Artistic Director’s Note

Dear Patrons, welcome to our 21st season!

This year, adaptability, growth, and vision are at the heart of our season as we build on the progress of the past 20 years. These values have long been central to the performing arts: adapting to the present moment, evolving to meet people where they are, and casting a vision for a more connected future while honoring the stories and efforts of those who came before us.

This was a vision that our founder, Sheila Havens Ryle, held closely throughout her time with SITV. We honor her memory this season and in the seasons to come.

This season, we invite you to celebrate the joy of the performing arts with us as we present the spirited farce of The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (Abridged), see our youth bring A Midsummer Night’s Dream to life, and enjoy the mistaken identities and comic turns of The Comedy of Errors.

We thank you for supporting the local theater. Enjoy the season!

Play on,

Preston Helms

Artistic Director

Shakespeare in the Vines
Presents

The Comedy of Errors

Director: Jill Cary Martin

Producer: Preston Helms

Stage Manager: Lauren Jimenez

Tech Director: Hannah Dixon

Sound: Maddie Spejcher

Light Design: Will Fedor

Light Operator: Kat Crowley

Costumes: Beverly Webb

Dan Kinsella - Aegeon/Pinch

Dan Kinsella is delighted to be making his SITV debut in their Lorimar debut, and his Shakespeare debut all at once! Dan’s performed on stages in NYC, LA, and across the US and Canada as an actor, comedian, and musician, along with numerous appearances in film, television, and commercials. He’s appeared in plays in NYC and LA including Women of Manhattan, and his one man show, I'm Not Sayin', I'm Just Sayin’. TV credits include Curb Your Enthusiasm, Everybody Loves Raymond, and Griselda among others. Film credits include Vice, The Dandies, and Cha Zhen. In NYC Dan studied Meisner with acclaimed coach JoAnna Beckson, performed at The Original Improvisation, Comic Strip, Gotham, in countless variety, sketch, and improv shows and played harmonica onstage and in the studio. Dan is humbled to be sharing the stage with this talented cast & crew, and thanks his family for their love and support .

Sonia Watson - Duchess Solinus Sonia has performed for SITV for the last three years and is happy to be back. She has been performing in the Temecula area for 17 years with TVP, FAN, Vagabond Theater Group of Menifee, and SITV. Some of her favorites include Gertrude in Hamlet, Frau Blucher in Young Frankenstein and Madeline in The Women of Lockerbie to name a few. Thank you SITV for letting me play. Thank you all for coming.

Craig Milton- Antipholus of Syracuse Craig Milton is delighted to make his Shakespeare in the Vines debut as Antipholus of Syracuse in The Comedy of Errors. By day, he works as a financial planner; by night, he enjoys stepping into worlds where confusion, mistaken identities, and far less predictable outcomes reign supreme. When he’s not on stage, Craig enjoys playing games, camping at the lake, and spending time with his family. He is also known for defending his position that Ever After is one of the greatest movies ever made. Craig is grateful to his wife and children for their love and support, and thanks the cast, crew, and audiences whose enthusiasm brings live theater to life.

Jeremy Niemi - Antipholus of Ephesus This is Jeremy's first time working with Shakespeare in the Vines, and he is grateful to have the opportunity to do this again. In a world of AI agents and digital toys, thank you for supporting live theatre. It doesn't exist without you.

Julie Ngo-Garcia - Dromio of Syracuse Julie Garcia-Ngo is elated to be in her first production with SITV alongside this amazing cast. You might have seen her previously as Rhonda in Almost, Maine with the Ramona Hillside Players, Uzo/Peggy in Godspell with the Temecula Valley Players, and various roles in A Christmas Carol, also with TVP. She has been absent from local theatre in the past few years due to giving birth and becoming a first-time mom to her incredible daughter, Liliana, who is now an incredibly sweet, unruly, and hilarious 19- month-old. She would like to thank her daughter for the inspiration and her husband, Jonathan Garcia, for his endless love and support; she wouldn't be back on the stage today without him.

Carrie Downs - Dromio of Ephesus Carrie Downs is a Visual and Performing Arts educator with the Temecula Valley Unified School. She is also a member of the local improv group Pseudo Random Noise. Carrie is excited to make her community theater debut with this production. If it doesn't work out, she will retire and play pickleball full time.

