Titus Bios
CAST
Artist, healer, mover, and shaker. Thank you for going on this journey with us. Thank you, Tina and Brian, for bringing this story to life. I first met Tina in 2005, and her late husband, Dennis Krausnick. I had no idea how much they would shape my life. Tina and I started working on this play over 2 years ago. I would show up at the empty Playhouse at 7am to work through Tamora’s text guided over the phone by Tina and sometimes Nigel. It is a real dream to be here now. In Portland, I have worked at CoHo, Portland Center Stage, Corrib Theatre, and Shaking the Tree Theatre. Favorite local shows include: Wakey Wakey, Telethon, Angels in America: Part 1, You For Me For You, and Weaving Women Together at Portland Playhouse, A Doll’s House and Head, Hands, Feet at Shaking the Tree. These days you can find me spearheading work for incarcerated women across our country, working and creating for On The Inside. Learn more: www.ontheinside.space. BFA: The Australian Academy of Dramatic Arts. MFA: The Shakespeare Theatre. www.nikkimarieweaver.com.
Greetings guys, gals, and non-binary pals!
La' Tevin thanks Jove for this day
To once again strut a stage and play
Previously, he was Bob Cratchit
A kind-hearted man down to his core
Now cometh Aaron the Moor
A villain so foul and fair as ‘er ye did see
Next, the bold and brave Kent Ford will he be
Founder of Portland’s Chapter of the Black Panthers in ‘68
And, having gilt his resume with Television & Film,
Credits from TBS’ CHAD & The Paper Tigers on Netflix
To name but two, mounts the lot of them
More is yet to come, but the gospel mustn’t be gossiped
So beware my friends, but until then, enjoy this
A one of kind production of Titus Andronicus
Whether devising street theatre with Grotest Maru in Berlin, dancing with Kiwi sisters at The Body Festival in New Zealand, or stilt-walking through the CAFF summer season in Canada, Jamie thrives on cross-cultural collaboration through physical expression. Favorite local roles include: Halina (Indecent) – ART & Profile, Olympe DeGouges (The Revolutionists), Jack Worthing (The Importance of Being Earnest) – ART, Amy (In the Wake), Dawn (The Secretaries) – Profile Theatre, Macbeth (Macbeth) & Kristine (A Doll’s House -Drammy Award Best Supporting) -Shaking the Tree Theatre, Anna (The Snowstorm) – CoHo & Many Hats. She is part of the leadership body for Sojourn Theatre, co-founding Artistic Director of the Beirut Wedding World Theatre Project, and thrilled to join Portland Playhouse for this true ‘mirror up to nature moment' for the U.S. at this time.
Robin is thrilled to return to Portland Playhouse after playing Adlean in Barbeque this past fall! Pre-pandemic, she spent a few winter seasons in Palm Springs, where she played Nora in A Doll’s House, Part 2 (winner, Best Actress, Desert Theater Awards), Roxanne in The Understudy (nominee, best actress, Desert Theater Awards), and Dr Emma Brookner in The Normal Heart, (Supporting Actress, Desert Theater Awards). Robin worked extensively in sketch comedy & improv as well as in lots of off and off-off B’way shows in New York. She wrote and performed the autobiographical one-woman show, The Dangerous Lure of High Heels, about her experience infiltrating Operation Rescue, (Best Play, Arizona International Theater Festival). Some recent work includes a summer parks season with Original Practice Shakespeare where she played over 20 roles including Titania, Justice Shallow, Touchstone, the Porter in MacBeth, and Tybalt in Romeo & Juliet. Recent films, A Kaddish for Bernie Madoff, and Hunker Down (A Pandemic Comedy). She works locally in TV, commercials, voiceover, and film. She trained at American Academy of Dramatic Arts (NY), New York University, and Shakespeare & Co.
