ROB HATZENBELLER

Rob Hatzenbeller is thrilled to join the Ensemble Shakespeare Company. Past credits include Hamlet, Women Beware Women (Shakespeare Theatre Company/STCA), The Visit (Goodman Theatre), Richard III (SoHo Shakespeare Company), Rhinoceros (SPT @ Lynn Redgrave Theatre), The Bonus Army (The Gym at Judson), Call Me Madam, Wildcat, A Funny Thing … Forum (42nd Street Moon), Guys and Dolls, The Sound of Music (AMTSJ), and Wonderful Town (Marin Theatre Company) – SF Bay Area Critics Circle Award. MFA: Shakespeare Theatre Company Academy at The George Washington University. Patsy Rodenburg Associate (2025).

DENNIS KEAR

Proud to be counted among Ensemble Shakespeare Company’s founding members, and thrilled to be able to share the space with these generous, talented, dedicated artists. Fourteen years of working with Patsy Rodenburg and her Associates has yielded a bountiful harvest.

DENIS LAMBERT

Broadway: Tammy Faye, Spamalot, Doctor Zhivago, A Chorus Line. Three national tours, three shows at City Center Encores!, Kennedy Center, Carnegie Hall, Hollywood Bowl, Asolo Rep, Dallas Theater Center. Recent credits include two productions of David Mamet's Oleanna and the film "Ponyboi" which premiered at Sundance in 2024 and will be released in theaters next year. MA Classical Acting, LAMDA.

ELLA OLESEN

Ella is thrilled and honoured to be part of this wonderful ensemble! Select Credits: Welcome To The Big Dipper (York Theatre), Fiddler on the Roof (Philadelphia Orchestra), Oleanna (Florida Repertory Theatre), The Importance of Being Earnest (Florida Repertory Theatre). Training: University of Michigan, BFA in Musical Theatre. British American Drama Academy, Certificate in Shakespeare. Gratitude to Erin & Dylan for cultivating this safe, creative, focused, playful, connected space for exciting and fulfilling work.

GERRARD LOBO

Gerrard Lobo is a NYC based actor. A student of Patsy Rodenburg, he is thrilled to be a part of ESC and its inaugural event. Gerrard also trains with Larry Moss and Bob Krakower. His recent credits include “Only Murders In the Building” on Hulu and “Awkwafina Is Nora From Queens” on Comedy Central.

CELESTE MORATTI

Celeste Moratti (RRT, PRA) born in Italy, where she completed her academic studies in Theoretical Philosophy. Before graduating from the Stella Adler Studio she also trained in Milan and Paris with Dario Fo and Yoshi Oida. Voice Teacher Training with Patsy Rodenburg (NYC-London-Portugal). She teaches regular Shakespeare workshops in NYC and Milan, Italy, and Voice and Speech at the Stella Adler Studio in NYC. Shakespeare-related credits: AD and founder of First Maria Ensemble and current company member of ADKShakespeare, Titan Theatre Company, Hyperion Theatre. ETC/NYC. Acting credits include Hamlet, Macbeth, As You Like It, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Twelfth Night, Romeo and Juliet, Merchant of Venice, Henry V, Henry VI parts 1, 2 and 3, Antony and Cleopatra, Richard III, The Tempest, Measure for Measure. Directing credits include Hamlet, Macbeth, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Twelfth Night. Other (non-Shakespeare) credits (selected): Theatre (acting): Medea, A crazy Sound, Angelina, Boing Boing Against the wall, Ting Ting in our heads, Hamlet Hallucinations, Days of Antonio, Night Lights, The Theory of Color, Red Noir. Directing: Really Really, The Wolves. Member of the Living Theatre, the American Mime Theatre, Teatro Patologico. Film Credits: My Mother’s Fairy Tales, Fight The Panda Syndicate, L’Uomo Gallo, Traffickers, Murder of God’s Banker.

COLLEEN SMITH WALLNAU

Colleen appeared last year as Mrs. Wilberforce in Centenary Stage Company’s production of “The Ladykillers.” She has worked on Broadway, off-Broadway, regionally and internationally. She has an MFA in Theatre from the Mason Gross School of the Arts, Rutgers University. Colleen is on the faculty of the Neighborhood Playhouse School of the Theatre in New York City. Colleen is a member of Actor’s Equity, SAG-AFTRA and VASTA. She is married to her favorite actor/director Carl Wallnau.

