Astrid Downen (BALTHAZAR)

Astrid is thrilled to be joining the cast of Romeo and Juliet at Marin Shakespeare Company! Currently a Freshman at Marin School of the Arts at Novato High School, Astrid recently performed in Richard III which won gold at the Lenaea High School Theatre Festival. Some of her favorite roles include: Chicago (Mona), Hamlet (Laertes), Rock of Ages (ensemble), and A Midsummer Night’s Dream (Flute).  She hopes to someday perform in Little Shop of Horrors, The Tempest, The Rocky Horror Picture Show and many more productions! In her spare time, she loves to make jewelry, sew, and explore thrift stores.

Carla Gallardo (MERCUTIO)

Carla has acted in the Bay Area for over ten years. After studying theater in Oakland & San Francisco, she has performed in theater companies like Center Rep, Custom Made Theater Company, Z Below, Oakland Theater Project, to name a few. Through theater, she has worked with many programs in regards to education & awareness on a different topics for students all over Northern California with NCTC’s Youth Aware, Word 4 Word’s Youth Program, and Kaiser Permanente’s Educational Theater. On her spare time, she loves to take trips to the beach, sip on some cafecito, and spend time with loved ones.

Z Hansen (TYBALT)

Z is overjoyed to be working on his first production with Marin Shakespeare Company. Having studied Shakespeare in college, he has waited for a chance to perform the work onstage and couldn’t be happier for this opportunity. Previous credits this past year include: Jesus Christ Superstar at Berkeley Playhouse, Death of a Salesman at Actors Ensemble of Berkeley, and Legally Blonde at Ray of Light. He is living his dream as a working actor in the bay!

Abigail Lee (SAMPSON/APOTHECARY)

Abigail is a fifteen year old at Tamiscal High School. She has always loved watching theater. She began to participate in musicals at the beginning of middle school in shows like Chicago, Newsies, Lion King, and many more. Her interest in Shakespeare started when she played Miranda in The Tempest over summer. Her second production was Macbeth with Marin Shakespeare’s Teen Tourin Company. She believes that the community built through plays is kind, inviting, and cannot be recreated anywhere else. Abigail hopes to continue to learn and grow more as an actor and person by continuing to pursue Shakespeare.

Joan Legaspi (ABRAHAM)

Joan is a Meisner trained actress who has felt the call to creativity since she was a child. As a second generation Filipina, she seeks and writes projects that explore Pinoy culture. In her spare time she makes historical clothing, shreds on her guitar, and spoils her shepsky Rosa.

Dave Maier (Fight Director/Friar Lawrence)

Dave is an award-winning fight director who has choreographed violence for several productions at Marin Shakes including The Comedy of Errors, The Untime, Twelfth Night, and Hamlet. He is the resident fight director at Marin Shakes, San Francisco Opera, and Oakland Theatre Project. His work has been seen throughout the bay area and recent projects include Zorro (Opera San Jose), Fat Ham (SF Playhouse), Private Lives (ACT), and The Handmaid’s Tale (San Francisco Opera). Also, an award nominated actor, Dave was last seen in the Shotgun Players production of Best Available. He is grateful for the unwavering support of Danielle, Manya and Joshua.

Ash M.B. (ROMEO)

Ash (they/elle/he) is a boricua and multi-disciplinary artist originally from Socal, currently based on the unceded land of the Lisjan, Ohlone people, also known as Oakland, CA. Thank you for attending Romeo & Juliet! Some credits include CSRS: PLUCK as Cleo (dir. Molly Van Der Molen) at Shotgun Players, Alice by Heart as Alice (dir. Trey Reeves) at Bay Area Stage Theatre, Spring Awakening as Wendla (dir. Kyle Carrillo-Enders) at Masquers Playhouse, and Antigone, presented by the girls of St. Catherine’s as Tamsin (dir. Claire Ganem) at Towne Hall Theatre Company. End all occupations. Free Palestine.

Miles Meckling (PARIS)

Miles (He/Him) is a Sacramento native who is  excited for his Marin Shakespeare Debut. Romeo & Juliet is a cherished piece of literature which he is overjoyed to partake in, he hopes you enjoy this unique take on a timeless classic. Regional credits include Shotgun Players: Choir Boy, SF Playhouse: Guys and Dolls,  42nd Street Moon: The Scottsboro Boys,  Sierra Rep: Premiere of Elvis the Musical, Center REP: A Christmas Carol, Woodminster: On Your Feet, STC: Mamma Mia, HMS Pinafore, Classic Theatre: The Gift of Magi. Much thanks to all who support his journey. Follow on IG: @Leroi23 #areweproductsofoursociety #darewechallengethestatusquo

Alejandra Maria Rivas (JULIET)

Alejandra (Alé/they/elle) is an Indigenous-Chicane artist, administrator, and DEIB consultant based in Lisjan Ohlone land, hailing from Tongva land. Alejandra has worked at A.C.T., Shotgun Players, Z Space, Berkeley Rep, Cal Shakes, Crowded Fire, SF Playhouse, City Street Artists, TheatreFIRST, Town Hall, Central Works, and BAWTF. Favorite credits include: amémonos, Limāo y Sal, Cabaret, Inked Baby, and In the Heights. Alejandra is also a produced playwright (La Paloma, Magic Fruit, etc). They were named as an emerging artist by Center Theater Group in 2021. Alé loves eating, QTBIPOC-centered art, psychology, reading, gaming, D&D, karaoke, being a hype-man, and being with time as it moves along.

Aisha Rivera (NURSE)

Aisha is a California based Artist, Writer, and Actor. Aisha is also the current Poet Laureate for Napa County. Aisha’s poetry has been published in the Bilingual Anthology “Poetics without Borders/Poeticas Sin Fronteras” and “Latinas, Gender, Race, and Class”. Their Spanish adaptation of the classic film “It’s a Wonderful Life” (“Es Una Vida Maravillosa”) had its world premiere with Shakespeare Napa Valley in 2023, a production which they also directed. Favorite acting credits include Yerma (Shotgun Players), Cymbeline (Berkeley Shakespeare Company), and Dead Man’s Cellphone (Upstage Napa Valley). Aisha is an eclectic artist who strives to create meaningful art.

Thor Townsend (PETER)

Thor is thrilled to make his Marin Shakespeare Company debut, with Romeo/Juliet marking his twenty-fifth show! Favorite roles include Le Fou in Beauty and the Beast, Michael Banks in Mary Poppins, and Young Charlie in the Marin Mountain Play’s production of Kinky Boots. A true Disney kid, Thor has appeared in campaigns for Star Wars Galaxy’s Edge and the Halcyon Galactic Starcruiser. He dreams of playing the Phantom of the Opera in the West End, and he wants to thank the MSC team for this amazing opportunity. God gi’ god-den, he can read!