PRODUCTION STAFF
SPECIAL THANKS
TALYA CAMARAS (Stage Manager) At CTG: Jaja’s African Hair Braiding (Production Assistant). Elsewhere: The Importance of Being Earnest, Nora, The Tempest, Measure for Measure (Antaeus), A Midsummer Night’s Dream (A Noise Within), Sound of Music, Ragtime (5-Star Theatricals), RENT (Coeurage Ensemble) The Merry Wives of Windsor (Kingsmen Shakespeare), Shrek, Mamma Mia!, SpongeBob Musical, Romeo and Juliet (Milken), columbinus (KCACTF), Uncovered, Family Matters (Braid), A Midsummer Night’s Dream (Theatricum Botanicum). Talya is grateful to be part of this amazing team.
Sincerely,
GROVER HOLLWAY (Sound Designer) is a Jeff Award-winning sound designer and licensed mental health counselor. His designs have been presented at theaters throughout the Midwest region, including The House Theatre, Milwaukee Chamber Theatre, Lyric Theatre of Oklahoma, Adventure Stage Chicago, Third Avenue Playworks, Actors Gymnasium, and Next Act Theatre.
Snehal Desai Brindell & Milton Gottlieb Artistic Director
JUSTINE BURKE (*) (Lighting Designer) is a New York City-based lighting and scenic designer. A graduate of the Savannah College of Art and Design, she worked as the resident lighting designer for the Lexington Children’s Theatre before pursuing an MFA from Northwestern University. She is incredibly honored to be a part of GUAC’s story and would like to thank Manny, Patricia, and Michael. Let’s Change the Ref!
SNEHAL DESAI
(Artistic Director, he/him) was appointed Center Theatre Group’s third artistic director in 2023. As an artistic leader, Snehal has sought to raise awareness on social issues that affect Angelenos through impactful and empowering storytelling. Previously, he was the Producing Artistic Director of East West Players. A Soros Fellow and the recipient of a Tanne Award, Snehal was the Inaugural Recipient of the Drama League’s Classical Directing Fellowship. He has served on the boards of the Consortium of Asian American Theaters and Artists (Caata), Theatre Communications Group (TCG), and currently serves on the board of the National Alliance for Musical Theatre (NAMT). Snehal was on the faculty of USC’s graduate program in Arts Leadership and is a graduate of the Yale School of Drama.
MICHAEL COTEY (Director/Producer) has spent the last six years exploring the role of theater in gun violence prevention. He is the creator and Joaquin Oliver Artistic Producer of ENOUGH! Plays to End Gun Violence, a national initiative encouraging teens to write short plays confronting this issue. Michael co-developed Terminal Exhale, a verbatim theatre piece based on interviews with healthcare workers about their experiences with gun violence. He is the executive producer of Rehearsal, a short film adaptation of an ENOUGH! play. Directing credits: Off-Broadway: GUAC at The Public. Select Regional: Woolly Mammoth, Goodman Theatre, Next Act, Milwaukee Chamber Theatre. Michael is currently the Goodman’s 25/26 Northwestern Directing Fellow, as well as a 25/26 Obama Foundation USA Leader. ENOUGHPLAYS.COM @ENOUGHPLAYSPROJECT
BIOS (Continued)
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Artistic Programs Manager: Paige Vehlewald Maria Manuela Goyanes, Oskar Eustis, Stage Manager: Talya Camras Luis Miranda, Owen Panettieri, Shepard fairey, Stage Supervisor: Bene't Benson LUSH Cosmetics, Carleen Pickard, Seth Laxman, A1/Audio Head: Matt Colleran Janelle Caso, Luis Torres, El Tiempo Latino Associate Lighting Designer: Justin kelly-cahill Board Operator: provided by preston productions KDT Wardrobe Supervisor: taylor decker the bus Interim Director of Arts Education: carolina san juan Change the Ref’s iconic yellow school bus will be Director of Learning & Community Partnerships: jesus reyes parked outside the Kirk Douglas Theatre as part Arts Education Initiatives Director: traci kwon of their DEMAND exhibition. The bus features gaming stations created in partnership with gaming CHANGE THE REF SUPPORTS influencers, streamers, and content creators on platforms like Roblox, Twitch and YouTube. These influencers have played a critical role in amplifying Change the Ref’s message to their large fanbases, encouraging viewers to become more involved in gun violence prevention and activism. This intersection of art, activism, and gaming allows Change the Ref to make a significant impact in a modern, digital landscape.
