Meet the Cast: The Taming of the Shrew

The Festival is thrilled to announce the performing company for this season’s production of Shakespeare’s The Taming of the Shrew, welcoming a mix of returning and new-to-the-Festival actors.

Last season, Valerie Rachelle directed Jane Austen’s Emma The Musical. This year, she’s shifting gears to take on one of Shakespeare’s most complicated comedies.

“It’s a very different story and very different style of play [than Emma], but it’s still about being a better person, finding love, listening and changing, and following your heart,” Rachelle said.

This is the Festival’s 11th production of the play. It was first produced in 1962 and most recently in 2015.

The lead cast for 2024 is as follows:

Cassandra Bissell is returning to the Festival as Tranio/Huntsman in The Taming of the Shrew and Queen Katherine in Henry VIII. Previous roles at the Festival include Titania/Hippolyta in A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Lady Capulet in Romeo and Juliet, and Rosalind in As You Like It to name a few. She has also performed at Actors’ Theatre of Louisville, Arizona Theatre Company, Chicago Shakespeare Theatre, and many more. Bissell received a Bachelor of Arts in Gender Studies from the University of Chicago. She is a member of Actors’ Equity Association.

John DiAntonio is making his Festival debut as Petruchio/Player in The Taming of the Shrew. He has recently filled the role of Artistic Director of the Utah Shakespeare Festival after serving as Producing Artistic Director at Creede Repertory Theatre for over 13 years. He has acting and directing credits from Denver Center Theatre Company, Theatreworks, New Dramatists, and more. DiAntonio received a Bachelor of Arts in Theatre and Psychology from Case Western Reserve University and a Master of Fine Arts in Acting from the National Theatre Conservatory. He also boasts training in Classical Acting from the British American Drama Academy in London. He is a member of Actors’ Equity Association.

John Harrell is returning to the Festival as Hortensio/Player in The Taming of the Shrew, Guilford/Cromwell in Henry VIII, and Autolycus in The Winter’s Tale. Previous roles at the Festival include the 2017 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.

Blake Henri is returning to the Festival as Grumio/Player in The Taming of the Shrew and Dogberry in Much Ado About Nothing. Previous roles at the Festival include Robert in last season’s The Play That Goes Wrong and Karl Lindner in A Raisin in the Sun. Other roles include those at Cleveland Playhouse, Dallas Theatre Center, and Oklahoma Shakespeare Festival to name a few. He received a Bachelor of Fine Arts at The University of Oklahoma.

Rodney Lizcano is debuting at the Festival as Gremio/Player in The Taming of the Shrew and Don Pedro in Much Ado About Nothing. Other roles include those at Denver Center Theatre Company, Colorado Shakespeare Festival, and Orlando Shakespeare Theatre. Lizcano received a Master of Fine Arts from the National Theatre Conservatory and a Bachelor of Fine Arts from Southern Methodist University and is a member of Actors’ Equity Association.

Valerie Martire is making her debut at the Festival as Bianca/Player in The Taming of the Shrew and Margaret in Much Ado About Nothing. She has been in productions of Mauritius, The Wolves, and Appropriate at Illinois Wesleyan University, where Martire also received a Bachelor of Fine Arts. She also has teaching credits at Actors Garden.

James Carlos Lacey is debuting at the Festival as Lucentio/Player in The Taming of the Shrew and Borachio in Much Ado About Nothing. He has been in off–Broadway productions of Trapped and in roles at The Kennedy Center, The Shakespeare Theatre Company, Solas Nua, and more. Lacey received a Master of Arts from The Royal Academy of Dramatic Art (RADA) in London and a Master of Fine Arts from South Texas College.

Chris Mixon is returning to the Festival as Baptista Minola/Player in The Taming of the Shrew, Cardinal Wolsey in Henry VIII, and Old Shepherd/Jailer in The Winter’s Tale. 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.

Caitlin Wise is debuting at the Festival as Kate/Lady in The Taming of the Shrew and Emilia/Shepherdess in The Winter’s Tale. 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.

Supporting roles are as follows:

Christopher Centinaro is returning to the Festival as Nicholas/other roles in The Taming of the Shrew, Florizel in The Winter’s Tale, and Surveyor/Capuchius/Cranmer in Henry VIII. 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.

Alaysia Renay Duncan is making her Festival debut as Petra/other roles in The Taming of the Shrew, Anne Bullen in Henry VIII, and Perdita in The Winter’s Tale. 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 as Christopher Sly/Curtis in The Taming of the Shrew, King Henry in Henry VIII, and Shepherd’s Son/Officer in The Winter’s Tale. 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 Theater 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.

Geoffrey Kent is returning to the Festival as Vincentio/other roles in The Taming of the Shrew, Buckingham/Lord Chancellor in Henry VIII, and Polixenes in The Winter’s Tale. 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 and teaching credits include University of Northern Colorado, University of Denver, and Asolo Conservatory. He is a member of Actors’ Equity Association.

Chloe McLeod is debuting at the Festival as Biondello/Huntsman/Server in The Taming of the Shrew, Dorcas/Lady in The Winter’s Tale, and Lady in Waiting/Working Woman/Party Guest in Henry VIII. 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.

Trenell Mooring is debuting at the Festival as Hostess/Phillipa/Merchant in The Taming of the Shrew, Margaret in Henry VIII, and Paulina in The Winter’s Tale. 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.

Melinda Parrett is returning to the Festival as Josephina/Widow/other in The Taming of the Shrew and Beatrice in Much Ado About Nothing. Previous roles at the Festival include Miss Bates in Jane Austen’s Emma The Musical, Mrs. White in Clue, and Elsa Schraeder in The Sound of Music, among many others. Parrett has also performed at The Denver Center, Goodspeed Opera House, Geva Theatre, and more. She is a member of Actors’ Equity Association.

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.

Don’t miss out on our study guide, where you can find a synopsis, character summaries, and several articles on the play.