A modern-day theater director asks William Shakespeare if he wouldn’t mind making a few changes to one of his plays.
Cast:
- Bill, The Bard himself
- Director, An optimistic theater guy
- Female Assistant
Chris Knopf (playwright), retired CEO of Mintz & Hoke in Avon, has published 18 mystery/thriller novels. Blood Bank was released November 2023 and Two Time was listed in the “Recommended Summer Reading” column of The New York Times Book Review. Dead Anyway received starred reviews from Publishers Weekly, Booklist, Kirkus and Library Journal, and won the 2013 Nero Award. His short story “Kill Switch” was short-listed for the 2016 Derringer Award, and his essays have been published in Mystery Tribune, Crime Spree, and elsewhere. He wrote The Play’s the Thing exclusively for Playhouse 44’s debut.
Frank Duffy (director), a recent transplant from New York City, has played a number of challenging and just as often drunken Shakespearean roles, and his directing credits include a number of frightful, chilling, and arguably unseemly efforts including Curse of the Starving Class and Judgment at Nuremberg. Before loaning his talents, enthusiasm, and (often self-deprecating) humor to Playhouse 44, his theatrical home was with the Staten Island Shakespeare Company.
George Murphy (Bill Shakespeare) is celebrating his 52nd year in theater. He has held virtually every backstage production role imaginable, in addition to his on-stage activities, which include acting, singing, and dancing. He has been an artistic director and musical director, as well. A member of many not-for-profit theater groups over the years, George was president of SummerTime Players, Ltd. when they staged the first locally produced play on the Warner Theater stage during the 1980s. He is delighted to be a part of this exciting new group’s inaugural production.
Allison Rinehart (Theater Director) is excited to be a part of this inaugural Playhouse 44 production. She recently appeared as John Dashwood in Sense and Sensibility and Gina in the new play Dreamballs. Allison is studying for a B.A. in theatre arts and English at Clark University, is a proud alumna of Avon Summer Theatre, and is active in classes and performances at the Sea Tea Comedy Theatre in Hartford. She thanks her family and friends for their support.
Casandra Linn (Secretary) is excited to be back on stage! Most recently she appeared in Almost, Maine at Farmington Valley Stage Company, and was also in its Renovations for Six as Shayna and Sylvia as Sylvia. She helped produce The Wizard of Oz at the Theatre Guild of Simsbury. She has trained remotely with the Upright Citizens Brigade, and has taken classes with T. Schreiber Studio in New York and Theatre Jacksonville. “Thanks to my family for all their support!”