THE COMPANY
 | Ari Afsar, Mary is a singer, songwriter and storyteller. A graduate of Ethnomusicology from UCLA, Afsar recently released her album distributed by Sony Masterworks. She is the composer of the Broadway-bound show We Won’t Sleep, as named by Playbill. Afsar has opened for Michelle Obama, Gloria Steinem, Jane Fonda, Misty Copeland, Michelle Kwan, Ani DiFranco and Bryan Stevenson. Her credits include starring in the Netflix original movie Wedding Season; composing for Sony’s upcoming movie Lyle Lyle Crocodile, starring Javier Bardem and Constance Wu; originating Eliza in Chicago's Hamilton; winning Miss California 2010; placing top 10 at Miss America 2011; winning the Lyricist Award at The O'Neill NMTC; and placing top 36 on American Idol. She is the co-founder of "Until We Do It," which provided a million masks to communities disproportionately affected by Covid-19 in 2021. |
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Aryaan Arora, Mohan/Understudy: Gobind is an Indian-American artist and entrepreneur making his theatrical debut in Bhangin’ It. Currently studying at New York University, he is also the Co-Founder & President of The Arora Company. His film and television credits include CBS Studios’ Bull, ABC’s What Would You Do?, 27 Candles, Deli Boy and more. He has also been heavily involved in Brand Partnerships throughout the year with companies such as Mountain Dew, Axe, FIFA and Canoo. Arora is signed with Stewart Talent Agency and is managed by Prestige Management and Serendipity Entertainment. |
 | Bilaal Avaz, Amit is a Pakistani-American artist and activist making his theatrical debut in Bhangin' It! Bilaal has been working in the television and film industry since he was 16, having worked with actors like Sara Bareilles, Renée Elise Goldsberry, Mariska Hargitay and Tina Fey. Bilaal's television credits include Law & Order: SVU, NBC's Girls5Eva, multiple Super Bowl commercials and being a top contestant on ABC's American Idol. Bilaal is presently on full academic scholarship at NYU's Tisch School of the Arts as a part of the Dean's Scholar program. |
 | Jesse Bhamrah, Gobind La Jolla Playhouse: Debut. Regional: As You Like It (Guthrie Theatre); An Enemy of the People (Goodman Theatre); A Christmas Carol, Disgraced, Jane Eyre (Milwaukee Repertory Theatre); Last Stop on Market Street (Chicago Children's Theater); A Christmas Carol (Indiana Repertory Theater). Much love to his family in Virginia and to Erin and Madam! IG: jessebhamrah
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 | Brandon Contreras, Billy (they/he) is thrilled to be making their La Jolla Playhouse debut surrounded by these incredible artists. TV: WeCrashed (Apple TV+); Mr. Robot (USA); Awkwafina Is Nora from Queens (Comedy Central). New York/Regional: Almost Famous (Pre-Broadway); Road Show (City Center Encores!); Jerry Springer: The Opera (The New Group); The Connector (NYTW); Our Lady of 121st Street (Off-Broadway); The Play That Goes Wrong (PTC) and The Hamilton Mixtape (Public Theater). They were also seen in the 1st national tour of In the Heights and at various regional theaters around the country. Along with performing, Brandon is a director, filmmaker and choreographer for multiple collaborative projects. They are the co-creator, co-writer and executive producer of the Queer Sketch platform The HomoSapien Experience. With over 1.5 million followers across all social media platforms, they have been featured on E! News, Logo TV and have been nominated for a Queerty Award in Digital Entertainment. BrandonContreras.com - @OhHey_Brandon, @TheHomoSapienExperience on all platforms. This performance is for my biggest fan in the sky, Grandma Carmen. |
