Welcome Parents, Family and Friends!

Four shows written within the last four hundred years, celebrated in their own time and continuously produced to wild acclaim ever since…THAT’S the line-up at Rubicon Theatre this summer! The enchanting (and complex) characters from Disney’s FROZEN kids, Shakespeare’s masterpiece RICHARD III, the timeless classic FIDDLER ON THE ROOF Jr. and the more recent hit LEGALLY BLONDE will inhabit the intimate and magical Yunker Hall from June 29th through August 11th. Our students, aged 5 to 25, will be performing for you as the  culmination of our four distinct 2-to-4 week youth programs which focus on the fun and rewards of acting, singing, and dancing. Theatre arts programs geared for young people are alive and well in Ventura thanks to generous patrons and audience members like YOU! Thank you for supporting live theatre and our parent organization, the gem that is RUBICON THEATRE COMPANY!

Please enjoy the show and thank you for encouraging the stars of tomorrow!

Warmly & Dramatically Yours,

Joseph Fuqua
Summer Education Director
Rubicon Theatre Company Member since 2000

“Staying true to yourself never goes out of style.”  These words, stated by Elle Woods in the 2001 film, have genuinely stayed with me. This groundbreaking, fun loving and powerful story, Legally Blonde, shows the journey of a young woman discovering what that phrase truly means to her. 

The funny thing about life is, we too, have to go through similar scenarios such as Elle Woods crying alone in a fluffy bunny costume, to get to the part where she is dominating as a Harvard Law Student. I think as humans we can all empathize with that!

This story breaks the stereotypes and reminds us not to judge a book by its cover. It reminds us that kindness can be easy, simple, and it is always important. I am overjoyed to be working on Legally Blonde the Muscial with this cast and creative team. We feel a special connection to this show because, well, our music director Miriam Arichea is a practicing lawyer with a legal career spanning three decades in three states.  In addition, one of our Rubicon alumni, Sarah Mehrnia, who sang in Miriam’s Harmonix group and appeared in many summer shows including; Jungle Book (2011) and West Side Story (2015), is currently a real-life student at Harvard Law School. Did I mention they are women? 

We have had an incredible journey ourselves putting this show together. The Rubicon Education Program has changed my life as a student and is now impacting my life as a professional. We hope this show leaves you with a smile, a good laugh, and the confidence to continue to work hard with grace, kindness, and a whole lot of love. 

Natalie Mara

Director and Choreographer

SAVANNAH ATCHISON (Pilar) is a sophomore at Ventura College where she is majoring in theatre, with the ultimate goal of directing. She most recently played Queen Margaret in Rubicon’s Fearless Shakespeare production of Richard III. When not performing, she enjoys playing guitar, watching films, and script writing. Her favorite work has been directing in Ventura College’s 2024 Student-Directed Play Festival and playing Anna in OMY Theatre’s Frozen.

BAILEY BALLINGER (Ensemble) is thrilled to make her Rubicon debut in this year’s Summer Education Program! Past theatre credits include: Annie in CSPAR’s 2019 production of Annie, Mrs. Wormwood in PTYA’s production of Matilda, Silly Girl in PTYA’s production of Beauty and the Beast, and Cosmo Brown in ON! Theatre’s Zoom production of Singin’ in the Rain. In her free time she loves singing, writing, and reading.

ALIZA BARROCA (Elle Woods) is nineteen years old and has been working with Rubicon since she was nine. She has been a part of five summer youth productions, as well as holiday shows, benefits, and Kids for Kids Concerts. Aliza is currently a VC student majoring in musical theatre, and is preparing to graduate with an AA for transfer in the fall. This June, she was studying at Berklee Conservatory’s Dance Intensive in Boston. Aliza is excited to be a part of the summer season at Rubicon!

