Holly Adams (Cleopatra) is deliriously happy to be working with Ithaca Shakespeare again IRL!!! A full time SAG-AFTRA performer, Holly's career embraces multiple genres. Whether she is doing clown/ circus, voice acting and audiobook narration, or acting gigs for stage and screen, she loves telling stories and bringing joy. You can catch her in Gotham Blue on Amazon Prime or on Audible! Holly is a graduate of the Dell 'Arte School, and holds a Masters in Theatre, Education, and Social Change. If you feel like it, more about holly at Https://shearwaterproductions.com and on IMDb as Holly Adams III.
Judith Andrew (Alexis) has acted with ISC since 2005. Some of her notable roles have been Elizabeth (Richard III); Gertrude (in two productions of Hamlet); Titania (in two productions of A Midsummer Night's Dream); Maria (Twelfth Night); Emilia (Othello); Nurse and Lady Capulet (in two different productions of Romeo and Juliet); and Brutus (in an all-female cast of Julius Caesar). Judith also acts with Ithaca's Homecoming Players and Theatre Incognita, and acted with the sadly departed Central Casting Theatre and Wolf's Mouth Theatre Company. She is also a member of ISC's staff. Gratitude and love forever to my husband Robert and our son Ben and his beautiful family. Being Nana is a new favorite true life role!
Bob Arco (Thurio) is a long-time Trumansburg resident and is enjoying his fifth season with the Ithaca Shakespeare Company. He also performs with the Encore Players Community Theater and is thrilled to be doing live shows again. He’d like to thank his family for their encouragement and support.
G. Tristan Berlet (Thidias) is a loyal servant of his Caesar, and has been for many...oh, wait that's the character, not me. Tristan is a recent graduate of Ithaca College who has no idea what he is going to do with his life...so in other words, typical. He considers himself a storyteller of all kinds, and loves all formats. Most recently he finished his term as President of TNT Radio Productions, IC's radio drama club, for whom he adapted, directed, and acted in their soon to be released production of Dorothy L. Sayer's Clouds of Witness. He would like to thank the trees in the park for providing some shade, the program for allowing him to refer to himself in the third person because he likes sounding pompous, and his friends for helping him to adjust to his first professional production (genuinely). Now where did that snake get off to?
Carolyn Best (Julia, Iras) is a BFA Acting major at Ithaca College. She was most recently seen in Red Bike at IC. She would like to thank her friends and family for their support and love.
Mike Chen (Lance/Outlaw) lives in Lansing, NY and teaches Study Skills at Cornell. He was part of the Actor's Workshop of Ithaca from 2018-2020. He played Ariel in The House of Ithaqua's production of "The Pillowman" in 2019, and he was the understudy for the part of Atung in "The Chinese Lady" at the Kitchen Theatre in 2022. He has wanted to perform Shakespeare for a really long time, so he's having a grand ol' time.
Jorin Clougherty (Speed) is a lifelong Danby resident and vegan donut enthusiast. He enjoys cooking, writing, and subtly undermining the gender binary. He is currently studying at SUNY Purchase. This is his second year acting with ISC, and he's very grateful to have the opportunity to work with so many genuinely splendid human beings! Huge thank-yous to his parents, siblings, and orthopedic knee pillow for always supporting him.
Dexter Conlin (Proteus) is a rising junior at Ithaca College, studying Musical Theatre. Previous credits include Lily's Purple Plastic Purse (Mr. Slinger) at IC, and Godspell (Jesus) at Festival 56. He is excited to be joining ISC for their 20th anniversary!
Ryan Crooker (Lucius/Commoner 1) is currently a rising junior at Ithaca College studying for a BFA in Acting. They recently performed as the Rainbow Forest Witch in Ithaca College’s production of Unicorn Girl, and they are excited to be joining Ithaca Shakespeare Company for their 20th anniversary!
