Shakespeare on the Fly. No rehearsal. No Set. Just Shakespeare's text and a love of the unexpected.
OUR COMPANY
All the World's a stage, and all the men and women merely players ....
Dave Demke
Artistic Director
Meet Dave Demke, our fearless leader!
Mr. Demke received his BA in Theatre Arts from Minnesota State University and his MFA in Performance from the University of Maryland, College Park. He was the Associate Director of Training at Shakespeare & Company in Lenox, MA , where he remains a company member and Senior Faculty. He has also served as Artistic Director of Stark Raving Theatre in Portland, OR; and was a principal dancer and soloist for the Red River Dance Company in Fargo, ND. As an actor he has appeared in productions in New York as well as regionally, most recently as Didi in Tennessee Shakespeare Company’s Waiting for Godot. Internationally, he has performed at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe in Scotland and The National Academy for Chinese Theatrical Arts in Beijing, China. Professionally, he has directed various productions for Shakespeare & Co., Tennessee Shakespeare Co., and Stark Raving Theatre. As a guest director he has directed various productions at Purdue University, Northeastern University, and Skidmore College. He is a Designated Linklater Voice Teacher and has taught privately, at the Linklater Center in NYC, at several colleges and universities and at the National Theatre of Ghana. Proud member, Actors’ Equity Assoc.
Caley Milliken
Company member/ Choreographer
Meet company member, Caley Milliken!
Ms. Milliken received her BA in Biology from SUNY Buffalo and her MFA in Acting from Purdue University. She has trained extensively with Shakespeare & Co. in Lenox, MA where she has been a company member for the last 18 years. Also a classically trained dancer and choreographer, choreography credits include: Imagination Stage, KaTet Theatre, Tennessee Shakespeare Co, Shakespeare & Co, Skidmore College & Purdue University. She has served as a Visiting Professor of Theatre at Purdue University, Training Programs Manager at Shakespeare & Co, and is currently teaching Acting at the New York Film Academy in NYC. Acting Credits:
NYC - Cherry Lane Theatre/FringeNYC: The Dick & The Rose (Circus Girl); The Humanist Project: Francis Goes to War (Celia). Regional - Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park: Clybourne Park (Betsy/Lindsey). Florida Studio Theatre: Over the River & Through the Woods (Caitlin). Elm Shakespeare: A Midsummer Night’s Dream (Peter Quince). Portland Stage Co: Wittenberg (Eternal Feminine), The Snow Queen (Robber Girl),A Christmas Carol (Ghosts Past/Present/ Future). Tennessee Shakespeare Co: Richard III (Elizabeth/Ratcliffe/Ensemble), The Tempest (Ariel), Romeo & Juliet (Lady Capulet/Tybalt), Julius Caesar (Marc Antony), A Midsummer Night's Dream (Hermia, First Fairy). Shakespeare & Co: Othello (Bianca),The Ladies Man (Marie), Leap Year (Lisa),Cindy Bella (Tisbe), A Midsummer Night's Dream (Mustardseed). Constellation Theatre Co: Women Beware Women (Bianca). Corning Classics: Much Ado About Nothing (Beatrice), Antigone (Chorus). TV: VEEP. Currently Caley is the Associate Chair of the Acting for Film department at New York Film Academy. Proud member, Actors’ Equity Assoc.
Melissa A. Nathan
AEA Stage Manager
Meet our Stage manager, Melissa A. Nathan!
Melissa is extremely excited to be working with Shakespeare on the Fly! This is her second production of Much Ado in 3 months (fourth overall). Select credits include: Death of a Salesman (Flint Rep), Much Ado About Nothing (Opera House Arts), Almost Heaven: John Denver’s America (Riverside Theatre), Xanadu (Eagle Theatre), Our Town (Asolo Rep), Mamma Mia! (The Wick), Twelfth Night and Winter’s Tale (Theater at Monmouth), Airline Highway and Gloria (Swine Palace/LSU), Because of Winn-Dixie and Beauty and the Beast (Alabama Shakespeare Festival). Proud member of AEA and the SMA.
