The Hardcastles are an aristocratic family living in an old manor house in the English countryside. Mrs. Hardcastle, Squire Hardcastle's second wife, is determined that her son, Tony Lumpkin, will marry her niece, Constance Neville, whose significant fortune Mrs. Hardcastle wishes to keep in the family. Mr. Hardcastle has similar plans for his own daughter, Kate, whom he wishes to marry the son of his friend, Sir Charles Marlow. Young Marlow is scheduled to arrive at the Hardcastle home shortly. Though young Marlow is engaging and witty when talking to bar maids and other girls of lower status, he becomes awkward and halting in the presence of ladies of his own social status.
Meanwhile, Marlow and his friend, Hastings (who is secretly pledged to Constance Neville) arrive at a nearby village inn to ask the way to the Hardcastles'. Tony Lumpkin, already present at the inn with his friends,
devises a plan to persuade Marlow and Hastings that they are far from the Hardcastle home and will be forced to stop at an inn for the night. In place of a true inn, however, Tony directs them to the Hardcastles' manor.
Upon his arrival at the Hardcastle household, Marlow, unaware that he is the victim of a hoax, begins brazenly ordering the residents about as if they were servants. Mr. Hardcastle, similarly unaware of Tony's mischievous plot, is appalled at the impudent behavior of his friend's son. Upon seeing Constance, Hastings realizes Tony's trick, but agrees with Constance not to reveal the truth to Marlow.
Marlow is introduced to Kate, but is too shy to look upon her face during their conversation. Being thus ignorant of her true appearance, he mistakes her later in the evening for the "inn's" bar maid. In order to find out whether his awkwardness is lessened in conversation with a woman of lesser status, Kate plays along with this deception and is pleasantly surprised by his grace and wit. When she calls herself a well born but poor relation of the Hardcastle family, Marlow readily acknowledges his love for her.
The confusion is further deepened by Tony's attempts to help Constance and Hastings elope with the casket of jewels so loved by Mrs. Hardcastle. When Tony's mischief is finally revealed, everything is set right, and Kate and Marlow are able to openly declare their love for one another.
The cast includes
Mrs. Hardcastle – Claudia Wilkens* Mr. Hardcastle – Montgomery Davis* Tony Lumpkin (Mrs. Hardcastle's son) – Jason Economus Kate Hardcastle (Mr. Hardcastle's daughter) – Molly Rhode* Constance Neville (Mrs. Hardcastle's niece) – Jennefer Ludwigsen Jack Slang (Three Pigeons fellow) – Andrew Truschinski Tom Twist (Three Pigeons fellow) – Chase Stoeger Dick Muggins (Three Pigeons fellow) – Daniel Yabut Landlord – Richard Ooms* Marlow – Matthew Brumlow* Hastings – Jonathan Wainwright Roger – Chase Stoeger Thomas – Andrew Truschinski Diggory – Richard Ooms* Jeremy (Marlow's servant) – Daniel Yabut Sir Charles Marlow – Richard Ooms*
The crew includes
Directed by
Jerry Gomis
Costumes by Barbara Portinga
Lighting & Scene Design by Stewart Dawson
Original Music, Arrangements & Direction by Karen Mal
Production by Suzanne Graff
Stage Management by Kate Schultz
House Management by Bill Love
Box Office Management by John Hansen
* Appears courtesy of Actors' Equity Association
MATTHEW BRUMLOW (Antipholus of Ephesus / Marlow) a Chicago actor and Northwestern alum, is an Artistic Associate and ensemble member of American Theater Company, where he has appeared in numerous productions. Favorites include A View from the Bridge, The Hairy Ape, Working and Catch 22, in which he tackled 12 roles. In Chicago, Matthew has also worked with Steppenwolf Theatre Company, Chicago Shakespeare Theatre, Writers' Theatre, About Face, Chicago Dramatists, Organic Touchstone, Prop, The Aardvark and Shakespeare on the Green. Regional credits include two tours of duty with Montana Shakespeare in the Parks, where he recently played the title role in Tartuffe. Matthew also recently toured the nation with Montana Repertory Theatre's A Streetcar Named Desire, in which he played Stanley. He is so pleased to be with Door Shakes in lovely Door County this summer!
MONTGOMERY DAVIS (Duke Solinus / Balthasar / Mr. Hardcastle) is delighted to be back in Door County, where he spent many a happy season at Peninsula Players acting (Relatively Speaking, The Shadow Box, Dracula, Deathwatch, Sly Fox, Morning's at Seven) and directing (On Golden Pond, Da, Painting Churches, Shirley Valentine, The Circle, A Few Good Men, The Dining Room, Morning's at Seven). He is the founder, and has been artistic director, of, the Chamber Theatre in Milwaukee for more than 30 years and has acted or directed for Skylight Opera Theatre, Milwaukee Rep, Florentine Opera, Wisconsin Shakespeare, UW Whitewater, Carroll College and Kohler Arts Center. He is originally from Long Island and acted in New York and Toronto. He studied theatre in London. Thank you Suzanne and Jerry for giving me the chance to just be an actor in such a heavenly setting!
