Hamlet Continues This Weekend

The Stone Church Players (aka SCP) production of Hamlet continues this weekend with performances Friday and Saturday at 7:30 pm and 6 pm on Sunday. This is the second installment of ‘Shakespeare in the Sheds’ following last year’s successful run of Much Ado About Nothing. Helmed by Artistic Director Michael F. McClellan of Long Branch, the crew also includes Allie Cohen of Jackson as Assistant Director, and Maebh McCarthy of Middletown as Stage Manager. Under Mr. McClellan’s direction, Hamlet is envisioned as a ghost story and the grounds of the All Saints’ Memorial Church are featured prominently as characters make their entrances and exits to and from the historic graveyard.  

Ray Laux of Middletown leads the cast as the tormented Hamlet, son of the late King of Denmark. Mr. Laux was last seen as Claudio in last summer’s Much Ado About Nothing. He is a graduate of Monmouth University where he performed in several productions. Aaron “Juice” Jackson of Highlands plays the role of Claudius, Hamlet’s Uncle and the new King of Denmark, as well as the ghost of King Hamlet. A veteran performer and trained actor, Mr. Jackson is no stranger to SCP having previously appeared as Bottom in A Midsummer Night’s Dream and Joseph in Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat. Hamlet marks his tenth production with SCP. Liz Carlin of Neptune plays Gertrude, Hamlet’s mother and Claudius’ new wife. Ms. Carlin is returning for her third production with SCP. She was last seen as Beatrice in Much Ado About Nothing. A spiritual wellness coach, Ms. Carlin has an extensive background in theater and Shakespeare in particular, having previously studied with The Shakespeare Theater of NJ. 

Faith King of Red Bank is the lovelorn Ophelia, daughter of Polonius, chief counselor to Claudius. Ms. King is a rising sophomore at West Virginia University pursuing her BFA in acting. She was last seen as Dogberry in Much Ado About Nothing. Leslie Patient of Highlands is making her SCP debut as Polonius. A trained actor and theater educator, she is returning to the stage after almost 30 years. Elaina Pecora of Middletown is also making her SCP debut as Horatio. A high school junior, Ms. Pecora has appeared in A Midsummer Night’s Dream and A Chorus Line at Middletown High School North. Jesse Luciani of Red Bank plays Laertes, son of Polonius and brother of Ophelia. Mr. Luciani is a graduate of the New York Conservatory for Dramatic Arts and is making his SCP debut. 

Rounding out the principal cast are Andrew Struse of Middletown and Sarah O’Sullivan of Parsippany as the assassins Rosencrantz and Guildenstern. Mr. Struse is a veteran character actor returning for his sixth Shakespeare production at SCP. Ms. O’Sullivan is an experienced actor and vocalist and is making her SCP debut. Also featured are Darren DeAngelo of Keansburg, Courtney Ravelo of Union Beach, Lizzy Stefanic of Middletown, and Gracie Whaley of Neptune as “The Players”.   

Show synopsis (from Shakespeare Birthplace Trust): The ghost of the King of Denmark tells his son Hamlet to avenge his murder by killing the new king, Hamlet's uncle. Hamlet feigns madness, contemplates life and death, and seeks revenge. His uncle, fearing for his life, also devises plots to kill Hamlet. 

Running time: 2 hours, 30 minutes including a ten minute intermission. Street parking is available on Oakdale Run. You may enter the parking lot by the path next to the mailbox. A limited amount of accessible parking spots will be available in the main parking lot. Please email us at stonechurchplayersnj@gmail.com and we can reserve a parking spot for you. Restrooms are available in the Parish House and refreshments will be available for purchase on the patio. Seating is first come, first served. Masks are recommended but not required. We offer three ticket prices - $20 for adults, $15 for students, and $10 for children 12 and under. Tickets can be purchased in advance online at scp.booktix.com (includes a small service fee) or reserved by emailing us. Limited tickets will be available for purchase at the door (cash preferred). For more information visit our website, stonechurchplayers.org.

Meet the Cast of Hamlet

Darren DeAngelo

Darren DeAngelo: (Player) This is Darren’s 2nd production with SCP and first foray into the world of Shakespeare. Thank you to the entire production team and amazing cast for making this another amazing experience!!! Other notable roles: Mr. Lawrence (Little Women) with SCP, Juror #8 (12 Angry Jurors), Clarence (It’s a Wonderful Life), Mr. Kirby (You Can’t Take It With You), Larry (Company), Father (Children of Eden), Warbucks (Annie), Mr. Spinner (Love, Sex, and the IRS), Morino (Sunset Boulevard), Bob Cratchit (A Christmas Carol), George Read (1776), Murdoch/Edgar Bean (Titanic), Marvel/Oz (Wizard of Oz) Nathan Detroit (Guys and Dolls).

Aaron Jackson

Aaron "Juice" Jackson (Claudius) is thrilled to be back for his tenth production with the Stone Church Players. His favorite past roles include Bill Slank in Peter and the Starcatcher, and Joseph in Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat. When not performing, he can be found fighting crime and taking care of his cats. He would like to thank his wife and family for all their support.

Faith King

Faith King (Ophelia) is so excited to be in her 3rd Stone Church Players production. She was previously seen in Much Ado About Nothing (Dogberry) and in the virtual reading of The Tempest (Trinculo). She is currently a rising sophomore at West Virginia University pursuing her BFA in Acting. Previous theater credits include All This Intimacy: Scenes (Becca) and Blue Stockings (Miss. Blake). She would like to thank Michael and the whole cast for this incredible experience. She sends all the love and all the thanks to her family and friends.

Ray Laux

Ray Laux (Hamlet) is very excited to be in his third SCP production. He previously played Claudio in Much Ado About Nothing and Stefano in The Tempest, as well as many shows at Monmouth University. Other than acting, Ray plays in the local band, Malibu.

Jesse Luciani

Jesse Luciani (Laertes) is very excited to be a part of the Stone Church Players for their production of “Hamlet.” Jesse is a graduate of the New York Conservatory for Dramatic Arts. He has been featured in Local theater scenes such as The Holmdel Theater Company’s production of “Life is a Dream” & “A Few Goodmen.” You can also see much of Jesse’s work within podcasting! He is the creator and producer of Empty Can Productions on Spotify and Apple Podcast. He wants to thank everyone for love and support in all his endeavors.

