measure for Measure
November 10 - december 16, 2018
by William Shakespeare
directed by Jack Stehlin Shakespeare’s story of impassable moral dilemmas, religious hypocrisy and he said/she said. Who will believe thee, Isabel? In decadent Vienna, Duke Vincentio turns over his power to his deputy Angelo, who immediately vows to rid the city of moral decay. Caught up in the sweep is young Claudio, who is sentenced to death for impregnating his fiancée. Claudio’s sister Isabella, a young nun, begs for her brother’s life. Angelo offers to stay the execution in exchange for sex, and warns that if she comes forward, no one would believe her…. |
CASTBrendan Brandt Lucio
Chelsea Brandt Juliet/Francisca Leah Dalrymple Isabella Peter Bonoff Claudio Daniel Kaemon Angelo Dana Kelly Jr.Friar Thomas/Abhorson Michael Matthys Elbow/Barnadine Bruno Oliver Pompey David Purdham Escalus Elaine Rivkin Mistress Overdone, Mariana Nina Silver Provost Charley Stern Froth/Friar Peter/Ensemble Patrick Vest Vincentio TEAM Jack Stehlin Director
Stuart Chapin Scenic Design Kathi O'Donohue Lighting Design Produced by Jeannine Wisnosky Stehlin and The New American Theatre, a membership company of actors. Thank you to the Ed Paschke Foundation for use of Excusez-Moi, 24 x 36 inches, oil on linen, 1989 |
Performance dates 14 Performances:
Sat 11/10 @8pm (preview), Sun 11/11 @3pm (preview) Thurs 11/15 @ 8pm (preview), Fri 11/16 @8pm (opening) Sat 11/17 @8pm (opening), Sun 11/18 @3pm (opening) No performances Thanksgiving weekend Fri 11/30 @8pm, Sun 12/2 @7pm (we will be having our annual benefit Saturday, Dec 1) Fri 12/7 @8pm, Sat 12/8 @8pm, Sun 12/9 @3pm Fri 12/14 @8pm, Sat 12/15 @8pm, Sun 12/16 @3pm Running time: 95 minutes (no intermission) VENUE |
Production photos
Photo credit: Jeannine Wisnosky Stehlin
MEET THE CAST & PRODUCTION TEAM
CAST
BRENDAN BRANDT (Lucio)
With NAT: Meanwhile, Back at the Super Lair...Macbeth: Revisited, Boy’s Life, Julius Caesar, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, 5 Beauties (Green Eyes), Macbeth, Getting Out, and 9 years of One-Act Festivals (authored Exigence). Other theater- Godspell, Wild Geese, and Twist in SoCal, and Macbeth, Assassins, and Equus in Minneapolis. TV: Workaholics, Criminal Minds, Last Man Standing, Working Class, Close to Home. Brendan directed the documentary Victor’s Last Class, which has played in festivals in Amsterdam, Kansas City, and Pasadena, on TV in Israel and Slovenia, is coming to theaters in Poland, and is still touring colleges and festivals. www.victorslastclass.com . |
CHELSEA BRANDT (Juliet/Francisca)
Member of the New American Studio Ensemble. With New American Theatre: Meanshile, Back at the Super Lair..Macbeth: Revisited, Boy’s Life, A Midsummer Night's Dream, Julius Caesar, I Never Sang for My Father, The Women, and 365 Days/365 Plays. Other Theater: Romeo & Juliet (Juliet) The Night of the Black Cat, Brigadoon, The Hunchback of Notre Dame, The Sound of Music, Brighton Beach Memoirs, Annie Get Your Gun, Seven Brides for Seven Brothers, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, and Oklahoma!. Film/TV: The Drama Club, Boytalk, The Hunted. She was also a Lead Singer/Dancer for Holland America Cruise Lines. PCPA Graduate. |
LEAH DALRYMPLE (Isabella)
Credits: The Winter’s Tale and The Merry Wives of Windsor (Shakespeare by the Sea), King Lear (Rubicon Theatre Company), Julius Caesar, Love’s Labour’s Lost, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, and Henry V (Kingsmen Shakespeare Company), Mr. Burns: A Post-Electric Play, The Drowsy Chaperone, and Chamber Music (California Lutheran University), and Promises, Promises and Dracula (Moorpark College). |
PETER BONOFF (Claudio)
Peter Bonoff is from West Linn, Oregon. He attended the California Institute of the Arts (Calarts), where he got his B.F.A. in acting. While at Calarts, he played O Li Roon in a production of In the Red and Brown Water directed by Nataki Garrett, and Salerio in The Merchant of Venice directed by Mary Lou Rosato. He performed a solo piece at the Bootleg Theater under the guidance of Roger Guenveur Smith. His feature film debut was in 2014, playing Shreve in James Franco’s adaptation of The Sound and The Fury. This is his first appearance at The New American Theatre. |
