Shakespeare BASH’d has just announced their 2018-2019 season.
The season begins with a staged reading of The Duchess of Malfi written by John Webster and directed by Co-Artistic Director Julia Nish-Lapidus. Shakespeare BASH’d began their company with staged readings and over the past two seasons they’ve returned to their roots to present dynamic stagings of some of Shakespeare’s lesser-known contemporaries. Just in time for Halloween, The Duchess of Malfi is on for one night only on October 28th at The Baby G.
The Duchess of Malfi is a macabre tragedy about a powerful woman whose two brothers seek to control her. “This is such an exciting and ridiculous play,” says BASH’d Co-Founder Julia Nish-Lapidus. “It really has it all: severed hands, poisoned bibles, werewolves!” Naomi Wright (Canadian Stage‘s A Midsummer Night’s Dream and Romeo and Juliet) plays the Duchess and Michael Man (Chekhov Collective‘s A Midsummer Night’s Dream) plays her lover Antonio. “I’m most excited to spend Sunday nights with this group of people,” says Man. “Love the people BASH’d brings along, it’s always a fun bunch. Drinks + good company + solid material = what more can I ask for?!” Andy Pogson and Tristan Claxton play Cardinal and Ferdinand, the Duchess’ duplicitous brothers.
The Duchess of Malfi also features: Felix Beauchamp, Bailey Green, Kevin Hammond, Cora Matheson, Tatyana Mitchell, Jesse Nerenberg, and Shayna Virginillo (for more info on each cast, scroll down to the gallery below).
Men in rage strike those that wish them best (Othello 2.3)
In February, BASH’d returns to the Monarch Tavern with Othello, directed by Co-Artistic Director James Wallis, who has been assistant directing at the Stratford Festival for the past three seasons. E.B. Smith (eight seasons at Stratford) will play the title role of Othello. “I am most looking forward to making more art with some of my favourite collaborators and friends,” says Smith. “The BASH’d team is brilliant at finding simplicity and specificity in Shakespeare’s text and it is a thrill to tackle this, one of the most beautiful plays in the canon, with this spectacular company.” Olivia Croft (Measure for Measure with Shakespeare BASH’d) will join the creative team as Assistant Director.
James Graham (The Howland Company’s Puck Rock) will play Iago. “We [BASH’d] share a mission to dig deep for the most compelling choices in the text and and a belief that exploration continues right through until closing night,” says Graham. “It is a beautiful gift for an actor.” BASH’d company member and director Catherine Rainville plays Desdemona, “I have no doubt this show is going to painful and wonderful to watch.”
And Melanie Leon, who plays Montana, says she’s looking forward to performing a “real” fight scene, “Especially one that doesn’t involve me getting stabbed repeatedly in the back or clumsily falling into a deep pit (Shakespeare, am I right?)”
The Othello cast also features: Jennifer Dzialoszynski, Dylan Evans, David Mackett, Drew O’Hara, and Asha Vijayasingham.
Love is merely a madness (As You Like It 3.2)
In May, the season will end with As You Like It at at a to-be-announced location. “As You Like It is Shakespeare’s great Pastoral Comedy,” says director Drew O’Hara. “It’s hard to imagine now, but I can’t wait to shake off the winter blues by ringing in the spring with this delightful comedy of love, discovery, and sheep!” This love story will feature multiple gender-bent characters that will bring new light to the different relationships within the play.
Hallie Seline (The Howland Company founding member) will play Rosalind and Justin Mullen will be making his BASH’d debut as Orlando. “I’m so excited to work on this fantastic story with a group of artists who are fired up about Shakespeare,” Mullen says, “and sharing that passion in an unconventional space; by far, one of the coolest things about this project.”
Olivia Croft will return to play Jaques in As You Like It after assistant directing Othello. When asked about what excites her about these projects, Croft says: “Delving into Shakespeare has always been about study to me. I am excited as an actor to always be able to study my craft, in the hope of bringing to light glimpses of humility, compassion, and strength with the wise action of both past and present creators. I’m thrilled to be returning to Shakespeare BASH’d as a collaborator, to be in the room with talented, and like minded individuals who just can’t contain what needs to be said.”
