Photo by Suzie Hass

Plot Synopsis

Pride and Prejudice focuses on the story of the Bennet family. The Bennet family lives in the estate of Longbourn, in England. Mr. and Mrs. Bennet are the father and mother of five daughters: Jane, Elizabeth, Mary, Kitty and Lydia. All of the daughters are of marriageable age and it has become Mrs. Bennet's dream to have each of them marry a wealthy man with high social status. With no male heirs, Mrs. Bennet knows she and her daughters would be evicted from their home should Mr. Bennet die. When an estate nearby is rented by Mr. Bingley, a man who is handsome, amiable, and very wealthy, Mrs. Bennet arranges to have her daughters meet him in hopes that he will want to marry one of them. While at a party, Jane and Mr. Bingley become very close. However, Mr. Darcy, Mr. Bingley's friend, and disapproves of the low status of the Bennet family. He is prideful, and feels that both he and Mr. Bingley are superior to the Bennet family. Everyone dislikes Mr. Darcy right away because of his secretive and unsociable nature, but Mr. Darcy begins to form feelings for Elizabeth, without her knowing. Elizabeth hears a story from the young officer named Wickham about Mr. Darcy's cruel nature, which makes herd is like him even more. Is the story true or is
Wickham lying in order to have Elizabeth for himself?

The cast includes

Jane Bennet ~ Amy Ensign
Lizzy Bennet ~ Leslie Ann Handelman *
Mary Bennet ~ Emily Moulds
Kitty Bennet ~ Madelyn DePrey
Lydia Bennet ~ Bessie Tockstein
Mrs. Bennet ~ Debra Babich*
Mr. Bennet ~ Mark Moede
Charlotte Lucas ~ Anne St. Henry
Sir William Lucas ~ Barry Saltzman*
Lady Lucas ~ Michelle Myers Berg*
Charles Bingley ~ Steven Marzolf
Caroline Bingley ~ Kay Allmand
Mr. Darcy ~ Nathan Hosner*
Ensign Denny ~ Tim Murray
Captain Carter ~ Ryan Shaw
Mr. Collins ~ Stephen Pearce
Mr. Wickham ~ Scot West
Lady Catherine de Bourgh ~ Michelle Myers Berg*
Anne de Bourgh ~ Emily Moulds
Fitzwilliam ~ James Valcq*
Georgina Darcy ~ Madelyn DePrey
Mr. Gardiner ~ James Valcq*
Mrs. Gardiner ~ Michelle Myers Berg*
Mrs. Reynolds ~ Anne St. Henry

The crew includes

Direction ~ Jerry Gomis*
Costumes ~ Barb Portinga
Costume Intern ~ Lee Conrads
Prop Master ~ Ryan Shaw
Lighting & Scene Design ~ Stewart Dawson
Production Stage Manager ~ Kimberly Ann McCann*
Assistant Stage Manager (Pride & Prejudice) ~ Tim Murray
Assistant Stage Manager (Twelfth Night) ~ Emily Moulds
Graphic Designs & Layout ~ Michael Meulemans
Company & Business Management ~ Terese Boeck
House Management ~ John Hansen
Box Office Manager ~ Candice Wuehle
Intern Office Administration ~ Peter Mol & Kate Vander Velden

* Appears courtesy of Actors' Equity Association

Amy Ensign (Jane Bennet) is delighted to return to Door Shakespeare where she was last seen as Julia in The Rivals and Verges in Much ado about Nothing. Some of Amy's past roles include Susan in Theater M's production of A Bed Among the Lentils, Mags in Isadoora's Painting Churches, and Portia in Door Shakespeare's The Merchant of Venice. Look for Amy next in The Spitfire Grill for AFT and as Shirley Valentine at TAP. Amy is a graduate of the University of Washington and studied with the Suzuki Company of Toga-Mura, Japan. A voyaging sailor, she lives in Sturgeon Bay with her husband and son. www.amyensign.com. Thank you to Suzanne and Jerry and the entire production family for the magic of the garden.

