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Aaron Gray Saenz

@bluegrayperson

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Actor/Writer/Director/Student at SBVC🥄
Immersive cast of “Haunting of Hill House” at Redlands Footlighters!

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A lot of big things happened and I wanted to wait until either Halloween or close enough to Halloween.

This was Haunting of Hill House, a show based on a great book that was adapted into one of my favorite movies.

First off, the people involved are people I’ve been eager to work with for a while, with new friends discovered along the way (they know who they are), a common occurrence in community theater but one that had a lot of heart to it this time around.

Second, my experience as a scare actor was put to use for theater and it was so fun! I and my fellow immersive ensemble players (ghosties) added an atmosphere that made this production on the outside just as unique as it was on the inside.

Truth is, a humble local establishment can entertain for the holiday just as much as those out of reach for one reason or another. Have a safe closing of spooky season, y’all! by @bluegrayperson

Came out of the 2026 iteration of @48hourfilmie last night. As always, this was a fun one! Working with @zeroxxistudios on our film “Djinn and Juice” was a blast, and local filmmakers in the IE bring their A game every year! I’ll be ready to do it all again next year, see y’all then! by @bluegrayperson

“Laughter on the 23rd Floor” (written by Neil SImon and produced by Riverside Community Players) closed almost a week ago, and it’s was a great time. The show itself was true quality: watching the cast play with the script so expertly and work off each other like they’ve known each other their whole lives was a privilege. The director held a steady hand and knew exactly what to do with the material and the people at her disposal. It had humor and heart, and themes and discussions were suprisingly timeless, and timely as well.

My position was on the crew, as one of the prop handlers. It’s not the first time I’ve handled props for a show, and it’s some of the work I’m most proud of. You can see in these pictures the lovely objects I was in charge of. The well-organized prop storage in the theater gave me access to all the magazines, newspapers, ashtrays and mugs, with 3 of them coming from my dad’s collection. I also filled champagne glasses and typed up a script within the show. We were also allowed to write any jokes or funny premises we wanted on a corkboard to make it more authentic as a television writer’s room. The ones I wrote got very meta by referencing the later season of RCP and other shows written by Simon. I didn’t work alone, the whole team was on top of everything. And, like any wonderfully worked on show with passionate people, we all left with a little trinket as a token of gratitude (along with the “thank you” cards of course).

It’s been a year and a half since working on a full show with Riverside Community Players, and this was a great way of coming back. Now, I’m of to Haunt Redlands Footlighters. Life is good. by @bluegrayperson

This is my new pillow case, it’s one of my black pillow cases that got mixed with a brown one in the washing machine. Now it’s a bit of a douchey little tie-dye, and I kinda love it! by @bluegrayperson

Celebrated my birthday with the family this year. After a lovely weekend visit my sister, brother-in-law and their dog, went to Vegas with dad and the uncles. Most of these lovely people have been there since the beginning, and 32 years is a long time to still have them be part of my life. So grateful for all of them. by @bluegrayperson

RTF Part 2: The other amazing part of this season was New Works, the part of the Festival that focused on a selection of unproduced and unknown works from unknown writers. I’m grateful to have been part of this with all these talented people.

I acted in “Hall Pass” written by Greg Lam, as an actor who’s about to help an excited woman fulfill her relationship, celebrity hall pass. I directed “Full Steam Ahead” written by Robin Blasberg, a story of a woman struggling to figure out what to do with her life now that she’s retired. And I wrote “Earnestly Thirty”, a story about a woman who comes to reckon with a lost, cherished friendship as she turns 30 years old. All of which were short plays I couldn’t be more thankful to help bring them to life in such different ways, and to be included with 9 other incredible shorts.

Theatre continues to be an experience that gives me so much life, helping me realize things I didn’t even know I was capable of. All of these people, and more (including the audience) are much appreciated for coming together to nurture these little known pieces of art that shine a light on life and can be found right under our noses. by @bluegrayperson

Well, that’s a wrap on RTF 2026! All three shows I was in were so much amazing fun! The hours are insane, the work is demanding, but the effort and passion is there! It’s some of the most unique and rewarding theatre anyone will ever see, and experience, as it is every year. When will I stop? That’s kinda up to my body. All I know is I’ll probably be good to keep doing it for a long time! And I’m excited to see what more lies in store, what more spectacular shows to do, awesome and valuable things to learn, and cool people to meet and work with. For now, I have nothing coming up but auditions, and after at least a year and a half straight working, I need a break! Take care, y’all! 🩵🩵🩵🩵🧘🏻‍♂️ by @bluegrayperson

Shows open in almost a month! Here’s the schedule for this season of RTF with all my performance dates marked. Rehearsals are going great and I can’t wait to see what they’re like when they’re ready for all y’all to see them!

Link for Tickets: https://www.rtfseason.com by @bluegrayperson

Came across this chatty, feathery friend the other day! by @bluegrayperson

As I move on from Windsor, I remain in Redlands through July for the fourth year in a row as rehearsals for Redlands Theatre Festival have already begun. I’ll be in The Drowsy Chaperone, Native Gardens, and One Man, Two Guvnors! See y’all in the summer! by @bluegrayperson

And a warm shoutout to all my friends who came out! Not pictured are @mychickynuggetsarecold @sagepmedia @saverio.artist Phill Courtney, @samlyfrench @tegan_sarahh @musinartist and everyone I apologize for forgetting to mention. You all, and more, make this already fulfilling experience even more worth it! by @bluegrayperson

My second show of the year comes to a close. Third in a row to be performed at Redlands Footlighters Theatre!

In all my years of doing theatre, after wanting to do one for so long, this was my first, of hopefully many, Shakespeare production! We had a brilliant eye and hand for a director in @screenscribe the professional management of @paiging_trent and a cast and crew too big to tag in this writing that all embodied their roles excellently. Onstage and backstage antics made this show yet another fun, warm family that’ll have me keep coming back to this theater to do shows as often as I possibly can!

Robert Shallow, Esq. you have opened new world for me. You’ve shown me what I suspected all along, it’s more than just fancy archaic English. It’s being a wingman while having no idea how, it’s being overwhelmed by the chaos of the neighborhood while having the job of managing it, it’s having a lark with the host, or hostess, of a bar and inn because some people, including yourself, need the humility. If you can take it in stride, so can I. I thank you!

Here’s to the Merry Wives of Windsor! Until we meet again, my friends!
Photo Credit: @joe_impastato_photography by @bluegrayperson