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Artistic Director Michael Stevenson &
Managing Director Liz Gray Present

THE TWO KIDS THAT BLOW SH*T UP

by Carla Ching

Directed by Jeffrey Lo

June 24 -July 26, 2026

PERFORMANCE LENGTH:  1 Hour, 30 Minutes, No Intermission

ADVISORY: Strobe effects and loud explosion sounds used during the performance.

FEATURING:
Rinabeth Apostol* & Jomar Tagatac*
     
Scenic Designer
Eric Broadwater
 
 Lighting Designer
Shae Mercer
Costume Designer
Rebecca Redmond
Sound Designer & Engineer
Ed Lee
  
Properties Designer
Morgan Sommer
 
Dramaturg
Nicole Limón
  
Fight Director
Karen Vance		  
Dialect Coach
Wynne Chan

 

 Stage Manager
Melissa Jernigan*		  
     
Assistant Stage Manager
Lydia Crist^

 
Closing Stage Manager
Jouni Kirjola*
 

SPONSORED BY:

Kathryn E. Doi

&
 

 
 

SEASON WINE SPONSOR:
 

The Two Kids That Blow Shit Up was developed by and received its co-world premiere by Artists at Play in Los Angeles, Ca (Julia Cho, Stefanie Wong Lau, and Marie-Reine Velez, Producing Artistic Leaders) and Mu Performing Arts in Minneapolis, MN (Randy Reyes, Artistic Director).

The Two Kids That Blow Shit Up was created at the Lark Play Development Center’s New York Stage & Film Vassar Retreat.
 
*Member Actors' Equity Association | ^Capital Stage Apprentice | **Member Local USA 829
 
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OUR MISSION

Capital Stage is dedicated to creating transformative, thought-provoking theater experiences that challenge, inspire, and connect.

 

 

THINGS TO KNOW

HEALTH & SAFETY:

Visit our COVID-19 Safety Protocols & Procedures Page to stay up to date on our Health & Safety requirements and recommendations. 

 

VIDEO/PHOTOS:

Recording and photography during the performance are prohibited at Capital Stage by copyright law and union regulations.

 

CELL PHONES:

Patrons are asked to turn any noise making devices off upon entering the theatre.

 

LATE SEATING & RE-SEATING:

Due to the design of our theatre, we cannot guarantee seating for late arrivals or for patrons who leave the theatre during the performance. As a courtesy to our artists and our audiences, late arrivals will be seated in a suitable location by our staff if possible and at the appropriate intervals.

 

REFRESHMENTS:

Only concession items purchased in the Wine & Dessert Bar are allowed in the theatre, patio and lobby areas. Yes, you can bring your drinks and snacks into the theatre!

 

CHILDREN:

Capital Stage is noted for bringing intimate bold productions to our region and we encourage young adults to experience a live performance. Children age sixteen and up are welcome at Capital Stage unless specifically noted in the production’s description.

 

WHEELCHAIR SEATING:

Seating locations at Capital Stage for patrons using wheelchairs or with limited mobility are located in the first row. Tickets for these seats may be purchased in person or by calling the Box Office at 916-995-5464. Please call ahead to notify the staff if you required these seats.

 

RESTROOMS:

Restroom facilities are located in the lounge behind the Wine & Dessert Bar.

 

INFORMATION:

Brochures and information about upcoming Capital Stage productions and events are available in the box office or by visiting capstage.org.

 

 

 

Capital Stage is a member of Actors' Equity Association, the Union of Professional Actors and Stage Managers in the United States.

 

 

Capital Stage is a member of Theatre Communications Group (TCG), the national organization for the American theatre.

 

Capital Stage is a member of the National New Play Network, the country’s alliance of leading nonprofit theaters that champion the development, production and continued life of new plays.

 

 

Capital Stage is a member of Blue Star Theatres, offering discounts to Military personnel, Military family members, and Veterans.

 

 

 

 

SDC is the theatrical union that unites, empowers, and protects professional Stage Directors and Choreographers throughout the United States.

 

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Cast

Rinabeth Apostol*
Diana
Jomar Tagatac*
Max
Mayette McDonald
Understudy for Diana
Matthew Hanjoong
Understudy for Max

Creative Team

Carla Ching
Playwright
Jeffrey Lo
Director
Michael Stevenson
Artistic Director
Liz Gray
Managing Director
Tony Gabrielson
Production & Company Manager
Caleb Jones
Technical Director
Melissa Jernigan*
Stage Manager
Lydia Crist^
Assistant Stage Manager
Jouni Kirjola*
Closing Stage Manager
Eric Broadwater
Scenic Designer
Shae Mercer
Lighting Designer
Rebecca Redmond
Costume Designer
Ed Lee
Sound Designer
Morgan Sommer
Properties Designer
Nicole Limón
Dramaturg & Intimacy Coordinator
Samantha McLean Haas
Scenic Charge Artist
Karen Vance
Fight Director
Wynne Chan
Dialect Coach

Special Thanks

Joe Bertolucci, Affordable Heating & Air, Inc.

