Directed by Steven Maler

Set Design ..... Patrick Lynch
Costume Design ..... David Reynoso
Lighting Design ..... Justin Townsend
Sound Design & Original Music ..... David Remedios

Production Manager ..... Leslie Chiu
Production Stage Manager ..... Katie Ailinger*

Cast

Arthur Barlas … Senator 1
Marianna Bassham* … Desdemona
Philippe Bowgen … Lodovico
Jeremy Browne … Montano
Greg Coughlin … Soldier/Cassio U/S
Nicholas Crandall … Soldier 1 (Clown)
McCaela Donovan … Bianca
Brandon Drea … Ensemble
Jared Eaton … Soldier/Gentleman
Seth Gilliam* … Othello
Adrianne Krstansky* … Emilia
John McGinnis … Duke
Grayson Powell … Roderigo
Dan Roach* … Cassio
Terrell Sledge … Soldier/Othello U/S
Fred Sullivan* … Brabantio/Gratiano
Arthur Waldstein … Senator 2
James Waterston* … Iago

Ensemble: Lindsay Adkins, Greg Bornstein, Annie Finnerty, Charlotte Foster, Andrew Kluger, Max Schadler, Bethany Taylor, Michael Underhill

* Members of Actors Equity Association

Cast Bios

Seth Gilliam

Seth Gilliam is a graduate of The High School Of Performing Arts, and the Theatre Program at SUNY Purchase.
Some of his theatre credits include: Prince Edward in RICHARD THE III: NYSF, STANISLAUS OUTSIDE THE HOUSE; MCC, Madame in Jean Genets THE MAIDS: CLASSIC STAGE COMPANY/NY, HEY LITTLE WALTER: PLAYWRIGHTS HORIZONS, MAN AT HIS BEST: PLAYWRIGHTS HORIZONS, DOGEATERS: LAJOLLA PLAYHOUSE, Orestes in IPHEGENIA AND OTHER DAUGHTERS: CLASSIC STAGE COMPANY/NY, Lincoln in TOPDOG/UNDERDOG: PHILADELPHIA THEATRE COMPANY, Soldier in A SOLDIERS PLAY: OJAI MUSIC FESTIVAL, Homer in Suzan-Lori Parks' FATHER COMES HOME FROM THE WARS: THE PUBLIC THEATRE, Dr. Posner in Margaret Edson's WIT: UNION SQUARE THEATRE
Television:, THE WIRE: HBO, OZ: HBO, ASSAULT AT WEST POINT: SHOWTIME, THE COSBY SHOW: NBC, LAW AND ORDER: NBC, LAW AND ORDER CRIMINAL INTENT: NBC, LAW AND ORDER TRIAL BY JURY: NBC, CSI MIAMI: CBS, NURSE JACKIE: SHOWTIME, STRANGERS: CBS, THE PEOPLE V. LEO FRANK: PBS, AS THE WORLD TURNS: CBS, MERCY: NBC
Film, DID YOU HEAR ABOUT THE MORGANS, STARSHIP TROOPERS, JEFFERSON IN PARIS, COURAGE UNDER FIRE, TAR, THE GREAT NEW WONDERFUL, MR. WONDERFUL, PERSONAL VELOCITY, ON BOARD.
He'd like to thank his family for their unwavering support, and CSC for the opportunity to be a part this production.

James Waterston

New York theatre includes: Jack in The Importance of Being Earnest (BAM, Sir Peter Hall); Orlando in As You Like It (New York Shakespeare Festival, Mark Lamos); Parents Evening (The Flea, Jim Simpson), A.R. Gurney's Buffalo Gal (Primary Stages, Mark Lamos), Brooke Berman's A Perfect Couple (WET, Maria Mileaf) Regional: Favorites include Mark Antony in Julius Caesar (A.R.T.), Randy in Children (Williamstown), Edmund in Long Day's Journey into Night, Konstantin in The Seagull, Richard in Ah, Wilderness! (Huntington) and Sir Andrew in Twelfth Night. Also, three seasons at Old Globe, three seasons playing piano for Greylock Project at Williamstown Theatre Festival and three seasons at The Sundance Institute June Lab. Film/TV includes: "The Good Wife" (CBS), "Six Feet Under" (HBO, recurring), "Live from Baghdad " (HBO), "The Electric Company," "ER," Dead Poets Society, Christy (Hallmark), "Little Sweetheart"
Upcoming: tour of France in 2011 reprising role of Brutus in "Julius Caesar" , David Simon's 'Treme' (HBO) and the film 'Certainty,' written by Boston's own Mike O'Malley.

