Viola and her twin brother Sebastian are shipwrecked off the coast of Illyria, ruled by Duke Orsino. Each twin believes the other drowned. Viola, disguising herself as the boy Cesario, enters Duke Orsino's service. Orsino sends her to woo the Countess Olivia, who has rejected his suit while she mourns her brother's death. Olivia falls in love with Cesario (Viola), who in turn has fallen in love with Orsino.
Olivia's household also contains her pleasure-loving cousin Sir Toby Belch and his foppish friend, Sir Andrew Aguecheek, another suitor of Olivia. Olivia's dour steward, Malvolio, disapproves of these two revellers. They in turn, along with Feste the Clown and Maria the main, devise a trick to humiliate Malvolio by persuading him that Olivia loves him and, later, they force him to endure imprisonment to be cured of his “madness.”
Meanwhile Sebastian, Viola's twin, having been saved by a ship's captain, Antonio, turns up in Illyria. Numerous confusions ensue as the other characters mistake each twin for the other. Eventually all is revealed and true love prevails.
The cast includes
Feste (a fool) - Benjamin Montague Orsino (a Duke) - Chris Mayse Curio (also serving the Duke) - Steve Strobel Viola (a shipwrecked woman, later disguised as Cerario) - Suzanne Graff* Sea Captain - Lee Becker Toby Belch (Olivia' Uncle) - Dan Katula* Maria (Olivia's serving woman) - Patty Mathews Andrew Agucheek (a suitor to Olivia) - Tim Gittings Olivia (a beautiful noblewoman) - Patricia Durante Malvolio (Olivia's serving man) - Jerry Gomis* Antonio (a foreign sea captain) - Lee Becker Sebastian (Viola's twin brother) - Casey E. Lewis Officers - Matthew R. Nelson, Steve Strobel Priest - Steve Strobel
The crew includes
Directed - Suzanne Graff
Assistant Direction - Jerry Gomis
Costumes - Susan Croissant
Lighting & Properties - Stewart Dawson
Music - Dana Dejente, Karen Mal Irwin, James Valcq
Stage Management - Nicole Lemery
Production Management - Jerry Gomis
Box Office & House Management - John Hansen, Terese Boeck
* Appears courtesy of Actors' Equity Association
LEE BECKER (Sea Captain/Anotonio/Music Director) is a founding member of Door Shakespeare, Lee still refuses to let the company stage anything without sticking his two pence in. If he looks familiar, you've probably seen him here, on the AFT stage, or in Milwaukee with the Rep, the Skylight Opera, In Tandem, or ComedySportz. His performance this summer is dedicated to Fred Alley, whose vision brought Shakespeare (and Lee) to Door County.
PATRICIA DURANTE (Olivia) Having moved from New York City this year, 'Olivia' is Patricia's first stage role in her new home state. Favorite roes performed in NYC, East Coast Theatres and National, European an Scandinavian tours include: the title role in Evita, Katharine in The Taming of the Shrew, Marth in The Secret Garden, and Felicity in The Real Inspector Hound. Patricia can also be seen and heard in industrial films and commercials.
TIM GITTINGS (Sir Andrew Agucheek) is very happy to be back with Door Shakespeare again this summer. Since last year's Taming of the Shrew, where he played Biondello and Grumio, he's been acting in Chicago and playing as often as possible with his band, Fever Dog. He's looking forward to a fun summer full of starlight, campfires, Shakespeare, and, of course, the raspberry pie (mmm...Raspberry pie...). Peach be with.
CASEY E. LEWIS (Sebastian) For the past seven years Casey has been an active member of the Twin Cities theatre community, appearing with such companies as the Guthrie Theatre, Theatre de la Jeune Lune and the History Theatre. Favorite roles include Benedick in Much Ado About Nothing, Septimus in Tom Stoppard's Arcadia, and Angelo in Measure for Measure. Casey is pleased to be making his first appearance with Door Shakespeare.
