Eric Anderson, General George B. McClellan

made his La Jolla Playhouse debut as Captain Hook in Fly. On Broadway, he most recently originated the role of Meyer Wolfsheim in The Great Gatsby. Before that, he starred for two years as Harold Zidler in the Broadway production of Moulin Rouge!. Following his New York City debut 15 years ago in South Pacific at Lincoln Center, Eric has originated roles on Broadway in Waitress, Pretty Woman, Kinky Boots, Rocky, The Last Ship, and Soul Doctor, for which he earned a Drama Desk Best Actor nomination. Regionally, his west coast credits include: Ragtime (Moonlight Stage), Bed & Sofa (Cygnet Theatre), The Wild Party (Blank Theatre Company), and OthE.L.O. (Troubadour Theater Company). He’s appeared on film in The Greatest Showman and Waitress: Live on Broadway. TV credits include: Elementary, The Good Wife, Law & Order: Criminal Intent, Alias and Live from Lincoln Center. Eric won two San Diego Theatre Critics Circle Awards, and was the recipient of the inaugural Joel Hirschhorn Award from the L.A. Drama Critics Circle for outstanding achievement in musical theatre. He is Jessica Rush’s husband, and Elliot’s dad. Instagram: @egroove 

Van Angelo (they/them), Swing

La Jolla Playhouse: Debut. Regional: Tootsie, Beautiful, Something Rotten, Memphis (Moonlight); Catch Me If You Can (SDMT); Seussical (Candlelight Pavilion); West Side Story, Tarzan, Hairspray (Performance Riverside); The View UpStairs (Desert Rose Playhouse); Hairspray (Palm Canyon Theatre). Concert: Bernstein’s MASS, Ein Deutsches Requiem, Beethoven 9, Rachmaninoff‘s The Bells (Philadelphia Orchestra); Rouse’s Requiem (NY Philharmonic); Zelda: Symphony of the Goddesses (Boston Symphony Orchestra). Theme Park: Vocalist for Legoland California Resort. Education: M.F.A. in Musical Theatre from SDSU, B.M. in Music Education from Westminster Choir College. “Till there’s no one left who has ever known us apart.”

DeShawn Travis Bowens (he/him), Swing

La Jolla Playhouse: Debut. Off Broadway: DogMan, Carnegie Hall. National Tours: Mean Girls. Regional: Summerstock (Goodspeed), Beautiful: The Carole King Musical (Maine State), Guys and Dolls (Asolo Repertory Theatre), Honeymoon in Vegas (Marriott Theatre), Frozen (Fulton). TV/Film: Two Many Christmases (BET plus), Harlem (Amazon Studios). Education: B.F.A. Music Theatre from Elon University. Many thanks to God, cast and creative team of 3 Summers of Lincoln and HCKR. For Mom. @deshawn.bowens 

Geno Carr, Postmaster General Blair/Ensemble/Understudy: General George B. McClellan

La Jolla Playhouse: Come From Away, Love All. Broadway: Come From Away. Off Broadway: Bush Wars. National Tours: Come From Away, Grease, Buddy Holly Story, Phantom. Favorite Regional: Allegiance, Henry VI, Grinch (The Old Globe); Ragtime (Moonlight); The Producers, The Full Monty (Merry-Go-Round Playhouse); The Foreigner, Spelling Bee (Lamb’s Players); Next to Normal (SDMT); Little Shop of Horrors, Parade, Assassins (Cygnet Theatre); The Two Gentlemen of Verona, A Midsummer Night’s Dream (Maine Shakespeare Festival). Education: M.F.A., Acting/Directing, Sarah Lawrence College; Dual B.A., Music and Theatre, Hartwick College. Awesome Wife, Son, and Mini Goldendoodle: Nancy, Elliott, and Ozzie.

Calvin L'mont Cooper(she/he/they), Ensemble

La Jolla Playhouse: Debut! Broadway: Mrs. Doubtfire. National Tours: Finding Neverland. Regional: Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil (Goodman), Singin' in the Rain (Ogunquit), Guys and Dolls (Muny), Kiss Me Kate (Barrington). Other credits: La Traviata (The Met), Radio City Christmas Spectacular (Radio City).

Carmen Cusack, Mary Todd Lincoln

La Jolla Playhouse: Debut. Cusack recently starred on Broadway in James Lapine’s Flying Over Sunset, earning a second Tony^® Award nomination in as many Broadway shows. She was previously nominated for her acclaimed lead performance in Bright Star. She recurred opposite Janet McTeer and Elizabeth Olsen in the series Sorry for Your Loss, and she was featured opposite Tom Hanks in TriStar's A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood and in MGM’s American Fiction. She starred as Julia Sugarbaker in the world premiere adaptation of Designing Women at TheatreSquared and as Lynn Gardner in MCC’s Off-Broadway revival of Carrie. Additional credits include Annie McDougan in First Wives Club and Dot in Sunday in the Park with George in Chicago, Nellie Forbush in the first national tour of Lincoln Center Theater’s revival of South Pacific, and Elphaba in the first national tour of Wicked. West End credits include Fantine in Les Misérables, Rose in The Secret Garden, and Kim in Personals. She toured the UK as Christine in Phantom of the Opera and as Eva Cassidy in Over the Rainbow. She studied opera at the University of North Texas, which gave her its first honorary baccalaureate degree in 2018.

