Artistic Leadership
Eli Simon
Founder & Producing
Artistic Director
Beth Lopes
Associate Artistic Director
& Casting Coordinator
Jesús López Vargas
Production Coordinator &
Outreach Director
Greg Ungar
Associate Artistic Director
Miriam Mendoza
Assoc. Prod. Coordinator & Apprenticeship Supervisor
Rob Salas
2025 Season Director
Acting Company
Much Ado About Nothing / Alls Well That Ends Well
For complete acting tracks, including understudy roles, click on the photos below
Zane Caputo
Verges / Lavache & Clarence
Mikayla Conley
Ursula / Helena
Sonya Cooke
Leonata
Zoe Rose Davidson
Connie / Lady Laurent & Mariana
Abel Garcia
Benedick / Parolles
Peter Green
Dogberry / Lafeu
Megan January
Hero
Adam Koda
Don John / Bertram
Wyn Moreno
Don Pedro / King & Escalus
Ella Serrano
Diana
Zach Trent
Claudio / Lord Ravelle, Duke of Florence & Jules
Rachael VanWormer
Beatrice / Lady Dumaine
Alejandra Villanueva
Preacher / Countess & Widow
Armando Acosta
Borachio
Marilyn Alonzo
Sabine & Francesca
Alex Bloom
Owen Oatcake / Roland
Sejal Chopra
Maggie & Sally Saddle
Samuel Schneider
Wild-Eyed Whiskey / Lord Dumaine
Malia Walker
Aurelia
Kate Sheehan
Grace
Sarah Hentges
Harmony
Design & Artistic Team
Production Teams & Crew
2024 Season • New Swan Shakespeare Festival Company:
Eli Simon
Eli Simon 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 35th 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 South Korea. His original commedia pieces enjoyed successful tours to international festivals in England, Spain, and Italy. Eli has also written and directed multi-cultural and multi-lingual plays including Birds in DMZ, which featured American, Korean, and European performers, traditional Korean music, devised masks, Bong-San dancing, commedia, and opera.
For New Swan, Eli has directed The Merchant of Venice, King Lear, Twelfth Night, Macbeth, As You Like It, The Tempest, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, A Midsummer Night’s Zoom, and The Comedy of Errrorrs. Eli also produced All the World’s a Stage featuring actors from around the world performing Shakespeare in the language of their choice.
Beth Lopes
Beth Lopes is an Associate Artistic Director at New Swan and a freelance theater director and educator. Deeply committed to telling stories for the present moment, Beth is intent on fostering original work and making classics relevant for new generations. Selected directing credits include “Our Town”, “The Velveteen Rabbit”, and “Junie B. Jones is Not a Crook” at South Coast Repertory, “House of Desires” at Pomona College, and “Romeo and Juliet: Hard Way Home” a hybrid of Shakespeare’s play and the music of Brandi Carlisle, with CalRep. Past shows at New Swan include “As You Like It”, “Pericles Prince of Tyre”, 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 NYI, a MFA from UCI, and is a proud member of SDC. For more information visit her website at www.bethlopes.com.
Miriam Mendoza
Miriam Mendoza is a stage manager, coordinator, educator, and producer in Southern California.
Credits include Jelly’s Last Jam, Inherit the Wind, and world premiere of One of the Good Ones (Pasadena Playhouse); Waiting for Godot (Geffen Playhouse) ; world premiere of Alma, Tambo & Bones (Center Theatre Group—Kirk Douglas Theatre); 2:22–A Ghost Story, The Secret Garden (Center Theatre Group—Ahmanson Theatre); world premiere of A Transparent Musical (Center Theatre Group—Mark Taper Forum); The Half Life of Marie Curie (Theatre SilCo).
An El Paso, Texas native, Miriam most actively teaches and works around the Los Angeles area. She is a company member of New Swan Shakespeare Festival and has worked for the Walt Disney Company’s Imagination Campus (formerly known as Disney Performing Arts). M.F.A. in Stage Management from the University of California, Irvine.
Many thanks to Abel and my family for their support!
