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.


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 Flyod: 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

  • 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
  • Folger Casting, Manna-Symone Middlebrooks
  • 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

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

Interviews & Features

Washington Post "Weekend" section cover story on the production, featuring interviews with Aaron Posner (director), Tony Cisek (set designer), and Janet Alexander Griffin (Folger Theatre, Artistic Producer)

On Tap Magazine interview with director Aaron Posner on a 1970s-inspired "Merry Wives"

MD Theatre Guide's "Quick 5" interview with actor Kate Eastwood Norris (Mistress Quickly in The Merry Wives of Windsor)

DC Metro Theater Arts' interview with composer Matthew Nielson on the funky 70s music in The Merry Wives of Windsor


Image Gallery