July 24th–August 28th
Thursdays-Sundays at 7:00pm
In the midst of political maneuvering and against all odds, Roman General Antony has finally met his match and found true love in the fiery Egyptian Queen, Cleopatra. Meanwhile, Octavius, in order to secure his rule, must bring Antony to heel or destroy him. When power and politics collide, love comes at a price. Set against this background of contending forces, Shakespeare gives us one of history’s most indelible love stories and poses the question, “How far would you go for love?”
Synopsis
Antony & Cleopatra
Written by William Shakespeare
Directed by Larry Barrott
Rating: T for Teen
Rather than ruling the Eastern Roman Empire, Mark Antony has been dallying in Egypt with Cleopatra. The death of his wife and the threat of war by Pompey bring him back to Rome. As a goodwill gesture, he marries Octavia, Caesar’s sister, but this only delays the inevitable.
Caesar and Antony begin to clash with their armies. Octavia tries to repair the damage, but Antony seizes the opportunity of her absence to return to Cleopatra. Octavius, now enraged at the dishonor of his sister, plans an attack. Cleopatra convinces Antony to do battle at sea, where he has the advantage, rather than on land.
During the naval battle, Cleopatra flees, Antony follows her, and the battle becomes a Roman victory. Caesar rejects any offer of peace and attempts to split Antony and Cleopatra. He tells Cleopatra that she will remain Queen of Egypt if she kills Antony. She refuses and the armies meet on land, ending in victory for Antony.
The two armies fight the next day and another Egyptian retreat secures the victory for Caesar. Antony accuses Cleopatra of treachery and threatens her. To save herself, she flees to her tomb and sends word that she has killed herself. In anguish, Antony falls on his sword and asks to be taken to Cleopatra. Before he dies, they profess their love one last time. Caesar promises mercy to Cleopatra, but she knows that he intends to parade her as a war captive, and uses a poisonous asp to end her own life. The lovers are buried together by Caesar as a final act of kindness.
Meet the Artists
Shawn Andrei
Agrippa
Shawn is excited to return to the Silicon Valley Shakespeare stage. Favorite prior roles with SVS include Grumio in Taming of the Shrew (2006) and Caliban in The Tempest (2007). Past directorial work with SVS includes The Imaginary Invalid, King Lear (assistant director under Angie Higgins), and Much Ado About Nothing (assistant director under Larry Barrott).
Larry Barrott
Director
Fresh from treading the boards as Prospero in SVS’s recent production of The Tempest, Larry returns this summer to direct one of Shakespeare’s epic, historical love stories, Antony and Cleopatra. Larry appeared last summer as Mr. Bennet in SVS’s well-received production of Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice. His SVS directing credits include Romeo and Juliet (2006), Comedy of Errors (2008), Much Ado About Nothing (2010), Henry V (2012), and Tartuffe (2014). Larry serves as both an Artist in Residence and SVS’s Fight Director.
Nicholas Boucher
Mardian
Nicholas is thrilled to be performing at Sanborn Park with Silicon Valley Shakespeare. Last summer he enjoyed starring as Captain Carter (Pride and Prejudice) and The Second Gentleman of Cyprus (Othello). Other shows with SVS include Tartuffe (Loyal), The Tempest (Francisco, 2015), and Taming of the Shrew (Pedant, 2014). He is still discovering how Antony and Cleopatra is truly about Mardian. Nicholas loves performing with SVS and hopes you enjoy the show!
Amber Bucher
Hair and Makeup Assistant
This is Amber’s second show with Silicon Valley Shakespeare and she is very excited to return to this talented team. Amber recently assisted with Hair and Makeup for SVS’s The Tempest and has performed in Beauty and the Beast and Guys and Dolls in past years. Having recently graduated from SJSU with a BA in Creative Arts, Amber is passionate about costuming and hair and makeup design, and is thrilled to contribute to the show!