Sarah O’Sullivan

Sarah O'Sullivan (Guildenstern) is delighted to be appearing for the first time with the Stone Church Players! She has mostly performed in northern NJ thus far, recently in La Bohème (Ensemble) with Light Opera of New Jersey and The Yeomen of the Guard (Kate) with the Ridgewood Gilbert and Sullivan Opera Company; however, she has an enduring love for Shakespeare, which is why she ventured south to be a part of this production. Many thanks to all the cast and crew for granting her such a tremendous experience!

Leslie Patient

Leslie (Polonius), making her Stone Church Players debut, was, ironically, last on stage in Paul Rudnick’s I Hate Hamlet as Deirdre McDavey (Burlington County Footlighters, 1994). Other roles include Peasblossom in the Philadelphia Shakespeare Theatre Festival’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream as well as Entr’acte Vocalist in Ibsen’s Hedda Gabler and Choral Trio in Caryl Churchill’s Vinegar Tom, both at Villanova University where she earned a Master’s degree in Theatre (1990). Leslie was the Performing Arts Chair and Theatre Director at Purnell School from 1995-2010 and currently is the Upper School Dean of Student Life at Ranney School in Tinton Falls.

Elaina Pecora

Elaina (Horatio) is so excited to be involved in her first Stone Church production! She is a junior at Middletown High School North and is involved with the theatre department having performed in A Midsummer Night’s Dream (Philostrate) and A Chorus Line (Vicki/Ensemble). She wants to thank the cast and crew for a wonderful experience working to bring the show to life. Break a leg everyone!

Courtney Ravelo

Courtney Ravelo (Player) is so excited to be making her debut at Stone Church! Ravelo got her bachelors degree at Ithaca College in creative writing and theatre. Her original play, “Euphoria,” went up at the Hudson Guild Theatre in New York City as a part of the NY Summerfest. She directed, cast, and produced it. This fall Courtney will be attending the MFA Acting program at the New York Film Academy, Los Angeles campus. You can reach her at cfravelo@verizon.net.

Lizzy Stefanic

Lizzy Stefanic (Player) is so excited to be back for some summertime Billy Shakes. Some of her SCP credits include Little Women (Aunt March) and Much Ado (Margaret). Lizzy’s previous theatre credits include Xanadu (Kira), The Wedding Singer (Julia), and James & The Giant Peach (Aunt Sponge). In her free time, Lizzy enjoys talking. She would like to thank her dad & step mom, Cher, and the cast & crew for their constant love and support.

Andrew Struse

Andrew Struse (Rosencrantz) is returning to the Stone Church Players for his sixth go-around with The Bard. A veteran character actor of the community scene, Andrew has graced the SCP stage with his idiosyncratic portrayals of Lord Capulet, Baptista, Thisbe, King Alonso and Don John. Andrew is delighted to be back with many of his cast mates from past years and would like to thank our fearless and magnanimous leader, Michael, for his unwavering enthusiasm, guidance and support.

Gracie Whaley

Dianna “Gracie” Whaley (Player) is excited to be making her Stone Players debut! A few of her other credits include Fighting Prawn (Peter and the Starcatcher), Juror 4 (12 Angry Jurors), and Juliet (Romeo and Juliet). She is thrilled to be working with such a talented cast and hopes you enjoy the show as much as she does. She’d like to leave you with some words of inspiration; “Real Gs move in silence like lasagna,” - Shakespeare (probably). 

Behind the Scenes at Hamlet

The cast and crew of Hamlet have been hard at work putting together what is sure to be a memorable experience for all involved. Check out these snaps from rehearsals over the past few weeks. We will be posting more and more content as we head into June. Stay tuned for interviews, video clips, and sneak peeks of our set and costumes. Be sure to grab your tickets today!

Announcing the cast of Hamlet

SCP proudly presents the cast of our upcoming production of “Hamlet”. Thank you to everyone who auditioned!

Hamlet: Ray Laux

Claudius: Aaron Jackson

Polonius: Leslie Patient

Ophelia: Faith King

Gertrude: Liz Carlin

Horatio: Elaina Pecora

Laertes: Jesse Luciani

Rosencrantz: Andrew Struse

Guildenstern: Sarah O’Sullivan

The Players:

Darren DeAngelo

Lizzy Stefanic

Gracie Whaley

Courtney Ravelo

"Lovestruck" - A Look Back

Last weekend SCP kicked off it’s fourteenth season with a fundraiser event at the Atlantic Moviehouse. Featuring our favorite love songs and incorporating short videos from past productions, patrons were treated to an evening of dazzling live music and delicious gourmet desserts - a true feast for the senses! “Lovestruck” also marked SCP’s first collaboration with The Atlantic Moviehouse and Julio’s Pizza Co. both located on First Avenue in Atlantic Highlands. We hope to host more events at the Moviehouse this season and look forward to a continued partnership with Julio’s.

All proceeds from the event will go towards the purchase of a new light board for our homebase, the historic All Saints’ Memorial Church. Please enjoy these photos, taken by local photographer Alexander Ajello (unless otherwise noted). You can view more of Alex’s work at alexander-ajello.darkroom.tech.

Thank you to everyone who was involved, especially:

Tony and Susanne Zertuche of the Atlantic Moviehouse

Brendan and Erin Smith of Julio’s Pizza Company

Professor Butter Beard

The Reverend Debbie Cook

Valerie Schauer

Robert Weinstein

Blake Abbot

We have so many fun events and productions planned for this season. Be sure to join us as “Shakespeare in the Sheds” returns this June with what is sure to be a memorable presentation of Hamlet.

‘Lovestruck” up on the marquee at the Atlantic Moviehouse.

Some patrons checking in.

Opening act Jimmy Shoez walks down the hallway to the theater with a patron.

A look at our photobooth. Image provided by SCP.

Liz Carlin manning the dessert stand on night one. Image provided by SCP.

Our fabulous desserts were provided by Professor Butter Beard, professorbutterbeard.com.

The Reverend Debbie Cook arrives with her husband and contemplates the desserts.

A look at the stage. Image provided by SCP.

Night one opener, Jimmy Shoez.

Night two opener, Chris Morrisy. Image provided by SCP.

Juice Jackson and Lizzy Stefanic. Image provided by SCP.

Vincent DeMeo and Caitlin Martin.

Juice Jackson with David Beil on guitar.

Cynthia Dannen joins Darren DeAngelo during his solo.

David Beil and Lindsay Abbot.

Willie Naess, our special guest performer, on night one.

Vincent DeMeo.

David Beil.

Caitlin Martin. Image provided by SCP.

Featuring Mike Kabash on keyboard.

The cast of “Lovestruck” on night one.

The cast of “Lovestruck” on night two. Image provided by SCP.