CapRadio

Donna Chipps

Di Arie Vineyard & Winery 

Oak Park Brewing Company

Priority Parking

Voiceovers by Lydia Crist^, Matthew Hanjoong, and Mayette McDonald

 

 

Production Staff

Artistic Director - MICHAEL STEVENSON

Production & Company Manager - TONY GABRIELSON

Director - JEFFREY LO

Stage Manager - MELISSA JERNIGAN*

Assistant Stage Manager - LYDIA CRIST^

Closing Stage Manager - JOUNI KIRJOLA*

Technical Director - CALEB JONES

Scenic Designer - ERIC BROADWATER

Scenic Charge Artist - SAMANTHA McLEAN HAAS

Lead Carpenter - CONOR WOODS

Carpenter, Painter - SUNNY MACKEY

Lighting Designer, Lead Electrician - SHAE MERCER

Costume Designer - REBECCA REDMOND

Sound Designer & Engineer - ED LEE

Properties Designer - MORGAN SOMMER

Fight Director - KAREN VANCE

Dialect Coach - WYNNE CHAN

Build Crew - SUNNY MACKEY, CONOR WOODS, CALEB JONES

Painters - SAMANTHA McLEAN HAAS, CALEB JONES, SUNNY MACKEY, CONOR WOODS

Wardrobe/Run Crew - HAILEY BOWLAND^, LYDIA CRIST^, JAMES SIMPSON^ 

Dramaturg & Intimacy Coordinator - NICOLE LIMÓN

Resident Dramaturg - K. KEVYNE BAAR, PHD

Infection Control Manager/Admin. & Payroll Assistant - ELIJAH PETERS

Graphic Designer, Marketing Manager, Webmaster - MISTY MCDOWELL

Photographers - CHARR CRAIL, MISTY MCDOWELL

 

^ Capital Stage Apprentice  |  * Member Actors' Equity Association 

 

About The Play

by K. Kevyne Baar, PhD

 

“Even though it’s not an identity play, I think that it is very important that the characters are Asian American. They’re meant to be that; they’re meant to be that way. The way that they interact onstage is partially influenced by their identity and who they are to each other."

 

– Carla Ching

 

First a short confession: I love plays that play with time. It may take a moment to catch on, but then hold on for the ride. We think we know these characters, and then we don’t. We meet them first as 38-year-olds and two pages later they are 9. 

 

There was a point where they put the play in chronological order “largely for the actors to see how it felt to play it in order, and to make sure that there weren’t any holes that were being appeared by the fact that it was out of order.” But ultimately the fragmented version just made sense to the playwright and artists working on that first production. “It was a lot of trial and error, but it was trying it a bunch of different ways until we found the order that had the emotional journey that we wanted the audience to go on. We wanted to see what broke them before we saw what got them back together.”

 

As to the “blow shit up” part of the equation, there’s 9-year-old Max literally blowing up the lunchroom trash can as well as a snowman. It seems the kid is good at this. At 25 it becomes more theatrical while at other times it leaves the literal for the metaphorical, or as critic Joe Straw wrote of the original production, “In each scene, the audience collects significant bits of information, and then puts the pieces together.  No pun intended but the audience are like members of a bomb squad piecing together fragments of a crime scene, while the characters are blowing things up, mostly their relationship.” Among their combustibles are opportunities for happiness. 

 

The author tells us that this is, “the story of a Chinese-American and Korean-American kid who meet when they are nine years old and their parents start sleeping with each other. We follow them through their lives together: they get married, divorced, fall apart, and then get back together. It’s really about who they become to each other over the course of their parents’ relationship.”

 

I would like to believe that when 38-year-old Max comes to the end of this play that he remembers the words that 15-year-old, wise-beyond-her-years Diana said to him during a painful discussion after their parents had broken up,  “But at the end of your life, if you look up and you’re like, ‘Shit, I didn’t do anything I wanted to do, I didn’t become who I wanted to become, I’m just living in a cardboard cutout version of what my life is supposed to be,’ if that happens to you, remember who told you that it could be different.”
 

 

 

About The Playwright

by K. Kevyne Baar, PhD

 

“I don’t write overt identity plays. But I also like to say that my plays, like The Two Kids, need to be played by Asian actors. It’s how it’s written. These are these people. There are influences that are taken from my life, people that I know…it’s race-specific."

 

– Carla Ching

 

Holding a BA from Vassar College and an MFA from the New School for Drama, Carla Ching traded in “a pretty long road with poetry” for a life as a theatre and television writer. She admits that she hasn’t, “written a poem in a very long time. I used to very much love it, but I think all of my stories go into the play now. I enjoy writing different worlds and different characters and I have a selfish need to write people, because that way they’re sort of all-encompassing.”

 

A Los Angeles native, Ching stumbled upon the pan-Asian performance collective Peeling at the Asian American Writers Workshop and wrote and performed with them for three years, which she still considers her first theater training.

 

While “still a struggling playwright” herself, the playwright Lloyd Suh (Capital Stage’s, THE HEART SELLERS) whom she credits with a number of firsts in her career, gave her an extraordinary opportunity when he asked her, “Hey, you want to run 2G (Second Generation Productions, one of the country's most important incubators of Asian-American theatrical talent developing new plays from a new generation of Asian-American) for a couple of years. Ching says that she “learned so much from running 2G, and the best part was that we [tried to] see how many people – how many Asian-American artists we can cull. How many plays we can get started, how many directors, actors, and writers we can get to know each other?”

 

Her full-length plays include REVENGE PORN OR THE STORY OF A BODY (Toulmin Commission for The Atlantic Theatre Company; O’Neill Playwrights Conference 2021), NOMAD MOTEL (Rolling World Premiere at City Theatre, Pittsburgh, Horizon Theatre in Atlanta and Unicorn Theatre in Kansas City;  NY Premier The Atlantic Theatre in NYC; 2017 Kilroy’s List play), THE TWO KIDS THAT BLOW SHIT UP (Artists at Play, Theatre Mu), FAST COMPANY (South Coast Rep, Ensemble Studio Theatre), TBA (2g), and THE SUGAR HOUSE AT THE EDGE OF THE WILDERNESS (Ma-Yi Theatre Company).

 

Ching’s work has also been produced or workshopped by the Aurora Theatre, Berkeley Rep’s Ground Floor, Center Theater Group, Ensemble Studio Theatre, Ferocious Lotus, The Hegira, Huntington Theatre Company, The Lark Play Development Center, Lyric Stage, Ma-Yi Theatre Company, Unicorn Theatre Company, Midnight Rice, The National New Play Network Showcase of New Plays, The O’Neill Playwrights Conference, Partial Comfort, Porkfilled Productions, and The Women’s Project among others. 