Joel Butler
Diomedes / Canidius / Thyreus
Joel is glad to be joining SV Shakespeare. Previous roles include Apostle in JC Superstar, Sir Studley in Once Upon a Mattress, Jacob Marley in A Christmas Carol, Harold Bride in Titanic, and Gus in It’s Only a Play at Stage1. He also played Radioman in Diary of Anne Frank, Potter in It’s a Wonderful Life, Max in Lend Me a Tenor, and Monster in Frankenstein at Broadway West. He thanks his husband for the love and support.
Anna Chase
Costumer
This is Anna’s second production at SVS, having previously designed Twelfth Night in 2013. She has worked extensively in costumes, having worked on over fifty productions including two seasons as a Costume Technician at the Oregon Shakespeare Festival. Previous design credits include M. Butterfly and Exit, Pursued by a Bear (City Lights), Much Ado About Nothing (Gnosis Theater), and Picasso at the Lapin Agile and Romeo and Juliet (Rising Phoenix Theatre).
Louis Stone-Collonge
Scenic Construction
Technical Internship Supervisor
In his third year with SVS, Louis is supporting the growing internship program and building sets. When not working with his friends at SVS, he runs The Audacity Performing Arts Project (providing performing arts programs/opportunities in the community’s poorest schools) and serves as Tech Director at Notre Dame High School in San José. Louis is an SJSU graduate in Religious Studies and loves Disneyland, lunch, naps, bad jokes, NASCAR, old-school punk rock and, most of all, his family.
Lisa De Leeuw
Production Manager
Lisa has staged managed around the Bay Area and begins her production management career with Silicon Valley Shakespeare. Other companies she has worked for include Western Ballet, Los Altos Stage Company, Marin Theatre Company, The A.C.T. Conservatory, Shakespeare Santa Cruz, Opera San José, San Jose Rep on Tour and San Jose Repertory Theatre. She received her BFA in Theatre Arts from the University of Arizona.
Alex Draa
Octavius
Alex is delighted to make a return with SVS. He is an acting student at SJSU and has been acting for about 13 years. He recently played George Shearer in SJSU’s productions of Zoot Suit and Floyd Knowles in The Grapes of Wrath. Other previous roles include Doctor Zubritsky in Neil Simon’s Fools and Guy Montag in Farhenheit 451 through the Las Positas College Theater program. He would like to thank his family and friends for their incredible support.
Keenan Flagg
Eros
Scenic Construction
Keenan is elated to be returning to the Sanborn stage. He is playing Daryl in Shakespeare in Hollywood, and his role as Eros in Antony and Cleopatra marks his first Shakespearean performance with SVS. As well as working on stage, Keenan enjoys set-building and long-distance running. This is his third year working with Silicon Valley Shakespeare.
Sarah Galarneau
Octavia
Currently, Sarah is working in theatre and independent film throughout the Bay Area. As a recent graduate from San Francisco State University with a BA in Drama, Sarah is excited to make her Silicon Valley Shakespeare debut in Antony and Cleopatra. Some favorite past roles include Helena in A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Jane Adams in The Unmentionables, and Linda in The Wedding Singer.
Will Galloway
Assistant Stage Manager
Returning for his third season with Silicon Valley Shakespeare, William is excited to continue work as the assistant stage manager for Antony and Cleopatra this season. In seasons past, William has served as a technical intern for Twelfth Night (2013), assistant stage manager for The Taming of the Shrew (2014), and lightboard operator for Othello. William is currently studying mechanical engineering at Santa Clara University.
Ron Gasparinetti
Scenic Designer
Currently, Ron is the resident scenic designer at City Lights Theater Company in San José, where he counts the world premiere of Truce: A Christmas Wish from the Great War and the Bay Area premieres of Build and Spacebar as a few of his favorite creations. Amadeus at CLTC garnered him a nomination for the TBA Award for best scenic design. To see more of Ron’s work, visit his website at www.TheSetGuy.com.
Kendall Goodin
Light Board Operator
Kendall is a sophomore at Leigh High School. In the two years she has been at Leigh, she has been an active member of the drama department where she has mainly worked as the light board operator.