Quentin Earl Darrington, Frederick Douglass

was most recently seen as Don Cornelius in the world premiere of the high-energy, Broadway-bound new musical Soul Train, following his electric and transformative dual role as Rob/Joe Jackson in the Broadway mega-hit MJ: The Musical, which he originated. A GRAMMY^® Award-nominated performer, his Broadway credits also include: Agwe in the Tony^® Award-winning revival of Once on This Island, Coalhouse Walker Jr. in Ragtime (revival), and Old Deuteronomy in Cats (revival). God’s blessing on Q’s life has taken him across the globe; performing, teaching, and serving in 46 US states, Canada, the Caribbean, South America, Europe, Russia, New Zealand, and Africa. National Tours: Memphis, The Color Purple, The Lion King, Ragtime. TV: Blue Bloods, NCIS: NOLA, The Blacklist, Elementary, Madam Secretary, The Good Fight and The Code. M.F.A., University of Central Florida; B.F.A., University of South Florida. Love God, Serve God… Love People, Serve People. Philippians 3:12-14

Alaman Diadhiou, Telegraph Tap Dancer/Ensemble/Understudy: Lewis Douglass

La Jolla Playhouse: Debut. National Tours: MJ/Michael Standby in MJ: the Musical. Off-Broadway: Young Jelly in Jelly’s Last Jam (NY City Center). Regional: Twist in Twist (Pasadena Playhouse). Film/TV: Damian in High Potential (ABC). Education: Yale College ‘23, Comparative Literature (B.A.). Alaman is a singer, dancer, songwriter, and entertainer from Leimert Park, Los Angeles. Trained at the Debbie Allen Dance Academy, Alaman is a 2019 Presidential Scholar in the Arts (Tap Dance). Alaman aspires to be the world’s premier live performer, carrying the traditions of the legendary artists who precede him while innovating with his own voice.

Michael Samarie George, Swing

 is a dynamic multicultural artist, choreographer, director, actor, singer, dancer and producer. With an unwavering passion for pushing artistic boundaries, she approaches her work with deep gratitude and love. Michael's impressive credits span both Broadway and television, showcasing her versatile talents and commitment to her craft. As she embraces new opportunities she remains grateful to her entire family and team for their unwavering support on this creative journey. @michaelsamarie

Michael Allan Haggerty, Swing

La Jolla Playhouse: Debut. National Tour: Frozen. Regional credits include Unsinkable Molly Brown (The MUNY); Anastasia (Bucks County Playhouse); Jersey Boys (North Shore Music Theater). Boston Conservatory alumni. Huge thanks to Dave at Daniel Hoff! 

Ivan Hernandez, President Abraham Lincoln

Broadway credits include Larry Murphy in Dear Evan Hansen and Billy Flynn in Chicago. Other NY credits: Signor Naccarelli in The Light in the Piazza at City Center, The Wolf/Cinderella’s Prince in Into the Woods at the Delacorte Theatre, Sal in The Capeman (Delacorte), Mitch in Yank! at the York Theatre and Fred in Romantic Poetry at MTC. Audiences also know him as Franklyn from the Max series And Just Like That... and Andrés in the Netflix series Never Have I Ever. Other TV credits include The Rookie, Claws, Criminal Minds, NCIS, Mom, Scandal, Crazy Ex-Girlfriend, Devious Maids and Law and Order: SVU. Much love to Tine, Emma and Hannah.

Fernell Hogan (he/him), Ensemble

Fernell is excited to be making his La Jolla Debut in 3 Summers of Lincoln! He was most recently seen playing Martin in the Tony^® Award-winning Best Musical Kimberly Akimbo on Broadway, where he originated the role. Other credits include: Broadway: The Prom. National Tour: Mean Girls. Off-Broadway: Kimberly Akimbo. TV/Film: Mean Girls the Movie, Law & Order: SVU. Fernell is endlessly thankful for the support of his family and friends throughout his journey. Big thanks to Creative Talent Company, Nicolosi, and Telsey! @fernellhogan

Jana Krumholtz, Ensemble

La Jolla Playhouse: Debut! This past season, Jana was in Macbeth at the Oregon Shakespeare Festival, as well as Dance Captain. She has performed live with Billie Eilish at Coachella, Beyoncé, The Jonas Brothers on the VMAs, SNL, The Tonight Show. She was a dancer on the hit show Lip Sync Battle for five seasons. Jana wrote, directed and produced her one-woman show that premiered at Hollywood Fringe where she was selected to perform in LA Women’s Theatre Festival. Proud member of TheGrit by Jon Rua. Founder of Return To Dance. Forever for Rose, Ben, Mom, Dad, Jon and Jet.