ANTONIO CASARES (Ensemble) started his stage journey at Adolfo Camarillo High, where he performed on stage as a Mariner in The Tempest, Fred in The Dining Room, the character Crooks in Of Mice and Men, and a friar in Twelfth Night. After graduation, Antonio joined Rubicon for the role of a DJ in Much Ado About Nothing. Since then, he’s starred in a total of five musical productions for summer intensives at Rubicon and once at Conejo Valley Players. His credits are as follows; Teen Angel, ensemble, and Eddie Sullivan in Grease, Scranton Slim in Guys and Dolls, the Witch force for Into the Woods, ensemble in Pippin, and a total of eight roles in Les Miserables as the bishop, Coufeyrac, a robber, a pimp, a poor person, a worker, and ensemble!

COREE KOTULA (Paulette) is currently a senior at Nordhoff High School and a part of the Nordhoff Dance Company. This is her 10th summer at Rubicon and Richard III marks her 50th production in her lifetime. This last April, she won first place at the DTASC Shakespeare Festival for Audition Monologue. Her favorite shows in performance include The 39 Steps at Nordhoff High School, Matilda at Simi Valley Cultural Art Center, and Pippin at Rubicon Theatre. Coree is very excited for another summer with Rubicon where she gets to work with so many amazing people!

JAYDEN LEE (Serena) is thrilled to be a part of her first production at Rubicon. Recent credits include Rona Lisa in The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee and Director for The Little Mermaid Jr. at Balboa Middle School. Jayden thanks her mom for being her biggest role model. She appreciates all the support from her directors, cast, friends and family. Enjoy the show!

ABBY LEVINE (Ensemble) is so excited to be participating with Rubicon again! This will be her second year returning. Her credits include The Addams Family Young@Part as Thing, Pippin in the ensemble, A Gentleman’s Guide to Love and Murder in the ensemble, and Romeo and Juliet as Mercutio. Abby will be going into her third year of college next fall and will continue to pursue acting and singing. She would like to thank her amazing friends and family for always sticking by her and her career!

ZACHARIAS LOPEZ (Ensemble) is a student at Moorpark College. Although theatre isn’t part of his major, his love for performing keeps bringing him back to the stage. This will be his second summer with Rubicon (previously in Henry V and Pippin). He thanks his friends and family for supporting him and he really enjoys working with this cast and crew.

ISAIAH MALDONADO (Ensemble) is a Buena High School graduate and has spent the last two years participating in Ventura College’s Theatre Program. He most recently played Lord Hastings in Rubicon’s Richard III. His first ever role was Squidward in Buena High’s 2022 production of The SpongeBob SquarePants Musical. His favorite role was playing Monty Navarro in A Gentleman’s Guide to Love and Murder at Ventura College last fall. He enjoys playing the piano, going on runs, and making short films with his friends.

LILY MCGUIRE (Ensemble) is a rising sophomore and is thrilled to be back at Rubicon for her second summer in their programs. Her previous roles at Rubicon include, Boy (Henry V 2023) and most recently as the Marquis of Dorset in RICHARD III. Outside of Rubicon she played King Claudius in Hamlet. Lily enjoys crafts, singing, baking, and spending time with loved ones. She thanks Rubicon for the many opportunities she’s been given, and looks forward to what her future holds.

ADAM MONTAGUE (Professor Callahan) graduated Oxnard High School in 2018 and is currently attending Ventura College with a major in Theatre and a minor in Mathematics. Most recently Adam portrayed Ratcliffe in Rubicon’s Richard III. He enjoys getting the opportunity to step into another character’s shoes and leaving audiences wanting to see a show all over again. Previous work in high school included the role of Billy Bibbit in One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest and Willy Lowman in Death of a Salesman.

MIA RAE PEREZ (Brooke Wyndham) is in her second year at Santa Barbara City College, majoring in Film Studies and Production. She enjoys working behind and in front of the camera, as well as on the stage. This will be her fifth theatrical production and her first with Rubicon. Mia’s biggest dream is to keep pursuing her acting career on the stage and on the screen and be based in New York City.