PATTY MATHEWS (Maria) is so excited to be working with Door Shakespeare this summer! She lives in the Twin Cities where she's been lucky enough to play some of her favorite roles. Recent favorites include “B” in Three Tall Women, Nurse Kelly in Harvey at Park Square Theatre, Phoebe in Eastern Standar, and Princess Puffer in The Mystery of Edwin Drood. She's toured the country with Nebraska Theatre Caravan's A Christmas Carol. Some have also spotted her in television commercials as well as in some independent films. When she's not acting she can be found working as an oriental bodywork therapist.
CHRIS MAYSE ( Duke) Orsino is proud to be making his first appearance with Door County Shakespeare this summer. Originally from Las Vegas, NV, he earned his BA in theatre from Southern Utah University and his MFA from Ohio University's PATP. Chris has been fortunate enough to work with such companies as the Milwaukee Repertory Theatre, Utah and Wisconsin Shakespeare Festivals, and the Monomoy Theatre on Cape Cod. Some favorite roles have been Pato Dooley in Beauty Queen of Leenane, Stanley in A Streetcar Named Desire, and the Dentist in Little Shop of Horrors.
BENJAMIN MONTAGUE (Feste) is ecstatic to be appearing in his first production with Door Shakespeare. Currently residing in Chicago, he's performed in numerous productions: A Midsummer Night's Dream (Peter Quince), Romeo and Juliet (Tybalt), The Foreigner (Charlie Baker), and All My Sons (Frank Lubey). Benjamin also performed in Seanachai Theatre's The Pagans. His film credits include: Classic Characters (Buster Keaton), and HBO's Band of Brothers as Private McDowell. He would like to thank his family & friends for their unsurpassable love & support.
JERRY GOMIS (Malvolia/Assistant Director/Producer) is happy to return to the Door Shakespeare stage after appearing in last year's production of The Taming of the Shrew. Jerry's acting credits include: Bassanio in The Merchant of Venice, Edmund in King Lear, Benedick in Much Ado About Nothing and Marlow in She Stoops to Conquer. Jerry lives in Minneapolis with his wife and producing partner, Suzanne Graff, their son William, and daughter Anna Marie.
SUZANNE GRAFF (Viola/Director/Producer)Twelfth Night marks Suzanne's first role with Door Shakespeare since becoming a Producer/Manager for the company in 1998. Primarily an actress,credits include: Off-Broadway: Twelfth Night and Zombies from the Beyond. National Tours: Twelfth Night, As You Like It, She Stoops to Conquer. Locally audiences have enjoyed her performances in four seasons with AFT. Love and thanks to Jerry, William & Anna Marie.
DAN KATULA (Sir Toby Belch) is a Wisconsin native. Dan is pleased to be performing in his home state after nearly a decade. He received his Bachelor of Fine Arts from the University of Wisconsin-Steven's Point and his Master of Fine Arts from Ohio University. Most recently, Dan performed at theatres such as the Cleveland Playhouse, GeVa Theatre in Rochester, New York and the Agean Theatre in New York City.
MATTHEW R. NELSON (Curio/Officer/Musician/Intern) is extremely pleased to be interning with Door Shakespeare this summer. He is one of the Outstanding Scholar recipients entering his junior year at UW-Milwaukee. A music performance major in Voice, he is also a core member of Human Experience Theater and part of the Florentine Opera chorus. His credits also include work with UWM's PTTP, Joyce Parker Productions, and Milwaukee Youth Theater.
STEVE STROBEL (Valentine/Officer/Priest/(understudy Malvolio & Sebastian)) is very excited to be returning this summer to Door Shakespeare. Last seen “Ton” in Where are Bound a Milwaukee Lake Schooner children's production. Before that Steve had the opportunity to work with Lou Salerni in the UWM PTTP production of Kentucky Cycle. Other credits include: Comedy of Errors, The Revengers Tragedy, Fiddler on the Roof, Henry the Sixth Part 3, As You Like It, Dr. Faustus, and Tartuffe.
