Apprentice Repertory Company Performances 2025

Wesley Crowley– Salem State University: As You Like It, The Anatomy of Shame, Roe, The Ghost Sonata, The School For Lies, Blood Wedding, Basic Wait. Wes has also acted in the Gallows Hill Main Show in downtown Salem, and in the Indie Film MFA: The Terminal Degree. A local theatre artist, he can be contacted by email at: wescrowley123@gmail.com.

Gabby Burton- is a rising first year at University of California San Diego and recent graduate of Georgia Southern University. As an undergraduate, she has performed in 8 mainstage plays, with some of her favorites being Fairview, Detroit ’67, The Country Wife, and Marian or The True Tale of Robin Hood. Professionally, she has also been seen at Lowcountry Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet, and has served as a Tour Actor Director for Missoula Children’s Theatre. She would like to thank Commonwealth Shakespeare for taking her on as an apprentice alongside talented emerging artists!

Catarina Martins– The Rockwell: T: An MBTA Musical. British American Drama Academy (BADA): A Midsummer Night’s Dream. UMass Amherst Dept of Theater: Into the Woods, Cabaret, Dance Nation, The Water Station. She has also been seen at Theatre III of Acton and Gallows Hill Museum/Theater. She is a proud alumna of UMass Amherst and BADA. www.catarina-martins.com @catarina_sofia_martins

Ethan Dunne Stewart– Professional: Rep. Theatre of St. Louis: Dial M For Murder (Thompson), Oak Park Festival Theatre: Romeo and Juliet (Tybalt U/S/Ensemble), Cadence Theatre Company: 13 (Eddie) Educational: Conservatory: Legend of Georgia McBride (Eddie Cover), Cadence Theatre Company: Heathers (JD), SPARC: A Gentleman’s Guide to Love and Murder (D’Ysquith Family), TDHS: The Curious Incident of the Dog In the Nighttime (Christopher), Instagram: @ethandunnestewart

Avery Dulak- is thrilled to be performing with the Commonwealth Shakespeare Company Apprenticeship Program this summer. Drama Studio London: Two Gentlemen of Verona, Pericles. The Hartt School: The Tempest, Dracula a Feminist Revenge Fantasy Really, Dance Nation, Reasons to be Happy. She’s also directed a numerous productions there. She wants to thank her friends and family for constantly supporting her. @averydulak

Feifan Zhao– just graduated from The College of the Holy Cross as a double major in Classics and Theatre. Previous college productions  include: Enron, Cymbeline, The Heiress, Good Person of Setzuan, Iphigenia, Our Town, Eurydice.

Ayla Kanciruk– Liars and Believers: “Don’t Open This”. Ayla is a recent graduate of Bennington College (’23), where they studied Drama. @aylakanciruk

Emily Raine– Imago Stage Company: A Tale of Two Cities, Jane Eyre, The Count of Monte Cristo, Pride and Prejudice. Rebel Shakespeare Company: Macbeth, As You Like It. History Alive: Cry Innocent. Still Small Theatre Troupe: Today In This Town. Gordon College Theatre: The Tempest, The Claim, A Walk With Emily, The Invisible Transformation, Our Town, Into the Woods, Hebrews 13:3. Emily has loved Shakespeare for even longer than she has loved theatre, and is honoured to be a part of this programme.

Crow Traphagen– University of Massachusetts Amherst: Orlando, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Parzival, Everybody. Crow is also a wardrobe dresser and was a costuming apprentice at the Portland Stage theater in Portland Maine helping with the 2023-24 Season.

Efua Hayfron-Atlantic Theater Company Stage 2: Benjamin (Ballgirl). New York University Urban Global Summit: What Can You “See” When You Don’t See. P/C Theater Productions: Covid Tries to Cancel Christmas. Bocas Literary Festival: Lola and the Battle of the Bugs. She is currently pursuing a BFA in Drama at New York University. Efuahb@yahoo.com

Heather Elaine Anderson- (She/Her) Washington University in St. Louis (MO): The Winter’s Tale, Cabaret, F*cking A, The Wolves, Cry It Out, The Thanksgiving Play, Spelling Bee, The Oresteia. Bedford High School (MA): Mamma Mia!, The Drowsy Chaperone, Les Misérables, She Kills Monsters: Virtual Realms, Legally Blonde, Twelve Angry Jurors, Fiddler on the Roof, The Tempest. Heather is an actor, director, playwright, and a rising senior at WashU in St. Louis.

