Cast
Rita McCann (Mercutio)
Kira Christoforidis (Benvolio)
Michael Quadrino (Tybalt)
Dani Elizabeth Letsche (Nurse)
Ryan Molloy (Friar Laurence)
Matt Engle (Lord Capulet)
​Katy Rebholz (Lady Montague)
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is a junior at Hofstra University, born and raised in Rochester NY! She was first introduced to the works of William Shakespeare as a fourth grader when she played Henry V in Act 4 of her class’ abridged production, and since then she has also been seen as an Outlaw in Two Gentlemen of Verona, Helena in A Midsummer Night’s Dream, and Lady Macbeth in Macbeth. This is her first delve into Romeo and Juliet since reading it in eighth grade, and she has enjoyed every minute of it.
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is beyond thrilled to be working with such amazing people on R&J. A Hofstra University graduate with a B.F.A. in Drama Performance, credits include Measure for Measure (Lucio/Barnardine/Friar Peter), Hedwig & The Angry Inch (Yitzhak), RENT (Mark's Mom/Junkie), and What Fools!-A One-Hour 'Midsummer Night's Dream' (Egeus/Puck/Snug). New York credits include Yentl (Yachna/Pesha/Chambermaid) with the Beautiful Soup Theatre Collective. When not on stage, Kira is a choreographer and a certified Zumba instructor. Much love to Stef for being majestic and for this wonderful opportunity, the cast for being beautiful, and always, Mom, Dad, and Marc, who continue to be majestic, wonderful, and beautiful.
is in her final year at Hofstra University pursuing a B.F.A. in theater performance. She hails from the seacoast of New Hampshire where she grew up acting with the Oyster River Players, a collaborative theater company that she joined at the age of six. Previous credits at Hofstra include Cat on a Hot Tin Roof (Maggie), Dead Man’s Cell Phone (Jean), Dogg’s Hamlet Cahoots Macbeth (Lady Macbeth), and The Marriage of Bette and Boo (Emily). A million thanks to Stefanie for the endless inspiration and love to Mom and Dad.
Eliza Hill (Paris)
is originally from Long Island, New York and is currently pursuing a B.F.A. in theater performance from Hofstra. Credits include: Romeo and Juliet (Romeo), Hamlet (King Claudius), The Marriage of Bette and Boo (Matt), and Rent (Mark). He would like to thank Stefanie and the rest of the cast for the wonderfully inspiring experience this has been and his mom for her endless support.
Cody Dericks (Juliet)
A resident of Rutherford, NJ, Dani is in her senior year at Hofstra University where she will be receiving a BFA in Performance with minors in English and Marketing. Previous credits there include Learned Ladies (Martine), Dead Man’s Cell Phone (Mrs. Gottleib), The Last Days of Judas Iscariot (Mother Teresa/Sister Glenna) and Cabaret (Kit Kat Girl). She is a graduate of Bergen County Academies for the performing arts in Hackensack, NJ. She is grateful for this opportunity to work with such an outstanding and supportive cast and creative team. Love always to her parents, friends, and mentors.
graduated from Hofstra University in 2012 with a B.S. in Exercise Science and a minor in drama and is thrilled to be working on this phenomenal project once again! Previous credits include Born Blue (The Blaze) by Caren Tackett, and RENT (Mark) at Hofstra University. Eternal thanks to Stefanie for this incredible chance to be a part of this magical piece. As always, much love to my family and Anthony an to this beautiful cast and crew of people, I am so lucky to be working with you.
Originally hailing from Sparta, NJ, Cody is a senior at Hofstra University. He will be graduating in May with a B.F.A. in Performance. Hofstra credits include The Learned Ladies (Vadius), Dead Man’s Cell Phone (Dwight), Spring Awakening (Ernst), Much Ado About Nothing (Conrade), and Rent (Man with Squeegee, A Waiter, and Others), and he will soon be seen in yet another adaptation of Romeo and Juliet, entitled This Bud of Love (Benvolio). He is so excited for this opportunity, and cannot wait to bring gender-swapped Shakespeare to the Scottish masses! He would like to thank Stefanie, Allie, and the rest of the cast and crew for their endless support and creative spirit, and his parents for all their love.
​Originally from the Greater Boston Area in Massachusetts, Ryan is currently pursuing a B.F.A. degree in Performance from Hofstra University. At Hofstra he recently played Clitandre in The Learned Ladies. Outside of school he’s done work with Concord Youth Theatre where he appeared in shows like The Adventures of Robin Hood (Robin Hood), The Crucible (Giles Corey), Snow White (Magic Mirror), Legally Blonde (Warner Huntington III) and The Laramie Project (Father Roger Schmidt). He’s also appeared in multiple student productions at Hampshire College. Ryan is very excited and grateful to be part of such a talented, creative and open-minded cast.
from Pittsburgh Pennsylvania, is delighted to be a part of this new and unique production of Romeo and Juliet. Rita is in her junior year at Hofstra University, pursuing a BFA in acting and a minor in musical theatre. Most recently, she was seen as Wendla, in Spring Awakening, and Hope Cladwell, in Urinetown. Other Hofstra credits include: The Wall, The Insanity of Mary Girard, Rent, Alice in Wonderland, Much Ado About Nothing and Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson. This semester, Rita will be playing Juliet, in This Bud of Love, and Edna/Florence, in Waiting for Lefty. Thank you to the passionate cast, crew and everyone making this production possible! So much love to Mom, Dad, Carly and Doug!
Kelly Dietrich (Romeo)
calls Baltimore, Maryland home, and could not be more excited to be part of this powerhouse of a team for such a production of R/J! Having transferred to Hofstra University last autumn, she is currently pursuing a BFA in Acting as well as a minor in Musical Theatre. She most recently was seen as Dr. Hillary McMahon in Raised in Captivity, and as Charmian in Antony & Cleopatra. Other recent credits include Dog Sees God (Tricia York), The Complete Works of William Shakespeare Abridged (Jess), and Metamorphoses (Myrrah/Midas’ Daughter/Hunger). A million thanks to the brilliant, star-studded cast & crew, endless love to Ma, Pops, Alex & Chris, kisses to both my Als, and above all, utmost gratitude to Stefanie Harris, without whom none of this would be possible.
