The River Bride

Ana Gomez-Lugo (Helena) is a senior in the BFA Acting Program. She has been seen on the Theatre UCF stage in The Cherry Orchard (Dunyasha), The Prom (Ensemble,U/S Shelby/Kaylee), and As You Like It (Ensemble, U/S Celia). She is involved in Unfazed Dance Group and acted in films such as Between The Lines (Summer) and If I Could Take Your Face I Would (Olivia).

Faviana Vázquez (Belmira) is a fourth-year transfer student in the BFA Acting program. Stage: The Last Firefly (Lightning), Rhinoceros (Daisy), The Cherry Orchard (Ensemble, U/S Anya, U/S Dunyasha, U/S Charlotta), Race to Infinity (Guadalupe/Mrs Ramos). Film: Rule of Thirds (Liv). In her free time, Favi likes to work on perfecting her latte art and take pictures of her weenie dog, Hamilton, with her pink digital camera.

Josh Martinez (Moises) graduated from Sul Ross State University, Alpine, Texas, in 2018. Josh has been in multiple musicals and plays including – Anthony Hope (Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street), Jamie Wellerstein (The Last 5 Years), Don Quixote/Don Miguel de Cervantes (Man of La Mancha), Frank Butler (Annie Get Your Gun), Stanley Kowalski (A Streetcar Named Desire), Alan Raleigh (God of Carnage), Lord Capulet (Romeo and Juliet), Lord Macduff (Macbeth), John Heminges (Imogen Says Nothing), and Lazar Wolf (Fiddler on the Roof).

Jonathan Sommervil (Duarte) is a Second Year in the BFA Acting Program. He most recently was in the International Fringe Festival, in That’s Why I’m Single (Austin). He has been seen on the Theatre UCF Stage in RENT (Ensemble, U/S Tom Collins), and Chicken and Biscuits (Pastor Reginald Mabry). Other credits include Murder at Mirage Hotel (Charles), Gruesome Playground Injuries (Doug). Email: jonathansommervilartist@gmail.com @jonathansommervil_

Esteban Mayorga (Sr. Costa) is a junior in the B.A Theatre Studies Program. He has been seen on the Theatre UCF stage in Project Spotlight’s The Book Club (Elroy) and also worked as fight captain for UCF Theatre’s production of Imogen Says Nothing (U/S Crier/Isaac). Recently made his film debut at the Enzian Theatre for starring in Limbo by Markel Jones.

Laura Banguero (Sra. Costa) is a second year in the MFA acting program. She has been seen on the Theatre UCF stage in The last firefly (A spider/Puppeteer) and The clean house (Ana). Other theatre credits include Pericles (Thaisa), Thyestes (Atreus) among others.

Vanessa Arocha (U/S Helena) is a second-year in the BFA Acting program. She is an officer with Project Spotlight as the Front of House manager and is a member of Alpha Psi Omega. She plans to continue exploring her passion for directing through student theatre. Other theatre credits include Imogen Says Nothing (U/S Anna Roos/Bear on Ice), Co-Director for Project Spotlight‘s One Act The Inbetween, and Project Spotlight’s musical Dive in (Young Emily).

Lara Martinez (U/S Belmira) is a current junior in UCF’s BFA musical theater program. Lara is thrilled to be able to be a part of this amazing production. You might have seen Lara in UCF’s the Prom as Alyssa Green or as the Old Woman In The old man and the old moon at Orlando Fringe festival. She has also been involved as a volunteer in a children's community theater at YoungStar Musical theatre. @laramartinez021

Tomas Principe (U/S Moises) is a second-year student in the BFA Acting program at Theatre UCF. He was most recently seen in Pegasus Playlab's Moments of Wonder (Performer) and Theatre UCF's production of Imogen Says Nothing (U/S Richard Burbage, U/S Harry Hunks).

Alejandro Cirino (U/S Duarte) is a first-year transfer in the BFA Acting Program. This will be his debut show at Theatre UCF and he previously attended Broward College where he was a part of The Foreigner (Froggy Lesueur) and Our Lady of 121st Street (Balthazar).