The cast of “Lovestruck” on night two. Image provided by SCP.

Directors Lindsay Abbot and Caitlin Martin with SCP Artistic Director, Michael McClellan. Image provided by SCP courtesy of Jack McWilliams.

Preparations For ‘It’s a Wonderful Life’ Have Begun!

We had our first read of “It’s A Wonderful Life” this past week and the holiday spirit is taking over!

Our cast consists of 9 SCP glitterati*, some of whom you’ve seen grace our stage as recently as our October production of “Little Women, the Musical” and our summer ‘Shakespeare in the Sheds’ production of “Much Ado About Nothing”, and others whom you haven’t seen in a few years but are SCP legends! Our talented actors are tackling a myriad of characters, dialects, and ages which is no easy feat but oh so much fun! We are also so excited to welcome board member Susanne Zertuche, who will be joining us on stage to create all of the sound effects, and Musical Director Mike Kabash. Both Susanne and Mike will take an active part in helping us create the look and feel of a 1940’s radio studio.

We had a few snaps taken during the read, and want to share those photos with you all now. We’ve only got two more rehearsals before we see you Saturday, December 4th at 8 pm and Sunday, December 5th at 2 pm!

Tickets are $10 cash at the door and we are keeping it simple with no advanced reservations this year. Doors will open 30 minutes prior to ‘curtain’ and the show runs under 1 hour (no intermission). Masks are mandatory inside of the church!

We look forward to seeing you soon!

*Glitterati:

• (Noun): A slang term for celebrities. We say this one should be brought back!

• Example: “The glitterati just love plastering their faces all over social media.”

Reflecting on 'Little Women'

We’ve had a hard time letting go of our amazing production of Little Women, the Musical. We had an incredible time bringing this story to life inside the beautiful All Saints’ Memorial Church, our much-loved home venue. After a long hiatus due to the pandemic, installing the stage and building the set gave us so much joy. Before we close the books on this production, we’ve asked the cast to reflect on their journey by sharing a favorite performance picture (thank you Jason Lange!) and talking a bit more about their experience. Read on to hear their wonderful insights and stay tuned for more information about our Christmas show coming soon!

Bonus: Our Past Productions photo galleries have been updated to include Little Women - check it out!

Lindsay Abbot: Jo March

Q: What was a favorite directing moment and a favorite organic moment the cast created without direction?

A: It’s hard to pick just one directing moment because there were so many, but I actually have one that is both a great directing moment and a great organic moment. In the second act, right after the big musical number “Weekly Volcano Press”, Jo celebrates her success with Professor Bhaer and Mrs. Kirk. Professor Bhaer asks her if she has ever been to the Broadway Gardens and she responds, “Are you asking me to dinner, Professor?” During rehearsals I had been asking that question in a teasing manner, making light of the moment. But Christine gave me a note to try to be more genuine with it and act as if I was taken aback by his proposition. I was immediately on board and when at the next rehearsal I changed the delivery, something great happened organically between me and Gavin. The Professor’s next line is, “No…yes!” And Jo responds, “I should like that.” Again before, I was delivering that last line as if I was patting the professor on the back, like his pal. But since we changed the previous line’s delivery, that line became much more meaningful and it moved Gavin and myself to stare lovingly into each other’s eyes. So that one small change completely shifted the feeling of that little scene and foreshadowed what happens during the proposal in the final moments of the show. The whole process was just so magical and it is in these little moments that you come to appreciate your fellow actors and how giving they are towards one another. What a fabulous time I had and here’s to more incredible journeys in the future!

Q: If you could play any other character, who would it be and why?

A: There are so many great characters but I think I would want to play Marmee. Being a mother myself I can relate to her and she gets to sing two absolutely beautiful songs!

Caitlin Martin: Meg March

Q: Who did your character have the most meaningful relationships with in the show?

A: Meg’s most meaningful relationships are the two halves of her heart, her sisters and John Brooke. Jo is her confidante and fire - the one who pushes her outside of herself, Beth is her essence and gentle melody - the one she shares the tender moments with, and Amy is her protégée and storm - the one she relates to and tries to guide the most. Then there’s John, who she falls in love with so easily and deeply, that everything she ever envisioned for herself goes out the window. He truly is her other half. I’m very grateful for the actors who played these characters because they truly helped me embody Meg, and bring her and these relationships to life.

Q: If you could play any other character, who would it be and why?

A: Laurie! He’s such a complex character but so charming, and “Take A Chance on Me” would be so fun to sing!

Felicia Russell: Beth March

Q: What was your favorite character embodiment that you created?

A: What was important to me was being true to Beth. After all, she was based on a real woman. I loved adding in moments that weren’t in the script to bring her to life. In my research I learned how the real Beth was known to be sweet and caring yet experienced depression and anxiety. Some ways that I showed this was with eye contact (or lack thereof). In an early scene with Mr. Laurence, I kept a grip on the piano for comfort and hardly looked up at him at all. I also see Beth as being a very wise observer. There was one moment in particular that I enjoyed playing with. After Jo and Amy’s fight, Jo’s manuscript is on the couch. Before exiting I would slowly look at Amy, knowing she was furious and knowing there was no way she’d just let this go that easily. I would quickly then look at the manuscript, entertaining the idea that she might do something to it before exiting.

Q: If you could play any other character, who would it be and why?

A: This is a very difficult question, but if I had to play another role, it’d be Laurie. He’s such a beloved character and his solo is one of my favorite songs in the show (Willie brought the house down every night). I am also a big fan of his range as a character. He gets lots of laughs in the beginning, and he also gets such an emotional scene with pure devastation when he proposes to Jo. Then at the end he’s found a sort of middle ground. No longer a mischievous boy, but learning who he is and has proven that love is out there in unexpected places (with Amy)!

Tori Dillon: Amy March

Q: What was the biggest challenge with taking on your character?

A: I’d have to say the biggest challenge in taking on the role of Amy was having the balance between her being the bratty youngest sibling at the beginning of the show, throwing tantrums and destroying her sister’s possessions, to having her being a mature, worldly young woman by the end. I absolutely love the dichotomy of this character and it was such a fun experience finding moments in the beginning where Amy was obviously trying to appear more grown up than she actually was, while also finding moments towards the end where Amy allows herself to slip back into her usual, inner self with her sisters. One of scene’s that I believe embodies this the most is Amy’s final scene, the day of her wedding. She storms in, ready to complain to her sister about how everything about today is wrong but at the drop of a hat, it’s as though a curtain is dropped and Amy regains her composure, yet again becoming a woman who has travelled the world and is getting married in just a few hours. It took me a while to be able to get that quick transition just right but once I got it down, it really brought Amy to life in such a different way than I had seen before.

