The John Lion New Plays Festival

Em Perez (Playwright, Crumble) is a multi-hyphenated Los Angeles based artist that always tries new things and loves doing freelance work. Em enjoys writing political theater as well as comedic plays, and she has had her plays produced at her colleges using those productions as a means to edit and improve her writing. She has also performed in various plays throughout her high school and college career, particularly being fond of doing improvisational comedy. Em is also an artist, producing artwork through traditional art as well as digital art on social media. She currently works for various live entertainment companies such as the Disneyland Resort and Insomniac, while simultaneously doing freelance work for theater and creative development. She is currently an MFA TVFT  student at Cal State LA under the Content creation track. She is eternally grateful for her friends, family and her boyfriend for supporting her artistry.

Cliff Connors (Playwright, God-Given Talent) is a senior at Cal State LA graduating with a major in anthropology and a philosophy minor. He has worked as a documentary director and a camera operator creating two short films for the companies Latinos in Heritage Conservation and Nature for All, respectively. He also wrote for the university newspaper and the sports website Back Sports Page, along with hosting a radio show "Top of the First with Cliff Connors" on Golden Eagle Radio. He currently works at FOX Sports as a production assistant in their Highlights department. He extends his deepest gratitude to Hannah Wolf, Betsy Peinado, Marcos Efron, and Alex Leb for their guidance as he workshopped God-Given Talent.

Lauren Holiday (Playwright / Not So Silent Auction) is an MFA student pursuing Television, Film and Theatre Writing at Cal State LA. She is thrilled to have her play Not So Silent Auction staged in the John Lion New Plays Festival. She is thankful to Carolyn Dunn, Steve Rothman and the whole production team for their creative efforts in bringing her words to life on the stage.

Lauren has worked as a writer and producer in the streaming space, and as a writer and performer with her sketch comedy group, This Week This Week. This is her first play. Since being picked for the JLNP Festival, she has written another play, Cougar Town, which was awarded the winner of the Love, LA  10 minute play festival for 2025. She looks forward to continuing her playwriting journey. You can connect with her on instagram 
@voicesincorporated or on her YouTube channel @laurenholidayvoices

Laurence Carter (Playwright, Who-Dun-It?) is a senior at Cal State LA and while not a Theatre major, he’s been involved in many aspects of the arts for many years of his life. Starting out on the cast side in community productions as a kid (Sound of Music, Seussical, Annie, and Grease), they shifted to a crew role in middle school and quickly became engrossed in the work. In high school, they worked as the lead of the props department for The Crucible and The Addams Family Musical and was an ASM for Oedipus. In addition to their play Who-Dun-It? being presented, they are also head of props for the entire festival. As a Television, Film, and Media Studies major, they have written, produced, directed, and taken on many other hats for many short films and webseries, staying hard at work to exert as much creativity as they can. Laurence wants to thank the TAD department and its faculty for welcoming them with open arms and all of their mentors that have encouraged them to pursue all the avenues that excite them.

Alexis Ramirez (Crumble: Rosie) is a second-year double major in Theatre (performance option) and Business Administration Marketing. She would like to thank her family and friends for supporting her dreams.

Maddy Wong (Crumble: Grace/Sylvia Who-dun-it: Sylvia) is a third year at Cal State LA majoring in Theatre, Option in Performance. This is her second production here, although she has also participated in various student-produced projects during her time at Cal State LA. She was an actor in the MFA in Television, Film, and Theatre program’s short play festival, Int. Bar – Day, as well as a few student short films, including The Trip, The Game, and, soon, 24/7. Other roles of hers include White Rabbit in Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland and Puck in A Midsummer Night’s Dream. She also has experience in show choir and concert choir, having competed in regional show choir competitions. Maddy is incredibly excited and grateful for this opportunity to collaborate with faculty and fellow students to put together this inspiring play festival that celebrates theatre education. She would love to thank her family, friends, and InterVarsity community who graciously and lovingly encourage her and are such blessings in her life. She is forever grateful for their support as she chases her dreams.

Anabella Acosta (Crumble - Sloth puppeteer) Anabella is a third-year Theatre Major / Option in Performance with a Journalism Minor. This is Anabella’s first production as a performer and puppeteer. Anabella has 8 years of dance experience and aspires to be an actress on the big screen, as well as a television anchor. Anabella was recently seen in the staged reading of The Best Fancy Dancer The Pushmahtah Pow Wow’s Ever Seen.  Anabella thanks her parents for supporting her with her career choice, and for never letting her give up on her dreams. Anabella said the following, “Gracias a mi Madre y mi padre por siempre apoyar mi sueños y por todo lo que me has dado, los amo”. She would also like to shout out to her biggest supporter, herself; through all the pretty and ugly, she was the one pushing herself to do more. Thank you to Professors Roberto Alcaraz and Tanya Kane-Parry for changing how she has seen acting and inspiring her to take leaps she has never dared to cross before. Anabella looks forward to being in more Cal State LA productions in the future. 

