2016 - University of Houston

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All shows begin at 8:15pm
Jack Young, Artistic Director
Dr. Robert Shimko, Executive Director
and
Miller Outdoor Theatre
Present:
Much Ado About Nothing
&
Henry V
ABOUT THE HOUSTON SHAKESPEARE FESTIVAL
Since 1975, the Houston Shakespeare Festival has attracted thousands
of Houstonians to Miller Outdoor Theatre for free performances of
the Bard’s timeless classics. Produced by the University of Houston’s
School of Theatre & Dance, the festival has attracted top stage talents. In recent years, stars of stage and screen have graced the Miller
Outdoor Theatre stage. Actors Mirron Willis, Seth Gilliam, Brandon
Dirden, Crystal Dickinson, Mark Metcalf, Cindy Pickett, Ken Ruta
and Dan O’Herlihy are among the stars who have participated in HSF.
Top regional directors including Leah C. Gardiner, Marc Masterson,
Steve Pickering and Paul Steger are some of the creative minds who
have helmed recent HSF plays. As an extension of the festival, the HSF
Festival Conservatory trains high school artists and offer performance
opportunities. For more details on the festival, visit the HSF website:
www.houstonshakespearefestival.org
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By William Shakespeare
Directed by Jack Young
July 29, 31 August 2, 4, 6
CAST
in alphabetical order
Camron Alexander
Friar Francis, Sexton, others
Troy BeckmanWatch, Ensemble
HR BradfordAntonio
Kat CordesUrsula
Luke FedellConrade
Herman Gambhir
Don John
Andrew GarrettBorachio
Justin GibbonsWatch, Balthazar
Adham HaddaraLeonato
David HuynhClaudio
Jay MastMajor Peters
Harry McEnernyDogberry
Susie ParrHero
Katherine Pepin
Watch, Ensemble
Patrick PooleBenedick
Meg RodgersMargaret
Tim SailerVerges
Demetria ThomasBeatrice
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DIRECTOR’S NOTE
Welcome to Houston Shakespeare Festival’s 42nd season! Here in the height
of summer, we’re thrilled to bring a pair of Billy Bard’s best-loved plays to Miller Outdoor Theatre.
We’ve had a great time putting together Much Ado About Nothing. This
delightful romantic comedy reminds us of the risks of falling in love—young ones fear
the cost of losing out; more experienced folks fear the cost of losing control. Sometimes it takes a little nudge from those who know what’s truly in our heart (even as
we keep it hidden behind our fears), to get us to take the chance, to reach out, and to
trust. It’s all part of the dance.
So many thanks to offer—to my colleagues in the UH School of Theatre &
Dance, to our talented and hard-working cast, designers, and production team, to our
valiant set of galloping TRs, to the new UH College of the Arts, and to last year’s HSF
audiences, whose generous donations then helped underwrite this year’s productions.
Please follow their lead by Paying It Forward, donating generously to our Bucket Brigade this year to help make HSF 2017 shine brightly.
—Jack Young, HSF Artistic Director
SYNOPSIS
Fresh from victory in Cuba in the Spanish-American war, Major Peters and
Captains Benedick and Claudio return to the United States, where Mayor Leonato
and his family host them for a month of celebration. Claudio, the decorated young
champion of the campaign, loves Leonato’s daughter Hero, while Benedick resumes an
ongoing battle of wits with Hero’s cousin Beatrice. Also accompanying Major Peters
is his disgraced brother Don John, who is determined to spoil the party in any way he
can.
At a masked ball, Major Peters delivers Claudio’s message of love to Hero.
Don John convinces Claudio that Peters plans to marry Hero himself. Meanwhile,
Beatrice, not realizing the masked Benedick is her dance partner, heaps ridicule on
Benedick. The dance is interrupted by a surprise guest! Major Peters brings Hero out
to meet Claudio, but Claudio still believes Don John’s lie. Beatrice smoothes over the
confusion with Claudio. His wedding date with Hero is set. To amuse everyone during
the preparations, Major Peters proposes a mighty task: they will trick Beatrice and
Benedick into falling in love.
The gentlemen stage a conversation, with Benedick eavesdropping, about
how Beatrice is pining for him. Hero and Ursula do the same for Beatrice. Each of the
two falls headlong for the trick and swears to return the other’s unspoken affections.
Meanwhile, Don John has not given up on spoiling the wedding. His henchman Borachio proposes a plan: Borachio will convince Margaret to meet him on Hero’s
balcony for an amorous tryst. Don John will arrange for Claudio and Peters to see this
meeting and convince them that Hero is betraying Claudio with another man.
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As night falls, the over-important and under-intelligent Dogberry, along with
his sidekick Verges, train the Volunteer Neighborhood Watch. All march away, just
missing Don John’s scheme unfolding, with Claudio and Major Peters mistaking Margaret and Borachio for Hero and another man.
*Intermission*
Afterwards, the watchmen overhear Borachio boasting of his crime to Conrade, another of Don John’s men, and take them both into custody. Unfortunately,
when Dogberry and his assistant Verges try to inform Mayor Leonato, they are so
bumbling and confusing that Leonato, eager to get to the wedding, sends them off
without learning of the deception. At the wedding, Claudio shames Hero before her
family and the town. The soldiers, except for Benedick, leave. Leonato, shamed by the
words of Claudio, Major Peters, and Don John, castigates his daughter. However, the
Friar, believing that there has been some mistake, proposes yet another trick: they will
pretend that Hero has died until the truth of the previous evening can be discovered.
Everyone departs except for Beatrice, overwhelmed with rage and grief, and
Benedick, who seeks to comfort her. They confess their love. Benedick pledges to do
anything for Beatrice. Beatrice asks Benedick to kill Claudio. After refusing initially,
Benedick swears to challenge Claudio to a duel. Meanwhile, Dogberry and crew interrogate Borachio and Conrade before a local Sexton and discover the entire plan. The
Sexton goes to inform Leonato.
Leonato and his brother Antonio confront Major Peters and Claudio, challenging their honor. After they leave, Benedick arrives and challenges Claudio. Benedick resigns from the Major’s service, sharing the news that Don John has run away.
The watch brings in Borachio and Conrade, who confess all. Claudio throws himself
on Leonato’s mercy. Leonato commands him to proclaim Hero’s innocence and mourn
her publicly. Leonato pledges that all will be forgiven if Claudio will marry his niece the
next day.
Claudio goes to Hero’s tomb, where he is observed in secret by the wronged
Hero. The next day, everyone gathers for the second wedding, and the veiled “niece”
of Leonato is revealed to be Hero herself. Benedick plans to wed Beatrice as well, but
each one balks at being the first to publicly confess their love. It is only when Hero
and Claudio produce love poems that Beatrice and Benedick have written that they
give up their struggle and agree to marry. A messenger arrives with news that Don John
has been captured. The show ends with the two couples and their friends celebrating
a double marriage.
Sinopsis de la Trama de
Mucho Ruido y Pocas Nueces
Recién salidos de su victoria en Cuba en la Guerra Hispano-Americana, el
Mayor Peters y los Capitanes Benedick y Claudio regresan a los Estados Unidos, donde
el Mayor Leonato y su familia los hospedan durante un mes de celebraciones. Claudio,
el joven y decorado campeón de la campaña, ama a la hija de Leonato, Hero, mientras
Benedick reanuda una batalla continua de agudeza con la prima de Hero, Beatrice. El
desgraciado hermano del Mayor Peters, Don John, también lo acompaña, decidido a
arruinar la fiesta en cualquier forma que pueda.
