Meet the Acting Company

Christine Bokhour

Understudy (Penelope)

Theatre connects community.

Looking to find thine own true self or calm your inner tempest? You don’t need to be a teacher to attend our monthly workshops, and for some, like our June event (see right), you don’t even need to practice yoga. Visit our website to learn more.

ytayoga.com

June 10

Natural Practices to Improve Vision with Daniel Orlansky

September 9

Baptiste Power of Yoga / Yoga with Weights with Sherri Baptiste

November 11

Align with the Divine with Todd Norian

Saturdays, 1:30–4:30 p.m. Via Zoom and at Club Fit, Briarcliff Manor, NY

(in alphabetical order)

Special Offer for HVSF Supporters— Get 20% Off Your First Workshop! Go to ytayoga.com/hvsf for details.

Christine Bokhour has appeared on Broadway and in National tours (Chicago, Dirty Rotten Scoundrels, Cats, Sunset Boulevard, Will Rogers’ Follies) at Radio City Music Hall (Rockette, and featured singer), in European tours, various regional theaters and a Facebook meme. Locals have seen her play a variety of roles at the Philipstown Depot Theatre from Judas in Jesus Christ Superstar to Margaret in Cat on a Hot Tin Roof and most recently Veronica in God of Carnage. Direction credits include The Cake starring Tony nominee Sally Mayes, The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, and Nunsense with Daytime Dramas’ Liz Keifer. Christine is currently directing and developing The Scream, a new musical by her husband’s award winning BMI team recently performed at MTC and Westport Country Playhouse. She was awarded best director in the 2021 Aery Theatre’s One Act Festival and best actress in the 2006 American Globe Theatre’s 15 minute play festival. Christine has been an acupuncturist for 12 years and lives in the Hudson Valley with her husband actor/writer/composer/producer Raymond Bokhour and their 14 year old son.

Duane Boutté*

Archbishop of Canterbury, The King of France, Erpingham (Henry V) and Sir Nathaniel (Love’s Labor’s Lost)

Broadway: Parade (Lincoln Center, ’98) and Carousel (’94 TONY-winning revival). Off-Broadway: Playwright’s Horizons, Public, Vineyard, Primary Stages, Mint, LaMama, Mabou Mines. Regional: Goodman, Arena Stage, La Jolla, Dallas, Denver Center, Alliance, McCarter, Seattle Rep, Penumbra, Cape Playhouse and more. Favorite roles: “Orestes” (Berkeley Rep), “Bayard Rustin” (Public, Woolly Mammoth, more), “Mercutio” (Oregon Shakespeare). TV: “Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt,” “Sex and The City,” “What’s Happening Now” and more. Boutté stars in the films Stonewall (’96) and Brother to Brother. Directing credits: Neil LaBute’s Appomattox (world premiere, Summer Shorts), LOL (Algonquin), Home (Rep Stage), Stalag 17 (Fresno), The Merry Wives of Windsor (Worcester), Winter’s Tale, Othello, Everybody, Fences, Cabaret and more. Musical Theater compositions: Lyin’ Up a Breeze (GCP, Fresno), and Caravaggio Chiaroscuro (La Mama).

Timothy BrightCC

Cambridge, Bedford (Henry V) and Moth (Love’s Labor’s Lost)

Timothy Bright hails from Honolulu, Hawaii, and is a graduate of Mason Gross at Rutgers where he also studied at Shakspeare’s Globe Theater in London. Credits include Measure for Measure at the Globe (Lucio), Cole at Ensemble Studio Theater (Liam), Sense and Sensibility (Edward Ferrars), Faust (Mephistopheles), Peter and the Starcatcher (Fighting Prawn), and La Bete (Valere). His passion is to create for young people, and to work with the house of prayer Habitation NYC. This is a dream!

* Member of Actors’ Equity Association, the Union of Professional Actors and Stage Managers in the United States.

CC Member of the Hudson Valley Shakespeare Festival Conservatory Company

Carl Howell*

Nym, Constable, Williams (Henry V) and Dull (Love’s Labor’s Lost)

Carl is so happy to return to HVSF for his third season after playing Romeo in 2012! Previous HVSF: Romeo & Juliet (2012), Love’s Labour’s Lost (2012), Cymbeline and Twelfth Night (2008). 1st National Tour: Peter and the Starcatcher (dir. Roger Rees). Regional: Straight White Men (Wellfleet Harbor Actors Theater), Deathtrap (Syracuse Stage), Hamlet, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Alabama Story (Repertory Theatre of St Louis), It’s A Wonderful Life (Capital Rep). Video Game: Winton Holmes in Red Dead Redemption 2. Podcast: Eugene Neddly in The Land Whale Murders Teaching: Atlantic Acting School. Training: BFA NYU. Big thanks to his family for bringing music and creativity into his life, and to Angie for eleven years of love and kindness, and helping him with his audition. carlhowell.com @carl_howell

