Meet the Cast: The Winter’s Tale
The Utah Shakespeare Festival announces the cast of The Winter’s Tale, directed by Carolyn Howarth. Filled with contrast, one of Shakespeare’s later and more lesser-known plays balances themes of jealousy and love.
This is the Festival’s sixth production of the play in its 63-year history. The Winter’s Tale was produced here in 1972, 1989, 1996, 2004, and 2011.
“There’s a myriad of themes in the play,” Howarth said. “For me, though, it’s all leading to the ending moments of rebirth and resurrection and reunion. In order for those things to happen, the characters have to believe and have hope and faith and believe in the reality of miracles.”
The lead cast is as follows:
Geoffrey Kent is returning to the Festival as Polixenes in The Winter’s Tale, Buckingham/Lord Chancellor in Henry VIII, and Vincentio/others in The Taming of the Shrew. He directed The Play That Goes Wrong last season and has been in the Festival’s productions of Treasure Island, As You Like It, Shakespeare in Love, and more. Kent received a Henry Award for Excellence in Fight Direction. His teaching credits include University of Northern Colorado, University of Denver, and Asolo Conservatory. He is a member of Actors’ Equity Association.
Tracie Lane is returning to the Festival as Hermione in The Winter’s Tale and Annabella/Margaret/Pamela in The 39 Steps. Previous roles at the Festival include Joan de Pucelle in Henry VI Part One and others in The Merchant of Venice, Boeing, Boeing, Measure for Measure, and Twelfth Night. Other credits include the Play On! Festival at Off-Broadway’s Classic Stage Company, The Three Musketeers at Asolo Rep, Venus in Fur at Orlando Shakes, and numerous roles at American Shakespeare Center and Houston Shakespeare Festival. She earned her MFA at The Juilliard School and is a member of Actors’ Equity Association.
Trenell Mooring is debuting at the Festival as Paulina in The Winter’s Tale, Margaret in Henry VIII, and Phillipa/other roles in The Taming of the Shrew. She has been Belinda in Noises Off and Beatrice in Much Ado about Nothing at Orlando Shakes, Salima in Ruined at GableStage, and more. Mooring received a Bachelor of Science from the University of Florida. She is a member of Actors’ Equity Association.
Chauncy Thomas is debuting at the Festival as Leontes in The Winter’s Tale and Duke of Suffolk in Henry VIII. Other roles include those in A Midsummer Night’s Dream at Alabama Shakespeare Festival, A Raisin in the Sun at Bay Street Theatre, and As You Like It at Illinois Shakespeare Festival. Film credits include Madam Secretary and Run the World. Thomas received a Bachelor of Arts in Drama and Psychology at Washington University in St. Louis. He is a member of Actors’ Equity Association.
The supporting cast is as follows:
Zac Barnaby is debuting at the Festival as Lord/Mariner/Shepherd in The Winter’s Tale and Featured Performer in The Greenshow. Other credits include Jason in Falsettos, Snoopy in You’re A Good Man Charlie Brown, Ricky Potts in Ride the Cyclone, and more at Southern Utah University. Barnaby is currently studying musical theatre at Southern Utah University and appears courtesy of the SUU Fellowship Program.
Christopher Centinaro is returning to the Festival as Florizel in The Winter’s Tale, Surveyor/Capuchius/Cranmer in Henry VIII, and Nicholas/others in The Taming of the Shrew. Previous roles at the Festival include Sempronius in Timon of Athens and Adrien in Coriolanus. Centinaro has also been in Mojada at the Indiana Shakespeare Festival and has received the Paper Mill Playhouse Rising Star Award.
Tom Coiner is making his debut at the Festival as Camillo in The Winter’s Tale and Richard Hannay in The 39 Steps. He has been in A Christmas Carol and Gaslight at Merrimack Repertory Theatre, The Daughter in Law at Mint Theatre Company, and God Said This at Primary Stages to name a few. Television credits include The Good Fight, Law and Order: SVU, and It’s Bruno. Coiner received an MFA from National Theatre Conservatory and a BA from Kenyon College. He is a member of Actors’ Equity Association.
Michael Doherty is returning to the Festival as Antigonus/Time in The Winter’s Tale and Clown #1 in The 39 Steps. Previous roles at the Festival include Mr. Green in Clue, Narrator in Every Brilliant Thing, Charlie Baker in The Foreigner, and more. He has also appeared Off-Broadway as Jimmy in Dublin by Lamplight and on television in Wu Tang: An American Saga. Other roles include productions at Guthrie Theater, Berkeley Repertory Theatre, Milwaukee Repertory Theatre, Cleveland Play House, and the Denver Center. He received a BFA in Theatre Arts from the University of the Arts and is a member of Actors’ Equity Association.
Alaysia Renay Duncan is making her Festival debut as Perdita in The Winter’s Tale, Anne Bullen in Henry VIII, and Petra/others in The Taming of the Shrew. She has also been in productions of Beautiful, The Carole King Musical at Engeman Theater, Dorian Gray at The Tank, Strange and Splendid at Chain Theatre, and more. Duncan received a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Acting from Ithaca College.
Topher Embrey is returning to the Festival, this time as Shepherd’s Son/Officer in The Winter’s Tale, King Henry in Henry VIII, and Christopher Sly/Curtis in The Taming of the Shrew. Previous roles at the Festival include Bottom in A Midsummer Night’s Dream and Bobo in A Raisin in the Sun. He has been in various productions Off-Broadway with Red Bull Theatre and has performed for five seasons at American Shakespeare Center, as well as Colorado Shakespeare Festival and Denver Center for the Performing Arts, to name a few. Embrey received a bachelor’s degree in Performing Arts from Christopher Newport University. He is a member of Actors’ Equity Association.
