LOVE’S LABOR’S LOST The Story

Navarre and his pals Dumaine, Longaville, and Berowne commit to three years of pure academic study; to help them keep their oath, they must cut back on food, sleep, and… apparently all women must remain at least a mile from the premises. However, immediately upon swearing this, the Princess — with three lady friends, Maria, Katherine, and Rosaline — arrives to settle a debt. The women (each of whom is already into one of the fellows, and vice versa, to no audience’s surprise) are forced to camp outside, which is not their preference.

Entertainer Costard has been caught canoodling with the maid Jaquenetta, which is against the aforementioned rules, so Costard is handed over to the Russian Armadoff, who will keep an eye on him. But Armadoff (as he tells his assistant, Moth) is madly and poetically in love with Jaquenetta. He writes her a letter (with a questionable grasp on the language) and gets Costard to deliver it, which is frankly asking for trouble.

Berowne has also written a love letter to Rosaline. And who did he ask to deliver it? Also Costard. Great plan.

The men catch each other composing love poetry and are by turns angry, betrayed, then desperate for someone to come up with an excuse so they can forget this ridiculous “learning” they never really started and declare their loves. Berowne obliges.

The men, disguised as Muscovites (?), declare their love to the women secretly and separately. The women, onto their nonsense, swap clothes and impersonate each other. After some confusion on the men’s part, true identities are revealed, all calm down, then sit and watch a talent show of sorts organized by Holofernes and Nathaniel, two highly educated types. Sort of. SPOILER: All is then well… until it suddenly isn’t.

Actors

Ashley Nicole Cabrera (Fairy-MSND, Gentlewoman/SoldierMCB, Princess-LLL), is thrilled return for another summer season with Kentucky Shakespeare. Ashley received her B.A. from James Madison University in theatre concentrating in performance and just finished her first year as an M.F.A. candidate at the University of Louisville. Since moving to Louisville in 2020, she has worked at Kentucky Shakespeare as an Artist Educator, performed in a staged reading of Fairview at Commonwealth Theatre Center, and played Mistress

Quickly/Kate in Shakespeare in Love, Anne in The Merry Wives of Windsor, and Lady Anne in Richard III at Kentucky Shakespeare.

Claire Eisenback (Fleance/Servant-MCB) After attending Shakespeare in Central Park and being involved in Camp Shakespeare since the age of six, Claire is thrilled to go from Groundling to debuting on the main stage this season. Next year, Claire will continue studying theatre as a freshman at Youth Performing Arts School (YPAS, DuPont Manual). Claire also enjoys art and performing with School of Rock Louisville on keyboards, vocals, and drums.

Sarah Chen Elston (Helena-MSND, Second Witch-MCB, Maria-LLL) is new to the Kentucky Shakespeare stage. She received her M.F.A. in performance from UofL in the spring of 2023. Before Louisville, she received her Bachelor of Arts in theatre arts at Guilford College with a focus on performance and direction. You might have seen her in recent UofL productions as Julia in The Birds, ensemble member in #Hashtag, 2021/2022 & 2022/2023 Reperatory Company, Viola in Twelfth Night, Asha in Blood at the Root, and most recently Rona Lisa Peretti in The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee. Artistically, Sarah describes her art as Hope Punk; hoping to inspire radical kindness and positive change as a communal response.

Tajleed Hardy (Mustardseed-MSND, Donalbain/Young Seward-MCB, DumainLLL) is a second year

M.F.A. student at the University of Louisville where he is working to receive his degree in performance. He is also a member of the African American Theatre Program. He has worked as an actor all over Hampton Roads, Virginia. He has performed in shows such as Fences, Ruined, The Amen Corner, and A Soldier’s Play. He has also performed professionally at the Virginia Stage Company in The Tempest, The Wiz, and The Comedy of Errors. Tajleed is a New Orleans, Louisiana, native. He has lived in Norfolk, Virginia, for the last five years. He is a recent graduate of Norfolk State University where he received his B.A. in Drama and Theatre. Tajleed graduated summa cum laude with a 3.79 GPA. Tajleed was also part of the awardwinning NSU Theatre Company where he won Best Supporting Actor, Outstanding Leadership, and Sustained Academic Excellence.

Zac CampbellHoogendyk (CobwebMSND, Macbeth-MCB, Dull-LLL) couldn’t be more excited to make his Kentucky Shakespeare debut. He is an actor, playwright, director, and co-founder of This Bridge Theatre, which produces the new play festival Shotz! here in Louisville. He wrote and acted in Ossietzky: A Peace Play, performed at Kentucky Performing Arts’ Mex Theater in 2022. He recently appeared in StageOne’s

The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane and Three Witches Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream. Regionally he’s performed at The Cleveland Play House, Gulfshore Playhouse, and The Repertory Theatre of St. Louis, amongst others. Past favorite productions: In The Next Room, or The Vibrator Play (Cleveland Play House), The Temple or Lebensraum (The Brick), and All My Sons (St. Louis Rep). B.A. Pepperdine. M.F.A. Case Western Reserve University/The Cleveland Play House. Nothing he does is possible without the love and support of his wonderful partner Kasey and daughter Luna.

Brian Hinds (Don Armadoff-LLL) is a theater teacher at the Youth Performing Arts School, where he has directed productions of Our Town, The Crucible, Hamlet, and (Anon)ymous. Originally from Maine, Brian spent ten years with The Children’s Theatre of Maine, where he served as an actor, instructor, and director. Since moving to Louisville in 2008, Brian has acted with Kentucky Shakespeare (Twelfth Night, Richard III, Julius Caesar, Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead, Macbeth, Merry Wives of Windsor), StageOne Family Theatre (The Odyssey, Tuck Everlasting), Savage Rose Classical Theatre (The Tempest, Macbeth, A Midsummer Night’s Dream), Liminal Playhouse (The Fastest Clock in the Universe, Punts),Bunbury Theatre (Visiting Edna), Chicken Coop Theatre (Misery), and Time Slip Theatre (Coherence). Brian is a member of Louisville Improvisors.

