Cast Bios
Indicates member of Actors’ Equity Association.
 | PAUL AGUIRRE* (Piragua Guy, u/s Kevin) is so excited to make his PTC debut in In The Heights. Last season Paul had the honor of working with Ms. Debbie Allen in Twist: An American Musical where he created the role of Potlatch for the Alliance Theatre and Pasadena Playhouse. National tours include Seussical (with Cathy Rigby), How To Succeed…(’95 Revival), My Fair Lady, and The Who’s Tommy (Uncle Ernie). Favorite regional credits include The Wiz (Lion), The Music Man (Marcellus), Li’l Abner and Singin’ In The Rain (Goodspeed), Smokey Joe’s Cafe, Joseph…, Annie and Aida. Paul will next be traveling to Wisconsin for Scrooge (Fezziwig) at the Fireside Theatre and in October will launch his website. Please feel free to visit www.PaulAguirre.com. Paul forever dedicates his work to Ma for her never-ending love and support. |
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 | VICTORIA de ALTAMIRANO (Ensemble, U/S Abuela, Daniela, Camila) debuts at Pioneer Theatre Company after being seen in Zorro the Musical at Hale Center Theatre. Originally from Panama, de Altamirano has trained in NYC and in Panama City. Other roles include Frances Hunter in No Sex, Please, We’re British, the title role in Victor/Victoria, Roxie Hart inChicago, and Reno Sweeney in Anything Goes.
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 | ROBIN AUVA’A (Ensemble, U/S Nina) is currently working towards her BFA at the University of Utah where she is a junior in their new Musical Theatre Program. This is her first time performing on the Pioneer Theatre stage and she is grateful for this opportunity. Some of Robin’s favorite roles include: Aida (Aida), Dionne (Hair), and Woman 2 (Songs For a New World). Robin would like to thank her family for all of their love and support!! |
 | SYDNI BEAUDOIN* (Ensemble) is thrilled to be a part of this production! A recent graduate of New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts, she has last been seen as Little Inez in Hairspray at Westchester Broadway Theater and Theater By The Sea. Favorite roles include Adela in Bernarda Alba, Nickie in Sweet Charity and Dionne in Hair. While in high school, she choreographed shows for Lindsay Mendez and Susan Egan. Sydni is a proud member of AEA. Thanks to CESD, friends and family for their love and support.www.sydnibeaudoin.com |
 | CARLETON BLUFORD* (Graffiti Pete, u/s Benny, Piragua Guy) has been acting in theater and film since he was ten years old. He has worked at Plan-B twice inWallace and The Third Crossing, which is nominated for three Arty Awards in Salt Lake City Weekly, SLAC in The Overwhelming, The Egyptian in Jesus Christ Superstar with Ted Neeley, and at Hale Centre Theatre in Civil War with Merrill Osmond. He is extremely excited to be working at Pioneer Theater Company; it takes a lot of work and dedication to get to perform on this stage and he is very excited to do so and work with such a well-known and talented people. |
 | JOSHUA BOONE* (Benny) is a native of Portsmouth, Virginia and a graduate of Virginia Commonwealth University with a BFA in Theatre Performance. Some of his credits include Central Avenue Breakdown(NYMF/DIMF), Felony Friday (NY Fringe Encores),Cutman: A Boxing Musical (Goodspeed), Well(Barksdale), Thunder and Lightning (staged reading),A Raisin in the Sun, Smokey Joe’s Café, Ain’t Misbehavin’. He is very excited to be “in the heights” out in Utah and hopes the show will help him improve his Español. Many thanks to God, family, friends, and Stevie Wonder. Always grateful for an opportunity. |
 | DEBRA CARDONA* (Abuela) was last seen at PTC as Signora Naccarelli in The Light in the Piazza and at the Capitol Theater as Miss Lark in the national tour ofMary Poppins. Her credits include New York productions of A Christmas Carol (Madison Square Garden) and Bingo (off-Broadway); national tours ofMy Fair Lady, Guys and Dolls, Fiddler on the Roof and the Radio City Christmas Spectacular; and regional productions of Ragtime (Emma Goldman), Steel Magnolias (M’Lynn) and Beauty and the Beast(Madame La Grande Bouche). She is thrilled to be a part of In the Heights. This one is for Abuela Inés and Abuela Dorothy, with all my love. |
