top of page
William Shakespeare's
AS YOU LIKE IT
JUNE 14 - 26, 2026 (Select dates)
A sun-soaked remix of As You Like It, this version trades the Forest of Arden for the glitz of 1990s Beverly Hills. When Rosalind is forced out of her privileged world, she reinvents herself and escapes into a world of poolside confessions, mall meetups, and tangled romances straight out of a 90210-style drama. Disguises, love triangles, and witty banter unfold under palm trees and neon lights, where heartbreak and self-discovery feel as iconic as a slow-motion walk down Rodeo Drive.
.png)
CAST
*Click on the cast member to learn more about them!
Michael Doyle
Orlando
Previous Shakespeare roles include Benedick in Much Ado About Nothing, Orsino in Twelfth Night, Rosencrantz in Hamlet, and Ross in Macbeth. Directing credits include A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Hamlet, As You Like It, and The Taming of the Shrew. Ohio Northern University.
Previous Shakespeare roles include Benedick in Much Ado About Nothing, Orsino in Twelfth Night, Rosencrantz in Hamlet, and Ross in Macbeth. Directing credits include A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Hamlet, As You Like It, and The Taming of the Shrew. Ohio Northern University.
Heather Gorby
Celia
Heather Gorby (Celia in As You Like It and Roman Captain, Nurse, Publix, and Goth in Titus Andromicus) rejoins Gem City Groundlings where she recently performed Antipholus of Syracuse in The Comedy of Errors. Her passion for Shakespeare ignited atW. Shakespeare & Co. in Dayton, Ohio and has flourished with Sinclair Community College, Kentucky Shakespeare, Shakespeare Theatre of NJ, Theatre at Monmouth, Free Shakespeare!, Shakespeare in Southpark, and Actor’s Theatre of Columbus. Heather holds an Associate of Arts in Theatre Performance from Sinclair and has trained with Shakespeare Theatre of NJ and Shakespeare & Company.
Heather Gorby (Celia in As You Like It and Roman Captain, Nurse, Publix, and Goth in Titus Andromicus) rejoins Gem City Groundlings where she recently performed Antipholus of Syracuse in The Comedy of Errors. Her passion for Shakespeare ignited atW. Shakespeare & Co. in Dayton, Ohio and has flourished with Sinclair Community College, Kentucky Shakespeare, Shakespeare Theatre of NJ, Theatre at Monmouth, Free Shakespeare!, Shakespeare in Southpark, and Actor’s Theatre of Columbus. Heather holds an Associate of Arts in Theatre Performance from Sinclair and has trained with Shakespeare Theatre of NJ and Shakespeare & Company.
Jaicie Graham
Pheobe, Amiens
Jaicie Graham is so excited to join Gem City Groundings for their 2026 season! Her previous roles include Tybalt (Romeo and Juliet), Oberon (A Midsummer Night's Dream), Jessica (The Merchant of Venice), as well as many non-Shakespeare roles. Outside of theater, she is a writer working to publish her first book, and she enjoys playing the piano and watching zombie movies with her husband and pit bull. She hopes you enjoy the shows and that you come back for future productions!
Jaicie Graham is so excited to join Gem City Groundings for their 2026 season! Her previous roles include Tybalt (Romeo and Juliet), Oberon (A Midsummer Night's Dream), Jessica (The Merchant of Venice), as well as many non-Shakespeare roles. Outside of theater, she is a writer working to publish her first book, and she enjoys playing the piano and watching zombie movies with her husband and pit bull. She hopes you enjoy the shows and that you come back for future productions!
Aaron Harris
Sylvius
Zoey Knapp
Corin
Zoey Knapp is happy to be appearing in another Gem City Groundlings production. She has recently been seen as Lord Capulet in Romeo & Juliet with Showtime Performing Arts, Angelo in The Comedy of Errors with Gem City Groundlings, Titania in A Midsummer Night’s Dream with Springfield Civic Theatre.
Zoey Knapp is happy to be appearing in another Gem City Groundlings production. She has recently been seen as Lord Capulet in Romeo & Juliet with Showtime Performing Arts, Angelo in The Comedy of Errors with Gem City Groundlings, Titania in A Midsummer Night’s Dream with Springfield Civic Theatre.