DANIEL KAEMON (Angelo)
Select theatre credits: Nicky (Pasha) Coeurage Theatre Company, Macbeth (Macbeth) The Vagrancy, Cat On a Hot Tin Roof (Brick), A Streetcar Named Desire (Stanley), Awake & Sing! (Moe Axlerod) The Group Rep. Moderation Pasadena Playhouse, War (Noel), Merchant of Venice (Bassanio) Theatre Banshee. Julius Caesar (Marc Antony), Othello (Cassio) A Noise Within. Television: Hawaii Five-0 (recurring) Scorpion, Henry Danger (recurring), Supernova 45, Alias, Days of Our Lives. Film: The Whisperer in Darkness, Winged Feet Do Fly, Power Poison, Zombie Holocaust and You!, Katherine (Cannes Film Festival). Much love to Amy, Harrison and August. |
DANA KELLY, JR (Friar Thomas, Abhorson)
Dana is an Assoc. Member, New American Theatre. He has appeared in Taming of the Shrew and Devil’s Salt at The Odyssey Theatre, O’Neill’s Ghosts at The Barrow Grp Theatre (NYC), The Government Inspector, at Boston Court Theatre, the award-winning production Grace, Canned Peaches in Syrup and Scenes from the Big Picture, at The Carrie Hamilton/Pasadena Playhouse. SAG productions of Gun Smoke and CBS Radio Mystery Theatre at the Autry Museum, Trigger at The Blank Theatre. You have heard his distinctive tones on TV commercials, podcasts, video games, or as off-camera characters in films, such as Must Love Dogs. On-camera credits include Shoe Shine Boys, God Made Man, Breast Men, music videos and TV appearances on Comedy Central/Tosh.0, Justified, Retired at 35, Working Class, The Practice, Titus and Girlfriends. |
MICHAEL MATTHYS (Elbow)
Michael started his AEA career as a member of the Guthrie Theater playing Treplev in Garland Wright’s acclaimed production of The Seagull. Shakespearean roles include: Mercutio (8x!), Romeo, Jacques, Toby Belch, Orsino, Angelo, Florizel, Aufidius, Solanio and many more at such theatres as the Guthrie, Shakespeare Festival/LA, and A Noise Within. His most recent Shakespearean role was that of Albany in King Lear at Rubicon in Ventura. He has appeared on stage with Ian McKellen in Enemy of the People at the Ahmanson, before Katherine Dunham in a dance tribute to her work at Rockwell Center, and many of the small theatres in LA. Regional credits include Old Wicked Songs at Laguna Playhouse, The Turn of the Screw at Sierra Rep, The Voice of the Prairie at the Colony, several shows at Ensemble Theatre in Santa Barbara, and five seasons at A Noise Witihin as a guest artist. Feature films include House of Deadly Secrets (Netflix), Full Blast, Nightwatch, Destiny Turns on the Radio, and the soon to be released Stan the Man. |
BRUNO OLIVER (Pompey)
Bruno Oliver is making his N.A.T. debut. His artistic home in L.A. is Sacred Fools Theater where he’s acted in many shows over 20 years, has produced A Gulag Mouse; Rose and the Rime; The Art Couple and is the serving Board President. Other L.A.: Rogue Machine; LOFT; I.C.T; Whitefire; Zoo District; SCI- FEST and others. Outside L.A. he’s performed in Seattle, Chicago, Edinburgh, NYFringe, Las Vegas, S.F. and Utah and Wisconsin Shakespeare Festivals. Look for Bono and the Edge Waiting for Godomino’s in future Fringes! |
DAVID PURDHAM (Escalus)
As a professional actor and director, David Purdham has worked (and continues to work) extensively in theatre, on and off Broadway, in many of the great resident theatres in our country - including New York Shakespeare Festival, Roundabout Theatre, Manhattan Theatre Club, Ensemble Studio Theatre, Old Globe- San Diego, Yale Repertory Theatre, American Repertory Theatre, Long Wharf Theatre, Great Lakes Shakespeare Festival, Pittsburgh Public Theatre, Pasadena Playhouse, Williamstown Theatre Festival- as well a lot of television and film during the last 40 years. He currently directs and adapts The Tempus Theatre Group’s Classical Play reading series. |
ELAINE RIVKIN (Mistress Overdone, Mariana)
