LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS

May 27 - July 3, 2022

The Cast

Understudies

Miles Meckling SEYMOUR, ORIN, MUSHNIK; Kennedy Joy Fullard AUDREY; 
Lucca Troutman VOICE OF AUDREY II

Alyssa Fredzess DANCE CAPTAIN

Artist Bios

ROMELO URBI (Seymour) (he/him) is a Bay Area artist and recent graduate of Cal Poly SLO. His most recent credits include Jack in Berkeley Playhouse’s production of Into the Woods, Johnny in Palo Alto Players’ Allegiance, Jamie in Cal Poly SLO’s The Last Five Years, and Melchior in Ghostlight Theatricals’ Spring Awakening. He is delighted to be collaborating with Berkeley Playhouse once again. He would like to thank his friends and family for their unwavering encouragement, love, and support. Keep up with him on Instagram @romelourbi.

CHANEL TILGHMAN (Audrey) (she/they) is elated to return to the Julia Morgan stage for a fifth time! Bay Area born and raised, she graduated from the University of Southern California in 2016 where she studied Communication, Theatre, and Music Industry. Previous Berkeley Playhouse credits include Memphis (Ethel/Selma/Ensemble), Mamma Mia! (Sophie), Dreamgirls (Michelle), and Ragtime (Ensemble). Other theater: Passing Strange (Shotgun Players), A Christmas Carol (Center REPertory Company), The Little Mermaid (Lucky Penny Productions), Pride & Prejudice: A New Musical (TheatreWorks Silicon Valley), and In the Heights (Plethos Productions). V/O: The Gingerbread Family Adventure (Bay Area Children’s Theatre).

BILLY RAPHAEL (Mr. Mushnik) most recently performed at the Berkeley Playhouse as Alexandros in Mamma Mia!, Uncle Henry/Guard in Wizard of Oz & Drake in Annie. Recent performances include Nathan Detroit in Guys and Dolls and Ali Hakim in Oklahoma at Altarena Playhouse, Piraguerro in CCCT's In The Heights and George in Billy Elliot at Berkeley Playhouse. Other Bay Area performances include Smee in Peter Pan at Berkeley Playhouse, Tall Brother in Drowsy Chaperone, Louie in Lost in Yonkers, Marvin in Bleacher Bums, and Wilson in Harvey at CCCT, Sir Toby in Twelfth Night and Chebutykin in Kill the Debbie Downers at Shotgun Players, Zeller in Sound of Music and Charlie Cowell in Music Man at CCMT, & Audrey II puppeteer in Ray of Light's Little Shop. Other performances: Pinole Community Player's Godspell and Rent, Gypsy at Downtown Theatre, and Bay Area Musical's La Cage. I would like to thank my Megan and Baby Rey Rey for all the love and support.

JORDAN SMITH (Orin Scrivello, D.D.S./Ensemble) (he/him) is honored to return to Berkeley Playhouse after appearing in Memphis as Buck Wiley/Ensemble. Regional credits: Tri-Valley Repertory Theatre: Joseph and the…Dreamcoat (Simeon), The Little Mermaid (Chef Louis) and Forever Plaid (Sparky); Contra Costa Musical Theatre’s West Side Story (Diesel); Diablo Valley College Drama: Mystery of Edwin Drood (Chairman) and Hairspray (Edna); Contra Costa Civic Theatre: Bright Star (Darryl Ames). He also appeared in Diablo Theatre Company’s Guys and Dolls (Big Jule), as well as OMG! I Love That Show’s Forbidden Broadway. HUGE thanks to Berkeley Playhouse and everyone who made this show possible. Shout outs to his family, friends and amazing boyfriend, Justin, for their love and support! Enjoy, but look out!!

B NOEL THOMAS (Audrey II) is a multi-talented, award-winning performing artist and teacher currently based in the Bay Area. With their versatile baritone-to-soprano voice it has allowed them to be able to play roles that run the gamut of gender and vocal range. A selection of their credits includes ABC's American Idol Season 3, Theatre Forward 2021 Virtual Gala (Featuring Jason Robert Brown, Kate Baldwin, George Salazar, Anika Noni Rose & More), The Toxic Avenger (Bay Area Theatre Critics Circle Award winner, Theatre Bay Area Award nominee), Tinderella: The Modern Musical (Dylan; Bay Area Theatre Critics Circle Award nomination, original cast recording available on Spotify), Sister Act (Deloris; Theatre Bay Area Award nominee), @BNoelThomas.

