Ohio Shakespeare Festival

Home

Season

Schedule

Stan Hywet

Photo Gallery

Artistic Directors

Company Bios

Donate

Company Bios

Alfred Anderson
Ghost

Alfred was for 21 years the University of Akron’s Director of Opera Theatre. His stage repertoire includes over 100 roles with such organizations as the New York City Opera, the London Philharmonic Orchestra, the San Diego Opera, the Hong Kong Opera, the Royal Opera of Gent, the Cincinnati Opera and the Porthouse Theatre. During the last three seasons he has appeared with the Ohio Shakespeare Festival Aegeus in A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Duncan in Macbeth and Friar Francis in Much Ado About Nothing, and Duke Solinus in A Comedy of Errors.

Amelia P. Anderson
Wardrobe, Sticher

Amelie P. Anderson () is very excited to be coming back for a second year with Ohio Shakespeare Festival. Trained in a bridal and alterations shop, she has worked with fabric and pins for over 15 years. Amelie’s previous theatre experience includes Backstage Crew at Akron’s Carousel Dinner Theatre. She would like to thank Daniel for supporting her creative side, and Nancy and Terry for welcoming her into the OSF family.

Damian Baeslack
Outlaw, Player, Greenshow

Damien has had his hands full since the birth of his son this past September. When not attempting to keep the crazed child under some semblance of control he has generally been keeping sane by being antisocial. That said he is extremely happy to be getting out of the house and back for his second season at OSF.

Hanna Brady
Musician, Player, Greenshow

Hanna is a junior English major at Kent State. When she is not working at the questionable profession of college student and aspiring writer, she moonlights as a musician or an actor. She is looking forward to spending a second summer with the Ohio Shakespeare Festival.

Greg Bealer
Outlaw, Greenshow

Greg is happy to be making his first appearance with OSF. He was last seen on stage at Coach House theatre in The Nerd. Other credits include Edward in Someone Who'll Watch Over Me, Guildenstern in Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead, Dogberry in Much Ado About Nothing and Bottom in Midsummer Nights Dream.

Henry Bishop
First Gravedigger

Henry is returning for a third year at OSF, working with a bunch of his favorite people. Henry has acted and directed around the area for a couple of decades. Married to Karen Wood, they live in Wayne County with several cats. Henry does a lot of substitute teaching at Triway Junior High, near Wooster.

Tess Burgler
Lucetta, Guildenstern, Diedre

Tess Burgler is so happy to be back for her fifth season with OSF. A rising senior at the College of Wooster, Tess studied abroad last year in London and used the experience to help write her Junior thesisan in-depth focus on Shakespeare's words and verse. Tess has been acting for 16 years, appearing in shows at Pennsylvania Shakespeare Festival, Porthouse Theatre, and Kent State University among others. Last year at OSF she portrayed Luciana in Comedy of Errors, Biana in Othello, and Shy in Best Little Whorehouse... Favorite roles include Anne in All My Sons and Witch 2 in Macbeth. Enjoy the show!

Andrew Cruse
Proteus, Hamlet

Andrew is thrilled to return to OSF for a third consecutive season. Last year he appeared as the twin Antipholi in The Comedy of Errors, and Cassio in Othello. Previous roles include Malcolm in Macbeth and Claudio in Much Ado About Nothing. Other favorite roles in the area include Leontes in The Winter’s Tale at Kent State, Edmund in Long Day’s Journey Into Night at the Ensemble Theatre in Cleveland, and Barry in The Boys Next Door at Porthouse. New York credits include When You Comin’ Back, Red Ryder? at the Kraine Theatre, and the world premiere of beat: a play on words at The Culture Project. He has worked regionally at The Kennedy Center, North Shore Music Theatre, The Public Theatre (Maine), The Miniature Theatre of Chester in Massachusetts, and toured nationally with Theatreworks/USA . Andrew grew up in Allentown, PA, earned a BFA in Theatre from Boston University, an MFA from Kent State and currently resides in Chicago. This spring Andrew began work on his biggest role yet…father. In May, he and his wife Amy welcomed the birth of their beautiful son Owen! Proud member of Actors’ Equity since 1989.

