A Midsummer Night's Dream
Cast and Crew
Vidushi Singh Baghel (Tom Snout, Moth, Dance Choreographer), an Indian individual, pursues acting as a passion and to feel freedom, while simultaneously working towards an MS-PhD in Chemistry and Nanoscience at Ewha Womans University for money and engages in dance to feel alive. Her academic background includes undergraduate and graduate degrees in Physics obtained in India. She actively contributed to theatre during her time at her previous Indian institution, participating in street plays, mime, skits, and backstage activities. She’s quite thrilled about her maiden performance in Seoul, which will be her first here. Hope to see everyone there and enjoy our performance.
Martin Boswell (Director) received training and a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from the College of Santa Fe in New Mexico. Some of his favorite past roles include Martin Vanderhoff in You Can’t Take it With You (Greer Garson Theatre) and Austin in True West (Boxcar Theatre). Shakespeare credits include Oberon in A Midsummer Night’s Dream (GMT Productions), Fabian in Twelfth Night, Helicanus and Bolt in Pericles, (Shakespeare in Santa Fe), Gloucester in King Lear, and Duke Vincentio in Measure for Measure (Seoul Shakespeare). Other credits with Seoul Shakespeare include Demon in My View, an adaptation of Edgar Allen Poe’s work, where he performed “The Raven”. This year’s production of A Midsummer Night’s Dream marks his first turn in the director’s chair.
Francesca Bujdák (Hippolyta, Peaseblossom, Costume Assistant) was born in Berlin, Germany, and studied acting for two years at Berliner Schule für Schauspiel. As a child voice actress for German TV and movies, she experienced the field of acting from a young age. She participated in several theater productions as well. Currently Francesca lives in Seoul, South Korea, and works for the costume team of Korean musicals and several theater productions as actress and costume designer. In 2023 she joined the costume team for the Korean musical production Mamma Mia and just returned from the tour in January 2024. A Midsummer Night's Dream is her second production with Seoul Shakespeare Company, followed by last year's production Measure for Measure, where she participated as costume designer and took the role of Juliet.
Amanda Conkey (Titania, Hair and Makeup Designer) is very excited to be a part of A Midsummer Night's Dream, one of her favorite Shakespeare plays! For Seoul Shakespeare Company, she acted in 2023's Measure for Measure, 2022's Demon in My View, and 2019's King Lear. She also participated in Seoul Player's 10 Minute Play Festivals in 2019 and 2022. Amanda studied Theatre at Eastern Connecticut State University, receiving a BA with a triple focus in Acting, Directing, and Stage Management. She wants to thank her friends and family for always supporting her and putting up with all the "Sorry I can't go, I have rehearsal," messages. She hopes you enjoy the show!
Jason Lane Cutler (Oberon, Producer) is an actor and tutor from the United States. For Seoul Shakespeare Company: Angelo in Measure for Measure; Montresor in Demon in My View; Kent in King Lear; Lancelot/Tubal/Jailer in The Merchant of Venice; Brandon in Garage (also a co-writer); First Lord/Jailer/Shepherd in The Winter’s Tale; and Borachio/Friar in Much Ado About Nothing. For Haeboma Theatre Company: Young William/Reporter in Hello, My Friend!. For Probationary Theatre: Andrew in Becky Shaw; Doctor Rank in A Doll’s House; and Declan in Goucho. Korean film roles include Rutherford Alcock in Birth and First Sergeant Greg in Swing Kids. Voice acting jobs have run the gamut of games, advertisements, museum guides, narration, reality shows, AI tutors, test preparation, and education.
Stevie Lee (Demetrius, Fight Choreographer) (they/she) is profoundly grateful and excited to be making their Seoul Shakespeare debut with A Midsummer Night's Dream. Stevie began their theatre obsession randomly one day in middle school when the actor playing Lucy Belle Bankhead got sick during their school's rendition of Gone With the Gust. Stevie lends much of their training from Horizon Theatre Apprenticeship Company and A-Town Throw Down based out of Atlanta, Georgia. Their past works include directing Weirdo, 7 Min-Shakes, and Shattered– as well as performing as May in Miss American Dream at Roll Call Theatre. Stevie would like to thank the cast and crew for allowing them to thrive once again in the theatre community!
