Plot Synopsis

AS THE PLAY OPENS, a tempest strikes a ship carrying the Queen of Naples, her son, Ferdinand, and their various attendants (Sebastian, Antonio, Gonzalo, Stephano and Trinculo), who are on their way home from the wedding of the Queen's daughter. The travelers survive the storm, landing on a remote island inhabited by Prospero, an exiled duke, and his daughter, Miranda.The island had been ruled by a witch named Sycorax, who imprisoned a fairy named Ariel during her reign.When Prospero arrived, he released Ariel in exchange for a period of service, although he has promised to release Ariel from his servitude early if he performs his tasks well. Prospero and Miranda also share the island with Caliban, Prospero's servant and a native inhabitant of the island, whom Miranda has taught to read and speak.

In the next scene, Prospero tells his daughter their family's story: Prospero was once the duke of Milan, but was usurped by his brother, Antonio, along with the Queen of Naples. With Gonzalo's help, Prospero and Miranda escaped to the island with the books that are now the source of his supernatural powers. Prospero also reveals that he intentionally raised the tempest (via his fairy servant,Ariel) in order to settle the score between himself and his usurpers.

Meanwhile,Ariel brings Ferdinand onto the scene, and Ferdinand and Miranda are immediately taken with one another. Elsewhere on the island, the Queen of Naples, Sebastian, Antonio and Gonzalo discuss their situation.When Ariel arrives and puts all but Sebastian and Antonio to sleep, the two who are still awake conspire to kill their fellow survivors, and are about to do so when Ariel wakes Gonzalo, preventing the murder.

IN THE MEANTIME, Stephano and Trinculo come upon Caliban, who is hauling wood for Prospero, and quickly introduce him to liquor. Prospero also puts Ferdinand to work hauling wood. Miranda interrupts Ferdinand and proposes marriage. Ferdinand accepts, and Prospero is pleased. On the other side of the island, the now-drunk Stephano, Trinculo and Caliban plot to kill Prospero, take Miranda and make Stephano king.

Antonio and Sebastian continue their plot to kill Alonsa and Gonzalo. Using his magic, along with Ariel's, Prospero prepares the men a banquet, which he then causes to vanish suddenly as Ariel accuses the men of plotting against Prospero and blames Ferdinand's death on their mutiny. Meanwhile, Prospero welcomes Ferdinand into his family. He calls for a celebration of Ferdinand and Miranda's engagement, but abruptly stops the party in order to foil the plot against his life.

Prospero tricks Trinculo, Stephano and Caliban, luring them to his cell with beautiful clothing.Then, he magically calls Alonsa and her compatriots before him. After forgiving them, he reveals that Ferdinand is still alive and engaged to his daughter. All the characters are reunited, stories exchanged and unsettled affairs reconciled. It is decided that Prospero will return to Italy with his dukedom restored. After giving Ariel the final task of calming the seas for his homeward voyage, Prospero sets Ariel free.

The cast includes

Shipmaster – Eric Ohlrogge
Boatswain – Travis Knight
Alonsa (Queen of Naples) – Claudia Wilkens*
Gonzalo (counselor to Alonsa & friend of Prospero) – Jim Lautenbach
Sebastian (Alonsa's brother) – Jeffrey Berger
Antonio (Prospero's brother & duke of Milan) – Jerry Gomis*
Prospero (former duke of Milan; now a
magician on a Mediterranean island) – Richard Ooms*
Miranda (Prospero's daughter) – Kimberly Logan
Ariel (a spirit; Prospero's servant) – Tim Gittings
Caliban (a native inhabitant of the island;
Prospero's servant) – Stephen J. O'Toole*
Ferdinand (prince of Naples) – Darrel Cherney
Francisco (courtier attending Alonsa) – Travis Knight
Trinculo (Alonsa's court jester) – Patrick Halley
Stephano (Alonsa's butler) – Nathan M. Hosner*
A Spirit – Eric Ohlrogge
Iris (a god) – Travis Knight
Ceres (a goddess) – Amy Ensign
Juno (a goddess) – Claudia Wilkens*
Musicians – Elizabeth Bird & Katie Dahl

The crew includes

Directed by Suzanne Graff
Costumes by Barbara Portinga
Lighting & Scene Design by Stewart Dawson
Original Music,Arrangements & Direction by Karen Mal
Stage Management by Kara Schuette
Production Management by Elizabeth Bird
House Management by John Hanson

* Appears courtesy of Actors' Equity Association

JEFFREY BERGER (Sebastian) is tickled way beyond pink to be appearing with Door Shakespeare this season (his first with the company). Previously in Door County, he has appeared with Paul Sills Community Theater,TAP Works, Door Chamber Players and Isadoora Theatre, as well as in the Door Community Auditorium production of TimeSlips. In Chicago (his old home), his favorite roles were Bottom in A Midsummer Night's Dream and a full handful of characters in The Good Doctor, all with Boundary Theater Company. In Door County (his new home) and in Chicago, he has studied with Wisconsin Theater Games Center, Piven Theater Workshop and Actor's Gymnasium. Jeffrey thanks Lynn and his friends in Door Shakes for this great opportunity!