Donald Rizzo (Crumble: Father) is a Los Angeles-based actor and teaching artist from New York. Donald is a graduate of the Atlantic Theater Company’s two-year acting conservatory and has studied character-based improv and sketch at the Groundlings. As a teaching artist, Donald has developed and taught lesson plans to high school theater students at his alma mater, Herricks High School, and at Grand Arts School of Visual and Performing Arts in downtown Los Angeles. Donald is a graduate of UCLA, where he received his BA in American Literature & Culture, along with a minor in Visual and Performing Arts Education.  He is currently a Candidate for the MFA in Television, Film, and Theatre: Acting, at California State University, Los Angeles.

Film credits include Let Go; Choke; and Me, You, and a Mushroom. Stage credits include Tape; Map of Virtue; The Love of Make Believe; and most recently, Cal State LA's production of The Good Person of Setzuan, in which he played Shu Fu, the Barber. 
www.donaldrizzo.com

Alex Engel (God Given Talent: Lucas) is a first-year MFA student in the Television, Film, and Theatre program (acting cohort). He previously attended Florida State University where he studied filmmaking and writing. After relocating to Los Angeles, Alex was head writer of the Nickelodeon series Alien Dawn, co-writer of the coming-of-age baseball film The Outfield, as well as author of the play Scope, which was staged at the Pico Playhouse.

Alex is thrilled to be making his stage acting debut in God Given Talent. He is a proud member of SAG-AFTRA and can most recently be seen in the latest season of Criminal Minds: Evolution, streaming later this year on Paramount Plus. Alex also starred in the short film Twenty-Nine Again, which is currently playing at festivals across the country and internationally, and that he co-wrote and produced. Finally, Alex is a candidate for certification as a Fitzmaurice vocal teacher and hopes to continue teaching acting while at Cal State LA, and beyond.

Giselle Diaz (God Given Talent: Justina) is a first year Cal State LA student pursuing a Theatre major/Performance Option and a minor in Philosophy/General. Her passion for theatre started in high school of the year 2021, performing in various musicals such as High School Musical, Newsies, Mean Girls and Into the Woods. She has competed in various acting competitions, attending DTASC for 2 years and won several awards. When first attending Cal State LA, her journey only expanded as she was open to the world of film and is currently working on a few independent films that are expected to come out in the coming year. Thank you!

Ann Li (God Given Talent: Maria) is a first-year MFA student in the Television, Film, and Theatre program (acting cohort). Born and raised in China, she has been involved in acting, singing and dancing since an early age. She took a break in middle school to focus on academia and got her BA in international journalism and English. After working in corporate for several years, she is now thrilled to get back to the world of acting and performing arts and is aiming to explore the endless possibilities of her artistic identity. Some of her previous roles include: Evrin in Blood, Blood, Blood, Lucy in Fast Girls, Marjory in The Moors, and Mrs Elvsted in Hedda Gabbler. This is her first production at Cal State LA and she is grateful for the opportunity to be a part of such an amazing show. 

Lyle Rahman (God Given Talent: Evelyn) is a first-year MFA student in Television, Film and Theatre/Acting. This is their second production at Cal State LA. They graduated from the University of Washington while also studying Ballet and Shakespearean theatre at Bellevue College. They are grateful for the chance to be on stage again and would like to thank the faculty in the program for their unwavering support.

Eugene Antonio Negrete (God Given Talent: Westin/Board Member) is a first-year MFA student in Television, Film and Theatre/ Acting Option. He is a film and stage actor, director, poet and arts educator. He was recently seen in the ensemble of last Fall’s ¡Celebramos! Past stage credits include Stop Kiss by Diana Son, Sissy by Ricardo Bracho, blu by Virginia Grise, Mummified Deer by Luis Valdez, Ghost Dance by Carolyn Dunn, Mujeres en el Encierro by Maria Morett, String Theory by Ifa Bayeza, Little Known Legends by Radical Evolution and La Pastorela de Sacramento with Teatro Espejo. He’s most recently trained with the Juilliard Extension Division and the Stella Adler Studio of Acting in New York City. He holds a B.A. in Theater Arts and Latin American/Latino Studies from the University of California, Santa Cruz and an M.A. in Elementary Education from Brown University. He is immensely grateful for the support from his family and friends.

