a note from the artistic director
On February 14, 2018, our country lost 17 bright lives in the school shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida. Among them was Joaquín Oliver— “Guac” to his family and friends. Joaquín wasn’t just a name in the news or part of a devastating statistic. He was a son, a best friend, and a young man who filled 17 years with love, laughter, and dreams.
GUAC is not only the story of what happened that day—it’s a celebration of Joaquín’s life and of the bond between him and his father, Manny, who now carries forward his son’s story with strength and love.
wish could say that GUAC feels like a story from the past. wish this play weren’t as urgent as it feels today. But the truth is, gun violence in our schools and communities continues every day. Since 2018, there have been nearly 400 school shootings in the United States, claiming more than 200 lives. Just this year, we’ve witnessed tragedy after tragedy, not only in schools, but also churches, college campuses, parks, and other public spaces. Gun violence— especially against our young people—is not inevitable. It is preventable. And it’s something we cannot accept as the cost of growing up in this country.
What makes GUAC so extraordinary is that it doesn’t just confront loss—it invites us to feel: to laugh, to grieve, and to act. My hope is that tonight not only honors Joaquín’s life, but also sparks conversation, healing, and the determination to create change.
am deeply grateful to Manny and his wife Patricia, Joaquín’s mom, for sharing their story with us, and to you for being here to witness it. Through this play, Joaquín’s voice continues to be heard. We dedicate this Los Angeles run of GUAC to him—with love, remembrance, and the resolve to do better.
Sincerely,
Snehal Desai Brindell & Milton Gottlieb Artistic Director
SNEHAL DESAI
(Artistic Director, he/him) was appointed Center Theatre Group’s third artistic director in 2023. As an artistic leader, Snehal has sought to raise awareness on social issues that affect Angelenos through impactful and empowering storytelling. Previously, he was the Producing Artistic Director of East West Players. A Soros Fellow and the recipient of a Tanne Award, Snehal was the Inaugural Recipient of the Drama League’s Classical Directing Fellowship. He has served on the boards of the Consortium of Asian American Theaters and Artists (Caata), Theatre Communications Group (TCG), and currently serves on the board of the National Alliance for Musical Theatre (NAMT). Snehal was on the faculty of USC’s graduate program in Arts Leadership and is a graduate of the Yale School of Drama.
MEGHAN PRESSMAN
(Managing Director/CEO, she/her) joined Center Theatre Group in 2019. Previously, she served as Managing Director of Woolly Mammoth Theatre Company (D.C.), Director of Development for Signature Theatre (N.Y.), and Associate Managing Director of Berkeley Rep. She is a graduate of Yale School of Drama/Yale School of Management and serves as a mentor in the Theater Management program. Meghan has served as the Vice-Chair for the Theatre Communications Group Board of Directors and is a member of the Broadway League.
GORDON DAVIDSON
(Founding Artistic Director) led the Taper throughout its first 38 seasons, guiding over 300 productions to its stage and winning countless awards for himself and the theatre—including the Tony Award for theatrical excellence, Margo Jones Award, The Governor’s Award for the Arts, and a Guggenheim fellowship. The Kentucky Cycle and Angels in America (Part One) won the Pulitzer in consecutive years and, in 1994, three of the four plays nominated for the Tony Award for Best Play were from the Taper (Angels in America won). In 1989, Gordon took over the Ahmanson and, in 2004, he produced the inaugural season in the Kirk Douglas Theatre.
NAUSICA STERGIOU
(General Manager) has worked supporting artists in theatres of all shapes, sizes, and locales including Center Theatre Group as General Manager and, previously, as Audience Development Director. She oversees productions at the Taper and Douglas, as well as new play commissions and developmental productions. Nausica has taught Marketing and Management at USC’s School of Dramatic Arts and works with local nonprofits including Hollywood Orchard. BA, Cornell University. MFA, Yale School of Drama.
LINDSAY ALLBAUGH
(Associate Artistic Director, she/her) Associate Artistic Director for Center Theatre Group and award-winning Los Angeles-based director and producer. Recent productions: Cry It Out by Molly Smith Metzler (Best Production: Ovation Award, LADCC Award, Stage Raw Award) at the Echo Theatre Company as well as Collective Rage: A Play in Five Betties by Jen Silverman at the Boston Court Theatre. Lindsay was Co-Artistic Director of the Elephant Theatre Company from 2004–2014, where she directed and produced many productions including 100 Saints You Should Know by Kate Fodor, Revelation by Samuel Brett Williams, and Never Tell by James Christy. Selected CTG producing credits include—Mark Taper Forum: Slave Play, Archduke, Bent, Waiting for Godot; Kirk Douglas Theatre: Creative Producer behind Block Party, Tambo & Bones, Good Grief, Throw Me On the Burnpile and Light Me Up, Endgame, Women Laughing Alone With Salad, Chavez Ravine, different words for the same thing, The Nether
ERIC SIMS
(General Manager, Presentations, he/him) joined CTG in 2005 and has served in various capacities, including as the Director of Operations for the Kirk Douglas Theatre from 2008-2018. Previously, he was the Managing Director of the Powerhouse Theatre in Santa Monica. He is the Vice President of the Culver City Downtown Business Association and was the Co-Chair of the Ovation Rules Committee, producing the Ovation Awards from 2015-2019.
Written and Performed by Manuel Oliver
Co-Written by James Clements
Directed by Michael Cotey
A Change the Ref Production
leadership
Honorary Chairman: Lew R. Wasserman (1913-2002)
President: Amy R. Forbes
Chairperson: William H. Ahmanson
Vice Presidents: Miles Benickes, Jana Bezdek, Cecilia Estolano, Matthew Walden
Secretary: Shana C. Waterman
members of the board
Harry Abrams, Jonathan Axel, Gail Berman-Masters, Betsy Borns, Diana Buckhantz, Dannielle Campos Ramirez, Wendy Chang, Stephen Cheung, Jill Chozen, Sarah Clossey, Christine Cronin-Hurst, Nancy Dennis, Snehal Desai, Noah Francis, Gary Frischling, Ron Gillyard, Patricia Glaser, Manuela Cerri Goren, Robert Greenblatt, Jason Grode, Aliza Karney Guren, Stanley Iezman, Paul James, Jennifer Lewis, Justin Mikita, Rick Miramontez, Louise Moriarty, Kari Nakama, Jeanne Newman, Jamie Patricof, Meghan Pressman, Kristine Louis Reynal, Edward Ring, Laura Rosenwald, Scott Sandler, Elliott Sernel, Glenn A. Sonnenberg, Jay P. Srinivasan, Sandra Stern, Marsha Tauber Sallai, Bonnie Vitti, Kim McLane Wardlaw, Richard Weitz, Hattie Winston
emeritus
Ronald J. Arnault†, Judith Beckmen, Ava Fries†, Brindell Roberts Gottlieb†, Susan Grode, Phyllis Hennigan, Stephen F. Hinchliffe, Jr., Richard Kagan, O. Kit Lokey, Walter Mirisch, Diane Morton, Edward B. Nahmias, Bruce L. Ross
emeritus
Lew R. Wasserman†, Marshall Berges†, Armand S. Deutsch†, Walter Mirisch,† Henry C. Rogers†, Richard E. Sherwood†, J. David Haft, Lawrence J. Ramer,† Stephen F. Hinchliffe, Jr., Phyllis Hennigan, Richard Kagan, Martin Massman†, William H. Ahmanson, Kiki Ramos Gindler
