By Christin Eve Cato
Directed by Kat Yen
A NEW PLAY FOR YOUNG AUDIENCES
Touring schools in March and April 2025
Public performances at La Jolla Playhouse’s WOW Festival at UCSD on April 26 and 27, 2025
Characters & Cast
Mikaela Rae Macias
Jayce
Mikaela Rae Macias (she/her) is a San Diego-based actor, singer, dancer, teaching artist, and collaborator. She is more than delighted to perform in the 2025 POP Tour with this talented and imaginative company! The last production you may have seen her in was Moxie Theatre’s Shows in Rep as Jo March in Little Women and Kit in Our Dear Dead Drug Lord. You may have seen her work at: Scripps Ranch Theatre, The Roustabouts Theatre, Oceanside Theatre Company, Cygnet Theatre, La Jolla Playhouse, Moxie Theatre (Craig Noel Nomination), North Coast Repertory Theatre, Wildsong Productions, Teatros San Diego (BroadwayWorld SD Nominations) and San Diego Symphony. She is also the co-founder of a community reading space for theatre artists and creatives called The Playground. Education: B.A in Theatre Performance at SDSU. https://mikaelaraemacias.godaddysites.com/ Instagram: @mikaelarmacias
Jamaelya Hines
Kori
Jamaelya Hines (she/her) is an actor, singer and dancer that is currently based in San Diego, CA. She is ecstatic to be making her debut with La Jolla Playhouse 2025 POP Tour! She loves being a part of stories that have important messages that make all people feel safe, welcome and understood and allows them to open their mind to new ideas. Some of her most favorite credits include Footloose and Elements (Norwegian Cruise Lines), In the Heights (San Diego Musical Theatre), Jesus Christ Superstar and 42nd Street (Moonlight Amphitheater) and Stew (Scripps Ranch Theatre). Along with theatre, Jamaelya has dived into commercial, TV and film acting for the past two years. Jamaelya would like to give many thanks to her team at Aqua Talent Agency, family and mentors for their loving guidance and support. jamaelyahines.com @jamaelyahines
Giancarlo Lugo
Ari
Giancarlo Lugo (he/him) is a San Diego based artist who is a lover of storytelling. He is absolutely ecstatic to be back at La Jolla Playhouse for his second POP Tour! He was last seen in the 2024 POP Tour production of Abeba in the Tall Grass. Some other productions he’s been apart of include: Murder on the Orient Express (Old Globe), Fiddler on the Roof, Legally Blonde, Urinetown: The Musical (San Diego Musical Theatre), La Lucha (Optika Moderna, MCASD, La Jolla Playhouse WOW), James and the Giant Peach (Southwestern College), Pasale Pasale (Tuyo Theatre) and The Pros and Cons of Feeding Stray Cats (Playwrights Project). Education: San Diego School of Creative and Performing Arts. He is incredibly thankful for his loved ones and those who have given him guidance on this journey to tell stories to all. You can keep up with his journey on instagram: @giancarlo.lugo
Maybelle Shimizu
Quinn Li
Maybelle Shimizu (they/she) is a San Diego actor and musician thrilled to be making their La Jolla Playhouse POP Tour debut this spring in The Weather Busters of Beachcastle. Recent credits include Into the Woods, School of Rock, Tootsie (Moonlight); Bottle Shock! (CCAE) and The Marvelous Wonderettes (Point Loma Playhouse). Other acting credit highlights: Bull in a China Shop (Diversionary), As Bees in Honey Drown (Onstage Playhouse), 25th Annual Spelling Bee (USD), Tartuffe (USD MFA) and Fault of Falling (SD Fringe 2017). After coming to San Diego from Japan at the age of 6, Maybelle found a love of theatre during primary school education and went on to graduate from the University of San Diego with a BA in Theatre and a minor in Psychology. You can find out more about their work on Instagram @maybelle.shimizu.
Lisette Velandia
Understudy
Lisette Velandia (they/she/he) is excited to be working with such a lovely group of people on this year's POP Tour! She is a Latine Asian actor originally from Sacramento, CA. Recently, they graduated from UC San Diego with a major in Theatre and Psychology. In the past, he trained at the British American Drama Academy and at Sacramento Theatre Company. Credits: Tiny Beautiful Things (Scripps Ranch Theatre); Fun Home (New Village Arts); I Found a Zipper, blu, limp wrist on the lever, Sotoba Komachi, As You Like It, Orlando (UC San Diego); Much Ado About Nothing, The Tempest, A Christmas Carol (Sacramento Theatre Company); The Wolves (Company 157). They also work with kNOwMORE, an educational program that goes to local San Diego high schools and uses theatre to inform students about human trafficking. Lisette truly believes in the power of educational theatre and its ability to change the lives of younger folks for the better!