This Land, by Evangeline Ordaz

Galileah Ramirez (Toya/Della) is a first year "exploring" student at Cal State LA. This is her first production with Cal State LA. She is from a town called Turlock, CA , where she performed in other shows such as Legally Blonde ( Ensemble), Percy Jackson: The lightning Thief (The Oracle), and Play On! (Smitty/The Maid).  She is excited to be able to perform with an amazing cast! She would like to thank the director Dr. Dunn for the amazing opportunity to be apart of this show, the stage manager Leah Cobleigh for making the show as amazing and organized as possible, her parents for supporting her in her dreams, and Jonathan for extra emotional support. 

Matthew Leal (Enrique Avila / Ricardo Reyes) is a freshman in Cal State LA Majoring in Theatre, with a focus on acting.  This is his first show at Cal State LA. He spent most his time moving around, but for high school attended South Gate High School as well as lived in South Gate since. This is only his second ever play and the first was named Knock Knock by Kathryn Funkhouser and Jason Pizzarello. He’s really excited to perform this play because of its strong history, and it taught him a lot about theatre as a whole. Lastly, he’s really happy to have gotten to work with such a dedicated cast, crew, director and designers.

Daemaurion Hann (Pepe Neri) is a student at Cal State LA, pursuing his B.A. in Music with an emphasis in Commercial Music and Performance. He was most recently seen as Reverend Ambrose in A Lesson Before Dying by Ernest J. Gaines, directed by Rodney Lloyd Scott at East Los Angeles College (Fall 2024), a production exploring faith, dignity, and resistance in the Jim Crow South. His additional performance credits include Does He Like Black Girls?, a new work examining identity and perception, and Soledad, a play centered on family, memory, and healing. At Cal State LA, Daemaurion also performs with the Chamber Singers under the direction of Professor Evan Roberts, further developing his artistry as both a singer and storyteller. He would like to thank his professors, peers, and family for their continued encouragement and support.

Tahleya Newborn (Leola Piqueray / Sharon Curtis) is a senior at Cal State LA, majoring in Theatre, with an emphasis on Performance. This Land marks Tahleya’s first Cal State LA stage performance. She has been in various short films and other on campus projects such as Last Day, Voodoo, Liminal Space, and most recently Blood for Blood. In addition, Tahleya has worked with the Pan African Resource Center on campus for an event commercial. Tahleya is also the proud co-founder and co-president of Black Creative Collective Organization and aims to build community and uplift black creatives in and around Los Angeles. She would like to thank her family and friends for their continuous support and love. 

Shyanne Benjamin (Leslie Piqueray / Mel Miller) is a 2nd year MFA student in Television, Film and Theater, in the Acting option. This is her first production at Cal State LA. Shyanne worked as a social worker for 8 years, while simultaneously pursuing an acting career. Shyanne is now focusing her honing her skills for both stage and camera. Shyanne Benjamin is known best for being a sultry-voiced poet, using her words to tell stories about life, love, her family, and her experiences. Shyanne wants to portray characters and create stories that will bring her community joy, and impact Black culture; like Whitley from A Different World, Max from Living Single, and Tiffany from Insecure. She wants to play the sex symbol without the fat-phobic dialogue, or the dramatic love interest in a period piece- with her skin and her body. Shyanne is grateful for the opportunity to be in this production of This Land, she feels that during this current political climate, that is important to look back and take stock in what we (should) have already learned.

Eugene Antonio Negrete (Tomas / Fidel Avila) is a second-year MFA student in Television, Film and Theatre/ Acting Option. He is a film and stage actor, director, poet and arts educator. Last school year he was a part of the ensemble ¡Celebramos! and he appeared in the John Lion New Plays Festival. He was recently seen at Casa 0101 Theater in Fernandomania by Josefina Lopez. 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.

Hunter Myers (Patrick Dalton / James Hilman / Dalton Hill) has been acting for a few years. His love for film inspired him to get into this craft. This is his second role with Cal State LA. He is excited to be a part of This Land because it tells the history of this city. 

Rebecca Silberman (Maeve Hillman) has just completed her culminating project requirements for the  MFA in Television, Film and Theatre at Cal State L.A. Her one-woman show Cantaloupe, Cool Whip, and Corsets ran for three performances in August. She was seen on stage at Cal State LA in The Panza Monologues and Stupid Fucking Bird, and she has walked the boards of numerous theaters throughout Los Angeles. She is excited and grateful to be working with such a wonderful group of people.

Ricky Patrick (Milkman/Dydee Delivery Man/Window Repairman) is a 42-year-old Television Theatre and Film MFA student at Cal State LA. They previously attended Hamline University in Saint Paul, MN where they graduated with high honors in Theatre Arts.  This past spring Ricky performed with CSULA Theatre as Wang in The Good Person of Szechuan . A native Minnesotan, Ricky has had an extensive career in professional theatre. Along with their passion for acting, they are an accomplished writer, filmmaker, visual artist, and multi-instrumentalist.

Leah Cobleigh (Stage Manager) is in her senior year at Cal State LA earning her B.A. in Theatre with an option in Design & Production. Stage Management credits include: Resa Fantastiskt Mystisk (Cal State LA), Not So Silent Auction (Cal State LA), A Streetcar Named Desire (Modesto Junior College) and Legally Blonde: The Musical (Modesto Junior College). She is excited for This Land to kick off her final year at Cal State LA and thankful to the cast, crew and professors for helping her through the process.

Chance Vano (Assistant Scenic Designer) is a 4th year Cal State LA TAD major, Design and Production Option. Transfer from Sierra College, Rocklin, CA. Lighting Designer, Scenic Designer, and Stage Manager. Filmmaker and Producing Multi-Instrumentalist. Upholding the ritual of theatre as a vehicle for joy, cultural celebration, and catharsis. Select Cal State LA Theatrical credits: Mojada (SM), The Good Person of Setzuan (ASM), Ojai Playwrights Conference 2025 (SM), Guys and Dolls (SM), Friday Stage Nights!!! (LD). Film credits: Frame Forward Presidential Fellowship (TD, DIT, 1st AC), From A to Gen Z (LD, Asst. Set Design) @vanomusicfm

Sydney Stein (Crafts Supervisor) is a junior at Cal State LA majoring in Theatre. A lover of performance in all its forms, Sydney got their start as a child performing as an orphan in a community theatre production of Annie. Since then, they've acted, sung, danced, deck crewed, stage managed, and built sets for several productions. Their favorite roles have been Aunt March in Little Women (Upland High School), the Cowardly Lion in The Wizard of Oz (Upland High School), assistant stage manager for Resa Fantastiskt Mystisk (Cal State LA) and set building for Mojada (Cal State LA). Sydney would like to thank their friends, family, and professors for their support.