Will DeVary (Octavius in A&C, Cinna the Poet/Young Cato/Octavius’ Servant in JC) is very grateful to be joining Ithaca Shakespeare for his first season with the company! Regional Theatre: A Christmas Story, A Christmas Carol (Actors Theatre of Louisville), The Fan (The Cherry Arts), Henry V, King Lear, As You Like It, Henry IV Parts 1 & 2, Rosencrantz & Guildenstern Are Dead, and Macbeth (Kentucky Shakespeare Festival). Will is a proud alumnus of Chautauqua Theatre Company’s 2021 Summer Academy and of Ithaca College’s 2022 BFA Acting Class.
Dave Dietrich (Agrippa, Clown) is amazed to think this is the twentieth year for the Ithaca Shakespeare Company and that he has been along for the whole ride. He's delighted to be portraying the same character, Marcus Agrippa, that he portrayed all those years ago in Antony and Cleopatra, and then adding new play to his list, The Two Gentleman of Verona, which now numbers twenty four of Shakespeare's plays. How can you thank all those marvelous people you've shared these experiences with? Well, thank you all!
Jeff Dunston (Brutus) is a graduate of Ithaca High School, class of 69 and Ithaca College class of 73 with a bachelor's degree in Radio & TV Broadcasting . His previous experience includes School for Wives, Electra The Legend, The Rose Tatto and Hamlet. Most of his work at The Whole Theatre in Montclair, New Jersey. This is his third time working with Ithaca Shakespeare Company and he's glad to re-connect with Ithaca, New York. Although originally from East Orange, New Jersey, Jeff grew up in Ithaca and is glad to be reconnected with the place that whole so many fond memories.
Anna Fredrick (Charge Scenic Artist) is a scenic artist and designer from Evanston, Illinois. This is her first season at Ithaca Shakespeare Company! She is a recent graduate of Ithaca College with a BFA in Theatre Design and Production. Ithaca College credits include Lilly’s Purple Plastic Purse (Scenic Designer and Charge Scenic Artist), Unicorn Girl (Charge Scenic Artist), Free Play (Charge Scenic Artist), Rent (Charge Scenic Artist), and Stop Kiss(Charge Scenic Artist). Other credits include Kitchen Theatre Company’s Lip Sink 2022 (Scenic Artist) and the Cherry Arts’ Hotel Good Luck (Props Supervisor).
Krista Maider Guidici (Portia, commoner and senator) is a retired French teacher happily reinventing herself now as an actor and singer. Krista holds a BA in Theatre and French Literature from Binghamton University. After college, she uprooted to Denver where she became involved with The Denver Theatre Project and The Changing Scene. After moving back to the Binghamton area to teach French, she became involved with local community theatre where she met her husband, Larry Guidici-a talented artist, actor, singer and musician. With SRO Productions, she appeared in Company, Nuncrackers, Godspell, Sweet Charity, The Pajama Game and Titanic as well as in numerous musical reviews. With Whitney Point Community she played Lady Larkin in Once Upon a Mattress. With Savoyards she appeared in The Importance of Being Earnest (Miss Prism), with Out of The Woodwork Players in Bainbridge, NY she performed in The Marvelous Wonderettes-Dream On (Suzy), and with Tri-Town Theatre in Arsenic and Old Lace (Martha Brewster). This is her 2nd season with The Ithaca Shakespeare Company having appeared in The Comedy Of Errors (the Abbess) during the Covid-19 shutdown, performing entirely remotely from a room in her home. With Larry, she is half of the singing duo “KandL” that performs pop duets with a romantic touch. Krista is truly grateful for the support and encouragement from her husband, friends and family of her theatrical pursuits!
Raia Gutman (Outlaw) is working with Ithaca Shakespeare for the second time this summer. You may have seen them last summer as Rosalind in the 2021 Yorick Awards. Raia is a 2022 Ithaca High School graduate, and they will be entering Smith College this fall as a first-year student. In their free time, they enjoy reading, baking, and petting dogs.