Johnny Thunder - Balthazar Johnny is excited to be in The Comedy of Errors. This will be Johnny’s 21st production out of Shakespeare’s complete works. You might have seen Johnny in previous Shakespeare in the Vines productions such as Macbeth, Richard III, The Merchant of Venice, and much more. Johnny has been an active player with SITV since 2013. He is also currently apart of the Pseudo Random Noise Improv Team. Johnny has graced the big screen; appearing in Bullet Train. Johnny would like to thank SITV and all his family and friends for their continued support and opportunities.

Sharon Knight - Courtesan/Angela Hailing from the United Kingdom, Sharon has loved entertaining and telling stories since she was a child. Whether it be on stage, doing aerial arts, or circus style flow performances, any chance to be a storyteller brings her the most joy in life.

Katie Lietz Bailey - Adriana Katie is PSYCHED to return to the Shakespeare in the Vines stage for the fifth summer in a row as Adriana in The Comedy of Errors. Most recently, she was seen in Temecula as Sally Bowles in Cabaret. Previous SITV productions include The Merry Wives of Windsor (Mistress Quickly), Richard III (Lady Anne), King Lear (Regan), Much Ado About Nothing (Dogberry), Twelfth Night (Sir Toby), Hamlet (Marcellus/Rosencrantz), A Midsummer Night’s Dream (Hippolyta/Titania) and Romeo and Juliet (Lady Capulet). Other select local credits include Proof (Claire), The Music Man (Marian Paroo), Clue (Miss Scarlet), Sister Act (Sister Mary Patrick), and Young Frankenstein (Elizabeth Benning). Select professional credits include Company (Amy), Cabaret (Rosie), and Collected Stories (Lisa). Originally from Michigan, Katie has a BFA in Acting and BA in Mathematics from Wayne State University in Detroit. She also works full time as a Pension Actuary and Consultant.

Emery Bacon - Luciana Emery (she/they) is delighted to be making her SITV debut after appearing as Fraulein Kost in Cabaret (Temecula Valley Players). Favorite roles include Rona Lisa Peretti (25th Annual…Bee), Harlequin (Triumph of Love), and Peter (Jesus Christ Superstar). Beyond theater, Emery enjoys various fiber crafts, D&D, archaeology documentaries, and her cat Sabrina “Beans”. Love to Mom, Dad, Lauren, and the ensemble - enjoy the show!

Paige Polcene - Aemelia/Abbess Paige Polcene is thrilled to be returning to the Shakespeare in the Vines stage. Previous SITV credits include LaFeu in All’s Well That Ends Well (2018) and Queen Elizabeth in Richard III (2012). Regional acting credits include Hattie in The Women of Lockerbie (Vagabond Players), Diane in The Birds, Aunt Mattie Fae in August: Osage County (both at Chino Community Players), and Elizabeth Bird in Sans Merci (The Garage Theatre, Long Beach). A retired teacher, Paige trained at South Coast Repertory where she discovered, among other things, that improv is not her friend. Stories are an integral part of Paige’s life and she’s so happy to share this one with you. Thanks to Jill for allowing her to play in this fantastic production.

Arianna Jimenez - Luce The Comedy of Errors marks Arianna’s second full-length show with Shakespeare in the Vines. Last Summer, she was seen in both SITV Shakespeare Camps as Ursula in Much Ado About Nothing, Henry V as Earl of Cambridge/ Boy, and her first full-length show as Fleance in Macbeth. She also appeared as part of the Children Ensemble in Fine Arts Network’s summer camp for Chitty Chitty Bang Bang Jr last July. Most recently, Arianna played Jo Crowell in Our Town with Ramona Hillside Players. In addition to theatre, Arianna has acted in several film projects, most notably the 2024 multi award-winning short film, Patriot, written and directed by her good friend, Pryde Pierce. Arianna has a very outgoing personality and makes friends at first sight. She is happy to work with such lovely, talented people who have all done a great job. She would like to thank Jill Cary Martin for casting her and her mom/stage manager (MOMager, if you will), Lauren Jimenez.

