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The Director
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Beth Burns (Master of play) - Beth is a recent transplant to Austin, having spent the last 14 years in Los Angeles, where she continues to work. She is currently an instructor and performer at renowned comedy theatre, The Groundlings. Her work in Austin includes a role in Tim McCanlies' upcoming feature The Two Bobs, and with Austin Shakespeare's Much Ado About Nothing. As a playwright, she studied extensively with Edward Albee, and went on to win an NEA grant for a collection of her short plays. As a director, she garnered Critic's Picks in L.A.'s Backstage West and the LA Weekly for her work with Sideshow. You can currently see her in an equally prestigious fashion: in a bear suit as a regular denizen of Saturday Night Live's Bear City. |
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The Cast
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Suzanne Balling (Olivia) - got her start in theater in Galveston at the age of eight. After years of living and performing in New York, she has moved back to Texas with her husband and two children. She is delighted to make her Austin debut with this wonderful group of artists. |
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Ryan Crowder (Sebastian) - Recent regional credits include roles at the Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park, the Pittsburgh Irish and Classical Theatre, the Monomoy Theatre in Cape Cod, and Austin Playhouse. Ryan is the Producing Artistic Director of Penfold Theatre Company and holds an MFA from the Professional Actor Training Program at Ohio University. |
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Brock England (Valentine) - has been actively involved in all aspects of theater since the ripe age of six. He cut his teeth on many a musical, then moved into more adventurous theatrical undertakings just before he came to Austin four years ago. His credits include Reefer Madness, Love's Labours Lost and The Brats of Clarence with the Bedlam Faction, Io - A Myth About You and Trash Anthems with Shrewd Productions, and even a stint as a lighting tech with Cheval Theatre, a touring equestrian circus. He'd like to thank his sisters for egging him on and this town for being so good to him. |
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Judd Farris (Sir Andrew Aguecheek) - would like to thank his wife, family, and friends for all their love and support and this amazing director,cast, and crew for all their passion, intellect, and talent. |
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Shannon Grounds (Viola) - is a Co-Artistic Director of Shrewd Productions, a Core Company Member of Hyde Park Theatre and an actor with Austin Shakespeare. She was seen most recently in Much Ado About Nothing for Austin Shakespeare and as Apollonia in Shrewd's critically acclaimed Io: a myth about you. She has received several B. Iden Payne and Austin Critics' Table nominations/awards for her work with Shrewd, Hyde Park Theatre, Salvage Vanguard Theatre, Refraction Arts Project, Bedlam Faction, State Theater Company and Austin Shakespeare Festival. She would like to thank the incredible cast and crew of Twelfth Night and her family for their love and support.
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Nathan Jerkins (Orsino) - returns to the Scottish Rite's stage having appeared in several of its children's shows as well as last summer production of A Midsummer Nights Dream. Since moving to Austin for his wife Melissa to pursue her PhD at the University of Texas, he has earned several nominations and awards from the Austin's Critic's Table and B. Iden Payne Awards. He is recently a founding member of the Penfold Theatre Company whose Austin premiere was held this past Spring. |
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Robert Matney (Malvolio) - recently played Gavin/Studioso (The Brats of Clarence, Bedlam Faction) and Medvedenko (The Seagull, Breakin' String). Other roles include Baliardo (Emperor of the Moon, Payne Award nomination, Bedlam Faction), Bob Acres (The Rivals, Austin Critic's Table Award), Horatio (Hamlet, both for Austin Shakespeare), and Randy Thatcher (Pageant, Hyde Park Theatre). Appearing next as Banquo for Austin Shakespeare. |
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Michael Mergen (Sir Toby Belch) - has been performing in Austin since 1995. He has appeared in roughly thirty plays in that time, at least a dozen of which were Shakespeare. He is a company member of Rude Mechs, and co-artistic director of Bedlam Faction theater company. Michael would like to thank his family and friends for everything. |
