Little Shop of Horrors

Romar is thrilled to be making his debut with Sierra Rep! Huge gratitude to Scott Viets & Jerry Lee for their support and the opportunity to play this iconic role! He hails from Livermore but also calls Jamestown his 2^nd home. He’s been admiring all the shows he’d seen at Sierra Rep and feel honored to finally be part of this amazing company!  He last performed as Joseph at Woodminster’s production of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat and reprised that same role a year later at Tri-Valley Repertory Theater in his hometown! Other favorite roles include, Sky in Mamma Mia!, Ta in Flower Drum Song,  Enjolras in Les Misérables, all with Woodminster Summer Musicals. He got his professional start with the Sacramento Music Circus (CMT) and appeared in several productions there including West Side Story, A Chorus Line, 7 Brides For 7 Brothers, Joseph…Dreamcoat. He also appeared in American Musical Theater of San Jose’s production of Miss Saigon, Phantom, and Pacific Overtures w/TheatreWorks, Kept (a musical based on Camille by Alexandre Dumas) where he had the opportunity to work with Henry Krieger (Dreamgirls), Andy Blankenbuehler (Hamilton), and Director Scott Schwartz.  Other regional credits include Whizzer in Falsettoland, Lun Tha in The King and I, Mereb in Elton John’s Aida, Once On This Island, Cabin in the Sky, Jumbo, Sweet Charity, Gypsy, Pirates of Penzance. He has performed in cabarets, benefit concerts and dance concerts. He owes his vocal techniques and stamina to Matthew Liebowitz! When not performing, Romar is a successful real estate agent in the Bay Area. Much love to his partner in crime, Matt, for his unending support, love, and assistance in memorizing and going through scripts so he can memorize his lines!

Camryn is thrilled to return to SRT this season as an Artistic Associate! Previous SRT credits include: Sunday in the Park with George (Dot/Marie), Cinderella (Ella), Jersey Boys (Mary Delgado), and Elf (Jovie). Camryn has had the pleasure to perform at several regional houses including Casa Mañana and Utah Festival Opera and Musical Theatre. Camryn received her BFA in Musical Theatre from the University of Arizona. She would like to thank her friends, family, and SRT for their endless love and support. Enjoy the show!

John made his SRT debut in 1991 and is thrilled to be back! SRT audiences may remember him over the years as Sancho in Man of La Mancha, Pseudolus in A Funny Thing Happened…, Greater Tuna as well as music directing many productions. John has had the pleasure to work at several regional houses including Great Lakes Theatre, Idaho Shakespeare Festival, Barn Theatre, Amarillo Opera, Ocean State Theatre, American Musical Theatre of San Jose, Hope Summer Rep. appearing in such roles as: Plankton in Spongebob Squarepants, Igor in Young Frankenstein, Madam in Pacific Overtures, Maj. General in The Pirates of Penzance, Herod in Jesus Christ Superstar, and Narrator in The Rocky Horror Show.  John’s Conducting/ Music Directing credits include Billy Elliot, Les Misérables, Sunset Boulevard, Tommy, Into the Woods and Zorba.

Always happy to be back! Previous SRT credits include Sunday in the Park, Love/Perfect/Change, and (…)Trailer Park Musical. Off-Broadway: Edgar and Marie (NY Theater Festival), On The Right Track (AMT Theater), Rio Uphill (The York). Select Regional: Jane Eyre (New City MT), Great Comet of 1812, Shining In Misery: A King-Size Parody (Capital City), Titanic the Musical (The Fireside). Hugs to Mom, Dad, Tyler and Grandma. Immense thanks to Scott and Jerry. Love you, Juliebird!

Janaysia Gethers, a recent graduate from Plymouth States Class of 2022, is an effervescently bright soul. She was born on the national day of love and takes pride in being a February Aquarian. Janaysia confidently wears her heart on her sleeve. Music, theater, film, and television were integral to her upbringing. She wants to thank everyone who has helped her on her journey. Recent credits: Aladdin A Musical Spectacular (Jasmine, Disney Cruise Lines),The Little Mermaid (Ariel U/ S, Disney Cruise Lines) Little Shop of Horrors (U/S Urchins, North Shore Music Theatre), Hair (Dione, Company Theatre), The Last Five Years (Cathy, Plymouth State University), Rising Stars Holiday concert with Liz Callaway (featured soloist). 

Matthew Rose: a man of many talents, from riveting audiences on stage in Daylight to Booneville, Deathtrap, and Into the Woods, to behind-the-scenes wizardry as Property Master and Puppeteer at Sierra Repertory Theatre. With a knack for bringing characters to life and a touch of humor, Matthew’s journey in theater is a delightful mix of passion and creativity. Whether wielding props or pulling strings, he’s a force to be reckoned with, both on and offstage.

