Joseph McGrath (Director) is a graduate of the Juilliard School of Drama and is the Artistic Director for The Rogue Theatre. For The Rogue, Joe authored and directed Immortal Longings, and directed The Grapes of Wrath, A House of Pomegranates, Uncle Vanya (2016 Mac Award for Best Director), The Bridge of San Luis Rey, By the Bog of Cats, The Lady in the Looking Glass, Dante’s Purgatorio, Mistake of the Goddess, Mother Courage and Her Children, As I Lay Dying, The Real Inspector Hound (2010 Mac Award for Best Director), The Decameron, Our Town, Red Noses, Endymion, The Maids (winner of the Arizona Daily Star 2007 Mac Award for Best Play), and The Balcony. Joe was most recently seen as Voice Four/Rev. Peters in The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time, Galileo in Galileo (2018 Mac Award for Best Actor), Lear in King Lear, Macbeth in Macbeth, Fitz in Penelope, in the ensemble of The White Snake, Roy Cohn in Angels in America Part One: Millennium Approaches, Mr. Taylor in Tales of the Jazz Age, a singing peasant in Miss Julie, as Claudius in Hamlet and Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead, Lord Henry Wotton in The Picture of Dorian Gray, Shylock in The Merchant of Venice, Vladimir in Waiting for Godot, Johnnie ‘Rooster’ Byron in Jerusalem, Myron Berger in Awake and Sing, Bernard Nightingale in Arcadia, Duke Vincentio in Measure for Measure, and Richard, Duke of Gloucester in Richard III. In 2009 Joe won the Arizona Daily Star Mac Award for Best Actor for his portrayal of Tobias in A Delicate Balance. He has toured with John Houseman’s Acting Company, performed with the Utah Shakespearean Festival, and he is a frequent performer with Ballet Tucson appearing in The Hunchback of Notre Dame, Cinderella, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Dracula and The Nutcracker. He has also performed with Arizona Theatre Company, Arizona Opera, Tucson Art Theatre, and Arizona OnStage. Joe owns, with his wife Regina Gagliano, Sonora Theatre Works, which produces theatrical scenery and draperies.
Joseph McGrath’s direction of Much Ado About Nothing is supported in part by a generous gift from Kathleen McGrath & Jerry James.

Bryn Booth (Hero) is a graduate of the BFA Acting program at the University of Arizona. She was most recently seen in The Rogue’s production of The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time. This is Bryn’s second season as a member of Resident Acting Ensemble with The Rogue where she has performed as Little Monk (Galileo), Regan (King Lear), Rose of Sharon (The Grapes of Wrath), Sybil (A House of Pomegranates), and Lady Macduff (Macbeth). Other credits include Mag in Lovers and Gowdie Blackmun in The Love Talker with the Scoundrel & Scamp Theatre, Juliet in Romeo & Juliet (Tucson Shakespeare in the Park), and Bianca in Othello (Arizona Repertory Theatre). In recent years, she had the pleasure of understudying with Arizona Theatre Company in Romeo & Juliet as Lady Montague and Lady Capulet, and Of Mice and Men as Curley’s Wife. Bryn is ecstatic to spend another season at The Rogue creating beautiful performances with talented artists.
Bryn Booth’s performance is supported in part by a generous gift from Anne & Ed Griffith.

Claire De La Vergne(Margaret) is delighted to return to The Rogue where she was recently seen in Galileo. She graduated from the University of Arizona with her BA in Theatre Arts and has been training with The Bennett TheatreLab and Conservatory for the past 3 years. Upcoming performances include Blood Wedding with The Scoundrel and Scamp Theatre. Claire would like to thank her parents for believing in her endlessly and for their unwavering love and support.
Claire De La Vergne’s performance is supported in part by a generous gift from Meg & Peter Hovell.

Harold Dixon (Leonato) is performing for the first time at The Rogue. He has performed at Arizona Theatre Company in Diary of Anne Frank, King Charles III, Ella, A Streetcar Named Desire, Much Ado About Nothing, and others. Off-Broadway, he has performed at the 92nd St Y and Kirk Theatre-Theatre Row. Harold was also part of the National Tour of Ella. Regionally he has performed at The Guthrie, Long Wharf, Arena Stage, Pittsburgh Public, Cincinnati Playhouse, Actors Theatre of Louisville, Rep Theatre of St. Louis, Geva, Laguna Playhouse, Gloucester Stage, Kingsmen Shakespeare, Southwest Shakespeare, Shakespeare Sedona, Arizona Repertory Theatre, Phoenix Theatre, Actors Theatre of Phoenix, Phoenix Symphony, and Invisible Theatre. Most recently, Harold created the role of Adolphe Sax, the inventor of the saxophone, in the world premiere of Sax Degrees of Separation at Chamber Music Northwest in Portland, Oregon. He is Distinguished Professor Emeritus and founding artistic director of the Arizona Repertory Theatre at the School of Theatre, Film, & Television at the University of Arizona, where the Harold Dixon Directing Studio is named for him. He is a proud member of Actors Equity since 1973.
Harold Dixon’s performance is supported in part by a generous gift from Ann & Nils Hasselmo.