As You Like It will also feature: Daniel Briere, Jade Douris, Aubree Erickson, Julia Nish-Lapidus, and Cara Pantalone.
While several roles are still being finalized for Othello and As You Like It, rehearsal begins in one week for The Duchess of Malfi. To celebrate the launch of their 2018-2019 season, Shakespeare BASH’d is hosting a night of Karaoke on Friday September 7th at the Theatre Centre Café/Bar. For more information, click here. Tickets are PWYC at the door and all proceeds go towards the upcoming season.
If you can’t make it out to karaoke but still want to support their work, you can donate to their Indiegogo campaign
To learn more about James Wallis and Julia Nish-Lapidus—partners in life and Shakespeare—read their Artist Perspective for Intermission, Five Years of Love, Beer and Shakespeare, or visit their website.
SHAKESPEARE BASH’d 2018-2019 Season
The Duchess of Malfi
By John Webster
Sunday, October 28, 8pm at The Baby G (1608 Dundas St W)
Director: Julia Nish-Lapidus
Featuring: Felix Beauchamp, Tristan Claxton, Bailey Green, Kevin Hammond, Michael Man, Cora Matheson, Tatyana Mitchell, Jesse Nerenberg, Andy Pogson, Shayna Virginillo, Naomi Wright
Othello
By William Shakespeare
February 5-10, 2019 at the Monarch Tavern (12 Clinton St)
Director: James Wallis / Assistant Director: Olivia Croft
Featuring: Jennifer Dzialoszynski, Dylan Evans, James Graham, Melanie Leon, David Mackett, Drew O’Hara, Catherine Rainville, E.B. Smith, Asha Vijayasingham
As You Like It
By William Shakespeare
May 2019 at a To Be Announced Venue
Director: Drew O’Hara / Assistant Director: Bailey Green
Featuring: Daniel Briere, Olivia Croft, Jade Douris, Aubree Erickson, Justin Mullen, Julia Nish-Lapidus, Cara Pantalone, Hallie Seline
Meet the casts of The Duchess of Malfi, Othello, and As You Like It:
The Duchess of Malfi
Artwork by Matt Nish-Lapidus
Felix Beauchamp
DELIO
For Shakespeare BASH'd: Debut
Most recently: Hart House Theatre's Titus Andronicus
Tristan Claxton
FERDINAND
For Shakespeare BASH'd: Debut
Most recently: Red Wit's Living with Olivia
Bailey Green
CARIOLA -Duchess of Malfi ASSISTANT DIRECTOR - As You Like It
For Shakespeare BASH'd: Gorboduc, The Comedy of Errors, King John, Edward II
Most recently: Hart House Theatre's Titus Andronicus
Kevin Hammond
CASTRUCCIO, DOCTOR
For Shakespeare BASH'd: Debut
Most recently: The Michael Langham Workshop for Classical Direction at the Stratford Festival where he spent two seasons as an Assistant Director.
Michael Man
ANTONIO
For Shakespeare BASH'd: Measure for Measure
Most recently: Measure for Measure
Cora Matheson
PESCARA
For Shakespeare BASH'd: Debut
Most recently: Guerilla Ruffian with Shakespeare in the Ruff
Tatyana Mitchell
RODERIGO
For Shakespeare BASH'd: Debut
Most recently: How Not to Die Stupidly at Humber College
Jesse Nerenberg
BOSOLA
For Shakespeare BASH'd: Twelfth Night, Hamlet, Macbeth, Love’s Labour’s Lost, Much Ado About Nothing.
