November 30-December 22, 2023

SH-BOOM! A CHRISTMAS MIRACLE

World Premiere

Written and Created by Roger Bean
Music Direction by John Jay Espino
Choreography by Rebecca Frazier
Directed by Jerry Lee

It’s 1965. A few years ago, Denny and the gang achieved overnight fame when they won the WOPR Radio “Dream of a Lifetime Talent Search” as “Denny and the Dreamers.” After a few years of touring and having a taste of the big time, the fledgling group broke up over slights and grievances, mostly petty and non-existent. In this holiday sequel, the gang gets back together to perform again as a group for the Christmas Bazaar at Wally’s church. Denny and Eugene won’t speak to each other, Duke and Lois are in the middle of an un-acknowledged marital spat, and Wally is left to broker the peace for Christmas. Filled with great 60s doo-wop hits and holiday classics.

Cast

Kabir is thrilled to return to Sierra Repertory Theatre! He is a proud IUMT alumni from Duluth, Georgia. Select credits: Denny in ShBoom! and Chef Louis in The Little Mermaid (SRT), Bobby in Urinetown (Okoboji Summer Theatre), Franz in Rock of Ages, Plato in Cats, and Ensemble in Beauty and the Beast (Music Theatre Wichita). He would like to thank his friends and family for their constant support. Enjoy the show!

Sergio is thrilled to be returning to SRT as a company member. He graduated from UC Irvine where he spent 5 years mastering his craft. Favorite credits include: Off-Off Broadway Staged Reading: Worlds Apart, Kiss of The Spiderwoman (Welk Resort), Elf (SRT), West Side Story as Bernardo (TPAC) and Chino (Glendale Center Theatre), In The Heights (Lewis Playhouse), Legally Blonde (Performance Riverside), Carousel (MTW). Huge thanks to Scott, Jerry, mom, Dayanara, Brisa, & my best friend Sarahi. Love y’all. All glory be to God.

Deja is a proud San Diego native that is excited to be reprising her role as Lois. A graduated from UCLA’s Musical Theater Program (B.A). Fields was last seen originating the role of Meekah for Blippi’s Wonderful World Tour and some theater credits include The Odyssey (The Old Globe) The Niceties (MOXIE Theater) 1222 Ocean Front (New Village Arts) Hairspray & In the Heights (San Diego Repertory Theater). Fields specializes in mezzo-vocal technique and have sung background for artist like Stevie Wonder and more.

Chris is a SoCal Native and is so excited to be back as Eugene in this ShBoom Christmas Sequel! Regional Theatre: Mountain Theatre Company (NC), Short North Stage (OH), Mill Mountain Theatre (VA), The Palace Theatre (NH), Creede Repertory (CO), MGM’s Beau Rivage (MS), and a Vocalist for Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings. Favorite past credits include: In the Heights (Sonny), Altar Boyz (Juan), Rocky Horror Show (Rocky), and West Side Story (Chino). He dedicates this show to his wonderful, supportive family.

Jerry Lee

Jerry Lee *

Duke

Jerry Lee is Sierra Rep’s Artistic Director. He’s appeared in the SRT productions of Elf The MusicalShrek 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 director: 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 free of charge.

Artistic Team

Roger Bean

Roger Bean

Creator

Roger Bean created the long-running hit The Marvelous Wonderettes (over 1,200 performances Off-Broadway), along with the sequels Wonderettes: Caps & Gowns, Winter Wonderettes, Wonderettes: Dream On, and the new large-cast Wonderettes: Glee Club Edition. Original cast albums for all Wonderettes shows are available from iTunes and Amazon. The Marvelous Wonderettes received the 2007 LA Ovation Award for Best Musical for its record-breaking Los Angeles run and continues to be an audience favorite in theatre companies throughout the country. Mr. Bean’s doo-wop hit Life Could Be A Dream had a record-breaking 12-month run in Los Angeles, receiving the Los Angeles Drama Critics Circle Award, the LA Weekly Theatre Award, and the Backstage Garland Award for Outstanding Musical.

Other popular musicals created by Mr. Bean include The Andrews Brothers, Summer of Love, Route 66, Honky Tonk Laundry, and Why Do Fools Fall In Love?, all published by Stage Rights.

Jerry Lee

Jerry Lee *

Director

Jerry Lee is Sierra Rep’s Artistic Director. He’s appeared in the SRT productions of Elf The MusicalShrek 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 director: 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 free of charge.

Rebecca Frazier

Rebecca Frazier

Choreographer

Sierra Rep Debut, and honored to be creating here! Recent credits as Director and/or Choreographer include Young Frankenstein, Wizard of Oz, Mamma Mia, Escape to Margaritaville, Evita, You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown. Rebecca’s choreography has been seen Off Broadway, at regional theaters, in short films and music videos, and at the Foosaner Art Museum in Melbourne, FL. Theater Dance Faculty at Steps on Broadway, Guest Faculty at Broadway Dance Center in New York.
John Jay Espino

John Jay Espino *

Music Director

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.

Josh Christensen

Josh Christensen

Scenic Designer

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.

Andrew Burns

Andrew Burns

Costume Designer

Andrew is excited to make his Sierra Repertory Theatre debut. He is currently a third year MFA Costume Design and Technology graduate student at the University of South Carolina. Previous design credits: Shout! The Mod Musical, Murder on the Orient Express, Driving Miss Daisy (Winnipesaukee Playhouse), Sideway Stories from Wayside School, Wonderland (Ballet), Small Mouth Sounds, This is Our Youth (University of South Carolina), Dog Sees God (Out Front Theatre Company). Special thanks to his family and friends for their love and support.

Jonnie Painter

Jonnie Painter

Lighting Designer

Jonnie is very excited to be returning to SRT this year. Jonnie graduated from Texas State University in 2020 with a Bachelor’s in Fine Arts. They have worked professionally as an electrician at the Ground Floor Theatre in Austin, Texas, and the Connecticut Repertory Theatre in Storrs, Connecticut. They have also designed productions at SRT including the Tribute Concert series and The Christmas Foundling. Jonnie looks forward to being a Master Electrician and Designer for SRT for many shows to come.

Brenda O'Brien

Brenda O’Brien *

Hair and Make-Up Designer

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!

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.

Michael Laun

Michael Laun *

Stage Manager

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.

* indicates member of Actors’ Equity Association (AEA)
† indicates member of United Scenic Artists (USA)
‡ indicates member of Stage Directors and Choreographers Society (SDC)

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