Loop Group Program

Damaris Garcia (Metzli) is a first-year MFA in TVFT/Acting Option student at Cal State LA.. This is Damaris’s first production at Cal State LA. She received her AA degree in Theater Arts at Cypress College and her bachelor's in Theatre at Cal Poly Pomona. She recently went back to Cypress College to perform in one of their biggest productions, Hair the Musical, as part of the Tribe and Jeanie’s understudy. Some of her other favorite roles on stage include Enid in Legally Blonde and Camila in In the Heights. Damaris is excited to continue her journey at Cal State LA.

Francisco Espinoza (Peter Chevez) is a second year at Cal State LA, majoring in Television, Film, and Media studies, with a minor in Theatre. This is Francisco’s first production with Cal State LA. He would like to thank his family and friends for always supporting him and is excited to bring this play to life for the world to see.

Sophia Hernández (Natalie) is a first-year MFA in TVFT/Acting Option student at Cal State LA. Loop Group is Sophia’s first production at Cal State LA, having recently received her Bachelor's in Theater Arts and Performance Studies at Brown University. She was most recently seen in Brown’s mainstage production of Fefu and Her Friends, where she played the role of Cindy, and most recently heard in the audio play A River, it’s Mouths, in collaboration with Trinity Rep students. Sophia would like to thank her parents for always supporting her and her aspirations.

Amirah Myles (Flora) is a freshman at Cal State Los Angeles.  This is her first show at CSULA and she is very excited to perform.  She has been acting since her freshman year of high school.  She hopes you all enjoy the show.

Eileen Herrera (Gloria) is a 25-year-old first-generation Theatre Arts and Education major at Cal State LA. She is a transfer student from Citrus Community College where she graduated with Associates degrees in Theatre Arts, Early Childhood Education & Behavioral Sciences. She began performing at six years old in ballet Folkorico, which she still dances to this day, and singing in her church choir. This is her first production at Cal State LA and she is delighted to be back performing in front of a live audience. She would love to thank the cast and crew and director Randee Trabitz for being part of this production. Last but certainly not least, she dedicates this performance to her parents and best friend for all the love & support she receives in pursuing her dreams!

Benjamin Leon (Carlos) is a Junior at Cal State LA, majoring in Theatre, with an emphasis on performance. This is Ben’s first production with Cal State LA, but not his first time on stage. Ben has done multiple performances throughout his life, gaining a deep appreciation and love for performing. Ben would like to thank his family and loved ones for always supporting him.

Cesar Belmudez (Sergio) is a third-year student at Cal State LA majoring in Theatre Arts, with an option of performance. This is Cesar’s first performance with Cal State LA. Cesar is from San Diego, California, specifically City Heights, which he is proud to represent. Although he left San Diego to pursue his dream of acting, he will never forget where he is from. Cesar would like to thank his family and friends for believing in him.

Veronica Driscoll (Barbara Harris) Veronica Driscoll is a performance option Theater Major at Cal State LA in her last year and plans to continue pursuing theatre professionally for as long as she can. She is enriched by all forms of art and has decided to take on many areas outside of acting such as singing, dance, sewing and playwriting. One of her most recent pieces is called Does He Like Black Girls? which won the John Lion’s Play Festival at Cal State LA in 2020 and was performed live and in person at Cal State LA in the fall of 2021. Although writing took her heart so quickly during the COVID-19 pandemic, she revisits acting through Bernardo Cubria's play Loop Group, or Shia LaBeouf's Version, a fantastic piece. She wouldn't be here without the lovely support of Cal State La's faculty who encouraged her while joining the production late. She sends love to the original Barbara of CSULA's production of this show and thanks everyone who has contributed to the production since.

