Cast Biographies!

Check out the accomplishments and aspirations of the Grassroots Shakespeare Company! We may look motley, but it turns out that most of us actually know what we're doing...

Alex Ungerman - Benedick Alex most recently appeared as Jacques in the Hale Center Theater Orem's production of As You Like it, as Orsino in Twelfth Night at UVU, and as the title character in Pericles, Prince of Tyre with BYU Young Company Shakespeare. He is currently pursing a BA in Theater Arts at Utah Valley University where he has been a four time Irene Ryan Nominee.

Becca Ingram - Hero/Watchman Becca hails from the far away land of Connecticut and has now made her way to American Fork, Utah. She is so excited to be living the dream with Grassroots and has been seen most recently as Rosalind in As You Like It (HCTO), Chris in Dancing at Lughnasa (BYU), and Hilda Manney in Room Service (HCTO). She loves her family...a lot.

Cherish Caldwell - Margaret Cherish hails from Sandy Utah where she first began performing and directing. She teaches Middle school and High school Theater at Meridian School as well as Liahona Academy. She has won many awards for directing and choreography at the Utah Shakespearean Festival. She Assistant Directed at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival in Scotland last summer and was nominated this year as a director with Meridian School. She has been the recipient of acting scholarships and two Irene Ryan nominations this year at BYU where she is pursuing a BFA in Acting.

Davey Morrison - Dogberry/Verges Davey has loved Shakespeare for a long time, and is delighted to be working with the Grassroots Shakespeare Company! Davey's most recent credits include lead and supporting roles in As You Like It, Room Service, and Don't Drink the Water, all at the Hale Center Theater Orem. Other favorite roles have been Seymour in Little Shop of Horrors, George Spelvin in The Actor's Nightmare, Mr. Martin in The Bald Soprano, Bottom in A Midsummer Night's Dream, and Dromio of Syracuse in The Comedy of Errors. Davey and his lovely fiancee Bianca run a weekly playwriting workshop together at New Play Project (Thursdays from 7-9pm at the Provo Theater Company); he has also had a number of plays he's written produced with NPP. In addition to his work in the theater, Davey is an award-winning filmmaker, poet, artist, and musician; you can see his work at www.daveymorrison.blogspot.com.

Jason Sullivan - Conrade/Friar Francis Jason, from Orem, is a student in the Theater program at Utah Valley University, and an Irene Ryan finalist. He recently performed as Orlando in As You Like It at the Hale, and as Hutter in UVU's Nosferatu. He and Mark Oram rode the same bus to school for a while, but they never spoke, because they didn't know each other. Also, he's a big 24 fan, and allegedly freaked out a lot during season 3.

Joel Petrie - Don John/Sexton From Canada, Joel is a connsumate director, actor, and cinematographer. He recently worked as the technical director of UVU's nationally-acclaimed Nosferatu, and is producing a film project during the run of Much Ado About Nothing. He has also directed a mixed-media version of Romeo & Juliet, and performed as Gonzalo in UVU's The Tempest. He was a semifinalist in the Irene Ryan scholarship competition in 2008, and is excited to be performing with Grassroots!

Jyllian Petrie - Beatrice/Watchman Jyllian didn't want anyone to write her bio for her. I can tell you, though, that she's a very beautiful and talented actress, costume designer, and also a fan of 24.

Kacey Spadafora - Don Pedro Kacey recently performed with BYU's Young Company Shakespeare Troupe in Pericles, Prince of Tyre, and sometimes misses the good old days. He enjoys writing, can quote funny lines from Up, and recently turned 21.

Mark Oram - Claudio From Kaysville, Mark has a BS in English from Utah Valley University, and is moving to England in September to pursue an MFA in Staging Shakespeare at the University of Exeter. His recent credits include Touchstone in As You Like It at the Hale, Knock in UVU's Nosferatu, and Helicanus in BYU's Pericles. He is excited for his return to Sundance Summer Theater as Mortimer in The Fantasticks this August. Mark is also a two-time Irene Ryan nominee, and co-founder of the Grassroots Shakespeare Company. He wishes to thank this astonishingly talented cast, our gracious audiences, and his lovely and talented wife Stephanie.

Tyler Harris - Leonato/Boy A realtively recent graduate of Orem High School, Tyler has been acting for many years. He was most recently seen at the Hale Center Theater Orem as Silvius in As You Like It, in which he also played a pig, a sheep, a goat, and a dead deer.

Wes Tolman - Borachio/Messenger Wes heralds from Grand Haven, MI, where his acting career bloomed into something he would want to do the rest of his life. Shakespeare has always been a favorite playwright of his ever since reading/seeing Hamlet and he is very excited to be a part of Grassroots! He has lived in the Utah Valley for a few years and attends UVU pursuing a Bachelors in Theatre Arts, which he plans to complete next year! He has been in various productions while here, most at UVU, one of the most memorable as playing Bottom in A Midsummer Nights Dream last summer. After he graduates, who knows! "Hollywood here I come!"



Special Thanks:

Christopher Clark - Chris is a mentor/inspiration to each of us. He teaches acting at UVU, choreographed our Elizabethan jigs, and let's face it, gives us all a reason to live.
Kate McPherson - Kate was the Grassroots Shakespeare Company's first donor. She teaches English at UVU, and has been greatly supportive throughout our entire process.
Daniel Whiting - Daniel is the stage manager of our production. His help has been invaluable at every step.