DIGITAL PROGRAM

Flock Theatre Presents

Romeo & Juliet

By William Shakespeare

Director - Derron Wood
Assistant Director- Erin Roberts
Stage Manager - Kristen Rowe
Costumer - Laura Galgowski
Board Operator/Tech Assistance- Ryan Zemanek
Costume Assistance - Vic Miles, Annie Rowlenson, Amanda Artsea, Skyla Bedard
Set Construction- Kevin Murphy

Cast 
Brandon Tyler- Romeo 
Virginia Keister- Juliet
Sally Derusha- Benvolio
Barbara Bloemink- The Nurse 
Cindy Harris- Lady Capulet
Tom Nunan- Capulet 
C.R. Gasta- Mercutio
Ren Fontes- Paris
Kip Hashagen- Friar Laurence
Bob Olson- Friar John 
Erin E. Roberts- Tybalt
Andy Roestenburg- Prince 
Paul Zotos- Montague  
Charles Clancy- Ensemble 
Lily Sullivan- Ensemble
Skyla Bedard- Ensemble
Seamus Sheehan-Gaumer- Ensemble 

CAST/Crew BIOS

Skyla Bedard (Ensemble) has been on stage with Flock twice before and has had prior experience backstage. She would like to thank Charlie Clancy for getting her into the show.

Barbara Bloemink (The Nurse) has worked in both film and theater. Theater highlights include performing Boyet in Shakespeare’s Love’s Labour Lost with Manhattan’s Hudson Classical Theater Company, Tracey in Lynn Nottage’s Sweat and Martha in Edward Albee’s Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf (NYC Boroughs); and locally, performing with Westerly’s Granite Theater, Theater Under the Shell, Niantic, and the Mystic Arts Theater Coalition. She is deeply appreciative of the opportunity to perform in her fourth production with FLOCK Theater Company. Bloemink received her training at the Stella Adler Conservatory in New York and the Royal College of Dramatic Arts in London.

Charles Clancy (Ensemble) Charles is excited to be working with Flock again! Charles recent roles include Jack in The Importance of Being Ernest and SpongeBob in SpongeBob the Musical Jr. Charles has worked with the East Lyme Middle School drama club, East Lyme High School drama club, East Lyme Regional Theater, and the Depot. Charles appreciates the opportunity to work with such a wonderful cast and crew.

Sally Derusha (Benvolio). This is her first play with Flock Theatre. She has acted at Niantic Bay Playhouse, Granite Theatre, Chestnut Street Playhouse, and Groton Regional Theater. This is her first performance as a man. She has thoroughly enjoyed working with the whole Flock entourage!

Ren Fontes (Paris) is excited to be performing in his first show with Flock Theatre. When not acting, Ren works as a Lead Editor and journalist for GameRant. Ren's past roles include Orsino (Twelfth Night), John Smith (Run For Your Wife), Lysander (A Midsummer Night's Dream), Macbeth (Macbeth), and Posthumus Leonatus (Cymbeline). 

C.R. Gasta (Mercutio): is a 2025 transplant from Brooklyn, NY, of 18 years to the secluded enclave of East Lyme. Reconnecting with Flock Theater has been a wonderful treat. C.R. is a master pantomime artist, actor, writer, and choreographer. Learning physical theater from experts in Georgia transformed C’s path as a performer; shout-out to Synetic Theater. C’s been in a national pharma commercial, done years of writing and performing sketch comedy, pantomimed an Italian madrigal backed by a cappella singing group Western Wind, and had the opportunity that pulled her creative mind out of the lockdown post-pandemic: pantomiming for The American Classical Orchestra’s PBS Online Arts for Learning production of Peter and the Wolf. Enjoy the show!

Cindy Harris (Lady Capulet): This is Cindy’s first production with Flock. She regularly appears in productions all over the state, including: Harvey (Betty), Steel Magnolias (Truvy), The Musical Murders of 1940 (Elsa), Plaza Suite (Jean) & How the Other Half Loves (Teresa). She makes her CT directorial debut this August, with the Orange Players, in their Act Up! 10 Min Playfest. She resides in Middletown, where her greatest role is as a proud and busy mom of three teen boys, who see every show she’s in, even the “boring” ones.

