Cast

back to HAMLET

**Ashley Fox | HAMLET –** Ashley *(she/her)* is honored to work with Red Theater for the first time. She has worked with many storefront theaters over her 13 years in Chicago; highlights include Molly Bloom (*Ulysses*) for The Plagiarists, Cathy/Bertha (*Bronte*) for Promethean, and Juliet (*Romeo and Juliet*) for Babes with Blades. Other fun ones include Pegeen (*Playboy of the Western World*) down in Houston, Texas and Speed (*Two Gentlemen of Verona*) for Houston Shakespeare Festival. Ashley has an MFA in Classical Acting from the University of Houston and a BA in Film, Television, and Theatre from University of Notre Dame.

**Robert Koon | CLAUDIUS / GHOST –** Robert *(he/him)* is happy to be working with the good people at Red Theater, and to be revisiting *Hamlet*, after appearing as the Player King in Invictus Theatre’s 2021 production. He recently appeared in *The Kelly Girls* for Factory, *Man of the People* for Stage Left, and Middle Passage for Lifeline. For Broken Nose Theatre, he appeared in *Labyrinth* and *Human Terrain*. Other credits include *Casa Valentina* for Pride Films and Plays, *A Dickens Carol* and *Taming of the Shrew* at Oak Park Festival Theatre, *The Woman in Black* for Wildclaw Theatre, and *Chagrin Falls* for The Agency (Jeff Nomination). Robert is a Resident Playwright alumnus at Chicago Dramatists, and his plays include *Odin’s Horse* (Jeff Nomination) and *Vintage Red* and *The Dust of the Road* (Joseph Jefferson Award for New Work). He is a member of the Dramatists Guild. Love to JM and Dr. K.

**Reginald Hemphill | HORATIO –** Reginald *(he/him)* is a Chicago based actor excited to work with Red Theater on their production of *Hamlet*! His recent credits include *Promises, Promises* (Mr. Vanderhoff, Blank Theatre), *The Mousetrap* (Mr. Paravicini, Citadel Theater), *House Musical* (Johnny, Campfire Productions), and *The HOA* (Patrick, Factory Theatre). Reggie is excited to work as Horatio and be a part of such a brilliant cast. Reggie is represented by Actors Talent Group.

**Zach Bloomfield | POLONIUS –** Zach *(he/him)* is pleased to work with Red Theater for the first time. Film: *Runner*; Television: *Zen Room* (Pilot); Recent Chicago Theatre credits include *The Lehman Trilogy* and *Trouble in Mind* (U/S in both) at Timeline Theatre Company; *The Polar Express* with Rail Events Productions; and *The Crucible* at Invictus Theatre Company. Other Chicago companies he's worked with include Shattered Globe, BoHo, City Lit, Promethean Theatre Ensemble, The Factory Theater, Oil Lamp Theatre, and many productions at Eclipse Theatre Company, where he was an ensemble member. He is represented by Big Mouth Talent.

**Kelly Levander | GERTRUDE –** Kelly *(she/her)* Kelly is overjoyed to join this talented ensemble in bringing *Hamlet* to life on stage. A native Southerner, she was drawn to Chicago by the vibrant scene of new works and creative storytelling within its storefront theaters, renowned for their intimate settings and experimental productions. In Chicago, Kelly has worked with Bramble, Citadel, Jackalope, Muse of Fire, Avalanche, and Artemisia, among others. Before making Chicago her home, she performed in numerous regional theaters across the US. She extends her gratitude to Red Theater for providing the opportunity to delve into the beautiful language of Shakespeare and for their steadfast commitment to nurturing artistic expression. Special thanks to Wyatt, Sean, Mer, and her fellow castmates, who have brought immense joy to this process.