Lauren Jimenez - Stage Manager Lauren is honored to return to Shakespeare in the Vines after stage managing their successful production of Macbeth last summer. Lauren has been involved with Shakespeare in the Vines since 2011, when she was brought on as stage manager for Hamlet. Her work with SITV isn’t limited to just stage management, as she has played roles such as Felicia Dantine in I Hate Hamlet, Portia in Julius Caesar and Titania in A Midsummer Night’s Dream. Recent shows she has worked on include Twelfth Night and The Rainmaker with Ramona Hillside Players and The Game’s Afoot with Rialto Community Players. Special thanks to Jill Cary Martin for asking her to be the steady anchor of this production so this cast can thrive!

Jill Cary Martin - Director Jill Cary Martin is known locally for her appearances in several SITV productions, completing her second season with Temecula’s Shakespeare in the Vines, playing Elizabeth in Richard III and Duncan in Macbeth. She has appeared in numerous productions in and around the OC and LA, with favorite roles including Eleanor of Aquitaine in The Lion in Winter, Queen Margaret in Richard III, Maureen in The Beauty Queen of Leenane, Corryn in Gidion’s Knot, the titular Molly Sweeney at the Chance Theater, as well a few productions of Hamlet. She has performed with the South Bay’s Shakespeare by the Sea and Shakespeare Orange County and collected an OC Weekly Award for her work in Insurgo Theatre Movement’s Wuthering Heights. She has previously directed productions for Golden West College, Vanguard Theatre Ensemble, Rude Guerrilla, Long Beach Playhouse, and Alchemy Theatre. She is a proud member of the Modjeska Shakespeare Players, bSTheatre, and SAG-AFTRA.

Special Thanks

Temecula Valley Chamber of Commerce

Temecula United Methodist Church

French Valley Public Library

Adam McQueen

Marty Speer

Greg Bailey

Alex Duremdes

Season Sponsors & Donors

Bill and Debbie Woolley

Roger and Marilynn Williams

Julie Gorton

Danielle Tate

Janet Row

Rob Crisell

Greg and Katie Bailey

Jill Martin

Kerry Traubert

Martin Speer

Joanne Booth

Kris Griswold

Elizabeth Oakes

Shlomo Chopp

Julie Updegraff

Ofelia Filanc

Sharon Warner

Sidney Blachar

Interested in being a sponsor?

Click Here For Sponsor And Donation Page

In loving Memory of

Sheila Havens Ryle

Founder of Shakespeare in the Vines

Coming In October

“Tis now the very witching time of night, when churchyards yawn and hell itself breathes out contagion to this world.” ~ Hamlet Act III, Scene II

Listen… if you dare… as we “breathe out” stories of classic horror and fright each night!

Radio Play!: The Witching Hour Broadcast.

You’re invited to join our broadcasts as we bring classic adaptations of gothic horror and woe to the airwaves. From Poe to Shelly, each night will bring different, original radio adaptations of classic frights to “life” as we celebrate the most “dreadful time” of year.

Presented by Shakespeare in the Vines and Pseudo Random Noise Improv Theater.

Performing at the Merc in Old Town Temecula October 23rd, 24th, 30th at 7pm, and October 25th at 4pm

Tickets on sale August 20th.

Coming In December

"Shakespeare in the Vines and Pseudo Random Noise Improv Troupe Presents

It's A Wonderful Life: A Live Radio Play*
Adapted by Joe Landry

Back by popular demand!

Step back in time to the golden age of radio with this heartwarming adaptation of the beloved holiday classic. Set in a 1940s radio studio, It's A Wonderful Life: A Live Radio Play brings Frank Capra’s iconic film to life as a group of actors and sound effects artists perform the story live on air.

Follow George Bailey, a man who has given up his dreams to help others, as he faces a crisis on Christmas Eve and discovers—through the help of a gentle angel named Clarence—just how much his life truly matters. With live Foley effects, vintage commercials, and period costumes, this production is both a nostalgic tribute and a fresh theatrical experience.

Perfect for families and fans of classic cinema, this play reminds us all that “no man is a failure who has friends.”

Performing at the Merc in Old Town Temecula December 20th-23rd.