Measure for Measure March 2-12

Shows March 2-12:
Thur., Fri., & Sat. at 7:30pm
Sundays at 2pm

Use promo code $5offMAC for $5 off at checkout!

Play by William Shakespeare
Directed by Steve Dooner

Download Program Book

Come see this under-performed Shakespeare gem. Witness an examination of justice, mercy, and hypocrisy, focused through the prism of the author’s incredible language, artistry, and humor.

Measure for Measure is a play by William Shakespeare that explores the theme of justice. The Duke of Vienna steps down from his role and hands over the governance of the city to his deputy, Angelo, while he goes away on a trip. Angelo is a strict, puritanical man who immediately begins enforcing old, harsh laws that have previously been ignored. One of these laws is the punishment of death for fornication. The play follows the story of Isabella, a nun, and her brother Claudio, who is sentenced to death for getting his fiancée pregnant. Isabella pleads for mercy on her brother’s behalf, but Angelo refuses to show mercy. The Duke eventually returns and reveals that he has been watching the events unfold from afar, and ultimately works to bring about a resolution to the situation.

OUR CAST

In order of appearance

Steve Dooner (Director) has directed many Shakespeare plays, dramas, and musicals in our local area.  Last October, he directed Mass Art Center’s production of A Midsummer Night’s Dream, and he is now very excited to offer Shakespeare’s famous problem play, Measure for Measure.  In 2013, he directed Euripides’ The Bacchae at the Oberon A.R.T. Stage in Cambridge, a production chosen as the A.R.T.’s official selection for the Boston’s first Fringe Festival on the Boston Common.  He has also directed productions of A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Macbeth, Twelfth Night and Romeo and Juliet at the Bay Colony Orpheum Theater in Foxboro; productions of Doubt and A Raisin in the Sun at Massasoit Community College; To Kill a Mockingbird, Doubt, Dracula, Blithe Spirit and his own play, Lizzie of Fall River at the Company Theatre in Norwell; and finally,  The Tempest, The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (Abridged), Ghosts Of Appomattox, and Picasso at Lapin Agile at the Mass Arts Center.  When not performing or directing, Steve teaches English and theater at Quincy College.

Katie Ault (Juliet, Messenger) Katie was last seen on the MAC stage in 2016 in their production of The Miracle Worker. Since she has performed across Massachusetts and for Walt Disney Entertainment in Walt Disney World. Most recently, she was in the cast of Matilda: The Musical at the Company Theatre. Katie also teaches at the Mass Arts Academy along with her sister, Ellie, who she wants to thank for encouraging her to audition for this show. Gratitude to the cast and crew!

Samantha Eaton-Roberts (Mariana, Sister Francisca, Servant) is excited to make her return to the stage after a 4-year hiatus. While stage managing and other behind-the-scenes adventures have been her focus during that time, she feels fortunate to be back in her happy place. Favorite onstage credits include Jamie Keller in The Miracle Worker (MAC), tribe member in Hair (MAC), Kristine in A Chorus Line(Massasoit & Norwood), Reggie Fluty in The Laramie Project (Wheaton College), and Robin in Godspell (CSPA). Favorite behind-the-scenes projects include SM and AD for Freaky Friday (MAC), SM and lighting operation for The Marvelous Wonderettes (MAC), lighting design and operation for Sweeney Todd(MAC), and soon-to-open SM, AD, and dance captain for Urinetown: The Musical (MAC). Special thanks to Steve for giving me the opportunity to do Mariana justice; to the wonderful loves, muffins, and snugs in my life for supporting my passion for this amazing and crazy world of theater; and to Joshua who cast me in the greatest role of her life as Mommy.

Jim Foster (Friar Thomas) is delighted to return to the Mass Arts Center stage for this timely and relevant production of Measure for Measure. Jim was previously featured in The Tempest (Stefano), The Drowsy Chaperone (Feldzeig), and the staged radio plays Dracula and War of the Worlds. Jim is honored to be working with such talented and passionate performers and outstanding creative team.

Caroline Kautsire (Second Gentleman/Barnadine) is delighted to be making another appearance at the Mass Arts Center. Her favorite Shakespearean roles include, Rosalind in As You Like It, Puck in A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Olivia in Twelfth Night, Trinculo in The Tempest and Mercutio in Romeo and Juliet. She is originally from Malawi, Africa (a.k.a Wakanda). An alumnus of Emerson College, Brown University and UMass Boston, she currently works as an English teacher at Thayer Academy and is the author of two books, What Kind of Girl? (2020) and Some Kind of Girl (2022). To the cast, production crew and everyone in the audience, she salutes you with her arms crossed on her chest: WAKANDA FOREVER!