Aeson Liddic
Adam
Aeson is a teen actor based in the Dayton, Ohio area with a growing passion for Shakespearean theatre. His past roles include Paris in Romeo and Juliet (Star Crossed Productions), Dromio of Syracuse in A Comedy of Errors (Gem City Groundlings,) Joseph in It’s Wonderful Life, as well as Mercutio and Ross in select scenes from Romeo and Juliet and the Young Siward in Macbeth (Gem City Groundlings), as well as the Narrator in the recent production of Puffs at his high school. He is excited to be in his third production with Gem City Groundlings! He’s also like to sincerely thank his mother and father for their constant encouragement and support.
Aeson is a teen actor based in the Dayton, Ohio area with a growing passion for Shakespearean theatre. His past roles include Paris in Romeo and Juliet (Star Crossed Productions), Dromio of Syracuse in A Comedy of Errors (Gem City Groundlings,) Joseph in It’s Wonderful Life, as well as Mercutio and Ross in select scenes from Romeo and Juliet and the Young Siward in Macbeth (Gem City Groundlings), as well as the Narrator in the recent production of Puffs at his high school. He is excited to be in his third production with Gem City Groundlings! He’s also like to sincerely thank his mother and father for their constant encouragement and support.
Amanda Maynus
Audrey
Amanda is a Columbus-based teacher with a passion for bringing stories to life. Amanda is deeply grateful to her loved ones for their encouragement and thanks everyone in attendance for supporting live theatre. Recent credits include Beatrice in Much Ado About Nothing (Pickerington Community Theatre), Piper in Sheridan (MadLab of Columbus), Meg in Crimes of the Heart (Lancaster Playhouse), and Emily in Our Town (ARTS for the Tri-State).
Amanda is a Columbus-based teacher with a passion for bringing stories to life. Amanda is deeply grateful to her loved ones for their encouragement and thanks everyone in attendance for supporting live theatre. Recent credits include Beatrice in Much Ado About Nothing (Pickerington Community Theatre), Piper in Sheridan (MadLab of Columbus), Meg in Crimes of the Heart (Lancaster Playhouse), and Emily in Our Town (ARTS for the Tri-State).
Andrew Mitakides
Jax
& 1/3 Duke Frederick
& 1/3 Duke Frederick
Daniel Morgan
Oliver
1/3 Duke Frederick
Daniel is grateful to be a part of Gem City Groundlings' productions of 'Titus Andronicus' and 'As You Like It'. Daniel cut his Shakespearean acting teeth in "Romeo and Juliet" as Friar Lawrence, but most recently performed with Clark State's production of 'Little Women' as Brooks. He has been an accompanist and pit musician for “Little Shop of Horrors”, “South Pacific”, “Thoroughly Modern Millie”, “Footloose”, and “Oliver Twist”, and was the audio engineer for the world premiere of “Cinderella: Straight Outta Cottage”. Offstage, Daniel works in both music and technology. He has deeply appreciated the opportunity to work with the cast and crew of these productions these past couple months.
1/3 Duke Frederick
Daniel is grateful to be a part of Gem City Groundlings' productions of 'Titus Andronicus' and 'As You Like It'. Daniel cut his Shakespearean acting teeth in "Romeo and Juliet" as Friar Lawrence, but most recently performed with Clark State's production of 'Little Women' as Brooks. He has been an accompanist and pit musician for “Little Shop of Horrors”, “South Pacific”, “Thoroughly Modern Millie”, “Footloose”, and “Oliver Twist”, and was the audio engineer for the world premiere of “Cinderella: Straight Outta Cottage”. Offstage, Daniel works in both music and technology. He has deeply appreciated the opportunity to work with the cast and crew of these productions these past couple months.
Cody Peterson
Charles
Cody Peterson is thrilled to debut with Gem City Groundlings! After recently directing The Importance of Being Earnest at Troy Civic Theatre, Cody is happy to be back in the thick of a new production. He thanks the team for this opportunity and dedicates his performance to his wife, Michelle, and their first child, Sofia Jean, arriving soon. I love you both!
Cody Peterson is thrilled to debut with Gem City Groundlings! After recently directing The Importance of Being Earnest at Troy Civic Theatre, Cody is happy to be back in the thick of a new production. He thanks the team for this opportunity and dedicates his performance to his wife, Michelle, and their first child, Sofia Jean, arriving soon. I love you both!
