About the Characters
Duke of Venice - the Duke of Venice, duh
Antonio - the Merchant of Venice
Bassanio - Antonio's friend and a playboy
Gratiano - Bassiano's friend
Shylock - a Jewish moneylender
Solanio - Antonio's friend
Salarino - Antonio's other friend
Launcelot of Gobbo - first a servant to Shylock, then a servant to Lorenzo, kinda whiny if you ask us
Old Gobbo - Launcelot's father
Lorenzo - yet another friend of Antonio's (he's also friends with Bassanio and very friendly with Jessica)
Balthasar - a servant to Portia
Tubal - Shylock's friend
Prince of Arragon - a prince that likes gold
Prince of Morocco - a prince that likes silver
Portia - a wealthy and beautiful single lady from Belmont
Nerissa - Portia's friend
Jessica - Lorenzo's really good friend, and Shylock's daughter
Duke of Venice - the Duke of Venice, duh
Antonio - the Merchant of Venice
Bassanio - Antonio's friend and a playboy
Gratiano - Bassiano's friend
Shylock - a Jewish moneylender
Solanio - Antonio's friend
Salarino - Antonio's other friend
Launcelot of Gobbo - first a servant to Shylock, then a servant to Lorenzo, kinda whiny if you ask us
Old Gobbo - Launcelot's father
Lorenzo - yet another friend of Antonio's (he's also friends with Bassanio and very friendly with Jessica)
Balthasar - a servant to Portia
Tubal - Shylock's friend
Prince of Arragon - a prince that likes gold
Prince of Morocco - a prince that likes silver
Portia - a wealthy and beautiful single lady from Belmont
Nerissa - Portia's friend
Jessica - Lorenzo's really good friend, and Shylock's daughter
|
Patrick McGregor (director) - director, actor, writer, and educator based out of Westerville, Ohio. He is currently completing his MFA in Directing at Southern Illinois University where he recently directed Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde by Jeffrey Hatcher to great acclaim. This spring he will also be directing the world premiere of Response Scenario by Rory Leahy. He received his undergraduate degree in acting and directing from Bethany College where he received numerous awards and held several leadership positions . Patrick serves as the Youth Theatre Director for the prestigious Weathervane Playhouse where his recent credits include Flat Stanley Jr. and Hairspray Jr. as well as several workshops on acting, directing, and Shakespeare. Both Patrick’s acting and directing have been recognized by The Kennedy Center. He also serves as Managing Artistic Director of Shots in the Dark Independent Theatre Company, a group he founded in 2007. Patrick is a proud member of the Stage Directors and Choreographers Union.
|
|
Cast Bios
Laila Abdo (Jessica) a first-generation Lebanese-American, grew up in Harrisburg, Illinois. In May, Abdo received a Bachelor of Science in Biology and a Bachelor of Arts in Music from Southern Illinois University-Carbondale. Abdo played the principle role of Callie in the collaborative endeavor The Faustian Flag (2012), led by director Patrick Sutton at the Gaiety School of Acting in Ireland. She appeared in Stone Soup Shakespeare's touring production of As You Like It (Jaques/Silvius/Charles) as well as the 2014 reading of Titus Andronicus (Aaron the Moor). At SIUC, she has been in Die Fledermaus (2014) and Ragtime (2013). During Southern Illinois Music Festival, Abdo sang in the chorus of Carmen (2013). She is an accomplished musician who plays piano, trombone, and euphonium. Abdo is also multilingual, with fluency in Arabic and Spanish.
Sydney O'Melia Ambos (Salarino) is a local stage veteran who most recently played Mademoiselle Ciseaux in John A. Logan's production of Best Wishes. She resides in Herrin where she runs her studio Artistic Photography by Sydney.
Justin Bloom (Prince of Arragon) bio is coming
Todd Brown (Gratiano) is a middle-aged man who does Shakespeare so he doesn't have to buy an awesome red convertible. He is a baker, a shopkeeper, a drummer and a father.
Da'Veon Coria Burtin (Prince of Morocco) is a Sophomore Theater Performance Major at Southern Illinois University, and this is his first role with Stone Soup. He is very grateful to Julia Stemper for the opportunity to be in an amazing show. He would like to thank his theatre family and musical theatre family at Southern Illinois University for their gracious and loving support!
