2021 Cast Bios

Jen Johansen (Theseus & Oberon)

Jen Johansen (Theseus & Oberon)

Jen is thrilled and so grateful to return to live theatre with Indy Shakes. Past productions include Coriolanusand Hamlet. This is her third professionally produced Midsummer, and her first Oberon. Most recently she appeared in Indiana Repertory Theatre’s streamed production of The House That Jack Built. Additional select IRT shows include: The Syringa Tree, The Game’s Afoot, Macbeth, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Julius Caesar, and A Christmas Carol. Phoenix Theatre productions include: The Christians, The Pill, Hir, On Clover Road, Mr. Burns: a post-electric play, and Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike. When the pandemic hit in March of 2020, Jen was portraying Gloria Steinem and nearing the end of a run of Gloria: A Life at The Human Race Theatre Co., her eighth production with them. Jen has also performed at Chicago Shakespeare Theatre, Geva Theatre Center, and Kitchen Theatre Co. She is a Creative Renewal Fellow, IndyHumane volunteer, and a board member of both American Lives Theatre and Summer Stock Stage. She makes her Indy home with her husband Rob, two pups, and a cat.

Constance Macy (Hippolyta & Titania)

Constance Macy (Hippolyta & Titania)

Constance Macy played Volumnia in Coriolanus and Paulina in The Winters Tale, both at WRSP. She has been an actor and teacher at the Indiana Repertory Theatre for many years, and has also taught Acting at Butler University where she directed A Midsummer Night's Dream. Her professional acting career has taken her to regional theatres across the country, but she prefers to make the art here. She co-founded ShadowApe Theatre Company with which she produced innovative original work for twelve years. A graduate of Indiana University, Ms. Macy is a Lunt-Fontanne (national) Fellow, a two-time Arts Council of Indianapolis Creative Renewal Fellow, and an Indianapolis Foundation MVP.

Joshua Coomer (Puck)

Joshua Coomer (Puck)

Joshua is excited to be working with Indianapolis Shakespeare again--this time as a company member! Credits include: Polonius in HAMLET and Jacques in AS YOU LIKE IT with Indy Shakes. A CHRISTMAS CAROL at IRT. ACID DOLPHIN EXPERIMENT, CLARK GABLE SLEPT HERE, NORTH OF THE BOULEVARD and others at Phoenix Theatre Indianapolis. Member AEA.

Milicent Wright (Egeus & Quince)

Milicent Wright (Egeus & Quince)

Claire Wilcher (Bottom)

Claire Wilcher (Bottom)

As a new company member, Claire is thrilled to join IndyShakes once again, after appearing as Phebe in As You Like It. She has just completed her Master of Fine Arts degree in acting from Michigan State University, where she also spoke at several national conferences on her research regarding fat bodies in casting and theatre. Claire is currently accruing hours as an Intimacy Director while pursuing her certification with IDC Professionals. Though she is now based in Michigan, Claire is thrilled to be spending the summer with her theatre family in Indianapolis, where she has enjoyed time on stage with the IRT, Phoenix Theatre, CSz Indianapolis, and the IndyFringe Festival. 

Charles Goad (Starveling)

Charles Goad (Starveling)

Chuck appeared in Indy Shakes inaugural production of The Merchant of Venice as well as The Winter’s Tale, The Tempest and Much Ado about Nothing. Indiana Repertory Theatre credits include: Twelve Angry Men, Three Musketeers, The Great Gatsby, Our Town, Driving Miss Daisy, All My Sons, To Kill A Mockingbird, Romeo & Juliet, Othello, Hamlet, and 18 productions of A Christmas Carol. He was a founding member of the original Phoenix Theatre where he appeared in over 40 productions. Favorites there include: Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike, August: Osage County, Gross Indecency, November, Shipwrecked, Three Viewings and Whoop-Dee-Doo! Other local credits include work with Actors Theatre of Indiana, Beef & Boards, Brown County Playhouse, Eclipse, Summer Stock Stage and Cardinal Stage. Regionally he has worked at Cincinnati Playhouse, Missouri Rep, and Syracuse Stage.

Michael Hosp (Snug)

Michael Hosp (Snug)

Michael is thrilled to play outside again with Indy Shakes! He was last seen as Silvius in As You Like It. Other recent credits include The Diary of Anne Frank and You Can't Take It With You at the Indiana Repertory Theatre, as well as Vino Veritas and Cry It Out at the Phoenix Theatre of Indianapolis.  Michael is a graduate of Butler University and an actor at the Children's Museum of Indianapolis. “Much love to my wife, Katelyn."

Shawnté Gaston (Snout)

Shawnté Gaston (Snout)

Shawnté is very proud to be a company member for the Indianapolis Shakespeare Company, where she was recently seen as Rosalind in As You Like It. Some of her favorite shows she's been in include Rent, Twilight: Los Angeles 1992, Yas, Twain, A Very Phoenix Xmas: Merry Superstitious, A Madwoman's Late-Nite Cabaret, To Kill A Mockingbird, and Lysistrata. She can also be seen performing with Sapphire Theatre Company, spreading knowledge about Indiana’s black history through short plays at Conner Prairie, and in classrooms as a teaching artist for IRT. Shawnté is a graduate of the University of Southern Indiana.