En un baile de máscaras, el Mayor Peters le entrega a Hero los mensajes de
amor de Claudio. Don John convence a Claudio de que Peters planea casarse con Hero
el mismo. Mientras tanto, Beatrice, sin darse cuenta que Benedick, enmascarado, es su
compañero de baile, se burla de Benedick. ¡El baile es interrumpido por un invitado de
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sorpresa! El Mayor Peters saca a Hero para que se encuentre con Claudio, pero Claudio
todavía cree en la mentira de Don John. Beatrice resuelve ésta confusión con Claudio.
La fecha de su boda con Hero se establece.
Para divertir a todo el mundo durante los preparativos, el Mayor Peters propone una gran tarea: van a engañar a Beatrice y Benedick, enamorándolos.
Primero, los señores arreglan una conversación, mientras Benedick escucha
a escondidas, acerca de cómo Beatrice esta languideciendo por él. Mas tarde, Hero y
Ursula hacen lo mismo con Beatrice. Cada uno de los dos cae de cabeza en esta trampa
y juran devolver estos sentimientos tácitos al otro.
Mientras tanto, Don John no ha renunciado su plan de dañar la boda. Su
secuaz, Borachio, propone un plan: Borachio convence a Margaret a reunirse con él
en el balcón de Hero para una cita amorosa. Don John se encargará de que Claudio y
Peters vean esta reunión para convencerlos que Hero esta traicionando a Claudio con
otro hombre.
Al caer la noche, el sobre-importante y poco-inteligente Dogberry, junto
con su compañero Verges, entrenan a los Vigilantes Voluntarios del Vecindario. Todos
marchan lejos, sólo falta que el esquema de Don John sea desplegado, con Claudio y el
Mayor Peters confundiendo a Margaret y Borachio con Hero y otro hombre.
*Intermedio*
Posteriormente, los vigilantes oyen por casualidad mientras Borachio hace
alarde de su crimen a Conrade, otro de los hombres de Don John, y los meten a los dos
en custodia. Desafortunadamente, cuando Dogberry y su asistente Verges tratan de informar al Mayor Leonato, son tan torpes y confusos que Leonato, con bastantes ganas
de llegar a la boda, los echa sin saber nada del engaño. En la boda, Claudio avergüenza
a Hero antes su familia y pueblo. Los soldados, con la excepción de Benedick, se van.
Leonato, avergonzado por las palabras de Claudio, del Mayor Peters, y de Don John,
castiga a su hija. Sin embargo, el Fraile, creyendo que ha habido algún error, propone
ahora un nuevo truco: pretenderán que Hero ha muerto hasta que la verdad sobre la
noche anterior pueda ser descubierta.
Todo el mundo sale con la excepción de Beatrice, abrumada con rabia y dolor, y Benedick, quien trata consolarla. Ellos se confiesan su amor mutuo. Benedick se
compromete a hacer cualquier cosa por Beatrice. Beatrice le pide que mate a Claudio.
Aunque inicialmente se negó, Benedick jura desafiar a Claudio a un duelo. Mientras
tanto, Dogberry y su grupo interrogan a Borachio y Conrade ante un sacristán local y
descubren todo su plan. El sacristán sale para informar a Leonato.
Leonato y su hermano Antonio se enfrentan con el Mayor Peters y Claudio
y les dicen que ellos han matado a Hero. Cuando se van, Benedick llega y desafía a
Claudio. Benedick renuncia sus servicios al Mayor, compartiendo la noticia de que
Don John se ha escapado. Los vigilantes traen a Borachio y Conrade, quienes confiesan
todo. Claudio se lanza a apelar a la misericordia de Leonato. Leonato le ordena proclamar la inocencia de Hero y a llorar su muerte en público. Leonato promete que todo
será perdonado si Claudio se casa con su sobrina al día siguiente.
Claudio visita la tumba de Hero, donde es observado en secreto por la agraviada Hero. Al día siguiente, todos se reúnen para la segunda boda, y la velada “sobrina”
de Leonato se revela como la propia Hero. Benedick planea casarse con Beatrice también, pero cada uno se resiste a ser el primero en confesar públicamente su amor. Es
sólo cuando Hero y Claudio presentan poemas de amor que Beatrice y Benedick han
escrito, que renuncian a su lucha y se ponen de acuerdo a casarse. Llega un mensajero
con la noticia de que Don John ha sido capturado. El espectáculo termina con las dos
parejas y sus amigos celebrando un doble matrimonio.
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By William Shakespeare
Directed by Lenny Banovez
July 30, August 3, 5, 7
CAST
in alphabetical order
Camron Alexander
Suffolk, U/S Dauphin
Troy BeckmanEnsemble
HR Bradford
King of France, Erpingham
Kat Cordes
Alice, Hostess, Montjoy
Luke Fedell
Constable, Cambridge, others
Herman GambhirNym, Williams
Andrew GarrettPistol
Justin GibbonsYork
Adham Haddara
Bardolph, Orleans, Scroop
David HuynhDauphin, Grey
Brendan Marshall-Rashid*
Henry V
Jay MastEly, MacMorris
Harry McEnernyExeter
Susie ParrBoy, Katherine
Katherine PepinEnsemble
Patrick PooleFluellen, Canterbury
Tim SailerChorus, Westmoreland,
Rambures
*A proud member of Actors’ Equity Association.
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DIRECTOR’S NOTE
“For tis your thoughts that now must deck our Kings.” —Chorus
I feel I should confess right away that Henry V is my favorite Shakespeare
play. I have been lucky enough to have worked on it twice before—once acting in it,
and once directing it. However, it is not because of the gifts it has brought me professionally that my love of the play runs so deep. It is because of the line of text above.
This is what makes Henry V so powerful for me. The Chorus asks us many times in
various lines to imagine, but this one stands out for me. It is an open invitation for you,
the audience, to use your mind’s eye to recreate the story of one of the greatest leaders
the world has ever seen, and to play pretend with us for an evening.
We live in a world where technology makes the impossible come to life. The
entire globe is at our fingertips, in the shape of a phone that fits in the palm of our
hand. A world where video games look real, and superheroes can leap from the pages
of comic books onto movie screens, requires us to imagine very little.
However, for a brief time tonight—you will indeed be asked to imagine.
There is no computer stronger than the human brain. No special effect more detailed
than the human imagination. This is the true gift of live theatre, Shakespeare, and
Henry V: the permission to imagine. Thank you to everyone at HSF and to the city of
Houston. Enjoy the performance.
—Lenny Banovez
SYNOPSIS
As the play opens, the chorus tells us we are about to witness King Henry’s
war with France but asks us to forgive the performers for the fact that the play cannot
match the real experience of war (although its excitement is still tremendous). We
enter a chamber, where the Archbishop of Canterbury is plotting to draw Henry into a
war with France to avoid the passage of an unfavorable bill in Parliament. Henry asks
Canterbury if his claim to the French throne is legitimate or not. Canterbury, through
a purposefully convoluted explanation of the Salic laws of France, tells Henry the claim
is well grounded. Henry meets with the French ambassador, Montjoy, who presents
Henry with an insulting gift from the Dauphin (the heir to the French Throne): a box
of tennis balls. Henry tells Montjoy he will claim his right as King and sends him back
to France, telling his nobles to prepare for war.
