top of page
Jake
Maya
Faith

MEET THE PLAYERS

Screenshot 2024-04-27 at 8.12.50 PM.png

Jake Badovski*

Actor, Teaching Artist

Jake Badovski (he/him) is thrilled to make his Summit Players Theatre debut in this year’s production of A MIDSUMMER NIGHT’S DREAM. After graduating from the University of Minnesota and attending the Gaiety School of Acting in Dublin, Jake is ecstatic to return to his hometown of Milwaukee and continue to perform and create meaningful stories with other incredible art-makers. Some of Jake's previous credits include THE GOOD DOCTOR, THE HOBBIT, SHE KILLS MONSTERS, THE WINTER'S TALE, SKIN OF OUR TEETH, and ANTIGONE. Thank you for supporting the necessity that is the arts and Summit Players Theatre, this season and always!

Courtney Buvid

Managing Director

Courtney is thrilled to be officially joining the ranks of Summit Players after spending several seasons in their outer orbit. After watching Summit grow during her time with Marquette Theatre, she is looking forward to being involved in the next chapter with a fearless and dedicated team! By day, she connects the performing arts with Milwaukee-area schools as the ACE & Education Manager with the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra. She earned her MA in Arts Management at George Mason University and her BA in Music at the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh. When not buried in a spreadsheet, Courtney can be found either in the kitchen indulging her sweet tooth, or looking for wildflowers in a state park. She hopes you fall for Shakespeare just like she has!

C. Buvid Headshot.jpg
md-re.edit17.jpg
Actor, Teaching Artist

Maya Danks (she/her) studied theatre at the University of Minnesota, and now works as an actor, playwright, and director in Milwaukee, WI. This is Maya's third consecutive summer performing/teaching with Summit Players Theatre; she appeared last summer in MACBETH (Lady Macbeth/Witch) and the previous year in MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING (Leonato/Don John/Ursula.) In the Milwaukee area, Maya has recently worked with Renaissance Theaterworks, Vanguard Productions, Sunstone Studios MKE, The Constructivists, Forte Theatre, and Voices Found Repertory. When not on stage, Maya writes adaptations of classical plays. www.mayadanks.com

KayleneHoward1_HS40524.JPEG
Actor, Teaching Artist, Marketing Director

Kaylene Howard returns for her third year with Summit, and she cannot believe they keep falling for her trap. You may have seen her last year in MACBETH, and previously during the 2021 season THE WINTER'S TALE. This year she also graciously accepted the title as the company's new Marketing Director, and is stoked to take the team's online presence to new heights. Originally from California, she received her training at the Pacific Conservatory of Performing Arts and has since found her home in Milwaukee! Favorite roles of hers include #00 (THE WOLVES), Macy (THE CAKE), Ismene (ANTIGONE), Ophelia (HAMLET) and Sebastian (THE LITTLE MERMAID) When not performing, she can be found working with talent at Lori Lins Limited Talent Agency or probably taking a nap with her cat. www.kaylenehoward.com

Carrie Johns

Production Manager

Carrie is excited to be once again hitting the road with Summit for her third season! Other local work includes stage managing with First Stage on shows including THE GRACIOUS SISTERS, LITTLE WOMEN, A MIDSUMMER NIGHT'S DREAM and ARTHUR AND FRIENDS MAKE A MUSICAL. Carrie is a graduate of the University of Worcester- UK. When not working in theater Carrie can be found sailing Tall Ships, practicing aerial arts, reading, and telling puns.

received_397350177693370.jpeg
Director, Script Adapter, Humanities Expert

A Speech and Theater graduate of Marquette University, Ms. Kilmurry received her MFA from Southern Methodist University’s Professional Actor Training Program. A member of Actors Equity Association, she has acted professionally in Seattle, Dallas, Kansas City, Milwaukee and at the Oregon Shakespearean Festival, as well as “Off” & “Off-Off” Broadway. Now permanently based in her native Milwaukee, she has turned her focus to directing, teaching, dialect and vocal coaching, as well as writing some Ibsen adaptations. For more than 20 years she taught Acting Shakespeare, and Auditioning and Career Preparation at Marquette University. Directing credits include productions for Windfall Theatre, The Boulevard Ensemble, Playwrights Studio Theatre, Amethyst Productions, the John Michael Kohler Art Center, the Manitowoc Civic Theatre and the Haggerty Museum. She has also directed each of the Summit Players summer productions since 2015 and is very excited to take Summit’s A MIDSUMMER NIGHT'S DREAM to the Wisconsin State Parks this summer.

MK 1_edited.jpg
Summit Players Theatre Logo Blu BlkTxt-01.png

Faith Lensmith*

Tour Manager

Bio coming soon!

