The Merry Wives of Windsor (2020)

Folger Theatre produced William Shakespeare's The Merry Wives of Windsor, directed by Aaron Posner, from January 16 to March 1, 2020.

Cameron Whitman Photography. The cast of Folger Theatre's The Merry Wives of Windsor!

Some appetites never go out of style. The pursuit of money is bound to backfire when the targets are smarter than their gold-digging schemer. Falstaff’s dubious plan to woo Windsor’s wealthy housewives is met with hilarious retaliation, when the ladies devise a plot to teach him a lesson he won’t soon forget. The comedic comeuppance is an absolute treat in Shakespeare’s delightful comedy on love, money, deception, and the wiles of women.

Production

Entertainment unions represented in Folger Theatre productions include The Stage Directors and Choreographers Society (**), United Scenic Artists (***), and the Actors' Equity Association (*), which includes members of the Union of Professional Actors and Stage Managers.

Cast

Regina Aquino*: Mistress Page
Linda Bard: Anne Page/Bardolph
Ami Brabson*: Mistress Ford
Louis E. Davis*: Mine Host
Danielle Gallo: Pistol/J. Rugby/ Roberta
Tommy Gomez*: Justice Shallow
Eric Hissom*: Ford
Brian Mani*: Falstaff
Cody Nickell*: Dr. Caius
Kate Eastwood Norris*: Mistress Quickly
Brian Reisman: Abraham Slender
Dante Robert Rossi: Nym/Fenton
Todd Scofield*: Sir Hugh Evans
Tyee Tilghman*: Page
Derrick Truby: Simple/John

Understudies

Natalie Cutcher: Mistress Page
John Floyd: Simple/John, Mine Host
Karolina Keach: Mistress Ford, Mistress Quickly
Jeff Raab: Dr. Caius, Sir Hugh Evans
Dante Robert Ross: Page
Ryan Sellers: Ford
Rachael Small: Anne Page, Pistol/J. Rugby/ Roberta
Tyee Tilghman*: Falstaff
Derrick Truby: Justice Shallow
Alex Turner: Abraham Slender, Nym/Fenton

Creative Team

William Shakespeare, Playwright
Aaron Posner**, Director
Tony Cisek***, Scenic Design
Devon Painter***, Costume Design
Max Doolittle***, Lighting Design
Matthew Nielson***, Original Music and Sound Design
Michele Osherow: Resident Dramaturg
Eisenburg/Bean Casting, New York Casting
Manna-Symone Middlebrooks, Folger Casting
Marcedes L. Clanton*, Production Stage Manager
Juliet Jewett*, Assistant Stage Manager

Production Team

Charlie Marie McGrath, Associate Director
Clancey Vonanovich, Assistant Director
Kelli Jones, Production Assistant
Lisa Nathans, Dialect Coach
Lorraine Ressegger-Slone, Intimacy Director
Tro Shaw, Choreography
Bella Faccia, Inc., Set Construction
Cameron Osterneck, Prop Master
Willow Watson, Prop Assistant
Jeanette Christensen, Assistant Costume Designer
Denise O'Brien, Wig Designer
Cindey Forkpah, Wardrobe Head
Jenn Pinkos, First Hand
Daisy Howard, Stitcher
Alex Keen, Master Electrician
Kristen Roth, Assistant Electrician
Brandon Roe, Sound Engineer
Kara Jobe, For Eisenburg/Beans Casting Casting Intern
OpenBox9, Graphic Design & Advertising Agency
Emily Tartenella, Marketing Design Consultant
Brittany Diliberto & Bee Two Sweet Photography, Promotional Photography
C. Stanley Photography, Production Photography
Chiet Productions & Leon Swerdel-Rich, Promotional & Production Video
WAPAVA, Archival Video
C2, Open Captioning

Folger Theatre

Janet Alexander Griffin, Artistic Producer
Beth Emelson, Associate Artistic Producer
David Polk, General Manager
Charles Flye, Theatre Production Manager
Rebekah Sheffer, Assistant Technical Director
Katelyn Manfre, Humanities Program Coordinator

Other Media

Reviews

“It’s 1972 at the Folger—and it’s quite the time! Loads of fun” – BroadwayWorld

“Like a good fondue, it’s super cheesy … and a treat” - DCist

“A hilarious send-up of the 70s … makes for a merry evening indeed” – DC Theatre Scene

“Aaron Posner adds some trippy twists to The Merry Wives of Windsor" - City Paper

"Magnificently ridiculous ... quite possibly the best Wives you'll ever see" - Metro Weekly

"Riotously funny ... the cast is stellar" - DC Metro Theater Arts

"Fabulous ... full of fun, frivolity, and rad tunes" - MD Theatre Guide

"Hilarious … you are in for a treat” – The Zebra

"It's a hoot" - The Georgetowner

Two hours of fun and frivolity ... you can't help but feel groovy" - Plays To See

Image Gallery

The merry wives (Regina Aquino, left and Ami Brabson) share a good laugh at the expense of the scheming Falstaff. Cameron Whitman Photography
An irritable Dr. Caius (Cody Nickell) gives orders to his servant Mistress Quickly (Kate Eastwood Norris). Cameron Whitman Photography
Falstaff (Brian Mani) asks Pistol (Danielle Gallo) to deliver his two identical love letters to a couple of merry wives in the town of Windsor. Cameron Whitman Photography
The gold-digging Falstaff (Brian Mani) tries to seduce Mrs. Page (Regina Aquino). Cameron Whitman Photography
A suspicious Dr. Caius (Cody Nickell) demands answers from Mistress Quickly (Kate Eastwood Norris) after capturing Simple (Derrick Truby, left) Cameron Whitman Photography
Falstaff (Brian Mani) uses his brazen skills of seduction on a surprised Mrs. Ford (Ami Brabson). Cameron Whitman Photography
Abraham Slender (Brian Reisman) is a bit uncomfortable at wooing the town’s most eligible bachelorette, Anne Page (Linda Bard). Cameron Whitman Photography
Falstaff (Brian Mani, right) reports back to a disguised Mr. Ford (Eric Hissom) on the affairs of Mrs. Ford in Folger Theatre’s 1970’s-infused The Merry Wives of Windsor. Cameron Whitman Photography.
The cast of The Merry Wives of Windsor breaks out in full 1970s dance. Cameron Whitman Photography
Mistress Quickly (Kate Eastwood Norris) meets in secret with the scheming Falstaff (Brian Mani). Cameron Whitman Photography
Fenton (Dante Robert Rossi) consoles his true love, Anne Page (Linda Bard). Cameron Whitman Photography
Mrs. Page (Regina Aquino, left) and Mrs. Ford (Ami Brabson), Windsor’s merry wives, having fun retaliating against a conniving Falstaff (Brian Mani). Cameron Whitman Photography
Mine Host (Louis E. Davis, left) cozies up to Dr. Caius (Cody Nickell). Cameron Whitman Photography
Slender (Brian Reisman, left) and Justice Shallow (Tommy A. Gomez) try to understand Windsor's local glergyman, the Welsh-accented Sir John Hughes (Todd Scofield). Cameron Whitman Photography
The cast of Folger Theatre's The Merry Wives of Windsor! Cameron Whitman Photography