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Dancer Bios
Hilary Thomas (she/her) grew up in Pasadena and trained with The Pasadena Dance Theatre. She earned degrees in dance and psychology from Santa Clara University and continued her dance training with the Joffrey Ballet. In 1999 Hilary created Lineage Dance to raise support and awareness for nonprofit organizations and to make the arts accessible to all. Since that time, Lineage has presented over 3000 performances and raised more than $500,000 dollars in support of charitable, educational and nonprofit organizations across the country. In 2010 the company opened the Lineage Performing Arts Center (LPAC) in Pasadena as home for connecting through the arts. As Artistic Director, Hilary works with a company of professional artists to present live music, theatre, and dance concerts. She has created multiple original performances in collaboration with local nonprofits (including Healing Blue with the Living Beauty Cancer Foundation, Ceiling in the Floor with Didi Hirsch Mental Health Services, After Roe with Planned Parenthood, and A New Day with the Phil Simon Clinic) which are in repertory at the LPAC. She has also directed Lineage's musical productions which include Tick Tick Boom, The Last Five Years, Pippin, Next to Normal and Cabaret. Hilary helped launch Lineage's Dance for Joy program, which offers free classes in the community to those affected by Parkinson's Disease, Alzheimers, Stroke Recovery, Cancer, and Autism. Through this program, Hilary produces intergenerational performance opportunities for younger students to work with the Dance for Joy participants on storytelling and movement pieces. She also works with a panel of artists and experts to offer regular death education and end-of-life-planning workshops called Staging Your Grand Exit. Hilary has earned various awards for her artistic work in the community: the Beverly Hills Outlook selected her as one of top choreographers of 2004 and 2005, she received the “Gold Crown Award” from the Pasadena Arts Council in 2006, and was nominated by “THE” Magazine as one of Pasadena’s top 50 creative artists in 2011. Hilary has also been on faculty at Flintridge Preparatory School, teaching science and dance since 2001. For more information about Hilary and Lineage, visit www.lineagepac.org.
Caterina Mercante (she/her) Early training and performing included dancing in Italy with Grupo Stabile Udinese, under the direction of Elisabetta Ceron and Antonella Cumin, where she was introduced to contemporary ballet and modern dance. From 1996-2000, she trained in jazz, modern, tap, and ballet with Fran Atlas-Lara, David Popalisky, and Audrey King. In June 2000, she received a BA in Theater Arts with emphasis in Dance and a BA in Italian Literature from Santa Clara University. Caterina has been teaching at Flintridge Preparatory in La Cañada since 2002, and has been dancing with Lineage Dance since 2000. In 2005, Caterina became the Associate Director of Lineage Performing Arts Center. Since 2007, she has been the coordinator for Pasadena Dance Festival.
Austin Roy (he/him) has held many titles at Lineage over the past 14 years: intern, dance teacher, dancer, development director, board member, bartender, emcee, etc.
Brittany Daniels (she/her) began dancing ballet at the age of eight and later studied hip-hop, jazz, modern, and ballroom at the age of 14. She completed Cecchetti examinations 1-5 and earned international honors for her last examination. Some summer dance intensives she attended are Cecchetti USA (nominated for an award in her division), American Ballet Theater, Ballet Magnificat! (full scholarship), and LINES Ballet (scholarship). She was awarded most promising dancer in her home city Temecula, California by ODC Modern Dance Company, as well as offered a full scholarship to their dance intensive. She was offered an apprenticeship to the modern company PGK Dance Project when she was 18. She traveled and danced in Washington DC, New York, Italy, and Cuba with Dunamix Dance Project. She was honored with many opportunities to perform, serve, and teach dance at places that serve underprivileged children, abused children, individuals with HIV/AIDS, and individuals who are homeless.
