Previous Company Members
SOPHIE BRUBAKER (she/her)
Sophie is a senior at UCD and a third year Catalyst ensemble member, and she is overjoyed to once again be on a team committed to art that promotes compassion and conversation. Some favorite credits include Ranked with C3T, and touring with Light The Way: A Bike Safety Musical at Bike City Theatre. Sophie is also featured on Ranked's streaming concept album. In extra moments, you'll find Sophie singing words that could be spoken.
OLIVIA CASERTA (she/her)
Olivia is currently pursuing a Bachelor’s Degree in Arts and Sciences at UC Davis. You may have seen her last season in Ranked and Over There Outside at the festival. She is also involved in the student-run theatre club, Studio 301, and began her acting with Theatre at Granite Bay.
NATE CHALLIS (he/him)
Nate Challis is an Actor, Loan Officer, and aspiring adult. He recently graduated from UC Davis with a B.A. in Communication. Nate is ecstatic to be returning to the Catalyst. You may have seen him in Peter and The Starcatcher (Peter), or Ranked which is currently streaming on various platforms. In his free time Nate enjoys long runs, petting puppies, and voting out corrupt politicians.
SASHA CHAVEZ (she/her)
Sasha Chavez is a third-year Theatre and Dance major at UC Davis. Her recent work has seen her in various productions at UC Davis including Peter and the Starcatcher and AntigoneNOW. She is an actress, singer, and dancer. She hopes to use her voice and art to diversify the theatre community and is an advocate for social justice.
JOSEPH DE LEON (he/him)
JP is an actor, singer, photographer and writer. He is currently a third year undergrad at UC Davis working on various personal projects and works of theatre on his journey towards a BFA in both Theatre and Cinema & Digital Media. JP has been working with the UC Davis department since his freshman year and has been littering his time and acting resume with various shows like The Addams Family (Studio 301), Ranked, and Peter & The Starcatcher.
EVAGAIL FEDALIZO (she/her)
Evagail started acting in her hometown of San Jose, starring in productions such as Beauty and the Beast and High School Musical amongst others. She most recently understudied for UC Davis’s Peter and the Starcatcher. She is currently studying Neurobiology, Physiology, & Behavior and Theatre & Dance at UC Davis. This is her first season with Catalyst, and she is excited to work with and learn from the very talented and creative team.
KATIE HALLS (she/her)
Katie is currently pursuing a Bachelor of Arts in Theatre and Dance, and English, as well as a minor in Professional Writing at UC Davis. Recent roles include Molly in Peter and the Starcatcher (UC Davis), Lucy in The Threepenny Opera (UC Davis), Jordan in Ranked (Ground and Field Theatre Festival), and Sophie in Mamma Mia! (Fair Oaks Theatre Festival). When not on the stage, she teaches an online theatre class through ArtsBridge and edits documents for the student organization “Theatre for Social Change”.
ERIC HIN (he/him)
Eric Hin, an incoming freshman to UC Davis, is thrilled to be a part of Catalyst. He has appeared in several theatre productions over the years as a part of Franklin High School’s theatre company, most notably in As You Like it as Jaques, The Crucible as Judge John Hawthorne, and My Fair Lady as Henry Higgins, to name just a few. Eric has also been recognized by the Lenaea High School Theatre Festival as a 2020 gold medal recipient for his work on duo scenes. A native of Elk Grove, California, Eric enjoys bouldering and getting out into nature outside the theater.
EROLINA KAMBUROVA (she/her)
Erolina is a multidisciplinary performer trained at Berkeley Rep. Recent credits include UCD Theatre Department’s Peter and the Starcatcher, Ground & Field Theatre Festival’s Ranked, the world premiere of Iron Shoes at Shotgun Players, and U/S for Watch on the Rhine at Berkeley Rep, and working as the 2019 MAD Marketing/Communications fellow at Shotgun Players. She is a second year Theatre & Dance and Design double major and is thrilled to be continuing her time with the festival!
CHERYL KUO
Cheryl Kuo is delighted to be a part of Catalyst: A Think Tank Theatre this year. After watching a Jackie Chan movie eleven years ago, she discovered her passion for performing and has since then been training and growing her talents. Some of her favorite credits include: Godspell 2012 Revival (Lindsay), Seussical Jr. (Mayzie), Elf the Musical Jr. (Jovie), and Mary Poppins (Jane). Cheryl has also performed in numerous competitions and events such as Teens Create Dreams, Lenaea Theatre Festival, Rita Moreno Awards, AMTC SHINE (won best overall teen actress), and several others. She is also currently signed with a talent agency in San Francisco. Besides acting and singing, Cheryl practices martial arts, plays piano and guitar, and is very involved in her church. She would like to thank her parents and friends for their constant support, and most importantly God, for giving her these talents and His faithfulness.
MIRA MALONE (she/her)
Mira Malone is a Theatre and Dance and Cinema and Digital Media double major at UC Davis. Favorite past roles are Grace in Radium Girls and Little Becky Two-Shoes in Urinetown. In addition, she studies screen acting and as an intern with Davis Shakespeare Festival, she worked on different facets of theatre, including arts administration. She is excited to be a part of this year’s ensemble and to collaborate with other theatre artists!
KYLE NAGASAWA (he/him)
Kyle is a third year Neurobiology, Physiology, and Behavior major, with a minor in Theatre and Dance. He is ecstatic to be participating in Catalyst: A Theatre Think Tank once again, and can’t wait to take part in the amazing works planned for this year’s season. Outside of theatre, Kyle enjoys working out, hanging with friends and family, and learning new skills.
