Alyssa Wesley as Ghost-Spider

Whether she is appearing as a deceitful blond, a secretive redhead, or a mysterious Fate from Greek mythology, senior Alyssa Wesley has been devoted to the PRHS Theatre Company for all four years of high school and beyond. 

“I’ve gained social skills, life, knowledge. I feel like just being around these people every day has made me such a happier and smarter person in general,” Wesley said, reflecting on the value that this program has brought into her life.

Wesley’s commitment to the stage began in fourth grade at Applause Children’s Theatre, a local performing arts children’s group in Paso. She was involved with the company for about four years before COVID struck, and was then brought back into the spotlight her freshman year where she has remained since then.

At Paso High Theatre Company, she has appeared as Roxie Hart (Chicago), Fate 1 (Hadestown), Ginger (Murder Mystery, Mystery Murder), Moth (Fairycakes), and three other ensemble roles through the years. Wesley’s diverse range of characters illustrates her calling as a natural performer, expanding into other areas such as when she appeared in the 2025 Advanced Dance show as an emcee.

When she is tasked with taking on another role, Wesley looks for inspiration from any available source about the character. If there is a source available, it can be used to formulate an idea of the character’s traits and personality, but Wesley also utilizes Pinterest to brainstorm an overall “vibe” of the character to strengthen her performance and actions on stage.

While Wesley loves theatre, she will not be pursuing a career in it outside of high school, but instead going to UCSB and majoring in environmental studies. She hopes to continue to be involved in theater through outside groups or by double majoring in it.

As she moves into her final bow as a performer here at PRHS, Wesley shares her final words of wisdom to anyone interested in theatre, “Do it. Try it. Just do whatever you can to get involved if you love it,  and if you find out that you really like it, take every opportunity that’s presented.”

Shane Mullinix as Scarlet Spider

Senior Shane Mullinix’s dedication to theater is highlighted in his 14-year career and performances in 16 different productions. Although he is involved in choir and has had experience since kindergarten, starting as a pirate in Peter Pan and as the Tin Man in the Wizard of Oz show in fourth grade with a company outside of school, his ‘talent’ hadn’t come easily. Behind the fancy costumes, stage lights, and the audience’s eyes, he spent most of his time reading scripts and trying to embody roles as a PHTC legacy, and was originally tone deaf.

“I just couldn’t understand how it worked,” he explained. “It’s crazy to me to think about how I went from literally not being able to do it at all to having to do it by myself.”

Mullinix has played seven roles with Paso High Theatre Company throughout his four years, which included Billy Flynn in Chicago, Lord Evelyn Oakleigh in Anything Goes, Lucas Beineke in The Addams Family, and Fate 3 in Hadestown. As an Acting 4 student, he also serves as a student director, Drama Club Activities Director, and assists as PRHS first vocal director for Acting 2. This success has lead him to win the ‘Outstanding Caps Bearcats,’ due to his participation in acting.

“Earlier this year, I saw the national tour of Wicked and I was in the front row. It changed my life to see professionals so close up. It made me realize that it’s truly what I want to do,” Mullinix said.

Mullinix will attend San Diego State University in the fall with a major in Musical Theater and minor in Music, and while he is unsure of his career goal, he is interested in performance and teaching theater.

Geovani Rendon as Spider-Punk

For senior Geovani Rendon, stepping onto the stage for the first time in third grade as the Cowardly Lion was more than just a school play, it was a spark. The moment at Pat Butler Elementary ignited a passion for performance that has inspired him to be able to tell a story through movement and making others smile or feel a certain way when he’s performing on stage.

“I’ve learned that failure is okay, and if you do fail, you can learn from it and try again to improve,” Rendon said.

