Meet the talented performers who make up our resident acting company.
AFA in Performance Arts from Pima Community College. Stories that Soar collaborator. PCC Center for the Arts: Monty Python's Spamalot (Sir Galahad), In The Heights (Piaragua Guy), Three Sisters (Vershinin), Mamma Mia (Sam C.). Arts Express: Rent (Roger, T. Collins US), Bright Star (Jimmy Ray), Chess (Freddie T.), Ragtime (Tateh/Baron), Anastasia (Vlad P.), Catch Me If You Can (C. Hanratty), In The Heights (Usnavi), Rock of Ages (Lonny), Side Show (Terry C.), The Rocky Horror Show (Brad M.). Saguaro City Music Theatre: Wizard of Oz (Zeke/Lion). The Rogue: Peter and the Starcatcher (Grempkin/Fighting Prawn). "I ain't got nothing, but you can always have half."
Nico Alvarado is excited to take part in On Your Feet! He has been in various AET shows, a few favorites are Damn Yankees (Ensemble), Beauty and the Beast (Ensemble), Side Show (Ensemble), All Shook Up (Ensemble), and Disney's Newsies (Spot Conlin). He also appeared in PCC productions of Addams Family (Lucas), Wedding Singer (Sammy), and Night of the Living Dead (Tom).
Andrew Ayon (they/them) is delighted to return to Arts Express for the 2026-2027 season. A Tucson native, Andrew has performed professionally with a number of local companies including Arts Express (The Rocky Horror Show, Rock of Ages) and Arizona Rose Theatre (Lend Me a Tenor). Andrew's training includes opera performance at the Fred Fox School of Music, as well as experience in ballet and tap. Additionally, they currently dance with the Lajkonik Polish Folk Ensemble and sing with the Desert Voices choir.
Malinia is excited to be returning for her 6th show with Arts Express! She is most notably known for her roles in Arts Express Theatre's Hair (Abe Lincoln/Ensemble), In The Heights (Ensemble), Rock of Ages (Ensemble), and All Shook Up (Henrietta/Ensemble). Malinia is a proud mother of 2 and a wife. Her artistic experience includes singing, dancing, acting, and modeling!
Danae Dorame is thrilled and honored to be a part of this amazing production and getting to portray the iconic Gloria Estefan! You may have seen her previously as Esmeralda in THE HUNCHBACK OF NOTRE DAME, Sophie Sheridan in MAMMA MIA, Ilona Ritter in SHE LOVES ME, Maria in WEST SIDE STORY, Mimi in RENT, Lucy in JEKYLL AND HYDE, Anya in ANASTASIA, Cynthia Weil in BEAUTIFUL: THE CAROLE KING MUSICAL, Vanessa in IN THE HEIGHTS, Belle in BEAUTY AND THE BEAST, Nicola in KINKY BOOTS.
Rachael grew up in Las Vegas and is an attorney in "real life", practicing civil litigation here in Tucson. Some of her previous roles include Eva Peron in Evita, Lauren in Kinky Boots, Violet in Side Show, the Narrator in Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, Inga in Young Frankenstein, and Sophie in Mamma Mia.
Tommy is a 23-year-old Tucson native who has been acting for 5 years. You may have seen him last season as Jack Kelly in NEWSIES. He is excited to be a part of this incredible show.
Dylan Jackson (he/him) is a senior Live and Screen Performance major at the University of Arizona. His first show at Arts Express was Kinky Boots where he starred as his dream role, Lola. Since then he has stayed at Arts Express to work on Rocky Horror Picture Show (Ensemble), Evita (Dance Ensemble), Funny Girl (Ensemble), and recently closed Newsies as Albert.
Since arriving at Arts Express Theatre in 2020, Tiff has been an actor, director, scenic artist/designer, stage manager, and costume designer for numerous shows. Arts Express credits include All Shook Up (Miss Sandra), The Rocky Horror Show (Magenta), Sideshow (Daisy Hilton), Best Little Whorehouse in Texas (Mona Stangley), Damn Yankees (Meg Boyd), Rent (Maureen), Bright Star (Alice Murphy), Sweeney Todd (Mrs. Lovett), and Always Patsy Cline (Patsy Cline). You can see her performing in her acoustic duo "Whiskey and Wine" all around Tucson.
Ivan is once again excited to be a part of another AET Production!! You may have seen him in other named roles such as Robbie Hart in Pima CC's 'The Wedding Singer' or as Juan Snow in the Borderlands Original 'Blame of Thrones'! He remains booked and busy in various future projects he can't wait to share with you all!
