Civic Light Opera), A Christmas Carol (Moonlight Entertainment), Ragtime (Tri-Valley Repertory Theater), and Seussical: the Musical (Stage1 Theater). Chris is finishing his degree in Theater Arts at UC Santa Cruz.
Zendrex Llado (Thad) is very excited to return for his third Cabrillo Stage production, after taking part in last summerճ Cabaret as a Kit Kat Boy. He currently attends Cabrillo College as a music major. He has taken part in various local productions with All About Theatre and Soquel High Schoolճ Knights of the Square Stage including: Bat Boy, Fame, Kiss Me Kate, Beauty And The Beast, Guys And Dolls, The Producers, Footloose, Anything Goes and Sweet Charity with AAT, and Cabaret and Urinetown with Soquel. Zendrex is very grateful to be in such an exciting production.
Iheke Iheke (Stooie) is excited to be in his first production at Cabrillo Stage. Iheke is originally from Fremont and is a member of the performing company, Company One at San Jose State University. A long time fan of Hairspray, he is thrilled to be a part of the show. He first appeared onstage at American High School in the musical Copacabana. Other credits of his include Thoroughly Modern Millie, Comic Potential, Once on This Island and Jesus Christ Superstar. This fall, he will begin his third year at San Jose State University, where he is a Biochemistry major.
Maya Ross (Lorraine) has performed in musicals with Kids on Broadway, All About Theatre and Pacific Collegiate School. Some of her favorite shows include 42nd Street, Arsenic and Old Lace and Anything Goes. This year she tried her hand at writing her own onewoman show and performed it at Pacific Collegiate School in May 2011. Born in NYC, Maya started dancing at the Alvin Ailey School at the age of four, studying a variety styles, and has never stopped. Hairspray marks her third performance with Cabrillo Stage and she is thrilled to be back. This fall, Maya will be a senior at Pacific Collegiate School.
Stacey Hamilton (Rhonda/Dynamite) grew up in Santa Clara where she started dance at the age of 3. She tried various styles for years but fell in love with the liveliness of hip hop. She received her training at Studio 10 where she studied under professionals Rickey Tripp, Keith Banks, Rory Pete, and Shannon Hanly. She instantly went into choreography starting in middle school. She currently is teaching at The Kingճ Academy High School, Grace Dance Academy, and at Santa Clara Christian School teaching music and dance. Currently she is a part of the hip hop company Soul Conspiracy. She is also working on her B.A. in Dance at San Jose State University focusing on modern, jazz and musical theater. Stacey had the privilege of dancing with groups such as Devotional Motion Dance Ministry and AK Modern. Her biggest joy is being a part of the musical theater company Company One, at San Jose State, under the direction of Professor Janie Scott. Stacey is excited to work with Janie on a professional level this summer with Hairspray!
Nadia DeLeye Lewis (Natalie/Dynamite) is thrilled to be cast and honored to be a part of the Cabrillo Stage family. She played Kit Kat Girl Texas in Cabaret and Mrs. Dilber/ Ensemble in Scrooge! Television credits include Diffղent Strokes (Shari), recurring role on Amen (Lynette), ABC After School Specialճ A Desperate Exit (Dominique). Other TV credits include guest starring roles on Whatճ Happening Now (syndicated), Aaronճ Way (NBC), and Mr. Belvedere (ABC). As a vocalist and session singer in Los Angeles, Nadia has recorded with Howard Hewitt, Kevyn Lettau, Michael Ruff, and Flim and the BBs. Sheճ toured Europe, Scandinavia, and Japan and has shared the stage with Sheryl Crow, Carl Anderson, Al Jarreau, Jackson Browne, David Crosby, Graham Nash, and Chaka Khan. Nadia would like to thank her husband, daughter, and family for all of their love and support!
Angelique Monet Shepherd (Cindy/Dynamite) is a California State University of San Jose graduate with a B.A. in Theatre Arts and a minor in Dance. Angelique was apart of Janie Scottճ Company One (an innovative musical theater performing group on campus). She studied ballet, modern and jazz techniques at the prestigious Alvin Ailey American Dance Theatre in New York City. Angelique appeared in the 2005 National Target Campaign as a principal dancer. From 2006-2009, Angelique owned and operated her own performing arts school. She loves performing as much as teaching. Angelique occasionally teaches in the local Bay Area. She is thrilled to be a new member of the Cabrillo family.
Zoe Schneider-Smith (Tammy) is very excited to be a part of her fourth professional show with Cabrillo Stage. She has been dancing since the age of three and doing musical theater since the age of eight. One of her favorite roles was Adelaide in Guys and Dolls with AAT. Other roles with AAT include Ensemble and Daphne in Thoroughly Modern Millie, Ensemble in West Side Story, Helene in Sweet Charity, Gina and Dance Captain in Smokey Joes Cafռ, Principle Clark and Dance Core in Footloose and Rizzo in Grease. With Cabrillo Theater Arts she appeared in Seussical. For SLV High School Zoe was a Kit Kat girl and assistant choreographer for Cabaret and co-choreographed Urinetown the Musical. With Cabrillo Stage she was ensemble for Wizard of Oz, Miss Dilber and Featured Dancer in Scrooge and a Kit Kat Girl in Cabaret. Zoe just graduated with an AA in Dance from Cabrillo College and will be attending Boston Conservatory this fall for Musical Theater.
What is the Gypsy Robe:
An old Broadway tradition, a ҇ypsyӠis a member of the dancing and singing chorus of a musical who moves from one show to the next, much like gypsies of old. A robe is awarded to a member of the chorus, which then becomes the ҧood luckӠcharm of the show. The winner adds a piece of memorabilia from their show to the robe, and then it is passed on to the next production.
At Cabrillo Stage the Robe is traditionally awarded to a chorus member, and once in awhile to a unique lead, who exemplifies the spirit of Cabrillo Stage through dedication and commitment to the production. The Robe selection process, chosen by the director and producer, also takes into consideration someone who has the greatest number of Cabrillo Stage credits in the cast. The winner, awarded on opening night, must wear the Robe and bless the stage, the scenery, the props and all the cast members before each performance in order to bring the production luck.
Cabrillo Stage 6500 Soquel Drive, Aptos, Ca 95003
Copyright 2009 Cabrillo Stage, All rights reserved | Photos by Jana Marcus Web Design by Dustin Leonard
