Cast/Creatives | Sugar Skull!

written by

Gregory Jafari Van Acker

set/projection design by

Scott Lilly

musical arrangements

and orchestrations by

Sinuhé Padilla

lighting design by

Anna Carhart

musical direction by

Felipe Fournier

costume design by

Christopher Vergara

choreography by

Argélia Arreola

sound design by

Nathan Leigh

directed by

Elena Araoz

Cast

Sugar Skull

Valeria Aceves (ella/they/she)

is a proud Mexican actor and Neighborhood Playhouse graduate. Credits include Rock of Ages (Wolfie Award for Best Newcomer), The Waiting Room, and Ferdinand: The Musical. A preschool teacher by day and babysitter by night, Valeria combines artistic passion with inspiring young audiences. This performance honors their abuela.

Vita

Yuliana Sleme (she/her)

began with Mexico's "Mosca Morada Teatro" in productions like Beauty and the Beast and Little Shop of Horrors. NY credits include "Abandon All Hope" and "Pieces of People." Film work spans "Death on The Border" (Amazon) to "Poker Face" (Peacock), earning Best Actress awards at multiple festivals.

Mama/ Abuelita

Brenda Flores (she/her)

is a Los Angeles-based actor, dancer, and choreographer bridging tradition and imagination. Starting Mexican Folklore at 16, she toured internationally with Ballet Folklorico de Mexico de Amalia Hernández. As Disney Treasure's inaugural cast member, she developed Plaza de Coco, portraying multiple characters including the spirited dancer Marisol of Santa Cecilia.

Marigold/La Bruja

Felicia B. Avalos (she/her)

is a dynamic tejana storyteller and NYC-based educator. Her original works blend cultural heritage with social activism, gracing stages from DC to Australia. She collaborated with artist/activist Guillermo Gómez-Peña and holds advanced degrees from George Washington University and NYU. This marks her third year touring with SUGAR SKULL.

Ancestor/Chaneque

Christopher Cortez (he/his)

a California native, began Folklorico training at 17 through Righetti High's programs, earning his AA in Fine Arts: Dance from Allan Hancock College. Since relocating to NYC in 2012, he's performed with prestigious companies and artists including Lila Downs and Los Tigres del Norte, graduating from Alvin Ailey in 2015.

ACKNOWLEGEMENTS

Assistant Director—Maya Quetzali Gonzalez

“El Coco” Puppet Designer—Jessica Scott

Additional costumes and props—Jules Peiperl, Benjamin Hidalgo, Alda Reuter

Voice Over Actors—Cynthia Bastidas, Eliud Kauffman

Casting by Gregory Jafari Van Acker, The Casting Collaborative

RHYTHM OF THE ARTS

Producers

Rhythm of the Arts was founded in 2005 in NYC to provide a platform for culturally specific performing arts companies to reach greater audiences. We celebrate authentic storytelling, multi-disciplinary and cross-cultural collaborations, and live music.

We produce. We connect.

We provide consulting services for artists, cultural institutions, and performing arts centers.

Thank you to our Kickstarter supporters, without whom this show would not be possible...

Angie Boissonneault
Abbe Daniel
Abby Bales
Abby Rizzo
Adam Burke
The Ackerman Family
Alan Hoekman
Alex Marchica
Alejandro Estrella
Alfie Palao
Alfonso Mogaburo Cid
Ali Vanacker
Alicia Horwitz
Aléna Watters
Amy Jacobus
Ana Chang
Anastasia Avrutsky
Andrew Flatt
Angie Boissonneault
Anthony C. Garcia
Ari Hunniford
Arthur Tremper & Alain Berdier
Barbra Stricker
Beth Cummings
Bonnie Schock
Bree Holcolmbe
Brett Elliott
Brian Kelley
Briseyda Zarate
Bruce Markow
The Bullards
Carly Ghee
Carol Basilio
Catherine Peck
Michelle & Chad Herzog
Cathy Zimmerman
Cristian Puig
Crista Johnson Kane
Chanon Judson
Chris Cornwell
Claudia Montes
Colleen Verbus
Courtney Ozaki-Japanese Arts Network
D. Glenn Simmons
Dan Mahoney
Daniel F. Levin
Daniel Soberanes
Darcie Kozlowski
Delardi Family

Midsummer Scream
Deborah Rubin
Dierdre Towers
Denise Lopez
Juan Diaz Salazar
Liz B.
Elizabeth Mihelich
Emily Whitman
Emily Lauer
Emily Marks
Emily Yoon
Erik Keith
Erin Loughran
Felipe Fournier
Fredi Brodmann
Gayatri Dubey
Gennifer Warner
George Sáenz
Gina Napolitano
Ginger Rosado
Gisele Saad Assi
Grace Olson Davidson
Goussey Celestin
Heather Gallagher
Heather Lea Hollingsworth
Heather Boissoneault
Hedda & Stephen Keith
Heena Patel
Ximena Violante
Iván Contreras
Jack McLarnan
Jacob Kinderman
Jake Rosenblum
James Wolburg
Jamie Jung
Joann McKinlay
Jason Stives
Jason Veasey
Jed Miley
Stardust the Elf
Jeff Eckstein
Jenni Cheers
Jenny Bascos
Jessica Bathurst
Joanna Walchuck Aprea
Joann McKinlay
Joe Steindam
Joel Esher
John Gilliland
John Myasato

John Dorris
Joi Brown
Jorge Diaz
Jose Cortes
The Joyce Family
Juan Dies
Judith Shapiro
Richard & Julie Van Acker
Justin Lujan
Karen Crump
Keirsten Lynne
Kelly Donavan
Ken Greenberg
Kevin O'Keefe
Kim Furano
Kristen Foster
Kurt Lewis
Lacey Wright
Lauren Brooke
Leslie Geraldes
Leslie Hanlon
Lety Ojesto
Lindsay 'Okasaki' Robert
Lisa Greenberg
Liz B.
Lucas Parry
Luis Felipe Herrera
Madonna Lee
Magdalena
Marc & Janet Robinson
Maria Hidalgo
Maria Jimenez
Marie Lusher
Mary Cosme
Megan Opalinski
Michael Piatkowski
Michelle Preston
Millie
Miriam Kurnit-Katz
Nahede
Nangel Hofmann
Naomi Bloch-Schartz
Natalia Starkova
Nelida Tirado
Nicole OBrien
Noemi Gasparini
Nora
Olena
Pmark "the P is silent" Reiley
Paloma Rios

Pat Payne
Paul Fradin
Paula Sanchez-Kucukozer
Pete Borum
Pete & Stacy
Peter Lally
Peter Velez
Prianka Raj
Rafa Reyes Hernandez
Rebecca Larkin Green &
Phyllis Green
Rick Berube
Ricardo G
Ricardo Gaitan
Rick Santiago
Robin Haller
Rodrigo Martinez
Roger Rabid
Roland Cohagan
Ronee Penoi
Rose Miller
Ryan Michael
Sally Lesser
Salvador Briggman
Sandra Soto
Sarah Rodriguez
Sarah Taylor Cook
Scotty Shaffer
Seth Reichgott
Shele Steel
Shelly Bleckley
Shelly Gaza
Sofia Figeman Ramírez
Sonia de los Santos
Sue Lynn
Tara Laraway
Theresa Remick
Theresa Vibberts
Timothy Jarrell
Todd Albrecht
Tom Gabbard
Tracy Nasse
Trevor Burrus
Umland Family
Viviana Vargas
Wendy Franz
Xianix Barrerra
Zachary Spitzer