2019 Davis Shakespeare Festival

THE TENTH
MUSE

BY TANYA SARACHO

June 20 – August 3

Davis Veterans Memorial Theater
203 E. 14th St.
Davis, CA

GET TICKETS

In 18th century colonial Mexico, three young women meet in the convent of San Jeronimo with the threats of the Spanish Inquisition, the plague, and their own dangerous secrets at their back.

Despite the challenges facing them, the women come together to celebrate and protect the writings of Sor Juana Inés De La Cruz. One of the most acclaimed productions from Oregon Shakespeare Festival’s 2014 season, The Tenth Muse will feature live music and an all-female cast. We are honored to present this regional premiere!

DATES & TICKETS

JUNE 2019

SUN
TUES
WED
THURS
FRI
SAT

16

18

19

THURSDAY, 6/20

20

8pm: Tenth Muse

(PREVIEW)
TICKETS

21

SATURDAY, 6/22

22

8pm: Tenth Muse

(PREVIEW)
TICKETS

23

TUESDAY, 6/25

25

8pm: Tenth Muse

(PREVIEW)
TICKETS

26

THURSDAY, 6/27

27

8pm: Tenth Muse

OPENING
TICKETS

28

SATURDAY, 6/29

29

8pm: Tenth Muse

TICKETS
SUNDAY, 6/30

30

2pm: Tenth Muse

TICKETS

JULY 2019

SUN
TUES
WED
THURS
FRI
SAT

2

WEDNESDAY, 7/3

3

8pm: Tenth Muse

TICKETS
THURSDAY, 7/4

4

NO SHOWS.
Happy 4th!

5

6

SUNDAY, 7/7

7

2pm: Tenth Muse

TICKETS

9

10

THURSDAY, 7/11

11

8pm: Tenth Muse

TICKETS

12

SATURDAY, 7/13

13

8pm: Tenth Muse

TICKETS
SUNDAY, 7/14

14

2pm: Tenth Muse

TICKETS
THURSDAY, 7/4

16

THURSDAY, 7/4

17

18

FRIDAY, 7/19

19

8pm: Tenth Muse

TICKETS
SATURDAY, 7/20

20

2pm: Tenth Muse

TICKETS

21

23

24

THURSDAY, 7/25

25

8pm: Tenth Muse

TICKETS

26

SATURDAY, 7/27

27

8pm: Tenth Muse

TICKETS
SUNDAY, 7/28

28

2pm: Tenth Muse

TICKETS

29

30

31

AUGUST 2019

SUN
TUES
WED
THURS
FRI
SAT

1

FRIDAY, 8/2

2

8pm: Tenth Muse

TICKETS
SATURDAY, 8/3

3

2pm: Tenth Muse

CLOSING
TICKETS

CAST

Jesusa Gabby Battista
Tomasita Leah Sanginiti
Manuela Talia Friedenberg
Sor Isabel Kelley Ogden
Sor Rufina Susanna Florence*
Sor Filomena Laurie Strawn
Mother Superior Lisa Quoresimo


ENSEMBLE Margie Curler
Lisa Halko
Monica Vejar


*Member of Actors’ Equity Association
Gabby Battista

Gabby Battista (Jesusa)

Previously at the Festival: Celia in AS YOU LIKE IT, Hermia in A MIDSUMMER NIGHT’S DREAM, Eileen Sherwood in WONDERFUL TOWN, Sabine in THE THREE MUSKETEERS, Juliet in ROMEO & JULIET, Verges/Margaret in MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING, and Ensemble in SHE LOVES ME.

Other credits: KILL THE DEBBIE DOWNERS! at Shotgun Players, O WONDROUS NIGHT at SeaWorld’s Nautilus Amphitheatre, ANTIGONE at Big Idea Theatre, THE BOX at Z Space, TOO MUCH LIGHT… with San Francisco Neo Futurists, Featured Performer at the Vildskud Theatre Festival in Copenhagen, 36TH STREET BLUES at Greenway Court Theatre, and AVENUE Q at the San Francisco State Mainstage.

