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A MIDSUMMER NIGHT'S DREAM - SUMMER 2018

CAST of MIDSUMMER

LORI GARRABRANT* (Hippolita/Titania): A native of Toms River, NJ, Lori is thrilled to be playing alongside her talented cast (and production team) this season and with her daughter, Phoebe Cull! Lori directed TRSF’s inaugural season production of The Tempest in Summer 2017 and last appeared in the World Premiere Production of Edward Allan Baker’s The Framer with Broken Watch Theatre Company and in the NYC Premiere of James Christy’s Never Tell, also with Broken Watch. Previously, she appeared as Lady Croom in Tom Stoppard’s Arcadia with QED Productions. Regional credits include work with Foothills Theatre (Worcester, MA) and The Artistic Home, Griffin Theatre, Red Twist and Theo Ubique in Chicago. Favorite Shakespeare and classical credits include: Queen Elizabeth in Richard III, Edmund in King Lear, Ceres in The Tempest, Mrs. Sullen in The Beaux' Stratagem and Ada in Lord Byron's Cain. Lori trained in Classical Acting at The London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art [LAMDA] and is a proud member of Actors’ Equity Association. Deepest thanks and appreciation to TR Township, The Jay and Linda Grunin Foundation and our generous donors, sponsors and supporters for making our second season possible! Much love to Kevin, Phoebe and Axel and to NYC & TR family and friends!

HENRICK SAWCZAK (Theseus/Oberon): Born and raised in Cleveland, OH, Henrick moved to New York City five years ago to pursue his passion for storytelling. He studied at The Ohio State University in Chemical Engineering, but could never get away from the acting bug. His love for Shakespeare began with his father introducing him to Macbeth at a young age. He thanks Lori Garrabrant for welcoming him to her festival. "I dedicate this performance to my cousin John 'J.R.' Sawczak. You took me to see this same play at the Cleveland Playhouse and it was the very first Shakespeare play I ever saw. Now I get to be the character I admired up on the stage that night. I have you to blame for all this. Thanks buddy. I love you.” Credits: Off-Broadway (The Great Pie Robbery) Off-Off-Broadway (Victoria Woodhull, Hamlet) Regional (Measure for Measure, Two Gentlemen of Verona, The Music Man, Guys & Dolls) www.henricksawczak.yolasite.com

CLARA BARTON GREEN (Philostrate/Puck) is thrilled to be making her onstage debut with TRSF (she was dramaturg for last year’s The Tempest), and to be playing Puck again, one of her favorite roles. Past performances include Viola in Twelfth Night, Mercutio in Romeo and Juliet, Rosalind in As You Like It, and Helen in The Trojan Women. She has also appeared as Sheila in Hair and the Emcee in Cabaret. Clara is an accomplished director, having helmed productions of The Pirates of Penzance, The Rocky Horror Show and her own adaptation of A Christmas Carol. Clara has a degree in Music and English from Sweet Briar College (go Vixens!). Much thanks to Lori, the cast and crew, the town of Toms River and the English department at GMHS. Love to my grandmother, who first sparked my love of Shakespeare.

DAVID C. NEAL (Egeus/Quince/Prologue): Second season with TRSF, having jested about as Trinculo in last year’s The Tempest. Recent appearances in NYC and NJ professional productions with Skyline Theatre, Women’s Theatre Company, Bickford Theatre, Hunterdon Hills Playhouse, Hudson Shakespeare, McCarter Theatre, Two River Theater, The Theater Project, MITF and other NYC festivals. Recent favorite roles include the solo production of This Wonderful Life, Macbeth (Macbeth), Malvolio (Twelfth Night), Clown (The 39 Steps), Pete/Jimmy/Lendall (Almost, Maine), Ernie Cusack (Rumors), and Reg (The Norman Conquests trilogy). DavidCNeal.com

ANNA DeBLASIO (Hermia) is delighted to play Shakespeare in her hometown of Toms River. Anna has devised and taught Shakespeare workshops in the US, and worked in Slovakia as an actor/teacher/writer with Dramatic Adventure Theatre. Select credits: It Happened in Key West (Fulton Theatre), Guenevere in Camelot, Hodel in Fiddler on the Roof, The Little Prince in The Little Prince (Hangar Theatre), and Talk to Me Like the Rain and Let Me Listen (Hangar Theatre). Training: BA Theatre and English, Loyola University MD; Shakespeare & Company. Anna has also participated in new play development and outreach programs with Baltimore Center Stage, notably for Anna Deavere Smith’s Notes From The Field. Love to Mom & Dad. Thanks to Joe Mucciolo for never getting tired of playing opposite me. www.annadeblasio.com.

