Framroze Virjee, President, California State University, Fullerton
Amir H. Dabirian, Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs (Interim)
Alexander Porter, Vice President, Administration and Finance/CFO
David Forgues, Vice President, Human Resources, Diversity & Inclusion
Rommel Hidalgo, Vice President, Information Technology
Tonantzin Oseguera, Vice President, Student Affairs
Gregory J. Saks, Vice President, University Advancement
Arnold Holland, EdD, Dean
Dave Mickey, Associate Dean
Bonnie Li Victorino, Academic Resource Manager
Christopher Johnson, Budget Coordinator
Heather Guzman, Assistant to the Deans
Visual Arts Special Projects, Jade Jewett
Dr. Randall Goldberg, Director, School of Music
Dr. James Hussar, Chair, Department of Visual Arts
Jamie Tucker, Chair, Department of Theatre & Dance
Jennifer Frias, Director, Nicholas & Lee Begovich Gallery
John Spiak, Director, Grand Central Art Center - Santa Ana
Ann Steichen, Director of Development
Erika Ochoa, Support Group Coordinator
Julie Bussell, Director, Marketing & Patron Services
Stephanie Tancredi, Box Office Manager
Heather Richards-Siddons
Marketing & Communications Specialist
Alvin Chiu, Graphic Designer
Jason Pano, Social Media Strategist
Greetings from the College of the Arts! It’s so good to have you back, and we have an exceptional spring season planned for you. With programming ranging from groundbreaking theatre productions to World-Premiere concerts, our spring offerings seem to shine a bit brighter this semester. On January 28, we kicked things off with the Visual Arts Modernization Project Preview Event and groundbreaking ceremony. More than 100 invited guests joined us for a sneak peek of the project as they engaged with some of the latest technology-driven art tools, experienced AR/VR project demonstrations by visual arts students, and viewed scale models of the complex. When completed, this renovation will transform our campus and community, positioning CSUF’s visual arts program – the largest in the Cal State system – as a leader in cutting-edge art education and practice within the CSUs. Follow our progress and join us on this extraordinary journey at art.fullerton.edu/vamod
This season’s fresh slate of visual arts exhibitions and performing arts concerts and productions are sure to keep you coming back to campus! Beginning February 18, Begovich Gallery presents the exhibition “Figures, Poses, and Glances: The Coded Illustrations of J.C Leyendecker,” at MUZEO Museum & Cultural Center, exploring the coded depictions of queer culture in the eradefining images of this early twentieth-century American illustrator. The School of Music honors Black History Month with a performance of “Symphony No. 1 in E minor” by composer Florence Price – the first Black female composer to have a symphony performed by a major American orchestra. In Theatre, Maria Cominis’ “Women of Zalongo” weaves together the experiences of four generations of Greek women into a story of resilience, struggle, and survival. And in May, our student dancers and choreographers collaborate in rhythmic, expressive movement as “Spring Dance Theatre” returns to the Little Theatre.
Our diverse programming mirrors the diversity of the College of the Arts and is a testament to the values we hold. We embrace the possibility inherent in each of our students and celebrate their successes alongside them on their path to becoming future artists, educators, performers, and arts professionals. As patrons, donors, friends, and family, I know you also champion their success. Demonstrate your commitment to the future of the arts by supporting the Dean’s Fund for Excellence at any level. Donate today at arts.fullerton.edu/giving.
I invite you to visit to campus our again for another performance, or to check out our progress as the Visual Arts Modernization Project moves into the next phase of construction. You may have even seen the walls of one of our new buildings going up along State College Blvd! Whatever brings you here, welcome. We are so proud to show you all that the College of the Arts at Cal State Fullerton has to offer.
