News From the Festival
Shakespeare in the Schools: Hamlet Tour Concludes
The Utah Shakespeare Festival would like to acknowledge and celebrate the closing of their 2024 tour of Shakespeare in the Schools. This year, a team of nine theatre professionals brought a condensed version of Hamlet, one of the world’s most recognized plays, to K-12 students.
Members of the touring company were Tour Manager Kellie M. Beck, Stage Manager Fiona Misiura, and actors (left to right in photo) Blaize Adler-Ivanbrook, Abigail Rose Nakken, Darin F. Earl II, Adam Koda, Gianna Porfano, Isa Guitian, and Darci Ramirez.
Throughout the Intermountain West, the Festival’s touring program serves both rural and urban students and communities, providing access to professional theatre. The tour began in February and closed April 20, concluding with a total of 52 performances and 9,360 audience members served.
Tour Director and Education Director Stewart Shelley noted that the tour was a “soul-filling experience.”
“This year’s company brought such creativity, passion, and professionalism to our production of Hamlet, my personal favorite of Shakespeare’s,” Shelley said. “I am so grateful for the meaningful connections the company made with students, teachers, administrators, and communities around the state and Intermountain West region.”
The tour provided students with the opportunity to see Shakespeare performed live––often for the first time. Festival Executive Managing Director Michael Bahr noted that seeing the students engage with the play was a joy.
“They would gasp at moments of surprise, as a group reacting to major plot moments, and respond back to actors during key monologues,” Bahr said. “Every student should have the opportunity to see this important play from Shakespeare’s canon, come to life, on-stage, and not just studied from a text.”
For Bahr, it was imperative for students to see the production because Shakespeare’s plays teach lessons that everyone can learn from, and “a live production is the best way for this to happen."
Shakespeare in the Schools brought one of the Bard’s most gripping tragedies to the students, creating an intimate and impactful experience in the classroom.
“How fortunate for those thousands of students to take in the greatest tragedy ever written in the middle of an ordinary day of classes,” Artistic Director John DiAntonio said.
Koda, who played the role of Hamlet, reflected on the educational tour, noting that it was a dream to work with the company.
“The work always felt meaningful; I went to bed every night knowing that the next generation of artists is full of passion and excitement for theater,” Koda said.
Earl returned to the 2024 Shakespeare in the Schools tour to play Claudius/Ghost, after having participated in the Othello tour in 2023.
“I knew I wanted another opportunity to connect with the students in the Intermountain West with more creatives who were excited to learn from the students as well,” Earl said.
Theatre changed Earl’s life after discovering it in high school. And now, bringing the production to students was a way to help “young ones embrace themselves, challenge themselves, and even surprise themselves by engaging in something as timeless and accessible as Shakespeare.”
With education an important and valuable part of the Festival’s mission, the Shakespeare in the Schools tour is imperative to keeping the arts alive and thriving.
“The [tour] helps build the next generation of Shakespeare superfans,” DiAntonio said.
For more information on the Festival’s Education Department, visit bard.org/about/education. This summer, camps and classes will be offered for both students and educators. To sign up and for more information, click here.
Festival Celebrates Shakespeare’s Birthday with 23rd Annual Bard’s Birthday Bash
The Festival celebrated William Shakespeare’s 460th birthday last week with a three-day bash consisting of jousting, dancing the Maypole, performances, theatre games, birthday cake with Queen Elizabeth, and more.
The 23rd Annual Bard’s Birthday Bash took place on April 22-24 this year and hosted nearly 1,000 students.
“This three day celebration of William Shakespeare with Iron County’s K-5 students is a highlight of the year,” Education Director Stewart Shelley said. “The opportunity to share our love of Shakespeare with such eager and willing young people is inspiring and energizing.”
Since the Festival was founded in 1961 by the late Fred C. Adams, the Festival has celebrated the importance of Shakespeare’s works and continues to recognize him as the cornerstone of its mission. Hosting this event is a way to not only celebrate the Bard, but it’s a wonderful way to involve the community.
“These are some of my favorite days at the Festival, because we get to share with our youngest patrons our love of Shakespeare and pass that love along to the next generation,” Executive Managing Director Michael Bahr said. “This event gives us another opportunity to open up the Festival to our friends and neighbors.”
Recently-appointed Artistic Director John DiAntonio was able to attend the Bard’s Birthday Bash for the first time this year. What made the event even more special was that DiAntonio was able to bring his own children.
