A Wonderful Show for Wonderful People
Meet the Cast
Eloise Coopersmith
Executive Producer, Bookwriter, Lyricist, Actor
Eloise is an artist with a social conscience and a fierce advocate for giving voice to art inspired by thought-provoking ideas. Her recent award-winning web series, “Home for Mom” explored the ideas of eldercare and dementia. As part of the Breath of Fire Writers Collation in Santa Ana she participated in the COVID monologues, remembering those dear to us lost in this pandemic. And now, in “My (unauthorized) Hallmark Movie Musical” she explores the radical idea. . .of romance and love!
Eloise started her formal theater education in Theater at the Young Conservatory at the American Conservatory Theater in San Francisco, later graduating from Northwestern University with a Bachelor in Speech and finally earning her Masters in Theater at Cal State Los Angeles. Eloise ran her own non-profit – the Fillmore Association for the Arts – and its company, Open Book Theater, whose credits include the award winning production of “Bukowski, An Evening of Poems and Prose”.
Eloise is a member of AEA, SAG-Aftra and the Dramatist Guild of America and is living proof it is never too late to make your dreams come true.
Nina Herzog
Emma
Nina Herzog is a singer, song-writer, actress, voice-over artist, and non-profit leader. Favorite concert performances include singing with The National Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Marvin Hamlisch, and her symphonic collaboration with Grammy Award-winning composer/arranger Patrick Williams (Martina McBride, Frank Sinatra). A seasoned and accomplished studio singer, Nina’s voice can be heard on tracks for Universal Music, Hal Leonard Publishing, MTI, Sony Music, and Disney. Nina is the new singing and speaking voice of Odette, The Swan Princess, in the Sony Animation movies, The Swan Princess. Theatre Highlights: Pump Boys & Dinettes (Prudie), South Pacific (Nellie), Peppa Pig (National Tour) Television Highlights: “American Horror Story” (Featured), “BuzzFeed Viral Video” (Lead/Writer/millions of views). Herzog was named “Young Star of the Future” by the Southcoast Symphony, performing a solo concert with the symphony. Nina recently released her debut album, “Together Away”, which charted #11 on AC radio charts, landed her a feature on American Songwriter Magazine, and premiered on Broadway World. She recorded a cover of Elvis Presley’s “Can’t Help Falling in Love”, which was placed on the Now That's What I Call Music! playlist,“NOW! That’s What I Call Love”.
AndrewJoseph Perez
Prince Hollister
Andrew Joseph Perez is an actor, singer, stuntman, and Jack-of-All-Trades based in Los Angeles. After studying drama at Seattle University, he began working regionally across the country and internationally. He’s been on stage at theatres such as South Coast Rep, Music Circus, San Jose Stage, Tennessee Shakespeare Company, and American Stage, and has toured with Armed Forces Entertainment.
Since moving to Los Angeles, Perez has appeared on screen in Megalodon (SyFy), I (Almost) Got Away With It (Investigation Discovery), Cristela (ABC), You Should Meet My Son 2, and has voiced six currently-available audiobooks (Audible, Amazon, and iTunes), and titles including Gundam SEED Destiny, Dynasty Warriors 9, Dragon Pilot, Unauthorized Living, Undercover, and Luís Miguel.
Beyond performing, Perez is also a disability rights and inclusion advocate, a 12-year “MoBro” with the Movember Foundation supporting the fight against prostate cancer, testicular cancer, and suicide; a graphic designer and visual artist (society6.com/elperezdesigns), and a builder of custom nylon performance bullwhips (available by request). You can find him on Instagram and TikTok @andrewjosephperez or at www.andrewjperez.com.
