Bios

Natasha Abu-Fadel (Movement Coordinator) earned her BFA in Dance Performance from UCO in 2018, exposing herself to many artists and performing in cities nationwide and abroad. After graduating, she attended one of the most long-standing and immersive artistic communities for the American Dance Festival Summer Intensive in Durham, N.C. In 2019, she attended the first Embodiology Immersion in El Paso, Texas, focusing on improvisation for performance under the guidance of Dr. Ama S. Wray. Since then, freelancing has brought her such expansive and diverse opportunities in live performance, teaching, and behind the camera. She’s taught modern, jazz, and hip-hop at studios around the area, along with a semester of modern movement at UCO. Natasha performed with the Painted Sky Opera for Amahl and the Night Visitors and with Perpetual Motion for REWIND at Factory Obscura, along with Paige Fischer’s The Four Seasons: A Modern Ballet and with Spark! Creative Lab’s Ditty Bops: The Art of Listening. Her choreographic works have been seen in collaborative productions for UCO's theater department Trojan Women 2.0 and Everybody. In Edmond North High School's musical productions Bright Star, Mamma Mia, Oklahoma!, and Chicago and in Southmoore High School’s musical Once Upon A Mattress. She has performed her solo “La Vie En Rose” at the Oklahoma International Dance Festival and is very excited to share that she produced and released her first short dance film “X PAT BOND” in collaboration with Leandro Damasco Jr. and many Lebanese expats! It has attended the Lebanese International Film Festival in Beirut, Lebanon and kNOwBOX Dance Film Festival in Dallas Texas, Seoul South Korea, and Oaxaca Mexico. Through and through she continues to experiment, research, discover and evolve her craft with like-minded artists.

Kayleigh Adams (Lady Macduff/Donalbain) is an Oklahoma City University alumna from Las Vegas, NV. Some of her recent credits include A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Good for Her by Bell Reeves, Enemy of the People by Henrik Ibsen, Cymbeline, and Science Live! at Science Museum Oklahoma. Kayleigh also works on local films, most notably and recently: Katie Hightower’s debut feature, Hailey’s Game as Hailey, which has just had its world premiere at the deadCenter Film Festival. She would like to thank her friends (Boomer Sooner!) for giving her a home and for inspiring her to make Oklahoma a better place, as well as her father, may he rest in peace, for having believed in her unconditionally.

Karam Alkhatib (Ross) is thrilled to be back with Oklahoma Shakespeare in the Park for their 40th anniversary season. Born in Tulsa, Oklahoma, Karam received his BFA Acting degree from Oklahoma City University. Recent credits include A Midsummer Night’s Dream (Demetrius), Romeo & Juliet (Paris), & Shakespeare in Love (Ralph). He would like to thank his friends and family for their constant love and support.

Elise Bear (Dramaturge) (Osage/Iowa of OK) is a theatre artist from Pawhuska, OK, and recently graduated with a BA in Theatre & Performance from Oklahoma City University. This is their first production with OSP and is honored to be a part of their first production of The Emerging Artist Collective! Other dramaturgy credits include: She Stoops to Conquer (OKCU), Book of Shadows (OKCU), and She Kills Monsters (OKCU). Next, they will be assistant directing Oklahoma City Repertory Theatre's production of The Thanksgiving Play. 

Ian Clinton (Duncan/Porter/Doctor) recently appeared as Meeker in Inherit the Wind with 3rd Act Theatre.  Some of his favorite roles include Dr Watson (and others) in A Sherlock Carol (3rd Act Theatre); Leopold in The Agony and the Agony (Carpenter Square Theatre); Pistol in Henry V, Borachio/Ursula in Much Ado About Nothing, Edward Ferrars in Sense and Sensibility, Sir Andrew in Twelfth Night (Reduxion Theatre); Sam in In the Heat of the Night, Giles in The Mousetrap (Oklahoma City Theatre Company); Terry in Still Life (Ghostlight Theatre).  Other previous credits include: Outward Bound, Damaged Goods, As You Like It, Tom Jones, Love’s Labour’s Lost, Richard III, Lives of the Saints, King Lear, The Taming of the Shrew, Measure for Measure, Julius Caesar, and The Three Musketeers.

Alleese Eldridge (Associate Producer) uses performance as a site for community organizing and uplifting ideas of collective prosperity. Alleese is a founding member of Co.Arts, a company dedicated to emerging playwrights, and currently serves as their Literary Manager. Previous Credits: Men on the Line (Co.Arts, Director), The Great Leap (OKC Rep, Asst. Director), Much Ado About Nothing (OSP, Production Dramaturg). “Every act of art brings us one step closer to our collective liberation.”- Kelli Shermeyer

Ella Howard (Stage Manager) is a rising sophomore at the University of Oklahoma, and this is her second season with Oklahoma Shakespeare in the park. Her previous credits include Much Ado About Nothing (Wardrobe), Shakespeare in Love (Assistant Stage Manager), and A Midsummer Night’s Dream (Wardrobe). She would like to thank her friends for their support. 

