Festival Theatre

May 11 – October 10 |

Opens June 5

Shakespeare

THE TAMING OF THE SHREW

by William Shakespeare
Directed by Chris Abraham

Audience Advisory »

Courtship or conquest? The breaking down of a defiant spirit – or a breakthrough that liberates a heart deprived of love? Will you ever see a battle of wills that’s fiercer or funnier – or more hotly controversial?

MEIGHEN FORUM EVENTS

CAST & CREATIVE

CAST

2015: Captain von Trapp in The Sound of Music and Petruchio in The Taming of the Shrew. Eighth season. Stratford: Hamlet, Benedick, Leontes, Brutus, Octavius, Fluellen, Feste, Touchstone, Tranio, Charles (Blithe Spirit), Alceste (The Misanthrope), Jack (The Importance of Being Earnest), Chaplain (Mother Courage and Her Children), Burleigh (Mary Stuart). Elsewhere: Credits throughout North America: Shaw Festival: Tanner in Man and Superman, among over 25 productions. Chicago Shakespeare Theater: Hamlet, Macbeth, Frank in The School for Lies and Pericles. Various favourites: London Road, Canadian Stage; Cloud 9, Mirvish Productions; Our Town, Soulpepper Theatre; Berowne, NAC; Biff, Death of a Salesman, Neptune Theatre; Marchbanks, Candida, Theatre Calgary; Private Gar, Philadelphia Here I Come!, Walnut Street Theatre (Philadelphia). Film/TV: The Anniversary, Saving Hope, The Firm, Rookie Blue, Warehouse 13, Grey Gardens, Angela's Eyes, Slings and Arrows, The 11th Hour. Awards: Joseph Jefferson, Hamlet; Dora Mavor Moore, Torvald, The Doll's House.

2015: Thaisa, Marina, Antiochus's Daughter in The Adventures of Pericles and Katherina in The Taming of the Shrew. Sixth season. Stratford: Othello, The Three Musketeers, Much Ado About Nothing, Henry V, The Two Noble Kinsmen, The Taming of the Shrew, As You Like It, The Diary of Anne Frank, Love's Labour's Lost, Henry VI. Elsewhere: Most recently: Sally Bowles in Cabaret, Dorothea in Lovely Sunday for Creve Coeur (Shaw Festival); London Road (Canadian Stage). Other credits include My Fair Lady, Born Yesterday, Still Life, Heartbreak House, The Women, Wonderful Town, After the Dance, The Philanderer (Shaw Festival); The School for Lies (Chicago Shakespeare Theater); Caroline, or Change (Acting Up Stage); Soulpepper; Tarragon; MTC; Mirvish; The Grand Theatre; Theatre Passe Muraille; Festival of Classics. Film/TV: Saving Hope, Remedy, The Anniversary (feature film). Training: BFA, York University; Birmingham Conservatory '99. Awards: Dora Award (ensemble, London Road); John Hirsch Award, Stratford Festival.

2015: Player Queen in Hamlet, Bianca in The Taming of the Shrew and Rosaline in Love's Labour's Lost. Fourth season. Stratford: Tiger Lily, Alice Through the Looking-Glass ; featured in A Midsummer Night's Dream: A Chamber Play ; Mariana, Measure for Measure ; understudy, Othello ; Mary Stuart ; Chorus, Elektra; The Pirates of Penzance. Viola, Twelfth Night ; Hermione, The Winter's Tale (Birmingham Conservatory). Elsewhere: Margaret, Much Ado About Nothing, Octavia/Iris, Antony and Cleopatra (Bard on the Beach); Macbeth: nach Shakespeare (Conspiracy/Gas Heart); Saint Monica, The Last Days of Judas Iscariot (Pound of Flesh/Pacific Theatre); The Eighth Land (PI Theatre); Old Goriot (Western Gold/UBC Theatre); Small Axe (Project Humanity/The Theatre Centre). Film/TV: Smallville, Caprica, Eureka, The Perfect Score, American Dreams, numerous commercials. Recordings: Days of Old (Neworld Theatre/CBC). Training: Birmingham Conservatory; BFA Acting, UBC; Lyric School of Acting; Tarlington Training. Online: Twitter: @SarahAfful1. Et cetera: "Thanks to my brothers for all their support and unconditional love this year!"

2015: Herr Zeller in The Sound of Music and Baptista Minola in The Taming of the Shrew. 16th season. Peter dedicates his 40th year in the business to his late son, Adam. Stratford: Includes Measure for Measure (Escalus), Mary Stuart (Aubespine), Othello (Brabantio), Cymbeline (Doctor), Elektra (Old Man), The Misanthrope (Oronte), The Tempest (Alonso), Richard III (Buckingham), The Scarlet Pimpernel (Chauvelin), The Merchant of Venice, Titus Andronicus, Elizabeth Rex (portraying William Shakespeare), Macbeth. Elsewhere: Shaw Festival: 20 seasons including An Inspector Calls, Belle Moral, The Philanderer and Summer and Smoke. Mr. Hutt's career has taken him across Canada, to the Tarragon, Citadel, Neptune and Grand theatres, Manitoba Theatre Centre, National Arts Centre and Toronto's Royal Alexandra. Film/TV: Includes The Age of Dorian, Forever Knight, The Taming of the Shrew (CBC), Breaking All the Rules, Echoes in the Darkness and CBC Television's much-acclaimed production of Elizabeth Rex. Awards: Dora nomination, Patience (Tarragon Theatre).

