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JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR
February 21 - March 30, 2025
The Cast
Cast Bios
DEANALIS AROCHO RESTO* (Jesus) (they/he/she) is a queer Boricua artist raised by Susquehannock land in northeastern Turtle Island. This is his Berkeley Playhouse debut! They are honored and humbled to learn and grow in their artistry and humanity through embodiment of the Superstar himself. Instead of sharing her resume with you, Deanalís would rather invite you to remember your own stunning divinity and the unique gifts you have to offer the world. “All that you touch You Change. All that you Change Changes you. The only lasting truth Is Change. God Is Change.” - from Parable of the Sower by Octavia E. Butler. May Palestine (and all of us) be free. Ceasefire Now.
SYDNEY JACOBS ALLEN (Judas) (she/they) is thrilled to be back at Berkeley Playhouse, the place Sydney considers to be their musical theater home. A Bay Area native, Sydney has enjoyed roles such as Crystal in her very first stage production, Little Shop of Horrors, at Shotgun Theater with the Imagination Players (Berkeley Playhouse at the time). Sydney went on to perform with Berkeley Playhouse in the following productions: Once on This Island, Sweeney Todd, and Urinetown, among others. Sydney graduated from Oakland School for the Arts School of Vocal Music where she was a part of the award winning acapella group Vocal Rush. Sydney has been a part of Oakland Theater Project’s Dance of the Holy Ghost and enjoyed multiple ensemble roles earlier this year in Berkeley Playhouse’s RENT. Most recently, Sydney was seen as Matron Mama Morton in Chicago with Plethos Productions, as well as multiple ensemble roles with Ray of Light’s Legally Blonde and Seussical with Berkeley Playhouse. Sydney would love to thank her family for their unwavering support.
LUCCA TROUTMAN (Mary / Ensemble) Bio coming soon.
ANDREA RAE (Simon / Ensemble) (she/they) is so excited to be returning to Berkeley Playhouse! Originally an Orange County-based artist, she is thrilled to have found such a loving community in the Bay Area! Their previous roles include: Mayzie in Seussical (Berkeley Playhouse), Maureen in RENT (Berkeley Playhouse), Paulette in Legally Blonde (Tri-Valley Theatre Company), Alice in The Addams Family (Landmark), Audrey in Little Shop of Horrors (The Gem Theatre), and Pennywise in Urinetown (Orange Cost Theatre). She would like to thank her incredibly loving family for always supporting her, and her amazing friends! Insta: AndreaRaeH
SEAN HOFFMAN (Peter / Ensemble) joins Berkeley Playhouse for the first time in his favorite show ever, Jesus Christ Superstar. A Berkeley native, Sean grew up performing in the Contra Costa Civic Theatre Summer Camps and with West-Wind Karate Schools. In Fall 2024, Sean made his return to theater in his first-ever musical portraying Prince Herbert in Monty Python’s Spamalot (Ghostlight Theatre Ensemble). Now, he comes home to celebrate and share his favorite show of all time in the incredible community where he grew up. Many thanks. IG: @seanahoffman
JOSHUA BELD (Caiaphas / Ensemble) is ecstatic to be making his Berkeley Playhouse debut. Since moving to the Bay Area in 2006, he has been fortunate to work with many performance companies ranging from opera to burlesque and everything in between. His recent show credits include playing various roles in Golden Girls Live! (Oasis Arts), Albin/Zsa Zsa in La Cage Aux Folles (Altarena Playhouse), the Emcee in Cabaret (Pacifica Spindrift Players), Dawn Summers in Buffy the Vampire Slayer: The Musical (Oasis Arts), Luis Carruthers in American Psycho (Ray Of Light Theatre), Mr. Hardwick/Mr. Bradley/Ashley/Nick/Johnny/Tim in Debbie Does Dallas the Musical (Oasis Arts), and 6 male roles in Oasis' production of Sex and the City, Live! (Oasis Arts), which earned him a TBA nomination for Best Featured Performer in a Specialty Performance.
ELIZABETH CURTIS (Annas / Ensemble) (she/her) is delighted to be back on the Julia Morgan stage, where she was last seen in Grease (Rizzo) and Sister Act (Sister Mary Robert). Other credits include Cabaret (Lulu) at CenterRep, Lizzie (Lizzie) at Ray Of Light Theatre, and Hedwig and the Angry Inch (Yitzhak) at Shotgun Players. Thank you to her family and friends for their never ending support, and to you for supporting live theatre!
