Keely and Du Program

Zoia N. Wiseman (Du) is pleased to be performing in Keely and Du in partial fulfillment of her culminating project for a MFA in Television, Film, and Theatre here at Cal State LA. This is her third show at Cal State LA, previously she appeared in Invisible Women (Helena) and in The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Nighttime (Ensemble). She has worked both on and off stage on the California Central Coast, Washington, DC, and Northern Ireland. Some of her favorite work includes Deathtrap (Helga), Fannie Lou: the Musical (Mrs. Bedford), Two and a Half Days in Vegas (Teddy), Paige in Full (Lighting Design), The Capital Fringe Festival (Production Manager- ‘08 and Lighting Coordinator-’09), and as an instructor of stage management at PCPA and Howard University. Zoia holds a BFA in Acting from Stephens College. 

Zoia would like to thank her instructors here at Cal State LA, her Culminating Project Report Committee: Dr. Carolyn Dunn, Dr. Alicia Tycer, and Karin Hendricks, and her family for their support during the last two and a half years. She would also like to thank Laura Dickinson-Turner, Amy Luna-Beltrán, Meredith Greenburg, and the cast, designers, and crew of Keely and Du.

Amy Luna-Beltrán: (Keely) was born and raised in Boyle Heights, CA. This production is part of her culminating project towards the completion of her MFA (Third Year Acting Option) at Cal State LA. She is grateful for this experience to share a story with the assistance of a wonderful ensemble, “a true privilege”. Theatre credits include: Real Women Have Curves as Pancha; CB's Sister in Dog Sees God; Edith Zuckerman in Charlotte's Web; Juana Enez De La Cruz in The Tenth Muse; #14 in The Wolves; Tania DelValle in Native Gardens, Mrs. Fox in Fantastic Mr. Fox, Ensemble in The Curious Incident of The Dog of The Night-Time; Medea in The Medea Complex; and La Muerte in Los Faustinos.

Henry Alexander Meza (Walter) is a first year MFA in TVFT student. He graduated with a B.A. degree in Theatre Arts from Cal State Long Beach. Henry is a jack of all trades, he is a writer, director, and actor for both theatre and film. He wrote a play, The Stranger, that premiered at CSULB’s Theatre Threshold. He is also an editor, sound designer, musician and singer. With his combined talents, he aspires to be a great filmmaker. Thank you to all the friends, family, and loved ones for your support.

Nicholas Diaz (Cole) is a first-year Graduate Student at Cal State LA, getting his MFA in Television, Film and Theatre as a part of the Acting Cohort. He is excited and proud to be beginning his 3-year journey by participating in Keely and Du. Some of his favorite roles onstage include Sebastion in Twelfth Night and Luigi Gaudi in Lucky Stiff. Nicholas would like to thank his father for all his support in getting him where he is today, his brother for inspiring him, and his grandmother for her love. He hopes his friends and family enjoy the show.

Olive Lalli (Orderly/Guard) is a transfer student from Citrus College and is so grateful to be pursuing her B.A. in Theatre at Cal State LA. Some favorite past roles include: Fastrada in Pippin (Irene Ryan nominee), Cinderella's Mother/Granny/Giant in Into The Woods, Shrek’s Mom/Mama Bear in Shrek The Musical, Evilene in The Wiz and Wanda in Durang Durang. Olive is thrilled to be a part of her first show at Cal State LA. 

Paulyn Sreekhwan (Orderly/Guard) is a 3rd-year student at Cal State LA, majoring in Theatre with an option in Performance and minoring in Entertainment Marketing. This is Paulyn’s second production as a cast member, but the third time involved in a Cal State LA production. She most recently stage-managed Invisible Women for the John Lion New Plays Festival but found herself itching to be back on stage. Paulyn would like to thank her friends and family for their continuous love and support.

Laura Dickinson-Turner (Director) is thrilled to be working with the wonderful cast and production team of Keely and Du.  Laura has been working in theatre for over 20 years as an actor, director, and teaching artist, and currently is the full-time Administrative Support Coordinator for the Department of Theatre and Dance at Cal State LA (CSULA).  Before moving to LA for grad school, her theatrical home was Prospect Theater Project (PTP) in Modesto, CA, where she curated/directed the Play Reading Project from 2015-2017, was PR/Social Media Manager from 2016-2020, and briefly held the position of General Manager.  Most recently, she returned to PTP to direct their May 2022 production of Top Girls.  Laura has her MA in English Literature from CSU Stanislaus and her MFA in Television, Film, and Theatre/Acting Option from CSULA. Favorite acting credits include Rabbi/Doctor/Hannah/Ethel in Angels in America (CSULA), Cordelia in King Lear (Stan State), Laura in The Glass Menagerie (Stage 3), and Eliza Doolittle in Pygmalion (PTP). Selected directing credits include The Neighborhood and Medusa (Son of Semele's Quick Creation Festival), Scotland Road (Center Stage Conservatory), and Servant of Two Masters (Thomas Downey High).  Laura would like to thank her cast for their trust and compassion, Meredith for her patience and the opportunity, and everyone involved for their time and dedication to this production.  www.lauradickinsonturner.com

Joe Celli (Set Designer) is an award-winning Production Designer and Art Director.  Trained as an actor at Emerson College, he quickly realized that he was most comfortable working behind the scenes. Captivated by the magic of transforming an idea on paper into a three-dimensional reality, he now puts those skills to use on a variety of projects from live theatre and corporate events to marketing campaigns, films and live television shows.

