Players' Shakespeare Studio

How to Do Shakespeare

Sept. 28 – Nov. 16, 2020

Mondays, 7-9pm
Cost: $99

How does an actor speak Shakespeare’s heightened language without feeling clumsy and sounding artificial? In this eight-week class you will learn how to make Shakespeare’s words your friend and use them to create a vivid character. The classes are taught online via Zoom and combine training in technique, along with practical application in monologue and scene work. You will learn:

The iambic rhythm and why it is useful
How to spot and use rhetorical devices
When to breathe and how to phrase
How to navigate those long speeches
How to scan a line of verse
Detecting Shakespeare’s internal directions
The caesura
Structure and rhythm
And much more

This course will serve as a great starter kit for the beginning actor or as a useful refresher course for those more experienced.

The cost for this eight-week course is $99. Space is limited.

For an interview with Mr. Cuskern and to inquire about the waitlist, please email dominic@galleryplayers.com.

DOMINIC CUSKERN appeared on Broadway in Inherit the Wind starring George C. Scott. He played Labisse in the Broadway National Tour of the musical Victor/Victoria. He created the role of Ganesha, the Hindu god, in Terrence McNally’s A Perfect Ganesh, which starred Zoe Caldwell at MTC. He was a member of the Resident Acting Company at the Pearl Theatre in New York City. His favorite Shakespeare roles include Prospero, Shylock, and Malvolio. Mr. Cuskern was born in England where he obtained his B.A at Leeds University. He received his master’s degree from Columbia University. He is currently the president of the Board of Directors at Gallery Players and program director for Players’ Shakespeare.

Players' Shakespeare On Stage

Hamlet (at home)

July 16 – 24, 2020

Tues – Sun @ 7:30pm

GalleryTalks post-show conversation with the directors and cast will take place after the Friday, July 24 performance

Gallery Players presents a live broadcast production of William Shakespeare’s Hamlet, an old-fashioned revenge play that turns out to be his most modern-seeming play. First performed in 1602, Hamlet is Shakespeare’s most performed; his most translated; his most discussed; his longest, and arguably his greatest play, containing some of the most famous lines in all of literature.

In the quiet comfort of their pandemic quarantine, six actresses, strewn across the country, will transform their homes into the riveting world of Hamlet. This 90-minute live broadcast explores the domestic drama of a young prince whose censored grief explodes into a quest for justice and revenge. Irreverent, poignant, and hip, Hamlet revolts against the establishment who will stop at nothing to cover up a foul and most unnatural murder. These six remarkable actresses will leave you spellbound as they unravel this timeless mystery. While Shakespeare couldn’t have imagined a live broadcast of his play, this whimsical retelling of his unparalleled masterpiece captures the spirit of live performance and the bard’s excellence. Join us for a night of intrigue, suspense, and good beats all in the comfort of someone else’s home.

Cast

Martha Benson
Patricia Black
Lunaré
Amber McNew
Eliana Anneliscia Rowe
Jessica N. Smith

Creative

Co-Directors: James Dean Palmer & Myah Shein
Music Consultant: Chris Felix
Costume Consultant: Dominique Fawn Hill
Broadcast Technician: Romo Hallahan
Production Stage Manager: Jess Kemp
Producer: Dominic Cuskern

