Hamlet Cast

Tim Solarek is a veteran of the NEPTA theater scene, appearing in numerous local productions over the past several years. Most recently seen as Nick in PTPA's Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf and John Proctor in The Crucible, Tim is excited to embrace the challenge that is Hamlet. Some of Tim's favorite roles include Aldolpho (Drowsey Chaperone); Lt. Kaffee (A Few Good Men); Philip Lombard (And Then There Were None); E.K. Hornbeck (Inherit the Wind); Jerry (Zoo Story); Sam Byck (Assassins); and Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart ( Amadeus), John Proctor (The Crucible). He is co-director of the Performance Works Youth Academy.

Bill's acting credits include Agatha Christie’s And Then There Were None (as Phillip Lombard), Michael Frayn’s Noises Off (as Garry Lejeune), Neil Simon’s The Odd Couple (as Felix Ungar), Lori Ann Ohm’s adaptation of Night of the Living Dead (as Ben), David McGillivray & Walter Zerlin, Jr.’s The Farndale Avenue Housing Estate Townswomen’s Guild Dramatic Society’s Production of MacBeth (as David Plummer), Richard Greenberg’s adaptation of Truman Capote’s Breakfast at Tiffany’s (as Fred), Sherlock Holmes and the Scarlet Avenger (as Dr. John Watson), Peter Shaffer’s Amadeus (as Emperor Joseph II, Arthur Miller’s The Crucible (as Reverend Parris), Agatha Christie’s The Mousetrap (as Giles Rolstan) and more. He is happy for the opportunity to play at DM Performance Works again.

Over the last 20 years, Lee has performed in dozens of local productions. Most recently, he was honored to play the iconic role of George in PTPA’s production of “Who’s afraid of Virginia Woolf”. In the past you may have seen him portray Atticus Finch in “To Kill a Mockingbird”, Col. Nathan Jessup in “A Few Good Men” as well as “Tubs” in “And Then There Were None”, Detective Rough in “Gaslight”, or John Handcock in “1776”. Some of Lee’s favorite roles also include Roger/Gary in “Noises Off” and George Bailey in “It’s a Wonderful Life”. Many moons ago, Lee graduated from Tamaqua Area H.S., where he stayed comfortably away from anything to do with the theater. He is a U.S. Army veteran, where he served with the 1st Infantry Division. He has been married to his incredibly understanding and supportive wife Carla for the past 28 years. They have been blessed with two fantastic children. A daughter Logan, one of the most caring souls you should ever have the pleasure of meeting, and son, Dante, who is approximately 95% his genetic clone. The jury still being out on the “delight or dole” for which that brings. Lee would like to thank this wonderfully talented cast and production team for making “Hamlet” possible. …and perhaps William Shakespeare as well. FYI he is the guy who wrote it.

Co-Founder of PTPA in 1997 and DM Performance Works in 2009, Joelle is a stage veteran who has performed in, directed, and choreographed over 150 productions.Some of her most prized roles are as Eva Peron in Evita, Martha in Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf, Donna in Mamma Mia, Queen Eleanor in The Lion in Winter, the Witch in Into the Woods, and Maria in The Sound of Music. She performs with the regional show band 70s Flashback as the female lead singer and owns Drama in Motion Studio of Performing Arts where she has been teaching dance for over 25 years. She serves as the Drama Club Director for the Hazleton Area High School. She is honored to share the stage with some of her very favorite local actors. Support the arts and live theater!

Adam Randis (Director and Polonius) has been semi-active in local theatres around northeastern and central Pennsylvania for over 25 years. Favorite past directing credits include James Goldman’s The Lion in Winter (returning to the stage this September), Stephen Sondheim & John Weidman’s Assassins, Agatha Christie’s And Then There Were None, Shakespeare’s MacBeth, Jerome Lawrence & Robert Edwin Lee’s Inherit the Wind, Peter Shaffer’s Amadeus, and Edward Albee’s Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf. He recently directed Agatha Christie’s The Mousetrap at the Pennsylvania Theatre of Performing Arts, where he is also President of the Board of Directors. Notable acting credits include having played John Adams and John Dickenson in multiple productions of 1776, the eponymous demon barber in Sweeney Todd, Cogsworth in Beauty and the Beast, and Judge Danforth in The Crucible. Adam has a BA and Master’s Degrees in History and Education from Bloomsburg University and teaches History at Luzerne County Community College.

Joshua Plesce (Franz) is a graduate of Bloomsburg University and a current English Language Arts Instructor in the Hazleton Area School District. Joshua has been active on the local stage and behind the scenes for almost a decade, and has recently been recognized with NEPTA awards for his technical work on “The Crucible,” which also serves as his directorial debut at the DM Performance Works Factory Theatre. Some of his notable roles include Motel (Fiddler on the Roof), The Squip (Be More Chill), Jack (Into the Woods), and The Cat in the Hat (Seussical), The Mousetrap (Christopher Wren). He is proud and honored to share the stage with his very talented and hard-working cast mates.