ALYSSA RENAE (Margot) graduated from Oxnard High School and is in her final year at Ventura College. This is her 29th production altogether and recently she directed a scene at Ventura College for the 2024 Student Directed Play Festival. Some of her previous roles include Catherine Wolfe Donahue, in a production of These Shining Lives, Mal Beineke in The Addams Family, and Gretel in Engelbert Humperdinck‘s Opera Hansel and Gretel. Upon graduating from VC, Alyssa plans to transfer to either CSUN or UC Berkeley for Musical Theatre.

HALEY REYNOLDS (Ensemble) will be heading into her Junior Year at Foothill Technology High School. At Foothill, she has enjoyed two years of Drama as an elective. She also participated in NAMBAS Summer Program of Beauty and the Beast, where she played the role of Cogsworth. Haley is excited to pursue a career in theatre and equally excited to participate in her first Rubicon program.

CAMILLE RICHARDS (Ensemble) is an incoming junior at FTHS. She, as her mom says, “lives and breathes theatre.” Her acting credits include last summer’s The Addams Family Young@Part, this summer’s Richard III, and before that Moana Jr. Camille has also been in plays with PTYA, VC, her school and an acting class at the SPTC. Off-stage, Camille has assisted with lights for Rubicon’s Christmas Show, ushered for Ventura Live and mainstage shows, and stage managed for VC. When not acting she enjoys reading, drawing, and movie watching.

SORAYA ROMERO (Ensemble) is beyond excited to participate in her first show at Rubicon Theatre and is even more excited to participate in her dream show! Her most recent credit was playing Damien in Mean Girls at Rancho Campana High School. Other roles include Ocean (Ride the Cyclone) and Little Red (Into the woods Jr.). She also does musical theatre competitively at MTCA and received a scholarship to compete solo after auditioning nationwide for it!

TESSA SHINDEN (Vivienne Kensington) is 17-years-old and graduated summa cum laude from Foothill Technology High School in June. She will attend UCSB in the fall, where she is majoring in Biology on a Pre-Medicine track. She is excited to be on stage for her ninth year at Rubicon, with previous work as Catherine in Pippin (2023), Sophie in Mamma Mia! (2022), and Fiona in Shrek the Musical (2021). Off the stage, she was the Student Director for the 2023 Kids for Kids Benefit Concert, and this summer, she was Assistant Stage Manager for the Shakespeare program’s Richard III. She thanks her friends and family for their constant support!

ELIEL SUAREZ (Carlos) graduated from Foothill Technology High School and will be attending AMDA Conservatory in the fall. He enjoys writing and creating music. This will be his first show with the Rubicon Theatre. He has played Lumiere in PTYA’s Production of Beauty and the Beast as well as Harvey in AMDA’s Bye Bye Birdie.

THEODORA TODD (Enid) is entering her junior year of high school at Ventura High. She enjoys anything artistic such as crochet, knitting, painting, sewing, acting, dancing, and singing. She’s been doing theatre for many years and this is her second year in Rubicon’s summer program. She was in last year’s production of Pippin at Rubicon. She’s also played Peter Pan, Elsa, and the Baker in PTYA’s productions of Peter Pan, Frozen, and Into the Woods.

HARPER WEYMAN (Warner Huntington III) is entering his sophomore year at Foothill Technology. Previous work with Rubicon includes Pippin, Henry V and Moana Jr. as well as the 2023 Christmas Concert. Off of the stage Harper enjoys singing in the Ventura High School Chorale, lifting weights and studying Japanese. He played Earl of Richmond, King Henry VII, and Earl Rivers earlier this summer in Richard III.

REGINALD WHIGHAM (Grandmaster Chad) is thrilled to be a part of such an ICONIC production! Recent credits include Titus in The Curious Savage, Wig Assistant for The CHER Show National Tour, Wig Designer for Sweeney Todd and Lurch in The Addams Family. Fun Fact, he was Grandmaster Chad from 10 years ago at Buena High School! You can follow Reginald on his professional journey with performing, hair, makeup and acting on Instagram @reginald_whigham.