“What an amazing energy buzzing around [Festival grounds] all week,” DiAntonio said. “My three and five-year-old were able to go through the stations today. They met the Queen and were even knighted after the jousting competition. What a fun event for these local kids!”
To register for next year’s Birthday Bash, email usfeducation@bard.org with the name of the school, the teachers, contact information, and the approximate number of students. For information about the Festival’s upcoming season and to purchase tickets, visit bard.org or call 1-800-PLAYTIX.
Tell your Students about Theatre Summer Camp: Ages 5-18 Can Train with Theatre Professionals
Festival summer camps are the perfect chance for young aspiring artists to experience a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to train with professionals.
“Getting to see a Festival production and then study with the artists who you just saw onstage, or who work behind-the-scenes, is a unique opportunity for students,” says Education Director Stewart Shelley.
For those thinking about attending––or know students you might enjoy a summer theatre camp, here are several reasons to sign up today:
- It’s a chance to work with and learn from the artists you see onstage in Festival productions.
- Summer camps allow you to spend a week learning and playing with other like-minded students and theatre lovers.
- You can choose your focus! For high school students, there’s the option to study acting or technical theatre with Festival professionals. Unsure about sleep-away camp? That’s okay; choose what’s best for you and participate in our day camp instead.
- For those excited about our overnight camps, you can look forward to staying in Southern Utah University student housing and being completely immersed in the world of professional theatre.
- There are scholarships available! Please click here for more information on the program you are interested in.
Playmakers Summer Day Camp
June 10-22, 2024
Ages 5-17
From 2-4pm Monday to Friday, students will have the opportunity to build theatre skills through movement, voice, improv, and more, with a final Saturday performance.
Click here to register and for tuition costs and more information. Registration closes May 31, 2024.
Junior Actor Training
July 15-20, 2024
Ages 12-14
Taught by professional Festival actors, this week-long sleep-away camp is for young actors who want to train in scene work, stage combat, voice and movement, and more.
Click here to register and for tuition costs and more information. Registration closes July 5, 2024.
Theatre Training
July 22-27, 2024
Ages 15-18
This program allows students to choose their focus: Acting or Technical Theatre. Taught by professional Festival acting and production company members, this pre-college professional training program is for high school students looking for a week-long intensive sleep-away camp.
Click here to register and for tuition costs and more information. Registration closes July 12, 2024.
Questions for the Education Department? Call 435-865-8333 or email usfeducation@gmail.com.
It’s not too early to purchase tickets for the 2024 season of the Utah Shakespeare Festival, as well. The play lineup for the 63rd season includes Shakespeare’s Henry VIII, The Winter’s Tale, The Taming of the Shrew, and Much Ado About Nothing, along with the hilarious The 39 Steps, the moving Silent Sky, and the inspirational The Mountaintop. The season runs June 17 through October 5.
Utah Shakespeare Festival Offers Theatre Courses for Educators
It’s not too early to purchase tickets for the 2024 season of the Utah Shakespeare Festival. But plays aren’t all that the Festival offers. Through our education department, specific courses are available for educators too. Supplement your Festival Experience with a class, and even earn credits from Southern Utah University!
For Educators
Teaching Shakespeare
July 15-18, 2024
Specifically for English and Theatre Educators, this in-person course provides active and engaging classroom approaches for any teacher of Shakespeare text. Click here to register and for more information. Registration closes July 1, 2024.
Tech for Teachers
July 29-31, 2024
This is a great in-person professional development course for any educator or director. Festival technicians and experts create a hands-on learning experience for designing, building, and running a production. Click here to register and for more information. Registration closes July 17, 2024.
The play lineup for the 63rd season includes Shakespeare’s Henry VIII, The Winter’s Tale, The Taming of the Shrew, and Much Ado About Nothing, along with the hilarious The 39 Steps, the moving Silent Sky, and the inspirational The Mountaintop. The season runs June 17 through October 5.
To purchase tickets and take advantage of these amazing educational offerings, call the Festival Ticket Office at 800-PLAYTIX or visit bard.org.
Amazing Education Opportunities for School Groups Not to be Missed
Educating and inspiring theatre lovers is a huge part of the Festival’s mission, and this often begins with young thespians. Shakespearience and USF School Days are a must!
Education Director Stewart Shelley explains the differences between the two offerings.
“Both these programs give amazing opportunites for teachers and students. Shakespearience offers tickets at a discounted price for any matinees Monday through Friday in the months of August and September. It also incudes fun extras like workshops, talkbalks, and tours,” says Shelley
USF School Days, on the other hand, are two specific free performances set aside for Utah public and public charter school groups.
