2026 Shakespeare in the Park - The Merry Wives of Windsor

Cast of Characters

Falstaff – Christopher D. Turner

Ford – Michael Wert

Mrs. Ford – Francesca Leighton

Page – Caesar Castillo

Mrs. Page – Sarah M. Brown

Anne Page – Olivia Garcia

Miss Quickly – Hannah Gilcreist

Judge Shallow – Jaime Faulkner

Slender – Elijah Strader

Dr. Caius – Lise Morrow

John Rugby – Vanessa Grey

Host of the Garter – Beverly Watkins

Sir Hugh Evans – Quint Bishop

Fenton – Allan McFarlane

Pistol – Nicole Soler

Simple – Scott D. Forsyth

Robin – David Voncannon

Chorus – Anya Golovko, Lauren Mouritsen, Scott D. Forsyth, David Voncannon

Biographies

Quint Bishop (Sir Hugh Evans) – Quint is grateful to be in the cast of The Merry Wives of Windsor. This is a show he has not done before. It’s another notch cut into the Shakespeare canon, making fifteen of the Bards’ plays. Quint has been active in Theatre for the last 52 years. In that time, he has worked in numerous theatres in Utah, Indiana, Illinois, Wisconsin and Texas. He also earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from the University of Utah and a Master of Arts degree from the University of Houston.

Sarah M. Brown (Mrs. Page) – Sarah is a Houston-based, Lafayette-born performer, writer, and producer. Since 2022, she has produced Sketch Supercollider, a recurring Houston showcase for original sketch comedy, and performs regularly at Station Theater and Coronation Theater. She is a graduate of the University of Louisiana at Lafayette and trained in improvisation at The Annoyance Theatre in Chicago. With Lian Cheramie, Brown co-created Cajun Face, an ongoing two-woman theatrical series rooted in Cajun identity and culture. The first two installments have been performed in communities across Louisiana as well as New Orleans and Chicago, with a third currently in development. When she isn’t performing or producing, Brown works in arts fundraising at DACAMERA and feels incredibly lucky to make a life surrounded by Houston artists and arts organizations. The Merry Wives of Windsor marks Brown’s return to scripted theatre and Shakespeare after several years focused on sketch and improv, and she is thrilled and deeply grateful to be returning to one of her first theatrical loves.

Caesar Castillo (Page) – Caesar is excited to be returning to the stage for his second theatrical production. He began his acting career as a voice actor on YouTube before expanding into audiobooks, audio dramas, and video games, including Echoes of the Living. His on-camera credits include the horror miniseries Surviving La Llorona. Earlier this year, he made his stage debut in The Miracle Worker, and is thrilled to continue his theatrical journey with The Merry Wives of Windsor. He would like to thank the cast, crew, and audiences for supporting live theater.

Jaime Faulkner (Judge Shallow) – Jaime’s last stage performance was as Barbara in Potato Gumbo at the Owen in Conroe last spring. She has also appeared in such gems as The Best Christmas Pageant Ever and A Gentleman’s Guide to Love and Murder at the Crighton in Conroe in the last year. This is her first Shakespeare in the Park performance, but she’d love to make it a staple in her repertoire.

Scott D. Forsyth (Simple, Chorus) – Scott is honored to perform with Points North Theatre and Shakespeare in the Park for the very first time. His love of the Bard has always been strong, as best shown when he portrayed Himself in Stageworks Theatre’s production of The Complete Works of Shakespeare (Abridged + Revised) (Again). Scott takes the stage all over Houston, and some of his credits include Prez (The Pajama Game), The Pregnant Person Emoji (Emojiland), and Dave (Almost Maine). Scott also lends his voice to a variety of different anime, television, and video games. Cayde (Starbites), Hiroyuki (Urusei Yatsura 2022), Kiiro (Oshi no Ko), and Valgreif (Farming Life in a Different World: Season 2). Scott thanks his friends, family, loved ones, and especially the person reading this for supporting life theatre. Enjoy the show!

Olivia Garcis (Anne Page) – Olivia is a recent BFA graduate of Sam Houston State University. Some of her favorite shows that she has been a part of include Uncle Vanya, Twelfth Night, and Campfire. Olivia is very excited to be in her first production in the park.

Hannah Gilcreist (Miss Quickly) – Hannah is incredibly honored to be given the opportunity to be a part of this very talented cast. Hannah has performed in many shows for Shakespeare in the Park such as Macbeth (Lady MacDuff), The Tempest (Antonio), and The Taming of the Shrew (Bianca). Hannah wants to thank The Lord and her family for supporting her and her artistic endeavors. “There is freedom waiting for you, On the breezes of the sky, And you ask 'What if I fall?' Oh, but my darling, What if you fly?” 

Anya Golovko (Chorus) – Anya is excited to be a part of this modern twist to The Merry Wives of Windsor with Points North Theatre! This is her third Shakespeare play she has been a part of with previous performances and productions including A Winter’s Tale (Mopsa/Jailer/Time) and A Midsummer Night's Dream (Puck). She is a Houston native with acting experiences across the country in Minnesota and Iowa. Outside of acting she is a teacher with Main Street Theatre and a Lifeguard at the YMCA downtown. Catch more of her on Instagram @anyaglvko.

Francesca Leighton (Mrs. Ford) – Francesca is a Houston-based actor and singer. She is so excited to be part of this Woodlands tradition on its 10-year anniversary! You might have seen her in Stage’s Sin Muros Festival, or the regional premier of the revised Baby the musical with Horizon theatre. As a singer she performs in an acoustic duo, and has also been featured with the JV Mariachi Pumas of U of H. A graduate of the BFA acting program with St. Edward’s University, she is happy to use her training in bringing this hilarious story to life. She hopes to liven up Shakespeare to a modern audience and encourage kindled interest in the Bard’s work! Thank you for coming and enjoy the show!

