Meet the cast and crew who are bringing this new adaptation of of A Christmas Carol, through a Latino lens for today.

CAST

Eva Rotter Johnson (Dolores Avara)

Eva is thrilled to be performing on the Milagro stage again! She was last seen here in How the García Girls Lost Their Accent and as Sonia in Sonia Flew. The original Un Christmas Cuento was Eva’s first show with Milagro, and so she is honored to be summoned back to be a part of the Remix version. Eva’s previous performances have been in Snow Queen, West Side Story, and A Chorus Line (Heartland Theatre); Bodyhold (CoHo); Heroes and Saints, My Visits with MGM and Latina (Milagro).

Mariel Sierra (Caroler, Anita, Ghost of Elena, Young Elena)

Mariel directed The Taming at CoHo Productions and served as the Community Engagement Coordinator for 2.5 Minute Ride, and as the Producing Assistant during the Quiara Alegría Hudes season at Profile Theatre. Acting: Bag&Baggage (Richard III), Milagro (Corrido Calavera, El Muerto Vagabundo), Portland Actors Ensemble (A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Coriolanus), Salt and Sage Productions (Twelfth Night), and Post5 Theatre (Equus). Touring: Teatro Milagro (Cuéntame Coyote, El Niño Diego, Aventuras de Don Quixote), Oregon Children’s Theatre (Tomás and the Library Lady). Assistant Director: Between Riverside and Crazy (Artists Rep), Swimming While Drowning (Milagro), The Comedy of Errors and Henry IV, Part 1 (Post5 Theatre). She is a Steering Committee member for the Latinx Theatre Commons.

Mary Reagan (Caroler, Sol, Young Dolores)

Mary is thrilled to be making her Milagro debut! A recent transplant from Chicago, she was last seen in In Sarah’s Shadow (Pop Magic Productions) as the understudy for Eleanora Duse and Isadora Duncan, and Moon! Prism! Power! A Sailor Moon Musical Parody (Otherworld Theatre Company) as Sailor Mars. She is a founding member of Third Year Productions and co-produced and performed in their artistic showcases The Glasshouse Debutante Ball and GRIMEFEST 2087: A JunkPunk Dystopian Faire. She is a graduate of PCPA-Pacific Conservatory Theatre Professional Actor Training Program and is currently pursuing a bachelor’s degree in Spanish language with an emphasis in dramaturgical translation. She would like to thank our entire A Xmas Cuento Remix creative and production team for this opportunity and hopes you enjoy the show!

Cindy Angel (Caroler, La Catrina)

Cindy is originally from a small town in Yakima, Washington. She graduated from Washington State University with a BS in Psychology. As an actor, she has performed in Our Town, You Can’t Take It with You, Richard III, She Kills Monsters, and Don Quixote, where she played her favorite roll as Sancho Panza. Cindy has also taken on behind the scene rolls as an assistant set designer, director, and prop master.
 

Sierra Brambila (Caroler, Ixchel)

Sierra is a local actor and teaching artist. You may have seen her in Milagro’s other staged readings of 1,000 Miles and Shoe, or perhaps the production of Bi- last January. She was also seen in Enso Ensemble’s production of The Mermaid’s Project (Allana) last April. Her biracial background inspires her to give voice to stories of representation, truth, and diversity. Lastly, she thanks her mentor Liz Vice for always pushing her to ‘go deeper with her passions.’

Matthew Sepeda (Caroler, Dominique, Teenage Dominique, Joaquin, Miguel)

Matthew is very much looking forward to this production! He was recently seen in at Milagro in ¡Alebrijes! (Milagro) as Bartolome the Cat and Miguel as well as in Watsonville as Jojo. He’d like to thank everyone in the production for all their time and hard work as well as all his friends here in Portland for all their continued support!
 

Eduardo Vazquez Juarez (Caroler, Tomas, Jose, Luis)

Eduardo is thrilled to be a part of Milagro’s Christmas show! He is a part of the Teatro Milagro touring group. Roles include: Noir, Planicio, and the Mayor in Bi-, Rahui and the Moth in ¡Corre! ¡Corre!, and he will soon begin rehearsals for Judge Torres and Super Ana!. Other roles include Tevye in Fiddler on the Roof, Tom Buchanan in The Great Gatsby, Rooster in Annie, and Snoopy in You’re A Good Man, Charlie Brown! He also toured with Oregon Children’s Theatre in Above, Between, Below throughout Oregon and Washington. Other credits: Hunchback of Notre Dame, Rocky Horror Show, and The Wizard of Oz. As a bilingual/latinx actor, he hopes to inspire people from different races to explore and do whatever they set their mind to. Follow him on Instagram @eddievjuarez to stay in the loop of his next adventure. Happy Holidays!

