Cast
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Director's NoteWilliam Shakespeare's life was defined by plague. He defied all odds and survived the plague at just 3 months old, and he later lost his 11-year-old son Hamnet to the plague. A particularly powerful wave of the Bubonic Plague struck England in 1593, forcing the closures of theatres for 14 months. Then there was an outbreak in 1603. Another in 1610.
Despite all this, Shakespeare never left London. According to Shakespearean scholar James Shapiro, Shakespeare stayed in the city because, "he understood his job as an artist was to help people come out of difficult periods when the theaters reopened [...] His works were there to give them comfort and clarity." Just like he was there for Londoners after the plague, Shakespeare is here for us in Green Bay during these overwhelming Covid days. With The Taming of the Shrew, he's here to let us laugh, make us think, and help us learn. The Taming of the Shrew is an incredibly complicated and controversial play, which is why we both love and hate it. The title is almost a misnomer, because if you take the time to really delve into this play and peel away the layers you'll find a play that's not a man trying to create an obedient and subservient wife but rather a couple learning how to work together in a world that does not view them as equals. During a time when our human interaction has shifted dramatically, Shrew reminds us what it takes to make a relationship (romantic or platonic) work -- patience, love, and equality. |
BIOS
EMMA FOLEY (Curtis/Widow) based in Green Bay, WI will be in her junior year of college at The University of Wisconsin-Parkside studying theatre and communication this fall. Some of her favorite acting credits at Parkside include: Maria in William Shakespeare’s Love’s Labour’s Lost (2019), and Soupy Sue in Mark Hollmann’s Urinetown (2019). Emma begins work in September Assistant Directing Parkside’s production of Romeo and Juliet. In her spare time, Emma enjoys singing, binge-watching netflix, and getting creative in the kitchen. |
ALYSSA HANNAM (Bianca) from Fort Atkinson, WI, will be graduating from the University of Wisconsin Green Bay this fall with a double major in Musical Theatre and Creative Writing. Her favorite past credits include Portia/Soldier in Julius Caesar, Sherry/Dr.Toros in Mary Jane, and Sister Mary Brendan in Nunsense the Mega Musical. She'd like to thank Play-by-Play for this opportunity and all the fun this experience brought her. |
BAILEE HARPER (Nathaniel/Pedant) Bailee is extremely excited to be a part of his first Play-by-Play Theatre production. Having completed three years at UW Stevens Point, he is a senior year away from receiving a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Acting. His passion for performing continues to hold strong even through this unprecedented pandemic that we are all experiencing. He would like to thank his family and friends for always supporting him in his theatrical endeavors, this is for you! |
SCOTT HARPT (Peter/Tailor/Vincentio) performed in plays in college and at Theater on the Bay in Marinette with legendary director, Herb Williams. Scott was the founder and director of the Independent Filmmakers Guild (IFG) in the Green Bay, and studied Improv and Comedy Sketch Writing at The Second City in Chicago. Most recently, Scott joined the cast of Birder Players' A Christmas Carol, The Musical (2019). |
EMILY HOLLAND (Katherine) is thrilled time be joining the cast of The Taming of the Shrew this summer. She spent her summer last year with the company of Door Shakespeare in Baileys Harbor, WI and performed in Henry V and The Merry Wives of Windsor for a 3 month run. She is an upcoming junior at the University of Wisconsin - Stevens Point, majoring in Musical Theatre and minoring in Dance. This fall, she is releasing her first original solo album entitled “healed”, available on all major music streaming platforms. Enjoy the show! www.emilynicoleholland.com |
WILL KNAAPEN (Petruchio) Will wasn't sure that theater would be possible this summer and he jumped at the chance to perform in a show that blended such a fantastic play with an eye for safety during this difficult time. He was excited by the challenge of playing the complex Petruchio and is honored to be cast next to the talented and wonderful people that worked so hard to make this show happen. He hopes that you all enjoy watching the show as much as he enjoyed acting in it! |
