Meet the Cast: Antony and Cleopatra

Hi! My name is Kaeleb Cogswell and I’m excited to make my debut with Pigeon Creek in their upcoming production of Antony and Cleopatra. You’ll see me portraying multiple characters including Agrippa, Diomedes, Gallus, and a bevy of guards, soldiers and messengers, which all go unnamed in the script, but the tea behind the scenes is that they’re all coincidentally named Edward. And I’ve been given the opportunity to share a few fun tidbits about myself with you all! So no worries, this won’t take very long. Just kidding! The only thing holding me back is a 500 word limit.

All jokes aside, I grew up in Jenison, a town with a beautiful fine arts center and thriving arts community this show will be performing at on September 15th, and I cannot give the theatre and choir programs enough credit for sparking the greatest joys in my life. My mom, two of my seven siblings (the other five live with my wonderful dad and stepmom) and I moved to Grand Rapids after graduating high school, and soon I’ll begin my second year at Aquinas College, studying Theatre for Social Change with a History minor, and it’s been a blast! Even when nobody knows your major exists (it’s a blend of Theatre, Community Leadership and Sociology, you’re welcome).

After my very first role on stage in High School Musical Junior (the irony of prepubescent tweens playing high schoolers originally portrayed by adults at least in their mid 20’s was lost on me at the time) I fell in love with performing and got involved in theatre primarily as an actor. I’ve performed with Jenison Theatre, TruJEM productions, Aquinas Theatre, Alternative Acts, Circle Theatre, and now Pigeon Creek!

Some of my favorite past roles include Mrs. Bumbrake/Teacher in Peter and the Starcatcher, the Magic Mirror in Snow White, Armin in Equivocation, and Toad in A Year With Frog and Toad. My favorite theatre experience so far, however, was collaborating with my friend Riley Wells my senior year of high school to write Voices, a series of interviews with members of our local LGBT+ community turned into a collection of monologues, scenes and vignettes. Working on that show sparked my current love for playwriting and the power theatre has to make a difference.

Outside of theatre, at Aquinas I’m a member of the improv troupe In Case of Emergency as well as the Treasurer of TakeNote acapella. Outside of college work, you’ll find me fine tuning my Pokemon team, enjoying the great outdoors, volunteering at the Grand Rapids Pride Center or hanging out with friends and family.

Congratulations, you’ve read through my blog post! Thank you so much! Now I’m officially not a stranger to you, which means you’re obligated to come see Antony and Cleopatra, opening on August 10th at Dog Story Theatre! Remember, as Shakespeare once said, “Be there or be square”. You’re going to have so much fun, see you there!