Spring 2023: Spring 1

SPRING 2023, ISSUE 1

MONARCH SPOTLIGHT

We are so proud of you and the work you’ve put into Mater Dei musicals and plays these last four years!

Mom, Ashlyn, Grandma & Grandpa

MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT

Welcome to the 2022-2023 Performing Arts Season!

The purpose of Mater Dei High School is to develop faith-filled, responsible servant leaders committed to serving God, the church, and their communities with a profound sense of social justice founded in love. To achieve our purpose, we intentionally embed the Catholic faith and the principles of Honor, Glory, and Love into every aspect of the student experience. The why behind our purpose is simple. We live in a complicated world that is in desperate need of faith-filled servant leadership. Leaders with the wisdom and goodness to understand, “To love is to will the good for another.”

St. Thomas Aquinas

As president, I believe achieving our purpose is the primary reason that Mater Dei High School opened in 1950. The process of achieving our purpose is what makes Mater Dei High School uniquely different from other secondary schools. While most secondary schools focus only on academic knowledge, Mater Dei High School goes beyond academic knowledge and intentionally develops each student’s will to choose goodness. Therefore, a student does not attend Mater Dei High School, instead they move through an intentional four-year process and become a Monarch!

While pursuing excellence within the performing arts program is our objective, let us never forget that achieving our purpose is the primary goal. Each young Monarch must actively utilize life lessons learned during rehearsals, performances and after performances. These performing arts life lessons support each Monarch’s journey towards achieving our primary purpose. Mater Dei High School dedicates itself to the philosophy that performing arts is another element designed to perfect the person (become a Monarch) and their relationship with Christ.

On behalf of the faculty, staff, and administration, we thank our Director of Choral and Vocal Music Mrs. Jodi Reed, Director of Instrumental Music Mr. Fernando Martinez, Director of Dance Mrs. Rochelle Mapes, Director of Theater Arts Lissa Slay, Performing Arts Coordinator of Events Mrs. Marisa Winch and all members of the performing arts family. Your commitment and loyalty towards each Monarch and Mater Dei High School is deeply appreciated.

We are grateful that you chose to attend tonight’s performance and pray that each Monarch achieves their personal and group performance goals this season.

With Honor, Glory, and Love,

MESSAGE FROM THE PRINCIPAL

Dear Students, Parents and Alumni,

MATER DEI THEATRE

in partnership with Santa Ana College Theatre Department presents

Dear Students, Parents, and Alumni,

Honor, Glory, Love in the Performing Arts. Our students are skilled and talented in all areas of The Arts and they bring love, joy and beauty through their performances to all those with whom they come in contact.

Welcome to the 2018-2019 school year with the theme of Sharing the Spirit. In what better way can we share the spirit of MDHS than through Honor, Glory, Love in the Performing Arts. Our students are skilled and talented in all areas of the Arts and they bring love, joy and beauty through their performances to all those with whom they come in contact.

I congratulate and thank all the Directors of each program for their outstanding commitment and dedication to our student artists. The opportunities which you provide, are instrumental in the development of students’ skills and talents in The Arts. Thank you to all parents who volunteer in support of these outstanding arts programs.

I congratulate and thank our Executive Director of Performing Arts, Mr. Scott Melvin and the Directors of each program for their outstanding commitment and dedication to our student artists. The opportunities, which you provide, are instrumental in the development of students’ skills and talents in the Arts. Thank you to all parents who volunteer in support of these outstanding Arts programs.

As the year unfolds, we look forward to the Band, Choir, Comedy, Dance, Guitar, Percussion, Piano, Hip Hop, Song, Strings, and Theatre activities in which our student artists will perform. Through these spirited performances, you frequently transform lives, which may sometimes be tainted by sadness, into beacons of hope, light and joy. We look forward also to welcoming alumni back to these performances; it is always a great joy to see so many alumni artists supporting these events.

As the year unfolds, we look forward to the Band, Choir, Color Guard, Comedy, Dance, Guitar, Handbells, Hip Hop, Song, Strings, Theatre activities in which our student artists will perform. Through these spirited performances you frequently transform lives which may sometimes be tainted by sadness into beacons of hope and joy. We look forward also to welcoming alumni back to these performances; it is always a great joy to see so many alumni artists supporting these events.

To everyone involved in the Performing Arts, God’s blessings on each and every performance and remember, bring Honor, Glory, Love, to all people with whom you come in contact.

To everyone involved in the Performing Arts, God’s blessings on each and every performance.

LETTER FROM THE DIRECTOR

Welcome back and welcome home to Mater Dei Theatre and to our 2022-2023 season!

Mater Dei Theatre is dedicated to telling authentic stories that engage, entertain, and enrich our community. We keep this in mind with this year’s season theme, To the Moon and Beyond. We are looking forward, rejoicing at being together in community again, as we look beyond the stars and wonder at the possibilities a new season brings!

Opening the season, we were immersed in mischief, magic, and moonlight in Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream; we are measuring the distance between galaxies and love in the fall play A Wrinkle in Time; we go beyond when we take a visit to Mushnik’s Flower Shop to see one strange and interesting plant in the spring musical, Little Shop of Horrors

In a look ahead to other Theatre programming, the Honors Theatre IV: Company class rings in Theatre in Our Schools month with the annual Children’s Theatre Tour, traveling to eight local schools for a total of ten performances. The Honors Musical Theatre students, under the guidance of Mrs. Andrea Fouts, delighted audiences with their recent showcase presented at Santa Ana College. The Honors Musical Theatre classes continue in their dual enrollment with the college and both of our fall and spring shows are presented in collaboration with the SAC Theatre Department! Honors Theatre V: Advanced Production has recently wrapped their class production of Sarah Ruhl’s Eurydice and are preparing to bring junior Pierce Harvey’s original play, A Narrator’s Tale, to life onstage in the Little Theatre this May. Our ComedySportz team has been busy as well, having played an away match against Trinitas Conservatory (Servite + Rosary), and home games featuring Students vs. Faculty, and MD vs. Legacy Magnet. Stay tuned for more matches to come!