Jackson Hoek
Intern – Scenic Build
Jackson is Junior at Bellarmine College Preparatory, and has worked on the Bellarmine sets of Amadeus, See How They Run, and The Trial, and has worked on the backstage crew for both Hairspray and Spamalot.
Kyle Hoffhines
Sound Designer
Kyle is thrilled to be back working with SVS for his 6th and 7th shows with the company. A senior at San José State University, Kyle is studying acting and directing, and hopes you enjoy the show.
Sarah Sinizer-Hopkins
Attendant
This is Sarah’s first production with the SVS and she is thrilled to be part of such an experienced, and talented cast. Most recently, Sarah has portrayed both the Queen and Soothsayer in Amherst College’s production of Cymbeline. In the fall, she will enter her junior year at Marymount Manhattan as a BFA Acting student. Sarah has been a competitive ice skater since age 5, where her love of performing began.
Syeda Huq
Attendant
Syeda is excited to be working with Silicon Valley Shakespeare. This is her first Shakespeare production. She holds a BA in English from Santa Clara University and is working on her MA in English Composition from San Francisco State University. In her free time, she likes to perform improv at various venues in the Bay Area.
Drew Benjamin Jones
Alexas
Antony and Cleopatra is Drew’s third show with SVS, having previously performed as Caliban in The Tempest (2015) and Tranio in Taming of the Shrew (2014). Drew graduated with a BA in Theatre Arts from San José State University and was awarded the Hal Todd Award for Excellence in Acting. Some of his favorite roles include Caleb in The Whipping Man, Malvolio in Twelfth Night, and Seymour in Little Shop of Horrors. Thank you, SVS!
Nick Kumamoto
Lighting Designer
Nick is a lighting and video designer working in the greater San José area. He is the resident lighting designer at City Lights Theater Company in downtown San José. A recent graduate of Santa Clara University, he also frequently designs for Children’s Musical Theater San José and Palo Alto Players. Recent design credits include lighting design for Chinglish at Palo Alto Players, and Exit, Pursued by a Bear at City Lights.
Richard Lewis
Lepidus
Richard is pleased to be returning to Sanborn Park with SVS for his third season. He previously appeared as The Earl of Gloucester in King Lear and The Duke of Gloucester in Henry V. He was last seen as Benny Van Buren in the Foothill Musical Theatre production of Damn Yankees. Richard performed improvisation for 15 years with ComedySportz San José and also appeared in local commercials for KNTV 11.
Scott Ludwig
Assistant Director
Scott has existed as a theatrical entity since the age of six with SJCMT. He began directing in high school and has received a BA in Drama from San Francisco State University. Scott has also worked as a designer of sets and puppets for Shotgun Players, Urban Opera, and Teatro Visión, among others. Directing credits include The Three Sisters, Macbeth, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, and The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (Abridged).
James Lucas
Pompey / Dolabella
James is ecstatic to be returning to his home away from home on SVS’s stage after having to take the last year off. Previous credits include Antonio in SVS’s production of The Merchant of Venice, Barrymore in I Hate Hamlet at Broadway West, Bottom in A Midsummer Night’s Dream at City Lights Theater Company, and Actor/Arthur Kipp in Northside Theatre Company’s The Woman in Black.
Megan Mayekawa
Attendant
This will be Megan’s first show as an acting intern for SVS. Last summer, Megan worked as a technical intern for SVS’s Taming of the Shrew (2014), and as a backstage hand and House Manager for Pride and Prejudice and Othello, and she is thrilled to be back on board with this wonderful company. Megan will be attending De Anza and Foothill Colleges in the fall, discovering which passion in the performing arts is best for her.
Roberta J. Morris
Soothsayer / Villager
Since moving to this area, Roberta has played various old women, including Grandma Gellman (Caroline, or Change, Theatreworks), Grandma Emma (Over the River, Northside), Lady Wishfort (Way of the World, Pear Ave), and an aging Wonder Woman (24-Hour Playfest, PCSF). She transcends age/gender stereotyping by participating in play-reading workshops. Last fall she directed one play in SVS’s 48-Hour Play Festival and is thrilled to work with this excellent company again.