Carolyne Gallo
Company Member/ Producer
Meet our producer & company member, Carolyne Gallo!
Carolyne Gallo is an actress, writer, and owner of The Gumshoe Murder Mystery Company, an interactive dinner theatre that performs for private and corporate parties. She received her BA from Wheaton College (MA) in Theatre/ Dramatic Literature and trained with the National Theatre Institute (NTI) at the Eugene O'Neil Center as well Shakespeare & Company. Her favorite roles include Martha from "The Children's Hour", Maggie from "Cat on the Hot Tin Roof", and Penny Tulips "Wise Guys Don't Speak Easy." Carolyne is very grateful to be part of such a talented and inspiring company. Thank you to her family and friends, especially Eli & Bird, for their love & support. Proud Member of Actors' Equity. www.carolynegallo.com
Sara Malinowski
Company Member
Meet company member, Sara Malinowski!
Sara Malinowski is an actress, writer, improviser, director and singer currently based in Brooklyn. She has worked with various companies on devised works, clowning, soundpainting, Grotowski, Chekhov and Shakespeare: including Double Edge Theatre, The Humanist Project, Shakespeare Forum, Aquila Theatre, Wynn Handman Studio, Abingdon Theatre Company and Letter of Marque. She has trained with Shakespeare & Company, as well as the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art. Sara has a degree in English Literature and Creative Writing from Santa Fe University. She has been the recipient of a month-long artist residency with WIP, as well as Best Actress nominations from Helen Hayes Theatre Awards and Mahwah Shakespeare Festival. She has led numerous storytelling salons and reproductive rights seminars with the production company Collective Sex. Sara has an original acoustic album titled Home Before Dark, and a published novel in New Mexico titled What Are They, Then. www.saramalinowski.com
Renrick Palmer
Company Member
Meet our Company Member, Renrick Palmer!
Renrick Palmer was born in Kingston, Jamaica. After turning thirteen, his family decided it was time for a change and headed north to New York City where Renrick would eventually finish school. Despite being drawn to the arts, Renrick felt another calling. He soon found himself swearing in as an airman in the United States Air Force. His time in uniform took him around the world, including a tour of duty in the Middle East in support of Operation Inherent Resolve, exposing him to numerous cultures and experiences most of us seldom have. Not only did this help Renrick develop as a person, it provided him with the foundation for all that soon followed.
After leaving service, Renrick enrolled in Long Island University. He obtained a degree in Exercise Science and used it to launch his career. Renrick also graduated from the New York Film Academy and is active with the Public Works Theater Military Resilience Foundation. His passion traces back to Shakespeare, fueling his drive to perform. Renrick has numerous accolades and accomplishments to his name, not the least of which being honored to play baseball great Jackie Robinson on the History Channel. He is best known for playing the part of Nelson Green in the off-Broadway Critic’s Pick Play Wedding Band. Never one to rest on his past achievements, Renrick won the Best Actor award at the Ignite Film Festival in 2022 for his portrayal of Hassim in the short film Hold Up. In order to stay well balanced, Renrick enjoys a variety of exercises, from playing basketball to weightlifting, soccer, and lacrosse. He is also a skilled juggler. Renrick is a proud combat veteran trained in firearms. His passion for being the best is evident not only in his body of work, but in his dedication to himself and those around him.
Josephine Wilson
Company Member
Meet Company Member, Josie Wilson!