Kip Hashagen (Friar Laurence) has appeared in nine Flock Summer Shakespeare productions since the 90's, including Twelfth Night, A Midsummer Night's Dream, Henry IV Part 1 and The Tempest. Typecast as a priest, he played Friar Francis in the first Flock Much Ado About Nothing and will portray Pastor Manders in the upcoming production of Ibsen's Ghosts. He also played Judge Brack, (definitely not a priest), in last year's Hedda Gabler.

Virginia Keister (Juliet) is so excited to be back with Flock! She was last seen in the Arboretum in 2024 as Celia in As You Like It. She is a recent graduate of the University of Pittsburgh Theatre Arts program, where she worked as a director, actor, fight choreographer, intimacy director, dramaturg, producer, and more. She is also the Resident Director and Artistic Director of Rhode Island's Chariho Summer Stages Program. Other recent performance credits include Into the Woods (Jack’s Mother; Fight Choreographer) and As You Like It (musical) (Celia). Thank you, Flock!!!

Tom Nunan (Capulet) has appeared in Twelfth Night, Macbeth, Goodnight Desdemona (Good Morning Juliet), and The Importance of Being Earnest, among others, often in some far-flung locations, including Guam and Alaska. Since returning to settle in this area, he has appeared in holiday shows at the Mystic Seaport as well as A Few Good Men, at Norwich’s Chestnut Street Playhouse. He is excited to be in his first Flock Theatre production. 

Bob Olson (Friar John) has enjoyed working with Flock over the last six years. He received his BA in theatre from the Claremont Colleges; and has acted, and directed with theatre companies in CA, MT, WA, OR, and CT. He has done productions with Cheshire, E.Hampton, Broadbrook, and Granite theatres since coming to CT. He believes that Stanislavski said it best “There are no small parts….”

Erin E. Roberts (Tybalt) is an actor, director, improviser, and educator whose professional work spans stage and screen. She made her Flock debut twenty-one years ago in a production of Henry V alongside her father and brother Tim, and it remains one of her favorite memories to date. Erin is SO excited to be treading the arboretum sod again while crossing another Shakespeare play performed off the list. Thanks to Derron, the Cast, and Flock Crew for this opportunity to "speak the speech." 

Andy Roestenburg (Prince) is thrilled to be appearing again in a Flock Theatre production. He has previously appeared as Malvolio in Twelfth Night, Benedick in Much Ado About Nothing, the Dauphin in Henry V, Nathaniel Shaw Jr in The Burning of Benedict Arnold, and St John/Richard Mason in Jane Eyre. Andy has performed with numerous companies in both Australia and the United Kingdom, with past roles including Laertes in Hamlet, Antonio and Trinculo in The Tempest, Guildenstern in Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead, and Melchior Gabor in Spring Awakening. In addition to working with Flock Theatre, Andy is proud to co-facilitate the Unified Theatre program at New London High School Multi-Magnet Campus. 

Seamus Sheehan-Gaumer (Ensemble) will be in 9th grade at New London High School in the Fall. Captivated by the theater from an early age, he was Cruella De Vil in Nathan Hale Elementary's production of 101 Dalmatians. In middle school, he performed in the high school production of It's A Wonderful Life (Mr. Potter). Seamus recently enrolled in The Flock's Shakespeare Academy and is so excited to learn from his fellow actors. 

Lily Sullivan (Ensemble) is very excited to be in their third Flock Theater production. Past roles include, The Duke Of Weaslton in Frozen Jr., The Sea Witch in The Little Mermaid, 3 Summer on stage productions, Narrator in The Absolutely Insidious And Utterly Terrifying Truth About Cat Hair, Helen Burns & Alice in Jane Erye, a junior Mermaid performer for Mystical Mermaids, Nun #10 in Sister Act, a foley artist in It’s a Wonderful Life: Radio Show, and ensemble in As You Like It. Lily also likes singing, art, and horror games, and is surrounded by lots of people whose names start with the letter J. 

Brandon Tyler (Romeo) is a Philadelphia-based actor and is excited to rejoin Flock for their summer Shakespeare in the Arboretum. Some previous shows with Flock include Oedipus Rex, Comedy of Errors, Pride and Prejudice, Titus Andronicus, and Macbeth.