Jon Huffman (SnugMSND, Porter/SeytonMCB, Boyet-LLL) Jon’s spent so many Shakespeare seasons in this park, he can’t imagine a summer evening without humidity in the air, katydids in the trees, and lots of Kentucky sweat in his costumes. He’s played roles here ranging from Iago in Othello and Mercutio in Romeo and Juliet to Claudius in Hamlet, Malvolio in 12th Night and the title role in King Lear Jon has also acted locally at Actors Theatre and StageOne Family Theatre. On television, he’s been a series regular (Bobby Lee Cooper) on Days of Our Lives, and the recurring Officer Shane on Designing Women. On film, Jon has acted with Jeremy Irons (Lolita), Laurence Fishburne (Fled), Donald Sutherland (The Hunley), and Jodie Foster (Little Man Tate). Jon dedicates tonight to the memory of his TinyDancer.

Justin Jackson (Theseus/Fairy-MSND, Macduff-MCB, Longaville-LLL) is excited to join the summer company at Kentucky Shakespeare for the second year. With the company: the tour of Julius Caesar (Caesar), Twelfth Night, Richard III, The Merry Wives of Windsor, and Pride and Prejudice (Bingley/Mary). He will return to Actors Theatre this fall to reprise the role of Jonathan Harker in Dracula. He recently appeared in the film thriller Cell Phone as the talkative and comedic Chris. Justin studied acting at SCAD and received his B.F.A. there. Having done everything from Brazilian

Jiu Jitsu to stand-up comedy, Justin seems to be preparing to become a charismatic superhero. Justin credits his love of Shakespeare to his grandmother.

Alfie Jones (Peaseblossom-MSND, Angus-MCB; Choreographer-MSND, LLL) is delighted to join the 2023 Kentucky Shakespeare season! A Louisville native and YPAS graduate, Alfie studied in NYC at AMDA. He then set sail with Disney Cruise Line for two magical years! Alfie has done Young Frankenstein and Newsies with Derby Dinner Playhouse, and Christmas in Candyland, Rapunzel, How I Became A Pirate, Curious George, and Fancy Nancy with the Derby Dinner Children’s Theatre. Other credits: Once On This Island (Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park And Actors Theatre of Louisville), Richard III, Cabaret, Kiss Me Kate, Altar Boyz, The Who’s Tommy, and 9 To 5. A huge thankyou to the Jones/Robertson family for their unwavering love and support. Alfie is so proud and happy to share the stage with his incredibly gifted husband Neill. Alfie hopes the entire community of Louisville and beyond has an enchanting evening with us here in Central Park!

Tom Luce (Tom SnoutMSND, Ross-MCB) has been involved in the Louisville theatre scene as an actor, director, and designer for the past 30 years. His Kentucky Shakespeare credits include King Henry IV in Richard II and Henry IV Parts I and II, Julius Caesar (Caesar), Titus Andronicus

Biographies

(Marcus Andronicus), Macbeth (Duncan), King Lear (Fool), and The Taming of the Shrew (Vincentio). He has worked locally with Actors Theatre, The Necessary Theatre, Theatre [502], and Savage Rose Classical Theater Company. Tom has appeared in dozens of commercials, the network television shows Nashville and Chicago Fire, and several films with local producers Kelly’s Filmworks and City on a Hill. Recently: My Friend Dahmer (Vice President Walter Mondale), and the Hallmark feature An Uncommon Grace.

Nyazia Martin (HermiaMSND, Third Witch-MCB, Katherine-LLL) is an actress, dancer, teacher, and current 2nd Year M.F.A. candidate at the University of Louisville. Her most recent professional stage credits include Tracy Lett’s August: Osage County, Matthew McLachlan’s The Murder Play with Jack & Melissa, Lauren Gunderson’s The Revolutionists, Adam Szymkowicz’s Kodachrome, Shakespeare’s Antony and Cleopatra, and Shakespeare’s The Winter’s Tale. She is looking forward to her first summer working onstage with Kentucky Shakespeare Festival! Nyazia is a native of West Philadelphia, PA. She graduated summa cum laude from Belmont University in Nashville, TN, in 2016 where she received her Bachelor of Fine Arts with an emphasis in performance.

Abigail Bailey Maupin (Titania-MSND, Lady Macduff-MCB, RosalineLLL) is delighted to return to Kentucky Shakespeare, where she’s been overjoyed

(and terrified) to tackle some of the Bard’s more challenging roles, including Lady Macbeth, Beatrice, Jaques, Kate, Mercutio, and Queen Margaret. She and her husband Greg co-founded Le Petomane Theatre Ensemble, with whom she created/performed in over twenty plays, including the title role in Molière’s Don Juan; they also perform as Prohibition-era musical duo Rannygazoo. Local credits include: Renfield in Dracula, 43 Plays for 43 Presidents, and My Fair Lady at Actors Theatre of Louisville, and many shows with Theatre [502], Derby Dinner Playhouse, StageOne Family Theater, Music Theatre Louisville, and Savage Rose Classical Theatre Company. Regional: Sweeney Todd (Goodspeed Opera House); Babes & Dudes, Die Like a Lady (NY International Fringe Festival); Iolanthe (Village Light Opera Group, NYC); Gift of the Magi (Vermont Stage Company), Hansel and Gretel (Theatreworks/USA).

