Director’s Note

Mucedorus

Dave Quay

“Behold the fickle state of man, always mutable, never at one.” —Mucedorus

Mucedorus, the play, is sweet and strange, and dark and hilarious—often simultaneously. It opens with a confrontation between light and dark (Comedy and Envy), who battle over which will win the day—will this be a funny play or a scary one? From the first moment, in other words, we’re prepared for the answer we eventually get, which is: both. In Mucedorus, what’s hilarious can share the stage, at any given moment, with what’s devastating. Or what’s thrilling with what’s quietly romantic. The conniving antagonist is finally revealed to be a man of honor. And the beastly woodsman is an exceptional poet. By the end, even Comedy and Envy themselves have slipped a toe across the line. As the King of Valentia says, the drug that heals can also kill you. Every moment, as every character, is not one thing but many. Only in context—in relationship to others—does any moment find identity. “Though lands part bodies, hearts keep company,” Mucedorus reassures Anselmo. Even on our own, we need each other. Only through the eyes of others can we clearly see ourselves. See you out there!

Director’s Note

The Winter’s Tale

K.P. Powell

“It is required you do awake your faith.” This is a line in Act V of Shakespeare’s The Winter’s Tale where Paulina invites Leontes to believe again. I invite you all to believe in the power of storytelling again as you watch these young artists make brave choices with minimal accoutrements. This production was all about insecurity for us. It’s our insecurities that lead us to distrust the things and people around us. It’s easier to hold onto the negative and argue how it’s right than to admit we were wrong. It’s what makes a son hide his love from his father, what makes a thief feel the need to be a thief, what makes a man spend every cent he has trying to impress a lady, what makes a husband ruin his marriage. The constant fear that we aren’t enough often leads us to behaving well beneath our own excellence. I wanted this production to hold up a mirror to each of its actors and also to the audience. I want everyone to ask themselves the question, “what am I screwing up in my own life because I’ve already decided that I’m not enough?” I hope you all watch these campers tackle their own insecurities as young artists as they step into the insecurities of these characters and feel as inspired by them as I have been.

Archer Deans

He/Him

15

Raleigh, NC

Archer is a rising Sophomore at Research Triangle High School. In his freshman year he acted in Radium Girls, The Musical Revue, and Comedy of Errors. He also did tech work for the musical Little Women. Archer would like to thank the hills on Mary Baldwin’s campus for keeping him in shape throughout camp. He hopes you enjoy the shows!

Corinne Edwards

She/Her

16

Louisa Virginia

Corinne loves acting with a passion. She also likes to cook, read, and hang out with her friends. A favorite memory of hers with camp is hanging out with everyone in the commons and singing musical songs. She particularly enjoyed SHEEP SHEARING TIME as well as visiting the town.

Desi Rose Emmert-Hart

(They/Them)

16

Waynesboro, Virginia

Desi is a rising high school junior at Stuart Hall. This is their first year of camp with the ASC and they have made a lot of new friends. At camp they most enjoyed group singing musical songs with other campers and going to the park. They enjoy playing volleyball, drawing, knitting, and singing in their free time. They would like to give special thanks to their dearest aunt Eleanor, who passed this year, as well as the rest of their family, especially their mother and grandmother, for supporting their passions.

Esme Tobias

She/Her

16

Charlottesville VA

Esme Tobias is playing Camilo and Gentleman 3 in The Winters Tale, and The King of Aragon in Mucedorus. This is her second time doing ASCTC. She goes to Monticello High School in Charlottesville, VA and is going into 11th grade. She lives with her parents, sister, and dog. Esme plays the flute in her schools marching band. She also likes to bake and play D&D. She would like to thank everyone for making this a bear-tastic experience!

Hank Powers

(He/Him)

17

Charlottesville, VA

Hank Powers is a senior from Charlottesville Virginia. This is his second time performing, and he looks forward to working with everybody onstage.

Hudson Bronik-Ezzell

(she/her)

13

Staunton, Virginia

Hudson Bronik-Ezzell is a rising 8th grader at Shelburne Middle School in Staunton, Virginia. This is her first year as a ASCTC camper. When she’s not acting she enjoys reading and spending time with her cat, Gabe. She thanks her family for being so supportive and helping her go to camp. She hopes you enjoy the shows.