I am deeply grateful to Manny and his wife Patricia, Joaquín’s mom, for sharing their story with us, and to you for being here to witness it. Through this play, Joaquín’s voice continues to be heard. We dedicate this Los Angeles run of GUAC to him—with love, remembrance, and the resolve to do better.
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What makes GUAC so extraordinary is that it doesn’t just confront loss—it invites us to feel: to laugh, to grieve, and to act. My hope is that tonight not only honors Joaquín’s life, but also sparks conversation, healing, and the determination to create change.
ENOUGH! PLAYS TO END GUN VIOLENCE calls on teens to confront gun violence by creating new works of theater that will spark critical conversations and inspire meaningful action in communities across the country. Its mission is to promote playwriting as a tool for self-expression and social change, harnessing this generation’s spirit of activism, and providing a platform for America’s playwrights of tomorrow to discover and develop their voices today. enoughplays.com, @enoughplaysproject
OCT 14 – NOV 2, 2025 KIRK DOUGLAS THEATRE, CULVER CITY WRITTEN AND PERFORMED BY MANUEL OLIVER CO-WRITTEN BY JAMES CLEMENTS • DIRECTED BY MICHAEL COTEY A CHANGE THE REF PRODUCTION • PRODUCER: MICHAEL COTEY EXECUTIVE PRODUCER: PATRICIA OLIVER
I wish I could say that GUAC feels like a story from the past. I wish this play weren’t as urgent as it feels today. But the truth is, gun violence in our schools and communities continues every day. Since 2018, there have been nearly 400 school shootings in the United States, claiming more than 200 lives. Just this year, we’ve witnessed tragedy after tragedy, not only in schools, but also churches, college campuses, parks, and other public spaces. Gun violence— especially against our young people—is not inevitable. It is preventable. And it’s something we cannot accept as the cost of growing up in this country.
Tag your photos and videos on social media: @ctgla, @changetheref, #guacla www.guactheplay.com
GUAC is not only the story of what happened that day—it’s a celebration of Joaquín’s life and of the bond between him and his father, Manny, who now carries forward his son’s story with strength and love.
FOR MORE INFO ABOUT CHANGE THE REF
On February 14, 2018, our country lost 17 bright lives in the school shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida. Among them was Joaquín Oliver— “Guac” to his family and friends. Joaquín wasn’t just a name in the news or part of a devastating statistic. He was a son, a best friend, and a young man who filled 17 years with love, laughter, and dreams.
Visit changetheref.org or follow @changetheref
a note from the artistic director
MEGHAN PRESSMAN
(Managing Director/CEO, she/her) joined Center Theatre Group in 2019. Previously, she served as Managing Director of Woolly Mammoth Theatre Company (D.C.), Director of Development for Signature Theatre (N.Y.), and Associate Managing Director of Berkeley Rep. She is a graduate of Yale School of Drama/Yale School of Management and serves as a mentor in the Theater Management program. Meghan has served as the Vice-Chair for the Theatre Communications Group Board of Directors and is a member of the Broadway League.
GORDON DAVIDSON
(Founding Artistic Director) led the Taper throughout its first 38 seasons, guiding over 300 productions to its stage and winning countless awards for himself and the theatre—including the Tony Award for theatrical excellence, Margo Jones Award, The Governor’s Award for the Arts, and a Guggenheim fellowship. The Kentucky Cycle and Angels in America (Part One) won the Pulitzer in consecutive years and, in 1994, three of the four plays nominated for the Tony Award for Best Play were from the Taper (Angels in America won). In 1989, Gordon took over the Ahmanson and, in 2004, he produced the inaugural season in the Kirk Douglas Theatre.