David Greenwood (Antonio) is a member of The Rogue Resident Acting Ensemble and has appeared at The Rogue in King Lear, The Grapes of Wrath, Celia A Slave, Macbeth, The White Snake, The Bridge of San Luis Rey, By the Bog of Cats, Hamlet, Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead, The Merchant of Venice, Waiting for Godot, Jerusalem, Awake and Sing, Purgatorio, Arcadia, Measure for Measure, Mistake of the Goddess, Richard III, Metamorphosis, Mother Courage, The Night Heron, Journey to the West, The Winter’s Tale, As I Lay Dying, Major Barbara, The Real Inspector Hound, The Decameron and The Rogue’s first production, The Balcony. David has appeared locally in Shining City and The Birthday Party at Beowulf Alley Theatre and The One-Armed Man, The Disposal and The Glass Menagerie at Tucson Art Theatre.
David Greenwood’s performance is supported in part by a generous gift from Todd Hansen, in memory of Lonny Baker.

Holly Griffith (Beatrice) is a 5th year member of the Resident Acting Ensemble at The Rogue. Favorite productions include The Curious Incident Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time, Three Tall Women, Celia A Slave, A House of Pomegranates, The White Snake, Uncle Vanya, Angels in America, By the Bog of Cats, Hamlet, and Arcadia. She also serves as a Box Officer and Co-Producer of the John & Joyce Ambruster Play-Reading Series at The Rogue. Holly holds an MA in English Literature from the University of Arizona where she now teaches in the department of Theatre, Film, & Television. She also serves as Artistic Associate and Director at the Scoundrel and Scamp Theatre, and maintains a fierce interest in the culture and literary tradition of Ireland.
Holly Griffith’s performance is supported in part by a generous gift from Carol Mangold, in memory of Bill Mangold.

Dave Hentz (Conrade) is both a New York actor and Tucson native, and is ecstatic to be returning to the Rogue after King Lear earlier this year. In New York City, he has recently appeared in Rob Dame’s Nowhere Man at the 2018 Broadway Bound Festival, The Laramie Project (Parts I & II), Merry Wives of Windsor, Rhinoceros, Conversations, King John, and Platonov. David is a graduate of the University of Arizona’s Acting Program (2015), where he appeared in Othello, Lend Me A Tenor, Midsummer Night’s Dream, The Fantasticks and Cymbeline. David would like to thank his friends, family and everyone at The Rogue Theatre for their brilliance and hospitality.
Dave Hentz’s performance is supported in part by a generous gift from Bev Bechtel.

Hunter Hnat (Claudio) is grateful to be in his first season as a member of The Rogue Resident Acting Ensemble. You may have seen him in previous Rogue productions as Christopher in The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time; Andrea in Galileo; Oswald in King Lear; Steindorff in Bach at Leipzig; and Ensemble for A House of Pomegranates. He has also been a part of The Rogue’s staged readings of The Illusion, No Exit, and Cloud 9. Other credits include Jokanaan in Salomé (The Scoundrel & Scamp); Ensemble and Romeo U/S in Romeo and Juliet (Arizona Theatre Company); Boyfriend in How the House Burned Down (Live Theatre Workshop) as well as several other workshops and readings. He is a U of A alumnus with his BFA in Musical Theatre, class of 2015. Enjoy the show!
Hunter Hnat’s performance is supported in part by a generous gift from Julia Annas.

Jay Hornbacher (Verges) is the only actor in the world who has fallen off the stage at both the Rogue Theatre (2017) and the Guthrie Theatre in Minneapolis (1996). There have been many other falls, but these are the only two from stages. His lack of grace at the University of Minnesota Theatre Department several centuries ago earned him the nickname “Fleetfoot,” which was not kindly applied. He is delighted to be in his third production at the Rogue, having performed in The Merchant of Venice and as Grandpa in last season’s The Grapes of Wrath, in which role he died early, though not from a fall. He has acted in or directed dozens of productions in Minneapolis and in the San Francisco Bay Area, mostly remaining upright. He is blessed to be married to Gayle Bintliff, who steadies and guides him in countless ways.
Jay Hornbacher’s performance is supported in part by a generous gift from Kristi Lewis.

