Thin Air Shakespeare returns to the Center Amphitheater for its eleventh year with a production featuring one of Shakespeare’s most notorious villains – Richard III, directed by Edgar Landa and featuring original music by Melissa Elliott.
Your ‘glorious summer’ in Jackson would be incomplete without free outdoor Shakespeare. Come early with a blanket and a picnic to claim your spot on the lawn!
Richard III begins with the end of a civil war. The House of York is in control of England, and Richard, Duke of Gloucester, schemes to take his brother’s newly-won place on the throne. Audiences will be astonished and captivated by a protagonist like no other who is ‘determined to prove a villain.’
Special thanks to Producing Partner, Center for the Arts, for their support and collaboration.
Check out the ‘Show Schedule’ tab for dates of ASL interpretation, events, and more. For additional accommodation information and requests, email sadie@offsquare.org.
SHOW ADVISORY
Off Square Theatre does not proactively offer advisories about subject matter, as sensitivities vary from person to person. If you have any questions about content, age-appropriateness or stage effects (such as strobe lights or theatrical fog) that might have a bearing on patron comfort, please contact us at info@offsquare.org or 307-733-3021.
Want us to pack your picnic for you? Order a Bard Basket for pickup before any of our FREE shows!
R.W. Berky (he/him) is an OBIE, Edinburgh Fringe First, Kennedy Center Roger L. Stevens, and Sarett National Playwrighting award winning performer. Berky has performed in theatre festivals worldwide and been visiting artist/master teacher at many universities nationally and internationally. He directed movement and clowning for Joseph Papp's NYSF production of "Twelfth Night" at the Delacorte Theatre, assistant directed for John Tillinger’s production of “A Flea In Her Ear” at The Long Wharf Theatre, and worked as a teaching artist for the Lincoln Center Institute in New York. As Artistic Director of Off Square Theatre for seven years he directed many productions, taught, and wrote original pieces performed by youth actors and adults in the Teton area. In 2015, he joined Global Arts Corp (GAC), part of the directing team for “SEE YOU YESTERDAY”, a physical theatre piece starring 19 Cambodian circus performers, exploring the Cambodian genocide’s relationship to young Cambodians of today. SYY premiered in Phnom Penh in 2016, toured in Rwanda in 2017, throughout Cambodia in 2018, and had its US premiere at Arts Emerson in Boston, MA. in May of 2019. At present he works on the newest GAC project, creating radio islands between young people, ages 9-12, all over the world. This 10-year project will connect kids through radio, creating stories about their lives and cultures to be shared, and providing a platform upon which the “islands” can create stories together. Mr. Berky has just published his first novel, “The Little Book of Wonders”.
Dena DeMarco (she/her) Originally from San Diego, Dena was hired to costume OST’s youth musical Beauty and the Beast, Jr by answering a job posting in JH’s local paper in 2017. Since then, Dena has costumed all the OST youth musicals, most recently costuming What the Constitution Means to Me, directed by Allison Watrous. She has also helped with adult theater Thin Air Shakespeare for the past five years and is excited to continue this work with Richard III. Dena enjoys working with such a talented team and looks forward to the rest of the 2023 OST season.
Clare Eddy (she/her) is an 18 year old who grew up in Jackson Hole Wyoming. She has performed in many productions throughout her life and discovered the backstage world in 2021. She has been in The Sound of Music, The Music Man Jr. and many more. Clare was the student director for OST’s Matilda Jr. and directed Decision Height. She is excited to continue her theater career both on and offstage at Tufts University starting this fall.
Melissa Elliott (she/her) is a singer, songwriter, and music teacher from Jackson Hole, Wyoming. After receiving a Bachelor of Music in Jazz Studies from the University of Denver in 2019, Melissa moved¬ back home and has been exploring the many faces of a music career. In 2021 she began teaching music lessons in voice, piano, guitar, ukulele, and songwriting at Teton Music School. She records and performs her own original music under the alias “Missy Jo” and shares her songs on local and regional stages. Melissa’s first theater experiences were with Off Square Theatre Company. She made her music directing debut with 2022’s Matilda The Musical JR., music directed once again for 2023’s The Sound of Music, and she created original music for and music directed Thin Air Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream. Melissa continues to hone in on her musical craft and is grateful to still be growing up in the Jackson Hole music and arts community.
Marguerite French (she/they) is joyful to return to Off Square Theatre, where she previously performed in Macbeth and A Chorus Line. Favorite theatre roles include Lucetta in Two Gentlemen of Verona with Fiasco Theatre, Dot in Dot (Fischer Center) and Voice in Julie Jean Kristin Bird, a solo show she adapted from Strindberg’s Miss Julie. Film roles include Sophie in Victoriana and Alison in Francis Ford Coppola’s Distant Vision. She is the Managing Director of the Los Angeles-based theatre company Coin & Ghost, and holds an MFA from UCLA.
