Alexander Sands (Edward III, Falstaff, Mark Antony, MacDuff, Ghost, Romeo, Troilus) is 14 years old and is in 8th grade. He attends Bowling Green Middle School. Xander has been participating in theater for 5 years and has been in 7 shows. All of these shows have been with HYT. Xander is most excited to “be awesome” in his roles. “I’m Xander. My friends all call me “really cool” and stuff. I was a wall once. If Rhys wanted me to promote Dreamcatcher (2003), they should’ve paid me more.”
Avriana Hensley (The French, Banquo, Player Uncle, Juliet/Cleopatra/Cressida, Bertram) is 12 years old and is in 6th grade. She attends Montessori School of Bowling Green. Avriana has been participating in theater for less than a year. This is her first show with HYT. Avriana is excited to learn to act with more emotion. She would like to thank her mom and dad.
Carina Motisher (Ribbon-Dancing Spectre of Death, Cast Member 9, Marina) is 8 years old and is in 3rd grade. She attends St. Aloysius Catholic School. Carina has been participating in theater for 2 years and has been in 4 shows. Three of these shows have been with HYT. Carina very excited for her role as the Ribbon-Dancing Specter of Death. She would like to thank Cassie for doing everything for the cast. She would also like to thank the stage and tech crew. Finally, she would like to thank her older sister, Calista, for getting her into theater.
Clarissa Hensley (Player 6, Cast Member 6, Mistress Quickly/Mistress Page) is 9 years old and is in 3rd grade. She attends Bowling Green Christian Academy. Clarissa has been participating in theater for 1 year and has been in 2 shows. This is her third show with HYT. Clarissa is most excited to pretend to die and kill Mr. Keith in ShakeSPLOSION!!!.
Emmy Forman (Player 2, Cast Member 2, Thaisa) is 9 years old and is in 3rd grade. She attends Conneaut Elementary School. Emmy has been participating in theater for 1 year and has been in 1 show. This is her second show with HYT. Emmy is excited to play so many different characters in ShakeSPLOSION!!!. She would like to thank her mom and dad, Mrs. Walters, and Cassie.
Izzie Milks (Countess, Katharine Valois, Servant 4, Edward Prince of Wales, Fortinbras, Isabella) is 11 years old and is in 5th grade. She attends Kenwood Elementary School. Izzie has been participating in theater for 6 years and has been in 4 shows. All of these shows have been with HYT. Izzie is excited for stage combat and being able to pretend to die. She would like to thank her mom and sisters for supporting her. “HYT is the best!”.
Leo Roberts-Zibbel (The French, Macbeth, Horatio, Proteus, Narrator for Act IV) is 18 years old and is in 12th grade. He attends Ohio Virtual Academy. Leo has been participating in theater for 9 years and has been in many shows. Most of these shows have been with HYT. Leo is excited to participate in ShakeSPLOSION!!! because Macbeth is his favorite play, and the character is his dream role. He would like to thank Cassie for this opportunity. “Hi, my name is Leo. I use he/him pronouns and I play Macbeth, Horatio, and some other guys. Previous roles I’ve played are Poseidon in The Lightning Thief and Flute in Midsommer. I’m normal about cartoons, I promise; just ask me. I’ll only talk for 2 hours! I hope you enjoy the show.”
Maddie Calmes (Cast Member 1, Player 1, Murderer 1, Hermione) is 10 years old and is in 4th grade. She attends Eastwood Elementary School. Maddie has been participating in theater for less than a year. This is her first show with HYT. Maddie is super excited because this is her first ever play! She would like to thank HYT for giving her this opportunity. She would also like to thank Ruby St. Louis for introducing her to HYT and for always being supportive of her.
Olivia Swaisgood (Player 4, Cast Member 4, Perdita) is 10 years old and is in 4th grade. She is homeschooled. Livy has been participating in theater for 1 year and has been in 2 shows. This is her second show with HYT. Livy is excited for everything about ShakeSPLOSION!!!. She would like to thank her mom, dad, and Cassie. In addition to this play, Livy also participates in gymnastics and soccer.
