Nico Alva
Usnavi
Nico is beyond grateful to have the opportunity to participate in this show as a high school senior. He has recently been in shows around Sonoma County such as The Sound of Music, Tuck Everlasting, and Grease. This show specifically has been very special to him as a first generation Peruvian-American. He believes being proud of the person you are is the most important feeling to have. Special thanks to his mom, dad, grandma and sister who are the sole reason he is performing here today.
Kathryn Rodriguez
Nina
Kat is very excited to be playing her dream role while being a part of the wonderful cast that makes up Sonoma State's performance of In The Heights. She is glad to be back on stage performing as she hasn’t had the chance to since her last main stage performance in Matilda as Adult Ensemble & the Acrobat in 2019. As a soon to be 2024 graduate here at Sonoma State she is more than grateful for the opportunity to perform again especially alongside her friends in this talented cast. Thanking her parents and friends for always supporting her passions in performing, She hopes you remember ‘Just Breathe’ and that you enjoy the show!
Malik-Charles D. Wade I
Benny
Malik Charles D. Wade I is excited to perform in his last show at Sonoma State University! Wade comes to the stage by way of Sonoma State University where he started Musical Theatre and Opera! He has worked with the Marin Musical Theatre Company/Novato Theater Company and 6th Street Playhouse in "Rent",as Audrey 2 in "Little Shop of Horrors" and "Something Rotten". Wade thanks Dr. Morrow for the drive and guidance to become a music educator in Marin!
Reilly Milton
Abuela Claudia
(She/Her/Hers) Reilly Milton is a SoCal native and has been involved with theatre most of her life. She received her Bachelors of Arts in Theatre concentration is Acting from Sonoma State in 2021. Since then she has worked with 6th Street Playhouse and Left Edge Theatre company. She is so excited to be back at her Alma matter performing this show.
Angelo Recacho
Sonny
Hi there! My name is Angelo Recacho and I am a first-year Sociology major here at Sonoma State University. I have been singing and acting for 12 years now! I love to perform and I cannot wait to share the In the Heights experience with you all! We have been hard at work on this play for several months and are so elated to finally perform for this community!
Iyanna Lowry
Daniela
Musicals I’ve done: Annie, The Lion King This cast was the best I’ve ever worked with. Everyone is so caring and hardworking and I hope to work with them on future projects. Love to my family and friends that came to see me today.
Yanni Lowry
Carla
I am Yanni Lowry and I play Carla, one of the salon ladies! I have done a couple of shows including Rafikki in The Lion Ling, and King Louie in the Jungle Book. I love to play fun parts where I can be myself and enjoy embracing the character. I have seen many musicals including In the Heights and can’t wait for you to see our show for you all!
Matthew Quezada-Cortes
Kevin Rosario
Matthew Quezada-Cortes (he/him) portrays Kevin Rosario. He is a student at the Santa Rosa Junior College and is studying to be a costume designer. He was in the SRJC’s production of The Addams Family Musical ensemble and is grateful to be apart of such an amazing and talented cast at Sonoma State University!
Maick Poroj
Piragua Guy
Maick Poroj is a new actor who just joined the Acting Program at Sonoma State. He trained under professionals in the Theatre field at Summer Arts. He is extremely excited for this show since it will be his first time performing on stage.
Jim Frankie Banks
Graffiti Pete
Jim is an SSU Alum who has performed in several Sonoma County Theatre venues since 2022. He had the opportunity to perform with National Award Winning Sonoma State Acting Students in the performance of Water by The Spoonful, directed by Marie Ramirez Downing. He also appreciates Lynne Morrow for inspiring him to get into Musical Theatre.
ENSEMBLE
Leah Bostic
Hello! My name is Leah Bostic. I am a first year here at SSU and a Hutchins track three major to get my teaching credential. This is my first college production and so exited to have you watch it. I have previously been in Foot loose, Little Shop Of Horror, A Wrinkle in time, and so much more in high school. I am so blesses to have meet these amazing people and mentors. They have truly made my first college play a memorable one. Thank you for supporting this story and this program. Hope you enjoy!
Sarah Cambra
Sarah Cambra is currently a freshman at Sonoma State University, majoring in Psychology. She has been involved in theater and dance since childhood with plans to continue. Some of her favorite shows to be in were “The Little Mermaid Jr” as Ariel, “Freaky Friday the Musical” as Ellie Blake, and her most recent, “The Little Mermaid” (Broadway version) as Ariel. She finished off her senior year co-directing two wonderful beginning drama casts of SpongeBob the Musical. Sarah has loved being in the cast of “In the Heights”; the energy and liveliness that everyone radiates onstage and off has been a joy to be around. After such a positive and exhilarating first experience, Sarah hopes to be a part of many SSU performances in the future.
