Wiess Tabletop Theatre

Drew Castleberry, Senior Producer

Matthew Alter, Kelley Briggs, Kelly Dahlin, Producers

PRESENTS

Hello, Hamlet!
Written by Adapted from Hamlet by
George Greanias (Wiess ‘70) William Shakespeare

Revised by
McKenna Tanner Joanna Coram
Mahliya Dolan Kyra McKauffley Viola Hsia

Lighting Design by Props Design by Sound Design by

Jules Houston Ana Contrucci Arden Katz

Set Design by Hair and Makeup Design by Costume Design by

Henry Prendergast Joyce Shi Kyra McKauffley

Stage Manager Stage Manager

Ainsley Ganti Cece Gonzalez

Orchestra Direction by
Søren Lorentzen
Choreographed by Choreographed by
Sophia Devereux Taylor Stowers
Assistant Director
Emily Quin

Music Direction and Orchestrations by

Zev Malina

Directed by
Alayne Ziglin

APRIL 12 - 14, 2024

 The Cast
Hamlet.......................................................................................................... AUGGIE SCHWARZ
Ophelia............................................................................................................... CELESTE URIBE
Horatio............................................................................................................ PAOLA HOFFMAN
Claudius....................................................................................................... MEARA MCCARTHY
Gertrude........................................................................................................ TAYLOR STOWERS
Polonius............................................................................................ MCKENNA CASTLEBERRY
Laertes............................................................................................................. NADIA THIERIOT
Marcellus....................................................................................................... KATIE MAURANO
Rosencrantz............................................................................................................. VIOLA HSIA
Guildenstern............................................................................................... MCKENNA TANNER
Ghost........................................................................................................................... CJ FRIEND
Fortinbras................................................................................................ DREW CASTLEBERRY
Gravedigger.................................................................................................. ELEANOR TUCKER
Witch 1......................................................................................................... CHRISTIAN STEELE
Witch 2........................................................................................................................ CJ FRIEND
Witch 3........................................................................................................................ JOYCE SHI
Puck.......................................................................................................... DREW CASTLEBERRY
Soothsayer................................................................................................................ NAT PUJET
Eleanor.................................................................................................................... ARDEN KATZ
Soldier 1....................................................................................................... CHRISTIAN STEELE
Soldier 2......................................................................................................... STEVEN BURGESS
Henry V........................................................................................................... KENNY MANNING
Richard III........................................................................................................... KELLY DAHLIN
Macbeth................................................................................................................. JOHN ISRAEL
Macduff.............................................................................................................. KELLEY BRIGGS
Capulet.................................................................................................................... ARDEN KATZ
Ghost Chorus................................................. DREW CASTLEBERRY, JOYCE SHI, NAT PUJET
Nun Chorus....................... KELLY DAHLIN, CATHY GUANG, ARDEN KATZ, CAELYN WANG
Soldier Chorus..................................................... CJ FRIEND, MINGO ALMAZAN, NAT PUJET

The Orchestra
Conductor................................................................................................... SØREN LORENTZEN
Flute....................................... JOANNA CORAM, SABA FELEKE, SOOJIN KIM, JOLINA ZHAO
Oboe/English Horn............................................................................................... MANAV LUND
Bassoon................................................................................................................... ETHAN PECK
Saxophone...................................................................................................... NATHAN LAROCK
Clarinet.............................................................................................................. KELLEY BRIGGS
Trumpet..................................................................... CONNOR WELSH, CALLUM FLEMISTER
Violin.................................................................... KATIE BUTLER, BERNY GUERRA ARTHUR,
JUN LIU, HELENA SONG, LENA-MARIE STOGER
Viola........................................................................................ SHAKTY JUAREZ, IAN CARROLL
Cello...................................................................................... EMLYN JONIEC, EMMA PHILLIPS
Percussion ................................................................................ ADAM VUONG, ELISE GIBNEY
Piano........................................................................................................................ ZEV MALINA
 Musical Numbers
ACT I
Overture....................................................................................................................... Orchestra
Welcome to Denmark.............................................................................. Marcellus, Company
Ya Got Trouble ......................................................................................... Ghost, Ghost Chorus
How Far I’ll Go................................................................................................. Laertes, Ophelia
The Bros are Back.......................................................................... Rosencrantz, Guildenstern
My New Soliloquy............................................................................................ Hamlet, Horatio
Come to Your Senses....................................................................................... Ophelia, Hamlet
Deadly...................................... Claudius, Rosencrantz, Guildenstern, Marcellus, Courtiers
Revenge........................................................................................................ Hamlet, Company

