Creative Team
Production Team
Eli Simon

Beth Lopes

Miriam Mendoza

Greg Ungar

Solinus & Dr. Pinch / The Comedy of Errrorrs &
Gower, Cerimon, 1st Fisherman & Second Pirate / Pericles
Greg is an Associate Artistic Director of New Swan Shakespeare Festival and an actor, director and educator. For the Festival, Greg has gratefully played Shylock (Merchant of Venice), Antonio (Two Gents) Prospero (Tempest), Baptista (Taming), Polonius (Hamlet), Adam/Corin (As You Like It), Dogberry (Much Ado), Macduff (Macbeth), Friar Laurence (Romeo and Juliet), and Sir Andrew Aguecheek (12th Night). Other roles include Owen (The Foreigner) and Reed (Electric Baby), Vladimir (Waiting for Godot), Serge (Art), John (Oleanna), Matt (Tally’s Folly), Gratiano (Merchant of Venice), Touchstone (As You Like It), and Cornwall (King Lear). Greg’s directing credits include I and You, Bad Jews, The Seagull, Not I, Rockaby, Circle Mirror Transformation, Proposal and Stinky Cheese Man. Greg has an MFA and PhD from the University of California, Irvine, and is an Associate Professor of Theatre at the University of Denver.
Jesús López Vargas

Jesús López Vargas (Production Stage Manager, Pericles) (he/they) is a producer, writer, director & manager for the performing and visual arts. They graduated with a MFA in Stage Management from UCI in 2021. While at UCI Jesús was honored as a Chancellor’s Club Fellow, as a Public Impact Fellow, an Inclusive Excellence Ambassador Fellow, and has received multiple other awards, fellowships and scholarships that supported their research in the development of new stories and formats that heighten the representation of native voices from Latin America. For the past 7 years, he has led MOON Collective & KB Theatre Company, producing culture-conscious works that challenge the public while providing training opportunities in safe spaces for young BIPOC practitioners of the performing arts. Since 2020, Jesús has also worked with Bryan Reynolds & Transversal Theatre Company as an Associate Creative Producer – with Transversal Jesús has co-produced works in Southern California, Egypt & Poland. Jesús has worked closely with Eli Simon & the New Swan Shakespeare Festival as a manager and media coordinator since 2019. Most recently, Jesús has worked as a production stage manager for Lake Dillon Theater in Colorado and Chesapeake Shakespeare Company in Maryland. To see more of their work, one can visit jelopez-stage.com
Sean Spann

Egeon & Dr. Paunch / The Comedy of Errrorrs &
Antiochus, Simonides & 2nd Gentleman / Pericles
This is Sean’s 6th season with New Swan. Past roles include Oberon and Theseus in separate productions of “A Midsummer Night’s Dream”, Polixines in “The Winter’s Tale”, and Antonio in “The Merchant of Venice”. FILM/TV work includes roles in The Little Things, The People vs O.J. Simpson, Shameless, American Woman, Jane the Virgin, and The Mentalist. Other LA Theatre credits include “Bad Apples” with Circle X Theatre, “Secret in the Wings” with Coeurage Enseeble, and “Turn of the Screw” with The Harold Clurman Lab Theatre. Sean is the Head of Voice/Speech at Art of Acting Studio, and teaches Movement and Voice at Identity School of Acting, Los Angeles. A St. Louis native, Sean holds a BFA in Acting from the University of Evansville and an MFA in Acting from UCI.
Randolph Thompson

Pericles / Pericles
Randolph Thompson is an actor, voice artist, improvisor, and teacher. Favorite productions in Los Angeles include: “Ready, Steady, Yeti…Go” (Rogue Machine), “Trevor” (Circle X), “1984” (Greenway Court), “Secret in the Wings” (Coeurage Theatre Company), “The Hamlet Project” (Loose Canon), “Henry V” (PRT). New York productions include: “Dancing vs.The Rat Experiment” (LaMama), “Roberto Zucco” (Ohio Theater), “Love’s Labour’s Lost” (Baryshnikov Arts Center), “Twelfth Night” (The Wild Project). “Regional: Or What You Will” (Oregon Shakespeare Festival Green Show), “The Winter’s Tale” (San Antonio Shakespeare), “Schriebstück” (U.S. & Canadian Premieres). TV roles include: Frankenstein’s Monster’s Monster, Criminal Minds, Rosewood, Serious Music.
Abel Garcia

