So...I may write a few blogs this week. I usually post one a week when I'm doing a production, but since we had all of 6 live rehearsals for this show, five of them in the last week, and we just completed our opening weekend of live performances (and now we are half done with our run) I have way too much in my head to fit all of it in this blog tonight. So, I will likely write several different blogs this week about process, opening, and an in-depth look at what the hell I'm doing playing Richard.
Enjoy them at your own pace. Don't try to read them every day. That way madness lies. Parcel them out over the summer, like little deranged treats for the brain, from the addled brain of a deranged actor, playing a deranged king.
But, to tease you, coming blogs will include such exciting subjects as: Why is St. Paul so often called upon by Richard? What the hell is up with the strawberries? A breakdown of the intricate relationships in the play. And other self-serving topics. But tonight, I wanted to write about this company of artists. Not just because my blog is way too Patrick-centric. (I mean it is, but I'm kind of a big deal...to myself...late at night...when my family is asleep). But also because putting up a play with basically 6 rehearsals and a couple of zoom reads takes a group of special kinds of maniacs. And we are that!
I've often said that Shakespeare by the Sea gets the most amazing artists, because it's such a time commitment, and travel commitment, and the physical wherewithal necessary to do this thing scares off any sane human. And this year, we have a perfect mix of SBTS veterans, and new family members! I'm really proud that even with the pandemic, and not being able to audition people in person we were able to welcome a few new company members into Little Fish and SBTS for our virtual performances. They can be found here: (They are all free!)
To watch the Titus Andronicus we performed (to no audience) in the Little Fish Theatre parking lot, follow this link: Buy: Titus Andronicus - Get the Link (force.com)
To watch the Measure for Measure we also performed to no audience (except a guy a block away threatening to jump off a building, numerous dogs, sirens, and other such San Pedro attractions) in the LFT parking lot, follow this link: Buy: Measure for Measure Get the Link (force.com).
You'll also be able to find links to our zoom reads on the site, but these two productions above were as close as we could come to live theatre during 2020. When we found out that we could possibly do live, in person performances of Richard III and Love's Labors Lost, we redoubled our effort to bring in some new company members to enriched our family. And this is not an easy thing, for many reasons. It was very challenging to meet new people during the shut downs and pandemic. It was nearly impossible to audition everybody in a way that gave both the actors a chance to make their mark, and the directors a chance to get to see enough (over zoom) to trust that they could not only play the part, but be part of a company. And finally, there have been hundreds of actors who have passed through SBTS over the 24 year history, and many were champing at the bit to get a chance to be part of one of the first live things done in our state in 18 months. I've directed several shows, and not casting people you love and admire is probably the worst part of the job. Not everybody is the most right person for every show. Even me! (Believe it or not). It gets harder to pass over those who have been through the figurative wars with us before. Because we bond hard! For life! Family style.
Anyway, let me introduce you to the cast!
Dana DeRuyck (Lady Anne/Young York/Citizen/Messenger/Oxford/Ghost)
Dana is thrilled to come back to play with Shakespeare by the Sea after performing in Measure for Measure earlier this year. She’s appeared as Mercutio in The Porters of Hellsgates’s Romeo and Juliet. Other L.A. theatre credits include Sisters Three (Inkwell Theatre); Hole in the Sky (Circle X Theatre), A Gulag Mouse, Mr. Burns: a Post-Electric Play, Jane Austen’s Emma Frankenstein (Sacred Fools Theater Co); King Lear, The Merry Wives of Windsor (Porters of Hellsgate); and Brown Buffalo (Company of Angels). Fans of the bard- check out the web series “Fixing Shakespeare with Communication” on YouTube for a quick laugh! Dana is also a writer, comedian, and voiceover artist. danaderuyck.com
I have waxed poetical about Dana several times here in my blog over the years, as the truest of my 5 loyal readers will remember. This is actually the closest that Dana and I have come to an actual legitimate process. I mean a few rehearsals and more than one performance!? She is one of the best actors working in LA, we are so lucky to have her, and I'm so lucky to get to play Richard to her Anne (and her adorable young Lord of York). Annie (my far better half) saw the show on Saturday and said: "You're right, Dana is soooo good. That voice! Wow" Indeed, better half, indeed.
