Romeo and Juliet
Show Info | From the Director | Meet the Cast | Photos | Plan Your Visit
Meet the cast of Romeo and Juliet...
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Mason Vancil (Romeo)
Mason is a Junior at Putnam and is fired up to be a part of this incredible production. He has previously been involved with several shows, including A Company of Wayward Saints, The Diviners, and The Good Doctor. After graduating, he plans on studying acting and technical theatre. He would like to thank Hannah Benson, Tyler McDaniels, and Byron Gilmer for being such reliable, loving friends. |
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Kate Potter (Juliet)
Kate is a Sophomore at Putnam and is very excited to take part in this wonderful production. She has previously been involved in other shows at Putnam as well as in work with New Century Players, several of them including The Good Doctor, A Company of Wayward Saints, Grease, and Footloose. After graduating, she plans on studying communications while still being very involved in theatre. Kate would like to thank her sister for inspiring her to pursue acting, Michael for casting her, as well as her family, friends, and Mrs. Marchant for being so supportive. |
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Michael Jarmer (Capulet)
Michael Jarmer is a musician and a fiction writer, but makes his living (happily) by teaching English at Rex Putnam High School. This is his fourth New Century Players production. He was Bottom the Weaver in a Midsummer Nights Dream, mean uncle Wes in Footloose, and Frank Lubey in All My Sons. He loves Shakespeare—so much so that his band, Here Comes Everybody, has written an entire album of rock songs around lines from Shakespeare’s plays. Michael has also recently published his first novel, Monster Talk. He’s super stoked to play Lord Capulet in Romeo and Juliet. |
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Julianne Nelson (Lady Capulet)
Julianne is thrilled to be working with Michael and this talented and passionate cast and crew. Originally from Minneapolis, Julianne has enjoyed working on both coasts before making Portland her home. Favorite roles include The Baker’s Wife in Into the Woods, Olivia in Twelfth Night, Miss Thorn in Ruthless!, and Melanie Tatum in John Ball’s In the Heat of the Night. Heaps of love and gratitude to my family, the Ken Wright Cellars family, Act Now Studios and the ever wonderful Jason Kennedy! |
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Kelley Marchant (Nurse)
Kelley is proud to be a founding board member and the Artistic Director for New Century Players. She has been teaching, directing and performing theatre for over 30 years. Kelley grew up in Portland and, after teaching and performing in Southern California for twelve years, she and her husband, moved with their two children back to SE Portland in 2001. Along with performing and/or directing over 20 productions for New Century Players, her theatre involvement in Portland includes The House of Blue Leaves, Landscape of the Body and The Heidi Chronicles at Profile Theatre, and Ramona Quimby, The Giver, and Charlotte's Web at Oregon Children's Theatre. Kelley has taught theatre at both the high school and college levels for the past 28 years and took over the Rex Putnam HS Theatre Department (her alma mater) seven years ago. She is enjoying the role of the Nurse just as much as she enjoyed the role of Juliet 35 years ago at this same venue! Special thanks to her husband, Phil, for his constant support and love along with her son, Jared and daughter, Alyssa! |
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Brian Harcourt (Friar Lawrence)
Brian is honored to be playing with such a talented group of people. He was last seen with New Century Players as Alan in God of Carnage. And he last worked with The Portland Shakespeare Project in Taming of the Shrew. Other favorite past roles include Charles in November (JANE a Theatre Company), Jerry in Betrayal (Michigan Classical Repertory Theatre), Orsino in Twelfth Night (Brass Tacks Ensemble), Hamm in End Game (Suspension Theatre), and (oh, so many years ago) Romeo (Grinnell College). He sends a big "Thank you" to Michael and Kelley for the opportunity to play. |
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Soren Gillaspy (Mercutio)
Soren recently graduated cum laude from Cornish College of the Arts with a BFA in Theater and an emphasis in Original works. He is pleased to be playing such a wonderful role in his first full production in Portland. Previously, he has been seen with the Seattle Shakespeare Company, the Seagull Project, and the Cabiri. He recently wrapped shooting True Discrimination in Seattle. Some of his favorite roles include Kulygin from The Three Sisters and Captain Flores in Fuenteovejuna. Soon he will be appearing in various roles and as music director for Coriolanus and as King Ferdinand in Loves Labour’s Lost, both with Portland Actors Ensemble. He is excited for the opportunity to expand his work as a director, dramaturg, and actor to Portland from Seattle. |
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Riley Bova (Benvolio)