Dromio of Ephesus / The Comedy of Errrorrs &
Cleon & Knight 4 / Pericles
Abel Garcia was born & raised in El Paso TX, where he received his B.F.A in Theatre Performance from The University of Texas at El Paso. He moved to California in 2016 and recently earned his M.F.A in Acting from The University of California, Irvine. He is thrilled to be back at New Swan working with an amazing group of artists. Recent credits include Launcelot Gobbo in “The Merchant of Venice” and Various Roles in “The Two Gentlemen of Verona” (NSSF, 2019), The Creature in “Reading Frankenstein” (CounterBalance Theatre UCI, 2019), Pale in “Burn This” (UCI, 2021), Stanley in “Keeping Distance” (UT at El Paso, 2021), Klembolo/Giant in “Modjeska” (CounterBalance Theatre UCI, 2021) and Peter Shaw in “Silent Sky” (Greenbrier Valley Theatre, West Virginia, 2022). Website: abeltgarcia1993.wixsite.com/my-site
Robert Zelaya

Antipholus of Ephesus / The Comedy of Errrorrs &
Pandar, 2nd Fisherman, Sailor & Tyre Lord / Pericles
Robert Zelaya is currently an MFA Acting student at U.C.I. Prior to the program, he was an NYC-based actor and originally a Miami, FL native. Previous credits include: Once On This Island Broadway (1st National, Daniel u/s), Kinky Boots Broadway (1st National, Lola u/s), Resident Theatre Company (Evita, Che, Barrymore Nominated), New York Musical Theatre Festival, Connecticut Rep Theatre (RENT), Palace Theatre (Xanadu), Theatreworks USA, Norwegian Cruise Lines, and Celebrity Cruise Lines. AEA.
Mary Hill

Angela / The Comedy of Errrorrs &
Diana, Philemon, Philoten & Knight 3 / Pericles
Mary Hill is a 2nd year Graduate actor at the University of California Irvine”. Since Mary’s first stage debut in 2016, she has been so inspired to get involved in many different forms of art inclusive to community based theater, playwriting, directing, solo art, movement/ dance and even Dj-ing music! During the end of her undergraduate studies at Cal Polytechnic University, Pomona Mary received nomination and recognition as one of the Irene Ryan Region Finalists (Kennedy Center American College Theater Festival Region VIII 2018) for her role as Esther in “Intimate apparel” by Lynn Nottage. Mary graduated from Cal Polytechnic University, Pomona with her B.A in Theater: Education and Community in 2018. Outside of school, Mary dedicated her time to the Walt Disney Company as a Southern Californian Disney store Ambassador, a youth education facilitator with Disney’s Youth education series program, and a guest talent coordinator with the Disney Performing Arts Program.
Kayla Quiroz

Luciana / The Comedy of Errrorrs &
Thailand, Bawd & Lychorida / Pericles
Kayla Quiroz is a third-year undergraduate earning a B.F.A. in Music Theater and minoring in Innovation and Entrepreneurship at University of California, Irvine. She fell in love with performing when she was six-years-old and has never stopped since. Some of her favorite theatrical experiences include winning Show Choir Nationals four years in a row with her Alma Mater: Los Alamitos High School. Kayla has performed all over the United States – spanning from New York, Florida, Tennessee, Illinois, and others. One of her greatest achievements is singing at Grand Ole Opry. Some of her favorite roles that she has had the opportunity to play are: Gabriella in High School Musical, Baker’s Wife in Into the Woods, and Hermia in A Midsummer Night’s Dream. This is Kayla’s debut with the New Swan Shakespeare Festival, and is excited to share the magic of Shakespeare with you.
Meg Evans