Benjamin Perez
Maestro
National Tours: IN THE HEIGHTS (with the HAMILTON creative team), NICE WORK IF YOU CAN GET IT (with dir./chor. Kathleen Marshall and writer Joe DiPietro). L.A. born and raised theatrical and commercial actor/singer/director. Regional roles include Gomez in THE ADDAMS FAMILY, Bill in MAMMA MIA, Tito in LEND ME A TENOR, Kevin in IN THE HEIGHTS, and Lindsay in CREEP L.A.'s THE WILLOWS. Many years as a Guest Entertainer for Princess Cruises. Attended Citrus College for vocal and theater performance. Thank you to Crissy, Eloise, and Claudia for their guidance and inspiration. Enjoy the show! Never, never, never ALWAYS!!!
Monika Peña
Patti
Monika is a Southern California-based singer, dancer, and actor. Her favorite roles include: The titular roles in Lizzie, the musical (Ovation Winner: Best Musical Production - Intimate Theater, Ovation Nominee: Best Lead Actress in a Musical; Chance Theater) and Violet (LA Times Critics Choice; Chance Theater), Aldonza in Man of La Mancha (Candlelight Pavilion), Princess Fish in Claudio Quest (West Coast Premiere; Chance Theater), and Maria in West Side Story (Chance Theater). Other credits include: Alexander. . .Very Bad Day (South Coast Repertory), A Christmas Carol (2018-2019, South Coast Repertory), Fancy Nancy: The Musical (2016-2018; Rhonda, Chance Theater), Bright Star (Candlelight Pavilion), Funny Thing Happened. . .Forum (Philia), Beauty and the Beast (Babette), and. . .Spelling Bee (Olive).
View some of her work at www.MonikaPena.com
Maggie Howell
Maxine
Maggie is thrilled to be part of this project of bringing joy during a time when we really need it! A theater-major-turned-sketch comedian, Maggie’s content runs the gamut from musical parody to targeted ads on Instagram. Feel free to check her out at www.mehowell.com! She is so grateful for her wonderful, driven, passionate mom for all of the amazing opportunities in this world.
Samantha Labrecque
Laverne
Samantha Labrecque is an actor known for her roles in film, television, and on stage. Stage credits include The Baker's Wife in Into the Woods (Best Musical Winner, BroadwayWorld Regional Awards), Bridget Sullivan in critically acclaimed LIZZIE: The Musical (Best Supporting Actress Nomination, BroadwayWorld), and performing in the sold-out run of The Sound of Music in Anchorage, Alaska. Film and TV credits can be streamed on Amazon Prime (818 and Starfish, Best Acting Ensemble Award), HBO, and the Oxygen Network. This fall, Samantha will be producing and starring in the dramedy short film Trying with her company SamSkape Productions Inc. For more information visit: http://www.thesamanthalabrecque.com or @sluhbrek on Instagram.
Jim Blanchette
Tavern Owner/Spirit VO
Jim Blanchette has appeared in over 250 television, film and theatre productions in his nearly four decades in the entertainment industry. Recent television work includes the Mariah Carey Christmas Special and upcoming episode of NBC's Good Girls. He has also appeared on shows as varied as The Drew Carey Show, Scrubs, Angel, Half and Half, My Wife and Kids, Parenthood and The Real O' Neal's, to name but a few. Film work includes the just wrapped indie feature How to Be a Hitman, Cupid's Bed and Breakfast, and numerous shorts for the film collective Hold for Plane Productions, of which he is a founding member. For the theatre, Jim has played venues as small as 25 seat black boxes to massive houses of 2500 seats and everything in between. Favorite roles include Edwin Flagg in the musical adaptation of Whatever Happened to Baby Jane, Pseudolus in Forum, Dr Lyman in Bus Stop and the titular character in The Adventures of Captain Neato-Man. In his spare time, Jim is an avid quilter and boardgame enthusiast.
Tess Adams
Hannah
Tess Adams is a New York based actor, singer, and writer who made her Broadway debut at the age of seven in the 2006 revival of Les Misérables. She’s worked since then, singing as a principal soloist for the Boston Pops and the National, Utah, San Diego, & Seattle Symphony Orchestras, often under the conduction of the late great Marvin Hamlisch, and in regional theaters. Prior to the pandemic, she completed a full semester of classical acting training at the British American Dramatic Academy in London, in partnership with Sarah Lawrence College. Amid the pandemic, she competed in the Kennedy Center’s Irene Ryan Acting Competition and was a semi-finalist for Region One. She is a recent graduate of Quinnipiac University where she earned BAs in Theater and English, graduating Magna Cum Laude. There, she was the recipient of the Presidential Scholarship for merit and a member of the University Honors Program.