Previous television projects include the live musical versions of The Little Mermaid, A Christmas Story, Hairspray, and Grease as well as The Oscars.  Joe was fortunate to spend the better part of 2014/15 in Beijing, China working on the Zhang Yimou feature film, The Great Wall.  Most recently he completed work on an Netflix Comedy special entitled The Hall.

Nominated for twelve EMMY’s, Joe has been honored with 6 statues for his work on Hairspray Live, Grease Live and The Academy Awards.  Additionally, he is the recipient of seven Art Directors Guild Awards.   www.joecelli.com

Nita Mendoza (she/her) (Lighting Designer) is a Chicana lighting designer based out of Los Angeles. This is her first time collaborating with Cal State LA creatives and is honored to bring this striking play to life. She received her MFA from the University of California, Irvine in Drama with a concentration in lighting design. (Selected) Recent design credits include: Pericles (New Swan Shakespeare Festival) Guadalupe in the Guest Room (Colorado Springs Fine Arts Center), American Mariachi (TheatreSquared), Memory House (Lake Dillon Theatre Company), and The Effect (University of California-Irvine). Woohoo!!!

Jocelyn Tamayo (Costume Designer) is currently pursuing higher education in Costume Design and Theatre Management at Cal State LA. Some of her credits include ELACtricity (ELAC), Stiletto and Steel (Hollywood Fringe - Hudson Theater). Jocelyn has received awards for her work, including the Regional Costume Design Award from the Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival. She is currently a member of the Student Advisory Board for KCACTF as the region’s social media manager and is also a member of the Kennedy Center National Student Leadership Council. Given the changing times, she is doing what she can to make the best out of every situation and believes it is great to join like-minded artists during a pandemic.

Roxanne Westerlin (Fight Choreographer) is an Advanced Actor/Combatant with the SAFD, certified in all eight weapons and is part of the first group of students to complete the stage combat track at Fullerton College, where she today serves on the certificate board for future students and assistant teaches. Her work as a fight director was previously seen in Fullerton College's production of Marian, or the True Tale of Robin Hood and Los Faustinos at Cal State LA. She was also seen as Lilith and was the fight captain for She Kills Monsters at STAGEStheatre! She is finishing her B.A. in Theater/Performance at Cal State LA and has previously trained at the Pasadena Playhouse with LAMDA and Fullerton College. She spends most of her free time practicing stage combat, being a dog mom, and planning her Star Wars wedding. She would like to thank her family and Nick for always being supportive of her dreams!

Mx. Chels Morgan, CSE (Intimacy Director & Cultural Competency Specialist) - pronouns: they / xe - is an Afro-Latinx, neuroexpansive, and queer sexuality and social justice educator, cultural competency specialist, and intimacy director & coordinator. Chels is an AASECT Certified Sexuality Educator (CSE) as well as a Certified Holistic Sexuality Educator (CHSE) via the Institute for Sexuality Education and Enlightenment (ISEE) and has additional training by the ANTE UP! Virtual Freedom Professional Development School for Justice Workers in the history, implementation, and troubleshooting of various justice frameworks related to the sexuality field.

Chels has an extensive background in film, television, theater, dance and circus and is currently pursuing a Masters of Fine Arts in Film and Television Production from Loyola Marymount University with a specialization in Directing Fiction (as of 2022). Currently, Chels is working as the Digital Organizer for the National Queer & Trans Therapist of Color Network (NQTTCN) and is the Director of Curriculum for the upcoming Global Majority Intimacy Theatre Conference in New Orleans, LA. Overall, Chels' career focus is to spread narratives of radical humanity and radical self compassion, and to curate justice-centered and emboldening spaces on screen, on stage and in their communities through media.

Alexa Sisco (Stage Manager) is a senior earning her B.A. degree in Theatre with an option in Performance. She is enormously thankful to have worked on this production alongside a lovely and hardworking cast and crew. Some of her past technical credits include The Fresh Fruit Festival (Production Assistant), Beauty and The Beast (Head of Photography and Publicity), and The Skin of Our Teeth (Costumes). 

Terence Chin (Props Coordinator) is a senior majoring in Theatre with an option in Performance. Terence was in Dreaming of our Future in Spring 2020, and Dreaming of our Future Reboot in Spring 2021, as one of the ensemble. He was also in Lucinda y las Flores de la Nochebuena on the running crew and playing a superintendent in Fall 2019. Terence grew up in Malaysia and dreamt of being an actor since he was 10 years old. He came to the United States in August 2018 at the age of eighteen to further his studies. In Malaysia, Terence won the “Best Actor Award” in his 8^th grade English Drama Competition performing as The Fairy God “Father” in Cinderella. The award made him realize that an actor is what he was meant to be. Having the chance to live and study in the United States, Terence is grateful to have the opportunity to pursue his dream in a country where actors are born. During his final year as an undergraduate student, Terence will strive to pursue his dream to become an actor in the Film/Theatre industry with his love of performing. 

Erica Rogers (Light Board Operator) is a senior at Cal State LA. She transferred last year from her local community college, Columbus State, where she was involved in the theatre department and decided that she wanted to pursue further education in theatre. Keely and Du is her first production at Cal State LA. She is grateful for the opportunity afforded to her by her father and is also thankful for all the love and support she receives from her family to pursue her dreams and desires.