Ariana Valdes [she/they] Alliance Theatre debut! NYC-based, Boston Conservatory–trained, Cuban-Irish AEA member and talent development advocate. Most recently appeared as Kit de Luca in Pretty Woman the Musical at Beef & Boards Dinner Theatre. National Tours: The Sound of Music (Mother Abbess u/s, performed), My Fair Lady. Developmental: El Otro Oz, Little Duende, Dot Dot Dot the Musical. Regional: Paper Mill Playhouse’s Sister Act and The Sound of Music (Mother Abbess u/s, performed), Somewhere Over the Border (Julia – City Theatre, People’s Light), In the Heights (Daniela – STAGES St. Louis, Pennsylvania Shakespeare, Westchester Broadway), Jerry Springer: The Opera (Peaches/Baby Jane – SpeakEasy Stage), Escape to Margaritaville (Tammy – Mill Mountain Theatre), Waitress (Nurse Norma/Becky u/s – ACT of CT), Sister Act (Mary Patrick – Arts Center of Coastal Carolina, WPPAC), Beauty & the Beast (Madame de la Grande Bouche – Palace Theatre), Seussical (Sour Kangaroo – Gateway, Engeman). Turning trash into treasure, Ariana creates upcycled jewelry and art through her small business RiRiPurpose. Gratitude to Kyle, chosen familia, GBM, and the Alliance and BASURA teams for uplifting this story! Ariana performs in memory of her parents, Enrique Valdes & Linda Worthington Valdes, who always showed that it’s possible to make something out of nothing—and everything! ArianaValdes.com | @riripurpose | @arianavaldiva