Arnold Holland, Ed.D. Dean, College of the Arts
Jamie Tucker Chair, Department of Theatre & Dance
Alvin Rangel-Alvarado,* Vice Chair, Department of Theatre & Dance
FULL-TIME FACULTY | Theatre
Acting
Maria Cominis
Svetlana Efremova•
Eve Himmelheber
John Short
Jim Taulli
Design and Technical Production
Scott Bolman
Hyun Sook Kim*^
Fred Kinney*
JR Luker
Bill Meyer
Carolyn Mraz
Kathryn Wilson
Directing
Mark Ramont•*
Musical Theatre
Josh Grisetti•*
Marty Austin Lamar
Theatre Studies
Dr. Heather Denyer•
Amanda Rose Villarreal, PhD
Voice and Movement
Anne James
David Nevell•
FULL-TIME FACULTY | Dance
Muriel Joyce
Lisa D. Long
Debra Noble
Alvin Rangel-Alvarado*
*denotes program coordinator
•denotes area head
^denotes graduate coordinator
FULL-TIME STAFF
Department of Theatre & Dance
Administration
Denean Dyson
Technical and Production Staff
Michael August, Production Manager
Lois Bryan, Master Electrician
Matt Connelly, Amanda Horak Staff Scenic Lab Forepersons
Heidi Enzlin Cole, Charge Scenic Artist
Jen Frauenzimmer
Business/ Production Coordinator
Terri Nista, Costume Lab Manager
Lori Koontz, Costume Lab Techncian
Megan Gonzalez, TV Studio Technician
Jeff Lewis, Production Sound Engineer
William Lemley, Audio Technician
Bob West, Properties Master
Brigitte Bellavoine, Jennifer Schniepp & Ben Rempel, Accompanists
Stephanie Tancredi Box Office Manager & Safety Coordinator
Cathi Craig, Lead House Manager
www.facebook.com/CSUFTheatre
Instagram | @csuftheatre
Twitter | @csuftheatre
The Department of Theatre & Dance at California State University, Fullerton is fully and continuously accredited by the National Association of Schools of Theatre (1974) and the National Association of Schools of Dance (1982)
Choreographers Jazmine Huerta, Mila Gonzales, Emily Kelley, Julia Atkinson, Michael Nickerson- Rossi,^ danah bella,^ Jamila Glass,^ Joshua D. Estrada-Romero*
Scenic Designers Adam Miller, Andre Polo, Harold Kast
Costume Designers Keiv Lam, Nathalia Morales, Hannah Creighton, Hayden Lalicker, Hannah Clark, Kathryn Wilson*
Lighting Designers Alecia Bennett, Jordan “LJ” Curiel, Dillon Lopez, Sheridan Vieyra, Samera Abdelrhman
Sound Designer Olivia Huntley
Technical Director Will Schneider
Production Stage Manager
Anastasia Hamilton
*Faculty/Staff ^Guest Artist
Unbound
Choreographer: Michael Nickerson-Rossi^
Dancers: Jazmine Huerta, Cara Marguerite, Maria Ewald, Leila Massoudi, Sophia Bernardo, Bianca Wajack, Jolyn Lambey
Music: “Ulysses’ Gaze: Litany” by Eleni Karaindrou, Kim Kashkashian, Lefteris Chalkiadakis
Costume Designer: Kathryn Wilson*
Lighting Designer: Alecia Bennett
Title VII
Choreographer: Mila Gonzales
Dancers: Rayne Meeks, Colby Hanning, Robinn Jaide Titular, Abby Smelko, Madeleine Lindbeck, Sophia Ayala, Audrey Luna; Understudy: Jacey Quigley
Music: “Psyk” and “Lodgikal Nonsense” by Plastikman, Richie Hawtin
Costume Designer: Hannah Clark
Lighting Designer: Samera Abdelrhman
Every person has multiple identities such as race, gender, ethnicity, etc. However, Title VII of the Civil Rights Act only allows an individual to claim one identity in court because of its written flaw In this case, the law has too much power over our freedoms.
Monotonous Mundane
Choreographer: Emily Kelley
Dancers: Robinn Jaide Titular, Audrey Luna, Erik Jaimes, Rayne Meeks, Meg MacDonald, Cara Marguerite, Leila Massoudi; Understudy: Emmalee Idler
Music: “Fresh Blood” by Kyle Dixon & Michael Stein; “A Way Out,” “Meds,” “Drugs,” and “Finally Jesus” by Cristobal Tapia Da Veer
Costume Designer: Hannah Creighton
Lighting Designer: Jordan “LJ” Curiel
The “American Dream” romanticizes the idea that you must overexert yourself, and work until you can’t anymore to be comfortable and stable. People are unhappy and barely surviving, either with three jobs or a job they never wanted, and oftentimes are forced to work until their body physically can’t anymore.