Jiwoon Ha (Costume Designer) started acting in Berlin, Germany, in 2014. Starting with an immersive theater called MEAT performed in Schaubuehne, Berlin, she worked in productions both large and small for two years. After returning to Korea, she continued her acting career and met SSC through King Lear in 2019. She is working in various fields related to the theater, such as acting, assistant director, coordinator and costume team. In 2021, she entered Dongguk University's Graduate School of Digital Image and Content and studied for an MFA degree in acting and directing. Her dream is to be on the stage even when she becomes a grandmother. She hopes to be with SSC, which has become a family, for a long time.
India Harper (Robin Starveling, Mustardseed) is from the United States. At a young age she found her passion in the media and theatre field. Her first inspiration for acting was her mother. She was a eccentric women who shined on stage and India wanted to follow in her footsteps. In high school, she was a part of her school’s media club, where she was able to experiment with cameras and participate in the school’s broadcasting team. Then she joined her high school’s forensics team, where she was able to compete against other schools with monologues and team skits. After graduating, she needed a change of scenery and moved to Korea. Korea has brought a lot of opportunities for her to act in front and also work behind the camera. Thanks to the kindness of Seoul Shakespeare Company, she is once again allowed to perform on stage and is grateful for this opportunity.
Jamie Horan (Puck, Philostrate, Sound Designer) has been an active volunteer with SSC since their 2015 production of Titus Andronicus (Saturninus). Since then, he has appeared in Much Ado About Nothing (Benedick), The Winter's Tale (Leontes), Garage (David), and The Merchant of Venice (Antonio). In 2022, he adapted several of Edgar Allan Poe's short stories and poems for SSC's production of Demon in My View: An Hour with Edgar Allan Poe, also playing Fortunato in "The Cask of Amontillado." Jamie also directed SSC's 2023 main stage production of Measure for Measure, for which he also wrote the music. He is thrilled to return to the stage and hopes you enjoy the show.
Charles Jeong (Theseus, Producer) is the artistic director of Seoul Shakespeare Company. He is committed to the company’s goal of presenting Shakespeare’s works to audiences in Korea by producing shows, translating the plays, designing graphics, and making subtitles. His biggest passion for Shakespeare, however, lies in acting the characters. As an actor, he has performed in numerous productions in both English and Korean. His former roles include Chiron in Titus Andronicus (2014), Claudio in Much Ado About Nothing (2016), Autolycus in The Winter's Tale (2017), Lorenzo in The Merchant of Venice (2018), Edgar in King Lear (2019), and Lucio in Measure for Measure (2023).
Carolyn Kegel (Helena) (she/her) is a classically-trained actor from the United States, who has called NYC, London, and now Seoul, home. After graduating from Columbia University, Carolyn received her MA in Classical Acting from the London Academy of Music & Dramatic Art (LAMDA) in 2018. She has worked Off-Off-Broadway and in various US regional theaters; select credits include Agamemnon in Troilus & Cressida, Julius Caesar in Julius Caesar, Belinda Blair in Noises Off, Gwendolen Fairfax in The Importance of Being Earnest, and The Player in Rosencrantz & Guildenstern Are Dead. This is her first production with Seoul Shakespeare Company, and she is incredibly humbled and grateful to be making her acting debut in Korea.
Rory Kelly (Lysander) is a comedian, improvisor and actor. Much like Shakespeare, he hails from the West Midlands but unlike Shakespeare, he now lives in Itaewon. He can be followed @rorykellycomedy on Instagram.
Amie Ko (Lighting Designer) is a border trotter of many cultures. Growing up trilingual, she always found fascination in words. She majored in English and minored in Theatre Design at National Taiwan University. Being utterly obsessed with words, lighting, and how the two worlds collide from page to stage, she has been a part of a couple musicals, a few fringe festivals, and hopefully many more Shakespeare plays to come.
Jungsoo Lee (Cobweb, Hair and Makeup Designer) is a model and actor based in Seoul. She discovered a passion for the art of acting and theatre through expat theatre groups in Seoul. Her previous roles include Iris and the Inspector in Seoul Players' production of The Birds, the older sister in the horror play Paper and Ink, and Esther in the independent film Become a Yes Bitch. Last year, she made her Shakespeare debut as the Messenger in Measure for Measure with Seoul Shakespeare Company. She is thrilled to delve into the world of Shakespeare once again. For more updates on her work, follow her on Instagram @dahllee.
Stephan Matthee (Francis Flute) is a South African actor hailing from Cape Town. He graduated from Stellenbosch University with a BA in English & Political Science and a B.Phil in journalism. He recently performed as Jerry in Harold Pinter's Betrayal as well as several pieces in the annual 10 Minute Play Festivals. A Midsummer Night's Dream is his first production with SSC.