*Natalie Murray

Understudy

Natalie Murray is beyond ecstatic to be here with Summit Players and with you! She graduated from Marquette University this May with a B.A. in Writing-Intensive English, Theatre Arts, and French, so she's happy to keep that momentum going in WI state parks. Her most recent acting credit was as Smeraldina in MU’s production of Servant of Two Masters, and her most recent encounter with Shakespeare was as Director of David Ives’s Words Words Words (monkeys at typewriters…!). She hopes you enjoy the playfulness of Midsummer and feel more equipped to tackle Shakespeare for yourself in the future

NatalieMurray
Education Director

Caroline is an actor, director and theatre educator based in Milwaukee. She has been a member of Summit since 2018 and this is her fourth year as Education Director. Previous Summit credits include: TWELFTH NIGHT (Viola/Maria), ROMEO AND JULIET (Nurse), THE WINTER'S TALE (Perdita/Young Shepherd), MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING (Beatrice), and MACBETH (Ross/Witch). Outside of Summit, Caroline has worked with various theatres in the Milwaukee area including First Stage, Milwaukee Chamber Theatre, Skylight Music Theatre, Sunstone Studios, Forte Theatre Company, Voices Found Repertory, Renaissance Theatreworks, and Next Act Theatre where she currently serves as Administrative and Artistic Manager.  Here’s to another wonderful season of Shakespeare in the state parks!

IMG_2312_edited.jpg

George Lorimer

Development Director

George joins Summit's administrative team as Development Director after Macbeth and Much Ado as a cast member. George is a Milwaukee based actor, teaching artist, and producer. Previous work includes Macbeth and Much Ado About Nothing at Summit Players Theatre, A Christmas Carol, As You Like It, and Titanic at Milwaukee Rep, Ride the Cyclone at the Contemporary Theatre of Ohio, Spongebob and Anatole with First Stage, and Fortunate Sons with Skylight Music Theatre. He is Co-Founder and Executive Producer of Vanguard Productions, an independent theatre company in Milwaukee. George is a graduate of the College of Wooster and Milwaukee Rep's Emerging Professional Resident Program. 

GeorgeMarn_web-0271.jpg
SebastianRiveraHeadshot1.jpg

Sebastian Rivera*

Actor, Teaching Artist

Sebastian is an upcoming senior at UW-Parkside, studying to earn his BA in Theatre with a Concentration in Acting, and is making his debut with Summit Players Theatre! Past Parkside credits include Alf (PETER & THE STARCATCHER) and Various Roles in THE LARAMIE PROJECT. Sebastian transferred from Harper College, with previous roles including Hal (PROOF), Elyot Chase (PRIVATE LIVES), and Mr. Willoughby (SENSE & SENSIBILITY: THE MUSICAL). Other credits include Usnavi De La Vega (IN THE HEIGHTS) with Up and Coming Theatre, Ren McCormack (FOOTLOOSE), and Rapunzel’s Prince (INTO THE WOODS) both with the Fox Valley Theatre Company. He hopes you love and enjoy the show, and sends many thanks for coming out!  

Armando Ronconi

Music Composer

Armando Harlow Ronconi is thrilled to be returning to Summit as the music coordinator for A Midsummer Night’s Dream! As a proud Marquette graduate and Summit Player originator, he is looking forward to the full circle experience after being away for nearly 10 years! He would like to thank his friends and family for their constant love and support! 

ArmandoRanconi_Headshot.jpg
Courtney
Carrie
Kaylene
Maureen
Natalie
Sebastian
Caroline
Armando
George
Joshua

Joshua Soape*

Male Swing

Joshua is entering his final year of undergrad at Marquette. He has done theatre for much of his life and has developed a love of Shakespearean comedy in recent years. He's so excited to be a part of this awesome group and hopes you enjoy the show.

DSC_0023.jpeg

Amelia joyously returns for her sixth consecutive season designing for Summit Players Theatre! Amelia is a Milwaukee based Costume Designer and Technician and currently serves as Cutter/Draper in Marquette University's Helfaer Theatre. Most recently, she designed costumes for Marquette Theatre's production of SWEENEY TODD. You may have previously seen her work at Vanguard Productions, Next Act Theatre, Florentine Opera Company, UW-Milwaukee Dance Department, and Milwaukee Repertory Theater. She holds a BA in Theatre Arts with an emphasis in Costume Design from Marquette University and a minor in Studio Art through Milwaukee Institute of Art and Design. It means so much to Amelia to get to bring free theatre to audiences every summer with Summit Players Theatre and she hopes you enjoy this year's production! Website: ameliastrahan.com Instagram: amelia.s.makes

Costume Designer
Amelia
AmeliaStrahan_Digital2024.jpeg
Matthew
Torkilsen headshot.jpg
Actor, Teaching Artist

Matthew Torkilsen is a current Senior at Marquette University, where he studies Theatre Arts, Digital Media and Advertising. You may recognize him from some of his roles at Marquette, such as Jack Worthing in THE IMPORTANCE OF BEING EARNEST or Bill Austin in MAMMA MIA! You can find Matthew at his website: https://matttork.wixsite.com/torkilsite

Sarah Zapiain

Artistic Director, Actor, Teaching Artist

Bio coming soon!

83658441_2706499566110372_1620001783617159168_n.jpg
Sarah

*Denotes Summit Players Debut

bottom of page