MFA actors take to the stage for November performances
Showcase talent in A Midsummer Night's Dream and The Triumph of Love
November 11, 2005 | For more information: Susan Griffith 216-368-1004
Case Students in the Imaginary Invalid
Case's master of fine arts candidates in its premiere MFA
Acting Program at the Cleveland Play House take to the stage of the Play House, at 85th Street and Euclid Avenue, for November performances of William Shakespeare's A Midsummer Night's Dream and Pierre Marivaux's The Triumph of Love.
Under the direction of Mark Alan Gordon, the associate director of The Play House/Case MFA Acting Program, with assistance from guest director Jonathan Silverstein, performances of Shakespeare's timeless romantic comedy will take place at 8 p.m. on November 11, 17 and 19, with a 4 p.m. matinee November 19.
Performances for The Triumph of Love, a classic farce, are at 8 p.m. November 12, 16 and 18, with matinees at 4 p.m. on November 12 and 2 p.m. on November 13. Silverstein, who most recently directed the Keen Company's off-Broadway revival of John Patrick's The Hast Heart in New York, directs Case actors for this tale that demonstrates how far people will go for love.
Case students with roles in the fall productions are:
ELIZABETH A. DAVIS (Midsummer: Puck, Triumph: Leonide) was in the past The Cleveland Play House/Case MFA productions of The Real Thing as Annie, Hurlyburly as Donna, and Bus Stop as Cherie. Davis made her mainstage debut this fall in Room Service (Hilda Manney). This summer she appeared in Great Lakes Theater Festival's productions of You Can't Take it With You (Alice) and The Merry Wives of Windsor (Ann Page). She also made her film debut in the title of "Nora Falls" via Stonekap Productions. Selected credits: Arcadia, Two Gentlemen of Verona, Pygmalion, The Oresteia and She Loves Me. Davis is a violinist and is a 2006 Miss America Academic Scholarship recipient.
NICOLE FITZPATRICK (Midsummer: Helena, Triumph: Leontine) appeared in the MFA productions of The Real Thing as Charlotte, Hurlyburly as Darlene and Bus Stop as Grace. She acted in The Next Stage Festival staged reading of Swann, and will make her mainstage debut this winter in A Streetcar Named Desire (Flower Woman). She originally hails from New York, but received her bachelor of arts degree in California. Some of the shows she enjoyed working on as an undergrad include The Cherry Orchard, Much Ado About Nothing and Onionheads. Fitzpatrick plans to return to New York upon completion of her MFA.
SAMUEL HOLLOWAY (Midsummer: Egeus/Snout, Triumph: Harlequin) has been seen in MFA productions of The Real Thing as Brodie, Hurlyburly as Mickey and Bus Stop as Virgil. Holloway took on the role as Dougie in The Next Stage Festival staged reading of One Week to Live, and made his mainstage debut this fall in Room Service (Bank Messenger). Holloway grew up in Coos Bay, Oregon and attended college at Southern Oregon University in Ashland, Oregon, where he did his thesis on "Seven Characters in The Laramie Project," his favorite acting experience. As an intern at the Oregon Shakespeare Festival, he appeared in David Edgar's new play, Continental Divide. Holloway appeared in Hope Summer Repertory Theatre's production of Arms and the Man (Bluntschli), Bedroom Farce (Trevor), The Drawer Boy (Miles), and Scapin (Silvestre).
JOSHUA JOHN McKAY (Midsummer: Nick Bottom, Triumph: Agis) is a third-year MFA candidate, who acted the role of Henry in The Real Thing, as Phil in Hurlyburly and Dr. Gerald Lyman in Bus Stop. McKay also made his mainstage debut this fall in Room Service (Leo Davis). He has been in such productions as The School for Scandal (Joseph Surface), A Funny Thing.Forum (Sinex), Falsettoland (Whizzer), Oedipus Rex (Teiresias), Twelfth Night (Feste), among others. McKay has also been seen at Great Lakes Theater Festival in The Taming of the Shrew (Curtis). He received his bachelor of arts degree in musical theatre from The University of the Pacific in California.
JASON MICHAEL MILLER (Midsummer: Demetrius/Peter Quince, Triumph: Hermocrate) is a third-year MFA candidate who's appeared as Max in The Real Thing, as Artie in Hurlyburly and as Bo Decker in Bus Stop. Miller has been in The Next Stage Festival staged readings of The Separation of Blood, Women in Flames and One Week to Live, and made his mainstage debut this fall in Room Service (Timothy Hogarth). Miller appeared at Hope Summer Repertory Theater in Bye, Bye Birdie (Conrad Birdie), Arms and the Man (Sergius) and G.I. Jive (World Premiere). His favorite stage credits are Grease (Danny), Oklahoma (Will Parker), Pirates of Penzance (Pirate King) and Smoke on the Mountain (Rev. Ogalthorpe). Television: "ER," "Becker," "Beverly Hills 90210" and "Haunted Hollywood." Miller earned his bachelor of fine arts degree in musical theater from Northern Kentucky University.
LELUND DUROND THOMPSON (Midsummer: Theseus/Oberon, King of the Spirits, Triumph: Dimas) hails from North Carolina and has been seen in The Cleveland Play House/Case Western Reserve University MFA productions of The Real Thing as Billy, Hurlyburly as Eddie, and Bus Stop as Will Masters. Thompson appeared as Simon in The Next Stage Festival staged reading of Swann, and will make his mainstage debut next spring in Well (Chorus). Most recent credits include Great Lakes Theater Festival's production of The Taming of the Shrew, as well as Waiting for Lefty, Five Guys Named Moe, The Glass Menagerie, Two Trains Running, Black Nativity, and Antigone. Thompson received his bachelor of fine arts degree from North Carolina AT&T State University.
BAILEY VARNESS (Midsummer: Hippolyta/Titania, Queen of the Spirits, Triumph: Corine) has appeared in the MFA productions The Real Thing as Debbie, Hurlyburly as Bonnie, and Bus Stop as Elma. Varness had the role of Olga in The Next Stage Festival reading of Pecan Tan, and will make her mainstage debut this winter in A Streetcar Named Desire (Nurse). Regional credits include Waiting for Lefty (Edna) with Charenton Theater and Dead and Gone to Granny's (Linda) with Tyst Scandinavian Festival. Bailey received her BFA in theatre/acting at West Virginia University, where she was seen in Twelfth Night, Love's Labors Lost, Medea and subUrbia.
Tickets are $10 for general admission for adults, with discounted prices of $15 when tickets are purchased together for both shows. Student admission is $5, with $2 student parking. For ticket information or reservations, call The
Cleveland Play House Box Office at 216-795-7000, ext.4.
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