Lennon Xin Wen HuCC

Gloucester, Orleans (Henry V) and Dumain (Love’s Labor’s Lost)

Lennon Hu is so grateful to be making his debut at Hudson Valley Shakespeare Festival as a Conservatory Company Member. He is an actor-musician originally from Fredericksburg, VA. Lennon has a BA in Theatre from Virginia Commonwealth University. Credits include Comedy of Errors (Smith Street Stage) Romeo and Juliet, Macbeth, Julius Caesar, and Midsummer Nights Dream (Cincinnati Shakespeare) Once (Fulton Theater / Virginia Rep.) King Lear, Love’s Labour’s Lost (Prague Shakespeare). For updates follow Lennon at Instagram: @lennonxhu or at lennonhu.com

Phoebe LloydCC

French Ambassador, Court, York (Henry V) and The Princess of France (Love’s Labor’s Lost)

Phoebe received their BFA in Acting from Carnegie Mellon University this past May. They are overjoyed to make their professional debut under the tent! Much love and gratitude to the whole HVSF team. For more information on Phoebe’s work and a link to their CMU showcase page visit phoebelloyd.com.

Melissa Mahoney*

Montjoy, Hostess Quickly, Jamy (Henry V) and Jaquanetta (Love’s Labor’s Lost)

Melissa Mahoney is thrilled to be back at HVSF! She has played title roles in three critically-acclaimed productions with Atlantic Theater Company (including Off-Broadway Alliance Award Winner The Pirate La Dee Da), five Shakespeare productions with director Dan Hasse (recently playing both Dromio twins in Smith Street Stage’s The Comedy of Errors), as well as at Edinburgh Fringe Festival, Ars Nova, 59E59, Dixon Place, and in theaters across the United States. Offstage, Melissa can be found teaching at NYU Tisch or working as a hospital clown with the Healthy Humor Red Nose Docs. melissamahoney.me.

Sean McNall*

Chorus, Boy (Henry V) and Holofernes (Love’s Labor’s Lost)

Sean returns to HVSF, having appeared most recently in Mr. Burns, The Tempest, Cymbeline, Much Ado About Nothing, Twelfth Night, The Book of Will, Our Town, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Measure for Measure, and A Winter’s Tale. Before joining HVSF in 2014 as Associate Artistic Director and Director of Education, he spent 13 years as a member of The Pearl Theatre Acting Company in New York City, where he appeared in over 40 productions, receiving an OBIE Award for Sustained Excellence of Performance and a Drama Desk Award. His recent productions include A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Terrence McNally’s And Away We Go, Shaw’s You Never Can Tell, and Henry IV, Part One, directed by Davis McCallum. He and his wife, Abigail, have a wonderful son named Declan.

Emily Ota*

King Henry (Henry V) and Maria (Love’s Labor’s Lost)

In three seasons at HSVF: Henry V in Henry V; Maria in Love’s Labor’s Lost; Maria in Mr. Burns; Prince Escalus in Romeo and Juliet; Emilia and ensemble in Winter’s Tale; Ensemble in Arabian Nights; Miranda in The Tempest Off-Broadway: Becky in Bachelorette (Walkerspace Theatre) New York: Readings at Public Theater, EST, The Lark, and New Dramatists; Lysander in A Midsummer Night’s Dream, (HVSF Tour). Regional: Among other credits — Miranda in The Tempest (Oregon Symphony); Three seasons at OSF: Alice in Alice in Wonderland; Marianne Dashwood in Sense and Sensibility; Juliet in Romeo and Juliet; Ensemble in The Merry Wives of Windsor; Black Swan Lab. International: Jo in Boom (UK Premiere), Diana Bingley in I Love You Because, Sandy in Rabbit, Celia in As You Like It (Paris), Blanche Skinner in Before the Party, Malcolm in Macbeth, Sonya in Uncle Vanya, Nurse in A Trip to Scarborough, Duchess in The Duchess of Malfi (LAMDA). Film/New Media: Sweet and Sour by Debbi Michiko Florence, narrated by Emily Ota; The Process (Film), A Consultation (Film), Tabling: The Podcast. Training: Post-Graduate Acting with Distinction, LAMDA.