Beth Harris (Asst. Dir./Soothsayer JC and A&C) is very happy to be back in person outdoors with ISC! Previous work includes director of the 2020 virtual Comedy of Errors, assistant director of A Midsummer Night’s Dream, the Bawd (Pericles), Katharine (Taming of the Shrew), Audrey (As You Like It), and Margaret/Watch (Much Ado). Beth trained at Neptune Theatre in Halifax, Nova Scotia, and is currently an MFA student in the Shakespeare & Performance program at MBU in Staunton, VA. She has performed in various theaters in Chicagoland and with Shakespeare by the Sea in St. John’s, Newfoundland, and she teaches English part time. In nature’s infinite book of secrecy, a little I can read.
Lloyd Harris (Scarus, Messenger, Metellus) is so glad to be returning with the Ithaca Shakespeare Company for their 20 Year Anniversary! Lloyd would like to thank ISC for this great opportunity and the crew and cast for all their hard work, his son Wyatt for keeping him young, his mother Wendy for all her help and support and the members of the audience, without you this would all be rather odd! Enjoy the show!
Jack Hopkins (Valentine) is a BFA Acting major and Dance minor at Ithaca College. He was most recently seen in Delia Divided at the Hangar Theatre with Civic Ensemble. Jack would like to thank his friends and parents for their constant support!
Lauren Howe (Eros) grows bacteria by day and acts Shakespeare by night. She was raised in northern Vermont, went to college in Minnesota, and has now moved here to Ithaca.
Nancy Kane (2 Gents: Antonia and Outlaw; A&C: Maecenas) has previously been seen at ISC in Othello, Romeo and Juliet, The Comedy of Errors, Much Ado About Nothing, and the Mechanicals scene from A Midsummer Night’s Dream. Cortland Repertory Theatre credits: Born Yesterday, Dorothy Meets Alice, Footloose, Nana’s Naughty Knickers, Fox on the Fairway, Grease, and two Agatha Christie mysteries. Regionally, she performed in Pippin (Grandmother) and Man of La Mancha (Housekeeper) at Jean’s Playhouse in New Hampshire. Voiceover and film work: Tom Stern productions, Opera Ithaca, Cornell University and Ithaca College film projects. She teaches Irish dance at the Trumansburg Conservatory of Fine Arts and has performed with the (Ithaca) Savoyards, Homer Center for the Arts/Windowsills Productions, and Endicott Performing Arts Center. Loving thanks to husband, John, for his unwavering support and patience! Website: nancykane.net
Joseph Lang (Octavius and commoner 2 in JC) is a Cornell student studying biology as well as creative writing. This is his first time working with the Ithaca Shakespeare Company, though he has acted in student theatre productions of Henry V, A Midsummer Night's Dream, and Hamlet. His hobbies include knitting and baking, and he is extremely happy to have so many family members and friends travelling in to see the show.
Gwen Livesay (Pompey) is originally from Bloomington, Indiana, where she participated in several shows with Monroe County Civic Theater. Past roles include Cordelia in King Lear, Cecliy Carruthers in Travesties, Cassandra in The Trojan Women, and Hero in Much Ado About Nothing. This is her first production with ISC and her first play in Ithaca.
Erik Lucas (Mark Antony in JC) is very happy to be back on stage with the ISC. Past productions with the company include: A Midsummer Night's Dream, Henry IV, Henry V, Henry VI, Macbeth, and Richard III. He has had a great time working with this fantastic cast and crew. Special thanks to Stella, Isaac, and especially Moira for all of their support.
Victor Maxwell (Cassius) has studied, taught and made theater from Buffalo to Bali, including teaching acting to a company of Afghan refugees in Malaysia. Recently he won an award for Excellence in Acting from the Theater Association of NYS for his portrayal of Wadsworth in Clue at the Sullivan County Dramatic Workshop. He's thrilled to be joining Ithaca Shakespeare Company this season.
Daniel Menendez is playing Lepidus, Commoner 4, and First Soldier. This is his first show with the Ithaca Shakespeare Company but far from his first Shakespeare. His favorite former roles are Benedick, Banquo, and Iago, along with other non-Shakespeare roles like Algernon Moncrieff.