Gabby is the Development Director for Davis Shakespeare Festival and holds a B.A. in Theatre Arts from San Francisco State University.

Leah Sanginiti (Tomasita)

Previously with DSF: NIGHTINGALE at Oregon Shakespeare Festival’s Midnight Project Series.

Recent credits: PEG+CAT National Tour (PBS and Bay Area Children’s Theatre), WOMAN ON FIRE (Those Women Productions), THE OREGON TRAIL PAGES (SF Musical Cafe).

Additional credits: Several national tours with Bay Area Children’s Theatre and Missoula Children’s Theatre, Dorothy in WIZARD OF OZ (Stage Right Kentucky Theatre), THE UNFORTUNATES and MY FAIR LADY (Oregon Shakespeare Festival).

Leah holds a B.F.A. in Acting from Southern Oregon University.

More at www.leahsanginiti.com

Talia Friedenberg

Talia Friedenberg (Manuela)

Recent credits: Ophelia in HAMLET with the Marin Shakespeare Company.

Additional credits: Flora Meszaros in FLORA THE RED MENACE, Catherine in PIPPIN, and Nina in VANYA AND SONIA AND MASHA AND SPIKE with the U.C. Davis Theatre & Dance department.

Talia is currently pursuing a B.A. in Theatre & Dance from U.C. Davis.

Kelley Ogden (Sor Isabel)

Regional Credits:  Jessie in SWEAT, Kim in HOW TO USE A KNIFE (NPX), Francine in THE TOTALITARIANS, Gwen in RAPTURE BLISTER BURN (Capital Stage); Cassius in JULIUS CAESAR, Banquo in MACBETH (Theater Galatea); Savannah in MAMA WON’T FLY, Georgia Dean in DOUBLEWIDE TX, Liza Moriarty in SHERLOCK’S LAST CASE (Main Street Theater Works); Viola in TWELFTH NIGHT (Sacramento Shakespeare Festival).

Additional Credits:  Maar in ADORATION OF DORA; Ellen in THERE IS A HAPPINESS THAT MORNING IS, Ellen in VINEGAR TOM, Colby in SMUDGE, Frankie in WHERE WE’RE BORN, Antigone in Anouilh’s ANTIGONE, Sonia in CRIME AND PUNISHMENT (KOLT Run Creations); The Player King in ROSENCRANTZ AND GUILDENSTERN ARE DEAD (Big Idea Theater).

Kelley co-founded KOLT Run Creations, a Sacramento-based fringe theater company, and has a B.F.A. in Performance from The Theater School at DePaul University.

Susanna Florence* (Sor Rufina)

Previously at the Festival: Olivia in TWELFTH NIGHT, Edwin Drood in THE MYSTERY OF EDWIN DROOD, Beatrice in MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING, Ilona in SHE LOVES ME, and Lady Macbeth in MACBETH: THE RADIO PLAY.

Recent credits: SWEAT, OSLO, and TWELFTH NIGHT at Pioneer Theater Co.; SHAKESPEARE IN LOVE, ROMEO AND JULIET, AS YOU LIKE IT, MARY POPPINS, and MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING at Utah Shakespeare Festival.

Susanna holds an M.F.A. in Acting from National Theater Conservatory.

Laurie Strawn

Laurie Strawn (Sor Filomena)

Recent credits: Abby in RIPCORD, Sonia in VANYA AND SONIA AND MASHA AND SPIKE, NAT in RABBIT HOLE (CCCT, El Cerrito), Mrs. Meers in THOROUGHLY MODERN MILLIE (CCMT, Walnut Creek), Dorothy Brock in 42nd STREET (Bay Area Musicals, San Francisco), Betty Meeks in THE FOREIGNER (Hillbarn Theatre, Foster City), Jean Louise Finch in TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD (Berkeley Playhouse), Miss Hannigan in ANNIE, Mrs. Tottendale in THE DROWSY CHAPERONE, Madame Dilly in ON THE TOWN (Diablo Theater Company, Walnut Creek).

