Lisa Dawn Foertsch (Beatrice) is honored to be performing in Shakespeare on Clark’s “Much Ado About Nothing” alongside this talented cast/director in one of her bucket-list roles. She was last seen in WDI’s production of “The 39 Steps” and as Jess in Ken Kaden’s adaptation of “A Long Way Down” in Los Angeles. She is former Co-founder/Artistic Director of the late Players Please Theatre (Suburban Nitelife’s “Best Live Theatre” 2008/2009) and has performed with professional company Buffalo Theatre Ensemble. Favorite past roles: Snoopy (You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown), Ellen (Any Wednesday), Goldie (Laugh-in), Soos (The Country Club), Joan of Arc (Chernobyl’s Fire), Phoebe (As You Like It), Meg (Crimes of the Heart), and Ensemble (The Complete Works of William Shakespeare [Abridged]) and has directed the well-received Steel Magnolias, The Boys Next Door, Check, Please!, The Problem, and The Boy Who Ate the Moon. She also voices main character Emma for Enlightened Games in “The Song of Seven” (coming out for Sony PS in 2016), and is a paid actor for Illinois Police Department’s Crisis Intervention Training. Other life credits: photographer (emergence-see.com), Reiki Master, Yoga Instructor, Bartender, Hip Hop Artist, and self-proclaimed wizard.
Michaël Hudetz (Claudio) is making his Shakespeare on Clark debut. He most recently played Dr. Einstein in Batavia High School's production of "Arsenic and Old Lace" in 2013 at the Batavia Fine Arts Centre. He is pleased to be returning to the stage after a year living in Europe. Michaël speaks fluent Dutch. He performed in numerous plays and musicals at BHS including "Great Expectations," "Dearly Beloved," "Marvin's Room," "9 to 5," and the Senior-directed "One-Acts." Currently he studies music, vocal performance, and theatre at college. He would like to thank the director for this opportunity and the cast for welcoming a stranger into their midst, especially a stranger who's name is so hard to pronounce.
Kathy Bright (Leonata) is a long-time Shakespeare aficionado and delighted to be back with Shakespeare-on-Clark, working with Julane and so many other talented people. Besides appearing in "Much Ado About Nothing" again, she has also appeared in productions of "Measure for Measure," "Twelfth Night," "As You Like It," and most recently, Shakespeare-on-Clark's production of "A Comedy of Errors." She lives in Lombard and has studied at The American Academy of Dramatic Arts in LA. She is also a writer, both personally and professionally, with experience in business writing, technical writing, and literary fiction. Kathy will go anywhere she can find a "crazy-mad airfare," having just returned from an impromptu trip to Stockholm, Sweden.
Toria Hollyn (Dame Jeanne) proclaims her unequivocal excitement in joining this madcap and zany troupe though her jaded, lackluster, green-eyed Dame Jeanne may speak to the contrary. Toria joins the cast fresh off of playing Sarah Goldman in Elgin Theatre Company’s Beau Jest. No newbie to Shakespeare, Toria previously played Julia in Two Gentleman of Verona at North Central College—which also marked her first endeavor with Julane. Other favorite roles include: Linda Seton in Holiday (Grove Players), Lydia Lubey in All My Sons (Wheaton Drama), Mayella Ewell in To Kill a Mockingbird (Wheaton Drama), Patsy in Crazy for You (Overshadowed Theatrical Productions), Lady Rowena in Once Upon a Mattress (Conejo Players), and Bet in Oliver! (Magical Starlight). Next spring, she will be directing Wheaton Drama’s production of Ronald Harwood’s Quartet. Toria thanks Julane and this fashionable cast for a delightful summer romp. Je crie vers Papillon.
Bruce Worthel (Antonio, Watch, Fight Choreographer) is excited to work with Julane and the Shakespeare on Clark group again. Bruce recently performed in Julane’s fundraising murder mystery dinner, The Bootleg Bump Off, at The Range in Batavia. His other performances included Wheaton Dramas Amadeus, Albright’s production of The Curious Savage, understudied and performed the part of Jimmy in Making God Laugh at Fox Valley Rep (Pheasant Run), was the Foreman in Twelve Angry Men (Actor Factor Theatre Company), and Klinglehoff in The Underpants (Buffalo Theatre Ensemble). Favorite roles include Marvin in Bleacher Bums, Jorgenson in Other People’s Money, and the many roles in Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde (Vex Theatre).
