A Midsummer Night’s Dream

Tony Amante (Lysander) is an ex-college athlete turned actor since 2017. He has been with Synetic since Beauty and the Beast (2023), where he had understudy performances. Tony understudied through Synetic's summer 2023 production of Cyrano, and took the mainstage in The Tell-Tale Heart in the vulture ensemble. In 2024 Tony took part in Synetic's production of Romeo and Juliet as Mercutio, and in Hamlet as Polonius and Ensemble.

Kim-Anh Aslanian (Hippolyta) is delighted to return to Synetic as an alumna of their Teen Company. She is a rising junior at Tufts University studying Art History and choreographing for her university dance group. Past roles in Synetic’s Teen Company include Romeo and Juliet (Lady Capulet), Hamlet (Gertrude), Twelfth Night (Olivia), and Taming of the Shrew (Katherine). Previous mainstage credits include Synetic’s 2022 production of A Midsummer Night’s Dream (Fairy/Ensemble). Kim-Anh would like to thank her family, friends, and all who have supported her journey at Synetic.

Lev Belolipetski (Snout/Ensemble) is a proud Synetic Teen Company alumni. He was most recently seen at Synetic in 2025’s The Immigrant. He’s excited to move a piano and make some noise.

Stella Bunch (Puck) is delighted to take part in another rendition of Synetic's Midsummer. As a proud Teen Company Alum, she has been involved with the company since 2018 and is grateful to continue training, teaching, and performing with the troupe. Previous Synetic credits include: The Immigrant (Hetty's Sister/Ensemble), Little Comedies (Tasiko), Hamlet...The Rest is Silence (Ensemble), and A Midsummer Night's Dream (Titania, '22). She also holds a BFA in Acting from Syracuse University.

Magdalen (Gigi) Cammaroto (Titania, Hippolyta, Flute U/S) is thrilled to be making her Synetic debut! Previous credits include American Fast (Theatre Alliance), Frankenstein, In the Heights (NextStop Theatre), The Tempest, Measure for Measure (Prague Shakespeare Company). Gigi has also toured France & Belgium with Pickles EITC, teaching English through performance. When she’s not playing around on stage, Gigi enjoys writing music and connecting with the Earth. @earthnmuse | cocrearth.org

Philip Fletcher (Oberon) is a Synetic Theater Founding Company Member, last seen as the Producer in The Immigrant, and has appeared in over 50 new and remount productions.  Highlights include: The Hunchback of Notre Dame (Claude Frollo), Twelfth Night (Orsino) [Helen Hayes Outstanding Ensemble], King Lear (Edmund) [HH Outstanding Ensemble and Supporting Actor nominated], Othello (Iago) [HH Outstanding Ensemble & Lead Actor nominated], A Midsummer Night’s Dream (Oberon) [HH Outstanding Ensemble], Romeo and Juliet (Mercutio) [HH Outstanding Ensemble], Carmen (Lucas) [HH Outstanding Ensemble Nominated], Macbeth (Witch) [HH Outstanding Supporting Actor], and Hamlet…the rest is silence (King Hamlet’s Ghost/Player King) [HH Outstanding Ensemble].

Chris Galindo (Theseus/Snug) is excited to return to the Synetic Stage where he has been a company member since 2008. Some Synetic roles include; Lucius in Titus Andronicus, Snug in Midsummer Night’s Dream (Helen Hayes Award Best Ensemble), Eros in Antony & Cleopatra, Tailor in Taming of the Shrew, Bishop in Dante, Albany in King Lear (Helen Hayes Award Best Ensemble), Lead Villager in Dracula, Capulet in Romeo & Juliet, Ensemble in Jekyll & Hyde, Mogarych in Master in Margarita.  He has also been seen in numerous other productions with Studio Theater, Washington Shakespeare, Imagination Stage, Adventure Theater as well as commercials and independent film.

Keila Hamed-Ramos (Puck U/S) is thrilled to make her Synetic Theater debut. Keila's favorite credits include playing The Mistress in Evita at Drury Lane Theater, being in the ensemble of Comedy Dance Chicago, moderating & choreographing for DanceChance & being on the Community Engagement Team at Joffrey Ballet.

