The Tempest

We would like to acknowledge our gratitude to ROYA MILLARD, our Production Stage Manager, who joined us after the program went to print.

We would also like to express our gratitude to JUSTIN BRAULT, RORY CRAIB, SEAN LEACH, KIT MEYERS and DON WRIGHT

Cast Bios

MARK CRANMER- Boatswain

Mark is looking forward to performing Shakespeare for the first time in over 40 years and being in his first production with Vermont Repertory Theatre. He has been seen on stage with Lyric Theatre for 37 years starting with Funny Girl in 1986. Some of Mark’s favorite roles include Javert in Les Miserables, Roger Debris in The Producers and Don Lockwood in Singin in the Rain. Look for Mark this coming June in Vermont Repertory Theatre’s next production Spamalot!

CONNOR L. EATON - Ferdinand

Connor (he/they/she) is in their senior year of undergrad at UVM this spring and is pursuing a double major in English and Theatre. Some previous roles they have played are The Courtesan in The Comedy of Errors with Vermont Repertory Theatre, Alexander Cooke in Imogen Says Nothing with UVM Theatre Department, and Jack in Lyric Theater’s production of Into The Woods. Connor wants to give a big thanks to all of the people who have supported them in theater and helped foster a love for the art form. 

CHLOE FIDLER- Alonsa

Chloë has a BA (Hons) in Theatre Studies and Dramatic Arts from The University of Warwick (UK) and trained at the London School of Musical Theatre.  She worked as a London-based professional performer for 15 years before moving to the US with her family in 2014.  She has appeared in many local productions, including recently, Helen Sutherland in The Pitman Painters (Vermont Stage), Mary in Women in Jeopardy! (Vermont Stage), Morticia in The Addams Family (Lyric Theater), Donna in Mamma Mia! (Stowe Theatre Guild) and Jubilee Climax in Saucy Jack and the Space Vixens at ArtsRiot, and with Catalyst Theatre NJ. Producing credits for Vermont Repertory Theatre include: The Comedy of Errors at Isham Barn Theatre May 2023 and Spamalot this coming June. Chloë currently sings with the South Burlington Community Chorus and is the Treasurer of the Vermont Repertory Theatre Board.

KYLE FERGUSON - Caliban

Kyle is a Philadelphia native who moved to Vermont 2018. He studied theater at The College of William and Mary in Virginia and received additional training at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts in London and The Tom Todoroff School in Los Angeles. He most recently appeared as Trent Oliver in Lyric Theater’s production of The Prom on the main stage at The Flynn. He can next be seen in Lyric’s production of The Wizard of Oz and as Lancelot in Vermont Rep’s production of Spamalot! His performance in The Tempest is dedicated to the memory his father, Dick, who first introduced him to the beauty of Shakespeare as a young child.

JO FOX - Fae Sprite

Jo is pleased to be returning to the stage with VT Rep, having previously played Luce in their Comedy of Errors in the spring. Other recent roles include Don John (Much Ado About Nothing), Katherine (SHREW), and Ophelia (Hamlet) with Foul Contending Rebels. When not onstage they can be found flitting about the Operating Room at the UVM Medical Center, birdwatching, and causing general mayhem. 

MICHAEL GODSEY- Sebastian

Michael recently relocated from Oregon. This is only Michael’s third performance in Vermont and first with Vermont Rep. His local credits include Mushnik in Little Shop of Horrors with Williston Community Theatre. He spent most of the last sixteen years doing Shakespeare-in-the-parks in Oregon, often with Portland Actors Ensemble where he served as Artistic Director for six years and played many roles including Nick Bottom, Brutus, and Macbeth.

EAMON LYNCH - Stephano

Eamon (he/him) is a lifelong Burlingtonian and UVM graduate. This is Eamon’s first show with Vermont Rep! His other credits include Foul Contending Rebels’ Much Ado About Nothing (Benedick), UVM Theatre’s Jesus Christ Superstar (Jesus), and Lyric Theatre’s Into the Woods (Narrator/Mysterious Man). On other stages, you may spot Eamon playing bass in the Will Keeper band.