Josephine Wilson is the Chair of Acting for Film at the New York Film Academy. She is a company member of the nationally-acclaimed Shakespeare & Co in Lenox, MA where she spent nearly 10 years acting, directing and teaching. While there, she studied under Tina Packer and had in-depth training in Kristen Linklater's work. Josephine has taught for and helped develop Lincoln Center Theatre‘s Shakespeare program. She is a member of The Humanist Project, a theatre company that devises new plays rooted in the classics. In New York, she has recently been a part of a five-person Macbeth, was a part of the Shakespeare Society's exploration of Richard III, and co-created a physics themed clown show called Quantum Fairy Tales. She has also written and developed her own show, Psyche, that she recently performed at Dixon Place. Regionally, she has performed as Annie in Table Manners, Lady Macbeth in Macbeth, Titania in A Midsummer Night's Dream, and Miss Jean Brodie in The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie. She holds an MFA in Acting from Pennsylvania State University and is proud member of Actors Equity.
Lisa Darden
Company Member
Meet Company Member, Lisa Darden!
Lisa Darden Carter (Ursula, Verges) is excited to perform for the first time with Shakespeare On the Fly. Her credits include When They See Us, Bull, and Stella’s Last Weekend. National commercials include Paycom, Cigna, PNC Bank, Papa John's Pizza, Walmart, Swanson Broth, Liberty Mutual, Food Lion, Chase Bank, Trojan, BET, and Pringles. Theatre credits include roles such as Queen Margaret in Richard III, Vera in Seven Guitars, Angel in Marisol, Tituba in The Crucible, and Mrs. Winsley in Stop Kiss. She has received training in acting from Spelman College, Purdue University, and Upright Citizens Brigade (UCB). Lisa is grateful to Justin, Mommy, Kiki, Mo, Maiisha, Noah, McMichaels, and Johnsons for their love and support.
Christopher Halladay
Company Member
Meet Company member, Chris Halladay!
Off-Broadway: In Masks Outrageous and Austere (the world premiere of Tennessee Williams’ last full-length play) at The Culture Project. Other NY theaters include - The Actor’s Company Theatre, The Ensemble Studio Theatre, Abingdon Theatre, among others. Regional Theater: The House of the Negro Insane (World Premiere) Contemporary American Theater Festival (WV)/ National Black Theater Festival (NC).Other t heaters where he has worked - Luna Stage (NJ), Palm Beach Dramaworks (FL), South Coast Repertory Theatre (CA), A Noise Within (CA), Pasadena Playhouse (CA), Shakespeare Orange County (CA), Mile Square Theater (NJ), Montréal Fringe Festival. Television: FBI, Ray Donovan, God Friended Me, The Blacklist, Mr. Robot, Gotham, Law & Order: SVU (multiple
episodes), Limitless, The Unusuals, All my Children and Guiding Light (multiple episodes). Film: Vicarious (in-production), American Insurrection, Tale of the Wet Dog, Stella’s LasWeekend, Movie Night, February, Hide the Sausage, A Guy Named Rick, Jason’s Big Problem, Forged. He is also is an adjunct instructor at The American Academy of Dramatic Arts. Former instructor at Rutgers University, Rider University, Montclair State University and the New York Conservatory of Dramatic Arts.
INSTA @halladaychristopher
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Justin Carter
Company Member
Meet Company member, Justin Carter!
Justin Michael Carter (Don Pedro) is thrilled to perform for the first time with Shakespeare On the Fly. His Television/Film credits include Not Easily Broken, Gotham, Breaking & Entering, Life On Mars, Broad City, Graduates, and The Daily Show. His theatre credits include roles such as Fabian in A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Felix in She Calls Up The Sun, Alex Savant in The Memorandum, Doctor/Trouble in In The Blood, and Clay in Dutchman at Cherry Lane Theatre. He studied at Morehouse College, Upright Citizens Brigade (UCB), and with his mentor Bill Duke. Justin is grateful to Lisa, Robin, Louise, The Carters, The Dardens, and The McMichael Family for all of their constant love and support.
Drew Hirshfield
Company Member
Drew is so happy to join the company of Shakespeare on the Fly for this MUCH ADO. Outside of Shakespeare, he is lucky enough to have worked on plays by Bertolt Brecht, Francis Beaumont, Sandy Rustin, Arthur Miller, Robert Askins, Jordan Seavey, Lucas Knath, Anton Chekhov, Steve Martin, Peter Shaffer, Lanford Wilson, Sam Shepard, Oliver Goldsmith, Tom Stoppard, Nick Starr, Kate Hamill, and many others, at theaters and rehearsal rooms across the county. He earned his MFA from American Conservatory Theater. He proudly serves on the acting faculty at New York Film Academy.
