About Lawrence Family JCC of San Diego County - Jacobs Family Campus

The mission of the Lawrence Family Jewish Community Center, JACOBS FAMILY CAMPUS is to provide social, cultural, educational, and recreational programs to individuals and families of all ages, religions, races, financial abilities, and physical and mental abilities. Likewise, the JCC provides equal opportunity employment to individuals of all religions and backgrounds. The JCC welcomes San Diego's diverse Jewish community and the community at large.

Leigh Akin

Lala Levy

Leigh is a singer, actor, and illustrator. She has performed in theaters across the US including La Jolla Playhouse, Soho Rep, North Coast Rep, Bronx Opera, and Skylight Music Theater. At The Roustabouts she has been seen as Beth in the COVID production of Book of Leaves as Hermia in the staged reading of Dead Man's Cell Phone and as Luca in the staged reading of Laughter on the 29th Floor.  Most recently she was seen in To Red Tendons at La Jolla Playhouse and in As You Like It with New Fortune Theatre company. During quarantine she kept herself busy by producing a series of cooking-show-cabarets from her apartment called Leigh Sings Songs and Makes Waffles. You can watch them all and see more of her work at leighellenakin.com

Marley Bauer

Peachy Weil

Marley is a San Diego-based actor. He has been seen onstage most recently as Richard Hannay in Scripps Ranch Theatre’s production of The 39 Steps. He has also performed in San Diego at Trinity Theatre, and as Lenny in Lamplighters’ Community Theatre’s production of Rumors. Other previous credits include Mal in The Addams Family, and Clifford Anderson in Deathtrap. He graduated from CSU Long Beach in 2021 after studying Theatre with an emphasis in Performance. He also enjoys reading and writing.

Cristyn Chandler

Stage Directions

Cristyn is an award-winning actor, audition coordinator, and patron services coordinator. In 2001 Cristyn Chandler started taking acting classes at the Old Globe Theater which moved her into a long love of theater. San Diego has a wonderful theater community and she has graced many San Diego stages. She also works as an audition and marketing coordinator for Scripps Ranch Theater. She began her film career by participating in the national organization, 48 Hour Film Project. One of her films, The Heiress Lethal, went on to win city, state, and national recognition, sending the film ultimately to the Cannes Film Festival. In 2010, Cristyn was cast in a recurring role on the short-lived television show, “Terriers-FX”. Cristyn continued to star in short films and in 2018 won a “Best Supporting Actress” San Diego Film Award for the film Isabel. She continues to act in short films, TV, commercials and theater as much as possible!

Fred Harlow

Adolph Freitag

Fred has performed almost everywhere from the Big Kitchen to La Jolla Playhouse here in San Diego. Prior to moving, he lived in NYC where he helped form Lightning Strikes Theatre Company along with D Candis Paule. Favorite local roles are Valerie in La Bete, Roy in The Best Mistake and half the citizens in A Tuna Christmas. Fred thanks you for being here and supporting this amazing group!

Salomon Maya

Joe Farkas

Salomón is a two-time Emmy-winning producer, writer, and local actor with regional credits, including San Diego Repertory Theatre (Manifest Destinitis, Beachtown, Bad Hombres Good Wives), La Jolla Playhouse (El Henry), Diversionary Theatre (A Kind of Weather), Innermission Productions (Church), Onstage Playhouse (Lonely Planet, A Bright New Boise, Coyote on a Fence), and Point Loma Playhouse (A Permanent Image). In addition to acting, Salomón is also recognized as a talented playwright, having showcased his work at Scripps Ranch Theatre (anomaly.exe), the Lipinsky Family San Diego Jewish Arts Festival (Gridlock), and Onstage Playhouse (Mugre). Beyond his contributions to the stage, Salomón serves as a Media Producer and Copywriter and takes great pride in his role as a Board Member for NTC Liberty Station and Onstage Playhouse, where he actively supports and advances the local arts community.

