MEET
the Cast
CAREY SHARPE
as VALERIE BLOODLOVE
Carey spent her childhood steeped in music, starting with formal violin training at the age of 3, but turned down a music scholarship to pursue a career in nursing. Driven by her desire to help children like herself born with severe congenital heart disease, Carey spent 12 years working in pediatric critical care and earning master’s degrees in nursing and public health. In 2015 Carey became a mother and experienced significant health care burnout. She realized it was time to return to her love of music, taking shape with the restoration and reopening of a historic theater in her hometown. After producing various shows at this theater, The Howard, Carey was inspired to develop her own show which began as an immersive vampire experience featuring original music and fashion in October 2019. Following the positive response of that initial event, Carey has spent the past four years with her team writing, developing, and performing the lead role in Blood/Love and she is thrilled to now be taking it to the stage in Los Angeles!
ERIN BOEHME
as CLEO
CAM ANTHONY
as DEMETRIUS
When Cam Anthony recognized the power of his voice, he found his purpose. The Philadelphia-born vocal dynamo has brought The Apollo to its feet, performed at the request of The Obama family multiple times, and earned the respect of legends such as Dr. Dre. As a kid back in North Philly, he began to hone his talents as part of the church choir before eventually uploading covers to YouTube. He gained traction with renditions of Sam Cooke’s “A Change Is Gonna Come,” Bruno Mars’ “When I was Your Man,” and Bill Withers’ “Ain’t No Sunshine.” The latter exploded to the tune of nearly 10 million views. His take on Jason Mraz’s “I Won’t Give Up” caught the attention of Ellen DeGeneres who invited him to perform on Ellen at the age of twelve Soon after, he sang at The White House twice during the Obama administration, took the stage at Tom Joyner’s Family Reunion successive years in a row, and uplifted “The Star-Spangled Banner” at various IndyCar, NFL and MLB games. Along the way, Dr. Dre signed him to Aftermath, and he emerged victorious on FOX’s Showtime At The Apollo. Shining on NBC’s The Voice in
2021, he won Season 20 as part of Team Blake Shelton and inked a deal with Republic Records. After quietly grinding for years and delivering countless show-stopping performances, he fulfills this purpose at the highest level on his forthcoming debut for Republic Records and much more to come in 2022.
BRENNIN HUNT
as ANZICK
Brennin is best known for playing the lead role, Roger Davis, in FOX’s broadcast of RENT Live in January of 2019. A long-time performer, Brennin began his acting career in 2015 guest starring in ABC’s hit series Nashville as Sullivan Fitzgerald. In the summer of 2019 he made his Broadway debut as the lead role, Edward Lewis, in Pretty Woman: The Musical. In 2021, Brennin made his film debut as Marco Figueroa in Walking With Herb alongside George Lopez and Oscar-nominated actors Edward James Olmos and Kathleen Quinlan. The movie also features Brennin’s original song “Can’t Hold a Candle.” In 2022, Hunt made his Los Angeles theatre debut as Paris Escalus in Pat Benatar’s INVINCIBLE The Musical. A native of Harrah, Oklahoma, Brennin and his family lived for the better part of the last decade in Nashville where he pursued his passion as a singer-songwriter. He co-wrote “I Can’t Do This” with Vince Gill and the song is featured on Gill’s album Down To My Last Bad Habit. Brennin has independently released several songs that have generated millions of streams and have been featured on numerous TV shows. In 2016, he was featured in Rolling Stone Country as one of the “10 Artists You Need To Know.” In 2018, he partnered with YWCA for his single “Rip off the Rearview” featuring Vince Gill. The music video became Brennin’s first #1 video on CMT. Hunt has toured the world opening for mainstream artists as well as entertaining U.S. and NATO forces overseas. Brennin currently lives in Oklahoma City with his wife Kelly and their four children, Henley, Lennon, Collins and Cohen where he is producing his first feature film titled, Wakefield, that he co-wrote with Bradley Bredeweg (The Fosters, Good Trouble).
