A MIDSUMMER NIGHT'S DREAMGenre: Classical | View Gallery
 William Shakespeare Adapted and Directed by Michael Hagins Starring: Joshua Sloyer, Brian T. Wilson, John Forkner, Matt Bernhard*, Sarah Amandes, Rebecca Overholt, Joe Kurtz, Ziad Ghanem, Brandi Rhome, Jonathan Craig, Lawrence Lesher, Jennifer Lauren Brown, Lorinne Lampert*, Corey Pajka, Cat Johnson* *appearing courtesy of Actors' Equity Association
In this family-friendly adaptation of Shakespeare's classic, it's graduation time at Athena High, where four senior students are caught in a love quadrangle with one another and in a power struggle with their dictatorial teachers and parents. Fed up with having their lives run by tyrannical adults, they forgo caps and gowns and take to the woods in an act of rebellion and impetuous youth. Meanwhile, in another part of the school, the Athenian Drama Club prepares to present its final production before the year's end. An emergency rehearsal takes the players to these same woods where, unbeknownst to the school's occupants, a mysterious and mischievous bunch of fairy folk await the arrival of something (or someone) fun to play with. These creatures happily resort to manipulation, transfiguration, and even the kidnapping of a helpless exchange student to satisfy their mystical whims as the young mortals adventure through the forest to eventually find themselves back at school, having learned a thing or two about the price of independence and the power of imagination.
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| Open: | 12/06/07 |
| Close: | 12/15/07 |
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Company: Tuckaberry Productions Official Web Site: www.tuckaberry.com |
| Laura Mae Baker
Some roles include: Off Broadway: Alice in Wonderland (Alice) OFF-OFF B’way / New York Theater: You’re a Good Man Charlie Brown (Lucy) Midsummer Nights Dream (Hippolita/Mote) Spoiled Cherries (Emma -original cast), Into the Woods (Rapunzel), Polly Princess and the Penniless Fry Cook (Gabby Godmother) All’s Well That Ends Well (Diana), Cinderella (Stepsister), Donna’s Late Night Shakespeare Cabaret (Emcee Touchstone), Loves Labours Lost (Jaqueenneta) King Lear (Curan, u/s Cordelia) Macbeth (Witch 1 / Lady Macduff), Oh! Pioneers (Birdie Hutchinson) Tours: New England Shakespeare Festivals’ Comedie of Errors (Domio of Ephesus), A Christmas Carol (Tiny Tim). In addition to acting in theater Laura Mae is the co-founding artistist director of the theater company All’s Well Theatre www.allswelltheatre.com She dedicates every performance in her life to her mother, Carol.
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| Michael Hagins
Michael Hagins (Prospero\Co-director) is thankful to have such a wonderful and patient cast. His favorite acting roles include Othello, Mercutio, Petruchio and Paul in Six Degrees of Separation. He is the founder and artistic director of the C.A.G.E. Theatre Company. In addition, Michael is an MITF award nominated fight choreographer and teaches stage combat by profession. Thank you to God, Monica, my dedicated cast and crew, Mom, Dad, and those reading this for supporting the arts!
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| John Forkner
Puck\Philostrate
John Forkner (Puck) is pleased to be making his Tuckaberry debut with such a talented group of artists! New York credits include performances with the Looking Glass Theatre and Theatre of the Expendable. Regionally, he has performed with the Oklahoma Shakespearean Festival, Dallas Children's Theatre, the Undermain Theatre, and others. He was a proud performer with the Shakespeare Festival of Dallas for four consecutive seasons, appearing most recently as Puck in Tallman and Mackenroth's A Midsummer Night's Dream: the Musical. John dedicates his performance to the memory of Randy Tallman.
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| Matt Bernhard
Oberon
Matt Bernhard (Oberon) has worked at The Coterie Childrens Theater, the Kansas City Repertory Theater, and the Heart of America Shakespeare Festival in Kansas City and The Wooden O and Theatreworks USA in New York. Favorite roles include Pericles in Pericles, Arnold in Taking Sides, Laurie in Little Women, and Bottom and Lysander in previous productions of Midsummer.