 | Laura Dadap, Constance Off-Broadway: Oratorio for Living Things (Ars Nova); Voca People. International/National Tour: Voca People and Nickelodeon Presents: Storytime Live!. Regional: 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee (Arkansas Rep); Agent 355 (Chautauqua Theater Company). Laura is dedicated to cultivating activism and the arts in collaboration through music and storytelling. Proud graduate of Emerson College’s B.F.A. Acting program and a founding member of Macabre Americana, a folk fusion band that sheds light on the dark side of American history. In her spare time, Laura and her husband own and operate Djablo Sauce, the first Filipino hot sauce to be manufactured in the United States that packs a mighty punch! www.lauradadap.com |
 | Henry Walter Greenberg, Noah Regional: The Undeniable Sound of Right Now (Raven Theatre); Buried Child (Writers Theatre), Ideation (Jackalope Theatre; Jeff nomination for Best Ensemble); Masque Macabre (Strawdog Theatre); Cyrano (BoHo Theatre); Wastwater (Steep Theatre); Lord of the Flies, The Spark (WaterTower Theatre); Mr. Burns, a post-electric play (Stage West). UC San Diego: Twelfth Night, End Days (WNPF ‘21), A Midsummer Night’s Dream, HEAP, Ironbound. Directing: Miles for Mary, Dial Q for Quarantine (UCSD). Education: B.F.A. Baylor University, Second City Conservatory (Chicago), M.F.A. Candidate, UC San Diego. Henry also served as the Literary Manager at A Red Orchid Theatre in Chicago (2016-19). |
 | Jason Heil, Wallace La Jolla Playhouse: Zhivago (Page-to-Stage and world premiere). Off-Broadway: Sea of Souls. Regional: Twelfth Night, Plaid Tidings (Old Globe); Mother Road, Sweat, Beachtown, Hand to God, Violet, Clybourne Park, A Christmas Carol (SD Rep); Arkansas and Tennessee Repertory Theatres; Capital Stage; A.C.T.; A Noise Within, and nine seasons with the Utah, Lake Tahoe, Marin and Texas Shakespeare Festivals. Other San Diego: 20+ shows with Lamb’s Players Theatre; Noises Off, Cabaret (Cygnet); Passion, Angels in America (ion theatre company); Art (Intrepid); School for Lies, Dracula (North Coast Rep); Three Days of Rain (Compass); Lion in Winter (Moonlight). www.jasonheil.com |
 | Terrance Johnson, Jake is so grateful to be a part of the Bhangin' It family! His performance credits include: Dreamgirls (C.C. White) on national/international tour; Once on This Island (Ti Moune) at FIPAP; Disney Cruise Lines (Simba). Regional: Tick, Tick… Boom, The America Play, A Christmas Carol (Triad Stage); Rent, The Producers, For the Glory (Flat Rock Playhouse). You can also catch Terrance as Joey Indigo in the musical mockumentary Happy Yummy Chicken! on Amazon Prime. He sends much love to his friends, family and husband for their unending support! |
 | Jaya Joshi, Sunita (they/any) La Jolla Playhouse: Debut. Education: B.F.A. in Musical Theatre from Shenandoah Conservatory (2019). Thank you Mom, Dad, Pria, Riley, Arjun, Aman, Rachna Chachi and Rohit Chacha. |
 | Madison McBride, Lily is a new graduate of the University of Michigan Musical Theatre Class of 2021 from Atlanta, GA. She couldn’t be more excited to be making her La Jolla Playhouse debut! Credits: Beauty and the Beast (Ann Arbor in Concert) and Godspell (UofM). She’d like to thank her friends and family for their endless love and support! @madison_mcb |
 | Nikki Mirza, Swing is delighted to return to the Playhouse. Originally from Southern California, she’s worked with La Jolla Playhouse, San Diego Rep, The Barn Stage Company, Scripps Ranch Theatre, Legoland and more. She’s now based in Washington D.C. and has worked with NextStop Theatre Company, 1st Stage, Adventure Theatre, Olney Theatre Center, Levine Music and more. She recently directed Every Brilliant Thing at NextStop Theatre Company before making her way to La Jolla for Bhangin’ It! She’s so humbled and blessed to be a part of telling a story that both explores and celebrates her identity and culture. Proverbs 16:3 |