Next we meet three hot-tempered knights in a bar: Bardolph, Nym, and Pistol. They are Henry’s old friends from his days as the reveling Prince Hal. They fight
over Pistol’s recent marriage to Nym’s old flame Nell Quickly. They cease fighting to
attend to a gravely ill Sir John Falstaff. In Southhampton, Henry has uncovered a plot
against him by three noblemen, including his old friend Henry Scroop. The conspirators are charged and sentenced to death. We return to the bar to discover Falstaff has
died and see his friends mourning their loss. The knights then prepare for France.
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The French are arguing amongst themselves about the threat the English
represent. They meet with Henry’s chief advisor, Exeter, who makes the King’s demands known and warns them that Henry is fast approaching. The French dismiss
Exeter, and the action moves to the beach of Harfleur, where Henry rallies his men.
The French yield to Henry, and the battle ends. We then meet the French Princess
Henry seeks to wed, Katherine of Valois. She is being taught English by her handmaiden. The French leaders meet again and send Montjoy to tell the King that the French
army is coming for him, and he will only live if he allows himself to be ransomed back
to England. Henry tells Montjoy they will fight. He is informed by Fluellen that his
old friend Bardolph has been caught pillaging a church. With a heavy heart, Henry has
Bardolph executed.
*Intermission*
The chorus tells us war has raged on. The English are badly outnumbered
but have still made great gains. We are taken to the French camp at Agincourt, where
the Dauphin and his nobles squabble with each other over the quality of their respective horses and women. We are repeatedly told of the dire odds facing the English in
the impending battle. The night before the battle, Henry disguises himself and walks
around to speak with his men as a soldier and not a king. The men speak well of him,
but he winds up in an argument with Williams over the King’s courage: the two insist
on a duel after the battle. The King, realizing the responsibility he holds for all his
subjects, prays. Morning comes and with it the battle. A young boy is killed by the
French, and the English soldiers mourn his loss as a terrible crime. Finally, the battle
breaks. Montjoy informs Henry the day is his and that the French wish to collect their
dead—terms of surrender may be negotiated later. The English losses are great, but the
French are much worse. Henry reveals his true identity to Williams, their duel is called
off, Williams begs forgiveness, and Henry grants it.
After a passage of time, the various parties meet to set out the terms of
French surrender. Henry uses opportunity to woo the French Princess, who agrees
to marry him. The play ends with the chorus commending Henry on his too short
reign. The chorus tells us the crown will pass to the far less successful King Henry
VI, with whom Shakespeare’s audience was already familiar with as they had already
seen the trilogy about him many times, since Shakespeare had written that story a
decade prior.
Sinopsis de la Trama de
Henry V
A medida de que empieza la obra, el coro nos dice que estamos a punto de
atestiguar la guerra del Rey Henry contra Francia, pero nos pide que perdonemos a los
artistas por el hecho de que la obra nunca podrá corresponder a la experiencia actual
de una guerra (aunque su entusiasmo sigue siendo enorme). Entramos a una cámara,
donde el Arzobispo de Canterbury está conspirando a meter a Henry en una guerra
contra Francia para evitar la aprobación de una ley desfavorable en el Parlamento.
Henry le pregunta a Canterbury si su pretensión al trono de Francia es legítima o no.
Canterbury, mediante una explicación intrincada a propósito sobre las leyes Sálicas de
Francia, le dice a Henry que la demanda esta bien fundamentada. Henry se reúne con
el embajador Francés, Montjoy, quien presenta a Henry un regalo ofensivo de parte
del Delfín (el heredero al trono francés): una caja de pelotas de tenis. Henry le dice a
Montjoy que reclamará su derecho como rey y lo envía de vuelta a Francia, diciéndole
que sus nobles deben prepararse para guerra.
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A continuación nos encontramos con tres caballeros malgeniados en un bar:
Bardolph, Nym, y Pistol. Son viejos amigos de Henry desde sus días como el parrandero Príncipe Hal. Ellos se pelean sobre el matrimonio reciente de Pistol al antiguo
amor de Nym, Nell Quickly. Dejan de lucharse para asistir a el gravemente enfermo
Sir John Falstaff. En Southhampton, Henry ha descubierto un complot contra él por
tres nobles, incluyendo su viejo amigo Henry Scroop. Los conspiradores son acusados
y condenados a la muerte. Volvemos al bar para descubrir que Falstaff ha muerto y ver
a sus amigos de luto por su muerte. Los caballeros entonces se preparan para salir a
Francia.
Los franceses discuten entre ellos mismos acerca de la amenaza que representan los Ingleses. Se reúnen con el consejero principal de Henry, Exeter, que hace
que las exigencias del Rey sean conocidas y les advierte que Henry se acerca rápidamente. Los franceses despiden a Exeter, y la acción se traslada a la playa de Harfleur,
donde Henry reúne a sus hombres. Los franceses se rinden ante Henry, y la batalla
termina. A continuación, nos encontramos con la Princesa Francesa con quien Henry
pretende casarse, Katherine de Valois. Ella ha venido aprendiendo Inglés con su criada.
Los líderes franceses vuelven a encontrarse y envían a Montjoy para que le diga al Rey
que el ejército Francés se acerca para apresarlo, y él sólo vivirá si permite ser rescatado
de vuelta a Inglaterra. Henry le dice a Montjoy que lucharan.
Él es informado por Fluellen que su viejo amigo Bardolph ha sido pillado saqueando
una iglesia. Con un corazón acongojado, Henry manda a ejecutar a Bardolph.
*Intermedio*
El coro nos dice que la guerra se ha prolongado. Los Ingleses están bastante
superados en el numero de hombres, pero aun han logrado grandes avances. Somos
llevados al campo Francés en Agincourt, donde el Delfín y sus nobles se pelean entre sí
por la calidad de sus respectivos caballos y mujeres. Se nos ha dicho en repetidas ocasiones de las graves probabilidades que enfrentan los ingleses en la inminente batalla.
La noche antes de la batalla, Henry se disfraza y camina alrededor para poder hablar
con sus hombres como un soldado y no como rey. Los hombres hablan bien de él, pero
termina en una discusión con Williams sobre el coraje del Rey: los dos insisten en un
duelo después de la batalla. El Rey, dándose cuenta de la responsabilidad que tiene sobre sus súbditos, ora. Llega la mañana y con ella la batalla. Un joven muchacho muere
a manos de los franceses, y los soldados ingleses lloran su pérdida como un crimen
terrible. Por último, la batalla termina. Montjoy le informa a Henry que el día es suyo
y que el deseo francés es poder juntar muertos – que los términos de la rendición se
podrán negociar más adelante. Las pérdidas de los Ingleses son grandes, pero las de
los Franceses son mayores. Henry le revela su verdadera identidad a Williams, el duelo
entre los dos se suspende, Williams le pide perdón, y Henry se lo concede.