Q: If you could play any other character, who would it be and why?

A: Hands down, if I could play a different character, I’d love to play Jo. Despite being the youngest sibling in my own family, there were times in the show were I found myself relating more to Jo than to Amy (which also made playing Amy all the more fun). I, myself, am a writer and like to consider myself rather spontaneous so I feel that explore that side of myself through Jo would be an amazing experience. Not to mention, her absolutely gorgeous, show-stopping number at the end of Act 1, aptly named “Astonishing”. It’s been one of my favorite Broadway songs long before this show and will absolutely remain one of my favorites for a very long time.

Willie Naess: Laurie Laurence

Q: How did this cast bring something new to the story?

A: I don’t necessarily know if this the *~correct~* answer to the question being asked: “How did the cast bring something new to the story?”; but I feel that performing in unconventional locations in a grassroots setting and far from a proscenium stage is very authentic to the Little Women experience. Jo March is famous for putting on theatre for her town starring her and her three sisters. We, too, were just 10 actors (with a fire in us to be bigger and better than we are) performing in a, while very beautiful, small and intimate church. Therein lies a home-like quality for this space. Many audience members sitting in the pews for our Saturday night production were there the next morning for Sunday services. It is community that Stone Church provides for Atlantic Highlands and the surrounding area. It’s not that we brought something new, but we brought something old to this production and therein, found a lot of heart in our honest storytelling.

Q: If you could play any other character, who would it be and why?

A: Marmee! Her songs are so beautiful.

Vincent DeMeo: Mr. John Brooke

Q: What are your favorite songs from the show?

A: My favorite songs in the show are “The Most Amazing Thing”, “Five Forever”, and “More Than I Am”. “The Most Amazing Thing” just has such a fun, vivid story and the sporadic harmonies are fun to sing, and great to listen to. “Five Forever” is a very fun, high energy number, and watching the way my cast mates performed it on stage was a true pleasure. Between the actions, the harmonies, and Willie’s beautiful step dancing, it was truly a show stopper. As for “More Than I Am”, singing it was one of my favorite moments I’ve ever had on stage, especially because I was lucky enough to sing it with such a talented partner. It felt like one of the most emotional moments of the whole show and I was honored to be a part of it.

Q: If you could play any other character, who would it be and why?

A: If I could play any other character in the show, I’d choose Amy. I have always resonated with the immaturity of the character. I’m a very immature and fun loving person, so the bratty youngest child is just something I’d love to try my hand at, and I would absolutely love to sing “The Most Amazing Thing”. Also, genderbending seems like a lot of fun.

Marcy Zieve: Marmee March

Q: What was your proudest moment from the run?

A: One of my proudest moments of Little Women was when the cast came together to sing for the first and only time at the end of “The Weekly Volcano Press”. It was such an honor to be standing on that stage amongst such beautiful, kind and talented people. Our voices soared, our harmonies were impeccable - truly a moment that will always stay in my heart!

Q: If you could play any other character, who would it be and why?

A: If I could play any other character, it would be Laurie. I would love to sing “Take a Chance on Me”!

Lizzy Stefanic: Aunt March

Q: How did you prepare for your audition and what was it like to read the email saying you got in?

A: As soon as I heard about the show, I selected my audition song based on the character I wanted to play, and started rehearsing right away. When I received the e-mail offering me the role, I was ecstatic because I love working with this company and these people so much!

Q: If you could play any other character, who would it be and why?

A: Laurie!

Darren DeAngelo: Mr. Laurence

Q: What was the toughest song or scene to learn and why?

A: “The Weekly Volcano Press”, just due to the multiple characters involved and timing.

Q: If you could play any other character, who would it be and why?

A: John Brooke!

Gavin Kenny: Professor Bhaer

Q: Any feedback from the audience about your performance &/or the show that you would like to share?

A: Members of the audience remarked about the beauty of Jo and Bhaer’s relationship. That they both supported each other and made each other better. Through the relationship, they became better than they were. That’s love!

Q: If you could play any other character, who would it be and why?

A: Beth, because she is so generous and kind. She brings out the best in others, even grouchy Mr. Lawrence. It’s beautiful to see her loving impact on the other characters.

Meet the Cast of Little Women, The Musical!

Darren DeAngelo

Darren DeAngelo (Mr. Laurence/The Knight) This is Darren’s first production with SCP and what an experience at this historic site!! Other notable roles: Clarence (It’s a Wonderful Life), Mr.Kirby (You Can’t Take It With You), Larry (Company), Warbucks (Annie, Father (Children of Eden), Morino (Sunset Boulevard), Bob Cratchit (A Christmas Carol), George Read (1776), Murdoch/Edgar Bean (Titanic), Marvel/Oz (Wizard of Oz) Nathan Detroit (Guys and Dolls).

Vincent DeMeo

Vincent DeMeo (Mr. John Brooke/Sir Braxton Prendergast) is 20 years old and a Junior at Ramapo College of New Jersey. While this is his first production with Stone Church Players, it is his 29th overall production. Some favorite past credits include: Edward Bloom (Big Fish), Moritz Stiefel (Spring Awakening), Emmett (Legally Blonde), Gaston (Beauty and the Beast) and Javert (Les Miserables). He loves cooking, playing his guitar and has an unhealthy obsession with Marvel movies. After a year and a half, Vincent is very grateful to get back on stage, and couldn’t have asked for a better group of people to work with. He wants to thank his cast and crew for all the hard work and support they’ve been putting into this show (and the Garden State Parkway for not having traffic during his two hour drives to rehearsal). Break legs everyone!!

Tori Dillon

Tori Dillon (Amy March/Troll) This is Tori’s first show with the Stone Church Players and she is very excited to be joining them! She is a junior at Howell High School and an Acting major in the FPAC program. Some of her previous credits include “Bring It On!” and “The Theory of Relativity” at Howell High School and “The Wedding Singer” with the Marlboro Players. She’s elated to be back on stage and performing and to all her castmates, she says “Break a leg!”

Gavin Kenny

Gavin Kenny (Professor Bhaer) has recently relocated to his Monmouth County childhood roots and couldn’t be happier to find his way back to the Jersey stage! Gavin earned his BFA in Musical Theater at the University of Michigan, subsequently performing professionally for several years in Equity plays and musicals throughout the country. He then earned his doctorate in Clinical Psychology at Rutgers and is currently a psychologist in private practice (drgavinkenny.com). This one is for Dad, whose favorite childhood book was Little Women, forever relating to the writer in Jo and the professor in Bhaer.

