2010 Acting Company

Meet the cast of Hamlet!

Aaron Orion Baker (Francisco/ Fortinbras/ 4th Player) is thrilled to be working with SFSTL once again, after performing with the SFSTL Education Tour in 2008, as a proud member of the cast of Me & Richard 3 (Kevin Kline Award winner, Outstanding Theatre for Young Audiences).  A native of Illinois, Aaron has called St. Louis home for the past four years.  In addition to the Festival, he has worked with the St. Louis Actor’s Studio, Muddy Waters, the Non-Prophets, St. Louis Shakespeare, Magic Smoking Monkey, the New Jewish Theatre and the Oxford Shakespeare Festival.  He would like to thank his beautiful wife Emily for her love and support and his dog Trespass, for generally waiting patiently.
   
Justin Blanchard (Laertes) Shakespeare Festival St. Louis debut. Broadway: Journey’s End. NY/Regional: Hamlet (New York Classical Theatre), Argonautika (Berkeley Rep, Shakespeare Theatre of Washington DC, McCarter Theatre), A Civil War Christmas (Long Wharf), A Christmas Carol (McCarter Theatre), Hamlet, Two Gentlemen of Verona (Trinity Rep), As You Like It (Hangar Theatre). TV: Law & Order: SVU. BFA from NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts and MFA from the Brown University/Trinity Rep Consortium.
   
Jim Butz (Hamlet) I am deeply grateful for the opportunity to be back in the Park, performing this great play! Credits include Amadeus (Mozart) Georgia Shakespeare Festival,
Romeo and Juliet (Romeo) Shakespeare Santa Fe, The Odyssey (Telemachus) Willow Cabin Theatre Co., The Lion in Winter (Philip) Indiana Rep. Theater, Biloxi Blues (James Hennesy) The Geva Theater, Julius Caesar (Mark Antony) Shakespeare Festival of St. Louis (Kevin Kline Award for Best Supporting Actor), Much Ado About Nothing (Friar) SFSTL, Richard III (Richmond) SFSTL, Lobby Hero (Jeff) Repertory Theater of St. Louis (Kevin Kline Award nominee: Best Actor), A Number (B1, 2 & 3) Repertory Theater of St. Louis (Kevin Kline Award nominee: Best Actor), The Merchant of Venice (Basanio) The New Jewish Theater (Kevin Kline Award nominee: Best Supporting Actor), Measure for Measure (Angelo) The Mustard Seed Theatre Co.  Thank you Jesus for your Grace. Thank you Amy for your constant love and support, I love you. Dedicated to the memory of my dear sister Teresa.
   
Jason Cannon (Horatio) gleefully returns to the Festival for a sixth go-round, having most recently appeared in Forest Park as Master Page in last year’s The Merry Wives of Windsor. Earlier in 2010 Jason appeared as Robert in Outlying Islands at Upstream Theatre and directed Love Song for St. Louis Actor’s Studio.  In addition to Merry Wives, in 2009 Jason appeared as Eric in Brooklyn Boy at New Jewish Theatre, Lt. Brannigan in Guys and Dolls at Stages St. Louis, Father Flynn in Doubt: A Parable at Dramatic License Productions (which he also directed, receiving the Kevin Kline Award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Play and a nomination for Outstanding Director), and in Saint Joan at the Rep. Jason is especially happy to perform this role opposite Jim.  Most importantly he is lucky husband to Sarah.  Proud member Equity/AFTRA.
   
Kimiye Corwin (Ophelia) Before turning to acting, Kimiye trained as a dancer at The Juilliard School and danced with the José Limón Dance Company for five years.  Then she earned her MFA from the Brown/Trinity Consortium in Rhode Island.  Now she resides in New York City.  She is a company member and artistic associate with the Guerrilla Shakespeare Project. Her favorite roles include Muriel in Ah, Wilderness (Chautauqua Theater Co.), Sheila in An Inspector Calls (Franklin Stage Co.), Jailer’s Daughter in Two Noble Kinsmen (Guerrilla Shakespeare), and Lulu from The Joe Donovan Variety Show (a collaborative comedic cabaret project).  TV: One Life to Live.  Kimiye is thrilled to be here for the first time with SFSTL!
   
Cameron Jamarr Davis (Reynaldo/ Court Member) is a Sophomore Dramatic Performance Major at the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music (CCM). He is a proud co-founder of the comedy group Supple Puppy Comedy; check them out on YouTube. CCM credits include: Uncle Pleasant in CCM’s fall production of Orpheus Descending and Irwin Shaw’s Bury The Dead as part of the Burial Detail with the Carnegie Theater in Covington, KY, which will open this April. This past summer Cameron interned with the Hangar Theater in Ithaca, NY. There he appeared in Origin Story (Ensemble), Snow White (The Mirror), Love in the Time of Chanukah (The Fairy) and Military 4Play (The Contractor/ Sergeant). Cameron appeared in SFS TL's Richard III (Prince Edward) and in their 2008 student production of Romeo and Juliet (Romeo).
   
