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

SAVANNAH ATCHISON (Queen Margaret) is a sophomore at Ventura College. She is majoring in theatre, with the ultimate goal of directing. 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.

SIERRA ATCHISON (Duke of Clarence / James Tyrrel) is excited to be a part of Rubicon Theatre’s Summer Program! Sierra has previously worked with Ventura College’s theatre department and with Young Artists Ensemble, and intends to pursue stage and voice acting at CSU Long Beach.

EAMON BELL (Prince of Wales) is a rising 8th grader at Oak Grove School in Ojai, CA where he has performed in Shrek, the Musical and Mary Poppins as Michael. This is his second year participating in Rubicon’s Summer Youth Program. Eamon began performing on the stage at Sacred Fools Summer Camp in Hollywood and then at OYes in Ojai. He has also performed in Ojai Community Theater. He is thrilled to be a part of Richard III and looks forward to performing in Fiddler on the Roof Jr. later in the month. In his spare time he plays baseball, soccer and guitar.

IAIN BELL (Duke of York) will enter 6th grade at Oak Grove School in Ojai, CA this fall. He started performing on the stage with Sacred Fools summer program in Hollywood and continues to perform as often as possible throughout the school year with OYES in Ojai. He also performs in annual school musicals at OGS and has performed in community theatre with Ojai Acts. This is Iain’s second year participating with Rubicon. He is excited to be in Richard III playing alongside his real life older brother. He will also be performing later this month in Rubicon’s Fiddler on the Roof Jr. Iain is a drummer, a soccer player and a baseball player when he’s not acting and singing.

AILEEN CORPUS (Newscaster) graduated from Pacifica High School and now attends Ventura College. She loves going shopping with her sister and hanging out with her friends as well as working on improving herself in the acting department. This is her first summer working with Rubicon in Richard III.

JACK FREDERICKS (Duke of Gloucester then Richard III) is going into their junior year at Buena High School. They have been part of Rubicon’s Summer Program for the last three years. Richard III will mark their seventh theatrical production to date.

JOSEPH IWUAJOKU (Lord Stanley) graduated from Moorpark College with an AA in General Studies- Arts and Humanities in 2022. He currently attends UC Berkeley where he is pursuing a BA in Theatre & Performance Studies and will be graduating this fall.  Joey’s previous work includes the following roles in plays at Moorpark College, Leandre in Scapin, Simon Senior, Factory worker, and Bartender in Kinky Boots; Malcolm in Macbeth and Brom Bones in The Legend of Sleepy Hollow at Grace Brethren.  Joey’s aspirations are to become an acting presence in the TV and Film Industry.

LEO KEARNEY (Duke of Buckingham) is going into his third year at UC Berkeley, double majoring in Theatre and Performance Studies and Film. This is his fifth show with Rubicon, with past shows including Henry V (Henry V), As You Like It (Touchstone), and Les Miserables (Monsieur Thénardier). In the past year he has performed in four plays at Berkeley including Much Ado About Nothing (Claudio), Cyrano de Bergerac (Christian), and Outside Mullingar (Tony). Enjoy the show! 

COREE KOTULA (Queen Elizabeth) 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 that she’s done 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!

ZACHARIAS LOPEZ (King Edward IV / Sir William Catesby) 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 enjoyed working with this cast and crew.

JOSELYN LOPEZ (Lord Mayor / Sir James Blunt / Bishop of Ely) is going to be in her third year at Ventura College. She enjoys many different sides of the arts, theatre arts being one of them, as well as painting and drawing. She started theatre in high school, and has had the opportunities of working backstage and doing stage management at Ventura College. This is her first time working on a production with Rubicon and she is very happy to experience being in this production.

ISAIAH MALDONADO (Emcee / Lord Hastings) is a Buena High School graduate and has spent the last two years participating in Ventura College’s Theatre Program. 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.

AARYA MAROLY (Princess Elizabeth / Lovel / Messenger 2) is an alumna of La Reina High School and will be attending Villanova Preparatory School in the fall. She enjoys spending time with her family and friends. Playing with her little brother and drawing miscellaneous pictures for her friends to laugh at are some of her favorite pastimes. This is her first theatre production with Rubicon! She thanks her family for supporting her and cheering her on and her English teacher for helping her realize that Shakespeare is kind of fun!

