Frankenstein

Chibbi is a Mexican-born, Texas-raised queer performer, poet, publisher, producer, and community organizer, director and co-host of the After 2 Tequila Shots podcast, author of 2 self-published collections, co-editor of the anthology Contra: Texas Poets Speak Out, Editor in Chief and Director of Virtual Programming at Write About Now and Community Manager at Out in Tech. He was the founder of Laredo BorderSlam, a founding member of Write About Now, a 2 time San Antonio Slam Champion, has won 2 National Poetry Slam titles, and has received fellowships from Tin House, Lambda Literary, and the Sundress Academy for the Arts. His work has appeared in print and online (Google him). His latest theatrical credits include Hedwig and the Angry Inch (Hedwig), Into the Woods (Wolf/Cinderella’s Prince), The Sin Muros Latinx Theatre Festival, In The Heights (Usnavi), The Rocky Horror Show (Columbia), Romeo and Juliet (Mercutio), Bodas de Sangre (Leñador), The Complete Works of William Shakespeare, Abridged (Himself), Rent (Tom Collins), The Drowsy Chaperone (Man in Chair), and Beat: A Play on Words (Actor 5), which he also directed.

Oscar O. Peña, a local criminal defense attorney and president of the Board of the Laredo Little Theatre, is married to Doreen J. Puig-Peña, and they have four sons. Oscar graduated from the University of Texas School of Law in 1997 and has been in private practice ever since. Oscar is a trial attorney who served on the Board of Directors of the Texas Criminal Defense Lawyers Association for many years. Oscar has played Barry Champlain in Talk Radio (Laredo Little Theatre) and Billy Flynn in Chicago (LITE) and Gomez Addams in The Addams Family (Laredo College). This is his second show with LTGI, the first being God of Carnage (Dir. Karol Batey). He has written several plays, including “The Thirteenth Sacrament” (Teatro Chicano de Laredo). Oscar would like to thank his family for their patience and for helping him learn the lines. He dedicates his performance to the memory of his grandfather, Oscar J. Peña, Sr.

Lisa Veronica Martinez is elated to be performing in the Laredo Theatre Guild International's "A Class on Stage" production of Frankenstein. After graduating high school in 2012, she moved to Austin for several years where she briefly studied theatre education. While at The University of Texas at Austin, she directed and performed in various productions at the collegiate and community level. In Austin, she became an after-school instructor at ZACH Theatre and predominantly focused on creative drama, acting, and improv for students aged 6-18. Since returning to Laredo, she has appeared in LTGI's Wit as part of the ensemble and Into the Woods as evil stepsister Lucinda. She is grateful to return to the stage this year as Elizabeth Lavenza and to have been able to learn from such an incredible cast and production team!

John Maxstadt is a familiar figure in Laredo theatre, having played many roles in LTGI, LLT, LITE, LC, and TAMIU productions over the past twenty-eight years, including Tevye in Fiddler on the Roof (LC), Cogsworth in Beauty and the Beast (LTGI), Max Bialystock in The Producers (LC), and Polonius in Hamlet (LTGI). More recently, he played Grimsby in Disney’s The Little Mermaid (LTGI) and the Learned Judge in Trial By Jury (LC). John is a retired librarian and serves as parliamentarian on the LTGI board of directors.

Karina Garcia is a long time theater lover and first time performer. She is delighted to be making her stage debut with Laredo Theater Guild International (LTGI). On her free time you can find her watching movies, reading, and spending time with her beloved cats. Endless love and gratitude to the entire cast and crew!

Ricky Castillon has been involved in Laredo community theatre on and off since 2004’s The King & I Jr (LITE Productions) having since found himself in the roles of actor, director, costumer, poster designer, prop builder, accent coach, and audience member. He has enjoyed being a part of shows with LTGI in Macbeth and Hamlet and with Laredo Little Theatre in The Graduate, And Then There Were None, Dracula, Talk Radio and earlier this summer in Nick Payne’s Incognito. He has been an active volunteer in the community for years in the arts and in education and has managed until now to escape the necessity of singing on stage. It is therefore with tremulous gratitude that he thanks the cast, crew, and production staff for their tireless work

Daniel Lerma is thrilled and grateful to be returning to the stage after 13 years, making his Laredo debut in the LTGI production of Frankenstein. Active in the performing arts from elementary up until college, Daniel studied theater at San Antonio College as well as The University of San Marcos. Perusing a career in cosmetology, he later returned to the stage while styling contestants at Miss USA 2015 in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Daniel is now a successful salon owner, here in Laredo, Tx.

