I gave my love a ring...
I will not fail you....
TASIS presents
I’ll have my bond.
The Merchant
of Venice
THE AMERICAN SCHOOL IN SWITZERLAND
by William Shakespeare
Palmer Cultural Center
November 6/8, 2014 - 19:30
Which will they choose: mercy or justice?
SPECIAL THANKS
THE AMERICAN SCHOOL IN SWITZERLAND
presents
The Merchant of Venice
by William Shakespeare
Directed by Valerie Bijur Carlson
Presented by TASIS Students and Faculty
Palmer Cultural Center - November 6-8, 2014
Martyn Dukes & Simone Aeschliman
Frank Long, KC McKee, Mark Aeschliman, & David Peters
The TASIS Communications & Website Office:
Brendan Shea, Kim Nelson, Anne Skipper, & Michelle Arslanian
The Staff of the H. Miller Crist Library
Minna Paija of RC-Annie & Robin Prout of Emma Willard School
Ricompralo (Agno) & Caritas Ticino
Genevra & the Castello di Sismano
The Amazing TASIS Facilities Department
Francesco Bisignani, Francesca Piovani, Max Gygax, & the Business Department
Sonny Lim, the TASIS Coaches, Zach Mulert, & Alec Ogilvie
Michele Kestenholz & Kristin Pedroja
Charles Skipper, Rob Pierce, and the Deans’ Office
Lynn Fleming Aeschliman and the Board of Directors
and the families, friends, advisors, and dorm parents
of the cast and crew
main interest is in costume design and
technology, but she also enjoys designing
eveningwear, theatrical sets, and residential
interiors. She is married and has a daughter.
ZAK RAHMAN ’17, Canada/Saudi
Arabia (Shylock) is still frankly shocked
that he got such a major role in this year’s
play. His past experience, as he is only a
10th grader, is minimal: Fame, Jr. (shoutout to Serena) and various sketches and
long-form improvs. He deeply appreciates
free periods and attributes his presence in
this play to some of his greatest inspirations
(apart from family, of course): Ms. Daly,
Mr. Melver, and EMB.
HUGO ROURKE ’17, Australia (Tubal)
is very excited to be part of this Shakespeare
performance. Last year he appeared as Kurt
in The Sound of Music at TASIS. He thanks
everyone for their support!
EDOARDO SELLA ’16, Italy (Bassanio)
has had past appearances with the TASIS
Theater Program in All Shook Up and The
Sound Of Music. He sends a special shoutout to his main man, his butler, Alex Wolf
(Leonardo).
BATUHAN TOPRAK ’15, Turkey
(Stage Manager) has no past theatrical
experiences. He thanks Ms. Carlson for
helping him become a stage manager.
Batuhan likes being surrounded by
intelligence. He aims to enter a good
university and become involved in politics.
ADDITIONAL COMPANY MEMBERS
INCLUDE:
SOFYA ZASOVA ’16, Russia (Nerissa)
is enjoying being a part of this great
production with so many fun people.
She has been a cast member of every
TASIS High School production since her
freshman year: As You Like It, All Shook
Up, Macbeth, and The Sound of Music. She
thanks Sweeney Todd, American Horror
Story, and Doctor Who for inspiration and
all-around gorgeousness.
RRON LLUKA ’16, Kosovo
ADDITIONAL MEMBERS OF THE
CAST & CREW hail from Brazil, Canada,
Colombia, the Dominican Republic,
England, Italy, Japan, Kosovo, Libya,
Luxembourg, Mexico, Monaco, Russia,
Switzerland, Turkey, the United States,
and the Virgin Islands. They represent the
Classes of 2015, 2016, 2017, and 2018.
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MARIA CLARA AMARAL ’16, Brazil
MICHELLE GINDORF ’15,
Switzerland/Hungary
Introduction to the Play
The action takes place in the city of Venice and at Portia’s country estate, Belmont, in Italy.
It is April of 1914 at the beginning of the play; late June by the end.