Greg Ungar
Greg is thrilled and grateful to work and play with the fabulous community of artists and audiences at New Swan Shakespeare Festival. With the Festival he has played delicious roles, including Gower (Pericles), Prospero (Tempest), Shylock (Merchant), Baptista (Taming), Bottom (Midsummer), Polonius (Hamlet), Dogberry (Much Ado), Macduff (Macbeth), and Friar Laurence (Romeo and Juliet). Other juicy roles at other theaters include Owen (The Foreigner), 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 A Bright New Boise, The Thanksgiving Play, Cabaret, I and You, Art, Bad Jews, The Seagull, Not I, Rockaby, Circle Mirror Transformation, and The Proposal. Greg has an MFA and PhD from the University of California, Irvine, and is an associate professor of theatre at the University of Denver. Big love and thanks to Courtney for making It sweet and worthwhile.Jesús López Vargas
Jesús López Vargas (he/they) is a producer and director for the performing arts and a visual artist. Jesús has worked closely with New Swan Shakespeare Festival as a production coordinator, visual artist, media manager, and various other roles since 2018. Now, Jesús heads New Swan’s outreach programs and co-leads the organization of the festival year-round. They continue to work freelance in Southern California as an educator, visual artist, photographer, coordinator, producer, and consultant.
Most recently as a theater maker, Jesús has designed lights at Theatre Silco in Colorado, Dinant Creative Factory in Belgium, the University of Amsterdam, and also coordinated projects with Laguna Dance Festival, the Lake Dillon Theater, and Chesapeake Shakespeare Company. To see more of their work, one can visit jelopez-stage.com
Rob Salas
Rob Salas is a director and producer based in Orange County. Favorite directing credits include As You Like It, The Tenth Muse, and Comedy of Errors (Davis Shakespeare Festival, where he worked for over 10 years as a founding Artistic Director), Alice’s Wonderland (South Coast Repertory, where he is Artistic Coordinator), The Complete Works of William Shakespeare, Abridged (New Village Arts), Mary Stuart (UC Irvine) and The Tempest (Harvard University). He holds a BA in English and Dramatic Art from Harvard and an MFA in Directing from UC Irvine. Rob is thrilled to be returning to UCI for New Swan!
Zane Caputo
Verges & Dogberry* in “Much Ado About Nothing” | Lavache, Clarence & Parolles* in “Alls Well That Ends Well”
*understudy
Zane Caputo is so excited to be joining New Swan for the first time! Zane graduated from UCI in 2024 with Bachelors in Drama and an Honors in Acting, and was in shows such as King Lear, King James, RENT, and Airness during his time there. Since graduating, he was also in a production of Grease at Cabrillo Playhouse. As a writer, Zane recently premiered his first musical, Table For Two, in which he wrote the book, music, and lyrics. Fun Fact! Zane is one of the top ranked competitive air guitarists in the nation, ranking number two in 2023. Enjoy the show! @zane.guv on Instagram.
Mikayla Conley
Ursula in “Much Ado About Nothing” | Helena in “All’s Well That Ends Well”
Mikayla Conley was born and raised in Los Angeles, California and has been a part of the theatre arts for approximately ten years. They were cast in multiple productions as a child, attended Debbie Allen Dance Academy, and continued their dance training into high school. They received most of their theatre training from California State University of Long Beach, where they obtained a bachelor’s degree in Performing Arts. Conley recently appeared in South Coast Repertory’s production of “Our Town”, the Pacific Playwright’s Festival reading of “How to Roll a Blunt”, the Atwater Village Theatre reading of “Breathless”, and the Claire Trevor Theater reading of “Bogfriends”. They hope to continue their journey in Theatre, predominately working on pieces that resonate with audiences and authentically explore the complexities of the human condition.
Sonya Cooke
Leonata in “Much Ado About Nothing” | Countes* & Widow* in “Alls Well That Ends Well”
*understudy
Sonya Cooke is an actor based in Louisiana. A member of SAG-AFTRA, Sonya’s career includes television, film, regional and NY theatre, and voice acting credits. Sonya can be seen in Government Cheese on AppleTV, Chicago PD on NBC, and she played the title role in Gloria at Equity theatre, Swine Palace. The short film she wrote, directed, and starred in, entitled An Audience, is currently premiering in film festivals around the country and recently won Best Short Film at the HS3 Film Festival in Houston, TX. Two years ago, Sonya played the title role in Julius Caesar and “Duke Senior” in As You Like It at New Swan Shakespeare Festival. She is an Assistant Professor of Acting at Louisiana State University, and she is the founder and author of Seven Pillars Acting. A proud alumna from UCI, Sonya is thrilled to return to New Swan.
Ata-Han Erentok
Wild-Eyed Willie & Verges* in “Much Ado About Nothing” | Roland in “Alls Well That Ends Well”
*understudy
Ata-Han Erentok is entering his Senior year at Chapman/Doge College at the age of 19. Ata-Han Erentok is a BFA Screen Acting major, and has been studying acting since the age of 6, going to a conservatory for high school and working in Hollywood since he was 11. Ata-Han will graduate from Chapman in 2026 at the age of 20. Ata-Han has an American mother and a Turkish Father and was born in Istanbul, Turkey and spent most of his adolescence in New Orleans Louisiana.