Todos Unidos
Choreographer: Jazmine Huerta
Dancers: Cassandra Alvarado, Emilio Castellón, Madison Dabalos, Yasmina Devos, Sofia Gabriela, Christopher Ho, Imari Johnson, Tatiana Noorzad, Natalie Sandoval, Bianca Wajack; Understudies: Audrey Luna and Jessie Mercado
Music: “Cruz de Olvido” by Vicente Fernández; “Paloma Negra” by Chavela Vargas; “Aguanile” by Willie Colón & Héctor Lavoe; “Bemba Colorá” by Celia Cruz; “Carnaval del Barrio” from In the Heights (Original Broadway Cast), Lin Manuel Miranda; “Despues de la Playa” by Bad Bunny
Costume Designer: Keiv Lam
Lighting Designer: Sheridan Vieyra
Set Designer: Andre Polo
Celebrating the intersectionality of the Latine community, embracing Latin cultures and traditions authentically despite oppressive systems of colonization, white/European supremacy, and racism.
Alias
Choreographer: Jamila Glass^
Dancers: Sophia Bernardo, Madison Diablos, Mila Gonzales, Colby Hanning, Jazmine Huerta, Erik Jaimes, Jolyn Lambey, Madeleine Lindbeck, Leila Massoudi
Music: “5115” by Michael Wall
Costume Designer: Kathryn Wilson*
Lighting Designer: Alecia Bennett
28:06:42:12
Choreographer: Julia Atkinson
Dancers: Erik Jaimes, Meg MacDonald, Kelsey Hutchison, Abby Smelko, Rayne Meeks;
Understudy: Abigail Fernandes
Music: Songs from Donnie Darko (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) by Michael Andrews
Costume Designer: Nathalia Morales
Lighting Designer: Dillon Lopez
Set Designer: Harold Kast
Inspired by the 2001 film, Donnie Darko
Áma
Choreographer: danah bella^
Dancers: Madeleine Lindbeck, Meg MacDonald (5/4, 5/6 - 8 pm, 5/12, 5/13 - 2pm) Colby Hanning, Jolyn Lambey (5/5, 5/6 - 2pm, 5/11, 5/13 - 8 pm)
Music: “Electric Counterpoint Movement I” by Steve Reich performed by Zane Forshee
Costume Designer: Kathryn Wilson*
Lighting Designer: Jordan “LJ” Curiel
WINEdown
Choreographer: Joshua D. Estrada-Romero*
Dancers: Sofia Ayala (all 8 pm); Mila Gonzales, Emmalee Idler (Saturdays at 2 pm), Robinn Jaide Titular, Chris Ho, Cara Marguerite
Music: “Rest” and “Beyond” by Adrian Berenguer
Costume Designer: Hayden Lalicker
Lighting Designer: Jordan “LJ” Curiel
Set Designer: Adam Miller
“The highest state is laughter”– Maharishi Mahesh Yogi
*Faculty/Staff ^Guest ArtistABOUT THE GUEST ARTISTS
danah bella is the artistic director of d a n a h b e l l a DanceWorks, a modern dance company focused on reclaiming evocative movement as social practice. bella has performed and presented her work throughout the country including the Cool New York Festival in New York, the United States Asian American Festival in San Francisco, the Bates Dance Festival in Maine, the American College Dance Association’s National Dance Festival at the Kennedy Center, ReVIEWING Black Mountain College international conference in Asheville, N.C., as well as in Mexico and Italy. She has taught workshops and has been artist in residence in festivals and universities throughout the United States and abroad; including, Pro Danza Italia, Bates Dance Festival, Monterey Dance Fest, the American College Dance Association’s Regional and National Conferences, Western Michigan University, University of Virginia, Oklahoma Contemporary Dance Festival, Santa Barbara City College, and Goose Route Dance Festival. bella is also a founding member of Colectivo Caliban, an artist collective that transgresses disciplinary borders through sound and movement. She has worked in higher education since 2002 teaching modern technique, dance theory, and history.
She has an MFA in performance from Ohio State University and a BA in Dance from the University of California in Santa Barbara.
www.danahbelladanceworks.weebly.com
Jamila Glass is the Artistic Director of LA Contemporary Dance Company and joined the company in 2005 as a founding member. Her choreography work includes Netflix’s Dear White People as series choreographer for the final musical season, a Prada campaign creative directed by Vogue Italia’s Fernando Verderi, Hulu’s featured film Bad Hair directed by Justine Simien, BET’s TV series Twenties created by Emmy award-winning Lena Waithe, Vitamin String Quartet’s “The Box” and “Blinding Lights” music videos, Caught a Ghost’s “Get Your Life” music video featuring Tessa Thompson (from the Dear White People film soundtrack), Brooke Fraser’s “Kings & Queens” music videos, and multiple works for LACDC. She recently choreographed a Sephora-produced documentary feature film on the iconic Black beauty band Fashion Fair.
