Janice L. Blixt, Artistic Director
Blixt is a founding member and producing artistic director of Chicago’s A Crew of Patches Theatre Company, a repertory company specializing in Shakespeare productions. She has been the director, vocal director or text coach for almost a dozen Shakespeare plays. Blixt has played leading roles in Macbeth, Romeo and Juliet, Julius Caesar and others in productions at Chicago’s Bowen Theatre and City Lit Theatre, and the Detroit area’s Meadow Brook Theatre, Jewish Ensemble Theatre and Heartlande Theatre Company. She has studied with international talent from Chicago Shakespeare Theatre, Stratford Festival, and Royal Shakespeare Company and taught workshops and classes for professional actors at Loyola University and The City Colleges of Chicago, and at Chicago-area high schools.
Robert Kauzlaric,
Director, Tartuffe
Kauzlaric, a playwright, actor and director, is a proud ensemble member of Chicago’s
Lifeline Theatre and
Seanachaí Theatre Co. He has written twelve theatrical adaptations which have been produced in sixteen states around the U.S., as well as in Ireland. As an actor, Kauzlaric has appeared in more than 50 productions, including the Illinois Shakespeare Festival and the Lakeside Shakespeare Festival. He received a Non-Equity Jeff Award for Supporting Actor-Play for his performance as Jean Passepartout in Lifeline Theatre’s world premiere stage adaptation of Around the World in 80 Days (which also garnered an award for Best Ensemble).
2011 ACTING COMPANY
Matt Andersen (Conrad, Valere, Florizell) is excited for his first summer season with the Michigan Shakespeare Festival! He recently graduated from Eastern Michigan University with his undergraduate degree in Theatre Arts, where you may have seen him in some of his favorite roles such as Frank N. Furter in The Rocky Horror Show, Hamlet in Hamlet, Romeo in Romeo and Juliet, and Jimmy in Reefer Madness. He has also played Romeo in the MSF high school tour of R +J for the last two years, and played George in the Performance Network’s production of The Drowsy Chaperone. He would like to thank his directors, professors, his family, his mom, and his girlfriend for all their encouragement and support.
Alan Ball (Dogberry, Tartuffe, Archidamus/Shepherd) has made Chicago his home base for most of the past 20 years. There, he has performed with numerous companies, including First Folio Shakespeare (Touchstone in As You Like It and Tranio in The Taming of the Shrew) and Equity Library Theatre (Leartes in Hamlet and Macduff in Macbeth.) In total, Alan’s work as an actor and singer has taken him to 49 of the United States, Canada, Germany, Austria, Russia, Greece and the Netherlands. Alan is a recent graduate of Wayne State University’s MFA program, where performances included Richard III (Buckingham), A Midsummernight’s Dream (Bottom) and Rosencrantz and Gulidenstern Are Dead and Hamlet performed in repertory (The Player/Player King.) Favorite productions include 1776 (John Adams, Stages St. Louis); Conversations with My Father (Eddie, Jewish Ensemble Theatre - Free Press Award, Best Actor); Of Mice and Men (George, Synergy Theatre); Metamorphoses (Erysichthon, Nebraska Rep); No Way to Treat a Lady (Morris, Boarshead and Meadowbrook Theatres - Wilde Award, Best Actor in a Musical.) His first play, Easy As Hard Can Be, was produced in 2009 as a winner of the Heck-Rabi Playwriting Competition. Between shows, Alan keeps body and soul together doing commercials, industrials, voiceovers and tradeshows. www.AlanBall.biz.