Brand-new this year is the course Honors Theatre III, in which students participate in curricular and extracurricular technical crew opportunities, alongside Theatre III; both classes have supported both the mainstage productions as well as our class showcases. Our Thespian Troupe #3464 and Theatre Arts Club, under the interstellar leadership of Cassidy Butscher (President, ’23) will announce dates for Theatre-related social events, drives, and charitable events throughout the year. She is supported by Vice President Kenzo Phillip Osmena (’23), Keilah Mora (Secretary, ’23), Amanda Assaf (Treasurer, ’23), Riley Lewis (Advocacy, ‘24), Dagny Canzoneri (Cappies Lead Critic, ’23), and Yannik Fischer (ComedySportz Team Captain & Manager, ’23).

I’d like to extend a warm salute of gratitude to our Mater Dei Administration, Mrs. Jeni Dennin, Mrs. Marisa Winch (‘96), Mrs. Jennifer Butscher, our 2223 Theatre Parent™, and to all of our Theatre families and donors for their support. Your encouragement and nurturing of our scholar-artists is deeply appreciated and makes serving our community an absolute joy.

Thank you for joining us this season as we continue in our mission to engage, entertain, and enrich our community. We look forward to navigating to the moon and beyond this year with these most talented Monarchs!

Mrs. Lissa Slay, M.S.Ed., MFA Director of Theatre

DIRECTOR

Mrs. Andrea Fouts

MUSIC DIRECTOR Mr. Kent Helwig

CHOREOGRAPHER Mr. Justin Goei ’10

PRODUCER/FACULTY STAGE MANAGER Mrs. Lissa Slay

ASSISTANT DIRECTOR

Meghan White ’23

STAGE MANAGER Cassidy Butscher ’23

ASSISTANT STAGE MANAGERS ............ Amanda Assaf ’23, Brooke Carmody ’25, Jaycob Renteria ’24

LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS (BROADWAY VERSION)

Is presented through special arrangement with Music Theatre International (MTI). All authorized performance materials are also supplied by MTI. www.mtishows.com

SPECIAL ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

PRESIDENT Mr. Michael Brennan

PRINCIPAL Ms. Frances Clare

VICE PRESIDENT BUSINESS SERVICES

Mr. Dave Taylor

VICE PRESIDENT OF SCHOOL RELATIONS ............... Mr. Scott Melvin

ASSISTANT PRINCIPALS

PERFORMING ARTS COORDINATOR

GRATITUDE AND THANKS

Mrs. Molly Chace ‘00

Mrs. Diana Neustadt

Mrs. Jennifer Dennin

Mrs. Marisa Winch ‘96

SANTA ANA COLLEGE FINE & PERFORMING ARTS DIVISION

VICE PRESIDENT OF ACADEMIC AFFAIRS

CHAIR & PROFESSOR OF THEATRE ARTS

Dr. Jeffery Lamb

Amberly Chamberlain

PROFESSOR OF THEATRE ARTS Chris Cannon

TECHNICAL THEATRE & PRODUCTION MANAGER Sara Turner

TECHNOLOGY & PRODUCTION COORDINATOR.............. Sean Small

The Mater Dei Theatre Program would like to sincerely thank our Mater Dei administration, including the faculty and staff who nurture our student artists, and the Santa Ana College (SAC) administration: thank you for welcoming us onto campus! Thank you to our Performing Arts Coordinator, Mrs. Marisa Winch ’96 and thank you to our 22-23 Theatre Parent™, Mrs. Jennifer Butscher, for her invaluable help in organizing our volunteers and supporting our company. Much gratitude is due to our SAC partners, in particular Professor Amberly Chamberlain and Professor Bruce Fleming for their invaluable support throughout this process. Thank you to Nuview Bridge Early College High School & program director Cassie Schott-Hammond for the use of their Audrey II puppets. Thank you to Mrs. Andrea Fouts, and Mr. Dave Bodell, Mr. Phil Bellomo and our Facilities Department for all of your support in bringing the show to life. Thank you to our JRAYS and the Orange County Cappies for your generosity of time and ink. Thank you to our families and friends who continually support these amazing artists and a huge debt of gratitude to our Theatre Angels who make participation in our program possible; truly, we could not do it without you!

Frances Clare Principal MDHS

Frances Clare Principal MDHS

BOOK & LYRICS BY HOWARD ASHMAN • MUSIC BY ALAN MENKEN

CAST BIOS DIRECTOR’S NOTES

“Who knew success could come with nasty messy strings?” – Seymour, Little Shop of Horrors

Welcome to Mater Dei Theatre’s All-School Musical production of Little Shop of Horrors! This has been such a tremendously enjoyable show to work on. The satirical comedy, the music that is nostalgic of 1960’s girl groups, and a giant, blood-thirsty alien… What more could you want? It is all these things, plus a huge nod to sci-fi ‘B’ movies of the past, that have made Little Shop an enduringly popular musical with a huge following.

Yet, underneath the campy horror of this show is a quietly sad scenario that serves as a warning to the viewer. Early in the show, Seymour sings “Someone show me a way to get out of here… Someone give me my shot, or I’ll rot here!” However, Seymour’s desperation unfortunately grows into an overwhelming greed with heartbreaking consequences, and it reminds the audience to search our own hearts for the greed that may be taking root. Little Shop is a surprisingly sharp critique on the dangers of greed and materialism under the façade of a silly, fun show.

I know you will enjoy the production that our cast and crew have worked tirelessly on. These endearing and comical characters are an actor’s dream come true, and the design and technical elements of the show are what our student designers and technicians love to sink their teeth in to. It has been a joy to watch it come to life. Thank you for being with us to share this one-of-a-kind musical and to enjoy the work of our talented and dedicated students. And please, whatever you do…”Don’t feed the plant!”

Brooke Becker (Mrs Luce):

Brooke Becker is so beyond honored and excited to be a part of the Little Shop Of Horrors company! Brooke is a junior and this will be her thirteenth production with the Mater Dei Theatre program. Brooke has appeared as Nelly in Failure; a Love Story, as well as Ms. Whatsit in A Wrinkle In Time. Brooke is a part of Thespian Troupe #3464, and is currently studying in both Honors Theatre IV and Honors Musical Theatre II. Brooke would like to thank her entire company for allowing this beautiful story to be told, as well as her family for always supporting her, and Mrs. Slay and Mrs. Fouts for allowing and encouraging the love of theatre in life.

