Shakespeare Family Fest

A Mini-Summer Night’s Dream Bios

Danny Cackley is an actor, teaching artist, and fight choreographer in the Washington, D.C. region. STC: The Taming of the Shrew, The Metromaniacs. REGIONAL: Folger Theatre: The Second Shepherds’ Play, Othello | Constellation Theatre: The 39 Steps | Flying V Theatre: Under the Wing-Initiative (virtual reading), Flying V Fights: The Secret History of the Unknown World, Flying V Fights: Love is a Battlefield | We Happy Few: Macbeth | Taffety Punk Theatre Company: Antigonick/…Sappho | Avant Bard: A Midsummer Night’s Dream | Faction of Fools: Tales of Marriage & Mozzarella, A Commedia Romeo & Juliet, Foolish Fairytales, The Cherry Orchard. Danny is a member of the Society of American Fight Directors, a company member with Flying V Theatre, and the Associate Director of Faction of Fools. Danny is an alum of the National Players (Tour 65). 

Alicia Grace is a D.C. actor and University of Maryland alumna. Alicia has performed in university productions such as The Call, The Importance of Being Earnest, Love and Information, and Eurydice. REGIONAL: She A Gem (Kennedy Center), The Watsons Go To Birmingham: 1963 (Kennedy Center).

Zack Powell is a D.C. and regional theatre actor. STC: Dunsinane, Peerless (ReDiscovery Reading). REGIONAL: Edward II in E2 at Rep Stage,  Robin Hood in Sherwood: The Adventures of Robin Hood at the Cleveland Play House, Georgia McBride in The Legend of Georgia McBride at Round House Theatre, and Shear Madness at the Kennedy Center. Shakespeare credits include A Midsummer Night’s Dream at Folger Theatre, three seasons at the Utah Shakespeare Festival, two seasons at the Illinois Shakespeare Festival, and one at the American Shakespeare Center. Zack is excited to continue helping DMV area students experience and learn about Shakespeare.

Victoria Reinsel is a classically trained actor, director, and teaching artist, and a proud member of Actors’ Equity Association. Victoria holds both an MFA and M.Litt in Shakespeare in Performance from Mary Baldwin University. Victoria has worked as an actor and/or teaching artist at Shakespeare Theatre Company, Ford’s Theatre, Folger Theatre, American Shakespeare Center, Orlando Shakespeare Theatre, Constellation Theatre, Chesapeake Shakespeare Company, and others. She has guest lectured at Georgetown University and Eastern Mennonite University. In 2011, she co-founded Brave Spirits Theatre. www.victoriareinsel.com.

Christopher Michael Richardson is an actor and teaching artist in the Washington, D.C., area. REGIONAL: Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus! (The Musical) at The John F. Kennedy Center TYA | Gun & Powder at Signature Theatre | Matilda at Olney Theatre Center | You’re A Good Man Charlie Brown at Imagination Stage (Helen Hayes Award, TYA Production) | The Wiz at Ford’s Theatre (Helen Hayes Nomination, Supporting Actor) | The Book of Will at Round House Theatre | Macbeth at Shakespeare Theatre Company | Peter and the Starcatcher at Constellation Theatre Company (Helen Hayes Award, Ensemble). He holds a BA in English and Theatre from The College of William & Mary.

Eva Wilhelm holds an MFA in Classical Acting from The Academy for Classical Acting at The George Washington University. Locally, she has appeared in productions at Folger Theatre, Studio Theatre, Maryland Shakespeare Festival, Baltimore Shakespeare Festival, Spooky Action, Faction of Fools, and Taffety Punk Theatre Company. In Chicago, she worked with Court Theatre, Northlight Theatre, Shattered Globe, and Stage Left, among many others. She is currently an adjunct lecturer at Howard University and an adjunct professor at Trinity Washington University, as well as a book narrator/voice actor for Audible.com, Library of Congress, Tantor.com, and Graphic Audio.