KAREN MAL IRWIN (Composer) has been musical director/composer for Romeo & Juliet, Midsummer Night's Dream, and Twelfth Night in New York, and for The Tempest and Dickens' A Christmas Carol in Memphis. She appeared in Helena in Door Shakespeare's very first production, Midsummer Nights Dream, in 1994. Karen is a veteran of over 20 American Folklore Theatre productions, and assembled the music and helped produce the CD for A Little Folk Music. Karen married her sweetheart, Christ Irwin this past Halloween in Hawaii.
NICOLE LEMERY (Stage Manger/Intern) will be a sophomore at UW-Stevens Point, where she studies theatre. This is her first summer with Door Shakespeare. In the future, Nicole hopes to become a playwright and manager her own theater company. She would like to thank her parents for their unflagging support in her theatrical pursuits.
TERESE BOECK (Advertising Sales Rep) continues her involvement with Door Shakespeare as this year's Advertisement Representative. During the past fall, winter and spring she kept busy as a volunteer production assistant at Third Avenue Playhouse in Sturgeon Bay. In her 'spare time' she plays in her flower gardens in Baileys Harbor.
STEWART DAWSON (Lighting, Set and Properties Design) from Albuquerque, New Mexico, Stewart returns to Door Shakespeare to lend h is accomplished hand. Stewart has designed and built sets for American Folklore Theatre and for Opera Southwest, in Albuquerque, the Ballet Theatre of New Mexico and the New Mexico Symphony Orchestra. Thank you, Stewart for your talent and humor.
DANA DEZENTJE (Composer) Music has played a major role in this native Minnesotan's life. Dana has stepped outside of his role as practicing guitarist for a second year to compose for Door Shakespeare. He thanks Jerry and Suzanne for the opportunity to bring his passion to the public and for the invaluable songwriting experience.
JAMES VALCQ (Composer) collaborated with Fred Alley on the musical The Spitfire Grill, which has won the prestigious Richard Rodgers Production Award from the American Academy of Arts and Letters. The Spitfire Grill will open Off-Broadway this fall at Playwirghts Horzons following its highly acclaimed run at New Jersey's George Street Playhouse last season. The previous Valcq/Alley musical The Passage was sen at American Folklore Theatre in 1994. Valcq wrote the book, music, and lyrics for Zombies From The Beyond, which opened Off-Broadway in 1995 to rave reviews. A Milwaukee native, Valcq now resides in NYC where he is a pianist and Standby Conductor for the Broadway hit Chicago.
JOHN HANSEN (House and Box Office Manager) started his summer theatre adventures 20 years ago with Heritage Ensemble and was a founding member of American Folklore Theatre. John is a professional potter with work featured at Potter's Wheel Gallery in Fish Creek and here in our concessions booth.
ERIK HANSEN (Concessions Sales) has grown up with helping AFT, Door Shakespeare, and his dad in many capacities. EJ, a high school student in Colorado, returns this season to our concessions booth. Thanks Erik! It's great to have you back.
SUSAN CROISSANT (Costume Designer) costumer for Sturgeon Bay's Third Avenue Playhouse (TAP). Susan recently costumed thirty-one players in The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe at TAP. She studied clothing andf costume design at Eastern Illinois University. She is also the proud owner of Sweetie Pies, a retail and wholesale pie business in Fish Creek. She is excited to be in her new role working with Door Shakespeare.
ANNA GONZALEZ (Costume Intern) is a junior English major and Theatre minor at Lawrence University. Raised in West Jordan, Utah, Anna has performed in various high school and community theatre productions, including her favorite role as Camillo in A Winter's Tale. She has been an assistant costumer previously for Ah Wilderness at her high school and Machinal at Lawrence University. She currently lives in Madison.
EMILY KALIES (Business Intern) is a senior at Lawrence University in Appleton, WI. Emily is studying visual art, violin, and voice. She has spent 18 years studying the violin and taking private art lessons. “I think Door Shakespeare is a great opportunity for me to get a grasp on how the theatre works and to help appreciate the many people working on the production that are not seen.”
BILL LOVE (PR Coordinator/Volunteer) has been a tremendous force in taking on the many unexpected details that can arise when bringing a show from rehearsal to performance. Bill takes on everything with a “No problem. Consider it done.” attitude. We breathe easier when Bill is around. Thank you Bill!