Después de algún tiempo, las partes se reúnen para establecer las condiciones
de la rendición Francesa. Henry utiliza esta oportunidad para conquistar a la Princesa
Francesa, quien acepta casarse con él. La obra termina con el coro elogiando a Henry
en su muy breve reinado. El coro nos dice que la corona pasará a manos del mucho
menos exitoso Rey Henry VI, con quien el público ya esta familiarizado como se
supone que ya hayan visto la trilogía sobre él muchas veces, ya que Shakespeare había
escrito esa historia mas de una década antes.
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ARTISTIC STAFF
Dr. Robert Shimko
Executive Director/Literary Director
Jack Young
Artistic Director/Director, Much Ado About Nothing
Lenny BanovezDirector Henry V
Jonathan Middents
Production Manager/Scenic Designer
Katie Creeggan
Production Stage Manager, Much Ado About Nothing
Alyssa Van Gorder
Production Stage Manager, Henry V
Clint AllenLighting Designer
Jodie DanielsCostume Designer, Much Ado About Nothing
Leah SmithCostume Designer, Henry V
Lynsey ManleyLighting Design Assistant
Jacob DavisSound Designer
Sarah PowellProps Master
Rob KimbroAssociate Dramaturg
James Weston Twardowski
Associate Dramaturg
Connor WoodsAssociate Dramaturg
ABOUT THE CAST
Camron Alexander (Friar Francis, Sexton, others in Much Ado About
Nothing/ Suffolk, Understudy Dauphin in Henry V) is thrilled to be returning for his second appearance at Houston Shakespeare Festival.
He was previously seen in The Merchant of Venice (Arragon) and Macbeth
(Lennox). In the spring of 2017 he will graduate from the University of
Houston with his BFA in acting from the School of Theatre & Dance.
Favorite past UH credits include: Joe Keller in All My Sons and Scrub in
The Beaux Stratagem. Other Houston credits include: Sextra in Cherry Muffins: A Demon
Play, Eduardo in How Would You Like to Be Remembered? and Bottom in A Midsummer
Night’s Dream. Camron also serves as Staff Secretary with Luciole International Theatre Company, striving to bring international interdisciplinary theatre to Houston.
Troy Beckman (Watch, Ensemble in Much Ado About Nothing/Ensemble in Henry V) is a junior BFA actor making his HSF debut. Previous UH credits include: First Alderman in Fuenteovejuna, King of
France/Soldier in King Lear and Creature Crew Member in She Kills
Monsters. Troy was also Kurt Forster in Main Street Theater’s production of Peace In Our Time.
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H.R. Bradford (Antonio in Much Ado About Nothing/King of France,
Erpingham in Henry V) is delighted to return to HSF after appearing as Dromio of Galveston in The Comedy of Errors and Fortinbras in
Hamlet. He recently appeared in End of the Rainbow as Micky Deans
at Stages Repertory Theatre. Mr. Bradford has many Houston credits
to his name including: Bruno in The Metal Children for Horse Head
Theatre, Tripp Davenport in 5 Women Wearing the Same Dress for Mildred’s Umbrella and has performed for companies such as Houston Grand Opera and
Thunderclap Productions. H.R. also acted for Apple Tree Theatre in Chicago, Galveston Island Musicals and Texas Family Musicals. He has lived in Scotland where
he performed original roles in Far From the Maddening Crowd and Once Upon a Time in
New Jersey at the Edinburgh Fringe Festivals and Cardiff International Musical Theatre Festival. Mr. Bradford ran a theatre company in Scotland dedicated to new works
where he had the honor of performing for HRH Prince Charles in Hollyrood Palace. Mr.
Bradford earned his MFA in Theatre from the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and
Drama (Royal Conservatory of Scotland) and his BFA in acting from Abilene Christian
University. Mr. Bradford is currently the assistant theatre director at Clear Lake High
School and would like to thank Jack Young and Dr. Shimko for temporarily adopting
him into the UH and HSF family.
Kat Cordes (Ursula in Much Ado About Nothing/Hostess, Alice,
Montjoy in Henry V) is pleased to be returning to HSF, after being
seen in last year’s Macbeth as Witch 2. Other credits include: Hero in
Much Ado About Nothing, Juliet in Romeo and Juliet, Jean Brodie in The
Prime of Miss Jean Brodie, Goneril in King Lear, and Charlotte Corday
in Marat/Sade. This fall, you can see her in Mildred’s Umbrella Theatre Company as Ester in Dry Land.
Hazel E. Egging (Flower Girl in Much Ado About Nothing) is thrilled
to return to the Houston Shakespeare Festival, having made her HSF
debut last summer as an Apparition in Macbeth, directed by Jack Young.
Other credits include: A Christmas Carol - A Ghost Story of Christmas at
Alley Theatre (2014 & 2015), A Doll’s House at Stages Repertory Theatre, Pajama Game & Bells are Ringing with Bayou City Concert Musicals, as well as showcases at the Alley Playmakers Camp. She is a proud
graduate of the Rose of Sharon Academy and will be starting third grade in the fall at
St. Vincent de Paul where she was on the team for Destination Imagination Rising
Stars, trained for her second Houston Texans Triathlon, and participates in skate club,
soccer, basketball, chess, and ukulele. She is also training for team at the Gymnastics
Factory. Hazel would like to thank all involved in HSF for this opportunity.
Luke Fedell (Conrade in Much Ado About Nothing/Constable, Cambridge, others in Henry V) is a Professor of Theatre and Acting at
the University of Houston-Downtown and holds a MFA in Theatre
and Acting Pedagogy from Texas Tech University. This is Mr. Fedell’s
second appearance at Houston Shakespeare Festival, having last performed in Julius Caesar. Mr. Fedell recently appeared in Siegfried at
Houston Grand Opera, where he has also performed in Rusalka, Die
Walkure, A Little Night Music, The Passenger, Aida, Otello, The Magic Flute, Das Rheingold,
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Il Trovatore, and the world premiere of Carlisle Floyd’s Prince of Players. Other local
credits include: The Elaborate Entrance of Chad Deity at Stages Rep. Theatre and Kimberly Akimbo at Mildred’s Umbrella. Mr. Fedell recently worked with Ben Crystal of
the Globe Theatre on an Original Pronunciation production of Julius Caesar that performed at Edinburgh Fringe Festival in Scotland. In addition to acting, Mr. Fedell is a
local fight choreographer and recognized Advanced Actor Combatant in the Society
of American Fight Directors.
Herman Gambhir (Don John in Much Ado About Nothing/Nym, Williams in Henry V) is making his debut performance at the HSF. Herman, a native Houstonian, grew up in Amsterdam NL, acquired a BA
(with honors) in Acting from Paul McCartney’s Liverpool Institute
for Performing Arts (LIPA) and was nominated as one of the UK’s
top 22 graduates for the annual Spotlight Prize Award(s). Film/TV
credits include: Harry in the indie feature “Be Not Afraid”, directed
by Taylor Gahm; series regular Johnny in British soap opera “Cloud 9” for Sky and Virgin Media, Diego Rodrigues in “Vault” directed by Brett De Vos. Other film credits include: “Captain Phillips” directed by Paul Greengrass, “Gatecrasher” directed by Paul
Cockcroft, “Los Jack Machine” directed by Francis Techene. Theatre credits include:
Lidless with Horse Head Theatre Co., Dialogues on Grace at 14 Pews, The Elaborate Enterance of Chad Deity at Stages Repertory Theatre, Bollocks at Edinburgh Fringe Festival,
Torch Song Trilogy (Tour of Eastern Europe) Cole Porter’s Jubilee at Tabard Theatre
(London), Karma & Kismet at De Balie (Amsterdam), They Shoot Horses, Don’t They? and
A Midsummer Night’s Dream at Paul McCartney Auditorium. In addition, Herman has
performed with some of the world’s best improvisers in over 10 Improvathons worldwide, produced by Oliver Award winning Extempore Theatre in association with renowned Canadian troupe, Die-Nasty. He is currently filming the feature “Unsolicited”,
produced by Misanta Productions LLC. Mr. Gambhir serves as a creative associate
for design studio ¿ReallyStudio? (www.reallystudio.com) and is a founding member of
CRAFT Theatre (www.craft-theatre.com), both London based companies.
