A Midsummer Night’s Dream
MAY 30 – JUN 17
BY WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE
DIRECTED BY
DANIEL C. DENNIS
The course of true love never did run smooth
Father knows best in the stifling city, but outside in the woods—anything happens, everything goes. In Shakespeare’s most uproarious and delicious comedy, four teens fool their fathers and skip town to elope in an enchanted forest. But it’s night and confusing, and the fairies are feuding, and who knows who you’re smooching. Topsy goes turvy, bottom is top, and a donkey is king. Just when the whole world feels mad, we wake from the dream to a spanking new day—true selves are discovered, true lovers uncovered. Join in on our fantasy and experience the delight of midsummer!
Cast
ALEX AMERY
STARVELING
Alex Amery is an MFA candidate in the Professional Actor Training Program at Ohio University. He appeared most recently as Sorn in Stupid Fucking Bird at Ohio University. He has performed in Brooklyn, Charlotte, Kuala Lumpur, and Austin and has been rolling around the idea of Chicago as a next step.
CLAIRE AUTRAN
HERMIA
Claire Autran is thrilled to be making her Tantrum Theater debut in A Midsummer Night’s Dream. In April, she graduated from Ohio University with a BFA in theater performance. She recently performed and wrote a one-woman show, SKINNED. She finished out her senior year at Ohio University playing Nina in Stupid Fucking Bird and Mrs. Stockton in Mrs. Packard. She spent last summer sound designing at Forestburgh Playhouse in New York, and she is excited to be staying on as Audio 2 for Caroline, or Change.
KIM BLANCK
EGEUS/PUCK/DANCE CAPTAIN
Kim Blanck is thrilled to make her Tantrum Theater debut! Upcoming projects include Half Full, Kim’s self-penned series depicting the awkward joys of the biracial experience. New York credits include Folk Wandering (Ars Nova), First Ladies Project (E. 4th Street Theater), workshops of Stuck Elevator (New York Theater Workshop), and KPOP (Ars Nova). Regional work includes Chasing the Song at La Jolla Playhouse; film credits include Ingrid Jungermann’s 2016 feature Women Who Kill, plus shorts Betty Chang Can’t Use Chopsticks and A Consultation. Kim is the co-creator of the web series Basic Witch. BFA, New York University; MFA, UC San Diego. For Mom and Dad.
LISA BUCH
SNUG
Lisa Buch is excited to be part of Tantrum Theater’s second season! Lisa just finished her second year of the Graduate MFA Acting Program at Ohio University. Last summer she performed the role of ‘Kate’ in Taming of the Shrew (Shakespeare by the River, Marietta). You also may have seen her in the OHIO productions of Machinal (Young Woman); The Rover (Moretta); Much Ado About Nothing (Margaret); and Middletown (Librarian). Many thanks to the OHIO faculty, the City of Dublin, Dan Dennis, and all the designers and stage managers for coming together for such a collaborative experience!
BLAKE DAVA
LYSANDER
Blake Dava is thrilled to be making his debut with Tantrum Theater. He is currently pursuing a double major at Ohio University, earning both his BFA in performance and an undergraduate degree in strategic communications. Within his college career, he was George in Stop Kiss, Etienne in The Ladies Man, and Tiny Tom and Dr. Billeaux in Urinetown. This fall, he looks forward to being in The Last Days of Judas Iscariot (Yusef El-Fayoumy). He would like to thank his family for all their love and support, and his closest friends for being the wind in his sails that keeps him moving forward.
ANNIE GANOUSIS
SNOUT/WALL
Annie Ganousis is a second year actor in the MFA Professional Actor Training Program at Ohio University. Credits include The Rover (Helena), Mrs. Packard (Mrs. Packard), and Middletown (Mrs. Swanson) for Ohio University; Three Sisters (Masha) for the University of Portland; and Sense & Sensibility (Fanny Dashwood) for Livermore Shakespeare Festival. She received her BA in theater from the University of Portland.
