MEET OUR MEMBERS
Ashley Aquino (she/her)
​​
Ursula, u/s Margaret/Verges in MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING
Feature Performer in GREENSHOW
u/s Biondello/Huntsman; Hostess/Merchant in TAMING OF THE SHREW
​
Hi, my name is Ashley Aquino. I am 24 years old from Las Vegas, Nevada. I graduated with a BFA in Musical Theatre from Southern Utah University and this is my second season at the Utah Shakespeare Festival. I’m an actor with a desire to learn who seeks to bring light and laughter to the rehearsal room while approaching each opportunity with humility, grace and a touch of surprise.
Zac Barnaby (he/they)
​​​
Lord 2/Mariner/Shepherd, u/s Officer/Clown in THE WINTER'S TALE
u/s Executioner/Surrey, u/s Wolsey's Secretary/Gardiner in HENRY VIII
u/s Grumio in TAMING OF THE SHREW
Featured Performer in GREENSHOW
​
Zac Barnaby is ecstatic to be performing in his first season at the Utah Shakespeare Festival! Born and raised on the east-coast, Barnaby is currently working out of Southern Utah while attending Southern Utah University in their BFA Musical Theatre program. Actor, dancer, vocalist, musician, impressionist and physical comedy advocate, they believe that life is too short to get comfortable! They use their Barnaby-wiles on the daily to challenge and push themselves mentally, physically, and creatively.​
​
Cassandra Bissell (she/her)
​
Queen Katherine in HENRY VIII
Tranio in THE TAMING OF THE SHREW
u/s Paulina in THE WINTER'S TALE​
​
Cassandra is based in northern Wisconsin. Regional (LORT) credits: Actors’ Theatre of Louisville, Arizona Theatre Co., Cleveland Play House, Court Theatre, Great Lakes Theater, Idaho Shakespeare Festival, Indiana Repertory, Milwaukee Repertory, Northern Stage, Northlight Theatre, and People’s Light. Chicago (CAT) credits: Chicago Shakespeare Theater, First Folio, Rivendell Theatre Ensemble, Shakespeare Project of Chicago, and Steppenwolf. Small Professional Theatre (SPT) credits: Company of Fools (Sun Valley, ID), Contemporary Theatre of Ohio (Columbus, OH), freeFall (St. Petersburg, FL.) Forward Theater Co. (Madison, WI), Milwaukee Chamber, Next Act Theatre (Milwaukee, WI), Peninsula Players (Door Co., WI) Renaissance Theaterworks (Milwaukee, WI) and Third Avenue Playworks (Door Co, WI.) Cassandra holds a BA in Gender Studies from the University of Chicago.
Whitney Black (she/her)
​
u/s Henrietta Leavitt in SILENT SKY
u/s Clown 2 in THE 39 STEPS
​
Mother Courage in Mother Courage and Her Children, The Witch in Into the Woods (SUU); Olivia in Twelfth Night (UVU); The Greenshow, Ensemble in All's Well That Ends Well (Utah Shakespeare Festival); Caroline Bingley (Creekside Theatre Company); Scarlet in Scarlet (Sackerson Theatre Company); The Angel in Angels in America (Utah Repertory Theatre).​
Evelyn Carol Case (she/her)
​
Brandon/Patience in HENRY VIII
Verges in MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING
​
​​Evelyn Carol Case is an esteemed actor, teacher, writer, and scholar. She has performed nationally and internationally in leading roles at the Prague Fringe Festival, Prague Shakespeare Company, Alabama Shakespeare Festival, Utah Shakespeare Festival, Laguna Playhouse, Shakespeare Orange County, American Stage Company, Pennsylvania Stage Company, and Arkansas Repertory Theatre. Evelyn is certified in and teaches Fitzmaurice Voicework, Kundalini & Vinyasa Yoga, and Alba Emoting Technique. She has been awarded
multiple grants for projects ranging from Commedia study & performance in Turin Italy to mask making & dance in Bali. Evelyn is a world traveler and generally up for an adventure.
Christopher Centinaro (he/him/el)​
​
Florizel in THE WINTER'S TALE
Surveyor/Cardinal/Capuchius/Cranmer in HENRY VIII
Server/Messenger/Nicholas in THE TAMING OF THE SHREW
Katie Cunningham (she/her)
​​
Henrietta Leavitt in SILENT SKY
​​
Katie Cunningham is an Assistant Professor of Theatre and Head of Acting at the University of Tennessee. As an actor, she has appeared on a host of stages in New York and across the country, including multiple seasons at Utah Shakespeare Festival (Lady Macbeth, Emilia in Othello, and Maria in Twelfth Night among others); Asolo Rep (Annette in God of Carnage, Marjorie in Both Your Houses directed by Frank Galati); and Clarence Brown Theatre (11 seasons in the resident acting company). Recent voice, text, and dialect coaching includes Nashville Rep; Southwest Shakespeare Company; and multiple productions at Clarence Brown Theatre as the resident voice, text, and dialect coach. Katie is a Certified Teacher of Knight-Thompson Speechwork and a PAVA Recognized Vocologist. MFA Acting, FSU/Asolo Conservatory for Actor Training; BA, UNC Chapel Hill. She is a proud member of Actors’ Equity Association since 2010, SAG-AFTRA, VASTA, and PAVA.