Angel Dumapias (Queen Elizabeth/Lovel/Citizen)
Angel is an award-winning actor, professional ballroom dancer/teacher & singer from So. California, USA and is thrilled to be doing her debut performance in Richard III (Queen Elizabeth/Lovel/Citizen) and Love’s Labour’s Lost (Princess) with Shakespeare by the Sea! Angel has been involved with theater, dance, and music for several years as a performer and educator. Some of her theatrical credits include A Chorus Line (Connie), West Side Story (Maria), Arsenic and Old Lace (Elaine), Grease (Frenchie), and Romeo & Juliet (Juliet) in which she was awarded ‘Best Actress’ at the Sunny Hills Theater Arts Festival, CA. You may also know Angel from her most recent roles in The Show Must Go Online’s 2021 production of John Lyly’s Gallathea as the Alchemist’s Apprentice, Peter as Diana’s Nymph, Ramia and Venus as The Goddess of Love, and has recently been cast in their current production of Dido, Queen of Carthage as Dido’s Nurse. In her spare time, she enjoys hanging out with friends & family, skateboarding, snowboarding, surfing, playing with her dogs, and, of course, performing Shakespeare! @angeldumapias.ig @bardandjava
Angel is brand new to us and we couldn't love her any more than we do! Both directors fell in love with her during the virtual callbacks, and she is such a fierce Queen that we love playing with her onstage! She will also be in Love's Labors, so come on back to see her rock our stage again. We have a lot of fun together in our fiery scene about families (living and dead)! I'm really excited to see what she brings to LLL. I bet it will be awesome!
Jonathan Fisher (Buckingham/Richmond Soldier/Ghost)
Jonathan is thrilled to be back for a fourth season with Shakespeare by the Sea. Past appearances include Measure for Measure (Angelo), Titus Andronicus (Marcus Andronicus), Henry V (Henry V), The Comedy of Errors (Antipholus of Ephesus), The Winter’s Tale (Clown) and The Merry Wives of Windsor (Sir Hugh Evans), as well as the digital readings of Richard II (Bolingbroke) and Twelfth Night (Orsino). Jonathan comes to Southern California by way of South Florida, Chicago, and Rhode Island, and holds a BA in Theatre and English Literature from Northwestern University. Some favorite recent theatre credits include: A Sad Tale’s Best for Winter (Beating of Wings at A Noise Within); Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead (A Noise Within); Elevada, Tribes and The Eight: Reindeer Monologues (Chance Theater); Macbeth (Sacramento Theatre Company); Henry IV Part 1 (Shakespeare Orange County); and The Cripple of Inishmaan (Torrance Theatre Co.). Special thanks to my parents and love to Anna, Milly, and Leo.
Jonathan came to us a few years ago an wowed us with his ability to play...well, anything! I am loathe to give him compliments, because he will become even more insufferable than he already is, but I don't think I could have done Richard without him as Buckingham. He's so smart and intuitive that he elevates everybody in the room in every rehearsal. (Just don't get him started about Starz. He has lots to say about that streaming service...all of it so good it will make you want to get it). In all seriousness, his insights and questions are so astute and cogent that much of who my Richard is, is in relation to something he said...often in passing. I don't know if Jonathan directs, but sign me up for whatever tortuous, transformative experience that would be!
Jane Hink (Queen Margaret/Monk/Archbishop/Citizen/Guard/Blunt/Ghost )
Jane is happy to return to SBTS, where she has previously been in Comedy of Errors, Henry V, Richard II, and Measure for Measure. She has done plays – including a lot of Shakespeare – all around the country, and on TV had recurring roles on The Mindy Project and School of Rock, as well as guest stars on VIP, Getting On, House of Lies, Strong Medicine, Frasier and many others. She is a Yale School of Drama graduate. For my daughter Renata- who is going away to college.
