By Jonathan Norton
Directed by Nikki Mirza
A New Play for Young Audiences
Touring schools in March and April 2024
Public performances at La Jolla Playhouse’s WOW FESTIVAL at UCSD on April 6 and 7, 2024
Creative Team
Nikki Mirza
Director
Nikki Mirza (she/her - Director) is delighted to return to the POP Tour this year after previously performing in the 2019 tour: Light Years Away. She is multi-hyphenate artist who has regionally worked with theatres such as San Diego Rep, Scripps Ranch Theatre, Goodspeed Opera House, Signature Theatre, Olney Theatre Center, Round House Theatre, NextStop Theatre Company, 1st Stage, Constellation Theatre Company, Weathervane Playhouse, and Creede Repertory Theatre. She was last seen at La Jolla Playhouse as the Asst. Director and Swing performer on Bhangin’ It. nikkimirza.com
Jonathan Norton
Playwright
Jonathan's (he/him) work has been produced and developed at Dallas Theater Center, Jacob's Pillow, Actors Theatre of Louisville (44th Humana Festival), National New Play Network, TheatreSquared, PlayPenn, Pyramid Theatre Company, Black and Latino Playwrights Conference, Bishop Arts Theatre Center, Kitchen Dog Theater, Undermain Theatre, Theater Three, and South Dallas Cultural Center. Jonathan's play Mississippi Goddamn was a Finalist for the Harold and Mimi Steinberg/ATCA New Play Award and won the 2016 M. Elizabeth Osborn Award. He is a member of The Dorothy Strelsin New American Writers Group at Primary Stages. Jonathan is proud to serve as the Playwright in Residence at Dallas Theater Center.
Keira McGee
Costume Designer
Keira McGee works in costume design and construction for both theater and film. Design credits include Into the Woods (New Village Arts), The Servant of Two Masters (New Village Arts),
Cabaret (ION Theatre), Iceman Cometh (Target Margin Theatre), Romeo and Juliet (Shakespeare & Company), and The Tempest (Hudson Valley Shakespeare Festival). Film credits; Production Assistant for Top Gun: Maverick (Paramount Pictures). Keira currently works in the costume department of La Jolla Playhouse, and runs her own sustainable clothing company called Keira Designs.
Jazmine Logan
Dramaturg
Jazmine Logan is a third-year PhD student in Theatre and Drama from University of California: San Diego. She holds a BA in Theatre Arts and a BA in Politics from University of California, Santa Cruz, and a MA in Theatre Arts from San Francisco State University. La Jolla Playhouse credits: Manning (2023 Latinx New Play Festival- Dramaturg). UC San Diego credits: Thicker Than (Wagner New Play Festival-Dramaturg), Dance Nation (Dramaturg), and In the Red and Brown Water (Dramaturg). San Francisco State University credits: Spring Awakening: The Musical (Assistant Director/Dramaturg). UC Santa Cruz credits: Crowns (Mabel/Assistant Director), The Children’s Hour (Peggy Rogers), Romeo and Juliet (Juliet), Hands Up: 7 Playwrights, 7 Testimonies (Co-Director), A Raisin in the Sun (Ruth Younger), Zoot Suit (Guera/Ensemble), Detroit ’67 (Bunny “Bonita”), The Odyssey (Trojan/Hecuba/Suitor), A Dream Play (Victoria/Ensemble), and The Waiting Room (Brenda).
Nicholas Ponting
Scenic Designer
Nicholas Ponting (he/him) is a designer and stained glass artist based out of San Diego, CA. Recent productions: Radical, or are you gonna miss me? (IAMA Theatre Company), La Lucha (Optika Moderna in collaboration with The La Jolla Playhouse & MCASD), Everybody (Antaeus Theatre Company), Mud Row (Detroit Public Theatre), Animals Out of Paper (Chautauqua Theatre Co.), Grownup (The Associates Theatre), On Gold Mountain (LA Opera). Nick is a frequent collaborator with David Reynoso and Optika Moderna, creating immersive installations / performances in San Diego, CA. His stained glass work can be seen in San Diego at The Lafayette Hotel, recently remodeled and opened by Consortium Holdings Co. Nick is adjunct faculty at San Diego State University. MFA - UC San Diego. BA - Western Washington University. To learn more about Nick, his work and upcoming projects visit nicholasponting.com IG: @nicholasponting
Eliza Vedar
Sound Designer
Eliza Vedar (She/They) is a sound designer, composer, music director, and pianist based in Southern California. Their work has been featured in theatrical productions at La Jolla Playhouse, TuYo Theatre, Diversionary Theatre, Moxie Theatre, Cygnet Theatre, New Village Arts, Common Ground Theatre and various educational institutions including: San Diego State University, CSU San Marcos, and University of San Diego. Eliza holds a Bachelor's degree in Music Performance: Piano from San Diego State University. https://www.elizavedar.com/
Brian Salvanera
Production Assistant
Brian Salvanera (he/him) is excited to return to the POP Tour as the Production Assistant for the third time around. He graduated from the University of California San Diego with a B.A. in Theatre and a minor in Critical Gender Studies. Crew & PA credits include: Hoopla! (La Jolla Playhouse), Cabaret (Cygnet Theatre), Jin vs. The Beach (La Jolla Playhouse), SUMO (La Jolla Playhouse), Globe for All Tour (The Old Globe). He has also performed with the competitive open-style choreography dance team Sleepless Collective.