BRANDON PONSCHOCK (Hortensio) a native of Appleton, is thrilled to playing the role of Hortensio in Play-by-Play’s production of The Taming of the Shrew. This is Brandon’s third production with Play-by-Play, having previous starred as Pastor Ogelthorpe in Smoke on the Mountain and Nick Bottom in A Midsummer Night's Dream. Brandon would like to thank his family and friends - especially his mother - for always supporting him, and the good people at Play-by-Play for the opportunity to participate in more onstage hijinks! Please enjoy the show! |
TERESA APORTELA SERGOTT (Baptista) is excited to take on the "new" Baptista in The Taming of the Shrew. Earlier this summer, she reprised her role as Peter Quince in Play-by-Play's Virtual Theatre in the Park. Teresa has performed with Theatre Z in Kayak (Annie), Sordid Lives (LaVonda), Other Desert Cities (Brooke), Blackbird’s Garden (Eliza), as well as shows with Evergreen Theatre. Directing credits include: International Stud, The Santaland Diaries, Incorruptible, and Get Smart. Teresa finds theatre a beautiful way for humanity to express and connect itself. She is very grateful to be a part of this creative and Covid-safe production. She would like to dedicate her performance to her brother, Raul. |
IAN WISNESKI (Biondello) is very excited to return with Play-by-Play for summer Shakespeare. He is grateful for the opportunity to be in such a wonderful production. He wants to thank his wonderful director, Carolyn, for her dedication and love of Shakespeare, as well her patience while teaching those of us who are more or less new to this incredible playwright. Ian hopes you will enjoy the show as much as he has enjoyed working on it! |
RACHEL ZIOLKOWSKI (Grumio) is happily returning to Shakespeare after a nine year hiatus! Her most recent performances were as Olga Mara in the St. Norbert College Summer Stage production of Singin' in the Rain, and as Mary Kenny in Do Black Patent Leather Shoes Really Reflect Up? at the Forst Inn. This is Rachel's first production with Play-by-Play. She is a local music teacher and thanks you for supporting the arts! |
ELIZABETH JOLLY (Stage Manager) is a graduate of St. Norbert College and The American Academy of Dramatic Arts. She has worked as an actor, director, stage manager, costume designer, choreographer, and occasionally as a props mistress for many local community theaters. She would like to thank her family family (Debramom and Daviddad) and her larger theater family for supporting this true community collaboration. "Enjoy the show!" |
CAROLYN SILVERBERG (Director) Carolyn’s love of Shakespeare began when she played Lady Macbeth waaay back in 5th grade. She earned her MA in Shakespeare from Royal Holloway University of London, where she also appeared in Romeo and Juliet and The Tempest. Favorite performing credits: Play-by-Play’s A Midsummer Night's Dream, Smoke on the Mountain (BroadwayWorld.com Regional Award - Best Actress), Return to the Forbidden Planet; Evergreen’s Fiddler on the Roof, Steel Magnolias. Recent directing credits: A Midsummer Night's Dream (Play-by-Play); The Velveteen Rabbit, The Three Musketeers, (Evergreen Young Actors). "Thanks, and thanks, and ever thanks" to this incredible SHREW team! For Dad, always. Instagram: @thebardolator. |
WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE (Playwright) was a renowned English poet, playwright, and actor born in 1564 in Stratford-upon-Avon. His birthday is most commonly celebrated on April 23rd which is also believed to be the date he died in 1616. Shakespeare was a prolific writer during the Elizabethan and Jacobean ages of British theatre. Shakespeare's work includes 38 plays, 2 narrative poems, 154 sonnets, and a variety of other poems. Shakespeare’s legacy is as rich and diverse as his work; his plays have spawned countless adaptations across multiple genres and cultures. His plays have had an enduring presence on stage and film. William Shakespeare continues to be one of the most important literary figures of the English language. (source) |
The Taming of the Shrew - Synopsis
In the Italian city of Padua, a rich young man named Lucentio arrives with his servants, Tranio and Biondello, to attend the local university. Lucentio’s priorities change when he sees Bianca, a beautiful, mild young woman with whom he instantly falls in love. There are two problems: first, Bianca already has two suitors (Gremio and Hortensio); second, Bianca’s mother has declared that no one may court Bianca until first her older sister, the vicious, ill-tempered Katherine, is married. Lucentio decides to disguise himself as Bianca’s Latin tutor to gain an excuse to be in her company. Hortensio disguises himself as her music teacher for the same reason. While Lucentio pretends to be Bianca’s tutor, Tranio dresses up as Lucentio and begins to confer with Baptista about the possibility of marrying her daughter.
