"Bare boards and a passion." - Peter O'' Toole
Meet the cast of The Winter's Tale...
Thomas Daniels
Jewish King Lear, Indians (Metropolitan Playhouse). One Love (Theater for the New City). The Trojan Women (Hudson Warehouse Theatre). A Child’s Christmas in Wales (Shakespeare Theatre of NJ). Sherlock Holmes (Lake Dillon Theatre Company). A Moon for the Misbegotten (Playhouse on Park). Romeo and Juliet (Camden Shakespeare Festival). Dracula (Jenny Wiley Theatre). Taming of the Shrew (Shakespeare by the River Festival). BFA: Marietta College. MFA: Ohio University.
Autolicus
Alexandra Doman
Alexandra Doman is making her Classics on the Rocks debut! She recently returned from the holiday national tour with Cirque Dreams where she hopped on the back of the traveling circus bus and sang her heart out dressed as a bedazzled, lead-singing angel. She trained in the UK where she received her Masters in Acting from The Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama. She also received a BFA in Musical Theater from The Chicago College of Performing Arts. Her proudest Shakespearian past time is performing as a feminine, power-hungry Shylock in The Merchant of Venice with The Richard Burton Theatre Company in Cardiff, Wales. Ally wants to thank her mentors Lucy, Marilyn and Rebecca; the Frus; Cole, Mom and Tom! This one is for you, Grandma D. www.alexandradoman.com / @allydoman
Emilia/Mopsa/Diones
Lev Harvey
Lev Harvey is thrilled to be back at Classics on the Rocks! A graduate from the American Academy of Dramatic Arts, Lev has performed with the New Yiddish Rep, Origin Theatre Company, The New Natives, and more. He is best known for his portrayal of Happy Loman in New Yiddish Rep’s Off-Broadway production of Death of a Salesman (2016 Drama Desk Nominee). Other New York Theatre credits include Twelfth Night, Warmth, The Gentlemen Gangster, The Bespoke Overcoat, The Irish Hebrew Lesson, Last Night of Ballyhoo, You Belong to Me, and The Constant Wife. He also appeared on MTV’s The Substitute. Special thanks to Mom, Dad, and the rest of the tribe!
Camillo
Ray Huth
Theater Credits: Romeo & Juliet/Cymbeline Virginia Shakespeare Festival, Twelfth Night Classics On The Rocks, A Midsummer Night's Dream/Hamlet Stag and Lion Theater Co. National Tours: Mariposa & The Saint, USA To Z Bright Star Touring Theater Co. www.rayhuth.com
Florizel/Archidamus
John Kollmer
John Kollmer is a playwright, fight choreographer, whip maker, and sometimes actor. He's stoked to walk the boards with his Classics family once more after appearing as Shylock in The Merchant of Venice in 2015. He does not have an up-to-date headshot, and draws inspiration for Leontes' madness from his lack thereof.
Leontes
Anna Lewein
Anna Lewein ("lay-wine") is happy to be back AGAIN (!) with Classics on the Rocks. You may have seen her in Julius Caesar as Casca or Twelfth Night as Olivia. Anna is ecstatic that you are here. Enjoy the performance! Special thanks to the Classics On The Rocks team for being my theatrical home the past 3 summers. Much love to Jay, Paula, Jenna, and Joseph. https://www.facebook.com/leweinpage
Cleomenes/Dorcas/Lady
Bridget Randolph
Bridget Randolph is thrilled to be back with Classics on the Rocks after performing with them earlier this year. She trained with the Salon:Collective in London, UK (and played Proteus in their cue script production of Two Gentlemen of Verona), and currently studies improv and storytelling at Magnet Theater (NYC). Recently she has performed in shows at the Magnet, PIT and CAVEAT, and is developing her first solo show. www.bridgetacts.com
Perdita/Mamillius
Alice Rothman-Hicks*
Alice Rothman-Hicks believes deeply in the power of theatre to heal the world, and is beyond honored and delighted to get to work with such a wonderful, talented group to bring this amazing story and badass character to life! She’d like to send boundless love and gratitude, always and forever, to her incredible family, friends, and teachers -- and would like to thank YOU, O beautiful audience member, for joining us on our journey. :)
Paulina
Lucas Serby
Originally from Stockholm, Sweden, Lucas Serby moved to New York City in the fall of 2016 to study at the American Academy of Dramatic Arts and to pursue an acting career. He graduated from the school this April, having played Cassio in Othello, among other roles, as part of his exam play series. He is very excited to be performing with Classics on the Rocks and would like to thank the cast and crew as well as his always supportive family.
Clown/Lord
Connor Scott
Connor is thrilled to be making his premiere with Classics on the Rocks!