Shakespearience
Monday through Friday Matinees, August and September, 2024
Schools and education groups can enjoy a professional play, orientation, and other experiences with the Festival’s Shakespearience program for just $10 a person.
The experience offers access to study guide materials that extend learning in classrooms, and the option to schedule personalized talkbacks, workshops, or art center tours for schools. For more information, click here.
USF School Days - FREE!
September 5, 2024 - Much Ado About Nothing at 2 p.m.
September 11, 2024 - Silent Sky at 2 p.m.
Utah public and public charter school groups can attend these matinees of Much Ado About Nothing and Silent Sky for free thanks to funding from the state’s POPS program. For more information, click here.
To book Shakespearience and USF School Days tickets, call the ticket office at 800-PLAYTIX. Questions for the Education Department? Call 435-865-8333 or email usfeducation@bard.org.
It’s not too early to purchase tickets for the 2024 season of the Utah Shakespeare Festival. The play lineup for the 63rd season includes Shakespeare’s Henry VIII, The Winter’s Tale, The Taming of the Shrew, and Much Ado About Nothing, along with the hilarious The 39 Steps, the moving Silent Sky, and the inspirational The Mountaintop. The season runs June 17 through October 5.
The Mountaintop: 10 Fun Facts
The Mountaintop has never before been seen on Festival stages. Following Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., audience members watch as he is forced to confront both his mortality and the future of his work. Although fictional, the play shows themes of being a figurehead versus a private human.
“What a perfect time to reexamine and meet our heroes,” Director Cameron Knight said. “It is important to me that we see the familiar struggles we all face. We are facing so many questions these days; who we are, what it all means, is it worth it, will it make a difference?”
Enjoy these facts about production below:
- Knight is returning to direct at the Festival, having directed The Tempest and Richard III in the past. His television credits include Blue Bloods and Chicago Med.
- The director plans to examine King’s mental health through a more modern lens in this production. “It’s important to look backwards and say, ‘What impacts might these very real things that we didn’t talk about because of pride, or culture… have had.’ That can really open up the play for the audience today,” Knight said.
- Playwright Katori Hall workshopped the play while she was in the Juilliard School’s playwriting program, writing The Mountaintop when she was only 29.
- Hall graduated from Harvard University with a Master of Fine Arts in acting.
- The Mountaintop was inspired in part by Hall’s family. Her mother’s name was Carrie Mae, so Hall named the character Camae after her. This is fitting, as Hall’s mother actually grew up around the corner from the Lorraine Motel in Memphis––where the play takes place––and she was very much a part of the Civil Rights Movement.
- Carrie Mae had tried to go see King’s speech in Memphis, but her mother wouldn’t allow it, saying: “You know they’re gon’ bomb that church, so you need to sit your butt down and you ain’t going to that church.” Carrie Mae’s mother said she regretted this, as the following day King was assassinated at the Lorraine Motel. For Hall, writing this play was a way to give her mother the opportunity she didn’t have in 1968.
- Hall became the first black woman in history to win the Olivier Award for Best New Play in 2010 for The Mountaintop.
- The play’s title comes from the speech King gave the night before his assassination; “I’ve Been to the Mountaintop.”
- The play approaches King in a more raw and human way. Hall wrote him with visible faults, the more obvious being his flirtation as a married man with the maid, the more subtle including him wearing socks with holes in them. This symbolism “brings King back down to the people,” as Knight notes.
- Knight is particularly drawn to horror and psychological elements, and so the design team will be heavily leaning into projections to bring these elements to the forefront, especially as the play delves into King’s psyche.
Produced in the intimate Eileen and Allen Anes Studio Theatre, The Mountaintop opens July 13 and runs until October 5. Visit bard.org to purchase tickets and to read the content advisory for the play. Utilize our study guide for more information on the playwright, character summaries, a full-length synopsis, and an article by Ryan Paul titled Reflecting on the Past.
Meet the Cast: The Greenshow
The Festival is excited to announce the cast of this year’s Greenshow. Enjoy returning actors as well as new ones debuting this season. They will put on a lively complimentary 30-minute show starting at 7:10 p.m. every Monday through Saturday during the summer. Starting June 17 and running through September 7, this family-friendly outdoor entertainment presents singing, dancing, stories, music, and audience participation.