Andrew Garrett (Borachio in Much Ado About Nothing/Pistol in Henry V) a native Houstonian, finished his graduate acting training in the
University of Houston Professional Actor Training Program in 2015.
For the past year, he’s been touring with the National Players, conducting workshops and performing A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Julius
Caesar, and A Tale of Two Cities around the country. Andrew has taken
part in the Houston Shakespeare Festival’s past productions of Hamlet, A Comedy of Errors, Antony & Cleopatra, and As You Like It. Other Houston theatrical
credits include: A Few Good Men at Alley Theatre, Deathtrap at Unity Theatre, and King
Lear at University of Houston.
Justin Gibbons (Watch, Balthazar in Much Ado About Nothing/York
in Henry V) is training in the undergraduate program at the University
of Houston School of Theatre & Dance. Justin is an aspiring Actor
Combatant with the Society of American Fight Directors. He has
performed minor roles for the Houston Shakespeare Festival in Antony and Cleopatra, As You Like It, Henry IV: Part 1, and Two Gentleman of
Verona.
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Adham James Haddara (Leonato in Much Ado About Nothing/Bardolph/Scroop/Orleans in Henry V) is a recent graduate from the University of Houston Professional Actor Training Program. He was last
seen as Duncan and Tubal in HSF’s productions of Macbeth and The
Merchant of Venice.
David Huynh (Claudio in Much Ado About Nothing/ Dauphin, Lord
Grey in Henry V) is a NYC-based actor and model. He was last seen
at Houston Shakespeare Festival as Prince Hal in Henry IV Part 1 and
Thurio in The Two Gentlemen of Verona. Other productions include:
Cymbeline at New Orleans Shakespeare Festival, and Hamlet at Oregon
Shakespeare Festival. NY theater credits include: Romeo and Juliet. In
the fall, he will be returning to Oregon Shakespeare Festival for their
tour. He has appeared in promotional materials across a range of industries, the most
recent being the advertising campaign for the Royal Shakespeare Company’s collaboration with the Shanghai Dramatic Arts Centre. He has received a Master’s Degree in
Acting from the University of Houston Professional Actor Training Program. See more
at www.david-huynh-actor.com. Thank you Katie and Maggie for your continual love
and support.
Harry McEnerny (Dogberry in Much Ado About Nothing/Exeter in
Henry V) is a recent graduate of the University of Houston Professional Actor Training Program. Past Houston credits include: A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Three Sisters, All My Sons, The Liar and King Lear.
Harry has performed in multiple productions in the Boston area. He
received an Elliot Norton Award nomination for Best Actor for his
portrayal of Lennie in Of Mice and Men, as well as an Independent Reviewers of New England (IRNE) award nomination for Best Actor in a Musical for his
role in Lumberjacks in Love. One of his favorite musical roles, Harry played Brian in the
Boston Premiere of Avenue Q, where he and the cast won the Elliot Norton Award for
Best Ensemble. He recently performed for Oprah Winfrey a staged reading of Born
For This, a new musical directed by Broadway director Charles Randolph-Wright, and
gospel legend Bebe Winans.
Brendan Marshall-Rashid (Henry V in Henry V) is happy to be
spending his first season with HSF. Chicago credits include: Clybourne Park at Steppenwolf Theatre Company, A Christmas Carol at
Goodman Theatre, Richard III, Romeo and Juliet, Cyrano de Bergerac at
Chicago Shakespeare, and Shakespeare readings with the Chicago
Symphony Orchestra. Regional credits include: work with the Utah,
Texas, Arkansas and North Carolina Shakespeare Festivals. In New
York, he has appeared in King Lear, Romeo and Juliet, Henry V and Julius Caesar with
Titan Theatre Company.
Jay Mast (Don Pedro in Much Ado About Nothing/Ely, MacMorris, in
Henry V) is going into his second year at the University of Houston
Professional Actor Training Program. Recently, Jay performed in Chicago with companies such as Lifeline Theater, Emerald City Theater
and Benevolent Theater. He was also in the original cast of Hansel and
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Gretel with Broadway in Chicago and is on the original cast recording (check it out on
iTunes). When not on stage, Jay can be found in the kitchen cooking delicious food,
rocking out to Franz Liszt on the piano, or doing jump squats in the gym. His wonderfully full life would not be possible without the love of his family and friends.
Susie Parr (Hero in Much Ado About Nothing/Boy, Katherine in
Henry V) is a graduate of the University of Houston Professional Actor
Training Program. Susie has returned after finishing two years on tour
with the American Shakespeare Center. During that time some of
her credits include: Ophelia in Hamlet, Portia in Julius Caesar, Hero
in Much Ado About Nothing, Cecily in The Importance of Being Earnest,
Boy in Henry V, Louka in Arms and the Man, and Tiny Tim/Belle in
A Christmas Carol. Her UH credits include: Kate in The Beaux Stratagem, Mary in Our
Country’s Good, Yvette in Mother Courage and Her Children, Irina in Three Sisters, and Viola
in Twelfth Night. She has also performed with Crane River Theater as Marty in Grease.
Originally from Ohio, she received her undergraduate degree in theater performance
from Western Michigan University. She enjoys the great lakes and plans to hike the
Pictured Rocks in the upper peninsula after leaving HSF. As a singer songwriter she
plays several instruments including the ukulele, guitar, and mandolin. When she is not
performing you may find her slacklining in the park, doing yoga, or building puppets
for her nephews.
Katherine Pepin (Watch, Ensemble in Much Ado About Nothing/Ensemble in Henry V) is a senior BFA actress at the University of Houston. Past UH roles include: Olga in Three Sisters and Creature Crew/
Fight Ensemble in She Kills Monsters, in which she also took on the
role of the fight captain. She made her Houston Shakespeare Festival
debut as a member of the Houston Shakespeare Festival Conservatory for high school students in 2011 and 2012. She is an Actor Combatant with the Society of American Fight Directors.
Patrick Poole (Benedick in Much Ado About Nothing/Fluellen in Henry V) is making his debut with Houston Shakespeare Festival, but he
previously spent time in Houston completing his MFA with the University of Houston Professional Actor Training Program. For the past
two years he performed with the American Shakespeare Center on
their national tour, and recently finished a year-long run as Antony in
Julius Caesar. Some of his other favorite roles with the ASC include:
Robin the Clown in Doctor Faustus, Nicola in Arms and the Man, and Bob Cratchit in
A Christmas Carol. Patrick has also performed with theatres in Rhode Island, New
Jersey, Illinois, and New York City. In Houston, he has worked as an actor for Sentai
Filmworks and can be heard on Toonami’s Akame Ga Kill as Ieyasu and Toby, as well as
the straight to DVD releases of Devil Survivor 2, Garden of Words, and Amnesia among
many others. In 2014, Patrick won the BTVA Anime Award for Best
Male Lead Vocal Performance in an Anime Movie/Special. He was
also nominated for Breakthrough Voice Actor of the Year.
