Cast Bios:

BELLA BENHAM (Ensemble/US Mrs. Tottendale) is thrilled to be making her Coronado Playhouse debut in The Drowsy Chaperone! Favorite credits include A Chorus Line (Maggie & Val u/s), Shrek the Musical (Gingy), The Wedding Singer (Julia Sullivan), Sweeney Todd (Johanna), Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown (Candela), Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, Grease (Jan), and West Side Story. She holds a BFA in Theatre with honors from NYU Tisch, where she trained at the Lee Strasberg Theatre & Film Institute. Bella would like to thank her husband along with her family and friends for their support!

HUNTER BROWN (Robert Martin/US Man in Chair) is a San Diego based performer, director, and fight choreographer. In these terrifying times please choose love, support your fellow humans, and stand against facism and tyranny.

MANNY CARDEIRO (Gangster 2/US Mr. Feldzieg) IS BACK, AGAIN, LIKE AGAIN AGAIN!!! The only actor in Coronado’s historic theatrical history to be in three straight Coronado Plays! Pippin, Barefoot in the Park, and now his newest spring blockbuster, the one that all families will be canceling their vacation plans to go and see – The Drowsy Chaperone. Get that sweet tooth ready folks, cause you’re in for a real treat. This man can’t take three steps anywhere in Coronado without being stopped. This man is hotter than a San Diego winter, and the playhouse is beyond grateful to have this future movie star grace the stage with a presence and prowess the likes of which may never be seen again.

ROBERTO CASTILLO JR (Mr. Feldzieg/US Underling) is thrilled to be back at Coronado Playhouse after appearing as King Charlemagne in last winter’s production of Pippin. Other CPH appearances include Daryl Grady in Curtains, Adolfo Pirelli in Sweeney Todd, and Terpsichore in Xanadu. He would like to thank the audience for supporting community theater and his orthopedic inserts for supporting his flat feet.

GABI CHEN (Ensemble/US Janet) is so excited to return to the Coronado Playhouse stage! Previous credits include: Pippin (Coronado Playhouse), When My Body Talks (Diversionary Theatre/LJP WOW ’25), Tinkerbell, Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus (Trinity Theatre Company), Stay with Me (Hollywood Fringe ’24) Cancelina, Orlando, A Flea in Her Rear, The Rocky Horror Show, Big Fish, Exotic Deadly: or the MSG Play (UCSD).

DARYL DALEY (Ensemble/US Kitty) is happy to be back on the Coronado Playhouse stage appearing for a second stint in Drowsy! She was seen most recently in The Mountain Song (2025) and Tuck Everlasting (2024). This marks Daryl’s 20th production at CPH; favorite appearances include Mary Sunshine in Chicago (2013), Beauty in Sleeping Beauty or the Famous Rose Taboo (2014), Turtle in A Year with Frog and Toad (2015), Girl Bear in Avenue Q (2015) and ensemble roles in The Drowsy Chaperone (2011) and Spamalot (2014).

BRIAN P. EVANS ( Man in the Chair) was last seen at the Coronado Playhouse in A Chorus Line playing Greg. Other roles at Coronado include Sherlock Holmes in Sherlock Holmes’ Excellent Adventure (Coronado Blue Ribbon for Best Actor), Patrick O’Reilly in The Musical Comedy Murders of 1940, and Miss Texas in Pageant. He recently directed and starred in the US Premiere of John Godber’s Teechers and runs the Theatre Database for San Diego (tdb4sd.com).

JONATHAN GEEN (Underling): Jonathan is delighted to make his Playhouse debut and return to the stage after a hiatus. His professional credits include Off-Broadway with the Light Opera of Manhattan, as T. Tennyson Twinkle in Fashion, and Sidney in the Princess Pat with NYC’s Bel Canto Opera. In Chicago he appeared in 8 shows with Music Theater Works and with Bailiwick Repertory. Special thanks and love to Dave and the “village” for their unwavering support.

KAIJA GERMAIN (Kitty) is excited to be back on the Coronado Playhouse stage after appearing in Singing in the Rain: In Concert many seasons ago. Some other credits include Beauty and the Beast (Star Theatre), Alice in Wonderland (Pickwick Players), Welcome to Our Street (SeaWorld San Diego, A Christmas Carol (Heritage Players), and R is for Rescue (SeaWorld San Diego). Enjoy the show!