Rihana President–In the Heights, A Raisin in the Sun, The Wedding Singer, Honk!, Camelot, Medea, The Odd Couple, Iolanthe, Fools, Lucky Stiff, Carousel, In the Wings, Hamilton (select pieces), Chicago (select pieces). She is a Colorado native who loves learning with a passion for all things performing arts. (Rihana_President@alumni.brown.edu)

Maddie Hatton– is an actor from Delaware, OH. She earned her B.A. in Communications with a specialization in Acting & Directing from Bowling Green State University in April 2024. During her time at BGSU, she performed in numerous productions, including John Proctor is the Villain (Raelynn Nix), Electra (Chrysothemis), The Harvest (Ada), and Exit, Pursued by a Bear (Nan Carter). She has also worked with MadLab Theatre in Columbus, OH, appearing in Comrades’ A Christmas Carol (Nikki/Tiny Tim). In addition to theater, Maddie enjoys working on camera; her first feature film, The Lifeguards (Tory), is currently streaming on Amazon Prime.

Ida Mihok– Skidmore College Theater Department: The Winter Guard Play, The Courage to Right a Woman’s Wrongs, Cowboy Mouth, Heddatron. The British American Drama Academy: Cymbeline. Boston Theatre Company’s Teen Touring Troupe: Macbeth, Love’s Labour’s Lost, Much Ado About Nothing. Ida received her Bachelor’s degree in Theater from Skidmore College in 2024. She is a SAFD-certified fight director and IDC-trained intimacy director currently based in Boston, MA.

Katie Poliero– Gettysburg College Department of Theatre Arts: Shakespeare in Love (Sam/Player), Suck It (Vampire), The Prom (Alyssa Greene), Steel Magnolias (Shelby), Animal Farm (Mollie/Hen). Gettysburg College Opera Workshop: Cendrillon (Maguellone), A Game of Chance (Second Knitter). Gettysburg College Student Musical Theatre: Addams Family (Wednesday Addams), Something Rotten (Music Director/Featured Ensemble), Godspell (Morgan). Katie has also directed and performed in many independent directing projects at Gettysburg College, most notably directing their own original adaptation of A Midsummer Night’s Dream. They recently graduated from Gettysburg College with a BA in Theatre Arts. @KatiePoliero

Jackie Freyman– Breaking Light Productions: Mrs. Hawking Play Series (Clara Hawking). North Shore Players: Curtain Call (Sherri). Theatre Company of Saugus: A Christmas Carol (Mrs. Cratchit). Theatre To Go: Enchanted April (Lottie Wilton), The Congresswomen (Young Woman). Post Meridian Radio Players: Dracula (Lucy Westenra), The War Nurse (War Nurse Pat Parker) and Double Deception (Her Commandos), Peter Pan (Tinker Bell), The Four Chaplains (Wyatt Fox), The Scarlet Pimpernel (Suzanne de Tournay). Boston Playwrights Platform: Nematodes (Irina). Theatre@First: Mother Goose’s Grave (Mrs. Ball) (Festival@First), Firefly in In the Jar (Julie). Chesapeake Arts Theatre: Hans Brinker and the Silver Skates (Dame Brinker).

Chloe Olwell– Montague Shakespeare Festival: Macbeth. Needham Community Theatre: Little Women. Gallows Hill Theatre: A Christmas Carol, The Gallows Hill Main Show. Great Bear Arts: Red. Walpole Footlighters: Into the Breeches. Concord Players: Shakespeare in Love. Chloe graduated in 2023 from George Washington University where she studied theatre and journalism. @chloeolwell

William Schneider– Commonwealth Shakespeare Company Summer Apprentice, 2025. Incoming Freshman Acting Major at Wright State University class of 2029. Previous credits include: Oberon, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Sebastian, The Tempest, Wadsworth, Clue! On Stage, Cheshire Cat, Alice In Wonderland.