Aaron Kan (Verges) is delighted to be back with Synetic for this production of A Midsummer Night’s Dream. Aaron is currently pursuing a B.M in guitar performance at Berklee College of Music. Previous acting credits with Synetic include: Richard III (Younger Prince), The Madness of Poe (Ensemble), A Midsummer Night’s Dream (Demetrius).

Irakli Kavsadze (Bottom/Egeus) is a Founding Company Member. His recent credits include: The Tell-Tale Heart (Old Poe); Beauty and the Beast (Jean Paul); King Lear (King Lear); Macbeth (Macbeth); Twelfth Night (Malvolio); A Midsummer Night’s Dream (Bottom); Romeo and Juliet (Friar Lawrence); and many more. In 2018 he directed “The Little Prince” by Antoine de Saint- Exupéry in the Republic of Georgia. He has also appeared in multiple films including “Crime has Happened” and most recently “Brighton 4th” which received the award for “Best International Narrative Feature Film” at Tribeca Film Festival in 2021. He has received 10 Helen Hayes nominations for acting and sound design with Synetic Theater and has received 3 Helen Hayes Awards for sound design, most recently for Host and Guest 2022.

Irinka Kavsadze (Hermia) is thrilled to be returning to the Synetic stage. Synetic Theater: Titus Andronicus (Lavinia); Beauty and the Beast (Belle); Hamlet (Ophelia); Twelfth Night (Maria); A Midsummer Night’s Dream (Hermia); The Tempest (Miranda); Taming of the Shrew (Bianca).

Konstantine Lortkipanidze (Starveling) A native of Tbilisi, Georgia, Konstantine Lortkipanidze has composed original music for 14 Synetic Theater productions and has received five Helen Hayes Award nominations for his sound designs, winning once. In addition to his theater work, he has composed original scores for films including First Steps, Essay (both directed by Paata Tsikurishvili), and Marage. His theatrical compositions also include Hunter from the Sun, Guest of the Night, Mimikria, Labyrinth, and The Decameron. His music has been featured at festivals across Europe, including the Maqs Ophulos Festival in Germany and the International Gaudeamus Music Week in Amsterdam. Konstantine holds both a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree from the Tbilisi State Conservatory.

Coleman Pedigo (Theseus/Snug, Verges U/S) was trained at The Lir Academy, Ireland's National Academy of Dramatic Art at Trinity College Dublin (Class of 2021). Stage credits include: Summerfolk, Julius Caesar, and The Seagull. Film: upcoming untitled Christy Martin Biopic starring Sydney Sweeney (Black Bear Pictures/Fifty-Fifty films). Voice work includes The Guardian (UK) and Penguin Random House UK. Much love to Oberon, the world's best pitbull.

Camille Pivetta (Helena) is a DMV based actor and graduate of James Madison University. She joined Synetic this past year, and has been her happiest since. Credits with the company include: The Immigrant (U/S) and Hamlet… the rest is silence (Ensemble)[HH nominated]. More work she would like to note: Avant Bard’s The Tempest (Ariel) and her elementary school’s fifth grade production of Macbeth (Lady Macbeth 3). She thanks her family, friends, and the people of Synetic for all of their fierce support.

Emma Ruckh (Peaseblossom) is an upcoming sophomore at Wakefield High School. This is her 5th year involved with Synetic and she just finished her 3rd year in Teen Company. Her previous shows include Teen Taming of the Shrew (Ensemble), Teen Romeo and Juliet (Nurse/Ensemble), Teen Hamlet (Ophelia), and Host and Guest (Little Girl). Emma is honored to play the role of Peaseblossom in Synetic’s A Midsummer Night's Dream.

Kaitlyn Shifflett (Flute) is thrilled to be a part of yet another production with Synetic Theater. Kaitlyn is currently pursuing a BFA in theater performance at George Mason University. She also is a proud alumna of Synetic's Teen Company. Her past Synetic acting credits include: Hamlet (Ensemble), Romeo & Juliet (Lady Capulet), The TellTale Heart (Vulture), Golden Fish (Wife), Snow Maiden (Snow Maiden U/S), Dracula (Wives & Mina U/S), The Immigrant (U/S), and Host and Guest (U/S). Kaitlyn would like to extend her gratitude to all of her friends and mentors who have helped her get to where she is today.