NAUSICA STERGIOU
(General Manager) has worked supporting artists in theatres of all shapes, sizes, and locales including Center Theatre Group as General Manager and, previously, as Audience Development Director. She oversees productions at the Taper and Douglas, as well as new play commissions and developmental productions. Nausica has taught Marketing and Management at USC’s School of Dramatic Arts and works with local nonprofits including Hollywood Orchard. BA, Cornell University. MFA, Yale School of Drama.
LINDSAY ALLBAUGH
(Associate Artistic Director, she/her) Associate Artistic Director for Center Theatre Group and award-winning Los Angeles-based director and producer. Recent productions: Cry It Out by Molly Smith Metzler (Best Production: Ovation Award, LADCC Award, Stage Raw Award) at the Echo Theatre Company as well as Collective Rage: A Play in Five Betties by Jen Silverman at the Boston Court Theatre. Lindsay was Co-Artistic Director of the Elephant Theatre Company from 2004–2014, where she directed and produced many productions including 100 Saints You Should Know by Kate Fodor, Revelation by Samuel Brett Williams, and Never Tell by James Christy. Selected CTG producing credits include—Mark Taper Forum: Slave Play, Archduke, Bent, Waiting for Godot; Kirk Douglas Theatre: Creative Producer behind Block Party, Tambo & Bones, Good Grief, Throw Me On the Burnpile and Light Me Up, Endgame, Women Laughing Alone With Salad, Chavez Ravine, different words for the same thing, The Nether.
ERIC SIMS
(General Manager, Presentations, he/him) joined CTG in 2005 and has served in various capacities, including as the Director of Operations for the Kirk Douglas Theatre from 2008-2018. Previously, he was the Managing Director of the Powerhouse Theatre in Santa Monica. He is the Vice President of the Culver City Downtown Business Association and was the Co-Chair of the Ovation Rules Committee, producing the Ovation Awards from 2015-2019. You can be an integral part of bringing timely productions like GUAC to our stages. It's as easy as scanning this QR code now to make a gift in support of Center Theatre Group!
BIOS JOAQUIN ‘GUAC’ OLIVER On the morning of Valentine’s Day, he walked into school with flowers and a plan for a date with his girlfriend. He was a supportive brother, a thoughtful friend, and a beloved son known for his loyalty and sense of humor. He was a brilliant writer, authoring beautiful love poems and thought-provoking short stories, always proud of his Venezuelan heritage, basketball court skills, and diverse musical taste. His legacy becomes an extension of his life and a powerful tool for activism against gun violence.
center theatre group PRESENTS Written and Performed by Manuel Oliver Co-Written by James Clements Directed by Michael Cotey A Change the Ref Production Producer: Michael Cotey Executive Producer: Patricia Oliver
“That day, I promised Joaquin from my heart, that this will not be in vain.” Patricia Oliver, Guac’s Mom
Lighting Design: Justine Burke (*) Sound Design: Grover Hollway GUAC was developed as GUAC: My Son My Hero under the original direction of James Clements. The Student Matinee performances of GUAC are generously supported by the Joseph Drown Foundation. leadership Honorary Chairman: Lew R. Wasserman (1913-2002) President: Amy R. Forbes Chairperson: William H. Ahmanson Vice Presidents: Miles Benickes, Jana Bezdek, Cecilia Estolano, Matthew Walden Secretary: Shana C. Waterman members of the board Harry Abrams, Jonathan Axel, Gail Berman-Masters, Betsy Borns, Diana Buckhantz, Dannielle Campos Ramirez, Wendy Chang, Stephen Cheung, Jill Chozen, Sarah Clossey, Christine Cronin-Hurst, Nancy Dennis, Snehal Desai, Noah Francis, Gary Frischling, Ron Gillyard, Patricia Glaser, Manuela Cerri Goren, Robert Greenblatt, Jason Grode, Aliza Karney Guren, Stanley Iezman, Paul James, Jennifer Lewis, Justin Mikita, Rick Miramontez, Louise Moriarty, Kari Nakama, Jeanne Newman, Jamie Patricof, Meghan Pressman, Kristine Louis Reynal, Edward Ring, Laura Rosenwald, Scott Sandler, Elliott Sernel, Glenn A. Sonnenberg, Jay P. Srinivasan, Sandra Stern, Marsha Tauber Sallai, Bonnie Vitti, Kim McLane Wardlaw, Richard Weitz, Hattie Winston
OCT14 – NOV2
2 0 2 5
emeritus Ronald J. Arnault†, Judith Beckmen, Ava Fries†, Brindell Roberts Gottlieb†, Susan Grode, Phyllis Hennigan, Stephen F. Hinchliffe, Jr., Richard Kagan, O. Kit Lokey, Walter Mirisch, Diane Morton, Edward B. Nahmias, Bruce L. Ross emeritus Lew R. Wasserman†, Marshall Berges†, Armand S. Deutsch†, Walter Mirisch,† Henry C. Rogers†, Richard E. Sherwood†, J. David Haft, Lawrence J. Ramer,† Stephen F. Hinchliffe, Jr., Phyllis Hennigan, Richard Kagan, Martin Massman†, William H. Ahmanson, Kiki Ramos Gindler (*) Labor union and professional association of Designers, Artists, Craftspeople, and Department Coordinators, organized to protect craft standards, working conditions and wages for entertainment and decorative arts industries.