PATRICK HALLEY
PETER QUINCE
Patrick Halley is a New York based actor whose work has been seen Off-Broadway and at many of the country’s major resident theaters. Favorite credits include Good People (Cleveland Play House, Syracuse Stage); In Love and Warcraft (Alliance Theatre, world premiere); The Taming of The Shrew (Denver Center); 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee (Arkansas Repertory Theatre); Of Mice and Men (Pioneer Theatre Company); The Misanthrope (The Pearl); Peter and The Starcatcher (TheatreSquared, Arkansas Rep); Moonlight and Magnolias (Mill Mountain); and four seasons with the Hudson Valley Shakespeare Festival. He has been featured in commercials for Google and Humira, and recently made his television debut in Difficult People. Patrick is a Bucknell graduate and native of Poughkeepsie, NY. www.patrickhalley.com
BASIL HARRIS
NICK BOTTOM/FIGHT CAPTAIN
Basil Harris is thrilled to be back at Tantrum after playing Dr. Orin Scrivello, the sadistic dentist, in last year’s Little Shop of Horrors. Other stage credits include Robin Hood (New Victory Theater, NYC); The Hound of the Baskervilles and Or, (Seattle Repertory Theatre); Chitty Chitty Bang Bang; The Garden of Rikki Tikki Tavi; Go, Dog. Go!; Glittra’s Mission; The Gingerbread Man (Seattle Children’s Theatre); Cloud Nine (Strawberry Theatre Workshop); Valley of the Dolls, Vera Wilde (Empty Space Theatre); and Jane Eyre (Actors Express, Atlanta). Film: Laggies, Safety Not Guaranteed, 21 and Over, Knights of Badassdom, and My Effortless Brilliance. Television: Grimm (NBC), Leverage (TNT), The Fugitive and The John Report with Bob (CBS). Web series: Rocketmen (premiering at the Seattle International Film Festival, 2017), Automata, and Cherub: The Vampire with Bunny Slippers. Basil is also a writer, musician, and activist, serving on the Seattle board of directors of the Alliance of Professional Performers Northwest, an organization dedicated to the support and advocacy of professional film and media actors. Thank you for supporting the arts and live theater! basilharris.com.
FAJER KAISI
OBERON/THESEUS
Fajer Kaisi is thrilled to be making his Tantrum Theater debut. Regional credits: Amir in Disgraced (Maltz Jupiter Playhouse, Pittsburgh Public Theatre, PingPongarts Productions’ Chinese tour); Bashir in The Invisible Hand (Westport Country Playhouse); Ibrahim in Paloma (Kitchen Theatre); Graham in Informed Consent (Geva Theatre Centre/Cleveland Play House); Tybalt in Romeo and Juliet and Aeneas in Troilus and Cressida (Oregon Shakespeare Festival, 2012). Off-Broadway: Shahid in Aftermath (NYTW). TV: The Good Wife, The Blacklist, Law and Order, Deadbeat, Madam Secretary, Unforgettable, 30 Rock, and Nurse Jackie. Film: Billy Lynn’s Long Halftime Walk; I’ll Come Running. Fajer is also an experienced audible.com narrator with over 60 titles available. He received his MFA in acting from the University of Texas at Austin and his BFA in theatre performance from Concordia University of Montreal.
BRI MCCABE
LEAD FAIRY/PHILOSTRATE
Bri McCabe is excited to make her Tantrum debut this season. Bri is a graduate of the BFA Performance Program at Ohio University. She recently appeared in The Rover (Don Antonio), The Ladies Man (Marie), Urinetown (Little Sally), Much Ado About Nothing (Hero), Only Good Things Happen at the Fair (Heather Ann), and Rashomon (Judge). She would like to thank Dan and the Midsummer company for their love and art.
BRUCE MCGLUMPHY
FLUTE
Bruce McGlumphy is a third-year MFA candidate at Ohio University. It is with great excitement that he is joining Tantrum for its second season. His recent work includes touring the American debut of To Kill a Kelpie for Vintage Theatre Company and Stop The Silence. Other work ranges from social justice theatre with New Mystics Theatre Company for two years, Moritz in Spring Awakening, the Ratcatcher in Kindertransport, and John Merrick in The Elephant Man.