ACT II
Fratricidal Villain King.................. Hamlet, Horatio, Ophelia, Rosencrantz, Guildenstern
Should I Kill the King Tonight?.................................................................... Hamlet, Claudius
Mamma Mia................................................................................................... Gertrude, Hamlet
So Much Deader ............................................................................................ Polonius, Hamlet
Spell Block Tango........................................................... Witches, Puck, Soothsayer, Eleanor
Soothsayer.................................................................................................................... Claudius
Hamlet Die...................................................................................................... Laertes, Claudius
I Feel Crazy...................................................................................................................... Ophelia
Hyper-Traumic-Cerebellic-Multiple-Psychosis...................................... Horatio, Company
Ophelia ................................................................... Gertrude, Claudius, Laertes, Nun Chorus
When Your Sister Drowns....................................... Claudius, Gertrude, Marcellus, Laertes
Hello, Hamlet............................................................................................................... Company
I’m Gonna Slay All of You............................................................. Fortinbras, Soldier Chorus
My Name is Fortinbras............................................................................................. Fortinbras
You Can’t Stop the Death........................................................................................... Company

Hello, Hamlet! will be performed

with a fifteen-minute intermission

A Note from the Director

Hello, Hamlet! is primarily a show about comedy and either enhancing or disrespecting the legacy
of William Shakespeare. Inspired by the blend of Shakespearean and modern dialogue and
references in the show, I’ve decided to mirror this unique balance via the technical elements of
the show. Some costume pieces, props, sound effects, etc. should feel jarringly modern next to
their “Shakespearan” counterparts. At its core, Hello, Hamlet! is a show that understands it’s a
show, and these wild combinations like a Renaissance Faire dress with headphones are designed
to intentionally break the typical immersion of a Shakespeare production.
Additionally, the Hello, Hamlet! 2024 script clearly points to the show being an attempted and
failed recreation of Shakespeare’s actual play Hamlet. The following scenes of actors trying to
assemble a production of Hamlet while not understanding (or likely, having read) the actual script
create much of the comedy in the musical parody show. In short, Hello, Hamlet! exists in the
metaverse, and all of my actors are playing actors who are trying to put on Shakespeare’s Hamlet
However, this combination of the “a play within a play” trope with the extensive references to
classic theatre and pop culture almost makes this show into a modern Shakespeare show. And for
that, I think Will would be proud.
 Crew
Sound Board Operator.................................................................................... ELISE STEWART
Electricians........................................................................ DREW CASTLEBERRY, NAT PUJET
Lighting Crew.................................................................... NADIA THIERIOT, AINSLEY GANTI
Costume Alterations................................................................................ LILIANA ABRAMSON

Special Thanks
We’d like to thank the following people
who made this show possible!
Marge Quin
Wiess College
Jenny Toups
Housing & Dining
Brandi Smith
Marlo Wilcox

