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Director's Notes-

Charlie E. Walker is immensely grateful for the support of the community for this project. This has been a passion project she has been cultivating for nearly 20 years. She believes in the power of spreading empathy and healing through storytelling. Theatre has its roots in communal catharsis dating back to the Ancient Greeks. The last several years have been an ever shifting landscape that our global community needs healing from more than ever. Joshua Tree Shakespeare Festival seeks to heal through Theatre by offering deeply enriching work for artists creating profoundly moving theatrical arts for the Morongo Basin. 

Play Synopsis-

Welcome to the whimsical world of Twelfth Night, where disguises, mistaken identities, and romantic mix-ups reign supreme!

Our story kicks off with a shipwreck on the coast of Illyria, where the plucky Viola finds herself stranded and separated from her twin brother, Sebastian. To survive in this strange new land, Viola disguises herself as a man named Cesario. Little does she know, her new disguise will set off a chain reaction of comedic confusion.

Viola, now Cesario, catches the eye of Duke Orsino, who is madly in love with the beautiful Countess Olivia. Orsino enlists Cesario to woo Olivia on his behalf. But Olivia, mourning her brother’s death, is not interested in any suitor—until she meets Cesario and, oh surprise!—falls head over heels for him.

To add to the mix, Viola’s twin brother Sebastian, who everyone thinks is dead, suddenly shows up in Illyria. Chaos ensues as Olivia mistakes Sebastian for Cesario and proposes marriage, while Viola’s own feelings for Orsino grow more complicated.

Meanwhile, Olivia’s pompous steward, Malvolio, becomes the victim of a prank orchestrated by Olivia’s jester, Feste, and her mischievous household members. Malvolio’s delusional belief that Olivia loves him turns him into a hilarious, self-important figure.

As identities are revealed, love triangles twist into love squares, and everyone’s true feelings come to light, the story wraps up with a joyful resolution. Viola and Sebastian are joyfully reunited, Olivia marries Sebastian (mistaking him for Cesario), and Orsino realizes that Viola is the one he truly loves. Malvolio, though initially wronged, is eventually forgiven as all ends happily with revelry and celebration.

In the end, Twelfth Night is a sparkling tale of love, laughter, and the sheer joy of discovering what really matters.

Cast

Creative Team

Meet the Company

Bobbie Breckenridge

Viola/Cesario

Bobbie Breckenridge is a Meisner-trained actress who has studied extensively with Rachael Adler, Gregory Berger-Sobeck, Tim Phillips, Upright Citizens Brigade, and the American Conservatory Theater. She has also studied with Dennis Krausnick of Shakespeare & Co and David Melville of the Independent Shakespeare Company. Her film and TV credits include lead roles in Aeranger and LA 4ORCE, as well as supporting roles in the BAFTA-award winning film Minsky as well as Death In Ojai by Phillippe Caland. Theatrically, Bobbie has starred as Empress Josephine in Napoleon & Josephine as well as Lula in Dutchman. She is absolutely delighted and honored to play the role of Viola in the debut performance of the Joshua Tree Shakespeare Festival.

Andrew Catlin

Duke Orsino

Andrew Catlin, born and raised in Maine, has always been a creative spirit, excelling in art from a young age. In the early 2000s, he ventured into modeling and acting in Miami, where he took his first steps into the world of performance through an actor's workshop. After a few years of painting murals in Miami, Andrew made his theatrical debut last year in "A Midsummer Night's Dream," directed by Charlie Parker, at Theatre 29 in 29 Palms. Now, in his second Shakespearean play, Andrew embraces the role of Orsino in this production of "Twelfth Night”

Charlotte Burns

Olivia

Charlotte Burns, who you’ll come to know as Olivia, is delighted to be a part of the JT Shakespeare Festival’s The Twelfth Night. Charlotte grew up in the high desert where she developed her love for acting at an early age, a passion nurtured by Joshua Tree’s Summer Youth Theater as a child. Now, in a serendipitous twist of fate, she is excited to return to a Joshua Tree stage, diving into the Shakespearean world of grief, love and madness that is The Twelfth Night.