Matthew Folsom (Guildenstern) is bubbling over with excitement to be making his debut with Shakespeare Festival Saint Louis.  He is a recent graduate of the Conservatory of Theatre Arts at Webster University as well as Interlochen Arts Academy.  He would like to thank his parents for their unending support and his beautiful girlfriend, Alesia for always putting up with him!  He hopes you enjoy the show!
   
Gary Glasgow (Osric) is pleased to be returning for his eighth season with Shakespeare Festival St. Louis.  Favorite productions include Richard III (Hastings), The Tempest (Sebastian), Macbeth (Porter) and Romeo and Juliet (Paris).  Locally, he has worked at The MUNY (15 seasons), The Repertory Theatre of St. Louis, Mustard Seed Theatre, and the recently formed Variety Children’s Theatre.  Regional work includes productions at Wisconsin Shakespeare Festival, Colorado Shakespeare Festival, and Shakespeare Rep and Apple Tree Theatre, both in Chicago.  An Artistic Associate with Mustard Seed Theatre and a proud faculty member of the Conservatory of Theatre Arts at Webster University, Gary would like to thank his wife and children for their love and support.
   
Cale Haupert (Bernardo/2nd Gravedigger) is thrilled to be returning to Shakespeare Festival St. Louis for his third season. He played Pistol in 2008's The Merry Wives of Windsor and was a member of the ensemble for Richard III. Cale was last seen as the Nazi Officer in The Diary of Anne Frank with the Repertory Theatre St. Louis. Other credits include: Timmy in The Subject Was Roses (Avalon Theatre), Earl in Book of Days (Evergreen Theatre Ensemble, Chicago), ensemble in Amadeus (Repertory Theatre St. Louis), Mike in Killing Women (HotCity Theatre), Cornwall in King Lear, Bomber Pilot in War of the Worlds (St. Louis Shakespeare) and Robby the Stockfish in Urinetown (Newline Theatre). Cale is a proud graduate of Saint Louis University and is an Ensemble member of Evergreen Theatre Ensemble.  He would like to thank the Festival for another wonderful summer, along with his family, friends and KW for all of their support.
   
Mark Kelley (Rosencrantz) is originally from Chesterfield, MO, and received his BFA from Illinois Wesleyan University. Favorite past roles include Mercutio in Romeo and Juliet, Joey Evans in Pal Joey, the Antipholus Twins in The Comedy of Errors, Harlequin in Triumph of Love, and Leo Clark in Leading Ladies. Eternal thanks and gratitude to his parents, siblings, Sophia, and, of course, his amazing fiancé Christina.
   
Rob Krakovski (Ghost/Player King): Phileas Fogg in Around the World in 80 Days, New Jersey Shakes; Old Man in A Christmas Story, GEVA; collaborated on A Dream Play in NYC; Twelfth Night and Beard of Avon, Portland Center Stage. Victor Fleming in Capital Reps’ Moonlight & Magnolias; Jack Wetherall’s Measure for Measure at New Jersey Shakes; Bill Wilson in Bill W. & Dr. Bob Off-Broadway; Martin Heidegger, Hannah & Martin, San Jose Rep; Macbeth in Macbeth, Claudius in Hamlet, Sergius in Arms & the Man at the St.Louis/Philadelphia/Pennsylvania Shakespeare Festivals respectively; Earl of Warwick, Saint Joan; Serge in Morocco with Keir Dullea; Caswell in Lucky Lucy with Blythe Danner; various roles at Hartford Stage, Repertory Theatre of St. Louis, The Place Theater - London, The Edinburgh Festival, and the Georgian Republic Arts Festival with Vanessa Redgrave. Various films including Asata by Ryan Fleck which premiered at Sundance.
   
Deanne Lorette (Gertrude) is thrilled to be making her first appearance with Shakespeare Festival St. Louis. She comes to the Festival directly from a successful run playing Belinda in Noises Off at The Fulton Theatre. St. Louis audiences may remember her from her work at The Repertory Theatre of St. Louis in Witness for the Prosecution (Romaine), and A Flea In Her Ear (Raymond). Recent credits include: The Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey, The Little Foxes (Birdie); The Shakespeare Theatre Company DC, The Way of the World (Marwood), Edward II (Queen Isabella), and Tamburlaine the Great (Ebea); The Pennsylvania Shakespeare Festival, The Winter’s Tale (Hermione). She has appeared in leading roles across the country at Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park, Syracuse Stage, The Actors Theatre of Louisville, Pioneer Theatre Company, Playmakers Repertory Company, Virginia Stage Company, Two River Theatre Company, The California Shakespeare Festival, Stamford Theatre Works, The Utah Shakespearean Festival, South Coast Repertory Theatre, and Illinois Shakespeare. TV: Guiding Light. Film: The Passion. MFA: University of California at Irvine.
   