Who’s Who
MINGO ALMAZAN (Soldiers Chorus) is a junior MCKENNA CASTLEBERRY (Polonius) is a senior at
from Duncan majoring in Art and Women, Wiess majoring in Ecology and Evolutionary
Gender, & Sexuality and minoring in Museums Biology. Previously at Rice, she appeared in Great
and Cultural Heritage. He has participated in Play Comet (Marya), Fun Home (Helen), Murder on the
in a Day, Bakershake (Twelfth Night), and Wiess Orient Express (Mrs. Hubbard), A Gentleman’s
Tabletop (A Gentleman's Guide to Love and Guide to Love and Murder (Phoebe), and the 2020
Murder). Mingo would like to thank the cast for virtual Hello, Hamlet! (Ensemble). She is beyond
being so silly day in and day out! grateful for this opportunity and will forever be
in awe of all the talented people involved in this
STEVEN BURGESS (Soldier 2) is a freshman from show and Wiess Tabletop Theatre. She hopes you
Duncan studying Film/Photography. This is his enjoy your time in Elsinore!
first play at Rice. His previous roles include Mr.
KELLY DAHLIN (Ensemble; Producer) is a
Wormwood in Matilda the Musical and Mr. Mayor
sophomore from Wiess studying Electrical
in Seussical the Musical. He would like to thank
Engineering and English. As a Tabletop producer,
his cast, crew, family and especially his
she is very impressed by and thankful for the
Fortinbros for a wonderful show! He hopes you
hard work the cast, crew, orchestra, designers,
enjoy this musical BASS'd on Hamlet!
and directorial team put into this show!
DREW CASTLEBERRY (Fortinbras, Puck, Ghost CJ FRIEND (Ghost, Witch 2, Soldiers Chorus) is a
Chorus; Producer) is a Wiess senior majoring in freshman from Jones studying Statistics,
Ancient Mediterranean Civilizations. They’ve Linguistics, and Theatre. Some of her favorite
been in the Rice theatre scene since 2020, past roles have been Regina (Mean Girls), Val (A
appearing as Anatole in Great Comet (Fall ‘23 Sid Chorus Line), and Roxie (Chicago). She enjoys
Rich), Janet in The Rocky Horror Picture Show painting, crocheting, and making brownies in her
(Fall ‘23 RicePRIDE), Medium Alison in Fun Home free time. She would like to thank the
(Spring ‘23 Wiess Tabletop) and Mitch Mahoney choreographers, directors, and producers for all
in The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee of their hard work. Break a leg, everyone!
(Spring ‘22 VADA). Drew would like to thank their
cats the Slippys, the wondrous Fortinbros, and CATHY GUANG (Nun Chorus) is a first-year
their girlfriend for being constant sources of computer science PhD student at Rice. She also
emotional support. Now make sure to pee while sings in Rice Chorale, Chime Accapella, and
you still can and enjoy the show! Murder Up In The Air with Rice Chinese Theater
Club. She wants to thank Hello, Hamlet!’s
amazing cast and crew for a whole semester of
fun and awesome work!
 Who’s Who
PAOLA HOFFMAN (Horatio) is a sophomore from AUGGIE SCHWARZ (Hamlet) is a Sophomore from
Sid Rich studying Anthropology with a minor in Lovett studying Business. Auggie was last seen as
Environmental Studies. You may have seen him Natasha in Sid Richardson's production of Great
as Dill in That Thing in the Bathroom or directing Comet. Auggie would like to thank their family,
during Play in a Day last Fall. This is Paola's first friends, cast, and crew. Enjoy the show!
time performing with Wiess Tabletop, and she is
JOYCE SHI (Witch 3, Ghost Chorus; Hair and
thrilled to have the chance to work alongside
Makeup Designer) is a freshman from Wiess
such a talented cast and crew in Hello, Hamlet!
majoring in mechanical engineering and physics.
VIOLA HSIA (Rosencrantz; Writer) is a junior Her past roles include ensemble roles in Great
from Brown majoring in Creative Writing and Comet, Mary in Billy the Kid, and Wenjing Su in
Theatre and is thrilled to be in this amazing Murder Up In The Air. She appreciates the effort
show! A SAG-AFTRA member, her previous that all the cast, technicians, designers, and
credits include The Tempest (Miranda), The directors put into this performance, and would
Taming of the Shrew (Gremia), Much Ado About like to thank everyone.
Nothing (Hero), and The 25th Annual Putnam
County Spelling Bee (Marcy Park), season 2 of CHRISTIAN STEELE (Soldier 1, Witch 1) is a
