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"The best actors in the world, either for tragedy, comedy, history, pastoral, pastoral-comical, historical-pastoral, tragic al-historical, tragical-comical-historical-pastoral, scene individable, or poem unlimited:"

-Hamlet Act II, Scene 2

he Underground Shakespeare Company was founded in January 2001 by Akiva Fox and Nigel Caplan at the University of Pennsylvania. Our mission is to produce high quality, no-nonsense plays by Shakespeare and his contemporaries. We use a variety of approaches to bring the plays alive, and to break down the barriers between actors and audience.

The Underground Shakespeare Company is resident at Harnwell College House, and usually performs in their beautiful Rooftop Lounge. From this comfortable lounge, 25 stories above the ground, the audience is treated to a panoramic view of Philadelphia, helping to create the fun, informal atmosphere which characterizes our group.

The Undergroundlings are a company of players - we have no committees or hierarchies, and we do not distinguish between actors in principal or secondary roles, musicians and techies. We all work together on all aspects of the production, and have a lot of fun in the process. Our philosophy calls for short rehearsal periods which stress the meaning of the text. The result is an authentic, organic performance.

As a company, we choose plays to perform and projects to undertake. We are an amateur student group, and we just want to put on plays that we enjoy preparing and that audiences enjoy watching.


How to get involved

Company auditions for actors, musicians and technical crew will be held before each production, and will announced on this web-site, on email listservs and on posters around the Penn campus. Please check here for details of our next production.

Join our e-mailing list!
If you would like to be added to our electronic mailing list which we will use to announce auditions and performances, please email us at Info@undergroundshakespeare.com

The Underground Shakespeare Company welcomes members from throughout the Penn community: undergraduates, graduates, visiting scholars and anyone remotely affiliated to this or any other local university.

Meet the Undergroundlings

The Cast and Crew of
TAMING OF THE SHREW

THE PLAYERS
(In alphabetical order)

Cyndi Chung (Hortensio)

cyndiCyndi Chung is chronically depressed from rehearsal after rehearsal in which she repeatedly hopes for and loses the girl of her dreams.


Kate Davis (Petruchio)

kateAs a litlte girl, Kate Davis dreamed of having a pony, a puppy and handsome husband. Today, The Underground Shakespeare Company makes those dreams come true. Horribly, horribly true.


J. Michael DeAngelis (Grumio)
jmichaelJ. Michael DeAngelis is the best selling author of101 Things To Do In Yellow Stockings.

Phil Deerwester (Widow)

PhilPhil Deerwester just wanted to wear the little black dress.


Stephanie Deerwester (Merchant)

StephStephanie Deerwester was warned that when she moved to Philadelphia her life would change. However, she never expected to become a father.


Megan Edelman (Baptista)

meganMegan Edelman can next be seen as Big Daddy in Cat on a Hot Tin Roof. Other memorable roles include Willy Loman in Death of a Salesman, Father in Ragtime and, perhaps most memorably, Grandpapa in Peter and the Wolf.


Willa Granger (Gremio)

willaWilla Granger is grateful that her seniority, sagacity, and grizzly beard landed her the part of creepy old man.


Jaclyn Hall (Vincento)

jacylnAccording to insider reports, Jaclyn Hall is slated to star alongside Mickey Rooney in next summer's breakout hit Grumpy Old Men III.



Jeremy LaBuff (Curtis)

jeremyJeremy LaBuff is rubber and you're glue: he prevents pregnancy and AIDS, while you get eaten by kindergarteners.


Andrew Matas (Biondello)

andrewIf you enjoyed Andrew Matas in Taming of the Shrew, you can also catch him at Bob & Barbara's every Thursday night, where he performs under the name "Cheri".


Devin Plantamura (Bianca)

devinThe role of Devin Plantamura will be played by Bea Arthur.


Scott Sheldon (Kate)

scottScott Sheldonwould like to thank Matt Daigle, Nate Gill (aka The Spineless Weasel), and any of the men he has dated throughout the years who have proven themselves to be emotionally warped and romantically challenged.  Without your inspirational ravings, he never would have been able to channel the crazy necessary to become the damaged Katherina.  Scott would like to remind the audience, however, that this admission by no means suggests that he has lost his optimism regarding dating.  


Caiti Sommers (Lucentio)

caitiCaiti Sommers continues the age old theatrical tradition of a woman playing a man playing a servant playing a school teacher - much like Julie Andrews in The Sound of Victor/Victoria.


Amelia Williams (Tranio)

AmeliaAfter being cast solely in male roles since her acting career began in 6th grade, Amelia Williams thinks she may have finally found her perfect match in Tranio. Her upcoming projects include the highly anticipated new series Transamerica:Cross(dress)ing the Pond, the novel Transcendental Tranio and the Children's version, Tranio and the Hot Tranny Mess. In her spare time Amelia can be found somewhere between South and Lombard, hanging out with the Queen of England. No really, the actual Queen.





THE PRODUCTION STAFF


Maura Krause (Director/"The Nigel")

MauraMaura Krause's mother was shocked by this production of Taming of the Shrew and is certain yours will be too.



Mike DeLiso (Lights)

mike deliso Mike DeLiso has proven once again that the extension cord heavy portfolio pays off.



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