It’s Birthday Weekend
and Open-captioned Hamlet!

He was an English poet, playwright, and actor, widely regarded as the greatest writer in the English language and the world’s pre-eminent dramatist. His works, including some collaborations, consist of about 37 plays, 154 sonnets, two long narrative poems, and several other poems. His plays have been translated into every major living language and are performed more often than those of any other playwright.

Kevin is one of Shakespeare
& Company’s artistic and administrative leaders. He works in the Performance and Training departments as an actor, teacher, and director, and oversees the mission of the Education department. Kevin has been a guest teacher or director at MIT, Harvard, L.S.U., Stanford, Shenandoah Shakespeare, Q.U.T.- Brisbane, Lincoln Center, the Folger Library, Shakespeare Festivals in both Stratfords, and the Mercury Theatre in Colchester, UK. Kevin is the Theatre Director at the Austen Riggs Center, where he has directed over 30 productions. In 2016, Kevin was Runner-Up for the Tony Award for Excellence in Theatre Education. Along with Patrick Toole, Kevin recently produced the soon to be released film, Speak What We Feel, documenting the Fall Festival of Shakespeare.

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Tori is a director, choreographer, educator, performer, and specialist in Shakespeare, gender, culture, and human development. She began with S&Co as an actor, and assistant to Founding AD, Tina Packer; she served as an active member of the Board of Directors for eight years, and has worked in the Education and Actor-Training programs as a Teacher/Director, Senior Faculty in Movement and Text for twenty-eight years. She currently serves on the Education and Training Committee of S&Co. Tori is an independent researcher of theatre for change methods, and the effects of culture and life events on individuals’ in body, voice and relationship throughout development. Tori’s research is particularly attuned to understanding the range of S&Co’s methods for actors and adolescents, and the work of psychologist, Carol Gilligan, as well as her own integrated approaches to teaching & learning. Education: PhD and MA, NYU; BS in Acting, Northwestern. Training: classical dance, Laban/Bartenieff, Trish Arnold movement technique, Shakespeare & Co, TO, Ed Theatre, Drama and Movement Therapies, Certificate in Somatic Embodiment & Regulation; TRF Certificate in Trauma Studies; Trauma-Informed Yoga TT; IDC Accelerator Program. In addition to Shakespeare & Co, Tori has taught, directed, and worked with NYU, Pitt Stages, Point Park U, Emerson College, high/middle schools around the country, Lavender Door Theatre, Trap Door Theatre, Actors’Theatre, Organic Theatre Chicago, Chicago Actors’ Ensemble, Ion Sound, Pittsburgh Irish & Classical Theatre, Pittsburgh Public Theatre, Quantum Theatre, City Theatre; Tori was a founding member of the former, Roadworks Productions, Chicago, and worked in feature film production for ten years. Founder/Director of The SAGE Center for arts research & education. Member: SAG/AFTRA, AEA, USW, AATE the YTJ Editorial Board.

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John Leggett is excited to be back with Shakespeare & Company for the Winter Season! John appeared as the Prince/Fight Captain in our summer production of Romeo & Juliet, the fight choreographer for our production of Taming of The Shrew, and as a director for our 37th Annual Fall Festival! 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!

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Joslyn Eaddy Meléndez is excited to be returning to the Northeast Regional Tour this year! A native and resident of CT, she received her BA 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 is an actor and educator born and raised in Massachusetts and currently based in Los Angeles, CA. 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!

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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 an 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!

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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 and A Christmas Carol (Milwaukee Rep). Comedy of Errors, Pride & Prejudice, King Lear (Texas Shakespeare Festival). Macbeth and 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.

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Abigail St. John 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 with Shakespeare & Company’s education team 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 Shakespeare & Company 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.