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​
Taming of the Shrew
by William Shakespeare​​​​
Directed by Liz Conrad
Meet the Cast
Performances:
June 26 - 28 & July 3 - 5 at 6:30 pm
Outdoors at Big Creek Park
Frances Hall Amphitheater
9160 Robinson Road
Chardon, OH 44024
Sara Wilson (Katherine) - Sara is thrilled to be returning to the GCA stage as waspish Katherine! She thanks her loved ones, especially her mama, her beloved Ryan, and her sweetest girl, Frankie, for their constant love and support. To the cast and crew, thank you for making this dream come true. To Liz, thank you for seeing something in me that I didn't see in myself - it has been a true honor. To Gwen, there is no one else I would rather share this journey with; thank you for betting on me. Dear audience, your kindness merits thanks - we hope you enjoy the show!
Gwen Baker (Petruchio) - Gwen returns to Geauga Center for the Arts, excited to share the stage with both old and new friends! Recent credits include Moritz (Spring Awakening, KSU Trumbull), Orlando (As You Like It, GCA), Antipholus of Ephesus (Comedy of Errors, Twilight Theatre), and Chuck (She Kills Monsters, Millennial Theatre Project). All thanks go to the amazing cast and crew that have made this show possible, and to all family and friends who support this passion. To Sara – thank you for being an amazing Katherine to my Petruchio. And to Emily – I love sharing all aspects of life with you, even the stage.
Greg Gnau (Baptista) - Greg is delighted to return for his Second Season with Geauga Center for the Arts. Last year Greg appeared in As You Like It as Lebeau/Corin. Earlier this year, Greg appeared in Jesus Christ, Superstar at the Fine Arts Association, and is a veteran of over 60 productions throughout Ohio. Thank you to my family for continued grace and support and thank YOU for supporting live theater.
Emily Slusarz (Bianca) - Emily is thrilled to return to the Geauga Center for the Arts stage! Past credits include Celia (As You Like It, GCA), Anna (Spring Awakening, KSU Trumbull) and has originated roles in Louder than Words (Starcatcher Theatre) and Uhaulin’ (CPT). She sends her whole heart to Mom, Dad, and the rest of her family for supporting her through everything life could think to throw at her. To Gwen—sharing the stage with you again is a gift I’ll always treasure. And to Pappy—your wild child is still chasing big dreams.
Hannah Maxwell (Lucentio) - Hannah is thrilled to be returning to the stage for Shakespeare once again! Previous favorite roles include Beatrice in Much Ado About Nothing, Mollie Ralston in Mousetrap, Belinda/Flavia in Noises Off, the Wicked Witch in Shrek, and Patsy in Spamalot. She has spent the last few years backstage, but is happy to be this side of the curtain once again. She would like to thank this fantastic cast, Liz for making this a lovely experience, as well as her husband Alex, for tolerating her regular stage induced madness. Thank you very much for coming; enjoy the show!
Kasey Sheridan(Hortensio (Litio)) - Kasey is absolutely thrilled to be a part of her second show with GCA. You might’ve seen her last year in As You Like It as Audrey/Court Lord/Lady. She’s had an absolute blast working with this show’s cast and crew and hopes you have just as much fun watching it. She’d like to thank her friends and family for putting up with her Shakespeare obsession and for not hitting her with any lutes when she talked about it over the years and she’d like to thank her pets for their moral support when she ran lines at home.
Jessica Ludovici (Gremio) - This is Jessica’s third Shakespeare show and she is very excited to work with such a wonderful cast! She has been doing theater for 15 years. Previous roles include As You Like It (Silvius) at Geauga Center for the Arts, Something Rotten (ensemble) at the Youngstown Playhouse, Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf (Honey), Legally Blonde (Serena) and Midsummer Nights Dream (Hermia) at Kent Trumbull. She thanks her friends and family for their never ending support. She hopes you enjoy the show!
