Valley Players AZ Proudly Presents
Dance Nation
Director: Kaitlyn Kief
Stage Manager: Kayla Santos
Property Design: Maya Thomas and Kaitlyn Kief
Scenic Design: Kaitlyn Kief
Costume Design: Maya Thomas
Lighting Design: Kayla Santos
Sound Design: Troy Sherk-Turnbow
Producer: Noah Delgado
Written by Clare Barron
Cast of Characters:
Dance Teacher Pat: Peter Herrick
Amina: Honestine Mbuyenge
Zuzu: Mia Lupica
Connie: Vidhi Dharnidharka
Luke: Jonathan Gonzales
Maeve: Courtney Jacobs
Sofia: Kiley Bishop
Ashlee: Allyson Harding
Vanessa/The Moms: Selena Costantini
Swing: América Fregozo
Who's Who in the Cast
Peter Herrick (DANCE TEACHER PAT) A recent Phoenix arrival, Peter’s recent credits include Hands on a Hardbody (Don Curtis) [Timberlake Playhouse]; Baskerville (Sherlock Holmes) [Cortland Repertory]; 1776 (McNair) [Gulf Coast Symphony]; Hay Fever (David Bliss) / Who’s Afraid of Virgina Woolf (George Standby) (The Walnut Street Theatre); Noises Off (Lloyd) [Clear Space Theatre Co.]; The Shark Is Broken (Robert Shaw Standby) [Fulton Theatre Co.]. Other: Richard II (Richard) ShakespeareNYC; The Foreigner (Charlie) [Greenbrier Valley Theatre]; I Hate Hamlet (John Barrymore), Camelot (Arthur), and Angels in America Pts. 1 & 2 (Roy Cohn) [The Ritz Theatre Co.]. Thank you to the creative team, cast, and my husband Brian. www.peterherrickactor.com
Vidhi Dharnidharka (CONNIE) is so excited to be a part of the cast of Dance Nation as Connie! Vidhi is a 3rd-year student at ASU, double majoring in mechanical engineering and media, arts, and sciences! She wants to design roller coasters one day but still has a deep passion for the performing arts. She has been doing theatre since high school and dancing since she was 4 years old! Having grown up in a dance environment, she really connected with Dance Nation. She is so grateful to her friends and family for supporting her through this journey!
Kiley Bishop (SOFIA) is an actor, puppeteer, and roller skater (@rinkydinkroller) who is hyped to be appearing for the first time at Valley Players in the greatest play ever written. You may have seen her recently in an All Puppet Players show, as Charlotte in The Guy Who Didn’t Like Musicals (Beyond Broadway), as Kristine in A Chorus Line (MET), or as Babe in Crimes of the Heart (OCTC). She would like to put it out into the universe that her dream role is Dinah in Starlight Express. “Thank you to everyone in this incredible cast and crew! Shout out to Kaitlyn for her wise direction and Kylie for her fierce choreography. Let’s DANCE!”
Honestine Mbuyenge (AMINA) is an Arizona State University alumna with a BA in Performance and Movement and a minor in Musical Theatre. Since graduating, she has continued to perform and create work throughout the Valley. Her notable credits include Rihanna’s Super Bowl LVII halftime show and Southwest Shakespeare Company's House of Desires. Her work has also been featured in the BlakTinx Festival, Le’ Playground Masquerade, and MOVE Phoenix Dance Showcase. She currently serves as rehearsal director for Stilo Dance Company’s competition team and, alongside Shayla Eshelman, co-directs UpNext Collective, which debuted its first full-length production, Open the Lid, in September 2026.
Jonathan Gonzales (LUKE) is thrilled to make his Valley Players debut in this phenomenal show. Most recently, Jonathan’s ten-minute play Matte Kudasai was featured in Ronin Theatre Collaborative’s Haunted Castle. Other credits of note include having directed The Mastered Piece for 2025’s Haunted Castle and played Wayne in Desert Stage’s Puffs. When not involved in theatrical performances, Jonathan is wrapped in tin foil and refrigerated to preserve freshness. He would like to thank Kaitlyn Kief for letting him be in the play
Allyson Harding (ASHLEE) is an Arizona-based actor and playwright. You may have seen her latest work "Grieving Girls and their Totally Magical Sourdough Spell," produced by Valley Players in 2025. Onstage, you may have seen her as Cady in "Mean Girls" at CGCC, or as Constance in "Ride the Cyclone"
Mia Lupica (ZUZU) is a recent college graduate and making her Arizona theatre debut. She's performed in Harvard's Candela Latin Dance Troupe and Modern Dance Company. She's excited to join her wonderful castmates on the dance stage as Zuzu.
Courtney Jacobs (MAEVE) is delighted to bring Maeve to life in her first show with Valley Players! Since moving to Arizona in 2021, her favorite roles include Amanda in the world premiere of PRIVATE LIVES THE MUSICAL, Grace in the world premiere of COFFEE MIXED WITH CREAM, Lola in DAMN YANKEES, Violet in 9-5, Angie in THE PROM, Sister Robert Anne in NUNSENSE, and Madame in CINDERELLA. Courtney is a piano teacher, visual artist, and mom to Charlie (14) and Greta (11). Love to her family and friends for their support! www.courtneyjanejacobs.com
Selena Costantini (VANESSA/THE MOMS) This is Selena’s first show with valley players and she couldn’t be more excited to be on stage with such talented people! Dance Nation is a one of a kind show that she thinks everyone needs to see. She wants to thank her friends and family for always supporting her! She hopes you enjoy the show.
Director's Note
Above anything else in the world- above fame, above glory, legacy, recognition- what does each person crave, sometimes so desperately that they would sacrifice anything? Power. To take hold of your power, to grasp it in your hands, to say “This is what I am going to do” without holding back, is simultaneously one of the best and hardest things you can do, but in order for your life to start it is more than necessary- it is vital. This play explores those on the precipice of power- they want to win, so bad, with their whole being. What happens when you teeter too close to the edge? Does the power consume you, so much that all you want to do is escape? Or, when you’re so close you can taste it, is that power sweet and all-encompassing? When you have the power to change your world, you don’t have to be ashamed of it. You don’t have to deny it.
- Kaitlyn Kief