 

Her awards include Urban Artists Initiative fellow, Teachers and Writers Collaborative fellow and Lark Playwrights Workshop fellow. She’s co-recipient with Aleshea Harris, Donja R. Love, Kia Corthron and Mfoniso Udofia of the 2021 Horton Foot Playwriting Award from the Dramatist Guild.
 

 

 

Meet the Company


Rinabeth Apostol* (Diana)

Rinabeth is happy to return to Cap Stage after appearing onstage in CRY IT OUT, THE CHINESE LADY, SMART PEOPLE, VIETGONE and THE GREAT LEAP virtual production. And especially thrilled to collaborate with her former Vietgone family, Jomar, Jeffrey and Melissa! Recent productions include The Coast Starlight (San Jose Stage Company) and Happy Pleasant Valley (TheatreWorks, Center Rep). She has appeared in many new works onstage at American Conservatory Theater, Actors Theater of Louisville, Seattle Rep, TheatreWorks, California Shakespeare Theatre, The Magic, Arizona Theater Company, East West Players, Skirball Center for the Arts, Berkeley Rep Ground Floor, and B Street among others. Offstage, she often lends her voice to commercials, video games and children’s toys; most recently on NBA2K as Louise and Sirius XM/Marvel’s UNBEATABLE SQUIRREL GIRL Podcast as Gretchen Campbell. She is a proud member of Actors’ Equity, SAG-AFTRA and Ferocious Lotus Theatre Company. For my mommy. @rbdtwo or rinabeth.com

Jomar Tagatac* (Max)

Jomar is a San Francisco based actor that has been seen recently at Marin Theater playing Yephikodov in THE CHERRY ORCHARD and Dr. Wedgecroft in WASTE. Capital Stage credits include Quang in VIETGONE and Gordon Hirabayashi in HOLD THESE TRUTHS. Bay Area Credits include Jacob Marley/Bob Cratchit in Center Rep's production of A CHRISTMAS CAROL, Jay in the World Premiere of WRITING FRAGMENTS HOME (Hillbarn Theater), and Alfred Dolittle in MY FAIR LADY at San Francisco Playhouse. Other SF Playhouse include Tom in THE GLASS MENAGERIE, Harry in THE PAPER DREAMS OF HARRY CHIN, Mark in ART, as well as roles in YOU MEAN TO DO ME HARM, KING OF THE YEES, and TINY BEAUTIFUL THINGS. A.C.T credits include Bob Cratchit in A CHRISTMAS CAROL, Playwright in VIETGONE and VIETGONE 2: POOR YELLA REDNECKS, Tom in the West Coast Premiere of THE HEADLANDS, Max in the World Premiere of BIG DATA, and other roles in A WHYNOT CHRISTMAS CAROL, MONSTRESS, HAMLET, and RHINOCEROS. Other Bay Area credits include George in THE LANGUAGE ARCHIVE (Theatreworks), Gary in GARY: A TITUS ANDRONICUS SEQUEL (Oakland Theater Project), Jacques in AS YOU LIKE IT (CalShakes), Edmund in LEAR, adaptation by Marcus Gardley (CalShakes), Banquo in MACBETH (Calshakes) and various roles in THE WAR OF THE ROSES (Calshakes). Jomar is a recipient of multiple BATCC Awards, and a Theater Bay Area Award for Outstanding Performance in a Featured Role. He was a Lunt-Fontanne Fellow in 2023. Jomar received his Master of Fine Arts degree from the American Conservatory Theater and is currently a Board member.

Mayette McDonald (Understudy for Diana)

Mayette McDonald is a local Filipina-American actor and voiceover artist. She holds a BA in Theatre from California State University, Sacramento. Previous credits include EUREKA DAY (Capital Stage), POTUS: OR, BEHIND EVERY GREAT DUMBASS ARE SEVEN WOMEN TRYING TO KEEP HIM ALIVE (Big Idea Theatre), AFTER THE BLAST (Big Idea Theatre), EUREKA (Capital Stage), GLORIA (Capital Stage), THE INTELLIGENT DESIGN OF JENNY CHOW (B Street Theatre), and several seasons of B Street Theatre’s School Tour throughout Northern California and the Bay Area. She has won several acting awards from the Sacramento Film and Music Festival.

Matthew Hanjoong (Understudy for Max)

Matthew is a graduate from CSU Sacramento. He has also studied at UCLA with Tim Robbin’s and The Actors’ Gang, and American River College. Regional credits include A GREAT MIGRATION (B Street Theatre), THE GREAT LEAP and WICKHAMS: CHRISTMAS AT PEMBERLEY (Capital Stage), and THE PASSING STORM (Playground SF). Film credits include SACRAMENTO (Beehive Production), PHOBIAS (Vertical Entertainment), and SON-MAT (Place Called Sacramento Film Festival) [Awarded Best Actor]. Upcoming projects: WOLF PLAY (Big Idea Theater). @matthewhanjoong

 

Carla Ching (Playwright)

