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November 6 - 16, 2024 , The Helen

CWRU/CPH MFA Acting Program

The Cherry Orchard

by Anton Chekhov
translation by Paul Schmidt
directed by Eleanor Holdridge

Presented by

RPM International, Inc.

The Cherry Orchard follows a family of down-on-their-luck aristocrats as they grapple with the prospect of selling their beloved estate. As the cherry trees blossom, so do the complexities of love, loss, and the relentless passage of time. This theatrical masterpiece explores what happens when echoes of the past meet the inevitability of change. The Cherry Orchard reveals complex and colorful characters that blend humor and heartache as they encounter the absurdities that abound in simply leading one’s life. This literary classic by Anton Chekhov springs to life in a production featuring the Class of 2026.

Photos & Videos Download Hi Res Photos

The cast of the CWRU/CPH MFA Acting Program production of THE CHERRY ORCHARD. Photo by Roger Mastroianni.

The cast of the CWRU/CPH MFA Acting Program production of THE CHERRY ORCHARD. Photo by Roger Mastroianni.

Madalyn Baker and Nathan Nelson in the CWRU/CPH MFA Acting Program production of THE CHERRY ORCHARD. Photo by Roger Mastroianni.

Brendan Lowry and Madalyn Baker in the CWRU/CPH MFA Acting Program production of THE CHERRY ORCHARD. Photo by Roger Mastroianni.

Meredith Nelson and Nathan Nelson in the CWRU/CPH MFA Acting Program production of THE CHERRY ORCHARD. Photo by Roger Mastroianni.

Emily Kuntz in the CWRU/CPH MFA Acting Program production of THE CHERRY ORCHARD. Photo by Roger Mastroianni.

Brendan Lowry and Brianna Miller in the CWRU/CPH MFA Acting Program production of THE CHERRY ORCHARD. Photo by Roger Mastroianni.

Meredith Nelson and Calder Meis in the CWRU/CPH MFA Acting Program production of THE CHERRY ORCHARD. Photo by Roger Mastroianni.

Bryon Johnson and Christina McSheffrey in the CWRU/CPH MFA Acting program production of THE CHERRY ORCHARD. Photo by Roger Mastroianni.

Calder Meis in the CWRU/CPH MFA Acting Program production of THE CHERRY ORCHARD. Photo by Roger Mastroianni.

Byron Johnson, Madalyn Baker, and Adam Ortega in the CWRU/CPH MFA Acting Program production of THE CHERRY ORCHARD. Photo by Roger Mastroianni.

Christina McSheffrey and Brianna Miller in the CWRU/CPH MFA Acting Program production of THE CHERRY ORCHARD. Photo by Roger Mastroianni.

Artists

Madalyn Baker

Madalyn Baker

(Lyubov) Madalyn is an actor, illustrator, and musician from Northern California. She earned her BA in Theatre from Fordham University, and is now in her second year of the CWRU/CPH MFA program. Her recent credits include Lyubov Ranevskaya in The Cherry Orchard (CPH/CWRU), Mechanic/Aunt in Middletown (CPH/CWRU, Sally Bowles more(Lyubov) Madalyn is an actor, illustrator, and musician from Northern California. She earned her BA in Theatre from Fordham University, and is now in her second year of the CWRU/CPH MFA program. Her recent credits include Lyubov Ranevskaya in The Cherry Orchard (CPH/CWRU), Mechanic/Aunt in Middletown (CPH/CWRU, Sally Bowles in Cabaret (CWRU), and Cathy in The Last Five Years (Soft Belly Theatre). She made her Cleveland Play House debut this past fall in the ensemble of Pride and Prejudice, and went on for one performance as Lizzie! In addition to being an actor, she writes music, and has her own illustrative art brand called Maddle Baddle. To learn more about Madalyn, you can check out her work at Madalynbaker.com, @madmaddybaker, and @maddlebaddle.