Ryan Michael Dunn (God Given Talent: Chip/Billy-Ray Bob) is a writer, producer, and actor from Massachusetts, currently pursuing their MFA in Television, Film, and Theatre / Writing Option at Cal State LA. They graduated from UMass Amherst into oblivion in spring of 2020, earning their BBA in Finance. Ryan joined the Dramatists Guild of America after performing their co-written play Peace Talks in British Columbia’s Victoria Fringe Festival. Recent writing includes Politically Erect, which will receive a second production at Coastal Carolina University this spring, and mental health drama Heat of the Summer, which premiered as a staged reading at the Boston Playwrights Theater. 

Ryan produces dramatic work with their collaborator Michael Tricca under the name 83 Midnight. Last summer, they produced God’s Favorite by Catherine Crimmins in the New York Theatre Festival, earning a nomination for Best Production.

Juliette Del Muro (God Given Talent: Watson/Gloria  Who-dun-it: Anna) is a Theatre major at Cal State LA. She is a first-generation college student who transferred from Santa Monica College, where she graduated with 4 associate degrees in: Psychology, Sociology, Liberal Arts- Social and Behavioral Sciences, and of course, Theatre Arts. Along with pursuing her upper educational career, she has also acted and worked on multiple plays throughout her time at SMC. At the same time, she has been working professionally in modeling, Film and TV. This is Juliette’s second production at CSULA, the first being The Panza Monologues. She is expected to graduate Fall 2025 and pursue acting full time post graduation.  She plans to make history in the industry!

Gerald Hernandez (God Given Talent: Logan/ Salesperson/ Board member) is a senior at Cal State LA majoring in psychology and minoring in theatre. Gerald began singing at Colton High School for three and a half years. He also plays drums and piano for rock bands in the past. He also performed as King Kasper in Amahl and the Night Visitors at San Bernardino Valley College. He was an ensemble member in Bye Bye Birdie at the Lewis Family Playhouse. Last semester he made his debut performance at Cal State LA in Celebramos! 

Suki Dunn (God Given Talent: Dog) is a corgipoo, actor, and treat enthusiast originally from Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. She graduated from her alma mater Greenfield Puppies in 2021, when her dog dad Ryan brought her home. Suki’s favorite treats are the Pumpkin Maple Bacon Flavored Stuffies from Trader Joe’s. She is currently pursuing various small creatures at Cal State LA. 

Suki is ecstatic to make her stage debut with the cast and crew of God Given Talent and wants to thank her Cece, her sister Sadie, and her bestie Cinnabun for their support.

Parise Zeleny (Not So Silent Auction: Woman) is a first-year MFA in Television, Film and Theatre/Acting Option at Cal State LA. She graduated with a BA from Sarah Lawrence College (SLC) in May of 2024, where she studied primarily theatre, film, politics, and dance. Recent favorite roles include Mariah/Gardener in Resa Fantastiskt Mystisk (Cal State LA), Daughter in The Trail to Oregon! (SLC), Jekyll and Hyde in Jekyll and Hyde (British American Drama Academy) and Robin in Horse Girls (SLC).

Benjamin Barrus (Not So Silent Auction: Man) is a candidate for the Master of Fine Arts in Television, Film, and Theatre at Cal State LA, with an option in Acting. This is Ben's second production with Cal State LA, having been seen as Phillip in Resa Fantastiskt Mystisk. He was most recently seen as Inspector Craddock in A Murder is Announced at BYU-I. Favorite roles on stage include Henry Higgins in My Fair Lady, The Govenor in Man of La Mancha, Don Price in Big Fish, Enjolras in Les Miserables, and Ratty in Wind in the Willows.  Ben would like to thank beautiful wife for always supporting him.

Lauren Holiday (Not So Silent Auction: PLAYWRIGHT/HOPEFUL WINNER) is an MFA student pursuing Television, Film and Theatre/Writing at Cal State LA. She is thrilled to have her play Not So Silent Auction staged in the John Lion New Plays Festival. She is thankful to Carolyn Dunn, Steve Rothman and the whole production team for their creative efforts in bringing her words to life on the stage.

Lauren has worked as a writer and producer in the streaming space, and as a writer and 
performer with her sketch comedy group, This Week This Week. This is her first play. Since being picked for the New Plays Festival, she has written another play, Cougar Town, which was awarded the winner of the Love, LA 10 minute play festival for 2025. She looks forward to continuing her playwriting journey. You can connect with her on instagram 
@voicesincorporated or on her YouTube channel @laurenholidayvoices.