Emilia & Luce / The Comedy of Errrorrs &
Dionyza, Antiochus’ Daughter & Knight 2 / Pericles
Meg Evans couldn’t be happier to return to New Swan Shakespeare for her 4th season and one we’ve all been waiting for! Previous New Swan credits include Launce in “Two Gentlemen of Verona”, Nerissa in “Merchant of Venice”, Titania in “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” and Camillo in “The Winter’s Tale”. Meg holds an MFA in Acting from the University of California, Irvine, Bachelor of Arts from Brandeis University and an MPhil. in Theatre and Performance from Trinity College Dublin. Other credits include “Macbeth” (Lady Macbeth), “Love’s Labour’s Lost” (Rosaline, Dull), “Tape”, and “The Survival Project”. Meg teaches Voice, Speech and Movement around Orange County and Los Angeles.
Sittichai Chaiyahat

Officer & Balthazar / The Comedy of Errrorrs &
Helicanus & 1st Pirate / Pericles
Sittichai Chaiyahat is ecstatic to make his debut at New Swan Shakespeare Festival for their Tenth Anniversary Season. He received his Associates in Theater Arts from Mira Costa College and is currently an MFA in Acting candidate at UC Irvine. Favorite credits include The Pirate King in “The Pirates of Penzance”, Seymour Krelborn in “The Little Shop of Horrors”, Joe Pendelton in “Heaven Can Wait”, and Henry the 5th in “Henry V”. He would like to thank his girlfriend, friends, and family for their love and support. Enjoy the show!
Jackson Dean

2nd Merchant & Ensemble / The Comedy of Errrorrs &
Leonine, 3rd Fisherman & 1st Gentleman / Pericles
Jackson Dean was born and raised in Palm Springs, CA, Jax found their love for theatre and performing quite early in life. As love turned to passion, and as passion turned to skill, Jax has been found studying and improving their craft all over, whether in London at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art, or in New York, studying at NYU Tisch. Jax is currently attending the University of California, Irvine, where they will obtain a bachelor’s degree in Drama. Jax has a love and appreciation of all things Shakespeare, and hopes to one day be a part of the Royal Shakespeare Company, either as a company member, or overseeing as Artistic Director. Although Jax’s first love will always be stage acting, they also find creative fulfillment in directing and choreographing. This is Jax’s first New Swan festival, and they are thrilled to be a part of its 10th Anniversary Season!
Annelise Hermsen

Courtesan & 1st Merchant / The Comedy of Errrorrs &
Marina / Pericles
Annelise Hermsen is completing her fourth and final year of undergraduate study at UCI. A member of the Campuswide Honors Collegium, she will graduate next spring with her B.A. in Drama and Business Economics. After graduation, she plans to further her studies and pursue an M.B.A. with concentration on financial advising and environmental sustainability. Her most recent role was Ophelia in “Hamlet” as a part of the UCI discovery series, which marked her first in-person, Shakespeare production. There is no greater joy than to be back on stage, especially in the round.
Evan Lugo

Antipholus of Syracuse / The Comedy of Errrorrs &
Escanes, Lysimachus & Servant 1 / Pericles
Evan Lugo is a recent graduate from the MFA Acting program here at UCI. After New Swan, Evan plans on pursuing work in television and film in Los Angeles.
Previous Credits: Konstantin in The Seagull at UCI & George Gibbs in Our Town at SCR
Hope Andrejack

Adriana / The Comedy of Errrorrs &
Thaisa / Pericles
Hope Andrejack is a recent graduate from UCI’s MFA program. She is thrilled to be back performing with New Swan Shakespeare Festival. This is her second season with the festival, her past roles include Portia in Merchant of Venice, and Lucetta/Outlaw in Two Gentlemen of Verona. Since graduating, Hope has signed with agencies in LA and San Francisco; with both she is pursuing jobs in television/film as well as commercial work. Hope wants to thank all of her friends, boyfriend Evan, & her mom and dad for their support and encouragement. Hooray for live theatre! We’re back!
Giovanni Munguia