Byron Johnson

Byron Johnson

(Lopahkin) is a native of New Orleans, Louisiana. He is the son of Trudy Johnson and the late Byron Johnson. He also has a sister named Destiny. Byron is a graduate of Southeastern Louisiana University, where he was a collegiate football player and team captain. He enjoys playing sports, more(Lopahkin) is a native of New Orleans, Louisiana. He is the son of Trudy Johnson and the late Byron Johnson. He also has a sister named Destiny. Byron is a graduate of Southeastern Louisiana University, where he was a collegiate football player and team captain. He enjoys playing sports, being outside, hanging with his family and friends, along with eating good food. Byron also writes poetry in his spare time and hopes to learn the piano and guitar. He made his theatre debut this past year in CWRU/CPH's Middletown. His acting credits include a Guest Star Recurring Role on SHOWTIME’S American Rust, along with roles on NBC’s Young Rock, and Walker on CW.

Emily Kuntz

Emily Kuntz

(Firs, Train Conductor) is currently attending Case Western Reserve University as an undergraduate theater major. This is Emily's first show at the Cleveland Play House and she is very excited to share it with the wonderful cast and crew. Other credits include Electra in Case Western’s production of Electra, more(Firs, Train Conductor) is currently attending Case Western Reserve University as an undergraduate theater major. This is Emily's first show at the Cleveland Play House and she is very excited to share it with the wonderful cast and crew. Other credits include Electra in Case Western’s production of Electra, Rose in Case Western’s production Dancing at Lughnasa, and Ophelia in Player’s Theatre Group’s production of Hamlet.

Brendan Lowry

Brendan Lowry

(Petya Trofimov) is a proud CWRU/CPH MFA Acting student in his second year of study. You may have recently seen him in the CWRU/CPH production of The Cherry Orchard (Petya Trofimov) or in the ensemble of CPH's Pride and Prejudice. Other favorite credits include Floyd Collins (Floyd Collins), Guys more(Petya Trofimov) is a proud CWRU/CPH MFA Acting student in his second year of study. You may have recently seen him in the CWRU/CPH production of The Cherry Orchard (Petya Trofimov) or in the ensemble of CPH's Pride and Prejudice. Other favorite credits include Floyd Collins (Floyd Collins), Guys and Dolls (Sky Masterson), and Godspell (John/Judas). Originally from Colorado Springs, Colorado, he received his BFA in Musical Theatre from Colorado Mesa University. Along with being a performer Brendan is an avid photographer, especially focusing on the local sights and architecture in the city. Brendan looks forward to another year exploring and living in Cleveland. Check out and follow Brendan's other works and interests: @bkylowry / bkylowry.com

Christina McSheffrey

Christina McSheffrey

(Varya) is from Phoenix, Arizona, where she got her BA in Theatre at Grand Canyon University and worked as an actor and teaching artist. Some favorite acting credits include: Juliet in Romeo and Juliet and Maria in Twelfth Night (Flagstaff Shakespeare Festival); Miranda in The Tempest (Southwest Shakespeare more(Varya) is from Phoenix, Arizona, where she got her BA in Theatre at Grand Canyon University and worked as an actor and teaching artist. Some favorite acting credits include: Juliet in Romeo and Juliet and Maria in Twelfth Night (Flagstaff Shakespeare Festival); Miranda in The Tempest (Southwest Shakespeare Company). She taught theatre and voice at The Phoenix Theatre Company, Childsplay Theatre, and Phoenix Conservatory of Music. Love to her friends and family. @chefboyartina

Calder Meis

Calder Meis

(Yepikhodov) is truly honored to join the company of his favorite show, Fiddler on the Roof. As a member of the CWRU/CPH MFA Acting program, he has appeared as Yepikhodov in The Cherry Orchard, John Dodge in Middletown, and Bernard in Season's Greetings. On the CPH mainstage, he has more(Yepikhodov) is truly honored to join the company of his favorite show, Fiddler on the Roof. As a member of the CWRU/CPH MFA Acting program, he has appeared as Yepikhodov in The Cherry Orchard, John Dodge in Middletown, and Bernard in Season's Greetings. On the CPH mainstage, he has been in the companies of Pride & Prejudice (Ensemble, Fight Captain, u/s Miss Bingley/Mr. Wickham/Mr. Collins), and A Christmas Story (u/s the Old Man). BFA, Baylor University. To life! .???? ??'?