Bill Evensen (Borachio) returns for his third appearance at Shakespeare on Clark. His previous appearances include Curtis in the Taming of the Shrew and the Strongman in the Comedy of Errors. Bill is entering his fourth year at Northern Illinois University as a BFA Acting major. He previously studied at The Moscow Art Theatre School under renowned Russian actor Michael Lobanov. Bill is excited to make his return to Shakespeare on Clark.
Katelyn Rondinaro (Condrade) is very excited to work with Shakespeare on Clark for the
first time. She is a student at NIU
pursuing an Acting degree. She will be
going into her senior year. Past Credits
include Joan in Lovers and Other
Strangers, Eurydice in Antigone, Jacqueline de Benoit in Wintertime and Much Ado about
Nothing as Borrachia.
Margorie Gustafson (Sexton/Watch) recently appeared as Ouiser in Steel Magnolias. She is happy to be in her third Shakespeare on Clark show, after Love’s Labours Lost (Jaquenetta) and Taming of the Shrew (Tailor/Others.) Other shows include The Boys Next Door (Sheila), Twelfth Night (Maria), Tartuffe (Dorine), The House of Blue Leaves (Little Nun), Bobby Gould in Hell (Interrogator’s Assistant), Lysistrata (Lysistrata), Charley’s Aunt (Ela), You Can’t Take It With You (Essie), A Midsummer Night’s Dream (Helena/Flute), Laughter on the 23rd Floor (Helen) and Shakespeare in Hollywood (Ensemble). Margie’s book of poetry, Haiku Very Much is available online at Amazon and Barnes & Noble. All her love to Craig, her amusing muse.
Linda A. Lindwurm (Alt. Friar, Watch) has had a professional career as far away from theatre as one could imagine. Currently semi-retired from her role as a chemist, she spends her time entertaining people as a tour guide on a double-decker bus in Chicago. She started acting when her daughter gave her permission to audition for a play with her with the Schaumburg Park District. She has performed primarily in musicals, primarily as ensemble members as “my singing is considered barely passable.” Despite that handicap, she had had several memorable roles including Mae Peterson in Bye Bye Birdie, Parthy Hawks in Show Boat, Maude Dunlop in Music Man and the third Wickersham in Suessical, The Musical (because she was the only adult willing to play a monkey.) Linda a happy to take her first role in a straight play, and in a Shakespeare one at that!!
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Carl Zeitler (Benedick) is amazed to be part of this production with a terrific cast and excellent crew. He only wishes that Benedick had an ounce of sarcasm within him. Carl returns to Shakespeare on Clark after previously appearing in The Taming of the Shrew (Petruchio) and The Comedy of Errors (Antipholous of Ephesus, Antipholous of Syracuse). Other roles at numerous local theatres include Of Mice and Men (Lennie), Barefoot in the Park (Paul), Macbeth (Macbeth), Boy Gets Girl(Tony), Sabrina Fair (Linus), The Haunted Widow Lincoln (John Wilkes Booth), Rumors (Lenny), The House of Yes (Anthony),Closer (Dan), and Dracula (Dracula). Carl is also a playwright with two of his plays produced this season: Tumbleweed Turmoil at the Tombstone Tavern and The Bootleg Bump Off at Ruby's Rum Runner Room, both which were performed at The Range restaurant in Batavia, as a fund raiser for Shakespeare on Clark. He thanks Julane for all she does for these productions and for the opportunity to jump back on the trolley to the other side of the pond, albeit the slang is a bit different this time. Enjoy the ride!
Elissa Wolf(Hero) is honored to be making her Shakespeare on Clark debut, in the comedy Much Ado About Nothing, as Hero and is excited to be working with such an amazing cast and crew. Previous theatrical credits include; First Baptist of Ivy Gap (Sammy), These Shining Lives (Catherine Donohue/Director), The Mousetrap (Mollie Ralston), Our Town (Mrs. Webb), A Christmas Carol (Beggar) and The Money Monologues (Ensemble/Interviewer/Script Coordinator). She is currently entering her junior year at the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse, where she is studying Theatre Performance and Costume Design.
