Engaged Theatre Tour

Our flagship Lab program, Engaged Theatre, seeks to build authentic relationships through active involvement—bringing productions developed in the Lab to extraordinary audiences: prisons, trauma centers, a youth detention facility, and an active military base. These audiences demand a greater honesty from the actors and the shows resonate with them in unexpected ways.

We keep coming back to Shakespeare because his characters are complex, conflicted, contradictory human beings, in worlds that are every bit as challenging as our own. Our audiences tell us that watching the tragic struggles of Shakespeare’s characters makes them feel less alienated from society; less the sum of their mistakes and more respected as complex human beings.

A number of Seattle’s most talented theatre professionals return year after year to participate with us in Freehold's Engaged Theatre tour. Actor Reginald Andre Jackson, who performed as Brutus in our 2010 production of Julius Caesar and a veteran of Engaged Theatre with five past productions under his belt says:

“People who ask me about Freehold’s Engaged Theatre Program always extol the work we do, while often expressing a strong reluctance to enter the environments we visit. The truth is there is no better audience. While playing an unethical character, a Shakespearean villain absorbed in the contemplation of a dark and dastardly act, an entire audience vocally inserted themselves into the piece with shouts of, “Don’t do it!”, “Seven years.”, “You don’t want to end up in that ward!” This was not the assault of angry hecklers, or bored and unruly school children. This was a group of incarcerated men desperately advising someone to make a better choice. It all took place in a matter of seconds and came from a place of true compassion. In the end, it is they who engage us.”

Actor Jose Gonzales reflects on his work in our 2012 production of King Lear:

Production History

2020 - Auntie Val by Daemond Arrindell

Directed by Robin Lynn Smith. Cast: Felicia V. Loud, Maya Burton, Anthony Simmons, Treavor Lovelle, Jennifer Moore, Brace Evans, Darius Bunce, Miski Ali, Ronnie Hill, Lungusu Malonga, Elena Flory-Barnes, James Schilling. Composer/DJ: Jennifer Moore

2019 - As You Like it by William Shakespeare

Directed by Robin Lynn Smith. Cast: Sherif Amin, Evan Barrett, Sunam Ellis, Riley Gene, Morgan Grody, Barndon JonesMooney, Sylvester Kamara, Hannah Kathline, Sophie Kline, Dara Lillis, James Schilling, Vanessa Skantze, Quincy Van Steenberge, Wilysha Nicole Walton, Daniel J. Willis. Music composed by: Gino Yevdjevich. Musicians: Rachel Beaver, Maren Comendant, Gino Yedjevich.

2018 - The Winter's Tale by William Shakespeare

Directed by Robin Lynn Smith, Cast: Sherif Amin, Christine Marie Brown, Avery Clark, Madi Cooper, Sunam Ellis, Riley Gene, Mykail Gholston, Sara Glauser, Sylvester Kamara, James Kelly, Mario Martinez, James Schilling, Kerry Skalsky, Vanessa Skantze, Alexandra Varriano. Musicians: Annie Ford, Valerie Holt. Composer: Gino Yevdjevich

2017 - Hamlet by William Shakespeare

Directed by Robin Lynn Smith, Cast: Reginald Andre Jackson, Aishe Keita, Mary Ewald, Shawn Belyea, Sunam Ellis, Andre Nelson, Peter Dylan O'Connor, Orion Bradshaw, Sherif Amin, Madilyn Cooper, Lizzie Aquirre, Jacoba Wentross, Musicians: Michael Owcharuk, Jordan Voelker, Jacoba Wentross

2016 - Henry V by William Shakespeare

Directed by Robin Lynn Smith, Cast: Reginald Andre Jackson, Andrew McGinn, Lisa Norman, Mary Ethel Schmidt, Kerry Skalsky, Lance McQueen, Peter Dylan O'Connor, Sunam Ellis, Fernando Cavallo, Jaime Riggs, Samatha Rose White, Sherif Amin, Vanessa Skantze, Musicians: Beth Fleenor, Michael Owcharuk

2015 - Emboldened: The Rise and Fall of King Bolden the First by Reginald Andre Jackson

Directed by Robin Lynn Smith, Cast: Earl Alexander, Treavor Boykin, Tracy Hughes, Reginald Andre Jackson, Aishe Keita, Felicia Loud, Richard Sloniker, Kevin Warren, Music scored by D'Vonne Lewis, Musicians: Ahamefule Oluo, Geoff Cooke

Unsung Heroes of Seattle Jazz: A Live Installation
Writers: Daemond Arrindell, Sandra Boas-DuPree, Linda Holden Givens, Company: Jonte Ausler, Isaiah Barnett, Sandra Boas-DuPree, Andrew Lee Creech, Lauren DuPree, Rick DuPree, Linda Holden Givens, Jacob Henthorn, James Kelly, Lake Lewis, Felicia Loud, Merri Ann Osborne, Kevin Warren, Taylor Westerlund, Sharon Nyree Williams, Connor Zaft, dramaturgy by Victoria McNaughton, Filmmaker: John Helde

