Cast

David Mingrino headshot

David Mingrino

Emperor

David has appeared in more than 100 stage productions, including the world premieres of Walking in Space, The Man Who Saved Everything, and Verdigris here at Theatre West. Other credits include Room Service, which received six Ovation Award nominations, including Best Ensemble.

His musical theater credits in summer stock and dinner theater include Motel in Fiddler on the Roof, the Emcee in Cabaret, and dancing “Steam Heat” in The Pajama Game. In 2025, David performed and sang in the musical presentations of Aquarius, Songs from ’67–’72, Sleighful of Songs, and Broadway Bound.

He would like to thank his husband, Michael, for riding this roller coaster with him for the last 29 years.

Mark Bowen headshot

Mark Bowen

Emperor, Understudy

Mark is an actor and playwright whose plays have been produced at Theatre West and New Voices Playwrights in Orange County, where he is also a proud and active member.

A former teacher, Mark made his Storybook Theatre debut last year in Jack and the Beanstalk and loved the opportunity to share the magic of live performance with young audiences. He is delighted to return to Storybook Theatre this year in The Emperor’s New Clothes.

Kathy Garrick headshot

Kathy Garrick

Beatrice

Kathy is thrilled to reprise her role of Beatrice in The Emperor’s New Clothes. Other Storybook Theatre credits include The Ugly Duckling, Hansel and Gretel, Little Red Riding Hood, Peter Rabbit, and Mother Goose the Musical.

Favorite credits include Alice in A Very Brady Musical (Theatre West); Falsettos (L.A. Theatre Works, NPR, and the Actors Fund); City of Angels (Shubert Theatre and First National Tour); In Trousers (Los Angeles and Off-Broadway); and Paper Moon the Musical (Paper Mill Playhouse).

Many thanks to Lloyd and Barbara for all the wonderful Storybook memories.

Anne Leyden headshot

Anne Leyden

Beatrice, Understudy

Anne is an actor, singer, writer, producer, wife, and mother. Not necessarily in that order. She has enjoyed a multidecade career performing in original works, children’s theater, classic titles, Shakespeare, musicals, cabaret, television, and film.

Most recently, she performed in Here Be Dragons at the Whitefire Theatre. Anne will be on the Theatre West boards in December in the world-premiere comedy by Tom Walla, described as “a classic tale of Christmas spirit and theatrical disaster.”

Anne is thrilled to be back with her first love, Storybook Theatre!

Cecil Jennings headshot

Cecil Jennings

Ronald

Cecil’s previous stage credits include Danny in Danny and the Deep Blue Sea (River City Productions); Chad in The Goddamn Couple Down the Hall (Theatre West); Claudius in Hamlet (Rotation Theatre Company); Henry in Another Revolution (Heart of Heart Theatre Company); Kirby in Walking in Space (Theatre West); Darryl in Moose on the Loose (Theatre West); the Evil Magician in Aladdin (Storybook Theatre); the Big Bad Wolf in Little Red Riding Hood (Storybook Theatre); Romeo in Classic Couples Counseling (Theatre West); and Paul in To Grandmothers House We Go (Group Repertory).

Film credits include James in Tossers (Chase Block and Bryce Van Leuven; SXSW premiere); Dave in Red Line (Jake Bistrong; Tallgrass Film Festival premiere); Emmet in Night Owls (Gabe Cruz); Steve in Turkey Medicine (Josh Mesnik); Miles in Blu Flu (Tyler Haneda Okkonen and Joe LaGuidice); and Ralph in Destination Unknown (Crawford Banks).

Follow @thisorthatsketchcomedy on Instagram for sketch comedy show details. Many thanks to all involved in putting up this play. Enjoy the show!

Jesse Corwin headshot

Jesse Corwin

Ronald

Jesse is excited to make their debut at Theatre West! Jesse is a company member at Will Geer’s Theatricum Botanicum, where they just finished a run of Romeo and Juliet as Benvolio.

You can see them next in Jen Silverman’s Witch as Cuddy Banks at Bethesda Repertory Theatre. Thank you for supporting live theater!

Caroline Quigley headshot

Caroline Quigley

Princess Felicity

Caroline is delighted to make her Storybook Theatre debut at Theatre West as Princess Felicity. She recently played Lydia Cassatt in the mainstage production of Cassatt.

A graduate of Boston University, where she received her BFA in acting, Caroline’s theater credits include Nina in The Seagull at Will Geer’s Theatricum Botanicum; Tyler in Some Girl(s) at the Victory Theatre Center; and Mary in The Pilot Who Crashed the Party at the Odyssey Theatre.

She also played Kate in A Going Away Party Play at the New Play Festival at Boston Court and worked with John Patrick Shanley at his Actor Workshop in Paris.

Onscreen, Caroline made her debut at Cannes last year with What It Means (Roku) and earned a Best Actress nomination at the Romford Film Festival for her work in The Red Hourglass. She also stars in Beezel (Apple TV+), described as the fourth most-watched horror film; Brian Hooks’s Second Time Around (Tubi); and the upcoming romantic comedy Bedrooms, premiering later this year.

Coko Kirton headshot

Coko Kirton

Princess Felicity

Coko was born in Barbados and raised by a family that thrived on creativity. Performing has always been a part of her life; it is one of the most important things to her in this world.

She graduated with her bachelor’s degree in theatrical performance in 2024, and since then, she has taken every chance she can get to be onstage.

Coko has worked with kids for years and is beyond excited to return to the magic of inspiring children through theater. She hopes to inspire at least one child to become a theater kid, just like she was and always will be.

Stage Management

Sarah Acuna headshot

Sarah Acuna

Stage Manager

Sarah is excited to be a part of the Storybook Theatre family as its stage manager. She wants to thank Barbara and Lloyd for their trust and support in bringing this show to life!

Sarah’s previous work at Theatre West includes Cassatt, Broadway Bound, My Uterus: A Womb with a View, A Sleighful of Songs, How High the Moon, and The Feel Good Story America Needs Right Now.

She holds a BA in theater from California State University, Northridge. Sarah is deeply grateful for the unwavering support of her family, friends, and her dog, Milo.

Briana Burnside headshot

Briana Burnside

Alternate Stage Manager

Briana is happy to be back with her Storybook family in a new role as stage manager! She wants to thank Barbara and Lloyd for helping her grow as a performer, but also for widening her creative career and trusting her to run the show! Enjoy the show!

Creative Team

Written by Lloyd Schwartz and David Wechter

Directed by Lloyd Schwartz

Music by Phil Oren

Choreography by Nikki D’Amico

Department of Cultural Affairs, City of Los Angeles

Made possible in part by a grant from the Department of Cultural Affairs, City of Los Angeles.