DANIEL FRANZESE
as BANKS
Daniel is an accomplished actor who has made his mark on both the big and small screens, while also showcasing his talents as a creator, writer, and comedian. Daniel’s journey in the entertainment industry has been defined by his diverse range of roles and his commitment to artistic expression. One of Daniel’s early breakthroughs came in the film “Larry Clark’s BULLY” (2001), where he delivered a powerful performance as Derek. The film, based on a true story, explored the dark side of teenage life and delved into issues of bullying and violence. Daniel’s portrayal showcased his ability to embody complex characters and tackle challenging subject matter with depth and authenticity, establishing him as a talented actor early in his career. In recent years, Daniel gained widespread recognition through his iconic breakout role as Damian in the film Mean Girls most recently he was seen in “RuPaul’s Celebrity Drag Race.” His outstanding numbers and infectious energy on the show captivated both fans and fellow contestants, earning him praise for his willingness to step out of his comfort zone and embrace the art of drag. His involvement in the competition showcased his versatility and charisma, further solidifying his status as a dynamic performer Daniel’s talents extend beyond the screen as he has written and created stage shows that have delighted audiences. “Jersey Shoresical: A Frickin Rock Opera” is a comedic musical that parodies the popular reality TV show and became a hit with fans and critics alike. His play “Italian Mom Loves You” showcased his writing prowess and provided a heartfelt exploration of family dynamics and the Italian-American experience. Not limited to his work in film and theater, Daniel has also found success as a stand-up comedian, taking his unique brand of humor to stages around the world. His sharp wit and engaging storytelling have allowed him to connect with audiences on a personal level, while his ability to navigate topics ranging from relationships to societal issues demonstrates his versatility as a performer, his comedic talent as a stand-up comedian has brought joy to audiences globally. Beyond his artistic endeavors, Daniel remains committed to advocacy and using his platform to effect positive change. Through his activism, he has continued to champion LGBTQ+ rights, inclusion, and social justice, making a lasting impact on both the entertainment industry and society as a whole. He was recently Glaad award nominated in 2023 for his podcast Yass Jesus! which explores the concept of not having to choose between gay and God. Daniel Franzese’s journey as an actor, creator, writer, and comedian exemplifies the power of artistic expression and the ability to influence and entertain. His remarkable performances and dedication to social change serve as an inspiration to aspiring artists and activists alike, reminding us of the transformative potential of storytelling and the importance of using one’s platform for meaningful impact.
@whatsupdanny
YAINA PEGUERO
THE ADVOCATES
Yaina is proud to be returning to Blood/Love ! Originally from Dominican Republic and raised in Green Bay, Wisconsin, Yaina has spent the majority of her life surrounded by music and performing on stage, most notably as one of the lead singers and songwriters in the band she co-founded with her sisters called PEGASIS, which has gone on to open for bands like Blood Sweat & Tears. She’d like to thank her family and her partner Frankie for all their love and support!
@thebandpegasis
ALEXANDER J BROWN
THE ADVOCATES
Alexander Brown, also known as Jordane, is a Jamaican-born artist and multi-hyphenate performer from Philadelphia, now based in Los Angeles. He graduated from the American Musical and Dramatic Academy with a BFA in Musical Theatre Performing Arts. Alexander is grateful for the experiences that have led him to this amazing show and is excited about his promising future. He gives thanks to God, his family, and friends
JONATHAN PLATERO
COMPANY
Actor and choreographer, Jonathan Platero, was born and raised in Orlando Florida. He spent most of his adolescent life as a competitive gymnast. After many years of intense training in the sport, he got his first start in the performing arts where he was hired as an Acrobat and an Actor for Disney. He began training in all forms of performing arts including dance, acting, singing, and modeling. Jonathan first gained national notoriety when he competed on Fox’s hit show, “So You Think You Can Dance,” becoming one of the top finalists on Season 5. Shortly after the show, he moved to Los Angeles where he would continue his success in Dance and Choreography. He is still the current resident Salsa/Ballroom choreographer on the show where he not only produces individual routines for contestants, but also opening numbers. Having choreographed for many hit shows like, “Dancing With The Stars,” “I Can Do That,” and “Strictly Come Dancing”, he has also graced many international stages and dancing for celebrities such as, Jennifer Lopez, Arianna Grande, Pitbull and many more. He just wrapped Univision’s #1 hit show, “Mira Quien Baila”, the Latin version of “Dancing With The Stars,” where he serves as supervising choreographer and producer for all musical numbers. Jonathan also has extensive training in the Craft of Acting. He has worked and trained under greatest instructors such as: Howard Fine, and Elizabeth Mestnik. He has had the privilege to Co-Star in TV and Film including, Gilmore Girls, Glee, and Fran Drescher’s “Happily Divorced” and most recently starred on CBS’s “S.W.A.T.”