The Tiny Tempest Bios

Alicia Grace is a D.C. actor and University of Maryland alumna. Alicia has performed in university productions such as The Call, The Importance of Being Earnest, Love and Information, and Eurydice. REGIONAL: She A Gem (Kennedy Center), The Watsons Go To Birmingham: 1963 (Kennedy Center).

Zack Powell is a D.C. and regional theatre actor. STC: Dunsinane, Peerless (ReDiscovery Reading). REGIONAL: Edward II in E2 at Rep Stage,  Robin Hood in Sherwood: The Adventures of Robin Hood at the Cleveland Play House, Georgia McBride in The Legend of Georgia McBride at Round House Theatre, and Shear Madness at the Kennedy Center. Shakespeare credits include A Midsummer Night’s Dream at Folger Theatre, three seasons at the Utah Shakespeare Festival, two seasons at the Illinois Shakespeare Festival, and one at the American Shakespeare Center. Zack is excited to continue helping DMV area students experience and learn about Shakespeare.

Briana Gibson Reeves is an award-winning actress, singer, and mover with a theatre and film resume that spans over ten years of professional performing credits gathered all over the country. She is no stranger to the classroom as a former high school mathematics teacher who was named one of the top 10 teachers in her entire school district. As a teaching artist, Briana has taught diverse student populations of varying ages across the DMV. She holds a BS in Economics from Hampton University and an MFA in Classical Acting from The Academy of Classical Acting at George Washington University in conjunction with the Shakespeare Theatre Company.  In addition to currently being on STC’s teaching roster, she is also an affiliated teaching artist with Everyman Theatre in Baltimore.  Briana is a proud member of Actor’s Equity Association, the union for professional stage actors. 

Victoria Reinsel is a classically trained actor, director, and teaching artist, and a proud member of Actors’ Equity Association. Victoria holds both an MFA and M.Litt in Shakespeare in Performance from Mary Baldwin University. Victoria has worked as an actor and/or teaching artist at Shakespeare Theatre Company, Ford’s Theatre, Folger Theatre, American Shakespeare Center, Orlando Shakespeare Theatre, Constellation Theatre, Chesapeake Shakespeare Company, and others. She has guest lectured at Georgetown University and Eastern Mennonite University. In 2011, she co-founded Brave Spirits Theatre. www.victoriareinsel.com.

Melissa Richardson is a director, stage manager, and storyteller. She has taught drama from preschool to adult level classes with the Shakespeare Theatre Company, Arena Stage, Adventure Theatre MTC, Lenore Blank Kelner and Company, Educational Theatre Company, Pied Piper Theatre, and the Alden Theatre. She is a Master Artist and Trainer with Wolf Trap Institute for Early Learning through the Arts. Through this program, she developed a one-woman show “Pernilla’s Amazing Inventions” for performances in preschool classroom through the Small Bites! Program and recently debuted her professional development workshop “Finding Drama Everywhere” that explores strategies for linking drama with non-fiction informational text. She also coaches the teen improv troupe, Unruly Theatre Project, which tours to local theatres, cafes, and other community venues. She holds a BFA in Directing from Carnegie Mellon University.

Christopher Michael Richardson is an actor and teaching artist in the Washington, D.C., area. REGIONAL: Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus! (The Musical) at The John F. Kennedy Center TYA | Gun & Powder at Signature Theatre | Matilda at Olney Theatre Center | You’re A Good Man Charlie Brown at Imagination Stage (Helen Hayes Award, TYA Production) | The Wiz at Ford’s Theatre (Helen Hayes Nomination, Supporting Actor) | The Book of Will at Round House Theatre | Macbeth at The Shakespeare Theatre | Peter and the Starcatcher at Constellation Theatre Company (Helen Hayes Award, Ensemble). He holds a BA in English and Theatre from The College of William & Mary.

