Tarzan Cast

Freshman Bryce is excited to be a part of Tarzan and the San Dimas Drama Group. He’s been performing with the Group since before High School in Fiddler on the Roof and then Sound of Music, Hunchback of Notre Dame, It’s a Wonderful Life, and most recently in Big Fish. Bryce initially became involved in Drama when a Gladstone Elementary teacher noticed that he enjoyed being a “character” with or without lines. He spent time at a summer workshop at the Candlelight Pavilion and performed in Music Man. In addition to Drama, Bryce is involved in both Ninja Warrior and Parkour classes at Movement Lab here in San Dimas and is also on the Mascot team at SDHS. He wants to thank Ms. Kocalis and everyone involved in his wonderful Drama experience.

Sophomore

Junior Alyssa Duarte is beyond thrilled to bring the role of Jane Porter to life. She has been performing for most of her life as she found her passion at an early age. She has taken professional vocal and dance lessons since the age of 9 which has helped her hone her craft. Some of her favorite roles include Liesl from The Sound of Music, Wendy from Peter Pan and Sandra Bloom from Big Fish. She has been part of two performing art company’s (Met 2 and Top Billing) where she performed over 15 productions. Besides musical theatre she has developed a loving passion for classical music. She has had the pleasure of competing in classical vocal competitions like Spotlight and SCVA where she achieved a superior rating. She would like to thank her friends and family for believing in her and always pushing her to do her best. She would also like to recognize the efforts of her mentors Mrs. Keener, Mr. Timothy, Ms. Kocalis, Ms. Brightbill and Kaity for shaping her into the person she is today.

Junior Christian Erickson (Kerchak) is looking forward to perform in his eighth high school role as Kerchak. He previously appeared in Big Fish, It’s a Wonderful Life, The Hunchback of Notre Dame, The Great Gatsby, The Sound Of Music, Cabaret, and Fiddler on the Roof. His favorite role has been his portrayal of Quasimodo in Hunchback. He’s received a nomination from the National Youth Arts for “Outstanding Featured Actor in a Musical” for his portrayal of Lazar Wolf in Fiddler on the Roof and a nomination for “Outstanding Lead Actor in a Musical” for his portrayal as Quasimodo in Hunchback. He has also received a Highest Achievement Award from the Macy’s awards for Quasimodo as well. Christian was “Rookie of the Year 2017” SDHS Drama Club freshman year and has been inducted into the International Thespian Society. Presently he is the 2018-2019 Drama Club Treasurer. Christian is very fond of playing video games, metal music, and playing the bass guitar. He would like to thank his friend

Junior Victoria Garcia is extremely excited to finally join plays at San Dimas High School Drama, albeit a bit late. She is a junior, previously in plays such as Wizard of Oz and Big Fish. She loves to act, sing, and dance. She dedicates herself to theatre and practices every day, wanting to be the best that she can be. Theatre brings out the best in her and her only regret is that she did not join sooner.

Freshman Sophia Hamilton is a freshman and excited to participate in another SDHS Drama Production. She has been part of the Drama program since 5th grade. Sophia has appeared in The Wizard of Oz, Peter Pan, The Sound of Music, The Hunchback of Notre Dame, It’s a Wonderful Life, and Big Fish. She also worked stage crew for Cabaret. She received a 2018 Achievement Award from the Macy Awards for her role as Brigitta Von Trapp in The Sound of Music. She is also involved in Band and Drama Club. Sophia would like to thank Ms. Kocalis and Ms. Brightbill for these amazing opportunities they have given her. She thanks all her cast, crew, family and friends for their love and support.

Senior Katie Howes (Ape/Hunter Ensemble) - Is a Senior at San Dimas High School. Ever since she saw her first musical that the SDHS Drama Department put on, The Wizard Of Oz, she knew that she had to be apart of this amazing program. She is so excited to be apart of this beautiful musical. This is the 6th play she has been in, having been in the school's productions of Peter Pan, Fiddler on the Roof, Sound of Music, the Hunchback of Notre Dame, and Big Fish. She would like to thank her family, friends, directors, and cast for all of the support they have given her these past 4 years.

