Behind the Scenes of SMC’s Hamletta & 12th Bro

Actors Daniela Talleda (cq) (L) as Hamlet, and Sophia Lafaurie-Muñoz (cq) (R) as Gertrude during a dress rehearsal for “Hamletta” on Wednesday, April 8, 2026, at the Theatre Arts Studio Stage in the Santa Monica College (SMC) Main Campus in Santa Monica, Calif. Adapted by Dr. Adrianne Harrop and presented by the SMC Theatre Arts Department, the double bill reimagines William Shakespeare’s “Hamlet” with a cast of performers who identify or present as women, and “Twelfth Night” with a cast of performers who identify or present as men. (Guillermo De La Barreda | The Corsair)

Actors Daniella Talleda (L) as Hamlet and Marin Halbert (R) as Ophelia during a dress rehearsal for “Hamletta” on Wednesday, April 8, 2026, at the Theatre Arts Studio Stage in the Santa Monica College (SMC) Main Campus in Santa Monica, Calif. Adapted by Dr. Adrianne Harrop and presented by the SMC Theatre Arts Department, the double bill reimagines William Shakespeare’s “Hamlet” with a cast of performers who identify or present as women, and “Twelfth Night” with a cast of performers who identify or present as men. (Guillermo De La Barreda | The Corsair)

Actor Kimi Edwards as the Ghost during a dress rehearsal for “Hamletta” on Wednesday, April 8, 2026, at the Theatre Arts Studio Stage in the Santa Monica College (SMC) Main Campus in Santa Monica, Calif. Adapted by Dr. Adrianne Harrop and presented by the SMC Theatre Arts Department, the double bill reimagines William Shakespeare's “Hamlet” with a cast of performers who identify or present as women, and “Twelfth Night” with a cast of performers who identify or present as men. (Guillermo De La Barreda | The Corsair)

Actors Justine Lescoulie (L) as Sir Andrew Aguecheek, Robert Amemiya (C) as Sir Toby Blech, and David Reid (R) as Mariah during a dress rehearsal for “Twelfth Bro” on Wednesday, April 8, 2026, at the Theatre Arts Studio Stage in the Santa Monica College (SMC) Main Campus in Santa Monica, Calif. Adapted by Dr. Adrianne Harrop and presented by the SMC Theatre Arts Department, the double bill reimagines William Shakespeare’s “Hamlet” with a cast of performers who identify or present as women, and “Twelfth Night” with a cast of performers who identify or present as men. (Guillermo De La Barreda | The Corsair)

Actors Janna Bossier (L) as Claudius, Marin Halbert (C) as Ophelia, and Sophia Lafaurie-Muñoz (R) as Gertrude during a dress rehearsal for “Hamletta” on Wednesday, April 8, 2026, at the Theatre Arts Studio Stage in the Santa Monica College (SMC) Main Campus in Santa Monica, Calif. Adapted by Dr. Adrianne Harrop and presented by the SMC Theatre Arts Department, the double bill reimagines William Shakespeare’s “Hamlet” with a cast of performers who identify or present as women, and “Twelfth Night” with a cast of performers who identify or present as men. (Guillermo De La Barreda | The Corsair)

Actor Daniella Talleda as Hamlet during a dress rehearsal for “Hamletta” on Wednesday, April 8, 2026, at the Theatre Arts Studio Stage in the Santa Monica College (SMC) Main Campus in Santa Monica, Calif. Adapted by Dr. Adrianne Harrop and presented by the SMC Theatre Arts Department, the double bill reimagines William Shakespeare’s “Hamlet” with a cast of performers who identify or present as women, and “Twelfth Night” with a cast of performers who identify or present as men. (Guillermo De La Barreda | The Corsair)

Actors Jorge Nava (L) as Malvolio, and Robert Amemiya (R) as Sir Toby Belch during a dress rehearsal for “Twelfth Bro” on Wednesday, April 8, 2026, at the Theatre Arts Studio Stage in the Santa Monica College (SMC) Main Campus in Santa Monica, Calif. Adapted by Dr. Adrianne Harrop and presented by the SMC Theatre Arts Department, the double bill reimagines William Shakespeare’s “Hamlet” with a cast of performers who identify or present as women, and “Twelfth Night” with a cast of performers who identify or present as men. (Guillermo De La Barreda | The Corsair)

Actor Daniella Talleda as Hamlet during a dress rehearsal for “Hamletta” on Wednesday, April 8, 2026, at the Theatre Arts Studio Stage in the Santa Monica College (SMC) Main Campus in Santa Monica, Calif. Adapted by Dr. Adrianne Harrop and presented by the SMC Theatre Arts Department, the double bill reimagines William Shakespeare's “Hamlet” with a cast of performers who identify or present as women, and “Twelfth Night” with a cast of performers who identify or present as men. (Guillermo De La Barreda | The Corsair)

