Hoopztown cast Bios

Eva Thomas is playing the role of “Maya Hernandez" in HOOPZTOWN. She has performed with TUTS Pre Professional Program and is a current student at UH.

Kyle Sturdivant has been performing for Houston audiences for over 30 years as a company member and core artist of The Catastrophic Theatre/Infernal Bridegroom Productions. In addition to the annual original summer musical, The Tamarie Cooper Show, notable performances include, Speeding Motorcycle (2006 and 2019), Rhinoceros, Trevor (awarded Houston Best Actor, 2017, Houston Press), Buried Child, There is a Happiness That Morning Is, Waiting for Godot, Spirits to Enforce, and many others. Kyle has also worked in productions with Unity Theatre, Zachary Scott Theatre, Stages Repertory Theatre, Houston Shakespeare Festival, Children’s Theatre Festival, Brazosport Lazer Pantherz, Slump, Mystery Café, University of Houston School of Theatre, and Edward Albee workshops.

Brenda Valdivia created Mocking Bird Network in 2016 after she noticed the need for Houston creatives to have their own space to showcase their work, as well as workshop ideas for better shows to a global audience. Brenda is also the host of Mocking Bird Labs and Nerd Love, and is a frequent guest on The Stacks. She is an improviser, voice actress, and comedian — a storyteller since the sixth grade, and performers regularly with Station Theater, BooTown, The Moth, and Blanket Fort. She has also worked with So, What's Your Story on KPFT 90.1 FM. Brenda has also officiated various wedding ceremonies focusing on non-denominational and is LGTBQ, tailoring ceremonies to suit the needs of her wedding couples.

Chris K. Lee is an actor who graduated from the University of Texas at Austin’s Film Program in 2022. Originally from Texas, Chris grew up watching and playing basketball, especially during LeBron's Miami Heat era, when he was then frequently (and unfairly), labeled a bandwagoner. He is represented by Pastorini-Bosby Talent and is excited to bring his love for storytelling and hoops to Hoopztown.

Ava Novak: A 16-year-old sophomore at Bellaire High School. She has performed in Mean Girls, Pippin, Sponge Bob the Musical, and Into the Woods at Theater Under the Stars, where she is a member of their academy. She is involved in tech and acting with her school company and has been a dancer for 14 years.

Beatriz de Andrade e Lima: Born in Brazil and raised in Houston, she has a strong passion for the performing arts. She trains at HSMT, the Theater Under The Stars (TUTS) Musical Theatre Academy, where she was part of the Pre-Professional Company for two years and performed in Mary Poppins (2022) and Rodgers & Hammerstein’s Cinderella (2023). She has played leading roles such as Annie, Matilda, and Molly in Peter and the Starcatcher.

Cynthia Garcia: A graduate of the American Musical and Dramatic Academy, NYC. She has performed as an Equity touring actor in New York City-based theatre productions and locally at Houston’s Ensemble Theatre, where she is a two-time winner of the Giorgee Award. She is pursuing a Master's in Playwriting at Southern Illinois University in Spring 2026.

Liliana Williamson: A 13-year-old student who aspires to be a professional actor. She has performed in multiple stage productions at the Hobby Center and local theaters, including Annie, Into The Woods, SpongeBob The Musical, and Matilda. She is involved in the Humphrey’s School of Musical Theatre Academy, her school’s theatre program, and orchestra.

Titilayo Marie: Passionate about film, she hopes to become a film actor/director. She is a Theatre Under The Stars (TUTS) Academy student and the Public Relations officer of Thespian Troupe 7014. She also participates in Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA) and enjoys fashion.

Kiya Green: Excited to be part of the Houston Cinema Arts Film Festival. Her credits include The Phoenix Group: Pullman, WA, Alley Theatre ECE Tour: The Brainstormers & Their Cosmic Mission, The Ensemble Theatre: Flex, Houston Grand Opera: Cinderella, and Shabach Enterprise: The Flow. She holds a BFA in Theatre from Stephen F. Austin State University.

Hannah Julie An: A Houston-based actor represented by Page Parkes Agency. She is trained in film and television performance and is passionate about storytelling that connects people across cultures.

Layla Sahni: A freshman at The High School for the Performing and Visual Arts in Houston, accepted into the Theater Department. She has a lifelong passion for TV/film and a strong background in musical theater. Her past roles include Dory in Finding Nemo: The Musical and Gabriella in High School Musical Jr.

Kate Ostrow-Yadan: Adopted by Musical Theatre Producer Stuart Ostrow and recording artist Ann Gilbert, she discovered her singing talent at age three. She trained rigorously, performed in local productions, and was in a workshop for Carole King’s Really Rosie. She attended Stagedoor Manor and studied English at the University of Michigan, performing as Hildy in On The Town. She also apprenticed at the Williamstown Theatre Festival. In NYC, she trained at the Manhattan Theatre Club, took voice lessons, worked with Liz Swados, and recorded Bible Women. She attended The Eugene O'Neill Theatre Cabaret Conference and performed at Carnegie Hall and Lincoln Center. She also focused on original material and was a backup singer for Anne Marie Milazzo’s band House of Red. She is currently an Executive Director for a non-profit and raises her daughter, Abby, who has Down syndrome and has participated in TUTS productions.

Isabella Munguia: A 16-year-old who has been training and participating in theatre productions since she was eight. She is a junior in high school and an active member of both the Studio VII Theatre Company and the Theatre Under The Stars (TUTS) Academy Company. She is an inducted Thespian and has appeared in over thirty productions, with recent roles including Rosalie Mullins in School of Rock, Abby Brewster in Arsenic and Old Lace, and Brooke/Vicky in Noises Off.

Sierra Wilturner made her regional debut earlier this year at The Ensemble Theatre, portraying April in Flex. She is honored to participate in this staged reading and remains dedicated to bringing truth and depth to every performance.

Sam Berg: A 21-year-old actor, singer, and dancer. His credits include a Six Flags commercial and a Houston Community College commercial.

Zoe Novak: A 16-year-old sophomore at Bellaire High School. She is a member of the Theatre Under the Stars Academy at the Humphreys School of Musical Theatre, Red Bird Productions at Bellaire High School, and the Kaplan Players.Here are the actors in alphabetical order: