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CAST BIOS
Susan Angelo (Titania, Hippolyta) is delighted to be welcomed by ESPtheatre this summer and to work with Christine and the company. Susan is a resident artist at two Los Angeles classical theatres: A Noise Within and Will Geer’s Theatricum Botanicum. Favorite roles include Hannah Jarvis, Arcadia; Alice, Dance of Death; Cleopatra, Antony & Cleopatra; Elizabeth, Richard III; Countess, The Rehearsal; Barbara, August: Osage County; Ariadne, Heartbreak House; Beatrice, Much Ado About Nothing; and Madelyn, Women of Lockerbee. Regional credits include La Jolla Playhouse; Pittsburgh Public; The Purple Rose; Syracuse Stage; American Players Theatre; Indiana Repertory; William Inge Theatre; NYC’s Workshop Theatre; Signature Theatre; and The Shakespeare Theatre in DC. She has extensive television, film, voice-over and commercial credits including “Bosch”; “How to Get Away with Murder”; “Criminal Minds”; and “Jack Reacher”. (Fun fact: Susan was Mrs. Sanders to both Jim Gaffigan and the late Norm MacDonald’s Colonial Sanders). Susan has directed large cast classical plays and intimate one-person shows; has taught at many universities, including NYU, USC and CalLutheran; and currently teaches Shakespeare in her private studio. www.SusanAngeloStudio.com.
Matt Baughman (Demetrius/Flute) is happy to be shaking off the rust after not performing Shakespeare since high school! Recent roles include Gutenberg! The Musical! (Doug Simon), The Play That Goes Wrong (Jonathan), Angels in America: Millennium Approaches & Perestroika (Joe Pitt), Perfect Wedding (Tom), The Awakening (Robert), Closer (Dan), Meteor Shower (Gerald), August: Osage County (Bill), Laughter on the 23rd Floor (Max Prince) and Noises Off! (Gary/Roger). Matt will also be appearing in The Foreigner with Landess Theatre Company at New Spire July 5-7!
​​Sasha Carrera (Snug, First Fairy, Peaseblossom) is a seasoned company member of ESP theatre. Notable roles include Mlle. Riesz in The Awakening, Ginger in Becky's New Car, and she appears regularly as Dr. Watson in Sherlock Sundays. However, this is her very first appearance in the Frederick Shakespeare Festival. You can also catch Sasha as series regular Petra Antonelli in the Baltimore-based hit web series THESPIAN (https://www.thespianseries.com/) and be sure to check out her upcoming Frederick-based feature film SPINSTERS currently in pre-production. (https://www.sashacarrera.com/spinsters-feature-film)
Niko Crawford (Starveling, Mustardseed) is rejoining Endangered Species Theatre Project for the second summer in a row after participating in Twelfth Night last year. He also has done the musical Into the Woods and hopes to continue to find more opportunities for live theatre moving forward. He is thankful to the cast and stage crew for their warm support.
Brynn Krasney (Cobweb/Snout): Midsummer is Brynn’s third major production with ESPtheatre. Previously, she has been Fabian in Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night and Verges in Shakespeare’s Much Ado About Nothing. Brynn is currently working on getting her B.F.A. in Acting from the University of Maryland, Baltimore County. When she’s not on stage, Brynn enjoys crafting, trying new restaurants, and hanging out with her husband, Zack, her sister, Ryan, and her niece, Layla. Brynn would like to thank all of the incredible people in her life who have supported her acting pursuits and made her dreams possible
Maureen O’Neal (Puck, Egeus) Maureen is fulfilling several "dreams" at once as Puck and Costume Designer for Midsummer! So much love and time was put into every handmade piece and acting choice. Most of the fairy garments are crocheted freehand (without patterns) and all of the main costume pieces (togas, tunics, Mechanical play costumes, Bottom's donkey parts, ethereal crowns) were graced by Maureen's sewing machine, paintbrush, and/or hot glue gun. Finding Puck's character came from a lot of innate mischievous instinct and from studying Arthur, her newly two-year-old son, as a stay-at-home mom. None of this would have been possible without the patience and support of her husband, Eric, and large immediate family who were all babysitters, voices of reason, and sometimes live mannequins. All of Maureen's hard work on this show is dedicated to Jaime L., Billy C., Teresa C., Norm, and Mama, who can no longer join the audience, but are always with her onstage. Past stage credits include Minnie in an active reading of Expressing Willie with ESP, Edwin Drood in The Mystery of Edwin Drood, Scout in To Kill a Mockingbird, Tillie in She Kills Monsters, and Rosaline/The Friar in Romeo and Juliet: Choose Your Own Ending.
Irene Silbert (Peter Quince) is an Emmy Award winning DGA (Directors Guild of America) director, Equity performer, Music Director and Television Lighting Designer (first female lighting designer at ABC-TV Hollywood). Currently, Ms. Silbert is the AME coordinator and Shakespeare Director at Santa Susana Magnet High School in Simi Valley, California and is on the advisory board for the California Department of Education Arts, Media and Entertainment (AME) sector. She is thrilled and honored to have worked with ESPtheatre for the past three years!
Kayla Swain (Hermia) is a Frederick native who has had a passion for the performing arts since she was very young. She has just graduated from Hood College and is pursuing a professional career in the performing arts. This is her 5th production with ESPtheatre. Last summer, you may have seen her in their Deaf/hearing version of Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night where she played the voice of Olivia. Prior to last summer, you may recognize her from her behind the scenes work on ESPtheatre’s production of The Merry Wives of Windsor, Hershel and the Hanukkah Goblins, and The Comedy of Errors. She is very excited to be playing Hermia in ESPtheatre’s production of A Midsummer Night’s Dream (it is a dream role of hers), and she hopes you enjoy the show.
Laiah Westlyn (Helena) is thrilled to be making her Frederick Shakespeare Festival debut in one of her dream roles. Previous credits include Hakan in Let the Right One In, #00 in The Wolves, and Old Lady Squeamish in William Wycherley’s The Country Wife. She would like to thank her friends and family for listening to her film self-tapes and helping her with her lines! Keep up with Laiah on instagram @laiahwestlyn_