Kurt Schauppner

Malvolio

Kurt is happy to continue his journey into the world of William Shakespeare under Charlie’s tutelage. He previously worked with her on Midsummer Night’s Dream and Shattered Shakespeare, a sort of Bard sampler pack. He also worked with director Miri Hunter on Shakespeare in Revue. He is looking forward to the next adventure, possibly involving a cranky old king and his three troublesome daughters.

Kevin Hayles

Sir Toby Belch

Kevin is excited to share the stage with such a diverse and talented cast in Twelfth Night or What You Will! Kevin has appeared in local Shakespearean productions including Midsummer Night's Dream and Shakespeare in Review. He brings uniqueness to the role of Sir Toby Belch.

Molly Katelbach

Sir Andrew Aguecheek

Although no stranger to classic and contemporary theater, "Twelfth Night" is Molly's first stage foray in drag. This production marks her third under the direction of Charlie E. Walker, and Molly hopes to work more in the future with materials provided by that most treasured resource of independents: the public domain.

Cooki Bilsborough

Maria

At 83 years of age this "Cooki" with an "i" no "e" has always been an entertainer by nature, as she enjoys making people smile and laugh. Having earned income from dancing, deejaying, instructing/directing (as well as choreography), she feels very blessed to be able to do so. She is overjoyed to now add Shakespearean acting to her bucket list of achievements! Other skills include clerical/secretarial, bookkeeping, retail, business, construction and more. However, entertainment has always been her passion. She looks forward to many adventures as she continues her stewardship of Mother Earth and with her fellow humans in good deeds everywhere. She imagines herself a bright comet in the night sky in another, future, life. We have no doubt, for she shines ever bright in our eyes!

Vinny Charron

Sebastian

Vinny Charron is a stained glass creator and a poet. 12th night is his theatrical debut! Born and raised in the Coachella Valley desert and now a Joshua Tree resident. He has set a high intention to get immersed in the music and creative scene in the high desert.

Lisa Diaz

Feste the Fool

Lisa Diaz is a classically trained lyric soprano. She has been a choral scholar for an Episcopalian church in Orlando, Florida. She performs in an Avant Garde rock band, Psychic Black as a lead singer and theremin player of music that is a mixture of opera, hard rock and jazz. Lisa has taken acting lessons at Cerritos High, Cerritos College, Cal State Fullerton, and Daytona State College. She has performed in God Spell, Fiddler on the Roof (Cerritos High), Colored Girls (high desert theatre), The Vagina Monologues (Theatre B Pioneer Town & 29 palms Theatre). She has performed opera in Carmen and Tosca. She performed in the 2018 and 2019 Hi Desert Fringe Festival shows “Painting with Music.” And “Perspectives”. She performed as Julie in Some Enchanted Evening, A musical Review. Directed by Karen Schmidt of Desert Theater Works. Lisa’s current role is that of Feste in the the Shakespearean Play Twelfth Night Directed by Charlie Walker.

Paco

Antonio

Musician, artist, writer and now Shakespearean actor. Paco’s main artistic endeavor is his family band, Psychic Black, for which he is the drummer and performs with his wife and brother. Paco has also worked as owner/designer of a Stained-Glass business, as a tile mosaic artist and as a pastel portrait artist. His research writings in the field of tile care and maintenance have been published by the Tile Institute of America. His current artistic obsession is the role of Antonio in Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night under the direction of Charlie Walker. Paco would like to express his deepest thanks and respect to the cast and director for their assistance and patience in teaching him “the Craft”.

Joelle Drury

Valentina & Fabian

Joelle returns now, triumphantly, to theatre after her imprisonment in the corporate underworlds of LA and SF. Previously a child actor and professional vocalist, her talents were limited to office antics, voiceover work, and some epic karaoke performances. She ran willy-nilly from the city, straight into the arms of Joshua Tree, where she joins the cast to put her inherent silliness to good use. Finally.

