DARNELL PIERRE BENJAMIN (Ensemble, Second Season)is stoked about being a part of the CSC family for Season 18. Previously, you may have seen Darnell as Valentine in The Two Gentlemen of Verona, or as Louis the Dauphin in King John. This past summer, Darnell performed in his second Cincy Fringe Festival show, entitled The Body Speaks, choreographed by Pones, Inc. Other Cincinnati credits include Belize in Angels in America, Damien in Sideways Stories from Wayside School, and Oedipus in Alison Vodnoy’s The Eyes of Oedipus–all performed at the Know Theatre. Darnell originally hails from Lafayette, Louisiana.
IAN BOND (Ensemble, Second Season) is a graduate of Davidson College in North Carolina with his B.A. in Theatre. Having spent much of his youth in Cincinnati, he is proud to be part of a company he grew up watching. At Davidson he played Tartuffe in Tartuffe, Reece in Communicating Doors, and Hippolito in Women Beware Women, among other great roles. Last season he played Claudio in Much Ado About Nothing, Harker in Dracula, and Mr. Darcy in Pride and Prejudice. He would like to thank his family - Mom, Dad, Linnea, - and all who continue his education, both academic and personal.
BILLY CHACE (Ensemble, Fifth Season) Billy Chace has a B.A. in Theatre from George Mason University and is delighted to be a returning resident ensemble member at CSC. Recent roles with the company include Speed in Two Gentlemen of Verona, King John in King John, Renfield in Dracula, and Don John in Much Ado about Nothing. He has also recently collaborated with the Cincinnati Ballet as a live narrator in their production of A Midsummer Night's Dream.
CHARLIE CLARK (Ensemble, Debut) Charlie Clark is delighted to join the great gang of artists at Cincinnati Shakespeare. Cincinnati credits include Brandon in Next Fall, Man #2 in Don’t Make Me Pull This Show Over and Joe and Jerry in Grey Gardens for Ensemble Theatre; Enoch Snow in Carousel, Fagin in Oliver! and Freddie in Dirty Rotten Scoundrels at The Carnegie; Sherry and Larry in Church Girls for Commonwealth Theatre; The Husband in See What I Wanna See and Dasher in The Eight: Reindeer Monologues for Know Theatre; George in Sunday in the Park With George, Russ in The Goat, Jerry in The Full Monty and Mason in Take Me Out for New Stage Collective. You can see what Charlie is doing next at facebook.com/charlie.clark.actor.
SARA CLARK* (Artistic Associate, Ensemble, Sixth Season) is proud and happy to return for a sixth year with Cincinnati Shakespeare Company. Favorite roles at CSC include Marc Antony in Julius Caesar, Elizabeth Bennet in Pride and Prejudice, Mabel Chiltern in An Ideal Husband, and Masha in The Seagull. She has also performed locally with The Carnegie Visual and Performing Arts Center and New Edgecliff Theatre. Sara holds a BFA from the University of Oklahoma and co-directs the CSC Groundlings program for high school students. She sends special thanks to Mom, Dad and Jon for all their love and support, and to her loving husband and favorite actor, Nick: I am so glad you are back where you belong.
BRUCE CROMER* (Ensemble, Seventh Season) is a Resident Artist with The Human Race Theatre, a Professor in the Wright State Professional Actor Training Program, and a Certified Teacher with the Society of American Fight Directors. As a dedicated Equity regional stage actor, he has performed with the Alabama Shakespeare Festival, Santa Fe Stages International Theatre Festival, Milwaukee Repertory Theater, Repertory Theatre of St. Louis, Seattle Children's Theatre, etc. During the summer of 2011, he played Apemantus in Timon of Athens at the Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey. In the fall of 2011, he will perform a one-man version of Romeo and Juliet with the Dayton Philharmonic in November. Then he returns (for his seventh year) as Scrooge in the Cincinnati Playhouse's A Christmas Carol in December. He dearly loves his wife Carol and sons Charlie, Toby, and Elliot --- and wishes he saw them more often.
CARY DAVENPORT (Ensemble, Second Season) graduated from Northern Kentucky University where he received his BFA in Theatre Arts with an Emphasis in Musical Theatre. Favorite roles on the Cincy stage include Proteus in The Two Gentleman of Verona and Dr. Seward in Dracula. Cary also played Alan Strang in Equus at New Edgecliff Theatre and Scripps in The History Boys at New Stage Collective. Cary has collaborated heavily with his favorite avant-garde theatre company, Pones Inc. where he performed in The Factory (2008 Cincinnati Fringe Festival), Dance 2.0 and The Four Food Groups (2009 Cincinnati Fringe Festival). Thank you Rebecca Reisert.