Modern Love (Anna), and Amazon Prime’s Fallout freshman from Hanszen studying philosophy on
(Jamila). She’d like to thank Alayne for putting the pre-law track. He previously starred as the
up with numerous antics, Cece and Ainsley for goofy Christopher Wren from The Mousetrap in
managing all the conflicts, the writers for being Rice VADA. He would like to thank the cast and
awesome people to write with, and the cast and crew before they get down to business!
crew for being lovely, incredible, and fantastic.
TAYLOR STOWERS (Gertrude; Choreographer) is
ARDEN KATZ (Eleanor, Capulet, Featured a junior from Duncan majoring in psychology
Ensemble; Sound Designer) is thrilled to be a part and minoring in neuroscience. Her previous
of this production of Hello, Hamlet! Arden is a roles include Sonya and choreographer in Great
senior from McMurtry majoring in Cognitive Comet, Lizzy Bennett in Pride & Prejudice, and
Sciences and VADA - Theatre. She has taken on Olive Ostrovsky in The 25th Annual Putnam
various different roles both on and off the stage County Spelling Bee. She would like to thank her
in the Rice theater community, most recently family and friends for their constant support and
assistant directing Art (VADA) and Mousetrap every single person involved in this show for
(VADA), playing Shayna/Young Woman in That their hard work, heart, and humor.
Thing in the Bathroom (Rice Players) and
Baptista in The Taming of the Shrew MCKENNA TANNER (Guildenstern; Head Writer)
(Bakershake), and sound designing for Fun Home is a senior from Hanszen studying English and
(Wiess Tabletop). She hopes you enjoy the show! psychology. She is managing coordinator of the
Rice Players, co-head of Hanszen Theatre
KENNY MANNING (Henry V) is a freshman from
Committee, and a member of Spontaneous
Brown studying Business Finance. Previously, he
Combustion. She has designed props for nine
depicted Edward Markley in Radium Girls. He
Rice productions, and has acted in several Wiess
would like to thank the cast and crew for their
Tabletop shows, most recently playing Princess
hard work, and sends a special thanks to the
Dragomiroff in Murder on the Orient Express. She
directors who made this show possible!
is so grateful to be closing out her Rice theatre
MEARA MCCARTHY (Claudius) is a freshman career with such a lovely cast and crew.
from Duncan studying Cognitive Science with a
minor in Theater. Her recent roles include Hope NADIA THIERIOT (Laertes) is a sophomore at
in Urinetown and Mona in Chicago. She’s excited McMurtry majoring in Linguistics and minoring
to be in her first show at Rice and is grateful for in Classical Civilizations with a certificate in
the new friends she has made along the way and Italian. You may have seen her previously
for having this opportunity to work with them. onstage in Great Comet (Mary), Fun Home
(Roy/Mark/Pete), and Merrily We Roll Along
NAT PUJET (Soothsayer, Ghost Chorus, Soldier (Ru/Newscaster/Minister). She is beyond thrilled
Chorus; Lighting Crew) is a freshman from to be entrusted with a sword and part of the
Duncan studying Earth, Environmental, and Hello! Hamlet tradition (which was mentioned in
Planetary Sciences. You may have seen Nat in the her college app essays). She’d like to thank
ensemble of Great Comet last semester. Nat everyone involved with the production for all
would like to thank the cast and crew for making their hard work and hopes you enjoy the show!
this show such a fun experience!
 Who’s Who
ELEANOR TUCKER (Gravedigger) is a junior at MAHLIYA DOLAN (Writer) is a sophomore from
McMurtry majoring in Bioengineering. She Jones studying cognitive science and applied
would like to give a special shout-out to the math. She has previously co-written a skit for
writers and Zev for the incredible script and Rice's Play in a Day with Charlie St. John.
arrangements. The rehearsal process has been
such a joy, and we all hope you enjoy the show! ALAYNE ZIGLIN (Director) is a junior majoring in
Classics, Ancient Mediterranean Civilizations,
CELESTE URIBE (Ophelia) is a sophomore from and Medieval & Early Modern Studies with a
Baker studying English, Political Science, PLST, minor in Museums & Cultural Heritage. Alayne