Paxton Kliewer (Sebastian) is from Bethany, Oklahoma and attended The University of Oklahoma’s Helmerich School of Drama, earning a B.F.A. in drama in 2020. He has appeared as Oberon (Oklahoman tour), Banquo (Oklahoma Shakespeare), Don John (Oklahoma Shakespeare) and Paul Bratter in Neal Simon’s Barefoot in the Park (Jewel Box Theatre).

Kris Kuss (Violence & Intimacy Coordinator, Faculty Advisor) (he/him) is a director, fight director, intimacy choreographer, actor, and educator based in Bethany, OK. He holds his MFA in Directing from the University of Southern Mississippi and is the Associate Professor of Movement at Oklahoma City University. He is a Recognized Senior Instructor and Governing Body President of Dueling Arts International. He has worked with Oklahoma Shakespeare in several capacities; as an actor in Twelfth Night and The Tempest, as director for Romeo & Juliet and the touring company of A Midsummer Night’s Dream, and fight director for numerous productions including Hamlet, Macbeth, and Romeo & Juliet. A proud member of the Stage Directors and Choreographers Society, he has served as fight director and intimacy choreographer at Lyric Theatre for A Play That Goes Wrong, The Sound of Music, and Newsies, at OKC Rep for Vietgone, at Painter Sky Opera for Carmen and Pagliacci, at 3rd Act Theatre Co for Medusa Undone, Hamlet, and The Wonder, and most frequently at OCU—directing Dracula: a Feminist Revenge Fantasy, Ada & the Engine, Enron, and staging fights and intimacy for such productions as Marisol, In the Heights, and She Kills Monsters.

Madeline Lewis (Lighting Design) (she/her) is a Lighting Designer and Stage Manager from Bartlesville, OK. She is a rising junior in the OU Helmerich School of Drama with an emphasis in Lighting design. Recent Lighting Design credits include: OU Dance Summer Intensive ‘24, Mac Beth (OU School of Drama), Shrek the Musical (Bartlesville Public Schools). Recent Stage Management credits include: Young Choreographers Showcase ‘24 (OU University Theatre), Heathers (Assoc. SM, OU University Theatre), Susannah (Assoc. SM, OU University Theatre). She is very excited for her first production with Oklahoma Shakespeare in the Park.

Jonathan Lynch (Malcolm) - REGIONAL THEATRE: Distant Thunder (World Premiere) at Lyric Theatre of Oklahoma, Shakespeare in Love, Hamlet, As You Like It, Emma, The Tempest at Oklahoma Shakespeare in the Park. OTHER THEATRE: Anything Goes at Oklahoma City University ADDITIONAL CREDITS: MM from Oklahoma City University, BS from Eastern New Mexico University.  Thank you to my teachers, past and present. Instagram: @jonfinluis

Justin Marlow (Macbeth) is thrilled to be with Oklahoma Shakespeare in the Park this Fall. Justin is from Los Angeles, California, and a recent graduate from The University of Oklahoma with a BFA Theater: Acting emphasis. University credits include Burn This (Pale) Red Bike (Ensemble), A Midsummer Night's Dream (Oberon), Great Expectations (Narrator #2), and Tiny Beautiful Things (Letter Writer #1). OSP Credits: Twelfth Night (Orsino), Jane Austten’s Christmas Cracker (Mr. Darcy), Born with Teeth (Kit Marlow), Midsummer Night’s Dream Tour (Oberon), Romeo and Juliet (Mercutio), Much Ado About Nothing (Claudio), Jane Austen’s Christmas Cracker (Cpt. Wentworth), Hamlet (Bernardo/ Lucianus Player), Emma (Robert Martin), A Midsummer Night’s Dream (Flute/Moth). Ballet credits include The Sleeping Beauty (Catalabutte).

Lily Marsh (Lennox) is pursuing a BFA in Acting at Oklahoma City University, with a double minor in Directing and Dramaturgy. Her recent university credits include: Gross Indecency, Puffs, and Romeo and Juliet. She is delighted to be working with OSP again, following her professional debut last December in Jane Austen’s Christmas Cracker. She’d like to thank her family for their unfailing support, and for their patience.

Spencer Morgan (Macduff) is an actor and a current Senior at the University of Oklahoma. He originates from Lubbock, Texas. Some of his favorite theatrical credits include Lenny in Marisol, Stanley in A Streetcar Named Desire, and Hal in Proof. He intends to graduate with a BFA in Acting from the University of Oklahoma in May of 2025. He is incredibly excited for his first show with Oklahoma Shakespeare in the Park.