 | SARA KAE CHILDS (Ensemble, U/S Carla) is a junior in the Musical Theater program at the University of Utah. In The Heights is her fourth musical at Pioneer Theatre Company, but she was also seen in Sunset Boulevard, Annie, and Man of La Mancha. Sara has performed in Songs for a New World and also played the role of Queenie in The Wild Party (Lippa), at the University of Utah. |
 | ARIANA ESCALANTE (Carla, U/S Vanessa) Ariana is thrilled to be back at the Pioneer Theater working on such an incredible show! Coming from an emigrant family herself, she is excited to be able to share the message of finding home wherever your family and friends are. Some of Ariana’s favorite roles have been seen in: Rent; West Side Story; Beauty and the Beast; Fiddler on the Roof; and Macbeth. |
 | MANOLY FARRELL* (Vanessa) Manoly is thrilled to be making her debut at Pioneer Theater Company for this amazing production. Favorite Credits: Broadway:Leap of Faith and Leap of Faith the workshop. Off Broadway and NYC: Socks the Musical (Bobby) Dance with Me at the Duke Theater, and Celebration of Disney Music at Lincoln Center. Other Credits include,West Side Story, (Anita) at the Fifth Avenue Theater,Dreamgirls, (Michelle) PCLO and Houston Theater Under the Stars, Music Man (Zaneeta) Sacramento Music Circus, Kiss Me Kate, (Hattie) Weston Playhouse, Guys and Dolls, (Adelaide) and Sweet Charity (Nikki). Manoly would like thank the artistic team for this wonderful opportunity. Most importantly, she’d also like to thank her parents, family, friends, and Keith for all of their love and support, I love you guys. |
 | JOHN HERRERA* (Kevin) created the role of Kevin in the Off-Broadway production of In the Heights.Broadway: Neville in The Mystery of Edwin Drood(Tony nomination), Che in Evita, Grease, 1776,Camelot, Man of La Mancha and The Threepenny Opera. National Tours: Chess (Carbonell Award),Falsettos, Les Misérables, and Angels in America. Regional: Anna in the Tropics (Carbonell Award) at Jupiter Maltz, A Little Night Music at Goodspeed, George in Sunday in the Park at the Goodman,Romance, Romance (also A&E.) and recently Red at Orlando Shakespeare. John just shot The House That Jack Built a film due out next spring. As a playwright:Tiempo de Amor (Florida Stage 1st Stage) and Some Kind of Trouble, an O’Neill Playwright’s Conference semi-finalist. Thanks to Ron. |
 | NATALIE HILL* (Daniela) PTC: Miss Saigon (Ellen) BROADWAY: Wonderland (Original Cast Recording),Bye Bye Birdie (Rosie u/s opposite John Stamos) &Grease (Cha Cha, Original Cast Recording). LAS VEGAS: Jersey Boys (Mary Delgado) & Footloose (Rusty). NATIONAL TOURS: Joseph…Dreamcoat(Narrator opposite Patrick Cassidy), Hairspray. UTAH:Les Misérables in Concert (Eponine–SCERA), Joseph(Narrator–Provo Theatre Co), The Diary of Anne Frank(Anne–UVU), 2002 Olympic Torch Ceremony (National Anthem–Provo), Michael McLean’s The Garden (The Seedling- OCR), Saturday’s Warrior (Julie–25th Anniversary Recording). Originally from Orem, Utah (go OHS!), and trained by the incredible Syd Riggs and Gayle Lockwood. Bachelor of Music Degree from NYU. Natalie thanks Karen Azenberg and her miraculous familia. Paciencia y fe! |
 | DAVID GUY HOLMES (Ensemble, U/S Graffiti Pete) Returns to PTC after appearing in Rent. David has done several shows this past year including: Xanadu(Sonny), Joseph… (Levi) and Hairspray (Corny Collins). He has also performed at the Jackson Hole Playhouse in Grease (Kenickie), Egyptian Theatre inTommy (Ensemble Soloist/Dance Captain) and Hair(Choreographer/Woof). David is a certified Anti-Gravity Yoga Instructor and Alignment Therapist. |
 | WILLIAM COOPER HOWELL (Ensemble, U/S Sonny) A junior in the U of U BFA Musical Theater Program and excited to be in his first show at Pioneer. Previous roles include Coalhouse Walker Jr. in Ragtime, Jim Conley in Parade, and Jake in Side Show. Thanks to Lori and Blair Howell for their passion. |