Ericalynn Priolo (she/her) was born in Brooklyn, New York and raised in South Florida. She received her early training at Dreyfoos School of the Arts and attended various dance programs such as Alvin Ailey Summer Intensive, the Ailey Extension International Dance Exchange, and Dance Makers Choreographic Workshop in Toronto, Canada. Ericalynn received her BFA in Dance from New World School of the Arts, Miami, Florida. Here she was able to perform works choreographed by Peter London, Gerard Ebitz, Darshan Bhuller, and Robert Battle. Priolo was also honored to perform Robert Battle's "Battlefield" in the Czech Republic and Peter London's "Frida" in Puerto Rico. Ericalynn Priolo has been a company member with Lineage Dance for 11 years and teaches at the Buckley School.
Lenard Glenn (L.G.) Malunes Growing up in Iloilo, Philippines, Lenard Glenn (LG) Malunes fell in love with dance while watching American music videos with his father. Encouraged by his high school mentors, he pursued formal training and went on to earn a BA in Dance and a BA in Social Ecology from UC Irvine in 2022. He now performs as a Parade Performer at Disneyland and, when not dancing, enjoys slinging ads, reading books, and watching films.
Though LG has never seen RENT, its music has always resonated with him, making this production an exciting and deeply fulfilling experience. Every rehearsal feels like stepping into something magical, and he knows that feeling will only grow as the show comes to life. He’s beyond grateful to be part of Lineage’s newest group of dancers and to create art with such a welcoming and passionate cast. As RENT teaches us—there’s no day but today!
Marco Tacandong (he/him) is a dancer, choreographer, and educator from Jacksonville, Florida who is trained in modern, contemporary, and hip hop styles. He received his B.A. in Dance from Jacksonville University and currently resides in Los Angeles, CA. He is signed to Go 2 Talent Agency and also teaches hip-hop at Top Billing Entertainment Performance Academy in Glendora, CA. He was a part of Snowglobe Perspective's Snowtorious, WreckLess Dance Crew, Nancy Evans Theatre, Florida State College at Jacksonville's danceWORKS repertory company, and was a dance director at a high school in San Gabriel. Marco is glad to be part of the Lineage family.
Meghann Zenor (she/her) was born and raised in Gleneden Beach, Oregon. She was a company member with Pacific Dance Ensemble in Newport, Oregon for eight years. Meghann graduated with a BFA in Dance and a BS in Communications from Stephens College in Columbia, MO. Upon graduation, Meghann moved to New York City where she worked in commercial production and performed with a variety of modern dance companies. Meghann moved to Los Angeles in 2004. She's currently a full time mom and sneaks off to be an Art Director a few times a year. Meghann has been dancing with Lineage since 2007.
Molly Mattei (she/her) a native of Elgin, IL, graduated with a BFA in dance from Western Michigan University, magna cum laude. She has performed at the Kennedy Center in Washington D.C. with Philadanco Dance Company, the Dance Theater Workshop in New York City, and her choreography was selected to appear in Western Michigan University’s Winter Concert of Dance in 2005. She performed as a dancer and aerial artist for Royal Caribbean International touring Asia and the Caribbean, and served as an assistant rehearsal director to Dianne McIntyre at the American Dance Festival at Duke University. In Los Angeles, Molly has performed with Winifred R. Harris’ Between Lines, Faux Pas Dance Company, Intersection Dance Project and Ptero Dance Theatre. Molly’s Los Angeles choreographic debut, “Damn the Man” was nominated for a Lester Horton Award, and she currently heads the performing arts department at Flintridge Preparatory School in La Canada. Molly joined Lineage Dance in 2010 and is very grateful to continue to be a part of this company alongside the most amazing artists and the very best people.
Nola Gibson (she/her), based in Los Angeles, is a dynamic and versatile modern dancer joining Lineage Dance Company this fall for her first season. She trained at City Ballet of Los Angeles, Los Angeles County High School for the Arts, and UC Irvine, where she earned a BFA in Dance Performance and a BA in Political Science in 2021. Nola's professional career includes 3 seasons with Benita Bike's DanceArt, creation processes with renowned choreographers Lar Lubovitch and Charlotte Griffin and freelance work with Waeli Wang, Celeste Lanuza and Bernard Brown. Her dedication and talent have been recognized through various awards, including the Spotlight Awards and scholarships at UC Irvine. In addition to her dance career, Nola is a certified RYT 200 yoga instructor with a specialization in prenatal yoga. She integrates her deep understanding of movement and body mechanics into her yoga practice, providing a holistic approach to fitness and wellness for expectant mothers. Nola continues to captivate audiences with her technical prowess and expressive artistry, bringing passion and excellence to every performance and teaching session.
