October Surprise

MIGUEL MUÑOZ is a Peruvian-American playwright, director, and actor hailing from the Pacific Northwest. He is currently a senior at the University of Northern Colorado, pursuing a B.A in Theatre Education. His satirical play Lati-NO! was selected for American Stage’s 2023 New Play Festival in St. Petersburg, FL. His political drama October Surprise was recently elected a semifinalist in Orlando Shakespeare Festival’s 2023 PlayFest. He is currently under commission to write American Stage’s 2024 TYA tour show. This is Miguel’s second professional acting credit, having appeared in his first professional production last summer in Little Theatre of the Rockies’ The Quest for Don Quixote as Don Quixote.

VICTORIA VILLALOBOS has loved theatre since she was a child. She has worked extensively with OpenStage as a Sound Designer and Engineer, Makeup and Hair Designer and Stylist, Assistant Director, Stage Manager, Board Operator, Stagehand, and Dresser. Victoria also has worked with Fort Collins Children’s Theatre for the past 6 productions, most recently as the Makeup Designer and Stylist for Elf and James and the Giant Peach. Next on the list, she will be designing for FCCT’s production of The Addams Family in November of 2023. In addition, she has worked with companies such as Opera Fort Collins, The Cheyenne Little Theatre Players, and Pop Up Theatre. Victoria received her associate degree from Front Range Community College, where she was inducted into the Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society and was named to the President’s List, both for her academic achievements. Victoria wishes to thank her family and friends for all their love and support!

DAVID GRINNELL has been continuously involved with OpenStage for the last 10 years. David originally worked in the Saint Paul/Minneapolis area, with companies such as The Great American History Theater, Cricket Theater, Theatre de la Jeune Lune, and The Guthrie Theater. For OpenStage, he has served as the Master Electrician for Moonlight and Magnolias, Unnecessary Farce, North Plan, Monty Python’s Spamalot, Avenue Q, and Men On Boats. David was the Lighting Designer for this season’s CABARET and Don’t Dress for Dinner in 2017. Since the 2015 relaunch of OpenStage etcetera, he has served as Lighting Designer and Master Electrician for their productions of The Submission, A Bright New Boise, Ultimate Beauty Bible, H2O, Ideation, The Mystery of Love and Sex, Fool For Love, Every Brilliant Thing, Tiny Beautiful Things, Cry It Out, and A Doll’s House Part 2.

ALICIA MUÑOZ is a theatre artist from Vancouver, WA. For 10 years, she’s immersed herself in the dramatic arts as a director, stage manager, costume designer, and actor. She is delighted to be making her professional technical debut in this production. She has lived in Greeley, CO for 5 years and graduated from the University of Northern Colorado with a BA in Theatre Education. She is currently pursuing a Master’s in Special Education at Buena Vista University. Educational theatre credits include: Clara (Clara’s Little Questions, UNCO); Stage Manager/Costume Designer (Lati-NO!, UNCO); Director (Look Me in the Eye, UNCO); Stage Manager (Trap, UNCO).

KIMBER FREETONE HOVEN Kimber is approaching the stage again after a long hiatus. The message of SWEAT drew him back to the craft. From 2016 on he worked building sets and event spaces in New York and has always carried an appreciation and love of the craft behind the industry of theatre and entertainment. He now returns to Colorado to hopefully approach new avenues of creativity and craft.

KATE AUSTIN-GRÖEN has been performing for over three decades, and has done many regional theatre productions in Texas, Virginia, Minnesota, California, and several other states. Since moving to Fort Collins in 2010, Kate has performed and directed several productions for OpenStage Theatre, Bas Bleu Theatre, Midtown Arts Center, and the Fort Collins Children’s Theatre. She is so happy to be performing in this show, especially since her favorite play is Ibsen’s A Doll’s House. Kate is the Production Manager for OpenStage Theatre’s etcetera season, as well as their resident Intimacy Director. Her next endeavor will be directing Treasure Island for OST in the summer of 2023. In addition to acting, Kate enjoys studying languages, and is a Level Two Scottish Gaelic Student with Sabhal Mòr Ostaig (on the Isle of Skye). She also enjoys reading, yoga, and spending time with her husband and two children.