Guys like us: OF MICE AND MEN
Of Mice and Men is originally a novella written by John Steinbeck in 1937. It narrates the experiences of George Milton and Lennie Small, two displaced migrant ranch workers, who move from place to place in California in search of new job opportunities during the Great Depression in the United States. Steinbeck based the story on his own experiences working alongside migrant farm workers as a teenager in the 1910s. The title is taken from Robert Burns' poem "To a Mouse", which reads: "The best laid schemes o ' mice an ' men / Gang aft agley". (The best laid schemes of mice and men / Often go awry.)
Two migrant field workers in California on their plantation during the Great Depression George Milton, an intelligent but uneducated man, and Lennie Small, a bulky, strong man but mentally disabled are on their way to another part of California. They hope to one day attain the dream of settling down on their own piece of land. Lennie's part of the dream is merely to tend and pet rabbits on the farm. This dream is one of Lennie's favorite stories, which George constantly retells. Steinbeck's story of George and Lennie's ambition of owning their own ranch, and the obstacles that stand in the way of that ambition, is a parable about what it means to be human, revealing the nature of dreams, dignity, loneliness, and sacrifice. Ultimately, Lennie, the mentally handicapped giant who makes George's dream of owning his own ranch worthwhile, ironically becomes the greatest obstacle to achieving that dream.
DIRECTOR’S NOTE
WELCOME TO OUR WORLD! Theater is a special place, a very special place, a community where, driven by the joy of true selfexpression and the freedom that creativity provides, we come together as one, we are all in. We master our fears, revel in artistry and rejoice in accomplishing our goal; we serve as men and women for others through our art, just as in this special Jesuit school.
From the first day, I have felt the warmth, friendliness and support of this community that I can now proudly call home. Every day I am in awe at the high standard of excellence, at the staff and teachers in their commitment and selflessness, and at the outstanding, loving, courteous and talented students all around, and especially in my classes. You can feel the empathy in every corner. Thank you, Fr. Willie, Mr. Roca and staff, for trusting and welcoming me to your special place and for supporting theater as it should be, a special place in education.
But this one goes to my cast and crew of students. You are the reason I am here; you are the reason I work so much and so hard tirelessly to bring my best. You are the reason I am enjoying this so much, you are the reason for THIS. Your passion, talent and joy in coming here every day and having such a wonderful, fun time sharing and being yourselves are what created this, our theater community, and what ignites the light that will make you SHINE during these performances of OF MICE AND MEN. This is your world, your special place, and we ’ re just grateful to be welcomed in it. Now it’s your time to SHINE!
Mr. Carlos Acevedo Theater Director
Belen Jesuit Preparatory School
CAST
CAST A: (Wed. 6th, Fri. 8th 9:30am, Sat. 9th)
GEORGE MILTON
LENNIE SMALL
CANDY
CURLEY
CURLEY'S WIFE
WHIT
SLIM CROOKS CARLSON ANDY THE BOSS WORKER
AUNT CLARA
Máximo García-Tuñón
Mauricio Arias
Miguel Pittier
José Ballesteros
Kelly Rodríguez
Alejandro Castillo
Matias Rosado
Gabriel Vázquez
Lucas Arias
Diego Martinez (Fri. 8th 9:30 a.m.)
Emiliano Corona
Max Granados
Jorge Ros
Diana Leiva
CAST A: (Wed. 6th, Fri. 8th 9:30am, Sat. 9th)
GEORGE MILTON
LENNIE SMALL CANDY
CURLEY
CURLEY'S WIFE WHIT
SLIM CROOKS CARLSON ANDY THE BOSS WORKER
AUNT CLARA
Máximo García-Tuñón
Max Granados
Gabriel Vázquez
José Ballesteros
Kelly Rodríguez
Alejandro Castillo
Jorge Ros
Lucas Arias
Diego Martinez
Emiliano Corona
Mauricio Arias
Matias Rosado
Diana Leiva
CREW
DIRECTOR
ASSISTANT/STAGE MANAGER
FACULTY PRODUCTION
TECH DIRECTORS
SET DESIGN
SET CONSTRUCTION/ STAGEHANDS
LIGHTS & SOUND DESIGNER
LIGHTS TECH
SOUND TECH
PROPS & COSTUMES
MAKEUP & HAIR
PROMO ART & PLAYBILL
SETTING
Somewhere, U.S. (20th century)
Carlos Acevedo
Angeline Medina
Ignatian Center for the Arts staff (Sylvie San Juan, Carlos Acevedo, Isidora Ulloa)
Carlos Acevedo and Orlando García
Carlos Acevedo
Mani Alexander, Jordan Cordero, Brandon DeGoti, Gavench Marcelin, Juan Granados, Andy Fernández, Juanchy Franco Perini, Orlando
García and Belen Jesuit Maintenance Dept.