Leslie Ann Handelman (Lizzy Bennet) is thrilled to be returning to Door Shakespeare after appearing in last season's productions of The Rivals and Much Ado About Nothing. Her most recent credits include Reunion: A Musical Epic In Miniature (Meadowbrook Theatre), Cashel Byron's Profession (ShawChicago), and a reading of Double Falsehood (Goats and Monkeys). Leslie's other Chicago and regional credits include appearances with Milwaukee Shakespeare, Jewish Ensemble Theatre, ShawChicago, Meadowbrook Theatre, Syracuse Stage, and Stage One. She holds an MFA from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and is a proud member of Actors' Equity. Many thanks to Jerry and Suzanne for the chance to play.

Emily Moulds (Mary Bennet) is delighted to return to Door Shakespeare for her second season as an intern. Recently, she has performed on the stage at Anoka-Ramsey Community College in roles including Buttercup (HMS Pinafore), Veta Louise (Harvey) and Feste (Twelfth Night) She also filled the role of stage manager for the spring production Book of Days. She will be returning to Minnesota after the summer to pursue her Bachelor's Degree in Theater at the Minnesota State University in Moorhead.

Madelyn DePrey (Kitty Bennet, Georgina Darcy) has long dreamt of being a member of the Door
Shakespeare company! Despite being born and raised in the Twin Cities, half her heart belongs to Door County where she spent summers growing up. The other half belongs to her passion for Shakespeare. What a match! Madelyn holds a BA in Theater Arts and Education from Hamline
University and studied acting for a semester at The National Theater Institute (Waterford, CT) and in St. Petersburg. Favorite roles include Anne in The Diary of Anne Frank, Helen in The Miracle Worker, Rosalind in As You Like It, and Evelyn in The Shape of Things.

Bessie Tockstein (Lydia Bennet) is happy to be returning to the garden for her second year, asshe was previously seen behind the concession booth in the role of Arts Administration intern. A junior at Northwestern University, she is very excited to make her Door Shakespeare stage debut as Lydia Bennet, a performance which she would like to dedicate to herwonderful sisters, Julia and Valerie. Additional thanks go out to herparents, brother James, and to Suzanne for being such an amazing person.

Debra Babich (Mrs. Bennet) could hardly wait to trod the wood chips, once again, with Door Shakespeare for its 2011 season. Frequenting audience members may remember her from the 2010 season as the malaproping "Mrs. Malaprop" from The Rivals, and the tripping "Ursula" from Much Ado About Nothing. Although Debra is a born and bred Wisconsinite, she can often be seen on stages nationwide, including the New Jersey Shakespeare Festival, Actors Theatre of Indiana, and most recently Stage One Family Theatre in Kentucky. However, she has a long list of credits throughout her home state, namely the Fireside Theatre ("Yente" in Fiddler on the Roof), Next Act Theatre ("Emily Gorski" in Greetings!), and soon to be added, Skylight Opera ("Eulalie MacKecknie Shinn" in The Music Man). Many thanks are extended to Jerry, Suzanne, and the Door Shakespeare company for making her return engagement possible. Break a leg!

Mark Moede (Mr. Bennet) has been performing for over thirty years in a variety of states, countries, languages and genres. Twenty years of these performances include Door County, beginning with THEATRE M. THEATRE M is the company I founded with my darling wife Mary White. We've lit up the stages at The Town Hall Bakery of Jacksonport, Third Avenue Playhouse, and Woodwalk Gallery. My schooling includes a degree in acting and directing followed by intensive study and master classes in Switzerland, Venice, London, New York, and Philadelphia. You may have seen me recently in Door Shakespeare's "The Complete Works Of William Shakespeare (Abridged)", American Folklore Theater's "Life on the Mississippi", THEATRE M's "Talking Heads" and "The Revival of Billy Sunday", or at TAP in "Tuesdays With Morrie". My gratitude to my family, our excellent used dog, Daisy and did I mention my darling wife, Mary White .

Anne St. Henry (Charlotte Lucas) is thrilled to be making her Door Shakespeare debut this year! A year round resident of Ellison Bay, Anne has been seen in a variety of roles on and off the stage throughout the county. During the winter your can find her at Gibraltar School substitute teaching as well as heading the Boys and Girls Club. She has been very active in local community theater since her arrival on the peninsula most recently as Theda Blau in Third Avenue Playhouse's production of It Had to Be You. Other productions she has been in include; Barefoot in the Park as Corrie, Picasso at the Lapin Angle as Susanne, The Good Doctor, and On Golden Pond as Chelsea Thayer. She would like to thank her husband, Casey, for his never wavering support in her theater endeavors.

