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Bernhardt/Hamlet
by Theresa Rebeck
Director: Sean Hargadon
Scenic Designer: Natasza Naczas*
Costume Designer: Elizabeth Niemczyk*
Lighting Designer: Finley Wedge
Stage Manager: Katie Nowak
Join us March 28-April 13
In 1899, the international celebrity Sarah Bernhardt set out to tackle her most ambitious role yet: Hamlet. Theresa Rebeck’s play rollicks with high comedy and human drama, set against the lavish production that could make or break Bernhardt’s career.
Bernhardt/Hamlet is presented by arrangement with Concord Theatricals on behalf of Samuel French, Inc. www.concordtheatricals.com
Tickets
TICKETS ON SALE IN LATE FEBRUARY
Health and safety
As of March 28, 2023 masks are recommended, but not required, for all patrons attending performances.
The Language Archive cast
Rusty Allen, he/him
Conductor, George u/s
Rusty is thrilled to appear with Edge of the Wood for the first time! Originally from New York, he made his Chicago debut in Twelfth Night (Malvolio) with Midsommer Flight. Other credits include The Chinese Lady and the solo play Hold These Truths with GENseng Asian American Ensemble, The Tempest and Othello with Nebraska Shakespeare, and 30 productions at the Barter Theatre (The SantaLand Diaries, The Producers, Great Expectations, etc.) More at rusty-allen.com.
Amelia Bell*, she/her
Emma
Amelia is thrilled to be back at Edge of the Wood where she’s been previously seen in Arcadia, Pride and Prejudice, and The Crucible. Originally from Houston, Amelia has been performing across Chicago at theatres including Kokandy, Hell In a Handbag, and more since graduating from Northwestern University. Offstage, she is a teaching artist at Bubbles Academy. Love to all my family, friends, Liam, and the Edge team.
Jeff Broitman, he/him
Resten
Jeff is thrilled to be returning to Edge of the Wood, where he was last seen in The Book of Will. Jeff has written, directed, taught, and performed theater and improvisation for over 30 years in New York City, Minneapolis, and Chicago. Recent credits include Accidental Election of an Anarchist at the Athenaeum; Wells & Welles (Lucid Theater); The Diary of Anne Frank (YPT). Thanks to Stacey and everyone at Edge for this opportunity!
Stephen Loch*, he/him
George
Stephen is an actor and graduate of the Theater School at DePaul University. He has appeared in many Edge of the Wood Theatre productions, including Light Up the Sky, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Our Town, The Fantasticks, Holiday, Arcadia, The Minutes, and The Book of Will.
R. Scott Purdy*, he/him
Zamenhof, Baker u/s
This is Scott’s ninth appearance with the Resident Theatre, and his fifth in a show directed by Stacey Lind. Our Town, The Fantasticks, Holiday, The Seagull, Arcadia, The Book of Will, and both productions of The Crucible preceded this. “I keep returning with gratitude for the quality of this ensemble.” His recent stage and film work is listed at: www.rscottpurdy.com
Ellen Shaw, she/her
Alta
Ellen is delighted to be back with Edge of The Wood Theatre, where she previously understudied for It Is So (If You Think So!). Her credits include Carrie Watts in The Trip To Bountiful, Fonsia Dorsey in The Gin Game, Melissa in Love Letters, Lady Bird Johnson in Tea for Three, and Martha Brewster in Arsenic and Old Lace. Ellen is a Florida transplant who is happily making Chicago her new home.
Lisa Stran, she/her
Instructor, Emma u/s
Lisa is delighted to return to Edge where she has appeared as Frances Black in Light Up the Sky and Signora Cini in It Is So (If You Think So!). Lisa has most recently worked with Invictus Theatre, the Cornservatory, Prologue, Waltzing Mechanics, and Broken Nose, to name a few. Lisa graduated from Northwestern University in 1996 and has been making Chicago storefront theater ever since.
