Romeo and Juliet Show Bios
Teagan Dinyes (Balthasar) is in 9th grade at ASU Prep Digital. She has performed in several theatres around the valley but considers State 48 her second home. Favorite previous roles include Mary Shelley (Frankenstein), Sable (Cinderella), Villains (Condora), and As You Like It (Phoebe). When not rehearsing, she loves to sing and compose songs. Teagan thanks Andrea and Katie for the opportunity and encouragement, and Amelia for her costuming prowess.
Amelia Burrell (Abraham/Apothecary/costumer) is so excited to lend her talents to State 48 in a variety of ways this season, both onstage and backstage! Her responsibilities as the costumer keep her busy, but between trips to Goodwill and Joann’s, she still finds time to develop the characters she portrays onstage. Amelia has enjoyed working so closely with the other theater staff and she has learned so much from them. Romeo and Juliet is her second Shakespeare show with State 48 as an actress, and her second show as costumer. She has loved expressing her creativity through both costume and character in this unique western take on the classic.
Ben Puente returns to the stage for the first time in nearly ten years for his turn as the crass, irrepressible Sampson. He spent those years serving a two-year mission in South Africa and earning his BFA in Animation at Brigham Young University. His previous work includes Motel Kamzoil in Fiddler on the Roof and the Cat in the Hat in Seussical, as well as character animation work for AJR’s “Turning Out” music video and the award-winning short film Grendel. His sincerest thanks go out to Haeley Whetten for encouraging him to take another stab at theater, and to Andrea McFeely for providing him the chance to do so.
Madison Desoto (Lady Capulet), the old lady of the cast, is originally from San Francisco, and still isn’t quite sure what she’s doing here in AZ! An actress since childhood, some of her favorite roles have included Annie Sullivan in ‘The Miracle Worker’, Mary in ‘Mad Gravity’, Jane Marple in ‘A Murder is Announced’, and Diana Morales in ‘A Chorus Line’. Madison hopes that you enjoy this unique State48 production, for “never was there a tale of more woe, than this of Juliet and her Romeo”. Thank you Andrea for taking this chance with a new-to-you actress!
Erin Garner (Benvolio) is a Junior at DRHS. Some of her favorite roles include Morgana (Merlin and Morgana), Claire Clairmont (Frankenstein), Witch Gothel (Villains), Phoebe (Murder at Sunset), Lady Loupe/Diana LeGrande (T[P]TToLRRH), Winnifred Banks (Step in Time), Molly (Annie), Jojo (Seussical Jr.), Katherine (Jekyll & Hyde), and many more! As well as performing, she enjoys reading, writing, music, studying French, and making people laugh. She would like to thank Andrea, Katie, Amelia, and the amazing cast, crew, volunteers, friends, and family that made this show possible for her. (A special s/o to Hannah Van Holten for being the Mercutio to her Benvolio- and a sheepish apology to the crew for being rather boisterous together…) She hopes you’ll kick off your spurs, fasten your bandana, and enjoy this Western take on The Bard!
Hannah Van Holten (Mercutio) is a graduate from Highland High School, and within the month will be serving as a full-time missionary for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints over in San Diego, California at the Mormon Battalion, and then over in Orlando, Florida! She is so extremely grateful to Andrea and Katie for the brilliant and brutal hard work they put into this amazing production, and for the opportunity to play such a dream role! Some of her recent credits in theatre include Elizabeth Lavenza (Frankenstein), Meg Snider (Leading Ladies), Penelope Drake (Murder at Sunset), Bernadette (Scarlet Pimpernel), Queen Moira (Villains), and Mama Hobart (Jekyll and Hyde). She’d like to thank Erin, Chris, Parker and Siona for being the rootin’est tootin’est friends in the whole wild west, and for all those who’ve taught, loved, and supported Hannah all these years 
See y’all in 18 months!
Liliana “Lili” Simpson (Second Servant/Page to Paris) is a sophomore at Chandler-Gilbert Community College. She is currently majoring in Nursing and minoring in Business Management. She would like to thank Andrea and Katie for this opportunity to learn more about Shakespeare and Wild West. Some of her recent theatre credits include: Big Fish (Ensemble), Rumors (Officer Welch), Oklahoma! (Ado Annie), and Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (Mrs. Beauregard).
Jared Kitch (Friar Laurence) works part time as a massage therapist as he prepares to go into nursing school. His latest productions consist of Guys and Dolls (Benny Southstreet) at Hale Theatre and Mamma Mia! (Bill Austin) at MCC. This has been a fun experience through and through being his first experience of a more film like set up, and being able to work with Andrea McFeely after so long was such a joy! He would like to thank Andrea and Katie Arnold for putting up with him, as well as his friends and family for their support!
