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Matt Dodge, Assistant Director
as Caius Marcius Coriolanus
Sometimes known as Eduardo Sanchez, Matt is excited to have reached the third year of Shakespeare and Art in the Park, and to mark it by performing in his favorite of all Shakespeare’s works – “Coriolanus.” Since 2009, when he first came across the role of Martius while obtaining his B.F.A. in acting, he knew it would be a long time before he’d be ready to take on the fiery Roman. It has sat as a symbol of terror and a stout reminder that for actors: there is no point where you get to stop learning because you’ve reached the top of your game – you’re either getting better or getting lazy. Although Caius Martius has proven to be quite challenging, it’s also been incredibly fun portraying the guy scholars refer to as “Shakespeare’s Greatest Death Machine.”

Matt is the Vice President of the Joliet Drama Guild and has enjoyed directing various productions and leading workshops, especially stage combat.
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Jake Thomas, Director
as Menenius Agrippa – Friend to Coriolanus
Jake is thrilled to return to directing after his triumphant production of “She Kills Monsters” earlier this year. Jake is a current board member with the Joliet Drama Guild, where he serves on several committees. He is also a recent recipient of the Jimmy Larsen Sketch Comedy Writing Scholarship at Second City, where he is currently taking classes. This is the third Shakespeare and Art in the Park production Jake has been in. He promises next year’s production will be a real drag.
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Ian Emerson, Fight Choreographer 
as Fight Ensemble
Ian has trained at the American Musical and Dramatic Academy of NY for two years to build up his skills with stage combat. For over seven years, he has designed the stage combat for various renaissance fairs, including the Carolina Renaissance Festival and Bristol Renaissance Faire. Ian now lives in Naperville. It has been a longtime goal of his to direct a production like “Coriolanus.” The cast has been an absolute pleasure to work with, and they’ve taken to the combat direction extremely well for the brief time they were learning. Ian sends a heartfelt “thank you” to everyone for the opportunity!
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Phoebe Carmine
as Titus Laertius
Phoebe  has been performing since he was an child. He was learning Shakespeare in preschool and writing his own plays in high school. They have been participating in the Emerging Playwrights Festival for several years. Some of their favorite roles have been Eugene in “Brighton Beach Memoirs” and Galileo in “We Will Rock You.”
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Dee J Christa
as Big Soldier 2
Dee is trying to have some fun dying gloriously on stage. She sends a “thank you” to Bicentennial Park and Joliet Drama Guild for this opportunity.
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Steven Ray Del Real
as Tullus Aufidius – General of the Volscian Army
Steven Ray Is excited to play a character as complex and intense as Aufidius, and to add STEEL SWORDS onto that was a challenge he was eager to take on!

In addition to being an actor, he is a board member for the Joliet Drama Guild. You may have seen him as “Bubbles the Stage Pirate” in the Joliet Drama Guild’s production of “The SpongeBob Musical” last year. He played Sweeney Todd in Theatre-on-the-Hill’s production of “Sweeney Todd” and as the Demon for “Barber of Fleet Street.” At Lewis University, he was in “Young Frankenstein” as Frederick Frankenstein. Recently, he was Colonel Mustard in Limestone Stage Theater’s production of “Clue.” He’d like to thank the cast a crew for their work and his family for their love and support. To the community that continues to come out and support the arts, THANK YOU!!
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Katie Deters
as Virgilia – Coriolanus’ Wife
& Fight Ensemble
Katie is excited to pick up a Shakespeare script again. An avid reader and Dungeons and Dragons player, Katie enjoys playing characters of all kinds for fun, especially at the Bristol Renaissance Faire during the summer. This is the first play she has participated in since high school, though she has performed at the Bicentennial Park since she was a child in dance classes. She looks forward to more performances in the future.
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Nicole Kaestner
as Sicinius Velutus – Tribune, the People’s Defender
Nicole is ready to adventure into the world of Shakespeare once again. You may have seen her in last year’s production of “As You Like It,” as Touchstone or as Dromio of Syracuse in “The Comedy of Errors.” By day, she is a Special Education teacher at a local Joliet junior high school, where she recently started a drama club there as well. She is the Artistic Director for the Joliet Drama Guild, and she is always looking for fun and exciting ways to bring theatre to Joliet.