 | Anu Mysore, Shetal/Understudy: Preeti/Rekha is thrilled to be making her La Jolla Playhouse debut in the world premiere of Bhangin' It! Anu is an NYC-based actor/singer/dancer/choreographer and a graduate of Pace University's theatre program. As a first-generation Indian American, Anu is especially passionate about creating South Asian fusion art while supporting South Asian artists. In addition to being a performer, Anu is a Bollywood and Classical dance instructor and has had the privilege of nurturing the talent of hundreds of students. Anu is so grateful for the love and support of her castmates, team, family, friends and students, and is proud to be here doing it for the culture. @anumysore_ |
 | Amey Natu, Big Bob is debuting on the professional musical theatre stage in Bhangin’ It. Amey’s artistic background also includes dancing for Da Real Punjabiz, San Diego’s competitive Bhangra team; dancing for Raas Ruckus, UCSD’s competitive Raas-Garba team; and singing for Sitaare, UCSD’s competitive South Asian a cappella team. Aside from his artistic endeavors, Amey works as a Performance Analyst for TuSimple, an AI company developing self-driving semi-trucks for interstate commercial travel. He hopes that those who watch Bhangin’ It not only enjoy its creativity, but also are touched by its message. |
 | Alka Nayyar, Rekha Thrilled to debut with La Jolla Playhouse and the Bhangin’ It team, Alka’s selected theatre work includes: The Jungle Book (Goodman Theatre, Huntington Theatre); The Secret Garden (Court Theatre); A Christmas Carol (Central Square Theater, Hanover Theatre); A Disappearing Number (TimeLine Theatre); Merchant on Venice (Silk Road Rising); The Masrayana (Joseph Jefferson-nominated choreography), A Widow of No Importance, A Nice Indian Boy (Rasaka Theatre); Great Expectations (Remy Bumppo/Silk Road); Multitudes, A Passage to India (Vitalist Theatre). TV: NBC’s Chicago Fire, Chicago Med, Chicago PD; Code-Switched. Film: Hala, The Miseducation of Bindu. A University of Chicago alum and a PR consultant, she also promotes South Asian cultural awareness and teaches Indian dance as Co-Artistic Director of Chicago’s Chitrahar Cultural Academy and through the Old Town School of Folk Music. Alka has taught at Chicago Children’s Theatre and the Joffrey Ballet, and serves as Communications Director for Token Theatre. With gratitude for pops and family. @alka.selza |
 | Zain Patel, Varun La Jolla Playhouse: Debut. Regional: Mamma Mia (Laguna Playhouse). Tours: Stories: Our American Journey. Voiceover: Apple’s Group Facetime commercial. Favorite performance moment was performing with Pharrell Williams at the 2014 Academy Awards! Education: B.A. Drama from UC Irvine. Thank you to the creative team, fellow cast, parents, sisters, close friends and manager Robert Barnes for the tremendous support. |
 | Devi Peot, New Mary/Understudy: Mary/Shetal/Shilpa (she/her) is an Atlanta native who is honored to join the cast of Bhangin' It. Special thanks to Rehana, Mike, Sam and Deep for writing a story that breaks the mold. OUMT. Immense gratitude to her family, Ben, Take 3 Talent, and the creative and casting team. This is for the community, for Paati. @devipeot |
 | Vinithra Raj, Preeti is thrilled to be making her debut with La Jolla Playhouse. She is classically trained in Carnatic singing and Bharatanatyam dance. She is a member of SAG and can be seen on Empire (FOX) as well as in various commercials. She holds a B.S. in Biomedical Engineering from Northwestern University and an M.S. in Biomedical Informatics from The University of Chicago. When she is not performing, she works as a software engineer and model. She would like to thank Amma, Appa, Anagha, Chris Misik and Gray Talent. |
