Meet the Cast and Crew

Meet the Cast and Crew
of
The Taming of the Shrew

Carl Zeitler
Petruchio

Carl has been involved in over three dozen productions with over a dozen theatre companies throughout the Chicago area. He most recently appeared as Cornelius Hackl in The Matchmaker at GreenMan Theatre. Some of his favorite performances include Ruffing in Ravenscroft, Dracula in Dracula, Lenny in Rumors, Dan in Closer, Anthony in The House of Yes, and Oberon in Shakespeare in Hollywood. A reading specialist by trade, Carl will be co-writing his third play for GreenMan Theatre, Smoking Gun, this summer.

Mary Nigohosian
Katharina

Mary is very excited to be a part of this fun-loving cast, sharing the stage with her daughter, Faith, in her first Shakespearean production. Credits: Norma Desmond, Sunset Boulevard, Edith/Edie, Grey Gardens, Giulietta Trapani, Aspects of Love (JPAC); Gabrielle, The Dinner Party (Brightside Theatre); Beatrice,Rappacini’s Daughter, Anne, Bill W. and Dr. Bob, (Evergreen Theatre Ensemble); Woman 3, Midlife! The Crisis Musical (Fox Valley Repertory Theatre); Kate, Sylvia (MPAC); Kate/Lilli, Kiss Me, Kate (Woodstock Opera House).

Glynis Gilio
Bianca

Glynis is thrilled to be making her Shakespeare on Clark debut in "Shrew." Recent credits: Kitty Bennet in "Pride and Prejudice"-Janus Theater Company; Young Violet in "Violet"-Bailiwick Chicago; Shirley in "Fifth of July"-Infamous Commonwealth (ICT); Belinda Cratchit in "A Christmas Carol"-Metropolis PAC; Betty Parris in "The Crucible"-ICT; Shirley in "Fifth of July"-Oak Park Theatre Festival; Ruthie Joad in "The Grapes of Wrath"-ICT and Samantha/Kaya in "The American Girls Revue" -American Girl Place Chicago. Glynis is excited to start her junior year in high school. She would like to thank her family for their support and Julane for casting her in this amazing production.

August Anderson
Lucentio

August Anderson's first performance was in fifth grade as the Pied Piper. Since then he has taken classes at the Acting Studio Chicago and has done many shows on the children's stage of the Steele Beam Theatre in St. Charles. After August graduated eighth grade he then went on to an arts high school called Chicago Academy for the Arts.

Jerome Urbik
Grumio

David Rittenhouse
Ensmble

Born and raised in the Fox Valley area, David has had aspiration of being an actor for years. He is excited to be in his second Shakespeare on Clark production, and hopes to entertain.

Stacey Garbarski
Tranio

Stacey Garbarski is a sophomore at Edgewood College in Madison, Wisconsin. She is majoring in Theatre Arts with a double emphasis on acting and children’s theatre. She is also a 2011 graduate from St.Charles North High School and a St.Charles native. Her most notable roles are: the lead role of Rachel in Crag Lucas’s Reckless, a writer and performer for the sketch comedy improv group Diet Mountain Dew, a poet chorus member in Timberlake Wertenbaker’s Antigone and many others too numerous to mention. And as cliché as it is she would like to thank her friends at home/school and family for their endless love and support her entire theatre career. She is very proud of this show and cannot wait to share it with them, and the rest of the audience. So, enjoy!

Emily Champlin
Baptista

Emily Champlin holds a BA in Theatre from Truman State University where she appeared in such roles as Agnes in Tracy Letts's Bug, Cassie Cooper in Rumors and previously played the Widow in her college production of The Taming of the Shrew. She also studied improv at The Second City for several years where she performed as part of their teen improv ensemble. This is Emily's first season with Shakespeare on Clark and she is thrilled to be performing in one of her favorite Shakespearean comedies again.