David Blixt (Benedick, 3rd Henchman, Leontes) is proud to return for his 8th season at MSF. He first appeared in its second year, returning often to perform such roles as Mercutio in Romeo & Juliet, Laertes in Hamlet, Pistol in Henry V, Oberon in A Midsummer Night’s Dream, and the title role in 2007’s Macbeth. He met his wife playing Petruchio to her Kate in The Taming of the Shrew, under the incomparable direction of John Neville-Andrews. In 2000 David also directed the MSF’s highly acclaimed production of Richard III and that season was made an Artistic Associate. Born and raised in Ann Arbor, David’s other Shakespearean credits include several turns at the Chicago Shakespeare Theatre, the Shakespeare Theatre of Washington DC, the Goodman Theatre, and the First Folio Shakespeare Festival, as well as being a co-founder of A Crew of Patches Theatre Co, a Shakespearean repertory company. He was both an actor and the associate fight director for the award-winning King Lear starring Stacy Keach, directed by Bob Falls. In his other life as an author, David wrote THE MASTER OF VERONA, a novel exploring the origins of the Capulet/Montague feud. This fall his original play, EVE OF IDES, will have its first reading at the Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey. When he’s not in Michigan, David resides in Chicago with his two children, Dash and Evie, and his wife Jan, of whom he is immeasurably proud.
Buz Davis (Leonato, Orgon, Camillo)’s favorite classic roles include (Regional) Lord LaFew, All’s Well That Ends Well; Tranio, The Taming of the Shrew; Horatio, Hamlet; Friar Laurence, Romeo and Juliet, Charles, The School For Scandal; Ambrogio, The Barber of Seville; and The Duke, Measure For Measure, and Ross, Makbeth (sic) in New York, and most recently Leonato from Much Ado at the Cincinnati Shakespeare Company.
Other credits include: (New York) Roger, Roof; Sam, Dormez Vous; Roy, Lonestar; director Reggie Rock Bythewood; Eddie, Fool For Love; Billy, Streamers with Danny Aiello, director David Rabe, and (Regional) Phil, Mauritius; Mike, Wait Until Dark; Hector, The History Boys; Mickey, After The Fall, director Rebecca Miller; Lyle, Lee Blessing’s The Rights (world premiere); “B”, Tom Fontana’s A Slice of Buffalo, A Peace of Paris (world premiere); Bucky 2, Buckminster Fuller: In & Out of Universe (world premiere); Victor Frankenstein in Frankenstein; George, Of Mice and Men; C.K. Dexter Haven, The Philadelphia Story; Weasel, T-Bone and Weasel; Beethoven, A Man Called Beethoven with Keith Lockhart and the Boston Symphony and Die Fledermaus as director. Buz is also a teacher/coach and director, has performed award winning improv with the Carnivores In Action and has Ten Fine Toes.
Rick Eva (Borachio, 1st Henchman, Gentleman) is happy to be returning to MSF again this year. Rick has a BA in theatre performance from Western Michigan University and is a graduate of the apprentice program at the Purple Rose theatre company. He has been a part of the ShortShakes school tour for the past two years and this is his third season with the summer festival. Previous MSF roles include Gonzalo in The Tempest, Charles/Silvius in As You Like It, Peter and Lord Montague in Romeo and Juliet, and the Gaoler (which is a Jailor, but spelled with a G) in The Comedy of Errors. Rick would also like to send a super high five to Jan for being so patient (for my bio) and awesome (for casting me). MSF...now brought to you in high-def 3D!!!