Christopher Johnson (Don John) first came to The Rogue in 2011 to play Jewel in As I Lay Dying, and now serves as Artistic Associate and General Manager. Select acting credits include Joshua in Corpus Christi, Peter in Bug, The Master of Ceremonies in Cabaret (Mac Award Winner–Best Actor, Musical), Doug in Gruesome Playground Injuries, Pale in Burn This, and the title roles in Hedwig and the Angry Inch and Thom Pain: based on nothing. Christopher helps to produce The John & Joyce Ambruster Play-Reading Series for The Rogue, where he has directed readings of Elizabeth Rex, A House of Pomegranates, The River, Don Juan in Hell, No Exit, and most recently The Illusion. He was last seen on stage as Prior Walter in The Rogue’s production of Angels in America: Millennium Approaches (Mac Award Winner–Best Actor, Drama).
Christopher Johnson’s performance is supported in part by a generous gift from John & Joyce Ambruster.

John Keeney (Balthasar) is a multidisciplinary artist, active in theater, music, and the visual arts. A recent arrival to Tucson, this is John’s third endeavor with the Rogue Theater, having appeared in multiple roles in Galileo last September, and in the staged reading of The Illusion in December. Prior to that, he composed and performed the musical component of Scoundrel & Scamp Theater’s debut production, Two Plays for Lost Souls, and appeared as Bernard in their Studio Series production of Mickle Maher’s There Is a Happiness That Morning Is in 2017.
John Keeney’s performance is supported in part by a generous gift from Paul Winick & Ronda Lustman.

Ryan Parker Knox (Benedick) continues this season, his 7th in The Rogue’s Resident Acting Ensemble, with Much Ado About Nothing being his 33rd company production. Audiences will remember him from Arcadia (2014 Mac Award winner for drama), Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead, Uncle Vanya (2016 Mac Award winner for comedy), Jerusalem, King Lear, Galileo, and most recently The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time, among others. Ryan hails from South Dakota, but spent over a decade in Minnesota’s Twin Cities and surrounding regions where he appeared in over 90 productions. He received his BFA with an Acting Emphasis from the University of South Dakota in 1999. Ryan would like to thank the patrons and board of The Rogue for their never-ending support of art and of artists, and would like to thank his dearest loved ones for always having his back. Here’s to another inspired season of creativity and imagination!
Ryan Parker Knox’s performance is supported in part by a generous gift from Carol Mangold, in memory of Bill Mangold.

Steve McKee (Borachio) has appeared at The Rogue in The Grapes of Wrath, A House of Pomegranates, Awake and Sing, Measure for Measure, Richard III, Mother Courage and Her Children and The Winter’s Tale. Steve has been fortunate to play several wonderful and diverse roles, from Alan in God of Carnage to Roger DeBris in The Producers. Steve also performs with The Gaslight Theatre as well as many local theatre companies and has been featured in independent and student films. Thank you for supporting the arts!
Steve McKee’s performance is supported in part by a generous gift from Lori Levine & Gary Benna.

Christopher Pankratz (Friar Francis) is a Tucson native and University of Arizona graduate with a BFA in theatre production and a master’s degree in education. Christopher has recently performed at The Rogue in The Grapes of Wrath and King Lear and at the Scoundrel and Scamp in Lovers. He has previously acted and designed scenery for Arizona Onstage Productions. Currently Christopher teaches theatre at Flowing Wells High School where he has written and produced several plays including Black Friday, Frankenstein, Cuando Soñamos, Spinning Tales, The Longest Day of April, and Leave it to the Snakes. Christopher would like to thank his director, colleagues, family, friends, and students for their support and inspiration.
Christopher Pankratz’s performance is supported in part by a generous gift from Meg & Peter Hovell.

Cole Potwardowski (Seacoal) is excited to be returning to the Rogue, having previously appeared in last season’s The Grapes of Wrath. Other credits include Buried Child (Winding Road), Luna Gale (St. Francis), and a staged reading of Suzanne Lebeau’s The Sound of Cracking Bones—which goes into production in 2019. He earned his Associates in Theater at Pima Community College where he performed in the 2014-2015 and 2016-2017 seasons at The Center for the Arts. In 2017, he transferred to the University of Arizona to finish his Bachelor of Arts in Theater with a minor in Religious Studies, Buddhism. At the UA, he acted in and helped to dramaturg Erased, a variety of seven 10-minute original plays, and also enrolled in playwriting. Some of his written work will be staged at the University of Arizona in the Spring of 2019.
Cole Potwardowski’s performance is supported in part by a generous gift from Elizabeth & Gerald Whitaker.

