The American Shapespeare Project
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Here is just a sampling of the folks that are part of the TASP family and regularly work with us. Please check back often, as we are constantly adding to this list!

Board of Directors

picture David Nava is the Founder and Artistic Director of the American Shakespeare Project. He has directed over a dozen of the group's efforts, including Othello, King John, Twelfth Night, Much Ado About Nothing and Measure for Measure. A budding digital filmmaker, Mr. Nava also has two short film projects currently in development as well as work on a promotional documentary about TASP. As an actor, Mr. Nava made numerous appearances in Chicago and regional theaters and was active in Shakespeare's Motley Crew, a young, cutting edge acting ensemble. Mr. Nava is a graduate of Southern Illinois University at Carbondale and the UNM School of Law. By day, he is a lawyer in the Albuquerque City Attorney's office.
picture Eric Locher serves as a Board Member and Treasurer of TASP. He is a graduate of the University of Iowa, the Illinois School of Professional Psychology (1995) and the University of New Mexico School of Law (2003). He is a practicing Attorney in New Mexico. Mr. Locher works as an Attorney in the Felony Division of the New Mexico Public Defender Department. He is also a big jazz fan and loves skiing.
picture Preston Mendenhall is the President of the Board of Directors and has studied theater and performance for many years. He is trained in Spolin and Johnstone improv techniques as well as the Meisner acting technique. He was managing director of Show Ponies Productions, bringing original works to venues across the east coast, and off-Broadway. He has worked with the Carnegie Mellon Festival of New Plays and the Contemporary American Theater Festival. He studied and performed Shakespeare's works with Joseph Olivieri, author of Shakespeare without Fear, and playwriting with Frank Gagliano (Big Sur, Night of the Dunce). With TASP, he has appeared as the hapless Roderigo in Othello and the delirious Sir Andrew in Twelfth Night, as well as directing the romance Cymbeline.
picture Lori Stewart is a Board Member, Resident Costume Designer and veteran performer with the company. She has appeared in eight TASP productions, playing many of the great Shakespearian heroines including Beatrice in Much Ado About Nothing, Desdemona in Othello and Isabella in Measure for Measure. She also co-directed As You Like It with David Nava and was active with the company in its formative years, taking leading parts in productions prior to TASP's incorporation. She has appeared in numerous productions at other Albuquerque area theaters including the Adobe, the Vortex, Albuquerque Little Theater and the University of New Mexico's Theater X.

Actors and Other Artists

picture Preston Mendenhall is the President of the Board of Directors and has studied theater and performance for many years. He is trained in Spolin and Johnstone improv techniques as well as the Meisner acting technique. He was managing director of Show Ponies Productions, bringing original works to venues across the east coast, and off-Broadway. He has worked with the Carnegie Mellon Festival of New Plays and the Contemporary American Theater Festival. He studied and performed Shakespeare's works with Joseph Olivieri, author of Shakespeare without Fear, and playwriting with Frank Gagliano (Big Sur, Night of the Dunce). With TASP, he has appeared as the hapless Roderigo in Othello and the delirious Sir Andrew in Twelfth Night, as well as directing the romance Cymbeline.
picture Daniel T. Cornish (referred to as "The Kid" within TASP) has enjoyed apearing in five TASP productions, including Twelfth Night, Othello, King John, Cymbeline, and most recently Much Ado About Nothing, in which he starred as the wiley Benedick. Daniel was recently voted Best Actor in the Weekly Alibi's "Best of 'Burque" reader's poll for 2005. He is a founding member of the sketch comedy troupe "Eat, Drink and Be Larry", a senior at UNM studying acting and history, and a former walk-on for the New Mexico State Aggies basketball team. Daniel has 'dug his heels in' for the long haul with TASP and looks foward to a bright future with the company. He would also like to add a big thanks to the TASP Board of Directors - the REAL performers.
picture Rick Wiles is a fluffy old character actor who figured out the other day that he has appeared in 17 Shakespeare productions: Romeo and Juliet, Henry IV Part I (twice), Henry IV Part 2, Henry V, As You Like It (twice), Twelfth Night, All's Well that ends Well, King Lear, Antony and Cleopatra (twice); and with The American Shakespeare Project: one of the 2 As You Like Its, Love's Labour's Lost, King John, Much Ado About Nothing and Measure for Measure. Now that he's got the hang of it, he hopes to do many more flowery performances for TASP.
picture Bob White was born in Japan. He ended up in Albuquerque and the desert but his roots are in southeast Texas and Louisiana where family ties run deep. He first appeared with TASP at the Riverside in Edward the Second and has been in such productions as As You Like It, Othello and Much Ado About Nothing. Bob works for the Mayor's office as our city attorney, where he gets to boss David Nava around for a change.
picture Drew Groves attended Dartmouth College and holds a graduate degree in Directing from the University of New Mexico. Drew has performed in Cymbeline, Measure for Measure, as Michael Cassio in Othello and as Antipholus in A Comedie of Errors. Drew is a portrait artist, a writer, and a hospice educator. He is committed to Joy, Light, and Love.
picture Dave McDowell has played Philip the Bastard in King John, Lodovico in Othello and the Duke in Measure for Measure as well as Norfolk in A Man for All Seasons.
picture Paul Barrientos has performed in several TASP productions, including Twelfth Night, Othello, As You Like It and Much Ado About Nothing. He is also a talented musician and opera singer who performs with the Santa Fe Opera Company and has composed original melodies for Shakespeare's songs in many of our productions, such as As You Like It, Othello and Cymbeline.
picture Kelle Senyé, a graduate of Eastern New Mexico University with a BFA in Theatre Performance, made her first appearance with TASP as Celia in As You Like It. She has since then participated in several productions, including Twelfth Night, Love's Labour's Lost, and as Mrs. Page in The Merry Wives of Windsor. Over the past year she has been learning the role of a lifetime....that of Mamá to her beautiful son, Rafael. During the day, Kelle manages a 432 unit apartment community and conducts training for her company. So she still gets to stand up in the spotlight, even when she's not at the theatre!
picture Erin K. Moots is a principal designer and performer with the company. Ms. Moots has designed sets for a number of TASP productions including Othello, Measure for Measure and Twelfth Night. She has played a variety of roles, including Mrs. Ford in Merry Wives of Windsor, Rosalind in As You Like It and Viola in Twelfth Night. A graduate of Eastern New Mexico University, Ms. Moots is also the Costume Designer in Residence at the Albuquerque Little Theater.
picture Lori Stewart is a Board Member, Resident Costume Designer and veteran performer with the company. She has appeared in eight TASP productions, playing many of the great Shakespearian heroines including Beatrice in Much Ado About Nothing, Desdemona in Othello and Isabella in Measure for Measure. She also co-directed As You Like It with David Nava and was active with the company in its formative years, taking leading parts in productions prior to TASP's incorporation. She has appeared in numerous productions at other Albuquerque area theaters including the Adobe, the Vortex, Albuquerque Little Theater and the University of New Mexico's Theater X.
picture Georgia Athearn graduated from the Goodman School of Drama in Chicago (we'll just say over two decades ago) and is pleased beyond belief to be a part of TASP. She has appeared in Othello, King John, and Comedy of Errors. It has taken years of aging gracefully before finding her niche in the more "mature" roles that Shakespeare wrote. She would like to thank David Nava and the TASP Board for their support and kindness. Georgia has been seen at other venues in the Albuquerque area doing more contemporary pieces and prior to coming to this desert hamlet she did theater in Denver for ten years.
Last updated: Friday Mar 2 2007 19:09:35 MST