Cast/Team

Reanne Acasio (Lark) is an avid theatre artist with a B.S. in Psychology from the University of California San Diego. Reanne is the Arts Engagement Operations Coordinator of The Old Globe and Co-founder of MaArte Theatre Collective. As a local actor and artist having worked with San Diego Repertory Theatre, New Village Arts, and La Jolla Playhouse, her most recent credits include Jo March in Little Women with The Barn Stage Company and Alissa Miller in The Old Globe’s World Premiere of Looking for Christmas. She is passionate about diverse representation, mental health exploration and destigmatization, and social justice in theatre.

Aleta Barthell (Dramaturg, Producer) Aleta’s play, Night Witches: Flight into Fantasy, was a part of New Village Arts Theatre’s 2019 New Play Festival. She is currently developing a television series—Eleanor of Aquitaine. Her play, Window of Shame, was a finalist for the 2016 HUMANITAS/CTG Playwriting Prize. She is a teaching artist with Playwrights Project, drama teacher at St. Patrick Catholic School and founder of Kids Act at New Village Arts Theatre.

Anne S. Bautista, Esq. (Producer) is Legal Program Director for the Access, Inc. VAWA Legal Program and SAVE Legal Network of San Diego County. She is an immigration attorney representing immigrant victims of domestic violence and sexual assault under the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA). Ms. Bautista is also an Adjunct Professor at California Western School of Law, and current President of Silayan Filipina. She received her J.D. from California Western School of Law and her B.A. in English Literature from UC Berkeley. Ms. Bautista has received numerous awards for her work on behalf of immigrant and refugee victims of domestic violence and sexual assault, including the 2016 San Diego Domestic Violence Council Lifetime Achievement Award, 2017 Kalusugan and Kalakasan Community Heroes Award, and a 2018 Moxie Award.

KL Brisby (Producer) is Artistic Director of Asian Story Theater. He is a writer and producer with a broad background in adapting diverse narrative and performing arts traditions from around the world into new works, often featuring music. Mr. Brisby has had more than two dozen scripts produced, with multiple projects commissioned and in various stages of development. Various adaptations and comic sketches have received broadcast, cablecast, and/or Internet distribution. Next up with Asian Story Theater, What Are You? Running May 3-5, 2019 at the Lyceum Space Theatre in downtown San Diego

Beonica Bullard (Stage Manager) is a professional stage manager with a BFA in Theater from San Diego State University. She is a San Diego native and graduated from the San Diego School of Creative and Performing Arts. She received a Stage Management Fellowship at the San Diego Repertory Theatre (42^nd Season), working on shows such as Roz and Ray (dir. D. Turner) and Black Pearl Sings (dir. T. Jones II). She is currently the resident stage manager for JCompany Youth Theatre San Diego (dir. J. Landwehr). Beonica feels blessed to be a part of “The Fire in Me”.

Carole Lynn Castillo (Divina, Riza, Michelle Obama, Vangie, Voice A, Lalahon, Tracy, Host) A Seattle native and a proud veteran, Carole Lynn served in the U.S. Navy for seven years and has been deployed twice during Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom onboard the U.S.S. Peleliu. An alum of Cornish College of the Arts, located in Seattle, Carole Lynn studied acting, directing, and playwriting. She is writing her first play, Core Values, which focuses on the trials that minority women face while serving in the military. When Carole Lynn is not at work, playwriting, or theater-going, you can find her at the park playing Capoeira, an Afro-Brazilian martial art. She is also a HUGE Seahawks fan.

Thelma Virata de Castro
(Photo credit Jamie Clifford)

Thelma Virata de Castro (Playwright) is a Teaching Artist and Community Programs Coordinator for Playwrights Project, and the founder of San Diego Playwrights. She is a 2018 Creative Catalyst fellowship recipient from The San Diego Foundation in partnership with Asian Story Theater, as well as a Humanities For All Quick Grant recipient from California Humanities with Access, Inc. She thanks the interviewees, cast, crew, Asian Story Theater, Access Inc., The San Diego Foundation, California Humanities, Philippine Consulate, San Diego County, MaArte Theatre Collective, Asian Pacific Islander Community Actions, and Silayan Filipina for their support and collaboration. To the Survivors—Thank you for your honesty, strength and grace. You are not alone.

Lorena Dominguez (Associate Producer) A native San Diegan from South Bay, Lorena has been in the legal field for the past fifteen years. In addition to having worked for de Castro, P.C. the last ten years, she also works for the Philippine Consulate of San Diego, serving as the administrator of the office and as an accredited Philippine notary. Lorena loves spending time with her husband and her three young children. She is very active in her children’s school affairs, serving as a Parent Ambassador and Room Parent for St. Charles Catholic School and as a past member of the PTA. During her free time, she enjoys family movie nights at home.

Kalí Kamaria (Production Assistant, Photographer) is a visual and performing artist who has appeared in more than a dozen plays, including featured roles in FA MU LAN, KAHUA, and RAM-GIRL presented by Asian Story Theater and MOXIE Theatre here in her native hometown of San Diego. As a dancer she has trained for close to two decades in Polynesian and Balinese dance, plus Cambodian, Philippine, and Neo-Burlesque. Kalí has a degree in painting and drawing from the California College of the Arts in San Francisco, and previously studied with Olya Losina. Her art explores themes of intersectionality and journalistic storytelling, except when it does not.

