Optimist Theatre Presents: Shakespeare in the City
Casts & Crews
Another Midsummer Night's Dream
Presented by The Available Players
Description: Puck & Peaseblossom from William Shakespeare's classic are caught in a bind. They must prove to the Fairy Queen that Puck has a positive influence on love in the mortal world or else he'll spend the next 100 years as a donkey in this outdoor, audience interactive show.
Liz Shipe – (Playwright, Director, Costumer) - Named one of the Milwaukee's most prolific playwrights in 2014 by M - Milwaukee’s Lifestyle Magazine. Her work includes, THE INCREDIBLE ADVENTURE OF ALVIN TATLOCK which enjoyed multiple productions in Wisconsin and was nominated for a Footlights award for Best Play 2017. She also penned the Sherlock Holmes-focused BAKER'S STREET TRILOGY featured at Old World Wisconsin, LE/LA, A LADY IN WAITING, UPON A MIDNIGHT CLEAR, HOME FOR CHRISTMAS, and her pirate-themed spectacle BONNY ANNE BONNY was also given honorable mention as one of the best plays of 2016 by both the Journal Sentinel and OnMilwaukee.
Noah Silverstein (PUCK) - BFA school of drama UNCSA/ Eddie Carbone, A View from the Bridge, Waukesha Civic Theatre / House Manager for the Hayworth Theatre / producer for cARTel / set and light designer for New American Theatre / installed light system for CSZ milwaukee Ferrina Arina / Recently in Hi Five Art’s Production of FireBringer directed by Amanda Rossman.
Cara Johnston (PEASEBLOSSOM) - Cara Johnston happily makes her Optimist Theatre debut in Liz Shipe’s latest play. Originally from Dallas, Texas, Cara now calls Milwaukee home. Local credits include Renaissance Theatreworks (The Violet Hour, L’Appartement), Acacia Theatre (Mary Bennet: Christmas at Pemberley, Quality Street), and others. Cara performed her one-person show, The Madwoman, at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe 2023, where she received five stars and an Offies nomination. Cara extends her heartfelt thanks to her supportive husband and their beloved pet rabbit.
Alan Piotrowicz (Sound Designer) has designed for several companies in Milwaukee, including All In Productions, Falls Patio Players, First Stage Children’s Theatre, Milwaukee Chamber Theatre, Milwaukee Repertory Theatre, Next Act Theatre, Pink Umbrella Theater Co., Renaissance Theaterworks, and Theatre Gigante, among others. Outside Wisconsin, he’s worked with TITAN Theatre Company in New York City, Hope Repertory Theatre in Holland, MI, and The Ivoryton Playhouse and Brief Cameo Productions in Ivoryton, CT. He received his training at UW-Madison and The Santa Fe Opera. Proud Board Member and Associate Producer for Brief Cameo Productions. Later this summer, check out Alan’s return to directing in RIP - A Musical Comedy of Life & Death, receiving its world premiere at Next Act Theatre’s performance space! www.alanpiotrowicz.com
Bryan Quinn (Stage Manager) - Bryan has pursued his avocation as an actor with numerous local companies onstage and off, recently including “The Winter’s Tale” (Wisconsin Lutheran College, his alma mater), “Six Degrees of Separation” (Sunset Playhouse), and originating Inspector Lestrade at the Brumder in Shipe's Baker's Street Trilogy, Quin has enjoyed playing roles in many of Shipe's other productions such as John Little in A LADY IN WAITING, Josiah Addams in BONNY ANNE BONNY, and Mrs. Battlesbee in UPON A MIDNIGHT CLEAR: A TALE OF JACK FROST. He has also made appearances as Owen Faucet in Angela Iannone's SEEDS OF BANQUO. He has also branched out into directing with Pink Banana One Acts: “Game Night”. He is thrilled to be working with Liz offstage again and would like to thank her for being a benevolent deity.
Alicia Rice (Choreographer) - Alicia graduated with a BFA in theater from the University of the Arts before going on to study, teach and compete in ballroom dance. She is grateful for this opportunity to combine her two passions, theater and dance. Favorite productions she has choreographed include GOD’S SPIES, THE 25TH ANNUAL PUTNAM COUNTY SPELLING BEE, CELEBRATION, EVITA, CITY OF ANGELS and Liz Shipe’s BONNY ANNE BONNY, in which she also played the title role.
Arne Parrot (Lyricist)
Description: Puck & Peaseblossom from William Shakespeare's classic are caught in a bind. They must prove to the Fairy Queen that Puck has a positive influence on love in the mortal world or else he'll spend the next 100 years as a donkey in this outdoor, audience interactive show.
