O U R K E R R F A M I L Y
Kerr High School is one of 5 High Schools in Alief ISD. A school of choice, students are encouraged to come here to get a jump on college preparation. With no sports, Kerr's fine arts programs have exploded. We have strong music, art and speech and debate programs. But the biggest family in the school is Cadre Kerr. With 800 students, Cadre Kerr's family is 120 or more strong. We create a loving, supportive environment that gives to others first and helps to lift all of our members to the top! We excel because we strive to make every member of our troupe stronger and everyone works to make the group successful because we care. We have taken 1st place in Makeup Competitions and Tech Challenges at State Thespian Festival as well as many National Qualifiers, advancing in UIL One-Act Play competitions.
We are now a GOLD HONOR TROUPE from Texas Thespians and SCHOOL OF DISTINCTION from Edta - Educational Theatre Association.
Our success is due to the Phenomenal Leadership of our Club by our 24-25 Officers and our 25-26 Officers are ready to lead the charge for this season:
Head Director: Julie M. Ryan
Technical Director/Facility Manager: Jason Quach
CADRE KERR OFFICERS
President: Erica Carranza
Erica is a Senior going into her fourth and final year of Cadre Kerr. She has attended the Texas Thespian Festival all 3 years and qualified for the International Thespian Festival each time. As a freshman, she starred as Maya in the mainstage show “Skeleton Stories.” Since then, she has worked as a technician with experience in set construction and a focus in costumes. Erica has been competing in UIL OAP since freshman year, contributing to 3 different shows— one of her favorites being “Dark Road.” She has also assistant directed the mainstage shows “Much Ado about Nothing” and the Tommy Tunes Award-nominated and finalist production “Matilda.” Most recently, she stage-managed the Bi-District advancing UIL production “Big Love.” Cadre has been her creative home for the past three years and she’s excited to make the most of her final one.
Vice President: Isabella Valerio
Isabella is going into her fourth year of Cadre Kerr. She has been a part of the last two UIL Productions and has acted and stage managed several mainstage productions, class plays, UIL OAP production and end of year Smile and Nod Productions. She was awarded as a Tommy Tune Stage Manager Finalist for her work as Assistant Stage Manager in last season's production of Matilda the Musical. She attended Texas Thespian State Festival last year and has acted in “Book of Everything”, UIL OAP Dark Road, “Much Ado About Nothing” and has staged managed “Matilda the Musical”, UIL OAP Big Love”, “Smile and Nod” 2024 and 2025. She is ecstatic for this future season and cannot wait to share amazing theater with our community.
Secretary: Natalia Sorto
Natalia Sorto is your 25-26 Secretary! She is a Junior and this is her third year in Cadre Kerr. She has been in every mainstage show and UIL production since her Freshman year. She loves that Cadre Kerr allows you to learn and grow in a safe space. It encourages questions and curiosity, and gives everybody a chance to explore and express their creativity and love for Theatre. As someone who loves and lives for singing and acting, she hopes we can help others find their passion for the beauty that is Theatre! Her goal is to make sure every incoming Freshman and member feels safe. To ensure that Cadre Kerr remains a place where healthy communication, stepping out of your comfort zone, and finding new discoveries is the norm! She hopes everybody gains confidence, comfort, skill, friends, and family through our program.
Treasurer: Valeria Hernandez
Hiiii!! My name is Valeria Hernandez, and I am your 25-26 Treasurer!! As treasurer, my job is to manage finances and organize fundraisers throughout the school year. My favorite thing about Cadre is the passion and community we’ve created here. I love seeing everyone’s hard work put into every production. As well as being able to work with everyone and make new friends along the way. I’m so excited to work with everyone this year and put on an incredible production!! :D
Historian: Karma Ryan
Hello! I am Karma! Your 2024-2025 Historian! I am a junior and go by he/him pronouns! The reason I am in Cadre is because of the freedoms of expression and learning! In Cadre, I, and everyone else, is able to try something new every day or you can stay in what you are comfortable in and continue to improve. My goals this year are to make sure everyone feels seen. As Historian, I strive to take pictures of as many people as I can, as well as the work that all our people do. I am looking forward to building relationships with everyone and growing alongside you all!
Lead Technician: Michael Uzoechi
Michael Uzoechi is a junior at Kerr High School entering his third year in Cadre. He has taken on numerous leadership and acting roles, including Abel Klopper in The Book of Everything and Mr. Wormwood in the Tommy Tune nominated production of Matilda, where he also served as Dance Captain. Michael has performed in the ensembles of Into the Woods and Cadre’s 2024 and 2025 UIL productions, Dark Road and Big Love—the first two shows in troupe history to advance to Bi-District. He has choreographed, assistant directed, and led crew teams across multiple productions, and currently works as a paid technician for Kerr’s Auditorium. Michael is excited to continue growing with Cadre and looks forward to another impactful season.
Community Engagement: Michael Morrison
Michael Morrison is currently a junior at Kerr High School and Cadre Kerr’s 2025-26 Community Engagement Officer. During his freshman year, he won a Gold Key award from the Scholastic Writing Contest and got his first acting role in the show Into the Woods. Then, in his sophomore year, he was inducted as both a National Thespian (100 hours) and Honor Thespian (600 hours), acted in three shows, and did costumes for one. Additionally, Morrison heavily values his faith, family, and friends. Every Sunday he teaches Sunday School to kids ages 9 and up and works the microphones at his church. Here, his job is to connect the members of this club with the surrounding community through volunteering opportunities and bonding events with other troupes. One of his favorite things about Cadre Kerr Theatre is seeing members break out of their shells. In fact, it’s why he fell in love with it. Being onstage offers an opportunity to have a moment in the spotlight and expose yourself to a large audience of people. He is beyond excited and honored to give the upcoming group of members the chance to find out more about themselves
OUR DIRECTORS
Head Director: Julie M. Ryan
Julie is a graduate of SUNY Brockport in with Arts for Children, Theatre - Acting/Directing, and Teaching Certification. Julie earned her Masters Degree in Theatre from Texas A&M Commerce and is a National Board Certified Teacher and Mentor. She is currently the Theatre Lead for Alief High School theatre and Department Chair for Kerr HS. She is passionate about theatre education in performance and tech and strives to build student leadership. She loves to direct, design, build and do all things theatre. The goal is always for students to find their voices and take the many skills learned in theatre to excel in the fields of their choice. Family First, Excellence Second is her motto, along with "If we aren't having fun, we aren't doing it right!" Student safety and goal driven work is at the top of the list or priorities.
Tech Director: Jason Quach
Mr. Quach is a graduate of the University of Houston’s Theatre Education BFA program. He has worked with the Alley Theatre, Catastrophic Theatre, Houston Shakespeare Festival, and MATCH professionally, but his passion lies in teaching life skills through theatre to his students. His strengths are in set design (using Sketch Up), lighting design (ETC), and set building. He is proficient in all tech areas and is passionate about workshopping acting monologues, duet, and group scenes. His hobbies include traveling, hiking, making really good matcha, and eating out at different restaurants with his friends. Ask him about boba recommendations as well.