 | ANTHONY RAMOS MARTINEZ* (Sonny, u/s Usnavi) Anthony is really looking forward to this production that hits close to home (Bushwick, Brooklyn). Thanks and love to my Heavenly father, family, friends, cast, crew, creative team and the people who made it possible for me to be here. Credits include: Henry/Ensemble Damn Yankees National Tour; Sonny (Grease) Surflight Theatre; and soloist and ensemble at The Town Hall in New York City. |
 | JOSEPH MORALES* (Usnavi) is thrilled to be back in the Heights after touring the country in the original company of the Broadway First National Tour of In The Heights as Usnavi. NY/Tours: In The Heights, Bombay Dreams, Henry and Mudge. Regional: High School Musical (Papermill PlayHouse), Disney’s Aladdin, Joseph….., Rock of Ages (Original LA and Vegas companies). Workshops: Rock of Ages, Bring It On, The Long Season. Joseph is also a songwriter and lives in Los Angeles. Always love and gratitude for his incredible family, friends, the KSR team and PTC for the opportunity to share this special show with Salt Lake City. |
 | LAUREN SAMBATARO* (Ensemble/Dance Captain) is thrilled to be spending a little time in the mountains here with In the Heights! She can currently be seen in the Broadway hit Mamma Mia! at the Winter Garden Theater in New York. A graduate of Fordham University & The Ailey School with a B.F.A. in Dance Performance, Lauren has traveled the U.S. in National Tours of Movin’ Out and Evita, danced in the Radio City Christmas Spectacular at Radio City Music Hall, and in regional productions of West Side Story, Thoroughly Modern Millie, and Carousel. Concert work includes, seasons with Buglisi Dance Theater (Joyce Theater, Kaatsbaan), Nathan Trice/RITUALS (Jacob’s Pillow Festival), and tribute performances with the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater and Debbie Allen at New York’s City Center Theater. Lauren was a featured dancer with Kanye West on “Saturday Night Live,” and is featured in fitness commercials for Lucille Roberts and Nike Training Club. Thank you to Karen, Bob and Matt for this wonderful opportunity, and to her amazing family and friends for their endless support and encouragement! Love and gratitude. |
 | CHRISTOPHER SQUIRES (Ensemble) debuts at Pioneer Theatre Company. He has performed throughout Utah and in Las Vegas. Most recently seen as a featured flamenco dancer in the National Premiere of Zorro the Musical. His other credits include: Sammy (The Wedding Singer), Albert (Bye Bye Birdie), Icabod Crain (The Legend of Sleepy Hollow) and Pierpont Finch (How to Succeed in Business…) This show means so much to me. Te quiero mucho Abuela. |
 | NATALIE TORO* (Camila) Broadway: Madame DeFarge (A Tale Of Two Cities), Eponine (Les Misérables), Sally (A Christmas Carol). Off-Broadway:Senora Espejo (Zapata!), La Bruja (The Yellow Brick Road), Ginger (Zombie Prom), Maria (The Audience),Flora (Magpie). National Tours: Camila (In the Heights), Mary Magdalene (Jesus Christ Superstar),Eva Peron (Evita, for which she received a Jeff Award nomination), Grizabella (Cats), and Rosalia (West Side Story). Regional: Serena (Everything’s Ducky), Tina McCoy (The Fix), Renee (Frances of Guernica), Mrs. Johnstone (Blood Brothers), The Narrator (Zorba).TV/Film: Law and Order, Law and Order SVU, Cecilia’s Birthday, animated feature Santa Baby for FOX, Linda in Eleven. Solo artist at Carnegie Hall, the National Concert Hall in Dublin, Ireland, the Kentucky and Buffalo Symphony Orchestras. Her new One Woman Extravaganza, The Broken Road (Baggage Limit 50 Pounds), premiered in Hollywood to critical acclaim. Natalie’s CD, Natalie Toro, was released to National and International acclaim www.natalietoro.com |
 | EMILY VASQUEZ* (Nina) Emily couldn’t be more ecstatic to be performing in the beautiful Pioneer Theatre with such a terrific company! In the Heights is one of Emily’s favorite musicals; she is thrilled to be a part of a musical so special and dear to her. She most recently appeared in The Glee Project. Emily would love to thank CESD Talent Agency and manager Marilyn Zitner. She would also love to thank her family, especially her mother and brother for all their love and support. Youtube Channel:www.youtube.comTheMLeeVasquez Twitter: MLeeVasquez Website: EmilyVasquez.com |