Charles (he/him) is thrilled to be on stage again. At the Playhouse, he serves as the Associate Producer and Company Manager, and most recently as the Assistant Director on Barbecue by Robert O'Hara. His Playhouse acting credits include: Matter (an original solo show & co-production with Many Hats Collaboration), A Christmas Carol (Ghost of Christmas Present 2016 and 2017), and pen/man/ship (ensemble). As an artist who wears a number of hats (Actor, Producer, Teacher, and Director), he’s worked with various companies over the years including Portland Center Stage, Many Hats Collaboration, Third Rail, Fuse Theatre Ensemble, Confrontation Theatre, and Oregon Children's Theatre. He would like to express his gratitude to the Titus Andronicus cast, creative team, staff, apprentices, and audiences for their courage and eagerness to engage in this story at this moment. May it bring us closer together. Let's play some Shakespeare! Say hello on Instagram: @charlesLg_ or thecharlesgrant.com
Joshua J. Weinstein – born and raised in Tallahassee, FL, Josh moved to Portland in 2011 to be a member of the Portland Playhouse Acting Apprentice Company. It's an honor to be back in this space over 10 years later. As a Resident Artist at Artists Rep: Indecent, Magellanica, We Are Proud to Present…, The Miracle Worker, 4000 Miles, Tribes, and Foxfinder. Other Portland Credits: The Baltimore Waltz (Profile, Drammy Award), Miss Bennet, Major Barbara (PCS), Beirut, Tender Napalm (The Shoebox, Drammy Award), A Christmas Carol (Portland Playhouse), The Nether (Third Rail), and Body Awareness (CoHo, Drammy Award). Many thanks to the incredible cast, creative, and production teams for keeping us safe and sharp. And Brandy. Always.
Hello, my name is Ashlee Radney. I’m 26 years old and I’m originally from Denver, Colorado. Fun fact, I moved to Portland because I really liked the show Portlandia. I’m truly happy & thankful for moving to Portland because of all the opportunities it’s provided to me. I’ve been studying Acting & Writing for 4 years at Portland State University, but feel like I got my start when I was kid. My brothers and I would take the family video camera and create magical stories & adventures. I always played the princess. This playful imagination gave me the drive to pursue theater. I hope to own a production company and produce my own written work. I want to be able to share that adventure I experienced as a child with others.
Isabelle is so grateful to be playing and growing with this incredible team of artists. She is a current Acting Apprentice at the Playhouse, last seen in A Christmas Carol. Prior to moving to Portland, she received her BA in acting from American University, with additional training from the British American Drama Academy. All love and gratitude to her parents, dear friends, the Playhouse, and her Apprentice cohort for making it all possible. See more at isabellejenningspickering.com.
Orlando is part of the current Portland Playhouse Apprentice company and a recent graduate from Southern Oregon University with a BFA in Theater Performance. His previous works include: Briggs in A Vampire Story, Caturian in The Pillowman, Miguel in Sin Miedo, and Jasper in Blur in the Rear View. Orlando would like to give gracias to his mamá y papá, his hermanos y hermanita, his apprentice company, and friends for their continued support. He’s excited to make his Portland Playhouse debut, and for the journey ahead. Que disfruten el show!
I’m an actress from a small town (technically a village) in Western New York called Medina. For those of you thinking, where is that!? You’re not alone but, don’t worry I’ve got you covered! Medina is in between Buffalo and Rochester, NY. I studied Theatre and English at the University At Albany. During my time at UAlbany I was seen onstage as LT. Dawes (and a convict) in Our Country’s Good. And lended a hand off stage in marketing, dramaturgy and costuming (dresser). Most of the time doing these jobs for multiple shows at the same time with acting, directing, Shakespeare, and theatre history classes in between! I understudied for Portland Playhouse’s production of Barbecue in the fall and recently made my Portland Playhouse debut as Martha Cratchit (and various other roles ) in A Christmas Carol .
Mila is so excited to be back at the Portland Playhouse to play Young Lucius in Titus. Her previous Playhouse appearances include the role of Tiny Tim in A Christmas Carol (2019), Peter Cratchit (and others) in A Christmas Carol (2021), and the role of Oli in the filmed piece 545 (2020). She has been a student of acting and musical theatre since she was 5 years old, including taking classes at OCT, NWCT, Acting for Kids and Teens and participating in the MADE for Kids Summer Theatre Program. Currently she is a member of the Catalyst Company at NWCT. When she isn’t acting, she can be found dancing, writing fairy tales, practicing piano and baking. She would like to thank Brian for this opportunity, the cast and crew for being so nice and her family for being so supportive. She hopes you enjoy the show!