Christina Flynn (Margaret, Mariane, Perdita) is excited to be making her Michigan Shakespeare Festival debut. Christina was last seen onstage at the Jewish Ensemble Theatre, where she was an Artist in Residence for the 2010/2011 season. JET credits include: Sonia Flew (Young Sonia/Jen), Modern Orthodox (Hannah), New Jerusalem (Clara), The Diary of Anne Frank (Margot), and Model Apartment (Deborah). Other Michigan credits include: Sonia Flew (Performance Network Theatre). She holds an MFA in Acting from the Hilberry Repertory Theatre at Wayne State University. Christina also holds a Certificate in Acting from the Month in Moscow program where she had the privilege to study at the Moscow Art Theatre School for two summers. Christina is originally from San Diego, California. Many thanks to my family for their love and support. www.christinaflynn.com
Janet Haley (Ursula, Mme. Pernelle, Paulina) is honored to return to MSF for a sixth season. Previous MSF roles include Portia in Merchant of Venice, Gertrude/Hamlet, Beatrice/Much Ado, Mistress Quickly/Merry Wives, Titania/Midsummer, Regan/Lear, Countess/All's Well, Portia/Julius Caesar, and a wee role near and dear to her post-intermission solo lazzi heart: Curtis/Taming of the Shrew. Other acting credits include Book-It Rep in Seattle, Idaho Rep, Seattle Public Theatre and Boise Contemporary Theater. Janet is in her fourth year as Assitant Professor of Theatre at University of Michigan-Flint. Favorite directing credits include Mary Zimmerman's Metamorphoses, Master Harold...and the Boys and A Midsummer Night's Dream. Janet's developing research as a theatre maker is based in ensemble-created, community-based and site-specific new works; she was awarded at 2010 Arts of Citizenship fellowship with the Ginsberg Center, UM-Ann Arbor for her collaboratively created Glenwood Cemetery Site-specific Theatre Project. Janet holds an MFA from The University of Texas at Austin, and is a proud member of AEA. Janet is married to lighting designer Jeremy Winchester.
William Irwin (Don Pedro, Cleante, Polixenes) is an Assistant Professor of Theatre at the University of Michigan Flint. His academic degrees are accompanied by additional study with master teachers/artists from all over the world. Most recently he has worked with Randy Cottier at the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art, Daniel Stein of the Dell Arte International School of Physical Theatre, and Michael Kahn (Artistic Director of the Shakespeare Theatre in Washington D.C.). William is also an active member of the Actors’ Equity Association, Association of Theatre Movement Educators, Voice and Speech Trainers Association Inc., and the Society of American Fight Directors. His credits include work as an actor and director in LORT, summer stock, tours, commercials, and as a guest-artist for several universities. Regional credits include: The Kennedy Center, Broadway Palm Theatre, Theatre Works, The Muny, The Hippodrome State Theatre, The Alliance Theatre, North Shore Music Theatre, The Orlando Shakespeare Festival, and The Michigan Shakespeare Festival (where he has performed in 5 seasons). His teaching focus at UM-Flint is Acting, Voice & Movement, and Directing.
Susaan Jamshidi (Hero, Elmire, Hermione) is excited to be working with The Michigan Shakespeare Festival for the first time. Regional credits include The Arabian Nights at Arena Stage, Berkeley Rep, and Lookingglass, directed by Mary Zimmerman; The Crucible with Pittsburgh Public Theater’s Young Company, directed by Timothy Douglas; and Yasmina’s Necklace for Goodman Theatre’s New Stages Series, directed by Henry Godinez. Susaan’s Chicago credits include The Arab-Israeli Cookbook at Theatre Mir, the world premiere of Nambi E. Kelley’s The Blue Shadow at Lifeline Theatre, Skin in Flames and the world premiere of Mia McCullough’s Spare Change at Stage Left Theatre, Terman Vox Machina at Oracle Theatre, and two festivals at The Inconvenience. She was also privileged to perform the role of Scheherazade/Dahna while understudying the Chicago premiere of 1001 at Collaboraction. Susaan is in the film A Cadaver Christmas and the webseries BANGbangShoot! She has also toured Ireland with Pittsburgh Irish and Classical Theatre. Susaan received her MFA in acting from The Theatre School at DePaul University and is represented by Gray Talent Group.