Marianna Bassham

Marianna Bassham is delighted to make her CSC debut. Boston-area credits include Blackbird (Elliot Norton Award) and Reckless (SpeakEasy Stage); Little Black Dress by Ronan Noone (Boston Playwrights’ Theatre). She received a 2009 IRNE Award for her work in Reckless, Little Black Dress, and Blackbird. Other local appearances; The Tempest, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Hamlet, Love’s Labor’s Lost, and The Merchant of Venice with The Actors’ Shakespeare Project, where she is a Resident Acting Company member; A Streetcar Named Desire, Silence, Tartuffe, Picasso at the Lapin Agile and Quills (New Repertory Theatre); Miss Witherspoon and Talley’s Folly (The Lyric); Antigone and Not Enough Air (The Nora); Heart of Jade with CentaStage and Wellfleet Harbor Actors Theater at the BCA. Regional credits: Gloucester Stage, Wellfleet Harbor Actors’ Theater, The Majestic Theater, Great Lakes Theater Festival, Oldcastle Theatre, Stoneham Theatre, New Century Theatre, and St. Michael’s Playhouse. Marianna is a graduate of the MFA acting program at Brandeis University. Upcoming: In the Next Room or The Vibrator Play (SpeakEasy Stage) and afterlife: a ghost story (New Rep).

Adrianne Krstansky

New England credits include Paradise Lost, Britannicus and Ubu Rock at the American Repertory Theater, November at Lyric Stage Company, 2.5 Minute Ride, Frozen at New Repertory Theater, Gary by Melinda Lopez at Boston Playwrights Theater, Bug at Boston Theater Works, Snakebit at Speakeasy Stage Company, Closer at Wellfleet Harbor Actors Theater, Danny and the Deep Blue Sea at The Vineyard Playhouse, Loman Family Picnic at Gloucester Stage Company and Scotland Road, Tale of the Allergist’s Wife and Well at the New Century Theater. She worked extensively in Chicago theaters such as the Steppenwolf Theater (A Clockwork Orange, Twelfth Night), Bailiwick Repertory, and Goodman Theater. Regional credits include performances at the LaJolla Playhouse, Actors Theater of Louisville, Telluride Repertory Theater, and Off-Broadway at the Atlantic Theater Company and The Public Theater. Film Credits include the role of Carol in The Company Men directed by John Wells. She received her MFA at the University of California San Diego Professional Actor Training Program and is Assistant Professor of Theater Arts at Brandeis University.

Fred Sullivan

Fred Sullivan, Jr. (Brabantio/Gratiano) is joining CSC for his fourth summer. Fred played Nick Bottom in A Midsummer Nights Dream, Jaques (Elliot Norton award- Outstanding actor) in As You Like It, and Egeon in last year’s The Comedy of Errors. Fred is a longtime member of Trinity Rep Company’s resident acting company: Highlights of 26 seasons include Falstaff in both Henry IV and The Merry Wives of Windsor, Charles in Blithe Spirit (Norton award), James Tyrone in A Moon for the Misbegotten and Edmund Tyrone in Long Day’s Journey Into Night, Oscar Madison in The Odd Couple, Joe Pitt in Angels in America, Charlie etc. in Stones in his Pockets, Harold Hill, Alfred P. Doolittle, Creon, Captain Hook, Peer Gynt, Scrooge, Touchstone, Toby Belch, Oberon, the Dukes of Buckingham, Venice, York and Exeter, Clown, Ghost/Gravedigger, etc. at Trinity and Malvolio, Pericles, Petruchio, Stephano, Capulet and Pompey at other venues. Mr. Sullivan directed A Christmas Carol and Shooting Star at Trinity. As a resident director at the Gamm Theatre in RI since 1996, he has staged Hamlet, King Lear, Much Ado About Nothing (twice- 2000 and 2009), The Tempest, The Glass Menagerie, The Dresser, Barrymore, The Birthday Party, The Crucible, One for the Road, Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, La Bete and Awake and Sing! (Norton award-Outstanding production). Fred has also played major roles for Actors Theatre of Louisville, Berkeley Rep, Theatre-by-the-Sea, The Bread Loaf Acting Ensemble, American Stage Festival and The New Jersey Shakespeare Festival. Mr. Sullivan teaches acting at Commonwealth Shakespeare Summer Academy, RISD, Gamm, and as a Trinity Rep teaching artist.

