Water by the Spoonful
By Quiara Alegría Hudes
Directed by Meg DeBoard
Low-priced Previews Mar 23 - Mar 25, 2022
Somewhere in Philadelphia, Elliot has returned from Iraq and is struggling to find his place in the world. Somewhere in a chat room, recovering addicts keep each other alive, hour by hour, day by day. The boundaries of family and community are stretched across continents and cyberspace as birth families splinter and online families collide. By Tony-winner Quiara Alegría Hudes (In the Heights) and winner of the 2012 Pulitzer Prize for Drama, Water by the Spoonful is a healing and heartfelt meditation on lives on the brink of redemption.
Provocative and brimming with life.” —Talkin’ Broadway
Digital Program
Run Time: 2 hours with one 15-minute intermission.
Advisories: Strong Language, Adult Themes, Adult Situations, Drug addiction and recovery. Recommended for ages 13+.
Cast
Bryan BarbarinBryan Barbarin
Chutes & LaddersBryan is happy to return to the Cygnet Stage. He was last seen here as Sancho in Man of La Mancha and now plays with two internationally touring bands The Routine and Steam Powered Giraffe. Some of his credits include Joseph….Dreamcoat (CCAE), Get on Board (La Jolla Playhouse), Rocky Horror Picture Show (CCAE) Parade (Cygnet Theatre), Oz (Lambs Players Theatre), Music Man, Harvey, The Glory Man, Around the World in 80 Days, Big River (New Village Arts), Hamlet (Intrepid Shakespeare), The Threepenny Opera (San Diego Rep) and Dreamgirls (San Diego Musical Theatre).
Christian HainesChristian Haines
FountainheadChristian is excited to be making his Cygnet debut. Acting Credits include: Straight White Men, Sapience, Anna Considers Mars, Value Over Replacement (TBA Award for Featured Actor), The Moonrisers, Operation Ajax, The Seagull, Jihad Jones, Romeo & Juliet, Death of a Salesman, Bartleby the Scrivener, Cloud 9, Macbeth, King John, 5th of July, This is Our Youth, Woyzeck, Richard III, Trip to Bountiful, First Time Out of Bounds (Best Short Play NYIT Awards) and dozens more. He holds an MFA from the National Theatre Conservatory and loves his wife, Melissa Ortiz.
Steven LoneSteven Lone
ElliottSteven (he/him/his) is thrilled to be back on a stage at Cygnet Theatre Company! You may have seen him here last playing Thom Seymour in The Virgin Trial. Favorite recent Cygnet credits include Mr. Darcy in Pride & Prejudice, Thom in The Last Wife and Jackie in The Motherf**ker with the Hat. Born and raised in San Francisco, Steven moved to attend UC San Diego where he graduated with a degree in Theatre. Other favorite credits include José in Señorita Julia (Roustabouts Theatre Co.), Ray in Roz & Ray (Craig Noel Award Nominee, San Diego Repertory Theatre), and Mace in The Elaborate Entrance of Chad Diety (Craig Noel Award Nominee, Ion Theatre Co.). Steven would like to send his love and appreciation to all of you who have continued to support the arts during these unprecedented times.
Bryan Barbarin
Bryan is happy to return to the Cygnet Stage. He was last seen here as Sancho in Man of La Mancha and now plays with two internationally touring bands The Routine and Steam Powered Giraffe. Some of his credits include Joseph….Dreamcoat (CCAE), Get on Board (La Jolla Playhouse), Rocky Horror Picture Show (CCAE) Parade (Cygnet Theatre), Oz (Lambs Players Theatre), Music Man, Harvey, The Glory Man, Around the World in 80 Days, Big River (New Village Arts), Hamlet (Intrepid Shakespeare), The Threepenny Opera (San Diego Rep) and Dreamgirls (San Diego Musical Theatre).
Christian Haines
Christian is excited to be making his Cygnet debut. Acting Credits include: Straight White Men, Sapience, Anna Considers Mars, Value Over Replacement (TBA Award for Featured Actor), The Moonrisers, Operation Ajax, The Seagull, Jihad Jones, Romeo & Juliet, Death of a Salesman, Bartleby the Scrivener, Cloud 9, Macbeth, King John, 5th of July, This is Our Youth, Woyzeck, Richard III, Trip to Bountiful, First Time Out of Bounds (Best Short Play NYIT Awards) and dozens more. He holds an MFA from the National Theatre Conservatory and loves his wife, Melissa Ortiz.