Maxwell Beckman (Skip Snip):

Andrea Fouts

Director, Little Shop of Horrors

LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS

The meek floral assistant Seymour Krelborn stumbles across a new breed of plant he names “Audrey II” - after his coworker crush. This foul-mouthed, R&B-singing carnivore promises unending fame and fortune to the down and out Krelborn as long as he keeps feeding it, BLOOD. Over time, though, Seymour discovers Audrey II’s out of this world origins and intent towards global domination!

-from Music Theatre International

Little Shop of Horrors is rated PG-13. The story you are about to see includes dating violence, substance abuse, and a man-eating plant. While these things are used humorously in the story line, none of these actions are desirable. In fact, they act as behaviors of the villain to highlight the battle of good vs. evil, and the overarching theme of not “selling your soul to the devil” in exchange for the riches of this world. While a man-eating plant doesn’t exist in reality, violence within relationships does, and is a serious concern. Our cast has lead discussions on how the arts can bring these real-life topics to light and educating audiences on the appropriate steps to take when faced with these situations in the real world. If you are experiencing relationship violence, contact the National Domestic Violence Hotline 1-800-799-SAFE www.thehotline.org

ACT 1

Prologue (Little Shop of Horrors) – Chiffon, Crystal, and Ronette

Skid Row (Downtown) – Company

Da-Doo – Chiffon, Crystal, and Ronette (with Seymour)

Grow for Me – Seymour

Ya Never Know – Mushnik, Chiffon, Crystal, Ronette, and Seymour

Somewhere That s Green – Audrey

Closed for Renovation – Seymour, Audrey, and Mushnik

Dentist! – Orin, Chiffon, Crystal, and Ronette

Mushnik and Son – Mushnik and Seymour

Sudden Changes – Seymour

Feed Me (Git It) – Audrey II and Seymour

ACT 2

Call Back in the Morning – Seymour and Audrey

Suddenly, Seymour – Seymour, Audrey, Chiffon, Crystal, and Ronette

Suppertime – Audrey II (with Seymour and Mushnik)

The Meek Shall Inherit – Company

Sominex/Suppertime (reprise) – Audrey and Audrey II

Somewhere That s Green (reprise) – Audrey (with Seymour)

Finale Ultimo (Don t Feed the Plants) – Company

CAST LIST GREEN CAST RED CAST

Seymore: Pierce Harvey

Audrey: Jillianna Le

Audrey 2: Jacob Sanders

Mushnik: Micah Golden

Orin Scrivello: Ethan Ferguson

Ronette: Elle Zolie Pham

Crystal: Briel Jim

Chiffon: Claire Riss

Skip Snip: Ben Thai

Bernstein: Kenzo Osmena

Mr Martin: Khoi Doan

Mrs Luce: Brooke Becker

Customer: Leah Bostic

Wino 1: Chaz Castillo

Wino 2: Shyler Satina

Nurse 1: Danielle Taber

Nurse 2: Marvelle Figueroa

Nurse 3: Abbie Kerr

DJ/Patient: Sebastian Ramirez

Customer Call Back in the morning : Sarah Castillo

Customer 2: Catherine Morales

Additional Customers/Paparazzi:

Isabella Roqueni, Zita Jim, Faith Nguyen

World Botanical

Enterprises Scientists: Jenna Paidosh, Natalia King, Nicole Uy, Juliana McClure

Seymore: Henry Erhard

Audrey: Dagny Canzoneri

Audrey 2: Jacob Sanders

Mushnik: David Clancy

Orin Scrivello: Andrew McClave

Ronette: Shaley Satina

Crystal: Fatima Hernandez

Chiffon: Maya Fischbein

Skip Snip: Maxwell Beckman

Bernstein: Brendan Mulholland

Mr Martin: Brock Reed

Mrs Luce: Emma Buchanan

Customer: Riley Lewis

Wino 1: Chaz Castillo

Wino 2: Charlie Bosecker

Nurse 1: Lauren Fernandez

Nurse 2: Lauren Lee

Nurse 3: Grace Henze

DJ/Patient: Thomas Mitchell

Customer Call Back in the morning

Marieke Erhard

Customer 2: Keilah Morah

Additional Customers/Paparazzi: Paulina Buendia, Natalie Lopez-Schneider, Natalie Cazales

World Botanical

Enterprises Scientists: Jenna Paidosh, Piper McClave, Juliana Gonzales, Kendra Lubin

Maxwell Beckman is excited to be a part of the Little Shop Of Horrors company! He has been a part of previous shows at Mater Dei such as Once on this Island and A Wrinkle in Time. He would like to thank Mrs. Fouts and Mrs. Slay for the amazing leadership and opportunities they provide. He may be 4’11” but he is doubled up for this show!

Charlie Bosecker (Wino 2):

Charlie is super happy to be a part of Little Shop Of Horrors You may have seen him last year in the Grotto play, The Tempest Charlie is a part of Honors Musical Theatre and is working hard to become a better actor/singer. Charlie would like to thank his family for always being there to cheer him on and for always pushing him to get out there and be him.

Leah Bostic (Customer):

Leah is so excited for you to see her and the wonderful Mater Dei Theatre company present Little Shop Of Horrors She is honored to have been with the Mater Dei Theatre company for three years and to be in Thespian Troupe 3464. She is so thrilled to have previously performed in The Addams Family, Much Ado About Nothing, Failure: A Love Story, Once on This Island, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, and A Wrinkle in Time with this theatre company. - with love, enjoy.

Emma Buchanan (Mrs Luce):

Emma is so happy to be a part of this “horrific” show! She is a junior here at Mater Dei and this is her second All-School Musical. Recently, Emma has been on stage as Philostrate in A Midsummer Night’s Dream and Olaf in Frozen, and backstage as the Costume Designer in A Wrinkle in Time and A Midsummer Night’s Dream. Emma has been acting all her life (well, since she was five) and is enrolled in Honors Theatre IV and Theatre III, among other involvements in the theatre department. She would like to thank her family for always supporting her and her friends for their continuous love. Emma would also like to thank everyone involved in the show including all the techies! She hopes you enjoy the show!

