ENSEMBLE SHAKESPEARE COMPANYPRESENTS A MIDSUMMER NIGHT'S DREAM |
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| BY WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE | ||
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SUSANNAH HOFFMAN* |
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COLLEEN SMITH WALLNAU* |
| *Equity Member appearing with permission of Actors’ Equity Association without benefit of an Equity contract in this Off-Off Broadway production. |
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We believe Shakespeare is for all.
We know anyone can connect to the heightened language and profound ideas of Shakespeare when the plays are explored with clarity, craft, and connection.
Our ensemble includes our audience. Together, we enjoy a shared responsibility for fathoming the complexities of Shakespeare’s plays. In this joint venture, we embrace this collective agency in raising our minds and hearts to the demands of these challenging texts, and thus create the immediacy and intimacy only experienced in theatre.
Through this communal and inclusive storytelling, we hold the mirror up to nature, reflecting our shared humanity and delivering theatre that moves, challenges, heals, and changes us.
ENSEMBLE
JESSE CAO LONG
Flute/Philostrate/Moth
CHLOE CHAMPKEN
Hippolyta/Fairy
DYLAN DIEHL
Oberon
SUSANNAH HOFFMAN
Demetrius
DENNIS KEAR
Starveling/Egeus
GERRARD LOBO
Helena
PAUL MARCHEGIANI
Theseus
DIEGO MILLAN
Snout/Cobweb
CELESTE MORATTI
Bottom
ELLA OLESEN
Puck
KATIE PELENSKY
Lysander
MATISSE RATRON-NEAL
Hermia
ERIN ROTH
Titania
COLLEEN SMITH WALLNAU
Quince/Peaseblossom
JOE STATON
Snug/Mustardseed
CREATIVE
DYLAN DIEHL
Director/Producer
ERIN ROTH
Artistic Director/Producer
CHLOE CHAMPKEN
Associate Director
CAITLIN HUTSON
Movement/Fight Director
SOPHIA ALANIZ
Stage Manager/Production Manager
Assistant Production Manager
Olivia Battles Reap
ANNIE GARRETT-LARSEN
Lighting Designer
LAUREN HELPERN
Set Designer
KATE HARTIGAN
Costume Designer
JEVYN NELMS
Wardrobe
ELISA PAGLIA
House Manager
PAUL SIEBOLD
Press Representative
ENSEMBLE
JESSE CAO LONG
Flute/Philostrate/Moth
Theatre credits include The Far Country (Yale Repertory Theatre), The Munchies (The Tank), Fish Meat (SheNYC), Short Stack 2 (Ma-Yi Theater Company), The Rise and Rise of Daniel Rocket and Measure for Measure (Columbia University), Translations (Barnard College), and Hamlet and Twelfth Night (RADA). Jesse is a rising third-year MFA Acting student at Columbia University and holds a BA in Modern East Asian and 20th C. American History, also from Columbia. @paroldhinter.
CHLOE CHAMPKEN
Hippolyta/Fairy
Born in England, Chloe was inspired by her love of reading and storytelling quickly became her passion. After graduating from her BA at Trinity Laban Conservatoire in London, Chloe made the leap to New York. She attended the Stella Adler Studio of Acting and has recently graduated from their 2 year conservatory. Chloe continues to explore and witness the wonderful fusion of Actor, Director, Playwright, and Producer. Chloe has founded her own British Theatre Company, Crowded Space.
Acting Credits include: A Midsummer Night’s Dream (Hippolyta, Ensemble Shakespeare Company), Julius Caeser (Metellus/Cicero, Ensemble Shakespeare Company) England (by Tim Crouch, Crowded Space) Stick Fly (Kimber, Stella Adler Conservatory), Little Women (Jo March, Trinity Laban Conservatory), The Hypochondriac (Edinburgh Fringe), Kes, and Lord of The Flies (Edinburgh Fringe)
Directing Credits include: Book Club (Coming to The Flea), Voices from The Edge written by Paul Calderon (Primitive Grace - Coming to The Chain Theatre), A Midsummer Night’s Dream (Ensemble Shakespeare Company - The Flea), The Rainmaker (The Court Square Theatre), Dreams on 81 written by Gabriel Drax (DeviousMindsNYC - The Secret Theatre), Shakespeare Showcase ‘Flattery in Friendship’ (RiffRaff - The John DeSotelle Theatre)
DYLAN DIEHL
Oberon
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 and, very proudly, ESC’s inaugural Works in Progress and this May's Works in Progress: Julius Caesar.
