Hand To God

Raul Ramos (Jason/Tyrone) is excited to once again be involved in an LTGI production. This past summer he had his LTGI stage debut as Scuttle in The Little Mermaid. He is a graduate of J.W. Nixon and Vidal M. Treviño School of Communication and Fine Arts. He is currently attending Texas A&M International University pursuing a degree in Communications.

Catherine “Cat” Avaritt (Margery) is pleased to once again be part of an LTGI production. She first appeared on the LTGI stage as Annette Raleigh in the 2016 production, God of Carnage. She also served as Prop Mistress for LTGI’s very first production, Man of La Mancha (2009). Cat owes her love of the theatre primarily to her mother, who made and collected closets full of costumes and who revered Shakespeare. She credits her son, Leo, for schooling her in the art of “playing pretend”. Cat is an active volunteer at Laredo Little Theater and has assisted in various capacities such as sound and lighting, and has appeared on stage in previous plays includingIncognito, Noises Off, and The Thirteenth Sacrament, all at Laredo Little Theater. She is delighted to be acting alongside such a talented group of people who have made this experience great fun! Catherine also enjoys painting, drawing, dancing, and binge-watching Netflix for hours on end.

Oscar O. Peña, is a local criminal defense attorney and president of the Board of the Laredo Little Theatre. He 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 third show with LTGI, the first being God of Carnage (Dir. Karol Batey) and the most recent being Frankenstein (Dir. Marco Gonzalez). He has also written several plays, including “The Thirteenth Sacrament” (Teatro Chicano de Laredo).

Alex Moreno (Timmy) is thrilled to be on the stage after a years-long absence. Being involved with such a fun and dedicated cast has reinvigorated his love of theater and is excited to take on such a challenging role. He encourages everyone to buy a ticket and watch this show. Or, as Timmy might say, “Get off your $#% and buy a %^&*$#% ticket because you will laugh so $%#-&%#@ hard during this show your #$%^#$@ stomach will ache for weeks. Don’t be a $@%^! Buy your $@%^@&* ticket now!”

Allyson Tellez (Jessica) is grateful to be on the LTGI stage again, right on the heels of her turn as Agatha/Servant in LTGI’s Class on Stage® production of Frankenstein. She is a graduate of J.W. Nixon High School and Vidal M. Treviño School of Communication 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 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.

Damaris Guzman (Director) This is Damaris’s
debut theatrical directing credit and is eager to share it with the Laredo theater community. Far from a novice, in the past she has taken up many diverse roles such as actor (in LTGI’s Yerma, in Laredo Little Theatre’s Dracula, And Then There Were None and LCC’s Bye Bye Birdie), assistant costumer and set designer for Hedwig & The Angry Inch, head costumer for The Little Mermaid and Break a Leg Laredo’s The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, and assistant director for Frankenstein this past fall. She is a graduate of Texas A&M International University with a degree in Media Communications with a focus in video production/journalism where she cut her teeth directing short films with her closest friends. In the rare weeks when she’s not involved in some manner of production she is a self-trained caterer, entrepreneur, doting aunt, and
dinner-party-planning savant. She is beyond grateful to have the opportunity to direct this show and collaborate with this
extraordinary team.

Chris Morgan (Producer) is into his second
decade of volunteering with LTGI, and still
sometimes feels like the newest member of the team. Case in point: Always eager to tackle new challenges, Chris answered the call to be Producer of “Hand To God”, by Robert Askins and is honored to have been given this opportunity. Chris is a graduate of the
University of Texas at Austin and is a business consultant and works with Carranco & Lawson, P.C. as a CPA. In a quest for balance and to develop an outlet for his creative side, he began writing short fiction in 2001 and his work has been published in various literary journals. A lifelong fan of the theatre, he joined the Board of Directors of LTGI in the summer of 2012 and served as President in 2018-2019. In the time he’s been involved with LTGI, he has directed Anna in the Tropics (2022) and Real
Women Have Curves (2017), as well as serving as Assistant Director, Stage Manager, and Properties Master for various shows
ARTISTIC TEAM AND PRODUCTION SUPPORT
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over the years. He wants to thank newly appointed Artistic
Director Karol Batey, Board President Telissa Molano, and the members of LTGI’s Board of Directors for expressing their
confidence in asking him to serve as Producer of this hilariously raucous, but at times touchingly tender play. He also extends his deepest gratitude to Director Damaris Guzman and the superbly talented cast and production team she brought together for this endeavor.Watching them put their talents toward the common goal of bringing this story to the stage has been a source of great wonder, and it is by their strong efforts and unwavering dedication hat we can present to you this powerful and poignant story.

