Meet the Stage Manager of TWELFTH NIGHT - Courtney Jackson

 Hello Courtney Jackson! Thank you for all that you do! You've done many projects with Class 6 Theatre, right?
 
Twelfth Night will be my seventh production with Class 6 Theatre. Every production has been a memorable one and I enjoy working with Artistic Director/Production Manager Eric Schoen.

Amazing! What gets you excited about this production?

I'm just excited to be working on a production which has a fresh approach to one of Shakespeare's classics. I can't wait to see how this turns out.

Do you think you relate to any particular Shakespeare character? 
 
I would say that I'm more like Katherine from Taming of the Shrew - yet  I don't believe that I would just give in like that at the end.

Get your tickets today!

And why not take the Shakespeare quiz yourself? Make sure to SHARE your result and mention #Class6Theatre and #TwelfthNight!

_____________________________________________________________________________________________

This is Courtney's seventh production with Class 6 Theatre. She has earned a Bachelors in Arts in Design and Production at Arizona State University and has worked with Chicago Dramatists (Freshly Fallen Snow) and Remy Bumppo (You Never Can Tell) in Chicago, IL. Courtney is happy to be back with Class 6!

Enjoy Special Post-Show Discussions - TWELFTH NIGHT

Join us on the second Wednesday and Friday (5/20 and 5/22) of the run for Special Post-Show Discussions! Don't miss your chance to chat with the cast and directors of these great productions! Ask your questions, make your comments, have your voice be heard! These events are available to the audiences of the evenings and take place immediately after the performance.

Wednesday, May 20th

Friday, May 22nd

Get your tickets today! 

Staged Reading Series - THE TAMING - 5/19

Make sure to join us for the final staged reading series of our 2014-2015 season!

Staged Reading of 

THE TAMING

by Lauren Gunderson

Tuesday, May 19th, 2015 from 6:30 PM to 8:30 PM (MST)

Mesa, AZ - Farnsworth Theatre

Class 6 Theatre presents:

The Taming, by Lauren Gunderson

Directed by Sarah Hayes

Tuesday, May 19th, at the Mesa Arts Center

Doors open at 6:30pm

Staged reading, free, delicious food, and a surprise or two

Pay what you can admission

donations at the door or donate ahead of time on Eventbrite

Please RSVP so we know how much food to get

 

Tweetering, pandashrews, and undying giddiness for James Madison -- what else could you expect to find at a Miss America pageant? In this hilarious, raucous, all-female "power-play" inspired by Shakespeare's Taming of the Shrew, contestant Katherine has political aspirations to match her beauty pageant ambitions. All she needs to revolutionize the American government is the help of one ultra-conservative senator's aide (Pat) on the cusp of a career breakthrough, and one bleeding-heart liberal blogger (Bianca) who will do anything for her cause. Well, that and a semi-historically-accurate ether trip. Here's lookin' at you, America.

 

This is the last staged reading event of our 6th season.  Join us for some fast, fresh fun and still get home before your bedtime.

RSVP Today!

Meet the Cast of TWELFTH NIGHT - Jaime Fox as Viola

 
Hello Jaime Fox! We are so glad to have you back! Can you tell us a little about your Class 6 Theatre Experience?

Besides being fortunate enough to get to perform with Class 6 in several of their productions, I'm also an avid supporter of Class 6 in any way possible.  They put on incredible, sometimes edgy, unique shows and I'm so pleased with how this company is growing.

What would you say excites you about this show? 

I'm basically a Shakespeare nerd so everything about this show excites me!  It's such a fun script and we have a really outstanding cast - I can't wait to get started!  Plus it's an acting challenge I'm eager to tackle. 

Do you have someone who you think serves as a good role model for your gender?

Wow...this is a surprisingly hard question to answer!  I have some that I feel might be common: Hillary Clinton, Ruth Bader Ginsburg - both women who broke gender barriers and showed amazing strength.  Anne Frank was also a role model to me as her writings about coming of age was so valuable to me when I was younger as were her views on humanity.  Hannah Sennesh is an Israeli icon who joined the army during WWII and became a paratrooper.  She wrote during her time while imprisoned and I found her courage and spirit of hope so compelling.  I often feel like expectations for women can be so narrow minded, which is why I really like women who break away from the mold, which is something I hope to do as well!

Which Shakespeare character do you think you are and why? 

