SBTS 2005 - Merry Wives of Windsor and Othello

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Merry Wives of Windsor
Cast of Characters

Othello
Cast of Characters

Mistress Page : Suzanne Dean Othello : Alem Brhan
Master Ford : Alem Brhan Cassio : Colin Martin
Mistress Ford : Shayla Hudson Iago : Ben Brannon
Master Page : Jay Wallace Emilia : Joy Nash
Anne Page : Aubrey Saverino Desdemona : Aubrey Saverino
Dr. Caius : Matthew Rimmer Gondolier : Kevin Klein
Jack Rugby : Kevin Klein Roderigo : Jon Weinberg
Mistress Quickly : Joy Nash Brabantio : Chris Roberts
Sir John Falstaff : Jeffrey Markle Montano : Matthew Rimmer
Pistol : Jason Bloom Gratiano : John Reimer
Nym : Ryan McLary Duke's Man : Jason Bloom
Bardolph : Brian Benoit Venetian : Ryan McLary
Robin : Taryne Kellogg Pria, the Maid : Daniele Watts
Justice Shallow : John Reimer Bianca : Suzanne Dean
Sir Hugh Evans : Andy Kallok Duke of Venice : Andy Kallok
Slender : Ben Brannon Ludovico : Shayla Hudson
Simple : Rachel Star Albright Bianca : Rachel Levy
Host : Colin Martin    
Fenton : Jon Weinberg    
Mistress Page : Rachel Levy    

Production

Lisa Coffi Rachel Maize Craig Fleming
Doug Clayton Mark Piatelli Netta Avineri
Aaron Jackson Jenny Hildebrandt Valerie Wright
Wesley Hunt Caroline Benzon Emily Orcutt-Clenard
Jasmin Cardenas Sondra Mayer  

Production Photos

Brian BenoitBrian Benoit (Bardolph) happily joins the cast of The Merry Wives of Windsor and the Shakespeare by the Sea company. Brian recently closed as Dave Miller in State Fair, and Jacob in Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dream Coat. Brian has especially enjoyed playing Old Skipps in The Lady's Not for Burning, Judge Wainwright in Agatha Christie's Witness for the Prosecution, and Colonel Pickering in My Fair Lady, among several others. Brian eagerly looks forward to working with Craig Fleming, whose reputation precedes him, and the entire SBTS/LFTC team.

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Andy KallokAndy Kallok (Sir Hugh Evans / Duke) This is Andy's fourth season with Shakespeare by the Sea. Audiences have seen him in Macbeth, Much Ado About Nothing, Romeo and Juliet, Twelfth Night, Richard III and Two Gentlemen of Verona. He has also acted in several plays at SBTS's own Little Fish Theatre, including the world premiere of Mark Piatelli's Inside My Father's Apple Tree. This spring, Andy was Mr. Jordan in the Kentwood Players production of Heaven Can Wait. He has worked in several independent films and has just completed taping a local commercial for The Whale and Ale pub in San Pedro.

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Jason BloomJason Bloom (Pistol / Duke's Man) Born and raised in Mariposa, California. He has been seen in plays which include Music Man, Philadelphia Story, Dead and Deader, Christmas Carol, and Its a Wonderful Life. He took a detour from acting and joined the United States Marine Corps, where he served seven years in the infantry. He is out of the infantry and is beginning a new life with Shakespeare by the Sea. He currently resides in Yorba Linda, California.

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Ben BrannonBen Brannon (Slender / Iago) After being seen in Shakespeare roles such as Hamlet and King Lear up and down the East Coast, Ben is happy to be in sunny L.A. He was last seen in San Pedro in Pick of the Vine at Little Fish Theatre, most notably as the crazed stalker in Hang Up. He was seen last year as Proteus in SBTS's Two Gentlemen of Verona and Hastings in Richard III. He is happy to be back again this year and working with the same great crew.

