Bios

Olivia Akers (Cassandra Austen) (she/her) is a BFA Acting major at Oklahoma City University originally from Cambridge Illinois. Recent credits include A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Be Aggressive, and Dracula: A Feminist Retelling. Special thanks to her family and friends for supporting her throughout this process. “Act well your part; there all honor lies.”

Karam Alkhatib (Edward Ferrars) is very excited to be back with Oklahoma Shakespeare in the Park this holiday season! Born in Tulsa, OK, Karam graduated from Oklahoma City University with a BFA in Acting. This season, he also performed in A Midsummer Night’s Dream (Demetrius) and The Tragedy of MacBeth (Ross). Other credits include Objects in Mirror (Anzo), Shakespeare in Love (Ralph), Romeo and Juliet (Paris), and Jane Austen’s Christmas Cracker 2023 (Captain Wentworth). He would like to thank his family and friends for their constant love and support.

Alleese Eldridge (Elinor Dashwood) uses performance as a site for community organizing and uplifting ideas of collective prosperity. Alleese Eldridge is a founding member of Co.Arts, a company dedicated to emerging playwrights, and currently serves as their Co Artistic Director. Previous Credits: Men on the Line (Co.Arts, Director), The Great Leap (OKC Rep, Asst. Director), Much Ado About Nothing (OSP, Production Dramaturg). “Every act of art brings us one step closer to our collective liberation.”- Kelli Shermeyer

Zaneen Fletcher-Hall (Mrs. Bennet) is pleased to be once again playing Mrs. Bennett and overjoyed to be working for OSP once more. Zaneen is originally from England but is happy to have made Oklahoma her home.  Zaneen has also worked for many other theatre companies, some of her favorite performances are “Top Girls” at OCTC, and 19th Century hound with the interactive show of “What lies beyond.” Zaneen also has many commercial and film credits.

Charli Henn (Elizabeth Bennet) They/them. Charli is a Junior BFA Acting major with minors in Lighting and Directing at Oklahoma City University from Richardson, TX, and they are thrilled to be making their OK Shakespeare debut! Recent credits include Hurricane Diane (Renee), Puffs (Megan Jones), Bellwether (Doll), Let The Right One In (Eli), June, July, August (Female Swing), & A Midsummer Night’s Dream (Slinky Boi). Enjoy the show!

Paxton Kliewer (Captain Wentworth) is from Bethany, Oklahoma. He received his BFA in Drama with an emphasis in Acting from the University of Oklahoma in 2020. His credits include Jaxton-The Thanksgiving play-OKCREP, Laertes-Hamlet-Oklahoma Shaspeare in the Park, Banquo-Macbeth-Oklahoma Shakespeare in the Park, Oberon/Theseus-A Midsummer Night's Dream-Oklahoma Shakespeare in the Park, Sebastian-Twelfth Night-Oklahoma Shakespeare in the Park, Captain Georg Von Trapp-The Sound of Music: Interactive-Lyric Theatre, Paul Bratter-Barefoot in the Park-Jewel Box Theatre.

Naomi Love (Lydia Bennet) (she/her) is a sophomore BFA Acting major at Oklahoma City University, from Round Rock, TX. She is so excited for her first show at Oklahoma Shakespeare! Recent credits include Being Enough, Be Aggressive, and Pace Yourself. Special thanks to her family and friends for all of their support and traveling to see the show.

Karis McMurry (Director) is a director, actor, and educator. She earned her BFA in Acting with a minor in Directing from Oklahoma City University. Credits include Beauty and the Beast (Georgetown Palace Theatre, Director), Alice in Wonderland (OCU, Director), The Wizard of Oz (Oklahoma Children’s Theatre, Asst. Director), Gross Indecency (OCU, Dialect Coach), Romeo and Juliet (OSP, Benvolio), and A Midsummer Night’s Dream (Shakespeare in the Canyon, Helena).

Corban Melder (Mr. Darcy) (he/him) is a Junior BFA Acting major at OCU. He is from Austin, TX.  Recent credits include "Legacy of light" "Dracula a feminist revenge tragedy," "Julius Caesar,". This is his first show with OSP. Special thanks to his family and friends for all of their love and support.

Jimmy Pike (Colonel Brandon) has been working with Oklahoma Shakespeare since 2005. He’s been seen on the OSP stage as Slender in Merry Wives of Windsor, Carbon de Castel-Jaloux in Cyrano, Snug and Snout in Midsummer Nights Dream, Friar Francis in Much Ado About Nothing, and many more. He currently serves on the Board of Directors. Jimmy is a father to Gigi and Sam.

Jenna Rowell (Stage Manager) is a stage manager and dramaturg from Arlington, Texas. This is her third time stage managing Christmas Cracker! Recent SM credits include The Thanksgiving Play (OKC Rep); Born With Teeth, Romeo and Juliet, Shakespeare in Love, Jane Austen’s Christmas Cracker, and Hamlet (Okla. Shakespeare); and Shrek The Musical (Craft Productions of Okla.). Her recent ASM & PA credits include Vietgone, The Antelope Party, The Brothers Size, Superstitions, and The Great Leap (OKC Rep); Man of La Mancha (Asolo Repertory Theatre); and A Midsummer Night’s Dream (Okla. Shakespeare). She holds a BFA in Dramaturgy and Stage Management and a BA in Journalism from the University of Oklahoma. @jennarowell

Kalie Sloan (Jane Austen) is attending Oklahoma City University as a Junior BFA Acting major. Some recent production credits include John Proctor is the Villain, Influenced, She Stoops to Conquer, and Peter and the Starcatcher. She is so excited to work alongside such a talented group of artists. A special thank you to her family and friends who support her in all her endeavors!

