The Cast of Much Ado About Nothing

Celebrating his 46th year in (and out) of theatre, David is a veteran stage performer, well-known to Hudson Players audiences. He was seen most recently as Poppa Bear in this year’s Panto, Little Red Riding Hood Strikes Back. David is delighted to wallow in villainy once again, as he feels that playing nice characters too often is terrible for his reputation. What is the point in being aged and gray if you cannot be crotchety too.

This is Fiona’s third appearance with Shakespeare-by-the-lake, not having been scared off yet by the bugs and the poison ivy. She has also performed at Hudson Village Theatre and several years with Lakeshore Light Opera in principal roles and in the chorus. Whether performing with an 18-piece orchestra or with the serenade of the lake lapping the shore, it is always the enthusiasm and response of the wonderful audience that is the most exciting!

It’s with utmost pleasure that Ash takes on the role of Hero in this years HPC production of Much Ado About Nothing. Theatre has been part of Ash’s life for many years, having made their debut in HVTs Holiday Panto production of Wizard of Oz back in 2016. Since then they have perfomed in several productions, including HPC’s The Tempest and For the Love of Shakespeare, RWA’s Bards production of Twelfth Night and many other Pantos such as Treasure Island (2019) and Little Red Ridding Hood Strikes Back among many others.

Having had the chance to be in such HPC’s productions like Balconville, One Flew Over the Coo Coo’s Nest, For the Love of Shakespeare and The Tempest as well as in HVT Panto productions such as Camelot, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, Treasure Island and the most recent, Little Red Ridding Hood Strikes Back, Jean-Frédéric embraces the challenge of this new opportunity that is taking on the role of Friar Francis in this year’s production of Much Ado About Nothing!

With this being Sage’s third time taking part in a Hudson Player’s Club production, they are very excited for opening night, but they can’t say the same for all the bugs and poison ivy. With them being a member of John Abbott College’s Professional Theatre Acting Program, they are excited to put what they have learned to use. They have previously appeared as Prince Malcolm in “Macbeth” and Abraham Slender in “The Merry Wives of Windsor”. This production is guaranteed to be a great one and Sage is so grateful towards the club for this oppurtunity once again.

Chris(tine) Sheppard has been involved in theatre ever since she was 12 as she watched, and then joined, her parents with Beckett Players on the West Island.  After a hiatus, she returned to the theatre, at her daughters urging, in Hudson Village Theatre’s annual Panto. She was also in Hudson Players Club’s productions of Jitter’s, The Great Gatsby, and Balconville. Most recently, Chris performed in three Shakespeare productions, For the Love of Shakespeare, MacBeth and Merry Wives of Windsor. When not performing, Chris is a full time educator. She is very grateful to the entire cast and crew, and especially her daughter, McKenna, for sharing in this experience with her first love, theatre.

Hi I’m Scarlett, and I was Betsy in Little Red Riding Hood Strikes Back and I did a few small productions in elementary school. I’m mainly a musician that writes and plays rock music but I do quite enjoy theatre. I will be playing Messenger and Watchman #1 in this production and I’m super excited to be doing this with this talented Cast and Crew!!!

Taras’ lifelong passions for theatre and Shakespeare were born at Beaconsfield High School, under the loving scowl of the legendary John Whitman. From there he plunged headfirst into community theatre, primarily with IONA, but also in productions with Lakeshore Players and Lakeshore Light Opera. He was last seen at Jack Layton Park performing a post-flood benefit reading of The Tempest. His career includes writing for and directing voice actors for video games. It turns out that entertaining people is often very hard – but it still beats working for a living!

Konstantine is delighted to be returning this year after having such a great experience with The Merry Wives of Windsor last year. A graduate of the Atlantic Theatre Company conservatory Konstantine’s selected stage credits include, Fenton in last year’s Merry Wives of Windsor(HPC), Collins in Pride and Prejudice(Showplace, Peterborough)and Henry in Here Lies Henry (Arthur Seelen Theatre, NYC). Konstantine is also currently working on his first screenwriting project.

McKenna Hayden was on stage at 9 and has performed in many Pantos until the age of 19, when she had the honour of playing Jenny in Treasure Island. She has also been involved with several Hudson Players Club’s Shakespeare productions. Most recently, she played Cecily Cardew in The Importance of Being Earnest last summer. When not performing, McKenna spent the previous two years working towards a Bachelor’s degree in Life Sciences and will continue her education next fall in Veterinary Medicine in Edinburgh, Scotland. She is excited and grateful to be a part of the production of Much Ado About Nothing.

Bill has been involved with community theatre in Montreal for many years as an actor, set builder and Technical Director. This is his sixth appearance in productions of Shakespeare by the Lake – you may have seen him last year as one of the merry husbands in ‘ The Merry Wives of Windsor’.