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Alem BrhanAlem Brhan (Master Ford / Othello) A seasoned New York actor, Alem has performed in a number of Off-Broadway productions. In The Billie Holiday Theatre's acclaimed production of Playboy of the West Indies, he played the title role. He also revived the role of El Raheem in the 25th anniversary production of Miquel Piñero's Short Eyes. Alem's regional credits include Oshun and In the Dark with the Walter Lees; he performed both works at The National Black Theatre Festival in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. Another regional performance of note is his turn as Jim in Huckleberry Finn at The Totem Pole Playhouse in Pennsylvania. Alem also has many film and television credits, including The Royal Tenenbaums, Caveman's Valentine, Law and Order, and Strong Medicine. He is currently working on his own one man show, You Play Too Much.

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Taryne KelloggTaryne Kellogg (Robin) is nineteen years old and has been acting in school plays since she was nine. She is a freshman at California State University, Long Beach, where she is a Theatre Arts major. This is her first production out of high school and her first time with Shakespeare by the Sea. Alongside acting, Taryne's interests include singing, writing and Martial Arts.

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Kevin KleinKevin Klein (Jack Rugby / Gondolier) is a nineteen-year old actor and performance major at Cal State University, Long Beach who grew up in San Pedro, California. Kevin gained experience with Shakespeare at San Pedro High School where he played Mercutio in Romeo and Juliet, Cassius in Julius Caesar, and Petruchio in Taming of the Shrew. Kevin was honored to receive the only theatre scholarship awarded during his senior year of high school. Aside from being involved in theatre at school, Kevin enjoys taking acting workshops in his free time and has appeared on such television shows as Without a Trace, Malcolm in the Middle, and Mad T.V.

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Ryan McLaryRyan McLary (Nym / Pirate) This is Ryan's first year with SBTS, and he is happy to be here. He currently attends CSU, Long Beach, and will graduate this fall with a BA in Theatre. In college, Ryan has performed a number of diverse roles in numerous productions, such as Lord Montague in Romeo and Juliet and Saddam Hussein in a sketch comedy show about the 2004 presidential elections. Most recently, he was a member of the cast of Migration, a world premiere experimental movement piece about the experience of refugees throughout the world.

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Matthew RimmerMatthew Rimmer (Dr. Caius / Montano) This is Matthew's second year with SBTS, and he is a member of the Elephant Theatre Company of Hollywood. He's appeared in commercials, film, and television. Before moving to L.A., he performed with the Georgia Renaissance Festival for six seasons and over 500,000 people. Past characters include Robin Hood, Hamlet, Benedick from Much Ado..., Buckingham from Richard III, and McMurphy from One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest. He encourages fans of swordplay to visit www.oldworldfilmworks.com to see clips from DUEL, a short film he wrote and starred in.

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Jeffrey MarkleJeffrey Markle (Sir John Falstaff) Originally from Montana, Jeffrey now makes his home in Studio City. His original music compositions have been used in film and television and he's received the Los Angeles Drama Critics Circle Award three times for his sound design. Jeffrey is currently also performing at the behest of Corporate America. You can see him daily at Universal Studios Hollywood as Joliet Jake in the Blues Brother's Rhythm & Blues Review. Another passion is his Roadhouse Band, "Joe Veal." As lead singer and front man, Jeffrey writes new music, records and performs. He dreams of returning to Europe someday where, in June of 2002, he performed at the "Fete De La Musique" (World Music Festival) in Berlin.

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Colin MartinColin Martin (Host, Cassio) has been roaming the L.A. Stage circuit for about five years, and has only just now discovered SBTS. He's a founding member of the American Russian Theatre company which recently ended a very successful run of the American debut of The Shadow, in which he played the Scholar. He's also co-founder of Racer Theatrical Productions, producing edgy, socially relevant theatre for audiences usually under-served by the artistic community. Some of his past stage credits include: Tuzenbach in Three Sisters, Mark in The Shadow Box, Jesus in Godspell, and many others.