Special Thanks
Thanks to Jesse and Aaron Pyle for helping make this project come to life and showing us how great love can be!
Creatives
Anne Runolfsson
Director
A veteran performer, Anne’s career has encompassed Broadway, Off Broadway, and National Tours: Phantom of the Opera, Les Miserables, Victor/Victoria, Aspects of Love, Cyrano the Musical, James Joyce’s The Dead, The Secret Garden, Playwrights Horizons, The McCarter Theater, The York Theater, Lincoln Center Theater, NY Theater Workshop; Concert stages and Halls: Carnegie Hall, The Kennedy Center, The Hollywood Bowl, O2 Arena (London), Concertgebouw (Amsterdam); Symphony Orchestras: Seattle, Baltimore, San Francisco, Detroit, San Diego, Pittsburgh, Atlanta, Indianapolis, Toronto, Milwaukee, Utah, Dallas, Houston among many others; The National Symphony, The Boston Pops, The Philly Pops, The Jerusalem Symphony, The Orchestra of St Lukes, The National Symphony of Canada, The Hong Kong Philharmonic; Cabaret Spaces including: Birdland, Rainbow and Stars, The Cinegrill, The Russian Tea Room. She frequently toured with the late Marvin Hamlisch and has had the honor of performing alongside Julie Andrews (London) and Jose Carrerras (Radio City). MUHMM marks her directorial debut.
Crissy Guerrero
Multimedia Director
CRISSY GUERRERO (Dee) is a Mexican-born actor & singer. She produces and performs in the C & C VARIETY HOUR with Claudia Dolph throughout the year and especially at the holidays, becoming an annual L.A. tradition for many. Crissy also produces, writes and voices the Latinx scripted podcast, Soldadera, as well as producing comedy podcast, Don’t Say…with Paul & Dave. She was recently seen in TheatreWorks Silicon Valley’s production of FUN HOME and originated the role of “Soyla" in the World Premiere of AMERICAN MARIACHI for the Denver Center for Performing Arts and The Old Globe Theatre in early 2018. Crissy wrote, produced, and starred in THE TRIBUTE, which ran in Los Angeles, New York, and Toronto to sold-out audiences. She continues to tour as an "El Vette" with EL VEZ, THE MEXICAN ELVIS, with whom she has been performing around the world for over 20 years. She has appeared in various commercials and television shows, such as, THE ELLEN DE GENERES SHOW (ELLEN, THE MUSICAL), THE GEORGE LOPEZ SHOW and MIND OF MENCIA, and her voice can be heard on BIG MOUTH, SPONGEBOB SQUAREPANTS, HANDY MANNY & PARKS & RECREATION, as well as other TV shows and movie soundtracks. Next up, Crissy will be heading to Dallas Theater Center to reprise the role of “Camila” in IN THE HEIGHTS.
Roxanna Ward
Music
Cabaret-comic extraordinaire Roxanna Ward hails from Laguna Beach, California. Her engaging blend of piano bar and comedy caused one reviewer to observe, “It’s as if Bette Midler and Steve Allen had a love child.” A pianist, musical arranger, producer, conductor (Milwaukee Symphony), and teacher, Ward has worked with legends Dolly Parton, Laura Nyro, Tennessee Ernie Ford, and Bea Arthur. As a songwriter, she penned the R&B single “Remember Who You Are”, which reached number 16 on Billboard’s jazz chart recorded by Phyllis Hyman, and more recently was recorded by Suede. Roxanna is a beloved member of the Olivia family; her Olivia debut was on an Alaska cruise in 1992. Since then, she’s joined us several times a year, and her brilliant comedy, writing, musicianship, and singing endears her to audiences everywhere. Whether you are seeing Roxanna for the first time or the tenth, she always makes you laugh and warms your heart.