Steven Lone
Steven (he/him/his) is thrilled to be back on a stage at Cygnet Theatre Company! You may have seen him here last playing Thom Seymour in The Virgin Trial. Favorite recent Cygnet credits include Mr. Darcy in Pride & Prejudice, Thom in The Last Wife and Jackie in The Motherf**ker with the Hat. Born and raised in San Francisco, Steven moved to attend UC San Diego where he graduated with a degree in Theatre. Other favorite credits include José in Señorita Julia (Roustabouts Theatre Co.), Ray in Roz & Ray (Craig Noel Award Nominee, San Diego Repertory Theatre), and Mace in The Elaborate Entrance of Chad Diety (Craig Noel Award Nominee, Ion Theatre Co.). Steven would like to send his love and appreciation to all of you who have continued to support the arts during these unprecedented times.
Catalina Dolores MaynardCatalina Dolores Maynard
OdessaLocally, Catalina has worked at the San Diego REP, Moonlight Theatre, North Coast Rep, New Village Arts, La Jolla Playhouse, the Old Globe, and iON Theatre as a company member for eight years. Regional work: Mark Taper Forum, Yale Rep, Denver Center, PCPA, TheatreWorks, Mixed Blood Theatre, The Children’s Theatre Minneapolis, Arizona Theatre Co., and Off-Broadway at the Peter J. Sharp Theatre, to name a few. Catalina is a former Marshall Artist in Residency at UC San Diego, focusing on social justice work for the stage, and a two-time recipient of the Craig Noel Critics Circle Award for acting. Currently, she is a Learning Specialist in Narrative Medicine for the University Link Medical Science program at the University of California San Diego.
Kaivan Ameen MohsenzadehKaivan Ameen Mohsenzadeh
Professor Aman, Ghost, PolicemanKaivan (He/Him/His) is a recent graduate from SDSU with a BA in theatre performance and is grateful to be making his Cygnet Theatre Debut! His previous credits include Witchland (Backyard Renaissance), Iris and the Axe (Turnkey Theatre), Spring Awakening, Much Ado About Nothing (SDSU TTF); The Fantasticks (Point Loma Playhouse), and Peter and the Starcatcher (Apolliad Theatre). When he’s not on stage, Kaivan also works around town as a ghost host for Haunted San Diego Ghost Tours, and spends his free time filming, shooting arrows, and building puppets! He gives thanks to his friends and family for their love and support!
Melissa OrtizMelissa Ortiz
YazminMelissa is overjoyed to make her Cygnet Theatre debut. As a recent transplant from the San Francisco Bay area, she is the Producing Artistic Director for ShotzLA. Favorite roles include: Anna in Anna Considers Something a Little Stronger (PlayGround Solo Fest), Ariel in Shoot Me When… (SF Playhouse), Gemma in F L I G H T (PlayGround Solo Fest), Regan in King Lear (SF Shakes), Anna in Anna Considers Mars (PlayGround), Lizzy in The Wickhams: Christmas at Pemberley (Marin Theatre Company). She received her MFA from the National Theatre Conservatory. She loves her family and insanely talented husband.
Catalina Dolores Maynard
Locally, Catalina has worked at the San Diego REP, Moonlight Theatre, North Coast Rep, New Village Arts, La Jolla Playhouse, the Old Globe, and iON Theatre as a company member for eight years. Regional work: Mark Taper Forum, Yale Rep, Denver Center, PCPA, TheatreWorks, Mixed Blood Theatre, The Children’s Theatre Minneapolis, Arizona Theatre Co., and Off-Broadway at the Peter J. Sharp Theatre, to name a few. Catalina is a former Marshall Artist in Residency at UC San Diego, focusing on social justice work for the stage, and a two-time recipient of the Craig Noel Critics Circle Award for acting. Currently, she is a Learning Specialist in Narrative Medicine for the University Link Medical Science program at the University of California San Diego.
Kaivan Ameen Mohsenzadeh
Kaivan (He/Him/His) is a recent graduate from SDSU with a BA in theatre performance and is grateful to be making his Cygnet Theatre Debut! His previous credits include Witchland (Backyard Renaissance), Iris and the Axe (Turnkey Theatre), Spring Awakening, Much Ado About Nothing (SDSU TTF); The Fantasticks (Point Loma Playhouse), and Peter and the Starcatcher (Apolliad Theatre). When he’s not on stage, Kaivan also works around town as a ghost host for Haunted San Diego Ghost Tours, and spends his free time filming, shooting arrows, and building puppets! He gives thanks to his friends and family for their love and support!