Cast & Creative Bios

	Martha Benson \| Gertrude, Reynaldo, Gildenstern Martha Benson (she/her/hers) is an actor, director, and producer in New York City. Recent acting credits: Ferdinand Standby and Adrian in The Tempest (Gallery Players) and Romeo in Romeo and Juliet (Lady Shakes Theatre Company). Directing credits include Shot Roots (New York Theater Festival) and Romeo and Juliet (Lady Shakes Theatre Company).
	Patricia Black \| Polonius, Ghost, Gravedigger New York Theater: And the Swan (TheaterLab), The Tempest, Julius Caesar (Gallery Players), Romeo & Juliet (Flamboyán Theater), Coriolanus (Italy Time Theatre), Guilt By Association (Manhattan Rep), Resident Bat – The Flea Theater Company. Artistic Advisory Board member – The COOP Theatre. TV: Ryan Murphy’s Pose on FX. Upcoming: Film: Ballad of a Hustler, New Media Project: Virtue, Theater: LuLu
	Amber McNew \| Claudius Amber McNew is grateful and thrilled to be joining this brilliant cast and creative team and is making her debut with Gallery Players. She recently received her MFA from the Asolo Conservatory for Actor Training and was recently on the Asolo Repertory stage in Into the Breeches! and The Sound of Music. Special gratitude to James Palmer for his faith and vision and for the constant love and support from the incredible people who believe in the importance and power of art and theatre.
	Eliana Anneliscia Rowe \| Hamlet Eliana Anneliscia Rowe is a bubbly Albany/NYC based artist and recent Fordham grad. Selected university credits: My Papier-Mâché Monster (NUN/Playwright), Twelfth Night (Olivia), Orlando (Sasha, Chorus), Aurora fra Bergen, or, Ibsanity (Aurora). Many thanks to God, my family and this phenomenal cast and production team #BlackLivesMatter @simply_eliana_
	Jessica N. Smith \| Laertes, Rosencrantz Jessica Natalie Smith is an actor, director, and choreographer from Southern California. A rising third year in the Brown/Trinity MFA Acting program, Jessica’s work spans from Samuel French’s Off Off Broadway Festival, to this summer’s 24 Hour Plays Festival. For more information on her work, visit www.jessicanataliesmith.com
	Trouble the Cat This is Trouble’s acting debut with Gallery Players. He enjoys competitive snacking, chasing hair bands, and protecting his human from rogue houseflies.

James Dean Palmer | Co-Director
James Dean Palmer (New York) director and educator. Affiliations: Roundabout Theatre, The Old Globe, Long Wharf, Steppenwolf, The Public, Mabou Mines, and The Goodman among others. Fellowships: Manhattan Theatre Club, The Drama League, SDCF, Chautauqua, Peter Kaplan. Teaching: NYU Tisch, Fordham, PPAS, Manhattan Youth. MFA Brown University.

Myah Shein | Co-Director
Myah Shein is a dance and theatre artist from Chicago. She was a founding member of Red Tape Theatre Company where she choreographed, produced and performed in over 40 productions over eight seasons. New York credits include NYU, Gallery Players, The Drama League, Waterwell Theater, and FiveMyles. She has worked regionally at Trinity Repertory Company, Brown University, and Asolo Rep/FSU. Myah is a teaching artist for Waterwell and works at the Professional Performing Arts High School. Joseph Jefferson Award nomination, The Love of the Nightingale at Red Tape Theatre (best choreography, best production), SDCF Observership Class 2017-2018.

Chris Felix | Music Consultant
Chris Felix is a producer/composer based in New York City. Felix blends punchy hip hop drums and eclectic sampling with R&B, pop, jazz, and Haitian/Afropop music. He is currently focused on producing artists in the NYC area.

Dominique Fawn Hill | Costume Consultant
Regional Credits: Where the Mountain Meets the Sea at Actors Theatre Company; Hedwig and the Angry Inch at Portland Center Stage; One Night in Miami at City Theatre Company; School Girls; Or, the African Mean Girls Play at Kansas City Repertory Theatre; Pipeline at City Theatre Company; Julius Caesar at Asolo Repertory Theatre. Other Design Credits: 125th & FREEdom at the National Black Theatre.

Romo Hallahan | Broadcast Technician
Romo Hallahan is a NYC-based media, lighting and broadcast designer for theater and streaming. His last streaming production was 274 Days at NYU/Meisner Studios. Some recent credits on stage include Bo-Nita (DENIZEN Theater), Closer (Stella Adler Studios), The Eumenides (Stella Adler Studios), and The Whale (Harold Clurman Lab). When not working he enjoys karaoke, Dungeons & Dragons, and hanging out with his cat Lylla.

