The Magnolia Ballet
Starting Date: July 12, 2025
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The Cast

Devin A. Cunningham

Devin A. Cunningham, a theatre artist from Oakland, is a proud keeper of the Cunningham name: tracing back to Steve Cunningham, born 1828, Talladega, AL. Cunningham carries his grandfather, Robert Fields, an offspring of the Gullah Geechee, in his bones. Lastly, Devin honors his father Adrian, an instiller of invaluable virtues and a “good’gra”. Cunningham pays tribute to his ancestors with this performance. I.E.G. Ase’

Devin A. Cunningham

Apparition

Jaiden Griffin

Jaiden Griffin is a dynamic actor thrilled to debut with Shotgun Players. A rising senior at Chico State University (BFA Musical Theatre), his standout roles include Gabe in Next to Normal (Chico State Theatre) and Eugene in The Scottsboro Boys (42nd Street Moon). With deep gratitude for his family and mentors, Jaiden brings passion and precision to every role he plays. Follow @Jaidengriff (IG) / @Jaidengriffin (TikTok).

Jaiden Griffin

Ezekiel Mitchell VI (Z)

Nicholas René Rodriguez

Nicholas René Rodriguez is a Salvadoran-Italian multi-dicisplinary artist from Fairfield CA and is based Los Angeles. Credits include Jesus Christ Superstar (Berkely Playhouse) A Christmas Carol (CenterRep) Dreaming of Richard Ramirez (Morgan-Wixson Theater). Nicholas René has acted, produced, directed and creatively collaborated on several short films including Sideline Story (Halifax Black Film Festival). UCLA TFT alum. Love you Mom, Padre, Anna, and Mariah! @atomicnick

Nicholas René Rodriguez

Danny Mitchell

Drew Watkins

Drew Watkins was born and bred in Oakland California. He was last seen as the Red Queen in We Player’s Adventures with Alice. Trained at The Meisner Technique Studio he has acted and directed around the Bay Area for over a decade. Drew is unbelievably grateful to have the support of his little girl and loving wife through the odyssey of a beautiful life.

Drew Watkins

Ezekiel Mitchell V

The Creative team

SAMANTHA ALEXA

Samantha Alexa (aka SAZ) is a multidisciplinary artist from San Francisco who specializes in props design, film, and contemporary art. She has worked with a variety of theater companies in the city, including Magic Theatre, Brava Theatre, Golden Thread Productions, Custom Made Theatre, SF Playhouse, and more. In addition to theater, Samantha works as an art director for film. She received her training at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland and holds a BA(Hons) degree in Contemporary Performance. Her creative work explores the intersections of performance, ritual, light, and land.

SAMANTHA ALEXA

Props Designer

MICHAEL D. COMBS

M.D. Combs is a Bay Area native who found a love for lighting design while studying theater at San Francisco State University. They are fascinated by the way that light can establish worlds and transport audiences to a different place. After some time working in New York City, M.D. Combs is elated to be back lighting up various Bay Area venues and productions.

MICHAEL D. COMBS

Lighting Designer

RAISA DONATO 

Raisa is a proud immigrant from the Philippines. They’ve directed fight choreography for many Bay Area theaters such as Bindlestiff Studio, Shotgun Players, Crowded Fire Theater, Golden Thread Productions and the Tenderloin Museum. Catch their next fight direction this fall in Sherwood: The Adventures of Robin Hood and Limp Wrist on a Lever. Thank you Shotgun Players and The Magnolia Ballet team! raisadonato.com

RAISA DONATO 

Fight Choreographer

CORRIDA GODBOLD 

Corrida is extremely excited to be working with Shotgun Players for the very first time! She has previously worked for New Conservatory Theater, African American Shakespeare, and Magic Theater. Corrida started sewing simple clothes and home crafts at the age of 12. What was a hobby turned into a professional career, and she has never looked back. She is always grateful for the people who have helped her along the way, and will continue to pay it forward!

CORRIDA GODBOLD

Costume Designer

JULES INDELICATO 

Jules Indelicato is a San Francisco-based sound designer and composer whose work merges story, sensation, and memory. With over 15 years of experience in theater, live sound, and immersive performance, Jules crafts sonic worlds that hold tenderness, tension, and truth. They center queer narratives and layered identities, using sound to evoke emotion, disrupt silence, and make space for what’s been buried.

JULES INDELICATO 

Sound Designer

KA’NAYAH LANDERS-DANIELS

Ka’Nayah is so eager to begin her journey with Shotgun Players through this spectacular show! Ka’Nayah is a recent graduate from Saint Mary’s College of California with two theater degrees and a certificate in film. She has worked with several theaters in the Bay Area, and cannot wait to begin my official, professional debut here with you all. Enjoy!

