PHOTOS FROM 2026's
As You Like It
PHOTOS BY PAE
PHOTOS BY PAE
As You Like It PROGRAM
From the director, Cindy McGean
The court of AS YOU LIKE IT is a brutal, treacherous place full of political intrigue, where traditions have been trampled and danger lurks. There is no music, no poetry and little trust. The entertainment consists in rib-breaking. Everyone from the fool and the wrestler on up seeks to manage and protect their precarious position in this unstable space.
The Forest of Arden, by contrast, is a place where people find love, camaraderie, music, poetry, nature and compassion, a place that restores a sense of humanity. As you share this journey with us, we invite you to contemplate this question: What is your personal Forest of Arden?
THANK YOU TO OUR SEASON SPONSORS & SUPPORTERS
Troops 592 & 5592
KELLY WELLINGTON IN MEMORIAM OF IVY GEFFEN WELLINGTON, CELTIC HARPER, "CYMBELINE," SUMMER OF 1978
CAST AND CREATIVE TEAM OF
As You Like It
CAST
Rosalind
Orlando
Touchstone
Celia
Jaques
Oliver
Duke Senior
Phoebe / Lord
Corin / Duke Frederick
Silvius / Le Beau
Audrey / Charles
Adam
Amiens
William / Martext
Lord / Page
Musician
Steven Rose Pendleton
Lucas Friedman
Kenneth Dembo
Amanda Cotter
David Loftus
Ryan King
Michael Larkin
Rebekah Hetrick
Mark Twohy
Oliver McPherren
Phaedra Adams
Stephen Neils
Megan Murphy Ruckman
Hannah Rice
Melissa Sondergeld-Hood
Matthew Ruckman
CREW
Director
Stage Manager
Music Director
Costumer
Audience Coordinator
Cindy McGean
Daniel Yogi
Matthew Ruckman
Mary K. Hobson
Elizabeth Esch Brown
FEATURING MUSIC FROM
The Circle of Fools
Vocals
Vocals
Vocals
Guitar & Vocals
Megan Murphy Ruckman
Melissa Sondergeld-Hood
Hannah Rice
Matthew Ruckman
BIOS
Steven Rose Pendleton
(Rosalind)
Steven Rose Pendleton (he/him, she/her) is a theatremaker based out of New Orleans, LA & Portland, OR. He is absolutely thrilled to be embodying Rosalind alongside this amazing ensemble! Credits include "My Gay Grandpa Was Abducted by Aliens" (Sam), "25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee" (Barfeé), and "a Midsummer Nights Dream" (Cobweb). A special thank you to mentors Sal Mannino & Helen Jaksch, his partner Gabriel Sharp, and to Cindy McGean for trusting her with this absolute gift.
Lucas Friedman
(Orlando)
Lucas Friedman (he/him) has loved Shakespeare since his mom gave him an illustrated collection of sonnets and soliloquys when he was five. He's proud to say that, after years of study and a B.F.A., he can actually pronounce "soliloquy" now.
Kenneth Dembo
(Touchstone)
KENNETH DEMBO, is a native Oregonian with close to 40 years of professional acting, directing and stage managing credits which include: God’s Favorite, Blues for An Alabama Sky, Hamlet, The Misanthrope , Tartuffe, To Kill A Mockingbird, You Can’t Take It With You, Measure For Measure, Othello, Of Mice & Men, Driving Miss Daisy, Master Harold And The Boys , A Midsummer Night’s Dream, A Christmas Carol, The Legend of Sleepy Hollow, Superior Casanova, Lobby Hero, The Miser, Doctor Despite Himself, Black Nativity, Two Trains Running, , The Pews, Deceptive Love, and A Sunbeam. Kenneth has been employed with a major Beverage Company for 35 years.
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Amanda Cotter
(Celia)
Amanda is humbled and honored to make her Portland theatrical debut with the incredible cast and crew of Portland Actors Ensemble's As You Like It. Prior favorite Shakespearances include a turn as comedic legend Constable Dogberry in Much Ado About Nothing, and a dream-come-true casting as Queen Gertrude in Diaphora Presents: Elcor Hamlet, a Mass Effect fan production. She's grateful for the immutable support of her husband, Nick, and their three goofball cats.
David Loftus
(Jaques)
A PAE veteran, David played Duke Senior in “As You Like It” (2005), Macduff in “Macbeth” (2006), at least four characters (including the Soothsayer) in “Julius Caesar” (2008), and Malvolio in “Twelfth Night” (2025). Author of four published books, voice actor, karaoke nerd, David reads an average of 120 books a year. Unlike Jaques he has a wife, Carole, he can thank for 35 years of unstinting love and support.
