As rehearsals proceed for Shakespeare in the Parking Lot: A Midsummer Night’s Dream the cast is finding its footing. And they are hilarious. Did you know that Shakespeare was a very funny guy? And he was an anti-snob. His play within a play (at the end of Midsummer Night’s Dream) is ridiculous, and the royal court doesn’t know quite what to make of it–they’re kind of clueless. It’s Shakespeare’s way of making fun of the upper crust. The actors are disrespectful and the royal court can’t figure out if it’s just part of the play–or could it be they are the butt of the joke? Nah…
Our creative and hilarious cast takes the fun to the limit. Here are a few pictures from this weeks’ rehearsals…
A talented actor, Jessica has taken on the role of Titania, Queen of the Faeries with her usual dedication and attention to detail. She brings an exuberance to acting that makes it clear to everyone she was born for the stage.
Jessica Levesque sure has been busy! Since graduating high school she has appeared in several plays and films and even a spot in a TV series! She appeared in a play at Theatre Loft in 2014 which won kudos from critics, and also appeared on stage as Alex, a young woman with Autism who wants to play Roller Derby. You can read a review here.
In her spare time, Jessica makes jewelry and does other crafts. She adores modpodge! Don’t miss Jessica in Shakespeare in the Parking Lot: A Midsummer Night’s Dream!
When: July 25th, 26th, 27th, 28th at 7pm Where: The Foundry, 298 Northampton Street, Buffalo, NY
Cast Spotlight: Jennifer L. S. Weber​, is outstanding in the role of Francis Flute. Jenn is simply fantastic and puts everything she’s got into it . She’s creative in the moment and many of her spontaneous improvisations (along with other cast members’ improvs) have been incorporated into the show. From Springville, Jen and her husband Charles are very active in community theatre there: Springville Center for the Arts.
When: July 25th, 26th, 27th, 28th at 7pm Where: The Foundry, 298 Northampton Street, Buffalo, NY
Inclusive Theater of WNY (ITOWNY), in collaboration with The Foundry, is proud to announce our inaugural (and now annual!) Shakespearean event – Shakespeare in the Parking Lot!! July 25-28, 2019! All performances begin at 7pm
Join us this year as we present “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” alongside two adapted Shakespearean Shorts by D.G. for good measure! (It’s not really in the parking lot, but in a covered, semi-outdoor space at The Foundry on Northampton Street in Buffalo.)
Quentin Gray (Barry, Pig #3, Alex): Quentin was raised in Toledo, Ohio and has been acting since 15 years old. H was a film extra in Marshall, Bashira, Crown Vic, and the first Purge. Quentin has appeared in several stage productions with roles such as Jeffrey in The Curtious Savage at the Ghostlight Theate and Randy Dexter in Curtins for The Elmira Little Theater in Elmira,NY. Quentin trained with Frank Rossi in both Method and Meisner. “I want to thank inclusive Theater of WNY for giving me this great opportunity as an actor. Juggling multiple roles is a new experience for me. So I would have to thank Aimee for giving me this part and pushing my limits as an actor.
Jessica Levesque ( Thomasina, Snow White, Mama) Active in RollerDerby until an injury ended her career, Jessica moved on to acting, something she’d always wanted to do. She has appeard on several episodes of Total Divas, and an independent film, The Secret Origin of Mojo Man. Jessica loves WWE wrestling, Anime and cartoons. She loves the beach, making jewelry and travelling. Jessica has appeard in several plays on Buffalo stages including Always October (2013), The Process (2014), An Evening of Personal Stories (2017), And Where Will You Put the Things You Save? (2018).
Colleen Ann O’Byrne (Television Man): Colleen is a long time Buffalo resident who has appeard in one previous Inclusive Theater of WNY production—An Evening of Personal Stories. She makes her acting debut in Television Man, the first short play in ITOWNY’s Festival of Shorts. Colleen has one adult son and two Bichons: Molly and Bella.
Summer Harris (Cate Blanchett, Paula, Princess Charming): A enior at The Park School of Buffalo, Summer is excited to be apart of ITOWNY’s Festival of Shorts! In the past with The Park Players she has been Mollie in TheMousetrap, Alice in You Can’t Take it With You, Banzai and a Featured Dancer in The Lion King Jr, the antagonist Cat in Honk! Jr, and the variety shows Patchwork since middle school. She also performed in The Diary of Anne Frank with The Raiders of Niagara as Anne Frank. In her spare time she loves to draw, write, sing, play guitar, ukulele, and viola.
Jennelle Torrey (Gremlin, Wolf) is a wife, mother, virtual assistant, curriculum developer, technology trainer, actor, and accessibility advocate. To me Inclusive means that everyone no matter who you are has access to be included in all areas of life, there should be no exceptions.
Rev. Christopher Wylie (Gremlin, Zombie, Television Man, Pig 2, Rumplesiltskin) Chris is a father, husband, United Methodist pastor, writer, blogger, musician, artist, actor, and disability advocate. More than anything he wants you to know that Inclusive means you are loved no matter the body in which you live.
Marilyn Erentsen-Scott (Artistic Director) Marilyn retired from the stage after a well received performance in 7th grade and only returned some 50 years later, appearing in a play (The Process in 2014) with two of the actors in this production: Jessical Levesque and Chelsea Braun. Marilyn and her husband of 38 years, Steve, moved to Buffalo from L.I. almost five years ago. They have one son, Anthony, and a 2 year old Golden Retriever named Penny, who is the official mascot of InclusiveTheater of WNY. A former Registered Nurse, Marilyn received her BA in Sociology from Adelphi University in 1998 and has worked for more than 25 years as an advocate for full inclusion for people with disabilities.
Pictured from top to bottom: Carling Barry, Chelsey Braun, Shelby Calabro, Marilyn Erentsen-Scott, Dave Goddard, Quentin Gray, Summer Harris, Aimee Levesque, Jessica Levesque, Colleen O’Byrne, Dallas Taylor, Jennelle Torrey, Charles Weber, Jennifer Weber, and Chris Wylie.
Inclusive Theater of WNY (ITOWNY) 
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