For Dad, who made any audience the best house, and for Mom, my teammate, who makes any dream a possibility.
SUSANNAH HOFFMAN
Demetrius
Susannah Hoffman received an MFA in acting from the A.R.T./MXAT Institute for Advanced Theater Training at Harvard University. Regional theater credits include Baby Doll in Baby Doll (McCarter Theatre), Mary Debenham in Murder on the Orient Express (McCarter Theatre and Hartford Stage), Cherie in Bus Stop (CENTERSTAGE), Sylvia in The Cottage (ACCC),
Elizabeth in Heartless, Abigail in A Discourse on the Wonders of the Invisible World (Contemporary American Theater Festival), Sexual Perversity in Chicago (ART), The Donkey Show (ART), Connie in The Effect (Gloucester Stage), Ophelia in Hamletmachine (ART Institute), The Little Tragedies (Moscow Art Theater), and Nina in The Seagull (Opera House Arts). Her New York credits include The Actress in insignificance, Ophelia in Hamlet, Juliet/Mercutio/Prince/Balthasar in Empirical Rogue’s four-actor Romeo & Juliet, Morgan in Owned, Celine in ... But the Next Morning, and Claire in L'Amour Fou. TV/Film: Jumpcut, Sender, Rogue Hostage, House of Cards, The Good Fight, Instinct, Spiderman 2, Invisible.
DENNIS KEAR
Starveling/Egeus
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.
GERRARD LOBO
Helena
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.
PAUL MARCHEGIANI
Theseus
Paul Marchegiani is a Los Angeles-based performer and founder/CEO of Vox Vera, LLC (www.voxvera.com), a premium performance skills consulting firm that helps leaders, advocates, educators, and artists deliver a message, connect with others, and inhabit any space with presence. Paul's performance experience spans several disciplines, from classical voice (LA Opera, SF Symphony Chorus, Chicago Symphony Chorus), to jazz, musical theatre, Shakespeare, and improvisation. Prior to launching Vox Vera, Paul worked as an entertainment lawyer and business affairs executive at several major Hollywood studios, including Warner Bros,, NBCUniversal, and Amazon. He holds a JD from Berkeley, a BA (History) and BMus (Voice & Opera) from Northwestern, and a PRA teaching certification from world-renowned voice, presence, and Shakespeare coach Patsy Rodenburg. In addition to performing and coaching, Paul frequently teaches courses on communication skills, presence, and public speaking at top law schools, including Stanford, Berkeley, and the University of Chicago.
DIEGO MILLAN
Snout/Cobweb
Diego Millan is thrilled to be working with Ensemble Shakespeare Company on their production of A Midsummer Night's Dream. Previous Shakespeare credits include Love's Labour's Lost (Lord Longaville) and King Richard ii (Ser Bushy/Harry Percy) with Smith Street Stage and a staged reading of Taming of the Shrew (Lucentio) with Small Boat PC. @no_diego_no_
CELESTE MORATTI
Bottom
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.
ELLA OLESEN
Puck
Ella is honoured to be part of this wonderful ensemble. Previously with ESC, she played Marc Antony/Lucius in JULIUS CAESAR (WIP), and Puck/Demetrius in MIDSUMMER (WIP). Other 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.
