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CAST BIOS
Agustín Chapa (Mercutio) -Agustín is a newer face in Sacramento and excited to be joining the actors at Hummingbird! His previous works include Water by the Spoonful at CRC as Elliot, Shakespeare in Love at 2nd Space as Shakespeare, and Oedipus El Rey at Selma Arts Center as Tíresias. He would like to thank his Romeo and Benvolio for the ease and fun they were able to find on stage, and hope you enjoy the show!
Evan Malone (Romeo) - Evan is very excited to work on his second show with Hummingbird Theatre Company. Recent credits include The Imaginary Invalid at Rio Americano High School and Music Hall Spectaculaire with Hummingbird Theater Co. Evan is grateful to be working with all the fantastic cast and crew of the Hummingbird Theatre Company.
Addison Hersek (Juliet) - Addison is so grateful to be apart of this production with Hummingbird Theater Company. Her passion for theater has been lovingly fueled by the support from her friends and family, giving her the opportunity to have a role in many wonderful shows. Some of these roles include Lavinia in TITUS ANDRONICUS, Dusty in POTUS, Audrey in LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS, and Mary Warren in THE CRUCIBLE. She is so thankful for all the hard work put in by the cast and crew to bring this show to life. She is honored to have made many new connections during this production, and wants to thank them all for their friendship. She hopes you enjoy the laughter, tears, and sword fights as much as she has.
Jay Collins-Patrick (Tybalt) - Jay is the owner and producing artistic director of Suspicious Characters Live Entertainment, producing murder mysteries, comedy, and interactive events in Northern California and Nevada. Jay's previous stage roles include Long John Silver in "Treasure Island", The Herald in "Marat/Sade", Count Dracula in "Dracula", Bottom in 'A Midsummer Night's Dream", Curly in "Of Mice and Men", Gibson in "Mr. Burns: A Post-Electric Play", and Mr. Parivicini in "Mousetrap". This is Jay's third time playing Tybalt, and he is honored to bring the King of Cats to life once again. Jay has had the time of his life working with Hummingbird, and can't say enough good things about everyone involved with the company and the respectful, collaborative environment that Hummingbird has created, which has inspired him to work hard to do this role justice. Jay lives in Sacramento with his wife, actor and director Nina Collins-Patrick, their sons Phelan, Diego, & Koogler, and their daughter, Biscotti. Two of those kids chase birds and aren't allowed on the countertop, but I'm not going to tell you which ones. Tonight's show is dedicated to Jay's grandparents, Pete and Dora, but don't tell Pete; he'll try to arm wrestle you.
Katie Halstead (Benvolio) - Katie is thrilled to be returning to Hummingbird Theatre Company for Romeo and Juliet! Katie was last seen with HTC in THE CRUCIBLE as Marshall Herrick. Other theatre credits include Viola/Cesario in TWELFTH NIGHT, Melchior in SPRING AWAKENING, and most recently as Jocelyn in the California premiere of THANK YOU FOR YOUR ORDER. She is very grateful to have had the opportunity to play Benvolio, who has quickly become one of her favorite roles she’s ever played. Katie wants to thank her fellow cast members for making this an unforgettable experience and hopes you all enjoy jumping into this world of pirates, love, and consequence!
Jean Thompson (Nurse) - Jean is so excited to join the incredible cast and crew at Hummingbird Theatre to bring this time-honored story to life! Previous theater credits include Wedding Band, The Pier, Sister Act, George Washington’s Teeth, 42nd Street, 12 Angry Jurors, Seussical the Musical, Something Rotten, Sweeney Todd, Tony & Tina’s Wedding, Madagascar, The Producers and All Together Now. When not designing/landscaping houses, traveling and hanging with her large family, she also sings and tours with the Sacramento Choral Society and Orchestra and attends American River College in Theater. She thanks you for coming today, and hopes you enjoy the show!
Evan Taylor (Friar Lawrence) - This is Evan Taylor's (not to be confused with the leading Evan) first performance with Hummingbird Theatre. He is very happy to be with an extremely inviting and professional company. An amateur actor around the region, Evan has slowly and steadily been hunting down as many Shakespeare productions to perform in as he can. Previous Shakespeare shows he's been in include As You Like It, The Tempest, and Much Ado About Nothing with Falcon's Eye Theatre, and Hamlet with Champlain College. Two facts about Evan are; he dreads writing his own biography, and he can make a mean dairy-free Chicken Tikka Masala. He hopes you enjoy the timeless tale of star crossed lovers (on the high seas)! "For naught so vile that on the earth doth live but to the earth some special good doth give."
