Biography

Eliza Vedar

Eliza Vedar is a sound designer, composer, music director and pianist based in Southern California. Their work has been featured in theatrical productions with La Jolla Playhouse, TuYo Theatre, Diversionary Theatre, Moxie Theatre, Cygnet Theatre, New Village Arts, Common Ground Theatre and various educational institutions including: San Diego State University, CSU San Marcos and University of San Diego. Eliza holds a Bachelor’s degree in Music Performance: Piano from San Diego State University. Eliza music directed three shows in JT’s 75th Anniversary Season (The SpongeBob Musical, Roald Dahl’s Matilda The Musical and Rodgers + Hammerstein’s Cinderella) and for Season 76, she composed original music for, and music directed, Tomás and The Library Lady, as well as music directed Diary of a Wimpy Kid and Mean Girls.

CLASSES

Winter Session: Mythical Musicals

The Prom, School Edition

Directed and Choreographed by Marc Caro-Willcox
Music Direction by Eliza Vedar

Book & Lyrics by Chad Beguelin
Book by Bob Martin
Music by Matthew Sklar
Based on an original concept by Jack Viertel
Original Broadway Production directed and choreographed by Casey Nicholaw
Originally Produced on Broadway by Bill Damaschke, Dori Berinstein, Jack Lane

Four eccentric Broadway stars are in desperate need of a new stage. So when they hear that trouble is brewing around a small-town prom, they know that it’s time to put a spotlight on the issue…and themselves. The town’s parents want to keep the high school dance on the straight and narrow—but when one student just wants to bring her girlfriend to prom, the entire town has a date with destiny. On a mission to transform lives, Broadway’s brassiest join forces with a courageous girl and the town’s citizens and the result is the love that brings them all together.

Mean Girls: High School Version

Directed by Shawn Foote
Choreographed by Marc Caro-Willcox
Music Direction by Eliza Vedar
Assistant Directed by Brooke Henderson

Book by Tina Fey
Music by Jeff Richmond
Lyrics by Nell Benjamin
Based on the Paramount Pictures film Mean Girls

Cady Heron may have grown up on an African Savanna, but nothing prepared her for the wild and vicious ways of her new home…suburban Illinois! Cady rises to the top of the popularity pecking order by taking on the ruthless Regina George and learns the hard way that you can’t cross a Queen Bee without getting stung.

Diary of a Wimpy Kid, The Musical

Directed by Elissa Russell
Assistant Directed by Gina Barba
Music Direction by Eliza Vedar
Choreography by Ricardo Valenzuela

Book by Kevin del Aguila
Music and Lyrics by Michael Mahler and Alan Schmuckler
Based on the “Diary of a Wimpy Kid” Book Series
by Jeff Kinney and the 20th Century Fox Films

Middle school, ugh. It’s the worst. Greg is determined not to be at the bottom of the popularity chart. He’ll leave that to his weird neighbor, Fregley. Or maybe Greg’s best friend, Rowley Jefferson. But it’s not going to be Greg…no way. Will Greg’s plans lead him to sacrifice his one true friend? Can anyone avoid the dreaded Cheese Touch? Grab a hall pass and don’t be late for an adventure familiar to anyone who actually survived middle school.

Tomás and the Library Lady

Directed by Maria Patrice Amon
Original Music and Music Direction by Eliza Vedar

Adapted by José Cruz González
From the book by Pat Mora.

In this inspiring true story, Tomás, the son of migrant farm workers, meets a librarian who introduces him to the wonderful world of books. The stories enrich the lives of Tomás and his family and instill a love of reading. Adapted from the well-loved book, this play is readily understood by both English and Spanish speakers.