Ray Cantu (Felix), (Servant 1), (Ensemble): This is Rays second production with LTGI, the first being The Importance of being Ernest (2010) Directed by John Maxstadt. His most recent performance was with the Laredo Little Theater production of Incognito (2023) Directed by Oscar Pena where a cast of 4 played 21 characters between them. Ray is excited to be back and taking part in the theater world, making new friends, and putting on productions such as this after 8 years of service in the US Navy where he was trained and worked as an Air Traffic Controller. A profession he continues in today as the Manager at the Laredo Air Traffic Control Tower. Ray is honored to have been considered by LTGI and the director, Marco Gonzalez, for the roll and for opportunity to work with such a dedicated team of cast, crew, and production

Jose “Joe” Flores, when not acting at his day job as a Vidal M. Trevino Magnet Theater Arts Teacher, is most known to jump onstage whenever he can, having recently appeared in LTGI’s Lend Me A Tenor as Henry Saunders (2021) at Laredo College’s Martinez Fine Arts Center, and in the Laredo Little Theater productions of An Act of God as God (2018), and Murder on the Orient Express as Hercule Poirot (2019). He is extremely happy to grace the LTGI stage again once again, having acted in the following shows, The Foreigner as Charlie (2011), Macbeth as the Porter (2012), Romeo and Juliet as Friar Lawrence (2013), The Diary of Anne Frank as Mr. Van Daan (2015), A Midsummer Night’s Dream as Nick Bottom (2016), and Hamlet as the Gravedigger (2019). More importantly though, He is excited to be working with a great group of people both onstage and part of the production team. The LTGI family is back creating live theater for the Laredo Community and Schools again via our Class on Stage Production, our first one post-Covid. It’s a program LTGI loves and believes in, and Joe is proud to be a part of it again. Speaking of love, every now and then, Joe has loved acting as a director for the following LTGI productions of Man of La Mancha (2009), Blood Wedding/Bodas de Sangre (2012), The Who’s Tommy (2016), The House on Mango Street (2017), and Into the Woods (2022).

Allyson Tellez is a graduate from J.W. Nixon High school and Vidal M Trevino School of Communications and Fine Arts. She cameoed as Snow White in LTGI’s production of Into the Woods. She has crewed for Hedwig and The Angry Inch and The Little Mermaid. She has also been a part of Nixon Drama’s production of The Miracle Worker, The Wolves, One Man Two Guvnors, and The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time. She is grateful to be a part of this show.

Miguel G. Castillon is an aspiring actor who is excited to return to the LTGI stage. He is also a TAMIU graduate with a bachelors of Arts and Science with a major in Biology and minor in Theater. Miguel would like to thank friends and family for all their support and LTGI for the opportunity to be part of this production.

Zoe Benavides is a dancer, currently attending Laredo College. She is very excited to be back on the stage. She has done shows for both LLT and LTGI. She danced on national TV in the annual Macy's Thanksgiving Parade in NYC this past Thanksgiving as well. She is so grateful to this play's production team for considering and casting her for this piece. Lastly, she wants to thank her family for all the love and support.

Krystel Castillo is grateful to be making her debut on the LTGI stage. She has a Bachelors of Arts in English with a minor in Theatre from Texas A&M International University. She has previously been cast in Significant Other (2019), The Sleeper (2018), and God’s Favorite (2017). Outside of acting, she organizes with young people in progressive politics. Krystel would like to thank her family, fiancé, and friends for their never-ending support.

Stephanie Solis Schnyder, a veteran in Laredo’s theatre community having worked, both as an actor and in production, with Laredo Theater Guild International, Laredo Little Theater, and Laredo College Opera Workshop. Stephanie’s most notable performances include Gertrude (Hamlet), Laura Wingfield (Glass Menagerie), Camila Rosario (In The Heights), Claire Ganz (Rumors), Edith Frank (The Diary of Anne Frank), Marty (Grease), La Mujer de Leonardo (Bodas de Sangre), Antonia (Man of la Mancha), among many others. She is the Choir Director at Lamar Middle School and the One Act Play UIL. Stephanie has done backstage work as Stage Manager for A Midsummer Night’s Dream and previously costumer for Little Shop of Horrors for LC’s Opera Workshop and others. January 2020, Stephanie was Assistant Director and Stage Manager for Wit and Producer for Borders in 2021. It is always exciting to be part of a project like Class on Stage were we bring literary works to life and give students the opportunity to experience live theater. Thank you for supporting local theater and enjoy “Frankenstein”!

Janessa Jaylene is happy to be back on stage after a long break! This is her second stage production with LTGI, having previously performed as a courtier and queen’s maid in Hamlet (2019), and her third stage production overall. Her previous role was God (yes, that God) in Laredo Little Theatre’s 2018 production of An Act of God. When she’s not onstage, she works as a college advisor and is a proud cat-mom of two. Her favorite things include scary movies, coloring books, iced coffee, and naps.

Cecilia A. Jimenez De La Fuente is excited to be making her acting debut in LTGI’s production of Frankenstein. She is a recent graduate of Texas A&M International University, double majoring in Political Science and Sociology. In her free time, she enjoys progressive community activism, singing, and spending time with her pet pig Paris. She is grateful to her husband, friends, and family for their endless love and support. Cecilia would like to give a special thanks to LTGI for giving her the opportunity to be on stage for the first time.

Mario Rojas started acting in 8th Grade all throughout high school I was in two city production during my high school years the first being Beauty and the Beast Jr and second Aladdin Jr. I then took a break from acting for a couple of years due to life and school but I never forgot about it so finally this year I saw the auditions for this production and I tried out and im so grateful to be a part of the is wonderful group of people!