Barry Saltzman (Sir William Lucas) – Off-Broadway/L.A.: What's My Line? – Live On Stage with Nanette Fabray, Rose Marie, Fred Willard, etc. (Barrow Street, ACME) National tours: The Real Live Brady Bunch, etc. (Kennedy Center, etc.) Regional: The Miser, The Liar, Green Stockings (St. Croix Festival Theatre), etc. L.A. credits: Creator/Host of The Beachwood Palace Jubilee with Steve Carell, Will Ferrell, Jane Lynch, etc. (various theatres), Judgment At Nuremberg with Katharine Ross and Drake Hogestyn (Santa Monica Playhouse), Twelfth Night and The Two Gentlemen Of Verona (Classical Theatre Lab), Mrs. Warren's Profession, Amadeus and Breaking The Code (The Production Company), The Shadow Box (Attic), etc. Film and Television: Danny Roane: First Time Director, The Wonderful Cruise Of Blanchard's Balloon, recurring and supporting roles on General Hospital, etc. Barry graduated from Indiana University.

Michelle Myers Berg (Lady Lucas, Lady Catherine de Bourgh) is a classically trained actress with a BFA from the University of Minnesota, Minneapolis and graduate work at the American Conservatory Theatre in San Francisco, California. Michelle has appeared on various stages throughout the Twin Cities including the Cricket Theatre, Frank Theatre, History Theatre, Actors' Theatre of Minnesota, Theatre Unbound and more. Additionally Michelle has enjoyed twenty five years of professional voiceover experience in radio and television with clients ranging from General Mills and Medtronic to Target and Medica. Her work as a writer resulted in the award winning solo show Blue Collar Diaries, which she has performed in a variety of venues. She has worked as a tour guide and has been a long time literacy volunteer for Screen Actors Guild's BookPALS program. Michelle lives in the Twin Cities with her husband Raymond and their three children.

Steven Marzolf (Charles Bingley) is very happy to be a part of Door Shakes this summer. Some of his past credits include productions at: The Old Globe Theatre, Steppenwolf Theatre Company, Chicago Shakespeare Theater, Writers' Theatre, Apple Tree Theatre, Provision Theater Company, La Jolla Playhouse, Milwaukee Repertory Theater, Notre Dame Summer Shakespeare, Riverside Theatre, In Tandem Theatre. Steven received his MFA in Theatre from The Old Globe/University of San Diego last fall. This past winter/spring he shot five independent films and anxiously awaits there premieres.

Kay Allmand (Caroline Bingley) This is Kay's third season at Door Shakespeare, previously seen as Hero in Much Ado, Lucy in The Rivals, & Jessica in Merchant of Venice. Credits this season: Kitty Verdun, Charley's Aunt, Unity Theatre; Jess, Complete Works...Abg., Door Shakespeare; Blue Fairy, Panto Pinnochio, Stages Repertory Theatre. Kay graduated summa cum laude with a BFA in theatre, received her MFA in acting from the University of South Carolina and completed the acting internship at Milwaukee Repertory Theatre. Kay is so thankful to everyone at Door Shakes for allowing her to be a part of this sweet family! Mom & Dad, I love you!

Nathan Hosner (Mr. Darcy) is delighted to return to Door Shakespeare, where credits include Oberon in A Midsummer Night's Dream, DeGuiche in Cyrano, Stephano in The Tempest, Jack in The Importance of Being Earnest, Jaques in As You Like It, and the title role in Tartuffe. Recent credits include William Pitt in Madness of George III and Charles/William in As You Like It at Chicago Shakespeare Theater, All's Well That Ends Well, Othello, The Three Musketeers, Comedy of Errors, and the title role in Hamlet at Alabama Shakespeare Festival (where he is an Associate Artist), and the title role in Macbeth at First Folio Theatre. Other credits include productions at The BoarsHead Theatre, Illinois Shakespeare Festival, Arkansas Shakespeare Theatre, Madison Rep, Shaw Chicago, and the Shakespeare Project of Chicago.

