NorthEast Shakespeare Ensemble Presents COMEDY OF ERRORS & GODOT 6/18-7/4

For its sixth season, the NorthEast Shakespeare Ensemble will present Shakespeare's Comedy of Errors in repertory with Samuel Beckett's Waiting for Godot, at the Lebanon Opera House from June 18 through July 4. These two classic plays will showcase the versatile talents of NESE's Acting Company: Comedy is a fast-paced popular delight, full of puns, wordplay and slapstick humor, and one of the funniest plays the Bard ever wrote; in contrast, Godot is a tragicomedy, where "nothing" happens, but audiences still stay glued to their seats.

"Comedy of Errors", says Director John Goodlin, "will make you laugh as we fit the pieces of the plot together with the final piece of the puzzle falling into place at the very end. Here we have the lively story of two sets of twins whose wildly humorous mishaps, based on mistaken identities, convince the participants that either they, or everyone around them, have gone mad. In terms of the trip along the way, one of our cast members has characterized Comedy as a 'roller coaster of a play'. As Director, I fully concur. And just to add some madcap mischief, we've given this particular trip a 'Westward Ho!' flavor."

Last week, NESE's Comedy of Errors Company assembled for the first time. Once again Goodlin held multiple auditions - Equity and non Equity, local, regional and in New York City - to find the strongest acting talent possible. The result is a top-quality Acting Company that includes veteran actors, bright young professionals, and the best acting talent in the region.
NESE continues to build a classical theatre company with actors returning year after year. Audience favorites from last season's Much Ado About Nothing featured in Comedy of Errors include Milan Dragicevich* (Benedict) as Antipholus of Syracuse and James Sears* (Dogberry) as Dromio of Syracuse, Bernard Bygott* (Borachio) as Antipholus of Ephesus and Andrew Clateman (last seen as The Fool in King Lear) as Dromio of Ephesus. NESE audiences will also be delighted with the return of Camille Troy* (Margaret) as Adriana, and Dee Nelson* (Beatrice) as Luciana.
Milan Dragicevich* (Antipholus of Syracuse) has performed with numerous nationally recognized regional theater companies, including the Hartford Stage, the Oregon Shakespearean Festival at Ashland, Pasadena Playhouse, as well as a ten-year stint with the Will Geer Theatricum Botanicum in Los Angeles. His original play, Milosevic at the Hague, enjoyed a successful sold-out run in Northampton, MA earlier this year. Milan is a member of the performing arts faculty at the Umass-Amherst.

James Sears* (Dromio of Syracuse) has appeared in The Tempest, Macbeth and Taming of the Shrew at the Palace Theater in Manchester, NH, and as Puck in Dream and Edmund in Lear for NESE. He has performed at the Seacoast Repertory Theater in Portsmouth, NH, as well as toured nationally with Frank McCourt's A Couple of Blaguards, and other plays, and performed in stock theatre productions with the Shadowland and Cortland Repertory Theaters in New York State.

Bernard Bygott* (Antipholus of Ephesus) played Boxer in the world premiere adaptation of George Orwell's Animal Farm (Mum Puppettheatre). Shakespearean roles: Dromio of Ephesus in Comedy (The American Shakespeare Center/Resident Troupe), Petruchio in The Taming of the Shrew (The PA Shakespeare Festival/Tour), and Demetrius (Dream) and Cornwall (Lear)for NESE. Other companies: International Opera Theatre, Glimmerglass Opera, The Broadway Theatre of Pitman, Wooden "O" Productions.

Andrew Clateman (Dromio of Ephesus) has appeared in NYC with Theater Ten Ten, Metropolitan Playhouse, The Pearl Theatre, New Perspectives, New York Dinner Theatre and in the New York International Fringe Festival. Andrew has also toured with National Theatre for Arts and Education. He is entering the final year of the MFA Acting Program at the University of Central Florida, where he will be in residence with the Orlando Shakespeare Theater and writing his thesis on Shakespeare's clowns.

Camille Troy* (Adriana) has numerous regional credits: Emilia/Dorcas in The Winter's Tale, Lady Mortimer in Henry IV, Pt. 1, Witch in Macbeth (The Shakespeare Theatre of NJ); Bianca in Taming of the Shrew, Della in The Royal Family (The Rep. Theatre of St. Louis); Marina in Measure for Measure (The Philadelphia Shakespeare Festival); Belle in A Christmas Carol (The GeVa); Imogen in Cymbeline, Julia in Dark Rapture, Epiphania in The Millionairess, Maria in Love's Labour's Lost (The Alabama Shakespeare Festival).

Dee Nelson* (Luciana) played Regan in King Lear with NESE. Other recent roles include Flo in Picnic and Elsie in Strangers on a Train (Stoneham Theatre); Amanda in Private Lives, Laura Cheveley in An Ideal Husband, Mrs. Gibbs in Our Town (Peterborough Players); Blanche in A Streetcar Named Desire (Foothills Theatre). Dee's TV guest roles include: Grey's Anatomy, Judging Amy, Joan of Arcadia, Summerland, and The Sopranos. Her film work includes State and Main and Moonlight Mile.

Other familiar faces from last season's Much Ado include Jeff Berry* (Don Pedro) as Solinus, Mark Irish* (Don John) as Balthazar, Donald Warfield* (Leonato) as Angleo, Michael Dell'Orto* (Verges) as Pinch, David Shaw (Antonio) as Egeon, Haley Roth (Ursula) as the Courtezan, Kurt Feuer (Seacoal) as First Merchant, Laurence Waltman (Conrade) as Second Merchant and Dan McNamara (Watchman) as Jailer/Officer.

Rounding out this year's cast are newcomers Jocelyn Parrish, Sasha Caroline Kraichnan and Sam Tolley.

Backstage, The Acting Company will be in the experienced hands of returning Production Stage Manager Maureen Lane* and returning Company Manager Trace Oakley. Additional company members include Assistant Stage Manager Lisa Wondolowski* and Deirdre Higgins (Production Assistant/Properties Master).

Evening performances of Comedy begin at 8 PM on June 18, 19, 20, 25, and 27 and July 3, with matinees on June 21 and July 1 starting at 2 PM. Evening performances of Waiting for Godot** also begin at 8 PM on June 24, 26, and 30 and July 2, with matinees on June 28 and July 4 starting at 2 PM. Tickets are priced from $16 to $30, with group rates available. For ticket inquiries, contact the Lebanon Opera House Box Office at 603-448-0400 or visit: www.lebanonoperahouse.org For more information about NESE, visit www.NESEtheatre.org or email: info@NESEtheatre.org

 

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