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Joy NashJoy Nash (Mistress Quickly / Emilia) From the crowning glory of the Inland Empire (Redlands, CA), Joy is a graduate of USC's School of Theatre and the British American Dramatic Academy in London, England. A recipient of the R.A. McKinley and the James and Nony Doolittle Awards and a finalist for the Ava Greenwald Award, Joy's recent work includes the 6 Voices production of The Great American Desert, dual roles in Los Angeles' Talking Animal Festival, and her own solo play, My Mobster. She is proud to be making her Shakespearean debut with SBTS.

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John ReimerJohn Reimer (Shallow / Gratiano) A veteran of performing outdoors whilst speaking Elizabethan English at the Renaissance Pleasure Faire, John's Shallow and Gratiano are his first appearances with SBTS. Most recently, he appeared as the foppish aristocrat Oronte in The Misanthrope, staged at the Little Fish Theatre. Previously, he was the trustworthy retainer Rowley in Sheridan's classic School for Scandal, a command performance for the Jane Austen Society at the Mark Taper Auditorium, as well as at the Action/Reaction Theatre. Although he claims theatre as his acting home, and in particular focuses on the classics, he has also performed in over 20 independent film shorts/features.

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Rachel LevyRachel Levy (Mistress Page / Bianca) Rachel originally hails from Seattle and is excited return to SBTS. Rachel was most recently seen onstage in The Merchant of Venice at the MET Theatre. She was also seen on Comedy Central's sketch show "The Hollow Men" as the nursing mother. She has a BA in Drama from the University of Washington and has also studied theatre in England. Other recent productions include the 2003 and 2004 SBTS Seasons, The Lady's Not for Burning as Margaret, a featured reader in Grace & Competra's Speaking of Stories in Santa Barbara, and the beglittered "Good Fairy" in the Holiday Panto at the Lobero Theatre for two years. Other favorite stage projects include: Cloud Nine, Sincerity Forever, and Cymbeline.

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Chris RobertsChris Roberts (Barbantio) This is Chris's second season performing with Shakespeare by the Sea. He was last seen as Sir Toby in Twelfth Night and as Lord Montague in Romeo and Juliet. Chris has just finished directing the delightful production of Heaven Can Wait at the Kentwood Players in Westchester. Last year, he directed the critically acclaimed production of David Mamet's Oleanna at the Little Fish Theatre in San Pedro.

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Shayla HudsonShayla Hudson (Mistress Ford / Ludovica) This is Shayla's second season with Shakespeare by the Sea. Shayla is a singer, actor, dancer and writer. She has been seen on BET's Teen Summit. Shayla has danced with Debbie Allen, Missy Elliot, and many others.

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Suzanne DeanSuzanne Dean (Mistress Page / Bianca) was recently seen alternating the roles of Hannah Mae & Maude in A Coupla White Chicks Sitting Around Talking and as Peg in the world premiere of Peg & Garrick at Little Fish Theatre. Other LA theatre credits: Macbeth at TheatRevolution; Richard III, Twelfth Night, R&J, Much Ado..., A Midsummer Nights Dream, As You Like It and The Tempest with Shakespeare by the Sea; The Lady's Not For Burning, Blithe Spirit, and Pick of the Vine at Little Fish; Hay Fever, Present Laughter, Anita Bryant at the Long Beach Playhouse. Some NYC credits: The Glass Menagerie, Look Back in Anger, Hamlet, Crimes of the Heart and 1984. Elsewhere in the US: Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, Bus Stop, The Dresser, All in the Timing, Wuthering Heights, Antigone. Film & Television include: Black Dawn, Silk Stalkings, Power Rangers and Another World. In August, Suzanne will be performing A Coupla White Chicks... at the 2005 Edinburgh Fringe Festival in Scotland!