Carlos Acevedo
Jorge F. Labayán
Lorenzo Saldaña
Carlos Acevedo
Cast
Teresa Martínez
CAST BIOS
Máximo García-Tuñón (George Milton)
Máximo is a junior at Belen Jesuit. His love for the arts was pursued at a very young age, and he continues to express his passion for theatre in the Belen program. In the last two years, he has participated in The Outsiders (Randy), Much Ado About Nothing (Claudio), The Fantasticks (El Gallo) and as a Thespian in District competitions where he has won several "Superiors."
Mauricio Arias (Lennie Small / Boss)
Mauricio is a senior at Belen Jesuit. Some of his roles include SOC # 5 in The Outsiders, Leonato in Much Ado About Nothing, and Bellamy in The Fantasticks. For his final show, he would like to thank the cast and the director Mr Acevedo for their tireless work and support He’s grateful to act in this theater program and to have such a wonderful cast He is extremely excited to be playing the role of Lennie in Of Mice and Men and hopes that you (the viewer) will enjoy the show! Love y ’all.
Maximo Granados (Lennie Small / Boss)
Max is a 9th-grade student at Belen. With Belen Theater, he has participated in The Outsiders, Much Ado About Nothing and The Fantasticks. He would like to thank his family and the cast for their warm welcome and all the fun.
Miguel Pittier (Candy)
Miguel is an 8th grader at Belen Jesuit. He has participated in Legally Blonde and Shrek as an ensemble member, Anastasia as Demetri, Don John in Much Ado About Nothing, Michael Tindy in All The Ways The World Will End, But Not You, and Matt in The Fantasticks. He also competed at the Junior Theater Festival in Atlanta, Georgia, performing as Chip in Beauty and the Beast, Les in Newsies, and Genie in Aladdin He has earned the title of Superior at a district level for solo musical, and at a state level for duet musical He is very excited to be playing Candy in Of Mice And Men and would like to thank his family and friends for all their support.
Kelly Rodriguez (Curley's Wife)
Kelly is a senior at Divine Savior Academy. Her previous credits include ‘Jo’ in Little Women, ‘Hero’ in Much Ado About Nothing, and ‘Luisa’ in The Fantasticks. She was awarded a Superior at the district level for the Solo Musical category. She would like to thank the incredible cast and crew for their tireless effort in putting this show together. She is so incredibly grateful for every opportunity she has been given and every moment with this wonderful cast. She would also like to thank her family for supporting her. Love you all :)
Jorge Ros (Slim / Worker)
Jorge is a freshman who debuted in 8th grade as Johnny Cade in The Outsiders. He also played Claudio in Much Ado About Nothing that same year and Bellomy in the musical The Fantasticks. He would like to thank his family for supporting him, Mr. Acevedo for directing, and all the cast and crew for working on this awesome show. And, of course, stay gold.
Matias Rosado (Slim / Worker)
Matias is a junior at Belen who is very excited to be participating in Of Mice and Men. This is his fourth production after performing as Steve in The Outsiders, Borachio in Much Ado About Nothing, and Mute in The Fantasticks. He would like to thank Mr. Acevedo, the stage manager Angie, and finally his sister who introduced him to theater in the first place. He hopes you all have a great time watching this play based on the great American novel, which he enjoyed reading so much. Enjoy the show!
Gabriel Vazquez (Candy / Crooks)
Gabriel is a junior at Belen. He is very excited to be playing Crooks and Candy in his third Belen show. His previous credits include Balthasar in Much Ado About Nothing, Mortimer in The Fantasticks, and Buck in Bonnie and Clyde. He has received a Perfect score in duet acting at the district level. He would like to thank his family and friends (especially those in the Encore and Mini Mirage theater program) for all of their support. He would also like to thank Mr. Acevedo for his amazing work and guidance, the cast for being such a blessing to work with, and Lorenzo De Toro for being such a good friend to the entire cast.
CAST BIOS
CAST BIOS
Lucas Arias (Crooks / Carlson)
Lucas will be playing Crooks and Carlson in Of Mice and Men He has been in many productions in the past, like Much Ado About Nothing and having four lead roles in his local theater. He is most proud of his time in The Fantasticks as the Mime, the backbone of the show, and getting superior in a drama competition. He is so grateful for this opportunity and thanks his family and friends. He is so sigma skibidi Ohio grimace to be in this production, Of Mice and Men.