LUCCA TROUTMAN (Ronnette) is an electro-acoustic composer, director, and performer originally from Hartford, Connecticut. She holds a BA in Psychology and Music from Smith College and an MA in Music Composition from Mills College in Oakland. She regularly performs throughout the Bay Area and was previously featured in Pippin at Berkeley Playhouse. Outside of performing, Lucca teaches and creates multi-disciplinary work while spending quality time with her affable hound dog, Ama.

JENNIFER MARIE FRAZIER (Crystal), synonymous with professionalism and creativity, began her performing arts career at the age of 12. She takes pride in the title “Triple Threat" and has been on stages from Tokyo to Los Angeles. She’s been seen in a few shows right here at Berkeley Playhouse such as Sister Act, Dreamgirls, Mamma Mia, and Memphis! She’s thrilled to be back at BPH for her fifth production.

KENNEDY JOY FULLARD (Chiffon) (she/her) is a 22-year-old San Francisco State graduate. She has been seen in productions such as A Christmas Story at Berkeley Playhouse and Hair at San Francisco State University. She owes everything to the support of her friends and her family, especially her parents and her brother. For additional information on Kennedy Joy, please visit www.backstage.com/u/kennedy-joy-fullard/.

MILES MECKLING (Ensemble) (he/him) is excited to be returning to Berkeley Playhouse for Little Shop of Horrors. Although the 2020 shows he was involved in never had the opportunity to come to full fruition he gained a wonderful family, so he knew he had to return. He is a graduate from Sacramento State where he received his Bachelors in Theatre. Notable credits include Classic Theatre: The Gift of Magi, MacBeth Project: King Lear, Sacramento State: Sweat, In the Heights, South Bay Musical Theatre: Almost Maine, Woodland Opera House: Sister Act, Newsies. William Jessup: Seven Brides. Lastly, he thanks his family and friends for the love and support. Instagram: @Leroi23

ALYSSA FREDZESS (Ensemble/Dance Captain) is thrilled to be making her reappearance to the stage for the first time in two and a half years. She was last seen in Mamma Mia and West Side Story at Berkeley Playhouse and is super excited to have the opportunity to work with them again. She hopes everyone enjoys this classic show and as always would like to thank her friends and family for their everlasting support.

RYAN WEIBLE (Director) is feeling all the feels on this one. Berkeley Playhouse is his theatrical home and he's thrilled and honored to be returning to it, and this production, post-pandemic. Ryan was last seen in Mamma Mia! as Harry, after directing his first musical for BPH: Big! Ryan has directed over 60 plays and musicals in his career thus far and holds two degrees in theatre: New York University (MA) and San Diego State University (BA). He would like to thank his entire cast and creative team for making this such a special experience. He would also like to thank his amazing husband, Marcus, for all of his love, patience, encouragement, and support.

NO'EAU KAHALEKULU (Assistant Director) (she/her) is coming full circle with this production at Berkeley Playhouse with her first show being Little Shop of Horrors in the conservatory. No'eau is both an actor and director, with her most recent credits with BPH including Head Over Heels, Cats, Big the Musical. She would like to extend a huge thank you to her mother, Alohalani, for her constant support and love. She'd also like to thank Ryan Weible and Chanel Tilgman for being the best of creators and friends and the Berkeley Playhouse staff for always being her home away from home. To keep up with her adventures follow @noeaukahalekulu on Instagram.

MICHAEL PATRICK WILES (Resident Music Director/Conductor/Keys 1) is in his eighth season as Casting Director & Resident Music Director for Berkeley Playhouse. Previous BPH Music Directing credits include Mamma Mia, Pippin (TBA Award Nomination), Dreamgirls (TBA Award Nomination), Grease, Sister Act, Urinetown (TBA Award, BACCTA Nomination), Peter & the Starcatcher, The Addams Family, Hairspray, and Avenue Q (TBA Award Nomination). Other Music Directing credits include work with the Bay Area Children's Theater, Capital Stage Company, Center REP, Contra Costa Civic Theater, Pacific Repertory Theater, San Francisco Opera Guild, and San Francisco Shakespeare Festival. BFA Cornish College of the Arts.

ALLISON PARAISO (Choreographer) is thrilled to be returning to Berkeley Playhouse! Her recent Bay Area choreography credits include: A Little Night Music (42nd St Moon), Christmas Time in Oz, Bright Star (CCCT), Pippin*TBA Nom (BPH), West Side Story (BPH), Little Shop of Horrors (Bentley), Allegiance (CCCT), Ragtime (CCCT), Grease*TBA Nom (BPH & BBBAY), Saturday Night (42nd St Moon), Annie (BPH), Sister Act (BPH), Cabaret (CCCT), In the Heights (CCCT), Urinetown*TBA Nom (BPH), Billy Elliot (BPH), Beauty and the Beast (BPH), The Addams Family (Los Positas), My Fair Lady (CCCT). Allison would like to thank her husband, family, and friends for their incredible and never-ending support!