@jonplaterodude
OKSANA PLATERO
COMPANY
Actress, dancer and choreographer, Oksana Platero, was born in Kharkiv, Ukraine. She began her journey into the world of Ballroom Dance at the age 6 and became the “Ukrainian National Champion” by 14. She held that title until the age of 17 when she moved to the United States, quickly rising the ranks and landing the official title of “Vice Champion of the United States,” allowing her to represent the US in the World Championships. She gained National notoriety on the hit ABC TV Show, “Dancing with The Stars.” Since that time, she’s performed, acted and choreographed for numerous shows including: CBS’s NCIS Hawaii, Fox’s “So You Think You Can Dance,” Univision’s “Mira Quien Baila” and BBC’s “Strictly Come Dancing” She has studied at the Beverly Hills Playhouses.
@oksanaplatero
TIMOTHY LEWIS
as MR. SUNSHINE
Timothy is a professional dancer and entertainer, born and raised in the Bronx, New York. Timothy trained under the direct guidance of Matthew Rushing(Interim Artistic Director of Alvin Ailey). He attended the prestigious LaGuardia High School for dance, the Manhattan Youth Ballet, and also the Joffrey Ballet during this time. Timothy has received his Bachelor of Fine Arts in Dance Theater from The American Musical & Dramatic Academy in 2014. Since, he has worked on stage & screen for major companies and artists. This including Bad Bunny, Jennifer Lopez, Megan Thee Stallion, Camilla Cabella, Becky G, Wilson y Yandel, Selena: The Series, Dear White People, Amazon Primes’ ‘Sylvie’s Love’, and a Global Campaign for ASICS. You can now witness him headlining as the drag superstar “Luscious T” through California. Luscious T is the current reigning Miss Gay Long Beach America 2024!
@timothyxlewis
KATIE LEE
COMPANY
Katie is thrilled to be back for this incarnation of BLOOD/LOVE, after being part of the filmed production at The Howard in 2022! Favorite credits include: The Princess in For The Record’s: The Brat Pack; Clarice in the national tour of Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer: The Musical; Bianca in Good Bad Things (Slamdance Grand Jury Winner 2024).
@katieleebythesea
MAGDALENA FIALEK
COMPANY
Magda is a professional ballroom dancer from Toronto, Canada. She is a 2x USA Dance National Latin Champion and has ranked internationally in multiple championships including the largest ballroom competition in the world, the Blackpool Dance Festival placing 6th. Magdalena competed on So You Think You Can Dance Season 15, coming in the top 8. A principal dancer and dance captain in stage shows Dancing with a Twist, Dancing to the Movies, Dancing with the Stars at Sea, she has also toured with Dancing With The Star’s Maks and Val Chmerkovskiy on their Our Way tour and performed in Las Vegas with Dancing with the Stars; Live in Las Vegas.
@magdafialek
PAULER LAM
COMPANY
Pauler Lam (Company) Born and raised in Sydney Australia. Pauler is now living in Los Angeles as a professional dancer/performer.
Coming in as a Bloodlove newbie, Pauler is very excited to be a part of the show and work with all the incredibly talented artists. Some favorite credits include performances with Ariana Grande, Doja Cat, The Jonas Brothers, and Eric Nam.
MEET
the creative teamCAREY SHARPE
WRITER
Carey spent her childhood steeped in music, starting with formal violin training at the age of 3, but turned down a music scholarship to pursue a career in nursing. Driven by her desire to help children like herself born with severe congenital heart disease, Carey spent 12 years working in pediatric critical care and earning master’s degrees in nursing and public health. In 2015 Carey became a mother and experienced significant health care burnout. She realized it was time to return to her love of music, taking shape with the restoration and reopening of a historic theater in her hometown. After producing various shows at this theater, The Howard, Carey was inspired to develop her own show which began as an immersive vampire experience featuring original music and fashion in October 2019. Following the positive response of that initial event, Carey has spent the past four years with her team writing, developing, and performing the lead role in Blood/Love and she is thrilled to now be taking it to the stage in Los Angeles!
DRU DECARO
WRITER
Two-time Grammy nominee and multi-platinum record producer Dru “Falconry” DeCaro makes his theatrical debut with Blood/Love. Maintaining an expansive catalog that reaches across genre and medium, DeCaro shifts freely between positions as performer and producer; balladeer and punk rocker; from the arthouse to pop radio and back again. DeCaro produced and scored his first film, a Jack Kerouac documentary, to award-winning reception including at the French Riviera Film Festival at Cannes, and was the guitarist and bandleader for both seasons of NBC’s Songland. He has toured the world several times over and worked with artists as diverse as John Legend, Doja Cat, Snoop Dogg, Khalid, Andy Grammer and Miguel. DeCaro considers Blood/Love his best work yet.