Britannia Howe returns to write and direct The Greenshow once again, having headed it in 2018, 2019, 2021, and 2023. This season, there will be four different versions: Royals Greenshow (same nights as Henry VIII), Folk Festival Greenshow (same nights as The Winter’s Tale), Commedia Greenshow (same nights as The Taming of the Shrew), and four special performances from the Paiute Indian Tribe of Utah on July 8 and 23, August 7 and 29.
Held on the Ashton Family Greenshow Commons, the show is free and open to the public. It is the perfect way to enjoy a taste of the Festival, or to get even more excited before an evening production. We can’t wait to see you there!
The cast is as follows:
Ashley Aquino is returning to the Festival as a Featured Performer in The Greenshow and Ursula in Much Ado About Nothing. Previous roles at the Festival include Mustardseed in A Midsummer Night’s Dream and Featured Performer in The Greenshow. Other roles include Lucy in You’re A Good Man Charlie Brown, Frenchie in Cabaret, Helena in A Midsummer Night’s Dream, and more at Southern Utah University. Aquino received a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Musical Theatre from Southern Utah University.
Zac Barnaby is debuting at the Festival as a Featured Performer in The Greenshow and Lord/Mariner/Shepherd in The Winter’s Tale. Other credits include Jason in Falsettos, Snoopy in You’re A Good Man Charlie Brown, Ricky Potts in Ride the Cyclone, and more at Southern Utah University. Barnaby is currently studying musical theatre at Southern Utah University and appears courtesy of the SUU Fellowship Program.
Gracelyn Erickson is also debuting at the Festival as a Featured Performer in The Greenshow and Mopsa/Lady in The Winter’s Tale. Acting credits include Jane Doe in Ride the Cyclone and Shelby in The Prom at Southern Utah University. Other credits include the short film Cleo. Erickson is currently studying musical theater at Southern Utah University and is appearing courtesy of the SUU Fellowship Program.
Rockwell MacGillivray debuts this season at the Festival as a Featured Performer in The Greenshow and Lord/Bear Puppeteer/Shepherd in The Winter’s Tale. Acting credits include Ernst Ludwig in Cabaret, Noel Gruber in Ride the Cyclone, and Trent Oliver in The Prom at Southern Utah University. Awards include first place in the Musical Theater Competitions of America and 2018 and 2021 winner in the Newcomer Swing National Ballroom Championship. MacGillivray is currently attending Southern Utah University and is appearing courtesy of the SUU Fellowship Program.
Matthew Wangemann is returning to the Festival as a Featured Performer in The Greenshow and Attendant/Oatcake/Candle Bearer in Much Ado About Nothing. Previous roles at the Festival included those in last year’s productions of A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Romeo and Juliet, and The Greenshow. Off-Broadway productions include Pinkalicious: The Musical. Other roles include those at Alliance Theatre, Pickleville Playhouse, Hale Center Theater Orem, and more. Wangemann was in multiple productions at Southern Utah University, where he also received a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Musical Theatre.
Emily Wheeler is debuting at the Festival as a Featured Performer in The Greenshow and Lady/Bear Puppeteer/Shepherdess in The Winter’s Tale. Acting credits include Ocean in Ride the Cyclone and Angie in The Prom at Southern Utah University. She received the Larry Lott Scholarship Award for Best Actor in an Ensemble Scene in 2021. Wheeler is studying musical theater at Southern Utah University. She is appearing courtesy of the Southern Utah University Fellowship Program.
It’s not too early to purchase tickets! The play lineup for the 63rd season includes Shakespeare’s Henry VIII, The Winter’s Tale, The Taming of the Shrew, and Much Ado About Nothing, along with the hilarious The 39 Steps, the moving Silent Sky, and the inspirational The Mountaintop.
The Festival Congratulates SUU CPVA Dean Shauna Mendini on Retirement
The Utah Shakespeare Festival congratulates Shauna Mendini on her retirement after thirty years at Southern Utah University and thanks her for her immeasurable support. Mendini served as the dean of the College of Performing and Visual Arts at Southern Utah University for 14 years. She has been closely tied to the Festival through serving as dean.
Prior to that, Mendini was a faculty member and served as the Chair of the Department of Theatre Arts and Dance for eight years, and Director of Dance for nine. She currently serves on the Board of Governors for the Festival.
“It’s one of those things that the arts chooses you . . . and you get hooked and it becomes a lifelong journey. I can’t imagine my life without the arts,” Mendini said.
