Program - The Sandwich Ministry

SKYLIGHT THEATRE COMPANY  provides storytellers from diverse backgrounds with access to opportunities and support they need to produce plays and grow. Skylight was recognized as "a leader in play development" by the LA Times in 2020 and a "powerhouse of new play development" by Dramatist Magazine in 2014. Theater companies across Los Angeles and the country have produced plays developed at Skylight. Since 2017, two Skylight world premieres have been produced Off Broadway and a third, Bronco Billy – The Musical, is premiering on London's West End in January 2024. Over the years, our productions have won awards such as the Ovation Award, LA Drama Critics Circle Award, Stage Raw Award, and the prestigous Steinberg/ATCA New Play Citation.

GARY GROSSMAN (Producer, Producing Artistic Director) is the recipient of the inaugural Henry Ong Award for Leadership in the Los Angeles Theatre Community, and Stage Raw's 2016 Career Achievement Award. His career includes work at New York's Public Theatre, Café La Mama, and Sheraton Square Playhouse. He has produced over 300 stage plays and more than 60 world premiers, some of his celebrated productions are Rotterdam (3 LADCC Awards including Best Production - recently performed at CTG’s Kirk Douglas Theatre), Church & State, Dontrell Who Kissed the Sea (Steinberg/National Theatre Critics Citation), El Grande CIRCUS de Coca- Cola, The Wrong Man (3 Ovation Awards), Years to the Day, Hermetically Sealed, Bullrusher, Mad Women (LA Weekly Award), Romeo and Juliet directed by Milton Katselas (3 LADCC Awards), Dylan (3 LADCC Awards), AIDS/ US Portraits In Courage, America Adjacent, Influence, Dream Man, Beautified and La Ronde de Lunch.

ARMANDO HUIPE (Executive Director) is the executive director of Skylight Theatre Company. Prior to working with Skylight, he served as producer for the national Latinx Theatre Commons, a flagship program of HowlRound Theatre Commons at Emerson College, where he led organizing efforts for the visibility and capitalization of Latinx theaters across the country. He has also worked with companies such as REDCAT, Center Theatre Group, Oregon Shakespeare Festival, the LA Phil, Latino Theater Company, Yale Cabaret, and United States Artists. He earned an MFA in Theater Management from Yale School of Drama and a BA in English Literature from UCLA.

CEDES SIFUENTES (Production Manager) is the production manager, management associate and box office manager at Skylight Theatre. After graduating from CSUN with her Bachelor’s in Theatre Arts, she started as an intern, and was brought onto staff. Some of her credits include Skylight’s productions of, A Hit Dog Will Holler, Apartment Living, and Lavender Men. She loves her theatre family and is thankful to be a part of this company. 

BENJAMIN RAWLS (Technical Director) is the technical director at Skylight Theatre! An actor and creative himself, he is so excited to be able to help the immensely talented performers, designers, and staff here at Skylight realize they’re technical vision for the work they care so much about. He is also the Head Sound Engineer and Dark Night Producer for Loft Ensemble Theatre Co in North Hollywood. Enjoy the show!

CAROLYN MRAZ (Scenic Design) has collaborated on over 70 world premiere new works such as off-Broadway musicals, regional theater productions, immersive events, performance art, and international tours, including some favorite design challenges: a magic show, a spaceship, a sexy lounge on a decommissioned ferry, a rock musical staged in a church sanctuary, and a collapsible performance tent. Carolyn teaches at California State University Fullerton. Proud union member USA 829. Please visit www.cmraz.com for a visual peek.

R.S BUCK (Lighting Design)  is a Los Angeles-based international producer, designer, and manager for live experiences. Their work focuses on creating safe-spaces for whimsical satisfaction. They hold their MFA in Experience Design and Production from California Institute of the Arts.