JOE MUCCIOLO (Lysander) is delighted to be returning to the Toms River Shakespeare Festival after playing Ferdinand in last year’s production of The Tempest. Joe is a recent graduate of Loyola University Maryland where he received a BA in Theatre with minors in Italian Studies and English. Other recent credits include: Fiddler on the Roof (Perchik), Inherit the Wind (Mayor/Radio Man), Disgraced (Abe). Select Loyola credits: The Importance of Being Earnest (Jack), Cabaret (Cliff), Macbeth (Banquo), W;t (Jason), Goldor$Mythyka (Mr. Neal/Ensemble). Anna DeBlasio, I’m so tired of falling in love with you.

CAITLYN MEAGHER (Helena): Caitlyn is originally from Miami, FL. She graduated from Middlebury College with a BA in Theater. Recent credits include Lady Macduff/Porter in Macbeth, Hecuba in Women of Troy, and Betty in the Potomac Theater Project's production of Vinegar Tom. She would like to thank Karlo and her family for their unwavering support.

COLLIN McCONNELL (Demetrius): Collin is thrilled to return to TRSF for the second season, having appeared in last year's inaugural production of The Tempest as Caliban. Other notable credits include: title roles in Macbeth and Henry V, 1 Henry IV and 2 Henry IV (Prince Hal), Rosecrantz & Guildenstern Are Dead (Guildenstern), Measure for Measure (Lucio), and Winter's Tale (Camillo) with The Adirondack Shakespeare Company; Twelfth Night (Malvolio) and Comedy of Errors with Underling Productions; The Tempest (Ariel), Romeo & Juliet (Mercutio), and Winter's Tale (Camillo) with Accidental Shakespeare. Collin is currently completing his MFA in Playwriting at The New School for Drama. His short play, (the piano play), is published in issue 001 of The Dionysian. All the thanks and love to TRSF, Lori, and this fantastic company — those he's thrilled to be reunited with for another year, and those he's so happy to have gotten to know and play with for the first time this summer!

MIKE MARCOU (Nick BOTTOM a weaver; PIRAMUS in the Interlude): Originally from Wisconsin, Mike can now be found in Astoria. When he’s not acting, he enjoys woodworking, gardening, and cooking. Past projects include Zusman (NJPAC), Come Blow Your Horn (Hunterdon Hills Playhouse), Macbeth (Columbia Stages), and The Tempest (Toms River Shakespeare Festival). Special thanks to Lori for bringing me back for a second year at Toms River!

NATHANIEL TOMB (Flute/Thisbe) is excited to be playing Flute in his first Shakespearean play. He feels blessed that he has been able to learn and play with a fantastic cast and Company in Toms River Shakespeare Festival. While this is his first Shakespearean piece he has been Off-Broadway 3 times in original pieces, including two in the Strawberry One Act Festival. Nathaniel has also toured with an acting company for social change called Equalogy. He is currently enrolled at New York Performing Arts Academy.

RYAN COOPER (Snout/Wall): Ryan is so happy to be working with Toms River Shakespeare Festival. He is entering his third year of his MFA in Acting at the New School and is very excited about graduating. Ryan was just in a production of King John and a new play called A and Z's Escapades in Moonstruck City. He'd like to thank his friends and family for all their support.

AMY STRINGER (Starveling/Moonshine): Amy is over the moon for her TRSF debut. She is a graduate of Barnard College and The Studio / New York. Favorite roles include Elinor Dashwood in Sense and Sensibility, Tricia in Dog Sees God, and a mindful pot-consumer in the viral parody series Millennials of New York. Later this summer she will be playing Lizzy Bennet in Kate Hamill’s Pride and Prejudice at the Pendragon Theater in Saranac Lake, New York.

