Hamlet
By William Shakespeare
Adapted by Cathy Airhart Webb
In collaboration with CA Studio
Purchase Tickets Here
The ghost of the King of Denmark tells his son Hamlet to avenge his murder by killing the new king, Hamlet’s uncle. Hamlet feigns madness, contemplates life and death, and seeks revenge. His uncle, fearing for his life, also devises plots to kill Hamlet. A duel ultimately determines the fates of these familial rivals.
October 27, 28, 29, 30, November 4, 5, 6
Director – Cathy Airhart Webb
Ben Simmons
Old Hamlet/King Claude
This Monroe Native is a Territory Manager for Mondelez International. He was recently on stage as Roscoe Arbuckle in Stoneface. He is still searching for the perfect cheeseburger and will doggedly pursue this lifelong passion with assiduity and vigor.
David Hanks
Hamlet
David is a failed actor/lawyer who barely practices either. He’s proud to talk a lot at people in one of the first theaters he ever plagued with his stupid face. That all said, he is truly happy to perform with and under the direction of some of the first people who ever made him feel at home. He thanks his wife, Sam, and son, Julien, who let him be in a play 3 1/2 hours away from home!
Richard Graeber
Polonius
Richard first took our stage in the title role in The Wizard of Oz about 12 years ago. He has also appeared in Fiddler on the Roof; Clue, The Musical and a number of others his last show being Disaster! (not a disaster). He and his wife, Sue Ann, have been Patrons here at Strauss since 1996 and thank you all for supporting the live arts here at Strauss and the Monroe area.
Moira O'Connor
Gertrude
Moira O’Connor is an American actress. Often described as "the best actress of her generation", Moira is particularly known for her versatility and accent adaptability. She has received numerous accolades throughout her career spanning over five decades, including a record 21 Academy Award nominations, winning three and a record 32 Golden Globe Award nominations, winning eight. Or maybe that was Meryl Streep. Potayto potahto.
Erica Bolton
Ophelia
Erica Bolton first started acting 10 years ago and typically plays characters who die in the end. 😉
She is a CA Studio liaison, and her first time working with Cathy Airhart Webb was when she was 13 years old. Aside from acting, her other talents/hobbies include writing, assistant directing, and she has a martial arts background.
Taylor Nelson
Ophelia
Taylor Nelson is a veteran of the Strauss Stage. She got her start at the Young Stage (now SYAA) and eventually began doing shows at the Mainstage. You might recognize her from her past roles as Tiger Lily in Peter Pan, Dorothy in The Wizard of Oz, or Ado Annie in Oklahoma! (Christopher Award for Best Supporting Actress). She attended Northwestern State University, dabbling in Russian language and international studies. She also spent a year studying in Estonia. Since her return to Monroe, she has appeared in My Fair Lady, Young Frankenstein, and as Mollie in The Mousetrap (Christopher Award for Best Actress). Taylor appeared as Renee, Marjorie, and Josephine in Who’s in Bed With the Butler (Christopher Award for Best Actress) – three different characters, three different accents, and too many costume changes! She currently works for the Small Business Development Center as the Marketing and Training Coordinator. Besides the stage, Taylor enjoys reading, makeup artistry, traveling, and grabbing a pint with her buds at Enochs.
Jason Barnett
Laertes
Jason Barnett is a veteran of many productions at Strauss and the SYAA spanning the last 20 years. In addition to being a Shakespeare enthusiast, he is also a connoisseur of puns and a devoted cat dad.
Kara Carter
Horatio
A native of Pineville, La, Kara has been involved in theatre since she was in middle school, with her first show being Mary Poppins. Currently, she is working on getting her Master’s degree in psychometrics at ULM. She loves Shakespeare, and Hamlet happens to be her favorite play of his! This is her second show with CA Studio.
Aubri Skinner
Rosencrantz
Aubri Skinner is excited to be returning to the Strauss stage and to be working with CA Studio again. She has recently been in productions such as Company, The Odd Couple, and Shakespeare in Love. Aubri is honored to be a part of Hamlet and wants to thank Cathy Webb for teaching her so much over the years.
Dani Frick
Guildenstern
Dani Frick is making her Strauss debut after moving to Monroe with her husband, Nathan, in April 2021. She graduated from Ouachita Baptist University with her Bachelor's of Arts, Theatre performance. Her credits include stage management and costume design, among others. In her free time she loves to play with her sweet 7 month old baby girl, Lilith Rose, as well as her fur babies!
Sam Coleman
Osric
Sam A. Coleman is an actor and has been for some time. This is one of the many times he’s participated in a CA Studios production. This is the fifth time he’s been on the Strauss stage.
Chandler Rowland
First Player
Chandler is from Monroe, La and works as a children’s minister assistant at First West Baptist church and as a librarian at Ollie Burns Branch Library. He enjoys spending his free time with his friends and family. He has been in a few plays over the years such as The Hobbit and Midsummers Night Dream. This his first CA studios production.
Tiffany Rowland
Ensemble
Tiffany is from Monroe, La and is currently a preschool teacher at First West Baptist church. She has been in theater for seven years. She started at SYAA when she was only seven years old. Her first ever play was My Fair Lady on the big stage. She loves spending time with her friends and family and volunteering at Strauss! This is her first play with CA studios.
Jeremy Tucker
Ensemble
Jeremy Tucker is a native of Oak Grove, Louisiana and a graduate of ULM where he got his first taste of theatre production working in the university's thatre department in the early 2000s. He has been a very active volunteer at Strauss Theatre Center since October 2021. Most recently he played his very first on stage role as Ed Sedgwick in Stoneface. Jeremy is the Promotions Manager at NBC10/FOX14 and when he's not helping to put on a show at Strauss, he's cheering on his favorite soccer and football teams or traveling to see a concert.
JJ Jazarbeck
Ensemble
J.J. is stepping onto the Strauss Stage for the first time. He is a server at The Fat Pelican and an avid reader in his off time. Originally from Shreveport he is new to Monroe. He was just taken off of my assignment at the International Space Station because of a problem with his eyesight and is excited to now have the opportunity to explore community theater.
Luke Bolton
Ensemble
Lucy Cross
Ensemble
Lucy Cross and her family just moved to Monroe from Lafayette, LA. Though only thirteen, she has been fortunate to have performed in Shakespeare's The Tempest, Midsommer's Night Dream, and Love's Labour's Lost. She is so excited to be in her first production of Hamlet at Strauss Theater.
Pearson Cross
Pianist
Chris Mouk
Saxophonist