Meg Rodgers (Margaret in Much Ado About Nothing) is a second year
MFA actor with the University of Houston Professional Actor Training Program. Past credits include: Agnes in She Kills Monsters, Sue in
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All My Sons, Natasha in Three Sisters, Elizabeth in The Crucible, Jean in Dead Man’s Cell
Phone, Elizabeth in Laundry and Bourbon, Emma in View of the Dome, various roles in
Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson, and Nerissa in The Merchant of Venice. In her free time,
Meg enjoys chasing the campus squirrels and drinking copious amounts of coffee.
Tim Sailer (Verges in Much Ado About Nothing/Chorus, Westmoreland, Rambures in Henry V) received his MFA from the University
of Houston Professional Actor Training Program in 2013. There, he
performed in Julius Caesar, As You Like It, The Hot L Baltimore, and Three
Sisters. Most recently, he spent three years at the American Shakespeare Center in Staunton, VA. Favorite roles include: Cassius in Julius Caesar, Jack Worthing in The Importance of Being Earnest, Horatio
in Hamlet, Flavius in Timon of Athens, Claudio in Much Ado About Nothing, and Paris in
Romeo and Juliet. Other theatre credits include: Twelfth Night, and Richard III at Arkansas Shakespeare Theatre and The Merchant of Venice at Charlotte Shakespeare Festival.
In Minnesota, he worked at Park Square Theatre in St. Paul (The Odyssey) and Theatre
L’Homme Dieu in Alexandria (Hay Fever). He also spent three seasons with the Commonweal Theatre Company in Lanesboro where he performed in The Rainmaker, Death
and the Ploughman, An Enemy of the People, and Picasso at the Lapin Agile.
Demetria Thomas (Beatrice in Much Ado About Nothing) earned her
Bachelor’s degree in Theatre from Grand Valley State University, and
her MFA from the University of Houston Professional Actor Training Program. After completing a turn as a Journeyman at Warehouse
Theatre in Greenville, SC, Demetria relocated to Chicago. Chicago
credits include: Tawanda in Live Bait’s Love Child, Cass in Stage Left’s
Burying the Bones, and Erica in MPAACT’s The Divine Order of Becoming
(for which she received a Joseph Jefferson Citation for Best Actress). Most recent credits include: Dakota in Softly Blue. Regional credits include: Eunice in A Streetcar Named
Desire at American Players Theatre, Doubt at New Stage Theatre, Medea at Warehouse
Theatre, Mistress Ford in The Merry Wives of Windsor and Phoebe in As You Like It
(both at Illinois Shakespeare Festival), and Helena in A Midsummer Night’s Dream at
Pennsylvania Shakespeare Festival. Demetria is represented by Paonessa Talent and
serves as Literary Manager for MPAACT Theatre in Chicago.
DESIGNERS & PRODUCTION STAFF
Clint Allen (Lighting Designer) Recent Lighting: Heathers The Musical (TUTS),
Straight White Men and Driving Miss Daisy (Stages), Stage Kiss (Stark Naked), Ford’s
Theatre Gala 2012-2015, Lincoln 150th assassination event (Ford’s Theatre) Holed Up
with Jason Moran (DaCamera Houston) Reefer Madness (TUTS) Full Gallop (Stages
Theatre) Projection Design: Fly (New Victory NYC), To Kill A Mockingbird (Delaware
Rep), The Glass Menagerie (Ford’s Theatre DC), Sleepy Hollow (Washington Ballet, DC),
The Widow Lincoln (Ford’s Theatre DC), Communicating Doors (Alley Theatre), The
Laramie Project (Ford’s Theatre), Fly (Cincinnati Playhouse and St. Louis Rep), Sherlock
Holmes and the Suicide Club (Alley Theatre), world premiere of The Heavens are Hung in
Black (Ford’s Theatre). Member of USA829. www.newaspectdesign.net
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Lenny Banovez (Director, Henry V) is thrilled to be making his Houston debut! Lenny holds an MFA from the Professional Actor Training Program (PATP) at Ohio University and a BA in Theater Arts from the University of Wisconsin-Parkside. As an
actor, director and educator he has worked with: The Kennedy Center, Cherry Lane
Theatre NYC, Theatre Row NYC, Milwaukee Repertory Theater, PCPA Theaterfest,
Renaissance Theaterworks, Milwaukee Chamber Theater, Hyperion Theater Project
NYC, Texas Shakespeare Festival, Virginia Shakespeare Festival, Milwaukee Shakespeare, Huron Playhouse, Secret Theater NYC, Hedgepig Ensemble Theatre NYC,
Monomoy Theatre on Cape Cod, and as a guest artist at NYU’s Tisch School of the
Arts, Wayne State University, Marshall University, & University of Wisconsin-Whitewater. Lenny is also the Artistic Director of Titan Theatre Company in Queens.
Ryan Barrett (Production Assistant) is a senior BFA Stage Manager at the University
of Houston School of Theatre & Dance. Previous UH credits include: assistant stage
manager for the 10-Minute Play Festival, The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie, She Kills Monsters
and assistant stage manager for The Ensemble Theatre’s production of Step Stewart’s
A Soulful Christmas. When not involved in theatre, Ryan enjoys reading, singing, and
performing in various places around Houston.
Katherine Borden (Production Assistant) is a senior in Rice’s Visual and Dramatic
Arts program. Previous credits includes stage managing The Altruists for the Rice Players, Eurydice for the Rice Theatre Program, and assistant stage managing James and the
Giant Peach for Humphreys School of Musical Theatre.
Katie Creeggan (Production Stage Manager, Much Ado About Nothing) received her
BFA from the University of Houston School of Theatre & Dance. Previous credits
include: Vagabond Theatre Project: Closer, Danny and the Deep Blue Sea; UH: The Miser,
King Lear, Philadelphia Story, Twelfth Night, The Beaux’ Stratagem, Paradise Hotel, The Cripple of Inishmaan; the Houston Shakespeare Festival: Hamlet, Comedy of Errors; Houston
Grand Opera: From My Mother’s Mother, Memory Stone, Brundibár; Central City Opera,
CO: Dead Man Walking, Trouble in Tahiti, Sound of Music; The Guthrie Theater, MN: The
White Snake, A Steady Rain, A Christmas Carol; Peterborough Players, NH: Red, Intimate
Exchanges, Outside Mullingar, Charley’s Aunt, Born Yesterday, Stella and Lou, The Rape of Lucrece, The Jungle Book, Pinocchio; Steppenwolf Theatre Company, Chicago: Domesticated,
Mary Page Marlowe. Katie is thrilled to be moving back to her hometown of Houston
and joining Alley Theatre as a Stage Management Associate for the 2016/2017 Season.
