THE CAST
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LARRY KNIGHT
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Theseus, Duke of Athens
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SANDRA SPURNEY
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Egeus, mother to Hermia
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GARRY BURGOYNE
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Lysander, in love with Hermia
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SETH LANGNER
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Demetrius, in love with Hermia
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VICTORIA LEONE
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Quince, a carpenter
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SCOTT J. SMITH
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Snug, a joiner
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GEOFFREY KING
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Bottom, a weaver
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ZACK BASS
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Flute, a bellows-mender
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NEAL THORBURN
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Snout, a tinker
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CHRIS DICKINSON
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Starveling, a tailor
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SHANI HARPER
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Hippolyta, Queen of the Amazons
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MEAGAN ENGLISH
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Hermia, in love with Lysander
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AMY NOEL JOHNSON
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Helena, in love with Demetrius
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JEREMIE COOK
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Oberon, King of the Fairies
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JENNIFER GAGNON
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Titania, Queen of the Fairies
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ALEXIS ROBBINS
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Puck, or Robin Goodfellow
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ALEX PALMER
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Cobweb, fairy
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ZACK BASS (Flute) is a recent graduate of Jacksonville University with a BFA in Theatre. He has recently been seen at Players by the Sea in As Bees in Honey Drown and Limelight in Greetings. He also has served as an assistant stage manager for two Sundance theater labs and for Theatre503 based out of London England. This is Zack's first performance at Theatre Jacksonville and is very excited to be apart of such an amazing ensemble.
GARRY BURGOYNE (Lysander) has his BFA in Acting from Florida State University. He has been seen in the following productions: In New York City, Stanlon in the Fringe Festival production of Red Head; Ray in The Gallery Player's production of The Beauty Queen of Leenane; Robert in A Night on the Moon and Paul in Diminished Returns, also at The Gallery Players. He has also appeared on T.V's Guiding Light. In Tallahassee, some favorite roles include Eddy in Hurly Burly and Mike in A Lie of the Mind. Most recently in Jacksonville, he played Wyler in Players by the Sea's production of As Bees in Honey Drown and Cole in PBTS' Keely and Du last year. Last seen at Theatre Jacksonville as Proteus in Two Gentlemen of Verona, he is grateful for the opportunity to work again at TJ and would like to thank his family for their continued support and encouragement.
JEREMIE COOK (Oberon) is extremely pleased, happy, and elated to be joining such a talented cast on this historic stage after closing last season as Big Jule in Guys and Dolls. He loves Shakespeare and recalls working on Much Ado when it was at the Met in 1995 as a lighting tech. He is an aspiring film-maker, writer and director with fifteen plus years experience in the arts. Currently Mr. Cook is in production of his original piece, Invasion a short film and directing the original musical, Mountain of Peace written by Frances Key to be performed for International Peace Week. As always he dedicates his performance to his 2 beautiful children that have showed him truth is the true art of life. Daddy Loves You.
CHRIS DICKINSON (Starveling) is a recent graduate of UNF's English Literature program. Chris has grown up with a strong passion for reading, and has a great love for classic authors such as Dickens, Austin, Hardy, and of course, Shakespeare. Last summer, Chris had the opportunity to visit Oxford and Westminster Abbey, home to many of the writers he has adored for years. A love for literature grew into an intense desire to perform when Chris saw Kenneth Branagh's film version of Henry V. This is Chris' first theatre performance, and he has enjoyed working with the cast immensely. Chris hopes to one day teach literature at the collegiate level and in the interim perform in many more Shakespeare plays - he's hoping San Marco will do a History soon.
MEAGAN ENGLISH (Hermia) received her acting training at the American Musical and Dramatic Academy in New York City. Additionally, she holds a BA in anthropology from the College of William and Mary in Virginia. She has played roles in several Off-Off-Broadway productions including Maria in Love's Labor's Lost and Phebe in As You Like It, a role that she absolutely relished. She was also an actress in a national tour for Chamber Theatre Productions, playing a variety of characters from 19th century literature. While in Jacksonville spending time with family, she is continuing to explore local acting opportunities. In addition to playing Hermia, she recently participated in Jacksonville's first 48-Hour Film Project and has been cast as a lead in the upcoming short film, "Racing Sunsets," which will be shot in Tampa by Henndale Productions. Meagan would like to thank her parents for their continued encouragement of her career aspirations.