JORDAN SMITH (Pilate / Ensemble) (he/him) is elated to return to Berkeley Playhouse with this truly stellar show! He was last seen in Berkeley Playhouse’s production of Little Shop of Horrors as Orin Scrivello, DDS/Ensemble. Before that he was in 2020’s Memphis as Buck Wiley/Featured Ensemble. Regional Credits include: Tri-Valley Repertory Theatre Company: Something Rotten (Brother Jeremiah), Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat (Simeon), Disney’s The Little Mermaid (Chef Louis), 1776 (Courier), Disney’s Mary Poppins (Northbrook/Ensemble) and Contra Costa Musical Theatre: West Side Story (Diesel). Jordan would like to thank his family and friends for love and support. Special shoutout to Leslie Noel Hansen and all his friends at The Peter Pan Foundation.
RIVER BERMUDEZ SANDERS (Herod / Ensemble) (they/them) is a multi-disciplinary theatre professional with credits from companies around the Bay including Golden Thread Productions, San Francisco Bay Area Theatre Company, Hillbarn Theatre, and more. Recent performing work includes Peter Pan with Panto in the Presidio (Swing), Ray of Light’s Rocky Horror (Phantom), and San Francisco Playhouse’s Evita (Ensemble). This spring, they’ll be directing for The Pear Theatre’s Pear Slices, a festival of new works by local playwrights. They are the author of an award-winning thesis that explores the ways Latiné theatre artists advocate for equity in the industry. They are deeply invested in creating work that challenges white supremacy culture in content and process. Instagram: @_riverberate_.
MAIA CAMPBELL (Temple Lady / Apostle / Ensemble) (she/her) is overjoyed to be returning to the Berkeley Playhouse stage. Most recently, she has been seen at Berkeley Playhouse in Kinky Boots (Pat) and Fun Home (Medium Alison). Other favorite Bay Area credits include The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee (Olive Ostrovsky) with TheatreWorks Silicon Valley and Spring Awakening (Martha) with Ray of Light Theatre. She will graduate from MIT this May with a Bachelor of Science in Theatre Arts. She would like to thank her family and friends for their unwavering support—she would be unable to do this without them. Instagram: @maiaic.
AYANI DORSEY (Temple Lady / Apostle / Ensemble) is incredibly excited to make her Berkeley Playhouse debut! Past credits include Cassie in A Chorus Line (Star Theatre Company), Serena in Legally Blonde (Valverde Stage Productions Incorporated), Sue in Carrie (Saddleback College Department of Theater Arts) and various roles/Dance Captain in RENT (Chance Theater). She is currently pursuing her B.A. degree in Film & Media Studies, with a minor in Gender & Women’s Studies at the University of California, Berkeley. At UC Berkeley, Ayani is a part of BareTroupe, Cinematic Arts & Production Club, and Delta Kappa Alpha. She extends her deepest gratitude to her family, her friends, and the creative team! @ayanidorsey
SARAH "ELI" HAMPTON (Temple Lady / Apostle / Ensemble) (they/she) is excited to step foot on the Berkeley Playhouse stage for the first time with the company of Jesus Christ Superstar. They are currently studying performing arts and social justice at the University of San Francisco. At USF, you may have seen them perform in Heathers, In the Blood, and 7 Days in the Darkness. They were also in STAGES St. Louis’ performance of In the Heights. Learn more about Eli by visiting their instagram: @SEH_Theater.
MELODY PAYNE (Apostle / Ensemble) (she/her) is excited to be making her Berkeley Playhouse debut. Melody has been singing her whole life and acting and dancing for two decades. She trained with All Access Productions in Long Island, NY, and private coaches throughout the years. She was most recently seen as Janet in The Rocky Horror Show at Missouri Street Theatre, Heather in Town Hall Theater’s production of Human Error, Brooke in Noises Off at Novato Theatre Company, and preceded by Sylvia, playing the title role, at Sonoma Arts Live. Other favorite roles include Penny Pingleton in Hairspray (Elly Award winner) and Chrissy in Hair. Melody is a partner dance instructor alongside her husband, Justin.
HANNAH MARTINEZ-CROW (Apostle / Ensemble) (she/her) is making her Berkeley Playhouse debut! Previous credit include: Margot in Legally Blonde (Ray of Light Theatre) and Lilibet/Swing in Everybody’s Talking About Jamie (Ray of Light Theatre). SDSU MT ‘23. IG: @hannahmartinezcrow
Z HANSEN (Priest / Ensemble) is thrilled to be returning to Berkeley Playhouse to perform in one of his favorite shows, Jesus Christ Superstar. Previous Berkeley Playhouse credits include Perry Como, u/s Huey in Memphis, Ensemble/Male Swing in Avenue Q and Sasha the Russian/Bottle Dancer in Fiddler on the Roof. Z was most recently seen in Ray of Light Theatre’s production of Legally Blonde as Lowell, u/s Warner. He thanks the team, cast, and crew for making this show incredible! Having just recently moved back to the Bay Area he looks forward to many more productions!