Caitlin Martin

Caitlin Martin (Meg March/Clarissa) is extremely excited to be back on the stage and even more so to be working again with SCP! Caitlin has her B.F.A. in Musical Theatre from AMDA, College of the Performing Arts. Favorite roles include: Narrator in Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, Sylvia in Sylvia!, and Agnes Snow in I Do! I Do! She would like to thank the incredible cast and crew for all of the laughs and dedication and her family for all of their love and support. As always, this one is for you G.

Willie Naess

Willie Naess (Laurie/Rodrigo/Dance Captain) is ecstatic to finally check off Rodrigo on his long list of many dream roles. A resident of Brick and alumni of Muhlenberg College with a BA in Theatre, Willie is no stranger to community theatre. He’s excited to make his debut with Stone Church Players with this phenomenal group of performers. Special thanks to Timothée Chalomet for having such small shoes that are easy to fill.

Felicia Russell

Felicia Russell (Beth March/Rodrigo II) is elated to be making her debut with Stone Church and in such a beloved story. Some of her favorite past roles include: Alice in “You Can’t Take it With You,” (BroadwayWorld. com nominee) Princess Estrella in “Life is a Dream,” Little Girl in “Ragtime,” and Shprintze in “Fiddler on the Roof.” when not onstage, she is a 21 year old college student who enjoys reading, watercolor, guitar, and writing. (which includes her first original full length play, “And at the Hour” performed last year and a recipient of Brookdale College’s Global Citizenship Award). she’s inspired to perform thanks to her family and especially her sisters- her own Meg, Jo and Amy who are always part of her “castle in the air”; Amanda, Victoria and Sophia.

Lizzy Stefanic

Lizzy Stefanic (Aunt March/Mrs. Kirk) is thrilled to be in her second and back to back show with Stone Church Players. She previously played Margaret in the early summer’s Much Ado About Nothing. Her other acting credits include The Wedding Singer (Julia), James & The Giant Peach (Aunt Sponge), and Pippin (Berthe). When Lizzy isn’t working as an amateur Jack Black impersonator, she enjoys rating public bathrooms and talking. She would like to thank her dad, Cher, and the whole cast & crew for their love and support.

Marcy Zieve

Marcy Zieve (Marmee March/Hag) is thrilled to be back onstage with this fabulous cast in this beautiful show! No stranger to Stone Church Players, Marcy has appeared in A Little Night Music, Our Town, Miracle on 34th Street and A Christmas Carol. Other favorite roles include Vi Moore in Footloose, Cinderella's Stepmother in Into the Woods, Mrs. in Sunday in the Park with George, Kathy in Company and Shelia in A Chorus Line. Much love to my incredible kids, Mia and Matthew.

Rehearsals Underway for ‘Little Women’

Our first read of “Little Women, the Musical” took place on Monday of this week, and it was ‘astonishing’. We had a few minutes of a meet and greet so everyone could get to know one another, and then we jumped right into the tale of the March sisters and co. Hearing everyone bring their characters to life for the first time was captivating, and we knew right away how special this show is going to be. Please enjoy a few wonderful pictures that our go-to photographer, Jason Lange, captured for us during the read.

Ticket info will be available in the next few weeks!

Catching up with Artistic Director Michael McClellan

Now that the run has concluded, what are your thoughts on how “Much Ado About Nothing” went?

Whew! What a journey into uncharted waters! First and foremost, welcome back to live theater. Every turn was a new discussion and a new process filled with amazing resolutions. I am humbled and so honored to have worked with such a team of actors. They were fearless and willing to try anything to enhance the art of storytelling. The production team worked 24/7 in front of and behind the scenes to cross every “T” and ensure that we were on track. And then there were the audiences. They were overwhelmingly appreciative and energetic. Such soul food for us all!

What was the biggest challenge and biggest reward from hosting ‘Shakespeare in the Sheds’?

Um, the lighting and the lighting. But, we did it! And didn’t it look stunning!

Is there a chance we’ll be seeing more outdoor productions from SCP?

There is every chance we will be seeing more outdoor productions. The sheds are so perfectly designed for outdoor theater and the evening performances as the sun set and the lights brightened took my breath away every time.

If you could play any character in ‘Much Ado’, who would you pick and why?

I actually thought about this during casting. The most tempting role for me would be Don John. I am so often cast as the nice Santa. It would be delightful to play a dastardly villain. Second choice would be Beatrice. Every line written for her is a soulful gem of pure truth.

As a Director, what was your favorite part to come to life in front of an audience?

The joy. The instant chemistry between Benedick and Beatrice (Jimmy and Liz) and Hero and Claudio (Grace and Ray). But even more, watching all the actors return to live theater and relearn to interact with each outside of a Zoom box. I loved watching their eyes and their faces as they danced and entertained each other – onstage and off.

What has the feedback been like from the audience?

I learned to be ready for this question every night – “what’s next!!!!!” What an incredible wave of positive energy exuded from the audience to the stage every evening. And I had to giggle from all their suggestions for upcoming adventures. Everything from “Oklahoma” to “Hadestown.” It was such a boost of karma to leave the set every evening knowing we had enhanced people’s lives.

What’s next for SCP this season?

Auditions for “Little Women, the Musical” are coming up soon! Then we will be bringing back “It’s A Wonderful Life” for the holiday season. I just love playing Clarence! We are considering adding readings from local playwrights and are open to other journeys. And, I will admit that I am delightfully engaged in secret negotiations with a certain Prince of Denmark for next spring…..

The Cast of "Much Ado" Presents "Quit Playing Games"

Well, we’ve closed the books on our summer 2021 production of “Much Ado About Nothing” and it was one for the ages. We started virtual rehearsals back in April on Zoom and by closing night we had achieved something we’ve never done before - six performances held outside using the beautiful grounds of the All Saints’ Memorial Church as our stunning backdrop. The cast truly bonded in such a special way and after the long moratorium on theater performances, coming together in-person and performing Shakespeare without any restrictions was such a blessing.

We appreciate all the support we’ve received from our awesome patrons and it was great to see new faces both in the audience and up on stage. Through this experience we’ve fostered great partnerships that we know will last a long time. Please enjoy this video put together by our amazing cast. If this doesn’t entice you to audition for an SCP production, we don’t know what will! Stay tuned for more from SCP in the coming months as we prepare for our October production of Little Women, The Musical.