Jason Philip Kellerman (Don John, Damis, Gentleman) is thrilled to be playing in his first ever Michigan Shakespeare Festival Season. A graduate of Northwestern University's Musical Theater Program, other Chicago credits include Joe Farkis in The Last Night of Ballyhoo (Theater Project 891, company member), Donalbain in Macbeth (First Folio Shakespeare), Lysander in 50 Minute Midsummer (First Folio), Pale in Burn This (Buried Ember at the Greenhouse Theater), and many others. When not onstage, Jason enjoys producing independent films, Krav Maga, and brewing his own beer, one of which will now be called "The Bastard Prince." Thanks to friends and family for all their support.
Saren Nofs-Snyder (Beatrice, Dorine, Aemielia) is pleased to make her debut this summer at the Festival. A current resident of Chicago, Saren was most recently seen as Helena in Look Back In Anger with The Verge. In Chicago, Saren has worked with Lookingglass, Chicago Shakespeare Theatre, Piven Theatre, Next Theatre, Remy Bumppo, BoHo Theatre, First Folio, and Circle Theatre where she played Mrs. Cheveley in An Ideal Husband, a role that earned her a Jeff Nomination for Best Supporting Actress. Regionally, Saren has worked with the Utah Shakespearean Festival, Kansas City Repertory Theatre, Artist's Repertory Theatre, Pioneer Theatre Company, The Coterie, and Profile Theatre, where she had the great fortune to work with the amazing Lanford Wilson in the original cast of his 2006 revision of Sympathetic Magic (Barbara). Saren earned an MFA in Acting from the University of Missouri, Kansas City. All her heart to Matt who is patiently learning the joys of loving an actress, including the special thrill of a weekly four-hour commute. Each way.
Brandon St. Clair Saunders (Claudio, King’s Officer, Cleomines) is in his second season with the Michigan Shakespeare Festival and he is very happy to be back in this summer. Brandon was last seen as Benvolio in Romeo & Juliet and as Dromio of Ephesus in The Comedy of Errors. Brandon is a working actor living in Chicago, IL. He is a member of A Crew of Patches, a touring Shakespeare company based out of Chicago. Brandon has also performed at the Oregon Shakespeare Festival, Rubicon Theater, The Next Theater and Victory Gardens. Some favorite roles he's performed include Alonzo/Franciscus in The Changeling, Tiberius in Start Fair in the Common Race, Paul in Six Degrees of Separation, Mark in Dream of a Common Language and Benvolio in Romeo & Juliet. He has also been a dancer in productions of Swing and Cabaret. Brandon studied Theater Arts at Southern Oregon University.
Wesley Scott (Friar Francis, Loyale, Autolycus) is happy to be joining the Michigan Shakespeare festival for his second season. Last year he could be seen as Romeo in Romeo and Juliet. He has appeared in numerous productions all across the United States. Some of his favorite roles include Christian in Cyrano de Bergerac (Oak Park Festival Theatre), Commodore Reynard Eaton in Bloody Bess (Backstage Theatre), Philip in You Never can Tell (The Village Players), Raleigh in the regional premier of See Rock City (Orlando Repertory Theatre), Geoffrey in The Lion in Winter (Impact Theatricals), and Max in Lend Me A Tenor (Mark II Theatre). He is a current resident of Chicago where he is a member of A Crew of Patches Theatre Company.
Jeffrey Booth Stringer (Verges, 2nd Henchman, Antigonus) is spending his fourth season with the Michigan Shakespeare Festival this year. Last year, he performed in the Festival's productions of Romeo and Juliet (Friar Lawrence/Sampson) and A Comedy of Errors (Solinus/Balthazar). He has also just finished up his second consecutive year performing in the MSF's high school touring production of Romeo and Juliet (during which time he played the Friar, Sampson, and Lord Montague), also serving as Educational Coordinator and Tour Manager during this past tour. He also recently played the role of Mortimer in the Emergent Arts production of Arsenic and Old Lace. Jeff has also worked with the Performance Network, MorrisCo Art Theatre, and A Crew of Patches Theatre Company in Chicago. Many thanks to: Jan, David, Rich, Laura, Stefanie, and the entire MSF staff, parents, step-parents, siblings, the fabulous cast, and the entire Jackson Road Panera Bread crew. Jeff dedicates his performance to Miss O'Leahy, as well as to his beautiful children, Lucas and Victoria.