Elaine Rivkin is making her first appearance at New American Theatre. A recent transplant to LA from Chicago, her regional theatre credits include One House Over at Milwaukee Rep and Geva Theatre, Marjorie Prime, The Lover and Broken Glass at North Coast Repertory Theatre; and Brighton Beach Memoirs at Cardinal Stage. Elaine’s Chicago credits include: Picasso at the Lapin Agile, Libra and The Crucible at Steppenwolf Theatre; City of Conversation at Northlight Theatre, Death of a Streetcar Named Virginia Woolf at Writers Theatre; Pyretown and Tree at Victory Gardens; The Cider House Rules, The Homecoming, Conquest of the South Pole, Beautiful Thing, Speaking in Tongues, and many others for Famous Door Theatre; 'Night Mother with Hancock Productions; Execution of Justice at About Face Theatre; You Never Can Tell at Remy Bumppo Theatre; and La Bete with Pegasus Players. Internationally: Hellcab (Singapore Arts Fest); The Early Girl (Edinburgh Fringe Fest). She played a recurring character on “Chicago PD” and can be seen in several indie films. More info at www.elainerivkin.com. |
NINA SILVER (Provost)
Off-Broadway, Pentecost and Lovesong of the Electric Bear with PTP/NYC at Atlantic Stage 2. L.A. theatre Habitat, LATC, D is for Dog, South Coast Repertory, Songs of Bilitis Getty Villa, Wood Boy Dog Fish, Gogol Project, Mr. Punch, Rogue Artists Ensemble, The Night Before Christmas Furious Co. Pasadena Playhouse. Lady Macbeth, Cleopatra, and Portia, Long Beach Shakespeare. NYC theatre includes Crimes of the Heart, Othello, Hamlet, Theatre for the New City and NY Fringe. B.A. Theatre and Spanish from Middlebury College, VT. AEA, SAG-AFTRA. More www.lacasting.com/ninasilver. |
CHARLEY STERN (Froth/Friar Peter/Ensemble)
Charley Stern is thrilled to be making his New American Theatre debut. Select credits include: Angels in America, Julius Caesar, Antigone X, Uncle Vanya (USC School of Dramatic Arts), A Midsummer Night’s Dream (One Trick Circus), and Twelfth Night (Eugene O’Neill Theater Center). He wrote and performed the original one-man show, DIG! under the tutelage of Charlayne Woodard. He is about to be making his small-screen debut in the current season of Showtime’s Shameless. Charley is Originally from Chicago, Illinois and holds an MFA in Acting from the USC School of Dramatic Arts. |
PATRICK VEST (Vincentio)
Member of The New American Theatre and New American Studio Ensemble. With NAT, he has been in Macbeth Revisited, Macbeth, The Misanthrope, Seduced, The Circle, Julius Caesar, various one acts and scene nights. He received his MFA in acting from the Alabama Shakespeare Festival. Patrick was recently nominated for best featured actor in Broadway World for his portrayal of David Selznick in Moonlight and Magnolias at the Rubicon. Other favorite roles include Iago, Caliban, Marc Antony, Malvolio, Bottom, Mercutio, and Petruchio. |
PRODUCTION TEAM
STUART CHAPIN (Scenic Design)
Stuart Chapin is a Los Angeles based scenic artist working always to make things more interesting to look at. His previous works include UC Santa Barbara's "Cabaret", and Long Beach Playhouse's "Pride and Prejudice." He thanks Jack for this big canvas, and his parents for rooting for him. |
KATHI O'DONOHUE (Lighting Design)
A long-time lighting designer, Kathi has designed shows for companies including: The New American Theatre, The Odyssey Theatre, Pacific Resident Theatre, The Court, Road Theatre Company, The Fountain, The MET, The Colony, Playwright’s Arena, Theatre 40, and The Los Angeles Women’s Theatre Project. |
Jeannine Wisnosky Stehlin Producer, Publicist, Managing Director