Dromio of Syracuse / The Comedy of Errrorrs &
Boult, Lord 1, Knight 1 & Gentleman / Pericles
Giovanni Munguia is happy to be finally back to Swan this Summer. He currently graduated from UC Irvine with a Master’s in Acting. His previous credits include places like South Coast Repertory, Wyoming Theatre Festival, and the New York Musical Festival. He wants to thank friends, family, and girlfriend for their support! Enjoy the show!
Jennifer Clark (Costume Designer - Pericles)
Jennifer Clark (Costume Designer – Pericles) is honored to be debuting at New Swan Shakespeare Festival as the costume designer for Pericles. Some of her recent work includes; The Amish Project at Playmakers Repertory; As You Like It, Untitled Russian Project, and Jump at Chautauqua Theater Company; Shrek: The Musical at Carousel Theater Company and Little Shop of Horrors, Titanic: The Musical, and Our American Cousin at KP&R Theater. Jennifer was a finalist in both the 2019 & 2021 National Her Universe Fashion Design Competition. She also dipped her toes in the film and television industry designing the film Blocked, working on the HBO hit Insecure, and is currently the assistant costume designer of the upcoming docudrama Why the Nativity. But some of Jennifer’s favorite work remains designing Halloween costumes with her kids, and they have already started for next year. See more at jenniferclarkdesign.com
Efren Delgadillo Jr. (Scenic Designer)
Efren Delgadillo Jr. (Scenic Designer) • New York: The Three Musketeers (The Acting Company); Mycenaean (BAM,Brooklyn Academy of Music). • Notable Regional theatre productions include American Mariachi (South Coast Rep.),(Arizona Theatre Company) Romeo and Juliet (Oregon Shakespeare Company); BLKS (Woolly Mammoth); Bordertown Now (Pasadena Playhouse); Smart People and Indecent (Denver Center for the Performing Arts); Othello (Hartford Stage); Mojada: A Medea in Los Angeles (The Getty Villa/Boston Court); Prometheus Bound (The Getty Villa/Center for New Performance). MFA: California Institute of the Arts. BFA in Studio Arts from University of California, Irvine. Efren is an Assistant Professor of Scenic Design at UC Irvine. Website: http://www.efrendelgadillojr.com/
Michael K. Hooker (Composer - The Comedy of Errrorrs)
Michael K. Hooker (Composer – The Comedy of Errrorrs) is thrilled to return to NSSF having previously composed for Merchant of Venice as well as other shows directed by Eli Simon. On Broadway he designed Looped as well as the national tour. Regional sound design/composing credits include Oregon Shakespeare Festival, South Coast Rep, Arena Stage, Rep. Theatre of St. Louis, Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park, Pasadena Playhouse and the Kirk Douglas Theatre. He spent six years as Senior Media Designer for Walt Disney Imagineering, where he produced sound and music for Disney theme parks worldwide including a recent show for Shanghai Disneyland. Currently, he serves as UCI Drama Dept. faculty and head of the Sound Design MFA program.
Website: https://sound.arts.uci.edu
Cybelle Kaehler (Assistant Director - The Comedy of Errrorrs)
Cybelle Kaehler (Assistant Director – The Comedy of Errrorrs) recently graduated from UC Irvine with degrees in Drama and Film and Media Studies, with a minor in digital filmmaking. She has directed several plays and short films and is excited to be working on her first New Swan season. She loves directing, filmmaking, singing, writing, acting, and everything in between! In her free time she enjoys hiking, podcasting, radio DJing, songwriting, dancing, and playing Dungeons and Dragons.
Website: cybellekaehler.wordpress.com
Instagram: @cybellerose
Eli Simon (Director, The Comedy of Errrorrs)
Eli Simon (Director, The Comedy of Errrorrs) is the Artistic Director of New Swan Shakespeare Festival, a professional summer theater that performs on the campus of UC Irvine, with the support of the Drama Department, Office of Research, Claire Trevor School of the Arts and the entire campus community. A Chancellor’s Professor of Acting in Drama, this marks Eli’s 34th year at UCI. Eli is the author of three books: The Art of Clowning, Masking Unmasked, and Power Speech. He specializes in Shakespearean productions, clowning, and original masked performances. Eli has directed over one hundred productions at Shakespearean festivals, regional theaters, and international theaters across the states and overseas. Critically acclaimed productions include his original clown saga – War of the Clowns and