Ata-Han has passions outside of acting, writing music, singing, film making, and loves the freedom of creating and expressing. His love for the arts shows in his everyday life. A recent production Ata-Han was in was, Uncle Vanya at Chapman University, direct by Beth Lopes, where he played Vanya. “A massive thank you to Beth for recommending me for New Swan and for all the hard work on Vanya”
Abel Garcia
Benedick in “Much Ado About Nothing” | Parolles in “Alls Well That Ends Well”
Abel Garcia was born and raised in El Paso, Texas where he received his BFA in Theatre Performance from UT El Paso in 2016. Shortly after, he moved to Southern California and received his MFA in Acting from the University of California, Irvine in spring 2021. Abel is an actor as well as a part-time theatre instructor at the Orange County School of The Arts (OCSA). This will be his 5th with New Swan, and he is extremely excited and blessed to be back! Thank you, Mom, Dad, Miriam and Eric, for your continuous love and support. Most recent credits include Austin (True West), Jesus (The Last Days of Judas Iscariot), Angelo (Measure for Measure), Malvolio (Twelfth Night), Smith & Judge Hayes (The Story of Biddy Mason) Brutus (Julius Caesar), Touchstone (As You Like It), Dromio of Ephesus (Comedy of Errors).
Peter Green
Dogberry in “Much Ado About Nothing” | Lafeu, Lavache* & Jules* in “Alls Well That Ends Well”
Peter Green is a performer and educator based in South Orange County. Since 2019 he has served as a senior staff member at Creative Kids Playhouse Children’s Theatre of Orange County, teaching the next generation of theatre creators on how to make fools of themselves. As a performer, he specializes in classical theatre and was last seen in Shakespeare by the Sea’s SoCal tour of Henry IV. This is his first production with New Swan.
Zoe Rose Davidson
Connie in “Much Ado About Nothing” | Lady Laurent & Mariana in “Alls Well That Ends Well”
Zoe is so excited to be joining New Swan’s company for the first time this year! Zoe is a current MFA in Acting Candidate at UCI, where she has played Amina in Dance Nation and Gabrielle/Belle in La Belle et La Bette. Some of her favorite professional credits include Steel Magnolias at Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park, Alice in Wonderland and Bob: A Life in Five Acts at Ensemble Theatre Cincinnati, Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner at The Falcon Theatre, and Hamlet and Learned Ladies at Cleveland Shakespeare Festival.
On film: Eenie Meanie (20th Century Studios, streaming on Hulu), and Once Upon a Ninja. In her spare time Zoe enjoys teaching and taking reformer pilates classes, training aerial arts and playing old school Nintendo games on the Switch. Zoe would like to thank you the entire New Swan team, MFA Lawyers, and her amazing partner, Andrew.
Megan January
Hero in “Much Ado About Nothing” | Helena* in “Alls Well That Ends Well”
*understudy
Megan January (she/they) is thrilled to be a part of her second season at The Swan! Megan is a recent graduate of the University of California Irvine with her BFA in Music Theatre and minor in Education. She has two released albums with her bluegrass band North Country Blue, and has enjoyed incorporating her love of music with Shakespeare’s language. Some of her favorite theater credits include Beatrice and Dogberry from Much Ado About Nothing, Natasha from Great Comet, and Anna from Spring Awakening. In her freetime, Megan likes camping, going on adventures with friends, and spending all her money on cappuccinos.
Adam Koda
Don John & Benedick* in “Much Ado About Nothing” | Bertram in “Alls Well That Ends Well”
*understudy
Adam is a returning member of the New Swan company having performed in its 2024 season as Orsino in Twelfth Night and Lucio in Measure For Measure.
His acting credits include productions of Hamlet and Henry IV with Utah Shakespeare Festival, two productions Romeo and Juliet at Texas Shakespeare Festival and Shakespeare in Delaware Park, as well as Sense and Sensibility and Cinderella at Pittsburgh Playhouse.
