CAST BIOS (in alphabetical order)

Tyrel Brown (Benvolio/Watch1) returns to CSC after previously appearing in Shakespeare Beyond’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream (2023), Romeo and Juliet Student Matinee (2023), and Twelfth Night (2022). His other regional credits include Julius Caesar (Fools and Madmen), Young Playwrights Festival (Baltimore Center Stage), Black Super Hero Magic Mama (Strand Theater), Dreamgirls (ArtsCentric), and The Comedy of Errors (Endangered Species Project). He is also a member of CSC’s Black Classical Acting Ensemble (BCAE). Tyrel is a Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival nominee. Education: Towson University, Bachelor of Fine Arts, Acting. Follow Tyrel on Instagram and Tik tok: @tyreltyrelbrown

Lloyd Ekpe (Romeo) is a member of CSC’S Black Classical Acting Ensemble and returns after previously performing in The Oresteia (2024), the summer production of Macbeth (2023), the student matinee of Macbeth (2022), and A Raisin in the Sun (2022). His previous credits include: A Civil War Christmas at the Strand Theatre, Girls on a Dirt Pile as a part of the Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival. He was nominated for the Irene Ryan Acting Award and won 'Outstanding Performance in a Play Reading'.

Emily Erickson (Nurse/Abraham)is a DC-based actor, coach, composer, music director, and multi-instrumentalist. Recent: The Oresteia (CSC), Much Ado About Nothing (CSC), hang (1st Stage), Noises Off (Keegan Theatre), Beautiful: The Carole King Musical (Arts Center), The Honey Trap (Solas Nua), People, Places & Things (Studio Theatre), Our Black Death (Taffety Punk), Fitting In (Arts on the Horizon), Man Covets Bird (Spooky Action). Emily's musical adaptation of The Tempest (co-created with Séamus Miller) had its world premiere this fall in Bermuda with Devil's Isle Shakespeare Co. MFA: The Academy at STC/GWU. BFA: NYU. emilynerickson.com / @emierickson

Ali Haas (Lady Montague/Page to Paris) returns to CSC after previously appearing in 2024’s production of A Christmas Carol. Previous performances include Santa Fe Opera’s Falstaff directed by Sir David McVicar, Complete Female Stage Beauty, Die Mommie Die, and Yellow with the New Conservatory Theater Company, A Midsummer Night’s Dream with Vallejo Shakespeare Company, Troilus and Cressida with Poltergeist Theater, The Speakeasy SF with Boxcar Theater, Two Coins for the Ferryman with 3 Girls Theater, and Infernal Motel, Alice in Wonderland, and Neverland with Epic Immersive.

Matt Harris (Friar Laurence/Gregory)  is returning to CSC after previously appearing in Romeo & Juliet student matinees (Peter), and 2023’s As You Like It (Touchstone understudy). Matt is part of the Ensemble of the Maryland Ensemble Theatre. MET: Sense & Sensibility (Edward Ferrars), The Squirrels (Scientist and Sciuridae), Peter and the Starcatcher (Alf). Oh CRIT! The D&D Improv Show (Dungeon Master and Player). Regional: The 39 Steps (Clown), Timon of Athens (Ventidius), Tuna Christmas (Bertha and others), Coriolanus (Brutus), Shakespeare’s R&J (Mercutio and Friar Laurence), Merry Wives of Windsor (Orlando Shakes and Hedgepig Ensemble), King Lear (Orlando Shakes). MattHarrisActor.com

Oz Heiligman (Peter/Balthazar) is a nonbinary DMV-based actor and teaching artist. They hold a BFA in Acting from Cornish College of the Arts in Seattle, WA. Since 2022, they have performed with several local theaters including Chesapeake Shakespeare Company (Henry V, Twelfth Night), Baltimore Shakespeare Factory (Henry VIII), Fells Point Corner Theatre (Lipstick! A Queer Farce) and Flying V (Astro Boy & the God of Comics).

Benny Pope (Prince) is a CSC Company Member and a member of CSC’s Black Classical Acting Ensemble. He has performed in A Christmas Carol (2024), the 2024 student matinee production of Macbeth, the 2023 and 2024 student matinee productions of Romeo and Juliet, A Christmas Carol (2022) and served as an understudy in Joe Turner’s Come and Gone (2024). His other credits include The Book of Grace (Rapid Lemon Productions), A Soldier’s Play (Second Star Productions), Christmas Is Comin’ Uptown, God’s Trombones, Hamlet, It Ain’t Nothin’ But the Blues, Spell #7, Witness for the Prosecution (Arena Players, Inc). Film credit: America Gone Viral (Changing World Films)

