THE OFFICIAL SHAKESPEARE FESTIVAL OF THE STATE OF MICHIGAN
ARTISTIC ASSOCIATES
We'd love to introduce you to our Artistic Associates- MSF Artists who have dedicated time, talent, and passion to the Festival and were chosen to support the Artistic Director in being a Foundation for the Company:
Alan Ball, David Blixt, Janet Haley, Jeromy Hopgood, Kate Hopgood, and Robert Kauzlaric, and Brandon St. Clair Saunders.
ALAN BALL
PAST ROLES
PAST ROLES
Known far and wide for being a really great guy, this incredibly dedicated and multi-faceted actor has been a central talent within the MSF since 2011. In addition to the classical comedy Alan's best known for, he's also a gifted singer, dramatic actor, juggler, dancer, writer, and the kind of guy who knows how to make a bad joke funny.
Originally hired out of Detroit in 2011, Alan, though based in Chicago, feels like Michigan is home; he has done a dozen shows with Jewish Ensemble, Meadow Brook, Boarshead, and Flint Youth theatres, as well as 17 productions at the Hilberry Theatre while earning his MFA from Wayne State University.
Alan's work as an actor and singer has taken him to 48 states, Canada, Germany, Austria, Greece, and the Netherlands. He also spent a month in Russia studying at the Moscow Art Theatre. Personal travel has taken care of Alaska and Hawaii, and about 20 other countries.
Dogberry
Tartuffe
Old Shepherd
Clarence
Don Armado
Alfred Doolittle
Feste
Mr. Hardcastle
The Bastard
Polonius
Belarius
Reverend Chasuble
Bottom
Sir Anthony Absolute
Falstaff
Touchstone
John of Gaunt
Pvt. Kilrain / Gen. Sam Hood
Gremio
Cinna
Dr. Dorn
Caliban
Callis
Elbow
Gloucester
All the 2 Gents Clowns
Raganeau
DAVID BLIXT
PAST ROLES
Mercutio
Antipholus of Ephesus
Petruchio
Don Pedro
Laertes
Antonio the Pirate
Macbeth
Pistol
Benedick
Leontes
French Guard
Edward IV/Richmond
Berowne
Orsino
Hubert
Cook
Iacomo
Algernon Moncrief
Oberon
The Douglas
Glyndwr
Sir Lucius O'Trigger
Marc Antony
Kent
Cyrano de Bergerac
Named an Artistic Associate in 2000 - the first ever the MSF created- David was first hired to play Mercutio in Romeo & Juliet in the MSF's second season.
In addition to acting, David has also served as the MSF's resident Fight Director since 2010, working all of the mainstage productions and the Touring Productions.
David describes himself as an Actor, Author, Father, and Husband. In reverse order.
The multi-talented Blixt is the author of the epic Master of Verona series of historical novels set in early 15th century Verona, praised by critics and readers for their finely drawn characters, mystery, and action; the Colossus Series set in ancient Rome; the action-adventure comedy novel Her Majesty's Will (the sequel of which is due out this year), and the stage play Eve of Ides, which has been presented at both the New Jersey Shakespeare Festival (starring Edward Gero) and the MSF (starring John Siebert and Robert Kauzlaric).
Other fighting credits include Steppenwolf Theatre Company, the Shakespeare Theatre of Washington DC (King Lear with Stacy Keach), Hope Summer Rep, First Folio Shakespeare Festival, InFusion Theatre, and the beloved but now defunct Defiant Theatre.
Having taught at colleges and universities all over the county, David is the resident Stage Combat instructor at the Chicago High School For The Arts.
He has appeared as an actor at the Goodman Theatre, the Chicago Shakespeare Theatre, CityLit, Northlight, and the First Folio Shakespeare Festival, as well as Lifeline, Griffin, the Shakespeare Theatre of Washington D.C., and the Stratford Festival Friends in Chicago.
STEFANIE DIN
IOne of the most respected artists and teachers in the state of Michigan, Janet is also known around the Festival as the "woman who couldn't take a bad picture if she tried," which is why the website is plastered with her image...
MSF's Production Stage Manager since the 2009 Season, Stef was made an Artistic Associate in 2018.