Bets Malone, Miss Ava/Ensemble/Understudy: Mary Todd Lincoln

La Jolla Playhouse: Debut. International: 42nd Street, Fame. Off-Broadway: The Marvelous Wonderettes. Regional: Into the Woods, Ragtime, Next to Normal, Fun Home, Victor/Victoria, Sweeney Todd, The Andrews Brothers, 1776, Seussical, The Rocky Horror Show, Children of Eden, Fiddler on the Roof, Titanic, How the Grinch Stole Christmas! (The Old Globe, 12 years). Voiceover: Barbie as the Island Princess, Scooby Doo and The Musical of the Vampire, What’s Wrong with Ruth.

John-Andrew Morrison, William Slade

La Jolla Playhouse: Dogeaters. Broadway: A Strange Loop (Tony^® Award nomination). Off-Broadway: A Strange Loop (Playwrights Horizons; Lucille Lortel and OBIE Awards), Blues for an Alabama Sky (KEEN Company; Outer Critics Circle honoree), Malvolio (Classical Theater of Harlem; Audelco Award nomination). Regional: A Christmas Carol (Hartford Stage), A Strange Loop (ACT and CTG Los Angeles), Marley (Baltimore Center Stage). Upcoming: John-Andrew will play Medea in Medea of the Laundromat by H.M. Koutoukas, presented by La MaMa and The Lucille Lortel Theater. Education: B.A. Theatre Arts from Brandeis University. M.F.A. from UC San Diego. John-Andrew is a member of The Actors Center. He dedicates this and every piece to his mother. 

Magic Mosley (they/them), Lewis Douglass/Ensemble

La Jolla Playhouse: Debut. Regional: Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat (California Center for the Arts); Kinky Boots (3D Theatricals); Sister Act (Candlelight Pavilion). Workshops: The Band’s Visit (German Translation Workshop); Witnesses: A New Musical (California Center for the Arts). Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines: Grease, Hairspray, The Wizard of Oz. This performance is dedicated to my grandmother Rose, born Juneteenth. “Dream Until Your Dreams Come True.”

Kent Overshown (he/they), Ensemble/Understudy: Frederick Douglass & William Slade

La Jolla Playhouse: Debut. NY Theatre: Ragtime, Titanic, Promenade (City Center Encores!). National Tours: Moulin Rouge! The Musical, Book of Mormon (Jumamosi Tour), The Gershwins’ Porgy and Bess, Memphis. Regional: Little Shop of Horrors (A.C.T. of Connecticut), The Music Man (Goodspeed), Sister Act (Walnut Street/Riverside Theatre), Smokey Joe’s Café (STAGES St. Louis), Camelot (Two River Theatre), Miss Saigon (Casa Mañana), Rent (Westchester Broadway Theatre), The MUNY (seasons 2007–2010). Concert: Bernstein: Mass (Philadelphia Orchestra). Education: B.F.A. from the University of Michigan. Immense love to Jeremy & Fam. Endless thanks to Rachel & HCKR.

Noah Rivera, Ensemble/Understudy: Postmaster General Blair

is a current member of Frankie Valli & the Four Seasons, singing with the legend himself, Frankie Valli. Broadway: Wicked (Tin Man), In the Heights (Sonny), Shrek the Musical (White Rabbit, OBC). Vegas: Hairspray (OVC), Scream’d: World Premiere (Choreographer). Noah was awarded Best Actor in a Musical by both StageSceneLA and LA Theater Bites for his portrayal of Frankie Valli in Jersey Boys. TV: CSI: Vegas, General Hospital, The Wade Robson Project (MTV), The Tonight Show, Good Morning America and others. Thanks to Rua, DWatts, LJP, Telsey Casting, House of Representatives, Rotbart Management, and loved ones. For Alora & Eliana. @MrNoahRivera

Naomi Tiana Rodgers, Rosetta Douglass/Understudy: Elizabeth Keckley

La Jolla Playhouse: Debut. National Tour: Tina: The Tina Turner Musical, Frozen. Regional: Legally Blonde (Arts Center of Coastal Carolina). Education: AMDA NY. Thank you to La Jolla Playhouse, Telsey, and Daniel Hoff Agency for continuing to believe in me to heal the world with my Art. 
@naomiprincessrodgers. Jeremiah 29:11

Evan Ruggiero (he/him), Telegraph Tap Dancer/Gun Dealer/Ensemble

La Jolla Playhouse: Debut. Evan is a graduate of Montclair State University, B.F.A. Musical Theatre. In 2018 he received a Drama Desk nomination for Best Actor in a Musical and was awarded a Clive Barnes Award in Theatre for his portrayal of Tom Jones in NYC’s off-Broadway hit Bastard Jones. Evan has had the honor of performing at Carnegie Hall and at the 90th Oscars. He has performed for many notable individuals such as Ellen DeGeneres, President Joe Biden and First Lady Dr. Jill Biden, and Egypt’s President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi. Most recently, Evan performed alongside GRAMMY^® Award-winning artist Jason Mraz. Theatre credits include: Camelot (Sir Dinadan, The Muny), Beauty and the Beast (Beast, Olney Theatre Center), The Wizard of Oz (Tin Man), Toxic Avenger (Melvin, Pittsburgh CLO) and Baby (Danny, NYC off-Broadway). Social media: @Lord_Pegleg.

