Finding Neverland

Kikau Alvaro is thrilled to be the new Artistic Director of CMTSJ. He returns to San Jose with his husband Derrick and puppy Boggnes after several years on the East Coast.

At CMTSJ, he worked on the following shows over the years: The Who’s Tommy, 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. 

This past year Kikau taught musical theater students at Marymount Manhattan in New York City. Previously, he was an Associate Professor and Program Director of Musical Theater at University of the Arts in Philadelphia. He served as the Associate Artistic Director of the Virginia Repertory Theatre and was the head of Musical Theatre at Virginia Commonwealth University where he directed and choreographed Little Shop of Horrors, Into the Woods, Monty Python’s Spamalot, and Spring Awakening on the Raymond Hodges Stage; as well as Rodgers and Hammerstein’s Something Wonderful, a collaboration between the Music and Theatre departments at the Sonia Vlahcevic Concert Hall.

At Virginia Repertory Theatre, Alvaro directed and choreographed A Gentleman’s Guide to Love and Murder (Richmond Theatre Critics Circle nominee for Best Direction: Musical), and The Wiz (RTCC award winner for Best Choreography, 2019); additionally, he choreographed Atlantis: a New Musical (World Premiere – RTCC nominee for Best Choreography), was the Associate Director of In the Heights, and Associate Director and Choreographer of Fun Home, a co-production with Virginia Rep and Cadence Theatre Company.  He also provided direction or choreography for Theatreworks Silicon Valley in Palo Alto, CA for productions:  Big River, [title of show], and The Trouble With Doug.  Some of his other favorites include: Shrek, and Guys and Dolls (Diablo Theatre Center in Walnut Creek, CA—Shellie Award Nominations for Direction and Choreography); Fiddler on the Roof, Anything Goes, and Oklahoma! at Cabrillo Stage in Aptos, CA, Lysistrata Jones (Pace University), and Urinetown (San Jose State University and University of the Arts).

Alvaro earned his MFA in musical theatre from San Diego State University and his BA in theatre with an emphasis in directing from San Jose State University.  Kikau is an Associate Member of Stage Directors and Choreographers Society (SDC) and served as the VP of Conferences for Musical Theatre Educators Alliance (MTEA).

Claire Alexander is a choreographer, educator, and creative leader who believes in the power of movement to inspire, connect, and transform. With over 25 years of experience in dance, theater, and curriculum development, she has worked with thousands of young performers, shaping not just their technique but their confidence, artistry, and love for the craft. Her work blends musical theater, jazz, tap, and contemporary styles, always driven by a deep commitment to storytelling and musicality.

Paula Mulcahy-Keane is an accomplished vocalist, actress, and vocal director with over 35 years of experience performing on stage, in film, and in the recording studio. A San Jose native and proud CMT alum, she grew up performing at the Montgomery Theater before studying theater at UCLA and launching a career that spanned the globe.

Paula signed her first record deal in 1988, releasing two albums and two top-ten hits—including “I’ve Got This Feeling” from the film Dance Academy, in which she also co-starred. She later recorded with Virgin Records and legendary producer Giorgio Moroder, performing the 1990 World Cup theme song “To Be Number One” and touring Europe. Her studio and stage credits include work with artists such as Celine Dion, performances at the Hollywood Bowl, Disney Hall, and Carnegie Hall, and appearances in Tom Hanks’ That Thing You Do, Bette Midler’s For the Boys, and Men of a Certain Age with Ray Romano.

After raising three children and co-founding the award-winning arts enrichment program Picadilly, Paula returned to CMT in 2018 as Donna in Mamma Mia! She has since vocal-directed and performed in numerous productions, continuing her passion for coaching young artists in acting and voice. She is currently in development on an animated musical project based on her 2023 original children’s album The Sleepyland Band.

Paula is honored to give back to CMT, where her artistic journey began, and is deeply grateful to Kevin Hauge for his mentorship and guidance. She looks forward to the future under Kikau Alvaro’s leadership and to sharing her love of performance with the next generation.