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Aubrey SaverinoAubrey Saverino (Anne Page / Desdemona) Aubrey was mostly recently seen onstage in the world premiere of Climbing Everest at The Colony Theatre in Burbank. She has also performed in various theaters throughout LA and Orange County. Her favorite roles include Titania/Hippolyta in A Midsummer Night's Dream, Luciana in The Comedy of Errors, Celie in The Imaginary Cuckhol, Antonia in We Won't Pay!, Chloe Coverly in Arcadia and Dunyasha in The Cherry Orchard. Aubrey has a BA in Theater from Occidental College and has also studied abroad at The London Dramatic Academy. She would like to thank her family and friends for their support as she pursues a career in acting.

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Rachel AlbrightRachel Star Albright (Understudy) received her degree in theatre from Cal State Long Beach. She has performed Shakespeare as Sampson in Romeo and Juliet and as Puck in a 45 min version of Midsummer Night's Dream. Other roles include Cali in Stop Kiss, as 8 ensemble characters in August Strindberg's A Dream Play and Baker's Wife in Into The Woods.

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Jay WallaceJay Wallace (Master Page) Jay Wallace, originally from Kansas City, is glad to be a part of SBTS. Jay has been a part of many exciting theatre and film projects in the LA area, since moving out here several years ago to be a part of Cal Rep, the CSULB Graduate Acting program. You may have seen Jay in productions in the Hollywood area or in the latest original one-act series at the Little Fish Theatre a few months ago. He's glad to be collaborating with this talented group of artists and would like to thank his wife Shannon for all her loving support.

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Daniele WattsDaniele Watts (Pria, the Maid) is delighted to be making her Shakespeare by the Sea debut in Othello. A native of Southern California, she has studied the performing arts for much of her young life. She graduated from a magnet high school for the performing arts in Atlanta, GA, and in August she will begin her third year towards the completion of a Bachelor of Arts in Theatre at the USC's School of Theatre. She has appeared in several student films for USC's School of Cinema Television, and recently played the leading role of Eurydice in Polaroid Stories, directed by Jessica Kubzansky. Most recently, she appeared as Nina in a new-musical workshop presentation of Gulls at the Boston Court Theatre in Pasadena.

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Jon Weinberg Jon Weinberg (Fenton / Roderigo) was born and raised in Minneapolis. He received a degree in theatre from the University of British Columbia. Jon recently returned from London where he completed his post graduate training at the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art. Some roles he played at LAMDA include Macbeth and Proteus in Two Gentlemen of Verona. Other theatre credits include the Bacchae, Neil Simon's God's Favorite, and David Mamet's The Frog Prince. Jon has appeared on television and various independent films. Jon is also a member of the Vancouver based theatre company, Ah Um Theatre.

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Lisa Coffi Lisa Coffi (Producing Artistic Director) is the founding member of Shakespeare by the Sea. She holds an MFA in Theatre Management from CSU, Long Beach and BFA in Two-Dimensional Art CSU, Sacramento. Over the last seven years, she has created and administered Shakespeare by the Sea, several youth programs and has also launched Little Fish Theatre Co. which presents a cadre of new and contemporary work in an intimate indoor setting in downtown San Pedro. Lisa is constantly challenging herself with projects and works as a freelance graphic designer throughout the South Bay.

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Rachel MaizeRachel Maize (Festival Producer) received her MFA in theatre management from CSULB where she was involved in almost every aspect of management and production. In her university career she stage-managed and assistant directed numerous productions. Rachel directed Three Poets, by Romulus Linney in the Players Theatre at CSULB. Most recently she directed Inside My Father's Apple Tree, by Mark Piatelli, and co-directed Pick of the Vine-A Night of One-Acts both at Little Fish Theatre.

