PLAYHOUSE: What We Do
The theatre company aims to produce musicals and employ a truly "All-American" cast. We are color conscious. Our purpose is to raise the visibility of the underrepresented communities of San Diego and bring theatre physically closer to the people with less access to the performing arts. We strongly believe that more female artists should be in prominent positions in the arts: directing, writing, choreographing, music directing, lighting, costume, scenic and sound design. Theatre belongs to all genders, races, differing abilities and sexual orientations.
History
First Theatre Council meeting takes place June 11, 2020. Those in attendance: Julio Catano, Kevin Burroughs, Erin Vanderhyde, Chris Bona and
Ryan Burtanog. Kevin Burroughs and Erin Vanderhyde direct and arrange a rendition of “Light” from Next To Normal. The Theatre Council successfully assemble a cast for the company’s first marketing campaign. Participating in Teatro San Diego’s first project are prominent San Diego actors:
Cameron Del Rosario, Eboni Muse, Erin Vanderhyde, Hannah Balagot, Kaitlyn Taylor, Mikaela Celeste, Reanne Acasio, Salima Gangani, Tanika Baptiste, Kevin “Blax” Burroughs, Andrew Paiva, Nico DeJesus, Leonard Patton, Gerardo Flores Tonella, Bryan Barbarin, William BJ Robinson,
Chris Bona, Ryan Burtanog and Julio Catano-Yee. The cover of "Light" premiers on the company's YouTube channel January 1st, 2021.
On February 6th, 2021 for the first fundraising efforts, the company streams its first cabaret A Cabaret Live From Lincoln Center on its YouTube channel and website. Hosted by Julio Catano in various locations in Manhattan, the cabaret stars Nico DeJesus, Reanne Acasio, Mikaela Celeste, Chris Bona, Kevin "Blax" Burroughs, Laura Odette Sandoval, Sarah Marie Hernandez, Leonardo Ebanks and Shelby Beltran. All performers are individually filmed for COVID-19 safety measures. This production wins the 2021 Broadway World Regional Award for Best Streaming Concert/Cabaret.
Auditions commenced in April of 2021 for the company's inaugural virtual production of Songs For A New World. Inaugural cast is announced June 15, 2021. The cast stars Sarah Marie Hernandez, Jordan Hall Campbell, Mya Feiga, Chase Lowary, Jarel Lewis and Annabell Walker. The creative team comprises of Kevin "Blax" Burroughs (Director/Lighting Designer), William "BJ" Robinson (Music Director), Alyssa "Ajay" Junious (Choreographer), Reiko Huffman (Scenic Designer), MaeAnn Ross (Sound Designer) and Pamela M. Stompoly (Costume Designer).
On August 5th, 2021 Teatro San Diego opens it's first production. A virtual production of Jason Robert Brown's Songs For A New World streams from August 5th to 15th with showings at 4pm and 7pm Pacific Time. Vivian Romero replaces Jordan Hall Campbell as "Woman 2/White Privilege".
On January 14, 2022 Teatro San Diego's Songs For A New World is the recepient of multiple Broadway World Regional Awards including, Best Direction of a Stream (Kevin "Blax" Burroughs), Best Editing of a Stream (Christian Ezell) and Best Scenic Design of a Play or Musical (Reiko Huffman).
On December 21st and 22nd, 2021 Teatro San Diego performs for its first live audiences at On Stage Playhouse in Chula Vista and the Diversionary Theatre in University Heights. It is called A Musical Winter Wonderland starring Natasha "Tash" Baenisch, Salima Gangani, Alex Lee, Chase Lowary and Tommy Tran. The shows were hosted by Kevin "Blax" Burroughs and music directed by William BJ Robinson. Natasha "Tash" Baenisch would be replaced by Vivian Romero for the December 21st performance and Chris Bona for the December 22nd performance.
Leadership
Ryan Burtanog
Artistic Associate of Theatre
Appointed June 6, 2020
Mr. Burtanog has a diverse background that includes theater, counseling, psychology and higher education. He has a Master of Education in College Student Affairs and worked in Higher Education for nearly 10 years. He has worked at both private and public universities, and has advised students organizations and faculty members providing leadership and mentorship. He was named New Student Affairs Professional of the Year for Southern California.
Ryan also has an MA in Counseling Psychology, Marriage and Family Therapy and has worked as an Associate Marriage and Family Therapist as a counselor at North County Lifeline with at risk youth and adolescents along with teaching parenting classes. He currently works as the on-campus counselor for the Woodbury University- San Diego Campus.
He worked actively as an award-winning actor and director, having performed throughout the San Diego theater community. He has performed at the Coronado Playhouse, La Jolla Playhouse, Lyceum Theatre and has sung with the San Diego Symphony. He has also advised the theater group of the Asian Pacific Island organization at Cal Poly Pomona. His monologue he wrote describing the Filipino experience as seen through the eyes of a newborn, was featured in an LA Times article. As a theater teaching artist, he worked with elementary school students by providing them life skills through theatrical performance and taught youth and adolescent acting classes.
Photo: Lightheart Dance Art
Erin Vanderhyde
Artistic Associate of Theatre
Appointed June 11, 2020
Erin graduated from San Diego State University with a Bachelor's Degree in Theatre. Some notable performances include but are not limited to: Sylvia in All Shook Up (SDMT), Lucretia Collins in Freedom Riders: The Civil Rights Musical (San Diego, Los Angeles, New York, and soon Alabama), Matron Mama Morton in Chicago (Torentino Music Festival), Meg in Little Women (New Village Arts) and Wanda in Bee Hive: The 60s Musical (New Village Arts). Erin Vanderhyde is a founder of Teatro San Diego.