Liz Shipe – (Playwright, Director, Costumer) - Named one of the Milwaukee's most prolific playwrights in 2014 by M - Milwaukee’s Lifestyle Magazine. Her work includes, THE INCREDIBLE ADVENTURE OF ALVIN TATLOCK which enjoyed multiple productions in Wisconsin and was nominated for a Footlights award for Best Play 2017. She also penned the Sherlock Holmes-focused BAKER'S STREET TRILOGY featured at Old World Wisconsin, LE/LA, A LADY IN WAITING, UPON A MIDNIGHT CLEAR, HOME FOR CHRISTMAS, and her pirate-themed spectacle BONNY ANNE BONNY was also given honorable mention as one of the best plays of 2016 by both the Journal Sentinel and OnMilwaukee.
Noah Silverstein (PUCK) - BFA school of drama UNCSA/ Eddie Carbone, A View from the Bridge, Waukesha Civic Theatre / House Manager for the Hayworth Theatre / producer for cARTel / set and light designer for New American Theatre / installed light system for CSZ milwaukee Ferrina Arina / Recently in Hi Five Art’s Production of FireBringer directed by Amanda Rossman.
Cara Johnston (PEASEBLOSSOM) - Cara Johnston happily makes her Optimist Theatre debut in Liz Shipe’s latest play. Originally from Dallas, Texas, Cara now calls Milwaukee home. Local credits include Renaissance Theatreworks (The Violet Hour, L’Appartement), Acacia Theatre (Mary Bennet: Christmas at Pemberley, Quality Street), and others. Cara performed her one-person show, The Madwoman, at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe 2023, where she received five stars and an Offies nomination. Cara extends her heartfelt thanks to her supportive husband and their beloved pet rabbit.
Alan Piotrowicz (Sound Designer) has designed for several companies in Milwaukee, including All In Productions, Falls Patio Players, First Stage Children’s Theatre, Milwaukee Chamber Theatre, Milwaukee Repertory Theatre, Next Act Theatre, Pink Umbrella Theater Co., Renaissance Theaterworks, and Theatre Gigante, among others. Outside Wisconsin, he’s worked with TITAN Theatre Company in New York City, Hope Repertory Theatre in Holland, MI, and The Ivoryton Playhouse and Brief Cameo Productions in Ivoryton, CT. He received his training at UW-Madison and The Santa Fe Opera. Proud Board Member and Associate Producer for Brief Cameo Productions. Later this summer, check out Alan’s return to directing in RIP - A Musical Comedy of Life & Death, receiving its world premiere at Next Act Theatre’s performance space! www.alanpiotrowicz.com
Bryan Quinn (Stage Manager) - Bryan has pursued his avocation as an actor with numerous local companies onstage and off, recently including “The Winter’s Tale” (Wisconsin Lutheran College, his alma mater), “Six Degrees of Separation” (Sunset Playhouse), and originating Inspector Lestrade at the Brumder in Shipe's Baker's Street Trilogy, Quin has enjoyed playing roles in many of Shipe's other productions such as John Little in A LADY IN WAITING, Josiah Addams in BONNY ANNE BONNY, and Mrs. Battlesbee in UPON A MIDNIGHT CLEAR: A TALE OF JACK FROST. He has also made appearances as Owen Faucet in Angela Iannone's SEEDS OF BANQUO. He has also branched out into directing with Pink Banana One Acts: “Game Night”. He is thrilled to be working with Liz offstage again and would like to thank her for being a benevolent deity.
Alicia Rice (Choreographer) - Alicia graduated with a BFA in theater from the University of the Arts before going on to study, teach and compete in ballroom dance. She is grateful for this opportunity to combine her two passions, theater and dance. Favorite productions she has choreographed include GOD’S SPIES, THE 25TH ANNUAL PUTNAM COUNTY SPELLING BEE, CELEBRATION, EVITA, CITY OF ANGELS and Liz Shipe’s BONNY ANNE BONNY, in which she also played the title role.
Arne Parrot (Lyricist)
Hamlet
Presented by Optimist Theatre
Director and Dramaturg: Michael Stebbins
Cast: Libby Amato**
Stage Manager - Melissa L. Wanke*
Assistant Stage Manager and Wardrobe: Jenn Sorvick
Props: Matt Norby
Costumes: Mary Siegel
Fight Choreographer: Ryan Schabach
Soundscape: Chris Guise
* Member of Actors' Equity Association
** Appearing courtesy of an Actors' Equity Association agreement
Director and Dramaturg: Michael Stebbins
Cast: Libby Amato**
Stage Manager - Melissa L. Wanke*
Assistant Stage Manager and Wardrobe: Jenn Sorvick
Props: Matt Norby
Costumes: Mary Siegel
Fight Choreographer: Ryan Schabach
Soundscape: Chris Guise
* Member of Actors' Equity Association
** Appearing courtesy of an Actors' Equity Association agreement
The Comedy of Romeo & Juliet, Kinda Sorta
Written and Directed by Patrick Schmitz
Cast: More Details Coming soon
Cast: More Details Coming soon
Macbeth, by the Pocket Park Puppet Players
More Details Coming Soon