THE DIRECTOR

Ron OJ Parson (Director) hails from Buffalo, New York and is a graduate of the The University of Michigan’s professional theatre program. He is a resident artist at Court Theatre, former co-founder and artistic director of Onyx Theatre. Recent Directing credits include Gem of the Ocean, by August Wilson, at Court Theatre,  Sunset Baby by Dominique Morisseau, (Timeline Theatre), The Who & The What by Ayad Akhtar (Victory Gardens Theater); Seven Guitars by August Wilson, The Mountaintop by Katori Hall, and Waiting For Godot by Samuel Beckett (Court Theatre); Detroit 67 by Dominic Morisseau (Northlight Theatre); A Raisin in the Sun by Lorraine Hansberry (TimeLine Theatre, associate artist). Other Chicagoland theatres Ron has worked with include Black Ensemble Theatre, eta, Congo Square Theatre, Goodman Theatre, Writers Theatre (associate artist), Victory Gardens, Teatro Vista (associate artist), Chicago Dramatists, Urban Theatre Company, Steppenwolf Theatre, Chicago Theatre Company, and City Lit Theatre. Regional theatres Ron OJ has worked with include Virginia Stage Company, Portland Stage, Studio Theatre, Studio Arena Theatre, Roundabout Theatre, Mechanic Theatre, Center Stage Baltimore, Actors Theatre of Louisville, Milwaukee Rep, St. Louis Black Rep, Pittsburgh Public Theatre, Pittsburgh Playwrights Theatre, Geva Theatre, Signature Theatre (New York), Alliance Theatre, South Coast Rep, and Pasadena Playhouse. In Canada, Ron directed the world premiere of Palmer Park by Joanna McClelland Glass at the Stratford Shakespeare Festival. Ron is a proud member of AEA, SAG-AFTRA, and SDC.

THE CAST

Johnny Lee Davenport (Papa Shakespeare) returns to OPFT where he was seen in 1992 as Mephistopheles in Dr. Faustus, and Oberon in OPFT’s 1994 production of A Midsummer Night’s Dream.  Other area credits include Thurgood, The Whipping Man, and A House with No Walls (New Repertory Theatre );The Unbleached American (Stoneham Theatre); It’s A Wonderful Life, A Radio Play (Wheelock Family Theatre); Water by the Spoonful and Broke-ology/Elliot Norton Award, Best Actor (The Lyric Stage Company); Driving Miss Daisy and Master Harold…and the Boys (Gloucester Stage Company); and Invisible Man/Helen Hayes Award, Best Ensemble (Studio Theatre Washington, D.C. and The Huntington Theatre Company). Mr. Davenport has played more than 50 roles in 24 of Shakespeare’s plays including Richard III (Commonwealth Shakespeare Company); Pericles (Actors’ Shakespeare Project); and Richard II (Shakespeare & Company). Film credits include Ted, The Fugitive, U.S. Marshals, and Ascendants. He was named Best Actor in Boston Magazine (2011). johnnyleedavenport.com

Velma Austin (Sarah) Velma last appeared in Hobo King and Brother’s of the Dusk (Congo Square). Velma has appeared in the production of Trouble In Mind (The Artistic Home), as Birdie in the production of Birdie Blue (Seattle Repertory Theatre) and multiple Chicago Theatre’s including, The Goodman, Victory Garden’s Bio Theater and The Steppenwolf. Some of her grand productions include Intimate Apparel, Denmark, Joe Turner’s Come And Gone, God’s Trombones, Un-Spoken Prayers, Bourbon At The Boarder, Waiting To Be Invited, The Sovereign State of Boogedy, The Sutherland, and Root Causes to name a few. You may have also seen Velma at the St, Louis, Madison and Milwaukee Repertory Theatre’s. Her TV credits include Chicago Fire and most recently Empire. In film she can be seen in Losing Isaiah with Halle Berry and Jessica Lange and Light It Up with Usher and Vanessa Williams.

Velma’s awards include a Jeff Award for Best Actress in a Revue of The Color Museum; A Woodie Award for Outstanding Supporting Access in Screened In Porch; Black Theatre Alliance award for best Actress in Intermit Apparel; and most recently, she was nominated for a Special Recognition Outstanding Award for your performance in Court Martial at Fort Devens. When not on stage, Velma enjoys traveling and cooking. First giving thanks to God, Velma would also take this time to say thanks to her husband and son Jeffery and JP for their continued support.

Matty Robinson  (William Henry Brown) As an actor he appeared in in BoHo’s recent production of Cyrano as Raguneau, OPTF’s productions of A Dickens Carol as Chapman, The Taming of the Shrew as Grumio, and worked on The Fair Maid of the West and To Kill A Mockingbird. Matty is also an Artistic Associate of OPFT, as well as their Internship Coordinator. Matty is a proud Illinois State University alumni holding a Bachelor of Science degree in theatre. Want more Matty? Check him out Friday nights at Pimprov as Prince Mida$, doing improv with The Moonsharks, writing and performing sketches with The Martin Luther Kings of Comedy, and performing stand-up around the city. Follow his adventures on instagram: @mattydor11

Brandon Greenhouse (James Hewlett) is elated to be working with The Oak Park Festival Theatre for the first time. Other Chicago credits include Not About Nightingales, Red Velvet, and Direct From Death Row: The Scottstboro Boys (Raven Theatre, Jeff Award: Best Ensemble), Red Velvet (Chicago Shakespeare Theatre),The Matchmaker and The Little Foxes (Goodman Theatre), HAIR (American Theatre Company), Intimate Apparel (Eclipse Theatre Company), and Softly Blue (MPAACT). Regional credits include Hamlet, Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead, and Two Gentlemen of Verona (American Players Theatre).  He holds a B.F.A. from Santa Fe University of Art and Design and an M.F.A. in Acting from Northern Illinois University.