Danny Sakamoto-Wengel (Paris) was previously seen in CSC's 2024 mainstage production of Romeo and Juliet. Previous credits include: The Events (Guthrie Theatre); The Legend of Georgia McBride (Woodstock Arts); A Great Migration (B Street Theatre); Amy’s View, Flower Drum Song (Park Square Theatre); Harvey, Angel Street (Kansas Repertory Theatre); South Pacific (City Springs Theatre Company); R&J:60 (Atlanta Shakespeare Company); Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer (Center For Puppetry Arts); 365 Days/365 Plays (Full Circle Theatre); Paradise, Stayed (Pumphouse Players); Hopscotch (Doghouse Ensemble Theatre); Twelfth Night (BARD Shakes); The Imaginary Invalid (Combustible Theatre Company); A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Romeo & Juliet, Love’s Labour’s Lost (Cradle Theatre Company).

Mallory Shear (Tybalt/Friar John) is a local Performer, Fight & Intimacy Choreographer, and Teaching Artist.  CSC (R&J, Macbeth, Shakespeare Beyond: Intimacy/Fights).  Additional Performance Credits:  Washington National Opera, Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey, Adventure Theatre, The Strand Theatre, Horwitz Performing Arts Center, Maryland Renaissance Festival, et al. Select Fight & Intimacy Choreography credits:  Arena Stage, Olney Theatre, Constellation Theatre, Everyman Theatre, CSC, Keegan Theatre, We Happy Few, American University, St. Mary's College, McDaniel College, Baltimore Shakespeare Factory, and The Strand Theatre.  Resident Teaching Artist: Signature Theatre.  Additional Teaching Experience: Shakespeare Theatre Company, The Landon School, Holton Arms.  2025 WATCH Award Nominee for Outstanding Fight Choreography, AAC with the SAFD, AAC with FDC, stunt training in the UK and Ireland. Proud member of SDC.  Founder of ShearCombat LLC.

Amber Smithers (Juliet) is making her CSC debut in Macbeth (Witch 3 and others). Recent regional acting credits: Arts on the Horizon in Deep Sea Melody (Diver),  Arco Iris (U/S Actor 2 y Actor 3), Olney Theatre Company’s National Players Tour 73 Much Ado About Nothing (Beatrice).

James Stringer, Jr. (Capulet) is back for his 2nd year of Romeo and Juliet student matinees playing Lord Capulet after playing Lord Montague last year. He is a member of CSC’s Black Classical Acting Ensemble. Born and raised in Louisville, KY, moved to Maryland after getting his MFA in Acting from the University of Virginia in 2023. Recent credits include Rorschach Theatre's production of Night of the Living Dead: Live (2023).

Mallory Trice (Lady Capulet) is an actor, singer, combatant and teaching artist in the DMV. She is making her CSC debut. Stage credits include Taffety Punk Theatre Company’s Macbeth (Malcolm, Fleance); STC Learning’s One and the Same (U/S Viola, U/S Maria); Shakespeare Theatre Company Academy’s Measure for Measure (Mistress Overdone, Abhorson), Twelfth Night (Valentine), Macbeth (Lady Macbeth), and Pericles (Marina). Training: BA from Belmont University, MFA from George Washington University.

Elijah Williams (Montague) returns to CSC after previously appearing in last summer’s production of The Merry Wives of Windsor. He worked on shows at the University of Maryland such as Flyin’ West (Wil) and She Kills Monsters: Virtual Realms (Orcus/Ronnie), where he was credited as an original cast member in Samuel French. After earning a BA in Theater performance at the University of Maryland, Elijah went on to receive a master’s level certification in theater performance from L’école Internationale de Théâtre Jacques Lecoq in Paris, France. Earlier this year Elijah founded INI, an independent creative studio that has since launched two short films.

Josh Williams (Mercutio/Apothecary/Sampson) returns to CSC after having previously appeared as Mercutio in Romeo and Juliet Student Matinee (2023) and Shakespeare Beyond’s production of A Midsummer Night’s Dream (2023). Other recent credits include: Iphigenia (Achilles, We Happy Few); Rhinoceros! (Papillon, Pointless Theatre Company); Macbeth (Macbeth, Hoosier Shakespeare Festival); Merry Wives of Windsor (Dr. Caius, Hoosier Shakespeare Festival); Henry IV Part 1 (Hotspur, Brave Spirits Theatre).

UNDERSTUDY BIOS

Kira Gandolfo is a DC-based actor and theater artist making their Chesapeake Shakespeare Company debut with “Romeo and Juliet”. Previous works include: Death On The Nile (Arena Stage), Sense and Sensibility (Maryland Ensemble Theater) and The Taming of the Shrew (Actors Shakespeare Project). Kira is a proud graduate of Boston University where they received their BFA in Acting. Thank you to Mom & Dad & siblings & ancestors for everything <3 more at: kiragandolfo.com

Caleb Madison is making their CSC debut. Caleb has previously worked on UMBC Theatre’s shOUT: The Queer Theatre Project (Ensemble), The Grown-Up (Actor E), You Can See Me In The Dark (Ensemble), She Kills Monsters (Steve), and Everything Is Performance (Jordan).

