2022 Actors and Staff
Donna Devlin (Director-Mrs Pat “Dear Liar”, Writer “Sugar-Coated Shakespeare", Mentor “Spoon River Reimagined”) Having begun her career in musical theatre, Donna was accepted into and attended NYU's prestigious Tisch School of the Arts before switching her attention to film and television. This actress/producer/director/writer initially cut her teeth in the realm of television and film; starting a production company while still in college and moving on to creating, writing, producing and/or directing projects featured on (among others) MTV, Fox TV, Canada's CTV and Much Music. Her work has garnered daytime Emmy nominations and awards at the Cannes, Houston and Vancouver Film Festivals. She has worked for Warner Brothers TV and the Canadian Broadcast Corporation, as well as being an award-winning producer and/or director of numerous national tv commercial campaigns before being invited to serve as one of N.H.'s first female Film Commissioners. Since returning to her "first love" (theatre), she's attended the world-renowned Royal Academy of Dramatic Art in London, U.K. and has appeared in London as Gertrude (HAMLET) and Maria in the world premiere of TWELFTH NIGHT: THE MUSICAL, among others. She’s a veteran of day and prime time television, feature films and many broadcast tv commercials as well as NYC, regional and national theatrical tours and her work has been featured in Time Out and as a “Pick of the Week” by the NY Post. She has directed, produced and/or written over 70 productions and, in addition to the dozens of newspaper and magazine articles written about her unique approach to Shakespeare (including New York Times and numerous Boston Globe articles) she counts as some of her biggest honors having both her production of AS YOU LIKE IT (and her performance as Rosalind) selected as “The Best of The Best” by the Greater Boston Area theatre critics and receiving a 2011 NH Governor’s Special Commendation for her body of work and accomplishments. Favorite roles include Beatrice (MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING) Lady Macbeth (MACBETH) Adriana (THE COMEDY OF ERRORS at Murphys Creek Theater, CA) Aldonza (MAN OF LAMANCHA) Amy (COMPANY) and Cinderella (INTO THE WOODS). As well, she has served on the Fundraising Steering Committee for award-winning Broadway and Off-Broadway producers, The Transport Group Theatre, and consulted with them on their media strategy for the Obie and Drama Desk award-winning musical, THE QUEEN OF THE MIST starring Tony nominee Mary Testa. Prior to the pandemic, Donna collaborated (book and lyrics) on TATTERHOOD, a new musical (that was workshopped and debuted here at Theatre Under The Stars) and played Joan of Arc in best-selling author John Reed’s latest play, JOAN PUCELLE. Donna was selected to sit on the National Board of Directors for the Women in Arts and Media Coalition, where she was Secretary as well as Chair of the PR/Marketing Committee. Donna is the Founding Producing Artistic Director of Theatre Under The Stars and its’ Shakespeare in the Valley Fest. HUZZAH to the hard-working casts, THANKS to God and our many sponsors and patrons and LOVE to fiancée (and frequent co-star and co-founder of TUTS/SITV) Will Hammond!
Gillian Dittmer (Compleat Works, Spoon River Reimagined) is a NYC-based performer and model who is thrilled to be part of Shakespeare in the Valley’s 2023 summer season! Gillian is a recent graduate of Rider University’s BFA Musical Theatre program. Recent credits include The Sound of Music (Liesl) and The Secret Garden (Rose, us. Lily) at Leavenworth Summer Theatre, and The Will Rogers Follies (Ziegfeld Girl) at Rider. She can also be seen in the upcoming feature film Broken Pieces and featured on Comedy Central’s Awkwafina as Nora from Queens. She is thankful to God for this opportunity and her family for their constant encouragement.
Antonia Duffield (Musical Coordinator and Actor, Spoon River Reimagined) is a 16 year old from Brookline, MA. Antonia’s primary love is music. She plays piano and guitar and has been writing and performing her own songs since she was 9. She is a member of six voice and rock ensembles, and leads three of them. Antonia is also interested in government and leadership, a member of student legislature, and a Life Scout where she is working toward being the first female Eagle Scout in her troup’s 110 year duration. Finally, Antonia plays rugby, ultimate frisbee, skis, and hikes (she has a handful of the 48 4,000 footers in NH left to complete). Antonia has been a part of Theatre Under The Stars since 2016, where she starred in the theater's first original musical, Tatterhood. Since then she has (variously) lent her acting, singing, guitar playing, songwriting and aerial silks skills to The Tempest: A Magical Mystery Tour (Ariel) and Couldabeen Hamlet (Ophelia).
Mike Meaney (Director, The Compleat Works, Sugar-Coated Shakespeare) is a Brooklyn-based director. Past directing credits include Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson, bare: A Pop Opera, Wonderful Town, The Robber Bridegroom, Hello Dolly!, and Speech and Debate. As an assistant director, he has worked on productions of Your Own Thing, The Humans, and Coming Back Like A Song!. He has also worked as an assistant director for Off-Broadway theatre companies Red Bull, Berkshire Theatre Festival and XXX. Much love to Caitlin, the apple of his eye.