Rendon was involved in The Addams Family musical his freshman year and started acting classes his sophomore year, which kickstarted his acting career at Paso Robles High School. Being involved in the Lion King, Anything Goes, Queens, Wizard of Oz, Macbeth, Beauty and the Beast, Fairycakes, Chicago, Alice in Wonderland, Murder Mystery, Mystery Murder, Frozen, and Hadestown, he has developed skills such as character development, directing, time management, stage presence, vocal projection, improvisation, teamwork, confidence, and self-expression.

Rendon performed in nineteen theater productions his whole life, and has developed not just his acting skills, but a deep appreciation for the process. 

“Patience is key,” Rendon said. The lesson of patience is one of the biggest takeaways Rendon gained from his time in high school theater. He learned this the hard way during a production of Charlotte’s Web with Wine Country Theatre, which he admits didn’t give it his all.

“I didn’t feel like I put in my full effort, and afterwards I realized, ‘Wow, I could’ve done better.’ That taught me that every role, no matter how small, deserves 110 percent,” Rendon said.

Beyond acting, he is passionate about dance, which allows him to be creatively free and “express himself without words”. Rendon has had directing roles for three years on the advanced dance team. While he dreams of performing on Broadway, he also envisions a future as a choreographer or festival dancer. 

After graduation, he plans to attend the Pacific Conservatory of the Performing Arts in Santa Maria (PCPA), affiliated with Allan Hancock College. It is a highly competitive program with only 34 out of 300 applicants being admitted.

Jennifer Bedrosian, Rendon’s Advanced Dance teacher, has been a witness to Rendon’s growth and creativity that has flourished on the stage. 

Bedrosian appreciates Rendon’s activeness to jump in when nobody else is taking action and how supportive he is, “bringing a commitment level that is nice to have and has the ability to be able to pick up things quickly.”

As Rendon takes his final bow at PRHS, he leaves behind a legacy of dedication, creativity, and growth. With his next act beginning at PCPA, Rendon is ready to take on the professional world of performing arts. But no matter how far his dreams take him, the lessons of patience and dedication and self expression, friendships, and memories from high school theater will always be center stage.

He wishes to share with future Bearcats to “Take in the moment. Every role, every rehearsal, they matter. Be patient, give it your all, and enjoy the ride.”

Sam Laucella as Spider-Man 2099

Talent can be found not only on the Paso High Theater Company stage, but also on the stage in the booth. At the top back of the Performing Arts Center, senior Sam Laucella manages, alongside director Marcy Goodnow, making magic happen on the stage, and behind the curtain. 

Laucella has been involved in the technical theater program for a total of four years. For the last two years, he has been Stage Manager. This title puts him in charge of the more technical aspects that occur like __, set design, and making the play come to life. 

His interest in tech stemmed from his older sister Sierra who graduated in 2020 and was also involved in the Technical Theater Production Pathway.

“She did senior design and then went with stage management. At first, I wasn’t interested at all, and because being a leader scares me so much, but my friend Kaci Wagner, she encouraged me alongside my sister to make me believe that I could do it,” Laucella said.

Being in the program for four years and completing the pathway has shown Laucella people skills and benefits to his day to day life.

“I’ve gained so much confidence, not only in situations, but mostly myself, like being able to talk in front of people and know that my ideas are good, even if they’re not what we are looking for just being able to trust myself in that process,” Laucella said.

Laucella leaves behind a piece of advice for the next Stage Manager:

As his time backstage comes to a final bow at PRHS, it is not forever. Laucella will be continuing his education at Ithaca College in New York where he will be majoring in Stage Management.

Elijah Jordan as Lego Spider-Man

As the curtains close on the 2024-2025 school year, senior Elijah Jordan flips the page onto the next volume of his life. Jordan joined the Paso High Theater Company (PHTC) in Acting 1 as a freshman and he was immediately drawn onto the stage. The community and freedom of creative expression surrounding the theater company was a key factor in wanting to continue pursuing the arts. He jumped to Acting 3 in his sophomore year after going through a daring audition which included reciting a monologue, theater vocab, and improvisation.