Jacob L. Davis (Sound Designer) is pleased to be designing HSF again this year. His
other designs for HSF include: sound designs for Antony and Cleopatra and As You Like
It (2013), sound designs for Othello and The Taming of the Shrew (2011); lighting designs
for Much Ado About Nothing and A Midsummer Night’s Dream (2010); sound designs for
Twelfth Night and Pericles (2009). Jacob is a theatre professor at Tyler Junior College
where he designs lighting and sound for the theatre and dance department. Jacob is an
alumnus of the University of Houston and has designed numerous productions in and
around the Houston area.
Rob Kimbro (Associate Dramaturg) is a 2016 MA graduate from the University of
Houston School of Theatre & Dance. Past dramaturgy work includes: Fuenteovejuna
and The Miser at UH, Marie Antoinette at Stages Repertory Theatre, and Arms and the
Man at the Jean Cocteau Rep in NYC. His directing credits include: Neil Gaiman’s
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Odd and the Frost Giants for Stages; Ravenscroft and Dead Man’s Cell Phone for Mildred’s
Umbrella; Deborah at 14 Pews and Love Loves a Pornographer and Gate of Heaven for
Nova Arts Project. Rob was the founder of the Madison Young Playwrights Festival
in Madison, WI, and has worked with young playwrights through McCarter Theatre’s
YouthInk! Program and the Houston Young Playwrights Exchange at the Alley. He
currently teaches theatre at Duchesne Academy of the Sacred Heart.
Jonathan Middents (Production Manager/Scenic Designer) has been the Production Manager and a designer at the University of Houston School of Theatre & Dance
since 1983, and is head of the School’s Production Area. He has worked on over 400
productions at a variety of theatres and has consulted on the design or renovation of
ten theatres. His recent design work includes sets for the 2015 HSF productions of
The Merchant of Venice and Macbeth, lighting for the 2014 HSF productions of Henry
IV Part 1 and Two Gentlemen of Verona, sound for The Three Sisters and Intimate Apparel,
lighting on the 2015 Emerging Choreographer’s Concert, lighting for The Prime of Miss
Jean Brodie, all at UH, and scenery and lighting for Julius Caesar at University of Houston-Downtown. A Rice University graduate, Jon received his MFA from Florida State
University and has served previously as Designer/Technical Director at University of
Texas at Austin, University of Houston-Clear Lake, and Indiana State University.
Lynsey Manley (Lighting Design Assistant) is a third year MFA lighting design student. She is originally from the New Orleans area. Her most recent credit was as the
Projections Assistant at Alley Theatre for their All New Play Festival. Since getting
into theatre, Lynsey has been involved in over 245 productions both on and off stage/
camera.
Thomas Murphy (Costume Design Assistant) is a professional lighting and scenic
designer based in Houston, TX. Recent credits include: Lidless at Horse Head Theatre Company, 39 Steps at Queensbury Theatre, How I Learned To Drive at Obsidian
Theater/Landing Theatre Company, The Altruists at The Rice Players, Intimate Apparel,
Fuenteovejuna, Bus Stop, the Playboy of the Western World, The Philadelphia Story, and Blood
Wedding at the University of Houston. He has designed for a number of dance companies in Houston and has been a regular fixture designing and consulting for Diverseworks. Thomas has assisted on productions at The Palazzo Theater in Las Vegas,
Cincinnati Playhouse, Alley Theatre and a number of other theatre companies in the
Houston and Austin areas. Thomas is a recent graduate from the University of Houston with a MFA in Lighting and Scenic Design. He is excited for his first production
in the land of costumes.
Sarah Powell (Props Master) is a native Houstonian and graduate from the University of Houston’s School of Theatre and Dance. She has been working with props for
6 years; after spending three years focusing on Stage Management. She has had the
privilege of building props for the Alley Theatre over the past three years including
productions of, Dracula, One Man, Two Guvnors, Born Yesterday, and all productions in
the Alley All New Play Series. Her passion is in building small detailed items that become an afterthought in the big picture of the production. The things that create a
dialogue and mood without moving are what she finds the most fun. She hopes to
remain in Houston as a part of the artistic community and help Houston to flourish
in all facets of creativity.
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Dr. Robert Shimko (Executive Director/Literary Director) is the Director of the
University of Houston School of Theatre & Dance. Before becoming Executive Director of HSF, he served for six years as the festival’s Literary Director and is continuing
in that role as well. Dr. Shimko is also the Company Dramaturg for The Catastrophic
Theatre, Houston’s premier avant-garde theatre company. Other freelance professional dramaturgy credits include productions at the Alley Theatre, the Guthrie Theater,
Stages Repertory Theatre, Harlem Stage, Stark Naked Theatre, and the Classical Theatre Company, among others. Dr. Shimko’s scholarly writing has appeared the journals
Theatre History Studies, Theatre Journal, and Theatre Topics as well as in the books Theatre
History: Critical Questions, Querying Difference in Theatre History, and The Wiley Encyclopedia of British Literature 1660-1789. He is co-editor of the book Public Theatres and Theatre
Publics (Cambridge Scholars Press, 2012), the Book Review Editor for Theatre History
Studies, and a recipient of the Robert A. Schanke Theatre History Research Award. He
is also a recipient of the University of Houston Teaching Excellence Award. He is the
author of the play Specks, available through Samuel French, Inc. Dr. Shimko also has a
background in directing. Favorite productions include: The Rehearsal, Henry VI Part 2,
The Government Inspector, On the Verge, The Futurist Project and the premieres of various
UH student-written plays including: Thicker than Honey, Cuckoo, The End of Side A, Brick
Wall, and The Narrator. He received his Ph.D. in Theatre Historiography from the
University of Minnesota in 2006.
Leah Smith (Costume Designer, Henry V) is a second year MFA designer. Leah received her BFA from Western Michigan University. Previous costume design credits
include: The Miser (UH), The Liar (UH), Bengal Tiger at the Baghdad Zoo, Pride and Prejudice, and Macbeth (Williams Theatre), Tony and Tina’s Wedding (Cityscape Kalamazoo),
The Wedding Singer (Comstock Center Stage Theatre), and Fame Jr. (Battle Creek Junior).
Jodie Daniels Tannahill (Costume Designer, Much Ado About Nothing) returns for
her 4th season with Houston Shakespeare Festival and her 2nd season as a Costume
Designer. Last summer, her designs could be seen in HSF’s production of The Merchant
of Venice. Jodie is a 2014 MFA Costume Design graduate from the University of Houston School of Theatre & Dance, and has worked professionally as a Costume Designer,
Crafts Artisan, and a Visual Display Artist here in Houston for Macy’s and Raspberry
Rose in Rice Village. She has done costume and prop work for the Pacific Conservatory of the Performing Arts, Utah Festival Opera and Musical Theatre, Rice University,
and Houston Shakespeare Festival.
Weston Twardowski (Associate Dramaturg, Henry V) previously served as dramaturg for productions of The Playboy of the Western World, Three Sisters, A Midsummer
Night’s Dream, and on the world premiers of At the Corner of 26 and Lost, Women of Athens,
Lucky Charms, and 1000 Words the Musical. Some favorite directing credits include: The
Effect of Gamma Rays on Man-in-the-Moon Marigolds, Seussical the Musical, Into the Woods,
Frost/Nixon, and All My Sons among others. Weston holds dual degrees from Louisiana
State University in History and Theatre. He has an MA in Theatre Studies from the
University of Houston, and is moving to Chicago this fall to begin work on an Interdisciplinary PhD in Theatre and Drama from Northwestern University.
