Welcome to Legacy Stage’s Burn Ban: A Horror Musical
We would like to thank the Mechoopda on whose traditional lands this event is taking place.
Help grow our legacy by signing up for our mailing list, volunteer, or make a donation. Your donation helps support our mission to produce and sustain professional theatre in Butte County.
This production is in a tech-free zone. All cell phones and recording devices bust be checked in with our front of house team. You can retrieve them after the show.
Content Warning: This production contains strong adult language, physical violence, gun violence, a depiction of suicide, and explicit sexual content, including nudity.
Meet our cast and crew below, and after the show come back and let us know what you think by leaving a review! Your quote might even make it onto our social media feed over the weekend.
Performance Runtime: Approx 90 mins
CAST
THE BAND
THE CREATORS
CREATIVE TEAM & CREW
LEGACY STAGE TEAM
MEET THE CAST
(ordered alphabetically by first name)
Ben Kaiser (The Stranger)
Ben Kaiser (he/him) is excited to be performing in his first Legacy Stage production. Ben has been performing in theatre productions, drag performances, and artistic events in the Chico community for almost 10 years. Some of his favorite roles have been as Dorothy Michaels in Tootsie the Musical and Spider in Jekyll and Hyde. After the sun goes down you may even be able to see his alter ego, Bertha Fae, across Chico stages.
Carol Ritzenthaler (Emmy)
Carol Ritzenthaler (she/her) is a third year Musical Theatre student with a double minor in music and dance at Chico State University! She is super excited for her first Fringe Festival here in Chico, and can’t wait to bring this world premiere of Burn Ban to Chico audiences!
Drew Hitchman (Bill)
Drew (he/him) is incredibly excited to make Burn Ban his first performance with Legacy Stage! Drew is a Chico local who has been doing theater for a little over 2 years. With his last role being Sonny in Grease, tackling this horror themed musical is just as thrilling for him as it hopefully will be for the audience! Drew wishes to thank everyone involved with Legacy Stage, the production staff, and his fellow actors for making this both a welcoming and overall fantastic experience! He is honored and thankful to be a part of this wonderful production.
Isabella Naiman (Lilly)
Isabella Naiman (she/her) is honored to play the role of Lilly in Legacy Stage’s world premiere of Burn Ban. This is her first time with Legacy and she couldn’t be more excited to work with such a wonderful group of artists! She is currently a sophomore at the Chico StateMusical Theatre BFA and Dance program and has attended Chico High School and Chico Community Ballet previous to that. Isabella has adored being a part of the theatre scene in Chico since a young age and wishes that the audience leaves questioning their own communication tendencies.
Michael Anthony Cermeño (Mike)
Michael Anthony Cermeño is an actor and writer based out of California and this is his second appearance with Legacy Stage. His most recent acting credits, include Fred, (A Christmas Carol, Legacy Stage), Ziggy, (Young Frankenstein, CTC), and Lucentio, (Taming of the Shrew, Legacy Stage). When not on stage Michael enjoys spending time with his dog, Roscoe, and his beloved partner Jasmine.
Sofia Gutierrez (Pip)
Sofia Gutierrez (they/them) is an Indigenous Latiné Los Angeles based actor, thrilled to be making their return to Chico to bring “Burn Ban” to life onstage! They graduated in 2022 from Chico State University with a BFA in Musical Theatre and minor in Dance, and this will be their fourth production with Legacy Stage. Notable credits include Jack Kelly (Newsies), Little Becky Two Shoes (Urinetown) and Lily Polkadot (Polkadots). For more updates, follow Sofia on Instagram @sofie.g
Talia Rempel (Ashton)
Talia (she/her) is happy to be back performing in Chico after a year in LA! She graduated from CSU Chico with a BFA in Musical Theatre and a Minor in Dance. You may have seen her as Corie (Barefoot in the Park, California Regional Theatre) Anastasia (Anastasia, California Regional Theatre), Cinderella (Cinderella, Chico Theater Company). This is her first time working with Legacy Stage & she hopes you enjoy the show!
