Uncle Vanya

Director, NEST Founding Artistic Director

Michael serves as Director and Assistant Professor of Theater at CT State Tunxis. He has also taught at ECSU, SCSU, and served as Director of Education at Playhouse on Park. As an actor, director, fight choreographer, and educator, Michael has worked regionally throughout New England, in New York, and in the UK. Selected theatres include: Elm Shakespeare Company, The Actors Studio, Eugene O’Neill Theatre Center, Ivoryton Playhouse, Flock Theatre, Playhouse on Park, Connecticut Shakespeare Festival, Hole in the Wall, Capital Classics, Hip to Hip Theatre, Estrogenius Theatre Festival, Colonial Theatre, and Tobacco Factory Theatre. Michael is a graduate of the MFA in Professional Acting program at the Bristol Old Vic Theatre School, and has trained extensively at Shakespeare and Company. themichaelhinton.com

Assistant Director, Costumes

Kristin is a retired IATSE Local #764 Costumer with 40 years of theater experience, including Regional Theater (The Guthrie, Seattle Children’s Theater, Seattle Repertory Theater), Summer Stock (Utah Shakespeare Festival), Wardrobe Supervisor for A National Tour of “A Chorus Line”, various Roadhouses (5th Avenue, WA, The Palace Theater and The Shubert Theater, CT), and six years on Broadway (Les Misérables, Miss Saigon, Beauty and the Beast).  Most recently Kristin directed and costumed the 2024 Panto at the NAC.  She's proud and elated to be part of the inaugural production of Uncle Vanya!!  Much love to her husband, Jon, for his constant love and support. 

Professor Serebryakov

Derek Corriveau is excited to be part of the inaugural show for New England Studio Theatre and part of this incredibly talented cast. He has worked with many CT theatre companies for over thirty years including The Bradley Playhouse, The Little Theatre of Broad St, The Complex Performing Arts Center, Spirit of Broadway, Chelsea Players, American Classics Rep. and Chestnut Street Playhouse. He has worked with the Ivoryton Playhouse in Anything Goes (Luke), Children of Eden (Adam/Noah) and Moon Over Buffalo (Richard). American Repertory at UCONN in Six Degrees of Separation (Larkin) and has toured with the National Theatre of the Performing Arts with educational theatre tours of To Kill a Mockingbird (Bob Ewell) and The Story of Anne Frank (Otto Frank) which was based on the book Anne Frank Remembered by Miep Gies. Thanks to Michael for stretching my theatrical journey.

Yelena

Kennedy Maio is an actress with experience in film, television and theater. She is an AMDA alumni from Los Angeles with training from Stella Adler. Kennedy believes everything is better with chocolate and has devoted her life to spoiling her 5 cats.

Sonya

Lydia is thrilled to be making her first post grad stage appearance in New England Studio Theatre’s inaugural production! Lydia was born in Providence, RI and began acting at Trinity Rep’s Young Actors’ Summer Institute. Last spring, she graduated from Boston University’s School of Theatre with a BFA in Acting. Previously, she attended a semester abroad at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art specializing in Shakespeare in Performance. Some favorite roles include Beth (Little Women), Ex-Girlfriend (ONCE), Eliante (The School for Lies), Trinculo (The Tempest), Leontes (The Winter’s Tale), and Lady Macbeth (Macbeth). Keep up with Lydia on her instagram @thelydiawinter | thelydiawinter.com

Maria Vasilyevna

Heidi Harger has been acting since first grade with East Lyme Children’s Theater. She attended the National Theater Institute at the O’Neill and Hofstra University where she earned a BA in drama. Heidi’s favorite roles include Georgie in “The Country Girl,” Rose in “Dancing at Lughnasa,” Rosalind in “As You Like It,” Olivia in Twelfth Night, Nancy in “Angel Street,” and Sarah Jane Moore in “Assassins.” Heidi has taught acting and coached voice at Broadway Kids and Company in Niantic.

Vanya

Daniel Dykes is delighted to return to the stage after eleven years. Acting credits include Macbeth, Mr Darcy, Agamemnon, Captain von Trapp, ByeBye Birdie, Footloose, The Wake of Jamie Foster, The National Puppetry Conference, The Importance of Being Earnest, The Foreigner, Twelve Angry Men, Molière’s Impromptu at Versailles, and approximately 40 other plays. Most recently he directed the Harvard Law School musical parody The Lawyer King. He will be directing Chelsea Players’ show in this very theater May 23–31 (by his sister Emily, a local playwright), and will play Emperor Joseph in Madison Lyric Stage’s Amadeus in July.

Astrov

Dane got his MFA in Acting from the Asolo Conservatory a million years ago. Since then, he has pursued a career in software sales and has been lucky enough to create an incredible family with Meghan. Favorite past roles include Posthumus in Cymbeline, Berowne in Loves Labors Lost, Cliff in Deathtrap, Bruce in Blue/Orange. Of course, playing with Meghan in No Sex Please, We’re British was a blast too (who doesn’t love a good farce)! It’s a privilege to play Astrov, even for one night. Thanks to Mike and the New England Studio Theatre for having me!

Telegin, Music Accompaniment

Benjamin Fuller-Shafer is returning to the stage after a brief theater hiatus and is thrilled to be joining this amazing cast for Uncle Vanya. A veteran of Flock Theatre since the age of 14, he most recently participated in Flock’s The Burning of Benedict Arnold as Jonathan Brooks last September, and provided music for Flock’s production of Hedda Gabbler this March. When he is not acting, Ben is playing fiddle, hiking, or snuggling cats. Ben would like to thank Mike for putting this production together and for all his invaluable feedback. He would also like to extend the deepest gratitude to his wife Kelsey, without whose support and patience this wouldn’t be possible.

Nanny

Suzanne is thrilled to be part of this inaugural production. And with Michael at the helm NEST can only succeed and thrive. Suzanne’s previous experience has been primarily with New London’s Flock Theatre; favorite roles including: Paulina in Winter’s Tale, Sister Aloysius in Doubt, Liubov in The Cherry Orchard, and Aunt Abby in Arsenic and Old Lace. Down the road at Chestnut Street Playhouse she has played multiple roles in Almost, Maine, M’Lynn in Steel Magnolias and Julia in Lend Me a Tenor. She has also performed at the Kate in A Piece of my Heart with Saybrook Stage and a staged reading of The Philadelphia Story. She would like to thank her dearest friend Betsy for her knitting lessons. Mom this is always for you...

Yefim

After a 50 year absence from the stage, Rich Swanson decided that it was time to try his hand at acting again. He is very happy to be sharing this stage with this company and director. Zjuchka, malchik! Zjuchka!

Stage Manager:
Rachel Kiel

Assistant Stage Manager:
Emma Leone:

Backstage Crew:
Craig Beck
Agustina Cohen
Tony O’Connell
Olivia Roberts