Vanity Fair
Written by Kate Hamill
Directed by Jacquelyn Ritz
May 23 – June 16, 2024
Preview Performance: May 23 and 24
Opening Night: May 25
Industry Night: June 3
Run time: 2 hours, 15 minutes including a 15 minute intermission.
Becky is “bad.” Amelia is “good.” But in an unfair world, it isn’t always that simple…Two women—one born into privilege, another straight from the streets—attempt to navigate a society that punishes them for every misstep. Clever Becky’s not afraid to break the rules; soft-hearted Amelia’s scared to bend them. Both strive for what they want—but neither can thrive without the other. Through Becky and Amelia’s victories and losses, this thrilling, highly theatrical (im)morality play explores how flexible our morals can become when the wheel of fortune turns…Bold, wicked-
ly funny, and shockingly relevant, VANITY FAIR demands that we face our own hypocrisy. After all…who are we to judge? A brilliant adaptation of the classic novel by William Makepeace Thackeray.
CAST
Alyssa Anne Austin
(Becky Sharp, Dance Choreographer)
SRT debut! Credits include: La Jolla Playhouse, The Old Globe, Moonlight Stage Productions, Cygnet, Theatre at the Welk, SDMT, North Coast Rep, and OTC, as well as numerous on-camera & commercial projects. Her one-woman show, Always a Banana, Never the Bride: An Ode to Broadway’s “Lesser Ladies,” won the 2023 BroadwayWorld San Diego Award for Best Cabaret/Concert/Solo Performance. Education: Penn State University & MCIT Studio. Many thanks to Jackie and Jill for trusting her with this role, and endless love to Mike & family. AlyssaAnneAustin.com
Dagmar Krause Fields
(Manager, Miss Matilda Crawley, Lord Steyne)
Dagmar last appeared at Scripps Ranch Theatre in Foxfire and Outside Mullingar. Recent credits Include: New Village Arts’ The Secret Garden, Emelie, The Ferryman (Nomination for SD Critics Award); Steel Magnolias, Witchland, The Elephant Man (Backyard Renaissance); Les Liaisons (New Fortune); The Fantasticks (SRT); Significant Other, Regrets Only (Diversionary). Earlier: Lion in Winter, Blithe Spirit, The Foreigner, Magic Fire, Hay Fever, Radio Gals, Leading Ladies, Anything Goes, The Mousetrap, Crazy for You, Barefoot in the Park (Moonlight); Unnecessary Farce, Morning’s at Seven, Amy’s View, Man of La Mancha (Northcoast Rep). (Love to my angels: Marv, Eric, Khara, Greg, Taylor, Ava, and Ayden.)
Sara Blanche Hayes
(Jos Sedley, Sit Pitt, the King, others)
Sara is thrilled to be working with Scripps Ranch Theater for the first time in such an incredible play. Her previous credits include Mark in RENT, Beadle Bamford in Sweeney Todd, and Sarah Jane Moore in Assassins. Sara also serves on the production team for Wildsong Theater in Ocean Beach, helping create each show in their season. She dedicates this performance and all others to her late grandmother, Sandra. “We are a team. We have to be. We always will be.”
Parth Kichloo
(Rawdon Crawley, others)
Parth is originally from New Delhi, India. He spent his first four years after college working in different sales positions, but found his way to acting in 2021. Since then, he’s landed two national commercials, supporting roles in feature films, and most recently a guest star appearance on a TV show. This is Parth’s second appearance on stage, having played Reg Willoughby in The Full Monty last year. Parth would like to thank his mom Veena, his dad Ravi, and his sister Supriya for their unwavering support. “Not everyone is fortunate enough to pursue their dreams. They’ve made it possible.”
Justin Lang
(William Dobbin, others)
SRT debut! Justin was last seen in Clyde’s at Moxie, and in winner for Critics Circle Outstanding Dramatic Production August: Osage County with Backyard Renaissance. Critics Circle nominated for Outstanding Dramatic Productions include: Of Mice and Men as George Milton & Trouble In Mind as Eddie Fenton. Credits: Backyard Renaissance, Common Ground, Diversionary, Intrepid, Ion, Lamb’s, La Jolla Playhouse, Moxie, New Fortune, New Village Arts, North Coast Rep, Oceanside Theater, Playwrights Project, Poor Players, Roustabouts, S.D. Rep, Sierra Rep. Justin was a founding member of Critics Circle award winning New Fortune. He is a teaching artist with La Jolla Playhouse.
