Staff

Ginger Scarbrough Andersen, Director

Director, playwright, educator, Dr. Ginger Scarbrough Andersen has had a passion for musical theatre since her first stage appearance at age 5. Her desire to share this passion with children prompted her to found The Starlight Children’s Theatre Company of Las Cruces (SCT).

A native of New Mexico, Ginger has directed, served as vocal coach, choreographer, and set designer for numerous children’s productions for SCT, as well as community youth theatre in Lafayette, Indiana. Her directing credits include John Fewing’s The Richest Man in the Kingdom, as well as her original musicals, Shield of Faith; Sit Down, You’re Rockin’ the Boat; Cindy Yeller; and The Little Red Hen. Her production of Shield of Faith won First Prize in the Lafayette, Indiana community youth theatre competition. Subsequently, she was invited to oversee and judge the following season’s competition and to serve as a mentor and advisor to the competing directors. She directed SCT’s highly successful productions of Gilbert and Sullivan’s Pirates of Penzance and H.M.S. Pinafore, both of which she adapted for children’s theatre. Most recently, she directed Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol, adapted for Onstage Radio Drama by Tony Palermo.

Ginger began her directing career as the Assistant Director for the El Paso, Texas community production of Clouds of Glory, which also toured in Colonia, Juárez. She has over three years of experience directing adult choirs in Texas, Indiana, and New Mexico, and she served as the Choreographer of Lafayette, Indiana’s community theatre production of Saturday’s Warrior. Her onstage credits include Purdue University's American Music Review, as well as Gypsy, Oliver!, The Music Man, Pandora’s Box, and Little Shop of Horrors.

In addition to her work with SCT, she is currently the Manager and Timpanist for the El Paso Civic Orchestra and the Assistant to the Director of the El Paso Chopin Music Festival.

Ginger graduated with a B.S. from U.T. El Paso, and received her Ph.D. from Purdue University.

She has taught at Ball State University, Purdue University, and New Mexico State University.

Alejandra del Plain, Assistant Director

Alejandra was born in Mexico City. At age 13 she moved to Southern
California. She attended Ricks College and Cal Poly, Pomona where she
majored in Business Management and Hotel and Restaurant Management. She has been married for 12 years and has 4 children.

Alejandra has always loved the performing arts and has been active in children's theatre programs in both California and Las Cruces. Her love for theatre is immense and she likes to share it with others. She has assisted in numerous theatrical performances including Annie, One World of Broadway, Hello Dolly, The Pirates of Penzance, H.M.S. Pinafore and A Christmas Carol. This is Alejandra's third year as Assistant Director of the Starlight Children's Theatre of Las Cruces.

In addition to theatrical work, Alejandra enjoys sharing with children her dancing skills and the rich culture of Mexico through classes she teaches in Mexican Folkdance. She is also frequently invited into Las Cruces classrooms to teach Mexican Folkdance to children for special events.

Alejandra serves in many leadership positions in the community. She is currently the President of the Desert Hills Elementary School Parent Group, a Girl Scouts leader of Troop 346, Pack Chairman for Pack 178, Boy Scout Wood Badge trainer, and the Cub Scout Day Camp Co-Director.

Ruth Wong, Music Director

Ruth Thomas Wong earned her Master of Music degree in 1993 from Westminster Choir College in Princeton, NJ where she concentrated in voice and choral conducting. As part of the Westminster Symphonic Choir, she sang with the New York Philharmonic, the Philadelphia Orchestra, and the New Jersey Symphony.

Since earning her masters degree she has conducted over fifteen choirs including church and school groups involving musicians of all ages. Mrs. Wong teaches music at Conlee Elementary School here in Las Cruces.

Nao

mi Rupp, Stage Manager

Naomi Rupp has been a part of the Las Cruces Community Theater, appearing as a dancer/chorus member in the musicals, Anything Goes (2007) and Hello, Dolly (2008), where she was also the dance captain. Naomi's background in tap, ballet and jazz includes training at the Debbie Reynolds Dance Studio in the Los Angeles area where she is originally from. Naomi was the choreographer for last year's Starlight Children's Theatre production of Pirates of Penzance.