He received a BFA in Acting from Point Park University and has been on Showtime’s American Rust. Adam grew up in California, so he is incredibly grateful that New Swan brought him back home to the west coast to perform with them again! @adam_kodada
Wyn Moreno
Don Pedro in “Much Ado About Nothing” | King & Escalus in “Alls Well That Ends Well”
Wyn Moreno is an actor, educator, director, dialect coach, and fight choreographer based in Orange County, CA. This marks his first season with New Swan Shakespeare. Recent credits include Perelli in Sweeney Todd at A Noise Within in Pasadena, Snout in A Midsummer Night’s Dream and Westmoreland and Exeter in Henry V with Kingsmen Shakespeare in Thousand Oaks.
Wyn recently directed his own adaptation of Dracula at Santa Ana College. As an educator, Wyn teaches at Orange County School of the Arts, Santa Ana College, Orange Coast College, and Riverside City College, where he mentors students in acting, stage combat, and dialects.
He is passionate about fostering creativity and discipline in young artists. Wyn is thrilled to contribute his experience and passion for classical theater to New Swan Shakespeare this season.
Kate Sheehan
Grace/Vocalist in “Much Ado About Nothing”
Kate Sheehan is a performer and artist from Laguna Niguel, California. She is currently a rising third-year BFA Music Theatre Student at UCI. Kate is thrilled and grateful to be returning to the Swan for her sophomore season after being a part of the inaugural class of acting apprentices last year. Credits: New Swan: Measure for Measure (Ensemble), Twelfth Night (Antonia u/s). UCI: 9 to 5 (Swing), Dance Nation (Zuzu), Fleabag (Female Voice). When not performing, she enjoys working on graphic design, playing guitar, or hanging out with her dog, Finn. She thanks her family for their support and love. Follow her online @kateosheehan. For her family, para siempre.
Sarah Hentges
Harmony/Vocalist in “Much Ado About Nothing”
Sarah Hentges is a rising 3rd year student at UCI, majoring in Music Theatre with minors in Business Management and Literary Journalism. Sarah has experience in theatre, music, dance, directing, marketing, design, and photography, and is excited to explore these passions through her work with New Swan! Some previous credits include Newsies (Katherine) and The Drowsy Chaperone (The Chaperone). She is so proud and honored to be able to work with this incredible team. She would like to thank Jesús for his guidance, her parents for their support, and Eli for being an amazing teacher and mentor throughout this year.
Ella Serrano
Beatrice* in “Much Ado About Nothing” | Diana in “Alls Well That Ends Well”
*understudy
Ella Serrano (She/Her) is thrilled to be making her New Swan debut! She is a graduate of The Pacific Conservatory of the Performing Arts where she fell head over heels for the Bard. Past productions include Henry VI, As You Like It (The Old Globe Theatre), Amélie, Cinderella, The River Bride, Mother Road, American Mariachi (PCPA), Falsettos (Roustabouts Theatre) and took part in the 2025 Plays by Young Writers Festival (Playwrights Project). She is an artist who is devoted to theatrical education and outreach. Whether it be modern plays, classical work or musicals, Ella is continuously on a mission to make theatre accessible to all. You can find her @ella._.serrano on Instagram.
Zach Trent
Claudio in “Much Ado About Nothing” | Lord Ravelle, Duke of Florence, Jules & Bertram* in “Alls Well That Ends Well”
*understudy
Zach is an actor, writer, director, and professional tabletop gamer based out of Los Angeles. He is originally from Flint, Michigan, and earned a BFA in Acting from Western Michigan University. He is the co-founder of Sonneteer Productions, a film production company that creates exciting new work. Past New Swan credits include Sir Andrew Aguecheek in Twelfth Night and Claudio in Measure for Measure.
Rachael VanWormer
Beatrice in “Much Ado About Nothing” | Lady Dumaine in “Alls Well That Ends Well”
New Swan Shakespeare Festival: Twelfth Night, Measure for Measure; New Village Arts: The Half Life of Marie Curie; Lamb’s Players Theatre: The Importance of Being Earnest, Outside Mullingar, Silent Sky; Cygnet Theatre: The Little Fellow, Angels in America Parts I & II, When the Rain Stops Falling, The Vortex, Hay Fever; Curtis Theatre: The Revolutionists; Write Out Loud: The Yellow Wallpaper, PoeFest; La Jolla Playhouse: Froggy, #SuperShinySara; Diversionary Theatre: The Mystery of Love and Sex, Regrets Only, Birds of a Feather, Speech & Debate, Beautiful Thing; New Fortune: As You Like It, Henry V; North Coast Rep: Faded Glory, A Christmas Carol; San Diego Rep: boom; PCPA TheaterFest: The Wizard of Oz, Lifeboat, The Reluctant Dragon.