KUO-HAO LO (Scenic Designer) is a member of USA829 and currently working as a freelance scenic designer. His designs received several awards including Theatre Bay Area Awards for Outstanding Scenic Design for 2019's Cinderella, 2018's It’s Only a Play, 2016's Mothers and Sons, 2015's Die Mommie Die and 2014's August, Osage County. He also received the San Francisco Bay Area Theatre Critics Circle Outstanding Achievement Award for Set Design for 2009's Dames at Sea, 2010's Sugar Witch, and was a 2013 Faces of Theatre Bay Area Honoree. He has a M.A in Theatre from Lindenwood University, St. Charles, Missouri. www.kuohaolodesign.org.

LYLE BARRERE, DESIRED EFFECT (Resident Sound Designer) is thrilled to be returning to Berkeley Playhouse for a fifth season as resident sound designer! He began his theater career when he was 11 and has now worked over 200 shows as a producer, director, sound or lighting designer, and stage manager for many professional companies in the Bay Area and Los Angeles. His sound designs have been nominated for Bay Area Theatre Critics Circle, Shellie, and Theatre Bay Area Awards. Lyle is a graduate of the University of California, Los Angeles, with a degree in Physics. When not in the theatre Lyle enjoys working with his nonprofit trust, hiking, camping, and scuba diving. He is the owner of Desired Effect, a full-service theatrical effects company in the Bay Area. Desired-Effect.com

STEVEN KROEGER, DESIRED EFFECT (Audio Engineer) is in his eighth production at Berkeley Playhouse, being a part of every production since West Side Story in the 2018-2019 season. He has also been a part of productions at numerous other theater companies in the Bay Area through Desired Effect, a full service theatrical production company. He would like to thank his co-workers, family, friends, and his fellow cast and crew of Little Shop of Horrors.

PEET COCKE (Prop Designer) (he/him) is a writer and director based in Oakland. He holds an MFA in Dramatic Art from the University of California, Davis and an MFA in Visual Art from the University of Southern California. His full-length plays include Nothing's Lost Forever, Extraordinary Mysteries, Even at A Funeral, and Already Done to You, and an original adaptation of the novel Voices, by Ursula K. Le Guin, entitled Through the Glass Darkly. His directing credits include Naomi Wallace’s No Such Cold Thing, The Search for Signs of Intelligent Life in the Universe and Charles Mee’s Under Construction and Heaven on Earth.

SHANNON REILLY (Stage Manager/Resident Stage Manager & Associate Producer) (she/her) is a Bay Area native who has worked for many theater companies in the Bay including American Conservatory Theatre, Aurora Theater Company, Bay Area Children’s Theater and many more. Since 2015, she has been stage managing shows on the Berkeley Playhouse stage including Mamma Mia!, West Side Story, Dreamgirls, Ragtime, Sister Act, Peter Pan, and many more. Some other highlights from her time as a stage manager include The Rocky Horror Show (A.C.T. Conservatory), The Cable Car Nymphomaniac (FOGG THeatre), and Love Sick (Jewish Circle Theatre.) She is also a proud member of Stage Managers’ Association.

CALIFORNIA SHAKESPEARE THEATER (Scenic Construction) is a nationally recognized leader in drawing on the power of authentic, inclusive storytelling to create more vibrant communities. Cal Shakes invites people from all walks of life to make deeply felt connections with our shared humanity through its work onstage, in schools, and in communities throughout the Bay Area. The Cal Shakes scene shop includes Steven Schmidt (Technical Director), Heidi Voelker (Associate Technical Director), Charlotte Wheeler (Shop Supervisor), Tenaya Raives (Asst. Shop Supervisor), Adeline Smith (Paint Charge), Gray DePol, Nick Mead, Tyler Miller, Mozzart Pierson, Ying Yu (Carpenters). For more information visit calshakes.org. 

DESIRED EFFECT (Sound Engineering and Electrician Services) now in it's 17th year, is a full service theatrical production company in the San Francisco Bay Area, offering equipment rental in Lighting, Sound and Special Effects as well as full service design, operation and custom special effects.

JESSICA IGARASHI (Keyboard 2) is a pianist, music director, and educator based in the East Bay. She currently teaches private piano lessons at Main Street Music in Tracy and is both excited and grateful to be performing at Berkeley Playhouse again.

