Cyrano

Carl Lucania (Prospero) is happy to be working with Berkeley Shakes again after appearing in last year’s Cymbeline. Shakespeare in unusual locales is sort of his thing having performed The Bard in a bar (with SF Theater pub) and in a forest (with Atmos’s Theater in the Woods). He’s had the good fortune to appear on several bay area stages over the last 20 years, studied acting at SF State, and fronted several bands you’ve never heard of.

Elly Grace Hudson (Miranda) is an actor based in San Francisco. Her role as Miranda marks her return to the stage after three years, and she is grateful and overjoyed to be back. She also acts in commercials and films. Elly earnestly believes in the power of performance and its ability to form temporary cohorts among creators and audiences alike, creating a sense of play and community that we need now more than ever.

Elly earned a political science degree from UC Berkeley that she now uses as a policy analyst for the SFMTA, where she’s found a deep care for public transportation. In her spare time, you’ll find her reading novels and plays, writing poetry and commentary, learning Spanish, and camping and hiking. She is always looking to try new things; right now she’s in a gymnastics class! Who knows what’s next — pottery? Horseback riding? Banjo? Only sweet time will tell!

Katherine Park (Ariel 1, Music Director, Composer) grew up in the suburbs of Boston eating baek kimchi and drinking hot chocolate for breakfast. Music has been her ticket to see the country and the world, performing in venues from the basement at CBGBs, to Cathedral Notre Dame de Paris, to live on KALX, to Hotel Utah to Montara Light House.

She holds a Bachelor of Music Degree from The Hartt School, and performs solo and with alternative rock bands, her EP ‘Sonatina Dream’ appears on music streaming platforms. Her past theatre credits include Broken Blossoms at Chinese Historical Society of America Museum’s, Coney Island Christmas at Theatre in the Heights, I Love You You’re Perfect, Now Change at Bindlestiff Studios, and The Coronation and Crowning of Eleanore of Aquitaine and Anarchy Quartet at Exit Theatre. She appears in the films Sorry We’re Dead by Alex Zajicek and One Long Day by Gairo Cuevas, available on streaming platforms.

She is currently in production for the film The Rolling Sea directed by Frazer Bradshaw and produced by Eric Blyler. She works across mediums in music, radio, film, theatre, television and photography and when she’s not performing she loves to take ballet class, pass on the flame of music through teaching and coaching, participate in activism for human rights and the arts, and spend time with her love, photographer Douglas Despres. The roles of Iris/Ariel 1 are her first Shakespeare collaboration. She hopes you will feel free to sing and clap along to our performance tonight!

Elana Swartz (Ariel 2) (she/her) is from Virginia and based in SF, holds a BA in Theater from James Madison University. Favorite local credits: Cymbeline (Imogen), King Lear (Cordelia/Fool) with Berkeley Shakespeare Company, Romeo and Juliet (Juliet) with Theatre Lunatico, and Constellations (Marianne) with The Pear Theatre. Visit elanaswartz.com for details.

Alejandra Wahl (Ariel 3, Producer) is an actor, singer, director, and producer living in the East Bay. She is a proud producing member of Berkeley Shakespeare Company, serving on the board and in the company. Seen on various Bay Area stages, previous roles include The Queen in Cymbeline (BSC); Maria in Yerma (Shotgun Players); Cat in References to Salvador Dali Make Me Hot and Edward/Victoria in Cloud 9 (Custom Made).

“As a theater maker and educator, I believe art thrives at the intersection of activism and inspiration. My hope is that you walk out of this space with a renewed sense of hope in the power of communities to bind together, uplift each other, inspire each other, and care for each other.” Alejandra dedicates this performance to the memory of her father, Timothy.

Michele Rabkin (Alonso), MFA, is a Berkeley-born/Oakland-based writer, performer, and recovering administrator who is thrilled to be returning to the stage, and to Shakespeare, after an absence of mumble-mumble years. She is grateful to Stuart Bousel and the Berkeley Shakespeare Company for the opportunity to be part of this production and its wonderful cast, and to her husband Michael and daughter Nora for their love and support.

Valerie Façhman (Caliban) is grateful to be part of this beautiful production, with the best scenery ever! They were Belarius in BSC’s Cymbeline, toured as Mercutio & Friar Lawrence in Romeo and Juliet (SF Shakes), alternated Gertrude and Ophelia in Hamlet on tour, played Titania in Midsummer, the title role in King Lear, and a lot of non-Shakespearean roles. They enjoy playing gods & monsters, and creating characters in new plays, such as Dorothea Lange in Last West (up next).