Tim Murray (Ensign Denny) is delighted to be making his Door Shakespeare debut this summer! Tim will be entering his sophomore year at the University of Minnesota, double majoring in Vocal Performance and Theatre. Past theatre credits include Dede Antanas in the original production Oil! and the Jungle, Nicely Nicely Johnson in Guys and Dolls, Claudio in Much Ado About Nothing, and, one of his favorite roles, Felix Unger in The Odd Couple. Tim would like to thank his family and friends for their continuous love and support!

Ryan Patrick Shaw (Captain Carter) is thrilled to be returning to Door Shakes for round two! Ryan is a recent graduate of the University of Wisconsin-Parkside. Some favorite roles include Stanley in Brighton Beach Memoirs, Oliver in As You Like It, Paul in Company, Medvedenko in The Seagull and last summer playing Seacole in Much Ado About Nothing. Thanks to my family, Jerry and Suzanne and you for supporting the arts!

James Valcq (Fitzwilliam,Mr. Gardiner ) James Valcq composed the score of the Off-Broadway musical The Spitfire Grill (Playwrights Horizons, 2001), which won the Richard Rodgers Production Award and received Best Musical nominations from the Outer Critics Circle and Drama League as well as two Drama Desk nominations. The show, written with collaborator Fred Alley, has been produced over 300 times across the United States, in Germany, South Korea, the UK, Japan, and Australia. Also Off-Broadway, James was the composer/author of Zombies from the Beyond, which opened to critical acclaim in 1995 (and featured Suzanne Graff). Broadway credits as conductor and/or musician include Chicago, Flower Drum Song, Cabaret, and Scarlet Pimpernel. Other conducting credits: Maurice Sendak's production of Really Rosie (national tour), Candide, Lady in the Dark, South Pacific,The Producers (Skylight Opera Theatre), and She Loves Me (Indiana Rep). James has composed scores for Idaho Shakespeare Festival, Door Shakespeare, Idaho Youth Theatre, and American Folklore Theatre. As an actor, James has played the role of Cosme McMoon in Souvenir at Boise Contemporary Theatre and American Stage in Florida. Also: Ernie in Guys on Ice at Milwaukee Rep, Solanio in Door Shakespeare's Merchant of Venice, and created the role of Pierre in the premiere of How I Became a Pirate at First Stage. This fall, James will direct the 10th anniversary production of The Spitfire Grill at AFT. He is also creating a new musical entitled Cherryland, USA with Katie Dahl and Emilie Coulson which will premiere in AFT's 2012 summer season.

Jerry Gomis (Direction) has guided the artistic vision of Door Shakespeare since it was established as an independent company in 1999. Jerry has directed most of Door Shakespeare's plays and has also serves as a member of the Board of Directors and as a producer. Plays directed include: As You Like It ('99), The Taming of the Shrew ('00), A Midsummer Night's Dream ('02 and '08), Romeo and Juliet ('03), The Merry Wives of Windsor ('04), She Stoops to Conquer and The Comedy of Errors ('05), The Importance of Being Earnest ('06), Tartuffe ('07), The Merchant of Venice ('09) and Much Ado About Nothing ('10). Jerry has graced the Door Shakespeare stage as an actor as Malvolio in Twelfth Night ('01), Cyrano in Cyrano, and Benedick in Much Ado ('03), as well as roles in The Tempest and The Taming of the Shrew ('00 & '04). Outside of Door Shakespeare, Jerry is or has been an actor, director, teacher, and a certified Project Manager. He ran the Children's Theatre at Hampton Playhouse in Hampton, NH and toured extensively with the National Shakespeare Company. Jerry has also performed with Atlanta Shakespeare and as Blue Jacket in Tecumseh. If laughter is good medicine, surely the Gomi are a healthy bunch. Love and thanks to William, Anna Marie and OBS.

Barb Portinga (Costumes) rates her design gig with Door Shakespeare as one of the highlights of her year. This is Barb's eighth year in beautiful Door County, where she has also designed for AFT. She makes her home in the Twin Cities area, and her design work has been seen throughout the Midwest. She had her on-the-job training at Chanhassen Dinner Theatre, where she is a cutter/draper for each mainstage show. Barb has been making her way in the world solely designing and building shows for over 20 years. She is the proprietor of Portable Costumes.