 | Ramita Ravi, Shilpa is a UPenn alum and performing artist. Signed with Bloc Talent Agency NY/LA, she was the first South Asian to be featured on So You Think You Can Dance (S’14), with credits including the feature film Spinning Gold, John Oliver’s Last Week Tonight, NYFW with Hermès, TNT’s I Am the Night, Viceland, NOWThis, ClassPass Live, Aida and Mystic India World Tour. She has choreographed for Miss America 2021, Raveena, KSHMR, DanceOn and Capezio, and tours with various dance conventions. She co-founded Artswrk, the professional network for artists and creatives, and is passionate about creating equitable and innovative creative industries. |
 | Devina Sabnis, Swing is thrilled to be a part of Bhangin’ It at La Jolla Playhouse. Originally from South Brunswick, NJ, she graduated from Syracuse University with a B.F.A. in Musical Theatre. She played Kelly & Others in The Office! A Musical Parody North American Tour and Off-Broadway at The Theater Center. Previous credits include Elf, The Musical and The Wizard of Oz at Syracuse Stage, as well as Bye Bye Birdie at Priscilla Beach Theatre. She is so grateful for the support from her friends and family. Follow her adventures on Instagram @devinasabnis and at devinasabnis.com |
 | Gerry Tonella, Swing La Jolla Playhouse: Debut. Regional credits include: Pablo in Sister Act (SDMT, Moonlight); Vittorio Vidal in Sweet Charity (Welk Resort); Anselmo/Sancho u.s. in Man of La Mancha (SDMT). Theme Parks: Legoland, Disneyland Resort. TV: Selena: The Series (Netflix). Education: B.A. from the University of San Diego. |
 | Levin Valayil, Swing La Jolla Playhouse: Debut. Off-Broadway: Bhuvan in Bollywood and Vine (The Lion Theater). Other regional credits include: Lottery in Monsoon Wedding (Berkeley Rep); Sir Lionel/Tom in Camelot (Asolo Rep); Dharun Ravi in Poster Boy (Williamstown Theater Festival); Mowgli in Jungle Book (Canada/US Tour, Pasadena Playhouse, Asolo Rep); Man #1/Monty u/s in A Gentleman’s Guide to Love and Murder (Florida Studio Theater); Bob in The Fabulous Lipitones (Florida Studio Theater, Virginia Rep). Education: M.F.A. from Boston Conservatory, B.M. from Berklee College of Music. www.levinvalayil.com |
Mike Lew, Co-Librettist is beyond thrilled to return to La Jolla Playhouse, his hometown theatre. Previous collaborations with the Playhouse include serving as the 2018/19 Artist-in-Residence and a commission for The Colonialism Project (both with Rehana Lew Mirza), and the west coast premiere of his play Tiger Style! (also at Olney, Huntington and Alliance). His other plays include Teenage Dick (Ma-Yi at the Public, Donmar Warehouse, Woolly Mammoth, Huntington, Pasadena Playhouse); Bike America (Ma-Yi, Alliance) and microcrisis (Ma-Yi, InterAct). He and Rehana are joint Mellon Foundation Playwrights-in-Residence at Ma-Yi Theater. Mike is a Dramatists Guild Council member, Tony voter and New Dramatists resident. Honors: Guggenheim, Lark Venturous and NYFA fellowships; Kleban, Richard Rodgers, PEN, Lanford Wilson, Helen Merrill, Heideman and Kendeda Awards. Education: Juilliard, Yale, La Jolla High. |
Rehana Lew Mirza, Co-Librettist Previous collaborations with La Jolla Playhouse include serving as the 2018/19 Artist-in-Residence and a commission for The Colonialism Project (both with Mike Lew). Her plays include: Hatefuck (2019 production at Colt Coeur and WP Theater); A People’s Guide to History in the Time of Here and Now (Primary Stages commission; workshop production: AMDA); Soldier X (productions: Ma-Yi, Brooklyn College; 2015 Kilroys List; NYSCA/Lark commission); Tomorrow Inshallah (Storyworks/HuffPost commission; production: Living Room Theater, Kansas City); Neighborhood Watch (NNPN/InterAct commission); and Barriers (productions: Desipina, Asian American Theater Company). Honors include: Kleban Award, NYFA Fellow, Richard Rodgers Award, HBO Access Fellow, Lilly Award (Stacey Mindich “Go Write A Play”) and a TCG/New Georges Fellowship. She and Mike also share a Mellon Foundation National Playwright residency administered in partnership with Howlround at Ma-Yi Theater. M.F.A.: Columbia University; B.F.A.: NYU Tisch. |
