Our Team
Richa Badami
Founder of Living Theater Academy of Dramatic Art. Born and educated in India, Richa Ahuja Badami is an accomplished performer whose career spans theater, film, television, and arts education across multiple continents. She trained under Ebrahim Alkazi, the "father of Indian theater," performing in Hindi productions of Chekhov, Elkunchwar, Williams, and Euripides, and went on to build a screen career beginning with M. Night Shyamalan's Praying with Anger (1992), followed by roles in Hindi and Tamil cinema, French theater, and long-running Indian TV series. Fluent in Hindi, Tamil, English, and French, she has worked seamlessly across languages and cultures as both a stage and voice performer. In recent years, she has focused on nurturing young artists as founder and director of Ojai's Oak Grove School Theater Program since 2018, directing productions including Fiddler on the Roof, Matilda, Shrek, Mary Poppins, and is currently developing a new, inclusive arts education program for the next generation of performers. www.livingtheateracademy.comDirector
Julija Zonic is co-founder of Ojai Music Academy. A Croatian-born singer, songwriter, and music educator, Julija brings rigorous classical training, extensive international performance experience, and two decades of youth mentorship to this production. As co-founder of Ojai Music Academy, she has built a vibrant musical home for young performers, including OMA’s choirs and collaborations with Opera Santa Barbara. She is currently producer and musical director of the musical SIX in Ojai. www.ojaimusicacademy.orgJulija Zonic
Musical Director
Executive Producers: Richa Badami, Julija Zonic, Smitty West
Producer: Ofrit Peres
Associate Director and Dramaturg: Ananya Badami
Production Consultant: Jennifer Brewer
Emerging Producer: Lily Peres
Scenic Designer: Max de Bernardine
Lighting Designer: Patrick Lownes-Santos
Choreographer: Ashley Maher-Koren
Sound Design: Smitty West
Production Stage Manager: Brynn Jones
Rehearsal Stage Manager: Harrison Ratliff
Assistant Stage Manager: Emmy Brewer
Cast
Charley Jordan — Evan Hansen
Nebula Lane-Jones — Heidi Hansen
Stella Sagol — Zoe Murphy
Umani Kest — Cynthia Murphy
Arshan Barati — Larry Murphy
Yahli Peres — Connor Murphy
Yonah Zimmerman — Connor Murphy
Kai Maal-King — Jared Kleinman
Eva Haffner — Alana Beck
Ensemble
Sierra Bell · Emmy Brewer · Avani Cheung · Natasha Heyres · Izes I · Pearl Johnson · Sequoyah Knott · Veda Kokatay · Maxwell Lommel · Teagan McAllister · Isy Newlow · Penny Newlow · Lily Peres · Finn Porter · Ethan Prouse · Arya Ramirez · Marlon Roe · Indi Simms · Miriam Starin · Tovah Starin · Maya Urbano · Roman Coltrane Wobel · Amiya Wood · Evie Wood