March 20, 2025 – April 20, 2025
“We came into the world like brother and brother; And now let’s go hand in hand, not one before another.”
— The Comedy of Errors, Act 5, Scene 1
Buckle up for Shakespeare’s most hilarious family reunion at the Blackfriars Playhouse!
In this whirlwind of mistaken identities and madcap mix-ups, two sets of twins, separated at birth, find themselves unknowingly in the same city, setting off a cascade of confusion.
As chaos erupts in the streets of Ephesus, family ties are stretched to their limits with uproarious misunderstandings and heartfelt reunions.
Through all the laughter and slapstick, Shakespeare reminds us that even the wildest of circumstances can’t break the bonds of family.
Whether you’re a die-hard Shakespeare fan or discovering this classic for the first time, The Comedy of Errors promises an evening of laughs, love, and the heartwarming power of family to bring everything home.
Run time: TBD
Age requirement: 7 and up. Read our full policies here.
Cast
Summer England is a gifted actor whose compelling and elegant performances light up the ASC stage and beyond.
Leah Gabriel is an inspiring actor known for her powerful and authentic performances that connect deeply with audiences at ASC and beyond.
Blake Henri is an accomplished actor who brings dynamic and captivating performances to ASC and beyond.
Versatile actor with a B.F.A. from University of Wisconsin-Whitewater. Theatre credits include King Lear, Romeo and Juliet, and The Brothers Size.
Charlene Hong White is a versatile actor who delivers compelling and memorable performances at ASC and beyond.
Angela Iannone is a celebrated actor, known for her nuanced performances and captivating presence at ASC and beyond.
Raven Lorraine is a dynamic performer whose captivating talent and bold storytelling shine on the ASC stage and beyond.
Joe Mucciolo is a skilled actor known for his nuanced performances that bring timeless stories to life at ASC and beyond.
Christopher Seiler is a seasoned actor and musician whose performances embody transformation and connection, captivating audiences at ASC and beyond.
Artistic Team
Chris Johnston has over 20 years of theatre experience and more than 120 productions at the American Shakespeare Center.
Mili Koncelik is the Playhouse Patron Loyalty Manager for the American Shakespeare Center.
Thomas J. Coppola was part of the American Shakespeare Center from 2015 to 2025.
Brendan Cullen is an experienced stage manager whose expertise ensures seamless productions at ASC and theatres across the country.
Alexander Carey is a Stage Manager whose expertise and passion bring seamless productions to life at ASC and beyond.
Kelsea Sibold is a talented stage manager whose award-winning work brings precision and artistry to productions at ASC and beyond.
Conrad Gothard worked at the American Shakespeare Center from 2023 – 2026
Marie Lupia served at the American Shakespeare Center from 2022–2025.
Amy Monsalve is Wardrobe Manager & Design Assistant at the ASC, recognized for her attention to detail and passion for bringing costumes to life.
Trina Yager is the Costume Coordinator & Wardrobe Supervisor at the American Shakespeare Center.
D. Scarlet Frishman is a dedicated Wardrobe Assistant and versatile theatre artist with a passion for storytelling and costume design.
Doreen Bechtol is a seasoned movement consultant, actor, and educator with extensive experience in theatre, choreography, and original devised works.
Summer England is a gifted actor whose compelling and elegant performances light up the ASC stage and beyond.
Haley Fentriss Roberts is an accomplished Intimacy Choreographer dedicated to fostering meaningful connections on stage at ASC and beyond.
John Paul Scheidler is a fight choreographer, director, and actor whose work has been a cornerstone of ASC productions since 2003.
Acting Fellow
Rebecca Bailey is a versatile performer and theatre artist whose dynamic talent shines in productions at ASC and beyond.
Lydia Sophia Christensen is a dynamic performer whose versatility and passion bring captivating characters to life at ASC and beyond.
Andrew Steven Knight is a talented actor and educator whose dynamic performances and deep connection to Shakespearean theatre shine at ASC and beyond.
Kathleen Mitchell is a passionate performer whose compelling portrayals bring Shakespearean and contemporary characters to life at ASC and beyond.
Jake Raiter is a passionate performer whose dynamic talent and love for storytelling bring Shakespearean & contemporary works to life at ASC & beyond.
Pete Sheldon is a versatile performer and musician whose passion for Shakespearean theatre and dynamic storytelling shine at ASC and beyond.
Austin Sweatman is a multifaceted theatre artist whose talents as a performer, director, and fight choreographer bring innovative storytelling to ASC
Larisa West is a passionate performer whose dynamic talent and dedication to storytelling shine at ASC and beyond.
Becca Westbrook is a versatile performer and director whose passion for storytelling and Shakespearean theatre shines at ASC and beyond.
Shakespeare’s The Comedy of Errors is a lively and fast-paced comedy full of mistaken identities, slapstick humor, and heartfelt reunions. While the play is celebrated for its humor and wit, it also touches on themes that may prompt deeper reflection. This production is recommended for ages 7 and up, but parents may want to consider the following elements before attending:
- Syracusan merchant Egeon is arrested in Ephesus, where travel from Syracuse is punishable by death.
- Egeon tells the Duke he’s searching for his long-lost family:
- twenty-five years ago, a shipwreck separated him, his wife, his twin sons (both named Antipholus), and their twin servants (both named Dromio).
- Egeon raised one Antipholus (and one Dromio) in Syracuse, but seven years ago they left to search for their brothers.
- Egeon has been searching for all of them ever since.
- The Duke, moved by his story, gives Egeon until 5 p.m. to raise bail and avoid execution.
- Meanwhile, Antipholus and Dromio of Syracuse also arrive in Ephesus, still seeking their twins, who – unbeknownst to them – have been living in Ephesus.
- Chaos erupts as everyone repeatedly mistakes one set of twins for the other.
- As the clock ticks, hilarity, accusations of sorcery, and joyful reunions ensue…
(Director Chris Johnston at the Spring 2025 Table Read for Comedy of Errors.)
Comedy of Errors is about family. After an epic shipwreck (thank you early modern theatre plot device) a family is torn apart, separated from one another and unsure if they will ever see each other again.
When we meet Egeon, he is a defeated man at the end of his journey to find his son Antipholus, who has been looking for his lost brother for years. Egeon and Antipholus separately travel the globe looking for the cure to their deep existential crisis. Nothing about the moment before this play begins really seems funny. In fact, this play begins more like the final act of a tragedy than the first scene of a comedy, and that is where the humor of this play lives.
The text of this play sets up the mistaken identities in such a grounded (aside from the early modern shipwreck plot device) way that any actor who commits to the words on the page, and to their scene partners opens the doors for the comedy to creep in. That’s the gold of this play. 430 years after its first performance (possibly for Gray’s Inn, December 1594) and it is still hilarious and watchable. The jokes are still funny. This is because Shakespeare has given us characters who are all in pursuit of their very own specific truth.
Antipholus is desperate to find his lost brother, and in the strange land of Ephesus is having the best day of his life amid his existential crisis. Dromio, his servant, always committed to cheering Antipholus up, finds a household that seems to know him and is more than ready to punish him for his confusion.
On the flip side of this coin, we meet the other Antipholus, who is having marital troubles and experiencing the very worst day of his life. All these characters want is to repair their situation and heal their family, albeit in different ways, and we as an audience find it hilarious.
With Shakespeare’s brilliant verse, prose, puns, and rhymes he has given us a timeless title about how hard a person can be willing to work to find and heal the family that makes them feel at home.