Sam Willmott, Composer/Lyricist/Co-Arranger Projects include Yo, Vikings! and the Swedish Cottage Marionette Theatre's Wake Up, Daisy! (both with Marcus Stevens); the Emmy-nominated HBO documentary Song of Parkland; Standardized Testing – The Musical!!!! and the mini-musical Scarlet Takes a Tumble. His written work has received the Kleban Prize, the Fred Ebb Award, a Jonathan Larson Grant, the ASCAP Foundation’s Cole Porter and Harold Adamson Awards, MAC’s John Wallowitch Award and the Kennedy Center ACTF Musical Theatre Award. He has written over 150 songs for the Korean English-language children’s program, English Egg, and taught at Harvard University and Lincoln Center’s Songwriting in Schools Program. SamWillmott.com |
Deep Singh, Additional Music/Co-Orchestrator/Co-Arranger is a Grammy-nominated artist who has been steeped in music all his life. At the age of six Singh became the youngest disciple of the late tabla master, Ustad Allah Rakha. Singh's versatility as a performer, composer and producer has given him a unique place in the music industry, resulting in some very innovative collaborations with leading artists from both the East and West, including: A. R. Rahman/Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Bombay Dreams (Broadway and international tour); Twyla Tharp’s Come Fly Away; Mira Nair’s (with Vishal Bhardwaj) Monsoon Wedding; Sheila Silver’s A Thousand Splendid Suns, premiering at Seattle Opera 2023; performances with the Queens Symphony; composing "Anthem of Us" for India’s Prime Minister, debuting at Madison Square Garden; DEVOSutra (featuring DEVO); and performances with Nile Rodgers. Artists (India/Pakistan): Ustad Nusrat Fateh Ali, Ustad Ghulam Ali, Ustad Sultan Khan, Ustad Salamat Ali, Ustad Hussain Bux, Hariharan, Anuradha Paudwal. |
Stafford Arima, Director is the Artistic Director of Theatre Calgary in Alberta, Canada. In 2015, he became the first Asian Canadian to direct a musical on Broadway when Allegiance opened at the Longacre Theatre. Arima was nominated for an Olivier Award for his direction of the West End premiere of Ragtime. Additional work: Altar Boyz (Off-Broadway), Carrie (MCC Theater), Jacques Brel Is Alive and Well and Living in Paris (Stratford Festival), Saturday Night (York Theatre Co., NYC), Candide (San Francisco Symphony), The Tin Pan Alley Rag (Roundabout Theatre), bare (Off-Broadway 2012), and Mary and Max, A Christmas Carol and Billy Elliot (Theatre Calgary). Arima was the associate director of Seussical and A Class Act on Broadway. He is a graduate of York University (Canada), and former adjunct and Granada Artist in Residence at the University of California, Davis. staffordarima.com |
Rujuta Vaidya, Choreographer is a highly-accredited and globally-recognized Bollywood-style choreographer who has been responsible for some of the biggest Bollywood musical extravaganzas in the entertainment industry. With choreography credits that include the Academy Awards 2009 (John Legend and AR Rahman’s Slumdog Millionaire performance), Britney Spears’ The Circus Tour, Black Eyed Peas’ The End Tour, AR Rahman World Tour, Priyanka Chopra’s “In My City,” Sridevi’s English Vinglish and the Disney-released Cheetah Girls 3 – One World, Ruj has emerged as a leading influence in the world of contemporary Bollywood dance. She has also released a hip-hop/Bollywood dance workout video called BYOU2 (www.byou.com) that has her collaborating with Sabrina Bryan of the Cheetah Girls on a dance instructional video for young girls that blends both styles from the East and the West. Ruj is also Professor of Bollywood Dance at Tisch NYU and International Content Lead for India's digital platform "Dance with Madhuri." |