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Netta AvineriNetta Avineri (Production Assistant) Born in Beer Sheva, Israel, Netta came to the United States when she was two years old. She has loved the English language ever since her arrival and, early on, she developed a love of Shakespeare and theatre. Her involvement with SBTS began with the 2003 season as a volunteer in marketing, press, and concessions, and has continued ever since. This year, Netta has the good fortune of working for the organization as Production Assistant. Netta graduated from UCLA in 2001 with a degree in Anthropology and a minor in French. She currently teaches and tutors French, Spanish, and Hebrew, and is returning to UCLA for graduate school in Applied Linguistics in the fall.

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Douglas ClaytonDoug Clayton (Othello Director) has been acting and directing at theatres across the United States and Europe for over a decade. For Shakespeare by the Sea, he has appeared in the roles of Paris in Romeo & Juliet, Eglamour in Two Gentlemen of Verona, and Richmond in Richard III. He also directed the 2004 production of Two Gentlemen of Verona. Outside of Shakespeare by the Sea, he recently directed Godspell for Marmac Repertory Theatre, and assistant directed the acclaimed play Judgment at Nuremberg, running in July at International City Theatre in Long Beach. He earned his undergraduate degree at USC, and did his graduate work at the FSU Asolo Conservatory.

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Mark PiatelliMark Piatelli (Associate Artistic Director) Directing Credits: 2004- Pick of the Vine 2004: An Evening of One-Acts at Little Fish; The Rose Tattoo at The Long Beach Playhouse. 2003- Blithe Spirit; Pick of the Vine; 2003- Desdemona, a Play about a Handkerchief and When Shakespeare's Ladies Meet at Little Fish Theatre; Anita Bryant Died For Your Sins (Staged Reading LBPH); Shakin' It Up With Shakespeare. 2002- The Lady's Not For Burning at Little Fish; Much Ado About Nothing for SBTS; FAME at Palos Verdes High School; Little Shop of Horrors with ARK Players in Long Beach. Other credits: Godspell; The Odd Couple (Female Version); In The Zone; Guys and Dolls. His original play, Inside My Father's Apple Tree was produced in September as part of Little Fish Theater's 2004 season.

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Craig FlemingCraig Fleming (Merry Wives…Director) is an actor, director, teacher, and writer. He received his MFA in acting from CSULB, where he was named Outstanding Graduate for the College of the Arts. His theatre background includes acting and directing for Shakespeare Orange County, Laguna Playhouse, Performance Riverside, and South Coast Repertory, where he taught acting for fifteen years. In 1988, Craig joined Walt Disney Imagineering, moved to France, and directed the nomenclature and scripting effort for Disneyland Paris. Prior to becoming an Imagineer, he wrote for Teddy Ruxpin, Muppet Babies, and other talking toys. Craig is a full-time lecturer in theatre at CSULB.

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Aaron JacksonAaron Jackson (Scenic Designer) holds a Master of Fine Arts from Rutgers University and has an intense interest in High Concept, New Works and Alternative Performance. New York Design Credits include: Box (Off-Broadway Trial) for the Genesius Theatre Guild, A Leopard Complains of Its Spots for Amphibian Productions, and Spooge for the Riant Theater. Aaron has also worked on the developmental stages for a New Musical for Town Square Productions. Regional Credits include work for the WB Television Network, (New York & L.A.) Theatre OUTlanta, (Atlanta, GA) Albright College, (Reading, PA) and the Lincoln Square Theater, (Decatur, IL). In addition to Design, Aaron has worked as a Scenic Artist in theatres across the country including The Kirk Douglas Theater, (CTG, L.A) The George Street Playhouse, (New Brunswick, NJ) The New Jersey Shakespeare Festival, (Madison, NJ) The Heritage Repertory Theater, (Charlottesville, VA) and the New Harmony Theater, (New Harmony, IN) among others.