Tim Bertrand

Captain & Priest

Tim hails from the Midwest and has lived in CA for thirteen years. While relatively new to acting, he has extensive experience performing in front of crowds as both a high school and college mascot. Tim is excited to embrace this new opportunity on stage and looks forward to showcasing his talents.

Antonio Ingram

Lord Curio & First Officer

My Name is Tony D Tiger . I am 36 years old , retired army veteran . I have a been acting and modeling for alittle over 11 years now . This is a special moment to finally step out on broadway for the first time . ‘The course of true love never did run smooth.’ A Midsummer Night’s Dream

Mallow Trimarchi

Lady Curio, Servant & Second Officer

Mal Trimarchi (they/them) is a sculptor and performance-dabbler from Florida, and Twelfth Night is their stage-acting debut! They moved to California in 2018 after completing their Bachelor of Art at Stetson University in DeLand, Florida, where they later earned their Master of Fine Art in Creative Writing in 2021. They work with cardboard and ceramics to create figural works in a style that combines everyday mundanity with the pointedly unsettling and surreal. Their current home is in 29 Palms, CA, shared with their beloved pets, Dipsy and Morris.

Jon Long

Lady Chilane

Hailing from the heart of Tennessee, Lady Chilane dazzles audiences as a drag performer. She graces stages across the Hi-Desert with a diverse range of shows, from hosting Drag Bingo to captivating performances. Fans eagerly anticipate her silver screen debut in the upcoming film "Willa Justice: Drag Queen Private Eye," set to premiere later this year.

Brian Hennessey

Lord Hennessey

Brian Hennessy is super excited to be stepping back onstage for the first time in a number of years in order to help bring the Bard to the High Desert. Previous Shakespearean roles include the Apothecary in Romeo and Juliet; Fabian in Twelfth Night and Rosencrantz in Hamlet.

Charlie E. Walker

Director

Charlie E. Walker is a multifaceted talent in the world of theatre, boasting a rich background in acting, directing, design, and education. Holding a BA in Theatre and Performance Studies with a focus on Shakespeare and the Classics from the esteemed University of California, Berkeley, Charlie has honed her craft with a specialized understanding of the theatrical canon. She is also a member of SAG, the Screen Actor's Guild. With a repertoire that spans iconic Shakespearean roles, Charlie has graced the stage as Beatrice in "Much Ado About Nothing," Jaques in "As You Like It" at UC Berkeley, and brought to life the complex character of Lady Macbeth in a gripping rendition of "Macbeth" at the Pleasanton Playhouse. Her interpretations of Titania and Helena in "A Midsummer Night's Dream" at both College of the Desert and Theatre 29, as well as her portrayal of Hamlet and Ophelia in the "Shakespeare Spectacular," have captivated audiences and critics alike. Transitioning seamlessly between performance and behind-the-scenes roles, Charlie has demonstrated her artistic vision and leadership as the Artistic Director for A Fluid Movement Repertory Shakespeare Troupe from 2008 to 2012. During her tenure, the troupe collaborated with schools and students, offering invaluable internships and producing acclaimed productions such as "12th Night" and "Much Ado About Nothing" in conjunction with the Indio Performing Arts Center, "Macbeth" at the Annenberg Theater at the PS Museum, and "A Midsummer Night's Dream" in partnership with La Quinta High School. In addition to her work in professional theatre, Charlie earned a Single Subject Teaching credential in English and dedicated eight years to shaping young minds as a middle and high school drama, theatre, and English teacher. Her passion for education combined with her extensive theatrical background has inspired countless students, nurturing their creativity and instilling a deep appreciation for the arts. Reader’s Theatre and staged production of Shakespeare’s plays were deeply embedded in her curriculum. Her creative prowess extends beyond the stage, encompassing directing, costume, set, lighting, and sound design. Notable credits include her recent work on "A Midsummer Night's Dream" at Theatre 29, where she showcased her talent in directing, UV reactive costume, lighting, and sound design, as well as her contributions to "Shakespeare Spectacular" at Mon Petit Mojave. Charlie's dedication to her craft has not gone unnoticed, earning her numerous award nominations from the Desert Theatre League. Additionally, she has generously shared her expertise as an adjudicator for the English Speaking Union's annual Shakespeare Competition, further cementing her commitment to fostering the next generation of theatre talent and celebrating The Bard’s works. She is immensely proud of her current venture, the Joshua Tree Shakespeare Festival. Their inaugural production of 12th Night on stage at The Sanctuary at the Retreat Center, promises to be a delight for the community! With a blend of versatility, creativity, and a deep-rooted passion for the arts and education, Charlie continues to make her mark on the theatrical landscape, captivating audiences, nurturing young talent, and leaving an indelible impression with each performance and production.