JASON ECONOMUS (Antipholus of Syracuse / Tony Lumpkin) is thrilled to be making his debut with Door Shakespeare this summer in the majestic woods of Björklunden. Most recently, he appeared on Milwaukee stages in productions of Master Harold and the Boys, Fat Men in Skirts, Never the Sinner and The Good Doctor. Being the pride and joy of Salem, Wisconsin, Jason wants to thank all friends, family and former lovers who made him what/who he is today. Jason dedicates these performances to the spirit of Dead Man Carter.
SUZANNE GRAFF (Producer / Courtesan) has been involved in Door County theatre for more than 14 years. She performed onstage for several seasons at American Folklore Theatre. Since 1998, she and her husband, Jerry Gomis, have collaborated as producers for Door Shakespeare, for which Suzanne has directed Twelfth Night, Much Ado About Nothing and last year's The Taming of the Shrew. Her Door Shakespeare acting credits include Viola in Twelfth Night, Titania in A Midsummer Night's Dream, Nurse in Romeo and Juliet and Mistress Quickly in The Merry Wives of Windsor. On other stages, Suzanne's acting credits include off-Broadway's Zombies from the Beyond (Charlie) and Twelfth Night. She has performed in national tours of She Stoops to Conquer, As You Like It, Oedipus, and A Midsummer Night's Dream. In her hometown of Milwaukee, she's appeared at the Skylight Opera Theatre and Theatre Tesseract. Other regional credits include Indiana Rep, She Loves Me and at home in the Twin Cities at The Great American History Theatre, The Jon Hassler Theatre and in the Buffalo Gal Production of The Spitfire Grill as Effy. Conquering her heart are Jerry, William and Anna Marie.
JIM LAUTENBACH (Jailer / Angelo) is delighted to be back for his third season at Door Shakespeare, where he has been seen in The Taming of the Shrew and A Midsummer Night's Dream. A Door County native and Marquette University graduate, he was last seen in The Laramie Project and as Owen Musser in The Foreigner and originated the role of Jason in the World Premiere of The Benevolent Women's Craft Society at Green Bay Community Theatre. Other favorite roles include Peter in The Zoo Story, Mortimer (The Man Who Dies) in The Fantasticks and Vinnie in The Odd Couple at Door Off Broadway. Jim is indebted to his family and friends in Door County and beyond — especially Jerry and Suzanne — for their unending guidance and support. Thank you everyone!
JENNEFER LUDWIGSEN (Adriana / Constance) Neville is thrilled to be back in the county for her fifth season with Door Shakespeare. Past shows include As You Like It (Celia), The Taming of the Shrew (Bianca), A Midsummer Night's Dream (Hermia), Much Ado About Nothing (Hero), and one season with American Folklore Theatre in Bone Dance. This past year, Jennefer lived in Los Angeles, where she studied at the Beverly Hills Playhouse and appeared on "ER" and "Desperate Housewives." A Northwestern University graduate, Jennefer has worked in Chicago at the Apple Tree Theatre (The New Kid, The Diary of Anne Frank), and with Shaw Chicago in The Philanderer (Sylvia), Jitta's Atonement, and Great Catherine (Princess Dashkoff). Jennefer is the director of Doorways: Creating Theatre for Children and will be teaching students in first grade through high school this summer. Much love to Suzanne and Jerry and especially my family and friends for welcoming me home. Enjoy the show!
RICHARD OOMS (Egeon / Pinch / Landlord / Diggory / Sir Charles Marlow) began his career in repertory theater in 1970 at The Playhouse in the Park in Cincinnati, Ohio. Mr. Ooms is a founding member of John Houseman's The Acting Company, where for eight seasons he performed in some 35 plays, appearing in cities throughout the U.S. During this time he met and married his wife of 23 years, actress Claudia Wilkens. In 1981 they and their two year-old son, Michael, relocated to Minneapolis. Richard has been a member of the acting company at the Guthrie Theater for the last 22 years and has appeared in more than 70 productions in roles ranging from King Lear to Argan in The Imaginary Invalid. Richard can be seen in the films Drop Dead Gorgeous and The Thirteenth Warrior.