KATIE PELENSKY
Lysander
Katie is thrilled to be part of Ensemble Shakespeare Company’s inaugural production. LA: Almost, Maine (Rubicon) Samsara, The Secret in the Wings, The Sparrow, Andronicus (Coeurage Ensemble) Macbeth (A Noise Within), Twelfth Night, A Midsummer Night’s Dream (Sierra Shakes) King Lear, Twelfth Night (Shakespeare by the Sea) The Chimes, Wake Not the Dead (Wicked Lit). She received her BA from Santa Clara University, and has recently studied with Fiasco Theater. Katie is a proud member of Ensemble Shakespeare Company. She tries to escape to the woods and mountains whenever possible and does a pretty solid Miss Piggy impression.
MATISSE RATRON-NEAL
Hermia
Matisse Ratron-Neal is a Brooklyn based actor, who got his BFA in Acting at Rutgers Mason Gross School of the Arts. While there, he was afforded the opportunity to spend 6 months at the Globe in London, working exclusively on Shakespeare with the wonderful Federay Holmes. His stage credits include Girl Says Woman Says Man Says and Last Night Was a Play. His TV credits include Law & Order and The Night Agent.
ERIN ROTH
Titania
Erin Roth (Artistic Director, Titania) Erin is Artistic Director of the Ensemble Shakespeare Company and thrilled to be a part of this amazing ensemble for A Midsummer Night's Dream. Favorite roles include Lady Macbeth in Macbeth with Hudson Classical Theater, Hostess in Henry V with Knickerbocker Players, and Carpenter in Julius Caesar with ESC. Also with Hudson Classical: 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, Catalyst (formerly iTV Fest), and screened at AMC networks as a part of AVID, a disability awareness initiative. Erin is a Patsy Rodenburg Associate trained and certified by master voice and Shakespeare teacher Patsy Rodenburg OBE. Erin has taught and coached at S.J. Quinney College of Law at the University of Utah, and the Mount Sinai Health System in New York City. Erin also writes articles on Shakespeare for Backstage Experts.
COLLEEN SMITH WALLNAU
Quince/Peaseblossom
Colleen was in Ensemble Shakespeare Company’s WIP of “Midsummer
Night’s Dream.” Broadway; Crazy for You, Off-Broadway; Joseph Papp Public Theatre
(Through Darkest Ohio), SoHo Rep (On the Verge), Peccadillo Theatre
(Beggar on Horseback), Mint Theatre (The Flattering Word and Oroonoko)
among others. Regional theatre; Paper Mill Playhouse (An Ideal Husband),
Asolo Repertory Theatre (The Dark of the Moon, The Winslow Boy, The
Dining Room) and Meadowbrook Theatre (A View from the Bridge) and
several productions for the Centenary Stage Company.
Colleen holds an MFA from the Mason Gross School of the Arts, Rutgers
University. She is on the faculty at the Neighborhood Playhouse School of
the Theatre and is married to actor/director Carl Wallnau.
Equity, SAG, and VASTA.
JOE STATON
Snug/Mustardseed
Joe Staton is a British actor and producer based in New York, working across theatre and film. His stage work includes Macbeth, Murder on the Orient Express, and Taming of the Shrew with Cumberland Theatre in Maryland, as well as A Midsummer Night’s Dream with the Classic Theatre of San Antonio (TX) and Romeo & Juliet with The Curtain in New Jersey. On screen credits include The Lightworker, Seagull, and Chekhov's Eye. He is the co-artistic director of RiffRaff NYC, a company committed to uplifting immigrant voices. RiffRaff is currently developing its second mainstage production, Much Ado About Nothing, which will feature an ensemble composed of 50% immigrant actors. Joe is thrilled to be working with Ensemble Shakespeare and will appear this August in The Woman in Black at Bluff City Theater in Missouri.
DYLAN DIEHL
Director/Producer
ERIN ROTH
Artistic Director/Producer
CHLOE CHAMPKEN
Associate Director
Born in England, Chloe was inspired by her love of reading and storytelling quickly became her passion. After graduating from her BA at Trinity Laban Conservatoire in London, Chloe made the leap to New York. She attended the Stella Adler Studio of Acting and has recently graduated from their 2 year conservatory. Chloe continues to explore and witness the wonderful fusion of Actor, Director, Playwright, and Producer. Chloe has founded her own British Theatre Company, Crowded Space.