Jess Kemp | Production Stage Manager
Jess Kemp has worked backstage in multiple capacities at The Public Theater, Playwrights Horizons, New York Theatre Workshop, Actors Theatre of Louisville, Huntington Theatre Company, A.R.T., and Shakespeare & Company, among others. Training: BFA Stage & Production Management at Emerson College, USITT Stage Management Mentor Project (St. Louis), Actors Theatre of Louisville Professional Training Company. #BlackLivesMatter #JusticeforBreonna #WearAMask

Hamlet (at home) is deeply inspired by and features the work of many Black artists. During our final week, we are lifting up Black Girl Magik, whose mission is to transform the world for Black women and girls. If you are able, please support this organization in their work to help Black women thrive.

Players' Shakespeare On Stage

The Tempest (2019)

Photo by Steven Pisano Photography

Twelfth Night (2018)

Photo by Alice Teeple

Julius Caesar (2017)

Photo by Alice Teeple

Richard III (2016)

Photo by Bella Muccari

A Midsummer Night’s Dream (2015)

Photo by Bella Muccari

Henry V (2014)

Photo by Bella Muccari

The Merchant of Venice (2013)

Photo by Scott Cally

Othello (2012)

Photo by Meg Goldman

Macbeth (2011)

Photo by Alejandra Ligotti

	Martha Benson \| Gertrude, Reynaldo, Gildenstern Martha Benson (she/her/hers) is an actor, director, and producer in New York City. Recent acting credits: Ferdinand Standby and Adrian in The Tempest (Gallery Players) and Romeo in Romeo and Juliet (Lady Shakes Theatre Company). Directing credits include Shot Roots (New York Theater Festival) and Romeo and Juliet (Lady Shakes Theatre Company).
	Patricia Black \| Polonius, Ghost, Gravedigger New York Theater: And the Swan (TheaterLab), The Tempest, Julius Caesar (Gallery Players), Romeo & Juliet (Flamboyán Theater), Coriolanus (Italy Time Theatre), Guilt By Association (Manhattan Rep), Resident Bat – The Flea Theater Company. Artistic Advisory Board member – The COOP Theatre. TV: Ryan Murphy’s Pose on FX. Upcoming: Film: Ballad of a Hustler, New Media Project: Virtue, Theater: LuLu
	Amber McNew \| Claudius Amber McNew is grateful and thrilled to be joining this brilliant cast and creative team and is making her debut with Gallery Players. She recently received her MFA from the Asolo Conservatory for Actor Training and was recently on the Asolo Repertory stage in Into the Breeches! and The Sound of Music. Special gratitude to James Palmer for his faith and vision and for the constant love and support from the incredible people who believe in the importance and power of art and theatre.
	Eliana Anneliscia Rowe \| Hamlet Eliana Anneliscia Rowe is a bubbly Albany/NYC based artist and recent Fordham grad. Selected university credits: My Papier-Mâché Monster (NUN/Playwright), Twelfth Night (Olivia), Orlando (Sasha, Chorus), Aurora fra Bergen, or, Ibsanity (Aurora). Many thanks to God, my family and this phenomenal cast and production team #BlackLivesMatter @simply_eliana_
	Jessica N. Smith \| Laertes, Rosencrantz Jessica Natalie Smith is an actor, director, and choreographer from Southern California. A rising third year in the Brown/Trinity MFA Acting program, Jessica’s work spans from Samuel French’s Off Off Broadway Festival, to this summer’s 24 Hour Plays Festival. For more information on her work, visit www.jessicanataliesmith.com
	Trouble the Cat This is Trouble’s acting debut with Gallery Players. He enjoys competitive snacking, chasing hair bands, and protecting his human from rogue houseflies.