Shakespeare (ish)
Creative Director, Puppet Director, Mask Designer
Rogue Artists Ensemble • 2018 • Touring
A raucous remix of the Bard’s greatest hits, Shakespeare(ish) blended live music, puppetry, and masks into a fast-paced, high-energy romp that delighted audiences across California—including a featured run at the Oregon Shakespeare Festival.
REVIEWS
“This irreverent take on Shakespeare’s canon of work by Rogue Artists Ensemble doesn’t feature the keenest satire, but its combined display of puppets (Cristina Bercovitz and Sean T. Cawelti), masks (Sean T. Cawelti and Jack Pullman), zany costumes (Lori Meeker) and props (Brittany Blouch) make it colorful and entertaining.” - Stage Raw
Shakespeare(ish) is a fast, funny, and unapologetically weird celebration of Shakespeare’s most iconic characters and moments—told through the lens of live original music, physical comedy, and a healthy dose of theatrical chaos.
Designed for all ages, the show featured a shape-shifting ensemble of performers and puppets tackling everything from sword fights and soliloquies to mistaken identities and tragic deaths.
Sean Cawelti served as Creative Director and Puppet/Mask Designer, helping to shape the production’s irreverent tone and visual language. He designed a playful theatrical world filled with handcrafted elements and bold character work that supported the show’s rapid shifts in tone and style.
The production toured extensively throughout California, including a notable engagement at the prestigious Oregon Shakespeare Festival. There, it reached a wide range of audiences and was celebrated for its inventiveness, accessibility, and joyful approach to classical storytelling.