Genius! Goddess of acting! I worship this woman! Her curse scene as Margaret is not only the best thing in this play, but it may be the best thing that has ever been performed upon our stage! We found her a couple of years ago and won the lottery. And she's such a kind, giving, nurturing human and actor that our lives are made as much better by her as our show is by her brilliance. Plus she's the only one who can put Jonathan in him place. Although Azim may have his number now too.
G. Anthony Joseph (Stanley/1st Murderer/Citizen/Ghost)
G Anthony is a working actor/producer in television, feature films, and stage in Hollywood CA. His guest-starring credits include the TV series American Family for Fox/Greenbalt/PBS Network with Esai Morales (NYPD Blue), Edward J. Olmos, and director Gregory Nava (Selena and Killing Pablo). He guest-starred with Craig T. Nelson on the season premiere of The District for CBS, and with David James Elliott and Catherine Bell on the Paramount CBS hit show JAG, directed by Rod Hardy. G Anthony then went on to rave reviews in 2009 in the action thriller Contract Killers. Currently, he is co-starring with Malcolm McDowell and Ellia English in the feature film Wizardream, helmed by famed director John Carl Buechler. During his time off, G. Anthony is on stage performing Shakespeare’s plays with the prestigious Shakespeare by the Sea. His three-month performance tour in 2014 saw him portray the famous Puck in Midsummer’s Night Dream. In September 2015, G completed another summer tour in Shakespeare’s As You Like It, portraying Duke Senior and Duke. In May 2016, G was on stage again playing Horatio in Shakespeare’s Hamlet for The Actors Forum. G was happy and elated to be back with Shakespeare by the Sea in 2021 performing as Northumberland in Richard II and now he can’t believe that he going to be directed by Stephanie Coltrin again in Richard III as Lord Stanley.
G!!!! I cast him as Puck in 2014 to bring him into our family. And since then we've become great friends and developed a deep respect for one another. I'm so glad he was able to join us for this adventure. G works a lot in film and TV, and so for him to give up those chances to spend this summer with us is a real gift to us and you, the audience. G also inspired me to write my first screenplay (with the help of some actual writers) and we hope to get that filmed sometime soon! He is just the guy you want around. He masters everything he puts his mind to! Fun fact about G. Anthony is that he's part reptile, as evidenced by him riding bikes and working out in 100 degree plus weather.
Brendan Kane (Rivers/2nd Murderer/Young Prince Edward/Citizen/Catesby/ Guard)
I have written at length about Brendan. And I run out of adjectives to describe just how wonderful he is. I've written so much about him, in fact, that I think Annie is concerned I might leave her for him. Valid fear. The future if wide open for this man! He's great in all 52,000 roles he's playing in this show. Fun fact: He and Jonathan seem to be locked in a mortal enmity which keeps bringing them together in plays and making one another better actors. Seriously though, if there's one Zoom recording you should watch (if you aren't zoomed out) make it Richard II. Many of us are also in that, and he is astonishingly, heartbreakingly perfect. He also stole the show in the Measure for Measure listed above.
Ryan Knight (Hastings/Monk/ Tyrell/Citizen/Messenger/Ghost)
Ryan is so excited to be in his seventh season of Shakespeare by the Sea, previously appearing in 2020/2021’s productions of Titus Andronicus and Measure for Measure, 2018’s Merry Wives of Windsor and The Winter’s Tale, as well as 2017’s productions of the Taming of the Shrew and Macbeth. Ryan has worked with several theaters throughout L.A. and Orange County, as well as abroad. For four years Ryan worked as a performer for Disney cruise line, working on 12 shows over 3 ships. He is a founding member of Foxhole Theater Company, a company with the goal of veteran outreach and representation. He is also the director of their weekly podcast. Previous roles include (Romeo) in Romeo and Juliet, (Sir Andrew) in Twelfth Night, (Treplev) The Seagull.