2011 DESIGN AND STAGE MANAGEMENT
David A Blixt (Festival Violence Designer)
Drew Gansen (Master Electrician / Carpenter) is currently majoring in Theatre, with a focus in lighting and design, at Eastern Michigan University. He has worked on numerous EMU productions. Furthermore he has worked as an intern at PRG in Los Angles, as a technician for the BET Awards, CineGear Expo and other events. He worked with Michigan Shakespeare Festival last year as a carpenter and is very happy to be part of Michigan Shakespeare Festival’s 2011 summer season.
Kylie Hoey (Carpenter) is an Undergraduate student at Eastern Michigan University (EMU) studying Theatre and Creative Writing. Her first real experience in theatre was at EMU working on the main stage production of A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum. Kylie’s theatrical experience mainly consists of working lighting crews, at different levels, for different areas of the arts. She has crewed on productions such as Hamlet and The Rocky Horror Show. She has also worked for the dance department on the ballets Cinderella and Midsummer Night’s Dream and the 2010 Fashion Show and Design Expo. Kylie volunteers in the scene shop at EMU regularly to help build the sets for the main stage productions. She looks to pursue a career in technical theatre.
Jeromy Hopgood (Scenic Designer / Technical Director) is pleased to return to the Michigan Shakespeare Festival for his second season as Scenic Designer and Technical Director. He has designed scenery, lighting, and sound for professional theatres in Arkansas, Kentucky, Massachusetts, North Carolina, and Michigan. He worked at the Williamstown Theatre Festival in its Tony-Award-Winning season alongside numerous Broadway designers. Since coming in Michigan in 2008, Jeromy has designed for Performance Network Theatre, 8th Wonder Productions, and MSF. In addition to his freelance work, Jeromy serves as an Assistant Professor of Design and Technology at Eastern Michigan University. He holds an MFA in scenic design with a secondary emphasis in lighting and a BA in technical theatre. Jeromy has taught design at Appalachian State University in North Carolina and the University of Kentucky.
Kate Hopgood (Composer / Sound Designer) is thrilled to be returning to MSF as the Composer and Sound Designer for this season. Kate, a performer from the age of 6, holds a BA in music performance and education and has played in hundreds of orchestras, musical theatre orchestra pits, and ensembles. As a sound designer, she has created original scores and effects for a multitude of shows including last season at MSF—including the acclaimed score for Driving Miss Daisy. Before coming to Michigan, Katie worked as a vocal coach and instructor at Appalachian State University in North Carolina. During this time, she served as a musical director on productions of The Fantasticks and BatBoy: The Musical and held a staged-reading of her new musical Real Love.
Kate Kardiff (Festival Properties Designer / Carpenter) is a senior at Eastern Michigan University majoring in Children’s Literature and Drama Theatre for the Young with a minor in Theatre. She is planning on pursuing a master’s degree in Theatre in the fall of 2012. She has worked on numerous shows at Eastern as a crew member and as an Assistant Stage Manager.
Lauren Montgomery (Costume Designer: Much Ado About Nothing) is an actor, stage manager and costume designer. She is a graduate of Wayne State University's theatre program, and The Purple Rose apprentice program. She has most recently designed costumes for Matrix Theatre Company's April Foolery, Magenta Giraffe Theatre Company's Last Of The Boys and The Current as well as Driving Miss Daisy, which was part of The Michigan Shakespeare Festival last year. She is thrilled to be designing for the Festival again, and would like to thank her family and fiance for their constant support, enthusiasm and encouragement.