Sarah Alaways grew up dancing in Northern California and has since performed, taught, and researched dance across the globe. She holds an MA in Dance Performance from Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance and a BFA in Dance Choreography from UC Irvine. Though this is Sarah’s first time performing in RENT, she finds herself falling more in love with its story and music in every rehearsal. She is beyond excited to bring this powerful show to life with the incredible Lineage team.
Teya Wolvington (she/her) began dancing at the age of twelve when she moved from Portland, Oregon to Santa Fe, New Mexico. After training in both ballet and modern for six years, she attended the Modern Dance Department at the University of Utah. Upon receiving a B.F.A. in 2005, she moved to Los Angeles and has been dancing professionally ever since. She was a member of Benita Bike's DanceArt Company for six seasons and has been dancing with Lineage since 2008. She is truly honored to be part of the Lineage family. When she is not performing, Teya is the proud owner of Core Connection Los Angeles, a private personal training practice conveniently located right here at LPAC, where she focuses on functional strength training and getting people out of pain. You should definitely call her for all of your fitness needs!
Performers, Musicians, Technicians Bios
Alan Geier (he/him) After directing Musicals as a teenager at a summer camp, Alan Geier attended Pomona College, where he studied piano, accompanied the Glee Club, and sang in a Barbershop Quartet. A Master's Degree in Human Development from Pacific Oaks College soon followed. For 38 years he taught music at Polytechnic School in Pasadena. His regular summer job was at the Humboldt State Chamber Music Workshop, (Director for 18 years) where he met flutist wife, Barbara! Alan continues to be the regular accompanist for Pasadena Pro Musica and the Donald Brinegar Singers. Upon "retirement" in 2017, he was delighted to 1) become a Staff Accompanist at Occidental College and 2) get more involved with Lineage: recent projects at LPAC include a Sondheim evening, Broadway Kids Show, Anna Christy recital, and musical productions of Pippin, Next to Normal, and Cabaret.
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Aidan Rawlinson (he/him) is a graduate of NYU Tisch/Department of Drama New Studio on Broadway. Born and raised in Los Angeles, CA, Aidan has long loved performing, having been introduced to the performing arts through ballet. Aidan's recent Lineage experiences include A New Day and A Chorus Lineage. Outside of acting, singing, and dancing, Aidan enjoys playwriting and poetry.
Ali Hoghoughi (they/he) is honored to be joining Lineage’s original RENT cast for this remount! Their favorite past roles include Jack Kelly (Newsies), Chip Tolentino (The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee), Prince Topher (Cinderella), and, most recently, Skip in Glory Days.
To Ali, RENT is a “perfectly messy tapestry” of life and love among struggling artists. Though deeply rooted in its time, the show’s themes only grow stronger with each retelling. Ali is grateful to pour their heart into this story once again—this time surrounded by both old and new friends.
Alyssa Holmes (she/her) is ecstatic to bring Mimi Márquez to life in RENT! From the moment she first saw the show, she knew she had to play Mimi one day — and that day is finally here.
Alyssa is a proud graduate of Howard University, where she earned her BFA in Theatre Arts with an emphasis in Dance. She’s worked with renowned choreographers like Jennifer Archibald and Lewis Johnson, and danced at the BET Honors in 2015.
She’s toured as Minnie in North the Musical and lit up the stage as Little Eva in Beautiful: The Carole King Musical. Alyssa is beyond grateful for the chance to share this story and perform alongside the incredible Lineage family.
Andrew Abaria (he/him) is an actor and musician originally from Beaverton, OR. His credits include acting and modeling work for Energizer, Bank of America, Google, TASCAM, Sizzler, and lululemon. Andrew played a supporting role in the biopic documentary MISS BROWN which premiered at Tribeca in June 2023 and he can currently be seen in the touring stage show SURVIVORS, a production based on the eye-witness accounts of 10 Holocaust survivors. A pianist, flautist, and singer/songwriter, Andrew graduated from USC's Thornton School of Music and his latest album "Rainbow" is now available on Spotify. Andrew also holds an MBA from Cornell University.