Clown Aliens – produced at the National Theater of Romania in Cluj. Eli’s original clown troupe, CLOWNZILLA, received rave reviews (Critic’s Choice, LA Times) in California and toured Northern Italy and Korea. His original commedia pieces enjoyed successful tours to international festivals in England, Spain, and Italy. Simon has also written and directed multi-cultural and multilingual plays including Birds in DMZ, which combined American, Korean, and European performers, using traditional Korean music, devised masks and costumes, Bong-San dancing, commedia, and opera. For New Swan Shakespeare Festival, Eli directed The Merchant of Venice, King Lear, Twelfth Night, Macbeth, As You Like It, The Tempest, A Midsummer Night’s Dream and A Midsummer Night’s Zoom. This past summer, Eli produced All the World’s a Stage featuring actors from around the world performing Shakespeare in the language of their choice.
Beth Lopes (Director, Pericles)
Beth Lopes (Director, Pericles) is a freelance theater director, educator, and an Associate Artistic Director of New Swan Shakespeare Festival. Deeply committed to telling stories for the present moment, Beth is intent on fostering original work and making classics relevant for new generations. Recent directing credits include Our Town at South Coast Repertory, House of Desires at Pomona College, She Kills Monsters: Virtual Realms at UC Irvine, and Romeo and Juliet: Hard Way Home, a hybrid of Shakespeare’s play and the music of Brandi Carlile, with CalRep. Past shows at New Swan include Two Gentlemen of Verona, Winter’s Tale, Taming of the Shrew, Hamlet, Much Ado About Nothing, Midsummer Night’s Dream, and Comedy of Errors. Beth received a BFA from NYU, a MFA from UCI, and is a proud member of SDC. For more information visit her website at www.bethlopes.com.
Kathryn Wilson (Costume Designer - The Comedy of Errrorrs)
Kathryn Wilson (Costume Designer – The Comedy of Errrorrs) is full time Faculty at Cal State University of Fullerton (CSUF) and works as a freelance costume designer in Orange County. She has designed for dance, opera, theater and photography across the nation and internationally. She has been a resident designer for The New Swan Shakespeare Festival since 2012. Her recent works include projects for Pacific Symphony’s (Otello), New Swan Shakespeare Festival (Comedy of Errors), South Coast Repertory (Our Town), Chapman University dance, drama and opera departments, UC Irvine dance and opera department, The Chance Theater (The Other Place). Wilson teaches Costume Design, Costume Crafts and Theatrical Makeup at CSUF. In addition to design, she works as an accomplished dye/painter and crafts artist for the performing arts.
Karyn D. Lawrence (Lighting Designer)
Karyn D. Lawrence (Lighting Designer) is an award-winning lighting designer based in Los Angeles. She is thrilled to be returning to her alma mater for her seventh season as the resident lighting designer for The New Swan Shakespeare Festival! Selected regional/local theater credits include South Coast Repertory, La Mirada Theatre, Center Theatre Group, East West Players, Boston Court Pasadena, Antaeus Theatre Company, Ebony Repertory Theatre, International City Theatre, Arizona Broadway Theatre, A Noise Within, The Chance Theater & Rogue Artists Ensemble. In addition to theater, she is Radiance Lightworks’ lead lighting designer for Universal Studios’ Halloween Horror Nights. She currently teaches lighting design at Loyola Marymount University. Her work has also been seen in Italy, Poland, the Czech Republic, and Romania.
Website: www.kdlightingdesign.com
Nita Mendoza (Associate Lighting Designer)
Nita Mendoza (Associate Lighting Designer) (she/her) is a Chicana lighting designer based out of Los Angeles, originally from El Paso, TX. She received her MFA from the University of California, Irvine in Drama with a concentration in Lighting Design.
UCI design credits include: The Effect, Mother of God, and The Survival Project. Other design credits include: Guadalupe in the Guest Room (Colorado Springs Fine Arts Center), American Mariachi (TheatreSquared), Tomas & the Library Lady (Lake Dillon Theatre Company), and Robin Hood & Maid Marian (Laguna Playhouse). Nita is also currently the lighting supervisor for And So We Walked with Octopus Theatricals. Enjoy the show! Mucho amor!
Meghan Roche (Sound Designer)