Ruby St. Louis (Player 5, Cast Member 5, Pericles) is 10 years old and is in 4th grade. She attends Eastwood Elementary School. Ruby has been participating in theater for 3 years and has been in 6 shows. Five of these shows have been with HYT. Ruby thinks that acting in ShakeSPLOSION!!! is a cool way to learn Shakespeare. She would like to thank HYT for giving people like her an opportunity to participate in theater. In addition to this play, Ruby also participates in soccer, volleyball, and girl scouts. She also likes roller skating.
Sofia Swaisgood (Servant 1, George, Gravedigger, Hermia) is 12 years old and is in 6th grade. She is homeschooled. Sophia has been participating in theater for 6 years and has been in 6 shows. Four of these shows have been with HYT. Sofia is excited to scream and run on stage for her roles in ShakeSPLOSION!!!. She would like to thank her parents for driving her to endless rehearsals, and friends and family for always coming to see her perform.
Keith Guion (Mr. Keith) has been doing theater for many years and has been in many shows. While he has never before acted in an HYT play, he has directed several. He is excited for the younger children in this play to be able to interact with him in a way that they normally cannot when he is directing them. He would like to thank the HYT Board, Cassie, for asking him to be a part of this, and the young kids in the play for only pretending to kill him. Keith has directed many youth theater productions, and he enjoys working with young people. Most of the time, he does not get a chance to work with them as a fellow actor. “That’s a different experience, and a lot of fun.”
Alice Walters (The French, Lady MacBeth, Hamlet, Orlando) is a rising Freshman at BG High School. This is her 37th production. She has worked with HYT, BSP, CTW, 3B and others. Some previous experience includes Lady Macbeth with CTW, Ariel in the Tempest with CTW and Snug the Joiner in A Midsummer Night's Dream with HYT. Alice has also performed in numerous musicals. Recently she stage-managed for HYT and co-founded and directed for the first-ever BG Middle School Drama Club. "I would like to thank everyone I've worked with in the past for getting me to where I am. I would also like to thank Cassie for always believing in me and giving me opportunities to help me grow. I truly appreciate the many mentors who have helped instill in me my love for Shakespeare!”
Boudicca Grills-McCarty (Player 3, Cast Member 3, Helena II) is 9 years old, and this is her first full length play! She also participated in a readers theater camp over the summer with Mr. Guion. Her hobbies include reading, playing video games, ice skating, and arts and crafts!
Carson Huyghe (Earl, Bedford, Cromwell, Sea Captain, Lysander) is 12 years old and is in 6th grade. He attends Gateway Middle School. Carson has been participating in theater for less than a year and has been in 2 shows. This is his second show with HYT. Carson really likes the Sea Captain role he gets to play. He would like to thank his mom, dad, and family for encouraging him throughout his theater journey.
Devin Rogel (Player 10, Cast Member 10, Antonio) is 9 years old and is in 4th grade. He is homeschooled. Devin has been participating in theater for 7 years and has been in 4 shows. Two of these shows have been with HYT. Devin is most excited for the Henry VII scene. He would like to thank Cassie and Fox Robert-Zibbles.
Fox Roberts-Zibbel (Narrator Susanna) is 14 years old and is in 9th grade. They attend Ohio Virtual Academy. Fox has been participating in theater for 8 years and has been in more than 15 shows. All of these shows have been with HYT. Fox is most excited to work with their friends in this play. They would like to thank their brother, Leo. “Guys, I swear I’m having fun, Susanna just hates everything!”.
Jacobi Edge (Hotspur, Richard III, Laertes, Dromio) is 18 years old and is in 12th grade. They attend Toledo School for the Arts. Jac has been participating in theater for 9 years and has been in many shows. Most of these shows have been with HYT. Jac is excited for their role as Richard III – the villain. They would like to thank their parents for supporting them.
Liam Rogel (Hal/Henry V, Dick the Butcher, Polonius, Demetrius) is 14 years old and is in 10th grade. He attends Toledo School for the Arts. Liam has been participating in theater for 9 years and has been in 30 shows. Twenty of these shows have been with HYT. Liam is excited to kill someone, run across the stage screaming, get stabbed, and then run across the stage screaming…in that order. “I would like to thank Cassie, Keith, and all of the HYT adults for putting up with me all of these years. I also want to thank my mom and dad for getting me interested in theater and then driving me to theater. This show is the first time a director has actually told me to run around and scream, and although Cassie may regret it, I certainly don't!”.