GILES DAVIES* (Ensemble, Twelfth Season) Since last in Cincinnati, Giles has continued to work in the theatre community of Florida. He has worked with The Gorilla Theatre in a production of The Lion in Winter, performed his solo show An Evening with Charles Dickens in conjunction with teaching some classes at Hillsboro Community College, and played Puck in freeFall's production of A Midsummer Night's Dream. He taught a series of movement/Shakespeare classes for theatre professionals in the Tampa area. He then directed The Gorilla Theatre's production of Macbeth. After the joys of returning to CSC, he intends to work aboard a traveling barge/theatre in the Mediterranean with The Caravan Stage Theatre Company. He wishes to express his heartfelt appreciation to all the CSC patrons that have supported him over the years.
JEREMY DUBIN* (Artistic Associate, Twelfth Season) is originally from Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and received his bachelor’s degree from the University of Evansville and his master’s from Ohio State University. He has worked for several theaters across the country, including the Milwaukee Repertory Theater and the Unseam'd Shakespeare Company, and has appeared in a number of independent films. In addition to being an artistic associate and ensemble member, Jeremy is the director of the CSC Groundlings program and the CSC Shakespeare Summer Camp. He would like to thank his family for their unwavering enthusiasm and Kelly for her love and inspiration.
ANNIE FITPATRICK* (Ensemble, Second Season) Annie Fitzpatrick is delighted to be back at CSC having appeared as Madam Arcati in Blithe Spirit last summer. She works frequently at The Ensemble Theatre of Cincinnati where favorite productions include: Next Fall, Dead Man’s Cell Phone, Rabbit Hole, String of Pearls (for which she received an Acclaim Award), Wayfarer’s Rest, Intimate Apparel, The Exonerated, and Earhart. In addition, she won Cincinnati Entertainment Awards for her performances in Copperheads, Dinner with Friends, and Mauritius. She has worked regionally at Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park, The Repertory Theatre of St. Louis, Geva Theatre, Florida Stage, Florida Studio, CATCO, New Edgecliff Theatre, Human Race Theatre Co., Porthouse Theatre, and Cincinnati Children’s Theatre. She was a founding member of The New Group in New York and toured internationally with Murder a La Carte. She has appeared in numerous soaps, local and national commercials, local short films, and the movie Milk Money.
DREW FRACHER* (Ensemble, Ninth Season) Drew Fracher is an actor, director and fight arranger, currently serving as a Fight Master of the Society of American Fight Directors. As a director his work has been seen at Actors Theatre of Louisville, American Stage Theatre Co., Ensemble Theatre of Cincinnati, New Stage Collective, Florida Stage and the Alabama, Georgia, Kentucky and Shakespeare Festivals. Recent credits include A Christmas Story at GA Shakespeare and the critically acclaimed Skin Tight at the Know Theatre in Cincinnati. Here at CSC, he directed last season’s Much Ado about Nothing as well as Othello, The Tempest and A Streetcar Named Desire over the past few seasons. As an actor, recent roles include Bob Cratchit in A Christmas Carol at Actor’s Theatre of Louisville, Anton Schindler in 33 Variations at Ensemble Theatre of Cincinnati, as well as appearances the Cincinnati Playhouse and the Repertory Theatre of St. Louis.
SHERMAN FRACHER* (Ensemble, Ninth Season) is happy to return for another season at CSC. Some of her favorite shows include Julius Caesar, Pride and Prejudice, Much Ado About Nothing, The Seagull, Othello, The Winter’s Tale,A Streetcar Named Desire, Chagrin Falls, The Beard of Avon, Arcadia, Twelfth Night. She has also been seen at Ensemble Theatre of Cincinnati in such shows as String of Pearls,Moonlight and Magnolias, Sight Unseen, Three Days of Rain, Private Eyes, Side Man, and Wild Oats. She is an advocate for MS research, raising funds with performances of Above the 37th Parallel. Other theatres include Actor’s Express, Actor’s Theatre of Louisville, Georgia Shakespeare and The Human Race Theatre Company, and American Stage. Sherman is a registered yoga teacher, and the proud wife of director Drew Fracher.