Jack Hickey (Stephen Price) is delighted to return to the Festival Stage,where he just completed playing the role of Martin Vanderhof in You Can’t Take It With You. Last season Jack was seen as King Duncan and the Porter in Macbeth, and mighty Mullasheg, The King of Fez, in The Fair Maid of the West. With the Festival over the years Jack has been privileged to play roles such as  Col. Pickering in Pygmalion, Gremio in The Taming of the Shrew, Sheriff Heck Tate in To Kill A Mockingbird, King Claudius in Hamlet, Sir Toby Belch in Twelfth Night, Charlie in Seascape. He was nominated for an Equity Jeff Award playing Michael in Someone Who’ll Watch Over Me. Additionally, he played Henry Drummond in Inherit the Wind, Falstaff in The History of King Henry the Fourth, Fluellen in Henry V, Teddy in Faith Healer, Friar Lawrence in Romeo and Juliet, Bottom in A Midsummer Night’s Dream and the title role in Cyrano de Bergerac.

Jack has served as Artistic Director of the Company for the past 15 years, where he has acted in or directed over 25 productions, Jack will now serve as Artistic Director Emeritus of Oak Park Festival Theatre where he hopes to help continue the growth of this extraordinary company.

Jack is also a company member of ShawChicago, where he has been seen in Jeeves in Bloom, The Devil’s Disciple, Misalliance, Jeeves Intervenes, Heartbreak House, Don Juan in Hell,You Never Can Tell, Geneva, Major Barbara,  Pygmalion, Widower’s Houses, Mrs. Warren’s Profession,  Man and Superman, St. Joan, Androcles and the Lion, Candida, The Philanderer, The Doctor’s Dilemma, The Apple Cart, and John Bull’s Other Island. Jack is a founding member of The Chicago Shakespeare Project now celebrating its 23 Season where he has been seen in Coriolanus, Love’s Labour’s Lost, The Merry Wives of Windsor, and Julius Caesar. He has been seen with The Backroom Shakespeare Project playing in The Tempest, Cymbeline, Titus Andronicus. TV credits include Chicago Med and Unsolved Mysteries. He was in two commercials with Michael Jordan and appeared briefly (uncredited) in Continental Divide with John Belushi. Thanks to his wife Torry Hickey for her unfailing support.

Joel Ottenheimer (Constable) Joel is delighted to be making his Chicago stage debut with Oak Park this summer!  Before Chicago, he spent five years working in Baltimore and Washington DC where Regional credits included: As You Like It (Shakespeare Theatre Company), Amadeus (Baltimore Center Stage), Titus Andronicus (Chesapeake Shakespeare Company), Sense and Sensibility, Two Gentlemen of Verona, A Tale of Two Cities (Annapolis Shakespeare Company), and She Stoops to Conquer (Pallas Theatre Collective.)  Film/TV credits include: Made in America (Rocket Media), American Titans (History Channel), and House of Cards (Netflix).  Joel is currently receiving his MFA in acting from Northern Illinois University in nearby DeKalb.

Jasmine Traylor (u/s Sarah/Anne)  is extremely excited to be involved with Oak Park Festival Theatre for the first time. Originally from Indianapolis, Indiana, Jasmine graduated from Indiana University with a degree in Theatre and Political Science. Her favorite credits include Mayme in Intimate Apparel, Danielle in the original production of Dontrelle Who Kissed the Sea, and Thorn in the Chicago debut of Malefactions. Jasmine is very thankful for the opportunity to work with this wonderful group of artists! Enjoy and lean into this beautiful production of The African Company Presents Richard III!!

Brandon A. Wright (u/s Papa Shakespeare) is proud to join OPFT this season! Originally from New Jersey, Brandon earned his MFA in Acting from Wayne State University in Detroit, MI. In the Michigan theatre community, he has performed with the Michigan Shakespeare Festival (As You Like It), Flint Youth Theatre (Robin Hood), and Hope Summer Rep Theatre (The Wiz), among others. He is grateful to God, family & friends for continued love & support. Social media: @iactwright

TRISTIEN MARCELLOUS WINFREE (u/s Hewlett, Brown) Regional Theatre stage credits include August Wilson’s Jitney (Congo Square), The Art of Langston Hughes (ShawChicago), Love’s Labour’s Lost (Shakespeare Project of Chicago), Kingdom (Broken Nose Theatre), The Boys Upstairs (Pride Film & Plays), The Elephant Man (Alley Theatre), A Few Good Men (Alley Theatre), Guest Lecture (Landing Theatre Company), A Soldiers Play (Ensemble Theatre), Smokey Joe’s Cafe (Okane Theatre), Aida (Houston Grand Opera) Das Rheingold (Houston Grand Opera), Otello (Houston Grand Opera). Offstage credits include A.D Two Trains Running (Goodman Theatre), A.D Women In The Pit (Ensemble Theatre). Mr. Winfree is gratefully represented by Lily’s Talent Agency.