MAX MONNIG
DEMETRIUS
Max Monnig is so excited and grateful to be returning to his home state and work with his alma mater on this wonderful play. NYC: The Glory of The World (B.A.M), The Refugee Plays (Krane Theatre). Regional: That High Lonesome Sound, Glory Of The World, and Dracula (Actors Theatre of Louisville); Comedy of Errors, Henry VI Part 1&2, I Remember Mama, Man of La Mancha and Harvey (Monomoy Theatre). Max is a proud alum of the BFA Performance program at Ohio University and an alum of the Professional Training Program at Actor’s Theatre of Louisville. Thanks to Dan Dennis for this opportunity!
MONICA OROZCO
TITANIA/HIPPOLYTA
Monica Orozco makes her Tantrum Theater debut. Chicago credits: Destiny of Desire (U/S), Camino Real, The Cook, Mariela in the Desert (The Goodman Theatre); Charm (Northtlight Theatre at the Steppenwolf Garage, Jeff Award Nomination for Best Ensemble, Time Out Chicago Theatre Awards Nomination for Best Supporting Actress); Our Enemies: Lively Scenes of Love and Combat, Ten Acrobats in an Amazing Leap of Faith (Silk Road Rising); The Duchess of Malfi (Writers Theatre). Regional: Macbeth and Merchant of Venice at Utah Shakespeare Theatre. Ms. Orozco, who is Chicago-based, received her MFA from University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.
VISHAAL REDDY
HELENUS
Vishaal Reddy is excited to be working with Tantrum Theater! Select New York and regional credits include Out Cry, Death of a Salesman, Our Town, Godspell, Sweeney Todd, and Reasons to be Pretty. Television: Netflix’s The Punisher (upcoming), Off the Runway (upcoming). He is a graduate of Boston University and the Atlantic Theater Company. He would like to thank the entire Tantrum family for this wonderful opportunity. vishaalreddy.com• Twitter: reddysetgo1
NATALIA ALLENSWORTH
PEASEBLOSSOM
Natalia Allensworth is so happy to be in her first official play. Natalia likes to sing, dance, write, spend time outdoors, and be active. Her favorite sport to play and watch is basketball. Her favorite class in school is math. She is looking forward to the play and working with everyone.
MYLA BAKER
FAIRY
Myla Baker is absolutely thrilled to be in her first theater production. Myla is a third grader at Eli Pinney Elementary and her favorite subject is art. She enjoys soccer, basketball, gymnastics, and hanging with her “peeps” (pet chickens). Myla also loves spending time with her sisters and her pet cat, Pepper.
NICOLAS BRUNET
MOTH
Nicolas Brunet is thrilled to be onstage with Tantrum Theatre! Previous favorite roles include Richard, Duke of York in Richard III (Denison University), Tiny Tim in Mr. Scrooge (CCT) and Lumière in Beauty and the Beast, Jr. (Grizzell Middle School). Off-stage, Nic enjoys playing the drums and tap dancing. Enjoy the show!
ELIZA DENNIS
COBWEB
Eliza Dennis has acted since the age of seven, when she played a pickpocket in Ohio Valley Summer Theater’s production of Oliver! Other stage credits include Brick Monkey Theater Ensemble’s An Appalachian Christmas Carol at Stuart’s Opera House. She has acted on both stage and screen and hopes to perform in and design for theater all over the world. She has been dancing at Factory Street Studio in Athens since she was eleven and dancing and singing with the Athens Homeschool Marching Choir since the age of six. She enjoys writing, making things, and playing the violin and guitar.
CIARA GALLAGHER
FAIRY
Ciara Gallagher is very excited to be joining the Tantrum Theatre family! Other local appearances include: Medea, Goodnight Moon, Seussical, and Sweeney Todd. This fall, she will start 5th grade at Deer Run Elementary School in Dublin. Ciara would like to thank her friends and family for all their love and support.
MAEVE GALLAGHER
FAIRY
Maeve Gallagher has performed in Beauty and the Beast and Willy Wonka at Grizzell Middle School and Charlotte’s Web at Dublin Jerome High School, where she will be a freshman this fall. Maeve is thrilled to be involved with Tantrum Theatre for the first time and would like to thank her friends and family for always being there.