August Kittleson– Tufts University: The Interrobangers, Macbeth, The Furies, Twelfth Night: The Musical. August has also directed several independent productions as an undergrad majoring in theatre at Tufts University. @august_kittleson

Molly White– BA in Theatre and Political Science from Monmouth College, class of 2025. From Joliet, Illinois. mollykatewhite.com @mkwhite2788

Jordan Azzinaro– Skidmore College: Minor Character: Six Translations of Uncle Vanya at the Same Time, Neighborhood 3: Requisition of Doom, Where Are You Going, Little Horse?, Edie and Mae, and The Place That Made You. They are a rising senior majoring in Theater and Anthropology.

Moran Lee- previously appeared as Hippolyta in A Midsummer Night’s Dream. Her other credits include A Crazy Little Thing Called Love. She is delighted to debut her first show with Commonwealth Shakespeare Company. Much love to her friends and Jisun for all their support!

Cole Gilder- (He/They) is a recent graduate from New York City’s SANDS College of Performing Arts at Pace University. Past credits include SANDS College: Urinetown, pumpernickel, King Lear, RENT. Full Circle Theater Collaborative: Shaina Taub’s As You Like It and Twelfth Night, Red. The Samuel French OOB Short Play Festival: He’s the First, A Mercy at Midnight Castle. colehenrygilder.com @colegilder

Maerose Pepe– Northeastern University: The Moors, Phaedra’s Love, Hex (playwright/director). Queer Artists & Players: The Rude Mechanicals Showcase. Harvard Playwright’s Festival: The Geography Game. Maerose has also performed with ComedyCazi and Riot X, and is a current cast member of Riot Improv.

Amelia Rose Eichmeier– Madison Shakespeare Company: Henry V. UW-Madison Theater and Drama: Orlando, Pride and Prejudice, Twelfth Night the Musical. Prism Theater Company MKE: Othello. Student Theater: Open, Stay, The Importance of Being Earnest. She trained with Shakespeare and Company during their 2024 Summer Shakespeare Intensive. Amelia is a rising junior studying acting and vocal performance at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. She’s endlessly grateful for this opportunity and for the support of her friends, family, and mentors. @ameliaeichmeier

Angelina Sorge– Graduate of Bowling Green State University (BAC in Theatre: Acting and Directing). BGSU: Poor Clare (Ortolana), John Proctor is the Villain (Bailey Gallagher), The Wrestling Season (The Referee), Rivers Under the Earth (Mrs. Carter), Sad and Glad (Sandrine). Archbold Community Theatre: Happy Hollandaise (Mary Abbott),Twelve Angry Jurors (Juror #5), Death by Chocolate (Juniper Berry), Murder Can Be Habit-Forming (Mary Bishop). The Bard Players: Much Ado About Nothing (Beatrice). She has also appeared in multiple small production films and recently BGSU’s One Day ad. @angelinasorgeactress

Sophie Kelly– Janet Kinghorn Bernhard Theater: Neighborhood 3, Where Are You Going, Little Horse?, The Courage to Right a Woman’s Wrongs, The Chaparral, John Proctor is the Villain and more. Tang Teaching Museum: Hell is Real. Roaring Hills Theater Company: A Midsummer Night’s Dream. She is also a member of the Miranda Family Fellowship. @sophekelly

Hao Fu– Wesleyan University: Acting: The Moors, Of Government, The Misplaced (Short film), Find the Moon, Crush Crush Crush, Musical Theater Cabaret. Costume Design: The Government Inspector; The Yellow Wallpaper (half scale). Wardrobe: Wolfcrush; Pippin; Small Mouth Sounds.