Paulina Buendia (Additional Customers/paparazzi):

Paulina is excited to be a part of this production! Paulina wishes to thank Mrs. Slay, Mrs. Fouts, Mr. Helwig, and Mr. Goei for a wonderful experience and would like to encourage everyone to join Theatre!

Dagny Canzoneri (Audrey):

Dagny is delighted to be a part of Mater Dei Theatre’s Little Shop Of Horrors. She is currently a senior and has been fortunate enough to perform in past Mater Dei productions Eurydice, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Frozen, Failure: A Love Story, Urinetown the Musical, and The Addams Family. She is also heavily involved in the choir program, is a Cappies Critic, and has designed lighting for a number of Mater Dei Theatre productions. Dagny would like to thank the crew for their hours of hard work, Mrs. Fouts for making this production as amazing as it is, and her friends and family for their endless support and faith. Enjoy the show!

Chaz Castillo (Wino 1):

Chaz is extremely honored and excited to be part of the Little Shop Of Horrors company as Wino 1! This is his second show with Mater Dei Theatre, and his first show being part of the cast! You’ll find Chaz in other parts of Performing Arts when he’s singing in the Honors Chambers Singers ensemble, as well as the Bristol Boys and VocalFX small groups. Chaz would like to thank Mrs. Fouts, Mrs. Slay, Mr. Goei, and all the cast and crew that worked extremely hard to make this possible! He also extends a very special thanks to Mrs. Reed, Mr. Knauer, Mr. Helwig, and his friends for helping him develop his voice and performance confidence to this point and encouraging him to audition for this show. Enjoy the show!

Henry Erhard (Seymour):

Henry is thrilled to be in Little Shop Of Horrors playing the role of Seymour. He is currently a senior and is involved in the Honors Theatre V, Honors Theatre III, and Honors Musical Theatre classes. As a part of Mater Dei Theatre, he has participated in productions of Urinetown, The Addams Family, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, and Failure: A Love Story. Henry would like to thank Mrs. Fouts, Mr. Helwig, and every member of the company.

Marieke Erhard (Customer - “Call back in the morning”):

Marieke is super excited to be a part of the Little Shop Of Horrors company as a customer and as a costume designer. This is her fourteenth theatre production at Mater Dei. Marieke has previously appeared in Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream as Puck and the Honors Musical Theatre class production of Frozen Jr. as Sven. As a junior, she is currently taking the classes Hn Musical Theatre II, Hn Theatre III, and Hn Theatre IV, and is also a Cappies critic. Marieke would like to thank Mrs. Fouts, Mr. Helwig, Mr. Goei, Mrs. Slay, and everyone else who made this production possible. Enjoy the show! ♡

Sarah Castillo (“Customer “”Call back in the morning”):

Sarah is excited to be a part of this production! Sarah has been a part of many productions with Mater Dei Theatre, with some of her favorite roles including Eurydice in Eurydice, the Happy Medium in A Wrinkle in Time, Peter Quince in A Midsummer Night’s Dream, and Caliban in The Tempest. She is a proud scenic designer and all-around technician; when not onstage, she can be found backstage, hard at work! Sarah wishes to thank Mrs. Slay, Mrs. Fouts, Mr. Helwig, and Mr. Goei for a wonderful experience and would like to encourage everyone to join Theatre!

Ethan Ferguson (Orin Scrivello):

Ethan “Francis” Ferguson feels turnt to be in this year’s production of Little Shop Of Horrors. He started his Mater Dei Theatre career starring in Much Ado About Nothing his freshman year. Mr. Ferguson has been singing and dancing for almost his entire life, having performed in many shows. Ethan also produces music for himself and others going by the name “Francis”. This is his senior year and he hopes to pursue a career of music in college. He would like to thank his family, friends, teachers and directors for making things possible for him. He hopes you enjoy the show and turn up!

Lauren Fernandez (Nurse 1):

David

David (or DJ) is absolutely thrilled to be a part of the Little Shop Of Horrors company here at Mater Dei. DJ has never been a part of a musical theatre production before and is so excited to be given this opportunity to perform in his first show and hopefully not his last. DJ would like to thank his family and friends for their endless love and support, and he hopes you enjoy the show!

Khoi Doan (Mr Martin):

Khoi is ecstatic to be a part of the Little Shop of Horrors company. This is his first time being a part of a Mater Dei Theatre production and is excited for what might come in the future. Currently he is enrolled in Honors Musical Theatre and is hard at work to improve himself and talents.

Lauren is absolutely overjoyed to be a part of the company of Little Shop Of Horrors! She has previously appeared in Failure: A Love Story, Once on This Island, and A Wrinkle in Time You may have also seen her working backstage as a scenic lead for both High School Musical and A Midsummer Night’s Dream. She is currently studying in Honors Musical Theatre I and looks forward to furthering her theatre education in the future. Lauren would like to thank the phenomenal company as well as Mrs. Fouts, Mrs. Slay, Mr. Helwig, and Mr. Goei for all of their incredible work!

Marvelle J Figueroa (Nurse 2):

Marvelle (MJ) is beyond happy to be a part of Mater Dei’s Little Shop Of Horrors This will be MJ’s first production ever, and she couldn’t be anymore grateful to be surrounded by such a great group of people. MJ would like to say thank you to her friends that pushed her to try something new, and to thank her family for their ongoing love and support.

Maya Fischbein (Chiffon):

Maya is extremely honored and excited to be in her second Mater Dei production. Maya has also appeared as: Elsa in Frozen Jr. (Mater Dei), a swing for Small Allison, John, and Christian in the Broadway company of Fun Home Little Cosette in Les Miserables (Stage Door), Annie in Annie (Broadway in the Park) Mary Lennox in The Secret Garden (Chance Theater), and again Small Allison in Fun Home (IVRT). Maya is excited to continue her career at Mater Dei and looking forward to her Senior Musical. Maya would like to thank her family and friends for always supporting her and especially the Mater Dei cast and crew for putting on an incredible show.