2015: Lucentio in The Taming of the Shrew and George in Possible Worlds. Fourth season. Stratford: Peter Pan, King of Thieves, Richard III, Titus Andronicus, Cymbeline, Wanderlust. Elsewhere: The De Chardin Project (Passe Muraille); Twelve Angry Men (Soulpepper); Minotaur (YPT); RIFLES (Next Stage); The Tin Drum (UnSpun Theatre); Passion Play (Convergence, Outside the March, Sheep No Wool); Rock 'n' Roll, Habeas Corpus, Take Me Out, Amadeus, Sweeney Todd (Canadian Stage); Blood Brothers (Theatre Aquarius); Kiss of the Spider Woman, The Inspector General (Talk is Free); You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown (YPT). Film/TV: Reign, Murdoch Mysteries, Anne of Green Gables: A New Beginning, The Summit. Recordings: Voices for Resident Evil: Outbreak, Onimusha 2 and Far Cry 2. Training: London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art. Awards: Three Dora Award nominations, one win. Et cetera: "Love to Joanne and Eliza."

2015: Biondello in The Taming of the Shrew and Williams in Possible Worlds. Ninth season. Stratford (selected): Scrub in The Beaux' Stratagem, Andrei in Three Sisters, Benvolio in Romeo and Juliet, Apollodorus in Caesar and Cleopatra, Roderigo in Othello, Flaminius in Timon of Athens. Elsewhere: Mr. Collins in Pride and Prejudice, Sheriff of Nottingham in Robin Hood (Globe Theatre); Krogstad in A Doll's House (Montgomery/TNB). Film/TV: Dmitri in award-winning miniseries Fargo (Best miniseries: Emmy, Golden Globe), Suits, Republic of Doyle, The Ron James Show, Warehouse 13, Lost Girl. Training: National Theatre School of Canada; Birmingham Conservatory for Classical Theatre. Awards: Tyrone Guthrie Award (2003, 2007), John Hirsch Award (2004) and the inaugural recipient of the Richard Monette Travel Grant (2009).

2015: Polonius in Hamlet, Tranio in The Taming of the Shrew and Holofernes in Love's Labour's Lost. Eighth season. Stratford: Crazy for You, Man of La Mancha, Measure for Measure, Waiting for Godot, Wanderlust, Henry V, The Merry Wives of Windsor, Twelfth Night, As You Like It, The Winter's Tale, For the Pleasure of Seeing Her Again, Macbeth, Julius Caesar, A Midsummer Night's Dream, Hamlet and All's Well That Ends Well. Elsewhere: The Seagull, Someone Else (Crow's Theatre); Homechild, Beckett: Feck It! (Canadian Stage); My Mother's Feet (Munich); Hairspray (Toronto and Broadway); Benevolence, Courageous (Tarragon); Hamlet (NAC); Roméo et Juliette (Shakespeare on the Saskatchewan). Film/TV: Three seasons on CBC's This Is Wonderland; The Gilda Radner Story; The Day After Tomorrow; Everest '82 (CBC miniseries) and Flash of Genius. Awards: Two Gemini nominations and a Dora Award for Outstanding Actor 2013.

2015: Laertes in Hamlet, Hortensio in The Taming of the Shrew and Berowne in Love's Labour's Lost. Seventh season. Stratford: Othello, The Homecoming, The Matchmaker, King Lear, Cymbeline, The Importance of Being Earnest, Cyrano de Bergerac, Twelfth Night, The Beaux' Stratagem. Elsewhere: Nothing Sacred, Arms and the Man, Rutherford and Son, You Can't Take It With You, Cavalcade (Shaw Festival); It's a Wonderful Life, Take Me Out (Canadian Stage); Boeing Boeing (Aquarius); Long Day's Journey Into Night, The Shunning (MTC); The Great Gatsby (Grand); Our Town, The Way of the World, Black Comedy (Soulpepper); The Amorous Adventures of Anatol (Tarragon); An Inspector Calls (Theatre Calgary); Richard III, Caesar and Cleopatra (Citadel). Film/TV: Whatever Linda, Murdoch Mysteries, Life With Boys, Little Mosque on the Prairie, The Gathering. Online: Twitter: @mikeshara. Et cetera: "For my beautiful girls, Carla and Molly."

2015: Horatio in Hamlet and understudy in The Taming of the Shrew and Love's Labour's Lost. Seventh season. Stratford: Credits include Julius Caesar, The Tempest, Macbeth, Hamlet, As You Like It, Titus Andronicus, Henry IV(1), Henry IV(2), Henry V, Romeo and Juliet, Richard III, Antony and Cleopatra, Troilus and Cressida. Elsewhere: Recent credits include Venus in Fur (ATP); Twelve Angry Men, Death of a Salesman, Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf? (Soulpepper); Jane Eyre (MTC); A Midsummer Night's Dream (Shakespeare Theatre Company, Washington, DC); Death of a Salesman (Citadel); A Streetcar Named Desire (Blue Bridge); Private Lives (Chicago Shakespeare). Film/TV: Credits include Reign, Republic of Doyle, Warehouse 13, Nikita, The L.A. Complex, Saving Hope, Deadly Hope, The Firm, Lost Girl, Against the Wall, Combat Hospital, Flashpoint, Murdoch Mysteries, Killshot, Hollywoodland. Awards: Past recipient of the Dora Mavor Moore Guthrie Award (for outstanding contribution to the Stratford Festival).

2015: Maria in Love's Labour's Lost and appears in Hamlet and The Taming of the Shrew. Second season. Stratford: Jackie Coryton in Hay Fever, Pudding/Daisy 2 in Alice Through the Looking-Glass and Cleopatra Attendant in Antony and Cleopatra. Elsewhere: Five seasons with Shaw Festival including Major Barbara, Serious Money, Guys and Dolls, Ragtime, Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, A Man and Some Women, The Admirable Crichton, The Women, The Devil's Disciple, Born Yesterday; Binti's Journey (Theatre Direct); The Aftermath (Nightwood Theatre); A Midsummer Night's Dream (Shakespeare in High Park, Canadian Stage). Film/TV:Antony and Cleopatra (Stratford Festival). Training: BFA, University of Windsor. Online: Twitter: @UsoIje. Et cetera: Ijeoma has an online Etsy store that sells homemade cream and lip balms as well as cake stands made of recycled glasses and dishes. etsy.com/shop/usovintagedesigns. "Love and thanks to my family and Jake."