Aaron Shand (Don Pedro) is thrilled to be in his first season as a member of The Rogue Theatre’s Resident Acting Ensemble, after having appeared as Sagredo in Galileo, Noah Joad in The Grapes of Wrath and Duke of Albany in King Lear. Born and raised in Tucson, he received his B.F.A. in Acting from the University of Arizona, performing for the Arizona Repertory Theatre in Bus Stop, The Miracle Worker and Romeo & Juliet. He also spent a season with the Milwaukee Repertory Theater, performing in The Cherry Orchard, State of the Union and A Christmas Carol. Aaron would like to thank his wife and two sons for sacrificing their evenings together so he can continue to pursue his passion.
Aaron Shand’s performance is supported in part by a generous gift from Chris Wozney.

Sarah Shannon (Ursula/The Watch) is a New Mexico native, and is so excited to be making her debut performance with The Rogue Theatre. Holding an MFA in Acting from Western Illinois University, she has recently appeared as Olivia in Sex with Strangers, Portia in Julius Caesar, Unrehearsed Shakespeare, Beth in Tribes, and Agnes in She Kills Monsters. Sarah teaches movement and stage combat in workshops throughout the world, and is completing her Instructor Apprenticeship with Fight Master Ian Rose of Fight Directors Canada and the Society of American Fight Directors. Sarah is incredibly grateful to the cast and crew of The Rogue Theatre for making this first production feel like a home away from home, and to her parents for their unending love, support, and guidance in reaching for the stars and beyond.
Sarah Shannon’s performance is supported in part by a generous gift from Julia Annas.

Matt Walley (Dogberry) is a member of The Rogue Theatre Resident Acting Ensemble and was most recently seen as Roger in The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time, Matti in Galileo, Edmund in King Lear and Uncle John in The Grapes of Wrath. He has enjoyed previous roles at The Rogue in Bach at Leipzig, Macbeth, Richard III, Journey to the West, The Winter’s Tale, Shipwrecked!, As I Lay Dying and Major Barbara. Last year, as an Artist in Residence at The Scoundrel and Scamp Theatre, Walley co-created and performed in Oaf. Matt is on the board of The Tucson Fringe Festival and also The Shakespeare Forum in New York City. His company, Theatre 3, created new work for Live Theatre Workshop’s late night series Etcetera including Theatrum Orbis Terrarum and Mixtape. He graduated from Dell’Arte International in 2009 with an MFA in Physical Ensemble Theatre. He has also performed with The Pinnacle Peak Pistoleros and their Wild West Stunt Shows, Stories that Soar!, and Live Theatre Workshop
Matt Walley’s performance is supported in part by a generous gift from Bill & Barbara Dantzler.

Dance

Claire Hancock, Choreographer

Claire Hancock (Dance choreographer) holds a Master of Arts degree in European Dance Theatre from Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance in London, England, and earned both a Bachelor and Master of Fine Arts degree in dance from the University of Arizona. In 2009 she began collaborating with colleague Ashley Bowman and co-founded Artifact Dance Project. They have been creating main stage concerts, short dance films and collaborative projects together ever since. In addition to her featured performances with Artifact, Claire performs as an actress with the Rogue Theatre and Scoundrel & Scamp Theatre. She has danced professionally with ODC/San Francisco and River North Dance Company in Chicago, and has been a guest teacher and choreographer for organizations including the Limón Institute, Broadway Theatre Project, San Francisco Conservatory of Dance, Arizona Theatre Company, Arizona Opera, Tucson Symphony Orchestra, True Concord: Voices and Orchestra, Arts Express, and Broadway in Tucson. She is a Qualified Fletcher Pilates® teacher at Body Works Pilates™ in Tucson.

Music

Russell Ronnebaum, piano
Samantha Bounkeua, violin
Music is supported in part by a generous gift from Kathy Ortega & Lawrence Johnson

Russell Ronnebaum (Music Director, Composer) is excited to be joining the creative team for Much Ado About Nothing, his first production with The Rogue Theatre. He holds a Master of Music degree in collaborative piano from the University of Arizona where he studied under Dr. Paula Fan. As a classically trained pianist, Russell has performed with the Tucson Symphony Orchestra, American Wind Symphony Orchestra, Artifact Dance Company, Arizona Opera, Arizona Repertory Theatre, Arizona Onstage, and as a concerto soloist with the Tucson Masterworks Chorale. Russell made his Carnegie Hall debut in 2016 performing at the piano with American pianist and composer Dan Forrest. In 2015, Mr. Ronnebaum recorded his first album of concert arrangements and original works for piano titled “Winter Scenes.” Recent composition commissions and premieres include music for voice, choir, piano, string orchestra, dance and live theatre. Recordings, sheet music, and upcoming concert dates can be found at www.RRonnebaum.com.