Golden Garnick (he/him) is a Wyoming native and classically trained actor with a BFA from The Juilliard School. Since then he has worked at NYC's The Public and LA's The Hudson Theatre. His favorite roles include King Arthur in "Camelot", Huckleberry Finn in "Big River," and Puck in "A Midsummer Night's Dream." You can also catch him in the first season of "1923" on Paramount Plus. His film credits include: Mario Van Peebles feature film "Outlaws" (2023), Alec Baldwin's "Rust" (2023), and Rod Blackhurst's "Blood for Dust" (2023) starring Kit Harrington and Scoot McNairy. Golden cannot wait to share this classic piece with you and perform among these amazing actors.
Kate Gleason (she/her) is an Actor, Director and Teaching Artist. She previously performed with Off Square in A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Much Ado About Nothing, As You Like It, Annapurna and Clybourne Park. Broadway credits: Noises Off, and the U.S. premiere of The Pillowman. She has worked Off-Broadway with The Roundabout Theatre Company, Brooklyn Academy of Music (BAM), The Kitchen, HERE Arts Center, Ontological Hysteric Theater and many more. Regional/ International: The Williamstown Theatre Festival, Baltimore Center Stage, Playmakers Rep, Northern Stage, Remains Theatre (Chicago), Hebbel Theatre (Berlin) and Vienna’s English Theatre. Denver credits include many performances with The Denver Center for The Performing Arts, The Arvada Center, BETC, Stories on Stage and THEATREWORKS. Directing: The Laramie Project (upcoming/ Arvada Center), Off Square’s By The Waters of Babylon, Miners Alley Playhouse, Benchmark Theatre, NYC Players and several Denver Center for the Performing Arts Education productions.
Curt Haws (he/him) is overjoyed to work again with Edgar Landa and the amazing cast and crew of Richard III. He is particularly pleased to work again with his favorite actress (and daughter) Madison Haws. Curt is a Circuit Court Judge in Teton County and experiences the ramifications, of lawless behavior daily so feels right at home in Richard’s world. Favorite roles include Fagin (Oliver!), Claudius (Hamlet), Daddy Warbucks (Annie), and Curly (Oklahoma). Curt offers many thanks to family and colleagues that keep the world working while he takes time to “play.”
Madison Haws (she/her) is incredibly proud to be back in her home town and performing with OST again. This company has always been like family to her, and she is extra fortunate to perform with her father this year. She has a BFA in acting from BYU and an MBA from Pepperdine University. Her favorite past credits include; “Macbeth” (Witch), “Seussical The Musical” (Cat in the Hat), “Mill on the Floss” (Maggie) and “Dracula” (Van Helsing). “Life is short, art is infinite” Oscar Wilde
Charls Sedgwick Hall (he/him) is a Chicago based actor and teaching artist. “I am grateful and delighted to be returning to Thin Air Shakespeare.” Performances with Thin Air Shakespeare have been in A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Much Ado About Nothing, As You Like It, and The Tempest. Regional credits include The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (Abridged) Revised, Love’s Labours Lost, Mother Courage and Her Children, Romeo & Juliet, Julius Caesar, Macbeth, and Measure For Measure with Shakespeare and Company. The Color Purple, The Next Fairy Tale, and The Escape Artist’s Children with Celebration Theatre. A Christmas Carol, The Little Foxes, and Cyrano with A Noise Within. Hamlet and Twelfth Night with Southern California Shakespeare Festival. Boesman and Lena with Baltimore Center Stage. Angels of Lemnos with The Road Theatre Company and QUT in Brisbane, Australia. I dedicate my performance to all upon whose shoulders I stand!
Dillon Hanna (he/him) is excited to be back at Off Square this summer, having participated in Thin Air Shakespeare and their youth musicals in the past. Currently studying theatre at Brown University, he’s acted in local productions with Andrew Munz and Riot Act as well. Most recently, he was in Brown’s production of Into the Woods, playing the Narrator and the Mysterious Man.
Amanda Knehans (she/they) is a Los Angeles based Scenic Designer, Production Designer and Art Director. Recent theatre credits include Babe, Poor Clare, Handjob, The Wolves, and Blueberry Toast (The Echo), Seven (Élan Ensemble), A Midsummer Night's Dream, Music Man and As You Like It (Off Square Theatre Company), Bliss (Moving Arts), The Willows (Bootleg Theater), Dry Land (CTG/Echo), Year of the Rooster and Welcome to the White Room (Theatre of Note) and Tuesdays with Morrie (Sierra Madre Playhouse). Recent film credits include Art Director on George and Tammy (Paramount), The Santa Clauses Season 2 (Disney), Barry Season 4 (HBO), Purple Hearts and The Woman in the House (Netflix), Single Parents Season 1 (ABC), The Stranger (Fox, Quibi), The Wedding Year (Lakeshore Entertainment), and East Los High Season 4 and 5 (Hulu). Amanda is a member of the Art Directors Guild and USA 829.