Katherine Light (Mistress Overdone, Justice in Court) is excited to be performing Shakespeare again with this extraordinary cast, director, and production team. Previous roles include Titania/Hippolyta in A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Ms. Throttle, the Stage Manager, in The Mystery of Edwin Drood, Herb in Godspell, and Maria in Love’s Labours Lost, among others. She has a BFA in Theatre Performance from the College Conservatory of Music at the University of Cincinnati, but spends her daytime hours at Eastern Bank helping cities & towns in Massachusetts manage their money – go figure.  Love and gratitude to my kids for all their support over the years as my built-in and involuntary audience. Thankfully they’ve never thrown tomatoes.

Megan Moran (Isabella) is thrilled to make her acting debut at Mass Arts Center. Having just moved from New York, this is only her second show in the New England Area. She last played Lady Macbeth in Macbeth (Cue Zero Theatre Company). Megan wants to thank director Steve Dooner for giving her this opportunity and the rest of the cast and crew for their support and amazing talent. When she is not reciting Shakespeare, she is spending time with friends and family or dancing to Lady Gaga. Look Dad, I am finally a nun!!! She really hopes you enjoy the show!

Marianne Phinney (Duke Vincentio) is delighted to return to the stage at MAC, where she last graced the stage as Mrs. Gottlieb in Dead Man’s Cell Phone. She also appeared as the Hotel Manager in Out of Order. Other stage appearances include the title role in Red Hot Patriot: The Kick-Ass Wit of Molly Ivins (Walpole Footlighters, Roundabout Productions), Queen Gertrude in Hamlet (Dragonfly Theater), Cassius in Julius Caesar and Mistress Page in The Merry Wives of Windsor (Gazebo Players). She directed the first Gazebo Players’ Shakespeare in the Park production, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, which she rebooted in 2022, plus All’s Well That Ends Well, The Winter’s Tale, Comedy of Errors, The Taming of the Shrew, and Much Ado About Nothing. Other recent directing credits include Forbidden Broadway’s Greatest Hits and The Odd Couple (Female Version) (MAC), Disenchanted!, Calendar Girls, and a virtual production of Bangin’ the Bell (Walpole Footlighters) and Return Engagements (Milton Players). Marianne has served as a judge for the METG High School Drama Festival since 2005. www.mariannephinney.com.

Isabel Pongratz (Provost) is thrilled to be making her MAC debut. Some past credits: Commonwealth Shakespeare Company: Cymbeline (U/S Philarmonus), A Midsummer Night’s Dream (Mustardseed/Starveling). American Repertory Theater: Proclamation 2 (Ensemble). Hampton Court Palace: Pop Up Shakespeare (Ensemble). London Dramatic Academy: Cymbeline (Pisanio). Wheaton College: Much Ado About Nothing (Dogberry). B.A. Wheaton College. @Isabel_Pongratz

Mark Prokes is freshly back from his extended European galavanting and is back on stage for your viewing… pleasure? Sure, let’s go with that. Before his extended absence from the Massachusetts stage, he appeared in such roles as Geoffry in A Lion in Winter, Einstein in Picasso at the Lapin Agile, and his most glamorous role as Shrek in… Shrek. Most recently, he was in Forbidden Broadway’s Greatest Hits at the Mass Arts Center in January 2023. In case you aren’t absolutely sick of him by the end of this, consider coming out in March to see his directorial return as he lampoons government corruption and gets himself on Putin’s hit list with Gogol’s The Inspector at the Milford Performing Arts Center. Sit back, relax, and enjoy~

Rama Rodriguez (Lucio) is a graduate of the Massachusetts College of Art film and video program.  He’s led an interesting career as a video editor and motion graphics artist and has expanded his talents into voice acting.  Rama’s voice can be heard in commercials for the toy company Hasbro, as well as for many video games, and educational software.  He is passionate about voicing for the e-learning, video game, and animation industries. Previous acting credits include: Voice of Audrey II in Little Shop of Horrors (Rhode Island Stage Ensemble), Topper in A Christmas Carol (The Company Theatre), Snug the Joiner in A Midsummer Night’s Dream (The Company Theatre), and The Equerry in The Audience (The Company Theatre). Rama is a South Shore native, and in his spare time, he enjoys training in the martial arts, Latin and ballroom dancing, and theater acting.

