Cast bios

Jeffrey Beard (Fortinbras)  Jeff has spent the majority of his adult life working behind the scenes in the Cleveland Theatre and Event scene at Cain Park and Hughie’s and now at OHD out of Columbus as the Logistics Manager. This is his first acting credit since 2002 when he played the Teen Angel in Grease at an all-girls high school, even though he was just there to help build the sets. He would like to thank his loud, hot wife, his family, the truss, and dedicates this performance to his father-in-law.  

Joshua Carpenter (Hamlet)  Joshua recently graduated from Ashland University with his bachelor's in English, Creative Writing, and Religion. This is his 3rd summer with MSC and his most intense role since tree 3 in his middle school production of The Wiz. He would like to thank the cast and crew for all of their love and support throughout this process, and he hopes you enjoy the show!

Jennifer Enskat (Gertrude)  Jennifer Enskat began her long acting career at the ripe age of four, working for decades in film, TV, theatre, radio and television commercials from Los Angeles to New York; including a handful of local productions such as playing Roxie Hart in Chicago and Louise in Always, Patsy Cline. Having spent the past 15 years primarily on the production side as a director, producer and editor, Jennifer is delighted to return to acting in this production of Hamlet, helping bring Shakespeare to the Mansfield community.

Adelina Hines (Voltemand and Captain)  Adelina Hines is a sophomore at Ontario High School. She is very excited to join her second show and first play! Outside of theater, she enjoys being a part of the swim team, Academic Challenge, Key Club and art. In the future, she hopes to join the Navy while studying political science. She would like to thank her family and friends for their support. 

Gary Kennedy (Polonius)  Gary Kennedy was a professor of mathematics at Ohio State from 1991 to 2018. His previous Shakespearean role was as Friar Lawrence in Romeo & Juliet. On the Ohio State-Mansfield campus stage, he has also played Lucky in Waiting for Godot and Shelly Levene in Glengarry Glen Ross. In October he will direct the campus production of Stoppard’s Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead. His grandson Charlie is a huge fan of Shakespeare.

Steliana Kruer (Marcellus)  Steliana Kruer is thrilled to be joining the cast of Hamlet. She is a Sophomore at Ontario High School and has been in 19 shows to date, including last summer’s Shakespeare in the Park’s production of Twelfth Night. She wants to thank her family for their support and hopes that you enjoy the show! 

Gabe Noble (Guildenstern)  Gabe is excited to work with the Mansfield Shakespeare Company for the first time! He was most recently seen in Ashland University’s production of Godspell. As an AU Music Education major, Gabe spends most of his time bouncing between University Choirs, jazz groups, and whatever ensemble hasn’t kicked him out yet. He hopes that you enjoy the show!

Giovanni Ortega (Laertes)  Giovanni is thrilled to be trading his colonial breeches for Elsinore castle and a fencing foil. His favorite past credits include Thomas Jefferson (1776), Jason (Medea), and Kyle (Legally Blonde). A self-proclaimed "total nerd," Giovanni spends his off-stage hours playing video games and rolling for initiative at the D&D table. He hopes you enjoy the show, and that his Dexterity saving throws hold up during the final duel.

Sam Potter (Rosencrantz)  Sam Potter is excited to dive back into theatre with The Mansfield Shakespeare Company's Hamlet. After having been in Romeo and Juliet at OSU, they have been eager to do another Shakespearean performance. Sam would like to give thanks to their fellow cast and crew for always being so supportive, reassuring, and encouraging on and off stage. They would also like to give special thanks to their loved ones for their enthusiasm and support of the arts. Thank you all for coming!

Steve Russell (Claudius)  Steve last performed Shakespeare in the Park in 2024, appearing as Oberon in A Midsummer Night's Dream. More recently, he appeared as Prince Escalus in last year’s production of Romeo & Juliet at Founders’ Auditorium. During regular hours Steve works in downtown Mansfield at the Mansfield/Richland County Public Library.

Ruie Rutherford (1st Player)  Ruie Rutherford has always loved Shakespeare and is glad to be performing with the Mansfield Shakespeare Company this summer. She graduated last spring and has been pursuing a wide variety of interests ever since. She loves acting, dancing, spending time in God's beautiful creation, homesteading, peanut butter, and movies featuring Steve Martin. She would like to thank her family and friends for putting up with her ridiculous schedule and she hopes you enjoy the show!

Scott Leon Smith (Ghost)  Scott is thrilled to return to the Mansfield Shakespeare Company after appearing this past Spring as Lord Capulet in MSC's partner production of Romeo & Juliet with OSU Mansfield. Audiences may also remember him as Brutus in OSU's production of Julius Caesar. A proud founding member of MSC, Scott directed the company's inaugural production of A Midsummer Night’s Dream in 2024. Scott is the CEO of Monstervox Productions and the creator of "The Actor's Affirmation," a growing online community that provides courses, coaching, and support for actors of all experience levels.

Jamie Stima (Player Queen)  Jamie is extremely excited to be involved in her first ever Shakespeare show! By day, Jamie is an academic advisor for The Ohio State University at Mansfield, but by night, she enjoys singing, acting, and playing all kind of games (both video games and table top games) with her family and friends. She is ecstatic to be back on stage after her last appearance in Angel Street and Cinderella at the Mansfield Playhouse three years ago. Jamie would like to thank Mansfield Shakespeare Company for such an amazing experience. She hopes you enjoy the show!

Hendrick Stoops (Prologue/Player King)  Hendrick is pleased to be working again with the Mansfield Shakespeare Company. He previously played Nick Bottom in their inaugural production, A Midsummer Night's Dream. Elsewhere, amongst other theatrical work, he appeared as Proteus in a performance of Two Gentlemen of Verona. Offstage, he enjoys photography, history, and figure skating, and is on the board of directors of the Lighter-Than-Air Society.

Kat Taylor (Lucianus/Grave Digger)  Kat is excited to return to the stage with the Mansfield Shakespeare Company in this production of Hamlet. She previously appeared as Sir Toby Belch in Twelfth Night and is thrilled to take on the roles of the Gravedigger and Lucianus. Outside of theatre, Kat enjoys writing, dancing, and making people laugh whenever she can. She would like to thank her friends, family, and castmates for their support.

Alex Trolian (Horatio)  Alex Trolian is very excited to be playing Horatio! In the fall, she will be attending The Ohio State University to major in Mechanical Engineering as a presidential scholar in the honors program. Hamlet is her 23rd full-length production and 2nd show with The Mansfield Shakespeare Company, having previously played Puck in A Midsummer Night’s Dream. Other credits include Chad (High School Musical), Mr. Wormwood (Matilda Jr.), and Sebastian (The Little Mermaid). Outside of acting this summer, she is working as a Senior Counselor at Happy Hollow Day Camp and enjoys playing guitar, being active, reading, and hanging out with friends.

Leanna Uselton (Ophelia)  Leanna Uselton received her BA in Creative Writing from Ashland University, where she could be seen into the late hours haunting the Hugo Young Theatre. She loves, in no particular order, poetry, any stringed instrument she can get her hands on, collaging madness, and climbing whatever she can. Most recently, Leanna was onstage in Ohio State Mansfield and The Mansfield Playhouse's production of 1776 as Martha Jefferson. She would like to thank her cast for this beautiful experience and hopes you enjoy the show!

Andrea Wittmer (Gravedigger's Companion)  Andrea is a frequent theatre collaborator on the other side of the stage. Most recently, she co-directed Medea at OSU Mansfield, where she is the campus librarian. She loves dark jokes and bad puns. Thank you to Mom, Anna, the Ladybug Picnic, and Tyler.