A native (and current) Angeleno, Carla called NYC home for 16 years. She started off writing/performing autobiographical work with pan-Asian collective Peeling which she still considers her first theater training. Her plays include REVENGE PORN OR THE STORY OF A BODY (O’Neill Playwrights Conference 2021), NOMAD MOTEL (NY Premiere: Atlantic Theater Company; NNPN Rolling World Premiere at City Theatre, Horizon Theatre and Unicorn Theatre), FAST COMPANY (South Coast Rep, Ensemble Studio Theatre), THE TWO KIDS THAT BLOW SHIT UP (Artists at Play, Mu Performing Arts), THE SUGAR HOUSE AT THE EDGE OF THE WILDERNESS (Ma-Yi) and TBA (2g). Her work’s been developed or produced by Aurora Theatre, Berkeley Rep’s Ground Floor, CTG Writers’ Workshop, Huntington Theatre Company, The Kitchen, The Lark Playwrights Workshop, Lyric Stage, Midnight Rice, PFP and The Women’s Project among others. Former Artistic Director of 2g. Founding member of The Kilroys and proud member of New Dramatists. Co-recipient of the 2021 Horton Foote Playwriting Award from the Dramatist Guild and the 2021 Los Angeles New Play Project Prize. On television, Carla has written on Graceland, Fear the Walking Dead, I Love Dick, The First, Preacher, Home Before Dark and the forthcoming Mr. and Mrs. Smith co-created by Francesca Sloane and Donald Glover. She is currently developing new projects with Netflix, Amazon and FX. https://carlaching.com/

 

Jeffrey Lo (Director)

Jeffrey Lo (He/Him/His) is a Filipino-American playwright and director based in the Bay Area. He is the recipient of the Leigh Weimers Emerging Artist Award, the Emerging Artist Laureate by Arts Council Silicon Valley and Theatre Bay Area Director's TITAN Award. Selected directing credits include THE LANGUAGE ARCHIVE, LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS and THE SANTALAND DIARIES at TheatreWorks Silicon Valley; CHINGLISH, THE PAPER DREAMS OF HARRY CHIN, and HOLD THESE TRUTHS at San Francisco Playhouse; VIETGONE and THE GREAT LEAP at Capital Stage; A DOLL’S HOUSE, PART 2 and EURYDICE at Palo Alto Players (TBA Awards finalist for Best Direction); and THE GRAPES OF WRATH, THE CRUCIBLE and YELLOW FACE at Los Altos Stage Company. As a playwright, his plays have been produced and workshopped at Berkeley Repertory Theatre, TheatreWorks Silicon Valley, BindleStiff Studio, City Lights Theatre Company and Stanford University. His play WRITING FRAGMENTS HOME was a finalist for the Bay Area Playwright's Conference and a semi-finalist for the O'Neill Playwright's Conference. Jeffrey has also worked with the Oregon Shakespeare Festival, The Asian American International Film Festival, San Jose Repertory and is a company member of Ferocious Lotus Theatre Company and SF Playground. His short play BRENDAN’S DAMN GOOD DAY was adapted to a short film which was selected for the Manchester Lift-Off Film Festival and the Black Cat International Film Festival in Bolivia. Jeffrey also works as an educator and advocate for issues of Equity, Diversity and Inclusion and has served as a grant panelist for the Zellerbach Family Foundation, Silicon Valley Creates and Theatre Bay Area. He is the Associate Producer of Casting and Literary Manager at the Tony Award Winning TheatreWorks Silicon Valley, a graduate of the Multicultural Arts Leadership Institute and a proud alumnus of the UC Irvine Drama Department.

Michael Stevenson (Artistic Director)

Michael Stevenson has served as Capital Stage's Artistic Director since 2015. For Capital Stage, Michael has directed THE SOUND INSIDE, THE LEHMAN TRILOGY, KING JAMES, ARCHDUKE, HEROES OF THE FOURTH TURNING, GLORIA, THE LIFESPAN OF A FACT, ADMISSIONS, THE HUMANS, THE OTHER PLACE, SWEAT, THE THANKSGIVING PLAY, LUNA GALE, STUPID F##KING BIRD, HOW TO USE A KNIFE, DISGRACED, MR. BURNS, IDEATION, CLYBOURNE PARK, MAURITIUS, ERRATICA (World Premiere), and LES LIAISONS DANGEREUSES. He has directed at regional theaters including: B Street Theater, Lake Tahoe Shakespeare Festival, Orlando Shakespeare Company, Perseverance Theater Company, and Sacramento Theater Company. As an actor he has appeared at many regional theaters including: 42nd Street Moon, American Conservatory Theater, The Aurora Theater, Bailiwick Repertory Theater, Capital Stage, B Street Theater, the Utah Shakespeare Festival, and Marriott’s Lincolnshire Theater. He holds an M.F.A. from the American Conservatory Theater.

Liz Gray (Managing Director)

Liz Gray holds an MFA in Arts Leadership and a GradCert in NPO & NGO Management (Virginia Tech), a BFA in Theatre (NYU, Tisch), and certifications from the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art (London) and the Upright Citizens Brigade (NYC). Previously, Liz worked as a strategic planner and capital campaign & endowment designer, accessibility auditor, company manager, community engagement coordinator, and development consultant with arts and nonprofit organizations across the country. She taught accessible communications (Center for Communicating Science) and theatre courses (Virginia Tech & Fort Lewis College). Liz presented her research on arts financial structures at the League of Historic American Theatres’ Conference and facilitated workshops at Rutgers University and with the Society for In Vitro Biology and La Universidad San Francisco de Quito.

Tony Gabrielson (Production & Company Manager)

Tony has worked with many theaters and dance companies locally and around the country over the last 15 years as a stage manager, carpenter, painter, and technician. Favorite productions include: DISNEY'S BEAUTY AND THE BEAST with Barter Theater in Abingdon, VA, ON BORROWED TIME at Two River Theater in Red Bank, NJ, and developmental workshops of BOTTLESHOCK! THE MUSICAL. He is blessed and beyond grateful to continue working as an artist in our community. Love and thanks to Jessa and Piper - his favorite people.

Caleb Jones (Technical Director)

Caleb is proud to be Capital Stage's Technical Director since the 23/24 Season. He is new to Sacramento but has worked at the San Diego REPertory theater and with several theaters within Fresno County. This year serves as his 11th year in the field, and he hopes you enjoy our shows. Lots of love to Clarissa and all of his loved ones.

