Casting has been announced and routes are being planned for Shakespeare & Company’s Northeast Regional Tour of Shakespeare, hitting the road to present Hamlet, directed by Kevin G. Coleman, February 10 – May 1.
A story full of mystery, revenge, and tough choices about truth and loyalty, Hamlet follows its titular character as he learns that his uncle killed his father, the King, and now wears the crown.
Shakespeare & Company’s production is an education tour that travels to schools, community centers, and performance venues across the region, as well as Shakespeare & Company’s mainstage. The tour offers a fully produced show accompanied by post-show forums and various related workshops. It reaches more than 20,000 students, teachers, and audience members each year, and has been part of Shakespeare & Company’s Education Program since 1982.
Coleman, who directs Hamlet and also serves as Shakespeare & Company’s Director of Education, said bringing this play on the road takes it back to its roots – “performed up close, with energy, humor, and heart.”
“It’s a story that asks enormous questions about truth, justice, and what it means to act—and sharing those ideas with students and audiences across the region reminds us how alive and relevant Shakespeare remains,” he said. “And that’s our goal; to make Shakespeare immediate and accessible and to show students that these stories aren’t dusty relics, but living, breathing conversations about being human.”
This year, the tour travels from Massachusetts to Vermont, New Hampshire, Maine, Connecticut, and New York.
In addition, the tour presents student matinees for local schools at the Tina Packer Playhouse at Shakespeare & Company’s campus in Lenox, Mass., as well as three public performances: two open-captioned performances on Thursday, April 23, and Friday, April 24 at 2:30 p.m., and Saturday, April 25 at 7 p.m.
A sensory-friendly performance will be held on Saturday, April 25, at 2:30 p.m., with a venue walk-through and introduction to the actors before the performance.
To book a stop on the Northeast Regional tour or learn more about attending a student matinee at Shakespeare & Company, email education@shakespeare.org or call 413.637.1199 ext. 172.
Cast of the Northeast Regional Tour of Shakespeare’s Hamlet
Kevin G. Coleman
Director
Kevin G. Coleman is a Shakespeare & Company founding member and its Director of Education. He is a master teacher of text analysis, stage combat, clown, and rhetoric. Coleman has been a guest teacher or director at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Harvard University, the University of Massachusetts, Amherst, Louisiana State University, SUNY Albany, Stanford University, Shenandoah Shakespeare, Queensland University, Australia, Lincoln Center, the Folger Library, and the Stratford Festival, among others. He was honored at the White House in 2006 for the Education Program’s work with juvenile offenders, which received the Coming Up Taller award. He has also received the Teaching Artist Award for Theatre from the State of Massachusetts and was a finalist for the 2016 Tony Education Award. He holds degrees from St. Louis University and NYU..
Abigail St. John she/they
(Gertrude / Gravedigger)
Abigail is an Education Artist, Actor, and Clown. This is Abigail’s Shakespeare & Company acting debut, and she is SO excited to be bringing the story of Hamlet to you. She has been a Shakespeare & Company’s Education Artist for the past two and a half years and has had the privilege of working with over 700 students through the many different education programs that S&Co has to offer – which is mind-blowing! Abigail is always on the lookout for the best BBQ spot and wants your recommendation. She wants to thank her mom, Blake Waters, and her Berkshire chosen family for their support and for their endless love. It’s never too late to start theater; if you’re looking for a sign, here it is.
John Leggett he/him
(Polonius / Horatio)
John is excited to be back with Shakespeare & Company for the Winter Season! John appeared as the Prince/Fight Captain in their summer production of Romeo and Juliet, the fight choreographer for their production of The Taming of the Shrew, and as a Director in the 37th Annual Fall Festival of Shakespeare! John is a certified actor combatant with the Society of American Fight Directors; he really likes fighting with swords! Represented by Jim Keith at The Movement Talent Agency. Much love to his friends, family, and the “& Company” of this great Playhouse!
Jonathan Perkins he/him
(Claudius / Ghost)
Jonathan Perkins is HYPED to be an Actor/Teaching Artist for Hamlet in his Shakespeare & Company debut!! He received his BFA in Acting from Northern Illinois University and had additional training with Milwaukee Rep’s Emerging Professional Residency. He is currently based in Chicago and loves going on walks, reading romance books, and cooking good food. Past shows include: Romeo and Juliet & A Christmas Carol (Milwaukee Rep), Comedy of Errors, Pride & Prejudice, King Lear (Texas Shakespeare Festival), Macbeth & Merry Wives of Windsor (Hoosier Shakespeare Festival), A Christmas Carol (Children’s Theater of Madison), The Book of Will (Promethean Theatre Ensemble), Oh, These Times!, and Romeo and Juliet (Midsommer Flight), The Clinic (Congo Square Theatre). George’s Daughter (Ghostlight Ensemble Theatre). For Mom, Nana, and my Grandmas. “But He, that hath the steerage of my course, Direct my sail!” Proudly repped by Lily’s Talent.
Joslyn Eaddy Meléndez she/her
(Laertes / Guildenstern)
Joslyn is excited to be returning to the Northeast Regional Tour this year! A native and resident of Connecticut, she received her B.A. in Performing Arts with a concentration in Theatre at Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts. Joslyn performed with the all-female/nonbinary tour of Macbeth last year as Macduff, a Witch, a Murderer, and Macduff’s son. Recent credits include: Demetrius/Peter Quince in A Midsummer Night’s Dream (Rooted Voyagers). Bianca in Taming of the Shrew and Marcellus/Player 2 in Hamlet (Capital Classics Theatre Company), Rosalind in As You Like It (Times Fool Company), Hero in Much Ado About Nothing (Capital Classics), and Helena in A Midsummer Night’s Dream (Pittsfield Shakespeare in the Park).
Kirsten Mulrenan she/her
(Ophelia / Rosencrantz / Osric)
Kirsten is an actor and educator born and raised in Massachusetts and currently based in Los Angeles, Calif. She is so excited to be on tour with Shakespeare & Company, where she is an Education Artist in the Company’s Riotous Youth, Fall Festival, and School Residency programs. Kirsten is an alum of Skidmore College and has trained at Shakespeare & Company and the Gaiety School of Acting in Dublin, Ireland. She sends a big thank you to her family and friends for all their endless support!
Ryan N. Murray he/him
(Hamlet)
Ryan N. Murray is an actor from New York and is incredibly excited and honored to be a part of this production! Last year, Ryan worked at the Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey in their touring productions of Romeo and Juliet as Benvolio and A Midsummer Night’s Dream as Demetrius. In the fall, he joined STNJ’s mainstage cast of Romeo and Juliet as Peter as well. Aside from being an actor, Ryan is also a comedian, filmmaker, and educator. He believes deeply in the value of education and reaching out to young minds – the youth are the future! At STNJ, Ryan completed several educational residencies at different schools throughout New Jersey. Ryan received his BFA in Drama from NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts. The readiness is all!
Photo Caption: The cast of the 2026 Northeast Regional Tour of Shakespeare’s production of Hamlet, directed by Kevin G. Coleman.
About Shakespeare & Company
Shakespeare & Company was founded in 1978 by Tina Packer. Located in the Berkshires of Massachusetts, the Company offers performance, education, and actor-training opportunities year-round, and attracts more than 40,000 patrons annually with a core of more than 150 artists.
