Our Production Team
Alicia Lindheimer (she/they) – Co-Director
Alicia is a recent graduate with a BS in Animal Science. This is her third year being a part of the OWN production team and is extremely excited to once again be working with such a talented, passionate, and strong group of people to put together this zine. They have always been passionate about the arts and activism for as long as they can remember, and believe that OWN is a truly powerful mixture of the two. Additionally, she is also a student assistant at the Gender Equity Center and is passionate about working to dismantle the gender binary and societal gender roles, as well as lifting up the voices of marginalized identities within womxnhood. She hopes to use her platform as Co-director and to provide a space where the important— and often untold—stories of womxnhood can be heard.
Chloe Chou (she/her) – Co-Director
Chloe is a third year Mechanical Engineer with a minor in Theatre Arts. This is her second year working in OWN, and she is thrilled to be a part of this amazing production again. She has been in love with this production ever since she saw it performed her first year. Since then, she has been a stage manager this last year and has moved up to co-directing this year. As well, she has been a writer for the OWN script all three years. Outside of OWN, she is involved in other theatre productions around campus. She is proud to help contribute to this year’s OWN and loves to be a part of this powerful and loving environment, and hopes that OWN continues to impact and inspire others with its stories the same way it has for her.
Elena Scarr (she/her) – Cast Manager
Elena is a second year Sociology major with a concentration in organizational sociology, attempting to obtain a minor in Ethnic Studies. This is her first year involved in OWN and she is already waiting for the next year of this process. She was extremely excited and passionate this year to work with so many dedicated and talented people. She has put together her own punk zines in the past and is very passionate about women and gender minorities issues, this was a dream come true. She is very passionate about advocating for houseless people, especially those of color and gender minorities as they face the most risk on the street. She can be recognized from afar in her knee high combat boots and dark eyeliner.
Haniya Hassan (any pronouns) – Co-Script Lead
Haniya is a third year Agricultural and Environmental Plant Science major with a minor in Ethnic Studies. They are very excited about this year’s production of OWN as this is their first year as a script lead and cast member. They personally worked on a few projects but are especially passionate about Star Creek and Commitment Issues. You can often find them playing with Baxter the dog, taking care of the orchids at Cal Poly’s horticulture unit, or eating copious amounts of bread.
Zoha Qader (she/her) – Co-Script Lead
Zoha is a fourth year Psychology and Ethnic Studies double major with a minor in Women’s & Gender Studies. She is a student assistant at the Gender Equity Center and this is her third year on the OWN team. She got involved with both the GEC and OWN, because she saw the impact that OWN had on the people around her and wanted to use this platform to give a voice to the experiences to Cal Poly’s womxn in a way that they have often not been given the opportunity to do so. She hopes that although this year’s performance has changed it’s format, it is still able to convey the writers’ emotions and intended message. When she is not doing work for Student Diversity & Belonging, Zoha enjoys roller skating and spending time with her friends and family.
Isabella Matthews (she/they) – Co-Script Lead
Isabella is a third year History major with minors in Ethnic Studies, Queer Studies, and Political Science. They love cooking for their girlfriend and spending time with their three-legged dog Bax. In their free time, they can be found playing video games, collecting earrings, and planning their next tattoo. So far, their favorite game is Assassin's Creed: Valhalla. Isabella has enjoyed being a part of the OWN script team and cast and using their talents in video editing to bring this virtual OWN to life. They are a proud member of the SDAB team and have worked with the centers for 3 years. The Gender Equity Center is a special place to them and she is very excited for everyone to experience OWN after months of hard work.
Drew Dost (they/them) – Designer
Drew is a third year Liberal Studies major with an individualized concentration in Graphic Communication. This is their first year helping out with OWN and they’ve had a great time getting to see behind the scenes and getting to know everyone after watching an inspiring production of OWN in their first year. They worked on some of the graphic design elements for this year’s virtual production and loved getting to incorporate some of their own artistic ideas into it. Aside from that, Drew is an ambassador with the Gender Equity Center and loves to create art (even going so far as to name themselves after their favorite hobby: drawing).
Our Cast
Analisa Viloria (she/her)
Analisa Viloria is a third year Liberal Arts and Engineering Studies student with concentrations in Computer Science and UI/UX. Currently she is on the committee for Pilipino Cultural Exchange's traditional dance troupe, Kasayahan, and is the tech director for Cal Poly's first UX-centered event, UX Fest SLO. This is Analisa's second OWN production and she is so grateful for the opportunity to pursue her passion of performing, even in a virtual format. Besides being on a stage, Analisa enjoys calligraphy, boba(!!!), and spending quality time with friends. She owes her progress and success to her support system both in SLO and back home in Elk Grove.
Anna Cohen (she/her)
Anna Cohen is a second year Sociology major with a minor in Women’s and Gender Studies. She is excited to be participating in OWN for the first time! She has been in many theatrical productions, and finds this platform to be particularly compelling as it beautifully intertwines her passion for social justice, activism and theatre arts. She has loved exploring each of the pieces presented in this show and is so proud of everything that the cast and crew have accomplished. Enjoy the show!