MEET THE BAND
(ordered alphabetically by first name)
Baynayah McConnell (Guitar)
Baynayah (he/him) is a Chico native and has been playing for over a decade all around NorCal; leading-guitarist in local bands, Ascenders and Low Flying Birds. He’s toured with Blondillion, Samaria, and Seth Prinz, and is featured live in an array of NorCal’s finest; sitting in w/ Joe craven, Jonathan Stoyanoff, Sounds Good, Smokey the Groove, Max Minardi, Lorna Such, and ALO in venues such as the Sierra Nevada Big Room, SF’s IvyRoom, and Sacramento’s Torch club. He has played for numerous cabaret theatre productions, including the sold out, “All is Fair in Love & War”. He is a studio regular, having recorded for albums by Ethan Swett, Max Minardi, Samaria, Lorna Such, Seth Prinz, and Shades of Glam. Baynayah continues to embrace playing professionally in productions such as this, enriching his craft and friendships that come along the way.
Brandon Morgan (Drums)
Brandon (he/him) is a local musician and production specialist. While he isn’t working his day job for CUSD as an IT Technician, he spends most of his time working all forms of production for a number of different local and national groups. For 8 years, Brandon toured nationally, playing drums, bass and working production. Out of Nashville, he found himself meeting some of the most amazing people and touring in almost every state. When Brandon is in town, he loves creating and working every production he can get his hands on. Some of his most recent productions have been Jekyll and Hyde, Hadestown, Chicago, Les Miserables, NSB’s Ballet Cirque, Believe and many more. Brandon is so excited to work again with the incredible, professional and hardworking Legacy Stage.
Olivia Cerullo (Music Director, Conductor, Keyboard)
Olivia Cerullo (she/her) is honored to be returning for her second show with Legacy Stage as the vocal and instrumental music director for Burn Ban, A Horror Musical. Olivia is a Chico based music director, educator, pianist and arts commissioner working with Inspire High School, California State University Chico and local theater companies. Recent credits include Les Miserables (Inspire High School, 2025), All Is Fair In Love and War (Trinity Cabaret, 2024), The Hunchback of Notre Dame (California Regional Theater 2024), Percy Jackson (All Schools Musical, 2024), Amy, Amy, Amy (Belladonna Collective, 2024) and Lizzie (Legacy Stage, 2023). You can catch her this October leading the band in The Rocky Horror Show at Laxon Auditorium. Thank you for supporting the arts and enjoy the show!
Tyler Cory (Bass Guitar)
Tyler Cory (he/him) is excited to perform in Burn Ban on Bass Guitar. He has been a local professional musician for over a decade, most known in the theatrical space for his work playing guitar in Legacy Stage’s production of ‘Lizzie’ as well as Belladona Collective’s production of ‘Amy’. Beyond that he has performed in numerous acts such as Off The Record, Van Hagar/Energy Room, and the original hard rock group No One. When not performing, Tyler loves caring for his wife and two young children, and thanks them all for their continued love and support.
MEET THE CREATIVE TEAM & CREW
(ordered alphabetically by first name)
Aaron Kennedy (Scenic Designer)
Aaron (he/him) is thrilled to be working with Legacy Stage once again! You may remember his previous scenic design with Legacy for Much Ado About Nothing and A Midsummer Night’s Dream. Aaron received his BFA in theatre from Emporia State University in 2007, and an MFA in scenic design from the University of Wisconsin-Madison in 2010. Currently Aaron serves as an assistant professor of theatre and technical theatre coordinator at Tulsa Community College. Prior to this he has worked at, or designed for; Sterling College, Summer Repertory Theatre in Santa Rosa California, Theatre Tulsa, Shine Theatre Company, American Theatre Company (Tulsa OK), The Clinton Area Showboat Theatre, Emporia State University Summer Stock, The New Court Theatre, Helen Hocker Center for the Performing Arts, Lon Morris College, Madison Repertory Theatre, Neosho County Community College, and Salina Community Theatre. A huge thank you to my wife and kids for their continued love and support!
Amelia Kellogg (Costume Designer)
Amelia Rose (she/her) is a recent graduate of CSU Chico with a B.A. in Theater Arts. During her time at Chico State she both designed and associate designed for the main stage shows. This is Amelia’s third show with Legacy Stage also having worked on Much Ado About Nothing and A Christmas Carol. She is so excited for her first full design at Legacy!
Brandon Morgan (Lighting Designer)
Brandon (he/him) is a local musician and production specialist. While he isn’t working his day job for CUSD as an IT Technician, he spends most of his time working all forms of production for a number of different local and national groups. For 8 years, Brandon toured nationally, playing drums, bass and working production. Out of Nashville, he found himself meeting some of the most amazing people and touring in almost every state. When Brandon is in town, he loves creating and working every production he can get his hands on. Some of his most recent productions have been Jekyll and Hyde, Hadestown, Chicago, Les Miserables, NSB’s Ballet Cirque, Believe and many more. Brandon is so excited to work again with the incredible, professional and hardworking Legacy Stage.
Delisa Freistadt (Props Designer)
Delisa (she/her) is thrilled to be working with Legacy Stage again, and so excited to see the Fringe growing year after year! She has been a small part of the Chico community theater scene for over 20 years- both onstage and off- serving on the Blue Room board for several years, and was a founding member of Rogue theater. Big appreciation to her collaborator and partner in all things, Betty, and to their 3 furry children.
Elizabeth Grace Davis (Special FX Coordinator)
Elizabeth Grace Davis (she/her) is excited to be back with Legacy Stage for Burn Ban, this time as the Special FX Coordinator. Lizzy, a seasoned Costume Designer and Crafts Artisan, earned her MFA in Costume Design from Indiana University (Bloomington, Indiana) and her BA from Ashland University (Ashland, Ohio). For the past five years, she has been the Costume Shop Manager and resident Costume Designer at Chico State. Her recent costume design work includes A Christmas Carol (Legacy Stage), The Revolutionists (Legacy Stage), Taming of the Shrew (Legacy Stage), Escape to Margaritaville (Las Positas Chabot Community College), The Prom (Chico State), Mamma Mia (Santa Rosa Junior College Summer Repertory Theatre), Cheery Docs (Jewish Theatre of Bloomington), Big Fish (Indiana University), among others.
Erin Horst (Director
Erin (she/her) is a co-founder and the Producing Artistic Director for Legacy Stage. Erin cultivated her professional theatrical experience in the Kansas City theatre community working at Starlight, The Unicorn, Kansas City Repertory Theatre, The Coterie Theatre, Shawnee Mission Theatre in the Park, The Barn Players, and Gladstone Theatre in the Park. She is passionately dedicated to Legacy Stage’s mission to create sustainable and professional theatre in Butte County. Erin earned a Master of Arts in Theatre History and Dramaturgy from the University of Missouri-Kansas City (UMKC) and a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Theatre Performance from Chapman University in Orange, California. Local credits include Blue Room Theatre, California Regional Theatre, California State University Chico, and Inspire School of Arts and Sciences. Southern California credits include La Jolla Playhouse and The Performing Arts Society at Chapman (PASC). Erin is a music, theatre, and dance faculty member at Chico State. She lives in Chico with her spouse, Kyle, and two children, James and Andrew.
Hannah Kuiper (Front of House Manager)
This is Hannah’s (she/her) third show as Front of House Manager with Legacy Stage, last two being Much Ado About Nothing and A Christmas Carol. A dedicated local teacher, Hannah also directs elementary school musicals in her spare time. She has truly enjoyed working with Legacy Stage and appreciates the welcoming, inclusive community it offers. Hannah looks forward to continuing to grow with the company and supporting future productions.
Jami Witt Miller (Intimacy Choreographer)
Jami Witt Miller (she/her) is a co-founder of Legacy Stage, bringing her passion for acting, intimacy choreography, and directing. Holding an MFA in Acting from the University of North Carolina Greensboro and a BFA in Performance from Eastern New Mexico University. She has performed on the Legacy stage as Kate in Taming of the Shrew (Kate’s Version), and Lady Macbeth in Macbeth with Legacy Stage. Jami recently directed Much Ado About Nothing at Legacy Stage, Top Girls at California State University, Chico, and directed Shakespeare in the Park As You Like It. Jami has proudly called Chico home since 2015, where she resides with Matty, Mattingly, and Eddie James.
Jarrah Myles (Technical Director)
Jarrah Myles (she/her) created the dance and theatre programs at Inspire School of Arts & Sciences and has directed numerous shows including: The Wizard of Oz, Chicago, Into the Woods, The Addams Family, & Anything Goes, & Les Miserables since the school opened fifteen years ago. Jarrah serves as Production Director for all Inspire performing arts events and is excited to direct Big Fish performing next March and coordinate the Dance & Technical Theatre Programs this coming year. Jarrah has taught ballet for Chico Community Ballet for the last 25 years and stage manages productions such as The Sleeping Beauty and A Very Chico Nutcracker. Jarrah has a degree in Business Administration and Musical Theatre from CSU, Chico. She did her master’s and additional teaching credential work at New York University’s Steinhardt School of Education in Dance Education and Administration. Jarrah has a CTE credential in Arts, Media, and Entertainment and is so excited to work again with Legacy Stage!