Acting Credits include: A Midsummer Night’s Dream (Hippolyta, Ensemble Shakespeare Company), Julius Caeser (Metellus/Cicero, Ensemble Shakespeare Company) England (by Tim Crouch, Crowded Space) Stick Fly (Kimber, Stella Adler Conservatory), Little Women (Jo March, Trinity Laban Conservatory), The Hypochondriac (Edinburgh Fringe), Kes, and Lord of The Flies (Edinburgh Fringe)
Directing Credits include: Book Club (Coming to The Flea), Voices from The Edge written by Paul Calderon (Primitive Grace - Coming to The Chain Theatre), A Midsummer Night’s Dream (Ensemble Shakespeare Company - The Flea), The Rainmaker (The Court Square Theatre), Dreams on 81 written by Gabriel Drax (DeviousMindsNYC - The Secret Theatre), Shakespeare Showcase ‘Flattery in Friendship’ (RiffRaff - The John DeSotelle Theatre)
CAITLIN HUTSON
Movement/Fight Director
Caitlin is a professional stuntwoman, fight choreographer, and candidate for the 2026-27 PRA (Patsy Rodenburg Associate) program. She has helped build and launch several large-scale stunt shows, including Marvel Universe LIVE: Age of Heroes, the Avengers Stunt Show at Disneyland California and Paris, and Purge: Dangerous Waters at Universal Studios Hollywood. She aims to combine her love of Shakespeare and passion for stage combat to create compelling, nuanced, and action-driven stories. By sewing in the excitement of all your favorite action movies, Caitlin hopes to make Shakespeare more fun and approachable for modern audiences.
SOPHIA ALANIZ
Stage Manager/Production Manager
Sophia Alaniz is the production manager of Ensemble Shakespeare Company and the stage manager of A Midsummer Night's Dream. She has been stage managing since she was 16 and does not plan to stop any time soon. Sophia loves working in theatre and in film, honestly just being a part of something bigger makes her so happy. Past credits include: stage managed A Generational Curse at The Rat, stage managed Julius Caesar at Open Jar, and directed music video Hedonist by Gemma Laurance.
Assistant Production Manager
Olivia Battles Reap
Olivia Battles Reap is a producer and casting director from Boston, Massachusetts. Reap got her M.A. in Film & TV and Her B.F.A in Performing Arts with a Minor in Film & Tv from Savannah College of Arts and Design. Currently based in Brooklyn, New York.
Reap runs Battles Studio & Casting, which is an independent casting and production house that helps independent filmmakers with narrative, shorts, music videos, as well as Commercials work for Nitrous.LTD. Known for her commercial work on Amazon Music's "City Sessions" Series as well as her viral influencer casting campaigns and casting work on Bad Bunny’s ‘EL CLUB.’
As well as known for her film work on “DEUCE”(2025) Which won the ARGO award at SlamDance FF, “RAPT”(2024), and “The C-47s”(2018). Reap works on projects in all stages of development, and is happy to collaborate on productions of all types.
