Cast, Creatives Set for The Old Globe and University of San Diego's AS YOU LIKE IT This November

The Old Globe today announced the cast and creative team for The Old Globe/University of San Diego Graduate Theatre Program presentation of William Shakespeare's AS YOU LIKE IT, running November 14 - November 22 in the Sheryl and Harvey White Theatre, part of the Globe's Conrad Prebys Theatre Center. Opening night is Saturday, November 14 at 8:00 p.m. Directed by Old Globe Associate Producer Justin Waldman, tickets to AS YOU LIKE IT can be purchased online at www.TheOldGlobe.org, by phone at (619) 23-GLOBE, or by visiting the Box Office.

Flirtation, friendship, and mistaken identity collide in Shakespeare's beloved comedy, AS YOU LIKE IT, a lighthearted look at the fickle and passionate nature of love. When Rosalind is banished by her cruel uncle, she escapes to the magical Forest of Arden -- disguised as a boy with her cousin in tow -- and soon meets lovesick Orlando. Will wit and merriment overcome jealousy and deception? How will true love ever find its way, lost in the delightful madness of the forest?

"The Old Globe's M.F.A. program is one of the jewels in this theatre's crown, and I'm as proud of the work we do training the next generation of American actors as I am of anything else in this institution's life," said Old Globe Artistic Director Barry Edelstein. "The talent that thrives in our joint venture with USD is top-notch, and in the delightful Shakespearean confection of AS YOU LIKE IT that talent will be on dazzling display. An additional happiness is that the Globe's own very gifted Justin Waldman is making his directorial debut here. All told, this will be a memorable night at the theatre."

The cast features Amara James Aja (Oliver), Amy Blackman (Jaques), Ally Carey (Rosalind), Ajinkya Desai (Touchstone), Talley Beth Gale (Corin, Hymen), Kevin Hafso-Koppman (Amiens, Sir Oliver Martext), Lorenzo Landini (Duke Frederick, Jaques de Boys, William), Jake Millgard (Adam, Silvius), Makha Mthembu (Celia), Christina A. Okolo (Phoebe, Dennis), Suzelle Palacios (Audrey, Le Beau), Daniel Petzold (Orlando), and Nathan Whitmer (Charles, Duke Senior).

The creative team includes David Israel Reynoso (Scenic and Costume Design), Amanda Zieve (Lighting Design), Emily Jankowski (Sound Design), Charlotte Bydwell (Choreography), Christopher Balcom (Original Music), and Zachary James Schell (Production Stage Manager).

A joint venture of The Old Globe and the University of San Diego, the Master of Fine Arts in Dramatic Arts program nationally recruits seven students each year to participate in an intensive two-year, year-round course of graduate study in classical theatre. Private funding for the Master of Fine Arts in Theatre program has been contributed through a generous endowment established by Donald and Darlene Shiley. Additional support for the program is provided by The Dorothy Brown Endowment Fund and the Louis Yager Cantwell Foundation. Production Sponsorship of AS YOU LIKE IT is provided by Mandell Weiss Charitable Trust. For additional information, visit www.globemfa.org.

Justin Waldman (Director) serves as Associate Producer of The Old Globe and previously served as Artistic Associate of both Williamstown Theatre Festival and Huntington Theatre Company. His New York directing credits include The Atheist with Campbell Scott (Circle in the Square Theatre/Culture Project), Sonia Flew (Summer Play Festival), Jester's Dead (Studio Tisch/The PIT), The 52nd Street Project's Playmaking program, and News Junkie (Lincoln Center Theater's Directors Lab). He has directed regional productions of Samuel J. and K. with Justin Long, What is the Cause of Thunder? with Wendie Malick, and The Atheist (Williamstown), Brendan and The Atheist (Huntington), Over It (Next Stages), This Is Our Youth (Theatre Workshop of Nantucket), and 12 Angry Men (Stanley B Theatre). His assistant directing credits include Saturn Returns (Lincoln Center Theater, directed by Nicholas Martin), Houdini with Hugh Jackman (musical workshop, Scott Sanders Productions, directed by Jack O'Brien), Me and Miss Monroe (musical workshop, Chase Mishkin Productions, directed by John Rando), Present Laughter, The Cherry Orchard, The Rose Tattoo, Love's Labour's Lost, Persephone, and others (Huntington), and three seasons at Commonwealth Shakespeare Company. He has also directed readings by Theresa Rebeck, Noah Haidle, Jonathan Marc Sherman, Mat Smart, Sam Forman, Melinda Lopez, and Ronan Noone.

