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