Christopher Tan (Paris) - Christoper is thrilled to be making his Hummingbird Theatre Company debut as Paris in Romeo & Juliet. A Sacramento-area actor and playwright, Christopher most recently wrote and starred in The Chinese Laundryman at FreeFall Stage, a play he has since expanded into a full-length work he is very proud of. Other credits include I Remember You (The Ooley Theatre), Night of the Living Dead Live (Rise Up Theatre Co), and Hamlet (Dixon Community Theater). When he's not on stage or writing, Chris can be found behind a camera, losing at board games, reading, catching live music, or planning his next trip somewhere far from home. Chris is grateful to the entire Hummingbird Theatre team for welcoming him into this production, and to his partner, Julia, for her support.
Doug Wilcox (Lord Capulet) - Doug’s overjoyed to take the stage again/ With Hummingbird, both cast and crew alike./ Since 2022, he’s yet to miss/ A single show they’ve done, and hopes to keep/ That streak alive as long as he doth breathe./ For after thirty years, he yearned to act/ And got his chance in Clue. A smallish role,/ But one that built his appetite for more./ A musical, two cabarets, three plays./ Each show he does lights up his hours with joy./ And now, for you our audience, he hopes/ You’ll love the work we’ve done, the time we’ve toiled,/ To bring you laughs and love and shock and tears./ Relax, enjoy, have fun, and watch us play/ In this, our Romeo and Juliet.
Mikayla Hinds (Lady Capulet) - Mikayla is excited to be in her first production with Hummingbird Theatre! You may have seen her previously as Lilith in She Kills Monsters or Mrs. Soames in Our Town. She would like to thank her friends, family, boyfriend and her dog for all of their love and support. She is so grateful for this cast and crew and has had such a wonderful time performing Shakespeare again after a 4 year hiatus. She hopes you enjoy the show!
Sam Kay (Captain Montague) - Sam is so excited to be working with Hummingbird Theatre Company for the first time! While she normally lurks behind the scenes, she sometimes has the chance to appear on the stage. Previous shows include The Musical Comedy Murders of 1940 (Marjorie), The Man Who Came to Dinner (Harriet), If the God Lord’s Willing and the Creek Don’t Rise (Maxine) and Get Smart (Big Sister). Most importantly, she’d like to thank Mrs. Hayhurst, who didn’t give her a passing English grade in 7th grade which forced her to take drama in 8th grade. And to her family and friends who continue to support her and her crazy dreams and schedule.
Tana Colburn (Lady Montague, Watch Commander) - Tana was born and raised in Sacramento. She has a BA and MA in theatre with minors in music and television. Her professional theatre experience includes an internship at Music Circus and at an off-Broadway theatre and working as the wardrobe mistress at Sacramento Music Circus. Her earliest stage experience was in third grade playing the detective in a children's play. After her time at Music Circus, she worked as a producer, director, writer, and manager in local television, along with writing, directing, acting, costuming, props, and set design in community and church theatre. Her family's introduction to Hummingbird Theatre was when her daughter played Kitty in The Importance of Being Earnest, during which her husband got roped into helping with tech, and he has been involved with Hummingbird ever since. Some of her favorite times on stage have been acting with her daughter. She has been involved with local theatre for over 10 years: on the board of another theatre company and working with 2 others. She was so excited that her schedule finally allowed her to audition and be cast in a Hummingbird production, especially working with Danielle and all the other wonderful people who are part of this company.
Geoff Charles (Narrator, Apothacary) - Geoff moved to California 8 years ago from Rhode Island. He is a member of the Rhode Island Television And Radio Hall Of Fame. He has performed in many area theatre companies and has won several awards including Best Actor of the Year. He is delighted to once again be part of a Hummingbird Theatre Company production. He has previously been in several Hummingbird Theatre Company productions and considers Hummingbird to be his “ home”.