JENNIFER GAGNON (Titania) is wickedly excited to have some fairy magic in her life. She has previously been seen on Theatre Jacksonville's stage in Lettice and Lovage and Much Ado about Nothing. Her most recent role was Anna in the Orpheus Theater Group's production of Closer. Jennifer has also been on the Players mainstage in Blue Room (Best Actress), Boston Marriage, The Odd Couple, Philadelphia Story, All the Way Home (Best Supporting Actress nominee), and in their Black Box Theater as Keely in Keely and Du (Best Actress Nominee). She has enjoyed her experiences with ABET including performing in Daddy's Dyin', Who's Got the Will?, and Cavedweller. Jennifer attended the Theater program at University of Florida, then went on to acquire her Master's Degree in Physical Therapy. She is honored to have the opportunity to collaborate with this marvelously talented cast and crew. She would like to thank Theatre Jacksonville for allowing her to step onto their stage, and also thanks her family and friends for supporting her acting endeavors.
SHANI HARPER (Hippolyta) graduated from UNC-Charlotte where she received her BCA in Theatre. She got her start at the Children's Theatre of Charlotte and has been involved in theatre ever since. Some productions include Anne K, Waiting for Godot, Christmas Carol, and The Miser. Most recently Shani played Illya in As Bees in Honey Drown at Players by the Sea. This will be her debut performance with Theatre Jacksonville.
AMY NOEL JOHNSON (Helena) is pleased to be back on Theatre Jacksonville's stage for the 6th time in a performance capacity. Originally from Jacksonville, Amy received her MFA in 2001 which landed her a place at the prestigious Roundabout Theatre Company in New York City. For five years Amy worked regionally, off-off and off-Broadway. Amy was an instructor/teaching artist at the Urban Peace Academy in NYC and the Tito Puente Performing Arts Academy in Harlem. She also ran the stand-up circuit and was known (not really) for her dying Yoda impression and her "cat hairball" which has been pasted all over YouTube for months. Amy's professional stage career ended with her move back to her hometown where she is grateful she found a special place to pursue her passions. Amy has performed in over 65 plays in other states and in Europe as well as instructed for three years at the University of Florida's performing Arts Dept. She loves working with this cast crew, director Geoff, and asst. director Alexis. She sends all of her love to Jason.
GEOFFREY KING (Bottom) is delighted... and a little startled at returning so soon after his inaugural performance in Pack of Lies. He is both grateful for another English play (selfishly, he hopes that the reading committee chooses at least one each season!) and nervous that expectations of a British-born actor may be commensurately higher! Now in his fifth decade, “treading the boards” he has played a huge variety of roles on both sides of the Atlantic. These have been punctuated by occasional forays across the footlights to direct children’s theatre and most recently into the adult world as director of Enchanted April for Amelia Community Theatre. A former stockbroker, married with three teenage children, he hopes that his portrayal of “Bottom,” does not elicit the, “no acting required, you were just playing yourself” reaction! It occurs with a curious and disquieting frequency! Many thanks to Geoffrey Kershner for this terrific opportunity, to the company for tolerating my shortcomings, to Theatre Jacksonville for allowing me back and as ever my family for their ongoing indulgence.
LARRY KNIGHT (Theseus). Poet, writer, and actor Larry Knight is a native of Baton Rouge, Louisiana and a graduate of Southern University. Larry has appeared on stages across the country and collaborates with the ensemble group Griot 3 and director Barbara Colaciello Williams in the award-winning original choreopoem-style play Griot: He Who Speaks the Sweet Word. This 90-minute ensemble piece was commissioned in 2004 by the Baltimore Theatre Project where Baltimore Sun theatre critic J. Wynn Rousuck said, “Knight is especially moving as actor Paul Robeson, bitter, disillusioned and reclusive near the end of his life.” The play was also well received at the 2006 New York City International Fringe Festival, where it received Backstage Magazine's critics pick. In addition to performing, Larry publishes an online blog and is co-editor of an online literary journal. To date he has released two CDs of his performance poetry; The Seven Shades of Love (2002) and A Life Supreme (2004) which was well received by The Tribune, a major Bahamian newspaper. Larry currently teaches at Stanton College Preparatory School.