Cate McDonald (Ophelia) is very excited to be making her DM Performance Works debut in her very first Shakespearean production. Cate was most recently seen as Hope Cladwell in Urinetown at Ovation Playhouse. Some of her favorite credits include Sally Bowles (Cabaret), Sibella (A Gentleman’s Guide to Love and Murder), Lucy Harris (Jekyll and Hyde), Janet Van De Graaff (Drowsy Chaperone), Velma Kelly (Chicago), Bea Bottom (Something Rotten), Lina Lamont (Singin in the Rain) and Natalie (All Shook Up).

Noah Witner is the activity director at Fritzingertown Senior Living Community with specialization in dementia care. He was most recently seen on the stage as Reverend John Hale in DMPW’s production of “The Crucible”. Some of his past roles include: Rudolpho (Matilda), Jean Valjean (Les Miserablés), Perchik (Fiddler on the Roof), The Tin Man (The Wizard of Oz), and Bert (Mary Poppins). He would like to thank his fellow cast members for their support.

AJ is making his debut at the Performance Works Factory Theatre, but has been involved in community theatre and Shakespeare for years. From Macbeth at the Nuangola Grove Theatre, to classics such as A Christmas Carol, The Mousetrap, Beauty and the Beast, and Mister Roberts, he has always enjoyed being on stage. And now in this production of Hamlet as both Bernardo and the Player King, he hopes all of you enjoy the show. The play's the thing.

Adam Seiwell is a horror writer and playwright under the pen name Sawyer Green. He has been published in the Nabu Review, the Nefarious Nature anthology, and through Olde Wolf Publications. He has most recently performed as Ash in Evil Dead: The Musical, but has also played as Biff in Death of a Salesman, and Joe in Breakfast at Tiffany's.

NEPTA Award winner for Best Lead Actress in a Play for her role as Constanza Weber in Peter Shaffer’s Amadeus. Joyce’s community theatrical career began in The Grove’s production of MacBeth. She has also performed in Arthur Miller’s Death of a Salesman (as the Woman), Richard Greenberg’s adaptation of Truman Capote’s Breakfast at Tiffany’s at PTPA (as Madam Spanella), Arthur Miller’s The Crucible at DMPW (as Ann Putnam), and Agatha Christie’s The Mousetrap (as Mollie Rolstan). Joyce directed the locally written Sherlock Holmes and the Scarlet Avenger at DMPW. Her passion for acting continues to blossom with every experience and also loves being a mom and a photographer.

Scott Werbin (the Ghost, the Gravedigger, Combat Choreographer) - for this production the role of Scott will be played by his alter-ego Master Po Silvertop the Rogue. Scott has multiple theatre degrees plus graduate courses and several decades both on and off-stage at various local theatres (scenic/lighting design and construction, Combat choreography, Technical director/boardmember, etc) and is part of a theatrical dynasty (hey Jess!) that extends generations in both directions. Hamlet marks his return onstage after almost a decade's absence. "Po" is a member of the worldwide historic renaissance/medieval re-creation group: The Society for Creative Anachronism- where he is an accredited Master of Defense in rapier combat, and a past Queen's Rapier Champion.

Shelby is a junior at Bloomsburg University majoring in early childhood education and early childhood psychological development as well as a part time preschool teacher at A Smart Start Childcare. She has been on the DMPW stage a few times, most recently in The Music Man as Ethel Toffelmeier, but you can more often than not find her backstage working with sets and props. This is Shelby’s first time in a straight play, and she wants to thank every amazing person from the cast and crew for helping her throughout it!

JOEY GANS (Court Attendant) has been involved in many theatrical projects. Some of his most favorite roles were Scar(The Valley Lion King), Chester(The Worst High School Play Ever), Max(The Pajama Game), Mr. Shorofsky(Fame), Wally Womper(How To Succeed In Business Without Really Trying), Angelo Digeorge(Break A Leg), Lord Boxington(My Fair Lady), Mr. Witherspoon(Arsenic And Old Lace), Ensemble(Jesus Christ Superstar), Ensemble(Assassins), Officer Herb(Footloose), Mr. Poole(A Christmas Carol), Ensemble(The Hunchback of Notre Dame), The New Customer(Little Shop Of Horrors), Simeon(Joseph And The Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat) Rusty Trawler(Breakfast At Tiffany’s), George Sillers(Inherit The Wind), Eddie(The Sunshine Boys), Father Alexandrios(Mamma Mia), Officer Barrel(Urinetown), Joseph Hewes(1776), Ensemble(The Nutcracker), The Valet(Amadeus), and Nachum(Fiddler On The Roof). Joey is a 2006 graduate of Hazleton Area High School and a 2010 graduate of Penn State, State College Campus with a major in Agricultural Sciences and a minor in Wildlife & Fisheries sciences. Joey’s array of hobbies includes not only acting, but singing, skiing, archery, hunting, fishing, and teaching. This is Joey’s fourth production at The Factory and he would like to thank his family and friends for always coming to see him perform. Best of luck to the entire wonderful cast and crew, and enjoy the show.

Joey Morgan has been on a stage for approximately 80% of his life, and still isn't quite sure if he's doing it right. Nevertheless, he's been in about twice as many shows as years he's been alive. Among some of his favorite performances have been Seymour in "Little Shop of Horrors," William Barfee in "The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee," and Enoch Drebber in "Sherlock Holmes and the Scarlet Avenger." Most recently, he considers himself a playwright, audio drama director, and guy-who-reads-books-really-fast. Oh, and an actor apparently.