Tom Coiner (he/him)
​
Hannay in THE 39 STEPS
Camillo in THE WINTER'S TALE
​
Tom Coiner is an actor and writer from Massachusetts who works out of New York City. He's a graduate of Kenyon College and the National Theatre Conservatory at the Denver Center, and he's a former apprentice at the Actors Theatre of Louisville. Tom has worked in New York for The Mint and Primary Stages, and has worked around the country developing new plays and bringing classics to life at Asolo Rep, Milwaukee Rep, The Contemporary American Theater Festival, Geva, Merrimack Repertory Theatre, Cincinnati Shakes, Playmakers Rep, and the Denver Center among others. This is his first time at USF. He's appeared onscreen in Boardwalk Empire, The Good Fight, The Night Of, Law & Order: SVU, It's Bruno!, Person of Interest, and in the award-winning video game Red Dead Redemption 2.​​​
Trent Dahlin
​
Gardiner in HENRY VIII
Conrade in MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING​​
Trent is thrilled to return to the Festival, where he previously appeared as Feste in Twelfth Night, Samuel in The Pirates of Penzance, Gloucester in Henry V, and many more. Off-Broadway credits include starring in the absolutely insane Singfeld: The Unauthorized Parody Musical About Nothing.
His other regional theatre work includes Bob Cratchit in A Christmas Carol at Theatre Squared, Willoughby in Sense and Sensibility at Lyric Repertory Theatre, and many more.
Trent recently made his television debut in his first co-starring role in History Channel's The Food That Build America. His film credits include co-starring in two faith-based films, called ""Mission Stories"" and ""Joseph Smith: American Prophet.""
Trent also shares his passion for the craft as an adjunct faculty member at Southern Utah University.
Michael Doherty (he/him)​
​
Clown 1 in THE 39 STEPS
Antigonus & Time in THE WINTER'S TALE
​​
Michael Doherty is an east coast-based actor and writer. He has appeared in over 60 regional and off-Broadway productions, including at 59E59 Theaters, Guthrie Theater, Berkeley Repertory Theatre (Theater Bay Area Award), Utah Shakespeare Festival, Alabama Shakespeare Festival, Milwaukee Repertory Theatre, Denver Center, Cleveland Play House, Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park, Connecticut Repertory Theatre, Wilma Theater, People's Light, Theatre Horizon (Barrymore Award), National Constitution Center, Bristol Riverside Theater, Arden Theatre Company, and Gulfshore Playhouse. His television credits include Wu Tang: An American Saga (Hulu), Take My Muffin (Toonbox Studios), and Los Jarochos (Best Writing, 2013 Independent TV Festival). Michael is a published edpsych researcher, studying the thought processes of professional actors (University of Denver). He is the co-creator of Mythic Thunderlute: A D&D Podcast Musical on the Broadway Podcast Network.
Alaysia Renay Duncan (she/her)
​
Perdita, u/s Mamillius in THE WINTER'S TALE
Anne Bullen in HENRY VIII
Petra/Others, u/s Bianca in THE TAMING OF THE SHREW
​
Alaysia Renay Duncan is a New York City based actress, originally from Saint Paul, Minnesota She obtained her BFA in Acting from Ithaca College. Select credits: “Ensemble/Onstage Swing” in Beautiful: The Carole King Musical (Engeman Theatre), “Mercy” in School Girls; Or The American Mean Girls Play (Hangar Theatre), “Eurydike” in Antigonick (Hangar Theatre), “Julius Caesar” in Julius Caesar (Ithaca College), “Joanne” in Rent (Ithaca College). She is represented by Baker Management. Alaysia is a proud WAVE Grant winner through Wavelength Productions. Her short film “Abstract” will film in September 2024 and will mark her on-camera directorial debut.
​
Darin F. Earl II (he/they)​
​
Lords Sands/Cardinal Campeius/Dr. Butts, u/s Henry in KING HENRY VIII
Soldier/First Watch/Friar, u/s Don Pedro in MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING
​
Darin F. Earl II is a NJ-based, first-gen, queer artist represented by Reinhard Talent. Recently at the festival: Henry VIII, Much Ado About Nothing, Hamlet, Coriolanus, Timon of Athens, Othello. Other stage credits: Duke of York & Others (Richard II, Luna Stage); Ferdinand (Love's Labour's Lost, Scranton Shakespeare Festival); & Happy Loman (Death of a Salesman, Somerset Valley Players.) Recently on-screen: The Dennis Boys (S. Schaffer); and 825 Forest Road (S. Cognetti.) Keep up with Darin at darinearlthesecond.com.