Bella Ramirez (she/her)
Bella Ramirez is a fourth year Theatre Arts major and Women and Gender Studies minor. She has been doing theatre for eight years now and recently discovered her passion for incorporating activism into her art. Since hearing about OWN her first year, Bella knew that she had to get involved with it at some point in her time at Cal Poly. She is so excited to be a member of the OWN 2021 cast and can’t wait to be a part of sharing this year’s narratives. She is still in awe of how lucky she is to have the opportunity to work with such wonderful, talented individuals and their stories. She is excited for you all to see the show, and she hopes you enjoy it!
Kae Janayan (she/her)
Joyce Kae Janayan is a third year Psychology major and Ethnic Studies minor from Hayward, CA. Her family moved to California in 2015 from the Philippines. Kae has been in previous theatrical productions including some performances in the Philippines and was recently involved in the Pilipino Cultural Exchange (PCE) club’s 30th Annual Pilipinx Cultural Night where she was lead in the play “Sika Laeng.” This year, she remains active in PCE as their Vice President. After experiencing the powerful atmosphere OWN provided during her freshman year, she decided to participate and become a member of this community. Kae aims to provide the necessary voice for womxn who choose OWN as their outlet of empowerment.
Maryellen Wood (she/her)
Maryellen Wood is a third year Theatre Arts major. This is her first year participating with OWN and she is excited to join this group of amazing people. She more recently discovered her interest in theater not being just a form of entertainment, but as a source of activism as well through a CSU Summer Arts program called Theatre and Social Change: Politics, Performance, and Vocal Power. She was thrilled to hear about OWN being a platform to express womxn’s voices and hopes it will empower the audience.
Zen Tran (she/her)
Zen is a fourth year Liberal Arts and Engineering Studies major studying Computer Science and film. This is her third and last OWN production and she is so excited to once again be a part of a production that delivers such an important message through her favorite creative medium, acting. Besides her love for theatre, you can find her crying over her codes, singing in the quiet comfort of her room, reading a book in a local coffee shop, or drinking boba (always). She has been so inspired by the entire OWN process and production and is so grateful to be part of a community that supports and empowers her throughout her college career. She is extremely ecstatic that OWN 2021 is still happening, given everything that was thrown at the production in 2020 and can’t wait to perform “Goddess of Mercy” through a virtual format.
Our Featured Voices
Amber Jaitrong (she/they)
Class of 2020, Computer Engineering & Comparative Ethnic Studies
Kavya Makam (she/they)
4th year, English major, Poetry emphasis
Tisa Tehranchi (she/her)
4th year, Public Health major & Biology minor
Our Contributors
Our OWN
Astrid Herrera (she/her)
4th year, Experience Industry Management & Comparative Ethnic Studies
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Farah Sallam (she/they)
Class of 2020, English major, Theatre minor & certificate in Technical Communication
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Leia O’Brian (she/her)
4th year, Psychology major & Child Development minor
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Neha Kaul (she/her)
3rd year, English
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Sierra Hickman (she/her)
4th year, Journalism
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Zahnae Aquino (she/her)
Class of 2020, Computer Science
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Star Creek
Crissy Daniel (she/her)
3rd year, Philosophy major & Psychology minor
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Lilly Okada (she/her)
3rd year, Animal Science
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Daughter of Immigrants
Ariana Reynoso (she/her)
4th year Ethnic Studies Major, Latin American Studies & Spanish minors
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Script Team
Esme Lipton (she/her)
2nd year, Philosophy major & Women's and Gender Studies minor
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Sydnee Tran (she/her)
1st year, Landscape Architecture & Comparative Ethnic Studies
Video Editing
Jasmine Lin (she/her)
2nd year, Architecture
Website
Lexi Berryhill (she/her)
2nd year, Graphic Communication
Gender Equity Center Staff
Olivia Tran (she/her) – Coordinator for Womxn and Gender Equity Initiatives
Olivia has been excited about OWN since before she even started working at Cal Poly in 2019. She wholeheartedly believes in the radical, transformative, and healing power of storytelling, and she is incredibly humbled to have been a part of pulling together this year's show-zine hybrid production of OWN. She is so proud of everyone involved, and is, in fact, getting emotional at this very moment just thinking about it.
Katie Ettl (she/her) – AmeriCorps VIP Fellow
After graduating from Cal Poly in spring 2019, Katie continues to serve the Gender Equity Center in a professional capacity as its full time AmeriCorps VIP Fellow. Katie is so proud to have been a part of OWN since the first show in 2016, and is honored to be a witness to the incredible work and honesty that the 2021 OWN’s authors, performers, and crew have shared with the Cal Poly community. Katie believes that OWN is not just the best program on campus, but one of the only true examples of anti-racist feminist entertainment/theater/communities in the United States. You can read her senior project for more info on that ;)
Thank you to our production team, our cast, our contributors, our supporters, and everyone who looked forward to this year’s production of OWN. A special thanks as well to all those who were involved with OWN 2020, a show which did not have the opportunity to see the stage. We hope that we have honored the history and legacy of this production. Please enjoy!