"Recent Alien Abductions" Program

CAST

Alexis DeLa Rosa as Néstor

Alexis DeLa Rosa (he/him) has been a part of the L.A. theatre community since 2012 and is proud to be making his debut on the Sacred Fools stage. Theatre credits include Niagara Falls, Eat the Runt, and last spring's The Dignity Circle at Theatre of NOTE. TV appearances include Shameless, The Last Ship and Hawaii Five-0. Playwright credits include Fruition, produced by Theatre of NOTE. Also a filmmaker, his most recent project, FOURTH, is currently making its festival run; follow on IG @fourthshortfilm. He is a Native New Yorker and a proud Wesleyan alum. Thank you to my wife Crystal and our greatest production yet, Isabella, for continuing to make dreams a reality. IG HANDLE: @alexisdlr

Crystal Diaz as Beba

Crystal Diaz (she/her) has performed in Los Angeles, New York, Chicago, London and Edinburgh. This is her first production since having her child in 2019. It takes a lot to get her out these days so she thanks this incredible team and cast. She was last onstage at the Kirk Douglas Theatre in For the Love Of, or The Roller Derby Play. Other credits include Hot Cat at the Edinburgh Fringe, and Skeleton Stories; Cleo, Theo & Wu; and Shoe Story at Theatre of NOTE. Crystal is a native New Yorker, a trained ballet & flamenco dancer, and is always down for a cup of tea (never coffee). Her family keeps her going - husband Alexis, daughter Isabella, Penny the dog & Lily the puppy. A huge thank you to our village and my mom for making it possible for us to do this play.

Lynn Adrianna Freedman as Patria

Lynn Adrianna Freedman (she/her) is thrilled to return to the stage after her last stint as Mary in the highly acclaimed 2024 production of Theresa Rebeck's Mauritius at the Theatre 68 Arts Complex. Equally accomplished behind the scenes, Lynn earned an NAACP Theatre Award nomination for Best Choreography for her vibrant work on Sacred Fools' How We Got On (also directed by frequent collaborator and fellow Bronx native, Jaime Robledo). On screen, she has worked with visionary filmmakers in celebrated films like Kathryn Bigelow's A House of Dynamite, David Fincher's Gone Girl and Spike Jonze's her, and more . On television, she has appeared on The Lincoln Lawyer, The Offer, Matlock, Criminal Minds: Evolution, American Crime Story: Impeachment, 9-1-1 and many more. Alongside her performing career, she is a writer, producer, and the founder of Freedom in Art Studio. Lynn sends immense gratitude to Sacred Fools, her amazingly talented cast, wonderful crew, and her loved ones for their endless support. Extra special thanks to my incredible daughter, O, for providing me with endless joy and laughter and always inspiring me to be the best mom, and human that I can be.

Thais Menendez as Ana

Thais Menendez (she/her) is a Cuban-American multilingual actor who has appeared onstage and onscreen in English, Spanish, and French. She is a proud member of Actors' Equity and SAG-AFTRA and is thrilled to be making her Sacred Fools debut as part of this brilliant Latine ensemble. IG: @thais.menendez

Selected Theatre: Two Sisters and a Piano (written & directed by Nilo Cruz, Miami New Drama); El Huracán (GableStage); Tentación (LA Philharmonic); A Misanthrope (Avant Bard); Things That Are Round (Rep Stage, World Premiere); columbinus (1st Stage, Helen Hayes Best Ensemble nomination); Don Cristobal (Pointless Theatre); What Every Girl Should Know and Dry Land (Forum Theatre); Señorita y Madame (GALA Hispanic Theatre); Oyéme, The Beautiful (Imagination Stage)

TV: 911 (ABC); The Bold & the Beautiful (CBS); While You Were Breeding (Freeform)

Erica Ortega as Olga

Erica Ortega (she/her) was born and raised in Los Angeles and graduated from CSULA with a Bachelor's degree in Theatre Arts. She has had the great fortune to bring theatre for young audiences to under-resourced communities for over 30 years as a performer/director. She has performed in theatre for the Hollywood Fringe Festival, LA Diversified, The Bilingual Foundation of the Arts, Mark Taper Forum, South Coast Repertory, The Arizona Theatre Company and Playwrights' Arena. She is returning to acting after a 20-year hiatus. Previously, she appeared on television in The Pretender, Babylon 5, Air America, and Chicago Hope, and in film projects such as Panic and Killers. She is excited to work with emerging artists and veteran professionals who include the voices of middle-aged Latinas in their storytelling.

Peter Pasco as Álvaro

Peter Pasco (he/him) is from the Boogie Down - LET'S GO, YANKEES! - and an NYU graduate with a degree in literature and psychology which he tossed to the side to be an actor. Plot twist! Peter's worked on commercials, tv, films, plays and himself. Facts! Though his exes may not agree.

And you know what, Jessica, you're NOT perfect. Just saying!

His first alien abduction happened on (redacted); he then encountered aliens in a (redacted). Uh-huh.

Peter was in IAMA's emerging playwrights group in 2022/23. His first play was a semifinalist for the O'Neill and Blue Ink. Last year, he was in Play Penn's playwriting cohort. Recently, he was commissioned to write a play through the Lucille Lortel's Alcove program.

He dedicates this performance to all the nerds who watched The X-Files. Why, bro? Seriously. Why?

CREW

Jorge Ignacio Cortiñas | Playwright

Jorge Ignacio Cortiñas (he/him) is a theater-maker based in New York. RECENT ALIEN ABDUCTIONS was fiirst presented at the Humana Festival at the Actors Theater of Louisville. Other works include Backroom (Whitney Museum of American Art), Bird in the Hand (Fulcrum Theater, New York Times Critics Pick, published by Dramatic Publishing) and Blind Mouth Singing (NAATCO, New York Times Critics Pick). His many awards include fellowships from the Guggenheim Foundation, the National Endowment for the Arts, United States Artists and the New York Foundation for the Arts. His plays have also been published by Playscripts and TDR/The Drama Review.

Jaime Robledo | Director / Sound Designer

Jaime Robledo (he/him) is an award-winning LA-based director, writer, and designer who specializes in cinematic theatricality, genre theater, and developing new work. Past credits for Sacred Fools Theater Company include Watson: The Last Great Tale of the Legendary Sherlock Holmes, Stoneface, Astro Boy and the God of Comics, and Mr. Burns, a post-electric play. Other select credits: Medea Comes to Our Town (world premiere, Lightning Rod Theater), Hearts Like Fists (world premiere, Theatre of NOTE), Clown Bar (West Coast premiere, Pasadena Playhouse), Wicked Lit (Unbound Productions).

autodealer | Music

autodealer is the music project of Matt Richter. He has written and performed as autodealer since 2002, and toured the Midwest and played numerous festivals. A current member of the Somewherecold Records roster, he's released 3 albums and 2 EPs since joining in 2020. He also writes and records as half of the duo Transverse, with Jason Lamoreaux. He's written music for the Echo Theatre Company, The Elephant Theatre Company, and independent productions in the greater Los Angeles area.

Brandon Baruch | Lighting Designer

Brandon Baruch (he/him) is a Los Angeles-based designer specializing in theatre, opera, dance, and immersive entertainment. He recently made his West End debut with StarKid Productions' The Guy Who Didn't Like Musicals at the historic Apollo Theatre on London's Shaftesbury Avenue. Elsewhere, his design work has been seen at Center Theatre Group (Mark Taper Forum and Kirk Douglas Theatre), The Wallis, El Portal Theatre, REDCAT, The Ford Amphitheatre, Getty Villa, Long Beach Opera, Opera Santa Barbara, Chicago Opera Theater, Apollo Theater Chicago, New York City Center, Jerry Orbach Theatre and across Southern California, regionally, and internationally. Brandon is excited to return to Sacred Fools for another production. www.brandonbaruch.com

Joyce Hutter | Prop Designer

Joyce Hutter (she/her) is incredibly excited to envision Sacred Fools' production of Jorge Ignacio Cortiñas' RECENT ALIEN ABDUCTIONS, directed by Jaime Robledo.

As an artist, designer, filmmaker, and puppeteer, Joyce is thrilled to collaborate with the Sacred Fools Theater Company. Her theatrical designs have enhanced numerous theater productions over the years, earning her the Los Angeles Drama Critics Circle Award for her achievements in puppet and mask design. Some of her notable set designs include Achilles in Arcadia, Medea Comes to Our Town, Hurricane Kate, Brushstroke, and Waiting for Waiting for Godot, among others.

In addition to her design work, Joyce is the artistic director of Strings & Things Puppet Theatre, where she produces "Nite At The Puppet Asylum," a unique puppetry slam for adult audiences that is part of the Puppet Slam Network. For more information, visit her website.

Colin Lawrence | Set Designer

Colin Lawrence (he/him) is a scenic designer and artist from Lake Tahoe, CA. This is his first production with Sacred Fools and he is thrilled to be working with this amazing team. Previous credits: The Araron Play (Indie Shakes Company); The Guy Who Didn't Like Musicals: West End and TGWDLM:Reprised (Team Starkid); Book of Will, These Shining Lives, and Emilie La Marquise... ('Begins & Ends with A' Productions); The Allstore and Kill Shelter (Theatre of NOTE); Grief Box (Hollywood Fringe); Romeo and Juliet, As You Like It, The Baby Play, What Happened While Hero..., Henry IV Parts 1 & 2, and Tartuffe (Art of Acting Studio). Set Dressing Credits: Running Point, Star Trek: Picard, Rebel Moon Parts 1 & 2 and The Voice. Love to BDPMA.