To honor Mendini, the College of Performing and Visual Arts will host an event this Saturday, April 13 at noon. “Shindig for Shauna” will be a celebratory sendoff for the dean, with performances from Southern Utah University alumni and students. It will take place in the Randall L. Jones Theatre; admission is free and open to the public.
Meet Mendini
Mendini has always been, in some form, an educator in her professional career. After studying dance for both her undergraduate and graduate degrees, Mendini taught secondary school in Arizona before moving to Cedar City to work at SUU.
“I love to learn and I love to be around learners. There’s that energy the moment you come on the campus of any institution, a feeling of growth and knowledge, and you can’t get that anywhere else,” Mendini said. “I never wanted to ‘graduate’ from that.”
For Mendini, finding the opportunity to be an educator and administrator, and create resources and opportunities for the arts to grow and thrive has been a privilege.
“I’m so thankful to have a life in the arts because it’s so vital to who we are as humans,” Mendini said. “It’s critical to our civilization—to everything that we do.”
Mendini also danced with American Folk Ballet for nearly 28 years, a dance organization with strong ties to SUU. She is a recipient of SUU’s Distinguished Educator Award and Creative Publication Award.
Mendini’s Festival Memories
Because of Mendini’s love for the arts, she’s been a longtime patron and supporter of the Festival, participating as an active member of the audience for over 30 years.
“Many times I would watch students from our program performing with the Festival, and that was very exciting [for] our students [to] have the opportunity of having a professional theatre right on our campus,” Mendini said.
For Mendini, having “such a high standard of the profession” right in her backyard has been a treat.
“I love that the Festival produces great plays…that bring people together to discuss and grow,” Mendini said. “[The Festival] focuses on storytelling, and that storytelling of rich plays speaks to so many levels.”
Mendini on Retirement
The retiring dean is looking forward to having more time to spend with her family, but expresses that in her retirement, she will stay active in the arts.
“We aren’t moving from Cedar City, and I will continue to see our SUU students perform and go to the Festival productions,” Mendini said. “It’s very thrilling to watch professional theatre.”
Mendini is most excited for The Mountaintop and The 39 Steps this season.
“The idea of having a story focus right around the moment we lost Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and having those experiences told from an interperspective will be a really wonderful journey to be a part of,” Mendini expressed.
Ultimately, Mendini wishes to extend an invitation to art lovers like her to attend productions at the Festival this season.
“Everyone should come to the Festival and enjoy what’s offered by this organization, and I [encourage] our Cedar City community to take advantage of the [local discounts],” Mendini said. “These plays can be life changing.”
To accept Mendini’s invitation of immersing yourself in the arts, purchase tickets to the Festival’s 2024 season today.
New Artistic Director John DiAntonio Settles in at the Festival
The Utah Shakespeare Festival would like to congratulate John DiAntonio on his first 100 days as our new Artistic Director.
In September, DiAntonio was announced as the Festival’s Artistic Director after an extensive nation-wide search. To get to know DiAntonio, click here for our full-length introductory Q&A session.
Executive Managing Director Michael Bahr has noted that it’s been such a joy working alongside DiAntonio, and that his work with strategic planning and the Festival’s artistic vision has been inspiring.
“He is passionate about the art, Shakespeare, and the power theater has to connect communities,” Bahr said. “He has strongly articulated how Shakespeare provides the Festival our identity and the plays we produce provide relevance.”
Bahr is excited for Festival patrons and artists to get to know DiAntonio.
“When John starts to talk about the art, the room leans in and it suddenly goes electric,” Bahr said. “John bravely pushes the vision forward, celebrating the Festival’s legacy while working within the reality of the present.”
Enjoy DiAntonio’s personal update below:
Globe: How has your first 100 days been at the Festival?
John: It’s been an incredible adventure. I like to compare it to drinking from a firehose while going down a waterslide. From day one, I dove into the 2024 season preparations alongside the rest of the team. We’ve started 2025 season prep work, and launched into a new five-year strategic plan with the staff. I’ve attended board meetings, staff meetings, department meetings, endless meetings! I’m doing a lot of listening right now, building bonds and trust with the team.
I’ve been thoroughly impressed with the staff here. Our department heads have over 200 years of combined experience with the Festival, which is unheard of across the country. We have stellar collaborators who couldn’t be more invested in the Festival. Leadership transitions and starting a new job can be awkward at times, but it’s all gone quite smoothly as we navigate the subtle cultural shifts and get to know one another.
