The play opens in the court of Theseus, duke of Athens, whose is preparing for his marriage to Hippolyta, queen of the Amazons, whom he has won in warfare. Suddenly, the nobleman Egeus appears with his daughter, Hermia, and Lysander. Though Egeus wants Hermia to marry Demetrius, Hermia loves Lysander and refuses to marry Demetrius. Theseus warns Hermia that she will face serious consequences if she flouts her father's wishes, but Hermia and Lysander decide to flee the following night and marry in the home of Lysander's house. Helena, Demetrius' jilted former lover who still loves Demetrius, appears, and Hermia and Lysander tell her of their plans. In an attempt to win back his love, Helena relays these plans to Demetrius, and both Demetrius and Helena follow Hermia and Lysander into the forest.
In the woods, we meet a group of craftsmen from Athens, who are rehearsing a play in order to perform it for Theseus and Hippolyta. The woods are also inhabited by a band of fairies, led by the fairy king, Oberon, and queen, Titania. Titania and Oberon are angry at each other, and Oberon resolves to punish Titania by putting a certain flower's juice on her eyes while she is sleeping, which will make her fall in love with the first thing she sees on waking. Oberon's servant, Puck, fetches the flower, and Oberon orders Puck to put some of the juice on Demetrius, in hopes that it will change Demetrius' cruel behavior toward Helena, which Oberon witnessed earlier. Puck mistakenly puts the potion on Lysander's eyes instead, and upon waking, Lysander falls in love with Helena. In an attempt to remedy the situation, Oberon anoints Demetrius' eyes, and Helena is now faced with two would-be lovers.
Titania wakes and falls in love with Bottom, the Athenian craftsman whose head Puck has turned into an ass. Oberon and Titania resolve their dispute, and Puck spreads the love potion on Lysander's eyelids, mending relations between Lysander and Hermia. Theseus and Hippolyta find the four lovers sleeping in the forest and bring them back to Athens for a marriage ceremony. After the wedding, the newlyweds watch the craftsmen perform their (inadvertently hilarious) play.
The cast includes
Robin Goodfellow (a "puck," or hobgoblin, in Oberon's service) ~ Patrick Halley Theseus (Duke of Athens) ~ Nathan Hosner* A Musician ~ Katie Dahl Demetrius (a lover) ~ Luke Leonhardt Tom Snout (a tinker) ~ Josh Fazeli Snug (a joiner) ~ Eric Ohlrogge Hermia (a lover) ~ Jennefer Ludwigsen Lysander (a lover) ~Nicholas Harazin Hippolyta (Queen of the Amazons) ~ Saren Nofs-Snyder Philostrate (master of the revels to Theseus) ~ Patrick Halley Egeus (father to Hermia) ~ Robert Allan Smith* Helena (a lover) ~ Courtney Jones Peter Quince (a carpenter) ~ Michael Sander* Nick Bottom (a weaver) ~ Robert Allan Smith* Francis Flute (a bellows-mender) ~ Zach Fineblum First Fairy ~ Amy Ensign Oberon (King of the fairies) ~ Nathan Hosner* Titania (Queen of the fairies) ~ Saren Nofs-Snyder Peaseblossom (a fairy) ~ Zach Fineblum Cobweb (a fairy) ~ Josh Fazeli Mustardseed (a fairy) ~ Amy Ensign
The crew includes
Costumes by Barbara Portinga
Lighting & Scene Design by Stewart Dawson
Original Music, Arrangements, and Direction by Karen Mal
Stage Management by Jessica Connelly*
Properties Design by Eric Ohlrogge
Fight Direction by Luke Leonhardt
Business Management by Jean Hanson
House Management by John Hansen
*Members of the Actors’ Equity Association
JOHN HANSEN (House Manager / Jean) is celebrating his twenty-fifth season of theater work in Door County. John has had many roles with Door Shakespeare and American Folklore Theatre, but is excited to combine his behind-the-scenes efforts with an onstage role this year. He is also known as an exceptional potter, making our house sound speakers and mugs. John's pottery work can also be seen at Potter's Wheel Gallery in Fish Creek.
