Real Couple Helps Shape Chanticleers Show

Costume designer Jasmine Guerrero and Stage Manager Danny Georgiev are working together on “The River Bride,” playing next month at Chanticleers Theatre in Castro Valley. 

A young Castro Valley couple will be behind the scenes anchoring Chanticleer Theatre’s newest play, “The River Bride.”  Castro Valley High grad Danny Georgiev will be stage manager, with costumes by his girlfriend Jasmine Guerrero. Despite being in their early 20s, both have been in the theatre realm for many years.

“I’ve lived here in CV, just a few minutes away from the theater, since 2013,” says Georgiev. “I went to Canyon Middle School and Castro Valley High, where I studied theater and performed in shows since the 8th grade.”

He worked at Chanticleers as an actor in “Cabaret” in 2019, his first production out of high school. At Los Positas College, he had his first opportunity to try stage managing.

“I’m used to being on the creative side of things, so stage managing was not something I originally thought I would enjoy, but I found stage management rewarding in its own way,” he adds. “That was 3 years ago, and I’ve been working as a stage manager for companies around the bay ever since.”

Costume designer Guerrero met Georgiev during the pandemic “at Las Positas in Zoom school,” she says.  They had mutual friends and were eventually able to connect in person. 

“I took classes at Las Positas, where I started in both cast and costumes,” says Guerrero. “The head costume designer gave us free rein on the costumes, which is unusual. CSU East Bay has a lot of costume classes. Once I transferred to CSUEB, I was involved in the play, ‘Almost, Maine.’  This play at Chanticleers is set in the Amazon in June, so it’s a lot of skirts and things like that. But there are also brides and two wedding dresses.”  

She says some costumes are created from scratch, but many are donated, found in thrift stores, borrowed, or rented from other theaters such as Hayward’s Douglas Morrison Theatre. 

 As stage manager, Georgiev’s job is to keep things running on schedule once the director has completed rehearsals. He will be on-site every performance, running the lights and sound.

“My job is also to keep the director's vision intact,” he adds.

Georgiev and Guerrero encourage everyone to come check out the show at Chanticleers. 

“It’s a really cute play, really lovely,” says Guerrero.

The couple also encourages others to come check out volunteer, acting and support opportunities at Chanticleers Theatre. 

“This is a great place for people interested in theatre,” says Guerrero. “You don’t have to be a professional to be a part of it.”

“The River Bride” was written by Bay Area playwright Marisela Trevino Orta. The play earned enthusiastic reviews when it premiered at the Oregon Shakespeare Festival in 2016.  

It will be performed Fridays through Sundays, February 7-23, at Chanticleers Theatre, 3683 Quail Ave., in Castro Valley Community Park. 

For more information about “The River Bride,” tickets, and Chanticleers Theatre, see  www.chanticleers.org or call (510) SEE-LIVE.