Bell Reeves (Asst. Director, Intimacy Coordinator, Marketing) is an Oklahoma based actor, and founding member of the Emerging Artists Collective. She is passionate about Theatre's ability to ignite change and foster impactful conversation.  Originally from Houston, Bell graduated from The University of Oklahoma with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Theatre with an Acting Emphasis Some of her OSP credits include Twelfth Night (Viola) Romeo and Juliet (Juliet), Much Ado about Nothing (Hero),and A Midsummer Night’s Dream (Helena).

Alexander Sovronsky (Composer, Music Arranger, Musician) Actor. musician. music director. composer. With numerous Broadway, Off-Broadway, Regional, and International credits to his name, Alexander has made a name for himself as a frequently sought after theatrical collaborator. He is a proud member of the Actors Equity Association and serves on its newly formed Actor/Instrumentalist Committee. Alexander also teaches workshops on the Dramatic Function of Music & Sound in Shakespeare’s Plays. For more info on that, or to inquire about private music lessons, visit alexandersovronsky.com.

Clara Starkwell (Lighting Design) (she/her) is a Lighting Designer who is passionate about storytelling through the expression of color and form. She enjoys painting and sees lighting as an extension of that art form coming to life. She has been honored to be a co recipient of KC/ACTF National Barbizon Award for Excellence in Lighting Design for her Woe Is Me lighting design. Born and raised in Los Angeles, Clara has worked with a diverse group of artists and directors. She interned as an Assistant Lighting Designer for LA Opera’s 2017-19 seasons. She received her Associate of Arts and Emerging Theatre Technology certificate at Citrus College. Then after achieved a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Theatrical Design and Production from Oklahoma City University, with an emphasis in Lighting Design and Technology. (clarawiebe.com)

Laura Susana Tapia (Associate Director) (she/her) is an international director and producer using theatre to inspire empathy in others and grow human connection. Favorite credits include In Pour Taste and Reels of Regret at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, Tomás and the Library Lady at The Yale Theatre, and In the Heights and The Play That Goes Wrong at Oklahoma City University. She'd like to thank Tyler and Karis for the opportunity to work on this show as her OSP debut! laurasusanatapia.com

Rebekah Valencia (Dance Choreography) has been calling English Country Dance and Contra since 2016 and found her way to Oklahoma Shakespeare in the Park for Jane Austen’s Christmas Cracker in 2022. Her goal is to build confidence and joy as dancers participate in movement to beautiful music.

Sydney Wehmeyer (Anne Elliot) is thrilled to make her Oklahoma Shakespeare debut this season. With her BA in Theatre training from Oklahoma State University and an affinity for classical storytelling, she is excited to bring her passion for performance to the Paseo. Sydney grants special thanks to her family, friends, and mentors for their endless love and support. She wishes everyone a joyful holiday season filled with warmth, laughter, and an abundance of novel cheer!

Anwen Marta-Knoedler Wenger (Costume Design) (she/they) is a Costume, Hair & Makeup Designer from Norman, OK. She is a recent graduate of the University of Oklahoma with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Drama; Costume Design Emphasis. Recent Costume, Hair & Makeup Design credits include A Midsummer Night’s Dream (Oklahoma Shakespeare), Everybody (University of Oklahoma School of Drama), Susannah (University of Oklahoma School of Music; co-design with Jylian Humber), and Natasha, Pierre & the Great Comet of 1812 (University of Oklahoma School of Musical Theatre). Recent Hair & Makeup Design credits include The Nutcracker (University of Oklahoma School of Dance) and Heathers: the Musical (University of Oklahoma School of Musical Theatre).

Bethany Woemmel (Marianne Dashwood) is thrilled to be working with Oklahoma Shakespeare in the Park on Jane Austen's Christmas Cracker! She studies at Oklahoma City University as a senior BFA Acting major. During her time there, she's had the opportunity to be apart of productions such as Dracula: A Feminist Revenge Fantasy as Renfield and A Midsummer Night's Dream as ensemble. She would like to thank her family, Jackson, and Piper for their unconditional support.

Erin Woods (Playwright & Graphic Design) is a director, playwright, actress, and graphic designer with over 25 years’ experience in Oklahoma Theatre and beyond. Directing credits include Art for Oklahoma City Theatre Company, Uncle Vanya for Oklahoma Shakespeare in the Park, and Pride and Prejudice, Twelfth Night, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, As You Like It, Hamlet, Sense and Sensibility, Love’s Labour’s Lost, The Women, and Les Liaisons Dangereuses for Reduxion Theatre Company. As a playwright, Erin has written adaptations of Pride and Prejudice, Emma, Sense and Sensibility, Tom Jones, and a holiday play often produced by Oklahoma Shakespeare: Jane Austen’s Christmas Cracker.