Gary Pettit (Assistant Technical Director) is currently the technical director and production manager at Messiah College's Theatre Department in Grantham, PA. He is a graduate of Eastern Michigan’s theatre program with an M.A. in theatre. He also holds a B.A. in theatre from Concordia University in Ann Arbor, MI. At Eastern Michigan University, Gary taught Introduction to Theatre and Fundamentals of Public Speaking. He also served as a graduate assistant in scenic construction under John Charles and P. George Bird. Previously technical work includes The Performance Network in Ann Arbor, MI as well as the Tony nominated Barrington Stage Company in Pittsfield, MA. This is Gary’s first year with The Michigan Shakespeare Festival.
Melanie Schuessler (Costume Designer: Tartuffe) is the faculty Costume Designer at Eastern Michigan University. In addition to numerous university show designs, her professional costume design credits include Flap, Talley’s Folly, Flyover, U.S.A., and Five Course Love for Williamston Theatre, Williamston, MI; Southern Comforts for Tipping Point Theatre, Northville, MI; The King and I for Croswell Opera House; Lucia di Lammermoor, Lady, Be Good, and Ain’t Misbehavin’ for Skylight Opera Theatre, Milwaukee, WI; The Caretaker, Steam Bath, and Twelfth Night for Bialystock and Bloom, Milwaukee, WI; Macbeth for the Milwaukee Shakespeare Company; and Jesus Christ Superstar for Workshop Theatre, Columbia, SC. Her portfolio is online at http://www.faucet.net/costume.
Brian Scruggs (Festival Lighting Designer) has lived in Michigan for the past 13 years. In that time, he earned a BS and MA in Theatre from Eastern Michigan University, worked with The Performance Network, The Michigan Classical Repertory Theatre, The Blackbird Theatre and even The Michigan Shakespeare Festival of which he is thrilled to be a part of once again. Currently, Brian is a Graduate Research Assistant at Wayne State University working his way towards an MFA in Lighting Design via the Hilberry Theatre where he most recently designed lights for The Misanthrope and sound for The Cider House Rules Parts I and II.
Renae Pedersen Skoog (Costume Designer: The Winter’s Tale) is an Ypsi resident and is happy to rejoin MSF for a second season—her last season at MSF included the design for the landmark 2009 production of The Tempest. She is the costume stock administrator at the University of Michigan and wardrobe supervisor for all University Productions. Self proclaimed jack of many trades is an avid gardner, canner, and home brewer. Previously designed costumes for Monomoy theatre in Cape Cod, Ohio Valley Summer Theatre, Willamette Repertory Theatre.
SHORTSHAKES TOUR ACTING COMPANY
Matt Andersen (Romeo) is a senior at Eastern Michigan University, graduating in May 2011 with an undergraduate degree in Theatre Arts. He is glad to be working with MSF again after doing the high school tour of Romeo and Juliet in 2010. He was recently seen in The Drowsy Chaperone as George at the Performance Network Theatre in his hometown, Ann Arbor. His favorite roles at EMU include Dr. Frank N. Furter in The Rocky Horror Show (coming this spring!), Hamlet in Hamlet, Jimmy in Reefer Madness, and Romeo in Romeo and Juliet. He began acting at Huron High School, and has been hooked ever since. He'd like to thank his teachers and professors, his family, and his girlfriend for their love and support.
Jay Donley (Prince Escalus / Mercutio / Paris) was recently married, recently graduated from Eastern Michigan University, recently became employed, and recently was thrilled to become a cast member of Romeo and Juliet. Less recently, he enjoyed performing last year with the Michigan Shakespeare Festival. Currently he lives in St. Joseph, where he substitute teaches while looking for shows and graduate schools so he may one day be living off of a recent success. It is his hope that everyone will enjoy this most recent MSF production of Romeo and Juliet.
