we are thrilled to announce our 2022 mainstage production:
ricky 3 - a hip hop shakespeare richard iii
Taggart Memorial Amphitheatre in Riverside Park
July 21-23 & July 28-30
Directed by Mikael Burke
Doors open at 7pm.
Show time is 8pm.
Running time is approximately 2 hours and there is one intermission.
The company, board, and staff at Indianapolis Shakespeare Company are elated to be back onstage this summer introducing a new art form, Hip Hop Shakespeare! We’re looking forward to sharing this fresh new twist on the classic words of Shakespeare and the beautiful beats of Hip Hop. We will be performing at our new home and world class venue, the Taggart Memorial Amphitheatre stage at Riverside Park!
We would love to have your support of this production and our artists!
Please see below for the crew bios for Ricky 3 and click here to view our production patter for the show!
Asterisk(*) denotes the artist is sponsored.
Mikael Burke * - Director (SPONSORED by National Bank of Indianapolis)
Mikael Burke is a Chicago-based director, deviser, and educator. A 2017 Princess Grace Award-winner in theatre, Jeff Award-nominated director, and proud graduate of Butler Theatre (2009) and Theatre School at DePaul University (MFA), Mikael has worked with Victory Gardens Theatre, Northlight Theatre, Jackalope Theatre Company, Windy City Playhouse, About Face Theatre, First Floor Theater, American Theatre Company, Chicago Dramatists, Story Theatre in Chicago, Geva Theatre Center, Indiana Repertory Theatre, Asolo Repertory Theatre, and Phoenix Theatre. Mikael is Associate Artistic Director at About Face Theatre in Chicago, Head of Directing Summer High School Training Program at DePaul University, and an adjunct faculty member at DePaul and Roosevelt University. Recent directing credits include: We are Continuous by Harrison David Rivers; Kill Move Paradise by James ljames; The Agitators by Mat Smart; Sugar in our Wounds by Donja R. Love; and At the Wake of a Dead Drag Queen by Terry Guest.
Geechie* - Composer (SPONSORED Scott & Phyllis Kinsey)
Bale Boy Geechie, or simply known as Geechie is an American producer, rapper, writer and collaborator born and raised in Indianapolis, Indiana. He has produced and engineered music for the majority of his life, honing his craft. He began producing for local talents like Poindexter The Great and regional artists Lil Durk, King Louie and Veeze, among others. Early on in his career, Geechie began selling beats in middle school to build connections with local artists and while performing on the beats as well. One of the first beats that helped garner his notability was called “Runaway Diamonds” by Abe Linx and Tully C featuring Benny The Butcher. He continues his work in Indianapolis studio ‘CityDumpRecords’.
Sydney Lynn Thomas* - Set Designer (SPONSORED by Marita Clarke)
Sydney Lynne Thomas is a Chicago based scenic designer and artist from Dallas, TX. Sydney works to bring her love of art, architecture, history and story to every project she works on, valuing teamwork, collaboration and diversity of experiences. She is a graduate of Northwestern University with a BS in communications, studying theatrical design. She has a background in visual art (specifically 2D studio art), scenic painting, and construction/carpentry.
Tonie Smith* - Costume Designer (SPONSORED by Diane Timmerman)
Tonie is excited and proud to be making her Indianapolis Shakespeare Company debut! The artist is a local freelance costumer/seamstress, and is celebrating her 22nd year with the IATSE (International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees) wardrobe local 893. She began her career as an intern, for the Indiana Repertory Theater’s costume shop in 1985, where she remained on staff for 14 seasons. In the time since, she has toured with Phantom of the Opera, The Radio City Rockettes Christmas Spectacular, and has dressed well known artists such as Ben Vereen, Patti Labelle, and Savion Glover. Tonie has most recently designed costumes for Bakersfield Mist and No Aids, No Maids: Or Stories I Can’t F*ckin’ Hear No More, at The Phoenix.
Laura Glover* - Lighting Designer (SPONSORED by Chuck Goad & Jim Kincannon)
Laura E. Glover is the Resident Lighting Designer for Dance Kaleidoscope and the Phoenix Theatre, as well as a company member of Indianapolis Shakespeare Company. She also has also designed lighting for the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra, Time for Three, Indianapolis City Ballet, the Indiana Repertory Theatre, Butler University, Wabash College, and the University of Indianapolis, where she taught for 18 years. She has worked internationally with the Martha Graham Dance Company, Rioult, Taylor 2, Todd Rosenlieb Dance, Ballets de San Juan and Workshop Theatre Group.
Todd Mack Reischman* - Sound Designer (SPONSORED by Richard & Katie Norton)
Todd first worked with Indy Shakes (then known as HART) on A Dark, Dark House in 2009. Since 2013 he has designed sound and composed music for all of their mainstage productions—and performed some of those scores live. During the rest of the year Todd can be found at the IRT where he has been resident sound designer/head of audio since 2002. He also plays music for a variety of projects around town, from rock bands to musicals to Beatles concerts. Todd runs LostSound, a small project recording studio and pro audio company.