TICKETS to AS YOU LIKE IT can be purchased online at www.TheOldGlobe.org, by phone at (619) 23-GLOBE, or by visiting the Box Office at 1363 Old Globe Way in Balboa Park. Performances at the Sheryl and Harvey White Theatre begin on Nov. 14 and continue through Nov. 22. Tickets are $19. Discounts are available for students, USD faculty and staff, seniors, active military, and groups of 15 or more.

The Old Globe is located in San Diego's Balboa Park at 1363 Old Globe Way. There are numerous free parking lots available throughout the park. Guests may also be dropped off in front of the Mingei International Museum. The Balboa Park valet is also available during performances ($12), located in front of the Japanese Friendship Garden. For additional parking information visit www.BalboaPark.org. For directions and up-to-date information, please visit www.TheOldGlobe.org/Directions. To look up online or GPS directions to The Old Globe, please do not use the Delivery Address above. There is only a 10-minute zone at that physical address. For GPS users, click here for the map coordinates, and here for written directions to The Old Globe and nearby parking in Balboa Park.

The Tony Award-winning Old Globe is one of the country's leading professional regional theatres and has stood as San Diego's flagship arts institution for 80 years. Under the leadership of Artistic Director Barry Edelstein and Managing Director Michael G. Murphy, The Old Globe produces a year-round season of 15 productions of classic, contemporary, and new works on its three Balboa Park stages: the Donald and Darlene Shiley Stage in the 600-seat Old Globe Theatre and the 250-seat Sheryl and Harvey White Theatre, both part of The Old Globe's Conrad Prebys Theatre Center, and the 605-seat outdooR Lowell Davies Festival Theatre, home of its internationally renowned Shakespeare Festival. More than 250,000 people attend Globe productions annually and participate in the theatre's education and community programs. Numerous world premieres such as the 2014 Tony Award winner for Best Musical, A Gentleman's Guide to Love and Murder, Allegiance, The Full Monty, Dirty Rotten Scoundrels, and the annual holiday musical Dr. Seuss' How the Grinch Stole Christmas! have been developed at The Old Globe and have gone on to enjoy highly successful runs on Broadway and at regional theatres across the country.

ABOUT THE CAST AND CREATIVE TEAM:

Amara James Aja (Oliver) is thrilled to make his Globe debut. A first-year M.F.A. student in The Old Globe/University of San Diego Graduate Theatre Program, Aja's previous credits include Much Ado About Nothing and The Tempest with Ithaca Shakespeare Company. He received his Bachelor's degree from Cornell University.

Amy Blackman (Jaques) most recently appeared at the Globe in The Comedy of Errors and Twelfth Night. She also performed in The Old Globe/USD M.F.A. productions of Clybourne Park, Trelawny of the "Wells", and Pericles, Prince of Tyre. In New York, she has worked on various readings and workshops, including The Brothers Karamazov (Classic Stage Company), The Bootlegger & The Rabbi's Daughter (New York Musical Theatre Festival), and Mrs. Hughes (New York Theatre Workshop). She has performed regionally as Madeline Astor in Titanic, Dora Bailey in Singin' in the Rain, Kiss Me, Kate, Beauty and the Beast, and The Sound of Music (The Muny). Additionally, she was a teacher for the All Stars Project, Inc.'s Youth Onstage! program this past year. She received her B.F.A. in Musical Theatre from the University of Michigan. Originally from England, she also studied at the National Youth Theatre of Great Britain.

Ally Carey (Rosalind) most recently appeared at the Globe in The Comedy of Errors and Twelfth Night (in which she performed the lead role of Viola twice), as well as with The Old Globe/USD M.F.A. Program in Clybourne Park, Trelawny of the "Wells", and Pericles, Prince of Tyre. She was featured in The Last Match for The Old Globe's New Voices Festival. Her Chicago credits include understudying roles in Belleville (Steppenwolf Theatre Company) and Camino Real (Goodman Theatre). Her regional credits include The Royal Family, Troilus and Cressida, and All's Well That Ends Well (American Players Theatre), Noises Off and The Winter's Tale (Utah Shakespeare Festival), Writer 1272 and A Christmas Carol (Guthrie Theater), Georgia Shakespeare, and Hudson Valley Shakespeare Festival. She appeared in the title role of Cinderella with The Little Orchestra Society (Lincoln Center). She received her B.F.A. from the University of Minnesota/Guthrie Theater Actor Training Program.