Jade Eccles

(she/her)

14

Charlottesville, VA

Jade Eccles is a rising Freshman at The Covenant School in Charlottesville, Virginia, and this is their first year as an ASCTC camper! When she is not acting, she can be found horseback riding, fencing, and chilling with their hedgehog, Cleopatra. Much love to her mom, Jennifer, her grandmother, Becky, and all her pets at home. She hopes you enjoy the shows!

JD/Froggy Dowd

(he/ze/bug)

16

Amherst, NH

JD/Froggy (Mucedorus in Mucedorus, Antigonus and Gentleman 1 in The Winter’s Tale) is a rising senior from Amherst, New Hampshire. These are his first shows with the ASC Theatre Camp. Some of his favorite past roles include Donkey (Shrek JR.), Froggy (Froggy), Avril Blaze (URL vs. IRL), and The Wall (Bacchanal). When he’s not onstage or backstage, he loves working as a librarian, playing board and card games, and traveling with his family. He’d love to thank them for their endless support, as well as the cast and production team for their hard work and great teachings. He can’t wait to share these un-bear-lievable shows with you all. Enjoy!

Maggie Scheer

(she/her)

16

Raleigh, NC

Maggie Scheer is a rising junior at Research Triangle High school. This is her first year at camp. She enjoys drawing chickens and sewing in her free time. She thanks her family for supporting her throughout her entire life. Enjoy the show.

Mayela Reichert

(She/Her)

14

Scottsdale, AZ

Mayela Reichert is a rising freshman at Cicero Preparatory Academy in Scottsdale, AZ. When not acting she can be found painting, drawing, dancing, and writing, (and in deep philosophical conversations of course). Her most recent role was Jo March (Little Women). Much love to Christa Reichert, Joel Reichert, Blaize Reichert, Xavier Reichert, and Cruz Reichert.

Natalie Cavender

(She/Her)

13

Alexandria, Virginia

Natalie Cavender is a rising 8th grader at George Washington Middle School and this is her first year as an ASC camper. Aside from acting Natalie enjoys being a cauxion for crew, reading and hanging out with friends. Previous shows include Christmas Carol, Gypsy, and various short Shakespeare plays. Thank you so much to her amazing family, mentors, and especially fellow cast members. Love you guys, break a leg!

Phoenix Claibourn

(He/They)

15

Charlottesville, VA

Phoenix Claibourn is thrilled to be in the ASC camp this year. He is playing Clown in Winter’s Tale and Rombelo, Ariana, and Team Comedy in Mucedorus. Previous roles include Flute in Midsummer Night’s Dream, U/S Pepper in Mamma Mia, Lady Capulet in Romeo and Juliet, and Banquo in Macbeth. They would like to thank the cast, interns, RDAs, directors, and everyone involved with making this production happen.

River Schleifer

(They/Them)

16

Charlottesville, VA

River Schleifer is a rising Junior at Saint Anne’s Belfield in Charlottesville, Virginia, and this is their 1st year as an ASCTC Camper! When not acting, they can be found on TikTok, playing with their dog, and watching youtube. Recently, River was a stage manager for their school’s play Mama Mia! They’d like to thank their mom and dad for signing them up to this camp, and to thank their dog, Candy, for existing because she is very cute. They hope you enjoy the shows!

Ronnie Donovan Franklin

(He/Him)

17

Emporia, VA

Ronnie Donovan Franklin is a rising Senior at Greensville County High School and the Governor’s School of Southside Virginia. This is his first time performing since elementary school. He is extremely passionate about whatever has caught his interest for the next few months. Special Thanks to Mom, Dad, his little Sisters, Edward Daniels, and Ms. Wendy Kidd.
He hopes you enjoy the shows!

Sophia Schwaner

(She/Her)

18

Staunton, Virginia

Sophia Schwaner began acting when she was in 6th grade and has since performed 12 shows at her school and local theatre studios. She has co-taught elementary school acting classes with Silverline Theatre Exchange and has played in pit orchestras for local musicals. In addition, she has been a member of the Waynesboro Symphony orchestra as a violinist, and enjoys the double bass, mandolin, piano, and fiddle. She enjoys writing musicals and plays of her own and has had, via the National Endowment for the Arts and the American Theatre Wing, the opportunity to have one of her original songs professionally recorded in New York City. Outside of the arts, Sophia enjoys the hard sciences, philosophy, fencing, and jazz. She wants to take this moment to thank her family, friends, and teachers for giving her the unending support that has afforded her many opportunities to grow artistically.