2015: Fortinbras Captain in Hamlet, Nicholas in The Taming of the Shrew and appears in Love's Labour's Lost. Ninth season. Stratford: King Lear (Curan), The Beaux' Stratagem (Fellow, Chamberlain), A Midsummer Night's Dream, Wanderlust (Blount), Henry V (Duke of Burgundy), As You Like It (Le Beau), The Winter's Tale (Cleomenes), Titus Andronicus (Aaron), The Tempest (Caliban), Macbeth (Witch), Romeo and Juliet (Benvolio), The Three Musketeers (Jussac), The Night of the Iguana (Pedro), Juno and the Paycock, Oedipus Rex (Chorus), Julius Caesar (Pindarus), The Alchemist, The Merchant of Venice, Hamlet. Elsewhere: Oberon/Theseus (Shakespeare in Action/Canadian Stage), Thomas Matthews (Toronto the Good - Factory Theatre), Othello (Othello - Driftwood Theatre), Macbeth (Macbeth - Workman Arts/Shakespeare in Action), Cody (This Is How It Goes - Neptune Theatre), Dubois (Counterfeit Secrets - Artword Theatre, Dora nomination). Film/TV: Nikita, Suits, Insecurity, King, The Rick Mercer Report. "For my lovely fiancée, Leigh, and my wonderful children, Myles, Bailey, Cole, Max, Lyric and Marley! Here lies all my future hopes."

2015: Appears in Hamlet and Love's Labour's Lost and understudy in The Taming of the Shrew. Stratford debut. Elsewhere: Proteus in The Two Gentlemen of Verona, Young Shepherd in The Winter's Tale (Birmingham Conservatory); Sebastian in Who's Under Where? (Lighthouse Festival Theatre); Louis Martin in In His Name (Canadian History Project); Giri in The Resistible Rise of Arturo Ui (red light district); Thespis in Something Is Wrong (Naught, A Theatre Company); Troilus in Troilus and Cressida (York University). Film/TV: Stephen in The Silver Chevy (Sheridan College). Radio: Collaborator and speaker in The Other Families Radio Show. Training: BFA in Acting, York University; Birmingham Conservatory for Classical Theatre. Et cetera: Josh dedicates his work this season to the memory of his mother and to all those who have helped him on his journey thus far. "You know who you are."

2015: First Gravedigger in Hamlet, Peter, Vincentio in The Taming of the Shrew and Marcade in Love's Labour's Lost. 22nd season. Stratford: King Lear, The Beaux' Stratagem, The Three Musketeers, The Merchant of Venice, Romeo and Juliet, Richard III, Richard II, Cymbeline, Twelfth Night, Measure for Measure, The Merry Wives of Windsor, Pericles, Henry V, Henry VI, Hamlet, The Shoemaker's Holiday, Treasure Island, The Count of Monte Cristo, The Grapes of Wrath, Home, Of Mice and Men, The Diary of Anne Frank, Ah, Wilderness!, Quiet in the Land, The Donnellys. Elsewhere (selected): A Wind in the Willows Christmas, The Yalta Game, Afterplay, Falling: A Wake (Alternative Theatre Works - founding member); Bolsheviki (world première, Infinithéâtre/ATW); original Owen in The Melville Boys (TNB); Garrison's Garage, Country Hearts, Blyth Festival. Et cetera: Graduate of Dawson College's Dome Theatre program - a proud "Domie." Robert lives in Stratford with his wife, Peggy Coffey, and children, Mary and Lawrence.

2015: Marcellus, Fortinbras in Hamlet, Philip, Pedant in The Taming of the Shrew and Boyet in Love's Labour's Lost. Second season. Stratford: René Descartes in Christina, The Girl King and Red Knight/Walrus in Alice Through the Looking-Glass. Elsewhere (selected): Jaques in As You Like It, Cassius in Julius Caesar, Lucio in Measure for Measure, Jake in Stones in His Pockets, Sam in Fully Committed (Citadel Theatre); Slim in Of Mice and Men (Canadian Stage/Theatre Calgary); Tybalt/Friar Laurence in Romeo and Juliet, Roy Darwin in Counsellor-at-Law (Theatre Calgary); Everard in Age of Arousal, Ned in The Gift of the Coat (Alberta Theatre Projects); Milan in Rock 'n' Roll (Canadian Stage/Citadel Theatre); Kent in King Lear, Sir Andrew Aguecheek in Twelfth Night (Freewill Shakespeare Festival.) Film/TV: Blackstone, Mixed Blessings. Training: BFA in Acting, University of Alberta. Awards: Elizabeth Sterling Haynes Award, Measure for Measure, Citadel Theatre. Et cetera: "Love to Breanna."

2015: Appears in Hamlet and Love's Labour's Lost and understudy in The Taming of the Shrew. Stratford debut. Elsewhere: Princess/Genie in Aladdin (Diversified Productions), Mimi in Rent, Gary Coleman in Avenue Q (Lower Ossington Theatre); Mallory/April in City of Angels (Queen's Musical Theatre); Nickie in Sweet Charity (Blue Canoe Productions); First Fairy in A Midsummer Night's Dream (Queen's Drama); First Witch in Macbeth (BSS/UCC Theatre). Voice Work: Beheader in Far Cry 4 (Ubisoft), Gail in My Dad is Scrooge (Eb Scrooge Productions). Training: Queen's University, Claude Watson School for the Arts. Et cetera: "Endless love and thanks to family and friends for their constant support - particularly to my parents for sharing their love of the theatre and for always taking a four-year-old's, seven-year-old's and 20-year-old's dream seriously."