Ajinkya Desai (Touchstone) is an international first-year M.F.A. student in The Old Globe/University of San Diego Graduate Theatre Program. He received an M.S. in Engineering at UC San Diego where he appeared as Egeus and Snout in an undergraduate production of A Midsummer Night's Dream. This is his second production in the U.S. He also has many credits in India including community theatre and street play productions.

Talley Beth Gale (Corin, Hymen) is thrilled to make her M.F.A. debut. Her professional credits include This is Our Youth (Steppenwolf Theatre Company) and EL Stories: Love Train (Waltzing Mechanics). Her university credits include The 39 Steps, The Last Days of Judas Iscariot, and A Midsummer Night's Dream. Gale received her B.F.A. in Acting from Ball State University. talleybethgale.com.

Kevin Hafso-Koppman (Amiens, Sir Oliver Martext, Forest Lord 1) is thrilled to be joining The Old Globe/University of San Diego Graduate Theatre Program. His regional credits include Bright Star and the New Voices Festival reading of A Nice Indian Boy (The Old Globe), West Side Story, The Foreigner, and The Winslow Boy (Lambs Player's Theatre), Ether Dome, His Girl Friday, and Accomplice: San Diego (La Jolla Playhouse), Zoot Suit (San Diego Repertory Theatre), Henry IV Part I, King O' the Moon, The Drawer Boy, and Becky's New Car (North Coast Repertory Theatre), Birds of a Feather and Speech and Debate (Diversionary Theatre), The Sunshine Boys and Deathtrap (Scripps Ranch Theatre), Doubt and Into the Woods (San Diego State University), The History Boys (Cygnet Theatre Company), and The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee and A Midsummer Night's Dream (Intrepid Theatre Company). He received his B.A. in Theatre Arts from San Diego State University and trained at the British American Drama Academy at Oxford University.

Lorenzo Landini (Duke Frederick, Jaques de Boys, William) is thrilled to be making his debut appearance on an Old Globe stage. Most recently based in New York City, he wrote and performed his first solo show, When I Have Cancer in 30 Years, this past summer. His other recent New York credits include The Miser (Brave New World Repertory Theatre), The Cherry Orchard (TheaterLab), and A View from the Bridge (The Secret Theatre). He also played rhythm guitar, sang, and composed music in the rock cabaret GUNS: A Cabaret directed by Liz Swados. Landini has also trained at Powerhouse Theater Festival and the British American Drama Academy. He received his B.A. from Columbia University.

Jake Millgard (Adam, Silvius) was last seen in the Globe's productions of The Comedy of Errors and Arms and the Man. He also recently appeared in The Old Globe/University of San Diego Graduate Theatre Program productions of Clybourne Park, Trelawny of the "Wells", and Pericles, Prince of Tyre. His New York credits include Sex and Violence, On Campus, and Remembering Kimberly. His regional credits include Dracula and A Christmas Carol (Actors Theatre of Louisville), The Full Monty (Northern Stage), and Art, The Odd Couple, and Lips Together, Teeth Apart (Mount Baker Theatre's Summer Repertory Theatre), and he went on tour with From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler. He also appeared in the premiere of The Open Road Anthology (Humana Festival of New American Plays). Some of his television and film credits include "Grimm," Pudding Face, Placebo, and Frank and Barry.

Makha Mthembu (Celia) is delighted to be back in the Sheryl and Harvey White Theatre. Mthembu recently had the pleasure of performing for the first time in the Lowell Davies Festival Theatre in The Comedy of Errors and Twelfth Night. She has appeared in Old Globe/USD M.F.A. Program productions of Clybourne Park, Trelawny of the "Wells", and, as Marina, in Pericles, Prince of Tyre. Her Chicago credits include Judith in Sweetwater (Oracle Productions), Lady Montague in Romeo and Juliet (Teatro Vista), and Judith Smith in Belfast Girls (Artemisia, A Chicago Theatre). Her regional credits include Catherine in The Nightmare Room (Towle Theater). Mthembu received her B.F.A in Acting from Drake University in Des Moines, Iowa.