NEIRIN WINTER (Emmett Forrest) has played Pippin in the musical Pippin, Sam in Mamma Mia!, and The Dauphin in Shakespeare’s Henry V with Rubicon Theatre’s Summer Youth Productions. In 2016 and 2017, he played Boy Scrooge in Rubicon’s Mainstage production of A Christmas Carol. He was also part of Broadway Jrs. show-choir directed by Miriam Arichea. His hobbies include climbing, working out and games. Neirin is excited to be in Legally Blonde the Musical. He is pursuing acting professionally.

SEREN CLARK WINTER (Ensemble) is a singer, songwriter, pianist, and dancer. She has enjoyed doing theatre since age four. Seren performed in Mamma Mia! and Kids 4 Kids with Rubicon’s Summer Program. She has also performed with PTYA, such characters as: Little Cosette (Les Misérables), Omar (Aladdin) & Chip (Beauty & the Beast). Seren has done Shakespeare youth programs, playing such parts as: Berowne (Love’s Labour’s Lost) and Maria (Twelfth Night). She’s excited to be part of Legally Blonde the Musical!

MARIAH YOUNG (Kate) is currently attending Ventura College and majoring in Theatre. She’s originally from Chicago but moved to California her senior year of high school. In 2022, Mariah participated in Rubicon’s Musical Theatre Workshop production of Mamma Mia! portraying the role of Rosie and most recently played Lady Brackenbury and the Archbishop of Canterbury in Richard III. Ms. Young has been acting since she was small and doesn’t plan on stopping any time soon!

NATALIE MARA (Director and Choreographer) is a Rubicon Theatre Alumni. She is extremely thrilled to be back at her home away from home to work on Legally Blonde the Musical, with this fantastic cast and team! Natalie is a proud PCPA Graduate and has been working professionally for the past ten years as an actor, director, choreographer and theatre arts educator. Natalie has trained in many dance forms and grew up training at The Ballet Academy Ventura. Some of her mentors from the academy include Colleen OCallaghan, Marina Fliagina, and Kathleen Noblin. Natalie continued to train in many other dance forms including contemporary, jazz, modern, lyrical, tap, street, and musical theatre. Most recently she choreographed SLO REP’s main stage production of 9 to 5 as well as the Academy of Creative Theatre’s production of Crazy for You. Natalie has had the opportunity to assist choreographers such as Lee Martino, Michael Jenkinson, Carolanne Marano, and Katie Fuchs Wackowski. Some of her favorite acting credits include; Alicia in The Thanksgiving Play; Allison in Beehive; Missy in The Marvelous Wonderettes; Mabel in Pirates of Penzance; Anita in West Side Story; Carla in In The Heights; Hero in Much Ado about Nothing; and Isabel in American Mariachi. Natalie thanks her incredible parents for their unending love and support, as well as her siblings, the incredible Miriam Arichea, and her amazing friend and mentor Carolanne Marano for her trust, encouragement and love.

MIRIAM ARICHEA (Music Director) is pleased to return for her ninth summer with Rubicon Theatre Company’s summer youth productions. Longtime Rubicon goers may recall Miriam’s work on Beauty and the Beast (2014), West Side Story (2015), On the Town (2017), Pippin (2023), and numerous Kids for Kids benefit concerts. Miriam also founded and directed the Rubicon Harmonix, a small, elite group of singers who performed regularly at community events, including notable Rubicon benefits such as Ticket to Ride (2016) and Out of the Ashes (2018). Miriam is known locally for her performances as a concert pianist and soloist. She has performed with the Ventura College Symphony and San Luis Obispo Chamber Orchestra, and appears regularly with the Channel Islands Chamber Orchestra (CHICO). Miriam is a frequent collaborator with local musicians in venues such as the Ojai Arts Centre, the Ventura Music Festival, and studio and school recitals. A lawyer by training, Miriam received her undergraduate and law degrees at Duke University. She is part of the writs and appeals unit in the Ventura County District Attorney’s office, which granted her a leave of absence in order to work at Rubicon this summer. Miriam is also a credentialed teacher and is on staff at Ventura High School, where she teaches mock trial and choir. Miriam and her husband Jeff Brackett have three adult children, Josh, Arielle, and Daniel, all of whom are alumni of Rubicon Theatre’s youth programs.