Randee Trabitz (Director) is a director based in Los Angeles. She recently staged the award-winning productions of The Solid Life of Sugar Water by Jack Thorne for Deaf West Theatre and Friends With Guns by Stephanie Walker at The Road Theatre, returned from NYC’s Dixon Place with her long-time collaborator, John Fleck and remounted his award-winning Blacktop Highway at the Odyssey Theatre. She directed a run of new works at Berlin’s English Theater in Germany, took her own version of Sophocles’ Electra to an international festival Delphi, Greece and staged a pirate musical on a Disney Cruise Ship. She’s directed and helped devise many works with Obie-winning satiric-puppeteer Paul Zaloom, of Beekman’s World fame. Her work has been seen at regional theaters, (The Mystery of Irma Vep and Hedwig and the Angry Inch) at Actor’s Express, Atlanta and in Santa Fe, and many intimate theaters specializing on new plays with writers like: Doug Cooney, Julie Hebért, Bridget Carpenter, Jessica Goldberg, Jamie Brandli, Elizabeth Dement, Jennie Webb and Susan Merson. She worked in some big places too, like MOCA’S Geffen Contemporary (Brecht/Weill’s Happy End), California Adventure Themepark (Chance to Shine), Cal Plaza, The Getty (Fleck’s Dirt), The Los Angeles Opera (Jack and the Magic Songbird) and the Performing Arts Center in Santa Clarita (Lysistrata, Hair) and Redcat in Disney Hall (Blacktop Highway and Zaloom’s Mother of All Enemies & ABCdarium).  Her work and productions have garnered some prizes, (LA Valley Award, Robbie, LA Weekly Award, Garland and Ovation Awards, Finalist Short and Sweet Festival) and been awarded grants (CAD, Durfee and Flintridge). Randee has worked as a critic for the L.A. Weekly and analyzes writing and screenplays for Disney Animation. She teaches at Cal State LA where she is also the Director of the MFA Program in TV-Film and Theater.  Randeetrabitz.com

Bernardo Cubria (Playwright) is a Mexican award-winning screenwriter and playwright. As a screenwriter he is developing projects with Carlos López Estrada, Endeavor Content, eOne, Broken English Productions, I Can And I Will Productions, among others. He is currently collaborating closely with Gina Rodriguez penning the feature Like It Used to Be as well as the Untitled Ryan Garcia Project, both of which Gina will star in and produce. As a playwright he has been awarded the Smith Prize for Political Theater and the BETC Generations Award, among others. His play, The Play You Want, premiered at the Road Theatre in Los Angeles in 2022 and was awarded the Generation Award by Boulder Ensemble Theatre Company in 2020. The play was also awarded the Ingenio 2020 Award for new play by a Latinx Playwright by The Milagro Theatre in Portland, Oregon. In 2019 he was nominated for best playwright at The Ovation Awards, Stage Raw Awards, and The Los Angeles Drama Critics Circle Awards for his play The Giant Void In My Soul. This play is dedicated to every Loop Group actor in the country. You are the real MVP.

Montomgery King (Assistant Stage Manager) is a first-year TVFT MFA student in the Writing Option. This is their first theatrical production at Cal State LA. Stage Management credits include: Men on Boats (Hastings College). Kai is incredibly grateful that they were able to work with such an amazing cast, crew, and production team.

Brizea Suarez (Light Board Operator) is a first-year MFA in TVFT/Writing Option student.  Brizea earned her B.A. in English Literature at Cal State San Bernardino. This is her first time being a crew member on a Cal State LA production. Brizea plans on making a career as a screenwriter and would like to thank her mother for pushing her and supporting her aspirations in becoming a screenwriter.

Kimberly Diaz (Running Crew) is a senior at Cal State LA, majoring in Theatre, with an option in Performance. This is Kimberly’s first time working on a production with Cal State LA. Kimberly plans to make a career in theater in the future. Kimberly would like to thank her mother for being her number one supporter. She would also like to thank Cal State LA for providing her with amazing opportunities and guidance throughout her years here.

Corey Taft (Running Crew) is a 1st year MFA in TVFT/Writing Option student. He earned his Bachelor's degree from Cal State LA in Scriptwriting and was an active member of the school's speech and debate team. He has studied improv and sketch at The Pack Theater, UCB and Monkey Butler. He's performed with the groups Camerashrapnel, ShopKeep, Wretched Hive, and Pleather. He's grateful for the opportunity to work on Loop Group and is looking forward to absorbing as much knowledge as he can in the next three years.