DARREL CHERNEY (Ferdinand, Valére) has recently completed his undergraduate acting training at the University of Wisconsin at Milwaukee. A relative newcomer to the theatre scene, he is glad to have the opportunity to cut his teeth with Door Shakespeare. In Milwaukee, Darrel has worked with companies such as Milwaukee Shakespeare, In Tandem and Sunset Playhouse. He would like to thank Paul, Packer and Sid for their much-appreciated hospitality, and countless other Door County-ites for making this summer a truly unique experience.

AMY ENSIGN (Mariner, Spirit, Ceres, Elmire) is delighted to join Door Shakespeare for her first season under the stars. A voyaging sailor,Amy now lives in Sturgeon Bay with her husband and three-year old son.Amy was recently seen as Laura in Isadoora Theater Company's production of The Glass Menagerie. She has performed with the Door Community Auditorium, For Kids By Kids, TAP Works and in Teatro Caravaggio's production of The Belle of Amherst. A theater graduate of The University of Washington,Amy also studied with the Suzuki Company of
Toga-Mura, Japan. She would like to thank her family for their constant support and Jerry and Suzanne for the wonderful opportunity to perform in the Garden.

TIM GITTINGS (Ariel, Cléante) is very happy to be back for his sixth season with Door Shakespeare. He recently graduated from the M.F.A. training program at the Alabama Shakespeare Festival in Montgomery. Favorite Door Shakespeare roles include Mercutio in Romeo and Juliet, Peaseblossom and Flute in A Midsummer Night's Dream, Sir Andrew Aguecheek in Twelfth Night and Ford in The Merry Wives of Windsor — which he performed after getting married on this very stage three years ago. In addition to two seasons at the Alabama Shakespeare Festival, Tim has also worked for the Chicago Shakespeare Theater, Remy Bumppo Theatre Company, Circle Theatre and Stage Left Theatre. Special thanks to Ellie for all her love and support.

PATRICK HALLEY (Trinculo,Damis) is happy to spend his first summer under the stars in Door County. In Chicago, he was recently seen in Moon Over Buffalo (Theatre Building) and Cat On a Hot Tin Roof (The Hypocrites). Other credits include Oak Park Festival Theatre, Red Tape Theatre, Improv Kitchen, The Apollo and five productions with the Shakespeare ensemble A Crew of Patches, where he is a company member. Regionally: The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (Abridged) and two seasons with The Hudson Valley Shakespeare Festival. He is a graduate of Bucknell University.Thanks to Suzanne, Jerry and Mom.

NATHAN M. HOSNER (Stephano,Tartuffe) is thrilled to be back for his second season with Door Shakes, where he was last seen as Jack in The Importance of Being Earnest and Jaques in As You Like It. A Kalamazoo, Mich., native and graduate of The Royal Academy of Dramatic Art in London, his recent credits include Prince/Paris in The People vs. Friar Lawrence (BoarsHead Theater), Jim Taylor/Harry Lombardi in The Only Thing (Madison Repertory Theatre's New Play Festival) and Macbeth in 50-Minute Macbeth (Shakespeare Project of Chicago). Love and a big Chicka-braaaah to Miriam.

TRAVIS KNIGHT (Shipmaster, Francisco, Iris, Police Officer) recently completed his B.F.A. in acting training at the University of Wisconsin at Milwaukee. He is very excited about this wonderful opportunity to work with everyone at Door Shakespeare. Some of his university credits include Walter Lee Younger in A Raisin In The Sun, Ollie in the U.S. premiere of Mr. Melancholy and Jay in the World Premiere of Ghost.You can see him next fall in UWM's production of August Wilson's Seven Guitars and next spring in In Tandem Theatre's musical production of Girl In The Frame.

JIM LAUTENBACH (Gonzalo) is delighted to be back for his fifth season at Door Shakespeare, where he has been seen in The Taming of the Shrew, A Midsummer Night's Dream, A Comedy of Errors and As You Like It as well as being a member of the board of directors. A Door County native and Marquette University graduate, he was last seen on stage as Tom in Tennessee William's The Glass Menagerie with Isadoora Theatre Company. He originated the role of Jason in the World Premiere of The Benevolent Women's Craft Society and has been seen traipsing around in an elf costume in David Sedaris' one-man show, The Santaland Diaries. Jim is indebted to his family and friends in Door County and beyond (especially Larry) for their unending guidance and support.Thank you, everyone! Jim dedicates his work this season to the memory of Monty.