Margot Penny Weaver's first experience of a play was watching Titus Andronicus as an infant. Since she was 5 she has played in A Christmas Carol at the Playhouse; she dreams of playing every role in the show. She has spent many waking hours at the Playhouse, watching from the audience or playing on stage. She lives in story – in her mind, in her books, and on stage. She's most likely read more books than you have in a year! When not in a play, you can find Margot devouring books on the couch, telling her parents story after story, learning piano, playing multiple soccer games in a day, or rollerblading through her neighborhood.
Ben is a Portland-based actor and musician, seen at the Playhouse earlier this season in A Christmas Carol. Locally, he has also performed at Portland Center Stage, Third Rail Repertory, Broadway Rose, Lakewood Theatre Company, Pixie Dust Productions, and others. Ben is also a musician and songwriter with music on Spotify and iTunes. You can follow Ben's work and outdoor adventures on Instagram @benjamintissell or at BenjaminTissell.com. Ben is overjoyed to be supporting this amazing cast and crew as an understudy, learner, and friend!
Delighted to call Portland home, Beth Thompson (she/her/they/theirs) has collaborated with many local companies as an actor, deviser, teacher and producer. Producing under the moniker Dancing Brain Productions and as managing director of Many Hats Collaborations, Beth focuses on theatre that embraces movement storytelling as a primary narrative tool. As an actor their favorite roles include Woman in Tender Napalm with Dancing Brain Productions, Orlando in Orlando at Profile Theatre, Miss Julie in Miss Julie and Catherine in Suddenly Last Summer at Shaking the Tree, Bear in The Snowstorm and Daughter in The Undertaking with Many Hats Collaboration.
CREATIVE TEAM
Tina Packer
Director
Born in England, Tina was trained at RADA, performed in regional theatre, was an Associate Artist at the RSC, played in television series for the BBC and ITV and arrived in the U.S. in 1974. She had a Ford Foundation Travel and Study to research the visceral roots of Shakespeare’s plays. She travelled to India, Israel, Italy and the U.S. She co-founded S&CO in 1978 and has worked for the Company ever since! She has directed all of Shakespeare’s plays (some of them several times), acted in eight of them (never when directing) and taught the whole canon at over thirty colleges, including Harvard, M.I.T. and NYU. At Columbia University, she taught in the M.B.A. program for four years, resulting in the publication of Power Plays: Shakespeare’s Lessons in Leadership and Management with Deming Professor John Whitney for Simon and Schuster. For Scholastic, she wrote Tales from Shakespeare, a children’s book and recipient of the Parent’s Gold Medal Award. Most recently Tina’s book Women of Will was published by Knopf and she has been performing Women of Will with Nigel Gore, in New York, Mexico, England, The Hague, China, and across the US. For S&CO acting credits include: Shirley Valentine, Molly Ivins, The Beauty Queen of Leenane, Mother of the Maid; Volumnia, Gertrude, Cleopatra, and Edith Wharton several times. She’s the recipient of numerous awards and honorary degrees, including the Commonwealth Award.
Brian Weaver
Director
Brian Weaver co-founded Portland Playhouse in 2008 with Nikki and his brother Michael, and has directed the productions of Scarlet; Peter and the Starcatcher; A Christmas Carol; Mr. Burns, a Post-Electric Play; Radio; Golf; Gem of the Ocean; Angels in America; Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson; Dying City; Detroit; The Light in the Piazza; After Ashley; and bobrauschenbergamerica. Regional credits include Third Rail Repertory, Intiman Theatre Company, Shakespeare & Company, Berkshire Theatre Festival, The Idaho Shakespeare Festival, and Seattle Public Theatre. Brian loves being a working dad – sharing time between the theatre and parenting Margot and Elliette alongside the love of his life, Nikki. When not in Portland, you can find him on any stream, mountain, or forest trail. He also serves on the Board or Outside In, helping homeless youth and other marginalized people move towards improved health and self-sufficiency.