ATHENA CHI MOSENTHAL- Ariel

Athena is new to Burlington and its theater scene! Just off the boat from Taiwan, she's played Alyssa in  Lyric Theatre's The Prom and presented new work at Between the Willows' recent cabaret.

BRIANNA NEWMAN - Fae Sprite

Brianna grew up performing in community theatre in her New Jersey hometown. After a move to VT and a half decade break, she rediscovered her love for theatre as a featured dancer in Lyric Theatre’s production of Shrek, and hasn’t left the stage since. Recent roles include Squirelle 1 (Elephant & Piggie, Lyric Theatre) and Kaylee (The Prom, Lyric Theatre). She looks forward to continuing her journey with Vermont Repertory Theatre in their upcoming production of Spamalot. 

ALEAH PAPES - Antonio

Aleah is a writer, audio journalist, and performer based in Richmond, Vermont. Aleah is a member of the Vermont Symphony Orchestra Chorus, and her recent stage credits include the Duchess (The Comedy of Errors, Vermont Repertory Theatre) as well as performances in The Prom (Lyric Theatre), Burlington Does Broadway (Lyric Theatre/VSO), and Moonlight in Vermont (Lyric Theatre/VSO). She will also be appearing this June as Maria in The Sound of Music in Concert, presented by Lyric Theatre and the Vermont Symphony Orchestra at the Trapp Family Lodge. Aleah has a B.A. in theater and comparative literature from Northwestern and an M.A. in cultural reporting and criticism from N.Y.U. She's thrilled to be weathering the tempest alongside this sweet and brilliant cast!

CELESTE PIETTE - Fae Sprite

Celeste is thrilled to fulfill her Pixie Hollow, Rainbow Magic, Fairytopia childhood dreams in The Tempest! She wears many hats in the Burlington theatre scene, having previously worked on Foul Contending Rebels’ Much Ado About Nothing (Producer/Choreographer), Lyric Theatre’s LyricKids camps (Camp Director), and her own UVM Theatre capstone, To Skip or Not To Skip (Writer/Director). She would like to thank VT Rep for the opportunity, her friends and family for indulging her very strong belief in her magical abilities, and Eamon for keeping her going. Her favorite Pixie Hollow fairy has always been Silvermist.

NOEL EDWARD PORTER - Trinculo

Noel is a Vermont-based actor and improv comic originally from Brattleboro. You can see him performing on stage with Vermont Repertory Theater or with the improv group Boom City, and occasionally in film. When not performing, you can usually find Noel on ski slopes or in the garden.

ZACH STARK - Prospero

Zach hails from Cleveland, Ohio where he received his BFA in Musical Theatre from Kent State University. He was most recently seen performing a cabaret with Historically Close Friends at Radio Bean. Other recent credits include: Austin in True West (Vermont Stage Bake Off), Darcy in Pride and Prejudice (Neat with a Twist), Barry in Miracle on Green Tree Drive (Lyric VT), Kenickie in Grease (Theatre Workshop of Nantucket), Mr. Mayor/Vlad in Seussical (TWN). You can catch him next as Sir Galahad in VT Rep’s Spamalot this June at Isham Farm! Special thanks to everyone in this amazing cast and crew, his family back in Ohio, and his partner Tekla for their constant support in everything he does (and for having to listen to him conjure tempests every night in their living room for the past few months).

RUTH WALLMAN - Gonzalo

Ruth has performed throughout northern Vermont, at UVM’s Royal Tyler Theater, Champlain College Theater, Lost Nation Theatre, Lyric Theater, Vermont Shakespeare Festival and Vermont Stage. Favorite roles at Vermont Stage have been in The Clean House, The Quarry, Inspecting Carol and True West; at Lost Nation in A Little Night Music and Sam and Jim in Hell, and at Lyric Oklahoma! and Pippin. Ruth earned an MFA from Yale Drama School, and spent a dozen years acting and directing in New York. She was the Executive Director of Vermont Shakespeare Festival, and records for Skyboat Road Company in LA.