Paul Zotos (Montague) is pleased to be back for a second summer with Flock Theatre, having played Leonato in last year’s Much Ado About Nothing. Prior to retiring from teaching, he appeared onstage infrequently but directed over 50 shows with high school student actors and technicians at Ledyard High School and, later, at Great Path Academy at Manchester Community College. In addition to guitar and violin, Paul keeps busy in retirement working on a memoir of his thirty years in educational theatre. The opportunity to do Shakespeare in the Arboretum is yet another delightful retirement benefit!

Kristen Rowe (Stage Manager) is an associate artist at Flock Theatre and has worked with them for over 23 years mostly in the role as a stage manager. Recent acting credits include Lion in A Midsummer Night's Dream, Hecate in Macbeth and Cathleen in Long Day’s Journey Into Night for one performance. Thank you to Derron and Victor for all of your continued support. 

Derron Wood (Director) is Flock’s Executive Artistic Director. A graduate of Connecticut College, Derron also trained with the Eugene O’Neill Memorial Theatre Center & attended the Leningrad State Institute of Music, Theatre & Cinematography in Leningrad. From 1986 to 1989 he studied Shakespeare under Morris Carnovsky. Derron’s early work in masks & puppetry earned Flock an invitation to become part of the National Puppetry Conference at the Eugene O’Neill Theatre Center in 1997. Derron has developed numerous educational- based residencies for schools & museums throughout Connecticut. He is a recipient of Connecticut’s Master Teaching Artist Status, awarded by the Connecticut Commission on the Arts. He is also a Mentor for the Master Teaching Artist Program.

Flock Plot- Romeo & Juliet

PROLOGUE
The audience is told of the play’s plot: the Montagues and the Capulets, wealthy families in Verona, Italy, hate each other. Romeo, a Montague, and Juliet, a Capulet, fall in love and take their lives, putting their “parents’ rage” to rest.

ACT I

Scene 1- In the streets of Verona, a group of servants from the house of Capulets encounter servants from the house of Montague. They exchange words and are about to fight until Benvolio (Montague) and Tybalt (Capulet) enter and duel. The Prince enters and breaks up the fight, warning that anyone who starts another brawl will be put to death. Lord Montague and Benvolio talk about how Romeo has been depressed and moody lately and Benvolio resolves to find out why. Romeo enters and we find out that he’s heartbroken about a girl who doesn’t “love” him back, Rosalind. Despite Benvolio’s attempts to cheer him up, Romeo storms off still upset.

Scene 2- Lord Capulet meets with Paris, a nobleman in town, who asks for Capulet’s daughter, Juliet’s, hand in marriage. Capulet says she is too young and instead invites Paris to a masquerade party at their house later that evening. He sends his servant off with a list of invites (although the servant cannot read). Romeo and Benvolio enter still arguing and the servant asks them to read the letter for him. Not knowing who they are (Montagues), the servant invites them to the party and Benvolio convinces Romeo to crash it and find another girl to forget about Rosalind.

Scene 3- Back at the Capulet’s house we meet Lady Capulet, Juliet, and her Nurse. The Nurse goes on and on about how she remembers how old Juliet is because of a funny story from when Juliet was a child. Lady Capulet informs Juliet that Paris will be at the party, and that Juliet should court him so that she may marry into a respectable family.

Scene 4- Romeo, Benvolio, and their friend Mercutio, who is kinsmen to the prince and therefore invited to the Capulet’s party, all head to the masquerade. Romeo is having second thoughts about going due to a powerful dream he had, presaging misfortune and doom. Mercutio, fed up with Romeo’s reluctance, tells them about Queen Mab, the fairy who causes dreams and nightmares. Finally they convince Romeo to go and have fun.

Scene 5- At the party Romeo spots Juliet and falls in love at first sight. Tybalt, angered by the Montague’s presence tries to fight with Romeo but Capulet stops him and embarrasses him for making a “mutiny among [his] guests”. Romeo and Juliet flirt and kiss and find out which families they are from. Tybalt swears revenge.