Nathan Salstone (he/him), Private Putnam/Ensemble

La Jolla Playhouse: Debut. Broadway: Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street (2023 revival, cast album), Harry Potter and the Cursed Child (original Broadway cast). Off-Broadway: Titanic (NY City Center Encores). Regional World Premiere: What We Talk About When We Talk About Anne Frank (The Old Globe); Knoxville (Asolo Rep, Cast Album). Graduate of Carnegie Mellon University’s School of Drama. @nathan_salstone

Saycon Sengbloh, Elizabeth Keckley

La Jolla Playhouse: Debut. Broadway: Eclipsed (Tony^® Award nomination, Drama Desk Award). FELA!, Wicked, Hair, The Color Purple, Elton John & Tim Rice’s AIDA, Motown the Musical, Holler If Ya Hear Me. National Tours: Rent, AIDA, FELA! (Nigeria). Off-Broadway: Secret Life of Bees (Atlantic), Hurt Village (Signature). Regional: The Color Purple premiere (Alliance Theatre); Once on This Island (Paper Mill), Soweto! Soweto! (Freddie Hendricks: Youth Ensemble of Atlanta). TV: The Wonder Years (ABC), Delilah (OWN), In the Dark (CW), and Scandal (ABC). Film: Respect (MGM), Doubleplay (Amazon Prime). Board of Directors: LEAD Monrovia Football Academy. Education: Agnes Scott College.

Jaxon Smith (he/him), Swing

La Jolla Playhouse: Debut. Regional: Tootsie (Moonlight); Miracle on 34th Street: A Live Musical Radio Play (New Village Arts); Fiddler on the Roof, The Addams Family (San Diego Musical Theatre); Darkness Falls (Sea World). Education: SDSCPA.

Johnathan Tanner (he/him), Ensemble/Understudy: Private Putnam

La Jolla Playhouse: Debut. Off-Broadway: Emote: The Musical. Off-Off-Broadway: You’re a Good Man Charlie Brown. Regional: The Nutty Professor and Disney’s Newsies (Hale Center Theatre); Godspell (BYU). Dance Credits: Colbie Caillat, Kristen Chenoweth, David Archuleta, Red Bull TV, U.S. National Ballroom Championships (5x Finalist). 2x Violinist at Carnegie Hall (NYC). Education: B.F.A. from BYU, LINK Class 6. BIG Thank You to Mom, Dad, Loved ones, Telsey, CTG, and God! johnathan-tanner.com @johnathan.tanner 

Blake Zelesnikar, Ensemble

La Jolla Playhouse: Debut. National Tours: Mean Girls, Phantom of the Opera, An American in Paris, Flashdance. Regional: Bull Durham (Theater Raleigh); The Nutty Professor (Ogunquit); Jerome Robbins' Broadway (TUTS); Oklahoma! (PCLO). Excited and honored to be a part of this inspirational production. Thank you to my wife Jessica Lee Goldyn for her endless love and support!

Joe DiPietro, Librettist, Co-Lyricist

DiPietro is thrilled to be returning to La Jolla Playhouse. He has won two Tony^® Awards, a Drama Desk Award and three Outer Critics Circle Awards. His other new musicals include the Broadway-bound Sinatra and the Tom Jones-infused What's New, Pussycat?. Among his many other shows: Babbitt (La Jolla Playhouse, Shakespeare Theatre Company); Memphis (2010 Tony^® Award for Best Musical); Nice Work If You Can Get It (10 Tony^® nominations); All Shook Up; Diana (Netflix); The Toxic Avenger (OCC Award - Best off-Broadway Musical); Ernest Shackleton Loves Me (Off-Broadway Alliance Award - Best Musical) and I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change (the longest-running musical revue in off-Broadway history). His plays include the much-produced comedies Over the River and Through the Woods and The Last Romance, as well as the new comic thriller, An Old-Fashioned Family Murder.