Rachael is also an educator, playwright, and is the Associate Artistic Director of Write Out Loud. Find her original scripts on New Play Exchange.
Alejandra Villanueva
Preacher & Leonata* in “Much Ado About Nothing” | Countess & Widow in “Alls Well That Ends Well”
*understudy
Alejandra Villanueva is an interdisciplinary artist deeply committed to telling stories that reflect and amplify the voices of her community. She is passionate about creating work that connects people and celebrates diverse perspectives. Recent credits include Henry 6 Part One and Part Two (Old Globe Theatre), Globe for All’s The Comedy of Errors (Old Globe Theatre), The Hispanic/Latino/Latina/Latinx/Latine Vote (TuYo Theatre) Fuente Ovejuna: A Disloyal Adaptation (USC), Sacrifice Zone: Los Angeles (LANHM) Real Women Have Curves (Breakthrough Theatre) Cider House Rules Parts One and Part Two (USC), Queen Margaret: A Shakespeare Adaptation (USC), Happy End (USC), and La Mujer Que Cayó del Cielo (Consulado General de México en San Diego) B.A. in Theatre, University of Southern California.
Armando Acosta
*understudy
Armando Acosta is a preforming artist based out of Long Beach, CA. This is Armando’s first show at The Swan and is excited to be around so many other talented artist. Armando can be found preforming improv bi weekly (Saturday 8pm) at the LA Comedy Connection in Burbank, CA.
You can see more of Armando’s work at mandoacosta.weebly.com
Alex Bloom
Owen Oatcake & Borachio* in “Much Ado About Nothing” | Roland, Lord Ravelle* & Clarence* in “Alls Well That Ends Well”
*understudy
Alex Bloom is ecstatic to be joining the New Swan Acting Company for the first time this summer! Originally from the Bay Area, she is a recent graduate of UC Irvine with a B.A. in Drama. Her previous notable roles include Pentheus in The Bacchae (UCI), Dawn in Gruesome Playground Injuries (UCI), and Christina Grant in Murder on the Nile (Coastal Rep). She has also served as a choreographer for Shakespeare in Love. She’d like to thank all her family and friends for their continuous support!
Sejal Chopra
Maggie, Sally Saddle & Ursula* in “Much Ado About Nothing” | Lafeu*, Lord Dumaine* & Duke* in “Alls Well That Ends Well”
*understudy
Sejal Chopra is delighted to make her debut with New Swan Shakespeare Festival this season! A budding thespian with a flair for comedy and chaos, her previous credits include In the Next Room (Costa Mesa Playhouse), No Exit, Uncle Vanya, and The Illusion (Irvine Valley College), and most recently Dance Nation (UCI).
By day, Sejal studies theater and psychology at UC Irvine, where she is learning how to overanalyze both scripts and people. By night, she’s a soup connoisseur and self-proclaimed DJ, belting out Diljit Dosanjh songs in traffic. This performance is dedicated to her delightfully unhinged friends and her dearest Guruji. Sejal is ecstatic to bring a bit of laughter, a touch of absurdity, and a whole lot of Bardic brilliance to your evening. Now sit back, relax, and prepare for mischief and merriment!
Marilyn Alonzo
Maggie*, Verges* & Members of the Watch* in “Much Ado About Nothing” | Sabine, Francesca & Lady Dumaine* “Alls Well That Ends Well”
*understudy
Marilyn Alonzo is so thrilled to be making her New Swan debut! Marilyn is a rising third year Drama student at UCI. Some of her past credits include Helena (A Midsummers Night’s Dream), Sandra Bloom (Big Fish), and Bea Bottom (Something Rotten). Marilyn also delights audiences in mock courtrooms everywhere, having competed for two years on UCI’s Mock Trial team as a witness. When not onstage, she enjoys watching classic films, baking cookies, and listening to the Mamas and the Papas at dangerous volumes. She would like to thank her wonderful family and friends for their never-ending support!
Samuel Schneider
Wild-Eyed Whiskey, Preacher* & Claudio* in “Much Ado About Nothing” | Lord Dumaine in “Alls Well That Ends Well”
*understudy
Samuel Schneider is a recent UCI graduate and is happy to be joining the New Swan season. Follow him on Instagram @SmamSchneider.
