The Players

Phillip has been a company member of Will Kempe's Players since 2018. As Managing Director, he oversees all contracts and anyone hired by the company during any given season. He supervises content, development, and production on the company podcast known as "The Bardcast Weekly." He also manages and maintains all props acquired and built by the company. He has lived and worked in the Capital Region for all of his life and is currently living in Schenectady, NY. He has been acting for over six years. He is trained in both modern theater and Original Practices Shakespeare.

In 2017, Sandy brought together a collective of fellow artists, both former students and friends, with the intent to found an Original Practices Shakespeare company, and thus, Will Kempe’s Players was born. Sandy also serves as Head of Education and Costume Director, and she regularly directs and does dramaturgy for the company’s production season, as well as occasionally performing. She retired from SUNY Schenectady County Community College in August 2013 after 23 years as head of the Performing Arts: Drama Program, and holds the rank of Professor Emeritus. She received the SUNY Chancellor’s Award twice— once for Excellence in Scholarship and Creative Activities and again for Excellence in Teaching. Her participation in the 2004 NEH Summer Institute: Shakespeare’s Playhouses: Inside and Out, co-taught by the American Shakespeare Center and Shakespeare’s Globe focused her work in early modern theatre production academically and professionally. Previously, she taught English and Theatre at SUNY Adirondack Community College and Jefferson Community College. In total, she has directed 70+ stage productions from both early modern and contemporary repertories. She freelances as an actor and costume designer.

Lita is originally from a small town in Central New York and her first solo performance was an open mic morning program in the 4th grade. Her song selection? “The Saga Begins” by Weird Al Yankovic. Even though she was petrified and stood entirely still in the center of the stage, Lita sang every word of the song into that microphone before scurrying offstage. Her stage fright was short lived, thankfully, and she has been acting in shows since the 6th grade. Lita attended Hartwick College in Oneonta where she received a BA in English Literature and Theatre Arts. After graduating college, she worked with Drama Kids of the Capital Region for 5 years, teaching ages 4-17 a variety of acting skills. When her time at DKI came to an end, Lita was an education coordinator and puppeteer for an educational technology startup company called Genius Plaza. Her puppetry was featured in many Genius Plaza videos and was a part of a traveling puppet show that performed for preschool audiences in New York, Texas, Florida, and California. She still loves doing puppet performances at Congregation Beth Emeth and through WKP (when the opportunity arises). Lita has worked with other local theaters such as Classic Theater Guild, Schenectady Civic Players, and Confetti Stage.

Melissa is thrilled to be part of Will Kempe’s Players as a company member! She received her BA in Creative Arts from Siena College. Since then, she has been working as a professional theatre artist/technician in and around the Capital Region. Part of her career brought her to the Berkshires, working at the MacHaydn Theatre and at Shakespeare & Company as wardrobe supervisor. Other notable credits include: Ouiser Boudreaux (STEEL MAGNOLIAS; Consortium Actors), assistant stage manager/wardrobe (HOLY LAUGHTER; WAM Theatre), stage manager (TENNESSEE WILLIAMS STRAIGHTUP – AND SALTED WITH A TWIST OF DURANG; Blue Horse Repertory Company), and wardrobe crew (GYPSY; Capital Repertory Theatre). She currently works at University at Albany in the Performing Arts Center as an Event Supervisor, and at the Curtis R. Priem Experimental Media and Performing Arts Center at RPI as a Production Coordinator. She first came to WKP as an assistant stage manager for their 2023 production of TAMING OF THE SHREW. The next year she was asked to be part of the company and join the cast of MIDSUMMER MADNESS: A SHAKESPERIENCE! She’s grateful to the WKP company for welcoming her into the fold and is very excited to be more involved in theatre right in her own community.