Nick Earll (Old Gobbo/Tubal) began acting when, as the Cowardly Lion in one room school' production of The Wizard of Oz, he knocked over the set and blamed it on someone else. He didn't do much for several years until he joined The Stage Company here in Carbondale and began appearing in a wide varietyofshows - comedies, dramas, big shows, little shows while touring for several years doing a one man show based on the American poet Carl Sandburg. Lately, he has been in a series of Reader's Theaters and Staged Readings like the one you are will be seeing and hearing shortly. He really enjoys Shakespeare. Enjoy the show and tell your neighbors.
Chad Ferriel (Launcelot of Gobbo) is a freshman in the BFA program at SIU. Since being apart of the theatrical family here he has performed as Lt. Frank Cioffi in SIU's fall musical Curtains. Some of Chad's favorite roles he has played are Edna Turnblad from Hairspray, Finch from H2$, and Adam from Children of Eden. Chad has also performed in two Big Muddy Shorts and intends to do more and always be on call for more opportunities to further strengthen his craft. The Merchant of Venice is Chad's first ever Shakespearen performance/reading. Even though Chad is a little nervous he is also pumped to finally be able to play a character from one of William Shakespear's many plays!
Susan Harrocks (Portia) was born in Naples, Italy. She also has an obsession with Shakespeare, having appeared in numerous shows, including Romeo and Juliet, Taming of the Shrew, Much Ado about Nothing, Twelfth Night, Macbeth, As You Like It, and Hamlet. Rumor has it, she'll perform a monologue if you offer to make her Gnocchi.
Craig Hinde (Antonio) is one of the founders of The Stage Company in Carbondale and is the immediate past President. He has played many roles for the Stage Company over its thirty-three years, both on and off stage. In April, 2014 he played the role of Lyman Wyeth in Other Desert Cities and played Henry Drummond in the Company’s 2012 production of Inherit the Wind. In addition Craig has been in two McLeod Summer Playhouse productions, Fiddler on the Roof and Picasso at the Lapine Agile.
Joey Johnson (Lorenzo) is a Southern Illinois native that enjoys acting and directing on many local stages. He has a "healthy" obsession with Shakespeare, pasta dishes, and kittens. He can be found frequenting a local pub, or singing in church choirs.
Chloee Leos (Nerissa) bio coming
Ryan Negron (Prince of Arragon) bio coming
Alexsia Patton (Solanio) is a Junior at Gallatin County School. Sheʼs very excited to be turning 18 in June. Yes, she knows her hair is red; she finds it perplexing that people find the need to point that out to her. She loves acting because, well, sheʼs an actor. She describes it as a part of her. She loves how if you open your eyes you can see that Shakespeare is Everywhere! She dreams of living in a tree house but hasnʼt quite figured out how to get running water to the treehouse. The tree house will also have to have electricity. Thatʼs a given. Her favorite word this week is vivacious and that word pretty much sums Alexsia too.
David Rush (Duke of Venice) is a playwright and performer. His play Lenny Dreaming is a solo play about Leonard Bernstein. It will be performed Friday March 20th, 7:30, at the Varsity. Kevin Purcell will play Lenny having a nightmare the night before he dies.
Quinton Sledge (Bassanio) is from Mt. Vernon, Illinois. He graduated from Millikin University with his BFA in acting and is making preparations for his move to Chicago in the spring. Quinton was a part of Stone Soup's 2014 As You Like It tour this past spring and this is his third staged reading with the company having previously been in Titus Andronicus and Measure for Measure.
Laila Abdo (Jessica) a first-generation Lebanese-American, grew up in Harrisburg, Illinois. In May, Abdo received a Bachelor of Science in Biology and a Bachelor of Arts in Music from Southern Illinois University-Carbondale. Abdo played the principle role of Callie in the collaborative endeavor The Faustian Flag (2012), led by director Patrick Sutton at the Gaiety School of Acting in Ireland. She appeared in Stone Soup Shakespeare's touring production of As You Like It (Jaques/Silvius/Charles) as well as the 2014 reading of Titus Andronicus (Aaron the Moor). At SIUC, she has been in Die Fledermaus (2014) and Ragtime (2013). During Southern Illinois Music Festival, Abdo sang in the chorus of Carmen (2013). She is an accomplished musician who plays piano, trombone, and euphonium. Abdo is also multilingual, with fluency in Arabic and Spanish.