Melissa Jernigan* (Stage Manager)

Melissa most recently worked at Capital Stage on ESPEJOS: CLEAN, FAT HAM, EUREKA DAY, UNSEEN and the world premiere of EVERYTHING BEAUTIFUL HAPPENS AT NIGHT. She has been stage managing at Capital Stage since 2016. Some of her favorites include VIETGONE, THE NETHER, STUPID F##KING BIRD, CLYDE’S and THE HOMBRES. Other credits include being a PA on Broadway’s LENNON, Off-Broadway: FELA! the Lagos Tour, David Cromer’s OUR TOWN, John Leguizamo: A WORK IN PROGRESS, BEAUTY OF THE FATHER at Manhattan Theatre Club, BREATH & IMAGINATION at Hartford Stage, OUR TOWN starring Helen Hunt at The Broad Theatre in Santa Monica. She was a sub stage manager on HARRY POTTER & THE CURSED CHILD in SF and recently returned to her roots as an ASM on ELF: THE MUSICAL at Broadway at Music Circus. She is a proud Equity Member. When she’s not inside the stage management booth with her good friend Ed Lee, Melissa enjoys spending time with her Husband Greg and their two sons.

Lydia Crist^ (Assistant Stage Manager)

Lydia is a current member of the Capital Stage Apprenticeship Program, and she is so grateful for the opportunity to assistant stage manage this show! She has received her degree in acting/directing at George Fox University, and has previously worked as a high school theatre teacher. She also co-founded Convergence Theatre Company, where she directed GODSPELL and SALT OF THE EARTH. Enjoy the show!

Jouni Kirjola* (Closing Stage Manager)

Jouni is an AEA theatre artist who has worked as an actor, director, sound designer, and stage manager. He is excited to serve this time as production stage manager at Capital Stage, where he has previously appeared in MR. BURNS: A POST-ELECTRIC PLAY, LOVE & INFORMATION, STUPID F##KING BIRD, THE THANKSGIVING PLAY and GLORIA.

Eric Broadwater (Scenic Designer)

Eric Broadwater is currently a Professor of Scene Design for the Theater Department at California State University Stanislaus where he has designed and supervised over 40 productions. His professional work includes scenic designs and set painting in regional and local theaters all over the country. Recent credits include GEORGIANA & KITTY: CHRISTMAS AT PEMBERLEY, THE ROYALE, THE LIFESPAN OF A FACT, and EUREKA DAY at Capital Stage, KINKY BOOTS with Ray of Light Theatre, and DRACULA: A COMEDY OF TERRORS at B St. Theatre. He also works as a freelance 3D digital artist with a focus on Interactive Environments. www.BroadwaterScenic.com 

Shae Mercer (Lighting Designer)

Shae Mercer is thrilled to be working on THE TWO KIDS THAT BLOW SH*T UP after also designing ESPEJOS: CLEAN, I AND YOU, UNSEEN, and EVERYTHING BEAUTIFUL HAPPENS AT NIGHT here at Capital Stage. She received her BFA in Theatre Arts from Southern Oregon University in 2022, and has since been paving her way into the Sacramento theatre scene as Capital Stage’s Lead Electrician. Her previous work includes ENGLISH and CRY IT OUT at Capital Stage, THE 39 STEPS at Village Theatre, HEATHERS: THE MUSICAL at Sacramento Theatre Company, and HEARTS LIKE FISTS at Southern Oregon University.

Rebecca Redmond (Costume Designer)

Rebecca Redmond is always happy to be back at Capital Stage where she has designed many productions including ENGLISH, CLYDE’S, SMART PEOPLE, BETWEEN RIVERSIDE AND CRAZY, THE TOTALITARIANS, ANNA KARENINA, MAPLE & VINE. Rebecca earned her MFA in theater from UC Davis and is a professor at Sierra College. Her other recent designs have been seen at San Francisco’s Theater Rhinoceros (PILLOW TALK, THE REVIEW), Sacramento Theater Co. (WAIT UNTIL DARK, GLORIA: A LIFE), Sierra College (AND THEN THERE WERE NONE, THE CRUCIBLE, MURDER ON THE ORIENT EXPRESS), Folsom Lake College (CABARET, MIDSUMMER NIGHT’S DREAM, MARAT/SADE, HAIR), and Sacramento City College (THE BEAUX’ STRATAGEM, THE GREAT GATSBY).

Ed Lee (Sound Designer)

Ed is delighted to be part of another season at Capital Stage. He has been involved in almost every production since the company’s aquatic days at the Delta King, from artwork for SPEECH AND DEBATE to appearing in FIRST PERSON SHOOTER. Favorite sound design credits include: MASTER CLASS; SOMEONE TO WATCH OVER ME; 4000 MILES; MISTAKES WERE MADE; RAPTURE, BLISTER, BURN; and UNCANNY VALLEY.