Dan Roach

Dan is thrilled to be back for his third summer on the Common! Boston: Othello (New England Shakespeare Ensemble), Macbeth (CSC/Shakespeare Now), The Comedy of Errors (CSC), The Rainmaker (Foothills Theatre) Othello (New Rep on Tour), As You Like It (CSC) Los Angeles: Stories of the Night Told Over (Hayworth Theatre), Still Photos (Celebration Theatre), In the Boom Boom Room (Underground Theatre), Illyria (The Hayworth Theatre), Stitching (Ark Theatre) New York: Tracers (Arthur Seleen Theatre), KTP (Abingdon Theatre), Curing Ron (American Theatre of Actors), Styrofoam (Trilogy Theatre), Two Rooms (Trilogy Theatre), Uncovering Eden (Wings Theatre), Deathtrap (Gallery Players), Yanni & Johnny (Theatron) TV: Guiding Light, As The World Turns, Las Vegas Education: BA - University of South Carolina, MFA - Brooklyn College. Dan is originally from Newport, RI. He is a proud member of The Actor's Equity Association.

McCaela Donovan

McCaela is thrilled to be back performing with Commonwealth Shakespeare Co after appearing in Shakespeare on Love as Katherine of France. Boston/Regional Theatre: Berkshire Theatre Festival (Candide - Cunegonde), Reagle Players (Into the Woods - Cinderella, starring Rachel York), New Repertory Theatre (Hot Mikado - Yum-Yum); Company One (Assassins - Lynette 'Squeaky' Fromme), Emerson Stage (The Shape of Things - Evelyn) and is a member of the Brandeis Theatre Company recently appearing as the Duchess of Hapsburg in David R. Gammon's production of Funnyhouse of a Negro. New York: A Sondheim Showcase (dirs-Austin Pendleton, Joanna Merlin; musical director - Paul Gemignani), A Tale of Oliver Twist (The New York Musical Theatre Festival - original cast recording), The Devil and Thomas Briggs (The People's Theatre Lab) and Cocktail Time in Cuba (Primary Stages with the BTC). Film/Television credits include Guiding Light (CBS), Smoked (Magic Pitcher Films NYC), The Company Men (director - John Wells) and What's My Number? (director Mark Mylod). Commercials/Industrials: Hewlett-Packard, RockStar Videogames, Scholastic Publishing, and Spotco Inc. McCaela is a proud member of the Screen Actors Guild. She holds a BFA in Musical Theatre from Ithaca College, an MA in Theatre Education from Emerson College, and is currently receiving her MFA In Acting from Brandeis University. McCaela is also an audition coach in the Boston area. Love and gratitude to family, friends, the cast and crew, Steve for his support and friendship, and Sean for his love. www.mccaeladonovan.com

Grayson Powell

Grayson Powell is simply honored to be a part of Othello and to be making his Boston theatre debut with Commonwealth Shakespeare Company. He is a 2011 MFA acting candidate at Columbia University who also performs stand up comedy. Selected New York credits include: the world premieres of They Call Him Young Lou (Cherry Lane Theatre) and The Country and the Happiness (Riverside Theatre); Lopakhin in The Cherry Orchard (Schapiro Theatre) and Cinesias in Lysistrata (Miller Theatre). Regionally, Grayson has appeared as Officer Lockstock in Urinetown: The Musical (Brooks Theatre, SC) and the ensemble developed play Sincerely (Chopin Theatre, Chicago). This fall, he can be seen playing Berowne in Andrei Serban’s New York production of Love’s Labour’s Lost. Love to Mommy, Daddy, Clary, and Carrie Ann.

John McGinnis

John is grateful to be making his Boston debut, here on The Common, with CSC. Collaborating with the many talented artists in his native Birmingham, AL, he was most recently seen in the title roles of Macbeth and Hamlet. He enjoys acting, directing, and finding creative ways to support compassionate action in the community with the unique tools of the theatre. Many thanks to Steve and the Othello company for the opportunity to collaborate in telling this timeless story and to the audience for coming out and making it live. Much love to his number one collaborator, Elizabeth, and his beautiful children.