All love to Scott and Ella, my wonderful tiny family.

Chris Fallows (Stephano) has been acting and directing for over 30 years. Acting credits include Spamalot (King Arthur) and Guys and Dolls (Nathan Detroit), and directing credits include The Grapes of Wrath, Macbeth About Nothing, Big Fish, and Titus Andronicus. Chris is excited for his first production with the Berkeley Shakespeare Company and grateful to be part of this unique production. Life is good.

Abigail Wissink (Trinculo) is an actor, educator, and musician. They work as an Environmental Science Educator for NatureBridge and a Teaching Artist for Marin Shakespeare Company. Recent roles include Orlando in As You Like It and Puck in A Midsummer Night’s Dream. You can see them next in Hello Girls with Ross Valley Players in February.

They are so happy to spend time with this merry band at the lighthouse!

Tavis Kammet (Antonio) has been acting around the Bay Area for over twenty years. Recently he portrayed the Guts in Strange Organs, multiple wacky characters with Killing My Lobster and Lord Capulet in an original interpretation of Noises Off. Tavis studied theater in the UK where he performed with Theater du Complicte and Punch Drunk Theater. Tavis teaches theater to high school students at Hayward High School where he recently took an original production of Cinderella to the Edinburgh Fringe festival.

Will Cagle (Ferdinand) is a writer, editor, and educator currently based in San Francisco. He teaches English and History with 6th-12th graders at Headlands Preparatory School in Sausalito, and serves as Managing Editor of Speculative Fiction for the magazine Variant Literature. His own writing centers issues of disability and the climate crisis.

This is his first production with Berkeley Shakespeare Company, and his first time back to the stage after a long hiatus (his last production was Romeo & Juliet with the King’s Crown Shakespeare Troupe at Columbia University in 2019) so huge thanks to Stuart and the rest of the cast and crew for the warm welcome back to Shakespeare and performance!

Stuart Bousel (Director) is returning to Berkeley Shakes for the second time, having previously directed Cymbeline in 2024, and to the Point Montara Youth Hostel for the thousandth time, having been a frequent guest since 2007 and their human resources generalist from 2007 to 2014. In addtion to directing, Bousel is a playwright (his play Everybody Here Says Hello! won Oustanding World Premiere Theatre Bay Area in 2014) and his next project is adapting Satyricon for Eagle Players in 2026 in San Francisco, where he makes his home, works for the San Francisco Marin Food Bank, SF Ballet and SF Opera, as well as occasionally hosting at Feinstein’s at the Nikko.

A frequent contributor to the Petaluma Argus Courier, you can find out more about his work at www.stuartbousel.com.

Phillip Leyva (Producer) co-founded Berkeley Shakespeare Company in 2021 with his fearless comrades Emily, Jen, and the brilliant cast of Macbeth. He is an actor and educator originally from the San Joaquin Valley who is returning to the stage in January 2026 as Gomez in The Addams Family at Tri Valley Theatre Company. Recent theatre credits include Franz in The Sound of Music (Berkeley Playhouse), Wadsworth in Clue (Onstage Repertory Theatre), Sir Galahad in Spamalot (Ghostlight Theatre Ensemble), Posthumus in Cymbeline (Berkeley Shakespeare Company), and Igor in Young Frankenstein (Pittsburg Theatre Company). Phillip holds a BA in English from UC Berkeley and an MA in Teaching from Saint Mary’s College of California.

Follow him on Instagram: @phillleyva

C.S. Bauman (Scenery, Props, Art) is excited to be working with Berkeley Shakespeare Company. Bauman is an artist and instructor, his focus is on immersive, experiential art. He has a BFA in sculpture from Temple University, Tyler School of Art. The idea of doing a production of the Tempest is something Bauman discussed with Director Stuart Bousel over 15 years ago. Bauman and his partner Janice Pratt have managed HI Point Montara Lighthouse since 2003 for HI USA a non profit organization.

Maya Pratt-Bauman (Makeup Design) is very excited to be working with Berkeley Shakespeare Company for the first time. She has a BA in acting but has found that behind the scenes work is her calling. Currently perusing her cosmetology license Pratt-Bauman is also a freelance makeup artist. Designing for this show has been an exciting experience and she hopes you all enjoy the show.

Find her online at @maya.makesitup