Tony Guerrero
Arranger
As a composer and musician Guerrero can be heard frequently on both movie and television soundtracks. He has written, performed and/or recorded music for 59th Annual Grammys, Thelma & Louise, PBS, The Today Show, 48 Hours, The Disney Channel, Full House, E! News, TBS, The Hallmark Channel and many more.
Guerrero has been the producer on dozens of albums by other artists covering a wide variety of genres including jazz, pop, rock, worship, and country. He has also worked as an arranger in all of those genres, primarily in small group settings. In 2010 he began arranging for big band and has since worked on big band recordings for artists John Tesh, Jane Lynch, Dick Van Dyke, Charles Billingsley and Brynn Stanley.
Since 1988 Guerrero has hosted the KSBR Birthday Bash, a yearly concert event he helped start to support a local jazz radio station. The event grew from an audience of fifty to thousands and has attracted some of the world’s best-known contemporary jazz artists including Joe Sample, Patti Austin, Dave Koz, Larry Carlton, Tom Scott, and numerous others. Over the years, Guerrero has also been involved in the planning and organization of several music festivals and conferences around the country.
Randy Johnson
Creative Consultant
Credits include the Tony-Award-nominated musical A NIGHT WITH JANIS JOPLIN at the Lyceum Theatre, and the West Coast Premiere of Larry Kramer’s controversial HIV-AIDS Drama THE NORMAL HEART starring Academy-Award-winners Richard Dreyfus and Kathy Bates. He is the original producer of ALWAYS, PATSY CLINE which he produced from inception to the now historic 2-year run in Nashville which re-opened the Ryman Auditorium - the original home of the Grand Ole Opry. Other selected regional theatre directing credits include JUKEBOX HERO – THE FOREIGNER MUSICAL at the Queen Elizabeth Hall in Calgary and The Ed Mirvish Theatre in Toronto (2017/2018) and SMOKEY JOE'S CAFÉ (revival) at Arena Stage in Washington DC. Other productions include: MIKE TYSON - Undisputed Truth (Broadway), and the world premier productions of SHOUT SISTER SHOUT – The Rosetta Tharpe Story at Pasadena Playhouse (2017) and Seattle Rep in October (2019). For his direction of SHOUT SISTER SHOUT at Pasadena Playhouse he was recognized by THE NAACP THEATRE DIVISION for his contribution to excellence in theatre. A graduate of the University of Southern California, Theatre Arts Department.
Film Crew
Stage Film Team:
EDITOR: Elnar Mukhamedyarov
PRODUCTION COORDINATOR/TD/DP: Kyle Goleman
VIDEO/OLAB: Daren McLean
LIGHTING DESIGN: Masako Tobaru
HOUSE MANAGER: Bebe Herrera
COVID COMPLIANCE OFFICER: Mary Mendelsohn
Multimedia Film Team:
EDITOR: Elnar Mukhamedyarov
DIRECTOR OF PHOTOGRAPHY: Sam Wilkerson
AC: Anthony Pesce
GAFFER: Corey Brown
DIRECTOR’S ASSISTANT: Ella Fields
1ST AD: Gabriela Ledesma
SCRIPT SUPERVISOR: Marina Kaye
SOUND MIX: Glenn Clark
FOLEY EDITOR: Shawn Tischler
MAKEUP CONSULTANT: Michael L. Guy
KEY COSTUMER: Alina Foley
CHOREOGRAPHER: Claudia Dolph
COVID COMPLIANCE OFFICERS: Jay Dadwal, Mary Mendelsohn
STILL PHOTOGRAPHY: Mikel Healy
RAS CREATIVE: Rayna Scamardi Managing Director- Rayna@RASCreativeLLC.com
Special Thanks:
The Chance Theatre - Anaheim
Craig Tyrl- Wayward Artists
Bonded Cleaners- San Clemente