Howard Ashman (Lyrics) Best known as a pivotal creative mind behind the renaissance of Disney animation and his work on The Little Mermaid, Aladdin, and Beauty and The Beast (which is dedicated to, “Our friend, Howard Ashman, who gave a Mermaid her voice and a Beast his soul…”) Ashman’s first love was theater. Ashman was a founder of off off Broadway’s renowned WPA Theater, where he conceived, wrote, and directed God Bless You, Mr. Rosewater, as well as the classic musical, Little Shop of Horrors (both music by Alan Menken). In 1986, he wrote and directed the Broadway musical Smile (music by Marvin Hamlisch). Lamented as a lost treasure of the 1980’s theater scene, Smile remains popular on High School and College campuses throughout the country. Howard Ashman died in 1991 from complications of AIDS.

Alan Menken (Composer). Theater: God Bless You Mr Rosewater, Little Shop Of Horrors, Real Life Funnies, Atina: Evil Queen Of The Galaxy, Kicks, The Apprenticeship Of Duddy Kravitz, Beauty And The Beast, A Christmas Carol, Weird Romance, King David, Der Glöckner Von Notre Dame, The Little Mermaid, Sister Act, Leap Of Faith, Aladdin and Newsies. Film: Little Shop Of Horrors, The Little Mermaid, Beauty And The Beast, Newsies, Aladdin, Pocahontas, The Hunchback Of Notre Dame, Hercules, Life With Mikey, Lincoln, Home On The Range, Noel, Enchanted, Shaggy Dog, Tangled and Mirror Mirror. Songs: Rocky V, Home Alone 2 and Captain America. Awards: 8 Oscars (19 nominations), 11 Grammys (including Song of the Year), 7 Golden Globes, Tony® (plus 4 nominations), Drama Desk, Outer Critics Circle, New York Drama Critics, Olivier and London’s Evening Standard Award, Drama League. Honors: Songwriter’s Hall of Fame, Doctorates from New York University and University of North Carolina School of the Arts.

Jerry Lee is Sierra Rep’s Artistic Director. He’s appeared in the SRT productions of Misery, Sunday in the Park with George, Elf The Musical, Shrek The Musical, Camelot, Cabaret, Route 66, Intimate Apparel, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Man of La Mancha, Rodgers & Hammerstein’s State Fair, and The Drowsy Chaperone. As an actor: I Love You…Change, Forbidden Broadway (California Musical Theatre); Life Could Be a Dream, A Christmas Carol (CenterREP); A Little Princess, The Fantasticks (Sacramento Theatre Company); West Side Story (Mountain Play); Orlando, An Iliad, A Tale of Two Cities (SacImpulse Theatre). As a soloist: Rodgers and Hammerstein Celebration (Sacramento Choral Society); Billy Bigelow in Carousel in Concert (Sacramento Philharmonic). As a director: Little Shop of Horrors, Mean Girls JR., Sh-Boom! A Christmas Miracle (World Premiere), Rodgers and Hammerstein’s Cinderella, Twelfth Night, Jersey Boys, Clue, Disney’s Winnie the Pooh KIDS, Elvis The Musical (West Coast Premiere), Dogfight, Disney’s The Little Mermaid, Steel Magnolias, Roald Dahl’s Willy Wonka KIDS, I Love You…Change, The Wizard of Oz, Holiday Jukebox, Irving Berlin’s White Christmas, The Robber Bridegroom (SRT); I Love You…Change (STC). Lee began his association with Sierra Rep in 2010 when he stepped in as a replacement in Guys and Dolls.

In 2019, Lee created SRT in Schools, a touring program that brings live professional theatre to Tuolumne County schools at no cost to the schools, students, or their families. In 2023, the program branched out to include Stanislaus and Calaveras counties.

A graduate of CSU Sacramento- BA Theater Arts & Dance. Professional choreography credits includes: Fiddler on the Roof and La Cage Aux Folles (Riverside Repertory), My Fair Lady starring Maxwell Caufield and Beauty & The Beast (Anchorage Concert Hall Association – Alaska), The Producers ( El Dorado Casino- Reno) (Plan B Entertainment). Chicago and The Rocky Horror Show (The Stage San Jose). She currently is a resident choreographer in the after school programs for NorCal School of the Arts choreographing MTI Jr. shows such as Lion King, Little Mermaid, Matilda, Shrek, Willy Wonka and Finding Nemo to name a few! Endless love to my husband Jayson. Thank you to Sierra Rep for welcoming me back to the place my career began with “Broadway in the Foothill” as an ensemble dancer in White Christmas, All Shook Up and Hairspray! Congratulations to the Cast, Crew and Creatives!