Glass began her formal training as a nine-year-old scholarship student at the Discovery Dance Group in Houston, Texas. She continued dancing in her spare time as a vocal music major at the multi-Grammy award-winning High School for the Performing and Visual Arts. Jamila graduated from the University of Southern California with a B.A. in cinema-television film & video production) and a minor in advertising.
As a performer, she has worked with Ryan Heffington, Galen Hooks, Nina McNeely, Kathryn Burns, David Dorfman, Adam Parson, and Mecca Vazie Andrews. Other credits include Netflix Original film Mascots from Christopher Guest, American Horror Story, Paul McCrtney, Colbie Caillat, Fosterthe People tour, American Apparel, Samsung, & the NY Times Best Selling photography book Dancers Among Us.
Beyond the stage, Jamila, a director/screenwriter, is currently producing films through her production company The Cutting Room where she has directed 20 critically-acclaimed short dance films, a television pilot, and two music videos that have garnered international praise, including film screenings in London, Paris, and Lebanon. Her previous work as a freelance editor includes documentary shorts, national radio commercials, and an award-winning independent television network.
Glass directed five dance films in 2021, including the upcoming release And Then Life Was Beautiful, and INSECTOS: arte y vida, a commission by the Cultural Office of the Embassy of Spain, featuring Spanish choreographer Elias Aguirre and the members of L.A. Contemporary Dance Company. Other directional work via LACDC includes SUMMON, a dance film featuring the original music of Emmy award-winning and Grammy and Oscar-nominated Kris Bowers. She previously served as LACDC’s Media Director & Summer/Winter Intensive director.
She has taught classes at UCLA, Cal State Long Beach, and Hussian College Los Angeles and created works for L.A. Contemporary Dance Company, University of Illinois Edwardsville, and Co/Motion Creation Intensive (Boston). Jamila is represented by Movement Talent Agency and is a member of the Television Academy.
www.jamilaglass.com/links | Instagram: @jamilaglass
Michael Nickerson-Rossi launched and founded his dance company, Nickerson-Rossi Dance, in 2011. His firm belief in charitable and educational benefits propelled Michael to incorporate his company into a non-profit 501c3. The non-profit mission of NickersonRossi Dance is to provide dance programs to youth, young adults, and adults that focus on dance education, dance as a therapeutic value, and access to professional performances.
His reputable work brought Michael to the East Coast where the position of Creative Director of Dance was created for him at the Uptown! Knauer Performing Arts Center in Pennsylvania created the position for Michael as their Creative Director of Dance because of his renowned work.
While on the east coast in 2018, he built a modern/contemporary technique program and performance series at Princeton Ballet in Princeton, New Jersey. Additionally, he is a current and founding faculty member at Johns Hopkins University’s Peabody Conservatory, in Baltimore, Maryland, where he teaches modern technique, composition, and dance production. Other notable higher educational institutions Michael has educated include New York University, Loyola Marymount University, American College Dance Festival, Drexel University, Rock School West, and over 30 other universities.
While traveling between the east and west coasts, Michael was commissioned a second time by the Palm Springs Art Museum where he produced his concert “Past & Present” in 2016. As an outgrowth of this program, he founded and produced the Palm Springs Dance Festival (2015/2019). His organization continued gaining momentum which led to an expansion and reformation, the Festival is now, Palm Springs International Dance Festival.
His passion for impact has been felt by organizations such as LGBTQ Center in Long Beach, Versa-Style P.E.C. in Los Angeles, Project Home in Philadelphia, Barbara Sinatra Children’s Center, and Desert Regional Hospital (and Palm Springs Unified School District. Nickerson-Rossi Dance partnered with Riverside County’s Office of Education in 2020.
The growth of the International Dance Festival inspired Michael to move to Palm Springs full-time and establish the Palm Springs Dance Academy.