Akemi Okamura
Charmian
is delighted to return to Silicon Valley Shakespeare! Past roles with SVS include Gonzala (The Tempest, 2015), Charlotte Lucas (Pride and Prejudice), and Lodovico/Senator (Othello). Other Bay Area credits include Cassandra in Troilus and Cressida (Impact Theatre), Melissa in The Drunken City (Renegade Theatre Experiment), and a Phantom in The Rocky Horror Show (City Lights Theater Company). Akemi holds a BA in Theatre Arts from the University of Puget Sound.
Valerie Peterson
Iras
Valerie is a student at West Valley College. She performed with SVS as First Fairy in A Midsummer Night’s Dream (2011) and Biondello in Taming of the Shrew (2014), and in various roles in every school production during her time at Saratoga High School. She also teaches dance (hip-hop, street jazz, and jazz). Some say she also appears as the Green Fairy at the annual Dickens Christmas Fair (at least, she appears to those who believe).
Doll Piccotto
Dramaturg / Wardrobe
Doll has been with Silicon Valley Shakespeare since its first production, appearing as Feste in Twelfth Night (1999). Since then you may have seen her as Beatrice in Much Ado About Nothing, Lady M in Macbeth, the Chorus in Henry V, or most recently as Antonia in The Tempest at SJSU. Doll has a BA in English from USCB and a Masters from SJSU where she emphasized Renaissance Drama.
Matthew Regan
Proculeius / Scarus
Matthew is a local actor, student, and comedian. Matt has previously performed with Children’s Musical Theater in productions such as Jesus Christ Superstar (Priest) and Shrek the Musical (Shrek’s Father). Matt has also begun performing at San José State University in the recent productions of Marat/Sade (Marquis de Sade) and The Giver (Giver). In his spare time, Matt enjoys performing stand-up comedy at downtown open mics and other school events.
John Rutski
Antony
John is pleased to be making his return to SVS. Favorite roles include Benedick in Much Ado About Nothing, and Antipholus of Ephesus in The Comedy of Errors (SVS); Marc in Art (Northside Theatre Company); and Gogo in Waiting for Godot (Fully Committed Productions). Directorial credits: One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest (Broadway West Theatre Company); and Twelfth Night (SVS). John will be directing A Few Good Men this coming spring. He joined this production as a late replacement for an actor who was unable to perform the role, and we are grateful for his willingness to step in as Antony.
Andrew Simchik
Enobarus
This is Andrew’s first season with Silicon Valley Shakespeare, having debuted as Sebastian in The Tempest. Since 2002, Andrew has performed with ComedySportz San José, helping develop and direct several long-form shows including Much Improv About Nothing, a fully improvised Shakespeare play. You may also have seen him in the title role of the Stanford Savoyards’ 2014 production of The Mikado, or performing with The Roughhouse, a San José-based sketch comedy group.
Shelby Speer
Stage Manager
This is Shelby’s first production with SVS (other than directing in the 48-Hour Play Festival). Though new to California; in Massachusetts she was a board member of the Gazebo Players of Medfield, for whom she directed (The Tempest, Love’s Labour’s Lost), stage managed (Comedy of Errors), produced (Murder at the Library), and performed various roles. Other recent roles include La Matadorable (Sindapendence Day), Jugs Bunny (Atwitter or Terror), and Demetrius/Starveling (A Midsummer Night’s Dream).
Christina Sturken
Prop Designer
Christina is returning for her fourth season with SVS. Recent Bay Area work includes prop designing for City Lights Theater Company’s productions of Build and M. Butterfly, and Renegade Theatre Experiment’s world premiere of Perishable: Keep Refrigerated. She also serves as a resident Stage Manager for Red Barn Productions’ Great Dickens Christmas Fair. Christina earned her BA in Theatre Arts from San José State University.