Melissa Ortiz
Melissa is overjoyed to make her Cygnet Theatre debut. As a recent transplant from the San Francisco Bay area, she is the Producing Artistic Director for ShotzLA. Favorite roles include: Anna in Anna Considers Something a Little Stronger (PlayGround Solo Fest), Ariel in Shoot Me When… (SF Playhouse), Gemma in F L I G H T (PlayGround Solo Fest), Regan in King Lear (SF Shakes), Anna in Anna Considers Mars (PlayGround), Lizzy in The Wickhams: Christmas at Pemberley (Marin Theatre Company). She received her MFA from the National Theatre Conservatory. She loves her family and insanely talented husband.
Emily Song TylerEmily Song Tyler
OrangutanEmily Song Tyler is thrilled to be a part of the Water By The Spoonful family! Emily recently appeared in the World Premiere of Gold Mountain (Utah Shakespeare Festival, covering Ali Ewoldt). Select credits include Paw Patrol Live at Home (now streaming on Paramount+), You’re a Good Man Charlie Brown (Theatre Barn), Spelling Bee (Priscilla Beach), The King and I (La Comedia), Elf The Musical (Surflight Theatre), Hamlet (PA Shakespeare Festival), A Christmas Carol (Geva Theatre Center), and Measure For Measure (Hip To Hip). Love and thanks to Mom, Dad, and Jon! @emilysongtyler
Emily Song Tyler
Emily Song Tyler is thrilled to be a part of the Water By The Spoonful family! Emily recently appeared in the World Premiere of Gold Mountain (Utah Shakespeare Festival, covering Ali Ewoldt). Select credits include Paw Patrol Live at Home (now streaming on Paramount+), You’re a Good Man Charlie Brown (Theatre Barn), Spelling Bee (Priscilla Beach), The King and I (La Comedia), Elf The Musical (Surflight Theatre), Hamlet (PA Shakespeare Festival), A Christmas Carol (Geva Theatre Center), and Measure For Measure (Hip To Hip). Love and thanks to Mom, Dad, and Jon! @emilysongtyler
Creative Team
Meg DeBoard
Meg DeBoard is a Southern California–based theatre director who embodies a strong personal commitment to the arts and community. She recently completed the 2021 Directing Fellowship at The Old Globe. Directing credits include Spring Awakening (Grossmont College), Dancing Lessons (Scripps Ranch Theatre/Oceanside Theatre Company co-pro) Failure: A Love Story, Pride & Prejudice, Into the Woods, Little Women, And Then They Came For Me (Point Loma Nazarene University). She is Director of Theatre at Point Loma Nazarene University and holds an MFA in Theatre Directing from the University of Essex in London.
Jill Jones
Jill (she/her/hers) is delighted to be a part of the Artistic process at Cygnet alongside the wonderful Meg DeBoard. She has been with the Cygnet for five years in multiple roles and is currently serving as Donor Relations Associate. She holds a BFA in Theatre with an emphasis in Performance from San Diego State University. Directing credits include We Will Not Describe the Conversation (Patchwork Theatre Co.), Julius Cesar (SDSU). Asst. Directing: Love Song (Scripps Ranch Theatre), Picasso at the Lapin Agile (SDSU), The Last Wife (Cygnet Theatre). Acting: Actually (SDSU), Más (SDSU), Romeo and Juliet (Stagehouse Theatre), Blood Wedding (Stagehouse Theatre).