Clancy (Mushnik):

Micah Golden (Mushnik):

Micah Golden is elated to join the wonderful company of Little Shop Of Horrors This is his fourth show here at Mater Dei. He is a sophomore who is enrolled in the Honors Musical Theatre II class and is in the Kingsmen choir. Recently, he was in A Midsummer Night’s Dream as Nick Bottom/ Pyramus, Jake in Wanda’s World at Laguna Playhouse, Once on This Island as a principal storyteller (for which he was nominated for a JRAY award for “Outstanding Ensemble Member in a Drama”), and Failure: A Love Story as the Fail Family’s dog. Micah would like to thank his friends and family for their endless support, inspiration, and love. He would also like to thank all members of the company for their hard work, as well as Mrs. Fouts, Mrs. Slay, Mr. Helwig, and Mr. Goei for their leadership throughout this process of creating the show. Micah would also like to thank you for attending tonight’s show, and he hopes you enjoy going down to Skid Row!

Juliana Gonzalez (World Botanical Enterprise Scientist):

Juliana is very excited to be a part of Little Shop Of Horrors She’s been a part of 10 Ways to Survive a Quarantine and Shortsfest. She has had training in her theatre classes at Mater Dei, and she is also in Mater Dei Instrumental Music as a percussionist. She would like to thank Mrs. Slay, Mrs. Fouts, her Percussion and Honors Theatre IV class, as well as her wonderful friends and family.

Zita

Jim (Additional Customers/paparazzi):

Zita is ecstatic to be a part of her first musical with Mater Dei Theatre. She would like to thank her family and friends for their endless support and the wonderful crew for their hard work. Enjoy the show and God bless!!

Abbie

Abbie is beyond excited to perform in Mater Dei’s production of Recently Abbie has performed in Failure: A Love Story as Jenny June and in Once on This Island as ensemble. She is currently studying theatre with Mater Dei’s Honors Musical Theatre I class. Abbie would like to thank her family and friends for their endless support, as well as the entire cast and crew of this fabulous production for all the hard work they put in to make the show so spectacular!

Natalia King (World Botanical Enterprises Scientists):

Pierce is incredibly excited and honored to be a part of Mater Dei Theatre’s production of Little Shop of Horrors This will be his fourth show at Mater Dei and he couldn’t be happier to have the chance to play the part of Seymour Krelborn. While now in his junior year, Pierce has previously performed in the musicals Urinetown, Peter Pan, and Matilda as well as the plays Failure: A Love Story, Nicholas Nickleby, and A Wrinkle in Time. His theatre education of over four years has come from the Pegasus School, Mater Dei High School, and South Coast Repertory’s Youth Theatre Program. Pierce would like to thank his family for always being so supportive, the entire cast and crew for all their hard work, and Mrs. Slay for making all of this possible. Enjoy the show!

Grace Henze (Nurse 3):

Grace is so excited to be a part of the cast of Little Shop Of Horrors as a Nurse! She is a sophomore and this is her third performance at Mater Dei. Grace has previously appeared in Once on This Island as a principal storyteller and A Wrinkle in Time as Aunt Beast. She is currently studying in Honors Musical Theatre and is enjoying learning many new things alongside her friends. Grace would like to thank her family and friends for their support. She would also like to thank the spectacular company, especially Mrs. Fouts, Mrs. Slay, Mr. Helwig, and Mr. Goei for all the work they do. Enjoy the show!

Fatima Hernandez (Crystal):

Fatima is excited to be a part of this wonderful cast! and thanks you for attending the show! Fatima is also part of the Instrumental Music program and enjoys all things Performing Arts. Enjoy the show!

Briel Jim (Crystal):

Briel is a rising freshman at Mater Dei and is delighted to partake in her first musical. She was an active member of her middle school theatre program where you may have seen her as the Genie in Aladdin Jr., Mrs. Andrews in Mary Poppins Jr., and the Cheshire Cat in Alice in Wonderland Jr.

Briel is blessed to have the support of her family and friends and sends deep thanks to the directors and crew for their dedication to this production. Enjoy the show and God bless!

Natalia is delighted to be a part of Mater Dei Theatre’s production of Little Shop Of Horrors This would be her fifth production here at Mater Dei. She has appeared in A Wrinkle in Time, Once on this Island, Failure: A Love Story, and teched for High School Musical. Though she is not in a theatre class, she looks forward to future productions and joining a class next year. She would like to thank her fellow cast and crew members for making this experience so delightful. She would also like to say a big thank you to Mrs. Fouts, Mrs. Slay, Mr. Goei, and Mr. Helwig for all their hard work. And finally, she wants to say thank you to her loving friends and family for always pushing her to do her best and sticking by her side.

Jillianna is beyond stoked to be playing Audrey and serving as Assistant Music Director in Mater Dei’s Little Shop Of Horrors! You may have seen her as Ti Moune in MD’s Once on This Island for which she was nominated for a Cappie Award for “Best Lead Actress in a Musical”, as Baby Anna in Honors MT’s production of Frozen, Jr, or as Ariel Moore in the upcoming Senior Musical, Footloose. Jill can be seen around Mater Dei as the Co-Student Director of the choral program or singing in ensembles such as the Chambers Singers, Rubies, and VocalFX. She extends infinite love and gratitude toward her friends, especially Ben, Kenzo, and Zolie for being her rock in all things, Dagny, Henry, Ry, and Fergie for making the past years of Musical Theatre so epic, to her family for their constant support in every performance, and Mrs. Fouts and Mr. Helwig for the endless help and knowledge that they bestow upon her in every rehearsal. And finally, she thanks you for being a part of her final All-School Musical at MD. Enjoy the show!

Lauren Lee (Nurse 2):

Lauren is beyond thrilled to be part of this wonderful cast of Little Shop Of Horrors! She is currently a sophomore and has previously appeared in Once on This Island. She would like to thank Mrs. Fouts, Mrs. Slay, Mr. Helwig, Mr. Goei, and everyone who made this show possible! She would also like to thank her parents for their constant support. She hopes you enjoy the show!

Riley Lewis (Customer):

Riley Lewis is honored to be a part of the cast of Little Shop Of Horrors! Riley is a junior and this will be her fifteenth production with Mater Dei Theatre. Riley recently appeared in A Wrinkle in Time as Mrs. Whatsit, as well as A Midsummer Night’s Dream as Robin Starveling. Riley serves as a Mater Dei Cappies Critic, Troupe #3464’s Advocacy Officer, and is studying in Honors Musical Theatre II and Honors Theatre IV. Riley would like to thank her family and friends for always encouraging her love for the arts and continuously believing in her. She would also like to thank everyone behind the scenes who made this show possible, especially Mrs. Slay and Mrs. Fouts for guiding the telling of this beautiful story.

