A Night with Janis Joplin

MARY BRIDGET DAVIES (Janis Joplin) received a Tony Award nomination  for her lead role in A Night with Janis Joplin, Davies reprised her role in 2024 to glowing reviews in London for her West End debut.  After her critically acclaimed live album Freedom of My Mind (Live at Power Station), Davies’ first compilation album Don’t Compromise Yourself: The Very Best of Mary Bridget Davies was released on June 21st, 2024. Born into the world of performance, Davies initially trained as a dancer before transitioning to singing and acting. A member of Something Dada Improvisational Comedy Company in Cleveland lead her to the opportunity to learn at The Second City’s satellite campus. This marked the beginning of a series of accolades, including a Helen Hayes Award nomination in 2013 and numerous Blues Blast Award nominations. She is also a winner of the 2014 LA Outer Critic’s Circle Award and 2014 Theater World Award. In 2019, Davies recorded an album entitled Stay With Me: The Reimagined Songs of the Late Jerry Ragovoy – legendary songwriter who co-wrote the Joplin classics “Piece Of My Heart” and “Cry Baby.” In 2022, Davies starred as Virginia Woolf in the developmental readings of A Room Of One’s Own, a play with original music at New York’s legendary cabaret 54 Below and The Public Theater’s Joe’s Pub. In 2023, she tackled the lead role as Narrator of Joseph and The Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat.  Davies is the currently star of Don’t Compromise Production’s Women Who Rock You, a live concert series which made its industry showcase debut at Public Theatre’s Joe’s Pub summer 2025 to great reviews. Co-directing this run is a blessing that she holds with the highest honor.  Beyond the stage, Mary Bridget Davies is a dedicated advocate for women’s rights. As a single mother and caregiver, Davies draws from personal experiences, using her platform to champion women’s voices. Her latest studio album was dedicated to her late sister Christine, lost to suicide in 2019. Davies’ career is a testament to resilience, passion, and an unwavering dedication to empowering women through her art.

SADÉ AYODELE (Joplinaire) is delighted to be rocking her way to heaven in her ETC debut! She is an actor of stage, screen, and page, living in Los Angeles. She received her Bachelor of Arts in Film and Television from the University of California, Riverside, before apprenticing at the Milwaukee Repertory Theater. She has since continued to lend her artistic and actual voice to independent films, musicals, and audiobooks across genres. Sade’s credits include Jaja’s African Hair Braiding (Center Theatre Group, Broadway Tour), The Sound of Music (5-Star Theatricals), Two Trains Running(Milwaukee Repertory Theater), and Amazon Prime’s Fallout. Say hey on Instagram at @sayheysade!

JENNA GILLESPIE BYRD (Joplinaire), an Oxnard, California native, is elated to be a part of ETC. Jenna received her B.A. in Drama from UC Irvine. Her regional/international theatre credits include: Recorded in Hollywood, directed by Ovation Award-Winner, Denise Dowse, Tony^®-Nominated show Blues in the Night directed by the incomparable, Sheldon Epps, and Rudolph Musical (Dance Capt./McCoy Rigby Ent.). She played Juliet in BAZ: Tour De Force, ensemble in Music Man (MTW), and was honored to work with Broadway’s Jason Daunter (Wicked). Jenna regularly performs in Disney park shows, including Frozen Live, Roger’s The Musical, Five and Dime, and 2020’s New Year’s Eve Celebration. While with Disney, Jenna shared the stage with icons such as Jodi Benson, Jenifer Lewis, and Anika Noni Rose. Along with stage productions, Jenna has traveled the world, lending her classical piano and vocal skills to tours with legendary pop-star Debbie Gibson (Winterlicious Tour), and UK band Spiritualized (The Late Show with Stephen Colbert/Coachella Festival). Jenna was recently featured as a pianist for a dueling-pianos show, honoring female composers, appropriately titled Piano Women. Jenna has worked as music director for several shows, including Tick Tick Boom! Mean Girls Jr. and Jesus Christ Superstar. She also composes original works for TV and film, including “Paralysis” (Ending Credit Song) and CW’s “Christmas Caroler Challenge” (Vocal Arranger). Currently, she has released a concept album of her original musical, 2&1: A Harlem Love Story, with Loose Morals and received critical acclaim from WhatsOnStage. Jenna is in the process of producing the show in NYC for future productions! To view her original works, visit @2&1AHarlemLoveStory on YouTube/Spotify. Jenna is beyond excited to share the stage again with such an incredible cast!