Jacey Nichole (Witch/Gentlewoman) is from Oklahoma City, OK. She has a BFA with a Minor in Psychology from UCO and is currently studying for an M.S. in Educational Psychology, focusing on Learning & Cognition. Some of her stage work includes: Macbeth as a Witch, The 39 Steps as Annabella/Pamela/Margaret, Everybody as Usher/God/Time at UCO; Hamlet as Ophelia, 3rd Act Theatre; Jane Austen’s Christmas Cracker as Anne Elliot, and Twelfth Night as Countess Olivia at Oklahoma Shakespeare. Among her technical positions: Assistant Director of Small Mouth Sounds, a virtual reality film (UCO); Stage Manager (3rd Act: Harvey, Misery); Lighting Designer (3rd Act: The Girl with the Green Eyes, Harvey, Damaged Goods), (JBT: On Golden Pond). She thanks her family and friends for their support and encouragement. Nichole is grateful to be involved at Oklahoma Shakespeare and join the 24’ Macbeth production with brilliant collaboration and passionate creation of art. Website: JaceyNichole.co

Dillon Rasberry (Director) Dillon holds a BFA from the University of Central Oklahoma and serves as the Director of Theatre Arts at Edmond North high school. Past directing credits include; CHICAGO, The Crucible, OKLAHOMA!, Our Town, Sister Act, and The 39 Steps all with Edmond Public Schools. On stage he has been seen in Twelfth Night (Sir Andrew), The Last Night of Ballyhoo (Peachy Weil), and Shakespeare in Love (Hugh Fennyman). He’s honored to be returning to the director’s chair with this production of Macbeth. Thank you for supporting emerging Oklahoma artist and 40 years of classical theatre. “The opposite of war isn’t peace. It’s creation”. @dillon.rasberry

Bell Reeves (Director/Lady Macbeth) is an Oklahoma based actor, and founding member of the Emerging Artists Collective. She is passionate about Theatre's ability to ignite change and foster impactful conversation.  Originally from Houston, Bell graduated from The University of Oklahoma with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Theatre with an Acting Emphasis Some of her OSP credits include Twelfth Night (Viola) Romeo and Juliet (Juliet), Much Ado about Nothing (Hero),and A Midsummer Night’s Dream (Helena).

Abigail Schmitz (Outreach & Development Coordinator) is an Oklahoma local who works as an actor, educator, dramaturg, and director. This is Abigail's sixth season with OSP. Her previous credits with the company include Shakespeare in Love (Viola de Lesseps), Richard the III (Princess Elizabeth/Queen Anne US), The Revolutionist (dramaturg/ASM), Taming of the Shrew (dramaturg), Romeo and Juliet (dramaturg). Abigail is an OU alumni with a BFA in dramaturgy and performance. Abigail has various other professional credits following her time in university where she served in roles as a production dramaturg, teaching artist, actor, and director for theaters across the country that include: Urban Bastard Collective, Great River Shakespeare Festival, Bay Area Playwright's Festival, Jewish Play Project, Redtwist Theater, and GreatWorks Theater. Abigail is leaving OKC after this summer to move to Ontario, Canada to pursue new theatrical and life experiences. She would like to thank her partner Matt, her friends, and family, and her wonderful colleagues and mentors who have supported her so far.

Anwen Marta-Knoedler Wenger (Costume Design) (she/they) is a Costume, Hair & Makeup Designer from Norman, OK. She is a recent graduate of the University of Oklahoma with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Drama; Costume Design Emphasis. Recent Costume, Hair & Makeup Design credits include A Midsummer Night’s Dream (Oklahoma Shakespeare), Everybody (University of Oklahoma School of Drama), Susannah (University of Oklahoma School of Music; co-design with Jylian Humber), and Natasha, Pierre & the Great Comet of 1812 (University of Oklahoma School of Musical Theatre). Recent Hair & Makeup Design credits include The Nutcracker (University of Oklahoma School of Dance) and Heathers: the Musical (University of Oklahoma School of Musical Theatre).

Erin Woods (Graphic Design) is a director, playwright, actress, and graphic designer with over 25 years’ experience in Oklahoma Theatre and beyond. Directing credits include Art for Oklahoma City Theatre Company, Uncle Vanya for Oklahoma Shakespeare in the Park, and Pride and Prejudice, Twelfth Night, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, As You Like It, Hamlet, Sense and Sensibility, Love’s Labour’s Lost, The Women, and Les Liaisons Dangereuses for Reduxion Theatre Company. As a playwright, Erin has written adaptations of Pride and Prejudice, Emma, Sense and Sensibility, Tom Jones, and a holiday play often produced by Oklahoma Shakespeare: Jane Austen’s Christmas Cracker.