Cast Bios:

GINA BARBA (Thalia) is delighted to be making her Coronado Playhouse debut. She is an actor, choreographer, and teaching artist who is elated to be returning to the stage after focusing on youth theater education since college. Her credits include: Godspell, The Boys Next Door, The Artificial Woman and a stage adaptation of the YouTube series The Most Popular Girls in School. She would like to thank her parents, Dave and Alisa, for their unwavering love and her siblings for being her biggest cheerleaders. 

HUNTER BROWN (Sonny) is a San Diego based performer, fight choreographer, and teaching artist. Past credits: Underground (Jimmy), Singin’ in the Rain (Ensemble), and Assassins (Balladeer). Hunter would like to thank you for supporting live theatre. Thank you. 

ROBERTO CASTILLO JR. (Terpiscore/Hermes) is excited to return to Coronado Playhouse for this production of Xanadu. Past CPH credits include Perch Perkins in The Spongebob Musical and Adult Ensemble in Matilda the Musical. He would like to thank his friends for their unending support, his dog Chucho for being his ray of sunshine, and the audience for their continued support for community theater.

ROXY CAMARGO (Euterpe) is a San Diego City College graduate, an actress, and works as an usher for San Diego Theatres. Favorite credits include Just Like Us (Clara), Electricidad (La Carmen), Real Women Have Curves (Pancha), Heathers (Goth Chick), and The Rocky Horror Show (Usherette/Colombia u/s). 

OLIVER CARO-WILLCOX (Danny) is happy to be returning to the CPH stage. Oliver’s CPH credits include The Sponge BobMusical (Plankton *Aubrey Award Winner), Seussical (General Schmitz), A Chorus Line (Bobby *Aubrey Award Nominee). Other credits include Avenue Q (Rod, Bad Idea Bear) and Grease (Eugene *Aubrey Award Winner).

MARCY LEDVINKA (Melpomene) is thrilled to be returning to Coronado Playhouse for the second time and is ecstatic to be working alongside such a talented cast and creative team! She made her Coronado Playhouse debut in Two Gentlemen Rock Verona. Her past credits include Singin’ in The Rain (New Village Arts), Finding Avi (La Jolla Playhouse WOW Fest), and Nice Work If You Can Get It (Wilkes University). Marcy is a Baltimore, MD native and received a BFA in Musical Theatre from Wilkes University. She sends her love to Chris Rose for being the most influential theatre educator in her life. She would also like to thank her mom, Zac, and her cats for their support and encouragement over the years. For Rob & Mosby.

GABY MENDOZA (Muse Swing/Dance Captain) is excited to return to the Coronado Playhouse stage for Xanadu. Previous appearances include Hot Box Girl in Guys andDolls (Coronado Playhouse) and ensemble roles in The Spongebob Musical (Coronado Playhouse), In the Heights (2016), Thoroughly Modern Millie (2015) and Legally Blonde (2014) with UCLA’s HOOLIGAN Theatre Company.

ASTRID PETT (Calliope) is beyond excited to be a part of Xanadu in her first production with Coronado Playhouse! Previous credits include: Bullshot Crummond (Rosemary), The Mystery of Edwin Drood (Florence Gill), OnStage Playhouse; 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee (Olive) Puffs (Hannah & others), Disenchanted (The Little Mermaid), Peter & the Starcatcher (Black Stache), The Spongebob Musical (Plankton), YAT; 9 to 5 the Musical (Kathy/Ens) Patio Playhouse.

HAYDEN ST. CLAIR (Clio/Kira) is grateful to be skating back onstage at Coronado Playhouse for Xanadu! They were previously seen at CPH in Company (Jenny). Hayden received their BA in Theatre from Concordia University Irvine; credits include Into The Woods (Jack’s Mother), Bright Star (Stanford), Xanadu (Urainia), and A Midsummer Night’s Dream (Tom Snout/Wall). They would like to thank the wonderful cast, crew, and creative team for all their efforts putting on this inspiring production. And thank you for supporting theatre!

