How Far Will You Go….
May 15 – June 1, 2014
Directed by AnnMarie T. Saunders
She Stoops to Conquer is a play that parodies extremes. At one end, a love of material elegance, sophistication, and excess; at the other, the appreciation of the simple albeit plain or even base country life. In the end, a balance between the two must be found for the characters to achieve happiness. The idea of battling extremes is particularly resonant in Washington D.C.’s political and social culture today. In recent years, radicalism in political parties has brought government to a screeching halt. Gentrification continues to push the middle class and poor further out of the city limits and rearrange the social and cultural geographies of the capital.
Director AnnMarie T. Saunders, renowned Washington D.C. theatre scholar, sets this production in the city of Washington in the early 1820s, a time of equally polarizing cultural influences. A British Restoration comedy, She Stoops to Conquer was extremely popular with American audiences in the early 19th Century likely because of its resonance with local contemporary culture. The divide between intellectual elitism and the “common man” was epitomized in the Andrew Jackson’s election to the Presidency in 1828. Drawing historical parallels between our productions and our contemporary place and time, Pallas’s production of She Stoops to Conquer promises to be both hilarious and thought-provoking!
Join us at the Anacostia Arts Center for 17 performances!
Tickets – $20
GET 25% OFF WHEN YOU SHOW YOUR 2013 CAPITAL FRINGE BUTTON!
May 14, 2014 – 7:30pm (Pay What You Can)
May 15, 2014 – 7:30pm
May 16, 2014 – 7:30pm
May 17, 2014 – 2pm (No evening performance)
May 18, 2014 – 2pm & 7:30pm
May 22, 2014 – 7:30pm
May 23, 2014 – 7:30pm
May 24, 2014 – 2pm & 7:30pm
May 25, 2014 – 2pm & 7:30pm
May 29, 2014 – 7:30pm
May 30, 2014 – 7:30pm
May 31, 2014 – 2pm & 7:30pm
June 1, 2014 – 2pm (No evening performance)
View Our Production PhotosAll photos courtesy of Teresa Castracane Photography. |
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| AnnMarie T. Saunders (Director) is delighted to work on this production with Pallas, her first with the collective. She has worked as a professional actor and director for more than ten years in theatres across the southeastern United States, and moved to the DC area a few years ago to complete her Ph.D. at University of Maryland. Favorite productions include The Life and Adventures of Nicholas Nickleby (Asolo Theatre), Six Degrees of Separation (Florida Studio Theatre), The Glass Menagerie and Grapes of Wrath (Roxy Regional Theatre), and Woody Guthrie’s American Song (Texas State University). A published scholar, AnnMarie has presented her research on Washington DC’s early theatre history at multiple academic conferences and her writing appears in Theatre Journal, Texas Theatre Journal, and in a forthcoming volume of essays, Conspicuous Work: Theatre, Performance & History in Process. She is also pleased to have worked with theatreWashington on several projects including the Helen Hayes Awards tributes to Actors’ Equity (2013) and Victor Shargai (2014). She would like to thank husband and Lighting Designer, A.W. Saunders, and their three little boys for their enduring patience, love, and support…especially during tech week. |
 Zach Brewster-Geisz (General Charles) is excited to return to She Stoops to Conquer after many years; one of his first professional roles, at a small theatre in Maine in the mid-1990s, was Jeremy, the drunken servant. More recent favorite roles include Hastings in Richard III (NextStop Theatre Company), Mr. Collins in Pride and Prejudice and Orgon in Tartuffe (Annapolis Shakespeare Company), Bottom in A Midsummer Night’s Dream (Baltimore Shakespeare Factory), and Ted Sunderson in Perfect Arrangement (Source Festival). Television appearances include Who the Bleep Did I Marry, Evil Twins, and The War of 1812 on the Chesapeake. In July he will appear in Dani Girl with Unexpected Stage Company. Zach is a proud graduate of the National Conservatory of Dramatic Arts, and is pleased and honored to make his Pallas debut. |
 Jeremy Hunter (Ensemble) is proud to be apart of She Stoops to Conquer. This is Jeremy’s first production with Pallas Theatre as well as first show in the DC area. Jeremy is currently a Dean’s List student at the College of Southern Maryland. You may recognize Jeremy from his work in Fences (Troy Maxson), A Raisin in the Sun (Walter Lee), Urinetown (Officer Lockstock) or Clumsy Custard Horror Show (Lord Dacron). Jeremy would like to stop talking in third person now so thanks to everyone who helped me with this production 😀 Enjoy |
 Andrew Keller (George Hastings) likes it here. Recent credits: The Beast in Glassheart (Rorschach), Bob Martindale in Perfect Arrangement (Source), Gonzalo in The Tempest (We Happy Few), Benedick in Much Ado About Nothing (Open Air Shakespeare), and a bunch of other cool stuff in and around St. Louis. Welcome! |
 Lily Kerrigan (Ensemble) is thrilled to be part of She Stoops to Conquer! She has previously appeared in various roles in the DC area, including: Brianna Merriweather in The DC State Players Present Agamemnon (Barrelhouse Theatre); Getas/Gorgias in Dyskolos (Ambassador Theatre); and Lady Anne in Richard III (Baltimore Shakespeare Factory). Lily is a graduate of The National Conservatory of Dramatic Arts. |
 Frank Mancino (Mr. Hardcastle) is both playwright and actor, and has performed in a number of Shakespeare and Classic plays in the DC/Baltimore area. His favorite roles have been as Sir Toby Belch in Twelfth Night, and Sparkish in The Country Wife. As part of DC Fringe, he originates and runs his own shows at (http://www.shoestringtheatre.org). To learn more, go to: ttp://mancino.org. |
