An Original Film Production
CHAGRIN ARTS IS GRATEFUL FOR THE SUPPORT OF SO MANY!
Twelfth Night Sponsors
Season Sponsors
A Very Special Thank you to…
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The City of Solon
Mayor Edward Kraus
Rich Parker, Director of Recreation
Tracy Sullivan, Director of Community & Cultural Enrichment
Billy Conklin, Production Coordinator
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Dusten Welch, Jill & Neil Markey, Gary Gottfried, Chris White – for the beginnings.
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Cleveland Metropolitan Bar Association
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Rob Peck, Rebel Panda Productions
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And all those who helped make this production possible!
"I can no other answer make, but, thanks, and thanks."
- William Shakespeare
SHOWS TO BENEFIT THE OHIO INNOCENCE PROJECT
This event is free but any free will donations to support the outstanding work of the Ohio Innocence Project (a partner of music and art with Chagrin Arts) is appreciated!
"Welcome to the Ohio Innocence Project at Cincinnati Law, where our goal is simple: we want to free every innocent person in Ohio who has been convicted of a crime they didn't commit." - Mark Godsey, Co-Founder & Director, Ohio Innocence Project
Since its foundation in 2003, the work has led to the release of: 30 wrongfully convicted Ohioans, who collectively served over 600 years behind bars. ​
Support OIP in their development and advocacy for lasting criminal justice reform.
INTERVIEW
"Behind the Scenes" interview with:
Lue Morgan Douthit,
CEO / Creative Director
Play on Shakespeare
Alison Carey
Oregon Shakespeare Festival
Playwright, Play on Shakespeare
Twelfth Night Adaptation
Kenneth Douthit
Publisher, Chagrin Valley Times
Moderator
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DIRECTORS' NOTE
Imagine a guitar, untouched.
As you look up the neck of the instrument you see the strings.
The strings that can make sweet beautiful music. The strings that when played remind you of your first concert, your wedding dance, a loved one's funeral.
But these strings remain pristine, unchanged, untouched.
These strings, these six parallel lines, will continue out into space forever in its stasis; never connecting, never interacting, never harmonizing.
This is where we find our characters at the start of our show, before the storm, before the loss, before the music.
And then…
Dling
A clean harmonic of the strings echoes across the ocean and the opening of our play!
Decisively converging.
Lines that have never touched turn into waves.
Waves that bring life to a still ocean; that turn saddened hearts to love; that cause thunderstorms and
mischief. Waves that reach the ears of a young man in love and who passionately exalts,
“If music be the food of love, play on!”
And so it does!
The music carries forward, out and out into the lives and the ears of the players on our virtual stage who, though interacting, will never touch.
But still it carries forward, into our hearts and minds allowing us to relive and remember everything; the sadness, of course there must be sadness, but it allows us to remember the immense love, the rebellious laughter, the exhilarating joy,
The smiles of two faces meeting despite impossible odds, connecting after being apart for so long.
It reminds us of friends and family.
It reminds us of the coming storm and prepares us to face it.
It prepares us to overcome it; to triumph.
Imagine a guitar, singing.
Can you hear it now too?
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TWELFTH NIGHT
A Romantic Comedy
Translated from William Shakespeare by Alison Carey
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ACT I
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20 Minute Intermission:
Get to know THE OHIO INNOCENCE PROJECT
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ACT II
SYNOPSIS
Twins, Viola and Sebastian, are shipwrecked by a storm each thinking the other to have drowned beneath the waves. Now in Illyria, Viola takes on the visage of a young man calling herself Cesario to protect herself and gain employment from the local Duke, Orsino. Viola’s life becomes filled with the yearnings of the Duke towards one, Lady Olivia, and the lady’s numerous rejections. Viola falls for Orsino, he pines after Olivia, and Olivia falls for Viola’s disguise, Cesario. Things grow even more complicated for this lovestruck trio when Sebastian, Viola’s twin, finds himself in Illyria. These escapades are punctuated by the pranks and revelry of Lady Olivia’s Aunt, Dame Toby Belch. Toby, along with Sir Andrew Aguecheek (her new drinking buddy), Maria (Olivia’s maid), and Feste (the musical fool), set out to seek revenge on the prudish butler, Malvolio. These lives crash together with laughter, songs, swords, and sighs. This modern translation of Twelfth Night captures all of this and brings the story to you ready to be enjoyed anew for those familiar with the Bard’s original text and for the first time viewer alike.