@falconry
ERIN BOEHME
WRITER
Erin was born and raised in Oshkosh WI. At 17, she moved out to Los Angeles and spent the next 15 years performing and recording alongside some of the most exceptional musicians in the industry. She has two albums released on Concord Records, her second produced by Phil Ramone and Michael Bublè. Upon returning home to live in her beloved Oshkosh, she co-founded the Oshkosh Jazz Festival. The festival has hosted acts from Take 6 to Scary Pockets. She is excited to return to the role of “Cleo” in Blood/Love.
DANIEL LECLAIRE
DIRECTOR
ADAM ‘SNAKE’ KOBYLARZ
WRITER, Music Producer
JONATHAN AND OKSANA PLATERO
CHOREOGRAPHERS
Married choreographer duo Jonathan and Oksana are two of the strongest latin ballroom and partnering choreographers in the industry. Both coming from different partnering disciples, Oksana having extensive training in international latin and standard dance and Jonathan being trained in salsa and acrobatics, has made a stamp on their choreography style. Their work became well known with Fox’s So You Think You Can Dance audience as the resident Salsa choreographers of the show. Mixing their styles with exciting high flying tricks and fiery latin dancing has made quite an impression and has lead them to choreograph on many seasons of the show creating many duets for the contestants and opening numbers. Their incredible talents has led them to work on numerous hit series including ABC’s Dancing with the Stars, FOX’s Super Human, NBC’s Celebrity Apprentice, Univision’s Latin Grammys, UK’s number one show Strictly Come Dancing and Univision’s hit show, Mira Quien Baila where they are the current Supervising Choreographers and have worked along incredible artist such as, Ana Patricia, Dayanara Torres, Pedro Moreno, Yuri, Will Smith, Bianca Marroquin and many more. Most recently they have become Supervising Choreographers for FOX’s short series, The Real Dirty Dancing.
Both have worked alongside many artist including Jennifer Lopez, Michael Buble, Taylor Swift, Arianna Grande, Seal, Sting, The Black Eyed Peas and many more. They have traveled the world on many dancing tours and live shows
ETHAN TOBMAN
SCENIC DESIGNER
TOM SUTHERLAND
LIGHTING DESIGNER
MICHAEL NGO
COSTUME DESIGNER
KEVIN FLASZA
SOUND DESIGNER
RYAN TYMENSKY
CASTING DIRECTOR
Ryan has made significant casting contributions to the film, television, and theatre industry. Before opening their own office they spent almost a decade working at one of the worlds premiere casting offices, The Telsey Office, Ryan has built a diverse portfolio spanning across various mediums. From big budget studio features to low budget independent films, from network television to streaming television, and live theatre. Ryan’s versatility in the world of casting speaks for itself. For the last 8 years, Ryan has cast many theatre productions in Los Angeles and New York City, including shows Off-Broadway, at The Pasadena Playhouse and The Wallis. Their portfolio also includes notable TV and film projects such as The “Wicked” Movies, “This Is Us,” “Atypical,” “Beauty and the Beast: A 30th Celebration,” “And Just Like That..,” and “Dear Evan Hansen.” Ryan puts inclusion and diversity at the heart of everything they do. Their mission is to celebrate and actively advocate for performers who reflect the full spectrum of human diversity to help expand a multiplicity of narratives; narratives that reflect the real world we live in and challenge conventional boundaries that currently exist in the entertainment industry.
DRU DECARO
GUITAR
Two-time Grammy nominee and multi-platinum record producer Dru “Falconry” DeCaro makes his theatrical debut with Blood/Love. Maintaining an expansive catalog that reaches across genre and medium, DeCaro shifts freely between positions as performer and producer; balladeer and punk rocker; from the arthouse to pop radio and back again. DeCaro produced and scored his first film, a Jack Kerouac documentary, to award-winning reception including at the French Riviera Film Festival at Cannes, and was the guitarist and bandleader for both seasons of NBC’s Songland. He has toured the world several times over and worked with artists as diverse as John Legend, Doja Cat, Snoop Dogg, Khalid, Andy Grammer and Miguel. DeCaro considers Blood/Love his best work yet.
@falconry
J RYAN KERN
KEYS
J Ryan is a Los Angeles-based composer and multi-instrumentalist who crafts textural, vintage-inspired soundscapes and scores that are both emotive and contemplative. While continuing his professional career as an orchestrator for NBC’s The Voice and playing arenas around the world with artists like LP and Carlie Hanson, JRK has scored independent feature films and released self-produced music aimed at conveying sincere emotions and providing a space for thoughtful, nuanced ideas.