LILY MCGUIRE (Marquess of Dorset) is a rising sophomore and is thrilled to be back with the Rubicon for her second production with the program. Her previous role with the Rubicon includes, Boy (Henry V 2023). Outside of Rubicon she played King Claudius in Hamlet. She 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 (Richard Ratcliffe) graduated Oxnard High School in 2018 and is currently attending Ventura College with a major in Theatre and a minor in mathematics. 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.

ALYSSA RENAE (Lady Anne) graduated from Oxnard High School and is in her final year at Ventura College. This is her 29th production altogether and recently 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. She plans to transfer to either CSUN or UC Berkeley for Musical Theatre.

CAMILLE RICHARDS (Alice Ratcliffe) 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, and before that Moana Jr. She has also been in plays with PTYA, VC, her school and an acting class at the SPTC. Off-stage, she has helped with lights for Rubicon’s Christmas show, ushered for “Ventura Live” and others and stage managed for VC. When not acting like crazy she enjoys reading, drawing and movie watching.

ALLY STANCAVAGE (Duchess of York) just finished her first year studying English in the Dual BA program between Trinity College Dublin and Columbia University. She is excited to return to Rubicon after enjoying her time in the ensemble of Mamma Mia! Favorite roles with other companies include Andre in Trinity Halls’ Dirty Rotten Scoundrels, Sophia/Mathilde in the DU Players’ Otto, Connie in DPTC’s The Plot, Like Gravy, Thickens, and Bottom in DPTC’s Midsummer Jersey.

HARPER WEYMAN (Earl of Richmond / King Henry VII / Earl Rivers) is entering his sophomore year at Foothill Technology. Previous work with Rubicon includes Pippin, Henry V and Moana as well as the Christmas 2023 concert. Outside of the stage Harper enjoys singing in the Ventura High School Chorale, lifting weights and studying Japanese. He will also be playing Warner Huntington III in Legally Blonde later this summer.

MARIAH YOUNG (Archbishop of Canterbury / Sir Robert Brakenbury) 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. Ms. Young has been acting since she was small and doesn’t plan on stopping any time soon!

JOSEPH FUQUA (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!

LOUIS LOTORTO (Assistant Director/ Dramaturg/ Verse Coach/ Fight Director) is thrilled to be collaborating with Joseph Fuqua again for his seventh summer season with Fearless Shakespeare! With an acting resume steeped in Classical Theatre, Louis has worked professionally as a regional theatre actor for over 32 years and has performed in 20 of the plays in the Shakespeare canon including Rubicon’s production of King Lear as the Fool and was nominated for a Helen Hayes Award for Best Supporting Actor as Ariel in The Tempest at The Shakespeare Theatre in Washington, D.C. Louis’ passion is Story-telling through Language and his mission is making heightened text accessible to young people, taking the intimidation factor out of the equation by teaching how to navigate the muscularity of the verse and thereby making the words come alive in the mouth of the speaker. Borrowing from Hamlet’s advice to the Players, he teaches to ‘suit the action to the word, the word to the action.’ and believes that if you can act in Shakespeare plays well, you can act any role well.

Favorite Shakespeare Play: Macbeth.

Favorite Shakespeare quote: “To thine own self be true..”

www.louislotorto.com

Louis will be playing Agatha Christie’s famed Belgian detective, Hercule Poirot this Fall in Long Beach at the International City Theatre.

ANANYA BADAMI (Production Stage Manager) is so excited to be stage managing for Fearless Shakespeare this summer! As an alumni of the program, she knows how important Shakespeare training is to any actor’s tool belt. Ananya is currently pursuing a B.F.A in drama from NYU Tisch School of the Arts. Past performer credits include Donna in Mamma Mia! (Rubicon), Berthe in Pippin! (Rubicon), and Fiona in Shrek the Musical (Oak Grove School). 

TESSA SHINDEN (Assistant Stage Manager) 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. Previous work with Rubicon includes Catherine in Pippin (2023), Sophie in Mamma Mia! (2022), and Fiona in Shrek, the Musical (2021). Last summer, she was the Student Director for the 2023 Kids for Kids Benefit Concert. She is so excited to be the Assistant Stage Manager for this production and thankful for her close friends and family! 

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 Jr., and Pippin. 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) see bio under PRODUCTION TEAM BIOS

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