STEPHANIE NIELSEN (she/her)
Stephanie is a fourth year Theatre & Dance major at U.C. Davis with a minor in communications. Through the Theatre & Dance department, she has gained experience as a dancer, stage manager, assistant director, choreographer, dance captain, company manager, and actor. Stephanie has previously trained at the musical theater intensive Triple Arts with Charlotte d’Amboise and Terrence Mann. This will be her third year with the festival.
TIFFANY NWOGU (she/her)
Tiffany is a proud UC Davis graduate. She was recently awarded best ensemble by KCATF with her role as Pecola in The Bluest Eye. Other credits include Maima in Eclipsed (Celebration Art); Mr. Peachum in Threepenny Opera (UCD); Ted in Peter and the Star Catcher (UCD). Tiffany has participated in Catalyst for the last 3 years and is extremely excited to grow this season.
HAILEY PETERSON (she/her)
Hailey is a third year student pursuing a double major in Sociology and Theatre & Dance. She was most recently in the Department production of Peter and the Starcatcher. She is on the board of Studio 301 and was in the 24-hour production of Shrek. This is her first year with Catalyst and she is so excited to get to work with such an amazing ensemble.
NICOLE RICHTER (she/her)
Nicole Richter is a sophomore studying Animal Science at UC Davis and is thrilled to join the Catalyst ensemble this season. Nicole studied musical theatre at Marin School of the Arts. Notable roles include Rose Fenny (Dogfight), Luce (The Boys from Syracuse), Mrs. Wilson (Joseph Andrews), and Hedy LaRue (How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying).
MANDY ROMERO (she/her)
Mandy Romero is originally from the Central Valley California and has always loved musical theatre. She is thrilled to be with Catalyst!
AUBREY SCHOEMAN (she/her)
Aubrey Schoeman is ecstatic to be returning to Catalyst. With an expansive background in performance on- and offstage, Aubrey enjoys the exploration of various theatrical mediums as they exist collectively and separately. She utilizes choreographic opportunities both in and outside of the department to research performative movement and interaction. Recent credits include: Godzilla/Thriller Zombie in Monsters Anonymous (Bike City Theatre); Alexis in Burst, assistant choreographer Ranked (GFTF); Maggie in Flora the Red Menace, dancing in and choreographing for Outside the Lines (UCD).
ARDEN SIADEK (she/her)
Arden is a second-year Theatre and Dance major, and is thrilled to join the Catalyst ensemble! In high school, she appeared as Elizabeth Proctor in The Crucible, and was recently in the UC Davis spring production, AntigoneNOW. She loves performing music, theatre, and baton twirling. As a twirler, Arden has some competitive titles, and performed in Disneyland parades. She also loves slacklining, rock climbing, and board games, and would like to thank her family.
JULIA SILVERA (she/her)
Julia is thrilled for her first year in the Catalyst 3T Ensemble! Julia grew up in a small town in Northern California, where her first performances were for her dogs, cats, sheep, and ponies. She is a second year at UC Davis, majoring in Theatre and Dance. Her favorite roles include Kira in Xanadu and Peggy in Godspell.
NOAH VANDERVEER-HARRIS (he/him)
Noah VanderVeer-Harris is a graduate from the UC Davis Theatre and Dance department, who found his professional focus in Voice Over narration and commercial work. This is his second year with GFTF/Catalyst, and last year he was fortunate enough to work on Fat Kid Rules The World through this community of artists. He loves performance and is ready to figure out how to use Zoom properly, once and for all!
SAM VOTRIAN (he/him)
This is Sam’s second year with Catalyst: A Theatre Think Tank and third year at UC Davis as an English and Theatre and Dance double major. He has been acting for ten years, and has worked with various community theatres and educational programs. His recent roles include Alf in Peter and the Starcatcher, and Frances in Ranked: A New Musical. Sam also acts as President for Studio 301, a student theatre club on campus.
CHLOE WASIL (she/her)
Chloe Wasil is a third year at UC Davis. She is currently a Theatre & Dance major with a minor in education and recently began pursuing a double major in Gender, Sexuality, and Women’s Studies. This is her first year with Catalyst and her second year with the Department. Chloe is also part of Birdstrike Theatre, UC Davis’s long form improv team, and she loves her cat, Georgia.
SHACHAR-LEE YAAKOBOVITZ (she/her)
Shachar-Lee Yaakobovitz is elated to be a part of Catalyst: A Theatre Think Tank this year. She is a third year student at UC Davis studying Theatre/Dance and Psychology. Recent roles include Lulu in Cabaret (City Lights Theatre Company) and Carla in In the Heights (San Jose State University). Shachar-Lee is excited to be part of Catalyst’s new works that challenge today’s societal norms and aim to make the world a better place.
ALEE YAP (she/her)
Alee is a transfer student majoring in International Relations at UC Davis and this is her first year with the festival. Previously she has played Rosalia in West Side Story and Heather Duke in Heathers. When she is not on stage, she is working with kids in after-school programs. She is excited to be part of the festival after a year hiatus from theatre.
ANANYA YOGI (she/her)
Ananya is a first-year at UCD and is ecstatic to be a part of the Catalyst ensemble. Previous selected credits include: Emily Webb in Our Town, Baker’s Wife/ Rapunzel in Into the Woods, and Marcy Park in 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee. She also enjoys working as an assistant music director for youth theater productions in her hometown. Ananya thanks her friends, family, and wondertastic voice teacher for their loving support.