Special Thanks ––
Special Thanks to Cleveland Playhouse, Calvin Andringa, and the Vermilion River Reservation staff.
–– PLEASE NOTE ––
The videotaping or other video or audio recording of this production is strictly prohibited
Beatrice ..................................................................... Noelle Elise Crites
Benedick ........................................................................ Sullivan Ratcliff
Claudio ................................................................ James Robert Newton
Hero ............................................................................................. Mikaela Ray
Don Pedro ....................................................................... Hayley Johnson
Don John .................................................................................. Be Bruening
Leonato ................................................................................ Cecil Eastman
Antonio ............................................................................ Jennifer Justice
Borachio ................................................................................. Cassie White
Conrade .................................................................................. Baleigh Lynn
Margaret .......................................................................... Leanna Orfahli
Ursula/Watch ............................................................. Vivian Jane Lilly
Friar Francis ....................................................................... Craig A. Webb
Dogberry ................................................................. Jonathan McCleery
Verges ................................................................... Raymond E. Cosma, Jr.
Balthasar/Watch ............................................... Nathaniel Cochran
Messenger/Boy Watch/Sexton .................. Gwendolyn Bueche
Director ................................................................................ Casey Venema
Stage Manager ................................................................ Hanna Watson
Costume Designer .............................................................. Cole Rector
Props Design ....................................................................... Noah Horner
Set Design ................................................................................. Erin Moran
Stage Crew ........................................................ Constance Chrosniak
Stage Crew ....................................................................... Carolyn Riedel
Much Ado About Nothing consist of two acts with one 15-minute intermission.
(Messenger/Boy Watch/Sexton) is very excited to be in Much Ado About Nothing. She was thrilled to return to the stage and make her Shakespearean debut in A Midsummer Night’s Dream last summer. Gwendolyn graduated from Cleveland State University with a BFA in Film and Media Arts and a Minor in International Film. Since college, Gwendolyn has been writing, directing, and acting in independent short films through her production company Kapan Productions and with fellow Cleveland filmmakers, most recently appearing as Sarah Brown in A Walk Through Spoon River. Gwendolyn is thankful for the support of her family and friends (and understanding boss) as she navigates a career in the arts.
(Balthazar, 1st Watch, Lord) is excited to be apart of Much Ado About Nothing at French Creek. His previous shows include Bob Enright (9 to 5) and Tully
(Escape to Margarittaville). When he isn’t on stage he enjoys spending time with his pup Magic.
RAYMOND E. COSMA, JR. (Verges) is delighted to be in his fourth production at a Lorain County Metro Parks venue. Previously he appeared as Shecky Scagnetti in Talk About A Murder at the Carlisle Visitors Center (2022), Duke Senior in As You Like It at Bacon Woods Amphitheatre (2019), and as Bobby in Bloom at French Creek Theatre (2017). He has also enjoyed portraying historical characters such as Ralph Waldo Emerson in The Night Thoreau Spent In Jail at LCCC (2018), George M. Pullman in American Enterprise, also at LCCC (2015), and Thomas Edison in Camping With Henry & Tom at Olde Towne Hall Theatre (2016). Finally, he has been blessed to be a part of North Pointe Ballet’s The Nutcracker first as a Grandfather/Narrator, offstage, and lately as a drunken Grandfather onstage (2014-2023). P.S. He has never been drunk in real life. Really!
(Beatrice) is happy to be returning for Shakespeare in the Park with French Creek Theatre! Noelle is an actor, vocalist, director, and teaching artist. She recently worked as an actor/teacher with Great Lakes
Theater, teaching and performing scenes from classic plays, many from Shakespeare’s repertoire. She is a graduate of SUNY Fredonia (BFA Musical Theatre, Dance minor).
Credits: A Midsummer Night’s Dream (Puck/Philostrate), Romeo and Juliet (Tybalt), Joseph…Dreamcoat (Ensemble/Mrs. Potiphar US), Spring Awakening (Ilse), The Last Five Years (Cathy), Ordinary Days (Deb), Stupid F***ing Bird (Emma), Silent Sky (Margaret). Immense love and thanks to her parents, Kellen, and Michael, and her partner, David.
INSTAGRAM: @noelleelisecrites WEBSITE: noelleelisecrites.com
(Don John) is overjoyed to be returning to the theatre after more than 15 years. In addition to earning a degree in Theatre from Wright State University, they have appeared in feature films such as The Nightowls of Coventry, ... the making of..., and Alien Theory. Be also enjoys writing, yoga, singing, art, and spent 5 years teaching painting in public spaces, mostly for beginners. They would like to dedicate their performance to their cousin Michael, who’s influence cannot be understated including appearing in their first production for Dover Players in North Olmsted, of which many more followed.