Jeannine received an LA Weekly Award nomination for best sound design for NAT’s production of The Circle (by Shem Bitterman), a play about what happens to a community after a tragic school shooting. She has since designed sound for many productions. As a producer: 80+ plays for New American Theatre/Circus Theatricals including; Creditors, More Lies About Jerzy (dir. David Trainer), Midsummer Night’s Dream, Julius Caesar, Bedfellows, 23 Festivals of New One Act Plays, As Is, Five Beauties by Tennessee Williams, I Never Sang for My Father, Sister Cities, Titus Redux, (w/ Not Man Apart at Kirk Douglas Theatre and RADAR-LA), LA/Off-Broadway productions of Man.gov, Harm’s Way, The Job.; Many New American Theatre/Odyssey Theatre co-productions. Short film Game. As an actor; numerous plays in LA and Chicago. Film/TV: Watch It, Rancho Cucamonga, Chicago 8, Colette. She made her TV debut as a preschooler on the children’s program, Romper Room. Jeannine earned a B.S. in Advertising from University of Illinois and an M.B.A. in Marketing from Illinois Institute of Technology. She serves as a Cultural Affairs Commissioner for the City of Culver City. |
JACK STEHLIN (Artistic Director/Director)
Jack Stehlin has directed over 50 plays for The New American Theatre. Fresh out of The Juilliard School, he founded the company (as Circus Theatricals) in 1986. Also an actor, he can regularly be seen on television. His Los Angeles stage roles include New American Theatre productions of Tempest Redux (co-production with Odyssey Theatre), 63 Trillion, More Lies About Jerzy, Julius Caesar, Harm’s Way (LA/Off Broadway), Titus Redux (Not Man Apart co-production at Kirk Douglas Theatre and RadarLA,) and Odyssey/New American Theatre co-productions of Creditors (LA Weekly Award nomination-Best Actor),Taming of the Shrew, The Misanthrope, Macbeth, Richard III, Tartuffe, and True West. On the small screen, he is perhapsbest known on television as DEA captain Roy Till on the Showtime series Weeds (SAG award nomination). New York/Regional stage credits include Salome (with Al Pacino), numerous productions at New York’s Public Theatre including Richard II (with Steven Berkoff), Henry V (with Kevin Kline), Casanova (with Ethan Hawke), Henry IV, (with Mandy Patinkin), and Julius Caesar (with Al Pacino and Martin Sheen). His many guest-starring roles on countless TV fan favorites include the recent Assassination of Gianni Versace, NCIS Los Angeles, Without a Trace, Monk, The Practice, Crossing Jordan, ER, NYPD Blue, and Fox’s Hieroglyph. Jack can currently be seen on the big screen in Wilde Salome with Al Pacino. |
WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE Playwright
William Shakespeare is widely regarded as the greatest writer of the English language and the world’s pre-eminent dramatist. He wrote over 38 plays, 154 sonnets and numerous poems. His plays have been translated into every major living language, and are performed more often than those of any other playwright. Few records exist about Shakespeare’s private life, but it is known that Shakespeare spend his first twenty years in Stratford, which include his schooling, early marriage and fatherhood; the next twenty-five years as an actor and playwright in London; and the last five in retirement back in Stratford, where he enjoyed moderate wealth gained from his theatrical successes. Incredibly, there are very few original versions of Shakespeare’s plays. In many cases, they have been constructed in part from scripts written down by various members of an acting company who performed particular roles. Measure for Measure is thought to have been first performed in 1604. |
PRESS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Press contact: Jeannine Wisnosky Stehlin
[email protected] (310) 701-5095 (for media only)
The original tale of impassable moral dilemmas, religious hypocrisy and the politics of sexual harassment: The New American Theatre opens Shakespeare’s “Measure for Measure” November 16
LOS ANGELES (October 2018) -- The New American Theatre (NAT) opens its Fall Season with Measure for Measure, Shakespeare’s dramedy of impassable moral dilemmas, religious hypocrisy and the politics of sexual harassment, at the award-winning company’s new Hollywood venue. New American Theatre’s artistic director Jack Stehlin directs. The production will open Saturday, November 16 and runs through Sunday, December 16 at the company’s new home at 1312 N. Wilton Place, Hollywood. Tickets may be purchased online at NewAmericanTheatre.com.
Who will believe thee, Isabel?
