Azul

Diana Cervera [she/her](Guitarist) is happy to make her debut with Diversionary Theatre in the play Azul. Diana is a transborder Chicanx artist based in Tijuana and San Diego. Holding a BA in Ethnic Studies from the University of California San Diego, Diana’s work navigates the intersections of art and social justice; she is a filmmaker, storyteller, actor, poet, musician, and educator.

Olivia Espinosa [she/her] (Loré/Nena) is so excited to be back on the Diversionary stage after her work in Learn to be Latina and The Break Up Notebook. Additional performance credits include American Mariachi (Denver Center New Play Summit) Milvotchkee, Visconsin; Kita y Fernanda (Mo’olelo Performing Arts Co.); The Astronaut Farmworker; A Lonely Boy’s Guide to Survival… (La Jolla Playhouse POP Tour). With a BA in Theatre Arts from SDSU, Olivia is also a playwright and director. In 2017, she was honored as the recipient of the Oregon Shakespeare Festival’s most prestigious award- The Phil Killian Directing Fellowship where she was assistant director to Bill Rauch on Off the Rails by Randy Reinholz. Most recently, she assisted Tony Taccone on John Leguizamo’s Kiss My Aztec at La Jolla Playhouse. Olivia is also a proud member of Native Voices at the Autry’s Artist Ensemble and LJP’s Leadership Council. She is the co-founder of Haus of Improv which focuses on teaching constructive communication skills to professionals. Endless thanks to Steve and Joaquin for their love and support.

Zuleyma Guevara [she/her] (Yadra/Ester) is happy to be making her debut with Diversionary Theatre in Azul.  She  has, like most of us, performed virtually in the last year. Previous Credits include: Octopus Theatre Company’s online performance of “PandemicPanademic Pandemic Fight,”  Phoenix Theatre’s online performance of “Trojan Women.”. Stage credits include the world premiere of “Azul” at Southern Rep in New Orleans, Nora in the Actors Theatre of Louisville’sLouisvilles production of “A Doll’sDolls House Part 2”,, the world premiere of “Uncommon Sense” for the Tectonic Theatre Project. “Water by the Spoonful” at Premiere Stages; Columbia Stages “La Paloma Prisoner” and “The Hour of The Star”, “Seven Spots on the Sun” at the Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park and Working Theatre’s production of “La Ruta.”.  TV credits include Designated Survivor, Law and Order, Limitless, Gotham. Film credits include, New York State of Mind, Third Trinity. 

Sofia Sassone [she/her] (Zelia/Antonia) is happy to make her debut with Diversionary Theatre in this beautiful play. Originally from Buenos Aires, her theatre career began in the U.S. while attending Florida International University where she got a BFA in Theatre Performance. Her credits include An Ideal Husband, Rumors, and Stage Kiss. She has also written and performed for the South Florida One Minute Play Festival and directed various shows for Miami One Acts and Microteatro. Her San Diego credits include Loves and Hours with Scripps Ranch Theatre, the Plays by Young Writers Festival, FADE at Moxie Theatre, and The Wizards of Oakwood Drive for The La Jolla Playhouse’s Digital Without Walls series. www.sofia-sassone.com

Maria Patrice Amon [she/her] (Director) is a southern California-based director, dramaturg, producer, and scholar. Directing: A Skeptic and a Bruja (Urbanite Theatre) Group! The Musical (Passage Theatre) Hoopla! (La Jolla Playhouse POP Tour) Azul (Diversionary Theatre) Mojada (UCSD) A Zoom of One’s Own (CSUSM) Ich Bin Ein Berliner (Theatre Lab) DREAM HOU$E (CSUSM/TuYo Theatre) Fade (Moxie Theatre), The Madres (Moxie Theatre) Lydia (Brown Bag Theatre Company). Dramaturg: Manifest Destinitis (San Diego Rep), Beachtown (San Diego Rep). Patrice is a 2020 National Directing Fellow, aN LTC Steering Committee member, and a board member for NNPN. Patrice is an assistant professor at CSUSM and an Associate Artistic Director and Latinx Projects Producer at San Diego Repertory Theatre. JD: California Western School of Law. Ph.D.: UC Irvine. www.mariapatriceamon.com 

Samantha Rojales [She/Her/Hers] (Scenic Designer) is so excited to make her debut with Diversionary Theatre and work on this beautiful play. Some scenic credits include Dream House (CSU San Marcos), Without A Net (Malashock Dance), Boeing Boeing (CSU San Marcos), A Midsummer Night’s Dream (The Old Globe), Sweat (SD Rep, ASD). Projection credits: Sweat (SD Rep), Bad Hombres, Good Wives (SD Rep), JFest (SD Rep). Samantha earned an MFA in Scenic Design from UC San Diego. Thank you so much to the Diversionary family for such a warm welcome and wonderful experience!