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| Sarah Amandes
Titania
Sarah Amandes is pleased as punch to be in Aesop's Foibles, and with her beloved Tuckaberries to boot! You may have seen her here as Titania in A Midsummer Night's Dream, Sandra in Peter Piper Picks a New Profession, the Ogre in Kip, the Enchanted Cat, or Mrs. Rutabaga in Rudy Rutabaga and the Terrible Dragon of Amsteryork. She also appeared as Julia in Hudson Shakespeare's Two Gentlemen of Verona. She recently finished her first regional run in the acclaimed Almost Heaven: Songs of John Denver at Circa '21 Dinner Theatre in Rock Island, IL, in which she learned the value of big hair. She thanks Aaron, Dianna, and the whole family for making this a magical experience.
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| Rebecca Overholt
Hermia
Rebecca Overholt (Miranda) is a certified Shakespeare nut, and is thrilled to be playing one of his iconic roles. She wishes to dedicate her performance to Luther Johnson and Doc LaVia, two men who shared their love of Shakespeare and enriched her life, and, of course, her dad, who is a lot like Prospero. Thanks to Monica and Michael, for all their hard work, and the second life of this show.
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| Joe Kurtz
Lysander
Joe Kurtz (Lysander) is doing his first production with Tuckaberry and he is very excited to be a part of such and enthusiastic and talented group. After graduating last year from the American Academy of Dramatic Arts, Joe was involved with a program called Nitestar which does HIV/AIDS work through theatre for kids from 5th grade to high school. He just recently finished doing Timon of Athens (Multiple Roles) at the Kirk Theatre. Joe would like to thank his girlfriend Keelie for all her love and support.
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| Ziad Ghanem
Demetrius
Ziad Ghanem (Demetrius) enrolled in his first acting class in Montreal back in July '99. He performed in numerous plays before making the move to NYC two years ago where he recently graduated from AMDA. He last played Smirnov in Columbia University's production of Chekhov's The Bear. Also seen this past summer in the successful hit Baaahhh! at the FringeNYC, which got an extended run. He is also a member of the 13th Street Rep. where he plays Rumpelstiltskin in Rumple Who? on the weekends. Thank you Michael Hagins and Tuckaberry Productions
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| Brandi Rhome
Helena
Brandi Rhome (Helena) is a Meisner and classically trained actress who received her BFA from New York University. Since her graduation, she has been acting and teaching in New York, New Jersey, and Virginia, and is very excited and passionate about pursuing a career in arts and education. Brandi's most recent credits include Luciana in The Comedy of Errors, and Orlando in As you Like It. She is very excited to be working with Tuckerberry Productions, and would like to thank the cast, crew, all of you for coming to share time and laugher with us.
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| Jonathan Craig
Theseus
Jonathan Craig (Adam) has appeared in nearly 50 stage productions between New York City and Connecticut. He was last seen as Theseus in Tuckaberry Productions' A Midsummer Night's Dream in Brooklyn. A graduate of Iona College's English and Theater Departments, Jonathan trained at the Actors Studio MFA Program at the New School, and studied Shakespeare with Louis Burke at the Stratford Festival Theater in CT. Some past credits include: Noises Off (as Tim, Playhouse on the Green, CT), A Midsummer Night's Dream (Demetrius, directed by Louis Burke), Twelfth Night (Sebastian and Malvolio), Visiting Mr. Green, An Inspector Calls, Charley's Aunt, and Year of the Hiker.
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| Jennifer Lauren Brown
Hippolyta\Cobweb
Jennifer Lauren Brown (Hippolyta\Cobweb) is very excited to be a part of Tuckaberry Production's A Midsummer Night's Dream. A recent graduate of Harvard College, Jennifer is thrilled to be making her New York City post-graduate performing debut. Some favorite roles include Carrie (Carousel), Daisy (Rhinoceros), Cecily (Importance of Being Earnest), Luisa (The Fantasticks), and Jenny (Company). Many thanks to her family and friends for their continuous support.
