Daniel’s excited to be making his GRSF debut! A Chicago transplant, but a Minnesota native! A few favorite credits include: Vince (Chicago Fire), Mercutio (R&J), Burbage (Book of Will) at Texas Shakespeare Festival, William (Lobby Hero) at Theatre B, Hair (Asolo Rep) and A Christmas Carol at (The Guthrie). A huge thanks to all the love and support from friends and family. The biggest thanks to his indomitable wife, Lexi <3.

This is Benjamin’s 12th season with Great River Shakespeare Festival; notable performances include As You Like it/Orlando, The Winter's Tale/Leontes, Midsummer/Oberon, and Romeo and Juliet/Romeo. Other theaters include the Asolo Repertory Theatre, Curtain Theatre, St. Petersburg Shakespeare Company, and the Orlando Shakespeare Theatre where he performed Vanya, Sonya, Masha, and Spike/Spike. As an active martial artist, he is often choreographing fights for both film and theatre. Benjamin's latest book, “The Name Hennessy," was released June 11. Benjamin voices one of the main characters in the audiobook, which also features Christopher Gerson. Sign up for the newsletter at BenjaminBoucvalt.com and get all the latest info! MFA, SAG-AFTRA/AEA

Emma is so excited to return to GRSF for another season, this time in the understudy company! She has been seen previously in Richard III (Yorke), Macbeth (Macduff Child), and the Merry Wives of Windsor (Schoolchild). You may also recognize her from working front of house in past seasons. Emma is a proud recent Acting BFA graduate of Nebraska Wesleyan University, where she played roles including Eurydice in Eurydice, the Nurse in Romeo and Juliet, and Olivia in Twelfth Night. She would like to thank her friends and family for their love and support! @emmabucknam

Diana Coates is excited and grateful to be spending her first summer with GRSF. As a resident of Chicago for the last 11 years, her most recent credits include The Nacirema Society (Goodman Theatre) and Murder on the Orient Express (Drury Lane). Regionally she's worked with Milwaukee Rep, Asolo Rep, the Michigan Shakespeare Festival, and the African Continuum Theatre Co. Television credits: Chicago Fire, Chicago Med (NBC); Deli Boys (hulu); and Emperor of Ocean Park debuting on MGM+ this summer. She is represented by DDO Artists Agency. Always for mom.

Emily is returning to GRSF for her 3rd season! She has been on stages for the past decade at American Players Theatre, Pittsburgh Public, Chautauqua Theater Co, Pacific Conservatory Theatre, Theatre SilCo, and La Mama Experimental Theatre. When not doing Shakespeare, Emily is a stand-up comedian in New York City. She recently brought her solo show, "Furious," to the Edinburgh Fringe Festival and completed an Off-Broadway run of it this spring at SoHo Playhouse. Love to the Dalys, who brought her to GRSF 20 years ago!

Marisa Dean (Understudy Dogberry & Horatio) is thrilled and grateful to be returning to GRSF so soon, and this year as part of the Acting Company! She is an actor & writer from Orlando, FL and a proud recent alumnus of Ball State University, where she graduated with her BFA in Acting and Minor in New Works for the Stage. Recent highlighted credits include: The Little Prince (The Little Prince), Sweat (Tracey), FURY (Clytemnestra). She also recently debuted her short one-person show “Marisa Dean Becomes A Woman” at the Storefront Theatre in Indianapolis. Much love to her exceptional support system of family & friends! <3 IG: @marisandean

MICHAEL FITZPATRICK Is an actor and Designer whose career spans regional theater, off-Broadway, national Broadway tours, concerts, cabaret, film, and television. Selected theater credits include: First National Broadway tour of 42nd St., roles at Utah Shakespeare festival, St. Louis repertory, Kansas City repertory, the Denver Center theater, Ensemble Shakespeare company NYC, Musicals Tonight NYC, A.C.T. In San Francisco, and a company member at the Great River Shakespeare festival in Minnesota.

Tarah Flanagan (Hamlet, Dogberry) is delighted to be returning to beautiful Winona MN and GRSF for her 16th season. A few favorite GRSF credits: the Poet (an Iliad), Viola (Twelfth Night), and Portia (Julius Caesar). Most recently Tarah appeared as the Chief Elder (The Giver) at the Clarence Brown Theatre. Other credits include: The Alabama Shakespeare Festival, The Shakespeare Theatre of NJ, Utah Shakespeare Festival, Actor’s Theatre of Louisville, Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park, Cleveland Playhouse, Pioneer Theatre, and Repertory Theatre of St. Louis. Tarah would like to dedicate her work this season to her first Shakespeare teachers: Gale Childs Daly and Bruce Longworth. Thank you for your inspiration, guidance and for giving me the keys to the castle.