JANET HALEY
PAST ROLES
Janet Haley is known throughout Michigan for her dedication to the craft and the training of acting. The MSF is grateful to have her for the summers as during the academic year Janet is Associate Professor of Theatre at The University of Michigan-Flint, where she teaches courses in acting, directing, and improvisation. Janet specializes in physical approaches to actor training/theatre making, having trained for the last 10 years in the practices of Viewpoints, Suzuki,and Slow Tempo, with SITI Company, Pacific Performance Project/east, and Peter Kyle.
In addition to her acting work and her mentoring of young artists, Civic Engagement is a primary value for Janet, and she specializes in original, site-specific works made with students, alumni and community partners, such as Flint Farmers' Market, Glenwood Cemetery, and Riverbank Park. She is the recipient of an Arts of Citizenship fellowship with UM-Ann Arbor for the Glenwood Cemetery Site-specific Theatre Project.
Other acting credits include Book-It Rep in Seattle, Idaho Rep, Seattle Public Theatre, Boise Contemporary Theater, Idaho Theatre for Youth, Flint Youth Theatre, and Performance Network in Ann Arbor.
Regan
Gertrude
Beatrice
Portia
Ursula
Paulina
Madame Parnell
Queen Elizabeth
Mrs. Pierce
Olivia
Constance
Bouncing Betty/Janet
The Queen
Titania
Mistress Quickly
Jaques
Duchesse of Yorke
Bianca
Metella Cimber
Arkadina
Prospera
Angelica Bianca
Mistress Overdone
JEROMY HOPGOOD
PAST SCENIC DESIGNS
ROMEO & JULIET
THE COMEDY OF ERRORS
DRIVING MISS DAISY
MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING
THE WINTER'S TALE
TARTUFFE
RICHARD III
LOVE'S LABOUR'S LOST
PYGMALION
TWELFTH NIGHT
KING JOHN
SHE STOOPS TO CONQUER
HAMLET
CYMBELINE
THE IMPORTANCE OF BEING EARNEST
MIDSUMMER NIGHT'S DREAM
HENRY IV
THE RIVALS
AS YOU LIKE IT
RICHARD II
THE KILLER ANGELS
THE TAMING OF THE SHREW
JULIUS CAESAR
THE SEAGULL
PROJECTIONS DESIGN
THE KILLER ANGELS
MEASURE FOR MEASURE
CYRANO DE BERGERACE
Known within the company as "the guy who's always right... and if you think he's wrong, wait around a while and you're probably going to find out he was right," Jeromy Hopgood has been instrumental for the past six seasons in creating the look of the Michigan Shakespeare Festival.
The MSF's resident Scenic Designer and the Festival Technical Director, Jeromy's a calming and grounding force in this crazy place. During the academic year, Jeromy is an Associate Professor of Scenic Design at Eastern Michigan University and developed the curriculum for the new nationally recognized program in Entertainment Design and Technology.
He has designed scenery, lighting, and sound for professional theatres in Arkansas, Kentucky, Massachusetts, North Carolina, and Michigan. He worked at the Williamstown Theatre Festival in its Tony-Award-Winning season alongside numerous Broadway designers.
He is also literally the guy who wrote the books:
his books QLab 3 Show Control: Projects in Live Performance and Installations and Dance Production: Design & Technology are considered the standard for the industry.
He is the proud father of two amazing daughters and the guy who's Mr. Kate Hopgood.
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KATE HOPGOOD
PAST MUSICAL COMPOSITIONS /
SOUND DESIGNS
Considered one of MSF's Secret Super Powers, Kate has written, performed, recorded and mixed the scores for the Michigan Shakespeare Festival shows for the past 5 years. She wrote the original songs for 2013's Twelfth Night, 2012's Love's Labour's Lost, and the haunting funeral song for 2014's Cymbeline- AND music directed the company's performances. Her atmospheric scores for 2011's The Winter's Tale and 2014's Hamlet were integral characters to the productions. Her period pop-inspired tunes brought life and fun to 2012's Much Ado About Nothing and 2013's She Stoops to Conquer. And her grand orchestrations, complete with accompanying choirs, brought epic power to 2012's Richard III and 2013's King John.
She is a multi- Wilde Award nominee for her soundscapes and is an integral part of the Michigan Shakespeare Festival's design staff.
She has created original scores, original songs, and effects for a multitude of shows, including the above MSF shows and has become a fixture in Michigan's theatre scene and has worked with Chicago's Rivendell and most recently scored Babes with Blades' Titus Andronicus because our AD doesn't like working without her.