Em Davis (Tranio)- Em is thrilled to make her Geauga Center for the Arts debut. It has been Em’s life goal to act in a Shakespeare play ever since she was a teenager and first fell in love with the Bard. Em vividly remembers turning 21 during the global pandemic and inviting a small group of friends over for a reading of A Midsummer Night’s Dream, with a matching Puck tattoo of course. She cannot emphasize enough what a dream come true this production has been, and will remember it gratefully for the rest of her life. Thank you to her loved ones for their support!
Michael Antico (Biondello) - This is Michael's first production with Geauga Center for the Arts and his first show after a 3-year hiatus! Favorite credits include Hercule Poirot (Murder on the Orient Express), Eddie McCuen (Musical Comedy Murders of 1940), and Foster Bates (Stolen) with Blue Gate Musicals. In his spare time, Michael loves going to concerts, stargazing, gardening, beach glass hunting, and yelling at sports. He credits Sir Patrick Stewarts' Making It So as the inspiration for his Shakespearean return and, of course, Stephanie for the proverbial kick in the pants to make it happen. Many thanks to Liz, Maddy and the cast and crew.
Loren Scuilla (Grumio) - Loren is thrilled to be returning to Geauga Center for the Arts for her second production here, following A Midsummer Night’s Dream in 2023, where she played Hermia, Flute, and a Fairy. This summer, she is also appearing in Emma (Thomson Square Community Theater) as Harriet Smith and Peter Pan (Gates Mills Players) as Peter Pan. When she’s not onstage, Loren choreographs at Perry Middle and High School. She would like to thank her family and friends for their support, the cast and production team for creating such a positive environment, and the audience for supporting live theater and Shakespeare.
Erik Katko (Vincentio) - Erik is excited to be once again working with GCA. Recent credits include Young Frankenstein and Guys and Dolls. He would like to thank his wife and family for their support.
Magdalene Pesch (Widow) - Magdalene has performed with the Geauga Center for the Arts, Willoughby Summer Theater Festival, Fine Arts Association, Ashtabula Arts Center, and Ohio University Opera Theater, among other venues. She studied acting with Anne McAvoy at Beck Center for the Arts and with Joe Lorek at Mentor High School. Magdalene has her MBA from Lake Erie College, MA from Ursuline College, and BA from Ohio University. She is a Children's Librarian at Kirtland Public Library. Magdalene appreciates opera and tries to sing it with Phyllis Speirs at the School of Fine Arts in Willoughby. Magdalene sends her love and gratitude to God and her family.
Parker Paniagua (Merchant) - Parker is a Kent State Graduate Student that has been involved in theater since middle school, debuting with Xanadu and continuing with shows such as Rent, A Christmas Carol, Legally Blonde, and A Midsummer Night’s Dream. He has made many connections with people through theater and seeks to bring his previous talents and energy to the show.
Rachael Conrad (Tailor, Servant to Baptista) - Rachael is thrilled to be part of GCA’s production of The Taming of the Shrew! She grew up around Shakespeare and this is a show she’s always wanted to do. She’s appeared in recent productions of Something Rotten as Portia, A Midsummer Night’s Dream as Helena, Legally Blonde as Margot, and Urinetown as Miss Millennium. This cast is so beyond talented and kind and she’s so honored to be working beside them. Please have fun and enjoy the show!!
Guy Wilson (Haberdasher, Servant) - After a break from the stage of about 8 years, Guy is pleased to join Geauga Center for the Arts (GCA) in his first Shakespeare production. Prior theater experience includes 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee (Vice Principal Panch), Spamalot (Ensemble), Music Man (Ensemble) and the Westing Game (Otis Amber). Guy is newly retired from Sherwin-Williams where he was associate director of analytical and is also on the board of GCA. Thanks to the cast and crew for making this an enjoyable time and experience!
Kiersten Gray (Curtis) - Kiersten made her debut with Geauga Center for the Arts earlier this year in the Spring Cabaret. She is thrilled to return to the stage for her first Shakespeare production - and her first full theatrical production since Shrek the Musical in 2019. Kiersten wants to thank her friends and family for encouraging her to step outside her comfort zone and audition. She is incredibly grateful for the opportunity to perform alongside such a talented cast and connect with friends, old and new!
