BIOGRAPHIES

Ashley Alvarez* (Beatriz) is a Cuban American actress, writer, and producer. Favorite theater credits include Anna in the Tropics (Colorado Springs Fine Arts Center), The Cubans (Miami New Drama), Peter and the Starcatcher (original workshop at Williamstown Theatre Festival), and the virtual immersive experience Carla’s Quince (Drama League Nomination). TV/film acting credits include Search Party, Law & Order: SVU, Law & Order, and the upcoming short film Ties. She co-wrote and stars in the short film Crabs in a Barrel, which won the HBO Latinx Short Film Competition and is now streaming on HBOMax. She’s a 2022 Sundance Screenwriting Fellow and recipient of the Sundance Comedy and Latine Fellowship. She received her BFA in Theater from Florida International University and graduated from The Atlantic Theater School in NYC. Sending all her love to her creative partner and life partner, Michael Leon. www.ashleyalvarez.com

JL Rey* (Tío Eme) is thrilled to make his Portland Stage Company debut in a world premiere. NY Theater: Ybor City the Musical, The Disappearing Man, This Boy Cometh to the Mountain, The Life of Juanita Castro, Kitchenette, Ghost Dancer, 167 Tongues, and Alice - A New

Musical. Regional theater credits include Miss You Like Hell, Christmas Contigo, In the Heights, Lend Me a Tenor, The Frogs, Waiting for Godot, Evita, Anna in the Tropics, Man of La Mancha, Hamlet, Love’s Labour’s Lost, and Romeo and Juliet. Television: Law & Order: SVU, 30 Rock, Billions, FBI, The First Wives Club, The Blacklist: Redemption, and The Bodega (web series). Film: The God Committee, Pan American, The Midnight Offer, The X Job. Directing credits include Christmas Contigo, The Lady from Havana, Sueño, Anna in the Tropics, 4 Guys Named Jose y Una Mujer Named Maria, In the Time of the Butterflies, 5 Lesbians Eating a Quiche, The Laramie Project, In the Heights, Godspell, and 9 Parts of Desire. Grateful for a life in art – “We few, we happy few...”

(*Member of AEA)

Jezabel Montero* (Marilyn) began as a child actor. She has been a professional bilingual actor for over thirty years. She is a cum laude graduate of UCLA with a BA in Theater. Theater credits: Christmas Contigo (Oregon Cabaret Theatre), The Cubans (Miami New Drama/ The Colony Theatre), Dinner for Two (Puerto Rican Traveling Theater, NYC), Yo Soy Latina! (Crossroads Theatre Company, NJ), LobsterFace (INTAR, NYC), The Giants Have Us in Their Books (INTAR, NYC), Chewing Mother’s Bones (Kismet Theatre Company, NJ), La Gringa (Spanish Repertory Theatre, NYC), Blood Wedding (Spanish Repertory Theatre, NYC). Film/TV credits: Cassanova Was a Woman (Amazon Prime), Unlawful Justice (Amazon Prime), Wassup en LA (sitcom pilot), Dangerous Relationships (NBCUniversal), Far From Heaven (Sarah Jane Prods.). Ms. Montero has been the recipient of several ACE and HOLA awards. When she is not in front of the camera or on stage, she is busy writing, directing, and producing. She is currently developing an LGBTQ, Latinx cartoon series and a feature film about her childhood called The Duke and Duchess of Queens. For more info on Jezabel’s company and filmmaking career, go to www.fuacatafilms.com.

Karen Ball (Georgette) is an actor and teacher. She earned her BFA at the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire of Acting and Music in Birmingham, UK. Some of her acting credits include Hamlet, Titania, and Lady Macbeth.

Kevin O’Leary* (Maynard) (he/him) is thrilled to be back on the boards with Portland Stage Company after a 34-year hiatus. KO, a resident of Portland, Maine (born and raised!), was last seen in Stephen Poliakoff’s Breaking the Silence in 1989. Prior to that, he played Wes Hurley in