Meghan Roche (Sound Designer) is a west coast-based theatre sound designer. Her theatre design work has been heard on stages at a variety of theatres in California (UC Irvine, South Coast Rep Conservatory) & Washington State (Seattle Public, Intiman, Theatre Schmeater, Seattle Shakespeare/Wooden O, upstart crow collective, ACT/ACTLab, Taproot Theatre Company, Sandbox Radio, Book-It Repertory Theatre, West of Lenin, Town Hall Seattle, and others). She is a member of TSDCA and USITT, as well as a permit worker for IATSE Local 15. Meghan holds a BA in Theatre with Honors from Seattle University at the time of this writing is a third-year MFA candidate in Sound Design at UC Irvine.
Pam Marsden (Properties Master)
Pam Marsden (Properties Master) Pamela has been involved in Orange County theater since the early 2000s beginning with Saddleback Civic Light Opera. As Properties Supervisor at the University of California, Irvine for the past 9 years. Over her time at UCI, she has been able to provide support for many local theater arts projects including the Pacific Symphony, Concordia University, and USC. Her work outside of the university includes Chapman University, Laguna Playhouse, and No Square Theater.
Leah Jackson (Assistant Director - Pericles)
Leah Jackson (Assistant Director – Pericles) is an actor, playwright, and director, as well as a recent graduate of the University of California, Irvine’s drama undergraduate program. Most recently, she directed Hamlet as part of UCI Drama’s Discovery Series. Having a decade-long love for Shakespeare, she is very excited to work with New Swan this summer and tell the mesmerizing tale of Pericles. Leah sends her thanks to her mom, her wonderful directing mentor Beth, as well as the entire New Swan team! Website: leahmjackson.com
Ian Munro (Dramaturg, The Comedy of Errors)
Ian Munro (Dramaturg, The Comedy of Errors) is an Associate Professor of Drama at UC Irvine, specializing in Shakespeare and Renaissance Theater. His first book examined the staging of urban crowds in early modern London; his current book project explores theatrical wit in the plays of Shakespeare. He has been a part of the New Swan Shakespeare Festival since its inception, dramaturging The Merchant of Venice (2012), Twelfth Night (2014), As You Like It (2016), A Midsummer Night’s Dream (2018), and The Two Gentlemen of Verona (2019).
Julia Lupton (Dramaturg, Pericles)
Julia Lupton (Dramaturg, Pericles) is professor of English and co-director of the New Swan Shakespeare Center at UCI. She is the author or co-author of five books on Shakespeare and has written on Pericles, Prince of Tyre. She is a former Trustee of the Shakespeare Association of America and a former Guggenheim Fellow. An award-winning teacher, she leads community seminars and reading groups during the summer and throughout the year.
Michael Polak (Fight Choreographer)
Michael Polak has been choreographing for NSSF since 2013. He has choreographed stage violence for La Mirada Theatre, North Coast Repertory Theatre, 3D-Theatricals, CSUF, Concordia University, UNLV, CSUB, and others as well. As an actor he has worked in New York Off-Broadway at the Mint Theatre and taught at the Shakespeare Lab at the Public Theatre. Regional Credits include: Pioneer Theatre Company, Chicago Shakespeare, A.C.T., Philadelphia Theatre Company, The Shakespeare Theatre, Playmaker’s Rep, Ensemble Theatre Company, and Hartford Stage to name a few. His film and television credits include : BEL-AIR, 86 MELROSE AVENUE, THE CHRONICLES OF JESSICA WU, THE 5TH QUARTER, YOUNG AND THE RESTLESS, ALL MY CHILDREN, GUIDING LIGHT, and most recently MID-CENTURY. He received his M.F.A. from Penn State University and B.A. from California State University, Fullerton. www.michaelpolakactorfd.com
Jesús López Vargas (Production Stage Manager, Pericles)
Jesús López Vargas (Production Stage Manager, Pericles) (he/they) is a producer, writer, director & manager for the performing and visual arts. They graduated with a MFA in Stage Management from UCI in 2021. While at UCI Jesús was honored as a Chancellor’s Club Fellow, as a Public Impact Fellow, an Inclusive Excellence Ambassador Fellow, and has received multiple other awards, fellowships and scholarships that supported their research in the development of new stories and formats that heighten the representation of native voices from Latin America. For the past 7 years, he has led MOON Collective & KB Theatre Company, producing culture-conscious works that challenge the public while providing training opportunities in safe spaces for young BIPOC practitioners of the performing arts. Since 2020, Jesús has also worked with Bryan Reynolds & Transversal Theatre Company as an Associate Creative Producer – with Transversal Jesús has co-produced works in Southern California, Egypt & Poland. Jesús has worked closely with Eli Simon & the New Swan Shakespeare Festival as a manager and media coordinator since 2019. Most recently, Jesús has worked as a production stage manager for Lake Dillon Theater in Colorado and Chesapeake Shakespeare Company in Maryland. To see more of their work, one can visit jelopez-stage.com