Jo Ann Mendleson | Fight Choreographer / Intimacy Coordinator

Fight Choreographer / Intimacy Coordinator (she/they) is a Director, Fight and Intimacy Choreographer, and Theatrical Movement Instructor. She holds an MFA in Performance for Television, Film and Theatre at Cal State LA and is a Professor of Theatre at Loyola Marymount University, Santa Monica College, Cerritos College and Long Beach City College. Jo Ann is delighted to be back at Sacred Fools for its 30th season, having previously fight directed for the world premiere of Deadly in 2019. Other recent Fight and/or Intimacy Direction credits include Sweat (Loyola Marymount University, 2026), The Play That Goes Wrong (Brentwood School, 2025), Stoneface: The Rise and Fall and Rise of Buster Keaton (Big Bear Theatre Project, 2025), Carrie: The Musical (LMU, 2024), Fuente Ovejuna (LMU, 2024), Hyannis (LMU, 2023), Macbeth (Shakespeare on the Bluff, 2023).

Mylette Nora | Costume Designer

Mylette Nora (she/her) Ovation Award (Best Costumes), NAACP Theatre Award (Best Costumes), listed in the honors edition of The Cambridge Registry of Who's Who Among Executive and Professional Women; works worldwide consists of television, film, and stage, and was seen nightly on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno and now weekly on Jay Leno's Garage. The famed artist Synthia St. James noted Mylette as being the inspiration for her world renowned painting "Ensemble," which graced the cover of the best selling novel "Waiting To Exhale" by Terry McMillan.

Jonathan Strebe | Stage Manager

Jonathan Strebe (they/them) works across the OC and LA area as a stage manager for productions both big and small. Most recently, they opened the new A Hogwarts Express Adventure with Warners Bros and What Price Freedom with Moving Arts Theater. They enjoy working on new play development with Inkwell and Moving Arts theater and bringing local playwrights incredible vision to life on stage. They dedicate their work to their sister Sami for always believing in them!

Sidney Edwards | Producer

Sidney Edwards (she/her) is a multidisciplinary artist based in Los Angeles, California, working as an actress (AEA), singer, dancer, improv artist, and director. She holds a BFA in Musical Theatre from William Peace University and an MFA in Acting from the University of Louisville, where she also earned a graduate certificate in African American Theatre.

Sidney is the director and co-writer of TYT 5, an award winning one-man show starring Byron Coolie that premiered at the 2024 Hollywood Fringe Festival.

One of Sidney's most celebrated achievements is receiving the Distinguished Actor Award at the 2018 Kennedy Center American College Theater Festival. She was also honored to perform at the 2017 National Black Theatre Festival. During her graduate studies, she was awarded the prestigious Warren Oates Award in recognition of her outstanding talent and promise as an MFA student.

Her favorite stage roles include Amneris in Aida (Karamu House, 2019), Sally Bowles in Cabaret (NC), and Squeak in The Color Purple (NC).

A passionate advocate for arts education, Sidney has served as a teaching artist with the Geffen Playhouse, Cleveland Play House, and the legendary Karamu House Theater. She has also held faculty positions at Baldwin Wallace University and the University of Louisville, where she served as Director of the African American Theater Program.

Insta: @ms.sidneyedwards

https://www.sidneyedwards.com/

Scott Leggett | Producer

Scott Leggett (he/him) is a Fringe veteran, having directed This Show Is Surrounded By True Events in 2024 while at the same time Producing the shows TYT 5 and The Planet Earth Farewell Concert. He won Best Two-Person Play, along with Nedra Gallegos, for Ronnie Larsen's If I'm Good in 2023. He performed multiple characters in Burglars of Hamm's critically acclaimed production of Resa Fantastiskt Mystisk, which won Top of Fringe in 2017. He was Monster in Cookie and the Monster at the HFF '15, which won Best Ensemble. He earned praise playing Roscoe "Fatty" Arbuckle opposite French Stewart in the critically acclaimed Pasadena Playhouse production of Stoneface: The Rise and Fall and Rise of Buster Keaton. At Sacred Fools, he played the titular character in Watson: The Last Great Tale of the Legendary Sherlock Holmes as well as its sequel. He studied theater at Penn State University and has appeared in several films, commercials and TV shows. Scott is also an accomplished director, having staged the hugely successful adaptation of Forbidden Zone at Sacred Fools. He also directed The Poe Show, which won Best Comedy at the HFF '15, and Skullduggery: The Musical Prequel to "Hamlet." He currently serves as the Co-Artistic Director for Sacred Fools.