Viola Horton
Costume Designer
Viola Is pleased to be working with the Design/Production Team at Portland Playhouse. Her last shows were with Canon Shakespeare Theater Company in their production of Hamlet, JUMP with Confrontation Theatre in collaboration with Milagro Theater, and The Complete Works of Shakespeare -Abridged with Experience Theater. Other collaborations include work on an independent film called Gone Two, and many other theater productions around the Portland Metro area. When she isn’t busy sewing in her dream studio, she and her husband Steve enjoy spending time with their daughter Stephanie and granddaughter Naomi, going to live theater and Broadway productions, traveling, antiquing, and spending quiet time at the beach. She is the owner of Everybody’s Beautiful, Sewing, Tailoring and Alterations, and PanAfrican Hip, an Afrocentric menswear line that was featured in the Spring 2020 edition of Africa Imports – Authentic African Fashions & More, a patent pending inventor, and she holds a Master’s Degree in Music Education from Lewis & Clark College, and a certificate in Apparel Design from the Portland Fashion Institute.
Matt Wiens
Sound Designer
Matt is a Portland-based composer and sound designer and is happy to be collaborating again with Portland Playhouse. Recent work includes Gloria, The Mineola Twins, Las Meninas, The Baltimore Waltz, Well, and Let Me Down Easy with Profile Theater; Indecent with Artists Rep; Chick Fight, Refuge, The Bakkhai, and Escaped Alone with Shaking the Tree Theatre; MALA with CoHo Productions, and Barbecue with The Portland Playhouse. Matt holds a BA in Theater from Goshen College and a Masters in Music Technology from NYU. You can hear his music at soundcloud.com/mattwiens.
Kristen Mun
Fight Director
Kristen Mun was born and raised on the island of Oahu where she started her theatrical stage combat training. She has been in the world of theatrical stage combat for 16 years and for the past 10 years she has been working as a fight choreographer and teacher in the city of Portland, OR. She owes her training to Dueling Arts International and her time as assistant fight choreographer at the Oregon Shakespeare Festival (09-10) with resident Fight Director U. Jonathan Toppo. She has received multiple Awards for Best Fight Choreography most recently, Tender Napalm 2018, Girl in the Red Corner 2019. Outside of Portland she has worked at Utah Shakespeare Festival and Idaho Repertory Theatre. When she is not a fight choreographer Kristen is a proud AEA stage manager and Racial Justice facilitator.
J.C Meyer-Crosby
Intimacy Director
J. C. “Jace” Meyer-Crosby is a director, Intimacy Director, sound artist, writer, and teacher who has come to best describe himself as a bard. Favorite theatrical directing credits include Strindberg classic Creditors and Bert V. Royal’s Dog Sees God: Confessions of a Teenage Blockhead, which earned a 2018 Best of Rochester Award. He has seen several adaptations (Maid Julie, Sharks, Faust) and original works (Positive, Ephemera, Covenant) produced and workshopped. As an Intimacy Director and Coordinator, Meyer-Crosby advocates for consent culture and storytelling excellence in the staging of intimate scenes for theatre and film. This work also heavily influences his writing of poetry and erotic fiction, which he sometimes shares via various online platforms and, in a non-pandemic reality, local slam events. His first musical, Wakeman, co-written with songwriter Jenn Grinels, is currently seeking production and has been submitted to the NAMT Festival of New Musicals. jcmeyercrosby.com @thejesseract
Keela Johnson
Cultural Competency Consultant
Keela Johnson, MCR, is a Cultural Competency and Creative Consultant, as well as an educator at Portland State University, who specializes in institutional, structural, and inter/intrapersonal oppressive ideologies, frameworks, policies, and narratives. Her work over the past six years with Portland Playhouse has consisted of providing workshops and trainings for staff, critical dialogic spaces for the greater community and critical dialogic spaces for affinity groups. Her most recent work with the Playhouse was providing support, feedback, and trauma resourcing knowledge and techniques in the Triggered Life Post-Performance space.
Erin Dilorio
Assistant Director
Alagia Felix
Assistant Intimacy Director
Hailing from Brooklyn, New York, Alagia's theater career began in academics and has flourished in community based theaters. After graduating cum laude from SUNY Oswego with a BA in Theater (Acting/Directing Track), she has bounced around theaters fulfilling roles as actress, director, and stage & production manager for varying companies for shows such as Annie Get Your Gun, The Piano Lessons, Grease, A Raisin in the Sun, Embrace! A Choreodrama, The Gospel of Lovingkindness, Sibling Rivalry, and The Contract. She will be apprenticing under the Intimacy Director for this production of Titus. Alagia practices theater as an ancestral duty of storytelling. She plans to further this transformative art into master study of Drama Therapy specifically for the African Diaspora and other underserved communities of color.