AnnDee Alvidrez (Scene Designer for our secrets as we shed them/Student Mentor for Scenery, Props, & Projections) holds an MFA from Texas State University in Scenic Design. AnnDee continues to work as a freelance designer with recent design works including but not limited to: Fabulous Monsters, The Stinky Cheese Man and Other Fairly Stupid Tales, Always…Patsy Cline, Native Gardens. AnnDee is excited to be back home in El Paso, and strives to serve her community as best she can. www.anndeealvidrez.com
Carolyn Cubit-Tsutsui (Festival Production Manager) graduated with her MFA from the University of Illinois in Stage Management. Before coming to work at UTEP as the Head of Stage Management and Department Production manager, she traveled the world working with various artists and productions such as Mikel Rouse's Dennis Cleveland, and Failing Kansas. John Cage's James Joyce, Erik Satie, Marcel Duchamp: An Alphabet, and Osvaldo Golijov’s La Pasión Según San Marcos. Just before her relocation to El Paso, Carolyn was the resident Stage Manager at the Hawaii Theatre Center in Honolulu and Production Managed several corporate events on the Hawaiian Islands.
Valerie Del Valle (Assistant Scenery and Props Designer for WhenWaterFalls) is an undergraduate of Theatre Technology and Design at the University of Texas at El Paso. This is her first year and she is very excited to be able to team up with such a wonderfully talented team to make this show one everyone will enjoy.
Marissa Díaz (Lighting Designer for EPCC & Mountain Movement in whenwaterfalls/Student Mentor for Lighting, Sound, & Projections) has an MFA in Lighting Design from UC Irvine and a BFA from UTEP in Theatre. Marissa has worked with lighting for theatre, dance, and architecture and is thrilled to be back home in El Paso teaching. She thanks her husband and her family for all their love and support. www.madlightingdesign.com
Maria Espinoza (Co-Master Electrican for our secrets as we shed them) is a student at UTEP working on getting her BFA in Theatre Tech & Design with a concentration in Sound Design. She is excited for you to see her work on her first dance show as a lighting designer. She is thankful for her mentors, colleagues, family, and friends, who have supported her along the way.
Rubysella M. Erickson (Lead Lighting Designer for our secrets as we shed them) is from Houston, Texas and is a junior pursuing a BFA in Theatre Technology and Design, with an emphasis in Sound Design. She is excited to be light designing this production. Rubysella thanks those who have helped and supported her throughout this journey.
Robyn Farley (Costume Designer for Mare Nostrum & Agonal Respite in WhenWaterFalls) is in her final semester at UTEP as a Technical Theater major, with a focus in Costume Design. She has worked on many UTEP shows, both as a designer and as a technician. Over the past few months, she has been working with Melissa and Saul to create the designs you see on stage. Overall, she's extremely pleased with her work and hope you enjoy the show as well!
Reggie Garcia (Scenery and Props Designer for WhenWaterFalls) is the scenic designer for this production and an undergraduate student employee working as a TA in the UTEP Scene Shop. He is working towards his BFA in Technical Design in the Theater Arts a and minor in Film Production. He’s incredibly excited for everyone to enjoy the show that everyone has worked so hard on.
Belen Hernandez (Assistant Stage Manager for our secrets as we shed them) is the assistant stage manager for this production. She is currently in her second semester at UTEP. She is also working in the Lighting and Sound Shop. Belen is very excited to be part of this production, since this her first production as an assistant stage manager. She is also working towards her BFA in Stage and Theatre Management. She can't wait for everyone to see this production.