Rick Eva (Peter / Lord Montague) is a graduate of Western Michigan University and the Purple Rose Theatre's apprentice program. He is happy to be returning to the MSF school tour this year. Previous credits include Lord Montague in Romeo and Juliet, the Gaoler in The Comedy of Errors, Gonzalo in The Tempest, and Charles/Silvius in As You Like It, all with the Michigan Shakespeare Festival. Rick is from Canton and went to Plymouth-Salem High School.
Dennis Kleinsmith (Capulet) first started reading “Stories from Shakespeare” at St. Joan of Arc Elementary School in St. Clair Shores. He continued to read them throughout high school at Grosse Pointe North and St. Mary’s Preparatory in Orchard Lake. After doing contemporary plays in community theater in Livonia, Royal Oak and Detroit, it was being cast in a production of Macbeth at Meadow Brook Theatre in Auburn Hills that convinced him to go to University, first Eastern Michigan then Wayne State and get his Bachelor of Fine Arts Degree in Theater. Professionally, Dennis has performed in contemporary theater as well as in multiple Shakespeare plays in Seattle and Los Angeles. Additionally, he has appeared on television shows such as 24, Entourage, How I Met Your Mother, Bones, Undercovers, Perfect Couples, Big Love and Hung as well as in feature films such as the upcoming Moneyball with Brad Pitt, the current No Strings Attached with Ashton Kutcher and Natalie Portman, and in featured roles in Cthulhu with Tori Spelling and The Cutter with Chuck Norris.
Sarah Leahy (Juliet) is thrilled to be working again with the Michigan Shakespeare Festival. Last summer, she performed in A Comedy of Errors (Luce) and Romeo & Juliet (Lady Montague), and worked in the 2010 Tour as Juliet. Originally from Dearborn, she is in her fourth year at Eastern Michigan University, double majoring in Theatre Arts and History. In April-May, Sarah will be performing in Circle Mirror Transformation at the Performance Network in Ann Arbor. She has been seen recently as Hermia in A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Anita in West Side Story, and Little Red Riding Hood in Into the Woods.
Ramona Lucius (Nurse / Lady Montague) is excited to be returning to her roles in the MSF Tour this year. She is a Wayne State University BFA graduate with a certificate from the Moscow Art Theatre where she performed many roles big and small, classical and modern. Ramona has just recently come off her first National tour with the Theatre of Public Awareness. You may have seen her locally at the Puppet Art Theatre performing Oh Ananse.
Ty Mitchell (Benvolio) is a graduate of Chelsea High School, Albion College, and the Purple Rose Theatre’s apprentice program. He has had the privilege to hit the stage at these places, also at the Tipping Point Theatre in Northville and the Riverside Arts Center in Ypsilanti. He has played leading roles in Hair, Wonka!, The Complete Works of William Shakespeare [abridged], and can be seen this spring in Crimes of the Heart. Ty is very pleased to be doing what he loves right here in Michigan with the MSF. He bites his thumb at you, at his family, and at Mackers.
Allyson Ortwein (Lady Capulet) is proud to be making her Michigan Shakespeare Festival debut with the Tour. From Sterling Heights, Allyson holds a BFA in Musical Theatre and a BA in Dance from Oakland University. She has been seen recently as Linda in Evil Dead: The Musical at the City Theatre in Detroit, Magenta in The Rocky Horror Show at the Meadow Brook Music Festival, Heidi at the Ringwald Theatre and Helen in The Trojan Women. She currently works as a drama teacher and choreographer at All The World’s A Stage School for the Dramatic and Performing Arts in Washington Township. Through ATWAS, she has run drama and dance workshops and classes for area schools and Girl Scout troops. She also works as a choreographer in Oakland and Macomb County areas for musicals and choir concerts for schools, churches, and theatres.
Jeffrey Booth Stringer (Sampson / Friar Lawrence) A native of Ann Arbor, and current resident of Jackson, Jeff has been involved with the Michigan Shakespeare Festival (in one way or another) for more than 10 years now. He graduated with honors (cum laude) from Eastern Michigan University in 1996. Locally, he has worked with MorrisCo Art Theatre, Ann Arbor Civic Theatre, and at the Performance Network, where his production of N. Richard Nash's Echoes was the recipient of multiple awards. Jeff is also in the midst of his second season performing with A Crew of Patches Theatre Company in Chicago.
