May 8-11 & 15-17, 2025 in the Spanos Theatre

A fantasia inspired by E.M. Forster’s A Passage to India, PASSAGE is set in the fictional Country X, which is a neocolonial client of Country Y. B, a local doctor, and F, an expat teacher, begin to forge a friendship that is challenged after a fateful trip to a local attraction.

A meditation on how power imbalances affect personal and interpersonal dynamics across a spectrum of situations, the play allows a director wide latitude in casting the roles by race, ethnicity, and gender, with different casting choices highlighting different societal structures.

Be advised that Passage centers around issues of colonization and oppression and may be difficult for some viewers. This production also features a prop gun and the sound of a gunshot. This production is intended for high school age viewers and older. 

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TICKETING AND VENUE INFORMATION

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If you have accessibility needs and wish to request accommodations to ensure your full enjoyment of this production, please contact the Theatre and Dance Department at (805) 756-1465.

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Cast

Jenna Brock – Q

Jenna Brock (she/her) is a Theatre Arts senior graduating Summer 2025. While Passage marks her onstage debut as Q, her creative footprint spans far beyond the stage. She has worked as an assistant director, teaching assistant, stage manager, production manager, and composer on numerous Cal Poly productions. A 2024 SURP recipient, Jenna helped develop Staging Change, which she presented internationally in Athens, Greece 2025. She also DJ’d as DJ Solstice on KCPR 91.3FM. Post-grad, she’ll continue exploring socially engaged performance, starting with a trip to San Diego this August to work with Michael Rohd. Instagram: @jenna_marie_03.

Alex Campbell – R

Alex Campbell is an international student based in many countries around the world. He was born in Hong Kong, but grew up in England, Hong Kong, and now currently lives in Saudi Arabia and the United States. He is a 3rd year Landscape Architecture major, minoring in Theatre Arts and Sustainable Environments. He’s been involved in the theatre department for just over a year, focusing on acting and scenic design. This is his second production at Cal Poly, following The Lightning Thief, and is honored to be a part of this story.

Isaiah Covarrubias – B

Isaiah "Tuesday" Covarrubias was raised in San Jose, California, and has participated in theatre since the 6th grade. One of his favorite roles was Brother Jeremiah in the musical Something Rotten, and his favorite show has to be either Hadestown or Come from Away. He is currently getting his BA in Theatre Arts with an emphasis in costume design. Outside of theatre, he loves hanging out with friends and is in Cal Poly's improv team, Smile & Nod. He is extremely proud of his work in Passage and hopes that you enjoy the show!

Christianna Gatti – G

Christianna Gatti grew up in the San Francisco Bay Area and has been heavily involved in the theatre arts since her high school years. At Cal Poly SLO, she is currently pursuing a theater minor along with her Art & Design BFA in Graphic Design. As primarily a musical theater actor, she is immensely grateful to be part of "Passage" as her first dramatic play production experience. Last year she played Annabeth Chase in Cal Poly's Production of, "The Lightning Thief," and is looking forward to continuing her work in SLO and beyond.

Alexander Hayward – F

Alexander Tucker Hayward was born and raised in San Diego, California. She's been participating in theatre since kindergarten, and it was then that she fell in love with performing. Portraying The Red Death in high school in Edgar Allen Poe's Gruesome Gallery of Grotesquerie is definitely a highlight role for her. She's won numerous awards for her acting throughout her life, notably the Best Actor category at Industry Network's national competition. Some of Alexander's favorite shows include The Tragedy of Macbeth and Wicked. Alexander is currently working towards her BA in Theatre Arts with a concentration in Acting.

Linnaea Marks – H

Linnaea is a 3rd year graphic design major and a theater minor from San Luis Obispo. With Cal Poly she has performed as Kim in the 2023 production of A Cat Found God, for which she was nominated for the Irene Ryan Acting scholarship. Outside of theater, she works as a graphic design assistant for Campus Health and Wellbeing and the 2025-2026 KCPR art director. She would like to thank her family for their support of her art over the years. She is so excited to be a part of Passage, and hopes you enjoy the show!

Rosibel Mendez – S / Mosquito / Gecko

Born and raised in Los Angeles County, Rosibel has grown up performing most of her life at her local theatre as well as competitively dancing with her dance studios. Rosibel is notable for receiving a National Youth Arts Award Nomination for her performance of Mama Euralie from Once on This Island in 2019 and received first runner-up for Kids Artistic Revue Dance Tour's Senior National Title Award in 2023. Rosibel is currently training at Cal Poly SLO and plans to receive her BA in Theatre Arts and Communications as a double major in 2028.

Lauren Perales – M/D

Originally from Gilroy, California, Lauren started her theatrical career in the community production of Aristocats as an Aristokitten. Since then, she has loved performing; most recently, Lauren played Creon in her senior production of Antigone. Outside of theater, Lauren enjoys baking, her alone time, rewatching the HBO Chernobyl miniseries, and getting together with friends and family. By 2028, Lauren hopes to have earned her bachelor's degree in English with a Theater Arts minor. She would like to express her gratitude to her family and friends for their unwavering support and to everyone who helped make Passage such an amazing production!

