Cast Bios:

DIEGO (Jesus Peña) is excited for their first show at Coronado Playhouse! They’ve also appeared as Eddie and Dr. Scott in The Rocky Horror Picture Show (2021) at OB Playhouse and as Rusty in New Playwright’s Project’s Trash!: The Musical at the Sheryl and Harvey White Theatre (2019). Other appearances include ensemble roles in American Idiot (OB Playhouse) and In the Heights (2018). 

JAMIE FEINSTEIN (Virginia Drew) is excited to be in her first Coronado Playhouse production following her most recent role in Pirates of Penzance (Star Theatre). Jamie had previously returned to live theater playing a different Texan in Dashing Through the Snow (PowPAC) following a year filled with virtual productions ranging from contemporary plays to Shakespeare. Jamie is thankful to her friends and family for accepting her excuse of, “I can’t, I have rehearsal.” 

DAVID JANISCH (Don Curtis/Dr. Stokes) SPONSORED BY BILL & JENNIE CONNARD is making his debut at CPH. Credits: The Cocktail Hour (Bradley) Lamplighters Theatre, Rocky Horror Show (The Narrator) OB Playhouse, The Reindeer Monologues (Dasher) Pt. Loma Playhouse, (Warnock Waldgrave) The Nerd, Trinity Theatre. The Diary of Anne Frank (Mr. Van Daan) AM History Theater. Fuddy Meers (Millet) Trinity Theatre, Reefer Madness (The Lecturer) OB Playhouse. David is a National Interpreter for the Deaf. David thanks the crew, cast & Peter for their support. 

GABRIELA JENTZSCH (Kelli Mangrum, Dance Captain) is so thrilled to be back on the Coronado Playhouse stage after appearing as Nadia in Bare: A Pop Opera (2019). After her role as Norma in Carrie (2019) at OnStage Playhouse, she took a break from acting to learn about stage management, sound and lighting design, as well as costuming and direction. 

JAY KEENER-WELSCH (Mike Ferris) SPONSORED BY POSEIDON FITNESS CLOTHING is happy to be back on the Coronado Playhouse stage after appearing as Brother Boy in Sordid Lives in 2016 (Blue Ribbon Award). Other local appearances: Apostle/Priest in Jesus Christ Superstar (OB Playhouse). Elsewhere: Cain/Japeth in Children of Eden, Joseph in Joseph…Dreamcoat, Tommy in Brigadoon, and Scarecrow in Wizard of Oz. Many thanks to the entire creative team and his husband Jake for the unending support! 

CONNOR KINZER (Frank Nugent) is excited to be making his debut on the Coronado Playhouse stage! Connor moved to San Diego in August 2020 from Seattle, where he appeared in such shows as The Glass Menagerie, Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike, Crimes of the Heart, Romeo & Juliet, and In the Next Room (or the vibrator play).

CHERYL LIVINGSTON (Janis Curtis) SPONSORED BY BARRON HENZEL & THOMAS FITZPATRICK is thrilled to return to Coronado Playhouse (previous appearance: ensemble in Cinderella). Her other musical performances include Grease, South Pacific, and 110 in the Shade. Her favorite comedic and dramatic roles include Hallelujah Girls (Lamplighters Community Theater), The Elephant Man (OnStage Playhouse), Baby with the Bathwater (North Park Vaudeville), A Midsummer Night’s Dream (Point Loma Playhouse), and Blithe Spirit (Looking Glass Theater). Cheryl is a musician, composer, and writer. 

MARGARET (the Truck) SPONSORED BY THOMAS HAINE & PAT FITZMORRIS, OB eBIKES, BARRON HENZEL & THOMAS FITZPATRICK, KATY SKYRUD & HARRY A. GRANRUTH II is thrilled to be making her Coronado Playhouse debut in Hands on a Hardbody. You may have seen her in her last performance as the Truck in Lucky Penny’s production of Hands on a Hardbody. Named after the director’s beloved Texas Grandmother, Margaret’s entrance into the San Diego theatre scene was remarkable, as those who follow her on social media will testify. Although at a risk of being typecast, Margaret is eagerly looking to reprise this role at another theatre that would like to use her. Contact the box office. She comes without an engine and has very little baggage. 