Declan Joseph Downing
Declan Joseph Downing is a 5th grader at Hidden Valley Elementary in Santa Rosa. Declan was last seen as young Elliot in Water By The Spoonful at SSU in Fall 2022. Most recently he played Sun Wukong (The Monkey King) in his Odyssey of The Mind Team’s original play in Sacramento. This year Declan was elected to his school’s leadership team and enjoys planning the fun activities for the school year. For the past three years Declan has been studying guitar and most recently classical with his teacher in Sebastopol. He wants everyone to know he can solve a Rubik’s Cube in 20 seconds and a Mirror Cube in 2 min and 30 seconds. He loves his Mama, Dada, brother Preston and his dog Azul – a 100 pound Rottweiller-Poodle!
Gina Santana Hurtado
Gina is a 5th grader at Cali Calmecac Language Academy. She has performed in front of audiences with the Mariachi Ensemble through Luther Burbank Center for the Arts, first as a guitar player and then took the stage as a dancer doing Ballet Folkloric. She found her love of the stage after her performance as a supporting character in The Lion King Jr. produced by Windsor Performing Arts Academy under the direction of Heather Cullen.
This opportunity has ignited her passion to continue in theatre. Gina is grateful for such a welcoming cast that has embraced her and her younger peers with enthusiasm and encouragement in their performances on stage. She looks forward to sharing the end result of this experience with the audience.
Maggie Millard
Maggie Millard has been doing musical theater since middle school, and singing in choirs since high school. Some of her notable acting roles include the Scarecrow in The Wizard of Oz, Jan in Grease, and Willy Wonka in Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory. She sang with the SRJC choirs and SSU SonoVoce in Carnegie Hall in the Spring of 2022, and performed in the chorus for Beethoven’s Ninth (Winter 2022) and Handel’s Messiah (Winter 2023) at Sonoma State University. She has studied voice under Lauren Haile, Paul Haile, Carol Menke, and Christa Durand, and is currently working with Krista Wigle. She was in the Concert Choir and Chamber Singers at the Santa Rosa Junior College under the direction of Jody Benecke, and is now in SSU SonoVoce with Dr. Jenny Bent. She also took three semesters of Hip Hop classes at SRJC with Lea Poisson.
Sierra Reid
Sierra Reid (any/all) is excited to be making their college debut in this production! They have been performing in Sonoma County since age eight, garnering a plethora of roles both in and outside of school. In high school he performed in all of the productions available to him, notably in both Mean Girls as Janis Sarkisian and Clue as Wadsworth. She is a first-year Theater Arts major here at SSU and feels honored to be a part of this production. This is their third time acting as a dance captain, a role they were ecstatic to receive. He is grateful for his involvement in the show, allowing him to further expand his experience in his chosen field. She is a dedicated performer and hopes to take the audience on a journey of acceptance, pride, and community.
Rosa Reynoza
Growing up in a large Mexican family, playful acting was something that was done often. At a very young age she also helped her grandmother and mother serve food, clean and entertained at the local Windsor senior community center. Prior to turning 50 she never imagined she would actually be on stage in productions. She has nurtured 3 wonderful humans and is currently enjoying her life as an "empty nester" She is a Human Resource Consultant with Leap Solutions in Santa Rosa as well as being the elected Mayor of the Town of Windsor.
Daniel Villalva
Daniel Villalva decided to become an actor at age 13 when he saw Luis Valdez’s El Teatro Campesino perform in his hometown of Martinez, CA. After studying Dramatic Art at UC Berkeley he was admitted into that same political theater troupe. The timing was fortunate - that summer Campesino hosted an extraordinary 8 week encounter with Peter Brook and his Center for International Theater Research. Mr. Brooks’ company featured artists from around the world including a young actor named Helen Mirren. Afterward Daniel toured with the Teatro performing the role of Jesucristo / Quetzalcoatl in their signature play, La Gran Carpa de Los Rasquachis at the Mark Taper Forum in Los Angeles and the Chelsea Westside Theater in New York City. Daniel has applied the joyful creative spirit that he learned with El Teatro Campesino in his many life roles ever since.
Corwin James Wilson
Corwin James Wilson is a vocalist, performer, and educator currently studying for a Bachelor's of Music with a concentration in Choral Music Education at Sonoma State University. With nearly 15 years of experience in classical, choral, and solo voice, his first foray into musical theater as a cast member of In The Heights was an unforgettable experience that he feels privileged to be able to share with an audience.