Matt Heine (Don Pedro) is proud to return to Shakespeare on Clark for his fifth consecutive year. Locals and fans may remember him from previous performances in The Comedy of Errors (Balthazar) The Taming of the Shrew (The Pedant), The Merry Wives of Windsor (Sir Hugh Evans), and Twelfth Night (Valentine). An aspiring English/Theater major, Matt's true talents are in writing, yet he has been involved in Theater for over six years and has performed or worked at a variety of Chicagoland venues. He is also a strong supporter of the bard, and has worked with several productions outside of Clark, including Romeo and Juliet, A Midsummer Night's Dream, and Macbeth. Other notable roles include Azmur the Devil in Golem: The Monster of Prague, The Undertaker in Sagebrush: The Musical, and Long John Silver in Treasure Island. Matt would like to thank his family and friends for their support, as well as all the members of Shakespeare on Clark for another fantastic year.
Craig Gustafson (Dogberry) is happy to be making his Shakespeare on Clark debut. Previous Shakespeare experience – directed Taming of the Shrew and Bardlesque. Acting: Twelfth Night (Sir Toby Belch), Taming of the Shrew (Vincentio/Others), Romeo & Juliet (Abram). Favorite roles include The House of Blue Leaves (Artie), The Foreigner (Charlie), Chicago (Amos Hart), The Cripple of Inishmaan (Johnnypateenmike), And Then There Were None (General MacKenzie), Rumors (Lenny Ganz) and A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum (Pseudolus). Next up: he will be directing A Long Way Down for GreenMan Theatre Troupe in Elmhurst. Craig is matrimonially ensconced with the daringly freckled & scandalously redheaded Margie.
Thomas Rieser (Friar Francis) has been active and acting in community theatre for over 30 years with practically every theatre group in the area in plays too numerous to mention. He was last seen on the Shakespeare on Clark stage in The Comedy of Errors. He is happy to be back again with Shakespeare on Clark and excited to work in a new space. The Friar blesses Julane for accommodating Tom’s schedule. Amen
Sarah McCanna (Margaret) is so pleased to be returning to Shakespeare on Clark where she was last seen as Luciana in The Comedy of Errors. She is currently entering her sophomore year at Loyola University Chicago where she is studying Theatre, History, and Shakespearean Studies. Her recent endeavors include Assistant Stage Managing Ghost Gardens by Emmy Award Winning playwright Steven Simoncic. She would like to thank her parents and her friends for all of their support, and for allowing her to do what she loves.
Katherine Hart (Ursula) is thrilled to be part of Much Ado About Nothing! Katherine was last seen in Shakespeare on Clark’s The Comedy of Errors (First Merchant/Servant). Onstage credits include WMC Productions, Inc.’s Much Ado About Nothing (Ursula u/s) and Summer Place Theatre’s Cyrano de Bergerac (Sister Martha). Backstage Credits include Fox Valley Repertory’s Brighton Beach Memoirs (Properties Master/Assistant Stage Manager) and Legally Blonde: The Musical Jr. (Properties Master/Assistant Stage Manager, Shakespeare on Clark’s The Comedy of Errors (Stage Manager), Summer Place Theatre’s Don’t Dress For Dinner (Props Head) and The Secret Garden (Assistant Stage Manager), and Webb Theatre’s The Shape of Things (Stage Manager). Katherine has worked at the Edinburgh International Fringe Festival in Edinburgh, Scotland. She has also worked in film within the Art Department on independent movies and a 3D promo Legends of Prohibition: Boozehound. Graduate of St. Norbert College (double B.A.) and Tribeca Academy (A.A.S.). Much love and thanks to her family and friends for all their love and support. Many thanks to Julane for this phenomenal opportunity!
Mark Dettman (Verges) is excited to perform his Shakespeare debut with this over-the-top, fun-loving cast and director. It is a summer of firsts for Mark as he is also performing in his first Musical in June in The Music Man (as Mayor Shinn). Mark discovered acting shortly before his retirement in late 2013 and has also acted in three plays at the Albright in both starring and supporting roles. “I never dreamed acting would be so much fun and so rewarding, and I have met the nicest people!”
Michael Cook (Balthasar) has
a long career in acting, performing in mystery dinner theater shows with Oswego
Playhouse, his annual performances in Shakespeare on Clark in Batavia, and some
way off-Broadway productions, such as Guys
as Dolls, Fiddler on the Roof and
How to Succeed in Business without Really
Trying. Michael studied Media Arts
and Animation at the Illinois Institute of Art-Schaumburg. He is the founder and creator of Hodge Podge
Tonight. He thanks his family, loved ones, and of course God for continued
strength, courage, and knowledge to perfect the gifts he was blessed with.
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