Topher Embrey (he/him)​
​
Henry VIII in HENRY VIII
Clown in THE WINTER'S TALE
Christopher Sly in THE TAMING OF THE SHREW
​
Off Broadway: Romeo and Juliet, The Capulets and The Montagues, and A King and No King (Red Bull Theater) Regional: Several Seasons including A Midsummer Nights Dream, Comedy of Errors, Sense and Sensibility and Eurydice (American Shakespeare Center) A Christmas Carol (Denver Center for the Performing Arts); Coriolanus and All's Well That Ends Well (Colorado Shakespeare Festival); The Liar and Animal Farm (Arvada Center); Twelfth Night (Nashville Shakespeare Festival); The Lost Colony (Waterside Theatre); Peter and the Starcatcher, Antony and Cleopatra, The Tempest, and Pericles (Orlando Shakespeare Festival); The Merchant of Venice, Two Gentlemen of Verona, Julius Caesar, and Richard III (Virginia Shakespeare Festival).
Gracelyn Erickson (she/her)
​​
Lady 2/Mopsa, Perdita (u/s), Emilia (u/s) in THE WINTER'S TALE
Featured Performer in THE GREENSHOW
Tranio (u/s), Josephina/Widow (u/s) in THE TAMING OF THE SHREW
​
I am Gracelyn Erickson and I am 20 years old. I am currently a BFA Musical Theatre student at Southern Utah University going into my Junior year in the Fall. I am very fortunate to be able to appear in the 2024 season of the Utah Shakespeare Festival, courtesy of the Southern Utah University Fellowship program. I love performing, especially anything that includes singing and dancing.
Brandon Foxworth (he/they)
​
MLK u/s in THE MOUNTAINTOP
​
Brandon Foxworth is a writer, actor, arts educator and minister from Detroit,MI. This is his 1st season with USF and he is BEYOND ECSTATIC to be here! He says that his ministry is manifested through his love for the world, his craft, and his passion to make the world a better place than he came in. Matt 6:33 is his favorite Bible verse.
His recent work includes SHEAR MADNESS (Tony) -Lyric Rep. Co.; FAT HAM (Juicy) -City Theatre and Theatre Squared; TWELFTH NIGHT (Sir Andrew Aguecheek), A CHRISTMAS CAROL (Jacob Marley, Ghost of Christmas Present, Narrator 2, Old Joe), FENCES (Jim Bono), A FOX ON THE FAIRWAY (Bingham) -Lyric Rep. Co.; CLASSIC COUPLES COUNSELING (Othello) -Theatre West Co.; THE CHRISTIANS (Associate/Pastor Joshua) -Farmers Alley Theatre; and more!
Also, Catch him in dark comedy film Moving On, directed by Paul Weitz, on Hulu where he shares the screen with acting vets Jane Fonda and Lily Tomlin!
​​
​
John Harrell (he/him)
​
Autolycus in THE WINTER'S TALE
Hortensio in THE TAMING OF THE SHREW
Guilford and Cromwell in HENRY VIII.
​
This is my second season at USF. I worked for many years at American Shakespeare Center in Virginia.
Blake Henri (he/him)
​
Dogberry in MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING
Grumio in TAMING OF THE SHREW
​
Blake Henri is an actor/fight choreographer/writer/director who holds a BFA from The University of Oklahoma. His previous professional credits include Miss Evers' Boys, The National Arts Festival in Grahamstown, South Africa. The Play That Goes Wrong, A Raisin In The Sun, Utah Shakespeare Festival; The Play That Goes Wrong, Cleveland Playhouse; Clue, Dallas Theatre Center; An lliad, Oklahoma Shakespeare Festival; King John, Macbeth, As You Like It, Cymbeline, Julius Caesar, Great River Shakespeare Festival; All is Calm, Pagosa Center for the Arts; Sense and Sensibility, Twelfth Night, Othello, Island Shakespeare Festival; The Crucible, Arkansas Repertory Theatre; The Odd Couple, Manic Monologues, Chaplin, WaterTower Theatre. The Play That Goes Wrong, CoPro with WaterTower and StageWest. Film: American Underdog, Eyewitness Bible Series, Great Plains. Television: HBO’s “Love and Death”, "Walker", "The Chosen", “Into The Wild Frontier”.
Luke Sidney Johnson (he/him)
​
u/s Hannay in THE 39 STEPS
u/s Leontes in THE WINTER'S TALE
​
Luke is a local to Cedar City! This season marks his 7th at USF where he’s played such roles as Younger Brother in Ragtime, Simeon in Joseph…Dreamcoat, King of France in King Lear, and Sampson in Romeo and Juliet. He has a BFA in Musical Theatre, has worked as fight captain and dance captain for numerous productions, and has extensive understudy experience. He also works at The Grind in town, so come say hello!