SHA’LEAH NIKOLE (Joplinaire), a native of South-Central Los Angeles, has been deeply immersed in the arts since her adolescent years at Amazing Grace Conservatory. With powerhouse vocals and an undeniable stage presence, she is a recognized force in the West Coast music and theater world, credited on award-winning productions and albums. Sha’Leah has been honored to share the stage and lend her voice to legendary and influential artists such as Beyoncé, Lizzo, Stevie Wonder, Elton John, Josh Groban, Leon Thomas, Billie Eilish, D Smoke, and the late Nipsey Hussle. Her theater credits include A Night With Janis Joplin (Axelrod Performing Arts Center), Beautiful: The Carole King Musical (Flat Rock Playhouse), This Bright Wilderness (Mark Taper Forum), Witness Uganda (Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts), Gunshot Medley: Part One (Rogue Machine Theatre), the NAACP Award-winning musical Recorded in Hollywood (Kirk Douglas Theatre). Sha’Leah was also a featured performer for Disney’s 80’s & 90’s music concert at the Hollywood Bowl. On screen, she portrayed young Mahalia Jackson in “Remember Me: The Mahalia Jackson Story,” now streaming on Hulu. Committed to artistry that inspires and uplifts, Sha’Leah continues to impact audiences through her music, storytelling, and philanthropy through her nonprofit organization, My Footprints LA. Discover her original music on all digital streaming platforms and follow her journey @ShaLeahNikole.

RANDY JOHNSON (Creator and Writer) Randy’s diverse and distinguished career has broken barriers and beat all the rules. His critically acclaimed work has been seen on Broadway (Writer and Director of the critically acclaimed and 2014 Tony Award nominated production of A Night with Janis Joplin at the Lyceum Theatre), London’s West End, Radio City Music Hall, Carnegie Hall, The Apollo Theatre, Wembley Arena, Grand Ole Opry, Ryman Auditorium, Off Broadway, Regional Theatres across the U.S. and Canada, Las Vegas and arena’s worldwide. As a published playwright and director, he has created theatrical musical portraits of such icons as Janis Joplin, Louis Prima, Keely Smith, and Conway Twitty. Randy is the original producer of Always, Patsy Cline, which, under his aegis, became one of the most produced musicals of all time. He co-produced the West Coast Premiere of Larry Kramer’s The Normal Heart, starring Richard Dreyfuss and Kathy Bates. He has worked with some of the greatest talents of our time, including Carly Simon, Barbra Streisand, Liza Minnelli, and Melissa Manchester. Audrey Hepburn and Katharine Hepburn. Not to mention the remarkable diversity of his direction of The Las Vegas production and world premiere of Mike Tyson’s Undisputed Truth and staging of Pope Benedict’s final appearances in New York City. His groundbreaking production of Elvis the Concert, which reunited Elvis (via video) with his original musicians, has been seen in venues worldwide and on PBS for 16 years. He executive-produced the original cast albums of A Night with Janis Joplin and Always, Patsy Cline. His projects have broken box office records, earned a 2014 Tony Award nomination, made the Guinness Book of World Records, and have consistently surpassed expectations. Never one to stay in just one medium of entertainment, he continues to explore and create new horizons for himself and his audience.

BRIAN MCDONALD (Co-Director) is an award-winning director, actor, and educator whose work spans regional theatre, new works, and arts education. He received the Ventura Mayor’s Award for Emerging Artist and has directed for companies including Rubicon Theatre Company and Ensemble Theatre Company of Santa Barbara, where he currently serves as Artistic Associate and Director of Education. Brian’s directing credits include the critically acclaimed World Premiere of A Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol, A Tuna Christmas, The Sunset Limited (with Emmy winner Joe Spano), Other Desert Cities, It’s a Wonderful Life: A Live Radio Play, The Thanksgiving Play and Bus Stop, which received five Ovation nominations, including Best Play. He directed Master Harold… and the Boys, which earned three Ovation nominations including Best Play and garnered him both an Independent Award and a StageScene LA Award for Best Director.  He helmed the world-premiere musical Hello! My Baby, written and conceived by Tony-nominated, Emmy and Golden Globe winner Cheri Steinkellner, and conceived and directed the popular holiday musical revue A Rubicon Family Christmas. His broader directing work ranges from classics to contemporary musical theatre and includes productions of Our Town, Little Women, Bye Bye Birdie, HONK!, Babes in Arms, Once on This Island, Schoolhouse Rock LIVE!, Seussical the Musical, Footloose, West Side Story, On the Town, Urinetown, Godspell, Into the Woods, You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown and most recently ETC’s Million Dollar Quartet. As an actor, Brian has appeared in the Broadway National Tours of Miss Saigon and Forever Plaid, and has also directed the latter for various regional theatres. His stage work includes performances at The Denver Center, Theatre Virginia, The Lyric Stage, La Mirada Performing Arts Center, Ensemble Theatre Company, Pasadena Playhouse, Rubicon Theatre Company, Thousand Oaks Performing Arts Center, and the Ahmanson. He received LA Weekly’s Best Supporting Actor Award for his performance as Gaveston in the Circle X production of Edward II and an Independent Award for his work in the one-man show Buyer and Cellar. On screen, Brian starred in the award-winning ABC/PBS Afterschool Special “In the Shadow of Love: A Teen AIDS Story” and guest-starred on “Gilmore Girls,” along with appearing in numerous commercials. Brian holds a B.F.A. from The Boston Conservatory and is a member of SAG-AFTRA, the Society of Stage Directors and Choreographers, and Actors’ Equity Association.