Samantha Bounkeua (Violinist) Classical violinist gone rogue, Sam, is an active member in several Tucson musical projects including ChamberLab, Jimmy Carr & the Awkward Moments, Two-Door Hatchback and has appeared at almost all Tucson’s biggest venues including Rialto, Fox Theatre & Hotel Congress. Samantha graduated from the Oberlin Conservatory of Music and has appeared as a concerto soloist with the Oberlin Contemporary Music Ensemble and the New Mexico Symphony Orchestra and frequently tours as a guest section leader of the Southern Arizona Symphony Orchestra. Find out more at www.samanthabounkeua.com.

Designers

Costume design is supported in part by a generous gift from Laura Kosakowsky
in memory of Ruth & Abe Kosakowsky

Scenic design is supported in part by a generous gift from Clay Shirk

Lighting design is supported in part by a generous gift from John & Diane Wilson

Production Staff

Josh Hemmo (Lighting Design) is a NYC based lighting designer who is very excited to be designing for The Rogue for the first time! He is originally from Tucson, where he received his BFA in Theater Production and Design from the University of Arizona. He has had the awesome opportunity of traveling and producing his work all over the country. Notable credits include: Cleopatra: A Pop Experience (Theater for the New City, NYC), A New Brain (Florida State University), Moscow Ballet’s The Great Russian Nutcracker tour (lighting director of West Coast tour), resident designer for the Post Playhouse’s 51st season, and resident designer for Scoundrel and Scamp’s first season. Learn more about him at jhemmolighting.com.
Josh Hemmo’s lighting design is supported in part by a generous gift from John & Diane Wilson.

Shannon Wallace (Stage Manager) is excited for her third year as Resident Stage Manager with The Rogue Theatre. She served as stage manager for Angels in America, A House of Pomegranates, and The Grapes of Wrath. She also worked on The Picture of Dorian Gray, The Bridge of San Luis Rey, Uncle Vanya, Penelope, Macbeth, Celia, A Slave, Bach at Leipzig, Three Tall Women, King Lear, Galileo and The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time as stage manager as well as associate lighting designer. She graduated from the University of Arizona with a Bachelor of Fine Arts, focusing on both stage management and lighting design. During her time in school she worked on over 25 productions with Arizona Repertory Theatre. She has also worked for Arizona Theatre Company, the Oklahoma City Philharmonic, and the Contemporary American Theatre Festival serving on both stage management teams and company & events management teams. She is grateful to be working full-time as a theater artist in her hometown.
Shannon Wallace’s stage management is supported in part by a generous gift from Carol Mangold, in memory of Bill Mangold, M.D.

Peter Bleasby (Master Electrician) lit his first show at 13. Professionally, he was with BBC-TV for several years, and was an assistant to UK lighting designer Richard Pilbrow during the inaugural production of the National Theatre (Hamlet, directed by Olivier.) He transferred to architectural lighting, but maintained his theatre interests by lighting many shows on both sides of the Atlantic. When the Rogue established itself at the Historic “Y” in 2009, he volunteered for the initial season, returning in 2013 with  lighting designer Don Fox, and later working with Deanna Fitzgerald. He devised the installation of the permanent wiring system that enables lighting teams to devote more time to the creative process. For the Southern Arizona AIDS Foundation he directs the technical and logistical aspects of fundraisers, including the fashion show Moda Provocateur.

Susan Collinet (House Manager) earned her Bachelor of Arts Degree in Creative Writing and English Literature from the University of Arizona in 2008. Decades before returning to college as a non-traditional student, Susan spent twenty years in amateur theater, mostly on the East coast, as well as in Brussels, Belgium in the American Theater of Brussels, and the Theatre de Chenois in Waterloo. She has worked in such positions as a volunteer bi-lingual guide in the Children’s Museum of Brussels, the Bursar of a Naturopathic Medical school in Tempe, Arizona, an entrepreneur with two “Susan’s of Scottsdale” hotel gift shops in Scottsdale, Arizona, and as the volunteer assistant Director of Development of the Arizona Aids Project in Phoenix. Susan continues to work on collections of poetry and non-fiction. Her writing has won awards from Sandscript Magazine, the John Hearst Poetry Contest, the Salem College for Women’s Center for Writing, and was published in a Norton Anthology of Student’s Writing. In addition to being House Manager, Susan serves on the Board of Directors and acts as Volunteer Coordinator for the Rogue.

Our Thanks