EMERSON McMURTRY (Heather Stovall) (They/them): is so excited to be working in their first CPH production! They will be graduating from CSUSM next spring with a major in Music with a focus on vocal performance and opera as well as a minor in Literature. Past productions include Mrs. Lovett in Sweeney Todd (Patio Playhouse), Chris Hargensen in Carrie (OnStage Playhouse), and Beverly in The Mad Ones (Wildsong Productions). They would like to thank the cast, creative team, and crew for making this show possible. Yeehaw, y’all. 

CHRISTOPHER T. MILLER (J.D. Drew/Assistant Musical Director) is an award-winning actor/musical director/pianist/engineer, active throughout the San Diego theater community for his whole adult life. Previous work at Coronado Playhouse includes music-directing The Songs Of Burt Bacharach, Sky Masterson in Guys & Dolls, and Gomez in The Addams Family. Other piano highlights: 13 (Luminary Arts), Scrooge In Rouge (Ocean Beach Playhouse), The Great American Trailer Park Musical (Luminary Arts), and Heathers (Point Loma HS). Chris thanks his long-time friends and colleagues for involving him in this production, his parents for music lessons, and his wife Keri for putting up with all the practicing. Keep your hands on it! 

PATRICK O’CONNOR (Understudy for Don Curtis/Dr. Stokes/Assistant Director) is excited to join the team as Assistant Director. He has previously worked on productions with Patio Playhouse (The Third Wave and A Boy and A Girl) as well as Turning Tydes Productions. When not working hard behind the scenes Patrick has been seen performing roles such as The Bishop of Basingstoke (Wildsong Productions), Max in The Play That Goes Wrong (Star Theater Co.), Charlie Brown in YAGMCB at OB Playhouse, Nicely Nicely in Guys and Dolls (STC), Uncle Fester in The Addams Family (STC), Hagrid in Wicked Wizards (Turning Tydes), and more. He thanks everyone for all of their support. Enjoy the show! 

ERIC PETERSON (Chris Alvaro) is 37 years old. He has blue eyes, brown hair and ever weakening joints in his knees. Eric has been in multiple productions spanning over several years in San Diego. He lives under a roof with his loving girlfriend Jill and 2 stupid cats…which he also loves very much! If you’d like to know anything else you may ask him…he gives you permission. Enjoy the show:) 

FATIMA PIMIENTA (Cindy Barnes) is so excited to be making her Coronado Playhouse debut! She has been an actor, stage manager, and assistant director in the San Diego Theatre Community for a tad under a decade, and couldn’t be happier to keep being a part of it all. Favorite roles and productions include Mercutio in Romeo and Juliet, Ensemble for Almost Maine, and Fraulien Kost in Kabaret. She would like to thank all her friends and family for their mountains support. Couldn’t have done it without you 🙂 ENJOY THE SHOW! 

LEE PRICE (Benny Perkins) is thrilled to be back at Coronado Playhouse after a long time (last play he did here there was a pole in the middle of the stage). He is blessed to be working with this extremely talented cast and crew. He wants to thank Teri Brown for giving him the opportunity to play this incredible role. His recent productions include Lou in 1940’s Radio Hour, Alf in Peter and the Star Catcher, Detective Blore in And Then There Were None, and Bill in Making God Laugh. Some of Lee’s favorite roles were Tevye in Fiddler on the Roof, Daddy Warbucks in Annie and ensemble in Jesus Christ Superstar at Mount Helix (leper #2 and guard #3). In real life, Lee is an AP physics teacher and is excited to be a new grandpa. He has two married daughters and lives in Eastlake with his lovely wife Brook. 

VIVIAN V. SCHMITZ (Norma Valverde) has a passion for all music. Everything from classic rock to classical. She received her B.A in Music from The University of Central Florida. Has most recently portrayed Beatriz in Miss You Like Hell and Camila in In the Heights with Patio Playhouse. In concert, she has portrayed roles such as Lucy in Jeckyll & Hyde, Miss One in The Wiz, and Joanne in Rent. You can also see her perform frequently with Encore Vocal Ensemble. 

