A Catch of Shadows Theater Company and Alternative Family Education production of Romeo and Juliet, November 1999

Biographies

Director, Laura Wilson

This last summer Laura participated in the director internship program at Shakespeare Santa Cruz where she worked on the production of Romeo and Juliet. Laura's involvement in theater began with her mother's improvisational classes for children and evolved into productions rehearsed and staged in local Santa Cruz parks. Laura's desire to work with other students who, like herself, wanted to create high quality productions resulted in her co-founding A Catch of Shadows Theater Company. Having difficulty finding substantive plays written for children Laura began penning and directing her own scripts which now include Keys to Camebrien, Gate of the Winds, Beyond the Ash Grove and Fortune's Wheel. She graduated recently from Cabrillo College with honors and will be attending The University of California in Santa Cruz.
 

Costumer Designer, Linnaea Wilson

Linnaea Wilson first became interested in sewing when she was 13. A sewing machine landed in her lap without her knowing it would become her hobby and art. It started with simple things: altering clothing she didn't like, making pillows, etc., soon though she began making costumes. She didn't (and still doesn't) like making costumes from patterns. She says, "It's time consuming, expensive and like a paint-by-numbers kit; it doesn't leave enough to my imagination." So she started to do research, look at pictures, watch period films (Renaissance or Medieval) and pay attention to where the seams in the garments were and what they might look like if they were taken apart and laid flat. Linnaea was lucky because she had a good mentor right from the beginning: a friend of the family, Anne Balmer, who was an experienced theatrical seamstress. That year, 1997, she started making and designing costumes for her sister's plays. This practical experience, she thinks, has taught her more than any book has. The plays that Linnaea has designed costumes for include: Beyond the Ash Grove, Fortune's Wheel, by Laura Wilson and William Shakespeare's plays A Midsummer Night's Dream, Twelfth Night, and her most ambitious design project yet, Romeo and Juliet.
 

Producer, Judy Reveaux-Wright

Judy Reveaux-Wright has been producing plays and musicals with students in the Santa Cruz Alternative schools for the past 12 years. Before becoming a Consultant/Teacher with AFE, Judy produced many exciting shows at Monarch Community School, several of which went on tour and delighted audiences at every school in our district and thousands of theater goers in public performances. Judy brings a wealth of theater knowledge and a love for our students in helping showcase their incredible talents.
 

Musical Director, Bill Wright

Bill Wright has been the musical director for seven of the AFE/A Catch of Shadows Theater Productions. Last year he also was Music Director and Accompanist for AFE's production of The Trial of Alice In Wonderland. A performing musician since the age of 6 1/2, Bill has directed over 25 different productions of Broadway Musicals and performed with the Santa Cruz, Monterey and San Francisco Symphonies and the Cabrillo Music Festival. He volunteers his time with AFE because he is dedicated to helping bring the joy of performing to young people.