LUKE LEONHARDT (Demetrius / Valvert / Poet / Cadet / Fight Director) is honored to make his Door Shakespeare debut in Midsummer and Cyrano. Luke earned his BFA in Theatre Studies from Boston University and studied at the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Arts (LAMDA). Recent roles include: Paradise - Basaam at Next Act, Take Me Out - Rodriguez at Milwaukee Chamber Theatre, The Jammer - Specs Macedo at Bialystock & Bloom, And Then They Came for Me - Young Ed. Luke has also served as fight director and stage combat instructor for many theatres and high schools in the Milwaukee area. He lives in Milwaukee with his wife, Leah.
JOSH FAZELI (Snout / Cobweb / Montfleury / Musketeer / Bertrand the Fifer / Intern) is pleased to be working with Door Shakespeare this summer! He is currently going to be a junior at the University of Minnesota/Guthrie Theatre BFA Actor Training Program. His recent credits include Romeo and Juliet, Splendor in the Grass, and SITI Workshop 2007 Composition, Adam and Eve. Josh has trained at The SITI Company Workshop 2007, Circle in the Square Theatre School Professional Workshop Program, and Interlochen Arts Academy. This fall he will be studying in London at the Globe Theatre and LISPA. Josh wants to thank his mom and his sister, and his dad for all their love and support, and particularly his late mentor, Joe Bertucci. This one's for you!
ERIC OHLROGGE (Snug / Burgher / Poet / Cadet / Intern / Props Design) is a Theatre Performance/German double major with a pre-med area of study at Lawrence University, and is overjoyed to be back in beautiful Door County this summer for another year with Door Shakespeare. His recent acting credits include Juan de Pareja in Vallejo's Las Meninas and Don Pedro in Lope De Vega's The Knight from Olmedo. His recent properties credits include last year's productions of The Tempest and Tartuffe at Door Shakespeare and The Complete Works of Shakespeare (Abridged) at Lawrence University. Eric looks forward to his upcoming senior year at Lawrence University, and his senior project next March: playing the title role in Moliere's Sganarelle, or The Imaginary Cuckold.
WILLIAM GOMES (Burgher's Son) makes his second appearance on the Door Shakespeare stage. His first was as a four-year-old, when he made a brief appearance as the little Indian Boy in Door Shakespeare's previous production of A Midsummer Night's Dream (a role he shared with his sister, Anna Marie). He is really happy to be in Cyrano this year. William will be entering the fourth grade in September, plays the piano, loves the Magic Tree House books, and plans to be a paleontologist.
ZACH FINEBLUM (Flute / Peaseblossom / Pickpocket / Cadet / Poet), originally from Baltimore, Maryland, will be a senior in the University of Minnesota/Guthrie Theatre BFA Actor Training Program in the fall. Past roles include Ali Hakim in Oklahoma, Melchior Gabor in Spring Awakening, Iachimo in Shakespeare's Cymbeline, and most recently, Benjamin Cohen in Steve Martin's adaptation of the Carl Sternheim farce The Underpants. He would like to thank his awesomely supportive friends, family, and teachers who have helped him to grow over the years, and of course, his loving mom and dad, brother, and dog Louie—without them, he would probably still be working at Strapazza's.
JENNEFER LUDWIGSEN (Hermia / Buffet Girl / Lise / Cadet / Sister Claire) returns to the garden for her seventh season with Door Shakespeare. A graduate of Northwestern University, her work has taken her to Chicago, Los Angeles and luckily, Door County, appearing on stage with Shaw Chicago, Apple Tree Theatre, The National Theatre for Children, American Folklore Theatre, and on television with Desperate Housewives, ER and in numerous commercials. Last summer Jennefer toured with Montana Shakespeare in the Parks, performing in 58 shows of Heartbreak House and Merry Wives of Windsor in 68 towns in 73 days. She then returned to Seattle where she recently completed her 2nd year of MFA study at the University of Washington's Professional Actor Training Program (PATP). Jennefer is thrilled to be leading the educational outreach program, Doorways, for Door Shakespeare this summer. This season is dedicated to Grandma and Grandpa Lud.
