EastLine Theatre
presents
The Two Gentlemen of Verona
by William Shakespeare Part of EastLine's Theatre for All Initiative Summer 2022 Long Island Tour The Two Gentlemen of Verona runs 1h40m with no intermission.
Proteus Allen Winter
Julia Kendra Perry
Valentine / Crab William Johnson Pope
Sylvia / Pantino Anjor Khadilkar
Speed / Sir Eglamour Kuan Hao Huang
Lance / Host / Outlaw June Lienhard
Thurio / Lucetta / Outlaw Jennifer LoPresti
Duke / Antonio / Outlaw Michelle Osojnak
Guitar John Brautigam
Guitar (at 6/26, 7/2 performances) Diana Fuller
Adaptation & Direction Jess Reed
Original Music John Brautigam
Costumes Stefanie Jade Workman
Stage Management Matt Rosenberg
Props William Meurer
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Synopsis
As the play begins, Valentine is preparing to leave Verona for Milan. He begs his best friend, Proteus, to come with him, but Proteus is in love with Julia, and refuses to leave. Meanwhile, Julia is discussing Proteus with her maid, Lucetta, who tells Julia that she thinks Proteus is fond of her. Julia acts coyly, embarrassed to admit that she likes him. Lucetta then produces a letter; she will not say who gave it to her, but teases Julia that it was brought from Proteus. Julia, still unwilling to reveal her love in front of Lucetta, angrily tears up the letter.
Meanwhile, Proteus’ father has decided that Proteus should travel to Milan and join Valentine. He orders that Proteus must leave the next day, prompting a tearful farewell with Julia. The two exchange rings and vows and Proteus promises to return as soon as he can.
In Milan, Proteus finds Valentine in love with the Duke’s daughter, Sylvia. Despite being in love with Julia, Proteus falls instantly in love with Sylvia and vows to win her. Unaware of Proteus’ feelings, Valentine tells him the Duke wants Sylvia to marry the wealthy Thurio, against her wishes. Because the Duke suspects that his daughter and Valentine are in love, he locks her nightly in a tower, to which he keeps the only key. However, Valentine tells Proteus that he plans to free her by means of a corded ladder, and together, they will elope. Proteus immediately informs the Duke, who subsequently captures and banishes Valentine. While wandering outside Milan, Valentine runs afoul of a band of outlaws, who claim they are also exiled gentlemen. Valentine lies, saying he was banished for killing a man in a fair fight, and the outlaws elect him their leader.
Meanwhile, in Verona, Julia decides to join her lover in Milan. She convinces Lucetta to dress her in boy’s clothes and help her fix her hair so she will not be harmed on the journey. Once in Milan, Julia quickly discovers Proteus’ love for Sylvia, watching him attempt to serenade her. She contrives to become his page boy – Sebastian – until she can decide upon a course of action. Proteus sends Sebastian to Sylvia with a gift of the ring that Julia gave to him before he left Verona, but Julia learns that Sylvia scorns Proteus’ affections and is disgusted he would forget his love back home, Julia herself. Sylvia deeply mourns the loss of Valentine, who Proteus has told her is rumoured dead.
Not persuaded of Valentine’s death, Sylvia flees the city with the help of Sir Eglamour. They escape into the forest but when they are confronted by the outlaws, Eglamour flees and Sylvia is taken captive. The outlaws head to their leader, but on the way, encounter Proteus and Julia (still disguised as Sebastian). Proteus rescues Sylvia, and then pursues her deeper into the forest. Secretly observed by Valentine, Proteus attempts to persuade Sylvia that he loves her, but she rejects his advances.
Valentine intervenes and denounces Proteus. Horrified at what has happened, Proteus vows that the hate Valentine feels for him is nothing compared to the hate he feels for himself. Convinced that Proteus’ repentance is genuine, Valentine forgives him and seems to offer Sylvia to him. At this point, overwhelmed, Julia faints, revealing her true identity. Upon seeing her, Proteus suddenly remembers his love for her and vows fidelity to her once again.
The Duke and Thurio are brought as prisoners by the outlaws. Seeing Sylvia, Thurio claims her as his, but Valentine warns Thurio that if he makes one move toward her, he will kill him. Terrified, Thurio renounces Sylvia. The Duke, disgusted with Thurio’s cowardice and impressed by Valentine’s actions, approves his and Sylvia’s love, and consents to their marriage. The two couples are happily united, and the Duke pardons the outlaws, telling them they may return to Milan.
Danny Higgins & Nicole Savin,
Co-Artistic Directors
Morgan Moffitt & Paul DeFilippo,
Associate Artistic Directors
EastLine Theatre is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit. Our programming is made possible through your donations. Donations can be made fee-free via Facebook or with a small fee via BookTix. All donations are tax-deductible.
The EastLine Theatre Board of Directors is: Larry Meneses, Lynda Gaug, Matt Rosenberg, Nicole Savin, Danny Higgins, and Steven Prendergast
The EastLine Theatre Creative Associates are: Anna Stacy, Aly Kantor, Anthony Noto, Bryan Bowie, David Bullen, Deanna Ibrahim, Jess Reed, Joe Boccia Jr., John Brautigam, Julianna Frasca, Lynn Ciorciari, Matt Rosenberg, Melanie Lipton, Morgan Moffitt, Nicole Savin, Paul DeFilippo, and Remi Watts.
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Kuan Hao Huang, Anjor Khadilkar, June Lienhard, Jennifer LoPresti, Michelle Osojnak, Kendra Perry, William Johnson Pope, and Allen Winter
Kuan Hao Huang (he/him) it’s ya Boi Kuan, enjoy the show.