HARLEY WINZENRIED - Miranda

Harley Winzenried (she/they) is an actor, dramaturg, and theatre educator with a passion for creating work that centers queer and femme narratives. They are a co-founder and coordinator of the new play development project, Historically Close Friends. Select Acting Credits: Eurydice in Eurydice (Foul Contending Rebels), #11 in The Wolves (Actors Theatre of Charlotte), Julia in Wolf Child (North Carolina Theatre for Young People). Winzenried is a proud alum of the National Theater Institute at the Eugene O'Neill Theater Center (Fall '17) and holds a BA in Drama with a minor in Musical Theatre from UNCG. For more info, visit: www.harleywinzenried.com

CONNOR KENDALL - Director

Connor Kendall (Director) was born and raised in South Burlington, VT and is a co-founder of Vermont Repertory Theatre with Michael Fidler. He has a BFA in Acting from Coastal Carolina University. and has spent time performing in both New York and Chicago. Normally found performing onstage, this is his first time directing. Favorite recent roles include Antipholus of Syracuse (The Comedy of Errors, Vermont Repertory Theatre), The Baker (Into the Woods, Lyric Theatre), and Lee (True West, Vermont Stage).

At five I was creating color coded ensembles for my “Little Kiddles”. They were 3” dolls with the biggest head imaginable.  My Mom wouldn’t let me use a sewing machine yet, so I had to hand sew and cut the garment to the end use without the benefit of seams. Since then my skills and creativity have improved enough to bring me here doing what I love with people like me. Thirty years ago (wow!) I did my first Lyric show. Who knew…? I am thankful for the friends, the memories and that my kids are hooked on the arts. Here’s to thirty more…

KAITIE BESSETTE - Makeup design (Fae Sprires)

Tom has many years of technical theatre experience in several different roles. He opened 2 new theatres, getting the opportunity to influencee the design and to set up the operations. He is passionate about lighting design, particularly dance and theatre, and loves the potential of 3D visualization. He moved with his family to Vermont to work at the Flynn Theatre in the mid 80's and then transistioned into a computer development career in banking and then IBM. Since leaving theatre, he has worked with several community theatre groups including Lyric Theatre. His real passions are sailing and spending time with his granddaughter.

Kaitie Bessette is a 2016 University of Vermont graduate with a degree in Theatre and Special Education, and is currently one of the Assistant Directors in the Office of Undergraduate Admissions. Kaitie was named the Seven Daysies 2022 and 2023 “Best Actor”, and is the winner of the “March Madness Two-Prov Competition” at the Vermont Comedy Club in March of 2022. Kaitie has typically been seen performing on stage, be that musical theatre, comedy, improv, but most recently choreographed for Lyric’s Theatre for Young Audiences production of Elephant and Piggie, as well as makeup chair for Lyric’s production of Prom the Musical. Kaitie is so excited to break out the glitter again for this production of The Tempest!

Chris returned to his native Vermont in 2010, after years spent as a musician and actor in Chicago, New York and Cincinnati. He has toured Europe and the United States with his band The Essex Green with whom he has released multiple albums over the years. As a performer, he played in the original production of Saucy Jack and the Space Vixens at the Edinburgh Festival in 1995, and went on to direct the infamous production at Pearl’s, here in Burlington. He recently reprised the role of Booby Shevalle at the ArtsRiot exactly 25 years later, as well as Angelo in Vermont Rep’s inaugural production of The Comedy of Errors. As a composer, Chris has written music his whole life, including composing the score for the musical, Fall For Me, which played the Edinburgh Festival in 1998, as well as innumerable tunes for the bands he has been associated with. He works in his basement studio in Williston, where he has developed a passion for sound in general, recording and producing all the music for Lyric Theatre’s pandemic special, Miracle on Green Tree Drive, and now conceiving and recording the sound pictures you hear this evening.