NOEL NICHOLS (Sound Design) is a regional Sound Designer and composer from Phoenix, Arizona. Select Designs: Avaaz (South Coast Repertory, Olney Theatre Center), tiny father (Geffen Playhouse), i love you so much I could die (New York Theatre Workshop) Uncle Vanya (Assoc Sound Design, Lincoln Center) the ripple, the wave that carried me home (Berkeley Rep/Goodman) Lady Day at Emerson’s Bar and Grill (Baltimore Center Stage) Tomás and the Library Lady, Memory House (Lake Dillon Theatre Co.) Today is My Birthday (Yale Repertory Theatre) Mojada (Indianapolis Shakespeare Company) MFA in Sound Design from Yale School of Drama. Current faculty in Sound Design at the University of Southern California. NoelNicholsDesign.com

MYLETTE NORA (Costume Design) is an Ovation Award and NAACP Theatre Award recipient for best costumes, listed in the honors edition of The Cambridge Registry of Who’s Who Among Executive and Professional Women, works world wide consists of television, film, video and stage, and was seen nightly on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno and now You Bet Your Life with Jay Leno and Kevin Eubanks, and weekly on Jay Leno's Garage. The famed artist Synthia St. James noted Mylette as being the inspiration for her world renowned painting  Ensemble which graced the cover of the best selling novel Waiting To Exhale by Terry McMillan. Mylette's designer lines are, doggie wear, FromTheHeartDoggieWear.com, heirloom dolls, My Mind's Eye, and now face mask by, Mylette!

MICHAEL O'HARA (Properties Design) is happy to be asked back for another production at Skylight. A freelance props designer, his work  has appeared on stage at Celebration Theatre, Circle X, East West Players, the Blank, Theatre of NOTE, Coeurage Theatre, The Road Theatre, the Garry Marshall, East West Players, IAMA Theatre, Sacred Fools, and Artists at Play to name a few. He also was the original Props Designer for multiple shows at CTG’s Block Party at the Kirk Douglas Theatre. Thank you for supporting Los Angeles theatre.

JESSICA KILGORE (Production Stage Manager) is currently a student in the MFA program at Cal State LA; majoring in Television, Film, and Theatre with an emphasis in Acting. When she is not acting in shows, Jessica works behind the scenes helping wherever she can. At Skylight Theatre Company she has worked on shows such as A Hit Dog Will Holler, Lavender Men, and recently stage managed Queerwise’s AIDS Threads: From Epidemic to Ecodisaster. She hopes you enjoy the show.

KAMILA BOGA (Assistant Director/Rehearsal Stage Manager) is a director, actor, and playwright. Fueled by the belief that creatives are second responders, she develops and directs expressive, ensemble-driven work that turns tension into art. Kamila attends Dartmouth College where her directorial credits include and thou shalt be healed, Dance Nation, Collective Rage: A Play in 5 Betties, and Dry Land. She has received multiple awards from Dartmouth including the Eleanor Frost Playwriting Prize for Flinch. Her play In Case of Bruising was commissioned and produced by Atlanta’s Horizon Theatre Company. In summer 2023, she assistant directed Dirty Laundry at the Ojai Playwrights Conference. Kamila is thrilled to work with Skylight Theatre and grateful for the opportunity to collaborate on new work.

VICTORIA HOFFMAN (Casting Director) is thrilled to continue this partnership with the Skylight family! As Resident CD for Rogue Machine, recent credits include Heroes of the Fourth Turning and H*tler’s Tasters; For the Love of a Glove at The Carl Sagan & Ann Druyan Theater; Kiss of the Spider Woman at A Noise Within; Curious Incident at Greenway Court; Judas Kiss & Streetcar for Boston Court.  Film projects include the AFI Thesis films Zenaida (LAAPFF Official Selection) and The Fishmonger (CAA Moebius Selection); Dog Lover at the DTLA Film Festival (among many). Currently Manager of Casting at the AFI Conservatory. Acting credits include Julius Weezer for the Troubies and TV pop ups in Abbot Elementary and The Shrink Next Door. www.victoriahoffman.com

@VicHoffmanLA