Katherine DeBoer
Sylvia

Katherine has performed at numerous local venues, including The Cleveland Playhouse, Carousel Dinner Theater, and Porthouse Theatre. Her favorite credits include: the national tour of The Will Roger’s Follies (Betty Blake); 1776 (Martha Jefferson); A Midsummer Night’s Dream (Helena); The Comedy of Errors (Luciana); The Taming of the Shrew (Katharina) and Crimes of the Heart (Babe). Ms. DeBoer studied at London Academy of Music and Dramatic Arts (LAMDA) and holds a BA in theater from Baldwin Wallace College.

Ryan William Downey
Outlaw, Composer, Music Director

Ryan received his B.A. in Theatre Studies from Kent State University with an emphasis on acting and direction and is thrilled to be back at OSF where he has previously appeared in Macbeth and Much Ado About Nothing. Recently, he co-founded The Window Factory, a multi disciplinary artist collective in Brooklyn, NY, where he currently resides. Get at me, son. Favorite roles include Jerry in The Zoo Story and Danny in Sexual Perversity in Chicago.

Rachel Fichter
Player, Greenshow

Rachel is thrilled to be back for a second summer at OSF. Last summer she appeared as Dawn/Imogene Charlene Green in Best Little Whorehouse in Texas and as a Servant/Citizen in The Comedy of Errors and Othello. Most recently she was seen as Evelyn Nesbitt in Ragtime at Weathervane Playhouse. Other recent roles include The Kid in The Emperor’s Groovy New Clothes (Cleveland Playhouse), Eileen in Moon Over Buffalo (Weathervane) and a Silly Girl/Plate in Beauty and the Beast (Beck Center). Rachel has a B.A. in Theatre and English Lit. from the College of Wooster. She would like to thank her parents for their constant love and support, without which she would probably be living in a cardboard box.

Richard Figge
Polonius

Richard is an emeritus Professor of German at The College of Wooster. His acting credits range from Rostand's Cyrano de Bergerac and Friar Lawrence in Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet to modern comedy and drama. He is best known for his performance of David Rintels' one-man play Clarence Darrow, which he has presented across the country, in Europe and, in 1985, in Washington D.C. under the patronage of President Reagan. In 2002 he toured in Jason Miller's one-man play Barrymore's Ghost, in which he portrayed legendary actor, John Barrymore. He has toured in productions of Mass Appeal and Love Letters. In 1997, he toured with Vincent Dowling, portraying President Theodore Roosevelt to Mr. Dowling's John Muir in Phyllis Webster's new play John and Teddy. In April 1998, he returned to Wooster to play Prospero in The Tempest. Mr. Figge has experience in film and has made radio and television commercials. He has performed in special broadcasts on public radio and can be heard as the narrator on the CD Visions of the Souls: The Joshua L. Chamberlain Story. He has narrated Peter and the Wolf with the Wooster Symphony Orchestra and was a narrator for a performance of Stravinsky's Soldier's Tale with the Charlottesville (VA) Symphony.

Jim Fippin

Jim has been acting, directing and otherwise engaged in theatre in Northeast Ohio for over twenty years. He has appeared on stage at Porthouse Theatre, Weathervane Playhouse, Coach House Theatre and with the Ohio Shakespeare Festival. His acting resume includes roles in King Lear, Twelfth Night, Romeo and Juliet, Hamlet, Another Antigone, The Lion in Winter, The Odd Couple, Uncle Vanya, The Real Thing, Macbeth and Custer. As the Artistic Director of Coach House Theatre Jim staged productions of Chapter Two, Betrayal, Last of the Red Hot Lovers, Art, Private Lives, Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf? and A Life in the Theatre. He recently directed Someone Who’ll Watch Over Me at the Weathervane Playhouse. In 2005 he was recognized by the Akron Area Arts Alliance as the area's Outstanding Theatre Artist. Jim earned his Bachelor of Fine Arts in Theatre from Otterbein College, where he met his wife Elaine (in the scene shop no less!). Together they live in Wadsworth with their daughter, Emelie.

Benjamin Fortin
Citizen, Servant, Greenshow

Ben is thrilled to be back for his second season with OSF. Benjamin has appeared in numerous productions at Weathervane Playhouse, as well as Magical Theatre, and Canton Symphony. He is a recipient of Weathervane's Erin Dillon Youth Recognition Award. Benjamin will be a junior at Stow-Munroe Falls High School in the fall where he is active in Drama club, concert choir, Madrigal Singers, and Speech and Debate.