Gregory Maupin (Egeus/Fairy-MSND, Duncan/Seward-MCB, Berowne-LLL), recently seen as the whole cast of Actors Theatre of Louisville’s solo A Christmas Carol, is thrilled to return as actor and dramaturg with Kentucky Shakespeare. He and his wife Abigail are Prohibition ukulele duo Rannygazoo and in 2004 co-founded Louisville’s Le Petomane Theatre Ensemble. He is a charter member of Brooklyn’s Under the Table Ensemble and co-founder of the Church of Grover’s Corners. Kentucky Shakespeare appearances include: Twelfth Night (Feste 2022; Malvolio 2016), Much Ado (Benedick), Pride & Prejudice

Biographies

(Mr. Bennet, Charlotte), Midsummer (Bottom). Taming of the Shrew (Petruchio), As You Like It (Touchstone), Rosencrantz & Guildenstern Are Dead (Guildenstern). With Actors Theatre: A Christmas Carol: Ghost Story (solo) Luna Gale (Cliff), At the Vanishing Point (Martin), Our Town (Simon Stimson), Midsummer (Flute), Macbeth, 43 Plays for 43 Presidents. With the Dell’Arte Company: Vaudeville (co-creator). Gregory graduated from Dell’Arte International School of Physical Theatre.

Braden McCampbell (Oberon-MSND, LennoxMCB, Navarre-LLL) spent two years as an artist educator with Kentucky Shakespeare. He has appeared onstage with the company in Twelfth Night, Richard III, The Merry Wives of Windsor, Shakespeare in Love, Henry V, King Lear, Henry IV Part II, As You Like It, Romeo & Juliet, The Taming of the Shrew, The Tempest, Macbeth, The Two Gentlemen of Verona, and Rosencrantz & Guildenstern Are Dead. He regularly performs with the Va Va Vixens.

Mollie Murk (Hippolyta/ Moth-MSND, Lady Macbeth-MCB, Jaquenetta-LLL) is a proud Louisville transplant from Illinois, and has worked at Kentucky Shakespeare as an actor, teaching artist, and artistic associate. Recent Kentucky Shakespeare credits include Pride & Prejudice (Lizzy), The Turn of the Screw, Twelfth Night (Viola), Richard III (Queen Elizabeth), and Romeo

& Juliet (Juliet). Other regional credits: Taming of the Shrew at Cincinnati Shakespeare Company (Biondello), and Actors Theatre of Louisville’s The Wolves (#8), Dracula (Mina, U/S Lucy), Dracula: the Radio Play (Mina Harker), and Are You There? in the Humana Festival of New American Plays. Mollie has also performed, directed, and taught at companies such as Hope Repertory Theatre, Derby Dinner Playhouse, Louisville Ballet, Ambo Dance Theatre, Louisville Fringe, and Seattle Children’s Theatre. Mollie is an alum of Hope College and Shakespeare & Company’s Center for Actor Training, a proud member of the Ring of Keys Network, and is forever grateful for the beautiful, supportive, resilient arts community in this region.

Brittany “BeeBee”

Patillo (Puck-MSND) is a Louisville native, graduate of the University of Louisville, and was a 2020-2021 acting apprentice at Actors Theatre of Louisville. With Kentucky Shakespeare: Twelfth Night (Olivia), Richard III, The Merry Wives of Windsor, Shakespeare in Love (Viola), Henry V, Henry VI: The Wars of the Roses (Somerset/Young Clifford); spring tours of Romeo and Juliet (Lady Capulet/Tybalt/ Peter/Friar John), Hamlet (Horatio/ Rosencrantz/Player Queen). Other credits include: Last Stop on Market Street and The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane at StageOne Family Theatre, The Green Book (Neena) and When Fishies Rain Down from the Sky (Maya) at Bunbury Theatre; Baltimore (Alyssa) and Eurydice (Loud Stone) at the University of

Louisville, The Reviews (Imani) with Ain’t I a Woman Playfest and Baltimore (Alyssa) with the National Black Theatre Festival. She is an active volunteer in her community, a local choreographer, and was the 2019 Kentucky Derby Festival Queen.

Jennifer Pennington (Nick Bottom-MSND, Doctor/Second Murderer-MCB, Holifernes-LLL) is thrilled to be a part of any KY Shakespeare ensemble. Her past KY Shakespeare roles include Missus Page in Merry Wives, Lady Macbeth in Shakespeare in the Parking Lot:

Macbeth, Queen Elizabeth in Shakespeare in Love, Tamora in Titus Andronicus, Mistress Quickly in Henry IV Parts I, II and Henry V, Emilia in Othello. Other local credits include understudy for Van Helsing in Dracula (Actors Theatre of Louisville); A Streetcar Named Desire, Cabaret and The Trojan Women (Commonwealth Theatre Center); Qualities of Starlight and Rich Girl (Theatre [502]); King Lear and Twelfth Night (Savage Rose Classical Theatre) and 5 Lesbians Eating a Quiche (Pandora Productions). Regional credits include: The Hoboken Chicken Emergency (SouthCoast Repertory Theatre, CA); Medea (Boston Court Theatre, CA);

The Hostage (Theatre Banshee, CA); and Much Ado About Nothing (Arizona Classical Theatre). She is currently Professor of Acting at the University of Louisville – home of the African American Theatre Program – and will direct Dracula at Actors Theatre for the second time this fall.

