ARTIST BIOS
Courtney Abbott (Intimacy/Violence Director, they/she) NU: David’s Redhaired Death, Love & Information, Among the Dead, Lobster, Wink, February House, Museum, Antigone, Dracula, a feminist revenge fantasy, really, Violet, The Prom. Education: MFA, Ohio University; BS, Northwestern. Courtney is a Stakeholder in the Back Room Shakespeare Project. @backroomshakes
Sofía Aguayo (Assistant Director/Cultural Consultant, she/her) is an Actor and Stage Manager from Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic. She is pursuing a BA in Theatre with a concentration in Acting, alongside minors in Business Institutions and Art History. She is beyond excited to be stepping into the world of directing for the first time, as well as bringing her identity and Dominican heritage to the cultural consulting work of this production.
Thomas Alberto Bastardo (DJ, U/S Trujillo, he/him) is a Dominican actor, and first year dual degree student here at Northwestern, excited to have the opportunity to bring his culture to the stage in telling this rich story. Some of his favorite credits include: Ride the Cyclone, King Henry IV Part One (First Stage’s Young Company), Esperanza Rising, and Last Stop on Market Street (First Stage). Alberto quiere agradecer a su familia en Milwaukee y Miches, que siempre le apoyan.
Aisha Antonio Henandez (Swing, U/S American Woman) is a New York City storyteller, born and raised in Queens to Mexican parents. They believe in theater that feels intimate and true, like a deep conversation on a living room couch, even when it’s meant for a thousand seats. At their core, they are an artist who believes in the power of the whole story. They love to learn, live to listen, and will always, always sing a little too loudly when the moment is right.
Juno Azuz Zacher (American Woman, U/S Minerva, she/her) is excited to play American Woman in In the Time of the Butterflies. As a sophomore Theatre major and Political Science minor at Northwestern, her recent credits include Hand to God, POTUS, Sunday on the Rocks, and Do You Feel Anger. She would like to give thanks for the opportunity to be a part of telling this story and to the amazing cast and crew.
Juan José Castaño-Márquez (Dramaturg, Embroidery Lead, él/he/they) is a Chicago-based mender, fine artist, and PhD student in Performance Studies at Northwestern University. His research investigates the intersections of New Materialisms, historiography, and performance, focusing on archival decay and textile traditions as generative sites of historical memory. Alongside his academic teaching, Juan José is deeply dedicated to stitching together his creative and theoretical practices—on and off stage.
Christian Gomez (Trujillo, He/Him) is a second year undergrad theatre major and is very excited to be a part of In The Time of The Butterflies. This will be his first Wirtz performance. Thanks to the cast and crew for making it an amazing experience.
Clarisa Gómez Rodríguez (Minerva, she/her) is a theatre major at NU pursuing the Music Theatre Certificate and a minor in sound design. Originally from Venezuela and raised between Madrid and London, she is an actor, singer, composer, and director. During her 2 years at Northwestern she has performed in 7 campus productions and is a proud member of Vertigo Productions, neo-futurist inspired performance group TBD, and the Latin Music Ensemble.
Sebastián Gómez (Lio Morales, U/S DJ, he/him) is excited to be playing Lio Morales in In the Time of the Butterflies. As a Theatre and Psychology double major with a sound design minor, his recent credits include Amicus, Play On!, and Into the Woods. Seb would like to thank Mariana and the rest of the production team for an incredible experience and such a welcoming community within this show.
Felipe Hoyos-González (Music Director/Composer/Sound Designer, he/him) is a Colombian composer and sound artist whose work explores opera, electroacoustic music, film, and theater. His piece Toccata (2022–23) was selected as a semi-finalist for the Beth Morrison Projects Next Gen Cycle 3 for new opera creators. He is the recipient of the Graduate Presser Award (2025) for Reminiscencia, the debut album of Huitaca Ensemble, for voice and electronics. He is currently a doctoral candidate in composition at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign.
Arran Kennedy Orive (Ensemble, U/S Enrique/Rufino, he/they) is a junior studying Theatre and Creative Writing, and a Cuban-American actor from Lawrence, Kansas. He is excited to be returning for his second Wirtz show, after “The Wong Kids” last season. Recent credits include “The Human Chair (& The Nose)”, and “The C Word” and “Hometown” at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival. They would like to dedicate this show to their abuela and late abuelo. El pueblo unido jamás será vencido.
