TORSTEN JOHNSON (they/he) “Richard II”

BRSP Projects: Over a dozen in New York and Chicago

Shakespearean character I’m most like: I want to say Duke Senior but probably Jaques

The three roles/projects that epitomize me: The Douglas in Back Room; When Crit Happens, my D&D podcast, and WrenchWorks Collective

Favorite Shakespeare quote: “There’s a special providence in the fall of a sparrow.”

Connect: Website | Instagram

DELIA BASEMAN (she/her) “Queen”

BRSP Projects: (LA) Comedy of Errors, King Lear, Measure for Measure, Much Ado About Nothing, Two Gentleman of Verona, MacBeth, As You Like It, Twelfth Night, A Midsummer Night’s Dream; (Chicago) Taming of the Shrew, Two Gentleman of Verona, MacBeth, Twelfth Night, Romeo & Juliet, Julius Ceaser, As You Like It, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Coriolanus, King John, Othello, Merchant of Venice; (Virtual) A Midsummer Night’s Dream

The three roles/projects that epitomize me: The Three Faces of Dr. Crippen (Steppenwolf Garage/Best in Fringe NYC); The Diary of Anne Frank (Writers Theater); ctrl alt delete (Emmy nominated series)

Favorite Shakespeare quote: Today it is: “Hold thy piece, I pray thee hold thy piece.”

Connect: Website | Instagram

ROBERT PATERNO  (he/him) “Lord Marshall of Exton”

BSRPLA projects: King Lear, Julius Caesar, As You Like It – Silvius A Midsummer Night’s Dream – Egeus/Fairy, Much Ado About Nothing – Leonato, Measure for Measure – Friar

Three roles/projects that epitomize me: Teaching Artist, Filipinx Actors Barkada member, Son to Bella and Roberto Paterno

Favorite Shakespearean quote: “All’s one. Good faith, how foolish are our minds!” – Desdemona, IV iii, Othello

Connect: Website |  Instagram

PATRICK ARTER (he/him) “Henry Bolingbroke”

BRSP Projects: (LA) Comedy of Errors, Two Gentlemen of Verona (twice!), Much Ado About Nothing (twice!), Twelfth Night, Macbeth, As You Like It, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Measure for Measure

Shakespearean character I’m most like: Malvolio: a guy who tries way too hard to look smart, who tries way too hard to impress women, and who tries way too hard to find just the right outfit.

Favorite BRSPLA Moment: Seeing everybody’s hilarious Halloween costumes for the banquet scene in Macbeth: detectives sitting next to newsies sitting next to a wizard from Hogwarts. Just as the bard intended!

Connect: Website | Twitter | Instagram

KEEGAN M. STULL (he/him) “Northumberland”

BRSP Projects: Debut!

Shakespearean character I’m most like: Falstaff…or more honestly good ole Snug the Joiner

The three roles/projects that epitomize me: Horton the Elephant, The Conductor, Ghost of Christmas Present

Connect:  Instagram

HADIYYAH NOELLE SMITH (she/her) “Bagot”

BRSP Projects: (LA) Comedy of Errors, King Lear, Julius Caesar, Measure for Measure, Much Ado About Nothing, A Midsummer Night’s Dream

The three roles/projects that epitomize me: “Mwongozo” in Disneyland’s Tale of the Lion King, “Ursula” in The Little Mermaid, “Shug Avery” in The Color Purple

Favorite Shakespeare quote: “My words fly up my thoughts remain below words without thoughts to heaven never go.”

Shakespearean character I’m most like: Fluellen in Henry V

Connect: Instagram | Tik Tok | Twitter

CASEY MORRIS (he/him) “Lord Fitzwater”

BRSP Projects: (LA) Comedy of ErrorsKing Lear, Romeo & Juliet, Measure for Measure (Chicago) King Lear

The three roles/projects that epitomize me:  Ray – The Beauty Queen of Leenane, Horatio – Hamlet, Officer Mike – Welcome to Jesus

Favorite Shakespeare quote: “For the eye sees not itself, but by reflection, by some other things.”