ARI JONES
FAIRY
Ari Jones lives on a farm near Athens and is excited to join Tantrum Theater for her first performance. In her spare time, Ari enjoys learning Irish dance and playing the violin.
ABBEY KATES
FAIRY
Abbey Kates is ready to show everyone why she loves to act! Abbey has performed in Hilliard Arts Council’s The Music Man and The Jungle Book: Kids Edition as Tabaqui. She also enjoys playing soccer for her school and with friends. However, her favorite past time is being the bossy big sister to her two younger sisters.
TOBIN PROVENZALE
FAIRY
Tobin Provenzale is very excited to be in her first professional performance. She loves acting, her pugs, and traveling. Tobin is 14 years old, works hard in school and is a leader of her Gay/Straight Alliance.
EVAN SEETO
FAIRY
Evan Seeto is thrilled to join Tantrum Theater for his first professional acting performance. When not acting, he keeps himself busy by swimming and playing the cello. In his free time, he likes to read, play video games, play chess (he always beats his dad), and rage at his computer every time he loses.
ZOFIA WALKOWSKI
MUSTARDSEED
Zofia Walkowski is thrilled to be in Tantrum Theater’s production of A Midsummer Night’s Dream. She recently appeared in her middle school’s production of Beauty and the Beast, Jr. and performed in Cinderella at Ohio University Lancaster. She enjoys hanging out with friends, photography, and singing. Zofia thanks her mom and dad for all their support and Gracie who believed in her from the start.
Creative
RUSS BLAIN
PRODUCTION MANAGER
Russ Blain received his BA and MFA degrees from The Ohio State University in 2003 and 2006. From 2008 to 2016 he served as the faculty lighting and sound designer for the Miami University Department of Theatre. Before joining the faculty at Miami, Russ served as the faculty lighting and sound designer and technical director for the Northern Arizona University, Department of Theatre. Prior to pursuing a path in academics, Russ enjoyed a diverse career in the entertainment industry, working as a production manager and also as a lighting and sound designer. He was the operations manager and lighting designer for Easter at The White House (1998 to 2000), and production manager for the Coastal Carolina Center for the Arts (1996 to 1998). Russ also served as the lighting designer and production manager for Hilton Head Dance Theatre (1996 to 2000). He toured as a lighting engineer with Tom Jones (1991 to 94), Al Jarreau (1992 to 93), and Nickelodeon’s Family Double Dare tour (1992 to 94). He has more recently worked as a member of the production management team for the Bonnaroo Music and Arts Festival, and the Pro Football Hall of Fame Enshrinement Ceremonies.
MICHAEL CASSARA, CSA
CASTING DIRECTOR
Michael Cassara, CSA recent credits include 9 Circles (off-Broadway premiere/Sheen Center), Spamilton (dir. Gerard Alessandrini – NYC and Chicago companies), Gigantic (dir. Scott Schwartz/Vineyard Theatre), Forbidden Broadway (last two editions/cast albums), The 12 (Denver Center/world premiere), The Elaborate Entrance of Chad Deity (Asolo Rep, dir. Jen Wineman), My Fair Lady (Gulfshore Playhouse, dir. Kristen Coury). Film: The Hyperglot (dir. Michael Urie, Artios nomination for excellence in casting), Grantham & Rose (dir. Kristin Hanggi). Resident Casting Director for the New York Musical Festival (NYMF) since 2007 and the National Alliance for Musical Theatre (NAMT) since 2013. Michael is a native Clevelander and a member of the Casting Society of America. He is thrilled to reconnect with his friends and family in the Central Ohio area, and is a proud BFA graduate of the Musical Theatre program at Otterbein University (back when it was Otterbein College). MichaelCassara.net / @michaelcassara
DANIEL C. DENNIS
ARTISTIC DIRECTOR