Malia Walker
Hero* & Connie* in “Much Ado About Nothing” | Aurelia & Diana* “Alls Well That Ends Well”
*understudy
Malia Walker is a rising second-year Drama student at UCI. When she’s not singing, acting, or playing video games, she advocates for theatre education in rural communities through her non-profit organization, Share the Stage. Previous shows include Into the Woods (Witch, UCLA MTSI), The Drowsy Chaperone (Janet, CHS Drama), and Willy Wonka (Willy Wonka, Sunshine Theatre). A big thanks goes out to her friends and family for putting up with her. Stay Totally Theatre Cool and Zot Zot! Social media: @malzcat
Brandon PT Davis | Scenic Designer, Festival
Brandon PT Davis is a scenic designer based in Orange County, CA, who loves bringing stories to life through thoughtful and immersive environments. A graduate of UC Irvine, he has designed over 100 productions, combining artistic vision with tools like Vectorworks and Twinmotion to create innovative and memorable designs. Brandon works at Adaptive Design Services, where he collaborates on projects ranging from live events to architectural renderings. Outside of his design work, he enjoys exploring new visualization techniques, experimenting with 3D printing, and sharing his knowledge through tutorials. Learn more at brandonptdavis.com.
Jenn Dugan | Costume Shop Manager, Festival
Jenn Dugan is currently the full time Costume Shop Manger at UCI. With over twenty years in the theater and film industry, she has been a costume designer, shop manager, costume technician, makeup artist, and wig stylist. Jenn was the hair makeup designer for Twelfth Night with New Swan in 2024 and continues to enjoy helping to create the costumes for the New Swan summer festivals.
Aerik Harbert | Sound Designer, Festival
Aerik Harbert is a sound designer based out of Los Angeles by way of Pasadena, Maryland. He holds an MFA in Sound Design from the University of California, Irvine, and currently teaches, mentors, and designs at California State University, Fullerton while freelancing around the greater Los Angeles/Orange County area. His goal as a designer is to immerse audiences in the world of a play with carefully curated environmental ambiences, music, and abstract design elements. When he isn’t working on a production or stuck in LA traffic, Aerik can usually be found playing video games, rewatching a television series, or standing in line at the nearest boba shop. He also enjoys his weekly online D&D game, and always says he’d like to go hiking more often (but never does).
Ayrika Johnson | Costume Designer, “All’s Well That Ends Well”
Ayrika Johnson (she/her) graduated in June of 2022 with her M.F.A. in Costume Design from the University of California, Irvine and is thrilled to return to its campus for New Swan and “All’s Well That Ends Well.” She has continued her work in theatrical costume design across Orange County and the Los Angeles area. Her passion in design lies in creating and joining projects that discuss the human condition and historically forgotten voices to inspire a new conversation. Ayrika finds inspiration in the history of performance to rally groups towards new ideas and perspectives. It is in this hope that she seeks to further break down traditional ideologies of society and allow curiosity and empathy to guide the audience towards new understandings. The opportunity to work on this show with the cast and crew alongside of her has been such a gift– especially during such difficult times.
Karyn D. Lawrence | Lighting Designer, “Much Ado About Nothing”
Karyn D. Lawrence is an award-winning lighting designer based in Los Angeles. She is thrilled to be returning to her alma mater for her tenth season as the resident lighting designer for The New Swan Shakespeare Festival! Selected regional/local theater credits include Center Theatre Group, South Coast Repertory, La Mirada Theatre, East West Players, Boston Court Pasadena, Antaeus Theatre Company, Ebony Repertory Theatre, International City Theatre, and Arizona Broadway Theatre. In addition to theater, she is Radiance Lightworks’ lead lighting designer for Universal Studios’ Halloween Horror Nights. She currently teaches lighting design at California State University Los Angeles. Her work has also been seen in Italy, Poland, the Czech Republic, and Romania. When she’s not teaching or designing, she enjoys spending time with her family and riding her horses in the mountains near her home.
Julia Reinhard Lupton | Festival Dramaturg; Dramaturg for “All’s Well”
Julia Reinhard Lupton is Distinguished Professor of English at UC Irvine, where she co-directs the New Swan Shakespeare Center with Eli Simon. She is the author of five books on Shakespeare and has edited many volumes on Shakespeare and topics such as hospitality, wisdom, virtues, and adaptation.
Pam Marsden | Festival Props Master
Pam Marsden has been working in props for 20 years, freelance until finding a home as Props Supervisor for CTSA in 2013. The New Swan is always a highlight of the year. I fell in love with theater in the late1980s as an audience member and unexpectedly found a way to make it a career. The creative, collaborative, exciting, and challenging world of theater makes my heart sing!
