Route 66

Griffin is thrilled to be returning to where it all began, and to be reprising his role in a show that holds so much happiness. He was last seen on the SRT stage as Pinocchio in Shrek The Musical. Other credits: Pageant as Miss Bible Belt (SRT), Joseph… as Asher (Glendale Center Theatre), My Fair Lady as Freddy u/s (SRT) as well as performances at NYC’s famous venue, 54 Below. Griffin currently resides in New York City and holds a BFA in Musical Theatre from AMDA: College and Conservatory of the Performing Arts. Much love to the SRT Team, Mom, Dad, and Lady Gaga.

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: HAIR, 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.

After some time on the east coast, Alex is ecstatic to be returning to SRT! Previous SRT credits include: The Drowsy Chaperone, Rodgers & Hammerstein Cinderella working backstage, The Little Mermaid (Scuttle), and Shrek The Musical (Ensemble). Alex has had a wonderful time performing with several regional theaters including; PCPA Solvang Theaterfest and TheREV Theatre. Alex is immensely grateful to his friends, family, and especially his partner for all their love and support.

Returning to the Sierra Rep stage, HAIR marks Kyle’s 12th production with the company. He is so happy to be working alongside his fellow actors and crew members to bring the arts to life here in the town where he was born and raised. He gives tremendous thanks to all of his dear friends and family who have given their love and support through the years. Onstage or behind the scenes, Kyle is ready to give it his all and have a great time doing it!

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 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: HAIR, 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.

Scott Viets is Sierra Rep’s Executive Producer. He has directed over 60 shows for SRT since his arrival in 2002. As a director, his SRT favorites include The Wizard of Oz, Intimate Apparel, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, A Christmas Story, All My Sons, Shipwrecked, The Robber Bridegroom, and The Glass Menagerie. Thank you for supporting live theatre and continuing (or beginning) your journey with us!

Jake Gale is a Music Director, Actor, and multi-instrumentalist from the UK, splitting his time between music direction, and performing.

Recent music directing credits include Tommy (Novato Theatre Co.), She Loves Me (Mountain Play, RVP), Spring Awakening (TBA Award), Guys and Dolls (MMTC).

Recent acting credits are Guy in Once (Hillbarn), Sebastian in Cruel Intentions, and Charlie Price in Kinky Boots (Ray of Light/42nd St. Moon), Harold Bride in Titanic, and Sveč in Once (42nd St. Moon).

Kate Henderson is overjoyed to be back for her second production at SRT. She was in Sonora last summer for SRT’s Jersey Boys (Swing/Asst. Choreographer). She is a rising junior getting her BFA in Musical Theatre with a Dance Concentration at Roosevelt University CCPA. She is especially ecstatic because this is her first full choreographer credit, however, she has choreographed many numbers throughout her high school and college career so far. She would love to thank Jerry and Scott for trusting her with this opportunity and her family for their constant love and support. Enjoy the show!

Jay began his journey with SRT in the inaugural 1980 season – house managing, propping for You’re a Good Man Charlie Brown, and acting in The Naming of Names. Over the decades, he has performed in many productions at SRT . He was a member of the first SRT company at the Fallon House as Nigel in Something’s Afoot. Route 66 is Jay’s seventh Scenic Design for SRT. He’s delighted to be collaborating with Mom – Diana Newington.

Diana has been a costume Designer in Tuolumne County for many different theaters since 1976. This is her seventh year designing and stitching for SRT. She most recently designed Meet Me in St. Louis: A Live Radio Play, Disney’s The Little Mermaid JR, Roald Dahl’s Willy Wonka KIDS, Peter Rabbit, Grease, The Wizard of Oz, Route 66, Holiday Jukebox, Intimate Apparel, Pageant, Million Dollar Quartet, The Glass Menagerie, A Christmas Story, A Columbia Christmas Carol, and Hank Williams: Lost Highway.

Isaac’s past credits include Shadow Directing on the TV show Chicago PD, directing stage productions of An Inspector Calls, Twelfth Night, Murder on the Orient Express, and Distracted. Lighting Design credits include How to Hug a Cactus, and James and The Giant Peach at Enlightened Theatrics. Outside of his theater life, Isaac is a studio artist, exhibiting this last year at the Salem Art Association, The Fishbowl Gallery, and CoCA in Seattle WA.

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 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.

Mateo is so happy to be a part of the Sierra Rep team! It’s been such a joy with working with all this talent returning and new! They would love to express appreciation to Scott and Jerry for letting them stretch their artistic arms in this way, and Tatiana for providing the tools and moral support necessary to succeed.

Ashley is thrilled to return to Sierra Rep! Ashley earned her BFA from Texas State University, with two years of teaching post graduation. Regional credits include: Newsies, Beautiful, Mary Poppins (Casa Manana), Elf (Sierra Rep), His Story (World Premiere), and Murder On the Orient Express (Surflight). Opera credits include La Boheme (FWO). Many thanks to her husband, Trevor, for supporting her from states away and to the Sierra Rep family for believing in her!