ANDREW TRUSCHINSKI (Second Merchant / Jack / Thomas / Intern) is appearing for the first time with Door Shakespeare. Hailing from the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater, Andrew is graduating this coming spring with a BFA in performance. You can see him this fall in Milwaukee Chamber Theatre's production of Brighton Beach Memoirs as Eugene. Previous University credits include Adolphus Cusins in George Bernard Shaw's Major Barbara, the Jester in Once upon a Mattress, and Lucio in William Shakespeare's Measure for Measure. He would like to thank his family, friends and DDL for everything. Enjoy the show!
MOLLY RHODE (Luciana / Kate Hardcastle) Molly is making her Door Shakespeare debut and is thrilled to visit the thumb of Wisconsin for the first time. Molly lives in Milwaukee, where she has worked for the Milwaukee Repertory Theatre, the Skylight Opera Theatre, Milwaukee Shakespeare Company, Next Act Theatre and First Stage Children's Theatre. Molly has also spent summers with American Players Theatre and the Utah Shakespearean Festival. She looks forward to working with Rennaissance Theatreworks this fall on a beautiful play called Syncopation.
CHASE STOEGER (Merchant / Officer / Messenger / Tom Twist / Roger / Intern) is thrilled to be given the opportunity to join Door Shakespeare this summer. He just finished an internship in June with Skylight Opera Theatre playing in the chorus of Cabaret and The Mikado and was The Lawyer in Gianni Schicci. He has also worked with Milwaukee Chamber Theatre as Simon Bliss in Hayfever, and Bialystock and Bloom in Never the Sinner. Look for Chase at Milwaukee Shakespeare this year in The Taming of the Shrew as Bianca. He thanks his friends and family for their continuing love and support throughout the years.
JONATHAN WAINWRIGHT (Dromio of Ephesus / Hastings) is very happy to return to the county for the summer. Some may remember him with either a big red wig (as Slender in The Merry Wives of Windsor) or a big white cowboy hat (as Tranio in The Taming of the Shrew) from last summer. In the last year in Milwaukee, Jonathan performed with Skylight Opera Company, opposite Miss Rhode in Cabaret, and as Sam I Am in an original version of Green Eggs and Ham. Grateful as always to Jerry and Suzanne for his summer in wonderland, he'd also like to send love and thanks to you, the audience, family and friends and, of course, Laura.
CLAUDIA WILKENS (Lady Abbess / Mrs. Hardcastle) has performed at the Guthrie Theatre, the Jungle Theatre, The Eye of the Storm, the Minnesota Opera, Chanhassen Dinner Theatre, Minneapolis Children's Theater, The Great American History Theater, Mixed Blood and the Minnesota Shakespeare Project. She has acted with the National Theater of Great Britain in The Misanthrope, the Arizona Theater Company in Blithe Spirit, the Oregon Shakespeare Festival, the Hartford Stage, Opera Pacific, The 5th Avenue Theater in Seattle, and John Houseman's The Acting Company. She can be seen in the films Untamed Heart, The Mighty Ducks, World and Time Enough," Drop Dead Gorgeous, Sugar and Spice and Joe Somebody.
DANIEL YABUT (Dromio of Syracuse / Jeremy) is excited to make his Door Shakespeare debut. Chicago credits include: Layla's Dream (Congo Square Theatre, dir. Chuck Smith); A Christmas Carol (Provision Theater, where he is a member); Romeo & Juliet, A Midsummer Night's Dream (Apollo Theater); and work with Collaboraction, Stage Left, the Lyric Opera and Strawdog Theatres. Other regional credits include Springfield Theatre Centre and the Minnesota Fringe Festival. Television credits include "What about Joan" (ABC) and various commercials, including Spike Lee's latest Nike spot. Originally from Philadelphia, Daniel graduated from Duquesne University and the University of Minnesota. He will make his feature film debut co-starring as Bow Wow's rival in the '70s rollerskating comedy Roll Bounce (Fox Searchlight Pictures), due out in theaters this September. Thanks to Martin, Tim, and Lori.
JERRY GOMIS (Artistic Director / Producer) has directed many productions at Door Shakespeare, including Romeo and Juliet, A Midsummer Night's Dream, The Merry Wives of Windsor and As You Like It. Jerry has also been seen in the Garden in various roles, including Benedick in Much Ado About Nothing and Malvolio in Twelfth Night. Other favorite roles in his professional theatre career include Arles, etc. in Greater Tuna, Edmond in King Lear and the Juggling Bunny in Carousel. Jerry is deeply thankful to the Door County community and Door Shakespeare family and friends for embracing and encouraging the vision that he and Suzanne imagined Door Shakespeare could become. Jerry with deep gratitude, acknowledges his family, friends, and co-workers in his 9-5 world, for their support, love and acceptance in following the journey of Door Shakespeare.