MISS JAMES ALSOP (Choreographer) has contributed choreography to Beyonce’s Renaissance & Cowboy Carter World Tours, and you can see her movement direction on Kim Kardashian and Emma Roberts on the most current season of “American Horror Story: Delicate.” The Whitney Houston biopic “I Wanna Dance with Somebody” marks her feature film choreographic debut. She choreographed the acclaimed Netflix musical TV series “Girls5eva,” as well as the number 1 Netflix series “Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story.” Her choreography is featured on such tv shows as “Pose,” “Soundtrack,” “Gossip Girl,” “Emily in Paris,” and Kerry Washington’s “Unprisoned.” She began her career as a co-choreographer for Beyoncé’s videos, tour, and promotional materials for “Run the World (Girls),” “Dance For You,” and “Love on Top.” She has choreographed for JLo and worked with Oscar-nominated director Paul Thomas Anderson for the HAIM music video “Just A Little of Your Love.” After choreographing the entire season of “Maya & Marty,” she worked with Tina Fey and Jeff Richmond to choreograph season three of “The Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt” and has since worked for shows on NBC, Showtime, Netflix, and Hulu. When not working with top stars, she teaches around the country and world, educating young artists and dancers to be who they are in their art form and love it.

BRENT CRAYON (Music Director/Keyboards) is a music director and pianist based in LA. Favorite productions include the World Premieres of John Bucchino’s It’s Only Life, Cinco Paul and Ken Daurio’s Bubble Boy, and Stephen Schwartz’s Snapshots. Brent was the music director for the West Coast Premieres of Jason Robert Brown’s Songs for a New World and Jonathan Larson’s Tick, Tick, Boom! Recently, Brent was the Music Director/Conductor of multi-city productions of Disney’s The Little Mermaid and the Music Supervisor/Orchestrator of The Singing Revolution, performed at The Savoy Theater on the West End, London. Brent is currently the Music Supervisor of Gabby’s Dollhouse Live! National Tour. Brent is excited to be working with ETC! www.brentcrayon.com

MIKE BILLINGS (Scenic, Lighting, & Projection Designer) returns to Ensemble, having previously designed scenery and lighting for The Thanksgiving Play and Million Dollar Quartet. West End credits include DreamWorks’ The Prince of Egypt. Off-Broadway credits include Vanities and Becoming Dr. Ruth.  Mike’s regional credits include productions at Bay Street Theater, Arizona Theatre Company, Rubicon Theatre, Geva Theatre Center, Berkshire Theatre Group, CCAE Theatricals, Laguna Playhouse, Flint Repertory Theatre, Bucks County Playhouse, TheatreWorks Silicon Valley, Pittsburgh Civic Light Opera, Ebony Repertory Theatre, Guild Hall, Quintessence Theatre Company, Connecticut Repertory Theatre, and Dorset Theatre Festival.  He designed themed attractions at Busch Gardens and Six Flags, and the international touring exhibitions of Harry Potter, Titanic, and Downton Abbey.  Mike holds a B.F.A. from the University of Connecticut and is a proud member of United Scenic Artists Local USA829.  www.mikebillingsdesign.com  IG: @mikebillingsdesign

ABRA FLORES (Costume Designer) has been telling stories with her designs for the past 35 years, both as a designer and educator. As a working Designer with experience across multiple venues and production settings (theater, film, dance, and opera), Abra brings a strong knowledge of and appreciation for Costume Design to her work and teaching. Abra has initiated, developed, and integrated active programs in costume design and makeup at Ventura College, Moorpark College, and CSU, Channel Islands (currently, the CSUCI program is on hiatus).  It is very apparent she loves her craft and takes great pride in creating excellent work, striving to instill in her students a pride in their craftsmanship and a love of theatre. Abra has also created an international program in which groups of students tour various European cities, seeing plays and visiting theaters. She received a B.A. in Theatre from Portland State University and an M.F.A. in Costume Design from California Institute of the Arts. Abra is delighted to be collaborating with Ensemble Theatre Company again.