Stage Manager

Charly McShane

Charly McShane (Stage Manager) is a recent graduate from the University of Redlands with her B.A. in Theatre Arts and an emphasis in Stage Management. She aims to pursue Stage Management professionally but is excited to continue to volunteer her time to continue participating in theatre as she looks for work. Some shows she has managed include, Roe by Lisa Loomer, A Doll’s House Part 2 by Lucas Hnath and most notably, she was an apprentice for Twelfth Night at The Old Globe in San Diego. She is incredibly grateful to have this opportunity and to work on this amazing show again!

Costumes

Trenalee Pieper

Costumes

Joelle Drury

Lighting

Stan DuPlessis

Stanley Du Plessis has done stage lighting for rock bands since the 1980s. He toured South Africa, the US and did lighting for Kenny Rogers.

Paco Diaz

Music-Bass

Sobe Walker

Sets

Kevin Maddrey

Set Artistry

Tamrah Chasteen

Headshots

Krystofer Do

Stage Combat Training & Pre-show Entertainment

Lady Chilane

Pre-Show Entertainment

Ismael Pantaleon

Pre-show Entertainment

Tad Coffin

Videographer

Tad Coffin is a graduate of UCLA with a degree in design. After graduation he worked in media and software development for fourteen years. In 2013 he moved from San Diego to Desert Heights to pursue more creative endeavours while continuing to dabble in media and web development. Today he owns a small woodworking company specializing in artistic outdoor furniture.

Kevin Bone

Music-Percussion

Kevin is a dabbler. Whenever he is not running around helping to operate The Palms in Wonder Valley, he dabbles in music (drums and bass for The Sibleys, sometimes drummer for The Yes-Goes), acting, playwriting, producing, and storytelling, His one-man show “Kate’s Last Dance” was a personal challenge and success, and he is currently learning his lines for a new Hi-desert sketch comedy troupe that he helped to put together, “The Laughing Bones”.

Perry Hoberman

Music-Flutist

Perry Hoberman is an artist and musician. Hoberman has been exhibiting and performing locally, nationally, and internationally for more than four decades. Using a wide variety of high and low technology, Hoberman has done pioneering work in virtual reality, interactive media, and stereoscopic 3D imaging. He has been the recipient of many awards and honors, including fellowships from the Rockefeller and Guggenheim Foundations and the National Endowment for the Arts. Hoberman has taught and lectured widely, with appointments at the San Francisco Art Institute, the Cooper Union and the School of Visual Arts. More recently, he was a research professor at the USC School of Cinematic Arts. In 2022, Hoberman invented and developed a new format for stereo 3D, and his ‘Phanto-Popup’ cards are now available at many high desert gift shops and boutiques. He lives in Twentynine Palms with his wife, the artist Julia Heyward, and two cats.