Torrey Wigfield (Tybalt), played baseball for ten years before leaving the diamond to try out for his high school’s production of Once Upon a Mattress. He has been acting since. Torrey grew up northeast Ohio and moved to Ann Arbor to study theatre at the University of Michigan from which he received his Bachelors in Acting. A Certified Actor Combatant with the Society of American Fight Directors, Torrey was taught by the SAFD’s founding member, Professor Erik Fredricksen. His UM fight credits include: Trafford Tanzi (Fight Captain), An original piece called Night of the Fights, Fight Choreography for Man of La Mancha and directing HAIR. Torrey has assisted at the Performance Network with The Seafarer under the direction of Malcolm Tulip. His performance in the film short Rethinking the Rules helped the production company Argus3 win five awards at the Detroit 48 Hour Film Festival.
Covers
Brooklyn Dimitrie (Benvolio / Peter) first demonstrated his theatrical inclinations at age five with a one-man reenactment of A Christmas Carol. During his years at Rudolf Steiner School of Ann Arbor, he learned that worthwhile work comes through teamwork and in high school he was given the opportunity to perform several Shakespeare roles including Benedick in Much Ado About Nothing and Theseus in A Midsummer Night’s Dream. He currently attends the University of Michigan where his studies are rather eclectic, including rhetoric and figure drawing.
Joseph Fournier (Capulet) received his AA in Liberal Arts from Schoolcraft College where he appeared in many shows directed by James R. Hartman: Titus Andronicus (Lucius), Othello (Cassio), Measure for Measure (Lucio), Dracula (Van Helsing), and Our Town (the Stage Manager). Joseph received his BS in Theatre Arts (with a minor in Musical Theatre) from Eastern Michigan University. At EMU, he Assistant Directed Romeo & Juliet under David Blixt; and studied Shakespeare with Terry Heck-Siebert and Dr. Lee Stille. At EMU, his resume includes: Reefer Madness (Lecturer), Hotel Paradiso (Cot), A Laura Ingall’s Christmas (Pa), and Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat (Jacob/Potiphar).
Michael Powers (Tybalt) has appeared in various plays such as Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead and The Vagina Monologues . This will be his third time in Romeo and Juliet. Michael got his bachelor of science from Eastern Michigan University in Theatre Arts and is currently working on his Masters in Exercise Physiology
Chris Sweet (Friar Lawrence/ Sampson) is a college senior. He graduated from Howell high school in 2007 and enrolled in Eastern Michigan University. Chris’ hobbies include acting, writing, reading Shakespeare, and listening to music. Chris is very excited to be working with MSF and this talented company, and would like to take this opportunity to thank his family for their unwavering support and his high school drama teacher Amanda Malo for introducing him to his true love, the stage.
Stephanie VanAlstine (Juliet) is in her fourth year at Eastern Michigan University studying Theatre Arts and Psychology. She is originally from Ann Arbor, and graduated from Ann Arbor Pioneer High School. A few of Stephanie's recent roles at EMU have been Angel in Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, Juliet in Romeo and Juliet and Laura in A Laura Ingalls Wilder Christmas. She would like to thank all of her wonderful friends and her always supportive mom.
Jamie Weeder (Lady Capulet, Lady Montague / Nurse) ‘s recent credits include, Oedipus at Williamston Theatre, Cloud Tectonics with the New Theatre Project, Women in Love, Patty Hearst: The Musical and A Midsummer Nights Dream with the Blackbird Theatre and Two Gentleman of Verona with Waterworks Theatre Company. She is thrilled to work with MSF once again and wants to thank Jan, Jeffrey and the wonderful and talented cast.