TREVOR STANDIFER (Ronald McCowan) is happy to be back on stage. This his first  performance since the start of COVID and his first time on the Coronado Playhouse stage. He last performed as Graffiti Pete in In The Heights at San Diego School of Creative Performing Arts. He has performed as Theo in School of Rock The Musical, Ichabod Crane in Sleepy Hollow A Musical Tale, Reggie in Akeelah and the Bee, and Newsies Jr with San Diego Junior Theater. He also sang in the choir for The Hunchback of Notre Dame and backup singer for Andra Day’s Rise Up here in San Diego.

KYLE WINNICK (Greg Wilhote) SPONSORED BY CHRIS POWELL is excited to return to Coronado Playhouse! Previous roles include Tall Brother (Drowsy Chaperone), Aggie (Best Little Whorehouse in Texas), and Jonathan Harker (Dracula). Other favorite roles include Josh (9-to-5 the Musical) at OnStage Playhouse, Chip Tolentino (…Spelling Bee) at Missouri Street Theatre, and Will Parker (Oklahoma!) at Runaway Stage Productions. You can also find Kyle performing with Encore Vocal Ensemble! Love to his husband Ben, and their dogs, Jimmy & Millie. 

Creative Team:

TERI BROWN (Director) SPONSORED BY DEBBIE & ARI DAVID This production marks Teri’s return to Coronado Playhouse as a director; she previously helmed Dogfight in 2019. Coming out of the pandemic, she directed The Last Five Years at Lamplighters Theatre. Teri served as the Artistic Director of OnStage Playhouse for over 15 years and appeared there as Frankie in Frankie & Johnny at the Clair de Lune, which garnered her a 2019 Craig Noel Award nomination for Outstanding Lead Performance. At OnStage Playhouse her directing credits include: Carrie the Musical, Xanadu, Buddy: The Buddy Holly Story (2017 SDACT Winner – Best Director of a Musical) and Spring Awakening (2018 SDACT Winner – Best Director of a Musical & Best Musical plus a 2017 Craig Noel Award Nomination for Outstanding Resident Musical). Next, she will be directing the West Coast premiere of The Revlon Girl for Lamplighters Theatre in January 2023. Many thanks to the hard working Hardbody cast, crew and production team. 

JERRICA IGNACIO (Musical Director) is so excited to be involved in this project! She is a pianist and music director with over a decade of local performance experience in the classical world and in the musical theater community. Her favorite Musical Director and Conductor credits include productions at Young Actors Theatre, Encore Theater, Carlsbad Community, Lamplighters, Coronado, Patio Playhouse, Moonlight Youth Theatre and Teatro San Diego. 

PATRICK MAYUYU (Choreographer) has a background in modern dance and pageantry arts. Select choreography credits: Rocky Horror Show, Spelling Bee, Spring Awakening (Aubrey Award – Outstanding Choreography, 2018), Xanadu, Carrie (OnStage Playhouse), A Man of No Importance, Dogfight (Coronado Playhouse), Revolt. She Said. Revolt Again (InnerMission), You’re a Good Man Charlie Brown (Trinity Theatre). As an actor, Patrick has performed on many stages, national television, and in film, including the acclaimed short “We All Die Alone,” produced by GrooveKo, currently touring the festival circuit. Thanks to Teri, cast and crew! FB, IG: @patrickmayuyu 

REBECCA LEIGH (Producer), a performer for almost 3 decades, is thrilled to be producer again for Teri after their teamwork on Buddy – The Buddy Holly Story at OnStage Playhouse. She’s worn many backstage hats, including dramaturg, wig mistress, & dance captain. Credits include: Choir, Hunchback of Notre Dame, LJP (World Premiere); Adult Woman, Spring Awakening; DeeDee, Suds; Silly Girl, Beauty & the Beast; Ginger, 1940’s Radio Hour; Fiametta, The Gondoliers. She’s been a dancing penguin at Sea World, a performer at LEGOLAND, & often spends winter as a Victorian Caroler. She sends all her love to her son & her wonderful support system. 