Christina A. Okolo (Phoebe, Dennis, Forest Lord 2, Frederick's Lord 2) is a candidate of The Old Globe/University of San Diego Graduate Theatre Program, and this is her debut performance at The Old Globe. She last appeared as Auburn in the original production of The Ballad of Sweet Auburn (Paul Robeson Theatre, Atlanta). She has also performed at the Cloverdale Playhouse in Montgomery, Alabama, where her credits include A Raisin in the Sun and Clybourne Park. Her other credits include Broke-ology, A Song for Corretta, and No Child.... Okolo is a native of Atlanta and received her Bachelor of Arts degree in Theatre Performing Arts from Alabama State University.

Suzelle Palacios (Audrey, Le Beau, Frederick's Lord 1) is an M.F.A. candidate with The Old Globe/University of San Diego Graduate Theatre Program. Her previous credits include Macbeth and Merchant of Venice (Houston Shakespeare Festival) and Our Country's Good, The Miser, Blood Wedding, and The Crucible (University of Houston). She received her B.F.A. from the University of Houston.

Daniel Petzold (Orlando) last appeared in the Globe's The Comedy of Errors and Twelfth Night, and he recently performed in the USD/Old Globe M.F.A. Program productions of Clybourne Park, Trelawny of the "Wells", and Pericles, Prince of Tyre. He has also performed in Tom Stoppard's trilogy The Coast of Utopia and Jon Tracy's The Salt Plays (Shotgun Players), Three Sisters (Berkeley Repertory Theatre), A Bright New Boise (Aurora Theatre Company), Any Given Day and Another Way Home (Magic Theatre), Oskar and the Big Bully Battle (TheatreWorks Silicon Valley), and Julius Caesar, Much Ado About Nothing, and Romeo and Juliet (Pacific Repertory Theatre), as well as performances with the San Francisco, Marin, and Livermore Shakespeare Festivals. He holds a B.A. in Theater and Performance Studies from UC Berkeley.

Nathan Whitmer (Charles, Duke Senior) was last seen in The Comedy of Errors, Twelfth Night, and Pericles, Prince of Tyre at The Old Globe. He was seen Off Broadway in A.A. Milne's The Ugly Duckling (Marvell Rep), and his other New York City theatre includes Bumbershoot! (New York International Fringe Festival), Macbeth (Titan Theatre Company), and Who Murdered Love (Theater for the New City). As a member of Barter Theatre's Player Company and Resident Acting Company he appeared in over 25 productions in roles great and small. His other regional credits include A Christmas Carol, Reckless, and Sherlock Holmes and the Case of the Jersey Lilly (Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park), The Royal Hunt of the Sun and 1776 (Texas Shakespeare Festival), and the role of John Proctor in The Crucible (Roxy Regional Theatre). Whitmer received his B.F.A. from Ohio University.

David Israel Reynoso (Scenic Design, Costume Design) recently designed the Globe's productions of Twelfth Night, Arms and the Man, Water by the Spoonful, Time and the Conways, Double Indemnity, and Be a Good Little Widow. Reynoso is the Obie Award-winning costume designer of the Off Broadway hit Sleep No More (Punchdrunk/Emursive), and he is also a Helen Hayes Award nominee for Healing Wars (Arena Stage). He is also recognized locally for his designs of Healing Wars, The Darrell Hammond Project, Kingdom City, and the DNA New Work Series presentation of Chasing the Song (La Jolla Playhouse). His other work includes Futurity, Cabaret, The Snow Queen, Alice vs. Wonderland, Trojan Barbie, Copenhagen, No Man's Land, Hamletmachine, Ajax in Iraq, and Abigail's Party (American Repertory Theater), The Comedy of Errors and Othello (Commonwealth Shakespeare Company), The Woman in Black (Gloucester Stage Company), and Dead Man's Cell Phone (The Lyric Stage Company). Reynoso is also the recipient of the Elliot Norton Award, a Craig Noel Award nomination, and multiple IRNE and BroadwayWorld Award nominations.

Amanda Zieve (Lighting Design) is pleased to be back at The Old Globe. Her recent San Diego credits include designer for Rich Girl (The Old Globe) and West Side Story (San Diego Musical Theatre) and associate designer for Bright Star and Allegiance - A New American Musical (The Old Globe) and The Hunchback of Notre Dame and Chasing the Song (La Jolla Playhouse). She recently returned from her 14th Broadway production as associate lighting designer for Allegiance. She received her B.A. in Theatre from California State University Northridge. Zieve is very thankful for her supportive family and friends.