Anderson Matthews (Polonius) has performed in regional theatres across the country, including Arena Stage, Hartford Stage, Cincinnati Playhouse, Pioneer Theatre, Old Globe, and, 25 shows at The Repertory Theatre of St. Louis. Broadway credits include Peter Ustinov's Beethoven’s 10th, The Robber Bridegroom, and Arcadia at Lincoln Center. Off-Broadway credits include Driving Miss Daisy and Ten by Tennessee. Way Off-Broadway he appeared in John Houseman's production of The Cradle Will Rock at London's Old Vic. Television credits include Law and Order and The Equalizer.
   
Terry Meddows (Cornelius/ Priest) is very excited to be making his Shakespeare Festival debut. Locally, Terry has worked with Echo Theatre Company, The New Jewish Theatre, Mustard Seed, HotCity Theatre, River City Theatre, Vanity Theatre, Historyonics, Theatre Factory, New Line Theatre, That Uppity Theatre Company and The Goldenrod Showboat. Terry is an artistic associate of Echo Theatre Company. Terry has received a 2010 Kevin Kline nomination for Best Supporting Actor in a play for his performance as Karlmann in Echo Theatre's production of The Ugly One.
   
Whit Reichert (Marcellus/1st Gravedigger) is thrilled to be back at the Festival for his fourth season having appeared previously in A Midsummer Night’s Dream,As You Like It and Richard III. 2009 was an interesting year for Whit. He had a small part in Up in the Air starring George Clooney; two short films, Circles and Slice of Pie, which were shown at the St. Louis Film Festival; a cameo in an indie film The Slacks of Dracula; a live industrial at The Grand Ole Opry  in Nashville for Panera Bread and four plays at four new theatres. Locally Whit has been seen at The MUNY, The Black Rep, The Avalon Theatre, The Black Cat Theatre, STAGES St. Louis, HotCity Theatre, The St. Louis Actors’ Theatre and 25 plays at The Rep. He resides in St. Louis with his lovely wife, director/choreographer Millie Garvey, and is a proud member of Actors’ Equity for 36 years.
   
John Rensenhouse (Claudius) makes his debut with Shakespeare Festival St. Louis.  He is, however, no stranger to Shakespeare or St. Louis, having played many roles at the Repertory Theatre here including Petruchio in The Taming of the Shrew, Don John in Much Ado About Nothing, Cornwall in King Lear and Antipholus of Ephesus in The Comedy of Errors.  His most recent appearance at the Rep was earlier this year as Otto Frank in The Diary of Anne Frank.  Mr. Rensenhouse has worked extensively at Shakespeare theaters around the country, including eight seasons at the Heart of America Shakespeare Festival in Kansas City (a similar free outdoor event), three seasons at the Oregon Shakespeare Festival (the nation’s largest and most prestigious), two seasons at the Utah Shakespearean Festival, one season at the Ft. Worth Shakespeare Festival and one season at the Alabama Shakespeare Festival.  At these venues he has played roles ranging from Berowne in Love’s Labor’s Lost to Edmund in King Lear to Oberon in A Midsummer Night’s Dream to Sailor #2 in Twelfth Night.  Though he has been in over 35 professional productions of Shakespeare plays, this is his first time to be in Hamlet.  At long last.
   
Aaron Sitrick (English Ambassador / Court Member) is currently a junior at Webster Conservatory pursuing a degree in Musical Theatre. This is his first time working on Shakespeare professionally and he could not be more excited to be a part of this great production. This is also his first time working on Hamlet, which just so happens to be his favorite of the Tragedies. Past favorite roles include Malvolio in Twelfth Night, Schroeder in You're a Good Man Charlie Brown, and most recently Glenn Glugia in The Wedding Singer: The Musical.
   
Lindsey Warren (Player Queen / Laertes' Servant) is thrilled to be making her debut with Shakespeare Festival St. Louis. Lindsey recently graduated from The Conservatory of Theatre Arts at Webster University, where she majored in Musical Theatre. A few past shows that she has been a part of include Murder by the Book (Christine Scott), Charley’s Aunt (Kitty Verdun), Little Shop of Horrors (Urchin), On The Razzle (Melchior), Company (Sarah), and Our Town (Mrs. Gibbs). Lindsey would like to thank her family, friends and professors for their love, support and guidance.