Current Students

Jake Arpaia is a California native who started his education at Moorpark College which left him with three associates degrees in Acting, Technical Theatre, and Theatre Arts. He then continued to finish his undergraduate degree by completing a B.A. in Theatre at California State University Northridge. He has worked on many shows in his time in academia some of his favorites include Clue: The Musical, Legally Blonde, Hairspray, and Almost, Maine. He has worked in Props, Scenery, Design, Costumes, and various other departments; however, Stage Management is something he has always come back to. When not working in theatre he enjoys collecting comics and board games and playing video games. He believes that the best part of Theatre is the community that builds out of it.  He is excited to be a part of UCI's Stage Management program and is excited to see what the future brings.

John Pinero graduated with a B.A. in Theatre from Arizona State University in 2018. While attending ASU, he began stage managing productions for Binary Theatre Company and ASU’s Lyric Opera Theatre working on productions such as Legally Blonde, Copenhagen, and Bug. Since then, he has been spending time at the place “Where Dreams Come True”, Walt Disney World, as an Entertainment Manager overseeing daily operations. In his spare time, John enjoys going to concerts, dancing the night away, watching Disney movies, and longing for the holiday season. John is incredibly thankful to be at UCI and looks forward to stage managing once again. 

Bri Westad graduated from Ithaca College in 2019 with a BA in Theatre Studies and a Women’s and Gender Studies minor. Originally from Upstate New York, Bri is excited to enjoy the next few years in sunny California. Some of her favorite projects include Experiential Atonement: The Quiet We Keep (Ithaca College), Dig (Dorset Theatre Festival), Slow Food (Dorset Theatre Festival), and 9 to 5:The Musical (Schenectady Light Opera Company). While primarily a Stage Manager, she also enjoys lighting design and programming on the side. She is incredibly grateful for this opportunity and can’t wait to get started.

Sam Allen graduated in 2020 from Westminster College in Salt Lake City, Utah with a BFA degree in Technical Theatre (Stage Management Emphasis). His most recent works include Ain’t Misbehavin’ with West Valley Performing Arts (Stage Manager), Cherry Wine in Paper Cups with Sackerson Theatre (Stage Manager), Prometheus Bound (Stage Manager), Women of Trachis (Assistant Stage Manager) with the Classic Greek Theatre Festival, and the Great Salt Lake Fringe Festival 2018 -2021 (Production Stage Manager/Technical Director),

Blake Anthony Elliott (xe / xem) hails from Houston, Texas and is an alumnus of the University of Evansville Department of Theatre where xe received a Bachelor’s in Stage Management. With UCI as xyr new theatrical home, xyr credits span from coast to coast including stage management work with iTheatrics and Disney Theatrical Group in New York City, The New Harmony Project in Indianapolis, regional work in Texas, and The Lyric Theatre of Oklahoma. Blake is an artist, advocate, academic, and proud member of the LGBTQIA+ community. Xe hopes to use xyr work in the arts to uplift voices in the margins and build a better world. More Life. 

Jessie Bender graduated from UC Santa Cruz with a B.A. in Theater Arts. After several years of acting, she made her stage managing debut in 2019 with the UCSC Barnstorm Theater Company. While stage management became her primary focus, she took a short break to write and direct a Zoom play, Embrace the Chaos, which was produced through the Barnstorm company during Winter 2020. Prior to attending UCSC she spent her time hanging out with "The Peanuts Gang" while working as a character entertainer and dancer at California's Great America. Some of her favorite productions include Beauty and the Beast, The Children's Hour, The Fifth Dimension: Inspired by the Twilight Zone, and Romeo and Juliet. Jessie is thrilled to be joining UCI and looks forward to this next chapter of her life. 

Nicole M. Cortese (she/they) graduated from Cal Poly with a B.S. in Food Science and a Minor in Theatre Arts, and went on to earn her Certificate in Technical Theatre Production/Design from PCPA - Pacific Conservatory Theatre(focus in Costumes and Stage Management). She is excited to spend time focusing on Stage Management, a passion of hers, at UCI. Some of her favorite projects include “Treasure Island” (Central Coast Shakespeare Festival), “Julius Caesar” (PCPA), and “The Wolves” (PCPA). In her free time she performs as a drag artist and enjoys knitting, crocheting and sewing. She believes that Stage Managers are the biggest theatre advocates, and hopes to follow through on this belief and help to create a positive change in the theatre industry. 

Logan Brubaker (he/him) graduated from Azusa Pacific University with a B.A. in Theater Arts. As a senior, Logan had the privilege to stage manage The West Coast Premier of Aaron Sorkin’s Adaptation of Harper Lee’s To Kill A Mockingbird. For the past ten years, Logan has been a part of Poison Apple Productions, a non-profit community children’s theatre in the East Bay Area, and has worked there in multiple roles, including resident stage manager and production coordinator. The greatest part of theater is the chance to see the spark in people’s eyes when they finally understand what it’s all about. When not stage managing, Logan enjoys reading, playing piano, watching tv shows, learning languages, and making sure his friends feel loved. He thanks UCI for this incredible opportunity and looks forward to all that he can learn and accomplish here. Never stop telling the story.

Johanna Sophia Romo (she/her) is a stage and project manager based in Los Angeles and Orange counties. She received a BA in Theatre Arts from California State University, Fullerton with an emphasis in Stage Management.
Johanna's resume contains theatre, opera, and digital streaming shows. Her academic stage management experience includes Jane Eyre: The Musical, The Moors, and the debut of Matthew Katterhagen’s Blood of the Land. Recent professional work includes Psycho Beach Party, Shop Around the Corner, Adobe Punk, and Aida. She has worked in multiple roles with South Coast Repertory, The Wayward Artist, Roy and Edna Disney CalArts Theatre (REDCAT), Boston Lyric Opera, Disney+, LA Opera and others.
When she isn't running ragged around LA County, Johanna enjoys playing video games, eating ramen with friends, and playing with her fur-nephew, Bleu. She’s ecstatic to attend UCI and working to change the entertainment industry for the better.