DANCERS
Matilda Bowen
NMatilda is so excited to be a part of such an amazing production as In the Heights! She has had such an amazing time learning the choreography and working with both Marie and AK. She has spent her whole life on stage; dancing, singing, acting, and teching crew for shows! She specializes in tap and jazz dance, which she has worked with since she was 6 years old. Some other shows she has done are; A Midsummer Night’s Dream (Oberon’s Fairy), Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (Ms. Teavee), Blithe Spirit (Elvira), Mary Poppins (Mary Poppins), and Little Mermaid (Eric). Endless thanks: teachers, family, friends, and dance instructors.
Ally Liberty
Ally Liberty (she/her) is a senior Acting Major here at Sonoma State University pursuing a career in Screen Acting. Her previous work at SSU includes Power Lines, A Moonless Sea (Astrid), Water by the Spoonful (Yaz) and Warcircus (IO). Ally would like to thank her family, friends, faculty and staff for their love and support. This show would not have been the same without them.
Maya Sarinana
Maya Sarinana is excited to be a part of In the Heights musical at Sonoma State University. She is a graduating senior at SSU majoring in psychology. This is Maya’s first dancing debut performance for musical theatre. Prior to college, she was on her high schools competitive dance team for three years where her team was able to take home 2 national titles and perform at the halftime show for the Sacramento Kings basketball team. She loves performing and is grateful to have the opportunity to do so before she graduates. Maya would like to thank her family and friends for their endless support and encouragement.
ARTISTIC & PRODUCTION TEAM
Marie Ramirez Downing
Stage Director
Marie Ramirez Downing is an Assistant Professor of Theatre Arts and Director of The Acting Program at Sonoma State. She has an M.F.A. in Acting from The Theatre School at DePaul University, and a B.A. in Theatre Arts-Acting from California State University, Fresno. She is a Designated Linklater Voice Teacher via Kristin Linklater and the Linklater Center for Voice and Language in NYC. Last SSU Season, her 2022 production of Water By The Spoonful received many commendations, an invitation for encore performances at the regional American College Theatre Festival in Spokane, WA, and two national awards from the Kennedy Center for “A Brave Rehearsal Space”, and a “Citizen’s Award”. Locally, Marie directed Real Women Have Curves at 6 th Street Playhouse in 2022. Recent Voice and Dialect coaching credits include Chicana Legend (SHEATL Theater Festival), Electricidad (CSU, Fresno), and Sonnets for An Old Century (SSU). Her latest workshop entitled, “Performing Shakespeare, Voice, Movement, and Intersectionality” was presented in La Paz, Mexico in July 2023 at the Voice and Speech Trainer’s Association (VASTA) International Conference where she is the Director of Equity Diversity, Inclusion and Access. Marie has coordinated and taught in many innovative theatre courses for CSU Summer Arts. Her course Latinx Voices on Stage: Community, Lineage and Performance ran last summer at the CSU Summer Arts Festival 2023 and her latest course Shakespeare & Company: Voice, Heritage, and Community, will run in the summer of 2024. Marie also coaches professional actors at Shakespeare & Company in Lenox MA where she teaches in the January and June Shakespeare Intensive Workshops. Marie is a proud member of the Sonoma State President’s Hispanic Serving Institution Advisory Council and the CSU Summer Arts Advisory Council.
Dr. Lynne Morrow
Music Director
Dr. Lynne Morrow is a specialist in American Music. She directs opera, music theatre and choral music of all genres. The works of Stephen Sondheim and Gershwin’s ‘Porgy and Bess’ are areas of her scholarship. Dr. Morrow received a GRAMMY nomination for her work on Bernstein’s ‘Mass’ with Kent Nagano and the Pacific Mozart Ensemble (now Pacific Edge Voices). She was the music director from 2005-2020, after being assistant director after 1994.
Since 2001 Dr. Morrow has directed the Voice and Opera/Music Theatre Programs at Sonoma State University. Dr. Morrow was director of Oakland Symphony Chorus from 2005-2022, commissioning new works and taking the Chorus on its 2 international tours.
Dr. Lynne Morrow continues to music direct and to present lectures around the world..
Anakarina Swanson
Choreographer
Anakarina Swanson has been dancing for 18 years and teaching for 10 years. She is trained in ballet, jazz, lyrical jazz, modern, contemporary, musical theatre and hip hop. She has won numerous awards for her choreography including platinum and 1st place in dance competitions, The Bay Area Theatre Critics Circle Award for Best Choreography, Best Theme, Best Costume and Best of Show awards. She was a member of the hip hop dance company Prophecy from Chapkis Dance Studio in Suisun City, worked with the Federated Indians of Graton Rancheria injunction with Z Space, and has choreographed for Santa Rosa Junior College. Anakarina now owns her own dance studio, Breakthrough Studio, located in downtown Santa Rosa where she teaches classes for all ages and levels. Anakarina loves teaching, inspiring, and sharing the art of dance with as many people as she can. Her calling is to mentor, create and teach.