ANNIE GARRETT-LARSEN
Lighting Designer
Annie Garrett-Larsen (she/her) is a New York based lighting designer for theater and live performance. Annie is passionate about creating art that gives voice to people who are too often silenced, explores humanity at its core, and speaks to the deeply hurting world we are living in today. Annie’s design work has been seen in New York at: Ars Nova, HERE Arts Center, Judson Memorial Church, Atlantic Acting School, The Flea, The Tank, Dixon Place, The Chain, The Gallery Players, The Secret Theater, Theaterlab, Pregones PRTT. Her work has also been seen regionally/non-NYC at: Cleveland Play House, Chautauqua Theater Company, Detroit Public Theater, and The Peterborough Players. Annie holds a BA from Bard College and MFA from NYU Tisch. anniegarrett-larsen.com
LAUREN HELPERN
Set Designer
Lauren Helpern (Scenic Design) is an award-winning set designer based in NYC. She designed numerous world premiere and critically acclaimed productions including: 4000 Miles at Lincoln Center (Lortel Award), the Pulitzer Prize winner Disgraced at LCT3, Bad Jews and Skintight at Roundabout Theatre Company, Model Apartment for Primary Stages, BUG at Barrow Street (Obie Award), and Harry Townsend’s Last Stand at New York City Center Stage II. More recently, she designed King of the Jews at Here, which immersed the audience in a 1930s Polish cafe, and Mrs. Stern Wanders the Prussian State Library at 59E59 & WP Theater. Regionally, she has designed at Hartford Stage, Ford’s Theatre, The Geffen Playhouse, South Coast Rep, La Jolla Playhouse, Arizona Theatre Company, Pioneer Theatre Company, Huntington Stage Company, Portland Center Stage, Bucks County Playhouse, Cleveland Playhouse, Chautauqua Theatre Company, Anchorage Opera, and Actors Theatre of Louisville, among others. She designed the National Tour of American Girl Live! and several productions of Blue Man Group. In the comedy world, she was the Production Designer for Ari Shaffir: Jew (7.7 million views on Youtube), and has upcoming projects with Ari Shaffir, Jordan Jensen, and Randy Feltface. Lauren also designed Janice Gunter: Ghost Hunter on WhoHaHa and worked as an assistant art director on a number of shows, including on Sesame Street’s 50th Anniversary Celebration. She is a partner in Butter Designs, which has created scenery, set decoration, and props for retail windows, trade shows, brand activations, and video for a diverse roster of clients that includes Banana Republic, Magic Newton, System 76, Gymshark, and Big Apple Circus. Her work can be seen at laurenhelpern.com and butterdesigns.com.
KATE HARTIGAN
Costume Designer
Kate is thrilled to be making her debut with Ensemble Shakespeare Company. Costume design credits include: RENT, Dracula: A Feminist…, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, She Kills Monsters (Oklahoma City University) The Hunchback of Notre Dame, Sweeney Todd…, Twelfth Night, Zombie Prom (French Woods Festival) Kate has also worked previously with the OKC Ballet on both wigs and wardrobe. khartigan.com
JEVYN NELMS
Wardrobe
ELISA PAGLIA
House Manager
Elisa Annenberg-Paglia is a Brazilian multi-hyphenate and recent graduate from NYU Tisch School of the Arts. When she isn't managing the house, she multitasks being an actor, producer, and content creator. Elisa is very excited to join the ESC team and work on her first off-Broadway show! You can follow her side-quests on all platforms @elisaannenbergpaglia. As the Bacchantes say: evoé!
PAUL SIEBOLD
Press Representative
Paul Siebold (press representative) is the managing director of OFF OFF PR, a firm dedicated to publicizing developing theatrical productions. A marketing, promotions and public relations executive for over 20 years, Paul has achieved significant pre-production press coverage, reviews and post-production success for his clients. Paul has publicized NYIT Award-winning productions and winners of FringeNYC & NYMF Awards for Excellence. He represents a variety of theatrical genres. www.offoffpr.com
SUPPORT ESC
Help us make Shakespeare for all.
All our artists are paid competitive rates.
All our shows have free and reduced price tickets.
All our workshops and classes have scholarship options.
All your donations are tax-deductible to the extent permitted by law.
Actors' Equity Association
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Actors' Equity Association (AEA), founded in 1913, represents more than 50,000 actors and stage managers in the United States. Equity seeks to advance, promote and foster the art of live theatre as an essential component of our society. Equity negotiates wages and working conditions, providing a wide range of benefits, including health and pension plans. AEA is a member of the AFL-CIO, and is affiliated with FIA, an international organization of performing arts unions. The Equity emblem is our mark of excellence.
www.actorsequity.org
