.

Mayelah Barrera - NINA - is a singer, actress from Monterrey, México. She is thrilled to join the CANCIONES family as 'Nina' and can't wait to welcome people into the Guerrero home. She was last seen as 'Hero'in the Public Theater's Mobile Unit adaptation of Much Ado About Nothing. Other credits include: 'Mia' in the premiere production of In Her Bones. TheaterWorks NYC and MidWest tour of El Otro Oz starring as 'Dora' and 'Fatima' in the limited sold out run of Desaparecidas. 

Gracias a mi familia por su apoyo incondicional siempre, las amo. 

Viva México siempre!

IG: @mayelahbarreram 

Johanna Carlisle-Zepeda (She/They) - MAESTRA - is thrilled to be playing Mama "Maestra" Guerrero in Canciones! Recently, Johanna played multiple roles in a concert reading of a new musical called Genius starring Matthew Broderick, Douglas Sills and Beth Malone!!  Johanna starred Off Broadway in, Americano! where she originated the role of Felicitas Valdovinos.   Regional credits include: Mama/Ancestor Y in Siluetas, Bernadette in POTUS, Fraulein Schneider in Cabaret, Miss Trunchbull in Matilda, Sarraghina in NINE, Inez in The View Upstairs, Robyn in The Roommate, Anna in The Clean House, Beatriz in Miss You Like Hell, Diana in Next to Normal, Eddie/Dr. Scott in The Rocky Horror Show, Madame Thernardier in Les Miserables, Miss Hannigan in Annie. You can even catch Johanna in some fun online Podcast musicals: “The Getaway” on Bite Sized Broadway starring Rick Negron and McCobb Mortality Services where she played Meredith and Sharon. Johanna is also proud mom to local drag queen Rhiannon Nichelle @rhirhinyc Johanna holds a BA in Vocal Performance from Cornell College. They are represented by Rodney Swain of the Swain Thomas Agency and are a proud member of Actor’s Equity. @divasandinista 

Kai An Chee - JENN - is a Malaysian-Chinese actor and musician. Stage credits include Kim Alternate/Gigi u/s in Miss Saigon (Broadway Nat'l Tour), Genevieve in Madame Clicquot (Pittsburgh CLO), Rowena Moraga in Mr. Holland's Opus (Ogunquit Playhouse), Siren u/s in Lizard Boy (Off-B'way), and workshops of Jason Robert Brown’s Farewell My Concubine and Michael John LaChiusa’s American Eclipse. TV credits include FBI: Most Wanted, That Damn Michael Che, and Olga Dies Dreaming. www.kaianchee.com @kaianchee

Cristina Contreras - ELY - is a multifaceted Panamanian actress with over 30 years of experience in the industry, with credits spanning through North & Central America and the Caribbean. Her theater credits include Plaza de Coco onboard the Disney Treasure (Abuela Elena & Mama Imelda), Hairspray (Tracy Turnblad), Legally Blonde (Enid Hoopes), Beauty & The Beast (Madame de la Grande Bouche), and many more. On screen, Cristina can be seen in projects like “Drive Away Dolls”, directed by Ethan Coen & Tricia Cooke and “Bloody Bloody”, directed by Aaron Sarles. Cristina’s voice can also be heard in projects like PBS’s Alma’s Way and throughout Latin American radios for Vanish, Palette and Delta Fuels. A Mexa by heart, Cristina is thrilled to be part of this Familia as we welcome you to this Guerrero Family celebration. Now, grab a plate and enjoy!

Sara Ornelas (She/Her) - KATI, Core Creative Team Member - was born and raised deep in the heart of Texas and wears her Mexican roots proudly. As a child she sang at every opportunity at church and usually played Satan. Her favorite credits include Frida Kahlo in A Ribbon About A Bomb, Maria in West Side Story, and Jose in Las Desaparecidas. She was most recently seen serenading the streets as Margaret for The Public’s Mobile Unit production of Much Ado About Nothing. If she’s not substituting water with iced oat lattes, she’s boxing, and eating waay too much cheese. IG: Saravornelas