Kerr (Nurse 3):

Pierce Harvey (Seymore):

Jillianna Le (Audrey):

Natalie Lopez-Schneider (Additional Customers/paparazzi):

Natalie is very happy to be in the Little Shop Of Horrors company! This is their second musical with Mater Dei Theater, their first being Once on This Island. They are in Honors Musical Theater and it is one of their favorite classes. They would like to thank the cast, crew, Mr. Helwig, Mr. Goei, Mrs. Slay, and Mrs. Fouts for all the hard work they have put into this amazing show.

Keilah Mora (Customer 2):

Keilah is ecstatic to be a part of the company of Little Shop Of Horrors! Keilah is a senior and is super excited to be back on a live stage at Mater Dei. You may have seen her stage managing this year’s all-school play; A Wrinkle In Time or last year’s senior musical; High School Musical. She has also been a part of the companies of A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Once on This Island, Failure: A Love Story, The Tempest, Urinetown, and The Little Mermaid. She thanks the audience for their support, and she heavily thanks the tech crews for all the wonderful work they do as well! Enjoy the show!

Kendra Lubin (World Botanical Enterprises Scientists):

Kendra is ecstatic to be included in Mater Dei Theatre’s Little Shop Of Horrors. Kendra has been a part of previous shows at Mater Dei such as Bethel Park, and Once on This Island. She can’t wait to participate in more shows! She would like to thank her family for pushing her to do theatre and her friends for being there to make it that much more fun.

Catherine Morales (Customer 2):

Catherine is excited to be a part of this production! Catherine has been a part of many productions with Mater Dei Theatre, with some of her favorite shows Eurydice, A Wrinkle in Time, and reigning as Queen Titania in A Midsummer Night’s Dream. Catherine wishes to thank Mrs. Slay, Mrs. Fouts, Mr. Helwig, and Mr. Goei for a wonderful experience and would like to encourage everyone to join Theatre!

Andrew McClave (Orin Scrivello):

Andrew is excited to be featured in his first high school musical: Mater Dei Theatre’s Little Shop Of Horrors He is currently a senior with musical theatre experience from elementary and middle school: The Music Man, Alice in Wonderland, Mary Poppins, and Hairspray. Andrew enjoys singing in the Mater Dei Choir and plays for their Boys’ Varsity Tennis team. Andrew would like to thank his Mom and Sister, Piper, for encouraging him to try out for the school play, along with Mrs. Reed, Mr. Helwig, and Mr. Knauer for developing his voice to where it is now. Also, thank you, Mrs. Fouts, for allowing Andrew to be a part of this show. Enjoy the horrors about to unfold!

Piper McClave (World Botanical Enterprises Scientists):

Piper is thrilled to be a part of this marvelous company in Little Shop Of Horrors! This is her third show at Mater Dei, she has appeared in Once on This Island as a Principal Storyteller and as Mrs. Who in A Wrinkle in Time. Piper is a sophomore and is currently studying in Honors Musical Theatre I. Piper would like to thank the wonderful company as well as Mrs. Fouts, Mrs. Slay, Mr. Helwig, and Mr. Goei for all their hard work and dedication into making this production possible. She’d also like to thank her friends and family for always supporting her in Theatre. She hopes you enjoy the show!

Faith Nguyen (Additional Customers/paparazzi):

Faith is absolutely thrilled to be a part of her very first production with the Mater Dei Theatre company! She is a freshman and cannot wait for the years to come with this wonderful theater community. Faith would like to thank her friends and family for always being there to support her, and she hopes you enjoy the show!

Brendan Mulholland (Bernstein):

Brendan is incredibly excited to be part of the Little Shop Of Horrors cast this spring! Brendan is a junior appearing in his third theatre production and it is only his second time acting. Previously, Brendan acted as the Duke of Athens in A Midsummer Night’s Dream and the primary composer and musician for Mater Dei’s production of A Wrinkle in Time When not in Theatre, Brendan can be found playing one of numerous instruments in the band room or singing in choir. Brendan is very honored to be part of this cast and hopes you enjoy the show!

Juliana is delighted to be a part of Mater Dei Theatre’s production of Little Shop Of Horrors. This is her sixth production at Mater Dei and you might have recently seen her as Aunt Beast in A Wrinkle in Time. She is a sophomore and is currently studying Honors Musical Theatre with Mrs. Fouts. Juliana would like to thank her family and friends for always supporting her. She would also like to thank Mrs. Fouts, Mrs. Slay, Mr. Helwig, and Mr. Goei for their hard work in making this production possible.

Thomas

Thomas is thrilled to be DJ/Patient in this year’s spring musical Little Shop Of Horrors! Previously, Thomas has performed in A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Villain School, and Guys and Dolls. You may have seen him most recently as Chris Henderson in A Wrinkle in Time with Mater Dei Theatre. Thomas is currently studying in Theatre with Mrs. Slay as a freshman and this is his third production with Mater Dei. He looks forward to having more chances to perform in the following years, and hopes you enjoy the show!

Kenzo is so thrilled to be playing Bernstein in the Mater Dei production of Little Shop Of Horrors! Kenzo has finally reached his senior year at Mater Dei High School. You may have previously seen him as Demetrius in A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Charles Wallace in A Wrinkle in Time, Beauxhomme in Once on this Island or Dog in Failure: A Love Story—both of which he was nominated for a Cappie—Pi in Winter Break, or as Prince Hans in Frozen Kenzo would like to thank his friends for their perpetual love and support, especially Jill, Ben, and Zolie, and wishes them the best of luck in their future endeavors. #gomonarchs

Jenna Paidosh (World Botanical Enterprises Scientists ):

Jenna is overjoyed to be a part of the company of Little Shop Of Horrors This is her second show at Mater Dei as she has previously appeared in Once on This Island. She is a sophomore and is currently studying Honors Musical Theatre I. Jenna would like to thank Mrs. Fouts, Mrs. Slay, Mr. Helwig, and Mr. Goei for all their hard work and dedication in making this amazing show. She would also like to thank her family and friends for all their love and support. Enjoy the show!