Walter Kmiec (he/him)
​​
Benedick in MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING
Norfolk in HENRY VIII
​
Walter Kmiec is a theatre artist whose regional acting credits include Utah Shakespeare Festival (Benedick - Much Ado, Norfolk - Henry VIII), Colorado Shakespeare Festival (Valentine - Two Gentlemen of Verona, John Heminges - Book of Will), Endstation Theater Company (Title roles in Hamlet and Macbeth, Petruchio - Taming of the Shrew) Orlando Shakes (Thomas - Venus in Fur, Freddy - Noises Off, Antipholus of Syracuse - Comedy of Errors) and Amphibian Stage Productions in Ft. Worth, TX (Vitelli - David Davalos’s A Lost Leonardo (Premiere). He is the former Artistic Director of Endstation Theater Company, based in Central Virginia. He received his MFA in Directing from Florida State University and directed several new works at Endstation, among them premieres of Terrence Chisholm’s In Sweet Remembrance and Joshua Mikel’s The Whole Bunch. He most recently directed The Importance of Being Earnest at Stetson University, where he sometimes adjuncts in their School of Theater.
Geoffrey Kent (he/they)
​
​Polixenes in THE WINTER'S TALE
Buckingham in HENRY VIII
Vincentio in THE TAMING OF THE SHREW
​
Geoffrey Kent is an actor, fight director, director and teacher based out of Denver, Colorado. Acting work includes Colorado Shakespeare Festival (14 seasons), Denver Center for the Performing Arts (10 seasons), Utah Shakespeare Festival (5 seasons) Orlando Shakespeare Theater (5 seasons) Arvada Center for the Arts (10 seasons) among others. Geoffrey also works as a regional theatre director including the USF, Arvada Center and the Denver Center. He is a nationally recognized Fight Director and one of only twenty Fight Masters with the Society of American Fight Directors.
%20-%20James%20C.png)
James Carlos Lacey​ (he/him)
​
Lucentio in THE TAMING OF THE SHREW
Borachio & Don John u/s in MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING
​
James Carlos Lacey is a Paraguayan-British Actor and Musician, that received his MA from the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art in London and his MFA from the Shakespeare Theater Company's Academy for Classical Actor. He was nominated for the 2023 Wavy Award for Best Actor. This is his debut at the Utah Shakespeare festival and his previous credits include: NEW YORK (off Broadway): sTrapped (Playwrights Horizons), Love Interest (The Tank). REGIONAL: Shear Madness, La Bohème (The Kennedy Center) Angel Number Nine (Rorschach Theatre), Romeo & Juliet (Chesapeake Shakespeare Company), Playboy of the Western World (Solas Nua). INTERNATIONAL: Hamlet (Tower Theatre, London), Antony & Cleopatra (Teatro Technis, London), Orphée (Bloomsbury Festival, London), The Bacchae (Greece/London).
​
​
Tracie Lane (she/her)
​
Annabella/Margaret/Pamela in THE 39 STEPS
Hermione in THE WINTER'S TALE
​
Tracie Lane is returning to the Festival as Annabella/Margaret/Pamela in The 39 Steps and Hermione in The Winter’s Tale. 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 the American Shakespeare Center and Houston Shakespeare Festival. Tracie earned her MFA at The Juilliard School and is a proud member of Actors’ Equity Association.
​​
​
Kat Lee (she/her)
​
Margaret in SILENT SKY
u/s Camae in THE MOUNTAINTOP
​
Hi there! I'm Kat, goofball at heart and storyteller by trade. I've had the pleasure of working the regional theatre circuit since graduating with a BFA in Musical Theatre from Otterbein University (class of '19). Highlights include Lorrell in DREAMGIRLS at Short North Stage, Martha Cratchit in A CHRISTMAS CAROL at The Denver Center, Yvette in Clue at Oregon Cabaret Theatre, and The Narrator in EVERY BRILLIANT THING for the Utah Shakespeare Festival Educational Tour. Above all, I value kindness (to oneself & others), on and off the stage. Theatre is meant to validate, challenge, and unite us; noble pursuits that should be treated with generosity, humility & joy. Let's play.​​​
Rodney Lizcano (he/they/el)
​​
Don Pedro in MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING
Gremio in THE TAMING OF THE SHREW
​
Rodney is an actor, director and teaching artist whose career spans 30 years. He has spent 21 seasons with the Denver Center Theatre Company in roles in Much Ado About Nothing, The Constant Wife, Book of Will, American Mariachi, Frankenstein, Hamlet, American Night, Merchant of Venice, Spinning Into Butter, Inna Beginning, Tempest, Gross Indecency, The Rivals, Kingdom, Winter's Tale, Christmas Carol. Other Theatres: Utah Shakespeare Festival, Colorado Shakespeare Festival (The Odyssey, Midsummer Night’s Dream, Twelfth Night, Richard III, Much Ado, Othello, Henry V, Tempest, Merry Wives, Henry IV Parts 1 & 2, Equivocation, Cymbeline), The Old Globe, Orlando Shakespeare Theatre, Dallas Shakespeare, Theatre Aspen, Arvada Center, LOCAL, BETC and Off-Broadway with Actors Ensemble Theater and DreamScape Theatre Company. Training: Southern Methodist University (BFA) National Theatre Conservatory (MFA).
