Miguel A. Gastelum | Theatre Director
directing
Every Brilliant Thing | Written by Duncan Macmillan with Jonny Donahoe | November 2022 | The Fools Collaborative
You're six years old. Your mom's in the hospital. Your dad says she's "done something stupid." She finds it hard to be happy. So you start to make a list of everything that's brilliant about the world. 1. Ice Cream. 2. Water fights. 3. Staying up past your bedtime and being allowed to watch TV. 4. The color yellow. You leave it on her pillow. You know she read it because she's corrected your spelling. Soon, the list will take on a life of its own. A life-affirming interactive play about depression and the lengths we will go to for those we love.
Featuring: Camille Gaston and Nick Haas (alternating performances)
Stage Manager: Amber Smith
Light and Sound Design: Regina Harris
Properties Design: Ryan Gilmore
Costume Coordinators: Miguel A. Gastelum and Cast
"Every Brilliant Thing" promo video, click here.
"Every Brilliant Thing" archival video, click here.
S'Will: Virtual Insanity | Adapted by Haley White from William Shakespeare's Romeo & Juliet | March 2021 | The Fools Collaborative
“S’Will” is a theatrical blending of Shakespearean text, modern pop culture reference, improv, and copious amounts of alcohol. This version of “S’Will” is an abridged and humorous take on “Romeo and Juliet”, one of the Bard’s most well-known tragedies. Prior to each performance, one actor in the cast will randomly be chosen an hour before curtain as that evening’s drunken fool. He or she will be required to ‘swill’ alcohol until showtime, then perform while intoxicated.*
*This production was performed virtually for The Rogue Performance Festival due to the COVID-19 Pandemic.
Featuring: Casey Ballard, Kristin Crase, Miguel Gastelum, Camille Gaston, Haley White, and Ryan Woods
Stage Manager: Ryan Gilmore
Sound Designer: Regina Harris
Properties Design: Haley White and Miguel Gastelum
Costume Coordinators: Cast
Be More Chill | Book by Joe Tracz, Music & Lyrics by Joe Iconis | July 2019 | The Selma Arts Center
"Be More Chill" archival video, click here.
“More than survive.” That’s all Jeremy Heere wants out of high school. But looking up from the bottom of the social ladder, there’s little hope for the uncool Jeremy. But what if there was an easy way to change all that? Enter the SQUIP, a Japanese nanocomputer in the form of an easy-to-swallow pill. The SQUIP will implant itself in your brain and tell you what to wear, what to say, and how to act to achieve ultimate coolness. Seems like an easy choice, right? But when things with the SQUIP take an unexpected, darker turn, is Jeremy willing to lose his best friend, his crush, his classmates, and the whole world, all in an effort to be more chill?
Featuring: Gio Adaoag, Marissa Brandon, Sean Hopper, Ian Jones, Teya Juarez, Randall Kohlruss, Daniel LaJune, Jess Meredith, Josh Plowman, and Emma Raymond
Assistant Director: Christy Hathaway
Stage Manager: Dylan Mark Murphy
Assistant Stage Manager: Samantha Martinez
Vocal Direction: Shannah Estep
Choreography: Connor Barton
Music Direction: Frank Velasco
Scenic Design: Aaron Lowe
Costume Design: Heather Sisk
Lighting Design: Regina Harris & Madi Bollinger
Projection Design: Dominic Grijalva
Sound Design: Adrian Oceguera
S'Will | Adapted by Haley White from William Shakespeare's Twelfth Night | March 2018 | The Fools Collaborative
“S’Will” is a theatrical blending of Shakespearean text, modern pop culture reference, improv, and copious amounts of alcohol. This version of “S’Will” is an abridged and humorous take on “Twelfth Night." Prior to each performance, one actor in the cast will randomly be chosen an hour before curtain as that evening’s drunken fool. He or she will be required to ‘swill’ alcohol until showtime, then perform while intoxicated.*
*S'Will was performed as part of the Rogue Performance Festival.
Featuring: Casey Ballard, Kristin Crase, Miguel Gastelum, Camille Gaston, Randall Kohlruss, and Haley White
Stage Manager: Shannon Brewington
Sound Design: Regina Harris
Properties Design: Haley White
Costume Coordinators: Haley White and Cast
Blood Relations | Written by Sharon Pollock, Co-Director Leslie Martin | October 2016 | The Fools Collaborative
This production was not reviewed by local media.