Morgan Sommer (Properties Designer)

Morgan is delighted to return to Capital Stage for her third show of the season, previously designing for ESPEJOS: CLEAN, FAT HAM, and THE SOUND INSIDE. Morgan is a graduate of Capital Stage’s Apprenticeship program (‘15/‘16), and has worked locally and on the East Coast in Stage Management, Wardrobe, and Theatre Administration. All my love to Carlos and Talvi <3

Nicole Limón (Dramaturg & Intimacy Coordinator)

Nicole C. Limón is a director/actor/dramaturg and theatre faculty at California State University, Sacramento. She has served as dramaturg for several Capital Stage productions, including: ENGLISH, FAIRVIEW, FADE, THE HOMBRES, THE HEARTSELLERS, CLYDES’S and FAT HAM, among others. She is also a Theatrical Intimacy Coordinator and served as Intimacy Coordinator for EUREKA DAY, FAT HAM, EVERYTHING BEAUTIFUL HAPPENS AT NIGHT, and UNSEEN (Capital Stage,) HAIR (Broadway Music Circus,) NOSOTROS LA GENTE: WE THE PEOPLE and ART OF WAR (B Street Theatre) and WOLF AT THE DOOR (Teatro Nagual.) Recent directing: SWEAT; DANCE NATION; HOUSE OF DESIRES (CSUS,) QUANTUM (Matriarchy Theatre,) SANCTUARY CITY; ENFRASCADA (Teatro Espejo) and BY THE WAY, MEET VERA STARK (Celebration Arts.) Nicole is founder of Matriarchy Theatre and Associate Artistic Director of Teatro Espejo. She is an Associate Member of Stage Directors and Choreographers Society, and a member of Literary Managers and Dramaturgs of the Americas.

Samantha McLean Haas (Scenic Charge Artist)

Samantha has been painting sets for over 15 years in the greater Sacramento area. She’s absolutely thrilled to be joining Capital Stage for her sixth season as Scenic Charge Artist. In addition to Capital Stage, she’s worked at Sacramento City College, Sierra College, California State University Sacramento, University of California Davis, Sacramento Theatre Company, B Street, and Broadway at Music Circus. She is an Adjunct Professor of Theatre Arts at Sierra College, where she teaches scenic painting.

ACTORS’ EQUITY ASSOCIATION (AEA)

Founded in 1913, this union represents more than 45,000 actors and stage managers in the United States. Equity seeks to advance, promote and foster the art of live theatre as an essential component of our society. Equity negotiates wages and working conditions, providing a wide range of benefits, including health and pension plans. AEA is a member of the AFL-CIO, and is affiliated with FIA, an international organization of performing arts unions. The Equity emblem is our mark of excellence.

Capital Stage Staff

MICHAEL STEVENSON - Artistic Director

LIZ GRAY - Managing Director

KIRK BLACKINTON - Development Manager

TONY GABRIELSON - Production & Company Manager

MISTY MCDOWELL - Marketing Manager

LOGAN JACOB GERMANO HELLER – Education & Box Office Manager

THEODORE ALEXANDER - House Manager

CALEB JONES - Technical Director

CONOR WOODS - Lead Carpenter

SUNNY MACKEY - Carpenter, Painter

ED LEE - Resident Sound Designer & Engineer

SHAE MERCER - Lead Electrician

CECILIA CASTILLO JUAREZ - Concessions & Box Office Associate 

YASMINE SALMERON - Production Associate

K. KEVYNE BAAR, PhD - Resident Dramaturg

JAMIE JONES, PETER MOHRMANN, GAIL RUSSELL, JANIS STEVENS – Associate Artists

ELIJAH PETERS - Infection Control Manager, Payroll & Administrative Assistant

2025/26 SEASON APPRENTICE COMPANY - Hailey Bowland, Lydia Crist, James Simpson

 

Capital Stage Board Members

Lori Abbott Moreland
Arts Patron

Chastity E. Benson
California State Association of Counties

Dan Brunner, Treasurer
Arts Patron

Kathryn E. Doi, Board President
Feldesman Leifer LLP

Beth Hassett
CEO, WEAVE

Stephen C. Jones
Professor and Vice Chair of the CSUS Dept of Theatre and Dance

Steve Koonce
Arts Patron

Elena Lopez-Gusman, Chair of Governance
Executive Director, California Chapter, American College of Emergency Physicians

Dena Martinez
Talen Agent, Director, Actor

Kristi Quesada Mathisen, Board Vice President
Sacramento Country Day School

Clif McFarland
Attorney

Robert Medina
Director of Policy & Advocacy, Sobrato Philanthropies

Stephanie Rowe, Board Secretary
Professor, Sacramento City College

Vince Sales
Everyday Impact Consulting

Peggy Wheeler
California Hospital Association

Board Emeritus:

Stephanie Gularte, Founding Artistic Director
Capital Stage

Peter Mohrmann, Co-founder
Capital Stage

Jonathan Williams, Co-Founder
Capital Stage

Arlen Orchard
SMUD

Julie Stark
Arts Patron

 

Donors

Special Thanks to our Donors

Donation Totals from 6/24/25 to 6/24/26

Please alert us to any errors or omissions by contacting Development Manager, Kirk Blackinton at kblackinton@capstage.org.

 

Founder's Circle: $20,000+

Dan Brunner
Drs. John & Lois Crowe
Kathryn E. Doi
Golden 1 Credit Union
Lesley & Steve Koonce
Jim Rolewicz & Tim Curfman
Sacramento City Office of Arts and Culture
The Shubert Foundation

 

Executive Producer: $10,000+

John Abbott & Lori Abbott Moreland
Walter & Linda Barnes
Theresa Corrigan
Steven Debry
Gloriette C. Fong
Margaret Hastings
Diane Holt
Scott & Linda Lasher
James McElroy & Ann Gerhardt
Anita Scuri & James Simon
Kim Silvers & Sheila Cardno
Julie Stark
Ruth Werner
Joan Williams
 

Producer: $6,000+

Chastity Benson
Susie & Jim Burton
Michael Koltnow & Kathleen Stack
Marion Leff
Linda McAtee & Steve Sphar
Robert Medina
Gretchen Peralta
Art & Sue Scotland
Barbara Sommer
Marty & Janet Steiner
Chris & Dave Wagner
Gloria & Don Yost
 

