The Hudson Players Club are pleased to announce the cast for their upcoming Shakespeare by the Lake production of William Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night, or What You Will, directed by Raymond Yust.
SHOW DATES
18 – 28 July 2024 at Jack Layton Park 392 Rue Halcro, Hudson, QC J0P 1H0
Thursday, Friday, Saturday, & Sunday each week @ 19:00
ENTRANCE BY DONATION – SUGGESTED $20
THE CAST – Click the name and watch their video
Ash Samson – Antonio
Bill Fletcher – Duke Orsino
David Fisher – Sir Toby Belch
Fiona Chandler – Olivia
Gabriel Grenier-McDermott – Curio/Priest
Genevieve Grenier – Fabian
Jean-frederic Samson – Sir Andrew Aguecheek
Jennifer Wade – Maria
Konstantine Malakos – Sebastian
McKenna Hayden – Officer
Samantha Cicchino – Viola
Louis Friedland-Yust – Valentine
Simon Côté – Feste/Sea Captain
Steve Walters – Malvolio
THE CREW
Raymond Yust – Director
Peter Garbacz – Stage Manager
Assistant Stage Manager – Catherine Sargeant
James Berryman – Technical Director
Jean-frederic Samson – Producer
Cast
Click on text to see image.
Genevieve Grenier as Fabian
After years of supporting Hudson Players’ Club as a keen audience member, Genevieve is delighted to once again be in front of an audience, especially in this production of Shakespeare by the Lake. Her theater career began as Dorothy in the primary school play and she studied under Pauline Rathbone throughout her high school years. Along with several years performing with Ballet Ouest, Genevieve acted with the Lakeshore Players in her 20s, both in their Summer Café Theatre and in three mainstage plays: Stepping Out (Andie), My Three Angels (Marie-Louise) and Twelfth Night (Olivia). Genevieve would like to thank her family for their encouragement, her fellow cast members and crew for their great enthusiasm and especially Raymond Yust for this fantastic opportunity.
Gabriel Grenier-McDermott as Curio/Priest
As a Hudson resident who has watched many performances by the Hudson Players’ Club through the years, Gabriel is pleased to be joining this production of Twelfth Night. Having always had an interest in performance, his theatre experience began in earnest through the Actors’ Studio program at John Rennie High School, playing Prince Char in Ella Enchanted and The White Rabbit in Alice in Wonderland. Gabriel has participated in several variety shows in high school and at John Abbot College, emceeing and organizing these events. Gabriel will be starting his second year in Arts and Science at JAC in the fall. He is thankful for this fun experience of being part of Shakespeare by the Lake.
Steve Walters as Malvolio
Steve is delighted to be playing with so many talented actors in the beautiful setting of Jack Layton Park. What could be finer that to sit a watch the play on a summers evening with the lake behind you, and Twelfth Night unfolding in front of you. I can promise you an energetic and enthralling presentation as everyone is uber excited to bring you a version of the Bard’s play that will leave you breathless. Directed under the expert hand of Raymond Yust, this is goona be a doosey.
Fiona Chandler as Olivia
This is Fiona’s fourth appearance with Shakespeare-by-the-lake, not having been scared off yet by the bugs and the poison ivy. She has also performed at Hudson Village Theatre and several years with Lakeshore Light Opera in principal roles and in the chorus. Whether performing with an 18-piece orchestra or with the serenade of the lake lapping the shore, it is always the enthusiasm and response of the wonderful audience that is the most exciting!
David Fisher as Sir Toby Belch
Celebrating his 47th year in (and out) of theatre, David is a veteran stage performer, well-known to Hudson Players audiences. The annual Shakespeare By the Lake was going to be a spectator event for him, this year, until he heard the script was to be Twelfth Night. He hurriedly put on his auditioning pants and leapt in with both feet.
David was seen last year as King Wally the Won’t in Puss in Boots, Don John in Much Ado About Nothing, and various characters in The Full Monty. He is delighted to be playing the chancy reprobate , Sir Toby Belch, although it borders on type-casting.
Konstantine Malakos as Sebastian
Originally from Peterborough, Ontario, Konstantine Malakos has been heavily involved in theatre since he was eight years old. After studying at the Atlantic Theatre Company Conservatory in NYC, Konstantine founded loose marble productions where he starred in Daniel MacIvor and Daniel Brooks one person show “Here Lies Henry” off-off Broadway. Other New York Credits include “It’s all in the Timing” and Moliere’s “Two Precious Maidens Ridiculed”
Upon his return to Canada Konstantine had the opportunity to portray Mr. Collins in Pride and Prejudice at the Showplace Performing Arts Centre in Peterborough. When his life journey led him to Quebec he connected with the Hudson community where he has now had the opportunity to play Fenton in “The Merry Wives of Windsor”, Borrachio in “Much Ado About Nohing”, Bobby Pepper in “Curtains the Musical” and now Sebastian in “Twelfth Night”. When he is not acting Konstantine is usually writing and has a television project currently in development.