ACT II

Scene 1- Romeo hides in the Capulet’s Orchard as Benvolio and Mercutio drunkenly call out to him. Juliet appears on her balcony and contemplates the importance of names. “Roses”, “Romeo”, “Capulet”, “Montague”.  Romeo makes his presence known and Juliet asks that if he’s serious about love, that he’ll send word of marriage to her by the next day.

Scene 2- Friar Laurence is up early to pick plants for his apothecary experiments. Romeo enters and tells him of Juliet. The Friar agrees to marry them in hopes it might put their families’ feuding to rest.

Scene 3- Mercutio and Benvolio find out that Tybalt, who they know is a great swordsman, sent a letter to Romeo’s house, challenging him to a fight. Romeo enters and jokes around with them. Juliet’s Nurse comes by and finds out Romeo’s intentions to marry Juliet.

Scene 4- Juliet paces in her room waiting for the news. The Nurse, after busting Juliet’s chops, tells her to get to Friar Laurence’s cell, where Romeo will be waiting to get married. The Nurse goes elsewhere to fetch a rope ladder so Romeo may sneak into Juliet’s room that night.

Scene 5- Romeo and Juliet are secretly married.

INTERMISSION

ACT III

Scene 1- That day, Mercutio is riled up and looking for a fight. Tybalt enters looking for Romeo. Romeo comes and, now being secretly married to a Capulet, refuses to fight. Mercutio steps in and fights with Tybalt. Romeo tries to stop the fight and, under his arm, Tybalt fatally stabs Mercutio. Mercutio dies. Romeo and Tybalt fight, and Tybalt is slain as well. After Romeo flees, the Prince, Capulets, and Montagues enter to see the two dead bodies. The Prince exiles Romeo and threatens death if he is seen again in Verona.

Scene 2- Juliet waits for night and Romeo to come to her so that they may consummate their marriage. The Nurse brings the news of Tybalt’s death and Romeo’s exile. The Nurse promises to bring Romeo to Juliet’s chamber that night.

Scene 3- Hiding a Friar Laurence’s cell, Romeo is delivered the news of his exile. He laments on how that is worse than death because he can never see Juliet again. The Nurse enters and tells him how Juliet is. Romeo, desperate, tries to kill himself but the Friar talks sense into him and tells him to go comfort Juliet.

Scene 4- Late at night, Lord Capulet comes up with a plan to cheer up his daughter, who seems to be weeping over Tybalt’s death. He agrees to have Paris marry her on Thursday morning.

Scene 5- Romeo and Juliet awake from their night together. Romeo leaves to avoid being caught. Lady Capulet delivers the news of marriage to Juliet and Juliet refuses. Lord Capulet is enraged by this and threatens to disown her. Juliet goes to Friar Laurence in hopes of finding a way out.

ACT IV

Scene 1- Paris is arranging plans for the wedding with Friar Laurence when Juliet arrives. After Paris leaves, Juliet begs Friar for anything that might help her avoid the marriage and the Friar gives her a sleeping potion that will make it appear as though she’s dead. After she’s laid in the family tomb, he promises to send word to Romeo so that they may run away together.

Scene 2- Juliet apologizes to her father and agrees to the marriage.

Scene 3- After deceiving her family, Juliet takes the potion before going to bed.

Scene 4- Her seemingly dead body is discovered and the Friar agrees to handle the ceremonies.

ACT V

Scene 1- Romeo, in Mantua, has another dream that everything will turn out fine. Benvolio enters and delivers the news of Juliet’s death. Distraught, Romeo resolves to kill himself in Juliet’s tomb by drinking a poison that he buys from a nearby apothecary.

Scene 2- The Friar finds out that his letter to Romeo, explaining the plan, was not delivered and fears that Romeo may do something rash.

Scene 3- Paris visits Juliet’s tomb and is interrupted by Romeo. Romeo kills Paris and says goodbye to his love before drinking the poison and dying. The Friar finds the dead bodies and tries to take Juliet away from the tomb as she awakens next to Romeo but she refuses. She then kills herself by stabbing herself with Romeo’s dagger. The Prince and company enter to find the bloody scene. The Friar is brought forth and tells everyone what had really happened between Romeo and Juliet. The Prince doles out punishments and orders their story to be told as a warning to all the land.