The Importance of Being Earnest at Gulfshore Playhouse

Ella Olesen (Cecily Cardew) is sincerely grateful to be making her Gulfshore Playhouse debut, particularly in Wilde’s utterly delicious, sparkling masterpiece. New York/Off-Broadway: Welcome to the Big Dipper (York Theatre), Romeo and Juliet, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, and Julius Caesar (Ensemble Shakespeare Company). Regional: Oleanna, The Importance of Being Earnest (Florida Repertory Theatre), Alone Together (with Barry Williams; New Theatre), Fiddler on the Roof (Philadelphia Orchestra), Young Frankenstein (Barn Theatre). Training: University of Michigan, B.F.A. in Musical Theatre; British American Drama Academy, Certificate in Shakespeare; Bob Krakower Gang. Ella is a member of NYC’s Ensemble Shakespeare Company. She grew up on Vancouver Island, British Columbia, Canada and now resides in New York. Cheers to Kristen Coury, Michael Cassara, Henderson Hogan Agency, Mom & Dad, and Mr. Wilde himself. www.ellaolesen.com

James Evans (Algernon Moncrieff) Previous theatre credits include: House of McQueen (The Mansion at Hudson Yards), The Woman in Black (The McKittrick Hotel, American Conservatory Theater), The Rat Trap (The Mint), The Rewards of Being Frank (NY Classical, Cincinnati Shakespeare Company), Pride and Prejudice (Tantrum Theater), The 39 Steps (The Colonial Theatre), The Importance of Being Earnest (Cincinnati Shakespeare Company), A Night in November, Advice (Florida Studio Theater), Oresteia, The History Boys, Our Country’s Good (Edinburgh Festival Fringe). TV credits: “The Mega-Brands That Built America,” “Empires of Excess” (The History Channel). jamesevansactor.com

Kate Eastwood Norris (Lady Bracknell) could not be happier to be back in Naples, one of her favorite cities, and at Gulfshore Playhouse where she was last seen in Constellations and Body Awareness, as well as performing in conjunction with The Naples Philharmonic’s Romeo and Juliet. A DC based actor, she has performed in numerous productions at Studio Theatre, The Folger Theatre, The Shakespeare Theatre, Arena Stage, Round House Theatre, and Woolly Mammoth Theatre where she is a company member. Other regional credits Berkeley Rep, Portland Center Stage,Shakespeare Santa Cruz, Syracuse Stage, The Humana Festival, Florida Stage, The American Shakespeare Center, Two River Theater, Pittsburgh Irish & Classical Theatre, Delaware Theatre, Arden Theatre, and The Wilma Theatre. Kate received DC’s Anderson Hopkins Award, two Helen Hayes Awards, and Philadelphia’s Barrymore Award for her acting. She is also a commissioned playwright by Studio Theatre and holds a MA in Creativity and The Humanities from Pacifica Graduate Institute and a MFA in Shakespeare & Performance from Mary Baldwin University.

Kate Marilley (Gwendolen Fairfax) is overjoyed to return to Gulfshore Playhouse after starring as Charity Hope Valentine in Sweet Charity last season and Ilona Ritter in She Loves Me in the final production at the Norris Center! Recently she played Alice Beane in Titanic at Ogunquit Playhouse, and starred as Delia Deetz in the Beetlejuice original cast Broadway 1st National Tour. Other Broadway: original cast of Flying Over Sunset at Lincoln Center Theater, The Prom, My Fair Lady, and Billy Elliot tour! Favorite regional: White Christmas (Judy Haynes) and The Secret Garden (Alice/Mrs. Winthrop) at The Denver Center; Damn Yankees (Lola) and A Chorus Line (Sheila) at The Rev; Anastasia (Countess Lily) at Bucks County Playhouse, Something’s Afoot (Lettie) at Pioneer Theater Co.; Can-Can (Marie) and Seven Brides for Seven Brothers (Ruth) at Paper Mill Playhouse; My Paris (Yvette Guilbert) at the Long Wharf Theater; Amazing Grace (Mrs. Catlett) at Goodspeed; The Unsinkable Molly Brown (Birdie) at the Muny; 42nd Street (Peggy Sawyer). TV/Film: “The Gilded Age (HBO),” “Skwidz (Nickelodeon).” BFA from Carnegie Mellon. Acting Certificate from London Academy of Music & Dramatic Art. So much gratitude to Kristen Coury and the Gulfshore team, and my fabulous managers Megan & Robert at Lohne/Graham Management! Check out more info/updates on her website: www.katemarilley.com. Instagram: @katemarilley