At Lineage, Cynthia Crass (she/her) has played Bertha in Pippin, sang and acted in After Roe, and has been in several of their Broadway celebrations. She has appeared as a classical soloist with numerous choral groups in the Los Angeles area. She has a BFA and MFA in Theatre, performing in many productions across the country, including They're Playing Our Song, Talley's Folley, Something's Afoot, The Baker's Wife, A Midsummer Night's Dream, and Dames at Sea. She is the Executive Director of Lineage and is always thrilled to have the opportunity to work with the wonderful Lineage family.
Courtney Outland (she/her) is a singer-songwriter, musician, dancer, and actress known for her versatile musical expression. Born and raised in Central California, she fell in love with music at a young age when she began learning Flute and taking her first Ballet classes. Courtney attended college in Santa Barbara and when she graduated she joined two local bands, Alegria Geral and Tropicali, both in which she played drums and sang. Additionally, she performed with the Revels' company as a lead actor and dancer in their Irish Christmas musical production. Courtney's musical style is a blend of Pop, Jazz, R&B, and Indie that is soothing to hear paired with her expansive vocal flexibility. She is also the Operations and Development Coordinator at Lineage.
Diana Leon (she/her) is an actor, singer, and musician from Pasadena, CA. She is a graduate of San Fransisco State University, where she received her B.A. in Drama and was awarded the Clarence Miller Musical Theater Scholarship. Diana is an avid composer and is passionate about Latinx voices in theater. Her acting credits include Tía (Sucía), Ariana (Sofa Sin Casa), and Abuela Claudia (In the Heights). Her recent Lineage productions include Cabaret, Matter of Time, After Roe, and A New Day.
Donnie Riddle (he/him) is an LA-based performer, originally from Chicago, with a passion for acting, singing, and dancing. A graduate of Brown University with a degree in political science and sociology, he is deeply grateful for the extensive theatre and performance training he received along the way.
Donnie is thrilled to be a part of the Lineage family and cherishes the many musical theatre experiences that led him there. Some of his favorite credits include Tom Collins (RENT), Peter (BARE: A Pop Opera), Bobby Strong (Urinetown), Georg (Spring Awakening), and Professor Hidgens (The Guy Who Didn’t Like Musicals). He also has a passion for straight plays, with favorite roles including Lloyd Dallas (Noises Off), Richard Hannay (The 39 Steps), and George Murchison (A Raisin in the Sun).
When he’s not performing, Donnie enjoys video games, comic books, and spooky movies.
Emmon Amid (he/him) is honored to step into the iconic role of Roger in RENT! A Los Angeles-based actor and vocalist, Emmon is a UCLA graduate with training in the Meisner technique from the Ruskin School of Acting and a lifetime of vocal study.
Recent credits include Carmen Ghia in The Producers, Jamie in Everybody’s Talking About Jamie, and Pepper in Mamma Mia!.
Working on RENT at Lineage has been a true labor of love — a space where Emmon has felt seen, supported, and free to explore without reservation. Portraying Roger has been deeply personal; Emmon feels a spiritual connection to Roger’s pain, passion, and search for meaning. This journey has been both healing and profoundly inspiring.
Jade Duong (she/her) is a voiceover artist and also a performer at Disneyland. Recent credits include Into the Woods (Cinderella), Spelling Bee (Marcy Park), and Miss Saigon (Kim), and previously made her Lineage debut as Fraulein Köst in Cabaret. Her work is showcased on her Instagram, @jaddeduong.
Jana Souza (she/her) is a Native Hawaiian singer, actress, and dancer born and raised on Oahu, Hawaii. She attended the American Musical and Dramatic Academy in New York and Los Angeles where she gained her Bachelor of Fine Arts in Performing Arts. After graduating she spent the next five years performing around the world. From Theme Parks to Cruise Lines, to National Tours, Jana has accomplished a lot. Since moving to Los Angeles in 2016, Jana has performed all over Los Angeles with multiple theatre companies. Currently, she spends most of her time teaching and performing at the Lineage Performing Arts Center as well as with "PHNX" an a capella pop group, "The Holly Belles", and "The Satin Dollz" an international Pinup Performance group.