KA’NAYAH LANDERS-DANIELS

Assistant Stage Manager

AEJAY ANTONIS MARQIUS 

AeJay Antonis Marquis Creates Art That is Black, That is Queer, That is Pleasure, That is Pain, That Deconstructs to Reconstruct. They are an educator, theatre maker, dance dreamer, arts advocate and scholar. Calls Berkeley Rep, Marin Shakes, Playwrights Foundation, Magic Theatre, BACCE, UC Berkeley, and Shotgun Players Intellectual and Creative Homes. Come Be Brave with us!

AEJAY ANTONIS MARQUIS

Director & Choreographer

SPENSE MATUBANG

Spense has designed lighting for Shotgun’s mainstage productions of The Triumph of Love, Best Available, and Thirty-Six. Recent credits include: Dragon Lady (Center Repertory Company, Geffen Playhouse, Pittsburgh Public Theater, Marin Theatre), Miss Bennet: Christmas at Pemberley (Theatreworks Silicon Valley), Fellow Travelers and The Emissary (Opera Parallèle), FROGGY, The Great Leap, and Every Brilliant Thing (Center Repertory Company). www.spensematubang.com

SPENSE MATUBANG

Projection Designer

LaRae J. Mays-Hardy

LaRae J. Mays-Hardy is a multidisciplinary artist and equity advocate based in Oakland, California, on unceded Ohlone land. Passionate about the arts’ transformative power, LaRae supports artists at all development stages and fosters collaborative, equitable environments. Outside of work, you can catch them enjoying reality TV or collecting fun animal slippers.

LARAE MAYS-HARDY

MAD Observer – Directing

RACHEL MOGAN

Rachel Mogan is a Bay Area native Stage Manager as well as Resident Artist with Crowded Fire Theatre. Recent Crowded Fire credits include Shipping & Handling directed by Lisa Marie Rollins & Leigh Rondon-Davis, Transfers directed by Ken Savage, and Church directed by Mina Morita. Other Bay Area credits include Stage Managing and Assistant Stage Managing with Cutting Ball Theater (Ondine, A Dreamplay, Hedda Gabler), Campo Santo Theater (Ethos De Masquerade, Candlestick), and many more.

RACHEL MOGAN

Stage Manager

SOPHIE RUF

Sophie Ruf is an Oakland-based creative. She works as an architect, loves local theatre, and will gladly decorate your home with handcrafted origami ornaments any day. Prior to being an architect she worked as an installation artist and jewelry designer in Seattle and metro-Detroit, respectively. She also acts and writes poetry.

SOPHIE RUF 

MAD Fellow (Scenic Design)

KENNY SCOTT

Kenny Scott is an actor based in Oakland, California. He attended Morgan State University, and was a member of the Laney College Fusion Theatre Project where he was featured in three productions (Más, The Late Wedding, and In The Wound). Kenny’s recent credits include The Claim at and staged readings with Magic Theatre, Golden Thread, and Lorraine Hansberry.

KENNY SCOTT

Understudy – Ezekiel Mitchell V

Jeunée Simon

Jeunée Simon (she/her) is a performer, intimacy director, and theatre director in the Bay Area. She is dedicated to creating braver spaces where artists can be vulnerable and play.

Jeunée Simon

Intimacy Choreographer

DR. CATHIA WALTERS

Cathia Walters is an Educator, with a degree in clinical psychology, a Transformational Coach, and the founder of the Walters Wellness Group based in the San Francisco Bay Area. In addition to coaching, she provides classes and workshops to people in the United States and around the world.

DR. CATHIA WALTERS 

Production Counselor

IMANI WILSON 

This world of The Magnolia Ballet was inspired by the wanton feelings that the South conjure. Things get stuck here, they hold onto the past paying little mind to the future. Look for these poetic moments in the space.

IMANI WILSON

Scenic Designer

The Production Staff

  • R. Black – Graphic Artist
  • Cal Scenic – Scenic Building
  • Gracie Brakeman – Director of Production
  • Talia “Lia” Findley – Wardrobe Assistant
  • Ashley Munday – Electrics Supervisor
  • Michael Kelly – Sound Supervisor

Season Sponsors

  • Karen Elizabeth Austin
  • Naomi Janowitz & Andrew Lazarus
  • Craig & Kathy Moody
  • Russell Nelson
  • Les & Sue Polgar
  • Ragesh Tangri & Daralyn Durie
  • Bibi Tiphane
  • Richard & Kate West

Production Sponsors

  • Chard Nelson & Jan Berman
  • Ann Shannon
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