Scout Kuehn– ISU Department of Music and Theatre: Marcescence, Fixing Troilus and Cressida, Fairy Tales for the Anthropocene, The Crucible. Rising Star Theatre Company: School of Rock. Dubuque Troupe #69: Clue, The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee. Scout is currently studying environmental science and performing arts with an emphasis in musical theatre at Iowa State University. She is extremely excited to be in her first ever (fully) Shakespeare show this summer. @scoutacts

Denali Herbert– FILM: Alone in the Woods (Doug Rouillard Productions), Mr. Sunyata (Curry Sicong Tlan). TELEVISION: Castle Rock (Warner Bros. Television), Defending Jacob (Paramount Television Studios). THEATER: Ken Ludwig’s Sherwood: The Adventures of Robin Hood (Stagedoor Manor Performing Arts Training Center). Romeo and Juliet (Youth Acting Company), The Nutcracker Production (The Hanover Theatre for Performing Arts), Wizard of Oz (The AlphaNYC Theater Company), Beauty and the Beast, Jr. (The Hanover Theatre for Performing Arts).

Julia Sharkey– Firehouse Center for the Arts: An Institution (Reading). Arcadia University: Spring Awakening, The Laramie Project, The Wolves, All’s Well That Ends Well, Title Nine (Reading) and Polkadots: The Cool Kids Musical (ASM). Triboro Youth Theater: A Very Potter Musical, Les Miserables, 9 to 5 (SM) and a Theater Camp Counselor since 2018. Graduated from Arcadia University with a BFA in Musical Theater in 2024. @j_sharks_

Amelia McNeil– Powerhouse Theater: Twelfth Night (Olivia). Elmhurst University: Firebringer (Zazzalil), Legally Blonde (Brooke), The Last Five Years (Cathy), Twelfth Night (Malvolia), Cotton Girls (Berry), Silent Sky (Willamina), Theory of Relativity (Mira). amelia-mcneil.com @amelia.m.mcneil

Dani Eggart- (They/Them) – Post Theatre Company: Discus, Love’s Labor’s Lost. South Shore Theatre Experience: Romeo and Juliet. Water Tower Theatre: Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time. Dani also partook in One Year Lease Company’s International Production of Oedipus in Greece. Dani is a student at Long Island University Post pursuing their B.F.A in Theatre Arts with a concentration in Musical Theatre. @dani.eggart (Instagram)

Kelechi Njoku- is an actor and Boston native. She is excited to be working with CSC for the first time. She recently worked with Company One in their Season 26 Co-Lab Showcase. They also participated in C1’s Professional Development for Actors course. She played the role of Adrienne in There Goes the Neighborhood (Boston Theatre Marathon XXV) and Darien in Closing Doors (Theatre@First). They also played Lisa in the award winning short form Drama Series Love Undone and Sasha Turnbull in the upcoming TV series Angelic. Other credits include Godot Shows (TC Squared), Castling (TC Squared), Break, Break (Legion Theatre Project), and American Dreaming (Lesley University). Besides acting, Kelechi enjoys sitting by the water, playing video games, and sipping bubble tea. IG: @thequirkysavant

Cate Bounds– 2nd Theater Company: A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Macbeth. Bell Witch Fall Festival: Spirit; The Authentic Story of the Bell Witch. Belmont University’s Department of Theatre and Dance: The Insanity of Mary Girard, This is Not a Pipe Dream, Peter and the Starcatcher, The Nina Variations. Cate also works as an intimacy director and fight choreographer at theaters throughout middle Tennessee, including Watershed Public Theatre. catebounds.com @crbounds19