Ernie González
Speed, Rosencrantz

Ernie is originally from El Paso, Texas, but now calls Chicago, Illinois home. Ernie is thrilled to return to OSF for a second season having appeared last summer as the twin servants in The Comedy of Errors. Locally, you might have also seen Ernie at Porthouse Theatre in West Side Story, Guys and Dolls, and A Streetcar Named Desire. In Chicago, Ernie has performed at The Village Players Theatre, the Cornservatory, and directed at The Bailiwick Repertory and The Chicago Cultural Center. In March Ernie filmed a series of 3 shorts called “The Things I Luv” and in April he shot his first Spanish national commercial. In NYC, Ernie has performed at La MaMa and Creative Place Theatre. Ernie holds an M.F.A. from Kent State. He would like to dedicate this performance to him Mom, “¡Feliz 50 años!”

Adam Hoffman
Horatio

Adam is happy to be returning to OSF. He has been seen here previously in Twelfth Night (Feste), A Midsummers Night Dream (Puck), The Tempest (Antonio), Macbeth ( Murderer / Bloody Sergeant), and Much Ado About Nothing (Don John). Adam works for many theatre related institutions in the Akron area, including West Side Vocal Academy, Porthouse, and Akron After School. He has acted extensively for Magical Theatre, including their 2007 production of Romeo and Juliet, where he played Mercutio/ Lord Capulet/ and Friar Lawrence. Whew! A proud grad of Kent State (MFA Acting) and Baldwin-Wallace (BA Theatre), Adam thanks the cast, crew, and staff, as well as his parents and friends. Love to the Beautiful Girl

Adrienne Jones
Player, Greenshow

Adrienne will be a senior at Crestwood High School this coming fall. She has appeared in many shows throughout northeast Ohio, some of which include the Cleveland Shakespeare Festival's Taming of the Shrew, Bus Stop with the Hudson Players, and A Midsummer Nights Dream and Little Women at Chagrin Valley Little Theater. She was most recently seen in Terry's production of Ragtime at Weathervane Playhouse. She sends many thanks and love to those who have always supported her!

Darren Kelly
Barrymore

Darren is delighted to be reunited with Nancy Cates, his director for Theatre IV’s 2004 production of Christmas Carol, and with Terry Burgler, for whom he enacted Malvolio in 1997’s Twelfth Night at the Porthouse Theatre. Daren just essayed Baron Van Swietan in Shakespeare New Jersey’s Amadeus, after having completed a triumphant run at the Algonquin’s Oak Room of Edith Wharton’s Glimpses of the Moon. Daren also realized his dream of portraying Henry Higgins in My Fair Lady. At Yale Rep last fall, he was featured in the revival of Alice Childress’ Trouble in Mind. Broadway Credits: Crazy for You, Deathtrap, Woman of the Year, and South Pacific (NYCO). Tours: Julian Marsh in the Nat’l revival of 42nd Street, and Shaw Moore in Footloose. TV: Law & Order, L&O: Criminal Intent, L&O: SVU, M*A*S*H, Kate and Allie, and Tales from the Dark Side. Regional Rep: Manders in the world premiere of Landford Wilson’s version of Ibsen’s Ghosts (ATC), Lovborg to Harriet Harris’ Hedda Gabler (Great Lakes), and Malvolio in Ohio Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night. Other regional appearances include Long Wharf, South Coast Rep, Center Stage, GEVA, Syracuse, Westport, Asolo, and Cape Playhouse.

Dede Kline
Lillian

Dede is trilled to be working with Nancy Cates again and to be a part of this talented Ohio Shakespeare troupe. She most recently performed at The Bang & Clatter as Eileen in the Ohio premiere of A Nervous Smile. Dede was recognized with Best Actress awards for Blithe Spirit (Elvira) and The Little Foxes (Birdie) at Weathervane Playhouse, and Hay Fever (Judith Bliss) at Coach House. She has also worked at Beck Center, Chagrin Valley, Riverstreet Playhouse, and Aurora. Some of her other credits include Angels in America (Hannah), Three Tall Women (B), Moon Over Buffalo (Charlotte), Glass Menagerie (Amanda), and Lion in Winter (Eleanor). Love to Bear and Duff.