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Justin Scalise (Festé) - is a graduate of New Orleans Center for Creative Arts and has also studied at the British American Drama Academy, Oxford University. Austin credits include: Bottom in A Midsummer Night's Dream for Scottish Rite Theatre, and for Austin Shakespeare: Don John in Much Ado About Nothing, and their staged readings of Henry IV, Tamburlaine and The Night of January 16th. Other professional credits include: Romeo, Mercutio, Puck, Caliban, and Tom in The Glass Menagerie for the New Orleans Tennessee WIlliams Festival. He is also a recipient of New Orleans' Big Easy Entertainment Award. Justin is a member of Ann Ciccolella's Shakespeare Studio. |
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Rommel Sulit (Antonio) - has appeared in Austin Shakespeare’s “The Dog in the Manger” and “Hamlet” and will be seen in “Macbeth” this fall. He played Rodolfo in “Foursquare”, one of Manuel Zarate's “The Love Sonatas." Film credits include “A Scanner Darkly” and “Prison Break.” He trained at The School at Steppenwolf at Chicago’s Steppenwolf Theatre. |
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Jill K. Swanson (Maria) - is an actor, director, writer, and teacher who has worked in Austin theatre for the past 11 years. Past performances with Austin Shakespeare include Beatrice in Much Ado About Nothing, Desdemona in Othello, Helena in A Midsummer Night's Dream, and Portia in Julius Caesar. Most recently, she played Poins and Vernon in AS's staged reading of Henry IV, Part 1. Other notable local performances include Lady in The Incubus Archives, Vernon Lee in Madame X, and Maxine in Tongue of A Bird. |
| Gwendolyn Kelso (Producer, Master of Dance) - is thrilled to have had the opportunity to work with this incredibly talented group of people. Gwen received a BFA in Regional Theatre Performance from The Theatre Conservatory at Webster University. Since then, she has worked with the Saint Louis Shakespeare Festival, Repertory Theatre of Saint Louis, Harrisburg Shakespeare Festival, Lookingglass Theatre Chicago, and most recently, Austin Shakespeare’s Much Ado About Nothing. Gwen has taken class with Ballet Austin, Tapestry, Austin Contemporary Ballet, COCA Saint Louis, Joffrey Ballet Chicago and Joel Hall Dance Company. She would like to thank the incredibly talented Beth Burns for bringing this play to life; Dr./Mr. Michael McKelvey for his continued support (and magical music composition); Rita Kelso for always being there to help; Trisha Reed for “galliard-ing” her way around the living room; and YOU for coming stepping into the world of Shakespeare tonight. |
| Dr. Michael McKelvey (Master of Song) - is thrilled to be making his debut with SRCT. Some of his music directing credits over the last few seasons include Beauty and the Beast, Crazy for You (ACT Award), Seven Brides..(BIP Award), and Into the Woods for Zilker Summer Musical; A Christmas Carol, The Little Prince, and Nunsense for the State Theatre; On The Town, Honk, and Full Circle for SEU's Mary Moody Northen Theatre; Troades for Vortex; Footloose, Thoroughly Modern Millie, West Side Story, and Bat Boy (SSA). He received a special citation from the Austin Critics' Table for his work on Parade (MMNT), Music Man and Big River (TexArts), and last season won the B. Iden Payne Award for both musical and stage direction for the SummerStock Austin production of Assassins. In his spare time, he is Coordinator of the St. Edward's University Music Department, Producing Artistic Director of SummerStock Austin, and Artistic Director of the Performers' Workshop. This coming season he is scheduled to compose original music for ASF's Macbeth and MMNT's Cloud Nine, and will be stage directing The Pajama Game (MMNT). He would like to thank Beth and Gwen for this opportunity and their support. |
Stephanie Delk (Master of Stage) - is very excited to work with such a fun and talented cast and crew. Stephanie received a degree in Music Business/management from Berklee College of Music. Since graduating she has split her time between managing at Austin Adventure Boot Camp (www.atxbootcamp.com) , performing at Scottish Rite Children's theater, and writing and performing her own music. Stephanie has been seen previously seen onstage as the King in Rumplestiltskin and the Queen in Snow White at the Scottish Rite Children's Theater. She has been a featured singer/songwriter at SXSW for the past two years and plans to release her first 5 song EP in September '08. (www.stephaniedelk.com).
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Musicians: |
Special Thanks to…
….. Dr. Michael McKelvey and Saint Edward’s University for the generous use of their rehearsal facilities. What is a show without a dance? A special thanks to the talented Trisha Reed for taking time from her busy schedule to come in and assist with choreography. Rita Kelso for her above and beyond technical support and continued production assistance. And most of all, to YOU – for coming out tonight to support live theatre in Austin.