Anthony Green (Caroler)

Tony holds a BFA in Acting and a Master of Theatre Studies in Production and Design from Southern Oregon University. Tony has performed in several readings and seven main stage productions in over six seasons here at Milagro. Those credits include Lydia, Into the Beautiful North, American Night, O! Romeo!, How The Garcia Girls Lost Their Accent, BoomCrackleFly and the Drammy Award winning Oedipus El Rey. Most recently Tony was seen in a number of critically acclaimed roles including Bag and Baggage Production’s Death and The Maiden, Profile Theatre’s production of Elliot, A Soldier’s Fugue, Defunkt Theatre’s production of Hir, and Jewish Theatre Collaborative’s production of Davita’s Harp. Other Portland credits include Equus , Cymbeline, Antony and Cleopatra , King Lear, King John and Mary Stuart.

PRODUCTION TEAM

Maya Malan-Gonzalez, Playwright/Director

Maya is a multidisciplinary artist focused on performing, ensemble collaboration, and writing original content. She’s a lifelong member of Milagro having performed in innumerable productions including Lydia, Oya: Call The Storm, and FRIDA: un retablo. Maya has also served as the assistant Director for Cuéntame Coyote and El Último. In addition, Maya is an ensemble member with Teatro Luna, where she recently premiered The Times and is also a company member with Cara Mia Theatre, where she was last seen in Deferred Action and De Troya. Maya has performed with San Diego Rep, El Teatro Campesino, Teatro Vision and Northwest Children’s Theatre among others. She has performed at The Edinburg Fringe Festival (Edinburg), Fury Factory Festival (San Francisco), One Theatre World (Chicago), Carnaval of New Work (Chicago), and The Encuentro De Las Americas (Los Angeles). Maya received her B.F.A in Acting from The Theatre School at DePaul University.

Gabriela Portuguez, Director/Choreographer

Gabriela was born and raised in East Los Angeles, California. A LatinX professional trained in performing arts and early career in Business Marketing has led her through numerous artistic roles: Choreographer/Stage Director, Director/ Producer, Arts Educator, Actress, Arts Marketing/ Public Relations, Dance and Fitness Teacher. Her creative influence in choreography is credited to her training in Los Angeles and Portland that established her career in teaching and performing in US universities, various dance studios on the West Coast and abroad, performing in corporate organizations, media, and commercial videos. Her projects with Milagro have been ongoing and creatively inspiring, from the start of Voz Alta in 2009 to the upcoming production of Judge Torres premiere in January 2019.

Emiliano Valdez, Composer/Music Arranger

Emiliano is a second generation music composer and performer whose career has spanned 25 years of professional theatre and music production work. Regional Theatre musical director/composer credits include: Popol Vuh: Heart of Heaven for Center Theatre Group. River Bride for Arizona Theatre Company. Other theatre musical director/composer credits include: Shrunken Head of Pancho Villa, Ubu Roi, The Four Agitators, Zoot Suit, La Virgen de Tepeyac, La Pastorela, La Gran Carpa de Los Rasquachis, Corridos Remix, Voices of the Community, and Shockingly Shockley. Professional film and television credits include: Ballad of a Soldier, Beto the Diabetic, Nightmare on AIDS Street, Mexico an IMAX Experience, The Kwoon, Amor y Tomates, Oscar, and God’s Tenants.

Daniel Valdez, Music Arranger

Steph Landtiser, Music Director

Steph has recently musically directed and/or conducted Evil Dead: The Musical, Seussical, Once Upon a Mattress (Theatre in the Grove); The Good Woman of Setzuan (Pacific University); Lucky Stiff, and My Fair Lady (Glencoe High School). Some of Steph’s favorite roles include Josie (The Skriker), Olive’s Mom (The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee), and Agatha Wiley (Smash) with Pacific University, and April (Company) with Lively Productions. She would like to thank everyone on the A Xmas Cuento Remix team for bringing such a bright, welcoming presence to every rehearsal, her family and friends for every piece of support given, and Calvin for the hugs.

Marissa Sanchez, Stage Manager

Marissa graduated this spring from Humboldt State University with a BA in Theatre Arts. She is currently working as a performer/teaching artist for Teatro Milagro. She comes from the agricultural town of Watsonville in Santa Cruz County. She has worked as Assistant Scenic Designer for HSU’s Peter and the Starcatcher, Scenic Designer for Lime Production’s Doubt and Gruesome Playground Injuries. Her performance experience includes HSU’s productions of Real Women Have Curves as Ana, several student projects, and Hermanas Unidas production of Latinologues. During her last semester she interned for the Arcata Playhouse Round Story Project bringing multi-generational members of Humboldt’s small rural community and the student body together to address a changing demographic, racial equity, and justice.