September 10-27, 2026 at Dukesbay Theatre
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The Prince

By Abigail Thorn

Jen and Sam find themselves stranded in an unfamiliar reality where Shakespeare’s entire literary universe unfolds around them like a strange, interconnected multiverse. But nothing is as simple as it seems as they come to discover there’s far more hiding beneath the surface of the iconic characters treading the boards around them.

Blending sharp gender theory with unapologetic queer energy, and pairing it all with sword clashes and iambic pentameter, the play takes a refreshingly irreverent—almost blasphemous—approach to the Bard. Central to the story is the theme of gender identity. The play constantly questions how gender roles function both onstage and in the wider world, delivering a heartfelt and sincere exploration of discovering one’s authentic self. No character embodies this more powerfully than Hotspur, whose personal journey becomes the emotional core of the piece.

Beyond its bold ideas, The Prince also serves as a remarkable gateway for newcomers or skeptics of Shakespeare. While fragments of Shakespeare’s original verse remain, most of the dialogue is newly written. That it becomes difficult at times to distinguish the Bard’s lines from the playwright’s own work speaks volumes about the quality of the writing.

Beneath the lively surface of The Prince lies surprising emotional depth, all in service of a message that lingers long after the final word.

Designed & Directed by Jen Tidwell

Cast:

Harry Hotspur .................................... Sophie J. Sen

Jen .................................................. Marnie Wingett

Sam; U/S Jen ............................. Jamie Ava Brokaw

King Henry IV/

Northumberland ......................... Russell Campbell

Prince Hal.............................................. Lux Greene

Lady Kate ........................................... Sage Stevens

Earl of Douglas ............................... Sameer Arshad

Lord Worcester .................................... Liam Sharpe

U/S Sam.............................................. Rhea Melvard

Creative:

Director/Lead Designer ........................... Jen Tidwell

Intimacy Choreography . Jeanette Sanchez-Izenman

Lighting Design ........................................ Kevin Nash

Soundscape Composer ........................ Elliott Turner

Carpentry/Paint ................................. Dana Trummert

Seamstress .............................................. Ruth Nelson

Social Media ..................................... Casey Patterson

Crew:

Stage Manager ........................................ Julia Collier

Assistant Stage Manager .................. Jordan Hughes

Stage Technician ............. Kaylee "Bug" Christensen

Director’s Notes:

I brought The Prince to Screaming Butterflies because it wouldn't leave me alone. I was driven to create this production for three reasons: Abigail Thorn's seamless blend of contemporary and Shakespearean language, the play's radical queer reclamation of a history that has often excluded us, and the central question it kept asking me: What does it cost to perform a version of yourself that isn't true?

I kept returning to an image from my childhood: a Dutch kerstcarrousel, a tabletop decoration of three tiers ringed with candles at the base, whose rising heat turns a tiny windmill and sets the whole thing spinning—silently, hypnotically, inevitably. In my mind, the Shakespearean multiverse of this play is that carousel, but with thirty-seven tiers: the familiar plays at the bottom—Romeo and Juliet, Hamlet, A Midsummer Night's Dream—the canon we take for granted, and the rarer, forgotten plays rising above them, until at the very top sits Henry IV Part 1, where the bulk our story unfolds.

On that top tier sits Hotspur—though she doesn't know it yet. In Shakespeare's play, Hotspur is the tragic foil to Prince Hal, the embodiment of noble "manly" virtue set up to fail so Hal can rise. But in Thorn's play, Hotspur is a transgender woman in deep denial, clinging to a performance of masculinity so desperate and convincing that everyone—including herself—believes it. Enter Jen and Sam, two trans women who are "awake" within this Shakespeare-verse. Sam wants only to escape; Jen looks at Hotspur and sees herself, and knows that Hotspur deserves a chance to stop spinning.

In our everyday lives, queer people are still told we don't quite belong—that our identities are too new, too complicated, too "political" for the timeless classics. But Shakespeare's work has always been about transition: nations forming, princes becoming kings, young people shedding old selves for new ones. Thorn recognizes that Henry IV Part 1—a play built on the question of who you are becoming—is the perfect vessel for a story about discovering who we truly are. She doesn't impose queerness onto Shakespeare; she reveals what was always there, waiting to be seen.

