As You Wish It or The Bride Princess or What You Will at Kraine Theater

Michael Whitten

Michael Whitten (Westley) is an actor and teaching artist originally from Woodbury, GA. He graduated from Columbus State University with a BFA in Theatre. Michael has worked throughout the country with Lexington Children's Theatre, Hampstead Stage Company, and the Springer Theatre Academy. New York credits include Harlem Repertory Theatre's Sweet Charity (Oscar Lindquist) A Raisin in the Sun (Karl Lindner) and Jamaica (Joe Nashua), Morris-Jumel Mansion's The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes (Watson). Michael would like to thank his partner, Justine, for her unwavering love and support.

Melissa Meli

Melissa Meli (Buttercup) is thrilled to reprise the role of Buttercup, for which she was nominated for a NEPTA award for Best Actress in a Zoom Production in 2020. Favorite credits include The Whimsical World of Sherlock Holmes (Billy), Romeo & Juliet (Juliet), The Comedy of Errors (Dromio of Syracuse), Julius Caesar (Cassius), and Pageant Princess (Maxine). This year, Melissa is running every single race in Disney World to mark five years as a cancer survivor. IG: @melissajmeli_

James Smart

James Smart - he/they - (Inigo Montoya) is an actor, musician, and teaching artist from the Main Line, currently living in Brooklyn. Credits include Airness, As You Like It (Chautauqua Theater Company), Romeo and Juliet (Classical Theater of Harlem), A Midsummer Night’s Dream (First Folio Theatre).

Matthew Tiemstra

Matthew Tiemstra (Prince Humperdinck) is thrilled to be playing the villain of his favorite film! Selected Theatrical Credits: Hamlet (Hamlet), Julius Caesar (Cassius), 1776 (Thomas Jefferson), The Clockwork Boy (playwright/producer). Thank you to the cast, crew, Michael, my Julie, and William Goldman, for bringing the joy of romantic adventure to a whole generation!--

Duane Ferguson

Duane Ferguson (Count Tyrone Rugen) was born in Harllem. He is a New York Emmy winning producer, editor, shooter and director. He developed his love for the arts while growing up in Trinidad and Tobago. He has served as on camera talent for such shows as In the Mix on PBS and Study With the Best on CUNY TV. Duane has also shot award winning short films and is currently an associate producer on Black America airing currently on CUNY TV, a TV studio instructor for Bronxnet and a director for BRIC Arts Media in Brooklyn. Duane has also appeared as an actor on numerous New York City stages and has also toured around the country and the World. "Dedicated to those who have adorned me."

Sean Gordon

Sean Gordon (Vizzini, Miracle Max, Soldier) is an actor and engineer based in NYC. Recent film credits include: Mitchell Camarda’s “50 Cents for Freedom” (Ali), Ilan Isaac’s “AA Meeting Cute” (Albert), and Daniel Black’s, “The Hag” (Trent). Other notable credits include: All My Sons, Oh the Humanity…, The Pillowman, and God of Carnage. Sean holds a BS in Industrial Engineering from Texas A&M University, with a double minor in Theatre & Mathematics. He’s a proud member of SAG-AFTRA and Rising Sun’s ensemble company.

Laura Walter

Laura Walter - she/they - (Yellin) was last seen in Michael Hagins' production of THE ROOM of Falsehood as Lisa, and the Bradley Beach Arts Council’s production of Ellis Island: The Dream of America as the Polish immigrant Helen Cohen. Previous credits include A Very Merry Immigrant Christmas at the Lucille Lortel Theatre, Vagina Rights at the Theatre at St. Clement’s and Last Bite, an immersive play performed inside a townhouse in Brooklyn. Laura holds a BFA from the New York Film Academy. Instagram: @LauraWalter

Mary Sheridan

Mary Sheridan (Old Woman, Valerie, Soldier) is so thrilled to be working with Michael & Adam again! Her favorite NYC theatres to work at include: Urban Stages, Theater for the New City, NYTW & Theatre Row. Her favorite roles include: Maxine in "Tongue of a Bird", Alma in "Summer and Smoke", Savage in "Savage in Limbo" & Gertrude in "Hamlet". Mary has a cabaret show & is a graduate of Yale University. www.marysheridan.net

Marquise Neal

Marquise Neal (Albino, Impressive Clergyman, Soldier) is excited to be working again with playwright Michael Hagins. In professional theater, he performed on the stage of the Al Hirschfeld Theater as the Original Young Lola in the Tony and Grammy Award-winning Best Musical Original Cast in Kinky Boots. Following this Marquise has been seen in shows like, “High School Musical The Musical”, “A Shot Rang Out”, and recently “A Chorus Line”. Marquise thanks his mother and the cast and crew of As You Wish It.