Rachael Small (Titania) Synetic credits: The Tempest, Phantom of the Opera, Dracula, Beauty and the Beast. DC credits: Botiquín de Boleros, Momia en el Closet, Las Hermanas Palacios (Teatro Gala), Act of God (Iron Crow Theater),  Macbeth (Taffety Punk) NYC / Regional: The Tempest (Classical Theater of Harlem), Death of a Salesman, Evita (Arkansas Rep), As You Like It , Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat (Arkansas Shakespeare), Of Mice and Men, Dead Man’s Cell Phone (Arkansas Public Theater) 

Liam Storm (Quince, Snout U/S) is an actor, dancer and choreographer. He received his BFA in Thestre from VCU. Previous acting credits include Piggy in Lord of The Flies (Richmond Shakespeare), David in Torch Song (Richmond Triangle Players), The Boy in Dragons Love Tacos (Va Repertory Theatre), and Shallow in The Merry Wives of Windsor (Richmond Shakespeare). He is thrilled to work with such a talented cast and crew. Enjoy the show!

Jacob Thompson (Demetrius) is excited to be back for his eleventh production at Synetic Theater, where he was recently seen onstage in Hamlet: The Rest Is Silence (Rosencrantz); Romeo and Juliet (Paris); and Beauty & The Beast (Avenant). He received his BFA in Musical Theater from George Mason University and went on to study at the Stella Adler Studio of Acting in New York.

Sia Li Wright (Hermia, Peaseblossom, Cobweb U/S) is a passionate actress with a background in movement, including: dance, circus training, gymnastics, and a certification in stage combat. Sia Li recently graduated from Studio Acting Conservatory and completed the advanced directing course. Her most recent productions have been with the Capital Fringe Festival (Medea) and Silver Spring Stage (Dance Nation). She is an adjunct movement teacher for the Young Actor’s summer intensive program at Studio Acting Conservatory.

Paata Tsikurishvili (Director, Founding Artistic Director) A native of the country of Georgia, Paata Tsikurishvili is an internationally acclaimed and award-winning artistic director, director, and educator. With over 30 years of experience fusing classical elements of drama, movement, dance, pantomime, and music, Paata co-founded Synetic Theater in 2001 with his wife Irina. Since then, he has earned 25 Helen Hayes Award nominations and has won 9 times. Together, Paata and Irina were named Washingtonians of the Year in 2013. Paata has directed and performed in numerous landmark productions including Hamlet… the rest is silence, The Master and Margarita, The Crackpots, Dracula, Host & Guest, Frankenstein, and The Island of Doctor Moreau, and directed over 90 productions including Salomé, Phantom of the Opera, The Tell-Tale Heart, Faust, Animal Farm, Carmen, Dante, King Lear, Don Quixote, As You Like It, The Man in the Iron Mask, The Tell-Tale Heart, and the recent smash hit The Immigrant. Synetic’s inaugural production, Hamlet… the rest is silence, won three Helen Hayes Awards for Outstanding Director, Outstanding Resident Play, and Outstanding Choreography. As an educator, Paata has trained hundreds of actors in movement-based performance and has taught at institutions including American University, Catholic University of America, and Georgetown University. Before immigrating to the U.S., he co-founded Mimodrama Theater in Germany and toured worldwide. Paata holds an M.F.A. in Film Directing from Tbilisi State University and a B.F.A. in Acting from The State Institute of Theater and Film in Tbilisi.

Irina Tsikurishvili (Choreographer, Founding Associate Artistic Director) A native of the country of Georgia, Irina Tsikurishvili is a 58-time Helen Hayes Award nominee and has won the award 14 times for her exceptional work as both a choreographer and performer. As the co-founder of Synetic Theater, she has choreographed every Synetic production to date, including The Crackpots, Dracula, Host & Guest, Frankenstein, The Island of Doctor Moreau, Salomé, Bohemians, Jason and the Argonauts, The Dybbuk, Faust, Macbeth, Animal Farm, The Fall of the House of Usher, A Christmas Carol, Romeo and Juliet, Carmen, Dante, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Antony and Cleopatra, Othello, King Arthur, King Lear, Don Quixote, Twelfth Night, Much Ado About Nothing, The Three Musketeers, Alice in Wonderland, The Picture of Dorian Gray, Jekyll & Hyde, The Taming of the Shrew, The Tempest, As You Like It, and many more. Irina has also taught at Georgetown University, where she choreographed a production of Lysistrata, and she continues to lead intensive movement workshops and train Synetic company members. Alongside her husband, Paata Tsikurishvili, she co-founded both Synetic Theater and the Stanislavsky Theater Studio. In recognition of their contributions to the arts, Irina and Paata were named Washingtonians of the Year in 2013. Irina is a graduate of the prestigious Chabukiani National Ballet Academy.