Elizabeth Hernandez (Not So Silent Auction: Volunteer) is in their final semester as a Theatre Major / Performance Option and is thrilled to be finishing their time at Cal State LA with the John Lion's New Plays Festival. Elizabeth transferred from Riverside City College, where she received an Associate’s Degree in Theatre Arts with a concentration in Performance, and a certification in Technical Theatre. During their short time at Cal State LA, Elizabeth has been very fluid in their theatrical education, and found new passions for dramaturgy, directing, lighting, stage management, and stagecraft, all while refining their talents as an actor. Recent theatrical credits include Cal State LA's Macbeth (Lady Macduff), RCC's The Diviners (Production Stage Manager), Riverside Community Players’ Puffs (Hannah/Xavia/Others), RCC’s The Last Days of Judas Iscariot (Henrietta Iscariot), and RCC’s The Altruists (Sydney). Elizabeth would like to thank her friends, teachers, family, and her partner Dustin for their endless love and support.

Juliette Del Muro (God Given Talent: Watson/Gloria) is a Theatre major at Cal State LA. She is a first-generation college student who transferred from Santa Monica College, where she graduated with 4 associate degrees in: Psychology, Sociology, Liberal Arts- Social and Behavioral Sciences, and of course, Theatre Arts. Along with pursuing her upper educational career, she has also acted and worked on multiple plays throughout her time at SMC. At the same time, she has been working professionally in modeling, Film and TV. This is Juliette’s second production at CSULA, the first being The Panza Monologues. She is expected to graduate Fall 2025 and pursue acting full time post graduation.  She plans to make history in the industry!

Maddy Wong (Crumble: Grace/Sylvia) is a third year at Cal State LA majoring in Theatre, Option in Performance. This is her second production here, although she has also participated in various student-produced projects during her time at Cal State LA. She was an actor in the MFA in Television, Film, and Theatre program’s short play festival, Int. Bar – Day, as well as a few student short films, including The Trip, The Game, and, soon, 24/7. Other roles of hers include White Rabbit in Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland and Puck in A Midsummer Night’s Dream. She also has experience in show choir and concert choir, having competed in regional show choir competitions. Maddy is incredibly excited and grateful for this opportunity to collaborate with faculty and fellow students to put together this inspiring play festival that celebrates theatre education. She would love to thank her family, friends, and InterVarsity community who graciously and lovingly encourage her and are such blessings in her life. She is forever grateful for their support as she chases her dreams.

Carolina Meza (Who-dun-it? Anita) is a Theater student in the Acting option at Cal State LA, graduating with her BA in Acting. As this is her final undergraduate semester, she is excited to work with Dr. Carolynn Dunn on her production of Who-dun-It? by Laurence Carter. 

Her love for acting began at a young age in her living room, where she performed her rendition of The Lion King for her mom and brother, Sergio. One of her fondest memories is sharing the stage with her younger brother, Tony, as they played mother and son in Six Characters in Search of an Author by Luigi Pirandello.

Carolina hopes to continue her education by pursuing an MFA in Acting. She wants to give a heartfelt shoutout to her friends and family for always believing in her and cheering her on. She is deeply grateful for her strong support system. A special shoutout goes to her niece, Xochilt Luna—though she can’t read yet, Carolina is committed to being a strong role model for her.

Finally, a loud and loving shoutout to her mom, Sonia, who has always supported and believed in her. "My success is your success, and I thank you, Mom."

Tobias Teng, or Teng Zhenlong (腾真龙) (Who-dun-it? Hunter), is a senior at Cal State LA, majoring in Theatre with an option in Performance. He was most recently seen as Angus in Macbeth and as Sir Lenny The Observant in Marian, Or The True Tale of Robin Hood. Tobias hopes to use film to bring the ancient Chinese culture of literature and traditional weapon-based martial arts to the West. 

Teshan Teachey (Who-dun-it? Basil) is excited to be apart of the John Lion New Plays Festival.  His debut at Cal State Los Angeles was in the production of Celebramos! in the Fall. He was recently being seen in the production of Beauty and the Beast. This marks an exciting new chapter in his performing career. During his time at West Valley, Teshan portrayed Sky Masterson in Guys and Dolls, Wadsworth in Clue, Harry MacAfee in Bye Bye Birdie, and both the Spirit of Christmas Yet to Come and Mr. Fezziwig in A Christmas Carol. He cherished every moment on that stage and is eager to continue his journey in theater. Beyond theater, Teshan enjoys a variety of hobbies including drawing, dancing, singing, skateboarding, and playing musical instruments. He also spent two rewarding years in the school band, delighting in the experience of playing at football games. Teshan is looking forward to his time here at Cal State LA.