Bryn Boice is an award-winning director, educator, actor, and producer, as well as CSC’s Associate Artistic Director and Director of Education & Training. Also for CSC, Bryn helmed Universe Rushing Apart: Blue Kettle & Here We Go – two Caryl Churchill one-acts – which garnered her the Elliot Norton Award for Outstanding Director, Large Theatre. Other recent Boston-area credits include: The Sound Inside and The Children (both Elliot Norton nominated for Outstanding Production, Speakeasy Stage); The Book of Will, Into the Breeches! (Elliot Norton nom. for Direction and Production, Hub Theatre Company); Tall Tales from Blackburn Tavern, Gloria (Gloucester Stage); The Half-Life of Marie Curie (The Nora Company); Admissions (The Gamm Theatre); Last Night at Bowl-Mor Lanes (Greater Boston Stage Company); an all-female production of Julius Caesar for Actors’ Shakespeare Project; and a number of Apprentice Repertory Company and Stage2 productions for CSC. New York, regional and other Boston credits as an actor and/or director include work with Asolo Repertory Company, Boston Playwrights’ Theatre, Anthem Theatre Company, Okoboji Theatre, InProximity Theatre, Theatre Row, Martha’s Vineyard PAC, Monomoy Theatre, Caroline’s on Broadway, and Manhattan Theatre Club. Before turning full-time to CSC, she taught at Salem State University, where her wide-ranging experience allowed her to teach Voice for Performance, Applied Stage Movement, Public Speaking, Directing, Acting III (Early Realism), Dramatic Theory & Criticism, and Dialects, among others. MFA in Directing, Boston University. MFA in Acting, Asolo Conservatory for Actor Training (FSU). Member AEA. For more information visit www.brynboice.com

William Shakespeare was a renowned English poet, playwright, and actor born in 1564, in Stratford-upon-Avon. His birthday is most commonly celebrated on 23 April, which is also believed to be the date on which he died in 1616. Shakespeare was a prolific writer during the Elizabethan and Jacobean ages of British theatre (sometimes referred to as the English Renaissance or the Early Modern Period). Shakespeare’s plays are perhaps his most enduring legacy, but they are not the only things he wrote. Shakespeare’s poetry has also remained popular to this day.

Shakespeare’s work includes 38 plays, 2 narrative poems, a collection of 154 sonnets, and other poems as well. No original manuscripts of Shakespeare’s plays are known to exist today, and about half of Shakespeare’s plays are only available to us because a group of actors in his company collected them for publication after his death. These writings were brought together in what is known as the First Folio (‘Folio’ refers to the size of the paper used). It contained 36 of his plays, and none of his poetry. Shakespeare’s legacy is as rich and diverse as his work; his plays have spawned countless adaptations across multiple genres and cultures, and his plays have had an enduring presence on stage and film.

His writings have been compiled in various iterations of The Complete Works of William Shakespeare by different entities, which usually include all of his plays, his sonnets, and his other poems. From Stratford to London and beyond, William Shakespeare was and is one of the most important literary figures of the English language.

Michael is an interdisciplinary theatre artist who has worked with The Public Theater, the La Jolla Playhouse, Ma-Yi Theatre Company, the Huntington Theatre Company, Trinity Rep, South Coast Repertory, Lyric Stage Company of Boston, New Rep, Hope Rep, SpeakEasy Stage, Wheelock Family Theatre, Williamstown Theatre Festival, the Kennedy Center, HowlRound/ArtsEmerson, Boston Court Pasadena, The Yale Prize for Drama, Gloucester Stage, CompanyOne, The Watertown Children’s Theatre, Flat Earth Theatre, Fresh Ink Theatre, MIT, Harvard, Boston University, Brown University, Merrimack Rep, East West Players, Central Square Theater, The Boston Playwright’s Theatre, Plays in Place, Rhombus Writer’s Group, The COOP Theatre NYC, Ojai Playwright’s Conference, The Seven Devils Playwrights’ Conference, Palm Beach Dramaworks, and more. A champion of new work, Michael has helped develop hundreds of new plays from first time playwrights to Tony winners and Pulitzer Prize finalists. Education: Orange County School of the Arts. BFA: Boston University. MFA: Brown/Trinity Rep. AEA. Former Co-Artistic Director of New Repertory Theatre. Board member of Seven Devils Playwrights’ Conference. michaelhisamoto.com | sevendevils.org

Melanie Kaplan is an actor, singer, mover, and director raised in Sharon, MA. She is currently working towards her BFA in actor training from The Hartt School. Some credits from Hartt include: A Doll’s House (Nora), Do You Feel Anger? (Sofia), Cyrano de Bergerac (Swing), and Peter and the Starcatcher (AD/Swing). She is so excited to be working with CSC’s apprentice program after playing Thomas Mowbray/Groom in last summer’s ARC production of Richard II.