PATRICK HALLEY (Puck / Philostrate / Lignière / Friar / Poet / Cadet) happily returns to Door Shakespeare, where he was seen last season as Trinculo in The Tempest and Damis in Tartuffe. Favorite regional work includes Montana Shakespeare in the Parks, two seasons with Hudson Valley Shakespeare Festival, and The Complete Works of Wm. Shakespeare (Abridged) in his native upstate New York. Chicago credits: greasy joan & co., The Hypocrites, Theatre Building, Oak Park Festival Theatre, Red Tape, The Apollo, Chicago Scriptworks, and 8 productions with A Crew of Patches, where he is an ensemble member. Patrick is a graduate of Bucknell University. Let's go Cubs.
NICHOLAS HARAZIN (Lysander / Christian) is making his debut this season with Door Shakespeare after spending the last few years splitting time between Milwaukee and his hometown of Minneapolis. Past work includes productions with Milwaukee Shakespeare, In Tandem Theatre, Nevermore Theatre in Milwaukee, as well as Theatre de la Jeune Lune, MN Jewish Theatre Company, Emigrant Theater, MN Centennial Showboat, Park Square Theater, and Old Log Theatre in MN. He has also had the pleasure of being a regular at the Playwright's Center in their continued production of new works, and most recently had the opportunity to participate in Bunny Gumbo's 24 hour Combat Theatre. Up next for Nicholas is The Persians with Renaissance Theaterworks, The Sum of Us with Chamber Theatre and Othello with Milwaukee Shakespeare. He hopes you enjoy the production as much as he has this entire summer.
KATIE DAHL (Musician / Public Relations Associate) is grateful to return for her fifth season of writing and playing music for Door Shakespeare. A Minnesota native with strong family ties to Door County, Katie has been involved in theater on the Door peninsula since she started volunteering at American Folklore Theatre in 1995. An alumna of Carleton College, Katie spends her off-seasons roaming around the U.S. and beyond, cobbling together enough writing and teaching work to justify her annual return to Door County. When she's not onstage at Door Shakespeare, Katie can often be found picking fruit at her family's orchard, working at AFT, writing for various Door County publications, and playing music around bonfires. This season is dedicated to her mother, who has never once suggested that she find a real job.
ANNA MARIE GOMES (A Flower Girl) is thrilled be performing on the Door Shakespeare stage again. She was last seen as the Indian Boy in Door Shakespeare's 2002 production of Midsummer. At the ripe age of eight she is excited to start taking violin lessons and create many more adventures for her Webkiz friends, Regis, Misty, Quackers, and Spots. Anna Marie will be starting third grade in September. She is currently weighing her options for her professional career, which include veterinarian, jockey, singer, or astronaut.
MICHAEL SANDER (Peter Quince / Ragueneau) is delighted to make his first foray into classical theatre. A graduate of the theatre program at Syracuse University, he studied in New York with Uta Hagen and Alice Spivak. He has appeared at such theatres as Center for Music, Drama, and Art, Lake Placid, NY; Arena House, Harrisburg, PA; Priscilla Beach Theatre, Plymouth, MA; and Keeweenaw Playhouse, Calumet, MI. He has been an editor of college textbooks, and a theatre critic for Los Angeles Drama-Logue and New York Backstage. Of late, he has had a wonderful time directing musicals at Pequot Lakes Community Theatre in Minnesota. Thanks to Door Shakespeare for this exciting adventure.
ROBERT ALLAN SMITH (Egeus / Bottom / Le Bret) is thrilled to join the company of Door Shakespeare in this idyllic setting. In Chicago, Robert has appeared in The Tempest (Trinculo), Romeo & Juliet (Tybalt), Titus Andronicus (Lucius), Much Ado, Hamlet, King Lear, the Henry VI plays, numerous productions of Midsummer, and toured regionally as Malvolio in Twelfth Night. Other favorites include Eddie McCuen in Musical Comedy Murders of 1940, TimeLine Theatre's Guantanamo: Honor Bound…, and most recently as the Madman of "The Tell-Tale Heart" in First Folio's Jeff-Nominated The Madness of Edgar Allan Poe. Robert will be appearing in Milwaukee Shakespeare's upcoming production of Othello this spring.
