Melina: The Steampunk Musical Tragedy
2020 Workshop Cast
MEET THE CAST
MEET THE CAST
Alyssa Yates (MARA) - In her time playing the beautiful Mara, her cast mates have deemed her "The O type of voices" and the "Lebron James of demo recordings." Alyssa has performed in many productions throughout her life, but her personal favorite credits include: Jekyll and Hyde (Emma), Parade (Lucille Frank), and The Wizard of Oz (Dorothy). Alyssa is also a K-3 children's theatre director and loves every second of it! Additionally, Alyssa works as a writer for the theatre website StageAgent.com! Alyssa is excited for everyone to take this journey alongside her and the rest of her wonderful cast!
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Dion Spires (JACOB) - Melina is the second time that Dion has had the privilege to perform in a Gretchen Suárez-Peña piece, previously portraying Jackson in Trafficked at Lakeland Live. You may also recognize him from a number of productions on the Lakeland Community Theatre stage or one of his favorite roles as Mark Cohen in RENT at Florida Southern College. Dion is grateful to Gretchen for giving him opportunities to bring her unique and exciting stories to life on the stage. He also thanks his incredible wife Morgan for always being supportive of his theatre endeavors and being his #1 fan.
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Ashley O' Connor (MELINA) - Ashley is a graduate of Southeastern University, and holds a bachelors degree in Vocal Performance. Past productions include, Shrek (Fiona), Young Frankenstein (Inga), Aida (Amneris), Little Shop of Horrors (Audrey), Cabaret (Kit Kat Girl), Cinderella (Portia), Sweeney Todd (Lucy/Beggar Woman), A Christmas Story (Mother), and Jane Eyre: The Musical (Jane Eyre). Ashley has a passion for teaching and for the special needs community and is a special education teacher at Doris Sanders Learning Center. Ashley would like to give a huge thank you to the good Lord above for such a fun opportunity to do what she loves and have a blast! She would also like to thank her awesome husband, Bryan, and her family for their support.
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Jacob Reilly (NARRATOR) - Originally from Plant City, FL, Jacob received his BA in Theater from Florida Southern College in 2005 and worked for theaters in multiple states before moving to New York as an actor in 2007, where he was seen pretty much all over the place. At some point during that period, he found the time to earn an MFA in Visual Narrative from the School of Visual Arts in NYC. Jacob moved back to Florida in 2017 to pursue a career in “not starving to death."
Destiny Velez (AIMEE) - Destiny has been involved in theatre for 6 years now and loves to immerse herself in the craft. She has been involved in many shows throughout high school such as You’re A Good Man Charlie Brown, Tarzan, and Grease. Destiny was also Martha in Gretchen Suarez-Peña’s musical Martha and Mary. Destiny has since graduated and is looking to study musical theatre in college.
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Eric Sanchez (JEREMIAH) - Eric has been doing shows since Middle School. Acting has always been a creative outlet for him as well as singing. Melina will be the second show he's done by Gretchen. Being a part of these shows has allowed him to continue to do what he loves outside of school. He is honored to be able to bring such an amazing and exciting show to life. He would just like to thank everyone who has provided even the smallest support for this show.
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Julie Newton (YOUNG MELINA) - Julie is currently a student at Florida Southern College and an aspiring actress and playwright. She has been performing onstage for many years and some of her previous roles include Seussical the Musical (Jojo), Locked in (Young Grace), Into the Woods (Lucinda), Among Friends and Clutter (Ensemble), Theory of Relativity (Catherine), You’re a Good Man Charlie Brown (Snoopy) and in the award winning play Conversations in the Car (Kimberly/Iris). She would like to thank her Mom and her sister Jaynie for supporting her and Gretchen for this great opportunity and for being such a great mentor.
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Chad Sell (DARIAN) - Chad is an elementary music teacher at Kathleen Elementary School in Lakeland, Florida. He is a graduate of Southeastern University and holds two bachelor degrees in Music Education and Cello Performance. Favorite show credits include: The Sound of Music, Music Man, and The Drowsy Chaperone. In addition to acting, he enjoys social outings with friends, performing cello, novel writing, and video editing. He was recently awarded Teacher of the Year for 2019-2020 as a second year teacher.
Lisa Negrón (MOTHER) - Lisa has been an actor, singer, and voiceover artist in the Central Florida area for over 20 years! She’s been seen on stage and touring with The Atlantic Coast Theatre for Youth, Seaside Music Theatre, The Mark Two Dinner Theatre, Harry’s Place Dinner Theatre, The Jobsite Theatre, Spanish Lyric Theatre, The Collective Soles Arts Group, and Powerstories Theatre. Lisa’s also performed at various Florida theme parks and resorts including Legoland, Sea World, Busch Gardens, the Nickelodeon Resort, the Florida Aquarium, and Cypress Gardens. Lisa currently lends her voice(s) as an Audiobook Narrator and Producer.