Jeremy Browne

Jeremy is thrilled to return for a second season with CSC after last year's Comedy of Errors. Recent area credits include All My Sons (understudy - Chris/George) with The Huntington Theatre Company, Macbeth (Macduff) with Shakespeare Now! and Much Ado About Nothing (Claudio) & King Lear (Kent) with Hampshire Shakespeare Company. Mr. Browne received his training and holds a degree in Philosophy from the University of Massachusetts at Amherst, where favorite credits include The Pillowman (Katurian), Arms and the Man (Sergius), A Christmas Carol (Marley) and Othello (Cassio). He proudly served three years as Artistic Director for The Shakespeare Festival at the Massachusetts Center for Renaissance Studies.

Philippe Bowgen

New York credits include: Bang, Bang, You’re Dead, performed at the Purple Man Theatre (as well as Edinburgh Festival 2004). Regional credits include: Caviar on Credit at the Guthrie Theater; King Lear at Shakespeare Theatre of DC; Lysistrata at Synetic Theatre; Dreamboy at Streetsigns Center for Literature and Performance; Winters Tale at Maryland Shakespeare Festival, Amadeus at Elemental Theater Collective. Awards include the Scotsman Fringe First 2004. Philippe was trained at the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Arts. He received his MFA from the Brown/Trinity Rep Programs with the class of 2012.

Jared Eaton

Jared is thrilled to be making his Commonwealth debut. With Dallas Shakespeare Company: The Merchant of Venice (Bassanio), MacBeth (Donalbain) , and All’s Well That Ends Well. Other regional credits: As You Like It and Based on a Totally True Story (Tyler) with WaterTower Theatre. Jared hails from Houston, Texas and has a BFA in Acting from Baylor University. He will begin his second year of MFA training at Harvard’s ART/MXAT Institute in the fall.

Arthur Barlas

Arthur Barlas appeared in last summer's CSC production of The Comedy of Errors. He has appeared in many productions in the Boston area over the years including the Lyric Stage, Publick Theater, Wheelock Family Theatre, Brandeis Theater Co., and north of Boston at the Salem Theatre Co. and Theater of Newburyport. Recently, he has appeared in several productions in New Hampshire, including productions of The Tempest, The Elephant Man, Taking Sides, A Christmas Carol, Macbeth, and Othello.

Arthur Waldstein

Arthur Waldstein returns to Commonwealth Shakespeare Company after playing Philostrate in Midsummer Night’s Dream. He was most recently seen as DR. Bradman in Blithe Spirit at the Lyric Stage Company of Boston. Area credits include Kiss Me Kate and Follies (Lyric Stage), Hello, Goodbye, Peace (The Underground Theater), Genesis of Genesis and The Seagull (Chekhov Theater and Film Company/Boston Playwrights Theater). He is a member of the Bok Center Players at Harvard University for which he plays senior faculty members. Favorite roles include Arnolphe in School For Wives, Touchstone in As You Like It, Creon in Jean Anouilh’s Antigone and many of the Gilbert and Sullivan so-called patter parts. A retired lawyer, Arthur lives with his wife, Andrea, in Boston.

Brandon Drea

Brandon is thrilled to be making his CSC debut in Othello. New York Theatre Credits include: Cryonics (Gene Frankel Theatre); Concession (Bank Street Theatre); Unattended Packages (Rabbit Hole Studio). Regional Credits: Works of John Patrick Shanley (American Conservatory Theater-STC); Throwing Snowballs at the Moon (Theatre Artists Studio-AZ); Bluff (Dramatist Guild of America-AZ). Mr. Drea recently completed his second year at the Brown/Trinity Rep MFA Program. Brown/Trinity Rep roles include: Benedick in Much Ado About Nothing; Morris in Blood Knot; Cardinal in The Duchess of Malfi; and Paul Granger III in The Hot L Baltimore. This winter he will be performing in Trinity Repertory Company's Christmas Carol.

Greg Coughlin

Greg is thrilled to be making his Boston theater debut with CSC. New York: Recess by Sheila Callaghan and Classic Kitchen Timer by Adam Rapp (The Flea), Boots (Walkerspace, FringeNYC), Pretty, Pretty (Gene Frankel Theatre). Los Angeles: Romeo & Juliet (dir. Joe Regalbuto). Regional: Holler (Bricolage, Pittsburgh) and Chicago (Edinburgh Fringe). Greg trained at Walnut Hill School for the Arts with Joe Cabral. BFA: Carnegie Mellon University, where favorites include subUrbia (Tim), Nathan the Wise (Qatar, dir. Mladen Kiselov) a stage version of Reservoir Dogs (Mr. Blonde) and he was the featured actor in a workshop with Mark Rylance. Thanks to Mom, Dad, Chris, Godmum and Rory for remembrance.

