BWW Stage Mag Play On! - Hollister High School Drama Department Stage Mag
PLAY ON!
by Rick Abbot
 

 

 

Play On! is presented by arrangement with Concord Theatricals on behalf of Samuel French, Inc. www.concordtheatricals.com

 

 

 

Message From Hollister High School's Drama Teacher

Welcome, and thank you for joining us for Hollister High School’s production of Play On! by Rick Abbot. My name is Aislinn Barnes, and I have the honor of serving as the teacher of the Hollister High School Drama Program. As a first-year teacher—and a proud graduate of this very program—it is a privilege to return to the stage where I first discovered my love for theatre education. After earning my degree from California State University, Los Angeles this past May, I am deeply grateful to now use my education to help rebuild and reinvigorate a program that helped shape who I am.

This production is especially meaningful because every single element you see tonight is student led and student created. While I offered guidance, advice, and tools along the way, it is the students’ dedication, creativity, and perseverance that brought this show to life. Our student directors, technicians, costumers, props team, and stage managers have taken full ownership of this production from start to finish. Their leadership, collaboration, and passion are the true driving forces behind the success of this performance.

As much as I am teaching my students, they are teaching me just as much—about flexibility, imagination, courage, and the joy of creating something together. I am constantly inspired by their willingness to try, to problem-solve, to support one another, and to grow. It has been a privilege to witness their artistry unfold.

I would like to extend my deepest gratitude to the parents and families who support their students and this department. Your encouragement is what keeps our program alive, thriving, and full of possibility. I also want to thank our administrators for their support of my role and the vision of this program. Thank you for entrusting me with this responsibility and for believing in the value of theatre education.

A heartfelt thank you as well to Allison Musich, Derek Barnes, Catalina Lemos, and Heather Nichols for supporting me throughout every step of this project. And on a personal note, I would like to thank my brother Derek Barnes II, my mom Allison Barnes, and my partner Jasmine Loza for their constant love, encouragement, and support.

Thank you all for being here, for uplifting this program, and for celebrating these incredible students. Please sit back, relax, and enjoy the show—and have so much fun laughing at the crazy antics of Play On!

Cast

Jojo Castillo
AGGIE MANVILLE
Tiana Torrecillas
TERALINE ‘TERRY’ DUNBAR
Diego Amezcua
HENRY BENISH
Kaes Aldama Khenkham
POLLY BENISH
Grace Clark
MARLA ‘SMITTY’ SMITH
James Ammerman
SAUL WATSON
Zeke Esquer
BILLY CAREWE
Kailey Gwinn
VIOLET IMBRY
Joe Presta
LOUIS PEARY
Yesenia DuBois
PHYLLIS MONTAGUE

Creative Team

Kaes Aldama Khenkham

Director

Diego Godoy

Director

Bella DeLeon

Costumes and Props

Jazmin De Leon Mora

Costumes and Props

Jasmine Morales Lizarde

Lighting Technician

Ismael Alvarez

Sound Technician

Adam Luna

Stage Manager

Jeffrey Villegas

Assistant Stage Manager
PLAY ON! by Rick Abbot

Meet the Company

Jojo Castillo

AGGIE MANVILLE
Jojo says his character Aggie is an experienced stage manager and is the MOST hard working person in this production. He is anxious of the play because everyone doesn’t know their lines but he is putting the effort to help them to the best of is ability

Tiana Torrecillas

TERALINE ‘TERRY’ DUNBAR
Tiana is honored to be playing Terri in this production of Play On!! She 17 years old and excited to graduate in the Spring!! You may have last seen her as Lydia in Beetlejuice Jr, or Maria in West Side Story! Tiana would love to dedicate this show to Ms. Aislinn, she’s doing an amazing job as the new drama teacher, and working so hard!! Enjoy the show! :3

Diego Amezcua

HENRY BENISH
Hello there, how are you all! Thank you for coming to his show Play On! Diego is playing the role of Henry. He has done 12 musicals and 3 plays.He is so excited to be a part of this amazing production. He would like to dedicate this show to friends and family. Now, sit back, relax, and enjoy the SHOW!

Kaes Aldama Khenkham

POLLY BENISH
This is Kaes’ first time directing and acting at once in a production. She is in her Senior year of Highschool at HHS. You might’ve last caught Kaes performing in West Side Story or The Odd Couple, both HHS productions! Kaes is loving co-directing the production with Diego Godoy, and is so excited to also be performing in this show! She hopes you enjoy watching this production!

