Spotlight interview: 15 years later, Ella Rutiaga and Diego Sosa complete the circle as they co-direct CMT’s ‘Seussical Jr.’

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Diego: I can’t really recall that show but if I had to choose three that I can remember I would say chill, focused, and quiet.

Q: Ella, which of you was better behaved offstage in “Cinderella Kids”?

Ella: I don’t really remember all of the day to day aspects of being in “Cinderella,” but I will say knowing the two of us, Diego was probably far more behaved than I was! He is a year older than me and had an older sibling already in theater to look up to. I was one of those kids that had a hard time focusing, but CMT really helped me overcome that.

Q: You’ve been friends for a long time. Was it CMT that kept the bond alive? Were you ever in another company’s shows together?

Diego: I think CMT was a major factor that kept the bond. We did pretty much every little kids show together when we were growing up so I feel that that was something we looked forward to every show was getting to do another show together and hang out in and out of rehearsals. A lot of our memories together are because of CMT and it’s something I’m grateful for every day. We haven’t gotten to do a show together outside of CMT yet but I’m still trying to talk her into doing a show with me at Fresno State, haha.

Ella: I would say that CMT is definitely what kept us connected for all of these years. We haven’t ever been in another company’s shows together and we were in separate school districts, but CMT was always a constant for us. It brought us back together summer after summer and often again at the holiday show. Diego has always been what you might call “my theater brother.”

Diego Sosa, 6, and Ella Rutiaga, 5, in a snapshot from “Cinderella Kids.”

Q: Do you remember if you talked about what you wanted to do when you grew up? Was actor one of the choices?

Diego: Actor was always in the cards for me. The time I knew I wanted to be an actor (or in theater just in general) was when I saw CMT’s production of “Jekyll & Hyde.” After I saw that show, I recall talking about it all the way home with my parents and listening to the soundtrack for months on end. That show really showed me the power musical theater can have on a person, and since then I always make it my goal as a performer/director to give that same feeling to another youngster.

Ella: I’ve spent every summer at CMT since before I started kindergarten, as well as participated in school theater programs – it’s a true passion of mine. However, it was never something I aspired to do as a career. I’ve done some local commercial work and I hope to continue acting in community theater for fun.

Q: Of the shows you appeared in together for CMT, which one is your favorite?

Diego: “Les Misérables,” because not only was it my last CMT show, but we were also at our peak as CMT performers, so getting to do a more mature show together on the stage we grew up on and being able to watch my friend shine onstage was so special to me. I was also able to rekindle lots of friendships from the past and made the most memories with my friends in this production than any in the past.

Ella: “Les Mis” was definitely my favorite show that Diego and I were both in (he as Enjolras and myself as Madame Thenardier). The entire experience was overall one of my favorite shows (directed by Randy Kohlruss), but it also allowed us to be together in a show for the first time since the pandemic, after having to take a few years off (prior to that we had been in the younger kids programs at CMT).

Q: Diego, what character from Dr. Seuss most reminds you of Ella?

Diego: I’d say a combination of Gertrude McFuzz and The Cat. Gertrude for the kind personality and ambition and The Cat for the sense of humor and creativity.

Q: Now you get a chance, Ella … What character from Dr. Seuss reminds you most of Diego?

Ella: Diego is definitely a Cat in the Hat! He has always had the energy of the cat, being quick witted and making jokes. For years he has even quoted jokes from the live action movie to all of our friends.

Q: Co-directing can be tough. How did you divide the duties for “Seussical”?

Diego: We divided duties pretty evenly. Before auditions we talked about which scenes we wanted to do and then we divided artistic duties. I focused on set and Ella focused on costumes. Co-Directing with Ella has been a very smooth process, and considering we’ve worked together so many times, I think we know how each other ticks, so that’s something that’s always helpful when working together. In the end, the show is a reflection of both of our voices as directors, and that has been something that’s been so much fun to watch over these last few weeks.

Ella: We both took specific scenes or moments to block, and once all the blocking was done we both began to give more specific character notes to the kids. I’d like to think that you can’t tell who blocked which scene, and instead the show has become a complete mixture of all our ideas.

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Q: On a scale of one to 10 (with one being totally minor and 10 involving police charges), how do you rank your biggest disagreement on how to direct “Seussical”?

Diego: I wouldn’t say we had any major disagreements. We just had different views on certain things. However, those differing views didn’t affect the show at all. I would agree with Ella and say a 2.

Ella: I wouldn’t say that we had a lot of disagreements on “Seussical,” but instead there were times we both had an idea we wanted to use. These ideas were usually something that was being played for comedy so we would just decide which joke was funnier and go with that one, so I would rank that at a 2.

Q: Diego, you’re a theater major, right? But, Ella, you’ve gone in a different direction. Tell us about that.

Diego: I am a Theatre Major. When Ella told me she was coming to Fresno State, deep down, I was hoping she would maybe major or minor in theater; however, when she told me she was majoring in food science, it hit me how much that made sense for her considering her background and love for cooking.

Ella: I have always been interested in culinary arts. People often don’t believe this, but I started baking when I was 18 months old. Throughout childhood I took culinary classes, baked with my grandma, and even went to New York to compete on “Chopped Junior” at Food Network. As a small child I always wanted to be a chef “in a fancy restaurant.” However, over the last few years working with kids at the CMT camps, and now directing, my career goals have shifted somewhat. I would love to get a job teaching culinary skills to kids and I hope my degree as a Food Science and Culinology major (I attend Fresno State) will get me there someday. I will always have a passion for theater and plan to continue to do it whenever I can.

Q: How do you think CMT changed your lives?

Diego: CMT was the place where I discovered my love for theater and created some of the great friendships of my life. Because of CMT, I am now going to school to become an actor or a theater teacher (high school or college). CMT has opened the doors for so much positivity in my personal and professional life, and I cannot thank Judy Stene and Joel Abels enough for creating such a beautiful company for kids to get introduced to theater in and create some of their best memories and friendships. If it weren’t for CMT, I don’t think I would be on the career path I am on or the person I am today.

Ella: I have met some of my best friends through CMT, and when I was younger it was always a great outlet for all my extra energy. I also believe that doing theater in general has made me more outgoing as a person, developing speaking skills in any situation.

Q: If you could pick any show to be in together, what would it be?

Diego: We both have done separate productions of “Xanadu” in our respective schools, so I think it’s about time we did a production of “Xanadu” together. It also helps that we both love roller skating.

Ella: I think it would be fun to come full circle, and do something like “Rodger and Hammerstein’s Cinderella.” We started with “Cinderella Kids,” and it would be fun to do the “grown up” version of that show.

Q: Anything else you’d like to say?

Diego: CMT is such a vital part of our community. It’s a place for kids to discover thea and create lasting friendships. Because of CMT, I discovered my love for theater, my desire to make it a career, and met some of my best friends. It’s important that this organization stays alive. Whether it be through donations, signing your kids up for our many classes and camps, or just simply buying a ticket to one of our shows, you’re helping keep CMT alive. I hope to continue directing shows for CMT in the near future (maybe a passion project or two), and I hope you, the audience, will continue to nurture and support CMT to keep it alive for years to come.

Ella: I can’t say enough about what CMT does for kids, whether you plan on going into theater/acting or a different career. From a young age, kids learn to focus and pay attention, work as a team, and be independent hard workers. Diego and I are the product of the CMT program and we are excited to present our work to the community with “Seussical Jr.”