Meet the Production Team! Featuring Gillian Rispoli and Allie Cohen

We are in the middle of an intense tech week over at the Stone Church and we’d thought we’d take some time to introduce you to our fabulously talented Assistant Production Director and Assistant Artistic Director. The show simply would not happen without these two amazing ladies and we are so grateful for the time and energy they have put into this production.

Gillian Rispoli

Allie Cohen

Hi! Introduce yourselves and let us know what your role is with “Much Ado About Nothing”?

Gillian: Hi, my name is Gillian Rispoli. I am a sophomore at Coastal Carolina University pursuing BFA Theare Arts- Design and Production with a concentration in Stage Management and a double minor in Communications and Art Studio. With “Much Ado About Nothing” I am the Assistant Production Director. So with my my position, I am mainly in charge of all the sets, props, lights, and costumes.

Allie: Hi! I’m Allie Cohen and I’m the assistant artistic director as well as playing Antonio in Much Ado About Nothing!

Have you worked with SCP before?

Gillian: I actually have had the opportunity to work at SCP many times before. My first time at SCP I was actually on stage in the production “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat”. I played brother Asher in this production. After that I went to more of the production side of everything. I first worked on “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” as a Production Intern and then “Cyrano de Bergerac” as a Production Stage Manager.

Allie: This is my first production with SCP and I am so thrilled that my first production was with this magnificent cast and crew!

How has working on a show during Covid been different than pre-covid?

Gillian: For me, the transition between a pre-covid show and during covid has been very different. Not just at SCP but even at school. This past fall we worked on an online show and it was crazy how much different it was. It definitely didn’t give the same feelings you get when you watch live theater but it worked for that period. I have to say I am very grateful for everything SCP has been doing to keep this production safe for everyone, Cast, crew, and audience.

Allie: It has been an interesting and challenging experience. We did a lot of good work over zoom since there’s so much importance when it comes to understanding Shakespearean language and text, but it made the second half of the rehearsal process more challenging since we weren’t able to get the show up on its feet until we met in person so far into the rehearsal process. We’ve come a long way since that first rehearsal, and I’m so proud and impressed by the work the cast has done!

What do you think of the ‘Shakespeare in the Sheds’ concept? Any challenges with putting on an outdoor show?

Gillian: Overall I thought this was a great idea! SCP are one of the first people I have heard about going back to live theater. Working outside as well works very well with the atmosphere and theme of this show. Obviously, there is always issues working outdoors. What if it rains? Is there enough lighting? But we have such an amazing team we have a plan for everything in advance.

Allie: It’s a cool concept, but it’s nerve wracking! We’re essentially eliminating a backstage which presents its own challenges for the actors and we just have to do our anti-rain dances and pray the weather works out in our favor! It would be a shame to lose a performance due to weather after all the hard work put into the show.

Gillian, what has been your favorite creation come to life in regards to the set/lights?

Gillian: I think these lights in the natural dusk light are going to look absolutely gorgeous. We really wanted to keep the set and lights quite simple and let nature be our main foundation of the set. Having the sun as our spotlight and the sheds as our set for the house was our main concept, just let nature take over. I feel that is also another great thing about working outside. You have such beautiful grounds around us, might as well use them best we can.

Allie, you’re the Assistant Artistic Director as well as in the show, tell us about that!?

Allie: This has been such a fun journey for me! I’m a total Shakespeare nerd, so getting to help the cast with their understanding of the language has been very gratifying. As much as I love acting, I also love directing and helping create these moments for our audiences to enjoy has been a wonderful artistic experience. The most challenging factor is stepping away to watch the scene unfold and then inserting myself into the scene later. This experience has reinvigorated my love for directing, so I am very thankful for this production!

Anything you want to tell the readers of our website about?

Gillian: Right after “Much Ado About Nothing” closes, I will be working on my next production at Mater Dei Prep. The Seraph Players will be putting on “Disney’s Newsies” on July 30, 31 & August 1. For this show I am happy to announce I will be taking my Production Stage Manager yet again. Once I go back to school I will also be working on some more productions. The first being “Honk!” which I will be Assistant Stage Managing, then I will be Assistant Scenic Designer and as well as Run Crew for our production “Everybody”, the Properties Coordinator for our student directed production of “How I learned to Drive”, and lastly I will again be Assistant Stage Managing our production of “Black Comedy and the White Liars”.

I would like to thank Michael for all of the help and opportunities he has given me over the years to grow in the arts. I love coming back to the Stone Church and helping with whatever I can. Of course I also have to shout out my amazing mentor Sherrie Cole for always supporting every production I work on. She’s definitely the best second mother a girl could have! And lastly of course I have to thank my parents and family members for always supporting my love for the arts!

Allie: On top of my day job and passion for theatre, I’m also a travel agent! Now that people are starting to travel again, I’d be happy to assist any of our patrons with their vacations. I specialize in Walt Disney World and other Disney products, and also plan Universal, all-inclusives, general flight and hotel stay packages around the US, and I’ll be working towards earning my certifications to sell for the cruise lines.

https://www.imaginationdestinationstravel.com/allison-cohen.html

Meet the cast of “Much Ado About Nothing”!

Each day this week you will be introduced to the members of our stellar cast of “Much Ado About Nothing”. We are so excited for you to meet them! Our final group features Hunter, Grace, and Andrew! Eternal gratitude to the incomparable Jason Lange for these awesome photos.

Hunter (Conrade) is a returning Stone Church Player excited for his first show after a year-long hiatus. Grateful for the opportunity to work with the SCP again he would like to thank Michael McClellan and Gillian Rispoli for their constant support. Acting has been a pleasant change of pace and a reminder that the future is bright. Alongside a talented troupe of local actors he is pleased to bring to life one of Shakespeare's classics!

Lily Grace (Hero) is thrilled to be returning to the ACTUAL STAGE in her second Stone Church Players production! Her recent credits include SCP’s The Tempest (Miranda), Two River Theater’s Little Shakes, Twelfth Night (Mariah) and Macbeth (Witch). Other roles include Seraph Player’s productions of A Killer Party (Detective Justine Case) and The Three Musketeers (Sabine). She also co-starred in the Netflix series, Maniac and reprising her role as Baby Louise in Gypsy at the Cape Playhouse in Dennis, MA. Other credits: Phoenix Productions’ Beauty and the Beast, A Christmas Story and Gypsy, KOTA production of School of Rock and LPAC production of God Lives in Glass. Lily Grace would like to thank her family for their unconditional love and support, and Michael McClellan for this awesome opportunity!

