Stepping into Shakespeare - a Podcast Journey with the Bard.: Recent Episodes
Stepping into Shakespeare
Podcast hosts and actresses Therese Theurillat and Sarah Lynn Dawson talk about their experiences recording a live reading of Hamlet by William Shakespeare. In the first five episodes, they interview actors Frank Reeves, Andy Davoli, Emmanuel Todorov, and William Jackson. The last five episodes are the edited, live recording of the five acts of Hamlet.
Therese Theurillat and Sarah Lynn Dawson talk to Matthew Brenher about directing and acting in Twelfth Night.
Therese Theurillat and Sarah Lynn Dawson talk about their roles of Olivia and Viola in Twelfth Night
All misunderstandings are resolved in the final act. Sebastian and Olivia, who mistakenly married, are reunited, as are Viola and Orsino. Malvolio, released from his cell, swears revenge on those who played the prank on him. Feste delivers the closing lines of the play, highlighting the theme of the fleeting nature of joy and the acceptance of life's follies. The play ends with celebrations and a sense of harmony restored in Illyria.
Cast:
Olivia - Therese Theurillat
Viola - Sarah Lynn Dawson
Orsino - Matthew Brenher
Malvolio - Max Dowler
Valentine & Sebastian - Fergus Foster
Maria - Tanya Winsor
Fabian & Sir Andrew Aguecheek - Tim Bond,
Sir Toby Belch and the Sea Captain - George Keeler
Feste - Kathryn Worth
Produced by Therese Theuriallat & Sarah Lynn Dawson
Directed by Matthew Brenher
Audio post-production and mastering by Tim Bond Artwork by Nikita Jaitly
Malvolio, still believing that Olivia loves him, confronts her in front of others, but is locked away as a madman. Feste, disguised as a priest, visits Malvolio in his cell, furthering his torment. Sir Toby Belch and his companions play a trick on Malvolio, leading him to believe that he is possessed by evil spirits.
Cast:
Olivia - Therese Theurillat
Viola - Sarah Lynn Dawson
Orsino - Matthew Brenher
Malvolio - Max Dowler
Valentine & Sebastian - Fergus Foster
Maria - Tanya Winsor
Fabian & Sir Andrew Aguecheek - Tim Bond,
Sir Toby Belch and the Sea Captain - George Keeler
Feste - Kathryn Worth
Produced by Therese Theuriallat & Sarah Lynn Dawson
Directed by Matthew Brenher
Audio post-production and mastering by Tim Bond Artwork by Nikita Jaitly
Olivia confesses her love to Cesario (Viola in disguise), who tries to persuade her to redirect her affections to Duke Orsino. Sir Andrew challenges Cesario to a duel, but Cesario avoids fighting. Olivia mistakes Viola's twin brother, Sebastian, for Cesario and hastily agrees to marry him.
Cast:
Olivia - Therese Theurillat
Viola - Sarah Lynn Dawson
Orsino - Matthew Brenher
Malvolio - Max Dowler
Valentine & Sebastian - Fergus Foster
Maria - Tanya Winsor
Fabian & Sir Andrew Aguecheek - Tim Bond,
Sir Toby Belch and the Sea Captain - George Keeler
Feste - Kathryn Worth
Produced by Therese Theuriallat & Sarah Lynn Dawson
Directed by Matthew Brenher
Audio post-production and mastering by Tim Bond Artwork by Nikita Jaitly
Malvolio, Olivia's steward, is tricked into believing that Olivia loves him by a forged letter. Meanwhile, Viola, still disguised as Cesario, finds herself falling in love with Orsino. Olivia confesses her love to Cesario, who tries to redirect her affections toward Orsino. Sebastian, Viola's twin, arrives in Illyria and is mistaken for Cesario by Olivia, who promptly marries him.
Cast:
Olivia - Therese Theurillat
Viola - Sarah Lynn Dawson
Orsino - Matthew Brenher
Malvolio - Max Dowler
Valentine & Sebastian - Fergus Foster
Maria - Tanya Winsor
Fabian & Sir Andrew Aguecheek - Tim Bond,
Sir Toby Belch and the Sea Captain - George Keeler
Feste - Kathryn Worth
Produced by Therese Theuriallat & Sarah Lynn Dawson
Directed by Matthew Brenher
Audio post-production and mastering by Timothy Bond Artwork by Nikita Jaitly
In the kingdom of Illyria, a shipwreck separates Viola from her twin brother, Sebastian. Viola disguises herself as a young man named Cesario and becomes a servant to Duke Orsino. Orsino is in love with Lady Olivia, who is mourning the recent loss of her brother. Viola, as Cesario, is sent to woo Olivia on Orsino's behalf, but Olivia becomes infatuated with Cesario instead.