and Theater as a pre-law student. Her previous has been directing for five years recently worked
roles includes Hélène ;) in Great Comet. She on Taming of the Shrew (co-director) and Murder
implores the audience to have a wonderful time on the Orient Express (assistant director). Next
and to pretty please laugh constantly for the year, Alayne looks forward to working on the
sake of the cast, crew, and pit who have poured Managing Team for the Rice Players. They are so
countless hours into this show. She'd also like to grateful for all of the hard work and dedication
thank the cast, crew, and pit for those countless put into this show by the cast, crew, pit
hours and for their talent, dedication, and orchestra, and especially their assistant director,
fantastic vibes. Enjoy the show! <3 Emily, and lead producer, Drew! Finally, Alayne
CAELYN WANG (Nun Chorus) is a freshman from would like to thank you for watching and
Jones studying Business. Her previous *hopefully* enjoying this three-hour-long show;
experiences include light production and they hope they’ve honored this tradition as much
direction in high school for Rent and Dear Evan as they were honored to direct it! xoxo
Hansen. This is the first time she’s involved in a
EMILY QUIN (Assistant Director, Fight
musical at Rice, and she’d like to shout out to the
Choreographer) is a sophomore from Duncan.
amazing cast and crew for all the time and effort
She has been involved in theater for a long time,
put into this show. You guys are awesome, and
but some highlights include playing Laertes in
happy working with you on this epic production!
Hamlet, directing The Alibis in high school, and
MATTHEW ALTER (Producer) is a senior at Wiess. more recently playing Bianca in BakerShake's
Usually an actor, you may have seen him The Taming of the Shrew. This show has been a
previously in The Mousetrap (Trotter), Boeing labor of love for all involved, and she’d like to
Boeing (Robert), or A Gentleman’s Guide to Love thank everyone in the cast and crew for their
and Murder (Monty). He’s majoring in theatre tireless dedication and all of you for coming to
and mathematics (assuming he passes his last support these incredible people. Enjoy the show!
course requirements). He’d like to thank his
fantastic family and wonderful friends for ZEV MALINA (Music Director, Piano) is a Jones
always making sure he knows how loved he is. A junior studying music composition, and he’s got a
big thank you to his dog Dexter for ‘producing’ so lot of people he’d like to thank, so suffice it to say
much joy to all around him. Thank you and he’s been onstage some and he’s music directed
congratulations to the entire cast and crew for some. Thanks to the entire creative/production
creating such an incredible work of art that they team for all their work and collaboration on this
can all be proud of. Thank you for coming to see show, thanks the cast for their immense
his final impact on Rice theatre. commitment and for tolerating the most of his
nonsense (on average), and thanks *so* much to
KELLEY BRIGGS (MacDuff; Producer, Clarinet) is Søren and the pit for bringing his arrangements
a senior from Wiess and a major in political to life with such poise. Enjoy the show!
science and business. This is his ninth play at
Rice (Gentleman’s Guide to Love And Murder-Pit, SOPHIA DEVEREUX (Choreographer) is a senior
The 25th Annual Putnam Spelling Bee-Pit, Much majoring in Theatre and Art History. Recent
Ado About Nothing-Don John, Murder On The choreography credits include Godspell (UH) and
Orient Express-Hector MacQueen, Taming of the Merrily We Roll Along (Sid Rich). She extends a
Shrew-Grumio, The Mousetrap-Major Metcalf, huge thank you to the Fred to her Ginger: co-
Natasha & Pierre-Pit, and The Tempest- choreographer Taylor Stowers! Taylor, you are a
Sebastian), in addition to being his eighth gem for meeting every challenge with grace,
Shakespeare play (if you count this as a donuts, and smiles, and I’m so grateful to have
Shakespeare play). He is honored that he gets to shared this experience with you. Much love to all
carry on the tradition of Hello, Hamlet! in three involved in this adventure!
different roles.
 Who’s Who
SØREN LORENTZEN (Pit Orchestra Director and AINSLEY GANTI (Stage Manager) is a sophomore