John Guth (he/him) A native of Pasadena, John continues to successfully diversify his music portfolio, scoring instrumental compositions and all-electronic soundtracks for film and television, live performance, and the gaming and interactive entertainment industries. His film scoring credits range from full-length indy films to animated and live-action comedy shorts. His ongoing commercial work continuously adds to his growing portfolio of wall-to-wall music in a variety of genres. In addition to composing music for media, he also works as a sound engineer, producing audio for both studio recording and live events.
Paul Siemens (he/him) has appeared at Lineage in Cabaret (Herr Schultz), Matter of Time (Mr. Rogers), A New Day (Dr. Thomas), The Curiosity Tales (Mr. Licht), Next to Normal (Dan; Scenie Award for Outstanding Lead Ensemble in a Musical), Pippin (title role), The Last Five Years (Jamie), and It’s Complicated, which he co-wrote and performed with his wife; at the Simi Valley Cultural Arts Center in Broadway & Beyond (BroadwayWorld Los Angeles Award nomination for Best Cabaret/Concert/Solo Performance) and The Spitfire Grill (Joe); and on the East Coast in A Christmas Carol (McCarter Theatre), the Obie Award-winning kabuki play Benten Kozo (Flea Theater), Lend Me a Tenor (Harvard-Radcliffe Summer Theater; IRNE Award nomination for Best Actor), L’Orfeo (Tanglewood Music Festival), and The White Devil (Brooklyn Academy of Music). The author of three plays produced in NYC, Paul has studied creative writing at UCLA and Stanford, and holds a bachelor's degree in English & American Literature & Language from Harvard, where he won the Jonathan Levy Award for the most promising actor at the university. He currently serves as President of the Lineage Board of Directors.
Rob Lewis (he/him) is thrilled to return to his Lineage home for RENT—a show that feels like the perfect Jonathan Larson bookend, having begun his musical journey here with tick, tick…BOOM! Rob brings a deep love for storytelling and collaboration into every room he enters, and working alongside this soulful, heart-forward cast has been nothing short of a gift. With its themes of identity, community, and civic action, RENT holds deep personal meaning — and Rob is honored to help bring its message to life. Previously at Lineage, Rob worked on Pippin and Next to Normal. Now based in San Francisco, he continues his work as a director, teaching artist, and commercial actor. Once Lineage family, always Lineage family.
Sophia Kaminski (she/her) A classically trained singer, Sophia has had the privilege of performing in such roles as Cherubino in "The Marriage of Figaro", Zerlina in "Don Giovanni", and in various productions with the Metropolitan Opera in New York City. Many thanks to the entire Lineage family for their tireless efforts to create a communal, inclusive space for the arts to thrive!
Trae Adair cannot wait to be back onstage playing Benny for the 2nd time. And what a treat/privilege it is to be invited to play him here at the Lineage Performing Arts Center! This show means so much to him in particular because of how deep rooted the friendships are. Also, it shows that HIV/AIDS is not a "gay disease". Anyone with a pulse can get it. He was recently seen as Joseph in the World Premiere of the new Pasek and Paul's Lyle, Lyle Crocodile: the musical at the Pasadena Playhouse. Some of his past favorite roles include: Mitch Mahoney in The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee (Wisteria Theatre) Hud in HAIR( Sierra Repertory Theatre) Willard in Footloose!(Morgan-Wixson Theatre(Geoffrey Awards-Best Supporting Actor)), Jack in Into the Woods(CupcakeTheatre), Benny in Rent, Ernst in Spring Awakening (CupcakeTheatre), Lamar in Godspell, and Brandon Greebs in the series, "Mr. Student Body President"(Streamy Awards- Ensemble Cast) He earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree at the University of Texas at Arlington, then moved to Los Angeles to pursue a career in acting. @itsatraeslife
Randy Brumbaugh (he/him)
Lighting design