Faith James [She/Her/Hers] (Costume Designer) has an MFA in Design & Technology at the School of Theatre, TV, and Film at San Diego State University. Her puppet and costume design and artisanry experiences range from new plays such as Lying with Badgers (Native Voices at the Autry), She Kills Monsters, and artisan work on Hair and James and the Giant Peach. She specialises in wire bending at Trinidad and Tobago Carnivale and works part-time at the Old Globe Theatre as a craft artisan. She also has completed a Jim Henson Foundation: Mini Residency Grant with The Puppet Showplace Theatre. She is very excited to have worked on Azul with Diversionary Theatre.

Winston G. Limauge [he/him/his] (Lighting Designer) has designed for theatre, opera, and dance for more than 20 years across the United States. Limauge worked as a Technical Supervisor/Lighting Designer for Norwegian Cruise Lines. He has also served as Lighting Supervisor at the Boston Conservatory of Music and Texas Tech University. He is formerly the Resident Lighting Designer for the Intermezzo Opera Company (Boston, MA) as well as the Fiddlehead Theatre Company (Boston, MA). Currently, Limauge is one of the Lighting Designers for Knotts Berry Farm in Buena Vista, CA. 

Winston’s design work has been seen throughout the country at venues such as the Lubbock Civic Center (Lubbock, TX), Okoboji Summer Theatre (Okoboji, IA), Boston Children’s Theatre (Boston, MA), Open Stage of Harrisburg (Harrisburg, PA), Arden Theatre Company (Philadelphia, PA), Ivoryton Playhouse (Ivoryton, CT), The Vineyard Playhouse (Martha’s Vineyard, MA), Nantucket Theatre Workshop (Nantucket, MA), and New Bedford Festival Theatre (New Bedford, MA). Locally he has done work with Palomar College, Canyon Crest Academy, Coronado Playhouse, San Diego Rep, Cygnet Theatre, LA Opera, and the San Francisco Opera. 

This is his first show with the Diversionary Theatre, and he is excited to be back to live theatre!

Andrew Gutierrez [he/him/his] (Sound Design/Musical Direction) is a Santa Barbara-based sound designer, actor, singer, and songwriter. Recent projects include: Iris & The Axe (Turnkey Theatre), We Will Not Describe The Conversation (Patchwork Theatre Company), Dog Sees God (dir. Katie Turner), Stupid F*cking Bird (Skull and Dagger Dramatic Society) and the 2021 Festival of International Virtual and Augmented Reality Stories selection; Homecoming: A Meditation on the Natural World (Turnkey Theatre). Infinite thanks to Katie Turner, Jonathan Flores, Juanita Doyle for your endless inspiration, the incredible Diversionary team, and a little extra thanks to Rhonda and Adrian.

Alyssa Kane [she/her/hers] (Props Designer; She/her/hers) is over the moon to be working with Diversionary for the first time! She is a queer woman who has worked as a scenic designer throughout San Diego. She recently designed props for Mineola Twins at Moxie Theatre. A few of her favorite past productions are Sweet Charity at Oceanside Theatre, Move Over Mrs. Markham at Scripps Ranch Theatre, and gUnTOPIA with The Roustabouts. Alyssa is an operational board member at Scripps Ranch Theatre. She is also a performer and founding member of burlesque and variety troupe The Nude & Rude Revue in Southeast Alaska.

Verónica Isabel Márquez [they/theirs] (Stage Manager) is a San Diego-based stage manager, actor, director, and artistic producer. They have a BA in Theatre Arts, a BS in Spanish, and minored in American Indian Studies at San Diego State University. Other recent stage managing credits include Noel, Noel (2019, San Diego Symphony), San Diego REP Latinx New Play Festival (2019, 2021), Plays by Young Writers Festival (2020, Playwrights Project), Life on Appetite Street (2021, Appetite Street Children’s Outdoor Theater), and James and the Giant Peach (2019, SDSU). Hobbies include camping, growing plants, painting, and spending time with their cat, Pepperoni.