Mitchell (DJ/Patient):

Kenzo Osmena (Bernstein):

Juliana McClure (World Botanical Enterprises Scientists):

Elle Zolie Pham (Ronette):

Zolie is so beyond excited to be a part of this production of Little Shop Of Horrors! Zolie has four years of past experience in Mater Dei Theatre, including Honors Musical Theatre III which she is currently in, under the direction of Mrs. Fouts. Zolie has also been in productions of Urinetown, The Tempest, Failure: A Love Story, Once on This Island, Frozen Jr., and A Wrinkle In Time, with Mater Dei Theatre. Additionally, she has had the pleasure to be a part of the Mater Dei Choral program as a Chambers Singer and Girl’s Barbershop member. She would like to thank Mrs. Fouts, Mr. Helwig, Mr. Goei, Mrs. Reed and Mrs. Slay, for being the amazing faculty who have helped to make this production possible. She would also like to thank her friends and family for all their support. In particular, she would like to give shout outs to Kenzo, Ben, Jill, Dagny, Henry, Ethan, and Ryan for being reliable friends through her musical theater journey. She sincerely hopes you all enjoy the show!

Sebastian Ramirez (DJ/Patient):

Sebastian is extremely excited to perform in his first Mater Dei Production with the wonderful company of Little Shop Of Horrors He has performed in many other productions, most notably in A Christmas Carol at South Coast Repertory (2018-2019). He would also like to thank everyone for being able to put on this wonderful production. Special thanks to Mrs Fouts, Mrs Slay, and all the crew for all their hard work.

Shaley Satina (Ronette):

Shaley is honored to be a part of Mater Dei High School’s production of Little Shop Of Horrors She is currently a junior in high school who is involved in Honors Theatre IV. Shaley has worked behind the scenes for Mater Dei Theatre’s productions several times, but this is her first onstage performance. She is excited and grateful for the opportunity to showcase her talent with family and friends. Shaley would like to thank her parents, for encouraging her to try new things, her brothers, for their constant support, and Mrs. Fouts and Mr. Helwig, for giving her an opportunity that will last her a lifetime.

Danielle Taber (Nurse 1):

Danielle is thrilled to perform in Mater Dei’s production of Little Shop Of Horrors You may have seen her in other MD productions such as Failure: A

Love Story (Moses) and A Wrinkle in Time (Red Eyes). Danielle is currently studying theatre in Honors Musical Theatre I. She would like to thank her family for their endless support and kindness. She would also like to thank the entire fabulous company of Little Shop of Horrors for their amazing work on this production.

Ben Thai (Skip Snip):

Brock Reed (Mr Martin):

Brock is excited to be a part of this production! He is also part of the Choral program and other Theatre programs in South County. Brock wishes to thank Mrs. Slay, Mrs. Fouts, Mr. Helwig, and Mr. Goei for a wonderful experience and would like to encourage everyone to join Theatre!

Claire Riss (Chiffon):

Claire is ecstatic to be a part of the Little Shop Of Horrorscompany! You may have seen her in the ensemble, running the lights or sound on other productions such as High School Musical and A Midsummer Night’s Dream, or even more recently as the character Mother and as the sound designer for A Wrinkle in Time. She has had training in her theatre classes at Mater Dei as well as her time in Mater Dei Choir. Claire would love to thank her friends and family for their support of her journey in theatre and their encouragement to audition and participate in this wonderful production.

Isabella Roqueni (Additional Customers/paparazzi):

Isabella is delighted to be a part of Mater Dei’s production of Little Shop of Horrors. While this is her first production with Mater Dei, she has been in other productions such as The Lion King, Mary Poppins, Annie, and Beauty and the Beast. She is currently a sophomore and taking Honors Musical Theatre I. She appreciates all of the work that went into the play by all of the directors, mentors, cast, and crew. She hopes that everyone watching has an amazing time!

COSTUME DESIGN

Marieke Erhard

Hannah Walters

COSTUME TEAM

Emma Buchanan

Abbie Kerr

Samantha De Guzman

Megan Witte

Bella Holguin

Ben is overjoyed to be a part of this year’s all-school musical! He is a senior this year, and has acted in the musicals every year at Mater Dei, including being ensemble in The Addams Family, playing Senator Fipp in Urinetown, and Papa Ge in Once on this Island. Along with musicals, Ben can be seen in his work with the Honors Theatre IV company and as Co-Student Director in the Choral program. He would like to thank Mrs. Fouts for teaching him everything he knows about musical theatre, and fostering the great love he has for it. Ben would also like to shout out his best friends Kenzo, Jill, and Zolie, and thank them for sticking with him these past years. Finally, he would like to send love to Mom, Dad, and Allie, for all their

Nicole Uy (World Botanical Enterprises Scientists):

Nicole is so excited to be a part of Mater Dei Theatre’s production of Little Shop Of Horrors. This is her first musical with Mater Dei’s Theatre company, but she has previously been in Failure: A Love Story and A Wrinkle in Time and absolutely loved it. She has also teched multiple shows on the costume and props teams. Nicole is currently learning in Theatre IV and Theatre III with Mrs. Slay. She can’t wait for upcoming productions and is extremely grateful for the amazing opportunities she has been given.

PRODUCTION TEAMS

HAIR/MAKEUP TEAM

Ruby Pettis

Nellyssa Valencia

Kayla Ekins

Soluna Chavez

Auriel Windle

HOUSE MANAGER

Ole Aguilar

HOUSE TEAM

LIGHTING DESIGN

Lucas Cruz

Vina Pham

LIGHTING TEAM

Dagny Canzoneri

PROPS LEADS

Edyn Rodi

Gabby Cabada

PUBLICITY LEADS

Rachel O’Sullivan

Kathleen Khorn

PUBLICITY E TEAM

Henry Erhard

Bao Khanh Tran Gia

Anthony Traquena

Jacob Sanders (Audrey II):

Jacob is excited to be a part of this production! Jacob is also a part of Mater Dei Varsity Football and the Mater Dei Choral program and will be onstage again in this year’s Senior Musical, Footloose! Jacob wishes to thank Mrs. Slay, Mrs. Fouts, Mr. Helwig, and Mr. Goei for a wonderful experience and would like to encourage everyone to join Theatre!