Bill Fletcher as Duke Orsino
Bill has been involved with community theatre in Montreal for years and years as an actor, set builder and Technical Director. He was recently on the Hudson stage in the Players Club production of “The Full Monty” and about this time last year appeared as Don Pedro in the Jack Layton Park presentation of “Much Ado About Nothing”.
Samantha Cicchino as Viola
Samantha Cicchino is a graduate of the John Abbott College Professional Theatre program. Her passion for Shakespeare started when she performed in “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” as Hermia for her first main stage show. Her other roles include Ms.Fleming in “Heathers: the musical” and Mary Warren in “The Crucible”. Including classical plays, Samantha is very passionate about musical theatre. She recently opened a theatre company called “Orion’s Belt Productions” with two of her fellow graduates. Together, they put on “The Guy Who Didn’t Like Musicals” where she performed as Alice and had the absolute pleasure to choreograph. She is very excited to be apart of Hudson Village Theatre and to continue performing in plays she has always wanted to be in!
Louis Friedland-Yust as Valentine
Louis was bitten by the “theatre bug” during his first production in high school, a stage adaptation of Reginald Rose’s “Twelve Angry Men”. He has since played in multiple troupes throughout cégep and university, performing in “Death of a Salesman”, “Scott Pilgrim”, “Le baruffe chiozzotte” and “15 Million Merits” among others. For the past four years, he has been the artistic director of Stagestruck Productions, directing the likes of “And Then There Were None”, “Black Comedy”, “The Breakfast Club” and “Sing Street”, and is currently developing an original horror stageplay based on Bram Stoker’s “Dracula”. He is thrilled with this opportunity to take to the stage again in the role of Valentine with the Hudson Players Club.
Jennifer Wade as Maria
Jennifer is thrilled to be performing again with Hudson Players Club. Working with Shakespeare’s text and characters is a highlight in Jen’s life. Most recently Jen played Big Jule in Lakeshore Players production of Guys and Dolls, and had the pleasure of performing in the last three Shakespeare by the Lake productions – Much Ado About Nothing, Merry Wives of Windsor & Macbeth. Playing Maria in Twelfth Night is such a blast! Enjoy your evening in this fun and beautiful lakeside setting
Ash Samson as Antonio
It’s with utmost pleasure that Ash takes on the role of Antonio in this years HPC production of Twelfth Night. Theatre has been part of Ash’s life for many years, having made their debut in HVTs Holiday Panto production of Wizard of Oz back in 2016. Since then they have performed in several productions, including HPC’s The Tempest and For the Love of Shakespeare, RWA’s Bards production of Twelfth Night and many other Pantos such as Treasure Island (2019), Little Red Ridding Hood Strikes Back, and the lead in Puss in Boots, Puss, among many others.
Jean-Frederic Samson as Sir Andrew Aguecheek
Having had the chance to be in such HPC’s productions like Balconville, One Flew Over the Coo Coo’s Nest, For the Love of Shakespeare and The Tempest as well as in HVT Panto productions such as Camelot, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, Treasure Island, Little Red Ridding Hood Strikes Back and the most recent Puss in Boots, Jean-Frédéric embraces the challange of this new opportunity that is taking on the role of Sir Andrew Aguecheek in this year’s production of Twelfth Night!
Simon Coté as Feste/Sea Captain
Simon is a local actor, singer and sometime director, he’s been on stage with Hudson Players Club (Balconville, One Flew Over The Cuckoo’s Nest, Jack of Diamonds, Macbeth), Hudson Music Club (The Drowsy Chaperone, Oklahoma!), Lakeshore Light Opera (Iolanthe, The Pirates of Penzance) and others. He’s delighted with the opportunity to bring this witty, breezy, incisive and fun play to the audience at Greenwood and grateful to the lovely Heather Hanks-Côté and the Hudson Players Club, and the wonderful cast and crew, for their support, enthusiasm and hard work.
McKenna Hayden as Officer
McKenna Hayden has been involved with theatre since she was 9 when she performed in her first Hudson Village Theater’s annual Panto. She performed in the Pantos till 19 when she got her first role as a leading lady and had the honour of playing Jenny in Treasure Island. She has also been involved with several Hudson Players Club’s Shakespeare productions. When not performing, McKenna is working towards a degree in Veterinary Medicine in Scotland. She is excited and honoured to be a part of the production of Twelfth Night.