Hmmmm.....well, I took that quiz and it told me I was Viola - which is AWESOME!  The quiz results said: "Like Viola, you break boundaries and challenge conventions."  Yes!  Success!  Ok...who do I THINK I am...hmmmm....I think I can be a little like Hamlet because I tend to over think things and can be mopey at times (sans the murderous and incestuous tendencies of course).

Like Viola, you break boundaries and challenge conventions. You try anything, and more often than not, you enjoy it. Because of your courage, friends often draft you to help with their complicated plans, and that's how you end up in quandaries. Be brave, and never compromise your unique personality to fit in.

Get your tickets today!

And why not take the Shakespeare quiz yourself? Make sure to SHARE your result and mention #Class6Theatre and #TwelfthNight!

_____________________________________________________________________________________________
Jaime Fox (Viola) is so excited to be back on the Class 6 Theatre stage again this sea-son! She has performed in their previous productions of “How I Learned to Drive”, “Julius Caesar” and as part of a special understudy performance in “Goodnight, Desde-mona.” Locally, Jaime has worked with Arizona Jewish Theatre, Nearly Naked Theatre, Phoenix Theatre’s 2nd Draft Series and Pandora’s Best of Festivals. In Israel, she has worked with the Guild Theatre of Ra’anana and Tel Aviv Theatre. Jaime currently works in the Education Department at Childsplay and studies with the Megaw Actor’s Studio. She is represented by Leighton Agency.

Meet the Cast of TWELFTH NIGHT - Tony Latham as Andrew Aguecheek

Hello Tony Latham and welcome back! This is your second production with us, right?

This is my second production at Class 6. I played the Male Greek Chorus in How I Learned to Drive earlier this year. I really like the low-budget, raw feeling of this production and Class 6 seems keen to make it about the work and not the costumes.

Why would you say you are excited for this production? 

I saw a production of Twelfth Night at NAU while I was there and fell in love with the show. Sir Andrew, my role in this production, was one that I really wanted to play. When I was cast, I was so excited that I watched as many productions as I could online and have been striving to do something different with the role. Hopefully I've done that.

We are very excited to see the result of your hard work! Do you have a role model or someone you look up to?

I have many, though I would only cite my fiancee as someone who continues to influence me. Rachel is the hardest working, most professional, and stalwart person I know. I always take my cue from her.

Which Shakespeare character do you think you most relate to?

I would say either Mercutio or Hamlet. Mercutio, because there are more important things in life than death. Or Hamlet, because impetuosity can sometimes get the better of me.

Is anyone on your side? It's hard to tell. People lie. People cheat. People look out for themselves. Everyone tells you what you should do so it is often difficult to make your own decisions. Follow your inner voice despite all the noise. It will not lead you astray.

Get your tickets today!

And why not take the Shakespeare quiz yourself? Make sure to SHARE your result and mention #Class6Theatre and #TwelfthNight!

_____________________________________________________________________________________________

Tony Latham (Andrew Aguecheek) graduated from Northern Arizona University with his Bachelors in Theatre Performance and Political Science. Some favorite perfor-mances include: Billy Bibbit in One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest (Theater Works), Male Greek Chorus in How I Learned to Drive (Class 6), Mr. Gatch in H2$ (Theater Works) Alan Strang in Equus (NAU), Mercutio in Romeo and Juliet (NAU). Other performances: Spirit (Grey Matters), Shifting Gears (Canyon Moon), and Gun-Shy (Canyon Moon). He regularly performs with Names From a Hat Improv in Mesa and Tempe. Find his page on Facebook.

Meet the Music Director of TWELFTH NIGHT - Ashley Bradford

Hello Ashley Bradford! Welcome to the Class 6 Theatre team. Is this your first show with us?

This is my first production with Class 6 Theatre. The company makes an exciting, interesting, and relevant contribution to our valley's art scene. I am honored to be part of such a passionate and creative team.

And we are glad to have you. Do you have a special connection to this show?

From a very young age, I have had a special love for all things Shakespeare. Twelfth Night gives me the rare opportunity, as a Music Director, to create musically within the Shakespeare realm. Keath's vision for the production creates a dream come true for me to be a part.

Gender is a large part of this show. Do you have someone you believe serves as a good role model for your gender?

