ARTISTIC DIRECTOR'S NOTE:
Thank you so much for joining OFT as we reopen our doors for our first full season since 2020. Although I’ve only been at OFT for one short year, I have come to know this place as a community full of love, creativity, courage, and integrity. It is an honor to be part of this story.
In our 2022-2023 season, every play we produce is intended to bring us together around ideas and themes that spark conversation, build empathy, and help us to heal from the last two years: in The Secret Garden we are directly talking about healing, grief and community. In the shows coming up we’ll have dance parties, hero’s journeys, and critical analysis of equity in America.
You’ll also notice that every play centers young people in leading roles. The last two years have been difficult for people of all ages, but have had a profound impact on our youth. We need to uplift, center, and celebrate their resilience and talent – especially as we rebuild our communities.
In closing, I’ll ask you these questions: What is the world you want to see in the future? What does it look like? What does it feel like? How do people treat one another? I believe that theater can play a critical role in helping us to visualize that world, and to share our ideas for transformation with one another. I hope the plays we’re sharing with you this season embody some of your hopes and dreams – and I can’t wait to sit next to you in the theater to share these stories.
Big, BIG love,
Lily
CAST/CREW:
Daniela Acuña, Mary
Oliver Garcia, Carlos
Beckham Barehand, Dee
Raphael Venegas, Don Benicio
Lucy Elle Balls, Medlock
Lex Langguth-Torres, Mouse
Victor Velazquez, Mary’s Uncle
Elise Garcia, Angelie Negron, Christine Yorba, June Eventyr, Ensemble
CREW
Puppetry design by String & Shadow Puppet Theater (as part of their 2022-2023 Artist Residency).
Mabelle Reynoso, Playwright
Emily McHugh, Director
Marissa Rivera Bolaños, Assistant Director
Jordanna Averett, Stage Manager
Maren McBeth, Assistant Stage Manager
Jill Carter, Set and Graphic Designer
Iri Alexander, Costume Designer
Olivia Burlingame, Lighting Designer
Jacob Dinklage, Properties Designer
Finn Foley, Sound Designer
David Nowitz, Scenic Engineer
Bonnie Reese, Backstage Hand
Jupiter Sky Shellman, Light Board Operator
SPECIAL THANKS TO:
Roger McIntosh and the Washington Center for Performing Arts Community Youth Services
Production Electrician:
Kefa Crow
Carpentry:
Mike Taylor
Flower Painter:
Lori Campbell – Local artist, see her website.
Scenic Painters:
Eugene Ryser, Yazmin Buhanghang, Faith Buhanghan, Nora Walsh, Dana Kiehl, Donna Myers, Ashlen Hodge, Julie Bloom, Maiya Sandberg, Nadine Threadwell, Ged Heo, Bambi Strong, Lerah Putty, Veronica And, Anna Valibergh, Teresa Gibson, Faith Hagenhofer, Erin Gray, Charlotte Cerry, Jordan Richards, Julie Salamonik, Lucy Ziskis, Blue Ziskis, Joelle Montez, Carter Brown
Technical Assistance:
Raoul Berman
No photography or video recording is allowed during the show.
¿De qué hablas? – What are you talking about?
Niña – Girl
Motocicleta – Motorcycle
Tu tío – Your Uncle
Mocosa – Brat
¿Sabes qué? Ni Quiero Saber! – You know what? I don’t want to know!
No Señor – No Sir
Mira, Niña Podrida – Look, Spoiled Brat
Parale – Stop It
‘Mana – Sis’
Nada – Nothing
Largate – Scram
Mija – Girl (endearing)
Callate – Be quiet
¿Mandé? – Excuse me
¿Desdé Cuándo? – Since When?
Desdé Hoy – Since Today
El Patron – The Boss
Chismoso/á – Gossip
No séas chismosá – Don’t be a gossip
¿Qué no tienes papás? – Don’t you have parents?
Lo Siento – I’m sorry
Si lo es – Yes, it is
Graciás – Thank you
Amigo – Friend
Qué Chistoso – What a wise guy
Hola – Hello
Pajárito – Little bird
Ni Sabes lo que estás diciendo, Escuincla – You don’t even know what you’re saying, Brat
Qué dramática – How dramatic
Mira qué bellezá – Look at that beauty
Escoba – Broom
O Qué la canción – Oh Brother
No es Posible – Not Possible
Saluda – Say Hello
Malcriada – Rude Girl
Ven acá – Come here
Calmaté – Calm down
Pues Se necesitan muchas cosas – Well, we need a lot of things
¿Por qué no? – Why Not?
Qué ridiculez – How ridiculous
Canicás – Marbles
Mirá – Look
Qué hermoso – How cute
¿Qué Paso? – What happened?