Tony Reimonenq III (Robin Starveling-MSND, Bleeding Captain/First Murderer/Menteith-MCB, Costard-LLL) is a native of Hattiesburg, Mississippi. He is excited for this third summer season with Kentucky Shakespeare. You may have seen Tony as Romeo in Kentucky Shakespeare’s 2021 parks tour of Romeo and Juliet or at Derby Dinner Playhouse in one of their children’s musicals. Catch Tony on Netflix in Noah Baumbach’s newest film White Noise and on YouTube with Tony Tuesday!

Neill Robertson (Francis Flute-MSND, Hecate-MCB, Moth-LLL) is beyond grateful to be back onstage with Kentucky Shakespeare! Previous shows with the company include Pride and Prejudice (Wickham, Collins, Caroline) Twelfth Night (Toby), Richard III (Richard), Henry VI (Richard), King Lear (Edgar), The Comedy of Errors (Dromio of Syracuse), Richard II (King Richard), Titus Andronicus in Butchertown (Saturninus), The Winter’s Tale (Autolycus), Romeo and Juliet (Tybalt), The Taming of the Shrew (Tranio), and Macbeth (Witch/Young Siward), as well as the spring tours of Hamlet, A Midsummer

Nights Dream, and Julius Caesar. Neill also played Horatio/Player Queen in Hamlet, Kentucky Shakespeare’s collaboration with StageOne Family Theatre. Other credits include three seasons of Dracula at Actors Theatre of Louisville (Renfield), The Language Archive with Theatre [502] (Resten), Cabaret with the Professional Company at Commonwealth Theatre Center (Emcee), and the title role in Hedwig and the Angry Inch with Pandora Productions. For Alfie, my beloved!

Tyler Tate (Peter Quince-MSND, First Witch-MCB) is excited to spend another summer with Kentucky Shakespeare! Born in Washington D.C., he moved to Newnan, Georgia, where he was raised. A graduate of UofL’s M.F.A. Acting Program, Tyler has worked as an actor/artist educator with Kentucky Shakespeare, StageOne Family Theatre, Pandora Productions, Redline Performing Arts, Derby Dinner Playhouse, Derby City Playwrights, and Louisville Fringe. Currently, Tyler teaches Acting III at Indiana University Southeast.

Shaquille Towns (Demetrius-MSND) is so excited to return to the Kentucky Shakespeare stage! Shaq is a local actor and attended the American Musical and Dramatic Academy in New York. After graduating and really diving into the theater scene in his hometown he has performed in many productions from musicals to children shows to dramatic plays. He recently added teaching, including his teaching artist work at the Commonwealth Theatre Center traveling to different schools in the city teaching kids about the local black history. Another project that meant a lot to him was the staged reading Sweet Evening Breeze, which benefitted the Sweet and Evening Breeze shelter for LGBTQ+ youth. At Kentucky Shakespeare: Henry VI, Twelfth Night, Richard III, Merry Wives of Windsor, Shakespeare in Love, Henry V, and the co-production of Shakespeare’s R&J with Pandora Productions. Other credits: Seaweed (Hairspray), Cory Maxson (Fences), C.C. White (Dreamgirls), Asagai (A Raisin in the Sun), and Pharus Young (Choirboy).

Kyle Ware (BanquoMCB) is an actor, educator, artist, and writer. Acting credits with the company include: A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Macbeth, Hamlet, The Winter’s Tale, Rosencrantz & Guildenstern Are Dead, Titus Andronicus, Henry IV Parts 1 & II, Much Ado About Nothing, Shakespeare in Love, Henry V, and The Merry Wives of Windsor. Kyle is the director of the Globe Players professional training program and directed their productions of Much Ado About Nothing, Twelfth Night, The Merchant of Venice, As You Like It, Romeo & Juliet, and The Comedy of

Errors. He has served as the Director of Education at Kentucky Shakespeare since 2014. He is Co-Artistic Director of Think Tank Theatre, a collaborative theatre ensemble, and was a Producing Founding Artistic Director of Le Petomane Theatre Ensemble. He is a graduate of the University of Louisville.

Nick Wills (LysanderMSND, Malcolm-MCB, Nathaniel-LLL) is a thirdyear graduate student at UofL. While originally from Los Angeles, Nick spent most of his youth growing up in Fayetteville, Georgia. After graduating high school, he moved down to Alabama where he attended Troy University. He graduated cum laude from Troy, earning a B.S. in Communication Studies. His goal is to inspire and help others to find their own calling, and to support the development of fine arts programs for youth around the world.

Max Wright (Young Macduff-MCB) This is Max’s first show with Kentucky Shakespeare, but he’s been dreaming about being in a production since he was 8. He has loved theater all his life, and recently played Mercutio in his school’s production of Romeo & Juliet. Off the stage, you may see him reading, drawing or preparing for his next D&D session.

Directors

Amy Attaway (Director, Macbeth) proudly serves as the Associate Artistic Director of Kentucky Shakespeare and the facilitator of Shakespeare with Veterans. She’s directed The Taming of the Shrew, The Winter’s Tale, Richard II, Henry IV Parts I & II, Henry V (twice), and Richard III in Central Park, as well as Rosencrantz & Guildenstern Are Dead and Pride and Prejudice at the Bomhard Theater, The War of the Worlds and Night of the Living Dead at Louisville Public Media, Henry VI: The Wars of the Roses at Ky Shakes HQ, and the spring tours of A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Macbeth, Hamlet (twice), and Julius Caesar. Amy sometimes sneaks away to direct at her alma mater, University of Evansville (Twelfth Night, The Royal Society of Antarctica). She is co-founder and Artistic Director Emeritus of Theatre [502], where she directed the regional premieres of The Fairytale Lives of Russian Girls, River City, Red Speedo, Auctioning the Ainsleys, Broadsword: a heavy metal play and Futura, as well as the world premiere commissions The Two Lobbyists of Verona and The Stranger and Ludlow Quinn. She spent five seasons as Associate Director of the Professional Training Company at Actors Theatre of Louisville, where she directed several commissioned works in the Humana Festival of New American Plays, including Sleep Rock Thy Brain, Oh, Gastronomy! and The End. Amy is a Louisville native and is glad to make her home here with her fantastic husband and daughter.

