To Woo

Free View on Demand

February 12 - 14, 2021

Shakespeare may be the most often quoted writer when it comes to the subject of love. First glance, ardent kiss, sensual longing, unrequited ardor, family bonds; his words on love permeate popular culture while his plays journey through the corridors of the imperfect human heart with compassion and originality. To celebrate Valentine’s Day, Seattle Shakespeare Company has created a collection of scenes, sonnets, and songs from Shakespeare’s works that open the heart. Rejoice in the language and share the experience with those you love.

Production Team

George Mount (Director), Makaela Milburn (Director), Lamar Legend (Director), Jocelyne Fowler (Production Manager).

Cast

A native of New Orleans, LA, Allyson received her MFA in Acting from the University of Washington Professional Acting Training Program. She is also a proud graduate of the illustrious Spelman College where she received her Bachelor of Arts in Drama. Her professional credits include Citizen: An American Lyric (Sound Theatre Company,) Skeleton Crew (ArtsWest Playhouse,) Milk Like Sugar (ArtsWest Playhouse), and The Tempest (Seattle Shakespeare Company,) to name a few. Allyson believes that it is her responsibility to amplify Black voices and the voices of the marginalized. Through her artistry, she strives to be a voice for change and a mirror of hope for those who witness her work. In addition to her passion for acting, Allyson enjoys mentoring, teaching and encouraging youth to tap into their greatness.

Anuhea Brown is an emerging theatre artist in the Seattle area. Notable collaborations include Seattle Shakespeare Company, ReAct Theatre, Fantastic.Z and One Coast Collaboration. Additionally, Anuhea is a playwright whose works have been developed with Live! Girls Theatre, The Collective WE, and Mampsh Productions. Anuhea is a proud Hawaiian Portuguese Filipino woman that hopes to decolonize theatre, and create a theatrical space that is fearless, daring, and inclusive to multiple intersectionalities.

Jerik Fernandez has just graduated with his BFA in Acting from Cornish College of the Arts. Before Cornish, Jerik spent two years with the Pacific Conservatory of the Performing Arts where he was seen in You Can’t Take It With You (The Man) and Argonautika(Castor/Others). At Cornish, he was seen in Spring Awakening (Adult Males) and Much Ado About Nothing (Dogberry). Jerik’s most recent credits include Grease (Vince Fontaine) at Berkeley Playhouse, My Antonià(Marek) at Book-It Repertory Theatre and Twelfth Night (Feste) at Seattle Shakespeare Company. Jerik is part of the Young Hot Thespian collective.

Justin Huertas is an award-winning playwright, composer-lyricist, and actor based in Seattle. His first original musical Lizard Boy world-premiered at Seattle Rep, toured to San Diego’s Diversionary Theatre, and presented at NAMT’s Festival of New Musicals (’20). Justin also wrote The Last World Octopus Wrestling Champion and A Very Merry Kraken Tea Party (both co-composed with Steven Tran) for ArtsWest Playhouse & Gallery and Lydia & the Troll (co-created by Ameenah Kaplan) for Seattle Rep. He is composer-lyricist for Book-It Repertory Theatre’s adaptation of Howl’s Moving Castle and a new musical commission for the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. For Seattle Shakespeare Company, Justin played Feste in Twelfth Night (Wooden O, 2012) and Dream/Death in Romeo & Juliet (2016).

Lamar Legend is a native New Yorker and began his theatrical training at The High School for the Performing Arts (The “Fame” School/LAG Arts) as an actor. He honed his dancing technique at The Alvin Ailey Dance School. But it wasn’t until he moved to Chicago that he combined his love of Shakespeare with physical theatre under the title of Director. Since then, Lamar has written and adapted seven plays, produced, directed, and starred in over fifty theatrical works in four US cities, as well as abroad in Tuscany, Rome, Milan, Prague, and Mexico. He’s performed at The MET, The Steppenwolf Theater, The Chicago Shakespeare Theater, Teatro Franco Parenti in Milan, and has been honored with The Gregory Award in Seattle, and The Rising Star Award by The Broadway League in New York. His plays have been workshopped by Seattle Rep and produced by 14:48 Productions, The Pocket Theatre, Pork Filled Productions, and Funhouse in Seattle.

Benjamin graduated from Cornish College of the Arts with a B.F.A. in Acting. He booked his first role as Peter in a co-production of The Diary of Anne Frank with the Indiana Repertory Theatre and the Seattle Children’s Theatre. He played Ferdinand in The Tempest with the Seattle Shakespeare Company back in 2019 and was last seen as Charlie in the Seattle Public Theater’s 2020 production of Admissions.

Michael is the current recipient of the John Wood Fulbright Award to the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Arts, where he is pursuing an MA in Classical Acting. He is a proud graduate of the University of Washington’s School of Drama and is grateful to SSC for this chance to revisit Illyria opposite the brilliant Brandon J. Simmons.

Chiara is a Seattle based actress, producer, and sometimes trapeze artist. She has a B.A. in drama from Stanford and graduated from the National Theatre Conservatory MFA program in Denver, CO. Favorite credits include Molly in the new web series “All Souls”, Viola in “Shakespeare in Love” (Seattle Shakespeare Company), Princess Diana in “King Charles III” (Seattle Repertory Theatre) and Annie in “The Call” (Arkansas Repertory Theatre).

Chiara’s voice can be heard on the Her Interactive series of Nancy Drew video games as tough tomboy George who fights monkeys and helps solve mysteries. She can also be seen on The Corps Comedy series as intrepid conservative news reporter Farrah Swain. Visit chiaramotley.com for more.

Over the past several years Arjun has performed new and old material for both children and adults. He has performed inside, outside, and screenside, with words and without, for large audiences and small. He is a lover of games and thunderstorms, and when he isn’t performing he likes being outside, building things, playing with animals, and thinking about the mysteries of the universe.  Arjun is a graduate of Brown University and his favorite animal is the dragon.

Brandon J. Simmons has appeared in numerous Seattle Shakespeare Company productions, most recently as Olivia in Twelfth Night. Other recent Seattle credits include True West (Seattle Rep); Feathers and Teeth (Washington Ensemble Theatre); A Bright Room Called Day (Williams Project); and The Picture of Dorian Gray (Book-It Rep). Brandon recently directed, adapted, and starred in Book-It’s audio production of The Canterville Ghost, by Oscar Wilde, which is available for download at book-it.org.

Seattle Shakespeare Company audiences may remember Arlando from recent productions of Julius Caesar and Shakespeare in Love. Elsewhere locally, he has worked on productions at ACT Theatre, Book-It Rep, Seattle Public Theater and Seattle Opera.

Previously at Seattle Shakespeare Company: Shakespeare In Love, Taming of the Shrew, Merchant of Venice, The Miser, School for Scandal, Henry IV, Romeo and Juliet and As You Like It. Brian has also appeared in the Wooden O productions of Comedy of Errors, Othello and Taming of the Shrew. Other credits include New Century Theatre Company, Seattle Public Theatre, Florida Stage, Harlequin Productions and Theater Schmeater. Brian is a graduate of Seattle University.

We wish to express our gratitude to the Performers’ Unions:

ACTORS’ EQUITY ASSOCIATION

AMERICAN GUILD OF MUSICAL ARTISTS

AMERICAN GUILD OF VARIETY ARTISTS

SAG-AFTRA

through Theatre Authority, Inc. for their cooperation in permitting the Artists to appear on this program.

This presentation is made possible by the support of Perkins Coie.