Molly Moores (Director) has been a CSC Company Member and Teaching Artist since 2011. CSC productions include: Shakespeare Beyond: Midsummer Night's Dream, Romeo and Juliet (student matinee 2015-2020, 2022-2023); A Christmas Carol (2014-2019, 2021-2023); Much Ado About Nothing (2022, 2015); The Adventures of Pericles (2021); Macbeth (movable 2019); Macbeth (student matinee 2019); Henry IV Parts 1 and II; A Midsummer Night's Dream (2018 and 2011); The Winter's Tale; Julius Caesar; Anne of the Thousand Days; Three Musketeers; Macbeth (2016); Richard II; The Taming of the Shrew (2013); Antony and Cleopatra; Pride and Prejudice; Romeo and Juliet (2012); and The Merchant of Venice. www.mollymoores.com

Griffin DeLisle (Stage Manager) is Baltimore based Theatre Artist & Technician. Griffin was previously Technical Supervisor on Shakepeare Beyond (Chesapeake Shakespeare); Board Op: POTUS (Everyman); Showrunner: Katalepsis and The Boundary (Submersive Productions); Associate Director: Alight, Sweet Hearted (The Strand); Dramaturg: Recipes for Community (Towson University, MFA); Stage Manager: Technical Difficulties II (Flying V Fights). Performance credits include The Monroe Doctrine (Balt. Theatre Project); Codeswitch (Sisters Freehold); Young Playwrights Festival (Baltimore CenterStage); Here We Are (Interrobang), I Know These Roads (Truepenny Collective) Griffin holds a BFA in Acting from Towson University and is a Collective Member with Submersive Productions.

Eva Hill (Assistant Stage Manager) is a freelance theater professional in the Baltimore area, and Costume House Manager at the Maryland Renaissance Festival. Their credits at CSC include: Hamlet (ASM), Twelfth Night (ASM), Henry V (ASM), A Midsummer Night's Dream with Shakespeare Beyond (Wardrobe Supervisor). Wardrobe credits at Everyman Theater include: The Book Club Play, Dial M for Murder, The Chinese Lady, Flyin' West, Steel Magnolias.

Dan O'Brien (Set, Lighting, and Projection Design) is a founding member of CSC. Daniel has performed, designed scenery, lights, and served as Technical Director for many productions (among other jobs too numerous to name). He oversaw the construction of CSC’s theatre in Baltimore and designed the sets and lighting for Macbeth (2016); for the inaugural season plays A Midsummer Night’s Dream and Richard II; Romeo and Juliet (2015-2019); A Christmas Carol (2014-2019), and many others.

Martin Sundiata (Sound Design) is a Baltimore-based theatrical designer and technician. Some of his credits include: For Black Boys…, For Colored Girls…, Antigone (Theatre Morgan), The Mountaintop (Black Spectrum Theatre co. & Vagabond Players).

Kristina Lambdin (Costume Design) won the Broadway World Best Costume Design award for her designs for A Christmas Carol (2016). Some of her costuming credits with CSC include Dracula (2013 and 2019); The Diary of Anne Frank; She Stoops to Conquer; Alice in Wonderland; Red Velvet; Anne of the Thousand Days; The Fantasticks; Macbeth (2016); A Christmas Carol (2014-2018); A Midsummer Night’s Dream (2005, 2011 and 2014); The Importance of Being Earnest; The Taming of the Shrew (2006 and 2013); Romeo and Juliet (2003, 2012, and student matinees 2015-2019); A Doll’s House; As You Like It (Broadway World Best of Baltimore Award); and The Country Wife. Broadway World named her as a top artist of the 2007 Baltimore Theatre, and she won the Greater Baltimore Theater Award for A Midsummer Night’s Dream (2005). For more than a decade, she served as the Costume Supervisor for the Baltimore Opera Company and then Lyric Opera Baltimore.

Melissa Freilich (Fight Director) works as a director, teacher and fight choreographer in Baltimore, MD.  She is an Instructor for Dueling Arts International, a Certified Teacher with the Society of American Fight Directors, and an associate member of Stage Directors and Choreographers Society.  She is a certified Alexander Technique teacher and recognized member of the American Society for the Alexander Technique (AmSAT).  She holds an MFA in Performance Pedagogy from Virginia Commonwealth University and a BA in Theatre and Classics from Washington University in St. Louis.  At CSC, she has served as the fight director for two previous Romeo and Juliet matinees and one Macbeth matinee.

