​The Tragedy of Hamlet

Shakespeare in the Park Bios 2022

​​​What's Happening on Facebook

What's Happening on twitter

JENNIE OTTERMAN (Director)has over 55 years of theatrical experience, acting in a multitude of productions and directing over 50 plays at Hamilton Southeastern High School including Crimes of the Heart, The Boys Next Door, All My Sons, Godspell and The Glass Menagerie. She holds a BA in English, Speech/Theatre and Psychology from Indiana University and a masters in Theatre Performance from Northwestern University. For twenty-nine years she wrote the curriculum for and taught Public Speaking, Advanced Placement Composition,Creative Writing and Acting I, II, III and IV. She was a long-standing member of the I.R.T.Education Advisory Board and one of the authors for the Department of Education’s state standards for theatre. Since retirement in 2015, Jen has directed A Christmas at Home, Picnic (7 Encore nominations) and Lie, Cheat and Genuflect (Best Director of a Comedy) for Westfield Playhouse. and she acted at Mud Creek as Nat in Rabbit Hole and Grandma in Lost in Yonkers at The Red Barn Summer Theatre in Frankfort. Other directorships include Dinner with Friends at The Red Barn, Hide and Seek at Carmel Community Players, One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest (9 Encore Awards, including Best Director of a Drama) and Wait Until Dark at The Belfry Theatre in Noblesville. She has directed Noblesville’s Shakespeare in the Park at Federal Hill Commons for the past two years. Her most recent directing was Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf at Mud Creek this past February and Rumors in June at The Basile Westfield Playhouse. In addition, she is a judge for musicals with The Indianapolis Encore Association. Jen was recently nominated for Arts Leader of the Year by the Nickel Plate Arts organization. As an actress, Jen has worked with Ball State Theatre, Clarksville 
Little Theatre, New Albany Players, The Apple Core, Mud Creek and the Red Barn Summer Theatre. Her television credits include a Crest Toothpaste commercial and a local cable feature, in addition to voice over work for The Indiana Historical Society. Some of her favorite acting roles include Lizzie in The Rainmaker, Gypsy in Gypsy, Sally Truman in Lips Together Teeth Apart, Fraulein Schneider in Cabaret, Chris Gorman in Rumors, Maggie in Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, Nat in Rabbit Hole, Jill in Butterflies Are Free, Meg in Crimes of the Heart and Roxie Hart in Chicago.