Isaiah Moore (Flute)

Isaiah Moore (Flute)

Isaiah is a local stage and voice actor, a contact representative for the DFAS, and an associate artist for Summer Stock Stage (SSS). You may recognize him from productions by SSS as Donkey in Shrek The Musical and Dogfight. Most recently performed as a playful and inspiring little brother in Indiana Repertory Theatre’s debut of The Little Choo Choo by James Still.  He has performed in numerous productions with Fat Turtle Theatre, Butler University, OnyxFest. Now an alumnus of Butler with a degree in Psychology and Theatre, he aspires to share the human condition’s diverse and integral parts through theatre.

Adam Tran (Demetrius & Moth)

Adam Tran (Demetrius & Moth)

You may have seen Adam in the "before times" at Actors Theatre of Indiana (Elvis in MDQ), Summit Performance (Peter in Silent Sky), or IRT (Donald in As You Like It). You can catch him in August in "Mongrel", which is a one man show created by Adam and Developed with the Know Theatre of Cincinnati (keep an eye on their website for details). Adam is so very excited to be in this cast and is so grateful to Lauren, Ryan, and Diane for the opportunity! As always, Adam would like to thank Kelsey Leigh, who is a perpetual source of love, light, wisdom, and, when needed, humility. Cheers!

Kelsey Johnson (Helena & Cobweb)

Kelsey Johnson (Helena & Cobweb)

Johnson is an actor, writer and educator here in Indianapolis. She received her BFA in acting from Ball State University before continuing as an acting apprentice at Actors Theatre of Louisville in their 2016-2017 Professional Training Company. Some

of her professional acting credits include Helen and Mary Jane with Summit Performance Indianapolis and A Christmas Carol, #MATTER, and The Many Deaths of Nathan Stubblefield at Actors Theatre of Louisville.

Daniel Martin (Lysander & Peaseblossom)

Daniel Martin (Lysander & Peaseblossom)

Daniel A. Martin is very honored to be making his Shakespearean debut portraying Lysander in IndyShakes Midsummer Nights Dream. Beginning his career at a very young with the Asante Children’s Theatre, Daniel has continued thru the years showing his passion for the young artist by becoming a teaching artist for the Sapphire Theatre Company. When not teaching, Daniel enjoys making people laugh thru improv. Daniel Is the founder and director of the hilarious group Act A Foo Improv Crew, a quick and witty improvised comedy troupe. Daniel has worked with many theatres such as: Indiana Repertory Theatre, Phoenix Theatre, Indy Fringe, Theatre On The Square, just to name a few. When off stage, Daniel’s in front of a camera shooting commercials. 

Kim Egan (Hermia & Mustardseed)

Kim Egan (Hermia & Mustardseed)

Kim Egan is excited to make her debut with Indy Shakes. She is originally from Minnesota and has performed around the Twin Cities and Chicago before becoming a hoosier. Local credits include American Lives Theatre (Gloria, Short Play Festival), Fonseca Theatre Company (The Brothers Paranormal), Brooks and Bourke Theatre (The Hound of the Baskervilles, The Hunchback of Notre Dame), Monument Theatre Company (1984), and Fat Turtle Theatre (Adults). Thanks to the cast and crew and you (the audience) for masking up and supporting the return of local live theater. Love to Jeff for his support.

Chinyelu Mwaafrika | Understudy

Chinyelu Mwaafrika | Understudy

Chinyelu Mwaafrika is an artist born and raised in Indianapolis. He is entering his third year at Butler University, pursuing a bachelor’s degree in Theatre. Aside from his work with IndyShakes, he has previously done work with Butler Theatre, The Fonseca Theatre Company, and the Civic Theatre of Greater Lafayette.

Frankie Bolda | Understudy

Frankie Bolda | Understudy

Frankie is an Indianapolis-based actor, improviser, musician, and IndyShakes Company Member. For the course of a season, she led CSz Indianapolis-Home of ComedySportz as Co-Artistic Director (2020) and EclecticPond Theatre Company as Associate Artistic Director (2016-2017). Performance credits include: Indianapolis Shakespeare Co. (Hamlet, Winter’s Tale), Indiana Repertory Theatre (Little Choo Choo), Phoenix Theatre (Very Phoenix Xmas 13), Cardinal Stage (Complete History of Comedy: Abridged), Booth Tarkington Civic Theatre (Complete Works of William Shakespeare: Abridged, Pride & Prejudice), LAFF Shows (PUFFS-Indiana Premiere), ComedySportz Worldwide, iO Chicago, Red Curb Comedy, and others. Since 2012, she has taught improvisational comedy to young adults, children, and adults who she reminds to play like children. She is an alumna of the American Musical and Dramatic Academy in NYC. Up next, Frankie will be part of the IndyShakes Comedy of Errors Traveling Troupe.