Romeo and Juliet
The Great Nordic Shakespeare Festival 2025
Toby Davis
Romeo
Toby Davis (Romeo) is so excited to be back in Ely! You may have seen him in last summers production of “Bright Star” as Jimmy Ray or in “Elf” in the ensemble. Other past credits include Seymour in “Little Shop of Horrors” (Cumberland County Playhouse), Gabe in “Next to Normal” (Crane River Theatre), Emmett in “Legally Blonde” (Interlake's Summer Theatre) and Prince Eric in “The Little Mermaid” (Springer Opera House). You can also see Toby in NLAAs production of “Every Brilliant Thing” a beautiful one man show about a man’s struggle with his mother’s depression and how to persevere through the hardest of times. It runs January 16, 17, 18, 30, 31, and February 1 at 6:30 pm and January 19 and February 2 at 2:30. Toby would like to thank his parents, Mark and Adrienne Davis, for their unwavering support. Instagram: tobydavis14
Mallory Wintz
Juliet
Mallory Wintz is happy to be back at NLAA for their winter season. You may remember her from Bright Star or Into the Woods last summer. Other companies she’s worked at include Roxy Regional Theatre (Hamlet, Midsummer Night’s Dream, Rocky Horror Picture Show, Spring Awakening), Crane River (Shrek, SpongeBob the Musical, The Odd Couple), RWS Entertainment, Equity Library Theatre, and more. Mallory attended college at Troy University. There, she placed as a Finalist at the Kennedy Center College Theater Festival and traveled abroad to Italy to study theatre, dance, and Commedia Dell’Arte. Mallory went on to earn her MFA in Acting from the University of Alabama. While there, she took and taught a range of theatre courses- Shakespeare included! However, her first encounter with Shakespeare dates back to 7th grade, performing in The Seussification of Romeo & Juliet at LaVilla School of the Arts. Mallory is incredibly thankful for the program, and excited to return to LaVilla this spring to direct their production of Agatha Rex: An Antigone Adaptation. Follow her on Instagram to keep up with her artistic endeavors! @wallory_mintz
Elijah Moseley
Benvolio
Elijah Moseley is a New York City based actor and writer. Originally from Florida, he attended Florida Atlantic University, from which he received his Bachelor of Fine Arts in theatrical performance as well as a minor in philosophy. Following his undergraduate years, he worked extensively in the south Florida area on new play development, both originating roles in new work as well as workshopping scripts with professional playwrights. He then spent two years
residing in Miami, FL, acting in independent films. Now located in Brooklyn, NY, he continues to workshop and help develop new projects within the independent film and theater spaces.
Molly Hill Fuller
Lady Montague/The Nurse
MOLLY HILL FULLER is an actor, originally from Goshen, IN, who now resides in the greater Chicago-land area with her husband, Ethan. Molly proudly holds a M.M. in Musical Theatre Voice Pedagogy from Carthage College and a B.F.A in Musical Theatre Performance from Western Michigan University. Her favorite performance credits include: Cathy in The Last Five Years (NLAA), Ariel in The Little Mermaid (RBT), Julie Jordan in Carousel (RBT), and Logainne in The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee (The Barn Theatre). Most recently, Molly originated the role of Marty Claridge in the world premier of Love Comes Softly: The Musical, based on the Janette Oke book and Hallmark movie adaptation. Molly works as both a professional actor and educator, and serves as an adjunct musical theatre professor at Carthage College and UW Parkside where she teaches private voice, class voice, and musical theatre techniques. She is also an active choreographer, director, and fitness instructor. She would like to thank her husband and family for their love and support, and God for this incredible opportunity! To see more, check out: www.mollyhill.org.
Mary Margret Hughes
Tybalt/Apothecary
Mary Margaret Hughes (She/Her) is an actor who is excited to be making her Minnesota debut! She hails from Springfield, Missouri, but has made her home in Nashville, Tennessee, since completing her Theatre Performance BFA at Belmont University in 2024. At Belmont she appeared in several roles including Williamina Fleming in Silent Sky, Maggie Mundy in Dancing at Lughnasa, and Carolyn in Blue Stockings. She recently spent time in Wisconsin working at the St. Croix Festival Theatre, working not only as a stage manager and teaching artist, but as a performer. She played Hawkins in Men on Boats, #13 in The Wolves, and closed out her time in St. Croix Falls as a member of the demon chorus and a puppeteer in the original work Heck!
Mary Margaret is thrilled to be making a return to the Bard's work in the Great Nordic Shakespeare Festival! Her last venture into Shakespeare's works was when she studied abroad at the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Arts on their Classical Acting semester course. A semester of text work and exploration of Chekhov, Stanislavski, and various movement techniques culminated in a performance of Macbeth in which Mary Margaret played Banquo and Lady Macbeth.
She's eternally grateful to her family for their love and support, and for her friends - both old and new! If you want to keep up with her, follow her on Instagram at @wonderstruck_mm.