Alejandro Castillo (Whit)
Alejandro is a 7th grader, and this is his third play at Belen Jesuit. He is very grateful for the memories and friends he has made in his acting journey, and would like to thank Mr. Acevedo and Ms. Ulloa for supporting him in that journey. Enjoy the show.
Diego Martínez (Carlson)
Diego is a 9th grader and is excited to be part of his first show, Of Mice and Men, on the Roca stage with his theater family Diego would like to thank Mr Acevedo, his family, friends, the cast, and the crew for supporting him through this new journey Diego is an active member of the Belen community, participating in Robotics, STEAM, Student Council, and Esports, and is excited to carry on his sister's legacy in Belen theater. Lastly; “Aw the way I’d shoot ‘ em, he wouldn’t feel nothing”.
Angeline Medina (Director Assistant / Stage Manager)
Angie is very excited to be able to work with such wonderful actors. She is grateful for the new experience (second time now) of being an assistant director in a great production. Angie wants to thank her parents for always being supportive, Mr. Acevedo for directing such a great show, and the entire cast for their dedication and enthusiasm for their roles!
José Ballesteros (Curley)
José is a sophomore student at Belen He is very excited to be a part of this cast for Of Mice and Men after participating in The Outsiders as Dallas, and Much Ado About Nothing. He would like to thank his family and the cast for their warm welcome and all the fun.
Emiliano Corona (Andy)
This is Emiliano's debut at Belen Jesuit Theater, after being Mr. Acevedo's drama student since 6th grade. Now in 7th grade, he's having a lot of fun doing theater and exploring new things.
Diana Levi (Aunt Clara)
Diana is a 9th grader at Doral Academy. This is her first show with Belen Jesuit, and she's grateful for the opportunity to join a new theater community and meet lots of new friends. She hopes to have a great time in Of Mice and Men, and would like to thank her family, friends and the cast.
CAST BIOS
DIRECTOR’S BIO
Carlos R. Acevedo is an accomplished, award-winning producer, director, writer and actor in professional stage, film and television. As the Artistic Director for his organization, Dramarama, Inc. (1994-present), Carlos has produced, directed and/or written 62 shows (in English & Spanish), with a specialty in Shakespeare works, including Hamlet, Othello, Romeo and Juliet, Twelfth Night, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Much Ado About Nothing, Richard III, As You Like It.
Other credits include the World Premiere of renowned author Paulo Coelho’s best-selling book adaptation Eleven Minutes, the Americas (north, south) premiere of Pedro Almodovar’s Oscar-winning Film adaptation All About My Mother (Best Foreign Film), Pulitzer and Tony Award Winner Angels in America, Death of a Salesman, The Crucible, and Glengarry Glen Ross among many others. As a playwright, Carlos is the only three-time winner of the “Playwright of the Year” award by the Instituto de Cultura Puertorriqueña. This is Carlos’ 2nd year as the Belen Jesuit Theater Director and Teacher, having moved from Jesuit Dallas where he directed The Great Gatsby, Romeo & Juliet, Of Mice And Men, Shakespeare in Love and Grease (the musical) amongst others. The Outsiders and Much Ado About Nothing were Carlos' first Belen shows in 2022-23.
SPECIAL THANKS
To Mr. José Roca, Fr. Guillermo García-Tuñón, S.J., and the Administration office staff for your full support and for welcoming me to this wonderful Belen school. May this be your pride and joy!
To Orlando García, Lorenzo Saldaña, Jorge Labayán, and crew for all the attention, work, and support in making our theater a worthy and beautiful performing space. We couldn’t have done it without your outstanding work helping with the set and tech. Orlando, thanks for taking upon yourself the commitment to do whatever is needed and always be present to assist.
To Sylvie San Juan, Humanities Department Chairperson and Ignatian Center for the Arts Director for all the guidance, support and mentoring, and Isidora Ulloa for all your essential assistance and your love of theater.
To Marisol Sosa, thank you for the wonderful talk given to our cast about understanding the book and story Of Mice and Men, the importance of it being a classic read, and why it still matters.
To Verónica Rodríguez for the makeup workshop for our cast, thank you very much!
Thank you so much to everyone who contributed with equestrian props for our set!
To all of Mr. Acevedo’s Stagecraft students, this work is as much yours as ours. Now you can see you are all artists!
To our wonderful and outstanding cast, keep having the time of your lives, SHINE!