SETH LANGNER (Demetrius) is delighted to return to the stage after a ten year hiatus. He was last seen in Chemical Reactions (Ike) at Flagler College. This will be his second performance at Theatre Jacksonville where, in 1991, he had a minor roll in A Street Car Named Desire (A Collector). Seth has also been in two productions at Shakespeare at the Met, A Midsummer Night’s Dream (Moth), and Macbeth (Young Siward). While attending Douglas Anderson, from where he graduated in 1991, he performed in many plays, both in, and out of, school. Seth is privileged to be cast among so many talented actors, to whom he is deeply grateful for their advice and encouragement.
VICTORIA LEONE (Quince) is pleased to be presenting Quince in tonight's production. This is Vicky's first stage appearance since graduating Flagler College where she played Pegeen Mike in Playboy of the Western World, Caliban in The Tempest, and the Prioress in A Thing of Beauty. She would like to thank her cast mates, Geoff, and the rest of Theatre Jacksonville for this opportunity. As always, she loves and thanks Mom and Dad and her friends for their support.
ALEX PALMER (Cobweb) is beyond thrilled to be performing on the Theater Jacksonville stage. Alex is a senior Film and Television major at Douglas Anderson School of the Arts. His past theater credits include Honk! The Musical, Psycho Beach Party, and Titanic. This is his first stab at Shakespeare, and he plans many more to come. He would like to thank his family as well as The Galleons. An extra special thanks goes out to Jennifer and Asia Gagnon, without whom, this would not be nearly as fun as it already is.
ALEXIS ROBBINS (Puck) was last seen as Lotty in TJ's production of Enchanted April. In 2005, Alexis received her BFA in Acting and Directing from Boston University's School of Theatre Arts Conservatory. She went on to study and perform improvisation/ sketch comedy at New England's leading improv theatre, Improv Asylum, and then theatre, film, and television at TVI Actors Studio in NYC. Alexis graduated from Douglas Anderson School of the Arts with whom she traveled to the Edinburgh Fringe Festival and appeared as Wiley in Wiley and the Harryman. Some other theatrical credits include: Improv Asylum's new play: The Andy Warhol Christmas Special... (Helen), The Rimers of Eldridge (Eva), Once in a Lifetime (Miss Leighton), Cleansed (Grace), Proof (Claire) , Dancing at Lughnasa (Rose), The Imaginary Invalid (Louisa), Marat/ Sade, Grease (Sandy), The Outsiders (Cherry), Annie (Grace), Little Shop of Horrors (Crystal), A Midsummer Night's Dream (Helena), and Fidelous which premiered at Boomtown (7 roles including Darlene, Zora, and Darcy). Alexis wishes to thank her family, friends, Danielle, and Eliza for all the love and support.
SCOTT J. SMITH (Snug, the Joiner) is pleased to add Snug to his list of over a dozen Shakespearean roles including Lysander and Macduff (Theatre Jacksonville), Benvolio (Backlight Theatre Company), and Marc Antony, Romeo and Shylock (Atlantic Shakespeare Festival). In 2006, Scott and his lovely wife Layla celebrated their first anniversary visiting Shakespeare's birthplace and grave and attending a dozen Royal Shakespeare Company productions; two of which starred movie great Patrick Stewart. Earlier this year, Scott trimmed The Taming of the Shrew, Antony and Cleopatra and Romeo and Juliet into tidy half-hour segments for Orange Park Community Theatre's "Shakespeare in Orange Park." His other directing credits include Murder in Mind and Twelve Angry Men also at OPCT, and several dozen interactive comedies for the Murder Mystery Players currently running on Jacksonville's Southside. Scott can also be seen in commercials for the St. Johns River and Design Works Interiors, as well as in the background of several locally-filmed movies. He sends his thanks to friends, family...and YOU...for supporting the arts. Save Shakespeare's Church
SANDRA SPURNEY (Egeus) is once again grateful to be in TJ’s Shakespeare production. This will be her seventh Shakespeare, receiving 3 Best Supporting Actress Awards in, Romeo and Juliet (Nurse), Macbeth (Witch 1), and last year’s Much Ado About Nothing (Leonata). Egeus, like last year’s Leonata was changed from a father role to a mother role making for interesting mother daughter dynamics and bringing another challenge to Sandy’s plate. With a BFA in Theater, Dance & Humanities and extended studies in NYC, other roles on TJ’s stage include The Little Foxes, You Can’t Take It With You, A Doll’s House, The Boys Next Door, Silent Heroes, Hamlet, Twelfth Night, The Two Gentlemen of Verona. Thanks to Nemours Children’s Clinic and Lumberjax Masters Team for their support.