Workshop/Staff Bios

Temidayo Amay (they) is a writer, actor, producer, activist, and yoga instructor. They have been practicing yoga for over ten years, receiving their formal training with Yoga District DC. They are the founder of ‘TUNEIN with Temidayo’, a channel dedicated to bringing multilevel and multi-access yoga to the QTBIPOC and artist community. When they are not practicing yoga, they can be seen performing with The MCC Theater, The Kennedy Center, and of course Shakespeare Theatre Company! Whether on the yoga mat or off, it is their hope to bring bliss and healing closer to all. Instagram: @TuneInwithTemidayo

Ashley Buster is an Arts educator and actor native to the Washington, D.C., metro region. She is a member of the Actor’s Equity Association and has been seen on several local, national, and international stages. Ashley has also worked as a teaching artist and classroom teacher throughout the D.C. metro area. She is currently the School Programs Manager at Shakespeare Theatre Company and a Ford’s Theatre Associate Artist.

Julane Havens is the New Generations Manager at Shakespeare Theatre Company where she manages Camp Shakespeare, Classes for Youth and Teens, Apprenticeships, and Fellowships. Prior to STC, she was the Associate Artistic Director for Commonwealth Theatre Center, where she directed over 20 productions including The Tempest, Pericles, and Romeo & Juliet. Stage credits include Viola in Twelfth Night with Savage Rose Classical Theatre, Juliet in Romeo & Juliet with Kentucky Shakespeare, and Sonya in CTC’s professional company production of Uncle Vanya. She is a member of Actors’ Equity Association with an MFA from the University of Missouri–Kansas City/Kansas City Repertory Theatre.

Samantha Wyer Bello was appointed Director of Education of Shakespeare Theatre Company in December 2010, where she provides vision and direction for STC’s School, Community Engagement, Training, and Audience Enrichment Programs whose core purpose is to offer dynamic avenues of exploration that challenge individuals to seize the ideas contained in classic texts and to find the union between classic theatre and modern relevancy. Previously, Ms. Wyer served as Director of Education/Associate Artistic Director at Arizona Theatre Company for thirteen seasons, where she led the creation of the education mission, department staffing design, and development of 80% of new programming during her term. In partnership with government, educational, and social agencies, she created over 450 education and community enrichment activities throughout Arizona while serving as a passionate ambassador and community liaison for arts education. Under her leadership, ATC received the Outstanding Arts Education Organization award from Tucson Pima Arts and Business Council. Ms. Wyer has been a grants panelist and guest speaker for arts organizations including Theatre Communications Group, Arizona Commission on the Arts, Tucson Pima Arts Council, Maricopa Partnership for Arts and Culture, and West Valley Arts Council, and has taught and directed for University of Missouri, Arizona State University, and University of Arizona. In 2007, Ms. Wyer was awarded the Buffalo Exchange Arts Award by the Community Foundation of Southern Arizona. She is also a proud member of the Society of Directors and Choreographers union and selected directing credits include The Two Gentlemen of Verona, A Streetcar Named Desire, A Moon for the Misbegotten, To Kill a Mockingbird, Three Sisters, I Am My Own Wife, Noises Off!, Permanent Collection, and Wit.

Chris Young has been with the Shakespeare Theatre’s Prop Shop since 1990, first as a Props Artisan and, then in 2016, as the Props Director. In his time at STC, Chris has built props for over 190 plays including 36 of the 37 plays in Shakespeare’s canon. He has built beds for four different Othellos, electrified three vintage Vespas for the princesses in Love’s Labor’s Lost, found asps for two Cleopatras, and turned a 48” diameter wooden circus ball for Helena in As You Like It. Chris functions as STC’s Armorer, working with the artistic staff, choreographers, and weapons makers to ensure the safety and reliability of the prop weapons. Chris also leads the blood effect team, working with designers, choreographers, costume staff, and running crew to produce safe, washable, and repeatable blood effects. Chris’ work has also been seen at other theatres in Washington, D.C., including Arena Stage, Ford’s Theatre, Signature Theatre, and Studio Theatre. Chris has a BFA from Virginia Commonwealth University and an MFA from Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music, University of Cincinnati.