MATT IGNACIO (Aldolpho) is thrilled to make his Coronado Playhouse debut! Most recently seen onstage in Plaid Tidings (SDMT), Matt’s also a local MD of over 10+ years! Along with theatre, Matt musically directs the Tremble Clefs, a singing therapy program for people living with Parkinson’s, as well as choirs at La Costa Glen and St. John of the Cross. Many thanks to the amazing creatives, cast, and crew here at CPH! mattignacio.com

COLBY KOO (Gangster 1/Robert u/s) is elated to be making his Coronado Playhouse debut. Colby is a summa cum laude graduate of UCSD, where he majored in theater. His other various appearances include: Gone Missing (UCSD), Little Women (Theater for Young Professionals), and She Speaks: A Musical Revue (Grossmont College). He would like to thank his family, his voice teacher, Sarah, and forever and always his mentor, Aysan Celik.

GEORGIA LADD (The Drowsy Chaperone) is delighted to return to the Coronado Playhouse stage. Previous credits include Underground (Coronado Playhouse), You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown (OB Playhouse), and The Mystery of Edwin Drood (OnStage Playhouse). She would continue listing credits but at this moment, she’s feeling terribly, terribly drowsy, and has to have a lie-de-down.

JESSICA LEWIS (George/Dance Captain) is an actor and dancer, and a San Diego local. She is happy to be back and is excited to perform in her second show at the Coronado Playhouse! Recent credits include Head Over Heels (Ensemble/Mopsa Understudy), Something Rotten! (Ensemble), Cabaret (Texas/Gorilla), and The Prom (Ensemble/Dance Captain). She would like to thank her parents for their continued support.

GIANNA MERGHART (Ensemble/US Drowsy) (she/her/hers) is thrilled to be on stage and joining the Coronado Playhouse team for the first time! She graduated last year from SDSU with a degree in musical theatre and child development. Previous credits include Evil Dead (Linda), I Could Use a Drink (Lucy), Ordinary Days (Claire u/s), and Mamma Mia (Sophie). Many thanks to the creative team for this opportunity and to the cast and crew for sharing their talents! @thegiannashow

KAY-MARIE MORENO (Mrs. Tottendale) is thrilled to be back on stage with the Coronado Playhouse. Previous productions include Tuck Everlasting (2024), Sweeney Todd (2024), and two seasons of the Christmas Cabaret (2024–2025). She is grateful for every opportunity to perform and especially thankful for the unwavering encouragement of her family, whose support inspires her to keep doing what she loves—stepping onto the stage and sharing the joy of theatre.

SOPHIA PEREZ (Onstage Swing/US Trix the Aviatrix) is thrilled to be making her Coronado Playhouse debut as a swing in The Drowsy Chaperone. Elsewhere: Sondheim Tonight (San Diego Symphony), The Magic Hummingbird (Opera Tijuana), and the premiere stage reading of Ziggy Stardust & Me (SDSU).

XÓCHITL Q. RAMOS (Onstage Swing/US Aldolpho, Gangsters) is a trans playwright, actress and songwriter from Tijuana. Her work has been produced at Southwestern College, Diversionary Theater and Centro Cultural la Raza and she has performed on stages such as: Auditorio Nacional (Mexico) Carnegie Hall (N.Y.C), Centro Cultural El Mejunje de Silverio (Cuba) and multiple locations in Colombia.

YARROW SEVERN (Ensemble/US George) is thrilled to be returning to The Playhouse after last season’s Pippin. She was previously seen in Tuck Everlasting. Her favorite past roles include Grace Farrell in Annie (Vanguard Theater) and ensemble in Cabaret and Guys and Dolls (Half Moon Bay’s Coastal Rep). She would like to thank Aurora and Gwenyvere for inspiring her every day and laughing at her jokes.

KAITLYN SUMMERS (Janet Van de Graaff) is excited to be back at CPH once again! Credits include: Catherine in Pippin, Nan Exit, Pursued by a Bear, Curtains, Sweeney Todd, Erato Xanadu, Nine, Jenny Big Fish, Bebe A Chorus Line (CPH); Malt Shop Memories (Vista’s Broadway Theatre); Magenta/Usherette Rocky Horror, Sarah Assassins, American Idiot, Urinetown, (OB Playhouse); Marta Spring Awakening (OnStage Playhouse). Lots of love and thanks to her family and friends for their support! Choose love, choose community, and choose joy!

ERIN VANDERHYDE GROSS (Trix the Aviatrix) is excited to be back on the Coronado Playhouse stage after performing in the stage reading of Violet nearly 9 years ago. Recent productions: Sophia/Church Lady in Color Purple (NVA) and Maid by the Fire in Jesus Christ Superstar (Moonlight Amphitheatre). Recent musical direction: Seussical (YAT), Dare to Dream (El Capitan) and Title of Show (NVA). Erin loves her husband Chris and two boys August and Osborne.