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| Lawrence Lesher
Nick Bottom
Lawrence Lesher (Nick Bottom) is a grizzled veteran of the off-off Broadway scene having theatrically soldiered through the jukebox-at-the-adjoining-bar noises, basketball-games-at-the-adjoining-gymnasium noises, and Harley-Davidsons-directly-outside-for-30-minutes noises of many a blackbox space. And yet somehow, miraculously, he still keeps coming back. He's acted/directed/toured/drank in all 50 states with shows like "Complete Works of William Shakespeare (Abridged)" and "Picasso at the Lapin Agile" and once actually gave a guy a seizure with his performance in "Waiting for Godot". Take from that what you will.
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| Lorinne Lampert
Petra Quince\Peaseblossom
Lorinne Lampert (Petra Quince/Peaseblossom) thinks she must be "Dream"-ing to be part of such a fantastic production! Lorinne recently appeared in "A Flanders and Swann House Party" (Snapple Theater Center) and "Victor/Victoria" (Gallery Players). A veritable Tuckaberry fixture, Lorinne played Princess Ingrid in "Kip, The Enchanted Cat", Gabby in "Rudy Rutabaga and the Terrible Dragon of Amsteryork", and Godmother in the original "Polly Princess and the Penniless Fry Cook", and provided choreography for "Kip" and "Peter Piper Picks a New Profession". Other credits include "The American Girls Revue" (Aunt Millie et. al.) and "Bitty Bear's Matinee" (Bitty Kitty) at American Girl Place. She holds a B.F.A. in Musical Theater from Emerson College. Multitudes of thanks and genuflection to Michael, Dianna, Adam, and our splendid cast. Proud member of AEA. www.lorinnelampert.com
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| Corey Pajka
Francis Flute\Egeus
Corey Pajka (Francis Flute\Egeus) is a 2005 graduate of Wilkes University. His past credits include roles with Wizard Oil Productions and Looking Glass Forum in New York, as well as a stint with Weathervane Repertory Theatre in New Hampshire and a national tour of Don Quixote De La Mancha. Corey is also an award-winning writer, and the co-founder of Genius Savant Productions. Their original premiere production, Tracks, is set to debut early next year Off-Off Broadway. Much love and thanks to his friends and family. "You're a genius all the time." --Jack Kerouac
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| Cat Johnson
Robin Starveling\Mustardseed
Cat* Johnson (Robin Starveling\Mustardseed) is thrilled to be working with Tuckaberry for the first time. She has recently been seen all-about-town in such notable productions as McGurk's Suicide Hall (ReddMask Theater/Hazel), The Standards of Decency Project (Blue Coyote Theater/ Martha, Jessie), worked on a slew of productions with Nosedive (on and/or backstage) as well as Working Man's Clothes... Special Thanks and 'all my love' to those who've never stopped believing in me...
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| Brian Thomas Wilson
Tom Snout
Brian Wilson (Tom Snout) has been involved in theatre and music since childhood. In 2004 he graduated with honors from the University Of Southern Maine School Of Music. He was a featured soloist with the Portland Symphony Orchestra. Brian graduated from the American Musical and Dramatic Academy where he has undergone vigorous conservatory training in musical theater and theatre. He has been involved in numerous productions on stage in professional, community and collegiate venues.
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| Joshua Sloyer
Snug
Joshua Sloyer (Snug) received his BFA in Acting from Emerson College and studied film and television at NYU. He recently starred in the longest running play in Manhattan, Line, at the 13th Street Repertory Company. You can find him during the week on stage as a Supernumerary at the Metropolitan Opera. Joshua would like to thank Michael, Dianna, and Adam for putting so much of themselves into their work; they bring the mythical to life! Visit him on the web at www.JoshuaSloyer.com
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December 8, 9, 15 at 2:00 PM