The Queen's Fools Presents:
A Midsummer Night's Dream
Mack Matteson* (Director, Hippolyta, U/S Titania) is thrilled to be back on the West Coast with her fools. A founding member and leader of ‘The Fools’, Mack graduated from DePaul University. Credits include: Will Scarlet in Robin Hood, Mercutio in Romeo & Juliet, Hermia in A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Desdemona in Othello, Prospero in The Tempest, Octavius Caesar in Antony & Cleopatra, Margery Pinchwife in The Country Wife. She would like to thank her right hand man, Charlie, for keeping her sane every single day. She would also like to thank her husband Neil for always making things interesting.
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Neil Joplin* (Co-Artistic Director, Oberon) is a six-time LA Ovation Award nominee and LA Weekly Theater Award winner for Prometheus in Prometheus Bound at Center Theater Group. Favorite Regional credits include: Hamlet Santa Barbara Performing Arts Center (Hamlet), Romeo & Juliet PVPA (Mercutio), Hamlet SCLA (Gravedigger), MacBeth SF Playhouse (Banquo), Last Days of Judas Escariot Pasadena Playhouse (Satan), Of Mice and Men Kirk Douglas Theater (George), The Graduate at ICT (Benjamin Braddock), Avatar the Last Airbender The Musical Pantages Theater (King Boomie), Bengal Tiger at the Baghdad Zoo Rogue Machine Theater (Tiger) to name a few. He has performed 6 seasons at Oregon Shakespeare Festival and was a company member at Steppenwolf for the 2005-06 season, where he originated the role of “Xeones” in the critically acclaimed production of Gates of Fire. He is a two-time Jason Alexander Award Winner and Drama Desk Recipient. TV/Film Credits include Psych, Ned’s Declassified, Mad Men, Breaking Bad, Walker Texas Ranger, The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, Meet the Browns, Law&Order, Law&Order: SVU, CSI, CSI: Miami, CSI: Alaska, Criminal Minds, Days of Our Lives, The Mick, Battlestar Galactica. He studied acting at the famed Stella Adler Studio in New York and holds his M.F.A. from the late, great American Conservatory Theater in San Francisco. He is the Co-Founder/Artistic Director of The Queen’s Fools and is thrilled to be heading another production of A Midsummer Night’s Dream with his Hippolyta, Mack. “The more I give to thee, the more I have, for both are infinite.”
Charles G. Miller (Company Manager, Quince) While he was a student (with Theo!) at DePaul University, Charlie took a workshop with the famed Mack Matteson on Shakespeare and Rhetoric. The two instantly clicked and she quickly offered him the role of Osric in The Queen’s Fools’ upcoming production of Hamlet. That was 2016. The rest is history. Charlie is now entering his sixth season with the Fools, and he is proud to call these people his family. His home away from home. Charlie also serves as the prop master, set designer, and assistant stage manager. Favorite roles include: Malvolio in Twelfth Night, Poins in Henry IV Part 1, Lucentio in Taming of the Shrew, Arthur in King John and Witch in Macbeth.
Sidney Roberts* (Hermia, Fight Choreographer) is deeply grateful to be in her third year touring with The Queen’s Fools. Notable roles with the company include: Hero in Much Ado About Nothing, Ophelia in Hamlet, Viola in Twelfth Night, & Rosalind in As You Like It. Her dream roles would be Romeo in Romeo & Juliet and The Fool/Cordelia in King Lear. Huge thanks to her bestie Makayla for introducing her to the Fools; Isaiah for his snacks, pep talks & being the best bus buddy; Queen Mack for all her inspiration, guidance & support; and Jay ♡
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Jay Johnson (Lysander) has been running with The Fools for over 3 years now. Favorite roles include Orlando in As You Like It, Laertes in Hamlet, and Hotspur in Henry IV Part 1. He is stoked that his recent film project “Touch” has been played at both Sundance and Festival de Cannes. You can also see him as “Buff Dude” in S4E6 of CSI: Miami. Check out his collection of poems “It Happened By Chance” at select Barnes and Noble stores. Shout out to his Commercial Agency Daniel Hoff for keeping him super busy. Jay graduated from University of Evansville. All the love to his one and only—Sid. Love you, babe.