RIONA KOZUKI ’16, Japan
GEORGIA MANTAGAZZA ’17 ,
England & Switzerland
CHRISTELLE MEZZADRI’17,
Luxembourg
DANIELA GARCIA PEREZ ’16,
Colombia
BELLISA SANTANA ’15,
USA/Dominican Republic
LIAM STEVENS ’17, Canada
LAURA VECOLI ’17, Italy
ALEX WOLF ’16, Monaco
Venice
A men’s club
Commercial streets around the Rialto
Shylock’s house & neighborhood in the Jewish ghetto
The Duke’s courtroom
Belmont
A reception room
The garden
“Tell me where is fancy bred”
Lyrics: William Shakespeare
Set to the music of “Full Fathom Five” (q.v.)
Arrangement: Samantha Forrest
“Love Theme” from Cinema Paradiso
Music: Ennio Morricone
Arrangement: Andrea Pace
1
CAST
Antonio, a successful merchant
Edoardo Italia
Solanio, a merchantJohn Tabor Gage
Salarino, a merchantRron Lluka
Bassanio, Antonio’s friend, a gentleman
Edoardo Sella
Lorenzo, Bassanio’s friendLiam Stevens
Gratiano, Antonio’s friendAdam Osgood
Portia, an heiress
Michelle Gindorf*, Farrah Elaraby^
Nerissa, Portia’s friend & companion
Sofya Zasova
Ursula, Portia’s maidGeorgia Mantagazza
Shylock, a wealthy moneylender
Zak Rahman*, Hailey Hibbard^
VendorIvan Semashev
Prince of MoroccoViktoriia Shimanovskaia
Prince’s AttendantElla Grace Abisi
Stephana, Portia’s housekeeperPaulina Gazin
Lancelet Gobbo, Shylock’s servant (initially)
Iines James
Old Gobbo, Lancelet’s nearsighted father
Ms. Ann Haldy
Leonardo, Bassanio’s butlerAlex Wolf
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and he now looks forward to playing his
Antonio. He enjoys playing the drums and
has a passion for the sciences. He thanks
his family and friends for helping him
thrive through the demanding IB Diploma
work.
in Much Ado About Nothing her freshman
year. She’d like to give her mom a shout- out
(te adoro mami) and a huge “thank you” to
her friends Liam and Zak for sharing their
love, advice, and food (NOTE: Food does
not apply to Zak).
IINES JAMES ’15, Finland (Lancelet
Gobbo) is happy to have received such
a fun role. She plans on continuing
her involvement with theater for as
long as possible and enjoys the idea of
understanding and behaving like another
person.
CHRIS LOVE, USA (Duke of Venice)
is excited to join his second Shakespeare
production at TASIS. Long ago, Dr. Love’s
football coach told him he wasn’t allowed
to play a role in a high school production
of Death of a Salesman. Dr. Love is thrilled
to get the opportunity, finally, to be given
a role in a high school play, and with such
a fantastic group of people, no less. He
forgives his football coach.
DANEESHA LEWIS ’15, USA (Stage
Manager) came to TASIS as a junior
last year, and Merchant marks her third
TASIS theater production in that time. She
appreciates all the love and support those
around her give, and she sends a special
thanks to her mom, Christine.
AIDA LOGGIODICE ’17, Venezuela
(Prince of Arragon/Design Team) is truly
thrilled that you are reading this. Her
past acting experiences include roles in
the short plays She Speaks In Tongues and
The Audition in Middle School and Hero
CALVIN WARD PUTNAM MATTHEW
’24, USA (Street Urchin) is no stranger to
the stage, having performed as a Yule Log
Sprite in several Christmas performances
of “Revels” in Troy, New York. Here at
TASIS, Calvin was cast in dual roles last
fall in Macbeth as the Bloody Apparition
and one of Macduff ’s children who saw the
business end of a knife.
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ADAM OSGOOD ’16, France (Gratiano)
is proud to be taking part in his fourth
TASIS theater production.
He loves
chocolate milkshakes and greatly enjoys
the company of all his friends and family.
ANTONELLA PICONI ’16, USA (Salerio)
is a returning junior from California.