Cast:
Olivia - Therese Theurillat
Viola - Sarah Lynn Dawson
Orsino - Matthew Brenher
Malvolio - Max Dowler
Valentine & Sebastian - Fergus Foster
Maria - Tanya Winsor
Fabian & Sir Andrew Aguecheek - Tim Bond,
Sir Toby Belch and the Sea Captain - George Keeler
Feste - Kathryn Worth
Produced by Therese Theuriallat & Sarah Lynn Dawson
Directed by Matthew Brenher
Audio post-production and mastering by Tim Bond
Artwork by Nikita Jaitly
Hamlet meets Horatio in the graveyard, where they talk about life and death. Ophelia's funeral procession arrives at the same graveyard. Hamlet confronts Laertes, Ophelia's brother, who has taken his father's place at the court; and they fight over the grave.
A duel is arranged between Hamlet and Laertes. During the match, Claudius conspires with Laertes to kill Hamlet. They plan that Hamlet will die either on a poisoned rapier or with poisoned wine. The plans go awry when Gertrude unwittingly drinks from the poisoned cup and dies. Then both Laertes and Hamlet are wounded by the poisoned blade, and Laertes dies.
Hamlet, in his death throes, kills Claudius. Hamlet dies, leaving only his friend Horatio to explain the truth to the new king, Fortinbras, as he returns in victory from the Polish wars.
Frank Reeves: Hamlet
Andy Davoli: Horatio, Claudius, Gravedigger & Lord
Sarah Lynn Dawson: Gertrude, Laertes, Priest & English Ambassador
Therese Theurillat: Fortinbras
Emmanuel Todorov: Gravedigger
William Jackson: Orsic
Audio Editing & Music: Sarah Lynn Dawson & Therese Theurillat
Artwork: Kevin Chicaiza
Gertrude tells Claudius that Hamlet has killed Polonius and Claudius devises a plan to send Hamlet to England, just as King Fortinbras of Norway crosses Denmark with an army to attack Poland. During his journey, Hamlet discovers the plan to have him killed once he arrives. He returns to Denmark alone, sending his companions Rosencrantz and Guildenstern to their deaths in his place.
Laertes returns to the palace upon hearing of his Fathers death and Claudius talks him around into taking revenge against Hamlet. Rejected by Hamlet, Ophelia is now desolate at the loss of her father. She goes mad and drowns.
Frank Reeves: Hamlet
Andy Davoli: Horatio, Claudius, Rosencranz
Sarah Lynn Dawson: Gertrude, Messenger
Therese Theurillat: Ophelia, Fortinbras
Emmanuel Todorov: Laertes, Captain, Guildenstern, Gentleman
William Jackson: Sailor
Audio Editing & Music: Sarah Lynn Dawson & Therese Theurillat
Artwork: Kevin Chicaiza
Hamlet devises a plan to reveal the Kings guilt. He convinces a group of Players to enact a murder and watches Claudius closely to see how he reacts. The play provokes Claudius, and he interrupts the action by storming out. Summoned by his distressed mother, Gertrude, Hamlet happens upon Claudius kneeling and attempting to pray. Hamlet reasons that to kill the King now would only send his soul to heaven rather than hell. Hamlet decides to spare his life for the time being.
Polonius hides in Gertrude's room to protect her from her unpredictable son. When Hamlet arrives to scold his mother, he hears Polonius moving behind the tapestry. He stabs the tapestry and, in so doing, kills Polonius. The ghost of Hamlet's father reappears and warns his son not to delay revenge or upset his mother.
Frank Reeves: Hamlet
Andy Davoli: Horatio, Claudius, Rosencranz, Player King & Lucianus
Sarah Lynn Dawson: Gertrude & Player Queen
Emmanuel Todorov: Polonius & Guildenstern
Therese Theurillat: Ophelia
William Jackson: The Ghost
Audio Editing & Music: Sarah Lynn Dawson & Therese Theurillat
Artwork: Kevin Chicaiza
According to his plan, Hamlet begins to act strangely. He rejects Ophelia, while Claudius and Polonius spy on him. They had hoped to find the reason for Hamlet's sudden change in behavior, but could not. Claudius summons Guildenstern and Rosencrantz, old friends of Hamlet to find out what's got into him. Their arrival coincides with a group of traveling actors. Hamlet writes a play which includes scenes that mimic the murder of Hamlet's father. During rehearsal, Hamlet and the actors plot to present Hamlet's play before the King and Queen.