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Ryan King
(Oliver)
Ryan is an actor, comedian, and musician based in Portland OR. Originally from Boise ID, he began his acting journey at the Idaho Shakespeare Festival as an apprentice way back in 2005. Some of his favorite past roles include Guildenstern in R&G Are Dead and Cyrano de Bergerac. Offstage, you can find Ryan playing guitar, going to the movies, and generally stickin’ it to the man.
Michael Larkin
(Duke Senior)
Michael gratefully credits his education in theatre to Ellen Margolis and his comrades at Pacific University, where he appeared in "Hide" and "Tunnel City." He admires Shakespeare greatly, and is pleased to be participating in this production with PAE.
Rebekah Hetrick
(Phoebe / Lord)
Rebekah just moved to the Portland area and is excited to start her performance journey here. She has spent the last few years directing and singing in different projects in the PNW but her focus has been her husband, 3 boys and 2 kitties. She has had experience in different mediums from Broadway, to teaching and running children’s theater programs, to film, and finds Shakespeare the most challenging and rewarding!
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Oliver McPherren
(Silvius / Le Beau)
Portland based! Generational talent! Productions far and wide have been so lucky as to work with Oliver McPherren. He even interns with the Fake Fight Company - stage combat choreography! Add on top all of the other skills Oliver has learned? Music, writing, almost every aspect of technical theater (especially as a lighting designer for PCC's Much Ado About Nothing)? Yessir, we are all very glad to know Oliver McPherren.
Mark Twohy
(Duke Frederick / Corin)
Mark is delighted and honored to be part of this amazing cast and crew! He’s been acting and singing for most of his life and continues to learn and grow with each project. Thanks for supporting PAE!
Stephen Neils
(Adam)
Steve lives in Portland with his cat and dog. He most recently played Gloucester in STAR Society’s production of King Lear.
Phaedra Adams
(Audrey / Charles)
Phaedra is ecstatic to be back on the PLAYground after a 20 year hiatus. "I am truly grateful for this opportunity to shake off the rust and get back to work."
Megan Murphy Ruckman
(Amiens) (Understudy for Rosalind)
Megan Murphy Ruckman has been a Shakespeare lover and musical performer since she was young. Originally from Northern California, she spent her formative years in conservatory with California Theater Center and obtained a degree in theatre arts and communication at Whittier College. She has worked with theatre companies in the Portland Metro Area since 2004 as a performer, crew, and a board member. She has recently been instrumental in reviving Portland Actors Ensemble. She thanks her husband, Matthew, for supporting the family and her, through all these theatrical exploits. She is pleased to share this story with you!
Hannah Rice
(William / Dennis / Sir Oliver Martext / Lord / Page)
Hannah is an actor and arts administrator born and raised in Portland, Oregon. Recently: Portland Revels, Sam Fest, and Original Practice Shakespeare Festival. Thank you for keeping the performing arts alive! IG: @onehannahrice
Melissa Sondergeld-Hood
(Lord / Page) (Understudy for Amiens)
Melissa has been active in the Portland Theater Community since she moved here in 2011. Her past Shakespearean work has included working with such companies as Post5, Northwest Classical Company, MPA, and Portland Actors Ensemble. She currently is the Managing Director for STAGES and on staff at Metropolitan Performing Arts. She was seen last year as part of the ensemble and band for Twelfth Night. She hopes you enjoy your time in the Forest of Arden.
Cindy McGean
(Director)
Cindy McGean has been an educator for 30 years and active in Portland's theatre community even longer, working with Northwest Children's Theatre, Tapestry Productions, Willamette Radio Workshop, and others. Her first theater gig in Portland was doing props for As You Like It at Tygres Heart. First directing gig? PAE, of course! She's also a published writer. You can often catch her reading her poetry at the Rose City Book Pub.
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Daniel Yogi
(Stage Manager / Assistant Director)
Daniel (he/they) has loved theatre since he signed up for a class to be closer with the girl he thought he had a crush on. (They did not.) He has recently graduated from Reed College with a Bachelor's in Theatre, and is enjoying time in the Portland area as an actor, director, and stage manager. If not in theatre, Daniel can be found doing teaching, playing video games or watching too much anime.
Matthew Ruckman
(Music Director / Musician)
Matthew has experience with orchestral music and musical theatre. Primarily a bass guitar and upright bass player, he has moved to acoustic guitar over the years. He is very proud to have written the music for this version of Twelfth Night, along with his fellow Quills.
Matthew is also a member of the local punk band The Seditionists.