Grace Clark

MARLA ‘SMITTY’ SMITH
Grace is so excited to be a part of this production. Grace plays (Smitty) a clueless maid. She would like to thank her parents for always showing up to any of her activities in or out of school. She also wants to thank her sister Jaycee for helping her get back out of her comfort zone and showing her that theater is amazing. Grace looks up to her sister and brother for being the best people out there and always there to support her. Grace also thanks Ms. Aislinn for pushing her to become a better actor. Grace hopes everyone enjoys the show!! :)

James Ammerman

SAUL WATSON
James Ammerman is doing his first official play; titled “Play On” as the character Saul Watson (now Saul Goodman). He lives in Hollister, California and plans to try his best for the show. He recently auditioned for Beetlejuice Jr, hosted by San Benito Stage Company but ultimately didn't make it in. His previous roles were Two-Bit in the Outsiders preformed within Hollister High School and a few minor voice acting projects on his own time. James remains self taught for a majority of his little stage talents and hopes to use his upcoming performance to improve.

Zeke Esquer

BILLY CAREWE
Zeke would like to formally apologize for not submitting his bio, which means this entire paragraph is being written for him, about him, and without his permission. Fresh off his role in Beetlejuice, Zeke now stars as Billy in Play On. Since he gave us no information, we can only report that he is probably very talented, possibly very comedic, and almost certainly scrambling to explain himself right now. He hopes you enjoy the show more than Ms. Aislinn enjoyed ai generating this bio for him.

Kailey Gwinn

VIOLET IMBRY
Kailey is currently a 15-year old Sophomore attending Hollister High School. This is Kailey’s first ever theatrical production, and she is very excited to be performing.

Joe Presta

LOUIS PEARY
This is Joe’s second year in Drama, but not their first show. He’s done many musicals beforehand but first debuted in San Benito Stage Company as Olaf in Frozen Jr. Not much really left to be said other than he’s really into fictional stories. Both from books, shows, and from games.

Yesenia DuBois

PHYLLIS MONTAGUE
This is her second drama production, previously playing “Speed” in the ‘ODD COUPLE’ last December. She’s excited to perform this play in front of her family and friends who have been nothing but supportive along her journey of high school. “Thank you Mom, Vanessa, Papa, Grandma, and my Color Guard teammates for coming to support me or even just helping me with my lines for this play. I love you all and I can’t wait to see you after the show!” - Penny/Yessi ♡

Kaes Aldama Khenkham

Director
This is Kaes’ first time directing and acting at once in a production. She is in her Senior year of Highschool at HHS. You might’ve last caught Kaes performing in West Side Story or The Odd Couple, both HHS productions! Kaes is loving co-directing the production with Diego Godoy, and is so excited to also be performing in this show! She hopes you enjoy watching this production!

Diego Godoy

Director
Diego Godoy has been in drama for all four years of his high school experience being in many productions like Almost Maine, Mamma Mia, High School The Musical, The Odd Couple, and now has the honor of being a Director for “Play On!”. Diego wouldn’t be here without his friends who helped guide him, He would like to mention Anthony Barrientos, Ruby Seymour, Matthew Young, Patrick Summers, and Alejandro Manzo who helped him along the way through his years in Hollister High School.

Bella DeLeon

Costumes and Props
This is Bella Deleon she is a Senior Graduating Class of 2026, Its her Second Production shes the Backstage Prop and Costume person of the play “Play on” directed and shown at Hollister Highschool California. She enjoys being able to see things backstage and being able to control and operate the actors costumes/props and communicating with one another.

Jazmin De Leon Mora

Costumes and Props
This is Jazmin De Leon. This is her second production. Her roles are “backstage props”and “costumes”. She enjoys being behind the scenes and being able to see her work being used on stage.

Jasmine Morales Lizarde

Lighting Technician
She played Matilda in Matilda by Roald Dahl in 3rd grade. This is Jasmine’s second time working in the tech branch specifically in lighting for a production. The first production she worked on was, “The Outsiders” directed by Julie Willhite and composed of the Drama 1 class. This year, she is working on “Play On!” by Rick Abott also doing lights. She enjoys working behind the scenes doing tech work, as well as having a deep passion for music.

Ismael Alvarez

Sound Technician
Ismael Alvarez is currently a Senior at Hollister High School and has been in Drama once before during his freshmen year at HHS. This is Ismael’s first Drama production to be a part of. Ismael is filling the role of Sound Manager and is working alongside Jazmine who is head of lighting.

Adam Luna

Stage Manager
This is Adam’s first production in San Benito High School but has done several other productions with El Teatro Campesino, he is eighteen and has lived in Hollister his whole life. Including La Pastorela, Dia De Los Muerto. He has also tried acting, crew, and stage manager.

Jeffrey Villegas

Assistant Stage Manager
I am your typical average guy that has just been doing whatever in high school. I have no experience in what I’m working in but definitely have skills of running around and doing whatever the director tells me so I’m good at taking orders and fulfilling them.

Photos

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