Jack D. Ellis is an actor, stage manager, director, and sometimes playwright from Glenville, NY. They graduated from Siena College with a BA in English and Theatre in 2024. While with WKP, they have served in many roles, including stage management, production, and performance. Their on-stage roles include Chiron in “Titus Andronicus,” Lucentio in “Taming of the Shrew,” Cerimon et al in “Pericles,” and every role in “Midsummer Madness: A Devised Shakesperience” except for Oberon/Hippolyta. Outside of theatre, Jack enjoys board games and TTRPGs. For more information, visit jackdellis.weebly.com.

Shae was born and raised in Schenectady, NY, and still calls that city home. After four years at  Schenectady High's Blue Roses Theatre Company, Shae received a BFA in Acting from NYU's Tisch School of the Arts, specifically training at Stella Adler Studio of Acting. A love of Shakespeare, sewing, making music, and collaborative arts is what initially drew Shae to WKP in 2018. Shae has appeared onstage in numerous productions with WKP, and can always be found in the wardrobe department. Shae has worked locally both onstage and as a designer with such companies as NorthEast Theatre Ensemble, Troy Foundry Theatre, Creative Action Unlimited, and more. Beyond theatre, Shae works in childcare, and serves as chair of the Board of Directors of Sycamore Collaborative, a local interfaith food justice organization, as well as on the board at Congregation Gates of Heaven, a Reform Jewish synagogue in Schenectady. 

Imzak is thrilled to be a member of Will Kempe's Players! "The stage is my home" is one phrase that resonates deeply with him. Having worked on various productions over the years for a number of companies, on- and off-stage, he has discovered that he really enjoys the process of storytelling. Stories move people. They learn, they laugh, they cry, they live, all through stories. What humanity experiences today has the potential to become the next play, and that really gets Imzak inspired and motivated to perform.

A hardcore Shakespeare nerd, R. hopes to see every one of the Bard's plays performed live, and act in them, too… even the bad ones. Focusing on Shakespeare and Early Modern literature for both a BA and an MA, R. is thrilled to put this education to use with WKP. Playing either villains or ingenues on stage, R. has also danced with Pokingbrook Morris and does cosplay.

Shane is an active member of the theatre community here in Upstate NY. Shane returned to NY after spending nearly 10 years in VA earning master’s degrees in Shakespeare and Performance,  and he is proud to be making theatrical waves in his hometown once again. Inspired by the art of Original Practices Shakespeare, Shane has worked hard finding his niche, a place where he is embracing personal growth while simultaneously being afforded the opportunity to educate any and all who may be interested. Shane has training in basic stage combat, Early Modern text analysis, and a number of stage acting practices. When Shane isn't working as a Senior Company Member, you can find him developing playwriting workshops for local students, conducting week-long Shakespeare camps, and teaching theatre for after-school programs. His busy schedule and passion for the arts are both unwavering constants in his life and he wouldn't change a single second.

Michael has been a company member of Will Kempe's Players since its fledgling days in 2017. He holds a BA in English from Siena College and he currently acts as the cooperative's Finance Director in addition to his creative contributions. Michael is a Schenectady native and currently resides in Troy, NY.

Dan Smirlock joined WKP as a member in 2022 after performing in "As You Like It" in the summer of 2021.

Originally hailing from Dalton, MA, Devin has always had a performative flair. While not receiving any formal training outside of joining various performances over the years (including shows with the Whitney Center for the Arts in Pittsfield, Steamer 10 Theater in Albany, Will Kempe’s), he keeps coming back to it as something that feels right. He’s looking forward to learning more about the nuts and bolts about putting theater together, and finding other new talents along the way. Currently he lives in Niskayuna, NY.

Ash Visker joined WKP as a member in 2023 after performing in "Comedy of Errors" and "Titus Andronicus" in the summer of 2022. Ash graduated from SUNY Purchase.

​Andrew hails from Canajoharie, NY. He is proud to have been a company member since the group’s inception in 2017. He holds a BA in Psychology and Philosophy from Siena College.