Minjoo Kim
Minjoo Kim is excited to return to Cygnet Theatre with Water by the Spoonful. Previously at Cygnet Theatre: Life Sucks, The Great Leap. Her collective lighting design credits include The Great Leap (Round House Theatre), The Chief (Pittsburgh Public Theater), One in Two (Diversionary Theatre), Bette Davis Ain’t for Sissies (Mile Square Theatre), The Two (Space Owul), Quiet No More (San Diego Women’s Chorus), Qulili (The Blindspot), IDEAS-Cetacea (Calit2 Theater, Atkinson Hall), Crimson Girl (Dongsoong Art Center), Die or Not (Seoul Art Space Mullae), Mask on/off (Shanghai Dramatic Arts Centre). Her work for Othello got selected in the Emerging Artist/Imagination Exhibit from the USA at Prague Quadrennial in 2019 as well as Emerging Artist Exhibition of World Stage Design 2022. Check out her work on her website: minjoo-design.com
Yi-Chien Lee
Yi-Chien is a San Diego-based set designer working in theatre and film. She received MFA in Scenic Design at UC San Diego. Her work for Moon drunk was selected for the Emerging Artist/Imagination Exhibit in the 2019 Prague Quadrennial, and Un-Tongue was exhibited in The 28th Cairo International Festival for Experimental Theatre. Recent scenic design projects include Life Sucks, The Great Leap (Cygnet Theatre), About Chia-Yi (Our Theatre), Burn (STR Network), The Winter’s Tale (The Old Globe, globe for all), Girlfriend, A Kind of Weather (Diversionary Theatre, San Diego). portfolio: yichienlee.com
Danita Lee
Danita is thrilled to be part of this wonderful production! Some favorite and notable projects are The Velveteen Rabbit (Hangar Theatre), Claire Kiechel’s Oh, Oh, You Will Be Sorry! (Hangar Theatre), Kimber Lee’s brownsville song (b-side for Tray) (Moxie Theatre), Into the Woods (San Diego State), Return to the Forbidden Planet (New Village Arts). Assistant design credits include: Constellations and Third (Hangar Theatre, Ithaca, NY), The Rocky Horror Show (Cygnet, SD), Chagall (La Jolla Playhouse/Malashock Dance Co., SD), and The Underpants (North Coast Rep, Solana Beach). She holds undergraduate degrees from the University of California, San Diego and is currently completing her MFA in Costume Design at San Diego State University (anticipated 2017). Thanks to this show’s incredible team, Michael J., the Lee family, and SW! danitalee.com
Hannah May
Hannah is thrilled to be back at Cygnet Theatre with a play that was a part of her theatre education at San Diego State University. Other credits include, at Cygnet Theatre: Rock of Ages, The Wind & The Breeze, Shock Headed Peter, and Stupid F**king Bird. At The Old Globe: Life After, Dr. Seuss’s How the Grinch Stole Christmas!, Globe For All 2019 & 2018, Meteor Shower, The Blameless, Barefoot in the Park, Full Gallop, Rich Girl, The Last Match, Buyer & Cellar and Ken Ludwig’s Robin Hood!. At San Diego Musical Theatre: She Loves Me.
Blake McCarty
Blake is a multidisciplinary artist whose original work includes large-scale immersive projects, new musicals, devised theatre, and documentary plays. Previously for Cygnet: The Great Leap, Rock of Ages, Angels in America, Spamalot, On the Twentieth Century (Critics Circle Nomination), and The Rocky Horror Show. Next up: producing Black Seance for the La Jolla Playhouse WOW Festival. Blake is also the founder of Blindspot Collective, San Diego Union-Tribune’s 2020 Theater of the Year, and serves as the Production Manager for Coronado Playhouse. He holds a BFA in Film Production and an MA in Educational Theatre, both from New York University.
Val Philyaw
Val has been working with properties for over four years, and is thrilled to now add prop design to their repertoire. They graduated from Cal Poly Pomona in 2015 with a degree in Technical Theatre and have been working as an artisan and stagehand for San Diego theaters such as The Old Globe and La Jolla Playhouse since. Although Val enjoyed filling the hiatus learning how to embroider, bake, and play table top RPGs, they are extremely excited and grateful to be making theatre again as well as joining the Cygnet Theatre team for this production.
Student and Faculty Night
- Mar 23rd @ 7:30PMDesigner Showcase
- Mar 29th @ 6:30PMFriday Forum
- Apr 1st @ 8:00PMTheatre on Tap
- Apr 1st @ 7:00PMPre Show Stage Chat
- Apr 6th @ 7:00PMWine Night
- Apr 7th @ 6:30PMPost-Show Talk Back
- Apr 10th @ 2:00PMJoin speakers from Vista Hill, a non-profit organization that helps San Diegans “who are confronting the challenges of mental illness, substance use disorder or intellectual and developmental disabilities.” Moderated by Assistant Director Jill Jones, this talk-back will address how real-life rehabilitation programs support people with drug addiction, help them to heal, and find greater hope.
March 2022