 Kathleen Mason (Ensemble / Miss Hardcastle Understudy) is excited and honored to be working with Pallas Theatre Collective for the third time! She was last seen with Pallas in January as Stephano in their production of “The Tempest.” Kathleen is a DC native, and a graduate of George Mason University. She was last seen onstage in Kaleidoscope Theatre’s production of “Kids in Space!” Upcoming projects include: “The Bea and the Bug Extravaganza!” as part of Alexandria’s First Night celebration, and “Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson” with The Highwood Theatre. |
 David Mavricos (Charles Marlow) is thrilled to be working with Pallas Theatre Collective for the first time! Credits include, DC: Forward, 54th! (Robert Gould Shaw), National Gallery of Art; Measure for Measure (Claudio), Academy for Classical Acting. NYC: Manhattan Repertory Theatre; Wings Theater. REGIONAL: Romeo and Juliet (Romeo), Othello (Cassio), As You Like It (Silvius), The Comedy of Errors (Antipholus of Ephesus), MaineStage Shakespeare; The Pirates of Penzance (Sergeant of the Police), Picasso at the Lapin Agile (The Singer), New London Barn Playhouse. UPCOMING: The Comedy of Errors (Antipholi), Lean & Hungry Theatre; The Tempest (Ferdinand), Annapolis Shakespeare Company. MFA The Shakespeare Theatre Company’s Academy for Classical Acting at GWU; BA Dartmouth College. davidmavricos.com |
 Chelsea Mayo (Constance Neville) became a member of Pallas Theatre Collective after playing the Courtesan in Comedy of Mirrors and Sebastian in The Tempest. She is excited to be back for another show and would like to thank the entire collective (and AnnMarie!) for taking on this one. Other DC area credits: Shakespeare Theatre Company: The Importance of Being Earnest (understudy for Cecily and Gwendolen); Chesapeake Shakespeare Company: The Merchant of Venice (Nerissa); Annapolis Shakespeare Company: Much Ado about Nothing (Margaret) and Tartuffe (Mariane); Idly Bent: Art House (Viva). Chelsea holds a B.A. from Vanderbilt University and also works as a teaching artist with several local companies. You can see her later this summer in the U.S. premiere of Conor McPherson’s The Veil at Quotidian. |
 Joel Ottenheimer (Tony Lumpkin) was born and Raised in Baltimore, MD. He went on to attend the University of Delware, recieving his BA in English. He’d like to thank all that have supported him in his pursuit of a career in the theater (you know you are) and he sincerely hopes you enjoy the show! Past roles include: Oberon/Theseus in “A Midsummer Night’s Dream,” Valentine in “Two Gentleman of Verona,” Solyony in “Three Sisters,” Gerry Lejeune in “Noises Off,” Jon Birt in Frost/Nixon.” |
 Dane C. Petersen (Ensemble) is quite pleased to be making his Pallas debut. He last ensemble role was as two men and two women in How to Have It All: The Musical at 2013 Cap Fringe. He also had a small role in the 2013 short film Sleeping Dogs. He has previously appeared at 1st Stage, Venus Theatre, and Charter Children’s Theater, and is a company member of Kaleidoscope Children’s Theatre. He’s also done several industrials and commercials. Dane is a graduate of the National Conservatory of the Dramatic Arts. Much thanks and love to Jill for everything. Thanks to AnnMarie, the crew and everyone at Pallas for their efforts, to the cast for a memorable time, and to you for your support. Enjoy the show. |
 Melissa B. Robinson (Mrs. Hardcastle) an author, journalist and Washington, D.C.-based actor, has appeared locally on stage with WSC Avant Bard (“The Mistorical Hystery of Henry (I)V”); force/collision (“The Nautical Yards”), an interdisciplinary company founded by Helen Hayes award-winning director John Moletress; and Rainbow Theatre Project, among others. TV credits include “Who The Bleep Did I Marry?” and “Nightmare Next Door” (Investigation Discovery (ID) channel.) Melissa has trained in realistic and classical acting, voice and movement at The Studio Theatre Acting Conservatory. A former AP reporter, she is the author of The Search for Canasta 404 (UPNE, 2006), the true story of missing Vietnam-era Navy pilot and his wife’s search for truth. |
 Laura Rocklyn (Miss Kate Hardcastle) is delighted to return to the stage with Pallas, having performed with them as Adriana in The Comedy of Mirrors! DC area theaters she has worked with include Round House Theatre, Arena Stage, Chesapeake Shakespeare Company, American Century Theatre, Annapolis Shakespeare Company and Baltimore Shakespeare Factory. She has performed with regional companies across the country including Adirondack Shakespeare Company, Kentucky Shakespeare Festival and Shakespeare in the Valley, and has toured with Olney Theatre Center’s National Players. Laura holds a MFA from The Shakespeare Theatre Company’s Academy for Classical Acting. www.LauraRocklyn.com |
 Emily Sucher (Ensemble / Miss Neville Understudy) is very excited to join the Pallas Theatre Collective for She Stoops to Conquer 2014! Emily is a recent graduate of Johns Hopkins University, where she earned her Bachelor of Arts in Writing Seminars and Theatre Arts & Studies, and a Homewood Arts Certificate Award in Theatre. Post-graduation, Emily has performed with Chesapeake Shakespeare Company, Fells Point Corner Theatre, Baltimore Shakespeare Factory, Out-Side the Box Theatre (2013 Capital Fringe), Montgomery Playhouse, and numerous staged reading workshops and performances for new works in development. Her most unique role is still probably that of “Ovum,” from Johns Hopkins Witness Theatre’s 2008 sperm-meets-ovum romcom short, In Motel Utero. |