Christian Roulleau (Angelo) first performed at Mass Arts Center in 2018’s The Tempest, and he is delighted to reunite with Steve Dooner and others to chart new dimensions of human villainy. He has also been seen at MAC in Assassins (Charles Guiteau), Noises Off (Lloyd Dallas), How the Other Half Loves (Frank Foster), Our Town (Doc Gibbs), and most recently in the title role of Sweeney Todd. Other favorite roles include Max (Bent), Kilroy (Camino Real), Bosie (Gross Indecency), Lorenzo (Melancholy Play), Dionsysos (The Bacchae), Shatov (Dostoevsky’s Demons), and John Jasper (The Mystery of Edwin Drood). Christian offers neverending thanks to his family for their love and support.

Jack Sinnott (Escalus) has appeared in numerous productions over more than 45 years including three stagings of Pride & Prejudice (Mr. Bennet), Peter Pan (John), A Wrinkle in Time (Mrs. Which), Don Juan in Hell (Don Juan), Inherit the Wind (E. K. Hornbeck), Plaza Suite (Sam Nash), Music Man (Mayor Shinn), Peter & the Starcatcher (Lord Aster), The Life and Times of Walter Mitty (Walter Mitty), In The Next Room, or the vibrator play (Mr. Daldry), Gross Indecencies: The Three Trials of Oscar Wilde (Marquess of Queensbury), I Hate Hamlet (John Barimore), The Audience (Anthony Eden), The Tragedy of Julius Caesar (Marc Antony), and Lizzie of Fall River co-written by Steve Dooner (Judge Blaisdell) among many, many others. When Jack isn’t on stage, he is a dad who cooks Italian feasts, forgets to do the dishes, plays viola (badly) & dulcimer (also badly), and sings opera (terribadly), much to his children’s chagrin.

Laura Stevens (First Gentleman, Master Froth, Abhorson) is thrilled to be back at Mass Arts Center performing alongside a talented group of cast and crew. Her past performances include several other Shakespeare plays (A Midsummer Night’s Dream, The Tempest, Much Ado about Nothing, Two Gentlemen of Verona and All’s Well that Ends Well.) She started acting in 2018 with the group We Did it For You! Women’s Journey Through History. Her favorite roles in this group were Anne Huntchinson and Betty Friedan. She lives in Middleboro, MA with her family.

J. Michael Whalen (Pompey Bum) is honored to be making his second appearance with Mass Arts Center after playing Tim Allgood in 2019’s Noises Off. Other favorite roles include John Major in The Audience (The Company Theatre), Horatio in Hamlet (Dragonfly Theater), Milt Fields in Laughter on the 23rd Floor (North River Theater), Jim Reston in Frost/Nixon (Curtain Call Theatre), Robert Lambert in Boeing Boeing (Cohasset Dramatic Club), Giles Ralston in The Mousetrap (The Bay Players), and Father Brendan Flynn in Doubt: A Parable (Canton Community Theatre). Honored to be part of this fantastic cast and crew, Mike thanks God for His countless gifts and blessings, his wife Deirdre for her support, and his brother George, who will be celebrating his birthday at the closing performance!

Jennifer Rich (Stage Manager) is extremely happy to be back in the theatre and working on this production. She has previously directed for numerous groups in Massachusetts and Rhode Island. She received her B.A. in theatre arts from Bridgewater State University; graduating magna cum laude with additional honors recognition. Much love to Rob, Laurel, Haley, my siblings, and the Rich family. Many thanks to Mass Art for this opportunity. 

Bruce Webster (Sound Design) is incredibly happy to be working with Steve on another Shakespeare classic. Two in one season!  Thanks for trusting me with the musical score.  And this cast, I mean wow!  A few Mass Arts Center favorites include: The 39 Steps, Next To Normal, Avenue Q, Our Town, Godspell, Autobahn and Moon Over Buffalo. Bruce has received DASH design awards for his work on Cabaret, Becoming Dr. Ruth, Barefoot in the Park, The Tempest and Dead Man’s Cell Phone. A huge heartfelt thanks to his wife Paula for her encouragement and endless patience.