Edgar Landa (he/him) is an actor/director and creates fights & violence for theatres large and small. At OST, he directed A Midsummer Night's Dream last summer; Other OST directing credits include: Much Ado About Nothinig, The Thanksgiving Play, As You Like It, The Tempest, Macbeth, and Taming of the Shrew. Fight credits include: Center Theatre Group, Geffen Playhouse, San Diego Rep, South Coast Repertory, The Wallis, Tennessee Shakespeare Company and many others. Edgar serves on the faculty of the USC School of Dramatic Arts and is a long-time collaborator of Son of Semele Ensemble. He is a member of Stage Directors & Choreographers as well as Actors Equity Association. Edgar is a proud supporter of intimate theatre in Los Angeles. www.edgarlanda.com
Natalia Duncan Macker (she/her/hers) is a performer and producer in Jackson Hole and Los Angeles. She graduated cum laude in theater from Yale and was the recipient of a Performing Arts Fellowship from the Wyoming Arts Council in 2013. Selected stage credits include: To Kill a Mockingbird (Mayella), Romeo and Juliet (Juliet), The Seagull (Nina), Uncommon Women and Others (Nina), Five Women Wearing the Same Dress (Meredith), A Midsummer Night’s Dream (Puck/Helena), As You Like It (Celia), The Taming of the Shrew (Kate), and Much Ado About Nothing (Ursula/Sexton). She serves as Off Square’s Producing Artistic Director and is an Associate Producer with Firefly Theater & Films.
Caroline Monroe (she/her) fell in love with theatre participating in Off Square Theatre Company’s youth musicals, and returned in 2021 to work backstage on Much Ado about Nothing as an assistant costumer and assistant stage manager. Since then she has continued to make costumes for Thin Air Shakespeare as well as independently, and is currently pursuing a communications degree at the University of Wyoming.
Jihad Milhem (he/him) most recently worked with Off Square in their Thin Air Shakespeare production of Much Ado About Nothing. Other regional credits include: MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING (Denver Center for the Performing Arts), THE CRUCIBLE (Miner's Alley Playhouse), PERICLES, AS YOU LIKE IT, YOU CAN’T TAKE IT WITH YOU, RICHARD III, KING HENRY VI PT. 3, HAMLET, KING CHARLES III (Colorado Shakespeare Festival); COMEDY OF ERRORS, MACBETH, JULIUS CESAR, TWELFTH NIGHT, MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING (CSF in the Schools); GLENGARRY GLEN ROSS, THE NANCE (The Edge Theatre); GUARDS AT THE TAJ, THE REMBRANDT, CHRISTMAS AT PEMBERLY (BETC); SHE RODE HORSES LIKE THE STOCK EXCHANGE (square product theatre); MOSQUE (Black Actor's Guild). 2022 Henry Award winner for Lead Actor in a Play (Tier 1). Jihad is represented by Radical Artists Agency in Denver.
Jason Ruff (he/him) portrayed a wild boar in his first grade Thanksgiving play. He finds performing with Off Square to be more artistically satisfying.
Tony Simotes (he/him) is back for his "second rodeo" here at Thin Air Shakespeare! Last year was pure joy playing "Bottom" in MIDSUMMER. He is a founding member and former Artistic Director of Shakespeare & Company est.1978 in Lenox, Massachusetts. He has worked across America from the Mark Taper Forum in Los Angeles to the New York Shakespeare Festival's Delacorte Theater in Central Park as an actor, director, and fight choreographer. He has also worked internationally in festivals, theaters, and training programs from Australia to Bulgaria. His film work includes HOT SHOTS, TERMINATOR II, PACIFIC HEIGHTS, FATHER OF THE BRIDE II, BRONX CHEERS (Academy Award nominated Short Film) to name a few. Academic credits: Director and Full Professor at the University of Wisconsin -- Madison, Associate Professor and Head of Undergrad Acting Florida State University. He is a proud member of AEA, SDC, and SAG/AFTRA. My muse -- Lucy!
Molly Moon Thorn (she/her) A local "Wilson kid”, Molly grew up performing on the Pink Garter, Playhouse, Walk Festival Hall and JHHS stages. In search of something completely different, sight unseen Molly attended the University of the South in Sewanee, TN where she obtained a BFA in Theatre Arts. An avid skier, rafter and wilderness wanderer, she returned to the Tetons to further explore this vast and glorious playground we are so blessed to call home. Molly is grateful to work, once again, with her brilliant and talented friends at Off Square Theatre.
Mark McClain Wilson (he/him) is thrilled to be working for the first time with Thin Air Shakespeare. Based in Los Angeles, favorite theatre credits include Carter in Fat Pig (Geffen Playhouse), Matt in Dirt (Rogue Machine), Trig in Stupid F**king Bird (Boston Court), Nathan in Tender (Syzygy), Howie in Rabbit Hole (2Cents), and Bernard in There Is A Happiness That Morning Is (Sacred Fools). His film credits include The Perks of Being a Wallflower, Bound, Dear Evan Hansen, The Poughkeepsie Tapes and the upcoming Two Lives in Pittsburgh. Television work includes “The Orville”, “Heartbeat”, “Covenant”, “USA Up All Night” and “Guiding Light”. He is a proud graduate of the University of Michigan and is a member of The Collaborative: A Multimedia Repertory Company.
July 6 at 6:00pm – A Midsummer Night’s Picnic
Join us for a special evening supporting Thin Air Shakespeare. Enjoy a picnic and a delicious bottle of wine while you watch a special preview of the final dress rehearsal of Richard III.