Matt Wallace (Director, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Love’s Labor’s Lost) is in his tenth season as Producing Artistic Director of Kentucky Shakespeare, where he has directed productions including Enter Ghost: an immersive haunted Hamlet experience, Twelfth Night, The

Merry Wives of Windsor, Shakespeare in Love, The Turn of the Screw, Shakespeare in the Parking Lot: Macbeth, Celebrate 60: the Kentucky Shakespeare Festival Anniversary Production, As You Like It, King Lear, The Comedy of Errors, Othello, Titus Andronicus, Much Ado About Nothing, Julius Caesar, The Two Gentlemen of Verona, Romeo and Juliet, Macbeth, The Tempest, Hamlet, and Richard III. Favorite acting credits with the company since 2001 include the Player and Guildenstern in productions of Rosencrantz & Guildenstern Are Dead, Benedick in Much Ado About Nothing, Orlando in As You Like It, and his first shows with the company in 2001: Lysander in A Midsummer Night’s Dream and Dumaine in Love’s Labor’s Lost. He has also been Director of Shakespeare Behind Bars at Luther Luckett Correctional Complex since 2009. Previously, he served as an Artistic Associate with Kentucky Shakespeare from 2001-2010, was Director of Children’s Theatre at Derby Dinner Playhouse, and directed and performed at Chicago theatres and theatres across the Midwest. Matt met his wife Tina Jo at Kentucky Shakespeare 22 summers ago, proposed to her on this Central Park stage, and they are the proud parents of two inspiring teenagers.

Design And Production Team

Karl Anderson (Scenic Designer) This is Karl’s fourth season in Central Park but he also designed Enter Ghost, Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead, Macbeth, and Turn of the Screw for Kentucky Shakespeare and is pleased to work with this renowned group again. Karl has designed many sets for StageOne Family Theatre, most recently The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane, Dragons Love Tacos, and Hamlet. He has also designed numerous shows such as Sleep Rock Thy Brain for Actors Theatre of Louisville, sets for many Apprentice/Intern productions at ATL, Assassins, Tommy and Sweeney Todd for CenterStage, and many seasons for Pandora Productions, Theatre [502], and Bunbury Theatre. He also designed Three Decembers for Kentucky Opera. He graduated from UK with a B.F.A. in theatre design and technology. He is married to costumer Allison Anderson and they have two wonderful sons.

Ryan Bennett (Production Manager, Props Manager) is pleased to return for another summer with Kentucky Shakespeare. He has previously production and stage managed with Kentucky Shakespeare, and has built props with Kentucky Shakespeare, Pandora Productions, and Actors Theatre of Louisville. Ryan holds a B.F.A. from University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. As always, Ryan thanks his friends and family from Milwaukee through Kentucky for their continuing support.

Margo Birdwhistell (Costume Shop Stitcher) is happy to be returning to Kentucky Shakespeare this summer! Previously, they have worked as a stitcher for the Utah Shakespeare Festival, the Hangar Theatre, and the Huron Playhouse. They received their B.F.A. in theatrical technology from Northern Kentucky University and their master’s degree for costume design at the University of Tennessee in Knoxville. In the off season, they work as the costume coordinator at Sacred Heart School for the Arts and a freelance stitcher at StageOne Family Theatre.

Braden Blauser (Technical Director) is an Assistant Professor and Technical Director of the University of Louisville’s theatre department. He previously worked at Actors Theatre of Louisville for 13 years. During his tenure at ATL he worked on over two hundred productions, as a scenic carpenter, draftsman/ rigger, assistant technical director, and production technical director. Braden was the inaugural technical director for Theatre [502], a local theatre that produced 4-5 plays each season. Braden holds a BA in technical theatre from Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania.

She is an educator and performer based in Louisville, KY and enjoys working with students of all ages and backgrounds in both group and individual settings using Kodály inspired teaching practices to promote music literacy and performance. Christina is adjunct voice faculty at Indiana University Southeast and Bellarmine University, and often works with local professional and community programs such as Derby Dinner Playhouse, Classic Melodies Performance Institute, Redline Performing Arts, and Faith Works Studios. Christina has worked as a guest teaching artist with Kentucky Opera and has been featured on several other masterclasses, theatre camps, and teaching workshops. She has performed in several choral masterworks, operas,

Biographies

and musical theatre productions. Ms. Booker is a graduate of Loyola University, Maryland (M.Ed. Kodály Music Education, 2019) the University of Louisville (M.M. Vocal Performance, 2019) and Jacksonville State University (B.A. Choral Music Education, 2013).

Emily Burns (Stage Manager) is a freelance stage manager and scenic painter, and she is thrilled to be returning for another season with Kentucky Shakespeare! She previously stage managed the 62nd season, and Pride & Prejudice with KY Shakes. Other local credits include working with StageOne Family Theatre, Kentucky Opera, Louisville Ballet, Infinity Productions, and Pandora Productions. Film credits include Mallum, and Not Nothing. This is Emily’s second summer living in Kentucky, and she thanks the Louisville theatre community for welcoming her in and making every show feel like home. Emily thanks her family and friends for their never-ending love and support.