Lisa Shriver, Musical Staging Broadway credits include Jesus Christ Superstar, The Farnsworth Invention, The Story of My Life, Ring of Fire. As Associate Choreographer: over 10 Broadway productions, including The Producers, Into the Woods, Oklahoma. Off-Broadway: Into the Woods (Roundabout Theatre – Lortel Award nomination for Outstanding Choreography), Fetch Clay Make Man (New York Theatre Workshop). Selected regional credits: Sideways, The Farnsworth Invention, Jesus Christ Superstar (La Jolla Playhouse); Sister Act, Rock of Ages, Austen's Pride (Seattle 5th Ave); Caesar and Cleopatra, The Tempest – both with Christopher Plummer (Stratford Shakespeare Festival). Film: A Beautiful Mind, A Christmas Carol with Jim Carrey, Hysterical Blindness. As Associate: The Polar Express, Mixed Nuts with Steve Martin, Center Stage. TV: A Very Murray Christmas with Bill Murray (Sofia Coppola, Director), Broad City, The Detour. Other: Phish’s NYE concert at MSG (3 years). Many thanks to Max Grossman, Brian and Viola. |
Madeline Benson, Music Director La Jolla Playhouse: Debut. Music direction credits include We Live in Cairo (ART), Rags Parkland… (Ars Nova), Ragtime on Ellis Island, An Octoroon (TFANA), FUTURITY (Ars Nova/Soho Rep), Skin of Our Teeth (TFANA), 1001 Nights (Atlantic Theater Company), Loch Ness (the Rev), Nikola Tesla Drops the Beat (ATF), Agent 355 (CTC). In 2016, Madeline made history as the youngest woman ever to conduct on Broadway when she served as conductor for Waitress. She musically adapted Disney Theatrical’s Frozen Jr., Frozen Kids, and the stage version of Descendants. Education: B.A. Music and Classical Civilizations from Harvard University. |
Anushka Pushpala, Bhangra Specialist has been dancing, teaching and competing since she was 4 years old. Her training includes Ballet, Jazz, Bollywood and Bhangra. She began her Bhangra journey at the age of ten, performing with various groups in the community. While pursuing her bachelor’s degree at UC San Diego, she danced all four years with her competitive Bhangra team, Da Real Punjabiz. Post-graduation, she has danced with various teams around the country as well as founded SHER and San Francisco Bhangra Club. Most recently, she has been working as the Artistic Director of Bhangra Empire curating performances and videos and the Bhangra Instructor for the Elite Naach Academy. She’s excited for this full circle moment to be back at her old stomping grounds where her love for Bhangra culminated and showcase this dance form in a new light! |
Robert Brill, Scenic Design Mr. Brill's designs for the Playhouse include Summer: The Donna Summer Musical, Chasing The Song, His Girl Friday, Yoshimi Battles The Pink Robots, Jesus Chris Superstar, The Wiz and many others. Broadway credits include Ain't Too Proud: The Life And Times of The Temptations (Tony nomination), Thoughts of A Colored Man, Assassins (Tony nomination), the set and club design for the critically acclaimed revival of Cabaret, Jesus Christ Superstar, Guys and Dolls (Tony nomination), Design for Living, Buried Child and others. His recent credits include Frozen for Disney Creative Entertainment, and numerous world-premiere operas, including Moby-Dick, Cold Mountain, Everest and The Manchurian Candidate. A graduate of UCSD and a founding member of Sledgehammer Theatre, he is a recipient of the Michael Merritt Award for Excellence in Design and Collaboration, and a 2011 La Jolla Playhouse Honors Award. Mr. Brill has been a La Jolla Playhouse Artist in Residence, and is Professor of Scenic Design at UC San Diego. |