Oyé – Listen
¿Quién estaba gritando? – Who was screaming?
Gritos – Screams
Con Razón – Makes sense
¿Cómo qué con razón? – What do you mean ‘makes sense’?
Andalé – Go on
Pulparindo – A popular brand of candy from Mexico
Qué lástima – What a shame
¿Entendidó? – Understood?
Tranquila – Calm down
Hijo – Son
Papá – Dad
Brujériá – Witchcraft
Dilé – Tell her
Pues yo también – Me too
La verdad? – Truth is
CAST BIOS:
Daniela Acuña - Mary
Oliver Garcia - Carlos
Oliver is currently a senior in high school. He always enjoys working with the Olympia Family Theater, where he previously performed in Starry Messenger as young Galileo and in Fully Vaxxed as El Cruel. He is incredibly excited to be joining the team for The Secret Garden as Carlos.
Beckham Barehand - Dee
Beckham is thrilled to make his debut performance at the Olympia Family Theater. He was recently seen in Tumwater High School’s Frog and Toad and Almost, Maine both directed by Harrison Fry. He is a company dancer with Ballet Northwest currently cast in An American in Paris. He recently completed an intensive dance program with the Portland Ballet Theater which solidified his love of movement. He also loves to sing showtunes with his dad, destroy his brother as Link in Super Smash Bros, and is looking forward to skydiving when he turns 18.
Raphael Venegas - Don Benicio
Raphael has loved acting ever since he can remember. While still in high school in his native Puerto Rico, he was invited to the Teatro Universitario, where he performed in various plays and musicals. This led to performances in telenovelas (soap operas), under the name Adrián. His love for acting continued when he moved to the U.S. to study, mixing his university career with stage work. George M, Mame, Our Town, The Fantastiks are some of the plays and musicals he has been involved in – either acting, stage-managing, or directing. He worked in Kiss me Kate, A Memory, A Monologue, A Rant, and A Prayer, and Side by Side by Sondheim in Theater Victoria, Victoria, Texas. Now retired from the University of Houston and Victoria College as a professor of Spanish and Hispanic Lit., and being named Professor Emeritus, Raphael moved to Olympia 7 years ago, where he has volunteered at OFT working on sets and ushering, and now is excited about returning to his first love, acting.
Lucy Elle Balls - Medlock
Lucy Elle Balls has been performing on stage for over 15 years! In her experience she has played multiple roles including Tulsa in Gypsy! A Musical Fable, Cogsworth in Disney’s Beauty and the Beast and Leonato in Much Ado About Nothing! Lucy has also been a part of many improv performances including murder mysteries and touring dinner theater troups. Lucy began her career as a Drag Queen about 6 years ago in Long Beach, CA. Lucy now hosts her own show and is excited to join the Olympia Arts Community. ‘Medlock’ is Lucy’s first role at OFT and the first role she has been non-binary in (besides in the role of daily life). She would like to thank Mabelle, the Directing team, and OFT for allowing such representation that is important for the Queer Community.
Lex Langguth-Torres - Mouse
Victor Velazquez - Mary's Uncle
Elise Garcia - Ensemble
Angelie Negron - Ensemble
Angelie is thrilled to be a part of the ensemble in this production of The Secret Garden! She is a recent high school graduate and has been a part of theater for the past 3 years. Some previous roles include Susie Bones in PUFFS and Howie Newsome in Our Town. She loves art and music and is looking to continue her creative career at college next year.
Christine Yorba - Ensemble
June Eventyr - Ensemble
Crew Bio's
Mabelle Reynoso - Playwright
Mabelle Reynoso (she/her/ella) is delighted to be working once again with OFT and is grateful for the opportunity to share the story of The Secret Garden from the perspective of a 12-year-old Latinx punk rock girl. It’s the kind of play Mabelle wished she saw when she was a kid. When not writing plays, Mabelle may be found doing homework (she is working on her PhD), watching Gravity Falls, or losing at Splatoon 3. Mabelle lives in San Diego, CA and was proudly born in Tijuana, Mexico. Gracias a mi familia por siempre apoyarme. So much love and gratitude to everyone at OFT, and thanks to Lily, Emily, and Marissa for taking this city girl to see a volcano! More at mabellereynoso.com
Emily McHugh - Director
Emily McHugh is a puppet-maker, paper-cutter, and performer who grew up in Olympia. She began making giant puppets as a studio artist with Paperhand Puppet Intervention in North Carolina, and in 2017, she co-founded String and Shadow Puppet Theater with Donald Palardy. There have been scraps of cardboard and hot glue in her hair ever since.