Dianne Harrison
Assistant Stage Manager
Dianne Harrison has worked for the past fifteen years in stage management, sound/light board operations, and props design for many Bay Area theatre companies, including African-American Shakespeare Company (Richard II / The Glass Menagerie / Echoes of Us), the Altarena Playhouse (A Nice Family Gathering / The Birds), Eye Zen Presents (Sylvester: The Mighty Real), PlayGround SF (Monday Night series / Twisted Holiday series), Ross Valley Players (Silent Sky / Pride and Prejudice: The Musical), Santa Rosa Junior College (Beauty and the Beast / Legally Blonde: The Musical / Spongebob: The Musical), Sonoma Arts Live (Nunsense / Calendar Girls), The Mountain Play (Camelot), and Valley Players (Men in Boats). Dianne has received a Certificate in Stage Management and Theatre Arts Associate Degree from the SRJC, as well as a Certificate of Merit from the Kennedy Center’s American College Theater Festival. Dianne is excited to be at SSU, and thanks her family for their unwavering encouragement and support.
Jack Kelly
Assistant Stage Manager
I am a senior at Sonoma State University (Second year here). This is my third show here on the stage management side for the school. I spent five years at College Of Marin doing theatre. I have been doing theatre for 10 years. I am a Hutchins (liberal studies) major. I love theatre for the community it creates and is also a way to escape stress for at least a few hours.
Enrique Rojas
Sound Coordinator/Recordings
Enrique is a musician born in Caracas, Venezuela. He graduated with a Bachelor of Music Degree in Jazz Guitar Performance from San Francisco State University. In 2016, Enrique moved to Sonoma County, where he performed with various Jazz and Latin Jazz ensembles as a session musician and for private events. He has also worked with the Santa Rosa Symphony Youth programs. Enrique is part of the Bellarosa String Quartet, where he performs for private events in Sonoma and Napa Counties.
Carmen Gomez
Scenic Designer
She landed in Chico in January of 2017 as the Production Manager for School of the Arts at Chico State. Carmen has thoroughly enjoyed being part of this production at Sonoma State.
Carly Bozeman
Wardrobe Supervisor
Carly Bozeman is an SSU alumni— class of 2022 — who is thrilled to be participating backstage for her 6th SSU musical! Some of her fondest SSU memories include Assistant Stage Managing “Sweeney Todd” 2019, Stage Managing “365 Plays/ 365 Days” 2021, being hired as part-time staff for the scene & costume shops, and discovering her love for working with costumes and set building/painting. As this is her last musical with SSU before moving to SoCal, this experience has been bittersweet, but incredibly rewarding! She hopes you love all of the tremendous hard work and efforts put in by the cast, crew, orchestra, and production team! Enjoy the show!
Viviano Cunningham
Follow Spot Operator
(They/Them) Viviano has been a huge fan of theatre ever since they were little, and they did a lot of acting while they were younger. Recently, in their last year of high school, they got to run the light board for a show their school put on, and fell in love with tech work. They are very excited to be running the follow spot for this show, and hope to work on many more in the future!
Allison DeStasio
Technical Crew
Allison DeStasio is a second-year Hutchins major at Sonoma State and plans to become a Special Education Teacher. This is her first production for SSU theater, but she has an 8-year experience with performing arts. She has been in choir for a total of 6 years along with partaking in her elementary, middle, and high school band and jazz band. Allison was also a part of her after-school percussion program for 6 years. She also works with the music department at Sonoma State through the FAST program to support first-year music majors. Allison is super excited to be a part of In The Heights tech crew and can’t wait for people to see it.
Patrick Rimlinger
Technical Crew
Patrick Rimlinger is sophomore majoring in wine business. This is his first time doing tech here at Sonoma but has done tech for many shows throughout high school. He is so excited to be helping back stage again.
Arjan Sidhu
Technical Crew
Arjan Sidhu is a 2nd year student here at Sonoma State who is soon to major in Theatre arts. While currently majoring in Psychology, he came to realize his passion for acting and performance with the help of Scott Horstein and Marie Downing. While not performing in the musical, they will be helping backstage and working as a member of the Tech Crew.
ORCHESTRA
Allen Daniel Rivera
Drums
BM Percussion Performance from Sonoma State and MFA Interdisciplinary Arts from Northeastern University. Allen teaches at Sacred Heart Cathedral Prep in SF and Guitar Center in Concord.