Mali Cloeter (Richard II, Joan, Lady Anne, Gertrude, Julia) is a homeschooled 11th grader. She has been in 10 shows with HYT and was last seen aggressively demonstrating the hand fan and scolding Josephine for dawdling as Aunt March in HYT's production of the musical Little Women. She enjoys being outside, singing in Chorale, learning many languages at once, and spending time with her favorite people.
Ramona Foreman (Soldier, Imogen) is approaching their Junior year at Bowling Green High School. They have been heavily involved with their school's drama club since their freshmen year, acting in shows such as The Little Mermaid and Legally Blonde. They have also written and directed a show their sophomore year. This is their first show with Horizon Youth Theatre, and they are excited to share the production. They hope to get more involved with Horizon Youth Theatre. Outside of the drama club, they are also involved with their school's choir program. They would like to thank their theater friends for accepting them into the theater life and pushing them out of their comfort zone.
Sam Forman (Player 8, Cast Member 8, Prospero) is 8 years old and is in 2nd grade. He attends Conneaut Elementary School. Sam has been participating in theater for 1 year and has been in 1 show with HYT. Sam is most excited to play a pirate in ShakeSPLOSION!!!. He would like to thank his parents and Cassie.
Sophia Milks (Grey, Somerset, Wolsey, For Witch, Arviragus) is 12 years old and is in 6th grade. She attends Bowling Green Middle School. Sophia has been participating in theater for 5 years and has been in 8 shows. Six of these shows have been with HYT. Sophia is excited to act for multiple roles in this play. She thinks that ShakeSPLOSION!!! is a very fun play. She would like to thank her amazing mom for allowing her to be included in HYT. She would also like to thank Cassie for making this awesome production happen! Sophia says that HYT is amazing, and she loves it very much. “Cassie, you’re AWESOME!”.
Aurora Zientek (Player 11, Iago, Cast Member 7, Hero) is 9 years old and is in 3rd grade. She attends Eastwood Elementary School. Aurora has been participating in theater for 2 years and has been in 5 shows. ShakeSPLOSION!!! is her second show with HYT. Aurora is really excited about all of the fighting and death in the show. She would like to thank Cassie, the cast, the crew, and all of the parents who helped make this show possible. Aurora likes to play piano, read, and play outside.
Calista Motisher (Ophelia, Rosalind) is 14 years old and is in 8th grade. She attends St. Aloysius Catholic School. Calista has been participating in theater for 5 years and has been in 15 shows. Thirteen of these shows have been with HYT. Calista is most excited to do a “sneak attack” on St. Crispin’s Day and have everything end conveniently. She would like to thank her family, Cassie, and everyone who made this show possible. She is so excited to play in her first Shakespeare show and she hopes everyone enjoys it!
Charlie Dyer (Northumberland, Dauphin, Anne Boleyn, Osric, Helena) is 13 years old and is in 7th grade. She attends Otsego Junior High School. Charlie has been participating in theater for 1 year and has been in 1 show. This is her second show with HYT. Charlie is excited to be able to work with Shakespeare. She would like to thank her parents.
Eli Marx (Claudius, Antipholus) is 17 years old and is in 12th grade. He attends Maumee Valley Country Day School. Eli has been participating in theater for 7 years and has been in 10 shows. Seven of these shows have been with HYT. Eli is excited for Alice Walters to stab him as Hamlet! He would like to thank Cassie for being an amazing director and showing him the ropes of directing. “I directed the Macbeth portion of the show, and I am very proud of my actors. Also, I am studying in Taiwan next year!”.
Ginger Windom (Servant 2, Scrope, Young Prince Richard, Of Witch, Kate, Guiderius) is 12 years old and is in 6th grade. She attends Bowling Green Middle School. Ginger has been participating in theater for 4 years and has been in 8 shows. Seven of these shows have been with HYT. Ginger is most excited to play Of Witch because she is sassy, and the other witches are some of her best friends. She would like to thank her brother, Jaxon, because his performance in Romeo and Juliet made her want to participate in theater. She would like to thank her best friend, Claire, because she has made Ginger stick with theater. She would like to thank her theater mom, Rose Walters, and theater aunt, Alice Walters. Finally, she would like to thank Cassie and Keith for being great directors. Ginger loves theater and HYT, and she is looking forward to being in her first Shakespeare show.
