CCC CAST & CREW

Kyle Huff (Co Founder STC-Director) is elated to be directing the inaugural show of Shahrazad Theatre Company. After co-founding STC along side Kayla Davis and August Scarpelli, and translating Caucasian Chalk Circle with them, Kyle couldn't be more pleased with how the hard work of the cast has played off. Kyle has been on the Ensemble stage many times, and in and around other theaters in Cleveland. The next show he will be in is The Hairy Ape at Ensemble Theatre. Kyle would like to thank Becca, Ian, Celeste, the cast, and his folks for their love and hard work.

August Scarpelli (Co-founder STC, Set Design, Simon/Ensemble) is a graduate of Hiram College, and an artistic associate at Ensemble Theatre , who has been gracious enough to make this all possible. He would like to infinitely thank the hard working, creative and honest group of friends that you will experience on and off stage this evening. The Caucasian Chalk Circle is a play that is kindred to August's heart and education. The opportunity to perform it in this space with these people is almost to good to be true. He will also be assistant directing and acting in Ensemble's production of The Hairy Ape

Kayla Davis (Grusha/Co-Founder STC) is thrilled to be a part of STC's inagural production of The Caucasian Chalk Circle! Kayla has co-founded STC along with Kyle Huff and August Scarpelli and would like to thank both of her co-founders for all their hard work and love for this project. Kayla has had the pleasure of being on the Ensemble stage as well as behind the scenes as a costumer and assistant director. Some of her favorite productions include The Phantom Tollbooth, Death of a Salesman, and Jerusalem. She would like to thank Celeste Cosentino and Ian Hinz for their endless support and guidance in starting this company and getting this production on its feet. Also lots of love to mom, dad, Kyle Davis, Josh Turner, and August Scarpelli for the abundance of love and support during this project. Enjoy! 

Andrew Keller (Lavrenti/Ensemble) is a graduate of Baldwin Wallace University, where he studied acting and directing, and appeared in Noises Off, Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?, and The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie. Recent regional credits include: Our Town and Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dream Coat at French Creek Theater, The Phantom Tollbooth, The Lion, The Witch & The Wardrobe, and Farragut North here at Ensemble Theater, and The Bigfoot Letters at Blank Canvas Theater.

James Rankin ( Arkadi The Singer) is overjoyed to be a part of this production, he is also very excited to be working with such a lovely new group of old friends. James has worked for various theaters around town, including Ensemble Theatre, Dobama Theatre, Great Lakes Theater, Cleveland Playhouse, Ohio Shakespeare Festival and a few others. Some of his past roles are Nick in The Great Gatsby (Ensemble), Betty Bumbrake/Teacher in Peter and the Starcatcher (Dobama), and recently The Duke of Buckingham in Three Musketeers (OSF). James is also very excited to be returning to Ensemble's Main season this year in The Hairy Ape and Angels in America. He would also to thank his family, friends, and certain others, but most importantly he would like to thank his father. Love to all. Enjoy the show!

Allan Branstein (Soldier/Ensemble) is happy to be in this inaugural productionHe will also appear as Paddy in Ensemble Theatre's production of The Hairy Ape in November as well! He last appeared here as Bailey in The Night Thoreau Spent in Jail and has been in such classics as Ages of the Moon, The Iceman Cometh, Frankenstein and Anna Christie to name a few.  He has performed with Dobama, Red Hen, Working Theater, Great Lakes, Bang and Clatter and many others.  He was last seen onstage with the Cleveland Shakespeare Festival as Banquo in a wonderful production of Macbeth.  He has been in a few films, performed in the vaudeville act The Mike and Al Show, and he would like to thank Paula because he can.          

Valerie Young (Peasant Woman/Ensemble) Since being approached by Kyle, August and Kayla, the founders of Shahrazad Theatre Company earlier this year to perform in Caucasian Chaulk Circle, Valerie accepted their offer on the spot.  Not only was she excited to perform Brecht once again (her first college production was Brecht's Threepenny Opera!), she was also drawn to the spirit, mission and commitment of the Shahrazad artistic team. Valerie has been at this game for over four decades and wishes to thank the Cleveland theatre community for its ongoing support of local theatre.

Steve Vasse Hansel (Corporal/Ensemble) has appeared numerous times on the stages of Ensemble. As an actor, designer and director, he he has worked in the theatre for over 40 years. Thanks and love to my beloved Nancy.

Tim Young (Jussup/Ensemble) has been in multiple productions with Ensemble Theatre including The Great Gatsby, The Neverending Story and Farragut North. In January 2017 he pulled focus to his freelance videography business under the name Stay.Humble and has been working behind the camera for the better part of the year. He is now returning to the stage as Kato in "Caucasian Chalk Circle". 

Katie Rotuno (Working Girl, Natella Abashwili, Younger Woman, Aniko, Nephew, Ludovica) is thrilled to be performing in her first play since her senior year of high school (12 years ago!). After recently moving back to the Cleveland area, she performed in every main stage musical at French Creek Theatre during their 2016-2017 season. Katie is a proud graduate of the Baldwin Wallace University Conservatory Of Music. She holds her bachelors and masters degrees in Music Therapy and is a certified music therapist serving hospice, mental health, and community settings through The Cleveland Music Settlement. Thank you to family and friends for their love and support, to Kyle for taking a chance on me, and to the audience for attending Sheherzad Theatre Company’s debut show! Enjoy!

Robert Hawkes (Azdak, Ensemble) is a member of the acting company at convergence-continuum in Tremont, where he recently performed Israel Horovitz’s monologue play, Spared. He returns there in December to play Nikola Tesla in the world première of Christopher Johnston's The Chaste Genius and His Deathray Gun.

Hannah Storch (Adjutant/Ensemble) is a pleased as punch to be part of this wonderful cast. She was last seen with the Cleveland Shakespeare Festival this past summer in The Taming of the Shrew and Macbeth. Hannah graduated from Kent State University with a BA in Theatre and English. Since then, she has worked with many theatre companies including Actors Theatre of Columbus in Columbus, OH, Pennsylvania Renaissance Faire in Manheim, PA, Talespinners Children’s Theatre in Cleveland, OH and The Beck Center for the Arts in Lakewood, OH. She has also toured around the country with The National Theatre for Children and Bright Star Touring Theatre. Thanks to all who support local theatre. Enjoy! 

Sam Landgraf (Stage Manager) is thrilled to be working on Shahrazad Theatres first production, The Caucasian Chalk Circle! Not only is it a chance to work with a new company, it is a chance to work with her Hiram Alums again.  Sam has worked on many productions at Ensemble Theatre over the past 5 years including their upcoming production of The Little Prince.  She would like to thank the cast an crew of Chalk Circle along with the staff of Ensemble Theatre for all the support in this production and over the years. She would also like to thank Jordan for always understanding how Tech Week works.