Frank Reeves: Hamlet
Andy Davoli: Claudius, Rosencranz & First Player
Sarah Lynn Dawson: Gertrude & Reynaldo
Emmanuel Todorov: Polonius & Guildenstern
Therese Theurillat: Ophelia
William Jackson: Voltemand
Audio Editing & Music: Sarah Lynn Dawson & Therese Theurillat
Artwork: Kevin Chicaiza
Hamlet, returns to Denmark upon learning that his father the King has died. He finds that his mother Gertrude, the Queen has swiftly married his Uncle Claudius who is now the King. Hamlet is told that his father has returned as a Ghost and meets him on the castle battlements where he delivers some shocking news abut the nature of his fathers death.
Cast:
Frank Reeves: Hamlet
Andy Davoli: Horatio & Claudius
Sarah Lynn Dawson: Gertrude & Laertes
Therese Theurillat: Ophelia & Marcellus
Emmanuel Todorov: Francisco & Polonius
William Jackson: Barnardo & The Ghost
Audio Editing & Music: Sarah Lynn Dawson & Therese Theurillat
Artwork: Kevin Chicaiza
Guest William Jackson talks about the roles he was reading: the Ghost, Cornelius, and Voltemand as well as his experiences of playing Shakespeare.
William calls himself a journeyman actor and the journey says that the journey has been enjoyable. He never intended to be one. Radio was his calling and he found his niche running the Traffic Information Station on AM 530 for LAX patrons to listen to on their trips to the airport. He was also taking a voice-over in the workshop to help sharpen his vocal skills. One of his workshop mates told him a small dinner theater in Montrose was looking for a Murray in A Thousand Clowns and why didn't he audition for it? He did and was hooked.
Since then he has had numerous TV & Film credits including episodes of Seinfeld, Cheers, Hill Street Blues, many soaps, and some movies. He was also on the Love Boat with Alexis Smith.
He became involved with Shakespeare in a group that met at his house on Sunday afternoons to read. During the pandemic, he has participated in several zoom readings, including playing Chebutykin in The Three Sisters, a charity reading, with an international group of actors representing several countries, and this most recent one as The Ghost and other roles in Hamlet, which he is honored to be a part of.
Click here to find him on IMDB
Audio post-production by Sarah Lynn Dawson & Therese Theurillat
Audio Mastering by Brandon Martinez
Music thanks to: Dronningens Contillion
Artist: Huldrelokkk
Composer: Harald Haugaard / trad. - arr:Huldrelokkk used with kind permission by the artists and Westpark Music & Publishing
Artwork: Kevin Chicaiza
Guest Emmanuel Todorov talks about his roles Polonius, Laertes and Guildenstern as well as his thoughts on Shakespeare.
Emmanuel is an actor, writer, and producer. Emmanuel was born in Sofia Bulgaria and was schooled in England. Graduate of Stella Adler Conservatory and Shakespeare Lab at the Public Theater in NYC. Further Shakesperean training includes First Folio workshops with the Elizabethan Shakespeare Company of NJ and Di Trevis intensive.
First acting job after graduation was a National Tour of the US with a traveling theatre company playing Porthos in a stage production of the Three Musketeers. Notable performances were Baptista from Taming of the Shrew and Lucious from Timon of Athens. Resident performer at the iconic 13th Street Rep in NYC.
Transplant to Los Angeles in 2001 where Emmanuel’s efforts were refocused on Film, TV, and commercials. Notable film credits include Indiana Jones IV, The Other Guys, After We Fell, The Russian Bride, TV credits include Pandora, Flaked , Alias, Sex and the City, Las Vegas.
Notable stage performances on the West Coast include Sgt. Bluntschli in Arms and the Man, Roderigo in Othello, Sir Andrew Aguecheek in Twelfth Night, and a supporting part in The Great Sebastians.
Emmanuel started writing for screen after his move to Los Angeles, fascinated with the endless possibilities of creative imagination. He wrote, produced, and starred in his first mini TV series INBETWEEN available for anyone interested to see for free at www.WATCHINBETWEEN.com
During the pandemic lockdowns of 2020 Emmanuel wrote, produced and starred in a short film Love In The Time Of Pandemic, currently in post-production, where one will be able to see him share the screen with Sarah Lynn Dawson.
Click here to find him on IMDB
Audio post-production by Sarah Lynn Dawson & Therese Theurillat
Audio Mastering by Brandon Martinez
Music thanks to: Dronningens Contillion
Artist: Huldrelokkk
Composer: Harald Haugaard / trad. - arr:Huldrelokkk used with kind permission by the artists and Westpark Music & Publishing
Artwork: Kevin Chicaiza
Guest Andy Davoli talks about his roles, Claudius, Horatio, and Rosencrantz as well as his fascination for Shakespeare.