Alyssa Van Gorder (Production Stage Manager, Henry V) is a singer, actress and
producer. She received her BFA in Vocal Performance from SUNY Purchase and has
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been seen in various operas, musicals, plays and films. Alyssa co-founded two theatre
companies and produced numerous plays and musicals to date. She has worked with
various organizations to raise money and awareness for charities, which include Broadway Cares, Susan G. Komen for the Cure, Helping Hands and The Anti-Defamation
League. Alyssa is also currently the General Manager of TITAN Theatre Company.
Connor Woods (Associate Dramaturg) is a senior playwriting and dramaturgy BFA
at the University of Houston School of Theatre & Dance. He currently works as an
improviser at CSz Houston and can be seen in their ComedySportz and Unscripted
shows. He was honored to have been one of two Head Student Readers for outside
submissions for SoTD’s 2016 10-Minute Play Festival. He served as the Head Dramaturg for UH’s World Premiere Cuckoo, and was on the dramaturgical team for their
production of Our Country’s Good and Stark Naked Theatre’s production of A Midsummer Night’s Dream. Along with the Houston Shakespeare Festival, this summer
Connor will serve as an Assistant Dramaturg for the New Play Development Workshop at the Association for Theatre in Higher Education’s annual conference.
Jack Young (Artistic Director, Director of Much Ado About Nothing, Fight Director
for Henry V) is in his third season as Artistic Director for Houston Shakespeare Festival, spending last summer directing Macbeth and playing Shylock in The Merchant of
Venice. Among the 150 productions he has directed are The Taming of the Shrew, Arcadia,
Comedy of Errors, Three Sisters, Richard III, As You Like It, Hostages, Metamorphoses, Hamlet,
God’s Man in Texas and King Lear. Favorite roles he’s played include Bernard in there is
a happiness that morning brings, Charley in Off the Map, Warren in Four Places, Richard in
Time Stands Still, and the title roles in Macbeth and Richard III. This June he choreographed violence for West Side Story, Romeo & Juliet, and A Midsummer Night’s Dream at
Arkansas Shakespeare Theatre, the twelfth Shakespeare company he has worked for. A
Certified Fight Director/Fight Teacher with the Society of American Fight Directors,
he has choreographed violence for over 100 productions. Mr. Young is Head of the
UH MFA Professional Actor Training Program (facebook.com/uhpatp). Over Labor
Day weekend, he will teach in the Texas Stage Combat Intensive here in Houston
(http://www.uh.edu/class/theatre-and-dance/community-outreach/texas-intensive/)
FACULTY, STAFF & CREW
ADMINISTRATIVE STAFF
Artistic DirectorJack Young
Executive Director/ Literary Director
Dr. Robert Shimko
Production Manager/Scenic Designer Jonathan Middents
Company Manager
Michelle Robinson
Office Coordinator
Julian Waneck
Outreach AssistantMonnika Jacobs
Conservatory Director
Gary Cooper
Conservatory Counselor
Meg Rodgers, Mason Patterson
SCENE SHOP
Technical DirectorKen Poston
Assistant Technical Director
Michael DeBose
Scenic Technician
Hardy Bates, Josh Jacobs
Scenic ArtistLauren Davis
Scenic Interns
Abi Harris, Aerron Ellisor,
Connor Morrow
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COSTUME SHOP
Costume Shop Manager
Barbara Niederer
Cutter/Draper
Margaret Crowley
Crafts SupervisorPaige Willson
CutterMarisa Chaney
First HandRyn Currin
First HandSamantha Dante
Costume Interns
Zachary Givens, Juan Saracay
StitchersLauren Haigh, Allegra Sargent,
Toni Whitaker
Costume InternEduardo Arizpe
Costume Interns
Zachary Givens, Eduardo Arizpe
Hair, Wigs and Makeup
Laura Moreno
RUN CREW
Master Electrician/Board Op
Hudson Davis
Wardrobe Supervisor Marissa Chaney
Wardrobe Dresser Eduardo Arizpe, Samantha Dante
MARKETING/FRONT OF HOUSE STAFF
Marketing & Communications Manager
Michelle Robinson
Box Office Manager
Joyce Murray
MILLER OUTDOOR THEATRE STAFF
Managing Director
Cissy Segall Davis
Director of Finance and Operations
Reg Burns
Director of AdvancementColin Brokaw
General Manager and Facilities Manager
Shawn Hauptmann
Assistant Facility ManagerNicole Young
Business ManagerTim Dickson
Box Office Manager
Shirley Marks Whitmore
Properties MasterMarc Wilson
Master ElectricianJohn Smetak
Assistant Electricians
Bryan Nortin, Rachel Smith
Head Sound Engineer Cliff Presswood
Asst. Sound Engineers
Roland Uresti, Lee Vargas
Head CarpenterBrian Evans
Assistant Carpenter
Donald Ray Jackson
Mainteneance SpecialistCastro Elodia
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THANKS
A Special Thank You To
Houston Grand Opera, Rice University Opera,
UH - Downtown, Stages, The Alley, Lisa Wartenberg,
UH Honors College and Dean Bill Monroe, Judge Raul Rodriguez,
CenterPoint Energy UH Alumni Association and Puja Katyal,
UH College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences,
UH College of the Arts
The University of Houston and
the Houston Shakespeare Festival
thank the following for their major gift support
of our 42nd season of
Shakespeare at Miller Outdoor Theatre
Miller Theatre Advisory Board, Inc.
Houston Endowment, Inc.
The Brown Foundation, Inc.
The Cullen Trust for the Performing Arts
The Wortham Foundation, Inc.
Pam and Rusty Guinn
Shannon, Martin, Finkelstein, Alvarado & Dunne, P.C.
Claire and John Goosey
SUPPORT
The Houston Shakespeare Festival invites you to become a supporter to help
make our fifth decade an exceptional celebration of the Bard and offer arts
experiences that are open to all.
To give visit www.houstonshakespearefestival.org; contact our Director of
Development at 713-743-2790; or send your gift to: Houston Shakespeare
Festival, University of Houston, 3351 Cullen Boulevard, Room 133, Houston,
Texas 77204
Thank you for supporting the Houston Shakespeare Festival!
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PARTNERS
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POP-UP SHAKESPEARE!
This season the Houston Shakespeare Festival is bringing you Pop-up Shakespeare powered by the app Octava.
The HSF dramaturgy team has prepared Pop-up Shakespeare to enhance your
experience with us tonight. Throughout this performance, you will be able to
receive facts about our production, play, and Shakespeare’s world delivered
directly to your smartphone in real time.
The app is free and all you need to do is follow the instructions below to
download* then wait for the performance to begin - If you need assistance
downloading the app please see an HSF staff member.
If you have an Apple device:
1. Click on the “App Store” icon on your phone
2. At the bottom of this screen click the “Search” magnifying glass icon
3. In the top search bar type: “Octava”
4. In the next screen click “Get” and wait for the app to download
5. Once the app has downloaded click “open”
6. Enjoy Pop-up Shakespeare!
If you have an Android device:
1. Open the Google Play Store app
Note: you can also go to play.google.com
2. Search for “Octava”
3. Select “Octava”
4. Tap Install.
5. Follow the onscreen instructions to complete the download and get
the content.
6. Enjoy Pop-up Shakespeare!
*Note: carrier data usage rates may apply