Francis Pàce-NuñezCC

Bardolph, Bates, Salisbury (Henry V) and Longaville (Love’s Labor’s Lost)

Francis Pàce-Nuñez is an actor-artist from Sleepy Hollow, NY and an alumni of SUNY Purchase Acting Conservatory. His recent credits include: The 14th Annual The Fire This Time Festival (understudy) and Purchase Rep’s Henry IV Part I (Falstaff). You can find out more about him at collaboratewithfrancis.com.

Luis Quintero*

Pistol, Bourbon (Henry V) and Costard (Love’s Labor’s Lost)

Luis is thrilled to be back under the tent! Recent credits include: Sanctuary City (Fourth Wall Theater) A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Sweat and A Christmas Carol (The Alley), The River Bride (Stages Rep), Around the World in 80 Days (A.D Players), A Midsummer Night’s Dream and Man of La Mancha (Triad Stage), American Mariachi (Denver Center for the Performing Arts/Old Globe San Diego), Love’s Labour’s Lost (HVSF/The Acting Company), Twelfth Night, The Book of Will, Pride and Prejudice, Into the Woods, Cyrano, Romeo and Juliet, and Mr. Burns (HVSF), A Midsummers Night’s Dream (N.C Symphony), The Lightning Thief, A Christmas Carol (Theaterworks USA), be on the lookout for his Hip Hop adaptation of Medea in partnership with Red Bull Theater BFA: University of North Carolina School of the Arts.

Kurt Rhoads*

Exeter, Monsieur Le Fer (Henry V) and Sir Adrian O. Dearmaddow (Love’s Labor’s Lost)

This past summer Kurt and Nance played the title characters in Romeo and Juliet at Hudson Valley Shakespeare Festival directed by GT Upchurch. Other Pandemic-era shows: world premiere of Brenda Withers’ Off Peak at Hudson Stage and 59E59th St Theatre; Stephano in The Tempest at HVSF and Rothko in Red, Arts Center of Coastal Carolina; Toby Belch, Twelfth Night, Two River Theatre Co. Broadway: Julius Caesar Off-Broadway: Mint Theatre: Fashions For Men; Pearl Theatre: Othello, The Good Natur’d Man. Regional: Everyman Theatre: Sweat; Long Day’s Journey Into Night. Shakespeare Theatre: Measure For Measure, Antony And Cleopatra, Julius Caesar, Richard III. Arena Stage: How I Learned To Drive, Agamemnon And His Daughters. Denver Center: Book Of Will Clarence Brown Theatre: King Charles III, Titus Andronicus. Arvada Center: A Man For All Seasons. Alabama Shakespeare Festival: To Kill A Mockingbird. Old Globe: Fiction, Dinner With Friends. 8 seasons at Dallas Theatre Center. 25 seasons performing and directing at Hudson Valley Shakespeare FestivalUniversity of Chicago(BA), DePaul University(MFA). This season’s plays are the 71st and 72nd with his wife, Nance Williamson.

Antoinette Robinson

King Henry Understudy (Henry V) and Rosaline (Love’s Labor’s Lost)

Hermione Granger in Harry Potter and the Cursed Child — Toronto Broadway: Madame Hooch in Harry Potter and The Cursed Child Off Broadway: Twelfth Night (Theatre for A New Audience) As You Like It (New York Classical Theatre). Selected Regional: *Sherlock’s Last Case (Huntington Theater), Twelfth Night (Shakespeare Theatre Company), *As You Like It, Timon of Athens (Folger Shakespeare Theatre), A Flea In Her Ear (Westport Country Playhouse), Our Town, As You Like It, Measure for Measure, Macbeth (Hudson Valley Shakespeare Festival), Hamlet, Much Ado About Nothing (Pennsylvania Shakespeare Festival), The Edge of Peace (Seattle Children’s Theatre), *The Mountaintop (The Rep).

* Member of Actors’ Equity Association, the Union of Professional Actors and Stage Managers in the United States.

Mayadevi RossCC

Grey, Governor of Harfleur, Queen of France (Henry V) and Katharine (Love’s Labor’s Lost)

Born, raised, and still living in Manhattan, Mayadevi is grateful to leave the city to join HVSF this season! Mayadevi has performed with Provincetown Theater Festival, Little Island, National Black Theatre, and more incredible places. When not on stage, she’s usually focused on her second love: video games. Many thanks to HSVF for this opportunity and her incredible family for their continual support.

Omar Shafiuzzaman*

Westmoreland, Gower, Princess Katherine (Henry V) and Ferdinand, King of Navarre (Love’s Labor’s Lost)

Omar Shafiuzzaman is honored to be collaborating under the tent this year at HVSF! He recently completed his training at the Royal Central School of Speech and Drama in London. He also made his Off-Broadway debut earlier this year, originating the role of Hassanali in Elyria at the Atlantic Theatre Company. Omar is overjoyed to be sharing his passion for classical theatre with such a talented and inspiring company — what a treat! The fresh air is also a pleasant addition.