Linda Cho, Costume Design made her Playhouse debut with Limelight and most recently designed Twilight at the Signature and Chinese Lady at the New York Public Theater. Broadway: A Gentlemen’s Guide to Love and Murder (Tony Award), Anastasia (Tony, Drama Desk, Outer Critics Circle Award nominations), Velocity of Autumn, Great Society, Lifespan of a Fact, Take Me Out, POTUS. Over 200 regional and international design credits in theatre, dance and opera. Recipient of numerous awards including the Irene Sharaff Young Master Award and The Ruth Morley Design Award from the League of Professional Theatre Women. She serves on the Advisory Committee of the American Theater Wing. M.F.A.: Yale School of Drama. www.lindacho.com |
Amith Chandrashaker, Lighting Design La Jolla Playhouse: Debut. Amith’s work has been seen at The Public Theater, Second Stage, Theatre for a New Audience, Manhattan Theatre Club, Playwrights Horizons, Signature Theater, New York Theatre Workshop, Williamstown Theatre Festival, Ars Nova, Soho Rep, Berkeley Rep, The Atlantic, Houston Grand Opera, Opera Omaha, Opera Colorado and The Atlanta Opera. New Dance works by Alexander Ekman, Liz Gerring, Benoit Swan-Pouffer, Sidra Bell and Rennie Harris. Recipient of the Drama Desk and Henry Hewes awards. Assistant Professor of Lighting Design at The University of Maryland’s School for Theatre, Dance and Performance Studies. |
Jonathan Deans, Sound Design Recent work: Drawn to Life, Waitress 2021, Anything Goes (Barbican, London), Jagged Little Pill (Tony nomination), PY1- Lune Rouge (Montreal), ExtraOrdinary, The Tempest, Waitress (NY, London), Red Velvet, Invisible Thread, Finding Neverland (NY), Pippin (Tony nomination), Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark, La Cage aux Folles (Tony and Drama Desk nomination), Young Frankenstein, Pirate Queen, Carrie (Drama Desk nomination), Parade (Drama Desk nomination), Fosse (NY, UK), Ragtime. Visit: designingsound.com. Jonathan has worked on 15 Cirque du Soleil productions including Drawn to Life, MJ ONE, LOVE, KA, O, Mystere, Ovo, Corteo and more. Operas include a residency at the Royal Opera House and the LA Opera. |
David Bengali, Projection Design La Jolla Playhouse: Debut. Twilight, Los Angeles: 1992 (Signature); The Visitor (Public Theater); Ratatouille: The TikTok Musical (Seaview; Drama League nom.); Bollywood Kitchen (Geffen Playhouse); Circle Jerk (Fake Friends; Drama League nom.); Einstein’s Dreams (59E59; Drama Desk nom.); We Live in Cairo (A.R.T.); Girls (Yale Rep); The Great Leap (Atlantic Theater Co.); Frankenstein (Dallas Theater Center); The Temple Bombing (Alliance Theatre); Uncommon Sense (Tectonic Theater Project); In the Moment (The Kennedy Center/Ephrat Asherie Dance); Rockin' Road to Dublin (national tour). Proud member: USA-829. |
Alberto "Albee" Alvarado Hair and Makeup Design serves as Wig/Makeup Supervisor for La Jolla Playhouse, with credits including The Garden, Fly, Diana the Musical, SUMMER: The Donna Summer Musical, Kiss My Aztec!, Cambodian Rock Band, The Last Tiger in Haiti and Side Show. He’s currently Wig/Makeup Supervisor for San Diego Opera, has worked for The Old Globe, Cygnet, SD Rep and Junior Theatre. When he is not busy in the theatre wings, Albee enjoys any outlet that allows creative license and spending time with his husband, pup and "framily." Representation matters. You matter. |
Justin Goldner, Co-Orchestrator La Jolla Playhouse: Debut. Music producer, orchestrator and session musician Justin Goldner has been privileged to make music with Sting, Ricky Martin, Macy Gray, Donald Glover, Ledisi, Jordin Sparks, Tori Kelly, Lin-Manuel Miranda, Stephen Sondheim, Ben Platt, Steve Martin, Jane Monheit, Max Martin, Alan Menken, Jason Robert Brown, Kelli O’Hara, Audra McDonald and a host of others. He’s contributed to Grammy, Tony and Golden Globe Award-winning projects, including Dear Evan Hansen (Broadway, film) and The Greatest Showman, and was somehow allowed on stage at such storied venues as Carnegie Hall, Radio City Music Hall (Ben Platt Netflix special), Apollo Theater, Madison Square Garden (60th annual Grammy Awards) and Turkmenistan’s Mukamlar Palace. |