Ananya Badami (Production Stage Manager) is so excited to be stage managing for Legally Blonde! She is an alumnus of the Rubicon Summer Programs and is currently pursuing a B.F.A in drama from NYU Tisch School of the Arts. Ananya is a passionate singer, dancer, actor, and writer. Recent onstage credits include Donna in Mamma Mia!, Berthe in Pippin, Fiona in Shrek the Musical, Ms. Honey in Matilda, and Titania in A Midsummer Night’s Dream. Her film credits include Until Next Time (Camden Colquhoun), Wild Hearts (Camden Colquhoun), and Ricky and the Ball and Chain (Julio Arana). Ananya has been dancing since she was eight years old and is trained in ballet, jazz, tap, contemporary, and various street styles including whacking, popping, and hip-hop. She is currently based in New York City where she attends school and works professionally as an actor. 

BRIGIT FITZGERALD (Assistant Stage Manager) is currently a Front of House employee at Spencer Makenzies in Ventura, CA. She recently graduated from high school and will be starting at California State University Long Beach this fall, pursuing a Bachelor’s Degree in Film Production. She has been involved in filmmaking in highschool, gaining experience in directing and acting. She also has introduced herself into theatre through dual enrollment at Ventura College. She is excited to further her knowledge and education in the film industry in her future.

ANTHONY M. COLOMBO (Scenic and Lighting Designer) was born in Brooklyn and attended high school in Florida, winning the Young Floridian Award for Drama. First an actor, he attended IRSC on a performance scholarship before attending the University of Florida. While in Gainesville, Anthony served as Resident Stage Manager at the Phillips Center for the Performing Arts and was Production Stage Manager for Gainesville Opera Theatre Company. He toured North America with productions such as Annie and Beauty and the Beast and served as Head Carpenter for a touring Holiday Cirque show for five years before moving to California. This year marks Anthony’s second season with Rubicon, serving first as Backstage Manager for Almost, Maine, and Associate Technical Director for In the Heights. In addition to his TD duties, this is Anthony’s second year serving as Lighting and Set Designer for Rubicon’s summer education programs. Anthony is a proud member of SAG-AFTRA and IATSE. He is thrilled to be part of Rubicon’s 25th Season and a Co-Producer for Ventura Live. He dedicates his creative endeavors to his late best friend Zathy, whose spirit continues to guide us all toward better choices every day.

CHRIS RIOS (Sound Designer/Engineer) brings over 12 years of experience in audio production across Southern California. He has collaborated with renowned acts including Common, David Crosby, and David Blaine. Chris has also contributed to notable projects such as the hit TV series “Friday Night Vibes” on TBS and served as Stage Manager for “Movement: Presented by Mountain Dew.”

SARAH WILLEY (Prop Designer) is happy to be back this year! Sarah is an artist and vintage lover who lives in Ventura with her daughter Vivian. Sarah uses her imagination and treasure-hunting skills to create the ideal prop needed for the scene. Previous credits include Sally Sells Seashells, As You Like It, Mamma Mia!, Moana Jr., 101 Dalmatians, Henry V, Addams Family Young@Part, Pippin, Disney’s Frozen Kids, Richard III, and Fiddler on the Roof Jr. This will be her third summer working as the Prop Designer for the Rubicon Theatre Summer Education Program.