Rockwell MacGillivray (he/him)
​
Lord/Shepard/Bear in WINTERS TALE
Featured Performer in GREENSHOW
​
Rockwell MacGillivray is a BFA Musical Theater student and is going into his Junior year at Southern Utah University. This is his first season at the Utah Shakespeare Festival. Rockwell has received many awards from the Musical Theater Competitions of America in both acting and set design, He also was a recipient of the 2006 Time Person of the Year award.​
Valerie Martire (she/her)
​
Margaret in MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING
Bianca/Player in THE TAMING OF THE SHREW​​
​
Valerie Martire is an actor based in Chicago, Illinois. She just recently graduated from Illinois Wesleyan University with her BFA in acting 2 months ago (the day she arrived in Utah actually)! This is her first professional contract and she is having the time of her life. During her time at school, she had the absolute pleasure of playing Jackie in Mauritius, Cassidy in Appropriate, Clarion in Life's a Dream, #7 in The Wolves, and was featured in her school's faculty choreographed dance concert. Valerie is beyond excited to be here playing Bianca in Taming of the Shrew and Margaret in Much ado about Nothing and can't wait to spend the rest of her summer in Utah!
Chloe McLeod (she/her)​
​
Lady in Waiting, u/s Queen Katherine in HENRY VIII
Biondello, u/s Kate in THE TAMING OF THE SHREW
Lady/Dorcas in THE WINTER'S TALE
​
Other Theatres: The Two Gentlemen of Verona, The Book of Will, The Alchemist, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, The Odyssey, and You Can’t Take It With You (Colorado Shakespeare Festival); Anna Karenina, A Christmas Carol, and This is Modern Art (Denver Center); Macbeth, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, and Romeo and Juliet (DCPA Shakespeare in the Parking Lot); Fun Home (Miners Alley) Chloe is a Teaching Artist with Denver Center Education and proud graduate of AMDA, NYC.​
%20-%20Elyna%20Mel.jpg)
Elyna Mellen ​(she/her)
​
Seminar Grove Manager and Educational Dramaturgy Assistant
u/s Dion, Lords, Lady, Shepherds, Shepherdess, Mariner, Bear Puppeteers in THE WINTER'S TALE
u/s Ursula, Oatcake, Seacole, etc in MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING
​
​Elyna is an actor and multi-faceted theatre artist who is delighted to be back at the Utah Shakespeare Festival, for the first time as a member of the REACH acting company. Though originally from Chicago, Elyna recently received a BFA in Acting from Brigham Young University. As an actor and an artist, she believes in approaching every story and role with wholehearted authenticity, nuance, and vulnerability. Recent credits include Viola in Twelfth Night (dir. Lisa Wolpe) with the Prague Shakespeare Company, as well as Doña Leonor in House of Desires, Lydia in Pride and Prejudice, and The Governess in The Turn of the Screw at BYU. When not performing, Elyna has also enjoyed the experience of assistant directing and dialect coaching BYU’s Wait Until Dark and assisting with education and dramaturgy efforts as the Seminar Grove Manager at the Utah Shakespeare Festival, where she can again be found this summer leading orientations and assisting with seminars.
Chris Mixon (he/him)
​
Cardinal Wolsey in HENRY VIII
Baptista in THE TAMING OF THE SHREW
Old Shepherd/Jailer in THE WINTERS TALE
​
Chris Mixon has been a character actor in regional theatres for over 34 years. With nearly 175 plays and musicals on his resume, he’s been seen multiple times at the Utah Shakespeare Festival (12 seasons), the Great River Shakespeare Festival (10 seasons), the Alabama Shakespeare Festival (9 Seasons), and in many productions with the Orlando, Nebraska, and Hudson Valley Shakespeare Festivals, collaborating with some of the finest directors, designers and creatives in the industry. He’s performed at the Denver Center, Milwaukee Rep., Cincinnati Playhouse, Philadelphia Theatre Co., George Street Theatre, the Repertory Theatre of St. Louis, Geva Theatre Center, Peterborough Players, among many others. He toured with Des MacAnuff’s Broadway revival of How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying, starring Ralph Macchio and Roger Bart, and he’s performed with many theatres in NYC, including 7 seasons as a resident acting company member with the Pearl Theatre Company.