LAWRENCE E. STREET

Lawrence is grateful to be joining the Ensemble Shakespeare Company. His entry point into live theatre was through singing-musical theatre and opera; but he has been fortunate to add several plays to his resume including- August Wilson's Radio Golf for The Portland Playhouse, Satchmo at the Waldorf at Seacoast Repertory, the world premiere of Little Beasts by Jeanne Marshall at Luna Stage and Grace, or the Art of Climbing for Art House Productions in Jersey City. Lawrence was a member of the Original Broadway Cast of Urinetown and also has been seen Off-Broadway at The Classic Stage Company in Carmen Jones, directed by John Doyle, Archbishop Supreme Tartuffe starring Andre DeShields for The Classic Theatre of Harlem, and The Hidden Sky for The Prospect Theatre Company. Lawrence is a member of the Karl Bury acting studio in NYC.

KATIE PELENSKY

Katie P is a Brooklyn based actor and teaching artist. She spent years in the Bay Area and Los Angeles and is happy to be on the East Coast and a member of Ensemble Shakespeare Company. Since relocating she has spent time training with Fiasco Theater, and while in LA she was a member of Coeurage Ensemble. She just loves ensemble-ing with magical people. Past work includes: Almost, Maine (Rubicon Theatre); The Secret in the Wings, The Sparrow, Andronicus (Coeurage Ensemble); Macbeth (A Noise Within); Twelfth Night, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Romeo and Juliet, The Tempest (Sierra Shakespeare/Downtown Rep); King Lear, Twelfth Night (Shakespeare by the Sea).

DYLAN DIEHL

Dylan Diehl performs, directs, and teaches in a variety of venues in New York and Los Angeles. Favorite Shakespeare roles include Portia in The Merchant of Venice (Downtown Rep), Viola in Twelfth Night (Advent Theater), and Helena in A Midsummer Night's Dream (every theater imaginable). On screen, starring roles in numerous festival films and a turn on Law & Order: SVU. With Kingsmen Shakespeare Company, she designed and directed numerous educational programs teaching Shakespeare to students in Los Angeles and Ventura counties. A graduate of Columbia University, her studies include work with noted Shakespeare scholar and Public Theater dramaturg James Shapiro. She is a Patsy Rodenburg Associate, selected and certified by Patsy Rodenburg, OBE to instruct and utilize her methods of voice, breath, and speech. Recent work as a director includes Much Ado About Nothing for the Sierra Madre Shakespeare Festival. For Dad, who made any audience the best house, and for Mom, my teammate, who makes any dream a possibility.

ERIN ROTH

Most recently Erin played Lady Macbeth in Macbeth with Hudson Classical Theater. Also with Hudson Classical theater: Elinor Dashwood in Sense & Sensibility, Rosaline in Love’s Labour’s Lost and Jane Bennet in Pride and Prejudice. Other theater credits include Time Out Critic’s Pick Back of the Throat with the Flea Theater, On the Razzle at the Williamstown Theatre Festival, The Love of Three Oranges at the Santa Fe Theatre Festival, and Old School Sketch Show at the PIT. As a producer, past film and TV projects have gone to the Raindance Film Festival and Catalyst (formerly iTV Fest). Erin is passionate about both making Shakespeare that is visceral, moving and deeply human, and giving actors the tools to do great Shakespeare. In addition to being Artistic Director of ESC, Erin is a Registered Rodenburg Teacher, trained and certified by master voice and Shakespeare teacher Patsy Rodenburg. She coaches and teaches in-person and online Shakespeare classes, and she is one of the first 30 people in the world certified to teach Patsy Rodenburg’s method. Erin is a regular contributor to Backstage Experts.

SOPHIA ALANIZ

Sophia Alaniz (Stage Manager) is delighted to be making her debut with Ensemble Shakespeare Company. Favorite credits include Downtown Urban Arts Festival at Theatre Row and Addams Family, Summer Stock Austin. When she is not in a black box or theatre, she is on set as a production designer. She hopes you enjoy the show!