Kevin "Blax" Burroughs
Artistic Associate of Theatre
Appointed June 11, 2020
Photo: Lightheart Dance Art
Kevin “Blax” Burroughs is a PROUD African American Singer/Dancer/Actor/Director/Choreographer/Lighting Designer born and raised in San Diego, CA. He has been a Resident Choreographer & Resident Lighting Designer for two separate theatre companies in San Diego County for a total of 6 years (2014-2020). He has worked with companies performing, or as part as the creative team, such as San Diego Repertory Theatre, New Village Arts, Moonlight Stage Productions, Cygnet Theatre, UCSD, Southwestern College, San Diego Ballet, LEGOLAND California Resort, Lamb’s Players Theatre, Carlsbad Playreaders, Coronado Playhouse, The Barn Stage Company, Common Ground Theatre, Blindspot Collective, La Jolla Playhouse, Feinstein’s at Vitello’s, Old Town Temecula Community Theatre, ION Theatre, The 413 Project, Onstage Playhouse, Scripps Ranch Theatre, La Jolla High School, Marshall Middle School and his alma mater, the San Diego School of Creative and Performing Arts.
Blax started performing in the arts at a young age. He was one of the little kids in the church productions and local small family based theatre companies. He took a break from theatre and took on instrumental music playing the saxophone for 5 1/2 years as well as taking on choir training. Near the end of that time, he caught the bug for theatre all over again in 2010 in a memorable production of “Hairspray” at the San Diego Repertory Theatre. With the help of his instrumental musicality and classical/jazz vocal training, he then turned his focus back into musical theatre in high school and graduated in 2013. The middle/high school he went to in Paradise Hills, the San Diego School of Creative and Performing Arts, was an arts based school in which he attended for 7 years (6th-12th). He was not blessed with the opportunity to attend a college to get a degree at the time so he immediately went into the theatre business as a performer and choreographer and never looked back. His career took off and he doesn’t regret anything.
Some of his favorite/notable roles as a performer include (Flick) in Violet, (Judas) in Jesus Christ Superstar, (Benny) In The Heights, (Seaweed) in Hairspray, (The Wiz) in The Wiz, (Enjolras) in Les Miserables, and others. Select Director, Choreographer and/or Lighting Design credits include Carrie, Legally Blonde, Grease, All Shook Up, Matilda, Next To Normal, In The Heights, The Addams Family, James and the Giant Peach, Little Shop of Horrors, Shrek The Musical, and others. Later in his career as a performer and choreographer, he taught himself to become a lighting designer via videos on the internet as well as other designers giving him tips and just overall practice from designing show after show. Notable thanks to his career from educators and personal influences go to The Burroughs Family, Bill Doyle, Erin O’Connor Fetters, Miss Leigh Scarritt, Gail McKinney, Javier Velasco, Justin Fry, Kristianne Kurner and the rest of the New Village Arts staff, Charles W. Patmon Jr, B.Slade, Timyra Joi and his other close loved ones.
Chris Bona
Artistic Associate of Theatre
Appointed June 11, 2020
Photo: Lightheart Dance Art
Chris has been singing since he can remember being forced to sing Karaoke at the many Filipino parties and gatherings. A lot of ABBA and Celine Dion, but even as a kid he loved every minute of it. Singing and Music has always been a part of Chris’ life, from doing Choir and Band from Elementary school to College and performing in his first musical his senior year of high school. His first show ever was Bye Bye Birdie and High School Musical and after taking his first bows in both shows he knew that being on stage and sharing a story to people is what he wanted to do with his life.
Chris Bona is a local Filipino-American performer living in Temecula, CA. Born in Manila, Philippines and lived and grew up in San Diego and Temecula. He has been performing professionally since 2013 after getting his Bachelors of Fine Arts in Musical Theatre at AMDA College and Conservatory of the Performing Arts in Los Angeles, CA. Chris has also worked all over Southern California and even Southern Utah and The Big Apple itself, NYC. Some theatres include The Old Globe, La Jolla Playhouse, San Diego Repertory Theatre, The Welk Resorts, San Diego Musical Theatre, New Village Arts, OB Playhouse, The Barn Stage Company, Premiere Productions, The 413 Project, Diversionary Theatre, Performance Riverside, Palos Verdes Performing Arts, 3-D Theatricals, Tuacahn Center for the Arts in Ivins, Utah, and Feinstein’s 54 Below in New York City. Chris has also performed and worked at LEGOLAND California Resort and The Disneyland Resort. Aside from performing Chris has also directed and choreographed at many youth companies around San Diego.
Huge thank you to the following people. Mama and Papa, thank you for supporting and loving me unconditionally and knowing that I am happy and that I will always make you proud. Darian Archie, Bearnardo Manescalchi, Collin McCarthy, Paul Kehler, Derek and Megan Heid, Jillian Stones, every single teacher and professor I had at AMDA, you have taught me exactly how to be me and ended up finding myself in the process. TJ Dawson, Kristianne Turner, Leigh Scarritt, Katherine Harroff, Juztine Tuazon-Martin, Chris Gilbert, Michelle Ruiz, and to the many friends and colleagues I’ve met in this business, you are one in a million and I love you all.
“Why fit in when you were born to stand out.” – Dr. Seuss