Rachelle Martin* - Props (SPONSORED by Lauren Morris)
Rachelle has been making props in Indianapolis since 2014, and is excited to be working with Indy Shakes for the first time. Her work has been seen on stages at the Indiana Repertory Theatre, University of Indianapolis, and The Phoenix and Marian University as part of the Eclipse and Summer Stock Stage company.
Meet the cast
Shawnté P. Gaston* - Ricky 3 (SPONSORED by Katz Korin Cunningham)
Shawnté is a proud company member for the Indianapolis Shakespeare Company, where she was recently seen in Comedy of Errors and A Midsummer Night's Dream. Some of her favorite shows she's been in include Rent, As You Like It, 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 the Sapphire Theatre Company and in classrooms as a teaching artist for several theatre companies. Shawnté is a graduate of the University of Southern Indiana.
Kerrington Shorter* - Buckingham (SPONSORED by Anonymous)
Kerrington Shorter is an Indianapolis-based actor, rapper/vocalist, and beatmaker who is beyond excited to be a part of this Hip-Hop Shakespeare adaptation. When he isn’t in classes at Marian University, you can find him learning to play the guitar, hanging out or playing video games with friends, and watching anime. Some of his favorite and most recent credits include Dez in Summit Performance Indy’s Skeleton Crew and The Leading Player in Marian University’s Pippin. He will also be seen as a lead in the locally-filmed indie movie titled Big Syrup and the Maple Men.
LaKesha Lorene* - Queen Elizabeth (SPONSORED by Anonymous)
LaKesha Lorene is an actress, producer and creative entrepreneur. She is a proud company member of the Indianapolis Shakespeare Company and Marketing and Community Engagement Coordinator for the organization. She was last seen in the Indy Shakes’ mainstage production of Hamlet as Ophelia at the first Riverside Park production in 2019 and just recently onstage in 2022’s Phoenix one-woman show and season closer, “No Aids, No Maids or Stories I Can’t F#&@?n’ Hear No More.” She is super excited to join this talented cast as a member of Ricky 3!
Milicent Wright* - Margaret (SPONSORED by Benjamin & Adriana Tebbe)
Milicent played Maria in Twelfth Night for Indy Shakes when it was HART in WRSP. She is most often seen performing at the Indiana Repertory Theatre where she is also a teaching artist. She has also worked at the Fonseca Theatre Company, the former Park St./9th St. Phoenix Theatre, and Cardinal Stage in Bloomington. This Fall she will be in The Rise and Fall of Holly Fudge at The Merrimack Repertory Theatre. Recently she has been a drama coach for Hancock County Children’s Choir. Milicent as a 2011 Arts Council Creative Renewal Fellowship Recipient and a 2015 award recipient from the Center for Leadership and Development.
Eric D. Saunders* - Clarence (SPONSORED by LaKeisha Brown)
Eric D. Saunders is known across the Indianapolis community as a servant leader, artist, husband and father. Eric’s community work has fueled his passion and talents as a Spoken Word Artist. This artistry has opened up many doors as he is currently the co-host for Teas Me The Artist Youth Open Mic, and the primary host for the Open Mic & Bite. As a published artist, he customizes poetry that has led to multiple presentations for special events near and far. Today, Eric serves as the Director of Community Engagement with Vanguard Collegiate of Indianapolis, which is the near westside’s only stand-alone middle school.
Manón Voice - Duchess of York (SPONSORED by Anonymous)
Manón Voice is a native of Indianapolis, Indiana, and is a multi-hyphenate--poet and spoken word artist, filmmaker, actor, hip-hop emcee, educator, and community builder. She has performed on diverse stages across the country and has taught poetry workshops widely with her poetry appearing in numerous publications. Her theatrical production credits include Where We Stand, Nina: High Priestess of Soul, Four Spirits, Follow the Drinking Gourd, and more.
Akili Ni Mali* - Anne (SPONSORED by Sharon Murphy)
Akili Ni Mali (Shanita) is a RnB/Jazz vocalist based out of Indianapolis, IN, an actress based and represented out of Chicago, and a new mom to her now 6-month-old son, Leo. A graduate from Ball State University with a bachelors in Fine Arts: Musical Theatre, Akili has explored and worked in all avenues related to her craft in the arts. Akili would like to dedicate this show to her son, Leo for inspiring her to push through adversity and create.
Chinyelu Mwaafrika* - Hastings (SPONSORED by Richard & Katie Norton)
Chinyelu Mwaafrika is an artist, student, and lifelong Indianapolis resident. Along with Indy shakes he has previously worked with companies such as the Fonseca Theater Company and Civic Theatre Of Greater Lafayette. He has enjoyed writing rap since a very young age, and in 2017 he was a finalist in the ESU National Shakespeare competition. He is entering his senior year at Butler university, studying theatre with a minor in creative media and entertainment. He is excited to collaborate with this incredibly versatile team of artists for the unique challenge of combining the poetry of hip hop and the poetry of Shakespeare.