Student Production Staff
Assistant Technical Director
Liz Doubrosky
Assistant Stage Managers
Taylor Bryan, Hailey Thomas
Scenic Crew Heather Buckler, Amelez Gonzalez, Mayra Borrayo Fausto, Jordan Hicks
Lighting Board Operator Aiden Behar
Lighting Crew Anne Atanacio, Christopher Drake, Allison Riley, Vanessa Terry
Sound Board Operator Chase Carroll
Costume Crew Devon Hawkins, Dianna Perez, Taylor Shipley, Nev Bumgarner, Briana O’Brien
Costume Maintenance Abigail Cox, Delilah Lopez, Reset DeAngelo, Steve Phan
Scenic Artists Abby Rariden, Zoe Ng, Thomas Keenan, Evelyn Flynn, Elin Ruden, Mickey Narez
Scenic Lab Carpenters Cody Baker, Katherine Brauer, George Diaz Mejia, Liz Doubrovsky, Oscar Enrique Garcia, Thomas Keenan, Heather McLane, Blythe Ryther, Bri Thurber, and students from THTR 276
Costume Lab Student Assistants
Makayla Finn, Greer Gardner, Ryn Heier, Cati Holper, Lindsey Kirkwood, Hayden Lalicker, Caroline Lovett, Tori Martinez, Gwen Sloan
Production Office Assistants
Collette Rutherford, Madeleine Lindbeck, Anthony Osborn
Box Office Staff Madison Dabalos, Jailene Diaz, Oscar Garcia, Sarabeth Johnson, Josiah Sanchez
House Managers Madison Dabalos, Jailene Diaz, Heather McLane Josiah Sanchez
Faculty Production Mentors
Scenic Design Mentor Fred Kinney
Lighting Design Mentor Scott Bolman
Stage Management Mentor Shay Garber
Costume Design Coordinator & Mentor Kathryn Wilson
Audio Sound Design Mentor Rebecca Kessin
Technical Direction Mentor JR Luker
Department Notes & Policies
Proceeding Safely: Clayes Performing Arts Center will match all current COVID-19 recommendations and guidelines provided by local health agencies and outlined by CSUF’s Directive 22. When purchasing a ticket to a Clayes Performing Arts Center event, you agree to adhere to all COVID-19 safety entry requirements in effect at the time of the event.
Commitment to Diversity: The Department of Theatre & Dance affirms its commitment to inclusiveness in student learning and success in all areas of theatre based on merit and achievement, and will not discriminate on the basis of race, color, ethnic origin, national origin, creed, religion, political belief, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, physical appearance, mental or physical disability, marital status or age.
Cell Phones & Electronic Devices: Cellphones and other electronic devices must be turned off prior to the start of the performance and at the beginning of the second half to minimize disruptions in the theater and ensure the enjoyment of all patrons in attendance.
The video and/or audio recording of this performance by any means whatsoever is strictly prohibited, and any recordings will be asked to be deleted.
Food & Drink Policy: Food and drink is not allowed in the venue, with the exception of bottled water.
If you do not follow these guidelines, you may be asked to leave.
Professional Artist Unions
Faculty, Staff and Guest Artists of the Department of Theatre & Dance are specialists in their respective disciplines. Within these groups, the following professional artist unions are represented:
AEA (Actors’ Equity Association)
AGMA (American Guild of Musical Artists)
AGVA (American Guild of Variety Artists)
IATSE (International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees)
SAG-AFTRA (Screen Actors Guild/American Federation of Radio and Television Artists)
SDC (Stage Directors and Choreographers Society)
USA (United Scenic Artists)
The Kennedy Center American College Theater Festival, part of the Rubenstein Arts Access Program, is generously funded by David M. Rubenstein.
Special thanks to The Harold and Mimi Steinberg Charitable Trust for supporting the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts’ Kennedy Center American College Theater Festival.
Additional support is provided by The Honorable Stuart Bernstein and Wilma E. Bernstein; and the Dr. Gerald and Paula McNichols Foundation.
Kennedy Center education and related artistic programming is made possible through the generosity of the National Committee for the Performing Arts.
This production is entered in the Kennedy Center American College Theater Festival (KCACTF). The aims of this national theater education program are to identify and promote quality in college-level theater production. To this end, each production entered is eligible for a response by a regional KCACTF representative, and selected students and faculty are invited to participate in KCACTF programs involving scholarships, internships, grants and awards for actors, directors, dramaturgs, playwrights, designers, stage managers and critics at both the regional and national levels.
Productions entered on the Participating level are eligible for invitation to the KCACTF regional festival and may also be considered for national awards recognizing outstanding achievement in production, design, direction and performance.
Last year more than 1,500 productions were entered in the KCACTF involving more than 200,000 students nationwide. By entering this production, our theater department is sharing in the KCACTF goals to recognize, reward, and celebrate the exemplary work produced in college and university theaters across the nation.