Omar Negrón (FATHER) - Omar has performed with Spanish Lyric Theatre in their productions of Four Guys Named Jose (as “Jose Domincano”), Breaking Up Is Hard To Do (as “Gabe”), and Eat, Pray, Love: A Cabaret (as a featured soloist). He also took on the role of “Ed Carmichael” in The Collective Soles Arts Group’s production of You Can’t Take It With You. Omar is also an accomplished singer-songwriter and performs with his wife, Lisa, at various venues around Central Florida. As well as being a local actor, singer, and show-photographer on the side, Omar is a Graphic Artist, having worked with Busch Gardens Tampa for 11 years and currently working at Legoland Florida.
Alexys Morrera (ENSEMBLE) - Alexys is an avid singer and performer. Her past credits include: Conversations in Bed, In the Heights, You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown as Lucy, Fame as Mabel, Meet me in St. Louis as Agnes, and Tarzan as the mother and as part of the ensemble. She is a part of the George Jenkins chorus and vocal ensemble “Golden Harmony.” Thank you to her cast members, her parents, Gretchen, Mrs. Snow, and everyone in the audience.
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Logan Harris (ENSEMBLE) - Logan is delighted to perform with such a wonderful, talented group of people! Logan has had the privilege to work with Gretchen on various projects since his sophomore year and is proud to call her his theatrical mentor. Past credits include: Into the Woods (Jack), Theory of Relativity (Paul), Among Friends and Clutter (Ichabod), Conversations in the Car (Connor/Isaac), and Martha and Mary (Judas). He is currently studying ministry and education at Southeastern University. Thanks to friends and family for their love and support in spite of his craziness.
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MEET THE CREW/CREATORS
PLAYWRIGHT & DIRECTOR - Gretchen Suarez-Pena is a long-time playwright and lover of the theatre. Her most recent success was winning the writer's grant and best play in the Table Read Category at the Inaugural Be Original Festival 2019 in Orlando, Florida for her play Trafficked. Other successes include best full-length play at the 2018 Tampa Bay Theatre Festival for her show Conversations in the Car and first prize for her piece Dry Spell at the 30 by Ninety Theatre in Mandeville, Louisiana in their Night of One Acts Competition in 2018. She also had success with her production and direction of Conversations in Bed, which premiered to a sold-out audience at the 2017 Tampa Bay Theatre Festival. Other shows include: C'est La Vie, Martha and Mary, and When the Bell Rings. www.gretchensuarezpena.com
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MUSIC ORCHESTRATION & DIRECTION - Tyler Anderson is currently a junior at Florida Southern College, and he is working towards his Bachelor of Fine Arts in Music Education. Tyler was in the choir ensemble for the Imperial Symphony Orchestra’s production of The Magic Flute, he was cast as Frank during FSC’s production of Soirée at Prince Orlofsky’s, and he performed at various concerts with FSC’s Concert Choir and Chamber Singers. Tyler is involved with several clubs and organizations at FSC. He is the music director for The Mocappellas, and he is a member of Kappa Delta Pi, Phi Eta Sigma, and the National Association for Music Education.
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MUSICAL ORCHESTRATION & PRODUCTION - Jonathan Gautier is a graduate of the University of Central Florida (Bachelor in Digital Media and a Masters in Music Technology). He was fortunate to intern for Walt Disney Entertainment and is a former elementary school music teacher. He is an expert pianist and skilled composer. He is the proud owner and operator of Sound House Studio in Lakeland Florida specializing in commercial recording for musicians, artists, and corporate audio. www.soundhousestudios.net
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Tony Murvin (ASSISTANT DIRECTOR) - Tony is a local actor/director/writer and is currently working at LEGOLAND Florida Resort where he is the Resort Performer Area Lead. Past credits include: Dreamgirls, Fences, One Man, Two Guvnors, Sister Act: The Musical, The Boys Next Door, Hamlet, Much Ado About Nothing, Twelfth Night, Othello, A Midsummer Night's Dream, The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe, The Prince and the Pauper, A Raisin in the Sun, Conversations in Bed at the 2017 Tampa Bay Theatre Festival, Conversations in the Car at the 2018 Tampa Bay Theatre Festival, and Law and Order: SVU. Thank you once again to Gretchen for this opportunity.
Edel Nazario (STAGE MANAGER) - Edel is excited to be part of the Melina cast. Past theatre work includes Trafficked, Theory of Relativity, and Into the Woods. He is an aspiring stage manager. He is grateful for the opportunities to work in theatre and can’t wait to see what other adventures come his way.
Glori Snow (COSTUMES) - Glori is a long time theatre and choral teacher, performer and costumer. She's helped direct and produce hundreds of shows over the course of her teaching tenure. She's excited to bring the costumes of Melina to life.
Alicia Boyte Allen (Choreography) - Alicia is long time dancer and choreographer. She is a dance instructor at Ultimate Dance Center in Lakeland Florida. Past Choreography credits include Tarzan and In the Heights.
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