Joshua De La Cruz (U/S Sr. Costa) is a first-year in the BFA Acting program. He enjoys exploring film and music and looks forward to contributing to Theatre UCF.

Naje’ Gillespie (U/S Sra. Costa) is a second-year transfer in the BFA Acting and B.A. Creative Writing Programs. She was last seen in Romeo & Juliet (Balthasar) at Daytona State College. Recently she became involved with Project Spotlight as a Costume Designer. This is Naje’s first Theatre UCF production.

Chris Wilson (Production Stage Manager) loves Diet Coke, jigsaw puzzles, and Adele. He is a fourth-year BFA Stage Management student at the University of Central Florida working towards a career in Broadway and Touring theatre. He has a wide range of experience working on plays, musicals, dance, concerts, and other live events. Chris aims to lead with empathy and takes a people-centric approach to his craft. Most recently, he worked as the Production Stage Manager of Brad Ross: International Star Illusionist, bringing world class magic to families across the country. Last year, he was a Deck Stage Manager on Rhinoceros at UCF, supporting the work of the actors and helping to create the absurdist world of the play. You can follow Chris’s journey on Instagram @christiantwilson and @orlandostagemanagers. He thanks his parents and family for their endless support.

Ethan Cabral (Stage Manager) is a third-year BFA Stage Management student with a minor in event management and a certificate in entertainment management, having experience on music festivals, plays, musicals, concerts, cruises, and other live events. Ethan loves music and enjoys writing poetry. He has worked as the assistant production manager on StarVista’s Flower Power Cruise, and Rock and Romance Cruise, and has worked as an Audio Visual Tech on the Bonnaroo and Railbird Music Festivals. At UCF, he has worked as an Assistant Production Manager on Fiddler on the Roof, Assistant to the Production Manager on Sweeney Todd, and a Stage Manager on Imogen Says Nothing. You can follow his journey on Instagram @Cabrawl and can be reached at ethan@urofest.com

Lila McMorris (Stage Manager) is a third-year BFA Stage Management student. She has been a part of Theatre UCF’s Production of Rent (Stage Manager), Dance Night (Production Stage Manager), and Peter and the Star Catcher (Production Assistant). Lila has also worked with Project Spotlight as a Stage Manager and Programmer for their production of Irreverent.

Sydney Brennick (Stage Manager) is a Second year transfer student in the BFA Stage Management Program. She has been a part of Theatre UCF’s Production of The Clean House (Deck Crew Member),Theatre UCF’s Production of Rhinoceros (Tech PA), and a part of UCF Celebrates The Arts 2025 (Stage Manager), Theatre UCF’s Pegasus Playlab Moments of Wonder (Stage Manager). Follow us @orlandostagemanagers on Instagram.

Laura O’Brien (Production Assistant) is a first year transfer BFA Stage Management student and is so excited to be working on The River Bride as her first show here at UCF! Previously, she has worked on The Crucible as an Assistant Stage Manager, and on Clue as a Stage Manager and Set Designer. She has also worked many dance shows and music concerts as a Stage Manager, Lighting Designer and Operator, and Soundboard Operator. Laura has always had a deep love and appreciation of the arts, and is so glad to be able to continue her passion at UCF! She would like to thank her family and friends for their everflowing love and support over the years.

Alaina Beaver (Production Assistant) is a first-year student in the BFA Stage Management program here at UCF. This is her Theatre UCF stage management debut! Recent credits include, The Who’s Tommy (Assistant Stage Manager) and Seussical: The Musical (Production Stage Manager). Previous UCF credits include, The Last Firefly (Light Board Operator), where she was part of the annual UCF Celebrates The Arts festival! She is excited to begin her Theatre UCF journey! You can follow along at @alaina.beaver or @orlandostagemanagers