Joanna Li is excited to music direct at Sierra Repertory Theatre. Favorite past projects include Gold Mountain (Utah Shakespeare Festival), Fun Home (Virginia Stage Company), Natasha, Pierre & the Great Comet of 1812 (Theatre Raleigh). Newly relocated to Los Angeles, she also serves as an arranger and music supervisor for Norwegian Creative Studios, the in-house production studio for Norwegian Cruise Lines.

Previous SRT credits include Sunday in the Park with George and the world premiere of Roger Bean’s Sh-Boom! A Christmas Miracle. Previous regional highlights in NY, Connecticut, and California include: K2, Memoirs of a Forgotten Man, Disgraced, Papermaker, Shear Madness, Ripcord, The Roommate. Josh currently serves as Resident Designer and at Gallo Center Repertory Company with previous and upcoming credits including Murder on the Orient Express, Winter Wonderettes, 12 Angry Jurors, and Born Yesterday.

Janetta is very pleased to be working once again in a loving and professional theatre! She received her MFA from New York University. Coming from a broad base she has managed several costume shops, worked as an assistant for Broadway and numerous regional theaters. Additionally, she was a member of Elsen Associates, the wig and makeup company. Some of her favorite work venue’s include Washington Opera, Sesame Street Live, Brooklyn Academy of Music, Alice Tully Hall, The Denver Center, Philadelphia Street Theater, Jacobs’ Pillow and Central City Opera.  Favorite shows which she has been able to design are: The Comedy of Errors, The Threepenny Opera, Tartuffe, Electra, The Turn of the Screw, Blood Wedding, Noises Off and Ragtime.

Matt McGee (Matt-a-Magical) is a 3-time Jim Henson Foundation grant award-winning puppet designer and creator, whose design work has graced many stages in the Washington, DC area (including the Kennedy Center) as well as others across the country. He now works as the director of fabrication and digital media for the Great Arizona Puppet Theater in Phoenix. Subscribe at www.patreon.com/mattamagical

Tatiana Covington-Parra is thrilled to be diving into another season at Sierra Rep after a whirlwind 2021 return. Beginning as a sound engineer at Modesto Junior College, she is grateful to have found a community and the opportunity to grow as an artist thanks to the guidance and support of the SRT company. Her favorite design work at SRT includes Cabaret, The Wizard of Oz, and Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner. She would like to thank her Mom, Grandma, family, friends, the MJC Theatre staff, and all her mentors for always allowing her to create, explore, and grow with love.

Brenda O’Brien began her theater career in San Diego, where she was seen as Judas in Godspell, Louise in Gypsy, Nicki in Sweet Charity, and Viola in Twelfth Night (to name a few). She received awards for her roles as Ouisa in Six Degrees of Separation, Joan in Dames at Sea, Aldonza in Man of La Mancha, and Electra in Gypsy. Brenda then went on to perform as Svetlana in the 1st National tour of Chess. Soon after she began portraying Carmen San Diego on the PBS television show and video games. In addition to acting, Brenda is an accomplished make-up artist and hairdresser for TV, Film, and Theater. She received her 25 years on Broadway pin in 2019 for her work on Disney’s Beauty and the Beast, Les Misérables, Jekyll & Hyde, and Disney’s The Lion King. SRT Audiences might remember her as Tanya in Mamma Mia (2018), or as Tootie in Meet Me in St. Louis (2021). So glad to be back!

Matthew Rose: a man of many talents, from riveting audiences on stage in Daylight to Booneville, Deathtrap, and Into the Woods, to behind-the-scenes wizardry as Property Master and Puppeteer at Sierra Repertory Theatre. With a knack for bringing characters to life and a touch of humor, Matthew’s journey in theater is a delightful mix of passion and creativity. Whether wielding props or pulling strings, he’s a force to be reckoned with, both on and offstage.

Bitten by the theatre bug at the age of 13 when he saw Carol Channing in Hello Dolly!, Michael began working professionally in theatre at 19 and has never looked back. Born and raised in Hollywood, California, he is a performer, stage manager, director and producer. For the last 17 years Michael has been involved with Sacramento Theatre Company, and recently retired from his position as Executive Director. Favorite productions: The Musical of Musicals and A Little Princess (both featuring Jerry Lee), Bark – The Musical, The Pirates of Penzance, Deathtrap, and Clue: The Musical. For a kid with a love of the theatre, life is good.