Gwendolyn Lewis
Queen Gertrude

Gwen is a graduate of The Central School of Speech and Drama, London. She has worked extensively throughout the United States and Canada.Theatre includes: Titania in A Midsummer Night’s Dream at The Porterhouse Theatre, Richard III at Pioneer Theatre Company, Angel Street at the new Helen Hayes Theatre, The Real Thing, Intimate Exchanges and Macbeth at Fleetwood Stage; The Misanthrope at C.S.C.; Cyranno de Bergerac at the Alley Theatre, All’s Well That Ends Well at the Shakespeare Theatre, Lulu at The St. Lawrence Center, Toronto, and Sad Hotel at the Lucille Lortel. Most recently she played Beatrice Webb in the world premier of Engaging Shaw at the Old Castle Theatre. Film and Television credits include: Lady Caroline lamb in The Glorious Romantics, Alice Monroe in the Peabody Award winning The Deer Slayer, Debbie in Eyes of the Stranger, and recurring roles on Guiding Light and Law and Order. She is delighted to be once again working with Terry Burgler.

Dane Lee
Outlaw, Player, Greenshow

Dane is excited to be back at Ohio Shakespeare for his second summer. He is a Senior Theatre Major at Kent State University, and was last seen in Weathervane's production of Someone to Watch Over Me as Adam. Dane is proud of the opportunity to perform with his amazing friends and fellow actors once again, and would like to thank his family and friends for their immeasurable support.

Jennifer Ledyard
Musician/Player, Greenshow

Jennifer is thrilled to back at OSF for a second year. She is grateful to be in such a beautiful setting and meet so many wonderful people. She currently attends the University of Akron and plans to graduate. She would like to thank her amazing family and friends especially those kids from the albatross club together we can move a piano!

Lara Mielcarek
Julia, Ophelia, Felicia

Last season at Ohio Shakespeare Festival; Adriana in Comedy of Errors and Emelia in Othello. Other theatres: Hannah in Modern Orthodox (JCC), Mrs. Fezziwig/Cynthia/Laundress in Christmas Carol (GTLF), Juliet in Romeo and Juliet (Magical Theatre), Miranda in Before the Storm (GTLF edu.tour). Lara holds her BFA in Acting from Kent State. She would like to thank her family, Geoff and the Knox family for their love and support, and dedicates all to her brother, J.

Andy Nagraj
Valentine, First Player, Laertes

Andy is thrilled to be back for his second season at OSF after having played the title role in last season’s Othello. Andy spent the past year in Chicago, where he was fortunate to work on the stages of Court Theatre, Silk Road Theatre Project, Remy Bumppo Theatre Company, and TimeLine Theatre. Other regional companies include Barksdale Theatre, Theatre IV, Swift Creek Mill, the Virginia and Richmond Shakespeare Festivals, and the Lost Colony. An accomplished singer and musician, Andy has performed in concert across Europe and is the co-author of the musical comedy, Murphy's Law. He has trained at Second City, the School at Steppenwolf, and the University of Richmond, and this fall he will begin his master’s degree in acting at the University of Delaware’s Professional Theatre Training Program.

Alex J. Nine
Duke,

Alex is thrilled to return for his third season with the Ohio Shakespeare Festival. He is an Akron native and University of Akron graduate. Some of his favorite roles are Freddie in Noises Off, Brick in Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, Oberon, Lysander and Demetrius in A Midsummer Night's Dream, John Proctor in The Crucible, Howard in Moon Over Buffalo and both Hamlet and Laertes in Hamlet. Alex is also a member of the Largely Literary Theater Company having performed with them in The Tell-Tale Play and The Reports of My Death Are Greatly Exaggerated.

Michelle Owen
Production Manager, Stage Manager

Michelle is starting her sixth season with OSF, having stage managed last summer’s The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas and Othello. This spring she has helped the Burgler / Cates duo out backstage on Ragtime and Moon Over Buffalo at Weathervane Playhouse.

Scott Shriner
Gary

Scott returns for a third OSF season, after appearances in Othello, The Comedy of Errors, Twelfth Night and The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas. Other recent shows include Lend Me a Tenor, All My Sons and Angels in America (Weathervane); Cagelove and Romance (The Bang & the Clatter), Hay Fever, Oh, Coward! and Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf? (Coach House), and The Herbal Bed (Actors’ Summit). He thanks the Burgler/Cates clan for letting him share this great time at Stan Hywet.