Maldwyn Giannakodimos (Balthazar) - Maldwyn (they/them) is thrilled to be joining their very first Hummingbird production as Balthasar! Mal has been a singer since birth, an actor since the age of 6, and has most recently added voice acting to their resume (you can hear them regularly as a cast member on MythCraft: the Podcast). Some of their favourite past roles include Emma in LIZZIE The Musical, The Baker’s Wife in Into the Woods, and The Nurse in Shakespeare in Love. When not in the booth or on the stage, they can be found spending time with their partners, cuddling their cats, snakes, and lizards, eating the deliciously home-cooked meals of their roommate and best friend, or selling you theatre tickets from the B Street Box Office! They hope you have a swashbucklingly fantastic time enjoying this production of Romeo and Juliet! Arrrgh!
Bryce Huckaby (Sampson, Friar John) - Bryce is ecstatic to be making his Hummingbird Theatre Company debut. Bryce never thought he would still be doing theatre after doing his very first show at Tracy High School playing Rapunzel’s Prince in Into The Woods, but is so grateful for sticking with it and meeting so many of his now best friends because of it. After doing some shows in Stockton (Lewis, Pippin, San Joaquin Delta College, Scotty, Ripcord, Stockton Civic Theatre and others), he moved to Sacramento and graduated with his Bachelor’s Degree in Theatre Arts from Sacramento State. After about a four year break after playing as Luke in Dance Nation (Sacramento State), he returned to the stage at Big Idea Theatre with his role as Lukas in The Grown Ups, reigniting his passion for acting. He is forever grateful to his friends and family for all their support and would like to dedicate this performance to The Green M&M’s stiletto boots, may they rest in peace.
Aspen Rains (Gregory, Watchman) - Aspen (he/him) is a lifelong pirate enthusiast who’s always glad to be a part of whatever Hummingbird Theatre Company is cooking up. After performing in the Complete Works of William Shakespeare (abridged) with HTC two summers ago, now Aspen can finally say he’s done some actual proper Shakespeare - it’s certainly taken long enough. You may have also seen him as Micheal in tick, tick… BOOM! (Rise Up Theatre Co.), Peter in Stop Kiss (Spectrum Stage), Featured Ensemble in RENT (River Stage at CRC), or in HTC’s Rock of Ages and Music Hall Spectaculaire. Aspen would like to thank whoever created Pirates of the Caribbean for giving him his first special interest, and as always, Dr. Karly Kaplan.
Ian Standring (Peter) -Ian has done many shows with Hummingbird Theatre, some willingly, and some... less so (that's what happens when your Mom is stage managing.) But ultimately he's okay with it because he always ends up being rewarded with the Chocolate Chip cookies we don't manage to sell. In this play he takes great pride in his hinted at (garlic) sword fighting skills, and his ability to wash grapes in our tiny well. As his character is illiterate, Ian decided to be a method actor and not submit a bio, thus causing the creative team to write one for him. If you see him at the concession stand, say hi!
Emily Meyers (Ensemble, Featured Dancer, Juliet Understudy) - Emily has loved observing and learning from her fellow castmates as they bring this adaptation of Romeo & Juliet to life and hopes to one day make Shakespeare’s words sing the way they do. Emily has had the pleasure of performing in a number of HTC shows, including Rock of Ages, The Crucible, Into The Woods, Blithe Spirit (Edith), Pride & Prejudice (Lydia) and more. Emily would like to thank Danielle, Jarod, Diane, Tom, Shannon, Kat, Joe and the band for all their hard work and her castmates by whom she will forever be enchanted. She hopes you enjoy the show! Col. 3:23
Cameron Gibson (Ensemble) - Cameron joins his first Hummingbird Theatre Company production as an actor in Romeo & Juliet! Bringing a southern Georgia charm to California, he was inspired to join the local theatre community when he saw HTC's Broadway Cabaret last summer. He's acted in various plays and musicals since middle school, and he briefly directed Drama Club at KSU at Kennesaw State University, running one-acts plays and improv shows. Cameron is very grateful to this amazing cast for this opportunity and hopes to continue performing with the company and for opportunities that may come.
Ashley Anthony (Ensemble, Feature Dancer) - Ashley is delighted to return to the stage for her second show with Hummingbird Theatre Company. You may have seen her previously as a player in Hummingbird’s Music Hall Spectaculaire. Prior to moving to the Sacramento area, she performed in the Bay Area with Clayton Theatre Company’s productions of Young Frankenstein (Elizabeth) and The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee (Olive). When she isn’t on stage, Ashley is working as a behavior analyst for children with developmental disabilities and hanging out with her family including her six beautiful pets. Ashley wants to thank her husband and loved ones for all their love and support.
