IN THE LIVELY CITY OF PADUA, KATHERINE MINOLA FINDS AN UNUSUAL MATCH IN HEAVEN AS HER MOTHER, BAPTISTA MINOLA, SEEKS A PARTNER TO COMPLEMENT HER SHREWD BEHAVIOR. WHEN HORTENSIO, ONE OF THREE POTENTIAL SUITORS FOR KATE’S SISTER BIANCA, INTRODUCES PETRUCHIO TO THE BIGGEST BRAT PADUA HAS EVER KNOWN, PETRUCHIO TRIES TO WOO HER AND TAME HER TO MEET BOTH OF THEIR DESIRES.
MEANWHILE, BIANCA’S SUITORS HATCH A SERIES OF PLOTS TO WIN HER LOVE, INCLUDING DISGUISES, MISTAKEN IDENTITIES, AND SECRET RENDEVOUS.
THE PLAY ENDS WITH A TWIST ON THE BATTLE OF THE SEXES, LEAVING THE YOU TO DECIDE WHO REALLY GOT THE LAST WORD.
CONTENT WARNING:
THIS PRODUCTION CONTAINS STAGE COMBAT, LOUD NOISES, ADULT LANGUAGE, AND THEMES. THE AGE RECOMMENDATION IS 18+. THIS PRODUCTION EXPLORES CONSENSUAL SEXUAL DYNAMICS AND THEMES THAT MAY BE INAPPROPRIATE OR TRIGGERING FOR SOME.
Photo:LaurynNelson
ABOUT THE COLLECTIVE
CAST & CREW
JENSINNEN
ABOUT THE SHOW
GET TO KNOW THE CAST
CRYSTAL CLAROS
(Hortensio)
Crystal is so excited to perform in a Shakespeare play for the first time! Some of their notable credits include Tick, Tick…Boom! (BoHo), Shrek: The Musical (Music Theatre Works), Junie B Jones (YPTCHI), Elephant & Piggy, as well as James and The Giant Peach (Marriott), Hedwig (Haven), and various readings, workshops, and cabarets around The Windy City™. In their free time, Crystal enjoys weightlifting, collecting retro video games, and hanging out with Luna, their emotional support cat.
JACK DISSELHORST (Kate) Jack is an actor, teaching artist, and student social worker. Previous OSSC credits include Twelfth Night (Malvolio) and Measure for Measure (Pompey). Regional credits include Bertha von Nation 2.0 (The New Colony), Isaac's Eye (Redtwist Theatre). Upcoming projects include They Broke Up (Avalanche Theatre, new play development). Jack teaches Meisner technique at Green Shirt Studio and ensemble adaption at Piven Theatre Workshop. He holds a BFA in Acting from The Theatre School at DePaul University and is pursuing a Master of Social Work from Loyola University Chicago.
FIONA ROSS (Gremio) Fiona is delighted to make her OSSC debut! Born and raised in California, she is a Chicago-based theatre artist and philanthropy professional. Fiona graduated with a BFA in Acting and a BS in English Literature from Missouri State University in 2023. Favorite credits include Men on Boats (Missouri State), Sense & Sensibility (Springfield Contemporary), and I Ought to be in Pictures (Sacramento Theatre Company). Offstage, you can find her reading, wrangling her cat, and drinking a chai latte. fionaross.me 7
VICTORIA ANGELINA CRUZ (Baptista) New Chicago transplant from Birmingham, Alabama, originally. She loves her job. Currently understudying a new role that she is so excited to announce soon! Overjoyed to be working on Shakespeare with such a dope-ass wonderful company.
BECCA ROWLAND (Petruchio) Becca (they/she) is a multidisciplinary theater artist and proud ensemble member at Olde School Shakes. They especially love devising new works and queering the classics, and they believe that art at its best is nonhierarchical, curious, and highly opinionated. Other Chicago theater collaborations have included PrideArts, Strawdog Theater Co., and Chicago Dramatists. Becca is a founding member of Sandbox Theater Collective here in Chicago and holds a Bachelor of Arts in Drama from the University of California, Irvine.
Photos:LaurynNelson
GET TO KNOW THE CAST
Gwyneth Clare (Grumio) Gwyneth Clare is excited to be back with Olde School Shakes for Taming of the Shrew. She was last seen in Olde School’s Measure for Measure as Mistress Overdone and The Contemporary Theatre of Ohio’s production of The Wolves as #00. When not onstage, Gwyn can be found reading books or playing tennis. Follow her on Instagram @gwynethclare.
EMMA ANDERSON (Biondello)
Emma L. Anderson is a multihyphenate actor, playwright, monstrosity, and collective member with Olde School Shakes. She’s been seen in productions and readings at Chicago Dramatists, 16th Street Theater (rip), Dragonfly Theatre Company, and Theatre L’Acadie. She loves a good chicken parm.