David Diaz

Music-Guitar

Lisa Diaz

Music-Vocals

Bonnie Caldwell

Bartender

Our lovely bartender, Bonnie Caldwell, might be a familiar face to those of you who run about the town. She can be found hustling behind the bar of the famous Boogaloo Stage of the Joshua Tree Music Festival, keeping the crowd happy and the bar queue moving efficiently. You might also run into her at the bar at Outpost 29 Palms, serving up glorious cocktails we highly recommend you stop by to check out! If you find you need the Bonnie touch at your next private affair, you can find her on Instagram @two11studios to discuss, but please, keep it brief! This gal’s got drinks to serve.

Liyan McNeltier

Promotional Photography

Liyan McNeltier is thrilled to support theatrical endeavors in the Hi-Desert and capture memories for the cast through photography. She loves supporting theatre both on and off stage in whatever capacity she can including acting, hosting improv shows, artistic direction, music direction, makeup design, and prop making. Liyan is grateful for another opportunity to celebrate the creativity of her fellow theatre friends.

Donors

Joshua Tree Shakespeare Festival BIO

Founded in June 2024 by Founder and Artistic Director Charlie E. Walker, the Joshua Tree Shakespeare Festival hopes to quickly emerge as a vibrant cultural cornerstone in the desert community of Joshua Tree, California. Formerly known as A Fluid Movement Repertory Shakespeare Troupe from 2008 to 2012, the festival has revitalized its mission under Walker's visionary leadership.

The festival is renowned for its extensive outreach and educational initiatives, collaborating closely with various desert area schools to bring the magic of Shakespeare and professional, theatrical experience to young artists and audiences alike. Their partnerships extend to prestigious local venues such as the Palm Springs Annenberg Theatre and Museum and the Indio Performing Arts Center, enhancing their reach and impact.

Critical and audience acclaim has followed the festival's innovative productions, characterized by UV reactive or black light innovations that bring a unique visual dimension to classic Shakespearean works. This aesthetic is complemented by original costume and set designs crafted by local artists, including the acclaimed Kevin Maddrey of Theatre 29 and Trenalee Pieper of Mil-Tree's Tapestry project.

The Joshua Tree Shakespeare Festival has garnered numerous accolades from the Desert Theatre League, underscoring its commitment to excellence in theatrical artistry and community engagement. With each season, the festival will continue to enchant and inspire audiences, solidifying its place as a cultural gem in the heart of the desert.

Recent productions in 2023 included a memorable rendition of "A Midsummer Night's Dream" at Theatre 29 and the groundbreaking "Shakespeare Spectacular" at Mon Petit Mojave, marking the festival as the first theatrical production to grace the stage of this local outdoor, drive-in concert theater, which was established during the pandemic.

They are proud to be currently partnered with Furstwurld to bring Theatre Under the Stars to life with their inaugural production of 12th Night. The festival will also collaborate with various artists of multiple mediums to provide a myriad of dazzling entertainment such as stage combat and sword play, clowning and acrobatics, Tarot and even the ancient and time honored art of DRAG!

The festival is a female-led nonprofit organization dedicated to creating sustainable job opportunities at a living wage for the local community. They collaborate closely with other area nonprofits, such as Mil-Tree, whose mission aligns seamlessly with the festival's goals of helping the community in various ways.

The festival’s main goal is providing income for artists creating high-quality entertainment at an affordable price for both residents and tourists alike, thereby enriching the cultural fabric of Joshua Tree and its surrounding areas. They strive to foster a thriving arts community while supporting economic empowerment and accessibility in the region.

Inspired by esteemed institutions such as the San Jose Shakespeare Festival and the Oregon Shakespeare Festival in Ashland, the Joshua Tree Shakespeare Festival aspires to emulate their dedication to artistic excellence, community engagement, and the transformative power of theater. Drawing from their models of success, the Joshua Tree Shakespeare Festival aims to become a beacon of cultural enrichment in the desert region, offering diverse and compelling theatrical experiences that resonate with audiences of all backgrounds