I've known Ryan for 12 years now! He came to us during Julius Caesar/Twelfth Night. He did go away for a couple of years to a Disney Cruise adventure. But I brought him back to play Oliver in "As You Like It," and we haven't gotten rid of him since...nor have we wanted to. Ryan was a kid when he joined us and is one of those stories we have where we see people grow up and flourish with us. From that handsome kid, he has grown into a talented, thoughtful, (and still handsome damnit) man. I love all the characters he plays in this show, but his Hastings and my Richard have a special bond! He's great in all the virtual stuff too!
Mateo Mpinduzi-Mott (Dorset/Citizen/Messenger/Sheriff/Scrivener/Richmond Soldier/Ghost)
Mateo is a Houston-born actor now hanging his hat in Echo Park. Since studying theatre at the University of Houston he has gotten to play many parts as well as participate in Shakespeare festivals in Houston, Arkansas, and Virginia with SBTS making him officially tri-coastal. Some previous stage credits include Romeo & Juliet – Romeo (VSF), Much Ado About Nothing – Benedick (AST), Merchant of Venice – Lorenzo (HSF), Jesus Hopped the A Train – Angel (4th Wall Theatre), I Carry My Heart – Josh (Bootleg Theatre Co), I and You – Anthony (Stages Rep. Theatre). He’s also been on Netflix’s Never Have I Ever as Hugo, and Haikyuu!! as Hayato Ikejiri.
Mateo is new to us, and are we ever lucky to have him. He's another one who is in both shows this summer. You always roll the dice when you bring on actors you haven't worked with, but his audition was so good that we had a feeling he'd great. And he is! Also, as the fight choreographer, I am always hoping that the people in the roles that fight can actually fight, and wow did we hit the motherlode this year. He's a great fighter! He knows how to move and how to take care of the other actors around him. This is very often the last consideration that directors take into account when casting, but with a process like this we got really lucky that both he and Azim were not only capable fighters, but both far better than their poor old fight choreographer! (me). He also plays a number of characters, very well! He does such a masterful job with the scrivener! That speech is so difficult and it has to cover not only the passage of time, but tie together the entire story through the first half of the play. It's flawless!
Aaron McGee (Brakenbury/King Edward/Monk/Lord Mayor/Richmond)
Aaron is once again excited to be joining the SBTS family having been in Henry V and Titus Andronicus and the virtual production of Twelfth Night. He is a graduate of the Theatre Arts program at CSU, Fresno, and an alum of SCR’s adult Summer Intensive. His most recent credits include playing Topper and Puppeteer in SCR’s A Christmas Carol, Cambridge and Montjoy in Henry V for last summer’s Shakespeare by the Sea, and Lord Buckingham in The Three Musketeers at the Norris Theatre. Some past favorite roles of his include playing Guildenstern in Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead and the Fox in The Little Prince. Aaron thanks all of those who encouraged and supported him, making these past few years so memorable.
Aaron came to us to audition for Henry V two years ago. I had recently worked with him in The Three Musketeers and told Steph: "As your fight choreographer, I'd really love to have Aaron because he's a great fighter and great in the room." Steph turned to me and said: "Good, because I love him!" So, I don't know that I can take credit for bringing him to us, but I do love to take credit, so I will anyway. He was fantastic in Henry (the last time we were live on the Pt. Fermin Stage), but we also somehow convinced him to come back for Titus Andronicus and now Richard III. He doesn't have quite the same amount of characters and Brendan, but it's pretty close. And the great thing about Aaron is that he's such a chameleon that he disappears into each and creates completely new people. His King Edward is so different from his Brakenbury that I'll bet you didn't even know it was the same guy. And then for him to be the next king!? So, yes! Great fights and a super holy/heroic portrayal of Henry VII (Shakespeare never got around to writing a play about his reign, but Jonathan will tell you what programs on Starz you can watch to find more about him).
Pantea Ommi Mohajer (Grey/Duchess of York/Citizen/Richard soldier/Ghost)
Pantea is excited to be debuting with Shakespeare by the Sea, after a 10-year hiatus from the stage. A graduate from the MFA program at The University of Alabama/Alabama Shakespeare Festival, she’s appeared on stages across the nation, but took a break from theater to return to school for her MBA in 2012. 2020 taught Pantea that life is short, and we should do the things that bring us joy, so she jumped at the chance to audition when she saw the casting call for Richard III. Her eternal gratitude goes to her mom, who has taught her to have faith that the universe is always conspiring in our favor.