Karol Ann Batey (Artistic Director/
Mentor Director) Has performed with LTGI in approximately 12 productions, including Into the Woods (Dir. Joe Flores), Blithe Spirit (Dir. Tony Bondoc), Yerma (Dir. Marco Gonzalez), and The Crucible (Dir. Vernon Carroll). LTGI Directing credits include Lend Me a Tenor, Diney’s Mary Poppins, God Of Carnage, and (Assistant Director) In The Heights. Karol is the Associate Director For Assessment,
Research, And Planning Office at Texas A&M International
University (TAMIU). She is attending Baylor University, where she will graduate with her Doctorate Of Education in Learning And Organizational Change in August 2024. Her other degrees include a B.A. In Theatre from Texas Tech (2008) and aMasters In Professional Accountancy from TAMIU. She would like to thank her loving partner, Jesus Garza, and her lovely daughter, Lucy Andrea, for always supporting her love of theatre and telling stories. Congratulations to the production team and especially to Director Damaris Guzman for this poignant piece of work.

Ray Cantu (Stage Manager) would like to thank Damaris Guzman for this, his first
opportunity to Stage Manage a show. LTGI is a relatively new world for Ray but not the world of theater. Ray is a Laredo native and has been acting since he was two years old. He is excited to be a part of the production team and hopes to do it again. Theater holds a special place in his heart as he was brought into it by his parents Gerardo Cantu and his late mother Norma Cantu.

Roland Vela (Assistant Director) Rolando is thrilled to be working back in the Laredo theatre scene! He made his move back to Laredo to teach theatre at United South High School and could not be more excited to be sharing this experience with his community. As a new member on the board for LTGI, he’s anxious to see where his work will take him! His previous work includes with the company includes: Beauty and the Beast (cast),
Yerma (costume crew), Mary Poppins (cast), The Little Mermaid (choreographer).

oah Blievernicht (Scenic Designer) is
making his LTGI debut as the scenic designer for Hand to God. He studied theatre at Kent State University where he earned a BFA in
scenic design and technical direction. From there, he had gone to work as a carpenter and painter for different theaters across the country. Most recently as the lead carpenter for Zach Theatre in Austin, Texas. He is grateful to be starting his Laredo theatre journey and hopes you enjoy the show!

Ricky D. Castillon (Properties Master)
is a local artist and muralist who has been
involved with the Laredo theater community in some capacity since he was a child. Most notably he served many seasons as actor and sometimes (once) director with Laredo Little Theatre and with Break A Leg Laredo as board member/PR Officer. These days his favorite pastimes include biting off more than he can chew and seeing how much art supplies he can fit in his car before it becomes a Michael’s. He has been a professional artist for the last few years producing murals and public artwork around the city of Laredo and is so exited to be able to make art collaboratively with a community that means so much to him. “Will paint for food”

Francisco R. Vera has enjoyed doing theater work in Laredo for the last six years by
portraying various ensemble and supporting roles at Laredo College and Laredo Theater Guild International. He has also been recently seen performing as part of the Laredo
Philharmonic Chorale. This production of Hand To God will mark his first time working as a Costumer for LTGI.

Cynthia Jade Gutierrez has enjoyed
performing on stage for the past 7 years with the Laredo College Opera Workshop and
Laredo Theatre Guild International. She is also a part of the Philharmonic Chorale. This marks her first time being a part of a production team.