Sydney O'Melia Ambos (Salarino) is a local stage veteran who most recently played Mademoiselle Ciseaux in John A. Logan's production of Best Wishes. She resides in Herrin where she runs her studio Artistic Photography by Sydney.
Justin Bloom (Prince of Arragon) bio is coming
Todd Brown (Gratiano) is a middle-aged man who does Shakespeare so he doesn't have to buy an awesome red convertible. He is a baker, a shopkeeper, a drummer and a father.
Da'Veon Coria Burtin (Prince of Morocco) is a Sophomore Theater Performance Major at Southern Illinois University, and this is his first role with Stone Soup. He is very grateful to Julia Stemper for the opportunity to be in an amazing show. He would like to thank his theatre family and musical theatre family at Southern Illinois University for their gracious and loving support!
Nick Earll (Old Gobbo/Tubal) began acting when, as the Cowardly Lion in one room school' production of The Wizard of Oz, he knocked over the set and blamed it on someone else. He didn't do much for several years until he joined The Stage Company here in Carbondale and began appearing in a wide varietyofshows - comedies, dramas, big shows, little shows while touring for several years doing a one man show based on the American poet Carl Sandburg. Lately, he has been in a series of Reader's Theaters and Staged Readings like the one you are will be seeing and hearing shortly. He really enjoys Shakespeare. Enjoy the show and tell your neighbors.
Chad Ferriel (Launcelot of Gobbo) is a freshman in the BFA program at SIU. Since being apart of the theatrical family here he has performed as Lt. Frank Cioffi in SIU's fall musical Curtains. Some of Chad's favorite roles he has played are Edna Turnblad from Hairspray, Finch from H2$, and Adam from Children of Eden. Chad has also performed in two Big Muddy Shorts and intends to do more and always be on call for more opportunities to further strengthen his craft. The Merchant of Venice is Chad's first ever Shakespearen performance/reading. Even though Chad is a little nervous he is also pumped to finally be able to play a character from one of William Shakespear's many plays!
Susan Harrocks (Portia) was born in Naples, Italy. She also has an obsession with Shakespeare, having appeared in numerous shows, including Romeo and Juliet, Taming of the Shrew, Much Ado about Nothing, Twelfth Night, Macbeth, As You Like It, and Hamlet. Rumor has it, she'll perform a monologue if you offer to make her Gnocchi.
Craig Hinde (Antonio) is one of the founders of The Stage Company in Carbondale and is the immediate past President. He has played many roles for the Stage Company over its thirty-three years, both on and off stage. In April, 2014 he played the role of Lyman Wyeth in Other Desert Cities and played Henry Drummond in the Company’s 2012 production of Inherit the Wind. In addition Craig has been in two McLeod Summer Playhouse productions, Fiddler on the Roof and Picasso at the Lapine Agile.
Joey Johnson (Lorenzo) is a Southern Illinois native that enjoys acting and directing on many local stages. He has a "healthy" obsession with Shakespeare, pasta dishes, and kittens. He can be found frequenting a local pub, or singing in church choirs.
Chloee Leos (Nerissa) bio coming
Ryan Negron (Prince of Arragon) bio coming
Alexsia Patton (Solanio) is a Junior at Gallatin County School. Sheʼs very excited to be turning 18 in June. Yes, she knows her hair is red; she finds it perplexing that people find the need to point that out to her. She loves acting because, well, sheʼs an actor. She describes it as a part of her. She loves how if you open your eyes you can see that Shakespeare is Everywhere! She dreams of living in a tree house but hasnʼt quite figured out how to get running water to the treehouse. The tree house will also have to have electricity. Thatʼs a given. Her favorite word this week is vivacious and that word pretty much sums Alexsia too.
David Rush (Duke of Venice) is a playwright and performer. His play Lenny Dreaming is a solo play about Leonard Bernstein. It will be performed Friday March 20th, 7:30, at the Varsity. Kevin Purcell will play Lenny having a nightmare the night before he dies.
Quinton Sledge (Bassanio) is from Mt. Vernon, Illinois. He graduated from Millikin University with his BFA in acting and is making preparations for his move to Chicago in the spring. Quinton was a part of Stone Soup's 2014 As You Like It tour this past spring and this is his third staged reading with the company having previously been in Titus Andronicus and Measure for Measure.