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Jenny HildebrandtJenny Hildebrandt (Costume Assistant) Jenny is a 2005 graduate of CSU, Long Beach with a bachelor's degree in Fashion Merchandising and Design. Last year she interned for Teenage Millionaire t-shirt company and the CSU, Long Beach Theatre Arts Costume Department. This past spring Jenny interned for Valerie Wright Haute Couture and assisted with costumes for Taming of the Shrew and A Coupla White Chicks Sitting Around Talking. This summer she is assisting Valerie with costumes for Shakespeare by the Sea.

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Valerie WrightValerie Wright (Costume Designer) Valerie has a BFA in fashion design from the Otis Art Inststute. This is her third year with Shakespeare by the Sea, with Twelfth Night and Romeo and Juliet being two of her favorites. She just recently finished Taming of the Shrew for the Torrance Theater Company. Some of her other works include; Androcles and the Lion, This is Not a Pipe Dream, A Coupla White Chicks…, and costuming a Civil War Re-enactment. Valerie has also designed gowns for the Academy and Grammy awards, and costumes for such clients as Cree Summer and Amy Smart.

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Wesley HuntWesley Hunt (Sound Designer) Wesley is completing his Master of Fine Arts in Theatre at CSULB and holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Theatre from Chapman University. Faculty Design at Cypress College: Sound Design; The Crucible, Gravity, People in Motion, Jesus Christ Superstar, Oklahoma, The Mikado, The Family of Mann, Lucy Stiff, Sweeney Todd. Set Design; People in Motion, A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum, Inspecting Carol. Guest Design Golden West College: Original Composition; Hamlet, The Grapes of Wrath. Sound Design; The Crucible. California Repertory Company: Audio Production and Mastering; Ray Bradbury short stories, willie, mickey & the duke.

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Caroline BenzonCaroline Benzon (Music Composer) recently composed the music for Little Fish's 2004 original piece Towyard Dreams. She also wrote a score for Kentwood Players' production of A Midsummer Night's Dream at the Westchester Playhouse. She also wrote and scored the music for SBTS' production of Twelfth Night in 2003. Other composing credits include, Peg & Garrick at LFTC, writing the theme song for an independent short film, Grey Sky Morning and writing and producing her first CD. Currently, she is writing the music for a new musical Emerald City and producing her 2nd CD, No One Sees You Like I Do. Caroline received her BA in Music at UCLA.

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Emily Orcutt-ClenardEmily Orcutt-Clenard (Merry Wives…Stage Manager) Emily has just graduated from Cal State University Long Beach with a BA in Technical Theatre. Her stage management work includes Migration, Stand and Deliver, Romeo and Juliet and two years with the Collage Campaign of The Vagina Monologues. Lighting Design work includes Hunting Beach Dance Academy's Summer Show, Playing with the Pieces, Doing Nothing All Day, and Lend Me a Tenor at the Long Beach Playhouse. Emily is so excited to work with the Shakespeare by the Sea family and spend her summer outside in the park. "Welcome back my friends to the show that never ends, we're so glad you could attend, come inside, come inside." - Emerson, Lake, & Palmer.

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Sondra MayerSondra Mayer (Othello Fight Choreographer) Sondra was born and raised in the theatres of Chicago and received her BA for Acting at Columbia College Chicago. In LA, she has performed at Repertory East Playhouse, ACME Comedy Theatre, Ark Theatre Company, The Met Theatre, and is a member of Sacred Fools Theatre Company. Sondra did the Fight Choreography (as well as played Lucetta and an Outlaw) for last year's production of Two Gentlemen of Verona.

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Jasmin CardenasJasmin Cardenas (Othello Stage Manager) Jasmin is excited to be working with Shakespeare by the Sea for the first time. Currently she is working with the California Repertory Company at CSULB as a stage manager. Past shows include Swimming in the Shallows, Medea, Cider House Rules Parts 1 & 2, Shakespeare's 72, The Vagina Monologues, The Dante Club (world premiere), Laramie Project, The Blue Room.

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Merry Wives of WindsorMerry Wives of Windsor Merry Wives of WindsorOthelloOthello

 

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