Actors George Heidt (L), as Viola, David Reid (C) as Mariah, and Ziare Rene (R) as Olivia during a dress rehearsal for “Twelfth Bro” on Wednesday, April 8, 2026, at the Theatre Arts Studio Stage in the Santa Monica College (SMC) Main Campus in Santa Monica, Calif. Adapted by Dr. Adrianne Harrop and presented by the SMC Theatre Arts Department, the double bill reimagines William Shakespeare’s “Hamlet” with a cast of performers who identify or present as women, and “Twelfth Night” with a cast of performers who identify or present as men. (Guillermo De La Barreda | The Corsair)

Actors Robert Amemiya (cq) (L) as Sir Toby Belch, David Reid (C), as Mariah, and Ziare Rene (cq) (R) as Olivia, during a dress rehearsal for “Twelfth Bro” on Wednesday, April 8, 2026, at the Theatre Arts Studio Stage in the Santa Monica College (SMC) Main Campus in Santa Monica, Calif. Adapted by Dr. Adrianne Harrop and presented by the SMC Theatre Arts Department, the double bill reimagines William Shakespeare’s “Hamlet” with a cast of performers who identify or present as women, and “Twelfth Night” with a cast of performers who identify or present as men. (Guillermo De La Barreda | The Corsair)

Actor Marin Halbert as Ophelia during a dress rehearsal for “Hamletta” on Wednesday, April 8, 2026, at the Theatre Arts Studio Stage in the Santa Monica College (SMC) Main Campus in Santa Monica, Calif. Adapted by Dr. Adrianne Harrop and presented by the SMC Theatre Arts Department, the double bill reimagines William Shakespeare’s “Hamlet” with a cast of performers who identify or present as women, and “Twelfth Night” with a cast of performers who identify or present as men. (Guillermo De La Barreda | The Corsair)

Actors George Heidt (L) as Viola, and Abdi Beyle (R), as Orsino during a dress rehearsal for “Twelfth Bro” on Wednesday, April 8, 2026, at the Theatre Arts Studio Stage in the Santa Monica College (SMC) Main Campus in Santa Monica, Calif. Adapted by Dr. Adrianne Harrop and presented by the SMC Theatre Arts Department, the double bill reimagines William Shakespeare’s “Hamlet” with a cast of performers who identify or present as women, and “Twelfth Night” with a cast of performers who identify or present as men. (Guillermo De La Barreda | The Corsair)

Actors perform a final bow during a dress rehearsal for “Hamletta” on Wednesday, April 8, 2026, at the Theatre Arts Studio Stage in the Santa Monica College (SMC) Main Campus in Santa Monica, Calif. Adapted by Dr. Adrianne Harrop and presented by the SMC Theatre Arts Department, the double bill reimagines William Shakespeare’s “Hamlet” with a cast of performers who identify or present as women, and “Twelfth Night” with a cast of performers who identify or present as men. (Guillermo De La Barreda | The Corsair)

Santa Monica College’'s Theater Of Arts production of the plays Hamletta and 12th Bro was a unique take on the classic William Shakespeare’s “Hamlet” and “Twelfth Night.”

Adapted and directed by Dr. Adrianne Harrop, the event was highly anticipated.

Using the characters’ original names maintained the authenticity of Hamlet, but the twist comes with the cast of Hamletta being played by performers identifying as women only.

In contrast, 12th Bro widens the lens with an all-men presenting cast, inviting the audience to reconsider how gender shapes performance, character interpretation, and storytelling itself. The original dialogue kept the work familiar to those who love Shakespeare classics.

Caleb Dorsey, who took on multiple roles including Valentine, Curio, and the First Officer, described his approach. “My characters aren’t really too complicated or sophisticated,” he said, “so I don’t have to speak in poetry or anything. They’re more simple, so it’s fine.”

Actors George Nava (Malvolio) And Finley Hayes (A Captain) said of the production’s modern take, “When I think of Shakespeare, I think of how originally most plays were performed by men and I feel like ‘12th Bro’ kind of just brings back the traditional roots of men playing all the roles."

A first-time stage performer, Hayes also shared how he handles pre-show jitters. He said, “This is my first play I’ve been in but I pull from my acting class. I do articulation warm-ups and some of us even meditate.”

Director Dr. Adrianne Harrop shared, “I just saw it come to life and I thought this is one of my better jobs. I’m really proud of this. The students that were here were laughing for the 12th Bro. Their laughter was just contagious and Hamletta was just super.”

Dr. Harrop continued, “I’ve reached the max. It’s not me, it’s them. I'm so blessed with these students. They support me in so many ways and when they get on the stage, they’re brilliant!”