She would not be able to do any of this without the support of her husband, C.P. Kaestner and her wild sons, Erik and William. A special “thank you” to her family, the cast and crew, and everyone who has come to support the show. Enjoy!
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Miranda Knox
as Valeria – Roman lady, Friend of Coriolanus’ Family
& Fight Ensemble
Miranda is excited that no one planned anything for Shakespeare weekend and gets to perform her first Shakespearean production! She has been seen on stage for Joliet Drama Guild’s “Reefer Madness” and “She Kills Monsters,” and behind the curtain for various other productions, including the guild’s “The SpongeBob Musical.” Make sure to stop by her artist booth, too! Enjoy the show!
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El Lorenz
as Aufidius’ Lieutenant
& Fight Ensemble
El would love to start by saying thank you to the Joliet Drama Guild and Bicentennial Park for the opportunity to participate in this lovely little fest once again! El has participated since the beginning of this fairly new venture in Shakespearean fun, having played Dromio in “Comedy of Errors” and Orlando in “As You Like It.” She has also starred in shows such as “The Music Man” (playing Marian Paroo), “Evil Dead- the Musical” (playing Scotty), “Sweeney Todd” (playing Tobias Ragg), “Reefer Madness” (playing The Lecturer) and “She Kills Monsters” (playing Vera).

El is also the singer of a Three Days Grace tribute band, and she enjoys collecting comic books and buttons, and loves to unwind with reading or her favorite horror movies. El would like to thank everyone, especially Ian Emerson our stage combat instructor, for the opportunity to learn the incredible sword and combat skills needed to put on incredible fight scenes for this show. She is looking forward to learning so many more in the future and hopes everyone enjoys the show!
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Angie Kregg
as Volumnia – Coriolanus’ Mother
Angelina is excited to be back on the stage, taking on the challenging role of Volumnia. This is only her second Shakespearean production, having starred as Rosalind last year in Bicentennial Park’s staging of “As You Like It.” In her day-to-day life, she is a cataloging librarian and trivia show host. She would like to thank the cast for being amazing to work with, her family and friends for cheering her on, her partner for being a wonderful support system throughout all the craziness, and everyone in the audience for supporting the arts. Speaking of, feel free to stop by her booth, Instinctive Thrift, in the art fair. She hopes you enjoy the show!
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Vaughn Leverich
as Fight Ensemble
Vaughn is a sheep in wolf’s clothing.
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Philip Matthew
as General Cominius – Chief of the Roman Army
Phil is in his second Bicentennial Park and JDG Shakespearean production. He would like to thank everyone in the cast and crew! Phil previously appeared in the “As You Like It” and was excited to work with everyone at JDG once again! It has been a whirlwind experience! Phil would also like to send a special shout out to his family for supporting his artistic endeavors! And thank you to all who are able to attend, we appreciate your supporting the arts! Break a leg everyone!
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Leah Meeder
as Fight Ensemble
Leah is here to play with swords. 🙂
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Jaxon Roesel
as Young Martius – Coriolanus’ Son
This is Jaxson’s debut performance at Bicentennial Park, and his first role of his life!  and was the first cast member off book . He has wasted no time in charming Bicentennial Parks administration and staff , who  will always  welcome him back to share more laughs. Jaxson would like to dedicate his debut performance to his loving parents Ryan and Jessica, and hopes you enjoy the show.
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Isaiah Sanchez
as Fight Ensemble
Isaiah is very excited to be a part of this show. He has been a part of various plays here at Billie Limacher Bicentennial Park and Theatre, including “We Will Rock You,” “Dark Places,” “Little Women,” “She Kills Monsters,” and will be in “Godspell” and “Wizard of Oz” in the upcoming months. This is the first Shakespeare show. He has enjoyed every moment and has learned so much. He hopes you enjoy it. Thank you!
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Abby White
as Fight Ensemble
Abby Is excited to hack and slash to her death. She has done “As You Like It” as her first adventure in Shakespearean fun and is ready for more shows.
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Chris Wilhoyt
as Fight Ensemble
Chris has been working as a stagehand on Broadway plays and large-scale concerts for the last three years. He worked on the TV shows “Paper Girls” and “The Big Leap” as a rigging grip the year before he started as a stagehand. Chris was a SCUBA instructor for 10 years, teaching in various places around the US and Caribbean. He also taught first aid for about the same amount of time. Chris was a special effects makeup artist, EMT and photographer for Hell’s Gate Haunted House in its first three years. He has also done professional photography, murals, graphic design, and a wide variety of other art forms.

Chris has two children, of which he is really proud.
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Drew Winters
as Junius Brutus – Tribune, the People’s Defender
Drew is a senior at Aurora University pursuing her Bachelors in both Theatre and Graphic Design. She was last seen in Aurora University’s production of “Moon Over Buffalo” and Oak Park Festival Theatre’s Shakespeare Showcase, where she had the honor of presenting multiple scenes from “Cymbeline,” “A Midsummer Night’s Dream,” and “Othello.” She is so grateful to be a part of this amazing process and encourages the audience to soak up the sunshine and cool summer breezes that make Shakespeare in the Park such a beautiful experience.

***  OUR CREW ***  

Fight Choreographer
Ian Emerson

Tech Director
Eric Moniger

Tech Assistant
Janesa stout

Costumes
Lori Carmine, Chuck Harris, Marley Hennessy, Bella Martinez & Deanna Opsahl

Props
Lori Carmine, Bella Martinez, Bonnie Michaelcamp & Cast