Rachel Bakker (Director, Cyrano; Sebastiana,Tempest) This marks Rachel's 17th season with Festival Theatre Ensemble. She has been seen in such productions as The Merry Wives of Windsor, Julius Caesar, The Two Gentlemen of Verona, Macbeth, Much Ado About Nothing, and The Taming of the Shrew. Last season's Much Ado About Nothing was Rachel's fifth directorial project with Festival Theatre Ensemble. Rachel also enjoys managing City Lights Theater Company's New Play Readers Series, where she has directed many new works by local playwrights. Rachel received her Bachelor's Degree in Drama from the University of California Santa Cruz, and graduated from Drama Studio London's (in Berkeley) one-year Actor's Training Program. 

James Barker (Cleon, Pericles; L'Anville, Cyrano) is excited to return for his fifth season with FTE. Previous roles include: The Duke (Three Musketeers), Scrub (Pirates of Port Royal), Verges (Much Ado About Nothing), and Tweedledum (Alice in Wonderland).

Matthew W. Castle (Gower, Pericles; Caliban, Tempest) Past favorite FTE roles include: Petruchio (The Taming of the Shrew), Macbeth (Macbeth), Feste (Twelfth Night), Mercutio (Romeo & Juliet) and Laertes (Hamlet). 

Bruce W. De Les Dernier (Director, Tempest and Pericles; Prospero, Tempest; FTE Founder / Artistic Director). Bruce is a native of the Bay Area. He graduated by San Jose State University in 1976 with a B.A. in Theatre Arts and Related Technologies. In the years since graduation, Bruce has been involved in over 150 productions as director, actor, playwright, choreographer, or fight director. He has written eleven plays, all of which have been produced. Three are original scripts and eight are adaptations of classical novels / fairytales for the stage. Bruce was listed in Who's Who in Theatre 1979-80 for The Adventures of Cyrano! a Children's Theatre adaptation of Cyrano de Bergerac commissioned and produced by California Actors Theatre (Los Gatos). He co-founded Festival Theatre Ensemble in 1994 with his wife Eileen and a few close friends. In addition to Bruce's work in Bay Area theatre, he has held a position on the staff of West Valley College Theatre Arts Department for 34 years. At the college, Bruce has been an Instructor / Director / Guest Artist and Playwright. 

Robin Rhys De Les Dernier (Ferdinand, Tempest; Boult/Knight/Sailor, Pericles) Robin's other recent roles for FTE include: Cinna (Caesar); Conrade (Much Ado About Nothing), Gibbet (Pirates of Port Royal), Rosencrantz (Hamlet); and White Knight (Alice In Wonderland). 

Kyle Fox (Christian, Cyrano; Lysimachus, Pericles) Kyle would like to welcome you to FTE's 2015 season. Last year he played Don Jon (Much Ado About Nothing) and Archer (Pirates of Port Royal). Most recently he was the understudy for the Big Bad Wolf in Theater in the Mountains' production of Narnia. 

Jann Fratis (Trinculo, Tempest; Fisherman #2/ Veil Dancer, Pericles) has been with FTE for many seasons and is happy to be back for more! Memorable roles include: Mrs. Sullen (Pirates of Port Royal), Maria (Twelfth Night), Grumio (Taming of the Shrew), Dromio (Comedy of Errors), Trinculo & Ariel (The Tempest), and Anne Bonney (Treasure Island). 

Jane Goldsmith (Ensemble, Pericles; Miranda, Tempest) is excited to be back for her eleventh season with FTE! Past roles with the company include Dorinda in The Pirates of Port Royal, Luciana in The Comedy of Errors, and Alice in Alice in Wonderland. She’s also looking forward to helping teach FTE's Camp Shakespeare again this summer!

Nicole Haskell (Lychorida/Priestess #1/Tarsus Ensemble, Pericles; Cabbage, Cyrano) This is Nicole's second season with FTE having appeared last year as Seacole (Much Ado About Nothing) and PNA News Crew (Julius Caesar). Her favorite roles include Mrs. O'Roarke (Jekyll and Hyde), The Cook (Alice in Wonderland) and Player (Pippin). 