Kelsey Fecht (Servant 3, Edward IV, Henry VIII, Portia) is 14 years old and is in 8th grade. She attends St. Aloysius Catholic School. Kelsey has been participating in theater for 2 years and has been in 2 shows. This is her first show with HYT. Kelsey is very excited to be acting in ShakeSPLOSION!!!. She would like to thank Calista Motisher for telling her about HYT and reminding her (over and over) to try out. She hopes everyone enjoys the show!
Livy Emch (Monk, Player 9, Leontes) is 9 years old and is in 3rd grade. She attends Eastwood Elementary School. Livy has been participating in theater for less than a year. This is her first show with HYT. Livy is excited to perform on stage for the first time and to meet new people. She would like to thank Cassie for casting her in her first play. Also, Mr. Keith, for making things really fun!
Nicholas Fecht (Edward the Black, Henry VI, Ross, Bernardo, Petruchio, Sebastian) is 11 years old and is in 5th grade. He is homeschooled. Nic has been participating in theater for less than a year. This is his first show with HYT. Nic is excited to die a lot in ShakeSPLOSION!!!. He would like to thank his therapist for suggesting HYT to him.
Reagan Otley (Narrator Judith) is 17 years old and is in 11th grade. She attends Bowling Green High School. Reagan has been participating in theater for 4 years and has been in 16 shows. Five of these shows have been with HYT. Reagan is most excited to be overly enthusiastic about Shakespeare. She would like to thank William Shakespeare and her dog, Stella. Also, Reagan has recently been inducted into the International Thespian Society!
Sammy French (French King, York, Henry VII, Malcolm, Player King, Player Queen, Posthumus) is 14 years old and is in 8th grade. She attends St. Aloysius Catholic School. Sammy has been participating in theater for 5 years and has been in 4 shows. This is his first show with HYT. Sammy is most excited to play seven different roles in ShakeSPLOSION!!!. She would like to thank her mom, Aunt Jill, Grandma, and Papa. “Thank you for believing in me and never giving up on me.”.
Violet Grossman (Henry IV, Margaret, Viola) is 14 years old and is in 9th grade. She attends Bowling Green Middle School. Violet has been participating in theater for 7 years and has been in 12 shows. Eleven of these shows have been with HYT. Violet is excited to give her Shakespeare characters a modern twist. She would like to thank Cassie for directing this play and helping to bring the characters to life. She would also like to thank everyone she has been able to work with. “I hope everyone will laugh and enjoy the show!”.
FULL CAST (In Order They Appear In The Play)
Judith - Reagan Otley
Susanna - Fox Roberts-Zibbel
Mr. Keith - Keith Guion
Spectre of Death - Carina Motisher
History and Interlude
Players - Maddie Calmes
Livy Emch
Emmy Forman
Sam Forman
Boudi Grills-McCarty
Clarissa Hensley
Devin Rogel
Ruby St. Louis
Olivia Swaisgood
Aurora Zientek
King John
Monk - Livy Emch
King John - Mr. Keith
Edward III
Edward III - Xander Sands
Servant 1 - Sofia Swaisgood
Countess - Izzie Milks
Earl - Carson Huyghe
Edward the Black - Nic Fecht
Richard II
Richard II - Mali Cloeter
Servant 2 - Ginger Windom
Henry Bolingbroke - Violet Grossman
Henry IV (parts 1 and 2)
Henry IV - Violet Grossman
Hal - Liam Rogel
Falstaff - Xander Sands
Hotspur - Jacobi Edge
Northumberland - Charlie Dyer
Servant 3 - Kelsey Fecht
Henry V
Henry V - Liam Rogel
Cambridge - Claire Nelson
Scrope - Ginger Windom
Grey - Sophia Milks