KIMBERLY LOGAN (Miranda, Mariane) comes to Door Shakespeare from Michigan, by way of Chicago. After studying classical acting in London, Kimberly interned at Asolo Theatre in Sarasota, Florida, and Peterborough Players in New Hampshire. Since moving to Chicago, Kimberly has played a wide range of roles for various theatres and has become a member of Thunder & Lightning Ensemble. Favorite roles include Bianca in The Taming of the Shrew, Dogberry in Much Ado About Nothing, Hallie/Margeurite in Inventing Van Gogh and the title role in Robin Goodfellow.Thanks to all who support the theatre in all its forms!

ERIC OHLROGGE (Shipmaster, Spirit, Intern) is a 20-year-old German and drama double major at Lawrence University in Appleton. He has worked with the Menasha High School Jay Players appearing in such roles as Jan Dussel in The Diary of Anne Frank, Dick in Dames at Sea and The Reverend Arthur Humphrey in I'll Get My Man. Eric is delighted to join Door Shakes this season as an acting and stage crew intern because it has given him his first chance to perform in one of Shakespeare's works. Eric would like to extend a special thanks to Jerry and Suzanne for giving him the opportunity to work with such a great company!

RICHARD OOMS (Prospero, Loyal) is happy to be with Door Shakespeare for a third season. He is a founding member of John Houseman's The Acting Company, where for eight seasons he performed in cities throughout the United States. During this time he met and married his wife of 30 years, actress Claudia Wilkens. In 1981, they and their two-year-old son, Michael, relocated to Minneapolis, where Richard has been a member of the acting company at the Guthrie Theater and has appeared in more than 100 productions there, most recently in Hamlet. He has also performed with The Jungle Theater, Mixed Blood, Minneapolis Children's Theater, the Minnesota Fringe Festival and the Minneapolis Shakespeare Project. Richard can be seen in the films Drop Dead Gorgeous and The Thirteenth Warrior. Last summer he played dual dukes in As You Like It and dual butlers in The Importance of Being Earnest.During the winter, Richard appeared in Democracy at Park Square Theater in St.Paul.

STEPHEN J. O'TOOLE (Caliban, Orgon) has been a professional actor in the Twin Cities for the past 20 years. He holds an M.F.A. in Theatre Arts and an M.Ed. from the University of Minnesota. Stephen was a member of Dudley Riggs' Brave New Workshop and has acted at The Actor's Theatre of St. Paul, Illusion Theatre, Park Square Theatre and the History Theatre. Stephen recently directed Tartuffe at Century College and The Foreigner for Elk River Community Theatre.Audiences may have seen Stephen as Touchstone in As You Like It, Friar Lawrence in Romeo and Juliet and Bottom in A Midsummer Night's Dream. Stephen is excited to be returning for his fourth season at Door Shakespeare.

CLAUDIA WILKENS (Alonsa, Juno, Mme. Pernelle) is delighted to spend another summer with Door Shakespeare. She lives in Minneapolis with her husband, Richard Ooms, and has performed there with the Guthrie Theater, the Jungle Theater,The Eye of the Storm, the Minnesota Opera, Chanhassen Dinner Theater, 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, Drop Dead Gorgeous, Sugar and Spice and Joe Somebody. Last summer she was Lady Bracknell in The Importance of Being Earnest, and during the winter she played Mrs. Malaprop in The Rivals at the Jungle Theater in Minneapolis.

JERRY GOMIS (Antonio, Director, Producer) has directed many productions at Door Shakespeare, including The Importance of Being Earnest, She Stoops to Conquer, A Comedy of Errors, The Merry Wives of Windsor, Romeo and Juliet, A Midsummer Night's Dream, The Taming of the Shrew and As You Like It. Jerry has also been seen in the Garden performing various roles, including Benedick in Much Ado About Nothing and Malvolio in Twelfth Night. Other favorite roles in his professional theatre career include Elyot in Private Lives, the title role in Macbeth and all the servants and the maid in School for Scandal. He owes great thanks to Suzanne,William and Anna Marie for their continual inspiration, patience and — more patience."Thanks to friends, family and co-workers for your support and encouragement. I wouldn't be here without you."

SUZANNE GRAFF (Dorine, Director, Producer) has been involved in Door County theatre for more than 15 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, The Taming of the Shrew and As You Like It. Her Door Shakespeare acting credits include Viola in Twelfth Night,Titania in A Midsummer Night's Dream, Nurse in Romeo and Juliet, Mistress Quickly in The Merry Wives of Windsor and Gwendolyn in The Importance of Being Earnest. 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 has appeared at the Skylight Opera Theatre and Theatre Tesseract. Other regional credits include She Loves Me at Indiana Repertory Theatre 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. Love to Jerry,William and Anna Marie.