Daniel Skinner

(he/him/his)

Team Captain RDA & Mucedorus Dramaturg

Daniel is an actor based out of NYC, and could not be happier to return to ASCTC for his second year as an RDA! Recent Credits include: Shloyme (God of Vengeance), Pony (My Emperor’s New Clothes), Hamlet (Hamlet), Valentine Coverly (Arcadia), Director (The Elephant Man). Elon University Acting BFA ’20. Much love to Catherine, Mom, Dad, Isla, and Cameron.

Dave Quay

(He/Him)

Director, Mucedorus

Dave is a New York-based actor, filmmaker, and writer. He is deeply grateful to have spent these weeks working on this wild play with this excellent company! Dave has appeared on stage in NYC at theaters including the Public Theater, Lincoln Center, Theatre for a New Audience, Classic Stage, Mint, and others. Regionally, Dave has performed with the Royal Shakespeare Company, Shakespeare Theatre DC, Alliance Theatre, Dorset Theater Festival, and NJ Symphony. TV/Film credits include “House of Cards,” “Gotham,” “Blue Bloods,” “Blindspot,” “Bull,” “The Looming Tower,” “Unforgettable,” “Forever,” and ”Royal Pains.” He has performed voiceover for two Ken Burns documentaries—Hemingway and Benjamin Franklin. He also performed as a clown with Big Apple Circus. His directing includes commercial, narrative, and documentary film. He has taught and directed at NYU and New York Film Academy. MFA-NYU Graduate Acting.

Devlin Ford

(She/Her)

RDA Team Captain, Mucedorus – Stage Manager

Devlin is an actor and teaching artist from Salt Lake City, Utah. She has worked with camps and classrooms across the county teaching theatre to all ages. She is currently a graduate student in Mary Baldwin’s Shakespeare and Performance program. She could not be more proud of these campers and the work they have created.

K.P. Powell

(He/Him)

Director, The Winter’s Tale

K.P. Powell is an actor, writer, director, and comedian living in Atlanta, GA. He was born in raised in St. Louis where he was studying physical therapy before he became an actor and got his MFA from the University of Houston. K.P. has acted for theaters across the nation including Cincinnati Playhouse, Orlando Shakes, Elm Shakes, Folger Theatre, American Shakespeare Center, Shakespeare Festival St. Louis, Peterborough Players, and more. He’s taught theater at every level from first graders to post grad professionals and has developed workshops for institutions that are still in use today; the most popular being Quips and Wit which teaches students about Shakespeare using modern hip-hop and rap artists. He believes that every person should spend time creating new things. It doesn’t matter if it ever sees the light of day; it can stay in the back of your closet but the act of making it is the part that is indispensable.

Kailey Potter

(She/Her)

Session One RDA Social Leader, Dramaturg for The Winter’s Tale

Kailey is an actor and graduate student from Greenville, South Carolina currently enrolled as an MFA student with Mary Baldwin University’s Shakespeare and Performance program, where she has appeared as Lady Meanwell in the premiere of The Frolicks and Alice Arden in Arden of Faversham. This has been her first summer working with ASCTC and she has been thrilled to watch these campers commune, collaborate, and create together.

Keith Hale

(he/him)

RDA Wellness Leader

Keith is an actor and theatre-maker based in NYC, and it is with much gratitude that he finds himself working with ASC for the first time. Keith has worked regionally with theatres including Commonwealth Shakespeare Company (Romeo & Juliet), The Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey (A Midsummer…Dream; Romeo & Juliet; Julius Caesar), Elm Shakespeare Company (The Comedy of Errors), and Flagstaff Shakespeare (As You Like It), among others. He has also worked for the past several years with Speak About It, a national touring educational performance about consent, healthy relationships, and assault prevention. It has been a great pleasure to work with these campers and interns on The Winter’s Tale, and he’d like to say this to the cast and crew: “Break legs, have fun, and WATCH OUT FOR BEARS!” www.keithjhale.com

Lydia Babcock

(she/her)

Stage Management Intern for Mucedorus

Lydia Babcock is a rising junior at the University of Toledo where she is majoring in Creative Writing. Lydia attended camp in 2018 and played multiple roles in Q1 Hamlet. She is so thankful and excited to be working with ASCTC again this summer.