Emily Jankowski (Sound Design) is a Sound Designer and composer based in Southern California. She previously designed the Globe/USD M.F.A. Program production of Trelawney of the "Wells". Her regional credits include The Bitter Game (La Jolla Playhouse's Without Walls Festival), Orange Julius, Lesson 443, A Discourse on the Wonders of the Invisible World, and Jade Heart (MOXIE Theatre), 3 Plays in a Tattoo Shop and All the Rooms of the House (The Trip), Titus Andronicus, The Storm, June Moon, Ex Machina, Hammelin, The Santa Barbarians, and Small Prophecies (UC San Diego), Ex Machina (New York International Fringe Festival), and The Rest of Your Life (Axial Theatre). Her interactive sound installations include It Should Be Breathing, an installation involving sound-generating pressure sensors, a collaboration with M.F.A. printmaker Gretchen Jankowski, a California State University, Long Beach alumna. Jankowski holds an M.F.A. in Sound Design for Theatre from UC San Diego and a B.A. in Interdisciplinary Computing and the Arts, Music from UC San Diego. She is also the technical director for KPBS "Morning Edition" and "Midday Edition."

Charlotte Bydwell (Choreography) was last seen on The Old Globe's outdoor stage in productions of The Comedy of Errors, Twelfth Night, The Two Gentlemen of Verona, and Othello. She is a graduate of The Juilliard School and began her career as a dancer with Monica Bill Barnes Company and Keigwin + Company, performing at Jacob's Pillow Dance, American Dance Festival, La Jolla Playhouse, and The Joyce Theater. As a member of the resident Acting Company at The Flea Theater she appeared in Sean Graney's highly acclaimed These Seven Sicknesses directed by Ed Iskandar. At the 2012 Williamstown Theatre Festival, she appeared in The Importance of Being Earnest directed by David Hyde Pierce and A Month in the Country directed by Richard Nelson. Her one-woman show, Woman of Leisure and Panic, debuted in the eighth-annual soloNOVA Arts Festival (New York Innovative Theatre Award nomination), played the 2013 New York International Fringe Festival, and was translated into Spanish for performances in Mexico. She recently graduated from The Old Globe/USD M.F.A. Program where she appeared in productions of Pericles, Prince of Tyre, Much Ado About Nothing, Antigone, Reckless, and, as Rose Trelawny, in Trelawny of the "Wells".

Christopher Balcom (Original Music) is a singer-songwriter from San Marcos, Texas. He recently moved to San Diego with his wife, Shannon, to pursue a career in renewable energy. His songwriting style is influenced by many genres of music, but mainly folk-pop. At a young age, his mother introduced him to artist such as Bob Marley, Bob Dylan, The Police, The Beach Boys, and many others. He picked up the guitar at a later age and fell in love with the idea of putting words to music like the artists he was fond of growing up. Balcom was an active musician in the Austin music seen for over a decade. Learning the beauty of simplicity, his songs are constructed around deep conviction and simple melodies.

Zachary James Schell (Production Stage Manager) is excited for his first production with The Old Globe/University of San Diego Graduate Theatre Program. His regional credits include the North American premiere of The Hunchback of Notre Dame (La Jolla Playhouse), and his opera credits include La Cenerentola and Carmen (The Granada Theatre) and OperaFest (Hahn Hall). His event management credits include production coordinator at LA Opera as well as One Night Only (McCallum Theatre), What a Pair! (Saban Theatre), Music Academy of the West's Cabaret (Fess Parker Doubletree, 2014-2015), Los Angeles Young Network Dinner (Greek Theatre), Erich Bergen Live! (Catalina Jazz Club). Schell's dance credits include Snakeskin (Malashock Dance) and American College Dance Association, Baja Region (El Camino College). He also stage managed the UC San DieGo Productions of The Marriage of Bette and Boo, Battlecruiser Aristotle, the 2015 Underground New Play Festival, and the 2014 and 2015 24-Hour Play Festival. He thanks Alyssa Swann, Shana Wride, Justin Waldman, Nathaniel Parde, Ben Thoron, Leila Knox, and Morgan Zupanski.

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