Andy has been performing on stage, since the age of six and it can be said that since then he hasn't left. He attended clown and magic school as a teen, graduated from Villanova University, and then got accepted into law school. But Andy knew his destiny was always in front of him so he made his way to New York City to realize his dreams of being an actor. He settled in Little Italy where he vigorously studied the three branches of the Method, finding that he could instinctively bring his intensity, intelligence, and humor and encompass them into the characters he played whether it be on stage or on film.
After returning from a visit to Davoli, Italy, he was cast in his first lead role in an independent film entitled "Loser Love" directed by Jean-Marc Vallée. Meanwhile, he carried on honing his craft performing in several Off-Broadway plays. Director James Gray discovered Andy and cast him in what would be Andy's first foray into studio features for a splashy role opposite such top talents as Joaquin Phoenix, Mark Wahlberg, and Charlize Theron, in the big-budget Miramax feature "The Yards". It's no surprise then that Andy quickly caught the eye of Italian-American cinematic legends like Martin Scorsese who cast him in a cameo role in "Bringing Out the Dead" opposite Nicolas Cage. Andy then had a cameo in "People I Know" with The Godfather himself, the great Al Pacino.
Davoli beat out hundreds of other actors for the coveted role of "Scarpa" in New Line Cinema's "Knockaround Guys" where Brian Koppelman and David Levein cast him in the lead role opposite Vin Diesel, Barry Pepper, and John Malkovich. After an audition for the critically acclaimed HBO series "The Sopranos", series creator David Chase wrote the recurring role of "Dino Zerilli" for him in the third season of arguably the greatest show in the history of television. Clearly, Andy Davoli brings something special to the screen and the directing duo Anthony and Joe Russo saw what others were seeing. They cast the rising star in the lead ensemble role of "Basil" alongside Sam Rockwell, George Clooney, and Gabrielle Union in Warner Bros' "Welcome to Collinwood", produced by Clooney and Steven Soderbergh.
While in the room auditioning in front of Pulitzer-winning playwright and screenwriter David Mamet, he was immediately cast opposite Val Kilmer in "Spartan" after telling a joke. Andy's charisma is both on and off the screen. He continued to prove himself as a multi-faceted actor in the role of "Jake Perini", a wheelchair-bound victim of polio, opposite Kenneth Branagh and Cynthia Nixon in the Golden Globe-nominated HBO film "Warm Springs".
Davoli's dark Sicilian-Italian good looks were used to stunning effect in a Stephen Meisel Dolce & Gabbana campaign opposite international supermodel Gisele Bündchen. His starring turn as the lead in the magical surrealistic short film "Lucky Clown" brought Andy back to his clown college roots and paved the way for the film to premiere at both the 2007 Cannes Film Festival and the Venice Film Festival. Directed by the brilliant Renaissance filmmaker Salvatore Di Costanzo, Andy went on to make two more shorts with him of the same genre: "The Crying Museum" and "The Abandoned Circus".
Since his memorable role in "The Sopranos", Andy has lent his talent and versatility over the years to countless roles on such celebrated shows as "24", "CSI:New York", "CSI:Miami", "The Unit", "Burn Notice", and "Lucifer".
Click here to find him on IMDB
Audio post-production by Sarah Lynn Dawson & Therese Theurillat Audio Mastering by Brandon Martinez Music thanks to: Dronningens Contillion Artist: Huldrelokkk Composer: Harald Haugaard / trad. - arr:Huldrelokkk Artwork: Kevin Chicaiza
Guest Frank Reeves talks about reading Hamlet and gives insight into his approach to acting Shakespeare.
Frank started his career as an actor working on Broadway and various Off-Broadway shows in New York. He has trained with some of the best acting teachers in the world.
He was first invited into the Actors Studio by Lee Strasberg, as a professional observer while he was working as "Luis", one of the leads in the Joseph Papp Production of Runaways" at The Plymouth Theatre on Broadway. He is now a lifetime member of the Actor's Studio. From here he studied with many of its members including Madeline Sherwood, Shelly Winters, Susan Peretz, John Strasberg, Susan Cohen, Eric Morris, Geraldine Barron, Ernie Martin, Martin Landau, Mark Rydel, Michael Shurtleff, and Michael Shulman, as well as the great Stella Adler and Al Russio who taught him Sandy Meisner's method.