Julianna Valencia – J

Julianna Valencia spent her life by the beach in San Diego County. She began performing at the age of two and hasn't stopped since. Julianna has been in numerous productions ranging from dance recitals to singing recitals and everything in between. Her most recent role was here at Cal Poly, staring as Eleanor of Aquitaine in the fall production of The Lion in Winter. Julianna is currently working towards her BA in Theatre Arts and has two minors in Art History and Philosophy.

 

Artistic/Production Team

Claire Edmonds – Director

Claire Edmonds is a freelance stage director. She most recently worked at The Public Theater as the Associate Director on Good Bones by James Ijames, directed by Saheem Ali. After Passage she will return to New York to start workshops for a 10-play cycle about climate change, climate denial and the history of environmental activism. Claire is from Atascadero California. 

FACULTY/STAFF

 

STUDENTS

Jessie Rizvi – Stage Manager

Jessie is beyond excited to work her first show as the Stage Manager. She has previously worked as ASM on The Lion in Winter at Cal Poly and numerous other tech roles at Carlmont High School such as Rigging Operator for The Little Mermaid and Mic Wrangler for Legally Blonde. Jessie plans to receive her BA in Theatre Arts at Cal Poly in 2028. She has adored being a part of the Passage team and is thrilled for this show to be seen by an audience.

Andrea Casey – Assistant Stage Manager

Andrea Casey is a first year Theatre Arts major from Atascadero, California. Her previous theater experiences include acting and costume designing at Atascadero High School and Assistant Stage Managing at Almond Acres Charter Academy in Templeton, California. As her first main stage production at Cal Poly, she is so grateful to be a part of such a talented, committed, and supportive production team. She'd like to thank you for attending, and hopes you enjoy!

Kasey Knapp – Costume Designer

Kasey Knapp (She/Her/Hers) is a third-year costume design student at Cal Poly and has worked on sewing and design skills for three years. While this is her first Mainstage Production as Costume Designer, she designed A Paracosmic Odyssey—written by Millicent Harrison—and served as assistant costume designer for The Lion in Winter earlier this year. Additionally, she has worked on A Dead Man's Cell Phone, Mr. Burns: A Post-Apocalyptic Play, Clue: The Musical, and Legally Blonde. She has also done projects in sustainability and is fascinated by new sustainable practices in costuming. She looks forward to working with the Pacific Conservatory of the Performing Arts this summer and to more design work with Cal Poly in 2025-2026. You can see more of her work at @kaseyknappcostumes on Instagram or check out her website kaseyknappcostumes.squarespace.com

Claire Lawson – Co Scenic Designer

Claire Lawson (She/Her/Hers) is delighted to be co-scenic designing her first production. She is currently a third-year Theatre Arts student, focusing on scenic design and stage management. She has previously been an assistant scenic designer for Mr. Burns, A Post-Electric Play. Her other credits include stage manager for Clue: The Musical, and stage manager for A Paracosmic Odyssey. She is looking forward to continuing designing at Cal Poly and other future endeavors. Examples of her work can be found on Instagram @claire.f.lawson

Hannah Jackson – Sound Designer

Hannah is excited to Sound Design for Passage. Recent projects include designing sound for productions of Clue: The Musical and A Paracosmic Odyssey. Hannah is currently pursuing her BA in Theatre Arts at Cal Poly and is looking forward to graduating next spring.

Drew Mahecha-Sherrard – Technical Director

Drew is a 3rd year Theatre and Environmental Management & Protection Major. They have previously stage managed for Cal Poly’s Orchesis Dance Company and Mr. Burns, a Post-Electric Play. Recently, they were a finalist for their work as a scenic designer in A Paracosmic Odyssey at Region 8’s Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival. This is their first show technical directing, and they would like to thank Richard Jackson for his mentorship and teaching.

Cydney Thornton – Props Master/Asst. to the Lighting Designer

Cydney has been involved in theatre since middle school, both on and offstage. She has been a performer, technician, and designer at both her high school and community theatre and continues to work in theatre in college. She has earned several awards and was nominated for Orange County Artist of the Year for musical theatre in 2023. Cydney is majoring in Child Development with a Theatre minor at Cal Poly SLO.

Cosmo White – Lighting Designer

Cosmo White is a 4th year student from Berkeley, California. He's about to graduate with a B.A. in Theatre Arts at Cal Poly, and has spent 3 years as a technical director for the theatre club on campus, Student’s Stage, as well as working on many of the student and major led productions during his time at Cal Poly. Cosmo is a multitalented theatrical designer, builder, and facilitator, focusing on lighting design and set construction.

Niah Pratt – Composer

Niah adores music and is thrilled whenever it overlaps with the theater in her life. She previously composed music for Cal Poly's production of Sometimes the Rain, Sometimes the Sea. She enjoyed this very much and is happy and grateful to get the opportunity to work on one last show before she graduates.