Crystal Monee Hall, Composer

is a singer/songwriter, composer/lyricist and vocal director/arranger/producer based in NYC. Recent credits include Goddess (Berkeley Repertory Theatre), ALLSWELL the Movie (Dir. Ben Snyder), Choir Boy (Philadelphia Theatre Company), Darius De Haas’ You Send Me: The Songs and Soul of Sam Cooke (92Y Lyrics and Lyricists), Where We Dwell (New York City Center), Ayodele Casel’s Chasing Magic (American Repertory Theater), Walker (CW network), “A Beautiful Noise” (Gospel Arrangement, Biden/Harris Campaign), Ben Platt: Live from Radio City Music Hall (Netflix), PBS Kids (Donkey Hodie, Nature Cat, Alma’s Way), Sesame Street, Black Ink Crew (VH1), HBO’s High Maintenance, Kristin Chenoweth’s For the Girls (Nederlander Theater), Stars on Stage: Brandon Victor Dixon (Westport Playhouse Theater/PBS), Cynthia Erivo: Live from Lincoln Center (PBS), Mickey Hart (The Grateful Dead), RENT (Nederlander Theater), Thomas Rhett, Renée Elise Goldsberry, John Legend, Patti Austin, Oleta Adams, Mariah Carey, Elton John, Ke$ha and Roy Ayers. She is the recipient of The Lilly Awards’ 2021 “Go Write a Musical” Award, and the Black Theatre Coalition’s inaugural Composer Fellowship Award in 2022. www.crystalmoneehall.com; @crystalmonee

Daniel J. Watts, Co-Lyricist, Co-Choreographer

is a Tony^® and Emmy^® Award-nominated multidisciplinary artist. He has performed in 10 Broadway shows including: Tina (Ike Turner, Tony^® Award nominee), Freestyle Love Supreme, Hamilton, After Midnight, Motown, Ghost, In the Heights, Memphis, The Little Mermaid, The Color Purple. Off-Broadway: The Refuge Plays (Roundabout), Richard III (Delacorte), The Last of the Love Letters (Atlantic), The Death of the Last Black Man in the Whole Entire World (Signature), Whorl Inside a Loop (2ST). TV: The Chi (Paramount +); Werewolf By Night (Disney+); The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel (Amazon); The Last OG (TBS); Penguin, Vinyl, The Deuce, Boardwalk Empire (HBO); Blindspot, Blue Bloods (CBS); Broad City (Comedy Central). Original Work: Daniel J. Watts’ The Jam: Only Child 2020 Public Theatre Under the Radar Festival and has also streamed as part of the Signature Theater (DC) 2020/21 season. TED talk “To Accomplish Great Things, You Need to Let Paint Dry” appears at go.Ted.com/danieljwatts. Artist in residence at ASU Gammage, contributing artist for Armstrong Now with The Louis Armstrong House, and NYU Tisch New Studio adjunct professor. www.wattswords.com  IG/Twitter: @dwattswords

Christopher Ashley, Director

has served as La Jolla Playhouse’s Artistic Director since 2007. During his tenure, he directed the world premieres of Come From Away, The Untitled Unauthorized Hunter S. Thompson Musical, Babbitt, Diana: The Musical, Memphis, Escape to Margaritaville, The Squirrels, A Dram of Drummhicit, Restoration and Chasing the Song, as well as As You Like It, His Girl Friday, Glengarry Glen Ross, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Freaky Friday and Xanadu. He also spearheaded the Playhouse’s Without Walls (WOW) initiative, the DNA New Work Series and the Resident Theatre program. Mr. Ashley recently directed Come From Away for AppleTV+ and Diana: The Musical for Netflix. Other screen credits include the feature films Jeffrey and Lucky Stiff, and the American Playhouse production of Blown Sideways Through Life for PBS. Mr. Ashley’s Broadway credits include Come From Away (Tony and Outer Critics Circle Awards), Diana: The Musical, Escape to Margaritaville, Memphis (Tony Award nomination), Xanadu, Leap of Faith (Drama Desk Award nomination), All Shook Up and The Rocky Horror Show (Tony, Drama Desk, Outer Critics Circle Award nominations). He also helmed productions of Come From Away in London (Olivier Award nomination), Toronto, Australia and on national tour. Other national tours include Escape to Margaritaville, Memphis, Xanadu, All Shook Up and Seussical: The Musical. Additional New York stage credits include Blown Sideways Through Life, Jeffrey (Lucille Lortel and Obie Awards), The Most Fabulous Story Ever Told, Valhalla (Lucille Lortel Award nomination), Regrets Only, Wonder of the World, Communicating Doors, Bunny Bunny, The Night Hank Williams Died and Fires in the Mirror (Lucille Lortel Award), among others. Mr. Ashley is the recipient of the Mr. Abbott Award, Princess Grace Award, Drama League Director Fellowship and an NEA/TCG Director Fellowship.