KAITLYN SUMMERS (Erato, Kira/Melpomene/Calliope swing) is very excited to be working at Coronado Playhouse in this insanely fun production! Past credits include: Swing Puffs (Fenix); Sarah Jane Moore Assassins, Ms. Fleming/Veronica Cover Heathers, Waitress/Sherrie Cover Rock of Ages (WildSong); Stacy Malt Shop Memories (Vista’s Broadway Theatre); Magenta/Usherette The Rocky Horror Show, Lesli American Idiot, Ensemble Hair, Girl Bear Avenue Q, Sally’s Baby Reefer Madness, Little Becky Urinetown (OB Playhouse); Marta Spring Awakening, Helena Landless Edwin Drood (OnStage Playhouse); Jenny Big Fish, Bebe A Chorus Line (Coronado Playhouse); Stephanie Nine (Lamplighters); Alice The Deadly Singer Mystery (Playroom NYC); Hello Dolly (Saddleback CLO). Lots of love and thanks to her amazing family and friends for all their support! Proud alumnae of the UC, Irvine: Claire Trevor School of the Arts! You can follow her adventures on Instagram @kaitlyn_sum

Production Bios:

MARC CARO-WILLCOX (Director/Choreographer) is a native San Diegan and multi-hyphenate artist. Directing credits: The Spongebob Musical, Vanities (CPH), Cinderella (SDJT), Tuck Everlasting (YAT). Choreographic credits: She Loves Me (SRT), Mamma Mia, The SpongeBob Musical (CPH), Welcome to Sleepy Hollow (OTC) The Lightening Thief, Newsies, Seussical, TuckEverlasting (SDJT), Reefer Madness (OB Playhouse), RENT (HCHS). Marc currently serves as Board Director at Coronado Playhouse, a teaching artist at SDJT, as well as choreographer for the award-winning show choir program at Helix Charter High School.

NINA GILBERT (Music Director)’s background ranges from Kenya (Peace Corps), where she directed her students in You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown and translated Schubert’s Mass in G into Swahili; to Carnegie Hall (Associate Conductor, NY Choral Society). In San Diego since 2016, Nina has music-directed Avenue Q and Singin’ in the Rain (New Village Arts), Cinderella (Center Stage Productions), The Fantasticks (Point Loma), Always… Patsy Cline (D&P, Point Loma), and Dogfight, Matilda, SpongeBob, Ain’t Misbehavin’, and Nunsense (CPH). Nina has offered NPR music commentaries and lectured on the history and science of chocolate. She serves as music director for the Congregational Church of La Jolla.

SHAWN FOOTE (Stage Manager) is a San Diego based theatre artist, most often working as a teaching artist and director. It’s been a euphoric experience working with the cast and crew of Xanadu. Shawn would like to thank all her friends that keep the strange magic alive in her life!

ELIZA VEDAR (Sound Designer) (She/They) is a sound designer, composer, music director, and pianist based in Southern California. Their work has been featured in theatrical productions at La Jolla Playhouse, TuYo Theatre, Diversionary Theatre, Moxie Theatre, Cygnet Theatre, New Village Arts, Common Ground Theatre and various educational institutions including: San Diego State University, CSU San Marcos, and University of San Diego. She was Artist in Residence at CSU San Marcos Theatre Arts for the 2021-2022 academic year. Eliza holds a Bachelor’s degree in Music Performance: Piano from San Diego State University. https://www.elizavedar.com/

JARED JACOBS (Lighting Designer) most recently designed Big Fish (Coronado Playhouse), Hands on a Hardbody (Coronado Playhouse), and Love Song (Scripps Ranch Theatre). 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 from 2017-2023. The day Xanadu opened he moved to Washington State to live with his partner, Josh.

LISA SAMSON (Costumer) A graduate of UC Santa Barbara, Lisa is returning for her 7th show at Coronado Playhouse. Recent shows include Ripcord and Clue, at Coronado Playhouse and Grace for President at San Diego Junior Theatre. A former JT student, recovering theatre mom, and avid quilter, Lisa returned to costuming in 2018 and has accumulated an excessive collection of fabric over the last five years.