Marissa Rivera Bolaños - Assistant Director
Jordanna Averett - Stage Manager
Jordanna Averett is an Olympia local and budding theater creative. She started as an OFT painting volunteer in 2019 and has been hooked ever since! Her recent projects include set design for The Originals, and Life is Complicated at Olympia Little Theater and stage managing for [title of show] with the South Puget Sound Theater Collective. She is stoked to be working with this talented team on this witty, inclusive, and heartfelt adaptation of The Secret Garden. Infinite thanks to Danny for his unwavering support, encouragement, and love.
Maren McBeth - Assistant Stage Manager
Maren McBeth was last seen on stage at OFT playing a dragon and a shrimp in Who’s Afraid of the Rain? for the Fully Vaxxed project this past spring, and is excited to be helping behind the scenes for our green-and-growing version of The Secret Garden. Maren is a firm believer that gardening and punking out are not mutually exclusive activities, and she would like to send particular thanks to her potted-plant friends Keith Richards, Jeffrey, and Petra for their support during this production.
Jill Carter - Set and Graphic Designer
Jill is delighted to be OFT’s Resident Designer. She has decades of experience in scenic, lighting, and projection designs, for a variety of theaters in the Pacific NW. Some of her favorite OFT designs include Corduroy, Cinder Edna, Orphan Train, BusyTown, The Wind in the Willows, and Fishnapped!.
Iri Alexander - Costume Designer
Olivia Burlingame - Lighting Designer
Olivia is grateful to be designing for OFT once again! Olivia has designed in Olympia for the last ten years. Some favorites include Hedwig and the Angry Inch, Little Shop of Horrors, and The Wind in the Willows. Olivia graduated from Central Washington University with a BFA in Theater Design and Technology. She has also worked with Harlequin Productions, Tacoma Opera, Theater Artists Olympia, Tacoma Arts Live, SMU, SPSCC, and Seattle Children’s Theater. Olivia is a proud member of the Cowlitz Indian Tribe. Thank you to all her friends and family! * Drawing by the awesome Kate Arvin*
Finn Foley - Sound Designer
Finn Foley is an Olympia local who has recently graduated Evergreen State College, studying audio engineering and sound design. He enjoys creating soundscapes and recording folk, jazz, and blues.
David Nowitz - Scenic Engineer
David is happiest tinkering around in his scene shop coming up with imaginative ways to make things. Recent favorite engineering challenges for Olympia Family Theater include building an escalator for Corduroy, making a recycling machine with working wooden gears for Cinder Edna, making an under bed and over bed/jungle gym in The Monster Under the Bed, making a ski slope for A Year with Frog and Toad, and making a bed fall through a ceiling in Mercy Watson to the Rescue. Also, for Open Road Productions, David made an underwater/ overwater transforming touring set for The Incredible Undersea Trial of Joseph P. Lawnboy, and for Ballet Northwest, a candy cane throne.
Bonnie Reese - Backstage Hand
Bonnie is a student at SPSCC. She took theater classes through high school and is continuing them with her college courses. She had the pleasure of working on productions at SPSCC as a Production Assistant on The Thanksgiving Play and the Lead Assistant Stage Manager to Jordanna Averett on [title of show]. In her daily life, she is a mother and supports her children as they participate in schools and community activities. She is a cheer mom for her daughter Aliya, who cheers for The Black Hills Wolves with TCYFL and for her son Ayden who is a leader for multiple teams at Black Hills High School and who has also had the pleasure of learning about Theater at OFT in their Theater summer camps. She is always their number one fan cheering them on in everything they do, reminding them they can do anything they put their minds to and still shows off pictures of their successes with a giant grin! She loves singing, paranormal stories, travel and absolutely loves to learn and meet new people.
Jupiter Sky Shellman - Light Board Operator
This is Jupiter’s eighth show with OFT, and they are so happy to be back and to be running lights designed by their sister Olivia! Previous favorites include The Wind in the Willows, Flora & Ulysses, Fishnapped! (OFT), Neighborhood 3: Requisition of Doom, Legally Blonde, and The Pirates of Penzance (Olympia High School). Special thanks to their family for always supporting them!
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ORGANIZATION CREDITS:
OFT Staff
Artistic Director
Lily Raabe
Deputy Director
Kate Arvin
Education Director
Rachel Carlson
Communications Director
Natalie Coblentz
Operations Coordinator
Angel Ramirez
Box Office Staff
Tracy Thomas
Scenic Engineer
David Nowitz
Resident Designer
Jill Carter
Company-in-Residence
String & Shadow
Volunteer Bookkeeper
Diana Purvine
OFT Board of Directors
Executive Committee:
Samantha Chandler
Sara Thiessen
Annie Severson
Mike Taylor
Members at Large:
Jonnita Thompson
Lauren Love
Edsonya Charles
Doreese Norman
Nicole Miller