Michael Hagins

Michael Hagins (Fezzik, Playwright, Director, Fight Director): Off-Broadway: The Long Rail North (Soho Rep, FringeNYC). New York Productions: Basement (Roly Poly Productions); Michael is Black (Planet Connections Theatre Festivity); The Renaissance Dueling Plays (Planet Connections Theatre Festivity); The Vengeance Room (FRIGID Festival). Regional/Other: Hit and Match (Chicago Fringe, Johannesburg Fringe). Outstanding Playwriting - Hit and Match, 2013; Outstanding Overall Production of a Solo Show - Michael is Black; Winner of Best Playwriting, Best Director and Best Overall Production of NEPTA Awards for As You Wish It or The Bride Princess or What You Will, 2020; Winner - Best Play and Best Streaming Play, Off-Broadway Regional Awards - Hawai'i for A Shot Rang Out. Nominated - Best New Play - Off-Off-Broadway, Best Production of a Play, Best Performance in a Play - Duane Ferguson, Best Performance in a Play - Mary Sheridan, Best Direction of a Play - Stephanie Cox-Connolly, Best Lighting Design - Adam Sherwin, Best Costume Design - Ellie Raab, Best Choreography - Michael Hagins for S.U.N. in the U.S.A. - Off-Broadway Awards; Nominated - Best New Play - Off-Off-Broadway, Best Production of a Play, Best Performance in a Play - Marquise Neal, Best Performance in a Play - Samantha Simone, Best Direction of a Play - Rachael Langton, Best Lighting Design - Ilana Moskowitz, Best Choreography - Michael Hagins for A Shot Rang Out - Off-Broadway Awards; Artistic Director, C.A.G.E. Theatre Company. Member of Dramatists Guild, Society of American Fight Directors, and Rising Sun Performance Company

Adam Sherwin

Adam Sherwin is excited to be part of As You Wish It! He recently did technical work for Michael Hagins' THE ROOM of Falsehood! He is a former house manager for Actors’ Playhouse in Coral Gables. Awards: Best Projections for Blockbuster Guy, Best Sound Design for Renaissance Dueling Plays. Other New York credits: As You Wish It, Round Went the Wheel, and S.U.N in the USA. Regional credits: The Music Man, The Wizard of Oz, Hairspray, and Peter Pan.

Michael Hagins

Michael Hagins (Fezzik, Playwright, Director, Fight Director): Off-Broadway: The Long Rail North (Soho Rep, FringeNYC). New York Productions: Basement (Roly Poly Productions); Michael is Black (Planet Connections Theatre Festivity); The Renaissance Dueling Plays (Planet Connections Theatre Festivity); The Vengeance Room (FRIGID Festival). Regional/Other: Hit and Match (Chicago Fringe, Johannesburg Fringe). Outstanding Playwriting - Hit and Match, 2013; Outstanding Overall Production of a Solo Show - Michael is Black; Winner of Best Playwriting, Best Director and Best Overall Production of NEPTA Awards for As You Wish It or The Bride Princess or What You Will, 2020; Winner - Best Play and Best Streaming Play, Off-Broadway Regional Awards - Hawai'i for A Shot Rang Out. Nominated - Best New Play - Off-Off-Broadway, Best Production of a Play, Best Performance in a Play - Duane Ferguson, Best Performance in a Play - Mary Sheridan, Best Direction of a Play - Stephanie Cox-Connolly, Best Lighting Design - Adam Sherwin, Best Costume Design - Ellie Raab, Best Choreography - Michael Hagins for S.U.N. in the U.S.A. - Off-Broadway Awards; Nominated - Best New Play - Off-Off-Broadway, Best Production of a Play, Best Performance in a Play - Marquise Neal, Best Performance in a Play - Samantha Simone, Best Direction of a Play - Rachael Langton, Best Lighting Design - Ilana Moskowitz, Best Choreography - Michael Hagins for A Shot Rang Out - Off-Broadway Awards; Artistic Director, C.A.G.E. Theatre Company. Member of Dramatists Guild, Society of American Fight Directors, and Rising Sun Performance Company

Ellie Raab

Ellie Raab (Costume Designer) is a teaching artist who has been in the industry for over thirty years as an actor, dancer, director, choreographer, teacher and, more recently, as a costume designer. She thanks Michael and the cast for the opportunity to collaborate on this project.