Emma is so honored to be a part of the 2026-27 AET season! She has been performing for her whole life and also began her music directing journey last year. In addition to co-music directing Bye Bye Birdie Jr., Emma has also been performing with AET for four years now. You may have seen her perform in shows like All Shook Up, Sister Act, Rock of Ages, Side Show, and many more!
Caroline Murphy is thrilled to be part of this amazing, meaningful show. Recent credits: Xanadu (Calliope), Side Show (Fortune Teller), 9 to 5 (Judy Bernly) with AET, and Guenevere (Camelot) with SFCT. Other favorite roles: Mrs. Banks (Mary Poppins), Carol Strong (Catch Me if You Can), Mother/Evelyn/Ensemble (Ragtime), Lady Beaconsfield (Jekyll & Hyde), Caroline Neville (Titanic: The Musical), and Rose (The Secret Garden).
Stephen Norton is an actor/singer from the Tucson area. You may have observed him as Lefou in Beauty and the Beast or as Billy Flynn in his high school's production of Chicago. He is currently in his third year as a business student at the UofA studying operational management.
Dennis O'Dell most recently appeared as The Old Man in FOOL FOR LOVE at Koso Theatre Collective, FUNNY GIRL at Arts Express Theatre, RACE TO THE NORTH POLE at Gaslight Theatre, and as Doolittle in Saguaro City Music Theatre's MY FAIR LADY. Other recent credits include ROMEO AND JULIET at The Rogue Theatre, FIDDLER ON THE ROOF at Arts Express, SCROOGE at The Gaslight Theatre, BIRDS OF NORTH AMERICA at The Invisible Theatre.
Kevin Orduño is an international award-winning, multicultural, multilingual, multidisciplinary, and multi-hyphenate actor and creative with a passion for Story that impacts and transforms. An active member of Arizona's performing arts community. AET Resident Company Member. Old Tucson Company Member.
Piper has been on stage as a dancer since age 4; performing in tap, ballet, pointe, hip hop, Jazz, Contemporary, Lyrical, Ballroom, and more. You may have seen her this past AET season as Katherine Plumber in Newsies, Columbia in Rocky Horror, or dancing in Evita and Funny Girl! She has also choreographed a number of kids shows, including Camp Rock Jr., Grease Jr., Once Upon a One More Time, and Bye Bye Birdie Jr.!
Erik Rosenbaum is 22-years-old from Anthem, Arizona. He is honored to be portraying a role that carries so much importance. Erik's past roles include Newsies (Race), All Shook Up (Chad), Sister Act (TJ), Bright Star (Daddy Cane), and SpongeBob: The Musical (SpongeBob). He is majoring in Live and Screened Performance with a minor in Musical Theatre and Communications at the University of Arizona.
ABBI RYE is so thankful to be given the opportunity to portray Zoe Murphy in Dear Evan Hansen! You may have recently seen her as Janet in The Rocky Horror Show, Kira in Xanadu, Sandy in Grease or in the ensemble of Rock of Ages, 9 to 5, Beauty and the Beast, Side Show, Fiddler on the Roof, Catch Me if You Can, Kinky Boots, Evita, and Funny Girl. This is her fourth season at Arts Express Theatre and she could not be more proud to share this story and character with everyone.
Renée Schmidt is a Native Tucsonan and current student at the University of Arizona. She is currently studying Business Marketing with a minor in Creative Writing, and has done Theater along the way! Some of her favorite roles include Audrey in Disney's Descendants, Factory Worker in Kinky Boots, Bea in Something Rotten, and Morticia in Addams Family.
Jayden Shaw is excited for his 2026-27 season with Arts Express. He's been seen recently in Funny Girl as a Cornet Man and Newsies as Oscar Delancey.
Odette Soeder is thrilled to be part of the Arts Express Theatre team in her role as Young Gloria (understudy). Odette's previous roles with AET include "Rosie" in Camp Rock, "Susan" in Miracle on 34th Street, and "Little Girl" in Once Upon a One More Time. Odette is a member of the BC Dance competitive dance team and trains with voice lessons at Tucson Music & Dance Academy.
Amy Williams is excited to perform again this season for Arts Express Theatre. She sang in the chorus of the Arizona Opera Company for 23 seasons and then switched from opera to musical theater. With Arts Express Theatre, she has performed many roles she loved, including her first, Mrs. Fezziwig in a Christmas Carol, Martha Watson in White Christmas, Ida Strauss in Titanic, Deb in Elf, Dowager Empress in Anastasia, Roz Keith in 9 to 5, and Mrs. Brice in Funny Girl.