2023 South Dakota Shakespeare Festival Guest Artist
Devon Glover, "The Sonnet Man"
Devon Glover is a Brooklyn-based rapper, teacher, poet, playwright, and actor who produces hip-hop adaptations of Shakespeare’s sonnets for performance and workshops in schools and theaters worldwide as “The Sonnet Man”. Glover has appeared on NBC, MSNBC, BBC, and at conferences and Shakespeare Festivals worldwide, including Stratford, Ontario, and Stratford-upon-Avon. He has taught with Stratford Shakespeare, Passion in Practice, Shakespeare Birthplace Trust, and Southern Shakespeare. Devon has written adaptations of Shakespeare for various theatre companies. In the Spring of 2019, Devon was commissioned to write a hip-hop adaptation of Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night (Lyrica). As “The Sonnet Man”, Glover delivers sonnets as originally written, and then breaks them down into “spoken word.” Glover’s flow embodies the richness of Shakespeare’s language, and his passionate, yet natural delivery offers an inspiring, creative experience audiences love. Born and raised along with two brothers by a single mom in Brooklyn, he has strived all his life to make something of himself and to give back. He went through the New York City Public School system and is a graduate of Ithaca College. Glover was featured on The Today Show with a tremendous national response. The producer said, “I’ve never had so many emails from people saying how much they enjoyed the story and especially the song!”
2023 South Dakota Shakespeare Festival Acting Company
Robert Cooper
Robert Cooper is based out of Grand Forks, North Dakota, and is very excited for his first out-of-state season! Robert graduated with a BFA in Musical Theatre from the University of North Dakota and found a hidden love of Shakespeare performing as Demetrius in A Midsummer Night’s Dream directed by Rebecca and later got to flesh out his skills doing Unrehearsed Shakespeare as Romeo. He’s incredibly excited to perform in such a fast-paced diverse season for a new crowd! Some of his favorite roles include Romeo in Romeo and Juliet, Algernon Moncrief in The Importance of Being Earnest, and Anthony Hope in Sweeney Todd. When he’s not onstage his AirPods are in and a book is in his hands. Robert is incredibly grateful to all who come to our shows and welcoming one of your northern neighbors.
Christa Cornay
Christa Cornay is so pumped to be joining SD Shakes for her first summer. After graduating from The University of South Dakota, Christa moved to New York City where she is a frequent vocalist at 54 Below. She recently had the honor of premiering Her Sound at Joe’s Pub and participating in 10th Anniversary concert of 35 Millimeter: A Musical Exhibition directed by composer, Ryan Scott Oliver. Here’s to Willy Shakes and another 10 years of art!
Lacye Day
Lacye Day is joining the SDSF for the first time. She studied acting in college and graduated with a bachelor's degree in theatre in 2020. Besides acting she enjoys painting, video games, and miniature building. She is currently working as the Prevention Program Director with the Arkansas Coalition Against Sexual Assault where she implements youth prevention curriculum and training in Arkansas. She is exceedingly passionate about theatre’s ability to inspire and initiate change in a safe environment. She is hopeful that this year’s SDSF proves to be equally inspiring for those who attend the events to come!
Mike Lee
Mike Lee is a South Dakota native from Madison, and he is very excited to get to play at home this summer. Mike is a graduate of The University of Houston’s Professional Actor Training Program. Audiences might remember Mike as Antipholus of Syracuse in Comedy of Errors. After spending time working on stages in New York City, Mike relocated to the Midwest in 2021. He is now living in Minneapolis, working off and on as an actor & stagehand, and fronting the band Goatroper with his partner and collaborator Abbey Janii.