Inez Vega-Romero
Gregory/Lady Capulet
Inez Vega-Romero is so glad to be back in Verona! From Nashville, she’s excited to bring some Shakespeare to Ely! She’s previously played in Nashville Shakespeare Festival’s Macb*th (Malcom, Witch), Romeo & Juliet (Juliet), Much Ado About Nothing (Hero), a staged reading of Richard III (Y. Elizabeth), and was in their 2023 apprentice company, which has continued to be an integral part of her work. This company has also given Inez her first teaching opportunities! Two of the productions she was in were a part of the Shakespeare Educational Experience Tour, and she will be coaching a production of A Midsummer Night’s Dream with them upon her return to Nashville. Continuing on her educational journey, she will also be a part of Nashville Children Theatre’s Teaching Artists of Color training program. More Inez roles include: Roxy Regional’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream (Hermia), Hamlet (Rosencrantz/ Gravedigger); Circle Players’ Urinetown (Little Sally); Watershed Theatre Company’s Romeo & Juliet (Georgina); The US premiere of The Welkin (Peg Carter) with Nashville Story Garden; TMProduction’s Pippin (Ensemble);
Romeo & Juliet (Ensemble Understudy). She also acts in film, with a few short film credits, the most recent being Afterthoughts by Mehki Liggon, which you can find on Youtube! Inez was recently in her first national Sagaftra commercial for Checkers&Rally’s. Inez likes to keep a diversified skillset, so when she’s not on stage or on set, she’s also writing and on the hunt for another way to create. She’s done hair & makeup for two productions: Romeo & Juliet and Pippin. Just before flying up to Ely, she finished a costuming apprenticeship at Street Theatre Company for a production of A VHS Christmas Carol. Thank you to her family and friends for their love and support always! You make life better. She’s always busy, so keep up with her endeavors @inezmiv on Instagram!
Paolo Pineda
Abram/Prince Escalus/Paris
Paolo Benedict (PRINCE ESCALUS/PARIS) is a Florida based actor and graduate of Florida Atlantic University with a BFA in Performance. Paolo has been seen recently in shows such as, Ride the Cyclone (RICKY), RENT (ANGEL), Grease (DOODY), and Junie B. Jones (HERB), *Hungry Ghosts (KAL), *Last Night in Inwood (BILLY), *Everyday Life (CHARLIE), and *Cupid Chastised (MARCUS).
(*world premiere/originated role)
Paolo would like to thank Ian from the bottom of his heart for allowing him to be a part of this production, and to Kimberly Nicole for her continued unending love and support.
IG: @PaoloBPineda
Noah Warner
Friar Laurence/Peter the Servant
(He/Him) Noah is so excited to be apart of this festival! You may have seen Noah recently as Buddy the Elf in “Elf:the Musical”! Noah has been in many productions and workshops with NLAA like “Bright Star”(Daddy Cane/Dance Captain), “Songs For A New World” (“Flying Home”/US Man 2), and “Into the Woods” (Narrator/Mysterious Man). Noah graduated last year with his Bachelors in Vocal Performance/Dance Studies and spent last summer on a ten day International tour traveling through London and Scotland performing “United” with Music Celebration International and the Chamber Choir of Northern Kentucky. Other credits include: Josh Groban’s “Harmony” Tour(Singer), “Deaf Republic” (Soloist/Townsperson), and the seventy-third Mid-America season (soloist) at Carnegie Hall in New York City. Noah thanks his family, friends, the entire cast, Ian, Vlad, Chris, Leah, and his mentors for all their support. @noahwarnerofficial
Eric Fredrickson
Mercutio/Friar John/Fight and Intimacy Chorographer
Eric (Mercutio - Fight & Intimacy Director - Director of Every Brilliant Thing) is thrilled to be back in his home state as part of the Great Nordic Shakespeare Festival here in the gorgeous Ely, MN! He holds a MFA in Acting from Florida Atlantic University and a BFA in Acting from Drake University. Eric serves as the Acting Instructor at Bak Middle School of the Arts in West Palm Beach, FL. Eric is an experienced fight director and dialect coach who works consistently in the South Florida region. Selected Credits Include: Baker in Into the Woods, Mayor Dobbs in Brightstar, Nick in Godspell, Man 2 in Songs for a New World, Roger in Rent, Lord Windermere in Lady Windermere’s Fan, Buckingham in Richard III, and Paul in The World Premiere of Versace Era. He would like to thank his remarkable students, his mentor JG, his friends, his family, and NLAA for providing space to practice and hone his craft.
Ian Francis Lah
Director and Designer
Ian Francis Lah (He/They) is proud to serve as the Executive Artistic Director of the Northern Lakes Arts Association (NLAA), based in Ely, Minnesota. Ian cultivated a deep passion for the arts, graduating as the top scholar of their program at Minnesota State University, Mankato, where they studied theater and design.
Professionally, Ian has worked as an actor, director, and designer across the country and internationally. They returned to Ely in 2020, bringing their experiences to NLAA, where they’ve spearheaded innovative programming such as the Broadway in the Boundary Waters season, the Great Nordic Shakespeare Festival, and the Portage Land Music Festival. Ian is committed to making high-quality arts experiences accessible to all, supporting local talent, and fostering a thriving arts community in the North Country.
Offstage, Ian is a passionate advocate for the arts as a community and economic builder, emphasizing inclusivity and sustainability in all aspects of their work. When not in the theater, Ian enjoys exploring the wilderness with their husband, Vladimir, and dreaming up new creative projects to share with their hometown.
Ian is honored to contribute to a vibrant and growing arts scene in Ely and thanks the community for their unwavering support.