Daniel C. Dennis is very pleased to bring professional theater to Dublin, to deepen central Ohio’s engagement with the issues, challenges, and celebrations of our times through the performing arts, and to offer opportunities for young theater artists to apprentice with working professionals and take the important next step into the field. Directing credits include Tantrum’s inaugural show Little Shop of Horrors, Urinetown the Musical and bobrauschenbergamerica for Ohio University, Into the Woods and Oliver! for Ohio Valley Summer Theater, A Child’s Christmas in Wales for Book-It Repertory Theatre, and other new works in development. As an actor, he has worked for such companies as Seattle Children’s Theatre, Intiman Theatre, Seattle Opera, Village Theatre, Seattle Shakespeare Company, Book-It Repertory Theatre, UMO Ensemble, and others. He has music directed and conducted such classics as Singin’ in the Rain, A Funny Thing… Forum, and The Mystery of Edwin Drood and has led casts to perform his original sound scores for dozens of productions, including adaptations of Shakespeare, Gilbert & Sullivan, E.M. Forster, and Edith Wharton. With his show STARBALL—an interactive, largely improvised music theater event for the planetarium developed with collaborator John Kaufmann—he has performed in New York City, Chicago, Seattle, Philadelphia, Baltimore, Baton Rouge, and Valencia, Spain. Mr. Dennis belongs to Southeast Ohio’s Brick Monkey Theater Ensemble and Actors’ Equity Association. Holding an MFA in Theatre Pedagogy from Virginia Commonwealth University and a PhD in Interdisciplinary Arts from Ohio University, he currently serves on the performance faculty in the Theater Division at Ohio University, where he teaches acting, speaking, singing, Suzuki, Viewpoints, and theater composition.
CHRISTIAN FREDERICKSON
SOUND DESIGNER
Christian Frederickson (Sound Designer) is a violist, composer, and sound designer who specializes in live music performance for theater and dance. Originally from Port Townsend, WA, he is now based in New York City, where he lives with his wife and two sons. He was a founding member and one of the principal songwriters (along with Jason Noble and Rachel Grimes) of the Louisville, KY-based instrumental band Rachel’s, who released six albums on Quarterstick Records between 1995 and 2003. As a solo artist, Frederickson has released five albums since 2011 and has played concerts of his own music in New York City, Seattle, Louisville, Nashville, and Zilina, Slovakia. Since moving to New York in 2004, Frederickson has worked primarily in theater and dance at a long list of theaters, notably the Brooklyn Academy of Music, Classic Stage Company, The Public Theater, The Baryshnikov Arts Center, La MaMa, Atlantic Stage 2, as well as regional theaters, primarily Actor’s Theatre of Louisville where he has worked on 14 productions and is a regular designer at the Humana Festival of New American Plays. Frederickson was trained as a classical musician, and holds degrees from The Peabody Conservatory and The Juilliard School.
JANETTE L. HUBERT
STAGE MANAGER
Janette L. Hubert is thrilled to make her debut with Tantrum Theater. After 20 years in Seattle, Washington, Janette is now based in Louisville, Kentucky, spending last season as Stage Manager of The Louisville Ballet. Janette has been a stage manager with Actor’s Theatre of Louisville, Village Theatre, The 5th Avenue Theatre, The Bathhouse Theatre and Tacoma Actors Guild, among others. Janette also spent nine years as Resident Producer in the Theater Program at Cornish College of the Arts.
ANNE MCALEXANDER
ASSISTANT DIRECTOR/CHOREOGRAPHER
Anne McAlexander is currently pursuing her MFA in directing at Ohio University, where she recently directed Stop Kiss by Diana Son. She has directed and choreographed several productions at Summer Repertory Theatre Festival in Northern California, including Nice Work if You Can Get It, Tartuffe, Jeffrey Hatcher’s Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, Dirty Rotten Scoundrels, and Forever Plaid. Choreography credits with SRT include Merrily We Roll Along, South Pacific, La Cage Aux Folles, 9 to 5, The Wedding Singer, Hairspray, The Full Monty, and Mame. Other directing and choreography credits include Parade (Boston University), Ragtime (Fiddlehead Theatre, Boston), Thoroughly Modern Millie (Belmont University, TN), Damn Yankees (SUNY Fredonia), Pippin, Kiss Me Kate, The Drowsy Chaperone, In the Heights, and West Side Story. Anne taught as the choral and theatre instructor at Tuxedo Park School in New York, worked in several inner New York City schools as a teaching artist with Wingspan Arts, and has choreographed at various high schools in the New York area. She served as the head of the dance department at French Woods Festival of the Performing Arts for eight years, where she choreographed over forty productions. Performance credits include A Chorus Line (Cassie), Sweet Charity (Charity), Beauty and the Beast, Guys and Dolls, and Chicago.