My gender role models would have to be female authors I grew up reading. Through their writings and the characters they created, authors such as the Bronte sisters, Lucy Maud Montgomery, Louisa May Alcott, and Jane Austen taught me who I did and did not want to be.

Who do you think you would be if you were a Shakespeare character?

Although a bit radical, I would have to say I most relate to Lady Macbeth than any of Shakespeare's other female characters. The nuances are too many to detail here. But, in essence, I relate to her rash drive for outcomes, her strength, her single focus tunnel vision, and her intense regret as she grapples with the consequences of action without circumspection.

Wow, are you ever good at manipulating people into doing what you want! It is a valuable skill, one that could help you secure a job in government one day, but also a dangerous one. Like Lady Macbeth, you have a love of power that could motivate you to do evil things. Don't let it overtake you.

Get your tickets today!

And why not take the Shakespeare quiz yourself? Make sure to SHARE your result and mention #Class6Theatre and #TwelfthNight!

_____________________________________________________________________________________________
Ashley Bradford (Music Director), M.Mus, is Artist in Residence and Music Director for The Palms Theatre. She holds a Bachelors in Piano Performance with a minor in Vocal Performance. She has directed and performed concert tours throughout the United States, Asia, and the South Pacific and has been featured in many recording projects, music festivals, and concert halls. Ms. Bradford also earned a Masters in Music Education from Boston University and served as Presi-dent of the Arizona State Music Teacher's Association. She leads the Piano Lessons for Adults program at Master’s Music Academy. For more information about Pi-ano Lessons for Adults, e-mail Ashley at info@MastersMusicAcademy.com

Meet the Cast of TWELFTH NIGHT - David Dickinson as Malvolio

Hello David Dickinson! You have been a large part of Class 6 Theatre's history and development. Can you tell us a little about that?

I’ve been a part of Class 6 from the beginning serving as one of the original board members for the first two seasons.  I developed the Class 6 website and continue to help with it occasionally when Eric needs a programmer.  As an artist, I played Austin in Class 6’s production of THE BIBLE:  THE COMPLETE WORD OF GOD (ABRIGED).  I directed SYLVIA earlier this season and was very grateful to the company to get the chance, as it was my directorial debut.

Are you excited for this show?

Twelfth Night is my favorite Shakespeare play.  I love the comedy of it and there is potential for lots of good slapstick fun.  I love all kinds of theatre, but my favorite shows have physical comedy incorporated somehow.  Twelfth Night provides those types of outlandish situations that work great for broad physical choices.

I took the “Which Shakespeare Character are You” quiz online.  I got Viola.  So confusing.  I then waited and took it again after waiting two weeks.  I got Viola AGAIN.  

"From Twelfth Night. Like Viola, you break boundaries and challenge conventions. You try anything, and more often than not, you enjoy it. Because of your courage, friends often draft you to help with their complicated plans, and that's how you end up in quandaries. Be brave, and never compromise your unique personality to fit in."

Clearly Keath Hall got it all wrong when he cast me as Malvolio.   It may force me to show up to rehearsals and play Malvolio as a woman playing a man this time!  He does have some fancy stockings after all.

If I were to choose a Shakespeare character I think I am, I would pick Bottom from MIDSUMMER NIGHT’S DREAM.  I take myself way too seriously, but at the core I just want to make everyone laugh.  And if I’m honest, sometimes I can just be an ass.

Life is difficult. Sometimes yours seems like one hard knock after another. However, people fall in love with your self-deprecating humor and your enthusiasm for getting things right. You move in and out of different social circles easily because class and status mean very little to you.

Get your tickets today!

And why not take the Shakespeare quiz yourself? Make sure to SHARE your result and mention #Class6Theatre and #TwelfthNight!

_____________________________________________________________________________________________

David Dickinson returns to Class 6 Theatre after acting in The Bible (abridged) and directing Sylvia.  The past eight seasons, David has been privileged to delight the young audiences of Arizona, Las Vegas, Southern California, Belgium and the Netherlands as an actor at Childsplay.  He is an Associate Artist of the Megaw Actors Studio where he continues to train and is represented by the FORD/Robert Black Agency.  Recent stage credits: The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane (Childsplay), Christmas 2.0 and Forward (Phoenix Theatre) and Opus (Actors Theatre of Phoenix).  On television he hosts Food-Ball, a teen cooking competition (AZTV-7).    www.davidjdickinson.com