SCOUT GREGGORY (Tranio) Louise “Scout” Gregory is a Chicago-based actor, costume designer, and artist lucky enough to be working in the arts full-time. A proud alumnus of the University of Notre Dame, they currently work full time at Blue Man Group Chicago as a Wardrobe & Makeup crew, and in their spare time, work on smaller costume crafts projects elsewhere. They have done shows with Lookingglass Theatre Company and the Goodman as wardrobe crew and at Steppenwolf as a Stitcher and Costume Design Assistant. They are thrilled to have a chance to perform again and make art with this fantastic group of people.
WYATT McCALL (First Mate) Wyatt is an actor, director, writer, and chef from Chicago. He co-founded The Olde School Shakespeare Collective with a few family members and some friends from college with the intent of creating accessible theatre for working-class people. Wyatt previously captained Olde School's production of Twelfth Night and starred as Sir Toby Belch. Additional credits include Hamlet and Much Ado About Nothing at The Heart of America Shakespeare Festival, Wonderland: Alice's Rock and Roll Adventure at Metro Theatre Company, A Christmas Carol at Arrow Rock Lyceum Theatre, Ring of Fire: The Johnny Cash musical and Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat at Maples Repertory Theatre and Peter Pan at Theatre in the Park in Kansas City. 9
JEN SINNEN (Ensemble) Jen Sinnen is a theatre educator and artist who has been calling Chicago home for the past three years. Jen is stoked to be back with OSSC with this latest production of Taming of the Shrew. Jen loves to play with her two cats, try different types of sandwiches, and cry.
OLIVIA EVANS (Bianca) Olivia is a Chicago based actor, improviser and writer. She can be found frequently at iO performing with her team Lil’ Sluggers. To see what she gets up to next follow her at @Oli_Popz on Instagram
Photos:LaurynNelson
GET TO KNOW THE CAST & CREW
HAYLEY PROCACCI (Captain)
Hayley Procacci (they/she) is a director, producer, and playwright. Originally from Orlando, Hayley has worked professionally in New York and Chicago for the last six years. Recent direct credits include Man and Moon (CHICAGO, 16th Street Theatre) A Sign of The Times (NYC, LDK Productions), Games (NYC, SoHo Playhouse), Taming of the Shrew (The Olde School Shakespeare Collective) Better Angels (NYC, SoHo Playhouse), My Uncle Sam (CHICAGO, Theater Unspeakable), Angels In America: Millennium Approaches, Silent Sky, Gruesome Playground Injuries, and Fool For Love (The University of Alabama at Birmingham). Hayley is also an adjunct professor at The Theatre School at DePaul, where they recently directed Games at the undergraduate level. Hayley currently serves as the Artistic Producer of New Projects at The Olde School Shakespeare Collective.
LAURYN NELSON (Marketing Director) Lauryn has a Master of Music degree from Northwestern University and a Bachelor of music from DePaul University. Lauryn is a full-time opera singer and canva enthusiast. Taking on the role of Marketing Director, Lauryn has already grown a large following for the theater company. As she develops the "image" of The Olde School Shakespeare Collective, she hopes you want to follow along on the journey.
SOPHIE MURK (Lucentia) a local actor, teaching artist, and political organizer. She’s currently on a relational organizing team for the Progressive Turnout Project, working to get the vote out in 5 major swing states - so if you’re reading this, she wants you text a friend who lives in a swing state to remind them to make a plan to vote blue on November 5th. She is a certified ASTEP fellow and certified in Brené Brown’s Dare to Lead™ work. Recent acting credits: Twelfth Night (OSSC), Junie B Jones (Young People’s Theater Chi), Gay Card (PrideArts), Merrily We Roll Along (Blank Theater Co), Titanic, As You Like It, A Christmas Carol (Milwaukee Repertory Theater), Daddy Long Legs (Awaken Theatre).
DREW McCALL (Production Manager) Drew is excited to be brought on as the Production Manager for the Olde School Shakespeare Collective. Drew has worked in numerous production roles for live theatre, including producing comedy and improv shows at Second City and the Playground Theatre, in addition to his current role as Production Manager for the Playground. He has also served as Production Assistant for film shoots with ESPN, Funny Or Die, and MTV. Drew can’t wait to bring his knowledge of production management to the collective.
Photos:LaurynNelson
SPECIAL THANKS
My Buddy's offers more than mouth-watering food, handmade cocktails, and a phenomenal staff. They have SHOWS, SHOWS, SHOWS! They have stand-up Comedy, Bingo, Cabaret, Drag Extravaganzas, Karaoke, and more! Visit www.mybuddyschicago.com to see all that they have to offer!
We are so grateful for the support of our community in this new and exciting endeavor. We have spent months planning this special night just for you, and we hope you enjoyed watching it as much as we enjoyed making it. If you are in a generous mood and have the means to donate, we are a new theatre company, and anything helps from $5 to $500. we appreciate your donations and your continued faith in our mission to bring Shakespeare back to the people where it belongs! Also, consider buying merch at the merch table or online. All merch is designed by our Marketing Manager Lauryn Nelson! Merch sales go directly to the creation of more shows like this one! Also, you can tip your performers! All cash tips go 100% to the actors on stage. Tips go a long way and are incredibly appreciated. We love you from the bottom of our hearts - The Collective