Hortensio’s friend Petruchio, a brash young man from Verona, arrives in Padua (along with his servant, Grumio) to find a wife. He agrees to marry Katherine sight unseen. The next day, he goes to Baptista’s house to meet her, and they have a tremendous duel of words. He tells Baptista, falsely, that Katherine has consented to marry him on Sunday.
On Sunday, Petruchio is late to his own wedding, leaving Katherine to fear she will become an old maid. After the wedding, Petruchio forces Katherine to leave for his country house before the feast. Once they reach his country house, Petruchio continues the process of “taming” Katherine.
In Padua, Lucentio wins Bianca’s heart and Hortensio resolves to marry a wealthy widow. Tranio secures Baptista’s approval for Lucentio to marry Bianca by proposing a huge sum of money to lavish on her. Baptista agrees but says that he must have this sum confirmed by Lucentio’s father before the marriage can take place. Tranio and Lucentio, still in their respective disguises, feel there is nothing left to do but find a man to play the role of Lucentio’s father. Tranio enlists the help of a pedant, but as the pedant speaks to Baptista, Lucentio and Bianca decide to circumvent the complex situation by eloping.
Katherine and Petruchio soon return to Padua to visit Baptista. On the road, the couple meets Lucentio’s father, Vincentio, who is on his way to Padua to see his son. In Padua, Vincentio is shocked to find Tranio masquerading as Lucentio. At last, Bianca and Lucentio arrive to spread the news of their marriage.
At the banquet following Hortensio’s wedding to the widow, everyone is shocked to see that Katherine seems to have been “tamed”. When the three new husbands stage a contest to see which of their wives will obey first when summoned, everyone is shocked when Katherine comes immediately. The others acknowledge that Petruchio has won an astonishing victory, and the happy Katherine and Petruchio successfully leave the banquet.
Hortensio’s friend Petruchio, a brash young man from Verona, arrives in Padua (along with his servant, Grumio) to find a wife. He agrees to marry Katherine sight unseen. The next day, he goes to Baptista’s house to meet her, and they have a tremendous duel of words. He tells Baptista, falsely, that Katherine has consented to marry him on Sunday.
On Sunday, Petruchio is late to his own wedding, leaving Katherine to fear she will become an old maid. After the wedding, Petruchio forces Katherine to leave for his country house before the feast. Once they reach his country house, Petruchio continues the process of “taming” Katherine.
In Padua, Lucentio wins Bianca’s heart and Hortensio resolves to marry a wealthy widow. Tranio secures Baptista’s approval for Lucentio to marry Bianca by proposing a huge sum of money to lavish on her. Baptista agrees but says that he must have this sum confirmed by Lucentio’s father before the marriage can take place. Tranio and Lucentio, still in their respective disguises, feel there is nothing left to do but find a man to play the role of Lucentio’s father. Tranio enlists the help of a pedant, but as the pedant speaks to Baptista, Lucentio and Bianca decide to circumvent the complex situation by eloping.
Katherine and Petruchio soon return to Padua to visit Baptista. On the road, the couple meets Lucentio’s father, Vincentio, who is on his way to Padua to see his son. In Padua, Vincentio is shocked to find Tranio masquerading as Lucentio. At last, Bianca and Lucentio arrive to spread the news of their marriage.
At the banquet following Hortensio’s wedding to the widow, everyone is shocked to see that Katherine seems to have been “tamed”. When the three new husbands stage a contest to see which of their wives will obey first when summoned, everyone is shocked when Katherine comes immediately. The others acknowledge that Petruchio has won an astonishing victory, and the happy Katherine and Petruchio successfully leave the banquet.
Special Thanks
The Fireside Theater
Heritage Hill State Park
Abrams Spotlight Productions
Evergreen Productions
Carol Ehlinger
Jen Metcalf
Molly Lucareli
Kaara McHugh
Mike Eserkaln
All of our Recent Donors!
Heritage Hill State Park
Abrams Spotlight Productions
Evergreen Productions
Carol Ehlinger
Jen Metcalf
Molly Lucareli
Kaara McHugh
Mike Eserkaln
All of our Recent Donors!
Green Bay’s first professional regional theatre company - and winner of multiple BroadwayWorld.com Appleton Area Regional Awards - Play-byPlay Theatre is excited to be a part of the growing cultural landscape of Green Bay, contributing to its future vitality and helping to explore the potential of this community step by step, play by play.
To help support Play-by-Play, please visit https://www.playbyplaytheatre.org/support |