This production is for Hotspur. For everyone performing on a tier that doesn't belong to them. For those still spinning, waiting for someone to interfere. And for the Jens of the world—who refuse to leave without offering a hand.

Thank you for being here. The candles are lit. Let's see what happens when the carousel stops.

-Jen Tidwell, Director

Cast & Crew

Sophie J. Sen (she/her)

Harry Hotspur

Sophie is a Seattle based Actor, Singer, Dancer and Musican who is excited to perform with Screaming Butterflies for the first time! She recently played a Karaoke Robot in a reading of the new musical, Hijinx & Sue (Tacoma Little Theatre). Her training in Shakespeare comes from Cornish College of the Arts (BFA 2022), but her love of verse comes from her teenage years in Young Shakespeare Workshop and high school, playing such roles as Macbeth, Rosecrantz, Silvius and the Duke of Buckingham. Last year she was nominated for a Sound On Stage award for best supporting actor in a musical (community) for her performance as Nostradomus in Something Rotten (Centerstage Theatre). Love to her amazing spouse Theo, and her cats Beau & Bug.

Marnie Wingett (she/her)

Jen

Marnie is thrilled to make her debut in Tacoma as Jen in The Prince. After graduating from AMDA (New York) and 5 years performing on the east coast, she returned to the PNW to continue her theatrical career. She has been seen recently on stage in the world premiere production of Here & Their: A Nonbinary Musical, and productions of Anyone Can Whistle and Oliver! (Reboot Theatre Company); Ruthless! and Sunday in the Park with George (Second Story Repertory Theatre); and Orlando (Noveltease) Follow on Instagram @marniedearest

Jamie Ava Brokaw (she/her)

Sam ; Understudy Jen

Jamie is a Texas-raised performer who recently relocated to the Pacific Northwest, bringing with her a passion for storytelling. She received her BA in Acting at Stephen F. Austin State University in 2016 and had the honor of spending 4 seasons on the performance company at The Texas Renaissance Festival. A longtime fan of playwright Abigail Thorn, she hadn't planned a return to acting but when she stumbled across the audition listing, she knew she had to take shot. Now, she's thrilled to make her return to performance for the first time since 2016 with Screaming Butterflies. Jamie couldn't be more grateful for the chance to reconnect with the craft and community she loves. Follow her journey on Instagram at @jayebirdblue.

Russell Campbell (he/him)

King Henry IV / Northumberland

Russell Campbell is excited to be a part of this Screaming Butterflies production of The Prince. He has appeared in several local musical theater productions over the years. This show is special to Russell as it is his first non-musical theater production! Russell is thrilled and to be a part of this amazing production and cast. Russell is grateful for his amazing family and all their love, patience, and support.

Lux Greene (they/he)

Prince Hal

Lux is very proud to be a part of The Prince! This is their first time returning to theatre after twelve years. They spent eight years performing in theatre productions in their youth, and they were recipient of the UAB Department of Theatre Talent Based Scholarship. They are incredibly excited to be rekindling this passion again! They feel so grateful for the support of their husband Arlo for helping them get back into an art form they deeply love. When they aren't on stage (or on a hike), Lux is a Tarot reader, Reiki practitioner, and barista in Tacoma. You can find them on social media: @lux.greene

Sage Stevens (she/her)

Lady Kate

Sage Stevens is an actor, singer, and writer based in Tacoma, Washington. Passionate about telling queer feminist stories, she is excited to continue building on that creative mission. Her recent stage credits include Pamela in Head Over Heels and Marie Antoinette in The Revolutionists, showcasing her range in both comedic and historically inspired roles.

Sameer Arshad (any/all)

Earl of Douglas

Sameer Arshad is a Persian-Turk-Arab-Pashtun-Indian-Pakistani-American actor, playwright, writer, animator, comic maker and visual artist based in Seattle. He grew up in South and Southwest Asia. He has acted with Centerstage Theatre, Macha Theatre Works, Parley Productions, One Table Theater and SOAC. His plays have been produced in Seattle, including Crewmates (2018, Annex Theatre) and Alice in Arabialand (2025, Annex Theatre), as well as short works at 14/48 Projects, ReAct Theatre, Infinity Box Theatre, One Table Theater and Instant Noodles Festival. Sameer is a trained linguist who also provides cultural consulting, dialect training and crisis translation services. He reviews theatre for The Sound on Stage website.