Allan McFarlane (Fenton) – Allan is thrilled to be a part of Points North production of Shakespeare’s Merry Wives of Windsor. He previously played Macbeth in Shakespeare’s Macbeth; Petruchio in Shakespeare’s The Taming of the Shrew; Duke Orsino in Twelfth Night; Don Pedro and Don John in two separate performances of Much Ado About Nothing, and Escalus in Shakespeare’s Measure for Measure. When not performing, Allan spends his time as a Middle School Theater Director, and a Personal Trainer/Nutritionist. Allan would like to thank his son Axal for his support; as well as the Director, Stage Manager, and the cast for an incredibly enjoyable experience.

Lauren Mouritsen (Chorus) – Lauren is delighted to be part of The Merry Wives of Windsor! Her theatrical career began in childhood with community theater productions of The Best Christmas Pageant Ever and A Midsummer Night’s Dream. After a long hiatus, she’s back on stage, once again making a fool of herself for the entertainment of others. A proud resident of The Woodlands, Lauren enjoys running the trails, baking cookies, singing in church, and tackling the New York Times crossword. She shares her life with her husband, four grown children, a betta fish named Hype, a hamster named Yaz, and a dog named Roxy.

Nicole Soler (Pistol) – Nicole is a band director in the North Houston area, and is excited to join Points North Theatre for this production!

Elijah Strader (Slender) – Elijah is a recent graduate from the University of North Texas as well as Lone Star College Kingwood. During his time at LSCK he was involved in A Brief Midsummer Night's Dream as Puck and Geus and The Addams Family Musical as Mal Beineke, as well as the Director of Shoulder Angels and The Dollhouse in the 13th Annual Night of Shorts. At UNT he got the chance to play Avram in Fiddler on the Roof and George H. Jones/Husband/Judge in Machinal. Post college, he had the honor of joining the Houston Grand Opera’s production of Of Mice and Men as a Supernumerary/Ranch Hand. He is immeasurably proud of all his cast mates and cannot thank John, Dorie, and the rest of Points North Theatre Company enough for all of their hard work making this show happen! He thanks you all for coming and supporting PNTC's theatrical community and hopes you enjoy our show! elijahstrader.com

Christopher D. Turner (Falstaff) – Christopher is thrilled to return to Points North Theatre in this bucket-list role and to share the experience with audiences once again. He was previously seen with Points North in the park as Francis Flute in A Midsummer Night’s Dream and Guildenstern in Hamlet. Christopher has been acting for 35 years and holds a BFA in Classical Theatre from The Hartt School of Music in Hartford, Connecticut. His stage credits include Guards! Guards!, Medea, Henry V, The Winter’s Tale, The Crucible, Lysistrata, Romeo and Juliet, and The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (Abridged), among many others. His film credits include a featured appearance as a security guard in the 2013 Academy Award-winning film Birdman. Christopher is delighted to be back with Points North and grateful for the opportunity to share the stage with this talented cast.

David Voncannon (Robin, Chorus) – David is excited to be back on stage and participating in his first Shakespeare production. Previous credits include Bob Bradley in The Best Christmas Pageant Ever, Professor Lowell/Courtroom Reporter in Legally Blonde Musical, and the Boatman in Shakespeare in Love. He would like to extend a special thanks to his family - Juli, William, Nathaniel, & Ariela - for always believing in him. ~ Joshua 1:9

Michael Wert (Ford) – Michael is native Houstonian who has worked extensively in film and theatre. While earning his BFA at the University of Houston, he expanded his training abroad during a summer with the Prague Shakespeare Company. Michael gained on camera experience while in Los Angeles, and has starred in multiple independent feature films, including Time to Develop, directed by Michael Grossman. Known for his athletic presence and grounded intensity, he brings a calm strength to the characters he portrays. With a background in sports and a dedication to physical discipline, he is drawn to roles that require both emotional depth and physical capability. Whether in the gym at five in the morning or on set at ten at night, you will always find him giving it his all!

Plot Synopsis

Sir John Falstaff arrives in Windsor low on cash and decides to woo both Mistress Ford and Mistress Page at the same time because they control their household wealth. When the two women compare letters and realize the letters are identical, they form a plan to punish him. Meanwhile, Anne Page's mother wants her to marry the French hothead Dr. Caius, but her father prefers the affable Master Slender; however, Anne is in love with a third suitor, Fenton.

Mistress Ford and Mistress Page invite Falstaff to secret meetings. During these visits, they subject him to repeated humiliations. They hide him in a dirty laundry basket and dump him into the River Thames Lake Woodlands, and later beat him when he is disguised as an old woman. Meanwhile, the jealous Ford disguises himself as “Brook” to pay Falstaff to woo Mistress Ford for him, giving Ford a front-row seat to his own manufactured agony.

Eventually, the wives confess everything to their husbands, and all parties unite for a final prank. They lure Falstaff to Windsor Rob Fleming Park dressed as Herne the Hunter (a mythical horned ghost), where local children dressed as fairies pinch and burn him with candles.

Amidst the confusion of the fairy prank, both Slender and Caius are tricked into running off with disguised fairy boys instead of Anne, while Fenton and Anne use the chaos to elope with each other. Falstaff is finally exposed and accepts the joke, the parents accept Fenton and Anne’s marriage, and everyone heads home for a celebratory feast.