The Night Shift Program

Hunter Myers (Heliodoro Miller) is a returning student to Cal State LA who has been acting for around 7 years. His love for film inspired him to get into this craft. This is his acting debut at Cal State LA. He is excited to be a part of something so fun and collaborative. He’d like to thank his family and friends for their inspiration and support.

Carolina Meza (Berenicé Molina) is an undergrad student at Cal State LA, majoring in Theatre with an option in Performance. This is Carolina's first production with Cal State LA, having transferred from East Los Angeles College (ELAC), where she appeared in the productions They Don’t Pay, We Don’t Pay directed by Vanessa Pellegrini, It Can Change in an Instant directed by Rodney Scott, and East Los Rising directed by Cristina Frias. Recently, Carolina participated in the Summer Shakespeare Intensive with David Scott and Ramon Ramos. She received a nomination for her role as The Mother in the production of Six Character in Search of an Author directed by Kelley Hogan and later, a nomination for her role as Rebecca It can change in an instant. She was Irene Ryan Semi-Finalist. Carolina would thank her professors at ELAC for all the teachings and guidance that’s left a lasting effect on her as she pursues her acting and academic career. On this new journey she thanks her Cal State professors for all the new knowledge she’s gathered. Carolina loves her family and friends, thanking them for all the support. Special shout out to her Mom, Sonia. Carolina credits her with her talent and creativity: “I got it from my mama.” Her performance is dedicated to her grandmother Mercedes.

Damaris Garcia (Flor) is a second year MFA student at Cal State LA, as part of the acting cohort. This is Damaris’s third production at Cal State LA and is so excited to be playing the role of Flor in The Night Shift. She received her AA degree in Theater Arts at Cypress College and her bachelor's in general Theatre at Cal Poly Pomona. Some of her other favorite roles on stage include Metzli in Loop Group and being part of the Ensemble in Something Rotten which were both performed at Cal State LA. She also enjoyed performing in Hair the Musical as part of the tribe and Jeanie’s understudy, Enid in Legally Blonde and Camila in In the Heights. Damaris is excited to continue into her third and final year at Cal State LA.

Jesse J. Myers (Chaz) is a transfer student from Colorado Mountain College where he obtained his Associate of Arts degree before making his way to Cal State LA. He is a senior majoring in Television, Film, and Media studies with an emphasis in production. He was accepted into the American Academy of Dramatic Arts and the American Musical and Dramatic Academy. Still, he opted to finish his formal education and expand his skillset beyond acting. Jesse dreams of becoming a working actor and film producer. He discovered his passion for filmmaking while assisting his friends' productions at the Colorado Film School in Denver. This will be his second stage performance. He would like to thank his fellow castmates for welcoming him with open arms, and his director Susan Dalian for constantly challenging him as an actor and pushing him to be the best version of himself. His favorite plays are Death of a Salesman and A Streetcar Named Desire, and some of his favorite films include What's Eating Gilbert Grape, Interstellar, and Birdman.

Carlos Huerta (Ronnie and Nathan the Ghost) is a freshman at Cal State LA, majoring in theatre and this Carlos’s first ever play. He looks forward to doing future productions like this. Carlos has a dream to do this kind of work after graduating and would like to thank the people supporting him in pursuit of his lifelong dream. Thank you :)

Hannah Cichy (Riley) is a freshman at Cal State LA, majoring in Theatre with an option in performance. This is Hannah’s first production at Cal State LA. Her most recent production was in a short film called The Dead’s Reckoning written and directed by Ruben Dueñas. Favorite roles on stage include Veta in Harvey, Ginger in Zombie Prom, and Guitarist in Elephants Graveyard. Hannah would like to thank her friends, family, and boyfriend for always supporting her and encouraging her to pursue her dreams and passions.

Kaitlyn Avila (Playwright) is a 2nd year MFA candidate in Television, Film, and Theatre Writing at Cal State LA. A relative newcomer to the world of theatre, she was honored to develop The Night Shift from a one-act into a full-length play and have it performed as a staged reading in Spring 2023. A year later, she is overjoyed beyond words to see it as a full production. Kaitlyn would like to thank the lovely cast and crew for sharing their talents as well as the incredible Susan Dalian for her guidance and directorial expertise. She would also like to thank Carolyn Dunn for being with the project from the beginning, and her friends and family for their unconditional love and support.

 Susan Dalian (Director) returns to CSULA after directing Stupid F*!king Bird at The State Playhouse/Spring 2023. Other recent directing work includes: Dance Nation at USC’s School of Dramatic Arts and Venus in Fur at The Pico Theater starring Malcolm Barrett and Cloie Wyatt Taylor. Susan is also currently Associate Artistic Director at PlayPenn, a new play development theater company in Philadelphia where she co-produces and directs for the annual New Play Development Conference and Foundry Graduate Readings. Susan has an extensive background directing staged readings for new play development with the following theater companies: Lower Depth Theater Cycle of Poverty New Play Festival at A Noise Within, Echo Theater Company’s 2022 Playwrights LAB, Inkwell Theatre Development Lab, La Mama Experimental Theatre Club, IAMA Theatre Company, Ammunition Theatre Company, USC’s New Works Festival, LA Writer’s Center, and MACH 33: Cal Tech w/Pasadena Playhouse. Susan was Resident Director at Sierra Classic Theatre from 2014-2018 where she directed productions of Macbeth, As You Like It, Outside Mullingar, The Merchant of Venice, The Two Gentlemen of Verona, and A Midsummer Night’s Dream and The Importance of Being Earnest at Mammoth Lakes Repertory Theatre. Susan directed presentations of Troilus and Cressida (2021), Henry VI Part 2 and Richard III (2020) for Santa Cruz Shakespeare’s Undiscovered Shakespeare series. She returns in person to direct Hamlet with Santa Cruz Shakespeare this June. Susan has been acting professionally for over 30 years in regional theater, film, and television. She is also a voice over artist working in animation, video games, commercials, and audiobooks (2021 Audie Award winner, 2023 SOVAS Award winner, 2024 Audie Award Nominee). Susan is an Associate Producer for Directors Lab West (2023 & 2024 ) and is an Alumnus of Directors Lab West 2019. She holds a BFA from Boston University and is a graduate of Baltimore School for the Arts.