Often referred to as the “Malkovich of Middletown”, Andrew (Don John) returns to the Stone Church Players for the 5th time in a row. A former teen idol who graced the cover of Tiger Beat magazine numerous times, Andrew credits his mentor John Cassavetes for starting his acting career on a series of Sid and Marty Krofft specials in the 70’s. After a spectacular downward spiral in the 80’s, Andrew re-invented himself as a suburban Dad and now does something in healthcare.

Meet the cast of “Much Ado About Nothing”!

Each day this week you will be introduced to the members of our stellar cast of “Much Ado About Nothing”. We are so excited for you to meet them! Up next is Cynthia, Jimmy, and Lizzy! As always, special thanks to the incomparable Jason Lange for these awesome photos.

Cynthia (Ursula/Watchman) has happily performed more than 70 shows in Monmouth County, New York State , and Toronto, including 13 performances with the wonderful Stone Church Players: musicals, radio plays, holiday concerts, and Shakespeare. She has taught high school and College English and has cantored/sung with Holy Cross Choir in Rumson for many years. Thanks to Michael McClellan, Mother Debbie, Board members, cast and crew for their creativity and hard work to mount this theatrical production

Jimmy (Benedick) is an actor and musician based in Brooklyn, NY. He is excited for his first appearance with The Stone Church Players portraying the role of Benedick and to be a part of some of the first live theater in the region in over a year. His last stage performance was at The Public Theater in the annual Bring A Weasel and A Pint of Your Own Blood Festival, and in recent years has performed at Rattlestick Playwrights Theater, Upright Citizens Brigade, Improv Asylum, Brooklyn Center for the Performing Arts, The Tank, and The Secret Theater. He has worked on several short films and web series and will be heading out to Los Angeles this summer to continue creating new work. He can also be seen playing around NYC and the northeast with his band, Amoeba Earhart. He holds an MFA in Acting from Brooklyn College and a BA in Theater from Muhlenberg College."

Lizzy (Margaret/Watchman) is very excited to be in her first show with Stone Church Players. Her previous credits include: The Wedding Singer (Julia), As You Like It (Audrey), Tony & Tina’s Wedding (Marina), and Pippin (Berthe). When Lizzy isn’t acting, she is running an Instagram dedicated to reviewing public bathrooms. She sends her love to Michael and the whole cast/crew, and say a special thanks to Cher.

Meet the cast of “Much Ado About Nothing”!

Each day this week you will be introduced to the members of our stellar cast of “Much Ado About Nothing”. We are so excited for you to meet them! Up next is Juice, Allie, Ray, and Anne! Again, special thanks to the incomparable Jason Lange for these awesome photos.

Aaron "Juice" (Leonato) is happy to be returning to the Stone Church for the role of Leonato. This is his 6th production with the Stone Church Players, and as always, he is grateful for the opportunity. Some past favorite roles include the title role in Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat and Christian in Cyrano de Bergerac. Originally from the west coast, he graduated with a Bachelor of Fine Arts from AMDA College and Conservatory for the Performing Arts. When he is not on stage, he can be found recording his podcast Breaking The 4th Wall, and being a father to four cats, and a husband to their mother.

Allie (Antonio/Assistant Artistic Director) is thrilled to be participating in her first production with Stone Church Players! Favorite past productions include: Man of La Mancha (Playhouse 22), Edges (Villagers Theatre), The Learned Ladies (Muhlenberg Mainstage), The Winter's Tale (Muhlenberg Mainstage), Pippin (Young Adult Drama Group), and many more across New York, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania. Allie is a 2014 graduate of Muhlenberg College and holds a B.A. in Theatre Arts. Many thanks to the cast and crew for all their hard work, especially Michael for this incredible opportunity, and to her husband Adam for all his patience, love, and support. She dedicates all her performances to her mother, Susan 12/16/10 <3

Ray (Claudio) is a student at Monmouth University where he is active in the Music and Theatre Departments. In addition to being involved in his school’s musicals, he is a member of the local band, Malibu. He is very excited to be a part of Much Ado About Nothing, and would like to thank Michael for the opportunity.

Anne (Don Pedro) is a writer, actor and director working in the NY/ NY area. Recent work with the Stone Church Players includes performing the Nurse in “Romeo and Juliet”, Titania in “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” and directing a staged reading of her adaptation of “Cyrano de Bergerac”. She has also participated for many years in Aery Theater Company’s annual 20/20 One-Act Festival in Garrison, NY, winning awards at various times for directing, writing and performing. Most recently, Anne wrote and performed several monologues for virtual productions with Nyack, NY’s Elmwood Playhouse.

Meet the cast of “Much Ado About Nothing”!

Each day this week you will be introduced to the members of our stellar cast of “Much Ado About Nothing”. We are so excited for you to meet them! Today we’re starting with Faith, Justin, Sean, and Liz! Special thanks to the incomparable Jason Lange for these awesome photos.

Faith (Dogberry) is excited about everything. As a recent graduate of Trinity Hall, she plans to attend West Virginia University to pursue a BFA in Acting and minor in Creative Writing. Her favorite credits include Wadsworth in Clue and Miss. Blake in Bluestockings both with The Queens Court Company at Trinity Hall. Additionally she was involved with The Stone Church Players virtual production of The Tempest last year. She wants to thank Michael and the Stone Church Players for this amazing opportunity (in her favorite Shakespeare show!) and wants to send all the love to her family and friends.

Justin (Messenger/Borachio) is a long-time actor and a Mater Dei Prep alumnus that is proud to be in his second Stone Church Players production, his first one being A Midsummer Night's Dream as Demetrius. He would like to thank Michael for giving him this opportunity to perform, as well as his fellow actors and the whole crew for coming together to make this show happen.

Sean (Balthasar/Verges/Friar Francis) is excited to be performing in his fourth production with the Stone Church Players! His previous roles include Puck in “A Midsummer Night's Dream”, Gremio in “Taming of the Shrew”, and most recently Fredinand in “The Tempest”. He would like to thank his family for their support, and Micheal McClellan for the opportunity!⁣

Liz (Beatrice) is thrilled to be joining The Stone Church Players for her second production- and in one of her dream roles no less! Liz was previously seen as Ariel in The Tempest with Stone Church. Other past credits include Becca (Rabbit Hole), Desdemona (Othello), Lavinia (Titus Andronicus), and more. Liz also has a passion for new work development, and has served as dramaturg, director, and actor on many new plays- most recently making her NYC directorial debut at The Hudson Guild in Faith and Shackles by playwright and friend Justin Giachetti. During the pandemic, Liz pivoted from her pursuit of a professional acting career to becoming a certified Self-Love Coach and energy healer, creating her own wellness business Wild Woman Rising and largely working with fellow actors and artists in navigating self-care during the shutdown. She is so thankful to Michael and The Stone Church Players for giving this cast a space to play and create, and is excited to be bringing theatre back into her life.

