Monday, March 2, 2026 | 6 pm Doors | 6:30 pm Show | FREE!
Benny Boy Brewing, 1821 Daly St. Los Angeles, CA 90031
Featuring BRSP LA Stakeholders: Katherine Bourne Taylor (Captain), Casey Morris (First Mate), Patrick Arter, Delia Baseman, Danny Bernardo, Kelly Lozo, Hadiyyah Noelle Smith
With: Meg Lennon (Chief Engineer), Sam Hubbard, Christine Lin, Elizabeth Lanier, Kevin Matsumoto, Alexis Van Eyken, Julie Marchiano, Keegan Mgrublian-Stull, Samantha Miyamoto
Prompter: Aurora Culver
Waiting in the Wings: Jobeth Wagner, Maya De La Torre, Riley McIlveen
Violence Coordinator: Hadiyyah Noelle Smith
Espoused BRSPValues:
Clarity – make us understand what you say
Authenticity – speak in your own voice
KATHERINE BOURNE TAYLER (she/her) “Paulina”
BRSP Projects: (LA) COmedy of Errors, King Lear, Julius Caesar, Measure for Measure, Much Ado About Nothing, Macbeth, As You Like It, Twelfth Night, A Midsummer Night’s Dream; (Chicago) Macbeth, King Lear, A Comedy of Errors, Julius Caesar; (Virtual) A Midsummer Night’s Dream
The three roles/projects that epitomize me: Rosalind in As You Like; It Grown Up Orphan Annie; Cool for Five Seconds
Shakespearean character I’m most like: Rosalind, As You Like It
Favorite BRSP Moment: In Chicago, we ended King Lear with Nick Harazin singing Johnny Cash’s cover of “Hurt”. When he started singing, the audience laughed, but as the song kept on, it turned into a moving reflection on Lear’s life, and the whole audience and cast ended up joining in.
Post Script: “So much love to DJ!”
CASEY MORRIS (he/him) “Leontes”
BRSP Projects: (LA) Richard II, Comedy of Errors, King 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
MEG LENNON (she/her) “Hermione“
BRSP Projects: (LA) RIchard II (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
DANNY BERNARDO (he/him) “Polixenes”
BRSP Projects: (LA) Comedy of Errors, King Lear, Julius Caesar, Twelfth Night, Macbeth, As You Like It, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Much Ado About Nothing
Shakespearean character I’m most like: Equal parts Olivia (Twelfth Night), Hal (Henry IV, parts 1 & 2), and Bottom (A Midsummer Night’s Dream); best served shaken, not stirred.
The three roles/projects that epitomize me: “Harry Bright” in Mamma Mia (2019 East West Players, 2021 La Mirada/McCoy Rigby); Jerky (screenings: Cannes Court Metrage, OutFest Fusion, Reeling); “Joe” in the world premiere of Lauren Yee’s Young Americans (Portland Center Stage/Pittsburgh Public Theatre)
Favorite Shakespeare quote: “The quality of mercy is not strained | It droppeth as the gentle rain from heaven | Upon the place beneath. It is twice blest; | It blesseth him that gives and him that takes” (The Merchant of Venice)
DELIA BASEMAN (she/her) “Emilia/Dorcas”
BRSP Projects: (LA) Richard II, 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.”
KELLY LOZO (she/her) “Lord”
BRSP Projects: (LA) King Lear, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Macbeth, As You Like It, Twelfth Night, Much Ado About Nothing
Favorite Shakespeare quote: “And this, our life, exempt from public haunt, finds tongues in trees, books in the running brooks, sermons in stones, and good in everything.”
Favorite BRSP Moment: In the midst of a Basement Shakes production of As You Like It, I had the joy of experiencing a basement full of drunk Rutgers college students being truly moved by Shakespeare’s poetry. It was the end of the “All the world’s a stage” speech and I was playing Jacque. The audience was raucously enjoying the humor of the speech. However, as I neared the end, I was afraid the sad mortality of the speech was getting lost. I paused and they sensed it, grew silent and reflective for: “Last scene of all, that ends this strange eventful history, is second childishness and mere oblivious; sans teeth, sans eyes, sans taste, sans everything.” It fills me with wonder every time I think about it. A basement full of young strangers – the majority of whom not traditional Shakespeare fans – connecting with the magic of these plays’ timeless humanly.
Connect: Instagram
PATRICK ARTER (he/him) “Gaoler/Clown”
BRSP Projects: (LA) Richard II, 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!
KEEGAN MGRUBLIAN-STULL (he/him) “Camillo”
BRSP Projects: (LA) Richard II
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) “Shepherd”
BRSP Projects: (LA) Richard II, 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
CHRISTINE LIN (she/her) “Florizel”
BRSP LA projects: Comedy of Errors, King Lear, Romeo & Juliet, Measure for Measure
Three roles/projects that epitomize me: Dewdrop in SOUL SAMURAI (InFusion Theatre), Ginny Yang in SMART PEOPLE (Nashville Rep), Mei-Lin on SURFSIDE GIRLS (AppleTV+)
Favorite Shakespearean quote: Lady M: “But screw your courage to the sticking place, And we’ll not fail.” OR stage direction: “Exit, pursued by a bear”
The Shakespearean character I’m most like is: Titania
JULIE MARCHIANO (she/her) “Father Time”
BRSPLA projects: Julius Caesar
The Shakespeare character I’m most like: Hermia (I’m 5’ tall).
Favorite Shakespearean quote: “Hell is empty and all the devils are here”
ELIZABETH LANIER (she/her) “Lady/Mopsa”
BRSP projects: (LA) Richard II, 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)
SAM HUBBARD (he/him) “Antigonus”
BRSPLA Projects: Debut!
The three roles/projects that epitomize me: That I’ve done? I guess the triangle of Henry V (Michigan Shakes), Cherry Orchard (Goodman) and The Effect (Strawdog) end up checking most boxes. I’m very proud of my involvement in all three of those productions. I think they certainly speak to my interests as an artist.
Favorite Shakespeare quote: Oh god. umm. off the dome… lets go with “this life Is nobler than attending for a check, Richer than doing nothing for a bribe, Prouder than rustling in unpaid-for silk” from Cymbeline
Shakespearean character I’m most like: Does everyone just say Hamlet? How do I not say Hamlet? Maybe I could say Viola, but no I think I just have to own it and say Hamlet.
Connect: Website
KEVIN MATSUMOTO (he/him) “Autolycus”
BRSP Projects: (LA) Richard II, 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
ALEXIS VAN EYKEN (she/her) “Perdita/Mamillius”
BRSPLA projects: Debut!
The three roles/projects that epitomize me: Rave Girl Rosencrantz in a Kanye West Hamlet, the knowledgeable friend in a commercial promoting HIV awareness among black women, the writer and director of an original coming of age play featuring West African drum and dance, Amari: Each Day Forward
The Shakespeare character I’m most like: The Jailor’s Daughter
Favorite Shakespearean quote: “Thou art my warrior. I holp to frame thee.”
Connect: Instagram
Tonight’s Band:
TBD
(photo by David Sprague from Julius Caesar 10/23/23)
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