Production
Directing and Producing Highlights
Richard II
The Mark O’Donnell Theater - Smith Street Stage 2024
Director: Katie Willmorth; Assistant Director: Alexandra Haddad; Stage Manager: Amanda Reynoso
Cast: Isis Rosina Bruno, Ara Butler, Noelle Franco, SJ Hannah, Shayan Hooshmand, Theo McKenna, Diego Millan, Jonathan Minton, Lauren Pennline, Will Sarratt
Producers: Jonathan Hopkins, Theodosia Arcidiacono, Toni Kwadzogah
Costumes: Kyle Artone, Set Design: lucas a degirolamo, Prop Design: eric cipriaso, Music Composition & Direction: Kristin KP Sgarro, Lighting Design: Yiyuan Li, Text Coach: Raquel Chavez, Ombuds: Nathalie Carvalho, Costume Asst: Adanne Spencer-Johnson
“Acted by a gifted cast and directed with color and precision by Katie Willmorth.”
“And there are a few remarkable set pieces, like Richard’s soliloquy and death scene. Plain, loose white clothing has replaced his royal robes, and his long hair hangs loose, crownless. The half-joking, have-tragic messianic suggestion is unmistakable.” — BlogCritics
“As Smith Street Stage’s production of Richard II demonstrates, [Shakespeare’s history plays’] depiction of the moral ambiguities surrounding political power and those who wield it speak remarkably well to a contemporary American audience.”
“Under the direction of Katie Willmorth…the cast of this production is compact and extraordinarily versatile, from its titular lead and his opponent Bolingbroke to minor characters who are quite cleverly double cast.”
“A poem by William Blake, Jerusalem, became extraordinarily popular in Britain when set to music during World War I. While Blake’s [words] post-date both the play’s history and that of its author by several centuries, it is an extraordinarily fitting conclusion to the play. In the final verse, the song reminds that the promised land must be fought for continually. The crown has passed, but the ultimate goal has yet to be achieved.” — Thinking Theater NYC
As You Like It
Shakespeare In Carroll Park - Smith Street Stage 2023
Director: Katie Willmorth; Assistant Directed by Toni Kwadzogah; Stage Manager: Aryn Geier; Assistant Stage Manager: Courtney Seyl
Cast: Jeffrey Brabant, Mary Cavett*, Anique Clements*, Zoe Dongas, Ben Horner*, Delia Kemph, Mahayla Laurence, Theo McKenna, Jonathan Minton, Roberto Tolentino*, Booker Vance*.
[T]he production is replete with engaging modern touches…(including) the substitution of shepherd Corin, played with quiet decency by Jonathan Minton, for shepherdess Audrey as the object of Touchstone's affections. The result is a much sweeter coupling, lacking the condescending edge of the Shakespearean original.
[T]he production …makes full use of the play's numerous songs for both characterization and transitions.
Carroll Park may not quite be the Forest of Arden, but for a bit under two hours, you'll find yourself forgetting that.
Costume Design by Stephanie Echevarria, Set and Prop Design by Ezekiel Claire, Music by Tobias Wong, Lighting Design by Wheeler Moon, Intimacy Direction by Shaun Bennet Fauntleroy, Fight Design by Jose-Maria Aguila, Dramaturgy by Rachel Towne, Ombuds: Nathalie Carvalho
The Artists
In 2019, Katie co-facilitated with playwright Noah Mease a workshop to devise original material around themes and source text in Ovid’s Pyramus and Thisby. She then produced and directed a subsequent staged reading of The Artists by Noah Mease.
Little Women
In 2019, Katie produced a workshop production of a new stage adaptation of Little Women by Hannah Sloat, based on the novel by Louisa May Alcott. The workshop was directed by Adrienne Kapstein with music direction and accompaniment by Katy Pfaffl.
A Midsummer Night’s Dream
Katie assistant directed A Midsummer Night’s Dream for Shakespeare In Carroll Park in 2018.
“The show sets itself apart with the vivacity of the characters and an attention to detail that should put it on the top of your list of Shakespeare to see this summer...The emotional intelligence of this production will remind you why everyone returns to this Dream time and again.” -PlaysToSee.Com
Shakespeare’s King Phycus
In 2015, Katie produced a NYC-premiere staged reading of the award winning play Shakespeare’s King Phycus by Tom Willmorth. She also helped co-produced the event that featured the reading, the first annual Smith Street Stage Winter Wassail fundraiser!
