Author: mistressq

As You Like It is one of Shakespeare’s most produced plays. Written circa 1599, it was one of the first plays performed at the original Globe Theater in London. As the introspective Jacques quotes, “All the world’s a stage,” Elizabethan audiences would have imagined the floor boards as a playground with the power to transport actors to any land or time. Our production has a bit of old world eloquence and contemporary nuance. Shakespeare was well versed in gender-bending characters, and this is one of the main plot devices.  As the head strong heroine, Rosalind, captures our attention with intelligent speeches (the most lines of any female role in Shakepeare’s canon), courageous wit, and sarcastic humor, it becomes clear that she invites us into a world where shape shifting is key to survival. She may not seem like someone who falls in love at first sight, but we are delighted to accompany her journey in order to get what she wants and on her own terms.  With a cast of motley players, As You Like It remains a favorite of Shakepeare’s pastoral comedies. Equipped with clever disguises, budding romances, and dramatic twists, there is no doubt current day sitcoms have been influenced by this entertaining literary gem. 

Thank you for supporting live theater and our young players. 

Kila Packett and Esdras Toussaint

Our Players are taking on the challenge of telling this story. What can you do to support them? While you are in the performance space, please keep your phone off and give them your full attention. But before you turn your phone off, we encourage you click here to read a synopsis of the story.

DRAMATIS PERSONAE (in order of appearance)

Orlando … Celeste Berzer, 12
Adam, his old servant … Cassia Dillard, 10
Oliver, Orlando’s brother … Teddy Lukas, 13
Charles the Wrestler … Anchor Dillard, 8
Celia … Maribelle Martin, 11
Rosalind, her cousin … LydiaJane Dillard, 12
Touchstone, the court clown … Cassia Dillard, 10
Le Beau, the court gossip … Ela Horvitz, 10 
Duke Frederick, Celia’s father … Harrison Washburn, 11
Duke Senior, banished … Ace Rosenthal
Corin, a shepherd … Teddy Lukas, 13
Silvius, his son … Anchor Dillard, 8
Amiens, a musician … Arrow Hudson, 13
Jaques, a melancholy lord … Harrison Washburn, 11
Audrey, a goatherd … Ela Horvitz, 10
Phebe, a shepherdess … Arrow Hudson, 13
William, in love with Audrey … Teddy Lukas, 13

As You Like It Production Team

Kila Pickett … Director

Esdras Toussaint … Director

Sasha Santa Cruz … Stage Manager/Technical Director

Zoë O’Brien … Artistic Associate

Julia Walker Wyson … Artistic Director

Special Thanks to

Our parents, for their invaluable support to our Players

Marisa Miller, Valerie Washburn & Christina Dillard for keeping our cast fed during Tech rehearsals

Zeke and the staff of the Hudson Theatres – we feel so welcome in this space, and we deeply appreciate all your generous support!

Shakespeare Youth Festival

Julia Walker Wyson, Artistic Director
J. Bailey Burcham, Executive Director

Orlando, the youngest son of the recently-deceased Sir Roland de Boys, is treated harshly by his eldest brother, Oliver. Bitter and angry, Orlando challenges the court wrestler, Charles, to a fight. When Oliver learns of the fight, Oliver tells Charles to injure Orlando if possible.

Duke Frederick has recently deposed his brother, Duke Senior, as head of the court. But he allowed Senior’s daughter, Rosalind, to remain, and she and Celia, the new Duke’s daughter, watch the wrestling competition. During the match, Rosalind falls in love with Orlando, who beats Charles. Rosalind gives Orlando a chain to wear; in turn, he is overcome with love.  

Shortly after, Orlando is warned of his brother’s plot against him and seeks refuge in the Forest of Arden. At the same time, and seemingly without cause, Duke Frederick banishes Rosalind. She decides to seek shelter in the Forest of Arden with Celia. They both disguise themselves: Rosalind as the young man Ganymede and Celia as his shepherdess sister Aliena. Touchstone, the court fool, also goes with them. 

In the Forest of Arden, the weary cousins happen upon Silvius, a lovesick shepherd. Silvius was in the act of declaring his feelings for Phoebe, a scornful shepherdess. Ganymede buys the lease to the property of an old shepherd who needs someone to manage his estate. Ganymede and Aliena set up home in the forest. Not far away, and unaware of the newcomers, Duke Senior is living a simple outdoor life with his fellow exiled courtiers and huntsmen. Their merriment is interrupted by the arrival of Orlando, who seeks nourishment for himself and his servant. The two men are welcomed by the outlaw courtiers.

Ganymede and Aliena find verses addressed to Rosalind hung on the forest branches by Orlando. Ganymede finds Orlando and proposes to cure Orlando of his love. To do this, Orlando will woo Ganymede as if he were Rosalind (even though “he” really is . . . Rosalind). Orlando consents and visits Ganymede/Rosalind every day for his lessons. In the meantime, the shepherdess Phoebe has fallen for Ganymede while the shepherd Silvius still pursues her.  Furthermore, Touchstone, the court fool, has dazzled a country girl, Audrey, with his courtly manners. Audrey deserts her young suitor, William, for him.

When Duke Frederick hears Orlando disappeared at the same time as Rosalind and Celia, he orders Oliver to the forest to seek his brother. In the forest, Orlando saves Oliver’s life, injuring his arm in the process. Oliver runs into Ganymede and Aliena in the forest and relates this news. Rosalind (disguised as Ganymede) is overcome with her feelings for Orlando. Celia (disguised as Aliena) and Oliver quickly fall in love with one another. Rosalind decides that it is time to end her game with Orlando and devises a plan in which everyone will get married. 

As Ganymede, Rosalind promises Phoebe that they will marry, Celia will marry Oliver, Touchstone will marry Audrey, and Orlando will marry Rosalind. She makes Phoebe promise that if they, for some reason, don’t get married, Phoebe will marry Silvius instead. 

On the day of the wedding, and with the help of the god Hymen, Rosalind reappears in her female clothes. Duke Senior gives her away to Orlando, while Phoebe accepts Silvius. Orlando’s other older brother returns from college with the news that Celia’s father, Duke Frederick, has left court to become a hermit. Thus, everyone is happy (except maybe Phoebe, who marries someone she doesn’t love and Silvius, who marries someone who doesn’t love him). The play ends with a joyful dance to celebrate the four marriages.

…