Director: $3,000+

Constance Batterson
Beth Carlsen
Ted Cobb
Ellen Covairt & Bernard Kalscheuer
Kathy Davenport & Ken Weiss
Jim & Kathleen Deeringer
Susan Edling
Jeffrey Farley & Mike Tentis
Gail Finney
Deborah Franklin & Douglas Mitten
Carole Fritz
James R Hargrove
Matt Hart & Allison Kephart
Beth Hassett
Zheyla Henriksen
Lisa & Garen Horst
Gary & Eva Incaudo
Laura & Harold Jackson
Stephen Jones
Laura Kee & Daryl Browne
Tiffany Little Canfield
Elena Lopez-Gusman
Keetha Mills & Phil Nanni
Glenn & Rose Rondeau
Ken Rothaus
Stephanie Rowe
Leonard Vincent Sales
Lori Saper-Nettel & Hans Nettel
Peter Saucerman & Susan Twining
Diane Schertz
Howard Slyter & Marge Ginsburg
Ed Telfeyan & Jeri Paik
Susan Wheeler
Buzz Wiesenfeld

 

Lead Actor: $1,200+

Jacob & Beth Appelsmith
Peggy Beasley
David Bell & Katherine Newman
Linda Brandenburger
Carol Buck & Dennis Beaty
Margaret L Buss
Sterling Dalatri
Gayle Dax-Conroy
Cindy Dunning
Lisa Foster
Curtis Fritz
Patty Garcia & Jim Mattesich
Dr's Barbara Gardner & Donald Thornberry
Helen & Glenn Hakanson
Stephanie & David Hunt
Barbara Jeffus
Peggy & Bruce Kennedy
Robert Klass & Katy Globus
Claire Lipschultz
Kris Martin
Kristi Quesada Mathisen & Josh Mathisen
Peter Mohrmann & David Harris
Julie Morandi
Karen Neuwald
Sara Nichols & Bill Magavern
Gail Pereira
Laurie Nelson Randlett & Jim Randlett
Lowell Richardson & Paula Sugarman
Chuck & Nancy Shulock
Roger & Barbara Smith
Robert Suskind & Leslie Lewinter-Suskind
Robert Thompson
Diane Van Maren
Peggy Wheeler
Claudia Wrazel & Frank Horowitz

 

Designer: $600+

Best, Best & Krieger
Everett Brown
Linda Jones
Joyce B. Lowe
Paula Pendergast
Ann Siprelle
Cathy Stephens

In Memoriam for Arthur Finan

 

 

 

 

 

 

Chris Abare
Stephen & Melva Arditti
Chris Abare
Wendell Alderson & Ken Nather
Stephen & Melva Arditti
David & Marsha Baskins
Barbara Black
Robert & Jean Bonar
Celia Buckley
Donna Chipps
Les & Peggy Chisholm
Annabel Cooper
David Denes
John J. Donahoe
Matt Donaldson & Steve Kyriakis
Nancy & Don Erman
Richard & Barbara Falcon
Griff Field
Pamela Fitch
Brooke Frederick
David Fulk & Keith Riedell
LSL Fund
Randy Getz
Carol & Steven Goldberg
David Goldberg & Anna Rojas
Adrienne Graham
Linda Gregory
Linda & Simon Haines
Ed Hall & Warren Lindeleaf
Team Hanseth
Mary Herbert
Jane Hing
Hirst Law Group, P.C.
Kim Hunter
Janet Jensen
Jolanta Kieturakis
Allyce Kimerling
Dawn & Dave King
Sayuri Kuo Sharper
Brian & Dorothy Landsberg
Sandra Lee
Shannon Mahoney & Kirk Blackinton
Dennis Mangers & Michael Sestak
John Marinko
Dena Martinez & Paul Verke
Terry McLean
Shelley Mydans & John Griffing
AMANDA NELSON
Mary O'Byrne
Richard Pearson & Jean Hart
Rani Pettis
Ron Robie
Ann Samuelson
Judy & Mike Scheible
Ann Siprelle
Sara Slocum
Chris & Julia Smith
Harry & Linda Struthers
Shirley Toy & Dwight Crocker
Harold & Ilah Turner
Elaine Verbarg
Denise Verbeck
Karen Willstatter
John Wilson & Susie Monary-Wilson
Carol Wolff Barnes
Suzanne & Jesse Womack

 

Ensemble: $300+

John & Kathleen Agnew
Kathleen Anderson
John Angell
Karen Auwaerter
Robert & Laura Jane Young
Eloise & James Barter
Don Beckham
Ruthann Biel & Bill Claypool
AG Block
Peter Botto
Mandy Brockhaus
Karen Broido
Dr. William Bronston & Lisa Levering
Carin & Bob Bryans
Steve Buri
Steven & Karin Chase
Gregg & Marlene Cook
Timothy Corcoran
Maryann Crawford
Gretchen Cypin
Jim Dodds
Andrew Enberg
Tracie & Richard Fike
Clint Fleener
Muffy & Terry Francke
William & Margaret Gray
Mary Graziose
Dennis Gunvalson & Richard Bay
Chris Huber & S. B. Hadley Wilson
Ann & Charles Halsted
Polly Hasemann
Eileen Heaser
Mike & Doris Horton
Patrick & Suzanne Hunt
Lydia Inghram
Lawrence Jacobs
Don Johnson & Elizabeth Miller
David & Kathy Kahn
MaryBeth Kavanagh
Linda Kingsley & Sharon Liberatore
Jane Kirkland
Pamela Kisor
Susie La Pointe
Dr. John & Rosemary Lamb
Susan & Jeffrey Leider
Janet Lial
Rick Martinez
Cheryl & Lee McDonald
Steven Meinrath & Helen Nusbaum
Lynne Meredith
George & Carolyn Meyer
Danielle & Dean Newberry
Julie F. Owens
Steve Patwell
Larry Pearson
John & Sandy Peirce
Ted Prim & Marian M. Johnston
Enid Pritikin
Sherry Reser
Amy & Jason Rogers
Carol Rogers & Jon Courtway
Bob & Shirley Rosenberg
Laura Rosenthal
JC Sales
Kevin Schunke
Brian Sehnert
Janet S Shibamoto-Smith
Jean & David Shiomoto
Susan & Ross Siragusa
James & Janet Soller
Susanne Sommer & George Ramsey
Peggy Stare
Patricia Sturdevant
Patricia Symkowick
Nina Thomson
Rachel Tooker & Randy Roberts
Stephanie Tucker
Michael & Barbara Ullman
Kim Varner
Marian Ver Wey
Phillip Vulliet
Iris Vuong & Markus Jackson
James O Walker Jr
Patricia Wall & David Stavarek
Bryan Weare
LeRose Weikert
Richard & Kathy Williams
Lulu Wong
Claudia & Olin Woods
Wendy & Mark Zlotlow