Like most theaters across the country right now, the Festival is facing some big challenges: budgetary limitations, post-pandemic audience shifts, and we’re an organization that’s seen a lot of transition over the last few years. But I absolutely love a challenge. The team is leaning into the big, important conversations about where we are headed as we look to the next 65 years of the Festival.
Globe: Have you and your family been able to start to feel a sense of community here, and if so, what have you been doing to integrate yourself into the community?
John: Yes! We have definitely felt integrated into the local community. The day after we moved in last fall (with neighbors who helped us unload our truck and brought us treats), we saw the sheep parade going down Main Street. We enjoyed trick-or-treating with our kids through our neighborhood. We were amazed by the spectacular holiday celebration with Santa arriving in a helicopter, touring houses filled with the lights and Christmas decor, and encouraging our boys to compete in the local coloring competition for holiday gifts.
Our two oldest kids have loved attending a unique local preschool where they’re being taught gymnastics and ninja skills while learning their letters and sounds. [My wife] Caitlin is in a great book group and we’ve gotten to know all the playgrounds in Cedar City, enjoy story times, and participate in sheep shearing adventures, as well as many small hikes that are great for families. I’ve been able to attend city, county, and school board meetings, and have begun the process of getting to know our local community leaders.
And not to mention the endless events at SUU. I held the Thor hammer for the Festival’s team at a fundraising competition just a couple weeks ago. We may have lost in the first round, but I’ve already begun my shoulder workout routine in preparation for next year’s competition! Last month I had the honor of being one of the judges for the Cedar City Star Search competition. I was blown away by the talent in this community. Last week we attended the Easter Egg hunt with helicopters dropping eggs in the park. My family and I love this place and can’t wait for the summer to begin!
******
It’s not too early to purchase tickets! DiAntonio will also hit Festival stages this season, playing Petruchio in The Taming of the Shrew, alongside his wife, Caitlin Wise, who will be playing Kate.
“I couldn’t be more excited for the season that’s just around the corner. I cannot wait to get to know our seasonal staff as well as patrons on the green and in the lobbies,” DiAntonio said. “I want to hear their stories about the Festival and what this place means to them and their families.”
The play lineup for the 63rd season includes Shakespeare’s Henry VIII, The Winter’s Tale, The Taming of the Shrew, and Much Ado About Nothing, along with the hilarious The 39 Steps, the moving Silent Sky, and the inspirational The Mountaintop.
The season runs June 17 through October 5.
Meet the Cast: The Winter’s Tale
The Utah Shakespeare Festival announces the cast of The Winter’s Tale, directed by Carolyn Howarth. Filled with contrast, one of Shakespeare’s later and more lesser-known plays balances themes of jealousy and love.
This is the Festival’s sixth production of the play in its 63-year history. The Winter’s Tale was produced here in 1972, 1989, 1996, 2004, and 2011.
“There’s a myriad of themes in the play,” Howarth said. “For me, though, it’s all leading to the ending moments of rebirth and resurrection and reunion. In order for those things to happen, the characters have to believe and have hope and faith and believe in the reality of miracles.”
The lead cast is as follows:
Geoffrey Kent is returning to the Festival as Polixenes in The Winter’s Tale, Buckingham/Lord Chancellor in Henry VIII, and Vincentio/others in The Taming of the Shrew. He directed The Play That Goes Wrong last season and has been in the Festival’s productions of Treasure Island, As You Like It, Shakespeare in Love, and more. Kent received a Henry Award for Excellence in Fight Direction. His teaching credits include University of Northern Colorado, University of Denver, and Asolo Conservatory. He is a member of Actors’ Equity Association.
Tracie Lane is returning to the Festival as Hermione in The Winter’s Tale and Annabella/Margaret/Pamela in The 39 Steps. Previous roles at the Festival include Joan de Pucelle in Henry VI Part One and others in The Merchant of Venice, Boeing, Boeing, Measure for Measure, and Twelfth Night. Other credits include the Play On! Festival at Off-Broadway’s Classic Stage Company, The Three Musketeers at Asolo Rep, Venus in Fur at Orlando Shakes, and numerous roles at American Shakespeare Center and Houston Shakespeare Festival. She earned her MFA at The Juilliard School and is a member of Actors’ Equity Association.
Trenell Mooring is debuting at the Festival as Paulina in The Winter’s Tale, Margaret in Henry VIII, and Phillipa/other roles in The Taming of the Shrew. She has been Belinda in Noises Off and Beatrice in Much Ado about Nothing at Orlando Shakes, Salima in Ruined at GableStage, and more. Mooring received a Bachelor of Science from the University of Florida. She is a member of Actors’ Equity Association.