Christopher Gerson has been in the GRSF Acting Company several seasons including the very first one. Recent theatre credits include Chains at the Mint Theatre (Off Broadway), Laughter on the 23rd Floor at Arrowrock Lyceum and Alabama story and BUZZ at the Alabama Shakespeare Theatre. Other credits include: The Pearl Theatre, New Georges, Red Bull Theater, South Coast Repertory Theatre, Repertory Theatre of St. Louis, Cleveland Play House, Actors’ Theatre of Louisville, Chicago Shakespeare Theatre, A Noise Within, The Folio Theatre, The Actors Gang, and Pioneer Theatre. Television/Film: Evil (Paramount+) The Other Two (HBO), The Blacklist (Sony Pictures), FBI: Most Wanted, New Amsterdam, Mr. Robot, The Good Fight, Younger, Days of our Lives, and Chicago Hope.

Co-Associate Artistic Director, Beatrice in MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING, Gertrude in HAMLET - Past GRSF productions: The Tempest, No Child, Cymbeline, Shakespeare in Love, All’s Well that Ends Well, Richard III, Comedy of Errors. GUTHRIE: The Histories, Steel Magnolias. Other Acting Credits: George Street Playhouse, Public Theatre of Maine, Capital Rep, Alabama Shakespeare Festival, Pearl Theatre Company, Cincinnati Playhouse, Crossroads Theatre, Kennedy Center. Film and TV: FBI: Most Wanted, MANIFEST, Mrs. Fletcher, Madam Secretary, HOSTAGES, Law & Order, The Thomas Crown Affair, The Sopranos. Directing Credits include: Utah Shakespeare Festival, Playmakers Rep, George Street Playhouse, Repertory Theatre of St. Louis, Kitchen Theatre/Civic Ensemble, Pearl Theatre Company, Soho Playhouse. Playwriting Credits: IMBROGLIO (GRSF World Premiere), SALT IN A WOUND (ETA Creative Arts Center). UNREQUITED LOVE (New Perspectives Theater). FETUS ENVY (manhattantheatre). TEDx Talks: TEDxMosesBrownSchool: Taking Ownership and TEDxBarnardCollegeWomen: On Courage. www.melissamaxwell.com.

Serena Phillip is so excited to be working with GRSF this summer. Serena recently graduated from Tisch Drama double majoring in English with a minor in Creative Writing. Recent credits include the The Rover (Hellena) in the 2023 Tisch MainStage, All's Well That Ends Well (Helena) and The Trial of Donna Caine (Donna Caine) at the Stella Adler Studio of Acting, where she completed her primary training. Last summer she had the amazing experience of training at Amsterdam University of the Arts where she partook in the International Theater Workshop. Serena is absolutely thrilled to be apart of this summer’s acting company!! She would also like to thank her teachers at Stella Adler and ITW, her friends, and family.

Carl Schack is from Lincoln Nebraska where he graduated from Nebraska Wesleyan University with a BFA in Acting. He has worked in many positions including fight choreographer, design positions, and as an actor. He also loves music and dogs with an almost equal passion.

Will Sturdivant enters his fifth season with GRSF this Summer and is thrilled to be back in Winona. Much Ado will mark his 38th Shakespeare production. He received a BFA from the University of MN/ Guthrie Theater Actor Training Program and has performed Off Broadway and regionally for the past 17 years. He will be performing this Fall in The Lehman Trilogy at the Guthrie Theater in Minneapolis.

Alessandro is beyond grateful to be part of this production and to get the chance to share the stage with such a fantastic group of artists. His hope is to tell the story to the best of his abilities and to leave people with a little something in their hearts. Education: Stella Adler Studio of Acting, 3-Year Conservatory; "Luigi Cherubini" Conservatory of Music. Fun fact: Alessandor was born and raised in Florence, Italy so his first language is actually Italian!

Ruth Civettini is entering her junior year at Perpich Arts High School and is thrilled to be a part of GRSF Season 21. She first came to GRSF as an 8 year old in Will’s Power Players and has participated in Shakespeare for Young Actors since 2022, including Roles as Hermia/Snug in Midsummer Night’s Dream and Queen Elizabeth/Lord Blunt in Richard lll. Recent local roles include Cinderella (Twinderella), Brigitta/Sister Sophia (The Sound of Music), Junie (Junie B Jones), and Charon/Oracle/Silena (The Lightning Thief). She enjoys spending her time in the theatre, reading, drawing, and listening to music.

Marina Narvaez is a freshman at the Winona Senior High School who has worked with GRSF in the past through their Shakespeare for Young Actors program, and is currently affiliated with Theatre Du Mississippi as well. It has been a dream of hers to perform, if only a little, in a professional production of Shakespeare for a while.

Izzy was born in Bergen, Norway, but has lived in Winona nearly his whole life. He is one of five brothers and has a cat named Samwise Gamgee. In his free time, he likes to read, draw, make movies, climb trees, and ride his bike. He hopes one day to build an animatronic bear.

Morwyn was born in Colorado, but moved to the Winona area when she was 4 years-old. She is finishing middle school at Bluffview Montessori this year. She loves acting, designing and costuming plays. She has a younger brother, one cat, and one dog. Morwyn sings soprano with Honors Choirs of Southeast Minnesota. She is really looking forward to acting in Much Ado this summer.