Nita Mendoza | Lighting Designer, “All’s Well That Ends Well”
Nita Mendoza is a chicana theatre artist based out of Southern California and is grateful to join the New Swan family once again. Previous New Swan lighting design credits include: Pericles (2022) and Measure for Measure (2024). She graduated with her MFA in 2021 and has been freelancing full time since then! Previous lighting design credits include: Winter Lights (Discovery Cube, Orange County), twenty50 (TheatreSquared, Arkansas), The Taming of the Shrew (Whittier Shakes Theater Co.), Moriarty (Theatre SilCo, Colorado), Sunday in the Park with George (El Paso Opera), Water by the Spoonful (Colorado Springs Fine Arts Center), Everybody (Pomona College), Fourth Planet (Fullerton College, Fullerton), Hedwig and the Angry Inch (Perseverance Theatre, Alaska), The Half Life of Marie Curie (TheatreSilco, Colorado), and Guadalupe in the Guest Room (Colorado Springs Fine Arts Center, Colorado Springs). Enjoy the show! Mucho amor!
Annie Mulvihill | Production Stage Manager, Much Ado About Nothing
Annie can’t wait to be back for her sophomore season at New Swan. She is entering her senior year at the University of Denver, earning a BA in Theatre and History. Select credits include: Great Expecations (DU), Measure for Measure (New Swan Shakespeare Festival), The Taming (DU), A Bright New Boise (DU), and Off the Gradient (Two Cent Lion Theatre Company). When not being an SM, she adores reading books, crotcheting, and going on long walks. Much love to her family <3
Kathryn Poppen | Costume Designer, “Much Ado About Nothing”
Kathryn Poppen is a Los Angeles-based costume designer. She has previously costume designed Measure for Measure and As You Like It for the New Swan Festival, and is thrilled to be back for another summer. She is an Associate Artist with theatre dybbuk, having costume designed The Merchant of Venice (Annotated). Credits include work with Center Theatre Group, South Coast Repertory, Atlantic Theatre Company, Geffen Playhouse, Echo Theater Company, Bootleg Theater, Pasadena Playhouse and the Garry Marshall Theatre. She is the resident costume designer and Costume Supervisor for the USC Glorya Kaufman School of Dance. She holds a BFA in Theatrical Design from the University of Southern California.
Michael Polak | Fight Director
Michael Polak has been choreographing for NSSF since 2013. He has choreographed stage violence for South Coast Repertory, 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
Joe Forehand | CTSA Electrics Supervisor
Joe is a husband and dad with a son, a daughter and 3 cats. Joe has 37 years of experience in Technical Theater, having worked for or with Manhattanville College Dance and Theater Department, Diavolo- Architecture in Motion , A Noise Within, California Stage and Lighting, Laguna Beach High School, and, for the last 16 years, UCI Claire Trevor School of the Arts. Joe’s primary off duty activities involve yardwork, but, when his muse inspires, has been known to create passable meals for his family. He has recently begun a new hobby involving plucking and strumming the strings of various acoustic instruments which has so far remained undefined.
Jesús López Vargas | Festival Production Coordinator
Jesús López Vargas (he/they) is a producer, director and visual artist 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 fellowships that supported their research to heighten the representation of native voices from Latin America. For the past 8 years, he has co-led MOON Collective producing culture-conscious media and performative works that challenge the public while providing training opportunities for young BIPOC practitioners of the visual and performing arts.
Jesús has worked closely with Eli Simon & the New Swan Shakespeare Festival as a manager and media coordinator since 2019. Most recently, Jesús has designed lights at the Dinant Creative Factory in Belgium, the University of Amsterdam, and Theatre Silco and also managed projects at the Lake Dillon Theater in Colorado and Chesapeake Shakespeare Company in Maryland. To see more of their work, one can visit jelopez-stage.com
Lala Ukita | Assistant Stage Manager, “Much Ado About Nothing”
Lala Ukita is an incoming third-year drama major at the University of California, Irvine from the Los Angeles area in pursuit of teaching theatre in a secondary education setting. She has recently been involved in various productions and projects at UCI which includes: ASM or PA for all 4 main stage dance concerts, SM for Metro Theatre Co’s spring play, Bare Bones Dance Theater, the B.F.A. 2025 Thesis Cohorts, various other DCPs (drama class projects), and more! She is excited to participate in this festival with the phenomenal cast and creative team and hopes you enjoy the production!
Cassie Nesbit | Assistant Stage Manager, “All’s Well That Ends Well“ Light Board Op, “Much Ado About Nothing”
Cassie Nesbit is overjoyed to be on New Swan’s Technical Team! She is a junior transfer student attending UC Irvine and is exploring every facet of theatre she can. She thanks her family and friends for their support!