Trenell Mooring (she/her)
​​
Paulina in THE WINTERS TALE
Margaret aka Old Woman in HENRY VIII
Hostess/Attendant/Merchant in THE TAMING OF THE SHREW
​
This is Trenell's debut season at the Utah Shakes. After graduating with a degree in advertising from the University of florida, this Orlando-based actor completed a two two year Conservatory program at Stella Adler in NYC. She was last seen in "Noises Off" at the Orlando Shakes.. Theatre credits include Much Ado About Nothing (Beatrice), Intimate Apparel (Mrs Dickson), Midsummer Night's Dream (Hermia), Pride and Prejudice (Elizabeth) and The Amish Project. When not on stage, her office job is working at the Orlando theme parks leading guests in building Lightsabers, Wandkeeper, and looking for Jason Bourne. Much love to her family for all their support.
AK Murtadha (he/him)
​
MLKing in THE MOUNTAINTOP
Peter Shaw in SILENT SKY
​
Abdul-Khaliq Murtadha (AEA, SAG-AFTRA) Regionally: Los Angeles Shakespeare Center, Seattle Rep, Ensemble Theatre Company (Santa Barbara), Phoenix Theatre, Indianapolis Shakespeare Company, South Dakota Shakespeare Festival, Pioneer Theatre Company (Salt Lake City), WBTT and Asolo Rep (Sarasota, FL). TV and Film credits include Days of Our Lives, Shirley starring Regina King (Netflix), NCIS-LA, All My Children, Raising the Bar, The Unit, Medium, and Numb3rs. He’s a founding member of the Africana Repertory Theatre of I.U.Indianapolis, an ensemble member of the Fonseca Theatre Company, and on the artistic board of Crescent City Stage in New Orleans. A Designated Linklater Teacher, he received his MFA from UC, San Diego and is an Assistant Professor in the BFA Acting program and Co-Artistic Director of The Mosaic Theatre Company at Auburn University, in Auburn, AL.
Jimmy Nguyen (he/him)
​
Claudio in MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING​
​
Jimmy Nguyen (pronounced "GWIN") is a Vietnamese-American actor and has worked at various theatres across the country including The Kennedy Center in D.C., Hope Repertory Theatre in MI, Illinois Shakespeare Festival, and a new Asian-American musical called Gold Mountain at the Utah Shakespeare Festival. Last season, he took over the roles of Demetrius in A Midsummer’s Night Dream and Benvolio in Romeo & Juliet during the last month of performances at USF. Jimmy trained as an acting student at Doane University and the Dell’Arte School of Physical Theatre, where he learned various styles of movement, mask, and clowning. His identity as an Asian-American guides his practice and how he approaches his craft. As a kid, he saw Asian-Americans in the media repeatedly portrayed as bullied school nerds, gas station clerks, laundromat workers, cab drivers, etc. He decided he wanted to change that narrative. Through his work, he continues to challenge what it means to be an Asian-American actor.
​
%20-%20Kolton%20Keetch%20Nielsen_edited.jpg)
Kolton Keetch Nielsen (he/him)
​
Assistant Director in SILENT SKY
Teaching Artist in Education Department
​
Kolton Keetch Nielsen is a Theater Educator, Director, and Actor from Utah who recently graduated from Southern Utah University with a BS in Theatre Arts Education. He has worked with the Utah Shakespeare Company for 3 years as a Teaching Artist and spent the 2024 season as an Assistant Director on 'Silent Sky'. Recent credits include directing 'Cyrano de Bergerac' and playing Flip Benham in 'Roe' at SUU. He is a profesionally lecensed educator and has an edorsement in 6-12 Theatre. He is currently empolyed at Trailside Elementary in Vineyard, UT as an Theatre Specialist.​
Melinda Parrett (she/her)
​​
Beatrice in MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING​
Josephina/Widow/Server in THE TAMING OF THE SHREW​​
​
Melinda is a west-coast based actor who is celebrating her 10th season with USF since 2007. Favorite roles at the festival have been Annie in ""The Play that Goes Wrong"", Mrs. White in ""Clue"", Adelaide in ""Guys and Dolls"", Ariel in ""The Tempest"", Reno Sweeney in ""Anything Goes"", and Rosalind in ""As You Like It"". She has performed with theatres across the country in many genres including Santa Cruz Shakespeare (Lady Macbeth/""Macbeth""), Denver Center (""A Christmas Carol""), Goodspeed Opera House (""Dames at Sea""), PCPA Theaterfest (Morticia/""The Addams Family Musical"" & Brooke/""Other Desert Cities""), Capital Stage (Ruth/""The Homecoming""), B Street Theatre (Nora/""A Doll’s House: Part 2""), Geva Theatre, Sacramento Music Circus, Oregon Cabaret, and Sierra Rep, among others. She is a proud member of Actors’ Equity since 2002.
