August 27, 2025, Santa Rosa - Move over, cats and dogs—this fall, it’s a Featherbaby stealing the spotlight. “Featherbaby”, a new comedy by local playwright and SRJC alumnus David Templeton, makes its world premiere at Spreckels Performing Arts Center in Rohnert Park, August 29–September 14, 2025.
The show’s mischievous star isn’t just a rambunctious, foul-mouthed Amazon parrot; it’s also the Santa Rosa Junior College Theatre Arts Program itself, thanks to a cast and crew of SRJC alumni, faculty, and employees.
Director Skylar Evans credits SRJC with shaping his path in theatre, where he studied acting, light design, and sound mixing. His directorial debut was Steven Dietz's "Trust" through the Student Theatre Guild, which led to him competing in the American College Theatre Festival as a director. He says the JC's wide range of classes was fundamental to honing his skills as a director.
The four-person cast includes Theatre Arts faculty member Gina Alvarado and alumnus Matthew Cadigan, who alternate in the role of the feathered troublemaker. Alumna Mercedes Murphy plays Angie, the parrot’s beleaguered owner, while SRJC classified staff member Nate Musser portrays Mason, Angie’s unsuspecting love interest—and Featherbaby’s sworn enemy.
For Alvarado, returning to the stage with SRJC colleagues and alumni feels like coming full circle. “I’m consistently impressed by the dedication of our student body,” she said, “not only the dedication level of the developing artists that I get to work with, but the caliber of theatre artists that this program seems to generate. Case in point - this cast of Featherbaby. SRJC Theatre Arts is highly regarded and very special, and I am pleased to be a part of it and contribute however I can.”
Murphy studied acting techniques, children's theatre, stage makeup, and costumes at SRJC. In 2006, she participated in the prestigious Irene Ryan Acting Scholarships competition. She graduated with an AA in humanities and Dean's High Honors before continuing her education at Arizona State University, where she majored in Interdisciplinary Studies. Among her performances were “Last Days of Judas Iscariot”, “Aida”, and “Our Lady of 121st Street.” She also did make-up and costumes for “West Side Story”, “East of the Sun & West of the Moon”, “Shakespeare in Hollywood”, and “The Skin of Our Teeth”.
Musser balances his staff role as Coordinator at SRJC Media Services with his stage work. He said the college has been a springboard for countless performers: “SRJC [Theatre Arts] is my home base for acting. It’s not been long at all since Leslie McCauley took a chance on me in “Gloria”, and then Reed Martin trusted me with the two-faced Mr. Green in “Clue”, the following year. Each production was, thankfully, also a class, where I learned so much about the many facets of being on stage.” As he saw many Theatre Arts (THAR) alumni finding meaningful employment after graduation, he sees how “SRJC embraces every corner of the community.”
As for Cadigan, who once co-founded a Sonoma County theatre nonprofit with other JC graduates, the connections he made during college have endured. “My bonds with most of the friends I made during my time in the JC theater department remain strong to this day, and the faculty I interacted with are incredible folks who are still supportive of me and the other students I was in their program with.”
Finally, the stage manager for Featherbaby, Cecelia Hamilton-Lee, who graduated in 2019 from SRJC with an Associate of Arts after nearly a decade of study, reflected on her time at SRJC. As a student in the THAR department, she also worked in the scene shop. She really loved her time there and still recommends the JC to anyone remotely interested in the arts.
Whether audiences come for the laughs, the love story, or the bird with attitude, “Featherbaby” promises a raucous night out. Don’t miss your chance to see this world premiere.
Photo:
Back L to R: Gina Alvarado, Matthew Cadigan. Front L to R: Cecelia Hamilton-Lee, Nate Musser, Mercedes Murphy & Skylar Evans - on the set of Featherbaby.