Joe McPherson (Snug, Egeus) returns to the stage after this production pulled him out of a thirty-year hiatus. He runs The Dark Side of Seoul Ghost Walk, telling tales of dark history, scandals, and massacres. In his twenty years in Korea, Joe has dabbled in voice acting, podcasting, travel show hosting, children’s TV acting, and broadcasting. In his previous chapters, Joe was a TV director, radio producer, and acted in some favorite roles, like The Voice of Audrey 2 in Little Shop of Horrors, King Pellinore in Camelot, Mayor Shinn in The Music Man, and other roles where he’s had to wear a fake beard or nose. Joe is ecstatic to join this talented cast to take another crack at playing Egeus, which he also did in high school while battling a case of pneumonia.
Grace Vogel Palmer (Scene Designer) is a theater artist from Seattle, Washington. She has been participating in theater since a young age and went on to receive a BS in Theater from Skidmore College in New York where she trained in all aspects of theater production, from acting to design to backstage work. Now, she is pursuing a Masters in Arts Administration. Her goal is to support organizations and artists in the crosscultural transfer of arts between the United States and Korea. Although she has worked on many Shakespeare productions in the past, this is her first time working with Seoul Shakespeare Company and she has loved getting to know the cast and crew.
Kat Rosner (Assistant Stage Manager) is an actor, director, and teacher from the United States. After graduating from the University of North Carolina at Wilmington with a B.A. in Theatre Performance and a B.A. in English Literature, she moved to Beijing, China, to begin teaching. After moving to Seoul in 2020, and missing performing immensely, Kat began her involvement in the theatre community here by playing Lucinda in Camarata’s Into the Woods. Since then, she has worked again with Camarata playing Audrey in Little Shop of Horrors and Sally in You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown. Kat was also seen as a Conventionalist in Seoul Players’ 2022 Rocky Horror Shadowcast, and made her directorial debut for their 2022 10-Minute Play Festival. Kat is excited to be working with Seoul Shakespeare for the first time, and is very grateful to the lovely cast and crew for welcoming her with open arms.
Maria Fernanda Silva (Nick Bottom) is from Venezuela and is a Seoul-based actress, director, and teaching artist. She holds a BA in Theatre from Hanyang University and is currently pursuing a MFA in Theatre for Young Audiences at Korea National University of Arts. She has had the great honor and pleasure to be involved with the expat theatre community since 2016, including Seoul Shakespeare Company productions of Much Ado About Nothing (Assistant Director, Assistant Stage Manager), King Lear (Cordelia) and Measure for Measure (Kate Keepdown/ Gentleman 1/ Froth); and Seoul Players’ main stage production of The Birds (Trochilus/ Leader/Chorus) as well as 10-minute play festival(s).
Sarah Smith (Stage Manager) is an American literature teacher who has spent the last decade living in South Korea. She has had the pleasure of stage managing three productions with Seoul Shakespeare Company, including the deadly Demon in My View, weighty Measure for Measure, and spellbinding A Midsummer Night's Dream. This experience has helped her to fall even more in love with the craft of theater as long days, tireless commitment, and raw energy punctuate each performance. She is eternally grateful to her husband for sacrificing weekend dates and to the actors and crew for sharing their passion while bearing it all on and off the stage. Community theater is truly a celebration of a shared vision. All she can say now is, "[y]et but three? come one more!"
Craig Wainwright (Peter Quince) studied theatre at the National School of the Arts in Johannesburg South Africa before heading to the University of Witwatersrand to graduate in Performance Studies and Physical Theatre. After performing in a variety of theatrical productions from Shakespeare's Othello to his own one-man show involving a mop and copious amounts of bad kung fu, Craig decided to put his career on hold to try a new life in Korea. But the stage was always his true home and the chance to return to it for Seoul Shakespeare Company was too good of an opportunity to pass.
Holly-Lana Wright (Hermia) is a teacher and actress from the United Kingdom with a BA in Performing Arts. In the UK, she worked on her first roles in musicals such as Fame and Hairspray while later on, she could be found acting in contemporary plays with such roles as Mia in That Face and Rosie in Things I Know to be True and accompanied such roles with work behind the scenes as a keen supporter of local arts. This is her first undertaking of a Shakespearian role and she couldn’t be more pleased than to be making her debut with Seoul Shakespeare Company.
