EastLine Theatre
presents
Much Ado About Nothing
by William Shakespeare adapted by Nicole Savin Summer 2026 Long Island Tour
Much Ado About Nothing runs 1h40m with no intermission
Beatrice / Francis Seacoal Stephanie Moreno
Benedick / Hugh Oatcake Paul DeFilippo
Hero / George Seacoal Megan Laguna-Shy
Claudio / Verges John Brautigam
Dogberry / Ursula Amy Benjamin
Don John / Margaret Michelle Osojnak
Borachio / Friar Francis Kuan Hao Huang
Don Pedro David Edward Keen
Adaptation & Direction Nicole Savin
Original Music John Brautigam
Choreography Deanna Ibrahim
Costume Design Lyn Adler & Wendy Grimm
Production Assistant Michelle Savin
Technical Director Remi Watts
Beatrice / Francis Seacoal Stephanie Moreno
Benedick / Hugh Oatcake Paul DeFilippo
Hero / George Seacoal Megan Laguna-Shy
Claudio / Verges John Brautigam
Dogberry / Ursula Amy Benjamin
Don John / Margaret Michelle Osojnak
Borachio / Friar Francis Kuan Hao Huang
Don Pedro David Edward Keen
Adaptation & Direction Nicole Savin
Original Music John Brautigam
Choreography Deanna Ibrahim
Costume Design Lyn Adler & Wendy Grimm
Production Assistant Michelle Savin
Technical Director Remi Watts
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This performance is taking place on unceded Native land. Long Island has been and still is home to Indigenous communities including the Lenape, the Shinnecock, the Unkechaug, the Montauketts, and the Matinecock, amongst others. You can find out more about Native American history and culture on Long Island at On This Site.
EastLine Theatre
Nicole Savin,
Artistic Director
Paul DeFilippo,
Associate Artistic Director
The EastLine Theatre Board of Directors is: Larry Meneses (President), Nicholas Ciuffo (Vice President), Matt Rosenberg (Treasurer), Nicole Savin (Secretary), Deanna Ibrahim (Member)
The EastLine Theatre Creative Associates are: Anik Alam, Anna Stacy, Aly Kantor, Anjor Khadilkar, Anthony Noto, David Bullen, Deanna Ibrahim, Jill Linden, John Brautigam, Julianna Frasca, Lynn Adler, Matt Rosenberg, Megan Laguna, Melanie Lipton, Michael Devereaux, Michelle Osojnak, Nicole Savin, Paul DeFilippo, Sheilah Barksdale, Taylor Dunn, and Remi Watts.
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Thank you always for your kindness and generosity.
Amy Benjamin, John Brautigam, Paul DeFilippo, Kuan Hao Huang,
David Edward Keen, Megan Laguna-Shy, Stephanie Moreno, Michelle Osojnak
Amy Benjamin (she/her) is a newcomer to Long Island stages, having begun her acting experience with Eastline in 2025, playing Lear in King Lear and Sir Wilfred Robarts in Witness for the Prosecution. She is delighted to be playing the roles of Ursula and Dogberry in this production. A former English teacher, Amy provides professional development for teachers throughout the United States, and gives workshops in various literary themes at the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at Stony Brook University.
John Brautigam (he/him) is a composer/lyricist (and sometimes actor) based in New York City. He is a graduate of Berklee College of Music with an MA in Musical Theater Writing. Recent acting work includes “Emma,” “King Lear,” “Little Women,” “Hamlet,” “The Care and Feeding of Restless Spirits,” and “These Gilded Souls.” Recent writing work includes “The Understudy,” “The Story of the Bagel,” “MIDAS,” “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow,” and “Prospero (LIVE!); a musical adaptation of Shakespeare’s The Tempest.” More info at jbrautigam.com
Paul DeFilippo (he/him) is an actor / director / occasional sound designer from Queens. He is back performing in EastLine Theatre’s Summer Shakespeare after an absence of two years, so please be kind to him. He previously appeared in Romeo & Juliet (Peter / Chorus) and The Merry Wives of Windsor (Robin / Anne Page), and directed Hamlet and King Lear. Earlier this year, he directed EastLine’s production of Witness for the Prosecution, and performed in Modern Classics Theatre Company’s Hedda Gabler (George Tesman). In July, he will direct EastLine’s production of Mansfield Park, based on the book by Jane Austen.
Kuan Hao Huang (he/him) it’s ya boi Kuan, enjoy the show!
David Edward Keen (he/him) began acting with the role of Alexander Litvinenko in Lucy Prebble’s A Very Expensive Poison (directed by Nicole Savin, Eastline Theater) followed by Branden Jacobs-Jenkins’ Appropriate (directed by John Torres, Eastline Theater) and is playing Don Pedro in Shakespeare’s Much Ado about Nothing (directed by Nicole Savin, Eastline Theater) He makes films and is a professional musician. His short film Boof Margarine, written and shot with his colleagues, was screened live with full orchestra live accompaniment at Proctors Theater in Schenectady, NY.