Riley is a Senior at Putnam and is thrilled to be working on his first Shakespeare show with Michael Mendelson. He has previously been Buddy in The Diviners, Camille in A Flea in Her Ear, and Kenickie in Grease. After graduating this year, Riley will be going to Southern Oregon University to study theatre. He would like to thank his parents for their constant love and support as well as Michael for the terrific opportunity. |
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Murri Lazaroff-Babin (Tybalt/Fight Captain)
Murri is proud to be among this group of young (and younger) artists. It’s been a welcomed privilege playing and fighting with everyone! Murri is a graduate of the 2015 Portland Actor’s Conservatory ensemble. His recent credits include Nesting (Shoebox Theatre), In the Boom Boom Room (Sowelu Theatre), Drunken City (Theatre Vertigo), and Cymbeline (Anon It Moves). Catch him this summer in PETE’s Procedures for Saying No. Enjoy! |
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Marc Weaver (Montague)
Having played Tybalt and the Nurse for Six On Shakespeare, it's interesting seeing things from the Montague side. Down with the Capulets! Other roles for Six On Shakespeare include Lady Macbeth/Angus in Macbeth and Hamlet in...Hamlet. There's been a lot of dancing and a lot of improv since finishing a BA in Theatre Arts from PSU and fond work in various productions with Hand To Mouth Theater and Imago along with a Portland Drammy Award for Best Actor in Imago's, No Exit. |
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Taylor Jean Grady (Lady Montague)
Taylor Jean Grady is a proud graduate from the Portland Actors Conservatory's Class of 2015. Her stage credits on the PAC stage include the Actress in Six Characters in Search of an Author and Tybalt, the Apothecary, and Friar John in Romeo and Juliet. Taylor was most recently seen as Beatrice in Twilight Theater Company's Much Ado About Nothing and will be returning to Clackamas Repertory Theatre to perform in the ensemble of The Music Man this August. |
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Greg Prosser (Prince Escalus)
Over the past 6 years, Greg has been a senator, a composer, a sheriff, a doctor, a reverend, a rich socialite, an actor, a baker, an architect, a banker, a Queen’s Counsel and a mysterious man… and had a great time doing it all. Returning to the stage with New Century Players, Greg previously appeared in 12 Angry Men and Women, The Curious Savage, Footloose, and Witness for the Prosecution. Some favorite roles have been Salieri in Amadeus, Reverend Moore in Footloose, the Narrator/Mysterious Man in Into the Woods and Sir Wilfred Robards in Witness for the Prosecution. Other work includes roles in Bus Stop, Harvey, The Music Man, The Good Doctor, South Pacific, The Crucible, Charlie’s Aunt, The Importance of Being Earnest and The Philadelphia Story. He is very thankful to Michael for the opportunity to be a part of this production, his first foray into Shakespeare, and to the cast and crew who have made this a wonderful experience. |
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Spencer Fork (Paris)
Spencer is a Junior at Putnam and is thrilled to be stepping on stage as Paris! He has previously been Cherdyakov in The Good Doctor and Eugene in Grease. This is his third year in the department and the thirteenth show he’s been a part of. After graduating, he hopes to pursue a career in film or animation. He would like to thank Lilia, Louisa, Ryan, Keegan, Ellen, Karen, Don, Heidi, Oliver and Percy. |
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Camden Fobert (Peter)
Camden is a junior as Putnam and is very excited to be in this show. This is his 9th production at Putnam, and has previously been in shows such as Grease, The Diviners, and Christmas in the Land of Oz. After high school he plans to go to college. He would like to thank his friend and family for being so encouraging, and the cast for being so kind. |
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James Lawrence (Cousin to Capulet/An Apothecary)
Romeo & Juliet marks the second appearance of James at NCP. The last time was in Recipe for Murder. Recently James performed as Sgt. Towers in See How They Run for Nutz n’ Boltz Theatre, Charlie the Duck in the NW premiere of One Man Two Guvnors for Clackamas Repertory Theatre. Active in Portland theatre since 1980, James has worked with Portland Civic Theatre, New Rose Theatre, NostalgiGo-Go, Commedia, and Gun Happy Theatres as well as Shakespeare in the Parks. Please smile at him. |
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Byron Gilmer (Sampson/Friar John)
Byron is a senior at Putnam and could not be more excited to be working on this production. Next year he will be attending Columbia College of Chicago and majoring in Film. This is Byron’s third year in the department, you may have seen him as Dottore in Company of Wayward Saints, he was also the assistant director for The Diviners and one of the four directors for The Good Doctor. Byron has also worked on four productions at Post 5 Theater in Sellwood. He would like to thank his friends and family who have supported him along this crazy journey, and all those who have inspired and pushed him to continue to do what he loves. |
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Devin McGill (Balthasar) is a senior at Putnam and is thrilled to be in the show. Next year he plans to go to OSU to study Biology. He would like to thank his friends and family. He would like to thank Jim, Trevor, and Megan for being great friends and companions.