MOLLY BELLNER (Queen Gertrude) is thrilled to take part in her first Shakespeare in the Park production. Born and raised a Hoosier, Molly recently returned to the area after living the past several years in New England. Some of Molly’s most memorable roles include Rita in Educating Rita, Annie in Apartment 3A, and Elizabeth Proctor in The Crucible. Molly sends her love, in perpetuity, to Brad, BC, AL, and CJ. She dedicates her work on this production to Amy. 
KELLI CONKIN (Gravedigger) is very pleased to have this opportunity to make her debut appearance on the Noblesville Shakespeare In the Park stage. She has performed previously multiple Indianapolis area theatres including The Belfry, Carmel Community Players, Mud Creek Players, The Scottish Rite, Epilogue Theatre and Main Street Players in Westfield. Exuberant thanks to Jenn and Rob for allowing her the opportunity to perform in this delightful play with this talented cast!
MADALYN COTTRELL (Player Queen) is entering her sophomore year at USI and is majoring in acting and theatre arts at the University of Southern Indiana. She has been active in high school theatre since her freshman year, but Hamlet will be her first ever community theatre show and second Shakespeare experience. Some of her previous roles include Lina Lamont in Singin’ in the Rain, Countess Lily in Anastasia. Gingy in Shrek the Musical, The Ghost of Christmas past in A Christmas Carol, and Maria in Twelfth Night. Madalyn extends many thanks to her friends, family, and mentors for their never-ending support. 
KA'LENA CUEVAS (Horatio) is thrilled to be back on the boards for another summer of Shakespeare in the Park! You may recognize her as Katherina Minola from last year’s NCAC production of The Taming of the Shrew, and she is so happy to be working again with many familiar faces. Ka’Lena has been involved in community theatre since 2016 and currently serves on the board for Main Street Productions/ Basile Westfield Playhouse, Inc. Thanks to Jen Otterman and Rob Highway for the opportunity to play Horatio, and boundless gratitude to the entire cast and crew for all their hard work and talents in bringing this classic to life. Many thanks to YOU for supporting live, outdoor Shakespeare! Enjoy the show!
ERIC DIXON (Commedia dell’ Arte Players) is excited to be returning for his 5th year as a part of Noblesville Shakespeare. Previous roles include Stephano and Banquo, as well as working behind the scenes as tech and sound production.
LINDA GROW (Costumer)This is Linda’s 4th time costuming for NCAC. She really enjoyed her previous work on A Midsummer Night’s Dream, MacBeth, and The Taming of the Shrew. Shakespeare plays are a costumer’s dream. She feels really fortunate to work with such a great cast and crew.  Linda will be costuming in the near future for First Folio, Main Street Productions and the Belfry. Come on out and see!
MATT HARTZBURG (Polonius) is delighted to return to the stage at Federal Hill Commons for NCAC’s production of Hamlet, having previously appeared as Malcolm in the 2019 production of Macbeth. Matt most recently took the stage with the Mud Creek Players in Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf under the direction of Jen Otterman. Some of his past Shakespeare experience includes Berowne in Bard Fest’s Love’s Labours Lost and the 2021 IndyFringe production of Lear’s Shadow. Matt resides in Indianapolis and works in information technology. He would like to thank director Jen Otterman for this splendid opportunity. Matt would also like to thank his fiancée Rachel for being a terrific partner both on and off stage, as well as his friends and family for their unceasing support and kindness.
IAN HAUER (King Claudius) is pleased to return to the Federal Hill stage after last year’s The Taming of the Shrew. Since moving to Central Indiana, he has collected a few credits in a few plays. He occasionally directs, with past titles including The Glass Menagerie, And Then There Were None, American Brutus, and Our Town. This is his third collaboration with Jen Otterman, and he heartily recommends the experience. He recently co-founded a theatre company, The Hyperion Players, to bring more artistic opportunities to eastern Hamilton County. Ian lives in Old Town with his wife, Emily, and his imposter syndrome.
ROB HEIGHWAY (Assistant Director) has performed in Shakespeare with the Indiana Repertory Theatre, the Indianapolis Shakespeare Festival, IU Mainstage and the University of Evansville Mainstage. He became involved with Noblesville Shakespeare in the Park during the 2015 production of the one act, What You Will.  He has also performed in shows at Indianapolis Civic, Bridge-Vu Dinner Theatre, Red Barn Summer Theatre, Vincennes University Summer Theatre, and The Bloomington Playwrights Project. 
ANNA HIMES (Ophelia) is thrilled to make her Noblesville Arts Commission debut! Her most recent roles include Mrs. Brill in Mary Poppins and Chroma in The Phantom Tollbooth. Outside of theater, Anna works in Alzheimer’s clinical trials and enjoys painting, reading, and lengthy conversations with loved ones. She thanks everyone involved with this production for all their hard work and generous use of their talents.
RACHEL KELSO (Marcellus, Servant) is delighted to join the NCAC stage once again this year as Marcellus! It is an honor to be in such a well-known and well-loved production. Recent roles include Honey in Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf? at Mud Creek Players, Rosaline in Love’s Labours Lost with BardFest, and Gloria in Boeing, Boeing! with Carmel Community Players. When she isn’t onstage, Rachel enjoys spending time with her pets and her fiancé Matt. She would like to thank her director Jen for always pushing her to improve, and you for supporting the arts!
LOGAN LAFLIN (Hamlet) is very excited to return to the NCAC stage. Previously seen as Petruchio in The Taming of the Shrew, other stage credits include Ensemble/Bard Boy (with Hair) in Something Rotten, Sam in  The Wild Party, Phil Davis in White Christmas, Fredrick in Young Frankenstein, Lord Farquaad in Shrek the Musical, and Cinderella's Prince in Into the Woods, among others. An Illinois native, Logan got his Bachelor’s in mechanical engineering from Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology in Terre Haute, IN, and currently works for Indiana Mills & Manufacturing, Inc. A huge thanks to Jen Otterman for her support and guidance in tackling this huge role! He also wants to thank his parents, Mick and Karen, for their support and love; and the whole cast and crew for their encouragement and shared talent!!
GEOFF LYNCH (Sound Engineer) is excited to return to Federal Hill Commons to provide audio support for this year’s Shakespeare in the Park. An Encore Award winning sound engineer, Geoff has been involved with the NCAC since 2017, which was our first year here at the Commons. He also recently returned to the stage playing the role of Tigger in the Improbable Fiction Theatre’s production of House at Pooh Corner. When not on stage or in the sound booth, Geoff works as the Director of Product & Business Strategy for DMI, and he often volunteers in running broadcast audio for services at Grace Church Fishers.
STEPHEN MOORE (Laertes) holds a directing degree from Millikin University and has worked as an actor, director, and lighting designer. Favorite past productions include The Pillowman, Assassins, The Last Days of Judas Iscariot, The Will Rogers Follies, and The Lieutenant of Inishmore. Steve lives in Indianapolis with his wife, Julie, and their cats Pippa and Marigold.
AARON PLOOF (Ghost)This is Aaron’s 2nd Shakespeare in the Park production, as well as his 2nd time to be directed by Jen Otterman. You may have last seen Aaron in last summer’s production of The Taming of The Shrew as Hortensio, or in Anthony and Cleopatra as Proculeius. His favorite roles include Pete from Almost, Maine and Thomas F. Norman in Execution of Justice. Aaron holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Theatre and English from Anderson University, and he likes to use his smarts to analyze characters and scripts. In his free time, he enjoys reading, playing board and video games, and spending time with his friends. He’d like to thank them as well as his parents for supporting him in his artistic endeavors. He hopes that you enjoy the show!
GIDEON ROARK (First Player/Lucianus) is excited to be participating in Noblesville's Shakespeare in the Park again. He has previously appeared in productions with other companies including Booth Tarkington Civic Theatre, The Belfry Theatre, Muncie Civic Theatre, and The Indiana Repertory Theatre in Indianapolis. Gideon’s passion is acting. When he isn't acting, you can find Gideon making videos for his YouTube channel, playing guitar or learning new and random skills.
NATHANIEL TAFF (Player King, Priest) Growing up in Noblesville, Nate loved going to see Shakespeare every year for as long as he can remember and dreamed of taking part in it one day himself. He finally had his chance last year when he played Grumio in The Taming of the Shrew and is excited to be back again for Hamlet. Some of his other roles have been Officer Welch in Rumors, Dr. Einstein in Arsenic and Old Lace, Johnathon Harker in Dracula, and Claudio in Much Ado about Nothing. When not onstage, Nate is a laboratory technician who loves baking for his friends and castmates, reading and writing stories, playing D&D, and looking forward to his next audition. Nate is grateful to be onstage with such a talented cast and crew and would to thank his friends, family, and wonderful girlfriend for their support.
MONYA WOLF (Commedia dell’ Arte Players) is excited to be participating in her fourth show at Noblesville Shakespeare in the Park. She would like to thank the director for including her and her friends and family for support her dramatic ways on and off the stage.