Although the IB and Varsity Soccer keep
her very busy, she is glad to be part of this
year’s fall production. She has enjoyed
acting in past plays and musicals at TASIS
such as Macbeth and The Sound of Music.
GABRIELLA PICONI ’16, USA (Jessica)
is returning to the stage as a junior in the
IB Theatre program and is excited to be in
The Merchant of Venice alongside old and
new cast members. Last year at TASIS she
appeared in Macbeth, The Sound of Music,
and Relationships and Other Jokes, and she
also acted in Middle School productions as
Annie and Tweedle Dee.
INGRID PROOS, Estonia (Costume
Designer) lived in the USA for 12 years and
in Australia for three years before moving
to Lugano. She holds a BFA in Production/
Design and MA in Theatre Studies. Ingrid’s
COMPANY BIOGRAPHIES
ELLA GRACE ABISI ’21, USA (Street
Urchin/Morocco’s Attendant)
is 11 years old. Before coming to TASIS
two years ago, she spent seven years
participating in theater at The Ogunquit
Playhouse in Maine. She played the Wicked
Witch of the West in The Wizard of Oz at
TASIS last year and is excited to learn new
acting techniques and to be on stage again.
BEN CARLSON-PETERS ’21, USA
(Street Urchin/Arragon’s Attendant) has
been in many plays and plans to be in more.
He was The Wizard in The Wizard of Oz
and a Chimney Sweep in Mary Poppins for
the Elementary School Drama program.
He thanks to Ms. Carlson for giving him
the opportunity to be in The Merchant of
Venice.
FARRAH ELARABY ’15, Egypt/USA
(Portia) is extremely excited to be part of
the Merchant cast after performing last year
as Hecate and Young Siward in Macbeth
and in the Ensemble of The Sound of Music.
When offstage, Farrah can usually be seen
with a camera strapped around her neck or
laughing extensively (and loudly) with her
friends.
JOHN TABOR GAGE ’17, USA (Solanio)
is most excited to be portraying the
character Solanio in his first Shakespeare
play. His previous roles in drama
productions include the monster in
Frankenstein and a citizen in Dracula.
With Liev Schreiber as his main acting
inspiration, John wishes to take on similar
roles in future productions. John would
like to explode with an enthusiastic
“Thanks!” for Ms. Valerie Carlson and his
main co-actor Rron Lluka for their support
and guidance.
PAULINA GAZIN ’16 (Stephana) is
excited to participate in her fifth theater
production at TASIS. Over the years she
has played a wide variety of roles and
plans to continue expanding her acting
experience in the years to come.
ANN HALDY, USA (Old Gobbo) has
welcomed the opportunity to be part of
this production. She began acting in fourth
6
grade and has enjoyed performing many
roles in both amateur and professional
theater over a span of more than fifty years.
In her non-theatrical TASIS life, she is
Assistant to the HS Grade Deans.
HAILEY HIBBARD ’15, USA (Shylock)
is very excited for her first “bad guy”
role. A regular on the TASIS stage, she
has participated in The Odd Couple, The
Dew Drop In, As You Like It, All Shook
Up, Macbeth, and The Sound of Music,
and is excited to be a part of the awesome
Merchant of Venice cast this year! Hailey is
grateful for her friends and family for their
support, her English class for dealing with
her overly passionate defenses of Shylock
while reading Merchant this fall, and her
sister Lindsay for helping her memorize
her lines.