Megan Laguna-Shy (she/her) is excited to return to EastLine’s Summer Shakespeare! Previous credits include: Jesus Christ Superstar (Tormentor 1), The Hours are Feminine (Directorial Debut), 1776 (George Read). Megan is a co-founder of Flustard4Mustard, a Rocky Horror Picture Show shadow cast, and has performed and directed for them since 2024. She thanks her husband, friends, family and pet bird Bartholomew for their support.
Stephanie Moreno (she/her) is a Brazilian-American actress and comedian based in NY. She is excited to be working with EastLine Theatre again after appearing as Young Woman in Machinal, and Goneril/Jane Fairfax in the summer repertory performances of King Lear and Emma. Experienced in stand up, improv, and devising, she has collaborated in countless new works presented at the Theater for The New City, The Tank, The Player’s Theatre, and more, as well as classics at regional and educational theaters. Stephanie hopes to continue to have the opportunity to bolster new voices in theater and in life. www.stephaniejmoreno.com
Michelle Osojnak (she/her) is a teacher by day, actor by evening and weekend. Third time’s the charm stage managing for EastLine! You may have seen Michelle starring in some EastLine Summer Theatre productions, most recently Emma and King Lear. Other credits include roles as Tevye in Fiddler on the Roof, Gloria/Nan in Gloria, and Elizabeth Proctor in The Crucible. She loves this company dearly, extending all her thanks to Nicole for her guidance and support during this process; and thanks to John for trusting her with this responsibility for his poignant and funny production.
This September: Federico García Lorca’s aching portrait of one woman’s longing to have a child finds fresh expression in Melinda Lopez’s adaptation. Consumed by her dream of motherhood, Yerma defies her husband and confronts her community. In this darkly poetic fable, Yerma’s obsessive desire propels her into a collision with the universe that is urgent and terrible in scope. In celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month.
Tickets available now. Be among the first to see Yerma at opening weekend and save $5 with code EARLYBIRD.
Nicole Savin (she/her) EastLine directing credits include: A Very Expensive Poison, Emma, Trouble in Mind, God of Vengeance, Men on Boats, The Truth, Treasure Island, Pride & Prejudice, and Yentl. She holds a BA (Hons) from Royal Holloway, University of London in Drama and Theatre Studies. She is an Associate Director with Theatre of the Gentle Furies, and on the literary team at The Playwrights Realm.
Lynn Adler (she/her) being a fashion-plate punk rocker in the early 80s was only possible on a teenager’s budget by learning how to sew. Thus began a lifelong passion for all things fabric, thread, needles and pins. Costuming actors from NYC to Idaho to Atlanta and now, at EastLine, is a privilege. Big thanks to an ultra-creative mom who handed over the keys to her trusty Singer way back when.
John Brautigam (he/him) is a composer/lyricist (and sometimes actor) based in New York City. He is a graduate of Berklee College of Music with an MA in Musical Theater Writing. Recent acting work includes EastLine’s Little Women, Hamlet, The Care and Feeding of Restless Spirits, and These Gilded Souls. Recent writing work includes The Understudy, The Story of the Bagel, MIDAS, The Legend of Sleepy Hollow, and Prospero (LIVE!); a musical adaptation of Shakespeare’s The Tempest. More info at jbrautigam.com
Nicole Savin (she/her) EastLine directing credits include: A Very Expensive Poison, Emma, Trouble in Mind, God of Vengeance, Men on Boats, The Truth, Treasure Island, Pride & Prejudice, and Yentl. She holds a BA (Hons) from Royal Holloway, University of London in Drama and Theatre Studies. She is an Associate Director with Theatre of the Gentle Furies, and on the literary team at The Playwrights Realm.
Public funding provided by Suffolk County.
“One of the boldest, bravest theatre companies on Long Island,” according to Fire Island News, the nonprofit EastLine Theatre 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 LGBTQIA+ people.
EastLine Theatre is a proud member of the Huntington Arts Council and the Alliance of Resident Theatres / New York.
With thanks to
Nicholas Savin, Larry Meneses, Matt Rosenberg, Morgan Moffitt,
Sweetwater, and all of our community partners across Long Island.
This December: The final, autobiographical work from Academy Award winner Tom Stoppard. Spanning fifty years and multiple generations, Leopoldstadt follows a Viennese Jewish family’s reckoning with a past it cannot escape and a future it cannot control. A passionate drama of love and endurance beginning in the last days of 1899 through the heart of the twentieth century. Winner of the Olivier and Tony Awards for Best New Play.
