The Cleveland Shakespeare Festival is proud to announce our 2007 performing company. 

Many of these individuals have been with the CSF for many years, and we thank them for coming back in 2007. You'll also see some telented new faces this year, and we extend to them a hearty welcome.

Allan Branstein (Richard III) -  is very pleased to be returning for his eighth season with CSF.  Earlier roles here have included Dogberry, Dromeo, Parolles, Touchstone, Toby Belch and others.  He has worked for Great Lakes Theatre Festival, Cleveland Public Theatre, Beck Center, Red Hen, Dobama Theatre and any other group that would have him.  He throws a mattress away in the movie American Splendor.  And he would like to thank Paula, because he can.

Scott Esposito (Petruchio) – Scott can hardly believe it has been two years since he was last on stage! But he’s thrilled to be returning with the Cleveland Shakespeare Festival, with whom he has previously worked on Romeo & Juliet (Mercutio) and Twelfth Night (Sebastian). Other credits include Billy in The Goat, or Who Is Sylvia? (Dobama), the title character in Jeffrey (Beck Center) and Lysander in A Midsummer Night’s Dream (Beck). Scott is currently a law clerk for the A.C.L.U. of Ohio and is a rising 2L at Case School of Law. He would like to dedicate this performance to his Maurice.

Holly Facer (Great Lakes Medieval Faire) - Holly has been performing for as long as people have let her. She is a proud graduate of the University of Akron with a BA in Theater and has appeared in productions all over NE Ohio, most recently as Little Sally in Near West Theater's Urinetown. Much thanks to her friends and family.

Adrienne Jones (Biondello) - is excited to be performing in her first CSF show! She will be a junior at Crestwood High School where she most recently performed as Dr. Armstrong in And Then There Were None and Katherine in Love’s Labours Lost. She has also appeared in shows at Chagrin Valley Little Theater, such as Amy in Little Women and Puck in A Midsummer Night’s Dream. Enjoy the show!

Liz Jones - is thrilled to be returning to the Cleveland Shakespeare Festival again this summer.  She most recently performed as Cecily in The Importance of Being Earnest.  This winter she finished her third season in A Christmas Carol at The Great Lakes Theater Fesitval.  She has been seen in Evita at the Palace Theater as well as The Merry Wives of Windsor at GLTF. Liz is thankful for the opportunity to work with the talented directors and cast members here at Cleveland Shakes.

Cat Kenney - has played many eccentric, elderly, or gender-ambiguous characters in the last decade, including Puck (Dirty Shakespeare's Midsummer), Picket Pie (Red Hen's Cherchez Dave Robicheaux), Gen. Lee/Hessian (Bad Epitaph's American Revolution), ten octogenarians for KSU, and Clark Nova (Mephisto Productions' Still Unknown). Cat also draws, paints houses, adjuncts, and looks for a real job.

Keith Kornajcik (Clarence) -  is delighted to return for his FIFTH season with CSF after a year-long sabbatical. Keith has performed with many Cleveland area theatres including: Bad Epitaph, Beck Center, Boulevard, Charenton, CCC, Factory Theatre, and Karamu among others. When not acting, he can be seen fronting avant-rock group Home and Garden. Keith would like to thank his fellow "pros from Dover" (welcome back RG!), Barb and Scott Krauss, and the ever-lovely Rochelle.

Jessica Malicki (Great Lakes Medieval Faire) - is a very happy drama major at Cleveland State University.  This is her second year with CSF, and her most challenging and enjoyable project yet.  After dark, she enjoys writing, ideally with a bowl of raisins on one side and a large mug of caffeine on the other.  She thanks her folks and her fiancé from the bottom of her heart for making her dreams come true.

Marvin L. Mallory (Gremio/King Edward IV) is making his debut with CSF. He has appeared at other theaters over the years including Karamu, The Beck Center, Lakeland, and CCC to name a few. Some of his favorite characters are Booker T. Washington in Ragtime, The Musical, Hoke in Driving Miss Daisy, Crooks in Of Mice and Men, and The Creature in Frankenstein,1930. His movie credits include Farmhouse, Dead Silent, and Expect A Miracle. He is currently playing the role of Lt. Charles B. Foster in an upcoming TV series, Out Of Darkness. He dedicates this performance, as he does all of his performances to the loving memory of his parents.

Carli Taylor Miluk (Bianca) - Carli is thrilled to be working with the Cleveland Shakespeare Festival again!  Last summer, Carli was seen as Faith in CSF's Sweet Love Adieu.  Carli is a new company member for Fourth Wall Productions and just appeared in their production of Stained Glass Ugly. She is fresh off a month-long European tour, performing for Armed Forces Entertainment as the host of a puppet show with Natural Bridges Puppet Production Company.  She has performed locally with such companies as Great Lakes Theater Festival, Stage Left Theater, MorrisonDance, and the Magic Mike / Cuidado Productions magic shows.  Carli has also choreographed and taught theater / dance classes at Olmsted Performing Arts, Brecksville Theater on the Square, and The Arts Academy. Carli graduated from Baldwin-Wallace College with a BA in Theater and Dance.

Cassie Neumann (Catesby/Cutris) -  Cassie is finally graduating from Kent State next spring with degrees in both Theatre and English Education. She has appeared in many roles at Kent, particularly in the B00, as well as directed several shows, including this year’s Student Theatre Fest show, Unwrap Your Candy. She is excited to be performing with CSF this summer and thanks to Allan and Larry for casting her. Thanks and shout outs as usual to la familia and friends!

Maya Ranganathan -  Maya is extremely excited to make her Cleveland Shakespeare Festival debut. In the fall, she will be a sophomore at New York University. She has performed in many shows at the Beck Center, and was part of their theater conservatory. Past credits include Stage Door, To Kill a Mockingbird, and Miracle Worker.

Lisa Siciliano (Kate) - is thrilled to be working with the Cleveland Shakespeare Festival this summer.  This past year she was recently seen in Ensemble's The Rose Tattoo, Red Hen and Charenton's Big Bard Broads, as Alice in Alice in Wonderland performed at the Bolton Theatre, and as Cassie in her own play, When the Wind Blows, as part of Cleveland Public Theatre's Big [BOX] series.  Recent directing credits include Dobama's Marilyn Bianchi's Kids' Playwriting Festival, An Evening of Luv, The Importance of Not Being Frank, Speak Truth to Power, and Brace for Impact at Cleveland Public Theatre. This past year Lisa has taught drama (she also instructs dance, Pilates, and science) at Brecksville Theater on the Square, the Solon Center for the Arts, Weathervane Playhouse, Beachwood Community Theatre, and Cleveland Public Theatre. She is currently the head teacher with a new summer arts academy for sixth and seventh grade Cleveland students called SmART in the City and the Cleveland coordinator for the Slightly Askew Theatre Company's summer workshops. Lisa graduated cum laude and with distinction in the theatre studies major from Yale University in 2005. She would like to thank Larry for his belief in her and dedicates this performance to the memory of Mrs. Donna.  (www.lisasiciliano.com)