Production Bios:

SARAH JANE SALONGA (Director) is thrilled to be making her directing debut at CPH! She is a multihyphenate theatre artist and educator dedicated to cultivating the next generation of performers. She holds an MFA in Musical Theatre from SDSU (Outstanding Graduate Award) and is working towards her diploma with Theatrical Intimacy Education. Her interdisciplinary background includes a BA Education, BSc Biochemistry, Registered Dental Hygienist and currently serves as Adjunct Faculty at SD College of Continuing Education. Directing credits include Where the Mountain Meets the Moon (SDJT), Disney’s Moana Jr. (JCompany), Joseph…Dreamcoat (MYT), and Chasing Fear (Blindspot Collective). Favorite acting credits include The Mountain Song (CPH), The 25th…Spelling Bee (SDSU & OTC), and High Fidelity (Canadian Premiere). Sarah is grateful to her Drowsy dream team and sends love to her family and friends for their continued support! sarahjanesalonga.com

MORGAN HOLLINGSWORTH (Music Director) Morgan is a local composer and actor/musician. Musicals: The House of Edgar Allan Poe (NYMF, Weber State University), More Than All the Sky (The Green Room 42, Eugene O’Neill semi-finalist), Call Your Mother (readings at New Musicals Inc, The Chance Theater, and CCAE Theatricals). TV/Film: Fracture (20th Century Fox/Hulu), Let There Be Light (Seattle Film Fest). Other Projects: Washed Ashore (Walk With Amal/Blindspot Collective), Salty Water (La Jolla Playhouse’s 2023 WOW Festival). Morgan also served on the music teams for La Jolla Playhouse’s Redwood as well as The Old Globe’s Huzzah! and Ride. @morganhollingsworth

ALA TIATIA-GARAUD (Choreographer) is honored to create for CPH! Choreographer credits include: Tarzan (Moonlight), Joseph… (MYT), Moana Jr. (Rubicon, JCompany, MYT), Shrek Jr. (CCT) and The Little Mermaid (CSUF, Assistant). Past dance instructor for Mission Vista HS and Maraya Performing Arts. When he’s not imagining movement for musicals, Ala can be found teaching ballroom dance in OC, where he resides with his husband Dimitri and kitten Milo (mee-loh). Immense gratitude to his family in Carlsbad, and Sarah for the opportunity. Don’t get too “drowsy”—enjoy the show!

CASSANDRA SHELLUM (Stage Manager) is so excited to be back at Coronado Playhouse for her ninth production. Her favorite stage management credits include Murder on the Orient Express (CPH), Copenhagen (Lamplighters), Curtains (CPH), and Tinkerbell (Trinity Theatre). Cassandra recently became the Volunteer Coordinator at Coronado Playhouse and is always looking to connect with new volunteers. She would like to thank her friends and family for their support as well as the entire company for their dedication. Enjoy the show!

ASTRID PETT (Assistant Stage Manager) is thrilled to be back working at Coronado Playhouse! She started stage managing in 2017 at Young Actors Theatre, and has been parkouring both sides of the production table ever since. Previous Stage Management credits include Pippin, Curtains (CPH), Seussical the Musical, Mean Girls, Little Shop of Horrors, Bring it On, Tuck Everlasting, Nunsense, 13 The Musical, The Lion King JR, High School Musical, The Jungle Book JR. (YAT).

LISA SAMSON (Costumer) A graduate of UC Santa Barbara, Lisa has been working and volunteering in costuming since 2008. Recent shows include The Mountain Song and As You Like it, at Coronado Playhouse and Grace for President at San Diego Junior Theatre. A former JT student, recovering theatre mom, and avid quilter, Lisa has accumulated an excessive collection of fabric over the last 8 years and is always looking for creative and fun ways to use it.

COLE ATENCIO (Sound Design) is thrilled to be back for The Drowsy Chaperone! Previous CPH design credits include Nine, Tuck Everlasting, Xanadu and Underground. Favorite mixing credits: Company (CPH), Sweeney Todd, Hello, Dolly!, Matilda, How to Succeed… (SDMT). As a member of the board of directors, he is excited to continue to share the joys of live theatre to audiences far and wide. You may find Cole playing bass in music venues around San Diego county in @touchfaded. @musicole19

MASHUN TUCKER JR. (Lighting Designer) is an artist based in San Diego. He has worked with multiple companies in the area including New Village Arts, Lamplighters, The Old Globe, and Trinity Theatre Company where he is the resident lighting designer. Most recent CPH credits include The Mountain Song, and Curtains. He strives to bring the best possible look with his well rounded experience to quality entertainment.

ROBIN WHEELER (Sound Mixer) is delighted to be working on The Drowsy Chaperone! Robin has been mixing sound at CPH since fall 2023, mixing shows such as Xanadu, Sweeney Todd, and Head Over Heels. Robin studied sound at San Diego Junior Theatre, mixing 18 shows as a student and is now one of their resident Sound Designers. He recently has designed Annie, Frozen Jr., The Prom: School Edition, and many more. Robin would like to thank you for supporting community theatre!