Liam Sharpe (he/him)

Lord Worcester

Liam Sharpe, born in Oakland, CA, is an American-German actor, director, writer and voice actor. He speaks seven languages, and began his career as a voice actor in Germany, before returning to California, where he amassed the majority of his on-screen work in film and television. In 2021 he moved to Mexico City, where he starred in the Prime Original series The Head of Joaquín Murrieta.

Liam trained at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art in London, UK, and holds degrees in linguistics from the University of Stuttgart in Germany, and the University of California, Santa Cruz. He now resides in Seattle with his wife.

He can be found @liamsharpeb on Instagram.

Rhea Melvard (she/her)

Understudy Sam

A proud mother and a loving wife, Rhea is a newcomer making her debut and hopes to bring a bright spark to every interaction.

Jen Tidwell (they/them)

Director

Born into a theatrical family, Jen was a professional actor from childhood, performing on stages in New York, LA, and Miami while beginning their voiceover career at age seven. From performing with The Second City and winning Best Supporting Actress at SETC to directing critically-acclaimed productions like Three Viewings [GTG], [title of show] [TART] and She Kills Monsters [TART], their expertise is vast. In addition to directing they have stage managed for the RSC, designed immersive theatre experiences for events around the world, choreographed stage combat sequences for a variety of productions and lent their voice to multiple audiobooks. They founded their own production company in Las Vegas, where they produced numerous shows from small venues to full Broadway-scale productions. They bring this wealth of experience to their current work as a freelance director, designer, stage combat choreographer and professional voice actor based in the Pacific Northwest.

When not doing stage works, Jen can be found in their home studio writing, voicing and engineering the scripted podcast 'The Purgatory Report on CPRG'; playing DnD with their wife and kid; and being a general nuisance to the less whimsically-inclined.

Explore their work at www.jentidwell.com.

Abigail Thorn (she/her)

Playwright

Abigail is a British actor and writer. She played Admiral Sharako Lohar in seasons two and three of House of the Dragon for HBO. Her other film and television roles include Naomi in the feature film Again Again, Ensign Eurus in Star Wars: The Acolyte for Disney+ and Jess in Django for BBC/Sky. Onstage, she starred in the critically acclaimed Off West End revival of Phil Porter’s Blink. You can also hear her voice as Nocturne in the smash hit video game Baldur's Gate III. Abigail was honored to be one of Variety’s 10 Brits to Watch in 2025.

Abigail is also the creator of Philosophy Tube, an educational web show with a global audience of 1.6 million. The British Film Institute have chosen to add selected episodes of Philosophy Tube to the archive of national importance. For her work on Philosophy Tube, Abigail was named the People’s Human Rights Champion at the 2026 Amnesty International Media Awards.

The Prince is Abigail's debut play. In 2022, she starred in the premiere production in London, winning an Off West Award and three Broadway World Awards including Best New Play and Best Lead Actor (Abigail).

Jeanette Sanchez-Izenman (she/her)

Intimacy Choreographer, Co-Founder

Jeanette is a teaching artist, a dramaturg, an intimacy choreographer, a director and stage manager. She has her BFA in acting from the University of New Mexico where she returned to earn her MA in Directing and Educational Theatre under the mentorship of Susan Pearson in 2003.

Jeanette highly values public scholarship and earned a fellowship at UW’s Simpson Center for the Public Humanities in 2005. She was in the inaugural cohort of the Project for Interdisciplinary Pedagogy at UW Bothell where she taught theatre and performance studies for nearly a decade.

Kevin Nash (he/him)

Lighting Design

Kevin Nash is an award-winning lighting designer and technical director based in Seattle, Washington. He creates theatrical and live event experiences throughout the Pacific Northwest, collaborating with directors, producers, educators, and organizations to bring stories to life through light. Beyond design, Nash is passionate about education and mentorship. Some of his most meaningful work happens alongside students and emerging artists, helping them develop their craft and discover what's possible through live performance. He believes the future of the industry depends on creating opportunities for the next generation, and he takes pride in playing a part in that journey.