2015: Francisco in Hamlet, Sugarsop in The Taming of the Shrew and Costard in Love's Labour's Lost. Third season. Stratford: King Lear, A Midsummer Night's Dream, The Beaux' Stratagem, Mary Stuart, Measure for Measure, Othello. Birmingham Conservatory: Toby Belch, Twelfth Night (Robin Phillips); Private Lives, Tons of Money (Christopher Newton); Hamlet (Stephen Ouimette); Love's Labour's Lost (Martha Henry). Elsewhere: Henry VI, Henry VI: Wars of the Roses, Richard III, A Midsummer Night's Dream, Measure for Measure, Hamlet, Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead, Julius Caesar, Timon of Athens (Bard on the Beach); Zachary, The Exquisite Hour (Relephant); Cowardly Lion, The Wizard of Oz, Toad, A Year with Frog and Toad, Horton, Seussical (Carousel); The Emperor's New Threads (Axis). Training: Birmingham Conservatory, Studio 58, Canadian National Voice Intensive. Awards: Multiple Jessie nominations, one win; Sydney J. Risk Award. Et cetera: Josue is also a teacher, director and mask maker. Online: "Tweet me @josuelaboucane."

2015: Appears in The Sound of Music and The Taming of the Shrew. Third season. Stratford: Man of La Mancha, Crazy for You, The Pirates of Penzance, Elektra. Elsewhere: Shrek The Musical, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat (The Grand); The Wizard of Oz (Toronto and first national tour), Lord of the Rings (world première), The Producers (Mirvish); Lies My Father Told Me (Segal Centre); How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying, Sweet Charity, Cats, Evita (Drayton); White Christmas, Cats (Theatre Aquarius); The Producers, White Christmas (Neptune Theatre); A Chorus Line, Footloose (Stage West, Calgary/Mississauga); West Side Story (Citadel/Theatre Calgary); The Merry Widow (Opera Ontario); Thick-Skinned (Toronto Fringe Festival). Et cetera: Ayrin is also a Kundalini yoga teacher.

2015: Reynaldo in Hamlet, Jaquenetta in Love's Labour's Lost and appears in The Taming of the Shrew. Second season. Stratford: Blanche of Spain in King John, Iras in Antony and Cleopatra. Elsewhere: Phebe in As You Like It (Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey); Bernarda in The House of Bernarda Alba (Theatre of War); Icarus in Damages Tangled (Theater for the New City, N.Y.C.). Film: Quincy Vidal (Yellowhouse Pictures). Training: Birmingham Conservatory for Classical Theatre; BFA, State University of New York (SUNY) Purchase College. Online: www.jennifermogbock.com. Et cetera: "Thank you to Aragorn, family, friends, and my heavenly father."

2015: Lucianus in Hamlet, Joseph in The Taming of the Shrew and appears in Love's Labour's Lost. Second season. Stratford: Egeus's Interpreter in A Midsummer Night's Dream, Burgundy in King Lear. Elsewhere: Romeo in Romeo and Juliet, Mario in The Game of Love and Chance (Neptune Theatre); Trout Stanley in Trout Stanley (Heart in Hand Theatre); Owen in The Melville Boys (Red Barn Theatre); Cléante in The Miser, The Compleat Wrks of Wllm Shkspr(Abridged), Romeo in Romeo and Juliet and Mug in New Canadian Kid (Sudbury Theatre Centre). Film/TV: Mayday, Lost Girl, Bomb Girls, Being Erica, Murdoch Mysteries, Life With Derek, October 1970. Training: George Brown Theatre School, Birmingham Conservatory.

2015: Voltemand in Hamlet, Nathaniel in The Taming of the Shrew and Dumaine in Love's Labour's Lost. Second season. Stratford: Oswald in King Lear. Elsewhere: Kwasi in Binti's Journey (Theatre Direct/Young People's Theatre); Laurent in Ruined (Obsidian Theatre); Florizel in The Winter's Tale, Tranio in The Taming of the Shrew, Thane of Ross in Macbeth (Canadian Stage); Quentin in And Slowly Beauty (Belfry Theatre/National Arts Centre); Oliver in Oliver! (National Arts Centre); Abraham in Sia (Pyretic Productions/Cahoots Theatre Company); various in This Must Be the Place (Architect Theatre/Theatre Passe Muraille); John in The Whipping Man (Obsidian Theatre/Harold Green Jewish Theatre). Film/TV: After School, Broken Promises (Underdog Productions); Little Black Caddy (CBC); Combat Hospital (ABC). Training: Graduate of the National Theatre School of Canada (2010), Birmingham Conservatory for Classical Theatre, Brenda Crichlow Actors' Studio and Stella Adler Academy of Acting. Awards: Peter Donaldson Award.

2015: Widow in The Taming of the Shrew and Penfield in Possible Worlds. Third season. Stratford: White Queen (Alice Through the Looking-Glass), Clara (Hay Fever), Matilda (Zastrozzi). Elsewhere: Connie (The Ladies Foursome) (The Grand); Annette (God of Carnage), Emma Brookner (The Normal Heart), The Palestinian (Stuff Happens) (Studio 180/Mirvish); Nawal (Scorched), Rachel (The Retreat), Melitta (Mrs. Klein), Sallie (The Collected Works of Billy the Kid) (Tarragon Theatre); Epifania (The Millionairess), Hersione (Heartbreak House), Elvira (Blithe Spirit),Widow Quinn (Playboy of the Western World) (Shaw Festival - 1987 to 2003); Lyn (Apple), Olga (Beyond Mozambique) (Factory Theatre); Maggie (Cat on a Hot Tin Roof), Hermione (The Winter's Tale) (TNB). Film/TV: The Calling, Jesus Henry Christ, Fugitive Pieces, Rookie Blue, Breakout Kings, Murdoch Mysteries. Awards: Dora Award for Patience, Tarragon Theatre. Ottawa Critics' Circle Award for A Doll's House, GCTC.