Most recently: Julius Caesar, St. Lawrence Shakespeare Festival
Andy Pogson
CARDINAL
For Shakespeare BASH'd: Debut
Most recently: Halfway There, Port Stanley Festival Theatre
Shayna Virginillo
JULIA
For Shakespeare BASH'd: Debut
Most recently: Co-writer and performer in Brain Storm, Lucid Ludic
Naomi Wright
DUCHESS OF MALFI
For Shakespeare BASH'd: Debut
Most recently: A Midsummer Night's Dream, Romeo and Juliet, Canadian Stage
Othello
Artwork by Matt Nish-Lapidus
Jennifer Dzialoszynski
EMILIA
For Shakespeare BASH'd: Richard III, Hamlet
Most recently: Richard III
Dylan Evans
LODOVICO
For Shakespeare BASH'd: Volpone
Most recently: Entrances and Exits, The Howland Company (Best of Fringe)
James Graham
IAGO
For Shakespeare BASH’d: King John
Most recently:Punk Rock, The Howland Company
Melanie Leon
MONTANA
For Shakespeare BASH’d: Measure for Measure
Most recently: Much Ado About Nothing, Dauntless City Theatre
David Mackett
BRABANTIO/GRATIANO
For Shakespeare BASH’d: The Taming of the Shrew, Love’s Labour’s Lost, Romeo and Juliet, Macbeth, The Merry Wives of Windsor, The Comedy of Errors, Edward ll, Gorboduc
Most recently: Titus in Titus Andronicus, Hart House Theatre
Drew O’Hara
RODERIGO - Othello DIRECTOR - As You Like It
For Shakespeare BASH’d: Measure for Measure, Richard III, Twelfth Night, Hamlet, The Merry Wives of Windsor
Most recently: Othello, Julius Caesar, All's Well that Ends Well, Much Ado about Nothing (Shakespeare by the Sea)
Catherine Rainville
DESDEMONA
For Shakespeare BASH’d: As a director: Measure for Measure, Hamlet, The Merry Wives of Windsor (co-director), and The Taming of the Shrew (associate director). As an actor: Richard III, King John, The Taming of the Shrew, Love’s Labour’s Lost
Most recently: Director of Measure for Measure
James Wallis
DIRECTOR - Othello
For Shakespeare BASH’d: Co-Founder and Co-Artistic Director
Most recently: Assistant Director for Julius Caesar at the Stratford Festival
E.B. Smith
OTHELLO
For Shakespeare BASH’d: The Changeling
Most recently: The Tempest, Coriolanus and Napoli Milionaria!, Stratford Festival
Asha Vijayasingham
BIANCA
For Shakespeare BASH’d: Debut
Most recently: A Girl Lives Alone, Theatre Mischief
As You Like It
Artwork by Matt Nish-Lapidus
Daniel Briere
DUKE SENIOR / DUKE FREDERICK
For Shakespeare BASH’d: Twelfth Night, Hamlet
Most recently: Participant in the 2018 Banff/Citadel Conservatory
Olivia Croft
ASSISTANT DIRECTOR - Othello JAQUES - As You Like It
For Shakespeare BASH’d: Measure for Measure
Most recently: Measure for Measure
Jade Douris
CELIA
For Shakespeare BASH’d: Twelfth Night, Richard III, Hamlet, The Merry Wives of Windsor, Love's Labour's Lost
Most recently: All's Well That Ends Well, Peter Pan, Othello, Shakespeare by the Sea
Aubree Erickson
OLIVER
For Shakespeare BASH’d: Debut
Most recently: The Little Mermaid, Metamorphoses with Globe Theatre.
Justin Mullen
ORLANDO
For Shakespeare BASH’d: Debut
Most recently: Twelfth Night, George Brown College
Julia Nish-Lapidus
DIRECTOR - Duchess of Malfi TOUCHSTONE - As You Like It
For Shakespeare BASH’d: Co-Founder and Co-Artistic Director
Most recently: Director of Richard III for BASH’d
Cara Pantalone
CORIN / ADAM / OLIVER MARTEXT
For Shakespeare BASH’d: Measure for Measure, Volpone
Most recently: The film adaptation of Mouthpiece, premiering at TIFF
Hallie Seline
ROSALIND
For Shakespeare BASH’d: Twelfth Night, Macbeth, Love’s Labour’s Lost, Romeo and Juliet
Most recently: The Wolves (upcoming), The Howland Company/Crows Theatre
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