SAREN NOFS-SNYDER (Hippolyta / Titania / Roxane) is pleased to make her debut with Door Shakespeare. Currently a resident of Chicago, Saren recently received a Jeff Nomination for her work as Mrs. Cheveley in An Ideal Husband at Circle Theatre. Other theatres include the Utah Shakespearean Festival, Kansas City Rep, Artist Repertory Theatre and Pioneer Theatre Company with favorite productions including Three Days of Rain (Nan/Lina), Enchanted April (Lady Caroline), Macbeth (Lady Macbeth), As You Like It (Celia), and Fool For Love (May). Saren holds an MFA in Acting from the University of Missouri, Kansas City. Roxane for my mother (J'taime!) and Titania for my father (my favourite Stratfordian).
SUZANNE GRAFF (Producer / Director / Duenna / Mother Marguerite) has directed Twelfth Night, The Taming of the Shrew (Wild West), Much Ado About Nothing, As you Like It and last year's The Tempest. She has performed several roles, including Viola in Twelfth Night, Titania in Midsummer, The Nurse in Romeo and Juliet, Gwendolyn in The Importance of Being Earnest, and last year as Dorine in Tartuffe. Prior to her ten years producing Door Shakespeare, Suzanne met Door County audiences through her several seasons with American Folklore Theatre. She had the great fortune to have Paul Sills directing her in AFT's very first season. Regionally, Suzanne has also performed at theatres such as: Indiana Rep, Milwaukee's Skylight, and St. Paul's History Theatre. In New York City, Suzanne performed Off-Broadway in Twelfth Night and originated the role of Charline in James Valcq's Zombies From the Beyond. Suzanne toured the country with productions of: She Stoops to Conquer, Oedipus, Twelfth Night and several others. With love and thanks to Jerry, to "the miracle," and to "the wonder"; and dedication to Paul: "Feel your feet, tell the story."
NATHAN HOSNER (Theseus / Oberon / De Guiche), a Kalamazoo, MI native and graduate of The Royal Academy of Dramatic Art in London, is delighted to return for his third season in the Garden, where he was last seen as Stephano in The Tempest and the title role in Tartuffe. Recent regional credits include David Wylie in What Every Woman Knows for Shaw Chicago, Victor Fleming in Moonlight and Magnolias at The BoarsHead Theater, and MacBeth in 50 Minute Macbeth with Shakespeare Project of Chicago. Other credits include productions with Madison Rep, Illinois Shakespeare Festival, RADA Enterprises, and a role on As The World Turns. Nathan would like to dedicate this season to The Bride of Ol'Prickly - without you, we wouldn't be here.
JERRY GOMIS (Producer / Director / Cyrano) is delighted to be spending stage time with this wonderful company of actors. Jerry is a graduate of the National Shakespeare Conservatory, where he met Suzanne Graff, his wife and co-producer of Door Shakespeare. He has 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 Arles, etc in Greater Tuna. Jerry has also directed many productions at Door Shakespeare, including Tartuffe, 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. Thanks to Suzanne, William, and the mighty Anna Marie.
COURTNEY JONES (Helena / Sister Martha / Musician / Pastry Cook / Cadet) is excited to make her debut with Door Shakespeare. She was most recently seen in The Girl in The Frame with InTandem Theater Company; she has also performed with Milwaukee Shakespeare, The Skylight, First Stage Children's Theater and Quasi Productions. Recent credits include: Texas Shakespeare Festival, The National Tour of A Christmas Carol, and the Racine Theater Guild. Favorite roles include: Lady Mortimer/ Lady Percy in I Henry IV, Constanze in Amadeus, Catherine in Proof, and Sally Bowles in Cabaret. She received her BFA in Musical Theater from the UW-Stevens Point. Courtney has also built costumes for Lyric Opera, The Met, NYC Opera and various Broadway shows.
BARB PORTINGA (Costume Designer) has been designing costumes for almost twenty 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 sixth year as resident costume designer. In recent years in the Twin Cities area, she has designed The Wild Party, The Crucible, Dead Man Walking, The Women, 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 and her first design for AFT, Main-Travelled Roads.
