God Kinda Looks Like Tupac
by Emilio Rodriguez
Directed by Alicia Washington
High school can be tough for everyone. Students, educators, no one is immune from the pressure. When Karina tells her fellow teacher, Garrett, about a student symposium that might win him Teacher of the Year, he’s all in. He thinks that Corinne, one of his talented pupils, could take the prize. But when the artwork she wants to submit isn’t what he expected, Garrett spirals. Will she cave to his request to scrap her idea for one he thinks is more acceptable?
STARRING
Estephani Cerros as Karina
Cory Clarke as Garrett
Wendy Joseph as Corinne
PRESS
Good Company Theatre to Return With The Utah Premiere Of GOD KINDA LOOKS LIKE TUPAC, Chloe Rabinowitz,
Broadway World Salt Lake City
Playwright Emilio Rodrigues Brings His Work To Ogden, Maren Scriven, Utah Theatre Bloggers Association
The Essential A&E Picks for Sept 12-18, Scott Renshaw, Salt Lake City Weekly
‘God Kinda Looks Like Tupac’ Makes Utah Debut At Good Company Theatre, Deann Arms, The Ogdenite
Brushes With Conflict: The Utah Premiere of God Kinda Looks Like Tupac at Good Company Theatre, Keolanani Kinghorn, Rhetorical Review
Fully Inspired by God Kinda Looks Like Tupac, Maren Scriven, Utah Theatre Bloggers Association
CAST BIOS
Estephani Cerros (Karina) is extremely grateful to be working with Good Company Theatre again. She’s a Weber State University Alumn having received her Bachelor in Theatre Arts, Associate of Arts in Spanish, and Associate of Arts in Technical Theatre. Her passion for acting extends to digital media, as she is represented by Talent Management Group. Having acquired a variety of Film, TV, and Web credits under her belt. She can also be found performing Burlesque and AFAB Drag under the stage name Rosa Rica. She would like to dedicate this show to her dog, Aladdin, who passed away during the rehearsal process.
Cory Clarke (Garrett). After taking a break from acting for five years, Cory is more than ready to come back to the stage! Cory has performed in 9 Circles, Crazy for You, and Peter Pan all as a bad guy. He’s excited for people to be upset with him tonight.
Wendy Joseph (Corinne) is an actor based out of Salt Lake City. Her theatrical credits include Squeak (Plan-B Theatre); Elephant and Piggie’s: We’re in a Play (Salt Lake Acting Company, 2021 & 2023); Hairy and Sherri (SLAC) and more! Wendy also does work in film and can be seen in Winter, Summer, Spring, or Fall; Cinderella in the Caribbean, Destined at Christmas 2 and more—her most recent feature film is an exhilarating thriller set to premiere next year. Outside of the acting realm, Wendy enjoys spending time soaking in the sun, smoking her friends at a game of cards and reminding everyone as often as possible that she’s the funniest person they know.
CREATIVE BIOS
Emilio Rodriguez (Playwright) is a theatre artist who began his career at the age of 2 performing one-kid adaptations of The Wizard of Oz in his parents’ living room using a broom, a funnel, and his mother’s high heels. Since then, he got his degree in theatre from U.C. Irvine and went on to pursue acting, directing and playwriting. He has taught Acting and Playwriting at the University of Michigan, Kalamazoo College, Michigan Actors Studio and Detroit Institute for Music Education. He also works with youth through Living Arts. In 2017, he won the Victor Bumbalo/Robert Chesley award for playwriting, in 2018, he won the Kresge Artist in Detroit Award for Playwriting and in 2022 he received a Wilde Award for Best Play and Best New Script (God Kinda Looks Like Tupac).
Alicia Washington (Director, Producer, Properties Designer, Sound Designer) is truly honored and humbled to be back on the scene with the Utah Premiere of GOD KINDA LOOKS LIKE TUPAC by Emilio Rodriguez. “Having read the show in 2021, I knew GCT would produce it one day.” Alicia continues, “With all the anti-DEI legislation taking the State by storm, I knew I needed to respond in a way that felt authentic.” After rummaging through piles of “TBD scripts”, I quickly reread the script, throwing it (lovingly) at Camille for a second eye. And here we are. Storytelling in a way that feels honest, authentic and true to experiences happening to our community.
During her brief time away from the stage, Alicia received her Master of Arts degree in Creative Leadership from the Minneapolis College of Art and Design. In addition to creating and implementing a Behavior Support Department at a local high school. It’s a place where the faculty and staff abundantly support all the ‘Corrinnes’. Lastly, Alicia thanks her family and cats- “From Oklahoma to the Piazza!” Love always, your Queen of Hearts.
Savannah Gersdorf (Stage Manager) is a stage manager from Salt Lake City. She recently graduated from the University of Utah with her BFA in stage management. Her credits include Peter and the Starcatcher, Julius Caesar, and Tinkerbell with Texas Shakespeare Festival, The Little Prince with Utah Opera among many others. She is ecstatic to be working with Good Company Theatre, and would like to thank her family for supporting her.
Allie Andersen (Scenic Designer, Scenic Charge Artist) This is Allie’s first show with the Good Company Theatre. Allie has been involved with theatre her whole life, and found her passion for technical theatre in her high school years. Recently, she has had the opportunity to work with multiple local Utah theatre companies. She’d like to thank her friends, family, and most especially her husband for all of the support that they have given her throughout the years.
Citlali Urquiza (Costume and Makeup Designer) is delighted to be costume designing Fremont jr. is not doing Oklahoma! in her first production with Good Company Theatre. She is a recent Weber State University graduate, having received her BA in Technical Theatre with an emphasis in Costume Design. She has previously designed Silent Sky, Red Days, and various other productions.
Camille Washington (Producer) is the co-director of Good Company Theatre. She serves in numerous roles at GCT, including marketing manager, and grants manager. Like Tupac, she was an art nerd in high school. Camille holds her BA in Art History from the University of Utah, and her MA in Exhibition and Museum Studies from the San Francisco Art Institute.
Gary Gabriel White (Lighting Designer) has been working backstage since his high school days and now holds a graduate degree from Central Washington University in Production Design. He is currently pursuing a career in education in Ogden while picking up acting and technical jobs whenever he gets the chance. He is pleased to be working at Good Company Theatre again.