BILL HARTNETT (Ensemble, Fourth Season) Bill has appeared in theaters in New York State, Pittsburgh and Cincinnati. He has worked with many Greater Cincinnati groups, both professional and community, including: Playhouse in the Park, Ensemble Theater of Cincinnati, Cincinnati Shakespeare Company, Showboat Majestic, Covedale Theatre for the Performing Arts, Cincinnati Music Theater, Sorg Opera Company, and Children's Theatre of Cincinnati. He has two one-man shows: Give 'Em Hell Harry and An Evening with Mark Twain. Bill has played leading roles in The Music Man, The King and I, Guys and Dolls, Damn Yankees and 110 In The Shade, Willie Loman in Death of A Salesman, Morrie in Tuesdays With Morrie, Weller in The Gin Game (opposite Ellie) Shannon in Night of the Iguana, Candy in Of Mice and Men, Norman in On Golden Pond, Clarence in It's A Wonderful Life, several roles in A Christmas Carol and Mr. Green in Visiting Mr. Green.
JIM HOPKINS* (Ensemble, Fifth Season) has most recently been seen at CSC as Van Helsing in Dracula, Mr. Bennet in Pride and Prejudice, and Cardinal Pandulph in The Life and Death of King John, as well as numerous other roles since moving to Cincinnati four years ago. Other past appearances include: The School for Wives at The Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey; Romeo and Juliet at the Human Race Theatre; Harvey and Noises Off! at the Great Plains Theatre Festival; Omnium Gatherum, Bus Stop, and Leading Ladies at the Nebraska Repertory Theatre; and as Jerry Springer in Jerry Springer the Opera; for Playhouse on the Square in Memphis. Jim holds an MFA from the University of Nebraska, Lincoln.
MIRANDA MCGEE (Ensemble, Third Season) Miranda McGee is chuffed to return to CSC for her third season. Originally from Australia, Miranda received a drama scholarship to Trinity University in Texas where she earned a BA in Drama and Communication. She has worked at various theatre companies around the US and Australia including Long Wharf Theatre, the Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey and PMD Productions. Some of her favourite CSC roles have been Hecuba in Women of Troy, Lydia Bennett Pride and Prejudice and Bottom/Hermia in the 2010-2012 A Midsummer Night's Dream tour. She would like to raise a glass to her family and friends in all countries, especially Gary and Tara Holtmeier, who play a big part in keeping her relatively sane. And cheers to our wonderful Cincinnati audiences!
KELLY MENGELKOCH* (Ensemble, Eighth Season) is happy to continue playing with her family at CSC. A Kansas native, she has worked regionally with St. Croix Festival Theatre, The Old Creamery Theatre, Kansas City's New Theatre, and most recently with New Stage Collective and The Human Race Theatre Company. Some favorite memories with Cincinnati Shakespeare Company have been All's Well That Ends Well, The Turn of the Screw, Pride and Prejudice, and Julius Caesar. Special love and thanks to all my families...and to my relentlessly wonderful husband Jeremy.
CORINNE MOHLENHOFF*(Ensemble, Thirteenth Season) Corinne is always so thankful to share the stage with the gifted artists at CSC. She is a native of New Jersey and has spent time training and working in theaters in Pennsylvania, California, South Carolina, and Wisconsin. She has had the pleasure of working for various local theatres including Human Race Theatre Company and Ovation Theatre Company. She also recently worked with ETC in Collected Stories and performed at CSC last season in Blithe Spirit, King John and the world premiere of Joe Stollenwerk’s stage adaptation of Margaret Atwood’s The Handmaid’s Tale as a one woman show. Corinne thanks her parents for all their love and support. She is immensely proud of her amazingly talented husband and loves her role as “mom” to her wonderful son.
BRIAN ISAAC PHILLIPS* (Producing Artistic Director, Ensemble, Thirteenth Season) assumed artistic leadership of Cincinnati Shakespeare Company in the fall of 2003, and became Producing Artistic Director in 2010. Prior to these responsibilities, he served with the organization as Associate Artistic Director for one season, as well as four seasons as a member of the acting company. Mr. Phillips is a graduate of Morehead State University and has been a resident of Cincinnati for over ten years. In that time he has worked for Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park, Ensemble Theatre of Cincinnati, Cincinnati Opera, Cincinnati Ballet, Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra, The Children’s Theatre, Know Theatre of Cincinnati, New Stage Collective, as well as over 100 productions with CSC. Most recent credits include The Two Gentlemen of Verona, The Handmaid’s Tale (world premiere), The Life and Death of King John, Dracula, Blithe Spirit, Krapp’s Last Tape, The Lion in Winter, All’s Well that Ends Well, Amadeus, Timon of Athens, The Seagull, Hamlet, Long Day’s Journey Into Night, King Lear, and Cymbeline. He also directed Angels in America: Millennium Approaches for Know Theatre and served as dramaturg for the Cincinnati Ballet’s production of A Midsummer Night’s Dream. Brian is the lucky husband of the most beautiful actress in town and the proud father of Holden Willis Phillips.