Ben Cunis (Managing Director, Original Adaptor and Fight Choreographer) is an artist, filmmaker, educator, and arts administrator who first joined Synetic Theater in 2006 after graduating from the Drama program at the Catholic University of America. He began training under Paata and Irina Tsikurishvili and debuted with the company as Macduff in 2007's Macbeth. Over ten years, Ben held numerous roles including actor, fight choreographer, teacher, Director of Development, Artistic Associate, director, and writer. He is a three-time Helen Hayes Award recipient for fight and action choreography and has contributed to ensemble wins for Twelfth Night, King Lear, Romeo and Juliet, and Hamlet… the rest is silence. Ben earned his MFA in Film and TV Production from USC’s School of Cinematic Arts in 2019. At USC, he produced, directed, performed, and stunt coordinated a number of festival-screened films, including appearances at the Telluride Horror Show, Golden State Film Festival, Knoxville Horror Show, and Artemis Women in Action Festival. He later joined the USC faculty and taught directing and production to both undergraduates and graduates. Ben also worked with Lunacy Productions to launch Trunacy, a nonprofit supporting independent filmmakers in Kentucky and the Midwest, and worked in Development with the Bethesda-based Hope Connections for Cancer Support. He recently directed the remount of Synetic's Beauty and the Beast, which he co-wrote with his brother, Peter Cunis, and has served as the Managing Director of Synetic since the fall of 2022.

Vato Tsikurishvili (Artistic Associate, Remount Fight Choreographer) A native of the country of Georgia, Vato Tsikurishvili is an award-winning actor, choreographer, and educator with more than a decade of experience sharing Synetic Theater’s unique style with audiences and students of all ages. Performing with his parents—Synetic co-founders Paata and Irina Tsikurishvili—since the age of four, Vato also has an extensive athletic background, having trained in fencing under Olympic coach Vladimir Nazlymov and in gymnastics with his grandfather, world-renowned Olympic coach Arnold Kvetenadze. His performance credits include lead and supporting roles in The Immigrant, Hamlet… the rest is silence, Little Comedies, Host and Guest, Othello, Antony and Cleopatra, King Arthur, Macbeth, The Taming of the Shrew, Home of the Soldier, The Tempest, The Three Musketeers, Twelfth Night, The Picture of Dorian Gray, Beauty and the Beast, Much Ado About Nothing, Alice in Wonderland, Dante’s Inferno, The Hunchback of Notre Dame, and Sleepy Hollow. As a fight choreographer, his recent work includes The Hunchback of Notre Dame, Dante’s Inferno, The Man in the Iron Mask, Titus Andronicus, and The Adventures of Peter Pan, for which he also served as Assistant Director and Co-Director, respectively. As an educator, Vato trains Synetic company members, teaches movement and stage combat throughout the DMV region, instructs at Synetic Studio, and co-directs the Synetic Teen Company with Irina Tsikurishvili.

Konstantine Lortkipanidze (Resident Composer) A native of Tbilisi, Georgia, Konstantine Lortkipanidze has composed original music for 14 Synetic Theater productions and has received five Helen Hayes Award nominations for his sound designs, winning once. In addition to his theater work, he has composed original scores for films including First Steps, Essay (both directed by Paata Tsikurishvili), and Marage. His theatrical compositions also include Hunter from the Sun, Guest of the Night, Mimikria, Labyrinth, and The Decameron. His music has been featured at festivals across Europe, including the Maqs Ophulos Festival in Germany and the International Gaudeamus Music Week in Amsterdam. Konstantine holds both a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree from the Tbilisi State Conservatory.