Rina Hajra-Gjoka (Voice Coach) is an Assistant Professor of Theatre Voice at the University of Central Florida. Her specialties include voice and speech, filmmaking, and devising new works. She is a proud member of the Voice and Speech Trainer’s Association (VASTA), and she has extensive training in the Kristin Linklater vocal technique. Her research interests include the actor’s voice and accents, the intersection of her heritage and artistic practice, and the role of storytelling and filmmaking in addressing social justice.Her award-winning film, My Sekret War (Phoenix Film Festival, Dea Open Air Festival in Albania, Los Angeles Film Awards, etc.), chronicles the life and redemption of a young child of the Kosovo War. Rina holds an MFA in Acting with a focus on the creation of new works from The Ohio State University. Her past acting credits include Lumen Repertory Theatre in Jacksonville, FL, voice-over narration for Kept Promise, accent coaching for Florida State College at Jacksonville, and directing at the Wexner Center for the Arts in Columbus, OH.

Claudia Lynch (Stage Managers’ Advisor/ Show Crew Assignment Supervisor) Claudia is an Associate Professor and the Area Coordinator of the BFA in Stage Management. Claudia is the Theatre UCF Internship Coordinator, and Supervises the Theatre UCF Audition Office, and she is the Faculty Liaison for the Theatre UCF Professional Advisory Board. Credits include Broadway:  Rock of Ages, A Catered Affair, Company, Little Shop of Horrors; The Light in the Piazza, The Rivals, Dinner at Eight, Contact (at Lincoln Center Theater). Offbroadway:  Passion (at Classic Stage Compay), Rock of Ages, and 9 Productions with NY City Center Encores! from 2013-2017; Regional:  Alley Theatre, The Old Globe Theatre, The Cleveland Playhouse, and Arena Stage. Graduate of SUNY Geneseo. Proud Member of Actor’s Equity Association.  Claudia is also the USITT Management Commissioner for Programming, an Actors’ Equity Outreach Presenter, and the Coordinator for the Connection Convention: College Edition; which helps students interested in studying Stage Management meet with Educators and programs around the country.  Claudia is the immediate past SM Coordinator for  KCACTF Region 4, and has served on the Board of The Stage Managers Association.  @OrlandoStageManagers

Taylor Falzarano (they/she) (Assistant Lighting Designer/Programmer) is a senior in the BFA Design and Technology program at the University of Central Florida. Through her time at UCF, her work has ranged from intimate plays and large-scale musicals; such as Lighting Programmer for Metamorphoses and Dramaturg for Rent. They have also had the chance of working at the Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts through UCF Celebrates the Arts as Lighting Programmer for Fiddler on the Roof. As of this year, Taylor serves as the Co-President of Theatre Fraternity - Alpha Psi Omega!  She has also worked as a lighting designer and technician for new plays and musicals at the Orlando Fringe Festival and this past summer worked as the Technical Educator in the Education Department at the New London Barn Playhouse. @taylorfalzarano @apoucf

Micayla Lise Ruby (she/they) (Production Electrician) is a second year in the BFA Stage Management program. This past summer, they took part in Pegasus Play Lab 2025 as a Stage Manager for Moments of Wonder. Other Theatre UCF credits include Fiddler on the Roof (Production Assistant) and later this season, One Man, Two Guvnors (Production Management PA) and UCF Celebrates the Arts 2026 (Stage Manager). Lise can also be found working in the E-Shop as a FWS Student Assistant Electrician. @micaylaliseruby

Gil Bloom (Projections Designer) is a senior BFA Design and Technology student at UCF. His work at UCF has spanned from props management (The Cherry Orchard) to assistant set design (Imogen Says Nothing). Most recently, he served as the assistant director for UCF’s production of Fiddler on the Roof at the Dr. Phillips Center. Gil believes the future of projection design lies in game design and strives to advance real-time visuals for live entertainment (while also playing plenty of video games). His work can next be seen this October, when he serves as assistant director for UCF’s production of Urinetown. You can follow his journey on Instagram @gilinthebooth—he is, however, chronically offline.