Freshman

Senior Along with being active in all of drama’s shows at SDHS, is a tri-sport athlete (H2O polo, soccer, swim). Some of his favorite roles include Jacob Marley in Scrooge: The Musical, Tevye in Fiddler on the Roof, Leaf Coneybear in The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, Dom Claude Frollo in The Hunchback of Notre Dame, and Edward Bloom in Big Fish. Ash has been recognized by National Youth Arts, the Jerry Herman Awards, and the Spirit of the Macy’s Awards. He is ecstatic to have been accepted to Adelphi University in Long Island, New York, where he has been awarded scholarships to participate in their theatre department and to compete on their swim team.

Kindergarten Kellan is a kindergartener at Gladstone Elementary, and will be performing on the SDHS stage for the fourth time. Previously, he played a son in Fiddler on the Roof, the papa goat marionette in The Sound of Music, and Tommy Bailey in It’s a Wonderful Life. Away from the theatre, Kellan is an avid athlete. At the age of 4 he started playing U8 ASL soccer at the Upland Sports Arena, and now, at 6, he has been recruited to play with The Fury’s 2012 club team. Kellan hopes you enjoy the show!

Senior

Freshman is a freshman at San Dimas High School. She has been an active member of the San Dimas High School Drama Department for 5 years. Mary has participated in such shows as The Wizard of Oz, Shrek the Musical, Lord of the Flies, Peter Pan, Fiddler on the Roof, Cabaret, The Sound of Music, The Hunchback of Notre Dame, and It’s a Wonderful Life. She is very excited to be one of the choreographers for Big Fish and is very thankful for this opportunity. Mary would like to thank Ms. Kaity, Ms. Brightbill, and Ms. Kocalis for everything that they have done for her and this show. She would also like to thank her family for always supporting her. She hopes everyone enjoys the show!

Sophomore Olivia is a sophomore at SDHS and is excited to be a part of Big Fish. Olivia has also appeared as Sister Sophia in The Sound of Music, a statue in The Hunchback of Notre Dame, and Mary Hatch-Bailey in It’s a Wonderful Life. Olivia is also actively involved in band, choir, and water polo. She would like to thank her parents for supporting her in everything, and also Ms. Kocalis and Ms. Brightbill for giving her this amazing opportunity to be a part of the drama program.

Junior Paul Vincent “PV” Pignotti is a junior at SDHS. He is on varsity Water Polo as a goalie and does swim. PV is very excited to be playing the role of Clayton in this production of Tarzan, a movie he grew up with loving and watching at his grandparents! He would like to thank God, his parents, friends, and his sister Monica for getting him into drama all those years ago, and for encouraging him to keep on going!

Junior Jacqueline Rich has had the pleasure of participating in the last 11 outstanding SDHS productions. She received the ‘Rookie of the Year Award’ her Freshman year and in 2018 she was nomiated for an NYA award for her role as The Baroness in The Sound of Music. Her favorite roles include Chava, in Fiddler on the Roof and Sandra Bloom, in Big Fish. To Sage: I greatly appreciate my fellow cast member, frequent double and forever best friend, Sage Smith, for always being there for me whenever I needed her and being the best friend anybody can ask for. She is going to more than great at AMDA. Some might say she’ll be “someone wonderful, someone interesting, and well-off and important”.

Senior

Freshman

Junior Aaron Smith (Professor Porter) is a junior at San DImas High School. This is his fifth show with the Drama Department at San DImas and he is excited to be playing this character in Tarzan. He has formerly been Karl in Big Fish and Clarence in It’s A Wonderful Life during this show season of 2018-2019. Aaron was awarded for the “Rookie of the Year Award” in 2018 in the drama department. Aaron would like to thank his directors for their hard work and dedication to the shows, his amazing cast for putting their all into their performances, and his loving family for supporting him and helping him whenever they can. Break a leg Aaron!

Sophomore Kevin Smith (ensemble) is a Sophomore in San Dimas High School. Kevin is excited to be in his third production for the San Dimas Drama Program. You may have seen Kevin previously perform in the roles of the Frustrated Fishermen, The General, and the ensemble in Big Fish. He also was the sound technician in It’s a Wonderful Life. Kevin would like to thank his family and cast for supporting him and the directors for giving him this opportunity. Break a leg Kevin!

Senior

Freshman

Sophomore