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Philip Wietrzynski (Friar John)
Philip is a Freshmen at Putnam and is thrilled to do his second show in Rex Putnam. He recently played in Grease as Sonny. After high school, he hopes to pursue his dream of becoming a film director. To achieve his dream, Philip, has been a member of Film Club, which has won first place in Video Production at Clackamas Community College. Philip would like to thank his family and his close friends for supporting him on his hobbies of acting and film. |
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Brock Paldi (Gregory)
Brock is a freshman at Putnam and could not be any more pumped to be in his third Putnam production this year. He is hoping to continue to be a part of shows as he becomes a sophomore, junior, and a senior. He would like to pursue theater his entire life. He would like to thank his mom, step mom, sister, and Mason Vancil for always being there for him no matter what. |
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Michael Schneider (Page to Tybalt)
Michael is a sophomore at Rex Putnam High School. When he is not saving lives with Multnomah County search and rescue he is either studying or tutoring. If you saw the Good Doctor you would have seen him lose his wife to his best friend. You also might have seen him in the lovely winter show last year, Narnia, where he portrayed Edmund. He loves theater and is glad to be apart of this production. He couldn't have gotten in without the help of his family and friends and Alyssa. A special thanks to his beautiful girlfriend Anna for putting up with him. |
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CJ Arnce (Abraham)
CJ is a senior at Putnam and is excited to be playing the role of Abraham. This is his 10th production at Putnam and has previously been involved with shows like Grease, The Diviners, and Christmas In the Land of Oz. After high school he plans to go to college and study music and psychology to become a music therapist. He would like to thank his friends, family, and Alyssa for the continued support and the whole cast for being so kind and encouraging. |
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Hannah Schacht (Rosaline)
Hannah is a Senior at Putnam and is thrilled to be in this show. This will be her 15th show at Putnam, and she has previously played Jennie Mae in The Diviners, and Colombine in A Company of Wayward Saints. Next year she plans to go to Portland State and study Communication Disorders to become a Speech-Language Pathologist. She would like to thank her parents for constantly supporting her and all her wonderful friends including Abbey Fletcher and CJ Arnce for always being there for her. |
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Hannah Benson (Ensemble)
Hannah is a senior at Putnam and is excited to step onstage in her first Shakespearean production. You may have seen her as Frenchy in Grease or Julia in The Good Doctor. Next year she plans to further her theatre education and someday hopes to become a theatre teacher. She would like to thank her family, the production team for teaching her so much, and the whole cast and crew for being so hardworking. She feels so lucky that she has had the opportunity to work with such a talented group of people! |
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Abbey Fletcher (Ensemble)
Abbey is a senior at Rex Putnam and feels so lucky to be a part of this production. This will be her 10th show at Putnam, and she has previously played Rizzo in Grease, and Yvonne in A Flea in Her Ear. She would like to thank her family for putting up with her busy schedule, her best friend Hannah for being amazing and the cast and crew for working so hard and being such strong and talented leaders. |
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Grace Hancock (Ensemble)
Grace is a sophomore and feels so lucky to be part of this production. This is Grace's fifth show with the Rex Putnam Theater department. Her favorite role she has played so far was Woman in The Good Doctor. She has also played Adorabelle in Adorabelle and the Silly Seven. She would like to thank her parents and her violin teacher for helping with her crazy schedule. |
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Whitley Harrel (Ensemble)
Whitley is a senior at Putnam and is very excited to be a part of this show. This is her fourth show at Putnam. She has been an ensemble member in two children shows and a was Cherdykov’s wife in The Good Doctor. After high school she wants to go to school to become an occupational therapist. She would like to thank her family for their support and Ace for always making her day better. |
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Alyssa Marchant (Ensemble)
Alyssa is a freshman at Putnam and is super happy to be in this beautiful show! She was previously seen in Grease (as Patty Simcox), Christmas in the Land of Oz (as an elf), and in Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland (talking flower). She doesn’t know what she wants to do after high school but she hopes to be doing something she loves and something that makes her happy. She’d like to thank her wonderful supportive family, each and everyone of her amazing friends, her cats Lina and Leo. Also Michael and Cj for always making her laugh, the extremely talented cast for being so kind and welcoming, and her Mother, her Father and brother Jared for teaching her how to be a better person everyday. |
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Ellen Scharff (Ensemble) is a Junior and is wildly excited to be part of this production. This is Ellen's fifth show with the Rex Putnam Theater Department. Her favorite role so far was The Mistress in The Good Doctor. When she leaves high school, she wants to go to an art college and become an illustrator for children’s books. She would like to thank her family for supporting her and her friends for keeping her positive.
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