CECIL EASTMAN (Leonato) is very pleased to be making his stage debut in Northeast Ohio, making the move from his native Northern Indiana. A veteran of more than 50 shows spanning more than 40 years in South Bend and Chicago, his favorites include Leonato in Much Ado About Nothing (performed in South Bend), Tom in Skylight, Doc in West Side Story, and the Dudley Moore character in Beyond The Fringe, and Wally in an original work, In The Back/On The Floor, at Chicago’s Stage Left Theatre. Aspirations include an infestation (by him) of the Cleveland theater community. Cecil is thankful to his partner, Anne, for her continued support.
JOHNSON (Don Pedro) is excited to make her French Creek Theatre debut! This is also her first time being in a Shakespeare play! Hayley has been a working actor for 6 years and has been acting for 20 years. She’s originally from Cleveland and obtained her BA for Theatre at Allegheny College. Her professional stage credits include, Exit: Pursued by a Bear, We Call it Family, and The Most Fabulous Story Ever Told at Convergence
Continuum, Live Bodies for Sale and Frayed at Playwright’s Local, Panther Women at Cleveland Public Theatre, the immersive show, Wanderlust - Shadow of the Run, Chapter One, and Karamu House’s Aida. Docherty Talent Agency represents Hayley for her work in modeling, commercials, and film. She recently appeared in several 48-Hour Film Festivals that have showcased at venues across the country. She recently joined the Greater Cleveland Film Commission as an Associate Board Member and hopes to do more film work in the future. IG: @performerbynature
JEN JUSTICE (Antonio) has been working in the Cleveland area as both performer and choreographer for more than 20 years. Favorite performance credits include Chicago (Roxie Hart), A Chorus Line (Cassie), Anything Goes (Reno Sweeney), Little Shop of Horrors (Audrey), Guys and Dolls (Miss Adelaide), The Addams Family (Morticia), Steel Magnolias (Truvy), You’re A Good Man Charlie Brown (Sally), and Pump Boys and Dinettes (Rhetta Cupp). She has also choreographed regional productions for Theatre In The Circle, The Cassidy Theatre,The Fine Arts Association, French Creek, Pickwick and Frolic, as well as several high school and youth theater
productions. Credits include Chicago, Pippin, Anything Goes, Tuck Everlasting, The Producers, Spamalot, Shrek, White Christmas, Seussical, Hairspray, Thoroughly Modern Millie, Newsies, and many installments of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat. Thank you Casey and French Creek for the opportunity. Enjoy the show!
LILLY (Ursula/ Watch) studied the Meisner Technique and Improvisation at the Houde School of Acting, and she has had roles in various independent film projects, including a supporting role in Trapped, available to stream on Tubi, and a lead role in the web series Searchers Inc. Her current favorite roles in theatre include Lady Capulet in Romeo & Juliet, directed by Eric Golovan at Chagrin Arts and Mrs. Fairchild/Jacob Lowe in The Rescue of John Price, directed as a staged reading by Tony Sias and Caroline JacksonSmith through the Oberlin-Wellington Rescue Theater Project. She has most recently appeared as Eliza Sidecar in Stage Frights, a new play directed by Ryan Santa that premiered at Imposters Theater last fall. She is very happy to be back on stage and hopes everyone enjoys this performance of this beloved Shakespeare classic filled with schemes, witty comebacks, deception, flirtation, and of course, love!
BALEIGH LYNN (Conrade) is so happy to do Shakespeare in Bacon Woods Amphitheater again! Baleigh graduated from Kent State University in 2020 with a BA in Theatre Studies with a concentration in Performance along with a Dance minor. Her previous credit with French Creek Theatre was last year in A Midsummer Nights Dream as Starveling, Moonshine, and Mustard Seed. Before that she was seen in The Bold, the Young and the Murdered (Morris), and Game of Tiaras (Prince Charming) with Theater Guild at Akron University, Athena (Mary Wallace U/S, Fight Captain), Concord Floral (Fox/8), Clue (Yvette) and Richard III (Queen Elizabeth) in Akron University’s Main stage shows, and Heather Pryn (Jackie Pryn) and NOW (Accidental Deer/Heaven Monitor) in Kent States BA Show cases. She even has a few short film credits with the most recent being Spoon River as Mrs Sibley (coming soon) directed by her Much Ado cast member Gwen! Baleigh would like to thank Casey for giving her guidance with character development again, her family, friends, car, and her partner for helping her through a busy schedule. She hopes you “Get thee a wife!” (Or husband or Spouse) and enjoy the show!