BARB PORTINGA (Costume Designer) has been designing costumes for almost 20 years. She graduated from Augsburg College and went right to work at Chanhassen Dinner Theater, where she learned most of her skills on the job and where she gleefully works as a cutter/draper for each mainstage show. She is glad to be back in beautiful Door County for a third year as resident costume designer. In recent years, she has designed The Wild Party, Imaginary Invalid, The Comedy of Errors, A Midsummer Night's Dream, The Good Woman of Szechuan, Ruby! The Ruby Bridges Story, Our Town, Miss Firecracker Contest, Pygmalion, You're a Good Man,Charlie Brown and her first set design for Suddenly Last Summer.
STEWART DAWSON (Lighting and Scene Design) says: This past winter I found a new calling as Backup Guide for Opera Southwest in Albuquerque. It was so rewarding that I asked American Folklore Theatre and Door Shakespeare if I could move into this position for them as well. I work well behind trucks and I am very pleased to be helping out in this capacity. Aside from that, I would like to insist that everyone make reservations this winter and head out to Death Valley Junction for a performance at the Amargosa Opera House (see their website). I promise you will be changed forever, if not for the better. Thanks for coming tonight and enjoy the show!
KAREN MAL (Musical Composer, Arranger & Director) is working with Door Shakespeare for a fifth season. A long-time performer with American Folklore Theatre, Karen now plays music full-time, on the road and at home in Austin, Texas. She has won the Portland Songwriters Association song contest, the Wildflower Festival Contest in Dallas, and has been chosen 3 times as a finalist for the prestigious songwriter contest at Kerrville Folk Festival. She returns to the Door this year with a brand new CD of traditional Irish and Scottish ballads called "Dark-Eyed Sailor."
KATE SCHULTZ (Stage Manager) is thrilled to be working with such a talented and dedicated group of theatre practitioners in this, her first summer with Door Shakespeare. A recent graduate of the University of Wisconsin at Whitewater, Kate's past stage managing and directing credits include Moon Over the Brewery, Moon Over Buffalo, Spinning into Butter, Nunsense II and Proof. In the fall, she'll be working as an English teacher at Verona Area High School. Thanks to everyone who has supported her thus far and to those who will continue to in the future. Enjoy the show!
KATIE DAHL Arts (Management Associate) is returning for her second season with Door Shakespeare. In 2003, she not only worked behind the scenes as an intern, but also appeared onstage as a musician in Romeo & Juliet and Much Ado About Nothing. Originally from the Twin Cities, she hails most recently from Carleton College in Northfield, Minn., from which she graduated in June with a degree in English. She is now reaping the benefits of that degree: an itinerant employment pattern, great financial uncertainty, and deep nostalgia for her long-lost college years. In the fall, she will travel to southern France to teach English to small children. Until then, she's pleased to be with all her friends in Door County. Katie would like to thank them and all of her original and adopted families, in Minnesota, Door County, Mali and elsewhere.
ELIZABETH BIRD (Musician / Business Intern) is excited to be a part of the Door Shakespeare team this summer. A flautist and a member of many pit orchestras, this is her first time on the business side of theater. She is from Oshkosh and attends Lawrence University in Appleton, but this summer is her first time in Door County. At Lawrence she is studying music education and hopes to graduate in 2007. She wishes to thank the company and the Björklunden staff for welcoming her and giving her this opportunity.
NICOLE D'ASTA (Costume Assistant / Intern) is a soon-to-be senior at Lawrence University hoping to get a degree in both vocal performance and costume design. Although this is her first year with Door Shakespeare, this native to the Midwest weather hails from LaGrange, Ill., and is excited to be in Door County for her 21st year running. She would like to thank Suzanne and Jerry for the excellent opportunity to enhance her costuming career as well as her parents for letting her go, once again, all summer long.
JOHN HANSEN (Box Office Manager) has worked with Door Shakespeare since its beginning in 1995. John was a founding member of American Folklore Theatre and has 22 seasons of Door County theater experience. He is best known for his pottery work, some of which you can see in our theater. John also teaches at the Peninsula Art School in Fish Creek and invites you to take a class or pottery lesson.
BILL LOVE (House, Concessions & Office Manager) takes care of anything, from the stage out, at one time or another during the season. He first started with American Folklore Theatre in 1990 and has been hooked on theater and Door County ever since. He says, "When summer arrives there is no other place I would rather be than with all my friends and Door Shakespeare." When the summer is over he can be found at The Denver Center for Performing Arts as their Theater Manager.
JOAN SHIELS (Audience Services / Company Chaplain) says she has too many degrees in theology for her own good. She has too many years of running different kinds of businesses to be really good at any one of them. And she lived in California too long to have any realistic take on life at all. She's been a minister, a real estate developer, a teacher, a business manager and a mom. The work did good and the kids turned out okay so she decided to try one more thing that seemed like a lot of fun: theater. She claims, "If I had to choose a profession it would ruin my whole career."