2015: Cornelius in Hamlet, Gregory in The Taming of the Shrew and Longaville in Love's Labour's Lost. Third season. Stratford: The Merchant of Venice, King John, Romeo and Juliet, The Three Musketeers, Antony and Cleopatra, Mother Courage and Her Children. Birmingham Conservatory: Twelfth Night, Hamlet, Love's Labour's Lost, Tons of Money. He recently had the pleasure of working in the Incubator on The Aeneid and Cue for Treason. Elsewhere: Andrew recently premièred his second solo show, He Crucified Me (Buddies/Rhubarb - playwright/performer); Our Ajax, Intuition of Iphigenia, Elektra in Bosnia (Women and War Project - Canada/Greece tour); Machina Nuptialis (Corpus Dance Projects); Bent (Theatre Engine); Russian Dolls (Buddies/Rhubarb - playwright/performer). Training: Birmingham Conservatory for Classical Theatre, Ryerson Theatre School. Awards: Tyrone Guthrie Award.

2015: Barnardo in Hamlet, Curtis in The Taming of the Shrew and Dull in Love's Labour's Lost. 25th season. Stratford: Pembroke (King John), Bill Sikes (Oliver!), Count (The Count of Monte Cristo), Talbot (Henry VI), Common Man (A Man for All Seasons), Sergeant of Police (The Pirates of Penzance); only actor to appear in all eight "Wars of the Roses" plays, consecutively. Elsewhere: Ratty (A Wind in the Willows Christmas) (ATW), Ted Narracott (War Horse) (Toronto); Gabe (Dinner With Friends) (Theatre Aquarius), Todd (The Book of Esther) (Blyth). Directing: King Lear (Fanshawe College), The Book of Esther (Festival Players of Prince Edward County), Falling: A Wake (ATW), Girls in the Gang (St. Clair College), Our Town (Mercury Theatre). Teaching: Acting/Voice and Text (Fanshawe, St. Clair colleges); guest instructor (Michigan State, Wayne State, University of Waterloo); fight director (Aquarius, Touchmark, colleges). Awards: Jack Hutt Humanitarian Award. Et cetera: "Love to Anne, Emma, Jack and Rob."

2015: Gremio in The Taming of the Shrew and Berkley in Possible Worlds. Fifth season. Stratford: The Beaux' Stratagem, A Midsummer Night's Dream, King Lear, Richard III, Titus Andronicus, Julius Caesar, Bartholomew Fair, Shakespeare's Universe. Elsewhere: Boeing Boeing (Aquarius); Vigil, Lawrence and Holloman (PTE); Having Hope at Home (Neptune); Twelfth Night, The Tempest (Hartford Stage); Innocence Lost (Centaur/National Arts Centre); Pride and Prejudice (Theatre Calgary/NAC); The Lonely Diner: Al Capone in Euphemia Township (Blyth Festival); The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee (Thousand Islands Playhouse); Romeo and Juliet, Nativity, Twelfth Night (NAC); Robin Hood, Sexy Laundry (Globe); Medea (MTC/Mirvish); Macbeth, Othello (NAC/Citadel); The Elephant Man, The Stone Angel, Heaven, The Beard of Avon, Unless, Twelfth Night (Canadian Stage); The Real Thing, Humble Boy (MTC); As You Like It, Blithe Spirit, Einstein's Gift (Citadel). Film/TV: Murdoch Mysteries, Flash of Genius, The Eleventh Hour.

2015: Rosencrantz in Hamlet, Tailor in The Taming of the Shrew and King Ferdinand of Navarre in Love's Labour's Lost. Fifth season. Stratford: Alice Through the Looking-Glass, Hay Fever, Peter Pan, Dangerous Liaisons, Macbeth, Julius Caesar, Rice Boy, Twelfth Night, Much Ado About Nothing, Coriolanus. Elsewhere: Free Outgoing (Nightwood); Around the World in 80 Days (ATP); Peace in Our Time, Arcadia, Helen's Necklace, Come Back, Little Sheba (Shaw); The Story (Theatre Columbus); Bombay Black (Cahoots/Arts Club); The Last Days of Judas Iscariot (Birdland Theatre); The Two Gentlemen of Verona, Measure for Measure, Titus Andronicus, director of The Merchant of Venice and Artistic Director for five seasons (Shakespeare in the Rough); The Winter's Tale, Romeo and Juliet, A Midsummer Night's Dream, Twelfth Night (Dream in High Park); Helen's Necklace (Tarragon and Pi Theatre - Jessie Award). Film/TV: Orphan Black, Puck Hogs, The Border, Flashpoint, Guns, Supernatural, Murder Unveiled. Training: Dalhousie University.

2015: English Ambassador, Gravedigger #2 in Hamlet, Grumio in The Taming of the Shrew, Sir Nathaniel in Love's Labour's Lost. 26th season. Stratford: Cardinal Pandulph (King John), Humpty Dumpty (Alice Through the Looking-Glass), Elbow (Measure for Measure), Melvil (Mary Stuart), Pisanio (Cymbeline), Wasp (Bartholomew Fair), Erronius (A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum), Costard (Love's Labour's Lost), Touchstone (As You Like It), Stephano (The Tempest), Joxer Daly (Juno and the Paycock), Mr. Bennet (Pride and Prejudice), Dolly Spanker (London Assurance), Oswald (King Lear), Peter Quince (A Midsummer Night's Dream). Elsewhere: Various roles (The Sneeze and other Chekhov one-acts), Talk Is Free Theatre; Jimmy (The Pitmen Painters), Theatre Aquarius; Michael (Someone Who'll Watch Over Me), Kemp (Vigil), Tarragon Theatre; Bottom (A Midsummer Night's Dream), Canadian Stage; Harry (The Sum of Us), Belfry Theatre; Jim (Passion), Grand Theatre; the Player (Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead), Touchmark.