Tony Carter (John Worthing) is a Chicago-based actor who’s excited to be returning to Florida where he recently played Tony Wendice in Dial M for Murder at Asolo Repertory Theatre in Sarasota! He also just barely made his Gulfshore Playhouse debut as Giles Ralston in The Mousetrap and is so happy they asked him to stick around for Earnest! Chicago credits include: Oliver in As You Like It (Chicago Shakespeare Theatre), Lumiere in Beauty and the Beast (Drury Lane Theatre), Dr. Mesmer in Mesmerized (Chicago Children’s Theatre), and Demetrius in A Midsummer Night’s Dream (First Folio Theatre). Regional credits include the Utah Shakespeare Festival, Oregon Cabaret Theatre, Milwaukee Repertory Theatre, Utah Festival Opera, Actors Theatre of Indiana, and Rocky Mountain Repertory Theatre where he most recently played Sky Masterson in Guys & Dolls. He wants to thank Gulfshore Playhouse for rescuing him from Chicago winter and dedicates this performance to his partner Dani with all of his Love. You can follow Tony on instagram @tonyscarter.

Karen Peakes (Miss Prism) is so pleased to be back at Gulfshore to perform in this beautiful new space! Karen was lucky enough to perform as Lizzie in Maytag Virgin, with her husband, right smack in the middle of the pandemic, and Gulfshore will always hold a special place in her heart for being brave enough to make that happen. Other Gulfshore shows include Steel Magnolias and Into The Breeches. She’s a Barrymore nominated actor, working primarily in Philadelphia, and has performed with the The Walnut, Arden, Wilma, InterAct, 1812, Act II Playhouse, Pennsylvania Shakespeare Festival, The Lantern, Delaware Theatre Company, and People’s Light. She’s also performed at The Folger, in DC, The Peterborough Players in NH, and Santa Cruz Shakespeare in CA. She’s a two-time Audie nominated audiobook narrator of over 80 titles, and proud mom to Owen. Love to Ian, and special thanks to dear Kristen and all the amazing folks at Gulfshore.

Richard Hollis (Rev. Canon Chasuble) On-Broadway: Hangmen, The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time, and Travesties. Off-Broadway: Hangmen (Atlantic Theatre), Muswell Hill (Barrow Group), This is Not a Time of Peace (New Light Theater Project). Regional: Betrayal (Katonah Classic Stage), Twelfth Night, Present Laughter (both at Two River Theatre), Canned Goods (American Theater Group), Taking Steps (Barrington Stage), Bedroom Farce (Huntington), Stones in his Pockets (Hudson Stage), Twelfth Night (Centerstage), Hit-Lit (Queens Theatre), The Illusion (Triad Stage), Sisters Rosensweig (Capital Rep), Romeo and Juliet, The Real Thing, and Amadeus (Northern Stage). National Theatre, London: Coast of Utopia, His Girl Friday, Tartuffe, The Wonders of Sex, and The Country Doctor. Other London Theatre includes Diana of Dobsons, The Skin Game, The Years Between and Factors Unforeseen (Orange Tree Theatre), Torn (Arcola), and State of Innocence (Theatre 503). Film and TV includes the upcoming “American Love Story (FX),” “The Gilded Age” and “Plot Against America (HBO),” “Blacklist,” “Dark Shadows,” “Believe,” and the original BBC series of “The Office,” as well as “Waking the Dead,” “Eastenders,” “Shakespeare’s Happy Endings,” and “Silent Witness.”

Michael Ehlers (Lane/Merriman) has appeared on Broadway in Cats and has toured nationally with Scrooge (starring Richard Chamberlain), Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat (starring Donny Osmond), Cats, Chess, and Evita. Regional credits include Gene in Sideman, Herbie in Gypsy, Hertz in Rock of Ages, Wilbur in Hairspray, Scuttle in Disney’s The Little Mermaid, Pete in Pete ’n’ Keely, Chadwick in Elf, and Snyder in Newsies. Additional regional favorites include multiple roles in Legally Blonde, the Emcee in Cabaret, Al Jolson in Jolson & Company, and Don Lockwood in Singin’ in the Rain, as well as numerous productions with theatres across the country. On film, Michael has appeared as Father Donald in The Demon Within and Peter in Just Like a Woman (with Sienna Miller). His television work includes “Chicago P.D.” and “Monster: The Ed Gein Story” on Netflix.