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Director's Note
The first time I was involved in a production of this show was my senior year of undergrad. I was the assistant director to someone who was really quite brilliant and had such a clear vision of the show, which did include a lesbian Lysander/Hermia. While I was deeply grateful for that experience, I came out of it feeling like that version of the show that I was involved in didn't really tap into the queer potentials of the text. For me, what makes this show queer isn’t the “forbidden love” aspect. Rather, it’s this idea that there is a world outside of the one we know that’s full of these magical creatures, who have their own issues, but ultimately are living a life free from the expectations of what it means to live in the human world.
As a result, I conceptualized a version of this show where the lovers were queer. I wanted the fairies to be drag inspired and perform lip sync numbers. I sat on this version of A Midsummer Night’s Dream for about two and a half years now. What you’re about to see is the result of that rumination. While there are moments of deep emotional turmoil, I hope you also invest in the joy woven throughout the show. Moments of queer joy that I find to be deeply radical in a moment where queer joy is being threatened. We can find empathy for the times where these characters experience extreme despair. However, I hope that you buy into the idea that joy can be just as radical as anger. Thank you for coming. Your presence makes me deeply grateful.
-Joss Gurkse-Carlisle (they/them)
Cockroach Theatre
LOREM IPSUM DOLOR
Cast
Miranda Lucero
Theseus/Oberon/Titania
Ian Dougherty
Hippolyta/Titania/Oberon
Joss Gurske-Carlisle
Egeus/Cobweb
Lily Menice
Hermia
Hawkins Davis Gardow
Demetrius
Cassian Weems
Lysander
Eric Craft
Helenus
Emit Brown
Quince/Mustardseed
Giovanni Baca
Bottom
Joshua Hobbs
Flute/Peaseblossom
Michael Hernandez
Snug/Moth
Chris Fuchs
Puck
Natalie Peavy
Lighting Designer
Creative Team
Joss Gurske-Carlisle
Producer/Director
Eric Craft
Producer/Dramaturg
Miranda Lucero
Costume Designer
Natalie Peavy
Lighting Designer
Meet the Company
Miranda Lucero
Theseus/Oberon/Titania
Miranda Lucero is a 26 year old costume designer, artist, writer, and thespian born and raised in Albuquerque, New Mexico. They believe in the power of art, community, and love to build safe spaces for everyone. They want to thank their chosen family (you know who you are <3), Natalia for being the most inspiring sister, and Christopher for being the most supportive and loving fiancée. Let’s have some fun and get lost in the Woodz!
Ian Dougherty
Hippolyta/Titania/Oberon
Ian has been doing theater as long as he can remember. With a broad range of roles from surreal characters like The Cook in Ghost Sonata to Mr. Darcy in Pride and Prejudice. He also has experience directing two shows Patrick Hamilton’s Rope and the UNM SCRAP production of The Other Shoe written by Phoebe Anderson.
He wouldn’t be who he is today without his love for theater bringing him his greatest joys and connecting him with his best friends.
They would love to thank cockroach theater for producing this wonderful and fun version of A Midsummer Night's Dream that has been some of the most fun they’ve ever had working on a show.
Joss Gurske-Carlisle
Egeus/Cobweb
Joss Gurske-Carlisle is a playwright, director, and designer based in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Originally from rural Utah, their work focuses on providing a nuanced portrayal queer people living in rural communities. They currently hold a B.S. in Theatre from Utah Tech University and they’re currently pursuing an MFA in Dramatic Writing at UNM.
Lily Menice
Hermia
Lily Menice is very excited to be a part of this Cockroach theatre production of A Midsummer Night's Dream, her second production of this show this year! She's performed and stage managed in many theater and circus productions around New Mexico, including, but not limited to, productions at Bosque school and the Vortex. She is an upcoming sophomore theater major at UNM.
Hawkins Davis Gardow
Demetrius
Hawkins Davis Gardow, from Newark NJ, is a music director, pianist, and actor. He's previously played piano for "Evil Dead" and Little Actor Andy" at MTS, and music directed and performed in "Anything Goes" at ALT. He most recently music directed "The Great American Trailer Park Musical" at the Adobe Theater. He studied musical theater at AMDA in NYC. He has performed at the NY Renaissance Faire, and was apart of his high school's Shakespeare Club. He has played Antonio in "Twelfth Night" at Black River Playhouse in Chester NJ. Returning to Shakespeare has been a fun challenge and it has been a pleasure acting alongside his cast mates. Huge thanks to Joss, Miranda and his partner Eric for putting this fantastic show together.