Margie Gustafson
Widowed Dressmaker

Margie recently appeared as Sheila in The Boys Next Door. Other shows includeTwelfth Night (Maria), Tartuffe (Dorine), Bobby Gould in Hell (Interrogator’s Assistant), The House of Blue Leaves (Little Nun),Lysistrata (Lysistrata), Play Ball (Moonshine Maggie), Charley’s Aunt (Ela), You Can’t Take It With You (Essie), Picasso at the Lapin Agile (Female Admirer), Fools (Snetzky), A Midsummer Night’s Dream (Helena/Flute), Laughter on the 23rd Floor (Helen),Tartuffe (Marianne), Love’s Labours Lost (Jaquenetta) and Shakespeare in Hollywood (Ensemble). Margie’s book of poetry, Haiku Very Much is available online at Amazon and Barnes & Noble.

Matt Heine
Pedant

An aspiring English/Theater graduate, Matt has been involved with numerous theatrical
productions over the years, and is glad to be with Shakespeare on Clark for his third year
in a row. Fans may remember him as Sir Hugh Evans in last year’s production of Merry
Wives of Winsdor, as well as Valentine in Twelfth Night. . He has also been seen at the Riverfront Playhouse in Aurora, where he played Azmur in Golem: The Monster of Prague.

William Eversen
Ensemble

Bill began his theatre career in high school where he appeared in several productions put on by both Marmion Academy and Rosary High School. He will be a candidate for the Bachelor of Fine Arts with an Emphasis in Acting this fall at Northern Illinois University. This is Bill’s first show with Shakespeare on Clark and so far it has been a fantastic experience!

Ted Holste
Hortensio

Ted has most recently been seen as Clarence in Evergreen Theatre Ensemble’s production of It’s a wonderful Life. He holds a BA in theatre from the University of Missouri-Kansas City. Some of his favorite roles are Eddie in “Born Yesterday”, the farmer in “The Pied Piper”, and the father in “Bye Bye Birdie”. He has also directed plays such as The female version of the "The Odd Couple”, “Annie”, “Deathtrap”, “the Wizard of Oz” and “the Brute”.

Michael Cook
Biondello

Mike Cook is a recent graduate from The Illinois Institute of Art with a Bachelor's of Fine Arts in Media Arts & Animation. A few of Mike's favorite roles include Big Jule in "Guys and Dolls", a dual role of Nephew Fred and a heartbroken Young Scrooge in "A Christmas Carol", the heartless prosecuter Thomas Mara in "Miracle on 34th Street", and his first Shakespearean performance of Curio in "Twelfth Night". Along with performing on stage, he has serveral animation performances; Mike is the creator of "Chucky Chicken & his Barnyard Friends", and also has several vocal performances, including serious consideration as the offical voice of Mickey Mouse!

Mandy Barnes
Ensemble

Taming of the Shrew will be Mandy’s second performance with Shakespeare on Clark. She had previously appeared as Pistol in last year’s production of Merry Wives of Windsor. She has also been cast in Everything I Need to Know I Learned in Kindergarten and Hayfever (Clara) at Geneva High School, Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland (March Hare)at Steel Beam Theatre, and in The Audition (Soleil) at Fox Valley Per. When she’s not spending her time being an uncivil servant , Mandy can be found either drawing, reading, baking or performing a mixture of the former all at the same time.

Molly Wagner
Ensemble

Molly Wagner, a resident of St. Charles, is thrilled to be a part of this production of Taming of the Shrew. Molly attends Ball State University where she worked on Six Characters in Search of an Author and A Midsummer Night’s Dream. She can’t wait for you to be a part of this wacky and wonderful show!

Dennis Stewart
Gremio

A sampling of area shows include “Waiting For Godot” (Lucky), “Bus Stop” (Professor Lyman) “The Crucible” (Danforth) “On Golden Pond” (Norman Thayer Jr.) “Our Town” (Stage Manager ) “Dial ‘M’ for Murder” (Inspector Hubbard) “Picasso at the Lapin Agile” (Gaston) “Sly Fox” (Foxwell J. Sly) “The Sunshine Boys” (Al Lewis), “Noises Off” (Selsdon), “you can’t Take It With You” (Grandpa Vanderhof)

I dedicate this performance to Virginia, my wife who stood by my side and grew old with me for over fifty years. I think of you so many times, every day.