Michael Rodriguez (Paris) is a junior at Arizona State University. He is majoring in Theatre with a hopeful emphasis in acting. He has loved playing Paris for a second time and is grateful to Andrea for providing him with his first film opportunity. Michael has performed at several theatres around the valley, including Brelby Theatre Company, Fountain Hills Theater and Laughing Pig Theatre.
I am Cassidy Lopez (second musician). I am a freshman at Queen Creek High School. I have done shows at other theaters such as Queen Creek Preforming Arts, Valley Youth theater and Eduprize. It was such a fun opportunity to be apart of this amazing show and be apart of this fun cast. Filming was such a fun experience, and I can’t wait to come back for another show!
Aubrey Boberg (First Watchman/First Citizen) is a senior at Mesquite High School. She is excited to be in her first Shakespeare play and her fourth show at State48. Outside of theatre, she’s on her schools varsity basketball team and involved with the show choir, Wildire, at Fuse. Recent theatre credits include Frankenstein (Ensemble) and Murder at Sunset (Joan Lemon). She would like to thank Andrea and Katie for this opportunity and all of their hard work!
Kylee Webb (Nurse) is excited to be in her fourth Shakespeare show with State 48 theatre company and is overjoyed at being able to participate in theatre before diving into the intensity of law school. She attends ASU’s Sandra Day O’Connor College of Law and enjoys watching movies, listening to podcasts, and developing her characters’s voices. With State 48, she has portrayed roles such as Celia in As You Like It, Audrey in Leading Ladies, Ramona in Murder at Sunset and so much more! Her next venture will be Steel Magnolias at Desert Foothills Theatre where she will be portraying the role of Annelle Dupuy-Desoto. She would love to thank Andrea and Katie for this opportunity and all of their hard work and dedication.
Cheyanne Ballou (Juliet) is twenty-one years old, but hopes she will continue to play teenagers for a long time to come. This is her third time performing in R&J, but her first time in a production at State 48. She would like to thank Andrea for taking a chance on a new face. As well as Ken, Amelia, Karli, and Bryson for helping bring this show to life. Much love to her follow actors and actresses, but especially to (her almost real life husband) Christian.
Ben Burrell (Lord Montague) has enjoyed performing again with State 48, and is happy that he was able to be part of the cast. He would like to thank Andrea for letting him be a part of this production, and his wife Amelia for making the whole cast look awesome!
Jacob Arnold (Prince) is 18 years old and currently attends BYUI. He enjoys tacos and Seinfeld. He appreciates the amazing opportunity to work with such incredible actors. He would like to thank Andrea, Karli, Katie for pushing him to be a better actor and person.
Christian Boden (Romeo) is excited to be performing in his very first Shakespeare show. This is also his first performance with State 48 Theatre Company, and he is honored to be a part of this production with them. He would like to thank all of his friends and family for their continued support, as well as every member of State 48 for being such an incredible community. Christian would also like to extend love and a very big thank you to his Juliet and fiancée Cheyanne.
Jacki Beltran (Friar John/ Peter) is excited to return to the stage as part of the cast of Romeo and Juliet. This is her fifth show with State 48. Other roles include The Sexton in Much Ado About Nothing, Officer Merryweather in Murder At Sunset, Mrs. Berry in Anne Of Green Gables, and Page #1 in As You Like It. While not performing on stage, you can find her behind the scenes, working backstage, and caring for her grandma and daughter. She is also part of the State 48 board. She would love to give thanks to Andrea and Karli for giving her amazing opportunities to be in shows, her daughter Kailei for pushing her to return to the stage, for her family for supporting her on her wild and sometimes crazy adventures.
Haeley Whetten is returning to the stage for the first time in over six years as Gregory, alongside her fiancé Benjamin Puente-AKA Sampson, her comedic counterpart. In her spare time, Haeley can be found loving on her dog, Lolly, cooking, or snuggling with her man.
Haeley would like to extend her thanks to Andrea and Karli for welcoming her back to the theatre.
Delmy Giles (Lady Montague) is excited to be in her 3rd production on stage with State 48! Delmy also serves on the board of directors and frequently stage manages productions for State 48, so she enjoys occasionally being on the other side! She works in a law office and is a mom to 3 awesome kids who keep her busier than she wants to be most of the time! She would like to thank Andrea, Katie, and the team at State 48 for keeping the theatre alive and running during the pandemic, and she also gives a shout out to her talented husband, Bryson, for giving his time to help produce the R&J movie with Andrea and Karli!
