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Announcing the Cast & Directors of ASC’s 2025 Summer Season

Headshots of the Summer 2025 cast and directors for the American Shakespeare Center's productions of Sense and Sensibility and The Winter’s Tale in Staunton, VA. Includes Jemma Alix Levy and Raphael Emmanuel as directors, with featured actors Geoffrey Warren Barnes II, Jordan Friend, Komi M. Gbeblewou, Tristan Rose Gillia, Corrie Green, Sara J. Griffin, Angela Iannone, L James, and Raven Lorraine.

Sense & Sensibility and The Winter’s Tale

The American Shakespeare Center is proud to announce the cast and directors for its 2025 Summer Season, a sizzling showcase of wit, wonder, and world-class repertory theatre at the Blackfriars Playhouse in Staunton, Virginia.

From May through August 2025, ASC’s renowned ensemble brings two beloved classics to life: Jane Austen’s Sense & Sensibility (adapted by Emma Whipday with Brian McMahon) and William Shakespeare’s The Winter’s Tale. Performed in rotating repertory, these productions offer a rare theatrical experience where the same actors transform across multiple roles, styles, and centuries, all under one historic roof.

Whether you’re planning a weekend getaway to Staunton, VA, searching for summer theatre near Washington, D.C., or exploring Jane Austen stage adaptations, this season promises to surprise, delight, and move you.

Meet the Summer 2025 Directors

 

American Shakespeare Center’s Summer 2025 directors: Raphael Emmanuel for The Winter’s Tale and Jemma Alix Levy for Sense and Sensibility. Promotional graphic with portraits and production titles for the Staunton-based Blackfriars Playhouse season.

Jemma Alix Levy – Sense & Sensibility
Directing Sense & Sensibility for the Summer Season, Jemma Alix Levy brings elegance and ensemble craft to Austen’s world of love, loss, and layered expectations. A longtime ASC collaborator and current board member, Levy previously directed for ASC’s national tour and currently teaches acting and directing at Washington and Lee University. Her work is known for its emotional clarity, theatrical invention, and deep connection to text.

Raphael Emmanuel – The Winter’s Tale
Raphael Emmanuel makes his ASC debut with The Winter’s Tale, bringing his award-winning classical direction to this sweeping Shakespearean fable. A Drama League Classical Directing Fellow, Emmanuel has helmed productions at Oregon Shakespeare Festival, Elm Shakespeare, and stages in the UK. His approach is emotionally grounded, socially aware, and deeply lyrical—an ideal match for this tale of betrayal, magic, and rebirth.

The Summer 2025 Repertory Cast

Cast announcement for the American Shakespeare Center’s Summer 2025 repertory season in Staunton, VA. Features actor headshots and production dates: Sense and Sensibility (May 1–August 2) and The Winter’s Tale (June 5–August 2). Includes cast: Geoffrey Warren Barnes II, Jordan Friend, Komi M. Gbeblewou, Tristan Rose Gillia, Corrie Green, Sara J. Griffin, Angela Iannone, L James, and Raven Lorraine.

This summer, one ensemble brings two unforgettable worlds to life—from the razor-sharp wit of Austen’s England to the sweeping wonder of Shakespeare’s Sicilia and Bohemia. Meet the cast behind this transformative repertory theatre experience on the Blackfriars stage:

  • Geoffrey Warren Barnes II: Edward Ferrars / Sir John Middleton (Sense & Sensibility); Autolycus / Archidamus / Lord (The Winter’s Tale) – ASC DEBUT
  • Jordan Friend: Colonel Brandon (Sense & Sensibility); Leontes / Mopsa (The Winter’s Tale) – ASC DEBUT
  • Komi M. Gbeblewou: Mr. Dashwood / John Willoughby (Sense & Sensibility); Florizel / Mamillius / Officer (The Winter’s Tale) – ASC DEBUT
  • Tristan Rose Gillia: Mrs. Dashwood (Sense & Sensibility); Camillo / Dion (The Winter’s Tale) – ASC DEBUT
  • Corrie Green: Marianne Dashwood (Sense & Sensibility); Perdita / Emilia (The Winter’s Tale)
  • Sara J. Griffin: Elinor Dashwood (Sense & Sensibility); Paulina / Dorcus (The Winter’s Tale)
  • Angela Iannone: Mrs. Jennings (Sense & Sensibility); Antigonus / Clown (The Winter’s Tale)
  • L James: John Dashwood  (Sense & Sensibility); Polixenes / Jailor / Cleomenes (The Winter’s Tale) – ASC DEBUT
  • Raven Lorraine: Fanny Dashwood / Lucy Steele (Sense & Sensibility); Hermione / Shepherd (The Winter’s Tale)

This nine-member ensemble embodies the spirit of repertory, shifting styles, centuries, and emotional gears with brilliance and boldness. ASC favorites Sara J. Griffin, Angela Iannone, Corrie Green, and Raven Lorraine return to the Blackfriars stage with spark and signature presence. At the same time, a fresh wave of powerhouse performers makes their mark in this sizzling summer lineup.

Plan Your Summer Getaway to Staunton, Virginia

Looking for unforgettable things to do in Virginia this summer? Just 2.5 hours from Washington, D.C., Staunton is a hidden gem filled with small-town charm, mountain views, and one-of-a-kind arts experiences.

From May through August 2025, make the American Shakespeare Center’s Blackfriars Playhouse the centerpiece of your visit. Whether you’re marking Jane Austen’s 250th birthday, celebrating Shakespeare’s 461st, or simply craving world-class theatre in an intimate setting, ASC’s Summer Season is your invitation to experience it all.

Performance Dates
 Sense & Sensibility: May 1 – August 2
 The Winter’s Tale: June 5 – August 2

Blackfriars Playhouse | Staunton, VA
Make a day of it in Staunton—wander the charming streets, enjoy a locally sourced meal, then settle into the Blackfriars Playhouse for world-class theatre in shared light.

Book your tickets now for a Sizzling Summer of Wit and Wonder—only at the American Shakespeare Center, your destination for Jane Austen stage adaptations, Shakespeare’s plays, and the most unique live theatre in Virginia.

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