Chauncy Thomas is debuting at the Festival as Leontes in The Winter’s Tale and Duke of Suffolk in Henry VIII. Other roles include those in A Midsummer Night’s Dream at Alabama Shakespeare Festival, A Raisin in the Sun at Bay Street Theatre, and As You Like It at Illinois Shakespeare Festival. Film credits include Madam Secretary and Run the World. Thomas received a Bachelor of Arts in Drama and Psychology at Washington University in St. Louis. He is a member of Actors’ Equity Association.
The supporting cast is as follows:
Zac Barnaby is debuting at the Festival as Lord/Mariner/Shepherd in The Winter’s Tale and Featured Performer in The Greenshow. Other credits include Jason in Falsettos, Snoopy in You’re A Good Man Charlie Brown, Ricky Potts in Ride the Cyclone, and more at Southern Utah University. Barnaby is currently studying musical theatre at Southern Utah University and appears courtesy of the SUU Fellowship Program.
Christopher Centinaro is returning to the Festival as Florizel in The Winter’s Tale, Surveyor/Capuchius/Cranmer in Henry VIII, and Nicholas/others in The Taming of the Shrew. Previous roles at the Festival include Sempronius in Timon of Athens and Adrien in Coriolanus. Centinaro has also been in Mojada at the Indiana Shakespeare Festival and has received the Paper Mill Playhouse Rising Star Award.
Tom Coiner is making his debut at the Festival as Camillo in The Winter’s Tale and Richard Hannay in The 39 Steps. He has been in A Christmas Carol and Gaslight at Merrimack Repertory Theatre, The Daughter in Law at Mint Theatre Company, and God Said This at Primary Stages to name a few. Television credits include The Good Fight, Law and Order: SVU, and It’s Bruno. Coiner received an MFA from National Theatre Conservatory and a BA from Kenyon College. He is a member of Actors’ Equity Association.
Michael Doherty is returning to the Festival as Antigonus/Time in The Winter’s Tale and Clown #1 in The 39 Steps. Previous roles at the Festival include Mr. Green in Clue, Narrator in Every Brilliant Thing, Charlie Baker in The Foreigner, and more. He has also appeared Off-Broadway as Jimmy in Dublin by Lamplight and on television in Wu Tang: An American Saga. Other roles include productions at Guthrie Theater, Berkeley Repertory Theatre, Milwaukee Repertory Theatre, Cleveland Play House, and the Denver Center. He received a BFA in Theatre Arts from the University of the Arts and is a member of Actors’ Equity Association.
Alaysia Renay Duncan is making her Festival debut as Perdita in The Winter’s Tale, Anne Bullen in Henry VIII, and Petra/others in The Taming of the Shrew. She has also been in productions of Beautiful, The Carole King Musical at Engeman Theater, Dorian Gray at The Tank*, Strange and Splendid* at Chain Theatre, and more. Duncan received a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Acting from Ithaca College.
Topher Embrey is returning to the Festival, this time as Shepherd’s Son/Officer in The Winter’s Tale, King Henry in Henry VIII, and Christopher Sly/Curtis in The Taming of the Shrew. Previous roles at the Festival include Bottom in A Midsummer Night’s Dream and Bobo in A Raisin in the Sun. He has been in various productions Off-Broadway with Red Bull Theatre and has performed for five seasons at American Shakespeare Center, as well as Colorado Shakespeare Festival and Denver Center for the Performing Arts, to name a few. Embrey received a bachelor’s degree in Performing Arts from Christopher Newport University. He is a member of Actors’ Equity Association.
Gracelyn Erickson is debuting at the Festival as Mopsa/Lady in The Winter’s Tale and Featured Performer in The Greenshow. Acting credits include Jane Doe in Ride the Cyclone and Shelby in The Prom at Southern Utah University. Other credits include the short film Cleo, and Erickson is currently studying musical theater at Southern Utah University. She is appearing courtesy of the SUU Fellowship Program.
John Harrell is returning to the Festival as Autolycus in The Winter’s Tale, Guilford/Cromwell in Henry VIII, and Hortensio/Player in The Taming of the Shrew. Previous roles at the Festival include the productions of Treasure Island, As You Like It, and Shakespeare In Love. He was also the title characters in Hamlet, Cyrano, Richard II, and more at the American Shakespeare Center. Harrell received a Bachelor of Arts in English from James Madison University. He is a member of Actors’ Equity Association.