Mikaela Rae Macias
(Amelia Sedley)
Mikaela (she/her) is grateful to play Amelia Sedley in Vanity Fair! The last production you may have seen her in was Intersections/Revolution: A Conversation on Queerness & Color (SDSU). Regional: Seasons: A New Musical Cycle (Oceanside Theatre Company) The Finish Lines Series: Business Ideas (Cygnet Theatre); Love All (La Jolla Playhouse), Chronicles of Kalki, Mother of the Maid (Craig Noel Nomination, Moxie Theatre); Into the Breeches (North Coast Repertory Theatre); The Mad Ones (Wildsong Productions); Songs for a New World, West Side Story (Broadway World SD Nominations, Teatros SD); Noel, Noel (SD Symphony). Education: B.A in Theatre Performance at SDSU (upcoming).
Instagram: @mikaelaraemacias
Mashun Tucker
(George Osborne, others; Dance Choreographer)
Mashun is an artist based in San Diego. He has worked with multiple companies in the area including Coronado Playhouse, Oceanside Theatre Company, San Diego Rep, New Village Arts and The Old Globe. While this is Mashun’s acting debut with Scripps Ranch Theatre, he was part of the SRT family last season as the lighting designer for Lost in Yonkers (Critics Circle award winner for Outstanding Youth Performance and Actor of the Year).
PRODUCTION TEAM
Jacquelyn Ritz
(Director)
Jacqueline is delighted to return to Scripps Ranch Theatre where she’s directed Accomplice, Communicating Doors, And Neither Have I Wings to Fly and Lost in Yonkers, and assistant directed Crimes of the Heart. Jacquelyn also teaches the ongoing showcase class for professional actors
at SRT called Acting with Jacquelyn Ritz. Other directing credits include: Dance of Death (Theatre
Undone’s Reading Series), Assistant Director to Tom Markus on Laughter on the 23rd Floor (North Coast Repertory), the Fringe’s That 24 Hour Thing (2014-2016, 2018). Jacquelyn has been an acting
coach, a fight director, a teacher, and mostly an actor for many years. She’s worked at La Jolla
Playhouse (Baroness in LEMPICKA), North Coast Repertory (the title role in Annabella in July among many others), Intrepid, The Kennedy Center, Goodman Theatre, Milwaukee Repertory,
Asolo Center for the Arts, Colorado Shakespeare and many more, working with and learning from world-famous Tony and Jeff Award-winning directors, including Rachel Chavkin, Hal Prince,
Oscar Eustis, Rachel Rockwell, and Gabriel Barre. Jacquelyn is a member of AEA and SAG/AFTRA.
Ruth Russell
(Producer)
Ruth is SRT’s resident producer. Producing credits at SRT: STEW, Chapatti, The 39 Steps, Lost in Yonkers, Neat, Extreme Home Makeover, The Outsider, The Dining Room, and The Taming. Ruth studied acting at the University of St. Thomas and has trained locally with Jacquelyn Ritz, Justin Lang and Jo Anne Glover. Recent acting credits: A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Deathtrap, Rose and Walsh (Aubrey Award winner). Up next: Twelfth Night of the Living Dead with Loud Fridge, running June 21-July 7, 2024. Outside of theatre, Ruth is a communications professional and occasionally spends time with her husband and adorable dogs.
IG: @theruthrussell and @citydoggossd
Kate Thorvick
(Stage Manager)
Kate is a multifaceted theatre artist based in San Diego. Theatre BFA, NYU Tisch School of the Arts. She aspires to continue developing her theatrical skills onstage and behind the scenes alongside her incredibly talented partner, Tanner Vidos. ASM highlights: The Great Khan (SD Rep), Witnesses, Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night Time, Sunday in the Park with George (CCAE Theatricals), Jesus Christ Superstar (MSP). PSM: Mary Poppins, Seussical (MYT). She sends a big thank you to her mom and dad for their endless love and support.
Cecilia Cron
(Assistant Stage Manager)
Cecilia is beyond thrilled to be at Scripps Ranch Theatre! She has been working all around San Diego theaters within the last year. Some shows include Clyde’s at Moxie Theatre (ASM/Makeup), Saturday Night Fever at Moonlight (Deck Crew), Xanadu at SDMT (ASM), Anything Goes at SDMT (A2), and many more. She was most recently seen as the stage manager for Nashville Nights at CCAE. She hopes you continue to support live theater and enjoy the show!