Jon Rua, Co-Choreographer

Jon is the choreographer of Dance Sequences for Floyd Collins and an Associate Choreographer for BOOP!; both musicals open on Broadway this Spring 2025. Other credits include: The Untitled Unauthorized Hunter S. Thompson Musical, PHISH’s  “Send in the Clones,” numbers for Broadway’s SpongeBob SquarePants, The Cher Show, SpongeBob Musical Live on Nick, Isn’t It Romantic, Macbeth and Rent (OSF), West Side Story (Milwaukee Rep), Godspell (PCLO), The Hombres (Two River), Jesus Christ Superstar and Aida (Muny), Coheed & Cambria (“Old Flames”), Lawrence (“More”) and the New York Lotto. As an actor, Jon is an original cast member of the award-winning musicals Hamilton, SpongeBob, Hands on a Hardbody and In the Heights. On the screen, he has appeared in Smile 2, Blacklist, Blue Bloods, Law & Order, Fall to Rise and First Reformed. As a writer, his new play First Gen is currently in development with La Jolla Playhouse, and his explorative short film Unknown was selected for the New York Latino Film Festival. All is done to honor each day I have on this earth, for my mother, family, and my Jana.   

Derek McLane, Scenic Designer

Broadway: Death Becomes Her, MJ: The Musical, Moulin Rouge!, Purlie Victorious, A Soldier’s Play, American Son, The Parisian Woman, The Price, Noises Off, Fully Committed, Beautiful, Gigi, Anything Goes, The Heiress, The Best Man, Follies, How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying, Bengal Tiger at the Baghdad Zoo, Million Dollar Quartet, Ragtime, 33 Variations, The Pajama Game, I Am My Own Wife. Off-Broadway: Here There Are Blueberries; Black No More; Merrily We Roll Along; The True; Jerry Springer the Opera; If I Forget; The Whirligig; Into the Woods; Love, Love, Love; Sweet Charity; Evening at the Talk House; Two Gentlemen of Verona; Buried Child; The Spoils; Sticks and Bones; The Last Five Years; A Lie of the Mind; Ruined; Hurlyburly. Television: He designed the 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017 and 2018 Academy Awards, 2024 SAG Awards, 2024 Met Gala as well as the NBC LIVE! Musicals The Wiz and Hairspray, and others. Awards: Winner of 1997 and 2004 OBIE Awards, 2004, 2005, 2007 Lortel Awards, 2009 and 2021 Tony^® Awards, 2011 and 2021 Drama Desk Awards, 2015, 2016 Art Directors Guild Awards, 2014 and 2017 Emmy^® Awards.

Toni-Leslie James, Costume Designer

La Jolla Playhouse: Redwood, The Untitled Unauthorized Hunter S. Thompson Musical, Come From Away, Glengarry Glen Ross, Milk Like Sugar. Broadway: Birthday Candles; Paradise Square; Thoughts of a Colored Man; Bernhardt/Hamlet; Come From Away; Jitney; Amazing Grace; Lucky Guy; The Scottsboro Boys; Finian’s Rainbow; Chita Rivera: The Dancer’s Life; Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom; King Hedley II; One Mo’ Time; The Wild Party; Marie Christine; Footloose; The Tempest; Twilight: Los Angeles, 1992; Angels in America; Chronicle of a Death Foretold; Jelly’s Last Jam and The Old Man and the Pool. Awards: four Tony^® Award nominations, Drama Desk Award, Lucille Lortel Award and two Hewes Design Awards.

Amanda Zieve, Lighting Designer

is thrilled to be back at La Jolla Playhouse after designing Velour: A Drag Spectacular, The Ballad of Johnny and June, The Untitled Unauthorized Hunter S. Thompson Musical and Put Your House in Order. Other recent designs include: The Who's Tommy (Broadway/Goodman); Cabaret (Goodspeed); Into the Woods, Billy Elliot, Titanic (Signature Theatre); Little Shop of Horrors (South Coast Rep); Deceived, I Hate Hamlet (Maltz Jupiter); Sweeney Todd, Roof of the World (KC Rep). Her Playhouse Associate credits include: Fly, Escape to Margaritaville, Hollywood, and Hunchback of Notre Dame. Other San Diego credits include: Ms. Holmes & Ms. Watson - Apt. 2B, English, Crime and Punishment - A Comedy, Dial M for Murder, Hair, Ebenezer Scrooge’s Big San Diego Christmas Show, Tiny Beautiful Things, Barefoot in the Park, Native Gardens, The Wanderers and Rich Girl (The Old Globe); Natasha, Pierre and the Great Comet of 1812, Evita, Cabaret, Rock of Ages (Cygnet). amandazieve.com

Jonathan Deans, Sound Designer

recently worked on Redwood, Buena Vista Social Club, The Lonely Few, Hippest Trip/The Soul Train Musical, Ain’t No Mo’ and productions worldwide, including sixteen productions with Cirque du Soleil. His ability to create immersive soundscapes focusing on the book and performance has earned him a reputation as one of the leading sound designers in the entertainment industry. He is known for his innovations and attention to detail, elevating the music and audience's experience. www.designingsound.com