Chino Ramos - JULIO - is an actor-musician, originally from El Paso, TX. Selected credits: Off-Broadway: THOM PAIN (Signature Theater); premiere of MICRO FACE, THE MUSICAL (NPR); HARVEY (Out of the Box Theatre Co.); Regional: NEXT TO NORMAL (DE); IN THE HEIGHTS (D.C.); premiere of Anne Washburn and Dave Malloy's LITTLE BUNNY FOO FOO (Actors Theatre, Louisville), premiere of SHANGHAI SONATAS (University of Delaware). Other stage credits: MY FAIR LADY; RENT; CATS; SOUTH PACIFIC; MAN OF LA MANCHA; SPELLING BEE; CHARLIE BROWN. TV: “Daredevil: Born Again,” “Blue Bloods.” Thanks to my team: Shannon, Jennie, and Linda for all your support. @therealchinoramos

Sammy Rivas (he/him) - RICKY - B.F.A. Drama NYU Tisch; co-founder/associate artistic director of The Fool Volk experimental theatre collective, company member of the Czechoslovak-American Marionette Theater, Teatro SEA, International WOW Company, and Bated Breath Theatre Company; co-founder Rivasorio Puppets Company and Fish Paul Productions LLC; Recent Theatre Credits: Antigone in Analysis (La MaMa), Dirty Books (Off-Broadway, Bated Breath Theatre), The Pocket Park Kids (Off-Broadway, Theatre Row), Fowl Play (La MaMa), The Edge of Nature (La MaMa), Roommates (Hudson Guild - Best Actor Nominee), Good Soldier Svejk (TNC), and Pete/Pianist in the Spirits' Speakeasy at Sincerely, Ophelia. Writer/Director: Gutter Soup (2026), Strange Key (2025); Producer: The Monks of Lorisidia (2024).

Raul Abrego - Production Designer - is a set designer for Opera, Theater and Television. His work has been seen at The Juilliard Opera Center, The Manhattan School of Music, The Spoleto Opera Festival in Italy, The Rattlestick, and Cherry Lane. Noted Recent projects: Primary Trust by Eboni Booth for Cleveland Playhouse directed by Sideeq Heard, Fiddler on the Roof for Cleveland Play House directed by Michael Barakiva, Sancocho by Christin Eve Cato for GEVA Theater directed by Rebecca Martinez, Ain't Misbehavin' for Barrington Stage and Geva Theater Center, directed by Jeffrey Page. Television/Film Credits: Assistant Art Director for The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel Season 3 & 4, Ghost (Power Book 2), Art Director for Falling Water (pilot), Production Designer for 2009 film Cruzando.

Tye Hunt Fitzgerald - Sound Designer - is a Canadian born Sound Designer based in New York City. Design credits include: Comedy of Errors (ATL),  As You Like It, Much Ado About Nothing, Comedy Of Errors, Vagrant Trilogy (The Public Theater), How I Learned What I Learned (Geva Theater), Legally Blonde (Oregon Cabaret), King Lear (La Mama), Superstitions (OKC Rep), The Full Monty, The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee (Skylight Music Theater), Matilda The Musical (New Arts), Associate Credits Include: Boop!, English, Home, Hell’s Kitchen, Pictures From Home (Broadway), A Soldiers Play (Broadway and 1st National), Millions (The Alliance Theater), Cullud Wattah, The Micheals, White Noise, Eve’s Song (The Public), Alice By Heart (MCC). MFA Yale School of Drama. @tyehuntfitz

María-Cristina Fusté (MC) - Lighting Designer - Ms. Fusté has a career in lighting design with credits in New York, her native Puerto Rico, major cities in the U.S., Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, México, and the DR. She is also the founder and Executive Artistic Director of Boundless Theatre Company. Broadway:  Jagged Little Pill, Associate LD 2021 remount (Justin Townsend LD). Off Broadway: Sancocho (WP Theater, NYC), Songs About Trains (Working Theater/Radical Evolution); Fur, Mud, and The Conduct of Life (Boundless Theatre Company, NYC) Regional: Measure for Measure (Chicago Shakespeare Co); American Mariachi (Goodman Theatre, Chicago/ Alabama Shakespeare/ Cleveland Playhouse); Anna in the Tropics (Barrington Stage, MA); Sweat (People’s Light Theater, PA); In The Heights (Westport Country Playhouse, CT/ Aurora Theater, GA/ Colorado Springs Arts Center). Opera:Cecilia Valdés (Teatro Colón, Bogotá); Tosca, Bluebeard’s Castle, Madama Butterfly, Don Pasquale, and L’Elisir d’Amore (Ópera de Puerto Rico, San Juan PR). MFA in Lighting Design NYU. Awards: Princess Grace Award 2018, Suzi Bass Award 2016/ 2017, HOLA and ATI Awards 2022. LATA Award 2023. www.mcfuste.com