Dariana Elise Pérez​ (she/her/ella)
​
Hero in MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING
First Lady in Waiting, u/s Anne Bullen in HENRY VIII
​
Dariana Elise Pérez is a Puerto-Rican artist based in New York and the Midwest. Select Credits: Twelfth Night (Ten Thousand Things); Troilus & Cressida (Guthrie Dowling Studio); I Am Betty (History Theatre); Natasha, Pierre, & The Great Comet of 1812; Sunday in Sodom/A Parsifal (Hangar Theatre). Her debut play, "the untitled white boyz play" was workshopped in 2023. Training: BFA Actor Training Program, University of Minnesota/Guthrie; minor in Creative Writing. She hopes to continue maintaining a sense of play in her work while striving to be an empathetic & open-spirited artist.
Bailey Savage (she/they)
​
Clown 2 in THE 39 STEPS
Cleomenes/Rustic, u/s Autolycus in THE WINTER'S TALE
​
Bailey Savage: Generator of Joy, Racounteuor Extrodinarre, Interdisciplinary Artist. Born and raised in the Lentil Capitol of our nation, Pullman, Washington, and currently living in Chicago. Bailey spent the past 2.5 years performing over 450 shows with Drunk Shakespeare Chicago (Host, Lady MacBeth, MacDuff) and hosting a variety of variety shows. Musician, comedian, writer, producer, clown, photographer, collage artist and pleasure activist, Savage spends their days plotting ways to bring people joy. Other credits include Julius Caesar (Julius Caesar) and Lord Capulet (Romeo and Juliet) for USF's Shakespeare-In-The-Schools-Tour, Lyric Repertory Theatre, Midsommer Flight, Intrinsic Theatre Company, and Jacaranda Collective.
Alia Shakira (she/her)
​
Camae in THE MOUNTAINTOP, Annie Cannon in SILENT SKY
​
​Alia Shakira is a proud graduate of Howard University's School of Fine Arts (BFA), the British American Drama Academy's Midsummer in Oxford Conservatory, and Full Sail University (MS). Most recently, Alia appeared at Horizon Theater in Atlanta, as Makeda in The House that will not Stand. Credits include The Alliance Theatre-GA, New Federal Theatre-NY, Metropolitan Playhouse-NY, TheatreWorks-Tour, and The National Black Theatre Festival. TV/Film Credits include "The First Lady", "The Color Purple", "The Come Up", "Woke", and "Atlanta". Giving thanks to God for every performance, she dedicates this one to the imperfect. "Though she be but little, she is fierce!" @skinnyblackgirlproductions
​
​
Sarah Shippobotham (she/they)
​
Williamina Fleming in SILENT SKY​​
​
SARAH SHIPPOBOTHAM is a dialect coach, actor, intimacy consultant, and Professor in Acting, and Dialects at the University of Utah. Sarah trained as a Voice and Dialect Coach at The Royal Central School of Speech and Drama in London. Her Dialect/Voice coaching credits include eighteen seasons with the Shaw Festival (Niagara-on-the-Lake, Canada), as well as over 30 productions for Pioneer Theatre Company and Salt Lake Acting Company in her home town of Salt Lake City. In 2011/12 Sarah spent 7 months in New Zealand working as a Dialect Coach on The Hobbit films.
Trained as an actor at The Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama in Wales, Sarah has acted with the Tony Award winning Utah Shakespeare Festival for two seasons, appeared at Pioneer Theatre Company and Salt Lake Acting Company. Her one-person show – Can I Say Yes to That Dress? – received its world premiere this September at Salt Lake Acting company.
Chauncy Thomas (he/him)
​
Leontes in THE WINTER'S TALE
Duke of Suffolk in HENRY VIII
u/s Petruchio in THE TAMING OF THE SHREW
​
​Alabama Shakespeare Festival–A Midsummer Night’s Dream (Oberon), The Tempest (Caliban); Bay Street Theatre–A Raisin in the Sun (Walter Younger), To Kill a Mockingbird (Tom Robinson); Illinois Shakespeare Festival–As You Like It (Orlando), Measure for Measure (Angelo); Gulfshore Playhouse–Radio Golf (Roosevelt Hicks); St. Louis Rep–Clybourne Park (Albert/Kevin); St. Louis Shakespeare Festival–The Winter’s Tale (Polixenes), Much Ado About Nothing (Don Pedro); Great River Shakespeare Festival–Imbroglio (Herman)
Television: Madam Secretary, Run the World
Awards: 5-time St. Louis Theater Circle Award nominee and winner for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama for Biff in Death of a Salesman at the St. Louis Black Rep; Illinois Shakespeare Festival Actor Honor Roll
Education: BA in Drama and Psychology at Washington University in St. Louis
Elise Thayn
​
u/s Beatrice in MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING
u/s Annabella/Pamela/Margaret in THE 39 STEPS
u/s Cleomenes/Rustic in THE WINTER’S TALE
​
Elise is currently based in Utah and recently graduated with a BFA in Theatre Arts from Southern Utah University. There, she performed as Prospero in The Tempest, #00 in The Wolves, Texas in Cabaret, and more.