Announcing the Cast of Much Ado About Nothing

SCP proudly presents the cast of our upcoming production of “Much Ado About Nothing”. Thank you to everyone who auditioned!

Beatrice: Liz Carlin

Benedick: Jimmy Morgan

Claudio: Ray Laux

Hero: Lily Grace Riddle

The Troupe:

Hunter Burgos, Allison Cohen, Anne Connolly, Justin Corman, Cynthia Dannen, Juice Jackson, Faith King, Lizzy Stefanic, Andrew Struse, Sean Tonne Jr.

The Tempest Virtual Performance Now Available!

We are so excited to share with you the five acts of The Tempest, recorded on the grounds of the All Saints’ Memorial Church campus in July 2020. Enjoy!

Brandon Horner's Fabulous Lecture!

Last night Brandon Horner, a teacher at Rumson Country Day School, delivered an engaging and insightful lecture on Shakespeare and the “The Tempest”. The lecture was meant to be a primer for next week to help prepare viewers for what they will see during our filmed reading. Mr. Horner was a big hit, so much so that we are posting his lecture here on our blog so that more folks can benefit from his extensive knowledge of the play. Enjoy!

And remember to register for the filmed reading at aharts.org. By registering you will be granted access to exclusive content which includes interviews from the cast and crew as well as an invitation to join a live Zoom wrap party with the cast on Friday, September 25th following Act V.

Tempest Release Dates and More!

We here at SCP are thrilled to announce a partnership with the Atlantic Highlands Arts Council to release The Tempest over five nights in September starting on the 21st. The Arts Council will also be facilitating a lecture on Shakespeare and The Tempest the week prior on September 16th and an acting workshop for kids and teens led by a Tony-nominated stage actor the week after on September 30th. Please be sure to register for all these great events and consider making a donation to the Atlantic Highlands Arts Council!

On the heels of this great announcement, we had a chance to catch up with some of our cast members. We asked them to answer three questions:

1) What is your character’s favorite line or moment in The Tempest?

2) If you could switch roles with any other character, who would it be and why?

3) What is your dream Shakespeare role?

Read on to learn more!

Sean Tonne (Ferdinand)

1. My favorite line in the show is “And for your sake am I this patient log man” 

2. If I had to switch roles with one other character from the show it would be Caliban, I feel like he’s such a interesting and weird character that could be interpreted in so many different ways. 

3. My dream Shakespeare Role is Romeo, being able too play one of literature’s most famous and influential characters.

Brian Craig (Prospero)

1. “Hast thou, which art but air, a touch, a feeling / Of their afflictions? And shall not myself, / One of their kind, that relish all as sharply / Passion as they, be kindlier moved than thou art? / Though with their high wrongs I am struck to the quick, / Yet with my nobler reason ‘gainst my fury / Do I take part: the rarer action is / In virtue than in vengeance: they being penitent, / The sole drift of my purpose doth extend / Not a frown farther.”

2. Stephano or Trinculo, for the opportunity to do comedy.

3. Either King Lear, Falstaff, or Iago.

Lily Grace Riddle (Miranda)

1. Honestly, I’d have to say that my favorite moment in The Tempest is when Miranda and Ferdinand meet for the first time. It’s so funny to me because of how uncultured and naive Miranda is. “What is’t? A spirit?” Like no, Miranda. That is a man.

2. I thought about the depths and personalities of each character and their roles, and I really can only say that I’d want to play Miranda. She’s so fun and I’ve spent such a long time researching and playing around with the character, that I can’t even imagine taking on the role of a different one.

3. Katherine in Taming of the Shrew!

Faith King (Trinculo)

1. My favorite moment is “I will now let loose my opinion, hold it no longer. This is not a fish” I think we really get to see Trinculo’s character there. She entertains herself and enjoys making other people laugh.

2. Probably Ariel or Antonia. I love the idea of the villain and the antagonist. Antonia is the villain, but Ariel antagonizes almost every character in the show, so she’d be all the fun of playing a villain without having to play a bad person

3. Beatrice in Much Ado about Nothing or Olivia I’m Twelfth Night

Aaron “Juice” Jackson (Sebastian)

1. Favorite line: A pox o' your throat you bawling, blasphemous, incharitable dog!

2. If you could switch: Caliban because it would be fun to explore the craziness of this character

3. Dream role: Henry V

Cynthia Dannen (Gonzala)

1. My character’s favorite moment comes at the end of Act V, when Gonzala witnesses the forgiveness and reconciliation between brother and sister, Prospero and Antonia. Gonzala then asks for blessings on the young couple, Miranda and Ferdinand, thus uniting the kingdom of Naples.

2. I would switch roles with that “airy sprite, “ Ariel, whose strength and perseverance in her pursuit of freedom wins over Prospero and unites/saves several characters. Her magic and music , her songs about a major theme, the “sea change” in the shipwrecked characters, are powerful and whimsical elements in Shakespeare ‘s final play.

3. I have always wanted to play Portia from The Merchant of Venice. She is a strong royal who is known for her famous speech in Act IV in Shylock’s trial: “The quality of mercy is not strained. It droppeth as the gentle rain from heaven upon the place beneath. It is twice blessed. It blesses him that gives and him that takes....”

Ray Laux (Stephano)

1. My favorite line of mine in the show is “give me thy hand I do begin to have bloody thoughts”.

2. A dream character I would most want to play would be either Rosencrantz or Guildenstern from Hamlet because I love the back and forth dialogue .

3. I would love to switch parts with Sean and play Ferdinand because I think it would be a great challenge to be a romantic lead in a Shakespeare play.

Liz Carlin (Ariel)

1. Ariel has a big monologue where she appears to some of the others as a harpy- that’s definitely my favorite piece to perform. She admonishes the group for doing wrong by Prospero and one of the lines is “For which foul deed the powers, delaying, not forgetting, have incensed the seas and shores, yea, all of the creatures against your peace.” I love this moment because time feels like it stops and we can see just how much mystical power Ariel truly holds that she commands nature to avenge Prospero.

2. I think it would be Antonia. Everyone loves playing the villain, and she’s got some great lines.

3. Queen Margaret is probably my biggest Shakespeare aspiration. I’m obsessed with her transformation over the course of the Henry VI trilogy through Richard III, from this sweet innocent new wife into a commanding Queen into the insane woman hellbent on revenge.