CREATIVE

2015: Director of The Taming of the Shrew. Sixth season. Stratford: A Midsummer Night's Dream, Othello, The Matchmaker, The Little Years, For the Pleasure of Seeing Her Again. Elsewhere: Winners & Losers (Soho Rep); The Seagull, Someone Else, Seeds, Eternal Hydra (Crow's Theatre); I, Claudia (Tarragon); Antigone, The Lesson (Soulpepper); Hedda Gabler, The Glass Menagerie (Saidye Bronfman Centre). Training: National Theatre School of Canada. Awards: Dora Awards for The Little Years, Eternal Hydra, Easy Lenny Lazmon…; Sterling Award for Frozen (Citadel Theatre); Gemini Award for I, Claudia (CBC/Sienna Films); 2013 Elinor and Lou Siminovitch Prize in Theatre. Online: www.crowstheatre.com. Et cetera: Chris is Artistic Director of Crow's Theatre, which opens its new home in Toronto in 2016. He is past Co-Director of the National Theatre School of Canada Directing Program and is currently adjunct professor in the MFA Directing Program at York University.

2015: Designer of The Taming of the Shrew. Sixth season. Stratford:A Midsummer Night's Dream, Othello, The Best Brothers, The Little Years, For the Pleasure of Seeing Her Again. Elsewhere:The Watershed, The Seagull, Someone Else, Seeds, I, Claudia, The Country (Crow's Theatre); Arigato, Tokyo, The Maids, Blasted (Buddies in Bad Times); Endgame, The Long Valley (Soulpepper); The Patient Hour, Faust, The Designated Mourner, The Cryptogram (Tarragon); We Are Not Alone, Geometry in Venice (Segal Centre); Frozen (Citadel); The Eco Show, Insomnia (Necessary Angel); Possible Worlds (Theatre Passe Muraille). Opera: A Synonym for Love (Volcano). Dance:Still Here (adelheid); Shudder (Susanna Hood); Bas-Reliefs (Chartier Danse). Training: National Theatre School. Awards: Four Dora Awards for set design; Virginia Cooper Award for costume design; META and Sterling Award nominations. Teaching: National Theatre School.

2015: Lighting designer of The Taming of the Shrew, Possible Worlds and The Last Wife. Seventh season. Stratford: Alice Through the Looking-Glass, Man of La Mancha, Christina, The Girl King, Waiting for Godot, You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown, The Little Years, The Blonde, the Brunette and the Vengeful Redhead. Elsewhere: Alice Through the Looking-Glass (NAC), The Seagull (Crow's Theatre), Cinderella (Ross Petty Productions), Ariadne auf Naxos (Pacific Opera Victoria), Svadba (Opera Philadelphia), Sextet (Tarragon Theatre), Accidental Death of an Anarchist and Twelve Angry Men (Soulpepper), What Makes a Man (Necessary Angel), Small Axe (Theatre Centre and Project Humanity), Jane Eyre (MTC). Awards: Pauline McGibbon Award, three Dora Mavor Moore Awards. Et cetera: Kimberly's designs have been critically acclaimed on the national and international stage, seen across Canada, the United States, the United Kingdom, Prague, China, Mongolia, Taiwan and Hong Kong.

2015: Composer and sound designer of The Taming of the Shrew and sound designer of Hamlet and The Alchemist. Seventh season. Stratford: King Lear, A Midsummer Night's Dream, The Beaux' Stratagem, Othello, The Matchmaker, Much Ado About Nothing, The Little Years, Hosanna, King of Thieves, Rice Boy. Elsewhere: Designs for BIBT, Soulpepper, Canadian Stage, Tarragon, Factory, Theatre Passe Muraille, NAC, Blyth Festival, Theatre Calgary, GCTC, Volcano, Nightwood, Modern Times, Aluna, Crow's and many others. Film: Hero.Traitor.Patriot, Alegra & Jim, Robert's Circle. Training: Studied composition with James Tenney, Honours BA, York University. Awards: 14 nominations and two Dora Awards for Sound Design and Composition. Et cetera: Started as a songwriter with a four-track tape machine and still endlessly fascinated with the storytelling possibilities of layered sound.

2015: Head of Stage Combat. Fight director of Hamlet, The Physicists, The Diary of Anne Frank, Carousel, The Adventures of Pericles, She Stoops to Conquer and The Taming of the Shrew. 22nd season. Stratford: Fight director of over 150 productions. Elsewhere: Worked as a fight director across North America on over 500 professional productions, including 15 seasons with the Shaw Festival. Film/TV: Stunt coordinator and action director on over 375 films and television episodes. Teaching: Taught at numerous universities and colleges, including the National Theatre School of Canada. Awards: Award of Excellence (Canadian International Film Festival); Genre Award for Best Suspense (BNFF); Derek F. Mitchell Artistic Director's Award, Tyrone Guthrie Award (Stratford Festival); Judges' Choice Award (15 Minutes of Fame International Film Festival); Best Short First Runner-Up (Ticket to Hollywood International Film and Screenplay Festival); and nominated for a Best Short Award (Directors' Guild of Canada). Online: www.johnstead.com. John Stead on IMDB: www.imdb.com/name/nm0824093/. Et cetera: Master instructor with the Academy of Dramatic Combat.