(Dogberry) is pleased to be making his debut with the French Creek Theater, although he is by no means a newcomer to the stage. In fact, this is Jonathan’s 75th production in which he has been cast. For some reason, directors keep offering him roles! Jonathan particularly loves Shakespeare, having portrayed the Bard’s characters with Coshocton Footlight Players, Left Coast Productions in Medina, Workshop Players in Amherst, and numerous appearances with the Cleveland Shakespeare Festival. His next endeavor will be Arsenic and Old Lace in September with Workshop Players. Jonathan is a retired minister in the United Methodist Church and resides in Sheffield Village. Many thanks to our wonderful director and the rest of the cast and crew for making this a truly enjoyable experience.
(Claudio) (he/him) is very excited to be making his French Creek and Shakespeare debut in Much Ado About Nothing! He is a rising senior
State University. Collegiate credits include The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee (William Barfee), Kelly the Destroyer vs. The Springfield Cobras (Shinn [Collegiate Premiere]), The Gondoliers (Ensemble, u/s Duke of Plaza-Toro), Sister Act (Ensemble, u/s Monsignor O’Hara), and Arcadia (u/s Bernard). Regional credits include Anything Goes! (Lord Evelyn Oakleigh) and White Christmas (Ensemble) at Rubber City Theatre (Akron, OH). He would like to thank the cast and production team for the opportunity to share this work and have such a wonderful time doing so. He would also like to thank his family, friends, and mentors for their unwavering support and love. Enjoy the show! Instagram: @james_ robert_newton
(Margaret) is thrilled to be making her return to the stage as Margaret. She holds a degree in fashion merchandising from Kent State, where she also studied theatre performance and fashion design. Some of her theatre credits include A Midsummer Night’s Dream (Helena), Love’s Labour’s Lost (Moth), and Incognito (Trudy Blitt). She sends lots of love to her mom, sister, and friends, and truly hopes you enjoy the show!
(Benedick) is thrilled to return to the Bacon Woods Amphitheater and French Creek Theater. Previously roles of note include
Luke Sanderson in The Haunting of Hill House, Peter in Peter and the Starcatcher, and most recently as Benjamin Braddock in The Graduate.
(Hero) (she/her) is so grateful to be making her French Creek Theatre debut with this production of Much Ado About Nothing! Her recent credits include The Prom (Alyssa Green) at Near West Theatre, Zombie Prom (Toffee) and Of Mice and Men (Curley’s Wife) at Blank Canvas Theatre, School of Rock (Rosalie Mullins) and Fun Home (U/S Med. Alison/Joan) at Cain Park, as well as White Christmas (Judy Haynes) and Matilda (Miss Honey) at Rubber City Theatre. She’d like to extend her deepest gratitude to Casey for bringing Shakespeare back into her life and her family for their boundless love and support. And while Hero can usually be found snickering with her cousin Beatrice or in the arms of her betrothed Claudio, you can find Mikaela on Instagram
@heymikaelaray and her website: mikaelaray.com
CASSIE WHITE (Borachio) (she/ her) is so excited to play a villain... and a drunk villain at that. A recent graduate of the Baldwin Wallace University BFA Acting program, Cassie is excited to continue her acting journey in Cleveland. She has recently been seen as Jessie in Sweat, Malke in The Blake and Ollie Show, Guard in Burial at Thebes, and Annelle in Steel Magnolias. Cassie would like to thank her amazing parents and ulta family for always supporting her and Casey, Hannah and the cast for giving her the space to make them laugh and for having fun with her.
CASEY VENEMA (Director) is a Cleveland-based director, actor, and intimacy director focused on unique and unexplored narrativesparticularly those centering women’s voices. Recent directing credits include A Midsummer Night’s Dream (French Creek), Lost Girl (Bucknell University), Steel Magnolias (French Creek), Athena (Rubber City Theatre x University of Akron), Emilie: La Marquise du Châtelet Defends Her Life Tonight (Bucknell University), You Can’t Take It With You (Little Theatre of Virginia Beach), I’m Alive You Bastards And I Always Will Be (Night Bloom Theatre Co.), and a filmed reimagining of Hedda Gabler (Equality Productions). Next for Casey: pursuing an MFA in Performance at Florida Atlantic University. Follow along with Casey’s artistic adventures at: www.caseyvenema.com or on Instagram @caseyvenem8.