Natasha Sinha, Dramaturg (she/her) is a producer and dramaturg, and she is Associate Artistic Director of Playwrights Horizons. Past work includes positions at Signature Theatre (Octet, Cambodian Rock Band); LCT3/Lincoln Center Theater (Preludes, War, queens, Shabash!); Barrington Stage Company. As a freelance dramaturg, she has worked with Dave Harris, Michael R. Jackson, Grace McLean, Shakina Nayfack, Danny Pudi, Heather Raffo, Sam Salmond, Kit Yan & Melissa Li. Natasha is a co-founder of Beehive Dramaturgy Studio. |
Calleri/Jensen/Davis, Casting La Jolla Playhouse: The Garden. Regional theaters include Long Wharf Theater, McCarter Theater, Berkeley Rep and Hartford Stage. Broadway credits include Thoughts of a Colored Man, Fool for Love, Hughie, A Raisin in the Sun, Of Mice and Men, Hedwig and the Angry Inch, Living on Love, The Visit and the upcoming For Colored Girls.... TV credits include Chappelle's Show, Army Wives, Lipstick Jungle, Hope & Faith, The Path, Love Life (HBO Max) and Queens (ABC). |
Julianne Menassian, Stage Manager La Jolla Playhouse: Freaky Friday, Bhangin’ It (workshops). Tours: Pretty Woman the Musical, Once on This Island, Love Never Dies, Finding Neverland, Cabaret. Select credits: Off-Broadway: Midnight at The Never Get, Unexpected Joy. Regional: Darling Grenadine (Goodspeed Musicals); Freaky Friday, Blackbeard, Girlstar (Signature Theatre); Freaky Friday (Alley Theatre, Cleveland Play House); Bad Jews (Studio Theatre); Legally Blonde (Riverside Theatre); Yentl (Theater J). TV: Halston, The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, Saturday in the Park, Studio Sessions. |
Alyssa Swann, Assistant Stage Manager La Jolla Playhouse: Miss You Like Hell, Freaky Friday, Hundred Days, Bhangin’ It (New York workshop). Regional: Darling Grenadine (Goodspeed Musicals); As You Like It, Twelfth Night (The Old Globe); Gypsy, On the 20th Century (Cygnet Theatre); Scissorhands (Rockwell, The Fuse Project); Enron, Our Lady of Kibeho, The Revolutionists!, I and You (Moxie Theatre). Live Premieres/Events: A Taste in the Heights (Warner Brothers, Little Cinema), The Real Housewives UTG (Peacock, Little Cinema), Welcome to Earth (Disney+, NatGeo, Little Cinema), SDCC The Expanse (Amazon Prime). @alyssaswann_ |
Andrew Gutierrez, Assistant Stage Manager La Jolla Playhouse: Debut. Regional (selected): Girlfriend (PSM), The Producers (ASM), All Shook Up (PSM). Dance/Concerts (selected): Las Cuatros Estaciones (PSM), Merge: Irretrievable (PSM), Star Wars in Concert (SM), Police Deranged with Stewart Copeland (SM), Les Noces (PSM). Education: M.F.A. from UC San Diego, B.F.A. from Texas State University. Website: ag-sm.com. |
Emily Searles, Stage Management Assistant is a recent graduate of UC San Diego where she received an M.F.A. in Stage Management. Originally from the East Coast, Emily holds a B.A. in Theatre and Business Administration from Muhlenberg College. Select Credits: On Your Feet, Beauty and the Beast (Moonlight Stage Productions); Anything Goes, My Fair Lady (Muhlenberg Summer Music Theatre); peerless, Prepared, Uncle Vanya, Letters from Cuba, Much Ado About Nothing, Balm in Gilead (UC San Diego); Brigadoon, Ubu Roi, How I Wonder, Salome, Ulysses in Nighttown (Muhlenberg). |
The Huntington led by Managing Director Michael Maso and Artistic Director Loretta Greco, is Boston’s leading professional theatre company. Committed to amplifying the wide range of voices in our community, The Huntington provides life-changing opportunities for students through its robust education programs, is a national leader in the development of playwrights and new plays, acts as the host organization for a residency of The Front Porch Arts Collective, serves the Boston arts community through our operation of the Calderwood Pavilion, and is currently renovating the flagship Huntington Theatre for a reopening in fall 2022. huntingtontheatre.org |