French King - Samuel French
Katharine of Valois - Izzie Milks
Henry VI (parts 1, 2, and 3)
Henry VI - Nic Fecht
Servant 4 - Izzie Milks
Bedford - Carson Huyghe
York - Samuel French
Somerset - Sophia Milks
Joan of Arc - Mali Cloeter
Dauphin - Charlie Dyer
Margaret of Anjou - Violet Grossman
Dick the Butcher - Liam Rogel
Edward of Wales - Izzie Milks
Edward - Kelsey Fecht
George - Sofia Swaisgood
Richard - Jacobi Edge
Richard III
Edward IV - Kelsey Fecht
George - Sofia Swaisgood
Richard III - Jacobi Edge
Lady Anne - Mali Cloeter
Prince Edward - Claire Nelson
Prince Richard - Ginger Windom
Henry VII - Samuel French
Henry VIII
Henry VIII - Kelsey Fecht
Katharine of Aragon - Claire Nelson
Cromwell - Carson Huyghe
Wolsey - Sophia Milks
Anne Boleyn - Charlie Dyer
Baby Elizabeth - Carina Motisher
Othello
Iago - Aurora Zientek
Coriolanus/Julius Caesar
Coriolanus - Mr. Keith
Julius Caesar - Mr. Keith
Murderer 1 - Maddie Calmes
Mark Antony - Xander Sands
Macbeth
Witches - Sophia Milks
Claire Nelson
Ginger Windom
Macbeth - Leo Roberts-Zibbel
Banquo - Avriana Hensley
Lady Macbeth - Alice Walters
Macduff - Xander Sands
Malcolm - Samuel French
Ross - Nic Fecht
Guard - Izzie Milks
Two Noble Kinsmen
Arcite - Mr. Keith
Hamlet
Bernardo - Nic Fecht
Horatio - Leo Roberts-Zibbel
Ghost Hamlet - Xander Sands
Hamlet - Alice Walters
Claudius - Eli Marx
Laertes - Jacobi Edge
Polonius - Liam Rogel
Gertrude - Mali Cloeter
Ophelia - Calista Motisher
Players - Samuel French
Avriana Hensley
Osric - Charlie Dyer
Sea Captain - Carson Huyghe
Sailors - Kelsey Fecht
Mona Foreman
Violet Grossman
Sophia Milks
Claire Nelson
Ginger Windom
Pirates - Maddie Calmes
Livy Emch
Emmy Forman
Sam Forman
Boudi Grills-McCarty
Clarissa Hensley
Carina Motisher
Devin Rogel
Ruby St. Louis
Olivia Swaisgood
Aurora Zientek
Fortinbras - Izzie Milks
Gravedigger - Sofia Swaisgood
Romeo and Juliet/Antony and Cleopatra/Troilus and Cressida
Narrator - Leo Roberts-Zibbel
Sign Holder - Izzie Milks
Romeo/Mark Antony/Troilus - Xander Sands
Juliet/Cleopatra/Cressida - Avriana Hensley
Fighting Communities - Nic Fecht
Samuel French
Sophia Milks
Claire Nelson
Alice Walters
Ginger Windom
Twelfth Night
Viola - Violet Grossman
Sebastian - Nic Fecht
As You Like It
Rosalind - Calista Motisher
Orlando - Alice Walters
The Two Gentlemen of Verona
Julia - Mali Cloeter
Proteus - Leo Roberts-Zibbel
The Merchant of Venice
Portia - Kelsey Fecht
Antonio - Devin Rogel
Cymbeline
Imogen - Mona Foreman
Posthumus - Samuel French
Guiderius - Ginger Windom
Arviragus - Sophia Milks
Comedy of Errors
Antipholus - Eli Marx
Dromio - Jacobi Edge
A Midsummer Night’s Dream
Lysander - Carson Huyghe
Demetrius - Liam Rogel
Hermia - Sofia Swaisgood
Helena - Charlie Dyer
Titus Andronicus
Titus - Mr. Keith
Timon of Athens
Timon - Mr. Keith
Taming of the Shrew
Petruchio - Nic Fecht
Kate - Ginger Windom
The Tempest
Prospero - Sam Forman
Different Antonio - Devin Rogel
Measure for Measure
Claudio - Claire Nelson
Isabella - Izzie Milks
Much Ado About Nothing
Hero - Aurora Zientek
Different Claudio - Claire Nelson
All’s Well That Ends Well
Bertram - Avriana Hensley
Different Helena - Boudi Grills-McCarty
The Winter’s Tale
Leontes - Livy Emch
Hermione - Maddie Calmes
Perdita - Olivia Swaisgood
Pericles
Pericles - Ruby St. Louis
Thaisa - Emmy Forman
Marina - Carina Motisher
The Merry Wives of Windsor
Mistress Quickly - Clarissa Hensley
Falstaff - Xander Sands
King Lear
Lear - Mr. Keith
Crew
Deck Crew - Eve Barman
Julian Gomezdelcampo
Harley Partlow
Charlie Vostal
Light Board Op - Jonah Truman
