Othello - Cast Biographies

In alphabetical order

Hans Altweis* (Iago)

SSC: Comedy of Errors (Antipholus), Romeo and Juliet (Mercutio), A Midsummer Night’s Dream (Peter Quince)

Hans last worked with Seattle Shakespeare Company in the 2000 production of Comedy of Errors. Hans has also appeared in Shakespeare’s plays at Seattle Repertory Theatre, Seattle Children’s Theatre, Intiman, Wooden O, Shakespeare Santa Cruz, and Geva Theatre. Othello marks the ninth time he has appeared in a Shakespeare play wtih his wife, Amy Thone. He will next appear at Book-It in The Awakening.

John Bogar (Cassio, Duke)

SSC: A Midsummer Night’s Dream (Oberon)

In New York John played Hamlet at the Theater of Riverside Church and was in productions of Thyestes, Pippin, The Cherry Orchard and Anne Bogart’s The Big Dance while getting an M.F.A. from Columbia U. He received a Schubert Presidential grant and participated in the 2001 Gardzienice International Theater Symposium in Gardzienice, Poland. Two seasons at the Texas Shakespeare Festival included roles in Cymbeline, King Lear, Comedy of Errors, Henry IV Part One, and Shenandoah. Years ago in Seattle you might have seen John in productions at the Bathhouse, Empty Space (God bless ‘em), AHA! and GreenStage.

Dan Dennis (Music Design, Roderigo, Montano, Lodovico)

SSC: King Lear (Music Design), Taming of the Shrew (Grumio and Music Design).

Dan created music for Rebecca, Waxwings, Travels with Charley, and Howards End (Book-It Repertory Theatre); Native Vision and La Causa (Living Voices); and Caucasian Chalk Circle (theatre simple), among others. His recent roles include Loge in Seattle Opera’s new children’s adaptation of Wagner’s Das Rheingold, Albert in Village Theatre’s The Secret Garden, and the Proxy in his hit show Starball, which last summer played the International Planetarium Society’s conference in Valencia, Spain and next month will play the Fels Planetarium at the Franklin Institute in Philadelphia. Dan is a husband and father and is bravely expecting another child.

William Hall Jr.* (Othello)

SSC: Debut

Bill is very excited to be doing his first show with the Seattle Shakespeare Company. The theater space is, however, one of his favorites in this city having done multiple shows here, including Buffalo Soldiers, Sezwi Banzi isDead, and most recently Cry the Beloved Country. Other recent Seattle shows are The True Confessions of Charlotte Doyle and Red Badge of Courage at Seattle Children’s Theatre.

Jennifer Sue Johnson* (Desdemona, Bianca)

SSC: Twelfth Night (Viola 2002, Valentine 1997)

Jennifer Sue is thrilled to work again at Seattle Shakespeare Company. She is a company member at Book-It Repertory Theatre, originating leading roles in Lady Chatterley’s Lover, Pride and Prejudice and Ethan Frome. Her work is often seen at Seattle Children’s Theatre, including The BFG, Into the West, The Boxcar Children and The Book of Ruth. She has performed at numerous area theatres, including Seattle Repertory Theatre, Tacoma Actors Guild and Village Theatre. Jennifer Sue also toured the West as Maggie in Lend Me a Tenor, with the Montana Repertory Theatre. She recently became a mother for the first time.

Amy Thone * (Emilia, Brabantio, Artistic Associate)

SSC: King Lear (Goneril), Macbeth (Lady Macbeth), Comedy of Errors (Adriana), A Midsummer Night’s Dream (Helena)

Amy is honored to be doing her fifth show for Seattle Shakespeare Company and thrilled to be working on her ninth Shakespeare production with her husband, Hans Altwies. Amy has done Shakespeare at the Seattle Repertory Theatre (Romeo and Juliet, Pericles, Much Ado About Nothing), Intiman (Measure for Measure), Seattle Children’s Theatre (The Tempest, Romeo and Juliet), Wooden O (Henry V), and numerous seasons with the Colorado, Utah, Oregon and Santa Cruz Shakespeare Festivals. Amy is on the faculty of Cornish College of the Arts and Freehold Studio Theatre, a licensed massage therapist, and mother to wild five-year-old Charlotte.

*Member of Actors’ Equity Association, the Union of Professional Actors and Stage Managers in the United States.