 

Patron: $150+

Ryan Adame
Candace & Doug Adams
Elaine Alexander
Rebecca Armstrong
Ann Arneill
Terri Auwaerter
Kristine Backus
Debra Baldwin
Heidi Ballard
Sylvia Bender
Ricki Bergado
Brenda Betts
Rick Boeck
Bruce Bowers
Sandra Briggs-Howell
Terry Brown
Ted Calvert
Larue Carnes
Barbara Celli
Marilyn Champa
Bernice Chin
Allison Claire
Idelle & Dan Claypool
John Collet
Dennis & Susan Cook
Marilyn Cooper
Kirsti Cripe Rauser
Thomas Cross
Lyn & Jim Crouch
Mary Anne Dann
Anthony & Margie Deriggi
Di Arie Vineyard & Winery
Kelly Dodge
Kathy Dona
Katherine Downey
Anne Duffey
Daniel Durawa
Paul Endelman
Marilee & Jim Eusebio
Carolyn Foland
Patty French
Kelli Frostad
Bonnie Gamble
Anne Geraghty
Cynthia Gerber
Jason Gieger & David Toise
Steve Gold
Lisa Gonzales
Carol Goodman & Tony Gane
Kate Goodnight
Lisa Goodwill
Patricia Gregory
Carol Hachmeister
Susan Handy
Linda Hansen
Dan & Evelyn Harlan
Alexandra Hewitt
Ian Hopps
Linda Huang
William Hunter
Linda Iseri
Alan Jackman
Anne Jennings
Aisha Johnk & David O'Brien
Lial Jones
Roger Jones
Jonel Jorgensen & Dennis Lloyd
Jo Ann Joye
John Katonah
Nihal Kaur
Marilyn & Jesse Kermit
Leonard Keyes
Leili Khalessi
Jamie Khan
Kay Michelle Khayat
Kellie Kilgore
Joann Kleemann
Derry Knight & Patricia Esgro
Paul & Jane Lammerding
Irene Lara
Teven Laxer
Dan & Stephanie Leahy
Jonathan C Lewis
Dana Loschiavo
Morgan Lyons
Alison Mahan
Joanne Matsui & Arthur Lai
Nancy McDevitt & David Wolffs
Karen Morrison
Hallie Morrow
Christopher P. Motley & Trudy Baltz
Kimberly Mueller
Sylvia Navari Household
Long Nguyen
Becky & Bob Norris
Erin O'neil
Nancy Petrisko
Sarah Phelan
Jessica M. Powell
Karyn Quan
Nathan Rangel
Rachel Roberts
Linda Rogaski
Patrick Romano
Dr Kurt Rosen & Ms Dominique Pollara
Ruth Rosenberg
Linda Roth
Elyse Sharp
Joe Shea
Adrienne Sher
Walter Sherwood
Karen Smith
Robert Snider
Neill SooHoo
Julie Stein
Craig Stevens
Pamela Stewart
David Stolcenberg
John Swartzel
Dan & Karen Tajbl
Claire Tauzer
Adele Taylor
Penelope Taylor
Sharon Taylor
Susan & Ken Taylor
Patty Torbert & Ken Graber
Mildred Torrance
Dennis Valentine
Kristina Vandershaf
Roger Vincent
Kevin Walsh
John Weber
John & Carole Whitelaw
Shelly Willis
Arnold Wolf & Fern Tablin
Megan Wygant
Ellie Zacks & Kathy Buxton
Elaine & Dimitris Zorbas

 

"The Crew" - Recurring Donors

Chris Abare
John Abbott & Lori Abbott Moreland
Candace & Doug Adams
John Angell
Walter & Linda Barnes
Peggy Beasley
Chastity Benson
Bill Bronston
Celia Buckley
Steve Buri
Margaret L Buss
Bernice Chin
Les & Peggy Chisholm
Kathleen Collins
Gayle Dax-Conroy
Katherine Downey
Richard & Barbara Falcon
Ellen Ferguson
Lisa Foster
Deborah Franklin & Douglas Mitten
David Fulk & Keith Riedell
Adrienne Graham
Mary Graziose
Courtney & Nate Hans
Beth Hassett
Stephanie & David Hunt
Kim Hunter
Linda Iseri
Leili Khalessi
Pamela Kisor
Shannon Mahoney & Kirk Blackinton
John Marinko
Linda McAtee & Steve Sphar
Peter Mohrmann & David Harris
Diane & Lisa Moore
Michael Moore
Mary O'Byrne
Rani Pettis
Laurie Nelson Randlett & Jim Randlett
Sherry Reser
Carol Rogers & Jon Courtway
Diane Schertz
Chris & Julia Smith
Linda & Scott Taylor
Nina Thomson
Peggy Wheeler
John Wilson & Susie Monary-Wilson
Gloria Woodlock
Claudia Wrazel & Frank Horowitz

 

Learn more about "The Crew": capstage.org/play-a-part/donate/