Steve Delchamps
Vincensio

Long time Batavia resident Steve Delchamps is pleased to make his Shakespeare on Clark Debut, which marks his Shakespearean acting debut as well. Steve has done some writing for musical theatre; his show "Too Much Caffeie" was produced at First Street Playhouse in 2003. Last seen on stage some years back as Froggy in "The Foreigner" at Frist Street Playhouse, Steve would like to thank Julane for offering him the chance to work with her and with this great cast and crew.

Peter Geldes
Ensemble

Peter Geldes was last seen in Twelfth Night on our Island as our juggling ensemble member. Peter is happy to return to join the cast on nights when his work schedule allows!! Peter is a professional juggler and is available for parties, special events, and festivals.

Chris Casillas
Stage Manager

Chris Casillas DPM is a podiatrist in Batavia for over thiry years. Dr. Casillas lives in Batavia and is happy to see the emergence of a great art community in Batavia. He is working with the wonderful cast of Taming of the Shrew helping backstage.

Faith NieKamp

Faith NieKamp is a 3rd grader at H.C. Storm on Batavia's west side. Taking after her mother (who plays Kate), she loves to sing, act, dance and be on stage. She has performed dance recitals with local studios Dancencounter and Moves since she was 3 years old and sings with the children's church choir at St. John's Episcopal in Naperville. In 2010, she performed in her first professional show as the youngest member of the children's chorus in A Christmas Carol with Metropolis PAC. She and mom are VERY excited to be in their first show together and they even get to share a scene!

Ryan Stasell
Graphic Design

A film and graphics major at North Central College in Naperville, Ryan was most recently seen on stage at NCC in Elephants Graveyard, and wrote and directed his one act production for NCC this spring. He appeared three years ago as Demetrius in Midsummer Nights Dream, and last summer as Slender in The Merry Wives of Windsor on Clark Island. Ryan and had created the graphics for the last four productions of Shakespeare on Clark.

Laura Dwyer
Costume Design

Laura Dwyer has costumed the past three Shakespeare on Clark Productions, as well as played a fairy in Midsummer Nights Dream. She is the The Countess of Costumes (lead costume designer) at All Dressed Up Costumes and a make-up design artist, and recently took first place in the costume contest at ACEN. She also has opened her own business Adoggiedoreables, a fashion line for canine pets.

JP Quirk
Hair Design

Craig Gustafson
Sound Design

Julane Sullivan
Director

Julane is the founder of Shakespeare on Clark, beginning with the memory of outdoor performances she experienced in other communities. The Batavia Main Street sponsored the first production of A Midsummer Nights Dream 13 years ago, and with the exception of the summer of 2007 when Clark Island was still fresh from renovation, a production has been offered to the general public each year. She has been involved in theatre is some fashion since her sophomore year in high school, when she was cast as Eliza Doolittle in My Fair Lady. Since that time she has performed on stage, produced shows, directed productions, taught youth theatre workshops, designed costumes, scenery and lighting for productions, and professionally sold theatrical and television lighting systems to theatres and studios across the country. Several years ago, she resigned from the lighting industry to work full time at her costume shop, Batavia's own All Dressed Up Costumes. This shop is one of the premiere costume companies in the country, supplying theatrical costumes to schools and theatres throughout the US.

Lynn Meredith
Assistant Director

Lynn is excited to return for another season with Shakespeare on Clark. and working alongside of Julane as the Assistant Director. She has performed the last three summers as Titania in A Midsummer Night’s Dream and Maria in Twelfth Night and Mistress Ford in The Merry Wives of Widsor. Recently, she played Fioria in Time of the Cuckoo, Catharine in Suddenly Last Summer (Catharine) with the OswegoPlayhouse, and Penny in You Can’t Take It With You with Wheaton’s Bird and Baby Theatre. She writes features and news for a local paper and practices yoga as often as possible.