Inspired by the true story of the infamous Lizzie Borden murder case that took place in 1892 in Fall River, Massachusetts, Blood Relations is a psychological murder mystery that explores the destructiveness of a patriarchal society that often rendered women powerless.*
*This production was a benefit fundraiser performed on location at the Old Town Bistro Hotel in Clovis, CA
Featuring: Kristin Lyn Crase, Ashley Hyatt, Karan Johnson, Britt Monahan, Brad Myers, Russell Noland, Jim Tuck, and Brandon Weis.
Stage Manager: Reece Riley
Sound Design: Haley White
Properties Design: Haley White
Costume Design: James McDonnell
"Blood Relations" promo video, click here.
reasons to be pretty | Written by Neil LaBute | March 2014 | Open Book Productions
When Greg makes a seemingly harmless comment about his girlfriend Steph's “regular” looking face, the information gets back to Steph and sends their relationship over the deep end. Greg's life spirals out of control when Steph leaves him, and he has to come to terms with what he has said.
Featuring: Kelsey Deroian, Patrick Nalty, Steve Olson, and Aubrey Scott
Stage Manager: Angela Salinas
Scenic Design: Miguel A. Gastelum & Mitchell Lam Hau
Lighting Design: Regina Harris
Sound Design: Regina Harris
Costume Design: Heather Sisk
Scenic Artist: Mitchell Lam Hau
"reasons to be pretty" promo video, click here.
Archives of other reviews of this production no longer exist.
Dog Sees God: Confessions of a Teenage Blockhead | Written by Bert V. Royal | August 2013 | Open Book Productions
When CB's dog dies from rabies, CB begins to question the existence of an afterlife. His best friend is too burnt out to provide any coherent speculation; his sister has gone goth; his ex-girlfriend has recently been institutionalized; and his other friends are too inebriated to give him any sort of solace.
Featuring: Kelsey Deroian, Matthew Freitas, Kyla Kennedy, Randall Kohlruss, Katy Michelle Lewis, Hannah Moser, Justin Ray, and Brian Cade Sullivan Jr.
Stage Manager: Angela Salinas
Scenic Design: Miguel A. Gastelum & Mitchell Lam Hau
Lighting Design: Angela Salinas
Sound Design: Regina Harris
Costume Design: Heather Sisk
Scenic Artist: Mitchell Lam Hau
Archives of other reviews of this production no longer exist.
Urinetown: The Musical | Music by Mark Hollman, Lyrics by Mark Hollman & Greg Kotis, Book by Greg Kotis, Co-director Sharon Burley | July 2011 | Encore Theatre Company
This production was not reviewed by local media.
In the not-so-distant future, a terrible water shortage and a 20-year drought has led to a government ban on private toilets and a proliferation of paid public toilets, owned and operated by a single megalomaniac company: the Urine Good Company. If the poor don’t obey the strict laws prohibiting free urination, they’ll be sent to the dreaded and mysterious “Urinetown.” After too long under the heel of the malevolent Caldwell B. Cladwell, the poor stage a revolt, led by a brave young hero, fighting tooth and nail for the freedom to pee “wherever you like, whenever you like, for as long as you like, and with whomever you like.” A brilliant satire modeled off the plays of Kurt Weill and Bertolt Brecht, Urinetown is a wickedly funny, fast-paced, and surprisingly intelligent comedic romp.
Stage Manager: Erin Braithwaite
Vocal Coach & Musical Director: Sharon Burley
Choreography: Natalie Row
Scenic Design: Miguel A. Gastelum
Lighting Design: Miguel A. Gastelum & Alec Espinola
Sound Design: Miguel A. Gastelum & Alec Espinola
Costume Design: Sharon Burley & Miguel A. Gastelum
Dear Harvey | Written by Patricia Loughrey | April 2011| The Experimental Theatre Company
This production was not reviewed by local media.
Extensively researched and beautifully constructed, this documentary-style ensemble play recounts the life and lasting impact of groundbreaking LGBT activist and politician Harvey Milk, as told by the people who knew him best. Spoken word combines with multimedia and music as an ensemble cast moves in and out of the identities of real-world figures whose lives were forever altered by Milk's too-short career. This spirited play reaffirms his impact and the continued relevance of his campaign towards equality, three decades after his assassination.
Featuring: Edward Anderson, Kelsey Deroian, Matthew Freitas, Molly Kelly, Dillon Morgan, Hillary West and Ryan Woods
Stage Manager: Jessica Filgate
Scenic Design: Briana Kersten
Lighting Design: Angela Salinas
Costume Design: Briana Kersten