Victoria Campbell (Sound Engineer) is excited to work on another summer season with Kentucky Shakes. She is currently the lead AV technician for Prestige Audio Visual and Creative Services. She has worked as a sound technician for Actors Theater of Louisville and many other great local companies. She has also worked in the past with Utah Shakespeare Festival, Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines, and Cumberland County Playhouse.

Clay Chapman (Lead Carpenter) is happy to be working with Kentucky Shakespeare for the first time. As a Louisville native and recent University of Louisville graduate, he is absolutely excited to work with an amazing group of people in a wondrous setting. Normally you might find Clay hunched over a laptop or notebook writing (or possibly staring blankly into space), but he’s more than happy to be building sets and bringing art to life.

Stephan Carpenter (Assistant Sound Engineer) is a recent UofL graduate with a B.A. in film studies and production and a B.S.A. in theatre arts. Since joining the UofL Theatre Arts Department in 2019, Stephan has earned credits as a Sound Designer, Sound Mixer, Assistant Director, Videographer, Props Master, Assistant Production Manager, Dramaturg, and Technical Director. He is very excited to work at Kentucky Shakespeare this summer and help others realize their artistic dreams.

Casey Clark (Lighting Design) is enjoying working again on some of the favorites, finding unique visions for Midsummer and Macbeth, and a whole new adventure with Love’s Labor’s Lost. Fairies and witches and irony. What could be better?

Russell Cooper (Music Director-MSND) is returning for his third summer playing with his friends in Central Park. He is the choir director and co-director of musical theater at Noe Middle School just down the street. In addition to his career as an educator, he has worked with Pandora Productions, CenterStage at JCC, The ChickenCoop Theatre, The Theatre Downstream and KY Opera. Russell holds a BME from the UofL School of Music and an MAEd from Bellarmine University. He and his husband Seth, both Louisville natives, have two trouble-making dogs: Hashbrown and Donut.

Biographies

Laura Ellis (Sound Designer) is a Peabody Award-winning audio producer who started working with Kentucky Shakespeare in 2015. Since then, she’s designed all mainstage shows in the park, and other various theatrical adventures in parking lots, radio stations, and even directly inside your ears through silent disco headphones. When she’s not in a theater or a park, she makes podcasts and writes a podcasting advice column for Louisville Public Media. Laura went to Shakespeare in the park as a baby Louisvillian, and back then, she thought it was magic. But now that she’s grown up and working here... she knows it is.

Paul Englishby (Composer, Glimmering Light-MSND) is a prolific, versatile, and award-winning composer for film, television, theatre, the concert hall, and dance. His recent scores include Richard III for the RSC; The Canterville Ghost for BBC Studios; Jack Absolute Flies Again for the National Theatre; BAFTA winning TV film Together directed by Stephen Daldry; IMMINENT for Birmingham Royal Ballet, and They All Came Down To Montreux, the forthcoming documentary series directed by Oliver Murray. His best-known work includes: his thrillingly tense score for the BBC’s Luther (BAFTA-nominated soundtrack); box office and critical hit The Inheritance, directed by Stephen Daldry (London and Broadway — Tony Nominated Score); EMMY Award-winning music for David Hare’s Page Eight; his beautiful, lyrical music for-Oscar nominated An Education, starring Carey Mulligan (for which Paul received an ASCAP Award); and his many, varied and vivid scores for the Royal Shakespeare Company, with whom Paul is an Associate Artist.

Eric Frantz (Fight Director) has worked in stage combat as a choreographer and combatant for almost 20 years. This will be Eric’s eighth consecutive summer with the company. He is excited for the opportunity to choreograph Macbeth for Kentucky Shakespeare this season. The fight between Macbeth and Macduff remains one of his favorite conflicts in all of Shakespeare. Eric would like to give a big thank you to all the fighters in the show and to Amy Attaway. You all are awesome!

Charles Heightchew (Costume Shop

First Hand) is proud to be working with Kentucky Shakespeare after 25 years away from Louisville. He began his costume career at The Louisville Ballet and StageOne Children’s Theatre. After several years in opera, he was head of costumes at Boston Ballet for two decades. His costume designs have been seen on the stages of Wiener Staatsoper, Scottish Ballet, Boston Ballet, Louisville Ballet, Kentucky Opera, Dance Theatre of Harlem, Opera Nova Ballet in Poland, and Western Australia Ballet in Perth as well as many others. He has worked in ballet, theatre, opera, film, and has his own men’s accessories company OneMagnificentBeast.

Brenda Johnson (Gift Shop Manager) has been volunteering and working with the Festival for over forty-five years. Brenda’s full-time job is with First Impression, Fine Stationery Engraving and Printing. She enjoys spending time with her family which also includes her daughter, Holly, son-in-law Pete and four wonderful friends, Connie, Jeanine, Linda, and Marty. She hopes that you will all come back again and again and volunteer! Help us to keep Douglas Ramey’s vision alive by making your own history under the stars in Central Park!

Lindsay Krupski (Lighting Supervisor) is a freelance lighting designer/electrician, and she is so excited for another season with Kentucky Shakespeare! With Kentucky Shakes, she previously worked in the park for the 2019, 2021, and 2022 seasons and on enter ghost., Henry VI: The Wars of the Roses, The Turn of the Screw, and Shakespeare in the Parking Lot: Macbeth. Since moving to Louisville almost 5 years ago, she has designed with many local companies. Lindsay grew up in Wisconsin and holds a B.F.A. from UW-Milwaukee. In her free time, Lindsay loves watercolor painting and listening to Taylor Swift.