Siarra Donna
Company Member
Siarra has been a passionate artist from a very young age; originally from New Jersey, her parents used to say she was singing before she could talk! Siarra is now a New York based actor, singer and model. She is a recent graduate of The American Academy of Dramatic Arts Company Program (2022). Some of her favorite credits include, Marie Antoinette (Marie Antoinette), The Tempest (Trinculo/ Ariel), We Are Proud to Present… (Actor 6/ Black Woman), A Midsummer Night's Dream (Puck), We Jump Broom (Nell), Cinderella (Cinderella), Stairs to the Roof (The Girl/ Swan). She gives a big thank you to family and friends for their unwavering support!
Noah Chartrand
Company Member
This is Noah's first production with Shakespeare on the fly. He has recently been in Into the Woods as Cinderella's prince, A Christmas Carol as Bob Cratchitt, and Joseph in the amazing TCDC. He is forever grateful for his wife and the gift of theater, also his fluffy dog Lady.
Doug Chapman
Company Member
Meet our company member, Doug Chapman!! Doug is an actor and teaching artist. Currently on faculty at Montclair State University and American Academy of Dramatic Arts in New York Doug’s teaching and performance work has taken him to in Australia, Chile, South Africa, Mexico, U.K., Canada and U.S.A. Acting credits include: Romance (American Repertory Theatre); Dead Are My People (Noor Theatre); Spiral Ramp Library, Time Temple (Guggenheim Museum); Chekhov Postscriptum (Accent Theatre); Midsummer Night’s Dream (Walden Shakespeare); Much Ado About Nothing, Romeo & Juliet, Hamlet (Empirical Rogue); Solutions Grassroots, Auto Da Fe, Reconstruction (International WOW Company); Lies Love & Hitler (Old Fitzroy Theatre); Kane & Habil (La Mama); The Gospel According to St. Matthew (The Living Theatre); Itsy Bitsy Spider (Studio Six); The Seagull, Communist Dracula Pageant (u/s performed American Repertory Theatre); Certified Associate teacher Fitzmaurice Voicework. M.F.A. ART/MXAT Institute at Harvard; B.A., Oberlin College; Interlochen Arts Academy
Dana Harrison
Company Member
Meet our company member, Dana M. Harrison. Dana, a Berkshires-based theatre artist, educator and coach, is excited to be welcomed to the Shakespeare on the Fly team, and to work with talented colleagues old and new! She most recently portrayed Edith Wharton in the debut production of Mr. Fullerton at The Great Barrington Public Theatre last summer. Dana has performed, trained and taught extensively with Shakespeare & Company; and acted with such area companies as WAM Theatre Co, Ghost lit Rep, Barrington Stage, Mixed Company, and Pittsfield Shakespeare in the Park. Her Shakespeare credits on these stages include Phebe (As You Like it), Malvolio (Twelfth Night), Lucio/Froth (Measure for Measure), Alonzo (The Tempest), Emilia/Mopsa (The Winter’s Tale) and Desdemona (Othello), A few other favorite roles have been Amanda (Private Lives), Lady Cynthia (The Real Inspector Hound), Grace Duncan (Pterodactyls), Nerine (Scapin), Philaminte (The Learned Ladies); and she received the Berkshire Theatre Award (or “Berkie”) for Best Supporting Actress as Esther/Myra in WAM Theatre’s Holy Laughter. Dana holds a Master’s degree from Emerson College; is the Founding Director of Drama at the Berkshire Montessori School; teaches and directs at area high schools and colleges; and has coached dozens of students to acceptance at premiere BFA and MFA acting programs, and the odd national tour and Off-Broadway gig.