During his junior and senior year, he was in Acting 4, which also required an audition. During his time in theatre, Jordan played numerous roles, including The Addams Family (Ensemble) as a freshman, but he was in other musicals Anything Goes (The Pursuer), Chicago (Ensemble), and Hadestown (Fate 2). His role as Fate 2 in Hadestown was not just spectacular to the audience, but also to judges in the crowd representing the Rita Moreno Awards. Elijah was nominated for Best Supporting Actor in the state, and he attended the award ceremony on May 12, 2025 with the other Fates: Alyssa Wesley and Shane Munnix at San Jose Broadway.

Lori Jordan, Elijah Jordan’s mom and also a teacher at PRHS, comments: “I was very impressed with his work ethic and how hard he works when he auditions, and when he gets a role, he just totally takes it on. And I was really impressed with all three of their harmonies, with Eli, Shane, and Alyssa, and I think it just really made them stand out. I think it was just such an emotional performance for everyone.”

Although he frequently appears on stage, Jordan has also been behind the scenes, directing the 2025 children’s show Frozen: Kids and helping with smaller technical aspects of Acting 3/4 showcases and Advanced Dance shows. Not only does he take on theater related activities at school, but also for his job at Sweet Escapes downtown alongside PHTC actor Libby Higgins. As Jordan explains, “it’s an escape room that involves baking, making coffee, and managing the escape rooms. There is also a room with a small acting role which is really exciting.”

Although he is not pursuing acting professionally in his adult life, Jordan is double majoring in Animal Biology and Ecology, Evolution and Biodiversity at UC Davis, but he still wants to continue making art in some way. He stated, “I think the arts is something that you should always hold on to, even if you’re not doing it professionally. It’s good to nurture the right side of your brain, whether you’re acting in theater or singing you’re in a choir.” 

Gracie Domenghini as Spider-Ham

Whether she’s singing her love for Eurydice or helping Roxie Hart in prison, Gracie Domenghini is no stranger to the bright lights of the stage.

Domenghini started her acting career when she was eight years old, performing for Class Act Dance. When she arrived at PRHS, she joined Acting 1 and has continued acting through her four years of high school. Prior to high school, Domenghini performed in dances with Class Act Dance for nine years but decided to mainly focus on acting once she arrived in high school. This change was because of her love of storytelling, feeling that she could express that love through acting.

“I first started acting because I knew I loved to be on stage when I did dance, but I felt like acting was just a better place for me. I’ve always loved the idea of storytelling as an art and I wanted to explore that further when I got to high school,” Domenghini said.

Some of Domenghini’s lead roles as an actress for the Paso High Theatre Company include Orpheus in Hadestown, Dani in Murder Mystery, Mystery Murder, Matron Mama Morton in Chicago, Mustardseed in Fairycakes, and Moonface Martin in Anything Goes, with her favorite role being Orpheus, a talented musician and poet whose songs have magical powers.

“Orpheus was my favorite role because he;s a very complex character and I got to really put a lot into my acting skills.”

Through the theater program, Domenghini gained self-confidence and strength.

“I started out pretty unsure but with help from my teacher and friends I feel like I can make a career out of my acting abilities and I’m really grateful for that,” said Domenghini.

Close friends of Domenghini describe her as being a fun, hard working person to be around.

“When it comes to theater, Gracie is one of the most talented people I know. She works so hard in every single personal project and show she’s in. She also makes working with her very easy and fun,” said senior Divy Emmons, a member of the PHTC that has worked alongside Gracie for the past four years.

After she leaves the PHTC, Domenghini will miss the sense of family within the program.

“Everyday we make new fun memories and I feel so at home with the people around when I’m there,” Domenghini said

Domnghini plans to attend PCPA, a two year acting conservatory program through Alan Hancock college in Santa Maria. Although Domenghini is unsure of what she’ll do after college, she knows it will involve acting and theatre.