July 8, 2022 – August 7, 2022
WORLD premiere
By L M Feldman
Directed by Larissa Lury^
An epic tale about the first woman to circumnavigate the globe, in which gender-nonconforming 18th-century herb woman Jeanne Baret sets out on an 11-year voyage across lands and seas. A funny, gripping, and inventive theatrical journey, Thrive sparks a cross-centuries conversation with Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night about exploration, love, and identity. Performed in rep by the company of Twelfth Night and directed by Larissa Lury. Thrive was nominated for the Lambda Literary Prize for LGBTQ Drama.
Thrive was selected as the 2020 winner of ASC’s Shakespeare’s New Contemporaries project, which seeks to discover, develop, and produce new works that are inspired by or in conversation with each of the plays in Shakespeare’s canon.
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* Member of Actors’ Equity Association, the Union of Professional Actors and Stage Managers in the United States.
^ The Director is a Member of the Stage Directors and Choreographers Society, a national theatrical labor union
Artistic Team
Charlie Mooz is a dedicated Assistant Stage Manager and actor with experience in both classic and contemporary theatre.
Marie Lupia served at the American Shakespeare Center from 2022–2025.
Alaina Smith is the Props Artisan at the American Shakespeare Center.
THIS SEASON: Dramaturg for Thrive, Or What You Will
Doreen Bechtol is a seasoned movement consultant, actor, and educator with extensive experience in theatre, choreography, and original devised works.
THIS SEASON: Dramaturg for Thrive, Or What You Will
Benjamin has been a resident company member with the American Shakespeare Center since 2014.
L M Feldman is a queer, feminist playwright who writes theatrically adventurous, physically kinetic, ensemble-driven plays…
THIS SEASON: Director – Thrive, Or What You Will
THIS SEASON: Costume Designer Twelfth Night and Thrive, Or What You Will
Sam Saint Ours is a talented actor and music director known for his dynamic performances and musical contributions at 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.
Cast
THIS SEASON: Sebastian, Malvolio in Twelfth Night and Jean 4, La Giraudais in Thrive, Or What You Will
THIS SEASON: Orsino, Toby in Twelfth Night and Jean 3, Prince in Thrive, Or What You Will
THIS SEASON: Maria, Antonio, Valentine in Twelfth Night and Jean/ne 5, Aotourou, Jean/ne-as-Commerson in Thrive, Or What You Will
THIS SEASON: Viola in Twelfth Night and Jeanne 1 in Thrive, Or What You Will
THIS SEASON: Olivia, Aguecheek, Curio in Twelfth Night and Commerson, Commerson-as-Jean/ne in Thrive, Or What You Will
THIS SEASON: Hero in MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING, Hamlet in HAMLET, First Citizen in CORIOLANUS
THIS SEASON: Acting Fellow – As You Like It; Eurydice
Molly Martinez-Collins is an accomplished actor who brings heartfelt performances to ASC and beyond.
THIS SEASON: Understudy in Twelfth Night and Thrive, Or What You Will
Ronan Melomo is a versatile actor with a rich background in classical theatre, known for dynamic performances at the American Shakespeare Center.
Summer England is a gifted actor whose compelling and elegant performances light up the ASC stage and beyond.