Free
Shakespeare
for Everyone
Current Season
We are touring LIVE! Our summer 2021 production of Romeo & Juliet will be a live tour.
Click here for a guide to attending Cleve Shakes this summer.
Help Cleveland Shakespeare Festival stay accessible to all Cleveland residents and families.
No Amount Is Too Small!
Cast & Crew:
Director: Dusten A. Welch
Production Stage Manager: Aislyn Clark
Costume Design: Lainne Davis
Fight Choreographer: Dusten A. Welch
CHARACTERS
Ryan Pangracs..............................................ROMEO / BALTHASAR
Emily Wirthwein.....................................................JULIET / ABRAM
Cody Swanson....................................MERCUTIO / PRINCE / PARIS
Bobbie Hart......................BENVOLIO / LADY CAPULET / FR. JOHN
Jasmyn Molaei......TYBALT / PETER / APOTHECARY / MONTAGUE
Keith Kornajcik....................................LORD CAPULET / SAMPSON
Allen Branstein.....................NURSE/ FRIAR LAWRENCE / CHORUS
Ryan Pangracs
Romeo
Ryan Pangracs is recent graduate of the BFA Acting program at Baldwin Wallace University. Previous roles include Borachio (Much Ado About Nothing), Jesus of Nazareth (The Last Days of Judas Iscariot), Vincent Van Gogh (Painting Vincent), and the Baker (Into the Woods.) Though born and raised in Leavenworth, KS, Ryan is thrilled to be getting involved with the excitement of the Cleveland theatre scene. Many thanks to Dusten and the cast for the opportunity and a huge shout to his Mom & Dad, Kyle, Jack, and all his wonderful friends. Here’s to live theatre, gosh darn it!
Emily Wirthwein
Juliet
Emily is excited to perform in her hometown of Cleveland, returning from New York, where she recently graduated with a BFA from NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts, with additional training at The Royal Academy of Dramatic Art in London. In NYC, Emily served as a teaching assistant for SAFD Fight Master David Brimmer and Fight Director Dan O’Driscoll. Favorite stage roles include Catherine Givings (All this Intimacy, Stella Adler Studio of Acting), Titus (Titus Andronicus, RADA), King Henry (Henry IV Part 1, CSC) and as a proud Citizen of Verona in Commonwealth Shakespeare Company’s Romeo & Juliet on the Boston Common. She would also like to thank Dusten, Nick, Allison, and her family for always supporting her and encouraging her to pursue her dreams.
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Cody Swanson
Mercutio / Prince / Paris
Cody Swanson is a professional actor, stage manager, fight choreographer, and teaching artist. He is ecstatic to return for another summer season with The Cleveland Shakespeare Festival. Cody taught at The Academy for the Performing Arts in Chagrin Falls, Ohio from 2015-2020 and continues to make guest appearances and work as a dialect coach. Favorite roles include Gangster #1 in Kiss Me, Kate, Carl in Bus Stop, Igor in Young Frankenstein, and Clown #1 in The 39 Steps (to name a few). Thank you to ALL who’ve made this possible!
Bobbie Hart
Benvolio / Lady Capulet / Friar John
Bobbie Hart is radiantly grateful for the opportunity to do live theater alongside such wonderful people. Recent credits include Ulysses in Troilus & Cressida, Lilith in She Kills Monsters, & Antigone in The Burial at Thebes. This festival is a beautiful culmination of two of her favorite things: Shakespeare & The Great Outdoors! She would not have wanted to spend her summer any other way. Bobbie will graduate from Baldwin Wallace University in May 2022 with a BFA in Acting and a minor in music. She plans to move to Chicago after graduation to pursue a career in the arts. Seize the Day <3
Jasmyn Molaei
Tybalt / Peter / Apothecary / Montague
Jasmyn Donya Molaei is a native of San Jose, California. Previous performances include Men on Boats (Sumner), Troilus and Cressida (Patroclus/Casssandra), and Love's Labour's Lost (Armado). She thanks her mom Sherry for being her number one fan and supporter. She hopes that you enjoy the show!
Keith Kornajcik
Lord Capulet / Sampson
Keith first performed with CSF in Season 5, and is happy to be back for another summer of spouting verse outdoors. He has performed with many theatres in Northeast Ohio, including: Bad Epitaph, Beck Center, Charenton, Clague Playhouse, Cleveland Public Theatre, Ensemble and many more. He thanks Barb and Scott Krauss for all the love and support.
Allen Branstein
Nurse / Friar Lawrence / Chorus
Allen Branstein is very pleased and excited to be back in the parks with CleveShakes, having appeared in every season but two. Roles here have included Titus, Richard III, Bottom, Agrippa, Dogberry, Julius Caesar ... and others. He has done some radio ads, has trained with Second City, and can be seen in the movie "American Splendour" ... and others. He would like to thank the audience for their support (especially last year), and he would like to thank Paula, because he can.