Seamus Miller (Music Director) is a longtime CSC Company Member and Associate Artistic Director. He also serves as Chesapeake's Major Gifts Officer and is a proud member of the Shakespeare Beyond team, bringing free performances to public parks all across Baltimore and the State of Maryland. Previous CSC directing credits include A Midsummer Night's Dream, A Christmas Carol, Much Ado About Nothing, Henry V (AD), and the student matinee productions of Macbeth and Romeo & Juliet. Séamus is a member of Actors' Equity Association and has appeared in over forty productions in the DMV area. CSC acting credits include Measure for Measure, Henry IV Parts 1 & 2, Romeo & Juliet, Wild Oats, Twelfth Night, Red Velvet, and many others. Séamus is also the Artistic Director of Devil's Isle Shakespeare Company in Bermuda and the Co-Founder & CEO of Ardan Community Living, the premiere sober living facility for women in early recovery from Substance Use Disorder in Washington, DC. BA: Cornell University. MFA: STC Academy (GWU). www.seamusactor.com/directing@almostseamus

Ian Charles (Dramaturg/Text/Vocal Coach) is a CSC company member and has previously appeared in, Twelfth Night (2022) Henry V (2022) as well as their Romeo & Juliet and Macbeth Student Matinees (2018 and 2019, 2023), Macbeth [Movable] (2019). His regional credits include: Henry VI, King Lear, Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson, Twelfth Night (American Shakespeare Center); Meet Me In St. Louis, Bright Star, Grumpy Old Men (Riverside Center for the Arts); Mother Goose (Imagination Stage); I Love A Piano (Heritage Theatre Festival); Spamalot (Short North Stage); Pride And Prejudice, The Miser, Cabaret, Love’s Labour’s Lost (Classic Theatre of Maryland); She Stoops To Conquer (Fells Point Corner Theatre); Little Women (Way Off Broadway Dinner Theatre). He received his MLitt/MFA in Shakespeare and Performance from Mary Baldwin University, in partnership with the American Shakespeare Center.

Quae Simpson (Dance/Movement Choreographer) is returns after assistant directing and choreographing for A Christmas Carol (2024). Quae is a Baltimore native and a proud Actors Equity Association member with over 25 years experience traveling the globe as an entertainer, teaching artist, director, choreographer and music director. He is the founder and executive artistic director of Q Entertainment. Q Entertainment is multifaceted entertainment company specializing in education, performing arts and media communication. During the school year, Quae works as a theater consultant for Baltimore County Public Schools. He is also the choreographer at Carver Center for the Arts and Technology and music director and choreographer at The Baltimore School for the Arts. Quae would like to thank the Chesapeake Shakespeare Company for this wonderful opportunity.

Sierra Young (Intimacy Director) is a Helen Hayes nominated violence and intimacy director working in the DC/Baltimore area. Sierra is the resident intimacy director at American University; as well as the resident fight and intimacy director for Mosaic Theater Company in DC. She is an active member of the Society of American Fight Directors, Intimacy Directors and Coordinators, and the Stage Directors and Choreographers Society. Recent choreography credits include: The Merry Wives of Windsor, Romeo & Juliet and Macbeth at Chesapeake Shakespeare Company; POTUS! at Arena Stage; Little Shop of Horrors and Shout Sister Shout! at Ford’s Theater; Merrily We Roll Along, and Sweat at Keegan Theatre; Spring Awakening at Monumental; Nancy, Confederates, Monumental Travesties, One in Two, Unseen, Bars and Measures, and The Till Trilogy at Mosaic Theater Company; King Lear and Red Velvet at The Shakespeare Theatre Company; and Ain’t No Mo’ at Woolly Mammoth Theatre Company and Baltimore Center Stage. Website: sierrayoung.org.

Ian Claar (Fight Assistant) is making his CSC Debut. NextStop: A Midsummer Night’s Dream. Mosaic: Native Son. ExPats Theatre DC: Marlene, The Body of a Woman; Einstein’s Wife. InterAct Story Theatre: Monsters of Seahorse Island; Hero of Everything. AvantBard Theatre: Suddenly Last Summer. Victorian Lyric Opera: The New Moon; El Capitan. Ian is a proud member of the SAFD, Assoc. Member of SDC, and Managing Director of The Noble Blades. LightsAndFights.com

Gabby Grant (Wardrobe) returns to Chesapeake Shakespeare Company after previously working on Macbet.  Other credits include Slime, shout (The Queer Theatre Project), The Grown-Up, You Can See Me in the Dark, She Kills Monsters, This Remains, and Heathers: The Musical (UMBC), Much Ado About Nothing and Puffs (Spotlighters Theatre), Alice by Heart (Wildwood Summer Theatre).