Danita Lee

Danita Lee (Costume Designer) is thrilled to be part of this production! Some favorite and notable projects: The Madres and brownsville song (b-side for Tray) (MOXIE), Bad Jews (Cygnet), Soul Fire (Playwrights Project), The Full Monty (SDSU). ACD credits include: Guys & Dolls and The Imaginary Invalid (Old Globe Theatre), Constellations (Hangar Theatre), The Rocky Horror Show (Cygnet), Chagall (La Jolla Playhouse/Malashock Dance), The Underpants (North Coast Rep). She holds undergraduate degrees from UCSD and an MFA in Costume Design from SDSU. Thanks to the incredible team of The Fire in Me, Michael J., the Lee family, and SW! danitalee.com

Gingerlily Lowe (Mom, Evalina, Voice C) was recently featured in “There and Back Again” at the San Diego International Fringe Festival, Halo-Halo, and Stories of the Sun Cafe with Asian Story Theater. Other local appearances include the San Diego Zoo, at the Old Globe Theatre with Playwright’s Project, Magic Machine, Marquis Public Theater, and many others. She has toured with National Theatre for Children, and appeared at Wolf Trap National Park for the Performing Arts in Virginia. Gingerlily is one of the founding producers of the Asian Story Theater, where she also serves as Education Director. Gingerlily is thrilled to be part of this production.

Patrick Mayuyu (Dad, Choir Member, Voice B, Principal Amann, Father Mark) is a native San Diegan actor who is honored to be involved in “The Fire In Me”. Recent stage credits: Joseph in The Hour of Great Mercy (Diversionary), Frank in Melancholy Play (InnerMission), Dr. Parker in Bat Boy (OB Playhouse), Warren in Ordinary Days (InnerMission), Juan in Altar Boyz (Coronado Playhouse). Elsewhere: San Diego REP, ion theatre, SD Asian American Repertory and OnStage Playhouse. A singer and choreographer, Patrick is also a proud company member of InnerMission Productions, as well as one of the founding members of MaArte Theatre Collective.

Patricia Moran Collins (Props Designer) Local directing credits: Final Draft New Play Festival (New Village Arts), Big Night of Little Plays (Moxie Theatre & SDSU), Breaking Waves (San Diego Fringe Festival), Caregivers Anonymous (Playwrights Project). Other credits include: Chicago premiere of A Loss of Roses & Jeff nominated Wrong Turn at Lungfish (Fourth Wall Productions). Stage manager for Deathtrap (Oceanside Theatre Company), properties designer for Legally Blonde & Miss Bennet: Christmas at Pemberley (New Village Arts) and dramaturge for The Curious Case of the Watson Intelligence (Moxie Theatre). B.A. in Voice/Drama from St. Mary-of-the-Woods College and M.A. in Theatre from the University of Illinois at Chicago. Patricia trained at The Second City under the expert guidance of Stephen Colbert & Avery Schreiber. She also taught Speech/Theatre at Concordia University.

Christine Cervas Nathanson (Director, Sound Designer, Graphic Designer, Social Media Consultant), founding co-Artistic Director of MaArte Theatre Collective and Business Manager at MOXIE Theatre, graduated with a B.A. in Theatre Arts from Westmont College where she commissioned and directed the premiere of Tar and Feather by Kristin Idaszak (Santa Barbara Indy Award). Select directing credits include: Colored, Inay’s Wedding Dress, High Stakes, (MaArte Theatre Collective); Skin and Bone, an excerpt of Hamlet (self-produced); Spin Class, Maybe But Probably Not, The Bechdel Tent, Des Étoiles, Unwinnable Draw (Westmont). Assistant Directing credits include: Voyeurs de Venus, The Revolutionists (MOXIE); Vietgone (San Diego REP); and The Last Wife (Cygnet).

Claudette Santiago (Chris, Mari, Jinky, Voice D, Voice of Kate) is an actor born and raised in San Diego, CA, performing in projects for the San Diego International Fringe Festival, Coronado Playhouse, La Jolla Playhouse, Asian Story Theater, and others. She was last seen in Trash! The Musical for Playwrights Project’s Plays by Young Writers Festival, and in Revolt. She Said. Revolt Again. for InnerMission Productions. She holds a B.A. in Theater Arts from UC Santa Cruz, is a graduate of the Meisner/Chekhov Integrated Training Studio in Normal Heights, and is a co-founder and producer for MaArte Theatre Collective, a group dedicated to Filipino-American storytelling.

Marjon Saulon

Marjon Saulon (Production Assistant) is a senior at San Diego State University finishing his bachelor’s degree in international relations. He currently enjoys serving the Filipino community through his work as a staff member at the Philippine Consulate of San Diego. Beyond his current goal in pursuing a legal education, he also writes about local and domestic issues concerning the community for the Asian Journal. During his free time, Marjon enjoys reading books while staying active in city politics and university affairs.

The Fire in Me

Cast

Creative and Technical Team

Bios

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