Rebecca Martinez (she/her) - Director, Core Creative Team - is a director who works on new plays and musicals and uses adaptation to envision classic plays through a contemporary lens. She is the BOLD Associate Artistic Director at WP Theater and a member of the Sol Project Collective. Recent Off-Broadway credits: Public Theater’s Mobile Unit: Much Ado About Nothing;The Comedy of Errors (also co-adapter; Drama Desk Nomination, Outstanding Adaptation, LATA Awards for Outstanding Adaptation and Theatrical Concept). At WP: Dirty Laundry (WP Theater / Spark Theatricals), Bite Me (WP Theater / Colt Coeur), Sancocho (Latinx Playwrights Circle / Sol Project / WP Theater). Regional projects include: Sancocho (Geva Theater), In Her Bones (Colorado Springs Fine Arts Center), Living and Breathing (Two River), Somewhere Over the Border (Syracuse Stage & Geva Theatre). Martínez has directed and developed new work with Signature Theatre, the O’Neill, Latinx Playwrights Circle, the Sol Project, NAMT, INTAR, Working Theater, The Playwrights Realm, among others. Affiliations: WP Directors Lab Alum, 2021 TCG Rising Leaders of Color, Lincoln Center Theater Directors Lab, INTAR’s Unit52, New Georges Affiliated Artist, Drama League Directing Fellow, member of SDC. Commissions: Artist-in-Residence (Radical Evolution), SEED Directing Commission (Public Theater) Awards: Colorado Henry Award for Directing; four Portland, Oregon Drammy Awards; Lilla Jewel Award for Women Artists. rebeccamartinez.org

Julián Mesri — Music Director/Arranger, Core Creative Team - is a New York-based Argentinean-American playwright and composer who makes multilingual plays and musicals in the US and around the world. He is the co-adaptor and composer/lyricist for the Mobile Unit bilingual production of the Drama Desk nominated and LATA award winning Comedy of Errors and Much Ado About Nothing at the Public Theater. His play, The Irrepressible Magic of the Tropics (workshopped at The Playwrights Center) premiered as part of Intar’s 2025 season. He is currently the Judith Champion Musical Theater Launchpad Resident at Signature Theater and a Core Writer at the Playwrights Center. He received an EST/Sloan Commission for his musical Favaloro: A Heart in Pieces. Recent work includes Telo (Live and In Color Finalist, O’Neill NMTC Finalist), Last Coffee in Rockville (NAMT Finalist), and Bartolomé de las Casas Ruins My Pool (O’Neill NPC Finalist). Other work includes composing the live score of Henry 6 at The Old Globe,  directing/arranging Songs About Trains with Radical Evolution, music directing and co-orchestrating Brian Quijada’s Somewhere Over the Border (Syracuse Stage, Geva Theater). He has been a member of the Public Theater Emerging Writer’s Group, a Dramatist Guild Fellow, an Emerging Artist of Color Fellow and Usual Suspect at NYTW, a member of Lark's Playwright's Workshop at Second Stage, and a Van Lier fellow at Repertorio Español. His modern staging of Fuenteovejunareceived the HOLA Gilberto Saldivar Outstanding production award. He has also translated dramatic works for the Lark US/Mexico Exchange and PEN World Voices. He received his MFA in Playwriting  from Columbia University.

Beto O’Byrne - Writer, Core Creative Team - co-founded Radical Evolution, a multi-ethnic, multi-disciplinary producing collective based in Brooklyn, NY.  He is the author of 20 plays, screenplays, and original tv pilots, the creator of the World of Kir fantasy series, a professional musician, and a professor of creative writing, Latine Theatre and Performance, and Political Theatre History and Theory at Pace University, and a Visiting Artist in Residence at Bard College’s Department of Theatre and Performance.