Brian Hollander (Costume Designer for our secrets as we shed them & The Way of Water in WhenWaterFalls/Student Mentor for Costume, Hair, and Make-Up) Brian is the Visiting Assistant Professor of Costume Design at UTEP. He recently received his M.F.A. at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas where he graduated summa cum laude and as a member of The Honor Society of PHI KAPPA PHI. He earned certificates in Teaching, Research, and Mentorship as well as earning the Honors Medallion through the Graduate College at UNLV. Along with theatre and teaching, he is active in cosplay, freelance work, and commission work. Some of his commission work includes designing and constructing historic Santa Clause from around the world for the Village of Lights: Christmastown Festival for the City of Leavenworth in Washington State. He has had the opportunity to design for recognized theatres such as The Nevada Conservatory Theatre, Leavenworth Summer Theater, UNLV Opera Theater, and The Utah Shakespeare Festival. Brian was also worked wardrobe for several touring shows including: Shrek: The Musical (National Tour), Young Frankenstein with NETworks Presentations, and Spamalot with Phoenix Entertainment.
Maya Lavin (Stage Manager for our secrets as we shed them) is a Junior pursuing a BFA in Stage and Theatre Management. She is excited to be stage managing her first dance show here at UTEP. She would like to thank her team for all their hard work. She would also like to thank her family for their continued support throughout this journey. Enjoy the show!
Sandra Paola López Ramírez (Director/Choreographer) is an interdisciplinary dancemaker, cultural organizer, improviser and mother. She was born and raised in the luscious Andes mountains in what is currently known as Bogotá, Colombia and her relationship to the Andean landscape, the music and dances from this territory and her mixed heritage deeply influences her artistic work and activism. Sandra Paola now lives in the Chihuahuan desert straddling the U.S.-Mexico border, another beautiful and complex region that has shaped her understanding of the connection between body, ancestral memory and land. In her decades of work, she has developed her practice to radically integrate her creative process and her community organizing efforts creating small and large scale works that activate public spaces, non-traditional and formal performance venues, and natural landscapes. Her commitment to transformation and healing is mostly manifested in the work of the Institute for Improvisation and Social Action (ImprovISA), an organization that she co-founded in 2011. Sandra Paola holds a M.F.A. in Interdisciplinary Arts with a concentration on Performance Creation from Goddard College and is currently a Visiting Assistant Professor at The University of Texas at El Paso.
Melissa Melpignano (Director/Choreographer/Capstone Instructor) PhD, is an inter/trans/a-disciplinary dance scholar, choreographer, performer, educator, community facilitator, writer, and translator. She works as an Assistant Professor of Instruction and Director of Dance in the Department of Theatre & Dance at UTEP. Her research focuses on the stakes of dancing and choreographing in contested regions and border areas, such as the Mexico-U.S. border and Israel/Palestine (object of her second book project). The research for her forthcoming book on ballet granted her the Selma Jeanne Cohen Award from the Society of Dance History Scholars. As an international performer, with a background in various Western and Mediterranean dance forms, she danced with Hofesh Shechter, Richard Siegal (The Forsythe Company/The Bakery), Maresa Von Stockert, among others. As an artist invested in recentering dance and the body for the pursue of environmental and social justice, Melissa works collaboratively with the collective Somos Agua and with artists Angel Cabrales, Sam Reveles, and Hadar Ahuvia. Her performance project #documance has received national and international attention. Get in touch: @melchoraw and melissamelpignano.com
Lee Nixon (Costume Designer for Parallel of Inner Reflections in WhenWaterFalls) is a junior working on completing a BFA in Theatre with a concentration in Costume Design. This is their second design project at UTEP, and their seventh production within the department. In addition to working as a TA in the Costume Shop, they also performed in productions such as The Sports Page. Working with Alyssa Aranada these past few months, they brought her vision to life on stage.
Larry Ortiz (Projection Designer for our secrets as we shed them/Projections Designer for WhenWaterFalls/Lighting Designer for Ripple Effect, Brincando El Charco in WhenWaterFalls) is a UTEP senior and os expected to graduate this semester. He looks back on his time here with fondness. Larry is a Lighting Design major with notable credits, such as, OBINI, Teargas Anthem, Borderline, and Zoot Suit. Late nights in this theatre have successfully paid off, as he pursues further education in grad school. "I am a reflection of all of the wonderful mentorship surrounding me. I will carry El Paso and UTEP everywhere I go. A special thanks to Marissa and Hide. I would be nowhere without you."