Set Construction - Liz Robertson
Ben Forman, Allen Rogel, Liam Rogel, Harley Partlow, Julian Gomezdelcampo, Eve Barman, Calista Motisher, Kelsey Fecht, Ben Motisher, Samantha Fecht, Nic Fecht, Charlie Vostal
Prop Construction - Cassie Greenlee
Sarah Medved
Harley Partlow
Liz Robertson
Paint Crew - Devin Rogel, Harley Partlow, Kelsey Fecht, Samantha Fecht, Calista Motisher, Carina Motisher, Sarah Medved, Jac Edge, Liam Rogel, Julian Gomezdelcampo, Charlie Dy
Production Crew
Director - Cassie Greenlee
Stage Managers - Sarah Medved
Harley Partlow
Student Director - Eli Marx
Fight Choreographer - Tim Barker
Tech Director - Liz Robertson
Producer - Liz Robertson
Dramaturg - Scarlet Frishman
Poster and Program - Kobe’ Towbridge
Special Thanks To
Kelly Frailly, Joyce Fausnaugh, and Otsego Schools
Kristin Otley and BG Community Center
Carol Lenox and First United Methodist Church
Wood County District Public Library
P.E.O. Chapter E
Heather Utsler-Smith
Chase Greenlee
Kelly Snow, Judy Ream, Lesa Lockford, Stephannie Gearhart, and everyone else who taught me to love the Bard
Parents and family of the cast and crew for all their work and time and energy
My team: Liz, Tim, Sarah, Harley, Eli, and Scarlet, without whom I could not have done this
Directors Note
I love Shakespeare. This will not be new information to anyone who knows me, but if you’re new, hi. I’m Cassie. I’ve read all of Shakespeare’s plays, attended several Shakespeare festivals, co-hosted a Shakespeare podcast, and can recite upwards of 10 different monologues or sonnets at the drop of a hat. Shakesplosion is the third Shakespeare project I’ve directed for HYT in the last five years.
I love Shakespeare. But listen, I know the complaints from the people who don’t. The stories are boring, the language is incomprehensible, everything is stuffy and old-fashioned and too hard to understand. If you don’t love Shakespeare, I get it. I can’t even entirely disagree with you -- the guy wrote at least 37 plays. They’re not all gonna be winners (Looking at you, Antony and Cleopatra. Yeah, I said it. That’s your Shakespeare hot take for the day).
I was fortunate as a kid, because first of all, I saw Shakespeare performed long before I ever read him on the page. And second of all, the high school teachers who taught me Shakespeare had a deep and abiding love for his works, and that enthusiasm came out in their lessons, making the work of the Bard interactive and upbeat and fun.
Because Shakespeare is interactive and upbeat and fun, once you get past that 400-year language barrier. It’s also beautiful and witty and smart and relevant, and one of the things that drew me to this play is that Andrew Geha presents Shakespeare in that way, fast-paced and funny, in a way that even the Shakespeare nay-sayers can connect to. Which I know, because I made a few of them read the script.
Basically, if you walk away from this performance thinking that any one of these plays sounds intriguing and you might like to know a little more, then I consider that a win. If you laughed at a joke when you weren’t expecting to, that’s a win. And if, by putting on this play, I can convince a young person that Shakespeare is interactive and upbeat and fun before a bad high school English class experience can convince you Shakespeare is stuffy and old-fashioned and hard to understand, that’s the biggest win of all.
And if you want a Shakespeare reading recommendation after the show is done, hit me up. Because I would love to share my love of Shakespeare with you.