Allie Rincand | Sound Board Operator / A1, Festival
Allie Rincand is eager and happy to work with the New Swan Festival for the first time this summer! Allie began designing shows for UCI this quarter, including credits such as the Beyond Prison Walls series and Quit Bitchin’! She had previously explored musical theatre, songwriting, and dance before coming to UCI. She plans to continue exploring both Sound Design and Theatrical Performance going forward. She would like to thank her family for their support, and her UCI family for this opportunity.
Robert Fournell | Assistant Stage Manager/Properties Artisan, “All’s Well That Ends Well”
Robert Fournell is a junior transfer student at UCI, earning his B.A. in Drama. After two years of working on productions at El Camino College, he is excited to return to work with the New Swan Shakespeare Festival. He is thrilled to take on the roles of Assistant Stage Manager for “All’s Well That Ends Well” and Properties Artisan for the Festival. A dedicated Drama major, Robert aspires to travel the globe and collaborate with international theaters. His previous experience includes serving as Assistant Stage Manager for El Camino’s production of ‘Book of Days”, Properties Coordinator for “An Evening of One Acts”, Assistant to the Props Designer and Props Crew Lead for “The Miracle Worker”, and, most recently, Props Crew Lead for “Merrily We Roll Along”. Robert is passionate about advancing his skills in stage management and prop design. He hopes you enjoy the Festival!
Isabel Toteda | Assistant Stage Manager/Properties Artisan, “All’s Well That Ends Well”
Isabel Toteda is an undergraduate student at the University of California, Irvine, double majoring in European Studies and Drama with honors in Design and Technology. Her first experience in UCI theater was as a Wardrobe Crew member on The Prom. Most recently she was the Costume Designer for Metro Theater Company’s production of Twelve Angry Jurors, and had her work featured in the Laguna Art Museum’s Upcycled Couture fashion show. She is passionate about 19th century historical fashion and literature, and enjoys reading, sewing, and making art in her free time. Isabel is excited to be a part of the New Swan Shakespeare Festival and is looking forward to working with this talented creative team and cast.
Fiona Farris | Assistant Stage Manager, “Much Ado About Nothing”; Light Board Operator, “All’s Well That Ends Well”
Fiona is excited to be back at New Swan for a second season! She recently graduated from UC Irvine with a B.A. in Drama and a B.S. in Psychology. Previous credits include Completeness (PSM, Eastwood PAC), Dumbwaiter (ASM, Nixon Theatre), The Prom (PA, Claire Trevor Theatre), Avenue Q (LD, Little Theatre), Dance Nation (LD, Little Theatre), Bare Bones (LD, CTSA), Spring Awakening (ALD, Little Theatre), 9 to 5 (LBO, Irvine Barclay Theatre), Julius Caesar (LBO, New Swan), and Completeness (LBO, Robert Cohen Theatre).
Nanami Yamakawa | Festival Media & Patron Relations Intern
Nanami Yamakawa (she/her) is thrilled to be a part of the New Swan family this summer as the Patron Services Associate Intern & Assistant Media Coordinator Intern. Her on-campus involvements include being a Marketing Intern for Metro Theatre Company and the Co-Captain of the UCI Thespian Society. She is also a proud campus tour guide through the Campus Representatives program in the Office of Undergraduate Admissions! Her recent theatre credits include Bad Idea Bear 1 in “Avenue Q” and Nicki in “You’ll Find Yourself in this Coffee Shop”. Nanami plans to graduate from UC Irvine in 2027 with her BFA in Music Theatre and a minor in Film and Media Studies.
Kiya Sakari Ashley | Festival Media & Patron Relations Intern
Kiya Sakari Ashley is a Los Angeles, CA based performer and artistic director. She was born in Hermitage, Tennessee but grew up in Los Angeles. This summer she will graduate with a B.A. in Drama and minor in Business Management from UC Irvine. She is now on the Board of Directors for Black Door Theatre Company which is a non-profit theatre company at UC Irvine aimed to uplifting and telling the stories of Black artists. While artistic directing for the company, she performs in stage and film productions as well. Some of her favorite roles include: Marie in Cinderella, Kaliope in She Kills Monsters, Morticia Addams in The Addams Family, Nina in Corrupted Curls, Beverly in Fairview, Lucy in Avenue Q and Elliot in You’ll Find Yourself in This Coffee Shop. She loves collecting vinyls, reading romance and fantasy novels and songwriting in her free time!