Cassian Weems
Lysander
Cassian Weems is an artist and UNM student from Albuquerque getting a B.S. in Biology with minors in Classical studies and Theatre. They have
always had a deep love for the arts and performing. This is their second time acting in a Shakespeare production, after playing Banquo in a fast-food themed rendition of Macbeth.
They graduated from highschool with an emphasis on performing arts, having done choir, debate, and drama.
Outside of theatre they spend time painting, primarily working with oil paints. They would like to thank their friends and family, especially Kadence and Katja, for all their support over the years.
Eric Craft
Helenus
For today only, we actually have two company members to highlight! Next up is our smart, beautiful, and most of all, humble artistic director and social media manager, @cindereric !
Eric Craft is a playwright, director, actor, educator and sometime floral designer originally from New Jersey. He is a current MFA candidate at UNM in dramatic writing, with a particular interest in stories centered around identity, queerness, and bugs. Performing and reading Shakespeare has been a lifelong passion of his, with some favorite past roles including Ariel in the Tempest, Don Pedro in Much Ado, and Sebastian in Twelfth Night. He’s overjoyed at the opportunity to finally play an ingenue. Many thanks to his partner Hawkins, his cat Lulu, his parents (always and forever), and every single member of this company for willingly coming on board the ship as he built it.
Emit Brown
Quince/Mustardseed
This is Emit Brown! They also go by Sertra-Leena if you see them in drag and if you’re seeing the show, you WILL be seeing Sertra-Leena. They’re so thrilled to be playing Peter Quince AND mustardseed! Emit has been doing theater for over 10 years now and is happy to say that Joss got their type cast perfectly correct for this show. Emit’s favorite role that they’ve played though, will always be Miss Trunchbull from Matilda! This show has shown Emit so much queer joy and they hope you, the audience, find queer joy in watching us.
Giovanni Baca
Bottom
Known as Gio to friends and family, he can be found singing along with the NMGMC, dancing with ghosts, and writing poetry in abandoned cemeteries throughout New Mexico.
Although he has not had an audience for a formal performance in quite some time, that hasn’t stopped him from acting like a main character in everyday life. He would like to thank the Cockroach Theatre Company for making queer Shakespeare happen and his sister for her whimsy throughout their lives.
Joshua Hobbs
Flute/Peaseblossom
Joshua Hobbs is a screen, stage, and voice actor, currently based in Albuquerque, New Mexico. While he has only been a performer since his senior year of high school, it has been his lifelong dream to do so, along with the hope of making a difference in people's lives through this craft. When not working on any projects as an actor or writer, or working as a restaurant busser and host, he loves to spend time with his friends and loved ones, making cartoonish sounds and laughing at anything and everything. He would like to thank his friends, fellow cast and crew members, and partner, Kaycee, for every bit of love and support in everything he tries to do. He hopes to find even more opportunities to grow as an actor and looks forward to every experience that comes his way!
Michael Hernandez
Snug/Moth
Michael Hernandez emerged from seafoam under the light of the blood moon onto the shores of far off San Diego as an infant, and both slowly and immediately began walking all the way to Albuquerque, where he grew tired and decided to stay back in 2020. He loves to perform stunts such as the kick-switch, the ollie-oop, and the rum tum tugger. He is currently earning his degree in musical theatre at UNM. He would like to thank everyone, especially Eric for writing his bio, his roommates, his girlfriend, and his parents.
Chris Fuchs
Puck
Chris Fuchs is a senior at UNM majoring in theater, and is very excited to be a part of this cast. He has previously acted in several scripts for SCRAP's Out of Order playwrighting festival. He would like to thank his family and wonderful partner for supporting him in all of his theater endeavors.
Natalie Peavy
Lighting Designer
Natalie Peavy is an independent artist based in Albuquerque, New Mexico, whose practice incorporates scenic art, props, lighting design, film photography, mixed-media painting, and landscape design. Raised in the world of technical theater, she creates work centered on spaces that encourage connection, storytelling, and a shared sense of place.
Natalie is completing her Master of Landscape Architecture at the University of New Mexico, where her graduate research explores the restoration of industrial landscapes through performance and mixed-media film photography. Her work investigates how landscape architecture can transform abandoned industrial sites into spaces for artistic expression, community gathering, and cultural renewal.
Alongside her academic work, Natalie works professionally in technical theater and community planning. Bringing together fine art, performance, and environmental design into a practice rooted in collaboration and community. She also spends a lot of time camping with her partner and dog :)
Joss Gurske-Carlisle
Producer/Director
Eric Craft
Producer/Dramaturg
Miranda Lucero
Costume Designer
Natalie Peavy
Lighting Designer
Photos