Makayla Moore (Helena) is beyond thrilled to return for her fourth year with The Queen's Fools! Some of her fav roles are Margaret in Much Ado About Nothing, Maria in Twelfth Night, Celia in As You Like It, and her all time fav -- Lady Percy in Henry IV Part 1! Makayla would like to thank her parents that taught her to NEVER "hide her sparkle" -- and her high school drama teacher, Mr. Erickson, for recognizing all her potential and light!! Shout out to my long time bestie Sid -- I don't know where I'd be without ya!! (well, I'd probably be playing the leads...lol jk!!)
Theodore Spivey III* (Bottom) is pleased to be in his second year with The Queen’s Fools. He was seen last year as both Toby Belch and Andrew Aguecheek (puppet) in Twelfth Night. Favorite credits include: Understudy for Albus Potter in Harry Potter and the Cursed Child at the Lyric Theatre on Broadway, Duke Orsino in Twelfth Night at The Texas Shakespeare Festival, William Shakespeare in Shakespeare in Love (The Drinking Show!) at Mammoth Shakespeare Festival, Detective McSmogg in Miss Nelson Is Missing! at Peterborough Players, Jason in Hand to God at The Alley Theatre, and Joey (the horse) in War Horse at Great Lakes Theatre. MFA, Yale University. BFA DePaul University. Much thanks to his childhood friend, Charles, for introducing him to this brilliant company. And if you have any connections to PigPen Theatre Company, please let him know.
Kyle Dinero (Puck) From Cashville USA, baby. Respect the hustle. I’m a man of many talents. And I do this and that for The Fools. Business, logistics, advertisements, even a little acting now. You name it—I do it. I don’t have a insta, but hit up my Venmo @kylecashflow if you wanna get connected. Other credits include: The Fool in Twelfth Night and Hustler #2 in All About The Benjamins. I am also a music and acting manager at Dinero Talents. HMU if you need rep.
Brynn Bellinger (Peaseblossom) has been an avid fan of The Queen’s Fools since the age of seven. Every summer the troupe would tour through her hometown Joliet, IL, and she always dreamed of performing alongside these great artists. Brynn is thrilled to be making her debut with The Queen’s Fools in this revolutionary production. Huge thanks to Mack and Neil for this unique opportunity and internship. Past credits: Loud Stone in Eurydice, Milky White in Into The Woods, and Time in The Winter’s Tale.
Edwin (Ed) Flores (Musician/ Ensemble) is excited to be here! This is his first year with the Fools. He is a self-taught musician and he writes all the accompaniment to The Queen’s Fools shows. He plays guitar, bass, banjo, ukulele, mandolin, cajon, piano (kind of), drums (also kind of) and clarinet. Fun Fact: He can’t actually read music! So when he writes something, He just has to play it over and over again until he memorizes it! He acted in a few plays in high school (Brigadoon, Sleepy Hollow) but this is his professional “acting” debut. He currently plays guitar for the Alan Murphy band. Find them on Spotify (or tap my headshot). Managed by Dinero Talents (Thanks Kyle!) Shoutout to his bus buddy, Brynn!
Julian Remulla (Egeus) is a Queen's Fools first-timer. A native to Chicago, Julian has been seen annually at the Goodman Theatre's productions of The Christmas Carol as well as at the Chicago Shakespeare Theatre as Polixenes in The Winter's Tale, Mark Antony in Julius Caesar, and Leonato in Much Ado About Nothing. Othe notable credits include Orpheus in Eurydice and The King in Anowa.
Jonathan Bangs (Snug) is happy to be in his 8th touring year with the company. You may recognize him as
Isaiah Dubois (Demetrius) In his second year with the Fools, Isaiah would first like to thank his best bud, Sid, for getting him involved in this crazy crew. His dream was always to make good art with good friends—so I guess dream complete! Past roles with The Fools include: Fabian in Twelfth Night and Horatio in Hamlet. His dream role is Romeo—even though he knows he is more of a Benvolio. He is a huge anime fan and cosplayer (ask him about One Piece!) and is a member of the Cure-inspired acapella group “Boys Who Cry”.
Jaques Spivey I* (Ensemble)
A distinguished and decorated classical artist who has been celebrated in shows across the US. Favorite (and critically acclaimed) roles include: Andrew Aguecheek in Twelfth Night, The Porter in Macbeth, The Fool in King Lear, Verges in Much Ado About Nothing, and Lumière in Beauty and the Beast. His handler, Theodore, calls him “The crown jewel of The Queen’s Fools”. Jaques is a magician and his medium is theatre. Although Jaques won’t be playing any (named) roles in Midsummer--it would seem Mack has grown jealous--his handler has promised to sneak him in somehow.