C. DAVID RUSSELL
SCENIC DESIGNER
C. David Russell is delighted to design his third show with Tantrum Theater. In 2016, he designed the set for Little Shop of Horrors and the set and costumes for Tammy Faye’s Final Audition. He was honored to receive the 2017 Columbus Theater Roundtable awards for Excellence in Scenic Design for his work in both productions. Russell is Assistant professor of scenic design in Ohio University’s Theater Division. His career includes scenic and costume design, costume and property crafts, event design, project management and teaching. He is currently serving as Head of the Production Design and Technology Program in Ohio University’s Theater Division. Since 2003, Russell has served as resident designer for the Enchantment Theatre Company, based in Philadelphia. He has accomplished numerous scenic and costume designs for the Resident Ensemble Players in Delaware. In addition, Russell designed costumes for The Shakespeare Theater of New Jersey, The Pittsburg Public Theater, and TheaterWorks in Hartford Connecticut. He provided event design and project management for LIV Design and Design ETC in New York City for the International Toy Fair. In addition to his design work, Russell was on staff in the prop shop at The Santa Fe Opera for 18 years, where he served as Master Craftsperson from 2009-2011.
HELENE SIEBRITS
COSTUME DESIGNER
Helene Siebrits is an Associate Professor and Head of the Costume Program at Ohio University. Helene has worked professionally in film, theatre, opera, and dance. She has designed and draped costumes for prominent companies including Shakespeare Santa Cruz, Shakespeare at Berkley, American Musical Theatre in San Jose, South Coast Repertory Theatre, Santa Fe Opera, Illinois Shakespeare Festival, The Latino Theatre Company of Los Angeles, Texas Shakespeare Festival, Festival Antigonish in Nova Scotia, and the American Film Institute in Los Angeles. Helene is delighted to return to Tantrum Theater for its second season. Helene has collaborated with opera director Peter Sellars on Griselda at Santa Fe Opera, Nixon in China at the Metropolitan Opera in New York, The Gospel According to the Other Mary which premiered at the Los Angeles Philharmonic, and Iolanta/Persephone at Teatro Real, Madrid. Iolanta/Persephone returned to the stage at both Festival d’Aix and the Lyon Opera House. Helene also collaborated with the Peter Sellars artistic team on Oedipus Rex and the Symphony of Psalms at the Los Angeles Philharmonic and the Sydney Opera House. She recently designed costumes for another iteration of Oedipus Rex and the Symphony of Psalms for Festival Lyrique d’Aix en Provence and the London Philharmonia. This summer she is returning to Europe to work with the Sellars team at the Balitic Sea Festival in Stockholm, Sweden. Helene received her MFA from UCLA’s School of Film, Theatre and Television. She is a member of United Scenic Artists, Local 829.
JONATHAN SPENCER
LIGHTING DESIGNER
Jonathan Spencer designed the lighting for the 20th anniversary national tour of RENT, Priscilla Queen of the Desert 1st national tour, and Carrie Mae Weem’s Grace Notes: Reflections for Now (Spoleto & Yale Rep), Off Broadway: Middle of the Night (Keen Theater Company), The Ohmies (DRT & Playwrights Horizons), Who Is Floyd Stearn?, and Squeeze Box, John Moran’s Book of the Dead Second Avenue (NYSF Public Theater), Re-Lights for Legally Blonde (Star Theater in Sydney), Wicked (Universal Studios Japan), and Mary Zimmerman’s Metamorphoses (St. Louis Rep, Missouri Rep, Cincinnati Playhouse, and Hartford Stage), Associate/Assistant Broadway credits include Cabaret, Pippin, Streetcar Named Desire, Sister Act, Finian’s Rainbow, Wicked, Legally Blonde, White Christmas, and Metamorphoses. Jonathan teaches a summer master’s program in lighting design at Southern Oregon University, lives in New York City, and is a member of United Scenic Artists Local 829. Visit www.JSpencerDesign.com