San Antonio Native Does it All in CRT's 'Shakespeare in Love'

STORRS. Connecticut Repertory Theatre (CRT) continues its 2019-20 season with Tom Stoppard’s Shakespeare in Love, adapted for the stage by Lee Hall and Marc Norman. Vincent Tycer directs. Bryan Mittelstadt, an actor, musician, countertenor and MFA candidate from San Antonio, TX, takes on a number of roles within the production. Performances will be held in the Harriet S. Jorgensen Theatre from November 21st through November 23rd, and December 4th through December 8th, 2019. For tickets and information please visit crt.uconn.edu or call (860) 486-2113.

The Academy Award-winning film is now a hit play! A young, pre-fame Will Shakespeare is struggling with writer’s block, with the deadline for his next play approaching all too quickly. Sparks fly when he meets Viola, a merchant’s daughter with secret theatrical ambitions of her own. Their forbidden love affair just might give Will the inspiration he needs to write a masterpiece. Shakespeare in Love is an epic, Elizabethan extravaganza filled with mistaken identities, backstage chaos and the power of love – and theatre.

Bryan Mittelstadt performs in Shakespeare in Love as the Countertenor and Trumpet soloist, Boatman, Maestro, and behind the scenes as Assistant Music Director. He is a third-year MFA Acting candidate at the University of Connecticut. Recent credits at CRT include The Cherry Orchard (Trofimov), Jesus Christ Superstar (dir. Terrance Mann, Annas), The Mystery of Edwin Drood (Jasper), Henry IV (Worcester), As You Like It (Oliver), and Henry VI: Part II (Suffolk). He’s also appeared in the Midwest Musical Tour of The Wright Brothers (Wilbur) and San Antonio’s premiere of Spring Awakening (dir. Shannon Ivey, Georg). Other credits include Shakespeare (Abridged) (Daniel), The Government Inspector (The School Principal), Grease (Danny), Metamorphoses (Apollo/King Ceyx), and Lysistrata (Koryphaios Male). He holds a BA in Dramatic Media, a BA in Communications, and a Music minor.

Mittelstadt says, “Shakespeare in Love has been a show of dreams coming true. To have the opportunity to act, sing as a countertenor (classical singing style in which a male sings in female range), and play trumpet onstage is not something I thought would come into existence anytime soon. To have them all occur in a single beautiful show is amazing. We as actors never know when a new or old skill will suddenly be so useful and to have parts of my past training be a part of a show is incredibly fulfilling. Hope to share in this spectacular take on Shakespeare with you!”

CAST AND CREATIVE TEAM

The creative team includes: Vincent Tycer (Director), Chris Coffey (Music Director), Morgan Shea (Scenic Design), Samuel Biondolillo (Lighting Design), Brittny Mahan (Costume Design), Katie Salerno (Sound Design), and Nicole Weigert (Stage Manager).

The cast includes: Anthony Cochrane* (Henslowe), Guiesseppe Jones* (De Lesseps/Tilney), Erin Cessna* (Viola), Matthew Antoci (Fennyman), Neil Callahan (Lambert & Ensemble), Jack Dillon (Will), Thalia Eddyblouin (M. Quickly/Kate & Ensemble), Anthony Giovino (Burbage), Angela Hunt (Queen), Justin Jager (Wessex), Jim Jiang (Peter & Ensemble), Colin Kinnick (Sam), Alex Kosciusek (Robin & Ensemble), Nick Luberto (Ralph & Ensemble), Angus MacLennan (Ned), Mauricio Miranda (Marlowe), Bryan Mittelstadt (Boatman/Countertenor/Asst. Music Director), Hunter Monroe (Nol/Frees/Catling & Ensemble), Sean Redahan (Adam & Ensemble), Leone Rodriguez (Webster), Adrianna Simmons (Nurse/Molly), and Cole Wood (Wabash).

*Denotes members of Actor’s Equity Association.

PERFORMANCE AND TICKET INFORMATION

Evening performances start at 7:30 p.m. on Wednesdays and Thursdays, and at 8 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays. Select matinee performances start at 2 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays. Single tickets are available now. Single tickets range from $10 to $33. All student tickets are only $10.

Pay-What-You-Can will be available for the Saturday, November 23rd, 8 PM performance. Tickets are available on a first-come, first-served basis. Ticket price is $1 plus a winter clothing item (coats/boots/hats/etc) item. 1 ticket per clothing item. Tickets are only available 1 hour prior to the performance in person at the box office. Not valid on prior sales.

*The Saturday, December 7th performance at 2pm will be ASL interpreted.

Children must be at least 4 years old to attend CRT productions. For additional ticket information or to charge tickets by phone, call 860.486.2113. All sales are final; no refunds. Play selections and performance dates are subject to change.

Please call the box office at 860.486.2113 for tickets and additional information or visit www.crt.uconn.edu for specific show dates and times because performance schedules vary and are subject to change.

The Studio Theatre is located on the campus of the University of Connecticut in Storrs, CT.

CRT is the professional producing arm of the Department of Dramatic Arts at the University of Connecticut, Storrs. CRT productions are directed, designed by, and cast with visiting professional artists, including Equity actors, faculty members, and the department’s most advanced student artists. The synergy between professional and advanced student artists creates extraordinary theatre and a unique learning environment.