TARA VANONI (Costume Designer) began sewing when she was very young. She has always been extremely creative. Besides drawing, painting, collage-making, and floral design, Tara began designing costumes for theatrical shows. In the theatre arts, she found her passion and built a sophisticated skill set in costume patterning, costume construction, wigs, hair, and makeup, as well as sewing machine maintenance. Her speed was and still is regarded as unique by fellow professionals. Tara enjoys the challenge of creating costume design image boards and costume rendering, balancing the designer’s vision with production costs and actor’s needs. She has worked on numerous shows over the last decade with many theatres and creates custom costumes and costumes for cosplay.

LEXI QUOLAS (Assistant Costume Designer) has been working with Rubicon Theatre since early 2022 and has also had the fortunate pleasure to work on other Rubicon productions like Twilight: Los Angeles 1992, Lonesome Traveler: Generations, In the Heights, and World Premiere New Musical Dark of the Moon. This will be her second year working with the education program. Previous to working with Rubicon, Lexi was a part of the theatre department at Ventura Community College, working as a Costume Design Assistant, Lead Hair and Makeup, and Prop Assistant for several productions including The Addams Family, Hansel and Gretel: An Opera, These Shining Lives, The Pirates of Penzance, and The Mystery of Edwin Drood. Other productions in which she has been involved include Broadway’s Fiddler on the Roof, South Pacific, and La Traviata. Outside of working in the theatre arts, Lexi she has made a career as a professional makeup artist and hair stylist for over 12 years. Her TV and film credits include “Only Here and Now,” “The Countdown,” “Divided,” “Take the Money and Run,”, “Faraway,” and “Olympia.” Lexi holds separate Associates degrees in Arts & Humanities, Photography, and Social Media from Ventura College, as well as Proficiency Awards in Makeup and Costuming; and a BA in Art: Drawing from CSUN, She believes there is no limitation to education and continues to improve her knowledge. www.Lexi-Quolas.com

JOSEPH FUQUA (Summer Program Director) is the founder of Rubicon’s Fearless Shakespeare program, now in its thirteenth year. An MFA graduate of the Yale School of Drama, his Broadway and Off-Broadway credits include Brighton Beach Memoirs and 110 in the Shade at Lincoln Center. Regionally, Joseph has appeared at Actors Theatre of Louisville, Arena Stage, Shakespeare Festival of Dallas, Dallas Theatre Center and Ensemble Theatre. On television, Joseph guest starred in “The X-Files,” “The Profiler,” “Brooklyn South,” “The Pretender,” “Chicago Hope,” “Star Trek: Deep Space Nine,” and “Becker.” Film credits include J.E.B. Stuart in “Gettysburg” opposite Martin Sheen, a role he reprised in “Gods and Generals.” In 2000, Joseph joined Rubicon Theatre as the first company member in 2000. Roles at Rubicon include the title role in Hamlet (Indy Award), The Boys Next Door (Indy Award), The Rainmaker (Robby Award and Rep Award), All My Sons (Ovation Award), Bruce Wagner in Conviction, Professor Henry Higgins in My Fair Lady, Marshal Johnson in The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance, Pap in Big River, and, Thomas Allen in Dark of the Moon. In 2025, Mr. Fuqua is thrilled to celebrate twenty-five years with Rubicon!

JULIA DONLON (Summer Production and Company Manager) was born and raised in Oxnard, California, and graduated from Pepperdine University in 2019 with a Bachelor’s Degree in Theatre Production Design with an emphasis in Stage Management. She spent the years following doing theatre onboard a cruise ship in New Zealand, Ventura County, and around Los Angeles. Previous credits include the Ventura Live Series, “A” Train, The World Goes Round, Almost, Maine, In the Heights (Rubicon Theatre), Calvin Berger (The Colony Theatre), Accommodation (Odyssey Theatre) Broadway @ The (Bourbon Room), and The Abode (Edinburgh Fringe Festival). While working at Rubicon as the Production Manager, Company Manager, and in-house Stage Manager, Julia also represents Pennies, a local Ventura alternative pop-punk band.

ANTHONY M. COLOMBO (Technical Director) see bio and photo under PRODUCTION TEAM BIOS