Cast
Kristen Altoro Nivens
(Lucia)
A Bronx- born Puerto Rican actress based in Kansas City. She has performed in a range of regional theater productions, most notably playing Mimi Marquez in Rent. A passionate advocate for Latinx representation in the arts, Kristen is drawn to roles that uplift culture and community. She continues to be active in the Kansas City theater scene while balancing her work as a mother and entrepreneur.
Denniel Correa
(Ruben)
An actor originally from Arecibo, Puerto Rico, now based in Kansas. He has worked professionally in Kansas City's theater and film scenes for several years. He previously portrayed the role of Ruben in stage readings of this production an now returns to bring the character to life in its full stage debut. Denniel is passionate about performing bilingual works that connect with his heritage and community.
Jose Faus
(Don Francisco)
A multidisciplinary artist and performer based in Kansas City. A founding memeber of the Latino Writers Collective, he is recognized for his work in theater as both an actor and spoken word performer. José has appeared in various bilingual and community- centered stage productions that emphasize cultural storytelling and social themes. His artistic approach blends performance, poetry, and visual arts to elevate under represented voices in theater and public spaces.
Celine Mendoza
(Katia)
A Kansas-based actress and muscian currently studying Theatre Perfomance at the University of Kansas. Her stage credits include Tania Del Valle in Native Garden at Theatre Lawrence, and she has appeared in short films such as Eyes That See, Heart That Feels, For the Record, and Deception. Celine is represented by Talent Unlimited in Kansas City.
Adam Cardenas Sisk
A UMKC Graduate, part-time Spanish professor, and presenter for the Animal Ambassador shows at the Kansas City Zoo & Aquarium, Adam also enjoys being involved in the artistic community here in the Kansas City area! Through his time in the arts, he has been a part of “La Intrevista” through the Kansas City Public Theatre, “A Father’s Poder” through the Wyandotte County Historical Society, and UMKC’s University Theatre Association.
Jazmin Havens
A first-generation college graduate and emerging performer with a passion for theater, music, and set design. Inspired by her roots and guided by the belief that "un acto valiente puede fortalecer las pasiones que persigues," she is committed to telling meaningful stories on and off the stage,
Astrid Mier y Teran
A multidisciplinary Peruvian artist whose work transcends mediums, seamlessly moving between visual art, performance and cultural storytelling. Rooted in her Indigenous South American heritage, her creative practice draw on ancestral memory and contemporary expression.
Sergio Alicea Roman
A Puerto Rican actor and PHD candidate in Theater and Performance Studies at University of Kansas. His credits include The Elaborate Entrance of Chad Deity, Sweat, Everybody, The Rocky Horror Picture Show, The Breakfast Club, Shrek The Musical and Tito y Berenice. He approaches performance through both a cultural and academic lens.
Crew
Ari Hernandez
Stage Manager
Ari Hernandez is a stage manager, director, scenic painter and general theatre artist in Kansas City. They really recently graduated with their BFA in Theatre with a concentration in Directing / Producing from Avila University. Recent credits include ASM for Kansas City Actors Theatre's The Roommate, Stage Manager for the staged readings of Any Questions? and The Dogwood at Kansas City Actors Theatre, and scenic painter for the Heart of America Shakespeare Festival's Love Labour's Lost.
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Mark Exline
Set & Production Consultant
Mark Exline is a Kansas City-based designer and artist with an extensive production and design resume. His notable local works include Marilyn God at the The Fish Tank, Cinderella: A Salsa Fairytale at The Coterie, and Titanic at Music Theatre Heritage. Mark is a Core a Company Member with Quixotic Entertainment, where he has designed scenery costumes and props for live events and experiences including Terra Luna, Dark Forest, Whiskey Dynamite, Sensatia, Carmen Reimagined, Atlas 9, and many others. See more of his work on Instagram at @mexlinedesigns.
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Mary Robinson
Sound Designer
Mary Louise Robinson is a sound designer and composer residing in St. Louis. Her love for sound and storytelling inspires her to pursue music composition and audio design for a large variety of mediums, including theatre, audio drama, and games. She is a frequent designer for Kansas City Actors Theatre, undertaking productions such as The Lehman Trilogy and Little Women among others. Her work as a composer and sound designer can also be heard regularly on the Kansas City Actors Radio Theatre podcast channel. In addition to her theatrical endeavors, she enjoys working as a composer and producer for hire, creating content for clients in need of custom music tracks for their projects. More info on her previous projects can be found at marylrobinson.org. Special thanks and much love to her theatre colleagues, as well as to her family and friends that have supported her!
Writer & Director
Jerry Mañan
Director
Jerry Mañan is a multifaceted theater artist based in Kansas City, Missouri, known for his work as an actor, director, writer, and projections designer. He is a graduate of Avila University, where he earned recognition for his classical acting skills, receiving the ‘Best Classical Acting’ award at the American College Theatre Festival during his final year.
Sofiana Olivera Abalan
Writer
A lifelong Kansas resident, based in Lawrence, KS. Her work focuses on themes of migration, resilience, and cultural identity, often presented through bilingual storytelling. Her play El Árbol de Aguacate (The Avocado Tree) has been showcased by Kansas City Public Theatre and is featured in the anthology Their Own Devices: A Collection of Kansas City Playwrights. In 2024, Sofiana received a Rocket Grant from the Charlotte Street Foundation and the Spencer Museun of Art to present El Árbol de Aguacate to underserved Spanish-speaking communities in Kansas City, Lawrence and Topeka.