Brianna Miller

Brianna Miller

(Anya) graduated from Earlham College with a Bachelor's in Theatre Arts in 2021. Since then she has made appearances on several regional stages. Some of her favorite roles include Gwendolyn in The Importance of Being Earnest (Santa Cruz Shakespeare), Camae in The Mountaintop (Uptown Performing Arts Center), Millie Davis more(Anya) graduated from Earlham College with a Bachelor's in Theatre Arts in 2021. Since then she has made appearances on several regional stages. Some of her favorite roles include Gwendolyn in The Importance of Being Earnest (Santa Cruz Shakespeare), Camae in The Mountaintop (Uptown Performing Arts Center), Millie Davis in Trouble In Mind (Cincinnati Shakespeare Company), and Lady Macbeth in Macbeth (Cincinnati Shakespeare Company's Free Shakespeare in The Park).

Meredith Nelson

Meredith Nelson

(Dunyasha) is an actor, director, and educator originally from Denver, Colorado. She received her undergraduate degree from The University of Evansville and is thrilled to be pursuing her master's with CWRU/Cleveland Play House. Some favorite roles she's played include Belinda in Season's Greetings, Dunyasha in The Cherry Orchard, the more(Dunyasha) is an actor, director, and educator originally from Denver, Colorado. She received her undergraduate degree from The University of Evansville and is thrilled to be pursuing her master's with CWRU/Cleveland Play House. Some favorite roles she's played include Belinda in Season's Greetings, Dunyasha in The Cherry Orchard, the Librarian in Middletown, and Prospera in The Tempest. She is also the co-founder and co-artistic director of Soft Belly Theatre: a local Cleveland theatre company dedicated to producing accessible, courageous art with an open mind and a soft belly. You can find more information about her work at softbellytheatre.com.

Nathan Nelson

Nathan Nelson

(Yasha) is so thrilled to join the CPH MFA acting program for this production. His regional credits include Theatre as Lt. Buzz Adams in South Pacific, Nick Carraway in The Great Gatsby, and swing in Peter and The Starcatcher (all at CDA Summer Theatre), Alan in Equus (Stage more(Yasha) is so thrilled to join the CPH MFA acting program for this production. His regional credits include Theatre as Lt. Buzz Adams in South Pacific, Nick Carraway in The Great Gatsby, and swing in Peter and The Starcatcher (all at CDA Summer Theatre), Alan in Equus (Stage Left Theatre), and Jon in tick…tick…BOOM! (Gonzaga). His New York credits include The Last Days of Judas Iscariot (Bank Street Theatre at The New School), Jackie Theoharis’ Quarter Life Crisis (music direction and arrangements). Nathan serves as co-founder and co-artistic director of Soft Belly Theatre with his wife Meredith. You can find more about their work at SoftBellyTheatre.com. BA: Gonzaga University, MFA: The New School. AMDG.

Adam Ortega

Adam Ortega

(Gayev) is a second-year graduate student in the CWRU/CPH MFA Acting Program. Hailing from South Florida, Adam earned his BFA in Acting at The University of Michigan. His other theatre credits include, Gayev in The Cherry Orchard (CWRU/CPH), Harvey in Season's Greetings (CWRU/CPH), Cop in Middletown (CWRU/CPH), Don Armado more(Gayev) is a second-year graduate student in the CWRU/CPH MFA Acting Program. Hailing from South Florida, Adam earned his BFA in Acting at The University of Michigan. His other theatre credits include, Gayev in The Cherry Orchard (CWRU/CPH), Harvey in Season's Greetings (CWRU/CPH), Cop in Middletown (CWRU/CPH), Don Armado in Love's Labour's Lost (Great River Shakespeare Festival), and Drunk Shakespeare (Off-Broadway). He would like to thank family, friends, and loved ones for all their constant support. Instagram: @adamaortega adamalexisortega.com

Sponsors

RPM International, Inc.
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