**Julia Rowley | OPHELIA / FORTINBRAS –** Julia *(she/her)* is grateful to be back with Red Theater. Recent theater credits include Indoor Cats (Red Theater), *The Rise & Fall of Little Voice* (The Gift Theatre), *Airness* (Citadel), and *Blue Stockings* (Promethean Theatre Ensemble). TV/film credits include *NeXt* (Fox), *Chicago Med* (NBC), *South Side* (HBO), and *The Killer* (Netflix). She is a graduate of The Black Box Academy, The Second City Conservatory, iO, CIC, and studied the Bard in Susan Hart’s Shakespeare classes. She is represented by NV Talent. When not acting, she is giving bike tours through Chicago. She’d like to thank you for coming out to support local theater.

**Ian Maryfield | LAERTES –** Ian *(he/him)* is pumped to be back at Red Theater where he previously performed in the Jeff Award-winning production of *Indoor Cats*! As a resident of Chicago, Ian has worked with Chicago Shakespeare Theatre, Court Theatre, Windy City Playhouse, The House Theatre, Red Tape Theatre, First Floor Theatre, Haven Theatre, Redtwist Theatre and others, as well as, regionally with Montana Shakespeare in the Parks. Some commercial credits: State Farm, Guinness, Legendary Whitetails, and Avocados From Mexico. Television credits: *Chicago Fire* (NBC). Ian holds a BFA from Oklahoma City University. He is represented by Stewart Talent. He would like to thank his mother and brother for their love and support and Meredith Ernst for being his love, his inspiration and his partner in crime. To God be the glory.

**Harrison Lampert | ROSENCRANTZ / BARNARDO –** Harrison *(he/him)* is originally from Philadelphia. Previously with Red, he understudied Pete in Indoor Cats. He is an alumnus of The Groundlings Sunday Company in LA and has been featured in shows including *Ghosted, Fresh Off The Boat*, and *The Daily Show*. He also knows the names of all the cereal box mascots so if you want to know any of them, please let him know. He is very excited to be a part of this production.

**Mary Townsend Cahoon | GUILDENSTERN / 2ND GRAVEDIGGER | OPHELIA / FORTINBRAS (U/s) –** Mary *(she/her)* is originally from Arizona, where she worked as an actor, designer, and technician at theaters including: Flagstaff Shakespeare Festival, Southwest Shakespeare Company, Ms. Conceived Shakespeare, Stray Cat Theatre, The Phoenix Theatre Company, BLK BOX PHX, Space 55, Mesa Encore Theater, Theater League, and Broadway Guild of America. Mary also spent a summer studying at Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre in London, under the direction of Joanne Howarth. Recent Chicago production credits include Red Theater (*Vinegar Tom; Indoor Cats; Muted*.), Steppenwolf Theatre Company (*Another Marriage; POTUS*) and The Plagiarists (*Arabia, Arabia; When You Awake…*). All her love and thanks to her husband, Andy, the best partner on stage and in life. www.maryktownsend.com

**Tatiana Pavela | 1ST PLAYER / REYNALDO / PLAYER QUEEN / DOCTOR OF DIVINITY –** Tatiana *(she/her)* likes to act, write, make art with friends and teach others how to do the same. She’s fairly new to Chicago, but you may have seen her as Maria in Midsommer Flight’s *Twelfth Night* or Theater Wit’s production of *Hurricane Diane* (u/s Pam & Carol). Her solo show, *Brandi Alexander*, was the recipient of an Artist Trust Award (Seattle, WA). *Brandi Alexander* was part of the 2019 Edinburgh Festival Fringe and was a Week 1 Critic’s Pick from The List. MFA from University of Washington PATP; BFA from NYU Tisch School of the Arts. Repped by DDO Artists Agency; www.tatianapavela.com

**Josh Razavi | GRAVEDIGGER / FRANCISCO / VOLTEMAND / PLAYER KING –** Josh *(he/him)* is glad to be returning to the stage with Red Theater, now as part of their Artistic Cohort! Recent credits include Melchoir in *Wise Guys* (The Factory Theater) and Jack in *Vinegar Tom* (Red Theater). He has worked on stages around Chicago with Silk Road Rising, Redtwist Theater, First Folio Shakespeare, About Face Theater, Jackalope Theater, Lifeline Theater, and The Factory Theater-where he is also an Artistic Associate. An alum of ISU's Theatre program, he trained and performed with The Second City and iO Chicago. Currently, he has shows running at iO- including the soon to be open *Fleeced*, a puppet improv show where he is the puppet designer, co-producer, and performer. Josh is of proud Persian heritage and a member of the SWANASA theater community here in the city. Represented by Stewart Talent. @JoshRzv