Gracelyn Erickson is debuting at the Festival as Mopsa/Lady in The Winter’s Tale and Featured Performer in The Greenshow. Acting credits include Jane Doe in Ride the Cyclone and Shelby in The Prom at Southern Utah University. Other credits include the short film Cleo, and Erickson is currently studying musical theater at Southern Utah University. She is appearing courtesy of the SUU Fellowship Program.
John Harrell is returning to the Festival as Autolycus in The Winter’s Tale, Guilford/Cromwell in Henry VIII, and Hortensio/Player in The Taming of the Shrew. Previous roles at the Festival include the productions of Treasure Island, As You Like It, and Shakespeare In Love. He was also the title characters in Hamlet, Cyrano, Richard II, and more at the American Shakespeare Center. Harrell received a Bachelor of Arts in English from James Madison University. He is a member of Actors’ Equity Association.
Rockwell MacGillivray is debuting at the Festival as Lord/Bear Puppeteer/Shepherd in The Winter’s Tale and Featured Performer in The Greenshow. Acting credits include Ernst Ludwig in Cabaret, Noel Gruber in Ride the Cyclone, and Trent Oliver in The Prom at Southern Utah University. Awards include first place in the Musical Theater Competitions of America and 2018 and 2021 winner in the Newcomer Swing National Ballroom Championship. MacGillivray is currently attending Southern Utah University and is appearing courtesy of the SUU Fellowship Program.
Chloe McLeod is debuting at the Festival as Dorcas/Lady in The Winter’s Tale, Lady in Waiting/Working Woman/Party Guest in Henry VIII, and Biondello/Huntsman/Server in The Taming of the Shrew. She has performed in The Two Gentlemen of Verona at Colorado Shakespeare Festival, Anna Karenina at Denver Center for the Performing Arts, Fun Home at Miners Alley Playhouse, and more. McLeod trained at The American Musical and Dramatic Academy.
Chris Mixon is returning to the Festival as Old Shepherd/Jailer in The Winter’s Tale, Cardinal Wolsey in Henry VIII, and Baptista Minola/Player in The Taming of the Shrew. Previous roles at the Festival include Dennis in The Play That Goes Wrong, Mr. Woodhouse in Jane Austen’s Emma The Musical, and Earl of Gloucester in King Lear. He’s been in the national Broadway tour of How to Succeed in Business Without Trying, world and NYC premieres at Pearl Theatre Company, and productions at Milwaukee Repertory Theatre. He is a member of Actors’ Equity Association.
Bailey Savage is returning to Festival stages as Cleomenes/Rustic in The Winter’s Tale and Clown #2 in The 39 Steps. She was in the Festival’s Shakespeare in the Schools productions of Julius Caesar as Julius Caesar and Romeo and Juliet as Lord Capulet. Other credits include roles in Drunk Shakespeare Chicago, Twelfth Night at Midsommer Flight, and Peter and the Starcatcher at Lyric Repertory Company. Savage was Assistant Director for Guys and Dolls and A Midsummer Night’s Dream and served as Literary Seminar Manager at the Festival, and received a Bachelor of Independent Studies from Southern Utah University.
Kinsley Seegmiller is returning to the Festival as Mamillius in The Winter’s Tale. Last season, she played Young Martius in Coriolanus. She lives in Cedar City, is ten years old, and is going into fifth grade this fall; she is passionate about gymnastics and is on a competition team; loves to perform for others and aspires to be an actress. She loves vacations with family, seeing new places, having new experiences, and learning new things. She is excited for another opportunity to be a part of the Festival.
Emily Wheeler is debuting at the Festival as Lady/Bear Puppeteer/Shepherdess in The Winter’s Tale and Featured Performer in The Greenshow. Acting credits include Ocean in Ride the Cyclone and Angie in The Prom at Southern Utah University. She received the Larry Lott Scholarship Award for Best Actor in an Ensemble Scene in 2021. Wheeler is studying musical theater at Southern Utah University. She is appearing courtesy of the Southern Utah University Fellowship Program.
Caitlin Wise is debuting at the Festival as Emilia/Shepherdess in The Winter’s Tale and Kate/Lady in The Taming of the Shrew. She’s been in The Christians at Denver Center Performing Arts, The Importance of Being Earnest at Arvada Center, Wild Honey at Theatreworks, and more. She received a Bachelor of Fine Arts from Brigham Young University and a Master of Fine Arts from National Theatre Conservatory. She is a member of Actors’ Equity Association.
Gabriel Wright is debuting at the Festival as Dion/Puppeteer/Shepherd in The Winter’s Tale. Acting credits include Southern Utah University mainstage productions of Twelfth Night and The Prom, as well as The Springville Players production of A Midsummer Night’s Dream. He is appearing courtesy of the Southern Utah University Fellowship Program.
It’s not too early to purchase tickets! The play lineup for the 63rd season includes Shakespeare’s Henry VIII, The Winter’s Tale, The Taming of the Shrew, and Much Ado About Nothing, along with the hilarious The 39 Steps, the moving Silent Sky, and the inspirational The Mountaintop.
The season runs June 17 through October 5.
Visit bard.org for more information about the play. Catch up here on our 10 Fun Facts about The Winter’s Tale. Don’t miss out on our study guide, where you can find a synopsis, character summaries, and several articles on the play.