2014 (full production) & 2013 (workshop/laboratory investigation) - Henry IV by William Shakespeare

Directed by Robin Lynn Smith, Cast: Tony Pasqualini, Reginald Andre Jackson, Andrew McGinn, Christine Marie Brown, Sarah Brooke, Rhonda J. Soikowski, Geoffrey Alm, Peter Dylan O'Connor, Jim Lapan, Grace Carmack, Joe Cummings, Aishe Keita, Kate Sumpter, Erin Gray, Ronnie Hill, Chesa Greene, Ariel Burke, Music scored by Gino Srdjan Yevdjevich, Musicians: Beth Fleenor, Whitney Lyman

2012 - King Lear by William Shakespeare

Directed by Robin Lynn Smith, Cast: Eric Ray Anderson, Christine Marie Brown, Erwin Galan, Jose J. Gonzales, Sarah Harlett, Joshua Holguin, Reginald Andre Jackson, Robret Keene, Shanelle Leonard, Kevin McKeon, Andre Nelson, Anthony Pasqualini, Luisa de Paula, Jesse Sherfey-Hinds, Annette Toutonghi, Kayla Walker. Music scored by Gino Srdjan Yevdjevich, Musicians: Beth Fleenor and Michael Owcharuk, puppets by Annett Mateo.

2011 - Pericles by William Shakespeare

Directed by Robin Lynn Smith, Cast: Monica Chilton, Kevin Dailey, Elizabeth Deutsch, Lori Evans, Luisa de Paula, Anthony Leahy, Parker Matthews, Phillip Mitchell, Jonathan Nawn, Riley Neldam, Caleb Slavens, Lance McQueen, Melissa Topscher, Amy Wason, Kiki Yeung. Musicians: Gino Yevdjevich, Beth Fleenor, Paris Hurley.

2010 - Julius Caesar by William Shakespeare

Directed by Robin Lynn Smith, Cast: Eva Abram, Kjerstine Rose Anderson, Shawn Belyea, Susanna Burney, Kevin Cavanah, Luisa De Paula, Sarah Harlett, Trina Harris, Reginald Andre Jackson, Sylvester Kamara, David Brown King, Kevin McKeon, Kirsten McCory, Lisa Norman, Kate Parker, Lori Evans, Hal Ryder. Music composed by: Gino Yevdjevich, Musicians: Beth Fleenor and Whitney Lyman.

2009 - Othello by William Shakespeare

Directed by Robin Lynn Smith, Cast: CT Doescher, Laura Fager, Jose J. Gonzales, Sarah Harlett, Reginald Andre Jackson, Sylvester Kamara, David Kubiczky, Carter Rodriguez, Annette Toutonghi, Kathryn Van Meter and music with Reshard Radford and Gino Yevdjevich, Movement Director: George Lewis.

2007 - Cymbeline by William Shakespeare

Directed by Robin Lynn Smith, Cast: Norah Benezra, Precious Butiu, Lauren Herrick, Richard Hesik, Reggie Jackson, Marya Sea Kaminski, Lara Lihiya, Kevin Moore, Gabe Smith, Lance Spencer, Katt Tait, Beverly Ann Thompson, Amy Thone, Gino Yevdjevich (music).

2006 - The Mechant of Venice by William Shakespeare

Directed by Robin Lynn Smith, Cast: David Friedt, Derek Kavan, Trina Harris, Robert Dale Walker, Demone Gore, Scott Maddock, Don Carter, Ben Cournoyer, Tony Pasqualini, Precious Butiu, Sarah Rucker Thiessen, Amber Cutlip, Alexandra Scott, Lori Stein, Kirsten McCory, Shamar Larkin, Michelle Kamberger, Music: Gino Yevdjevich, Ambrose Norness, Matty Noble, Felicia Loud, Kate Ryan

2005 - The Winter's Tale by William Shakespeare

Directed by Robin Lynn Smith.

2004 - Veronika Falling

Directed by Robin Lynn Smith. Adaptation of Veronika Decides to Die by Amy Wheeler. Cast included: Marie Broderick, Dave Elvin, Reginald Andre Jackson, Jodie Knowles, George Lewis, Nicole Pearson, Danielle Slavick, Gabe Smith, Dani Suder, Elissa Walstead, Kate Wisniewski, Amber Zipperer, Music: Gino Yevdjevich, Dani Suder, Joy Brooke Fairfield, Danielle Slavick.

2003 - The Tempest by William Shakespeare

Directed by Robin Lynn Smith.

Poster Images by: Annya Uslontseva