#porterstempest

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Meet the Cast of THE TEMPEST: Julia Silverman

Please introduce yourself! Tell us a bit about you and your role in The Tempest.

I’m Julia Silverman and I play Gonzalo in this production of The Tempest. Yes, Gonzalo is a male role, but the choice was to have her be a wise woman counselor, and it wouldn’t be the first time I’ve played a male role in Shakespeare. I played Lord Escalus in Measure for Measure, another kind, old, advisor. Both look to find the good in the world and in people, but Gonzalo dreams, as John Lennon did, of a more borderless utopia than what exists within the structure of current society.

Please give us a brief summary of the play from your character’s point of view.

Oh, wow, we survived a shipwreck. Oh, my, what an amazing island. Oh, dear, his highness is moping. Oh, yikes, there is mischief. Oh, Lord, there is celebration!

Magic plays a central role in the play. Prospero wields it to his own ends, and it can easily be seen as a metaphor for Shakespeare’s art as a writer. How do you define magic? What role does it play in your life?

There is magic in sunsets, in whipping winds, in the constant movement of the ocean, flowers fresh blooming in Spring, and autumn leaves falling into the first snow.

What is your favorite quote from the play?

For my character: Faith, sir, you need not fear.

And from Caliban: When I waked I cried to dream again.

Finally, where can people learn more about you and what you’re doing?

Facebook, Julia Silverman actor page, where I can be followed when you “like” the page. There is where you can find all of my projects. Also IMDB.

The Tempest is up and running in NoHo. Tickets HERE!

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Meet the Cast of THE TEMPEST: Kita Grayson

Please introduce yourself! Tell us a bit about you and your role in The Tempest.

I'm Kita Grayson! I'm an LA native, just back from a six year stint in Washington DC, where I earned my BFA at Howard University. I'm playing Miranda who is curious, compassionate, and fearless.  Her empathy can get her into trouble, but her unwavering veracity (almost) always gets her out. You can expect Miranda to fall in love at first sight, in true Shakespearean fashion.

Please give us a brief summary of the play from your character’s point of view.

Well, I've been living on this island with my father and his atrocious slave, the only people I've ever known. My father, Prospero, initiates a whipping storm, and I’m appalled at the wreckage until I realize it has brought me the most glorious thing I've ever laid eyes on...a man! Suddenly, I'm feeling feelings I can't explain, things I've never felt looking at another human before. This all-encompassing affection is new to me, and confusing.  I want to know everything and anything about it, and nothing will deter me from finding out.  

Tell us a bit about your history with The Porters and with Shakespeare. What’s been your favorite role to play thus far?

The Tempest marks my Porters debut, as well as my first professional Shakespeare production.  I couldn’t be more excited to work with this talented group! I once played Hamlet in 15-Minute-Hamlet. For many men, it is the role of a lifetime, but for me, a then fourteen year old girl, it was merely a starting block.

Magic plays a central role in the play. Prospero wields it to his own ends, and it can easily be seen as a metaphor for Shakespeare’s art as a writer. How do you define magic? What role does it play in your life?

Magic is what happens when you’re busy living life, and then you stop to experience it. It plays a huge role in my life when I remember to notice. It reminds me to be thankful for things that I take for granted like laughter, sunshine, clean water, and grandmothers.

What is your favorite quote from the play?

Moon-calf speak once in thy life, if thou beest a good moon-calf.

Finally, where can people learn more about you and what you’re doing?

Feel free to follow me on Instagram @kitagrayson or visit my website kitagrayson.net for updates and info!

The Tempest is up and running in NoHo. Tickets HERE!

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Meet the Cast of THE TEMPEST: Matthew Jayson Cwern

Please introduce yourself! Tell us a bit about you and your role in The Tempest.

I usually play villains so it was very fitting to cast me as Antonio. He adds an element of danger to play. Prospero and Ariel are comfortably pulling the strings. Ferdinand is falling in love. Stephano, Caliban and Trinculo and are off getting drunk and joking around. Alonso is grieving. Gonzalo is being level-headed. Adrian is confidant everything will be ok. But Antonio and Sebastian are schemers. And Antonio sees a great opportunity, even on a deserted island to gain power.

Please give us a brief summary of the play from your character’s point of view.

Antonio, Prospero’s younger brother, starts the play off on a boat in a wild storm. Him, his fellow noblemen and their servants were coming from the wedding of Alonso’s daughter in Tunis. The ship sinks and Antonio, Alonso, Sebastian, Adrian and Gonzalo all end up on an island. They assume they are the only people on the island and the only survivors of the wreckage. Antonio sees an opportunity to kill Alonzo and Gonzalo to advance his own political ambitions and bring Sebastian in with him. They are interrupted by Ariel. After wandering the island to no avail, they eventually realize that they were brought to the island by Prospero, Antonio’s brother. Antonio, Sebastian and Alonso overthrew Prospero twelve years ago so I think we all assume he wants us dead.