NEAL THORBURN (Snout) is delighted to return to the stage of Theatre Jacksonville. He is a Junior at Stanton College Prep where he actively participates in Stanton’s Drama Troupe 3929. He has been seen this past summer in TJ‘s Guys and Dolls and in Once Upon a Mattress in FCCJ’s Summer Theatre Experience. Neal has also performed in Twelfth Night as Malvolio (Stanton), Thoroughly Modern Millie (Stanton), Seussical the Musical (TJ), Urinetown: The Musical (Stanton), and The Taming of the Shrew (Stanton). Neal would like to thank his family and friends for their support and encouragement. Also, he thanks Geoffrey and this extraordinary cast for this wonderful learning experience.
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THE PRODUCTION TEAM
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GEOFFREY KERSHNER (Director) is the Artistic Director of the Endstation Theatre Company and his direction was recently seen in their original production of The Mind of Poe that was performed through out Virginia and was featured at the Capital Fringe Festival in Washington DC. Geoffrey served as the Artistic Director of the Crescendo Theatre Company based in Philadelphia for five years and co-created and directed their original productions of A Howl and A Tell-Tale Heart. He has worked for the Arden Theatre Company, The Wilma Theater Company, The Willow Theatre, The Delaware Valley Opera Company, The University of the Arts, Sweet Briar College, Randolph College, Lynchburg College, Florida State University and the Yale-New Haven Summer High School. He holds his MFA in Directing from Florida State University and his BFA in Acting from The University of the Arts. Other directing credits: Tough Choices for a New Century, Big Love, Quentin G, Amadeus, Macbeth, Endgame, and Marisol. He has also led the creation of the original works Ball3 and The Guernica Project. Geoffrey is a member of the Lincoln Center’s Directors Lab.
AUDREY WAGNER (Costume Designer) is glad to be back at Theatre Jacksonville for the start of their 88th season. A Midsummer Night’s Dream is by far her favorite Shakespeare show and designing and building the costumes has been a welcome break from her grueling grad school schedule. This September, Audrey will begin her second year at Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD) and is also working on her first film. She will be the Production Designer for a classmate's 15-minute thesis project. Audrey is certain this will be the start of more exciting opportunities. Best wishes to the cast and crew as well as the fantastic people at Theatre Jacksonville on their new season.
ALEXIS ATWILL (Assistant Director) is thrilled to be Assistant Directing with the talented Mr. Kershner. She graduated from Douglas Anderson School of the Arts in 2002, continued her theatre education at Florida State University, where she worked with Geoffrey Kershner as an actor in The Guernica Project and Amadeus. She also appeared in Sister Mary Ignatius..., An Adult Evening with Shel Silverstein, Marat/Sade, A Midsummer Nights Dream and various FSU Film School projects. After graduating from FSU in 2006, she traveled to London to help coordinate the school's International Theatre Program. In the Fall, Alexis plans to relocate to Chicago to continue creating theatre. Thank you to the cast for being so wonderful and to Geoff for this great opportunity!
BRYCE PAGE (Sound Designer) recently designed two shows for the Capital Fringe Festival (One in Two and The Tell-Tale Heart and the Mind of Poe). He recently graduated from Florida State University and completed a sound design internship with the Shakespeare Theatre Company. He has collaborated with Geoffrey Kershner in seven previous productions over the years and is a company member of the Endstation Theatre Company.
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