Anjor Khadilkar (she/her) is excited to be taking on the role of Sylvia this summer. Previous roles include Lebret/Roxanne and miscellaneous roles in This Play Was Never About Noses, Jamie in The Last Five Years, and Cordelia in Lear. This is her second production with EastLine Theatre.
June Lienhard (she/her) is excited to be making her EastLine debut as her favorite fool! She is a 2021 graduate from Smith College where she majored in theater and minored in education. Some of her credits include: (Smith College) Agatha, The Moors. Judy, Curious Incident. #8, The Wolves. (Eggtooth Productions) Winnie, Happy Days. A, An Intervention. She is a recipient of the Denton Snyder and Jill Cummins MacLean acting prizes.
Jennifer LoPresti (she/they) is a graduate of the SUNY Oneonta Theatre and Music Industry programs. Some of her recent experience includes Sour Kangaroo in Seussical the Musical, Ensemble in Pippin, and Co-Technical Director at the Merrick Theatre and Center for the Performing Arts. She is currently a Youth Development Coordinator of Performing Arts at the Grenville Baker Boys and Girls Club in Locust Valley and a Preschool Teaching Assistant at Red Robin Country Day School in Westbury.
Michelle Osojnak (she/her) is an actor and teacher, having participated in many plays at her alma mater, Queens College, before performing with EastLine Theatre. This is Michelle’s third production with EastLine, and her first summer Shakespeare tour. She has previously worked on EastLine projects like the film Policy for the Muse Anthology, and An Oresteia, or What We Have Seen.
Kendra Perry (she/her) is so excited to be a part of this production! She is a recent graduate of Long Island University where she majored in musical theatre. Some of her past credits include Mariana in Measure for Measure, Cinderella in Into the Woods, and Cathy in The Last Five Years. She can’t wait to spend her summer with this wonderful cast!
William Johnson Pope (he/him) is is a Manhattan based actor originally from Nashville, Tennessee. He earned his BFA in Theater Arts with a concentration in Acting at Long Island University Post. He is thrilled to be playing the part of Valentine (and Crab) in EastLine’s production of Two Gentlemen of Verona! His favorite productions have been Hamlet (Guildenstern), Blue Stockings (Will Bennett), and A Midsummer Night’s Dream (Demetrius). He’d like to thank his wonderful family, friends, roommates, Sarah, and his adorable kitten Pepper!
Allen Winter (he/him) is back in the park and performing in the elements again. Selected Credits: for EastLine: Romeo & Juliet, A Midsummer Night’s Dream / Macbeth, Treasure Island, Laughte on the 23rd Floor, Seminar, King Charles III, Frost/Nixon, Titus Andronicus. Voice Acting: Rumble Garanndoll, Proteus, DC Battle Arena, Meet Cute, Pokémon Sun & Moon, My Time at Portia, God Complex. He thanks the EastLine team for this opportunity! www.allenwintervo.com
This August, EastLine returns to the BACCA Center in Lindenhurst with Sarah Ruhl’s romantic comedy about the invention of the vibrator. Tickets available now!
John Brautigam (he/him) is a composer, lyricist, and musician based in Long Island, New York. John serves as Composer-in-Residence at EastLine Theatre and Music Director/Co-Founder of the Long Island Silent Film Orchestra (LISFO). His recent original musical theater works include MIDAS, A Constellation, Diary of a Pirate, The Legend of Sleepy Hollow, and Prospero (LIVE); a musical adaptation of Shakespeare’s The Tempest. John is currently working on his masters in Writing and Design for Musical Theater at BerkleeNYC. Check out jbrautigam.com for more.
William Meurer (he/him) is a multi-hyphenate artist based in Nassau County, NY. William received his BFA in Theater from Adelphi University, where he minored in Theater Tech/Design with a focus on prop design. Previous tech credits include The Christmas Carol (Props / Set Design; Don’t Tell Amy Prod.), Our Father (Costume / Props Master; Secret Theater), Serious Business (Costume Designer; Adelphi University), Anton in Show Business (Props Master; Adelphi University), The Steak Tartare Caper (Props Master; Adelphi University), and Peter and the Starcatcher (Asst. Props Master; Adelphi University). William would like to thank both EastLine and Jess for this wonderful opportunity!
Jess Reed (they/she) is a performer, designer, and director from Long Island, NY. They are a Creative Associate with EastLine Theatre and have appeared in several productions with them, including Romeo & Juliet last summer. Other favorite roles include Edith (Pirates of Penzance), Percy Talbot (The Spitfire Grill), Isabelle Grossman (Crossing Delancey), and Sally Brown (You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown). Jess can be found on Twitter as @bardicbelle and at jess-reed.com.
Stefanie Jade Workaman (she/her) is an interdisciplinary artist from Freeport, NY. She earned a cum laude bachelor’s degree majoring in Theatre and a minor in Asian Studies from the State University of New York at New Paltz. Her current creative focus is on storytelling and the development of diversity within the performing arts realm. She is the proud Co-Founder and President of Don’t Tell Amy Productions LLC.
Public funding provided by Suffolk County.
EastLine Theatre is a nonprofit theatre company that BroadwayWorld calls ‘Long Island’s best kept secret’. EastLine aims to create theatre in unlikely spaces while re-examining the canon, exploring modern plays, and bringing original works to the attention of the community. EastLine is committed to creating opportunities for women, people of color, and LGBTQ+ people.
EastLine Theatre is a proud member of the Huntington Arts Council and the Alliance of Resident Theatres / New York. EastLine is grateful for the continued support of the Babylon Citizens Council on the Arts.
With thanks to
Michelle Savin, Paul DeFilippo, Colleen Brady, Stephen Burdman and New York Classical Theatre, Assemblywoman Kimberly Jean-Pierre and her staff, Fabric Wholesale Direct, Paul & Lynda Gaug, and the staff at First Presbyterian Church of Babylon