Current Students

 

 

CLASS OF 2024

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. 

 

CLASS OF 2025

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.

 

CLASS OF 2026
Jordyn McEvoy (she/her) graduated from the University of California, Riverside with degrees in Theatre, Film, and Digital Production and English Literature in ’23. With an energetic beginning in children’s theatre and her found love of comedy, satire, and non-traditional performance, some of Jordyn’s favorite productions have been Men on Boats, Tilly No-Body: Catastrophes of Love, Yellow Face, and James & the Giant Peach. Well-equipped with a deep love for literature, Jordyn enjoys dramaturgical work and published award-winning undergraduate research entitled “The World Without Color: Racial Diversity in Local Inland Empire Community Theatre.” In her spare time, she can be found getting lost in the woods, enjoying live music, and crying over poetry. Blessings abundant. 
DJ Maloney (he/him) is thrilled to be advancing to UCI to earn his masters in Stage Management. Prior credits include General Manager for Acey Deucey Club; San Diego with Fever Productions, Stage Management for Henry V, Into the Woods, Working: the Musical, Importance of Being Earnest at Mira Costa College, and A Raisin in the Sun, Postcard American Town, Love’s Labor’s Lost, and Cabaret at SDSU. DJ earned his BA from SDSU in Theatre with an Emphasis in Stage Management. DJ would like to thank Don and Joel for their guidance and allowing him to be a part of the UCI family. He’d also like to thank his family and friends for all of their support during this journey! www.djmaloney.com
Daniel Rosales (he/him) graduated from Fresno State in 2022 with his B.A. in Theatre Arts with a General emphasis. This allowed him to explore his talents beyond stage management and into other areas in a production, such as lighting, scenery, costumes, and script analysis, although stage management is his strong suit. His memorable credits include, Anna in the Tropics, Oedipus El Rey, and RENT. Daniel has experience with stage managing new play development, Devised Theatre, Cabaret shows, and Theatre for Young Audiences- which he also went on tour for in Spring 2022. Having grown up in the Central Valley, Daniel is passionate about telling the stories of Chicanx culture and descent. He is elated to be at UCI.