JOLIN POLASEK (Ensemble, Third Season) hails from Madison, Wisconsin. She trained as a classical voice major at the University of Minnesota for two years, then received her BFA in acting with an emphasis in musical theatre from Wright State University in Dayton, Ohio. She spent one year as an acting intern with the Playhouse In The Park and is happy to be returning to the Cincinnati Shakespeare Company family. Some of Jolin's favorite roles have been Silvia in Two Gentlemen of Verona, Snout in A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Mercutio in Romeo and Juliet, Octavius Caesar in Julius Caesar, and Woman 2 in I Love You, You're Perfect, Now Change at the Cincinnati Playhouse In The Park. She wants to thank her family and special other loved ones for all their love and support.
MAGGIE LOU RADER (Ensemble, Debut) Maggie Lou Rader is delighted to be joining CSC! After receiving her bachelor’s degree in Theatre from William Jewell College in Kansas City, she ventured across the pond to the Birmingham School of Acting where she received her master’s degree in Acting. After working with Kentucky Shakespeare, Oklahoma Shakespeare in the Park, and Birmingham Old Rep Theatre, some of her favorite roles include Viola in Twelfth Night, Caliban in The Tempest, and Desdemona in Othello. She wants to thank her family and friends for their unending love, humor, awesomeness, and encouragement.
NICHOLAS ROSE* (Ensemble, Fifteenth Season) Originally from Herndon, VA, Nick moved to Cincinnati, OH in 1994 to help start what would become the Cincinnati Shakespeare Company. He is very proud and honored to again perform for the company this season. Some of his favorite roles over the past 17 years have been: (CSC) Romeo in Romeo and Juliet, Oberon in A Midsummer Night's DreamOedipus in The Oedipus Trilogy, Jim in The Weir, and Timon in Timon of Athens; (Know Theatre of Cincinnati) Satan in The Last Days of Judas Iscariot (Ensemble Theatre of Cincinnati) Gordon in Dead Man's Cell Phone; (Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park) Mr. Cupp in A Christmas Carol. When not acting, he can occasionally be found around town managing various IT projects, bowling, drinking coffee, or reclining back with Sara and Keillor watching Netflix.
ELLIE SHEPHERD (Ensemble, Second Season) Ellie has been involved in professional and community theater for over 40 years. She served on the Cincinnati Children's Theatre board and performed in many of their productions during its formative years. She has taught creative dramatics and utilized her art training to design sets and create makeup. She has appeared in many local and regional theaters including Playhouse in the Park, Showboat Majestic, Ensemble Theatre of Cincinnati, Shakespeare Company, Covedale Theater of the Performing Arts and many others. Roles include Miss Daisy in Driving Miss Daisy, Miss Helen in Road To Mecca, Dorothea in Eleemosynary, Vladimir in Waiting for Godot, Annie in Foxfire, Fonsia in The Gin Game and Hannah in Night of the Iguana. Ellie directs husband Bill Hartnett in his one man shows of Mark Twain and Harry Truman. She also performs in various television and radio commercials, voice overs and industrial videos.
BRENT VIMTRUP*(Ensemble, Debut) Brent couldn't be happier to be joining CSC as a Core Company Member. Favorite credits include: The Lieutenant of Inishmore (Syracuse Stage), The Voysey Inheritance (Milwaukee Rep), King Lear (Riverside Shakespeare), Romeo and Juliet (National Shakespeare Company), Bread and Butter (Provincetown Playhouse), Sunshine Boys (Monomoy Playhouse) and Orange Flower Water with InPromixity Theatre in NYC. Originally from this fine city of Cincinnati, Brent has a BFA in Acting from Syracuse University and a MFA in the same from Ohio University. A special shout out to family and both new and old friends...
KATE WILFORD* (Ensemble, Fourth Season) Kate is delighted to be back after past performances as Lady Capulet in Romeo and Juliet, Lubya in The Cherry Orchard and Kate Keller in All My Sons. Most recently she was seen in Night of the Iquana with New Edgecliff theater [where she won a best actress Acclaim in Death Of A Salesman] and as Becky in Becky’s New Car at Ensemble Theater of Cincinnati. She was artistic director for Cincinnati Children’s Theater for several years, has directed for the Women’s Theater Initiative and Xavier University as well. Kate worked for many years as a voice-over and on camera artist. She is currently the executive director of Afterschool Acting, a non-profit dedicated to bringing professional actors into schools to teach and mentor.
* Actor appears courtesy of Actors’ Equity Association, the union of professional actors and stage managers in the United States.