Rick Mertens (Cinna, Commoner 9) is pleased to be killing Caesar. He was last seen most recently as Capulet in Romeo & Juliet and in Much Ado About Nothing. He has performed with numerous companies across the Southern Tier. Among his favorite roles are Dale Harding in One Flew Over The Cuckoo’s Nest; Benjamin Franklin in 1776; Adam Canning in Someone Who’ll Watch Over Me; Arthur Kipps (Actor) in The Woman in Black; Don Dubrow in American Buffalo; Gloucester in King Lear; and Elwood P. Dowd in Harvey.
Louise Montgomery (Lepidus/Dolabella) is originally from Australia where she acted professionally for several years before coming to the United States some 20 years ago. She worked for 8 years at a school in Virginia as theater director and guest acted with Hollins University new works theater program. Louise came to Ithaca in 2018 and this will be her second season with Ithaca Shakespeare Company and the first season to perform live outdoors!
Chris Nickerson (Director for 'Two Gentlemen of Verona') is an Equity Membership Candidate who has spent many years working in Ithaca, Elmira, Binghamton, Endicott, and Cortland. He has performed with The Cider Mill Playhouse, Cortland Repertory Theatre, Chenango River Theatre, Homecoming Players, Ithaca Shakespeare Festival, The Endicott Performing Arts Center, Southern Tier Actors Read, Darkhorse Dramatists, and Know Theatre. Presently he is co-director for STAR (Southern Tier Actors Read). For many years he directed and performed with Shakespeare-in-the-Park productions for The Endicott Performing Arts Center directing 'King Lear', 'Taming of the Shrew' and 'Great Expecations'. He starred in the premier production of a new play by Arthur Bicknell for Homecoming Players entitled 'Easy Out' which was presented at The Kitchen Theatre. Some of his favorite roles include Caliban in 'The Tempest', Fool in 'King Lear', Dr. Prentice in 'What the Butler Saw', and Sir Thomas More in 'A Man For All Seasons' for which he was nominated for a Zoni Award (the state theatre award given in Arizona). His film credits include: 'Interstate 60' (which also starred Gary Oldman, Ann Margaret, and Kurt Russell), 'Demon Messenger' and 'Aspects'. His TV credits include 'Marvelous Mrs. Maisel' for Netflix and 'Frack You', and 'Monkey's Paw' for WSKG. Chris received an award from The Kennedy Center for his performance in 'Arrah-na-Pogue'. Chris also recently participated in Her Majesty's Players at The Stratford Shaksepeare Festival in Stratford, Ontario, a week long Shakespeare Intensive Workshop.
Joan Raube-Wilson (Sylvia/Octavia/Soldier) is from Binghamton, NY and is thrilled to be making her Ithaca Shakespeare Company debut. Some of her favorite recent roles include Helena in A Midsummer Night’s Dream (The Company Theatre), Isabella in Measure for Measure (Still Small Theater), Guildenstern in Hamlet (Praxis Stage), and Sukey in Daemonologie: Blood and Bone (Intramersive Media). Joan also works as a freelance voice over artist, and performs stand-up comedy all over upstate NY.
Casey Silidjian (Menecrates/Soldier/Fight Captain) is thrilled to be continuing their first season with Ithaca Shakespeare! Casey daylights as a a pre-K classroom support aid. Besides swinging swords, their hobbies include crocheting and ballet. Previous credits: Julius Caesar (Trebonius/fight captain), The Importance of being Ernest (Cecily Cardew), Macbeth (Lady Macduff). All their love to their family, friends, partner, and rabbit for their endless love and encouragement. This one’s for you, Poppy.
Samuel Tamburo (Julius Caesar): A native of Auburn, Sam is a practicing attorney and new docent at the Seward House. This is his lucky 13th Shakespeare production. He played Baptista in the ISC production of Taming...and is happy to be back with this great cast.
Addison Turner (Commoner/Soldier) is a new resident to Upstate New York as a whole. Just moved to Elmira, NY from California with the hope of starting life anew. The first step of which is finding his footing within an acting community. He most recently played “Gary” in Elmira Little Theatre’s “Noises Off” and has finally ventured north to Ithaca where the Ithaca Shakespeare Company happened to require some additional soldiers and commoners: Ecstatic to find himself at the right place at the right time.