John Crosthwaite (Fight Choreographer)
Johns’s (he/him) previous Legacy Stage credits include Much Ado About Nothing (Dogberry), A Christmas Carol (Ghost of Christmas Present), Macbeth (Macbeth), Taming of the Shrew (Fight Choreographer), and As You Like It (Fight Choreographer). Regional Credits include: The Importance of Being Ernest (Jack), Taming of the Shrew (Petruchio), Twelfth Night (Sir. Andrew), and Hamlet (Gravedigger) at the Oak Park Festival Theater, Oak Park, IL. Narina: The Musical (Mr. Beaver) at Poison Apple Productions, Martinez, CA. Romeo and Juliet (Tybalt), Napa Shakespeare Festival. Full credits and additional resume available at www.imdb.me/Crosthwaite
Joshua Hegg (Music Composer)
Josh (he/him) is really excited that Burn Ban is getting it’s very premiere in Chico CA with Legacy! Josh was very involved in the Chico arts scene until 2020 when he the made the transition with his family to Portland, where he works as a musician, composer, and teacher. In Chico, Josh was the managing director of Uncle Dad’s Art Collective and led the band Bogg with his dear friends. His Portland theater credits include working as the pianist for Damn Yankees (Clackamas Repertory Theatre 2025), music direction and pianist for 8-Track: The Sounds of the ’70s (Broadway Rose, 2025), and conductor/pianist for Hair (Portland Center Stage, 2023). Outside of theater, Josh is a sought-after session musician and music director, performing with bands throughout the Pacific Northwest. He currently plays keyboards for Bridgetown Getdown and Life During Wartime (a Talking Heads tribute), and leads Crosstalk, his own wedding and events band. He is also the director of music at Saint David of Wales Episcopal Church in SE Portland. Josh is a nationally certified teacher of piano through the Music Teachers National Association (MTNA) and a proud member of the American Federation of Musicians (AFM) Local 99.
Lennon Nickels (Stage Manager)
Lennon (he/him) is a graduating senior at Chico State University and is excited to be working on his second production with Legacy Stage. He hopes that you enjoy the show!
Oliver Loll (Sound Designer)
Oliver Loll (he/him) discovered his love of sound design while training to be an actor at Chico State University. After his love of theater was violently ripped backstage, he pursued (and was bestowed) his MFA in Theatrical Design from Texas Tech University. Throughout his travels he has primarily donned three hats: mixer, sound designer and composer, with each role bringing him through various acoustical experiences. In Livermore he worked as a monitor mixer for the Bankhead Theater, cautiously placating the bands of the bay area. Back in Texas, he toiled with the designs of various collegiate plays and musicals for non-profit theaters. Additionally, he is known for his composing escapades for online communities under the pseudonym “Pinpoint, The”. He is delighted to be involved with this production!
Will Langley (Producer, Marketing, Graphic Design)
Will Langley (he/him) is a co-founding member of the Legacy Stage Board of Directors and has proudly served since 2019. Will serves on the Legacy Stage Artistic Committee and is the company’s Marketing Director and Graphic Designer. With nearly two decades of experience in the graphic design industry, Will has developed creative work for hundreds of clients, including television icon RuPaul, actor Jake Weber, musician Ricky Martin, Emmy Award-winner Chi Chi Rones, and Tony Award-winner Levi Kreis. Despite these high-profile collaborations, his favorite work remains with Legacy Stage. “I love working with our team at Legacy,” he shares. “Our co-founders, directors, production team, cast—everyone brings their A-game. I’m incredibly proud, not only in what we produce, but in our cast and creative team, the collaborative vision, and the connections we’ve made on this wild journey.”
SEASON SPONSORS & CONTRIBUTORS
THE LEGACY STAGE FRINGE FESTIVAL COMMITTEE
Betty Burns, Delisa Freistadt, Hannah Kuiper, Kellen Staub, Larissa Wycoff, Marquita Goodman, Matt Plotkin
LET US KNOW WHAT YOU THOUGHT!
After tonight’s performance, we would love to hear what you thought of everything! All feedback will be reviewed by our production team and the Legacy Stage board of directors. Your quote might even make it on our social media feed!