ELIZABETH BIRD (Assistant Company Manager, Musician) is back for her third season with Door Shakespeare. Beginning as an intern, she now helps manage the business and is onstage for her third summer as a musician.After fake-graduating from Lawrence University in June, she will student teach in the fall and receive a real diploma come January. She would like to thank Door Shakespeare for the chance to return as well as Adam for visiting so much!

KATIE DAHL (Public Relations Associate, Musician) is happy to return for her fourth season with Door Shakespeare. Since graduating from Carleton College two years ago, Katie has spent one year in France teaching English (and eating good cheese), two summers and one fall in Door County working for her favorite theaters (and eating even better cheese) and one winter in Minneapolis rambling around (and trying to thaw out the less-than-stellar Minnesotan cheese).When she's not spending her summer days writing columns for the Peninsula Pulse or the Resorter Reporter, she can often be found playing music, which she has done onstage in four Door Shakespeare productions, including last year's As You Like It and The Importance of Being Earnest. Katie would like to thank the CFE for all the porch songs, campfires and trying to make it last.

STEWART DAWSON (Lighting, Set, & Properties Design) is happy and most qualified to fill in as Master Cylinder this year, as the highly coveted position of Bench Warmer was not available as a result of unforeseen difficulties.This job includes many tasks, ranging from mouse catching to taking Manfred out for long walks. During this past winter, Stewart had the honor and pleasure of lighting Ms. Joan Baez in concert in Albuquerque, as well as fulfilling his duties as Technical Director for Opera Southwest. He is sorry to say that Mimi and Gilda died every night. But that's the way La Boheme and Rigoletto were written, so had no say in the matter — although he is in the process of rewriting Rigoletto. It will be happier. Have a great evening, and enjoy the performance!

JOHN HANSEN (House Manager) is known for his many years of audience service management with American Folklore Theatre and every season of Door Shakespeare. An accomplished potter, John provides our sound system with his unique ceramic "Planet Speakers" as well as pottery available in our concessions area.When not in Door County, John resides near Boulder, Colorado where he teaches and produces pottery at his business, MudSlingers Pottery.

KAREN MAL (Musical Composer,Arranger, & Director) is working with Door Shakespeare for a seventh season. A longtime performer at Door County's American Folklore Theatre, Karen now plays music full time, on the road and at home in Austin,Texas. She is an award-winning songwriter, and has been chosen three times as a finalist for the prestigious songwriting competition at Kerrville Folk Festival. This year she has been playing solo shows as well as playing mandolin and singing with the Ronny Cox trio. She won Celtic Radio's award for Best Traditional Song of 2006 and is pleased to announce the June release of her eagerly anticipated CD, The Space Between.

CARMEL MORGAN-WEISBERG (Business Intern) is excited to work with Door Shakespeare for the first time this summer. While enjoying her time here in beautiful Door County, she hopes to learn all she can about running a theater company. Carmel, a senior at Lawrence University in Appleton, is pursuing a bachelor of music degree in performance. This fall, she will be studying in Chicago as part of an offcampus program focused on immersion in the fine arts. Her future plans include traveling through Europe and earning a Master's degree in music business or arts administration.

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 grateful to be back in beautiful Door County for a fifth year as resident costume designer. In recent years in the Twin Cities area, she has designed The Wild Party, The Comedy of Errors, The Children's Hour, A Midsummer Night's Dream, The Tempest and her first set design for Suddenly Last Summer. She had lots of fun being design assistant on the Minneapolis Children's Theatre hit musical Disney's High School Musical. She is looking forward to her first design for American Folklore Theatre, this fall's Main-Travelled Roads.

KARA SCHUETTE (Stage Manager) is very excited to be here for the first time with Door Shakespeare. It is also her first time in Door County! Kara has been stage managing in the Minneapolis area for several years. Some of her favorite shows include: The Baron, Farm Boys, Beyond the Rainbow, Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, Equus, Death Of A Salesman, Jeffrey and Present Laughter. Kara would like to thank her husband,Terry, for holding down the fort back in Minneapolis.

KATRINA SCHUSTER (Costume Intern) hails from small-town central Wisconsin, and is pleased to find herself playing with the pros this summer. As a recent theatre graduate from Lawrence University, she is living the starving-artist life and has happily realized that costuming helps pay the bills! After working and designing for Lawrence, Kat has broken out of the bubble and landed her first "real" gig designing the Attic Theatre's production of I Love You,You're Perfect, Now Change this August in Appleton. Thanks to E.B. and Suzanne for "coercing" her to jump on this opportunity, to Barb for teaching her the tricks of the trade and the cast for looking so darn good in her creations!