Nick Ritz Daugherty
(Assistant Director)
Nick is thrilled to help bring Vanity Fair to SRT! Recent Assistant Director work includes We Don’t Say Kill (SD Fringe) and Sisters on the Ground (Groundworks Theatre). He is currently back at Groundworks as Assistant Director on Lovers: Winners. Nick will train at The Lir Academy, Trinity College Dublin for his Bachelor’s in Acting come fall. See him on stage next at Backyard Renaissance in The Beauty Queen of Leenane.
Marcene Drysdale
(Costume Design)
Marcene has been designing costumes for theatre for over 16 years. Shows include Dido and Aeneas for Bodhi Tree Concerts, Lucky Stiff at Scripps Ranch Theatre, Good People at Oceanside Theatre, Thoroughly Modern Millie, Seussical the Musical, Sugar, 39 Steps, The Addams Family, A Man of No Importance, Guys and Dolls, The Winters’ Tale, and Mamma Mia at the Coronado Playhouse. She has also costumed several shows throughout San Diego, such as, West Side Story, Fiddler on the Roof, Anything Goes, The Drowsey Chaperone and Spring Awakening.
Dennis Floyd
(Set Design & Construction)
Dennis has been designing for the stage since he was a misspent youth, and honed his craft when his now-adult-daughters caught the theatre bug as kids. Design credits: Common Ground at La Jolla Playhouse (Sense of Love), Trinity Theater (LARPing, Once Upon a Mattress and Willy Wonka), Pickwick Players (Treasure Island), Lamplighters (God of Carnage, Cocktail Hour, Brighton Beach Memoirs and
Silkworms), PowPAC (Air Turbulence), and Coronado Playhouse (Comedy of Errors, Harlem Duet, Ain’t Misbehavin’ and Murder on the Orient Express – Aubrey Award). Dennis is extremely grateful for the support of his wife, Pam! “Thus have I, Wall, my part discharged so; and being done, thus Wall away doth go.”
Duane McGregor
(Props Design, Set Dressing, Scenic Painting)
Duane is delighted to return to Scripps Ranch Theatre after Stew. Other credits include: Frankie and Johnny in the Clair de Lune, Carrie, Sheepdog, A People’s Cuban Christmas, Blue Period, Lonely Planet, Mugre (OnStage Playhouse) as well as a Craig Noel nomination for The Other Place. Arriving at scenic and set production design from a background in architecture and exhibit design, her work focuses on the interaction between audience and environment. Thank you to all the creative team at SRT for their never ending enthusiasm, support, and insight. What a joy it is to bring a bit of Regency antics to the stage!
Omar Ramos
(Lighting Designer)
Omar (he/him/his) received his Master of Fine Arts degree in Theatre Design with a dual focus in lighting and sound from the University of California, San Diego. His design and associate design credits from across the U.S. include the Goodman Theatre and Chicago Shakespeare Theater (Chicago), McCarter Theatre Center (Princeton, NJ), Oregon Shakespeare Festival (Ashland), and San Diego Repertory Theatre. More information about his work can be found at www.omarramosdesign.com.
Charmaine Reed
(Rehearsal Stage Manager)
Charmaine loves working with the SRT family. Latest credits are SM Stew (SRT), PSM for Welcome to Sleepy Hollow at OTC, SM for Lost in Yonkers (SRT), Lucky Stiff at (SRT, OTC), I Hate Hamlet (SRT). Other credits include PSM for the Playwrights Project Young Playwright’s Festival 2017, 2018, at The Old Globe
Theatre. She has been SM for more than 25 productions since 2013. Favorite credits include Vanya, and Sonia and Masha and Spike, directed by Kathy Brombacher (SRT), Amazons and Their Men (Diversionary): Intern, How the Grinch Stole Christmas (Old Globe). She has a Technical Theatre degree from Palomar College, a BA from CSUSM.
Eliza Vedar
(Sound Design, Original Compositions)
Eliza (she/they) is a sound designer, composer, music director, and pianist based in Southern California. Their work has been featured in theatrical productions with La Jolla Playhouse, IAMA Theatre, TuYo Theatre, Diversionary Theatre, Moxie Theatre, Cygnet Theatre, New Village Arts, Common Ground Theatre and various educational institutions including: San Diego State University, CSU San Marcos, and University of San Diego. Eliza holds a Bachelor’s degree in Music Performance: Piano from San Diego State University.
www.elizavedar.com