Cici Huber (Roxanne, Cyrano; Nymph, Tempest) has been on and off the FTE stage since 2007, most recently as Hero (Much Ado About Nothing) and Oulette (The Further Adventures of the Three Musketeers).

Anna Julian (Marina, Pericles; Nymph, Tempest) is thrilled to be returning to FTE for her second season having recently took the stage in Much Ado About Nothing (Margaret), Julius Caesar (Lepidus) and Pirates of Port Royal (Country Woman). Prior to FTE she could be seen performing at West Valley College in shows that include The Twilight Zone (The Librarian), Jekyll and Hyde (Mrs. Poole), and Sweet Charity (Ursula).

Nick Mandracchia (Le Compte de Goute, Cyrano; Antiochus / Simonides, Pericles) is ecstatic to return for his third season with FTE, having previously been in Much Ado About Nothing (Benedick), Julius Caesar (Marc Antony), Comedy of Errors (Antipholus of Atlantic City) and Three Musketeers (Porthos). Recently, he was seen in City Lights' Amadeus, and Foothill Musical Theater's Little Shop of Horrors.
 

Amr Mourad (Squeek, Cyrano; Gonzalo, Tempest) Amr is excited to be back with FTE. Favorite roles with FTE include Dogberry (Much Ado About Nothing), Malvolio (Twelfth Night), Squeek (The Adventures of Cyrano!), Flute (A Midsummer Night's Dream), and Ben Gunn (Treasure Island). Amr also does Photoshopping and graphics work for FTE like the festival program. He is a graduate of Columbia University.  

Caitlin Lawrence Papp (Mimi de Baguette, Cyrano; Thaisa / Choreographer, Pericles) Caitlin is thrilled to be in her second season at FTE after getting to play Beatrice in last years Much Ado About Nothing. Some of her favorite roles include Lucy in You're A Good Man Charlie Brown (WNMTC), Lana Sherwood in Its A Wonderful Life: A Radio Show, and Anna in Truce: A Christmas Wish From The Great War (CLTC). She is a graduate of the Foothill Theater Conservatory and currently dances with Shrungaar and Ariel Dance Productions. 

Lisa Schultz (Dionyza/Diana, Pericles; Musician, Tempest; Sound Design, Cyrano) is very happy to return to FTE for another exciting season! Past favorite roles include The Lady Bountiful (The Pirates of Port Royal), Savannah (Treasure Island), Mrs. Dilber (A Christmas Carol) and Queen Aggravaine (Once Upon a Mattress). She has also composed and performed music, designed sound, provided Music Direction and/or Vocal Direction for FTE and other theater companies in the Bay area.

Jonathan Stebbins (Boatswain/Puppeteer, Tempest; Monk #2/Poetry Judge, Cyrano) Jonathan is excited to be back on stage with FTE after appearing in Comedy of Errors and Hamlet. His love of acting has previously led him to be involved in theater at West Valley College. The he has been seen as Sam Craig (Our Town), participated in numerous student productions both on stage and off, and most recently played Lewis in Golden Boy. He does technical work at WVC for Gerald Carter and is also the Associate Technical Director for Calvary Los Gatos.

James Tate (Antonio, Tempest; Cyrano, Cyrano) has had the privilege of being with FTE since 2007. Favorite roles from previous seasons include Tartuffe (Tartuffe), Captain Smollett (Treasure Island), Tranio (Taming of the Shrew), and Brutus (Julius Caesar). He thanks you for joining us this evening, and hopes that you enjoy the show!

Kyle Terry (Alonzo, Tempest; Pandar/Thaliard/Ensemble, Pericles). Kyle is excited to return for his second season with FTE after performing as Octavius (Julius Caesar), Squire Sullen (The Pirates of Port Royal) and Don Pedro (Much Ado About Nothing). 
 

Vaughn Mayer (Leonine/Fisherman #1/Lord, Pericles). This is Vaughn's first season with Festival Theatre Ensemble. He hopes you enjoy the show!