Kikau Alvaro (Director) is thrilled to serve as Artistic Director of Children’s Musical Theater San Jose (CMTSJ). He returns to San Jose alongside his husband, Derrick, and their dog, Boggnes, following several years on the East Coast.  

Now in his second season as Artistic Director, Kikau’s recent CMTSJ directing credits include the Marquee production of Finding Neverland, the Rising Stars production of Godspell, and the Mainstage production of Legally Blonde. Over his many years collaborating with CMTSJ, he has also worked on productions of The Who’s Tommy, The Secret Garden, The Drowsy Chaperone, Chicago, A Chorus Line, Oklahoma!, Babes in Arms, Once on This Island, Avenue Q, Annie Warbucks, and West Side Story.  

Kikau spent a decade in higher education teaching musical theater across several institutions, including San Diego State University, Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU), the University of the Arts, and Marymount Manhattan College. While serving as Head of Musical Theater at VCU, he was also the Associate Artistic Director at Virginia Repertory Theatre, where he created professional opportunities for students while directing award-winning productions—including A Gentleman’s Guide to Love and Murder and The Wiz—as well as world premieres such as Atlantis: A New Musical.  

His regional directing and choreography credits include TheatreWorks Silicon Valley (Big River, [title of show], and The Trouble With Doug); Diablo Theatre Company (Shrek and Guys and Dolls, earning Shellie Award nominations for Direction and Choreography); Cabrillo Stage (Fiddler on the Roof, Anything Goes, and Oklahoma!); and Pace University (Lysistrata Jones).  

Kikau holds an MFA in Musical Theatre from San Diego State University. He is an Associate Member of the Stage Directors and Choreographers Society (SDC) and has served as an adjudicator for the Junior Theater Festival since 2013.  

Ali Arian Molaei (they/he) is a multi-hyphenate theatre artist in New York City. They grew up performing on stages across the Bay Area, including San Jose Repertory Theatre, A Theatre Near U, and South Bay Musical Theatre. CMTSJ credits include the regional premieres of American Idiot, The Little Mermaid, and The Hunchback of Notre Dame, as well as many summers at Camp CMT as Recital Director and Choreographer. Ali attended Boston Conservatory and earned a BFA in Musical Theatre with an Emphasis in Dance. In the summer before his senior year, he was cast as the Fiddler in the Broadway National Tour of Fiddler on the Roof directed by Bartlett Sher (500+ performances). In New York City, they have performed with LOCO7 Dance Puppet Theatre Company and Great Jones Repertory Company at the historic La MaMa Experimental Theatre. Ali is a member of the Acting Company at Mercury Store, a theatre studio in Brooklyn, where he has developed work with dozens of directors, choreographers, and playwrights. They most recently served as Associate Choreographer for We Live in Cairo (New York Theatre Workshop), Fiddler on the Roof (Skylight Music Theatre), and Fugitive Songs (Boston Conservatory). He is thrilled to be returning to CMTSJ, working on one of his most favorite musicals. 

Paula Keane is a San Jose native and proud CMTSJ alum. After studying theater at UCLA, she built a nearly 40-year career as a vocalist and international performer, with highlights that include acting alongside Tom Hanks in That Thing You Do!, recording in the studio with Celine Dion and Bette Midler, and performing as a featured soloist at Carnegie Hall. While raising her three children, she founded Piccadilly, an after-school performing arts program, where her passion for educating young artists took root. Paula returned to CMT in 2018 as Donna in  Mamma Mia! and has since vocal directed a string of productions, including SpongeBob The Musical, School of Rock, Beautiful and most recentls Finding Neverland. Beyond the theater, she is a vocal coach for several touring R&B artists, a children’s music songwriter, and is developing an animated musical series for children’s television. She is thrilled to join this incredible team on Spring Awakening, bringing her love of contemporary music and powerful storytelling to this groundbreaking musical. 

Bessie Zolno is a violence and intimacy choreographer for theater and film. She thoughtfully cultivates collaborative and consent-driven environments, an approach deeply rooted in her certification with Mental Health Coordination (Association of Mental Health Coordinators). Her expertise is dedicated to facilitating the safe and impactful execution of heightened moments on stage and screen for performers of all ages, across both professional productions and educational settings. Upcoming and recent projects include as Urinetown (Ray of Light), Gentleman’s Guide (Palo Alto Players), African Stew (Lorraine Hansberry Theater), and Dracula: A Comedy of Terrors (Center Rep). For more information, please visit: bessiezolno.com  

Maddie Delgros is so excited to be back at CMTSJ working on this production of Spring Awakening! Maddie has been a lifelong performer with CMT, having done over 30 shows and falling in love with theatre right here with this organization. She graduated with a BFA in Musical Theatre from Cal State Fullerton in 2022, and she hopes to continue to pursue the arts in her career. Thank you so much for being here and for continuing to support children’s theater and the arts in our community – enjoy the show!