Leyandra Cardoza (Costume Designer) @leyandra_c

Baeta Lane Mischker (Assistent Set Designer) is a third-year in the BFA Theatre Design and Technology program. Theatre UCF credits include Fiddler on the Roof (Props Manager, UCF Celebrates the Arts). He focuses on props and set dressing and works as part of the Theatre UCF scenic shop team crafting detailed and immersive environments. For The River Bride, he collaborated with the scenic shop to create the lush forest set dressing that transforms the pier into the heart of the Amazon. Instagram: @b_etamischker

Alyssa Barrack (Dramaturg) is a theatre artist and PhD student in the Texts & Technology program at UCF. Recent projects here include The Drolls (Dramaturg), AI Cabaret (Devising Ensemble, Gretta), and roles as Dramaturgy Coordinator and Research Associate. Alyssa’s research explores the intersections of theatre and digital humanities, with a particular focus on audiences and DIY methods. They use dramaturgy, creative coding, and interactive media forms to ask how performance and technology shape one another. Professional experience includes dramaturgy, scenic and lighting design, teaching, event and production management, professional writing, and other. In their (rare) spare time, Alyssa enjoys baking, making weird crafts, reading widely, and horror movies.

Mia Boshoff (Props Manager) is a second-year student in the BFA Stage Management program. She is currently making her debut as a props manager, and previous Theatre UCF credits include Visiting Hours, (Stage Manager) Public Wickedness (Stage Manager) and The Last Firefly (Production Assistant). @orlandostagemanagers

Lissa Ortega (Props Manager) is a second-year transfer in the BFA Design Tech program. She has previously worked on RENT (Spotlight) and in the Costume Shop for the Theatre UCF 2024-2025 season. She is also participating in the New Play Festival, helping curate new plays for next summer's PlayLab.

Julia Listengarten (Co-Director) is Professor of Theatre and Artistic Director in the School of Performing Arts at the University of Central Florida. She is an artist-scholar whose research and creative work encompass avant-garde and contemporary theatre, interdisciplinary artistic practice, and socially engaged performance that critically engages with issues of precarity and marginalization. As a theatre director and dramaturg, she has contributed to the development of new works through new play workshops and festivals. Among her recent books are Visual and Performing Arts Collaborations in Higher Education: Transdisciplinary Practices (Palgrave 2023), Performing Arousal: Precarious Bodies and Frames of Representation (Methuen Drama/ Bloomsbury 2022), and The Cambridge Companion to American Drama since 1945 (Cambridge UP 2021). She co-edited the 8-volume book series Decades of Modern American Playwriting: 1930-2009 (Methuen Drama/ Bloomsbury 2018) and is currently co-editing the book series Reflections on Contemporary Performance Process for Bloomsbury Publishing. Her recent UCF productions include The Street of Crocodiles, Indecent, and Metamorphoses. 

Ty Simons (Co-Director) is a KCACTF Region IV award-winning director and third-year MFA TYA candidate with a B.A in Theatre Studies and a minor in Education! His previous credits include: Regional Theatre; A Christmas Carol (Assistant Director, Orlando Shakes), The Facts Are As Follows (Dramaturg, Orlando Shakes), A Christmas Carol (Dramaturg, Orlando Shakes), Theatre UCF: The Last Firefly (Co-Director), Rhinoceros (Associate Director), Dance Night (Associate Director) as part of Pegasus Playlab at UCF, Working (Assistant Director), Affinity Lunch Minutes (Assistant Director). Upcoming: Goosebumps The Musical: Phantom of the Auditorium (Associate Director, Orlando Family Stage). MAKE ART NOT WAR! @tylersiimons

Some plays reveal hidden magic through the collaborators that bring them to life. This piece sparked some of the most expansive conversations: about Love, textures and how they alter us, the power of patterns of three, the role of myths, folk-, and fairy-tales in society, and the qualities of rain. Rain on skin; on the water, shattering the surface; the thick and sweet tension of rain yet to come; the storm’s release and tumult; and its continual cycle of gathering-dispersing in the rainforest.

This story, like all human stories, cycles like the rain. This adaptability is part of the pleasure and power of myth. Tales like El Boto Cor de Rosa endure because of their cultural flexibility, their ability to grow with the people that need to tell them. Like all myths about humans, monsters, and the water that both divides and connects us, this play offers an invitation to reflect and transform.

—Dramaturg, Alyssa Barrack