Mike Tracey, Sound Designer

has had the pleasure of working on multiple theatrical shows, national tours, and special events. Select designs include: The Lonely Few, Dreamgirls (national tour), F#%king Up Everything, Newsies (regional), Jersey Boys (regional), West Side Story (regional), Spamalot (regional), Always Patsy Cline (regional) and Million Dollar Quartet (regional). Select associate designer work includes: Buena Vista Social Club, Some Like It Hot, Waitress, Jagged Little Pill (Australia and US Tour), Mean Girls, Springsteen on Broadway, Cabaret. Other select projects include Redwood, The Outsiders, Here Lies Love. mtsounddesign.com

David Bengali, Projection Designer

La Jolla Playhouse: Here There Are Blueberries, Bhangin' It.  Broadway: Water for Elephants (Tony and Outer Critics Circle Award noms.), Eureka Day, The Thanksgiving Play, 1776. Off-Broadway and Regional: We Live In Cairo (A.R.T., NYTW), Here There Are Blueberries (Tectonic Theatre Project; Hewes and Helen Hayes Awards), Twilight: Los Angeles 1992 (Signature, A.R.T.; Hewes Award, Drama Desk nom.), Without You (New World Stages), Monsoon Wedding (Saint Ann’s), The Visitor (The Public; Lortel Award nom.), Walk on Through (MCC); Circle Jerk (Fake Friends; Obie Award, Drama League nom.), Einstein's Dreams (59E59, Drama Desk nom), as well as designs at Geffen Playhouse, Yale Rep, Alliance Theatre, Dallas Theatre Center and others; National Tours: Peter Pan, 1776, Rockin’ Road to Dublin.

Hana S. Kim (she/her), Projection Designer

Broadway: The Outsiders (Tony^® Award), Redwood, The Old Man and the Pool, Summer 1976. Off-Broadway/New York: The Harder They Come (The Public Theater), The Visitor (The Public Theater, Lucile Lortel Award nomination), Eve's Song (The Public Theater), Everything Rises (BAM), Magdalene (Prototype Festival). New music/opera: L’Orfeo (Santa Fe Opera), Sweet Land (The Industry), The Anonymous Lover (LA Opera). Regional: Redwood, SUMO (La Jolla Playhouse), Ants (Geffen Playhouse), OSF, Magic Theatre, A.C.T., among others. Awards: Princess Grace Award, Sherwood Award from CTG, Helen Hayes Award, LA Drama Critics Circle Distinguished Achievement Award, among others. www.hananow.com

Matthew Armentrout, Wig & Hair Design

Broadway: Redwood, A Wonderful World, The Mother Play, Paradise Square (Drama Desk Award nominee), Birthday Candles, Flying Over Sunset, Bernhardt/Hamlet, The Sound Inside. Off-Broadway: The Gardens of Anuncia (LCT), Dear World (NYCC Encores!), Suffs (The Public), The Visitor (The Public), Merrily We Roll Along (Roundabout), Othello (NYSF). National Tour: Jitney. Regional: Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil (The Goodman Theatre), Gatsby (A.R.T.), A Transparent Musical (Center Theatre Group), Ava: The Secret Conversations (Geffen Playhouse), Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf (Yale Rep), Bliss! (The 5th Avenue). Television: The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel (Emmy^® Award nominee).

Wilkie Ferguson, Music Supervisor/Conductor

La Jolla Playhouse: Debut! Broadway: The Gershwins' Porgy and Bess, Motown the Musical, Wonderland. Tours: In the Heights, Hairspray, Dreamgirls. Off-Broadway/Regional: Fetch Clay, Make Man (Kirk Douglas Theatre); Cotton Club Parade (Encores). Musical Director credits include: Slow Burn Theatre (Carbonell Award nomination); Musical Theatre West; 5 Star Theatricals; Moonlight Amphitheatre; Boys’ Choir of Harlem. Composer/Orchestrator: Show Way (Kennedy Center); Parrotheads (Netflix Jimmy Buffett documentary); Take On Me (Prospect Theatre). Morehouse College; Eastman School of Music. Instagram, Facebook: @wilkieferguson, @takeonmemusical 

Victoria Theodore, Music Director

La Jolla Playhouse: Summer: The Donna Summer Musical. Broadway: Summer: The Donna Summer Musical, Freestyle Love Supreme. Composer: new musicals MARIAN and Co-Founders. Film: Tick, Tick...Boom!, CODA, 20 Feet from Stardom. TV: Arsenio Hall Show. Tours: Beyoncé Formation Tour, Stevie Wonder multiple tours, "Live At Last" DVD. Arrangements and Orchestrations for Beyoncé, Chloe x Halle, “America the Beautiful” (Super Bowl 2019), “National Anthem” (NFL 2020). Stanford & Oberlin graduate. Co-founder, EnSpirits band. Polyglot. victoriatheodore.com

Michael Thurber, Orchestrator

is a Drama Desk Award-nominated composer, lyricist and orchestrator. Thurber made his international debut with his score for Antony and Cleopatra, a co-production between the RSC and The Public Theater. His musical GODDESS will make its premiere this spring at The Public Theater in NYC. Thurber was the 2020 recipient of the Bryan Gallace Fellowship grant via SPACE@Ryder Farm. He was the bassist on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert. He has performed with Chris Thile, Willie Nelson, James Taylor, Mavis Staples, David Byrne, Lawrence, Louis Cato, and many more. He studied at Juilliard and the Interlochen Arts Academy.