Stephen Michael Spencer*

Scroop, Dauphin, Macmorris (Henry V) and Berowne (Love’s Labor’s Lost)

HVSF: Cymbeline and Much Ado About Nothing Broadway: Clyde’s (u/s performed.) Off-Broadway: Julius Caesar at TFANA. Regional: The A.R.T., Arena Stage, The Rep. at St. Louis, Great Lakes Theatre, Idaho Shakespeare, Cleveland Play House, Triad Stage, Ensemble Theatre Co, Chautauqua Theatre Co. In four seasons with Oregon Shakespeare Festival; Sweat (world premiere), Othello, Loves Labors Lost, Julius Caesar, The Winters Tale, Hamlet, Timon of Athens, including the recent O! digital release of Cymbeline. International: The Heart of Robin Hood with Mirvish Productions in Canada. TV/Film: “FBI: Most Wanted” (CBS), This Wild Abyss (winner of best student short at Savannah Film Fest ‘22) Education: BFA UNC-Greensboro, MFA Case Western Reserve/Cleveland Play House.

Tatiana Wechsler*

Penelope (Penelope)

CC Member of the Hudson Valley Shakespeare Festival Conservatory Company

Tatiana Wechsler is a Brooklyn based actor, singer/songwriter, and creative. HVSF debut! Broadway: Mr. Saturday Night. Off-Broadway/NYC: The Knight of the Burning Pestle, Pericles (Red Bull/Fiasco Theater), X: Or…, Julius Caesar, Othello (The Acting Company), The Golden Bride (National Yiddish Theatre Folksbiene). Regional: first woman to play Curly in Oklahoma!, Love’s Labor’s Lost (Oregon Shakespeare Festival), Love in Hate Nation (Two River Theatre), Benny & Joon (Paper Mill Playhouse), Legend of Georgia McBride (Marin Theatre Company). BFA: NYU. tatianawechsler.com @tatiwex

Nance Williamson*

Ely, Fluellen, Alice (Henry V) and Boyet (Love’s Labor’s Lost)

Nance Williamson is thrilled to return to HVSF for a 22nd season. Nance has been a professional actress for thirty-nine years performing in theater, television, film. Most recently, Nance and her husband Kurt Rhoads performed an Off Broadway run of Off Peak. She can be seen in the movie The Hating Game. On TV Nance can be seen in “The Walking Dead-The World Beyond,” “The Good Wife,” and all the “Law And Orders.” On Broadway, Nance played in Cyrano, Romeo And Juliet and Lincoln Center’s Henry Iv, Arthur Miller’s Broken Glass. Off-Broadway, Nance has performed in Cyrano, Pride and Prejudice, Midsummer Night’s Dream, Marvin’s Room, Two Gentlemen Of Verona for the New York Shakespeare Festival, An Emplty Plate At The Café Grand Boeuf and The Seagull among others. Nance’s favorite HVSF roles include Martha Washington in The Most Spectacularly Lamentable Trial of Miz Martha Washington, Tamora in Titus Andronicus, Kate in Taming Of The Shrew, Cleopatra in Anthony and Cleopatra, Lady M, The Nurse, Mrs. Malaprop and last season’s Juliet to Kurt’s Romeo. This summer marks the 71 and 72 productions Nance and Kurt have performed together.

The Hudson Highlands Fjord Trail offers a community-driven solution for managing tourism in the region and will make the beauty that surrounds us more accessible to people of all ages and abilities.

The Hudson Valley Shakespeare Festival Conservatory Company is a performance-based training program for committed, early career actors considering joining Actors Equity Association, who have a passion for Shakespeare, and want to develop the skills necessary to create innovative, collaborative theater in extraordinary spaces. It’s an artistic home to train and take risks. Working alongside our nationally recognized acting company on and off stage, the five actors we will invite into the program this season will be offered an unmatched opportunity to enter the profession.

* Member of Actors’ Equity Association, the Union of Professional Actors and Stage Managers in the United States.

Connecting the Village of Cold Spring and the City of Beacon, the Fjord Trail will distribute visitors across 7.5 miles of new trail via six main entry points and will keep pedestrians off neighborhood streets and dangerous Route 9D.

The Fjord Trail will provide and manage organized parking, sidewalks, public restrooms, and trash/recycling collection— meeting the needs of the community and visitors alike.

To learn more about the Hudson Highlands Fjord Trail, please visit hhft.org.

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