Andrew F. Griffin (Lighting Designer) has been a lighting designer for over a decade, with a special interest in work that explores the intersectionality of light and music to create emotional and visceral experiences for live audiences. Andrew’s recent New York credits: Goldstein (Off-Broadway, Actors Temple) The War Boys (Access Theatre) Lucie Pohl: Hi Hitler! (Cherry Lane) and Midsummer (TiltYard).  His regional credits include: Folger Theatre, Yale Rep, Le Petite Theatre du Vieux Carre, Delaware Theatre Company, Woolly Mammoth, Olney Theatre Center, Yale Dramatic Association, Theatre J, Signature Theatre, Synetic Theatre, Riverside Theatre, Studio Theatre, Tri-Cities Opera, Forum Theatre, Adventure Theatre, Urban Arias, GALA Hispanic Theatre, Faction of Fools, Imagination Stage, and Everyman Theatre. As an associate to Robert Wierzel, Andrew is currently the Associate Lighting Designer for A Thousand Splendid Suns which premiered at American Conservatory Theatre and has played at Theatre Calgary, and The Grand in Canada, and has upcoming engagements at The Old Globe and Seattle Rep. As an educator and guest artist,  Andrew has taught and mentored students at Yale University, Yale School of Drama, Gallaudet University, Connecticut College, The Catholic University of America, and Carroll Community College. He also is on the faculty for the Yale Summer Session’s 'A Practical Approach to Directing' as a professor in design. He is a two-time recipient of the Helen Hayes Award for his work on Henry V at the Folger Theatre, and King Lear at Synetic Theater; and a recipient of New Orleans Big Easy Award for his design of Once on this Island at Le Petit Theatre.

Anastasia Rurikov Simes (Set and Costume Designer) has designed sets and costumes for numerous productions since 2004. She received a Helen Hayes Award for Costume Design for Othello (2011) and has earned four additional Helen Hayes nominations for her scenic and costume design work. An accomplished visual artist, her paintings and drawings have been exhibited in solo and group shows in Washington, New York, Norfolk, and across Europe and Asia. Her critically acclaimed drawings have also appeared in film, literary, and political publications. She holds an MFA from the Russian Institute of Cinematography.

Channing Tucker (Associate Costumer Designer) is a costume and puppet designer based in the DMV area and frequently assists on costume design. They most frequently design for dance, including various dance concerts for Dance Place, Dance Exchange, the University of Maryland, American University, and Howard Community College. Past designs include The Sound of Music (Catholic University), Monstrous (Howard Community College), Sense and Sensibility (American University), The Skin of Our Teeth and Puffs! (Howard Community College), and Risk of Play, Ghost Bride, Outbound, Flyin’ West, Corpora Caelestia, and Tides (University of Maryland). Channing is a past recipient of the Jim Henson Fund for Puppetry and attendant of the O’Neill National Puppetry Conference. Their long-term project is a puppet film adaptation of the Epic of Gilgamesh.

Dean Leong (Associate Lighting Designer) is a freelance lighting designer based in the Washington, D.C. area. His design credits include The Infinite Tales, Museum 2040, and Tempered: A Cabaret with 4615 Theatre Company; Chemical Exile: Synthesis, Dracula: A Feminist Revenge Fantasy, Really, Sometimes the Rain, Sometimes the Sea, and Sleeping Giant with Rorschach Theatre; and Fitting In with Arts on the Horizon. He also designed Webster’s Bitch! with The Keegan Theatre and served as Associate Lighting Designer for My Mama and the Full Scale Invasion with Woolly Mammoth Theatre Company. Most recently, he was the Assistant Lighting Designer for Romeo & Juliet at Synetic Theater. Dean would like to thank his wife and daughter for their constant love and support.

Phil Charlwood (Technical Director) has been building sets and props for Synetic Theater for over a decade. He has designed the Helen Hayes Award-nominated sets for The Island of Dr. Moreau and King Lear and designed the sets for RMT’s West Side Story and AMS’s The Producers. Mr. Charlwood also works with local schools to develop their technical drama programs.

Khue Duong (Stage Manager) is thrilled to be stage managing this production of A Midsummer Night’s Dream. This marks her sixth production with Synetic Theater, having previously stage managed The Tell-Tale Heart, Romeo and Juliet, Hamlet…the rest is silence, Little Comedies, and The Immigrant. Other regional credits include The Last Drop (SCENA Theater), SpongeBob The Musical and Newsies (Acting for Young People). Khue holds a BFA in Theater Performance and is a proud alum of George Mason University.

Hansin Arvind (Assistant Stage Manager) is thrilled to return to Synetic Theater. Recent credits include Hamlet…the rest is Silence at Synetic, Is God Is at Constellation Theatre and This Much I Know at Theater J.  Hansin has a BA in Theatre with a concentration in performance from George Mason University.