Arielle Pederson (Compleat Works, Sugar-Coated Shakespeare, Spoon River Reimagined) is grateful to be making her debut with Shakespeare in the Valley! A St. Louis native, Arielle has been involved in theatre for 11 years. Professional credits include: MUNY, Union Avenue Opera, and Variety Theatre. As a lyric-coloratura soprano, she has sung with international countertenor Terry Barber’s national tour of The Music of Andrew Lloyd Webber. Representative roles include: Viola (Shakespeare in Love) Fredrika (A Little Night Music) Ursula (The Little Mermaid) Laurey (Oklahoma!) Fantine (Les Miserables-- Voted Best Supporting Actress aming St Louis High Schools), Princess Fiona (Shrek) and Jane (Tarzan)--both of these roles were nominated Best Actress by Arts For Life. Arielle attends Brigham Young University studying musical theatre and vocal performance. An Actor’s Equity Candidacy Member., Arielle teaches young aspiring vocalists and thespians, creates choreography for high school show choirs and produces YouTube videos. When she is not performing on stage, she loves to hike, crochet, paint and studies astronomy.
Abbey Rice (Compleat Works, Spoon River Reimagined, Sugar-Coated Shakespeare) is a New York based actress who is originally from Forest, Virginia. She is currently a rising Senior at Long Island University where she will be graduating with a BFA in Musical Theatre in 2024. Some of her favorite past Regional credits include playing Heather Chandler in Heathers and Amber Von Tussel in Hairspray. She loves physical-based acting that stems from the work of Viewpoints, Suzuki, and Laban and has spent the past year studying under Tina Mitchell of the Siti Company. She is jazzed about being with Shakespeare in the Valley this summer and hopes that you enjoy some good ole’ live theatre.
Sam Rodd (Compleat Works, Sugar-Coated Shakespeare, Spoon River Reimagined) is a recent graduate of Western Carolina University who is thrilled to be in New Hampshire for the first time and taking part in his first season in Waterville Valley with Theater Under The Stars! Some of Sam’s favorite roles include Mercutio in “Romeo and Juliet”, Lysander in “A Midsummer Night's Dream", Claudius in “Hamlet”, and Will in “Big Fish”. Sam comes to NH fresh off a run as Judas in “Godspell”. In another life, Sam would like to be a Hobbit in Lord of the Rings.
.jpg)
Ben Simonetty (Company Manager and Actor, Compleat Works, Spoon River Reimagined) makes his classical stage debut here this summer. Ben is a recent graduate of Rider University receiving a BA in Theatre Performance with a concentration in Acting and a minor in Arts Entertainment and Industries Management. Born and raised in Poughkeepsie, New York, Ben has recently relocated to Philadelphia. Recent Credits: Clean Slate: A World Premiere Musical (Assistant Director/Assistant Stage Manager), Pride and Prejudice (Mr. Bennet), Carrie (Mr. Stephens), Magic to Do Cabaret (Production Stage Manager, Assistant Director, Winnifred), Cabaret (Assistant Stage Manager), Pete(HER) Pan (Props Runner), and Ballymore: Winners! (Man).
Margaret Turner (Actor, Spoon River Reimagined) Margaret has been a supporter of TUTS/SITV since the very beginning--as a housing host, volunteer and donor. This will be her second time appearing as a Judge with us, and she has played Dr Monkey in Sugar-Coated Shakespeare so many times she has MVP status! Margaret has spent 10 seasons with PSU’s Educational Theater Collaborative and just finished a run as an ensemble member in InterLakes Summer Theater’s Fiddler on the Roof.
Sean T. Ward (George Bernard Shaw, "Dear Liar", Actor, "Spoon River Reimagined") fell in love with acting at St. John’s Prep playing Cléante in their production of Molière’s The Miser. After taking a long hiatus from acting to become a US Marine, build a career, start a family and launch two businesses, Sean found his way back to the stage for a small comedy play that inspired him to pursue a life-long goal of being in film. Sean realized that goal starting with a principal role in the 2016 feature film Wish for Christmas followed by featured and background roles in several films and television shows. Recent theatrical credits include live action dinner theater, “Saltonstall” (multiple roles) and “The Mousetrap” (Sgt Trotter). Sean appeared in TUTS’ 2021 production of “Lovers” and in 2022's "Love Letters" and "Couldabeen Hamlet" and most recently he appeared in the independent feature film "Everwinter Nightmare" which is currently in post production. When not acting, Sean owns and operates multiple businesses including the Snowy Owl Inn in Waterville Valley NH. He founded a production company, DREAMSCAPE Productions, in 2023 and has several projects in development.
Jessica Weinberg (Spoon River Reimagined, Sugar-Coated Shakespeare) makes her classical stage debut this summer. She grew up in Northborough, Massachusetts and has been performing for over 15 years. Her favorite credits include Mrs. Potiphar (Joseph and the Technicolor Dreamcoat) Mrs. Meers (Thoroughly Modern Millie) and Mrs. Harcourt (Anything Goes). She recently graduated from Dean College with a BA in Musical Theatre. She has studied acting in London and is a world traveler. Conversational in Russian, she specializes in dialects and accents. Jessica is looking forward to moving to New York City next year and pursuing a career in Theatre, Film, and Television.
.jpg)