KIRKDOUGLASTHEATRE.ORG
MANUEL OLIVER (Writer/Performer) Oliver’s 17-year-old son, Joaquín, was tragically killed in 2018 by a mass shooter at his school in Parkland, Florida. In response, he and his wife, Patricia, founded the nonprofit advocacy group Change the Ref, which aims to empower young leaders to end gun violence in America. Oliver is an artist, creative director, and a recognized mentor in the advertising industry. He is also a global activist and international speaker. Together, the Olivers have partnered with politicians, musicians, influencers, and communities in their quest to find a new approach to America’s gun violence epidemic. @manueloliver00 JAMES CLEMENTS (Co-Writer) is a Scottish writer, actor, theatermaker, and arts educator based between New York and Scotland. His plays, which have been performed in cities across the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom, have been described by critics as “searing” (New York Times), “magnifying” (Time Out), “intricate” (BroadwayWorld), “compelling” (The Guardian), “affecting” (Playbill), and “intellectual” (Theatre is Easy). He is the Co-Artistic Director of What Will the Neighbours Say? Theatre Company, an Adjunct at NYU Tisch School of the Arts and Artist-in-Residence with the Espacio de Culturas. james-clements.com
CENTER THEATRE GROUP, one of the nation’s preeminent arts and cultural organizations, is Los Angeles’ leading not-for-profit theatre company, which, under the leadership of Artistic Director Snehal Desai, Managing Director / CEO Meghan Pressman, and Producing Director Douglas C. Baker, programs seasons at the 736-seat Mark Taper Forum and 1,600 to 2,100-seat Ahmanson Theatre at The Music Center in Downtown Los Angeles, and the 317seat Kirk Douglas Theatre in Culver City. In addition to presenting and producing the broadest range of theatrical entertainment in the country, Center Theatre Group is one of the country’s leading producers of ambitious new works through commissions and world premiere productions and a leader in interactive community engagement and education programs that reach across generations, demographics, and circumstances to serve Los Angeles. Founded in 1967, Center Theatre Group was led by Founding Artistic Director Gordon Davidson until 2005 when Michael Ritchie was the artistic director until his retirement in 2021; Snehal Desai was appointed the organization’s next artistic director in 2023. Center Theatre Group has produced more than 700 productions across its three stages, including such iconic shows as Zoot Suit; Angels in America; The Kentucky Cycle; Biloxi Blues; Twilight: Los Angeles, 1992; Children of a Lesser God; Curtains; The Drowsy Chaperone; 9 to 5: The Musical; and Bengal Tiger at the Baghdad Zoo. CenterTheatreGroup.org CHANGE THE REF After the murder of Joaquín “GUAC” Oliver during the Parkland Shooting in Feb 2018, Change the Ref was formed to amplify and support youth efforts and movement building, shifting America’s social response to gun violence by uniting creativity, activism, disruption, and education. changetheref.org, @changetheref