Blue Williger (Scenic Design) is an interdisciplinary designer based in Los Angeles. Williger’s work has been featured in exhibitions at the Rhode Island School of Design and on Architectural Digest’s ADPro. He received his formal education at the Rhode Island School of Design in the department of Interior Architecture.  He is an active board member of the Institute of Classical Art and Architecture’s Neoclassicist committee. Additionally, he is an associate designer at Madeline Stuart Associates, collaborating on residential interiors and custom furnishings.

Diana Herrera (Lighting Design; she/her) is a first-generation Latina and lighting designer located in Southern California. Her roots are based in the warmth of sunny Los Angeles where she was born and raised by her Latinx mother and sisters. She has an MFA in lighting design from University of California, Irvine and a BA in Theatre and Dance from California State University of Los Angeles. Within her time in the industry, she has designed over a dozen shows from theatre to dance and everything else in between. She also teaches at Pasadena City College. When Diana is not designing, you can find her teaching, mentoring, assisting, or drafting. Her work has taken her to Syracuse Stage, East West Players, South Coast Repertory, Utah Shakespeare Company, Apples and Oranges, and Radiance Lightworks to name a few.  To learn more about her work please visit her website at www.dhlightingdesigns.com

Salvador “Suavecito” Zamora (Sound Design) is a sound designer and composer born and raised in Southern California. He earned both his BA in the Interdisciplinary Computer and Arts Major and his MFA in Sound Design from the University of California, San Diego and is a proud recipient of the 2023 Princess Grace Award for Theatre. He's passionate about his friends and family, Latinx culture, and the connection between sound and movement. Select designer credits include: TaxilandiaSD (La Jolla Playhouse), Everybody (Antaeus Theatre Co.), Bunny Bunny, Machinal, and Hells Canyon (UCSD). Select assistant design credits include: Here There Are Blueberries (NYTW, Shakespeare Theatre Company DC, LJP), Babbitt, Sumo, The Untitled Unauthorized Hunter S. Thompson Musical, and Love All (LJP).  Upcoming: The Fires (SoHo Rep.), Tick, Tick… Boom! (Cygnet Theatre)

Lorna Bowen (Costume Designer; Muscogee Creek-enrolled, Seminole, Cherokee) is a freelance Costumer and Figure Finishing Artist for Animal Makers. She  has had the privilege to Wardrobe Supervise Bingo Hall, Pure Native, Lying with Badgers and Costume Design Desert Stories for Lost Girls and Where the Summit Meets the Stars for Native Voices at the Autry. She was honored to read and sing Aunt Iris for Missing Peace in 2019 as her first on-stage performance for Native Voices. She is so grateful to Randy Reinholz, Jean Bruce Scott, and Elisa Blandford for their faith and trust, and for the lovely E.B. Brooks whose mentorship has been a blessed gift. MVTO!

Carly DW Bones (Intimacy Consultant) is a theatre director, intimacy director/coordinator, sex educator, community facilitator and thespomancer (theatre witch). She works as a freelance intimacy director and educator in the greater Los Angeles area for professional theatre companies (A Noise Within, Antaeus, Boston Court, Coeurage, Coin & Ghost, East West Players, EST LA, Ghost Road, Greenway Court, Hero Theatre, IAMA, The Road, Skylight, Son of Semele, , StarKid, Theatre 40) and university theatre programs (Cal Lutheran University, CSULA, CSULB, Emerson LA, Occidental College, UCLA, UCR, USC, Pomona College). Carly created and directed at the feminist theatre ensemble, The Illyrian Players, from 2011-2019. They have also directed at: Coin & Ghost, The Echo, EST LA, Inkwell Theater, The Road, Rogue Artists Ensemble, The Vagrancy.  Connect with Carly: [email protected] and www.thespomancer.com

Mei Moya (Stage Manager) is a graduating senior earning her B.A. degree in Theatre with an option in Performance. She has performed in Urinetown her first year in 2021 as well as being the Assistant Stage Manager for Under the Family Tree. She would like to shout out those who supported her from beginning to end: from friends, mentors, and others, she couldn't have done it without you.

Michelle Small (Assistant Stage Manager) is dipping her toe into the world of stage management for the first time.  She is currently a Theatre major at Cal State LA, and has been enjoying the process so far.

Dallana Chavez (Make-up and Wardrobe) is a junior earning her B.A. degree in Theatre with an option in Design & Production.  This is her first time working on a production in Cal State LA.  Dallana’s goal is to eventually work in the film industry and create her own docu-series and share her craft with the world one day.

Juliette Del Muro (Wardrobe/ Makeup) is a 21-year-old 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 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. Juliette loves to act, and it is her true passion in life, but she also enjoys working with costuming, hair, and makeup in entertainment. She plans to make history in the industry.