​A CHILDREN'S THEATRE
OF THE MESILLA VALLEY
Meet our Directors
Luis Alfonso Castro - Artistic Director, Director, Interim Technical Director
Luis is so grateful to be joining the ACT family and hopes he is able to continue to help out. Theatre is his passion and he is studying to become a theatre teacher at NMSU.
Jazmin Buchman - Director, Tech Booth Coordinator
Jazmin has been volunteering with ACT for several years. She enjoys directing, tech, and sharing her love for theatre.
Bianca Marie Castro - Director, Costume Design/Coordination
Bianca joined A Children's Theatre of the Mesilla Valley about a year ago and has loved every minute of it. She has directed the past two productions and helped with costumes, make-up and hair. She was last seen in NMSU's production Mojada: A Medea in Los Angeles playing the role of Josephina. You may have also seen her in Las Cruces Community Theatre (LCCT) musicals Mary Poppins, Annie, Legally Blonde and a Christmas Story.
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Jenna DerrGuitar - Director, Costume Design/Coordination
Jenna has been involved with ACT since she was a child in the ‘90s and later pivoted to a director role as she was working on her second degree at NMSU (she has two bachelor’s degrees from NMSU in Theatre Arts & English). She left Las Cruces in 2011 with her now husband Mike DerrGuitar (a fellow ACT director and board member) to pursue her master’s degree in English at SUNY New Paltz and from there went onto to receive her doctorate in English from the University of Rhode Island (where she is still an adjunct teaching online for the Women & Gender Studies department). After finishing her degrees on the east coast, Jenna was thrilled by the opportunity to return to the land of enchantment. Subsequently, she was excited to begin working with ACT again, as the theatre has always had a special place in her heart. In addition to her adjunct work at URI, Jenna is an English teacher at Centennial High School. She is the proud cat mom of three fantastic felines: Crookshanks, Moo, and Weasley.
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Mike DerrGuitar - Director
Mike is thrilled, as always, to be directing for ACT. He holds a B.A. in Theatre Arts from NMSU and has recently returned to Las Cruces following a decade in New York & Rhode Island. Michael has been studying, performing, and directing theatre since childhood and is passionate about giving back to the community of Las Cruces by providing opportunities for children to experience the safety, creativity, collaboration, and fun of theatre!
Natasha Sanchez - Director, Costume Design/Coordination
Natasha has been working for ACT since 2010. She directs and makes costumes. She is a graduate from NMSU with a BA in theatre arts. She is working on her MA with hopes to be a drama teacher.
Meet our Staff
Sue Rexroth - Executive Director, Administrative Assistant, Interim Technical Director
Sue loves the arts and working with children. She began working with ACT in spring 2015 when her oldest son joined the cast of "The Jungle Book", then her youngest son joined that summer for "Wild Island Adventure", and both have been participating since. In addition to her administrative work, she loves working backstage and has served on ACT's Board of Director's as President and as Secretary. Sue has taught cooking classes for kids grades K-5 and is an elementary school substitute teacher.
Ann Marie Vasquez - Show Coordinator
Kelly King - Administrative Consultant
Pinky Kingsley - Administrative Consultant
Pinky has a M.A. (Anthropology), did her thesis work at the Las Cruces Museum of Nature and Science, designing exhibits, and developing and implementing children’s programs. In 2008, she co-founded and began management of Mikey’s Place – A Workshop for the Arts, in Mesilla Park. Mikey’s Place was a warehouse space that welcomed both visual and performing artists. Pinky first became involved with ACT as a parent in 1994. She has served on the ACT Board of Directors, as ACT Executive Director and Show Coordinator. Pinky has performed as a dancer for many years and is currently a member of ballet folklorico Las Perlitas del Pueblo. She is excited to be supporting a culturally-significant public space through ACT’s affiliation with the historic Rio Grande Theatre.
Eileen Gilbert and Karen Paulson - Technical Consultants
Eileen was an elementary school teacher for 30 years in New Mexico. Her students were in the audience for many ACT productions. After retirement in 2012, she became a volunteer with ACT building sets, collecting and manufacturing props and assisting with costumes as a seamstress. Eileen loves the challenge of designing, constructing and implementing the pieces that support our young actors and help each production come to life. You will find her backstage with the cast during our performances at the Rio Grande Theatre; Karen has a her BA in Sociology from UC Santa Cruz and a background in Early Childhood Education, general carpentry and woodworking. A former homeschool mom, community activist and nature lover.