Measure for Measure takes place in decadent Vienna, where Duke Vincentio turns over his power to his deputy Angelo, who immediately vows to rid the city of moral decay. Caught up in the sweep is young Claudio, who is sentenced to death for impregnating his fiancée. Claudio’s sister Isabella, a young nun, begs for her brother’s life. Angelo offers to stay the execution in exchange for sex, and warns that if she comes forward, no one would believe her….
“If Shakespeare wrote Measure for Measure today, you might say that it was practically ripped from headlines,” says artistic director and director Jack Stehlin.“ While It was written over 400 years ago, its themes on sexual harassment and abuse against women, and whether or not they’re believed when they speak out amid a toxic socio-political climate help us understand that we have so much further to go….”
William Shakespeare is widely regarded as the greatest writer of the English language and the world’s pre-eminent dramatist. He wrote over 38 plays, 154 sonnets and numerous poems. His plays have been translated into every major living language and are performed more often than those of any other playwright. Measure for Measure, originally called a comedy, is thought to have been first performed in 1604.
Jack Stehlin (Artistic Director/Director)
Jack Stehlin has directed over 50 plays for The New American Theatre. Fresh out of The Juilliard School, he founded the company (as Circus Theatricals) in 1986. Also an actor, he can regularly be seen on television. His Los Angeles stage roles include New American Theatre productions of Tempest Redux (co-production with Odyssey Theatre), 63 Trillion, More Lies About Jerzy, Julius Caesar, Harm’s Way (LA/Off Broadway), Titus Redux (Not Man Apart co-production at Kirk Douglas Theatre and RadarLA,) and Odyssey/New American Theatre co-productions of Creditors (LA Weekly Award nomination-Best Actor),Taming of the Shrew, The Misanthrope, Macbeth, Richard III, Tartuffe, and True West. On the small screen, he is perhaps best known on television as DEA captain Roy Till on the Showtime series Weeds (SAG award nomination). New York/Regional stage credits include Salome (with Al Pacino), numerous productions at New York’s Public Theatre including Richard II (with Steven Berkoff), Henry V (with Kevin Kline), Casanova (with Ethan Hawke), Henry IV, (with Mandy Patinkin), and Julius Caesar (with Al Pacino and Martin Sheen). His many guest-starring roles on countless TV fan favorites include the recent Assassination of Gianni Versace, NCIS Los Angeles, Without a Trace, Monk, The Practice, Crossing Jordan, ER, NYPD Blue and Fox’s Hieroglyph. Jack can currently be seen on the big screen in Wilde Salome with Al Pacino.
About The New American Theatre
This past March 2018, The New American Theatre (a membership company) moved to a two-theatre complex at 1312 N. Wilton Place, between Sunset and Fountain, in the heart of Hollywood. Named one of the top-ten 99-seat theatre companies by CBS Los Angeles, The New American Theatre is a creative, artist-helmed membership theatre company. Throughout its prolific history, NAT has presented over 200 Main Stage, Second Stage, and One Act plays, enjoying critical acclaim, awards and nominations from the Los Angeles Times, New York Times, LA Drama Critics Circle, Back Stage, LA Weekly, LA Stage Alliance Ovations, and more. The company’s annual Festival of New One Act Plays, now in its 23rd year, accepts submissions from playwrights from all over the world. In 2017, the company launched its full-length plays competition, furthering the company’s commitment to develop and produce New American plays.
NAT seeks to inspire, educate and nurture artists and our community towards a thoughtful and humane world view through the art of story-telling. NAT helps young theatre artists find their voices, cultivate social consciousness and prepare for a lasting career. The company supports new and established playwrights, incubates new plays, and seeks to make a lasting, life-long impression on our community – inspiring the audience to continue provocative conversations long after the curtain closes.
For more information about The New American Theatre, visit NewAmericanTheatre.com
Details for Calendar Listings “Measure for Measure”
WHAT:
Measure for Measure, Shakespeare’s dramedy of impassable moral dilemmas, religious hypocrisy and he said/she said, at the award-winning company’s new Hollywood venue.
WHO:
Written by William Shakespeare
Directed by Jack Stehlin
WHEN:
November 16 – December 16, 2018
WHERE:
The New American Theatre
1312 N. Wilton Pl Hollywood, CA 90028
TICKETS:
• NewAmericanTheatre.com
• Visit us on Facebook: www.facebook.com/NewAmericanTheatre
• Follow us on Twitter: @NewAmericanThtr
TICKET PRICES:
• $15-$30
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