Lee Conrads (Costume Intern) is a junior Theater and History major at Carleton College. Although she now studies directing, costume design and a love of historical fashion were what first brought her to theater. Costume design credits include Euripides' Medea, Grease, the musical, and Everyman for Shawnee Mission East High school in Kansas City. She prides herself on her skill with a seam-ripper and quick corset-lacing abilities.

Stewart Dawson (Lighting & Scene Design) is befuddled beyond belief that mosquitoes haven't flattened my tires yet this summer. During the winter I am the Technical Director for Opera Southwest in Albuquerque. Essentially, my job consists of sharpening my pencils, and when they get dull, I sharpen them again. I also create special lighting effects for New Mexico Young Actors. This means you can see them when they are onstage. I am excited and thrilled and happy and delighted and pleased and ecstatic.

Kimberly Ann McCann (Production Stage Manager) is excited to be returning to Door Shakespeare for her second season. Credits include Dames at Sea, Jacques Brel, Cosi Fan Tutte, Adding Machine at Skylight Opera Theatre, A Civil War Christmas at Northlight Theatre, Million Dollar Quartet in Chicago, Curtains on Broadway, Bill W. and Dr. Bob, How to Save the World, John Ferguson on Off-Broadway, and The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee in San Francisco. Kimberly also worked at Illinois Shakespeare Festival, Colorado Shakespeare Festival, ArtsPower National Touring Theatre and The Julliard School. Kimberly is a graduate of Illinois State University and a proud member of Actors Equity.

Terese Boeck (Company & Business Management) continues to take the helm as Door Shakespeare's Company and Business Manager for the 2011 season. She has had a love affair with Door Shakespeare since in 1996, when she said "sure" to Fred Alley's request to help as a volunteer and park cars at Bjorklunden. Believing that 13 has always been a lucky number for her, Terese is confident that this 13th season of Door Shakespeare will be one for the record books. Terese gives thanks to all those in her life that give her the strength to carry on.

John Hansen (House Management) continues his dual life of pottery and theater with his 15th season of Door Shakespeare (the only person to do so). John's theater credits go back to college at UW Green Bay, Heritage Ensemble, and American Folklore Theatre. John does it all for our audience, from greeting you, seating you, introducing the production. And yes, on those rare occasions, calling the show due to bad weather. You can also find John Hansen, a master potter, by day at Potter's Wheel Gallery in Fish Creek. Our sound system features unique ceramic "planet speakers" and his limited production Door Shakes logo ware is available in our concession stand. John;s daul life includes a residence in Boulder, Colorado, where he teaches pottery and here in Baileys Harbor. If you have questions or suggestions about our company, talk to John; he's everywhere.

Candice Wuehle (Box Office Manager) has a B.A. in English from the University of Iowa and is currently pursuing an M.A. in English at the University of Minnesota with an emphasis in 18th & 19th Century British Women Writers. She is excited to be teaching the course "Jane Austen and Her Influences" this coming year. She is thrilled to be in Door County this summer!

Peter Mol (Intern Office Administration) is a recent graduate from the University of Wisconsin -Parkside majoring in theatre. He grew up in Oconomowoc, WI where he found his passion for theatre starting in the third grade when he was in The Thanksgiving Story. He has played many roles including Orlando (As You Like It), Autolycus (A Winter's Tale), and Rosse (Macbeth) at Parkside. Peter also appeared at the Heron Playhouse in Ohio. Peter aspires to be a dramatics teacher for high school students. In the fall, Peter will be in the Twin Cities working at the Climb theater. Peter would like to thank his family for all the support over the years.

Kate Vander Velden (Intern O ffice Administration)has been camping in Door County with her family for years and is thrilled to now be spending the summer with Door Shakespeare. This fall, she will be entering her junior year as a BFA Acting and Psychology major at UW-Stevens Point. Favorite roles include Marvalyn in Almost, Maine, Katherine in The Taming of the Shrew, Carly in Reasons to be Pretty, and Holly in Anton in Show Business. Many thanks to Suzanne, Jerry, and Terese for this opportunity and to her parents for all of their support!