Sara Ornelas (She/Her) - Performer, Core Creative Team - was born and raised deep in the heart of Texas and wears her Mexican roots proudly. As a child she sang at every opportunity at church and usually played Satan. Her favorite credits include Frida Kahlo in A Ribbon About A Bomb, Maria in West Side Story, and Jose in Las Desaparecidas. She was most recently seen serenading the streets as Margaret for The Public’s Mobile Unit production of Much Ado About Nothing. If she’s not substituting water with iced oat lattes, she’s boxing, and eating waay too much cheese. IG: Saravornelas

Meropi Peponides - Dramaturg, Core Creative Team - is a theater maker, dramaturg, curator, podcast producer, writer, and co-founder of Radical Evolution. She served as a co-creative director of the 2026 and 2025 Under the Radar Festivals, and was producer and then co-director at Soho Rep from 2014 - 2023. She has been co-creating and producing theatre for 20 years with a focus on devised ensemble work, new plays, site-specific work and community-based performance. Her work explores cross-cultural affinity and seeks to disrupt cultural hierarchies by drawing inspiration from BIPOC and nonwestern traditions. Upcoming with Radical Evolution: Hunger (working title, commission from Soho Rep), and season two of Performing the Revolution. Select fellowships/Speaking Engagements: UTNT Guest Respondent 2026, Socialism 2024 Conference, 2024 Sobremesa with A Todo Dar productions. Other organizations with which she has collaborated include Pig Iron, The Foundry Theatre, and The Movement Theatre Company. BA, UCLA. MFA, Columbia University (Dean's fellow).

Christopher Vergara - Costume Designer- is a queer Panamanian American activist, educator, and designer. His work focuses on culturally responsive design, storytelling, and social justice. Christopher has worked on Broadway, off-Broadway, regionally, and internationally. Select credits include The Public, Roundabout, HBO/Max, Boundless Theater, New York City Center, and Lincoln Center in NYC; Barrington Stage, Alley Theatre, The Old Globe, Miami New Drama, and Two River Theater regionally; Shinjuku Bunka Center (Tokyo), National Theatre (London), Vin Pearl (Phú Quốc), Théâtre du Châtelet (Paris), and the Felsenreitschule (Salzburg) internationally. He is a member of USA-829, Wingspace, and La Gente: the Latiné Theatre Network. Follow him at @cavergaradesign and visit christophervergara.com.

We're grateful to our many partners and artistic collaborators who have contributed their labor toward the development of Canciones!

• Spring 2024. Staging Worskhop. Radical Evolution, hosted by PRTT. New York, NY
  The Team: Rebecca Martínez, Julián Mesri, Beto O'Byrne, Sara Ornelas, Meropi Peponides, Ruth Aguilar, Carlo Albán, Mayela Barrera, Kai An Chee, Alan Mendez, Marlene Montes, Celina Revollar, Cambria Martin, Naomie Saini

• Winter 2024. Staging Workshop. Radical Evolution. Brooklyn, NY
  The Team: Rebecca Martínez, Julián Mesri, Beto O'Byrne, Sara Ornelas, Meropi Peponides, Carlo Albán, Jen Anaya, Valeria Ceballos, Tauren Hagans, Alan Mendez, Desiree Rodriguez

• Spring 2023. Script Reading. Latinx Playwrights Circle. New York, NY.
  The Team: Galia Backal, Julián Mesri, Beto O'Byrne, Sara Ornelas, Meropi Peponides, Carlo Albán, Christin Eve Cato, Maribel Martinez, Brenda Orellana, Britney Quiroz, Jaymes Sanchez, Daniela Thome

• Fall 2022. The LAB @ LWT. New York, NY and Online.
  The Team: Galia Backal, Julián Mesri, Beto O'Byrne, Sara Ornelas, Meropi Peponides, Xiaoqing Zhang

• Summer 2021. Workshop. Sol Project. Brooklyn, NY.

• Fall 2020. “Sol Listening Party.” Online.

• Fall 2019. Workshop. Sol Project. New York, NY.

We are thrilled to be partnering with Latinx Playwrights Circle, The Sol Project, and Boundless Theatre Company to produce the world premiere of Canciones in May 2026.

CANCIONES is made possible with funding by the New England Foundation for the Arts' National Theater Project, with lead funding from The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation and additional support from the Doris Duke Charitable Foundation”

This program is supported, in part, by public funds from the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs in Partnership with the City Council.

CANCIONES is made possible by the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of the Office of the Governor and the New York State Legislature.

This project was supported in part by the National Endowment for the Arts.