Suzana Norberg

Boo Levy

Suzana is a character actress who excels at comedy & improv, and her joy for acting is evident in everything she does. She wrote, produced and starred in the Serbian dramedy LIBERTYVILLE, an homage to her beloved grandfather. It played in festivals all over the U.S. in 2022, won the Audience Choice Award at the Borrego Springs Film Festival, and was nominated for Best Original Screenplay & Best Actress at the San Diego Film Awards. Suzana is also the co-creator of the all-improv web series CHRISTIAN CRAFTERNOON, gently mocking the religiously self-righteous since 2012. Awards include Best Supporting Actress at the 2022 Oceanside International Film Festival, an A-List Actor award at San Diego Film Week 2019, and Best Supporting Actress at the 2018 San Diego Film Awards. Her unpublished memoir, Too Lazy to Be Satan, was a finalist in the 2017 San Diego Book Awards and the basis for her one-woman show. Suzana is fluent in Serbian and adept at numerous accents and dialects.

Liliana Talwatte

Sunny Freitag

Liliana is a San Diego-based actor and dramaturg from the UK. She was most recently seen as Catherine in Backyard Renaissance's production of Proof. Previous credits include Shelby in Steel Magnolias, Angela in Abigail’s Party and Young Judith in Witchland (Backyard Renaissance); Weird Sister in PoeFest and Pinnochio in TwainFest (Write Out Loud); Wolf and Bird in We Lovers (Scripps Ranch Theatre); Gwendolen in The Importance of Being Earnest (Rude Mechanicals); and Marlene in Top Girls (Basement Arts). She has also been the Resident Dramaturg at Basement Arts and the Greek Language Consultant on An Iliad (Creede Repertory Theatre). Liliana has a B.F.A. in Acting and a B.A. in Ancient Greek from the University of Michigan. IG: @liliana_zt

Debra Wanger

Reba Freitag

Debra was last seen most recently in SDMT’s Fiddler on the Roof. CCAE’s Sunday in the Park With George and The Light in the Piazza. As a Cygnet Theatre Resident Artist she has appeared in: Angels in America Parts 1 & 2 (Craig Noel Award), Spring Awakening, My Fair Lady, Dogfight, On the 20th Century, Cabaret and A Little Night Music. Other San Diego highlights: Moxie: Handbagged! (Craig Noel nomination) Hamlet at Intrepid; SDMT: Catch Me if You Can, Hairspray, Billy Elliot, Footloose, Sound of Music, La Cage Aux Folles, and White Christmas; Titanic & Sunset Blvd. at Moonlight; Permanent Collection at Mo’olelo; Full Monty at New Village Arts; Anything Goes! Babes in Arms and Oliver! at Lyric Opera San Diego. Other regional: Seaside Music Theatre: Pirates of Penzance, Man of La Mancha, Robber Bridegroom, Nine. Florida Rep: Fiorello! Elizabeth and Essex. Actors Rep: Fantasticks!,  Ladies at the Alamo. Her original musical, My Nights With George, Kurt & Cole, co-written with Phil Johnson, won AASD & Billie Awards. Education: CCM, Tufts, and M.F.A. SDSU. Debra is also a certified high performance coach, best-selling author (The Resilient Actor), and recording artist (Driving My Own Heart.) xoxoCMG.

Alfred Uhry

Playwright



Alfred Uhry is a distinguished American playwright and screenwriter, best known for his compelling narratives that capture the essence of the Southern experience. His work has garnered critical acclaim and numerous accolades, including the Pulitzer Prize for Drama and the Academy Award for Best Adapted Screenplay. As a revered figure in the world of theatre, Alfred Uhry's thought-provoking and emotionally resonant plays have left an indelible mark on the performing arts landscape. His exploration of themes such as family, race, and identity has made a significant impact on audiences and artists alike.

Phil Johnson

Director

Phil Johnson is the Artistic Director and proud co-founder of The Roustabouts Theatre Co. He’s directed for The Roustabouts, Scripps Ranch Theatre, Playwrights Project, and started the new Great Jewish American Playwright Series/JPlays at the JCC. He’s appeared at almost all San Diego theaters and in numerous original solo shows including A Jewish Joke which opened Off-Broadway in NYC in 2019. As an actor, he’s played in Les Misérables on Broadway and on tour; Canadian production of Sunset Boulevard; and the 1st National Co. of Miss Saigon. He is a two-time winner of the SD Critics Circle Craig Noel Award for acting, and he is a founder of the San Diego Theatre Alliance.