Conductor) is a senior at Wiess majoring in EEPS major from Baker. They stage managed for
music performance. He has attended many Rice The Taming of the Shrew and Great Comet (and
theatre performances, but this is the second one snuck into the pit) and produced this year’s
he has been involved in, after playing in the pit BakerShake show, The Tempest. She’s had a
for Great Comet last semester. He’d like to lovely time taking part in the Hello, Hamlet!
extend his heartfelt thanks to the pit orchestra tradition with this wonderful production team,
for their hard work and commitment, as well as crew, cast, and pit orchestra. Thanks everyone!
the cast and the rest of the production team. CECE GONZALEZ (Stage Manager) is a freshman
from Baker studying English. Her previous
JULES HOUSTON (Lighting Designer) is a
credits at Rice include directing the Rice Players
sophomore at Jones, majoring in theatre and
staged reading of My Boss is the Dinosaur and
English creative writing. Their work has
Assistant Stage Managing the VADA production of
previously been seen on campus as a designer
The Mousetrap. She is so excited for you to see all
(VADA's Small Mouth Sounds (2023), Actors from
of the cast and crew's hard work!
the London Stage's Romeo and Juliet (2023) Rice
Players' To Love a Lilac (2022)), a board operator JOANNA CORAM (Writer, Flute) is from McMurtry.
(VADA's The Mousetrap (2023)), and a lighting SABA FELEKE (Flute) is an Artist and a
advisor/supervisor (Sid Rich's Merrily We Roll mechanical engineer from Martel.
Along (2023), Sid Rich's Great Comet (2023)).
SOOJIN KIM (Flute) is from Wiess.
Their work is also frequently seen at the Moody
Center for the Arts, as a member of the events JOLINA ZHAO (Flute/Piccolo) is from Jones, and
crew. They would like to thank the whole cast she knows how to woodwork and wield metal.
and crew, and give a special thanks to Drew MANAV LUND (Oboe) is a freshman from Jones.
Castleberry and Nat Pujet for being the most They can’t whistle.
incredible and patient electrics team they ETHAN PECK (Bassoon) is a senior from Duncan
could've asked for. who enjoys playing a variety of instruments in
HENRY PRENDERGAST (Set Design) is a his free time.
sophomore mechanical engineering major from NATHAN LAROCK (Saxophone) is from Brown
Baker. He co-led prop and set design in CALLUM FLEMISTER (Trumpet) is from Duncan.
Bakershake's The Taming of the Shrew. He would Their previous pit experiences include Cabaret
like to thank the rest of the production crew for and Into the Woods.
their wonderful work along with Robert Purvis
CONNOR WELSH (Trumpet) is from Martel.
and everyone else at the Moody makerspace.
Connor used to be really good at Rocket League
KYRA MCKAUFFLEY (Writer, Costume Designer) JOHN ISRAEL (Macbeth; Horn) is from Hanszen.
is a junior from Martel majoring in English with Why is MacBeth in Hamlet? I’ll guess you’ll have
a minor in Creative Writing with a French to find out.
certificate. You may have seen her costume JESUS TERRAZAS (Horn) is from Lovett.
designs in That Thing in the Bathroom (Rice
Players) or Merrily We Roll Along (Sid Rich), or BERNY GUERRA ARTHUR (Violin) is from
seen her onstage as Antonio in The Tempest McMurtry and was a pitcher in select baseball!!!
(Bakershake), Jan in Small Mouth Sounds (VADA) HELENA SONG (Violin) is from Martel. Helena
or in the Ensemble of Great Comet (Sid Rich). likes to listen to (not play) music at 2x speed.
She’d like to thank the incredible cast for all IAN CARROLL (Viola) is from Brown. Ian is a
their hard work and support. triplet with 2 sisters (no, they are not identical).

ANA CONTRUCCI (Props Designer) is a freshman SHAKTY JUAREZ (Viola) is from Brown. Fun fact-
from Hanszen majoring in neuroscience and Shakty is right-handed!
computer science. She previously worked on EMLYN JONIEC (Cello) is from Lovett.
designing props for That Thing In the Bathroom EMMA PHILLIPS (Cello) is from Wiess. She is
(Rice Players). Ana is extremely glad she had the excited to be in her first (and only) theater
opportunity to work on Hello, Hamlet!, and she production at Rice!
hopes that you all enjoy the show!
ADAM VUONG (Percussion) is from Will Rice, and
he takes care of 5 cats as his home.