EDOARDO ITALIA ’16, Italy (Antonio) is
thrilled to be making his third appearance
as a main character in a play. He previously
played Macbeth in his former school’s
Macbeth, Banquo in TASIS’s Macbeth,
Franz the butler in The Sound of Music;
Jessica, Shylock’s daughter
Gabriella Piconi
Prince of ArragonAida Loggiodice
Prince’s AttendantBen Carlson-Peters
Street Urchins
Ella Abisi, Ben Carlson-Peters, & Calvin Matthew
Salerio, Antonio’s messenger
Antonella Piconi
Tubal, a wealthy moneylender
Hugo Rourke
Jailer/Officer of the Court
Alex Wolf
Duke of Venice
Ivan Semashev*, Dr. Chris Love^
* Playing the role on Wednesday & Friday
^ Playing the role on Thursday & Saturday
Guest Pianists: Claudia Zittle and Nadine Schellekens
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Production Team
Director
Ms. Valerie Bijur Carlson
Stage Managers
Giacomo Mahdjoubian, Batuhan Toprak, & Daneesha Lewis
Costume Design & Construction
Ms. Ingrid Proos
Wardrobe Crew
Hannah Brueckner, Christelle Mezzadri, & Sarah Penetsdorfer
Make-up Design
Maria Clara Amaral Rocha
Make-up & Hair Crew
Maria Clara Amaral Rocha & Bellisa Santana
Set Design
Daniela Garcia Perez, Riona Kozuki, Aida Loggiodice,
Bruna Costa Rodrigues, Laura Vecoli, & Ms. Carlson
Scenic Painting
Daniela Garcia Perez, Riona Kozuki, Aida Loggiodice, Bruna Costa Rodrigues, Veronica Quintana Cardenas, Laura Vecoli, & Ms. Anna Ferretti
Prop/Scene Shop
Giuseppe Battista, Marie-Amelie Prieur, Laura Vecoli,
the Cast, the TASIS Drama Classes, Liam Pitts,
Giancarlo, Mr. KC McKee, Mr. David Z Peters, & Ms. Carlson
Lighting Design / Board Operator
Amanda McAfee
Music Coaches
Ms. Samantha Forrest, Mr. Jonathan Mowrris, & Mr. Alessio di Tonno
Sound Design
Mr. David Z Peters
Running Crew
Hannah Brueckner, Aida Loggiodice, Sarah Penetsdorfer, & Laura Vecoli
Production Assistance
Mariavittoria Avino, Lisamarie Hess, Luisa Weinberg
Program Editors
Ms. Carlson, Mr. Michele Kestenholz, Ms. Kristin Pedroja
Poster PhotoAmanda McAfee
Poster Design
Ms. Carlson & Mr. Brendan Shea
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WHY THIS PLAY? WHY NOW?
One of TASIS Founder M. Crist Fleming’s
favorite Shakespeare plays was The Merchant
of Venice. In particular, says her daughter Lynn
Aeschliman, TASIS Board Chairman, Mrs.
Fleming loved the “quality of mercy” speech, in
which the playwright invites us all to consider
the value of mercy and generosity as virtues
upholding the spirit of the law and as ideals
we should all strive for. The play also contains
another of Shakespeare’s most moving speeches
to humanity about humanity, “Hath not a Jew
eyes?...” At once a romantic comedy, a courtroom
drama, and a subversive commentary on power
and position, Merchant makes us think.
As members of an increasingly global society,
and pertinently, as members of the international,
cross-cultural TASIS community, the play is
especially important. To continue the Stratford
Theatre Festival’s commentary, “we need to
address the prejudices and fears found in The
Merchant of Venice. Confronting the difficult
[issues] in the play [as] it delves into the
complexities of varying shades of love, mercy,
and justice, gives us pause and perspective. The
play depicts [prejudice] but does not necessarily
condone it, and in a morally complex situation
where no one is without fault, we are prompted
to ask questions about how we relate to people
who are different from us.”
As author Susan Hundertmark writes in An
Invitation to Dialogue, “There’s no question
that The Merchant of Venice is a challenging
play.” The Stratford Theatre Festival dramaturgs
concur, writing that “The Merchant of Venice is
a Shakespearean comedy with an edge: racial,
religious, and nationalistic prejudice darken its
storylines of romantic pursuit, and the revenge
plot involving Shylock takes the play to the very
brink of tragedy.”
And indeed, we are asked by Shakespeare not
only to consider relationships between people of
different religions, but also between women and
men, employees and employers, and—something
Mrs. Fleming herself wanted—between ourselves
and people of other nationalities.
source of quotations: the Stratford Theatre Festival
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