Melinda Heasley (Officer, Servant) - Melinda is excited to make her Geauga Center For The Arts debut! It's been 30 years since participating in various Christmas/Easter Cantatas and youth group plays, and she's ready to gain some skills and experience among this fine group of thespians! Melinda sure would like to thank Sara for the encouragement, Shannon for coming along for the ride, and Geoff and Harrison for their support.
Shannon Doherty (Officer, Servant) - This is Shannon’s first stage experience and she is delighted that it is with the Geauga Center for the Arts. Despite the lack of acting credentials, she is an avid reader and has enjoyed many plays in book format. When not at rehearsal, Shannon can be found in the woods looking for creatures, trail running, and xc skiing. She would like to thank her costar Melinda Heasley for talking her into joining the show; wineries certainly are a great setting for such discussions.
Meet the Crew
Liz Conrad (Director) - Liz is excited to be working with Geauga Center for the Arts fpr another exciting year! Liz has directed both large scale musicals and small, intimate plays alike. Shakespeare is her favorite genre and she’s been privileged to play such roles as Melancholy Jaques (As You Like It), Nurse (Romeo and Juliet), Lady Macbeth (Macbeth), and Brutus (Julius Caesar) along with many others including her first Shakespearean role of Juliet when she was 14. Outside of Shakespeare, she has played a variety of other characters from Fairy Godmother in R&H’s Cinderella to Harper in Angels in America. She’d like to thank her family for all the love and support they give her every day and this wonderfully talented cast for their hard work and faith in her!
Madeline Dingeldein (Stage Manager) - Madeline has been a member of the crew for several of Geauga Center for the Arts productions, including as Assistant Stage Manager for As You Like It. This is her first production as Stage Manager. She would like to thank Liz Conrad for the opportunity to do this show with her. She would also like to thank Hannah Maxwell for bringing her on the adventure of local theater.
Anne Gray (Costumer) - This will be Anne’s second time costuming for Geauga Center for the Arts (Much Ado About Nothing, 2022). Other costuming credits include, GLTG’s The Great Gatsby, 2020. She would like to thank Liz Conrad, and the cast and crew. She would also like to thank her husband, Jared, for the unending support and sewing machine repair skills.
Casey Loren (Fight Choreographer) - Casey is a performer and fight choreographer from northwestern Pennsylvania. Favorite credits, aside from Taming of the Shrew, include Singing In The Rain (Youngstown Playhouse), Daddy’s Dyin’ Whose Got The Will? (New Castle Playhouse), and Pippin (ACTS Performing Arts Center). Partnered with Premiere Performances, Casey spreads their love of weaponry and theatrical movement with youth actors while prioritizing education, safety, and body autonomy. In their spare time, Casey enjoys video games, working out, and spending time with their loved ones. Casey thanks the cast and crew for all of their hard work, and especially Liz Conrad for her trust.
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Lace Williamson (Videographer) - Lace has filmed several shows for GCA, mostly by virtue of showing up with recording equipment, and knowing what he was doing. Lace also built the benches that have graced the GCA stage for many productions. He greatly enjoys creating a blooper reel for each GCA production.
Katherine Kimes (Producer, Photographer) - Katherine has worked hard behind the scenes to coordinate many aspects of this production. The majority of the headshots, rehearsal, and production shots for GCA are created with her artistic eye. She manages the GCA social media pages, as well as serving on the GCA board as secretary.
Additional Thanks to:
Geauga Park District for use of the amphitheater,
Chardon Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints for use of their facility as an indoor rehearsal space,
Erik Katko, Hannah Maxwell, and Ryan Davis for work on props,
AJ & The Woods for providing a pre-broken guitar for use as a broken lute,
Gwen Baker for poster artwork and additional graphic design,
&
the rest of our lovely GCA volunteers, members, and donors who help make our productions possible.
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