Donna Lawrence-Downs (Costume Designer) has designed the costumes for Kentucky Shakespeare for the last eight seasons, including all the summer festival productions as well as all fall and spring tours, Enter Ghost, Turn of the Screw, Shakespeare in the Parking Lot: Macbeth and the indoor Titus Andronicus, Rosencrantz & Guildenstern are Dead, Twelfth Night, The War of the Worlds, and Night of the Living Dead. Donna has designed over 400 shows for more than 31 theatres in her 34-year career, including a stint at KSF in the 1990’s, and StageOne Family Theatre, Music Theatre Louisville, CenterStage, Bellarmine University, Louisville Ballet, Kentucky Opera, and Pandora Productions. One of Donna’s favorite projects is designing costumes for Shakespeare Behind Bars, which she has done for the last 11 years. Donna and her husband also own Life is Sweet Small Batch Treats Bakery.

Gregory Maupin (Dramaturg/Editor)

See bio under Actors.

Annie Mayer (Wardrobe Head) is a Louisville native and a returning member of the Kentucky Shakespeare production team. She is a Xavier University and Disney College Program alumni, a former parade dresser at the Magic Kingdom. She has worked at Actors Theatre of Louisville (Wardrobe Supervisor), Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park (Dresser), the Kentucky Center for the Arts (ASM), and the Kentucky Opera (Head Dresser). Annie has served as a teaching artist for Looking for Lilith, as well as resident choreographer at Presentation Academy. When not in the park, she can be found in an orange lab coat, setting off soda geysers at the Kentucky Science Center, or hanging out in one of Louisville’s numerous coffee shops.

Emily Pfaff (Assistant Stage Manager) is thrilled to be returning to Kentucky Shakespeare for a second summer as an assistant stage manager. Emily spent the 2022-2023 season with Milwaukee Repertory Theater as a stage management resident (Titanic The Musical, Beehive: The 60s Musical, A Christmas Carol, and The Heart Sellers), and is excited to return for the 2023-2024 season as the stage management fellow. Previous regional credits include working as a production assistant at American Players Theatre in the 2021 summer season. Emily graduated from Millikin University in 2020 with a B.F.A. in stage management. Thanks to family and friends for their love and support, and to Emily and Ian for an incredible summer.

Hannah Pruitt (Intimacy Consultant) has been a part of the Kentucky Shakespeare team since 2012 and serves year-round as our Director of Creative Engagement.

Biographies

She trains our Artist Educators, creates curriculum for workshops and residencies, cultivates relationships with schools, community partners, and arts education advocates, and most recently, she created our newest Kentucky Shakespeare workshop, Voices of Young Women, that was selected as a grant recipient of the Kentucky Foundation for Women. Hannah has led her favorite Kentucky Shakespeare program, Camp Shakespeare, for 12 wonderful summers. She is certified by the National Council for Mental Well-being in Mental Health First Aid for both Adults and Youth. Hannah is thrilled to be working towards becoming a certified Intimacy Director with Intimacy Directors and Coordinators, Inc and has received her certificate as a Consent Forward Artist. With the company, she has served as the Intimacy Consultant on Shakespeare’s R&J, Twelfth Night, and Pride and Prejudice. Hannah hails from the lovely city of Henderson, KY and is a graduate of the University of Louisville.

Callis Reed (House Manager) is a native of Winchester, Kentucky, and returns for his fourth tour of duty with Kentucky Shakespeare. Cal served as Sound Engineer for the 2018 and 2019 seasons but found he likes people more than technology in his first turn as House Manager last year.

Isabelle Saba (Assistant Lighting Supervisor) is ecstatic to take on this position at Kentucky Shakespeare for their 63rd Summer Season. She recently graduated from Davidson College in North Carolina with a B.A. in Arab Studies and theatre. Next year, Isabelle will be researching cultural preservation of Syrian refugees through theatre in Jordan on a Fulbright grant. She wants to extend her gratitude for everyone at Kentucky Shakes and for everyone attending the performance: we couldn’t do it without you!

Bekki Jo Schneider Intern Company

Sarah Chen Elston (Acting intern)

See bio under Actors.

Tajleed Hardy (Acting intern)

See bio under Actors.

Nyazia Martin (Acting intern)

See bio under Actors.

Claire Binford (Arts Administration intern) is a junior at the University of Louisville majoring in Liberal Studies with concentrations in Psychology, English, Philosophy, and Marketing. At UofL, she works as a Cardinal Tour

Biographies

Guide, as a Student Success Ambassador, and as the Historian for the Honors Student Council. She just completed an internship with the Kentucky Opera and is excited to be working in Arts Administration with Kentucky Shakespeare this summer!

Emily de Zafra (Costumes intern) is a B.F.A. theatre studies major from the University of South Dakota set to start her senior year in the fall! She has worked in her theatre department’s costume shop for three years and is excited to join the summer intern team at Kentucky Shakespeare! Additionally at USD, she was the stage manager for Tick, Tick... Boom!, costume crafts charge for Musical of Musicals: The Musical, and co-costume designer for The 146 Point Flame!

Adam Kamer (Education/Globe Players Intern) is currently pursuing a B.F.A. in theatre and performance at Emerson College in Boston. He has previously performed with KY Shakespeare’s Globe Players as Benedick in Much Ado About Nothing and as Flute in A Midsummer Night’s Dream. He also previously performed in high school productions at Saint Xavier High School and Assumption High School.

Leah Shifrel (Education/Kid’s Globe intern), hailing from Brooklyn, currently lives in Philly. She has worked for Children’s Theater of Madison, Brooklyn Arts Exchange, and numerous other educational programs. She recently appeared in Prague Shakespeare Company’s Winter’s Tale as Shepherd’s Son & Emilia; Temple Theater Productions as Calpurnia in Julius Caesar; and as King Edward IV in Richard III.