John Pinero (Production Stage Manager, The Comedy of Errrorrs)
John Pinero (Production Stage Manager, The Comedy of Errrorrs) is excited to join the New Swan family as the Production Stage Manager for Comedy of Errrorrs! He currently is a student at UCI earning his MFA in Stage Management. Some of his recent projects include Into the Woods, Rebecca Oaxaca (Lays Down a Bunt), and working production management on an Embodiology Symposium. He is pumped to work with Eli Simon and the Cast and Crew of the New Swan Shakespeare Festival!
Lyla Rose Flashman (Festival Assistant Stage Manager)
Lyla Rose Flashman (Festival Assistant Stage Manager) is a recent alumni of the University of California Irvine MFA Stage Management program. This is their first season with the New Swan Shakespeare Festival and is the Assistant Stage Manager for both shows this season. Lyla is excited to be continuing to collaborate with fellow peers, faculty, and community members to bring an exciting mix of comedy and tragedy to the New Swan Stage.
Miriam Mendoza (House Manager)
Miriam Mendoza (House Manager) is an El Paso, Texas native who graduated from UTEP with her BFA in Stage Management (2016). Miriam then moved to Southern California where she received her MFA in Stage Management from University of California, Irvine. She continues to work as an educator and stage manager in the greater Los Angeles area. She is also a Guest Talent Coordinator for Disney’s Imagination Campus at the Disneyland Resort. Miriam has spent the last three seasons at New Swan as a Festival administrator, stage manager and box office manager. She is so excited to be back at the Swan for this tenth anniversary season!
Irene Emahiser (Production Assistant, The Comedy of Errrorrs & Festival Lighting Board-Operator)
Irene Emahiser (Production Assistant, The Comedy of Errrorrs & Festival Lighting Board-Operator) (she/they) is excited to be a part of New Swan this year! Irene is a freshman at UCI majoring in drama. She began exploring the production side of theater through stage management. Past acting credits include: UCI: Hamlet (Polonius) APA: Something Rotten (Minstrel), Oklahoma! (Ado Annie), Alice and Wonderland (The White Rabbit). She is currently working on acting, stage managing, and making music on both the piano and guitar. In the future, she hopes to stage manage and direct both musicals and plays. She is a proud member of the LGBTQIA+ community and hopes to be able to push the norms in the theater world. Irene would like to thank her parents Julia and Steve Emahiser, along with Clopper Almon for their continuous support!
Sammie Moore (Festival Production Assistant)
Sammie Moore (Festival Production Assistant) is a fourth-year undergrad at UC Irvine and is pursuing majors in Drama and Education Sciences. While most of her theater experience has been on the stage, Sammie has also done makeup design, music directing, and even played in the pit! Sammie is thrilled to be exploring stage management as a Production Assistant for New Swan Shakespeare Festival this year. Website: https://sammiedmoore.weebly.com/
Jayde Elizabeth Farmer (Festival Sound Board-Operator)
Jayde Elizabeth Farmer (Festival Sound Board-Operator) is a third year undergraduate student at UCI. Jayde has a passion for funky experimental technical theatre designs including scenic, sound, and projections. Jayde is grateful for the opportunity to work alongside so many incredible people this season at New Swan.
Yae Eun Yook (House Management Assistant & Rehearsal PA)
As a huge theatre and Shakespeare fan, Yae Eun Yoon is excited to join New Swan Shakespeare for its 10th anniversary. She discovered passion in technical theatre in high school and has continued to show love in all aspects of performing arts since then. This year, Yae Eun will be exploring the world of house management for the first time. She is overjoyed to encounter the new mission. Aside from her interest in theatre, she loves to paint, read novels, and discover new songs to listen to!