He has worked on Broadway and Off-Broadway as well as industrials, commercials, music videos, (Two of his own) and has promoted several products in print including three billboard campaigns for Budweiser, Newport Cigarettes, and Benson and Hedges Cigarettes. Frank was also the lead singer for "Slim" which was handled by Sam Mckeith of the William Morris Agency and opened the show for Chaka Khan at the Felt Forum. He also opened a show for Michael Boltan at Nirvana. He also toured with his own band, "Frank Reeves and Tease" He was then signed to the short-lived, "Malibu" on Bobcat Records which was a subsidiary of Epic Records.
His move to L.A. gave him a tour with the prestigious Southcoast Repertory's production of "Bird's of a Feather" in which he played "Coyote" the lead.
He has worked as a Principle Actor in eight (8) feature films (almost all leads) as well as two shorts; "The Mule" which he wrote, directed, produced, edited, as well as doing the VO for the Lead character, "Detective Charlie Doss. and "Conditioning" soon to be released. He has seven Guest Star roles in various Television shows including his recurring role on The District on CBS. He has been directing and has been an Acting Coach for the past twenty (15) years. He is currently in Post Production with his short film (32 min.) which he wrote, directed, produced, and edited, called, "The Man Upstairs". A psychological thriller.
He has worked under two names. Frank Reeves and Frank Rivera For his films as a director he'll be listed as "Frank Reeves Rivera".
Click here to find him on IMDB
Audio post-production by Sarah Lynn Dawson & Therese Theurillat
Audio Mastering by Brandon Martinez
Music thanks to: Dronningens Contillion
Artist: Huldrelokkk
Composer: Harald Haugaard / trad. - arr:Huldrelokkk
used with kind permission by the artists and Westpark Music & Publishing
Artwork: Kevin Chicaiza
Therese Theurillat and Sarah Lynn Dawson talk about their roles, Ophelia and Gertrude as well as their interests and fascination with Shakespeare's Hamlet.
Therese left Switzerland to follow her passion for acting and creative writing, initially taking an introductory course in scriptwriting - in Zurich, after which she moved to England where she eagerly embraced the language and culture. She gained valuable acting experience at “Stage 2’ in Norwich and the ‘City Academy’ in London and completed an HNC course in Performing Arts at the ‘The Garage’ in Norwich with distinction. Next came an ensemble part in the play “A view from the Bridge”, by Arthur Miller, at the ‘Maddermarket Theatre’ in Norwich. Therese went on to teach and take part in a local improvisation group which she co-founded. In 2021, she played Olga in Anton Chekov’s play: “Three Sisters” which was produced by the ‘New Era Group Theatre’ as a live online performance. In addition, she played Cecily in Oscars Wilde's play ”The importance of being Earnest”, which was another online production of the New Era Group Theatre.
She played Dr. Kathrin Ann Hearst in the short film “Flashbulbs”, by Kevin Carey, and the female lead in the student film “Silence” from the London Film School, directed by Zhao Li an Peng. She taught Drama at the ‘Norwich Steiner School’, UK, and was the female lead in a Norwich filmed commercial. Her interest in Shakespeare as well as her personal journey in building confidence to read Shakespeare as a non-native speaker inspired her to the idea of this podcast.
Click here to find her acting profile
and here to find her website
Sarah is a British actress and filmmaker who trained as an actress at the New York's Lee Strasberg Institute of Film and Television on their two year acting certificate program. She voiced the role of the Mother in the Oscar Nominated Feature Film I Lost My Body (2019). She played the role of Angie in Love in the Time of Pandemic (2022). Other films she has appeared in, include Duality (2015), which she wrote and starred in and which was narrated by Deepak Chopra and premiered at the Hollyshorts Film Festival. She also played the lead role of Alice Clark the LAPD's first female detective in the 1940's film noir Unsolved (2015), which she also produced. This film was an Official Selection of Women Up! Independent Film Festival, Official Selection of the Silicon Beach Film Festival, Official Selection of California Women's Film Festival and an Official Selection of the Ozark Film Festival.
In New York she performed in the Off-Broadway production of 'Men' directed by Ken Wolfe. She recently played Irina in Anton Chekov’s play 'The Three Sisters' in a live online charity performance. She has a love for Shakespeare and has participated in readings of many of his plays, one of her favorite roles being Viola in 'Twelfth Night'. This is her first time producing a podcast and she is very happy Therese suggested the idea; to work with such brilliantly talented actors and that the subject matter is Shakespeare and Hamlet.
Click here to find her on IMDB
Audio post-production by Sarah Lynn Dawson & Therese Theurillat
Audio Mastering by Brandon Martinez
Music thanks to: Dronningens Contillion
Artist: Huldrelokkk
Composer: Harald Haugaard / trad. - arr:Huldrelokkk used with kind permission by the artists and Westpark Music & Publishing
Artwork: Kevin Chicaiza