Other Credits: Playwright/Performer, BRAVE LITTLE NELL-The Eleanor Roosevelt Story (ongoing performances throughout the Bay Area), Director, CHARLOTTE’S WEB (Summer 2018) ALICE’S ROCK AND ROLL ADVENTURE (Summer 2019, both at 42nd Street Moon’s MoonSchool Program).

Other Favorite Roles: Belinda in NOISES OFF, Germaine in PICASSO AT THE LAPIN AGILE, Flo in PICNIC, Carlotta in PHANTOM (Sierra Repertory Theatre, Sonora), Mae Peterson in BYE BYE BIRDIE, Doris in DAMN YANKEES (Cabrillo Music Theater, Los Angeles), Mrs Bates in EMMA (Theatreworks, Mountain View), Parthy in SHOWBOAT, Yente in FIDDLER ON THE ROOF (Broadway by the Bay, Redwood City), Rita in EDUCATING RITA.

Lisa Quoresimo

Lisa Quoresimo (Mother Superior)

Recent credits: AN OCTOROON at Berkeley Repertory Theatre, THE EVENTS at Shotgun Players

Lisa’s work has been seen Locally: Brava Theatre, Eureka Theatre, The Marsh, Ground and Field Theatre Festival, The Mondavi Center, The Woodland Opera House, Mexican Cultural Heritage Plaza. Nationally: The Upstairs Theatre, The Butte Theatre, WQED, WCLV. In NY: Kairos Theatre, York Theatre Company, Carnegie Hall. Internationally: Upper Dharamsala, India.

Favorite roles include: Masha in VANYA SONIA MASHA AND SPIKE, Dolly Levi in HELLO DOLLY, Berthe in PIPPIN.

Lisa is Assistant Professor of Musical Theatre at Southern Utah University, where she just directed 42ND STREET and musical directed FUN HOME. She holds a Ph.D. in Performance Studies from UC Davis, and an M.A. from Carnegie Mellon University.

More at www.quoresimo.com

Margie Curler-Kohl

Margie Curler (Ensemble)

Recent credits: Soloist in VOICES OF AMERICA with Beyond Borders Chamber Orchestra at the Harris Center. Frasquita in CARMEN scenes with Sacramento State Opera Theatre.

Other credits: Capitol City Ensemble.

Margie holds a B.M. from Boston Conservatory of Music and is currently completing her M.M. in Vocal Performance at Sacramento State.

Lisa Halko

Lisa Halko (Ensemble)

Previously at the Festival: Lady Capulet in ROMEO AND JULIET, Lise/Ensemble in CYRANO DE BERGERAC, Ensemble in BELLS ARE RINGING.

Other Theatres: Lady Throckmortonshire in CHEMICAL ROMANCE at Main Street Theater Works; Arkadina in THE SEAGULL, Aline Solness in THE MASTER BUILDER, Marina Timofeevna in UNCLE VANYA, Judith Bliss in HAY FEVER, and Aunt Julle in HEDDA GABLER at The Art Theater of Davis; Polly Peachum in THE BEGGAR’S OPERA at Oswego Community Theater.

Lisa studied Acting at Purchase College’s Conservatory of Theater Arts.

Monica Vejar

Monica Vejar (Ensemble)

Recent credits: Marietta Fail/Mae/Wall Clock in FAILURE: A LOVE STORY at Errant Phoenix Productions; Julia in THE DUCHESS OF MALFI at The Forgotten Theatre; and Madge Geisel in THE GAMES AFOOT at Theatre In the Heights.

Other local credits: Ensemble in UNDER MILKWOOD at The Forgotten Theatre; Ruby in ENSLAVED at Teatro Espejo; and Lil Bit in HOW I LEARNED TO DRIVE at Sacramento State.

Monica holds a B.A. in English from Sacramento State.