Stephen Skiles
Andrew

Stephen is delighted to be making his Northeast Ohio stage debut at the Ohio Shakespeare Festival. Having recently relocated from Cincinnati to accept a position in the theatre program at the University of Akron, Stephen has acted or directed at the Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park, The Repertory Theatre of St. Louis, Ensemble Theatre of Cincinnati, The Phoenix Theatre in Indianapolis, The Kentucky Shakespeare Festival and Monomoy Theatre in Chatham, Mass. He was a founding member of the Cincinnati Shakespeare Company.

Tom Stephan
Eglemour

Tom is happy to be returning for his seventh summer of Shakespeare at Stan Hywet with The Ohio Shakespeare Festival, having appeared in last season’s Othello and The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas. This past fall he appeared in Greetings! at Stow Players, The Tell-Tale Play with The Largely Literary Theatre Company, and this spring in And The Winner Is at Weathervane. He has been seen in over 75 productions in the area, and performs regularly with “Mysteries by Moushey.” Tom retired from 31 years of teaching English and drama in Stow so he could pursue good theatre, voice-overs, and commercial work.

Buddy Taylor
Production Manager, Lighting & Sound Designer

Buddy is starting his sixth season with Ohio Shakespeare Festival. This past season, he designed lights for Oh Coward! at the Coach House Theatre and Moon over Buffalo at Weathervane. He also was a recording engineer for Agamemnon at Gallaudet University in Washington D.C. and played guitar in Cotton Patch Gospel in Chicago. Most recently, he designed lights for Terry's production of Ragtime at Weathervane.

Daniel Taylor
Carpenter

Daniel is once again thrilled to be Working with OSF for a third season. Previously Daniel has appeared with Actor’s Summit, Artist Repertory Theatre, Cleveland Public Theatre, Passin’ Art, Portland Center Stage, and Teatro Milagro. As a composer, Daniel made music for The Ohio Shakespeare Festival, Cleveland Signstage Theatre, and Gallaudet’s current production of Goya, a showcase piece at the Kennedy Center’s 2008 American Collegiate Theatre Festival.

Jordan Wolff
Panthino. Player, Greenshow

Jordan is honored and delighted to be back with OSF for another Summer. A Medina native, he will be returning in the Fall to Denison University one last time before he graduates in the Spring. While at Denison, Jordan has performed in productions of Urinetown, Honk!, Into the Woods, Homebody/Kabul, Twelfth Night, Romeo and Juliette, and Rhinoceros, as well as a workshop production of a work-in-progress by Arthur Kopit and various student works.

Richard Worswick
Thurio

Richard most recently appeared at The Couch House Theatre in the critically praised production of Driving Miss Daisy, directed by Nancy Cates. Prior to this Richard was seen in the Ron Cuirle directed production of Drowning Sorrows, and was chained to the floor with fellow Ohio Shakespeare Festival actors Greg Bealer and Dane Lee in the Jim Fippin directed Weathervane production of Someone Who'll Watch Over Me. Also at Weathervane, he has performed in The Chosen, The Laramie Project, The Mystery of Irma Vep, Noises Off, The Sisters Rosensweig,and others. He appeared in The Bang and Clatter Theatre Company's inaugural season where he played the Prosecuting Attorney in David Mamet's Romance. Regionally, Richard has performed at The Dobama Theatre, The Charenton Theatre Company, The Cleveland Play House, Playhouse Square, and the Paul A. Daum Theatre (named after a dear friend). Originally from Michigan, now a Bucks fan, Richard trained in theater at Eastern Michigan University, Indiana University, and The Academy of Dramatic Art at the Meadow Brook Theatre. Richard is thrilled to be appearing in his first production at the Ohio Shakespeare Festival. Richard lives in Bath with his partner John and Great Danes Thor and new puppy Apollo.

Karen Wood
Cornelius, Player

Karen is pleased to join OSF for a second year. Her performance credits include acting, singing, and dancing on area stages for 35 years. When not onstage, Karen can usually be found commuting to Akron from her Wayne County home with husband, Henry C. Bishop.