@jryankern
DANIEL CURCIO
BASS
Daniel is a professional bass guitarist, producer & writer, who has been touring professionally for 15 years. Originally from New Jersey, Daniel moved to Los Angeles at 23 and founded a new band that within a short time was featured on Late night with Conan O’ Brien. Since that time, he has toured internationally with many artists such as The Smashing Pumpkins, Marylin Manson, Alice in Chains, Korn, Machine Gun Kelly, Rob Zombie, Deftones, Incubus and has performed on many television shows and has co-written songs for commercials, film & video games.
@xixmachete
JOSHUA “SHUA” MAYO SHARPE
DRUMS
Joshua (Shua) is a passionate and accomplished professional musician with over 18 years of experience performing in orchestras, bands, and theatrical productions. He was born and raised in North Andover, MA and was inspired by his father to begin playing music. He started playing drums at the age of 10 and after high school attended Berklee College of Music where he was able to turn his passion and love for music into his lifelong career. Shua is an experienced educator with many years of teaching private lessons as well as ensembles. He is a skilled and dedicated drummer, percussionist, adept at digital composition, recording processes and music direction. Joshua has been on tour with Derek Hough for the fall of 2023 and Spring of 2024 and is currently living in Long Beach, CA.
@joshuascottmayo
CAREY SHARPE
Executive Producer
Carey spent her childhood steeped in music, starting with formal violin training at the age of 3, but turned down a music scholarship to pursue a career in nursing. Driven by her desire to help children like herself born with severe congenital heart disease, Carey spent 12 years working in pediatric critical care and earning master’s degrees in nursing and public health. In 2015 Carey became a mother and experienced significant health care burnout. She realized it was time to return to her love of music, taking shape with the restoration and reopening of a historic theater in her hometown. After producing various shows at this theater, The Howard, Carey was inspired to develop her own show which began as an immersive vampire experience featuring original music and fashion in October 2019. Following the positive response of that initial event, Carey has spent the past four years with her team writing, developing, and performing the lead role in Blood/Love and she is thrilled to now be taking it to the stage in Los Angeles!
DRU DECARO
Producer
Two-time Grammy nominee and multi-platinum record producer Dru “Falconry” DeCaro makes his theatrical debut with Blood/Love. Maintaining an expansive catalog that reaches across genre and medium, DeCaro shifts freely between positions as performer and producer; balladeer and punk rocker; from the arthouse to pop radio and back again. DeCaro produced and scored his first film, a Jack Kerouac documentary, to award-winning reception including at the French Riviera Film Festival at Cannes, and was the guitarist and bandleader for both seasons of NBC’s Songland. He has toured the world several times over and worked with artists as diverse as John Legend, Doja Cat, Snoop Dogg, Khalid, Andy Grammer and Miguel. DeCaro considers Blood/Love his best work yet.
@falconry
DANIEL LECLAIRE
Director, Producer
Daniel is an Award Winning Singer, Songwriter, Actor, Director, and Producer. Before developing Blood/Love for the past four years, he performed in the original tour cast of The Book of Mormon,Hairspray! at The Hollywood Bowl, and Betty White’s 90th Birthday Celebration (NBC). Daniel has shared the stage and screen with world renowned performers such as Morgan Freeman, Nick Jonas, Dru Carey, Mary Tyler Moore, Neil Sedaka, Carol Burnett, Wayne Newton, The All American Rejects, and many more. He has worked at some of the world’s most iconic venues like The Kennedy Center, Fabulous Fox theaters, Place Des Arts, and Birdland Jazz Club. He can most recently be seen starring in Season Two of Morgan Freeman’s Greatest Escapes on History Channel. Daniel creates productions meant to move you, immerse you, and keep you on the edge of your seat.
SIOBHAN O’NEILL
Consulting Producer
ALLISON BRESSI
Line Producer
WHITENEY WELCH
LA Line Producer
ZEYA MAURER
LA Line Producer
WHITNEY WELCH
Production & Operations Manager
Shannon’s management experience started 25 years ago when Restaurateur, Eva Ein, brought her on board to manage Stella Mares in Montecito California. Three years later, Shannon joined the prestigious Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts where she spent six years managing special events for various musicians and actors such as U2, No Doubt, Norah Jones, Russell Crowe, Matthew McConaughey and even President George W Bush. A Santa Barbara resident for 35 years, she started her own property management business in 2008 which focused on estate management and short term vacation rentals. Since 2012, she has managed the iconic music legend, Kenny Loggins and has created and produced many of his business opportunities including his “This Is It” Live show at the Santa Barbara Bowl during his Final Tour in November 2023.