JOAN SHIELS (Box Office Manager/Company Chaplain) has two professions and two loves: ministry and theater. Some people find that an odd combination, but she says, "Church and theater really have a lot in common. We both put on a show and then we ask for money." Joan called us eight years ago, when she moved here from California, and said, "You're wonderful! I want to work for you!" Every summer since she has housed actors, worked box office, helped in the office or moved chairs—whatever was needed. She says, "Shakespeare under the stars is a slice of heaven. Give me more."
JEAN HANSON (Business Manager) joins the company this year as Business Manager. Starting out with a degree in English literature, she somehow ended up with a career in law, publishing, and finance. Her love of literature brings her to Door Shakespeare, and her love of Door County brings her and her husband here for retirement. Thanks to husband, Rolf, and children Emily (and Chris), Laura (and Aaron), and Steve for being a part of this! Love to all!
ALLISON MCGUIRE (Business Intern) is an Economics and Theatre Arts major at Lawrence University, focusing in microeconomics and design / technical theatre. Her favorite LU theatre credits include stage managing The Shape of Things, Head/Case and Finding the Laughter (Again). She has also been seen in the Open Spaces Theatre Company productions of Twelfth Night and King Lear. She thanks her mom, dad and Stephanie for all their love and support. Enjoy the show.
KAREN MAL (Musical Composer, Arranger, & Director) lives in Austin, Texas, when she's not on the road touring with her full-time music career. A long-time veteran actor of American Folklore Theatre, she loves returning to the county every summer with new music spilling out of her suitcase for Door Shakespeare. Karen's an award-winning songwriter with three CDs to her name. Her latest CD, The Space Between, reached number six on the Folk DJ charts in November. When she's not playing or composing music, she likes to spend as much time as possible in the woods and on the river.
LEAH DUENO (Costume Intern) is a senior at Cardinal Stritch University, where she is both a theatre and business major. She recently discovered her passion for costuming when she costumed The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (Abridged). She has been on the wardrobe crew for Proof, Cinderella and A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum, to name a few. She is very excited to be working with all the talented people here at Door Shakespeare and would like to thank Suzanne and Barb for giving her a chance.
JESSICA CONNELLY (Stage Manager) is an Arizona native and honors graduate of the University Wisconsin-Milwaukee Theater Department. During the regular season, Jessica is the resident Stage Manager at Next Act Theatre in Milwaukee, this is her first season with Door Shakespeare. A few of her favorite projects include Chesapeake, Trojan Women, The Shape Of Things, Memory House, and the US premier of Skin Tight (Renaissance Theaterworks), Dear Ester, Master Harold and the Boys, The Last Of The Boys, MYSTERY OF IRMA VEP and FAITH HEALER (Next Act Theatre), Blue Rose (Milwaukee Rep), Hairspray and La Cage Aux Follies (Little Theatre on the Square). Jessica would like to thank her family and friends for their support during this last year of changes. Jessica is a member of Actors' Equity Association.
STEWART DAWSON (Lighting, Set, & Properties Design) says: This past winter while busily pursuing Tosca as technical director for Opera Southwest in Albuquerque, I was momentarily distracted by an unusual noise coming from either the stage or the orchestra pit during the final dress rehearsal. Returning to Door County for the summer and autumn months always jolts me back out of my senses. But my love for this place is forever perplexing. Thanks for coming tonight and I hope you enjoy our little play.
KATIE DAHL (Musician / Public Relations Associate) is grateful to return for her fifth season of writing and playing music for Door Shakespeare. A Minnesota native with strong family ties to Door County, Katie has been involved in theater on the Door peninsula since she started volunteering at American Folklore Theatre in 1995. An alumna of Carleton College, Katie spends her off-seasons roaming around the U.S. and beyond, cobbling together enough writing and teaching work to justify her annual return to Door County. When she's not onstage at Door Shakespeare, Katie can often be found picking fruit at her family's orchard, working at AFT, writing for various Door County publications, and playing music around bonfires. This season is dedicated to her mother, who has never once suggested that she find a real job.