Shakespearean character I’m most like: Edgar

Connect: Instagram | Website

JOBETH WAGNER (she/her) “Bushy/Earl of Salsbury”

BRSPL A Projects:  King Lear, Julius Caesar

Shakespearean character I’m most like: Hopefully, none of them. They all make terrible choices.

The three roles/projects that epitomize me: 1. Mercenary Mandalorian in The Mandalorian 2. Demogorgon in the Stranger Things Drive Through Event 3.The Bride of Frankenstein (various appearances)

Favorite Shakespeare quote: “By the pricking of my thumbs, something wicked this way comes”

ELIZABETH LANIER (she/her) “Henry Percy (Harry)”

BRSP projects: (LA) Comedy of Errors

Favorite Shakespearean quote: “O, God that I were a man! I would eat his heart in the market-place.”

The Shakespearean character I’m most like is: Dromio of Syracuse (Comedy of Errors) and Beatrice (Much Ado About Nothing)

Connect: Instagram | Website

MICHAEL MCDONALD (he/him) “Duke of Aumerle”

BRSPLA Projects: King Lear, Julius Caesar

The three roles/projects that epitomize me:  Ken in RED, Sir Galahad in SPAMALOT, Mercutio- R&J

Favorite Shakespeare quote: ““t is required you do awake your faith”-WT

Shakespearean character I’m most like: Casca-. I’m a blunt fellow, but the rudeness is a sauce to my good wit

Connect: Website

KEVIN MATSUMOTO (he/him) “Thomas Mobrey/Servant/Keeper”

BRSP Projects: (LA) A Midsummer Night’s Dream

The three roles/projects that epitomize me: Skimbleshanks in Cats, Puck (Midsummer), Soldier #2 (Sunday in the Park with George)

Shakespearean character I’m most like: Feste in Twelfth Night

Favorite Shakespeare quote: What, you egg!”

Connect: Instagram

NAIYA VANESSA McCALLA (she/her) “Scroop”

BRSPLA projects: Debut!

The three roles/projects that epitomize me: Juliet in Romeo and Juliet, If and When You Said Goodbye, Pinocchio in Shrek The Musical

The Shakespeare character I’m most like: Miranda from the Tempest if only because I, too, often “prattle something too wildly.”

Favorite Shakespearean quote: “I am too childish-foolish for this world.”

Connect: Instagram

SHANNON MATESKY (she/her) “Green/Lady”

BRSP Projects: (NYC) Twelfth Night, Macbeth, Antony & Cleopatra

The three roles/projects that epitomize me:  HBO’s Def Poetry Jam, The Fly Honey Show, Antony & Cleopatra

Favorite Shakespeare quote: tomorrow, and tomorrow, and tomorrow, creeps in this petty pace from day to day

Shakespearean character I’m most like: Titania

Connect: Instagram

MEG LENNON (she/her) “Duke of York“

BRSP Projects: (NYC) Henry IV; Julius Caesar; Much Ado About Nothing; The Winter’s Tale

The three roles/projects that epitomize me:  Hay Fever; The Princess in Loves Labour’s Lost; Romeo & Juliet

Favorite Shakespeare quote: I like this place and could willingly waste my time in it – Celia, As You Like It

Shakespearean character I’m most like: Rosalind from As You Like It. She is a faithful friend, a leader, and a bit of a schemer. She stays true to her family and friends, no matter how dangerous the consequences are.

Connect: Instagram

ALEXIS GORDON (she/her) “John of Gaunt/Gardener”

BRSP Projects: Debut!

The three roles/projects that epitomize me:  Playing “Ma” in Emma Donoghue’s play version of her bestselling novel and award winning movie, “Room.” Sarah Brown in “Guys & Dolls” at The Stratford Festival. And co-owning my business in conflict resolution facilitation, mediation and mentorship, specifically for arts workers.

Favorite Shakespeare quote: Give me my Romeo. And when he shall die, Take him and cut him out in little stars, And he will make the face of heaven so fine That all the world will be in love with night And pay no worship to the garish sun.

Shakespearean character I’m most like: Rosalind from As You Like It

Connect: Instagram