Tulsi McDaniels | OSRIC / MARCELLUS / PLAYER / LUCIANUS – Tulsi (she/her) is a Chicago-based actor and performer working predominantly in theater and film. After having completed an interdisciplinary program at Columbia College Chicago, Tulsi has continued her theatrical studies with improv and play-writing at Chicago's Neo-Futurists Theatre and Second City, receiving special training under Jerod Haynes and Marti Lyons of Remy Bumppo. Her recent performances include Emma Smart’s House of Yaba Gaba, and Christopher Chen’s Passage.

**Tess Galbiati | HAMLET / GUILDENSTERN / 2ND GRAVEDIGGER (U/s) –** Tess (she/her) is a Chicago actor, musician and writer, and is thrilled to be working with Red Theater again! Favorite credits include *Caveman Play* (Red Theater), *I and you* (Wharton Performing Arts Center), *Hamlet* (Stone Soup Shakespeare), *Indoor Cats* (Red Theater), and *Doctor Faustus* (Mythfest). Tess holds a BA with concentrations in writing and performance from Arizona State University. She also has a *Hamlet* vlog series (currently on hiatus) that can be found on TikTok via @princessgumby

Craig Duff | POLONIUS / CLAUDIUS / GHOST (U/s) – Craig (he/him) is a national Emmy award-winning video journalist, documentary filmmaker and professor who is re-emerging as a theater artist after many years away from acting. In 2023, he was cast in his first Chicago role as Duke Vincentio in Olde School Shakespeare Collective’s production of Measure for Measure. In his younger years, his favorite roles included: Mitch in A Streetcar Named Desire; Thomas in The Lady’s Not for Burning; Henry VIII in Royal Gambit; Henry David in The Night Thoreau Spent in Jail; Arnolphe in The School for Wives, and many others. Craig is a professor at Northwestern’s Medill School, where he leads the graduate journalism program’s video/broadcast specialization.

**RJ Cecott | LAERTES (U/s) –** RJ *(he/him)* is thrilled to make his Red Theater debut. An award-winning actor, RJ received his Bachelor of Science in Acting at Illinois State University. Notable roles: *columbinus* (Eric Harris), *The 25th … Spelling Bee* (Leaf Coneybear), *Romeo & Juliet* (Romeo), *The Last Days of Judas Iscariot* (Satan), *Angels in America* (Prior), *Evil Dead: The Musical* (Ash), *Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?* (Nick), *Brighton Beach Memoirs* (Stanley), *Little Shop of Horrors* (Orin Scrivello [u/s Seymour]), *This is Our Youth* (Dennis), *Spring Awakening* (Moritz). Film: *Parallels* (2023), *Chicago Med* (NBC), and is currently filming *The Girl in the Mask* (as Red Robin, with Kevin Porter [*Dodgeball*] as Batman). You can see more at rjcecott.com

Aimee Kleiman | GERTRUDE / PLAYER QUEEN / PLAYER QUEEN / 1ST PLAYER / REYNALDO / DOCTOR OF DIVINITY (U/s) – Aimee (she/her) is thrilled to make both her Red Theater and Shakespeare debut. She was most recently seen as Lee Green in The Tale of the Allergist's Wife (Skokie Theatre). Favorite roles include Jane Tate in It Runs in the Family (Citadel Theatre), Abby in Conversations About an Empty Suit (Three Brothers), Edith Frank in Diary of Anne Frank (Improv Playhouse), and Fiona in Brigadoon (CenterStage). Aimee is a proud member of the Theo Ubique Cabaret Theatre Board of Directors. Thank you to Benji, Jonah, Elliott, and Orly for your constant love and support.