HAIR/MAKEUP DESIGN

Kemper Rodi

Riley Lewis

Henry Erhard

Bao Khanh

Tran Gia

Anthony Traquena

Piper Tyssee

Lam Nguyen

PROPS TEAM

Lorelei Leonard

Joshie Nguyen

Emily Sparks

Sophia Tordera

Angeline Nguyen

Joaquin Iglesias

SCENIC TEAM

Catherine Eddy

Ty Bragalone

Sierra Caico

Jessica Dang

Amanda Tyssee

Rachel Sim

Reagan Sim

SOUND DESIGN

Genevieve Butscher

SOUND TEAM

Nathan Evans

Maxwell Beckman

Aribella Clemente

MATER DEI THESPIAN TROUPE #3464

Mater Dei’s Thespian Troupe #3464, our own chartered troupe through International Thespian Society (ITS), is part of the honor society of Educational Theatre Association. ITS, founded in 1929, is the world’s largest honor society recognizing excellence and achievement in middle and high school theatre students. Our Thespian Troupe is a subset of Mater Dei Theatre. Induction into this honorary group is a privilege earned through work hours and service to the program.

Thespian Troupe Members

Abbie Kerr

Alana Le

Amanda Assaf*

Audrey Hirsch

Ava Gomez

Bella Holguin

Benjamin Thai*

Brendan Mulholland

Brock Reed

Brooke Becker*^

Brooke Carmody

Cassie Butscher*^

Catherine Morales*^

Claire Riss

Dagny Canzoneri*^

Danielle Taber

Desiree Morales

Dominic Contreras*

Edyn Rodi

Elle Zolie Pham*

Emma Buchanan*^

Ethan Ferguson

Gabrielle Cabada

Grace Henze

Hannah Franco

Hannah Walters*

Henry Erhard*

Ian Tjan

Jaycob Renteria

Jillianna Le*^

Juliana Gonzalez

Juliana McClure

Kathleen Khorn*

Keilah Mora*^

Kemper Rodi*

Kendra Koch

Kendra Lubin

Kennedy Cortez

Kenzo Phillip Osmena*^

Lauren Fernandez

Leah Bostic*

Lily Hirsch*

Loan Thai

Lorelei Leonard

Lucas Cruz

Marieke Erhard*

Maxwell Beckman

Briel Jim

Charlie Bosecker

Genevieve Butscher

Arianna Ortiz

Beau Calvert

Clare Vincent

Meghan White*

Micah Golden

Natalia King

Nicole Uy

Ole Aguilar

Pierce Harvey*

Rachel O’Sullivan*

Riley Lewis*^

Roecel Sangrador*

Ryan Martel

Sarah Castillo*^

Shaley Satina

Mater Dei Thespian Troupe #3464 is proud to recognize our newest inductees into the International Thespian Society:

Jessica Dang

Kate Vercruse

Kayla Etkins

Khoi Doan

Lauren Lee

Malorie Nguyen

Maya Fischbein

Natalie Lopez-Schneider

Nathan Evans

Sierra Caico

Sierra Valentin

Sophia Tordera

Stareen Gonsalves

Thomas Mitchell

Vina Pham

Yannik Fischer

Mrs. Lissa Slay+, Troupe Director

Piper McClave

Sam DeGuzman

Sebastian Ramirez

Mater Dei Thespian Troupe #3464 recognizes our Thespian alumni Class of 2022:

Danielle Howard*

Emily Manney*

Erin Lustado*^

Isabella Beuder

Kaly Keating

Katherine Cruz*

Kira Imhoff*

Kirsten Kowalewski*^

London Coco Griffin*^~

Oliver Cary

Olivia Langford

Patrick Rimlinger*

Sam Finnegan

Zoë Martinez

Colleen Angel Fano*

Colter Alves

Maggie Ambrose

Maureen Beld*

Connor Bogart

Imani Brutlag*^

Alizea Hinz

Genevie Vu

Inge Hohenstein*^

Katie Lowe

Kimberly Pidazo*^

Natalie Coffeen

Noah Dang*^

Reese Davey*

Ruby Mejia*

Mater Dei Thespian Troupe #3464 recognizes our Thespian alumni Class of 2021:

Isabelle Buchanan*^~

Eliza Contreras*

Rory Dahl*^

Natalie Erhard*^

William Gibson

Corey Gilbert

Jennie Greco*

JD Houston*^

Caroline Kawabe*^~

Sebastian Ledesma*^

Owen Logan

Cambria McKee*^

Melanie Montegani

Lily Ponce*^~

Jessica Porras

Nicholas Quattrocchi

Mater Dei Thespian Troupe #3464 recognizes our Thespian alumni Class of 2020:

Annemarie Verkuylen*

Aurora Ferrell

Ava Walters*^

Betty Pham*

Ben Cruz*

Carson Alanes*^

Casey Fort*^

Chloe Savard

Cynthia Garcia*

Dario Rimicci*^

Evelyn Taylor

Fiona Mulholland*^

Gwen Smith*^~

James Mitchell

John Warburton*

Lindsay Aquino*

Megan Yglesias

Kelli Chamberlain

Paige Solano*^

Sebastian Saintignon

Mater Dei Thespian Troupe #3464 recognizes our Thespian alumni Class of 2019:

Erik Doty

Kiana Hernandez

Megan Jones+*

Sofia Schoenhoefer

Lanie Segura

Joshua Weed*^

Reese Chavez*

Sofia Moreno*

Stella Pozzuoli

Daniella Arcila

Danika McKee*

Dominic Delfin

Gwyneth Stolo+*

Jonathan Lefebvre

Kalusha Brutlag+*^

Lauryn Lilly

Leah Sparks

Maria Contreras

Michael Woodard

Miranda Vazquez+*

Naea Lautenschlager+

Thespian of the Year 2022: London Coco Griffin Thespian of the Year 2021: Lilyanna Ponce

Thespian of the Year 2020: Gwendolyn Smith Thespian of the Year 2019: Kalusha Brutlag

Nick Van Dalsem+*

Sam Enriquez+*

Sarah Schulist

Victoria Lopez