Genesis Tanner (Assistant Scene Designer for our secrets as we shed them) is a student of Theatre Technology and Design with a focus in Scenic Design. She would like to thank Ann Dee Alvidrez for taking her along in the design process and teaching her the many skills she learned throughout her career. She would also like to extend her thanks to the many tech and performance students who shared their craft with us to create the space.
Jess Tolbert (Visual Artist for our secrets as we shed them) is a craftsperson based in the El Paso, Texas borderlands of the United States. Their practice reconsiders manufactured, everyday products and materials as wearable and intimate objects. Utilizing and inspired by the seemingly commonplace, Jess bridges the gap between disparate modes of making in order to consider the role material, process, and people play in the production of things, spaces, and identity. Jess’ work is recognized nationally and internationally and has been selected to exhibit at the Musée des Arts Décoratifs in Paris, Brooklyn Metal Works, Beijing Design Week, and the Houston Center for Contemporary Craft to name a few. They have participated in multiple artist residencies including a recent residence at Casa Lü in Mexico City. Jess has been selected for prestigious awards including the Preziosa Young award based in Florence, Italy, and as a Finalist for the Loewe Craft Prize in 2020. They are a co-founder of the curatorial group Secret Identity Projects, which has curated exhibitions for Munich Jewelry Week, New York Jewelry Week, as well as the Rubin Center for Visual Arts. Jess’ work is represented by Gallery Loupe (Montclair, NJ) and Gallery 2052 (Chicago, IL).
Chris Reyman (Music/Sound Design for our secrets as we shed them))(DMA) is an improvising musician and composer that focuses on interdisciplinary collaboration. Over the past 20 years, he has performed as an pianist and accordionist in jazz and improvising ensembles, including work with improvising dancers Kirstie Simson and Sandra Paola López Ramírez. He also composes music for film and interactive media, including a top-selling virtual reality game developed by the Austin-based production company Mighty Coconut. Chris Reyman is an Associate Professor of Improvisation and Commercial Composition at the University of Texas at El Paso, where he works with students on creative music practices through performance, composition, and collaborative music making.
Rebecca Roberts (Co-Master Electrician for our secrets as we shed them/Lighting Designer for Whistles the Sea in WhenWaterFalls) is a junior at UTEP, working towards a BFA in Theatre with a concentration in Technical Theatre. She is proud to be lighting her first main stage dance piece and would like to thank her family, friends, and fellow artists who have helped and supported her as she continues her journey to become a lighting designer.
Ari Salas (Lighting Designer for Agonal Respite in WhenWaterFalls) is a senior at UTEP and is expected to graduate with their BA in performance. A jack of all trades, Ari has been involved in various different areas of the theatre for the last few years. Recently, they have been involved in the department of lighting and sound and have fallen in love with the world of lighting. They hope to pursue the path further and want to thank Marissa Diaz for fostering that interest and believing in them.
Clarissa Sanchez (Costume Designer for Ripple Effect, Absence of Water, & Brincando El Charco in WhenWaterFalls/Costume Shop Manager) earned her A.A.S in Fashion Technology from El Paso Community College and her B.F.A. in Technical Theatre from the University of Texas at El Paso. As the Costume Shop Supervisor for the UTEP Department of Theatre and Dance, she enjoys mentoring students in the art of costume design and construction. For the past decade, Clarissa has been a wardrobe stagehand and stitcher for Broadway in El Paso at the Plaza Theater and for the El Paso County Coliseum. She is proud to be a part of the El Paso art community.
Student Mentor for Lighting, Sound and Projections: Marissa Diaz
Student Mentor for Student Mentor for Scenery, Props and Projections: Ann Dee Alvidrez
Scene Shop Manager: Cynthia Esparza
Student Mentor for Costume, Hair and Make-up: Brian Hollander II
Costume Shop Manager: Clarissa Sanchez
Director of Audience Development: Samantha Michelle Nava
Audience Development Team: Sadie Aiken, Justin Hogue, Brittany Conyers