This is Elise’s third season at the Festival. She has previously appeared in All’s Well That Ends Well and performed as a swing/standby for several roles in The Tempest, Timon of Athens, and Coriolanus.
Elise is also a teaching artist, and recently completed a contract with the Black Hills Playhouse’s touring residency program, the Dakota Players.
Stephen K. Wagner
​
External Understudy for:
Norfolk and Lord Chamberlain in HENRY VIII
Baptista and Gremio in THE TAMING OF THE SHREW
Jailer/Old Shepherd in THE WINTER'S TALE
​
Stephen K Wagner is an educator, director, and actor based in Cedar City, UT. He has worked with Walt Disney Entertainment as a puppeteer, and was a repertory member of the Rude Guerrilla Theatre Company in Santa Ana, CA. He also served as a guest director for California State University, Fullerton, the Blank Theatre in Hollywood, CA, and The Arthur Seelen Theatre in New York. More recently, he served as President/Artistic Director of the Cedar Valley Community Theatre, as well as directing and acting in various productions throughout Southern Utah. He currently serves as Advisor and Lecturer for the Department of Theatre Arts and Dance at Southern Utah University.
Matthew Wangemann (he/they)
​​
Hugh Oatcake/Attendant, u/s Claudio in MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING
u/s Hortensio in TAMING OF THE SHREW
Featured Performer in THE GREENSHOW
​
Matthew is thrilled to be returning to the Utah Shakespeare Festival this season, having appeared in last years productions of A Midsummer Night's Dream, Romeo and Juliet, and The Greenshow. He graduated in 2023 with a BFA in Musical Theatre and Minor in Dance from Southern Utah University. Since then he has appeared in the world premier of Into the Burrow at the Tony Award winning Alliance Theatre, as well as making his off-broadway debut in Pinkalicious: The Musical. He has also been seen in productions at Pickleville Playhouse, Hale Center, and Catalyst Theatre.
Emily Wheeler (she/her)
​
Lady/Bear/Shepherdess in THE WINTER'S TALE
Featured Performer in THE GREENSHOW​​
​
Emily Wheeler is entering her third year at Southern Utah University as a BFA Candidate in Musical Theatre. She is appearing at the Festival for the first time this year, courtesy of the SUU Fellowship Program. An advocate for the power of storytelling and human connection through the art of theatre, Emily is honored to be given the platform to connect with audiences.
Gabriel Wright (he/him)
​
Dion/Shepard/Bear Puppeteer, u/s Florizel in THE WINTER'S TALE
u/s Duke of Suffolk, and Surveyor/Capuchius/Cranmer in HENRY VIII
u/s Page/Nathaniel/Haberdasher/Vincentio in THE TAMING OF THE SHREW
Gabe is going into his Senior year at SUU as a musical theater BFA candidate.
​
​
Marco Antonio Vega​ (he/him)
​
Don John in MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING
Earl of Surrey in HENRY VIII
​​
Marco Antonio Vega is a classically trained, (MFA, Non-equity), Actor based in Southern Utah.
Some past Utah Shakespeare Festival roles include: Bardolph, Demetrius, County Paris, and Antipholus of Ephesus. Marco has worked on 22 of Shakespeare’s plays and hopes to complete the canon. Besides his experience in Shakespeare, Marco has years of live improv performance experience, and hopes to be able to teach and direct more in the future.
​
Henry Woronicz (he/him)
​
Leonato in MUCH ADO
Lord Chamberlain in HENRY VIII
​
​
Braedon Young
​
George Seacoal/Soldier in MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING
Scribe/Messenger/Cousin Brutanchio in HENRY VIII
“u/s Peter Shaw in SILENT SKY
​
Braedon Young is a New York based actor who grew up in the California Bay Area. He attended the Manhattan School of Music (BM in Musical Theatre ‘23). He has worked here at the Utah Shakespeare Festival for the last 3 years, and has loved every summer! Past roles at the festival have included: “Abram, u/s Romeo, Benvolio, Peter” ROMEO AND JULIET, “Robin Starveling, u/s Demetrius” in A MIDSUMMER NIGHTS DREAM, as well as KING LEAR, and ALL’S WELL THAT ENDS WELL. Outside of the festival he has also performed: “Georg Novak” in SHE LOVES ME, “Roger Dickson” in Dave Malloy’s DON’T STOP ME, “J.D.” in Heathers, “J. Pierrepont Finch” in HOW TO SUCCEED…, “Garry Lejeune” in NOISES OFF, and many more roles in THE DROWSY CHAPERONE, OLIVER!, PAPERBOY, and more. He has also had the privilege to be invited to sing several times at Carnegie Hall as a featured soloist.