Rockwell MacGillivray is debuting at the Festival as Lord/Bear Puppeteer/Shepherd in The Winter’s Tale and Featured Performer in The Greenshow. Acting credits include Ernst Ludwig in Cabaret, Noel Gruber in Ride the Cyclone, and Trent Oliver in The Prom at Southern Utah University. Awards include first place in the Musical Theater Competitions of America and 2018 and 2021 winner in the Newcomer Swing National Ballroom Championship. MacGillivray is currently attending Southern Utah University and is appearing courtesy of the SUU Fellowship Program.
Chloe McLeod is debuting at the Festival as Dorcas/Lady in The Winter’s Tale, Lady in Waiting/Working Woman/Party Guest in Henry VIII, and Biondello/Huntsman/Server in The Taming of the Shrew. She has performed in The Two Gentlemen of Verona at Colorado Shakespeare Festival, Anna Karenina at Denver Center for the Performing Arts, Fun Home at Miners Alley Playhouse, and more. McLeod trained at The American Musical and Dramatic Academy.
Chris Mixon is returning to the Festival as Old Shepherd/Jailer in The Winter’s Tale, Cardinal Wolsey in Henry VIII, and Baptista Minola/Player in The Taming of the Shrew. Previous roles at the Festival include Dennis in The Play That Goes Wrong, Mr. Woodhouse in Jane Austen’s Emma The Musical, and Earl of Gloucester in King Lear. He’s been in the national Broadway tour of How to Succeed in Business Without Trying, world and NYC premieres at Pearl Theatre Company, and productions at Milwaukee Repertory Theatre. He is a member of Actors’ Equity Association.
Bailey Savage is returning to Festival stages as Cleomenes/Rustic in The Winter’s Tale and Clown #2 in The 39 Steps. She was in the Festival’s Shakespeare in the Schools productions of Julius Caesar as Julius Caesar and Romeo and Juliet as Lord Capulet. Other credits include roles in Drunk Shakespeare Chicago, Twelfth Night at Midsommer Flight, and Peter and the Starcatcher at Lyric Repertory Company. Savage was Assistant Director for Guys and Dolls and A Midsummer Night’s Dream and served as Literary Seminar Manager at the Festival, and received a Bachelor of Independent Studies from Southern Utah University.
Kinsley Seegmiller is returning to the Festival as Mamillius in The Winter’s Tale. Last season, she played Young Martius in Coriolanus. She lives in Cedar City, is ten years old, and is going into fifth grade this fall; she is passionate about gymnastics and is on a competition team; loves to perform for others and aspires to be an actress. She loves vacations with family, seeing new places, having new experiences, and learning new things. She is excited for another opportunity to be a part of the Festival.
Emily Wheeler is debuting at the Festival as Lady/Bear Puppeteer/Shepherdess in The Winter’s Tale and Featured Performer in The Greenshow. Acting credits include Ocean in Ride the Cyclone and Angie in The Prom at Southern Utah University. She received the Larry Lott Scholarship Award for Best Actor in an Ensemble Scene in 2021. Wheeler is studying musical theater at Southern Utah University. She is appearing courtesy of the Southern Utah University Fellowship Program.
Caitlin Wise is debuting at the Festival as Emilia/Shepherdess in The Winter’s Tale and Kate/Lady in The Taming of the Shrew. She’s been in The Christians at Denver Center Performing Arts, The Importance of Being Earnest at Arvada Center, Wild Honey at Theatreworks, and more. She received a Bachelor of Fine Arts from Brigham Young University and a Master of Fine Arts from National Theatre Conservatory. She is a member of Actors’ Equity Association.
Gabriel Wright is debuting at the Festival as Dion/Puppeteer/Shepherd in The Winter’s Tale. Acting credits include Southern Utah University mainstage productions of Twelfth Night and The Prom, as well as The Springville Players production of A Midsummer Night’s Dream. He is appearing courtesy of the Southern Utah University Fellowship Program.
It’s not too early to purchase tickets! The play lineup for the 63rd season includes Shakespeare’s Henry VIII, The Winter’s Tale, The Taming of the Shrew, and Much Ado About Nothing, along with the hilarious The 39 Steps, the moving Silent Sky, and the inspirational The Mountaintop.
The season runs June 17 through October 5.
Visit bard.org for more information about the play. Catch up here on our 10 Fun Facts about The Winter’s Tale. Don’t miss out on our study guide, where you can find a synopsis, character summaries, and several articles on the play.