2015: Assistant director of The Taming of the Shrew. Stratford debut. Elsewhere: Director: RED (Theatre Kingston); The Comedy of Errors, Better Living and Escape from Happiness (Fanshawe); Bird Brain and Peg and the Yeti (Thousand Islands Playhouse); Dumbo Squid (SummerWorks); Why Do You Smoke So Much, Lily? (Nightwood, 4x4). Assistant director/choreography: Boeing Boeing (TIP); Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead (Touchmark); 5B (Hysteria/Buddies). Actor: The Winter's Tale (Canadian Stage); Major Barbara, The Autumn Garden, Invisible Man, Hands Across the Sea, The Cassilis Engagement, Hotel Peccadillo and The Crucible (Shaw Festival); The Taming of the Shrew, Measure for Measure (St. Lawrence Shakespeare); Venus in Fur (Theatre Kingston); Salt-Water Moon (Blyth); Dry Streak (The Grand Theatre); Educating Rita (TIP); The Importance of Being Earnest (Royal Manitoba Theatre Centre); Discovering Romeo (Resurgence); A Christmas Carol and Ivor Johnson's Neighbours (Theatre NorthWest). Film/TV: Murdoch Mysteries (CBC TV). Radio: Hearts of the World (CBC Radio). Training: National Theatre School of Canada, Concordia University, École Philippe Gaulier (Paris, France). Awards: Christopher Newton Award (Shaw Festival); Peter Dwyer Award (NTS); shortlist for Gina Wilkinson Prize; shortlist for Bluma Appel Award (Shakespeare Globe Canada); DISH Award, Best Director (The Comedy of Errors). Online: Follow her on Twitter: @charlotte_gowdy. Et cetera: Charlotte has spent the past two years as the Associate Artistic Director of the Thousand Islands Playhouse where she was involved with new play development, education/outreach, artistic programming and also headed the TIP Young Company. For over a decade she has been a guest instructor in the drama department at Queen's University. She is a member of the International Director's Lab North and is also currently pursuing a degree in English Literature at the University of Waterloo. A native of Charlottetown, P.E.I., Charlotte plays violin professionally and races triathlons recreationally.

2015: Assistant set designer of Hamlet, The Sound of Music and The Taming of the Shrew and assistant designer of Possible Worlds and The Last Wife. Second season. Elsewhere: Set and/or costume designs include Parents Night and The Bigger Issue (CrazyLady); DeliMax (Teatron); Pitch Blonde (Convections / Next Stage); Waterfront: The Blessing and Shed (Les Nouvelles / SummerWorks); Rabbit Rabbit (Rather Undisciplined / SummerWorks); Magicien d'Oz (Le Théâtre La Roulotte); Cabaret, Stop Heart and Shouting (NTS). Training: Graduate of the National Theatre School of Canada's Set and Costume Design Program; BFA in Theatre Design and Production, University of Victoria.

2015: Assistant costume designer of The Taming of the Shrew and assistant set designer of Love's Labour's Lost. Stratford debut. Elsewhere: Head of Wardrobe for Soulpepper (12 years), Canadian Stage (two years), Young People's Theatre (10 years), and costume coordinator for over 25 operas for the Canadian Opera Company. She taught wardrobe courses at Humber College in the Theatre Production Program and mentored students as they worked on productions. Training: Diploma, Honours BA in Theatre Production - Ryerson Polytechnical Institute; AutoCad certificate - George Brown College. She was chosen for the Theatre Ontario Professional Training Program and trained in model building for theatre, mentoring under Camellia Koo. She's also taken advanced model building in the U.K. She has built set models for several theatre productions across the country. Et cetera: Mary-Jo is excited to be working at the Festival, surrounded by so many wonderful and talented people, and also to assist in finding the next generation of costume and set designers.

2015: Assistant lighting designer of The Sound of Music, The Taming of the Shrew and Love's Labour's Lost. Sixth season. Stratford: Assistant lighting designer of Crazy for You, King Lear, The Beaux' Stratagem, Fiddler on the Roof, Romeo and Juliet, Taking Shakespeare, The Thrill, 42nd Street, Henry V, Jesus Christ Superstar, The Homecoming, As You Like It, The Two Gentlemen of Verona, Do Not Go Gentle and King of Thieves. Elsewhere: Lighting designer of A Christmas Carol, Little Shop of Horrors (TNB); Miracle on 34th Street (TNB/STC); You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown, Becky's New Car, Henry and Alice: Into the Wild (Globe Theatre). Assistant lighting designer of The Wizard of Oz (Mirvish), Priscilla, Queen of the Desert (Broadway, Mirvish). Training: BFA Honours, Ryerson University. Awards: Tristan is the recipient of the 2015 Ian and Molly Lindsay Design Fellowship at the Festival. He also received the 2009 Wally Russell Lighting Internship and Scholarship (Canadian Opera Company). Et cetera: Tristan is a member of the Associated Designers of Canada.

2015: Associate fight director of Hamlet, The Physicists, The Diary of Anne Frank, Carousel, The Adventures of Pericles, She Stoops to Conquer and The Taming of the Shrew. Fifth season. Stratford: Associate fight director (selected): King Lear, Crazy for You, King John, Man of La Mancha, Alice, A Midsummer Night's Dream, The Beaux' Stratagem, Romeo and Juliet, The Three Musketeers, Othello, The Thrill. Assistant fight director: Fiddler on the Roof, Cyrano de Bergerac, The Count of Monte Cristo. Elsewhere: Fight director: Don Giovanni (Royal Conservatory); Gas (Next Stage); Don Giovanni, War and Peace (COC); The Godot Cycle (Yes Let's Go); Mirandolina (Soulpepper); Romeo and Juliet (ShakespeareWorks). Film/TV: Stunt performer: 12 Monkeys, Bitten, The Strain, Covert Affairs, Pompeii, Robocop, Reign, Orphan Black, Splinter Cell: Blacklist, Assassins Creed: Unity, Carrie, Total Recall, Being Human, XIII the series, Lost Girl. Training: BFA, Ryerson University. Awards: Paddy Crean: excellence in stage combat. Online: @GeoffScovell. Et cetera: "Thank you to Kasia and John for all your continued support and guidance."