Ella Tarczy
Attendant / Euphronius
Ella is thrilled to be a part of Silicon Valley Shakespeare’s Summer Acting Internship Program. Her favorite roles include Alice Miller in My Favorite Year, Rosie Alvarez in Bye Bye Birdie, and Dotty Otley in Noises Off. This past school year, Ella directed a one-act version of Spring Awakening that was chosen to perform at the 2015 California State Thespian Festival.
Jarku Virtanen
Master Electrician
Returning for his second season with SVS, Jarku is delighted to electrify the parks of San José and Saratoga once again. Jarku is the resident lighting designer of the Cubberley Community Theater in Palo Alto; additionally, he freelances as a lighting designer, most recently with Renegade Theatre Experiment (The North Plan) and Starting Arts (Bring It On).
Melissa Weinstein
Hair and Makeup Designer
Returning for her ninth season, Melissa’s SVS hats include makeup designer, actor, and Education Program Director. Since receiving her BA in Theatre (SJSU), she’s moonlighted as a makeup designer/artist for SVS, Pixar, Disney Channel UK, West Bay Opera, Opera San José, and more. Favorite SVS acting roles include Dromio of Syracuse (Comedy of Errors, 2015), Emilia (Othello), Oswald (King Lear), Hero (Much Ado), Phoebe (AYLI), and Ariel (Tempest, 2007). In a previous life, she also “daylighted” as a children’s theatre teacher/director.
Stephanie Whigham
Cleopatra
Recent credits include Glad Hand in West Side Story, Don John in Much Ado About Nothing, and Midori in the 3-part experimental improv play In Fertile Hands. Recent film credits include The Solipsist and Self in Silence and Solitude. She has been a stage manager for PacRep, San José Stage, and Opera San José, has worked in many other technical theatre roles, and is currently the graphic designer for San José Stage. www.stephaniewhigham.com
Frequently Asked Questions
About Antony & Cleopatra
How much are tickets?
Tickets range in price from $15.00 to $20.00, including all ticketing and service costs – no hidden fees! Tickets will be available online and at the park.
How long is the performance?
Antony & Cleopatra runs… (coming soon)
Family Rating System
Antony and Cleopatra – T for Teen
This production will explore the depth of romantic attraction between this iconic couple and contain elements of personal violence which may give some parents pause. Additionally, some of the costuming may be considered provocative. Parents who are curious about the content of this play can read a version that’s very similar to our script here.
About the Family Rating System
Silicon Valley Shakespeare endeavors to make theatrical classics enjoyable and accessible to as wide an audience as possible. Families love to attend our plays, and we’re proud to have introduced thousands of young people to the Bard. In order to assist parents and guardians in assessing which of our plays may be right for their children, we offer a Parental Advisory that features a general rating followed by a more nuanced recommendation and description of the content. Since our assessment can’t possibly fit every family, we also offer a link to the actual text of our plays whenever possible so that parents can make their own decision. Our ratings are:
E for Everyone – Self explanatory.
PG for Parental Guidance – This play is appropriate for most audiences under 13, but we recommend that parents inform themselves as to the content of the play and its themes and exercise their best judgment for their individual child.
T for Teen – This production may be inappropriate for audiences under 13. Parents of younger children are welcome to attend with their children, but we recommend that they prepare for any questions their children may have about some of the more sophisticated and mature content and themes of the play and its particular presentation.
M for Mature – This play is not recommended for audiences under 17.
A note about very young children: Infants and toddlers are always welcome at all outdoor plays, and we’re thrilled to be able to offer newer parents an opportunity to enjoy live theatre. We so ask that at least one parent or guardian of these tiny theatergoers be prepared to take a break with them outside the immediate theatre space if they become upset or very vocal.
SPONSORED IN PART BY
Donors Circle
Enjoy ticket discounts, special events, cozy blankets and seat cushions, free beverages, and other great perks. All while you help support SVS – it’s 100% tax-deductible. Become a part of our Donors Circle today!
PRESS & MEDIA
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