Kevin S. McAllister (he/him), Associate Director

La Jolla Playhouse: Debut. Assistant Director: national tours of Come From Away. Assistant Director Fellow: Broadway company of Come From Away. Regional: Director: Come From Away (Theatre Aspen); The World Goes 'Round (Olney Theatre Center); Little Shop of Horrors (Ford's Theatre), Cinderella (ArtsCentric/Baltimore Center Stage). Director of Curated Programming and BIPOC Artist Advocate at Olney Theatre Center. Artistic Director and Co-Founder of ArtsCentric, a Baltimore-based performing arts organization. 10-time Helen Hayes Award nominee, two-time winner. Love to Cedric and Lola.  

Nasha Harris Santiago, Associate Choreographer

La Jolla Playhouse: Debut. Broadway: Hell’s Kitchen, A Wonderful World: The Louis Armstrong Musical. Regional: I, Too, Sing America (San Francisco Bay Area Theater Company). @nasha415

Ann C. James, Sensitivity Specialist

debuted as the first Black Intimacy Coordinator on Broadway for Pass Over. Recently, her company Intimacy Coordinators of Color was awarded a Special Citation from the OBIE Awards. Broadway: John Proctor Is the Villain, Sunset Boulevard, A Wonderful World, Eureka Day, Lempicka, The Outsiders, Hamilton, Parade, Sweeney Todd, Heart of Rock and Roll, Illinoise. Off-Broadway: Shit. Meet. Fan., The Hippest Trip, Sunset Baby, Jonah, White Girl in Danger, How to Defend Yourself, The Comeuppance, Evanston Salt Costs Climbing, My Broken Language, The Half-God of Rainfall, Here There Are Blueberries, Life and Trust, The Lonely Few. Tour: Hamilton USA, UK and AUS.

The Telsey Office, Rachel Hoffman, CSA, Casting

With offices in both New York and Los Angeles, The Telsey Office casts for theatre, film, television and commercials. The Telsey Office is dedicated to creating safe, equitable and anti-racist spaces through collaboration, artistry, heart, accountability and advocacy.

James Latus, Production Stage Manager

Broadway: The Collaboration, The Kite Runner, The Tony^® Award-winning revival of Oklahoma!, True West, Farinelli and the King, Time and the Conways, Indecent, August Wilson’s Jitney, All the Way, A Time to Kill, Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?, Clybourne Park, The Pee-Wee Herman Show, How the Grinch Stole Christmas, Elaine Stritch At Liberty, Stones in His Pockets, Bells Are Ringing, The Capeman. Off-Broadway: The Great American Trailer Park Musical, They Wrote That?, The Persians, productions at The Public Theatre, Playwrights Horizons, The Delacorte in Central Park, Theatre for a New Audience. Numerous regional productions including The Old Globe and Arena Stage. 

Monét Thibou, Assistant Stage Manager

La Jolla Playhouse: Debut. Broadway credits: Moulin Rouge!, Uncle Vanya, Jaja’s African Hair Braiding, Peter Pan Goes Wrong, Death of a Salesman, Mr. Saturday Night. Off-Broadway: In the Amazon Warehouse, Black Odyssey, Morning Sun, All the Natalie Portmans, The Wrong Man, Happy Talk, Clueless the Musical, The True. Regional: Oh Happy Day (Baltimore Center Stage). Education: B.A. from Sarah Lawrence College.

Alexa Burn (she/her), Assistant Stage Manager

La Jolla Playhouse: Your Local Theater Presents..., Derecho, Primary Trust. Select credits include Clyde’s (ASM) at the Denver Center, The Royale (SM) at American Players Theatre, Bald Sisters (SM) at San Jose Stage, Intimate Apparel (ASM), The Three Musketeers (ASM), Chicken and Biscuits (ASM), The Great Leap (ASM), Grand Horizons (ASM), Hood (ASM) at the Asolo Repertory Theatre, and The Code (SM) at American Conservatory Theatre SF. Alexa was also a stage manager at the Disneyland Resort for many years, working with the Disneyland Band, Dapper Dans, and many more.

Alina Novotny (she/her), Stage Management Resident

La Jolla Playhouse: Debut. Regional: Murder on the Orient Express (The Old Globe), Meet Us Quickly with Your Mercy (Flyaway Productions), If I Were You (Merola Opera). Education: M.F.A. from UC San Diego.