Andrew Kluger

Andrew is thrilled to be making his Commonwealth debut with this production of Othello. Past credits include: Kiss Me, Kate (Fred/ Petruchio), Into the Woods (Rapunzel’s Prince), Once Upon a Mattress (Harry), The Visit (Anton Schill), The Pajama Game (Sid), A Devil Inside (Brad), Guys and Dolls (Sky Masterson), and Plaza Suite (Sam.) He is currently studying acting, singing, and directing at Tufts University, where he is a proud member of The Beelzebubs. Andrew also studied theater at the Pennsylvania Governor’s School for the Arts. He would like to thank his teachers, family, and friends for their support.

Charlotte Foster

Charlotte Foster is proud to be a Commonwealth Shakespeare Company Apprentice this summer! She will be a senior in the fall in SUNY Fredonia's BFA acting program. Previous roles include Juliet in Romeo and Juliet, Claire in Fuddy Meers, and a Patient in Marat/Sade. Charlotte is very excited for this summer, and wants to thank her teachers and everyone involved at CSC for nurturing and strengthening her passion for Shakespeare!

Michael Underhill

Michael is excited to be joining CSC for the inaugural Summer Academy Apprenticeship Program. A recent graduate from Northeastern University, and a former Summer Training Institute student at Shakespeare & Company, Michael is also a company member with Imaginary Beasts, playing Mercury and Leandre in Moliere Squared, the Moon, Sun, & Woodcutter in Dream of Life, and Bilora in Weasel. Other favorite roles include John in Bash with Theatre on Fire, Orlando in As You Like It with Cloud Island Theater Company and the Moon in Blood Wedding and Abhorson in Measure for Measure at Northeastern University. Thanks to all his family and friends who continue to support him on his journey.

Bethany Taylor

Bethany is honored to be making her debut with Commonwealth Shakespeare Company. Since graduating from Dean College she has been working all over the United States in various films, television shows, and commercials. She studies opera at the New England Conservatory of Music. Bethany is also a proud member of the Screen Actors Guild. She wishes to thank her new CSC family for this amazing opportunity! Much love to Mom, Dad, Dave, Jay, Ma, Auntie, Bob, and Donovan.

Annie Finnerty

Annie is so excited to finally be working with CSC! Most recently Annie appeared in The Tempest, A staged reading of Enemy of the People, Macbeth, Troilus and Cressida (Emerson Shakespeare Society); Taming of the Shrew (Martha’s Vineyard Playhouse); and Cupid and Psyche: A New Play (Emerson Graduate Production). She is currently attending Emerson College as a BFA Acting major and would like to thank everyone involved in making the CSC Apprenticeship Program come to life!

Greg Bornstein

Greg is going to be a senior at NYU’s Tisch School of Drama, and is very excited to be an apprentice with CSC this summer. Recent roles include: Gerald Thornton in Time and the Conways (Stella Adler Studio), Judea in Caligula Maximus (La MaMa), and Banquo/Old Siward in Macbeth (Stella Adler Studio). He is grateful for this opportunity to work with Steve, the cast, and the company on Othello.

Othello, known as one of Shakespeare’s greatest tragedies, is a captivating story about the fall of a charismatic Moorish general through the betrayal of one of his most trusted soldiers. Set against a backdrop of war, Othello is a powerful story about love and jealousy that focuses on the passions and personal lives of its major figures. Othello, with its intimate domestic setting, is widely regarded as the most moving of Shakespeare’s great tragedies.

Othello will be performed July 28 – August 15 Tuesday through Saturday at 8 p.m. and Sunday at 7 p.m., weather permitting. Performances take place outdoors at the Parkman Bandstand on Boston Common and are presented in partnership with the City of Boston and Mayor Menino. CSC productions have become a beloved civic institution and are expected to draw an estimated 100,000 people over 18 performances. All performances are free and open to the public of all ages.

For answers to frequently asked questions and to help plan your evening on the Common: Check out our FAQ.

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The John W. Henry Family Foundation

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Special thanks to the Boston Lyric Opera, Boston Ballet, and the Boston Symphony Orchestra for donating tickets to our summer sweepstakes