DANNY FIANDACA (Sound Designer) returns to Ensemble Theatre Company, having previously designed Ring of Fire and Million Dollar Quartet. He began his career as an assistant/associate to Peter McBoyle for a decade on productions across the U.S., Asia, and Broadway (Twyla Tharp’s Come Fly Away). Expanding on that experience, Danny began designing musical theatre productions for Princess Cruises (2010 to present), collaborating with Stephen Schwartz and the Jim Henson Company on multiple stage productions. In addition to his work abroad, his local work includes design work for Music Theatre West, Rubicon Theatre, Long Beach Opera, and Ebony Repertory Company. Some favorite design credits include The Secret Silk (Stephen Schwartz/Princess Cruises), Henson Inspired Silliness (Jim Henson Company/Princess Cruises), In the Heights (Rubicon Theatre), Fantastic Journey (THEA Award – Princess Cruises), Once – Enchanted Storybook (Vinpearl Land, Phu Quoc, Vietnam) Ring of Fire (ETC Santa Barbara) as well as an assistant design credit on the recent production of Jesus Christ Superstar at the Hollywood Bowl. Recent designs include Bonnie & Clyde (Rubicon Theatre), Million Dollar Quartet (Rubicon Theatre), and Man of La Mancha (Music Theatre West).

ALEX JOHNSTON (Props Designer) is a Props Designer, Carpenter, Art Department Fabricator, and Scenic Artist working throughout Southern California on theatre and commercial productions. Some of his recent Prop Design and Set Fabrication credits include Ensemble’s The Shark Is Broken, Rubicon’s The 39 Steps, Ensemble’s Jane Austen, Ensemble’s Justice, Rubicon’s Bonnie and Clyde, 2nd Try’s But Wait There’s More!, and the short film Stalling. Alex is also a longtime volunteer at the Ojai Raptor Center, helping to rehabilitate native birds of prey. Ojai Raptor Center’s extensive efforts in wildlife conservation continue to be profoundly important and inspiring to him. He would like to give special thanks to Mallory, Dion, and Kim. He would also like to thank his dog Ollie, even though he was no help whatsoever.

KRISTAL GEORGOPOULOS (Resident Production Stage Manager) is looking forward to an inspiring year at ETC as Production Stage Manager for War of the Worlds: The Panic Broadcast, The Complete Works of Jane Austen, Abridged, The Shark is Broken, A Night with Janis Joplin, and Every Brilliant Thing. This will be Kristal’s fourth season with ETC, with previous selected credits including Dracula: A Comedy of Terrors, Million Dollar Quartet, Justice, Hamlet, Parents in Chains, The Thanksgiving Play, The Lehman Trilogy, and Selling Kabul. Other selected regional credits include Lady Day at Emerson’s Bar and Grill, It’s A Wonderful Life: A Live Radio Play, Red Herring, Sex and Other Disturbances (Portland Stage), Always… Patsy Cline (Firebrand Theatre), Side Show, Addams Family, Grease, Steel Magnolias, and The Marvelous Wonderettes (Black Hills Playhouse) and Scary Poppins (Great American Melodrama). She is looking forward to another exciting year in Santa Barbara—where storytelling continues to blur the line between illusion and truth. She would like to thank her friends and family for their continued support.

GABI BALTZELL (Assistant Stage Manager) is a Stage Manager and Director from Ventura, California. Recently, Gabi worked as the Assistant Stage Manager for Rubicon Theatre’s productions of The 39 Steps, Million Dollar Quartet, Bonnie & Clyde, and Once, and was also the Backstage Manager for their productions of Constellations and Crazy Mama. Gabi is thrilled to be back with Ensemble Theatre Company after joining in her first production with the company for The Complete Works of Jane Austen, Abridged as the Production Assistant. Other Stage Management credits include New Art City Theatre’s 2025 Staged Reading Festival and their staged reading of Sunday After Next, and serves as the Production Assistant at the Ventura Music Hall. Gabi’s most recent directing credits include 2.5 Minute Ride in collaboration with the New and Reimagined Works Initiative, a one-act adaptation of The Pillowman, and Assistant Directing an adaptation of Macbeth with the Prague Shakespeare Company. gabibaltzell.com