ROMEO & JULIET
THE COMEDY OF ERRORS
DRIVING MISS DAISY
MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING
THE WINTER'S TALE
TARTUFFE
RICHARD III
LOVE'S LABOUR'S LOST
PYGMALION
TWELFTH NIGHT
KING JOHN
SHE STOOPS TO CONQUER
HAMLET
CYMBELINE
THE IMPORTANCE OF BEING EARNEST
MIDSUMMER NIGHT'S DREAM
HENRY IV
THE RIVALS
AS YOU LIKE IT
RICHARD II
THE KILLER ANGELS
THE TAMING OF THE SHREW
JULIUS CAESAR
THE SEAGULL
THE TEMPEST
THE ROVER
MEASURE FOR MEASURE
KING LEAR
THE TWO GENTLEMEN OF VERONA
CYRANO DE BERGERAC
ROBERT KAUZLARIC
PAST SHOWS DIRECTED
PAST SHOWS DIRECTED
TARTUFFE
LOVE'S LABOUR'S LOST
SHE STOOPS TO CONQUER
CYMBELINE
THE RIVALS
AS YOU LIKE IT
THE TEMPEST
THE TWO GENTLEMEN OF VERONA
PAST ROLES
RICHARD II
HORTENSIO
BRUTUS
LEAR'S FOOL
COMTE DE GUICHE
Named an Artistic Associate in 2014, Robert has directed four of the most beloved productions in MSF history. A witty and clever director, writer, adapter, actor, and musician, he's the guy all the interns aspire to be.
Robert is a member of the respected Lifeline Theatre Artistic Ensemble and has appeared in the Lifeline productions of The Silver Chair, The Return of the King, Around the World in 80 Days (Non-Equity Jeff Awards: Supporting Actor-Play and Ensemble), Trust Me On This, The Killer Angels, Strong Poison (Non-Equity Jeff nomination: Ensemble), The Sirens of Titan, The Talisman Ring (2005), A Room with a View, The Mark of Zorro (After Dark Award: Outstanding Production), Busman's Honeymoon, Neverwhere, Wuthering Heights, The Count of Monte Cristo, The Woman in White, and Monstrous Regiment.
At Lifeline, Robert also directed the MainStage productions of Treasure Island and Hunger; adapted The Island of Dr. Moreau (Non-Equity Jeff Awards: Best Production-Play and New Adaptation), The Picture of Dorian Gray (Non-Equity Jeff nomination: New Adaptation), Neverwhere (Non-Equity Jeff Award: New Adaptation), The Moonstone, The Woman in White, and The Three Musketeers for the MainStage; and adapted The True Story of the 3 Little Pigs!, Flight of the Dodo, The 13 Clocks, Naked Mole Rat Gets Dressed, and Lions in Illyria for the KidSeries.
Other acting credits include Mojo Mickybo, Our Father, War and A Whistle in the Dark with Irish Theatre of Chicago (where he is also an ensemble member); and productions with Strawdog Theatre, Greasy Joan & Co., the Hypocrites, Goodman Theatre, City Lit, Circle Theatre, Bailiwick Rep, A Crew of Patches, New American Theater, Theatre at the Center, the Illinois Shakespeare Festival, and Lakeside Shakespeare.
BRANDON ST. CLAIR SAUNDERS
Named an Artistic Associate in 2016, Brandon has been an anchor in the acting company for the past 7 seasons. An actor of great range and powerful interpretation, he's also the kind of actor who grounds an ensemble and sets a tone of professionalism that helps keep "the room" running smoothly.
Originally from Northern California where he played and trained with the Oregon Shakespeare Festival in Ashland, Brandon is now a regular in the Chicago Theatre world. He is an ensemble member of Strawdog Theatre and he tours full folio productions of Shakespeare in high schools as a company member with A Crew of Patches.
When at the Festival, Brandon often serves as a social director: taking the company out for hikes when the stress of rehearsals gets too high, leading groups out for kayaking and swimming on our few days off.
He is thankful for being a part of the Arts in the Midwest but is especially fond of the places he has visited and continues to explore here in Michigan.
PAST ROLES
Benvolio
Dromio of Ephesus
Claudio
Cleomines
The King's Officer
Stanley
Dumaine
Bystander
Fabian
Austria
George Hastings
Horatio
Lane
Caius Lucius
Lysander
Poins
Thomas
Oliver
Marshall Salisbury
Gen. Buford / Maj. Taylor
Tranio
Cassius
Ariel
Lucio