Rebecca True (Ensemble) - As a lover of Shakespeare, Rebecca is excited to bring this swashbuckling spin on a timeless classic to life! A newcomer to theater, you may have seen her make her debut last summer as Roger Sherman in 1776 with FreeFall Stage. By day, Rebecca supports our local business community through advertising campaigns and also works as a California history tour guide for 4th grade students. She is very grateful for the support of her family and friends, and to Hummingbird Theatre Co. for the opportunity to be a part of this show!
Carolyn Duncan (Ensemble) - This marks Carolyn’s seventh production with Hummingbird Theatre. In 2025 Carolyn was delighted to croon and dance her way through the glittering world of Music Hall Spectaculaire. In 2024, she rocked out as the proletariat Regina in Rock of Ages, “Power to the People!” which now rings more true than ever. Carolyn's most cherished role was playing the quietly resilient Elizabeth Proctor in The Crucible, a performance that taught her so much about herself. Carolyn is, as ever, honored to be a part of a Hummingbird production. A production company who balances whimsy and kindness, and quality. The Director, Danielle Mercado, and Ast. Director, Jarod Wiggins, have created a magical world that will whisks you away in enchantment one moment, and will have you clutching at your heart the next. Carolyn is mesmerized every day by her talented cast members, the siren song of the band and the power of scenic design. Jarod Wiggins, the fight choreographer, has sculpted fights that are dynamic and colorful, bringing life to the party both vivid and striking! Robust fights delicately peppered with moments of human silliness. Carolyn oscillates from humbled by the talent surrounding her, to the electric thrill of realization that she gets to be a part of this beautifully heartbreaking tale. She hopes you can find the glimmers that Shakespeare lets sparkle out from the darkness of our society.
Joe Sauvageau (Band Leader) - Joe is so ridiculously excited to be part of another show with Hummingbird, although being a band director is more intense than she previously imagined. Her favorite previous roles include Sherrie Christian (Rock of Ages, Hummingbird Theatre Co) and Heather McNamara (Heathers The Ooley Theatre). She hopes you enjoy the show as much as she enjoyed doing it! She’d love to thank the creative team (which does include herself) and she’ll miss everyone very much when she moves to New York in October.
Diane Standring (Stage Manager, Production Manager, Prince) - Diane is so excited to be a part of another Hummingbird Theatre Company production. Since 2021, Diane has enjoyed performing and working with so many amazingly talented performers in a variety of roles, including stage manager, music director, and performer. Some of her favorite roles include Ruth from Blithe Spirit, Cinderella's Stepmother from Into the Woods, singing in the Music Hall Spectacular, and music directing Rock of Ages. Diane is very much enjoying the opportunity to play the Queen in Romeo & Juliet and work with such incredibly talented actors. Elementary school principal by day and mom/wife by night, Diane would like to thank her amazing husband David and three boys Ian, Nathan, and Jacob for their love and support. She would also like to thank the amazing HTC production team Danielle, Jarod, Tom, Rich, Shannon, Sarah, Joe and all the musicians and performers who having made this show such a wonderful experience.
Jarod Wiggins (Assistant Director/Fight Choreographer/Abram) - Jarod is a local Actor, Fight Choreographer, and Musician born and raised in Sacramento! After receiving his BA in Theatre from Sac State, Jarod went on to complete an Apprenticeship at Capital Stage where he was able to make his professional theatre debut. Jarod started his passion for combat at a young age when he grew up doing martial arts since 8. Now Jarod is a member of the Society of American Fight Directors with certifications in 6 weapons. This year he has done choreography for Capital Stage’s FAT HAM, Sac State’s PIPPIN, and is choreographing the upcoming COMPANY at Rise Up Theatre, and Teatro Nagual’s WOLF AT THE DOOR. Outside the theater Jarod also loves playing keyboard and you can listen to him with his band Midnight Zombies (new demos coming soon we promise). Romeo and Juliet has a very special place in Jarod’s heart and they were thrilled to be able to pull out all of their skulduggery to bring the swashbuckling to life in this pirate version of the most famous tragedy.
Thank you so much to the City of Rancho Cordova Measure H Community Enhancement and Investment Fund for sponsoring our production of “Romeo & Juliet”! We are thrilled to bring this to the public, which promotes community, fun, and nightlife here in Rancho Cordova!