Ash Kiran Aranha (Ensemble, U/S Lio Morales, he/him) is a junior studying Theatre and Computer Science at Northwestern. He’s proudly from St. Louis, Missouri, where he developed a love for acting and sound design. Recent credits include Footloose and Cinderella with The Dolphin Show and a new play by Eliza Bent, The Regulars (Mike). Much love to his family, and especially his little brother Oliver. Instagram: @ashkaranha
Alexander J. Olguin (Production Stage Manager, he/him) is a senior studying Theatre and Political Science and stage management in the Theatre Management Module. Alex’s previous Wirtz stage management credits include The Addams Family, The Prom, Working: Localized, Mancub, Danceworks, Airness, and Joan of Arkansas. His select StuCo stage management credits include Natasha, Pierre & the Great Comet of 1812, Bonnie & Clyde, Rodgers & Hammerstein’s Cinderella, and Once. Upcoming stage management: Topdog/Underdog, Ellen B, The Comeuppance, and The Night Fawn at Steppenwolf Theatre Company. To all those who dare to dream for a better tomorrow, it’s our time to fly.
Mariana Parejo Molinares (Director, she/her/ella) is a Colombian theater artist, who creates work through a multicultural, political, and socially engaged lens. A director, actress, and producer based in Chicago, she is completing her MFA in Directing at Northwestern University. In 2020, she founded Anfibia Teatro in Bogotá, a company that unites multidisciplinary artists to produce stage and audiovisual projects for diverse audiences. She is also interested in opera, bringing a feminist perspective to this traditionally male-dominated field. Her recent work includes Bastien und Bastienne, Miss Julie, Sunday on the Rocks, and In the Time of the Butterflies.
Seidy Pichardo (Assistant Director, she/her)is an international student from Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic and Georgia, United States. She is pursuing a BA in Theatre with a concentration in Scenic Design and a minor in Gender Studies. Seidy is excited to share the beauty, heart and spirit of las Mariposas with new audiences and is filled with so much pride to bring it to a new corner of the world.
Ella Poon (Sub Assistant Stage Manager, she/her) is a junior at Northwestern studying Theatre and History from Los Angeles, California. She has previously stage-managed other productions on and off Northwestern’s campus. Her most recent stage management work includes this year’s Dolphin Show, Footloose, the Wirtz Center’s Doctor De Soto, and A Midsummer Night’s Dream at Santa Cruz Shakespeare.
Pedro Rodriguez (Enrique Mirabal/Rufino de la Cruz, he/him) is a senior physics major from Dallas, Texas. With a passion for the performing arts that transcends his major, he is excited to bring stories to life on stage. By performing in shows, such as starring as Shrek in Shrek the Musical and Super Luchador in Frida Libre, his love for music and acting has been able to flourish into an integral part of his time at Northwestern.
Ludmila Stoffel (Assistant Choreographer, she/her) is an international student from Córdoba, Argentina. She is a junior studying Theatre with minors in Dance and General Music. Some of Ludmila’s dance credits include: Jazz Nutcracker 2023, The Nutcracker, Jazz Nutcracker 2024 (which she also produced), Danceworks 2025: Signal::Transfer, and Senior Dance Concert 2026. She has also helped with the choreography for shows like Alice by Heart, False From True, and Winter Guard, and is really excited to be working on this process!
Lux Valentina Vargas (Dedé, she/her) is a Cuban-Chilean playwright, director, and performer originally from Miami, Florida. She is a Junior at Northwestern University studying Theatre and Creative Writing, training in the Musical Theatre Certificate Program. She is a proud member of Griffin’s Tale and the president of Northwestern’s new work theatre board, Vertigo Productions. Lux recently directed her original play La Ventanita, produced by Northwestern’s Vibrant Colors Collective. Gracias mami, papi, y Marce por creer en mí. Los amo.
Sarah Villamil Hurtado (Patria, she/her) is an actor/writer from South Florida majoring in Theatre and Data Science at Northwestern. Recent credits include: Dog Sees God (Tricia), How to Defend Yourself (Diana), How to Rob the Art Institute of Chicago (Vicky). She is grateful to her family, friends and collaborators for all their support! Muchísimas gracias por estar aquí!
Mariah Waters (Ensemble, U/S Dedé, she/her) is a multi-hyphenate student and artist from the DMV area currently pursuing a double major in theatre and biological sciences on the pre-medical track. When not in rehearsals or on the stage, she loves to run, read, and ride her Peloton.
Alex Yang (Assistant Lighting Designer, he/him) is a senior at Northwestern University, majoring in Theatre, with a minor in Chemistry, and is completing the Theatrical Design Module. Alex is a theatre and performance artist who works primarily as a Lighting Designer; he is delighted to be working on another show at the Wirtz Center. Recent Northwestern credits include Danceworks 2026: Semiquincentennial, Footloose (The 83rd Annual Dolphin Show), ReFusionShaka 2025 (RFS), and Urinetown: The Musical (JTE).
Sophie Zhu (Assistant Stage Manager, she/her) is a first-year Theatre and Political Science major born in Shenzhen, China, but currently resides in Massachusetts. This is Sophie’s first time stage managing a Wirtz process. Her previous student theatre stage managing credits include Assistant Stage Manager on Eurydice, False from True, and Co-Stage Manager on Walk Along: A New Student Musical.