Bethany Weise, she/her
Mary
Bethany is thrilled to be back at Edge of the Wood after previously appearing in It Is So (If You Think So!), Pride and Prejudice, and the ill-fated Middletown. Bethany has worked with the Asolo Repertory Theatre, South Brooklyn Shakespeare, Banyan Theatre, and Akvavit Theatre to name a few. She has trained in London and with the Barrow Group in New York. She proudly holds an MFA from the FSU/Asolo Conservatory. bethanyweise.com
Fred Wellisch, he/him
Baker, Zamenhof u/s
Fred last appeared as Yuri Pen in the world premiere of Chagall in School (Grippo Productions). He has performed at the side project, City Lit, and Timeline. Favorite roles have included: Frosch in Lyric Opera’s Die Fledermaus, King Lear at Chase Park; Shylock in The Merchant of Venice (Boho); and Weller Martin in The Gin Game (Lincoln Square). He has also appeared at Steppenwolf, Profiles, Teatro Vista, Porchlight, and Strawdog.
Hanna Beth Mitchell, she/her
Mary u/s
Hanna is a Chicago actress who is delighted to be collaborating with such a wonderful company! She is originally from Southern California where she grew up doing summer stock with her family. Favorite credits include: Mercutio and Tybalt (Romeo and Juliet), Susy Hendrix (Wait Until Dark) and Emily Bronte (Bronte). When not onstage she loves reading, sword fighting with the Society of American Fight Directors and playing with her new baby daughter. “Thank you AJ for supporting my calling and loving me more deeply each day.” sDg IG: @hannabethmitchell
Jeanann Power*, she/her
Instructor u/s
Jeanann holds an MFA from the Asolo Conservatory for Actor Training. She has appeared in a number of Edge productions, including It Is So (If You Think So!) (Signora Frola – Lou Award nominee for Best Actor in a Leading Female Role), The Minutes (Ms. Matz – Jeff Award nominee – Best Ensemble, Short Run), The Crucible, The Book of Will, The Mystery of Edwin Drood, The Seagull, She Loves Me, Our Town, The Man Who Came to Dinner, and The Secret Garden. She also portrayed Emily Dickinson in The Belle of Amherst at Edge, and the show then transferred to open the South Haven Theatre Series.
Janet Rourke*, she/her
Alta u/s
Janet has appeared on the stage of the Goodman Theatre, the Marriott, the Barn, CenterStage Theatre, and OOCC. At Edge, she appeared in Our Town (Mrs. Gibbs), The Seagull (Arkadina/Polina), The Mystery of Edwin Drood (The Princess Puffer), The Beautiful People (Harmony Blueblossom), Pride and Prejudice (Lady Catherine/Mrs. Reynolds), Light Up the Sky (Stella Livingston – Lou Award nominee for Best Actor in a Leading Female Role), and A Doll’s House, Part 2 (Nora), among others. Janet directed The Minutes which received four Jeff Award nominations including Best Director – Short Run.
Chris Toft*, he/him
Resten u/s
Chris is a Resident Artist with Edge and directed The Crucible and our Studio Series production of Betrayal. Favorite roles include The Chairman in Drood, Editor Webb in Our Town, and Mr. Bennet in Pride and Prejudice. Chris was also philanthropist Joy Morton in A Walk with Joy for the Morton Arboretum’s centennial. He is the Executive Producer of Famous Canadian Actors, a new scripted series currently filming. Chris sends much love to Nicole, Janie and Lucy.
*Resident Artist
The Resident Theatre
The Resident Theatre at Edge of the Wood produces family-friendly, professional-caliber shows in our community, engaging and inspiring young people as performers and theatre-goers.
Recognized for excellence
We are honored to have been nominated for four 2023 Jeff Awards for The Minutes, the first Jeff-eligible production in our ten-year history. Congratulations to winner Jack Hradecky in the Short Run – Performer category; nominee Janet Rourke for Short Run – Direction; and to the cast and artistic team for nominations in Short Run – Production, and Short Run – Ensemble.
Behind the scenes
Check out rehearsal and production photos and meet cast members in our Facebook group, on our Facebook page, or on Instagram @residenttheatre.
Learn more about the Resident Theatre
Learn more about the resident artists behind Edgebrook’s neighborhood theatre company, and check out our past productions.