CAST
Eugene Sumlin
Malvolio, Valentine
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Luke Brett
Orsino, Andrew Aguecheek, Officer 2
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Carrie Williams
Maria, Capitain, Antonio
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Chennelle Bryant-Harris
Oliva, Officer 1
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Danyel Geddie
Viola
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Lisa Langford
Toby Beltch, Priest
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Trevor Buda
Feste, Servant 1
Andrew Pope
Sebastian, Curio
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LUKE BRETT
Orsino, Andrew Aguecheek, Officer 2
Luke Brett holds a Bachelor of the Arts in theatre from Baldwin Wallace University and trained for a summer at the Stella Adler Studio of Acting. For four years, he worked as an Actor-Teacher at Great Lakes Theater, taught for a year at the Cleveland Playhouse Academy and continues to teach drama at St. Martin de Porres high school. During his time in the city, he's performed for Dobama Theatre, The Cleveland Shakespeare Festival, Talespinner Children's Theatre, The Ohio Shakespeare Festival and Cleveland Public Theatre. He is over the moon to be collaborating with Cleveland artists again on this project.
CHENNELLE BRYANT-HARRIS
Olivia, Officer 1
Chennelle Bryant-Harris is an actor, director and teaching artist happy to be based in Cleveland. She began her NEOhio journey as member of the inaugural apprentice class of 2012-2013 at Cleveland Play House as an Education Apprentice. Since then, she has served as an Actor-Teacher for Great Lakes Theater School Residency Program as well as an Assistant Director and dramaturg for Great Lakes Theater Outreach Tours: The Secret Advisory and The Jabberwocky. Chennelle has also worked an actor, director and, teaching artist for Talespinner Children’s Theater. Chennelle is most proud the work she accomplished with her inter-generational casts of students, teachers and professional actors when she served as director and planning team member for the Cleveland Branch of the English Speaking Union’s All City Shakespeare productions of A Midsummer Night’s Dream and Romeo and Juliet. Roles Chennelle has performed in various roles in theaters throughout Northeast Ohio include: Laertes/Guildenstern in Hamlet at Rubber City Theater, various roles in 44 Plays for 44 Presidents at Cleveland Public Theater, Olivia in Twelfth Night: As Told By Malvolio, at Great Lakes Theater, Oberon in A Midsummer Night’s Dream at French Creek Theater
TREVOR BUDA
Feste, Servant 1
Trevor Buda is an actor and musician that spends time bouncing between Ohio and Pennsylvania. He is
happy for the opportunity to work with Chagrin Arts for the first time. Trevor has worked with the Ohio
Shakespeare Festival in many productions like Romeo & Juliet, All’s Well That Ends Well, Dracula, and
others. He has also worked with Great Lakes Theater in productions of A Christmas Carol and Hamlet, as
well as their school-residency program. Trevor is a graduate of Baldwin Wallace University. John 13:34
DANYEL RENEE GEDDIE
Viola
Danyel Renee Geddie is a recent graduate of Baldwin Wallace University's Bachelor of Fine Arts program and is humbled to be spending her summer with Chagrin Arts again. She appeared as Rosalind in last year's Shakespeare In The Park As You Like It, as well as the Beck Center's King Lear. She thanks Delaney and Tyler for creating space for creativity, humor, questions and growth, additionally giving thanks to cast and crew for their brilliant efforts to make Shakespeare accessible in the midst of our ever-changing world . She sends love to her Dad, Mom, Cameron, Terrence, Grannie and Olivia. danyelreneegeddie.com
Toby Beltch, Priest
LISA LANGFORD
Lisa Langford is an actress and playwright. In addition to television and film, Lisa has acted Off-Broadway (Playwrights Horizons, American Place Theatre), regionally (LaJolla Playhouse, Old Globe, Actors Theatre of Louisville) and locally (Cleveland Playhouse, Dobama, and Beck Center). She is a recipient of an Ohio Arts Council Award for Individual Excellence, a Joyce Award Fellow (2019), and an honorable mention on the Kilroys List, a list of underproduced women playwrights. Lisa has also been a copywriter, a journalist, and a member of the creative team that launched the late Dr. Maya Angelou’s greeting card line. She is a member of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc.
Sebastian, Curio
ANDREW POPE
Andrew Pope is a graduate from the B.F.A. Acting and Directing program from Baldwin Wallace University and currently teaches Drama at Dike School of the Arts. He has toured with Great Lakes Theatre for Macbeth and he has also portrayed Tom Robinson in TKAM, Doc Gibbs in Our Town, George Armstrong in Intimate Apparel, Claudio in Much Ado About Nothing, Tom in 2 by Tennessee, and P-Sam in Paradise Blue.
Malvolio, Valentine
EUGENE SUMLIN
Eugene Sumlin- Eugene is excited to be performing with Chagrin Arts. Credits include: Conjurer/Servant in The Adventures of a Black Girl in Search of God (Borderlight Fringe
Festival/Karamu House), Coalhouse Walker Jr. in Ragtime (Cain Park), Walter Lee in A Raisin in the Sun (Ensemble Theatre), Sir Peter in Ella Enchanted (Dobama Theatre), Joshua
Moore in Alabama Story (Ensemble Theatre), Jesse/ensemble in Minton’s Place (Cleveland Play House), Adam/Noah in Children of Eden (French Creek Theatre), Jim Conley in Parade (French Creek) Ken in Ain’t Misbehavin (Porthouse Theatre), King Triton in The Little Mermaid (Mercury Theatre Company), Flick in Violet (Lakeland Civic Theatre), Ken in
Smokey Joe’s Cafe (Cain Park), Donkey in Shrek The Musical (Fine Arts Association and Beachwood Community Theatre). He would like to thank God, from whom all blessings flow, and to Nicole, Easton and August, for their endless love and support.