Oh Pantea! My Pantea! Pantea went to Alabama Shakes and got her MFA two years before me. I actually saw her in a production of Richard III (and the two Wars of the Roses plays) when I went for my final callback and to meet the faculty. Once I moved back to LA, we finally met and became fast friends (because we who went through that program-- that got unceremoniously torpedoed by a megalomaniac-- are a band of brothers/sisters/siblings). As I sat in on the Zoom callbacks, and she came into the zoom room, I was so delighted! I had no idea that she was auditioning, or I would have put a good word in for her and could have claimed that I brought her to us too! Oh, who are we kidding, I'm going to claim it anyway. I don't know if there's much overlap between my five loyal readers here and anybody that either of us knew at ASF, but if there is, know that you have been talked about, loved, honored, and thanked by both of us. There is so much of our training from that wonderful place in our work. We are grateful to you, and sad that no-one else has had the chance to learn the same mastery of the craft since my class was the last in '09.
Azim Rizk (Clarence/Monk/Ratcliff/Ghost)
Azim was born in Tucson, Arizona. He got his first taste of theater in middle school when he played the misogynistic tyrant turned romantic ruler in an elementary school production of Scheherezade. Azim has been performing in TV, film, commercials, stunt shows, and theater ever since. He had a supporting role in Ang Lee’s film Billy Lynn’s Long Halftime Walk; was the Black and Green Power Ranger for two seasons of Power Rangers on Nickelodeon, and was most recently cast as the title character in a production of Pericles at the George Bernard Shaw Theater in London; and according to the most important reviewer in his life, his mom, he’s a really talented actor.
This guy! He's my guy! My five loyals know what that means. What a godsend he is for us, and me! I mean, sure he's super talented and a great fighter, and a tireless worker. But this guy...this guy! He's taken on him a leadership role already. He is universally loved by everybody...I think even Jonathan...and I kind of don't ever want to do a play again that he isn't in. He plays my brother Clarence and then my right hand man, Ratcliff. And he's one of those actors that comes onstage and you know you're safe, and that everything is going to be great! He's handsome, charming, witty, talented, a great fighter, and a dedicated eater of pastrami! All amazing traits, especially for us. Also, he's a Power Ranger! Come on! How cool is that? Can't wait to see him rock Berowne in LLL later this summer! Well, I can wait at least another week, so we can continue to rock the stage in RIII.
Patrick Vest (Richard III / Fight Choreographer)
Patrick has been performing with Shakespeare by the Sea since 2002. He’s played such roles as Macbeth, Iago, Malvolio, Mercutio, King John, Caliban, Leontes, Mark Antony, Bottom, and many others. He also directed four productions: All’s Well that Ends Well, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, As You Like It, and most recently Measure for Measure. Additionally, Patrick is the resident fight choreographer. He’s excited to take part in this grand adventure but sure does hope that there is an end to this pandemic soon. Patrick received his MFA in Acting from the Alabama Shakespeare Festival, and he continues to study with Jack Stehlin at New American Theatre.
This mofo! I've been a bit upset with him from time to time during the process because he's been less than perfect. But I am trying to let that go. He keeps getting better every night, and hopefully by closing he'll scratch the surface of what this great role deserves.
And of course there is Steph, Chris, Jeffrey, Michael, Elena, Cinthia, Jesse, Lisa, Suzanne, Kira, the volunteers, and everybody else who makes this play work and this festival happen. Their skills in those fields are so far beyond mine that even commenting on it would make me seem ignorant. But we couldn't do what we do without any of them. They give us stage, lights, sound, places to go, things to wear, and basically tell us where we are supposed to be at every given moment. Heart and soul! That's what they are.
Thanks for reading about my newest family! I really do love them, if that wasn't clear. I don't know that this journey would have been possible if we didn't have the energies of each and every one of them.
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