Chris Petree
Le Beau
After quite a busy year in 2025 doing five productions throughout the community and ending the year with Gem City Groundling’s A Comedy of Errors, Chris is back with us starting in our summer productions as Le Beau (As You Like It) and Quintus (Titus Andronicus). In 2025 he was seen inr Reefer Madness (Beavercreek Community Theatre), Much Ado About Nothing (Shakespeare In The Heights), The Merry Wives Of Windsor (Shakespeare In South Park), and A Midsummer Night’s Dream (Springfield Civic Theatre). He's an editor and videographer for WHIO. Past acting credits include Oklahoma (Dayton Playhouse), The Wedding Singer (Springboro Community Theatre)
After quite a busy year in 2025 doing five productions throughout the community and ending the year with Gem City Groundling’s A Comedy of Errors, Chris is back with us starting in our summer productions as Le Beau (As You Like It) and Quintus (Titus Andronicus). In 2025 he was seen inr Reefer Madness (Beavercreek Community Theatre), Much Ado About Nothing (Shakespeare In The Heights), The Merry Wives Of Windsor (Shakespeare In South Park), and A Midsummer Night’s Dream (Springfield Civic Theatre). He's an editor and videographer for WHIO. Past acting credits include Oklahoma (Dayton Playhouse), The Wedding Singer (Springboro Community Theatre)
Don Smith
Touchstone
Don Smith joins the cast of Titus Andronicus as Caius and As You Like It as Touchstone. Don began
acting in the local theater scene nearly 25 years ago, with shows at Dayton Theatre
Guild, Shakespeare in the Heights, Brookville Community Theater and Troy Civic Theater. He was most recently seen in Gem City Groundling’s production of God of Carnage.. Aside from stage acting, Don has performed locally as a stand-up comic, hosted The Life Radio Show for several years, has acted in several local independent films, and lends his voice to the occasional cartoon character. He often works with Cinema Lexzikon Productions and several of his films can be seen on Apple TV, Amazon, Tubi TV, and many other streaming services.
Don Smith joins the cast of Titus Andronicus as Caius and As You Like It as Touchstone. Don began
acting in the local theater scene nearly 25 years ago, with shows at Dayton Theatre
Guild, Shakespeare in the Heights, Brookville Community Theater and Troy Civic Theater. He was most recently seen in Gem City Groundling’s production of God of Carnage.. Aside from stage acting, Don has performed locally as a stand-up comic, hosted The Life Radio Show for several years, has acted in several local independent films, and lends his voice to the occasional cartoon character. He often works with Cinema Lexzikon Productions and several of his films can be seen on Apple TV, Amazon, Tubi TV, and many other streaming services.
James Walker
Duke Senior & 1/3 Duke Frederick
Jim Walker is excited to be returning to Shakespeare. He has appeared in several productions in the Dayton area: at the Dayton Theatre Guild (Dial M for Murder, Woman in Black), Beavercreek (Parade, Beaver Radio Theatre), TheatreLab (Mystery of Edwin Drood) and the Schuster Center (Porgy and Bess).
Jim Walker is excited to be returning to Shakespeare. He has appeared in several productions in the Dayton area: at the Dayton Theatre Guild (Dial M for Murder, Woman in Black), Beavercreek (Parade, Beaver Radio Theatre), TheatreLab (Mystery of Edwin Drood) and the Schuster Center (Porgy and Bess).
Ella Wessel
Rosalind
Ella Wessel is thrilled to be playing Rosalind in As You Like It and Lavinia in Titus Andronicus in her first ever productions with Gem City Groundlings. Some of her favorite past roles have been Cinderella in Into the Woods, Rosie in Mamma Mia, Madame de la Grande Bouche in Beauty and the Beast, and ensemble in both BGSU productions she’s gotten to be in. Ella is going into her junior year at Bowling Green State University studying Musical Theater. She wants to say thank you to everyone involved in these productions and to those who are always there for her. Enjoy the show!
Ella Wessel is thrilled to be playing Rosalind in As You Like It and Lavinia in Titus Andronicus in her first ever productions with Gem City Groundlings. Some of her favorite past roles have been Cinderella in Into the Woods, Rosie in Mamma Mia, Madame de la Grande Bouche in Beauty and the Beast, and ensemble in both BGSU productions she’s gotten to be in. Ella is going into her junior year at Bowling Green State University studying Musical Theater. She wants to say thank you to everyone involved in these productions and to those who are always there for her. Enjoy the show!
Director: Shirley Kagan
Executive Producer: Ed Bartholomew
Stage Manager: Jaicie Graham
Fight & Intimacy Director: Andrew Mitakides
Assistant Fight Coordinator: Daniel Morgan
Sound & Lighting: Dayton Masonic Center
Set Design: Dayton Masonic Center
Costume Designer: Theresa Ankenmann
bottom of page