Maria, Capitain, Antonio
CARRIE WILLIAMS
Carrie Williams is an actor, director, visual artist, and occasional playwright. Last year she performed with Cleveland Public Theatre, convergence-continuum, Playwrights’ Local, Nightbloom Theatre, Talespinner Children's Theatre, and the Borderlight International Fringe Festival. She has been a teaching artist for over a decade with organizations all over Northeast Ohio, and currently serves as the Education Director for Dobama Theatre.
ARTISTIC TEAM
TYLER COLLINS
Co-Director
Tyler Collins is a Cleveland based director, actor, and educator in the performing arts. He has performed locally at Great Lakes Theater, Beck Center for the Arts, and Chagrin Arts Shakespeare in the Valley. He has worked most recently as an Actor Teacher for GLT’s School Residency programs. Moving from acting to directing in the Chagrin Arts Shakespeare in the Valley series was a gift he is ever thankful for and he is equally thankful for his co-director Delaney Hagy and her infinite wisdom and patience. Tyler would like to send love to Austin, Samantha, Mom, Dad, and all of the friends that are miles away.
DELANEY KATHRYN DAVIS HAGY
Co-Director
Delaney Kathryn Davis Hagy , otherwise known as Laney Davis, is a local Cleveland artist, and educator from Baltimore, Maryland. She is a graduate of Baldwin Wallace University with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Acting. You may recognize Delaney from last year's production of As You Like It for Chagrin Arts Shakespeare in the Valley which she Directed alongside her trusty partner, Tyler Collins. Some of her favorite acting roles include Pericles (Pericles), Jean Louise Finch (To Kill a Mockingbird), Eleanor (Big Love), and Anne (IF/THEN). When Delaney is not keeping busy with theater you can find her playing Dungeons and Dragons or listening to her favorite podcast MbMbaM. Her adventures in theater have taken her from the East Coast where she was Producer/ Production Manager for Open Space Arts New Works Summer Festival in Baltimore to the West where she Tour Managed the show Best Foot Forward for Creede Repertory Theatre in Creede, Colorado. Her time spent on tour allowed her to follow her passion by bringing theater to over 20,000 children in underserved communities. She hopes to continue doing community based work that elevates marginalized voices. Most recently she was inspired by Karuma House's Juneteenth Production which she encourages you to check out in your free time. She believes in the Black Lives Matter Movement and urges you to please consider donating your time and energy to local action and seek out underrepresented voices in the arts. Delaney is ever grateful for her cast for their trust and talent. They have been leaders and innovators in the new normal of Zoom theater.
ALISON CAREY
Playwright
Twelfth Night Adaptation
Alison Carey is director of American Revolutions: the United States History Cycle, the Oregon Shakespeare Festival’s multi-decade program of commissioning and developing 37 new plays about moments of change in United States history. Carey is co-founder of and former resident playwright of Cornerstone Theater Company, which creates work with and for communities, sometimes through adaptations of Shakespeare and other older works. Her work has been produced at venues nationwide, including the Oregon Shakespeare Festival, Arena Stage, the Public Theater, the Mark Taper Forum, the shuttered mother plant of Bethlehem Steel, and a dirt-floor cattle sale barn.
LUE MORGAN DOUTHIT
CEO and Creative Director
Play on Shakespeare
Lue Morgan Douthit is currently the CEO and Creative Director of Play on Shakespeare. Prior to that, she spent 25 seasons at the Oregon Shakespeare Festival where she was director of new play development and dramaturgy. She also was the Production Dramaturg for more than 50 productions, including 15 world premieres and more than a dozen Shakespeare productions. She is the co-adapter of the six-actor Macbeth and seven-actor Measure for Measure, which were both produced at OSF and elsewhere. She was the co-producer and founder of the Black Swan Lab (2009) at OSF and subsequently produced the Lab until 2016. Lue is the recipient of the 1999 Literary Manager & Dramaturgs of the Americas (LMDA) Prize in Dramaturgy and The Elliott Hayes Award. She received her PhD at the University of Washington, her MFA from Trinity University, and her MA from University of Arizona.
GAVYN MARTIN
Video Producer
Gavyn Martin is a Senior at John Carroll University, studying Communication with a concentration in digital media. Originally from Northern New Jersey, he’s played a role in video productions for commercial, promotional and instructional use. He used his 5+ years of experience to allow us to produce this play in a safe and creative way.
Chagrin Arts Staff
Karen Prasser, Executive Director
Gabrielle Sergi, Integrated Marketing & Design Coordinator
Emily Olesinski, Special Projects & Video Specialist
Mary Kay Gebler, Bookkeeper