PATRICK O’CONNOR (Assistant Director/ Understudy for Don Curtis/Dr. Stokes) is excited to join the team as Assistant Director. He has previously worked on productions with Patio Playhouse (The Third Wave and A Boy and A Girl) as well as Turning Tydes Productions. When not working hard behind the scenes Patrick has been seen performing roles such as The Bishop of Basingstoke (Wildsong Productions), Max in The Play That Goes Wrong (Star Theater Co.), Charlie Brown in YAGMCB at OB Playhouse, Nicely Nicely in Guys and Dolls (STC), Uncle Fester in The Addams Family (STC), Hagrid in Wicked Wizards (Turning Tydes), and more. He thanks everyone for all of their support. Enjoy the show! 

DANI UCMAN (Stage Manager) is excited to be a part of this show. She has loved stage managing this show with this fantastic cast. She has also been a stage manager at Lamplighters Theater for Dial M for Murder and The Last 5 Years. Though she is the stage manager for this show, she also loves to be on stage. She was just in the production of Murder on The Orient Express at Coronado Playhouse. She was also Connie Miller in 1940s Radio Hour at Lamplighters Theater and Freida in Carrie the Musical at OnStage Playhouse. She wants to thank her friends, family, and boyfriend for their support. Also, she is super excited to work with this fantastic cast and crew. 

CHRISTOPHER T. MILLER (Assistant Musical Director/J.D. Drew) is an award-winning actor/musical director/pianist/engineer, active throughout the San Diego theater community for his whole adult life. Previous work at Coronado Playhouse includes music-directing The Songs Of Burt Bacharach, Sky Masterson in Guys & Dolls, and Gomez in The Addams Family. Other piano highlights: 13 (Luminary Arts), Scrooge In Rouge (Ocean Beach Playhouse), The Great American Trailer Park Musical (Luminary Arts), and Heathers (Point Loma HS). Chris thanks his long-time friends and colleagues for involving him in this production, his parents for music lessons, and his wife Keri for putting up with all the practicing. Keep your hands on it! 

BERTHA TSAI (Costume Designer) is pleased to be costuming her first production at Coronado Playhouse. She has costumed shows at OB Playhouse, San Diego Junior Theatre and Maarte Theatre Collective. She is grateful to be working with this wonderful creative team, cast and crew. 

CARLA NELL (Sound & Effects Designer) is an SDSU graduate with a BA in Theatre Arts as well as an MPA in Public Administration. She is the Artistic Director of InnerMission Productions (2016 San Diego Critics Circle, Don Braunagel winner Achievement in Small Theatre) and Co-Founder of the film production company, “GrooveKo”. Special thanks to Teri Brown! 

JARED JACOBS (Lighting Designer) is San Diego based, most recently designing Love Song (Scripps Ranch Theatre), Marry Me, Dennis Branigan (Tenth Avenue Arts Center), and The Rocky Horror Show (OB Playhouse & Theatre Company). Specializing in musical theater, plays, and other custom lighting projects, he originally began designing at a young age in Maine. Jared later joined the Marines where he was stationed in San Diego and began to work with many theaters in the community. When he isn’t working on lighting design he enjoys surfing, working in IT, and riding the trolley. www.jacobslighting.com 

JESAMYN GOLDING (Lighting Board Operator) While you usually will find Jesamyn on the stage, she is very excited to be lighting up the stage for Hands on a Hardbody! She enjoys being able to work on the other side of theater. Jesamyn has recently been the Stage Manager/ LLighting and Sound Technician for A Trip to Bountiful at Lamplighters Theater as well as the Assistant Stage Manager/Lighting Technician for The 1940’s Radio Hour at Lamplighters Theater. She is so excited to be working with Teri Brown and this amazing cast and crew. She hopes you enjoy the show! 

VANESSA PROVENCIO (Sound Board Operator) is very excited to return to Coronado Playhouse after her ensemble appearance in Dogfight
(2019). Most of her past credits include Stage Managing and Technical Operation, some notable productions being Frankie & Johnny in the Clair de Lune (2019), Bullshot Crummond (2019), Carrie the Musical (2019), and Going to a Place Where You Already Are (2020) all at OnStage Playhouse.