LARRY DE LA CRUZ (Reeds) studied music at the Berklee College of Music, and earned a B.A. degree in Music Education at San Diego State University. He has been playing flute, saxophone, and clarinet in the San Francisco Bay Area for over 25 years in various music groups, and looks forward to his fifth show at Berkeley Playhouse.

SONJA LINDSAY (Trumpet) (she/her) is thrilled to be back at Berkeley Playhouse in 2022! Previous Berkeley Playhouse shows include: 2021's A Chorus Line (KidStage) 2020's Memphis (MainStage), Music Man (KidStage). Sonja has played with various Theatre companies and Orchestras across the Bay Area, including San Francisco Playhouse (Most recently 2021-2022's Twelfth Night), Bay Area Musicals, The Sacramento Philharmonic & Opera and The Fremont Opera Orchestra.

DAVID V. KELLY-TUASON (Electric Bass) (he/him) has played bass for musicals throughout all the Bay Area; favorites include Billy Elliot the Musical (Berkeley Playhouse), In the Heights (Contra Costa Civic Theatre), Rocky Horror Show (Ray of Light Theatre), Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson, Chess (The Custom Made Theatre Co.), Heathers: The Musical (Pacifica Spindrift Players), and Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown (Town Hall Theatre Company). He is also a percussionist in the Cal Alumni Marching Band, a Catholic church pianist, and bassist for the Hawaiian reggae band Ukulenny & Dos Pogi Boys. David is a Bay Area native and lives in Oakland with his wife, Heidi, their son, Zeke, and pug, Stanley.

DANNY COZART (Drums) has been an active Bay Area Actor, Director & Musician for the past 20 years, recently directing Chess in concert at 42nd Street Moon, The Sound of Music at Broadway by the Bay and a sold out run of Cannibal: The Musical for The Other Other Theatre company. Danny also directed Avenue Q and Urinetown for Berkeley Playhouse, receiving a TBA award for Direction of Urinetown. Additional Berkeley Playhouse credits include acting and playing music in To Kill a Mockingbird and playing in the band for Hairspray. Danny would like to thank his family Marisa, Sawyer and Emery for all their love and support.

CAMERON PENCE (Production Manager) is in his sixth season as Production Manager at Berkeley Playhouse! Originally from North Carolina, Cameron is happy to call Berkeley Playhouse his artistic home. In addition to production management of all Professional Season shows, Cameron has also served as Lighting Designer for Memphis, West Side Story, and Sister Act. Prior to Berkeley Playhouse, Cameron was Conservatory Technical Director at the American Conservatory Theater. Lighting Design credits at ACT include I’m Still Standing and Punk Rock for the Young Conservatory and The Big Meal and Rocky Horror for the MFA program. Before moving to the Bay Area, Cameron toured the world for six years with a variety of touring shows. In his spare time Cameron enjoys sailing on San Francisco Bay.

MELISSA RIVERA (Producing Director of Education & MainStage) (she/her) is a Bay Area-born Latina performer, educator, and theater professional. She holds an MM in Opera & Music Theater Performance from Southern Illinois University at Carbondale, and a BM in voice and a BA in Spanish from San Diego State University. She participated in the LAByrinth Theater Company’s intensive ensemble in New York where she studied with Philip Seymour Hoffman (among others), and completed an in-depth teacher training course with Sheri Sanders, creator of Rock the Audition, in pop/rock musical theater audition techniques. Before joining Berkeley Playhouse, Melissa performed all over the country in theaters such as Sight & Sound Theatres, Legends in Concert, and Opera Lancaster. She is excited to be a member of this theater community.

MARY K. LINS (Managing Director) (she/her) is in her fourth season at Berkeley Playhouse. She is a theater arts graduate of Pennsylvania State University, Harrisburg Arts School, Interlochen Center for the Arts musical theater program, and holds a masters degree in religion and the arts. Prior to relocating to the Bay Area, she served on the board of directors for the Millbrook Playhouse Regional Theater. Mary is especially passionate about the ongoing development of Berkeley Playhouse’s educational outreach programs due to the invaluable tools and life skills children cultivate through introduction and engagement with the arts.

KIMBERLY DOOLEY (Executive Artistic Director) (she/her) has been directing, choreographing, teaching theater and working in arts producing and administration in the Bay Area for over 20 years. She is a graduate of NYU's Tisch School of the Arts in the Experimental Theatre Wing. At the Berkeley Playhouse, she has directed and choreographed Once On This Island, Seussical, Mary Poppins, The Wiz, Lucky Duck, The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, Addams Family, Beauty and the Beast, Billy Elliot, Grease, and Pippin, as well as several KidStage and TeenStage productions. She's grateful to call this her creative and professional home.