Tell us a bit about your history with The Porters and with Shakespeare. What’s been your favorite role to play thus far?

The Porters first cast me as York in Henry VI Parts I, II and III. It has actually been my favorite and least favorite role. The former because he’s just so interesting and has so many layers to him and the latter because it was my first time doing Shakespeare. It’s a role I would love to re-visit at some point now that I have a better understanding of the language. I also played Cardinal Pandulph last year in their production of King John.

Magic plays a central role in the play. Prospero wields it to his own ends, and it can easily be seen as a metaphor for Shakespeare’s art as a writer. How do you define magic? What role does it play in your life?

Magic is no different than theater. You are taking an audience on a journey and if done successfully, they will happily go on that journey with you. The Magic Castle is actually one of my favorite hangouts in LA. I’ve seen a lot of magic over the years and even when I see the same tricks done again and again with different variations, I’m entranced every single time if it’s executed well. My grandparents took me to see Harry Blackstone Jr when I was a kid. Watching him making lightbulbs levitate and making cages of birds disappear was the most amazing thing I had ever seen. I thought he was a wizard. It’s my favorite memory of my grandparents.

What is your favorite quote from the play?

No.

It’s said by Sean Faye who plays Alonso. I’ve never seen anyone say that word and yet get so many laughs. You’ll have to come see the play to understand.

Finally, where can people learn more about you and what you’re doing?

I’m @matthewjaysoncwern on IG and Twitter!

The Tempest is currently running in NoHo. Tickets HERE!

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Meet the Cast of THE TEMPEST: Whitton Frank

Please introduce yourself! Tell us a bit about you and your role in The Tempest.  

Hello! I am a short redheaded transplant from San Francisco who has fallen in deep dark love with Los Angeles. My side hustles are as a swing/blues dance instructor and DJ at Clifton’s Cafeteria and various spots around LA.

I am playing the Alonso’s sister, Sebastian. Traditionally a male role, I think it works beautifully as a female and allows for certain subtleties to be brought more clearly to light.

Please give us a brief summary of the play from your character’s point of view.

Everything has been going wrong since my stupid brother decided to marry my niece to a savage from Africa, clearly in a grab to consolidate power. His daughter did not want to go through with the marriage and everyone advised him against it. It is completely his fault that we have shipwrecked on this island and lost his son. I am in a foul mood so I am quite open to listening to Antonio’s suggestions of fratricide and potential Macbeth-style takeover. As the day progresses and things get stranger and stranger I have second thoughts and honestly am a little relived when Propero appears and says that though he knows of our plot, he will not tell my brother.  Basically then it is business as usual, I am still the kings sister and basically in the same place I started.  

Tell us a bit about your history with The Porters and with Shakespeare. What’s been your favorite role to play thus far?

This is my first show with the Porters, though I have auditioned for a few of their other shows.  I am incredibly pleased to get to work with them at last. As this is my first show with them, by default Sebastian has been my favorite character.  I do not often get a chance to play wicked characters, so this has been exceedingly enjoyable.

Magic plays a central role in the play. Prospero wields it to his own ends, and it can easily be seen as a metaphor for Shakespeare’s art as a writer. How do you define magic? What role does it play in your life?

Magic for me (and this is going to sound cheesy) is what we do onstage as performers. There is a magic in getting people invested in characters and giving the audience some kind of catharsis as they follow the story. Real magic is giving a person something they were not expecting, taking them with you on a journey of sorts.  

What is your favorite quote from the play?

Ariel’s line:

I drink the air before me, and return Or ere your pulse twice beat.

Just a really fantastic way to say that she will be back super fast.

Finally, where can people learn more about you and what you’re doing?

Learn more about the fabulous hijinks of myself at my webpage, instagram or facebook.

www.whittonfrank.com

https://www.instagram.com/thesoulisabird/

https://www.facebook.com/WhittonAnneFrank/

The Tempest is up and running in NoHo. Tickets HERE!

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Meet the Cast of THE TEMPEST: Leon Russom

Please introduce yourself! Tell us a bit about you and your role in The Tempest. Leon Russom, playing Prospero, who chooses frail human life over power.

Tell us a bit about your history with The Porters and with Shakespeare. What’s been your favorite role to play thus far?

Played Glouster in KING LEAR, the Chorus in HENRY V and three kings and pimp in PERICILES. The Chorus is my favorite and his speech “Now entertain conjecture of a time…” is my favorite speech.

Magic plays a central role in the play. Prospero wields it to his own ends, and it can easily be seen as a metaphor for Shakespeare’s art as a writer. How do you define magic? What role does it play in your life? Don’t believe in magic. So there’s an acting task.

What is your favorite quote from the play? We are such stuff as dreams are made on, and our little life is rounded by a sleep.

Finally, where can people learn more about you and what you’re doing? Try my FB page.

The Tempest opens April 28 in NoHo for a 6-week run. Tickets can be purchased HERE!