She is currently working towards a B.A. from Temple University in theater.

Zane Hall (Electrics intern) is a theater artist active in the Louisville area who strives to make theater for his community. Zane would like to thank all of those in his life who have supported him along his journey and can’t wait to see what it has in store for him.

Myles Keys (Front of House intern) is a third year directing major at Ball State University. He is from Houston, Texas and some of his previous credits include Water By The Spoonful (Director), Sweat (Brucie), Little Women (John Brooks), Just The Two Of Us (Director), and Little Shop of Horrors (Seymour). Myles could not be more thrilled to spend a summer here, and he would like to thank Kentucky Shakespeare for this opportunity and his family and friends for always having his back.

Claire Stemmer (Front of House intern) is a rising junior at the University of Pittsburg, majoring in theatre arts and linguistics. A Louisville native and Assumption High School graduate, Claire is looking forward to spending the summer in Central Park!

Caroline Cox (Production intern) is a recent graduate of Bellarmine University and is thrilled to be joining the Kentucky Shakespeare team for the summer as a production management intern. Her favorite credits include Angel Street, A Doll’s House, and The Comedy of Errors.

Analise Henderson (Props intern) Ana is so excited to be returning to Kentucky Shakespeare this summer as a props intern in the Bekki Jo Schneider Internship Company! She had the wonderful

Biographies

opportunity to be a part of the Globe Players Professional Training Program in high school. She is going into her senior year at Ball State University as a Theatre Education major, she wants to inspire the next generation of theatre artists and Shakespeare lovers. Keep Will free!

Antonio Cortés Román (Scenic intern) is an actor from Metepec, México. He is currently a freshman studying theatre performance at the University of Evansville, where he has performed in Shakespeare’s Measure for Measure and Jen Silverman’s The Moors. He also started working in the scene shop, building sets for Noises Off, Circle Mirror Transformation, and The Moors. He’s excited to work in the scenic department and the run crew this summer at Kentucky Shakespeare!

Jackson Tucker (Scenic intern) is a theatre arts student at the University of Louisville. He trains as both an actor and a technician. Jackson also studies film production and Chinese. Jackson has been involved with extracurricular theatre since middle school. He is excited to work with Kentucky Shakespeare this summer.

William Young (Sound intern) is from North Carolina and just graduated from Brevard College with a B.A. in theater. He has also worked in the theater department as a scenic designer for Comedy of Errors and also worked as sound designer for shows like The World Over, Next to Normal, and A Christmas Carol Solo Show. He has also worked at the Brevard Music Center as a Production Assistant Apprentice.

Ian Fitzgerald (Stage Management intern) is a rising junior at the University of Louisville pursuing a B.S. in theater arts. Previous theater experience includes acting with Commonwealth Theater Center, Kentucky Shakespeare’s Globe Players, and UofL. In addition to acting he has worked in carpentry, electrics, and stage management. He is very excited to return to Kentucky Shakespeare!

Upcoming Events

October 4-29, 2023

The Woman in Black by Stephen Mallatratt, adapted from the novel by Susan Hill at the Kentucky Shakespeare Headquarters

Tickets: kyshakespeare.com

January 6-14, 2024

Sense and Sensibility by Kate Hamill, based on the novel by Jane Austen at the Kentucky Center for the Arts Bomhard Theatre

Tickets: kyshakespeare.com and kentuckyperformingarts.org

February 2024

Kentucky Shakespeare’s Shakespeare in Love Gala at 21c Museum Hotel

February – March 2024

Shakespeare in the Libraries

Two-Actor Tour

April – May 2024

Shakespeare in the Parks

A Midsummer Night’s Dream Tour

May 29 – August 11, 2024

64th Season of Kentucky Shakespeare Festival in Central Park

Celebrating the 400th anniversary of the First Folio of Shakespeare

The book often referred to as The First Folio (named for the size of the pages) was published in 1623, seven years after the death of William Shakespeare. It’s a collection of thirty-six of Shakespeare’s works brought together by two of his friends, John Heminges and Henry Condell, under the full title Mr. VVilliam Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies. Published according to the True Originall Copies.

As a tribute to their friend, Heminges and Condell wanted to put forward the best possible version of Shakespeare’s plays, so they used original prompt books, quartos (cheaper volumes with smaller pages), and original notes to collate the final collection. Without the First Folio, half of Shakespeare’s plays would have been lost to us today, as they had not previously been published in quarto form. These plays are as follows: All’s Well That Ends Well, Antony and Cleopatra, As You Like It, The Comedy of Errors, Coriolanus, Cymbeline, The First Part of Henry VI, Henry VIII (All is True), Julius Caesar, King John, Macbeth, Measure for Measure, The Taming of the Shrew, The Tempest, Timon of Athens, Twelfth Night, The Two Gentlemen of Verona, and The Winter’s Tale

The plays were arranged into Comedies, Histories and Tragedies. Between 750 and 1,000 copies were printed and about 230 of these have survived. Corrections were often made during the printing process and no pages were discarded, so each copy is unique. This has been known to come in handy for identifying and recovering a stolen copy of the First Folio. They each contain their own mistakes, and no copy contains all pages in their final state. In 1623 they were sold for £1 if bound (enough to buy 44 loaves of bread), and 15 shillings if unbound. (For more information, visit the Shakespeare Birthplace Trust - shakespeare.org.uk and the Folger Shakespeare Library - folger.edu)

Board Chair

Kay Madrick

Norton Healthcare

Vice Chair

Anya Bond-Beckley

DDW, The Color House Treasurer

Kerry Wang

Humana

Secretary

Shannon Harris UPS