Whether lighting a musical, a new play, or a community production, his goal remains the same: to create memorable experiences that bring people together and remind audiences why live theatre matters.

Elliott Turner (he/him)

Soundscape Composer

Elliott Turner is a teacher, performer, composer, and father born and raised in the Pacific Northwest. His musical home is in the world of jazz, but has written for and performed with jam bands, a mariachi group, as a church organist, and on the accordion! He teaches Middle School Band and plays in several groups in the area, including his jazz organ trio Threocracy. When not in the classroom, performing in the community, or recording with his spouse and daughter, he enjoys reading, being outdoors, and playing board games (particularly Cascadia!). You can find his music through his website: elliottturnermusic.com or on bandcamp at: https://threocracy.bandcamp.com/album/lots-of-space-nothing-holy

Dana Trummert (she/her)

Carpentry/Paint

Dana Trummert is a young theatre professional pursuing a double major in Theatre Design and English Literature from Colorado College. After The Prince, Dana is delighted to be designing Shannon R. Davis’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream, opening in the fall at Colorado College. She is incredibly grateful for the opportunity to contribute to this production, and thanks her parents for letting her use their power tools.

Ruth Nelson (she/her)

Seamstress

Ruth has fabricated wardrobe for Puget Sound Revels, Vashon Opera and many more.

Julia Collier (she/her)

Stage Manager

Julia has stage managed for The Puget Sound Revels and Tacoma Opera.

Jordan Hughes (they/he)

Assistant Stage Manager

SBT Debut. Jordan is a writer, graphic artist, voice actor, improvisor and scare-actor. They are excited to dip their toes into the world of stage management and run crew! Have your wits scared out of you by them this fall at Frighthouse Station here in Tacoma. https://linktr.ee/LiminalSteed

Kaylee "Bug" Christensen (they/them)

Stage Technician

Bug is very excited to be joining the crew for The Prince with Screaming Butterflies at Dukesbay Theatre! They have been a real theatre nerd going on close to 10 years now but this will be their first time dipping their toes into the technical side of things and couldn't be more grateful for the opportunity! In their spare time they are an artist of many crafts from fiber arts to digital art! IG: @doodle.bugaboo

Kathryn Grace Philbrook (she/her)

Co-Founder

Kathryn Philbrook is the co-founder of Screaming Butterflies Theatre, and has worked as a stage manager, actor and director throughout the South Sound. She studied theater at the University of Puget Sound. Stage Manager credits include "Alice in Wonderland" with Tacoma Little Theater, "Molly Sweeney" with Studio 21, "Joe Turner's Come and Gone" and "Ain't Misbehavin'" with Tacoma Arts Live, and "Bocon" with Screaming Butterflies. She is proud and honored to assist with this production, and to work with such a marvelous cast, crew, and director.

SBT's Statement on Initiatives 001 and 638

“The doorways always appear at moments of choice – forks in the road.”

While the story is fantastical, the message of The Prince is far from a work of fiction. The play asks us to consider who gets to decide who we are - and what happens when we embrace our truest self.

Here in Washington, the choices we make during this fall’s November election will have lasting effects in the real world.

Screaming Butterflies proudly stands in solidarity to uphold the dignity and human rights of all individuals in Washington by opposing Initiative 001 Initiative 638.

If passed, Initiative 001 would mandate teachers and school counselors to knowingly put LGBTQ+ kids in danger of violence or becoming unhoused by outing them to unsupportive families. Initiative 638 would force girls who want to play sports, at any age or level, to undergo invasive genital exams or costly hormone or genetic testing, while boys would be exempt from the same examinations.

Screaming Butterflies rejects hate, harassment and barriers to girls safety and wellbeing participating in sports in Washington state and we say NO to Initiative 001 and Initiative 638!

To learn more, we recommend NO HATE as a reliable, trusted resource to break down the issues and initiatives in detail.

Thank you,

The SBT Board of Directors