NICHOLAS RENE RODRIGUEZ (Priest / Apostle / Ensemble) is excited to perform on the Berkeley Playhouse stage. He was last seen in Center Rep’s A Christmas Carol. Past credits Include Bent and She Kills Monsters (UCLA Department of Theater), Little Shop of Horrors (Colorbox Productions), and a two-time member of UCLA’s Beloved Spring Sing Company. Nicholas sends a heartfelt thank you for supporting the arts this year. All his love to his loved ones. @atomicnick
JESUS PEDROZA-MORENO (Apostle / Ensemble) was born and raised in the Bay Area with a degree in Theatre Arts from the University of California, Santa Cruz. Notable past roles include Carlos in Legally Blonde at Ray of Light Theatre, the Ensemble in RENT at Berkeley Playhouse, and Romeo in Shakespeare to Go's Romeo and Juliet. Jesus would like to extend heartfelt thanks to family, friends, and colleagues for their unwavering support throughout his artistic journey.
ARIEL ANDERSON (Priest / Ensemble) (he/him) is thrilled to be performing with Berkeley Playhouse for the first time. He is a recent UC Berkeley graduate, with B.A.s in Music, and Theater and Performance Studies. While there he played Francois in Wintertime, as well as various roles with BareStage Productions. He's also been seen at Contra Costa Civic Theater playing King Arthur in Camelot. Many thanks and much love to the cast and crew for this wonderful experience!
JONCARLO SALINAS-TOGNETTI (Apostle / Ensemble) (he/him) is thrilled to be back on the Berkeley Playhouse stage! He recently played Kevin in Berkeley Playhouse’s production of The Prom. Other credits include Dick Wilkins in A Christmas Carol at the Lesher Center for the Arts and Dean Hyde in Diablo Valley Community College’s production of All Shook Up. He would like to thank his friends and family for all their love and support!
KYLE LAPLANA (Apostle / Ensemble) (he/him) is over the moon to finally be making his Berkeley Playhouse debut in Jesus Christ Superstar! Other credits include Ray Of Light Theatre (Spring Awakening (2023) as Otto Lammermeier; Everybody’s Talking About Jamie (2024); Legally Blonde (2024) as Sundeep Padamadan), Hillbarn Theatre (1940’s Radio Hour (2021) as Wally Ferguson; Elf The Musical (2022) as Buddy the Elf Understudy), and Palo Alto Players (Spongebob Squarepants The Musical (2023) as Plankton Understudy). He’d like to thank his family and friends for all the love and support and hopes that you all can enjoy this beautifully crafted show! Instagram: @kylelaplana
JAVIER "JAVI" DE GUZMAN (Ensemble / Swing) is a Bay Area-based actor, artist, and student who is very excited to be taking the stage for Jesus Christ Superstar in his Berkeley Playhouse debut. Recent favorite credits include Alfred in Alice by Heart at Ohlone College, Kenickie in Grease at Ohlone Summerfest, and Annas/Judas(u/s) in Jesus Christ Superstar at Sunnyvale Community players. He would like to thank the Berkeley Playhouse team for this incredible opportunity, as well as his family, friends, and girlfriend for their undying love and support.
LUCY SWINSON (Ensemble / Swing) (she/her) is thrilled to be back at Berkeley Playhouse after last being seen as Wendy in Peter Pan in 2015! Favorite roles include Hamlet in Hamlet (Prague Shakespeare Company), Kate in Zanna Don’t and Mariane in Tartuffe (Chapman University). Regional credits include The Play That Goes Wrong (San Francisco Playhouse), Titanic (42nd Street Moon), A Chorus Line, and Saturday Night Fever (Laguna Playhouse). Lucy graduated in May with her BFA in Theatre Performance and Minor in Musical Theatre from Chapman University. She’d like to thank her Mom and Dad for always supporting her and driving her to Berkeley Playhouse every day while growing up. lucyswinson.com
*Member of Actors' Equity Association, the Union of Professional Actors and Stage Managers in the United States.
What is a Pay What You Can performance?
Berkeley Playhouse presents one Pay What you Can performance for each of our productions. This promotion is cash only at the door - no reservations required. Seating is general admission. We suggest a donation of $20, but can accept a minimum of $5. The box office will open at 6pm on the night of the performance to begin the sale of Pay What You Can tickets. There is a limit of 6 tickets per purchaser.