He just graduated from Northwestern University with a BA in Theatre and Economics, and is coming to the end of his first year in New York City. Previous onstage credits in New York and Chicago include Sir Toby (Twelfth Night), Kulygin (The Three Sisters), Thomas (The Rivals), Antipholus of Syracuse (The Comedy of Errors), and Alf (Peter and the Starcatcher). As a stage, film, and voiceover actor, Connor loves ensemble-based work, touring, and telling good stories by any means possible. Many thanks, as always, goes to his family and friends in New York and the Midwest. www.connorcscott.com
Headshot credit: Mari Uchida Photography
Antigonus/Time
John St. Croix
Most recently was seen last summer with Classics on the Rocks as Fabian/Sea Captain in Twelfth Night and is excited to return this year for another round! Other previous credits include: Gratiano in Othello with New York Shakespeare Exchange, both Borachio in Much Ado about Nothing and Dromio of Syracuse in Comedy of Errors with Underling Productions and Guildenstern in Hamlet with Virginia Shakespeare Festival, also a former acting apprentice of New Jersey Shakespeare Festival and Berkshire Theatre Festival’s summer programs, 2011 Graduate of Coastal Carolina University.
Polixenes
Patrick Taaffe
Patrick would like to thank Classics on the Rocks for the opportunity to be part of this season's Winter's Tale! Recent shows with the company include Twelfth Night (Sir Andrew Aguecheek), Julius Caesar (Antony), Merchant of Venice (Aragon/Duke/Old Gobbo), Much Ado About Nothing (Dogberry) and As You Like It (Charles/Corin). "T'is a lucky day, boy; and wee'l do good deeds on't"!
Old Shepherd/Servant/Gaoler
Sharon Stevens
​While Sharon’s love for performing began with a passion for musical theatre, in college she developed a profound love for classical works spanning from the ancient Greeks through the works of that well-known man from Stratford. She graduated from UCLA with a BA in Theatre in 2005, packed up her bags and moved to the Big Apple. She then spent her time traveling around with a few children’s theatre tours and various odd productions in NYC. Most recently she could be found performing as Rosalind in Classics on the Rocks production of As You Like It. Prior to that she worked extensively with the Oxford Shakespeare Company in some of Shakespeare’s finest female roles; Kate in Taming of the Shrew, Gertrude in Hamlet, and Cleopatra in Antony & Cleopatra. She is thrilled to be a founding member of Classics on the Rocks and share her passion and knowledge with others.
Hermione / Managing Director
* These actors are appearing courtesy the Actors' Equity Association.
Meet the Production Team...
William Downes
Before becoming the founder and artistic director of Classics on the Rocks, William Downes spent years honing his craft in and around New York City. He's had the honor of playing some of Shakespeare's most delightful clowns such as Dogberry(Much Ado About Nothing) Dromio of Syracuse(Comedy of Errors) Touchstone(As You Like It) and Launce(Two Gentlemen of Verona) and on the more serious side, he's played such intricate roles as Macbeth(MacBeth) Othello(Othello) Roderick(Double Falsehood) and Petruchio (Taming of the Shrew) As artistic Director of Classics on the Rocks, his goal is present the plays of Shakespeare and his contemporaries as they are, not what we think they should be. With no hidden agenda, we focus on the characters, and relationships that are at the core of these plays, that continue to resonate with us and remind us of what it means to be human.
Director
Samantha Ryel
Resident stage manager and associate producer for Classics on the Rocks, Samantha takes pride in keeping this lovable group of actors in line, on time, safe, and organized. Originally from Massachusetts, Samantha transplanted to NYC a few years ago and quickly found a her place within the theatre community stage managing for companies such as Onomatopoeia Theatre Company and Strindberg Rep - but Classics on the Rocks will always be home. In her spare time she enjoys baking tasty cookies and hanging with her cat Travis.
Stage Manager
Victoria Gomez
After graduating with her BFA from Emerson College, Victoria returned home to New York to be a part of the classical theatre scene. After playing such roles as Viola (Twelfth Night), Mistress Ford (The Merry Wives of Windsor), Lady MacDuff (Macbeth), Nerrissa (The Merchant of Venice) and Puck (A Midsummer Night’s Dream), she is now pursuing her Masters of Public Administration at Baruch College. Victoria has been doing Shakespeare shows with Will and Sharon for the last 3 years. Now being on board with Classics, she hopes to help the company grow and fulfill it’s mission to the fullest extent. Victoria would like to make a special thank you to Richard Harden, who has given her the tools and the confidence to endure this endeavor with all of her heart.
Production Manager
Kyla Ferris McHale
Kyla Ferris McHale is a NYC based director, choreographer and puppeteer. She has a background in physical theatre and is excited to use that both as a choreographer and puppet designer for Winter’s Tale. Recent directing & choreo credits include; Perfect the Musical (First Workshop), SHAKEn-not-SPEAREd, Olly Olly In Free, & Masked Connections (Kitchen Sink Arts). Strings Attached: Un Duex & Trois (Theatrix Festival), several Theatre of The Oppressed community productions, and numerous school productions. She will be directing some Shakespeare in the very near future! Recent Puppet & Mask Design: Once on This Island (Multiple Companies), Dinosaurs Before Dark (Kidz Theater), Temple of Souls (Multi-Stages), Children Of Eden (Kidz Theater), Seeking Silence (Puppets & Poets), and has worked with Bread & Puppet Theater. Kyla received her B.A. from Muhlenberg College and her M.A. from NYU. Kyla is also a full-time arts educator; managing programs across the city and leading professional development for NYC teachers in theatre and puppetry.
Choreographer, The Winter's Tale