Margot Waldman

(she/her)

Stage Manager Intern, The Winter’s Tale

Margot is thrilled to be back at camp, this time as a stage manager, after having been in three Blackfriars productions and one online show too! Stage managing been a challenge, to be sure, but a fun and revealing one too! Margot is so grateful to everyone who’s been a guide along the road to this summer, and she wants to thank everyone, whoever they might be – parents, mentors, everyone! Margot is a rising junior Literature/Theatre major at Reed College, and loves Shakespeare and literature in general – special favorites include Henry IV, Part One, and King Lear, but with only one or two exceptions, they’re really all favorites! This summer has been an amazing opportunity, not just to get to give back to the ASCTC, but also just to be back in Staunton!

Mary Rosalind Valentine

(she/her/hers)

Production Intern with The Winter’s Tale

Mary Rose Valentine (or Mars, as most of Camp calls her) is a rising senior at Penn State University, where she double majors in Theatre Studies and Comparative Literature, with a minor in French. She has been performing Shakespeare since age 13, was a camper in 2018 and 2019, and an intern for the digital SHXCamp in 2020. This session, she obtained props and costumes for The Winter’s Tale and helped the campers learn the show’s music and choreography. Mary Rose spends her school years studying, serving as vice president of Penn State’s Shakespeare club Statespeare, and writing tabletop roleplaying games professionally. In her free time (of which she has very little), she pets her cat, bakes, dances, and reads brain candy romance novels. She would like to remind audiences that what they’re seeing today is the future of theatre, of art, and of our world.

Mia Randers-Pehrson

(she/her)

Production Intern for Mucedorus

Mia Randers-Pehrson is a junior at Sarah Lawrence College studying theatre and literature. She was a camper from 2017-2019 when she was in Titus Andronicus (Lavinia), Volpone (Corbaccio), and Gallathea (Gallathea). Outside of theatre she does more theatre—she spends most of her spare time acting with SLC’s Half-Naked Shakespeare and producing for Melancholy Players (most recently Sarah Ruhl’s Eurydice). She’s had a bear-ifically good time working on Mucedorus and hopes you’re as proud of the campers as she is!

Percival Walter

(he/him)

Dramaturgical Intern for Mucedorus

Percival Walter is a sophomore at Lewis and Clark studying theatre and performance. He was a camper for 3 years, in Pericles (Bawd), Roaring Girl (Mistress Gallipot), and Henry V (Fluellen). He is very happy to be back at ASCTC as a dramaturg.

Topher Zane

(He/Him) ‘

Dramaturgy Intern for The Winter’s Tale

Topher is a rising Sophomore at William and Mary. He is planning to study psychology and philosophy. Topher spent six years as a camper from 2016 to 2021. This is his first year as an intern. His past credits at camp include King Henry (Henry V), Angelo (Measure for Measure), and Bertram (All’s Well that Ends Well). Topher would like to thank Lia and Aubrey for being in charge of camp, KP Powell for being an absolutely amazing director, his fellow interns, the RDAs, and last but certainly not least the campers. It has been an honor and a privilege to see all of them find themselves as actors within the shows.

Lia Wallace

(she/hers)

Lia was born and raised in Philadelphia. She earned her Master of Letters and Master of Fine Arts degrees in Shakespeare & Performance from Mary Baldwin University and a BA in Shakespeare and Education from NYU Gallatin. Lia began as an ASC Education intern in January of 2012 before becoming a part time Education Artist and Playhouse Tour Guide. She joined ASC staff full-time as the College Prep Programs Manager and Camp Director in April of 2016. As the Performance Studies Manager, she now oversees a range of educational programming focusing on Shakespeare’s text and technology, with a focus on students at the undergraduate level and below. This is her seventh summer running the ASC Theatre Camp.