JORDAN UNDERWOOD (Snug/Lion): New York Theatre: the NYC premier staged reading of Mole Town: An Underground Love Story (Three Act Theatre Company), MacGuffie in Brigadoon (The Frederick Loewe Theatre), Luce in The Boys from Syracuse (Provincetown Playhouse), Skyler in the NYC premiere of Good Kids (Grand Hall NYU). Regional: Oberon/Theseus/Hippolita/Snout/Cobweb in A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Lucetta/Outlaw in The Two Gentlemen of Verona (Shakespeare in the Valley). Education: NYU. Social media: @jordallenhall. JordanUnderwood.com

KELLEY HEYER (First Fairy/Peaseblossom) Kelley is delighted to be back in Toms River for their second season of Shakespeare! Originally from Honolulu, Hawai’i, she now lives and works full time in New York City as an actor. A big thank you to Lori for her passion and hard work, and to everyone who has donated to the Company. We all appreciate your support! www.kelleyheyer.com

BELLA LUECKEMEYER (Second Fairy/Cobweb): Bella is thrilled to join the Toms River Shakespeare Festival for her post-college debut! Bella recently graduated from Rider University with a BFA in Musical Theatre. Select credits: The Tempest (Gonzalo), White Christmas (Rita/Female Dance Ensemble), The Penelopiad (Antinous), and Almost, Maine (Gayle). Infinite gratitude to family, friends, and Eric for their endless support. www.bellalueckemeyer.com

DOROTHY JO BLOMQUIST (Mustardseed): Dorothy Jo is very happy to play Mustardseed in The Toms River Shakespeare Festival production of A Midsummer Night’s Dream. Dorothy was in last year’s production of The Tempest as a Spirit/Nymph/Reaper and is thrilled to be back. She just graduated with a BA in Theatre Arts from Fairleigh Dickinson University where she played roles like Mother Superior in Sister Act and Mrs. Winemiller in Summer and Smoke. Thanks Lori for this amazing opportunity!

PHOEBE CULL (Third Fairy/Moth): Phoebe is thrilled to be making her Toms River Shakespeare Festival debut and playing Shakespeare in her parents’ hometown. A NYC native, she most recently appeared in Ballet Hispánico’s School of Dance Recital in a featured hip hop performance. When she is not hip-hopping, Phoebe enjoys practicing judo, swimming, drawing, crafting, and playing with her brother Axel. Much love to her grandparents, aunts, uncles and cousins in Toms River and to her NYC family and friends.

*The Actor appears through the courtesy of Actors’ Equity Association, the Union of Professional Actors and Stage Managers in the United States.

CREATIVES of MIDSUMMER

PRODUCER/DIRECTOR ...................... LORI GARRABRANT

TECHNICAL DIRECTOR/                                                       

BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT ASSOCIATE......DARCIE KING

NYC STAGE MANAGER................................TAI THOMPSON

NJ STAGE MANAGER..........................TALIA HELDENMUTH

GRAPHIC DESIGNER..........................ROBERT STEIGELMAN

COSTUME DESIGNER........................................BRIANNA DINI

SET CONSTRUCTION.................................KENNY WILLIAMS

SOUND & LIGHTING TECHNICIAN.........NICK SEMANCHIK

DRAMATURG.....................................CLARA BARTON GREEN

COMPOSER....................................................DONNA STEARNS

FAIRY SONG COMPOSER (LULLABY)........................MICKEY

FRONT OF HOUSE...............................................CARLY SICCA

DANCE CAPTAIN................................................KELLEY HEYER

FIGHT CAPTAIN.......................................COLLIN McCONNELL

CREW & OCVTS PAA INTERNS................JESSICA PEOPLES

                                                               HOLLY JORGENSEN

                                                                  LUCAS TECALERO

                                                                     TARYN HUGHES

                                                                       SAM SCHUCHT

                                                                  MACKENZIE PRAY

                                                               STEVE RICCOBONO

 

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