Kinsley Beachler is thrilled to present you with her version of Much Ado About Nothing. Having been a part of YSSP’s since it’s founding in productions such as A Midsummer Night’s Dream (Helena/Snout), Hamlet (Gertrude), and Twelfth Night (Feste/assistant director), she is now taking her directorial debut with this show! In Kinsley’s future, she hopes to become an acting coach.

Ella is so excited to be once again living her new dream of helping to direct AND act in another Shakespeare show! In this production of Much Ado About Nothing they will be playing the role of Claudio while also being the shows assistant director. In YSSP’s fall play they were the director of Romeo and Juliet, and for YSSP’s 2022 Summer play they played their first ever Shakespeare role ever as Viola in Twelfth Night. YSSP is what introduced Ella to Shakespeare, and she’s ecstatic to make it a deeper part of her life.

Morgan Hunter is so ecstatic to stage manage YSSP’s production of Much Ado About Nothing, their first production with YSSP! They are a rising junior English and Theater double major, playwriting focus, at the College of Wooster where they have worked as a costume technician, assistant costume designer, assitant stage manager, and student lighting designer. Two of their original monologues were performed this past year at KCACTF, Region 2, Festival 55. When not at rehearsal, Morgan can be found sewing, practicing banjo, and, of course, working on too many scripts at the same time.

Theo Fantozzi is thrilled to be acting as production manager and set designer for Much Ado About Nothing. Theo is a junior at the University of Rhode Island, where he studies Directing, Stage Management, and Classics. He is inspired by bringing the nostalgia of summer camp and the mid-2000s to our stage. He’s also excited to be acting in person with YSSP for the first time since their first show, A Midsummer Night’s Dream!

Johnna Lefebvre is a senior at Robert Morris University where she majors in Cinema and Photography, and minors in Theatre. Past YSSP credits include Romeo and Juliet (Tybalt/Fight Choreographer), Twelfth Night (Maria/Antonio), and Hamlet (Laertes).

Grace is thrilled to join Much Ado About Nothing’s production team as costume designer! A rising sophomore Drama major at Kenyon College, her previous YSSP credits include Twelfth Night (Costume Designer), Macbeth (Co-Director, Porter), and Hamlet (Ophelia). This past spring, she appeared in Kenyon’s production of Henry V as the Constable of France. Alongside her work with YSSP this summer, she is also apprenticing in Otterbein University’s Summer Theatre costume shop. Much Ado is Grace’s favorite Shakespearean comedy, and she’s so excited to help bring it to life!

Sarah is a rising senior at Lincoln park performing arts charter school where they study theater. Past YSSP credits include Romeo and Juliet, where they were assistant director, set designer, and played Mercutio. At Lincoln park, they take part in many shows usually doing tech.

Maddy is ecstatic to join YSSP’s Much Ado About Nothing as both the production dramaturg and the character of Beatrice. Her recent YSSP credits include Twelfth Night (Olivia/Valentine) and Romeo and Juliet (Juliet). In the past, Maddy has participated in the finals of the Pittsburgh Shakespeare Monologue and Scene Contest, as well as receiving multiple honorable mentions. In addition to her work in Much Ado About Nothing this summer, Maddy will be portraying the role of Flavius in Poor Yorick’s Players’ production of Timon of Athens. She can’t wait to get started!

Ella Mizera (Fight Choreographer) is excited to return to YSSP! She is a senior at the University of Pittsburgh, where she studies theater and nonprofit management. Since co-founding YSSP, she has been involved in almost every capacity. Fight credits include Pitt Stages’ Seven Guitars and Emilia, URI Student-Led Theatre’s Hamlet, and Pittsburgh Public Theatre’s Robin Hood. This summer, she will be fight choreographing the Heritage Players’ The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe, as well as attending the National Stage Combat Workshop in Louisiana to become an SAFD-certified Actor-Combatant.