2015: Production stage manager of the Studio theatre and stage manager of The Taming of the Shrew. 15th season. Stratford: Stage manager: King John, Romeo and Juliet, The Merchant of Venice, Much Ado About Nothing, The Merry Wives of Windsor, Dangerous Liaisons, Cyrano de Bergerac, Zastrozzi, All's Well That Ends Well, Fanny Kemble, A Midsummer Night's Dream, Electra, The Scarlet Pimpernel, Hamlet; production stage manager: Avon Theatre; assistant stage manager: Antony and Cleopatra, The Matchmaker, The Taming of the Shrew, Romeo and Juliet, Twelfth Night, As You Like It. Elsewhere: Bona is grateful to have worked in many theatres across our country, including Talk Is Free, Canadian Stage, Soulpepper, The Grand, NAC, MTC, Banff Centre, Citadel, Tarragon and Centaur. Training: A graduate of the technical production section of the National Theatre School of Canada; BA from Bishop's University. Et cetera: Bona lives in Stratford with her husband, Dan, and their daughter, Georgia.

2015: Assistant stage manager of The Taming of the Shrew and Love's Labour's Lost. 14th season. Stratford: Assistant stage manager: King Lear, A Midsummer Night's Dream, Blithe Spirit, Mary Stuart, Charlie Brown, The Pirates of Penzance, The Merry Wives of Windsor, The Misanthrope, Kiss Me, Kate, Dangerous Liaisons, The Importance of Being Earnest, Ever Yours, Oscar, Cabaret, My One and Only, The Comedy of Errors, South Pacific, Oliver!, Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, Edward II, The Count of Monte Cristo, Anything Goes, Henry VI. Stage manager: Birmingham Conservatory, 2006 and 2007. Elsewhere: Stage management at the Thousand Islands Playhouse, the Globe, the Grand and Factory theatres. Awards: Tanya Award, three Guthrie Awards. Et cetera: Holly thanks all those who have made it possible for her to balance her two great loves, the theatre and her son, Jackson. She is ever grateful for all the love and support that surrounds her.

2015: Assistant stage manager of The Sound of Music, The Taming of the Shrew and Love's Labour's Lost. Third season. Stratford: Three Sisters, Bartholomew Fair, Phèdre, Ever Yours, Oscar, As You Like It, King of Thieves. Elsewhere: Miracle on 34th Street (STC); Bella: The Colour of Love (HGJTC); Anne of Green Gables: The Musical, Canada Rocks! (Charlottetown Festival); Night (Human Cargo); Falling: A Wake (Blyth); The Barber of Seville (Soulpepper); Binti's Journey, Head à Tête, Old Man and the River, Red Kite Brown Box (Theatre Direct); Night of the Living Dead Live! (Nictophobia); Divisadero: A Performance (Necessary Angel); Danny, King of the Basement (Roseneath); Othello, A Midsummer Night's Dream, Twelfth Night, All's Well That Ends Well (SLSF); Yellowman (Nightwood/Obsidian); Late, Black Medea (Obsidian). Awards: Jean A. Chalmers Apprentice Achievement Award (Stratford Festival, 2009 and 2010). Et cetera: "Much love to my family and friends. Thank you for your steadfast support."

2015: Stage manager of Hamlet and assistant stage manager of The Taming of the Shrew. 23rd season. Stratford: Anne is pleased to be back for the 2015 season. Elsewhere: This past winter she worked on Cabaret (MTC). Other productions: Sleeping Beauty (Globe Theatre), Orpheus Descending (MTC, Royal Alexandra Theatre), toured the Belfry Theatre's The Year of Magical Thinking to the Tarragon Theatre and the National Arts Centre, toured with Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat and the NAC's The Mikado and worked on The Lion King and Jane Eyre in Toronto. She has had the pleasure of working across Canada at the Grand Theatre, Vancouver Playhouse, Neptune Theatre (production manager for two years), Manitoba Theatre Centre and Expo '86 in Vancouver. Et cetera: Anne lives in Stratford with her partner, Anne; their son, Callum; daughter Brianna; Richard, a Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever; Lucy, the cutest Maltipoo ever; and three beautiful cats.

2015: Production stage manager of the Festival Theatre. 32nd season. Stratford: Maggie has been PSM at the Avon, Tom Patterson and Festival theatres for 24 seasons. Stage-management credits include Henry IV (parts 1 and 2); Iolanthe; The Imaginary Invalid; My Fair Lady; A Man for All Seasons; Kiss Me, Kate; Guys and Dolls; The Government Inspector; Coriolanus; The Mikado (national tour, London's Old Vic); and Twelfth Night (U.S. tour). Elsewhere: Maggie apprenticed at Neptune Theatre (1966/67), where she appeared as a dead body in The Physicists, and worked at the St. Lawrence Centre (Toronto Arts Productions), MTC and the Grand Theatre. She stage-managed Eugene Onegin (Manitoba Opera), the first Dream in High Park and the first Dora Awards. She did publicity for the NDWT Company and toured Canada with the Charlottetown Festival. Training: Graduate of the National Theatre School, where she returned to coach last winter.

REVIEWS & BUZZ

★★★★ _{(out of 4)}

Perfectly executed

The Globe and Mail

There are performances people boast about having seen for decades. Deborah Hay's Katherina will be one of them.

Toronto Star

Explosively funny

National Post

Fully of belly laughs and really great performances

Postmedia

Brilliant comic performances

Toronto Star

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RESOURCES

Study Guide: The Taming of the Shrew
Stratford Short: The Taming of the Shrew
Stratford for Students: The Taming of the Shrew

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PLAY SCHEDULE

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Fri, Apr 26

2:00 PM

THE TAMING OF THE SHREW

CAST & CREATIVE

CAST

CREATIVE

REVIEWS & BUZZ

★★★★ (out of 4)

Perfectly executed

The Globe and Mail

There are performances people boast about having seen for decades. Deborah Hay's Katherina will be one of them.

Toronto Star

Explosively funny

National Post

Fully of belly laughs and really great performances

Postmedia

Brilliant comic performances

Toronto Star

RESOURCES

PLAY SCHEDULE

★★★★ _{(out of 4)}